Frontera Grill/Topolobampo: User Reviews
Frontera has been a favorite lunch spot for many, many years -- the food (especially the sauces) has been superb and the décor delightful. It’s been over a year since I’ve been back, so I was looking forward to my visit. Today the food wasn’t as special as it has been in the past, though. Special enchiladas de chivo was a standout for me -- the sauce was a perfect blend of heat and complex flavor. Duck quesadillas seemed rather dull, however, as did taquitos. A dessert featuring pear ice cream, figs and sweet/salty cashew crunch topping made for a pleasant finish. It feels to me like prices have gone up and the commercial forces have gained an upper hand over the artisanal. Or maybe I was just having a bad day.
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We have been eating at this restaurant since it opened and I agree the attitude has changed, who was that petitte hostess with the HUGE attitude turning customers off last Saturday night, she was just rude. It reminds me of the old Studio 54 attitude, you need us, we don't need you. Were are they now?
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Now that Chef Bayless has reached ICON status it seems that the attitude of the Maitre'd and staff have evolved as well.
For some reason I had the feeling that it was a privilege to eat there.
Nevertheless..the food is still some of the most innovative around. So if you can tolerate a little snootiness, wait four hours for Frontera Grill or 2 months for Topolobambo.. try it once.
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I've been to Topolobampo several times and now will limit myself there. The ambiance in Frontera is a chain restaurant at best. However, the food is good. Ambiance can be overlooked if service is good. Unfortunately, the good service is left on the other side at Topo. Spend a couple of extra bucks and go to Topo or just go to Applebees instead.
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I wish I could review the food but after waiting 3 hours for a table, dirt would have tasted wonderful so I am probably not the best person to ask. I don't fault the restaurant for being busy, but I DO fault management for leaving tables sit empty for 25 minutes (yes, I timed it) as we all wait like hungry fools. I couldn't figure out if the empty tables were the result of poor management or an old school "marketing" ploy. You know, where you wait outside a club in the cold only to be let in and it’s completely empty. Hmmmmmm......I would recommend going to Tarascas in Lincoln Park. Great food and a minimal wait - not pretentious.
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After visiting Topolo a few weeks ago, we decided to get a group and head back to check out Frontera. It did not dissapoint as it was every bit as Topo (well maybe not exactly) but for considerably less $$$.
I recommend getting a few of the Platos Pequenos per person and passing them around as they are very reasonably priced and allow you to experience several different flavor combinations.
The best part of the night was that Bayless was walking around the restaurant saying hello to people! Hes definitely a rock star around these parts.
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The service at FronGrill was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive, yet not over bearing. The food was good, yet nothing spectacular. But what was SPECTACULAR, was the flan dessert. Two flans, one a vanilla flan, and the other and honey and lavendar-infused flan. An amazing ending to the dinner. And they seen to change the menu evey week, so I would definitely go back.
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I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I don't know if my expectations were too high or what but I did not enjoy my experience. After waiting in hour and a half for a table on Wednesday we were greeted by poor service, overly salty taquitos, and lackluster duck. The only good thing was the flan duo. The vanilla and lavender flan were delicious, but still dessert is usually not the reason I return to a restaurant. I will not be back.
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I took my girlfriend to Topolobampo for her 25th birthday and we both had the best meal experience of our lives (and we had just been to Alinea 2 weeks prior). The service was impeccable; not snobby, very relaxed but upscale. The appetizers, drinks, entrees and desserts were amazing. The drinks were kind of small for the price, but the appetizers and entrees were both good sized. Full meal for two cost $170+tip. I cant wait to go back!
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Amazing Birthday Dinner at Frontera Grill
By kariarambula from Franklin Park, July 19, 2009
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The food at Frontera Grill was amazing! The service was also wonderful. We had a great waiter who was so attentive. It was also great knowing that Rick Bayless was overseeing the food and walking around greeting the everyone.
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Review Summary
The following scores represent the average rating submitted by 103 users:
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