My siblings and I grew up watching One Plate at a Time. Rick introduced us to Mexican cuisine beyond the tacos and burritos that we knew. We admired not just his passion for the food but his love and respect for the culture. Needless to say, a siblings trip to Chicago would not be complete without a stop at one of Rick's restaurants. We tried not to hype ourselves up, mostly because we tend to get disappointed this way. We had reservations at 4:30pm because that was all that was available. We ordered a few appetizers and they were all delicious. The chicken tortilla soup was flavorful and while it had the components of a typical tortilla soup it was very different. this was the same with everything we ordered. Familiar yet completely different and incredibly delicious. The menu is ever changing so even if I list everything we had it may not be there next month. I will say we enjoyed most of the dishes we ordered and even the ones we thought were "okay" had elements we really enjoyed. Whatever you do, definitely get a dish with Mole. All three of us couldn't get enough of the mole sauce in each plate. All in all we were incredibly satisfied with our meal and we can't wait to come back and try Topolobambo and XOCO. Note: We shared a small dessert here but we also went to XOCO for the churros and chocolate dip. Best churros and chocolate I've ever had.

Food was absolutely delicious! Very flavorful and well put together. I gave 4/5 stars because they have added gratuity and the waiter tried to tell me that the added gratuity wasn’t a tip for him and that I am to tip on top of that… when I read the fine print on the receipt it clearly stated that the added charge was gratuity and that I am not expected to tip on top of it… Mind you I dined alone. Would’ve been fine if he didn’t try to tell me otherwise.

Absolutely delicious and worth the price tag. The carnitas were fatty in a good way and the endless tortillas was amazing. Ceviche was great though I wish there was a bit more. Love the cafe de olla. Waiter was extremely friendly. The 20% gratuity is automatic so be warned.

Love this place! The food is seriously incredible and takes a fresh and creative spin on Mexican food. Expect to pay upscale dining prices but know that you won’t regret it! It was an adventurous and flavorful dining experience and I got to try dishes I’ve never had before. Highly recommend!

Customer service was great thanks to Alejandra who came to the rescue to help us secure seating. Food was wonderful but I would say a tad overpriced. The green salsa and red were good. The sopes were delicious. The black beans were delicious. What bothered me was the 20% added on to the bill. To me this is unacceptable on so many levels. I should be able to decide on the gratuity.

First time visit to Bar Sótano. The Ceviche was the star of the night. Guava dessert was great ! Service impeccable.

Tried the New Years Eve Price Fixe menu. We had the Carne Asada & Braised Short Rib as our mains along with the oyster add-on. Every course was outstanding. The only downside was the service seemed a bit slow - lots of waiting for the next course. Overall a great experience and great value for $100. We even saw Chef Rick Bayless walking around during service!

I had just arrived in Chicago and dropped off my luggage at the hotel and I was hungry. I decided to go to Kimski. Arrived there only to find that it didn't open until 5:00 pm, so I decided to go somewhere else. Frontera Grill was that place. It was 11:30ish on a Wednesday when I arrived. I had no reservation upon walking in and was seated immediately. The restaurant was moderately filled but not crowded. I was in a party of four and the seating did feel a little close but not too bad. Regional Mexican and other Latin music was being played. The waiters were very professional and polite. They were very attentive and repeatedly asked to help or explained items on the menu. Several different plates were ordered and while I cannot say anything in particular stood out to me, everything was good. Being from Texas, it's tough to find good authentic Mexican food that measures up. I know Chicago does have a well deserved rich culinarily legacy when it comes to Mexican food but nothing on the menu blew me away although the presentation was impeccable and impressive. As the meal went on, the drinks were flowing and pretty soon the restaurant was packed. Our waiters never stopped checking on our table. The service was excellent! Overall, the food was good, presentation was incredible and the service was awesome! Frontera Grill is definitely worth a try.

I just happened to be looking for somewhere to have lunch, as I saw this restaurant while walking down the street in what is to me the unfamiliar city of Chicago. I am from California have been enjoying Mexican food since I was a child. I was not expecting to have the best Mexican meal I had EVER had. Hot damn! That is exactly what happened!

Wasn't expecting this cozy little place. Food was incredible! I've never tasted fresher, more delicious Mexican food except in the streets of Mexico. Even the tortilla chips tasted as if the grew, harvested, & and ground their own corn. They treated us so nicely & even honored our son who just graduated Navy bootcamp. Icing on the cake was meeting Chef Bayless himself.

There was probably a time where this restaurant was good and deserved the original hype. But sadly it’s a big let down Pics attached as well. The “famous” tortilla soup was super salty, the chicken taquitos were very dry. They needed some kind of sauce, other than just some guacamole. A queso fundido was very standard boring at the unique about it. We went on a Sunday night at 8:30. It was a very busy but I guess they close somewhat early. We ordered the pork tacos they never arrived. The Oaxacan asada ribeye was actually good as was the mole enchiladas and the sopecitas with short rib Desserts were a bit of a letdown as well the chocolate pecan pie, the ice cream pie with pumpkin Won’t be going back or recommending it to anybody but I guess I realize this is now like an airport chain. I shouldn’t of expected it to be amazing. Was hoping the original here in chicago would actually be good.

We sat at the bar and got an excellent tequila tour.. I tried some of the best tequila I’ve ever had.. The two bartenders knew their tequila. I had enchiladas and my wife had the tortillas soup. Both were excellent.

Excellent service. I love that there is a service charge and that tips are optional (staff truly deserve an additional tip). Food was certainly good, but not mind blowing. Chicken was tender and moist, but I was expecting more layers of flavor in the mole amarillo. The steak was perfectly prepared. Chips were great, rich corn and flavorful guacamole. The crema was remarkable- tart and fresh. The strawberry ice cream was so flavorful- summer in your mouth. We enjoyed the music playing and the space wasn’t very loud, so we could talk during dinner. A nice evening out.

Stopped in for brunch on our last morning in Chicago. Mostly a very cool experience. I got the Bajio style eggs which were both delicious and beautiful. Chips and salsa was really good. The mini hotcakes were a highlight. My wife was less enthusiastic about her breakfast enchiladas. Didn't care for the sauce. Service was good. Chef Bayless walked through the dining room while we were eating which was fun. Decor is a tad tired and feels a bit old but the art on the walls was great.

For people with dietary restrictions, be careful with the beans, they have pork in them but it is not listed on the menu!! Solid experience overall. We had a great waiter take excellent care of us. Tacos and fajitas were tasty. Chicken was cooked well and was not rubbery, but it didn’t justify the cost for a simple plate. Expect to pay a pretty penny for something that yes, is filling, but no, isn’t worth the price.

Frontera Grill is a great choice for a dinner in Chicago. The staff is friendly, while the food is expertly cooked and tastes delicious. I did feel like for the portions you got the pricing was kind of high, still a worthwhile restaurant to checkout nonetheless.

I love that food comes in reasonable portion, given that many Mexican restaurants have huge portion of food. The soup was light yet tasty. I really like their individual sampler plate for appetizer. I also recommend their dessert, although the flan tastes very eggy, like a pudding. Our waiter was also knowledge and gave us a lot of recommendations. Enchiladas were a little disappointing. They were dry and hard to eat, I was expecting something more saucy.

Was highly recommended this restaurant from a foodie friend who enjoys Rick Bayless’ restaurants. It did not disappoint! Server was a little overworked, so I’ll fully let it slide that she couldn’t properly keep up. Drinks were great and the food was superb, can without a doubt say this was the best meal I had in Chicago over the whole weekend. Will be recommending to all visiting friends!

Wow! Absolutely INCREDIBLE staff and food! I was here for a private party, and I have to say this was hands down the best food I've had in Chicago. If you like authentic Mexican, you will love this place!

my boyfriend and I are fans of chef Rick Bayless and on our most recent trip to Chicago we decided to finally try this restaurant for dinner. It was a weekday and even at that it was quite busy so due to the fact that we didn't have a reservation we were sat at the bar. For the cocktail I went with the Oaxacan Gold margarita and it was a good and balanced margarita with the perfect sweetness. Our food consisted of the tamales de elote, chips and salsas, and for my entree I ordered the carne asada brava and my boyfriend ordered the Carnes al carbón para tacos with the creekstone skirt steak. Another person in our party ordered the Iamb loin. Out of the two beef dishes we ordered the carne asada brava was the most flavorful and more tender than the other. It was cooked to a perfect medium. I will say I was expecting the salsa to be spicy as it is called "brava" but it was not spicy at all. The lamb was delicious and didn't have the gamey taste lamb can have sometimes. The pasilla Chile sauce that it came with was delicious, it was tangy and a little sweet and reminded me of a lighter mole. The one thing that I felt was lacking flavor was the tamales de elote. They weren't anything special and honestly you can find better ones elsewhere. Other than that everything else that we tried had good flavor but I also felt the portion was a tad bit small. Also, they have a wide selection of tequilas and the art pieces were great visuals.

Went to Frontera for our anniversary and had a wonderful experience. This was our first time at a Rick Bayless restaurant so we went with high expectations and were not disappointed. The food was excellent and the service was really good. Enjoyable music played in the background while we enjoyed our meal. Highly recommended for a great meal and good drinks!

Restaurant Week lunch at Frontera Grill. Greeted with warm smiles and lively atmosphere. The smells of spice and grilled meats fill the air. Our table had a great look into the kitchen and server was friendly. He had much to offer in menu pairing and portions. The restaurant week menu read well, but we decided to build our own entrees. Appetizers of Vegetable corn tamales and Chicken flautas to start. Rick Bayless knows his sauces and the guacamole and green salsa Verde really hits the mark. We couldn't pass up the Chicken Mole Enchiladas and a duo of Steak and Carnitas tacos. Overkill for a party of four, as the portions are well sized and filling. Handmade tortillas, red salsa and roasted black beans accompany the taco platters. Outstanding cook and crisp on the meats, whereas the chicken mole is devine. Nothing outshines the salty, sweet and spicy chocolate mole... Can't rave enough about Frontera Grill and a visit will confirm their well deserved Michelin Stars.

This was an Experience, not just a meal. From Beet Sorbet to Octopus Tacos to the Best bite of Pork Belly ever..... even the piñata desert. Simply a sublime meal. Online booking was super easy. Staff couldn't have been friendlier. Terrific experience.

By far the best meal of my Chicago trip. Sweet corn cake could be the best dessert ive ever had in my life. Wasn't a big fan of any of the drinks i had. Will definitely be back. I wanted one of everything but i went alone.

The food was great. We had the Tortilla soup which is like a Mexican interpretation of French Onion Soup only with fewer onions, chicken broth and delicious rich Jack cheese. Then we had the Queso Fundido. The tortillas are great, wrap the cheese in them, some beautiful roasted peppers, and chorizo, and you have a tortilla bite made in heaven. The portion was bigger than I thought it would be for the 2 of us. The crispy duck carnitas were excellent. The green salsa was not hot at first and then got really spicy. The skin on the duck was crispy and the meat fell off the bone. The salsa cooled the heat and the peppers were perfect. Great course. The also got the plantains which are our favorite. They are worth every cent and aren’t too sweet. The crema on them mixed with cotejo cheese is a perfect compliment. Great meal!

My wife and I enjoyed a great meal at Frontera Grill. We both agreed that it was the best authentic Mexican meal we have ever eaten. Highly recommended.

Always wanted to come here. I had the appetizer sampler and the Baja fish tacos. I enjoyed my meal but the ceviche and the quesadilla had a kick to it. Can't wait to come back and try their drinks.

Excellent dinner, very authentic and creative dishes. Reasonably priced for the quality of the food. Helpful and polite servers

Amazing place! It may look overpriced because of the location, but the service and the food are superb! The meat is of high quality, and the appetizers and desserts do not fall behind. It could be an actual Mexican restaurant that you go to in Mexico itself!

Food was good. Highly recommend seafood pozole if you like seafood. It was the best pozole I ever tried! Appetizer samplers were just fine. Quesadilla had some strong cheese flavor. We did not know what kind of cheese was there, but we did not like it. Service was sooo bad… I booked already but our table wasn’t prepared properly. I saw the host took us to table and she was confused and cleaned up cup. And our server was so bad, as soon as we got a menu she asked what we wanted for drink beside water. We haven’t looked up the menu yet. I could not believe they charged 20% service fee on the bill.

I have eaten at the fronteras at airports often and I like it however, the experience at the restaurant was quite good, the service was great, food was very good and dessert was amazing, I will be back

Delicious food and drinks. The duck carnitas fall off the bone. The ceviche is fresh and a perfect starter. Beware of the spicy peppers, they are spicy! Make sure you make room for dessert. The ice cream pie was the star of the shoe both aesthetically and the taste.

First time to Frontera Grill today, the atmosphere and service was great! Music and ambience was very enjoyable and made it feel comfortable for a nice brunch. We shared conchas with jam with our coffees (no alternative milks for lattes) and they were delightful 🙌. Main dishes were Bajio style eggs and Chilaquiles. Would recommend the Bajio eggs; however, the chilaquiles, were very cheesy and heavy and lacked the punch of flavor I like to have with Mexican food. Was a heavy American twist on this Mexican classic so I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps I’ll try Frontera again with a different dish!

Everything I have dreamed of. Very pricey, but well worth it! We came from Buffalo, NY and this was the first place we had to visit!

We came to Frontera grill during a recent trip to Chicago to have a special dinner. We ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert! The food had really interesting flavor combinations and the menu truly is unique. There wasn’t any item that blew us away but it was an enjoyable experience overall!

We came in here on a Tuesday evening and were seated outdoor on the street. The outdoor seating was nice but I wish they provided coasters for our drinks - the tables were the mesh ones and the precipitation of our drinks caused them to just drip on our legs. Overall, the food was spectacular - we have the Carne Asada Brava and the Carne Asada was very good and tender, the tamales was very light and had a good flavor that wasn't overwhelming. The mashed potatoes were similarly light and had a good mix of flavor on them, but the onion knobs were unremarkable. My only ding was that our waiter took way too long and I had to beckon him to come over. They gave us tortillas instead of tortillas chips, we would request a menu to order further and they took a long time to get back to us. If service was more prompt I would give them a full 5 star mark, but for a bib gourmand restaurant (a restaurant recognized by Michelin) I would have higher expectations on service. That being said, the waiter was pleasant and when we did receive service it was a good time. All in all, this was a good experience.

The ceviche is to die for....in the 30 years that I have visited Frontera, it has always been consistently fantastic. Their cocktails are great and the food is amazing. The servers are wonderful... If you are in Chicago. Frontera is a must.

Fantastic food and excellent service makes for a great anniversary celebration I’ve wanted to try Chef Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill for many years. I’m thankful I made the trip to Chicago to give it a try. Highly recommend this place for its excellent flavors and authentic Mexican cuisine.

I came in here for restaurant week and had a great, casual lunch in the afternoon. The place was not crowded and we were seated right away. The menu has plenty of options and some truly unique ones when it comes to Mexican cuisine, as well as a good number of vegetarian options. I ended up ordering the enchiladas and some chips and guacamole, where the chips were deliciously crispy. We were happy with the portion sizes and the service was excellent as well! Looking forward to coming back and trying more options from the menu.