When Doug was about 5 years old, his parents took him to a Mexican restaurant in California. It was the family’s first trip to California and Mexican was unknown and exotic to Massachusetts residents. To this day, he and his mother argue the reasons given for which Doug threatened to eat a napkin rather than eat the food. His mom claims it was because he lacked an appreciation for Mexican cuisine. Doug claims the restaurant simply wasn’t up to his standards.
A life-long quest to find good Mexican food had started. In the early days, finding a Taco Bell was even considered a special treat. Later years turned business trips to San Antonio and San Diego into (expensed) food quests. Cookbooks were purchased, including Diana Kennedy’s My Mexico, and lead to the discovery of Rick Bayless and his opening of the restaurant Frontera Grill in Chicago.
When we decided to vacation in Chicago, Frontera Grill was immediately put on the list as a dining possibility. Given our schedule and limited dining opportunities, we decided to eat at Topoplobambo, Chef Bayless’ more upscale restaurant, because they took reservations where Frontera Grill does not.
Dragon Over the Bar
The first thing you need to understand is that Topolobampo and Frontera Grill are essentially the same restaurant. They are in the same building and share the same kitchen. Frontera serves as the bar for Topolobampo. Locals probably found us amusing to watch as we searched in vain for a separate entrance.
The bar is lively. Upon ordering Margaritas we discovered that they are made one at a time with fresh squeezed juice. They are incredibly tasty. The only negative is that they are small compared to the vat o’ Margarita we have become used to receiving.
Skeleton Over the Bar
We were then brought to the other side of the wall – the Topolobampo side. Here the noise is reduced, but only a little. The tablecloths are white, but the artwork and Day of the Dead figures maintain a festive atmosphere. The room is full, but uncluttered.
We receive menus and discover that there are three different five-course tasting menus. All three looked good and we were amused to learn that they were listed in order of adventuresome-ness.
Day of the Dead Figures in the Dining Room
The first tasting menu contained items that ostensibly could be eaten by people who fear Mexican food. Clearly, this is not for us, but looked really good nonetheless. The second got a little more daring with the ingredients and preparations. Nothing really unusual, but it contained words with more syllables than found in “taco.”
The third utilized ingredients only found in Mexico or contained food prepared in ways that some people don’t like, such as leaving it raw. It also had had some of the cooler ingredients like candied sweetbreads and crispy pig’s ear.
Clearly we were not going to pass on anything with crispy pig’s ear, but as it turns out we could each order a different menu. We went with the last two being the adventuresome types that we are; thus, allowing us to try 10 differnent dishes.
Day of the Dead Figures in the Dining Room
You may notice that there are only eight pictures of food. As has happened in the past, we went in without planning on writing about the experience then quickly changed our minds.
The food was phenomenal! The flavors of the rich, complex sauces and the earthy garnishes were better-than-hoped-for complements to perfectly cooked meat and fish. The plates were beautifully arranged and had a substantial amount of food with each course since the tasting menu was limited to five items.
We had only one issue with the rib-eye tartar that came out icy cold, but even this proved to be a really strong dish after we left it to warm up. We wished we had taken pictures of the first courses that included oysters that even Ruth (who is not a fan) liked.
Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn’t seem to take the service as seriously. Not that it was bad, but just not great and seemed to be in contrast with the meticulously created food. On the other hand, this tasting menu might be the best deal for the money of any place we’ve eaten.
Given that Doug was much more gleeful about the meal than Ruth, one might make the argument that this was a really good meal – for Mexican food. The flavors are unique and not necessarily to everyone’s liking. When considering the price point, it comes to mind that some cuisines (like Japanese) seem to get away with being nominally more expensive than average, Mexican does not.
We very much recommend Topolobampo and assume that Frontera Grill would be very good also. Arrive early and enjoy the bar.
What we ate:
Tamal de Huitlacoche, Espuma de Flores: Super-tender sweet corn-huitlacoche tamal with froth sauce of Bayless Garden squash blossoms, Oaxacan quesillo cheese and poblano chile. Summer squash confetti, epazote, huitlacoche dust. (Wine pairing: 2005 Domaine Marcel Deiss, “Engelgarten” Alsace, France)
Ostiones Horneados con Ceviche: Fresh-shucked oysters baked under a veil of smoky crema. Ceviche of Artic char “toro,” gooseberry puree, pickled ancho chile, tequila “air.” (Wine tasting: 2007 Domaine Lucien Crochet “Le Chene” Sancerre, Loire Valley, France)
Carne Apache: Creekstone ribeye tartare with red guajillo chile, red onion and red currants. Tamazula raspado (shaved ice), buttery croutons, egg yolk “custard,” Bayless Garden microgreens. (Wine tasting: NV Brundlmayer Brut Rose Sekt, Kamptal, Austria)
Chile Ancho Relleno de Chorizo: Pickled ancho chile filled with homemade chorizo and lamb chicharron prensado. Pan-roasted lamb loin, porky red bean sauce, crema, Bayless Garden microgreens. (Wine pairing: 2008 Shaya “Habis” Verdejo Old Vines, Rueda, Spain)
Camarones en Pipian Verde: California Spot prawns, browned in butter, with green pumpkinseed pipian. Roasted Nichols Farm artichokes, crispy pig ear, pepita jam, royal trumpet mushrooms. (Wine pairing: 2008 Melville Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California)
Salmon Adobado con Arroz Negro: Pan-roasted Alaskan king salmon with squid-ink black rice and red chile adobo sauce (infused with orange and prickly pear). Roasted wild chanterelle mushrooms, orange-pickled guero chiles, City Farm verdolagas salad. (Wine pairing: 2006 Allegrini “Palazzo Della Torre” Veronese, Veneto, Italy)
Borrego en Salsa de Chile Pasilla: Elysian Field lamb loin in rustic, dark pasilla chile sauce. “Candied” sweetbreads, chochoyotes (corn masa dumplings), local mustard greens, roasted Nichols Farm turnips, queso anejo, cocoa nibs. (Wine tasting: 2007 Outpost Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California)
Puerco en Pipian de Maiz Azul: Braised Gunthorp pork shoulder and belly with pipian de maiz azul (ancho and pasilla chile, blue corn). Puree of Iroquois white corn, black beans and avocado leaf; garlicky braised quelites; charred Spence Farm baby Iroquois white corn; sweet corn “air.” (Wine pairing: 2005 Adobe Guadalupe “Gabriel” Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico)
Pay de Queso y Chocolate Oaxaqueno: Creamy Mexican chocolate cheesecake with caramelized walnut-cocoa nib crust. Nichols Farm sweet beet ganache, fluffy goat cheese crema, candied beets. (Wine tasting: 2004 Capcanes “Pansal Del Calas, Montsant, Spain)
Sueno de Coco: A quartet of coconut dreams: creamy coconut flan, crunchy coconut wafer, peach-studded coconut ice cream, and chewy cocada candy infused with apricot. (Wine: 2009 Vietti Moscato D’Asti, Piemonte, Italy)
Sorry, no pictures of the bathrooms.