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Adobo Grill - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Restaurants Latin American Mexican, Latin American [Edit]
2005 W Division St(between Damen Ave & Hoyne Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
(773) 252-9990
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen-o'hare (Blue Line)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
139 reviews for Adobo Grill
Review Highlights
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"The must try guacamole was only $8." In 69 reviews -
"The monte alban is excellent if you're into red meat." In 8 reviews -
"I loved the chocolate tamal as well." In 5 reviews
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139 reviews in English
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Review from Cheryl B.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2009
We visited Adobo Grill last Sunday night for a late dinner with out of town friends. The place was pretty quiet (just a few tables in there) but the service and food were excellent!
As always, the tableside guacamole did not disappoint! It is hands down their best dish and is quite addicting.
We also ordered their salsa sampler - it offered a nice variety for our group with a little bit of something for everyone.
The margaritas were a bit pricey, but the serving was large and they were good (somewhat strong, not too sour)
The other dishes were all good. Price is a bit high, but we purchased half price dining certificates from one of the local radio stations. At half price, the meal was a steal! -
Review from Katie H.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2009 ROTD 8/23/2009
As my avid readers will attest, many months ago I wrote a review of Angels & Mariachis that went a lil' sumpfin like dis:
"White people: STOP TALKING ABOUT AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. "
Well ok... maybe it's because there was only one other table besides us seated at A&M unlike Adobo Grill where I was just engulfed in a sea of crackers. And perhaps it was also the juxtaposition of this Saturday's dinner and last Saturday's dinner when we went to El Barco Mariscos (get this... Chicanos actually eat here!!!).
So Adobo wasn't our first choice. I read enough assy Yelp reviews about the place to make me think it was kinda lame. But after walking to Crust (hour wait), walking to Smoke Daddy (also a long wait), hemming and hawing about Bob San - we found ourselves at Adobo because we knew they'd have fancy pants cocktails and we'd be seated promptly. See, it's all about the immediate booze really.
If you like slightly too loud music that can best be described as an amalgamation of salsa and Euro Dance... come to Adobo! It made me feel guilty about all the times I bitched about the playlist at my job (it's heavy on the Maroon 5 and Natasha Beddingfield [I once told my boss I'd work a day for free if he could take "She Will Be Loved" off for good - never happened]).
But back to the obligatory off-color analogies!
I could be dressed in lederhosen and Crocs, doing the chicken dance while watching Lawrence Welk with a pair of Brooks & Dunn tickets in my hand and I STILL don't think I'd feel as white as I did at Adobo Grill.
To their credit, Adobo served up some tasty fixins. We ordered chips and salsa to start and I was delighted to find that there was a choice of four different salsas on a caddy. The Diabolo (which was slated to be the hottest) was TAME though. That's ok, I didn't really need to be buying anymore of their $$$ but delicious margaritas to cool the flame. Mr. Dining Companion seemed pleased with his Carrrrrrrrrne Asada tacos and I definitely enjoyed my mahi-mahi with mole verde. But I'll be frank, I could probably eat a buffalo chip if it had pineapple salsa on it. Mmmm.
When it came time to order our next round, we opted for the tequila punch. Interestingly enough, it arrived piping hot. OK... that's cool, I can jive with this boozy TheraFlu.
OK Adobo, your food and libations were good but seemed a bit costly for my liking. I couldn't enjoy your music and atmosphere even if I had just snorted MDMA and really when you're a Mexican restaurant with no Mexican customers it might be time to take a step back and look at yourself.
On the plus side, when I came home my roommate announced that I reeked of tequila. Hooray.Listed in: SMUG!
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Review from Megan B.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2009
The best way to approach Adobo Grill is to treat it as a tapas restaurant; order many appetizers and share them with your companions. This is the best value for your money, and it's a great way to try many of their excellent dishes. The appetizer menu changes slightly with each visit, but I typically order skewers, tamales, and empanadas - all gratifying choices.
While many rave about the made-to-order guacamole, I am not a fan of guacamole in general. Instead I ALWAYS order Totopos y Salsas, an appetizer that consists of chips and four salsas (pico de gallo; chipotle; tres chiles, chef's special) I love the salsa variety, and the rotating "chef's special" salsa keeps this appetizer innovative.
For the last few months, a happy hour has been available weekdays from 4-6 pm. 1/2 price appetizers keep your bill low, and it's a great way to unwind after work.
The location is large, making it fairly easy to quickly get a table as a walk-in. And, I've easily been able to reserve tables for large weekend dinner parties (12 people) several times.Listed in: Unique Ukrainian Village &…
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Review from Ayako M.
9/3/2008
Okay, okay....so maybe I didn't "pre-eat" at this place to make sure it would suffice for my very picky-Mexican friends, but that's no reason to call me out on a Yelp review! WTF!
I heard they had great guacamole and a huge tequila selection.....true on both counts! Though the guacamole serving was insanely small for 5 people at $8.
Other than that...wow, they seriously sucked. First and foremost, I don't care if makes me sound like a fat kid or a cheapskate, but give me free chips and salsa! You're a Mexican restaurant...it's a staple, right?!? I've never been to an Italian restaurant that charges me for the olive oil and vinegar to dip my bread! Totally gypped.
My Civiche was warm, my friends hot dishes were cold...something isn't right here...Our service was so-so...all in all I was very disappointed...AND now! I have to listen to my midget "Latina" friend talk sh*t! Curse you Adobo Grill, curse you! -
Review from Krsna V.
6/9/2007
We go to this place once every year.....to celebrate our anniversary. Other than that, we avoid it. Now, you may ask....why do you celebrate your anniversary here if you don't like it? This is where we ended up eating after meeting for the first time. It was late (10:00pm) on a snowy friday and Adobo was close by. That was our first meal together......ok, enough sappy stories!
On to the review at hand.....Adobo grill is highly overrated. The food is good but not great. The only thing good here is the 'table side' guacamole. The prices are too high for the quality of food you get. You can get better Mexican food at other restaurants in the area. They promote themselves as upscale with the pricing.
My enchiladas were decent....so, was his steak. The chocolate dessert was filling...nothing memorable, nothing to write home about
The three stars are for the guacamole, ok food, nice atmosphere, and service. The wait staff are fast and attentive.
Not worth it unless you want to take someone "special" out on a date. Chicago has many great Latin restaurants....Adobo is just not one of them.Listed in: 'Park'ing myself in Wicker…
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Review from Amanda H.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2008
Service: Eh. I find that if I don't immediately know what I want to order as an entree, it takes a while for the server (and this has happened with several of them) to come back to take my entree order.
Food: Good. The fish tacos are yummy when you want to eat like a fat kid. They also have a yummy pork tenderloin with mashed sweet potatoes that is pretty good (the name of the dish escapes me). This whole "table-side" guacamole thing is kind of silly. It's nice for my friends who hate cilantro but otherwise, who cares.
I once came here with a friend and got some very nice treatment - free guacamole and a couple of free tequilla shots! We must've looked cu-ute that day or somethin. Anyway, that is why they get 4 stars when I would otherwise have given them 3. -
Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2006
I finally tried the guacamole... YUMMY.
I think this is a great casual restaurant - perfect for dates and better with a great group of girlfriends. The food was awesome and the atmosphere was very lively. After a few martinis, I switched over to a mojito... it was way too sweet. Almost like eating candy.
My only complaint is that we waited about an hour at the bar to be seated. Not a fan when you're super hungry!! -
Review from Eve A.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2006
I wasn't crazy about the tableside guacamole; it needed more salt and pepper and lime juice for my tastes, though the avocados were fresh. Also, the comely lass grinding it up looked miserable. She probably doesn't get any comp for her repetitive-motion wrist injuries.
However! Cocktails were good and strong and at painless prices for quality tequilas. Entrees were fresh, hot and well-spiced - tender barbacoa, corny, flavorful tortillas, savory grilled vegetables, flawless grilled seafoods, and inventive versions of not-so-Mexican standards (like chile-pepper mashed potatoes). And this place does Mexican chocolate ice cream absolutely right - one of the better desserts in town, best taken with a piping-hot cup of Adobo's nutty, aromatic homebrew and/or a tot of dessert wine. I loved the chocolate tamal as well...next time, must try the Mexican banana split.
There's a nice atmosphere here; we were more than comfortable sitting at a table near the glittering bar, and the dining room is spacious, well-appointed, not too noisy.
Prices per dish can be discomfiting given the portions - don't be afraid to ask how much you're getting. This is a common complaint, so your server should probably know down to the ounce.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Steve M.
8/27/2008
Adobo Grill served it up, just like I needed it!
While the margaritas are pricey, they are delicious. (Stay away from the "smokey floater" -- you'll have to go to see what I'm talking about.) We had 2 each, which skyrocketed our bill by around $40. (!!)
I ordered the Poc Chuc, a pork dish from the Yucatan, that was marinated with delicious flavor (my memory isn't telling me what the marinade was this time), served with black beans. It brought me back to that trip I took to Mexico a LONG time ago, to climb around the Mayan pyramids and take photos. So so great.
To finish the meal, we ordered cinnamon churros with a mexican chocolate dipping sauce which was the nail in the delicious delicious coffin.
If you just got PAID, and want a fun, festive mexican meal I'd definitely recommend Adobo Grill. Also, if you belong to United Airlines' Mileage Plus program, sign yourself up for the MileagePlus Dining program. Just eating that meal got me 529 miles! So, I guess the moral of the story is: if you just got PAID, want a fun meal, delicious margaritas, and to get that much closer to your next free upgrade or R/T ticket to (mexico?), eat at Adobo Grill!Listed in: Places I'm digging that are 5…
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Review from Jessie B.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2008
I really like this place. I've never been to Adobo, and some of my friends are always raving about their table side guacamole, lavish drinks, and yummy food.
I would have to agree with them. I was very impressed by the wonderful service we got from Melanie. She was very helpful on what appetizers, and what sorts of entrees were the best. We ordered the table side guacamole, which everyone raves about. Unfortunately it wasn't that much for 4 people. One my friends who loves Adobo said that it seemed a lot smaller than it used to be. But the flavor was very good. We also ordered the 4 samplers of the salsa. I wasn't very impressed with this platter as well. All of the red salsas tasted the same, except the salsa verde. I was hoping that my entree was going to be great.
My entree Camerones de la Ajo was sooo delicious. There were 8 large jumbo shrimp that seemed to be marinated in garlic puree. Grilled to perfection, and served with rice. It was so good, I wanted to lick my plate. The drinks were also very tasty. I had a mojito to start with, and then finished off with a house margarita. It was very tart--but that is how I like em.
I'll be back. I just hope next time the salsa, and guacamole will serve up to the hype. Oh yeah, the patio is the place to be! Especially on a warm summer night! -
Review from Paul H.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2010
All kinds of blah......
Squash enchiladas tasted great, but left a wake of damage behind after. Not a feel good meal at all.
Upscale Pepes* -
Review from Kristin K.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2008
Adobo is soooo good and gourmet but so pricey :(
But I love the service it's really good, they are helpful and know everything.
The Monte Alban is amazing and so is the fresh guac, and try the Sangrita / Chelada drink thingy. It'll blow your MIND with its strange deliciousness!Listed in: Top Restaurants, Raging Consumerism
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Review from Becca F.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2008
After a rough week at work, all I want to do on a Friday night is collapse into one of the chairs on Adobo's patio and sip one of their speciality cocktails - La Pila is my favorite. My BFF can't say enough about their margaritas. Both are exceptionally smooth - order with caution. You'll have 3 down before dinner arrives. Our husbands always have fun doing a tequila tasting. Who knew that stuff could be soooo good without a lime or salt! Let the experts at Adobo take you on a tequila soaked adventure. Just be sure you assign a DD before you get started.
We always get an order of guacamole to enjoy while we sip our drinks. We frequently don't have room for dinner, but when we do, we are always happy with our entrees. I LOVE the fish tacos. -
Review from Tobia C.
Somerville, MA
9/16/2007
OOOPS!
I heard an interview with the owner on the radio concerning a mole brunch special. I'd been here before for mediocre meals, but I figured I'd give the mole experience a shot. Argh. The place was completely nearly empty on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. That should have been the first warning...
The deal was, you order an entree of meat and then help yourself to the buffet. The entree would have a mole of your choice on it. Ok...fine...good idea.
We sit down and are told that our server will be with us shortly, and that we should visit the buffet. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and we found that there were VERY few vegi items at the buffet, and NONE for the entree selections (our oversight initially). We're invested at this point, so we decide to dig into the buffet. Eh...ok at best.
So the server comes to our table after I've already finished a whole plate of buffet and I tell him the story. "Listen, is it possible for us to get out of here without paying $20 per person since you don't have any vegetarian options and you didn't come to my table until I pretty much finished my meal?" I said it nicely, of course. ;-) The waiter was a really nice guy, and it was obvious that someone forgot to tell him that we were there.
Manager comes over. "Do you have a question about the menu?" I tell him the situation, and he's a complete jerk. I tell him that we'd pay the bill, of course, but we won't be back. The manager did not care AT ALL. I immediately told about 20 people how crappy the experience was. The poor waiter came over and apologized. I let him know that it wasn't his fault, and that the manager had the option to make things right, and chose not to.
So:
1) Mediocre food.
2) Horrible management
3) Wacky menu and pricing
Happy hunting! -
Review from Lois A.
Chicago, IL
9/11/2009
If you are going to part with your hard earned dollars for amazing Mexican food this is not the place to do it. I was really disappointed with Adobo. The guacamole was the smallest amount of guacamole ever and it didn't taste that great. Really, come over to my house and I can make guacamole tableside that tastes way better than this and I think that's just wrong! I'm no chef! And why no complementary salsa and chips? If they can give them to me at an amazing place like Mixteco they should be able to give them to me here. And If most of the cheapest, hole in the wall Mexican restaurants in the city can shell out for chips to please hungry people like me I do have to wonder...why can't Adobo? Are you worried I'll be too full to eat the smallest amount of guacamole ever made? Well...don't worry!
There were three of us and none of the dishes we had stood out except as beacons of dollars wasted. When you can't even remember what you ordered a few hours after eating it that's a pretty bad sign. The food was bland and nothing compared to sooooo many other awesome Mexican restaurants in the city that charge less. -
Review from Kristin W.
Chicago, IL
5/26/2006
I've been wanting to eat here for a while and I finally got my chance last night. The food was everything I had hoped it would be: awesome.
We started out with some beers (they didn't card me which was great because I had left my ID in my other jeans from the night before) then we got the spicy guacamole for a starter. The spiciness factor was perfect. It was just enough spicy to make my eyes water a little, but not too spicy that I couldn't taste the avocado. I loved it.
For my entree I got the Vegetarian plate. Holy shit this thing was good. There are four different things that come with it, a savory flan, a tamal, some mango and jicama salad and something else that was really good. (I forget, okay) Every thing on my plate was fucking amazing. I kept saying to my friends "okay, you HAVE to try this one". I loved it.
Now, for my budget I don't think I'll be coming here anytime soon unless its for a special occasion. Albeit I have very low funds. The entrees were anywhere from $14.95-$21. The antijitos ranged from $6-$10.
A couple complaints (hence the four star rating). There wasn't that many entrees to choose from, for me it was okay because that vegetarian plate was all I had eyes for, but my pals wanted more options. The service wasn't that hot. The waitress was brand new so I'm cutting her all slack, but the busboys were too anxious and took away our food way before we were ready. Also the manager (I think she was the manager) spilled half a martini down my friends back and didn't offer any compensation. I think thats worthy of a free dessert, come on.
The food here is definitely worth the visit. Everything blew my mind.
** If you can stand to save room for dessert, do yourself a favor and try the chocolate tamal. Absolutely amazing. -
Review from Erin P.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2008
I despise cilantro so I love getting their spicy table side guacamole with out cilantro!!
Their brunch is good also, just remember the Wicker Park location is not open on Saturdays for brunch- I have tried (more than once) to go for brunch to find out they are closedListed in: The Cilantro Hater's Guide to…
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Review from Christine M.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2007
Let me get this straight. The Guacamole is a good 5 stars and the Daquiri's are another 5 stars. The food I give a 3, hence the 4.
When I went it was rather crowded (okay, very crowded) and loud (not a fan). I don't really like competing with blasting latin music and the drunk office party next to me, but after a daiquiri that was make a little better. The food was definitely spicy, and I guess that is why you would go. I am not a huge extra-tasty-spicy-mouth blowing spicy food, so my selection was a little limited. I ordered some sort of steak and I can't honestly say it blew my mind.
I think going back during the week and avoiding the weekend crowd might be a better experience for me, and haven't ruled the place out completely. -
Review from Doro r.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2009
First impressions say a lot but after the first 30 minutes I was very happy- An hour after I left, my margarita buzz wore off and I realized that I just spent $100 for dinner for 2... and all I ate for dinner was a salad.
It took 15-20 minutes AFTER we were seated (at 5pm on Thursday) before the server noticed that we belonged to him. We had decided that we would wait 5 more minutes and then just leave because we saw the table who came in just before us get their drinks and appetizers.
Then... he only screwed up a few times and it was no big deal... except that the food costs sooooo much that, really, there shouldn't be any screw ups...
The chips are not free and they are the thick "natural" ones that I am not a fan of. The guac was good, although not really $8 good. I think half the price is in the presentation. The margaritas tasted very fresh and were worth the $9 or whatever (as opposed to paying about the same somewhere else but drinking tequila flavored cool-aid). My dinner companion ate the vegetarian enchiladas and they were Wonderful. I had the chicken salad and it was good. There were bits of mango in it and the chicken was good quality.
My favorite part was desert. The chocolate Tamal. YUM! It's been almost a week and I am still drooling over the memory of it.
This place is great but I felt like I should have gotten free guac with entrees or something... $100 (including tip) is just too much for dinner for 2 at a mexican restaurant. -
Review from Vivian D.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2008
I been to both Adobo locations several times, but decided to wait to review until I'd given their Tequila menu an overall try, so here I go.
1. The one thing I cannot stop raving about is their guacamole, which is made table-side! You choose the "hotness" level you wish (mild, medium, and spicy) and you immediately see ingredients getting tossed into the serving bowl. Salt, lime, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, peppers, avocado! The works! I hope this is all sounding exciting, because it truly is delicious.
2. The food in general is very tasty and would be considered an upscale approach to typical Mexican dishes. You will find anything from a Jicama-Mango salad to three cheese Empanadas to Chipotle Marinaded steak and more! I've experimented with different dishes every time, and have yet to be disappointed. If you can make it to breakfast/brunch on the weekend, the Chicken Chilaquiles are to die for!
3. The decor of both locations is very colorful and welcoming. Adobo is filled with perfect dim-lighting, bright colors, and lively music. You couldn't ask more for a night out with friends. The service is also excellent and will never fail to be friendly.
4. The drinks selection largely revolves around tequila. Everyone seems to love the margaritas, and wouldn't be lying to recommend them. Although I won't go as far as saying that they're the best I've ever had, you can still taste the juice and quality tequila in all of their drinks. I would also recommend their mojitos, or if you're looking for something more a la "party in your mouth" try their Adobopolitan, which is their own personal take on the Cosmos. (It involves pomogranate juice, tequila, and gran torres if I do believe). Be warned though, all of their drinks sure do pack a punch! -
Review from Melanie B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/25/2006
We went to Adobo tonight. It was a good experience but based on the reviews on here, I had been expecting more. I think it was around 6pm-ish, and we were the first to sit inside. Although it was nasty out tonight (overcast, hot and humid), the patio was packed. Indoor seating is plentiful in this vastly open space, and we had a cozy sort of hidden away table. The decor was very nice, with exposed brick and really cool paintings on the wall, and elegent-modern lighting fixtures. I particularly liked how dark it was, with warm lighting -- it made for a romantic and cozy ambiance, particularly with the open doors to the patio and the overcast evening.
We ordered the guacamoli and jacima chips to start (note to other gluten-weary diners -- Adobo has a gluten free menu, which is one of the reasons we chose to try out this place). The guacamoli is made right in front of you, and is absolutely delicious. I recommend trying at least a side of the jacima chips -- they're very crisp and refreshing. My girlfriend and I both ordered the chicken enchiladas. They were very good but a bit too spicy for me (note: I am a huge wimp, so if normal spiciness doesn't bother you, you won't even notice), but not so that I couldn't enjoy my meal. It was very good but as my girlfriend sweetly noted, "you make better food at home." So, I guess I just don't really believe our meals were worth 15 bucks each.
The margaritas were delicious, and my gf ended up trying the non-alcoholic beer, as she was going to be working later. They import that stuff from the makers of Guiness in Ireland, and its actually quite good.
The service here was overwhelming and almost annoying at times. Our server was nice and very attentive, though he did try to get us to buy more than we wanted a couple times (drinks, dessert, etc). However, at least three other server-types hovered over us throughout the meal and made it hard for us to have a conversation. One of them wiped off our table as soon as we finished our entree, and we were still sitting there. It was kind of awkward.
Anyway, this place is overpriced. The margarita was worth its price, though, I thought, but the food was not exceptional and the service was... I'll say it again... very awkward. I'm glad I tried Adobo though, I have been curious for a long time. -
Review from Keely B.
11/30/2009
Adobo Grill tries too hard. This restaurant takes really solid Mexican classics and attempts to make them "gourmet" by using all sorts of strange ingredients. The result is that the food is mediocre, at best, and overpriced.
I've been here two or three times, and I've never really enjoyed my meal. On one visit, a friend and I shared a salsa sampler. I found most of them tasted like barbeque sauce. On another visit, I had the empanadas. Meh. That's about the best I can say for them.
The one bright spot is the made-to-order guacamole. This is the only thing that gets Adobo Grill 2 stars. It was not until this restaurant that I knew that I could like guacamole, and for that, I am grateful. -
Review from Pinaki S.
Charleston, SC
3/24/2009
The Lovely Diana R** took me on a mystery dinner here, even though it was option 3 (Mondays aren't fantastic for restaurants, imagine that?). Well for an option 3, it easily could have been an option 1A if I had to do the rankings all over again (not even sure if that makes sense).
Adobo matches up well with the other higher end Mexican places I've been to (Mixteco and Sol De Mexico--Rick Bayless hasn't penetrated me just yet)
As others have said, get the guac. Seriously, get the guac. (If you're wondering, 'guac' is short for 'guacomole'.) As far as entrees go, I got the "Pechuga Azteca", a stuffed chicken with some random sauce. It was awesome. Diana got the "Monte Alban" which was awesome but slightly less awesome than my dish.
For a Four-Location restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised.
** Diana R told me that I should name drop to increase my Yelp-cred. She knows that in real life I would never be so complimentary. Let's see how that works. -
Review from Lisbeth D.
Chicago, IL
9/17/2007
Maybe Sunday was an off day.
My husband and I have been here many times, mostly good and a few mediocre. We've realized that we enjoy (and receive better service) sitting at the bar for margaritas and appetizers more than sitting in the dining room or on the patio. The bartenders are always knowledgeable, nice and friendly, and a pleasure to talk with.
However, last Sunday there was a woman sitting at the bar whom I can only assume was a manager. As she sat a few seats away from us, we had to endure her complaining to one employee about another saying how she "didn't fire him but..." Then the employee being discussed was called to see her and we had to listen to her belittle him. This is at 6pm; not in an empty restaurant! Would it really have been that difficult to conduct this exchange in a private room or at a time when the restaurant was empty so that customers would not have to listen?
Being forced to listen to her completely ruined our experience. We had planned on spending a couple of hours there, but left as quickly as we could after finishing our food.
We may return, but we'll be sure to watch out for that woman and leave immediately if she is near. -
Review from Claudia B.
Chicago, IL
3/25/2008
I wish I liked the entrees here more. The guacamole and margaritas are fantastic and keep me coming back here, but the entrees always leave me disappointed.
The vibe is good and the servers are friendly, so my advice is to come to Adobo for some guacamole and a few margaritas and hit your favorite taco spot on the way home for your entree. -
Review from Megan L.
4/7/2008
I always enjoy Adobo- I really like the atmosphere and the food and service is consistently good. This weekend was no exception. We were a little late for our reservation, but it wasn't a problem - we were seated right away. Our server was prompt with the drinks, though we did have to tell him we were ready to order our entrees after he'd been by the table a few times without asking.
Entrees were all delicious - I had the flank steak, and my companions had the vegetarian plate, chicken enchiladas, and the duck. Most of the drinks were very good, though the Michelada was a little on the tomato-y side for our tastes. Not bad, just not what we're used to.
I am docking a star for the price. I am always surprised by how much I've spent by the end of a dinner here. It (obviously) doesn't keep me from going back, but I still think it's a bit more expensive than it should be. -
Review from Crystal M.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2008
The service and beverages here are very good. The guacamole is also very good.
The rest of the menu is a little weird. Everything is edible, but always a little off in flavor somehow. I cannot explain it!
The conclusion to this brief review: Go here because of the patio, service, and drinks, but keep your expectations in check in regards to the food.Listed in: The places I love to hate...
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Review from Johnny B.
Chicago, IL
5/7/2007
I was completely under impressed with Adobo Grill. We started with margaritas, which were EXTREMELY sweet. I didn't enjoy it at all. No one with me had a second. Everyone switched to wine or beer.
The appetizers were definitely a step up. The ceviche was fantastic (served on tortilla chips), as was the tableside guacamole. If we were wary after the drinks, we were relieved after the appetizers.
For dinner, I ordered our server's recommendation of the skirt steak with guacamole. My girlfriend ordered the tilapia. Neither were impressive. My steak was bland and boring. Thankfully it was covered in the great guac, which made the entree at least average. The tilapia was dry and (once again) bland. Not what I expect from a Mexican restaurant. Where is the spice and flavor?!?!
For dessert, we shared a tres leches and a chocolate tamal. The tamal was so rich and mouth-watering. Fantastic. However, the tres leches was dry. It's milk cake - how can it be dry?
Based on previous reviews, I was very excited to try Adobo Grill. Unfortunately, it greatly fell short of my expectations. The entire evening was hit-or-miss with several major misses. I most likely won't be back anytime soon.Listed in: Why Bother?, O-ver-ra-ted!
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Review from Perry S.
San Francisco, CA
7/15/2007
I came here for my one year anniversary and I was super pleased! The food was really good and I love the fact they made their guacamole fresh in front of you! They will make it as you like it and I can't argue with that.
My waiter was super awesome. Forget his name. Duh! He gave us free dulce de leche dessert for our anniversary! -
Review from Naomi C.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2008
I blame my friend Aya for not testing this place out before she took us here :) She knows my brother and I are whiny bitches about our Mexican food.
I bet my food would have tasted good had it been hot. Had any of our food been hot or anything approaching warm it MIGHT have been decent. As it happened, my tostada thing tasted like the bbq chicken pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. Weird for "Mexican" food. Sigh, sorry Chicago, the search for decent Mexican food continues. Maybe next time I visit your Mexican restaurants will have discovered two little somethings called spice and flavor.
I added a star for the tequila board, but then took it away because you don't automatically serve me chips and salsa. -
Review from Brent W.
4/7/2008
Ok, so it's no Las Palmas, Topolobampo or even a Maiz but it's still pretty good. To be honest, i had actually boycotted this place for about a year due to them charging for chips and salsa - i know, the effing nerve, right!....however, we decided to lift the ban as it were, because after careful deliberation and consideration, felt that its location was just too convenient to offer up a lifetime embargo on the place...plus the food, iirc, was pretty good (and they have a sizable tequila menu).
ANYway, so we go, and as is customary w. a 1 year old, we go relatively early, like 6p, so that assures us immediate entry and seating. We had a fairly indifferent server with a menacing eye turned toward our angelic precious babe who, incidentally, sat quietly stuffing his little face full of cheerios....we quickly got beyond our servile servers attitude and ordered up a few Margs and a kiddie cocktail for the bambino.
I forgot that they had a rather large antojitos section on the menu, and since we were in a mix and match sort of mood, did just that. Went with the Empanades which were stuffed with asadero and panela cheese, fresh corn, poblano rajas and epazote....yea, they were damn good at a 4/5.
Also chose the Steak Skewers with Oaxaquea salsa which, upon arrival, looked like something out of the movie Hellboy, what with the 6-8 skewers stuck into the salsa and quite literally protruding off of the plate as if to take us out right there...also good but more 3/5. Rounded out the meal w the Tacos de Pescado, which were fish tacos w negra modelo battered tilapia...very good at a 4/5.
Oh, and the Chips and Salsa? Yes, we did go there and they were debatably worth the $4 price tag. The chips were a bit meh, but you do get four types of salsa's thus justifying the charge I suppose...3/5.
Overall a 3.5/5 and we'll prob find ourselves there again sometime this summer.Listed in: Mexico: One Restaurant at a…
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Review from Slu S.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2007
My other halfs favorite Mexican joint, but unfortunately not mine. The food is good, no doubt, but not great and for the same price, I could get about 9 tilapia tacos at Nopales, 3 antecinos at Maiz or a full meal at Frontera (if I could get a seat).
The guacamole is very good and the ingredients are fresh. Consider it the Vong's Thai Kitchen to the better food, poorer atmosphere Spoon. -
Review from Cesar j.
Chicago, IL
2/12/2008
OK, here we go.
Adobo grill. (sigh)
The restaurant is nice. I'll give it that but unfortunately I came here to eat. Yeah i know, going to a restaurant to eat. It's crazy but it's just something I do.
My date and I sit down, look over the menu and decide what we'd like to have.
We both order a tilapia meal. Again, TILAPIA. OK, nothing fancy.
We had water to drink with our meal. Ordered some guacamole. Had some chips. Talked a bit, then the meal came.
The "meal" was served on desert plates. These tiny little plates with a sad piece of tilapia in the middle.
Once the "meal" was over (1 minute later) we ordered a shot of tequila each.
Lets sum it up: Water to drink. Guacamole side. 2 Tilapia 'dinners" (served on desert plates) and two shots of tequila.
The bill (with tip): $120.
yep.
The only part of the meal that was enjoyable was the guacamole which is surprising because I'm generally not a fan of the stuff.
Definitely not worth it.
It gets 1 star only because this site won't allow me to post a review with 0 stars. -
Review from Amy S.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2009
Having been to the Old Town outpost several times, I thought I knew what I was in for here. Not so.
The disappointments:
- "tableside guac" not prepared tableside (WTF?! How am I supposed to supervise the process like the control freak I am?!)
- margarita too sweet
- WORST SERVICE EVER
As usual, the food was good, but the experience overall will keep me from coming back. I loathe bad service, especially when an establishment isn't busy. My friend told me that our waiter, who ignored us all night, spent most of his time hanging out in a corner chatting. Unacceptable.
I'll stick to Old Town thankyouverymuch. -
Review from Dan m.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2007
If I could flip 6 stars, I would.
Excellent margaritas, excellent guacamole, very nice staff.
I've been to this Adobo approximately 10 times in the last 3 years and I always walk out with a smile on my face and full belly.
You don't have to go for just dinner either, its nice to stop by for brunch or after work for a drink and some chips (they have a bar). -
Review from Rob N.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2008
Went to Adobo early tonight with my friend Al and his 2 kids under 3 for dinner and it was very good.
I did like the table side guacamole that they make to taste. Also had a couple of very smooth margaritas. My entree was one of the weekly specials: grouper on polenta with mole and mango. He had the chicken enchiladas. Both were really good. Specifically with mine the mole rocked and had a bit o' kick. Then we hit the a dessert of chocolate tamal with vanilla ice-cream and it was super.
The service was rock solid. It was a little slow for them that night so even the chef came out and talked to us--very nice and knowledgeable. And they did not mind that we were feeding the kids some of the crispix and squash we brought. They also provided kids menus that the 2+ year old could color, high chairs and parked the stroller.
Perhaps on weekend and brunch that others have been to it has not been good or worked for kids, but tonight it was smooth sailing for our party and very tasty to boot. -
Review from Kat and Geo M.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2007
Went here for Mothers Day Brunch. For the low price of $21 we were treated to a buffet of appetizers - cheese and mushroom quesadillas, mini beef and plaintain sopas, guacamole, chips, shredded chicken nachos, ceviche (tasty, but very watery), (cold) grilled steak skewers, a spicy jicama salad and a few other choices I have already forgotten). The appetizers were good....but my entree was seriously heavenly!
I had the grilled skirt steak (three 2x2 inch pieces of perfectly seasoned and grilled skirt steak on top of a base of refried beans and layered with guacamole, grilled tomatoes and Mexican cheese and topped with fried tortilla strips). Absolutely amazing! I was really surprised at how flavorful and tender the beef was.
My husband had the Mexican style eggs Benedict - eggs and chorizo on top of sopas with a green mole sauce. That was a really interesting departure from traditional eggs Benedict.
Some of the other choices were tilapia, pork, a Mexican egg enchilada, & roasted veggie burrito.
Dessert was a simple buffet of tres leches cake slivers, some type of chocolate cake/pudding presented inside of corn husks (very rich!) and very good mini flans presented aside traditional Mexican pan dulces (breads...which no one really seemed to be trying).
I would have given the experience 5 stars, but there were a few disappointments:
1. they seated us near the door to the patio dining and a few of the waiters neglected to take care as they were going out to the patio so the big heavy glass and metal door kept slamming into our table. After a few hits we tried to move our table a few inches over, but it didn't really help. I'm just really glad I never rested my hand on the right edge of the table...or else I'd have black and blue fingers for Mother's Day.
2. when my husband and I both got to the bottom of our coffees the cups were full of coffee grounds - as if they didn't put a filter in when they brewed it. The manager saw and said that we wouldn't be charged, but we still were. We didn't bother trying to track him down to get it taken off because we had somewhere to be so we didn't want to wait.
3. in my opinion, the place was crowded beyond comfort. Trying to get to the buffet was like an obstacle course because of all the people just standing and waiting at the bar.
4. it's a little hard to chose things from the buffet because of the super dim lighting in that area of the restaurant. We had a hard time reading the descriptions for each dish because of this. -
Review from Jonathan A.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2008
Fancied up, overpriced Mexican food for gringos in the neighborhood. Actually, the food was pretty good and the margaritas were deceptively strong, but for the price, I don't think so...I think you're paying for the atmosphere and people watching on Division mainly.
I have no reason to go back since there about a thousand better Mexican restaurants in my hood. -
Review from Kris B.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2007
I like guac, so I will be the jerk that says - I like it when other people make me fresh guac and I don't have to make it, or I don't have to get it from the grocery store. That said, I know there are other places that make it better. Oh well. And to the point of the other folks - yes, the lady making it does look like she'd rather be at the dentist.
I do like the drinks - not just the margs but some of the other mixed drinks that are pretty unique.
The food on the other hand - not so impressive. I've been to the one in Lincoln Park too, and when I want mexican, I want mexican - a burrito, some nachos, something filling. I feel like Adobo tries to go upscale but still wants to be casual. Its weird. -
Review from Carolyn B.
Chicago, IL
6/20/2010
I had a lovely time here with a friend, we sat outside on a beautiful almost summer's night drinking margaritas and mojitos. I ordered a chicken adobo salad which was okayish.. I don't understand why "mexican-ish" salads come with tortilla strips and my chicken was pretty dry. My friend got some kind of chicken enchiladas and seemed to enjoy them. The guacamole was delicious and amazing, our drinks were strong and went down smoothly and quickly. The service was attentive and crazyfast.
If I want to sit outside and drink a couple (expensive-ish) margaritas, I'd come back... but not necessarily for the food... well, maybe some guac.
