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Tue-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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4.5 stars-- half a star deducted for the lackluster (not even warmed!) bread and butter. I was worried this would be a total bust of an overpriced meal out. But once I got past the free starter disappointment, I took in the menu options and DAMN!
My date and I came here a while back, and we'll definitely be going back. Started with the tinga de pollo-- excellent. Perfectly flavored.
I had the chile relleno which was a great mix of vegetables, cheese and sauce. Right consistency and flavors. My date had the steak which was coated in a fantastic red sauce.
Ended the meal with the chocolate enchiladas-- thumbs up. Had to be held back from licking the plate.
Nice atmosphere-- almost too noisy but not. Perfectly friendly servers. A nice age-crossing demographic, too.
Thumbs up.
We order for Appetizers;
BETABEL
COCHINITA RILLETTES
Bottle of red wine
Perfect size and really delicious, especially COCHINITA RILLETTES so good....
I love patty, so you should try if you like it.
Entree;
TILAPIA A LA TALLA
RISOTTO with foie gras and apple
I don't like Tilapia that much, but they cook excellent way for this meal.
It was really creamy but not too heavy, so I really love it.
Risotto is amazing as well, perfect combination with apple and foie gras!
Service is perfect and so quick.
The only negative thing is that noisy women customer!
She was screaming and really big voice, it was out of control.
Everyone looked at her cuz so annoyed.
Hope I never meet again that kind of disgusting people to any where else,
but definitely I'll back to this place for great meal and service!
Guess who's serving up impressive Mexican/French cuisine these days? Mexique. That's who. Haven't been? Well, what are you waiting for?? Secure your reservation quick on Opentable and then I will tell you what you have to look forward to.
Service:
Our server was great. He checked in on us often but wasn't overbearing. Our water glasses were constantly being refilled, which is always a plus.
Beverages:
Wine. Several selections by the glass ($9-12) and bottles starting around $35+. I thoroughly enjoyed my chardonnay not being served ice cold.
Food:
3 stars for the apps--5 stars for entrees!
Tinga de Pollo-- just okay. Indeed it was shredded chicken on a chip. Kind of bland, some spice would have kicked it up a bit.
French Onion Soup-- Come on now, one strand of poblano does not make this a fusion of cuisines.
Asada- OMFG! Seriously, I proclaimed this to be one of the best entrees I've had all year. Imagine perfectly cooked med-rare flank steak with spinach, asparagus, potatoes and a salty/tangy goat cheese fondue. Loved it.
Pork tenderloin-- they know how to cook their meats! Again, cooked beautifully and arranged on their mole sauce with a super yummy sweet potato puree.
Choc enchiladas-- Believe the hype. A thick, spongy crepe filled with a very dark chocolate. I likey. Lots.
Chicago's spotlight on upscale Mexican has always been on the Rick Bayless trio of Frontera/Topolobampo/Xoco. It's time to branch out, my friends. Give Mexique a try. Afterward you'll be saying, "Rick who...??"
I'm still thinking about this meal three days later, and that is always a good sign.
We had 6:30 reservations on Saturday night after a theater matinee, but showed up almost twenty minutes early. No problem, apparently, as the hostess didn't hesitate to guide us directly to our table. It was one of the few up front, and I must say that I may have enjoyed the meal more if we had been seated towards the back, where most of the other tables were.
No harm done. Our server was warm and charming, and I enjoyed the clean and simple, but still warm and classy, aesthetic. Bricks, beige, subdued red, wood, straight lines, and an immaculate glass wall surrounding their semi-open kitchen: in every aspect, I loved their look. However, let's be honest--the food does all of the talking here.
We started with French onion soup and the tinga de pollo (the latter thanks to numerous Yelp reviews). The soup allegedly included poblano peppers but all I found was one lonely strip in the bottom of the bowl. Otherwise it was pretty good (however I am no conoisseur of French onion soup and am easily fooled). The tinga was simple but tasty, although I felt that I must have been missing something after all the rave reviews.
For the entree, I debated between the puerco con mole and the tilapia; I'm no tilapia enthusiast, but the accompanying ingredients sounded fantastic. However, I chose the puerco and was somewhat disappointed. It was cooked very well but the mole could have been more potent, both in chocolate and spice flavors. Also, the roasted cocoa nibs lent too much bitterness to the dish. On the side was a delicious ratatouille atop a sweet potato puree. Points for originality and supporting cast, but the meat and mole sauce let me down just a bit.
However--my date's asada entree was utterly phenomenal. She let me have several bites and it elevated my opinion of the restaurant from a B to an A. I'm not sure what seasonings were used, but between those and the amazing grill flavor, each bite was a joy. Potatoes, scallions, roasted tomato, the savory goat cheese "fondue" sauce, and perfectly cooked slices of steak...pretty much the perfect dish.
After that, dessert was an anti-climax, but I had to try the chocolate enchiliadas mentioned by several others. Thanks, Yelpers! It seemed simple, but the walnuts add SO much, and overall it was very well done.
So although it's a little off my beaten path and not all the food was perfect, I had a great time and would be more than happy to return to Mexique.
Mexique is a strange oasis on the new hip dining street of Chicago Ave. It's much more upscale than the bar food places that surround it.
The decor is nice, very minimal, very modern, but with some warmth to it and not too glam-y like a W hotel can be. Note, the tables are set up New York style. So if it gets crowded, expect to be very close to your neighbors.
The Servers a polite, professional, and knowledgeable about their menu, exactly as you'd expect.
I had the Civiche and Pato al Tamarindo (duck). The Civiche was good, but a bit bland (I like it a little more spicy) and fishy. However, the duck was was delicious.
Wine selection is good, with Sangria available (even though its Spanish, not Mexican, go figure).
This is an fine dining place, so portions will be on the moderate to smaller side, depending on what you get. So if you're starving, be ready to pay.
All in all, a great fine dining spot.
Had dinner here last night and overall it was very good. The place is pretty small and we were seated at kind of an akward table by the door. They don't have a full bar so the choices were either wine, beer, or a red sangria.
To start, I had the Tinga de Pollo which was excellent. The chicken was very tender and flavorful. My wife had the Pescamal which she enjoyed but we both agreed that the Chicken was better.
For dinner, I had the Pork Tenderloin and my wife had the Asada. The Asada was excellent. The meat was great and it was served with some delicious potatoes and a goat cheese fondue. The pork tenderloin was served with a mole and sweet potato puree. It was good, but the Asada was much better.
For desserts, we had the guacamole and the Enchilladas. While these don't sound like desserts they did a good job of taking sweets and making them look like the regular versions. The enchiladas were very heavy on the chocolate but good so if you're not a fan of chocolate then these may not be for you. The guacamole however, was excellent. I didn't know what to expect when I ordered it, but it was made to look somewhat like guacamole. To my surprise when I tried it, it started off somewhat tasting like guacamole as well but finished sweet.
Mexique appears to be having something of an identity crisis. Maybe I should have been tipped off by it's self described French/Mexican cuisine or the fact that they didn't serve margaritas but instead served sangria (that's not French of Mexican) but I was willing to give it a shot.
The appetizers were far superior to the main courses, but some were still a little hit or miss. We got ceviche, which was good, but not amazing. The ahi tuna was amazingly fresh (this is Chicago, so I will give kudos for that) but it was a little bland. The trio of sopes were outstanding, but the crab tamales were really not good at all.
As for the mains, they were all meh. I had the pork tenderloin with mole, that was ok, but overcooked. My boyfriend got the risotto which was so undersalted we had to ask the waitress to bring over salt. I honestly can't remember the last time I had to ask for salt. I mean did the chef even taste this stuff before he set it out. The other two mains we ordered were so unmemorable I can't actually remember what they were.
Overall the place isn't terrible, but it really isn't great, and come on it's not like I am eating at TGI Fridays so yes, I do expect Mexique to be better than this. There really isn't anything on their menu that I would go back for.
Last weekend, I checked out Mexique with a bunch of friends. It was soooooo nice. The waitstaff was awesome. The sangria's were slamming. Matter of fact, I had one too many.
One of my co-workers recommended Mexique. She came back bragging about this place. So I decided to suggest it as a pick for my friend's birthday celebration. I had the asada which is the flank steak with asparagus. The dish was prepared well but being the chicken I am when it comes to red meat, I asked for my flank steak med-well. It was still juicy. The only beef that I had was the limited amount of asparagus on the plate. I had only 1 on the plate. Hmmm, is that considered a garnish since there was only one.
One of my friends had the vegetales. This mushroom crepe was nice. Actually, I am so tempted to try that dish at home. The mushrooms were rather tasty and the presentation was ooo-la-la!
In relation to the chef, can I say HOT TO TROT. It's not often you catch a cutie behind the grill. This time I was in for a treat. We kept asking him to come back out! I think he got the picture. My friend was totally ecstatic and ended up taking pics with another birthday girl.
Oh wait, I forgot to mention this. Our entire group loved the place and the food as well. We had a group of about 15 people and the staff was able to accomodate all of our needs. All of them enjoyed their experience and plan to bring more people back. Also, the chef suprised us with a complimentary platter of fresh oysters just for coming. Talking about feeling appreciated in the biggest way.
You can't beat that experience. I look forward to going back there for other great adventures at Mexique!
Overall, its a great place for groups. The waitstaff is wonderful and the atmosphere is very swanky. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.
The more reviews I write on this site the more I begin to ask myself one important question: would I return here? So often I rate a place highly but don't find myself returning. Why? It's one thing if the food was good or if I had a great time, but would I throw away a chance at a new restaurant for a return trip to Mexique? The honest answer is yes.
Mexique serves up authentic Mexican fair with a French twist. Hell, they can call it what they want but good food is good food and great food is great food. For me, Mexique falls somewhere in that line between really good and great. The appetizers were all delicious. I dabbled here and there in the french onion soup, the ceviche, and the Mejillones (mussels with wine and chorizo) and would order any of those again. My starter was the Cochinita Rillettes, an achiote/tequila braised pork shoulder with a mango-habanero glaze. Before the main course even arrived my mouth was on fire, but in a pleasant way. It was nothing a little beer and wine couldn't handle.
My entree consisted of the Costillas, a braised short rib with mini truffle fries and a celery root slaw. The rib and fries were wonderful together but I didn't care for the orange/tangerine flavor of the slaw. I felt it overpowered everything else on the plate. I was able to sample someone's Asada, the dish our family coined "a trough of meat" since it's served in a long plate, and found it tasty as well. I was told it is their #1 seller on the menu. I closed my dinner with the apple tart. Apples, caramel, ice cream and puff pastry - superb.
Mexique is a cozy eatery in a wonderful area of Chicago. The chef was friendly, the food was delicious, and the wine and beer added to our great night. I'm looking forward to my next experience.
My husband was a bit disappointed that they didn't serve cocktails but the wine the waiter recommended was wonderful. Wish their bread and butter was a bit more creative (warm, flavored, something?) but everything else was wonderful. Apps, entrees and dessert were superb.
You know what warms my heart? When I'm home hours after eating and the leftovers taste even better than the first bite. We thought it was closed at first. There are usually a lot of people in here when we go by in the evening but this was brunch and we were the only ones in the place. When another couple came in they were seated so far away from us that it was still as if we were alone...I loved that! I hate when places shove everyone together and there are only a few couples in the place.
Our waiter was really nice. We started with the tilapia tacos. Really really yummy! I loved the Mexique slaw and the chipotle aioli on them. Then I ordered the huarache and was amazed. It was fried black beans, flank Steak and goat cheese fondue on corn masa that had been infused with bacon and thyme...as good as it sounds! That's what I warmed up later and food dorked out to.
I don't remember what my boyfriend had although I know I tasted it and found it good. I could really only focus on eating my lovely plate of yummness and savoring every bit.
I am always up for any sort of Mexican fusion. Made reservations for 7 on a Saturday. This pocket of Chicago still has the old school meters (and the surrounding streets are strictly parking permit), so after driving around a couple of times we valeted. (The valet says Nataliano's, the restaurant next door, but they'll take anyone for $10.)
Greeted immediately with a smiling face and a beautiful dining room. Our server came over and took our wine (it's limited, but seems to cover all the bases, we went with a Malbec) and appetizer order (the babel salad with beets and goat cheese). We asked her what her favorite things were on the menu. All of them contained meat (and they all sounded delicious), so my companion was pleased but I felt SOL. There were 3 options on the menu for me (thankfully I eat fish, if you are a straight vegetarian or vegan, this is not your place), halibut, salmon, and crepes. The server recommended the halibut, so that's what I got. My companion got the carne asada.
Bread was delivered (very good) soon after our wine. Then our appetizer arrived.
Entrees. My halibut covered roasted tomatoes and zucchini, which sat upon a sope with black beans. It was delicious. I'm still thinking about the sope and have tried to reproduce it at home. (Does anybody know where I can get fresh sopes?) My companion enjoyed the steak, and I tried the fingerling potatoes with the goat cheese fondue that accompanied (clearly, we are big goat cheese fans, this was comfortingly tasty).
Dessert was the chocolate enchiladas (skip it, it's just too much) and the avocado "guacamole" mousse which I LOVED.
That night I had a dream in which I decided to go back to Mexique for lunch (there was a side story in the dream where I don't valet and park at a meter and get like a thousand tickets, but that's beside the point). I like it, my subconscious likes it, you'll like it.
Mexique was great
The food was creative and interesting.
The mole was a little bitter as mole's go--but still noshworthy.
The Tingas de Pollo were muy sabroso.
The wine list is well built with bottles starting at around 30 bucks.
My only thing with Mexique is that the design is too So Cal modern for me. It comes across a little cold and hotelish.
We ate there Saturday night. I think it was very good, and I'd go back but I'd skip dessert. Street parking was ridiculously easy and the place is nicely done on the inside.
Some dining details:
I was a bit put off that they only serve wine, beer and sangria. Supposedly the chef doesn't feel other beverages go with his food? Okay, but what about The Customer is always right? The sangria was good, but a bit pricey.
We started with the trio of sopes and the cochinita rillettes. The sopes were great... each one came with a little wine pairing. That was really fun. The rillettes were good too... sort of a cochinita pibil turned into a spread. I wish there had been more pickled onions though.. .there were just two little ones, so most bites were onion-less. The mango-habanero sauce was really tasty though. Five stars for the first course (I will forgive the drink thing)
Our entrees were very good, but not quite as successful as the apps. I had the lamb two ways... two little rack chops with a coffee braised lamb barbacoa. The rack chops were delicious, but the barbacoa was in such a strong sauce that I couldn't really taste anything else. We both tried to taste the coffee and could not.
My husband had the duck... he thought it was very good, perfectly cooked, but kind of like a lot of duck you've had at a lot of restaurants. Four stars for the entrees.
I was not thrilled by dessert.... we tried the chocolate enchiladas and could not taste one bit of chile in the chocolate sauce. I am a sucker for the spicy, almond-y mexican chocolate thing ... and this wasn't what I had hoped. It was pretty standard chocolate flavor. Two stars for the dessert.
So a really terrific start, a very good middle and a lackluster ending. Skipping the dessert, this was a solid four star place. But do skip the dessert.
You must go for the Brunch! Oh my goodness. I had the vegetable crepe and my husband had the pork belly. holy crap. seriously best brunch I have had in a long long time. Non traditional brunch dishes. Not very crowded at all. Huge menu. I couldn't decide what to get for a long time. Great service per usual.
Great experience here. We were totally the early bird special and first ones there on a Sunday… Read more »
Was there for their first pumpkin carving class. This was nothing but a great time. Chef Carlos was the epitome of class with a touch of down to earth. He conducted the carving class as if it was a one on one private affair. He showed us his carving techniques without overwhelming us nor making us feel inadequate. The class was followed by a terrific awe inspiring meal. Butternut squash soup, shrimp risotto, peach pumpkin bread pudding. The whole event was as if you were having an evening with your family. All the guests were made to feel at home and treated as if the entire restaurant was at their disposal. The chef personally ensured that every detail of the meal was perfect and that every guest savored the essence of each dish. Overall a wonder full time. Not to mention do die for food. There was nothing I would have changed.
You had me at guacamole dessert.
I've eaten at Mexique twice now and both times I've started with the ceviche appetizer, which changes depending on what fish they have fresh. Both times it was excellent.
The first time I ate here I had the tilapia as an entree, which was good but nothing to get too excited about. My dinner mates had the risotto (very good) and the pork (excellent). My favorite part of that first meal was the dessert, which is called "enchilada" and entails some sort of chocolate ganash pastry with ice cream.
The second time I ordered the asada flank steak medium rare. It was heavenly. I really wanted to get the chocolate enchiladas for dessert again but decided to try the guacamole dessert and, dang, I'm glad I did. It was delectable. I could eat it every day. The cinnamon and sugar pastries they served it with were almost too much, and I much preferred just eating the avocado puree with a spoon.
The service is good, the atmosphere is lovely. It's a hop, skip and a jump from my home. I love it! I'm going to have to try the brunch some day soon.
If there was a 6th star, Mexique would have received it. A talented husband and wife have teamed up - he, an excellent chef (with some pretty cool credentials) and she the architect and front person. We dined there last Tuesday and had a truly amazing culinary experience. Every mouthful was a delight - sauces graced each plate with a surprising mix of flavor and adventure. Our Malbec couldn't have been better to pair with our fish and meat dishes.
Since it was a Tuesday, and my date had been there before, we received excellent service and were visited frequently by the friendly chef. An interesting mix of French/Spanish/Mexican cuisine, I cannot recommend it enough. This type of food takes time to prepare, so if you are looking for the quickie meal in-and-out, there are plenty of other places on the street to try.
I shall return!!!
Brunch was awesome. Top notch. Go, now!
The service needs some work. I went here for lunch with my coworkers on a weekday, and it was pretty empty -- maybe two other tables besides our party of 6. Our server seemed super flustered and overwhelmed. We waited a bit too long to give our orders, and way too long to receive our food.
That said, the food was worth the wait. I had salmon tacos, which were delicious -- warm corn tortillas, large, beautifully cooked slice of salmon, zesty thin-sliced peppers, sweet corn sauce and just a hint of cilantro. The peppers and corn balanced each other really well. This was just an awesome meal. My colleagues seemed happy with their dishes as well, and especially praised the crab cakes and huaraches.
I'll probably be back sometime, and hopefully the service kinks will get ironed out.
This place is pretty amazing!
We had a full dinner (two appetizers, dinner, dessert, drinks).
Appetizer- We had the Tinga de Pollo and Trio de Sopes. Being Mexican ourselves, we were pretty excited to see upscale tinga and sopes!
Tinga- While it could have been spicier, it wasn't bad. This was my least favorite of the things we tried but solely because it was on a corn chip.
Trio de sopes- Absolutely amazing. Shrimp provencal, mole w/ platano, and escargot. Seriously, I wanted to order another one of these solely because they were so great. The mole wasn't as spicy as we would have liked it, but it's still good. The flavors just got better and more complex as you tried each one.
Dinner- Asada and Salmon. The asada came with red peppers, asparagus, and a goat cheese fondue that was to die for. We didn't leave a single bit on the plate.
Dessert- chocolate enchiladas and their special for the day. Both were very chocolatey. It reminded me a bit of Abuelita chocolate, but because I'm a fan of not so sweet chocolate, I enjoyed it a lot. The tequila/pseudo rompope shot was delicious.
Perks: the service is great. I'm a fan of waiters that aren't snotty or rude and the one we had was not. He was attentive, he didn't mind at all when the meat wasn't cooked enough (my sister was 9months pregnant at the time), and he even chatted with us about our hometown in Mexico. The chef personally comes out to talk to you.
Downside: Umm....parking? The only thing I can think of is the entrance. It's a bit weird that so many people will be waiting there all at once so it seems like its a lot more crowded than it really is.
We just had a seriously delicious brunch here on Father's Day. I've been meaning to try this place out for a while and it did not disappoint! The french toast was sweet and light - not overly heavy at all. I also tried some of the delicious chorizo crepe (I think thats what it was called). We had such a good brunch that we are making plans to go back for dinner!
My only qualm is that someone at the table ordered a soup and a main dish. Instead of bringing him the soup first, they brought the soup out with everyone's food - except his. So by the time he finished his soup, we were all almost done with our meals and had to wait for him to get his main dish and eat that. Not a huge deal, but it did make me feel like the service was a bit wonky. Then again, we maybe should have specified what we wanted.
This little bump was not enough to detract from the restaurant as a whole though. Super good!
This was the final dinner I ate in Chicago before moving away.
What a great ending.
The food was absolutely fantastic. We picked up the Tinga de Pollo and the French Onion soup for appetizers. The soup was really cheesy, so were able to eat it much like an appetizer on our plates. The Tinga had wonderfully spiced chicken on top of a tostada (mini one). Dessert was really tasty and not too sweet apple tart.
But the entrees were the hit. I got the risotto (yeah, I guess not too Mexican) which had pieces of ham and asparagus in it. I'm still thinking about it almost a week later. My dining sidekick had the Puerco Alcaparrado.. she thought it was a little garlicky, but I found it really tasty, as were the sides.
This has an open kitchen, so if you're walking to the bathroom you can see how your food is cooked. Pretty minimalist decor, but I didn't have to worry about lack of scenery.
We live in the neighborhood and have talked about going to Mexique for like a year now...but we always get distracted by our local favorites like Flo or West Town Tavern. Well, we finally made our move to Mexique last night and it was fantastic. Can't say enough good things about both the service or the food. I mean....French Onion Soup with Poblanos???? What more do you need to know??
We started with the Mussels, Sopes, and Tinga de Pollo. All very good. Some of the best mussels I have had...although I wish I could have those mussels in Flo's mussel sauce.
For entrees we had the lamb 2 ways, short ribs, crepes, asada, and salmon. Everyone loved their dishes. Presentation was excellent as well.
For dessert we tried the enchiladas and the guacamole. Both very interesting. One of our table is a pastry chef and loved the guac dessert so that should say something.
Overall this place is great. Very good ambience, fantastic staff, amazing food...
Next up...I'd like to try their brunch which looked great. I may feel a little guilt cheating on Flo...but it looked to good not to try...
And just when I thought Mexique couldn't get any better, I found out they offered a MILITARY DISCOUNT to our veterans. Fabulous food, impeccable service, unique and successful concept, AND they give back to those who make it possible to live in this country. This is the best restaurant in Chicago. No, this is the best restaurant EVER!
I had a great brunch at Mexique. First off, such a nice atmosphere. In addition the service and staff was excellent.
My Chorizo Sopes were very good and at $8.95, what a steal! My friend also enjoyed her plate. We will both be back soon.
Oh yeah - mimosas at noon with a mexican brunch is a total score.
I tried to update this shit review and it didn't save, so I'm not writing it over again. All you need to know is this:
There is NOT a full bar. Just wine and if you're lucky, shots of whatever tequila they have on hand. So do your jager bombs before you get there.
I had my birthday dinner here! I'm awesome!
I'm gonna come out of the pantry and just say it. I am gay for Chef Gayton. As you watch him through the glass with his dark flowing hair, ardently working his French technique with a calm and confident demeanor, it will make any man question his sexuality. { The Todd appreciates hot regardless of gender - Scubs} I hope my gf doesn't read this review, or I may never step foot in Mexique again haha!
In all seriousness, this is the best tilapia taco I have ever had. It was love at first bite. The tilapia was clothed in negra modelo batter, accessorized with mexican slaw and chipotle aioli. I give it a through the roof 5 stars.
__ *
Tilapia taco: [**** ]
Steak Huarache: ****
Crispy Chicken taco: ****
Salmon w/ corn porridge taco: ***
Service: ***** Our waiter, Oscar "De la Hoya" was excellent. He was genuine and quite charming.
All the tacos during lunch service were under $10 and served with a side of mixed greens. In my defense, if my gf made fish tacos this good, I would never lust after another man's tacos. Okay maybe I pushed the envelope on the last comment. Now she's gonna break out some Shaolin Chipmonk moves and break my jaw so that I may never chew again.
"Kanye, do you like fish tacos?"
My bf and I are in love not only with each other but with this restaurant. The place is well thought out & well done from start to finish. The atmosphere is comfortable, modern and aesthetically pleasing, the manager is as sweet as pie and the chef is beyond gifted and utterly hamisha (no super ego). I promise you will never meet a chef this exceptionally talented and sooo nice. It is now more vegetarian friendly (my mom is & loves the place), unconventional chile relleno with corn porridge/succotash & 3 sauces, OMG amazing. Also the pomme frites are so addictive. The BBQ sauce on the short ribs with tamarind is so exceptional that I could literally bathe in it. And yes the asada with goat cheese fondue and amazingly cooked veggies,( even the tomatoes are taken to another level and the asparagus is never over done), is addictive and perfect on the palate, the seasonings & textures are so well done, there is no more improvement to be had. But the most amazing dish was the risotto du jour with pumpkin and butternut squash, chorizo is optional so yes vegetarians this is for you too. It was rich, creamy, spicy and ever so decadent, in a word a masterpiece. The risotto was so good it took me back to the good old days of Ambria and yes it was far superior to Spiaggia. As if there isn't more to brag about the desserts: chocolate enchiladas, are homemade crepes with dark rich smooth chocolate and vanilla ice cream, to die for as with the apple tart, perfect gallette phyllo dough type puff pastry both crunchy and savory with carmelized granny smith apples and cajeta(goats milk caramel) ah decadence and the creme brûlée is the best I've had(& boy have I had). Rare a find where the desserts at a restaurant are so good you can come for purely that but missing out on Carlos's entrees would be a sin. This destination is for those with a refined palate so if you're a friend of McDonalds and all salt, this is not for you. But for all you gourmand foodies out there, paradise incarnate!
This restaurant has excellent execution of French-Mexican fusion food. We split the sopes appetizer, which included three varieties - one with escargot, one with shrimp, and a vegetarian option. The escargot and shrimp were particularly well executed and were a great introduction to the chef's approach.
For the main course, I had the lamb two ways. The first was two ribs of rack of lamb, perfectly cooked, at my request, to a dark red rare center, with a South American spice rub - I believe it was ancho chiles, but I could be mistaken. The second was a sope filled with shredded lamb. It was superb. Kelly had the ribeye special, which was surprisingly thin -- pounded down like South American steak -- but very tender and flavorful with South American spices.
The wine list is small, but affordable and well thought out -- you can keep the fusion mood going by selecting the Cote du Roussillon Villages, an syrah blend from French Catalonia.
The only drawback? No spirits - the chef does not want to have the patrons dilute their palates with hard liquor (what the hell? This is America!). Despite his Charlie Trotter aspirations, you can sneak ia little liquor into your dinner if they have the special dessert, which is essentially molten chocolate cake with a tres leches creme anglais. The tres leches is spiked with tequila. (Do try to avoid shooting it, however).
All in all, a surprisingly pleasant experience. We were there on a Thursday, and it was very quiet. They've been around for a little over a year, but could use a little more neighborhood love to make it over the long run. I recommend giving them a shot.
After spending four solid days driving from California to Chicago with Mom, ANYTHING would have been better than the hard boiled eggs, bran muffins or plain Cheerios (out of the box, gulp of milk, handful of cereal) that I had been eating day in and day out.
Little did I know, my taste buds were about to be revived!
We arrived late Sunday morning to my new home, welcomed by my big sis, Erin P. and her boyfriend Dave B. After unpacking the car, Erin began explaining the importance of 'brunch' here in Chicago. She quickly gave us our choices and pulled up the two menus to decide between-Bin or Mexique. As a 2-time veteran of Bin (can't go wrong with Two Eggs Baked in a Crock!) I wanted to try something new and in my new neighborhood.....drum roll.... Mexique it was!
After sitting down at our table, we were quickly greeted by our waitress, for drink orders. For me, Bloody Mary-extra spicy. It was made perfectly and truly hit the spot! I ordered the Huarache de Asada, recommended by Erin, for my entree. Before that arrived, we all shared the yogurt, smoked salmon and soup to start with (all delicious!) Soon after we cleaned those plates, our entrees arrived. Not only was the bacon and thyme infused corn masa, black beans and goat cheese fondue AMAZING, but then it was topped with almost a whole cow of rare flank steak. Sadly to say, I normally finish my plates, but this was one meal I knew I would have to bring home leftovers.
During the crazy mattress hunt and closet fiasco I have been dealing with, I was thrilled to get to take a break yesterday for the amazing leftovers from Mexique. After a quick 20 minutes in the oven, I was sitting down to another amazing brunch!
I guess the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the decor. It seemed very empty and almost unfinished. Maybe this is the trend but because of the wide open area, the large party near us was echoing throughout the restaurant and made it sort of difficult to hear our conversations at the table. I think I assumed that with a name like 'Mexique' and the style of cuisine, I was expecting lots of bright, bold colors and instead it is all neutrals.
I can't wait to go back and try the Chorizo Sopes!
PS-I am now officially no longer a Yelp! review virgin! Hope you all enjoyed my first one and find it helpful!
Sometimes the dilemma of going to a restaurant and not knowing what to order is annoying. You see a bunch of items on it that conjure up no specific urge or appetite. Everything is edible, but uninspiring- and so the question becomes "What won't I be disappointed in?"
Then there are times, like what I encountered yesterday, in which every item on the menu is not only appetizing, but nearly damn well drives you crazy.
Brunch for me tends to make my decision making skills even more clouded. Not sure if it is due to the weekend mornings being hazy from a lack of routine (getting up before 6:00 AM, having coffee in hand no later than 7:30, opening up at the office no later than 8:00), or if it is tough simply because brunch usually only happens once a week at most- and so I want to make the most of it. Ask my dear wife and she will tell you- I suck at making a decision and holding firm to it. Whether it is figuring out what to make for dinner, or picking out a paint color for our walls, I have commitment issues with just about everything but who I am with.
Luckily I was not the only one yesterday who had a hard time making up their mind on what to order (eh-hem Ms. Erin P.!)- and in the case of Mexique- it was that problem that I love to find myself in.
Unlike the fine ladies I held company with- I actually held an original order by NOT going with the Huarache (although it was delicious as well). I instead chose an order of Sopes de Chorizo which were the best I have ever had. Constructed as a Sope, but reminding me of an offshoot of an eggs benedict dish, the flavors were delicious and everything was perfectly cooked- right down to the egg whose yolk cracked right over the small corn cup, melting my heart right along with it..........
No, no, no- I promised myself to not get all sappy and romantic over food anymore. It is just silly and causes too many issues. How can I commit myself to something that I devour and can't love me back? Besides, I was amongst very good company and didn't need to engross myself in the love of a brunch item. On top of it all- the sopes were served with some bland and slightly overcooked green beans. That alone would have been enough to snap me out of my food lust.
Adding to the wonderful sopes, I ordered an "Achilles Heal" item that I always fall for when I see it on menus- fish tacos. This time it was your standard Tilapia- but were done really well. The pickled relish of jalapeños, zanahorias, y cebollos (that is jalapeños, carrots, and onions those that can't habla the español) were paired with a spicy mayonnaise and very nicely prepared deep fried tilapia.
Service was pretty good- I was complimented (probably more like flattered- after all, this guero doesn't speak THAT good en español) on my pronunciation, and we got refilled on our coffee almost as quickly as we drank it.
One noticeable thing though. I have noticed talk about this place being a fusion of French and Mexican. In my opinion, there is no fusion involved with what I see. What it is is Mexican food with a bit more refined presentation than what we are used to. You can pick up on the knife skills and the preparation at times might be more traditionally French- but the flavors and even menu items are all Mexican. No complaints though- everything seems to be very very good.
This is a wonderfully delicious place. I have been there twice and love it. The food is great, service wonderful, clean, friendly. The chef who owns the place comes out and talks to you. The best part is the dessert! OMG!!!! amazing!
Overall dissapointed.
We started with the Pescamal appetizer, which was pretty lame, it kinda tasted like a processed fish cake. It wasn't bad, but you know, I was hoping for WAY better.
I got the lamb, "Cordero"... the lamb itself was good. Everything else on the plate was average to below average. My friend got the tilapia "tilapia a la talla" which was slightly better than my dish. Her mashed potatoes were EXCELLENT, actually, I could eat those alone for days.
Dessert we got the "enchiladas." Again, they were pretty good. I ate all of my enchilada... but I just figured it'd be better.
Overall I left mildly dissapointed. Also, I think it would benefit them to lose one or two tables and space them out a bit more. The waitresses booty was in our face multiple times and it just makes for a less pleasant dining experience.
Last night marked the 4th or 5th trip to Mexique, every time I bring someone knew they are always impressed. Last night's trip with the boyfriend didn't disappoint, even with his skepticism (and he's a major foodie) about French-Mex fusion.
We started with the trio of sopes, and are of the opinion that the sope topped with escargot rivals the quality that can be found of the escargot at Brasserie Jo, and that's saying a lot). We also got the ceviche of the day, a mix of seafood (shrimp, tuna, mussel, baby octopus) in a spicy tomato-based sauce, which paired well with the tempranillo we ordered. It was pretty tasty, but I've had better ceviches there in the past.
For dinner I had the duck, which consistently wins my vote for the best duck in the city (and maybe I've ever had). It's a duck confit over a cranberry tamal (think tamale filling with no husk and mixed with cranberries) and nice, perfectly-pink-cooked sliced duck breast over chard and tamarind sauce. As good as the duck is, I think I could eat an entire plate of the tamal, as it's sweet, tart ('cause of the cranberries) and savory at the same time.
Get the enchiladas for dessert - it has a chocolate filling that I can only liken to a fresh out of the oven chocolate croissant.
The only negatives about Mexique are that as far as I know, they have no hard liquor (not a huge deal) and the service can be a little spotty, especially if you sit at the bar.
I'll continue to keep Mexique in my rotation and recommendations.
Eeee!! I loved it!! I was throwin' panties all over the place. Believe the hype. This place does it right. I was a bit apprehensive that the meal couldn't possibly hold up to the stories I'd heard. It did.
Hostess, waitress & bus staff: attentive, helpful, present, kind and (when applicable) sexy. Everyone seemed to enjoy what they were doing, where they were working and sought opportunities to help. Nice. Lace panties to the face.
Food: everything tasted incredible. Seriously. I'd never had Mexican fare served like this and with every bite, I gained a greater understanding of 'Mexican food, french style.' What I ate: tres sopes appetizer (amazing; the escargot was my favorite), tilapia (I think it was tilapia) was bathed in a spicy sauce, served with spicy cole slaw and on top a well seasoned mashed vegetable (I want to say...cauliflower...?) that helped balance out all the heat. Dessert was the chocolate enchiladas. Incredible. Chocolate served as enchiladas...with chocolate sauce!! During the appetizer, Chef Carlos came over to check on us, describe the food, how it should be savored and experienced and what we should order depending on our mood & tastes. I know he does it for everyone, but I appreciated his interest in his customers. Sexy care deserves sexy panties. Satin thong lovingly draped over the ears.
Decor: hip but not annoying. The lighting is low but not romantic. The glassware was cool. The wide mouthed, no-stem wine glasses helped my white wine breathe and allowed me to get my greasy paws around it without fear of dropping it and looking foolish. At first, I didn't like how close the tables were to each other...but that meant plenty of bubbly booties in my face! Yay! I like a show with my dinner. Edible panties (not worn before thrown; I'm not nasty).
I'll be back. And I'll be wearing more pairs of panties to throw. I nearly ran out. Nearly.
It was ok. The apps. were really very good, but the entrees were severely lacking. The veg. dish, while I appreciated the concept, was just a very boring, one-note dish. The mushrooms could have been more flavorful and crisp, everything was just so mushy on the plate, needed a ton more texture. Service was good, but timing in the kitchen must have been severely off tonight...
All in all we're glad we tried it, but we won't be going back. We could eat much better food at the fraction of the price... So I'm sad to report, Mexique didn't wow us.
I went to Mexique a few weeks ago with my family for our birthday celebrations. Aside: this is why my fiance and I have been banned from having any April babies. Anyway, I've wanted to go to forever, in order to support a local business and because my parents said it was fantastic.
It was great food! This is definitely not standard Mexican food. That is just fine by me, but I wanted to give everyone a head's up. Anyone expecting high-class tacos has another thing coming. The highlights: the sopes (which were tiny, so if you're ordering for a party of six, I might recommend two) and the asada special that my fiance ordered. My tuna was really, really good. However, I'm thinking I really wanted steak that night and was just trying to be good. That is not the restaurant's fault!
The service was fantastic, and the waiter was good about suggesting wines (he, in fact, managed to suggest the next-to cheapest one, which was lovely, but was able to explain... why. Amazing).
My only (very slight) issue is that we were packed in closely to the table next to us.
This is a review on behalf of my parents... they LOVED it. I recommended it, after they got bumped… Read more »
This place is very interesting. To see French technique in a Mexican kitchen. The room seems almost out of place on a 1970's-ish urban stretch on Chicago. The real focus though is on the beautifully presented food.
I had the Conchinita Rilletes. For the Rillette Rookies, a rillette is a salted, jarred meat paste. This one is made from conchinita, which is full of citrus and annato flavors. I think that it was absolutely genius. If I were to go back, I would drink wine and eat the rillettes and nothing else.
Not that my short rib was bad. Quite to the contrary, it was quite good, but when you find something as good as the rillettes, it is good to just get in and out and not drown the goodness with a cheap cut of braised meat.
Confusing, deserves another chance, but...
Initially they crammed us into a table beside what appeared to be a drunk family who, when leaving later, were shoving each other in the middle of the restaurant and couldn't open the door. They moved us with no problem, to a better table, but why not put us at a better table to begin with?
Mussels were sandy, obviously not cleaned properly. Trio of Sopes was tough to split between two people, and while the escargot one was good, the cornmeal kind of deadened the flavor (of all of them)... wasn't really compatible. With a limited bar, the wine list should definitely be more robust.
Entrees were *good*, inconsistent with the rest of the experience.
Someone needs to whip this place into shape, I have a feeling it could be much better? Pretty unlikely I'll return, though.
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