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Categories: Steakhouses, Argentine
Neighborhood: LakeviewMon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat. 3:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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It's a BYOB Argentine Steakhouse. Need I say more? Well, I'm going to.
I went with 4 other people and we split 2 beef, 2 chicken, and 1 spinach and cheese empanadas, all of which were good and worth the $1.75 or however much each one is. I especially liked the spinach and cheese ones. We also got the provoleta (provolone w/ roasted red pepper), which was good, but nothing special. My friend and I split the the Vacio, which was a gigantic piece flap meat (that came w/ really good sweet potatoes!), and we could not finish even half of.
The rib-eye, which two of the guys ordered, was definitely the tastiest. But they'd been there before, so they knew what to order. And now I know what to order the next time I come. And I've learned not to order so much food here also, cause we left with lots of leftovers. And I've also learned that maybe 5 bottles of wine for 5 people is too much... In total, our meal was about $130, which I think is so reasonable considering the massive amounts of food served.
Yum yum give me some! I had the pleasure of FINALLY dining here this past weekend when my friend chose it as the place to celebrate her birthday. I was so excited and had heard such great things that I was really hoping I wasn't going to be disappointed - and I wasn't.
First and foremost it's BYOB - need I say more? We came each equipped with 2 bottles each and they were in no rush to kick us out, despite the fact that there was a LOOOOONNNGGG line of people outside waiting to be seated.
We started with the empanadas, as recommended by my friends and they were amazing. The beef and the ham ones were my favorite, but what really made it delish was the chimichurri sauce.....just don't plan on making the move on anyone after eating it. It's enough to keep Edward Cullen away.
Luckily one of my friends warned me ahead of time that the portions would be humongous so I split the filet dish with my friend. Let me tell you this meal could have fed a family of 4, no joke. The portion came with 2 pieces of steak what looked to be about 10oz each (if not more) and a VERY generous helping of the spinach mashed potatoes. It was so big that I couldn't even finish half of one piece of steak...but was it oh so good. Since everyone seemed to have order different things I was able to try some other items and let me tell you, it usually isn't my first recommendation, but the sweet breads were delish. So good and tasty.
In fact I liked this place so much that I've asked my hubby to take me there again this weekend. The only thing to be worried about when dining here is the meat sweats you'll get shortly after, but that definitely should not keep you away!
There's nothing that makes me happier than.... a big hunk. An oversized, tender piece of meat, that is. At Tango Sur, you're guarenteed to find the hunk of your dreams, and the best part is... it's sure to get your juices flowing.
I must have a one track mind, because I skipped the appetizer and zoned in on the various hunks of meat offered, all of which sounded...well, titilating. I asked the Waiter what the most popular entree was. He recommended the Filet Mignon. Since I'm a sucker for a thick tenderloin, I could not resist having it.
First came a salad, but I could hardly wait for the moment of truth. Let's skip right to third, shall we? Then, my plate arrived. The moment my plate was placed in front of me, I heard the faint sound of angels singing. It looked succulent..thick and juicy. Once in my palate, the angels began singing hallelujah!
I was more than satisfyed with my tenderloin, and will be back again for another taste. Next time though, I'll be a bit adventurous and look at the menu for another hunk to enjoy for the night.
As a person who works in the restaurant industry I know that service is just as important as the food.
First time I went here, I had no issues and the food was good.
This past time (11/20/09) is the last time I will ever go.
I knew they only took reservations for parties of 6 or more, so as a party of 3, I went an hour earlier than the rest of my guests...7:35pm.
The host told me it was a 2 hour wait, I agreed because I lived a block away so I didn't mind waiting.
My guests and I check in at 8:25pm....host tells me it should be another half hour....we agree to wait.
9:00pm-Host tells us another 20minutes. No issue yet because he did say 2 hour wait.
9:30pm-My aunt checks in and the host tells her that he quoted a 2 1/2 hour wait not a 2 hour wait. This is when I got angry b/c this guy actually has the nerve to say I was wrong. Did I mention his reservation list was a pocket notebook?
10:00pm- By this time my guests and I are standing in front of the host glowering at him. Host tells us guests are paying and if we would like to wait in the waiting area....guessing he couldn't take the evil eye anymore.
10:15pm-still no table.
10:30pm-This is when I lost it. As soon as the host saw me coming he had some guy who looked like an overdressed busboy to talk to me. Both times I've been here I have never seen a manager walking around nor are there any women. This guy says it will be a couple of minutes and he's sorry tables are taking longer than expected.
10:45pm- We are finally seated.
Now lets talk about the food. I ordered the filet-not great lacked flavor. My aunt ordered her steak well done it came out medium. So after waiting 3 hours to sit down, you can't even cook a steak correctly! WTF!
Oh and to compensate for the 3 hour wait, we received a complimentary flan and that wasn't great.
I honestly believe that because this place is run solely by men, they were unable to correctly manage the flow of the restaurant. At the first sign of long wait times, a manager should of been fixing things with customers and sending a lousy dessert wont do anything. As a hostess that has worked at nice restaurants, my managers would have been sending in complimentary appetizers to guests sitting in the waiting room.
NEVER EVER WILL GO BACK AGAIN!!!!
Ever eat so much meat that you feel like you're sweating the oil out? Yeah, that's me right now.
I rate restaurants in proportion of taste to price. My entire meal including tax & tip was $24. I got empanadas and the sampler of meats shared between two people. I would have liked a little less oil, but otherwise the meats were all savory and delicious. The meat was surprisingly tender. The portions are huuuuge. I'm talking The Flintstones huge. But I was a trooper and managed to eat most of my food. I even ate those two little slices of tomato, just for variety.
Also, it's BYOB with no corkage fee! Pick out a nice red, prepare to wait quite a while for a table, and enjoy your evening.
(fyi, it's busy pretty much every night.)
There are too many good things to write about this place. First, its cheap for what you get. A gigantic plate with two filets and spinach mashed potatoes ran me 24 bucks. Second, its BYOB with a bevy of decent wine shops nearby. Third, we had the empanadas and the antipasto appetizers and both were amazing.
The only downside for this place is the tight quarters and the wait time, but I think it adds to the experience (re: hot doug's). Its really dark inside, but the decor is perfect for a nice date night.
Went on a Monday no wait, and loved the steak. Got it as rare as humanely possible - great meat and the garlic sauce complemented the meal really well!
I am not a fan of their no reservation policy but I would wait for their delicious piece of meat. It's probably the best steakhouse that give you the best value for your food.
My friend and I waited for an hour at a nearby coffee shop and another 40 minutes in the waiting room inside when we were finally seated. I realized that it was BYOB when I saw people started drinking while waiting. I was like, "Dang it!" before my friend went to the nearby CVS to get a bottle of Malbec.
We ordered the pickled tongue for appetizer. I didn't expect them to give us so many of them. It could very well be an entire meal! We both ordered the mixed grill for two people and it came with sweetbreads, short ribs, steak and sausages - enough to keep us both happy. They were perfectly done but a little on the oily side because of the sausages. I would come back and just order the short ribs because it was SUPER THICK and juicy. Delicious!
My only advice is to come early, before 6.30pm because it starts to be crowded after that. There is also not a lot of room to walk around on the inside and the tables are very close to one another. I would suggest to come with friends. If you want to come with families, Folklore would be a better place in my opinion. They have essentially the same menu but the ambience at Folklore is more comfortable.
Maybe it was the place being mainly lit by candles, the lively tango music playng, or the room filled to the brim with laughter and jubilant conversation. It all was meant to give the patron the feeling of an intoxicating dining experience. But, when the pixie dust cloud fades away a few days later, you think back and angrily say "Hey!"
I believe the cloud completely faded when I was eating my leftovers from dinner there and I was reminded of how much I didn't like it. I ordered the El Filet which is two filet mignon pieces in a red onion wine sauce and a side heap of spinach mashed potatoes. Let me make you aware that I mainly got this dish because of the raves about the spinach mashed potatoes when I was reading reviews on this place. This was the only dish that came with them.
Ok, now that we have that established, let me then tell you the mashed potatoes came cold at first. My whole plate had to be taken back so I could get a hot heap of mashed potatoes. It comes back, I try them, and they are ridiculously bland. B-L-A-N-D. Oh and then the meat? I've always been used to a filet mignon being a very good cut of meat. Usually great texture, firm, and easy to cut. The two pieces of meat I had on my plate masquerading as filet mignon were mangy, rather soft with being cooked to med-well, riddled with grizzle, and rather difficult to cut. It took me dipping my pieces I worked hard to separate from the rest of the meat in my chimichurro sauce to be able to chew it. At $24 for this dish, that is just theft!
I went with my mother who had the shortribs which she felt were salty, but took the rest home feeling I may still like them. When I tried them, not only were they super salty, but had even more grizzle than my filet mignons. What's up with all the grizzle? Cheap meat or bad butchering?? Probably both. They sure have a good pixie dust cloud floating about in there.
Our waiter was nice, but the guy clearing our table seemed to be rushing us. Just as I don't expect anyone to hurry up with their eating so I can sit down to take my time, that shouldn't be expected of me to do for other people. As soon as we got up he pounced on the table clearing it off and taking up the paper while I was trying to put on my coat. I had to snatch my to-go bag before it ended up on the floor, or in his bin. So rude!
I'd have to say the best part of my meal was the bread and my Inca Kola pop I had. How sad is that? When I was leaving I felt I would definitely be back. Now that their magic has worn off, I know I most definitely will not.
I was looking forward to having dinner at Tango Sur after a long week at work. We rushed from our parking spot 4 blocks away in order to be there on time for our reservations. The guy at the door (who appeared to be more of a bouncer kind of guy, than a host) was snobby and short with me.
After a 45 minutes wait, we were seated at our table. The quick water refills, patient wait staff and ambiance made me feel like I was in for a wonderful meal. Sadly, that was about the only thing Tango Sur had going for it and is why they received 2 stars from me.
We got the meal "Para Dos" which is a variety of different meats for two people. When I cut into the steak I quickly realized why the only lighting provided is candlelight-so you can't see the HUGE amounts of fat on the meat. Every piece I tried to eat had large sections of fat. There were 7 of us and no one took anything home with them because of it. Needless to say, we won't be back anytime soon.
Ordering steak at a restaurant is a rarity for me, but I knew I would if I went here and it got me really excited. We arrived on a Wednesday at 7:30pm and were seated right away (there were 5 of us). We brought three bottles of wine because they are BYOB with no corkage fee. Ordering off their specials menu was the easiest and I got the filet with salad and potatoes. My serving was HUGE and could definitely be split with two people. I ended up taking my one of two fitets home with me. The salads that came with the meal were pretty bland and I probably would not get them again.
My wife, a vegetarian, actually recommended we go to this place because she loves the eggplant appetizer as a meal. So she got that and I tried it and it was so good. Another couple that was with one ordered the dinner for two with sweet potatoes and they said their meat was delicious and I tasted their sweet potatoes and they were so good! They ended up taking a bunch of it to go also.
As for the prices. My meal was about $25, the appetizer was about $10 and the 2-person meal was $36, so a little pricey, but worth it.
Can't wait to go back to this place!
The hubs and I did not have a reservation, but got seated right away. Very nice cozy romantic table (despite the kid at the next table trying to pull down the curtains). We ordered the filet to share, and I thought there was no way that would be enough food for two of us. Well, I was wrong. They brought out this ridiculous huge slab of meat on a metal tray. The meat was covered in delicious spices and a mushroomy juice. We just cut off chunks as we went and couldn't stop talking about how delicious it was. We didn't get dessert because we were in a meat coma. The service was great- very attentive. And we couldn't believe how cheap it was! $50 for two people, awesome!
Can't wait to come back to you, Tango Sur!
Wonderful, quaint place with great food, and the waiter even laughed at my jokes. Top it off... you can bring your own wine.
What more can a yelper ask!
Tango Sur is a steak place. I had the filet stuffed with spinach and cheese. Even typing it triggers an immediate Pavlovian response. Holly had a regular filet, which was great but easily bested by my (drool drool) spinach-stuff steak menagerie.
Our appetizer was some meat-filled pastry concoction. Sorry, I don't remember the name. They had 4 flavors: beef, chicken, spinach, and ham. Try them all. Oh, and they're bigger than you'd think. So, bring someone to share all the goodness with.
In fact, all the portions were large. Holly had a whole 'nother filet, it seemed, to take home to her skillet. Prices for a Chicago restaurant were very reasonable.
Tango Sur is a 4+/5- experience. The place's nice vibe put me over the edge into 5-star territory. Check it out.
drool again... yow, bill
So glad we didn't go to Wildfire (my brother's choice for his birthday). But instead, I suggested that we try out Tango Sur, which I've been wanting to try for the longest time.
Bottom line is that you get a lot of delicious meat for you what you pay, but you have to wait a really long time for it. I ordered the churrasco, which was a 12-ounce juicy steak, my brother got the filet mignon, which he loved, and my mom and aunt shared the para dos sampler, which was interesting and huge!! I was able to try blood sausage, which was alright. But I loved the throat sweetbread.....so crunchy and tasty!
We came at around noontime....great time to go since it wasn't crowded and we were seated right away! Service is friendly and attentive. I'll be returning, probably one evening with my husband.
Came here last night, did not have to wait for a table at all and received some of the best service I've had in a while! The place is super small and we sat at one of the tiniest tables, but it fit the "romantic" setting perfectly!
We brought two bottles of wine and was not bothered or rushed to move on as we finished both bottles.
I let my dinner date choose what we were going to eat since it is one of their favorite restaurants so I don't know the names of the dishes but i'll describe what we ate below?
We ordered:
melon prosciutto appetizer
and... a HEART ATTACK MEAT PLATTER
hahahhaha the meat platter comes out on a grill with about six different cuts of meat on it. Grilled and seasoned to perfection! It was indeed tasty, but a bit too meat-astic for me.
I was told that the desserts are also very delectable but did not have room for that in my stomach. Definitely will be coming back to try more of their menu!
PLUS the b.y.o.b. factor made our bill minuscule in comparison to our other dinners!
Don't say I didn't warn you...you WILL have to wait. A very long time. A very, very, very long time (up to 2 hours) if you come for dinner on a busy weekend night. The downside: waiting is tough, especially if you are hungry. The upside: you've been forewarned, so you will come earlier know, with the expectation of waiting.
Is the wait worth it? Quite simply, yes, it is. This authentic Argentinian steakhouse serves up amazing beef dishes (I recommend the filet mignon) for a very reasonable price. Plus, it's BYOB, so you can bring whatever bottle (however fancy, or not) you'd like, and there is no corkage fee. The portions are VERY generous...we ordered the filet mignon "for 2," and there was still at least a 1/2 pound of meat left when ordering. Keep this in mind when ordering....you may even be able to split an entree meant for one, if you're not super hungry and you've had an appetizer or two (I recommend the chicken empanadas...crispy and delicious)
The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic, everything a great BYOB should be. The atmosphere is delightful, with low lighting (only candlelight on the tables), adding a warm glow to the place.
Insider's tip: If it's cold outside and you need to kill some time, there's a bar a few doors down. You can put your name down as well as your number, and they will call you when they are ready for you. Remember to keep your phone out, though, so you don't miss your chance!
Pre-meal:
I went here with a group of 8 people on a Friday night. We had reservations thankfully (accepted for 6+ people). The expected wait time here sans reservation will likely be 45 min - 1.5 hrs.
We finally got seated 30 minutes after our reservation. But I was with mostly guys who didn't care that much. So if you don't like to wait, you won't like this part. But apparently there is a back room inside where you can wait that lots of people don't know about - so go inside and don't freeze. Or there is a bar 3 stores down. Go have a beer....
Ambiance:
Very dark. Very cozy. I loved it. There are also a bunch of international diners here. The people are very eclectic and it feels like a small European restaurant (even though the place is pretty big).
Food:
Ridiculous. I love steak. I ordered the prime rib rare. They give you a ton of food here. It was mouth watering. My friends ordered the filet with the red wine sauce - unbelievable. The best steak I've had in a long time. The sides are so-so. But we didn't come here for veggies. So I would recommend ordering the steak and just a small side rather than the pre-made combinations.
Drinks:
BYOB - enough said. Amazing
Service:
This is the only bad part of this place. The service staff here rushes you and you feel like you need to clear the table for the next group. But it's understandable. They are packed and they need to clear space. The waiter screwed up on the rare-ness of 1 of our orders and brought out a completely different order for another guy. But this is anecdotal - so whatever.
Price:
It's a steakhouse in Chicago...a GOOD steakhouse. We all paid around 25-30 bucks. This is insane. You will pay $70-80 for a similar quality place.
Summary:
All in all, I will definitely be back here - most likely on a weekday and I'll make sure I go with less than 3-4 people. and I'll definitely order the Filet.
Best date night ever... I mean it!
BYOB, no corkage fee, dark and romantic setting, candle-light, close seating, and amazing food.
I read that normally there will be a wait, especially with the outside seating closed for the cold months. But, it would be well worth it.
My boyfriend took me here one Wednesday night closer to the time they closed and we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get seated.
The food was ridiculous. (in a very good way) The portion sizes were bigger than average and the sizes of cuts of meats were a big surprise. The meats were very savory. If I had to say anything about it at all, I would say it was like a flavor explosion in your mouth. (that's what she said)
Our server was great. He was even a little funny, which I liked. He went over the menu with us and explained us the specials in every detail. He didn't rush us, even though we stayed a little bit after they closed. :)
It's definitely a lil great date place and the prices are relatively not too pricey for the great atmosphere and food. :)
Tango Sur is delicious! If you go anytime on a weekend night without a reservation, be prepared to wait for a long time. The nice thing is that they take your cell phone number and call you when the table's ready. When we go we stop by Tango Sur to put our names on the list, then head over to one of several nearby bars to have a drink and relax for an hour or so. Once they call, we head over and our table is ready right away. It makes for a nice, long evening. Just don't expect to be done with the whole experience in an hour!
The food is amazing. We usually get one of the meals Para Dos, the one with the sweet potatoes. The steak is wonderfully flavorful, in a way that is unique from other steak restaurants. And the sweet potatoes absolutely melt in your mouth, yum! I've also tried some of their chicken dishes and been equally impressed. There is always plenty of food to take home.
Probably the best thing about Tango Sur is the excellent value. This is a rare steak dinner that won't empty your wallet! Add in the fact that it's BYOB with no corkage fee, and this place is really a steal.
The ambiance is dark, lit by candlelight. However, I would not call this a terribly romantic dining experience. Tango Sur gets very, very crowded on weekends, and they pack a lot of people around tiny tables! I imagine this would be an excellent place to go with a large group. However, the food is so good that I don't mind being crowded!
Beef. Mmmmm. Beef.
That pretty much sums up this place. Don't go if you're a vegetarian.
Oh... and it's BYOB.
I was most recently here for a friend's birthday about a month ago however it was probably my 10+ time going. I remember when it was just one little store front... ahhh... how you have grown.
Beware. You will wait. We last went on a Friday and my friends said "Why on earth do we have to eat dinner at 6:30? What are you, 80?". Then we got there, didn't have to wait for a table... and heard the next people arriving behind us being told it was an hour and a half wait.
SEE???
Empanadas are delicious. We got one of each for everyone to try. We also had the provoleta. Yum. Who doesn't love cheese?
The entrees come with some mediocre salads. But who cares. I know I don't go there for the greens.
My husband and I usually get the Vacio or the Lomo Relleno, super rare. We do it this way because it is just SO MUCH meat that usually, we have half a slab of beef leftover and we can heat it to medium rare and eat it for lunch the next day. When I've been there without the ball and chain, I've had the Bife Vesuvio and it is just delicious.
Remember... ask right away for extra chimichurri sauce. You'll need it.
What I love about this place is that it's BYOB and you can get a lot of meat for cheap. I brought my friend there today and when he saw the bill he was like "What?! I thought it was going to be so much more!" We got the Para Dos which is a good one to order if you want to try a little bit of everything. Also, that garlic/parsley/chive/butter/I don't know what they put in it sauce tastes AMAZING.
Just be ready to wait awhile for a table and for your food. But they do give you bread in the meantime, and if your meal comes with a salad, it's a simple salad but it tastes good.
Tango Sur was my first Chicago dining experience right after I got off the plane. It was 11PM, I was starving, most places were closed but Tango saved my stomach. This Argentinian restaurant had a great atmosphere: dimly lit with candles on each table, themed art and seating, Latin music in the back ground, groups of nicely dressed yuppies chatting the night away while enjoying the BYOB aspect. That's right peeps, BYOB and no corkage fee. A couple next to me definitely went hard and destroyed 2 bottles of wine, very impressive.
Food was also quite excellent. Started with a couple empanadas which were freshly baked and piping hot. The ham and cheese one tasted like a Hot Pocket so I would go with the beef. It comes with this awesome garlic pesto-like sauce that's so off -the-hook good you would dip anything you can get your hands on in it. The main attraction was the Vacio, a cast iron baking dish loaded with like 5 pounds of flank stake smothered in a herb oil and capers and surrounded by wedges of sweet potatoes. The menu claims it serves 2 but I think it can easily satisfy an entire 3rd world country. Lets just say, I don't usually take doggy bags home but this monster owned me. Prices are great when you consider the portion, service, and ambiance. This was an awesome start to my vacation!
Everyone has pretty much covered most everything about this place, but I can't emphasize enough how awesome it is to get the bill here. Having just enjoyed a super nice bottle of wine (that we brought ourselves, BYO obv) and enjoyed all the steak you can possibly eat, leaving for around $50 just makes you feel awesome.
Oh yeah, delicious food and great ambiance too. But the bill... great for cheapskates like me.
I AM OFFICIALLY A FAN OF TANGO SUR!
Meat lovers, here is your destined haven. I love steak, and for those avid steak worshipers, best believe that good steak that is cooked to perfection is hard to come across. Here at Tango Sur, they marinade their steak just the right amount of flavor--not too bland and not toooverwhelming. I asked for the steak to be cooked medium-rare, and if I went to most of other places, that would have meant medium-well done which angers the living soul in me. Not here! They did as I said, and my $36 steak that they recommended splitting with my boyfriend was just the perfect size for two people with huge appetites. The small portion of pesto sauce most definitely completed the taste. For appetizers, I was not disappointed one bit; the empanadas surely exceeded my expectations. I've only had the chance to try the beef ones, but so far so good. Dessert was delightful. Don't contemplate about it. You'll regret not getting it.
Two people for an enjoyable, romantic, delicious, satisfying, fulfilling meal = $50
(Note: Excluding drinks)
If you've heard nothing but good things about this place, chances are that those people know what they are talking about, so do not hesitate to check it out. I was skeptic due to the hype at first, but now I'm a firm believer.
Love you, Tango Sur. Wish I could eat you every day. xoxo
My 100th review is for a restaurant that smacked a grand slam out of the park. This place is fantastic. I'm just going to list everything that is great about this restaurant because I am a no talent ass clown that shouldn't be allowed to write reviews.
-BYOB
-The El Filet is softball sized and it melts in your mouth
-Gerado the singer of Rico Suave was our waiter
-Dinner by candle light so everyone can't see how hammered I am
-The empanadas are delicious(jamon con queso being my favorite)
-BYOB
-Very reasonable prices
-Spinach mashed potatoes are a funky green color and tasty
-Did I mention BYOB?
This place is great, as you can tell from my list. I'm disappointed it's taken me this long to try this place out. Bring your appetite and a bottle of wine and be prepared to wipe the drool off your face. This place is a meat lovers dream. I will say it gets really loud in there, but who needs to talk when I have a juicy steak staring you in the face. I can't wait to go back!
Be hungry...be very hungry.
This Argentine restaurant serves great grilled food. Get there early or expect LONG waits. The portions of the steaks were enormous...but very tasty. And for those who like tongue...excellent choice for appetizer.
On the other hand, the place is very small. It was very tight in there!
You've got to love the reasonable prices for big platters, BYOB, and most especially the chimichurri sauce from heaven that goes with absolutely everything.
The meat was juicy, cooked just right, and served in man-sized portions, I haven't had a more satisfying protein fix in town for the prices they were running at. The parrillada para dos was the best $31 bucks my friend and I ever collectively spent. The waiters bent over backwards for us, almost literally as we were seated at the FAAARRRR end of the long outdoor patio in a very tight space.
No corkage fee, A+ Tango Sur. As an aside: I learned something from this dining experience, restaurants have to open booze indoors before serving outside, so our waiters to walk indoors, uncork our wine, then bring it back. Another one to add to the list of confusing, pointless Chicago municipal regulations. Thanks Richie!
The only knock against the place is where we were seated, looking into the local convenience shop with the flourescent lights on. Its just not worth the extra tables to take us away from the atmosphere of the place.
I went on a Sunday evening with one guest and was seated immediately. The space was cramped and very loud, but comfortable. The service was good. I had the filet mignon and it was fantastic!
Overall this was a very good experience and the quality of the food is high.
After reading all the reviews on Yelp, we went to Tango Sur on Saturday night for date night. I knew the wait would be crazy but we went anyway. After waiting 90 minutes they sat us right next to the door. So close to the door infact, that anyone who came in or out of the building knocked into our chair because we were so close. I thought, well, maybe the food's really good and I won't mind this.
The ambiance was fine. Candlelight... of course the wind was so strong and we were seated directly next to the door that our candle kept wafting smoke into my face, but I guess they can't control that... The tables were really close to one another. And it was very loud, which is to be expected on a Sat. night at a BYOB place but we spent most of the dinner having to listen to our neighbors who were seated a foot away...
I give them one star because the service was extremely prompt. Whenever we needed our water refilled the staff was there immediately.
The other star is for the food. It wasn't anything to write home about. My fiance ordered the ribeye steak. He said it was okay, but that there were parts of it that just sucked. I had the Milanesa A Caballo, which was beef, breaded and topped with two fried eggs. Again, maybe we had really high expectations, but it wasn't amazing.
All in all, the food was decent, but not worth the 90 minute wait and the cramped surroundings.
Been meaning to go here for quite some time and was finally able to make it a couple weeks ago. Every time I pass, it's packed to the gills - no matter the season or the day of the week. I definitely know why now!
This place takes me back to sitting in Argentina, delicious steak, red wine and french bread...nothing more simple or more delicious of a meal. Start off with the simple salad and go for the steak -- you won't be disappointed.
Makes a great spot for not only a hot date, but a group evening as well. Added bonus is the BYOB factor, bring an extra bottle or two because the ambiance will suck you in most definitely.
Tango Sur. A great place for your inner carnivore!
We showed up on a Sunday night around 8:45, and were able to get an outside table almost right away. (A huge suprise considering everything folks say about long waits.)
It's got the ambiance thing down.. inside: dim lights, dark wood, chill music and candles make for a romantic, intimate dining experience. Great date spot. Outside (on a warm night): you get less of the dimness and a little more of the breeze out there.
The service is friendly and attentive. One server even saw that we were looking at their shirts (which at first seemed to feature a guy's head w/ a funny hat and a crazy moustache, wearing a red bowtie, amongst the words "Tango Sur"). He came right up and got us all learned on how the owner of the place is Argentinian, the guy on the shirt is the most famous singer of tango music in Argentina, and that the restaurant literally means "Tango from the South."
On to the food. We ordered some empanadas to start. This was definitely the right call. My favorite was the ham and cheese! Other notables were ground beef (with some potato bits in there) and the spinach one. We also got a chicken one, but if I had to choose, my favorite empanadas would be in the order just mentioned.
After that, we popped for the Paradilla para dos. The sampler for two. The biggest fr()*#)$@(* portion of meats I've ever had plopped down on a table in front of me! There were short breads (glands). There was blood sausage (kind of weird). There were skirt steaks (yummmmm). There were short ribs (droooolllll). There were other pork sausages! All served up with some lemon wedges for the squeezing and some chimmichurri for the dipping.
A brief word on Tango Sur's chimmichurri sauce. It is DELICIOUS! It enhances and compliments the flavor of everything we put it on. However, prepare to taste the garlic well into the following day. It's worth it, just make sure you bring mouthwash with you! Ha!
Finally, the booze. BYOB! Our total tab was something like $40. It got reverse sticker shock. I mean, for a dinner like this, I'm accustomed to paying at least $80! Just goes to show how much booze really adds to your bill at regular (NBYOB) restaurants.
I'll DEFINITELY go again. Tango Sur, you tangoed your way straight into my stomach and heart.
Was here for my birthday and finally saved a wee bit of room for dessert - caramel flan - OMG. Heaven in my mouth! Staff was great with our party of 8 - our reservations were delayed slightly but they were very apologetic and set us up as soon as they could. Meat coma lasted 2 days thanks to the leftovers. Can't wait to return!
Meat-eaters rejoice - Tango Sur knows their cows. Yes, there's a ridiculous wait (stop in, leave… Read more »
If you can avoid the crowds, give this place a try. We got here on a Saturday around 4-5ish to avoid the crowd and were seated immediately. The restaurant is BYOB so drink up! (Note, if you get there and there's a wait they'll give you wine glasses so you can drink while you wait.)
Portions are huge! I got the El Fillet which looked like two 16 ounce fillets with some mashed potatoes. This dish could've been split between two people. The sauce they used was super yummy. You can't beat the price either, the El Fillet came out to $25 bucks and I promise you, you'll come home with 2 meals worth of leftovers.
This place is AMAZING. After reading tons of great reviews on Yelp, I was really excited about going to Tango Sur. My boyfriend had been there before and said the food was great. So we went on a Friday night. Yes there was a wait and yes it was crowded, but considering it was a full house, the service wasn't as slow as I expected.
The place is small and very dark. There are candles on the table and it's a BYOB. (Guys: This place will score you some points with the ladies.) The food is fairly priced for the large portions that they serve.
I had the Bife Vesuvio, which was a large prime steak stuffed with spinach and cheese. The cheese melted so nicely, it was almost creamy. The meat was served with a side of roasted potatoes and what I believe was a chimichurri sauce. That plate was more than enough food for me and it was delicious! I HIGHLY recommend this place.
Great prices, tasty meat and nice atmosphere PLUS it's BYO - what more could you ask for? Exposed brick walls, dim lighting and candles on the table make this a fun and inexpensive date place. There's outdoor seating, too, if the weather's nice. Service was good and unobtrusive.
For dinner my friend and I shared the vascio and the currasco. Both were cooked perfectly, though the cut on the vascio was kind of gristly. The salad that came with was uninteresting to the extreme - almost not even worth having at all - it consisted of one slice of tomato and a few onion rings on a bed of chopped lettuce and was undressed (though oil and vinegar were provided, I think). You also get rolls, but they, too, are unremarkable. Anyway the whole meal came to $40 for 2 including tax and tip, and we had more than enough to eat. At that price, you really can't complain...
We decided to eat here after reading rave reviews on Yelp. The wait was pretty decent for a Friday night (only an hour) however the only thing I remember was not the food - it was the astoundingly bad service. Not only was it slow, it was just bad. We asked 4 different waiters (ours was nowhere to be found) for some sauce to dip our dry bife vesuvius in and nobody came back. The empenadas were good, the spinach mash was just OK and the bife vesuvius (stuffed meat) was dry as a bone and cringingly salty. After a long day of flying in from Cali, we just wanted to get the hell out of there.
The meat was way overdone and to be honest I'd write more although I'm just trying to forget I came here. You'd figure for Chicago, the meat reviews would be on point... totally not worth the wait.
The highlight of the night was that the review we read pointed us a few doors down to Sensational Bites, a great dessert place.
If you love meat and small unbalanced tables this is a place for you. It is also romantic for a date, there are candles and nice music involved. The food is good, empanadas are great (esp. with ham or chicken). Meat is nice and greasy so make sure to get at least 1 bottle of BYO wine - there is an excellent liquor store right underneath Southport CTA.
I FINALLY went to Tango Sur last night... Why the hell have I been waiting to go there? Well, I did and will go back. I'm actually kinda craving the Spinach Mashed Potatoes that go with El Filet (2 rather large, mouth-watering filet mignon's). The spinach and cheese Empanda was amazing! BYOB, no corkage, THANK YOU!
Love love love, Tango Sur!
It was my first time--and I will likely return.
My boyfriend and I went on a Tuesday, and had no wait at 8pm. The service was fast and attentive. We dressed up a bit for our anniversary, though the table next to us was a group of guys in jeans drinking Corona--either approach seemed appropriate.
We had a cheese appetizer (literally: it was melted cheese) that was very good, followed by El Filet (we split it--seriously... split this thing). The filets were underdone for medium, but pretty good , and certainly worth the price. I think I'll try something else next time.
the flan was heaven. Split that one too.
In short: go on the week, bring wine, split it (for $5), have a fancy romantic dinner on the cheap.
My parents are from Michigan so I was hoping to surprise them with a BYOB and a cheaper bill! They love their wine. I forgot to make reservations so I called on Saturday hoping to get in that night and they said we might be able to get in around 8:30.
Well we got in BEFORE 8:30 with a ton of people waiting. We sat outside and were pleasantly surprised by the fast, attentive service (aka - how fast they opened the next wine bottle).
And then came the food. We had the melted prosciutto with red peppers, which was amazing. And I can't speak for everyone, but my entree was great. The beef vesuvio was stuffed with spinach and cheese and was tender and cooked to a perfect medium. It was absolutely delicious.
Definitely will be back.
Neighborhood: Cragin
Category: Argentine
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
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Category: Brazilian
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