Jilliann "short rib" S.'s Profile

I am absolutely baffled by the positive reviews for this place. I actually held off on writing a review after our first experience because I thought it was us - maybe we had an off-night.

Nope. This sushi is just not good. It tastes metallic and fishy (not in a good fishy kind of way). Both times we ate here, I felt like I was gambling and that we would definitely get sick later on. Okay, okay... we didn't, but the fish doesn't taste fresh and doesn't taste like it is high quality.

I really don't want to be a hater, but the outdoor seating and BYOB are just not enough to get us to come back here.

I have nothing but love for Salpicon!!

The service is top notch and I don't think it is just because we are regulars. Upon arrival, you are usually greeted by one of the proprietors - Priscilla (chef) or Vincent (wine director) - which is a really nice touch.

Keep in mind that this is refined Mexican. If you are expecting enchiladas or burritos, don't come here. My husband and I have loved everything we've ordered (and we've been here 10+ times). If you like some spice, get the beef tenderloin. I had it last night and it is fantastic. Aaron (our favorite waiter) said it is one of the spiciest dishes on the menu.

All of the dishes have great flavor, but some are more subtle than others. The ingredients are super fresh and I think that is especially apparent with the guacamole. It is simple, fresh and good. Not spicy, but the salsa that comes with it makes up for that.

The margaritas are fantastic and the tequila selection is crazy. I (almost) wish the margs weren't as good because the wine list is fantastic. We've only ordered wine by the glass because we can't avoid ordering a margarita (or two), but the wine has been excellent (and the recommendations/pairings are spot-on).

The entrees are a bit expensive ($18-$28), but they are such a treat that they are worth it. Don't even know which one to recommend - tuna, soft shell crab (in season), chile rellenos, pork, lamb, beef. You really can't go wrong.  Ask for advice from your waiter or waitress - they are fantastic and can definitely help guide you through the menu!

If you are looking for something a bit lighter on the wallet (and the stomach), we find it nice to belly up to the bar on a weeknight and have a margarita and an appetizer or two. The appetizer options are varied and everything is delicious - seviche, tortilla soup, jalapeno rellenos, tostaditas de tinga. Yum!! Yum!! Yum!!

The restaurant is definitely open during the renovations. Just pop up to the second floor, which is really nice. The renovations to the 1st floor should be complete in early August.

Enjoy!!!!

Food is fantastic. We loved the hamachi crudo and burrata - yum!

Cocktails are excellent, but service takes forever (at least 20 minutes for a glass of wine). Service was definitely friendly, but odd all around. Couldn't get the guy's attention to order a drink and, then, another gal kept interrupting us in the middle of conversation to check how things were going... But only when we had full drinks and food. We weren't rushed, which was great, but the service level/intensity was inconsistent.

Really cool space, but the music was odd. Although I enjoy country music, it seemed really out of place (and distracting). Not sure what was up with that?!?

Yum! Everything was flavorful and delicious. We stuck to ordering from the specials on the chalk board and the "secret" Thai menu that a lot of the other reviewers referenced. That was a good call.

To start. The papaya salad (the one with peanuts) was perfectly spicy. The thai ribs (I think that is what they were called) were really flavorful.

For the main event. The duck curry wasn't on the menu, but they always have it. I had a bite of my friend's and it was delightful. Had a bite of the pork belly special, too, and that was outrageous. I had the pad-thai-wrapped-in-an-omelet dish - it was interesting and delicious.

Like a lot of the other reviews... can't go wrong with the special menu. Prices were super reasonable. Oh, and BYOB is always a good thing, too!

The Publican is really good, but - for this meat lover - it was a bit like seeing a movie after all of your friends have told you how great it is. I really enjoyed it, but wasn't blown away because I was expecting it to be good. Don't get me wrong, it is.

Pork rinds were a fun starter. As for entrees, get the chicken. No really. I never order chicken at a restaurant (unless it is fried and I am in a southern joint), but it is so freakin' good. Get it. It comes with sausage and fries and it could definitely feed two people. The waiter recommended the chicken and the sweet breads. Didn't try the sweet breads, but if they were on par with the chicken, I'm sure they are great.

Casual atmosphere and communal seating. Great beer selection, too.

Best (and freshest) sushi in Chicago!!

The dishes really allow the fresh fish to be the hero (not the sauces and complicated rolls like a lot of places in Chicago). If you like sashimi or nigiri - this place is for you! The rolls are great, too, but not the focus.

Everything is shareable and delicious! Prices are somewhat high, but worth it. The nigiri/sashimi is excellent and seems to be priced appropriately (especially considering that they fly some stuff in overnight). Expect to pay $16 for a specialty roll and around $6 for a traditional roll (e.g., spicy tuna).

I typically don't like octopus, but the Spicy Mono specialty roll is amazing! Try it!

We sat downstairs, which was great for a group of five people. The upstairs was loud and, based on the people headed up there, is a bit of a scene. The outdoor sidewalk seating is casual and lovely too!

Enjoy!!

Based on the reviews (and the menu that we found to be overwhelming), we probably should have tried the $55 Tasting Menu. We aren't vegetarian and we were confused about how to order. This is a mostly vegetarian place that serves small plates. The menu is grouped in different sections, but there aren't any descriptions (we simply assumed that the more expensive the dish, the bigger it was... that was a good rule of thumb).

Again, we really didn't know how to order (and that is usually not a problem for us when eating out). We just found it confusing when it is mostly veggies... Can you get grits and lemon spaetzle or would that be too carb heavy? We didn't get a lot of guidance from the waiter (and I know we looked like confused carnivores), but the he did tell us that most people have 3 dishes per person. However, I think that would be a bit too much fod (and a bit too expensive).

We ordered an appetizer (burrata), a middle dish (lemon spaetzle) and two dishes from the bottom of the menu - grits with mushrooms and scallops (I know, I know... Not vegetarian, but we went with what we know). Again, the Tasting Menu probably would have been a better experience for us because we would have tried new things.

The best and most flavorful dishes were the buratta and grits/mushroom. The other dishes weren't as memorable.

The dishes were overly styled (fancy presentation), service was okay and cocktails were good (but pricey).

We will go back, but will push the waiter or chef to guide us through the experience.

We really enjoyed our evening at Sunda - It has a fun ambiance and great cocktails (cucumber saketini was excellent). Definitely a lively place for a small group dinner. We took friends from out-of-town and they loved it. Just keep in mind that the restaurant is really loud so don't go here if you are looking for a quiet evening.

Food is great. We started with the steamed bao buns with pork belly - super tasty. We also tried the lemongrass beef lollipops, which were good (but not as flavorful as the bao buns).  As for sushi, I liked the simplicity of the Wa-Machi maki. It wasn't as wasabi hot as I expected, but it still was a tasty, simple roll. The Number Ten roll was a total crowd pleaser - a bit saucy and complicated, but the flavors worked well together and everyone enjoyed it. Those two were the most memorable rolls, but we enjoyed everything we ordered.

Although food and cocktail prices are on the high side, I liked that they have reasonable options for bottles of wine. We ordered bottles of Sauvingon Blanc and Rose that were each in the $35-$45 range.

They have the always delicious mochi ice-cream for dessert - love it.  The dish has a bunch of interesting flavors and is large enough to share with the entire table. Yum!

Just updating this to 3 stars (down from 4).

To be completely transparent, this review is still just for M Chicken.

I haven't tried the burger (I will), but the chicken sandwich is usually tasty and has a super delicious avocado spread on it. Yum. So good!

Unfortunately, the chicken sandwich seems to be getting smaller and more dried out. Maybe it was just the most recent one that I had, but I am losing my love for it. Maybe it is time to try the burger?

Minimal seating indoors, but they have some great outdoor seating for the summer.

The folks behind the counter are always pleasant and really enthusiastic. Puts you in a good mood. Seriously love that! They know what is up... keep calling me beautiful and I'll keep coming back!

Wish I could rate the food and drink situation separately.

Food is mediocre. I am stunned and saddened by the fact that people actually think the BBQ is good. Maybe I am spoiled by the great options near family in TN and TX, but BBQ at Fireplace is just not good.

That being said, it is a great place to grab a drink and watch sports... Too bad they don't have any good bar appetizers to accompany the games. We've tried a bunch of them, but have always been disappointed.

Just stick with the drink menu and you will be in good shape! Tasty vodka lemonade and a good beer selection.