Mercadito

Location: 108 W. Kinzie St., Chicago, IL 60654

A Quick Word:
A lot of my friends kept asking me my thoughts on Mercadito.  And, I was always against having EXPENSIVE Mexican food, especially with the Pilsen neighborhood so close.  Anyway, one of my friends and I headed to Mercadito after a night of skating.  On a random Monday night, the restaurant was crowded.  In terms of the atmosphere, think modern design, yet packed in tight.  Our tables were essentially on top one another, making it easy to eavesdrop if that is your forte.  And, with such a busy restaurant, the service didn't keep up to par.  When it came to the food, I was impressed with the guacamole and all the tacos we ordered.  In fact, these were extremely authentic and at the same time, unique enough to make me want more.  They offer specials, which for us, included an Asian-inspired duck taco.  But once again, price was the deciding factor keeping it from a higher rating.  At $16 for an order of 4 tacos and $13 for the guacamole duo, you can just imagine how fast a final bill can add up.  And for that reason, the 4-mile rating is fair.  Great food, but River North prices.  If they allowed a mix and match for tacos, I would feel more comfortable paying those prices.

What We Ate:

Guacamoles (Tocino & Pera)

I had heard great reviews about Mercadito's guacamole,  mainly because of the many different choices. Ordering just one is a rip off, so we stuck with the guacamole duo for just a few bucks more.  Our first guac was the tocino.  Imagine bacon, roasted sweet potato, tomatillo pico, serrano peppers, and topped with fried sweet potatoes... can't go wrong!  The other guac was called pera.  This one had pears, chipotle meco epazote, and pico all mixed in.  The tocino guac had a nice bacon flavor to it, which made it extremely savory.  The sweet potatoes didn't add much except for a crunch factor on top.  The pera guac had a nice sweetness to it, but not enough spice.  They were both delicious, but a little something extra on both is needed to elevate it to the next level.  Highly recommended, but not even close to extraordinary.

Tacos de Camaron

For our first set of tacos, we stuck with camarones aka shrimp.  Each order comes with 4 tacos of the same type, NO MIXING.  These tacos had shrimp sauteed in a roasted garlic and chipotle mojo sauce before being topped with a slice of avocado.  They were served on a lightly warmed corn tortilla.  Each taco was packed with shrimp... in fact, the shrimp would fall out on each bite with how overloaded each one was.   The avocado added a nice rich creaminess to the tacos, but not much flavor.  Definitely add some of the pear guac to these tacos to help cut the heat.  That chipotle sauce is spicier than you think, but still be aware what you are ordering.

Duck Tacos

After going through all of the choices, my friend and I had a hard time deciding on our final taco order. But once she heard duck, the decision was made.  This day's special was a roasted pulled duck taco topped with sliced radish, an onion chutney, and hoisin sauce.  Once again, the tacos were served on corn tortillas.  This taco reminded me of a pecking duck or even a bao.  The only difference was the taco shell instead of the white asian bun.  The chutney had a wonderful sweetness, but didn't distract from the taco taste.  The meat was extremely tender.  Without question the best dish of the night.  Hopefully any other day's special is as good as this one.

The DOs/DON'Ts:
DO:
- Make reservations.  This place gets extremely packed at all times of the week and night.  We went on a random Monday night... somehow the entire restaurant was packed at 8PM.
- Definitely share.  Each order comes with 4 smaller tacos, making it a perfect dish to share.

DON'T:
- Service can be kind of slow and tables really jam packed together.  Don't expect a fast or quiet dinner at this restaurant.

How far would I walk for this food?

Husky Hog BBQ

Location: Varies
Twitter: @HuskyHogBBQ


A Quick Word:
While walking across campus to grab a quick bite to eat at the student center, I stumbled across this blue food truck parked just a few feet away.  I decided to check out their menu and noticed it was BBQ.  I was pretty excited until I noticed the prices.  This food truck features BBQ sliders (meaning very small sandwiches... small enough that the owner told me I would need at least two and a side to be somewhat full).  The food itself was tasty for sure, but not worth the cost.  The people on board were all friendly and the service was real quick.  If I want good BBQ, I know I shouldn't go to a new food truck in Chicago.  And, for that reason, an average rating of 3-miles was awarded.

What I Ate:

$10 Combo Box

For my meal, I stuck with the $10 box... pretty expensive for lunch.  Anyway, it came with my choice of two sliders (I chose the pulled pork slider and the burnt ends slider), a side of Mac n' Cheese, their bacon baked beans, and the guys were generous enough to throw in some corn bread.  The sandwiches were served on sweet slider buns and topped with something unique.  For the pulled pork, it was a pickle, and for the burnt ends, they used pickled red onions.  Both sandwiches were pretty tasty, just extremely small for your money.  The mac n' cheese didn't really have a specific cheese flavor, but it did have one of the best crusts I have had.  It was extremely crispy (It was obviously sprinkled on before serving).  And those beans... he told me it was the 2nd most popular, and I don't see how it could be.  The red onions over power everything... Add some of the meat into the beans and extra BBQ sauce and it tastes a little better.

The DOs/DON'Ts:
DO:
- Combos are definitely the best deal... but that isn't saying much.  If you are really craving BBQ and can't find other places, then this is an OK place to settle.
- Ask them to not pre-sauce the food.  This way you can add whichever BBQ you prefer.

DON'T:
- Don't expect to get full.  I sure wasn't and I already splurged for the $10 box.

How far would I walk for this food?

The Barrelhouse Flat

Location: 2624 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

A Quick Word:
Cocktail bars and craft beer bars continue to expand in the Chicago area.  Somehow, I kept forgetting to post about Barrelhouse Flat, possibly my favorite bar in Chicago.  This bar located in Lincoln Park offers dozens of cocktails (in fact, they have a menu with over 6 pages full of cocktails).  From your typical whiskey stirred drinks to those creative egg white infused cocktails, there is something for everyone.  The feel of the bar is a speakeasy/lounge type.  Downstairs is a huge bar displaying the variety of whiskeys, liquors, and other mix-ins.  If you get lucky, the upstairs has more of that lounge feel to it.  I definitely love this bar and I think their drinks rival some of the better bars in New Orleans (home of drinks like the Sazerac).  And for that reason, I decided to give them a 5-mile rating because I would definitely work the 5-miles for these drinks.

What I Drank:

Sazerac

Having spent a month in New Orleans until just a few weeks ago, I was hoping for a place that served up a great sazerac.  I had been here before, but forgot about their cocktail list.  In their sazerac, they use a very common recipe consisting of rye whiskey, a simple syrup, bitters, and of course, some form of absinthe.  I was surprised not to find a swirl of lemon peel garnishing the glass.  Anyway, it was made perfectly.  Great aroma from the absinthe and of course the use of a good rye whiskey.  Still love this place.

Old Fashioned

(sorry, no picture--too dark to post)

After a couple sazeracs, I decided to switch it up.  An Old Fasioned is my next favorite drink.  Thankfully, here, they refrain from using cherries (which I just don't enjoy).  They use a bourbon whiskey, syrup, orange, and bitters.  Another strong, yet tasty drink.  The orange actually stood out, especially if you smash up the peel just a little.

Manhattan

(sorry, no picture--too dark to post)

For my last drink, I figured why not order a different whiskey drink.  I kept with the same stirred theme when I decided on the Manhattan.  This drink is made with a rye whiskey, sweet and dry vermouth, and of course... bitters.  No surprise there.  Honestly, I don't remember this drink too much, but if you enjoy whiskey drinks like a sazerac, this is another great option.


The DOs/DON'Ts:
DO:
- Immediately put your name down for the lounge seating.  It can be up to a 2 hour wait, but well worth it to go upstairs!
- Tables and bar seating on the first floor are all FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.  So if you see someone leaving, stalk that table.

DON'T:
- No driving here... parking is difficult and why would you not want to take advantage of their huge cocktail list.

How far would I walk for these drinks?

La Boulangerie

Location: 2569 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

A Quick Word:
After having my car washed at the Logan Square Car Wash, I figured it was time to explore the area just a little more.  Driving around, I found La Boulangerie just about a block or two down the road.  I had heard about this French-inspired bakery in the past, but somehow it slipped my mind to ever come out and try it.  Upon walking in, you find plenty of small tables for dining in, as well as a beautiful display case filled with colorful pastries.  A smell of fresh crepes fills the air, which pairs nicely with the  scent of brewing coffee.  I believe they are known for the macarons, which in my opinion, were just average.  They had some great ones, but also had ones I never want to eat again.  Their other pastries are also rich and wonderful for dessert, but you are definitely paying for that French-style cuisine.  Personally, I wasn't that impressed, but my friends definitely loved the desserts.  I think a 3.5 mile rating is good.

What We Ate:

Macarons

Macarons are one of my favorite desserts or snacks available at bakeries.  I would always skip the croissants or the freshly baked bread or fine sandwiches in Paris bakeries just to have room for a macaron or two.  Here, they have many flavors that rotate seasonally.  Their current flavors are--from left to right--carrot cake (orange), hazelnut (brown filling), cherry (red), pistachio (green), caramel (light tan), passion fruit (yellow), and chocolate (cookies n cream-like).  I wasn't a big fan of several of the macaroons, including the pistachio and chocolate.  But the more exotic flavors like passion fruit and carrot cake where on point.  They completely fooled my taste buds because I truly thought I was biting into a slice of carrot cake.  These definitely aren't as high quality as Paris macarons or even Hendrickx Belgium Bread Crafter (located in downtown Chicago), but they do fulfill your macaron cravings!

Chocolate-Peanut-Caramel Tart

After seeing this chocolate tart and finding out it was basically a Snicker bar, I had to order one.  It was a chocolate tart filled with peanuts and caramel.  This tasted exactly like a Snicker, just looked much more presentable.  The caramel was still in that gooey phase despite being in the fridge for a few hours. Definitely worth trying!

Coffee Eclair

Before leaving the bakery, I needed to sink my teeth into one of their pastries.  I choose the coffee eclair.  This light flakey dough pastry is filled with a coffee cream before being covered in a coffee-sugary glaze.  The eclair was definitely on the richer side and surprisingly very sweet for having a coffee quality to it.  It was also a little pricier at three bucks a pop.

Burnt Sugar Cream Puff

With just a little space remaining in the box, I decided to order one more pastry.  I went with the burnt sugar cream puff.  This cream puff was topped with a thick disk of burnt sugar before being chilled.  This pastry saved my review on La Boulangerie because I truly enjoyed eating every bite of it.  The cream puff was light and airy with a vanilla bean cream filling.  The puff was filled to max capacity with the cream before that sugary treat was placed on top.  The burnt sugar gave a little smokey flavor without overwhelming the vanilla.  It was just sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth, but not make you nauseous.  I could eat a dozen of these if it wasn't for the $2.50 price tag.

The DOs/DON'Ts:
DO:
- Remember that this place also serves Crepes.  I haven't had any, but will definitely try them out next time.
- Plenty of street parking!

DON'T:
- Don't order all of the macarons.  Some of the flavors are just not that great.  I suggest just ordering one or two that you really want to try.  And just because they are seasonal, doesn't mean they are tasty.

How far would I walk for this food?

White Palace Grill

Location: 1159 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60607

A Quick Word:
Living around the UIC area, I drive by White Palace Grill probably twice a day... if not more.  This 24-hour diner style restaurant seems popular, especially with that huge Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives poster proudly attached to the exterior of their building.  I can definitely see why it is popular for late night, drunk food cuisine, but for a normal breakfast, I have very different views.  For instance, don't advertise southern fried chicken tenders and then serve frozen chicken fingers.  This was basically their nail in the coffin for my review.  I will say their portion sizes and prices are wonderful and very generous, but this is one of those "you get what you pay for" when it comes to quality.  The actually diner is nothing spectacular so we decided to order take out this time.  I mean, I can't get passed the idea that I could easily cook all of the food we ordered.  Nothing was spectacular, and everything was definitely below average.  For that reason, 2 mile rating seemed generous on my behalf.

What We Ate:

"Mama White's" Chicken and Waffles

It took several minutes to comb through White Palace Grill's extensive menu.  With several pages, I was afraid they focus more on offering a variety of average items rather than a few higher quality ones. The meal that stood out to me was nicknamed "Mama White's".  My entree came with three southern fried chicken tenders, one Belgium waffle, two eggs (I chose over easy), hash browns, and my choice of rye toast.  It sounded incredible and for only $10.00, it sounded like plenty of food for two meals.  I was definitely correct on the latter... the portion size was incredible.  They make sure you have left overs.  Personally, I didn't even touch the eggs, hash browns, toast, and a quarter of the waffle.  Unfortunately, I was still EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with the meal.  First of all, they state southern fried chicken tenders, but all I found was three frozen chicken fingers that were warmed up.  No seasoning whatsoever meaning I needed to use ketchup on my chicken fingers.  The maple syrup didn't help hide the frozen aspect of the chicken.  The waffle was bland and on the soggier side.  Everything else was just average.  I felt like I could make this entire meal at home for even cheaper.  I guess I had my hopes up especially with the description of all this entree.

Veggie Omelette

My roommate stuck with the typical vegetarian dish--the veggie omelette.  It seemed like a 3-egg omelette based on the size and was filled with tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, onions, and for a little extra, he chose cheddar cheese.  The meal came with hash browns and choice of toast, which he stuck with wheat.  Once again, portion size wasn't an issue, but my roommate even mentioned how it wasn't anything unique.  Use a good amount of ketchup, maybe some hot sauce, and it reminds you of your omelette at home.

Pecan Waffle

My roommate's girlfriend knew she wanted a waffle, and at the last minute, decided on the pecan one.  The name explains the entire dish... a freshly made Belgium waffle with pecan chunks cooked right in and a dusting of powdered sugar.  Add just a little maple syrup and you are good to go.  I actually really enjoyed her waffle.  The pecans added the crunch that lacked in the plain waffle.  Especially when ordering take out, the waffle tends to arrive on the soggier side, so those pecans are key.  Unfortunately for this entree, the price was a little on the higher side for only getting a waffle.

The DOs/DON'Ts:
DO:
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Definitely check it out for late night option.
- Do consider sharing.  The portions are huge.  I guess the food is cheap as well, so maybe sharing shouldn't be considered?

DON'T:
- Nearly impossible to park.  Don't drive.
- Don't expect too much.  Their description sound way better than their food actually is.
- Separating checks is impossible for them for some reason... Don't ask.

How far would I walk for this food?