Where to go in Pilsen tonight

Had to cancel a planned trip to Zaragoza, because, duh, they are closed today.

Due to time restrictions, we can't really make it out that far south/west anyway, so are restricted to Pilsen.

Any recommendations besides the area GNRs?? Exotic meats, fresh grilled steak tacos, carnitas, brain tacos all a plus. Carne en su Jugo a double plus.

BYOB or bar a super duper triple plus.

Thanks folks,

H

Habibi -

It's not Pilsen but not very far from Pilsen to the west is la Casa de Samuel on Cermak, which sounds like it would fit your desiderata culinaria pretty well.
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Carnitas places close early and have limited menus and brain tacos are not to be found in most restaurants. La Condesa is a place that can satisfy basic urges for meat and alcohol -- we've eaten there a few times in the past and it is a nice, basic sort of a place. They have criadillas if you're in the mood for organs. No carne en su jugo there, if I remember correctly.

Tayahua, on Western, is an old favourite of mine (though I haven't been back lately); they have a bar and very good food, including CESJ. Again, not Pilsen but not far from Pilsen either:
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Antonius

Second Casa de Samuel!

If you want to try something non-Mexican, Honky Tonk BBQ is putting out some great stuff right now.

... I forgot to mention where La Condesa is; it's on Ashland just south of Cermak on the west side (so basically the southwest corner there, with a pretty large parking lot).

I love Mundial. But it's more upscale than the tacos you mention. If you go, last time I was there I had their steamed mussels slathered in hunks of bacon and poblano peppers, and it was terrific.

Nightwood is an American restaurant that opened recently in Pilsen. Click here for discussion, here for the restaurant's website.

Thanks for all the recs. I don't mind veering away from Pilsen at all. In fact, going out to Little Village is now also a possibility. I am also considering Cemitas Puebla, where I've never been.

So many choices................

Went to Casa de Samuel and was blown away. Rabbit, goat, venison and balls all cooked to perfection and served on a single platter, parillada style. Alng with the handmade tortillas, excellent guac and some tequila, this was a phenomenal meal. One of the best Mexican meals I've had. Thanks for the recs.

Habibi,

thanks for reporting back and I'm so glad you enjoyed Casa de Samuel. Was Sergio your waiter?

(see this post for pictures of Sergio by G Wiv: viewtopic.php?p=99911#p99911 )

-- Amata

I haven't been to LCdS in quite some time (four months now), but it's always blown me away too - always great food and top notch service. I certainly understand that many would not consider LCdS to be Mexican fine dining, but good luck finding a Mexican restaurant that puts a bigger smile on your face. Glad to hear you enjoyed it too Habibi.

Habibi wrote:Went to Casa de Samuel and was blown away. Rabbit, goat, venison and balls all cooked to perfection and served on a single platter, parillada style. Alng with the handmade tortillas, excellent guac and some tequila, this was a phenomenal meal. One of the best Mexican meals I've had. Thanks for the recs.

Delighted to hear you liked this old favourite of mine so much. Maybe it would do well to add a note in the CdS thread, in part for GNR purposes but in part also to alert newcomers to LTH and to remind us who have not been there in a bit what we've been missing!...

I think I need a fix of some cabrito and cecina de venado myself just now...

Antonius

I believe that the waiter was indeed Sergio and he was quite the professional. Despite the language barrier and our group's chaotic ordering he sensed that we wanted to share everything and accordingly brought out our food on a large plate parillada style. Completely his call and right on the money. Also, when a friend of mine who just returned from Spain jokingly requested a "chupita de casa" after we got the check, Sergio graciously poured us four snifters of Cuervo 1800, on the casa of course. I will be back soon. What a place.

Habibi wrote:I believe that the waiter was indeed Sergio and he was quite the professional. Despite the language barrier and our group's chaotic ordering he sensed that we wanted to share everything and accordingly brought out our food on a large plate parillada style. Completely his call and right on the money. Also, when a friend of mine who just returned from Spain jokingly requested a "chupita de casa" after we got the check, Sergio graciously poured us four snifters of Cuervo 1800, on the casa of course. I will be back soon. What a place.

"Chupita de casa" -- thanks for the hint. At Fonda del Mar last Sunday, they brought us a few glasses of agavero, a tequila liquor that we both liked a lot and which we didn't ask for...but now I know how to do that.

Sergio is a pro, and the secret to that pro attitude is that he clearly loves what he does. I'm reading Waiter's Rant right now, and I plan to post about it when I'm done, but it's kind of depressing to read a book from a waiter that seems frequently about what inconsiderate, contemptible and barely tolerable imbeciles we restaurant patrons are -- the sense I get is that the author dislikes his job and his customers. Sergio clearly doesn't.