Atlas Cafe

As I have admitted many times before, I am a lazy, lazy man. And that means the Internet was just made for me and my lazy, lazy ways. One of the premiere resources of cyber-codependency is GrubHub, and they've recently added a couple of new outlets in Logan Square -- including, most recently, Atlas Cafe.

Atlas Cafe offers a multi-culti, tutti-frutti assortment, with some emphasis on Chilean, Mexican and Italian-American foods. I'll admit, I don't know what or where they are aiming with their menu, but they are making an honest effort, with enough hits to balance out the misses (based on tonight's sampling), that I am glad to have them here. So, with no more ado, and no attempt to provide a catholic review of their extensive offerings, here is what I ate tonight and what I thought of it:

Ensalada de Iquique


This beet salad had a tasty garlic dressing, but the canned beets were a real turn-off. I don't know what I expected for $4.95, but I suppose I have been spoiled by the fresh beets served at Lula and others of its ilk. This was just not to my taste, although those who like canned sugar beets would probably enjoy the rush of garlic and lemon applied to the syrupy sweet beets.

Chilean Beef Empanada


This was a ho-hum empanada. Not enough filling, not much spice. Hard to complain about a fried dough sandwich, but nothing worth repeating here.

Chacarero - 1 of 2



Chacerero - 2 of 2


This chacarero sandwich was very good, especially the fresh tomatoes and avocado, as well as the thin-crusted, light French roll on which it was served. I have a feeling Atlas' strengths lie in simple fare like this sandwich. Worth another try, for sure.

Grilled Calamari


Very lovely presentation of expertly grilled calamari; unfortunately, the raw ingredient was rather pedestrian, a bit rubbery and not very flavorful. The grill marks and the very sweet, fresh summer tomatoes elevated this dish, but come November, this will just be frozen calamari and mushy tomatoes. That said, they have definitely made the best of the available ingredients (including poor quality calamari, excellent quality tomatoes and greens that were greens, so to speak).

Atlas has a number of other Chilean offerings that might entice me to order again, and I may also throw caution to the wind and try one of their pastas; they also offer an all-breast meat variation of Chicken Vesuvio that I could envision myself ordering some winter night.

Atlas Cafe
3028 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 227-0022

Mon - Sun, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.