Best Margaritas

Hey Gang.
I have some friends coming into town from different parts of the country. One of the things they said they'd like to do is find good margaritas at an out-of-the-way place.
I told them about Frontera Grill.

Where can I send them?
Thanks!

curry71 wrote:Hey Gang.
I have some friends coming into town from different parts of the country. One of the things they said they'd like to do is find good margaritas at an out-of-the-way place.
I told them about Frontera Grill.

Where can I send them?
Thanks!

Well, Frontera isn't out of the way, but I must admit, I think their margaritas are very good (especially with a mescal shot). Another place you might try is Geno Bahena's Tepatulco; I had a lukewarm reaction to the food, but others seem to like it, and the margaritas, shaken tableside, ain't bad.

Tepatulco
2558 N. Halsted St., Chicago
773-472-7419

Adobo Grill, while overpriced and underwhelming in terms of entrees and service (IMO) does two things very, very well: guacamole and margaritas.

The Old Town location at 1610 N Wells would be good to hit pre-second-city, if you're doing that.

The Wicker Park location is a little less overwhelming and would be close to some other more exciting restaurants (Bob San for sashimi, Scylla or Bin Wine Cafe as well) as well as some good walking, window shopping and people watching.

The Margaritas at the Matchbox aint too shabby either, come to think of it.

bananasandwiches wrote:The Margaritas at the Matchbox aint too shabby either, come to think of it.

They're quite good, in fact, and qualify as "off-the-beaten-path" for sure. Probably the last place you'd expect to get a good margarita. (Also offered at the less smoky, more spacious neighbor, The Silver Palm.)

Matchbox
770 N. Milwaukee
Chicago

Silver Palm
768 N. Milwaukee

I have what I think is the winning candidate for "last place you'd expect to find a great margarita:" Midori Sushi, where chef Roberto mixes fresh lime juice, grand marnier, and premium tequila to perfection.

Midori Sushi
3310 W. Bryn Mawr

David Hammond wrote:

curry71 wrote:Hey Gang.
I have some friends coming into town from different parts of the country. One of the things they said they'd like to do is find good margaritas at an out-of-the-way place.
I told them about Frontera Grill.

Where can I send them?
Thanks!

Well, Frontera isn't out of the way, but I must admit, I think their margaritas are very good (especially with a mescal shot). Another place you might try is Geno Bahena's Tepatulco; I had a lukewarm reaction to the food, but others seem to like it, and the margaritas, shaken tableside, ain't bad.

Tepatulco
2558 N. Halsted St., Chicago
773-472-7419

Agreed. Great margaritas, but bad food. The place is phoning it in and coasting on Bahena's reputation.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

David Hammond wrote:

curry71 wrote:Hey Gang.
I have some friends coming into town from different parts of the country. One of the things they said they'd like to do is find good margaritas at an out-of-the-way place.
I told them about Frontera Grill.

Where can I send them?
Thanks!

Well, Frontera isn't out of the way, but I must admit, I think their margaritas are very good (especially with a mescal shot). Another place you might try is Geno Bahena's Tepatulco; I had a lukewarm reaction to the food, but others seem to like it, and the margaritas, shaken tableside, ain't bad.

Tepatulco
2558 N. Halsted St., Chicago
773-472-7419

Agreed. Great margaritas, but bad food. The place is phoning it in and coasting on Bahena's reputation.

And yet...according to yesterday's Dish, GB is opening a new combo dining joint on the southside: Delicioso Restaurant and Sabroso Grill (10468 S. Indianapolis Blvd).

Don Juan. Inconviently located. Pretty good margaritas. Excellent food.

My wife swears by the margarita's at Mi Tierra in Berwyn. Of course, she'd really prefer the margarita's at Senor Froy's in Villa Obergon, Mexico

MI Tierra Cocina Mexicana
7134 Cermak Rd
Berwyn, IL 60402
(708) 795-1460

If your friends are purists-there are not too many places that don't use some form of sweet-sour mix, or that don't dumb down the formula of good tequila, fresh lime juice, sugar, and a decent orange liquor. Frontera and Topolo are certainly safe bets. Probably Adobo, Tepatulco, Salpicon and others of that ilk also. The last time I was at Matchbox (some time ago )there was a load of some kind of sweet-sour thing in mine-hopefully they've since cut it out. Some places even add grain alcohol-or make a batch using cheap tequila and add a drizzle of your call tequila.
There is some comfort in knowing these folks will roast in hell for an eternity...

stewed coot wrote:If your friends are purists-there are not too many places that don't use some form of sweet-sour mix, or that don't dumb down the formula of good tequila, fresh lime juice, sugar, and a decent orange liquor. Frontera and Topolo are certainly safe bets. Probably Adobo, Tepatulco, Salpicon and others of that ilk also. The last time I was at Matchbox (some time ago )there was a load of some kind of sweet-sour thing in mine-hopefully they've since cut it out. Some places even add grain alcohol-or make a batch using cheap tequila and add a drizzle of your call tequila.
There is some comfort in knowing these folks will roast in hell for an eternity...

Yes, hopefully flambéed with cheap tequila.

Thanks for raising this point. The mark of a good margarita -- which as you say you can count on at places like Topolobampo/Frontera -- is that they make the mix with fresh ingredients. In some cases, I find that fresh-made feature is even more critical than using a super high-quality tequila (which, frankly, seems a little wasted when mixed with anything).

This is another point-by good tequila-I just meant well made. A blanco from a reliable producer is perfect. Good ingredients and mixing knowledge are the important factors for any cocktail, I would think.
However, I've always sat on the fence as far as using super-premium booze in mixed drinks. It sure can be a waste, but having experimented a fair amount with margs, there's something to be said for some of the high-end versions, if made well. And no matter what anyone says, a well-made Grey Goose bloody mary when Sunday mornin' is comin' down all nasty, is akin to what mother's milk must be like for a starving infant.

Let's also not forget the notion -- however scientifically unfounded it might be -- that when overindulging, premium booze bring with them a much lower hangover than their discount brethren.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:Let's also not forget the notion -- however scientifically unfounded it might be -- that when overindulging, premium booze bring with them a much lower hangover than their discount brethren.

Of course, one should drink responsibly. So if you're planning to get blind, raging drunk...please, make sure it's on the good stuff.

The last time I was at Matchbox (some time ago )there was a load of some kind of sweet-sour thing in mine-hopefully they've since cut it out.

Blasphemy! They don't make anything with any kind of premade mixes at Matchbox, not even Rose's Lime. It's all fresh-squeezed juices, liquor and sugar, eggwhites for thickener (though not in the margaritas, I don't think) etc.

Unless they had a completely different method back in the day...

Last weekend I had a margarita there that was made with tequila they had steeped with apricots, seriously TASTY. But I hasten to add that I requested it that way--their "regular" margarita is the classic non-flavored tequila kind.

My favorite margaritas are the Patron margaritas at Que Rico.

I hate to be technical here, but if there ever was a thread that belongs in Something to Drink, wouldn't this be it? (I imagine the limes in the margaritas may provide sustenance for some, but not enough I don't think, to be considered a meal.)

Point taken.

geli wrote:

The last time I was at Matchbox (some time ago )there was a load of some kind of sweet-sour thing in mine-hopefully they've since cut it out.

Blasphemy! They don't make anything with any kind of premade mixes at Matchbox, not even Rose's Lime. It's all fresh-squeezed juices, liquor and sugar, eggwhites for thickener (though not in the margaritas, I don't think) etc.

Unless they had a completely different method back in the day...

Last weekend I had a margarita there that was made with tequila they had steeped with apricots, seriously TASTY. But I hasten to add that I requested it that way--their "regular" margarita is the classic non-flavored tequila kind.

If they are making a Gimlet with anything OTHER than Rose's Lime Juice, it's not a purist's Gimlet.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

David Hammond wrote:

curry71 wrote:Hey Gang.
I have some friends coming into town from different parts of the country. One of the things they said they'd like to do is find good margaritas at an out-of-the-way place.
I told them about Frontera Grill.

Where can I send them?
Thanks!

Well, Frontera isn't out of the way, but I must admit, I think their margaritas are very good (especially with a mescal shot). Another place you might try is Geno Bahena's Tepatulco; I had a lukewarm reaction to the food, but others seem to like it, and the margaritas, shaken tableside, ain't bad.

Tepatulco
2558 N. Halsted St., Chicago
773-472-7419

Agreed. Great margaritas, but bad food. The place is phoning it in and coasting on Bahena's reputation.

As evidenced by my second visit a few weeks ago. We entered and stood for about two minutes, waiting for someone to acknowledge us. GB was sitting on his ample “laurels” his back to the door speaking to some folks. After someone at his table noticed we were standing at the door for too long a time, they mentioned something to him. He turned his head, looked at us and went back to his conversation. I liked his hat, though.

Oh, and the margaritas are spectacular. I’d never go back but my wife likes it and it’s about a minute and thirty seconds from our house…

DMChicago wrote:We entered and stood for about two minutes, waiting for someone to acknowledge us. GB was sitting on his ample “laurels” his back to the door speaking to some folks. After someone at his table noticed we were standing at the door for too long a time, they mentioned something to him. He turned his head, looked at us and went back to his conversation. I liked his hat, though.

The tendency of this particular celebrity chef to sit in the back, apparently oblivious to much going on in the kitchen and in the room has been noted by Tamarkin in Time Out Chicago -- and by me on both my visits to Tepatulco. I don't quite understand what seems to be his almost passive-aggressive stance toward the business.

El Jardin - with the (roughly) one shot of Everclear in the Gold.

Nothing else compares when you want to get wasted.

A friend of mine refuses to drink margaritas at the Matchbox since they put powdered sugar on the rim. Sure, you can ask for salt, but she refuses, on principle.

I like their margaritas just fine, though I do object to the very notion of using brandy in a manhattan, their typical liquor. It's bourbon or rye, but not brandy. Again, you can ask for whiskey, but there's still the principle of the thing...

Just at the Matchbox and the Silver Palm this past Sunday and consumed many fine margaritas there. They are indeed the best margaritas I've ever had (and I make it my business to do research on this topic) and I believe that the original Margarita DID have powdered sugar on its rim, not salt.

In fact, I think salt on the rim is icky. I always order mine with no salt -- but then again, I'm a girl who takes her tequila shots straight down with a water chase and no silly frilly lime squeeze or salt lick.

Make of that what you will, people.



Shannon

danimalarkey wrote:A friend of mine refuses to drink margaritas at the Matchbox since they put powdered sugar on the rim. Sure, you can ask for salt, but she refuses, on principle.

I like their margaritas just fine, though I do object to the very notion of using brandy in a Manhattan, their typical liquor. It's bourbon or rye, but not brandy. Again, you can ask for whiskey, but there's still the principle of the thing...

The Matchbox is a favorite watering hole of mine, and many other LTHrs. I was there as recently as Sunday for a pre Coal Fire Pizza Wild Turkey Manhattan with brandy infused cherries.*

Matchbox Maker's Mark Manhattan w/brandy infused cherries (6.11.06)


David Hammond extols the joys of the Wild Turkey Manhattan in this post

Enjoy,
Gary

*As J, one of the owners of Coal Fire, was a long time bartender at the Matchbox I saw a certain synchronicity in my pre pizza choice of saloons.

The Matchbox
770 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
312-666-9292

Las Pinatas (North and Wells) has extremely strong, tasty margaritas with sea-salt rimmed glasses. If you've heard the old chestnut about making a martini by simply waving a bottle of vermouth in front of a glass of gin, I tend to think they might just pass a whole lime over straight tequila to make these babies.

i'm fond of the margaritas at Maiz. i'm pretty sure they are made from all fresh ingredients . they're large and strong. it isnt clear, though, from your post if your friends just want to drink. maiz is small and a restaurant, not a bar, so it would be suitable if they plan on dinner as well. very fine food can be had here. justjoan

MAIZ, 1041 n. california, chicago. (773) 276-3149

G Wiv wrote:

danimalarkey wrote:The Matchbox is a favorite watering hole of mine, and many other LTHrs. I was there as recently as Sunday for a pre Coal Fire Pizza
Enjoy,
Gary

*As J, one of the owners of Coal Fire, was a long time bartender at the Matchbox I saw a certain synchronicity in my pre pizza choice of saloons.

The Matchbox
770 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
312-666-9292

In the it's a small world category my wife and I did the same thing on Sunday, thou our choice of drinks in this case were oh so refreshing daiquiris...

SSDD