Flamingo's Seafood (mariscos) - Mt Prospect

A local hot dog/gyro joint closed and in its place has risen Flamingo's. They turned this dump of a place into a nice restaurant with 7 tables and 6 booths. Booths are VERY small, so I recommend a table.

Flamingo's is a Mexican Mariscos restaurant.

Today was their 2nd day open for lunch, grand opening is this weekend.

To start, the ubiquitous chips and salsa are served. This salsa is chipotle (smoked jalapeno) based so it has a smokey flavor but not much kick, they kept it tame.

Up first were Fried oysters served with a tequila/chipotle/tomato based cocktail sauce. Oysters were fresh, breading not too heavy and the sauce was very good.

Next up was Campeche (sp?) is a dish I normally get called Vuelva a la Vida which is served chilled, it consists of cooked shrimp, cooked octopus and a few raw oysters in a V-8 style (I know poor choice of a descriptor but best I can come up with) tomato sauce. Also in the mix are lots of chopped avocado, onion and cilantro. Either tortilla chips and/or Saltine crackers are served with the dish. The Campeche was just like Vuelva a la Vida only with less “sauce”. Good but a bit heavy on the octopus, one can choose to only receive shrimp if one wants which is what I’ll get next time.

Lastly were Langoustines a la plancha or big shrimp w/heads on, spilt in half and sautéed in garlic and butter. Very good.

The chef Jorge came out to see how I enjoyed everything. He mentioned that once they get settled they will start to offer lunch specials.

I’m looking forward to going back. It’s nice to have a place like this in the Des Plaines / South Arlington Heights / Elk Grove area.

Flamingo’s Seafood
1590 S Busse Road (corner Busse & Dempster, ½ block east of Algonquin)
Mt Prospect, IL 60056
847.364.9988

The sauce in a Campechana or vuelve a la vida is often, or usually, made with Clamato and ketchup, so your V8 guess is in the neighborhood.

I tried Flamingo's today for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. They had a menu insert with about 5 lunch specials (3 different fish entrees, one chicken dish, and a shrimp quesadilla). Prices were a bit high for lunch in this area ($11-$15), but quality was very good. The halibut was nice. Complimentary ceviche accompanied the mild green salsa and blue corn chips. The dinner menu entrees were in the $16-$25 range. The service was very friendly and Chef Jorge also visited our table. It is a nice change of pace from the other restaurants in the area.

On the advice of Leah A. Zeldes, who reviewed this place for the Daily Herald back in November 2006, my wife and I, along with some friends of ours, decided to give it a shot last Friday and were extraordinarily pleased with our meal.

Our expectations were fairly high based on the aforementioned review, the posts here and some additional word of mouth information. And still, I'd say that our expectations were exceeded.

We started out with a couple of gratis items: blue corn chips, a small plate of mahi mahi ceviche (which is also offered in a larger size as a full-on appetizer) and roasted tomatillo salsa. These items were quite tasty. The ceviche was fresh and brightly flavored. The acidic, mildy-tart citrus foiled the rich bits of fish nicely. The beautiful green salsa was creamy in texture and a bit spicier than I was expecting. It was terrific. We had 'house' margaritas, on the rocks with salt. They were also excellent and even at $8 each, well-priced, given their 15 oz. size.

Appetizers, of which we shared 2, were very nice. The gigantic portion of fresh guacamole topped with real crab meat was wonderful and a special appetizer, portobella mushroom cap stuffed with chorizo and some assorted vegetables, was also delicious.

Entree-wise, things got even better. I ordered the Huachinango Flamingo's (whole red snapper) Veracruzano style and it was magnificent. It was served quite dramatically, 'swimming' upright, across my plate. The skin was so crispy and delicious, it was addictive. The flesh of the fish was perfectly moist and tender. The dish was topped with a "sauce" of tomato, olives, capers, green onions and peppers. Some nicely sauteed zucchini rode shotgun on the plate, along with some expertly-prepared rice. My wife ordered the Langostinos al mojo de ajo, which were also sensational. They split lengthwise, grilled and served in a caramelized garlic-butter sauce. There must have been 2 dozen of them on her plate and it kind of reminded me of a crawfish boil, only much tastier and a lot less work.

Our friends ordered a couple of other entrees which we also sampled. One of them was the Filete do Dorado con costra de cangrejo (pan-fried mahi mahi with crab meat crust and chipotle lobster sauce). This was delicious as was one of the evening's specials; grilled lamb chops in mole (yes, even the non-seafood offerings were terrific).

Desserts were tasty, and with only a couple options available, we were able to try both of the evening's offerings. The bread pudding -- which chef confirmed for us was made with donuts -- was remarkably tasty. It was topped with some gooey, caramelized fruit and served with some (house-made?) ice cream. The other dessert was pears cooked in wine, served with some delectable fried banana chips and ice cream. A nice close to a very solid meal.

I really loved the guitarist who made the rounds and played -- in an appropriately non-intrusive manner -- at each table during the evening. The music added a lot to the experience but it wasn't so loud or overwhelming that it impaired communication at all. Service was fantastic -- both thorough and friendly. During the evening executive chef Jorge Almarez visited with diners throughout the room but not at the expense of checking each plate before it left the long, open kitchen which spans the length of the relatively small restaurant.

Places like Flamingo's are true gems and I worry that since they don't often appeal directly to the masses, they don't last long. Not too many people associate dining in Mount Prospect with expertly-prepared, fresh seafood. Those who walk into Flamingo's expecting to find a taqueria might, foolishly, be disappointed. Those who avoid it because they believe that a tiny suburban joint cannot possibly procure excellent, fresh seafood or prepare it well are also, pardon the pun, missing the boat. Based on my one meal here, I'd say Flamingo's is a destination and I believe their food would even justify making a trip from the city or another, less-nearby destination. Even for us, it took about 40 minutes to get there, and we live in the northern burbs. But, we thought it was well worth the drive and really, cannot wait to not only return there but bring some friends along who haven't yet had the pleasure.

=R=

Flamingo's Seafood
1590 S. Busse Road (Demptser and Busse)
Mt. Prospect, IL
(847) 364-9988

edited lotsa typos

My mouth is watering from ronnie_suburban's review. I work in the area but can't visualize the location and the former occupant. Is this near the Popeyes & Jameson's Charhouse?

BrendanR wrote:My mouth is watering from ronnie_suburban's review. I work in the area but can't visualize the location and the former occupant. Is this near the Popeyes & Jameson's Charhouse?

Yes, it's about a block east of Popeye's, which I could see down the street, from Flamingo's parking lot. And they are open for lunch.

=R=

Hi,

I accompanied Leah and her husband when she was reviewing it last November, which means I couldn't take pictures. I considered Flamingo's ambitions on par with Sol de Mexico, Dorado and Fonda del Mar.

Leah sent me a link to the review, which I didn't get to until after the link expired. I'm glad she gave it a favorable review.

Regards,

Want to add to ronnie-suburban's perfect description of a gem that is only getting better with time. Couldn't agree more about the Langostino's resembling good crawfish especially since served with the head still there for sucking. Nice lobster bisque, with a touch of smokiness and generous chunks of lobster is a steal at $6.00. The crab cake has plenty of the good stuff and is accompanied with a delicious corn, pepper and guajillo sauce that remind me of a fresher and spicier version of that great supper club relish tray classic. My wife is a big fan of the shrimp Caesar salad which is far from pedestrian. I did the Friday Lent fish thing yesterday by sacrificing with an awesome special of scallops with shrimp over garlic white beans, spinach, leeks and a hot but so sweet chipotle sauce. I guess I'll have to make it up with cutting out my bag of Cheeto's Monday mid norning snack

This is getting to be a respectable chow area in the land that was first 708 (or if you remember Bob Greene's "land beyond O'Hare"). Within a mile of Flamingo's is Retro Bistro, Vita Mia, Wonton Gourmet, Johnnies, Blackies, numerous other Taquierias and Asian eateries along with Mitsuwa plus the still running Kuhn's delicatessen, to name a few.

It had been a while since our first visit to Flamingos, so a couple of weeks ago, we decided to go back and bring some friends who'd never been there. I always worry a little bit about going back to a place that surprised me on my first visit. Was it as good as I remember it? Maybe that first time was a fluke. Or perhaps it was simply a matter of going into a meal that was just "ok," with low expectations. Happily, in this case, Flamingos was better the second time than it was the first. That first meal was definitely not a fluke and this time, with my expectations elevated, they were still exceeded. Flamingos is the real deal and their focus on superior, Mexican-style seafood is a distinguishing and compelling calling card.

Sadly, when we arrived at about 7:15 on a Friday evening, only one other table was occupied. With a kitchen staff of 3 and a couple of FOH'ers too, we diners were almost outnumbered. That's not good for the restaurant but it does make for extremely attentive service, which we received in droves. Before I could open my menu, tomatillo salsa, mahi mahi ceviche and blue-corn chips were brought to the table. We ordered a round of 'house' margaritas . . .


House Margarita (with Mahi Mahi Ceviche bottom left)


We shared a couple of great appetizers. The first was a flavorful and generous portion of guacamole with fresh crab that actually delivered some bona fide heat. The second, a special, was supremely fresh shrimp and chunks of tender scallop with crispy bacon in a chipotle chili sauce. This was outstanding and while it was also quite spicy, there was a nice balance which moderated it throughout.


Guacamole with fresh Crab



Sauteed Shrimp, Scallop and Bacon in Chipotle Chile


Entrees were fantastic, as they were at our first visit. In each case, the featured fish and seafood were fresh and prepared with an extremely deft hand. As we tasted them, it was hard to choose a favorite because they were each excellent in their own right.


Red Snapper Veracruzano-style

The tender flesh of this moist fish pulled away from the bone with only a gentle nudge of the fork. The skin was crispy and flavorful and the accompanying veggies and sauce were boldly flavored and went perfectly with the fish. The garlic was perfectly toasty without being acrid and I loved the intensely salty note provided by the capers. A great dish.



Shrimp al Mojo de Ajo

These shrimp were cooked just right -- plump and taut. The mojo de ajo was terrific. The rice and veggies were well-prepared and actually contributed to the success of the dish, rather than detracting from it.



Charcoal-grilled Swordfish with Asafran rice and Chorizo-Chipotle Cream Sauce

Great swordfish, extremely well-prepared. I loved the unadvertised inclusion of the fresh langostine beneath the huge planks of fish. Another great dish.

Desserts were also excellent. We wolfed down the moist and not overly sweet tres leches cake. On recommendation of the house, we also tried the fresh berries with tequila tropina. I'm glad we tried this one because the fruit -- blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries -- was excellent and I loved the treatment they received, being doused in the flavored tequila.


Tres Leches Cake



Fresh Berries with Tequila Tropina


After our meal, we chatted briefly with chef Almarez, who was enthusiastically talking about his kitchen crew and the training that he'd been giving him. There may some expansion plans on the horizon for this team and chef wants to make sure that they are ready, should their resources be split between multiple locations. He's very proud of his restaurant and realizes, with a heavy level of humility, that he's tapped into something fairly distinctive, especially when it comes to suburban dining. With sauces that require more than 6 hours to prepare, chef clearly understands that the devil is in the details and he's not about to implement any shortcuts that might change the character -- or diminish the quality -- of the food he's putting out.

=R=

I second much of Ronnie_Suburban's statements, and enthusiastically recommend Flamingo's.

We dined on a Friday night recently with another couple and their baby. The mahi mahi ceviche was excellent. The house margarita's were well made.

I ordered the paella, which contained bacon, chorizo, octopus, clams, mussels, and shrimp. The flavors of the chorizo were a good accompaniment to the seafood base of the paella, and I really enjoyed the overall dish. My wife had the barrimundi, encrusted with panko which was cooked perfectly.

Chef Almarez stopped by to see if we had any questions, and we told him we had read reviews online by other diners, and he said that if we enjoyed ourselves maybe we could also write something nice! We are definitely going to make this a regular place for us.

ronnie_suburban wrote:I'd say Flamingo's is a destination and I believe their food would even justify making a trip from the city or another, less-nearby destination. Even for us, it took about 40 minutes to get there, and we live in the northern burbs. But, we thought it was well worth the drive and really, cannot wait to not only return there but bring some friends along who haven't yet had the pleasure.

When this post appeared, I added Flamingo's to my list of places to try (even though it's about 40 minutes away for me, too, and there are lots of Mexican places very close by). Within the past two weeks, I finally went there for dinner and then again today for lunch, and it was really excellent in every way, just as described here.

Ron has done a wonderful job describing the food, and you can see from their website some of what is on the menu. I'll add just a few comments of my own.

They have a whole lot more on the menu than what appears on their website. For dinner, we had a soft-shell crab special and a pasta entree with red ribbon prawns; then for lunch, I had chiles rellenos filled with shrimp and crab. And there were many, many more dishes on the menu that didn't appear on the website.

The serving sizes are huge. The appetizer size was about what you would expect as an entree, so if you're getting a separate entree, you may want to split that appetizer with someone.

Most of the dishes we got were fairly spicy/hot - not overwhelmingly so (e.g. not habanero-hot or Thai-food-hot), but they're not afraid to spice it up. We like spicy food so that was fine with us. However, those who don't like spicy food may wish to ask their server to recommend specific dishes or to tone down the spiciness.

Lunch prices are considerably less than dinner - their home page says "Daily Lunch Specials $8 - $14" and that's accurate - and the lunch entrees are just as creative and delicious as the dinner ones.

The decor is pretty basic, with a few quirks. A few of the clocks showing current time in Chicago/Mexico and other cities around the world need to have their batteries replaced - which is unimportant, but odd. But on the positive side, look up and you'll see a big hand-painted mural, and you'll see more by the same artist in the restrooms.

This is indeed a very special place, with the creativity and regional specialties of the famous Mexican places downtown, combined with the emphasis on fresh seafood. It's really unusual for me to go back to any place twice in two weeks, but that's how impressed I was with Flamingo's.

Thanks for the recommendation, Willie and Ron and others.

I recently made another trek back to Flamingo's and found it to be humming along quite nicely. This time around, we tried several items that we'd not had before and they were all terrific . . .


Calamares
Straight-forward, tasty and very well-executed, these crispy morsels were delicious. I really enjoyed the tequila chipotle cocktail sauce that went with them, too.



Softshell crab
This appetizer was terrific and was served with an inventive cous cous salad that included fresh radish and zucchini.



Skirt steak with grilled vegetables and black beans
As was posted above, Flamingos is not all about seafood. This steak was delicious and extremely tender.



Halibut with English peas and Chipotle-Black Bean Sauce
This halibut was just immaculate -- lightly crispy on the exterior, tender and moist on the inside. The chipotle-black bean sauce was out of this world and the 'stuffing' which was served atop the fish was comprised of porcini, shiitake and domestic mushrooms, along with panko and truffle oil. Wow!



Fish tacos



Fish tacos
A closer look at the fantastic fish tacos, which were made with whole fillets of fish, cooked (yet again) perfectly. The chipotle mayonnaise was a great condiment and a squeeze of fresh lime took them to another level. I also have to praise the fabulous slaw which was made from carrot, zucchini and chayote squash. The dressing was creamy but light and very subtle; a great accompaniment.



Coconut Flan
This creamy and rich flan was served with bits of toasted coconut and a tasty caramel sauce.



Tres Leches Cake
I'm not usually a fan of this dessert but I've found 2 places where I really like it . . . and Flamingo's is one of them. The cake was delicious and soaked nicely with the 'leches.' The trio of sauces -- caramel, chocolate and strawberry -- was excellent as well.

This visit was on a Friday evening (about 7:30) and the dining room was about 2/3 full. I've learned that Flamingo's will be appearing on Check, Please!, so once the new season starts, the crowds here are sure to increase. I'm thrilled for chef Jorge and the entire team at Flamingo's. They deserve all the credit they receive and I hope the upcoming appearance translates into steady, sustained success for the restaurant. There are so few restaurants this wonderful or distinctive in the suburbs, I'd happily endure a crowd to eat here.

=R=

Wow the food in those pictures looks fantasic, I'm definitely checking this place out ASAP.
What are the average appetizers and entrees prices?

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:Wow the food in those pictures looks fantasic, I'm definitely checking this place out ASAP.
What are the average appetizers and entrees prices?

According to their dinner menu, appetizers range from $4 to $14 and entrees range from $17 to $25, with the 2-pound, stuffed lobster at $36 and a few items set at 'Market Price.'

At lunch, soups are $3.50 and other offerings are categorized together with a range of $8 to $17.

=R=

I have been planning to rant and rave about the absurdity of Flamingo's relative sparse attendance since its opening. I've had to many weekday meals where my wife and I have pretty much been alone but it has never dampered our enjoyment of what we know is outstanding food and preparation. Chef Jorge Almarez has been undaunted throughout and has been firmly confident that he and his food will prevail. It looks like that this is about to happen and I couldn't be happier for him, his staff or my head start.

My last visit included an incredibly huge sized Sea Bass entree that was exquisite. It was covered in a habanera guava glaze over zuchinni and poblano noodles with chorizo polenta in a chipotlte cream sauce. A steal at $22.00 but this is certainly not a place to seek out simply because it is a bargain. The wonderful and distinctive adjectives expounded by ronnie-suburban are spot on. Get there before any Check, Please effect as the bar and waiting area are best described as minimalist.

T Comp wrote:I have been planning to rant and rave about the absurdity of Flamingo's relative sparse attendance since its opening.

Business is definitely picking up. My dinner was at an off hour (late afternoon) so I won't judge from that, but they were doing a pretty good business during my lunch the other weekday. There wasn't any waiting, but more than half the tables were taken - and for a sit-down place with food (and prices) more akin to a "white tablecloth restaurant" than fast food, that's shows they're building an impressive following.

It's also worth noting that they are open 11-11 every day, which means they're open for lunch every day, and you can get dinner there even if your preference is for eating very early or very late. As I mentioned previously, the dishes on the lunch menu are every bit as creative as those for dinner, just less expensive, so if you're looking to sample the "real Flamingo's experience" and lunch is a more convenient time for you, go for it.

I can foresee a future of long waiting times and eventually a move to a larger location. Go now, when it's easy, and later you can say you were there "way back when".

Dear me. Those pictures make me starve as I sit here. *_*

I do not often get up to this neck of the woods, maybe twice a month at best, but this is being added to the list. I hate to see good restaurants in the suburbs fail due to a lack of exposure or general attention when they deserve a great deal of notice. So thank you so much for the forum and giving the head's up on something that looks fantastic.

Is there any particular dish that stands out for you on the menu that you would be inclined to recommend to a pair of seafood lovers?

Lilya wrote:Is there any particular dish that stands out for you on the menu that you would be inclined to recommend to a pair of seafood lovers?

I wouldn't recommend any particular dish over the others, and I'll tell you why. This is one of those places where I look at the menu and almost everything listed sounds wonderful. And everything I had when I was there - the soft shell crabs, the pasta dish with red ribbon prawns, the chiles stuffed with seafood - was outstanding, just as good as it sounds in the description on the menu. I can only conclude that any seafood item you order will be excellent; just order whatever on the menu sounds best to you.

While the desserts are pretty good, I didn't think they were as unusual or heavenly as the seafood items. So don't feel bad if it turns out you're too full for dessert.

nsxtasy wrote:

Lilya wrote:Is there any particular dish that stands out for you on the menu that you would be inclined to recommend to a pair of seafood lovers?

I wouldn't recommend any particular dish over the others, and I'll tell you why. This is one of those places where I look at the menu and almost everything listed sounds wonderful. And everything I had when I was there - the soft shell crabs, the pasta dish with red ribbon prawns, the chiles stuffed with seafood - was outstanding, just as good as it sounds in the description on the menu. I can only conclude that any seafood item you order will be excellent; just order whatever on the menu sounds best to you.

While the desserts are pretty good, I didn't think they were as unusual or heavenly as the seafood items. So don't feel bad if it turns out you're too full for dessert.

Flamingo's is one of those places where you will be well-served to just put yourself in the chef's hands. Just ask your server -- or chef Jorge -- what they recommend that night. I'm sure it'll turn out well. That said, I agree with what nsxtasy posted, it's all good at Flamingo's, so if there's something that looks or sounds particularly appealing, you're unlikely to go wrong by ordering it.

=R=

Hopefully..........the push this wonderful establishment needs is coming as Steve Dolinsky and cameraman were busy doing their takes here tonight. All the prior posts and photos document the outstanding food and the hits from Chef Jorge keep coming. A shining example of what is a GNR even if too many in the neighborhood seems to prefer restaurants with far inferior food or just phony made up atmosphere. I'll gladly be the first to nominate it.

T Comp wrote:. . . I'll gladly be the first to nominate it.

Please do!

=R=

attempting to get an LTH dinner going here, details can be found at: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15206

--

The sign outside Flamingo's announces itself as a FINE MEXICAN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT. Although correct, this is quite an understatement.

Here are some of the adjectives used by other posters in describing the food: awesome, spectacular, exquisite, outstanding, tantalizing, subtle, beautiful, wonderful, delicious, magnificent, terrific, remarkable, delectable, fantastic, bold, smoky, immaculate, and out of this world.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9965
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/sear ... nue?page=1
http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?erube_fh=w ... th=1,5,1,1

I agree wholeheartedly and, therefore, nominate FLAMINGO's for a GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT AWARD.

Many of Flamingo's dishes are seafood and Mexican based, but "Mexican seafood" fails to describe the innovation and complexity of everything from appetizers to dessert. There are also several meat items which can compete with those served at any of the better steakhouses in town.

In addition to having great food, the other component of Flamingo's is what it adds to the neighborhood. There are simply not enough places in the Northwest suburbs that come close to measuring up to what Flamingo's does.

One of the most important factors in it being such a great restaurant, is Chef/Owner Jorge Almaraz. He matches his passion for food with a graciousness, sincerity, and humbleness not typical of many chefs of this caliber. This carries over to his staff and the atmosphere they help create.

My wife and I have dropped in spontaneously, we have planned a special evening alone or with friends; we even took our sweaty 13 year old straight from a soccer game and had a great time. In other words, no matter the occasion, the restaurant seems to adapt to yours.

From my perspective, there are few other things in life that are as great as "great food." Having that in a restaurant in your neighborhood is wonderful, exciting and why Flamingo's is so deserving of this award.

Flamingo's
1590 S. Busse Road
Mount Prospect, Il. 60056
847-364-9988

I feel obligated to state hastily (given that the nominations are ending tomorrow) that I don't think Flamingo's has enough of a track record here on LTH. I look forward to this being remedied in the future.

-ramon

FYI, nominations end tomorrow, but there's still time after that to check out places before the GNRs are chosen. Flamingo's on my list!

Ramon wrote:I feel obligated to state hastily (given that the nominations are ending tomorrow) that I don't think Flamingo's has enough of a track record here on LTH. I look forward to this being remedied in the future.

-ramon

I would tend to agree, although I am looking forward to a visit to Flamingo's sometime in the not too distant future.

I stumbled on Flamingo's the other day on my way home from an errand in Des Plaines. What a great afternoon break!

I should say first of all that I have been craving ceviche all summer, so much so that I was beginning to entertain reckless thoughts about trying to make it myself or trekking all the way downtown for it. I never had ceviche before I lived in Chile and when I was there I enjoyed being able to have it often. It's probably been five years since my last ceviche ... sigh ...

So of course I loved the complimentary ceviche and got a full order to take home too. If it weren't for my preexisting ceviche craving, I would have had a very hard time choosing; there are so many good things on the menu.

For my late lunch, I had the guacamole with crab meat, which I enjoyed very much, other than, whether it's authentic or not, I prefer it a little saltier. It being Wednesday, several wines were available by the glass at half price, so I enjoyed a Caliña chardonnay from Chile for just $3.

I was the only one in the place at the time, but that did not feel awkward; it's a very attractive place, and service was both attentive and unintrusive at the same time.

Before I left, the chef/co-owner came out to talk to me, and I mentioned the plans for an upcoming LTH outing there. I'll put a post in the other thread about that.

I'm so glad I know where this place is now, and I'll definitely be going back!

Having been to Flamingo's many times, I definitely second this nomination. In fact, had I not chosen to nominate a restaurant much closer to my house, I would have nominated Flamingo's myself.

As for the limited discussion here, I think it's a valid point. I do hope that folks will give it a shot, though, because it is a terrific restaurant that I believe compares very favorably to other restaurants in its category, like El Barco and GNR award recipient Fonda del Mar.

=R=

So I grabbed the family and we shlepped to Mount Prospect (not that much of a hike, really; at the right time of day, probably shorter than the trip to Hyde Park last night) to try what was then the latest nominee, Flamingo's.

The restaurant-- snazzier than I expected from the description of the building as a former gyros place-- was actually pretty busy, and once we were seated, the meal started with a free portion of a mahi mahi ceviche which was terrific, it really was. Pristinely fresh, bright and citrusy, this was the best part of the meal. Did I mention it was a freebie?

We didn't order appetizers but went straight to entrees: the fish tacos, a skirt steak platter for my older son, and, on the waitress' recommendation, a dish of shrimp wrapped in bacon and sitting in guajillo sauce.

And this is where we run aground on the difference between a solid recommendation and a Great Neighborhood Restaurant. All three entrees were well executed, sides were not always exciting (the beans were rather bland and weren't all that warm, a side of rice had a slightly funny taste) but that's a minor point. If someone asked me for a solid, not too expensive (but far from cheap), Mexican place in the burbs out this way, I'd have no problem suggesting Flamingo's. I've spent more for less numerous times this past year, in allegedly acclaimed and excellent restaurants.

But I just can't say that I fell in love with Flamingo's. Food was very capable, but not magical, not homemade and personal and speaking right to me; service was pleasant and efficient, but after Deta's and Healthy Food, after being embraced twice in a couple of days by longlost grandmas, I didn't bond with the place, feel like I'd come home at last.

Is it necessary that I fall in love for Flamingo's to be a GNR? Not at all, in fact it may be irrelevant, since after all Mount Prospect is very far from being my neighborhood. So this is another one that I'll be interested to see further comment on, especially from folks in that area to whom the presence of Flamingo's either does, or doesn't, mean something special. It's a good place, and if folks love it it should be a GNR, but me, I thought it was... a good place.

Mike,

I'm curious what food you were served at Flamingo's -- other than the tortilla chips, which I think are disappointing -- that wasn't homemade. I can't remember eating anything there, besides those chips (and some tortillas) that wasn't made in-house.

=R=