I know this is an old thread, but I just went to Xni Pec for the first time last night and thought I'd mention that my husband and I were the only people there for the main dinner slot. We were there on Saturday night, from about 7:30 until 9:00-9:30ish. Does this place fill up later? Perhaps it was the holiday weekend? There seemed to be a band unloading outside, but no one set up while we were there.

Food was completely delicious--as detailed in all previous posts. Loved the old Mexican movies. Staff was awesome. A few very minor gripes: wish they'd wash down the table and chairs a bit more, and my Sangria was watery and a bit oversweet. (Not the best thing to order, I realize.) Chips were hot and delicious, but sitting in a small pool of oil in the basket. Maybe they could have been shaken or drained a bit more?

Anyway, this place is wonderful and I hope more people go and check them out.

Word on the street is that, in the great tradition of GNRs Sun Wah and Chuck's, Xni-Pec may be moving to more comfortable and accessible digs soon. I'll let Antonio confirm (or get a vetted statement to post here). My main point in posting is to say, it's as good as ever, and the family is as enthusiastic and warm as ever, and the place is still occasionally as empty as ever, so get ye there. I highly recommend the combinada yucateca for first-timers - can't lose.

Santander wrote:Word on the street is that, in the great tradition of GNRs Sun Wah and Chuck's, Xni-Pec may be moving to more comfortable and accessible digs soon. I'll let Antonio confirm (or get a vetted statement to post here). My main point in posting is to say, it's as good as ever, and the family is as enthusiastic and warm as ever, and the place is still occasionally as empty as ever, so get ye there. I highly recommend the combinada yucateca for first-timers - can't lose.

I really let this place fall out of consciousness. I believe it's been so long that the last time I was there, I ran into Antonius, Amata and Erik M. Really.

David Hammond wrote:I really let this place fall out of consciousness. I believe it's been so long that the last time I was there, I ran into Antonius, Amata and Erik M. Really.

You mean before we perfected our cloaking device?

Wow, that has been a while!

Mr. X and I stopped at Xni-Pec for an early Saturday supper this past weekend. It was our first time there and hopefully not our last. I've been trying to thwart a cold, so I started with a michelada for the curative powers of Clamato. Mr. X had a Modelo Especial. We wanted to start with guacamole, but it ended up not coming until after our entrees arrived due to a miscommunciation in the kitchen. I had the shrimp and fish tacos and Mr. X had the mole rojo. I really enjoyed the tacos and thought about ordering another round. Well-prepared with great flavors. Mr. X was very happy with the mole. From my taste of it, I commented that the chicken was very salty (he got all white meat) but the mole was fantastic. Our late-arriving guac was fresh, but with little flavor. Nothing that the addition of some of the salsa couldn't help! Service was friendly and apologetic for the late guacamole -- it was comped. It didn't seem to me the tortillas were handmade -- Mr. X had a few in his basket that were dyed green.

It was good to see that a large party of 10 arrived shortly after we arrived and they were expecting another large group.

Thanks for the report, The GP, I've never had mole rojo there and it definitely sounds worth checking out. One thing, though:

The GP wrote:... It didn't seem to me the tortillas were handmade -- Mr. X had a few in his basket that were dyed green.

No, those are made in-house. In fact G Wiv commented on them after his first visit to Xni-Pec, back on the first page of this long thread:

G Wiv, in Feb 2007 wrote: ... From the moment we walked in the door and were greeted with a heartfelt welcome I started to fall in love with Xni-Pec. I mean how can you not love a place that, when asked why the house-made tortillas are green, answer "because green is festive"

Santander, that's exciting news that Xni-Pec may be moving. I look forward to hearing more on that!

Amata-

Thanks for clearing up my misconception. I hadn't reviewed the thread before our dinner nor before I posted. I will say the tortillas are more uniform than other handmade ones I've had, so I was confused. I should point out that they were good either way.

-Mary

I'm a fan of Xni-Pec on Facebook, and they posted a pic of the new building, trying to get people to guess the location in exchange for some prize. Maybe be in/around Brookfield, according to one guess.

I'd rather they stay in Cicero, since it's closer to the Chi (and me), but if they make more money, then go for it.

Brookfield!?!? Oh no... I don't even know where that is!...

For all the work and passion they put into their restaurant, they deserve to be rewarded with a steady flow of customers... I just hope they end up moving to a place that is both good for them and good for us city folks!...

Anyone recognise the banners on the light posts in the picture?...

Antonius

Yup! Brookfield. I did a walkabout the building a week or so ago. It is the space that used to be occupied by...

Gemelli Trattoria
3755 Grand Blvd, Brookfield

Just north of the Metra tracks at the corner of Brookfield, Prairie and Grand.

It was odd! Big signs saying "Coming Soon!" "Best Cochina Pibil in Town!" "Loved by..." this reviewer and that.

But nothing to say who or what was coming.

That is a mixed blessing in my book. I've been to the Cicero location a bunch of times and it has never been overly crowded, so I was always worried it wouldn't last....thankfully it has!

The old Gemelli (which was a decent place, too) is mere minutes from my house (great news!) - but I worry it will be much easier for the masses to find (and enjoy) - meaning crowds to battle for my fix. I am doubly concerned because (if memory serves me) it is a very small space - like 10 4 seat tables tops?

Looks like I'll need to learn to eat early.....

In additional interesting news the Brookfield board just approved BYOB licenses which will work well for me since I just moved about 6 blocks away from the new Xni Pec

http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=5605&TM=46350.61

Panther in the Den on November 19, 2009 wrote:Yup! Brookfield. I did a walkabout the building a week or so ago. It is the space that used to be occupied by...

Gemelli Trattoria
3755 Grand Blvd, Brookfield

Just north of the Metra tracks at the corner of Brookfield, Prairie and Grand.

It was odd! Big signs saying "Coming Soon!" "Best Cochina Pibil in Town!" "Loved by..." this reviewer and that.

But nothing to say who or what was coming.

Chicago Magazine's The Dish - December 23, 2009 wrote:Xni-Pec de Yucatán, whose authentic Mayan cuisine ignited a Mexican revolution in Cicero when it opened there three years ago, has Brookfield (3755 Grand Blvd.) in the crosshairs for a spinoff in early January.

I went to Xni Pec for the first time this weekend, and it was a bit of a disappointment. The food was amazing, but the restaurant was a mess. There was maybe 6 tables in the room with foldout chairs. My table was sticky. The bar was closed because there was something wrong with their license, so we just drank water. It was dead quiet in there, which made dinning a bit uncomfortable. At the end of our meal our waitress explained that this was due to the brookfield expansion. I wish we knew this before going. Their website made no mention of this. Sorry for the rant, but my group went for my birthday and the environment made it a bit of a downer.

Does anyone know if the Brookfield location is open?

hubcaps wrote:I went to Xni Pec for the first time this weekend, and it was a bit of a disappointment. The food was amazing, but the restaurant was a mess. There was maybe 6 tables in the room with foldout chairs. My table was sticky. The bar was closed because there was something wrong with their license, so we just drank water. It was dead quiet in there, which made dinning a bit uncomfortable. At the end of our meal our waitress explained that this was due to the brookfield expansion. I wish we knew this before going. Their website made no mention of this. Sorry for the rant, but my group went for my birthday and the environment made it a bit of a downer.

hubcaps -- Did they indicate that they are staying at the location in Cicero? I was under the impression they were moving but now it seems it might be the case they are opening up a new, second location... Anyone know for sure one way or the other? Relocation or expansion?

Antonius

The waitress made it sound like brookfield was going to be a second site. Though she said she had been out of town for a few weeks and was only working that night because half of them were getting ready for the new place.

The story I was told was that Antonio and his brother were going to run Brookfield, his mother would run Cicero.

dukesdad wrote:The story I was told was that Antonio and his brother were going to run Brookfield, his mother would run Cicero.

Thanks for the information!

Antonius

Their website at xnipec.us only has the Brookfield address, and no longer mentions the Cicero address. Not that a website is always right, of course, but that sure makes it sound like Cicero has closed.

Has anyone been to the Cicero address since Brookfield opened?

According to the website, they are open for dinner in Brookfield and lunch/dinner on weekend. I hope they start offering a weekday lunch menu at some point.

Since they have apparently pretty much closed the original location and moved the restaurant to Brookfield, I suggest it might make sense to keep this as the main thread -- since there is genuine continuity of owners/kitchen staff -- but change the title of the thread. I would suggest the following:

Xni-Pec de Yucatán [now in Brookfield]

Antonius

Xni-Pec de Yucatán
3755 Grand Blvd and Prairie
Brookfield IL, 60513
Phone: 708.290.0082

Was there for a second time this past friday and again the previous saturday.
Food was outstanding,service was excellent.We had the same waiter both times,Javier was his name,and besides making sure if we needed anything,he was great at answering questions we had about the food.
It was a different menu from what im used to,you know the usual tacos,enchiladas.........
Appetizers were great.Empenadas,guacamole,and seviche have been tried and passed with flying colors.
For dinner,i dont remember what me or my wife had and am not going to try and spell them but my two sons,6 & 9 had the pork Poc-Chuc(sp????)and loved it.As a matter of fact,my youngest has had it both times we were there.
It helps not having picky eaters.
This past friday,it was filled when we left a 6:00 p.m.I can imagine what it will be like when they put up a sign and advertise.
Yeah,the place is small but it is what it is.
It is nice that us Brookfield residents finally get a good restaurant to eat at.
Last Brookfield restaurant i ate at screwed up pepper steak(Boulevard)but they are gone now.

I hadn't gone back to cicero because of the problems I stated earlier in this thread. I went to the brookfield location this evening, and am happy to say that they have cleared up any issues that i had with them in the past. Great service, food was prepared as stated in the menu and delicious. There were people waiting for tables, so their business is picking up in their new location. i would have rang the bell, but no bell at this location.

Dear LTHForum community,

It’s our pleasure announce that we move to another location. The reason, survivor, people seems not enjoy Cicero Town, everyone has a valid opinion, for us we felt more like museum than a restaurant, we had visitors more than patrons, we never fit into the local community every day we struggle to keep the doors open. That’s the only reason to move, to keep the restaurant and had the chance to improve we need it to get a better location, that’s how we ended in Brookfield.

This is a new opportunity to redeem our business, we went back to the roots, the menu remain the same, the prices remain the same, the kitchen staff when to its origins, my mother, my wife and I, at the floor my brother, my sister. It’s true, it’s a smaller location but we see it as an opportunity, we can do better service and grow our customers.
I want to apologies to every costumer that we let down in this process, as well to thanks to all the ones to support us. We had made not just good costumers but grate friends and every time we see a familiar face are like when they came for first time, we feel like when we start which basically it’s true.

We will only have the Brookfield restaurant, the one in Cicero it’s going to a different business, whit different owners too.


Attentively,
Xni-Pec De Yucatan

3755 Grand Boulevard
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 290-0082
http://www.xnipec.us/

Xni-Pec seems to be in a happier place.

Much on the menu does remain the same (as noted above), though we had a Lenten surprise for dessert tonight: capirotada.



This is a bread pudding, soaked in piloncillo syrup, with some nuts and cheese, and a dried orange on top. My kind of postre: sweet and tart and freighted with religious symbolism.

Wow. That looks great.

Had a great meal at Xni Pec last. Food was great and service was even better. It was our first time so we grazed through the menu. Started off with the combinado yucateco - 4 distinct flavors. That was followed by panuchas y salbutes. I could eat the Panuchos all night long. Fried plantain for dessert was enjoyed by my wife, but I just don't like plantain anytime anywhere. The food was good, the taste fresh, and the beer was cold. It was only a 6 mile drive from our Elmhurst home. Definitely a viable alternative for those of us who live west.

Finally made it out to Brookfield and it was BUSY! There were 2 tables open. The food was perfect from beginning to end. Started with the empanadas, I had a new special Cilantro Tilapia, which was **AMAZING**, and for dessert two different kinds of yucatecan flan, the "original" xni pec and a new almond flan. I wish I could remember what my girlfriend ordered, I was so distracted by the cilantro tilapia.... and I love the wine list. Xni Pec is back to its roots, size of the restaurant decreases but quality and perfection increases!

Can't wait to go back. For those making a trip, after the meal you probably want to go somewhere else in the immediate area since you may have driven a while to get there. There is a wine bar directly across the street from Xni Pec, looks like there's an irish pub on another corner... and there's Palmers just 10 minutes away in downtown LaGrange, a beer bar with a VERY long list of microbrews and imports. They have a large outdoor beer garden for the summer weather - plus a small movie theater by that block as well.

Nice writeup of Xni-Pec by Vettel:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... 644.column

His passing on the sopa de lima wants me to try the dish de nuevo all the more - I always thought it was a strong showing in Cicero. I owe the family a visit again soon.