stevez wrote:No wonder I didn't see any line when I drove by the other day.

They re-open on Jan. 10--why wouldn't there be a line?

Xoco has been nominated as a Great Restaurant Neighborhood. Please discuss the nomination in this thread. Discussion ends March 7.

-for the GNRs

turkob wrote:Xoco has been nominated as a Great Restaurant Neighborhood. Please discuss the nomination in this thread. Discussion ends March 7.

-for the GNRs

I second that. Xoco without a doubt should be a GNR.

I haven't tried many of the offerings here, because I ordered the carnitas soup on my first visit and now pretty much have to have it every time. And the churros and hot chocolates don't need any more praise from me -- they're as outstanding as everyone says they are. The commitment to doing things right is quite apparent.

A great nomination and one with which I heartily agree. Everything I've eaten at Xoco (2 visits) has been notably delicious. I'm still craving their torta ahogada, which is the tastiest version I've ever had.

=R=

I've eaten here about four times in the past year. Everything I've had was terrific. I would recommend Xoco to an out of towner over the two sister establishments. Breakfast is terrific. Get there shortly after they open and there will be a short line and plenty of seating.

I was going to nominate Xoco when I got a chance, so definately seconded. Everything I've ever had there was delicious.

I heartily endorse this nomination. The carnitas soup would be enough for me, but everything else I've had there has been fantastic.

Xoco is awesome and a very underrated dinner spot in the area. I live within a 10 min walk and stop in for a sit down dinner or take out maybe once a month. It's very affordable considering the quality. Heck, the Churros and Fro-Yo should be nominated on their own!!!

I work right around the corner and go to Xoco quite often as does our whole team. Every dish I've had - and I've had a lot - has been a pleasure. The food is consisten day to day and the menu is a really nice mix. I also really enjoy the whole atmosphere - a good dose of the Bayless happy but at a price that's affordable.

I just don't see this place as a GNR.

After about 15 minutes of waiting for our churros to arrive after our sandwiches, I had to get up and ask one of the managers if they had forgotten about us. It appeared that way, as she seemed really confused. However, she said she would check on it. After another wait, they finally came out, and sadly, they were hard and fairly flavorless, paling in comparison to the ones I've had at Maxwell Street Market, and hell, even Costco. I was underwhelmed to say the least, as I was anticipating Bayless's take on the classic churro.

The hot chocolates we shared, on the other hand, were very good, and I'd go back for those, and to see if they've ironed out some of their service issues. However, the zoo-like atmosphere we experienced on the first visit really makes me hesitant to go back, and even more hesitant to call this place a GNR.

geno55 wrote:I just don't see this place as a GNR.

After about 15 minutes of waiting for our churros to arrive after our sandwiches, I had to get up and ask one of the managers if they had forgotten about us. It appeared that way, as she seemed really confused. However, she said she would check on it. After another wait, they finally came out, and sadly, they were hard and fairly flavorless, paling in comparison to the ones I've had at Maxwell Street Market, and hell, even Costco. I was underwhelmed to say the least, as I was anticipating Bayless's take on the classic churro.

The hot chocolates we shared, on the other hand, were very good, and I'd go back for those, and to see if they've ironed out some of their service issues. However, the zoo-like atmosphere we experienced on the first visit really makes me hesitant to go back, and even more hesitant to call this place a GNR.

To me, the fact that they go to the trouble of bringing your churros out warm at the end of the meal typifies that they're doing things the right way. It's unfortunate that on this occasion you obviously received churros that were sitting out. In my experience though, I've never received anything other than fresh and warm churros comparable in flavor to those I've had other places.

Xoco is my favorite restaurant in the Bayless empire. I'd go a lot more often if the lines weren't so long, yet I suffer through the waiting often enough to show that I think the food is worth waiting for. I definitely support the nomination.

I love the energy of the place, even when it's packed. On my first visit, I arrived at 12:45, to find the line reaching slightly out the door. A mere 15 minutes later, I was at the front of the line ordering -- and that was after letting a few parties go ahead of me because some of my friends hadn't arrived yet. After we ordered, a friendly staffer helped us find a table for 6, even after we'd written off the possibility that we'd all get to sit together. And the food was awesome. I tried at least 4 sandwiches that day and they were all fantastic -- expertly cooked, on perfect breads and topped with high-quality meats and intensely-flavored condiments.

=R=

For early risers looking for a no-line experience, I've been there twice at 8 a.m. which is when they open for breakfast. My wife had the churros both times, which couldn't have been fresher. Last time I had huevos rancheros, and it was the best rendition I've had.

I love being proven wrong about a place, so I headed out to Xoco for lunch in the cold hoping that the line would be pretty small. I was right. Everyone there was very nice and accommodating and I didn't feel rushed.

I ordered the woodland mushroom torta, an authentic hot chocolate and a churro. I appreciated the option to bring out the chocolate and churro before the sandwich, given my previous experience. That said, I still prefer a softer churro than what's coming out at Xoco, which is in line with my earlier criticism. Fortunately, I resolved this with a quick dip in the delicious chocolate, which softened it right up. The sandwich was nice (love the bread), though it could have used some more garlic flavor, and the salsa some more heat. I know they can bring it based on the habanero I had last time.

I don't know if they've quite reached the GNR level in my mind, but this was a step in the right direction. Given that they now offer soups starting at 11 as well as carryout, I will be back.

geno55 wrote:I don't know if they've quite reached the GNR level in my mind, but this was a step in the right direction. Given that they now offer soups starting at 11 as well as carryout, I will be back.

Glad you tried it again and thanks, for the information about the soups now being available earlier in the day.

=R=

I absolutely love Xoco. The tortas might be the best sandwiches in Chicago, the churros and hot chocolate might be the best of their kind in the country, and everything about the place from ingredient sourcing to service is outstanding.

But as broadly as the GNRs allow for interpreting the word neighborhood, if a restaurant in a commercial district that was nationally known before it even opened its doors counts as a Great Neighborhood Restaurant, then I think it's time to take the N out of GNR.

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:But as broadly as the GNRs allow for interpreting the word neighborhood, if a restaurant in a commercial district that was nationally known before it even opened its doors counts as a Great Neighborhood Restaurant, then I think it's time to take the N out of GNR.

From the GNR Guidelines:
A neighborhood is more about community than location. For the purpose of the GNRs, the community is LTHForum itself; therefore, any place that LTHers find themselves gathering to eat could be considered a “neighborhood.”

If I'm hungry and in the area, it's hard to think about eating anything other than the ahogada.

I think the tortas I've had here have been terrific, all crispy, tangy, and absolutely fully flavored. I also think the drinking chocolates (with the exception of the almendrad) have been excellent. I'm not taken with the churros, but think the chocolate hazelnut cookies and polvoron are delicious and hidden gems.

I have been completely unimpressed with the soups I've gotten here, I think the yogurt is middling, and I've never had breakfast. And this restaurant would never win an award for Great Neighborhood Feng Shui or Great Neighborhood Floorplan, but on the basis of the stellar sandwiches, rich cocoas, and wonderful cookies, it's a great neighborhood restaurant in my book.

Intended to get a torta last night, but upon seeing the caldos, audibled to the pork belly one. Just a fantabulous bowl of love on a cold night. That shortbreak cookie, too, was outstanding. If anything, I thought the quality and quantity of the stuff suggested it was -- at worst -- fairly priced, and maybe even underpriced. But don't tell Mr. Bayless that. The staff was really convivial too.

tapler wrote:

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:But as broadly as the GNRs allow for interpreting the word neighborhood, if a restaurant in a commercial district that was nationally known before it even opened its doors counts as a Great Neighborhood Restaurant, then I think it's time to take the N out of GNR.

From the GNR Guidelines:
A neighborhood is more about community than location. For the purpose of the GNRs, the community is LTHForum itself; therefore, any place that LTHers find themselves gathering to eat could be considered a “neighborhood.”

Yay, it's the annual what is "great", what is a "neighborhood" and what is a "restaurant" discussion! I was waiting for this to (re)surface.

Unlike a previous poster, I found the huevos rancheros (had them once) here to be pretty ordinary, but the chocolate is always great the tortas are usually great, and the churros for me so far are the best in town (I think light and crispy is good). This is really a terrific value option to have in this location.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

geno55 wrote:I don't know if they've quite reached the GNR level in my mind, but this was a step in the right direction. Given that they now offer soups starting at 11 as well as carryout, I will be back.

Glad you tried it again and thanks, for the information about the soups now being available earlier in the day.

=R=

The menu has conflicting info. At the top it says caldos served after 11AM and it has a section that says meal-in-a-bowl caldos - served after 3PM. Are there different caldos after 11 and 3, or is there a mistake on the menu? Also, are the caldos available for takeout? I've only had a soup from there once because I primarily go at lunch, but I'm curious to try some more.

turkob wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

geno55 wrote:I don't know if they've quite reached the GNR level in my mind, but this was a step in the right direction. Given that they now offer soups starting at 11 as well as carryout, I will be back.

Glad you tried it again and thanks, for the information about the soups now being available earlier in the day.

=R=

The menu has conflicting info. At the top it says caldos served after 11AM and it has a section that says meal-in-a-bowl caldos - served after 3PM. Are there different caldos after 11 and 3, or is there a mistake on the menu? Also, are the caldos available for takeout? I've only had a soup from there once because I primarily go at lunch, but I'm curious to try some more.

I'm almost positive that all caldos are available after 11 am now, originally they may have only been available after 3 pm.

All menu items are available for take out.

No matter how good the food is, there's something that just rings hollow to be about Xoco as a GNR. On the one hand, they serve really tasty food, on the other, it's basically a high-end quick-serve chain concept.

When I have someone visiting town or am asked for restaurant recommendation, the GNR list is the first thing that pops to mind - great, local, generally off-the-beaten-path restaurants. When I've described the GNRs in the past, I've positioned them as "if you ended up hungry in a new-to-you neighborhood, a GNR is the place you wish you'd stumble across." If I ended up in River North, I suppose I'd want to stumble across Xoco, but stumbling isn't necessary - it's got national brand behind it, PR coverage, and I'm sure is in every guide book written about Chicago.

When Xoco expands in to a full-blown chain, will the Xoco brand be in any way diluted? Of course not, it's already a chain experience. It's the Mexican Panera. What separates Xoco from Tortas Frontera at O'Hare?

While I enjoy Xoco and will continue to go back, I don't support it as a GNR. Somehow, it just lacks that "GNR Umami"

-Dan

Took a quick look back through the pages of posts because I could've sworn I posted on my solo lunch there last year but came up empty. So...I'll post now what I would've said then.

Ahogado sandwich served in an unbearably salty broth (and I'm a salt lover so it had to be over the top, at least on this trip) was otherwise rich and flavorful--dial down the salt and it would've been enjoyable so I won't say it's just the food that left me cold. I also had some guac, salsa and chips--standard issue Frontera so nothing good or bad there. I've never been a huge fan of their salsas--always felt like they were just a bit short of...something...Not to say that it's not good--just not notable or memorable.

Given that I obviously didn't get to sample much of the menu or even that I ordered things that would be considered can't miss items, I'm not really withholding love because of the food. I'm sure there are other fine items on the menu that I may one day try. But with the long snaking lines, confusing ordering process (or at least it was disorganized that day), weird seating (I was on an awkward corner where I seemed to be bumped repeatedly while staring at a wall 6 inches from my face), high prices and touristy vibe of the place, I, too, have a hard time with this being a GNR. Fact of the matter is, I haven't been back--because there are so many other places that beckon me when I have a craving for mexican food--from Riccardo's to Tierra C. to even my beloved neighborhood place, El Tapatio--that I haven't returned. And, to me, that's a dealbreaker. I will say that if the caldos had been available for lunch from day one, this might be a very different post. They do sound delicious...

dansch wrote:When I've described the GNRs in the past, I've positioned them as "if you ended up hungry in a new-to-you neighborhood, a GNR is the place you wish you'd stumble across." If I ended up in River North, I suppose I'd want to stumble across Xoco, but stumbling isn't necessary - it's got national brand behind it, PR coverage, and I'm sure is in every guide book written about Chicago.

I agree with all this, and I think this is a well-put standard. In the past, I've heard people describe GNRs as places that you would drive several neighborhoods (or even hours) to. I think that's too high of a standard, one reserved for places opened by Paul Kahan, though certainly there are some GNRs that are arguably destination-worthy. As for XOCO, what takes it out of GNR contention for me is that is a destination -- or has become one -- by virtue of Senor Rick, his reputation, the publicity machine behind it, etc. I know that doesn't seem fair, or that I'm punishing Rick for his success, but for me, that's where the line in the sand is drawn.

If I recall with Avec, when it was nominated, it was the first GNR nomination that had attained some modicum of media accolades, but they were mostly local, and it still maintained a locals-only feel, like many of the well-regarded small, chef-driven restaurants in Brooklyn, for example. XOCO, on the other hand, has been publicized ad nauseum since, like, 2009, so there's isn't a "huh, that's an interesting one"-factor about giving XOCO any award (except maybe a Beard award) in 2011.

And I hate to bring this up -- but LTH stripped Topolo and Frontera of their GNRs -- it just strikes me as more than a little ingenuine to give Bayless another award. I know that the nominator had good intentions and that this factor probably never entered his mind when he nominated Xoco, but there's a perception issue that I think needs to be surmounted, less LTH appear a little silly in handing Bayless another award that may only be taken away.

Having said all that, I like the food at XOCO, I have a high respect for Bayless, and what he is doing for "fast-food" in this city, but there are some logistical hurdles here that, in my book, do not make it a GNR.

I disagree with Wendy and Dan and agree with the various others who support this as a GNR.

I've always been a proponent of an expansive viewing of GNR-ship, and hate to take away anyone's chance because it happens to be lauded, popular, well-funded, has a big name Chef in the office, retains a publicist, in the midst of big buildings, conventioneers, and advertising types; is not tiny, dingy, ethnic (what comprises an ethnic restaurant, is "Italian" beef, ethnic?), with Grandma cooking all the meals; or other general facts that have little to do with the food provided. That said, Xoco is more than just a good restaurant. It is more than just Frontera and, in my opinion more deserving than say Frontera.

Xoco is a GNR. It is not a chain. It is not Frontera wannabe. It is not the place at O'Hare or the place on the 7th floor of Macy's. When Rick Bayless finally went and opened up a place in LA, he did not open a branch of Xoco. Xoco stands unique. We should value, highly, Xoco.

I valued Xoco highly enough that last year I gave it, an award not as cool (or as well funded and organized) as a GNR, but I named it "Restaurant of the Year" on my web site, the Local Beet. There's a lot of things that really impress me about Xoco, the quality of the bread, the variety of offerings, the pastries, but what makes Xoco for me is the fact that they demonstrate that a successful restaurant can do it right.

By right I mean source the meat from places like Slagel, the flour from the small Indiana mill, New Rinkel, and even use the same organic milk I most often use. And people clamor for it. Xoco stands for the proposition that goods can be priced at the prices needed to support good local food, but people will gladly pay it. Of course, obviously, people may pay for it because of Rick Bayless's fame, but at some point, Xoco has to survive on the substance of its fare not just on its novelty. It has done that.

Xoco is a special place. It creates special versions of Mexican street food by applying good kitchen technique. More, it creates special version by reaching far above the typical raw materials for these kind of foods. Lets call Xoco what it is, a GNR.

Vital Information wrote:Xoco is a special place. It creates special versions of Mexican street food by applying good kitchen technique. More, it creates special version by reaching far above the typical raw materials for these kind of foods. Lets call Xoco what it is, a GNR.

While I respect the arguments against Xoco's being named a GNR, in my personal opinion, the sentiments behind this statement trump points made to the contrary.

=R=

Vital Information wrote:Xoco is a GNR. It is not a chain. It is not Frontera wannabe. It is not the place at O'Hare or the place on the 7th floor of Macy's. When Rick Bayless finally went and opened up a place in LA, he did not open a branch of Xoco. Xoco stands unique. We should value, highly, Xoco.

With all due respect, the sandwich menu at Tortas Frontera is basically a subset of the sandwich menu at Xoco (all but the "Smoky Garlic Shrimp" appear on the Xoco menu). True, the breakfast and salads are different, and Tortas Frontera doesn't do caldos. Still, I'd hardly call Xoco unique when 7 of its sandwiches can be purchased in Terminal B.

Don't get me wrong - I spend much more time in O'Hare than I do River North, so I'm happy about this, I just dispute the uniqueness of Xoco and the assertion that it's not a chain (or chain-like)

Vital Information wrote:I valued Xoco highly enough that last year I gave it, an award not as cool (or as well funded and organized) as a GNR, but I named it "Restaurant of the Year" on my web site, the Local Beet. There's a lot of things that really impress me about Xoco, the quality of the bread, the variety of offerings, the pastries, but what makes Xoco for me is the fact that they demonstrate that a successful restaurant can do it right.

By right I mean source the meat from places like Slagel, the flour from the small Indiana mill, New Rinkel, and even use the same organic milk I most often use. And people clamor for it. Xoco stands for the proposition that goods can be priced at the prices needed to support good local food, but people will gladly pay it.

I think that's awesome. I'm thrilled that Bayless is cooking affordable food that people want, sourcing high-quality local ingredients. It's guys like him that can bridge the "foodsnob chasm," and for that he has my respect.

Respect for what Bayless is doing, though, doesn't fundamentally change my opinion of what Xoco is. If LEYE (or McDonalds, for that matter) opens a fast food joint serving affordable, delicious, sustainable food, I'll be thrilled - I just probably won't support it for a GNR.

-Dan