d4v3 wrote:

Pie-love wrote:One of my non-LTH friends tried it-- he texted me during the meal with a gorgeous photo of the chile rellenos (I think that's what is was, stuffed chile, white sauce, pomegranite seeds). He said it was awesome-- and a lot of food.

That would be Chiles en Nogada. Carlos' version is especially awesome. If it is part of his tasting menu, I may have to go try it. A few years ago, he put together a tasting dinner for LTH that included that dish, If the chef's menu is similar, it has to be good.

I enjoyed the wonderful Chiles en Nogada as we closed down Sol de Mexico Friday night. Mrs. JiLS and I showed up late after a series of unfortunate events that had us both on edge, but our late meal at SdM soothed our chafed nerves and made all well. Chiles en Nogada is off menu, but I knew from calling them last week they were serving the dish, so I was primed and ready. For $18.95, I got not one, but two plump chiles, as well as a wonderful and generous portion of a chopped salad served on the same plate. The ingredients in the chile filling tasted, for lack of a better word, "bespoke" in quality and care of preparation. I've never had the dish other than at some more quotidian places in Mexico City (Cafe la Blanca, Sanborns or maybe VIPs), where I've liked it very much, but it has tended to be a little "off the rack" and assembly-line feeling. I really liked this version (and our waitress was genuinely pleased with us for ordering it, too). It also reminded us of how much we need to keep going back to Sol de Mexico, regardless of the specials. It continues to be a special place. Only downside was that, because we finished up around 10:30 pm, Paleteria la Plaza was shut down for the night, which was too bad ... but we'll be back, because just to second other positive comments about this paleteria, their paletas are the most similar to, and similarly enjoyable as, those we've enjoyed in Mexico City - by a long shot.

Michael Nagrant shows some love for SdM:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/d ... scene.html

Jen

FYI - Next Monday (November 5) there will be a Mexican food exchange (moles, salsa, etc) with dinner at Sol de Mexico. There's still time to join in the exchange, and there should also be additional room for people to join us for dinner since only 7 of 14 total slots have been filled, although preference will go to those exchanging. Here are the details from the events board.

Given that I will be making a reservation, I am going to impose a 6pm Wednesday deadline for signing up. Also, I'm going to try to arrange with SdM for Chiles en Nogada. So if you're interested in joining us, don't delay.

As noted above, several of us visited Sol de Mexico earlier this week and had a terrific dinner. We started with several appetizers. Guacamole served with chips was well done, if you choose to go that route, but there are many items on the menu that shine brighter.


Guacamole



Huarachitos de Huitlacoche featured that wonderful corn smut, along with corn, poblano, roasted tomato, epazote, sour cream and queso fresco in a housemade masa boat. These were delicious - I just wish the huitlacoche had stood out a bit more.


Huarachitos de Huitlacoche



Queso Rancherito is Sol de Mexico's version of queso fundido, and I had never tried it before. Quite frankly, the dish usually bores me. But I was surprised just how much I enjoyed this version, perhaps because of the delicious housemade chorizo, and no doubt due to the nice crisp top.


Queso Rancherito



But as good as the other appetizers were, the one that I thought really stood well above the others was the Chambandongo - an enchilada of sorts, with housemade corn tortillas filled with shredded pork, almonds, pecans and raisins in a Teloloapan red mole, drizzled with sour cream. The tortillas retained their texture, and the meaty, nutty, slightly sweet filling paired wonderfully with the outstanding mole. I would say this is a must order, and just look at how picturesque it is:


Chambandongo



And since Sol de Mexico is Chicago's capital of mole, don't forget to order the mole sampler. For $3.95, you get terrific housemade tortillas and four moles. This night's moles were negro, verde, manchamanteles and rojo. It's a nice snack/side and a great way to learn what SdM is all about.


Mole sampler



We also ordered a number of entrees for sharing. Pechuga de pollo Rellena de Picadillo con Mole Rojo featured chicken breast stuffed with a picadillo filling and served atop a terrific red mole. There was debate whether we should order this dish - some fearing dry chicken, others focused on the picadillo filling and red mole. I'd say we were both right, The picadillo filling and red mole were delicious, but the chicken breast was indeed very dry and disappointing.


Pechuga de pollo Rellena de Picadillo con Mole Rojo



Callos De Hacha en Mole Verdeo featured grilled dry pack scallops in a mole verde (featuring pumpkin seeds). I only had half a scallop, but I thought it was well cooked and flavorful, and I loved this lighter mole, particularly with the scallop.


Callos De Hacha en Mole Verdeo



I also had only a small bit of shrimp - Camarones a la Momia de lujo - but I was very impressed. I thought the flavor of this dish was terrific, rich and smoky. It featured shrimp very lightly stuffed with chihuahua cheese and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon, seared and placed atop a delicious chipotle sauce that I enjoyed lapping up.


Camarones a la Momia de lujo



I've always enjoyed Sol de Mexico's carne asada in the past, marinated in red chiles and grilled over charcoal. We ordered it rare, but my piece was closer to medium, and I wasn't thrilled with the texture. Flavor-wise however, I thought it was tasty, though maybe not as delicious as I've had there before.


Carne Asada



Conejo al Chile ajo - rabbit with a garlicky guajillo salsa and grilled onions - was terrific. I didn't get much of the rabbit, but what I had was very flavorful, and the garlic-guajillo sauce was a little sweet, a little spicy, complex, garlicky and overall fantastic. I had never had it before at SdM, but I will definitely order it again in the future.



Conejo al Chile ajo



Puerco en Manchamanteles-Charcoal-grilled pork chop with manchamanteles mole, homemade chorizo, plantains and pineapple - is another dish Sol de Mexico usually knocks out of the park. This night the pork chop was a little bit dry and overcooked. Nonetheless, I still thought it was delicious, in no small part due to the fantastic manchamanteles mole. I happen to think SdM makes one of the very best versions of this mole I've tasted.


Puerco en Manchamanteles


One dish that stood out as it usually does was the Borrego en Mole Negro - New Zealand rack of lamb in a Oaxacan mole negro. The lamb was nicely cooked, great lamb flavor, and the mole negro was terrific - my favorite mole at Sol de Mexico, and probably my favorite dish too.


Borrego en Mole Negro



As the pictures show, most entrees are served with black beans, rice or mashed potatoes. These dishes are often afterthoughts at many restaurants, but not at Sol de Mexico. In particular, I think the mashed potatoes and black beans are delicious and I appreciate the fact that the beans retain their texture and are not an overcooked mess. No details are ignored.

So overall, though not every protein was cooked as well as I've come to expect from SdM, I thought the meal was excellent, particularly the various moles and sauces, but let's not forget the same gracious and efficient service I've come to expect at SdM. And of course, it was great to share the meal with other LTH folk.

BR,

Thanks for organizing the Mexican food exchange. I'm putting my haul to use this weekend. Our dinner at SdM proved to me once again that although SdM does a masterful job with their moles, their entrées are little more than vehicles for the sauces and often miss the mark. I've always enjoyed the appetizers there, and this dinner was no exception. The chambandongos in particular were great. The filling reminded me of what is often served as the filing for Chiles en Nogada and was very tasty. On the other hand, I found most of the main courses less than stellar. For me, the shrimp dish was out of balance (too smoky from the bacon), the carne asada overcooked and livery, the chicken dish dry as a desert, pork chop overcooked, etc. BUT the moles and other sauces were excellent, and those made to order tortillas are some of the best in town. I understand the love for SdM, but for me it just doesn't scratch the itch.

We had a wonderful dinner at Sol de Mexico last night. Nothing to add about the food that hasn't already been captured in this thread. But we were the only table in there at 8:00 on a Thursday night, so I am worried a bit. So if you like SdM, go eat there soon!

As one who mostly lurks and takes in all of your lovely foodible opinions, it is with great difficulty I post about my own experiences. Call me shy.

But OH. MY. GOD. We had lunch here Thursday after many years of driving by on Cicero and commenting, "That place looks interesting. We should go." The only comment now is, "What the hell took us so long?" That guacamole. That chuleta de puerco! It was, without exaggeration, the best damn pork I've had in the last 10 years, and that comes from someone who loves the pig in *all* its many preparations. It was Beethoven's Ninth Symphony of Pork; crispy exterior, juicy just-to-the-tooth interior, sweet melange of spice and complex bite of serrano, followed by a bracing trace of epazote. One stunning composition.

Even the simple steak taco had a rich flavor that had us at "steak." And the salsas...I might be in love. We were charmed by the tiny Mexican coke bottles, and delighted by the presentation of warm, fresh chips and guac in a chilled silver sombrero, topped by a radish carved into a rosette. At lunch. It's clear that details matter here.

Carlos is an absolute gem, too, and was so warm and sincerely welcoming -- we had a lovely discussion about Mexican furniture and art with him. We have a new favorite go-to Mexican place; can't wait to return.

Cheers,
Receta

Also, when Carlos asked how we'd heard about SdM, and I told him "LTHForum," he smiled broadly and nodded. "Very good!" he said. "Very, very good."

Can anyone confirm if Sol de Mexico is still BYOB ?

Sweet Willie wrote:Can anyone confirm if Sol de Mexico is still BYOB ?

They are no longer BYOB.

Pie-love wrote:

Sweet Willie wrote:Can anyone confirm if Sol de Mexico is still BYOB ?

They are no longer BYOB.

thanks for the quick reply.

We had an early Mothers Day dinner here today and I'm happy to report that it's as good as ever-- the Tampiqueña is back on the menu, the tortillas are toothsome, fresh, and warm, and the chiles rellenos (a non-traditional, vegetarian version filled with black beans and not batter-fried) was quite good.

I could only eat one of the two chiles-- we had quite a feast.
Moreover, the service was warm and welcoming-- Carlos, the waitress, the hostess, all the way to the busboy.
Most of the other tables were filled when we got there at 6, but they still had no problem seating us (without a reservation, as it was a last-minute decision) on a Saturday night.
I'm glad to have this place in our neighborhood-- we need to eat there more often.

Jen

Had a long overdue meal here last night with Fifille and a good friend.

Everything was fantastic. Appetizer platter with ceviche, taquitos, and corn fritters with guacamole was excellent, especially the ceviche.

I had pollo con mole negro that I took a chance on and scored. Juicy well seasoned chicken in a gorgeous mole complex and rich.

Skirt steak with chipotle was not overpowering as chipotle can be and the steak was cooked perfectly.

Fish enchiladas were good I only had a small bite.

This needs to go back in to your dining rotation. I'm looking forward to my next meal there.

Timely report for me and great to hear. It has been a few years since our last visit and we have reservations for Saturday night. Not sure why it's been so long for us. Really looking forward to it now. Seafood enchiladas sound great!

Went to Sol de Mexico last night, and had a very good meal. We ordered the ceviche, the sopes, tamales and the borrego. We almost didn't order the tamales because we thought 2 apps + 1 would be enough, but I was pretty hungry, so I asked for another app rec, and I'm glad we did - we finished everything! Everything was very good, I'm not sure I could pick one standout. The mashed potatoes that came with the lamb was really good too. Drinks were delicious (La Paloma), but a little weak. We got convinced to go with the flan for dessert, which was a nice ending to a real good meal. Service was excellent and very friendly.

BTW, we were wondering what is this neighborhood called - it is a shame this place was only a third full on Sat. night.

mdpilam wrote:BTW, we were wondering what is this neighborhood called

It's most frequently called Cragin, which includes the area west of Cicero. (Along with the Belmont Central neighborhood west of Cragin, the larger community area is called Belmont-Cragin.) The area east of Cicero is called Kelvyn Park.