Latinicity

I had the chance to check out the new Latinicity last week. Latinicity is a huge space on the 3rd floor of Block 37. It's set up similarly to Foodlife in Water Tower Place, whereby you get a smart card when you walk in, and then order food from any number of food stations set up around the edges of the cavernous space. You pay on the way out based upon what you ordered while you were there. Besides the food stations, there is a large bar at the center of the room and a mini Loncheria version in the basement of the building near the Blue Line train entrance serving an abbreviated version of their "greatest hits" (tortas, salads, etc.).

As to the food itself, my favorite taquerias and restaurantes don't have anything to worry about, but having said that, the food isn't bad at all and is certainly better than I expected going in. There were only two of us at lunch, so we weren't able to hit every food stall (and we passed on a couple just based on the looks of the food), but we did enjoy what we had including a chorizo and shrimp "coca" (flatbread) that was perhaps my favorite bite of the day, a link of grilled longaniza Columbiana, a couple empanadas (smoked corn and beef with caramalized onion), a couple of tacos; al pastor (not so great) and carnitas (much better), and a cazuela featuring short rib barbacoa served with rice, black beans, pickled onions and some commercial tasting tortillas. The cazuela was really a good deal at $8 for a huge hunk of short rib and fixings. My only complaint about that dish was that the short rib was a little on the dry side.

There is a tapas/charcuterie restaurant called Pata Negra that doesn't open until 5:00, but it looked to be perhaps the best place in Latinicity, based on its menu. I'll be back one of these days to check that out, perhaps in conjunction with a movie at the soon to open movie theaters in the same mall.

Latinicity
Block 37
108 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 795-4444

They also have an outpost called Loncheria in the Pedway below Block 37. I haven't stopped in yet, but they do have a breakfast menu and the idea of picking up a breakfast torta on the way to work is tempting.

I guess Pedway is the more correct term. I said basement in my post, but we're talking about the same place. I think, if the lines aren't too long, the Loncheria will be a great addition.

Yes, you did mention it. Sorry, for some reason I just missed that.

is this like scrantonicity?

stevez wrote:The cazuela was really a good deal at $8 for a huge hunk of short rib and fixings. My only complaint about that dish was that the short rib was a little on the dry side.

I had this today at lunch, and I agree, it's really good and a good deal. The short rib wasn't dry at all in my case.

I've also had the Churrasco, which was good but not great, and a little pricey; and an al pastor burrito, which was really good and a good value, but on the small side for a burrito so if you like the burrito as big as your head kind of burrito you might want get a side with it.

I think I'll be going back regularly over the winter at least, since I work about a block and a half from there.

I too, tried the pastor burrito and it was pretty good. Roasted pineapple chunks as an option really worked well with the flavors, especially with the Habanero salsa which actually had a bit of heat to it.

My daughter and I went Sunday evening before see Christmas Carol at the Goodman across the street.

Sunday night at 5pm was very light there, so it was easy to get around and navigate the stands, walk up and see what the menus said, which they are somewhat on the small side for my old eyes.

bw77 wrote:They also have an outpost called Loncheria in the Pedway below Block 37. I haven't stopped in yet, but they do have a breakfast menu and the idea of picking up a breakfast torta on the way to work is tempting.

I had the egg and cheese breakfast torta this morning. Not very good. It's held in a hot case and didn't seem super fresh.

I was there on about its 3rd day of business, so I'm sure my experience is not general, you know kinks out and all. That said, I was unimpressed not just with what I ate. The biggest thing that bothered me was how safe and pedestrian it was. Yes, I know it's in the Loop and it's geared for tourists and office workers, but still. All the hype was that it was going to be the Latin Eataly, and Eataly is aggressively "authentic" (or at least tries). I thought maybe something like closer to Maxwell Street, you know it least have some abuela's patting tortillas for show or something. Call me crazy but a trompa, a charola of greased goodies, you know am I nuts? To me it was like, here's our stir-fry station but we'll call in chaufa to make it sound Latin. It's not pizza it's something from Barcelona, which I guess from my two dining companions who had been to Barcelona a lot more recently than me, it was like something you get in Barcelona. It still looked like pepperoni pizza to me. Burgers, no they were burgesas! It all seemed slick and just not that different than what's for sale in Water Tower.

I gravitated to burgessa because the line was the shortest. My version of a Miami-Cuban frita was nothing like the awful in the best way bombs of the real thing. I tried an Argentinian empanada that was terrible due to several re-frys--bonus annoying points, the "parrillada" station has all these piles of logs but they just grill on gas. A taste of a chaufa came across as all soy (which may be the most authentic thing done there). The pepperoni pizza was the best thing I tried.

I was perusing yesterday, the latest issue of Texas Monthly, with its list of 100 best tacos in the state. It only showed, to me, how good we have it here, when it comes to Latin food. I was really surprised that the powers behind Latinicity did not get that too.

That's too bad though not a complete surprise. I went to Sandoval's Mexican restaurant at the Fairmont in Scottsdale a year or so ago and found it really paled compared to options like Frontera here. His new place there however, Toro, was really quite good though I actually went initially for the sushi they serve. The food there was superb - especially the rocoto salsa which I think is also on the Latinicity grill menu. Guess I'll try it out Latinicity just to see - and get some of that salsa - but not expecting much.

Wonder if we'll also get a clone of the Bourdain asian night market megaspot that's planned for New York?

I went to Latinicity for lunch last week. Since no one has posted anything new on the place in 6 months, consider this a post opening rush update. I got a Milanesa Torta and my lunch mate ordered a few tacos. Not super adventurous on our part, but I wanted to gauge it versus a neighborhood taqueria. My torta was tasty, a little unbalanced by the spicy pickled peppers.

Overall pretty decent food in a pleasant space. We were a little post lunch rush and it didn't seem too crowded. Vital Info's criticisms still stand. From talking to others, it's s good place, but overpriced (even for the Loop) place for lunch. My lunch, which was just a torta, was almost $10). If I go again, the steak looked pretty good.

Monday is the soft opening for Richard Sandoval's latest restaurant. Pueblo, described as a place serving "abuela-style" food ("abuela" means "grandmother"), will make its debut as part of Sandoval's Latinicity Food Hall + Lounge, in the Loop's Block 37 development.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct ... story.html

I've not had a bad experience at Latinicity. I never go during prime time hours - post 1pm or not at all due to how busy it can get.

The aguachiles served at one of the stalls was more of a ceviche style with the added fruits/veggies compared to what I had in Sayulita but delicious regardless. A huge portion with chips for a great price.

The burritos/bowls are a one up to any of the other chain competitors in the loop. It may be a dollar or two extra vs Chipotle/Qdoba but the fresh, plentiful amount of toppings make it worth it IMO.