Salpicon

Message from Salpicon

Upscale and intimate, this colorful Mexican restaurant draws Old Town regulars with its authentic fare and wine/tequila list.
  • Upscale Mexican restaurant
  • 100 super-premium tequilas
  • 30 premium wines by the glass

Salpicon, Priscila and Vincent Satkoff's colorful, intimate restaurant in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, has established itself as one of the city's finest upscale Mexican restaurants. A true joint effort, Salpicon is a balance of Priscila's traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine and Vincent's knowledge of fine wine and management. Menu highlights include grilled tiger shrimp with avocado-tomatillo sauce, poblano chilies stuffed with huitlacoche and fresh vegetables and grilled lamb with pasilla chile sauce. Sunday brunch offers a chance to try Chilaquiles Rojos or other brunch specialties.The notably professional and friendly service staff offers knowledgeable explanations of menu items and nightly specials as they help diners navigate the restaurant's Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence-winning wine list and selection of more than 100 premium tequilas and mezcales.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

Marker Salpicon

(312) 988-7811

1252 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610
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Editorial Description by Citysearch
In Short
Brightly colored and casual, Salpicon teems with fans of Priscila Satkoff's authentic Mexican fare. Dishes are dazzling and memorable: queso fundido with onions, tiger shrimp and hunks of serrano chili, entrees like sliced pork tenderloin with a smoky potato-chorizo mixture, and Black Angus tenderloin with melted Chihuahua cheese. Desserts include pastel tres leches: an airy mound of milk-soaked cake "frosted" with whipped cream in a bed of raspberry and mango sauces.

62 Reviews of Salpicon in Chicago

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Not the greatest!  1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

By Julie W. | insider Insider | Rank: 17,425

I was very excited to try out this mexican restaurant and when I got there I was quite disappointed. Everything on the menu was overpriced and the food was too "gourmet" for a mexican place. Everyone I went with disliked their meals and the bill was pretty hefty in the end. Definitely not my favorite mexican restaurant in the city.

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Food was fine  3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

By Megan H. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 8,807

An attempt at fine dining mexican. The food was just OK, I think i would prefer to stick with traditional mexican food instead of spending the extra money. Everyone I was with had a decent meal but we were unimpressed with the prices.

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Latest reviews by Citysearch: (read all 60 reviews on Citysearch)

Uninteresting mex food and big- time ripoff 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

By hfruehauf

My wife and I had lunch there during the Old Town art fair simply because we were there and not because we had sought it out. $60 later, it became plain that we didn't need this place and that they were just soaking us for poor food. Since any local taco stand can do better, you shouldn't waste your money in going there, either.

Posted 01/24/09

Overpriced 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

By LorasFinanceGrad

When we got there the place was empty and stark besides the cheesy retro decor. We wanted a glass of wine but glasses averaged $15+ and the wine list read like a encyclopedia: overpriced and no where to start. We ordered Margaritas at $10 dollars a piece that came in boring 6 oz un-stemmed glasses watered down with ice and most likely tap water as well. My girlfriend ordered a margarita with premium tequila at $12, the waitres recommened it for women, and I ordered a regular margarita for $10.00 with tequila no better than Jose Cuervo. The $7.00 dollar tomale plate was resonable and had a variety of taste of mole chicken Alskan Halibut and pork tomales on banana and corn leaves; I should of ordered it as my main course. A rude Maitre D' interupted us if we have any questions about the wine list and we said "No" . Then he rudely just walked away with no comment to his podium. He was awkward and un-personable older man with a bow-tie. I have received much better personalities at Chili's. The place was empty and all the hosts and attendants stood at the bar just kinda looking at our table. For our entrees, nothing was cheaper than $20.00 a plate. I ordered the Chicken mole and it was good but all it was is rice, two boneless chicken breasts and mole sauce. The cuisine was good and left us satisfied but highly remourceful when I spent $80.00 (tip included) for average Mexican cuisine and two watered down Margaritas and an appetizer. Drinks were terrible and anything on the wine list you need to take on a second Mortgage. I would never go to this place again. In fact I wish I never made dinner reservations for Second City because as I walked around the area my girlfriend and we noticed several other restaurants probably with better food at much better prices we could've gone to instead. We will never go to Salpicon again.

Pros: Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Cons: Cold Serivce and overpriced
Posted 09/12/08

Synonyms for HORRIBLE 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

By Restarantour

Quite possibly the most A to Z horrible dinning experience. RUDE owner and staff, from the reservations, through the entire dinner. Food was brought out cold, order was screwed up, service was terrible, margaritas were watered down - over priced lemonade. They litteraly DO NOT deserve your business for their over priced, nonsensical, wannabe version of an actual Fine Dining establishment. If you just happen to be the luckiest person on earth and get decent food and service, this place is no bigger than a closet! You are on top of the table next to you, forget privacy or comfort, I mean romance is taking your date to a conference with the table on the right and left isn't it?

Pros: They have a door to walk out of
Cons: They have a door to walk into
Posted 05/01/08

awful customer service, definitely not worth their price 1 Star Rating - Unsatisfactory

By Jreyes3

Me and my friends went to cerebrate my birthday, and UNFORTUNATELY I choose to go to Salpicon, as I always like to try new places. Starting with making the reservation; they take your credit card information when reserving a table, as there is a $75.00 cancellation fee per person? As soon as we arrived, we had to wait 20 min. for valet parking and 30 min. to be seated even though we had a reservation. Let's move forward with awful customer service? the owner instead of greeting was very rude; the servers, would not take an appetizer order unless the full order was placed at once. The prices are outrageous and the food portions are very small, the food is not as tasty, the restaurant is very simple, definitely not worth their price? Unfortunately, they ruin my appetite; I hope this review reaches other people before their appetite gets ruined. If you are willing to have a great experience, try Adobo grill (much less expensive, much better food, great ambiance), Carnival (expensive but worth their price, great customer service, really fancy, excellent chef selection?) and I can go on, but definitely any other place will make you feel welcome. DO NOT GO TO SALPICON!

Pros: NONE
Cons: Ambiance, parking service, prices, customer service
Posted 04/18/08

Excellent, authentic, modern Mexican fare!!!! 5 Star Rating - World class

By bcaburnay

This fabulous Old Town restaurant is one of my favorites in the city. Warm, cozy, with fantastic and friendly staff, Salpicon's menu has something for everyone. I come back to the restaurant at least once a week!! Check out all the wonderful awards the restaurant has won- appropriately on display by the host desk. The wine and tequila list is tremendous- not to mention the staff are extremely knowledgeable about food and wine pairings. Try any of the wonderful weekly specials (particularly the duck when it is on the menu). The ceviche as a starter is wonderful! The tenderloin filet and camarones al mojo de ajo are amazing. If you want excellent, authentic, modern Mexican fare, Salpicon is an absolute must visit!!!!

Pros: Fabulous menu, something for everyone!
Cons: NONE
Posted 03/23/08