Insider Pages Reviews for Salpicon

5 Stars: the credit physician latino (by md physician)

md physician — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

the credit physician and the restoration team,michael allen says a low credit score can keep you from your dreams,restoration of your credit can help get you into a new home,car,thats why we celebrated with the 750 and above credit score club at salpicon mmmmm talk about good latino food,the salsa is awesome i was amazed at the good service,congradtulations to all the new members who were put into the new 750 club,thank u to the staff at salpicon

5 Stars: Our Favorite Restaurant (by DavidGH)

DavidGH — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The contemporary Mexican food is absolutely superb and definitely the best in the city. Wines by the glass or by the bottle are always terrific which cannot be said for many of the other upscale restaurants that we visit and which surround us in the Rush street- Gold coast-Streeterville area. . The 'Jalape?os Rellenos de Queso Capeados' appetizer is excellent and the 'Filete de Res en Salsa de Moritas con Hongos' beef tenderloin main course with unbelievable tasty sauce is out of this world. Friends love the Margaritas and Tequilas. Salpicon being 'Fit for Foodies' is a complete understatement.- It is a Foodies heaven! Fit for someone looking for a cheap basic mexican food chain it is not. We dine out at upscale American, Italian, Seafood etc restaurants every week but Salpicon is now our firm favorite for ourselves, friends and any out of town visitors. This is definitely one of the very best if not the best restaurant in Chicago.

1 Stars: Creepy Manager Staring at My Daughter! (by Andrew A)

Andrew A — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I took a party of seven for a birthday celebration, two of them are children. As we were reading the menus, the owner turned the lights down very low, but only over our table. We asked the light be brought back up to reading level, and a waiter returned it to decent setting. Not two minutes later, the owner dims it again.
That is not creepy enough, but the owner continually stared at the two kids during the entire meal, which could not end soon enough! I mentioned that I was bothered by this man ogling my daughter, and received no apology.
I heard great things about this Mexican restaurant, and each of us found the food very disappointing. The chile rellenos were clammy, the lamb chops were bony and difficult to cut, even medium rare. The pollo mole had a wisp of mole sauce, almost as if dropped on it by mistake.
Do not bring children into this restaurant under any circumstances, and consider packing a flashlight.

5 Stars: Those "One Star" reviewers went to the wrong restaurant. (by Radio312)

Radio312 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I have been dining at Salpicon on a regular basis every since they first open their doors in 1995 and I've always had an excellent experience there.

Over the years, I have taken many, many friends there and they too have become fans and regulars of Salpicon. Sure, the restaurant may have "loud" decor, prices that are more expensive than your neighborhood burrito house and a tight dining space, but what makes it special is the excellent food and outstanding flavors of award-winning and nationally-acclaimed chef Priscila Satkoff.

I am writing to defend my taste buds!

When I read the few ?negative? reviews, I believe that these folks walked into the wrong restaurant. They might have been looking for Las Pinatas (just up the street ? decent/cheap Mexican food) but somehow ended up at Salpicon. They may have been looking giant combo platters and jumbo hangover margaritas, but instead they dined at a fine restaurant unfamiliar to them; a restaurant that puts flavor, uniqueness and quality ahead of quantity.

If you?re looking for a ?burrito-the-size-of-your-head? that?s fine. But please don?t slam Salpicon for taking Mexican food to an entirely new level.

Uncle Julio?s it is not. Chi-Chi?s it is not. Adobo Grill it is not. If you want to gorge then walk down the street to Las Pinatas (or take a cab if you?re that lazy). If you want to throw back shots of cheap tequila, cab over to El Jardin in Wrigleyville and slam away till you see double. Or triple.

What brings me back to Salpicon time and time again are the wonderful flavors and sauces. Must haves on the menu include: the spicy Jalapenos Rellenos (if you?re excepting a plate of deep-fried Jalapeno Poppers by the dozen, stay away); the tasty spinach salad ?Ensalada Espinaca? (if you want a Buca di Beppo-sized salad, stay away); the fresh blue marlin Seviche; any of the appetizer specials: any one of Priscila?s cream soups ? quite outstanding; my-mouth-is-watering-right-now lamb chops and beef tenderloin; and any of the fresh fish specials ? they have always been excellent.

And those who say Salpicon Margaritas are ?watered down? are certainly unfamiliar with top-shelf, extra-smooth, 100% agave tequilas. Thus they are disappointed because that nasty ?twang? of cheap tequila/ grain alcohol is missing. Sorry to disappoint you, but nasty is not what real tequila tastes like.

As far as price, with quality food comes quality prices. If you only go there once a year for special occasions, then that is what kind of restaurant it is: special.

I?ve seen a lot of restaurants come and go here in Chicago, but as long as Priscila continues to dazzle me - and all of us Salpicon regulars - with her creativity and wonderful flavors, this is one restaurant that will continue to thrive and stand out above the rest.

Sorry, no combo platters here!

Salud!

1 Stars: Uninteresting mex food and big- time ripoff (by hfruehauf)

hfruehauf — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Overpriced (by LorasFinanceGrad)

LorasFinanceGrad — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Synonyms for HORRIBLE (by Restarantour)

Restarantour — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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?

1 Stars: awful customer service, definitely not worth their price (by Jreyes3)

Jreyes3 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: Not the greatest! (by Julie W.)

Julie W. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:20:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Food was fine (by Megan H.)

Megan H. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:27:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Excellent, authentic, modern Mexican fare!!!! (by bcaburnay)

bcaburnay — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!!!!

5 Stars: One of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago! (by eventsplanner)

eventsplanner — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Salpicon has to be one of my favorite restaurants in the city of Chicago- and believe me when I say, I go to A LOT of great restaurants. Let me first say, this is no taco bell. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but this is true authentic Mexican Food......not a Tex Mex shack you stop into before a night of drinking. The food is EXCELLENT, the staff are friendly, quick, helpful- I am always greeted with a smile when I walk in the door and always seated very quickly. The restaurant is cozy- make sure to make reservations. It is always a pretty full house, which speaks to its popularity among foodies. For an upscale restaurant, I think the price is right- REMEMBER, this is not a taco and burrito joint, but a restaurant for "in the know" diners. Try any of the fabulous weekly specials- there is always something for everyone to enjoy. I love their Margaritas too- I recommend the Margarita made with the Herradura Reposado- if you want some tequila that leaves you with a headache from hell, wondering how you got home....this is not the place for you. If you are a wine person- they have one of the best lists in town. Ask recommendations from the very friendly sommelier. Top picks for me are the ceviche, the crab cakes, the camarones al mojo de ajo, and the excellent pork chop!!! Get ready for an excellent dining experience!!! Believe me, you won't be disappointed!!

1 Stars: Horrendous, Awful, Terrible, etc. (by DiningAddict)

DiningAddict — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Ever seen the 'Soup N*zi' episode of Seinfeld?! Just like that, but MUCH worse:

Very rude manager and owner, not accomodating to any request.
Very small and cramped restaurant. People always bumping into you or your table.
$25 per head if you cancel a reservation.
Very overpriced food that is mediocre and in very small quantity.
Screwed up a vegetarian order entirely, wouldnt even comp the dish.

Salpicrap...... in sooo many ways.

1 Stars: BAD! (by tomdan)

tomdan — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

THIS PLACE IS TERRIBLE. WE STARTED OUR NIGHT AT OUR FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT UNCLE JULIO'S HACIENDA, AND THE WAIT WAS TOO LONG THAT WE DECIDED TO GO ELSEWHERE. I WALK PAST SALPICON ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND WE THOUGHT WE'D TRY IT. FROM THE MOMENT WE STEPPED IN THE DOOR, OUR MOODS CHANGED. THE ARROGANT, UNGRACIOUS HOST COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DISRESPECTFUL. SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE A RESERVATION, HE LOOKED AT US LIKE WE DIDN'T BELONG THERE. EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE SEVERAL OPEN TABLES, HE "DID US A FAVOR" AND SAT US. WE WERE HESITANT TO EVEN GO ANY FURTHER, BUT YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, HOWEVER IN THIS CASE THE COVER TELLS YOU EVERYTHING. WHEN WE DIDN'T WANT TO CHECK OUR COATS, WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD INTENTIONALLY ADD A LITTLE "FLAVOR" TO OUR FOOD. WE FELT LIKE WE WERE BACK IN JUNIOR HIGH AND THE WAIT STAFF WAS GOSSIPING ABOUT US IN THE CORNER. WHEN I PAY $7 FOR CHIPS AND SALSA, I EXPECT A LITTLE MORE THAN 6 CHIPS AND HALF A SPOONFUL OF SALSA. THIS IS A HORRIBLE DATE PLACE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU SITTING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE COUPLE NEXT TO YOU, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY A FORTUNE TO FEEL CLOSE TO SATISFIED. I HAVE A GOOD JUDGEMENT OF GREAT FOOD, AND THIS JUST WASN'T IT. IF YOU CAN'T TELL BY NOW, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT TO EVEN MY WORST ENEMY.

1 Stars: bad bad bad (by daveygravey)

daveygravey — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went at 5:30 on a week day. My friend and I were told that since we did not have a reservation that we could have a table but that if someone with a reservation showed up we would be asked to give up our table. There were maybe 4 people at this time dining and maybe 30 empty tables. The host or manager was so rude to us. We sat down and just the lingering attitude left a bad taste in our mouths. All we could talk about was how nasty he was. Then our appetizers came, lets just say they were not very good. We asked for our check and left.

5 Stars: Best New Year's Eve ever! (by lds39)

lds39 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Came here on New Year's Eve with my husband. Everyhing was perfect; from the valet service to the chocolate truffles with tequila)! My husband had the crabcake and I had the scallop app with bacon. Both were well-conceived and tasted fresh and yummy. For entrees we had the lamb chops and the filet with huitlacochi (sp)? sauce. The lamb melted in my mouth and my husband's filet was delicious on its own but was superbly matched with the huitlacochi sauce. For dessert I had the pear and mago tart with goat's milk ice cream (yum) and Jim had the chocolate espresso cake with vanilla ice cream Both tasted as good as they looked. Their wine list is extensive and very impressive and Henry, the sommelier, picked out a great bottle of wine for us that went well with what we ordered (I think it was an Australian Grenache). Our server Mark made us feel very welcome. We can't wait to return!

1 Stars: Won't be going back (by claracocinera)

claracocinera — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food here was just "ok". It was nothing special at all. The prices were outrageously high for Mexican food though and I won't be going back because of this. The portions are just average and the service was good. The prices you pay are not reflected in the food or the atmosphere so I can only guess that customers are paying the rent. The host on the night we went was very rude. I think her name was Maria. There was only one other group in the place but she insisted on sitting us at a table that was too small for our group. The table didn't even sit level on the floor and when the last member of our party arrived there was no where for him to sit. Maria huffed and puffed about getting an extra chair, then when she did she just left it there without preparing a setting for the extra customer. He literally had to sit and eat on his lap. All this while there were only 4 other people in the place. Our waitress was nice and competent, but that didn't save the meal or the bad host.

5 Stars: Great place for Tequila drinks!! (by jodiewatleys1970)

jodiewatleys1970 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I just went here last night with a friend who is a regular. The staff were great and let me use my Spanish :) I had a fun time trying new drinks. The decor was nice but the floor made me a little dizzy! j/k! The foods yummy. A little pricey but what can you expect for the neighborhood!! I plan to go back before the end of the year!

5 Stars: Fantastic Mex! (by hipster99)

hipster99 — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

See previous review (forgot to star it) Should be 5 stars. Great dining experience! From the moment we arrived we felt like we were in good hands. Our server recommended 2 tequilas for our margaritas and they were both great (El Tesoro Blanco for me and Chinaco Anejo for my husband). We shared 2 appetizers; jalapenos stuffed with cheese and served with a black bean sauce and a KILLER crabcake made with jumbo crabmeat and serrano chiles and coated with panko bread crumbs and served with an avocado-habanero salsa. The crabcake had almost no filler; almost 100% crabmeat. With these we had a bottle of Riesling from Austria that was recommended by the sommelier. It was delicious. For entrees we had Lamb loin chops with a garlic pasilla sauce and Quail in an ancho chile sauce. Wonderful! We paired these with a bottle of Claredon Hills Grenache from Austraila. Great match. We opted to share a dessert; a crepe with mangos and raspberries topped with a goat's milk caramel sauce. Wow!! We can't wait to return to Chicago and dine at Salpicon. It's at the top of our list! We only wish we had one in Vancouver.
c

2 Stars: Terrible experience (by aloha68)

aloha68 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My first visit turned out to be terrible. Ordered three appetizers and received the first one quickly. After some time passed we received grilled shrimp and a special appetizer but they were both room temperature. The waitress came to our table and said they were supposed to be served that way. Then the manager arrived quite upset and asked us to pay our bill (for the food we ate) and leave the restaurant immediately.

4 Stars: Great Ambiance (by chapoy22)

chapoy22 — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Good food, not great! Not authentic Mexican cuisine. Portions are much more smaller than the usual Mexican eatery's. The decoration is fenomenal, great atmosphere. The romantic setting is perfect for "lovey dovey" couples. Desserts are delicious.

4 Stars: A nice dinner (by pjs2780)

pjs2780 — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went to Salpicon for our anniversary (we initially wanted to go to Nacional 27 but they are closed on Sundays, so we were hoping that Salpicon would at least fill our need for Latin American food). We made our reservations through Open Table and mentioned that it would be our anniversary. When we arrived, we were wished a happy anniversary and seated at a table by the front. The view was nice, but the table was a little small and the nook felt crowded. I had the Salpicon margarita, which was very tasty and paired well with the food. For appetizers, we had the special squash blossoms, which were excellent, and the tostaditas de tinga which were pretty good as well. For dinner, I had the chiles dona queta which was just OK -- the flavors were not very strong, and the tomato sauce tasted more Italian than Mexican. My husband had the chuletas de borrego con salsa de chile pasilla which he enjoyed. For dessert, we had the pear crisp, which was delicious (but not complimentary on our special occassion, despite what other reviews have said). We will certainly be back, but mostly for the margaritas and appetizers.

3 Stars: Overrated (by berryberrysweet)

berryberrysweet — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This place is just OK. I tried it because of the great newspaper reviews and was disappointed. Six tiny shrimp swimming in bland sauce. I'd go elsewhere for the money

3 Stars: Not what I expected (by hirudina)

hirudina — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The food was good, not amazing. The ambiance was nil- overly bright and way too crowded. I'd probably not go there again by choice.

3 Stars: Overpriced Mexican food (by sbrady)

sbrady — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This restaurant receives many raves, but i thought that the food and drink for what they charge was very dissapointing. We have great mexican restaurants in this city and i would not quickly go back to this spot.

5 Stars: A wonderful dining experience! (by lefontana)

lefontana — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Had a reservation for Friday at 8:00; were seated promptly, Server knew her stuff about tequila. Turned us on to one of the many tequila flights they had. We took her recommendations on dinner and were not disappointed (stuffed jalapenos, squash blossoms with goat cheese, spinach salad with chipotle honey dressing, Alaskan halibut and lamb loin chops. Fantastic! Michael, the sommelier, recommended a bottle of Australian Grenache that complemented everything we ordered. Although the restaurant was packed, service was impeccable! Great job by all. Definitely one of our best dinners this year! Can't wait to return.

4 Stars: Mex-i-can't do it again! (by treybyrne)

treybyrne — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Surprisingly crowded on a Monday night, the vibrant decor, colorful artwork and atmosphere complimented the few interesting costumes worn by the good-looking staff for Halloween. Luckily, this was a distraction from snooty, sometime snail-like service (understaffed?), and somewhat bland entrees. Great salsa and guac were detracted by mediocre chips (how about fresh made chips?). The Oaxacan mole's earthiness nicely complimented the pork, served with plantains and pineapple, but my partner's chile relleno's were bland served in a watery sauce. If I'm going to indulge in deep-fried fat bombs they better taste good! Great, authentic margarita's, not too sweet or limey, and an excellent tequila list. Good, but not good enough for a return visit, being that there are plenty of other mexican joints to try out.

1 Stars: More fuss then it's deserved (by mbianc)

mbianc — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Got there before 11Pm on saturday, we were told we couldn't order dinner but we could go to the bar.
We (2person) ordered margaritas and bartender offered us the bar menu, and said we could order some apetizers, then the host came over to the bar e told the bartender he couldn't take any order, and it upseted me not for not be able to order but, the way the host came about it no class at all. So I couldn't say much about the food as we were not able to. About margaritas??? It was the worst I've ever had and I know about margaritas if you realy likes margaritas do not spend any money @ Salpicon with it, it is not worthed.
I have a personal view about restaurants/hostess, if you're invited/allow customers to come in you have to serve like any other customer.
I would not come back! There is plenty of excelent places to eat/drink

5 Stars: Best Mexican dining experience in Chicago! (by janetmacgregor)

janetmacgregor — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Everything we ate was amazing; the flavors were balanced and exciting.
Our waiter was knowledgeable, attentive, and funny.
If you would like to drink something other than margaritas, try one of the MANY wines available and dont be shy to ask for help with the extensive wine list. The Gruner Veltliner we drank during our last visit was perfectly delicious and complemented everything we ate.
I cant say enough good things about this restaurant!

5 Stars: THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (by ragazzo70)

ragazzo70 — Mon, 08 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I have been going to Salpicon since it opened. The quality of the food, service and wine/ tequila selections are unmatched! Excellent seafood selections, enjoy soft shell crab season.

5 Stars: Great Mexican! (by jamesonl)

jamesonl — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

This is a charming restaurant that keeps getting better and better. We first dined here over 4 years ago and have been back many times. The quality of the food, the flavors, presentation, wines and tequila never disappoint. Keep up the great work Salpicon!!!

3 Stars: Not really worth it (by drherron)

drherron — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Overall, I didn't feel like this place deserved the hype. The service was great, my halibut was good, but the shrimp with it weren't fully cooked. The margaritas were nice, but the server tricked us with a $2 each upgrade so they ended up costing $10 each which is so ridiculous for the small size of them.

4 Stars: User review by sleopold (by sleopold)

sleopold — Tue, 31 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

the food was great, a little pricey, i never thought there could be an upscale mexican restaurant, wines and liquors great selection. overall, good, seating a little crammed, would go back but look to spend a little money...

5 Stars: Great Dining! (by dregis12)

dregis12 — Tue, 03 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Highlights were the soft-shell crabs, filet in shiitake-chile sauce, stuffed jalapenos and the pear and mango tart. Service was perfect (professional but friendly). The wine list is far superior than many of the "more famous" restaurants in town. If your a tequila nut (like my husband) this is the place for you! We already made a reservation next week with some out-of-town guests.

1 Stars: Huge disappointment (by jriehm)

jriehm — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I've been waiting to eat here since moving back to Chicago, after 15 years in LA. What a disappointment! The host was great, and our waiter tried very hard -- although we're not sure what he was on. The house margarita was awful -- we sent two of them back and switched to beer. And the food? Some of the most bland upscale Mexican we've ever eaten -- I didn't even finish mine, and I can always clean my plate. And because the aisles are too narrow, virtually every person who passed by knocked into me (not their fault). Sorry, Salpicon, we won't be back.

5 Stars: Favorite Authentic Mexican Restaurant (by jimtenbroek)

jimtenbroek — Sun, 30 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We're restaurant fanatics with stints in several major cities, and Salpicon is our overall favorite restaurant, and certainly the best overall authentic Mexican dining experience that we've found in the US. Strong on every front, Salpicon beats Frontera on accessibility and tequila selection, matches on food and atmosphere, and has the same stability in staff (and of course Chef Priscilla and Vincent). It may not blow your doors off on the first visit, but it is the restaurant that we keep coming back to when in Chicago.

5 Stars: Divine Dining! (by laurahepner)

laurahepner — Wed, 19 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

What a divine dining experience! We opted for the chef's 7 course tasting menu and we're glad we did. Great flavor combinations and lovely presentations. Our server Nora made us feel right at home! The wine list is a work of art. Definitely make a reservation because they are small and get very busy!

5 Stars: JJB (by jbohnti)

jbohnti — Thu, 26 Feb 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We dine at Salpicon several days per month and are always satisfied. The appetiser selection and variety of main courses is very good. Great food, great service and the wide selection of tequila is outstanding.

5 Stars: My favorite! (by kdm)

kdm — Sun, 25 Jan 2004 09:00:00 GMT

On a warm nite it is nice to dine outside and is one of my favorite restaurents in Chicago. The service is polite and knowledgable.

5 Stars: PASS THE WINE!! (by robinjane)

robinjane — Wed, 05 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Have to disagree with eatsallover I say Please PASS THE WINE to me!! Many people are very skeptical about matching wine with Mexican cuisine ( I was the first time I dined here)! After 1/2 a dozen visits I'm inclined to skip the tequila and PASS THE WINE!! The ownver, Vincent matches wines with all the specials of the week and will offer suggestions for whatever you are eating. I have found the waitsraff to be very knowedgable and accomodating at recommending wines that will complement the delicious cuisine. Try it before you say no.

3 Stars: Skip the wine idea (by eatallover)

eatallover — Sun, 05 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Sorry but wine just doesn't go with Mexican food, even though these guys say so. I've eaten here many times and the main courses are very authentic and good, if your looking for a burrito don't come here or you will be very disappointed, this is the real mexican food. The wait staff is pompous and needs to be replaced, the seating is tight and it is a bit noisy, and yeah add some tequila to the margarita's. The appetizers are expensize and not worth it. The main entries are very good, as are the desserts. I would reccomend this over Rick Bayless's places though.

2 Stars: overpriced (by michellederderian)

michellederderian — Sat, 02 Aug 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Too expensive for the level of quality, creativity, taste and overall value of each of our meals. The 9 dollar margaritas were watery and sour. The ambience was poor and our waitress snobby. Twenty dollars for 7 shrimp and a handful of white rice? Come on.

5 Stars: AWESOME! (by ddlang)

ddlang — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I can't seem to get enough of Salpicon! I am on the road 3 days a week, but when I return to Chicago I can't wait to dine at Salpicon and get my fix!! Incredible food and presentations, good value and THE MOST AWESOME wine list in Chi-town!! The servers are quite knowedgable and very personable. Vince and Priscilla run a great establishment!!

5 Stars: delish (by chris_erickson)

chris_erickson — Sat, 01 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I lived in Southern California for 11 years and no mexican restaurant there beats Salpicon.
Enough said-

5 Stars: A Memorable Occasion (by pattyv66)

pattyv66 — Sun, 15 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday last night with four of our friends at Salpicon and were VERY DELIGHTED!! We arrived 15 minutes early and were promptly seated (not an easy feat for a small and popular restaurant on a busy Saturday night at 8:00). We ordered 5 different appetizers to share and each one was better than the last (seviche, queso fundido, prawns, stuffed jalapenos and one of the best crabcakes I've ever had! Our entrees were equally delicious; filet of beef in a spicy chile sauce, shrimp in garlic sauce, chicken with mole, quail in an ancho chili sauce, halibut with a tomato-habanero sauce and duck with a chipotle-raspberry sauce. Service was very knowedgeable and friendly. Great list of premium tequilas, but we ordered wine off the spectacular and in-depth list. A truly memorable occasion!

4 Stars: Top-rate Mexican (by kassa313)

kassa313 — Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The decor is very warm, bright and fun. The service and the food are outstanding although food quality varies from dish to dish. They also have a large tequila selection. I wouldn't recommend this spot for children but it can be fun with a small or large group.

4 Stars: Good but Small (by JimEd)

JimEd — Wed, 04 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Large tequila selection, small seating area. Good variety of traditional and noveau mexican dishes.
Upscale atmosphere and prices. Great service.

4 Stars: Great Upscale Mexican dining (by pmski)

pmski — Sat, 30 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. The food is prepared beautifully and the flavor matches the presentation. We had made reservations for 8:30pm and arrived early. The host kindly seated us early. You will pay extra for all items, including the drinks (and it's worth it). If you prefer margaritas when they use natural lime juice rather than the typical "lime syrup", the margarita is top-shelf.

5 Stars: heavenly! (by frogman29)

frogman29 — Thu, 21 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Just had a fantastic dinner last night with friends. The food at Salpicon was superb and the service was right on! Great wine list with extensive verticals and fair prices. Will be back soon!

2 Stars: Oh, so pretentious (by mayatdog)

mayatdog — Sat, 09 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Very Pretentious. The food is adequate, the service is very, very yuppie. The price does not match the food, the service or the environs of the restaurant. Again, the word that comes to mind is Oh, so pretentious, Stay away!

5 Stars: Great Eclectic Mexican (by baddawwg)

baddawwg — Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Don't expect burritos, chimis and enchiladas here, although they may exist as a special appetizer. This restaurant specializes in the presentation of great food accentuated with mexican spices and decor. The shrimp queso appetizer reminded me of a dish found in downtown Cancun. Grilled shrimp in Chihuahua cheese served with homemade corn tortilla's. Excellent. My wife had the grilled shrimp entree. The shrimp were very tender and bursting with flavor. I had pork tenderloin with salsa plus avacado sauce. Also excellent. The tequila and wine list is extensive if a bit expensive.

4 Stars: great food! (by thump210)

thump210 — Sun, 20 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I had no problem making reservations on a Saturday early eve for 3 friends. The restaurant is colorful and kind of cozy with the dim lighting. My guests were not familiar with authentic Mexican. But they ordered polle con mole poblano, lamb chops, pork chops, and I had the pescado al carbon. Everyone liked what they ordered. Food was flavorful and very good. For dessert, tried the trio de pinas. If you like pineapple this is a good one! Total tab was $45 per person. I will definitely try Salpicon again!

5 Stars: Mexican at it's finest! (by CGRODE)

CGRODE — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Can't be beat. I haven't found anything yet that matches quality, ambiance and availability (getting a reservation!). Execellent selection/knowledge of tequila's and drinks are made very well.

4 Stars: hot hot hot! (by bethieb)

bethieb — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

everything here is hot, from the food to the waitstaff!!

5 Stars: A great place for a "splash" of taste! (by bobbelini)

bobbelini — Wed, 21 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

An excellent restaurant where the atmosphere and service are first rate. The food is great and always enjoyable. My favorite restaurant in the whole city!!

5 Stars: Salud, Pesetas y Amor! (by bvp)

bvp — Wed, 14 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Simply the best upscale (or any) Mexican food in Chicago! Great wait staff, wonderful owners, and the chef--Priscila Satkoff--has created a superb menu. Jaime at the bar is the best! This is the gem of Old Town dining. Don't miss it.

5 Stars: Consisitently NUMERO UNO! (by cheryl1444)

cheryl1444 — Sat, 10 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Salpicon is consistently WONDERFULl! We always feel happy and proud to show Salpicon off to visiting relatives and business associates (my husband eats out for business 3-4 days a week). The food is creative, beautiful and most importantly TASTY! The servers are very well-trained, professional and genuinely friendly. The wine list is a treasure trove of delights (with both great bargains and hard to find gems). If you're into tequila you will find their selections both numerous and diverse. Salpicon is truly a delight!!

4 Stars: Great food, but what an attitude! (by mstonervt)

mstonervt — Thu, 08 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This is the kind of restaurant I would love to love--chef-owned, small and nonsmoking (hooray!), but the place is noisy (!), and staff could use some attitude adjustment: they really don't like it if you don't order expensive tequilas, wine, etc.--and they let you know it. Too bad, because Salpicon has a lot going for it and the food really is excellent.

2 Stars: Not good and expensive (by mcpeake)

mcpeake — Mon, 05 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Heard good things. Not many choices on the menu appealed to me. And no one in our party really enjoyed what they got. Nor did we enjoy the bill. One thing though...good gaucamole

5 Stars: Spicy and Nicey! (by johned1244)

johned1244 — Mon, 05 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The food is excellent, the service friendly and competent and the array of tequilas awesome and so tasty!

5 Stars: Halibut Enchiladas (by maryhagan)

maryhagan — Mon, 05 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Excellent everything. Extensive winelist ranging from great values to rare bottles, and even a list of tequilas. Not the typical burrito menu - wonderful grilled fish dishes, the halibut enchilada appetizer is a must try when it's included in the specials. The filet is great, too. Salpicon is a pleasure, my favorite place.

5 Stars: Fantastico (by dagray3430)

dagray3430 — Fri, 02 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Salpicon offers everything that the professional side of Mexico City has to offer. That's right, Salpicon is true latin cusine. Besides having the freshest selection of fish dishes, they also have the largest selection of tequila around.

Excellent host that truly leveraged their culinary experiences of Mexico.

Do not come here if you are just looking for a burrito or fajitas. Sorry charlie that's southwestern.

5 Stars: FIRST CLASS! (by john_zahlman)

john_zahlman — Mon, 29 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Had dinner last night with 3 friends. Food was amazing (especially the quail in chile sauce, tuna with red papaya sauce and mango and the pear and mango cobbler! Service was friendly, professional and very knowledgable. Our waiter recommended a delicious Austrian Riesling that complemented everything well. The wine list is spectacular (their selection of Alsatian wines was over 100 (watch out Everest!) This is a one of a kind restaurant that I would recommend in a heartbeat!! Thank you Salpicon!

5 Stars: 9 (by macook1)

macook1 — Tue, 23 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Great place for a fun date! Extensive wine and tequila list. Great dinner and appetizers. Desserts were not fantastic but all in all a great experience.

4 Stars: 2nd Trip as good as the 1st (by akthomas)

akthomas — Wed, 17 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

My second trip to Salpicon proved to be as good as the first. I love the small size of this restaurant and the colorful decor. Don't miss the grilled tiger shrimp as an appetizer. I had the shrimp for dinner since it is also offered as an entree. Wonderful desserts as well and our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about each dish on the menu as well as which wines to complement the dishes.

5 Stars: Truly Stellar! (by epicurean)

epicurean — Wed, 22 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Had dinner last night with 3 friends at Salpicon. Everything from the reservationist to the valet was exceptional. The food had flavors I never imagined possible! We all ordered different items. We started with the shrimp with 2 different salsas, the jalapenos stuffed with cheese and served with a black bean sauce and a special of squash blossoms stuffed with crab and avocado (delicios!!) Entrees were lamb loin chops with a garlic and pasilla chili sauce, Salmon with a tomatillo sauce, grilled quail with a mole sauce, and a super-tender beef tenderloin with a spicy chili sauce. Everything was perfectly cooked and very well presented. Service was attentive and professional, but not hovering. If you think the list of tequilas is impressive, just open the wine list! No fewer than 12 countries represented with excellent wines in each price category. This is a one of a kind restaurant!