I've walked past Las Fuentes at the corner of Halsted and Wrightwood countless times. The large outdoor patio area with colorful lights always looked fun, but given its size and location in the heart of Lincoln Park, I had low expectations about the cuisine.
One Friday night, when Z and I didn't want to venture too far from home, we decided to check it out. We sat on the patio, where we could enjoy fresh air, the lively conversation of our fellow diners, and the Olympics on a few large, flat screen TVs.
We started with the standard chips and salsa to accompany our half-pitcher of margaritas. After informing the waitstaff that the standard salsa would be too mild, Z took his salsa up a notch with a bottle of habanero sauce. The waitstaff kept stopping our table to check on his progress with the habanero sauce and when he proved worthy of the spice, they offered him a fresh, whole habanero pepper to accompany his meal.
We rounded out our first course with guacamole. Although the guac was good and did have a nice, not overly citrusy flavor, it wasn't as good as the perfectly seasonsed, table-side guac served at some restaurants. It was definitely better than the margaritas, which began to taste a little harsh after a half-glass.
For my main dish, I ordered the Cochinita Pibil (marinated pork, baked in a banana leaf), while Z chose the Chile Tipico en Nogade (chiles in walnut sauce). My pork was perfectly cooked, juicy and tender with light yet distinct flavors. The walnut sauce, covered with pomegranate seeds, made Z's dish unique, but we both found the sauce too sweet and heavy. Z added flavor to the dish with the habanero pepper.
Las Fuentes more than exceeded my expectations and I was excited to see other delicious-looking dishes on the menu. You can't go wrong with a Molcajete or shrimp in mole poblano sauce.
Las Fuentes has two other locations--one in Stickney (southwest suburban Chciago) and one in Alsip (south suburban Chicago).
No comments:
Post a Comment