Xoco- A restaurant by Rick Bayless

As you may know, I try to hit up as many new restaurants as I possibly can just so to experience what different chefs/places have to offer. Many times it can also give me ideas of new foods to make or variations of old favorites as well.

Peeking inside the "kitchen" while waiting to place our order

When my dad was visiting a couple of weeks ago, he, Barb, Brad and myself went to Xoco, a restaurant by Rick Bayless (for those who don't know who he is, he's a celebrity chef based in Chicago with his own cookbooks, tv shows, product line, etc..another claim to fame? He was invited by President Obama to cook at the White House when Mexico's president was visiting).

After the register is the prep space for your meal

According to Bayless, Xoco can be described as... "If Topolo pampers and Frontera dances, then XOCO rocks. Though the word is Mexican slang for “little sister” (from the ancient Aztec language), there’s nothing little about XOCO’s big, bold Mexican marketplace flavors. Open early, late and closed on Sundays and Mondays, this quick-service cafe from Rick and Deann Bayless proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico’s most beloved street food and snacks: hot-from-the-fryer churros and flaky empanadas; frothy Mexican hot chocolate (ground from Mexican cacao beans right in our front window!); warm, crusty tortas (Mexican submarine sandwiches); and made-to-order caldos (meal-in-a-bowl soups) that feature everything from roasted vegetables to seafood to pork belly."

The Woodburning Oven

Now unfortunately, we didn't try to churros because we were way to stuffed from the tortas so that is definitely on our "to do" list next time we are in that part of the loop. So anyway, there we were at Xoco. It's counter style service, where you go up and place your order (once given the "go ahead" by the server/hostess) and then wait to be seated by the hostess/server. Or, of course, if you are taking it to go, then there is no wait to order.

Placing their order at the counter

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous, being a "picky eater" and all but luckily for me, there on the "Today's Specials" menu was a Carne Asada torta. Granted, it came dressed with Chayote "coleslaw", blackbeans, and then a flavored crema...though I honestly can't remember what it was flavored with. I asked if I could get the crema on the side and hoped for the best!

Four flavors of Mexican "Aquas" to choose from if you so desire

As far as drinks go, all of us just ordered water though the had a vast selection of beers and Mexican favorites (i.e. Jamaica...). We also ordered a side of chips and salsa to help curb our appetites as well as get a chance to try some of their "homemade" salsas.

Quite tasty...though I preferred the green over the red

Once the food came, I decided to bite the bullet and just go for it, with the coleslaw on the sandwich though I was tempted to scrape it off and I am so glad that I did! I would have never tried it otherwise and it brought a new flavor to the torta. My only complaint was that because the bread was toasted so well, it roughed up the inside of my mouth a little, but not enough to make eating less enjoyable!

My Carne Asada torta with crema on the side and the Chayote slaw.

Overall I was pretty impressed with the place, and continued to be impressed and dream about my leftovers throughout the remainder of the day and then the next. My dad, on the other hand, thought it was okay but a couple hours after we left the restaurant, he began to reminisce about his lunch and how well developed the flavors were.

He's mentioned quite a few times to me now that he didn't realize how much he enjoyed his food until later on that day. Brad also liked it, but he doesn't appear to be dying to go back...that may have to do with the price though ;o)

Brad's order: Milanesa: Crispy Gunthorp chicken, black beans, artisan Jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, tomatillo-avocado salsa

Would I go back? Sure! Especially to get the churros and ice cream or even one of their specialty hot chocolates that I am dying to try. However, as I mentioned, it is a bit pricey so it's not somewhere I would frequent often. It did get me excited about trying some of the other Bayless restaurants that are right around the corner....

A view of the seating portion of the restaurant