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Frontera GrillvsBoka Restaurant
Both establishments are recommended by professional travelers. On balance, Frontera Grill ranks marginally better than Boka Restaurant. Frontera Grill comes in at #7 in Chicago with recommendations from 12 sources such as Insight Guides, Lonely Planet and Frommer's.
Frontera Grill
Concierge
Insight Guides
BlackBook
Gayot
Rough Guide
Time Out
Condé Nast Traveler
Lonely Planet
Not For Tourists
Fodor's Show All Reviews
445 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
From $31/night
Concierge "Rick and Deann Bayless have been wowing diners with their pioneering new takes on tacos, beans, and sauces since 1987."
Insight Guides "Rick Bayless, one of the country’s most influential champions of Mexican cuisine, got his start here, showcasing well-executed dishes."
BlackBook "Despite the absence of celeb chef Rick Bayless' physical presence, you'll feel the force of his formidable resume in the strength of the scrum around the bar waiting for tables."
Gayot15.0
"This is one smooth ride across Mexico's culinary landscape, and it has become a mecca for food lovers in Chicago." Full review
Rough Guide Star
"Wildly imaginative Mexican food: Frontera Grill is crowded and boisterous; Topolobampo is more refined and pricier."
Time Out "For two decades, this has been the spot for a vibrant slice of Mexico City, a place to chow down on ceviches, earthy mole, wood-grilled steak tucked into housemade tortillas." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "The Grill is all bright colors, manic action, and the kind of rousing street food—from tortillas packed with spicy chorizo to chiles rellenos—that suggests why certain dishes become classics." Full review
Lonely Planet "Perhaps you’ve seen chef-owner Rick Bayless on TV, stirring up pepper sauces and other jump-off-the-tongue Mexican creations." Full review
Not For Tourists "Rick Bayless's famous cantina--expect to wait awhile."
Fodor's "Devotees of chef-owner Rick Bayless queue up for the bold flavors of his distinct fare at this casual restaurant brightly trimmed in Mexican folk art." Full review
Boka Restaurant Fodor's
Frommer's
Travel + Leisure
Zagat Gayot
Michelin Guide Rough Guide Time Out Not For Tourists
The Infatuation Show All Reviews
1729 North Halsted Street, Ste 1, Chicago, IL 60614-5537
From $31/night
Fodor's "If you're doing Steppenwolf pre-theater dinner on North Halsted Street, this upscale spot gets the foodie stamp of approval." Full review
Frommer's "In a neighborhood full of Irish pubs and casual sandwich joints, Boka is a sophisticated, grown-up alternative." Full review
Travel + Leisure "After starting with creative handcrafted cocktails, which can be customized to suit personal flavor preferences, move on to seasonal specialties like the braised beef short rib ravioli." Full review
Zagat "After a serious refresh (which may not be reflected in the scores), this hip Lincoln Park New American has a new menu and a new look." Full review
Gayot "Boka's menu, which was already good, has become considerably better with time. We find first courses are a real strength --- complex, artful and highly seasonal." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"An undercurrent of romance buzzes through Boka, from the airy patio to the remodeled lounge, and through the tented ceiling of the chic dining room." Full review
Rough Guide Star
"Stylish option close to the Steppenwolf Theatre, serving inventive and tasty dishes from around the world on a changing weekly menu that offers small ($8–12) and large ($21–37) portions, depending on your appetite."
Time Out "At the Lobby, Wolen’s star dish was a roasted chicken for two, a dish brought to Chicago from New York’s NoMad (the sister restaurant to Eleven Madison Park, where Wolen was a sous chef)." Full review
Not For Tourists "Ambitious menu, swank décor."
The Infatuation "Boka makes for a great fancy yet still cool night on the town." Full review
