Topolobampo

Mar 15th, 2024

I expected the visit to Rick Baylesss marquee restaurant to be a highlight of a recent trip to Chicago, but ended up extremely disappointed. The second course, stinging nettle tamale with achiote, was the only one we enjoyed. The rest ranged from bland and forgettable, such as the first course of cold roasted octopus and sashimi-style shrimp in a pool of mayonnaise, to borderline disgusting, such as the bland suckling pig served in a overly-sweet slurry of salsas. Everything without exception arrived cold. Despite being called The Art Menu, this six-course tasting was not especially aesthetically pleasing either - I was never tempted to take a picture, which is telling. The pacing was odd, with our meagre drink pairings arriving sometimes 10 minutes before the course. The whole night took three hours, with long gaps between courses. The server who brought our food visibly struggled to explain what was on the plate, and even apologized at one point, saying it was only the third night this menu has been served. Two hours in we were ready for it to be over. I almost feel bad giving one star for the service but at fine dining establishment with a 20 per cent tip baked into the bill there is a certain standard that needs to be met, and we have had better service at greasy-spoon diners. Looking for positives, the restaurant itself is quite nice, even if the artwork that inspired the dishes is not to my personal taste. The best food was the off-menu bites we were served prior to sitting in the main area, which were actually quite good. Unfortunately, a nip of tortilla soup or a wee empanada is not enough to save a $600 (Canadian) per person meal from a one-star review. Avoid!
Mar 13th, 2024

The best place I've ever been, Chef Rick Bayless has woken me up, and this experience alone made me want to follow business and culinary.
Feb 26th, 2024

Feb 25th, 2024

Feb 20th, 2024