Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Antique Taco


With its beautiful antiques, this teeny-tiny spot on Milwaukee Avenue turned out to be my kind of place for a great meal under $10. I actually can’t wait to go back.

How could I go wrong with part of Chef Rick Ortiz’s inspiration coming from San Miguel? I’ll be there in a matter of weeks.

I ordered the customer favorite – the Crispy Fish Tempura with Sriracha Tartar Sauce, Smoked Cabbage, Chives and Sesame.

When it came I wasn’t so sure. Fried fish with large piles of red cabbage and a diluted sauce. Hardly visually stunning but when I took a bite, my uncertainties disappeared because the sauce had amazing flavor, the fish a North Atlantic Pollock and the cabbage smoked to perfection. It had a remarkable, well-defined flavor.

Antique Taco came up in the Michelin Bib Gourmand roster last November and also lays claim to habanero popcorn, duck enchiladas and horchata milkshakes.

At 1360 North Milwaukee Avenue, this restaurant is in the heart of one of Chicago’s most interesting and unique neighborhoods: Wicker Park.

Bon Appetit!