Frontera Fresco

Frontera Fresco Restaurant Review:

Odds are you won’t find celebrity chef Rick Bayless at this quick-service restaurant (though you will get a glimpse of his ever-smiling face on his cookbooks located near the cash register). But that doesn’t mean his expertise on south-of-the-border cuisine and ingredients aren't intact. Rather, this small counter located inside Macy’s on State Street on the seventh floor offers foodies a chance to sample Bayless’ food in a more accessible --- and affordable --- setting. Take a break from shopping for a pepito torta, or braised short rib “sandwich”; handmade sweet corn and green chile tamales; and huaraches, Mexican corn flatbreads with black bean spread, fresh greens and your choice of toppings (the all-natural chicken is a winner). Mango-lime and raspberry-prickly pear limeades are a good choice to cool down the heat from signature salsas. There is also a location at Old Orchard in Skokie and at Northwestern University in the Norris University Center. Plus, there are two similarly minded Tortas Fronteras at O’Hare International Airport.