Bandera - Top Michigan Avenue Spot

Posted by admin on April 27th, 2007 at 07:13am

After being drawn through the doors and up the mirrored escalator to this spot that overlooks Michigan Avenue in an absolutely prime location by tales of a glorious chicken sandwich, I was slightly set back to not even find such an item on the menu. However, this may have been a blessing in disguise as the blackened fish sandwich I settled on at Bandera was excellent and it would have been hard for any chicken sandwich to top.

A small wait stood between me and this amazing grilled fish sandwich upon entering this popular and fairly upscale eatery. Luckily the bar was large and inviting and the jazz trio at the center of the room added a quality ambiance with their music. The drinks were good albeit a bit pricey and the service exceeded expectations. Soon enough we were seated and slightly disappointed that the small menu we had seen at the bar was in fact the entire menu for the evening.

Though it was small, there were a few intriguing items but ultimately my fish sandwich decision was a rather easy one. My biggest hesitation was the accompanying item – peanut sauce cole slaw. I can’t say I’ve ever really enjoyed cole slaw. It always seems like a visual garnish that nobody really expects you to eat. However, when my plate arrived, I was pleased to see something resembling more of a salad than the slaw in a small cup that I had envisioned. Once I tasted this glorious concept, I realized my hesitation toward it had been completely unfounded. It was simply delicious and the perfect accompaniment to my sandwich.

That is not to say it over-shined the main entrée though. This sandwich could easily hold its own against most of the food I have experienced recently. Perfectly cooked and seasoned and served on a soft, full bun with a very good tartar sauce component that added to the flavor of the fish extremely well. I don’t tend to be a big fan of most tomatoes, but the tomatoes served with this sandwich were so red and fresh, I couldn’t help but peel them off and eat them before even trying the sandwich.

Overall, I was extremely pleased with my visit to Bandera. From the food to the ambiance to the service, this spot hit on all levels and I strongly recommend it to any locals as well as any tourists who stumble on this little known street tucked away in the darkest recesses of Chicago.

Under $$$ - Casual Dining