No Bull
The first time I walked into the Del Toro Tequila Bar, I didn’t know what to expect. A ton of new restaurants were popping up in Pilsen and Bridgeport, each fulfilling its own niche. In addition to Nana and its excellent organic fare about a mile south on Halsted Street, there was also Jason Vincent’s outstanding Nightwood , a mere thirty feet from Del Toro’s front door. How would a small-plate-style Mexican restaurant fare in what is undoubtedly the historic hub of Chicago’s vibrant Mexican food scene, Pilsen?
I needn’t have worried, as Del Toro is a success on so many levels. Because I’m incredibly cheap, I tend to focus on the cost to enjoyment ratio. In this regard Del Toro is near the top of the stack. On Mondays (“Industry Night”) they offer $4 margaritas and mojitos. I don’t think I can express how cheap this is. When my wife and I visited one Monday, we each had a couple of drinks and ate until we were happily bloated. The entire cost for a dinner for two with drinks and tip was $37. Homemade sopes, steak tacos, pork tacos, guacamole, chorizo quesadillas…two margaritas, two mojitos. It’s pointless to talk about any dish in particular, as each is packed with flavor and done exquisitely well. My personal favorites, though, are the adobada tacos each (chicken or pork) done with the meat diced, served with just the right amount of onion and cilantro. The best bargain, by far, are the sopes. A pair of chorizo-packed sopes smothered in queso fresco and myriad other fresh toppings are a standout at $5.
Weekends offer even more options that include shrimp or whitefish ceviche and barbacoa or carnitas tacos. These items are prepared with the same care as their daily items and are equally savory. Be forewarned, though, Del Toro is definitely an à la carte restaurant and, while prices are cheap, you will not be given any extras.
Of course, as good as the food is, the reason I return again and again is the assortment of tequilas and drinks. A mammoth tequila bar with over a dozen blanco/reposado/anejo tequilas; a superb beer list; and a list of specialty margaritas and Latin drinks, each with fresh mixers. I have cycled through the list of margaritas and always go back to the house margarita, the appropriately named “Del Toro” prepared with fresh sour, curacao, and 3 Garcias silver. I also enjoy the “Fresa” made with fresh strawberries. The mojitos are equally excellent and come in seven fruit flavors including blueberry, coconut watermelon, and pineapple.
I’ll be honest. I’m much more of an eater than a foodie. On occasion, I like eating at some of Chicago’s exclusive restaurants. But as a CPS teacher and the father of two, I’m often forced to find places that fly under the radar and that offer great food and even better prices. The combination of food and drink makes Del Toro a must-visit for anyone serious about good food that is well within budget. Even better, though it’s a tequila bar, Del Toro is absolutely kid friendly (particularly earlier in the evening). We have been there on numerous occasions with our children, and were always treated incredibly well and they’ve gone out of their way to make sure our kids were happy. Heck, why wouldn’t I love a tequila bar that can feed my kids for ten bucks…why wouldn’t anyone?
Del Toro
2133 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60608
312-733-7144
http://deltorochicago.com
