On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to stop by Frontier for an incredible menu tasting along with a friend. Located on the outskirts of West Town, the restaurant is a true tribute to the west, offering game-focused fare in addition to bar food.
Yet Frontier’s menu is not all meat focused, as I got to try some fun seafood items thoughtfully constructed by Chef Brian Jupiter. If you’re stopping by just to quench your thirst, there is a 40-foot bar and a variety of specialty cocktails and beers on tap. The restaurant décor also perfectly complements their nature-driven menu, with long community tables made from reclaimed wood, string lights and a beautiful patio. Unfortunately it was too cold for the patio, but there’s always summer.
For appetizers, we ordered from their Bar Plates menu and got the Shrimp & Corn Grits, which came in a small bowl with Gulf Shrimp, coarse ground Anson Mills grits, Parmesan cheese, sweet corn and chives. One bite in, and we had the widest smiles depicting pure satisfaction. A traditional dish from the Lowcountry of Louisiana, the dish seemed fitting for the restaurant theme and menu. But on its own, it was also the best Shrimp & Grits I’ve ever eaten. Props to Chef Jupiter for sticking to its original recipe by adding real corn kernels to the grits laced with the right amount of salty Parmesan. The jumbo shrimp tossed in were juicy and cooked nicely, as the cream in the grits helped unlock the corn flavor from it. Be warned that this dish is filling, so don’t be fooled by the mere size of the bowl!
For my main meal, I ordered the Ahi Tuna Sandwich, which was also super-tasty. The blackened Tuna loin was cooked medium rare, nicely broiled on the outside keeping its delicate texture intact. It came sprinkled with spicy fried shallots and sprouts on top, which added both flavor and crunch to the sandwich. The wasabi and ginger mayo gave the fish some heat without affecting its flavor. And it came with their Rosemary fries which were entirely too addicting. This dish made me wonder why I don’t order more fish or seafood sandwiches because they can be so sumptuous and rewarding to eat!
And I’m sure you can understand that once you’re on a mission of consuming rich foods it’s hard to stop. So to bring it to completion, we decided to try their version of S’More, which was a Bourbon and caramel marshmallow topped with Tcho chocolate, a pecan brittle, all served on moist yet thick Graham Cracker crust. We ate every bit of it with no more room to spare in our happy tummies.
Frontier was such a pleasant surprise for this pescetarian. I will definitely be returning and I hope my review will make you want to go too! And if you don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day, join their Beverage Director Sean Nielsen for an intimate cocktail crafting experience and a four-course dinner at 7pm. Oh and Happy V-Day!
Frontier
Neighborhood: West Town
Address: 1072 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: (773) 772-4322
Website: http://thefrontierchicago.com
Hours: Mon–Fri:4:00pm –2:00 am,Sat: 10:00 am – 3:00am,Sun: 10:00am – 2:00am
Price: $5 - $30