Bandera

This post is also from my Chicago trip last week. I was in town just for a couple of days and invited my friends from twitter to lunch. Luckily, the locals picked Bandera, which turned out to be great.

I was told I had to have the corn bread there because it was the best in town. I must admit that corn bread is not my favorite thing and prior to coming to the US I had never had it, but French Fries makes it often enough that I've gotten used to it. Still, not my favorite dish. Then I tried this:



I dont' know if it really is the best in Chicago, but it's definitely the best I've ever had. And I know that if I went back there I'd definitely have it again.

Since I couldn't just have corn bread for lunch (though I may bend that rule next time I'm there), I ordered their Bandera-style Roasted Chicken with Spanish rice:




The bird was tender and soft and though we talked way too much over lunch, I managed to eat most of the plate, which was quite large (half breast and drumstick-thigh combo). I didn't care much for the rice -- seemed a little overcooked -- somewhere between Spanish rice and risotto. The chicken was very moist so a more lose rice or even some farofa would have been better (but I'm biased, of course).

The restaurant itself was very pleasant. Reminded me a lot of churrascarias I used to go in Sao Paulo -- large display of rotating roasting chickens right as you come in and a oak decorated ambient with low lights and lots of waiting staff zooming around.

Farofa: *** out of 5

Forks Down Verdict: Excellent American Cuisine, perfect for lunch-time get together.