Chicagoist: Baby-on-Board Review: Uncle Julio's Hacienda

jen

Fri, 25 May 2007 17:35:36 -0600

Be very careful here if you valet your car. I went for lunch on Monday and when the valet returned my car to me, I asked "What do I owe you?" He said 7 dollars, so I gave 8 dollars. I thought nothing of it. I went back on Friday for lunch and my husband went to get the car, ready to pay,the valet said "it's complimentary". Imagine my surprise when I realized that the valet on Monday had ripped me off. Seems shady to me. You have to wonder how much cash they walk away with be lying to customers who are not aware that the valet service provided in the restaurant owned parking lot is free. Food was fine, bu tthe experience of being taken left me with a very bad taste!

Barry_S

Mon, 14 May 2007 09:30:35 -0600

I ate at the one on North Avenue once, but I go to the ones around DC pretty frequently because my kids love the place. The ones around DC are well-managed and they *are* perfect for kids. The food is actually pretty decent Tex-Mex, but this isn't a place to look for duck confit tacos or some dish you remember from bumming around Oaxaca. The fajitas are a good bet, whether made with nicely marinated skirt steak, chicken or large shrimp. The tacos al carbon are also good and they occasionally have Cabrito (goat). The salsa is good as is the excellent chunky guac. Yes, they're a chain, but they're fast, friendly, and there's some good picks on the menu.

Sarah

Sun, 13 May 2007 21:54:37 -0600

Uncle Julio's Hacienda is a pretty great place to go to with kids, I agree.... And for all you baby haters... even if my kid does scream, you surely will not hear her over the regular din. She may, however, fling salsa all over you... but I will not care as I'll be on my third swirl.

doppler

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:51:42 -0600

@transplant This makes me lose a lot of faith in Chicagoist and the other readers. If you think this place is good, how am I supposed to take any of the other reviews seriously? There are more than 20 writers who express their own, independent positions.

Texas Transplant

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:14:12 -0600

This makes me lose a lot of faith in Chicagoist and the other readers. If you think this place is good, how am I supposed to take any of the other reviews seriously? I've had the misfortune of eating at Uncle Julio's (here in Chicago and in Dallas) too many times because too many people picking the restaurant don't know better, and I have to strongly recommend heading somewhere (anywhere!) else. It's certainly not Mexican, but I grew up on Tex-Mex and love it, too, and the food at Uncle Julio's isn't even in the realm of good Tex-Mex. On multiple occasions, I've had enchiladas or chiles rellenos served with a cold center--a dead giveaway that this stuff isn't fresh in any sense of the word. Before moving to Chi., I lived in Dallas and Austin. The Mex-Mex and Tex-Mex offerings here aren't quite as good as what you can find down in Tex. itself, but there are too many good places to waste your time with Uncle Julio's. Just a few better places I can think of: La Pasadita for a slightly dive hole-in-the-wall place, El Tapatio for a neighborhood restaurant, Frontera Grill for a more family-friendly, "chain-ey" feel. Seriously, though, Taco Bell or the breakfast burrito at McDonald's is a better bet than this place.

spook

Fri, 11 May 2007 14:51:38 -0600

We go their sometimes during summer after Cigar happy hour at Exit on Friday Thank gawd I have yet to see any, screaming little pink one day I'm gonna grow up and be a accountant suburban or Lincoln Park babies, Maybe because they always put us urban pirates in the back away from every body else. But if I ever do, count on me and my equally drunk friends to make obnoxious staged whispered comments like “Ummmmm me wants some steamed pink baby smoked on stick” cause, well that’s just how we roll p.s Kristin, that's f*cking hilarious "antithesis of urban hipster=suburban loser? Smells like Schaumburg to me! I hear they have a great food court at the mall!" Happy friday yall! drink one on yer Spook, unless your're from Lincoln Park or the burbs

joe m500

Fri, 11 May 2007 10:16:49 -0600

Uncle Julio's is decent Tex-Mex at best. A bit overpriced but a decent and filling meal with nice service. As for Nuevo Leon, it is a slight step up from traditional Mexican peasant food, with potato filled tacos and many dishes based on cheap and gritty skirt steak. I eat there once a month or so, and the price can't be beat, but calling this the best mexican food in Chicago is sort of strange.

Linda

Thu, 10 May 2007 16:21:36 -0600

"I think Uncle Julio's is the perfect place for parents to take their children. I won't be eating there, so I don't have to put up with your brats. Everyone wins." Amen. I'm no food snob, and love good cheesy Tex Mex. But what I love even more is dining out with no kids around. Thanks for letting me know where NOT to go. :)

Olive

Thu, 10 May 2007 13:35:38 -0600

I haven't gone to Uncle Julio's in several years, but I remember feeling satisfied after the meal. More recently, I just went there for drinks to meet some friends. like their frozen sangrias. It's surprisingly a heavy hitter. I love their chipotle salsa. I love its smokiness and depth. I second that Nuevo Leon is overated. The last time I went there, the food was too heavy and greasy.

E

Thu, 10 May 2007 12:51:21 -0600

I think Uncle Julio's is the perfect place for parents to take their children. I won't be eating there, so I don't have to put up with your brats. Everyone wins.

Chuck

Thu, 10 May 2007 12:39:06 -0600

Not a Surprise: It isn't the writers here praising Nuevo Leon. For my money, I'd rather dine at Cuernavaca.

Not a Surprise

Thu, 10 May 2007 12:25:44 -0600

I am not surprised to see Nuevo Leon rated high on this blog. The owners have made a fortune dressing the exterior of this place up to make it less threatening, then convincing white people to come down there for an "authentic" experience. Having worked in a meat distribution plant, the meat there is barely a grade above Taco Bell, and not as well preserved. Hacienda at least uses better ingredients, although their valet parking is pretty stupid.

Michelle

Thu, 10 May 2007 11:57:41 -0600

Nuevo Leon is overrated. Way too greasy, except for the very awesome beans and pozole and little carafes of coffee. De Pasada beats the hell out of La Pasadita.

Joe

Thu, 10 May 2007 11:10:57 -0600

Food at Uncle Julio's is good but not great, though I do like their margaritas. Uncle Julio's helps fill the "upscale family dining" niche in Chicago, so good for them.

matty

Thu, 10 May 2007 10:43:38 -0600

Believe or not many people do have children in the city. Finding family oriented places is important.

tsmo

Thu, 10 May 2007 09:40:33 -0600

Don't you guys get it? Chicagoist is cutting us some slack so that Nuevo Leon, Taco Veloz and Maiz don't get swamped. Yes, naive reader, go to Uncle Julio's God Damned Hacienda. It's the best Tex-Mex in the city if you don't want to be near any Mexicans.

Chicago 2016

Thu, 10 May 2007 07:32:07 -0600

Ha, "Baby on Board" - reminds me of that "Simpsons" episode...

V

Wed, 09 May 2007 17:52:22 -0600

blah.... right by where i live, i try to avoid this place at all costs. it's packed on the weekends though, it'd be a better place to go grab some margaritas, i think their food is just ok. plenty of better mexican restaurants in the city. this is like saying lalo's is the best mexican in the city, same over-rated junk. try el jardin on clark

kristin

Wed, 09 May 2007 17:36:52 -0600

antithesis of urban hipster=suburban loser? Smells like Schaumburg to me! I hear they have a great food court at the mall!

mark

Wed, 09 May 2007 17:26:49 -0600

Bravo! Someone at Chicagoist is brave enough to challenge the urban hipster groupthink that a chain restaurant can't possibly have good food! Independent thought is alive and well at Chicagoist!

kristin

Wed, 09 May 2007 17:20:16 -0600

Nuevo Leon in Pilsen is fantastic. Uncle Julio's is just Pepe's meets Bennigans with valet parking.

Reading is fundamental, bitches

Wed, 09 May 2007 16:53:42 -0600

"Best Mexican in the city? You can NOT be serious." The post reads: "When it comes to dining out with our baby, however, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago has got to be Uncle Julio’s Hacienda on North Avenue." Note the dependent clause at the beginning of that sentence.

liveforevah

Wed, 09 May 2007 16:49:15 -0600

What, is no one brave enough to list their favorites? Late Night: La Pasadita Best Flavored Margaritas: Mananitas Authentic Taqueria: Taqueria Moran (nearby bakery great too)

Dave!

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:58:29 -0600

As others have noted, Uncle Julio's is Tex-Mex and it's a chain. It's pretty decent for a Tex-Mex chain restaurant... but if you really want a good Mexican restaurant, there are *many* other options in Chicago--many of which are probably kid friendly, too.

J

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:31:52 -0600

Best Mexican in the city? You can NOT be serious.

Amanda

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:12:38 -0600

I've been there only once, sans kids, and it was average at best. I prefer real Mexican food to Tex-Mex, but if the food is good, I'll try pretty much any place. Definitely not that great.

sml

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:58:49 -0600

I really like this place too,I prefer Tex-Mex to traditional Mexican unless it's New Mexican that you might find in Santa Fe or Albuquerque.I order the same thing as the blogger and it's tasty every time!

Miss-Black

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:41:51 -0600

We took our twins to an early dinner at Maiz on California on a Friday night. The staff was very accommodating and there was plenty on the menu our toddlers would eat. I really like Maiz. I would say it has some of the finest traditional Mexican (particularly Oaxacan)in town. Also good is Adobo in Wicker Park. They actually have a children's menu. And they gave the kids little sippy-type cups with straws in them. Score! Also ran: El Barco on Ashland. The food isn't my favorite, but the restaurant is so noisy that if your kids have a meltdown no one will ever hear it.

mike

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:06:59 -0600

It's a chain, so it sucks. Don't go there. Please. (I eat there all the time.)

Jeff

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:02:39 -0600

The decor and even the name and LOGO of this place is cheesy and over the top, but the food I had here was actually and surprisingly pretty good. Sit at a seat-yourself table near the bar, and there's no wait. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there, but after Christmas shopping in the surrounding stores, it comes in handy. Especially the beer and margarita part.

sky

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:57:05 -0600

There are wonderful hidden restaurants in Chicago that I love going to...but honestly this restaurants is one of my favorites. The Queso Fundido, the steak tacos, and the Swirl Marg. SWEET JESUS THE SWIRL. IT is heaven.

Nicko

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:46:37 -0600

I've never been to the one on North, but there is also another location out in Lombard. Unfortunately after having to go to the suburban location on business three times, I can say it's the exact opposite. The food and staff have always been a bit slow, and not very good with filling drinks. And really everything seemed a bit 'average', almost like a Pepe's chain. Frankly the small Mexican places down the street have more flare, and the baha-fresh across the parking lot has better guacamole and fresher vegetables then Uncle Julio's ever has. So I guess the lesson here folks is not all locations are the same....or just stay out of the burbs ;)

Ed

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:31:27 -0600

I would be careful to note that Uncle Julio's Hacienda is tex-mex, not Mexican. People going there looking for real mexican food will be pretty disappointed.

Scott

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:29:22 -0600

I took my kids (4 and 6) here on Cinco De Mayo and it was (not suprisingly) pretty busy. The Valet whisked our car away for a very reasonable price (considering the location) though the return was not quite as fast. We were told it was a 40 minute wait, but were called in less than 10 minutes and got a nice table on the patio. They had heaters on because it was a bit nippy outside and that made the patio very comfortable. Even with every table taken and near 100 people waiting, we got our food (exactly as ordered) within 15 minutes and also got attentive service throughout the meal. My kids loved the food and ate everything in sight. The kids' dishes were very kid-friendly (that should be a given but it sometimes isn't) and the adult fare was exceptional. For a holiday outing, it was an all around excellent experience.