Chicago Gets Googled
Asian Carp: 'Nice Try, Suckers'
Friday Afternoon Diversion: Earth With Rings
Mariotti's Photo Scuffle?
Eusebio Garcia's creative meshing of Mexican and Mediterranean influences was one of many reasons that Pilsen's Mundial Cocina Mestiza developed a steady base of customers. Recently, he and wife Kate divorced, and each sold their shares of Mundial to third partner Mario Cota. Eusebio Garcia then struck out on his own in, of all places, Canaryville, with a gleaming new restaurant, bringing his killer salmon al carbón, langostinos and homemade corn tortillas with him to Amelia's (4559 S. Halsted, 773-538-8200).
It's that location — nestled in the middle of the vacant lots and sepia toned memories of the Stockyards and International Ampitheatre — that's the biggest obstacle Garcia faces in making Amelia's a success. The other is convincing residents of the Canaryville, Back of the Yards and New City neighborhoods to shell out an average of $16 for an entrée when they can just go to a taqueria for "some Mexican."
For those looking for more than a burrito as big as your head, Garcia's cooking remains one of the most inventive takes on Mixteco in the city, with its balance of spice and savory. And Amelia's is BYOB while Garcia and his partners work on getting their liquor license.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
This place sounds great. Will definitely make the trip down to check it out. Thanks
I really don't like oysters, but after seeing that picture I feel that I must eat those immediately. I praise the man that can make oysters look appealing to me.
Looks absolutely fantastic.
Having lived about 2 blocks from Amelia's for the last 3 years, I have to say the change is very welcome. Previously the food was good, typical mexican-restaurant fare, but nothing fantastic, and for what it was, it wasn't worth going there over the taqueria when you looked at the price. However, my wife and I went recently after having seen that it was under new ownership and were blown away by the improvement. The service is good (however, we've noticed that our service is always good with our 11 month old along) and the food was fantastic. Possibly the best salmon I've ever had. Seeing as it's the only nice restaurant in walking distance right now, we're hoping that they can stay in business.