Salud Tequila Lounge Introduces Spring Menu

By Erin in Food on Apr 20, 2005 3:00PM

While Chicagoist isn't much of a food snob, some of us are known to favor establishments that teach us something about food while subsequently filling our bellies.

Typically the best way to meet this task is with a rotating menu -- one that changes with the season and showcases ingredients that reflect the weather, not to mention the chef's treatment of those products. Chicagoist spent last Thursday at Salud Tequila Lounge, checking out the spring menu created by Chef Jose Gonzalez and learning more about his tequila-infused Mexican cuisine.

The first and most interesting thing to note about Salud is that when we say "tequila-infused Mexican cuisine" we mean it. Every item on the menu features what Salud calls "the world's most misunderstood spirit." The new menu is no different.

Some highlights from the menu: Coktel de camarones, shrimp with chipotle tomato sauce, toped with fresh avocado and lime; the Tequila cheeseburger, an 8-oz. ground beef burger infused with tequila and topped with chihuahua cheese, guacamole, and pico de gallo; Bocadilla de tuna, a seared yellowfin tuna filet topped with black olive pico de gallo, and parsnip fries.

Chicagoist was bowled over by the Coktel de camarones and parsnip fries in particular. Chef Gonzalez remarked that the spicy tomato and shrimp dish was the ideal hangover remedy and we have every intention on finding this out the next time we go on a bender and are in need of a little TLC. It was really that good.

Most importantly, don't miss out on the drink menu, either. Chicagoist had a pretty rockin' mojito or two, though the tequila selection is obviously Salud's calling card.

As an aside, Chicagoist suggests going a little earlier than 8 p.m. if dinner without the swarms of hipsters is your thing. The beautiful people of Wicker Park and Bucktown are lovely to watch, and defintely give Salud its energy, but the space turns a tad clubby as the night wears on. Just the same, the wait staff at Salud is incredibly kind and patient with those tables that bleed into the bar-hopping crowd, so don't worry about being made to feel as though you're putting them out. Defintely a plus.

Salud Tequila Lounge, 1471 N. Milwaukee, 235-5577, Sunday through Friday, 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., Saturday, 5 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.

Additional images rachelleb.com