Six Thumbs Up for Glenview's Mesa Urbana Restaurant

For many weeks (or maybe it was many months!), I’ve been hearing really good things about Mesa Urbana, a Mexican restaurant in on the Glenview/Northbrook border. Friends were recommending it left and right, and from all the buzz and excitement, I gathered that it was THE hot new restaurant on the North Shore. Finally, it was time to check it out for myself! Was it worth all the hype? I had to find out.

With my husband in tow (it didn’t take much convincing, because he loves Mexican food!), we set out to discover Mesa Urbana. Coincidentally, two friends of mine had heard the same positive reviews and were eager to visit the restaurant as well, so we decided we’d all go together. Reservation for six, please!

When we arrived, the place was packed and we could hardly get in the door. Not in a bad, anxiety-inducing way, but more like what you’d find in a popular downtown Chicago eatery. To be honest, it felt like we had stepped into a fashionable neighborhood in the Loop! The owner was very nice and greeted us immediately when we arrived. He assured us that we would be seated as soon as possible, and we were.

We started with a round of Mesa margaritas, a delicious drink made with tequila and fresh fruit juices. The owner then helped us decide which appetizers to select from the list of mouth-watering choices. Without too much convincing, we followed his lead and went with the ceviche trio, the empanada, and the home-made guacamole.

While waiting for the appetizers to arrive, we dove into the complimentary chips and salsa that were placed in the center of the table as soon as we sat down. Truth be told, I'm not a big fan of green salsa, but this salsa was absolutely amazing! So fresh and delicious, with just the right amount of "zing." We were in heaven!

The guacamole, served with veggies for dipping, came in a generous portion and the freshness of the ingredients was evident. Yep, we loved it! The empanada was superb and unique, composed of a combination of lobster, leeks, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese. The ceviche was my favorite and came in three varieties; octopus, shrimp, and grouper, and was served with fantastic house-made tortilla chips. After sampling these three appetizers, I was beginning to understand what all the buzz was about!

After the appetizers our group moved on to another round of drinks in preparation for the main course. This included a high-quality Macallan 12-year scotch for my hubby, a glass of pinot noir for one of my female friends, and an Urbana margarita served with cucumbers for the other.

Time for the main courses; thankfully everyone was willing to share!

I first sampled the Cordero al Carbon, a tender baby rack of lamb served with potato puree and roasted tomatoes. I then moved on to the Salmon al Carbon, which two of us had ordered. This was interesting and extremely refreshing, as it is prepared with caramelized mango, green papaya fruit, and an avocado crème sauce. Two of us also ordered the Carne Asada which was outstanding and came with a watercress salad for extra crunch. The last entrée was my favorite, the risotto-crusted halibut. All 6 plates were completely clean.

We were definitely full, but who can resist dessert? Our waiter, who, by the way, was wonderful; very attentive and was well acquainted with the menu, advised us on dessert. Without hesitation we chose the pumpkin bread pudding and the chocolate lava cake. The presentation on both desserts, as well as all of our dishes, was very well-put together and pleasing to the eye. The pumpkin bread pudding was topped with ice cream and crema glasi, then sprinkled with powdered sugar. The lava cake was decadently rich and draped with a mixed berry coulis. Both were devoured in a matter of minutes. YUM!

Knowing I would be writing a review, my friends were more than happy to provide their feedback. They felt the same way I did. We loved it! The food was fresh and delicious. The ambiance was fun and festive. And the service, despite a very full house, was outstanding. Would I recommend Mesa Urbana? You bet! In fact, we give it six thumbs up!

Mesa Urban is located at 3566 Milwaukee Avenue. The phone number is (847) 383 0700 and the website is www.mesaurban.com. They are open every day for dinner with the exception of Monday.