Filete al Ajillo from La Condesa

Item Purchased: Filete al Ajillo from La Condesa
Location Purchased: La Condesa Restaurant / 2230 S. Ashland Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $10.99 + tax

Review: Knowing what I know about the inner workings of the Chicago restaurant industry (a little bit), I savvy myself smart enough to know that any fish entree you pay $10.99 for is most likely frozen and not fresh. I'm no fish snob, but I do believe that fresh is better than frozen and that frozen fish doesn't usually end up tasting exceptional. La Condesa provides an exception to this rule with their Filete al Ajillo.

On this menu, this dish is simply described as a grilled fillet served with special sauce. Not many gringos would take a chance on something like that at an authentic Mexican restaurant, but then again, there aren't many gringos like me.

The grilled fillet is catfish and it comes so smothered in a spicy red sauce that you may think that the waitress brought you a shallow soup instead of fish at all. Don't worry... It's there and it's grilled to perfection. The red sauce has a subtle head, but finishes with a hearty kick that other spicy red sauces could take notes from. If the fish isn't enough to fill you up, the rice, beans and salad will be.

Amidst all of this delicious greatness, you may find it easy to forget to try the best part about a meal at La Condesa... The handmade corn tortillas. Unlike most corn tortillas, La Condesa's handmade wraps have the consistency of Indian naan that has been flattened a bit more thoroughly and flavor unlike anything that would be expected from a dietary staple.

La Condesa, itself, isn't a fancy looking restaurant. In fact, if someone blindfolded you and brought you there, you might think it was a Pizza Hut. Judging by the floor plan and architectural features of the place, I would bet money that the building used to be a Pizza Hut in a past life. Now, La Condesa is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Pilsen area with friendly waitstaff, live musicians and prices in the mid-range that will seem high until you taste the skillful dishes you receive there.

La Condesa... You may just be seeing a whole lot more of me in the near future!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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