After several failed attempts to get my friend Jordan to have dinner at Graham Elliot or L2O he finally told me to quit whining and would take me to a spectacular “gem”– a place with the “best ceviche in Chicago”.
As we drove west on Division, I guessed all of the wrong spots. Are we going to Takashi? Nope. Mexique? Nope. After all of my superciliousness and uninformed attempts at guessing our destination we arrived at El Barco Mariscos (1035 N. Ashland).
Upon sitting down at one of the communal-esque tables, our server set down a plate filled with crispy tortilla chips, salsa and mole. Not for the faint of heart, these were some seriously spicy but scintillating condiments. I delighted by the satisfying smoky Chile flavor from the tar looking mole – a smokiness I’d never experienced before.
Set down in front of me in what can only be described as a huge chalice (my first thought was Pimp Cup), filled with a cool and refreshing sangria– without any of chunks of wine soaked fruit getting stuck in the straw. Jordan, as it turns out, knows what he’s talking about. The ceviche arrived next on an oblong plate divided into three sections: octopus, fish, and shrimp. Each prepared the same and included tiny bits of tomatoes, generous chunks of perfectly ripe avocado and as promised the freshest seafood I have ever had in Chicago. The preparation was so simple that we were instructed to take a lime from the cute wire basket on our table and squeeze fresh juice over the entire dish. The octopus was my favorite – just chewy enough not to be chewy and lacking nothing in flavor.
The other dish we tried was the whole fried Red Snapper. I generally shy away from whole fish – not because I don’t enjoy it but because I’m a hypocritical conservationist. I have trouble seeing the head and the eyes staring at me. Let me just say I got over it quickly and was soon enjoying the flavorful fish cooked with garlic and green onions. I’m embarrassed to admit that I eventually was picking up pieces with my fingers like other patrons – something only a place as affordable and relaxed, as El Barco Mariscos would welcome.Labels: ceviche, chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dining blog, el barco mariscos, fete chicago, fete select tv, maddie, mexican, restaurants, sangria
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