Frontier

Review summary

1. A

   Anndrea

   Des Moines

   32 reviews

   4.0

   32 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   They have a nice selection of interesting dishes, and most everything was really tasty. I did have a cocktail that was horrible though – a gin old-fashioned, which sounded interesting but was a murky blue green color and tasted like cleaning fluid. No one ever asked me if it was OK. And I don’t think we were over staying our expected time at the table, but at the end the server told us that the next table was ready for our spots when she brought the bill.
   

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2. M

   Megan

   VIP

   Chicago

   17 reviews

   4.0

   17 reviews

   Dined on January 19, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Amazing, incredible food. The gator bites were shockingly good. At first they were a bit chewy, but the smaller bites were simply delicious. It kind of tasted like chicken, but the way they were prepared and seasoned was fantastic. I got the Wagyu ribs, they were fall of the bone tender and seasoned immaculately. My boyfriend got the elk shank which was a massive amount of meat and tasted very hearty. My boyfriend got the gingerbread old fashioned and I got the Mountain mule, both were delicious and I would recommend. He also got the Pantera Negra, which I will say had a bit of a weird taste to it, so maybe skip that one. The chocolate cake was so dense and very good. I will say the cake itself was a bit dry, but the mousse and dulce de leche flavoring were so delicious. I will say the restaurant is smoky from the big meat smokers in the kitchen, but everything about this place was great from the service to the food to the decor to the music. Absolutely would recommend.
   

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3. m

   melvin

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 18, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   First time customer at Frontier. My wife and I will definitely return. A hidden gem!! The mushroom fritters and the crab stuffed sea bass were phenomenal!
   

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4. V

   Veronica

   Chicago

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on January 18, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Passionate, skilled, original--these are the words that leap to mind after my first meal at Frontier. As a former restaurant critic, my standards are high. Every single dish was skillfully done with a core of creativity and lusciousness! As a lover of the best of NOLa (and not all New Orleans food is great), I immediately recognized the influence of the Crescent City. To be honest, I was afraid that the dishes would be corny, as they so often are in the North. Instead, they were expertly executed on the core flavors and techniques and ingredients, but with a modern flair. For ex., the gator bites were perfectly chewy and crisp, but the crispy kale and saucy bits would earn it a place on any creative menu. Chargrilled oysters are nothing without quality, salty Parm, and here Frontier delivers, too. The burnt edge mac cheese ranks among the best eats in the city in my book. Similarly, the smoked and braised elk shank has my whole heart--fall-off-the-bone tender, elegant, and still wholly accessible. Not overthought nor showy, but a skillful dish that speaks for itself and the skill of this kitchen. I also want to give a shout to the thick-cut salmon, roasted on a cedar plank, with crispy edges and a silky, luscious, rare center as requested. I also want to thank whoever set the prices. They are more than fair at a time when so few menus are. Making food at this level is insanely time-consuming, but the pricepoint makes Frontier much more accessible than many of its peers. Frontier is a place we will return to again and again because of that. Chicago...support these incredibly talented and passionate kitchen and front-of-the-house teams! This is not a paid review or a bot. Merely one diner who was truly impressed and appreciative of a great meal for our family for my birthday.
   

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   FrontierResponded on January 22, 2025

   Thanks so much for the kind words!
   

   1 person found this helpful

5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 10, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was such a great dinner overall. My daughter and I really enjoyed our evening. The Fried Gator Bites are a must, Great Cocktails, and vibe.
   

   1 person found this helpful

6. L

   Lori

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The bartender was excellent at recommendations and conversation!
   

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7. j

   johnathan

   Milwaukee

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on January 1, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was a great experience. Service was great and the food was too
   

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8. D

   David

   VIP

   Chicago

   25 reviews

   5.0

   25 reviews

   Dined on December 29, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Excellent quality BBQ. Lamb ribs were very good and I’d order again. Burnt end Mac & cheese is a must every time I go to Frontier. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. Really good experience overall.
   

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9. N

   Niekera

   Chicago

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 22, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   It was ok not what I expected could have been better
   

   FrontierResponded on December 22, 2024

   Hello, so sorry we failed to meet expectations. Can you please share some details of your experience so we can use them to improve? Thanks
   

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10. J

    Jasmine

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Always a wonderful experience! Oysters were a bit overly charred this time around but won’t hold it against them. Drinks were great! Branzino was amazing! Loved the brussel sprouts!
    

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