edpaffjr.comMesa Loca is a brand new restaurant in Hyde Park, occupying the former home of Cock & Bull, on the corner of Erie & Edwards. The inside space has been nearly completely gutted and the result is a much more open concept with plenty of tables in two different rooms. The horseshoe-shaped bar remains, and the kitchen is in the same place as before, but otherwise, the space feels completely different!
Inside
The small back patio also has some improvements, especially in the lighting department. And there a couple of fire pits for those cooler fall evenings. It doesn’t look like the space is completely finished yet, so I look forward to seeing what that looks like come springtime. Not to mention the best patio space on Hyde Park Square, which has already seen improvements with new speakers and lighting.
Back Patio
A group of parents left the kids behind to enjoy a free sneak peek of the space last night. All six of us started with a premium margarita ($13), that was prepared fresh upon ordering, including juicing the fruits, so there are no prepared mixes to be found in this drink. You can also mix in a flavor option including blood orange, mango, and pomegranate, all of which are also made in house. These were so good that we all ended up having three each as the evening went on.
Premium Margarita
The manager stopped by to let us know about the new concept that they opening with. Rather than hand menus to the table, the staff would like to get to know the personalities and tastes of their guests and bring out dishes that they would recommend for the group. They were very accommodating of food allergies and preferences and always made sure there was something vegetarian in each course for one of the parents in our group. Of course, there are still menus available if the guests would prefer to go that route, but we all enjoyed relaxing and letting the staff do the work for us.
Crispy Pollo Frito & Skirt Steak
We started with a trio of salsa ($11), guacamole ($10), shrimp ceviche ($13), pickled veggies ($6), and a caesar salad ($8). Each of these was shared with the table and I really enjoyed the salsas, especially their Verde and the mango habanero. From there two sizzling skillets of queso were dropped at our table, along with tortillas to make miniature quesadillas. The chorizo queso fondito was full of flavor ($10), though a little tough to get out of the pan due to the crispy edges.
Green Beans
From there the main course was served including crispy pollo frito ($14), Allen Brothers skirt steak ($18), and green beans on the side ($7). The fried chicken dish was surprisingly delicious due to the tangy and spicy sauce that was served on top. The steak was flown in from Allen Brothers in Chicago and was a huge hit of the table. The green beans were an added bonus, cooked perfectly, and well spiced.
Red Molcajete
As if that weren’t enough, the staff asked if we had saved any room and then presented the red molcajete ($36), which is essentially a giant bowl of fajitas. We had shrimp, chicken, and steak served with peppers and onions all on top of a pond of Rojo salsa. Fresh tortillas were served on the side, though it was just as easy to scoop out a serving onto your plate and eat it with a fork. Our vegetarian friend was served tacos on this bonus course ($9), which later we found on the menu along with a wide variety of other taco selections.
It seems like Mesa Loca understands the neighborhood and is trying to go a little higher end to serve as a great spot for date night, but there are also plenty of affordable items on the menu that can be shared among friends for a nice dining experience. They also seemed to cater well to children, as there were a number of kids dining with their parents while we were there. I am sure that we will absolutely be back very soon.
