Oh, Tango Sur. How I love you.
Slightly-dilapidated storefront charm, small wooden tables crammed next to each other, dark sultry lighting, Latin American music and huge paintings of gorgeous salsa dancers adorning the walls. This little Lincoln Park BYOB oozes authenticity and is such a refreshing change from the sea of chain restaurants that all look and taste exactly the same.
I was initially a little apprehensive about checking out Tango Sur, mainly because I’m a steak virgin. Give me seafood, white meat, and even a cheesy hamburger, but steak? I’m slightly petrified of pure, unadulterated red meat.
But luckily, my dining partner-in-crime had just finished a killer med school exam and was adamant about making a trip to his favorite Argentinian restaurant. Best. Decision. Ever.
Now first, the drawbacks. But let’s face it, they’re actually good things in disguise:
- *Two hour wait and no reservations (only proves how deservedly popular this place is and gave us a chance to pick up some Pinot Noir and visit friends in the area)
- *Tiny seating area (adds to the vibrant, bustling nature of the restaurant…plus overhearing the pretentious blonde drunkenly swoon over her waiter in front of her boyfriend is more entertaining than a drawback)
- *Disappointing salads (but I guess lettuce and tomatoes thrown together half-heartedly in a homemade manner does serve as a refreshing complement to Tango’s rich entrees)
Really, my only regret was OD’ing on the appetizers, because it left me too full for the main course. Not that the appetizers weren’t delicious! The Provoleta, the melted provolone choose cooked in olive oil and roasted red pepper just melted in my mouth, leaving behind a cheesy rich aftertaste. To complement the strong taste of cheese, we sampled the Bife De Chorizo, small bites of beef sausage heaven. And to top it off, the waiter dropped off a basket of warm freshly baked bread with spicy chimichurri. Honestly, I fell in love even before the steak arrived.
The crème de la crème of the meal was, of course, the steak. We split the El Filet, the chef’s special filet mignon cooked medium rare with a red onion sauce and accompanied with light spinach mashed potatoes. I’m always going to prefer seafood and white meat, but this filet was delicious. The meat was succulent, juicy, tender, flavorful and just so so good…for lack of a better description. The red onion sauce was light and provided exquisite flavor to the filet. I’ve always heard of “meat so soft it slides off the bones,” and this is exactly what the El Filet was like. And though the meat was heavy, it didn’t feel too rich. Just like a lovely, home-cooked Argentinian meal!
Tango Sur is ideal for all sorts of outings – its vibrant intimate ambiance is ideal for a date, a group outing, a family reunion. You choose. But just make sure you GO, because this is one of Chicago’s best kept (not-so secret) secrets.
Deets: 3763 N. Southport Ave.
