If there is one commodity of which the Fox Valley seems to have no shortage, it is restaurants. New ones are popping up – like tulips in the spring – all the time. And one genre that always seems to be popular is Mexican, e.g., like Front Street Cantina. Many years ago, a close friend had directed me to a tiny storefront venue in Wheaton that served some of the best-tasting and reasonably-priced Mexican fare I had sampled – up to that point. When I discovered that the recently-added location was a cousin (actually a franchise) of the original in Wheaton , I just had to check it out.
Bright and Comfortable Feel
Opened in late 2008, the place sits in a pretty prime location just across from the train station on popular Third Street in Geneva, at the south end of the Dodson Place shopping area. Finding a parking place in that area has become a very difficult task. There is an open area on the south side of the restaurant, but no parking is available there. And the open area actually leads to a parking garage that is apparently reserved for commuters – at least there are no signs that say otherwise. Bad weather would not make finding a parking place anywhere nearby any fun at all. That however would only be a minor issue if the food and service were good.
Front Street Cantina has a lot of large windows, which added to the bright and comfortable feel of the place. Ambient lighting was also comfortable and not too bright. The long bar, situated towards the front of the restaurant is a major focal point, and there are several tall tables available in the bar area. Long and narrow, Front Street also offers seating in booths and at tables, all situated toward the rear of the store.
Fresh Chips and What Seemed to be Homemade Salsa
Décor is austere but customer friendly, with dark wood mixed with bright colors. Some tables had candles on them. Ours did not. A large TV was mounted on the wall behind the bar but the volume was set thoughtfully low. Music filtered down from overhead speakers – also thoughtfully at an acceptable volume.
Lauren and I chose to sit at one of the tall tables – barren except for a table tent announcing drink specials. It was not long before the bartender came by, offered menus and inquired if we would like a beverage. Lauren asked for a margarita and I chose a Mexican bottled beer. When the bartender returned – he was both ‘tending and waiting tables – he brought a basket of fresh chips and what seemed to be homemade salsa. There were some chunks of what appeared to be canned tomatoes in it, but there were plenty of fresh ones as well. The mix had a nice heat level (a bit high for Lauren) from bits of fresh jalapenos that went perfectly with my ice cold beer.
Tasty Guacamole
We also decided to see how Front Street rated with their guacamole that was on the appetizer list, so we asked for an order. A big bowl of fresh, bright green and mashed avocado, blended with plenty of cilantro and spices made for an excellent batch of the stuff. At $6.95, it seemed like a great deal – certainly enough to serve three and perhaps even four people as an appetizer… very tasty!
The menu wasn’t huge, but there were the usual selections of tacos, tamales, burritos, fajitas and combinations of those items too. I apologize for not taking home a menu to give you a better list, but the choices were fairly “standard”. Most dinner items were priced between $9 and $11 and were served with black beans and rice. I finally located my standard selection – against which I make comparisons – the Chimichanga. Lauren spotted the Taco Salad and decided to make her own comparison… actually a comparison of the Front Street version to her own. (I’m somewhat prejudiced, but I gotta say that Lauren makes one of the very best taco salads I have ever eaten. I would eagerly await her verdict on the salad…)
Our Selections for Dinner
The wait for our dinners was a bit longer than it might have been. The bar got busy, and the distance to the kitchen from the bar was longer than from the dining room. If the plates had been hot at one time, they no longer were… This a fairly small detail in an otherwise fine experience. My very large Chimi was still pretty hot – temperature-wise – and loaded with tasty and tender fajita-style chicken and melted cheese, accompanied by the rice and beans. The shell was crispy and delicate and the flavor was very, very good. Lauren’s salad was gigantic, covering a significant portion of her dinner plate. The crisp taco shell was about six inches high and loaded with lots of grilled chicken, along with lettuce, beans, tomatoes, sour cream, olives and cheese.
Making Their Own Statement
In the case of Front Street Cantina in Geneva, I like the fact that the owners are trying to make their own statement regarding the design and layout, while still maintaining a similar – if not the same – menu as the other stores in what is now a small “chain”. And I like the food. It is Mexican fare with a spice level a bit lower than I would like to see, but certainly not blah by any stretch and, for anyone who likes Mexican, easy to enjoy.
Reducing Minor Negatives
Plating was OK, service was too – especially by a bartender doing double duty – and the food was fresh and very good. Restaurant ratings are not always based solely on how well a particular venue does things, or whether there is simply a marked lack of things done poorly, but a combination of the two. On this occasion, Front Street did a very good job of reducing minor negatives to the point of insignificance.
I do expect to return so that I can sample some of the other appetizers and entrées. With the level of competition in the Fox Valley area of the same genre, Front Street Cantina will have its work cut out for it. It’s work though that the owners will likely enjoy and probably welcome. I give Front Street three-and-a-half Zins.
Your Table is Waiting…
Ralph Pancetta
Front Street Cantina was located at 577 S Third Street in Geneva, IL. The space is now occupied by The Burger Local. Front Street Cantina now has a location open in Naperville.
