Bar Chido To Bring Mexican Street Food, Drinks To Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — As the co-owner of Pierce Tavern, Sam Vlahos spends a lot of time in Downers Grove, and he noticed the village was in need of a restaurant where diners could sit down to enjoy a margarita and Mexican cuisine. Vlahos hopes to fill that void with Bar Chido, which is set to open in April at 1012 Curtiss St., the former site of Mia's Cantina.

Vlahos told Patch he wants to shatter the misconception that Mexican food is "just rice and beans." Thus, Bar Chido will specialize in Mexican street food with a modern twist, accompanied by inventive margaritas and craft cocktails.

“We’re trying to take Mexican street food and give a modern touch and upscale feel to the items," Vlahos told Patch.

The menu will offer small and large plates, with a focus on sharing, Vlahos said. The selection will feature six different tacos, along with a rotating taco every week. The inventive tacos will come served up on corn or blue corn tortillas that are made in-house.

“Our al pastor tacos will be out of this world,” Vlahos teased. Diners can also dig into burritos or fajitas or opt for such entrées as a bone-in ribeye served with epazote butter and green Chile potato wedges.

Vegetarians and vegans can savor a mushroom taco or an al pastor-roasted cauliflower steak.

Made with fresh herbs and juices, Bar Chido's array of margaritas and craft cocktails rival the flavorful food menu. The bar will serve up 10 to 12 cocktails, Vlahos said, with four or five different styles of margaritas. One margarita blends poblano-infused blanco tequila with cucumber and is topped off with a tajin-spiced rim.

Diners who place to-go orders can swoop up to the restaurant's pickup window to grab their orders, something Vlahos said will help promote safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Since Bar Chido will open in the midst of patio season, Vlahos said there will be plenty of space for diners to eat both indoors and outdoors while maintaining appropriate social distancing.

Vlahos is eager about Bar Chido's upcoming opening, but he's also looking ahead to the future. In a couple months, Vlahos hopes to start serving brunch on the weekend. Think chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and other favorites.

Vlahos hopes that with the opening of Bar Chido, Downers Grove residents can anticipate a sense of fun and normalcy and "look forward to coming back to a fun atmosphere of dining out.”

Look for Bar Chido to open at 1012 Curtiss St. the first or second week of April.