Pixca

A great place with great service. I would go here next time in this area. My in-laws really loved it too. Thank you to the team who runs this place !!

I am not an H.P. local - but I stopped in mid July, 2024 for a pre Ravinia concert bite.Really wanted to love this place, but sorry guys, it just didn't work out that way.Asked for a dirty Gin martini - oops! No Gin! And no, I do not drink mezcal, tequilla, etc. Have to deduct points for that.Ordered a beer instead - my drink of last resort.Tried the Risotto di Mare, - ok, never had this, so let's check it out, especiallysince I know what a pain it is to do risotto just right. Sorry, but I fail to see how a riffed Italian dish, could wind up in a seasonal Mexican-Mayan inspired cafe (?)The lemon gelato-sorbet was spot on, but the espresso was spot off - no crema ,over extracted., got a lemon slice instead of a lemon rind peel 'ya, I know, picky, picky'Good points - As organic and fresh with locally sourced ingredients, as you can get. Attentive wait staff The locals seem to love this place, and are greeted by name upon arrival.But...I do believe there are better places in downtown H.P. i.e. Norton's, Bella Via, et al

Pre-meal: Reservations needed for prime time. Street parking and public lots nearby.Room: Inside is nice - bar, banquettes and tables. Outdoor sidewalk seating.Picture-taking: Ok.Beverages: Small cocktail and WBTG list. Manhattan made with amaretto was too sweet for my taste.Menu: This place says it's a "Seasonal American Bistro" but the menu isn't very "American." And we were told that this the "summer" menu - not sure what is so summery about it. "Vegetarian cassoulet" - what's the point of that? Cassoulet is essentially a rustic French bean casserole with meat and this vegetarian one doesn't even say there's beans.Food: Just ok. Calamari was freshly fried and crispy but there was too much other stuff - zucchini, squash, lemons - not enough squid. My burger was ok but was a real mess - all the toppings came gushing out like ... sorry can't be too descriptive, after all this is a family friendly review! The pork chop and whitefish entrees were reportedly good. The Mexican street corn was not good - the corn was sweet but the Mexico was missing. The desserts did not sound exciting so we didn't order any.Service: Great. Attentive and friendly.Price: ModerateValue: AverageSummary: Friendly place with uneven food in search of an identity.

This is a seasonal, farm-to-table restaurant in Highland Park. "Pixca" means harvest in the Maya language and they work with local farmers to bring fresh foods to the plate.We stopped in, day after Xmas, the small, cozy restaurant was fairly empty. We made a reservation but it turns out we did not need one. The ambience was warm and festive with candles in the table and lights above the bar/kitchen area. Disclaimer: we had drinks and snacks at a friend's house prior to this.We started with cornbread and butter, which came in a skillet and was warm, toasty golden.I ordered the vegetarian cassoulet which was a very flavorful and savory rich stew with roasted seasonal vegetables and halloumi. The broth was very rich and well seasoned and reminded me of the scene from the animated little chef movie when the exacting French food critic tastes the simple rustic dish and is transported to memories of his childhood. Now I'm not French and I didn't grow up eating this dish but the very name Pixca means harvest and that's exactly what this dish was. A bounty of the best harvest at its peak.My companion enjoyed their salad as well.Several dishes caught my eye for a return visit. Hope to come back to enjoy the best of the harvest soon.

I had a hazy IPA which had great hops, and we also decided to share some appetizers. The corn bread and butter was outstanding, the butter was perfectly salted, and the corn bread was warm and moist. We also tried their special of the day which was a Black Truffle Burrata. The presentation was amazing, the burrata was very soft, and overall the bite was unbelievably complex yet easy to indulge in. For the mains, we had the four star mushroom risotto which was well balanced and dense. And I personally had my eyes on the Maple Leaf Farms Roasted Half Duck which was one of the best duck dishes I've had. It was citrusy and came with forbidden rice , leeks, and roasted squash. The poached pear dessert was very unique, sitting on top of whipped labneh, wine syrup, and was on the sour side with some sweetness from the pear. Overall, loved the cuisine here, and looking forward to seeing their fall menu.

Great spot with delicious food! Every single thing we ordered was delicious. Can't go wrong with steak frites, the lamb was tasty as was the pasta dish we chose. And don't skip the cauliflower side dish either. My fermented pineapple martini was interesting and the service was very attentive, almost too attentive

I knew this restaurant has been here for a while, and several people told me it's good, but I've been disappointed in the suburban food choices recently. Well, they had space for us last Friday night, and so my sisters and I went for dinner.Omg, the food was so good! First, I was a little disappointed because the name suggested this to be a tapas place, or a place with basque food. It was neither, just regular American fare. However, the dishes, however simple, were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. We had the cauliflower (so crispy, yum), the steak frites (perfect medium rare, shoestring fries) and the lamb (again, perfectly medium rare). Our table by the window was cozy, and the restaurant wasn't too loud, even packed with people. Our servers were attentive.I'll definitely be back!

Meh, the food was simply mid :( sadly, we didn't really enjoy it very much, and the street corn was the worst

A truly fantastic eatery in Highland Park - which is getting rarer every year. To eat we split the Brussels sprouts, roasted chicken, and whitefish. Every dish was insanely delicious and served to us by the owner of the restaurant, Fernando. Fernando told us the story of how he opened just before the pandemic, and how he was able to weather the storm through some innovative delivery options. Very happy they did. This is a new local favorite.

Dinner is always great. The menu changes with the season which is a sign of a great and educated chef. The place is cozy with nice atmospheric. Excellent brunch, huevos rancheros out of this world. Staff is very friendly and accommodating.