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This place is so unquestionably outstanding that any long-winded write-up here is completely unnecessary. Starting with Leesh's initial query, the first brief but insightful reports by a couple of folks -- Llewellyn and Edeben -- who know the Yucatan and its food very well, and on from my more voluminous but challenged review through the subsequent several pages worth of accolades -- typically effusive in character -- by many, many LTH'ers, the praise has been all but unanimous. In my opinion, this is the best candidate ever for a GNR award. A restaurant, a neighbourhood restaurant, indeed, a great neighbourhood restaurant. And a place with owners who care passionately about what they do and work very hard to provide authentic and expertly made food.

Xni-Pec deserves a GNR cum laude.

Antonius

Ecco:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=111347#111347

Xni-Pec Restaurant
5135 W 25th ST
Cicero, IL
708-652-8680

I second the nomination of Xni-Pec. My family has visited three times now, and each time we wish it were closer so that we could visit more frequently. Everything we have ordered to date has been delicious, reasonably priced and the service has been first rate.

Xni-Pec most certainly deserves to be a GNR winner!

Suzy

GNR Cum Laude? Makes perfect sense, though I will still resist complicating the designation.

As to the nomination, Amen.

I can think of no better recipient. Antonio brought his mama out to visit us at the end of a recent meal and I hugged her and almost cried at the culinary joy she's shared with the many guests I've brought there.

I'm a bit concerned that the discussion of Xni-Pec's nomination has not been more vigorous. I hope that it is because the worthiness of the nomination seems so self-evident.

But since Xni-Pec was one of the places mentioned in the GNR thread in Site Chat as possibly not having been around long enough, or discussed here on LTH for a long enough period of time, let me say explicitly that I heartily agree with Antonius's words above: Xni-Pec is unquestionably outstanding.

As for the issue of longevity, Xni-Pec itself has been open since May 2006. The first visits by LTHers were more than six months ago, in February 2007. But what should count more than an arbitrary criterion such as one year or six months is the intensity of the discussion which has taken place here on LTH, the excitement generated by those initial posts, and the near unanimity of the follow-up reports.

We are lucky to have Xni-Pec here in Chicagoland, and the trajectory of the discussion here on the boards is a classic LTH success story. Xni-Pec is without a doubt a great candidate for recognition by our community.

Now that I no longer reside in the Chicago area, it has become somewhat more of a challenge to pinpoint my area dining occasions during my visits.

It is of little surprise (to me) that there is a certain overlap between the places I am keyed in to visit every month or two and this round of the GNRs. First and foremost among these, I count Xni-Pec.

When I visited in February, Mark Mavrontis's oysters were the LTH flavor-of-the-month, and that was the focal point of my Friday night eating extravaganza. But this simple post caught my eye, as a follow-up to leesh's initial post, and a LTH-style group dinner was arranged. In the brief interlude between this arrangement and the meal's execution, of course, a handful of posters had great things to say, heightening my anticipation. And dare I say, with expectations quite high, that meal was still a spectacular success.

With all of the terrific Mexican food in Chicago, to say Xni-Pec greatly expanded my horizons as to what Mexican food can be is saying something indeed. The food of the Yucatan is quite unique, and in surprising ways...the namesake salsa is fiery hot (but wonderfully so) with the habaneros to spice things up. But other dishes...the papadzules and the huevos motuleños stand out for their beautifully plain, tomato-y salsas.

And the cochinita pibil...what an inspired, pork-love, rendtition!

Needless to say, Xni-Pec holds a special place in my heart. I admit, it may be because it represents such a wonderful of the grand neighborhood of Chicago that is no longer mine to call home. But as such, it provides such a wonderful representation. I heartily support this nomination, and I do suspect, as Amata suggests, that the relative lack of commentary is because it's such an obvious choice.

And I don't see how you can go wrong with a place that spurs its own spin-off thread about an obscure, foreign liqueur.

That's my take on it. I'd say that Xni-Pec is a close to a shoe in as can be...and deservedly so.

I'm going to disagree with this to the extent of saying that I think a quick blush of enthusiasm is exactly what we should guard against in picking GNRs. I don't think any place should be given an award for a good two weeks, it's too easy to fall in love with novelty that way, and it's not arbitrary to look for reasonably consistent opinions over a certain minimum period of time-- on the contrary, it seems sober good judgement.

That said, on the evidence in your post alone Xni-Pec clearly passes that test and I doubt its fans have anything to worry about.

I think Xni Pec deserves a GNR for many of the same reasons that I thought La Oaxaqueña deserved one: Great people running the place, fresh, carefully prepared, delicious food, and an obvious delight on the part of the owners in serving the foods of their home region of Mexico.

I don't have the expertise in Mexican food that many who post here do, but I've eaten at Xni Pec nearly a dozen times now & had a great experience every time - each meal was comprised of a different set of dishes (usually at least a couple selected by Antonio) and I have been consistently amazed at how well the flavors work together, from Cochinita Pibil to Relleno Negro to various fish dishes and soups.

I fully support Xni Pec's nomination for a GNR. It's a fantastic place.

In hopes of missing the post-Check Please effect a friend of mine and I visited to Xni-Pec on Thursday, and I endorse this nomination. Although it must be admitted that if one looked at the diners, there did not seem to be many from the 'hood in central Cicero, but no matter. Both in hospitality and the quality of the food (especially the outstanding appetizers - the choriqueso and panuchos - discussed on other posts), Xni-Pec is a winner. The main courses, Poc-Choc (marinated pork fillet) and the pescado tikin-xic (Red Snapper with Achiote Paste, marinated in lime and orange juice, and steamed in a Banana Leaf) were wonderfully spiced, although both were a little over-cooked for my taste.

Another of the many restaurants that now know me as "the other Gary."

I'm really delighted to see the support for Xni-Pec, and not just here but elsewhere... Check Please and even a nice mention in the current issue of Gourmet, as well as in the local print press.

In any event, it's abundantly clear that Xni-Pec really is a special restaurnant in many ways, most importantly with regard to the quality of the food itself.

Antonius

Just got back from my birthday dinner at Xni-Pec (26, grahhhh), where everyone had a great time and I heard a number of "This is the best taco I've ever had"s after enjoying the cochinita pibil. Our hosts were very patient (our group being split among two tables) and gracious, and you could see the enthusiasm and pride in their voices explaining the dishes.

Even the pacing was well-executed, as it was clear they were busy (a very good sign, if you ask me) but nobody sat alone without a plate while others ate. The food was exceptional and the expansive menu left me with many more reasons to return.

Xni-Pec would (and in my eyes, already is) definitely make a GNR.

What a great little place this is. Also perfect example of how forums like this can help people find spots they would certainly miss otherwise. I can only assume that adding XP to the GNR list will help this process along.

Yet another reason why Xni-Pec should be a GNR is that Antonio took the time to respond to some of the criticismthey got regarding last weekend's poor service in an honest, no BS way and went out of his way to try to make it right for customers that drove a long way only to find the restaurant closed. My hat's off to Antonio!

This restaurant is currently up for GNR renewal. Please post your comments below.

Thanks,

=R=
for the GNRs

Would be worth renewal if for no other reason than they make the only michelada I've ever liked. Luckily, the food is darn good too, and the place has the warming, friendly vibe I wish every restaurant had.

Some time ago, I remember getting a PM from wise-beyond-his-years gleam asking about this place before it came up on anyone's scope; then seemingly-lost leesh posted about it, followed by scholarly reviews by the august Antonius, hyperbolic GWiv and others. Now, this place is firmly entrenched in LTH history, which might not be enough if it were not turning out consistently delicious and interesting renditions of dishes it's hard to find anywhere else in this part of the world, but it does, so it deserves a renewal.

Antonio at Xni-Pec is like the Yucateco Michael Carlson, except that when he's overwhelmed, he shines brighter instead of shutting down. How he and the family got through the Check, Please! rush is almost beyond comprehension, but it has a lot to do with ridiculous hours, improvisation, and extreme grace and kindness. The revised menu offers consistent winners. I recommend its continuation as a GNR without reservation (which is my ironically my status at Schwa as well).

More on Xni-Pec here and here.

Xni-Pec has consistently provided me and my family with a great
meal. We are treated like family. The food is very fresh - make
sure you try the specials. Very authentic and save room for desert!
They should win the GNR 2009.