We get really excited about all of the new places that have been popping up around Logan Square, but let’s not forget the places that have been here all along.

Recently Dallas and I went to dinner at Real Tenochtitlan, a higher-end Mexican restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue.

The inside space is beautiful. Very open and bright, with tall ceilings and a ton of natural light.

In the back of the restaurant there is a bar and a private room that can be rented for parties.

For an appetizer we got Tostaditas de Ceviche Chichihuhulity – crisp little tortillas piled with lime-marinated marlin, manzanillo olives, tomato, serrano, avocado and cilantro. This appetizer was nice and light and fresh.

We also shared Uchepos Gratinados- fresh corn masa tamales drizzled with roasted chilaca cream and cheese. These little tamales were so delicious. Very deep, rich flavor.

At Real Tenochtitlan they specialize in mole and have a different mole of the day every day. We were dining on a Wednesday and the Wednesday mole was Manchamanteles, literally meaning, “tablecloth stainer.” It is a deep, rich red in color. Among its ingredients are chile ancho and chorizo sausage, as well as plaintains, pineapple, and sweet potato, which give it a well-rounded, lighter flavor that is sweeter and fruitier. There were so many things on the menu Dallas wanted to order, but he decided to try the Wednesday mole, since mole seemed to be their specialty. He got this dish with chicken (could also have chosen duck or quail). Good choice. He loved it.

I ordered the Camarones en Amarillo- fresh Florida pink shrimp in Oaxacan yellow mole with hoja santa leaves and served with rice. I didn’t want anything heavy and this dish did the trick. Grilled shrimp and squash with just a light mole. And I loove plantains!

Overall, we loved Real Tenochtitlan. In Logan Square there were at least 3 high-end Mexican restaurants. Rustico was not very good and just closed. Fuego is farther south on Milwaukee Avenue by the Congress Theater. And Real. Of the three, we like Real the best. It’s a shame that throughout our entire dinner we were the only people in the restaurant. We’re now on a crusade to save this place!