The spot: The service couldn’t be friendlier at this quaint Lincoln Square Mexican spot; the accommodating staff brightens an already welcoming yellow-walled dining room. The restaurant’s namesake, los nopales, or cacti, appears in a few dishes, including a tasty Los Nopales skirt steak special ($13.95). The steak, chargrilled and sprinkled with cheese, is served with frijoles borrachos (drunken beans) and grilled cactus salad. More traditional dishes come with rice, beans and salad. Try the tilapa en salsa verde ($11.95), a tender grilled tilapia filet served over Spanish white rice and smothered in green tomatillo sauce.
The bottle: The only thing missing from the authentic Mexican menu at Los Nopales is a margarita — and luckily, you only have to stroll a block north to Westwood Food Shop (4634 N Western Ave. 773-561-0463) to find one. Pick up a bottle of ready-to-drink Jose Cuervo Authentic Cuervo Lime Margarita ($13.99 for 750 milliliters), with Cuervo Especial right in the bottle. If you only need tequila, grab a 750-milliliter bottle of Jose Cuervo Especial Gold ($17.99). Like your marg with salt? Snag a container for $1.99. Los Nopales charges a $1 corkage fee for each bottle or six-pack.
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metromix@tribune.com
