Frontera Cafe and Bistro, Howard Lake

For Frontera Cafe and Bistro, recreating authentic Mexican food is a passion, and not just a buzzword. The team sets their sights on the kind of street food and family-style dishes you might find along the border. But make no mistake: this isn't Tex-Mex. Rather than chimichangas and other deep-fried dishes, the bistro serves up entrees such as the torta ahogada—a sandwich layered with beef milanesa and smothered in queso fresco with a heaping helping of avocado, refried beans, and chipotle tomato sauce.