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frankfortstation.com dining out
the frankfort station | May 3, 2018 | 23
The Dish
‘Fiesta’ is Spanish for Fat Rosie’s
T.J. Kremer III
Contributing Editor
The pollo al chipotle ($18) is grilled chicken breast with a
creamy chipotle sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes
and green beans, topped with crispy onions.
Cinco de Mayo is nearly
upon us, and one Frankfort
establishment has been
ready for it for the past 364
days: Fat Rosie’s.
The Mexican restaurant
specializes in “very authentic”
Mexican cuisine, according
to head chef Raul
Arreola, who was born in
Mexico City and has more
than 30 years of culinary experience
under his belt.
More on that authentic
cuisine shortly.
Firstly, because it is the
first thing customers will notice,
Rosie’s offers authentic
party atmosphere. From
vibrantly colored walls and
doors to loads of Mexican
knickknacks — including
sombreros, boot-shaped
shot glasses and a talking
donkey — there is no place
else around that has the same
let’s-get-ready-to-party ambiance
as Rosie’s, and the
management likes it that
way.
Judging by the popularity
of the restaurant that opened
in 2015, so do the customers.
“Especially on the weekends,
it’s a little bit louder in
here,” said Joe Christiano regional
director. “We crank it
up. You’re here to party. The
whole point of the restaurant,
what the owner wanted,
was a fun, party atmosphere
where you don’t feel like
you’re sitting in a restaurant
in Frankfort, Illinois,
let alone the United States
somewhere; he wanted the
authentic feel of you being
Mexico, almost.”
Now, back to that Mexican
cuisine.
A special Cinco de Mayo
menu is scheduled for the
holiday, featuring a trimmed
down version of Rosie’s regular
menu.
One of the signature appetizers
is the ensalada a la
parrilla ($8), with mixed
greens, tomato, avocado and
chipotle-honey vinaigrette.
Of course, no Mexican restaurant
would be complete
without tacos, and Rosie’s
has several options of those
from which to choose.
There are the al pastor ($4
each), grilled pork shoulder,
grilled pineapple, guajillo
pepper, onion and cilantro,
served on corn tortilla.
There is the staple carne
asada ($5 each), with avocado-tomatillo
salsa, and pico
de gallo and queso fresco.
Or, for seafood lovers, the
camarones Veracruzanos
($5 each), sautéed shrimp,
Veracruzana sauce and goat
cheese, served on corn tortilla.
Customers needing a little
more food to help soak
up some of Fat Rosies’
22 ounce margaritas ($9)
should check out the pollo
al chipotle ($18), grilled
chicken breast with creamy
chipotle sauce, served with
garlic mashed potatoes and
grilled green beans, topped
with crispy onions.
All of those are great,
Fat Rosie’s
28 Kansas St. in
Frankfort
Hours
• 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday-Thursday
• 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
• 10 a.m-2 p.m. Sunday
Brunch
• 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Dinner
For more information…
Web: fatrosies.com
Phone: (815) 534-1640
but for a dish that cannot
be found anywhere else on
the planet, diners will want
to go for the enchiladas en
mole ($18), a special recipe
that Arreola’s grandmother
taught him. It’s a grilled
chicken enchilada with
queso Chihuahua and mole
negro, served with rice and
beans. The recipe is so secret
that Arreola said he will not
even let anyone in the kitchen
when he is preparing it.
Restaurant staff pride
themselves on the freshness
of the food, Christiano said,
so most items are prepared
Fat Rosie’s carne asada tacos ($5 each) come topped with avocado-tomitillo salsa, pico de
gallo and queso fresco on a corn tortilla. Photos by T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media
The ensalada a la parrilla ($8) is mixed greens, tomato, avocado and chipotle-honey
vinaigrette.
early in the morning to ensure
the maximum amount
of freshness for the customers.
And they also pride themselves
on interacting with
customers — not just the
waitstaff, but managers and
chefs will often be found
walking through the restaurant
and mingling with
guests to make sure everyone
is having a great time.
So, do not be too surprised
if out of nowhere you get
some sombreros tossed on
your party’s heads and some
tequila to wash down the
food. It is all part of the atmosphere.
Fat Rosie’s normally takes
reservations, but on Cinco
de Mayo it is walk-in seating
only; however, if the
place gets too crowded, or
for those who just prefer to
eat outside, they are scheduling
a taco garden, weather
permitting, with a limited
menu of four different tacos
and beer.
The restaurant opens early
— at 10 a.m. — on Cinco de
Mayo, so diners will want to
get there early, as well, and
make sure not to miss the
mariachi band. Just look for
the 16-feet-tall donkey pinata
outside, and listen for the
party coming from inside the
restaurant.
It’s hard to miss.