In the heart of restaubrant mediocrity and overpriced tourist traps that is N. Michigan Ave., Bandera easily stands out.

One of the best burgers in the city. They know how to work the grill here, and make hearty salads with no shortage of flavor.

Expensive, so best left for expense-account dining. But if you’re paying it’s worth it.

i’ve been here a couple times and everytime I’ve been really happy with the food. The ambience is pretty dark semi-romantic (even during the day) and if you’re lucky you can get a decent view of the magnificent mile.

This past visit I came to try the cheeseburger which people have raved about. I have to say it was quite good, but I think I still rank a couple other burgers higher. I still remember a kobe beef burger I had at Cheesecake Factory which was really good and I think the best burger I had was a foie gras kobe beef burger at Sweets & Savories – man that thing was awesome. But this one is up there.

Tulips, good friend and food guru, recommended this place as we were looking for somewhere to dine in near the Loew’s Theater on Michigan Ave. Located on the second floor of a building overlooking part of the Mag Mile (same building as Andriana Furs), this restaurant may be easily overlooked or confused as a restaurant serving Latin cuisine (cuz of the name). Decorated with rich, dark wooden booths and cozy tables by the window, Bandera definitely has a fancier feel to it upon entering. But no need to feel underdressed, at least during lunch, because according to reviewers, the crowd favorite is the good ol’ American cheeseburger!

As reviewed in the past, the cheeseburger was THE best burger I have ever had! It’s the size of your face, first of all, and the sauce had something sweet that gives the burger a special flavor. It may be the pickles too… every bite had a near- perfect balance of all the ingredients!

We didn’t get wooed with music during lunch time, but I’d love to come back for live music too!

A fairly upscale spot that’s perfect for a date… although I often prefer to just hang out at the bar and nosh on one of their awesome burgers.

my dining experience at bandera was quite satisfying – i was pleased w/the food, the service, and the ambience.

the food portion sizes are large, and the taste is unexpectedly good for modern american cuisine. the prices are on the high side, but if you take into account the portion sizes & taste, the sprawling view of michigan ave (try asking for a window seat), the very friendly, yet professional service, and the quasi-intimate atmosphere (live music some nights) – it’s justifiable.

i’d have no qualms about returning here for dinner – be it a nice dinner w/friends or a romantic date w/my special someone.

off to Bandera. It’s nested on the Mag Mile in between the Citibank and Adriana (sp) furs.

At first, one might think (as you ascend the escalators), where the hell am I going? Is there even a restaurant or is this part of a department store?

Then you arrive to modern american cuisine with a fantastic lounge bar and excellent grill and service. If you want to impress your girl, take her here, not because it’s expensive, because it’s not, but because of the mood.

Dim, soft lighting, with red hues and candle light flickering make it a great place to get your groove on. Some nights live music (piano and singer) will perform adding an AMAZING surreal sense to the place. Even without a date, there are some serious hotties at the bar, so it is definitely worth checking out. The view at the window tables are gorgeous at night as the overlook the beautiful busy street.

The food, is above average, some may even say great, it depends on how much you like modern american food. You can expect to drop $40-50 for 2 people for a full meal. The entrees are usually less than $20 and a sizeable portion is delivered.

The service, food, and romantic mood make this a place worth checking out, especially for the price (for this level of sophistication and decor).

Want to impress your date? Take em here. The mood is very romantic and on certain nights, there’s live jazz. Make reservations as this place can get busy, and try to get the window seats overlooking Michigan avenue if possible. The restaurant serves pan-American dishes that are tasty and well-portioned.