Downtown Evanston is home to many popular restaurants, of a variety of different cuisines. But just a few blocks away from the city center is the 900 block of Noyes Street, home to Tomate Fresh Kitchen. With the creaky tracks of the L rising above it, and the expansive property of the Noyes Cultural Arts Center across from it, this homey restaurant sits nestled between the Noyes Barber Shop and Al’s Deli.

Perhaps one of the smallest restaurants (in terms of square footage) in Evanston, Tomate Fresh certainly makes up for its small size with the food it has on offer. The door inside the restaurant remains locked throughout the day, so diners must order their food using a mobile device. The menu highlights a variety of tacos, gorditas and burritos, with an extensive selection of filling options (both meat and vegetarian). Once the order is placed, the food is usually ready within 10 minutes, and customers can pick it up from a small window right next to the door.

The staff is friendly and will accommodate a variety of special requests. While there, it is difficult not to notice the relationships between some regular customers (usually Northwestern students) and the staff. Once the food is picked up, there are a variety of places to eat around the restaurant, from benches placed handily outside the pick-up window to the park adjacent to the Cultural Arts Center. A lovely red train is located in the playground, and its sloped roof makes for the ideal table. The food tastes authentic (or as authentic as one can get in Illinois, 1648.4 miles from Mexico). Be sure to bring plenty of napkins, as it can get very messy. The affordability of the restaurant is relatively good for the greater Chicago area, a reasonably filling meal comes out to around $12. Overall, Tomate Fresh is a great place for a quick, satisfying meal.

Rating: 2.7 Ethans