Le Bouchon

Real french food, it’s amazing. Must try.

Can a restaurant constantly improve over the years? The answer is yes, in this case Le Bouchon is a perfect exemple.
The first thing I noticed as I entered: the big bread basket was gone. I sat down and a few minutes later, our waitress brought a mini baguette in the shape of three little rolls attached to one another fresh out of the oven. It is served on a little wooden board with some high quality butter. Bread and butter, nothing fancy, but that was the best bread I had so far, period! warm, crispy, portioned enough to make you smile and not so much to spoil your appetite.
I had the Nicoise salad that night. Usually made with potatoes, salad, green beans, eggs, tomatoes, olives and anchovies topped with tuna, often it is enough to make a meal out of it. However Le Bouchon’s approach to that great classic is a delicious «Sashimi» style tuna topped with tiny bits of fennel, celeri, olives, tomatoes, quail egg, fried capers, fresh herbs and a little like the frenchs say:“I don’t know what”, which made every bite taste a little different in a wonderful way.
The fish special that night was a trout, served whole and yes… debonned! morel mushroms and a little acidity from a vinaigrette balanced the dish nicely.
My friend had the seasonal soft shell crab also well executed.
On previous visits over the years I had pretty much everything from the menu. The frog legs served on a cast iron pan with a burned lemon, homemade charcuterie, cod fish brandade, cote de boeuf, the whole duck for two. Every dishes are well thought-​out and taken to another level of deliciousness.
Last year I had the Choucroute, sauerkraut, sausages and potatoes one might think! Not at Le Bouchon: Home made not as sour brined cabbage, braised lamb, duck confit, home made sausages, little fingerlings potatoes top with a julienne of granny smith and served with an apple mustard. Genious!
It is very well priced given what you get on your plate. Service is always great, the staff is very professional and knowledgeable. If you go alone, eat at the bar, you will mingle with other people in no time and the bartender will make you feel right at home.
The only thing I wished, would be the rabbit served in bigger pieces.
Noise level is average to loud, but with all the tables filled, everyone having a good time and conversations, you can’t expect the silence of an art gallery. The art is in your plate and it will make you talk.

We went for the first time recently and this little gem did not disappoint. We tried the onion tart and the sausage appetizer. The food was amazing. My husband had the steak and I had the open face sandwich. The place is classy but not pretentious. The staff is welcoming and willing to explain the finer points of the French menu for those who are unfamiliar with the selections. We went for a late lunch on a weekday. It was great timing because we practically had the place to ourselves. Although they close between lunch and dinner, we never felt rushed. Staff was welcoming and the waitress was delightful. We look forward to our next visit.

This place doesn’t disappoint. It’s hard to find a good French restaurant. Came here with a few friends and had no complaints. Portions are large and reservations are a must. Onion soup is really good with a lot of cheese and not overly too salty. Steak tartare is melt in your mouth amazing. Frog legs are the biggest I’ve seen and cooked perfectly. Staff are friendly and attentive. Will be back.

As good as it can get!
The escargot, and the foie gras just floored me. Out of all the dishes my friend and I ordered, the brandade fume got the lowest rank, and it was amazing. That’s how good this place was.

My favorite French place in the city. Cozy and crowded, it reminds me of a little European bistro. Food is delicious and authentic. Only issue is that they are always so packed and it’s hard to get a table.

We were concerned because the chef recently died in a car accident, but the food and service were superb! It was our daughter’s birthday and we had a Large group. Our waitress, Heather, had some excellent suggestions, and really went all out to make it a special occasion!

Among the best meals of my life. Expertly prepared classic french cuisine, worth the price tag for a special occasion. Simply wonderful.

Went there on a Tuesday night which is their prix fixe. Worst French restaurant I have ever experienced. Nice atmosphere, the drinks were good and the desert was good. The Escargot was average and the entrees were barely average. My companion found a hair in his bouillabaisse and later got sick. Skip it!

Back on track and such a fun night. So sad to hear the news of Jean-​Claude Poilevey passing. Wish I had eaten here 100 more times while he was there.

RIP Chef Jean-​Claude Poilevey :(

Tried this place with a group of 6 after we saw it on a Check Please rerun.
What a fantastic place for a social dinner. The food was very well done. Tasty and good portions. Price was appropriate considering quality. Service was fun and forward. Like everyone says, this is the place where you will end up chatting up neighboring tables and celebrating the great food and drinks together. It’s cozy, fun and simple décor and busy during peak hours. Not good for those wanting a quiet and intimate dinner.
This is a must-​try for people looking for staple restaurants in town.

I walked in and just loved the atmosphere, but sadly, atmosphere alone doesn’t make for a good restaurant. After reading so many positive reviews, I was excited to go, but my experience left me wondering if I had, in fact, gone to the wrong place. Amateurishly prepared food, terrible cocktails and downright creepy service.
I get my usual martini, and it’s not very good — there was an odd, almost «musky» finish to it, which means their ice is bad. Their distributor is probably selling them over-​chlorinated ice (much like at the Signature Room) — but I can let that pass. The menu is fairly extensive, even a bit overwhelming, so I needed a little extra time to make a decision… that’s when the weird started to happen. There is a basket of baguettes out in the dining area and, having been to places where it is decoration, my wife asked if that was the bread they serve, or is it just for show. Our server leaned in and replied in a quiet monotone, «We wait until our guests order their meals before providing bread.» Completely off-​putting.
Now that we’ve been scolded for inquiring about bread, I feel rushed and have to make a decision fast. To make matters worse, I’m not even allowed to order an appetizer first so I can continue to deliberate on my meal. We are told we «must order everything at once» in a rather condescending monotone. There are six other people in the place at the time, I don’t think the kitchen is going to get overwhelmed. Feeling rushed, I order the Onion Soup and Salmon, my wife gets the Onion Tart and the Steak Frîtes.
The Onion Soup is mediocre at best. The cheese is all wrong, and had a weird, almost styrofoam texture to it. The consommé was okay, but a rather hollow experience over all. The Onion Tart was completely overwhelmed by the pork cheek, but the accompanying side salad was very nice. Now the mains come out. My salmon was decent — it had a nice char on the outside, but the center was cold and raw. The sauce was a nice touch and it’s tanginess complimented the fish and brussels sprouts well, but the pickled elements seriously clashed with the rest of the dish. My wife’s Steak Frîtes were an abysmal failure. First, they are clearly serving frozen fries, which is shameful except for counter service places, but the steak… absolute horror. As my wife pre-​sliced, it went from rare, to medium, to well done, to shoe leather. She could only eat a third of it at most. I ate more than half of mine, but there was not even a question about the mostly uneaten steak — the plate was just whisked away.
We didn’t say anything. We were polite, paid and left quietly. In the cab ride home, I tried to think positively of it and I’ve been thinking about the experience for some time, trying to put a positive spin on it. I really wanted to like this place, because the décor and music are fantastic. I just can’t recommend Le Bouchon to anyone. Poorly executed food, overpriced, frozen fries and service that makes you think you’re dining at the Bates’ Motel… it only gets the second star because I liked the décor so much.

Valentine’s Day at Le Bouchon. This small and cozy restaurant with creaky wooden floor is a total traditional French brasserie. We ordered steak tartare and lamb shank special. We arrived early to snag great window seats. Believe it or not – it’s totally French to people watch from either behind or in front of the window. In Paris, seats face the sidewalk so that people can watch pedestrians walking by!
The steak tartare paired cured egg, gribiche sauce and quail egg proves to not disappoint. The tender tartare marinated with gribiche and cured egg stirred up thoughts of German mustard. Ugh, I absolutely love that the dish was topped with these little buds of salad. I had to ask the waitress what they were so I can dress up my dishes at home. Answer? Anise micro greens.
The lamb shank dressed in pearl onions, sauerkraut and with young with turmeric yogurt. The bowl was more sour and young than expected, but he thoroughly enjoyed the different flavors that came with every bit. From the raw acids of the sauerkraut, to the crunch of the purple onions and the green fresh flavors of cilantro.

The food and service were amazing

Great food. Great service. And, while i don’t recall exactly what we had, every bite was better than the previous, and at the end, the spelt ice cream was amazing. We’ll be back!

I had such an awful, surreal experience at Le Bouchon. Based on the reviews I’m sure it was a one-​off incident, but it happened to me and it sucked a lot.
I had a 5PM reservation with a friend. We get there on time and enjoy some wine and food. The steak tartare was phenomenal.
Halfway through the meal, our waitress (redheaded) leaves an open bottle of wine on our table by accident. I try to catch her attention for ages and she eventually she sees us, picks it back up and is sheepish and thanks us for letting us know.
However, something must have occurred immediately afterward. It’s like a switch flips – she goes from being friendly and normal to extremely brusque, unsmiling, and passive aggressive. It’s about 6PM when this happens, and my friend and I were still trying to enjoy our glasses of wine.
By the time it’s 6:30PM, the body language of our waitress is overtly hostile and curt (slamming things on the table, being sarcastic) and the last straw is when we’re handed the bill before we were done with our wines and had the small black folder picked up three times by three different staff within a ten minute time period even though I tell them we aren’t finished, there’s no payment inside yet.
At this point, I’m completely fed up. What happened? Why did the waitress go from being friendly to hostile so quickly? Who were the other two randos picking up our bill? One guy wasn’t wearing a uniform, so he looked like the owner or manager. But I could swear we were being normal and polite, at least until they started passive-​aggressively ushering us out of the restaurant. Is it because we only ordered entrees and not a multi-​course meal? Why should that even matter?
As a result, I tip low. About 8% I think, I forget. My friend tips the normal amount so as not to be awkward. but I’m pretty upset at this point. Since I recognize the tip is low, however, I write a short note to explain. I say the first part of the meal was pleasant but that the service suddenly became abrupt. We pack up our things, my friend heads to the restroom and I wait for her outside.
What happens next is surreal: the redheaded waitress storms outside and snarls at me, «Thanks for the NOVEL.» Then she snaps that «people with reservations were waiting 45 minutes for you» then slams back into the restaurant. I’m furious – did she completely forget that we had reservations as well? It’s not like we were there for four hours with just a tea – we had a 1:45hr meal with continuous drinks. Furthermore, if she had even bothered to tell us upfront that they were busy and we could only sit for 1.5hours, that would’ve been totally fine. What WASN’T fine was hostile, passive aggressive behavior.
I follow her back inside the restaurant and she’s taking the order of a table of poor bystanders who have to watch this uncomfortable altercation. I’m angry but I’m also trying to figure out what the hell just happened and try to explain that all she had to do was TELL us it was busy and we would’ve left, but the waitress is LIVID and shaking and cuts me off, snapping «I’m with customers right now.»
I leave numbly. My friend joins me soonafter and tells me she had a really confusing walk back out the door. She said a random waitress told her «Have a good night» but it was said really saccharine and over-​the-​top. We’re both completely lost. Was the other waitress being sarcastic and passive aggressive in saying «have a good night»? Or was she trying to make up for the redhead who seemed as if she had come into her own set of issues halfway through the night and was taking it out on us?
All in all, this was the worst restaurant experience I’ve ever had in my 30 years of life. And I eat out a lot. So, congratulations Le Bouchon. Out of thousands of establishments, you’re at the top of my shit list.
(Which is a shame because the steak tartare was very yummy.)
:(

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Such a cozy atmosphere and delicious food. I had the steak-​which was excellent. I also loved the house red, and the salad was amazing as well. The seasonal dessert definitely delivers – based on looks alone, I wouldn’t have ordered it, but the cake was incredibly moist and flavorful.

Excellent food. Le Bouchon is in prime form this December and we should all take note.
It helps to go with a group of at least four the first time so you can try a bite of each item so you have a better idea of what to get when you are inevitably back again later that week. We had the frites, the tartar, and the chicken which were very good. We did not get to try the duck but thats only more reason to go back!
The atmosphere is joyous and cozy without hampering your personal experience. Bring your appetite as well because the portions are no joke.
All in all, things to note are great apps, entrees, and solid desserts will ensure a fantastic dining experience. Bring some friends and dinner conversation and you won’t go wrong.

Absolutely fantastic restaurant. The food is authentic homemade french cuisine with outstanding service. Fairly priced as well for what you get. The mussels are delicious. Crème brûlée was phenomenal. Definitely coming back soon!

The food: ⁵⁄₅. I’ve sort of given up on French cuisine available in Chicago, but Le Bouchon was a pleasant surprise. We started with gruyère cheese puffs, which were excellent. Lyonnaise was done exactly right with sautéed lardons and toasted croutons. Frog legs were great too, I loved the lemon parsley sauce. Chicken wasn’t as moist as I had hoped, but the sauce and the sides were perfectly done. We finished our meal with profiteroles. They also have a great selection of gin cocktails.
The service: ⁵⁄₅. We sat at the bar and the bartender was great. He answered all of our questions about the drinks and the menu and made good recommendations.
Overall: ⁵⁄₅. The best French food I’ve had in Chicago

For a first visit, I must say that I like Le Bouchon. As to décor and atmosphere, both are nice. It’s not a large bistro, so it tends to pack quickly and the ambient noise from so many customers in a small space can result in a need to talk loud. On to the more important topic of the restaurant: the food.
French onion soup. Sauvignon blanc. Rushing waters trout. Chardonnay. Apple beignets with ice cream. Coffee.
I have never been a fan of French onion soup. I could see myself ordering the soup here again. The trout was absolutely divine, complete without fishy flavour, and very meaty. The apple beignets were different, and in a good way, if I may add.
The service seemed slightly scrambled at first. I didn’t make it any better by telling my server that I liked seafood, have no nut allergies yet hate nuts, and that I wanted a soup or salad, an entrée, and a dessert; I left the decision as to «what» to my server. Once the camera came out, and I don’t mean the one on my cellphone, service was top all around.
I will have to return to taste some of the other menu items. What I had on the first pass makes Le Bouchon worthy of a second, third, fourth, and nth return visit.

Dare I say best french spot in the city? I do! So delicious and the staff is always beyond welcoming. They have pretty good deals throughout the week, but the best is the Tuesday pre fixe…30 bucks gets you 3 incredible courses. The ambience takes to the cozy brasseries in Paris. Lovely spot for a romantic evening. Don’t miss the escargot or the spatzle if they have it on the menu. Will ALWAYS recommend!

Try the 1 $ oyster Friday’s — sooooo good. Also, absolutely loved the duck. And the chef was hanging out right there, very sweet and smiling man. The food is so frenchy good. They deserve multiple visits. The restaurant is small and very cozy, bs you get this real French atmosphere

Excellent traditional French food with good service. We enjoyed the rabbit and the squid ink pasta. Both were very much enjoyed. Started with the french onion soup which was excellently cooked. Highly recommended for warming up in the winter cold.
Only point we didn’t like was that the salt was a bit much on the dishes.
Overall, will be back! Will need to have a full wallet though.

My boyfriend and I have been walking past Le Bouchon for the better part of a year now. Once we tried just walking in without reservations and were told it pretty much wasn’t going to happen. So I was excited last night when he told me we had reservations to finally try this place out! The restaurant itself is super small, cozy and intimate. We were seated near the back by the bar and had a good view of the bread station where each server would come to slice the baguettes himself each time a table needed one. Don’t know if they bake their bread there or if they get it somewhere else, but I was glad they kept it coming!
We started off ordering a bottle of wine and the charcuterie plate. It was a great selection of pâté, nduja, sausages, and cured duck, all served on a slice of tree stump! We then had the escargots, served still bubbling. Some of the best snails I’ve ever had. The steak tartare with a quail egg was perfect and a pretty big portion as well. We got some veggies just to make ourselves feel good… The green beans were a little garlicky and the tomatoes were kind of simple but both were good additions to the meal. We were too full for dessert but shared a Zombie Dust after we saw it on the beer menu. The service was great throughout, and we LOVED the music selection – some bluesy/​jazzy/​folksy stuff and some creole! Perfect place to come for any special occasion!

Eat the duck… period.

Love it! Love it! Love it!
Le Bouchon has won the spot in my heart as my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I love everything about it and have never had a bad meal or bad service. I would recommend reservations as LB stays true to being a French bistro with just 20 or so tables.
I almost always start with French onion soup… its the best in the world here — literally I’ve not had better in France!
Salads are great, but my favorite sides are the green beans — SO zesty — to die for and the Dauphin potatoes… YUMMY
I like most of the dishes, but LOVE the seasonal rabbit (Lapin) and we’ve also really liked the dish with sausages and corned beef in a casoulet.
I’m always too stuffed with food and cocktails for dessert, but have liked it when I tried once or twice — the apple tart is superb.
You’ll always see Jean Claude there running the place — he’s a very sweet man, so say hello!

Went here for an anniversary dinner, and it is definitely a great restaurant for a special occassion. You really feel like you’re in bistro in France. There is an intimacy yet energy about the place. Yes, it’s a bit small and seats are close in proximity, but that’s part of the experience! The bf and I split the escargot for an appetizer, and I have to admit, it was nearly as good as the escargot I had in France We also split the Tarte à l’Oignon Alsacienne, which was good but nothing to write home or to Unilocal about. For my main course, I had the Bouillabaisse, which is essentially a mixed seafood stew, and it was delicious.

Went there for a dinner with our friends.
It was a little problem with parking– found one spot a block away.
Excellent service! Bravo!
I had escargot (ok) and lamb (not bad). My wife did frog legs (very tasty) and rabbit (waste of animal).
Food was dissent for the money we payed $ 230 bill +$ 50 tips.
Worth to go there ones.

Simply put, acoustics aside, Le Bouchon is perfect. It’s all about the details, and even the fresh bread and quality butter offered to guests is amazing. From service that welcomes you in, to the authentic frenchy vibes coming from the décor you’ll immediately feel at home.
First, let’s talk about the Bouillabaisse. At $ 25 it may seem pricy, but it’s absolutely worth every penny. The savory, deeply rich saffron broth was absolutely packed with sea food. Monkfish, lobster, mussels, clams and octopus were perfectly cooked. On top of the bowl was a long crispy toasted slice of baguette covered in a rich aioli that was perfect for dipping and soaking up the love.
The steak frites with peppered sauce was served up exactly as you’d hope. Delicious and largely portioned
But it was how we started the meal that really set things off. Appetizers were so good we’re sure on next visit that’s all we will get.
First up with the french breakfast radishes and herbed goat butter. Such a delightful combination made even better with the addition of a small container of Maldon Salt. Crunchy, salty and a little toooooo easy to go over board with. Watch out.
The escargot were also classically prepared in garlic butter with parsely. Served up bubbling hot, direct from the oven. The juicy little morsels were a hit, and dipping bread into the butter was heavenly
Speaking of heaven, the duck liver pâté is a must have. It comes with sourdough toast, and a red onion marmalade. The most perfect bite of the night came by smearing the pâté on the toast, and popping a piping hot snail on top. I could eat that every single day for the rest of my life and never tire of it’s beauty.
But yeah, joint get’s super loud. I’d recommend hitting it up on a week night to avoid the crowds, that… by the way, are all having an absolutely wonderful time.

Amazing food and customer service! We had a wonderful time trying the Escargot appetizer, and the tarte a l’oignon was a favorite! We tried the Foie Gras too and it was delicious.
Entrees were even more incredible, pork belly for me that was melt-​in-​your-​mouth, accompanied with a fresh salad.
Dessert was the kicker with crème brûlée and a glass of delicious dessert wine.

Super cozy, comfortable, accessible, authentic french bistro. Great wine list, rotating cheeses make for great apps, and the entrees we had were also spectacular! We had the gnocchi and the bouillabaisse. Monday’s are half price bottles of wine, which makes the wine taste even more delicious! (It’s science) Service was excellent as well, and would be a great place for a casual night out or a special occasion. Just a couple or a group of people. Such a great neighborhood gem — one of the many reasons Bucktown/​Wicker Park/​Logan Square areas are some of the best for dining in Chicago!

Charming French bistro in Bucktown, featuring authentic classics. Intimate, low-​key and understated. The bouillabaisse is tasty — monkfish, lobster, mussels in saffron broth. Friends enjoyed the steak frites.
Bistro is small, so get cozy! Tuesday prix fixe dinners are a steal ($ 30 3-​course). Restaurant tends to be very warm, perfect for winter.

J’adore!

C’est tranquil et délicieux comme une soirée au quartier latin… mais un peu bondé aux weekends.