Mon Ami Gabi

Specialties

Mon Ami Gabi is a classic French bistro where, upon entering, guests can’t help but smell the welcoming aroma of freshly prepared food and immediately feel ready to indulge. For anyone who knows and loves classic French bistros and their remarkably flavorful dishes, Mon Ami Gabi is simply the perfect place as it embraces a passion for food, wine and culture. While the favorites are all here in abundance, there is always something new to try from the ever-​evolving menu. The traditional menu features classics such as the warm Onion Soup Au Gratin with bubbling baked gruyère, Frisée & Bacon Salad with a soft-​poached egg and croutons, Roast Chicken & Frites grand-​mère style with mushrooms, bacon and pearl onions, as well as the trademark Steak Frites — made fresh each and every day. To complement the cuisine, an extensive selection of over 80 boutique French wine varietals — handpicked by renowned chef and owner Gabino Sotelino himself — are served by the glass or bottle from the restaurant’s signature rolling wine cart.

Now open for Sunday Brunch!

Join us for Sunday brunch from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Sip on Mimosas or cozy up with morning coffee while enjoying a variety of delectable dishes such as the Omelette Lorraine, Croque Madame, Eggs Benedict or our Crème Brûlée French Toast.

History

Established in 1998.

In 1977, renowned chef & owner Gabino Sotelino met Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise’s CEO and founder, who offered him a position as the chef for LEYE’s newly acquired restaurant, The Pump Room. Sotelino accepted and, as a master of his craft, soon turned the pump room into one of the finest restaurants in the Midwest. The partnership between Sotelino & Melman flourished & they were soon planning the creation of LEYE’s first original fine dining restaurant, Ambria, which opened to rave reviews in 1980. In 1981, Gabino introduced Chicago to a true Parisian bistro with Un Grand Café, a combination of Ambria’s quality cuisine in a more informal atmosphere. In 1985, he unleashed Chicago’s very first tapas restaurant with Café Ba-​Ba-​Reeba! In June of 1998, Sotelino began construction on a brief renovation of Un Grand Café that evolved into an entirely new concept, Mon Ami Gabi.