Wow, truly a meal I’ll never forget and genuinely worth every penny. French onion soup was addictive and the maple crème brûlée was perfection. The main courses are delicious too. Service and wine selection were impressively thoughtful. If you’ve been to France before, you’ll instantly feel transported back. If you’ve never been, this is as close as it gets to being there. Reserve in advance. Small restaurant so not ideal for huge groups. 1/2 off bottles of wine on Mondays. Make sure to read the food specials card that’s separate from the main menu. Get a dessert even if you’re too full.

My overall grade for Le Bouchon is: C+ Some foundational stuff - I love French bistros, France, French food, both fancy and rustic. Which is why we chose to visit Le Bouchon for the first time. The restaurant is VERY popular. We made reservations via OpenTable and the best "lunch" reservation I could get was 1:30 - a little later than we would've preferred, but so be it. At 12:30, we were done with our errands, so I called the restaurant to see if they could get us in earlier than our 1:30 rezo. No dice. No problem: we went to a local bar to wait out the hour. The restaurant hits the vibe of a French bistro very nicely. It's small, crowded, popular and many of the customers seemed to know each other. Very good news for the neighborhood folks. Both the menu and the wine list are very nice and we couldn't wait to order our lunch, also received recommendations from the clients at the local bar. Server was very nice and prompt and provided good service. She did however, fail to mention the rabbit pot-pie and other specials. Hmm. Ok. We wanted the burger & the mussels for lunch and then, they're out of both the mussels & the burger. Ok - they were packed and it was 1:30 after all - so, ok. Started with the duck pate & the onion soup followed by the trout in pastry and a croq madame with frites. Yum. The soup was great, but the duck pate, was maybe a bit too "rustic" versus our expectation - looking for a bit more smooth version - still no worries. The trout came out and was beautiful and very nicely executed. The croq madame came out and looked great - couldn't wait to dig into the fries. The trout proved to be disappointing due to the "heavy-handed" salt in the sauce - and my frites proved to be in the same situation. Not just a little over-salted, but quite a bit. To the point that the taste in my mouth on the way home, was the same taste you have after snorkeling in the ocean and you're on your way back to shore on the shuttle boat, only to just taste the salt of the ocean in your mouth the entire way back. The wine list was great - had a nice 2013 CDP at 1/2 off - on Monday's it's 1/2 off wine prices - yay!! We skipped dessert because we couldn't get over the over salted meal and just finished our wine and left. It's obviously a successful neighborhood joint where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.... But for us that don't go into the city too much anymore (not the fault of the restaurants), we really will probably go back to our old favorites and maybe one day come back to see if this was just an anomaly. The locals seem to love this place. But for me, I'll head elsewhere next time I'm looking for some French comfort food.

Went here my my anniversary dinner and it was amazing. I loved the small dining room, the window into the kitchen, watching the chefs and expo do their thing. The food was better than I could have imagined. It was my first time having frog legs and escargots and both of them were amazing. The frog legs were actually my favorite dish of the night. We also had steak tartare, which was better than so many other places in Chicago. Finally we finished with our entrees of Croquette de Canard, and Steak Fries because they were out of the dessert that we wanted. I guess we will just have to go back! We ordered the cocktail at the top of the menu, I can't remember its name, but it was strong! Whew. I have to say that the bread that they continually replenish really makes the meal because it gives you something to soak up all of the butter and leftover bits with.

Real French food; excellent experience. Highly recommended. Onion sup - the best I have ever had. Steak- soft an delicious. Duck- better than the one I had in Beijing China. And deserts- you will not regret….. I did not try wine since I was a designated driver- but that is OK- I will be back

Their whole duck was amazing. After failing to find a good French duck in my city, I was delighted to stop here during my trip to Chicago. Holy buckets, what a meal. I started with a French onion soup that sent my tastebuds flying with flavor, and snacked on some freshly baked bread as I awaited my avian feast. The whole duck came carved and served on an actual silver platter, with some delicious sides. We then ended the meal with some creme Brule and banana cream pudding. Amazing. The flavor made me want to study cooking in France for a while just to be able to have the means to recreate such a great dinner if I ever lose access to this place. Worth the wait, drive, whatever it may be - if you're looking for French cuisine in Chicago, this is the best spot.

I was looking forward for weeks to take my sister from out of town to Le Bouchon. The inside is very tight but cozy. Our waitress will likely be the reason I’ll never return to Le Bouchon, which is a shame since the food was so good. As soon as we indicated we don’t drink alcohol (the half off wine on Mondays) was when our waitress went cold on us. When we ordered our food, we wanted 2 french onion soups but were recommended against it because it’s “so much food”. Have you ever shared soup with someone? It’s not a shareable dish whatsoever. I appreciate her concern of how much food we can eat, but we’re adults who can make our own decisions about what food and how much of it to get. The french onion soup was delicious but again, almost ruined since it’s absolutely not a shareable dish. We loved the escargot as another starter as well. Our main dishes: lapin en croute and the steak frites were both delicious. We felt our presence in Le Bouchon was a burden from the second we sat down. It was very evident our waitress was playing favorites the entire night for no apparent reason— we deserved the right to good service and food just like everyone else. There were several instance from boxing up the leftover food for the table next to us versus just giving us our box, to being very friendly and talkative to another party, versus being cold and transactional all night. It also was very hostile and uncomfortable when the same waitress berated another table due to a miscommunication over an allergy. Overall, the food was amazing and I’d love to try more dishes. But the service from our waitress was the worst I’ve experienced not only in Chicago, but anywhere I’ve ever ate. The hostess and chef bringing us our food were both delightful and pleasant. It’s a shame to feel so unwelcome, especially for an out of town guest for absolutely no reason beyond our waitress seemingly playing favorites. I likely will not return unless a rational explanation is given for why we were treated so terribly.

My favorite restaurant in the entire world. I think about the duck liver mousse, and the mussels DAILY (save the mussels broth for your friets for dipping if you order the steak. Simply the best. Unreal. I could drink it) I come regularly and try any seasonal item that’s offered and nothing ever misses. The service is always personable, knowledgeable about any and every aspect of the menu, also very hospitable. I feel like I’m at home every time I come to Le Bouchon due to the staff and intimate atmosphere. The wine program is absolutely bananas and I always find a new favorite when I order my table wine. Ask your server for their recent favorite to pair with your choices. This is my favorite for a reason. Perfect for small business dinner, date nights, girls nights out, or taking the in-laws to a dinner they will never forget. A staple on my hit list.

First time at Le Bouchon and it was great. Server was amazing and the ambience made it feel like if I was in France. The fries from the Steak Frites were excessively salty but the steak itself was good. I was expecting a little more raclette on the Tarte a l’ Oignon Alsacienne.

Le Bouchon is THE definition of French comfort food. If that is what you are looking for, there is no better in Chicago. It's sister restaurant Obelix carries a very different menu and another level of sophistication, but I personally prefer the food here. The atmosphere is very cozy and the service is fast and courteous. You will always find the perfect experience here. Most newcomers order the escargot, soup, salad, mussels, steak and the duck, which are very good choices. But you have not had Le Bouchon until you have had their stews and pastry dishes such as Rabbit Pot Pie and the Trout en Croute, just like the Beef Wellington at Obelix. Aside from the perfected cooked and seasoned goodies inside, the pastry is one of the best I have ever tasted and it means a lot coming from me because I usually hate pastries. But the pastry layer here is light, fluffy with both crisp and chew and it is super thin. Mixing the pastry with the rest of the food creates a texture and flavor explosion in your mouth, you just can't stop eating it. Needless to say, we always leave with a full stomach and never with left overs.

Super good French Bistro. We had the Terrine, Onion Soup, Ham Sandwich, and Quiche. All were prepared perfectly and were as authentically French as you're going to find. The wine list was also full of uncommon choices from several regions in France. Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a legit taste of France!

My wife and I went here for her birthday. The staff was very friendly and were fantastic throughout the experience. We ordered oysters as an appetizer , and for our main entrees steak frites and lapin en croute. The steak was cooked to perfection and seasoned very well. The Lapin en Croute was OUTSTANDING. The duck fat really elevated the flavor. For desert we ordered creme brulee, which was also very good. It reminded me very much of a traditional french restaurant in Paris. We live close by and will be back!

Definitely not my first time to Le Bouchon and still worth coming back. The good: beet salad that was clean and refreshing. Paired nicely with the rich and savoury French onion soup. The mussels are always amazing, especially dipping the warm delicious bread in the rich sauce. The disappointment for me was the steak and frites. The steak was very thin and besides the butter, it lacked flavour. It reminded me of having a steak at a fast casual restaurant. Will come back but try a different main.

One of the best French restaurants in Chicago, service was so on point, acknowledgeable of every single dish, ingredients and wine pairing. We were here for a casual dinner during our visit and ended the best dinner of our trip, we visit Chicago every year for 2 weekends so we get to go around selecting new exciting restaurants, this is definitely a hidden gem!

A really great spot for french onion soup. Unfortunately when you start off that high quality its hard for the rest of the food to live up!! Also the space is very intimate which is quite cozy but also very close to neighboring tables. Overall great experience!

This place is amazing. A cute, yet small, unassuming restaurant. Every single dish we had was phenomenal and created with care. My favorite was the sun-choke soup. Menu changes regularly and reservations fill up fast. If you are in the area, this place is a must. It will not disappoint!

As soon as I walked into this quaint restaurant, I felt like I stepped into a local French cafe in Paris. The restaurant staff was very busy, and everyone looked like they were enjoying the company and the food. It took some time for us to get seated, but that’s typical European culture. We ordered a variety of entrees to share and try so many things. The beet salad was fresh - the orange, nuts, fresh herbs, and beet all paired so well together. I loved this salad and I highly recommend it even if you don’t care for salads. I wouldn’t order the foie gras again, even if it was a good representation of what foie gras is. The bread could have been more elegant than what I considered to be “texas toast” style bread, and the foie gras itself was not easily spreadable on the bread so while it was presented well, it was less enjoyable to eat. The jam it came with was unexpectedly delicious though. The oxtail dish for 2 people was the star for me. Wonderful pan sauce, roasted carrots, potato, and very flavorful and tender meat all came together in this awesome dish. It was a bit difficult to get the meat off the bone without using your hands, but other than that, this was my favorite dish. The trout with puff pastry was served perfectly, split in half to share with someone. It was light, fresh, and the salmon roe added a different texture to the dish. I didn’t try the gnocchi, but it looked and tasted more forgettable according to my party. The white bean casserole was also a miss for me - the ratio of ingredients in this dish felt off to me (and it didn’t match other people’s pictures on Google Maps or so I thought). Too many beans, not enough meat. There was an entire duck leg in the casserole randomly, which I thought was odd. The rabbit puff pastry was decent, it was like an elevated, upscale chicken pot pie. I wouldn’t order it again, but if you were looking for a pot pie, this wouldn’t disappoint. We also ended with a chocolate mousse, once again presented beautifully and tasted just as good as it looked. All in all, an excellent meal and representation of French cuisine.

First time having French food and can say this was the proper introduction I was looking for! The restaurant had a European vibe to it, nice and snug spacing with a lively atmosphere. We ordered the beet salad, foie gras, oxtail dish, trout with puff pastry, white bean casserole, and a rabbit puff pastry. Highlights were the beet salad and oxtail dish. Felt the beet salad had an interesting blend of orange/nuts/beets, which was delicious and unique to me. The oxtail dish had a very flavorful meat complimented with a tasty sauce, potatoes and carrots. I tried some of the trout and wish that was my order as well. All dishes were presented great but felt that was more of a priority than the substance of some of the dishes such as the casserole. The distribution seemed off, it lacked meat with having too many beans. Also, the French are known for their breads and I felt the breads served were not of the best quality. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. Service was great, and capped off the night with a rich chocolate mousse dessert. I can say this gave me a good idea of what to expect in Paris!

This is a small and cute bistro style restaurant with a lively atmosphere and pretty cramped seating. I loved everything we ordered, the tartare, escargot and trout en croute. The service can be a bit slow when there’s a full house, and they were pretty busy on a weekday lunch. I saw many people ordered the onion soup and the rabbit pot pie, and am eager to try them next time. Venison Tartare- the flavor is a bit sour with the cornichon pickles. The shaved foie gras and quail egg bring rich and creaminess to your mouth. I love the balance of this dish. Escargot- standard traditional escargot. Trout en Croute- this is my first time having this classic French dish. Absolutely loved the smoked fish roes bringing a hint of smoky flavor to the fish. The half cooked center of the trout leaves a tender buttery texture in your mouth. The puff pastry is thin and flaky. Just wonderful.

The restaurant was so cute and cozy. Our waitress was the best, she constantly checked on us and gave us great recs. I just thought the food was super salty compared to other French restaurants I’ve been to. On Monday it’s half wine bottles!

Exceptional French cuisine in a charming and intimate setting. We've dined here for lunch twice, and each visit has been a delight. The house bread is wonderfully fragrant and fresh. On our most recent visit, we tried the special mushroom consommé that was incredibly rich and hearty. The Fjord Trout en Croûte (Trout in puff pastry) was a standout, with a rich and creamy dressing that perfectly complemented the trout's amazing texture. The Confit Carrots, while lighter, were packed with exciting spices and flavors. Without a doubt, Le Bouchon offers one of the finest French dining experiences in Chicago.

My partner and I checked this place out after countless times of me rejecting it as I've been so hesitant to try their dishes. I should've been here long ago cause WOW! I regret putting it off because literally everything here was spectacular. We ordered waaaaay too much food, but oh so worth it. We ordered two rounds of oysters, frog legs, oxtail, corn creme brulee, and two drinks recommended by our waiter; which were fantastic! We really enjoyed the experience and our waiter was very communicative and friendly. He informed us on a type of liquor used in one of the cocktails and we tried a sip since it's very strong in menthol/mint. I highly recommend those frog legs! Probably my favorite dish there (along with the oysters since they taste great as is). Overall, we definitely will be back. I think we found "our" new spot. ☺️ Keep in mind, however, that this is a very small space. So I'd suggest making a reservation. We were lucky as walk-ins on a very busy evening.

Absolutely delicious. Celebrated my anniversary here with my partner. Had a half-priced bottle of wine, three appetizer plates, two main plates & two desserts. Ate every single one to the last spoonful. Amazing flavors and excellent service!