I went here for a birthday dinner (not mine) and everything was fantastic. Ive been here a couple times now and I am yet to have a bad experience. I always leave thinking of someone else that I want to show the place to.
Previously I've had the steak frittes and that has always been wonderful. The last time I went I tried one of the different steaks which wasn't as great, but still pretty good.
The scallops are also awesome. There are only two in the serving order. Â So I recommend ordering a couple depending on your party size.
With everything that Ive ordered, the prices are pretty reasonable for the quality of food I've gotten.
My one complaint with this place is that even though my group has always had a reservation, Â on more than one occasion we have had to wait as much as a half an hour past our reservation time for a table.
Each time we had to wait, we ordered a bottle of wine and enjoyed ourselves at the bar while we waited. So it was never much of a problem. If I was with the wrong group of friends however, it could have been very annoying...I should also ad that the last time, we did get a complimentary desert for the hold up.
Food is always fantastic and the atmosphere always makes me feel good. If you like french food, you will love this place, even of you have to wait a bit.
This was really a nice restaurant. The staff was very attentive and they made you feel welcome. My friend and I started with the soup. I had the French Onion and she had the Mushrrom soup. The French Onion was good, but the Mushroom soup was one of the best my friend ever had. She commented how it really had a good flavor. We both had the Scallops over Risotto and we agreed they were the best we ever had. We finished the meal with a Sorbet. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
Review Source:Flavorful, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth were the first things that come to mind when thinking of the food here. Â We LOVED the food! Â The portions were huge, the tall stack of scallops expertly seared, the saffron risotto perfectly seasoned and textured. My bf's bouillabaisse was so chock full of seafood and rich broth made this soup more like a hearty stew. Â To start, I ordered a nightly special appetizer, a heart-shaped puff pastry with lobster and spinach (to die for) and he ordered the French onion soup, a favorite dish of his that he quickly devoured. Â The wine list had a nice variety of reasonably priced French wines - we chose the Languedoc rose which paired perfectly with our food. Our waiter was easily able to steer us in the right direction to narrow down our choices, and kindly let us taste a couple of wines before deciding on a bottle. The bread - served warm - was very good and tasted homemade. Â We thankfully left room at the end of the meal to crack into a rich, smooth creme brulee for dessert (well, not before packing doggie bags - something that does not happen often at a French restaurant).
The service was great - they did what they needed to (poured wine, refilled glasses, removed empty plates, brought the bill) with just the right timing so that we were never waiting. Â Our waiter let us take our time between each course. Â The ambience was "intimate," perfect for Valentine's day. Â The restaurant was decorated tastefully with valentine's decorations and red roses on the table. Â There is nothing I can critique about this restaurant - everything was top-notch. Â I would love to go back during the summer and enjoy the outdoor seating!
Let me preface this entry by saying that, yes, I understand restaurants are really busy on Valentine's Day but the way we were treated made me feel really unwelcome and awkward. We made a late reservation and wanted to stop by for their creme brûlée dessert, which I love. After being seated we realized they had a fixed menu but having walked all the way there we figured that at least asking if it was a possibility wouldn't hurt, right? Wrong. The waiter was pleasant enough and said he'd ask the kitchen for us. We figured the answer would probably be no, and that was perfectly fine; it's not like I expect special treatment, especially when the kitchen is super busy. I was just hoping that they'd have a frozen one somewhere they could heat up. Who knows? Anyway...a manager (i assume) came by and asked us what the problem was. I replied that there was no problem but we were wondering if it was at all possible to get creme brûlée and he snapped back that it was a fixed menu so of course we couldn't. His tone implied, "Are you stupid?" Without another word he walked off and didn't even bother to acknowledge us as we walked out the door. No goodbye or have a nice night or even a glance and a nod. The place is small so I was less than a foot away from him when stepping out the door and he acted like we didn't even exist - he literally looked right above my head. I've never felt more unwelcome at a restaurant before or more out of place and judged. I use to rave about this place to friends but I will not be coming back.
Review Source:This is one of the best french restaurant's I have been to. My friend and I started with the Escargots Farcis Au Beurre à la Bourguignonne. This was awesome and I would recommend anyone to order this. Next, we tried their soupe du jour which was a mushroom soup. This was also a great to have before our entree's. I ordered the Magret et Confit de Canard, sauce à L'orange and it definitely did not disappoint me. My friend ordered the Steak Grillé au Poivre which was prepared perfectly.
The only negative about this place was we felt that we were being rush during our meal. Our water was very attentive but brought out all of our food very quickly.
Yet again, I find myself scratching my head over the rating of a restaurant on Yelp in the city of Chicago. I mean, the restaurant is not that bad, but hardly something I would be giving anything near a perfect score. I'll start with the basics. The decor was nice, classy, but demur; a bit dated, and in need of some updating. That aside, the service was great, our server attentive and helpful with suggestions.
For our appetizers we had (the special) Grilled Octopus and the French Onion Soup; neither were impressive. Now, I'll be honest and admit that I am not a big fan of French Onion Soup in general, but this one lacked any sense of complexity in the broth so it makes me question if it was made in-house or was simply ordered premade and heated up in their kitchen. The octopus was quite good, fresh and charred well, even though there were a mere three pieces tossed with some frisee.
Our entrees consisted of the Bouillabaisse and the Duck Margret and Confit. Pretty standard French fare and yet, the Bouillabaise was rather bland and the duck, ordered "medium" was getting closer to rare. The waitress suggested the duck medium rare but my girlfriend clearly said that she wanted it medium. My only guess is that the kitchen ignored the request. I took the stew home and had it the next day for lunch and true to form with soups, it got much better.
All in all, not a very bad experience at $120 (alcohol and tip included), but I would declare that it is a far cry from 4.5 stars - and anything close to what is produced in France. I'd say that it's not a bad choice if you're in the area and don't want to leave, but if you're looking for superb French cuisine - keep looking!
This place is French at its finest. Â The service is amazing, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is perfect for a little French bistro. Â This is a go-to special date night place and a great spot to bring friends for a good catch-up night. Â
Tucked into Taylor Street, you will find one of the best dining experiences in Chicagoland. Â The staff is so gracious, and the vibe is relaxed. Â It is a finer dining experience, but there is nothing stuffy about this cozy place. Â It is fun enjoy a few bottles of wine with friends - we often split a few apps and each choose a meal...rotating them around the table. Â I have never had a bite of anything that I would not be happy keeping for my own.
We've been talking about trying French food for awhile and it always seemed a little intimidating! The courses, the menu...the price. But, we walked by this restaurant a few times and finally tried it. Delicious and nice but comfortable atmosphere - not intimidating at all. :)
Our waiter was very nice and friendly.  We had an appetizer that had shell fish in a lobster sauce all inside a delicate  pastry - my mouth is watering writing this it's so delicious.  My husband had the lamb cassoulet which he loved and I had the filet mignon. YUMMY. They have delicious french bread.  We also had a salad and dessert - both perfect. What's also nice is that you can try something truly French but if you're not sure you can choose something that's a little more familiar but with a French twist. Â
Highly recommend for date night. They also have valet parking. We had two meals, appetizer, salad, dessert and two glasses of wine - total around $100+. Â Most entrees were around $15 to $25.
It was an OK experince, nothing stood out, from the moules to the steak frites to the brulee for dessert. It was my birthday and my boyfriend made the ressy's on the worng day so maybe the food didn't tatse as good if I was at a table and not the bar. I might go back and try lunch.... if I am in the area.
Review Source:We went for Saturday's Brunch, so this review is about Brunch only and not dinner.
What impressed us was the quality of the service, atmosphere and food for the same price as what you'd pay at a standard breakfast place ($10 for a large & delicious Eggs Benedict meal, which is great).
The thing that really sold us was really excellent Bloody Mary's. Â One of the few places in Chicago that doesn't resort to a mix. Â The tomato juice is fresh and they actually use horseradish (another apparent rarity in this town).
The brunch is great, we look forward to going back for dinner.
I'm still searching for a French restaurant in the DC area that is almost as good as Chez Joel. For a French joint they actually give you huge portions. My wife and I ordered the filet and Coq au vin and they do give half a chicken. The ambiance, food, and service were excellent and we will definitely dine here the next time we are in Chi-town.
Review Source:Our third time at the restaurant Saturday night. Positives: they accommodated a last minute reservation for us, and my husband's boss. Â We left Davanti (too loud) to enjoy the atmosphere at Chez Joel. Â We were lucky to get a 4-top in the window.
Negatives: I felt the waitress was rushing us just a bit, then forgot to serve my husband's onion soup (his fave); she took it off the bill. Â While I've had other dishes at CJ that were spectacular, I am a new vegan, and asked her to ask the chef to be creative with vegetables. Â The dish I was served was a not-so-pretty plate of leftover and undercooked vegetables thrown together as an after-thought. Â It really felt like the chef was insulted by my order, or just didn't want to be bothered with my particular food lifestyle. Â This was really disappointing.
We'll be back, but please use this review as constructive criticism to bring awareness.
I don't often feel compelled to write a review. Â In fact, if you look at my history, that's probably evident.
Last night my girlfriend and I went here for dinner for our one year anniversary. Â It was fantastic. Â The decor made for a very romantic setting. Â The wine we got seemed reasonably priced and was very good. Â The food was phenomenal! Â I probably can't say much that others haven't said already, but I was very very happy that we went there. Â The service was also top notch.
I'm about to leave Little Italy, so I wanted to check out all the good joints on Taylor before my departure. Chez-Joel was one of them. Can't say I'm angry that I gave it a shot, but it won't make me pine away for this street.
The meal started fairly auspiciously; French Onion soup ($7.50) has a rich beef flavor, is not too salty, and is topped with perfectly broiled Gruyere cheese. This was easily the highlight of the night. Bouillabaise ($25.95) has wonderful fish flavor in the broth, but some of the fish (especially the salmon) are overcooked. Duck duo ($24.95) probably knocked Chez-Joel from four star land into three star land; the duck is overcooked, and the sauce is unidimensionally sweet. This was not good.
Pricing is definitely steep, even for French bistro food, but the service is very good. All in all, this is a solid dinner spot, and above average for Taylor street, but by no means does it blow one away.
If you want to check out French food, in a casual yet fun environment with no snootyness or pretension, head to Taylor Street and try the Chez Joel. Hit up Chez Joel with my boo for a date night and we really enjoyed it. I recommend eating in the back patio area if the weather permits. It's romantic and secluded enough to make it feel like you've escaped the city entirely.
The food was good. Portion sizes were a bit on the smaller side, so order accordingly. My boo had a great fish dish, and the steak frites was delicious. Don't skip dessert either! We usually do, but for some reason we opted to try the cake. It melts in your mouth. So moist. Absolutely perfect. May have to go back just for desserts.
French food without the attitude, Chez Joel is a great spot for a casual evening, and some fine dining.
The food was amazing, but the service was so top-notch that before our meals came out, I said "no matter what the food tastes like, they're getting 5 stars." Let me explain...
I made a reservation through Open Table. I texted my family to say "great! Confirmed for 8pm Saturday!" but then never received a confirmation from Open Table. Big mistake on my part. When we arrived on Saturday night, our reservation was nowhere to be found. Upon hearing that news, I expected that we would be going across the street for pizza slices because Chez Joel was packed and we were sans reservation. Alas, the hostess made arrangements for the 6 of us to sit at a 4-top table with 2 seats on the end. She didn't act snooty about the situation at all, and for that action alone, they deserve a great review.
The food... Oh my goodness. The bread was probably the best I've had in Chicago. It was so fresh and I could have eaten only that for dinner. The steak came with "garlic butter" which turned out to be green and a bit alarming for my picky-eater self, but it was a perfect complement for the perfectly cooked steak. I honestly didn't expect the steak to be as good as it was, since we weren't at a steakhouse. It was delicious. The fries were so thin and crispy. Yum! Dessert was equally as wonderful - the molten chocolate cake. We left feeling completely satisfied but not food-coma-ish.
Thanks Chez Joel for a great Saturday night!
Made a reservation for Friday night at 8:30 for a party of 8 by calling the restaurant at 7. Â We were seated on the back patio, great ambiance, and quite accommodating for a party of our size in this smallish restaurant. Â So 3 stars for scenery...
However, at around $25 per plate, the food was just not that great. Â The steaks were well cooked, but small and overcrowded by steak frites. Â The lamb shank, cooked to perfection, but without any creativity. Â The Salmon didnt really incorporate any other flavors besides that of the fish. Â The flavor of the sea bass was completely overpowered by garlic. Â Our party sampled a large portion of the menu, nobody thought the food was something to write home about, and unfortunately, the food was not our only disappointment.
After overpaying for my meal, I thought I could stretch the food out to lunch for the next day, so I asked for a box. Â I still have no idea why this happened, but when I asked the busser for a box, he lifted his noise and sneered at me with the kind of contemptuous sound that made my simple request seem outrageous.
To you, Mr. Busser: you work in a service industry, I can understand if you were having a bad day, but leave your problems at home. Â
I now know why we had such an easy time getting a reservation on such short notice.
I am following up on an earlier 5 star review.
I really felt like I went to Paris tonight, as we were treated rudely and ignored. I had an out of town guest who appreciates good French food a lot, so I thought Chez Joel would be the best place.
We called and got right in, which made me a bit suspicious, but I was thrilled. We arrived and sat out on the charming terrace. We sat down and our table was so wobbly the water was spilling, then I asked if someone could please stabilize it, and after 3 waiters they got the job done. We ordered the escargot and the waitress was fine, she took our order and the escargot arrived, it had way too much Pernod in it, and since I am not accustomed to licorice flavored snails, I had one and so did my guest. We both ordered the Filet Mignon and it was perfect, but we rarely saw our waitress after the escargot order, when we needed more wine couldn't find her, when the dinner came she did not bring it, and we waited but she never came, She ruined the experience for us. We waited and waited for a check, but finally had to ask someone else, and then he neglected to ask us if we wanted a desert. Even after I said "We would like desert!". He said "i will get your bill!".
We felt like we had been ignored all evening.
Sorry, Chez Joel...two women dining are apparently not important to you. I will give you three stars for the food and none for the service.
Chez Joel is located in Little Italy. Â It has a small nicely decorated main dining room with a service bar and a private outdoor patio. Â It is billed as a French bistro serving southern French cuisine.
On a recent weeknight my wife and two other couples dined there with a reservation for 6:00 p.m. Â One of the couples was seated before my wife and I and the other couple arrived and was given a table that was not well situated near the front door. Â This occurred even though about half or more of the tables were unoccupied and more comfortable ones were available.
We started our dinner by ordering drinks.  After they were served we ordered a couple of bowls of the steamed mussels as an appetizer.  At about that point our waitress tried to hurry us to order our entrées and we declined.  A short while she asked again and I told her that we would like to take our time, which worked to slow down the process. Â
The mussels were fresh and the broth nicely seasoned. Â The table bread, which was fresh and crusty, held up well in sopping up the broth.
For the entrées everyone ordered sirloin steaks dishes prepared in a variety of different styles using garlic butter, crushed black pepper, or au jus.  All the steaks were accompanied by french fries.  My wife asked if the french fries could be substituted with the garlic spinach. Our waitress said yes but at an additional cost of $4.00.  My wife pointed out that according to the menu the price for side orders of french fries and the spinach were both $4.00 so the exchange should not have incurred an additional cost.  Our waitress didn't initially understand my wife's reasoning, but after further explanation by my wife the waitress finally understood the reasoning.  At that point our waitress said it would still be an extra $4.00 for the spinach.  When my wife asked why, our waitress said something along the lines of "That's just the way it is."  My wife declined the substitution. Â
When we ordered our entrées, our waitress explained in detail the restaurant's definitions of its gradations of cooking temperatures, i.e., what was meant by "rare," "medium rare," etc.  Based on that guidance, my wife ordered her steak medium, however, it was overcooked and dry.  Also, our waitress mixed up my Steak Frites that was ordered medium rare with another one of our party who had ordered her Steak Frites medium.  We only discovered the error and exchanged plates after each of us sampled our food.  The taste and texture of my steak, as well as the garlic butter topping, was unremarkable although the accompanying french fries were crisp and tasty.
Lastly, one of the owners was in the dining room the entire time of our stay. Â I feel he lacked good salesmanship skills in that he never came to our table to inquire about our meal, especially since the room was so small, the patronage light, and we dropped some heavy coin on food and drinks.
I found the quality of the food at Chez Joel mixed and the service subpar. Â For the prices one can do much better elsewhere.
What a lovely find! When friends invited me to dinner, they said to meet at 1119 Taylor. Â Of course I was expecting Italian, and instead was happily surprised to walk into a little slice of Paris.
I was quite early and sat at the tiny bar. Â There was such a warm and welcoming vibe throughout the whole place. Â Cocktails were magnificent (the Sidecar made with the ginger liqueur was divine).
I started with the escargot (of course).  Garlic-y and buttery, perfect for dipping the bread.  My entrée was the ginormous Flintonesque lamb shank, so tender and rich, falling off the bone.  I was stuffed but managed to put away half a lemon tart for dessert.
So happy to have found this little gem.
I came here for dinner on a Thursday. We ordered the escargot, a salad, Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, and the barramundi. The snails and salad were delicious and nicely presented. The barramundi was perfectly cooked and paired with this great red tomatoey sauce.
However, both entrees were swarmed by steamed and julienned fennel. The Bouillabaisse Marseillaise was completely overpowered by the fennel and none of the flavors of the seafood could compete. The barrramundi was also on top of two brussel sprouts and a pile of this fennel. None of this was mentioned in the menu, so we were left pretty disappointed in our mains.
Our waitress was sweet but overworked and there was not enough wait staff to service tables quickly. Â We will not be back.
Great place for a date night. Highly recommend the Steak au Poivre. Â My girlfriend and I frequent this establishment when we're craving steak frites.
Pretty quiet in the early evening during the weekdays, but it does get busy as the evening progresses. If you want to impress your date, don't be afraid to break out some high school French. Â The manager was a good sport and played along.
I arrived on a sunny Tuesday afternoon and was seated outside in the very pleasant outdoor seating area complete with a quaint fountain and artistic French posters.
I ordered the ham and cheese, and my mom ordered the Tilapia. Let me tell you, the Tilapia and the classic ham and cheese were utterly astounding.
The bread on the sandwich was crisped to perfection, with the french cheese melting into the thinly-sliced strips of ham. Accompanying this was a petite salad and some perfectly cut and fried "pommes frites."
The Tilapia was something of a heavenly creation, wherein the Tilapia was cooked perfectly (to the specifications of my mother, who requested it slightly overcooked) atop a plates of steamed and seasoned vegetables. The fish was complimented by a mouth-watering plate of mashed potatoes.
For dessert, I delved into the lemon tart. Succulent and lemony, the crust easily broke apart and the filling excited all of my taste buds.
This is a fantastic restaurant on Taylor that should be frequented by anyone who enjoys food that is delicious, yet not overly-satiating.
We enjoyed a perfect early dinner at Chez Joel on their lovely patio, which was delightfully peaceful with pleasant music that allowed for comfortable conversation. Â One of our party of four arrived almost 45 minutes after we were seated, and our waitress was very relaxed and accommodating of our extended stay.
We started with a beautiful cheese platter and then enjoyed several shared appetizers, including perfectly prepared mussels. The fish special of the evening was skate, which was light and tender with a delicate, Â light sauce served on a bed of roasted vegetables.
We'll be back for the perfectly prepared French Mediterranean cuisine, attentive service and relaxing atmosphere.
Four of use went to Chez Joel on a Friday night for a quiet, conversation-filled dinner. Â Summary: Â I was very happy with the evening!
We got there a bit early to have pre-dinner drinks. Â It is very intimate in there and quiet. Â The bartender was very attentive, but not annoyingly so. Â After a glass of wine, we were seated at a great table. Â We each got a salad, and the table ordered a bottle of wine. Â The wine list is not large, but is decent enough.
One of the specials for the day was grilled, wood-planked, octopus. Â After a conversation with the server, I decided to give it a go. Â It was excellent, and I was greatful to the server for such a good recommendation. Â
Conversation is easy in this place; it is not loud at all.
Oo- la- la! Â A French invasion on Taylor Street! Â Chez Joel has been on my list to try for awhile now and I finally got a chance to enjoy it the other night.
First of all- make a reservation! Â This place is intimate and is always packed so without a reservation- you will be standing out on Taylor Street!
We got there a few minutes early for our reservation and took a seat at the small bar in the back to enjoy a glass of wine before being escorted to our table for deux.
The bread basket is amazing so watch yourself or you will find yourself eating the entire basket before your first course comes- but who can say no to warm french bread and butter? Â Not me!
I started with mussels (they have them two ways- I went with the white wine cream sauce) and they were tres bon! Â I used the aforementioned bread to sop up every little bit of the sauce in the bottom of the bow- that's how good it was!
I also really enjoyed my tomato salad with basil, balsamic vinegar and blue cheese- so fresh tasting!
For my entree- I went with the skate fish (the special of the day) and my friend had the steak and frites. Â Both were delicious and the presentation made it almost too pretty to eat (gotta love the French!)
So why not a perfect score? Â Service was a little off. Â There were long pauses between courses and we had to flag down the bus staff several times to get our water glasses refilled. Â Not sure what was going on as everything else was so perfect.
Oh well. Â We will be back. Â The romantic ambiance makes you feel that you are in a small bistro off the Champs Elysees. Â The twinkling lights of the chandeliers reflect in the glasses on the tables and the dark walls just add to the coziness of the place.
And the food? Â Can I just say, "Oo-la- la"!
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Â I've been there 4 times already and am going back tomorrow! Â I've brought several people along from the ride including my parents, newly engaged couples, friends and couples who just started dating. Â The ambiance and food was a hit with everyone - to me this is a great little spot to bring anyone yound and old. Â
The food is always consistent and yummy but the frites are a must! Â I also love the cheese plate, its a nice variety, good for sharing and not overwhelming. Â The wine list is excellent - I especially love Sancerre which is something you don't see on every menu and I believe that have 2 or 3 options. Â
Chez Joel is so charming, the second you walk in you feel welcome and  I agree with a previous poster that its better than Kiki's and Bistro Margot!
We happened upon Chez Joel after there was a long wait at our Italian restaurant. Â Boy were we glad we stumbled upon this place! It has been a long time that my expectations have been blown away.
We were seated right away on a weeknight. Â It is a small restaurant and I would recommend reservations for peak times. Â When we were there, it was pretty quiet and intimate. Â
Our waitress was very friendly, attentive and provided great recommendations. We started off with a great bottle of red wine that we hope to find. We ordered the escargot and the mussels in the white wine sauce for appetizers. Â I had escargot for the first time and really enjoyed it. Â Our waitress suggested dipping our bread in the garlic butter sauce, which was sinfully good. Â
As good as those were, the mussels in the white wine sauce was to die for. Â It is one of the best dishes I have had in Chicago in a while if not ever. Â The sauce had a nice mussel taste rounded out with a shallot sauce balanced with a bit of cream. Â The mussels were fresh and cooked perfectly. Â It was light but filling and indulgent at the same time. Â I loved dipping the bread in that sauce and would have taken a spoon to it if no one was looking. Â it is finger-lickin' good! Â I would go back for that dish alone. Â In fact, I'd like to go there right now just to have that again. Â
For our entrees, I had the scallop saffron risotto. Â The scallops were cooked perfectly and the risotto was very tasty and full of flavor. Â The sauce tied everything together into one nice meal package. Â My husband had the coq au vin and the chicken was so tender. Â The broth with tomatoes, onions and some garlic was very tasty. Â The mashed potatoes were also silky smooth and a nice touch.
All I can say is WOW. Â We will definitely be back!
We've been back three times since the initial review six months ago. Â Is that an endorsement?
It's a tough call between five starts and four. Â Chez-Joel is not in Takashi or Avec or Les Nomades' league. Â So I'll take it down to four stars. Â But we love the place, for the fabulous French Mediterranean food. Â Chef Joel is an artist with his seasonings. Â Since Charlie folded Cafe Matou, Chez-Joel has stepped in as our go-to place for French food with flair. Â
And the service continues to be exceptional. Â No wonder it's always crowded.
This place has it all! The food was very good (exception of the duck breast...fat not rendered enough and it was a bit chewy) and presented beautifully, The wine list was small but excellent, the service was wonderful and the atmosphere could not have been better.
One thing I really appreciated was the noise level. I could actually hear the background music and my husband across from me. Very nice. The place is small and that really makes it a bit more enjoyable.
My husband and I have had better food, but the experience was so good that we would rather go to Chez Joel for great food and an outstanding atmosphere than go to a place with outstanding food and an ok atmosphere.
As for the highlight (food wise), the cheese and fruit tray is a MUST HAVE! Sooooo good!!! Port went really well with it :)
This place is a little gem in the midst of little Italy - must go, especially during the summer for their gorgeous patio. Â The owner is always there and will provide top notch service and great food.
Just go with their specials for the day, can't go wrong with anything that the chef puts out. Â Mussels, snails, pate, duck - my mouth is watering just thinking back to the place...
Give this a try, when feeling like something extra buttery among Italian meca.
Maybe I should preface this review with a comment: I do not like Paris.
There, some of you can go on to the next review. For those of you who trust my judgment based on food, value, decor and service, read on.
Summary: This place gets it. They get service, they get going above and beyond, and they make a pretty good meal. For that I give them 4 stars even if I would not necessarily go back because I am not a fan of French food.
SERVICE: 4
Slow pace just to get club soda at the beginning of the meal made me nervous. Then, I was shocked because I found out the delay was they were trying to get me a lime. The server came and asked if a lemon would be ok, then a few minutes later the manager came to apologize for them running out of limes. Really?! How many restaurants would just pretend you did not ask.. Score 1 for Chez Joel. Its the little things that count.
Service was fast and friendly, yet not overwhelming or pushy. Manager made his presence known but did not annoy you with the fake "How are you doing today?"
FOOD: :5
I am semi-Vegan (this month) and have recently tested out restaurants for their ability to adapt on the fly and create vegan dishes. The server was helpful, the chef came up with ideas, and I had a good meal. The house salad (salade maison I believe it was in French ...) was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. Kind of strange as it has been years since I had a salad that was that memorable.
For my entree, the chef made me a shell pasta with olive oil and tomato sauce. Light and healthy yet quite tasty.
Good wine list and if you liek French food, the menu will likely be great. Personally not into it (I warned you)
DECOR: 4
Cute and quaint place.. Nothing fancy but kind of like a cafe in a small european town with a large patio out back. Quiet enough to have a conversation. Parking is tough but they do have a valet which is kind of expensive for lunch-time in that neighborhood ($7) but easy.
VALUE: 4
Not expensive at all. I had a nice meal with salad, entree and wine for  less than $30 including tip.
Apology for not having limes was most surprising part of my meal and other restaurants should take note of this little thing. Â Overall, I would highly recommend this place to anyone that likes good food and wants to try something different.
I hate to be the party-pooper here, but I have to say, everything was just OK. In a world of every expanding and mind-boggling culinary inventions and re-inventions, ubiquitous pork belly creations, and fried eggs on top of just about everything, I like to retreat to the simplicity familiarity and dependability of French cuisine, and specifically bistro food, with it comfortable and rustic appeal. We came to Chez-Joel for a belated birthday celebration. Just two of us.
The ambiance is perfectly French, and the menu nicely simple with a few specials to choose from as well. We both ordered the same salmon special, which just sounded flavorful and healthy (and Wednesday is now Omega-3 day, where it used to be Prince Spaghetti day.) Anyway, I ordered a salad of greens and goat cheese which was nicely presented. The salmon came grilled on a bed of fennel and brussel sprouts. Anice delicate butter sauce accompanied the fish. The fillet was a pretty small one, and not exactly fresh, if my palate and sense of smell served me well. I have learned to have high expectations for flavor and freshness from French chefs, so this was a little disappointing. And I admit, on my first visit, to having been set up for greater expectations from reading the other reviews here.
We also shared a chocolate dessert, which was nicely prepared. A couple glasses of white wine, and coffee finished off the evening. Our service was OK, not terribly fast, which was not an issue. But it was nothing memorable nor something to write home about. More American robotic than European personal. Overall, the experience was fine, maybe in retrospect a little lacking in value. But I would pay Chez-Joel another visit. I love the location and the street life on a summer evening here on Taylor St. That was the most European part of the show.
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