Food:
The appetizers that we ordered were classic French bistro fare, moules marinieres (mussels in white wine with herbs) and escargots. For someone who had been craving simple French food, it was heaven. Plenty of fresh bread came alongside to sop up all the delicious sauces. The main courses that we had, though tasty, paled in comparison to the simple dishes that preceded them. I had a braised duck leg that was good, but it was served with too much sauce,
and I thought that the presentation could have been better. My companion had rabbit, and pretty much had the same reaction. Over all, the main courses were well prepared, as well as a pleasant diversion from the ordinary (when was the last time you had rabbit?). The appetizers were spot on, we could have been in Paris.
Drink:
An ample wine list for a small neighborhood restaurant. The focus was most definitely French, as it should be, and both the glasses of white and red were great. You paid the premium for the French imports, but it definitely enhanced the overall experience.
Service:
There were only 2 waiters, and at least 15 tables, maybe more. That being said, they did a great job making sure we were taken care of. We had a reservation for 7:30, and were really hungry, so we showed up at 7 and were
seated immediately. As the night went on though, the place was definitely packed. It wasn't the sort place that you'd expected to be waited on hand and foot, and in turn, it wasn't. The tables are packed in pretty close together in a
small space, and you have to embrace the bistro atmosphere.
Scene- If you want to be whisked away to a small bistro in (almost) Paris, than this is the place for you. The food is good, the service is ok, and the scene is cozy. Probably a great place for a third date where you want talk, drink and get to know one another. This is the sort of place, just outside of the hubbub of Wicker Park, to start the evening, but it won't be enough to make an entire evening.
Dress:
Casual, jeans with a nice shirt, a jacket would be fine.
Occasion:
Craving French bistro food and atmosphere? Â This is the place for you. Start the evening here, and move on to more engaging venue south in Wicker Park.
Cost:
Appetizers $10, Entrees under $20. Reasonably priced wine list.
I love the ambiance in this restaurant, but make sure you understand what a French bistro is like before you make a reservation. Â Much as you see in Paris, the tables are very close in proximity, which can be uncomfortable for some.
The menu is pretty simple and classic French, but everything on it is delicious. Â I particularly recommend the Bouillabaisse, but you can never go wrong with steak frites!
A foodie friend o mine has been ranting and raving about Le Bouchon for years ever since she discovered this quaint little French restaurant in her Bucktown/Wickerpark neighborhood. I've been meaning to get over to have their lunch special (which I hear is amazing) but being I'm a hairdresser the only days I have off are Sunday & Monday both of which the restaurant is closed.
I finally made time to get some dinner on a Wednesday evening after work. We started with their Muscles. Delish! Tons of of them, well prepared and sooo flavorful! Plenty for two. I next ordered their French onion soup. I've herd how infamous it is and that it was! Again Huge portion and fantastic!! For our entree we decided to share the macaroni gratin with lobster. Now I'm not a huge lobster fan but this again was amazing! I was so full I couldn't finish my half of the Mac.
This is an adorable, small, very European in style, delicious spot in the quirky buck town neighborhood. I look forward to my next meal soon!
I went with my ladyfriend on a normal weeknight and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We asked a lot of questions, but our waiter had a good attitude and even taught us pronunciations. It was refreshing to experience good service in a French restaurant without the snobbiness, so that's a big plus for me.
We began with a couple cocktails, whatever mine was tasted good and was not light on the good stuff. The onion tart good, but not spectacular, the dough needed to be flakier. I had the bouillabaise and was extremely pleased. The broth was luxurious and rich and full of flavors like saffron and tomato and seafood. The fish were also cooked beautifully. My ladyfriend had a special, a blackened walleye if memory serves, it was so good it turned her from pretty much a vegan to a seafood is always a good thing. And I know it's lame and stale, but I can't get enough creme brulee and they delivered, the sugar was beautifully bruleed and the creme a perfect texture.
The price is steep, but it is a nice treat.
I don't know how I missed writing about this place. Â I dined here in September of 2011 with a pair of my girlfriends. Â One of them recommended this place, and it did not disappoint.
Sadly, it has been way to long for me to remember the names of my actual entrees. Â I ordered everything off the daily special menu. Â I think I had a lobster bisque which was illegally good and a stingray type fish as my main. Â Delicious!
They also have very tasty cocktails :) Â The service was incredible. Â We added a girl last minute and they kindly moved us to a larger table.
Un bouchon has two meanings in French: cork (for a wine bottle) and a type of restaurant found in Lyon and the surrounding region. Â
If you are looking for an authentic bouchon here in Chicago, you've found it. Â This is one of the best French restaurants I've been to in Chicago that really is authentic and French. Â The bouchon style of cooking and restaurant atmosphere is unique to the Rhone-Alpes region of France. Â I frequented Le Bouchon St. Roch when I lived in Montpellier, FR and that restaurant was run by two Lyonnais transplants. Â Le Bouchon in Wicker Park reminded me of that place so much. Â I loved it.
The menu is in French (with English translations, bien sur) and they have all of the best and classic French dishes available. Â Soupe a l'ognion, salade chevre chaud, steak frites, confit de canard, moules frites, etc. Â I highly recommend trying the soupe a l'ognion, steak frites and moules frites. Â They are very, very well done at Le Bouchon and very, very scrumptious.
The wine selection is pretty big and they have a lot of decently-priced selections, which is good because wine in France is so cheap. Â They also have a full bar and some beers, should you want to go that route. Â Specials during the week include lunch, half-price bottles of wine and daily changing entrees. Â
The restaurant is pretty small (typical of un bouchon) so prepare to wait and feel cramped once you get a table. Â The atmosphere was very jovial when my husband and I ate here and I really enjoyed how much everyone else was enjoying their time at Le Bouchon. Â It was loud but not in a terrible way; everyone was just having a great time, all packed in to this tiny space. Â The parking situation is pretty awful, so plan on doing public or valet which is reasonable.
We gave this place a try a few weekends ago and it was A-OK. The food itself was very tasty and we enjoyed it, but the place was very small, and the service was OK leaning on the rude side. I went with the fixed option and it was a great option to try an appetizer (the frog legs), the steak and fries entree I had wanted to try since we dined at Mom Ami Gabi a while back, and a dessert (the cremebrulee, which was really good). My husband went with the regular menu and he was satisfied with his choices as well. Worth a try, but I probably will not go back here.
Review Source:J'adore Le Bouchon! This place is the real deal. As a French-American who lived in France, cooks French at home, and just all-around loves French food, I fully endorse LB. They stick to the classics: steak au poivre, moules marinieres, perfect pomme frites, absolutely and quintessentially French salades--it is all amazing. The mussels are hands-down my favorite: they come in the most decadent, perfect, savory cream sauce (with extra butter and fat and yum mixed in) and you will be scraping the bowl with their perfect bread to get every.last.drop. It's that good. And the coolest thing is they could easily jack up the prices and charge you an arm and a leg, but instead they offer a completely reasonable, "go on and eat a little more" prix-fixe menu that covers salad, entree, and dessert for around $25 a person. Voila! Get over there maintenant!
Review Source:Very good and tasty... and when ordering the fixed price option it's also very reasonable as well. After maybe 4 or 5 visits neither myself or any guest we have been with has had an issue with the food. Â Although it is a bit cramped in there.
A minor issue we had with a waiter on one visit was balanced out by a a pleasant surprise while having some wine at the bar on another visit. The issue with the waiter -- it seemed like he sized us up and decided we didn't deserve his full attention or respect. Â When I heard another waiter describe the "specials" to the people at the next table I realized that our waiter skipped that formality.
This was balanced out by while having a great glass of wine at the bar (on a different night, while waiting for our table). Â The bartender stopped by to top off my wine glass without prompting. Â He said he didn't have enough left in the bottle for a full glass anyway, so he was giving me the rest. Small as it might seem, that was a significant gesture to me.
This place is so yummy! Â I went here on a Wednesday night for my sister's birthday. Â We had reservations so we didn't have to wait. Â The restaurant itself is very, very small and quite cramped, but it adds to the character of the restaurant. Â They give you fresh bread to start, which was very tasty. Â I was able to try the escargot, French onion soup, and all three steaks which were all delicious. Â The fries were also very good. Â We also ordered the sparkling rose, which I highly recommend. Â For dessert we ordered the creme brulee and the chocolate mousse, both were delicious. Â The chocolate mousse wasn't too rich either. Â Our server seemed very busy at times but the service was good overall.
Review Source:I can't believe I have never reviewed this place as I have been going here since 2000 because we usually alway celebrate a birthday here. I love love the snails and the mussels. The hanger steak, lamb, and the seafood aways solid but if you never been there and have a friend that loves duck you have to get the duck for two.
Review Source:I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and, well, meh.
The place is incredibly small and somewhere I would avoid in the winter because if you get placed near the door you're going to freeze the entire time.
The food is okay, and nothing spectacular. I've had better and cheaper home-cooked meals and have been to places with a similar menu and better prices. I will admit that I really enjoyed the fries though.
Anyhow, the service was decent. Our waitress told us about the specials, made sure our water was refilled, but asked if I wanted a cocktail/glass of wine at least 3-4x throughout the 1.5 hours I was there. I said no each time, and became increasingly annoyed. I don't drink because it makes me sick, and I felt as though I was continually being put on the spot and encouraged to drink when I don't care to.
Prix fix lunch for my Mom and me. Â Full menu-looks the same as the dinner menu.
The onion soup is prepared to perfection-the stock is flavorful but not salty and topped with toasted bread and cheese. Main disheds were the steak with fries and poached salmon.  Desert was Creme Brûlée-again perfect.
Highly recommended for a wonderful combination of a great meal in an authentic setting.
I went back with my mom and it was even better than my first visit. Â Our waitress was so sweet and picked out great options for us! She didn't mind taking photos of a couple celebrating their anniversary. Â
The Rabbit special was amazing! And you must try the escargo... It was so fresh and deliciously made. Â I will definitely be returning!
I have been coming here for many years since my college days, the place has been the same. Great authentic French restaurant. Pricing is very reasonable for its type. Seating is pretty packed at this restaurant, the food quality is excellent and service is great. You will find hearty authentic French food here, not Californian style French cuisines. Not a lot of flares, but big taste and flavor.... delicious.
Review Source:girl meets guy. Â guy takes girl on great dates. Â girl wants to take guy on date. Â guy happens to be a french chef. Â girl is intimidated. Â girl takes guy to le bouchon. Â guy says to girl, "how did you know this was my favorite restaurant?"
and they lived happily ever after.
the end.
I have achieved greater appreciation for Le Bouchon in my post-France traversing days. The meals make more sense to me and the cozy space is definitely reminiscent of the near inappropriate squeezing I had to do to access my table at a particular restaurant in Paris. The heavy meat dishes are easier to accept for this traditionally veggie-friendly girl. I still am waiting to come back and try the duck, but I think my dinner date and I will have to fast for a day leading up to the task. This time around I eased toward the heartier meat plates by ordering the salmon. I know, I know. It's not the same as the rabbit or cow, but it was good and filling! How could I forget - to start I had the escargot - amazing! And my glass of 2009 Bordeaux was tre magnifique! I am glad I gave this place a second chance. If only they would help fund the Euro trip I am craving.
Review Source:My favorite restaurant ever!
The most serious french onion soup I've ever had. steak, fries and house butter are a personal favorite.
I don't ever do desert except at Le Bouchon- their tart and mousse are amazing.
They also have a few Chartreuses' that I enjoy to imbibe after a great meal.
i pass by this place a LOT and have been meaning to try it for a long time. french food always gets me excited (it's the butter!) and i finally got to come here. it wasn't terrible or anything, but for all my anticipation, i was pretty sad.
i came here with some friends and got to try the nicoise salad, the rabbit, the sweetbreads, and the steak tartare.
the nicoise salad was delicious but small. i've had way bigger and better for less, so that was disappointing. at least they cooked the tuna  perfectly and it wasn't overcooked at all.
the rabbit was dry like rabbit tends to be, unless really done right. i guess i don't have anything else to say about it except that i wouldn't recommend it.
the steak tartare was super super garlicky. it kind of lacked taste other than that. i suspect the steak isn't the best of steak, but it wasn't bad... just not good and not worth ordering. they came with some skinny fries, which were delicious! sometimes that just makes me happy even if it's not the star dish.
the sweetbreads were the best dish and really the only reason i wanted to try this place too. the breading was so thick, it was almost like a batter and it was heavier than i expected. i usually like a light dusting and a bit of searing, though battering isn't totally uncommon or anything i guess so that was still good. anyway, they were really great and the mustard sauce they came in was delicious. i shamelessly wiped it all up with fries at the end. yum. i really think this was the only dish that's keeping this review at "a-ok."
other things: my beer got warm really fast in my super thick warmish glass. our waiter was really weird and not too attentive. hmm the more i write about this the more i think it should be two stars, but i'll round up. either way, i won't be back and will have to find some other delicious french restaurant to frequent.
I need to begin by saying that I have not been a huge fan of French food. I however, had a lovely experience, for the most part, here last night with friends.
We had a few appetizers, but the only one that I remember (for taste purposes) was the Moules Marinieres, Steamed Mussels. The mussels were cooked well and the broth was tasty and light. For the entree I had the bouillabaisse which had clams, mussels, shrimp, and a light white fish in a delicious broth. All the seafood was cooked perfectly and the broth was so good that I ate it all up with a spoon. The rabbit is the specialty here I believe, it came highly recommended by the waitress. The bite I had was DELICIOUS! Another member of my party had the waygu beef entree and they were very pleased, noting the taste of the peppercorns and the sauce the beef was sitting upon.
The restaurant is quite small, I felt like if I sneezed I was going to land in the lap of the poor couple behind us....that is how close the tables are. It is also a bit TOO NOISY. I was sitting at a table of 8 and could not hear what my friends were saying at all when they were only sitting 2 seats away from me. The restaurant also has a tendency to get rather cold when anyone walks in the door, this of course only really affects the tables in the front, but it is quite the temperature change.
In summary, the food was good which is after all the reason for going to a restaurant. I cannot say that I will be going back, but I would recommend Le Bouchon to a novice looking to experience French food.
Le Bouchon is a solid traditional French restaurant. While I'm not a big French food fan, this definitely was better than other places I have been (much less heavy-handed).
It is VERY small so it makes you feel like you are in a different world, cozy, quaint (wouldn't reco for families or babies). It felt very authentic.
Appetizers -
Mussels - delicious broth, yummy oniony/leek flavor
Escargot - Some of the best I've had in terms of texture (not the chewy thing you picture when you think of escargot). I wanted a little more salt in the sauce but that's nitpicky
Frog Legs - tasty. tender. qutie good
Lyonnaise Salad - REALLY tasty between the super thick cut bacon and poached egg
Entree -
Veal Sweetbreads - YUM. Mustard sauce was a perfect compliment. I woudln't reco this if you're hungry though. You only really get 5 sweetbreads (more like an appetizer)
Rabbit - VERY highly reco'd by entire staff and didn't disappoint. Not dry and chewy, well cooked. Very tasty and the sauce with farfalle on the side was very tasty
Dessert -
Profiteroles - yummy ice cream and chocolate sauce
Pecan tart - REALLY rich and creamy
Creme Brulee - standard
The only kicker is that you do pay for the French experience. The table shared a few bottles of wine and the total came out to $70 per person. Not breaking the bank but not a place you can come on a frequent basis. Would be great for an intimate date!
Dined there last night: had high hopes as I'd heard good things.
The bread and butter were great.... Â french butter is the best in the world. Servers were great too. Â Greatness ends there.
Very noisy; VERY rickety table.  I started off with the "Moules Marinières,  Steamed Mussels with White Wine & Herbs.  The Mussels were juicy enough, but instead of the white wine and herbs, they were sitting a big puddle of lukewarm unseasoned skim milk.  Berk!
I ordered the "special" flank steak which included mashed potatoes (very french!) and sauteed spinach. Â Well, mashed potatoes were good, but how do you mess that up? Â Spinach is pretty easy too. Â The flank steak was really pretty gross. Â
Giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because I shouldn't have ordered beef from a restaurant that claims to be European. Â Beef is different here, though I'm sure the source is still US.
We had a wonderful evening!
We took my BIL here for his birthday (his pick). Hubby and I had never been... but Sis and BIL have loved this place ever since Sis went for her b-day.
It was so convenient. As we drove up, we parked and the valet was johnny-on-the-spot. We walked in and were seated right away for our reservation. We had an attentive, yet not overbearing waitress. After drinks, we picked the escargot for a shared app. Hubby won't eat them, but the other three of us gulped them up. The best part was soaking up the garlic butter with their WONDERFUL bread. Mmmm-mmmm.
Three if us had the salad Lyonnaise and one had the goat cheese salad. Both were top notch. The egg was prepared perfectly to melt into the salad and provide a tasty addition to the dressing and lardons.
BIL had the bouillabaisse, Hubby had a steak frites, and Sis and I had salmon. All 4 of us raved about our entrees. The salmon was tender and not overcooked. It had a very refreshing sauce with tomato and cucumber.
Sis and I have the prix fixe menu: salad, salmon, and dessert all for less than $30!!! So I ordered the apple tart, and she had the chocolate ganache. Â BIL got a lemon tart (with a candle!) and Hubby got berries with a vanilla sauce. Everyone seemed satisfied. I thought my tart was good, not great.
So... wonderful food, impeccable service, convenient valet. The only reason it is not 5 stars (I would have given 4.5 if I could) is the dessert was just good, and the noise level was very loud. They even play some loud music. I think if they played something quieter, we could have heard ourselves talk.
But that won't stop me from going back!
Food was good. Not great. I enjoyed my steak and the wine was serviceable.
However, the service in this place was horrible. We had a party of 6, ordered two bottles of wine and didn't order until about 8:00 on a 7:30 reservation. At 10:00, as we were finishing our meal.. and enjoying some after dinner conversation....the waitress (who wasn't our waitress BTW), rudely came up and asked if anyone had valet parked their car. Simply trying to get us out of the restaurant.
I went and spoke with the manger, who claimed we had finished our dinner an hour before. Then the waitress came back and claimed she heard us talking about leaving which is why she asked about the car. Umm, based on the manager's comments, they were just trying to get us out.
Tab came to $300 before tip. Last dollar they get from me.
The food is fantastic. My Wagyu steak was cooked perfectly. It was extremely flavorful and the and the side of frites was deliciously french. My husband had the rabbit special and he was equally happy with his meal. The goat cheese salad  is overrated, it's good but completely basic, it's the type of salad you can get at any good restaurant. What is not to be missed is the yummy bottle of red we got, a granache blend, for under $40!
The only reason I gave this place four stars and not five is that it's small and extremely crowded. It has a beautiful tin ceiling, but that creates more noise that you may like. But those things aside, this is still one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago,
French Onion Soup!
It is the BEST I've ever had. Ever. E.V.E.R.
I think about it often. I'm thinking about it now.
I took one of my best friends who lives in Spain. She often spends time in France and said it is better than any french onion soup she has ever had in France or anywhere else.
I just treasure Le Bouchon. They have it down pat ,don't change and are expert at what they do. This is why they've been around so long. Dear Le Bouchon: Please don't ever leave.
Summary: Do yourself a favor and try Le Bouchon. Order the French onion soup and a glass of red. Thank me later...
Perhaps those who enjoy Le Bouchon have never actually experienced French food, or a proper French restaurant. Having attended school in France, and visited the country many times since, I know better. DO NOT waste your time here. Sure, you'll experience a "bustling" bistro atmosphere (complete with snobbish, tasteless young professionals), but the waitstaff and cuisine are both so inferior that the experience, overall, will be a let-down.
The biggest failure of LeBouchon is, undoubtebly, the service. Although the restaurant is well-established, the dinning room managers have yet to master the reservation process. Every time I've visited with a reservation, I've had to wait 20-35 minutes to be seated. My last visit (which "inspired" this review) was absolutely appalling. Our server was worse than rude. I'm not being hyperbolic when I report that said server didn't even LOOK at us when she asked for our orders, and, when "checking" on our table said, "How is everything - ok?" as she was already WALKING AWAY from our table! This circus act continued to spiral out of control when she LEFT our table, in the middle of refilling our wine glasses, to talk with the bartender!
Speaking of wine glasses - the wine list, although expansive, is unimpressive and overpriced. Here, you'll find mediocre wines at very, very high prices.
The food would be considered bland by any French person (or anyone who has actually experienced French gastronomy). While butter and cream are plentiful in many dishes, everything on the menu is lacking in flavor, spices, and technique. I've visited LeBouchon a couple times, wrangled in by friends and co-workers who were hopeful that the cuisine would be deserving of the praises offered by many Chicagoans. Unfortunately, every time I visit, I'm always unimpressed, and I truly did give this place multiple opportunities. Â
Don't waste your money on this sub-par restaurant, when you have multiple other options for a proper French dining experience in Chicago!
I have been coming to this awesome little neighborhood bistro for 10-plus years. They serve the BEST French Onion Soup in all of Chicago, have a menu that's updated weekly and some of the best French wines in all of Chicago.
This is the place that OTHER tiny French bistros try to be. They have REAL nicotine stains on the wall because it's been open in the same location since the '90s. The atmosphere as as cozy as being in Paris. People will talk to each other at the close-knit tables all the time and recommend their regular meals. The wait staff is one of the best in the city when it comes to recommending what wine to have with what dish. They also are fun and approachable and not in any way snooty.
If you come here on a cold night have the Bouef Bourgignon, it's one of the best I've ever had and, unlike some other places, WILL fill you up. I can't say enough good things about our Bouchon. It was like a second Christmas to me when they started serving lunch and I could walk down the street and talk to mes amies over lunch at the bar. YOU SHOULD CRAWL THROUGH BROKEN GLASS TO GO TO THIS RESTAURANT IF NECESSARY!
Love the pop-up dinner at Le Bouchon! Â Came here a few Sunday's ago with the family to celebrate an anniversary, all 8 of us were extremely impressed. Â
Get yourself on the list at Le Bouchon and its sister restaurant in order to be kept in the loop on the next pop-up event... Â ITS WORTH IT! Â
I know its on a Sunday, but it will be less crowded if you go earlier(since the place is pretty small) and its BYOB during the pop-up dinner! Â
The prixe-fixe menu had 6 courses + bread. Â Theme was Gypsy Surf and Turf. Â
We started out with thyme and fennel bread with lobster butter - it was great.
#1 course - lamb carpaccio with hamachi ceviche - do die for, I think my husband licked his plate to get the cilantro oil and blood orange sea salt flavor to linger...
#2 Sea Scallop with bacon Jam and a little quail egg birds nest. Â MMMMM. Â I took a picture of it and posted it, it was too pretty.
#3 Chorizo stuffed squid, sounds good, but it was just ok. Â The squid was cooked perfectly, but the ratio of chorizo to squid was off. Â Yummy sauce though.
#4 Black Cod poached in duck fat, with a little prosciutto chip and melon quinnoa. Â Boy, was this fantastic. Â My mom is still talking about it, once of the best cooked fish I've ever had.
#5 Eclair of Lobster and Foie Gras Ganache. Â Super good and rich. Â
#6 Bread pudding with bacon ice cream. Â Need I say more?
We all enjoyed the food and fantastic service, will definitely pop-in for the next pop-up dinner. Â See you there?
A nice restaurant but I won't rush back. It is extremely small and we were seated by the window on a cold and wet night and it was cold sitting there.
Nice wine list with nothing too expensive and a lot of affordable wines.
Service was very good at all times and the wait staff have a tough time getting around the restaurant as it so small. They were very pleasant and were on hand any time we ever wanted anything.
I had Jean Claudes Onion tart and it was great. The Mrs had the free range Chicken which was a huge portion and seasoned perfectly. I had the Wagyu Steak with french fries and Cognac sauce. A very heavy dish but I was really happy with it.
Desserts were a huge let down and its an area they can work on. The Profiteroles tasted like they weren't fresh and were bought in. We didnt have coffee but we enjoyed our evening. Maybe a 3 and a half star review but I'm more than happy to round up.
The highly offensive attitude by the hostess and wait staff puts  this place a never go there list.  We were there with 4 tables open and yet we could not be seated for 2 hours.  No food is that good that I would endure that treatment. Â
So we traveled up Lincoln ave to bistro compagnie where the hostess was so very polite and inviting with her attitude and our wait was less than 30 minutes and the place was packed, Â the food was amazing and I will review it in detail on their page.
This is another one of my favorites in the city. Â It's the same owner as Le Sardine in the west loop, and they both feature the same menu. Â The only difference is that Le Sardine's decor is a little tacky whilst Le Bouchon, by no means chic, is quite quaint.
Main entrees are between 16 and 30 bucks, and wines start at $40. Â I think the food is probably under priced, but the wines are a little steep. Â So I guess it balances out.
Don't order the escargot; it was way too salty. Â Everything else I've had there is fantastic including the bouillabaisse, a true testament of a good french eatery! Â Also, the cocktails are pretty nice!
I think this is a great date place (if I ever land one of those again).
I came here with two friends (Katrina Epperson and Sam Juna... shout out. lol) for a birthday celebration. We didn't plan on coming here but we somehow ended up here because it was the first restaurant we saw on a rainy day. I believe it's the "1/2 off bottle of wine" advertisement at the entrance that got us.
I thought the interior was great! I felt as if I just stepped into a mini France! It was quaint and wonderful. The tables were small and limited so there was a wait for a table. Le Bouchon seems like a place where people don't just quickly eat and go. I think the intimate, cozy atmosphere encourages their customers to relax, dine and enjoy a fabulous evening out. My friends and I waited at the bar and was greeted by the bartender. We popped a bottle of exquisite wine to start off the birthday evening. We waited for awhile and the bartender encouraged us to dine at the bar because the tables weren't moving. My friends and I were getting hungry so we did and it was actually nice to receive such quick service at the bar. Also the bartender was very polite to make my friend's birthday evening special with a birthday drink and free goodies.
I ordered the rabbit for the first time (Lapin Sauté Chasseur  $19.50). I've never had a rabbit but the guy who sat next to me at the bar recommended it and told me tasted like chicken. It did. The rabbit was sauteed in a white wine sauce with vegetables. It was actually delicious but the meat was a little too chewy. My friend Sam had a lovely salad and mussels. I had a chance to try the mussels and I thought it had a nice flavor to it. The birthday girl had the free-range chicken which was great too. The entrees on the menu seem to be generally on the heavy side which is expected in many French cuisine but the food was very comforting, and every bite was satisfying. Overall, I think my friends and I enjoyed our time at Le Bouchon and hope to come to experience the intimate atmosphere, laid back staff, and the comforting food in the near future.
This has been my 3rd and final attempt at appreciating French food. I tried the rabbit and found the texture to be absolutely disgusting. It was soft and felt like chewing a marshmallow.
However, the veggies and potatoes as well as the soup were delicious.
And while I love a cozy, romantic restaurant, the tables were, for my taste, a bit too close together and uncomfortably so as you heard people's conversations. The noise level was too loud from this.
I went with my roomie, and she loves French food. Her review was, "Oh my God this is amazing." So, there you have it folks....
This was a confusing experience. I sort of feel like I need to come back to try it out again but the price point will prevent me from doing that. I spent $50 on lunch (including tax and tip). $50! I ordered two items and a half bottle of wine -- with a friend. Splitting the bill down the middle came to $50. A HALF bottle of wine (rec. by the waiter before I arrived) was $30. That kind of markup is nauseating. You didn't pass your costs onto me. You passed your kid's college tuition onto me. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FNot.having.it&s=1ba44e9a818c0a054d3f3bed05010d7b89e10c570d3d097a219f244c8635176e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Not.having.it</a>. The wine was decent. It didn't pair with half of my meal, so I couldn't drink it for a good chunk of my time at Le Bouchon. You would think the waiter would know better than to suggest a wine that doesn't pair well with popular dishes. But, maybe, the price point was more important than taste concerns.
I began my meal with the French Onion Soup. It was served blazing hot and was entirely delicious. No, really. It was the best French Onion Soup I have ever tasted. The onion/cheese/stock combo, however, clashed horribly with our wine and made every sip of the wine taste like skunked Franzia. When paying $30 for a HALF bottle of wine, you can imagine how pleased I was at the turn of events. I mentioned this terrible pairing to the waiter as an FYI. He stick his nose (literally) into our bottle and said, "Smells fine to me." 1.) Gross; 2.) The problem wasn't the wine, it was the pairing. I imagine that many of Le Bouchon's patrons order the French Onion soup. In order to prevent them from having a bad taste experience, my suggestion was to stop pairing that particular wine with the soup. I didn't offer an invitation to drink from my waiter's nose. Again, gross.
For my meal, I ordered the cassoulet. It was prepared well. It, too, came out blazingly hot. The cassoulet came with lamb, duck and pork. The beans were cooked just right. The seasoning was delicious. The duck was my favorite meat of the dish. It was served on the bone, tender and not at all greasy or gamey. The lamb was nice. It came in a sausage form and, therefore, the meat was minced. It's not the way I prefer my lamb, but I ate it. I wasn't a big fan of the pork. It came in big pink slabs similar to country ham but more 'trichy' in appearance. I stayed away from it. When I think 'pork', I think 'white/gray.' When I think 'ham', I think 'pink.' I know it's the same animal but I wasn't prepared for it. Generally, when I see big slabs of pink meat, I tend to avoid it. That's just me.
My friend and I were the first people to arrive for lunch. It was nice having the place to ourselves. In short time, the restaurant began filling up. Rather than spacing us out, all the patrons were seated next to one another. Le Bouchon is a small restaurant. In Chicago. In America. Translation: we're big people. We need space. We are not skinny super models who eat lunches of cigarettes, coffee and ennui (except for me; my skinniness is awesome). I hated the cramped dining experience. If I were in a cafe in Paris, no sweat. On Damen in Chicago -- for lunch -- no. No way. To add to the discomfort, a hot fan blew on my dining companion and me for the latter part of our meal. I left Le Bouchon sweaty, claustrophobic and poor. So, why three stars?
That's some d@mn good French Onion Soup.
Meh.
Yes, that's right, Â You heard me!
But, it's not directed towards the food. Â Oh no, no no, Â The food here is FABULOUS! Â Delicious. Â Amazing. Â My friends and I basically starved ourselves the whole day so that we could take full advantange of the $25 prix fixe deal. Â Great choices to choose from, for sure: Â
Appetizer:
Homemade pate - Why not try it, I thought? Â I didn't regret the choice as it was really good, especially when topped with the mustard.
Entree:
Duck in the red wine sauce. Â Amazing. Â The meat was incredibly tender and rich in flavor. Â They served it on top of some delicious mashed potatoes. Â I loved it! Â But, because I left in such a rush, I left my to-go container sitting on the table. Â Sadness. Â
Dessert:
Creme brulee. Â Safe choice, but I really enjoyed it! Â The consistency was a little firmer than what I was used to, so that was a plus in my book!
Soooo....why the meh? Â I didn't appreciate the look the waitress gave me when I asked if we could have bread. Â I'm sorry - everyone around us had bread, so why did you look at me like I was insane? Â I'm hungry! Â She just seemed flighty and didn't really say much about the menu. Â So, I was left feeling a bit semi-uninspired with the place. Â But, if that's how they do it here, that's cool. Â The food is still awesome and the prie fixe is great deal! I'll still give them their props!
If I do come back, though, I'd opt to come during a non-peak, night hour. Â The mood/vibe is alot better when it's darker outside AND then you can actually hear your dining companions when it's less crowded. Â
Valet is available, but street parking is semi-easy - as long as you circle the block for a bit. Â Cheers to no permit parking!
I've been avoiding Le Bouchon for a few years now because the downside to this small cozy restaurant is that you often end up waiting a looooong time for a table...and that's with a reservation! Last night I discovered the key to an enjoyable dinner at Le Bouchon- the early bird special! Our party of 6 1/2 people (one gal is pregno) arrived at 5:30 PM last night and for the first half of our meal had the bistro to ourselves. The service was great and we left with enough time to catch the 7:30 PM Ohio State game, which made the boys happy.
The food was as good as I remembered. Â Not the healthiest of meals, but I don't think healthy is quite what Le Bouchon is going for with all that butter, cream, and garlic.
We ordered 3 appetizers for the table:
The mussels: I think I used a loaf of their delicious bread to soak it up.
Escargot: I always thought I didn't like escargot, but I realized last night what's not to like about slimy chunks of garlic.
Onion Tart: Ordered this at the suggestion of our waitress and it was by far the best thing i ate all night. A must!!
For my main entree I ordered the free range chicken. I'm not usually a chicken lover, but for some reason do really enjoy it at French restaurants. It was so tasty, but so garlicy that I brushed my teeth about 5 times when I got home last night. Perhaps not the best date spot? Â I also LOVED the potato side that came with the chicken. My husband really enjoyed his rabbit, which I thought was just OK. Then again I don't really like rabbit so who am I to judge.
No room left for dessert, but can't pass it up here so my hubby and I split  berries with cream- the perfect ending to a perfect meal! I also had a bite of the apple caramel dessert one of our friends ordered. It looked suspiciously similar to the onion tart, but this one was loaded with lots of apple and caramel...YUM!
After last night's delicious meal I don't plan on staying away from Le Bouchon for long this time. Early bird special- here I come!!
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