Francois Frankie Le Carousel Bar

Visited on a Monday evening for dinner to celebrate my birthday. We were seated right away in a nice little corner which allowed us some privacy. It was a nice looking restaurant with dim lighting and gave it a more grown and sexy vibe. We were given waters and menus to look over. I ordered a French 75 and he ordered a beer on tap. The menu looked really good, but unfortunately I wasn't too hungry so we order calamari for an appetizer. I then ordered a Caesar salad with light cheese as my entrée and he order the lobster roll with smashed potatoes. The appetizer came out as a nice portion. The calamari was crispy and flavorful and we enjoyed. Entrees came next. My salad was the perfect portion for me as I was continuing to enjoy the calamari. My husband enjoyed his lobster roll and mentioned that it had a good portion of lobster and not just a little and the flavor was good. Smashed potatoes were pretty good too. We were also given complimentary champagne to celebrate my birthday. Overall this was a great experience with great food, service, and ambiance.

First and foremost, get the bacon, you won’t regret it. It was the best item we tried. Notable were also - the Brussels sprouts - salmon - braised ribs

This was a really solid eat in the loop! Located very close to the theater district, the staff was very attentive and timely, especially if you're going to a show after dinner. Creative cocktails and a bar that looks just like a carnival carousel! The food was very solid, especially the lump crab cakes. A little chilly in the restaurant, so bring appropriate outerwear if you tend to run cold.

Can’t really fault this place for anything! Atmosphere & vibe are amazing. You walk right in & the carousel bar pops right out at you. The service was impeccable from the super friendly host to the service people who kept re filling our water glasses to the food handlers & waiters. We went for Chicago restaurant week & I got the ham croquettes, short rib & chocolate mousse. The food was well executed & well seasoned. The noise level was perfect & we could hear ourselves talk. It was a very lovely & enjoyable experience. Good place to take a date our out of town guests.

Nice place with good food and drinks, Tartre was spot light of my dinner there, steak perfectly cooked, but mussels frites were a little bit too greasy for me, fries were too soaked in that, fries with steak though were delicious.

Went on a Monday night and it was pretty quiet but had great service from the bartender. He gave me recommendations of what to try and I ended up with the calamari, steak tartare and a side Cesar salad. The steak tartare was flavorful and so good! The calamari was fried just right with fresh lemon wedges. I also got the strawberry basil smash and it was nice and boozy. Very cute interior with a rotating bar that spins very slowly. Ambiance is upscale but menu prices are very reasonable. The bartender said on Tuesdays they do a speciality $10 cocktail and oyster night with live jazz music so I would recommend checking that out if you get a chance.

As an avid theater goer, I’m left wondering where has this place been for the last decade and why am I only finding out about it now. The food was delicious and the service was quick and attentive. They have a pre-theater menu and a raging happy hour bar scene. Bring your colleagues or swing by before a show and try the steak tartar and the foie gras - both come out lighting fast and are delicious. If only maybe a little too spicy on the steak tartar.

Francois Frankie, an upscale French-themed restaurant located in Chicago, proved to be a delightful pre-show dinner spot during our recent visit. Despite the restaurant operating at full capacity, the staff managed to accommodate us near their uniquely charming revolving bar after a brief wait, with sincere apologies from what seemed to be a manager for our patience. The ambiance at Francois Frankie is a beautiful blend of elegance and humor. The dramatic decor and lighting set the stage for the culinary experience to come, evoking the sophistication associated with French cuisine without being overly pretentious. It's a balance that Francois Frankie executes with grace and a dash of whimsy. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, recommending a cocktail and promptly taking our orders. We informed her that we were dining prior to a show, and thus had a somewhat tight schedule. Despite our concerns about the timing due to the crowded restaurant, our orders arrived surprisingly quickly and were nothing short of delicious. The French onion soup came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Hearty and flavorful, it was a standout dish that hit all the right notes. I also tried the Croque-inspired eggroll appetizer, an interesting concept that fell a bit short compared to the soup but was still quite enjoyable. My companion's simple salad, enhanced with added salmon, demonstrated that even the more straightforward dishes at Francois Frankie are prepared with care and skill. The salmon was impeccably cooked and well-seared, a testament to the kitchen's attention to detail. The pricing at Francois Frankie aligns well with the quality of the offerings and is comparable to other dining establishments in the area. For a night out in Chicago, especially if you're planning a visit to a nearby theater, Francois Frankie offers an excellent dining experience. Its combination of chic ambiance, attentive service, and flavorful cuisine make it a worthy stop on any downtown itinerary.