La Grande Boucherie Chicago
Brasserie · Near North Side ·
French brasserie in Belle Époque skyscraper with burgers, scallops
French brasserie in Belle Époque skyscraper with burgers, scallops
"With seating for close to 400 in its Art Nouveau-inspired dining room, there’s nothing small about this two-story love child of a steakhouse and a Parisian brasserie. The same can be said of its happy hour, which is offered every day at the equally massive pewter-topped bar from 2-7 p.m. Cocktails, all priced at $11, lean into the French vibe, such as the Lillet 75 topped with bubbles and the French Manhattan. Get the full experience and opt for absinthe ($12). To eat, there’s a half-dozen oysters ($12), escargot ($16), a Gruyere-topped burger ($19), and frites and truffle aioli ($8)." - Lisa Shames
"Like any great Parisian brasserie worthy of its pewter-topped bar, this River North spot features oysters. During Green Hour — its version of happy hour that tips its hat to that French spirit, absinthe — bar customers get $2 oysters as well as other French fare along with $11 cocktails, $10 house wine, and, oui, $12 absinthe, Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.," - Lisa Shames
"The Verdict: Another River North theme park with bad pricey food. The 1900s decor is a big part of this massive French restaurant's allure, as seen in many posts on social media. But a dinner at this River North spot is the opposite of romantic or fun. The food is constantly underwhelming—the escargot tastes like pepperoni-flavored gum, and the dry rabbit leg with pasta only gets a little flavor from sweet prunes. And though the two-floor space is 10,000 square feet, it’s too cramped with tables and a frenzied staff. If the Belle Époque aesthetics of La Grande Boucherie prove too tempting, order the profiteroles and have dinner elsewhere. " - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"We recently checked out La Grande Boucherie. Read our review here. We had a strong reaction to Olio E Piu. Now the team behind that Italian trattoria is at it again with La Grande Boucherie, a French brasserie in River North. It's literally “grande," with a 10,000-square-foot space. Expect classic dishes like steak frites and coq au vin, plus brunch with plenty of eggs and croissants. " - john ringor, veda kilaru
"The Group, the New York hospitality company, has opened a pair of restaurants in Downtown Chicago, including La Grande Boucherie, a two-level French spot with an absinthe bar in the former Ruth’s Chris space in River North. Owners poured significant resources into gutting the building to install a grandiose ground floor and mezzanine with curved vaulted ceilings, as well as a $1.5 million scrollwork-gilded stone facade. The menu touches on all the brasserie hits, as well as a raw bar and hefty, meaty cuts like a chateaubriand for two." - Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman
