Le Bouchon
French restaurant · Bucktown ·
Classic French bistro with escargots, steak frites & duck
Classic French bistro with escargots, steak frites & duck
"Now in its third decade, this enduring French favorite channels the spirit of an 11th arrondissement bistro with a cozy, intimate dining room and a menu of beloved classics, setting the standard for a relaxed date night with meals that never disappoint. The onion soup feels like a warm embrace in a crock: beneath a blistered, cheesy lid of Swiss and Gruyere lies a deeply rich beef broth teeming with caramelized onions and a sourdough crouton, and despite its depth the flavors never overwhelm—use the complimentary baguette to soak up every last drop. The trout wrapped in puff pastry, a cousin to beef Wellington and an homage to saumon à l’oseille (salmon with sorrel sauce), the iconic recipe from Restaurant Troisgros in Roanne, France, arrives with a creamy, lemony sauce and dollops of smoked trout roe for a spot-on blend of comfort and refinement. No meal is complete without the maple creme brulee, whose crisp, caramelized sugar shell cracks to reveal silky smooth custard for a most satisfying send-off. Even with its popularity, it still carries the charm of a neighborhood spot; it’s consistently busy, but walk-ins can try for one of six seats at the bar—on my visit I sat between a regular quietly reading a magazine and two first-timers excited to try the place. Insider tip: Mondays bring half-priced bottles or half-bottles of wine, with a French list spanning from $55 up to a $750 Champagne." - Jeffy Mai
"Getting slightly jostled by a friendly server or a neighboring diner is all part of the experience at Le Bouchon, one of the city’s bestFrenchrestaurants. This tightly packed bistro feels less like a room full of strangers and more like a big communal dinner, whether you’re crammed into a booth with friends and a juicy canard roti, or having a solo meal at the tiny bar with wine and trout wrapped in delicate puff pastry. And while you’re more likely to overhear loving complaints about Chicago’s professional athletes than whole conversations in French, there’s enough artwork with words like "à toute heure" to convince you that Le Bouchon is the Paris ofBucktown." - Team Infatuation
"One of the best French spots in Chicago is hosting a pop-up market on Sunday, August 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Le Bouchon will offer kitchen and bar items from its collection alongside vintage vendors selling clothing and art, with drinks, pastries, and more." - Jeffy Mai
"When you imagine a quaint French restaurant, you probably think of something that looks like Le Bouchon. This tightly packed Bucktown bistro feels less like a room full of strangers absorbed in the latest Reddit drama, and more like a communal dinner, whether you’re crammed into a booth with a juicy canard roti, or sitting alone at the tiny bar with trout wrapped in delicate puff pastry. Getting slightly jostled by a friendly server or a neighboring diner is all part of the experience here. But that also makes it ideal for making new friends who aren’t AI bots." - veda kilaru, john ringor, adrian kane
"When you imagine a quaint French restaurant, you probably think of something that looks like Le Bouchon. It’s a small bistro with always-packed tables and a fittingly tiny bar that’s just big enough to have a solo dinner or lunch. Classics like french onion soup and escargot are always great, and rotating seasonal dishes like selle de lapin or oxtail bourguignon give you plenty of reasons to visit regularly. And while you might not overhear whole conversations in French, there’s enough artwork with words like "à toute heure" to convince you that the Seine is actually flowing through Bucktown." - john ringor, adrian kane, nick allen