Petite Vie Brasserie

There’s a lot to like here, but a few tweaks need to be worked out. While I typically like an open kitchen, here it becomes a little chaotic and lends itself to a disorganized environment. The bar looks dirty and cloudy, it needs to be polished and sealed, otherwise the glass rings remain even after wiping. The brass lamps are affixed to the bar and are very dirty. The staff should know not to spray barkeepers friend inches from diners when clearing the bar. The constant polishing and lining up of glasses along the bar feeds into the disorganized atmosphere. There’s staff drinking glasses intertwined with freshly polished glasses along the back bar, dirty mugs and water glasses and plastic containers. Those with long hair are in the bar and kitchen with no hair nets or anything protecting the food prep area. Our bartender never told us about the special and didn’t time the meal well, for that she apologized and comped our drinks, which was nice. The endive salad was great, but the gnocchi was a little mushy and could have benefited from another texture. The cod was light, as described, but the portion was really small. The squash puff pastry meal was good, a really interesting dish, but a little big and clunky. The soufflé was delicious, but undercooked and the apple tart was small and sloppy …but very good.

Amazing! One of the top restaurants in the Chicago area. The food, presentation, service, atmosphere, simple, elegantly casual, fantastic vibe. Loved it. I mean, taking a simple baguette and turning it into a culinary delight (pairs excellent with their old fashioned), something that only Paul Verant could bring to life. Get to this restaurant. It is the best. Thank you Petite Vie team.

Great dining experience and love the menu choices. Rabbit, duck, oysters, chartreuse! What more can you ask for.

Honestly, some of the best food I've had in a long time! I've been eagerly awaiting Petite Vie to open for months and it completely exceeded my expectations. The ambiance, food and service are all 5+ stars. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! Every bite was delicious but I highly recommend ordering the gougeres (truffle gouda cheese puffs), the pomme frites and the homemade ice cream. Thank you for such a delightful dining experience!

The place is new and a bit too dark when it comes to reading the menu.I wish it had outdoor seating at the back.. Beautiful decor and some employees may speak French!We loved the flounder and the steak, we found the Escargots to be not properly cooked- oil vs butter,no shells and lemon. The hamburger is fine, amuse bouche with French cheese were just ok. Ma Cherie cocktail was too strong to enjoy.What brings my review down to three stars is that this business failed to make me feel special on mothers day. A fresh flowers bouquet on the table or a tiny offering of petit fours would have elevated my experience -this is America even if the brasserie has a French profile!

Fantastic food, in a beautiful setting. Glass pours were well curated. Would have enjoyed a bit more interaction with the team, assuming that was the point of the counter seats. But will be back for the food for sure.

This place was SPECTACULAR! The food was out of this world. I mean, it was unreal how delicious it was. Everything came out hot - which, believe it or not, I haven’t experienced in a good restaurant in a while. Ambiance was amazing and service was too. It’s rare that I give 10/10, but this place deserves it. We definitely will be back and we highly recommend it.

Outstanding bistro from the talented chef behind the recently retired Vie in Western Springs, Paul Virant. The “Chef’s Counter” is a great idea and gets one as close to a “kitchen table” as one could get. The food, wine, dessert and atmosphere were fantastic. It was a real treat to see each of the dishes as they were delicately prepared and presented. When not too busy, everyone from the Chef to the servers would engage us with great explanations of what we were seeing to how the food is sourced and prepped. But when it became busy, their games faces were on and the execution flawless. I know the staff here find the comparisons to “The Bear” a bit played out, but sitting at the Chef’s Counter really gave us that behind the scenes feel that you get from the show, but in person. We felt welcomed, valued, and appreciated which is all we could ask for! Chef’s kiss!

Amazing dinner, favorite restaurant in the area. Came here for a late night dinner, the place is small and intimate with excellent service. To start, I had the French onion soup. It was good but I think it needed a little more salt. I was looking for a more salty bite due to the cheese but it ended up being very mild. My husband enjoyed the garlicky escargot, perfectly done. For entree, I had the chicken which was tender and came with a lightly lemony sauce while my husband decided on the pork tenderloin. This is not typically his normal choice but he said he was very happy with his pick, with the pork being tender and perfectly paired with the sauce. For dessert we ended with the Nougat which I highly recommend. It had the perfect blend of flavors- subtly sweet, tart from cherries, and citrusy from candied orange. Can't wait to come back!

This was my first time here with my family of five adults for dinner. It was the Friday after Christmas. It is a new French brasserie by Chef Paul Virant in Western Springs, IL. It is a cozy restaurant serving steak frites and other French bistro fare. As you can see from my pics the bar is located in the front right of the restaurant. I was here with my adult family of five. We sat at a table for six in the rear of the restaurant. Our table did not have a white tablecloth whereas most other nearby tables had a white tablecloth. I am not sure why our table was without a white table cloth. I prefer a white tablecloth on the table. To say the least I was disappointed with the lack of a white tablecloth. To me bare tables are lower class. I started with and enjoyed my two Normandy Manhattans, which are served on the rocks (not up as per my traditional Manhattan preference) with calvados, sweet vermouth, china-china, orange and aromatic bitters for $17 each or $34 total. I enjoyed my French Onion soup with raclette cheese and sourdough crostini for $13. I also enjoyed my confit de canard, confit duck leg with leeks vinaigrette, apples and calvados for $31. The single leg was not filling for me. A duck breast would have been preferred. I also enjoyed the Vishey side of carrots for $11, which I took home because I could not finish them. I ended my dinner and enjoyed a glass of my 2021 Cab Franc, Domaine Chancelle, Saumur-Champigny for $16. I also enjoyed my creme brulee for $15. Everything was cooked properly. Nothing was charred or burned per some other earlier reviews. The owner stopped by to say hello. The owner owns other restaurants in the area. He previously moved this restaurant from another nearby location. Laura W. served our table very well. My total bill was $509 excluding gratuity. This was the most expensive restaurant that my daughter confirmed during my visit. We agreed we will return here for dinner if we can confirm a table with a white table cloth next time. I will let you know how it goes next time. In the meantime see my many pics.

First visit and we'll be returning! Dinner visit included cocktails, Demi Baguette, Haricot Vert Amandine, Steak Frites, Cod en Papillote, and dessert of Apple Tarte Tatin, House-Made Ice Cream, and Coffee. Everything was delicious, with excellent service!

I really liked a few things about this place. The service was great and ambiance was soft and romantic at first sight (but actually loud, see below). Service was great and prompt. My water was continually filled. The apps were ok, the chicken was yummy and portion was generous. Although I expected a little more veggies. It was just chicken with a spoonful of potatoes. A few things I didn't love: overpriced. City prices for the burbs. I also didn't like how noisy it was. It was LOUD, I could barely hear the person next to me let alone the ones at the end of our table for 7. All in all, a nice experience!

Such a unique and delicious dinner experience. We made reservations on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday and were seated right away. I would highly recommend making reservations since it seemed prettty busy! From the outside, it looks like any typical downtown restaurant (with some patio seating) but inside had a cute, upscale, and clean environment. Personally, I felt like the tables lacked some personal space which also made hearing a bit difficult. No formal dress code either but everyone seemed to be pretty dressed up which made it feel even more fancier. Our server was very helpful and friendly. I'm not a huge alcohol person and all the drinks seemed pretty strong but he recommended the Ma Cherie which was great! They ask that you ordered everything all at once so the kitchen can set the pace for the meal. This makes total sense but I tend to have eyes bigger than my stomach and was worried about ordering too much. For two people, we ordered two appetizers, two entrees, one side, and a dessert which ended up being the perfect amount. We decided to stick with the French classic and started escargots. The escargot was delicious but the bread that accompanied it was majorly burnt. We also tried the gnocchi which was good! You could definitely tell the gnocchi is freshly made since it tasted very doughy (maybe slightly underdone?). For my meal I tried the halibut and split the seasonal pomme de terre. I really enjoyed the grapes with the halibut since it added a unique sweetness to the dish. To top off the night, we ordered the chocolate soufflé based on the many other Yelper's recommendations. it was small but perfect. They even added a birthday candle to my plate.

This will be a meal I think about all week! Chef Paul Virant has created something very special in his new Western Springs French Brasserie concept. This is the perfect spot to enjoy an elevated date night or special occasion. The inside is intimate with 65 total guest seats split between the bar top, chef's counter, and banquet seats. The interior is designed impeccably well and transports you to a cozy, European dinner spot. We started with the Petite Vie 75 & Ma Cherie and later tried the Cesser & Belle Jardin. If you are a gin drinker, I highly recommend the Cesser as it is unlike any other gin cocktail we've had. I personally loved both the Ma Cherie & Belle Jardin as they were balanced well, bright, and flavorful. When ordering food, they ask you to order everything at once and they will kindly pace your meal. We started with the Gougeres, Demi Baguette, Tourtons de Champsaur, & Parisienne Gnocchi. Each starter that came out we loved more and more until we got the gnocchi which blew us away! These literally melt in your mouth and would recommend as a must try dish! For entrees we got the Confit de Canard & Petite Vie Burger. The Confit de Canard had the bone in for extra flavor and the sauce paired with the leeks was *chef's kiss*. The Burger was very tasty and nice to have on menu as a safer option. I loved that they took a classic and made it their own with brie cheese, caramelized onions, truffle aioli, and very soft bun. The pomme frites and pairing sauce were addicting to eat! Lastly, we split the Nougat Glacé for dessert which was a fruity and nutty frozen ice cream. Overall, Petite Vie is exactly what downtown Western Spring needs! The classic french cuisine and quality of food is some of the best I have seen in the suburbs and service is top notch. Make a reservation to try before this hidden gem gets the recognition it very well deserves.

Conveniently located next to the Metra station, Petite Vie is what I'd call a hidden gem in the Illinois suburban town of Western Springs. Came in on a Thursday evening just in time for Happy Hour. Right away, it was hard to ignore the vibey atmosphere and welcoming staff. We sat at the bar and ordered the half dozen Happy Hour east coast Oysters (not pictured) for $18. Everything else we ordered was magnificent as well. The salad was fresh as farm to table as can be. The trout and Demi baguette were fantastic as well. Would definitely come back for a casual night out or for a special occasion this is sure to impress. If you're looking for a French restaurant that is comparable and can compete with French restaurants in the downtown Chicago area look no further!

Great deal for restaurant week!! Many delicious choices and many drink choices. Like the music they play too! Friendly staff

Food was all very rich in flavor and well prepared. Kind patient staff to help you with the French pronunciations lol. We were in the back corner room which was a bit awkwardly quiet with two couples when we entered. I rather have been in the main area.

Beautiful room. Three dining options: bar, table (16 seats)or chef's bar (8 counter stools) , overlooking kitchen. Another dining room in back as well. We chose the chef's bar. Friendly waitstaff. Creative menu, incorporating classic, Louisiana, and French Canadian. Started the meal with escargot, as well as fois gras. Both were very good, especially the garlic butter Pernod sauce in which the escargot were served. Chef thought these starters needed a counterbalance, so had a superb chocolate croissant as well. For entree, we shared the "Trout Tartine", a seared trout filet nestled on a bed of arugula atop roasted tomatoes, on aioli coated crustini. The tartine was delicious, but the edges of the crustini were charred and burned, which detracted from an otherwise five star plus entree. I highly recommend this lovely "brasserie" in Western Springs

Lillet Spritz - tart, awful flavor Le Bon Capitaine - strong, complex, not too sweet Truffle Gourgeres Duck Confit Nougat Glace A charming bistro vibe with friendly, professional staff but very loud and with little to no AC on a hot day. The appetizer was a huge disappointment - completely flavorless bread bites with no cheese in sight. The duck was outstanding - the tender, rich dark meat was the highlight of the night. The miniscule cubes of potato were weird - why serve potatoes like this? They had no flavor, were not browned, and served no textural purpose. The onions were a nice, sweet element on the dish, but there were too many of them compared to the ridiculous potatoes and single piece of duck. The Nougat desert (parfait with nuts and candied fruit) was complex with the tart fruit, sweet parfait, and nuts. Unique and very enjoyable. One appetizer, two entrees, two desserts, two drinks, $122. I left hungry. Some enyoyable elements, but not a great experience overall. Not sure I will return.

The food was delicious and the service was very good. I loved the frisee salad that had a complement of flavors that worked fabulously together. My Halibut was amazing, and I loved the accompanied raisins that really added some zest to the dish. The chocolate souffle was warm and gooey- the perfect ending to a great meal.

A Lively, Authentic setting.. Service was Excellent! Everyone was eager to please, & came across they really enjoyed their jobs! Owner was onsite, working to make sure everyone was happy. He seemed Genuinely interested in how things were! All Great to see these days! Food was Great! Authentic French menu. Chicken was honestly the best I've ever had in my life! Amazing! Mixed drinks were made very well. Bartenders knew their craft, & the French Forward wine list was also very well done! It is a very lively, bustling atmosphere. Not a quiet place. Perfectly Authentic! A true French experience! Small plates for drinks, or a full blown multi course meal, you will be set! Great Spot! Will definitely be back! Thank You All for your hard work!

This place is tres magnifique! Excellent food-the escargot is divine. The salads were cold, crunchy + tasty. The Pithivier was an unexpected surprise. Didn't know exactly what it was + it did not disappoint. The creme brule was perfect. The other star of the show is Thierry, our server. So kind, patient + knowledgeable. There's nothing like dining with great friends, delicious food + outstanding service. Merci beaucoup!

The food was excellent. Our server, Marina T, really made the experience great. She walked us through the menu which enhanced the experience.

I had the best meal this year at Petite Vie. The ambiance and service was spot on. Even sitting at the bar you will get a very upscale experience. I highly recommend this restaurant and will be returning very soon

Excellent in all respects. The food was fabulous. My daughter had the duck confit and it was superb. We had chocolate soufflé and crème brûlée for dessert, both sublime. Highly recommend. Not stuffy just fantastic food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our server was Laura. Timely with dishes, straight from the oven hot. Also knowledge of menu and wine. Enough check ins, and not obtrusive . Recommendations: #1 try the endive "Waldorf" salad. This isn't Waldorf, even though that's what the ingredients will lead you to believe. I was in the mood for endive, so I went for it anyway. Boy am I glad. It's actually a very nice French interpretation. Not a creamy dressing, instead a vinegar, lemon(?) flavor dressing. Slices of apple poached(?), not chunks (tres French). Outstanding, my wife tried and agreed. Appetizer not to my taste, the cheese chaux things. This is actually a wonderful cheese chaux pastry with truffle, that they ruin (my opinion) with a slice of cheese. Cheese overwhelms the delicate flavors. Order without the cheese slice for a better experience. As a matter of principle & protest, I refused to peel off the cheese. Again, my recommendation is order without the cheese for better flavor. Entree, I had trout almondine. This is a classic, so you better nail it with both feet, and no wobbles. Petite Vie nails it with nine inch spikes. Laura served this burning hot. I love that. Crispy skin, balanced almondine sauce, and green beans just the right aldente. My wife had steak frites. Checks all the SF boxes, but I don't get steak frites in France either. So maybe you will love it. Nice char on the steak. It's authentic, but I would prefer something saucier. The fries tasted great in my almandine sauce! Sat next to a girls night out 8 or 9 top, and the noise was rock concert loud . When they left, you could speak normally. Knocking a star for that anyway, though that really isn't fair to ding for circumstances. I don't have to be fair c'est la vie. We will return

Lovely experience, but that is to be expected at any Paul Virant establishment, n'est-ce pas? I enjoyed my nite's special of Bouillabaisse. Apps were delicious and a nice bottle rounded out the evening. Great vibe. This is not trying to be a Vie redux, instead it offers a more casual yet still refined approach. Cultivated eyes will spot a sconce or two shout-out to the original Vie.

My wife and I had to make reservations 1 week in advance and could only get 4:15pm on Saturday. They only had a table in the back room. The tables were really close together. Ours was just 12 inches from the tables next to us. Service was very good but I was disappointed there was no bread on our table like other restaurants have. I had the steak fiittes which was OK but the fries were too salty. Other restaurants do not salt fries so that the natural flavor can be enjoyed. My wife had pork tenderloin and was vey good. Soup was good and cream brulea was average.

Had anniversary dinner with my wife here a week or so ago. The restaurant was elegantly decorated. the restaurant is small and intimate with a few tables inside and a couple outside. When we arrived, the host acknowledged our anniversary, and we were quickly seated. Our server also acknowledged our anniversary. It was a very nice touch. We started with the gougeres and gnocchi. The gougeres were just ok, but the gnocchi were ethereal. Instead of being made with traditional potatoes, they are made from choux making them extremely delicate. For dinner, my wife had the croque madam, which was very good, and I had the halibut. I love seafood, and this is probably the best halibut I've ever had. I will be back for this. Our side was the potatoes d'escoffier which were rich and flavorful. Our server was perfect in knowing when to be present, and when to not. Overall, this is a fantastic restaurant that I will return to soon.

I love french cuisine, but was underwhelmed with the food and the prices. I don't mind paying more for well put together dishes that have various components to make each bite popping with different textures and flavors; however, petite vie served food that was sloppily cooked and one noted while having the same price tag as french food at restaurants that create multi-noted meticulously prepared dishes. The pork dish was pork cutlets smothered in a typical escargot garlic sauce with the additional of sundried tomatoes. It was clearly cooked in a single pan with no flavor distinctions. The garlic was so overpowering that you literally could not taste the flavor of the pork or the tomatoes. My husband kept saying it tasted like he was eating fish. The Lyonnaise salad had bread crumbs and fried pork belly that was prepared several hours ago. The pork belly was cooked to perfection but the croutons were an oily mess and very small - I would skip the croutons. It was also sloppily put together. The greenbeans were well cooked but poor quality - they were either old greenbeans or just so out of season that couldn't find fresh ones. They should not have it on the menu now. The desserts, on the other hand, were phenominal and worth the $15 price tag (each). The chocolate soufle also somewhat typical and nothing special as far as chocolate souffles go was none the less deliscious. The apple tart was unique and deliscious although cold despite them warming in the toaster oven at the bar area. We also ordered a bottle of $70 wine. The bill was $210. I wish the food was better - it just wasn't

So happy to have "vie" back. We live in western springs and went for the first time to the new iteration. It was fantastic. Downtown Chicago ambiance. Our waitress was beyond friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. Chef Paul and the manager stopped by our table. It felt high end but homey at the same time. Food was excellent. I would recommend the baguette, scallop appetizer, steak frites and halibut but definitely don't leave without having the chocolate soufflé (and I'm not a dessert person). This place is fantastic. Keep it up. We'll be back.

Outstanding!!! The best meal I've had in a LONG time. Paul Virant is my new food hero. Wow wow wow wow! Favorite appetizer: gnocchi. Favorite meals: Duck Confit & Steak Frites. Favorite dessert: Profiteroles. Actually every single thing we ate was off the charts. Magnifique Master Paul.

The restaurant has a great brasserie-style ambience and an extensive menu. On the other hand, the service we encountered at our Saturday brunch was far below expectations. During our meal, one of our group received the wrong drink, we were served someone else's food and, to top it off, we were given someone else's bill as we finished. All of these issues were corrected immediately, but they soured the overall experience for us. I ordered a meal I did not like (my fault) but I left the restaurant hungry. Overall, it was an experience that did not measure up to what we expected. We won't be going back.

Great food and ambience. We have been there 5 times. Wonderful staff. We know the owner and always enjoy His restaurants

From start to finish, it was a *wonderful* meal. We enjoyed the Fois Gras Mousse, Vichyssoise with the smoked trout, Onion Soup Gratinee, Pork Charsseur, Confit de Canard, and the Nougat Glacé. [The only way it could have been improved would be to make the duck skin just a bit crispier with a bit more of the accompanying roasted leeks & calvados apples. :-) ] The service was wonderful and Petite Vie's wine selection is excellent. The restaurant is comfortably intimate, reminiscent of the original Vie. We look forward to coming again and again.

Had a wonderful dinner with my college age son at this beautiful Brasserie this week. Attentive, knowledgeable service and food are a definite step up from most other restaurants in this range. Everything was a little different and interesting. Great crafted cocktail=le bon capitan, delicious pate, endive salad and duck as well as nougat glace for dessert. Chef Virant and staff have done an admiral job and created something special, feel lucky to have this dining choice.

The food was amazing. Everything was cooked to perfection. The portions were generous. It's a great addition to the western suburbs. Paul hit the nail on the head. Fantastic !!!

Like Paul Virant's prior restaurant, Vie, Petite Vie is awesome and delicious. Crew is also fantastic!

When I learned that Chef Virant's Vie was closing, I was so sad. When I learned that his Petite Vie was opening, I was so happy. Finally a legitimate French Bistro. One would think that after hundreds of years of american culinary evolution, and our close kinship with the French from the earliest of days, that it would be relatively easy to mimic the eatery of eateries stateside. Sadly, not so much. Virant and his team have done it, though. And in Western Springs, Illinois no less. Lovely aperitifs, including spritzers made with their own soda machine. A menu that you'd expect, because why mess with the model too much?! In fact, that seems to be their schtick - do a classic bistro, do it well, and make no apologies about it. We loved the escargot, halibut, the duck confit, the burger, the croque madame, and of course the frites. Frites that deserve to be called frites. I could sit at the bar alone, sip on a spritzer, and eat the hell out of those frites. Oh yeah, get some bread for the love of it all. My lord. As a baguette should be - with salted butter thank you very much. The best thing about Petite Vie is that you could literally eat here several times a week and not come close to breaking the bank. It should easily be on your short list of neighborhood haunts if you live in the near western suburbs. Thanks, Chef Paul, for sticking around.

Just had a wonderful dinner and experience at Petite Vie. Service was excellent. Food was excellent. Only critique is that the noise level was a bit high due to the two tops being very close together. Once the bar cleared out the level decreased. Might be a good idea to remove one or two tables. We will be back!

Great spot. Food is amazing and so is the atmosphere. Good service as well. Similar to Vistro in Hinsdale which is also good.

My favorite part of the experience was not the food (excellent), wine (excellent), service (outstanding) and ambiance (excellent), but the fact someone turned the LOUD music down so I could speak in such an intimate environment. I prefer soft jazz. It is hard to talk over the bass sounds. Thank you for turning down the volume! Consider soft jazz or classical music as I listened to in the French cafes.

Simply the best! Excellent beverage program. Menu is terrific. Halibut and Duck are amazing. Love the energy in the new space

Food was AMAZING. We tried the Gourges, Gnocchi, and the Escargot for our apps and the steak frites and the pork tenderloin as our entrees. Our server, Terry, was attentive and knowledgeable. Truly a perfect date night and we can't wait to be back.

Beautiful new restaurant from Chef Paul Virant. French bistro with delicious food and a great vibe. Outstanding menu that offers both casual and higher end options. We really enjoyed every course of our meal. Be sure to try the Parisenne Gnocchi and the Fluke Veronique. The staff was welcoming and provided top notch service. Looking forward to our next visit!

came in for brunch!! food was fantastic, highly recommend the escargot, shakeratos, and the quiche!!! service was amazing and i can't wait to come back

Spectacular. Bravo chef! We will be back very often. The whole experience was just great.