Bistro 110

It is closed? I was there last weekend and the place was boarded up and the sign was taken down! Ah I never got to eat Julia Child’s Duck :(

Ok bistro food with a high price tag due to location.
french onion soup — ok, need more onions and cheese
coq au vin — ok, not enough chicken on the plate!
I thought the food was standard bistro (duh) food but not enough for the pirce!

We were in a large group, so we had a very limited set of menu options to choose from.
The exceptionally well informed server told me right away that certain potato products are made in house, others are pre-​made and thus likely to contain gluten. Instead of steak frites, I had steak with mashed potatoes.
The steak was really excellent and considering we were a group of 25 they did a darned good job of plating the table quickly. A very enjoyable meal and a place I’d return to.

I see that people have posted quite a variety of reviews about this place.
My litmus test is my parents. They are very difficult to dine with as my mother does not like many cuisines (hates Mexican and Chinese for example) and my dad does not like paying a lot of money for food. Mix those two together and you have one hell of a heartburn even before you start the meal.
Bistro is located in a very touristy part of Chicago naturally that affects a lot of variables for the restaurant. I can not argue with the other reviewers however I can say the following:
We had lunch here on a Friday, the dining room was quite nicely lit, welcoming, clean and not too crowded to our relief.
The wait staff were attentive.
The food was well prepared, the lettuce in the side salad I had was the freshest field greens I have tasted in quite some time.
While this is not the definitive French Experience, I thought the service, the quality of the food, the ambiance were all agreeable. I thought this was more of the French I like — Provence and less of the France I dislike — pretentious Paris stuff with expensive prices and food that piles up 12 inches high on plates like there’s nowhere to go on the plate.
This may or may not suit others. We left that restaurant happy — yes even my impossible to please parents had nothing bad to say which in my book is a badge of honor for any restaurant that’s willing to take us on.
So well done and thanks.

Just DON’T Do It.
This is Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare come to life in the Gold Coast. The 1 Star is for the lovely young lady that was our waitress who did a great job; the good ends there.
French Onion Soup: Served lukewarm (it’s soup!)
Side of Green Beans: Mix of canned, yes — canned, and what were once fresh green beans served soaked in lemon, beyond dead and we couldn’t for the life of us figure out if they’d been sauteed, steamed or — well, just how they’d killed these little beans but it was awful.
Crème Fraiche Mashed Potatoes: There was nothing «fraiche» about this dish, nor do I think there was crème. Served cold — like all our dishes — these were at least edible but they were a basic potato, potentially out of a box, mixed with butter and tossed on a side dish.
The table next to us sent back their mussels for being cold and chose not to order another dish and the table across sent back their dish as well. If you’re in the mood for French, head down the street to Bistro Zinc. This isn’t worth the time much less the disappointment.
P. S. — During my dining «experience» I visited the ladies room where I read a write-​up on their Executive Chef. A complete accolade-​filled page about his classic french training and James Beard Award nomination. This guy doesn’t work at Bistro 110 and if he does, he definitely needs a Gordon Ramsay kick in the pants!

Sent my mom in-​law 5 menus for brunch the other day and she picked this place. Sunday morn, 11 am. Made reservations… very accomodating to moving us from inside to outside (although they sat us right at the bathroom entrace inside :(
Service lacked outside, but the food was great. $ 30 for a bloody mary (spicy and great flavor), endive and goat cheese salad (OMG so good), and Eggs Louisana — two crab cakes with poached eggs and hollandasie and creole sauce (very very good)
I would go back if there’s any reason I need to be around watertower place on a Sunday.
Crème Brulee — very dissapointing for being at a french place.

I hope my mother doesn’t read this review…
I came here for brunch on Easter. I was totally dreading church at 9:30 am but when my sister in law picked Bistro 110 for brunch I had a silver lining to my heathenish Easter dread. Turns out they more than made up for an hour and 15 minutes of bonnets, crying kids and Catholic guilt.
We were greeted warmly, seated quickly and we all had drinks in front of us within 10 minutes of arriving. Peach Bellini was good. Mimosa was good. Bloody Mary was really good. I ordered the infamous french onion soup and a croque-​monsieur which was mouth watering and cheesy (not as hot as I would have wanted though). It was a holiday, it was crowded. Everyone showed up wantin something and thinking they deserve everything. I was happy, my family was happy and church was OVA. I’d say it was a good day.

Bistro 110 has become a yearly tradition with my daughter. During Christmastime, we park using the restaurants valet (let the valet know what you are doing and work out a price ahead of time), go shopping for presents on the Mag Mile, and finish the day, in the warmth and cheer of this charming restaurant. If you’re lucky, you might get a chance to meet the extremely friendly and personable Executive Chef, Dominique, who often stops at tables to chat with customers.
Highlights are: the French Onion Soup, which is delicately seasoned and sports about 3 oz of Gruyère cheese; the roasted garlic (comes for free at the table) is caramelized and tender to the point it’s spreadable like butter on your bread; Chocolate Mousse is airy and wonderfully chocolatey. I won’t go into the rest of the food. Rest assured, whatever you order will come to you perfectly cooked and tasty. It’s not 5 star French Cuisine but for Bistro fare it is excellent!

I work across the street from this restaurant, in a bad neighborhood for good cheap eats. I was having a very bad day. (Tsunami+100s of phone calls from distraught people.) I wanted to treat myself to something nice, cost be damned. In my stressed out, hungry, daze, I stumbled in here in search of culinary solace.
The service was great. The $ 11 cocktail was acceptable, but nothing that would compare to the Drawing Room for the price. It was the salad that ruined the experience for me.
I avoid dairy and gluten, which meant my only menu option was a «olive oil grilled tuna» salad. Not my ideal choice, but it’s a French Restaurant and I could live with it, especially as I was short on time.
Here’s the thing– this was a $ 15 salad, and I expect a really good salad for $ 15. This was a small plate of spinach, topped with a few sliced kalamata olives and tomato cubes, and topped with a cold, tough, flavorless block of tuna. I expected it to be if not warm, at least fresh, and this tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge overnight. It was the middle of the lunch rush and I had to go back to work so it didn’t seem appropriate to complain– but seriously, this was a $ 33 let down of a lunch that was supposed to be a «treat.»
I realize their clientele are mostly tourists who are eager to throw money around and won’t be coming back, but I really was disgusted by how little effort went into the food for the price.

Unassuming place with good food and average service. French onion soup and the rosemary polenta were both delicious.
Atmosphere was lacking… can not put my finger on it.

Bistro 110 is my grandmother’s favorite restaurant when she visits Chicago. She always wants to come here, and I always have to oblige… But I have a couple of deep, dark secrets that I need to air out.
I don’t like their food.
I don’t like their service.
I don’t like the location.
I don’t like the crowd that frequents this place.
Call it a product of the location (Without a doubt the most touristy part of town), but I find every time I go here that the place is always full of tourists who are raving over some dish that I know I’ve tried and found to be absolutely bland, tasteless, and unappetizing.
The wait staff is snobby. Plain and simple, they’ve got their nose so far up in the air that they have to duck to avoid hitting the tops of the doors.
The portions are small. I honestly thought this place was a Tapas restaurant the first time I went there. There are honestly so many better places in the city that I’d never even consider coming here, even if I hadn’t eaten in days and was standing in front of the place.
So, grandma… If you’re wondering why i don’t ask you when you’ll visit Chicago next, now you’ll know. It’s because you’ll subject me to Bistro 110.

From the fresh garlic they serve you with your bread, to the eruption of flavor of all their dishes…5 STARS!
Must try the French Onion Soup!

Came back for Mother’s Day brunch and had another wonderful experience. We were even treated to live music while we ate – there was a jazz trio playing.
Peach Bellini was not that great unfortunately, but the Eggs Louisiana was awesome! It was sauteed crab cakes topped with poached eggs, hollandaise and Creole sauce, a bit spicy but very tasty. The most perfectly poached eggs I’ve ever had.
Mom ordered the salmon with mashed potatoes, which she was very pleased with, and my sis ordered the chicken petit sandwich, which was a bit dry but otherwise good. For dessert, we shared the profiteroles (vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio ice cream-​filled puffs drizzled with homemade chocolate sauce) which was out-​of-​this-​world good!
On a previous visit, I had Julia Child’s roasted duck with peaches and it was fabulous!!! Perfectly moist inside and crispy skin outside – delectable.
Service was a bit slow since they were crowded but I was otherwise very satisfied.

I’m always pleased with meals at Bistro 110. I’m never knocked over with terrificness, but it’s good, it’s dependable.
Clearly it’s a French restaurant. I’ve never had a bad meal at Bistro 110, but if you’re looking for anything other than French food you’re probably in the wrong place. The steamed mussels in white wine and herb butter are very good for a starter for 2 or a meal for 1. All the salads are very good. The sandwiches are all very tasty as well. I don’t think I’ve ever picked something I wasn’t happy with.
The service is good. The waitstaff are all very knowledgeable about the menu and usually very attentive. The hostesses can be a bit unhelpful and, perhaps snooty at times. The bartenders are nice and good at what they do.
When the weather is nice the outdoor seating is simultaneously far enough from Michigan Ave to be semi quiet and close enough for some people watching.
I’ve been eating at Bistro 110 since I moved into the building 10 years ago and I’ll keep going back even though I’ve moved out of the neighborhood (and don’t revel in the sidewalks of touristy Michigan Ave).

Groupon does it again! I wouldnt have visited this place if it werent for groupon. Prices here are definitely pricey! Even with a $ 50 groupon, we spent and additional $ 30 for 2 people. But the food was pretty good and I think it was worth it (at least for my meal).
We started off with the complimentary bread and baked garlic. MAN THAT GARLIC IS GOOD STUFF!!! It is addictive! We also had the bistro salad. The sherry vinaigrette really adds great flavor to the salad. Delicious!
I had the oven roasted sea scallops. There were four HUGE scallops on my plate and it was delicious! The polenta and greens were very creamy and yummie! Overall a great dish. My friend ordered the wood roasted half chicken. She said it was good but it looked a little dry to me. I’d suggest sticking with the scallops!
For dessert we had the crème brûlée. It was SO BUTTERY. Seriously, I had to do multiple tastings just to make sure it was crème and not just butter. Very rich but a nice guilty pleasure.
Service here was quick and friendly. The atmosphere was great too. We had an early dinner and there were only a few tables seated around us. A great dining experience.

I would have never gone here if it wasn’t for the Groupon deal. Last time I had French food was in France a decade ago, so I thought it would be a good time to try it again. I’m so glad I purchased this Groupon because Bistro 110 is awesome! Lively, friendly service, live jazz entertainment, and delicious food made our experience enjoyable. We went here for brunch and were surprised to see a group of cute old jazz musicians walking through the restaurant, playing their instruments and singing. They were wonderful.
We went for brunch and ordered from their prix fixe menu, which included 3 courses for $ 22.95…definitely not a bad deal! We started off with a warm baguette that came with butter, raspberry preserves, and a garlic spread. Never had the garlic in that form before… I liked it though, it was interesting. I ordered the shrimp gumbo, which is out-​of-​this-​world AMAZING!!! Flavorful, just a hint of spicy, fat pieces of shrimp, white rice, bits of meat, vegetables… I fell in love. I also ordered the Eggs Louisiana, which were crab cakes with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. I didn’t enjoy it as much, probably because I was already stuffed! But I think the crabcakes were a bit dry. Lastly, dessert consisted of a slice of chocolate cake floating on a lake of caramel sauce accompanied by a huge dollop of whip cream and berries… delicious!
I would definitely come back again. It’s a good place to take parents and elderly people. This is also a great place to take out-​of-​town guests while visiting Michigan Avenue. If it’s someone’s birthday, even better, the charming jazz band will sing to your group.

To start, I enjoyed the bread. It was a little above mediocre. Definitely more fresh than other places. I liked the garlic and butter spread– What can I say? I’m a fan of garlic.
We got a plate of pâté for appetizer. Mmm, delicious. Not as great as the pâté I got in Paris though. That was a bit disappointing for a French restaurant.
I ordered the cassoulet. It said nothing about having sausages and bacon in it, so I didn’t expect those things to randomly appear in my dish. That was a bit strange… I was expecting just duck and lamb! Still, it was pretty good. I liked it. I mean, c’mon, what’s there not to love when the dish combined two of my favorite meats?
My friend ordered the lamb shank and offered me a piece to try. I thought it was dry… Yeah, I definitely liked mine more.
Our server was smiley and bubbly. I liked that. Except I wasn’t pleased when she brought over my wine. It was first in a mini carafe bottle and then she just poured it all into my wine glass. There was nothing like a taste — «How do you like it?» Nope, just straight into the wine glass. I thought it was strange for a fancy schmancy restaurant.
And the mousse cake? Very sweet, almost too sweet. But as it is, I’m still not a fan of most western desserts so you should take another person’s word for it.

Decided to do the heavy lunch, light dinner schema again. After standing at the top of the world in the John Hancock building’s Signature Lounge (while the view was very impressive — their food choices were not), we decided to walk around a bit and eventually stumbled into this restaurant. Hey French onion soup in a cast iron bowl — heck yeah, I’m there…
Bread is served with a whole head of roasted garlic — you can never go wrong with roasted garlic — sweet ‘n spicy, and it gets rid of all your worms too!
For the appetizers, had:
— Artichoke Baked with Brie — The artichoke was a bit over-​steamed to the point it was pretty water-​logged, however the melted brie dijon mustard seed sauce was absolutely suburb. This is a close second to my favorite grilled artichoke.
— French Onion Soup (
) — baked in a cast iron crock with a gratin of Gruyère and provolone was a very tasty start. The onion soup was a combination of white and green onions. The cheeses were rich and exactly the right amount to satisfy any cheese-​head.
— Escargots en Croute — These slippery suckers were finally put to rest baked in a rich maitre d’ butter sauce and topped with a flaky pastry puff.
Entrees:
— Bistro 110 Steak Frites — A New York strip top with a huge slab of shallot-​parsley buddah. This was tender and juicy — but a NY will always take second to a good rib-​eye in flavor. It was served with homemade thinly sliced pommes frites and a chili-​style steak sauce on the side.
— Duck Confit with roasted sweet peaches — This was quite moist and exceptionally cooked without the gaminess.
The service:
Very professional, however a bit upper-​lip stuffy. But hey, we’re in French restaurant would you expect anything different? So the atmosphere fit the bill. And I never had to ask to have anything refilled — Servers were always on the ball.

Have food allergies?
Worried about where to go out to eat?
Still want to go out to eat?
GO HERE.
Seriously.
I have some ridiculously complicated food allergies. When I dine out with my parents– I have to pay attention to them, or my P’s freak. Bistro 110 is a great place for us to go. We can get good food, booze, and I can still eat something that tastes like it was made for a human– that will not make some part of me swell up.
On more than one occasion, the chef himself has come out of the kitchen to clear ingredients with me. The waitstaff are trained to be especially sensitive to allergies. It is quite an issue for the Chef– you see, his children suffer from possibly life threatening food issues. He takes these concerns and transfers them to the good of his customers.
Gluten Free– not a problem. Corn Free/​Gluten Free they can handle that too. Corn Free, Gluten Free, Soy free, with their hands tied behind their backs! They have your back covered!
the best part? The food is awesome!

So — Is this a tourist trap or is this really a good place to eat?
First off, the valet told my parents that they were «full». Um, how is that even possible? Eventually, the valet agreed to park the car.
Service was good, server was friendly and quick to make recommendations. Chicken sandwich w/​grilled veggies was just ok… Nothing spectacular. The chicken by itself seemed a little bland to me. Eh. The salmon and pork were alright… The fried onions and pommes frites were good, though. I think that was one of the best parts.
The saving grace was that chocolate cake, though. Delicious! Not too sweet and you just want to finish the whole slice. Yum.