Chez Joel Bistro

Best bistro in Chicago. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. The onion soup and duck are two of my personal favorites, but you can’t really go wrong with anything.

I was really excited to come to this place because I picked this place for my anti-​prom. It was very quaint. My boyfriend and I sat outside because it was a beautiful day. They have several tables out in their patio with a tiny fountain in the corner. A gigantic tree serves as a natural roof which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m kind of sad to say the bread was my favorite part of the meal. I started off with the endive salad but did not enjoy it at all. It was so oddly bitter and flavorless. Don’t get it. My boyfriend had the soup of day, a tomato soup with a touch a cream. It was nice, but eh… Then we had escargot and mussels. Escargot was actually decent, great herbs, a must have. However, the mussels really ruined the entire experience. I think the sauce was the issue. I took a whiff of it and it smelled like wet dog. Every bite of the mussel I took felt like I was eating a puppy. If you do get the mussels, do not dip it in the sauce. steak was okay… eh… consistent quality though and perfectly cooked. dessert was eh as well… all I have to say is familiar doggy smell in the mussels and eh…

Just terrific! They never disapoint. I really can’t say enough. The steak frites are great. Perfect frites. Herb butter a must. Save room for the desert. One of the better outdoor dining in the city.

It was ok. Service is great the staff is very attentive I had the beets salad and soup which is ok… I had filet mignon it wasn’t outstanding. But the desserts… The crème brûlée was phenomenal.

Outstanding food! an excellent chef. Very cute inside and really nice workers. would come here again!

We went here for our anniversary and we were not disappointed! Love the quaint space, and the food was great! We both had NY strip and it was cooked perfectly and the presentation was lovely. Had drinks as well and those were also delicious! Highly recommend.

good atmosphere, great food. best restaurant I’ve been to in a long time. I went on Valentine’s Day was definitely worth the reservation.

My family and I came here during restaurant week and we were certainly not let down! The place is very small, but has that great intimate feel! The waiters are attentive and the service overall is great. As far as the food goes, there was not one dish I was let down on!

A very romantic place ! Great food and wine, great place to visit in the summer (has a little outdoor seating area which is super romantic). A little French gem in the heart of little Italy

Went here with my family on a Saturday with an Open Table reservation. Food was great. Service exceptionally friendly and attentive. There were some disappointments.
Started my meal with the Cheese Assortment. I was expecting a stellar cheese assortment but was disappointed by the overall selection, which was Brie, Soft Goat Cheese, Roquefort, and Swiss. Yes, Swiss. Not Gruyère, Thom, Compte, Emnental… but Swiss. That’s what the server said. The cheese was good, but I could have gone to any supermarket to pick up this disappointing selection.
My wife ordered the Mussels for her appetizer which she loved. I tried the sauce and it was excellent.
Next came the main, which was Coquilles St. Jacques. It was good but so rich that neither my wife nor I could finish the plate. The leeks were tasty.
Dessert was really good and the highlight for me. It was a Tarte Aux Pommes. Nice flavor and perfectly spiced to match the glass of Calvados I ordered off-​menu.
They also offer olive oil or tomato linguini for the kids. Both my girls ordered the tomato and neither really liked it. We tried a bit and the sauce was very bland. For dessert they had the sorbet which was excellent.
Maybe we ordered the wrong main but overall we were not overly impressed nor disappointed. Felt there are really good options elsewhere nearby for the same price so we may not return.

Chez Joel is such a cute restaurant, but I’m not totally convinced the food at this charming little French bistro is worth the price. It’s good, but not amazing.
Service is great. Very polite and pleasant waitstaff who are attentive, but not in a pushy over the top way.
Ambiance is lovely. Very romantic-​intimate, candlelit, elegant and cozy all at the same time. Perfect for a nice date night.
My favorites:
–filet mignon
–pommes purée (SO SO GOOD!!)

4 solid stars! Came here on a Sunday afternoon for restaurant week and to celebrate my gf’s bday. As soon as we were walking in, the doors were being opened by the host/​gm (?).
Ambiance– small but not cramped, each table had a fresh red rose and the center chandelier was lovely! Ideal for romantic dates :)
Bread– warm and chewy on the inside and crusty on the outside, just the way I like it! They also give you a nice basket of them (which you will want bc the tapenade sauce that comes with is delicious!!)
Apps– we got the french soup and escargot. I’d say only 3 stars for both: the french soup was kind of watery (not the rich brown broth I am more accustomed to) and I wished the escargot had a thicker, more buttery sauce. However, the escargot themselves were not rubbery or overdone!
Entrees– We both got the steak frites and they were very tasty! The meat was tender and well seasoned, and the frites were super crispy and plentiful.
Dessert– crème brûlée tasted fine, pretty average. Chocolate mousse was also good and was a large portion as well.
Service– here is where it really shined! From beginning to end, the host/​gm, our server and the busboy were attentive and super accommodating! The courses arrived in a timely fashion, our drinks were always full and they even brought out a round of sparkling pink champagne at the end for my gf’s bday! Both doors were opened again for us as we left– what a nice gesture! Definitely 5 stars! Will be back!

A very nice meal indeed. Walked in on a snowy evening (with reservations). This is the take
1. Service 4.5÷5 seated promptly after greetings. Polite and sincere waiting staff. Innocuous and unobtrusive.
2. Food ⁴⁄₅ I was impressed with the French onion soup and Brie cheese appetizer. Filet mignon was above average but not the best I have tasted. Scallops were amazing. Above average crème brûlée and chocolate fondant.
3. Ambience ⁴⁄₅. This is a place you want to take your date to. Quiet and warm. Beautiful lighting.
4. Price: 140usd for two not including tips for a 4 course meal with a bottle of wine.
Overall ⁴⁄₅. Worth the meal and the price with the right company. Good French food without a hole in the pocket.

I really do love french restaurants because it brings me back to my France days of carelessness and amazing food and drinks. We came here for a date night and had a really great dinner. I ordered the brie appetizer and it was incredible, also ordered the coq au vin (my favorite dish) and again it did not disappoint. Service was impeccable and even the owner came by to say hi. We will definitely be back for some more good french cuisine.

It took me a while to get this review up… but it’s necessary.
I came in with my best friends and family to celebrate my new place and my promotion. It was a weekday, and they were not busy AT ALL (2 other tables on the patio, no one inside). We sat outside and ordered drinks to start. After 15 minutes, the waitress/​hostess came out with a tray, which she subsequently dropped and showered my best friend with the coke and water she had ordered. It took her another fifteen minutes to bring out a replacement coke and napkins to clean her up with. She remained cold and wet for the remainder of the chilly Spring evening.
Next, we all placed our food orders (we were a total of 6 people, with 6 orders). After appetizers were done, the food came out. My boyfriend had ordered his steak medium rare, but it came out medium well. When we brought that to our server’s attention, she unapologetically stated, «well, sorry, but I wrote down ‘medium well’ so there’s nothing I can do.» We asked for the manager, and he came out to let us know that he would get another steak going. While we waited for that, we all gave my boyfriend a little bit of our meals, so that he wouldn’t hungrily have to watch us eat. The food all tasted fine.
We did not order dessert, but I ordered a hot tea. Water arrived, but tea bags did not. Luckily, I keep herbal tea bags in my purse for cold days in the office, so I pulled one of those out after waiting and waiting.
When the bill arrived, to our surprise, we were charged for the replacement coke as well as the original, we were charged a split fee (because we shared our portions with my boyfriend), we were charged for 2 steaks, and the tea. When we spoke with the manager, again, he very aggressively told us that he had a business to run and that «people like us» made that difficult. He finally adjusted the bill, after quite a lengthy angry discourse, but it obviously took that to make it happen.
Needless to say, we never went back, and all 6 of us have very actively stopped our friends, family, acquaintances, co-​workers, neighbors, and pretty much any other living soul from stepping foot here. Sadly, the food was fine, but not good enough to outweigh the lack of service and disrespect. That was inexcusable.

OMG I love it here! Definitely a very memorable meal. The street on which this restaurant is situated is a huge contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, a perfect place for an after dinner stroll. Came on a Sunday night, no need for reservation, and was immediately seated.
This is an absolutely charming and romantic spot to go on a date. They have a small garden area in the back of the restaurant for outdoor dining.
Service was impeccable and personable. Décor was everything you’d expect in a small French bistro: cozy yet elegant.
Food was outstanding. The French baguette was warm and freshly baked, came with olive oil and butter, it was so good I died and went to French bread heaven! But I had to somehow manage to pace myself.
I tried escargots for the first time and they nailed it with the herbs and olive oil. Everything we got for the main course (duck, lamb, risotto) was excellently prepared and presented. For dessert, we had a hard time deciding between chocolate lava cake and the almond gateaux, but ended up trying something new and going with the latter, since it was a family recipe. Needless to say, the dessert was beautifully plated, not too sweet and the perfect size to end a spectacular meal.

A Neighborhood Jewel
This local small French bistro is a wonderful place to take to the bar, sit outside and have some light cuisine and a good glass of wine or partake in a larger mean with friends. The atmosphere is wonderfully detailed yet casual. The service is great, but when busy can be choppy. The cuisine is well plated and the flavor profiles are definitely above average. We always look forward to visiting this place.

Chez Joel Bistro takes the 2015 Chicago Restaurant Week seriously. For $ 33 per person and three courses, I couldn’t have asked for more.
My first course was the escargots a la bourguignon. There were six pieces of plump French snails drenched in a garlic butter, pernod, and herbed crumbs sauce. It was a tasty delicacy that cannot be skipped. As for second course, I went with the filet of salmon grilled in chive lemon beurre blanc, sauteed vegetables, and potato nouvelle. The buttery sauce was light and I was especially pleased with the fish roe which gave the entrée a very good finishing touch. The potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflowers were also good complements. Last but not least, there must always be room for dessert in which I chose the crème brûlée. Beneath the seared caramel was a very milky and soft custard. It was done just right!
Valet is available and reservations are recommended. It is a very intimate environment perfect for girls’ night out and date nights. I will definitely return for the regular menu!

I was really torn between 4 and 5 stars on this one. We went here this week and ordered off the restaurant week menu which was a really great deal!
The meal started off some great wine (there were tons to choose from)! The first course was delicious with the soup of the day (mushroom) and escargot. Definitely recommend both of those! Second course we ordered the salmon and steak with frites. The salmon and it’s sauce were superb, but the steak was overcooked and tough.
Dessert course was also incredible, including the cocktails we ordered. One of the best crème brûlée I’ve had and the mousse was great too! Everything was amazing (minus the steak, which was disappointing).

Mmmm mmm, what a treat! We were in the area to get some Italian ice at Mario’s and noticed this place. They had a nice patio with umbrellas to block the sun and a nice wine selection.
I was craving scallops, but opted for the Saturday lunch special which included an appetizer, entrée and dessert.
I had the French onion soup — divine; the mussels and frites; and the crème brûlée. Ahhhhmazing!
This sure was a great find! We also had two bottles of white wine, it was a good day!

May I say, I have been to Les Nomades twice, and I would choose Chez Joel (no offense to Chef Nugent, he is genius) over Les Nomades any day. The service at Chez Joel is on point, every.single.time! Each time i’ve gone, I’ve had the same waitress and she is the definition of fabulous.
The menu is quite humble, and priced very fairly, and the nightly specials are often very creative and always delectable. I had the Chilean Sea Bass– probably the best piece of fish I’ve had, ever. The fish was subtly seasoned, cooked to perfection, and melted in my mouth — from start to finish! Though I think I must have near inhaled the fish it was so good. The steaks are always great as well, never a disappointment.
You absolutely must end the night with the Crème Brulee. Always the perfect balance of vanilla, and the top, always carmelized (I know I sound repetitious with the word perfect but I don’t know how else to describe the food! service! atmosphere! other than: perfect:) to perfection!
French restaurants, as well as many other restaurants that would consider themselves ‘fine-​dining’ often have this pretentious aura about them; not Chez Joel. It is a gem, as humble as can be, delivering attentive, friendly service, French basics prepared to perfection, and an experience to be remembered, each and every time you go.