Cochon Volant

Restaurant Week Review:
My menu consisted of: beet salad, steak tartare, classique steak frites and crème brulee. The beet salad was a wonderful start to a great meal and was probably the best salad I’ve had in a restaurant. And who doesn’t love candied walnuts, fried goat cheese and pickled shallots? The steak tartare was a first for me and I couldn’t get over how delicately placed the egg yolk was on top. A gentle tap with my fork and it spilled over the tiny pieces of tenderloin covering it like a creamy volcano. And what better way to eat this than mopping it up with some delicious buttery toasted bread? Simply yum. The steak was perfectly cooked to a med. rare but was surprisingly small in size. I know that restaurants have to cut back on the portion size during restaurant week but just be aware so you’re not expecting their average size steak. Regardless, it couldn’t have been cooked any better and just melted in your mouth. Hell, even the fries were great. Crème brulee was decent but I honestly would have preferred another beet salad.
Food was awesome but my waitress seemed to be ignoring contact with me at the beginning. In fact, when she came by to fill up my water after sitting down, I couldn’t tell if she was my waitress or not because she just looked at me after I said Hi, poured the water into the glass and walked away without acknowledging me anymore. No smile or explanation of the menu or any kind of friendly greeting. A table soon filled to both my left and right after I was done ordering and she was quick to go over in length of the different dining options for both the regular and the R. W. menu. I had no idea you could pay a little more for the filet cut or opt to get a burger instead. So I did what any rejected human would do and forced small talk to her when she swung by again. I found out that this was the only location and that it’s only been around for about 9 months. After that, she became much more friendly, but I think because I was dining alone I was regarded as not being someone who was worth the attention? Who knows. Anyway, awesome food and I will return to try their Le Royal burger soon!

I came here recently for the first time for a quick bite with a friend. We did not make a reservation, but it was a weeknight, and the place was not very crowded. Our waitress was very friendly and make a great chard recommendation (whoops can’t remember what it was though…).
We shared the croque madame eggrolls and mussells mariniere which came with some great crunchy garlic bread. Drool. The eggrolls were definitely interesting but were too salty for my taste. The mussels/​sauce were amazing and could have made an entire meal out of these and the bread! We also got a crème brûlée which was delicious. Would definitely come back/​recommend.

Had dinner here last night and enjoyed the restaurant week menu. Service and presentation here were on point. I definitely recommend the Croque Madame egg rolls, even though I wished there were more of it in an order! The dessert menu for restaurant week was pretty blah (crème brûlée or chocolate mousse) but I love everything else on the four course menu. Love the cool, chilled out atmosphere and the food was interesting and exciting, not to mention, pretty darn good.

Lured here by restaurant week, it is in a part of the Loop that I never frequent as it isn’t directly on my regular path. Great find, adjacent to the nondescript lobby of a next-​door hotel (where the bathrooms are located, a little walk away), there are a few distinct sections (my guess. coffee shop/​breakfast, bar, and dinner) each with different character and detailed design that felt romantic and classy. The space is a little tight but it makes for a lively atmosphere. Service was quite good and enthusiastic and we enjoyed the restaurant week dinner menu of Beet Salad, French Onion Soup, Steak Frites (the fries were amazing), and crème brûlée (standard). Definitely a place to put on my hot list for the loop!

My friend took me out to dinner here. We had a reservation on a freezing Monday and this place was warm and inviting. It was classy yet had a friendly and casual ambiance. I was greeted promptly, I opted to wait at the bar until my friend showed up. I asked for a recommendation on a cocktail and the bartender recommended the Whiskey Coquette. I’m not that big on whiskey drinks but just having walked a couple blocks in the subzero temps I figured this would warm me up and the drink did not disappoint.
So I sat there sipping my drink enjoying warm, inviting,
Once we were seated the server was super friendly and attentive. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and I got the white fish and my friend ordered the Steak medium rare.
Everything was excellent! My white fish came with capers and butter sauce. Brussels Sprouts were served with a herb garnish and they were so good. My friend’s steak was cooked to perfection and served with bearnaise sauce. It was so good. The only issue we had was that it was served with fries. The fries were nothing exceptional but we would’ve preferred to have mashed potatoes.
We topped off the meal with a Crème Brulee which was also very good. Service was consistently good through the evening.
So I would highly recommend this place and I can’t wait to go back.

I consider myself a connoisseur of burgers and was really, really excited to try Le Cheeseburger Royale as it’s been said to be one of the best burgers in Chicago, second to Au Cheval.
Perhaps it was an off night or perhaps there was a major fire in the kitchen as my burger was being prepared because I was served a char grilled disc of ground beef that barely resembled a hamburger as I’ve known them for my 25 years of life. The bun was hard and crispy, the bacon was tough, and somehow all of the extras (pickles, dijonnaise, and onion) went missing. As an optimist, I didn’t send it back; 1. because the restaurant was so dark these crimes were unknown before the first bite and 2. it’s pretty hard to screw up a burger. How wrong I was… A part of me was convinced that because I asked for no cheese (I can’t eat it) the chef decided to spite me in some way. On the other hand, my boyfriends burger was also served way over cooked.
The meal was not completely a wash, as both the appetizer and dessert course were satisfying and delicious, as well as the martini’s which saved my night from being completely ruined by burger-​sadness. However, for a restaurant that is known for its burger, I certainly will not be coming back!

The ambience was nice, friendly and relaxed, but our server was really slow and kept bringing us the wrong food and drinks. As for the food once we actually got it, my boyfriend got le cheeseburger royale, which he thought was super tasty. The brioche bun stayed crispy even under all the toppings. I got the Duck Confit dip, which was very dry even dipping every bite in the au jus. The best part of both dishes was definitely the garlic aioli– super yummy and addicting!
We decided to get dessert to go because our server was so slow and it took another 30 minutes to get us chocolate mousse for dessert. When we finally got the bag, we looked inside right away and realized our server had put the mousse in upside down and stuck on one side so it looked completely unappetizing. However, when we got home and tasted it, it was rich and chocolatey so it still tasted good despite the look.

Cochon Volant is pretty great. Although settled into the middle of the Chicago Loop, Cochon maintains a classy, yet still casual ambiance. Dark fixtures and comfy chairs, yet there are a couple TVs for the bar area. Perfect for when you’re traveling solo. Everything was tasty, here’s what I got:
— Death in the Clouds: A chartreuse-​based cocktail with coffee liqueur and a coconut «cloud» (think latte foam texture. It was delicious, sweet, and complex. Definitely one of the stars of the meal. I then chased that with a…
-«another cocktail»: I just had the bartender make me a different drink. What I got was a spicy chili bitter drink with lardon-​infused mezcal. It was smoky, a little spicy, boozy, and delicious. Glad I trusted her judgment in making me something good.
–Steak Frites Classique: I had to eat (it was a delayed flight from PVD, so I was starving). Portion was a great size with a large piece of steak (cooked to a perfect medium rare) and a mountain of fries. It’s served with a garlic aioli and bearnaise sauce. Can’t speak to the aioli, but the bearnaise was good enough to drink.
Would love to come back for lunch! Everything was tasty. Prices are a bit high and service can be a bit slow-​ish, but I don’t mind.

Came for restaurant week on a Saturday night– place was cute and unpretentious but not terribly busy. Overall, the food was solid and the portion size was not skimpy. The only complaints I had was that the time between each course (there were 4) was pretty long and the steaks were a bit overcooked. Our waitress was also not the friendliest– the busboy was actually much more accommodating and took care of most of our needs for the night. Thus a 4 star rating.
Course 1: beet salad with candied walnuts and fried goat cheese. YUM– really good combination and texture! Loved it!
Course 2: steak tartare with egg yolk and warm crusty buttered bread– delicious! There was a perfect amount of zest and seasoning! My friend tried the ham and cheese eggrolls but they were too salty and not that exciting– would not order again.
Course 3: steak frites was tasty, but sadly the steak was overcooked (asked for medium and got more medium done). However, the fries were excellent and the garlic aioli sauce was SO ADDICTING! My friend’s halibut was very good as well with a nice crispy exterior, but the size was a bit small and I’d liked to have some side item on the plate.
Course 4: both the crème brûlée and chocolate mousse were decadent and rich, as they should be.
Overall, a pretty successful dinner experience and I will be back!

Came here with some coworkers for dinner on a Wednesday night. We didn’t have a reservation and when I called to see how long the wait was, they told me they could actually reserve a table for me if I would be there in the next 30 mins. Definitely appreciated the great service they gave us from the start and it definitely stuck throughout our entire meal.
We ordered a bottle of wine for the table and after realizing none of us really liked it, our waitress gladly took it away and offered up some great alternatives. In terms of the food, it was just as good as I hoped it would be. We ordered a few things to share: the tenderloin steak tartare (probably my favorite tartare I’ve ever tried), the burrata, croque madame eggrolls, and the pâté de campagne, which was my favorite out of all the starters. Then for my entrée I ordered the Canard, which had some amazing flavors! I also tried a bite of my friend’s steak au poivre which was delicious.
Overall we had a great time and enjoyed a really delicious meal. French food is one of my favorite cuisines and Cochon Volant definitely lived up to my expectations. And you really can’t go wrong with the great service they gave us.

We’ve been here on two different occasions, once for dinner and once for lunch. Obviously, if you go somewhere more than once, they must be doing something right!
Highlights: I think the mussels are stellar. They were perfectly cooked, came in a large portion and have a drinkable sauce.
Les Cheeseburger Royale is a pretty solid burger. It’s nothing I would go out of my way to try, but after having it, I wouldn’t be apposed to ordering it again!
Downsides: My boyfriend ordered a French Dip with duck that was really dry and disappointing. Not recommended
The ambiance/​environment is fancier, but still inviting. They have a sommelier at dinner, which can help find a perfect wine to fit your preferences and meal. Downside of the setup is that the bathroom is really far away from the dining room, back out through the lobby and up the elevator/​flight of stairs!

This Pig Flys! A pristine, superbly organized restaurant that’s excellent anytime. On a recent trip to Chicago I was able to check out both breakfast and dinner menus.
This is in the heart of the loop and an undeserved reputation for being a corporate lunch haunt. It’s one of the best breakfast spots, offering French and American classics. The Monsieur Croque is the most ordered and an absolute crowd pleaser but there’s a lot of goodness spread throughout the menu. Wonderful fresh eggs and fruit, great jams and jellies to compliment the breads and superb attention to flavor balance and presentation.
I couldn’t pass up the Cheeseburger Royale with a slide of hash and garlic fries. The brioche bun coupled with thick cut bacon, double cheese, sweet onions and pickles is decadent.

Somewhere between a 2 and a 3. Rounding up for good service and the Croque Madam Eggrolls. Yup you heard that right. What an awesome twist on a great dish. The flavors were rocking and the mustard made it even more so. Too bad everything else was just ok. The French Onion soup was good but I have had so many really great ones that I was not impressed. We also tried the potato side. It was described like scallop potatoes with leeks and blue cheese. Yum. But came out like an oddly flavored potato soup. After that we decided not to try any more dishes. Would skip this place.

Stopped by here with three friends since it was cold and we had to stay in the Loop. To start, I had the famous-​on-​Yelp croque madame eggrolls, while others ordered the cauliflower and Caesar salads. Folks seemed to like their sides, and I ended up sharing my eggrolls since I couldn’t really eat more than a half since they were so rich (There are four halves in the order.) It’s a great concept but I don’t know if I was a fan of the execution. The wonton skins were crisp, but because of the cheese, they got soggy pretty easily, though I appreciated the fact that the ham was in sheets rather than chopped (to ensure even meat distribution).
Two of us ended up getting the steak frites (at medium rare) and the other two had the mussels. Our frites were great, but our meat appeared to be a bit overcooked — the outside was a little tougher than I liked. Of note, the bechamel was a bit coconutty — not a bad thing, just unique. The mussels were good, but my friends did find sand in about a quarter of their order — the server brought back a new order.
Dessert was chocolate mousse and that was a hit.

Great atmosphere! The bartender was very knowledgeable and helpful. She recommended to try the mussels. But I came here for one reason. I sat at the bar and I ordered the «le cheeseburger Royale». It was good but overpriced.
The home cut fries were a great compliment.
I highly recommend this restaurant which is located inside the Hyatt hotel.
Enjoy! #SeñorFood

This place is just awesome. I pass by every day after work but I’d never even stopped in for a drink until recently. If I’d known how good it is, I’d probably be a regular by now. My husband and I were downtown celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary by going to different places for cocktails and appetizers. We probably would’ve spent the whole evening at Cochon Volant if we’d known how much we would enjoy it. First, the cocktails are really interesting and delicious. I had the Cochon Pretentieux, which might be my new favorite after work drink. Seriously, I said «this drink is so good» after every sip. My husband got the Whiskey Coquette and it was pretty good too but we both agreed my drink was the best.
To eat we had the steak tartare and Croque Madame egg rolls. The steak tartare was perfectly seasoned and really went well the the toasted bread they serve. The egg rolls were very decadent and delicious and they reminded me of breakfast. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I am saying that they should serve them in the morning if they don’t already. I can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu.
The service was excellent as well. Malik was our waiter and he was very hospitable and informative. He brought our food and drinks very quickly and his charming French accent really added to the atmosphere. That sounds weird. But it’s accurate. The only negative thing I could say is that to go to the restroom you have to cross the hotel lobby and go up a flight of stairs. I know the restaurant isn’t responsible for this so I won’t let it affect my rating.
Long story short: I’m a fan. The chefs saw my Instagram pics and commented on them. I like that. It really added to the overall experience. Go to this place.

Major kudos to Cochon Volant for accomodating 16 of us right before closing.
The food here is stellar French fare, with some unique anomalies like burgers on the menu as well. The steak I got was a decent size and seasoned well, though they did forget my order. Still, they were very friendly and even got me another «Storm in the Clouds» to make up for it — how nice of them!

I’ve been here twice now and, honestly, this is one of my favorite places around my office.
Highly recommend:
–the monsieur croque: usually a breakfast item, but sometimes they have it for lunch. SO GOOD. a little difficult to eat, but very worth it.
–the fries. get the fries.
–the burrata toast. i don’t even know what burrata is. excellent.
I came here once for a work lunch with some coworkers, and once with a birthday party of 12. Both times were excellent; great service, great food.

Vincent: You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
Jules: They don’t call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?
Vincent: No, they got the metric system there; they wouldn’t know what the f**k a Quarter Pounder is.
Jules: What’d they call it?
Vincent: They call it Royale with Cheese.
Jules: Royale with Cheese. What’d they call a Big Mac?
Vincent: Big Mac’s a Big Mac, but they call it Le Big Mac.
Jules: Le Big Mac! Ahhaha, what do they call a Whopper?
Vincent: I dunno, I didn’t go into a Burger King. But you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?
Jules: What?
Vincent: Mayonnaise.
Jules: Goddamn!
Vincent: I seen ‘em do it man, they f**kin’ drown ‘em in it.
Jules: Uuccch!
Not only is the Cochon Volant Le Cheeseburger Royale better than any quarter pounder with cheese, it easily bests most Chicago burgers. Two prime dry-​aged beef patties, crisp thick-​cut bacon, confit onion, American cheese, Dijonnaise and house pickles are presented in a toasted brioche bun. The multi-​patty burger is very similar to the one at Au Cheval which was recently crowned best burger in America by the Food Network. Cochon Volant serves their burger with a side of crispy house-​cut fries and a tasty garlic aioli.
Vincent: It ain’t that bad if it’s done right.
Jules: No way, man!
Vincent: We need to get you to Cochon Volant so that you can see for yourself.
Jules: When pigs fly!

Thought of getting some breakfast before the Air and water show.
We ordered the pancakes with berry which were soft and delicious.
The eggs with veggies had a whole bunch of stuff in em: onions, tomatoes, kale, mushrooms, couple more and american cheese. YUM! On the side they provided fresh potato fried cubes and bread.
My only issue with this place is that the bread was super hard and the hot chocolate was something to be forgotten about. Apart from it’s a fine place for a breakfast/​brunch