Kiki’s Bistro

The owner personally greets all the guest and the service is great. Food tastes amazing and authentic. Love my beets salad and seared salmon. Not to say the best chocolate mousse I’ve ever tasted :)

Their menus are online:
and you can make reservations on their website.
Our friend took us here. It’s one of her favorites. We were going to a Broadway show and all of the restaurants in the theater district were booked for dinner at 5 on a Thursday, but we were able to get a table here. It was relatively empty until 7pm.
Ordered Magret de Canrad, the duck, at my friend’s suggestion. It was delicious and so moist. It came with duck breast sliced in elegant strips, a leg, sautéed vegetables, and wild rice with blueberries. I am not a cabbage fan, so they were able to give me more sautéed veggies instead. Everything was delicious. I love duck and this was the best duck I’ve had. It was my first time having French food, so it was a special treat.
My sister ordered the early three course meal (5 – 6:30pm); the beet salad, steak pommes frites, and the traditional chocolate mouse. She said she liked mine better and the steak was not warm, which might be because she ordered it medium.
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. There’s a set of two doors and a small ramp from the second door to the restaurant. It was easy to get around with my power wheelchair. Everyone was really nice and the staff held the door for us.
There is meter street parking and valet parking.

This place is a hidden gem a little off the beaten path in River North. We tried the mussels as an app and steak frites for entrée and chocolate mousse for dessert. Loved every bite! The ambiance is comfortable and cozy. The staff was attentive and the owner, Kiki, was super friendly as well. Didn’t realize they have been around over 20 years. Opened back when the area was a little sketchy. Obviously they are doing a lot of things right to still be here in business. Definitely going back!

The mussels were amazing, so we had high hopes for the entrees. Unfortunately both our entrees were just plain bad. Poor quality steak, way too many frites, not enough butter or steak juice to flavor them, and the sauce for the duck was awful. The cabbage was so sweet it was inedible. The vegetables were steamed and not even salted. I so wanted to like this place but the food was just bad. Sad too because the service was good.

Very nice place. My brother in law (bil) and his gf came into town so we wanted to go somewhere kinda fancy and we chose this place. None of us have been here and we love trying out new places and were willing to pay the extra money for a really nice place. We made reservations online and we ended up being about 30 mins early. They have valet parking, which is pretty nice considering it’s Chicago and who knows where parking is and how much it would be. So we ended up walking in and being seated right away. Kiki the guy who owns the place actually sat us. what?! Is this even heard of these days? It was a Saturday night and the owner was seating us?! I couldn’t believe it. I looked him up and there were pictures near the front and history information so I knew it was him and true. We ordered appetizers, which were delicious. I ordered the potato soup which was the special soup of the day and holy cow it was so delicious. Creamy and thick and full of flavor. Our meals came out pretty quick and hot. I ordered the steak and fries which were pretty good, cooked just like I asked. Our server was also amazing. I love when you can ask a question and they know the answer or if they don’t they ask someone else. Being knowledgeable about what your restaurant serves is a huge plus to me.
Anyways… We were all stuffed from the appetizers/​main meal/​and drinks that we didn’t save any room for desert unfortunately but I’ll definitely be back to this place and hopefully soon.

Kiki’s Bistro is exactly what I expected of an authentic French restaurant. It is cozy without any pretensions. I loved that Kiki, the owner, personally seats arriving guests. All of the staff were incredibly accommodating and hospitable. Fantastic service. The restaurant as a whole has a very homey, comfortable feel to it. It’s a hidden gem. I lived two blocks away and never knew that it existed.
On to the food… The entire menu consisted of classic French dishes. We began with escargots de Bourgogne and Kiki’s frog legs. The escargots were delicious! I’ve never had snails before and this was a fantastic way to kick off the meal. We even started dipping our bread in the garlic butter. Mmm… As for the frog legs, they were good, but not spectacular. I would have preferred more seasoning to enhance the flavor. Otherwise, they kind of tasted like chicken. This was also my first experience with frog legs, so I’m probably not the best person to judge the quality of this dish.
Entrees included Magret de Canard (duck), scallops niçoise, and a quail dish that was a dinner special for that night. All three were cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. I love scallops, so that dish was automatically a success in my book. The quail was also delicious. Not too gamey and the truffle mashed potatoes that came with it were a great addition. I ordered the duck and it was absolutely perfect. I especially loved the duck leg! It reminded me of Thanksgiving in the best possible way.
For dessert, we had the crèpes Suzette and traditional lemon tart with a double shot of espresso. I was really excited about dessert because most trendy new restaurants these days drop the ball when it comes to dessert and I had a feeling that a legit French restaurant would be on point. Kiki did not disappoint. The crèpes reminded me of the fresh made to order crèpes they sell in France. However, my favorite was the lemon tart because I love mixing sweet and tart flavors when it comes to desserts. Lemon and raspberry are a fantastic combination. I wish we hadn’t been so full because I would have loved to have tried the crème brulée. I guess there’s always next time.
Bravo Kiki!

Delicious and authentic French country cuisine, cozy and friendly atmosphere, and exceptional service. They know how to do everything right here! A guaranteed wonderful experience. It’s no surprise that Kiki’s Bistro has been thriving here for 40 years.

Classic classic Classic
A guaranteed great meal and great service. Place has been here 40 years and let’s hope it’s here for another 40.

What an amazing tucked away place. If you’re tired of Unilocaling River North restaurants and seeing «American or Italian Steakhouse» and then paying 35 $ for a big plate and small food portion, this is the place for you. You will get your moneys worth here and the atmosphere is perfect for family or a date. Average entrée price $ 20 – 25.
In my case we went in for our 1 year anniversary but did not mention it specifically. We ordered an appetizer of mushroom (Ragout de Champignons) which tasted amazing and our entrees were Chicken (Poulet Roti) and a Duck Salad (Sautee Duck Breast) with a side of Ratatouille. Both entrees and side came out right after we finished our appetizer and they looked/​tasted amazing. The chicken was a half chicken with mashed potatoes and greenbeans which sounds normal but let me explain. Everyone can get chicken thigh and legs right, that’s easy, but this chicken breast was probably one of the top 10 juiciest chicken breasts I have had. There’s a fine line in timing before the breast tastes dry but these chefs nailed it. I am someone who eats whole rotisserie chickens by myself and I usually dread the chicken breast. The duck was cooked perfectly and slightly pink and the salad was arranged with thought.
Not only did the chefs win me over, but the service was outstanding (again amazing for only a 3 $$$ restaurant). Vino our server made sure our night was wonderful. The supporting staff made sure our glasses were never half empty and we never had to ask for more bread, it was given without asking. Plates never crowded our table, and servers were never overaggressive with cleaning. To top it off, at the end of the night Vino surprised us with a well made chocolate mousse cake and a candle saying he overheard that it was our anniversary when we were talking to our neighbor table. Overall I have never felt so valued as a customer at a restaurant and I appreciate Kiki’s Bistro staff for making this a wonderful anniversary.
tl;dr Amazing value, friendly staff and service, makes your night a little extra special without killing your wallet

Classic French restaurant, starting with KiKi’s little Citroen parked in front.
I love Tuesdays when they have the Dover sole special. Nicely prepared. I get his great Pommes frites with it, the thin crunchy ones. Escargot is always a good start, but frog legs so so.
I love the crêpe Suzette which may be the only place in Chicago that serves it. A classic.
The service is good and the room has a very homey feel.

I was very excited to come here based on the Unilocal reviews and the online menu, which sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the food and didn’t find it very authentically French. Since I was in a large group, we had a prix fixe menu, with several choices for each course.
For my appetizer, I had the butternut squash ravioli, which was excellent. It was a small portion (just 4 small ravioli) but this was perfect for a 3-​course meal. The ravioli had a slightly sweet sauce on them that managed to be very rich without being heavy. It was wonderful. My entrée was the salmon, which was a big disappointment. It was cooked well enough (if a bit fatty) but came with no real sauce or accompaniments other than some steamed vegetables. Plain grilled salmon with steamed vegetables is a healthy meal that I eat regularly at home, but at a restaurant you expect something a bit more exciting, especially at the prices they charge for their regular menu (most entrees in the mid-​high $ 20s). Others at our table ordered the steak frites, which did not look particularly appetizing. My dessert was chocolate mousse, which I wasn’t very impressed by, but I am very picky about chocolate mousse and rarely find ones I love. The atmosphere was nice, if a bit loud, and the service was great (another sign this place is not authentic, ha), but I found the food disappointing.

Delicious Duck and Lamb dishes along with classic Escargot and savory Rabbit Leg appetizers made this a memorable restaurant.
Seated by Kiki, the owner, himself, we enjoyed an excellent red wine and a nice palate cleansing lemon tart dessert to finish the night off.
The interior is more dimly lit and romantic. The dress code says dressy, but when I called ahead of time, the lady who answered the phone said I can wear whatever is comfortable. A majority of the people were in the restaurant dressed in suits and dresses, and others came in casual dress.
Weather wasn’t nice enough for it — but it has outdoor seating!
It’s a long-​standing, tucked away, hidden gem in this area with great food, so I would recommend it to anyone.

Very warm, welcoming spot. Came for Valentines day in 2014, had such a great time that we had to come back this year. The owner and wife are so incredibly welcoming and kind, they seem to treat everyone like a guest in their own home.
The food was great, our appetizer of wild mushrooms and foie gras was very tasty. I really enjoyed my duck breast and leg, and my girlfriend’s beef dish was on point.
I’m usually intimidated by a place where I struggle to pronounce everything on the menu, but our waiter was very helpful in making great recommendations.
Wine list is great, I don’t know much about French wines, but we were able to find a nice, heavy wine that paired pretty well with our meal.
Really enjoy this place, the food is great and the service is fantastic. Overall, I would recommend checking this out as a date night spot.

Went there for Valentine’s Day! Perfect place for it — Great food, service, very French!

I don’t even like French food but Kiki’s has it goin on. It’s pretty much the queen of French Cuisine on the Northside. Lots of pretty people here. Pretty people and rich people. I like both so I like it here. LOLZ
I’ve hosted private work events here and I will say the staff in wonderful to work with. We can be difficult with strange requests for the invoice, some difficult guests and changes to menu and number of guests. Kiki’s always handles everything professionally and never make me feel like I’m a pain their ass (but I know I am and I really do feel bad)!
Service is smooth as can be. Like I said, they’ve got this French bistro thing going on! The space is small and intimate, just like a French Bistro should be.
My go to menu items are the roast chicken with herbs. Get it with the mashed potatoes for a great comforting meal. My hubs likes the Steak Pommes Frites. They put a twist on the steak part by serving a butt steak instead of a more traditional strip or filet.
So French fare is not my favorite but I really do like Kiki’s. It’s a Northside treasure.

I’ve been here few times and had a voucher where I was denied to use. The service was okay and I felt like I was mistreated. It seems like the waiter cater more to their older patrons who are frequent customers. I had the French onion soup which was tad salty on the broth but the cheese was delicious. The frog for appetizer was good. the skater fish was ok average. overall food was good but not amazing. There are other options in the city for better service and good food.

Had dinner with my French language classmates on Monday. I liked the restaurant, but nothing really stood out for me.
The escargot was good— but then again I’ve never had bad escargot because I’ve only ordered it like four times in my life… Classmates ordered the tarte de Provence and pâté– both not bad. I had the magret de canard— which I thought was just okay. I’m really picky when it comes to duck though. Now in hindsight I wished I had visited their website beforehand to order the coq au vin, since they’re supposed to be known for it. Had the profiteroles and tarte aux pommes for dessert— both yummy… After all this food, it was understandable that I left in a food coma.
The service was wonderful– the waiter put up with my indecisiveness when trying to decide between the salmon or the duck. Also, we took forever to decide while waiting for the last person in our party to decide— and was the last table to leave that night, but they didn’t rush us at all. And Kiki was there— apparently he seats people. Love it! His car is so cute too!

This place is so charming; especially if you stop by on a late afternoon or evening when the sun is starting to set. They’ll dim the lights, and the rustic charm begins to fill the room even more. I love the décor and all of the photos and memorabilia displayed on the wall. There is something to look at and admire in every direction.
The food is incredible. This is a great place to bring a date or attend on a family outing. The menu is broad and there are plenty of options for your whole party.
Sometimes, if you are lucky, you may run into Kiki! :)

Kiki & Madame Kiki are almost always on had to greet you and Kiki will practice your French speaking with you if they aren’t too busy.
Expect a full house on Christmas Eve, NYe, Bastille day and such and plan for a busy serving crew who will still be happy to make your experience grand but will be user the gun to be sure — but a nice cosy time can be had any Monday– Saturday night at a more leisurely pace.
Exposed wood beams, wood floors, full wall mural & copper top bar add to the warmth and charm of this gem — & in the winter season glass candle orbs floating in the air add whimsy.
Madame Kiki hosts rotating Chicago contemporary artists works on the Bistro ‘a seating area walls.
Just a few blocks West of Bloomingdales
Takes open table reservations or always can reserve by calling 312.335.kiki.
Not open for lunch. Can be contacted to discuss hosting private events.

It may have been cold here in Chicago tonight but I felt nothing
but comfort and warmth when I walked into Kiki’s Bistro this evening.
This place is Incredible, The ambiance, just so warm and inviting.
The restaurant’s interior makes one feel as though they have stepped
back in time, to a lovely French Bistro, charming to say the least,
such a great mellow vibe/​feeling being here.
They have lovely tables set up as well a great bar area if that’s what
you would prefer.
And. the food, I had grilled salmon in a red wine sauce with mashed
potatoes as did everyone at my table and we all agreed it was a
phenominal dish/​entrée.
And tonight was my very first Crème’ Brulee’ and my Aunt had told me
Kiki’s makes the best in the city, and. it had to be the most decadent,
fantastic dessert I have ever had.
And. as if that wasn’t enough Kiki sent us over this great piece of chocolate
bread pudding cake, so good!
And yes, I am spoiled. had not 1 glass but 2 glasses of Champagne this evening.
Just have to say, Kiki is the most personable host, he walks around the
restaurant talking with people, he is totally hands on.
His staff is one of the best I have ever seen, truly.
So, in closing, if you are looking for a phenominal touch of France in our
very windy city you owe it to yourself to visit Kiki’s Bistro.
You will feel warm and happy here, and you will most likely get to meet Kiki.
That alone is worth the visit…