Came for lunch on Friday and there was plenty of seating. This place is a hidden gem- so uncrowded and unfussy with such incredible food and service! Great for a sit down meal to savor; well-balanced cocktails and non-alcoholic options. The butter in the "bread and fat" set the tone for the meal. I haven't tasted butter until I tasted THIS butter, we were still talking about it after we left. Soup du jour (cream of mushroom) was flavorful and another favorite. Frisée au lardin was good, although the fried oysters add on was underwhelming (4 small popcorn size oysters). Le Rachel sandwich was bursting with flavor, though on the heavier side so nice to pair with greens. Fries that came with the steak were super crispy. Creme brûlée also excellent. Attentive service that was there when you need them but not intrusive when you're enjoying conversation. read more

Great ambience at our hi top by the bar. Good service and the food and drinks were excellent. Fun, historic building and will be returning to the Bistro soon. read more

Went here for Valentine's Day 2025. Reservation was for 7:30pm, I arrived early to check in (about 7:25pm), was told it would be about 10 minutes before my table was ready, no worries at all, as the restaurant was clearly busy and I was early. Several other couples were also standing around waiting for their tables. I thought nothing of it and my partner soon arrived at around 7:35. Still no seat, but I was told it would only be a few more minutes by the hostess table. However, at 7:45pm, our table was still not ready and we were just told to wait. We were not seated until 8:00pm, and only after we told the hostess we will leave and want our money back (dinner was prepaid for Valentine's Day) if we were not sat. We later learned through conversation that the first reservations for the evening were extremely delayed and late due to weather, and instead of seating those who were there on time, the restaurant had everyone wait. Another couple we spoke to had also waited 30+ minutes after they arrived on time for their dinner. Our waitress was great, she was clearly trying her best to serve us quickly and checked in with us several times. She even recommended a bottle of wine, which was a great addition to our dinner. The dinner itself was a mixed bag. The food was well cooked and tasted great, however we had multiple delays to our courses and were brought other tables' orders several times. For a pre-fixe menu, I do not understand why the delays and these mix-ups happened. There was a clear breakdown in communication amongst the staff, and it impacted various parts of our dinner. I received my second course and we had both finished it (we were starving after the long wait for seating) and had corrected two separate waiters who brought us the wrong food by the time my partner's second course arrived. Luckily, we took the opportunity to have great personal conversation and make the best of the long wait times between courses. Dessert was fantastic. For a pre-fixe menu dinner for 2, a near $400 dinner (not including the wine, which was almost another $100), I was really disappointed with the service we received. I completely understand that unforeseen weather can impact people's arrival and that busy nights can make things difficult, but it seems a bit backwards to "punish" those who arrived on time with a 30+ minute wait and not offer any type of consolation for their wait. For a pre-fixe menu, there were an unreasonable amount of delays to our meal. I was very excited to eat at Bistro Monadnock for Valentine's, but after this experience, I would be hard pressed to ever recommend this locale to anyone I know. read more

literal heaven. escargot, muscles, clam shhoter frites desserts and drinks were perfect and the staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful.

We were in Chicago for a birthday celebration and where we live, we can't get really good French cuisine. We love French but don't get the opportunity. They had a special cassoulet, which I had, and it was spectacular. As good as any I had in Paris. The escargot were perfect as well as the soup. We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere was very welcoming. If you enjoy the food or the French vibe, this is definitely a place to visit. read more

I stopped in on a weekday evening before going to see Hamilton. We had mussels, steak frites and a beautiful salad! Everything was delicious! The wine was excellent as well. Our server was wonderful! She offered recommendations and was very attentive. We sat at a booth and it was a very comfortable environment. I will definitely be back. read more

Cool space in a really cool building. Hands down the best French Onion soup I've ever had! Service was spot on, I'll definitely be back.

Incredible food, attentive service, and absolutely wonderful ambience with no television! This is my number one restaurant from here on out. Absolutely love this spot in a historic building on the edge of Printer's Row. read more

Somehow the opening of this place last year slipped under my radar, but when we needed a last minute early dinner downtown, we found Bistro Monadnock. Then I noticed the Chef was a former L2O guy as well as working under Alain Ducasse. And then I saw the GM was the owner of our beloved Band of Bohemia (RIP). Expectations were high. They were exceeded. From the moment we arrived, service was more than just on point. It's hard to strike a balance between elevated service that's still friendly and not snobby (particularly nice when you are dressed like low-brow tourists for a frigid Chicago evening attending a comedy show), and our server absolutely nailed it, including her impeccable timing, menu recommendations, and banter. We started with a fresh-from-the-oven order of the Bread (& Fat), which we tore bits from as we sipped our cocktails--a Sazerac for him and Vieux Carre for me--both delicious. My husband declared the steak frites the best he'd ever had. I had a hankering for the French Onion soup and paired it with the frisée aux lardons and a glass of champagne (OMG, those lardons!). The soup was above and beyond--made with veal stock, the broth had a depth and complexity that took what just could have been a solid execution of a restaurant staple to something unique and memorable--an experience we found echoed in every aspect of our meal. Also of note, upon entering we were greeted by Craig Sindelar, the GM, and had to tell him how much we loved Band of Bohemia. I also mentioned having enjoyed a meal at L2O over a decade back, and we chatted a bit before being seated. Both Craig and Chef Johnny Besch made appearances at our table (Chef wanted to know when I'd been at L2O, if it was during his tenure), and we got the distinct impression that this is par for the course in how they want to build relationships with clientele. Everything about the experience made us feel welcome, cared for, and invited back as more than just "business". A great restaurant isn't just one with great food, but one that makes you feel invested in its success, as if you are a part of the team. Well done, guys. We will see you soon! read more

loved the bustling bistro ambiance, tucked away in very cool historic building...vieux carre and whiskey sour cocktails were perfect a start to the evening, we ordered the steak tartare, escargot and charcuterie -- all perfectly prepared...the skate wing and Parisian gnocchi were some of the favorite entrees, great burgers, washed down with Bordeaux, the bouillabaisse was just ok, but we were so full from all the hors d'hoeuvres, the soup was fine...great for a special occasion or to treat yourselves, finish with the profiteroles! read more

Bistro Monadnock - plan ahead for dessert! - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This new restaurant is AMAZING!!!! It is a beautiful space with a welcoming ambiance. Service is something that is very important to me and from the host to the Executive Chef, every single person I encountered during my visit to this bistro made me feel important and special. And the FOOD!!! OMG! The food was more than simply delicious, even eating what was clearly made with love and passion for the kitchen and served with care is very hard to put into words. The entire experience... SUPERB! read more

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We heard about this restaurant's opening so decided to check it out last week. The space is very nice, though the bar is what really stands out. The service is attentive and the wine list is good. In terms of the food, our table had the frog legs, pastrami sandwich, burger and fries, chicken liver pate and onion soup. Everything was warm and tasty though the soup was a little sweeter than normal. We got there at 5:30 and by the time we left at 7:00 the place was hopping. This was on a Thursday night. The only issue at that point was it did get quite loud in the dining room. Overall a nice place to go. The menu is pretty small but there's something for everyone. read more

We stopped here before a concert on a Tuesday night and really enjoyed it. Great cocktails, loved the steak frites and you absolutely need to get the bread and butter. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent esoteric cocktail menu. The vieux carre and tuxedo are great. The service was great, no shows or tricks or upselling, just honest American fair dealing and prompt waitering. I had the steak rare, which many places will give you medium-rare; Monadnock got it exactly right. Five stars. It is a primo Chicago spot in a primo Chicago building, doing things with excellence. I will be back next time I am in town. read more

Bland food. Not sure why it got such a high rating? So disappointed. My bouillabaisse had 2 shrimp, 3 muscles & 3 tiny pieces of fish for $45. What a waste of time & money when you eat at such a bad restaurant read more

This little gem in the south loop is fantastic. The service, the food, friendly environment. Accessible French food was seriously on point. The bread, onion soup, croque madame was the best! Highly recommend! read more

We had dinner here our first night in Chicago. I was pretty unimpressed. Super loud music in the bar until after 8, we couldn't talk. It was a very loud room even after the music stopped. I know some people must not mind that but I have always disliked loud restaurants. I ordered a frisé salad and it was swimming in dressing. My gnocchi was pretty good but it was very salty. Had a nice glass of wine. Decent service. Would not recommend overall. read more

Everything was fantastic. Great service and the food was excellent. Bar area was cool.

Fantastic experience. This new restaurant has a beautiful layout and decor. The service was excellent. Nice menu selection. Good wine list. The four of us had a great time. Will be back on future Chicago visits. read more

I took my mom here for her birthday and we all really enjoyed. The burger was very tasty. So was the old fashioned.

Great food, presentation, and atmosphere, all with excellent welcome and service. This is a real bistro.

This place is a hidden gem. The staff are genuinely friendly and the vibe is top notch. The food is great and they have live music. What else is there? Great place to meet. read more

Very cool ambience in a beautiful, historic building that feels like you're walking through a museum. Walking into BM is like taking a step back in time to the days when men wore hats and women wore gloves and even pajamas were fancier than athlesisure wear. The restaurant was spacious and the booths were large enough to fit three to a side. Cocktails were solid. The food was decent enough but could have been more exciting. The menu here is your typical French bistro fare, but the execution was somewhere between traditional and elevated without quite achieving the benefit of either. I ordered bouillabaisse for a main and just found it weird as it did not have the hearty, bursting at the seams seafood quality to it that you expect but was also not interesting enough to deviate from the widely accepted standard for the dish. Also the $7 bread service was paltry and way overpriced for tiny, cold mini loaf with plain butter. read more

This place is new in my neighborhood -- after one visit, I can tell it's going to be a go-to. The space, in a glorious gem of Chicago architecture, is beautiful; the servers are friendly and attentive without hovering; and the food is terrific. I had the banh mi club sandwich (unusual and delicious) with duck fat fries (perfect) and iced tea (also delicious). The menu offers many classic French dishes; I look forward to trying them and digging in to the extensive list of wine, beer and cocktails. Desserts look wonderful, too. read more

We took a group of 6 for a birthday celebration, and they made it special! The Bistro is downstairs in the historic Monadnock building- a cozy, well-designed space. Good music turned down to an appropriate volume! The appetizers were tasty (we tried the smoked fish, baguette, and some fries!). The endive salad had delicately balanced flavors (hazelnut, citrus, and blue cheese). But the French onion soup was out of this world! The broth is rich and delicious; the crusty cheese is beautiful. I could make a meal of just that soup. The steak tartare could also be a meal on its own. Subtlely seasoned and rich. The entrees didn't disappoint -- the sauce on the cornish hen was powerful and rich, the Parisian Gnocchi was delicate and warm, and the steak was satisfying with some tasty compound butter laced with pickles and capers. The wait staff did a great job suggesting cocktails and wines to pair with the food and were attentive all night. It would be great for a business lunch or special dinner. read more

I sat at the bar and had the gnocchi and sauvingon blanc wine. The special of the day and the deserts looked delicious. Overall vibe was great. Modern yet traditional, clean and warm. The staff were so welcoming and knowledgable. Will return and bring my friends! read more

The minute we walked in the door we knew we were gonna like it. We were greeted immediately and seated in preferred seating arrangement. The waitress was perfect attentive, but not in your face. She answered all our questions and was completely accurate about everything that she had described. The ambience was great. They played wonderful music jazzy Parisian style and you can see the kitchen. It was a great vibe. Now let's get to the nitty-gritty. The food was fabulous. I would definitely order the onion soup again. My cousin ordered a salad, but unfortunately, I forgot which one but it was very good and it had 100 minute egg and we shared a classic French sandwich which again I would order again. No expresso but their house coffee was so good, all was forgiven. I am definitely going back for dessert to full to try. read more

Stopped here for lunch. It is a great little spot that reminds you of a French bistro. It's like you're transformed right in the middle of downtown Chicago. The French onion soup was great and the mushroom sandwich was divine. read more

Delicious food, excellent service, great atmosphere, beautiful decor‼ Highly recommend the Saturday Brunch, I ordered the French omelette, which was superb ‼,I will definitely dine here again! read more

Food is on point but service not so much. We went for lunch. The entire place had 4 tables seated yet the food took forever. The server seemed a bit lost. Having said that, both the French onion soup and hamburger were great. We ordered the fries to share but in hindsight it was too much. read more

So very French! Great atmosphere, great food and great management team. Everyone here is very invested in the diner experience. If you love French food and the Bistro feel - check this place out. read more

The food was classic French bistro food, executed perfectly. The staff was wonderful; friendly, knowledgeable, funny...everything you could hope for. We ate at the bar and had a great time. Overall it was a fantastic night, and we'll be back as soon as possible! read more

Just WOW! Cleanest, coziest and yummiest spot in the area. My boyfriend and I just came back from France and liked this better than any meal we had there...it's just that good. The ambience is top notch, service just the same. Love love loveee will definitely be coming back here to try the dinner menu!! read more

Perfection. Charming interior. Welcoming staff. Delicious cocktails. Impeccable french bistro meal. Not a single discordant note. Deeply hidden (Federal Street?!) gem. read more

Very few good French restaurants in Chicago however this place is one of them. Bouillabaisse was outstanding as were our appetizers of steak tartare and escargot. At some places the escargot has way too much garlic but not here. Service was on point. Parking is a challenge as the garage across the street is crazy expensive however there is another lot a block south that is reasonable. read more

Bistro Monadnock - Escargot and Steak Tartare - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been there twice. A welcome addition to Loop dining. Food is sophisticated and ambience pleasing in historic building.

Fantastic drinks and wonderful apps and mains. We had a great waiter and the chef came to the table. We have gone twice and both times are amazed. read more

Every member of the staff here was beyond kind and helpful. The food was also good too. Our waitress was very prompt getting out our food and drinks. For starters we had their fries, beet salad, and steak tartare. For mains we had the Parisian gnocchi, burger, and French onion soup. They had a nice wine list too from some of our favorite regions we've traveled to. We loved everything especially the burger. The building it's in is SO cute. Felt like we were in a museum. Would love to come back and try sitting at the bar. Looks like a great place to have a martini and their delicious fries. read more

Really enjoyed the vibe and food. The kitchen did a nice job of coursing things out for us and giving good recommendations.

Great food--with some nice French touches--and excellent service. The tea service was exquisite.