Went there last night with a group of 6 people and was blown away. Loved everything about it. Food was outstanding. For apps we had the chicken liver parfait, the escargot, the beef tartare, and the "bread and fat" (aka baguette with fancy butter. Loved every bit of it. Entrees I had the French Onion Soup, which was so rich and delicious. Split the cucumber salad and the steak frites with my girlfriend. Cucumber salad was brilliant. Mint, peas, yogurt sauce. Lovely. Steak was so amazingly tender and delicious. As good as any steak I've had in Chicago (including Boeufhaus). Frites were delicious. Others had the lobster bisque and the Parisian Gnocchi and loved them. For wine we had a lovely chenin Blanc, a Bordeaux for the steak eaters, and a Cabernet. Loved them. It's expensive, so watch for that. Space is gorgeous in the Monadnock. Tucked in on Federal across from the Union League Club. Vibe is casual'ish attire: jeans are fine, but please take your hat off bros. Perfect place for after-work business dinner or before a show. This place doesn't get enough attention. Check it out. read more

I had a night on my own while attending a professional conference and, based on Yelp reviews and the restaurant's website and menu, picked Bistro Monadnock. It was a good choice. Although downtown, it's on a quieter street and feels a little off the beaten path. The interior is charming with a brasserie feel and the service was friendly and attentive. The food was excellent. I had their Gibson, which was a perfect little cocktail. The escargot was exactly as it should be--swimming in garlic butter and served with crusty French bread, and the skate wing was a treat. When I found that one glass of wine was a bit too sweet for my tastes, they happily swapped it for another that I liked more. I enjoyed myself very much and am happy to recommend it to others. read more

Yup. This is my new place. I hope I can still get a seat once the word gets out a bit more, but this has it all: ambience that somehow balances an air of romance with also being the perfect place for friends and family; excellent service; appropriate pricing for excellent product (the menu basically lists everything I'd want for my Last Meal); and well-balanced drinks served at exactly the right size. Highly recommend strolling the wodnerfully curated shops in the Monadanock (if you haven't checked them all out yet -- you should!) before enjoying a lovely meal and perhaps raising a glass to hospitality done right. read more

Ambiance is terrific. Food was good. Service was okay. May return to give it another try, but do not recommend currently.

Small french bistro in the loop whisks you into Europe for a cozy date night - perfectly cooked steak and sauces, lovely baguette read more

Outstanding. My wife and I have been there for dinner and I have been there again for a weekend brunch with business partners. Highly recommend. read more

This place has so much to recommend it: great food execution, excellent service and a beautiful, well-appointed setting. So why not 5 stars? For me, it was the disconnect of the "background" music. It's a terrific dining room for sharing a meal and conversation with friends, family or cohorts. But its classic high ceiling and hard surfaces are too much for both friendly conversations and music of the type and volume that we experienced on our visit. And when the crowd thins out, the music needs to tone down too in order to maintain a comfortable, congenial ambiance. THAT to me would make it a true 5-star dinner. (One of my best memories is a dinner at the Billy Lawless French restaurant, Henri--before its transition to Italian--where music was an undercurrent that actually elevated the mood of the dinner.) They're not alone in this shortcoming. The best chefs can have their vision offset by a misfit sound system that undermines what should be an jatmosphere of food appreciation and socialization. Perhaps an AI genius can create a system modulation app to overcome this distracting problem. read more

This restaurant is wonderful. The food is better than most of the French restaurants in River North or the West Loop. Much better value. Lots of space / not as packed. And you can hear the person/people that you're dinning with. Service is wonderful and food is delicious. Go check them out. read more

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What a cool restaurant! Servers were super attentive and nice. We ordered a ton of food, I had the New England Clam Chowder, Bahn Mi Club and we started with the frites. The frites were delicious with the garlic aioli - so crispy - perfectly fried. The soup and sandwich were delicious and then we shared the creme brulee. Such great food, we will be back soon! read more

Food was delicious, starter to dessert (dinner was the rabbit and steak frites). Beautiful restaurant, great ambiance...inviting and vibrant. Excellent service. Highly recommend! read more

The food was delicious. We had escargot for the first time. We also had two types of oysters, Cornish Hen and stripped bass. They were little plates, but surprisingly filling. Our server was even better. Maria S. was amazing; she was really attentive and brought items before we knew that we needed them. The atmosphere is nice as well. Cute restaurant tucked away on a side street. Best service I've experienced in a long time. read more

This was our second time dining and honestly, it was a little disappointing in comparison to our first visit. We were seated in the bar area by the restrooms --so not in the main dining area where we ate the first time. While I did appreciate the quietness, it felt like we were stuck in a corner and just didn't get much of the vibe. The service was also slow at times. The food was where I noticed the biggest difference from our first visit. Simply put, it just was not as good. I had the exact same dish from my first visit and while it was good, just not great. And the frites (fries) tasted EXACTLY like McDonald's fries --everyone at our table said so! (I mean, Mickey D's does have good fries but not for that price, lol) The escargots were good. The butter on the bread / butter appetizer was seasoned weird? Again, we had this on our first visit and it was divine --but we didn't love it this time. My son loved his cornish hen dish and the steak on the steak frites dish was great! Cocktails were also on point! Maybe this was just an off night? Despite the underwhelming feeling on many of the dishes, a good time was had by all and we would probably go back. read more

Really excellent food and service - my server Mitch was super nice and knowledgeable. They made probably the best sazerac I've ever had. I will have to come back the next time I'm in Chicago! read more

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Great dining experience! Bistro M is a hidden gem serving top notch food, excellent service and cozy ambience tucked away in the beautiful Monadnock building. If you haven't tried Bistro M ..definitely worth the visit! read more

Easily one of my top 3 meals of the year! Drinks were divine, food was absolutely phenomenal and service was perfect. My husband and I ordered the multiple drinks (shaken and stirred), shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockerfeller, skate wing, steak frites, and shared the profitteral. Everything was incredibly well-balanced and outrageously delicious!!! There was also live jazz (apparently this happens most Wednesday's) and it was excellent as well. Bistro Monadnock is an absolute gem! read more

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This place is such a hidden gem and welcome addition to the area! Upscale and beautiful inside with so much history. And the food... just wow. I've tried several menu items and I've been thrilled with each and every one. The French onion soup is out of this world and their bread service is some of the best in the city! read more

The food and service was great. The staff was very friendly. My friend enjoyed the ambiance sitting at the bar. We would come again! Thank you! read more

I am so glad to find this place on the train to Chicago, immediately made reservations and had a table at 4:30 pm. Arrived a bit early and went to shopping around in the same building. Got to seated once back to the restaurant, ordered food according to another reviewer. Food was excellent and well suited for a cold Chicago windy evening. Service was also great and we even had extra gelato for our anniversary, the personal touch really made our day!! We appreciate the staff went beyond to make us happy!! We are delighted to have dinner there and will be back soon!! Jing :) read more

Hidden gem in the heart of the financial district. The only rival to the cuisine is the atmosphere. The Croque Madame was on point followed by an elegant dessert of fresh berries and cream. If you are in the city during the week, lunch is true pleasure. read more

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Delightful! Classic French in a cozy setting. I'll be back for the tartare and the homemade bread ASAP. read more

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We happened upon the Bistro because we were in the area on a Saturday night. We were lucky enough to get last minute reservations online, but when our plans changed, we wandered in over an hour early. The host/manager found us 2 spots at the bar and we could not have been happier. We had the most delicious meal & drinks and attentive service. The ambiance is inviting, dimly lit and the staff's attire and demeanor is a nod to the old days; professional and always a step ahead of your needs. We started with the escargot and steak tartare. Both were exactly as we'd hoped, so delicious. We concluded with the cassoulet. Wow, that crispy duck leg will not leave my memory any time soon. I imagine you can't go wrong with anything that comes out of this kitchen and I look forward to coming back in our next trip to Chicago. read more

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What an experience--outstanding, engaging, and attentive service (Mitchell was outstanding) with exquisite food. The mussels were the best I have eaten; the entrees were uniformly outstanding. The wine list is straightforward. Lively atmosphere but not too loud. What a treat. read more

Such a great spot for happy hour. HIGHLY recommend. We just stopped by for some bubbles and oysters (east coast, of course) but the full menu looked to die for. Will be back read more

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Awesome spot near the hotel I was staying at. Will definitely come again next time. I sat at the bar, got seated right away. The bartender was super friendly and you could see the technique and pride he took in making the cocktails. Food was fantastic! read more

Wow ! A seriously fabulous French bistro in an architecturally significant Chicago landmark. Great, clean food -- awesome service. Chech this out! read more

I made a reservation over a month in advance for a special occasion on Saturday 10/26. Today, with only three days notice they emailed to tell me that they have cancelled our reservation. They claim that a film crew bought out the restaurant. Hard to believe that they decided to film there with just three days notice. Very disappointed since we had heard such good things about them. I am now left to find a reservation at an alternate place. So far I have had no luck. read more

Great atmosphere in the heart of The Loop. The food was outstanding and the staff is extremely helpful. Try the crème brûlée (it's not on the menu yet but they have it!) read more

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My husband and I enjoyed this lovely chic, informal restaurant that we happened upon last minute. From the moment we stepped inside, we felt welcomed, thanks to the friendly maitre'd and our excellent food server, Shania. I shared "bread and fat" and fresh mixed green salad with my husband while listening to French jazz music (over the speakers), sipping sparkling water with lime and dining on excellent eats. I had French Onion Soup and Parisian Gnocchi--both cooked and seasoned to perfection. My husband had the Striped Bass which he raved about. For dessert, the chef served us a pastry dish filled with cream and topped with a warm chocolate sauce. We left feeling thoroughly delighted and satiated by the food and experience. read more

Bistro Monadnock - We had this delicious pastry dish for dessert--the actual name for it escapes me. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We chose this restaurant based on the Yelp reviews, and it did not disappoint! Everything we ate was delicious! Charcuterie board, steak frites for my husband and I had the Bahn mi. We ended with the profiteroles, which are drizzled in the most delicious chocolate sauce I've ever had. After dinner one of the owners stopped and asked us about our meals, and then offered to give us a tour of the open kitchen. We will definitely be going back! read more

Bistro Monadnock - Charcuterie Board, sliced with the owners 100 year old family slicer. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely lovely in every way! Food is incredible. Service impeccable. Atmosphere nice. Host and servers were so kind, knowledgeable and happy. Divine. Can't wait to return! read more

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Yesterday, we came to eat at Bistro Monadnock from out of town while in Chicago for a convention and meetings with partners. Five of us came, and arrived at our 5:30pm reservation. At the beginning after ordering drinks and appetizers, our waiter asked if we were planning on a long visit or if we had a tight schedule or time we wanted to be finished. Odd question I've never had before. We said we weren't in a rush and ordered our food around 6pm. The restaurant was busy, but we watched and waited for over two hours while people around us (couples, parties of four, etc.) ordered, received their food, and left. The waiter mentioned a couple times he recognized the wait time was long, but over two hours is a LONG wait. There was no explanation, nor was there any offer to comp any part of the meal or provide dessert as a guesture of good will at the incredibly long wait. The food was average at best but definietly not worth the wait. I will never eat here again and will encourage anyone from our company and our partner companies to avoid this restaurant whenever possible. read more

Great atmosphere and superb food! Not to be missed. The Chef is amazing and creates ever from scratch. If you love French food that is not heavily over laden with too much rich butter and sauces, you'll love it here! The Chef has just the right touch. Don't miss the Charcuterie platter. Best in the city. Cocktails are inventive and delicious. read more

Incredible new restaurant that the Loop needed. It is a new French Bistro and, after being downtown for years, I think it is the best restaurant in the area. Great vibe, sandwiches, and cocktails to name a few. For lunch, I got the French Onion soup and it might be the best in Chicago. The burger, pastrami sandwich, and mushroom melt were also all incredible and served quick. I went back for dinner and loved the Escargots to start and the Steak Frites and Bouillabaisse. I got the Floral Gimlet cocktail, with gin and lemon which was really good. They also have a really good creme brulee and profiteroles for dessert. All of this is in an awesome, welcoming space with nice staff. Highly recommend! read more

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Great restaurant off the beaten path. Get the oysters early!!! Bartenders were excellent.

Great cocktail. bar and bistro with knowledgeable bartenders. . . Had frog legs for a quick appetizer. This is a welcome addition to the. Loop area. Was checking this out for a group of a 8 in a few weeks. Tables and booth in the bar area and a quieter area by the kitchen. read more

Bistro Monadnock - Great bar - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Incredible new place to bring friends and family. Bisto Monadnock was absolutely a gem in this area. It is a new French Bistro and I think it is the best restaurant around. Great vibe, sandwiches, and cocktails to name a few. I go here sometimes for dinner and loved the Escargots to start and the Steak Frites. All of this is in an awesome, welcoming space with nice staff. Highly recommend! read more

This relatively new eatery is my favorite French bistro in Chicago, right up there with Obelix and Bouchon. Whether crowded or empty the kitchen turns out impeccable food, with high quality ingredients treated respectfully to delicious results. Terrific oysters & fish, the best French fries, ooh la la. Great desserts. Fine service and a great bartender. This downtown gem can't be beat. read more

The bouillabaisse was the best thing I've eaten in years. The French onion soup was completely average, and I should have skipped it. I got the profiteroles with pistachio ice cream. Oddly, the ice cream tasted almost entirely of amaretto. Fortunately, I enjoy amaretto, but it could have gone sideways if I didn't. The service was excellent. read more

Bistro Monadnock - Angel face - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cutest and best restaurant in the loop. I've come for dinner and just drinks and the bar and this place can't be beat! Impeccable service and amazing food! read more

Bistro Monadnock - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love . My companion said multiple times "I don't feel like I'm in Chicago" in the best possible way. French bistros have always been a favorite of mine, so I've been disappointed as over the past decade they've have gone out of vogue. So I'm thrilled that they're making a comeback, and this place is superb. They've gotten everything right - cocktails escargot steak frites ambiance wine croquet madam service Cornish hen profiteroles . We didn't have any coffee, but everything was fantastic and I want to go back tomorrow! read more