My party of two stopped in here with a 6:30pm reservation on a Saturday night. The restaurant is located on a posh street near many upscale shops, hotels, etc. The exterior is unassuming and reminiscent of a classic French bistro, and the interior is dark and romantic, with a buzzy atmosphere. Upon arrival, the hostess warmly greeted us in French, and we were promptly seated at a cozy table in the middle of the restaurant.
Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, and informed us of the nightly specials - we started the night with the Chioggia and Baby Yellow Beet Salad ($17.95), with artisanal goat cheese, sunflower seeds, roasted hazelnuts, and a praline vinaigrette. I usually wouldn't shell out that much on a salad with no protein in it, but this dish was absolutely divine - the clean, earthy flavor and buttery texture of the beets contrasted beautifully with the rich sharpness of the goat cheese, and the crunch of the sunflower seeds and roasted hazelnuts added another dimension to the dish. Additionally, the praline vinaigrette didn't taste much like praline to me, but was more like the best balsamic reduction I've ever had, with a deep sweetness and a bright acid tone.
For entrees, I ordered the Butcher's Cut of the Day, which was a lamb shank with ratatouille vegetables ($37.95). The lamb shank was decadent and fall-off-the-bone tender - I didn't even need to use a knife. The dish's sauce was savory in a way that complemented the richness of the lamb (which can sometimes get overpowering), keeping me coming back for more. The lamb shank definitely looks large, but I was a bit disappointed upon discovering that most of the portion consisted of the large shank bone. The ratatouille vegetables were another highlight - you could taste each individual type of vegetable (but especially the olives), but they all paired together for a really nice medley of tastes and textures!
My companion ordered the Roasted Amish Chicken/"Coq au Vin" ($27.95) with seasonal mushrooms, roasted fingerling potatoes, and caramelized onion. Oh my goodness, I don't know how Bistronomic makes this dish, but it's amazing - the chicken is juicy and succulent (even the white meat), and whatever sauce/reduction that they've paired it with is off the hook - it's like the best Thanksgiving gravy you've ever had, especially when complemented by the sweetness of the caramelized onions (that have definitely lovingly been cooked for hours). The potatoes are cooked to a perfect al dente, and the mushrooms were earthy and have a depth of flavor that is virtually unparalleled. And for serving almost a whole half chicken (breast, thigh, and drumstick), this is a generous portion at an amazing price (especially for an upscale French restaurant in its location).
The portions were what my dad calls "Chicago-sized portions" - we left the restaurant full and happy (we were too stuffed to look at the dessert menu, though we would definitely return and try their desserts another time!). Everything was relatively affordable, service was attentive and warm, and the food was some of the best we've had in Chicago - I'd definitely recommend Bistronomic for anyone looking for a lovely dinner out with friends and/or family! read more