We made a RSVP for Valentine's day for 8:30. Arrived right on the dot but was told to wait until our tables were ready. We were given the option to hang our coat up and a choice of two tables by the window. As the window is dimmed from the outside pedestrians were unable to see us while they walk by. The reason for the two star review is simply because our food took much too long to arrive to our table. Even with the drinks we had ordered as well as appetizers, the wait time for the main course was too spaced out. I spent a lot of time reading the ingredients and matching the dish with the ingredients listed on the menu and it was a hard to figure out everything as the server never even bothered to explain what any of the food served was. I understand that it's Valentine's day and maybe the restaurant is trying to accommodate as many tables as possible in the limited work night ( middle of the week), however I don't understand how busy they can be compared to the rush there was for restaurant week. What made it even more frustrating was the two tables that came after us was able to get served first. I am giving it three starts because the quality of the ingredients was very fresh and exquisite as well as the pairing of flavors. If I was to give suggestions for the restaurant in the future it would be improve the service for a top end french restaurant. read more

See all

I am prejudiced about Brindille, and anything Carrie or Michael Nahabedian do in the restaurant world. Carrie's skill as a chef is legendary, certainly well known in this country and recognized by the James Beard Foundation. Michael's business acumen, and aplomb as a restauranteur, helped put Chicago on the "foodie" map. Yet, most importantly, their warmth, love for family, good food, and happy times reverberates through every restaurant they open. Brindille is a classic French restaurant, that just happens to be in Chicago. We were just in Paris for a week, and Brindille would be comfortable as a Michelin starred dining destination, sitting on a block in the sixth, seventh, eighth, sixteenth, or seventeenth arrondissements. As River North changes, overtaken by the hordes of drunken young people, looking for another beer, margarita and fish taco, Brindille sits on Clark Street as a beacon of fine dining. The patrons of Brindille know what Carrie and Michael offer; great food, elegant surroundings, and a dining refuge. Chicago is lucky to have Brindille. Go and discover what fine dining is all about. This is grown up elegance. read more

5 stars because I didn't have to pay. Food and wine were fantastic. All six of us ordered a la carte. I had 1. Beef tartare with raw quail egg - perfect 2. Duck breast medium rare - almost perfect - the duck was a little too lean, but preparation was perfect. 3. Rhubarb sorbet with espresso - heavenly We had two cote du Rhone wines from the same producer. One was a Chateauneuf du Pape and the second from Gigondas. Both were great. The second was better. read more

See all

The pumpkin soup radiated fragrance of truffle essence. I couldn't help myself loading the thick soup over the starters bread. The foie gras is nothing I had before. Tender seared and neatly stacked on top of black currant jam. A sweet take on an otherwise savory dish was a refreshing enjoyment. The frisée salad was a plate of wonder. My favorites all on one plate: charred brussel sprouts, sugary walnuts, soft Roquefort blue cheese and a molten egg. read more

See all

Had dinner at Brindille last Saturday evening with a group of friends. The service was exceptional and the food was really delicious. The Roast Chicken "Poulet Rouge" was so juicy and tender. A couple of my dining companions ordered the Famous Burger, which has so many delicious options and the most amazing fries. For dessert, the Tarte Citron was so flavorful and a great plate to share. Brindille had all the Covid protocols in place, and created a really pleasant experience. In a time when many dining experiences aren't that good, this was great! read more

This is a very fine restaurant that is doing most everything right. The chef's eight-course tasting menu, which is available on request, is the way to go here. It's assembled to match your tastes, and is a great way to experience the menu's highlights. Each course was beautifully presented. The only truly amazing one was the vichyssoise, but everything else was quite good, and the price was reasonable for the quality. Service was informative and attentive, and the secondary service staff were particularly efficient at delivering and clearing. Brindille has one of the better wine lists in town, at a reasonable markup of about twice retail. It's heavy on quality French wines, and bears a bit of research before your visit to be truly rewarded. read more

See all

It's been almost a week since a group of friends and I dined out at Brindille in River North. Expectations were high for such an exceedingly lauded and favorably rated restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant, its staff, and its chef failed to deliver on several accounts. My friend who organized the dinner was personally contacted by the chef prior to our reservation by phone which was unexpected but pleasantly received. During the call, the chef made it a point to state she would personally stop by our table to greet us and speak for a bit. Great food, excellent service, and a visit with the chef were the expectations for the night. Given the high-priced menu, that's the least we should expect and the least we should receive. Unfortunately, Brindille fell short on all three. Before going into detail, let me mention that it was a slow, quiet night for the place. There were two large tables (my group and one other) and I believe only 2 other small table of diners on this particular night. Furthermore, our dinner lasted over 3 hours which is excessive for such a slow night. At one point, it seemed like there were more employees in the dining room than actual patrons. With all of that being said, our server was decent. She was very nice but everyone agreed something seemed off about her. The best way to describe this - she seemed a little spacey. We had 9 diners in our party, all arriving slightly apart from one another. The first diner and our organizer was asked if he preferred sparkling or still water to which he replied still. No one else in our party was ever asked what we preferred yet the wait staff took it upon themselves to fill everyone's glass with still and repeatedly fill some glasses but not others. Using refillable glass bottles, none of us thought anything of it until our bill arrived 3 plus hours later.... I will explain later. Let me share more on food and service first. Eight dinner rolls were presented to a table of 9. While not expecting any special treatment or comps for the night, the chef decided to send out her lobster plate gratis. Perhaps she did so as she knew all of us are food bloggers/influencers. While we appreciated the gesture, sending out one small plate for a table of 9 was baffling. We each enjoyed a small morsel at most. As food we ordered came out, it was frequently placed in front of the wrong diner. Much of the food was unimpressive and forgettable for the bills we were dropping. There were a few dishes that were very enjoyable and many of us would recommend including the Steak Tartare, Chilled French Kiss Oysters, and the Roast Quail (Coq au Vin). Unfortunately, service will always outweigh food taste and quality which brings me back to the water debacle! Yes, debacle. At the end of the night when our bill was presented, we were charged $72 for water!!!! Read that again.... $72 for water! We apparently went through 9 bottles of water and we were charged $8 per bottle! Wait... what???? When the server asked us how we'd like to handle the water with our separate checks, we were all perplexed. I remember saying that we had no idea we were being charged for water and were puzzled then hesitantly said my guess would be to put one bottle on each bill. Though, I continued to make it clear this was a cokmplete and unexpected surprise to us. Here is when the rest of the night took a complete nosedive to the bottom of the hill. Our "spacey" waitress's only response was her own confused look and a repeat of, "How do you want to handle the water?" There were no apologies, no let me talk to the manager, no asking if we'd like to speak with the manager. She left the table and put a bottle of $8 water on each bill. Oh, and there was also an included gratuity of 22%! Say, what?!?! Oh, but wait... it gets better. Remember the chef said she would greet us.... she never did. You know what she did do? She sat at one of the smaller tables for well over an hour chatting it up with them while we sat a few tables away the entire time and her only other two tables had exited the restaurant. She also chose not to respond to an email sent to her by our organizer who chose to take an admirable approach and reach out to her personally about our disappointment before posting any reviews. No response! Long story short.... we were able to get the atrocious water charge removed from our bill, leave without any gratitude for dining there and dropping over $1000, and have all individually decided not to share any press aside from honest yelp reviews or return to Brindille (or even Naha which so many of us were fans of prior to this experience). With so many incredible dining options in Chicago, it does not pay to give our business where it isn't appreciated. P.S. I was being generous giving 2 stars given our overall experience. read more

See all

We join several other reviewers who found the food good, not great, and wildly overpriced. The busboys were attentive. The waiter was not. Following Simone Beck's counsel, we paid the bill but we most definitely won't return. read more

The dishes were quite tasty, but the service was so slow that the main course came quite cold. We really liked foie gras, so we order a second one. What a surprised when they charged us TWICE as much for the second portion. The waiter claimed the second one was bigger, which first of all was not true (the size was exactly the same). Second, we didn't ask for a bigger portion. Third, the menu didn't specify the existence of a much pricier version of that same dish. Anyway, this sounded like a complete scam, but I didn't want to get into an argument and just laughed at the whole situation. However, what was even worse, the waiter included 21% gratitude in the bill for a party of TWO! Are you serious? I often give higher tips than that, but I don't want them to be imposed on me. This was the first time it happened to me in the USA. The food is already expensive here. Why would you want to cheat to try to make a few more bucks? Increase the price if you really have to. I don't mind to pay extra for a high quality food. However, cheating is pathetic and it ruins the whole experience. read more

The owner wants an upscale/fine dining vibe. But the presentation of food didn't meet the expectation. Extremely overpriced.

Delicious restaurant week meal here - great value set menu. The cooking is elevated French - fancier than a bistro but not OTT. The mushroom soup and coddled egg were both delicious. Madeleines at the end would have been better if served freshly baked & warm - that's just the nature of madeleines. The drinks programme is fab - nice wines and solid cocktails (shout out to the negroni Blanc) and service superb. Recommend for a date or a business dinner. read more

My friend and I had a fun dining experience at Brindille. We had the expectation that this is a more old fashioned restaurant before we came in. It turns out that it is a good mix of classic and modern, traditional and creative. The duck breast and foie gras were extremely delicious. We liked the sea bass as well. The lemon tart was very sour. That's the only thing we wouldn't recommend. read more

See all

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Two steak/ two fish dinners. Service was on point. Wine suggestion homerun! We cleaned our plates and enjoyed sharing our tasty desserts. Honestly, if you're not happy with anything here, just let them know. This is a professional establishment. We will return. Thank you!! read more

We started with chickpea donuts for an amuse-bouche (okay). My husband had the squash soup, which he really liked. I split the tarte tatin with him and thought it was just okay. I had the halibut for my meal, which was cooked perfectly, and the Jerusalem artichoke and sauce were very good. My husband had the pork chop, which was pretty large, and he enjoyed every bite. He had the pear dessert, which he said was okay. The server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. It was dimly lit in the dining room, which I much prefer to bright lights. read more

Brindille - Halibut - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we were both disappointed. Mainly, the service was super slow. The waiter was fine, he kept explaining that everything is homemade and takes a while to make. Really, even the salad took forever to come out. I watched as the owner ran around the place talking to people and ordering staff around. Our meal from appetizer to dessert took over three hours. The food was OK definitely not worth the price and the atmosphere was just OK. I would not recommend this place. read more

We had come to Brindille during restaurant week and were really impressed with the food here. I got the woodland mushroom soup as my starter and was extremely impressed. Creamy mushroom soup is one my favorite soups and this one was one of the best I've ever had. For the main, I got the Great Lakes Whitefish which perfectly flaked when I cut it with my fork. The sauce for the desert 'Oeufa a la Neige' wasn't as good as I was expecting but it just may not have been my thing. The service at the restaurant was decent. The server had messed up my main entree, but instead gave me the wrong one ( for free and got the correct order within 10 minutes. We couldn't finish the extra entree so the server suggested we take it home which was really nice of them. My only complaint was that they gave me a dirty fork, but it wouldn't stop me from going again. read more

See all

While the food here is tasty, boy is it expensive! A ribeye steak? $94. Aside of mushrooms? $25. It's a tough hit on your pocketbook. But back to the food: the ribeye steak needed a little salt, but was a positive. The shoestring potatoes were phenomenal! The foie gras was cooked well. The hedgehog mushrooms were delicious. Unfortunately, our meal was accompanied by an arrogant and unfriendly waiter. Beware. read more

We came to this place on a Saturday night. They were very accommodating surprisingly. The ambiance was very serious and mostly dates. It was freezing from the ac and they gave me a shawl which was nice. Waitstaff was very professional and attentive. We started with the fois gras which was very rich though no interesting hints and the texture was predictable and very small. We then shared the duck and the potatoes tartine. Both were very savory and delicious. They didn't blow your mind though. The service and food was good yet for the money and reputation I was expecting a bit more. read more

Wow-as a longtime Chicago resident and foodie, I would recommend going to any other establishment. Long story short, a table seated 30 min after us received their dinner before us. Took 1.5 hours for the main course to come out The server took no ownership nor brought it up to upper management. It was actually unreal. I ended up sending my dinner back to the kitchen having lost my appetite over the LONG wait. I sent an email with (again) no response. Paying patrons deserve much more respect than what was received. If you read other reviews that are NOT filtered, you will see this is a trend with this establishment. Overall-not worth the frustration when there are SO many other well oiled restaurants in the given area. 0 stars read more

This is probably the best restaurant I have ever dined ar in my life. From the modern European design to the elegant table settings and of course the decadent cuisine, Chef Nahabedian went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect. If you are a tourist then you will not do Chicago right if you don't dine here and for the locals, you have aa gem in the premises of your city. A must try for all. We will be back next time we are in Chicago. read more

Brindille - Chef Nahabedian - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After Paris Club closed, there was a void in my heart. When I ate at Brindille for Valentine's Day, I finally found a worthy replacement for French cuisine in Chicago. I was really skeptical because I didn't love Naha, and I find that there are a lot of trendy restaurants that charge more than what I think their dishes are worth, and I was afraid that this would be the case. However, my boss who is French recommended this place, and he appreciates a lot of restaurants that I like so I was hoping it would be a good recommendation... but at the same time there are some restaurants he likes that I'm like meh so it was a big question mark in my mind haha. Well, it was a fantastic recommendation! I had the butter poached lobster nage (the 5 years of French classes finally paid off- I guessed nage meant soup since nage is swimming in French!!) , which was the best lobster I've had in Chicago since moving here 5 years ago (thanks for setting the bar real low GIBSONS!). I tried my boyfriend's duck breast first and was tempted to eat the whole thing at first because it was cooked so perfectly- not too fatty, full of flavor with a beautiful sauce.... but thank goodness I gave his dish back to him so that I could discover the brilliance of the lobster dish. I loved the squash puree that came with the lobster, the mushrooms, Savoy cabbage, broccoli, broth... basically everything that was in my dish! It was just the perfect blend of ingredients and flavors- sweet, savory, umami yum yum yum. We started with the caviar--- I LOVE caviar but I have to say I hated the presentation here-- who wants to eat caviar with bread? Blinis are the way to go... unless you're Kumiko and doing caviar on rice YUM! I wish I had tried the Lady Chatterley oysters instead of the caviar womp womp. For the service... the hostess was kind of weird when I was checking in with her for our reservation, and at first I was like are we in the wrong place because the glass display case at the hostess stand made me think I was at a shop. But our server was so friendly, polite, and just what I wish I could have for service any time I go to a restaurant. He wasn't pushy to get our orders, and didn't interrupt us while we were dining, and even poured me a tasting of the Penner & Ash pinot noir when he saw me looking it up on my phone as I was perusing the menu. I thought he was pretty outstanding, and really topped off our night. A bit pretentious, but definitely a great place for a nice dinner-- treat yo'self! read more

4 1/2 stars for food quality, taste and presentation - 2 star for service Outstanding food and and a beautiful restaurant. Only issue with food was the time it took and the fact that it was cold when it arrived. The server who took care of us seemed unprofessional and never described what was being served. The food was quite well prepared with a variety of tastes on each plate. It was really extremely well done. Truth is had we had great service and the food warm enough, it would have gotten 5 stars hand down. This could be one of the best restaurants anywhere but they need to improve their professional service. I.e.: the wait staff that picked up the dishes made lots of noise The waiter offered us an extra dessert but never even explained why? ( maybe it was because it took so long for our food to arrive?). Bottom line. Great food. Hope it was just a bad night for the staff! read more

The name means "Twig". But you definitely won't be one if you eat often at this French sibling of NAHA that recently opened in River North, for the food was delicious, the ambiance serene and the staff pleasant, personable and definitely on their game! Brindille (I wanted to call it "Brindle" but I was corrected that it's more like "brawn dee"- that will tell you how effective all those years of French that I took were!) has been open for about a month when we visited. We went on a weeknight and since most of my party was running late- it gave me a chance to sit at the bar (love the stools but the bar is too low to cross your legs at it) check out my surroundings and chat with the bartender who was pleasant and knowledgeable. Given my knowledge of wines is best when choosing domestic and the list was much more global in nature, she led me toward a wonderful red that they had by the glass. Perfect for the bounty we were going to enjoy. Once our party arrived- we were seated by the manager, Jude (thought he was terrific- going out of his way to make sure we had a wonderful evening) and we ordered a wide range of things to taste on the menu. For our first course- we had the king crab with spring peas and tapioca custard, the fois gras and the steak tartar. All were delicious with each flavor complementing the next. I wanted to try the frog legs- but no one at my table was game so those are definitely going on my list for the next time! As for entrees- I had the lobster Brindille which came with little potatoes and mushrooms which was absolutely delicious and prettily plated. Others enjoyed their "saddle of lamb" (so perfectly prepared you could cut it with a fork) and the Dover sole was another favorite. For dessert (hard to believe we even had room at this point) we shared the cherry clafoutis which was like a cherry souffle and the cheese plate. Now this was no ordinary cheese plate but one with so many little bites of perfection, that it came with a list so that we would know exactly what we were tasting. The perfect ending to an amazing dinner. Brindille is a bit of a splurge. Appetizers are in the $15 - $20 range and the entrees average around $40 - $48. Add in some drinks and dessert and dinner for 4 was about $460 before tip. But if you are looking for that perfect night- where you are coddled and made to feel special- Brindille is the perfect place. We loved the simple ambiance, the attention to detail with the china, the interesting cutlery and the artful shapes of things, like the simple water pitcher. The staff made sure that we had what we needed even before we knew we needed them and took care in escorting us to where ever we needed to be. The end result being that it felt like they valued our business which is so critical today! And like a good restaurant should- they took my valet ticket and found the valet so that my car was waiting out front as I said my goodbyes. All in all a lovely evening out made even better by some terrific food, great friends and staff who care. You can bet I will be back. read more

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! OMG, this is by far my favorite dining experience this year. We recently went to another french restaurant that we thought was great...but Brindille blows that one out of the water. HEAVEN...I am in love with this restaurant! 1. Easy Open Table reservations 2. Space...by far, everything was perfect. Gray tones, crisp, light, elegant, upscale...with a pop of color...pink. They actually steam the table cloths when they set the table. The silverware to the plates to the paintings on the walls...everything is great. 3. Service...I cannot tell you enough about the amazing service we received from Robert. He is a fantastic server and read us like a book. Not pretentious, fun, knowledgeable, psychotherapist...LOVED him. It was seriously probably the best service we have received all around in 3 years...waters always full, appropriately clearing plates, coursed out perfectly...I cannot say enough about it. 4. Food...OMG, the FOOD WAS AMAZING! Yes, its pricey, but it is warranted. Hand cut noodles, snails and morels were a surprising delight! Steak tartare was excellent! Frise salad perfect and light. Soup was creamy yet not too rich. Lobster Brindille is EXCELLENT and huge! Filet of beef tenderloin was great and the potatoes on the side really shined. They taste like french onion soup...you know a place is good when they have amazing sides to accompany amazing mains. Dover sole was thick cut and deliciously prepared. Last time I had dover was at Everest and it was terrible. Desserts-Lemon tarte...excellent and the Strawberry, rhubarb, leek cream was amazing! I legit wanted to lick the plate on all of the above...you cannot go wrong here. I am shocked there isnt more reviews of this place. For an upscale meal, you WANT o try this place. read more

See all

Outstanding restaurant! Had the lamb, delicious. Great wine list, and the knowledge to walk you through it. Brindille has the full package, great food and attentive service. I will be back! read more

Now this was a satisfying meal! Conscientious and considerate service, understated but elegant decor, the only quibble I had was that the lighting was on the dim side. However, the dishes were terrific! We were served some amuse-bouche of a delicate, cloud-soft potato gnocchi - kind of a super-upscale tater tot! - that was very addictive and I was sorely tempted to ask for more (they should consider adding it as an appetizer!). This not being possible, I had their seared foie gras appetizer instead: a luscious, unctuous slab of umami, its fattiness off-set by the slightly tart, slightly sweet cooked fruit garnish. I followed this with the lacquered duck breast with a nice crispy skin that could vie with Peking Duck. The duck was meaty and tender, not at all fatty, and accompanied by seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. Finally, we shared their selection of cookies for dessert - and what cookies they were! Warm, soft, not too sweet - went perfectly with coffee. This was a meal to savor and that satisfied your autumnal cravings. read more

See all

WOW!! If you enjoy French food, excellent wine pairings and service that goes above and beyond, you MUST visit Brindille. Where do I begin? We arrive for our 530 reservation on Saturday evening and are immediately are seated at a lovely table for the 4 of us. I loved the cushions they had on the bench. Very comfy. A big kudos to our server Rob who was knowledgeable, friendly, didn't rush us at any point of the meal (we didn't leave until after 9pm). Our water glasses were never empty and were filled with no interruptions. We begin with the Duval-Leroy Brut Rose champagne ($26) which was perfect on a warm evening. We toyed with the idea of a tasting menu (7 courses) which was $150 each but since we also wanted to do wine pairings with each dish and only 3 of us were interested in having wine, we decided to just order a bunch of plates and share them. Rob was also happy to select the wine for us and poured 2 oz each for the 3 of us and simply charged us the cost of the glass. He also was quite generous with pouring a little more if we really liked it :) Based on the yelp reviews, the 3 of us went with 3 apps (oysters, foie gras, sweetbreads) and 3 mains (lobster, duck, squab). My hubby went with the split poussin (chicken) as he didn't want any of the other stuff. They brought the 4 oysters out first which was perfect with the champagne! Best I have ever had. We let Dave have the extra oyster but it was tough to give it up. They then brought out the lobster which they paired with a white burgundy (2011 Chassagne-Montrachet: $28). Best lobster I have ever had and excellent with the wine. Jill even ordered another glass to go with her dessert! They then brought out a 2011 Alsace Riesling to go with the foie gras and a red burgundy (Marsannay "Les Vaudenelles") to go with the sweetbreads. This was the best foie gras I have ever had. (Are you seeing a theme here?) Even better than what I had in France! I also recommend the sweetbreads and perfect wine pairings too. Next came a glass of 2007 Bonarda from Italy to enjoy with the squab and duck. I recommend trying the squab but was not a big fan of the duck. I think it was a bit over done. Loved the Bonarda. My hubby loved the poussin which also came with a poached egg. The egg was cold but it's hard to keep an egg warm... For dessert, I was stuffed but Dave had so much confidence in Rob that he told Rob to pick out a dessert, and to provide a wine pairing of his choice, AND to provide a smoke and a light and he didn't disappoint. He brought a lovely glass of Jurancon, a fantastic dessert and... a cigarette (camel I think?) and a lighter! Can you believe it? Jill got the cheese plate ($35) which was shaped like a clock and had 12 samplings to have in a specific order (clockwise starting at 12). It came with these yummy warm bread sticks and an amazing jam. Wow... We were also provided a free dessert that was in the oven for 25 minutes and was complete heaven. A warm cherry and almond clafoutis with a chantilly creme. Amazing... Rob filled up my glass with more of the Bonarda I enjoyed with the last course and then filled Dave's glass of Jurancon too! No charge on any of the extra pours mentioned. This is the best dining experience I have ever had. The service, the food, the presentation, the level of knowledge that Rob had and the freebies were all beyond belief. You must go! Even the butter that came with the bread was incredible... read more

See all

Honest review: (naha was better/ everest still best french restaurant but still was really good) be warned it is very tiny like giant tiny so go on weekdays and the bar area is beautiful and comfortable so you could always sit there if they are full. Ambiance is really pretty and elegant be warned it is expensive but portions aren't supper small though. service was really good really attentive described things. Drinks I think the drink menu needs to be updated because it's small and outdated you guys have a beautiful restaurant make better drinks the French 75 was terrible way to acidic and basic cause it's just champagne and lemon juice. Another issue I would say is to update desserts we had 4 and 2 weren't that good at $15 they have to be the best desserts I ever had and they have to be the best desserts. Then just make small tweaks in the menu if Brindille did that don't see why it wouldn't always be crowded. best things: foie/ pork belly/ cheese course/ lobster/ steak/ delice/ creme brûlée Bread service: bread was warm but the bread n butter was basic was expecting more so fix this Potatoe beignets: these were amazing they were supper light but crispy and so flavorful picture the best mashed potatoes you ever had but deep fried wish it had an aioli dipping sauce Foie gras $34 Amazing really foie wasnt overcooked really good quality the components worked together making it really rich my only complaint add more sweetness (ps save the freebread to make a foiegras sandwhich youll thank me later) Crispy pork belly $16 amazing pork belly was really tender, but plz make it crispy. The candied walnuts added sweetness and crunch just add more. Loved the kale for bitterness and all the sweet components everything worked well together. Cheese course (ask for more compote on the side) $32 expensive, but amazing because there are 12 french cheeses youve never tried before. They were all really unique and flavorful even the hard ones. The bread was tasty and savory because of the seeds but its very difficult to eat they should be slices of bread or little buns not long pieces of bread sticks so fix this. The raisin jam was amazing adding sweetness then the compote of huckleberry was amazing added acidity and sweetness $42 duck breast: ok i have to talk about naha and Brindilles duck preparations they were both terrible both very soggy and the flavors not good n not well cooked u want duck to be medium rare n crispy. Here the sauce was way to acidic, it needed more sweetness badly just was terrible honestly. Lobster $46: amazing. The only issue another yelper talked about it was the lobster was really overcooked doesnt mean i wouldnt order it again but how do u over cook lobster like not even red lobster does that. The sauce was so flavorful you just want to eat it like a soup its like a delicous curry lemongrass sauce with so much butter like its so decadent and all the fresh veggies cut through the richness. Just add something for crunch like if you deep fried some lobster would be something different and unique Rib of prime beef $56 there were a couple issues. 1 steak was burnt wasnt that bad but did add a bitter note, 2 way to much black pepper so be careful with the seasoning. Besides these two issues it really was amazing. My favorite part was the potato gratin it was so decadent and perfectly cooked plz put more was so good was going to order a side order of just the posties. The steak was flavorful i dont mind fat on my steak cause it keeps the steak moist and adds flavor. The twos sauces were amazing just put more. Loved the addition of the onions for sweetness just there was one piece of onion plz put more Bartlett Pear Mille Crepe $15: this was good not great. The crepe cake was good and moist. There wasn't any complexity just could have been better Bittersweet Chocolate Delice $15 I usually hate chocolate desserts but this was amazing. It's like chocolate mousse and cake it wasn't to bitter it was really decadent. It was the right amount of bitterness and sweetness and the orange adds acidity and freshness really was a good dessert Mandarin Orange and Cardamom Crème Bruleé $15 this was the best creme brûlée I ever had. Texturally it was really creamy and the top was really crunchy without being tart and it wasn't to sweet and the citrus on top added acidity and freshness to cut through the dessert it was perfect Tarte Tropezienne (profiterole) terrible. I don't like profiteroles because they remind me of pastries that were done way to far in advance and are texturally off putting. Idk what the flavor was but it was off putting like after one bite was like ewww no idk what it was honestly read more

See all

We went here for a group dinner. I had the duck and it was outstanding. Not a ton more to say

Amazing dining experience! Careen was exceptional in creating a fun and interesting selection of food choices and paired them with exceptional wines! The owner and chef, Carrie Nahabedian, is incredible! A culinary talent we were grateful to experience on our Anniversary! We will be back! read more

See all

If you love French food, are feeling fancy, want to treat yourself, and spend some money, come here. Very chic and sexy little restaurant in the River North area. I'm from New Orleans, and wanted to put the French food in Chi to the test, and Brindille passed with flying colors. We started off with the quail appetizer and hand made noodles. I had seen escargot on other pictures, and they are a personal favorite of mine. They weren't included on the handmade noodle appetizer, but I asked, and they added them. Very tasty with bold flavors that really compliment each other and melt in your mouth. Me and bae had been drinking and eating all day, so for entrees we split the Dover Sole fish and a winter salad. Omg. So the piece of fish was $60. That's pricey, even for me, but it was so worth it. The fish and flavors just pop and melt in your mouth. The salad was a decent size with fresh crispy vegetables that complimented the fish really nicely. For dessert we had something chocolate, again very tasty. If you're starving and want a big hearty meal this probably isn't the best spot, portions aren't small, but they aren't huge and overly filling. I like to think that it's more of a quality than quantity meal. A lot of quality. Service was terrific, but for what you're spending it certainly should be. Highly recommend if you want tasty refined French food and to feel all fancy. Cocktails were good too! read more

Brindille - Escargot and quail (please excuse the emoji) I only snapped. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Flies under the radar. We have been here several times and really enjoyed it. On this last visit we finally realized that it's chef Carrie Nahabedian's restaurant. I feel dumb. She is Michelin starred at Naha Restaurant and a James Beard winner. I guess I'm the only one that didn't know Brindille was part of that family tree. From start to finish it was a wonderful experience. Front desk check in was professional and friendly. The two cocktails to start were fantastic. Our server Careen was an absolute pro! She paired wine with our courses expertly and entertained along the way. The food was delicious. The food is French. However, "French" restaurants in America usually consist of average food slathered in sauce to conceal the actual flavor. Not at Brindille. Everything was fresh and delicious. The sauces were perfectly complimentary to the main focus of each dish. I found myself sneaking bread to wipe the plate clean in order to get every last taste off the plate. It was a great Saturday night date experience. We each had two smaller appetizers each and a main entree. Regrettably we were too full for dessert. read more

See all

This was probably one of my favorite Restaurant Week visits ever. The restaurant was gorgeous, the staff was friendly, and our waitress was incredible and the food was absolutely impeccable. The restaurant only had the Restaurant Week menu available, which made us feel even more comfortable in a place of this caliber. Sometimes you go to a nice restaurant during this week and they make you feel horrible for ordering off that menu, but you can tell that they put all of their effort into this menu and service, and the quality showed. One of the best dinners I have ever had, and I would return any day of the week. read more

Fine French cuisine with an exquisite combination of flavors and impeccable service. Went here with some business colleagues for a celebratory meal and the restaurant certainly delivered. During the week the tasting menu is more of a chefs choice tailored to the tastes of people at the table. The chef really exceeded my expectations (even writhing my pregnancy diet constraints). The 7 courses ($150 per person) included: watercress soup, crab with grapefruit and cauliflower purée, black cod, lobster brindille, noodles with snails (nostalgic take on Japanese ramen noodles), foie gras and pineapple then a dessert selection that we shared including a chocolate espresso cake, cherry clafoutis and hazelnut meringue of sorts. Everything was very good - highlights for me were the lobster, noodles and foie gras. The server/sommelier was passionate about the cuisine and his descriptions of the wine pairings - and likely the only person to make you believe that your wine has just the right amount of sass to talk back to you after a long day. I would agree with another reviewer that the decor is a bit more suited to a business dinner than a romantic one - decorated in cool gray tones and masculine light fixtures. Not to say you won't also enjoy for a date night, but it does have a more modern masculine feel. It's a good place to dine alone if you're in town and just want a great expenses meal. read more

(After reaching out to the executive chef 72+ hours ago, and receiving no response, I end this experience here). After a ridiculous 3+ hour dinner, I returned home and gave myself til the next morning to approach the chef about the dinner experience I had at Brindille. I wouldn't be who I am without offering blatant honesty, so if you are thinking about dining at Brindille, please read this review it's entirety.  I must admit that even though there were some fabulous dishes we tried (foie gras, tartare, quail), our overall impression of Brindille was completely destroyed by the less-than-satisfactory service shown to us by the staff and, even more so shockingly, the executive chef's personal lack in follow-up with our table.  When I entered/exited the restaurant I was neither welcomed nor thanked for dining at Brindille. As I was taking a panoramic video near the entrance, the chef had walked right up to me (seemingly to say hello), but she did not. By the time I had stopped recording, she was out the door. I didn't think much of her not formally welcoming me (as the host neglected to) because I knew she would be stopping by our table at some point during our meal to say hello. Or so I thought.  In my prior emails to the chef and also during our personal phone call, I made it clear that I was inviting a group of food bloggers, food photographers, and Chicago influencers to join me for dinner. I also made a point to verify her attendance at the restaurant the night of our reservation so that we could all meet and briefly chat with her. I was puzzled when we received one comped lobster dish for a table of nine people. Thankful nonetheless, but still puzzled.  I was even more frustrated that - after her return to the restaurant - she spent at least 45 minutes in conversation with one small set of diners, and said absolutely nothing to a single one of my guests, or to me as the organizer of our dinner. We easily spent over $1000 on our meal that night. I've spent a fraction of what I personally paid at Brindille (at almost all of the other Michelin rated spots in the city), and had executive chefs stop by for a brief chat upon request. For her to actually be out in the dining room, fully cognizant of our presence, and still not come say hello, inquire about how things were going, ask for favorite dishes, the usual, was (simply put) disrespectful. Even if the 9 of us weren't offering Brindille complimentary press to our collective audiences (which is what we had planned to do), it was still frustrating to not see her interacting with any of the other diners except the one couple she sat with for that significant amount of time. If she was going to be in the dining room, she should've floated & checked in with every table. Also, there was no excuse for our meal to be 3+ hours. There was one other group, and two other tables of diners. If our table had not been present, the entire front half of the restaurant would've been empty. Granted, this was on a Tuesday, however, Chicago is a dine-out town and always full of tourists (especially in this area). From my perspective, they NEEDED our press - which they will not receive aside from this Yelp review. Finally, there was also a water debacle. We all were over Brindille when we were almost charged 9 $8 bottles of still water we knew nothing about. Thankfully the server did end up removing those charges. However, only AFTER one of us decided to truly dispute them. Methinks she would've offered to do this first - since a few of us sincerely expressed confusion and unsatisfaction with said charges. There was clearly a lack of clear communication by one of the runners. He asked me if I wanted still or sparkling water. I said still (being the first to arrive) and he proceeded to fill all the cups on the table with water (not asking each diner separately of their preference).  I did not know this was chargeable (which may have been my mistake), however, he did not make it clear. If it was chargeable, like a glass of wine or cocktail or soft drink, we should have been asked each and every time our glasses were emptied of water, if we wanted refills. We were not.  I think the most unfortunate part of all of this is that half of us were already frequent patrons of NAHA, fans of the chef-lady-boss, and were so excited for this dinner (me most). Yet, after last night, none of us have any motivation to return to Brindille or to NAHA once they relocate. As a fine dining enthusiast I can honestly say this was the least "fine" dining experience I have ever had; one I wish I could forget but cannot. We ordered 3/4ths of Brindille's overpriced menu, yet I only found 3 dishes (mentioned above) to be tasty. Take your coins to a Michelin starred restaurant. I daresay any one of them will give you the service and quality cuisine you deserve for this pricepoint. And bigger portion sizes. No one deserves impeccable foie gras at the expense of basic customer service. read more

It pains me to write such a long, mostly negative review for a restaurant that is usually considered with high regard. However, from reading the past few reviews, it seems that some of my issues with the restaurant have been others' experiences as well. Bummer - that almost makes it worse because it proves they weren't just having an off night. We had a group of 9, all fairly active members of the Chicago food community via blogging, Instagram, and events. My friend contacted Chef Carrie a few weeks out to make a reservation and inform her that we'd be coming in. She then personally called him to confirm and state her excitement. Great start. We all had high hopes and expectations, especially given some of us had dined at her other restaurant, Naha, previously. I'll start with the the food. The presentation of dishes was excellent, as you can see from the photos. The Dover Sole had great flavor with a crisp texture and the nice addition of the sunchokes. The beef tartare was light and airy with a hint of vinegar flavor. It came with two small toasts, which was definitely not enough for a tartare. The prime rib was cooked perfectly, but the last quarter of the cut was inedible due to large pieces of fat and tendon. Frankly, I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber would not serve a better cut of meat, especially for the price point. Skip the lobster - the broth itself was flavorful but the lobster was chewy and tough. The desserts seemed like an afterthought. The creme brulee sounded interesting in theory, but the mandarin pairing was actually a very strange choice. The chocolate & cherry clafoutis was pretty tasteless with barely any hints of cherry. Overall, I would say the food was good but nothing special. Some of the diners in our party forgot it was even supposed to be French because it felt very Americanized. Let's move onto service, which is where Brindille is truly lacking. The service for most of the evening had been just OK - our waitress was friendly but seemed very distraught by having a larger party, the food kept being put in front of the wrong people and she would have to move it over, even the bread service in the beginning was off, as they served us two plates of 4 rolls when there were 9 people at the table. Plus, our reservation was at 7 and we didn't leave until 10:30 because everything took so long, and the restaurant was not super busy. There were maybe 2-3 other tables. These were points off but forgivable things. Watergate 2018: This was the moment that really left a sour taste in my mouth and ruined the overall experience. When it came time for billing, SURPRISE! "The table went through 8 bottles of water, so that's $72, would you like me to split that evenly with 1 bottle per person?" Excuse me? Are you putting 24K gold in your water? Who asked for 8 bottles of gold water? A gallon of still water is $3 at Costco! I cannot stand restaurants that funnel money out of people. Apparently, they asked one person if they'd like still or sparkling, and he replied with still, not knowing that still was not tap water. Arguably, that was his own mistake, but restaurants should not be tricking people into paying for water. However, no one else at the table was asked what they wanted, and the server never put the bottle down on the table. They just kept filling people's glasses out of reusable glass bottles (similar to what you'd expect a nicer restaurant to pour tap water out of), though 2 of our friends at the end of the table never got any refills. Our waitress, who clearly saw our shock and confusion at this, kept repeating her question of how we'd like her to split the waters. There was no apology or addressing the issue of Watergate, and when one of the diners went up to her personally and said this was ridiculous, she said she'd take it off the bill. It was a strange interaction and not properly handled to say the least. Oh! And they took it upon themselves to take a 22% service charge. Finally... Chef Carrie. Any gestures a chef takes toward a group of people who are spending well over $1000 and plan to provide free press through photography/food writing are welcomed but never expected. She sent out one dish to the table, which was very nice and completely optional, but if you're going to do it, one small dish for 9 people is inadequate. Normally, if a chef sends out a dish to a table and personally calls a diner, he or she will come out and say hello/ask how everything was. I understand that she could have been busy in the kitchen, but how busy could she have been if she sat in the dining room with other diners for the better part of 2 hours? It was off-putting that she couldn't even be bothered to say hello. I left disappointed & angry that I had spent $140 on a mediocre glass of wine, an appetizer, an entree, and half a dessert when I could have spent a third of that at several other Chicago restaurants that would've provided a cohesively pleasant experience. read more

See all

Very positive review of this place - we hosted an executive event for the company here for many of our top clients. We booked the whole venue. Service was superior. People offering to take our coats as we walked in, offer us a cocktail or drinks, and more. The food was pretty good overall as well. Kicked off with oysters, went into greens/meats, and ended up delicious desserts. Man the dessert was awesome - macaroons, cookies, and more. Very impressed. The ambiance of this place is very romantic also. Great date spot. I'd definitely return here for a date, client dinner, or just to catch up with friends. read more

See all

Very delicious. My favorite were the oysters and the foie gras (actually my wife had foie gras but I have tasted a fair share of it). I had the lobster after that which was good but the shrimp which comes with the lobster was for my taste a little undercooked (though I like a lot of raw fish, for some reason I don't like shrimp sashimi). Cheese plate with calvados for dessert is the perfect finish. The servers are very friendly and polite. The decoration of the restaurant is nice and it feels comfortable and warm. I especially like the design of the bathroom downstairs. The atmosphere and feel is like in a Michelin starred restaurant. I think they deserve a star or two at some point. I will likely return when I am again in town. read more

See all

Had a great dinner at Brindille. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very quiet and romantic. The food was a great break from the standard high end steakhouses that are all over Chicago. Here you can have unique high quality French food. The service was very impressive, the wait staff cleared our table of crumbs several times, and even put down a new napkin across our table after dinner plates were removed to cover up small splashes and make the table appear fresh again. That was a wonderful extra touch that I have not got elsewhere. Drink menu was good, cocktails were fresh and well prepared. read more

See all

My husband and I had an enjoyable evening at this restaurant, but the food was very underwhelming. We came for restaurant week and tried several appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Nothing was inedible, but nothing was extraordinary or worth coming back for either. There are so many other places to get memorable French food in the city. read more