New Restaurant Alert!!!
As we await the grand opening of City Food Hall (formally Hall on the Yard) in Ivanhoe Village, we are pleased to welcome one of many great eateries/restaurants in this reimagined food hall: Chez les Copains!! It is a French cuisine based restaurant that will also be the only full service restaurant at City Food Hall. It is located on the second floor of City Food Hall. It has the cutest French inspired decor with great views of The Yard. A perfect date night spot with not only a fine dining experience should you choose to go with the chef-curated menu but they also offer an affordable menu with a la Carte options if you rather just have a few items versus a fully curated coursed meal. Either way, you get the best of both worlds without having to break the bank.
The staff is inviting and friendly. Our waiter, when I went a couple weekends ago with some friends for their soft opening, was super knowledgeable and very attentive. While they don't quite yet have their liquor license - which I am sure will change in the coming months - you are allowed to bring wine of your choice that will be chilled upon request and poured by your waiter. There is no corking fee - which is great. Some places do charge that, so, fret not in that department. Please do note, that gratuity is automatically included in your bill. Nonetheless, if you rather not bring a wine of your choice, then they have a wonderfully curated alcohol free cocktail menu alongside other beverages.
As for the food itself, it was all very delish! I am not a big French cuisine girly - as my impressions with French cuisine the one time I visited Paris was bland to say the very least. So, I was looking forward to changing that viewpoint and enjoying French food. While this restaurant is French inspired, their dishes infuse other flavor profiles which I believe helped shift my viewpoints. To start, the Crab Croquette was to DIE FOR!! I wish it was plated with two or three croquettes but alas you get one. Between the croquette itself, the sauce, and the citrus finish, I was literally in heaven with one bite!! I'd go back alone just for those!! For my entree, I had the Spinach Bucatini Pasta. It was quite tasty but I must add, the day after (because I had leftovers), it was even more delicious. As a leftover girly, it's a true testament when a dish makes it the next day and it still tastes good!! So, good on the cooks!! They really put their hands to work on that pasta. Also, if you are not a meat eater, this selection is a great choice. It's a solid amount of food too lfor a great price point. Paired all this with a glass Rosé (because I love Rosé wine and not because I was trying to curate my wine pairings to the dishes offered). Anyways, I enjoyed both my selections.
I'd totally go back and when I do, I plan to try the steak as my friends said the steak was CHEF'S KISS!! So, I'm looking forward to that!
If you have not been to this cute restaurant, go and treat yourself!! Whether for a date night, a girl's night or just a solo dinner date, Chez les Copains is a must. Looking forward to their growth and looking forward to the eventual opening of City Food Hall!! read more