This is such a lovely little restaurant, and I do mean little. The space is small so I would recommend a reservation. Our first visit here was for Restaurant Week, but we have been back several times after that. The restaurant itself is absolutely adorable. Lots of two top tables as well as some four tops. The bar area is functional as it allows for seating to have drinks and to dine. Each time we have been there, the music has been off the charts. I was a little taken aback (in a good way though) when I heard Aretha Franklin. My mind was a little confused because I felt like I was in a small French restaurant in Paris and was expecting French Cafe Jazz/Chill music. But hearing the Queen of Soul changed the whole vibe for me. The menu is very eclectic and changes quite a bit. The one thing that has been consistently on the menu are the Pommes Dauphine (oyster mousse, pickled red onion, osetra caviar), which I adore. Another dish that was the Slagel Duck Breast à l'Orange (pistachio, baby carrots, marmalade demi-glace, wild herbs). This was also very good. The duck was prepared just right, with the meat tender and juicy, but the skin nice and crispy. The Duck Liver Mousse (beer jam, honey-roasted peanuts, mint) is also a favorite of mine. Every time we have dined here, the Wine Director, Terry McNeese, has taken care of us for wine and beverages as well as sometime speaking to us about the food specials. He was gracious and informative, and easy to talk to. It was not until our second visit that we discovered who he was after he gave us his card. I was inquiring about some of the music on that night and he mentioned that it was a Spotify playlist. He has created several playlist under "DM" specifically for the restaurant. He told us he was on Spotify and that we could find the music there. In addition to the music, he has a very nice curated wine list, by the glass and bottle. My favorite is Camille Braun Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé Alsace, France N.V. (Pinot Noir). What they do not have is cocktails, so come prepared to drink wine, beer/cider or non-alcoholic beverages. Terry made some recommendations for The Queen, who is a cider lover. She was very happy with the selections and he actually made a recommendation of one for her to try (on the house). If I had to say I had a complaint, it would be that Dear Margaret turns out some great dishes, but because they change the menu often, don't get attached like I do because your feelings will be hurt when it is no longer available. But on the plus side I would say you get to experience something new and exciting on your next visit. There is plenty of street parking as they are located on Lincoln Ave, so it is easy to go there and not fight for a spot or use Spot Hero. So if you are looking for a quick European getaway that doesn't jet lag, get thee to Dear Margaret très vite. read more

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Definitely the best French restaurant I have ever tried. Dishes were creative and delicious, and service was of high standard. I ordered Asparagus Mi-Cuit, Fried Rabbit Terrine and side of 9-grain toast. The asparagus was served chilled (room temp.), with edible petals, shaved egg yolk, fish roes and vinaigrette. The asparagus was fresh and crispy, with a light hint of sweetness. The egg yolk was cured with sugar and salt in fridge and added some saltiness. The fish roes was "rubbery" and tasted creamy, complementing the texture and flavor of asparagus. Moreover, these ingredients paired well with one another. The main dish, the fried rabbit terrine was also great. Pulled rabbit leg meats and rabbit gelatin were coated with flour and deep fried. Surprisingly, the fried stuff was not heavy or greasy at all. The meat was tender, the gelatin added some creaminess and richness to it. The dish was served with lentils and horseradish cream. Not sure why they used lentil as side. Perhaps the sprouted lentil and beets used by Cira would be better. Still, it was a good dish. For the bread, I originally wanted to try their baguette, but they only serve baguette from Thursday to Sunday, so I tried the 9-grain toast instead. It was dense, moist and earthy. Each small slice was about 22.5g! I hope I can try their baguette next time I visit Chicago! read more

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Went during restaurant week for the first time and was so happy I did! It's a quaint, homey-feel. Small interior but very cozy. Terry was our server and he was incredible! Super friendly and knowledgable on the menu. He gave us great suggestions and really elevated our experience. We started with a warm baguette and butter which was so lovely. I also loved the frites and beets for apps. The pork collar and sturgeon for mains were great. And the desserts were the star of the show. The apple cider creme brulee was one of the best things I've ever eaten. I could've finished at least 5 in that one sitting. I'm still thinking about it! The cheesecake was also phenomenal. All in all, a very solid meal all the way through. I would definitely return. read more

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Came right at open on a Saturday during restaurant week because I wasn't able to snag a reservation. Thankfully they were able to accommodate us. They weren't able to take another walk-in about 30 min later due to reservations. It's a small, cozy restaurant with limited seating. We had the restaurant week menu which included full sizes of their entrees. Both the wild rice and duck leg were amazing. The meat was tender and flavorful. Highly recommend the cheesecake made from goat cheese. You can tell it's goat cheese, but it wasn't overwhelming. It had just a subtle hint. The apple cider crème brûlée was memorable as well. I was impressed with their service staff. Very efficient, quick, and personable. The entire dinner experience was wonderful. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Back for the first time since 2021 over the weekend and it was a delight! Dear Margaret continues to be exceptionally homey and cozy. After spending a week in Montreal earlier this winter this experience offered a nostalgic retreat. We went to a play at the nearby Theatre Wit and then enjoyed a perfect dinner. We picked some cheese and charcuterie selections to enjoy, followed by a beautiful wild rice dish that was packed with flavor, pork collar, and a ribeye. It was my boyfriend's birthday dinner so we ended with the most flavorful creme brulee I've ever had! I'm gluten free and this restaurant can accommodate beautifully. The gf crackers they make in house that go with the cheese and charcuterie boards are a great surprise. Our server Terry was lovely as well. Perfect level of attention and checking in, friendly, super informative. I'll continue to return and enjoy the dynamic menu at Dear Margaret! read more

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So so so lovely. The space is warm and comfortable and welcoming as was the staff when we arrived. Volume was perfect for background music and conversation at the table. We had been meaning to try it and Restaurant Week was a good excuse. Across the board, service was flawless. Well paced, attentive, but not intrusive and so friendly. The food is good to great with the baguette (not always available), smelt and cheesecake being our favorites. Wine was very reasonably priced and a very good, but tight list. It's what you when dining out - good food, great service and to leave feeling like it was an evening well spent. We will definitely be back and the easy, plentiful street parking was just a bonus. read more

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I took my niece to Dear Margaret for her birthday about a month ago. We chose it because of the variety of creative vegetable based dishes, as my niece is a vegetarian and I am always happy to eat a good veggie dish. We were just blown away with the meal. We had the roasted squash, the cabbage crepe, and a sweet potato dish to start the meal, along with a delicious split of champagne. My niece had already had squash twice that week but this squash dish blew every other squash dish anywhere out of the water. Every bite tasted like a harvest festival in your mouth. The cabbage crepe was extraordinary too - I took a bite not remembering what all we had ordered and it's absolutely the best preparation of cabbage I've ever had. The Vadouvan sweet potato was surprisingly light and super fresh tasting - definitely a unique and delicious preparation. Our server was the best, he even joined my niece in ribbing me a bit for still wearing skinny jeans. For our entrees, she had the gnocchi and I had the chefs special, which was a rabbit liver tart. I keep describing it as the most savory thing I've ever eaten. It was absolutely delicious. The gnocchi was amazing too, it is a big square, not what you typically think of for gnocchi, with chestnuts and sage, possibly the perfect fall pasta dish. We ended the meal with the apple cider Creme brûlée, on the house for her birthday. Another perfectly fall preparation of a delicious dish. The whole meal felt like stepping into a European cafe where every dish has been created just for you at that moment in time. The lighting was low, but not too dim - and the place is small, but the tables are not cramped together. The ambience is perfect for any intimate meal, whether it's romantic or nostalgic. The service was perfect - comfortably chatty but not distractingly so. Truly one of the best meals of the year. I had been dying to go since they opened but my friends had been slightly less motivated to go because of the lack of a cocktail program. After hearing me talk about it they are all excited to try it out though! read more

Super cute spot! Our waitress was incredibly nice and very knowledgeable about the menu items. She answered all of our questions thoroughly. What we ordered: Pommes Dauphine: Honestly the best bite ever. The bar was set high when the first thing we had was this. I was so tempted to order them again. Grilled Scallops: Great and standard. Tomatoes: I'm trying to understand how tomatoes can taste this good. Seriously, one of the better dishes that we ordered! Glazed Blue Ridge Rabbit Quarter: Very tasty. Loved everything that came with this dish. Aged Duck Breast: Yummy and flavorful The kitchen gave us a complimentary dessert for my birthday. This is a very nice little spot; I will be coming back! read more

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Cute little place off Lincoln in Lakeview. We had amazing service with great wine recommendations. The food was all very fresh and came out quickly in different courses. read more

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Ugh, a place I wanted to love so much more than I actually did! Everything from the concept (a love letter to the chef's grandmother named Margaret) to the absolutely fantastic service and cozy atmosphere was so lovely. But the food did not blow us out of the water as we were hoping it would. We got the pommes dauphine and the fried smelts (staples on their rotating menu, so we felt a bit obligated to order these), chilled scallops, then the lamb and the squab (pigeon!). Pommes dauphine (probably our best bites of the night) and scallops were definitely the highlight - the most complex and flavorful. The rest were just ok, not bad but not something we would return for. Rating high for the IMPECCABLE service though, our waitress was absolutely lovely and she expertly guided us through the wine pairings. She made the night! read more

What a charming and pleasant experience it was dining at Dear Margaret. We shared all our dishes and wine to help really get a taste of what is possible. We started with a wonderful white wine. A beautiful way to start the night. Then we shared a pair of Pommes Dauphine. Delightfully light, sweet and fragrant. Then we had Domaine Rolet, Fried Smelts, Vaudavon Sweet Potato, and Roasted Cabbage Crêpe. All seasoned perfectly and delicious. Then we shared the main proteins; a delicious Aged Duck Breast (this was the best duck I have ever eaten!) and the 21-Day Dry-Aged CDK Bavette Steak. The steak was great, but the duck won the day. Of course we had to have the Tallow Fries. We also shared the Roasted Squash, a sweet and savory delicacy. And we wrapped up the night with the Apple Cider Crème Brûlée. It was a wonderful gastronomic adventure. Cheers! read more

A stellar experience from start to finish. The chef Ryan is so talented. Our server Shannon was very attentive and made wonderful suggestions. Some of my favorite items on the menu were: Pommes Dauphine Pommes Frites Vadouvan Sweet Potato Roman Semolina Gnocchi Steak Charcuterie plate DO NOT SKIP OUT ON DESSERT!!! Loved the Parsnip cake & apple cranberry dumpling. I'm a pretty picky eater, I don't gravitate toward French food, but the server and staff did a great job walking me through the menu and helping us pick items that they thought we would like. I cannot wait to go back! Very cozy and warm ambiance but with exquisite food. I cannot wait to go back! They also make their own butter & bread (bread is made daily!) read more

Dear Margaret - Charcuterie board, duck liver mousse, homemade baguette & homemade butter. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely outstanding experience celebrating our anniversary tonight. Such a cute and homey place serving French Canadian cuisine. Wonderful service, amazing food, and just all around a wholesome experience. Make sure to make a reservation in advanced this place packs up fast! We ordered the baguette with Stilton cheese, green beans, fried sweetbreads, pheasant, and panna cotta. Everything blew my mind and was too notch quality. If you've never had fried sweetbreads I highly recommend that you try it here. Great quality food and ingredients all around but be aware that portions are smaller. Would recommend for the restaurant to either increase portion sizes or decrease price point if possible for future. Either way, still a place that all should check out. read more

Dear Margaret - Stilton cheese and baguette - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is an interesting restaurant because they are doing something a bit different, with a French Canadian twist. It has received many accolades since opening, and while I wouldn't say it is the most memorable restaurant I've visited lately, it is certainly worth trying. We started with a charcuterie plate, and then worked our way to their largest plate, a rib eye steak It was a truly wonderful piece of meat. Perhaps the standout item was the carrot cake, which incorporated the smokey flavor of Lapsang Souchong Tea. Service was impeccable. To me, the wine list was a bit iffy, both by the bottle and the glass, with many non-mainstream selections, but nothing that really grabbed me, so we chose to take a high end Burgundy and pay the $40 corkage. The amaro selection, on the other hand, is superb. There were clearly many regular customer when we visited, and that says a lot. read more

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This place rocks! We sat at the bar on a Saturday night and had great wine and food. The team is awesome and gave excellent service. Great vibe, too! We'll definitely be back. read more

Jill was fantastic and the team made us feel at home. Great service and unique dining opportunities await at Dear Margaret. We'll be back. Cheers. read more

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I have wanted to come here for so long, and my experience far exceeded my expectations, which were super high. How often does that happen?! The ambiance at Dear Margaret is pretty low-key, but lovely. Our server, Rachel, was outstanding. When we arrived, she told us that everything on the menu was great, which is what servers always say, but in this case she was totally right! We had one of the best dining experiences we have had in quite some time. For starters, we had a baguette with butter, the Pommes Dauphine, and the Quebec Foie Gras Galette. The baguette was good, the Pommes Dauphine was outstanding, but the Quebec Foie Gras Galette was probably the best foie gras dish I have had in almost a decade, outside of France. That is high praise. For entrees, we shared the Pork Schnitzel and the Duck Bolognese, and were completely blown away by both. The breading and seasoning on the schnitzel was some of the best I have ever had, EVER. The bolognese sauce and the duck itself were also perfection. So good, so good!!! We were also very impressed with the thoughtful wine list and had two bottles that were fantastic and offered at an excellent value. My husband also had an after-dinner drink that he very much enjoyed. Somehow we managed to eat half of the slice of carrot cake we ordered for dessert, which was incredible: that cream cheese frosting is out of this world. Overall, the value for what we ordered and experienced was great. Another shout-out to Rachel who took great care of us all night and was just wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about Dear Margaret and cannot wait to come back. read more

Dear Margaret - Pommes Dauphine - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was so excited to try this place because they are on all the restaurant lists and I wanted to check it out. My husband and I choose this as one of our date nights we get to treat ourselves to when my parents are in town and can watch our kid. The atmosphere was nice -- definitely upscale with good service. The food was underwhelming and pricey. Nothing was bad but it was overrated and not worth the cost. We ordered more or less based on the server's recommendations. We did like the pommes dauphine and cheese board to start. But from there it was increasingly disappointing. The salad was not good, the sunchokes were good, and the rabbit was dry. I don't think they used enough sauce. I was still hungry after all that! We were considering getting dessert but decided that based on the portions and our experiences with the rest of the food we were better off getting ice cream down the street. Everything with 2 glasses of wine and tip came to around $160. I wanted to like this place so much because of the good vibes, concept, and nice servers but ultimately I would only come back if someone was having a birthday here or something. read more

Dear Margaret - Rabbit (left) was disappointing -- too dry, not enough sauce. Sunchokes (right) was better. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had an awesome experience when we came here for dinner the other day. We had a reservation on Saturday and it has always been on my list of places to try. It totally did not disappoint. Our server was really friendly and gave us a lot of good suggestions when we were deciding on what to order. To start we had to get the pommes dauphines. It was a great bite and full of flavor. We got the charcuterie with duck liver mousse and brillante by donge cheese and wild rice for appetizers. The wild rice was light with a touch of sourness to it. I thought it was good but nothing too surprising. The mousse and cheese was so rich and so good. The cheese and honey went so well together. We got the dry aged steak and duck leg which both were really good. The sauce on the steak was very creamy and had a strong truffle flavor. The duck was tender and falls off bone. For dessert we got the apple cider creme brûlée, which finished the meal off really well. We enjoyed the whole dinner and would totally come back again. read more

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The food was good. Service was also good. My expectations were met ch more than what we had. I'm not sure if it was an off night, or I've just had some excellent food all over Chicago and this didn't quite make the mark... read more

Reservations seemed like they were hard to get because I found this on my calendar and no one remembered booking this. They are space efficient and it's on the colder side but I heard them say it'll warm up once the space starts filling up with people. There are heaters and hooks on the wall for jackets. They don't seem very kind to walk-ins and the tone changed when they realized we had a reservation but it's small and I can imagine it being embarrassing when all the patrons can see and hear. Pomme Dauphines were great. It's fried potato layer covering an oyster mousse with caviar on top. Very subtle flavors. The haus cheddar was great. No weird aftertaste that you sometimes get with sharper cheeses. Would swap out the pork loin next time because the outer layer was a little tough and it's too fatty for me, but just a personal preference. Baguette was great besides the very burnt tips. The fries are crispy and almost perfect but you get patches where it's too salty, especially closer to the bottom. Schnitzel was massive (but it's considered a big plate) and even throughout with a medium density for breading. Very good schnitzel. Didn't like the sauce on top though but the garlic aioli that came with the fries was a good substitute. Scallops were fine. Lots of sauce but kind of not memorable besides the granola crunches and raisin. Probably should've gone for their fish and chips. Dessert was fine. They recommended the cheesecake and then crème brûlée was second so we ordered both. Cheesecake felt a little too sweet for me but we really didn't like the granola toppings and scrapped it off before eating. The crème brûlée was really burnt on the sugar layer so I just dug around under. Chicago restaurants don't have the best desserts for some reason so I'd probably just go for a specialty dessert place afterwards. read more

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First trip to Dear Margaret and we regret to have waited so long. We were seated at the bar on a Friday evening at 6pm and the energy/sound level of the restaurant was perfect. Terry (and all staff) were exceptional, he lead us through the menu in a way that made us want to order everything. We started with the duck liver mousse and baguette, the baguette came out warm, the butter was softened to make a perfect combo. The saskatoon berries created a perfect balance of sweetness. We then advanced to the baked sheep's milk feta; and to our surprise it was even better than the first dish! The cherry tomatoes were mmmmm. We shared the duck breast and pomme frites as our main. The duck breast preparation was comparative to my favorite whole roasted duck dish at Roister; it may have even exceeded. You can't miss the duck. The couple next to us was served first, and they went on and on about the frites which we expected to be oversold - but wow - the crispiness and flavor. Overall - I would say run don't walk to Dear Margaret. Charming, exceptional service, unique menu which is prepared at Next-level quality. A great value and experience. Thanks Terry and the entire staff for such an exceptional date night experience. read more

What an amazing dining experience. We will definitely be back! The rum raisin cake and charcuterie plate were our favorites! read more

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Came in for dinner last night and had an exceptional meal. My wife and I are continuing to work through the Bib Gourmand restaurants we had not previously tried (about 15 in total), and Dear Margaret checked a lot of boxes. First, the price point for Bib Gourmand worked out; we were able to get an entree, a side or dessert, and a glass of wine for just about $50 per person before tax and tip. Second, the space: intimate. It's a little tight in here, but it wasn't too loud and tables seemed to flip quickly. I was bumped a few times by servers moving around the space (we were seated smack dab in the middle of the restaurant), but nothing game-breaking. Just know that you are entering a space that feels more like eating at someone's house (a little like eating at a Tavola in West Town) than eating at a restaurant. Third, the food. Across the board, loved the flavors. We tried the beets, the bass, the frites, and a baby charcuterie board of duck liver mousse and the "Brillante by Donge" triple-cream cheese with a baguette and the house butter. We added the chocolate pot de creme for dessert, and that was also pretty good (although the chunky crumble that came on top of this was a little unwieldy, TBH). Service was great, and the general vibe felt right. This spot is a bit far from my home so I don't expect to come here regularly...but as a one-off meal, I thought this place was great. read more

went back here recently on a whim after many years, bumping this up to full five stars given the recent experience + food. continues to be such a lovely local spot with thoughtful service and recommendations from our waiter. the recent winter '25 menu was delicious. full marks! read more

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I would say this place is overrated. The service was very good, but the food wasn't great. I thought the flavors were very bland, but maybe I just don't enjoy French/Canadian cuisine. The pricing is a little ridiculous for what you receive. The ambiance was nothing special and they packed in a lot of tables for the size of the establishment. read more

Dear Margaret - Rigatoni, California Sturgeon, Smoked Duck Leg - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Six stars. I said what I said. Trying to think of something not to like about Dear Margaret...and I cannot. Don't let the relaxed bistro vibe fool you. This is fine dining. Just sit back and order all three courses of a creative and taste bud-tastic meal. And then pay what is required. You will not be disappointed. The chef does the magic without being particularly beholden to any particular culinary tradition. But it all works, just the same. Even better, in fact, than if it was contorting itself in a performative bow towards anything in particular. It just is, and it is glorious. The wine list, the foods, the desserts, the cheeses, the service. All of it. read more

Stepping into the restaurant you are transported to your French Canadian auntie's home. The simple decor, dining ware, and aesthetic truly make it feel like you have been transported back to a kitchen in Louis St. Laurent's Quebec. The service was very friendly and helped guide us through the menu with recommendations. We ordered the pomme frites, country pate, and slow roasted duck leg. The charcuterie came with a delicious house made butter. The duck was well seasoned and flavorful. The restaurant helped us pick a delicious Pinot noir that worked perfectly with the dish The only drawbacks I found is the price point felt a little high but given the quality meal it certainly can be justifiably. I also wish they invested in sound dampening solutions as it got a little loud as the restaurant filled up. read more

We ate there about a month ago and it's taken me this long to finally decide to write this, but I think this needs to be called to their attention. We were a party of four with a 6:30 pm reservation. They kindly sat my husband and I about 15-minutes early, before the other couple arrived. We had a lovely dinner--the food was great and, with the exception of about a twenty-minute period after the bottle of wine had been finished and we went dry, the service was good. And here is my issue with Dear Margaret: It was 8:35 pm. The bill had been paid and after dinner drinks had been finished, when our waiter, Chad, leaned into the table to tell us, "There's a party of four that needs this table at 8:45." It's the most rude thing I've ever been told at a restaurant. We were finished. We were in the process of leaving. It was unnecessary and boorish. Or is this how they treat patrons in French Canadian restaurants? We will not be returning. read more

I am a little mixed about what rating to give this place. While I was happy with my selection, the other food was extremely odd and extremely expensive. Still, I will bump it up to four as the service and food was generally good, but I probably won't be back. I will start by saying that the service was outstanding. Our server knew her menu and was incredibly flexible with us even though we had some late arrivals and a toddler. We sat outside on a perfect evening. The wine and beer menu was actually probably the highlight for me. Excellent selections and a wide variety. They were a little on the pricier side, but I've seen worse. We started with a charcuterie plate with two cheeses and two meats. While these were excellent, $62 was a bit much. My mom made charcuteries for a living at some point so I know there's some premium for it, but the cheeses and meats especially were not up to their premium pricing. I did like the duck liver mousse. We ended up sharing the main courses, but my steak and frites was the highlight of the table. Something nice and simple. The rest of the stuff was only ok and varied greatly in portions. The quail was a tiny mess that had a funky taste actually. We got one of the fish which was good, but I'm not a fish person. We also got these dumplings which weren't really dumplings, but these long pasta things which looked too much like the beans. I had a friend who got all beans and no dumpling. I also thought the beet broth was too vinegary. I ended the dinner with a chocolate bar thing which I thought was too dry. In all, the food was good, but I don't think I'd come back. I'm pretty adventurous, but there's only one main dish I'd get again. They change their menu constantly so who knows what you're going to get. Great for a unique date spot, but too weird and expensive. read more

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They change the menu often. I would post some food pictures but I don't believe they have those anymore. Maybe with the exception of the duck liver mousse charcuterie with house cultured butter. That one stays on the menu. That one is worth getting if you like pate. House cultured butter was soft not hard like it came from the fridge. Butter was very smooth. No worries. We tried a variety of small plates (3), entrees (2), and desserts (2). Each item was tasty and mouth watering. Nothing that I regret getting. Service was wonderful, they made everything was refilled and took away empty plates. Price point was reasonable for the quality of food. It is a smaller restaurant so seating can be limited. It's a more intimate setting but it's also good for a group of like 3 or 4. read more

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We came here for dinner to check out this highly rated restaurant. Our waitress recommended 2 small and 2 large dishes total for 2 people so we opted for fried smelts, gnocchi, chefs special lamb, and parsnip ravioli. We were told the dishes get larger as you go down the menu. Fried smelts ($14): I liked some of the fried vegetables but found the smelt to be too fishy for my liking so I only had a few pieces of those Gnocchi ($18): this was probably the best dish of the night. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy. The carrots and nuts added nice textures. It was just a small portion for the price Pinn-oak farms lamb (chefs special) ($23): the lamb was crispy on the outside and a nice texture overall. The cut was a bit fatty but if you don't mind it's a nice dish Parsnip ravioli ($30): the presentation of this dish was beautiful and it had a lot of potential with the different textures of the soft ravioli and crunchy pistachio however it was a bit bland in flavor overall for me personally Chocolate pot de creme ($14): really good! It was delicious and we both really enjoyed it! My husband also got the Pinot noir from Scherrer winery in Sonoma ($16) which was really good! Overall I liked Dear Margaret but took off 2 stars for the following reasons: 1. The flavors were a bit bland for me. I'm sure others may enjoy more (based on the high reviews) but I personally didn't find the flavors that exciting and 2. The portions were a bit small for some of the dishes given the price point. Otherwise this was a cute restaurant and made for a nice evening out. read more

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Wow . What an amazing place. Just an adorable hidden gem. The food was just incredible and the staff were knowledgeable and very personable. We have been looking for a place to call our local. This is it! read more

I made reservations at the bar for dinner. There are six bar spots. I immediately liked the fact that the tables were well spaced. We ordered the friend smelt and asparagus appetizer s and shared the parsnips, main entree. The smelt were tiny, more like friend Minnows and had roasted carrot slices mixed in. They were good but we bith felt too salty. The asparagus was fresh and well prepared. It is a cold dish . Again we felt it was too salty. Our entree the Parsnips was excellent. A really nice combo of tastes and textures. The service was great. Our server suggested that we order a second entree. She was right. I f you are hungry sharing two entrees and a small or two would have been more satisfying. read more

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We went here to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived about 15 mins early, were seated immediately, and were promptly congratulated and welcomed with complementary bubblies! As soon as we were seated, my husband commented on how cozy the ambiance of the restaurant is - nothing pretentious, just people having a good time on a Friday night. Our server, Chad, was an amazing human being - super attentive and funny. He told us that the menu changes often, and he was super helpful in picking our food! The food itself was out of this world! We started with pomme dauphine, followed by pommes frites, duck leg, and lamb. All of them were amazing: The duck was so crispy on the outside, and the lamb was so tasty - but dare I say that the pommes frites were the best fries I've ever had in my life. The wines were also great - I particularly loved my Riesling from Seneca Lake NY that has that nice smell of frangipani! We closed with butter tart which also was good - but Chad made it even more special by giving us complementary ports to go with the dessert! 7 stars out of 5! Will certainly recommend this place to everyone! read more

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What a special meal. Went as a last minute birthday meal and were totally blown away. French Canadian comfort food that's elevated and perfectly executed. We started with the duck liver mousse with the bleu cheese and a Camembert-esque cheese from the charcuterie section. Mousse was one of the best I've had, super smooth and not too irony. Then we got the Pommes Dauphine, escargot, heirloom tomatoes, and then the ribeye and pomme frites. Every bite was delicious with no disappointments. Our server Chad was an absolute delight. Great wines by the glass as well. Thank you DM! read more

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Had a lovely solo dinner and enjoyed every moment. Their freshly baked baguette with house made butter was so comforting. The squab was perfectly cooked and flavorful. Really enjoyed the wines. Wonderful service! Very cute, small restaurant. I liked their music selection too read more

Oh my god I wish I had gone here sooner! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday last night and I've been raving about it to my friends all morning. It's cozy and cute and definitely has high quality food but doesn't feel snobbish like some other place nice restaurants I've been to. Everyone who works there is very friendly and welcoming. The food was incredible. I had a glass of red wine and my boyfriend doesn't drink but they had amazing non alcoholic options. Both were great. We got a charcuterie board and squash as our small plates and the gnocchi & duck for our mains. It was truly the most amazing dinner I've had in Chicago in years. I enjoyed every bite of it. Everything was delicious, I had a hard time choosing what was my favorite ! It was all so unique and cooked to perfection. I have a feeling this is a place where anything you order is amazing-we will definitely be coming back here whenever we can. They also gave us a complimentary crème brûlée for my birthday and it was so so good. I am not a sweets person but it was heavenly. Please go here, this is currently my favorite restaurant in Chicago. It is a truly special place ! read more

Maybe I'm not a huge fan of Canadian-French cuisine, but it was pretty meh. Food was good but nothing too outstanding. It was also a little on the pricier side as well. The scallops were a little too over cooked and dry, so I didn't enjoy them as much as I thought it would. Pomme Frites we're nice and crispy. Delicious. Heirloom tomatoes were nice and plump! Fried sweetbreads were just ok. It kind of tasted like a popcorn chicken, but softer. We also got a little charcuterie board and I didn't like how they charged us for butter and bread. The baguette was $1 more and tasted worse than the one that came with the plate. The cavatelli was actually refreshing! It's not a saucy pasta, so if you're into that, skip this one. Overall, not entirely impressed read more

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Experience was IMMACULATE. Service was fantastic and the food was just as good as it looks. They are BYO for the time being. Recommend getting there right at 5 if you do not have reservations. Food: started with the house-smoked trout, afterglow (goat cheese), and baguette. Moved to the pomme frites. Got the truffle agnolotti and aged duck breast for appetizers. Finished with the Nanaimo bars for dessert. Show stoppers: pomme frites - will never go back to any other type of fry. They have this crunch to them and it does not taste mushy or dense. They achieve this texture by using this potato hybrid - it is BOMB. The duck breast - the crispy skin reminds me of Peking Duck. The meat was a tad tough, but it can attribute to not cutting the portions smaller. The agnolotti had a GENEROUS amount of truffles (drooool). Unassuming and locally sourced ingredients. Left satiated and can find ourselves coming back to try more. 10000000/10 and you need to try this place!!! read more

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