What a remarkable restaurant and comfortable setting, just to watch the people go by on Wells in Old Town. The food is unique and stunning. Brooklyn was a server and steered us to the highlights. The bread didn't just come with butter but a baguette with salted French butter, fennel pollen, and radishes. How's that for a combination! We started with the Arpege egg is a must. It's like eating flavored air. Our group of 4 worked our way thru the menu. The escargot was perfect and the Foie Gras special melted in my mouth. We needed more baguettes to soak up the vermouth fennel cream broth in the mussels. I'm not a fan of duck breast but they sliced it up for easier eating and it was fine for me. The prime strip was perfectly cooked and sliced for us. The frites had everyone grabbing for them. The Gnocchi Parisian was light as a pillow with lemon black truffle cream, herbs and crispy garlic, and Bourbon Barrel Smoked Trout Roe. Wow! The surprise of the meal was the side dish of a Parsnip Rose, shaped like a rose. It had vanouvan curry, which I have no idea what it is, preserved gooseberries and whipped parsnip cream. Quite good! We finished with a delicious crème brûlée and the Opera cake which disappeared quickly! I knew this would be a special meal so I brought some of my appropriate French wines and their corkage fee is $45. There is also a parking lot across the street. read more

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This is a great addition to Old Town! Very chic and unpretentious place but delivers big in service and food. The place is smallish but spaced out perfectly. Good for date nights or just a get together with friends. The tables are arranged so you have enough privacy but not isolated. The service is excellent. Our server really added to the positive experience! She was very knowledgeable of the menu and provided sensible recommendations. Now the food. The Ouef Arpége is beautifully presented, fun to eat and absolutely delicious! We also ordered the Lyonnaise which was also excellent. We skipped the foie gras because I have some ethical objections to it but our server told us that it is a whopping 1/4 pound!!! The gnocchi was also very good but very rich - maybe order it with some toast or something to break it up a little bit. Then comes the duck a l'orange - really nicely composed dish and enough to share if you ordered other dishes. And then we finally finished with crème brûlée which came in two different flavors in two separate jars. This is definitely going to make it to my regular rotation. Highly recommended! read more

My family and I had an amazing experience from start to finish. The food was out of this world and the service was second to none. Very warm, inviting, and accommodating. Had a reservation on a Friday but, due to weather, my family wasn't able to make it in on time for it. The team at the restaurant was so understanding and, by a stroke of luck, we were able to get a table the next day. So incredibly thankful we did because we ate the most incredible dinner. Fois gras special was cooked perfectly. Duck was the first time my 15 year old nephew had it and he's a fan! (Very picky eater) Sauce for the escargot was so yummy, we used the bread to scoop up every last bit. If you're looking for a wonderful French dining experience, I would highly recommend Gavroche! read more

I went here for my partner's birthday, our server was amazing and so sweet. However, the food was a little underwhelming. Initially we wanted to try the ribeye steak but unfortunately they were sold out for the day. We went with the strip with a surf and turf twist. The flavors were there, most importantly the wagyu sauce reduction - that made the experience in my opinion. Now for the not so great stuff, I would skip the leeks next time and maybe the bread and butter appetizer- it was beautifully done but it lacked flavor for both dishes. The Resturant is beautiful with a great intimate atmosphere, if you want to explore with new cuisine in a dark lit setting - this is for you! read more

Gavroche - Espresso martini - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stumbled in here when looking for a place to eat. The interior is unique and the staff was very friendly. We tried: - Crispy DLT - Fried Chicken Clafoutis Each dish was flavorful and the chicken was incredibly crispy. The chicken was pretty large and definitely fed two, overall it is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Amazing service and food. Contemporary French bistro at its finest. Highly recommended and can't wait to return.

Restaurant Gavroche is very good. Everything about the evening felt thoughtful and polished. We started with several small plates: the oeuf arpège with caviar, beef tartare, escargots, and mussels frites. Every dish was excellent. The tartare was beautifully balanced and fresh, and the escargots had that rich buttery flavor you hope for in classic French cooking. We also had a foie gras special that was absolutely outstanding. For mains we had the steak frites, which was good but a little over cooked but still had great flavor. The only dish that didn't quite reach the same level as everything else was the Joyce Farms poussin. It was fine, just a bit ordinary compared to how good the rest of the meal was. Dessert completely brought things back to another level. The butter cake was incredible. Many places serve something called butter cake, but this was the real thing. Rich, delicate, melt in your mouth, and perfectly sweet without being too sickening sweet. We also had the chocolate mousse, and all four of us agreed it was one of the best we've ever had. You expect chocolate mousse to be good, but this one was exceptional. The cocktails and drinks were excellent, and the service was spot on all night. The server was kind enough to laugh as I sang some of my favorite Les Misérables tunes while I ordering the Jean ValJean cocktail. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. It is a smaller restaurant with around 30 to 32 seats, which makes it feel warm and personal rather than crowded. The smell alone in there makes your mouth water. Our friends made the reservation and mentioned they had to call because Gavroche is not on the reservation apps. Run by people who know what they are doing. The owner is a veteran of many Chicago restaurants and it shows. The chef and pastry chef both clearly bring experience. All four of us loved the evening. We will absolutely be back. read more

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Incredible French food with great service and a very cool small bistro vibe to it. I've never actually had foie gras before so getting the foie gras served three ways was a highlight (seared was best imo). The duck lived up to my high expectations with a criminally underrated endive and the steak frites exceeded it with great mignonette and béarnaise sauce. Fries were pretty basic but were still good and had me getting as much of the sauce as I could with them. They were extremely nice, talking through the entire menu and answering questions and they even gave us mousse for our anniversary which was very very good but we also ordered the creme brûlée duet which was incredible and a great way to end the night. Big fan and will be back. read more

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My hubby and I dined here on a Monday evening while we were in town and we had a great time! We got to sit at the corner of the bar and were able to see all the action in the kitchen. Adam served us at the bar and did a wonderful job in recommending some delicious dishes to us and paired a crisp biodynamic wine for us. Some standout dishes included the mussels, ratatouille, and duck. We really enjoy French cuisine and Gavroche does a fine job in combining classic French techniques with a modern twist. I will say that my hubby and I both agreed that the portions were a tad small and unfortunately, neither of us left full -- and for that reason, I took off a star. But we appreciated the attention to detail in each of the dishes, the good flavors, and the cool ambiance of the restaurant. Jason, the owner, was also there and he was very hospitable and friendly. He's got a great thing going on here in Old Town. Check them out! read more

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We're always surprised that this place isn't jam packed, the food is excellent and the atmosphere is so cute. They have great drinks and the food ranges from basic to unique. It feels like this place could have a Michelin star! read more

Gavroche - Burger, leek - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for brunch for my birthday. It was incredible. They sat us down right away. The place had open windows that were bringing in a nice breeze. The server was cute and charming. We got the four gas French toast which was phenomenal. The sweet syrup and the salty foie gras was a wonderful and creative mix. I haven't had such a creative and delicious meal in as long as I remember. Check it out read more

Pleasantly surprised and delighted with this neighborhood spot. Atmosphere is cozy, food is good, and wine list is great! Service was great - even though they were packed on a Thursday! I hope this place stays for the long haul! We've been to the last 3 places in the space and hope this one stays Get: -gnocchi - that truffle cream sauce is what I'll dream of, and the salmon trout roe was a good touch Meh: -steak frites (fries were the selling point) - the steak was cut a bit too thin, so it wasn't as juicy as you'd imagine, but the Mignonette and the Béarnaise were plate licking good Would definitely come back! read more

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The service and vibe were great. We liked the intimate setting of the restaurant. Everything we ordered that was small plate from the left side of the food menu was excellent - mussels, foie gras two ways, beef tartare and escargot. However, the burger was underdone - almost rare and the steak was overcooked - almost well. Both were extremely salty. read more

Spectacular, imaginative French cooking! First the cocktails- balanced and delicious. The wine list- well priced with options at varying price points. Now the food- we ordered several dishes and ALL were delicious. Must tries include the escargot served out of the shell with a sauce I wanted to drink!! Knife and fork ratatouille- outstanding. Their take on French onion soup- is not that gloopy mess but a refined, complex, gluten free bowl of deliciousness. Spring Poulet with truffle jus- insane and the steak and frites- crazy good. Fois gras with blueberries and mint- shouldn't work but it did. Notable deserts were the butter cake with salted butter and lemon thyme creme brûlée. Also, most of the menu is gluten free!! Lastly we had the pleasure of meeting the owner and chef who were fabulous. Chicago has several French restaurants but none as inventive as Gavroche!! We will return. read more

The good part was the lovely server, the ambience and the friendly owner. The bad part was the experience, the restaurant is definitely not equipped for the experience they are selling. Very small tables, you will have to help your server to constantly move plates and wine and water to make sure nothing will fall off and hurry up to eat to clear up.. The food was nicely presented but the portions were very small. The prices are justified by the location, not the food or experience. French onion soup was also cold. Steak tartare had some small bones that also disappointed. It's a cute place for a small bite for two people, read more

Gavroche is located on Wells St in Old Town where there are plenty of restaurants and interesting shops. We found street parking pretty easily. We were seated quickly and a server took our order fairly quickly too. There were many appetizers we wanted to try. We ordered more than half the appetizers, since they sounded appetizing. Oeuf Arpege - light creamy taste with some bites of interesting flavors (recommend) Escargots a la Bourgogne - warm flavorful escargot dripping in cozy dreamy sauce, wish it came with more pieces (highly recommend) Foie Gras Two Ways - seared and creamy, both delicious (recommend) Dry Aged Beef Tartare - as far as tartare goes, it was good (recommend) Turbot Au Troisgros - very good according to those who ate it (recommend) King Louis burger - tasty burger, one of the best according to the person who ate it (recommend) King Louis Royale burger $55 - caviar, foie gras, truffle, perfectly cooked meat, what else could you ask for? (highly recommend) Go to Gavroche for an enjoyable and tasty meal read more

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Super cute and cozy nouvelle French in heart of old Town. Food was good - albeit pricey for smallsh portions. Food menu appears traditional but preparations are modern Updates. Extremely friendly staff and service. Great date spot read more

Gavroche - Steak tartare - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gavroche is such a wonderful little spot tucked away in Old Town. You would never expect a world class French restaurant right next to a bar that closes at 3 am where nobody is over 25. The food is artfully presented and delicious. Very rich and flavorful - everyone in our party was satisfied. Unfortunately, my burger was quite undercooked but the staff went above and beyond to rectify the situation. The service here stood out to me the most. The owner, Jason, treats all of his guests like friends and made my birthday dinner so special. read more

Can I give it 6-stars? Magnificent. We were coming in late off the road, checked into our Airbnb and wanted French. We found this gem in Yelp and called for a table. There was a cancellation and we scored the corner seats at the bar. The show of the kitchen and the street combined. The egg appetizer was unlike anything I've had in Paris, the mussels were perfect and the cream they bathed in unreal. The capstone was the Parisian gnocchi. Pillows, yes pillows of joy. Go, run, and enjoy. Thank you Chef, Adam and Mr. Chen for a perfect visit to Paris in Chicago. Ps, ask for a small house made baguette to use with the mussels. read more

Gavroche - The most sumptuous app in Chicago. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Place was a welcome surprise. Owner greets everyone at the door. Place is small but decorated intimately & there's candelabras at the bar. Once I saw someone cooking with a real cast iron skillet I was excited. Started with the langoustine appetizer & although extremely short lived, as in one bite, it was pretty good. Star of the evening was definitely the gnocchi as it was told the French version of the dish is much cheesier than its Italian counterpart. Cocktail was slightly above average for it to be a restaurant cocktail. My chicken dish was ok albeit it being void of any truffle flavor. For two entrees, one app & one cocktail we spent just under $100 which is extremely rare in Chicago & even more rare when you talk about food that taste good. Great date night spot. read more

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Ambiance? They've got it down. The music hits the right notes too. But I came here for French cuisine, not just French vibes. Overpriced, dainty plates that look better than they taste. Chicago's full of great French restaurants- sadly, this isn't one of them. Great service though. read more

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Great food, wonderful service and beautiful place. A cozy interior and friendly advice. Very much anticipation to try brunch this Sunday with three of my friends and will go there with highest expectations and appetites to match! read more

A True Neighborhood Gem! From the moment you step inside, you're surrounded by warmth and elegance -- gorgeous leather chairs, unique lighting fixtures, and an interior where every detail feels intentionally curated. It sets the perfect tone for the meal ahead. Every dish on the menu is perfectly prepared and beautifully plated. The duck and leeks were absolutely delicious, but the foie gras -- prepared every which way -- was nothing short of FABULOUS! If foie is your thing, you must order it here. You will not be disappointed. And don't leave without asking for the cheese course -- possibly the best in town! read more

We took my French Mother here last night. She is a pure blood frog and LOVED it. We ordered nearly 1 of everything and mowed it down like the city had given us a violation for overgrown grass. Gobbled the snails at a cheetah's pace. The King Louie is transcendent. My fork's devotion to the monarchy is pure. Also.... wtf was that egg. Give me a dozen to go. Make it a bakers. If you don't enjoy, you definitely deserve the guilliotine before sunrise tommorow morn. read more

Their website says the reservation was only available for 4 or more people so the three of us ended up sitting at the bar. Actually we had great service at the bar even though none of us drank alcohol. After checking out the menu we decided to just share some appetizers. The steak tartare was good and had a unique flavor. The mussels tasted very fresh. The 'foie gras two ways' tasted delicious but the portion was very small. The carrots were too sweet and overcooked. My least favorite dish was the French onion soup; It was beautifully presented but I much prefer the traditional onion soup with melted cheese. Having been to many French restaurants in the past, I can say that the food here didn't quite meet my expectations. read more

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Great food, their dishes are delicious and service is good too , we love the restaurant ~ just their portion looks lit smaller than what other ppl's pics on yelp and google. read more

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Wow! I am an avid foodie in Chicago and thrilled about this addition to old town. It's about time Old Town made its mark on the Chicago culinary art scene. Service was impeccable and food was noteworthy from soup to nuts. Don't sleep on Gavroche. A refreshing new chapter of Old Town food has arrived. read more

Gavroche - Like two angels making love in your mouth. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gavroche (mischievous child from Les Miserables) brings a much needed French flair to Wells street. Most of Wells street is typical pub food or old school Italian. Gavroche sets itself apart in every way. The cozy intimacy invites you in and the culinary art takes you on an adventure from start to finish. I started with the Jean Val Jean (another nod to Le miserables) which is a seasonal old fashioned. My wife had a cocktail with herb oil. Both drinks were 10/10 and we both ordered another. We then moved to a perfectly elegant amuse bouche with the beautiful egg. I have no idea what was in it but I was tempted to order a dozen more. My wife is a burger fanatic and loves Foie Gras, truffle and caviar. This was a must have for my bougie better half and it did not disappoint. She always gives me the last bite, except for this burger which she confidently declared, "better than Curtis Duffys"! (Who she also loves) We paired the burger with the duck and endive and a side of leeks. We were tempted to lick our plates but restrained ourselves and opted for a beef tar tar for dessert instead with another Jean Val Jean. It was such perfection we ended with a chocolate mousse dessert that was an orgasmic finish to a perfect meal. The service was incredible. Friendly, knowledgeable, attentive. The owner was even there and stopped by our table. You can only achieve this level of execution with passion of a dedicated founder. Cant wait to take my coworkers and friends here before a night out at zanies or second city! I know where my new favorite spot in Old Town is. It's not even close. Bravo to this beautiful new addition to the illustrious Chicago dining scene! read more

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The best burger in Chicago... hands down!!!! A couple friends of mine wanted to try out a new restaurant and we've been hearing serious buzz about Gavroche and in particular... about their burgers!!! I have tried ALL the best burgers in Chicago ... and this is by far my favorite. Perfectly cooked, bun super soft, beef fat fries... omg.. so good...crispy and hot... perfection! Also, their espresso martini is to die for and their lemon crème brûlée was pretty special!!! 5 big stars! read more

Thank you Jason and Lindsey! We had a fantastic experience, well thought through dishes, great pacing between courses. Jason was very attentive to detail. Lindsey provided top tier service and curated our experience perfectly. Loved every minute of it. read more

Get the burger it's amazing. Very very cozy atmosphere and nice it's a small restaurant so it's not too noisy. The waitress is very knowledgeable about all the food and a lot of fun. read more

Five of us had dinner here last night after Zoolights at LP Zoo. Everything we ordered was perfect. Our party had the two steaks on the menu, gnocchi, their version of the French onion soup, salads, bread service (absolutely worth it) and escargot. Espresso martinis and a drink called Dirty Word. Chocolate mousse and the two creme brulee options for dessert. The flavoring of everything from bread to drinks was spectacular. I would say of all the places I've eaten, it was by far the best. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and the owner even stopped by the table to welcome us. Highly recommend read more

Felt like a hip and inviting Parisian restaurant. Delicious food and beautiful presentation. Lovely wine pairings. Menu has a nice mix of splurges and affordable items. We dream of their burger weekly and can't wait to go back. Great hospitality... makes you feel really special. One tip- the open kitchen got a bit toasty so wear layers. read more

Gavroche - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food here is expensive, which is fine if the experience lives up to the price point. In this case it definitely did not. Let me start by saying that food was beautiful and our waitress was very nice. The manager on the other hand was beyond rude. The sun blasts through the west facing wall of windows (there are no window coverings of any kind) so my husband had to eat his expensive French starter wearing his sunglasses. Just as it started to get better the manager opened the wall of windows and that was it, not even the sunglasses could phase the blasting Chicago sun setting in my husband's face. He asked the manager to shut the windows "for five minutes" until we finished our meal and was told no. I then asked to sit elsewhere and we were offered bar seats with one in the blasting sun. The manager could have cared less about our experience. He told me that other customers were hot because the air conditioning was broken and they wanted the windows open. So hot is worse than blind. We had to abruptly stop our meal and leave. We will never return to this restaurant because of the manager. read more

When I was planning client dinners for an upcoming trip to Chicago, and discovered one of my go-to places had shuttered, I got online to begin my research for a worth replacement. The clients I would be hosting aren't just foodies, they are culinary experts (think national specialty store chain with a French name which translates to "On the Table"). I've been fortunate to have hosted a few memorable meals for them, so I was feeling some pressure to deliver again, Luckily, I stumbled onto an Eater Chicago article citing Gavroche as one of the most anticipated new restaurants for 2025. From the reservation experience, to confirming our group size, to finally arriving at the evening of our reservation - Gavroche had suddenly become the most anticipated restaurant dining experience for my trip to the Windy City. Ruinart Bubbles and Oeuf Arpège to start followed Lyonnaise and Foie Gras. Onto specialty cocktails (shoutout to the chocolatey Espresso Martini!), then our entrees. Gavroche's interpretation of French Onion Soup was a hit and I thoroughly enjoyed the Cassoulet. One taste of the Oeuf Arpège and my guests were asking me to immediately book our dinner here for next year! Kudos to owner Jason, Chef Mitchell, and our five-star server, Sam-I-Am! Trust Sam to guide you - you won't be sorry! Gavroche team, Thanks for giving me the "W" with my customers and for an excellent, top-notch dining experience! I can't wait to come back! read more

The ambiance at Gavroche is simply fantastic! The cozy atmosphere, soft lighting, and elegant decor create the perfect setting. The food and cocktails here is absolutely delicious! Every dish and drink we tried was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend the OEUF ARPÈGE, DUO OF FOIE GRAS and the Chicken that was cooked two different way off the menu was one of my favorite. Gavroche exceeded all my expectations. You do not often find a place where every element comes together so perfectly. Thank you to Jason and the entire staff for making the experience so amazing . I'll be recommending it to all my friends and family." read more

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Great food, and even better service. Had a wide range of dishes and each was delicious and well plated. We will definitely be back.

Amazing food, attentive and knowledgeable staff. The owner treats you with gratitude.

Remarkable! The warm, flaky crust of the fresh-baked sourdough croissant with homemade berry jam transported me back to the Parisian cafes. The look on my significant other's face as he savored the eggs benedict with pave potatoes said it all. The steak and eggs were amazing. The coffee was a superb house blend. Jason, the owner, encouraged us to order the fresh berries with creme fraiche which were the perfect crescendo. I don't normally think about brunch through the week, but this one has already drawn me back. Pure foodie bliss! read more

Gavroche - Berries with creme fraiche - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service, food and ambiance were wonderful. Everything was quite delicious. The egg app, is outstanding. Parisian gnocchi also a must try. You will not be disappointed. read more