First time having French food, and it was amazing. My partner and I went to celebrate my birthday. The space is cozy with very limited seating, highly recommend making a reservation in advance. Servers were attentive and patient with us; at the end of the meal, they surprised us with a cake free of charge. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience with a small party (2-4), definitely worth a try! read more

Looking for the charm of a small, local restaurant with some really great food? Then Jilly's fits the bill. We've said for years we need to try Jilly's Cafe. So glad we finally did. We'll absolutely be back. Reservations are highly recommended - the restaurant is very small and cozy. I didn't love the hold on a credit card for the reservation and will watch to see when it falls off as someone else on here commented on an issue they had. It would be nice if it could be applied to the bill. Now - onto the dining experience: after being seated, we were promptly brought bread along with wonderful chilled house butter and a duck pate. Really great. We got two appetizers, two meals, and a dessert: Escargot - perfectly seasoned, wonderful sauce that struck a perfect balance of flavors. The puff pastries on top were done to perfection. This was a really great rendition of a classic. Maybe one of the best we've had. Spring Rolls - This was a miss for me and the reason I didn't do a 5 star for this visit. I debated between this and crispy goat cheese and wish I would've done the goat cheese. This had mushrooms, sweet cherries (they looked to be maraschino cherries based on the bright red, which was off), and spinach. It says it has Brie, but I didn't get much of that. The texture of the wrapper was chewy (even difficult to cut) and the flavors didn't come together in a good way for me. It just wasn't pleasant and actually off putting. However, the greens and vinaigrette it sat on were fantastic. If that's an indication of what a salad would be - I'd order one in a heartbeat. Mushroom Risotto- Absolutely delicious. Perfectly done risotto. Wonderful flavors that came together like a symphony. In addition to the incredible mushrooms, there were some diced pieces of asparagus and a few tomatoes. They each were such great quality and favorable. So fresh. The mushroom flavor was the star - but the other components were a great supporting cast and it was so well seasoned. Just the right amount of garlic and other flavors. Nothing overpowered the other. They played off one another. It was a warm hug in a bowl. I'd eat this every day if I could. BBQ Glazed Beef Short Ribs - This was also a hit. Perfectly done, deboned short ribs that were wonderfully seasoned and deliciously glazed. They sat on top of a wonderful helping of mashed potatoes in a red wine Demi glaze. There were delicious carrots and asparagus that played well with the entirety of the dish. The flavors were incredible. While not my order, I did sneak a taste and saw why the person I was with was enjoying it so much. Great portion and really wonderful comfort dish. Chocolate Mousse Cake - Delicious layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse. What could be better? Well, having it sit on a chocolate sauce, with a mango puree and a few fresh raspberries and blackberries, of course. It was the perfect way to avoid chocolate overload. It all came together so well. Other callouts: Parking wasn't obvious if you've never been there, but you're able to park in the lot at the auto shop next door. Confirmed this ahead of time. Staff were helpful and friendly. They checked-in just enough. Able to give recommendations too. Portions were generous (but not overly/obnoxiously so). I'd say this was perfect. Already looking forward to returning. read more

The price point brought us here, but the food brings us back. My son and I go for his birthday every year. The food is sublime. This time we has a spinach salad with a delicious vinaigrette. Followed by the oh so decadent fois gras. The short rib was so tender and the red wine demi glaze was outstanding. The venison with the cherry demi glaze was delicious. The desserts were out of this world. The creme brulee did not disappoint and the baked Alaska was just, wow and omg. We will be back again and again. PS. We would have shown more pictures but they are of half eaten food. We just had to did in! read more

Jilly's Cafe - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Was there on Feb 11 to celebrate my friends birthday. Had a lovely evening. However I was charged $30 just to make a reservation at Jillys. Later after I posted another review I was told that my $30 for a reservation would be refunded within a week. Well it's been almost 2 months now and it hasn't been refunded to my credit card or anywhere. Could the nice person who assured me it would be refunded in 7 days please follow up on this? $30 just to make a reservation seems wildly excessive. read more

We enjoy dinner at Jilly's annually with long-time friends. The chef and servers have consistently been on top of their game. This year we enjoyed fresh trout, lamb and steak after soup and beet salad. The pinot noir was good, as were the key lime pie, sorbet, creme brûlée and profiterole. Thanks Jilly's! read more

Delicious French cuisine prepared with expertise and care. Excellent customer service we will definitely be back.

We have been there for both Christmas Eve and Mother's Day. Service and food are perfect. Lovely time. Attentive service without being intrusive. Generous portions. This is a new favorite spot. Six entrees tried and all were amazing. My favorite so far is the chicken paillard. My son loved the lamb and steaks are great. Just go there. Its so nice! read more

What an amazing little gem of a restaurant. The ambiance is relaxing with the subtle soothing French music playing, I forgot that I'm in Evanston and not in Paris. So much delicious food to pick from, but Hayde our server was so helpful and so delightful. She helped us with our menu and with the perfect selection we chose. The food was flavorful and awaken my palate. We order the crispy goat cheese and melt in your mouth grilled octopus. The beet salad was tangy refreshing with a sweet balsamic dressing. For an entree we split the bouillabaisse with scallops, shrimp, scallops, sea bass, lobster and fennel, and I'm glad we did! The serving was enormous! Absolutely the best seafood I had in a long time. Now it was time for dessert! I totally recommend the chocolate mouse and crème brûlée! My taste buds are in awe and in shock, so I will end my review here! Thank you Hayde, you were such an awesome server. We will be regulars. read more

Jilly's Cafe - Happy birthday to my hubby! - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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My friends and I were going to go to Jilly's Cafe. But then we heard that the restaurant puts a mandatory 22% tip on the bill and a 4% service charge that can't be removed. The food may be decent but the tip and service charge turned us off. Too many great restaurants to go to that leaves the tip up to us and a service charge that you can ask to be deleted . read more

The service was fine, the food was delicious. Everything we tried was excellent. From the appetizer to dessert. It's definitely worth going back to. read more

Not wheelchair accessible! Good food, but the entrance is NOT wheelchair or even walker accessible, there is a step to get in and no ramp. The restroom is also not accessible. read more

We went to Jilly's after a few years away. On the plus side, the food was good and the service attentive. The atmosphere negatively affected our experience. We had reservations for two, and were seated immediately next to table for three, even though there were ample empty tables. I counted one table other than ours and the table next to ours in the entire place. For the entire dinner experience, we had to listen to a diner pontificate on everything from Citizen Kane to lost Beatles tapes to his puberty. Yes, we should have asked to move. But why were we seated there in the first place when so many other spaces were available? read more

Ida the owner is a very nice lady, who's hands on receiving and going around greeting her customers. She's a fantastic owner and host. Their crème Brûlée is delicious and the wine selection extremely good !! The food is good. Ida is constantly checking for quality control which is outstanding from an owner. This Bistro has a huge potential the menu is very impressive. Perhaps they need to refine a little more the French taste on the bouillabaisse and thé moule but as I always say less is more. The real French cuisine is made of good and fresh ingredients and a simple but exquisite taste that's all. read more

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Wow! Amazing! Incredible! I like to try new restaurants that I've never gone to before. I also like to find places tucked away in areas off the beaten path. So while planning dinner with a friend who lives in downtown Evanston, I researched and chose Jilly's Cafe. Parking can be tricky but I was told to park next door at the auto repair shop. It was right next to the front door of the restaurant and made things much easier. The outside is charming with it's storefront windows and red awning. Once inside, the ambiance continued. Quaint and cozy, in size and decor, lounge-y music softly played. White tablecloths, chandeliers and varnished wood was the perfect backdrop for a quiet dinner. We were able to chat and enjoy a leisurely meal. There is a tiny little bar at the back of the restaurant. We both tried the French Martini to get into the Parisian mood. It was very tasty. My friend loved her spring roll for her appetizer that looked very interesting and smelled great. She said her homemade gnocchi was incredible. I loved my fresh salad with a bright red wine vinaigrette. My salmon entree was perfect. Sitting on a bed of couscous with a light cream mustard sauce, my salmon was highlighted by the addition of brussels sprouts. We shared the profiteroles for dessert that were very nicely done. Service was attentive, professional yet warm. Our server was a very kind gentleman who took great care of us from beginning to end. Jilly's Cafe is the perfect spot for a nice meal, special occasion dinner or date night. I cannot wait to return! read more

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It's about the sauces. But let me back up. The food was surprisingly good. Surprising because it seemed like other reviewers had conflicting opinions on everything from food quality, service, atmosphere, billing strategies and on. So, of course, it had to be tried. Don't take the word of other reviewers. They have no taste. And glad we went for my son's (a chef) birthday. On this Sunday night we were alone in the restaurant until we were almost done when 2 more arrived. How is it possible to serve 4 distinct meals when there is no flow? I don't know. Table bread arrived with butter and liver pate'. Decent cocktails were ordered and served. We opened with seared foie gras and mussels marinieres for the table. Although a little stingy on the bread but quickly remedied when we shouted down the empty dining room for reinforcements. One could not let those sauces escape un-sopped and putting the bowl to our mouth seemed a bit gauche even as the sole diners. Rufus Wainwright sang softly on a loop all evening on non-intrusive sound system. Main courses arrived timely and at the same time. How is this possible? My wife had the bouillabaisse which she loved because it was loaded with fish. She barely made it through the rich broth and kept commenting (I think not liking) the roma tomatoes. But they were on the menu. So it's on her. My daughter in law had the roasted pork tenderloin which pretty much shut her up for the evening as she gnawed through it all. And the birthday boy had the venison. I had the rack of lamb because I almost always order a rack of lamb if it's on the menu. There was a lot of silent chewing. Curiously, we didn't share tastes of our meals which we almost always do when we eat out together. And I think this is because each meal was so distinctly flavored and the sauces were so unique that none of us wanted to compromise the chemistry happening in our mouths. But we had plenty to share had we wanted. At the end of the meal we all took containers for our next day lunch. And, speaking for myself, it was excellent all over again. Service from the one and only server was fine. And even then we had to go locate him once or twice (bread, water, pay the bill etc.). Might have been a different story if there were more patrons. And then, maybe they would have staffed up if they needed to. So service was a non issue. For us. This time. The Brinks truck arrived and unloaded my cash so I could pay the bill but I didn't see, or ask for, any cash discount that seemed to be offered. Nor was a gratuity automatically added so I got to stiff the server on my own (Just kidding). It was all fine and no problem. If these things bother you, consider eating at home. There is no parking. A Yelp tip pointed me to the closed auto repair shop next door where I left my beater. So I'm passing that on. Bon appétit. read more

out. Started off with some amazing escargot sizzling in butter, the mussels in a white wine sauce was satisfactory. all of the appetizers were so delicious, especially the foie gras which was so good we got a second order. For the mains, we had their lobster risotto special, and the duck breast with a confit leg was fantastic, the sauce didn't take away any of the flavor from the duck surprisingly. It was my first time having venison steak, the meat was firm and juicy. Don't snooze on their desserts with everything being homemade, and my favorite was the creme brûlée being very creamy. Amazing spot to check out. read more

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I think this place focuses on quantity vs quality. Their portions are generous. But this is fine French dining only in the sense that it tasted fine. My husband had the bouillabaise and I had the trout. In addition to the trout on the plate, there were plenty of carrots, fingetlinv potatoes, green beans (not haricot vert as listed on their menu) and a rather hefty arugula salad. The trout & vegetables tasted fine, but I had no room for the salad - seemed wasteful. The bouillabaise was heavy on the mussels & included a nicely cooked lobster tail, but only scant pieces of other seafood/fish. Their garlic toast tasted overseasoned with herbs. All this would've been ok if both of us weren't awakened during the night with upset stomachs. I doubt we'll return to Jilly's. Their service was friendly. The atmosphere is dated & worn. read more

Exquisite in every aspect! From the service to the ambience to the food. Absolutely amazing food, so flavorful and without flaw. Service especially attentive to our every request and dedicated to making the entire experience perfect. The atmosphere was authentic and soothing enhancing the dining experience. It's not Michelin rated.....why not??? We've been to Michelin 3 star places and this place is right up there with the best. Cost? Very reasonable for what you get in quality, service and atmosphere. Bravo! Put this on your bucket list. read more

Overall, the place was decent. The highlight of the lunch was the sangria with champagne which was delicious. I'd come back for the sangria. The Mushroom risotto was good. The turkey, bacon, brie and apple sandwich was decent. We were the only ones at the restaurant so the service was good. :) Again, the drink was pretty and tasty! read more

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We went on a Sunday night at five when they opened. We've been there before and it was lovely. Love the ambience, you feel like you're in a French café. Cocktails were delightful, as was the bread & butter & liver pate served with the cocktails. The menu is too big. They're obviously not getting as many diners as they used to and there's just too many things to be able to do well. And it's wildly overpriced for the quality. We looked at the specials of the day (too many) and not one of them was under $50. All three of our entrées were $35 and up. My duck was tender, but the skin on it was white and slimy, and the sauce was cloyingly sweet. My mother-in-law's venison was tough and chewy. My husband's barbecue, spare ribs were tender and good, but the sauce was overpowering. We ordered profiteroles for dessert and they were obviously pre-frozen and not made in-house. They were not good. The chocolate sauce was bottled. My suggestion would be pick out 10 entrées that you do perfectly with fresh ingredients made in-house and concentrate on that. There's no reason to have as many options when clearly the restaurant isn't as busy as it once was. Stick to classic French dishes and just do them very well. read more

At this price point, we were disappointed. We probably won't come back unless the owner were to comp so to give another try. Our server told us that the boullabaisse was their signature dish so I ordered it. It was very average. The spinach salad was the best part of our meal. The biggest disappointment was the duck which our server said was her favorite. It said it came with a wild rice cake, so my wife ordered this. She has a gluten sensitivity, which the server never asked about, and it was served with a potato pancake. read more

Great food and excellent service. A nice place to have dinner with friends or a date night

Went with 4, so we were able to try a few things. For the app, we had escargot with puff pastry top. Well seasoned, snails a bit over cooked. Pastry on top wasn't necessary. Used the bread to sop instead. Tasted good. Complementary bead not baguette, was a little white bready no crunch. The liver mouse was outstanding, almost benchmark. Whipped butter was bland. Entres. Had duo duck on pancake with slaw. Was good value and the best of the 4. ambitious dish, 5 components. The lamb chops we cooked as requested , the blue cheese mash potatoes and green beans. All good, seasoned well, cook well. The only thing was excessive meat stock. It was really good , but the au jus ruined it for me. The short rib were outstanding, tender, bbqy. Sweet, grilled, braised. Our 4th had a veggie dinner, spinich with garlic butter. Was good. For desert, carrot cake, really good, moist, ricj spiceing, good, crumb, good cream cheese frosting and burnt carmal drizzle, vest desert in a long time. Good wine selection and specials. Service was mild, not aggressive, slow on the start, but we were early 5p. Was weird that lights were off at 455p with our reservation at 5p, but pulled together last minute. We were going to a show in hr and a half and got us out in time. Ambiance was the worst part. When we got there, there was no music. One other couple a few minutes in. Table cloths un washed un pressed, spots on ours. Beautiful venetian glass chandellers un washed and dust covered. The whole place was dust covered and needed a refresh. Very limited parking Recap...food was good, place was not. Staff was friendly , not rushed. Selections of cocktails and wine, was as expected. Could be the top of the neighborhood. Seems like heart and soul not in it. read more

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I am confused this was one of our worst French restaurant experience We ever had. Maybe they changed ownership definitely the chef has no clue about French cuisine. Greasy foie gras total disaster disgusting to say the least A bouillabaisse without any flavor steamed seafood with a little broth Overcooked tasteless salmon Terrible French bread Plastic flowers dirty silverware Water glass soiled with lipstick we asked for replacement and they brought us an empty glass!!!! Maybe this was an amazing restaurant sometime ago but our experience food, presentation, cleanliness, service below average "terrible" we will never go back and do not recommend read more

Scallop risotto was unbelievable! Husband had pork chops and it was great too. Great anniversary dinner. read more

Jilly's Cafe - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Place is cute (as in old and dated) food is good (but not great). Heads up: they automatically add a automatic 22% gratuity, and they also tack on another 4% for any payment except cash. You got me this time, but there will not be a next time. read more

Jilly's Cafe - They give this to you with the final bill. Surprise! They add 4% to your bill. You got me this time, but there will not be a next time. - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

A sad restaurant. The food is OK, nothing special. The ambiance is dated and tired. The service (Maitre De was the only server) was clumsy and the fact that there were like 2 tables including the 4 of us made it depressing. Spend your money somewhere else. Restaurants are now so costly at least go to a place that's alive read more

What a nice surprise!! Looking for French and literally fell into this place thanks to yelp! We had the escargot which were delicious and a beautiful presentation. Spinach salad was just ok. However the lamb was fantastic. Done to perfection. Excellent sides! Profiteroles were the perfect ending! Excellent service. Worth a trip to Evanston! read more

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I moved from Evanston to the city last year, and I am desperate for the COVID vaccine if only so I can go back to Jilly's. Am I the youngest one there by at least 25 years each time I dine? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Starter bread is perfect, with butter and an unidentified paté that is delightful and I have not been able to find anywhere else. Salad with fruit and cheese? Just right. Complementary, fruity sorbet palate cleanser? Didn't know I needed this, but accepted with joy. Rotini with chicken in cream sauce really hits the spot every time. (Friends particularly recommend the salmon with cous cous.) Expect a high bill and adorably small, old school atmosphere. Now I'm hungry and sad I'm not within range for delivery. C'mon, Moderna and Pfizer -- hurry up! read more

My friend and I had the place nearly 100% to ourselves when we came for Sunday brunch, but it was kind of nice to sit by the window and chat in private, listen to French music and enjoy our tea, coffee, and bread basket. We ordered one of each of the omelettes which were well-stuffed and came with yummy salad and roasted potatoes. It felt a little rundown (especially in the bathroom, which needs a good deep clean) but the food and atmosphere were nice enough that I'd consider coming back. read more

We went to celebrate my family visiting from California. Jilly's was fantastic from the time we walked in the door. The owner greeted us with such positive energy and seated us within a minute's time. We all felt like we were in France. Such a warm ambience and the décor has a real French flair. Now let's get to the important part. All of our meals were PERFECT. (by the way, I'm not that easy to please-I'm one of those that will complain and send things back.) I got the mussels which were drenched in a light cream sauce and the goat cheese salad was a great accompaniment to the mussels. The Seared Foie Gras was melt in your mouth along with a glass of Sauterne wine. Everyone had different entrees and all were rolling their eyes in delight. The desserts were outstanding. The wait staff was very attentive and my husband was impressed with the choice of excellent wines and we ordered several bottles. Jilly's made our evening. We will absolutely return for another culinary adventure. read more

Jilly's is a casual French cafe with friendly service and a fairly traditional menu. One of the more interesting aspects is that there are almost as many specials each night as there are regular menu items. The meal begins with excellent crusty French bread, butter, and chicken liver pate. I had the escargot, which were the traditional preparation, topped with small croquettes and served with a slice of lemon. The escargot and garlic butter were good, especially with the French bread. I'm not sure the croquettes and lemon added a lot. My second course was my favorite, a poached pair and bleu cheese salad. It had just the right mix of bitter and sweet ingredients. An intermezzo of pinot noir sorbet cleared the palate. For my entree I selected their specialty, the skinless duck breast and confit. Both were good, but the breast was swimming in a very sweet sauce, so I stuck with the confit. Service was extremely friendly at all the tables, and they were reasonably busy on a Tuesday night, with a crowd composed of about half regulars. Wine prices is reasonable, although the website version of the wine list is out of date. Jilly's is a good choice if you are in the mood for traditional French food in a friendly atmosphere. read more

Jilly's Cafe - Front window - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I'm sorryto say, but my family and I had an underwhelming experience. Food subpar, service subpar. Please, step it up as an Evanston French Bistro. Food (pomme frite, escarot) was overly greasy. The crab for the egg benedict was from a can opened perhaps day before, with nothing with it. the crab cake was not delicate, was mushy. The bathroom was not as clean as a closet toilette in the front room should be kept. The server, while friendly, spilled water on my mother's menu and place setting without changing it or offering to top with extra napkins, he was quite busy tending to every table on his own. My sister in law did not receive her food consecutively as the rest of us at the table did. We started without her and her food arrived as we were almost halfway through. she received an apology and a comped cocktail which was fine. Excellent food and service is part of the experience in fine dining. Fine dining priced, but subpar experience. read more

Make sure you check your bill! The waiter gave us one bill before we paid and then when we paid, the amount was different, because they added a service charged of $7.69 for party of 6. Leave a bad taste in our mouth after we just had a delicious dinner. read more

I thought this cafe was just all right. It's a bit on the tiny side. You can have reservations for large parties but this wouldn't be my restaurant of choice for large groups. They serve French food here. I thought the flavors were all right. They served this sweet sorbet thing before dinner. It was a dark red color. I should have asked what it was because it was really tasty. Very smooth. I guess it was a palette cleanser. I got the pork tenderloin and it was cooked well. I wish the purée on the side was something else besides sweet potato as I personally thought it was too sweet. They had lingonberries which was already sweet! Service was not that good. I had to grab menus for the table since nobody was serving us for a long time. The waiter said it was his first day but still... read more

Very fast French cuisine, on the pricey side. My party ordered the fried calamari, the steak, the rack of lamb, mushroom risotto, and the trout almandine. read more

Jilly's Cafe - Mushroom Risotto, yum - French Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Hi. Ate here about six years ago. Still very good French cuisine. Tomato soup remains outstanding. This time had mussels, crab cake,smoked salmon, trout, best white wine. Still going strong. read more

Delicious food. Escargo and seafood frittata was really very tasty. Ali was our server and he was so personable! great experience.

Had a dinner with friends at this place for the first time. The food was good, not great, but variety and well prepared. Nice, cozy French restaurant. Service was good, decent, waiter was a young lady,polite, knew her business. The only thing that threw me out is the additional fee included in the final bill. After inquiring why, the waiter explained that this is an additional few that they charge for paying by a credit card. I guess for a younger generation, this would be something they get or will get used to. But for us, we are in our early 50s, which means we will consider next time going out to a restaurant. We learn more and more these days that too many restaurants are not that great to attend to. Steak houses don't make great steaks anymore, so I guess it is better to stay home and enjoy a home cooked meal. And if there's a chance to go out, then it has to be something special. Otherwise, I feel like some places are taking advantage of us. I didn't mention tips that they are asking for. So, next time we want to go out, I should do homework on reading reviews and even call restaurant to find out their policies. No shopping malls nor groceries charge an additional credit card fee. So, they should not, too, if they want sustained in business. read more

Food is excellent and very flavorful. Very good for takeout. Worth the price. Highly recommend!