If you're into charcuterie, this place is heaven. Great place to relax and revel in the miracle of pork. Very friendly staff, great service. Can't wait to go back next time we're in Chicago read more

Food 10/10 (sandwich special), half price wine 10/10, spending a rainy day chilling in a cool spot 10/10. Good green olives too read more

Lardon - Chicken Shwarma Special - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great addition to Logan Square. Charcuterie board was excellent, we went with the Chef's board. For being a "wine bar" the wine selection is surprisingly minimal and I expected to see some more options. Nonetheless, had a nice rosé that paired well with the board. Ruben sandwich was juicy and flavorful. Butter baguette sandwich had a bit too much bread, it was much better after removing a piece of bread which made it easier to taste the sandwich toppings. Would not order again, but it was fresh. Build out on the inside is cute and comfortable. They have croissants and a coffee bar as well, a convenient offering with the restaurant located right across from the Blue Line California train stop. read more

Lardon - Chef's board. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great sandwiches and attentive staff. Everything feels artisanal and fresh - never disappoints. Love the option to sit outside when the weather permits. Great for brunch and affordable for that meal if you don't get many drinks. read more

One rainy Saturday, I ordered take-out from here, and I got the "El Jefe," their special sandwich for the day. So I can't talk about the ambiance, I can't speak about the service (but I got my sandwich promptly, and everyone was friendly when I walked in), but this sandwich is what I can talk to. The sandwich? First, it's an elevated take on the Cuban sandwich, and I love a good Cuban; it's one of my favorite sandwiches if I am sincere about it. This sandwich had a lot of good things going on. First, they were using the right kind of bread for a sandwich like this-- the sort that will get a nice crisp crunch on the outside while keeping the tender middle of the bread supple. The bread reminded me of the kind XOCO use to make their Cubana sandwich (which is a good thing in my book). Everything else on the sandwich was made perfectly. The bacon had a great flavor, the mustard. Honestly, I have thought about this sandwich probably twice a week since I last had it and there aren't things that break through the clutter like that. read more

Very low key restaurant with great service. The food was excellent. Best BLT I've had and the on draft Negroni was really good!

Really cool build your own charcuterie restaurant with delicious sandwiches. I got the hotel California sandwich and it was very delicious. I also got a fun cocktail that was refreshing and perfect for summer time. read more

Lardon - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Aside from having a table inside they also have outdoor dining. It was good to sit here by evening so it was not hot and the view was pretty nice. You can also smell the fresh air and feel the cold breeze outside. When I came here I tried their Chief Boards. The serving was dependent on your choice. On my board it has 3 slices of bread, cheese, nuts, sauce, grapes, white cheese, a slice of apple, dried grapes, bacon, salmon, a slice of pie and a slice of sausage. It was perfect for my morning breakfast. It was good and I enjoyed eating them. Well I come here again. I highly recommend this restaurant. I gave this 5 stars rating. read more

Great little hidden spot! We came here mid-afternoon to get a drink and something to snack on. We had made a reservation, though I wasn't sure it would be necessary, but was glad we did. The space is pretty small so there aren't a ton of tables. So if you are planning to eat there, I would definitely try to grab a reservation slot. We had the Chef's Board and it was a great snack. There are three types of meat and three types of cheese, so you get a goood variety. The pickled veggies on the tray are also a favorite of mine. The beers we had were good, and they had a decent selection to pick from, as well as other wines and cocktails. Great spot for a casual date or to meet up with friends to catch up. It is a little on the higher end of pricing, but it's great quality and the service is wonderful. Would like to go back and give the sandwiches a try! read more

We went here for some morning cocktails. It was nice and pleasant. I got this spritzer thing. My girl got this coffee thing . I took a photo of the the drinks on tap and they were draft beers. read more

Lardon - IPA's - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kind of hidden, but its literally at the corner of Palmer and California. This quiet little gem really surprised me! Came here for one thing and thats the Rueben. And I must stay it was the best Rueben on my life. Thats not saying much because I usually don't have many of them, but this sandwich is just plain good. The pastrami was amazing, and the house krat deff tasted elevated. Like others said it was on the greasy side, but kind of in a good way. For $17 it is a pricer lunch, but I guess thats because of the quality of meats here. I will deff be coming back to try the other sandwiches! read more

Lardon - Rueben - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very disappointed, I was drooling over the French charcuterie sandwich (I'm French) and it was such a letdown: the pate was spread like butter (super thin), the Brie was barely there (4 very, very thin and short slices of it) but then there was a mountain of pretty average ham (not bad at all, just not great or exciting) I'll admit that the bread was delicious but that's all there was to that sandwich tbh. The service was also really poor. Asked the waitress if I could make some modifications to two sandwiches for my 5 and 2 year old (like no hot sauce and no onion), she first threw a fit and said she "wasn't sure". Not a lovely way to build loyalty amongst local families. I certainly won't be going back! read more

We really wanted to like this place but it's just ok. The space is lovely and the staff is really friendly but the food is a let down. We tried three different sandwiches: Reuben, California, Italian. They all had a bad bread-to-filling ratio making for an unbalanced sandwich that was not flavorful. It seems like they use good quality ingredients but they are not putting them together effectively. read more

I brought my daughter here to try their charcuterie board and boy they did not disappoint. Because it was only the two of us we ordered their trio meat and cheese board. Which was the perfect amount of food for us. The added honey comb, pickled veggies and fruit spread brought all the flavors together. Our server was wonderful and very knowledgeable. read more

Lardon - Trio meat and cheese board - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best Charcuterie we have ever had! Our outgoing friendly & knowledgable server "Trent" helped us build a amazing board with a variety of delicious in-house made meats and cheeses. The freshness and taste was like nothing we have ever experienced before - AMAZING ! The sandwiches have the same fresh taste and portion size is very very generous! The large cocktail & wine menu allowed for perfect pairing with our food. We enjoyed the creative cocktails and unique wines ! Already have reservations to return again next week! A WONDERFUL dining experience made even better by the staff & manager who are dedicated to offering a unique, high quality taste experience ! read more

This is my new fave spot to while away a sunny afternoon. Super chill vibe, great service and excellent wines. Oh wait, did I mention the charcuterie is TO DIE FOR? First visit we didn't try the board but were impressed enough with the sandwich (Frenchie) and salad. We came back couple weeks later and almost had to wait for a seat but thankfully spots opened up. This time we ordered the meat board and tacked on a few other cheeses & meats...and then got a second one coz it was that good. Very curious about their recently started dinner service as well. Will definitely be back again and again! read more

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I've given this joint a couple shots and just disappointed both times. I'm sure the Charcuterie Boards are great in the restaurant like everyone says but the sandwiches fall short! First off.. $18 for a sandwich is high especially when it super small (maybe 6") and has very little of anything inside. Yes, I know about inflation & labor costs but how can you taste any of that great meat when there is barely any on the sandwich? You can't. Last visit tried The Italiano which sounds great in description but falls flat on execution.. all you taste is Nduja. Tiny piece of bread, few strips of sopressata/ salame on bottom, thin slice of provolone, tiny amount of Giard that has no flavor and literally 7 shreds of lettuce... thank god for the tomato slice! Finished wich in 3 minutes/ still hungry. I don't mind paying for quality & maybe I caught them on a bad day (twice) but may have been my last trip! Talk later read more

Seriously, you HAVE to check this place out. I immediately fell in love with the wait staff here, they were so helpful but also so much fun. They made our experience at Lardon spectacular! My friends and I shared the Chef's Board and an additional charcuterie board that our waiter picked out for us. It was an amazing selection of meats and cheeses. We ate here for appetizers before a really late dinner reservation at a different restaurant, but we all agreed we wanted to come back to check out the weekend dinner menu. Very highly recommend this spot, not only for the great food and drink selection but for the incredibly helpful and kind staff! read more

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Beautiful restaurant and excellent wait staff, but I wasn't particularly wowed with the food I had. We ordered a chefs selection of meats and cheeses and a Frenchie sandwich. The I appreciate the fact that they cure the meats on-site and they did taste nice, it just wasn't the best charcuterie I've ever had. Our waiter was great and very accommodating. I don't think I'd be back again, but I'm glad I tried it once. read more

This place is all kinds of good. Friendly and knowledgeable service. Nothing overdone, and yet high class. Everyone is happy to work here, and they should be. Great great great sandwiches. Solid ingredients and delicious bread. The coffees were excellent. Will have to come back to try cocktails, salads, more sandwiches, and charcuterie. So happy to be within a half mile of this place. Thank you for coming to West Town!!! read more

Let me start off by saying that I rarely ever leave a bad review even if the food is meh at an establishment. My wife, my elderly grandfather and my infant son came here on 08/27/2021. Before going in I called in to make reservations and the staff member told me they did not take reservations to just come in. We arrived and we saw an open table outside and we sat right down. The waiter came out and told us we had to get up because a couple was there before us (fine that's on me no issue). I ask him how long for a table and he tells me 35-40 min. I ask him if we could place an order to go and he tells me that he first needs to ask the kitchen because they give preference to the people eating at the establishment. Ok fine, but if you're going to do that make that known on your website, when people call or when they arrive. He comes back and tells me that they can take the order but it would be a 25-30 min wait. We placed the order and began to wait. About 15 minutes into waiting, a table opens up and we ask the waiter if we could just take the order there and eat at the table. He tells me that someone had just reserved the table... mind you as mentioned above I was told you could not reserve a table... worst of all there was no one inside the establishment waiting to be seated. My wife saw me visibly upset and asked me to just go wait in the car because she knew I was going to get very upset. When my wife arrives she tells me a group arrived about 5 minutes later and were sat at the table. I hate bringing the race card into the equation but at the time we were the only colored group at the establishment. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was just the staff member but they need to do better. The food was alright not great and not bad. read more

This place is a wonderful treat for the neighborhood! We don't live here, but we were introduced to it by our son and his wife who do live in Chicago. We went for dinner and therefore, were not able to try any of the sandwiches; however, they sounded amazing and if we get the opportunity to return for lunch, we definitely will do so! Our server (I apologize that I did not get his name, but the receipt says Tadhg) was awesome. His knowledge of the meats, cheeses and drinks and how they would each pair with the other items was impressive. We let him direct us to some good choices for our charcuterie board and how much extra we would need to add to feed 4 adults. We also tried Jamon Jamon, an orange wine, and found it to be a light, refreshing summer wine. Our server was also able to explain to us exactly what an orange wine was. The general manager was present and available and was checking on customers. It feels nice when management takes an active role in their establishment and she even remembered my son and his family from their last visit. We enjoyed our visit, the food, the space and the concept behind this place! It was a comfortable place to share food, relax and just enjoy conversation with friends. I almost forgot to mention that we were treated with 2 Samoa Cakes for dessert and what a treat they were! If you have the chance to try these, they are well worth the calories!! read more

I really hated this place. I'm not trying to be a smartass, but I realized after we left that they aren't actually cooking anything, which is clearly the problem. We ordered a small amount of charcuterie to try. Personally, I wouldn't go to a place and not try their signature item. Our waiter was very strange. He literally told me to order less (I had ordered 3 meats and 2 cheeses, which at $3 to $6 each, amounted to about $20 in appetizers). He said, "well, you're not going to want sandwiches if you order all THAT. It comes with a lot of stuff." Then he walked away, leaving us to wonder if we had even ordered, or not? We waited about 20 minutes, and then the charcuterie arrived. It did come with a decent amount of accoutrements; bread, a few pieces of crostini, some grapes, olives and spreads, but it wasn't exactly Caligula. We still proceeded to order sandwiches, despite the waiter's clear disapproval. The charcuterie was fine. It wasn't anything special, it wasn't anything terrible. In retrospect, I wish we had just ordered more charcuterie options. I ordered the BLT sandwich, and my boyfriend ordered the Italiano. He asked for the sauce on the side. The description on the menu mentioned giardiniera, nothing else. My boyfriend is pretty fussy about vegetables and sauces, but he is polite at restaurants and will just remove anything he doesn't like. I tell him to order it exactly how he wants it, but he doesn't like to make extra work for the kitchen staff. The sandwiches arrived and at first glance, I thought mine was going to be good. The sourdough bread was nicely toasted on the outside. Then; the inside. Three slices of wet, gray, limp, undercooked bacon. Tons of lettuce and two slices of tomato, one an end piece. Some sort of weird sauce that tasted like 1980's sandwich spread. On the menu, it said garlic aioli. I would be surprised if they're really making this sauce in house, but either way, it was flavorless and bland with a weird aftertaste. A BLT is a very specific sandwich, but whoever put this sandwich on the menu has never had a proper BLT. A BLT is all about the marriage of flavors; crispy bacon, sweet, ripe tomato, fatty, salty mayo and crisp lettuce. This sandwich had none of these things. They didn't even season the tomato. And to be honest, the bacon looked so gross, I couldn't eat it. I don't even mind undercooked bacon, it was the color that really bothered me. I'm not insinuating that it had gone bad, it's just poor execution and a lack of knowledge about holding meat. I assume that they par-cooked the bacon in the morning, and made two mistakes - 1; they didn't crisp it to order before putting it on the sandwich. 2; they must be holding it in an aluminum container. Aluminum reacts with food, oxidizing it (thus Dr. Seuss's green eggs and ham, which was a real story from the author's army days). Either way, the bacon was inedible, on sight, flavor and texture. I ate one bite of the sandwich. Then, the Italiano. Well, if you ask for sauce on the side, they should warn you that they plan to douse the whole thing in vinegar and oil before serving it. It was so wet that when my boyfriend picked it up, liquid poured out of the side. Also, this is a charcuterie place, and you would imagine they have meat to spare for days. The sandwiches weren't cheap. Once he removed the wet veggies, the sandwich probably had a total of 3 slices of meat in it. An Italian sandwich traditionally has a myriad of different meats; proscuitto or ham, mortadello, pepperoni, salami, etc. This sandwich appeared to have just one type of meat and maybe some sort of meat spread on the other side? Just weird, and also, inedible. To add insult to injury, ha ha, another end of a tomato on his sandwich. It's not a big deal, it just shows they are being very careless with their prep; even at Subway, they don't serve you an uncored slice of tomato. Toward the end of this ordeal, I commented that my chips (house made potato chips) were unseasoned. My boyfriend laughed and said his were way oversalted. We compared and yes, tons of salt flakes visible on his, no salt on mine. I guess they didn't toss the bowl to coat it evenly and I got the bottom portion? So weird. That's when I had the realization that this place isn't cooking anything live, besides the chips, which explains a lot. I assume they realized they needed lunch service for a charcuterie place to survive, and so they added sandwiches, but there are no other hot appetizer or side dish options. My suggestion; please hire someone who has eaten hot food before and taste the menu items before you send them out, to save someone else a horrible lunch experience. I don't like to leave bad reviews for food businesses because I work in the industry, but this place has a very corporate feel; lots of employees standing around, taking forever to serve two small tables. The service was mediocre at best and the entire place felt uncomfortable. read more

I can't remember where I came across an article that this place was opening up but since I love good charcuterie board and there was a place specializing in that in Chicago during my visit of course I had to stop by. I feel so special that I was able to pop in while they are doing their soft opening because I worried that I might miss a cool opportunity to see a cool place like this. When I came it was almost closing time but I feel very special that they were still willing to serve me. This is a very cute little place and sadly I couldn't sit outside because it was packed but the inside is very lovely too. What I like about this place is that it's very affordable. I ordered their fennel infused salami which the Name Escapes me but for less than $7 I was able to have a full personalized charcuterie board. I didn't try too much food as I was going to another restaurant right afterwards but something that I noticed about this place that I think was amazing is that they don't just do charcuterie boards but they also serve sandwiches as well as alcoholic drinks. I think that's a very good idea because my husband is not into charcuterie boards but he could eat other things in menu so I feel like the place caters to a variety of people. The staff were very nice and accommodating towards me and if I live in Chicago this is the place I would come to with my girlfriends. I hope this place does very well and definitely stop in. read more

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Such a lovely concept! We visited on a Monday when they have a menu that is limited to cheese and charcuterie boards. We had a chef's board with a variety of meats and cheeses...and we added a couple extra meats and cheeses. What a fun eating adventure! Everything about it board was excellent from the meat options, to the unique cheeses to the bread and accoutrements. Our server was so knowledgeable and guided us through the cheese and meat selections. We also appreciated the recommendations on board taste combinations to try. We arrived about 15 minutes before closing and while they let us know the kitchen closed at 7pm, they didn't rush us and we had a lovely evening. They have a dog friendly patio that nearly doubles the size of their seating capacity. They also have a fun selection of cocktails, wine and other beverages. I loved the Garden Party cocktail, it was herbal and will balanced. Come here for a unique eating & drinking experience, the menu is focused and they deliver quality in everything they serve here. read more

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Went for a late weekday lunch with my husband. We had the chef's board and split a Frenchie sandwich. It was the perfect amount of food for the two of us. Everything was just fantastic; so fresh and flavorful! And that sandwich! I am going to have dreams about the Frenchie. We're ready to go back to try more of the menu. read more

The lunch menu has a very well curated selection of sandwiches with fresh and unique ingredients. You can tell the staff puts a lot of thought into building and sourcing the menu. A side favorite were the chips -- hand cut and made in house. read more

Lardon - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a cool spot! It hits all the cords with cozy, cool vibes, open area preparing meals, eclectic coffee maker, very nice staff, and just comfortable! Thanks for paying attention to all the details. I'll be back! read more

Lardon - Sweet coffee that packs a punch! - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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AMAZING!!! I took out of town guests here & we were all thoroughly impressed. Sandwiches were fresh & indulgent. Will be back!

Phenomenal sandwiches and service. The Reuben is a must -- came highly recommended from our waiter. The Green Monster salad was fresh, light, and crunchy. A large salad that can be shared amongst 3-4 people easily. Their coffee is also delicious -- the honey latte was great. To top it all off, service was 5 stars. read more

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I thought this place was great. The vibe inside is very cool and really enjoyed the sandwich and chips I got. The chips are homemade and so good! read more

This place was a super cute spot I won't lie. However, do not come here on an empty stomach this is definitely a spot you hit for a cute drink and charcuterie board then go and have actual dinner. I def would come back and service was top tier! Boards were super good as well! read more

I just popped in on my way home to get a sandwich. The staff is very courteous and helpful. I am visually impaired and they did everything to make me feel comfortable. They answered my question and I got take out. It was a delicious sandwich and homemade chips. I hope to continue to support this business when ever possible. Regalia read more

Start by saying was excellent. Appetizer was the charcuterie board. The cheddar cheese and truffle lard were my favorite. Bread was nice and soft. The crackers tasted slightly stale. My sandwiches as the Reuben. It was very good, enjoyed it thoroughly. Meat was flavorful, bread was well toasted. Wife got the Butter sandwich. It was fine. Heavy bread and less fillings. Overall place was decent. read more

Lardon - Charcuterie board - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went to this restaurant for dinner based on the reviews of the lunch menu. I was recommended the Brandade that was absolutely delicious. The service was great and the staff knowledgeable and so nice. Will definitely go again! So yum! read more

So enjoyed this austere, forward-thinking, casual charcuterie restaurant. Immense choices of house-cured meats, artisanal cheeses, pates, & wonderful homemade jams (onion & blueberry). Presentation is superb. Explanation of offerings were helpful & informative. If you wish to try multiple unique & innovative salume, these small bites will excite you! You'll want to return & try everything on the menu! read more

This was my first stop upon arrival in Chicago and it was the best introduction. First, my waiter complemented me on my nail color - "That color is FIRE." I rolled in with my luggage and the extremely friendly and fun staff helped me place it. On this afternoon, the restaurant was maybe 1/2 full but full of life. The Italian sandwich I got was amazing as was the spritzer. I wanted to go back for AM coffee and pastries but didn't have a chance. read more

enjoyed a nice day on the patio here and got some wine and a cheese board! the cheese was great

This place just opened and it did not disappoint! The charcuterie was incredible and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about which wines paired best with different meats and cheeses. Additionally, the sandwiches were amazing!! The hotel California was my favorite but the Frenchie definitely gave it a run for its money. I will be back for sure! read more

Lardon - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While in Chicago for the Labor Day weekend, a friend from the area took me to dinner at a new Logan Square restaurant, Lardon. My friend knew the chef, Chris Thompson from the restaurant where Chef Thompson had worked prior to this new venture. I am so happy we went. From start to finish, our experience was fantastic. The meal ended up being a highlight of my trip. Lardon is the perfect blend of a friendly, relaxed, and casual space with exceptional food. Melissa Bunde, the General Manger was working that evening and she ended up escorting us to our table. Since both my friend and I had never been here before, we leaned heavily on Melissa's suggestions as well as the guidance of Josh, our server. Both were super friendly and very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. To start our dinner, both, almost immediately asked if we would like to unwind with a cocktail and a custom built charcuterie board. We wisely let Melissa and Josh choose the delightful selection of cured meats, cheeses and other treats we tried. All of the charcuterie & salumi served at the restaurant are made in house. We had the Truffled Lardo, the Landjaeger, and the Finocchiona, all of which is amazing, and evoked memories of pre-covid trips to Italy. The cheese comes from artisanal creameries, many within driving distance of the Logan Square. We tried the Rogue Creamery, Smokey Blue Cow and the Capretto Goat, and my favorite, Hook's Triple Play, which is made in Madison, WI from a blend of cow, sheep and goat's milk. Of course, we pared all of this with a little wine. Outstanding! Next we moved on to an amazing Crispy Duck Confit, a perfectly grilled pork chop (the pork comes from some boutique farm where the chef personally visits to ensure his standards are met - I forget the name), and the creamiest risotto I have ever had. Somewhere amidst this wonderful feast, we learn that Chef Thompson is in the house. He graciously drops by our table where we chat about his plans for Lardon and other ideas in development for this space. As it turns out, Chef and his partner control the whole building and many new and exciting things are planned for the areas that are not now in use. I don't want to say too much, except to put Chef Thomas on notice that I WILL BE BACK. I can't wait to have another wonderful meal there. read more