Celebrated my birthday at Obelix on Saturday May 27th. A solid A -, but there were some flaws. Giulietta, our server, was attentive and explained the menu and specials to us and recommended some dishes for us. Bread service was delish with house made French bread and house made butter. We started with the steak tartar and cochon. Both were outstanding, the flavors are perfect and well seasoned. The Steak Tartar does pack a punch of heat. Also had one foie gras macaroon, delicious! For entrees we had the steak frites and 10 day dry aged duck. Perfect! The Steak Frites was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Fries are house made and served with an aioli. Without a doubt the best duck dish I've ever had. My God, if you love duck, this is the dish for you. The flaws, Our server never asked me what I wanted for dessert. My wife ordered the soufflé with our entrees. As you must order it then because it takes thirty minutes to bake. Like I said I was celebrating my birthday and even made a note of it when I made the reservation, and wanted to try the baked Alaska. But, was not asked. And the soufflé, took almost 45 minutes to arrive at our table and more like a lava cake than a soufflé. Didn't have much flavor and the pistachio ice cream was okay. I'm still giving Obelix an A-, the savory food is outstanding, next time I'll skip dessert. read more

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First the positive. Everything was beautifully plated and presented. we like the wines and the cocktails. Our server was friendly and, even though she completely abandoned us after our appetizers, we could catch the eyes of others and they were very happy to help--so good team server spirit. They were very eager to move things along, though, to the point that my partner felt rushed to finish each course. Not a relaxing Sunday evening vibe. The food was just meh. We ordered the langoustine special, which was wasn't quite cooked enough when it arrived at our table. The macarons, combining sweet and savory, were interesting, but tasted a lot more sweet than savory so it didn't quite come off as innovative at all, just like a sweet macaron that was changed a little. The gnocchi were entirely bland, though beautiful. The rabbit was the best thing we'd ordered, but still fell on the subpar end of what one expects from a good French restaurant. We think maybe we just ordered the wrong things and if we weren't visiting from out of town we might give it another try, but sadly instead we wasted an evening here that could have been spent at a better place in town. read more

This restaurant is amazing. Food was impeccable, service was attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere was inviting. I can't wait to go back! read more

Great French bistro featuring classic items with modern twists. Great service and reasonably priced. Good spot for a date or dinner with friends. The menu changes regularly and I can't wait to check them out again soon. read more

Went for brunch.had escargot.one of best in the city.lobster crepe excellent.nice setting. Excellent staff and service .highly recommend. Recommend reservations. read more

We had a reservation and had to wait 30 minutes after our reservation time and arriving promptly. We we told to wait in the bar and it would be 5-10 minutes No communication with us and after 15 minutes, we politely asked how much longer. Manager said when the next table gets up they will seat us. He seemed like he did not care about us at all. Adding insult to injury they sat others before us. The waitress was nice and the food was good. Unfortunately the way we were treated really negatively influenced the evening. The restaurant is popular but they should care about their customers. Would never return. read more

Underwhelming service to say the least, we came for brunch and no one came to our table for at least 15 minutes. We had to ask the host to send the waitress over and when she finally came, she gave a half-hearted apology and had an excuse. She didn't check on us during the meal, I had to make eye contact and ask her to come over to order additional drinks. Food was good, not sure if it lived up to the hype-- but it wasn't served that hot, definitely seemed to have sat for a bit before making it to the table. It pains me to write a negative review for this place because it's in my neighborhood and I do want them to succeed. read more

It was good. Not amazing. Overall, I found the food to be over salted, and it really made me miss Bistro Voltaire- the now long closed restaurant that made me fall in love with French cuisine 10 years ago. The best thing that we ordered was the French Onion soup. The service was impeccable, but I disliked how crowded the tables were to each other. If invited, I would go again, but it wouldn't be my first choice. read more

We came early for our reservation and our table was not yet ready. Even though it was a weekday, the place was packed and incredibly busy. We were told that we could wait at the bar--but there were no seats. We stood for a little while--and then I was concerned for one of my friends-who has mobility problems and was very uncomfortable standing. I snagged a server and explained the problem. The server very graciously appealed to the other customers and between them all they quickly cleared a comfortable and welcoming space for us to sit. A neighboring couple were drinking martinis in large, beautiful glasses. They warned me that the drinks were strong--but that sounded good and I ordered one. The perfect drink was gloriously constructed and chilled. It lasted through my whole meal-and certainly put an extra lovely patina on the evening. Our table was very comfortable-when ready (on time). Even though the place was extremely crowded, the noise level permitted good table-wide conversation among our party of 5. This was not only due to decent acoustics, the lack of blaring music (found in far too many places)-but to the very civilized behavior of the diners--who were all quietly and clearly enjoying themselves. I don't know when I've been in a place with such an engaging vibe. The food was wonderful--perfectly cooked with exceptional sauces. Different people in our party-of course-liked some dishes better than others--but all were very well prepared. I was especially impressed by the succulent duck --since I have had dry, grainy, duck in several fine dining restaurants. The servers were being run off their feet--and sometimes were a little slow to get back to us--but, nonetheless, they managed to be warm, attentive, and informative. I often am made a little bad tempered by current pricing at restaurants--and Obelix is expensive-though not out-of-line with similar places. With this visit, I felt that I was getting a good value in food, ambiance, and setting. I ended the evening in an extremely good mood. read more

Our meal at Obelix was outstanding from start to finish. We had an earlier reservation time (5:30) which was perfect since the meal took about 2 full hours. The ambiance was very pleasant and the music was great. Our server Dan was friendly and super informative in explaining the menu. We started with the Poisson (red snapper) which was very light and zesty. The beef tartar was absolutely incredible (it was everyone's favorite dish - a must get!), and they brought crispy bread to pair with it. The duck breast was perfectly cooked, medium rare, with crispy skin. It was probably the best duck I've had in Chicago (though I don't have duck very often). The beef Wellington was also delicious, and was big enough for two to share and others to try a bite. Our only complaint was that the end pieces were more medium well than medium rare, but every bite was still delicious. Finally, one of us got the lamb shank and she cleaned her plate so I must assume it was also a fabulous dish. To end our meal, we had the baked Alaska. The flaming presentation was great and the dish was even better. We loved being able to taste every component of the dish, including the caramelized bananas, ice cream, and soft meringue. Overall, the meal was pricy but well worth it! Ratings (only what I tried): Duck 9/10 (only complaint was could have used a little more seasoning) Beef Wellington (9/10) Poisson (8/10 - good but probably wouldn't order again. Had some shaved orange as a garnish, which we didn't love) Beef tartare (10/10) Baked Alaska (10/10) read more

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Great atmosphere, music and lighting. Do not be in a rush; the two of us were in there over two hours for a simple lunch. I think they were under-staffed, though. The carrots and leek salad were our favorites. The lobster dish and pound cake were "meh." read more

I came here for my birthday with a few friends. The service was excellent! Our waitress was very informative, perfectly attentive and was very nice! The food had some hit or miss options. The escargot were amazing. Just like in France! I love duck, so I needed basically all of the duck options. Macarons were actually a miss for me! The cookie itself was dense and chewy. Not how a good macaron should be in my opinion, but the filling was great. My husband is French, so we visit his family every year, and I always order macarons from Seve, and they have a foie gras macaron that is out of this world. The foie-co was also sort of a miss. It was just a bizarre combination for me. I expected the consommé to be more flavorful and rich. It was just alright. The torchon was very good! I wish they had a larger portion. The duck breast was very good. We also tried the squab pithivier, and it was delicious! That sauce!!!! I do want to go back for brunch! read more

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This place was excellent! Came here with another couple for dinner after having it on our mutual lists of places to try. Food was excellent, service was attentive without being pushy or snobby and prices were very reasonable. Will definitely come back here for our French Fix! read more

The restaurant is currently trendy and hot. In other words it is hard to get a reservation. On the positive side the soft shell crab appetizer is as good as it gets. On the the negative side the steak Pom frittes are average at best. The meat is tough and chewy and the prices quite high. I would not order it again. After the closing of Kiki's Bistro the best steak Pom frittes can be found at Mon Ames. The wait staff is very good. There is nothing special about this place. read more

My first time here, but my husband had been twice before with stellar experiences. Unfortunately, tonight we were met with one disappointment after another. Started w stale bread, then no order taken for 15 minutes, then starters overloading the table at once, then mains coming 45 min later and warm bread coming in line w mains. We requested a change of plates and were offered a stack of plates like we were at a diner. The oysters were amazing, the mains were good but forgettable. We decided to tell the manager that we had a disjointed experience and he basically said they were busy and didn't care. I wish I liked it more - unfortunately - i think the place won't last a year. read more

We had a fantastic dinner last night. The French onion soup is probably the best I've ever had. The ribeye steak frites was delicious. Steak has a great crust and fries were really good. We finished with the apple pie with caramel ice cream on top. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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Amazing food and absolutely impeccable service. New, trendy restaurants in Chicago have been very disappointing as of late and Obelix is a breath of fresh air. The French Onion soup is fantastic. The gnocchi and agnolotti specials were phenomenal---I wish they were on the permanent menu. The steak frites is good as expected. Also, Obelix has a pastry chef which is sadly dying art in the restaurant industry. The desserts were next level and the need for a pastry chef was apparent. My wife and I cannot remember the last time we have had such great service at a nice restaurant. I feel that good service has gone by the wayside recently and the great service really added to the meal. Will definitely be back. read more

The location is away from busy Chicago downtown, and you just make a reservation because is always packet. The drinks were amazing but You must try the Beef Wellington, absolutely amazing! read more

The food was outstanding...the service was good not great. We specifically asked if we could put in some apps and then place out entrées. We were told that we had to order everything and they would course the meal. Flash forward, they did not course the meal. We ran out of room on our table and at one point a busser tried to take a plate away while one person was mid bite. It felt like the culture was to flip the tables. I will absolutely go back as the food was wonderful but I will be very direct in not wanting to be rushed from the table. Of note, our whole meal was less than 2hrs, we were not taking longer than any other table. read more

Cutest french restaurant in Chicago, one of my favorites! Fantastic service and great menu options for all preferences!

The food was quite good, but all very overpriced. Many offerings indicate that it is a special occasion restaurant. However, the banquette seating was crowded and we were sitting next to someone about 4 inches away from us. When we moved the table a slight bit, it was moved back by our server, who then sat on the banquette next to us. It looked very nice on the inside and I enjoyed the window to the open kitchen. The drinks were great though! Highly recommend the Saffron Sidecar. The tartare was fantastic, but $23 "taco" was lackluster. The corn tortilla really overpowered our Foie-Co seared foie gras. I ended up scooping up the fat and juices from the berries with my tortilla and then ate the foie separately. We loved the rolled pasta though! The mushrooms were great and the pasta was the perfect temperature. The baked alaska was also disappointing because the alcohol was not properly burned out. As soon as it was lit, the fire went out immediately as it was poured. The strong alcohol taste ruined the delicate meringue. I liked the innovativeness of the menu, but it definitely isn't classic French cuisine and more of east Asian influences. Good food, but it wasn't what I expected nor was it worth $200. read more

Superb original and delicious Five dishes that could not be improved for taste, although the veal was more chewy than ideal The experience was not so good. Fifteen diners stood waiting on an ugly street until doors opened exactly on time. The room was too noisy to allow comfortable discussion of the food, or anything else. After ten minutes the waiter was told the pate was not to be had, resulting in a awkward separation arrival of dishes. This at the first sitting 5 pm. Surely the staff can do better, sound absorbing hangings and flooring and ceiling can be found so the experience idoes not undermine the quality of the food read more

Perfection! Everything is top notch in this newly open French restaurant. The array of the appetizers that we tried with my friend impressed us with the creative recipe and skillful presentation: the richness of the torchon de foie gras was complimented by strawberry-rhubarb compote, seared foie gras served on the blue corn tortilla (foie-go) was mouthwatering, the croquette de canard was crunchy outside and juicy and flavorful inside, wild boar and duck pâté en croûte was absolutely devine, served as a special rhubarb soup was very refreshing and full of flavors. As a main dish, my friend ordered steamed halibut with grilled baby leeks, chestnut mushrooms, gnocchi Parisienne. The fish was tender and juicy, the accompaniment simply outstanding. The grande finale of the dinner, the desserts, did not disappoint. The pistachio soufflé with honey ice cream was to die for, and vacherin got the solid A+. The well crafted cocktails were a bonus. An attentive but not overwhelming service, the modern decor and the well thought menu are the reason we cannot wait to go back. Bravo "Obelix"!!! read more

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Came in today for lunch with a friend, everything was wonderful. Food was delicious and service was spectacular! I never got our server's name, but she had short brown hair and recently relocated from Texas. She was very relatable and fun, a total gem. Can't wait to come back. read more

Outstanding front and back of the house. It has been a long time I had such fun with food and fabulous staff. While mostly French restaurants in the US tend to have a set of beloved staples on the menu with little innovation - tired and true, Obelix excels with its own twists taking the dish in a new direction. That is how bistro faire in Paris is different from your neighborhood bistro here. The squab was excellent in innovation and execution, as was the Foie gras taco with cherries to cut through the fat of life (never call him that!). Try the snails and the blow you away with the addition of citrus flavors. Kitchen even did a lovely off-menu macaron, which had so many excellent points truly showing the talent here: the crust, the filling, the presentation. Ils sont fous ces américains! read more

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What a delightful place! Delicious food, amazing service- who are well versed in the various types of food/drinks they serve.. For an unknown place that we haven't dined in at, I was beyond pleased! Special shout out to our waitress from Oklahoma!! Sorry we didn't catch her name, but she put the extra Star in that place!! read more

When my party of four decided to order a second bottle of wine, the manager came over and indicated that they expect reservations to be for 2 hours and that we had already overstayed our reservations and that they were more than happy to bring us another bottle of wine but that we would have to finish it at the bar. Literally, our entrees just arrived. Asking us to hurry up, finish our food, and leave is absurd. So we did, we finished our food, didn't order another bottle of wine, skipped dessert, skipped dessert wine and went elsewhere. We will also not be back. Can't recommend this place at all. read more

With all the buzz circling around about Obelix on food blogs, I thought why not give it a try. I would say my review leans more towards 3.5 stars, but we still don't have that option on yelp. Reservations for prime dinner time are not easy to come by, so I took what I could, a 9:30 reservation. Upon arrival the place is fairly decent in size, and had the feel of a typical French bistro. The place was filled, but the host let us know we can grab a drink at the bar if we'd like. Opted out since the bar was overly crowded. We were seated about 10 minutes after we arrived, which is fine as they were busy. Our server stopped by took our orders, and here's where things went a bit sour. We were a party of 2. Placed the order for the wines, had the server snakily correct my pronunciation of the wine, when ordering the other one I asked which she would recommend, and seemed as though I was wasting her time by asking her that. Once our wines were brought over I began to place our orders with starters as one normally does when she told me we had to decide and order all at once. I'm sorry I understand the restaurant is busy, but I was only sat few minutes prior. I proceeded to just quickly order as we were starving. As far as the food goes, the escargot and macaron au foie gras were great. The macaron was a perfect balance between sweet and savory. Also not my first time eating a macaron, but it was the first of its kind. I initially tried to bite into it when I realized it was about to ooze out, I didn't want to get it all over my fingers and sweater, and wanted to enjoy more than 1 bite of it. I was cutting it in half when our server was not so kind to state that I should just pick it up and eat it with my fingers. Why thank you, you don't say! The escargot with the fresh warm bread that I used to dip into the garlic & parsley mixture was just delicious. The 10-day dry-aged duck was slightly above good, but nowhere near great. That was the one dish I was really looking forward to, but for "10-day dry-aged" the breast was not tender and the skin was far from crisp. At this point I was full, but knew the macaroni gratin was still on it way. I had about 1/3 of it and couldn't finish the rest. Throughout this whole time I have been trying to wave down our server who keeps chatting it up with the parties on both sides, and paying no attention to us. Took a few tries, but I was finally able to get some water. She stopped by to see if we wanted dessert in which I informed her we have no room. Then she asked if I really wasn't going to finish the macaroni gratin... no I have no room. She asked if I wanted to take it to go in which I said no yet again. She seemed a bit offended by that, so I had to explain to her that as much as I would love to we do not live here in Chicago. Just here visiting for the weekend, so I have no place to store or properly reheat this meal. For a moment I thought I was a bit delusional about the service until we left and I asked my guest who informed me that she also took note of the service, but didn't want to bring it to my attention during dinner. Overall, for the amount of hype circulating around this restaurant I was left a bit disappointed and underwhelmed. read more

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Tried all the foie gras dishes- the macaron and taco were very good. Baked Alaska was amazing- star of the show. Beef Wellington was also good. read more

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Obélix was fantastic! white asparagus was very nice, the French onion soup was probably the best I've ever had, salade Lyonnaise was so good, the dorade, and the choucroute were all phenomenal. I'm french...this place is spot on. Highly recommended, the server was really sweet and attentive, and most importantly, didn't push us along. Timing of dishes (and we had a lot for 2 people) was unhurried. it was a great experience in every way, will definitely be back! Merci Obélix! read more

Does Obelix have one of the best things we have eaten this year? Yes, yes it does! We had the chance to take our taste buds on a French - inspired gastronomic journey where flavors transported us to the heart of Paris. As soon as we saw the caviar sandwich was one of their specials advertised, we had to order it. It was divine, each bite a harmonious fusion of bold caviar flavor and delicate textures, leaving us craving more. We did not stop there, heading further out of our comfort zone and ordered the escargot. It delivered a buttery and garlicky richness, and made us fans of eating snails. Their tete de cochon (or crispy pig head) served as a great segue to the excellent and perfectly executed beef wellington. For dessert, we opted for the chocolate soufflé and pistacchio ice cream after our fantastic server recommended them, and they made our taste buds sing. Velvety, light, creamy, chocolatey, it ended dinner on a high note. Obelix is worthy of a visit, trust us, the caviar sandwich, though pricey, will leave you speechless! read more

This restaurant was recommended in a Crains article as a must! So I went and it was well worth it. Lots of available parking, food was delicious and we had an amazing server/sommelier called Lauren. Top class!!! She knew every detail to the wine and food. I have to say the carrots are a must!! read more

If you have a young child, may as well find another restaurant because Obelix is not accommodating and borderline discriminatory. Out of courtesy, I added a comment that our 7 month old son would be joining us (ideally in stroller, but could be flexible with his car seat too). The restaurant called, made a big deal out of the fact that we didn't book a reservation for "3", said they'd move our table, and then called back saying they were too busy (11:30a reservation) to keep the reservation. Only later option was after 1p. Stuck up restaurant and policy. read more

Great ambiance and delicious food Highly recommend and plan to visit again Love it!! read more

Holy crap this is good. If you appreciate attention to detail, French cuisine and well honed cocktails this is a must. Oh, also, if you like duck look no further!! Just go see for yourself!! read more

Been here for brunch and dinner. Beautiful food and service. Looking forward to returning!

Would recommend the French onion soup and the ambiance, not much else. Broccoli was torched and smelled of lighter fluid. Baked alaska was like chocolate ganache cake doused in salt water, barely any meringue as icing. Heavy hand with the sauces. Limited wines by the glass. They had run out of gougeres. read more

This review is for their brunch menu. A must try for sure. I liked the onion soup but didn't love. What I did love and is a MUST try are the Moroccan carrots and brioche pastry with rhubarb and strawberries. Good coffee and attentive service. read more

Food was very good, as expected. Our server just dropped menus off and offered no menu guidance. The dinning room is extremely cramped. The food arrived without introduction and was dropped at the table. It was my birthday and we had mentioned that in the reservation. The tables around us received recognition milestones but our service was so negligent. We discussed with the manager but were brushed off. I would not recommend Obelix due to the service. read more

I recently had one of the most unpleasant restaurant experiences ever at Obelix. And it was my birthday. We have long been fans of sister restaurant, Le Bouchon and former sister restaurant, La Sardine. So we were very much looking forward to trying the newest addition to the family. Because it is difficult to get a reservation, my husband called two months in advance to book a table and let them know it was my birthday. He also called the day before to confirm the reservation and remind them that it was my birthday. The food was fine -- not great, with a few exceptions -- too many conflicting flavors for my taste. My issue was with the service, which we found to be curt, perfunctory, impersonal and patronizing . Both our servers answered our questions but were slightly snippy. When it came time for dessert, the server asked what we were having and my husband said it was my birthday. The server gave him a "so what and what do you expect me to do" look. My husband said he thought they might be bringing me something to mark the occasion. The server responded that "they don't do that here", like it was some sort of unsavory behavior we were asking about. So we ordered (and paid for) one dessert for the table. The server did bring complimentary (I think) glasses of sherry but since two in our party don't drink, the gesture was somewhat diminished. On the way out of the restaurant, one of the servers asked one of our guests if we lived in the city, the implication being that we might be provincial suburbanites or had just arrived on a bus from Appalachia. After we left, the saga continued. Since I had planned to write an unflattering review, I gave the restaurant the courtesy of first calling to personally convey my feedback. The manager I spoke with patiently listed to what I had to say and apologized. Unfortunately, he opined that that we had had an "inauthentic" experience. Well, it was authentic to me. As for the birthday dessert, he said that Obelix does not offer complimentary desserts because they operate on a very thin margin and "can't afford" to "give away" desserts. Besides, he added that it is not the "modern" thing to do. I did suggest that they should let people know that when they book a reservation for a special occasion. So much for special occasions at Obelix. As for the parting question about whether we live in the city, the manager opined that perhaps the server was "making conversation" I replied that since no one had made conversation during the two plus hours we were at the restaurant, I thought it is implausible they would do so on our way out the door. In short, Obelix is clearly a restaurant that is in love with itself and clearly more focused on the bottom line, rather than the customer experience. The manager concluded the conversation by saying he hoped we would return for a more "authentic" experience. Not a chance. read more