Going to Pasteur for dinner was a very random decision, and one I'm very glad we made! We went here for an impromptu date night. The service was great-our server was lovely and polite and made sure our experience was perfect. We started with some Jasmine tea which was perfectly warm and delicious. My boyfriend got some spring rolls which he ate every bite of (I'm not a fan of cold food or I would have had some as well). I ordered the Passion Fruit Salmon (Pan seared salmon fillet served over fresh asparagus sprinkled with capers served with a passion fruit reduction sauce) which was wonderful. It was a very surprising taste, and once my tastebuds were used to it, I couldn't get enough of the sauce-even dumping my white rice onto it so I could soak up every ounce. My boyfriend ordered the chicken clay pot which he loved. The ambiance here is fantastic! I can't believe I hadn't heard of it until this weekend. The prices were perfect for a nice date night. We would definitely return! read more

Great Vietnamese restaurant with delicious food, excellent service, and good prices. The Lychee Martini is one of a kind, as is the mango mojito. The space is beautiful and has a massive deck out back. My visit here definitely helped make my time in Chicago memorable. read more

Pasteur - Mango Mojito - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best of the best dining in and take away Vietnamese restaurant in Chicago . The food is fantastic and the food delivery is always on time. Highly recommended and will definitely be back!!!! Thank you Uncle Tuan & Antie Hoa read more

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Overall, very positive experience! The staff is very friendly and the food was great. The patio alone is worth dining here - it's like a hidden oasis in the city. The owner's brother-in-law deserves a shoutout for being the most amazing host. His passion for food and great customer service is unmatched. Definitely coming back! read more

I'm so perplexed why this restaurant isn't rated 5 stars?! I went for the first time last night and had the most delightful evening. The food is sensational and reasonably priced (we tried three different appetizers and two entrees). The setting is GORGEOUS! Beautiful patio and interior. The staff could not have been more kind, friendly and attentive. We live in Bucktown so it was a bit of a schlep but worth it! Easy metered street parking. A gem of a spot. We'll be back soon. read more

I have too many good things to say about this place. I walked in and I was thoroughly impressed by the atmosphere. It was beautiful! Contemporary yet, elegant, gorgeous yet subtle. There were fresh flowers on the table and lush green plants strategically placed. We had a 4 course meal. The appetizers were good, the salad was decent but my Lord the main course! I had the steak. It was sooooo good. I felt like it melted in my mouth turned into gold and I promise I heard harts playing and birds chirping. I had no idea vegetables could be so delicious, I had no idea steak could be so tender, I had no idea I would want to spend the rest of my life in a restaurant. I cannot wait until thier patio opens for the summer the one thing I love more than good food, is good food in the sun. The service was great as well. The manager came out and checked on us but not in a weird, I'm making sure my waitress is doing her job kind of way, but a chill genuinely interested in our thoughts kind of way. Very pleased with my experience and already have plans to return. read more

I had the egg rolls which were tasty with a nice sauce and for the main dish pan seared salmon in passion fruit sauce, served with vegetables of green beans broccoli and carrots , and rice as side dish. My dining partner liked his curry chicken which was fragrant blowing my way and the dumplings. The service was good early at 6 but the restaurant was clearly understaffed by 7:30 with a lot of customers on the patio which is actually a very lovely place in the back of the restaurant. read more

What a great patio! For those looking for a lovely spot with lots of space for social distancing, this is perfect! On Broadway in Edgewater, Chicago, you wouldn't know what a beautiful spot this is by passing on the street. Recently re-opened with lots of tables in back, it's attractive and quiet, despite being close to the Red Line train tracks. My husband had the curry duck and I had the ginger chicken as entrees and finished with a superb key lime pie. Food was well presented and flavorful. Service was excellent, without being overbearing. We will definitely go back. read more

Pasteur - Patio at Pasteur - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A - ambiance A - service and attentiveness A - value A - to serve French Vietnamese B - menu B - bones in the catfish. Chef needs to give that one up and use filets B - location, but plenty of cheep parking. Better than Le Colonial overall! Theater next door was great too. read more

Welcome back, Pasteur. It's been too long. Oh how I missed you. Seriously, I really, really did miss this place. Just ask Erika G how many times I bugged her for an update on when the restaurant would reopen. I'm sure she got sick of me asking; sorry about that. Pasteur had been closed for years after a fire. I'm not sure why it took so long to reopen, but I'm just so glad they did. From what I can remember, the previous incarnation was lovely, but this one, even more so. It's more sophisticated and "fine-dining," but it's not at all stuffy. Went on a Saturday night. Luckily we had made a reservation because I wasn't apparently the only one who had been missing Pasteur - it was packed. We were shown to a table in the back of the restaurant where it was a little quieter, so that was appreciated. One certainly likes to be able to hear their dinner companion without having to shout at them. Our server approached us to order beverages. I was hoping for some exotic, fruity drinks to whet my appetite but the cocktail list was rather small and nothing jumped out at me. Hopefully the cocktail offerings will expand over time. We ended up getting wine instead. We were looking over the menu and our server mentioned that the biggest change at Pasteur is that they also have a French chef on staff, and that chef is none other than Eric Aubriot. I have tried much of his cuisine at other establishments and have always liked it, so this was music to my ears. We went a little crazy ordering because we were so excited to try everything, but also keeping in mind that these are not huge portions; after all this a French-Vietnamese restaurant and serving sizes are appropriate. Our starters were Cha Gio Ga (chicken egg rolls), Thit Nuong Rau Song Cuon (charbroiled lemongrass-marinated beef wraps), and sauteed sea scallops. It was extremely hard to narrow it down to just three choices as everything looked and sounded delicious. There were at least six other appetizers I will have to come back and try. All of the appetizers/starters were fantastic. The egg rolls were crispy and the dipping sauce (some kind of light vinaigrette) was a great complement. My only minor complaint was the temperature--they weren't very hot. The lemongrass- marinated beef was another winner. It was tender and the fresh herbs it was garnished with were a nice contrast. The scallops came with some oven-roasted apples and were served atop French lentils. I only recently started eating scallops, but if they are all this delicious, I will happily start eating them all the time. I didn't even think I liked lentils, but in this dish, everything came together beautifully and with tons of flavor. For our mains, we chose Mi Hoac Hu Tieu Xao Rau Cai (pan-fried rice noodles sauteed with vegetables), filet mignon cubed and drizzled with a red-wine-butter reduction alongside watercress (sorry I forgot the fancy Vietnamese name for this dish), and a salad of arugula, parmesan shards, and truffle oil. I can't even begin to describe how much we enjoyed everything. It all tasted so fresh, clean, and surprisingly light, despite all the bold flavors. The presentations are beautiful and the ingredients are thoughtfully and deliberately chosen. Service has a few kinks to work on, but I'm confident that will be rectified once they've been open longer. We personally didn't have any issues, but both adjacent tables had problems. In one case, the couple next to us sat for fifteen minutes before being greeted by a server, and the other table had the same dish they ordered delivered two times (that doesn't sound like much of a problem to me), so they had to send one back. I think it's clear that I was a big fan of the old Pasteur, and I expect to be even more besotted with the new one. In fact, I've already made my next reservation, which cannot come soon enough. read more

I came to Pasteur for a dinner set up by Izzy N with a group of 5 other Yelpers. We dined family style and loved the food. They do Vietnamese-French fusion well. Nishan P, Rhoda G, and I were the first to arrive and we ordered the Kumite. It is a lychee cocktail mixed with St. Germain (a liqueur I recently became acquainted with at Yelp's Booze-a-palooza Elite Event). It came in a standard, well-chilled martini glass and was garnished with a whole, peeled lychee. It was robust without being overly strong and very, very sweet. It was the perfect cocktail for me and the rest of the table agreed. Everyone ended up ordering the Kumite. Some ordered two and I would have continued to order them if I could keep up with the $11 price tag. When everyone arrived, we looked over the menu and decided to keep the meal light by ordering 4 appetizers and splitting 5 entrees. The salmon crepes were quite tasty and similar to small egg rolls. I enjoyed the pork dumplings and the lemongrass steak spring rolls were great, but the shrimp and crab tempura was my favorite. For entrees, we had a salad with shrimp (I think it had mint in it) that I couldn't get enough of. The steak cubes atop a green leaf and tomato salad was incredibly juicy and tender. I also liked the Vietnamese noodles with shredded chicken and giant shrimp. They cooked the clay pot catfish to perfection, but I think it might be an acquired taste. It was probably my least favorite, but seasoned quite well. Pasteur treated our table to fried banana, as it was hostess Izzy N's birthday the week before. We had assumed it would only be for the b-day girl, so we ordered flour-less chocolate cake and bread pudding, as well. It was almost too much, but it gave us a nice sample of each. I could eat their bread pudding for days. It's incredibly delicious, so I highly recommend it. I also recommend the Vietnamese iced coffee for the perfect finish to a fantastic dining experience. Service started out spectacularly but left a bit to be desired toward the end of the night. We were greeted, seated and served appetizers quickly. After ordering our main dishes, our waitress was hard to find and we had to ask for extra plates and utensils a few times. They quickly remedied the situation any time a problem was brought up, though. That's good service. read more

TLDR: Potatoes and carrots in curry were raw and we gave up on getting a table. I only post a negative review maybe once every few years because I'm generally forgiving with restaurants since my mom is a server and my family has owned a couple of them. That said, the problems were apparently almost immediately. My friend and I walked in around 6:30pm on a Saturday without a reservation, but the dining room was clearly only about 60% full. We were asked to sit in the lounge area by the bar while they got our table ready. Normally I'd expect to be seated right away, especially since there were two four-tops by the front window without any indication that they were reserved, but maybe they had a server or two call off so no big deal. We sit in the lounge by the bar. 10 minutes pass before my friend and I decide we'd rather wait at the bar and grab a drink. So we get up, ordered a couple of cocktails, and they ended up being the only decently redeeming thing about the restaurant. 20 minutes pass before my friend has the idea that maybe we should just order the food to go so we don't have to wait for whatever's going wrong with the dining room. So we ask our bartender if we can place a to-go order instead and he kindly obliges us. We ordered two appetizers and two entrees, I got the roast duck curry. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes before we got our food. The bartender was kind enough to comp my friend's drink because of the wait. We walked out with our food and the two four-tops up front remained empty and the dining room was still about 60% full. We get the food home, I open my duck curry and the vegetables in it were visibly raw. The carrots were clearly uncooked baby carrots that had that white "webbing" they get when they sit out in the air for a while. Less forgivable than the carrots, the potatoes were obviously raw. I don't mean that they were hard in the center, I mean that sticking a fork in each chunk of potato was about as effective as sticking it with a greased up spoon. They even remained white despite the yellow that normally dyes everything turmeric yellow in the curry. I'd love to know how they pulled off that trick. Like any thai restaurant in the city, the duck and its sauce were good. But for a $22 dish I'd expect WAY more than I got, like cooked vegetables. There are obviously a series of systemic issue at this restaurant, I'd recommend you go just about anywhere else in the city. read more

Delightful cocktails. Wonderful service. Tasty French-Vietnamese fare. The decor really makes you feel like you're in Vietnam, instead of Uptown. However, at this price point, I would much rather eat at Le Colonial, or go easier on my wallet and have an Argyle dinner. The sample of appetizers and Cochinchin I had were delicious, but not particularly memorable. If you're looking for a nice meal in the area, Pasteur is a great, more unique choice to bring people. Cocktails in the summertime would be lovely too. But, if you're looking to for outstanding French-Vietnamese fare, I would recommend heading to the Viagra Triangle and eating at Le Colonial. read more

Having spent a good part of last year traveling through Southeast Asia and Vietnam, I've been hard pressed to find an authentic Vietnamese restaurant back home. Pasteur does it nicely. While they menu does go a little wider than just Vietnamese (veering into Chinese and Cambodian occasionally), it reproduced a lot of Vietnamese classics fairly faithfully. In particular, they nail the liberal use of fresh herbs which is a hallmark of Vietnamese cooking but remains mysteriously absent from most American Vietnamese restaurants. If you're looking for a little taste of one of the very best cuisines in the world, Pasteur is the place to go. read more

Came here for a friend's birthday and had a great time. The food was delicious and I highly recommend you give Pasteur a try. I recommend you try *Goi Con (charbroiled lemongrass beef) *Shrimp Papaya Salad *Calamari Sa-te *Basil Shrimp *Seared Pork Tenderloin (it's bacon wrapped!!) read more

My first visit to Pasteur was part of our Valentine's itinerary (during the winter of which we do not speak). We used a Groupon, which limited the menu somewhat but still included good options for both of us. We also added a couple items from the regular menu, which of course was no problem for our very good server. My first-first impression was that they could do a better job clearing a walkway from the curb. Ladies in particular do not appreciate their heeled-and-hosed feet plunging into a foot of snow or climbing over mounds of it. Sure, it's an opportunity for men to be chivalrous and carry their ladies over the land mine but not everyone goes for that kind of theatrics. My other first impression was that it was beautiful inside. Lots of clean white, but not stark or cold. There is a flat screen TV above the two-top at which we sat, which was out of place, really. The decor is so understated and sophisticated otherwise, and I can't really imagine what it's used for. Shortly after we arrived, another party came in and we were actually pleased to have their company, because it was a multi-generational family celebration of the 76th wedding anniversary of the 100-year-old couple. Wow. So you see, good for special occasions and Special Occasions. Oh right, so the food. I really enjoyed the salmon claypot. I hadn't had something quite like it before, but it was fabulous and hot hot hot. So flavorful. It was a perfect defense against the aforementioned miserable winter. I also had the flourless chocolate cake, which was obviously extremely rich and good (is it ever not?) and the slice was very generous. I was so pleased with our experience and based on the other reviews, so is everyone else. Which means Pasteur should be around for a long time. I just don't want to wait for our 76th anniversary before coming back. read more

Celebrated my birthday here! We walked in and the restaurant was a little slow but nice for a Sunday evening. The friendly bartender started me off with a spicy martini called pcp. Then our friends showed up and we got our table. We ordered scallops, crepe lettuce leaf (don't remember the name but it was delicious) and some other appetizers. For the entree I had Tom Xao Sa-te (Shrimp Sa-te) , omg it was so delicious. I really did clean that plate up. Everything was so good. The server was very friendly, polite and funny. Great service, great food and great wine and martini's . I cannot wait to go back to this place. Almost forgot.....delicious flourless chocolate cake....yummy! read more

This place probably would not have even come in my radar if not for the Groupon. I finally made a reservation (which was seamless and did not matter that I had a Groupon!) and went there on a Friday night. We had got the four course menu so we started off with their Tofu Spring rolls which was good. The spring roll was light and almost bland but it paired well with the sauce. As our second course we got the Papaya salad without Shrimp and it was delicious. The papaya's tangy flavor was complemented by the hot curry/soy sauce mixed salad dressing. We enjoyed every bite of it! I really wish I had the recipe for this one so we could try it at home. For main course - we got (1) Clay pot Salmon - Which was really good according to my husband and (2) Clay pot Tofu and Vegetables - Which almost tasted like a Thai curry, which I loved. It was big enough for two portions as it had plenty of vegetables (Vegetarians rejoice!) And finally we had Chocolate Flour-less cake and Fried Banana w/ Green Tea Ice Cream. I relished the Green Tea Ice-Cream and took a bite of the cake. It was pretty dense, chocolatey and delicious. All in all - I loved the food and the atmosphere. The place was tastefully decorated and definitely looked more like a fine dining restaurant. The service was superb. Our server, Richard checked on us a few times and ensured everything was good. Our plates were cleared away and our waters were refilled on time. I would definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

Went to Pasteur on a Friday evening. I've been here before and always liked it.. but this visit was over-the-top. Our server, Jackie, couldn't have been nicer, more helpful in recommending menu choices, and the service was terrific. We ordered something I wouldn't normally have chosen, based on her recommendation... baby back ribs. I think of Pasteur for authentic Vietnamese with a French influence, so baby back ribs were a serious diversion. But the chef managed to provide a uniquely Vietnamese dining experience fall off the bone Vietnamese ribs, with a very American dish that turned out to be delicious competing with some of the best rib joints in Chicago. To top it off, the general manager checked in at our table and stayed and talked with us for a few minutes to make sure we were happy, and ask about our experience. Nice touch. read more

My favorite vietnamese place! With a French flair! The warmth of welcome from the owner and good food served always fresh and flavorful like spring rolls with shrimps and sautéed shrimps is always a must! read more

My sister desired to celebrate her birthday in a quaint , yet adventurous location called Pasteur. Aside from the reference of molding petri dishes and the discovery of Penicillin, this is a more refined Vietnamese restaurant with atmosphere and fine cuisine in the heart of yuppie Edgewater. Atmosphere: Very cool. Almost had an banquet hall feel , but the main room probably only seats 100+ . Almost main props for interesting artwork and a cozy looking fire at the end of the room. Would recommend a collared shirt, but if you have much gusto you can get away scrubbing it. If you have a moment, check out the Japanese style garden in the "front" lawn of the owner house (also next door). He was able to cram almost an entire Japanese garden ( including goldfish) into a few square feet.....kind of like all the goodness of my Honda Civic (vroom vroom) Service: Very polite, and dressed more upscale than your trips to the Sizzler. Very helpful and knowledgeable of the cuisine. Food: I broke down and ordered the Chilean Sea Bass. I know I know its getting over-fished, but I haven't had one in a while, and I was willing to pay market price....well worth it. We ordered from their appetizer (#1,6,7) - a Shrimp potato something, what looked like a chicken/shrimp omelet. and some spring rolls... all very good. Menu offers a colorful array of different dishes and choices, with some vegetarians options (someone had a spicy tofu) that were well received. Mommy factor: My mom would love this place, not only for the hearty portions, creative menu, and seating well geared to food sharing but the airy and open feel of the place. Date Factor: A very nice place to take a date, but as cautioned, you may want to dress a little more formal (business casual san a tie) . But the close seating and atmosphere would make this an enjoyable night . Since my brother-in-law took us here for my sister birthday, I am guessing this is also marriage approved......good job U. Bling: Appetizers ran about $6-7 an order, and for 4 people 3 orders was plenty to appease us. Meals ranged from about 15-20 dollars, with my Chilean Sea Bass weighing in at $27. A little on the pricey end some of us in school *cough cough*, but the entire affair and getting me in a dress shirt was worth the investment. read more

Although the food at Pasteur was mostly fine, and some of it more than fine, my expectations were shattered after dining here. The banh mi was good, with a delicious flaky baguette, but both it and the vegetable tempura were overpowered by a sickeningly sweet and sticky sauce. The best (and most expensive) dish I had was curry beef. The beef was perfectly cooked, and the curry had really complex flavors, peanutty but not too sweet. What really irked me was the obvious pretention in the atmosphere here. My mom ordered a crepe, and the hostess came over and literally started cutting it for her because she insisted my mom wasn't eating it right. It was... unsettling. If you're into swanky, snobby, dimly-lit restaurants with mediocre food and overzealous staff, you will love Pasteur. read more

This is our neighborhood restaurant and we have enjoyed coming here often. Today's service is abhorent. Yes, it is a busy night but waiting 35 minutes just for your drinks does not qualify as service. It took 15 minutes to get a glass of water and to order the drinks. They have yet to arrive. People who came after us have already been served. I am terribly disappointed in this failure in management. I sought to see the manager but was blocked by a waiter who came to our table to take an order. After 45 minutes of waiting for any service, we left. This is quite the treatment on Valentine's day. read more

I always look forward to eating here because I can trust that I will be getting great service and great food. I've eaten here a handful of times and every time I walk inside, the interior design always impresses me. I appreciate the mirrors strategically placed around the restaurant, the monochromatic color scheme, and clean white table cloths. Also, I know I'm not the only one who has commented on the nice bathrooms. They are definitely very nice indeed and that says a lot about a restaurant. Like I said, Pasteur has great service. I have never had to wait more than a few minutes before being greeted by one of the very friendly waiters. I cannot remember every dish that I have consumed here but I can say that I have enjoyed them all. The flavors of each dish are nicely balanced, a little sweet, savory, and tangy. I'm a person who eats with their eyes first so I like that the chefs put in the extra effort to make sure that each dish that comes out is as close to perfect as can be. Aside from the good food, there are also great drinks. Very skilled and personable bartenders. In addition to the friendly staff members, the owners are also very sweet. They love their restaurant and the guests love them. Every time I'm in the area, I make a stop here! read more

Pasteur - Lychee Cocktail - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I visited here with my boyfriend this past Friday to celebrate his birthday. I purchased a Groupon for their 4 course meal for two. We had a great experience and will be back! First of all, I want to specifically mention what is now my NEW FAVORITE MARTINI: the Kumite, which consists of Lychee Liqueur, St. Germain, vodka, house made lemongrass sour, garnished with a lychee. BEST EVER. Now for the food: For the Groupon, we had to order off of a pre fixe menu, but that was totally okay for us. To start I had the lemongrass beef spring rolls, and they were so fresh and tasty. Nick got the dumplings which were also way more fresh and flavorful than what you get at a takeout place (which will make enjoying any future takeout difficult!) Next was the shrimp papaya salad which was also fresh and flavorful, but I did not care for the mint that was sprinkled throughout. For the main dishes, Nick got the signature beef and I got the shrimp sate. Both were delicious, but I preferred the beef, yet I enjoyed my garnishes with the shrimp better. It was very savory and both dishes came with rice. For dessert, I got the fried banana with green tea ice cream and Nick got the bread pudding. We both loved them and they were the perfect size: not too small (bite sized) but not too big either. We can't wait to come back! read more

We came here with a Groupon on a Friday night. The space is beautiful but the service and food was just mediocre. The Groupon was for a three course dinner with wine pairing for two. We were a little turned off that we had to call in our menu selections a couple days before our dinner there. I have a really hard time knowing what I will have a taste for days in advance. It does make sense to me that they want to know in advance so they can pair the wine with your selection. The strange thing was that when they brought out each course they brought out two different glasses of wine and asked my husband and I to pick which we wanted. This tells me they were not chosen for my particular meal selection as we ordered different meals. That was a bizarre. The server and bus person were both a bit awkward but we have had worse. They at least seemed to be trying. The food was bland and lacked any kind of real flavor. It was about as exciting any neighborhood Vietnamese dinner which is fine except for the fact that Pasteur claims to be so much more. When the manager came to see if we enjoyed dinner, we were honest and told him we found it to be bland. He brought us a complimentary after dinner drink and seemed to really care that we were not satisfied. Also, when we got up to leave it started raining hard outside and he came and offered us an umbrella. It was a small token that meant a lot to us. I really want to see this place be successful. They have done a great job with the ambiance and I feel like with some improvements the food could be good and the experience could be top notch. read more

My friends and I dined on their patio a few weeks ago, and even though we used to live in Edgewater, we were so surprised that such a lovely outdoor area existed that we never knew about! It felt a bit dreamy, a bit romantic, airy, and hidden. The indoors looked very nice, as well! I was a bit worried, as I saw a few reviews that were not great, but we were all so pleasantly surprised. Our server was lovely (and stunning! side note- her red lipstick and cat eyes were on point and made me want to go home and practice my liquid eyeliner skills). We could tell she was very busy, but we were all catching up so we certainly did not mind waiting, as we all sipped on our martinis (mine was lychee) and the hot summer wind swept over us. The lights on the patio were softly glowing, lending a delicate ambiance to the night. I was excited because so many items on the menu could be made gluten-free and my server seemed very knowledgeable about what I could eat and what I couldn't. I went with the salmon in passion fruit reduction and it was sensational. My friends also seemed to be equally delighted with their meals. I will definitely be back and would maybe go next time for a romantic date on the patio. Thanks, Pasteur! read more

This review is for a Groupon that I purchased back in Feb 2014 for Pasteur. Our waiter Nick was the BEST. I believe his family owns the establishment. We went for Valentines Day and had the best experience. Great ambiance and it was very crowded. Since we used a Groupon we chose from a pre-fixed menu. Everything was delicious! Here's is what we ordered: Shrimp Papaya Salad , Lemongrass Beef, Shrimp Tempura, Shrimp sa-te and for dessert: fried banana and bread pudding. This is for sure a HIDDEN GEM! PLEASE GO AND ASK FOR NICK! read more

I now understand all the secrets of life, and they can be found in "The Chew," a cocktail at Pasteur. This drink is the perfect metaphor for life in the 21st century, combining the best influences and traditions of Asia and America. The Chew is essentially a Manhattan (Bourbon, one of America's finest ingredients) infused with 5 Spice Powder (one of Asia's finest ingredients). The combination is delicious, unique, and sublime. The 5 Spice Powder pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the bourbon to create something at once familiar and new. This is a cocktail to be reckoned with - you simply must try it. It's called The Chew because it is garnished (or in this case accessorized) with a piece of Vietnamese Jerky - an interesting concept which I think doesn't really add much to the drink except for giving it an excuse to be named The Chew. Oh yeah, and they have some pretty good Vietnamese fusion food at Pasteur as well. All very good, but none quite living up to the deliriously high bar set by The Chew. We had a whole fried snapper covered in an aromatic sauce which was both sweet and flavorful. Curry Shrimp was good, but a little disappointing. The shrimp were perfectly cooked (which is rare in a dish like curry), but there was not enough sauce, and the sauce which was there had good flavor, but needed more - it was a little weak. Dumplings were similar - good with nice flavor but they could have taken it a little further. In the end, Pasteur does offer some of best Vietnamese food around in a lovely and sophisticated room. After eating Vietnamese food I'm often left with the feeling that it has a great base of flavors and concepts that fall just a little flat - not quite enough spice, not quite enough flavor. I think some of the vibrancy which you see in Thai food (located just next door to Vietnam) has been squeezed out by the French influence and technique. But, The Chew is clearly the exception to this rule - great flavor and a fantastic concept. I'm going back just for the drink. read more

Bottom line: Better experience for a cheaper price. Time: Dinner around 7:30-8:00PM Occasion: Family dinner. Party of 6 Service: Awful. - Had to wait for a table when reservation was made. - Received another table's order. - Brought out 5 of the 6 entrees. - Server charged us for more food than was ordered. Food: Mediocre. - Nothing made a lasting impression. The menu describes it better than it really tastes. - Does not seem authentic. read more

Went to Pasteur with 5 friends last night hoping for a great dinner. Started out wonderfully with great cocktails in the bar. Bartender was awesome, cocktails were even better. That's when the night hit the skids. We were seated in the upstairs dining room with our drinks from the bar. Never saw our server. We asked 2 passing wait staff who told us that our server would be with us shortly as they ran through our room. After waiting at least 20 minutes, one of our party got up and walked downstairs to ask the hostess about service. When no one came to our table after that, our table of 6 got up and left. I am not sure anyone even noticed. There is absolutely no excuse for the utter lack of service. We had a wonderful dinner at Francesca on Bryn Mawr. read more

I think the thing I like best about Pasteur is the ambience tho they need better sound proofing as it can get pretty loud in here. Food is okay but I think it is one of those places that's more like "Been there, done that...moving on." read more

My date was telling me Pasteur was this cool Vietnamese/French restaurant. Since I loved Le Colonial so much, I decided I liked vietnamese/french restaurants and was excited to find a new one. We arrived and they sat us in the corner next to the window. The table was big and the chairs were comfy. But, they had some super cheesy french music playing. Ya know? The place was nicely decorated. I'll give them credit for that. It was a pretty place. The lighting was nice. Just overall great presentation. Only it was super hot in the place. We were sweatin'! Our server was kind of awkward. He seemed nervous and was wearing a button up, slacks with a huge shining batman belt. Hmmmm? That's all that needs to be said about that. We had been sitting down for maybe 2 minutes before he came up to us and assumed we were ready to order. We took about 5 minutes just to figure out what wine we wanted. They had a pretty lengthy wine list, so that was nice. He came back once we picked out our wines and assumed again that we were ready to order. I laugh when I type this because unfortunately he was not very observant. Nice guy though. He meant well. I finally chose some type of pork rib. They brought it out to me completely uncooked. The middle was literally raw. So I had to have them take it back and re-cook. The 2nd time it came out it was cooked well. It was pretty good. Can't complain about it. My date said he liked his food as well. I forget what he ordered. Some type of curry. Overall the place wasn't bad. It was no Le Colonial but it was nice. It's a good place to take a date. read more

I've been going to Pasteur in its many incarnations for over 20 years (my favorite was Pasteur Café just off Michigan Ave, may it rest in peace). When I heard about its latest resurrection, I could hardly wait to try it. I'm pleased to say that my recent visit was very enjoyable, and that the menu & cooking are an improvement over its previous Edgewater incarnation. It's quite a large space, nicely done up in white tablecloths, mirrors and spherical chandeliers -- it conveys an intention of elegance & romance that transcends its Edgewater surroundings. The menu seems more compact, more thoughtfully composed and more French-inflected than before. We liked a shrimp papaya salad -- the blend of traditional flavors was well-balanced, the ingredients fresh. Beef curry was full-flavored and just peppery enough for us. Calamari Sa-te (do the mean "sauté"?), featured fresh, delicious lightly-breaded chunks of squid and a supremely fresh bed of greens. For dessert, a vanilla panacotta (go figure) was yummy. The compact wine list is fairly priced, with many good selections (though a gewürztraminer would be a nice addition for this cuisine). We enjoyed most everything about our visit. The food was very good, the staff (though not always polished) was uniformly cordial & helpful, the vibe was relaxed. The lighting was bright when we arrived early in the evening, but was dimmed too low for my tastes shortly thereafter. Service was attentive early on, but flagged as the place filled up -- I would allow ample time on a weekend night after 6:30pm. Bottom line: congratulations to Pasteur on a promising resurrection -- I'll look forward to returning soon! read more

This place is kind of a shit show. The food is not great at all (overcooked duck smothered in tamarind sauce to make you forget it, clumsy subpar salads, ...) The manager is nice but seems to be enjoying the place socially more than wanting to run it. The interior is beautiful which is Pasteur's meh food only redeeming quality. Just for that, I hope the owners finally come in, make some sweeping back-to-basics change and turns this place around because it would be sad to see such an earnest investment in interior go to waste (the place was dead on a Friday night). Hint: cut the menu in half and do that well. Wait for "change of management and chef" sign on the front, then go back. Avoid for now. read more

Best restaurant in the area. Matches Le Coloniale for ambience, but the food is better. read more

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I'm left with thinking the place is much better than we experienced. It wasn't bad, just the general feeling and flow from food to service seemed a bit off and wonky. It started with the initial interaction from host turned attentive server turned instant avoidance/let me get my mgr for a minor issue turned mgr dealing w. said issue in an effective/efficient manner...it was a feeling of in congruence followed w forced niceties. That said i'm likely being hypercritical but on a night where all we wanted was to dine and experience casual, quality dining in a great atmo (which it offers in spades) we got mediocre to above average food and bevy's for a price that didn't quite stand up. a $12 signature cocktail, which is obvi the norm these days, is no problem. but bring me a legit "size" $12 cocktail. It could have been a shot for all i know. the food, while seemingly priced right on the menu is small beyond acceptability. The saving grace is they are approaching a particularly nuanced side of French/Viet that's not often seen in Chicago. So I can appreciate that and the effort but in short, this wasn't a shining or even above average experience. It was average at best but i would do it again it someone had the time and inclination to convince me to go back for a redux. read more

Oh, Pasteur, I am so happy you are back. I've genuinely missed your decor, your service and your very good food. Having been big fans of Pasteur in its past life, we recently returned with friends to sample the offerings of Pasteur 2.0. Our evening started with a pre-dinner chat and quality cocktails from our perfectly friendly bartender. He shared a round of inventive adult beverages with us and passed along highlilghts of the new menu. We admired that the bar area, which was once exclusively lounge space, now includes a few tables for very cozy dining. Naturally, we ate in the bar. The dinner menu offered multiple interesting options for each of us, including a few old favorites from the past. I was always partial to the spicy calamari entree, but opted for another calamari dish made with fresh pineapple. It was a great choice. Suffice to say we all tucked in for a fantastic meal and talked about when we would all return. Welcome back, Pasteur. See you again soon. read more

So disappointed, I wanted to like this place. Like another reviewer, I was part of a large group for a dinner event. We got to sample a wide variety of the menu, and my table just wasn't impressed by much of it. Here's the breakdown in order of yumminess: -can't remember the name of this drink, but it was raspberry vodka base with a hit of sriracha - a surprisingly delicious twist! -Beef Pho - you can get pho anywhere on Argyle, but the the beef was so tender, this might be the best one I've had. If only it were hotter. -Claypot Salmon - the salmon was cooked nicely and the fresh sugar cane was a nice preparation, this was a real crowd-pleaser -Fried Banana with Green Tea Ice Cream - this was a tasty and refreshing dessert -Curry Beef - I enjoyed the coconut curry sauce, but otherwise it was unremarkable -Appetizers: Spring Roll, Egg Roll, Dumpling - these were all pretty good, but they tasted just like the frozen ones I bought from Whole Foods. Again, unremarkable -Shrimp Papaya Salad - I have a shrimp allergy, so I appreciated that they were able to substitute chicken for me. The dish, however, was so-so. I'm surprised it's papaya, I don't think I tasted any Service was really spotty. They started off really welcoming and prompt (I loved the "Pasteur 85" welcome drink - their take on a gin-based French 75), but went downhill from there. Timing between servings really lagged, which is weird because it was a snowstorm so we were pretty much the only patrons in the restaurant. The other frustrating part was that sauces and dips were not served with the accompanying meals. We would be halfway through a dish and they would come out with a sauce we *should have* eaten it with. The food was ok, but not great; but the service really detracted from the experience. Sigh. read more

So bummed about last night at Pasteur. Up until then, I had a great experience with the staff - they called to confirm the reservation, asked questions about our food requests (no meat), etc. Was really looking forward to it. So, coming in a few minutes early for our 9 p.m. reservation to find about 30 people waiting for their tables was a real disappointment. Many of those waiting were for reservations at 8:15 p.m.! We were staring at an hour-long wait and not eating until after 10 p.m. I bowed out of the list, which the hostess was happy for, but from a customer service standpoint it would have been nice to be offered a gift certificate for an appetizer, a drink, something when we do come back. If we gave up our seats on an airplane we would have been treated that way. Will it keep us from coming back? No. But Pasteur should know how disappointed their customers were last night. In the future, they should be more careful about overbooking through Open Table. read more