My boyfriend, one of my friends, and I stopped by Taureaux Tavern for happy hour and had such a great experience. We sat out on the patio, which was a beautiful spot to enjoy a few drinks and catch up. We didn't order any food, so I can't speak to the menu, but the cocktails were fantastic. The Risky Business was refreshing and flavorful, and everything we ordered was well-made. What really stood out was the service. Everyone was so friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our visit. The atmosphere was relaxed, comfortable, and perfect for an afternoon happy hour. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back! read more

Taureaux Tavern - happy hour drinks - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had dinner here the other night with some friends/co workers that were in town and staying just a block away. I chose the restaurant from yelp, seeing that their menu had variety to satisfy most without there being too many overwhelming options. It was really easy to make a weekday dinner reservation on open table. We shared an appetizer, the baked goat cheese- it was pretty good! I ordered the lobster roll and fries. It's a cold lobster roll, with a few big chucks of lobster and then a salad under the meat. The brioche bun it sat on was really good too. Their servings are large! None of us finished our meal, as we weren't expecting so much food. If possible I'd recommend ordering a few plates and sharing. The restaurant itself it nicely decorated and the staff is nice. It's exactly what you'd expect of a restaurant in the loop where folks can have a meal with colleague or business partners without traveling far. read more

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If you're looking for that perfect "downtown Chicago moment" -- the one that feels classy yet welcoming, with food that makes you pause mid-bite -- Taureaux Tavern nails it. I stopped in for lunch and instantly loved the ambiance. It's elegant but not pretentious -- think upscale brasserie vibes with warm lighting, cozy booths, and the kind of soundtrack that makes you want to linger over another cocktail. Let's talk food. The steak frites? Perfectly cooked and seasoned like they care about every bite. The French onion soup had a golden, bubbling layer of cheese that honestly could win awards. And if you're a cocktail person, don't skip the Lavender 75 -- floral, balanced, and very "main character energy." Service was exceptional -- attentive without hovering, and our server had spot-on recommendations (including convincing me to try the truffle fries, zero regrets). It's also surprisingly versatile: great for date night, girls' brunch, or a post-work drink that somehow turns into a full dinner. Pro tip: Grab a seat on the patio when the weather's nice -- it's one of the best people-watching spots in the Loop. Location: 155 W. Van Buren Must-Try: Steak Frites, French Onion Soup, Lavender 75 Vibe: Paris meets Chicago read more

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Walked in at exactly 8:40 pm. The doors were unlocked. The person behind the bar then told me they were closed. The website said 9 pm. I'm very disappointed with this bar not seating me at 8:40 20 minutes before closing time. read more

Stopped by the tavern for dinner with a group of friends and had a great experience. The steak and frites lived up to expectations--cooked just right--and the French onion soup was rich, flavorful, and clearly well made. Service was friendly and attentive, even with a group of us, and the overall vibe was relaxed and enjoyable. Given the quality of the food, the service, and the atmosphere, everything felt very reasonably priced--great value for the experience. A solid spot for good food, good company, and a comfortable atmosphere. read more

Taureaux Tavern - French Onion Soup - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Appallingly slow inattentive but friendly service. Noisy and rowdy bar. Small Portions, like in France, not America. $22 for a hamburger (not even cheeseburger) and fries. Mediocre and small hamburger. Avoid read more

3.5 stars I was surprised how big the restaurant was! It looks like a pretty grand space, but it's slightly disjointed and it felt hodgepodge. Like there's an unused dining area upstairs, another one to the left, a well lit bar area that you could hear bros howling from while you're eating dinner in the dining area, and a tented in outdoor area. It took the wait staff to get to us to start the visit, but maybe it was a shift change. Everyone was friendly otherwise. They don't have a non-alcoholic drink on their cocktail menu. If you don't drink, plan on having one in your pocket to know to ask for, or soft drinks. There is a happy hour- we didn't partake, but considering the location, this might be a place to consider for food/ drinks after work before heading home on the CTA. The food: Shrimp cocktail: 4/5 Huge shrimp and they give you 5. The shrimp themselves aren't cooked in a way that retains the bright flavor that shrimp cocktail usually has, but with the cocktail sauce it's good. Wings- 3/5 They were not caramelized like the menu states. Good portions. They're fine. We had a promotion so they were free Burger: 3.5, fries 5/5 Ordered medium rare, came medium well. Was pretty average flavor Fries were the best part of the meal. Great seasoning and crispy! Salmon: 4/5 Cooked to my preference- and tasty peppery crust. Sautéed spinach was not seasoned and kinda sad. Beurre blanc was good, but sauce was broken. read more

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Massive space, flexible staff, windy windows!! Great prices and value for the location, good for parties of any size. Casual-but-nice ambiance. Wide array of food that spans across various European fare and some Americanized additions. Large servings. We came in as a group of 4 (had res for 6), staff was kind to accommodate us to a different table after a bird flew in to our corner. They have large windows that they open up on warm days, beware if it's windy. The draft at one point was strong enough to knock over an (empty) water glass on to the floor. We ordered nachos and arancini to start. Nachos were heaps and heaps of chips with a pretty hefty cheese sauce. These were so filling. After they sit around getting cold, the cheese sauce gets a bit chalky... but for nacho lovers still addicting. Arancini were interesting; I'm accustomed to more carby/cheesy/risotto arancini; these were more meat-based. I couldn't really taste the risotto. I had the steak frites for my main. They did a good job, but it was served a bit odd - cut down the middle as opposed to sliced as other places normally would. This added to the lack of a steak knife made it more interesting - thankfully the steak was very good and didn't need much sawing away. In any case, given the location and variety and flexibility of the staff, Taureaux makes a dinner simple and stress-free; hence the 4 stars instead of the 3. read more

Great spot to meet for drinks after work, if you need to catch the metra it's right next to the restaurant. Good drinks, mediocre food and somewhat slow service. Large nicely heated patio. read more

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Great happy hour spot for the 9 to 5 hrs in the Loop. Plenty of space / seating for larger groups. Headed here after work with my husband. We enjoyed the nachos and burger. An added bonus it's convenient to the train or bus. read more

We had high expectations as we went there right before the Ina Garten Show at the Auditorium. First the menu was really unimpressive. That being said the lobster bites appetizers was fantastic but the onion gratinées only so so. Just before our main courses arrived we all ordered wine (glass or caraffe) and/or refills. Dinner came and no wine..... after 3 requests our wine and drinks FINALY came once we had ALL finished our meals. No apologies, NOTHING...... we were not even asked if we wanted dessert. SHOCKINGLY BAD FOR THAT PRICE read more

Taureaux Tavern - The wine to accompany our Steak Diane....... only we had finished it LONG before it came. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Taureaux Tavern is a decent restaurant to have a lunch in the south loop. It's located directly behind the Chicago Board of Trade Building. The location is pretty good - around a bunch of office buildings and the CTA. I went here for a business lunch with some coworkers, the service was good and all the workers were friendly and the food was tasty, but I could not believe the prices. For example, it was $30 for a small piece of salmon with spinach and a sauce for a meal, I understand it's the city but that's totally unreal - i could have went to Marianos and got a bigger piece of salmon for $5 and have them cook it for me there! I wouldn't return personally due to the prices, but if you got the money and want a tasty meal, try it out. read more

Food 3/5 The menu features a limited collection of French staples, mixed in with a few continental dishes. Food was ok. Everyone in my group ordered steak frites and none of them came out right. A medium rare came out very, very rare and a medium came out medium rare. Also, the dish description touted Bernaise sauce, which was noticeable absent and replaced with some type of aioli. Atmosphere and Decor 3/5 The tavern, and coziness that comes with the moniker, is nowhere to be found. Instead, the restaurant serves vibes of a corporate-style dining room or one of those restaurants in the lobby of a city hotel. Largely devoid of personality. Service 4/5 Seating was prompt and our server was very friendly. She expedited our meal to ensure we wrapped in time to make it to the theater. Halfway through the meal, I asked another server for more sauce, which arrived after I had finished my meal read more

Taureaux Tavern - Prime Steak Frites - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came in after work for drinks. Hostess and bartender were nice and attentive. Most of diners were on the patio. Drinks were normal price for the area and good. If you are on a budget, they don't have HH. Snacked on steak tartare but it's lacking a kick of fresh black pepper. For now, 3 stars. Will have to come back try other items. read more

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I love this place. Visit every time I'm in the city. The goat cheese dip is to die for. Very quiet lunch experience there on NYE day. The servers are always super nice. read more

Decent, but not outstanding in any category. For some reason I recall this place being much better first time around. My salad was worse than regular salad joint you'd go for lunch. Overall an ok place but I won't be returning: the service was slow and inattentive (even though the place was empty), and ambiance is not warm. read more

Taureaux Tavern - Cesar salad with tiny salmon - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for lunch and a drink, as were showing as open on yelp, but had a private event planned so kitchen was closed during business hours so no lunch without reservations! Bummer. no comments about food or service, it was fairly empty when I went at 2pm Ambience was great, wished I had tasted their food, walked several blocks after reading reviews to try it! Drinks- I had old fashioned, templeton rye, average at best but they do have good whiskey selection. read more

Taureaux Tavern - Old fashioned no - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From San Diego working in Chicago for an assignment and invited with a co-worker to T Tavern. We sat at bar and experienced an amazing Jess the bartender. It's just awesome to have a great time with new gal pals ambiance and exceptional service which Jess and Taureaux Tavern provided. Definitely a place to checkout when in Chicago! read more

Came in on a weeknight and was seated right away. It has a great ambiance with a classic feel to this restaurant. There is plenty of seating and a nice sized bar area. Food and drinks were reasonably priced. I would recommend for a nice date night! read more

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Great soup and salad! Great service. Nice patio space. Good location in downtown. Good for after work drinks too.

It was decent and I'm so glad they are open in my neighborhood. I don't think that the food here really counts as French food so I'm struggling to understand the whole French theme. I ate a baked dish whole order, and broccoli. My friend ordered the steak and fries. The fries my friend received were standard American fries with some sort of cheese sprinkled on them. My fish was baked so tender and deliciously! I had a glass of wine, I was saddened to hear they do not offer organic wine. Normally I pass when I can't get the natural good stuff but my food and the regular wine were all very good. I will eat here again! The waitstaff was attentive and polite. The establishment was clean and the bathrooms were better than average. This place gets a lot of higher end clientele so if you are trying to mingle with successful people in Chicago this may be a place you would like to try but it doesn't seem to be a mingle place. Enjoy! read more

Is casual upscale a thing? Because that's this place. Cool, hip, tucked away on Van Buren. Awesome vibe when you walk in. Full disclosure, I was there for a work event. They have a nice spot up above, overlooking the bar and dining area. Apps were fresh, flavors plentiful, perfectly set up. Dinner was pre-set and consisted of a fresh salad with mint - not overpowering at all, a nice fresh different salad. Dinner had a family style of offerings: their famous chicken thighs pounded flat, nice big rigatoni in vodka sauce, a beef dish that I can't remember because I didn't have it. Also fried brussels and french fries. Everything was amazing, wonderful flavors, I could have eaten all night long. The chicken thighs perfectly done, brussels are amazing. And honestly, even the french fries were perfect. Service was great, wine glass was never empty. I would come her again for any reason. read more

Taureaux Tavern is the newest establishment by the CBOE. I was elated that a new concept (fancy dinner place) had been built and was even happier when my company decided to eat there for our team dinner. The group enjoys french dining and our time at Cochon Volante was quite well received. Ambiance: The restaurant itself has high ceilings, gorgeous light fixtures and is definitely beautiful to visit at night. There are comfy suede booths, dim lighting and the most perfect place for a work dinner or for date night. There is plenty of paid parking in the area (there are two paid structures next door). Service: Service was good. Everyone was attentive and our drinks were never empty. The one thing I would mention- the minus one star part- is that it was one of team member's birthdays and they did not have any sort of dessert or candle to surprise her with. Our group spent a good amount of money with food and drinks and it was disappointing that they could not do something for her to make her feel special. We made a note to the hostess that she took down when we entered. Food & Libations: We were most excited about all the fancy dishes (this place is pricier). I ordered the Faroe Islands salmon (the Faroe Islands is between Scotland and Iceland). I was excited until I tried dish and found that it was too salty in my honest opinion. It was decent but not worth the close to 30.00 pricetag. The chips and cheese dip was delicious and the hanger steak seemed pretty popular amongst our group. I definitely would visit again to try some of the apps but perhaps Taureaux needs some time to get settled before I try this place again. read more

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Service is always so welcoming at Taureaux Tavern every time we come in! I generally like to come in for their French Onion Soup--it's definitely one of my favorites that i've had in the city. The ambiance gives off a very casual vibe & it's never too packed, especially for lunch time. I do wish they were open on the weekends though, seems like a lot of business is missed out on due to their closure Saturdays & Sundays. Besides that, I would definitely recommend anyone come try this restaurant out! Be sure to try the soup :) read more

Taureaux Tavern - French Onion Soup - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was leaning toward the roasted chicken thighs, and when my server (Val) suggested the same made, it was a 'no brainer'. While they were out of cauliflower, which typically comes with the dish, the asparagus spears more than made up for it. The skin was roasted perfectly, and the serving size didn't disappoint. The chicken was boneless, and had what seemed more like breast meat quality. (For these reasons, I'd say this is a restaurant that helps take the bite out of inflation.) With a mini pitcher of jus and a side of mashed potatoes, Heaven was just a few bites away. While I finished the meal off with the chocolate mousse, which was decadent, I hope my sins will be forgiven, given I am in Heaven after all. The service was attentive, but not overly so, and there was no shortage of warm smiles either:) I came in without reservations by the way, and for all the aforementioned reasons have no reservations in recommending Taureaux Tavern. Overall Score: 4.5 Food: Served hot and with fresh ingredients Service: Warm and friendly, attentive Ambience: Might benefit from white tablecloths, flowers and votive candles Music: Easy listening pop read more

Taureaux Tavern - Chocolate Mousse - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We wanted lunch but not a sandwich, and this place is only 2 blocks from our hotel. Nice size outdoor patio with pergola on a courtyard. We each had the Cobb salad, I had chicken, my hubby had shrimp. Both were delicious. Freshly grilled protein. And they were huge! The Roquefort dressing was pre mixed on the greens with the other ingredients layered on top. There was live music in the courtyard today as well. We'd definitely come back if we're in the area again. read more

My coworkers and I decided to try this place for Chicago restaurant week. This review is solely based on the menu that was offered during this time. The restaurant itself has a great ambiance and is decorated beautifully. We came in during lunch time and I was surprised to see how packed it was. Our table was upstairs and it was ready by the time we arrived (we had reservations). Our waiter was friendly, efficient and helped out by offering several recommendation to a coworker that was vegetarian. The menu was a standard 3 course lunch. French onion soup or baked goat cheese for appetizers; steak, salmon or cobb for the main course and a chocolate mouse cake or apple tart for desert. We were a table of 15 people, so everyone basically ordered one of each item on the menu minus the Cobb. I had the French onion soup as an appetizer. It tasted okay, but I felt that it was extremely heavy on the cheese. The baked goat cheese was excellent according to the rest of the table. For my main course, I had the salmon and that was extremely delicious. The lemon sauce that came with it really elevated the taste. The steak was cooked perfectly, according to my coworker and the fries were a perfect crips. The desserts were rather disappointing. The chocolate mouse was just average and the apple tart was a little sour. We really enjoyed this place and I plan to come back here to try their full menu. Definitely a must try! read more

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Overpriced great service but average food. We ordered several appetizers and they were just okay. I got the whitefish and avocado salad and it was huge. They were supposed to box it for me to go but they forgot and threw it out! read more

We held an event for St Jude on the 2nd floor last evening at Taureaux Tavern. The staff was wonderful and beyond accommodating! It was so good we decided to stay for dinner. A decision none of us regretted! read more

I've been here twice, both for lunch. It actually wasn't very crowded either time but not dead either. I sat at the bar and got great service. The second time was Jose, and he stood out to me as being very friendly. The menu has a similar style to its sister restaurant, Cochon Volant. They also have free wifi and outlets under the bar, which is a huge plus. It's a good place to get stuck for a while since you can charge your phone or electronics. The bar is huge and they have an outdoor patio in the summer. Overall I loved the ambiance and service but not quite sold on the food. I tried the lobster thermidor, which was very good. However, anything covered in butter will be. But this is a good appetizer to share. The standout dish for me was the steak tartar. I thought it was very good and better than most spots. The bone marrow was just okay for me as it was mixed with some other ingredients and not presented in its natural state. However, the oxtail underneath was super tasty. My friend couldn't stop eating it. I had to try a Caesar as it is a go-to. The portion is huge but this is nothing like the outstanding Caesar at Cochon. It was very average with the exception of their amazing croutons. The were crispy but had a fatty flavor from whatever they are cooked in. I was thinking maybe even a duck fat but whatever it is really comes out in the flavor and in a good way. However, the chicken they served with it was actually a bit tough. Overall for the area a decent option but walk a few blocks over to Cochon for lunch instead. read more

Taureaux Tavern - caesar - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food, casual-elegance atmosphere. We had the Osso Buco and Mussels plus apps, drinks, and dessert. Appreciated the cozy environment and great service on a busy weeknight! read more

I had a business lunch here a couple days ago. I was glad to see a nicer restaurant spot pop up in the financial district, as there aren't a lot of options. I used to live right on this block so it's always good to see new developments and new spots come up (especially since we still own our condo there - yay for more value). But my first experience here wasn't super memorable or mind blowing venture. The space is quite large and I believe there is both main floor and upper floor seating. It's a beautiful space that feels well-lit, luxurious and spacious, despite the name "Tavern". They specialize in French inspired fare and the portions are quite large. We weren't drinking but the drink menu looked interesting and plenty of wine options. We all ordered the blue cheese chips & dip and french onion soups to start. The chips were freshly made in-house and tasty, but the dip was way too...well, blue. It was basically a pound of blue cheese melted with more blue cheese crumbles sprinkled on top and some pickled fresno chilis (these were delicious but there weren't enough). It was hard to eat more than a few of these and I with the dip had been a bit more subtle with the blue cheese flavor and not so in your face. The french onion soup was excellent. Filled to the top with bubbling and gooey cheese and a delicious broth with a hearty helping of perfectly caramelized onions underneath. You won't really need anything more to eat if you finish this soup. It's amazing but massive. We ordered salads - my friends ordering the steak frittes and the smoked whitefish salad, and I got the chicken cobb salad. The salad servings were massive, and I appreciate the presentation (they do that thing where all the ingredients are lined up separately and you can mix it all up however you like). But the salad itself was underwhelming. The chicken was incredibly bland and dry, I couldn't eat any of it. This basically left me with bacon crumbles, tomatoes, and eggs on lettuce with a basic ranch dressing. The smoked whitefish got a similar review. The steak frittes salad seemed to be more appreciated by my friend and the fries looked delicious. In hindsight, if I come back here, I'll order something with the fries - perfect shoestring and seasoned fries. All in all, it's nice to have a nicer and more classy restaurant option in this particular area of FiDi. It's a great place if you need to take someone for a nicer lunch or business dinner. Not a bad place for a post work date if you're trying to stay in the area, either. But the food was not super memorable and a little pricey for what you're getting. $16 for dried and bland chicken over basic salad ingredients was a bit high. The $9 french onion soup is worth every penny though! read more

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I came here on a Thursday night with a friend without reservations, and the place was busy but there was no wait. I tried the smoked whitefish avocado with brussel sprouts and pomme frites on the side, and a glass of bordeaux wine. The salad was a little intense because the pickled onions and salad dressing had the same puckering taste, however, it was still tasty. You can't really go wrong with pomme frites and bordeaux wine which were excellent. The brussel sprouts seemed a little overcooked (and wet?) because the crispy outside layer was soft. The ambiance can be romantic and I felt slightly underdressed with my converse sneakers, but the service was excellent and they made me comfortable. There are lots of people coming across the street from work as the restaurant is in the financial district. It's nice to finally have a more upscale restaurant open late in the area. read more

Taureaux Tavern - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is just a great restaurant with high quality food in the style of a French brasserie.

Came here for a celebratory lunch on a Monday, early. We arrived a little after 11 am and the place was pretty much empty. We were surprised when they asked if we had a reservation. We inquired - Do we need one? Seems empty. They told us that by noon the place would be packed and a reservation was essential. They did seat us in the bar area which was fine with us. Our waiter was great. Very attentive and informative. I ordered the Wagyu beef dip because it was the waiter's recommendation. I am not sure that it was any better than a regular beef dip. It was very messy so if you are wanting to keep your dress or tie clean I would think about something else. I really liked the accompanying fries though another at our table thought them to have a strange flavor. The other two at our table had the turkey avocado club. I think it was a good sandwich but not special. Again I think the price a bit on the high side. read more

Taureaux Tavern - Wagyu Beef dip - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely impeccable service from Juan It was our first time here and I had been looking forward to dining here for a while. We shared a lobster bite appetizer (sorry can't remember the actually name, but it's the only lobster app option, so do yourself a favor and get it !! ) and then we shared a Cobb salad which was incredible! So much avocado and BACON. I was really impressed with Juan's service. I used to work in a fine dining restaurant and I admire how attentive and friendly he was to us ! Everything from refilling our wine glasses, wiping the table clean after our appetizer left , to just being informative and friendly. The atmosphere is absolutely stunning here as well. I'll definitely be back!! read more

Slow service...the lemon drop martini was a mix of just vodka and lemon juice... not worth the $16.00. I can do a better job of making my own lemon drop martini. read more

Even though we arrived close to closing the food was excellent and the service impeccable.

More like a 4.5 star restaurant overall including food, but rounding up because of the really excellent service. Friendly manager, gracious server and busboy. Ordered nachos and they were notably spicier than the average nacho - maybe a little lighter handed with the escabeche and then it would be perfection? read more

Went in for a drink at the bar and a sandwich. Josue was bartending. He made me a wonderful Old Fashion. I ordered the Patty Melt with truffle onions. The flavor was out of this world. It was accompanied with great fries. Met the GM, Kyle. Very friendly and welcoming. A definite place to visit when in Chicago. read more