I need french food

OK, here goes. It's 5:45 and I'm about to go for a 5-6 mile run. Don't worry, I'll shower afterwards. I'm wearing jeans and a polo. But I need french food. I'm craving it. Whether it's those wonderful steak frites, a cassoulet, boudin noir or blanc, or anything else I'm game. Only 3 requirements- must be in the loop or generally towards Wicker Park, must not be either Kiki's or Le Bouchon (I love le bouchon but think it might be time to have something new). I think that's 3 options kind of. I'll eat at whatever price point, though I have a strong feeling that Tru won't seat me like this

La Sardine
111 N Carpenter St
Chicago, IL 60607

On Tuedays, they have a three course prix fixe for $25.

Cyrano's maybe?

546 n wells

Old Town Brasserie!! I recommend any of the salads, especially the truffle salad that is on special. Sweet breads are amazing. Any of the desserts are great. They were doing a coconut souffle that was good, but not sure if they still have it. There's a flourless almond cake served with a tapioca sauce that is tasty and comforting.

Old Town Brasserie
1209 N. Wells, at Wells and Division
(312) 943-3000

Don't forget Bistro Margot and Bistro 110, too.

Cafe Matou!

I had to postpone this until Thursday, so keep 'em coming I'll post where I'm going to go sometime during the day on Thursday so I can see if anyone else from the board will happen to be there.

My friend who has cooked in many fine restaurants says that when he eats out with other chefs he invariably eats at Cafe Matou.

Also, they sometimes have my favorite salad in the whole wide world which is really simple greens and lightly fried chicken livers with goat cheese. Also the mussels are really nice.

Cafe Matou
1846 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773-384-8911

I cannot recommend Cafe Matou. My last meal there was a huge disappointment both foodwise and servicewise.

All of the dishes were completely drenched in butter, with no other flavors coming through, and my friends and I were treated horribly.

And yes, we're young (mid-twenties), but we're well-dressed, polite, and paying a good deal of money for three courses apiece plus a bottle of wine. Don't look down your nose at us, ignore us, then act bored and angry when you finally do come around.

Last time I was at Marche I was extremely happy. The French onion soup was delicious. So were the muscles and frites. Staff was pleasant and knowledgable. Attentive without being overbearing.

Sorry, I didn't see the No LeBouchon, I tried Cafe Matou also, because I thought I over did LB, I had a horrible experience there. Waitress was great, but the food was barely mediocre.


www.lebouchonofchicago.com

Le Bouchon
1958 N. Damen, corner of Armitage and Damen, so in your hood.

I saw Joan Cusack there with her husband last week. This is a weekly place for me. Monday half price wines, Tuesday three course prix fixe of anything you want, and they always have a $22 steak frites, 3 course special. I don't love the appetizers there, but everything else is great.

edited but decided to leave address in case anyone else needs it.

I always say Cyrano's to this question.

One of my favorite places in the city.

mailsf wrote:my friends and I were treated horribly.

If this is so, it is both shocking and sad...I have had a dozen wonderful meals at CM and was made to feel at home on every occasion. I hope this was an isolated incident and not proof the place is in decline.

fwiw, I had a ridiculous waiter at Cafe Matou, but it was probably 2 years ago now. Food was okay.

nicinchic wrote:No Question
www.lebouchonofchicago.com

Le Bouchon
1958 N. Damen, corner of Armitage and Damen, so in your hood.

I saw Joan Cusack there with her husband last week. This is a weekly place for me. Monday half price wines, Tuesday three course prix fixe of anything you want, and they always have a $22 steak frites, 3 course special. I don't love the appetizers there, but everything else is great.

Ummm Maybe you didn't read the OP all the way through.

jpschust wrote:...Only 3 requirements- must be in the loop or generally towards Wicker Park, must not be either Kiki's or Le Bouchon (I love le bouchon but think it might be time to have something new). I think that's 3 options kind of. I'll eat at whatever price point, though I have a strong feeling that Tru won't seat me like this

I love Matou as well, I don't see it on a decline at all, every time I go, it keeps getting better and better. I'm on their mailing list and I have to say that I am impressed with all their wine and beer nights with the 5 courses & pairings. They consistently offer strong dishes, a great wine list, and they are always changing their menu, whereas most French places (that I've been to) NEVER change!
I will continue to patronize CM and I love that it's so close to home!


-JK

Although my usual first answer to this question would be Cyrano's as the most consistent and most complete of the traditional bistro menus, dinner at Cafe Matou two weeks ago adds CM to that list of restaurants like Mon Ami Gabi and Le Bouchon that can turnout a very fine little steak a less than half Morton prices.
Of course the chef, Charlie Soucher, may have "cheated" a little by wrapping his hanger steak in bacon, but I just consider that good packaging.
Unfortunately the sweetbreads were off the menu, but overall a rich, sometimes old fashioned French preparation of a variety of dishes. Doubling your Lipitor may be necessary to deal with the richness of some preparations.
Nonetheless I think the best choice to deal with a French food "jones" is Cyranos. His menu will have more of the classics than anyone else, his preparations are basically classical but with a lighter touch, and all the rest of the experience will be traditionally French-aperitifs will be available in red and white, good bread with unsweetened butter will be quickly presented, wines are presented in bottles, half bottles, carafes, glasses, and an order of eau de vie or calvados will be greeted with several options not a glazed look.

MLS wrote:Unfortunately the sweetbreads were off the menu

The sweetbreads have been off the menu for quite some time; I ate there last April and they weren't on then, either. That was my only experience at Cafe Matou. I thought the service was just fine (no issues) and the food was just okay, nothing great. Specifically, I had braised beef short ribs and they were okay, served on the bone, a bit chewy - nothing like the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs you can get at quite a few places around town. I don't even remember what I had for dessert, only that it too was nothing special. It struck me as one of those places I might go to if I happened to live nearby, out of convenience rather than any specific attraction to the food.

I agree with Jennydran about the wine and beer nights, consistently excellent, innovative, and reasonably priced. For what it's worth, the price they advertise includes tax and tip. They change the menu regularly, which has its advantages (you actually have to read the menu even if you are a regular) and its inevitable drawbacks (Catherine never manages to make it to CM on a night when they serve blanquette de veau.) Last time our daughter was home to visit, she absoltuely insisted that Cafe Matou be one of the restaurants where we took her out to eat. We have always found the food and service consistently good -- but then again we have had occasional horrible experiences at restaurants everyone loves. No restaurant is always perfect, but Matou remains one of our favorite restaurants and one we would definitely recommend for French food -- our particular ethnic cuisine, as it happens.

I've always had good food and good service at Cafe Matou, on their regular nights as well as their beer and wine dinners. I wouldn't classify it as exciting food, but it's good for what it is - French Bistro fare.

The chef likes to do a lot with wild mushrooms, so there is often a limited set of what I can order, but I haven't noticed an overuse of butter except in the chicken dish (and the description of that one clearly states that it's chicken with herb butter and cheese stuffed under the skin).

The set price menu is a great value (but you have to want what is on offer, there's no choice). We've gone on their Wine Cellar raid nights, and both gotten the set price menu and a highly discounted bottle of wine, so it's not like we're big spenders

Cafe Matou changes its menu daily and seasonally. Sweetbreads is a frequent special, especially during colder weather. Apparently one day in April, 2007, it was not.
Brasserie Jo is also a great place to get a French fix. Easily the best place in Chicago for Alsatian specialties including beer and wine, they always have classics like skate, rillettes, and choucroute garni. May be the only place in the city that has Suze.
Durand's Perigord and Joho's Alsace give you a French geographical choice, with little choice of disappointment at either.

I'd say Mon Ami Gabi. They have great french food in a room where you feel transported to France.

tonirogerspark wrote:I'd say Mon Ami Gabi. They have great french food in a room where you feel transported to France.

I've not tried a lot of the Mon Ami Gabi menu, but I do have to say the frites for the steak frites were pretty bad.

jpschust wrote:

tonirogerspark wrote:I'd say Mon Ami Gabi. They have great french food in a room where you feel transported to France.

I've not tried a lot of the Mon Ami Gabi menu, but I do have to say the frites for the steak frites were pretty bad.

I'm a seafood gal and have to admit I haven't eaten the steak. I liked the frites though. The skate is lovely. The mussels are good and I've enjoyed the salmon before. I enjoy the salads, especially the frisee with the poached egg. I like the bagette they bring you. But you know, to each, his own.

I won't say Mon Ami Gabi is the best French food in town (I'm not qualified), but I will say there's something to be said for a well-oiled machine where the food is consistently good, the FOH is consistently welcoming, and the service is consistently professional. Whenever I go to MAG, I'm relaxed, because I know I'm going to have a good time. Feeling relaxed is good. And maybe underrated.

Riddlemay, I think you hit the nail on the head. I get that relaxed feeling from the place too. I'll sip a glass of champagne and watch action of the room like it is a movie. I think it is one of the best rooms that LEYE has brought to life. There's a small feeling to it, but isn't crowded. And I always feel transported away from the regular world. The food makes me happy as do most of the waitstaff. It just gives me a euphoric feeling and I don't mean from the champagne, but that helps too

Agree with the commets about Mon Ami. We go very often (1-2 month) and my only complaint is that I get bored with the menu.

I love the salmon and the mussels and my wife makes a meal of several apps.

Good wine list and (almost) always good service.
Bonus: I can double dip: Opentable points, LEYE points!

I went to Marche, with a friend, on Friday and I have to say I was expecting a lot better then we got.

The service was great, it was clean, the guy was friendly and knowledgeable on their wine selection. We both ordered the steak frites, which came five minutes after we ordered and mine was served rare, ordered medium rare and my friends was served rare, ordered medium. Now that is not my only complaint, the steak was served sliced into several different pieces. I have to say, I've never had my steak frites served that way, and now that I am typing, I am trying to think and do not know, but what type of steak is steak frites generally? Mine looked like it was flank steak, used in fajitas and I do have to say I was a little disappointed.

Shaggywillis wrote:... what type of steak is steak frites generally? Mine looked like it was flank steak, used in fajitas and I do have to say I was a little disappointed.

I can't say I've seen it made with flank or skirt steak (the latter being what is traditionally used for fajitas), but Marche's on-line menu indicates it is a skirt steak. (Link is for a PDF.) I happen to love skirt steaks. They tend not to be very expensive and have a great meaty flavor.

I suspect that the reason the steak was slices is because skirt steaks have a very well-defined grain that runs along the width of the steak. The meat is much more tender when cut across the grain than when cut with the grain and an inexperienced diner might incorrectly assume you'd pieces off the short end. Most steak-eats know this is true for any cut of beef, but perhaps the restaurant didn't want an unsuspecting diner to cut is incorrectly and end up with a tough steak.

I think nowadays you'll see it made with just about any kind of steak. Hanger steaks are popular and I think these are quite similar to a skirt steak. The popular Parisian restaurant L'Entrecôte apparently derives its name from the cut called entrecôte, which is from the rib roast.

I think it is often hangar, which is not flank, but has a similar texture (but I think a bit less obvious grain).