I went to Bistro Campagne last night with two other family members. The food was very good, as was our waitress. However, the men bussing the tables were passing by our table constantly throughout the meal, ready to sweep our plates away EVEN when our forks were still in our hands. We go to a French restaurant to relax and enjoy a meal, not feel pressured, stressed, and feeling like we have to protect our plates. I left annoyed and anxious. Yes, everyone wants vigilant service, but not people racing by one's table every 2-3 minutes and reaching in to grab plates while one is still eating. read more

My wife and I really enjoyed our dinner during Lincoln Square Ravenswood Restaurant Week. My wife loved the French onion soup and the Amish chicken. Both were cooked perfectly. I had the house salad and the trout, which was delicious with the vegetables and the almond beurre sauce. For dessert we shared the creme brule, which was good, and the bread pudding, which was awesome. Also, my wife had the Autumn Sweater cocktail, which she said was delightful. The delicious food and drink were complimented by excellent service - attentive but not obtrusive. We look forward to celebrating our next special day at Bistro Campagne. read more

Cute place and good service. Food was ok but not anything really memorable.. Possibly would return but better options out there that have better French ambiance read more

We selected Bistro Campagne for our Valentine's Day dinner celebration. This little bistro might seem small from the outside, but certainly winds its way back with many tables and seating areas. We found ourselves cozied up in one of the further rooms. Our server was polite and walked us through the drink and food menu as it was our first time. We settled for the baked Brie as an appetizer which paired wonderfully with the fresh, crusty baguette we were served and our signature cocktails. Our entrees consisted of the steak frites and the coq au vin. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. It was the perfect amount of food, that left no room for desert, which is the perfect reason for us to visit again in the future. read more

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Incredible experience. Went here for dinner last night with two friends that are leaving Chicago and had Bistro on their hit list before skipping town...so glad that we got the invite. Like others have mentioned, intimate atmosphere with small tables inside of what feels like someone's first-floor home. Had a glass of champagne and a loaf of bread with very simple butter to start (and damn, that bread was hot, just the way I like it) before launching into a $33 prix fixe that included the croquettes, the steak frites and the pot-de-creme. All were excellent. My wife got the mussels and for $14 we thought this was a pretty great portion size; my friends got a salad, the ravioli and the beef bourguignon which were also excellent. Service was good and unintrusive; prices were fair for the amount of food we got. And this place is part of the A La Card discount deck so we were able to get $10 off the meal. Very good! read more

I ate at this restaurant for the first time and the atmosphere is quite nice. However, the staff were not very personable and not much warmth to any interaction with waitstaff. The bus guys were much nicer. The escargot was super small and my $13.00 salad was very sparse, but it it was good. A 1/4 piece of bread baguette came with the snails and I finished that and asked for another piece. The waitress brought another piece after several minutes and at that point I didn't need it any longer. The chocolate mousse for dessert was good. The kicker was when I received the check that I was charged $4.00 for a small piece of bread and she didn't inform me of this surcharge. I questioned it and they took it off the check, but made me feel a bit belittled. I will not return to this place and I am sure there are superior French bistros to try. read more

I really wanted to love this place, but overall the food just didn't have a lot of flavors and the dishes we tried were all very one-note. I was particularly not impressed with ratatouille, a signature French dish. I've made it myself before and sadly my cooking tasted better. On the plus side the service and atmosphere were pretty good, but I probably won't be back for the food. read more

It had been almost 3 years since I was last here, so I figured this would be a nice place to take my mom for her birthday (yes, this is me patting myself on the back, ha). I enjoyed it previously and I enjoyed it here again. We were on the earlier side (around 6) on a thursday, so it wasn't that filled as would be expected. Two courses was all I could handle. I started off with the carmelized onion strudel. This was almost an entree in of itself. It was really good though and was very savory. Pretty much right away I knew I made the right choice. The roasted chicken was very large. I wasn't able to finish it, but it was a really good dish. The chicken itself was very meaty and it was hard not to inhale the onions. The sauce was a real nice compliment as well. I really like the bistro feel here and you never feel rushed. Our waitress was extremely nice and always available. It was just a nice and relaxed meal the entire time. Very filling and I liked the heartier style of the food. This isn't really butter and cream style french food, but it's not light fare either. The corkage is $15, so it's very manageable. I will have to return here sooner than 2 1/2 years read more

Bistro Campagne - roasted chicken with onions - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have wanted to try this place for years. I am so grateful they survived COVID. Really great food! Love the space and the wait staff is so friendly. read more

It pains me to write a not so great review for a beloved neighborhood staple. I have lived in the neighborhood for over 11 years and have never checked this place out prior to last night when I was able to take advantage of the Lincoln Square restaurant week pre-fixed menu. We were seated right away when we arrived, we were set up with water and our server greeted us promptly and took our drink order. The restaurant is super cute and the atmosphere was good. Our server was helpful answering questions we had about the menu. My husband and I both had the french onion soup he had the trout, I had the salmon, all were very good! The mushrooms and the sauce that come on the salmon-AMAZING. We had a creme brulee and the bread pudding for desser, creme brulee was okay, bread pudding was great. Our main dishes were brought to us by a food runner and our server did not check on us until we were almost finished eating. My husband wanted to order another drink with dessert but again, our server was nowhere to be found. I eventually got up to look for her and she was coming through the back door with her coat on which leaves me to believe she was taking a break. A few minutes later, she dropped the check at our table without asking if we needed anything else, it was just "I'll leave this right here." In the meantime, the bussers/food runners couldn't get our dishes, glasses, water pitcher off the table fast enough. At one point, we still had food on our plates and I picked up my fork when I saw one walking towards the table, and he turned around. The restaurant was still open with plenty of tables filled (just not in our area) so it is not as if we were holding up closing. I have worked as a server in the past so I always give the benefit of the doubt, I understand that somethings are out of the server's hands, this did not seem to be the case here. I also understand that places are still struggling post COVID, and a simple acknowledgement of not checking on us in time, etc. would have made a difference, I think she just did not care. The service aspect of our evening there really was disappointing and a turn off and I don't think we will come back. There are other options in the vicinity that have great food and service at the same or lower price points. read more

I was slightly underwhelmed by the service. Our waitress wasn't as attentive as we could have hoped and when we asked for recommendations, just said to try the chicken. Our neighboring table had a different waiter who was happily describing all of the entrees in depth as we were finishing up - wish we'd had him! The food was very good - entrees were okay, but the soup, salad, and dessert were OUTSTANDING. I'd go again just for that. read more

I would definitely recommend this French countryside bistro which happens to be in Lincoln Square. The chef is so very particular about each little detail. With very smart and refined cooking techniques the overall eating experience feels both healthy and delicious. Whether seated outdoors or in one of the various rooms, the attentive service and very good wine selection guarantees a comforting good vibe. And you won't leave feeling like the stuffed American swine that you are! Update: we haven't gone back, and I think it was because of the cost. I can still remember how awesome the food was, but the competition for that level of expense is tough. read more

Absolutely adorable restaurant. The food I sampled was average (fresh tuna salad), but the ambiance, service, and coffee were fantastic. Menu options that may get me back in the door: crepes, frites, cocktails, beef bourguignon, streak, duck, mussels. Trendy and hip, great for a small group or a date. read more

Food: excellent; the chicken is a particular favorite; the warm fresh French bread service is lovely Drinks: quite good; the French Manhattan is a stand out Service: attentive, friendly Ambience: perfect; the word 'charming' easily comes to mind Tips for enjoying: sitting outside in summer is wonderful; make reservations; their brunch is quite nice, too, but only offered on Sunday. Sitting at bar is also lovely (have done many times if eating alone). My family and I eat here often - it's a Lincoln Square neighborhood gem. read more

Went here for restaurant week with my boyfriend. The restaurant is very cozy and cute - not a lot of space but not too tight to feel uncomfortable. Restaurant week options are definitely a very good deal of $36 - easily worth $50 for a 3 course meal based on the normal menu. I opted for the cauliflower soup - which was good but nothing out of his world, the white fish - which was incredible, and the crème brûlée - which I've had much better elsewhere. The portion sizes seemed like their regular portions despite coming from the restaurant week menu, so we were very stuffed at the end. I recommend this for restaurant week but I wouldn't say it's the most memorable experience. Probably wouldn't come back and pay regular price (~$30/entree). Would've given it a 3 star if it wasn't such a good deal for the amount of food we got. read more

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The first time we came here (last month), everything was well prepared, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. We went back this past Friday night and were underwhelmed, to say the least. We had the Fondue d'artichaut (hot artichoke and crab dip) which had been amazing the first time. This time it was runny and devoid of any crab. The steak frites were cooked correctly but not seasoned at all. The profiteroles were lovely but the pot de creme was rather bland. To make things 10 times worse, my daughter found a hair underneath the frites, after she had eaten about half of her entree. When we brought this to the busboy's attention, he asked if we wanted them to box up the leftovers...??? Really? The server gave us the chef's apologies and they did remove my daughter's entry from the bill, but I doubt we will be back. Such a shame for a charming little place! read more

Say what you will about the food here, but i will cut you if you try to diss their pain perdu. IT. IS. NEXT. LEVEL. Oh, you think bread pudding isn't your thing? THINK AGAIN. I used to think bread pudding was soggy and uninteresting but I am a changed woman now. That's right, this bread pudding was literally life changing. The figs, brown butter soaked brioche cubes, the caramel, the rich vanilla bean ice cream... It is just perfect. If you get nothing else, get this. It is worth stopping by just for dessert. Also every Tuesday they have unlimited mussels and frites and i love it, I eat two bowls. read more

I thought I'll try this place again. The patio is nice, but that cannot be said about the service, once we ordered, no one came, no bread. we ordered the house hamburger and the salmon. The burger was nice but not so for the salmon. Was hoping for a better experience. If you want nice atmosphere sit outside at the patio, food? Is a different story. read more

Bistro Campagne - Salmon, not recommended. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

BC is easily on my list of favorites. The space is so pretty, inside and out. If the weather agrees, do dine on the patio--you forget you're on Lincoln Avenue as the patio's rustic beauty takes over. They do a wonderful job keeping the greenery and area tidy--it was a real treat dining there. I got there a bit early so I enjoyed a seat at the bar having one of my favorite cocktails--kir royale. The servers were so kind and even topped off my glass as I waited for service to resume (Oh, I didnt tell you that the whole block lost power for 10 minutes!. they handled it with complete grace and professionalism and it didn't affect our dinner one bit) My pal JW and I dined on a Wednesday--their prix fixe night. 3 courses for $33. And it was worth a whole lot more! You can add a wine pairing to each course for a bit extra. The glass of bubbly they paired with the mussels with perfect. I opted to start with the mussels--the mussels were on the small side, but the bowl was so full of them that it was still enjoyable. The broth was divine--so flavorful and worth every carb dip of bread to sop up all that goodness. My second course was the trout. Seared to perfection. It was served with mushroom and peas. It was a light dish but still very filling. I opted for the creme brulee for desert and it was made perfectly as well. I love cracking that sugar shell--it's so satisfying! I did get to taste the other dessert--the pots de creme--which was also wonderful. A must for any chocolate lover. I can't wait to come back and dine here for some wonderful French bistro classics. read more

My guy and I were SO looking forward to coming here. So many things on the menu sounded amazing, great reviews, and a super cute location. What a major disappointment & disrespectful establishment. We were most excited for the escargot. Love it and hadn't had it in a long time. Other reviewers seemed to love BC's, but I have had better escargot on a cruise ship with a lot less attitude on the side. The charcuterie board was decent, but overpriced compared to other restaurants nearby. Pretentious & non-existent staff were terrible to us. There were many plates crowding our small table with two appetizers arriving at the same time, so we accidentally knocked over a glass of wine. We believe this might be why were treated awfully the rest of the time. Believe us, it was OUR loss on an expensive glass of wine. No one from the staff even came to give us extra napkins to clean up or even offer to clean up the spill. I sat there the rest of the time with a wet sleeve and trying to avoid the wet tablecloth and the folks at the next table had to sit next to a spill on the floor. Maybe if our waitress had ever come back to the table after our initial order, she would have noticed the spill. We had to flag her down to order our next course. After placing our order, the bartender came over to say he couldn't serve us the port we ordered with dessert. He wouldn't tell us why, only that it wasn't his decision. Our waitress beat around the bush and wouldn't tell us why. We were not drunk if that is what they were implying. We were very polite the entire time we were there. Our tablecloth had more wine than we did! We canceled our desert and just took our check. We left flabbergasted at what had just happened. We spent well over $100 on our appetizers and wine and are not afraid to drop money on a nice dinner out. But we were MORE than happy to take the rest of our evening elsewhere for dessert and to be treated with respect... which we were. We certainly won't be back. read more

This place has gone down hill. The staff has changed for the worse, and the kitchen has lost it's perfection. I have gone to Bistro Campagne for years, and used to rave about it. now, meh... Mainly the waitstaff, but also the kitchen. read more

Love this place! Been a great dining experience every time. Excellent bread, wine, cheese, salads and many apps and entrées. Small and quaint with a somewhat romantic ambiance read more

Came to the Bistro for an anniversary celebration. Food and service was excellent. The chicken as well as the pork chop were probably the best I've ever tasted. The flank steak was very good. I loved the onion frites and the pomme frites. The cheesecake was awesome. A great place with a great atmosphere. I'll be back!!! read more

This is an very cute, romantic French restaurant perfect for an intimate date night. We decided to dine here for Valentine's Day because I wanted a French restaurant (last year we were actually in Paris for Vday). The ambiance was dark and romantic, and the entire staff, including our waiter, was very friendly. We took awhile to pick out what wine we wanted, but our waiter was happy to let us taste 4 different kinds. He also was very attentive to my allergies. They cook all of their frites in peanut oil which is very important for me to know because my boyfriend was going to order the steak frites (of course I would have tried some). They may want to make this known on the menu because peanut allergies are very common. We started with the Charcuterie Board, which was pretty good (not as great as Paris, but that's asking a lot). The warm baguette was a nice touch. My boyfriend had the steak frites but with mashed potatoes instead of frites, it was delicious. I tried the salmon, which was also very good. I enjoyed this restaurant a lot and I wouldn't mind trying it again! read more

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Bistro Campagne's quaint and cozy ambiance is a wonderful spot for a dinner date or catch up with a friend or two. The menu is impressive and everything sounds delicious. Better yet, everything tastes delicious! Especially their complimentary hot petite baguettes. We had the croquettes with smoked trout and spring radishes, dill, and fava beans, French onion soup, house greens with fresh herbs, and the whitefish with peas, capers, and mushrooms. Everything was fantastic and our server could not have been nicer. We'll be back again very soon! read more

Bistro Campagne - Whitefish - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for their Restaurant Week dinner menu, and it was a very satisfying French meal. For $33, I got an appetizer, main entree and dessert, which is a really great deal. I love the upscale yet cozy ambiance that is reminiscent of an actual French bistro. The potato and chestnut soup was thick and creamy, and is definitely on the rich side. If you like thick soup, this is for you. I tried the onion strudel and escargot that my friends got, and there were all very substantial and rich appetizers. For main, I got the Rushing Water Trout, with a side of smoked trout risotto. The trout was seasoned and blossoming with flavors, the skin crispy and the flesh flaky. The risotto wasn't as tender as I hoped, but its creaminess is definitely what you'd look for in a good risotto. This is a good fish entree for you fish-lovers out there. The highlight is definitely the dessert - the creme brulee. The chilled and silky vanilla custard and delicate caramelized sugar top made this a beautifully decadent dessert that will disappear before your eyes in no time at all. You will be dreaming about it for the rest of the night. read more

It was cold out and they kept it locked until opening time. We could have waited at the bar w/o see vice just to warm up. But, this was an incredible evening the server was professional and fun did a perfect wine match with beef cheek bourginione which was a great surprise. The leek. Potato apple vichysouis was unique and we loved it. So in my view it felt great and was a great dinning experience. read more

How this restaurant get 4 stars is a wonder. The service is great and the setting lovely. But the food is so mediocre. We had not been to Bistro Campagne for at least 15 years having found its food just so-so then. But we returned a few nights ago because we were in the neighborhood and were in the mood for French food. I had a very pretty pear tart appetizer that was buried under a massive pile of arugula. I couldn't taste any pear at all. It was all arugula & puff pastry. I then had a pork belly that was so tough I had to saw through it with a steak knife. The mix of flavors didn't make sense. Again no dominant flavor. My companion had a croque madame that was just adequate. It had very good fries though. So disappointed. It was like premium class airline food: very pretty but tasteless. But then you don't book an airline for its dinner service. Bistro Campagne can't transport your palate anywhere. Should have gone for a more worthy dinner next door. read more

At first site on-line, and in person I knew this was the place for me. This is a bit late to review- but we hosted our wedding in September 08. The staff and management were top notch. We always felt so comfortable through the entire process and the wedding day. Food was fantastic, as we had a very social and fun -heavily passed apps reception - lots of great wine and drinks. I still hear compliments on the energy of our wedding and how great the food was that evening. Again the staff did all they could to make all our guests comfortable with a splendid mix of professionalism and relaxation to not make it one bit stuffy. It was also that horribly rainy weekend and Andrew, the manager, did all that he could with tents to keep the gardens open to us that night. We loved it! read more

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Love this LS spot!!! We've been going for special occasions for years. This fall we went for our daughter's birthday and sat in the back outdoor area. It was so beautiful and equipped with heaters. So yummy, cozy and local. Please support this business!! read more

wish i could rate this 1000000000000 stars!!! i've never had a bad meal here and the service is always impeccable. wonderful experience every time. read more

Bistro Campagne - bouillabaisse - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I decided to check it out during the Chicago restaurant week. The mussels were very garlicky, which to me is a plus. The chicken and the steak frites were fine. The highlight, however, was their creme brûlée, which was light and decadent. As someone who cooks, I appreciated the black specks from the vanilla beans in it. Overall good ambiance, service and presentation. read more

I was born in France and have been living in Chicago since I was 3 years old while visiting family in france 2-3 a year since then. I wanted my girlfriend taste authentic french food for her birthday dinner, so I searched for the best rated French restaurants and bistros in the city and decided on this one based on the reviews. When arriving, I was pleasantly surprised at the quaint interior of the restaurant and the truly beautiful outdoor setup. I really wanted to like this place and my first impressions were very good. The staff was all very friendly throughout the night and the fresh baguette really did remind me of being back home. Now for the food we ordered. We both started with a french onion soup which when it came out, had about a half inch layer of straight up cheese on the top of it. The first few bites we had felt more like biting into a moist block of cheese rather than a soupe à l'oignon. Whether it was supposed to be gratinée or not, i find it hard to believe that this was the intended experience of any french onion soup. Next, the bread in the soup which is supposed to be still crispy at the top of the soup was of course completely soaked with broth due to being submerged under the thick layer of cheese. This gave the entire experience of the soup like eating mush and chunks of cheese in a broth that was itself not particularly tasty. Honestly one of the worst french onion soups I've ever had, and it is one of my favorite classical french dishes. What a shame. Next came the entrées. We ordered the white fish and the confit de canard and decided to share both of the plates. The fish had a great texture -- a nice crispy crust on the top and very tender on the inside. However, it was also COMPLETELY bland. The green sauce presumably meant to garner the dish with did not ameliorate the dish much either. When eaten with everything on the plate in a bite, the taste became acceptable, but I also believe a restaurant charging these prices should have everything being enjoyable on its own, and much more than that when eaten together. We barely touched the plate. The duck dish I ordered included a sausage, which was tasty and reminded me a bit of the taste of an italian sausage. Taken with the asparagus and berry on the plate, it overall became palatable. Same story with the duck, although eating the duck alone without the side dishes was a salty, dry and disappointing experience, especially considering they charge 35 dollars for the plate. Perhaps the worst duck confit i've had if i'm rating it on the quality of the duck thigh alone. The desert, a crême brulée that we shared, was fine. I've certainly had a few that were better and may well have had worse. But again, for a restaurant of this caliber I would have expected something delicious. However, the custard tasted... standard and could have also have come in colder. It felt like they had left it out too long before burning the sugar at the top and for my favorite dessert of all time, it really didn't do much for me. While I seldom if ever post reviews for restaurants, I did feel inclined to this time since it was for a special occasion and it is the food of my home country that they are serving here. All in all, the most satisfying thing we had for the dinner was the tea they served, which was fragrant, warm and relaxing. That, the charming staff and the setting of the restaurant are its saving graces. However, if you want quality authentic french food, I would try elsewhere. A 125+ meal for two that left both of us disappointed and wishing I had made reservations elsewhere. As pleasant the atmosphere and staff were, for that price I will certainly not be coming back. read more

I love the ambiance of this restaurant - it is chic and very romantic, perfect for dates - especially if you sit at their outdoor garden patio! The food is amazing as well - we ordered escargot, trout and the amish chicken. I would say that out of everything we ordered, the amish chicken is what I highly recommend! It is very tender, very well cooked & the sauce and onion crunch that comes along with it is a super delicious! I would go back and order the amish chicken again in a heart beat! Highly recommend this place - great service as well! read more

I so wanted to love this adorable cafe. Much more expansive than it once was, it is still very cozy on a blustery evening. Everything is at a high price point so our expectations were high. The onion soup was very sweet. The salmon was dry and fishy. The service was quite slow and it was odd because other tables were getting their food much faster. It seemed logical there could have been a mixup with our order, but it was never mentioned. We just really didn't have a nice time or a meal worthy of the prices. The people around us seemed very happy though. read more

Food totally mediocre sorry. Service cheery friendly. Outdoor terrace very very pleasant.

Giving this place 1 star for the sake of the appetizers we ordered but that's the only thing that tasted sub-par. Our main courses were far from flavorful; we ordered the chicken and the trout and both did nothing for our taste buds. The trout almost tasted like a boiled filet over green beans with zero salt and the chicken came covered in fried onions to mask the fact that the meat wasn't fully cooked. Save your time and $$ and go elsewhere. read more

When Bistro Campagne opened many years ago, we used to be regular customers. Then on my birthday one year (probably about 2010), had a very unimpressive meal there (involving a very fatty, practically inedible steak) and we just never returned. Fast-forward to 2020: my partner's birthday yesterday and he decides we should give Bistro Campagne another try (especially in an effort to support local restaurants during the pandemic.) Placed an order by phone and picked it up. Once home, we discovered two things we ordered (French onion soups) were not included. Called the restaurant, they recognized the mistake and were apologetic. Offered to "hook us up" with soup with our next order. Nice I guess, but didn't solve the immediate problem of people not getting their food... and was perhaps presumptive that we would be ordering again, considering the experience. That said, the cassoulets we ordered were quite good; the bistro burgers for our kids were okay, but extremely greasy. Guess the bottomline: never go to Bistro Campagne for your birthday. read more

Came here for dinner, ambience seemed nice and was ready to order. Waited over 39 minutes until anyone came, waitress was ok, not very knowledgeable about menu. Food was ok, portions small and could of been warmer. Dessert was ok, very sweet, again for the price, very small! read more

Great little French restaurant. Perfect food, great service, beautiful ambience. Love the concept too, all the ingredients are sustainably sourced and fresh as can be! To be honest, I'm not usually the biggest French food fan, but after this meal I'm wondering if I've just never had great French food before... Made a reservation for Sunday dinner with friends. Walked in and was wowed by the warm decor. Got seated and looked at the Chicago Restaurant menu, which was very extensive and generous. My friend asked for a wine recommendation based on her food selection and the waitress knew her stuff! Onto the food. I got the Strudel à l'Oignon Caramélisé, and it was a great onion cheese pastry in perfectly savory sauce. Tried the Fondue d'Artichaut as well, which was stronger and creamier (smaller portions though). I loved both but I'm glad I picked the strudel. For main courses, I got the Truite (trout), one of the best trout dishes I've had. Crispy and sweet skin, gorgeous mushrooms. The one thing is that my plate seemed to have a proportional excess of green lentils (I felt like I was eating them forever), but everything was still delicious. Friends got Amish chicken and pork chop dishes, which were delicious but huge! They were nothing like the heavy French preparation I've had before, these were done with a light touch that let the ingredients shine and the palate breathe. Finally, for dessert, we tried the Pot-de-Crème au Chocolat, Crème Brûlée, and Pain Perdu. All were creamy, rich, and just sweet enough but not too loud to overpower the delicate meal we'd just had. The chocolate creme was solid and rich, so beautiful. A wonderful experience, will definitely be back. read more

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