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    Bistro Monadnock

    4.6 (171 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Bistro Monadnock Photos

    BISTRO MONADNOCK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Bistro Monadnock

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    Hannah H.

    We stopped by the Bistro Monadnock, a French restaurant, before catching a show - Their HH specials are a great deal, as they have some good bites offered at the bar. We ordered: +oysters - these were fresh and brine-y +salt cod croquettes - these were forgettable; overcooked and didn't have much flavor; super dried out +and, sliders - these were extremely juicy and delicious; could have just focused on these! The place was very dim-lit, and the seats at the bar was a bit tight and uncomfortable. However, the bartenders and staff were friendly. Note that the place does get packed during the rush! +sliders! +friendly staff

    Fish
    Kendra M.

    My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 23/50 Month tried: April Favorite dish: escargots A very solid option if you need dinner in the Loop! I'm almost never in the loop, but we needed a meal before a show and Bistro Monadnock came up with good reviews. The atmosphere is great - huge bar, lots of dark wood and soft lighting, and very French vibes. The menu is definitely a little pricey, but we had good strong cocktails and solid food. The menu has changed since I dined but I had a fish dish with a fennel salad that was cooked very well. I could see this being a great place for cocktails after work for those who work downtown.

    Jasmine L.

    First time here for restaurant week and our group is very happy with our food and service. The place is in a quiet street with a classic cozy design inside. It is a good spot for friends gathering or a date. These are the items we ordered: cocktails, lobster bisque, steak tartare, Cornish hen, skate wing, steak frites, cream brulee and profiteroles. Everything is very flavorful and the portion is generous - the cream brulee is the biggest I have ever had and I absolutely love it. Our waiter is very friendly and attentive. I'll recommend it and probably come back to try other items.

    French onion soup and fries
    Emeri Q.

    Bistro Monadnock feels like a little escape to Paris tucked right into the loop. From the moment you walk in, the cozy, cute French ambiance makes you feel transported to a charming bistro in France. The French onion soup is a standout: rich, deeply flavorful, and perfectly comforting. Their fries are equally addictive and crispy, golden. The happy hour menu is another big win, with great deals that make it easy to enjoy quality food and drinks without breaking the bank. A perfect spot for a casual date, a relaxed evening with friends, or when you're craving a taste of Paris without the plane ticket.

    Steak Frites
    Connie L.

    Bistro Monadnock is a hidden gem! Perfect for a casual date night or family dinner. Their French cuisine is absolutely delicious and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorite was their steak frites. It was a perfect medium rare and the fries were crisped and seasoned to perfection. The profiteroles with pistachio gelato was to die for. Also $3 for happy hour oysters? Yes please! The staff were amiable and helpful as well. Highly recommend this place!

    Mushroom melt and French onion soup
    Amanda M.

    Absolutely loved this place. The decor is cute cozy and an authentic French feel. The service was great. And all the food was absolutely delicious! They have a great lunch special with a soup and sandwhich making it the perfect way to taste even more. The fries are a must as well!

    BLT and frites
    Annette D.

    Perfect spot for lunch. Everything on the menu sounded amazing. I chose the lunch special which included a cup of soup and half sandwich. My friend ordered the BLT special of the day and incredible frites. The food was incredibly delicious. The ambiance is cozy, quaint and intimate. Convenient parking directly across the street (parking discount with validation)

    Cornish Hen
    Nicole M.

    My sister doesn't want me to write this review because she's afraid this place will become too popular! Walking into the Monadnock building almost feels like time travel; it was built in the 19th century, and the shops inside have preserved that historic feeling. We arrived earlier than our reservation, but were seated promptly anyway. We started with drinks and a baguette, which was up to my French native dad's standards, so we soon polished that off and had to get another! Next up were the salads, we got a Bibb, and a Strawberry & Farro to share among the 6 of us, the latter recommended by our server. She did not steer us wrong; both salads were delightful. Several people in our party ordered the Striped Bass, my younger son got the Dorade Royale, my sister chose the Cornish Hen, and since someone had to do it, I went with Steak Frites. It was cooked perfectly to my medium rare request and came with a massive pile of beef fat fries! I needed help with those, and everyone was happy to dig in; they were amazing. So good that we had to get another side order of frites, especially since my sister had a lot of yummy sauce to scoop up; it was either that or more bread. Everyone enjoyed their fish dishes, too; the Dorade Royale was a good-sized whole fish in a golden sauce and my son soon devoured it all. I certainly didn't have room for dessert, but most of us ordered coffee. However, the young men wanted to try something, so we got a Peach Melba. I ended up trying more than one spoonful. The bathrooms consist of several single-seaters, which is nice. All sparkling, and with the same old-school charm as the rest of the building. The bar has a rather large sculpture behind it, which generated some discussion as to what animal it was. Bull? Mythological creature? Horse? Since it has a mane, I concluded it was a horse.

    French onion soup
    Mark W.

    We went to Bistro Monadnock for our anniversary. Once we were seated, the restaurant offered us two glasses of champagne before dinner, which created a fun and romantic start to our celebration. Below is what we ordered: French Onion Soup - 5/5 One of the best onion soups I've had in the city. Perfectly balanced flavors between the rich broth and melted cheese. It was served piping hot straight from the kitchen. Skatewing - 4.5/5 The portion size was generous and beautifully presented. The fish was fresh and well-prepared, with a tangy flavor that paired nicely with the delicate texture of the skate. Steak Frites - 2/5 We requested medium rare, and it was cooked to our preference. However, the steak was over-seasoned, and the fries were just average. Profiterole - 4/5 We ended the night with profiteroles for dessert. They were tasty and flavorful -- a satisfying finish to the meal. Our server was passionate and knowledgeable about the dishes, offering great recommendations. However, the preparation time was quite long, and we waited a while for our main courses. Overall, Bistro Monadnock is a great place to celebrate special occasions, thanks to its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Their signature French Onion Soup is a must-try dish when you visit.

    Crème brûlée
    Sarah B.

    This is such a (dare I say it) hidden gem. Tucked away on a little alley in the Monadnock building it's in the heart of the loop. All the food and drinks we had were well prepared and quickly made. Our server was friendly and even asked us if we had time constraints given we were trying to make a show. The steak frites were delicious. Overall great experience would love to return to try more!

    Steak Frites
    Catherine S.

    A last minute dinner reservation with a coworker turned into a surprisingly delicious dining experience! Food was spectacular! The escargot was better than the one I had in Paris. The French Onion soups was quite tasty, especially for the cold evening. The steak frites was perfectly cooked to medium rare as requested. Drinks were tasty. My coworker got a Hotty Toddy while I had a St. Germain Spritz (aka Hugo Spritz). Service was great! Very attentive but did not overly check in on us. The restaurant itself was quiet with moody lighting which was perfect for the French cuisine. The furniture and decor reminded me of Paris. A nice escape from the Chicago city. What a wonderful experience and a hidden gem. I will be recommending to many friends, family, and additional coworkers.

    Foaie gras, tell me it doesn't look like diarrhea. It was bad.
    Ella B.

    Zero stars if possible! I got home and woke up in the middle of the night feeling to throw up, in the morning explosive diarrhea! I know it's from their food, it's the only thing I had all day, I was disgusted eating it and how greasy it was but I was super hungry. I had their foaie gras, and let me tell you how disgusting that was. Tooped with chololate pieces and inside it was mixed with white chocolate. Tasted like a dessert but my brain told me otherwise. It came with some toasted bread toasted in a ton of butter on both sides, so greasy. There is nothing French about this but the name. The creme brulee I had afterwards was super thick and overcooked. Yes, to the chef of this restaurant, take a trip to France and sample their foods. The creme brulee is supposed to be smooth and light in texture with a thin layer of softly caramelized sugar not a thick and burned layer like you guys served. I'm sorry but the whole experience was a disaster. Never coming back here again. Listen, this is not about personal taste, it's about overall taste. I have been to France multiple times, all over the country, there is nothing French about this restaurant, it's very American. Eat at your own risk hopefully you won't get sick.

    Oysters
    Jimmy H.

    A perfect restaurant in every way! You could truly call dining here an experience. Not only was the food delicious (highly recommend trying the oysters) but the timing of the dishes being brought out was spot on. Can't recommend this restaurant enough. One of if not my top pick in the US

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    3 months ago

    Terrible experience sitting at the bar with my sister. Bartender was very rude. Not helpful.

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    Bistro Monadnock Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bistro Monadnock

    Do they still have a happy hour menu?

    Do they have Il flotante dessert?

    Yes! The ile flotation is prepared with a duck egg white meringue, orange & cardamom creme anglaise, candied hazelnuts & salted caramel.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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