We went pre-theater and they were very accommodating (I ran late but they seated my friend w/o complaint). They knew we were on a time limit and helped guide us so we would get to our theater. Food was fine/good. Ambiance cute. Great option for after work or pre-show! read more

Had a great time, shoutout to our server Nate who answered our questions and made us feel very welcome. Went for restaurant week where me and my partner tried some things we haven't really tried before. I had Skate Wing and Steelhead and thoroughly enjoyed both. Wasn't too loud, wasn't too quiet. read more

We had a wonderful early New Years Eve dinner at Bistro Monadnock. The charming restaurant setting is always lovely. Yet the quality of the food and staff is what makes the place sing. I'd like to give an extra shout out to Simon our server, who was excellent and took extra care to make sure we had whatever we needed. It was if he read my mine, by offering great suggestions! This is my third meal at this restaurant and it is always a pleasure read more

Saw the high reviews and had to try it ... glad we did. This little French Bistro has only been here since March 2023 or so - so it has but a half-year in business. To compound the short history, it is stuck on a little street off Jackson Blvd. on the southern edge of the Loop. It is on Federal Street, a short north-south half-street jammed between Clark and Dearborn. So even though the restaurant front door is only a 100 feet or so from the Union League Club, you probably won't just happen upon the Bistro ... you only get here if you were aiming for it. But that said, do make an effort. Its location only adds to the ambiance. Speaking of ambiance, it is wonderful with dim lighting and nice appointments. The smallish interior is split into two rooms by the main entrance foyer on the west façade, with an open kitchen on the south end and the lavs on the north. Of the two primary rooms, the one on the south end - conveniently facing the open kitchen - is the main dining area with a dozen or so tables, and to its north is the bar area room with a few additional tables and a handsome bar lining the west wall. The entire east side of the restaurant space fronts the main hallway down the center of the Monadnock Building in which it is located ... hence the name. The menu selections fit on a single sheet but are nicely curated, as are the wines and cocktails. For appetizers our table of three shared the Bread and Fat (a 5-star French baguette with their customized soft butter), the Shrimp Cocktail (a 5-star offering of six perfectly-done shrimp laid on a bed of ice with two nice dipping sauces), and the Moules Marinière ("sailor mussels" ... a 5-star offering of mussels steamed in a bit of wine and herbs, perfectly steamed to tenderness leaving a wonderful juice on the bottom to soak up with the included crusty baguette). For mains, two in our group had the French onion soup (5-star delish), and one of them added the Beef Fat Fries to try (4-star stuff your arteries can only take every so often; while they could have been just a bit crispier, they were excellent). The last in our group added the Bistro Burger (a 5-star offering that came with gruyere cheese). For dessert we shared the Profiteroles (a 5-star plate with three small portions of ice cream and puff pastry). As an aside, I think the next time we visit we'll indulge in drinks and appetizers with maybe the French onion soup added on, but that's all. The mains that are offered are really very nice, but seem a bit overkill. While you can come for one of the mains alone, having worked through the appetizers and drink selections, we had "an elegant sufficiency." Overall service here is impeccable, and there is very little to quibble about. Recommended. read more

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Food excellent. Service excellent. I don't have one bad thing to say. Portions were huge. I had to take some home. Everything was done well. read more

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Good food--the mussels were excellent, as was the aioli--though sadly the fries were all little nubbins. The service, however, was unattentive on the whole. read more

Fabulous food... amazing ambience and service!!! The fried oyster appetizer is outstanding.

Wanted to have a quick meal before a show. Arrived early for our reservation. Server passed by after we sat down and said he would be right back. Right back means about 20 minutes. Food took very long to deliver. French onion soup was cold. Burger was average at best and looked like a mess. Two of us finished those dishes before the third entree arrived. Could not find our server to ask for check. Asked other servers who seemed too busy with their own work to help. Did not make our show on time. Called manager a few days later to fill him in. He listened and said he would call back. 10 days went by. Then he dodged phone calls I made. When I reached him he pretended I talked to a different manager. Basically said they are a busy restaurant and we should expect to wait for food and service. Great customer service all around. read more

Came for a weekday lunch. Old school steakhouse vibes. Burger and French Onion Soup kind of place, with decent but not exceptional execution. Big miss on the salad. Cocktails - 3.5/5. Gimlet and Sour were decent, but slightly off balanced on the sour side. French Onion Soup - 4/5. Extra cheesy. Plenty of burnt cheese if you're into that. Rich broth with hearty vinegar. Burger - 4/5. Good combination of aioli, red onion for acid, nice patty size. Farro Salad - 2/5. Beautiful plate. No seasoning or real flavor. Essentially raw vegetables. read more

I love this restaurant. Upscale French fare, relaxed, friendly service in a historic building and very stylish & comfortable cafe. We love the location near the train station. I have visited several times & found the food to be consistently excellent. Additionally a variety of people, even kids, were thrilled with meals. There are rotating seasonal specials along with consistent classics. I definitely will come back again & again. read more

I am not sure at all why this restaurant is rated so highly. Maybe the ambiance, or the fact that it's tucked away in such a busy part of the city? Because of the high reviews my husband and I decided to try this place we had never heard about but saw here on Yelp. We came here for our anniversary and were excited to try something new. We ordered the mussels, French onion soup, gnocchi, and steak frites. Everything was bland and underwhelming. The steak frites needed to be seasoned more. There was a tasty peppercorn spice on it that you could barely taste. The fries were nothing special. The gnocchi was terrible. It tasted try and had a strange texture where it just fell apart in your mouth after you took a bite. My husband and I both did not care for the overload of fennel in the dish. The French onion soup was ok. It stood out among the other dishes since they really missed the mark sadly. We also had the mussels which the broth was decent, but the mussels themselves just tasted poor quality or something. The bread that went with it was mediocre and tasted like something I could have purchased from Jewel. There were several very loud groups seated near us, which I can only assume were business dinners? The acoustics in the restaurant carried their voices at times where it was just an unpleasant dining experience. Our chairs were hard to sit on too, just adding to the feeling of wanting to get out of there. I do not recommend this restaurant for anything intimate and special. Maybe a business dinner for a group in town nearby. That's it. read more

All the food I ordered is great. The service is also great. But the really reason I write this review is because: The fries there is the best fries I have ever had (based on my personal taste). I'm so glad that it came with the steak I ordered, otherwise I would miss the best fries ever. read more

Great spot for French onion soup and their duck was amazing. Off the beaten path but definitely a spot to try! read more

Bistro Monadnock - French onion soup - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a very cute French bistro in a beautiful historic building. The service is well informed & courteous. We have gone a few times for lunch & the mushroom sandwich is obsession worthy. Would strongly recommend for a different place to dine in the Loop. They are open for dinner during the week also read more

Bistro Monadnock is a fun gem in the loop. I was really impressed by the burger, it was tender and ridiculously juicy, even after it came out overcooked. The inclusion of capers and pickled red onions balances it nicely and pairs great with the fries. I loved the French onion soup and Cornish hen. Steak was cooked perfectly, very tender and the fries were perfect. We also ordered mocktails, bread and fat, lobster bisque, onion soup, the bistro burger, and the flat iron ribeye. The butter they used for a lot of the dishes were very flavorful and their small menu made it easier to make a decision that will not disappoint. The space is beautiful and the food is delicious. Our server was great, I went with his wine pairing suggestions and they were perfect! All the staff was nice and professional. Its a bonus I am living near this place so I can visit anytime I want. Looking forward to going back soon and try all of their new dishes. Bistro Monadnock deserves a 5 star! read more

The best French cuisine in Chicago, hands down. Chef Johnny's unique spins on traditional French hit all the notes with a bit of surprise and panache. Take the foie gras terrine, with the surprising addition of white chocolate and cocoa nibs, a perfect compliment to the creamy richness you know and love. The lobster bisques also shines, with a fresh puff pastry atop and the richest, roundest lobster concentrate you've ever tasted. We were also shook when the spot on cassoulet arrived - crisp confit duck, house-smoked sausage, and beans made with a year's worth of charcuterie trimmings. The wine list and cocktail programs are also standouts, with deep, expertly crafted selections. As for the space, you could not ask for a more romantic, historic bistro vibe. The staff is welcoming and kind. My wife and I both agree: best date spot in Chi. read more

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Wow wow wow! Five stars, that is so deserving. Excellent service. The most delicious food. We had a great experience! read more

Bistro Monadnock - Bistro Burger. Mushroom Melt and fries. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cavanaugh's in the Monadnock building has been reinvented as a French bistro and it is a lovely, lovely day for America. The bar is much the same, but the bathrooms have been reinvented as single serving rooms with retro tiles and French music piped in for that j'ene se quoi toillette experience. The dining room has had the kitchen exposed, and while that's always risky it isn't too distracting here. For food, the bouillabaisse is top notch, highly recommended - excellent seafood and full of flavor. I also liked the Buffalo Frog Legs as an app, but it seems to have fallen off the menu. There are also a wealth of other bistro classics from which to choose. Cocktails include the Sazerac and Vieux Carre and are excellent. The wine list is almost entirely French, with options from nearly every major region, including many not often seen varieties. It is a pleasure to peruse. It is only open during the week, so if you llve or work downtown, don't sleep on this as an excellent option for quality French cuisine! read more

Great French food at a great price, the wait stat was point on as was the kitchen. Great drinks from the bar ( sidecar) , worth the visit. We started with the Steak Tartare, then had French onion and lobster bisque, main course of skate wing and steak Frites were great, finished the night with crème brûlée and profiteroles. Place was packed by 6pm so reservations are a must. It its a hidden gem in the loop on federal in the Monadock building read more

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Got the steak frites, fries were better than the steak unfortunately. The steak crust was extra salty and had a weird taste to it. Will go back just for the fries! read more

Bistro Monadnock - Steak frites - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful bistro tucked away - we came here late Friday night. Service was excellent- our host was very thoughtful in his recommendations. The food does lean saltier/heavier seasoning like another review mentioned, and it's definitely an evening of rich foods. We ordered the French onion soup (delicious - rich stock), steak tartare (large chopped chunks and very well seasoned - delicious with the crostini), the Parisian gnocchi (the menu was different than the one online, so expect some seasonal differences), and skate wing with brown butter and capers. The Parisian gnocchi tonight had a coffee pumpkin purée, olives, preserved lemon, and chestnut mushrooms. Very autumnal! I was really impressed with the crispness of the gnocchi on the outside and soft pillowy texture inside. The skate wing was a much larger portion than I expected - incredibly rich with the brown butter! There was some greens and lime segments, so definitely needed it to break it up. We chose the ile flottante for the dessert since it's such a unique offering. Very soft meringue topped with hazelnuts in a cardamom and caramel crème anglaise (again an autumnal theme!). The atmosphere is very intimate - definitely felt like bistro! Lovely place - glad I stumbled upon it. read more

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Great meal. World class chef! Frustrating name. (I want to recommend this place, but can never remember the name!) When BLVD. (resturant) turned up the obnoxious rap music -loudness and crassness ruled and the chef fled and created this place. Many followed. It is spectacular. Classy and wonderful. It is the best lunch I've had outside of Europe in years. What did I have? See the photos! read more

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We came here Thursday night before the opening of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra looking for a nice place for dinner and boy did we find it! First- the cocktails are great. I got the Picon Punch which was delightfully complex with an herbal bitterness to start and ending in a hint of sweetness with each sip. Husband got the melon sour which was frothy and delicious. He said after a sip that it was "interesting". We split the chicken liver parfait to start which was a good portion. We each got French onion soup. I was worried from yelp pictures the portions here would be so small but it was a big portion of soup and divine. We split the bistro burger as we were getting full. It looks simple and unassuming honestly, with a pickle on the side (we also ordered the beef fat fries). Before I tried it husband took a big bite and looked taken aback. He was making faces and held his hand up when I asked if he was okay. I honestly thought he hurt a tooth or something. He then announced it was one of the best burgers he'd ever had. Basically had a religious experience apparently. The burger was definitely delicious- super tender and melt in your mouth. Service was friendly and speedy. We even talked to the chef himself to compliment the burger. We will definitely be back! read more

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I'm not sure if it's because it's newer, but Bistro Monadnock excels at food and drink, and I hope it continues to do so! I was visiting from New York for a work trip and was looking for a great place to grab a bite to eat. I saw how highly rated Bistro Monadnock is within the area I'm staying at, so I decided to go for dinner twice in a row to give it a proper review as there were a couple items on the menu I wanted to try. The first night, I ordered a glass of cremant at happy hour ($9 per wine glass during happy hour!), French onion soup, and the Parisian Gnocchi. The second night, I ordered the red and white wine at happy hour, smoked steelhead, and steak frites. Let's start with the wines. First off, the wines here are great. Usually, happy hour wines at other restaurants are cheaper and lower quality - they tend to be sweeter and lack a depth to them. Here, I could tell there was thought put into the types of wine served at happy hour. I asked my server, Christie (or Christy?), for the name of the sommelier, and she let me know it was Craig. Craig chose wines that are super approachable by the vast majority of restaurant goers who want to take advantage of happy hour deals. The wines would appeal to a newer wine drinker or to the wine snob (like me haha). For instance, the red wine was fruit forward but not too forward/overwhelmingly sweet. It was also not too heavy nor too light. It somehow hit the right medium so that it wasn't a wine that stood too much out or faded to oblivion in mediocrity. As for food: French onion soup: 5/5 - it had a bit of light sweetness to it that I enjoyed and was absolutely delicious Parisian Gnocchi: 4.5/5 - definitely a new taste and flavorful for sure. The gnocchi was well made and pillowy soft. The flavor may not appeal to everyone, however, and there were some bites that were a bit saltier than others. On the whole though, very well made. Smoked steelhead: 4.5/5 - I'd bet there aren't many restaurants in Chicago with this concept. I've had this sort of food before in Boston at Haley henry, a wine bar that also specializes in serving tin fish with small flavor pairings. This one was just the right amount of roe, a sort of light limey taste (but not lime itself), and fish. Amazing overall, but to give it an extra .5 for me, I'd offer another pairing past just saltine crackers. I'm being nitpicky though given that I've had various iterations of this somewhere else. Steak frites - 5/5. I got mine medium rare and would order again. A classic, there aren't exactly any new flavors here (albeit the butter on top is absolutely amazing), but the steak is cooked perfectly and the fries are like McDonald's fries (a cult favorite of the masses) but way more consistent. No fries were too soggy or too stale. I sat at the bar, which was quiet on a Monday night and definitely way busier the next night on Tuesday. You have the option to sit at the bar or go further in to be seated in the dining room. Shout-out to Donnie, Christie, Michelle, and Craig. Everyone was pleasant, my water was always filled, and I was continuously checked on the right amount where I could enjoy my food and some time to myself but not have to wait more than a minute for a server's attention when needed. I definitely want to come here again! read more

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Really great happy hour $3 oyster $6 beer $6 slider $12 gimlet and an excellent lighting

This new Chicago bistro style restaurant is amazing! The chef, Johnny Besch really understands French cooking and cares about quality with the freshest ingredients ...best French onion soup I've ever had. He starts with braising veal knuckles slowly for hours...the broth is rich and deeply flavorful. Endive and blood orange salad is to die for-beautiful nice chunk of fourme d'ambert on top with homemade reduced warm sherry dressing -felt like a warm hug on a cold winter night. #bistromonadnock #foodie #chicagofoodscene read more

Bistro Monadnock - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

40 minutes in we didn't even have our bread and butter appetizer. I guess they're trying to have authentic French service quality, too.

The food here was amazing as well as the service. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Definitely would come back!

Our group returned to the Bistro last week to give it a second chance. After all, the food was excellent the first time around ... so we were hoping the service would improve. We weren't disappointed. We once again spent over two hours at the restaurant, but this time the pacing was perfect and the service was impeccable. The table was kept clean, water glasses full, wine and cocktail refills offered, wine pairings carefully selected, silverware and flatware replaced between courses, and the chef even stopped by the table a couple times to discuss the finer points of oysters and charcuterie. The ambiance is elegant without feeling stuffy -- we were dressed to attend a concert at Northerly Island after our meal and didn't feel completely out of place. I don't think you could go wrong trying anything on the menu, but this go round -- in addition to the oysters and charcuterie -- we tried the Bibb salad, escargots, dorade royale, ribeye steak frites, and lobster thermidor. Everything was prepared to perfection and our group devoured it all -- but my wife thought the thermidor was the highlight of the meal. The only lowlight of the evening was that the kitchen's freezer was broken -- so we once again weren't able to try the profiteroles. But that will just be an excuse to return soon. The crème brûlée I had instead was outstanding. Glad we decided to make a return trip! read more

Great food and vibes! We tried fantastic onion soup and salads, everything was super delicious. Perfect mix of French and new American cuisines read more

We booked a table for Valentine's Day and were caught in an awful drop of snow. We knew we were going to be a few minutes late since we live pretty far away. But I used to work in the building and we used to lunch there every day. So this was must do for us. We ended up being 5 minutes late and they were very gracious about it. The food was very delicious the vibe is excellent hitting both romance and very French. Very highly recommended taking time to experience this lovely place!! read more

I love the casual chic vibe of the place. My friend and I were seated and it made me feel like we should be out at a cafe in France. I love the take on the cocktails and how well balancthey were and not overly sweet. We were very decisive with the escargot, but our waitress helped us with our other decisions. The escargot so delicious and buttery. I had the bouillabaise and that was flavorful and we shared the Ile Flottante. The floating island dessert kind of stole my heart. I have never had it before and it's been known as a somewhat forgotten classic, which astounds me because I feel like it was very memorable. It was very thoughtful of the chef to have such a personal selections in the menu. This floating island dessert did make me feel like I was miles away. It was just so unique with the light and airy mix and rich but without being so decadent. I will definitely be back. read more

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We were disappointed after having a good experience two weeks ago, we came back to celebrate a birthday.This time the service was "Poor" the food was "Mediocre". It appear that they were out of the bouillabaisse and they decided to add more water to it. If you are lucky you will eat well at this restaurant twice. read more

Johnny is by far my favorite chef in the city, and this is the second restaurant we've followed him to. This has the cutest vibes and is packed full of history. Totally appropriate for a date night or a fun business dinner and packed full of fun historic facts. The food is unmatched and while most skip charcuterie in a restaurant, DO NOT SLEEP on this. It's aged to perfection. The fries are also PERFECT. The wine list is also extensive. A beautiful restaurant being run by some wonderful humans. Don't skip this. read more

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Good good. A hidden gem. A nice place to stop pre-show or on your way to another neighborhood.

Sometimes you walk into a restaurant and in the first second you can tell it's going to be a hit. From the font on the menu to the paint on the ceiling, it's all very thoughtful. This place gives you a very French cafe vibe that makes you want to sit just a little longer I don't even know where to start with the food. Everything was incredibly balanced! The French onion soup was a must starter. Melted cheese that sticks to the bowl and then to your ribs. The Banhmi club sandwich was a delightful twist on a Vietnamese classic. Instead of the traditional baguette, it's made with 3 layers of the soft milk bread and handmade sausage. The gnocchi was far more fun than any others I've had in the past. It was complex without being confusing. Every bite I was surprised by something new and elegant. Lastly the desserts....OMG We had three... That should tell you something. Nothing was overly sweet so you can actually have dessert with lunch. Just the right amount of sugar to satisfy your cravings without going overboard. The creme brulee was to die for! A classic done to perfection. As you can tell , I'm truly impressed. Michelin star quality. read more

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The inside has great lighting but it's not too bright - it highlights the food. And that food was visually impressive if not stunning. The seasoning however was polarizing to me. I wouldn't say it lacked finesse, because you could taste the nuance and thought that went into it. It verged on being overwhelming. But what you will most notice beyond even the seasoning is the attention to combining textures. If you like a tartar that is very well seasoned you will love this. If you don't, you will find it too overwhelming - especially when combined with the crispy seasoned bread slices, mustard, or pickles. I apparently prefer a more subtle steak tartare accented by the accoutrements. If you like fennel you will love the fennel fish dish. The fish was well cooked with crispy skin. So the salty skin you expect to compliment a mild white fish is just absolutely enveloped with this fennel cream sauce. Then the fennel salad let you intensify the flavors even more. However we were mind blown with the spring gnocchi dish. If you could imagine spring in a delicious pasta dish, this would be it. Parisian gnocchi and morels is enough to sell a dish. But the gnocchi had that perfect pillow consistency that melts like cotton candy on your tongue. The peas had their own snap. The fava beans had their own firm chew. All tied together in a garlic and leek confit. Every individual ingredient was so good by itself, but together greater than the sum of its part! If this is on the menu, go for it. The dessert was good, also staying true to textural combinations, as were the drinks. But the entrees stole the show. The location for this is unusual in a good way. It's located within a historic building and can be accessed within its hallways nestled between some unique shops or on the skinny sidewalk outside. It feels like (and is) a special destination when you arrive. And service was excellent all around. read more

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We went to this restaurant last week. It was worth the trip because we haven't had french food in a long time. Nice long bar. Love the look and feel of the place. Great food, drinks and service. Besides the onion soup, the food we got didn't taste like they were heavily buttered or tasted rich, which was a good thing for us. read more

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I had a night on my own while attending a professional conference and, based on Yelp reviews and the restaurant's website and menu, picked Bistro Monadnock. It was a good choice. Although downtown, it's on a quieter street and feels a little off the beaten path. The interior is charming with a brasserie feel and the service was friendly and attentive. The food was excellent. I had their Gibson, which was a perfect little cocktail. The escargot was exactly as it should be--swimming in garlic butter and served with crusty French bread, and the skate wing was a treat. When I found that one glass of wine was a bit too sweet for my tastes, they happily swapped it for another that I liked more. I enjoyed myself very much and am happy to recommend it to others. read more

Went there last night with a group of 6 people and was blown away. Loved everything about it. Food was outstanding. For apps we had the chicken liver parfait, the escargot, the beef tartare, and the "bread and fat" (aka baguette with fancy butter. Loved every bit of it. Entrees I had the French Onion Soup, which was so rich and delicious. Split the cucumber salad and the steak frites with my girlfriend. Cucumber salad was brilliant. Mint, peas, yogurt sauce. Lovely. Steak was so amazingly tender and delicious. As good as any steak I've had in Chicago (including Boeufhaus). Frites were delicious. Others had the lobster bisque and the Parisian Gnocchi and loved them. For wine we had a lovely chenin Blanc, a Bordeaux for the steak eaters, and a Cabernet. Loved them. It's expensive, so watch for that. Space is gorgeous in the Monadnock. Tucked in on Federal across from the Union League Club. Vibe is casual'ish attire: jeans are fine, but please take your hat off bros. Perfect place for after-work business dinner or before a show. This place doesn't get enough attention. Check it out. read more