I've been on a mission to find the best croque madame in the city, and CDA currently holds the top spot. Tucked inside the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, this place feels like a bit of a hidden gem, mostly because people don't always think to go to a hotel lobby for breakfast. But they should. The croque madame here is exactly what I've been looking for. The portion is generous without being overwhelming, the flavor is rich and savory without going overboard, and the mornay sauce is chef's kiss. The bread ratio is spot on, not too heavy, but still substantial enough to feel like a proper brunch dish. We also tried the shakshouka, which was equally impressive. just really well executed. Overall, this is one of those spots I keep recommending to friends. If you're overlooking hotel restaurants, you're missing out. This one is absolutely worth it. read more

Enjoyed breakfast & had the best coffee & omelette I have had in a very long time. I'll definitely eat here again. The weekends get busy so arrive early if you can. read more

On our departure date, we did not want the hassle of rushing to brunch before heading to the airport, so we lingered over a leisurely meal at the hotel. The curated menu offers popular items like eggs, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches. There were even healthier options like avocado tartines, acai bowls, and overnight oats. I had the breakfast croissant, which included prosciutto and Gruyère omelette on a toasted breakfast croissant. I liked the egg portion but found the croissant too greasy. My sister had the avocado tartine, which included, besides the avocado, lox, and crème fraîche. The latter had the consistency of cream cheese. She was delighted with a meal that had all her favorite brunch items. Service was relaxed and friendly. read more

CDA - The Gruyère omelette was good but the croissant was a bit greasy. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Being seated at CDA was a blessing because of the commitment and patience from these waiters being at our side no doubt. This dish above this paragraph didn't meet the standards of the cozy living space of this establishment. It felt too chewy for a Medium-well Steak and dry despite added jus and mushrooms read more

CDA - NY Steak Strip - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for afternoon Un the Food: aside from the tower of food, we ordered an onion soup and salad. The salad was good, onion soup very meh, kind of acid. For the tower, the presentation is fantastic, but food didn't taste very good. The foie gras sandwiches were an A for effort but didn't really taste good. The salmon madeleines were very weird. Service: phenomenal, nothing to say. Even gave us sparkling wine for birthday. Ambience: quiet, not too many people. Doesn't really stand out as elegant. Would recommend for an affordable afternoon tea experience with some French twist. If you value taste of food over aesthetic this would not be the place. The best bite would be the truffle scone. read more

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Great place for Mediterranean food in Chicago! The food was exquisite and service was great! The octopus was cooked to perfection and so was the chicken dish! read more

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Whenever I think of hotel restaurants, what often comes to mind are sports bars without a crowd and no television or a bar area with people standing around posing. What I got at Cafe Des Architectes was a bit French. I was okay with that. On the first visit, I went with a friend and we had a round of appetizers for small plates. The l'amuse of trout croquette over aioli was a great start. The lump crab was a big hit, as it was all crab with no filler breading. The heart of palm and the summer squash soup were winners. We finished with escargot pappardelle and butternut squash with shrimp and truffles. All was great paired with champagne, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. And we ended with espresso, mango macarons, and key lime wrapped in chocolate. For the second visit, my friend and I were very much in a French mood. We ordered a flight of 7 cheeses: firm, semi firm, and soft, all worth it. My friend had a sparkling flight while I had a glass of chardonnay. Finishing with espresso, Cafe Des Architectes is now a favorite, not that we'll wear out visits too fast. The service we had on both visits were extremely pleasant and very accommodating. With good food, this will certainly make my blog review. read more

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The new restaurant CDA at Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile is amazing! I am so glad I was lucky enough to have tried lunch at this Mediterranean inspired eatery. CDA is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The variety was interesting and diverse. Since it is set up as mostly small plates, we had the opportunity to try/share many options. Warm bread in various choices was delivered table side. Then we enjoyed Tzatziki, Asparagus Salad, Croquetas, Crab Avocado Toast and the Shrimp Protein Bowl. Everything was expertly prepared and served very attractively. I absolutely loved every bite! Our server was very sweet and engaging. She was all smiles and remained very attentive. I love great service and she delivered! CDA is a restaurant to enjoy. It does not feel at all like a basic hotel restaurant. In a neighborhood filled with tons of residential buildings, this is the place for a delicious meal for visitors as well as neighbors. read more

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Score: 3.5 So me & my family decided to check this place out to celebrate my step sister's birthday. First, all the pictures & reviews are very outdated so I'm here to save the day. None of the food pics that are uploaded are on their current menu anymore. Everything is completely different. So if you were expecting macaroons for dessert, sad to say they don't have it anymore. My mom had 2 vouchers from Travelzoo, but they only allowed her to use 1 which was annoying. My mom has never had any issues using 2 vouchers at once if they were the same. We were the only people in the restaurant. The restaurant is very small & is located in the lobby. Apparently valet is only for hotel guests even though previous yelp reviews said valet was either free or $13 if you were eating at the restaurant. So the guy was very nice & just told my mom he would park her car if she just paid him $25 "under the table". I drove separately so I had to park in the parking garage next door (which was super expensive btw so I was really annoyed). I honestly recommend using SpotHero for this place.. save your money cause the prices at this restaurant are way too high. Also there is no bathroom in the restaurant or in the lobby... You have to go to the 2nd floor just to use the bathroom which is strange. I felt bad for my grandma having to walk all that way. The overall food was very good! I highly recommend getting their boards of assorted cheeses, meats, and dips. You can mix n match your own & it was heavenly! For my party of 7, we ordered 3 small dishes to share & we all ordered a large plate each. Our very nice waiter gave us one of the desserts we ordered on the house with candles for my step sister. I have no complaints about the food at all. It's all about the end of my meal. Long story short, my mom always tips generously & so my mom tipped 20% of the bill. Our waiter from the beginning was honestly very nice, constantly checked on us & gave us very thorough explanations of their food. She was very talkative throughout our experience until my mom gave her the check back. When she came back, she laid the server book down on the table without a single word or expression on her face. It was so noticeable it was crazy. And as my family started to leave, she was silent, had a little attitude & didn't even smile. Now I don't know who is wrong in this situation (if my mom didn't tip enough, I apologize), but honestly her behavior was very unprofessional & I've never experienced something like that in my entire life from a waiter/waitress. My family had a very nice experience up until that point & it just left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

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This restaurant is located on the first floor of Sofitel hotel. We stopped by CDA for Sunday brunch. Overall I had great experience. I ordered three egg omelet and my husband got lobster omelet, both of them were delicious. I would go with lobster omelet though, it was very rich and savory. We also got two chocolate croissants which were good but nothing special, I would skip on that. Service was very attentive. The place was almost empty but I enjoyed it as we were able to have a conversation without shouting at each other. I will be back and will recommend. read more

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Cafe des Architectes is a hidden gem in the Sofitel Hotel. Every time I dine there, it feels like a getaway to France. The staff are extremely courteous and friendly. Presentation, quality and taste of food are excellence and consistent. Prices are also reasonably priced! New Year's Eve Prixe Fix Menu: (1) Amuse Bouche. Complimentary butter biscuit with fish filling. (2) Foie Gras paired with buttery toast and citrus fruit. (3) Lobster Maine. Probably would be hit if the lobster meat was cooked well done. (4) Short Ribs. The meat striations were lined with tender tendon and fat that made every bite a dream! Absolutely loved this dish. (5) Cheese plate. I'm a fan of all cheeses, so this plate easily made my day. (6) Chocolate Ribbon. A flourless chocolate mousse cake with a side of burnt caramel gelato. b read more

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What a wonderful meal we had here! I loved the combination of Michelin-star level cuisine with friendly, fun service. Romi, the singing waiter provided theatrically French attentiveness without being stiff, and Chef David visited our table multiple times to make sure we enjoyed everything. Perhaps all this attention was due to our ordering the menu degustation, as none of the other diners seemed to be having it. I can't imagine why, as it is a real deal. David checked with us beforehand to make sure it was okay for him to serve different members of our party different dishes in each course, and we enthusiastically agreed, as it allowed us to sample twice as many dishes. And dishes galore there were, each artfully arranged, and accompanied by thoughtful wine pairings. I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but suffice it to say that each was just as delicious as it looks. The pastry chef continued the trend with four spectacular desserts, some of which she concocted on the spot. We will be back soon, as the creativity here seems endless. read more

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Great place for breakfast. I ordered the 3 egg omelet and it was great. Good price, good portion, fast service, very nice hotel. Would definitely eat here again. read more

CDA - 3 egg omelet - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am so sad to write this review. For about 6 or 7 years, we have always made it a point to eat here at least once each summer--usually outside on the patio. It has changed over the years, but to varying degrees, it was always good food and classic service. Those days seem to be over. Sitting down, I was immediately disappointed with the menu--it has been trimmed down to a very sparse list. I suspect the hamburger is there for the hotel crowd :) I don't care for lengthy menus, but it seemed much less interesting than in the past. The good part. The food was good. We ordered a charcuterie plate for one--and it could have fed three. Great cheeses and meats. The salmon amuse bouche was just okay. Husband had pea soup, which was lovely. My bibb salad was a mess (literally) as it was drowning in liquid. It had too many pears (luckily, hubby loves them), good blue cheese, and virtually no discernible nuts. Way over-priced for what it was. We shared the chicken entree which was excellent. Great mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and morels. I love morels and these were good. Delicious little macaroon and candy as a complementary sweet at the end. Why two stars? The service was beyond terrible. This is a place that used to be quite formal--chargers, cutlery with each course, water constantly refilled. Even when it became less formal, the service was usually good, We were seated for about twenty minutes before they even brought water or took a drink order. Then the long wait began! Seriously, we had no bread, no nothing for at least 40 minutes after we ordered. My water glass was empty most of the time. They were woefully understaffed. Roni, our lead server was personable, and tried--he apologized a lot. The young french woman assisting was totally incompetent. She could barely describe the dishes, she never once refreshed water, she would look directly at the dirty dishes on the table and walk away from them. We had to ask her to bring a soup spoon and fresh cutlery. The hostess and manager were busing more tables than she was. The manager never once came by to ask how things were--I suspect he already knew the answer! Two and half hours--and we didn't do dessert or coffee. Oh my, where did my Cafe go? read more

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Cafe des Architectes was simply not what I thought it would be. However, that does not mean it was lackluster. On the contrary, it was tasty but neither me or my lunch date were WOWed by the lunch menu. When we arrived for a 12:30PM reservation on a Wednesday afternoon, the dining room was completely empty. Shortly after seating, it was half booked. The space itself is absolutely stunning. It is very modern and bright and open. The flatware was of quality design and so were the linens. The details put into the aesthetics no doubt mirror the type of modernity you find in the hotel. The service here was good. Almost too good. The waitstaff approached us too many times during the meal to refill water or inquire as to how everything was or if we wanted more bread. The chicken sandwich was delicious and so were the fries. My enjoyed his pork belly sandwich, but did feel as if it was overcooked. Pork belly tends to be very juicy (due to the fact) but he mentioned it was a tough a just a bit dry. I won't be running back to CdA but if I do come back, it will be for dinner. read more

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Very good overall. Nice menu, quality service, beautiful atmosphere. Love the attention to detail! Definite recommendation.

I came here for a double date dinner. I made the reservations through Savored, which saved us about 30-40% on our meal. THANK YOU SAVORED.COM! It's a very modern place. They have different menus such as a healthy fit menu, regular menu, chef's selection, etc. They have someone walking around with a bread basket and provided European butter and some other spread. Service was attentive. We received a complimentary amuse bouche which was a beef tartare. I didn't eat it since I was going meatless weekday diet. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting, we finally flagged down our waiter and inquired whether it was still coming or if we are waiting for our appetizers. He apologized and brought out a veggie friendly amuse bouche. Our overall dinner was nice. I came in here afraid that the portions were going to be tiny, but I was relieved to get a normal person's amount of food. They were able to substitute the carrots in my salmon dish for broccolini. Everyone else enjoyed their food. The Colorado lamb looked amazing. They provided a complimentary dessert tower for the four of us, which was a nice touch. Even though we ordered sorbet for dessert. Overall, this was a nice place for dinner. It definitely helped that we had that coupon from Savored, so it was only $90 a couple including tip! I don't know if I would come back here again though. Maybe if we wanted a romantic/low-key dinner that wouldn't break the bank. read more

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The sofetiel hotel is a really cool place, much different than other hotels in Chicago, so I was interested to try out a restaurant located within. This restaurant is also French, so also a different spin on a normal lunch that I would have. My mom, grandma, and I tried out the restaurant week menu for lunch, though I wish I had chosen the entrees available instead. I like how the servers bring out a tray of bread to choose from, along with the different butters and cream cheese. The coffee was also spectacular. Other than that, the food didn't really knock me off my feet. My first course was the salad, which was more like a few pieces of veggies on top of a cracker. Not really my kind of salad. My entrée pick was the rainbow trout, which was pretty tasty but a very tiny portion. My dessert pick was the white chocolate lemon cake. This was much better than expected or how it looked, but still not my favorite dessert. Service is a little slow, but very accommodating. Overall, the food was mediocre, and the portions small. However, I'm glad I got to dine at this French restaurant for a nice lunch! read more

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I come here every time I'm in Chicago. Beautiful neighborhood around the Sofitel hotel and a really trendy modern spot for breakfast. All the staff greet you with s welcoming Bonjoiur! Pastries of your pick from a tray of tummies is offered and is included in your meal. Cofffe is authentically French pressed. The fruits are beautiful, fresh and sweet! read more

CDA - Trendy place - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This review is the the lunch tasting menu. I came on a weekday and the restaurant was relatively empty. I ordered the 4 course lunch menu and the food was brought out to me at once. French Onion Soup (4/5): i liked this soup, nothing special, but my friend who LOVES french onion soup did not like it. I like the toasted top and the extra cheese layer. Squash Salad (5/5): i LOVED the squash salad. everything from the dressing to the thin pieces of crouton and the veggies. Steak (5/5): 2 pieces of steak that were very flavorful, loved the pureé at the bottom and the little pieces of squash Dessert (2/5): this is where the meal went downhill. The 2 pieces of cake (raspberry and chocolate) were a little dry and tasted not very fresh. Service was great and the ambiance was average. Loved pretty much everything except the dessert. Worth to check out if you like French food! read more

CDA - Express lunch ($24) - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Still fantastic. I think CdA is a restaurant one should experience every season, as the menu changes radically, but always manages to match the weather, food and emotional expectation of the month of dining. Standouts from my most recent meal: Hum cocktail - Hum will always be delicious. In anything. Pair it with fizzy, fruity liquids and you have a winner each and every time. Went down like water. Hit me in the head like Oscar de la Hoya in a wig and fishnets. Sweet Potato Gnocchi - roasted garlic cream and lemon confit make this dish a delight to the tastebuds. I am not at all a fan of the sweet potato (blame Thanksgiving + marshmallows + pineapple + canned yams; hate the stuff) but, for some reason, gnocchi will class just about anything up enough for me to try it. This is an appetizer and is an appetizer portion, but the dish is rich enough that it's surprisingly filling. Beware in a good way. Guinea Hen - this is the second time I have eaten it and I am still not sure about what differentiates it from regular ol' chicken... but whatever it is, I like it. The protein was prepared with maitake mushrooms and boursin polenta. Combine these flavors with every bite. Cut the meat up into little bites and run it through the veggies if you must, but it's not an accident that these profiles were paired with one another. I haven't enjoyed a poultry dish this much in quite some time. Fruit soup - I am too done. Fruit soup? For real? Served cold and with a spoon made up of sugar that you can eat? I apologize to all the members of the Red Hat club I ran out on to Michigan Avenue to slap because this was so good. I couldn't help myself. Service was prompt, professional and delightful as always. I don't have anything negative to say. The fact that CdA could effortlessly transition from one chef to another without the slightest upset to the tongue or overall experience goes to the strength of the concept and the steeliness of the brand. I may only get here once a season but I know that each time I do, it will be an experience to remember and relish. read more

It's my birthday... not really. My birthday was one month ago, but that didn't stop my dear friend Yanyao N from taking me out for a birthday lunch. She picked Café Des Architectes. I had never heard of the place, but I figured it was French. I think it means Cafe of Architects. Four years of high school French are finally coming in handy. The place is bright and modern. Chef hat lamp shades hang above the tables. The hostess greeted me with, "Bonjour!" Yup, definitely French. We started with a squash soup. A waiter brought out bowls with sweet potato cubes and duck confit, and poured soup over them at the table. Fancy! Yanyao ordered a cocktail: some grapefruit thing. She let me try a sip. It was very good, but I couldn't have one because I had to work after lunch. I got the Seared Arctic Char. It was served on Brussels sprouts and salsify puree. As the French would say: incroyable!!! The fish skin was so nice and crispy, and the whole dish so flavorful! The Miniature Parisian Desserts looked like works of art - almost too pretty to eat. But that didn't stop me from scoffing them up. The praline cream filled choux-pastry cookie was my favorite. The whole lunch was très magnifique. I'll be returning to Café des Architectes tout de suite. Merci beaucoup, Yanyao! read more

CDA - Miniature Parisian Desserts - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been yearning, lusting even, to eat at this restaurant. We even had reservations once but had to cancel. Finally we got to eat here and it was worth the wait, it is a sublime restaurant. We had a simply terrific waiter by the name of Romi and the entire meal was a delight. We started with charcuterie for two and split it between four which was more than enough, especially after the hearty bread which was generously passed out. We also received a complimentary glass of bubbly. Cheers! For my entrée I had a two part lamb which was unbelievably tasty, I have never had lamb better anywhere. It was a rib and shank plus some potatoes that were mouth meltingly fabulous. To top off this perfect meal I had the dessert sampler made by their fabulous pastry chef, Leigh Omilinsky. With a fragrant and smooth cappucino to end the meal I felt I had died and gone to foodie heaven. What a superb night with great food and superb companions. We must go again! read more

CDA - Lamb - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our experience at Cafe Des Architectes was only a partial experience, but we enjoyed the taste we had. We only experienced part of the menu, because it was Restaurant Week. They had a standard prix fixe, with certain items from the regular menu available as upgrades. This is an irresistible opportunity for me, as my love for dinner upgrades is exceeded only by my love for travel upgrades. I heartily recommend the duck confit appetizer - its one of the best I've had, with a well sized duck leg that melts in your mouth. Its almost a meal in and of itself. Of course, we didn't stop there - I upgraded to the rack of lamb, and Kelly upgraded to the Delmonico steak, both of which exceeded our expectations. Desserts, too, were superb, as was the French press coffee. Taking a look at the menu currently online, I see that CDA varies its menu seasonally, so you may have to wait until the fall for the duck confit and rack of lamb, but the options currently available will undoubtedly satisfy. But what of the restaurant itself? As I said above, we did not experience it fully -- on that Saturday night, a server was sick, (for Restaurant Week? Mon Dieu!) and in response they closed off part of the restaurant (it did feel small). But, our taste of the decor was complete. The atmosphere at CDA is clubby and romantic - dark walls, low lighting, with a white banquette to create visual contrast. It is more of a French Mag Mile restaurant than a French Bistro. This dark sleekness is an extension of the dark sleekness of the hotel, the Sofitel. Personally, I felt that the decor of the Sofitel was too dark and dated, in an 80s style. But if you are looking for a Mag Mile / Streeterville type experience, rather than a country bistro, a la La Sardine or Kiki's or Bistrot Zinc, CDA fits the bill. And a final note, for by Bourbon boozer friends, the bar in the Sofitel has Templeton Rye, and makes excellent manhattans. Note that the bar in the restaurant does not have Templeton, but my server sent my order over to the bar for fulfillment -- make sure yours does the same. read more

Overall: the executive lunch fair is a solid four courses for the $24 price. The dishes are hit or miss Food: Executive option. Four courses sampling various French dishes that change everyday. I had a mixed greens and goat cheese mousse salad, salmon filet, cold tomato soup, and a dessert of chocolate cake and meringue pieces. The salad was average, the dessert was ok, but the salmon was excellent. The cold soup wasn't good. It had a strange sour and smokey taste. This restaurant is a cool little gem nestled in a hotel. Parking is a pain. The cuisine is French and the theme definitely shows; the servers greet you in both French and French accented English. The prices are decent for lunch and pretty classy. One thing that was strange with our executive lunch was that everything was brought out at the same time. Unfortunately by the time we finished our salads, the salmon was getting cold. It was like a French benton box. I recommend this place for a classier affordable lunch, either to catch up with friends or in a business setting. read more

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Food: 3 Decor: 4 Service: 2 Came here with the gf and her parents for lunch around 1pm Saturday. 3-hour non-dinner valet parking is $13 with restaurant validation. Bread basket was good - chocolate croissant, small baguettes, and some other items. 1. Brunch sampler, 25 Served with fresh fruit juice and coffee or tea ~Good. Opted for oj. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs *** ~Good. Instead of pieces of fruit on a stick, the kebabs were actually three tall shot glasses of fruit juice. Last time I checked the dictionary, a kebab is "a dish consisting of small pieces of meat, tomatoes, onions, etc, threaded onto skewers and grilled, generally over charcoal." pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche mesclun greens chicken and waffle mini white truffle omelet *** ~Okay. Smoked salmon was okay, but the bread and onions didn't pair well. Mesclun green salad was pretty good, and whatever ingredient looked like dirt underneath the salad was amusing and creative. Chicken and waffle was mediocre, as was the omelet. assorted mini desserts ~Mediocre. We got honey vanilla parfait, a chocolate layered cake, and a strawberry panna cotta with nuts and strawberries. Honey vanilla parfait was too sweet, and I didn't like the pairing on top. Cake was okay, and the panna cotta was more like a marshmallow. Service was disappointing. They gave my gf oj instead of the grapefruit juice she ordered. I brought it up to a male server, but they still didn't fix the problem. I then brought it up with our original server, who was nowhere to be seen until the end of our meal, and it was eventually fixed. read more

Having been here before for dinner, I was surprised that I hadn't been here for their breakfast. So when a friend suggested we meet here to catch up one morning, I jumped at the chance! Know before you go that they don't take reservations for breakfast but on the Sunday morning I was there- there was not a wait around 10 but it did fill up after that. We were seated at a two top close to the front windows where you can watch the people scurry by on their way in and out of the Sofitel hotel. I loved that they bring around a bread basket and let you pick from its decadence be it a chocolate filled croissant, or a perfect baguette. The menu is varied enough that you can find something to your liking, I ordered the shrimp and crab omelette and my friend had the crepes. We had a small snafu with the ordering as the server thought I had ordered a different omelette so when it came out with my friend's crepes and needed to be sent back, I was surprised they didn't take both entrees back as we basically needed up eating in shifts. . . . Her first and then my corrected dish coming out when she was basically done. Not ideal by any means. The manager did bring me some fruit to nibble on while I waited but clearly this was a miss. Our server, however was quite nice. He even remembered to come over at 10:30 to let us know that we could now have the bloody Mary's that we had ordered before they were serving alcohol. . . Made me feel like I really NEEDED that drink! Ha! But the bloods were perfectly made with just the right amount of spice. If you drive - they do have valet out front that will run you $24 for a couple of hours. It might be a better bet to park in the garage just to the west of the hotel entrance. Other than the amazing bread basket nothing really stood out for me. . . But a solid choice if you find yourself in the area. read more

I decided to come here for a graduation brunch (my graduation, go me whoo) with my parents and bf, and it was not a great choice. We had all opted to get the brunch sampler, so I'll run through it real quick. 1. Bread basket (assorted croissants and bread) - great, we agreed that this was probably our favorite part of the meal 2. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs - this came in the form of three shots of juice (mango, pomegranate, and something I can't remember). I was expecting fresh fruit, and had I known I was getting juice, I wouldn't have ordered a glass with my meal. They also got my juice order wrong, and it took awhile to get this corrected. 2. Mains: -pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche - good, I liked it enough to take leftovers home -mesclun greens - okay salad, pretty interesting -chicken and waffle - even McDonalds makes better chicken fingers -mini white truffle omelet - gross 3. Desserts: - honey vanilla parfait - way too sweet, and the honey yogurt combo was odd - chocolate opera cake? - way too sweet - strawberry panna cotta - well balanced, my favorite part of the meal Overall, the brunch sampler may be a good value considering the sheer bulk of the food, but in terms of quality and taste, it was definitely lacking for the price. I would not want to return, at least not for brunch. read more

CDA - Brunch sampler desserts - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been here at least 11 times, and I agree that some of the servers are green - but you cannot go wrong w/Romi as your waiter. Not only is he charming, fun, and efficient, he also has the voice of an angel (well, a French angel) and will sing to you! I loved the oysters with creme fraiche and caviar and I hope they make a reappearance on the menu. Right now they have a gorgeously delicate foie gras plate I highly recommend. Chef Greg and his sous chef Justin are both whizzes when it comes to preparing fish. Greg made halibut for my fiance and I a month ago that made said Fiance proclaim Cafe des Architectes is his new favorite restaurant!! This past weekend we went with our friend Leigh and she was in heaven! From the chilled tomato soup to the cheese course to the truly awesome rabbit three ways - it was pleasure all around! Then of course came desserts (and thank goodness these 2 are sweet tooths!) Along w/the wonderful food we had great wine recommended by Romi. I always love going here and can't believe I've never reviewed it before. Thank you for existing, Cafe des Architects! read more

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Came here with family for a birthday using a giltcity voucher and the meal was excellent. Returned with my wife for a date and again, presentation of food is absolutely stunning! read more

I love the Sofitel hotel - the decor is gorgeous and the atmosphere is so sophisticate and modern. We walked around the lobby and checked out the Christmas decorations and the elaborate gingerbread houses they had displayed which were very neat. Upon entering the restaurant we waited for a few minutes before anyone came to us but we saw many workers walking around. The staff was very friendly, they asked where we wanted to be seated. We didn't care so a man walked us to our table and took our jackets. The restaurant seemed a little stuffy for my liking. On both sides of our table were tables almost touching ours because they were so close. I looked at my boyfriend and we both almost felt too uncomfortable to even talk to each other because we were so close to the people next to us and it was SO quiet in there. It's a good thing the cuisine is not reflective of the boring atmosphere! We were using a gift certificate for dinner for 2. Not knowing what was included we asked the server and he said anything we want except alcohol. Our mouths were watering! I ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartar and my boyfriend ordered the house made goat cheese. The tartar was amazing, and the goat cheese was interesting and plated very nicely but not anything really appealing about the taste. As an entrée we both ordered Maine Lobster and Duroc Pork Belly with Swiss chard and oyster mushrooms. The pork belly which is one of my favorite meals was amazing. And of course you cannot go wrong with lobster. The portion was small but after a few baskets of bread (yes they just kept bringing us bread) I think we were both pretty full! The bread was so good too, a pretzel bun, baguette and a brown roll with butter and olive tapenade. So delicious! And who doesn't love good bread service? I hate filling up on bread but when it's this good, who cares? We usually don't order dessert but hey when its free - why not! From our server's recommendations I had the acorn brioche with apples and the best ice cream ever. My boyfriend ordered the pear gingerbread tart. We destroyed both rather quickly. I am not ashamed of my appetite that night, when food is that good its hard not to indulge. I'd definitely go back! read more

CDA - Wagyu Beef Tartar - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gilt City comes through once again... Bought a voucher for CDA a few weeks ago at a discount for a three-course meal plus a glass of house sparking wine for two people. My wife and I came by and tried the glazed sweetbread, spring risotto, the char, the beef tenderloin and the chocolate sphere. The char was so-so, and the sphere was a minor disappointment, but the beef, sweetbread and risotto were all incredible. Even the "house" sparking wine was very good, and our server was very attentive throughout the dining experience. My water glass was never empty and the sourdough bread that came with the meal was also tasty. The amuse bouche last night was also interesting, but it was a big gulp; my wife was expecting something slightly smaller or already on a serving spoon, but I don't eat enough at fancy places to know the difference! My only other gripe? How empty the place was...we came for a 6:30 PM rez on a Wednesday, and even by the time we left just before 8, the place was completely empty. It would almost be better to make CDA half the size, to create more intimacy but also eliminate the feeling that the place isn't any good because it is so empty. (And when I have gone to OpenTable to score a rez in the past, there's always availability.) The decor, chairs, and slightly oversized table were nice, but I would have preferred even a little more activity around me. read more

Restaurant week! I came here for restaurant week earlier this year, purely because of the name. I'm an architecture student, so I had to try it out! The waiters were all very nice right when we entered, asking us if we wanted to hang out coats and such. We were seated along the window in the front, which gave a nice view of the overall restaurant. The interior was quite pretty with the tall floor to ceiling windows, and the cool ambiance. We had a prefixed meal for restaurant week which entailed 5 courses. They were all pretty good, and I enjoyed all of them, but I have to say, it wasn't amazing. I ordered a cappuccino and some sparkling water as well. For 75 dollars, I had expected a pretty damn good meal. I'd come here again, maybe not for restaurant week, but to try their other dishes. read more

CDA - Short rib! Delicious flavor and tender! - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A very nice dining experience. We dined here on the lady's insistence, it looked a little too foo foo for me if you know what I mean. Thought the serving sizes would be too small but the amount of food was just right. I started with the butternut squash soup which was to die for. Then the salmon with the seasonal veggies was Delish. The baked Alaska dessert was ok. What really was outstanding was the service, just top notch! They added a couple of nice touches throughout the dinner with a small serving of tuna tartar & then at dessert a couple of fancies cookies to top it off. Very nice touch. The only criticism we had was the ambiance of the restaurant. There wasn't anything wrong with it, certainly fits the upscale image of the hotel, but it doesn't feel like a French restaurant, but that is a minor point. read more

My true rating is 3 1/2 stars, only giving this place 3 stars doesn't do it justice. As expected the portions were a tad small but the platings were beautiful. I got the House Made Goat Cheese dish for my first course and it really wasn't anything I expected and it's not something I would get again. My girlfriend ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartar which was a lot better than the appetizer that I ordered. For my main course I got the Maine Lobster and Duroc Pork Belly. The Lobster was only 1/2 a tail and covered in a sauce that I wasn't particularly a fan of but it was still good. I mean it is lobster after all :-) The Pork Belly was amazing. It was the highlight of the meal for sure! I'm not a big dessert guy but I really enjoyed the Pear Gingerbread Tart. Cafe' Des Architectes is very good and I would come back for the Pork Belly. read more

My husband and I went there today for our anniversary. The dinner menu isn't big , but every item looked so delicious to us that we wanted to try everything. Our server was very attentive, he explained every dish to us and it came exactly like he said . The food was very tasty , especially the white sauce they serve with a duck . It was so nice of them to give us some cookies and sweet treats in the end with a candle and "happy anniversary " painting on a plate . Had a great experience and definitely will be back. Thank you . read more

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I was in for a breakfast meeting. I certainly wasn't wowed by anything here. The oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit, poached eggs served to the three of us were adequate. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come here for breakfast in the future. Service was prompt. Here's the thing: when I arrived and said we were having a breakfast meeting the host initially put me in between two loud tables at a square to with three chairs when there were clearly other options available. Of course I requested to be moved but when you make a reservation and go out of your way to inform you would expect that there was more anticipation. read more

CDA - the lobby area of a hotel - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Blown away by the restaurant week menu. Great food, atmosphere, staff, service. Can't wait to go back! Amazing lunch! Squash soup with duck confit. Trout and a chocolate pistachio dessert with raspberries. read more

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We have dined at Cafe Architectes 4 or 5 times over the past few years. Located in the lobby of The Sofitel Water Tower, it is both upscale and warm at the same time. The food has always been excellent, especially when we went there to celebrate my husband's birthday. The chef and staff knocked themselves out to give us a special meal. Since then it has been our choice for out of town guests as we know the food will please. My favorite dish has been the pork belly and divers scallop. Very rich, but complex in the tastes. Whatever the salmon preparation is will also be superb.What's new is the fairly recent development of Chestnut Provisions, the in-house production of cheese and charcuterie. We've had the appetizer selection three times and it only gets better. Especially good are the creative jams and pickles served with the cheese and meat. Desserts are also complex with subtle flavors. It is clear that the wait staff support Chef Biggers' goals and are proud of the food they serve. read more

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Came here for lunch. Surprisingly very good food and great service! We got the tomato soup, chicken Caesar salad and deli sandwich. The tomato soup was some of the best I've ever had - really awesome flavors. Salad was a great portion and the chicken was warm, freshly roasted rather than cold, tough chicken like at other spots. I'm really picky about chicken and it was perfect. The deli sandwich came with tons of fries, too, which was an added plus. I'd definitely come back, even when I'm not staying at the hotel! read more