Food: The dish is unique, with excellent color, aroma, and flavor. Service: excellent! Ambiance: Although the restaurant is small, the environment is elegant and romantic Sitting down makes you feel like slowing down time to fully savor the moment and the food. read more

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Cant't say it's Michelin class, but I don't give out the ratings. It's a solid "3". $$$.

Super cute spot in Italian village. Met my husband after work one day. Easy to get a reservation and it was warm enough to dine outside. They have a really cute side patio so highly recommend that. I had the chicken which was very juicy. My husband got the beef wellington and thought it was excellent. read more

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I am no longer a French cuisine virgin and I am glad I lost my it at Chez Joel Bistro. Having driven past this restaurant, one would never realize they have this beautiful outdoor patio space under trees and the stars that makes for a perfect venue for outdoor dining for a couple on a first date or even a romantic date with your wife of 40 years. With a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc on a semi warm Chicago summer Saturday evening, we got the escargots, the grilled calamari with peppers and the mussels. Their complimentary warm sourdough bread was the perfect accompaniment to the delicious sauce of the (clean and large size) mussels as well as the olive oil base for dunking below the escargot. I was indifferent to the texture of escargot and it wasn't polarizing for me but I loved its olive oil base with herbs. Rest assured, I would love to go back and sit outside again since the ambience certainly made the meal and evening so much more enjoyable. read more

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Cozy and charming restaurant with great patio seating for the summer. We actually didn't have a reservation and just walked in and had no problems getting seated. Our server was warm, friendly, and gave us really great recommendations. Each dish was simple, yet consistently good. I would come back for the mussels alone! read more

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The restaurant has a welcoming warm vibe with a gorgeous grand chandelier. We were greeted right away and got great seats next to the window. The menu featured French bistro favorites and a few seasonal specials. We had the special soft shell crabs and the barramundi. Our waiter was attentive and the food was delicious from the starter salads and escargots to the best crème brûlée I've ever had. We'll be back and are looking forward to experiencing the outdoor patio space. read more

As soon as I walked in the door, someone greeted me, and even knew who I was based on the time (and the time of my reservation). I dine alone a lot, because I travel often for work, and they suggested for me to sit at the bar, but I had asked if there was a possibility for me to sit at a table, it would make my day...which they granted. This place cares! They sat me at what I thought made the most sense for someone dining alone, yet allowing themselves to sit their incoming reservations appropriately based on their number, as well as their occasion. Like reserving the tables under the chandelier for couples out on a date, for example. Upon sitting down, someone immediately poured some water in my glass, and shortly after, my waitress arrived, and greeted me, and let me know that she'll be back to tell me the specials of the day. I had already taken a look at the menu, but maybe there was something else that could change my mind. So, I obviously listened to her. But, it had been a while since I have had what I had in mind. I ordered the Mediterranean Octopus as my starter, and followed with the beet salad. She asked me what I wanted for my entree, and I said that I didn't know if I would be ordering one, since I don't know how the portions were here (first time). But then I saw that they had coq au vin, and that was another dish I hadn't had in a while....so I didn't finished the mashed potatoes that came with the octopus, nor all of the arugula that came with the beet salad. Let me tell you, the chicken was SO good, I wish I had skipped the salad, because I got too full, I couldn't finish it. But, you should really plan around the entrees here...trust me, they are outstanding!!! I came here because I love French food, but really, it's because they are Michelin recommended. 5 stars in my book - I will come back. read more

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Discovered this cute French bistro on Yelp as I was looking for something new to go to with my BFF of 36 years to celebrate our friendiversary. The restaurant is located on the corner of Taylor and May Street, in Little Italy. I was somewhat surprised by the address and discovering this place in the middle of the land of UIC, pizza, pasta and Italian ice. Can't speak to the parking situation as I used Spot Hero, but there is street parking all along Taylor Street. The restaurant is intimate, a.k.a on the small size, but very nicely decorated. There is a small bar in the front and a patio to the left of the restaurant (didn't see it as we were sitting inside). Based on the size, I would never just walk in here to be seated, I think you definitely need to make a reservation. The room is laid out in a very French way, with tables sitting very close to each other. I love the blue palate, it was very relaxing. The tables themselves are nicely decorated but are definitely on the small side for folks like us who like to share multiple dishes. Getting a bottle of bubbles and the holder took up some real estate along with the water and drink glasses. We started out with the Pâté de deux Sortes (Duck Liver Pâté with Traditional Garnish & Toast Points), the special which was a very lovey Tuna Tartar wrapped in avocado and topped with roe, and the Calamar Grillé au Pistou et Jus De Citron (Grilled Calamari with Pesto, Arugula and Roasted Peppers). All three of these starters were very good and I would do them again. The pâté was as to be expected and I did enjoy the toast points. My only complaint about this dish is that they need to put more of those lovely pickles with it. Presentation on all three dishes was lovely. For dinner I got the Souris d'agneau au Jus de Romarin (Braised Lamb Shank, Wild Mushrooms, Vegetables Fricassés, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Rosemary au Jus, my BFF got the Steak Grillé au Poivre (Center Cut Grilled NY Strip Steak with Crushed Black Pepper Corn, Cognac Sauce and Pommes Frites), The Doctor got the Filet de Saumon Grillé (Salmon Filet Grilled, Julienne of Vegetables, Asparagus, Potato Tournée and Mustard Sauce) and The Queen got the Linguine aux Fruits de Mer (Linguine with Shell Fish, Garlic, Basil, Sherry Tomatoes and Extra Virgin Olive Oil). Everyone agreed that their dish was very good. I tried a little bit of my BFF's steak and it was cooked to the correct temperature requested. The pommes frites were very good and sooooo thin! Absolutely lovely. My dish could have used a little more seasoning, but the lamb was very good, sliding off the bone. For dessert, my BBF got the Profiterole (Cream Puff filled with Vanilla ice cream, Warm Chocolate and Toasted Sliced Almonds), The Doctor/Queen got the sorbet and I got the Gateau aux Amondes (Baked Almonds Gateau Served Warm with Vanilla Ice Cream & Caramel Sauce). The cake was a little on the dry side for me and not enough almond flavor. My BFF loved the Profiterole and cleaned his plate. The wine that I got was the Varichon & Clerc, 'Privilège' Rose from France. I thought this was a lovely dry sparkling (too dry for The Doctor). I will definitely look for it at Binny's. Our server Omar was so nice and funny. He took very good care of us and was aware (I believe) of the limited space on the table and spaced out our food as best as he could. Overall the meal was lovely, we had a very good time, but three things happened that took this review down to three stars for me: 1. The wine buckle holding my bubbles had a very long hair wrapped around it. I am not good with hair near anything I am drinking or eating and that included my own. I immediately got Omar's attention and he apologized and got a new bucket. 2. For the dessert serve, I was given what I perceived to be a dirty spoon. The Doctor thought it might be dried paper towel, but whatever it was, it was on their solid. Again, Omar was called over and he took care of it immediately. 3. There was a slender gentleman in a very nice dinner jacket who went between two tables that were occupied to open the drapes in the window. This actually required a little bit of reaching over the people sitting as the tables were situated in such a way that there was no way to move them over without leaning over. The second thing was in the middle of our dinner, while we were talking/laughing, he comes over and reaches onto our table to relight the candle in the middle of our table. When he couldn't get it lit, it took it with him and brought it back. No greeting of any kind or a comment to say pardon me, going to light your candle. All four us just stopped talking and looked at each other with that WTHeck look. So those three things took this review down to a three. Would I go back? Yes I would. The food, service and decor were nice. The Doctor and I were talking about if we go again, maybe we would sit at the bar and not at a table. read more

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This is a very nice intimate French bistro. I love that they have valet parking. We went here during restaurant week. I enjoyed a three course prefix menu. I can't say that I will return in the future, but it was a lovely experience. read more

Chez Joel Bistro - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Triumphant return for another birthday celebration! Beet salad and burger were delicious, super attentive service! read more

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Loved this place! Every dish was fantastic, it's super quaint and cozy, and the service was outstanding. A total hidden gem!

Decided on Chez Joel for my bday dinner with Mom largely because she's hearing impaired and other reviewers noted it's a quiet restaurant. Unfortunately, we had the opposite experience and it was incredibly loud during our Tuesday evening visit. The restaurant itself is quite small so they really pack everyone into one room. The patio may be better but it was too chilly to dine outdoors for us. I would actually say if you're looking for a cozy but lively atmosphere, this bistro is for you. Other than having to shout over the meal, I felt the food and drinks were mostly enjoyable. I started with the sparkling wine cocktail, which was very refreshing. For dinner, I decided on the scallops, which were absolutely scrumptious - well composed and very flavorful. For dessert, they were kind enough to bring out a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a candle in it but we also ordered the almond cake and it was just ok (a little dry). For a nightcap, we ordered off menu and our waitress was gracious enough to accommodate and make us some delicious after-dinner drinks. Overall, I felt the service was pretty good. We also lucked out with free street parking across the street. I can see how this is a neighborhood staple for French fare but in our experience I'd give 3.5 stars rounded to 4. read more

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Manager rude, Sat us by door when we previously requested not to be seated near door. Very loud. Some menu items excellent but overall over priced. Disappointed read more

Free street parking if you can find it. We found some free spots close to our reservation time. Service was exceptional. Every dish was superb, can't find any faults. Price is standard for this type of cuisine. -grilled calamari with pesto, arugula, and roasted peppers -Frog legs with garlic spinach, capers, and brown butter sauce - not on current menu unless you ask -Rack of lamb, mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, au jus - any lamb is good on their menu -magret et confit de canard, sauce a l'orange -gateau aux amondes -profiterole read more

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The service is spectacular. They are very attentive. I had the eggs Benedict for brunch. It was phenomenal. They fry these cubes of potatoes that are made from thinner layers of seasoned baked potatoes. Delicious. I'm definitely going to return soon. read more

I have eaten there a few times it's very good. Itruly enjoyed the escargot. I love Chez. I haven't been there in quite some time but everything I remember about it was sensational. I have to get back up there and try it again. read more

When did it become okay to allow your children to run around the restaurant? This is not McDonald's. I do not expect to go out to dinner with my husband and have to put up with kids, broken glass and when the mother is trying to clean up the mess flings bread in my drink. We have enjoyed this restaurant many times before. Tons got is not one of them. We tried the warm Brie appetizer and fount it very enjoyable. The Salad Masion was also good. We split the soft shell crab. My husband really enjoyed it. I did not care for the strong balsamic vinegar taste to the sauce. The ratatouille was very good. The wait staff is very nice and attentive. While dining we over heard the maître 'd tell the mothers of the children running around that he did not want them in the kitchen. Obviously., the must be part of the family who owns the restaurant. This makes it so much worse. The adults at the table should know better and care about the business. I went out to eat often growing up and was never allowed to act like that or cause a scene. The ambience of Chez Joel is lovely, especially the outdoor area. I regret my husband's birthday dinner was ruined. read more

Ruined our 33rd wedding anniversary. We were married 12/31/1992 and made dinner reservation 3 weeks before New Years Eve, calling multiple times talking to staff and leaving voicemail day of reservation requesting table away from door in quiet section of restaurant. When we arrived they offered table right next to door. When we reminded them of our multiple requests the manager told us "other customers were more important than us", "if we didn't want to sit by door we should have made an earlier reservation or canceled" even though we responded to multiple emails from restaurant confirming reservation. No one ever apologies, even when multiple mistakes were made on our friends order and again manager came to table to bully our friend to accept wrong order brought to table. These are bad, sociopathic people that are dishonest and inhumane. read more

We made a reservation at Chez Joel Bistro a week in advance, specifically requesting an indoor table due to the summer heat and my allergy to mosquito bites. Upon arrival on time, we were told indoor seating was "already full" and our only option was to sit outside--completely disregarding our reservation. As expected, the heat and mosquitoes became an issue. I ended up with several bites, making the entire evening uncomfortable from the start. After being seated, we were left waiting 30 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. Our waitress eventually arrived with a very brief apology and gave us small glasses of Prosecco, which was unwelcome, as we don't drink. It felt more like a quick fix than a sincere effort to make up for the lack of service. To their credit, the food arrived in a reasonable time, but it was underwhelming and overpriced. The salmon was bland and lacked seasoning, and portion sizes were surprisingly small. The waitress did not return once to check on us during the meal, only reappearing after we had finished eating. Even then, the bill took too long to arrive, and there was no further apology for the subpar service or the seating mishap. Overall, this experience left a bad taste in more ways than one. Based on poor service, broken reservation commitments, and mediocre food, we'll likely not return--and we won't be recommending it to others either. read more

exquisite food in a delightful setting. The staff are knowledgeable and a great help in making decisions. The steaks look beautiful but I gravitate to the seafood dishes -- risotto and boulibase. read more

Great room great outdoor patio great service great value. It was a really good experience. I was with my friend who lived in Paris for many years and she was super happy to have the muscles and a few desserts. Great coffee to end the night. I would highly recommend this place and it doesn't break the bank we need more French restaurants.!! read more

Great place! Love the small room, and small tables, very reminiscent of Paris. We got bread, butter, and this incredible spread to start. I forgot to ask the waiter what it was, but it was so good and tasted like balsamic and zest and fruit. We got the cheese plate, Coq au Vin and Steak au Poivre for dinner, and all three were delicious. Our sever was quick and very pleasant, and we got a scoop of vanilla ice cream as we were celebrating a birthday. It was no throwaway ice cream either, it was really good. Recommend! read more

Chez Joel Bistro - Steak Grill au Poivre and Coq au Vin la Mode Rustique Ma Faon - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely, elegant dinner. I couldn't have been more impressed with service, food and ambiance. Spyros was the highlight, his service was impeccable! The interior is quaint, romantic and each table was appointed with a single fresh red rose. I started with the Escargots A La Bourguignon. The dish was delivered to the table, piping hot and was exceptionally dressed with garlic butter and pernod. The dish is served with an abundant amount of garlic butter, so if you are the one who loves to soak up the extra sauce with the delicious, warm, house baguette, you are in for a treat. Second dish: Calamar Grillé au Piston et Jus De Citron. Tubes are sliced on the vertical, lending to an extra unique presentation. The peppers were roasted perfectly and dish was balanced nicely with pesto and arugula. The calamari was prepared perfectly. Main entree: Magret et Confit de Canard, Sauce à L'orange. I was truly wowed by this entree. I feel duck is one of the most challenging dishes to prepare to perfection. There were two large slices of duck breast plated on each side of the leg/thigh confit. The balance of cranberries, perfectly poached pear slice, aromatic orange zest, red cabbage and beets could not have been better accompaniments. The duck breast was one of the most tender I've ever had, and the skin was crispy, which is why the chef recommends a medium preparation vs. medium rare. Parts of the confit leg were a little too done (extremely dry and over cooked), but because there was ample amount of duck breast, I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I felt like I was in a fairytale dining at Chez Joël. This will be a must each time I'm in CHI town. read more

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Wonderful dinner and service in a cozy atmosphere. Wish it had been warm enough for the lovely patio.

This review is for Chicago 2022 restaurant week. We originally reserved a corner table for 4 adults and a baby (including stroller) but decided to not bring our baby. Thank goodness we didn't because the restaurant was super overcrowded and a stroller definitely wouldn't fit... There were barely any space between the tables. Also, their tables were too small for any group with 2+ people... We constantly had to clean up space for dishes to come. Overall, pretty hectic experience. This year they serve a 3 course dinner for $39 per person. For appetizer, it was salad or soup (French onion soup or soup of the day). I was disappointed that they removed snails from their RW menu. Entrees were salmon, steak, half chicken or ravioli. Desserts included creme brulee, chocolate mouse and cream puff. Unfortunately, food this year didn't live up to our expectations. Steak (ordered medium) was overcooked. Salmon was dry and flavorless. Desserts were overly sweet and cake wasn't moist. To management - please don't overbook as a lot of people still have safety concerns. Also trying to serve more people seems to have jeopardized the overall quality. read more

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Part 1 - It was truly amazing from start to finish. We opted to sit on the patio because the weather was perfect. It is soooo charming and beautiful. There is French music playing as you dine under the tree. Unreal. We had a Mediterranean salad, filet mignon and the fish of the day. All were excellent and seasoned perfectly. We were served warm bread with French butter as well. Service was perfect. Our server Amber was the best. Very friendly and informative. She made excellent wine recommendations throughout the meal. We dine out often and this was one of my favorite dining experiences. The staff is warm and extremely efficient. You must go to Chez Joel immediately. Thanks for a four star evening. Sent from my iPhone read more

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This was an amazing experience! We even had a baby that they made veggies we could mash for her to eat. We had a group of 8 and we were served in a reasonable amount of time, in fact much faster than I thought. The food was delicious! The service was efficient. read more

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Tried this place a few weeks ago, it's super unsuspecting from the outside but very nice and quaint inside. They have a wide menu of French classics. We started with several appetizers: the pate, octopus, beet salad and clams. All the apps were delicious! Even the pate which was risky for me haha the complimentary bread was also delicious. For dinner, I ordered the steak frites with the peppercorn sauce and my friends ordered the scallops and the seafood stew, the name I can't remember. The pepp corn sauce kinda ruined the steak for me, it assaulted my mouth and would much preferred it without the sauce but my husband liked it, so guess that's my preference. The frites were perfect but unfortunately my waitress forgot my ketchup for 15 mins and by the time I reminded her again my fries were cold but they were crispy and tasty. The waitress was nice... but very impatient. She stomped off twice while we were having conversations at the table. When she dropped off the check, she stared at us from across the room until we put down a card. I understand it was close to close but it was pretty awkward. read more

Chez Joel Bistro - Scallops - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious and authentic French cuisine with very reasonable prices! Our server was lovely, our table was comfortable, and the escargot was unbelievable (as were the steak frites). We were celebrating a birthday, and the staff was very kind and brought us a complimentary ice cream. Would highly recommend for a night out. read more

Chez Joël absolutely devoured--and so did we. The ravioli was silky and indulgent, the calamari was perfectly crisp, and the burger? Shockingly iconic. Like, why was that burger giving top-tier bistro fantasy in a sea of French classics? The whole place had this effortlessly sexy energy, and the outdoor patio? Pure gay garden party. We were surrounded by twinkle lights, ivy, and one gorgeous--but mildly concerning--tree that was being held up by a single strap. We spent a solid chunk of the meal whispering about whether it was going to fall on us, but honestly? We were rooting for her. She's been through it, she's trying her best, and we do not want her cut down. Even when the servers were taking their sweet time with the check, we were too blissed out in the ambiance to care. Chez Joël is a vibe--for the girls, the gays, the theys, and anyone who wants to feel a little Parisian while manifesting tree stability and emotional growth. read more

As always excellent food, the duck was great and the Coq au Vin was outstanding ..................... read more

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I enjoyed a great New Year's Eve dinner at Chez Joel Bistro. The food was really good! And the service even better! My waiter was Omar. He was so sweet and funny. He made great recommendations and was attentive to our needs. We ordered the mussels which were 10/10. They were flavorful and you could taste the fresh ingredients. We also tried the escargot. It was okay. We got 2 steak options on the menu and they were flavorful. We ended the night with the cream puffs stuffed with vanilla gelato 8/10. The drinks were really good though! The ambiance felt authentic! Beautiful with a classic touch. They gave everyone NYE hats, beads & party favors, that was so fun and special! I will definitely be back to try more dishes (: read more

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we arrived close to closing on a week day (wednesday night). valet the car. sat at charming small bar while we waited for our table. our hostess inez (sp?), took our jackets and hung up for us at the coatcheck. we enjoyed a cocktail before wine with dinner. our server omar recommended a great bottle for us (and were able to close & bag to take home, since we didn't finish entire bottle that evening). every table had satisfied looks on their faces. the lady next to me at the bar was enjoying her dinner. the duck. she was so happy about her food, i actually ordered the same thing for dinner. at dinner, omar gave feedback on all the dishes we wanted to order and recommendations. everything was exquisite. the food was brought out promptly. all the food delicate and beautiful presentation. highly recommend this quaint bistro on taylor street. read more

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Chez Joel is a cozy French bistro with indoor and outdoor seating (next time I'd love to sit on the cute patio in back). It has a nice atmosphere and does not get too loud. I went with two friends for dinner and we were able to have a conversation at normal volume, even sitting next to a table of about a dozen people. I started with the beet salad and shared escargot with my friend. I ordered the steak frites for myself. For dessert the three of us shared a crème brûlée and lemon tart. We also shared two bottles of white wine and our server treated us to a couple glasses of champagne as it was our dinner club "anniversary". He was wonderful! The servings were the right size/generous and well cooked & seasoned. Everything was delicious. One of my friends said she'd be back in a couple weeks for her birthday. I think we will all be back! A great place to celebrate a special occasion, or just have a delicious meal. read more

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Went here for a birthday dinner and everything was amazing. Lamb was incredibly tender and flavorful and went well with a pinot noir. Would highly recommend and plan to return. read more

Service was great and the atmosphere was welcoming. My salmon was unfortunately very under seasoned.

I have been here a few times and always enjoy it. They have a really cute patio to eat outside when the weather is nice. The food is good quality and the menu is reasonably priced. Some favorites are the onion soup, the coq au vin, and the filet. Great date night! read more

A lovely little goodbye dinner for my upcoming study abroad to Paris. The soup (soup de jour - corn chowder with truffle oil) was surprisingly the star of the show. The cheese platter starter was wonderful and quite cheap for the amount of cheese. Myself and my party were disappointed by the entrees. My coq au vin lacked much flavor. My distaste for most desserts was overcome by the almond cake! However the best part was the ambience and lovely staff. A beautiful little way spot that I would come back to simply for the decor! read more

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Everything absolutely delicious!!! Portion sizes very agreeable. Cornish hen was tender and juicy. The sauce was bold and sweet, worked nicely with the hen and veggies and mashed potatoes. Potatoes had the perfect consistency and flavor which for me are smooth and minimal. 1. Poulet Roti, Sauce Madeire - grilled and pan seared Cornish hen in sage and madeira wine sauce, grilled portobello mushrooms, baby carrots, and garlic mashed potatoes 2. Escargots A La Bourguignon- French Snails with Garlic Butter, Pernod & Herbed Breadcrumbs 3. Creme brulee I liked the service! Very attentive and non chatty. He even cleared my table before dessert including wiped the table of crumbs. read more

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I was really looking forward to this place. The food was mediocre and the service was terrible. The worst part of my experience was that the staff couldn't stop bitching and complaining about the customers as I was in the ladies room. The things they said ruined my night and I didn't want to continue eating knowing what I just heard come out of their mouths. read more

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