Fantastic food, nice home-y/cozy ambiance. The service was very warm and professional. Loved going there and we will be back! read more

Dear Margaret - smoked duck and smoked scallops, grilled grain bread w/ house butter, & cheddar and stilton - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The best restaurant I've eaten at! Dear Margaret brings the freshest midwestern ingredients to life with dishes that awaken your taste buds. I've dined here on 3 occasions. The menu changes seasonally, but the chef's ability to create delectable dishes with morels in springtime, fish such as trout and sturgeon, pheasant, rabbit, or local greens is a real treasure. The service has always been top-notch. Whether it's a birthday or a special occasion, the staff brings the Canadian charm and friendliness to the table. The dining room does have limited capacity, so reservations aren't a bad idea. read more

A lot of my firends had great things to say about this restaurant, so maybe my expectations were too high. For one thing I thought the decor would be cozy, but it was cold. There was almost nothing on the walls and the shelves had a few items that I think I saw at the brown elephant. The service was prompt but weird. The waiter kept standing between the tables. So when he was talking to the other table his back end was on our table. This is not the way you take orders. Maybe you go between the tables if you are dropping off something hot, but you get in and get out. The food was good, but it was expensive and very a'la carte. A piece of fish was $40, and if you wanted some salad with that, wait no, there was no salad on the menu. If you wanted some beets with that it is another $15. For one person if you wanted an entre, a side, and some bread, never mind a drink, you are almost at $100 with tax and tip - for a mediocre experience. Also the food all seemed like it was missing a bit of spice. You may say it is French, this is what it is supposed to taste like. Well, I spent a lot of time in France, and usually didnt feel that way. read more

Everything about our experience at Dear Margaret was five stars. We came in celebrating our anniversary, and have never felt treated so incredibly special in every way. We were greeted with glasses of bubbly, which was a really nice touch and a perfect start to our dinner. Our server was especially thoughtful, kind, and attentive. We ate nearly everything on the menu, and we loved every bite. I highly recommend coming in on Fridays (and I think Sundays) for their house baked bread. As a flexitarian who mostly avoids eating mammals, I found the menu very well suited to my less than usual diet. The wine was delicious and we were grateful for the guidance on the selections with our courses. My only regret was skipping dessert for a lack of time. We are so excited to come back and next time we'll definitely get dessert! read more

Checked out a new restaurant called Dear Margaret for Chicago restaurant week 2021. Restaurant space is cute but super tiny, so no wonder they're only doing takeout now, but looking forward to dining in one day. The leek custard was delicious, although tasted more salmon than leek. My split pea soup was not good, very vinegary/mustardy and I couldn't taste any of the expected richness from the ham. Smelts were ok, crispy and not greasy, but I thought the price was a bit steep for smelts+picked veggies. Both entrees were excellent, though portion sizes were clearly on two ends of the spectrum. The desserts were also on both ends of the richness spectrum, but both were excellent. The ice wine panna cotta was so delicate it didn't survive the drive home, but the flavor was sophisticated and makes you go back for another bite again and again. The maple chèvre cheesecake was no slouch either, creamy and not overly sweet. I wish they'd candied the fennel slices, as is they were a bit too savory for a dessert plate. What I really wanted to try was the tourtiere but it wasn't on the CRW a la carte menu. There will be a next time for sure! read more

See all

Service 4.5/5 - Warm, polite. Very Canadian way. Food 4/5 - Tastes good, but nothing memorable except the crème bulletin. Portion is extremely small Value 2/5 - way over price. Two people spent $192 left hungrily. I visited lots of French cuisine in Chicago and Montreal. Fairly speaking, Dear Margaret is over priced. $20 for two piece octopus that are even smaller than my little finger. $22 crab cucumber salad with several small piece crab. Not a bad restaurant, but way way over-priced. Considering the quality and size, I will say 70% * their menu price is fair. If you are looking for good French food with reasonable price, go to Chez Joel. If you are looking for a cozy small portion but tasty restaurant, go to Lula cafe. read more

This place was really cool. They have lots of tables and chairs inside. They also have long line tables for family and for friends. If the tables and chairs are full inside, don't worry since they have tables and chairs outside for dining in. It's fresh outside and you have a nice view if you sit there. Since it was too hot when we came here, we just ate inside. We ordered a lot of dishes. The only one I don't like here is their serving. Their food was only served in a small portion of food on a plate. The plating was simple and not unique. One of my favorites was their Bread Pudding. It was sweet, soft and very yummy. I really like it. I just gave a 4 stars rating to this restaurant although we enjoy the taste of their food. read more

Awesome place! Incredible food with thoughtful and creative ingredient combinations. Fresh/clean ingredients and small intimate atmosphere with personal touch by the owner/chef. Delish! read more

One of the best meals we had in chicago. I almost don't want to write this review and spoil the secret that is Dear Margaret. No detail spared, the service was excellent, and my husband and I enjoyed a quiet, delicious meal out. I think we tried nearly half the menu and had a Lebanese wine. The mussels and the pheasant were definitely a favorite. And the butter... wow, the house made butter! 5 stars all around. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

Amazing and amazing- I have driven by this place a thousand times and I'm so glad I tried it. Overview- it is so cute inside and the staff was amazing. The food was delicious and even better they change the menu so you can keep coming back for more! There is a very small bar that is open seating- so I recommend making a reservation if you want to guarantee you will have a table Vibes- the waiter told us it was supposed to feel like your grandma's house and it did. Intimate and cozy! Service- everyone was so nice and attentive! Can't wait to come back and sit at a bar seat to chat with them more! I came for restaurant week which allowed me to try a lot of food- see below for food review. Appetizers: - Tomato salad: delicious and refreshing. The cucumber yogurt vinaigrette was the perfect compliment! This is for you if you are looking for something light - Parisienne Gnocchi: was delicious- the gnocchi was so fluffy it almost looked like it had air bubbles- the escargot butter was slightly rich and the crunch from the walnut was excellent Main dishes: - Coffee cured pork belly: it was juicy, flavorful, crisp on the outside and melted in your mouth! The dish was very rich but I couldn't stop eating! - Roasted poussin: warning- don't get if you don't want to carve the mini chicken. But if you do- it was tender and flavorful! The mustard jus was perfect Dessert: - Nanaimo Bars: these were good but not my favorite- so much to try and this wasn't on the top of my list - Pouding Chômeur: WOW- this was the best bread pudding. There was the crisp top and below was a delicious bread pudding- it worth every bite read more

See all

Hubby and I came here for restaurant week and we are so glad we made the trek into the city for it. The restaurant has been getting a lot of great press of late so the only reservation we could get was for 9:30pm. Hubby call to see if we could possibly get in any earlier and we were able to move it up to 9. Yay! We were greeted at the door by Lacy, (person my husband spoke to on the phone) the owner! She is amazing, so warm and welcoming! We welcomed the opportunity to get her recommendations on the menu. Straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. We began with the fresh tomato salad and the fried quail. Both were outstanding! The salad was refreshingly fresh and cucumber sauce especially tasty. The fried quail is a star! The breading was perfection, crispy and seasoned just right. I had the sirloin and hubby the parsnip for our mains. Of the two, the parsnip was the better choice. The brown butter sauce made this simple ingredient seem decadent. The sirloin was the only dish that was just slightly disappointing. Though the seasoning was great, the cut of meat is not my favorite and tends to the tough side. Side note: our server is the house sommelier and he was generous to provide us with some sips to decide our wines. My wine was the perfect pairing with the sirloin. Kudos to Terry! Sadly they were out of the maple crème brulee so we ordered one each of the cookie and bread pudding. The cookie was the better choice. We look forward to sharing this new find with our friends! read more

This was a phenomenal dinner! From start to finish, my husband and I enjoyed every bite. We ordered the green beans and shrimp to start. Both amazing and the beans were seasoned to perfection. We also ordered the sable fish and pheasant. Both were incredibly flavorful and delicious. Finally we ordered the peach dessert (don't remember the name) and I devoured that in less than 3 minutes. We will definitely be back!! read more

An incredible experience all around. The food was just divine particularly the liver moose appetizer and the Roman Gnocchi. The staff is so kind and knowledgeable and the ambience is just perfect/ can't wait to take friends here. read more

Very cozy restaurant with a lovely ambiance. Service was great. The food was good but not amazing. I got the schnitzel and my boyfriend got the duck. We also got the french fries and some charcuterie. Overall glad I went but unsure if I would return. read more

Dear Margaret - Schnitzel - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We're able to go before a show at 5 p.m. , just when they opened. French Canadian style interior and seating, very cute. Nice neighbor hood area. Parked at the theater and walked over, which was ideal for the show. The service was excellent, and it got busy pretty fast. The food concepts were interesting but not quite as delicious as it could be. We had an app which was Pommes Dauphines with cavier. Although nicely made the ingredients could stad out a little more, secondly, we had the duck liver mousse and the add-on baguette. Was really yummy, lick the plate good. For the entrees, we had the sweetbreads. They were cooked ok, but sauce had a dill pickle flavor that seemed odd to us. We had the 2 scallops were really good but really pricy. We also had sable fish with clam Mediterranean style, full flavored. We liked a little better than the sweetbreads. For desert, we had peach tartine, house made puff pastry, seemed a little undercooked , not crunchy Overall, food was good , pricey but nothing was really outstanding.Very cute place and friendly and helpful staff. read more

See all

Changing from 4 to 5 because I am no longer a vegetarian...! I went out of my comfort zone in this meal and it was worth it. Everything they do at DM is filled with warmth, they are experts in the best home cooking. The liver mousse, delacatta and white rabbit stew were all excellent. read more

Went last night and am still dreaming of our dinner about 18 hours later. We sat at the bar and chatted with Terry, the wine director, the whole time, he gave us great recommendations on the menu and the found excellent wine pairings for the meal, and provided a very solid music playlist as well. We shared fried quail (I would easily order 2 of these next time, they're so good), Brussels sprouts, smoked whitefish spread with fresh baguettes, and the beef shank. Highly recommend all of the above. Thanks DM for a great evening! read more

A quaint neighborhood eatery serving French-Canadian fare. The ambiance is cozy and intimate and the food highlights the local ingredients. I love the Chef's use of pickled items in his dishes. Some of the flavor combinations really hit it out of the park, while the execution on some of the dishes could be improved. Baguette with Duck Liver Mousse and Butter (4/5) There is nothing more French than a fresh baguette served with butter. The bread is perfectly crusty, with a moist and chewy inside. It comes out burning hot which is the ideal way to enjoy it. I could have eaten two of these loaves myself. The mousse is also quite good, served with a port fig sauce and topped with pine nuts. I don't think any of the nuttiness came through with the pine nuts. The port fig sauce could use a touch more sweetness as it was overwhelmed by the liver. I would probably just get the baguette and butter on its own next time. Salt-Roasted Beets (4.5/5) I am generally disappointed by most beet dishes. It's usually the typical combination of beets with goat cheese, which is delicious but way overdone. This dish however delivers on creativity. I love the combination of all the ingredients the chef included in this dish. You get the the smoke and and salt from the trout roe, creaminess from the crème fraîche, paired with the sweet beets and crunch from the nuts. An excellent composition. Bone Marrow (3/5) Pickled beef tongue is quite unique. The appearance resembles a thin cut corned beef but its more acidic than you expect. I suppose its intention is to balance the richness of the marrow. I'm just not a huge fan of pickled meat but I think it does bring the necessary acidity to the dish. The marrow is accompanied by toast pieces, which in my opinion is way too toasted for this dish - way to crunchy and didn't absorb the marrow fat well. I actually ate this dish with the baguette and thought it was much better. Fried Smelt (3.5/5) The fried pickles were a nice touch mixed in with the smelt pieces. The smelt was fried nicely but the tartar sauce was a bit too sour for this dish. A touch of sweetness would have brought a better balance. Smoked Carrots (3.5/5) Overall I like the combination of the pickled, roasted, and nutty elements in this dish. The execution on some of the elements could be improved. The pickled carrot pieces were cut too thick and were difficult to eat because of how hard they were. I liked the smoked flavor of the carrots, but it was also too hard. It could have used more time in the oven. I wished the pumpkin seeds were more toasted. Grilled Cabbage (3/5) I had high hopes for this dish since I adore the garlic and anchovy sauce. I was disappointed that much of the cabbage seemed to be the outer fibrous leaves that were almost inedible. The char on the cabbage was verging on burnt and unpleasant. The bitter taste completely overwhelmed the sweet cabbage flavor. This dish had so much potential but ended up falling flat. If you are trying this place for the first time, make sure to get the beets and baguette! read more

See all

An amazing place. Food is top notch, service excellent. A great place to go for a date night or special occasion. Don't let the plain, simple decor fool you. The proof is in the food. read more

Every dish was sublime. From the sunchokes to the steak, fries and pâté - I want to go back already! Reservations are slim for this restaurant - it isn't huge, but completely worth the wait. The service was impeccable and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. read more

Others will do better justice to the dishes with the pictures and the posts. I would like to use this spot to talk about the service and overall experience we had with Dear Margaret this last Saturday. We made a reservation for 6, 3 couples at 7pm. Reservation and everything else went smooth as should be expected. Our server was professional, courteus and incredibly knowledgeable, we were so blown away by the experience that I felt compelled to write this review. You know when a restaurant makes you feel at home, comfortable and relaxed. This was how all of us felt. The food was magnificent, the service was impecable and the care was above and beyond your regular night out in Chicago. Dishes with character, service with a touch of class, fair prices, and that extra care you get only with establishments that have a clear and motivating purpose. We will be back. read more

Such a gem in the Lakeview area. Our server, Terry, was absolutely incredible. Made our experience that much more enjoyable. The brussel sprouts, quail, goat, and crème brûlée were our favorites of the night. Will definitely be back. read more

Dear Margaret - Inside - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Enjoyed such an amazing meal at Dear Margaret in Lincoln Park - I can't recommend this place enough! From the moment you walk in, it's incredibly welcoming and cozy - almost like you're eating dinner in someone's dining room. Dear Margaret boasts French Canadian cuisine, using Midwestern ingredients, and the flavors were absolutely incredible and unique in every dish. Plus, they're BYO with no corkage fee. read more

See all

This small intimate restaurant is a hidden gem in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Both of our dishes, the Pan-Roasted Walleye (Pickerel) and the Leg of Rabbit, were loaded with rich flavors and savory seasonings. The attention to detail in the creation of their menu is obvious and the price point for the quality of the meal is a good deal. Kudos to both the chef and the owner. And the service was professional without being intrusive. read more

Dear Margaret - Pan-Roasted Walleye - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Awesome spot. I really enjoyed the foie gras and the halibut kastsu in particular. I also loved field greens salad , it was simple and well balanced and I could eat that everyday. The service was attentive and unpretentious. Solid wine and beer list. I'll definitely be back. read more

This place easily gets 6 stars. The food quality and creativity was simply outstanding for the price point. The dining room is very Charming and cozy which pairs perfectly with its midwestern / French Canadian theme. I hope this awesome foodie spot can remain underneath the radar. read more

Dear Margaret - Sweetbreads as a main - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was great, but the atmosphere is a little sub par. Overall a great experience! The staff is wonderful and friendly, great service!!

Absolutely delicious. We had the beef shank for two, asparagus, frites, and both the "bars" and maple cheesecake for dessert. I don't like coconut, but even so, the bars were amazing. And the maple level of the cheesecake, along with the toastyness of the almonds, as pefection. The beef was moist and just the right degree of falling apart. I can't wait until things are "back to normal" so I can have the frites brought right to the table. They were good, but fries don't travel well. I'll be back. read more

My husband and I aren't very familiar with French cuisine but very much so enjoyed this date night! The restaurant is quaint with a vintage feel, the meal was well paced and enjoyable! We cleaned out plates for every course! read more

Dear Margaret - 9 Grain homemade bread, aged cheddar, duck liver mousse - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We ordered for the first time this weekend and loved everything we had. So much so that we called right back and ordered dessert! Salad was delicious and big. More than enough for 2 starter portions so we had leftover. Tangy and unique with the dried fruit. Charred broccoli was sooooo yummy and somehow made broccoli decadent. Nice contrast of textures. Duck liver mousse was also a big portion. We only finished about 1/3 to 1/2 of it with the toasted bread. Tasty and a good addition to cut through some of the other acidic dishes. Pork shoulder was our favorite. Lick the container good. Maple chèvre cheesecake for dessert. Chèvre wasn't overpowering. Delicious crumbly crust but it all held together, and each bite was literally perfect. We are lucky to live around the corner but would cross town for this in a heartbeat! read more

We had a great meal at Dear Margaret last night. Every course was delicious. Our favorites were probably the two small plates we had--grilled octopus and a tomato salad. I also like that the food is locally sourced to the extent possible. My only criticism of the food was my walleye was the tiniest bit overdone. The service was attentive and well paced. Looking forward to returning and trying other menu items. Also, it's BYO right now. read more

Dear Margaret - Outside sign and patio. - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This hidden gem is a must go! We had few of the most clever dishes I have ever had! Farm to plate French-Canadian cousins. Try the fried smelts and the duck liver pâté. read more

The food and service was excellent and so was the ambiance. The staff was knowledgeable about the food.

The service and food are outstanding. We will be returning for sure. Ask for Jill...great service and guidance on the menu.

WOW, this place blew me away. Started out with the sautéed shrimp and roasted greens salad and they were both a great way to start off the meal. I would eat that salad for every meal if I could. Next we ordered the Steak frites, Rabbit Ragu and Aged Duck Breast. Each dish was packed FULL of flavor and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I didn't know I was a fan of rabbit until this dish. We ended with the Nanaimo bars which was quite the delight. Such a gem in the Lakeview neighborhood. 100000% will be back and can't wait to try more! read more

See all

Small, intimate restaurant that fills up quickly. Excellent menu with a lot of surprises and that changes with the season. Would describe menu as a French-Canadian treat. Server was lovely. Dessert menu needs to be punched up. Will definitely go back again. read more

This newly opened restaurant with its French-Canadian cuisine absolutely deserves all the accolades, awards and recognitions received in 2022! The pan-roasted veal sweetbreads with hakurei turnip and carrot purée were perfectly crunchy outside and very tender inside, the sauce Périgueux with its truffle flavor amazingly complemented the sweetbreads. The pommes frites fried in beef tallow with fines herbes served with roasted garlic aioli were the best outside of France. My maple vanilla crème brûlée was delicious and the made in house shortbread cookie which accompanied dessert was to die for. My husband was raving about his Gorgonzola Dolce cheese. Everything in this restaurant was outstanding: the cozy atmosphere, the attentive and friendly service, the quality of the cuisine and the carefully chosen selection of wines. We cannot wait to come back and try the new dishes! Bravo, Dear Margaret! I highly recommend! read more

See all

Great, great restaurant. Amazing meal, great service, good beer and wine selection along with the cheese and charcuterie. Nothing ridiculously fancy, feels like you're eating at a comfortable, familiar place even the first time you go. Like every great restaurant takes basic dishes and elevate them to somewhere great with quality ingredients- for example the steamed asparagus comes with olive oil foam that has a touch of lemon in it is just one example - but it's all like that! Definitely worth checking out. read more

Welcoming and gracious, prompt service, accomodating as we requested a different table to the one original offered . our server was fantastic , it gave us the quick background of the restaurant and the style of cuisine behind it. The menu offers classic french style dishes with a emphasis on locally sourced ingredients which made such a difference in flavors as we discovered during our dining experience. our server was very helpful on suggesting pairing and sequencing our picks . first the housemade charcuterie is excellent , served with a freshly baked baguette and whole grain bread. the small plates are bursting with subtle flavors and demonstred a level of creativity that spoke volume on the talented chefs working in the kitchen. a main coursse of black bass with a bouillabaise nage and confit fennel was a sumptuous journey for our tastebuds! the tallow fried "frites" were crispy ans served with what looked a fried persillade , they however were a bit on the salty side . The portions are just perfect sized so as not too feel overwhelmed . For dessert we skipped the sweet creamy desserts which offered some of the standard in dessert menus : Creme brulee and cheesecake etc.. We opted for a cheese plate with a trio of Artisanal Canadian and domestic cheeses served again with the wonderfully baked baguette, 9 grains bread and honeycomb. Excellent beverage list with local , domestic and imported Canadian wines and beers. I wholly recommend Dear Margaret if you are into classic cuisine with a French /Canadian/ Midwest twist. read more

Just wow. The other reviews were right. Cozy non-pretentious vibe with truly amazing food. The pictures of the food do not really do it justice. And in fact even when the food came, it looked good on the plate but the FLAVORS are what was mind blowing for us. Everything was just full of flavor, perfectly seasoned and executed, which was especially impressive since we went during Restaurant week and they were so busy, but we never felt rushed or neglected. Speaking of service, big shout out to CHAD our server. He truly represented the restaurant perfectly - extremely knowledgeable about the menu, explained it very well, gave us perfect recommendations, and was passionate about the food - but was also very non pretentious and not stuffy (I mean he was wearing a plaid flannel shirt, need I saw more?!). He was attentive but not overbearing. Everything we ate was so so good, with the standouts being the duck liver mousse, the gnocchi which were like eating fluffy cloud like pillows, the duck confit salad, and the bread pudding. Can't wait to return, so happy to see they got a Michelin Bib, as it's very well deserved. read more