It's awesome! A French bistro right by the Metra tracks. Rainy Wed night and the place was packed - it's a little tight in the front as you have to pass, but the dining room is nice size and comfortable. Excellent service and the steak frites was unbelievable- awesome sauce! Great cocktail a d wonderful, lively place to have a drink and a meal (my date LOVED the French 75) read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Dinner for 2 - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Got treated to Mother's Day dinner here and it was good . The oysters are amazing and I would return just for that . The walleye seemed a bit overcooked and the sauce was too thick but I added extra lemon juice . The smash burger was delicious and the house sauce was the cherry on top . My cocktail was delicious and refreshing with blackberry and tequila. The music was as a great mix of credence clear water To Sade which gave a very cool vibe. We had 6:45 reservations and it was busy and then cleared out around 8:30 with some people still lingering at the bar . Victoria was one of the best waitresses I've ever had . Top notch service and rte finishing touch was the dessert . The perfect ratio of espresso to gelato with an anise biscotti for dipping . I'll be back ! read more

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This is my favorite local spot. Listen, I don't even like seafood and I would say the menu is definitely stacked in that department and it's STILL my favorite place. The wine? Amazing. The staff? Amazing. The vibes? AMAZING. I always find myself chatting with people here too. It's the spot to be. I prefer the front room vs. the back. My favorite non-seafood items to get: burrata, artichoke agnolotti, smash burger. read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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This is an absolutely superb spot that my girlfriend and I love going to. We usually sit at the bar and enjoy the amazing cocktails that bartender extraordinaire, Jason, cooks up. He is one of the best around and makes some amazing drinks the right way. The other thing we love about Gigi is the staff. Everyone gets along so nicely and it's clearly evident to the customer. They all genuinely enjoy each other and servers like Alex, make for an attentive and fun experience. This last time we decided to finally eat there, again, at the bar, and the food was amazing. She had the smash burger, which wasn't your typical burger. Much more elevated in taste and presentation. I had the lobster risotto, which wasn't heavy at all and tasted delicious. Gigi has a great look and feel to it and is super inviting. I can't recommend this spot enough in downtown Barrington. read more

Second time dining at Gigi's in Barrington. Our server, Victoria ("V") is the best: professional, friendly, attentive and knows the menu/wine well. Appetizers of 1) Burrata & prosciutto and 2) Deviled egg with caviar were fabulous! Had the steak + frites and it was cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious. Will be back!! read more

This place is absolutely incredible! The food and the ambiance were excellent. I now recommend this hidden gem to all of my friends and family! read more

Everything here is phenomenal. From the wine to the food to the staff, we really enjoyed our experience. We ordered the caviar service, tomato salad, baguette with truffle fries, and the wagyu steak frites. 10/10 all around. Will absolutely be back and you should too. read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Caviar service - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Had dinner there for the first time last Saturday night. The service was personal and precise, all of the food was delicious, and the wine / drinks were phenomenal. We all (4) had different dishes to try every corner of the menu. From Fish, Pork, to Steak we all shared and loved each others meal. There is NO other place in the North / Northwest suburbs that have the full course of food and drink. We will be back! read more

This is by far the best restaurant in Barrington. I believe it's even better than Region My husband and I dined here last night. Our waiter Mike was exceptional! The most knowledgeable and friendliest waiter The food....oysters, hamachi (the best I have had), roasted chicken with mash and truffle gravy, lobster risotto (light, not heavy) excellent. Then the vanilla bean pana cotto with citrus and pistachios. Already made another reservation read more

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Totally blown away by this place. I will be telling anyone who will listen that they've got to try it! Came in with some girlfriends on a packed Sunday night. We got there right at open and while we did not have a reservation, one table was available so we scooped it up! I won't take that risk in the future and would encourage anyone reading this to make a reservation online first. Being gluten free, I was a little unsure on the menu at first, but our server shared that everything could be made gluten free, except for only two items on the menu - a win! My friends ordered a bottle of red wine that the (very educated) bartender recommended and we ordered the croquettes (not gf) and caesar salad to start. Both got positive reviews! I tried the walleye for dinner. It's not something I would normally go for, but it sounded good. Well I'm so glad I tried it. It was probably one of the best pieces of fish I've had in my life. And I eat a lot of fish. The crust, the capers, the sauce and the potato side - everything blended perfectly together and the flavors were bold and delicious. I was so impressed. Friends ordered the chicken and the burger and everyone raves about their entrees. Apparently this spot is new and I can see this becoming one of the most popular restaurants in the NW suburbs. The seating is limited and somewhat tight (but cozy, not cramped). Like I said before, I'd highly recommend a reservation and won't be surprised when this place is booking out weeks in advance. A beyond amazing addition to the area! read more

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This is currently the best restaurant in the northwest suburbs in my opinion. Food, service, cocktails. Incredible. I've been four times and will be back as much as I can. Everything I've had is delicious. My current faves are the artichoke agnolotti and the walleye. They make a great martini and a glass of cremant for before or after dinner. read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Mushroom Empanadas - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

We were surprised to find this local gem so amazing and our waiter FINN was fantastic. A bit noisy and crowded but so happy to see it was rocking. Finn was one of the best waiters that we experienced in a long time. His knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious. Menu had many game items such as rabbit and venison if you are looking for something different. We went traditional with a huge smash burger and lobster risotto ( this dish did not impress) . Wine selections were very good and again Finn gave us great insight into something new to try. read more

The wine dinner was superb. The wine and food were paired beautifully. It is unlikely that this fine level of dining can be sustained, but Gigi's food has always been good and a value. The service was excellent and consistent with what we have come to expect. The vibe is great but the restaurant looses a point due to the noise level. read more

Service is amazing. The staff are so friendly and have a good time with the customers and each other. Clearly a well managed place. We have tried 7-8 different dishes and all are top notch. The wine list has great value at reasonable prices. Fun to sit at the bar and meet people too. Such a cute place with great food and ambiance. Highly recommended! read more

Fabulous servers, delicious drinks, and the food is a 10/10. I have always had an amazing time at this spot. The food is out of this world. I have been here a couple times and never left disappointed. The burgers are great as well (not pictured). I love the romantic lighting and ambiance :) read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Great Lakes Walleye - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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In a word, AMAZING! The food, service and wine list is outstanding! To start, there were so many wines by the glass to choose from. Sparkling, white, red plus, if you don't drink wine, there's something for you too. Alex our waiter was fabulous with recommendations and tips on what tastes good together. Yes, the place is small, tight and loud but...it's awesome so, worth the slight inconvenience on space. My table had a cheese plate, tart flambe, steak and frites and walleye. All was delicious. Plus, the potato salad on the side with the walleye was great! (And I usually pass on potato salad). For those of you who know Barrington, it's where the old Bread Basket restaurant was. Make a reservation and get over there! It won't disappoint. read more

Recently, a local took me to Gigi. There were 5 of us, and 3 got their fish dish. On the surface, this didn't sound terribly appealing to me, but the server sold us on it. I was not disappointed. I can't say I've ever had a dish where the fish was on top of the sauce. Clever! My real motivation for sharing a review is their creme brulee. This is not what I consider a complicated dessert, but the devil is in the details. Gigi's makes an EXCEPTIONAL creme brulee and it isn't refrigerator cold when served. Smooooooth as butta! The ONLY grievance I have is the noise level. This was a Friday, and busy. read more

A quaint, small bistro in the heart of town. Seated in the dining room which offered more room than the cramped bar area. Service was very attentive. Noise level was high and hard to carry a conversation. Foie Gras pate was outstanding and enough to share with four. They ran out of our first choice, settled on fried walleye; overcooked and dry with too much caper/tartar sauce. Would have been better sautéed in a lemon buerre blanc. Better for cocktails and apps. read more

Amazing food and great wait staff! I recommend eating early because the decibels are very high as more diners fill up the restaurant. read more

I am so surprised by the reviews. The prices are ridiculous for the quality and quantity of the food, the music is too loud for any sort of conversation and the bar is too close to the tables - not only makes it uncomfortable moving around, but if there was ever a fire in there it would be disastrous. Our waiter was nice enough, but a bit too chatty (my friend and I were trying to catch up) and clearly disappointed that my friend and I were not having alcohol or spending more money. We spent enough as it was (over $60 before tip) for the tiny artichoke appetizer (and please, they couldn't have given us 8 of them instead of 7 since there were 2 of us? They were about the size of a quarter. Plus, the waiter touted the pesto sauce and it was good, but no way to eat it; couldn't believe they didn't give us bread with it.), iced tea and 2 salads. The beet salad was tiny and my caesar salad was so drowned in overpowering dressing it was limp and almost inedible. They had a hamburger that was $25 and a piece of fish with fries for $75. Just because a place is expensive doesn't necessarily mean it is good. People, seriously - this is the old bread basket and not redone very well. I won't be back. read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Tiny Artichoke Appetizer - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Amazing date night experience perhaps biased by the company I was with. Great drinks and amazing food. Seating in front of the bar is far more romantic than in the main dining area. Staff go above and beyond to make your experience special. Thank you Gigi! read more

I wanted to absolutely love this establishment but I will definitely give it another shot. I went here for my Book Club with a couple girlfriends. The bistro is very small and I felt a bit cramped. It was very loud (even if we weren't meeting for book club I would have the same feeling). My girlfriend and I ordered the warm goat cheese salad to share.... That was not enough for my 10 Year olds daughter to even eat! So that is defiantly a side salad fyi, and sadly was not tasty at all. The service was amazing and extremely attentive. I would like to try Gigis again for cocktails and wine!! read more

One of our favorite restaurants now - the ambiance is vibrant and cozy, and feels like a familiar NYC bistro that you can't wait to come back to. The food and cocktails are delicious and most of the dishes have a perfect balance of flavors that are a treat for your tastebuds. (The only one I wouldn't reorder from the current menu would be the wagyu empanadas.) Everything else is amazing - the menu is always changing a little bit based on season but if they have it, be sure to try the soft poached egg, the foie gras mousse, the walleye, the scallops and the chocolate cremeux. The oysters are terrific and well chosen as well! Service is impeccable - we are so glad you're here Gigi! read more

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Great bistro feel that made me think I was back in Paris. Service is teamwork, friendly and outstanding. Every dish we have had has been TASTY... truly excellent. A step above read more

We dined at Gigi's for the first time Saturday. I had been warned that it was expensive and loud. Both were true. BUT the food was wonderful. I had Caesar salad that had great flavor with an egg and anchovies mixed in the dressing. My entree was Steak frites with bordelaise sauce. It was "superb". They use Waysabi (might be misspelled) beef. I can't say enough about it. My companion had an appetizer "Tartar Flambé It looks like a flat bread but it's not. It's cheese flamed over sweet onions and bacon. Soooo good. She also had the cheeseburger which was the BEST she's ever had. Couldn't finish it. We had three take home boxes. Even though it was loud the ambiance was lovely-very French Beautiful bar area that allows food service. Service was great. Make reservations early. Take read more

A highly enjoyable dining experience all around. From the service to the food to the ambiance, Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro delivered a memorable date night. read more

Smells like sewer...there should be codes to address this...charges 12$ to change your potato choice...the water is not drinkable:(

Smash burger and old fashioned are phenomenal! Reminds us of the feel of a bustling restaurant in Chicago. Service has always been helpful on menu/drink questions and so friendly! read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Smash burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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Gigi in barrington is a fun and unique atmosphere. Very refreshing to go to a new and fresh place in town. The bartender Sean is a total Gem. Love to visit him. The food is very well done. Only recommendation is to change up the menu more often. Other then that a solid place to spend a nice evening at the bar or grab an intimate dinner. read more

LOVE! Everything about this place. The food is always perfect and I really appreciate them splitting meals onto two plates if you are ordering a few things to try or share. The servers and bartenders really go the extra mile and make dining here a wonderful experience. I recommend this place to all my clients. read more

Excellent food (we got the steak frites and walleye for entrees and beet salad and green salads)...all delicious. Warm and inviting ambiance. Would definitely go back again. read more

I'd rate this a strong 4.8/5. The food and service were great! Most of the entrees are simple in nature but exceptionally well done and each have their own flair -- the four of us had the steak frites with bordelaise, two smash burgers, and the fried walleye. If you're looking for a boujee-er experience, make sure you include an appetizer and do NOT forget to order some wine. Their wine menu is very well crafted, and their wine by the glass tends to favor more quality French wines. Their wine by the bottle menu is even more extensive and has some really special wines that you won't find almost anywhere else (which they can cork if God forbid you can't finish the bottle). I would highly recommend starting off the evening with your appetizer in one hand and a glass of their Cremant de Bourgogne in the other! The service was just as incredible as the food. Our waiter Mike took great care of us and was extremely personable and knowledgeable about all things food and wine. The only reason Gigi loses points is because the restaurant is just a bit too small for how many people are there. There's not quite enough room between tables, so it can be a bit louder than you'd prefer. Overall, fantastic experience, and I look forward to coming back for a few glasses of wine and some charcuterie by the bar! read more

Gigis, thank you so much for coming to Barrington! Our experience was perfect from beginning to end. The food was outstanding. Get the burger and berry cobbler! The service was the stand out though, Anella was the best waitress I've ever had. She is a real gem in the service industry! We cannot wait to go back! Best French restaurant in the Chicago suburbs read more

The experience was painfully loud and made it difficult to enjoy our meal companions and the food. The server turned up the music volume at each of her favorite songs presumably to better appreciate the music over the forced din of patrons in conversation. There are better places to dine. read more

Gigi holds such a special place in our hearts! The night my fiancè proposed we came here to celebrate! He called ahead and told them what we were celebrating and they went above and beyond to make it special! Flash forward a few months we came back to celebrate 5 months until our wedding and AGAIN the staff here made us feel so special! We had THE best food and drinks and the staff was amazing! Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Very cute spot, great for a date night. Food was delicious, rich but balanced. Server was very attentive and friendly.

Outstanding. The food, service and decor were all perfect; definitely recommend and I will be going back for sure.

I just love this place. Ambience is great. Menu is just big enough has great options. The bar is very cute and quaint. The food is outstanding. It's a great option for a fun night out in the northwest suburbs with a unique vibe. I highly recommend this place. read more

The food was delicious. They had a variety of options. I had the yellow tuna with crisps and a salad with goat cheese. My husband had the steak and fries. I only found one red wine that I liked. read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - two plates of food - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Beautiful place. Loved the atmosphere, decorating is so cool. Only downside was it is loud. Be prepared to talk louder. Can't say enough good things about the food. The presentation!! The quality!! The quantity!! Had the Berry Cobbler w/ice cream for dessert. Wow!! Should have taken more photos of food, but just wanted to eat it!! read more

Gigi Wine Bar and Bistro - Walleye - Wine Bars Near Me - Barrington, Illinois