Amazing wine dinner tonight. Perfect pairing with delicious french ( Touton ) wines. Highly recommended! !

My husband, his best friend and I went to this restaurant because the other restaurant we were supposed to go to, his best friend reserve the wrong date. This restaurant is not to big but nice and cosy to dine in. The food we had was great. The only thing about this place is we didn't get our menu when we first sat down and we got it after the waiter pour our water which was kind of odd to me. I will still go back to this place if I am in Evanston and will recommend it to others. read more

We had an outstanding dinner on a busy Saturday night. I started with the poached pear salad, a mix of sweet, wine-poached pears, endive, mixed field greens (no iceberg lettuce here!), walnuts and blue cheese. It was perfectly balanced - the walnuts were seasoned but not candy coated (as I've had in some other placed), there was just enough blue cheese, and the kitchen was generous with the poached pears. My partner started with the roasted tomato soup. It was thick and perfectly seasoned, tasting primarily of tomato. A tiny cup of red wine ice was provided as a palate cleanser. This was a nice touch, and it provided a nice transition to the entree. For the entree, I had bouillabaise. Jilly's bouillabaise is mostly seafood set in a nice portion of flavorful broth. The night we were there, it included about a dozen mussels, a good handful of scallops, a few jumbo shrimp, and hefty chunks of tuna and salmon (not surprising - the fish is whatever the market has, and the other fish dishes on the menu were tuna and salmon). Everything was properly cooked, and it it came with a stack of toasted bread and and a pot of yummy, garlicky aioli on the side. I was in heaven. I asked the waiter to recommend a wine, and he made several suggestions; I chose the Beaujolais, and I was very pleased. My partner had the venison with cherries. The meat was cooked as requested (pink, firm and warm in the center). The sauce is mainly pan juices, so it's savory, not sweet - the cherries add to the flavor, but they don't dominate. The venison is served with a sweet potato puree and haricots verts. The sweet potato puree is lightly seasoned and sets off the venison very nicely (it doesn't compete). The haricots were properly cooked and a real treat. The waiter recommended a Syrah or Shiraz, and my partner was pleased with this as well. Desserts are a bit overwhelming. We probably should have skipped dessert because we were pretty full, but it's hard to say "no" to chocolate. We shared a plate consisting of a pot of chocolate pots de creme, two thin slices of flourless chocolate cake, and a profiterole. Tasty, but quite a lot to eat. Service was excellent and attentive. My partner has some dietary restrictions (no gluten), and the staff were able to answer all of his questions authoritatively and (as far as we can tell) accurately. The waiter was careful to remind my partner that he need not limit himself to dishes that start out gluten-free - the kitchen could make most dishes without flour if he wanted something else. Glasses were refilled as needed, but this was not disruptive. We were treated well despite the fact that I was badly underdressed (t-shirt and jeans) and had forgotten to shave. Others have commented that the decor is getting worn, but to be honest, I didn't have time to notice. The bathroom is clean and serviceable, but desperately needs some cosmetic repairs. Go, and enjoy. read more

Simply excellent food. Jilly's is country french and a good place for versions of many classic French dishes. I would especially recommend the duck confit. My companion had the spare ribs which are also very good. The service is OK, but can seem a little erratic and temperamental. Five stars for food, three and half for service, but food matters more. This is one of Evanston's best restaurants. read more

We had a groupon so we decided to use it on my B-Day and if you like small cozy restaurants like you would actually find in France than this place is for you.. Small dining room holds no more than 50? Tables very close together, but I dont mind that, It gives you the feeling like your dining in a real french cafe. We started with the Mussels in a wine & butter sauce (Buerre Blanc) and they were cooked perfect and tasted awesome. Then my wife had the beet salad which tasted great and I had soup which was good. The entrees were short ribs braised in demi glaze, which I usually never order in a restaurant because they can be hit or miss. Luckily tonite it was a hit and they were the best short ribs w/ garlic mashed Ive evere had. My Wife had the grilled halibut which was also completely delicious..vegeies were cooked well too. Both plates were excellent For dessert we split a Carrot cake which also was homemade and exccellent. read more

Went to Jilly's twice now and both times we had a great time. The food was awesome. Both times I had the char and loved it. The 2nd time we went was on my birthday as this was my choice. The waiter/ owner was friendly and funny. He made us feel very welcome. Free parking at night in the tire store next door. We shall return! read more

What delicious food! I'm almost falling over myself with all the words I wanna use for this place! The bouillabaisse is to die for! Venison perfectly cooked, lamb Devine, desserts....,.basically anything on their menu will be extremely delicious! The only thing I wish they could fix is the lack of space, it's very crammed in the restaurants, and they can turn away customer for people with huge reservations even when they're not sure they'll show up, since it's such a small place reservations should be made at the door just like the hippest restaurants in Chicago, anyway their food is rgreat! read more

Hubby and I have been here a few times. It's very romantic. The food has been fantastic every time. Hubby had the rack of venison tonight. He offered a bite which I happily accepted. It was sooooo tender with just a touch of char on the outside. It was delicious. I had the steak frites. So good, the seasoning was perfect. The owner, a very smart and generous woman, has totally upgraded the wine list. It is well worth the trip to check this place out. read more

I had high expectations when purchasing my Groupon for Jilly's. I had heard good things about this restaurant and was anxious to try it. I was totally disappointed with just about everything. The interior of the restaurant needs a complete renovation. It is old, dingy and depressing. The food is mediocre and the service goes along with the interior. Needless to say I will not return. read more

So, I have a fussy eater husband who likes plain American food with few exceptions. He is also not enthusiastic about food, as I am. We first came to Jilly's last year for my birthday and had a wonderful dinner. This year I was surprised when he suggested going back to Jilly's Cafe. I think we ordered nearly the same items as we did a year ago, but when it's that good, why not. The spinach salad was served with warm goat cheese and balsamic vinaigarette, delicious. The bouillabaisse is delightful, full of fresh fish, scallops, shrimp, and mussels. The filet mignon was excellent, and don't skip dessert, the chocolate mousse cake is worth every calorie. The prices are very reasonable for that quality. The place is small, a little cramped, the front of the house has only three staff who each seem to do everything. I am not sure how to describe the atmosphere, I like it though. Their lunch menu seems a bit American go for dinner. read more

major props to jilly's cafe. came in on a sat evening with not only my family, but my brothers gf's family to celebrate their graduation. so not only do you have a slightly awkward situation when the 2 families are meeting for the first time, but theres always the chance that my parents start talking in their loud indoor chinese voice. 1 waitress to deal with 13 people, major props to the blonde waitress. not only was i observing her cause she was mildly attractive, but she seemed genuinely friendly and not just putting up a friendly face but secretly spitting on our food in the kitchen just a huge paranoia of mine. onto the food! the snail appetizer was delicious...baked in olive oil/garlic, topped with a little puff pastry. small, but good. the palate cleanser was even more delicious. it was like an amuse bouche of pinot noir sorbet. more on that later. i ordered the braised shortribs and swapped out the horseradish whipped potatos for the sweet potatoe mash instead. probably not a wise choice combination wise(sweet+sweet), but indiviudally both were good. short ribs were very tender, with a nice sear on the outside. the sweet potatoes were sweet, but not overly creamy. for dessert i ended up getting few scoops of the pinot noir sorbet, because, well it was just that dang good. good red color, sweet with just enough wine-y flavor. all in all i think our families had a great time. the dinner went a little long, but i chalk that up to the tiny place being packed. definitely worth checking out if youre in evanston. read more

I made a reservation for Valentine's Day as a surprise for my wife. We have been there before, some time ago. A staff member called to "confirm" my reservation by leaving a message on my answering machine and that spoiled the surprise. I called to "confirm" and was told that it was my fault for not telling them it was a surprise. (How many restaurants "confirm" reservations?) A few minutes later, someone else called to tell me it was my fault for not telling them it was a surprise. I cancelled the reservation! Sorry, I can't tell you about the dining experience. read more

This place is by far the best restaurant I have been to in Evanston and I've tried quite a few places at this point! I went here for dinner for a special occasion. The food here was heavenly. Everything I had blew my mind. I will be raving about the beet salad, the pear salad, and the vegetable melange for the next week! As for desserts, the caramel cheesecake was out of this world. We had great service too. The environment is very cute and cozy. I can't complain about anything. You've got to try this place if you haven't already. read more

Little French Bistro feel, and I mean, little. This place can only seat around 50 people at best, and you may be elbowing your fellow diner. However, the food here is very tasty and the service is usually wonderful. We've been here for dinner and brunch. Dinner is better in my opinion, since the food on that menu is more flavorful. The duck is fantastic here for dinner and for brunch/lunch, the rotini pasta would be my choice. Nice place for a date or a brunch with girlfriends. read more

I love the food here. I've eaten at Jilly's several times now and each time come away with the conviction that this is the place to come when I want a meal that just tastes good! It's not fancy, it's not trendy, the wait staff is not gorgeous, parking is not so great, and it can seem tight sometimes--but the food is good. Most recently, I had the braised shortribs and they were beautifully presented on a lovely cushion of mashed potatoes and a semi-clear reduction sauce with small pieces of vegetables. The mussels appetizer which preceded my entree was great too: I couldn't get enough of the delicious "gravy" in the bottom of the bowl. One of us ordered the "spring roll" appetizer. These were like no spring rolls I had ever seen and I cannot recommend them. I don't know if they were adequately described on the menu, but they look just awful. Their taste was somewhat better than their look, however, being served (I think) with a cranberry based sauce. Desserts are supposed to be made in house and ours were very pretty standard fare--which is not a complaint, by any means. They are yummy. Service is pretty good, friendly and helpful. Parking can be a pain around here, but you can park in the Goodyear store lot next door after they are closed. Prices are fair for the quality of the food and service. read more

the set-up: dinner with girlfriends on a wednesday night decor: i feel like the daytime look of the exterior does not match the feeling of the indoor decor. the exterior looks like a cute little french bistro, but the inside was dark and a little country. not a romantic feel for sure, but that's not why i went. service: nikolai... where to begin. he began taking our drink orders, and realized none of us were getting wine and then proceeded to gather up all the wine glasses before he finished getting the drink orders! who knows, maybe someone in our party was going to order wine! he didn't even finish taking the drink orders... very weird. when he served our appetizers, he started to warm up to us. he did touch the rim of my girlfriend's glass with his hand to move it out of the way... she nearly gagged. food: the pate they serve with the bread was delicious. i was quite impressed by it. it was smooth and creamy. appetizers of crab crack and shrimp drenched with brie cheese... delish. we had several dishes: mushroom risotto, rotini with goat cheese and chicken, pear shaped chicken, arctic char and pork tenderloin. the entrees were good. not incredible to die for, but good. final word: it was good, i'd go back... but probably to try the brunch. read more

The food and ambiance were superb. Definitely the best French experience on the Northshore. We had our kids with us and the wait staff catered to our needs. The Champagne brunch is a great value at $24. Highly recommended for anytime you want an escape from bland food and cookie cutter concepts. read more

I'd never heard of Jilly's when my lunch companion recommended it; it's one of those narrow 'hole-in-the-wall' places that, unless you're looking right at it as you drive by, you'd never see it. And that would be a shame, as it's quite a nice place for lunch. Rather than its fairly dark interior being glum, it's more like comforting and welcoming; even though we sat by the window on a grim snowy day, the interior atmosphere and temp were warm and cozy. Jilly's menu has many interesting and eclectic choices, as did the daily specials menu. I wasn't very hungry that day, so I opted for lighter fare; a cup of tomato bisque soup, and a spring roll with greens and fennel, both of which fit the bill, and satisfied the palate quite nicely. A slightly-overpriced bottle of Pellegrino served to wet the whistle. My companion seemed quite pleased with the crab cakes and wine she ordered, and another good lunch was had by both. Our host was friendly and pleasant without being cloying, our food came out in a timely manner, and our water glasses were refilled regularly. I look forward to another visit to Jilly's Cafe; I'll need to skip breakfast so my appetite is more pronounced, so I can delve deeper into their menu! read more

Still One of My Favorite Spots for a Nice Lunch Just had lunch here with my daughter and we both enjoyed it immensely. I had the spinach salad with warm goat cheese and a bacon/balsamic dressing. She had the Thai Shrimp salad which came with six enormous shrimp. We both saved room for dessert.... She had the molten lava cake and I had the chocolate mousse cake. Both came with ice cream and fresh whipped cream. We enjoyed tea with our meal because it was a blisteringly cold day. Our waiter was friendly without being cloying. Cost of lunch per person was about $25 including tax and tip. read more

Went for appetizers and desserts w/a friend the other evening. One word: profiteroles! Oh my, house-made chocolate sauce to die for, & house-made ice cream -- and in a large portion! (That's right, I'm a dessert freak.) I also had the smoked salmon appetizer: a biggish slice of lox over shredded, nicely-flavored potatoes, mounded with battered crispy onions and sprinkled w/a few pieces of scallion; with a dollop of tarragon-and-lemon sour cream on the side. All very flavorful, and a nicely-layered experience. My friend had the fried calamari, which I tasted. This was calamari the way it should be: tender and lightly-battered, served with a really tasty red sauce, and some aioli drizzled on top. My friend also had the carrot cake, which she quite liked, although thought the caramel drizzle on the plate was too sweet (can't speak to this, didn't taste it). Also, I love the atmosphere: cozy as can be; small; somewhat low light. And a very friendly, down-to-earth waitress. All in all, wowee! read more

I came here last night for dinner with a groupon. They bring out bread with some butter and chicken liver spread at first. I think it would be nice if they told you what the spread was without having to ask or find out the hard way. The entrees were ordered, Bouillabaisse and vegetable melange, were okay and the quality I would expect for the price. The waiter was kind of slow, but the guy who was refilling our water did a great job and always kept our glasses full. read more

Sorry, this place was a miss. Musty smell when entering (old carpet?) and fruit flies buzzing around and swimming in my wine. Food was overpriced for the presentation and quality. Wife asks for medium-rare lamb rack and got medium-well. Her asparagus was also overcooked. Dessert tray was brought around (really, who does this anymore?) and the desserts looked dried out and unappetizing (as they usually do when doing it this way). Service was uneven. read more

We had an excellent Sunday brunch. Everyone really enjoyed it. Chocolate mousse was off the charts.

I really liked this restaurant. The atmosphere is wonderful. Very quaint. I really loved my beet salad and the wine was outstanding. I thought my chicken pear was a little bland, but very artfully done. My family loved their meals. I would for sure go back here if I was in the neighborhood. Will recommend to friends. read more

I feel like I truly stumbled upon a gem here. When my husband and I came here for the first time, we knew nothing about it except that it was a little French restaurant. We were blown away by how unassuming and lovely the atmosphere was. You feel like you're in your French Grandmother's house, and she served you dinner on the dishes that she has had for years. Who doesn't love that? The fresh bread, butter, and caviar was delicious, and the meal did not disappoint. We ordered pear shaped chicken and ate every last bit. It was French comfort food at its finest. The palate cleanser was a nice touch, and we went for dessert too. It all looked so good we couldn't decide. We still talk about our experience at Jilly's and keep it in our back pocket for special occasions. read more

We had not been to Jilly's for many years but with a Groupon decided to give it a try for my husband's birthday. We were a little dismayed by the closeness of tables and tired decor, but the menu seemed to have many promising items. Food going to the tables looked good. Our appetizers of crab cake and shrimp with brie were good. For our main courses my husband order venison, and I ordered the lamb. Service was definitely a problem. We waited and waited for our main courses. Then to our surprise our server offered us the desert selection. We told him we would like our entries first. He then scrambled to the kitchen. When our entries finally came, the venison was excellent. The lamb, potatoes and vegetables were a little cool, but totally unacceptable was quality of the lamb for $29. There were only a couple edible bites of meat. The rest was bone and fat. I had to send it back which meant my husband and I ate separately. It was apparent that the meat was unacceptable to serve yet they tried to pass if off. There was not even any consideration given. When I reserved, I had even mentioned it was my husband's birthday. I was really disappointed in our experience. Service should definitely be better for a restaurant of this price point. As we live very close, I was hoping to rediscover a neighborhood restaurant, but I can say we will not be going back, Groupon or not. read more

My mom took me here for a little mama daughter date once, and every time we go out I always suggest this place again! It's small but cozy and even though it is a French cafe, I never feel intimidated. Staff is helpful and knowledgable and service is always fair. One suggestions- GOAT CHEESE BALLS. A must have, they're addicting. read more

Always an outstanding meal. High end French with other cultures well added. Today, 8/28/13, I joined a colleague/diplomat from the University of Tennessee for a luncheon business meeting. He was so pleased that he added Jillys to his University's list of best restaurants in Chicagoland. We needed a small space of quiet. There it was. I wanted elegance for this private meeting. The linen-clothed tables and ambiance were there. We wanted fine food. The meal matched a Michelin Five-Star. This is an outstanding place. Top of the charts. High recommended. Worth every moment. Susan Garland read more

Every meal has been delicious. Service is very attentive. I love the tomato and mozzarella salad, lamb chops, short ribs, carrot cake, profiteroles...... Everything that I have eaten has been terrific. We have been there a few times lately with friends and everyone has thoroughly enjoyed their meals. read more

I've passed Jilly's so often and I wanted a new restaurant to try with friends. We went with 2 other couples just last night and had a wonderful meal. This is s find!! Our meals were fabulous. I had the spring rolls which were nothing I expected but a great taste followed by the pear chicken. There were several fish dishes on the table and everyone was very pleased. The best part of Jilly's is that it is a small quiet storefront restaurant. You can actually have conversations and hear people at your table unlike most restaurants today. Service btw was very attentive. We will certainly be back. read more

Our most recent to Jilly's Cafe was extremely disappointing. There was a very musty odor, the humidity and air quality were very unpleasant. after a while I got used to the musty odor and did enjoy the goat cheese with balsamic vinegar and tomato appetizer. We were not served an amuse-bouche thinking that they no longer offered it until we saw the table of 4 seated next to us offered one. Granted there was only one waiter but it was not crowded at all. My friend had the duck and enjoyed it tremendously but I cannot recommend the so-called risotto which was basically overcooked rice with a heavy chunky tomato sauce and some Parmesan cheese and mushrooms. Finally if you are hoping to use your WBEZ member card, note that they no longer honor it. read more

My mother and I made a reservation for dinner at Jilly's Cafe this evening and I have to say it was a wonderful experience. The service was cordial and attentive. We started with the tomato fennel soup and the white bean soup. Both of them were delicious. A small bowel of raspberry sorbet was served between the soup and the entrees . My mom had the salmon and I had the risotto entree, also both divine. When the server brought the desert tray, filled with sumptuous options, we wanted them all, but settled on the key lime pie which reminded us of the pies we've had in Florida. My mother mentioned how the meal was on par with many of the elegant meals she's had downtown. The restaurant is small and comfortable and we are looking forward to our return visit. read more

Jilly's is a fantastic restaurant! The place was small and intimate. It's a perfect place to have a weekly brunch. Nicholai our server was fantastic. He is such a card. He kept us laughing throughout the whole meal. The atmosphere is great and perfect place for conversation. You feel as if you are in a well to do person's dining salon. The food was delicious. We had the champagne brunch special. The little cakes/pastries were adorable and scrumptious. The crab cakes were also very tasty. We both ordered the salmon entree and it was perfectly cooked. It was accented with a sinful bechamel sauce. I wished I was eating it in bed, that's how good it was! I highly recommend this place! read more

Last month i was there 3 times for dinner with diferent friends and special ocations each one. I have a question guys,is this resturant french-american style or Romanian? Because i understand the owner is romanian,the music, italian and rominian and the same playlist over and over again. The food and service always great!!!! Definitely i recommend this resturant. read more

We have never been to Jilly's before, but there was a Groupon for it, so we thought "why not?" Firstly, the ambiance is strange, but just right. It does feel like some small, oddly decorated cafe in France. We walked up to the man we assumed was the host (standing near the counter in the back), and said we had a reservation. He sat us at a table near the back, which was good, as there were two large -and somewhat noisy- groups in the front. The busman seemed a bit sour at first, but he warmed up. He had forgotten to bring bread, but then apologized as he set down the bread with a small crock of whipped butter and another of delicious chicken liver patě. The waiter was, we believe, the owner (the manager, at least), and he was delightful. He let us know that whatever our food needs were (dietary restrictions, likes/dislikes, etc), they would meet them. Whilst we did not have any particular restrictions, this was nice to hear. There were many seemingly wonderful choices on the menu, and we weren't sure what to go for, having never had the food here before. We chose the mussels as a starter, and they were wonderful! A rich white wine and cream sauce with plump mussels cooked perfectly. We were then served a house-made pinot noir sorbet to cleanse the palate. A nice touch. For the mains, I had the pear-shaped chicken (not the most appetising name, but delicious nonetheless), which was a roasted leg and thigh with a mushroom stuffing, on top of a coconut mashed sweet potato and steamed spinach. Really quite good. My husband had the mushroom risotto - which was also very tasty. All the while, the owner and (we assume) his wife chatted with us about the restaurant, how things were made, etc. Very personable, but not intrusive. We heard other guests being given the same warm treatment. It made for a very pleasant evening. We finished our meal sharing a Key Lime tart. It was very refreshing (although the same pinot noir sorbet also served with this did NOT pair as well, flavor-wise). We had a VERY extravagant evening prior, so we opted for pellegrino instead of wine, but their list did seem to have some nice choices on it. Whilst the Groupon introduced us to Jilly's, and the discount was nice, it was the service, food, and atmosphere that will bring us back in the future. We will be more adventurous in our food choices, now that we know the standard of their fare and service. read more

I'd driven by this place a hundred times and have always loved French food so we thought we'd give it a try. The food was average, nothing special. The service was syrupy slow. The waiter really seemed like he had other things he's rather do. What made it really unpleasant (and contributed to the slowness, I'm sure) is that twice in our 90 minutes there we had to sit and observe two customers (one a driver from Grubhub and the other a guy getting his food to go) consume vast amounts of time. You have to picture this tiny restaurant with two rather uncouth characters dressed shabbily using their outdoor voices as they arrived, bantered with the waiter and hostess, and left noisily. Far be it from me to deny a small operation revenue but they really should find another way to accommodate takeaway customers. It's distracting on several levels. As I stated, the food was average but the prices were not. The best part of the visit was the escargot and the wine. It's true there are not many options for French in this neck of the woods but my advice is hold off until you're somewhere where your palate will appreciate it more. read more

The food was fine, the deserts were mediocre for the price but what ruined the evening was the owner telling us that we were being to loud. The 9 of us are all in our 60's, nobody was over-drinking or overly loud. But we were a table of lesbians, three of us are black. The woman who chose the restaurant (and the person whose birthday was being celebrated) wanted to leave right then but we decided to stay. That probably was an error as we weren't comfortable anymore. None of us will go back and we feel that his telling us to be quiet was based in prejudice, not in our behavior. read more

I have been intrigued for years when passing this cozy looking place and was very excited when I saw an Amazon local coupon for it. I purchased the voucher and after looking over the exclusions decided to try it out for brunch. (The only exclusion listed was holidays.) I called to make reservations for brunch and mentioned that I had a voucher--would that be a problem for brunch. I was told no problem. When my husband and I showed up for our reservation, I brought out the voucher before ordering, and was told by the very rude owner/manager/host(?) that we could not use it for brunch. It was rather embarrassing. When the food came it was good (as was our waiter) but we will not be returning (even to use the voucher) because of the rude way we were treated. It's no wonder there were only 2 other tables with customers during our time there. read more

After paying 80 dollars and waiting an hour and a half for "my food" to be delivered, i had a grumpy driver on my hands and someone elses food. I work in the industry so i was completely understanding of the whole thing just tired and very hungry. I decided to call the restaurant and spoke to someone who claimed to be the manager but by his attitude and the way he was yelling back at me on the phone i really hope for the restaurants sake he was not. He told me there was nothing he could do and that i needed to call grub hub but i knew if i hung up and called grub hub they were just going to call the restaurant anyways to fix the problem. When getting to the bottom of everything I learned that the restaurant had closed five minutes after i got my food and obviously whoever answered the phone just wanted to go home instead of dealing with some dumb customers problems. I was excired for my meal but because they seemes to have no interest in solving the problem and anyway and in fact were rude about it i will definitely never order from here again, i understand these things happen but anywhere i have worked has always put the customer first and tried to do whatever they could to make sure they left happy. read more

Awful service, food was okay, maybe good, but a terrible ambience makes this only a 2 in my book. It's also very shabby inside.