I really enjoy this establishment. My most recent visit was yesterday evening. I started the afternoon by shopping in western springs, ended my day with a visit to Petit Vie. I reserved a seat at the bar. I was seated and immediately greeted by my server. I decided to start with the happy hour manhattan- it was delicious. They use apple brandy, I was somewhat skeptical initially- buy my server/bartender assured me that it would be good. I then tried the fois gras mousse with the seasonal compote- blueberry. It was an absolutely fantastic choice. The mousse was so incredibly creamy and the compote was a perfect compliment. The restaurant itself is charming- what I would expect a small French brassiere to look like. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

Petite Vie - Cafes Near Me - Western Springs, Illinois

Very cute spot with plenty of parking (at night) in a quiet neighborhood while being right across the Metra station. Service was great but I was puzzled that they changed utensils after each course but failed to scrape away the breadcrumbs on the tablecloth. Standouts were the main dishes: the halibut worked super well with the grapes in the sauce (what an unexpected surprise!) and trout amandine was very good as well (wished the skin was crispier though). For two girls, we ordered 2 apps, 1 salad, 2 entrees and shared a dessert and it was just right. We didn't feel like the meal was overly heavy or over salted, which is such a nice departure from our experiences of late. One piece of feedback is to perhaps warm the seasonal apple tart. It was very good but also very cold! We will be back! read more

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This is one of the favorite restaurants that I get treated to for my birthday. We sat in the front of the restaurant which I liked because I can look outside . If you want a more intimate experience be seated in the back where it is more quiet . There is also a tasting area where the chef cooks and plates in front of you at the bar area which is really cool as well . This restaurant is tops for me because I can't recreate it at home and feel truly special here . I also got treated like a queen by the staff ! Can't wait to return ! read more

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We had a mostly great experience dining here. The service was definitely a highlight--our waitress was friendly, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the menu. That said, the atmosphere was a bit tough to enjoy because the air conditioning wasn't working properly during our visit. It was an extremely warm week, and unfortunately, the heat inside made it hard to fully enjoy some of the hot dishes. We even skipped ordering items like the French onion soup, which we were really looking forward to, simply because the temperature was just too uncomfortable. Despite that, most of the food we did try was delicious. A few things didn't quite hit the mark--like the potato salad, which felt a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the meal--but overall, the flavors were solid. The desserts were especially good and a nice way to end the meal. I genuinely feel for the staff having to work through the heat, and I'd absolutely give this place another try--ideally in the fall or winter when the temperature is more manageable. I have a feeling the full experience would shine in the right conditions. read more

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This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in the Chicago area. Excellent food and service both.

A beautifully heartwarming experience compliments of Petite Vie. THE place to go for that special occasion. From beginning to end it was special. It was non-peak and very slow; so I joked with the host about a review I'd read regarding their table in the kitchen. He offered to show it to us. Then he asked if we'd like to dine there. Hell yeah! Things just improved. Then we actually met the head chef, aka the Chef de Cuisine (CDC). A very important and busy person! His prep routine was mind boggling and flawless. A terrific guy and great conversationalist. The service team was impeccable. Best I've seen. We were truly pampered like royalty. I think they were happy that we saved them steps. The food was incredible. Truffle Gougeres was our Hors D'oeuvres. We tasted the Parisienne Gnocchi but decided they were too rich. Since it's not very often we have the opportunity to savor an exquisite truffle dish, we decided on that. Solid choice. They tasted incredibly fresh but ended up as rich as the gnocchi. I recommend the Duck Confit, 100%! Of the handful of times I've tried duck, this ranks highest above them all. The Trout Amandine was also a treat, a very expensive treat, but well worth it. The Baked Alaska was fun, but it was the Tableside Bananas Foster that stole the show. In my mind, the whole event was epic and one of the best celebrations, ever. 09/25 read more

Amazing dinner, favorite restaurant in the area. Came here for a late night dinner, the place is small and intimate with excellent service. To start, I had the French onion soup. It was good but I think it needed a little more salt. I was looking for a more salty bite due to the cheese but it ended up being very mild. My husband enjoyed the garlicky escargot, perfectly done. For entree, I had the chicken which was tender and came with a lightly lemony sauce while my husband decided on the pork tenderloin. This is not typically his normal choice but he said he was very happy with his pick, with the pork being tender and perfectly paired with the sauce. For dessert we ended with the Nougat which I highly recommend. It had the perfect blend of flavors- subtly sweet, tart from cherries, and citrusy from candied orange. Can't wait to come back! read more

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A wonderful experience (again) at Petite Vie Brasserie last night. The food, service and overall experience was exceptional. Consistently the best restaurant in all of suburban Chicago. read more

High quality farm fresh ingredients in every item you order- you can tell everything is made onsite and prepared with care. Generous proportions considering it is a French restaurant. Pleasant atmosphere, beautiful touches throughout. Great place for dinner (the back room is more private and intimate), but also a great choice for brunch. read more

We had a lovely 20th anniversary dinner at this French restaurant that we haven't dined at before. The food was delicious and the service spot on. Our server Marina came to the table with a couple glasses of rosé to acknowledge our anniversary. How sweet was that? My husband and I shared two hors d'oeuvres, the scallops in a lemon caper sauce and the mushroom tart with goat cheese, fried shallot & frisée. For dinner, my husband had the special for the evening, the coq au vin with white wine, bacon, mushrooms, onions and topped with turnips. He loved it and said the chicken just fell off the bones. I had the halibut veronique with pea shoots, fresh grapes and golden raisins. The halibut was fresh and moist, with a nice sear on top. To end the meal, we just had to share the decadent and rich chocolate soufflé crème anglaise. Such a fabulous meal and a special night. The bill came to $252 for the food we order, three glasses of wine and a cappuccino. We will definitely be back to dine here again. read more

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First off, Paul Virant is a brilliant chef! Have had his food on many occasions and it's always amazing! This experience definitely still holds his crown up high for excelling beyond the mark! His gnocchi were little pillows of heaven and his foie gras will leave your mouth watering! The table all thought the snails were the best dish of the night, I was not in agreement, but still, his food rocks! His duck confit will leave you dreaming about it days later and his dessert menu will put you over the edge because you can't say no to his pastry chef! Definitely a restaurant worth checking out, service and food are always on point! read more

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Two dishes at Petite Vie were truly exceptional last night. 1.) Cuisses de Grenouille à la Provençale" (frog legs) as a "Plat du Jour". They are described as soaked overnight in milk featuring butter, garlic, lemon, and parsley. They are lightly crisped and tender, and deliciously seasoned. Among the best I've ever had. 2.) Pork Chasseur - tender pork loin paired with mushrooms, garlic, a light white wine sauce, and roasted tomato. Simple, refined, and full of flavor. I loved our server Thierry M, and he achieved a casual elegance that I truly enjoyed. One example of a nice touch is that when he sat my Americano on the table in front of me, he rotated the saucer placing the mug's handle to my right. I appreciated having a seasoned professional as our server. read more

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We celebrated my birthday dinner at Petite Vie and had an amazing experience, especially sitting at the chef's counter. Watching the chefs work their magic added a fun, interactive element to the evening and really elevated the whole vibe. The food was excellent across the board. We kicked things off with a few happy hour favorites--escargot (a must-try), a beautifully balanced frisée salad topped with a soft-boiled egg, and perfectly crispy French fries. The French onion soup was rich, comforting, and absolutely delicious--one of the highlights of the night. My son ordered the burger, which was indulgent but incredibly flavorful. Of course, we had to get their fresh baguette, which came with mustard and butter that were both simple and seriously good. The only miss of the night was the gnocchi--it was just okay compared to the rest. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and high-quality food made it well worth it. Definitely recommend for a special occasion or a date night! read more

Petite Vie - The chef's bar we got to watch everything - Cafes Near Me - Western Springs, Illinois

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Such a unique and delicious dinner experience. We made reservations on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday and were seated right away. I would highly recommend making reservations since it seemed prettty busy! From the outside, it looks like any typical downtown restaurant (with some patio seating) but inside had a cute, upscale, and clean environment. Personally, I felt like the tables lacked some personal space which also made hearing a bit difficult. No formal dress code either but everyone seemed to be pretty dressed up which made it feel even more fancier. Our server was very helpful and friendly. I'm not a huge alcohol person and all the drinks seemed pretty strong but he recommended the Ma Cherie which was great! They ask that you ordered everything all at once so the kitchen can set the pace for the meal. This makes total sense but I tend to have eyes bigger than my stomach and was worried about ordering too much. For two people, we ordered two appetizers, two entrees, one side, and a dessert which ended up being the perfect amount. We decided to stick with the French classic and started escargots. The escargot was delicious but the bread that accompanied it was majorly burnt. We also tried the gnocchi which was good! You could definitely tell the gnocchi is freshly made since it tasted very doughy (maybe slightly underdone?). For my meal I tried the halibut and split the seasonal pomme de terre. I really enjoyed the grapes with the halibut since it added a unique sweetness to the dish. To top off the night, we ordered the chocolate soufflé based on the many other Yelper's recommendations. it was small but perfect. They even added a birthday candle to my plate. read more

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This will be a meal I think about all week! Chef Paul Virant has created something very special in his new Western Springs French Brasserie concept. This is the perfect spot to enjoy an elevated date night or special occasion. The inside is intimate with 65 total guest seats split between the bar top, chef's counter, and banquet seats. The interior is designed impeccably well and transports you to a cozy, European dinner spot. We started with the Petite Vie 75 & Ma Cherie and later tried the Cesser & Belle Jardin. If you are a gin drinker, I highly recommend the Cesser as it is unlike any other gin cocktail we've had. I personally loved both the Ma Cherie & Belle Jardin as they were balanced well, bright, and flavorful. When ordering food, they ask you to order everything at once and they will kindly pace your meal. We started with the Gougeres, Demi Baguette, Tourtons de Champsaur, & Parisienne Gnocchi. Each starter that came out we loved more and more until we got the gnocchi which blew us away! These literally melt in your mouth and would recommend as a must try dish! For entrees we got the Confit de Canard & Petite Vie Burger. The Confit de Canard had the bone in for extra flavor and the sauce paired with the leeks was *chef's kiss*. The Burger was very tasty and nice to have on menu as a safer option. I loved that they took a classic and made it their own with brie cheese, caramelized onions, truffle aioli, and very soft bun. The pomme frites and pairing sauce were addicting to eat! Lastly, we split the Nougat Glacé for dessert which was a fruity and nutty frozen ice cream. Overall, Petite Vie is exactly what downtown Western Spring needs! The classic french cuisine and quality of food is some of the best I have seen in the suburbs and service is top notch. Make a reservation to try before this hidden gem gets the recognition it very well deserves. read more

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We had a cozy brunch on a cold, wintery day. The cocktails are delicious and the food is exceptional. Lucy provided great recommendations and treated us very well. Highly recommend. read more

I really liked a few things about this place. The service was great and ambiance was soft and romantic at first sight (but actually loud, see below). Service was great and prompt. My water was continually filled. The apps were ok, the chicken was yummy and portion was generous. Although I expected a little more veggies. It was just chicken with a spoonful of potatoes. A few things I didn't love: overpriced. City prices for the burbs. I also didn't like how noisy it was. It was LOUD, I could barely hear the person next to me let alone the ones at the end of our table for 7. All in all, a nice experience! read more

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It was our first visit to this wonderful French restaurant. We were warmly greeted by the bartender who offered us to order drinks while we were waiting for our table to be ready. Let me tell you, his Abeille Amère cocktail with chartreuse was a masterpiece. While enjoying the cocktails, we asked the bartender his recommendations about the dishes and his suggestions were on point. My Pâté Maison was tasty, escargots up to par, Trout Amandine was perfectly cooked although a little bit too salty same as my husband French fries served with a steak. But the true star of our meal of the party of four was Pork Chasseur, a tender delicious pork tenderloin cooked with mushrooms and garlic in white wine sauce, accompanied by roasted tomato. Everything was fantastic except our table. We were seated in the back room with very uncomfortable chairs and terrible acoustics so that we couldn't carry the conversation without shouting. I will come back to this restaurant to try the other dishes but definitely will never seat in the back room again. read more

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Enjoyed a meal at Petite Vie during a trip to the Chicago Metro area recently. I was responsible for choosing the restaurant for a party of 5. Service was outstanding. Upon being seated, we found ourselves under a ceiling fan that was very cooling on a hot day, but would not be great while enjoying hot food. We asked for a new table, but instead, and just as accommodating, the fan was turned off during the duration of our meal. The staff remained attentive to our needs throughout the meal. Food was WOW! I enjoyed the duck confit with a Grand Marnier and vanilla ice cream for dessert. The duck skin was AMAZING - like the duck version of the best Chicharron ever! And the candied orange peel on the ice cream provided was an unexpected surprise. It is easy to understand how Chef Virant earned a Michelin star at Vie. And, as an added bonus... all of the dishes were quite reasonable priced given Petite Vie's pedigree and its location in the Chicago Metro area. I have already recommended Petite Vie to multiple coworkers that may soon find themselves in the area. read more

We came to Petite Vie on our wedding night with two of our closest friends, and from the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel truly special. Even though there was a longer wait for our reservation, the team immediately brought us wine and made sure we were comfortable and happy - it turned what could have been a small inconvenience into a wonderful start to the evening. When we finally sat down, the food completely blew us away. Every dish was show-stopping - beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. We're still talking about it! A very special thank you to Laura, Patrick, and Michael, who went above and beyond all night. Their warmth, attention to detail, and genuine joy made our celebration feel extra magical. Petite Vie will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and we can't wait to come back - again and again! read more

Great service and ambience, food was good but not great. Steak that we had for dinner was dry and not juicy - not very tender. Soufflé miss my expectations- not chocolate syrup as a side.. very expensive and they charge you for the bread. Most places bread is complementary. read more

Petite Vie - Cafes Near Me - Western Springs, Illinois

Had a wonderful experience here. The drinks, food, service and ambiance were all top notch. The only disappointment was that we did not get to try the duck L'Orange since they ran out but that just means that we must return soon to try it. This place is a treat! read more

Interesting Hors d Oeuvres including the Black Truffle Gougeres, Sausage Fermiere, Oysters. Try the French Onion Soup or Salsd Lyonnaise as a first course. For entres we enjoyed the Cod en Papillote, Duck Confit. State Frites and the seasonal Cassoulet. Don't pass on desert, profitteroles with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Seating in main oe back room or at the bar overlooking the open kitchen or, if weather permits, outside as long as you don't mind an occasional train passing. read more

Amazing food, service and ambiance! This is our go-to spot for date night or any special occasion. But, I wish restaurants would stay out of politics. Right, Left or Center, I don't care to know your politics. Please keep your politics off of Facebook. Don't give your clientele any reason to judge you on anything more than your food, service, and ambience. read more

Fabulous French bistro in the Chicago western suburbs. Enjoyed our 31st anniversary dinner with wonderful wine and superbly crafted cocktail. The service was attentive and friendly. The vibe was busy but cozy and comfortable. Excellent fresh renditions of classics, like foie gras mousse, mushroom tart, salade lyonnaise, and bouillabaisse. We cleansed our palates at the end with a refreshing homemade Grand Marnier ice cream. read more

Petite Vie - Bouillabaisse and salade lyonnaise. - Cafes Near Me - Western Springs, Illinois

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Conveniently located next to the Metra station, Petite Vie is what I'd call a hidden gem in the Illinois suburban town of Western Springs. Came in on a Thursday evening just in time for Happy Hour. Right away, it was hard to ignore the vibey atmosphere and welcoming staff. We sat at the bar and ordered the half dozen Happy Hour east coast Oysters (not pictured) for $18. Everything else we ordered was magnificent as well. The salad was fresh as farm to table as can be. The trout and Demi baguette were fantastic as well. Would definitely come back for a casual night out or for a special occasion this is sure to impress. If you're looking for a French restaurant that is comparable and can compete with French restaurants in the downtown Chicago area look no further! read more

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Absolutely outstanding meal at Petite Vie! I wanted to find the perfect restaurant to celebrate my parents' 30th anniversary and the pickings were slim on a Monday evening. I was lucky to find Petite Vie and was excited to try their French menu. From the moment we sat down it was clear a great level of detail had gone into the restaurant's design--from the lighting to the floors to the open concept kitchen. We couldn't have been more impressed. Every single dish was packed with flavor and demonstrated impeccable technique from the duck confit to the œufs mimosa. We ordered a variety of cocktails and each one was crafted with care and finesse. We were especially wowed by the pastries from Chef Angelyne. She has totally nailed this dessert menu with particularly incredible crème brûlée, gateau opera, peach Melba tart, and frozen nougat. Mind blowing flavors, textures, and garnishes! The service matched the quality of our food- our server Mariana was attentive, extremely personable, and helped to make our evening unforgettable. I highly recommend Petite Vie and plan to be back soon to continue exploring the menu. Chef Vinny and Mr. Solomon are leading an amazing team here. What a gem! read more

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We had been to Vie some years ago, but didn't feel compelled to return - it was just OK. When we read about the new incarnation as Petite Vie, our curiosity was piqued, so we stopped in for a couple of weeknight dinners in reccent months. It was a mixed bag. VIBE: The space is cozy, homey and nicely decorated in a French countryside theme. We were there on Fat Tuesday, then again a couple of months later on a Wednesday. On Tuesday, the place was absolutely packed, and nearly so on the 2nd visit. It was very noisy and crowded (extroverts would say "very energetic"). SERVICE: Staff were reasonably attentive, though not very polished. My companion was irked that a staff member cleaned an adjacent table by spraying a chemical cleaner freely so that it drifted over to our table, rather than spraying some on a cloth in the back room and bringing the cloth out to clean the table. Food was delivered at a reasonable pace. FOOD: Salades maison were fresh and tasty. On the first visit, my steak frites featured nicely-crisped frites (though they seemed manufactured rather than hand-cut) and steak that was tasty and done as ordered, but sliced with the grain so that it was quite chewy (and the steak knife was pitifully dull). My companion said her special etouffee was good, though a bit too salty. On the 2nd visit, a farmer's sausage entree was delicious (though not very garlicky), and included wonderfully crisp fried fingerling potatoes. My companion liked their trout amandine (but noted that the green beans were nearly raw). There was a compact list of wines by the glass, but on Fat Tuesday they were out of a couple that appealed to me. My companion liked this place more than I did, citing the charming decor. Given the noise and crowding, though, I'm in no hurry to return. read more

Wife and I went to Petite Vie for dinner on 1/31 with another couple. My wife and I tried the Restaurant Week menu and the other couple had the steak frites and the hamburger. We started with the grilled oysters. From start to finish, everything we had was delicious. Perfect. The profiteroles at the end were amazing. Service was fine and despite it being a smaller restaurant we did not feel crowded. The only con- We did have reservations but we had to wait 20-25 minutes to be seated. But that happens sometimes. NBD. read more

Every bite was better than the next! Best restaurant in my town EVER!! We are blessed to have this chef in town. Nougat glacé was to die for! read more

We had such a wonderful time at Petite Vie. Every dish is super flavorful, the beverages are superb, the decor is lovely, and the staff is welcoming and on top of their service. Having been part of the pop-up Petite Vie events over in the past, to see this vision come to fruition has been an amazing experience. I can't give the incredible team at Petite Vie enough props, but my biggest shout out is to Paul Solomon, Director of Operations, for being such an incredibly hard worker and the glue to both Petite Vie & Vistro Prime, and of course to the fearless leader Paul Virant for yet another superb restaurant! read more

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This was my first time here with my family of five adults for dinner. It was the Friday after Christmas. It is a new French brasserie by Chef Paul Virant in Western Springs, IL. It is a cozy restaurant serving steak frites and other French bistro fare. As you can see from my pics the bar is located in the front right of the restaurant. I was here with my adult family of five. We sat at a table for six in the rear of the restaurant. Our table did not have a white tablecloth whereas most other nearby tables had a white tablecloth. I am not sure why our table was without a white table cloth. I prefer a white tablecloth on the table. To say the least I was disappointed with the lack of a white tablecloth. To me bare tables are lower class. I started with and enjoyed my two Normandy Manhattans, which are served on the rocks (not up as per my traditional Manhattan preference) with calvados, sweet vermouth, china-china, orange and aromatic bitters for $17 each or $34 total. I enjoyed my French Onion soup with raclette cheese and sourdough crostini for $13. I also enjoyed my confit de canard, confit duck leg with leeks vinaigrette, apples and calvados for $31. The single leg was not filling for me. A duck breast would have been preferred. I also enjoyed the Vishey side of carrots for $11, which I took home because I could not finish them. I ended my dinner and enjoyed a glass of my 2021 Cab Franc, Domaine Chancelle, Saumur-Champigny for $16. I also enjoyed my creme brulee for $15. Everything was cooked properly. Nothing was charred or burned per some other earlier reviews. The owner stopped by to say hello. The owner owns other restaurants in the area. He previously moved this restaurant from another nearby location. Laura W. served our table very well. My total bill was $509 excluding gratuity. This was the most expensive restaurant that my daughter confirmed during my visit. We agreed we will return here for dinner if we can confirm a table with a white table cloth next time. I will let you know how it goes next time. In the meantime see my many pics. read more

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Great neighborhood place. Small and cozy, good food, friendly service. Highly recommended If you are in the area read more

Lillet Spritz - tart, awful flavor Le Bon Capitaine - strong, complex, not too sweet Truffle Gourgeres Duck Confit Nougat Glace A charming bistro vibe with friendly, professional staff but very loud and with little to no AC on a hot day. The appetizer was a huge disappointment - completely flavorless bread bites with no cheese in sight. The duck was outstanding - the tender, rich dark meat was the highlight of the night. The miniscule cubes of potato were weird - why serve potatoes like this? They had no flavor, were not browned, and served no textural purpose. The onions were a nice, sweet element on the dish, but there were too many of them compared to the ridiculous potatoes and single piece of duck. The Nougat desert (parfait with nuts and candied fruit) was complex with the tart fruit, sweet parfait, and nuts. Unique and very enjoyable. One appetizer, two entrees, two desserts, two drinks, $122. I left hungry. Some enyoyable elements, but not a great experience overall. Not sure I will return. read more

The food was delicious and the service was very good. I loved the frisee salad that had a complement of flavors that worked fabulously together. My Halibut was amazing, and I loved the accompanied raisins that really added some zest to the dish. The chocolate souffle was warm and gooey- the perfect ending to a great meal. read more

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First visit and we'll be returning! Dinner visit included cocktails, Demi Baguette, Haricot Vert Amandine, Steak Frites, Cod en Papillote, and dessert of Apple Tarte Tatin, House-Made Ice Cream, and Coffee. Everything was delicious, with excellent service! read more

Excellent food, excellent service. We couldn't have asked for a better restaurant for our family brunch today. Petite Vie served 15 effortlessly. We started off with delicious cheese plates and the gougères. After a salad course, we ordered a la carte and tried everything from the duck confit poutine to the quiche to the french toast. No appetite was left unsatisfied. Highly recommend. read more

Great deal for restaurant week!! Many delicious choices and many drink choices. Like the music they play too! Friendly staff read more

Petite Vie - Cafes Near Me - Western Springs, Illinois

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Food was all very rich in flavor and well prepared. Kind patient staff to help you with the French pronunciations lol. We were in the back corner room which was a bit awkwardly quiet with two couples when we entered. I rather have been in the main area. read more

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Super cute bistro feel, delicious food, impeccable service. I would highly recommend for special occasions.