This is one of my favorite Asian spots in the city. The food is top notch, they mix excellent cocktails, and the wines are well curated and very affordable. Plus, one of Chicago's best patios hides in the back of the restaurant. I recommend the Negroni, the coconut shrimp, and the shrimp and scallops in lobster sauce. Enjoy! read more

Cute elegant Vietnamese restaurant. Really nice staff Avocado wonton: should've mashed the avocado. Would make the texture much better Baked catfish: I like the heavy flavor. Catfish is good for that. Could've been amazing if sousvided Beef fried rice: ok fried rice. Though I had better fried rice for half the price Beef banhmi: ok banhmi, pretty crispy. Not a fan of pickled vegetables read more

Simply Pasteur - Avocado Wonton - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went here for Valentine's Day and enjoyed the food, but it was obvious the restaurant overbooked compared to the number of available staff. The entire restaurant appeared to have 2 servers. The dinner took 2.25 hours. It was not easy to get the check. I had to go hunting for a server. The food was fairly good. The catfish and the filet dish were well seasoned and appropriately cooked. However, the catfish was a bit meager and the filet contained too many fatty/inedible pieces. read more

Simply Pasteur - FILET MIGNON - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love Simply Pasteur. Kim offers the friendliest service. The dining hall is spectacular and offers plenty of seating. I recommend you trying their Saigon crepe. The flavors are wonderful and well balanced. read more

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The Vietnamese fusion food was delicious and the staff AMAZING and always super accommodating. The owner basically lives there to greet and say thank you as you leave. He's an adorable, short Asian worth knowing. I recommend going for their lunch special Tu-Sun 11 am til 3 pm). You receive bottomless squeezed lemonade or iced tea, a small salad, tofu soup, your entree, rice (except with noodle dishes) and dessert fruit. I always get either their sweet tilapia with tomato/pineapple sauce or beef pasta-Bun Bo Xao (although if you don't like fish, ask for it without the fish oil which always comes on the side). The egg roll you get is also some of the best, like a spring roll yet fried. If you like to drink, it's BYOB with no corkage fee. Also, CLOSED MONDAYS! read more

Good food and service. But I do honestly think that the portions are small for the price point and area.

Oh geez, I started this review half a year ago, and just got sidetracked. #behindinyelping I have fond memories of this (my first) visit, as it was to celebrate a good friend's birthday. We looked past the extremely slow service, as we were enjoying our dinner conversation and each had a martini or 2 to tide us over. Note: the lychee and pear martinis were a hit! The kitchen also sent over an apologetic extra set of potstickers for us to inhale. By far, the STAR dish of the night was my duck curry. It was so flavorful, hearty, and comforting. I would order it again in a heartbeat. I have thought about that scrumptious dish many times this year. Everyone in my party of 4 enjoyed their food, and we shared the chocolate banana bread dessert too. We had the table by the fireplace, which definitely got quite warm, so make that logistical memo. Me of the future: come back here for that duck curry! read more

I walked by Pasteur a few times this summer after beach days, always slowing down to admire its charm. The space looked so beautiful and inviting, and one morning, I paused to peek inside. Though the restaurant wasn't open, the owner, Kim, noticed me and came out to chat. Her warmth and genuine interest made such an impression, I knew I had to come back. Last night, after recovering from bronchitis, I finally made it out for dinner. Pasteur was the perfect choice--and it exceeded all expectations. The Vibe The space is stunning--elegant yet cozy. Real flowers on every table and soft tea lights create a warm, welcoming ambiance. It's the kind of place where you feel instantly at ease. Families, couples, and friends were softly enjoying themselves, while the staff moved gracefully throughout the room. The Drinks We started with a ginger pear martini that was light and refreshing--exactly what I needed. My friend ordered a Negroni next, and I enjoyed a perfectly balanced old fashioned. The cocktail list is creative without being over-the-top, and everything we tried was spot-on. The Food We shared a few dishes, and each one played out perfectly: * The Saigon Crepe (starter): A crispy rice flour crepe filled with shrimp, chicken, and mushrooms. You wrap pieces in fresh herbs and lettuce--fun, interactive, and absolutely delicious. * Signature Beef Steak: Tender cubes of filet mignon wok-seared to perfection, served with greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers. * Curry Duck: Roasted duck in a fragrant red curry with vegetables and kaffir lime herbs. We added a bit of chili oil for extra heat, and every bite was better than the last. The Service Kim herself was running the floor that night. She stopped by to chat and noted the menu is 39-years in the making. And it shines through in every detail, making the meal feel personal and special. Final Thoughts Pasteur is an experience. Between the thoughtful food, beautiful ambiance, and Kim's passion, I found a new favorite spot. If you're in Chicago, you need to go. read more

Such a neat place! I came for a friend's birthday on a Thursday, there was hardly anyone there in the glowing, beautiful space, so we got special attention. The appetizers were not too big (good) and we had a well portioned meal that was both simple, attactive and filling. The pistachio cake was a nice conclusion. The cocktails were strong enough that I just needed one old fashioned. I'd love to live nearby and come often! read more

A beautiful spot for a leisurely meal. From their excellent food and drinks to their almost magical patio the experience of a meal at Pasteur is something everyone will enjoy. read more

This is a beautiful restaurant but it is grossly understaffed. We were a group of 6 and it took 2 1/2 hours to have dinner. There was ONE person staffing the entire restaurant--bartending, taking orders, bussing the tables, serving meals--and the restaurant was almost full to capacity. Later in the evening another server appeared around the time we were leaving. The food was alright but when we asked for some hot sauce and an extra plate, she never brought it. We waited for a long time for our bill and there was an automatic $50 tip added to the total. If a restaurant adds an obligatory tip to the bill, what is the waitstaffs' motivation to provide good service? This was a disappointing evening. In fairness, we have been to Pasteur during the week when it wasn't so busy, and we had a much better experience. So I guess I'd recommend staying away from the place on weekends. read more

Fantastic food, location, and service. Simply It is an excellent Vietnamese place with a very welcoming staff and clean interior. The food was delicious. Highlights of what we had include the Pho (classically good), coconut shrimp, and lemongrass chicken. All of it tasty and well priced. The boba teas are fantastic as well. Service was friendly and the owner is great. Convenient location in Lincoln Park. Check it out! read more

Simply Pasteur - Coconut shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would give a 0 star if I can. Rude waitresses, with si much attitude. Slow service- waited for almost 1.5 hours for our dinner. They also brought both appetizers and main corse together. If it were busy then I would have understood, but there were another 3 tables with customers. No silverwares at table when food came, ans when asked waitress defensive and accused us of "hiding" silverwares. Like come on- just admit your mistake and take ownership. Rude service and they expect you to tip for a very crappy experience. Food is not authentic Vietnamese food. Bland flavors. It is such a shame because the ambience is nice and the outside seating romantic. It would NOT make up for bad food and even worst waitresses with bad attitude. Stay away and spend your money somewhere else. read more

Visiting Chicago for the first time and craving some Vietnamese food after having some heavy meals and Simply It fit the bill! It's located in the lovely Lincoln Park neighborhood and we were seated right at the window on this gorgeous night and got to view the street activity as we ate. Our server was extremely sweet and explained a few different menu items that were new to us. We tried the following: Egg rolls-good Lemongrass beef spring rolls-great combination of flavors Seafood Rangoon-good Vietnamese ravioli (from their street food section) really delicious and something I had never tried before and glad I tried it! Chicken over Sticky rice (also in their street food section) I was not a fan as I didn't think it had much flavor but the husband liked it a lot! They also give you some free ice tea when you are seated. Sweet gesture! It seems like a great yummy local place and would come back if in the area! read more

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I really wanted to like this place. Like really. But all I can say is it was ok. It was highly recommended so I had to check it out since I was in the area. The restaurant ambiance was good. Service was great. But the food fell flat. Everything just seemed overcooked and did not have a lot of flavor. Perhaps it was an off day? read more

Simply Pasteur - CHICKEN GINGER - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have loved this place for years! Lovely decor, yummy food, attentive staff, and did I mention the incredible garden out back? We have traveled to Vietnam, and this felt like stepping back to Colonial Hanoi. Perfect date night! And so conversation friendly. Plenty of easy street parking! It's no wonder it's been in this location for 29 years. And it only gets better! read more

After an hour boat ride at night, my friends wanted some hot noodle soup. We found this place to be closet to where we were at and still opened till 10pm. After 3 miles Uber ride, we walked into the store. They told us that they were closing early and we could take it to go. We were disappointed because it's inconvenient to take pho back to hotel. Also, it's a bit farther, the food might get cold. As we were discussing if we should go to another place, the owner saw us, and then he told his worker to open the dining room for us. We truly appreciated he stayed and served us as we had some hungry peeps in the group :p We got beef pho, beef ball pho, and shrimp hot and sour soup. We enjoyed the pho soup base. Will come back if we are in town again. read more

Simply Pasteur - Beef ball pho (5/5) - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Extremely poor service An Asian and a Hispanic server were confused about our orders It took them 20 minutes to bring my friend his second mojito by that time he was done with dis dinner I ordered an ice tea, 3,refills and I was charged $18 total what a rip off The last refill the server never brought me sugar The food was average....nothing outstanding I WILL NEVER patronize this place again read more

Head one more stop after Argyle on the red line to the Bryn Mawr stop and you'll find Simply Pasteur, a Vietnamese restaurant that blends a modern fine dining type environment with standard Vietnamese classics. While the dining area is elegant, I think the food falls flat. It would take a lot to convince someone to take the extra trek to this restaurant when a cluster of Vietnamese restaurants on Argyle are a 15 minute walk away. The food prices are a couple dollars more expensive than your typical Vietnamese restaurant, with the flavor and volume of food not proportionally scaling with the price premium you pay. The broth doesn't taste as flavorful, they don't give you as many cuts of meat, and you have to specifically request chili sauce and hoisin rather than them having the entire bottle on the side for you. This place just doesn't match the likes of a more traditional Vietnamese restaurant like Pho 777 read more

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I really wanted to love this place because of great reviews but it just didnt cut it for me. Parking can be a pain on this street, and I almost didn't get out of my car because this place looked closed/ shut down. When I looked closer I saw someone inside so got out and went in. I was greeted with warm tea and water and I put an order in for shrimp rolls, spring rolls and a lemongrass sandwich. The spring roll had way too much carrot in it and my husband and I actually couldn't eat it cause it just didn't taste good. The shrimp rolls were good tho and the sandwich was just okayy. Something was just off. Wasn't horrible but it really wasn't anything to rave about. Thanks for the nice service but I didn't enjoy the food. read more

Experience: The girlfriend was in a mood for some kind of Asian cuisine, so as a result, we decided on Vietnamese food. With a party of 2, we were able to be seated fairly quickly. Note: This was during dinner time on the weekend. Staff was very friendly and professional. Ambiance is very casual and the restaurant does not appear to have any dress code. Parking: Being in Lincoln Park, it is going to be difficult to find parking, especially spots that are free. Is it possible though? Yes, you just have to be patient and drive around the surrounding small streets. Just be aware of Permit parking. Worth: The staff and the food make Simply It worth the visit. The food was good and it did not disappoint. We had fried shrimp and a chicken bahn mi (As pictured below). The amount food we received was just the right amount. I believe this place is BYOB as well, so that is definitely a plus. read more

Simply Pasteur - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place used to be my favorite Vietnamese restaurant! I hadn't been here in maybe a year or two but still crave their sandwiches! I was a little disappointed with this visit. It feels like they've started to skimp on things... Likes: -They have the best lunch specials which comes with lemonade or tea, salad, soup, mini egg roll, entree, and fruit for less than $10. -Their lemonade seems fresh squeezed and isn't too sweet. -Their sandwiches are still as delicious as I remembered Dislikes -They changed up their salad dressing, which now seems like it was a reddish vinegar. -Service was not as good as I had remembered. I think the owners waited on us and forgot to give us the menu after everyone eventually arrived. -Then we didn't get our lemonades even after entrees were served. I had to remind them. -We also were never given any fruit. read more

Simply Pasteur - Grilled beef banhmi - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Hi, I was having a birthday and there was 6 of us. However, this guy showed up on a date or a meeting probably and asking THE WAITRESSES to tell us to BE QUITE AND SILENT. I mean... come on. Not that I am complaining about the waitresses, but please tell them that THIS IS A COMMON ROOM and if they wanted us to be quiet, just go to grave yard. PLEASE! AND THE WAITRESS at first did not apologized. We did not order our entree because we're just too fed up. Is this their restaurant?! Did they reserve this restaurant all for themselves? read more

Simply Pasteur - These 2 asking us to shut up and the waitresses - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went here to celebrate our friend's birthday. The food was delicious, the service outstanding, the ambiance was perfect. We sat outside in the back and the courtyard was delightfully perfect. While this is reason enough to visit this restaurant, the best reason is the owner. Sadly shortly after we arrived at the restaurant, someone came in to tell me that a person had ran into my car as it was parked on the street . While this was difficult to deal, with the owner, Kim helped in extraordinary ways. She waited with me while the police were coming to the scene, she helped make sure everything was smooth over, and she was extremely supportive. I couldn't have asked for more compassion from a complete stranger. So if you're looking for a great meal, a wonderful place to eat, or just looking for a really great human being this is the place to go in Chicago! read more

So sad to update my review from 5 stars to 3. We had such a good experience the last time we ate here that I didn't want to just disregard that, but what we received tonight was sad and partially inedible. I ordered the tofu spring rolls and veggie dumplings again and my husband ordered the caramelized pork bang mi. Delivery came very late - 90 minutes total when it says 60-70. The food tasted like it had been sitting at the restaurant for a long time. The spring rolls were very dry, dumplings were all stuck together and you couldn't even take one without ripping the whole thing, and my husbands bahn mi tasted like fish. Why would a pork sandwich taste like fish? Gross. He couldn't eat it and it went into the garbage. The food was also cold. I was so excited that I thought this would be our new weekly place, but won't be rushing back here any time soon. Wow, wow, wow!!!! Absolutely LOVED this place!!! Hubby and I ordered Grubhub tonight. I got the spring rolls with tofu, steamed veggies dumplings, mixed berry and kiwi smoothie and my husband got the beef pho. It's so nice to find a restaurant that is light and healthy vs heavy and fried like most places are in Chicago. We were super impressed that one of my husbands meats came raw and cooked perfectly after he put it in the broth. The fact that you can achieve that with delivery speaks volumes for this restaurant. This was his favorite pho that he's had so far!! The spring rolls and dumpling were absolutely delicious and they actually use fresh fruit in the smoothies! So in love with this place. read more

Quite simply put- the best experience I have ever had with a soup delivery. I have been battling a cold for literally a month now and the most persistent and frustrating symptom has been my sore throat. I was at home after a long day of work last night, trying to unpack from a recent trip and on Facetime with my boyfriend when he suggested I order some pho. I have not had real pho ever so I got on postmates and found this spot. It had great reviews (except the one outlier review which I brushed off) and I decided to put in an order. I got the beef noodle soup (pho Bo) from the recommendation of my pho-loving boyfriend and ordered it with meatballs. (only $6.50 for a HUGE portion!). I also got the shrimp spring rolls. The order came super quickly, and loaded with everything I needed and more. I love a place that supplies napkins and silverware and this place supplied not only that, but extras as well as chopsticks! I was very impressed with the quantity of the pho Bo but also with how delicious it was! It was delivered in a sealed container and saran wrapped to prevent leakage, which was very nice, and came with two extra little take out boxes that contained the rice noodles, vegetables, fresh herbs, jalepenos, etc. I thought that was very nice because it allowed all those ingredients to remain fresh until I was ready to eat it and also because I got to pick what I wanted- for instance, I prefer less rice noodle and no jalepeno but love the rest. The spring rolls also exceeded my expectations and are actually even more delicious if you dip them in the plum sauce that comes with the pho Bo. I would recommend asking for plum sauce if you just order the spring rolls. The icing on the cake- they gave me FIVE fortune cookies!! FIVE! I ate them all last night even though I only ate a small portion of the soup/spring rolls and saved the rest for lunch today. The spring rolls kept overnight and were delicious as a midmorning snack today and I am excited to finish off the soup for dinner later tonight. For less than $20 when it was all said and done, for a meal that lasted me two different days, I would say I am more than satisfied and I will definitely be back. read more

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I can't say this place was my favorite...the staff is super nice but overall you can find better pho elsewhere. My friend and I split the vegetable rolls and they weren't what we were expecting. They were small and bland. It was literally just raw vegetables stuffed into a rice wrapper. The only thing that gave it some kind of flavor was the sweet chili sauce I rolled the entire thing into. Pho wise, my friend said her vegetable pho was only okay. The beef in my pho was scant and I barely had any pieces. It was also dry. The broth was also watery and lacked flavor. The redeeming this was that the noodles were good but other than that I hoped it was going to be better. read more

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Wonderful food, nice ambience and great service. The dumplings are to die for. The clay pot ginger chicken was delicious. And so was the mango papaya salad. Everyone in my party loved the food (even my very picky teenagers). The ambience is super cool, you feel you are in a different kind of place. The staff was incredible kind, although as all other restaurants in Chicago now a bit under staffed (felt sorry for them because they were running around to attend to patrons). The overall experience was great and we'll definitely come back! read more

The menu is terrific, a friendly wait staff and a comfortable atmosphere. As frequent patrons, we've tried most items on the menu. They do not disappoint. read more

I always wanted to try a rice cake, wrapped in banana leaves. The aroma from this simple dish is enticing at other restaurants. Though I had to get used to the texture, the dish was pretty good. Additional seasonings in on either the chicken or the rice bean paste would really kick this up. The spring rolls were as expected, fresh and simple. read more

Simply Pasteur - Shrimp spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I meant the amazing Ms. Kim today ... she took me on a personal tour of the outdoor patio which was quaintly tucked away while being peacefully chic. We will surely be hosting my daughter's wedding there! read more

Came here with a group of 6 people. We were seated relatively quickly for the size of our group. Service was relatively slow and it was absolutely freezing inside. The owner was very friendly but the waitress was very slow with getting everything for us. I ordered the chicken fried rice. It was relatively good and a large portion. I must say that their Jumbo Classic Lemonade is absolutely delicious and a MUST to try. read more

Simply Pasteur - Fried Rice Combo @natashaaapril - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely delicious and such friendly service! Our first foray into Vietnamese cuisine was an excellent venture. We shared the Saigon Crepe appetizers and the Papaya Mango salad. Both very tasty. The salad was touch too spicy for my friend who first appreciate even a hint of heat. I enjoyed it. I had the claypot Ginger Chicken. The flavor profile was wonderful, kind of tickled the taste buds (not spicy). My friend had the filet mignon. Tender and flavorful with a bit of char on the edges, just the way I like it. We missed out on the banana bread pudding , it was still in the oven. We're coming back when it is a tad warmer in order to enjoy the outdoor patio. read more

This local and homey Vietnamese restaurant is a great option around Lincoln Park. I came on a Fridays night and it was not packed which was great. I felt like I was in an a private dining room with how intimate the space felt and definitely recommend it as a date spot. It's also good for a large group with tables and chairs being easily moved around to accommodate the diners which occurred later that night. In terms of food, the menu isn't super long but it was all very good. I tried the beef pho, the dumplings and lemongrass pork sandwich. The dumplings were a good appetizer and on the healthier side if you get the steam ones. The sandwich was good but having tried other Vietnamese sandwiches before, it was missing a few things like toasted bread and the sauce that comes with it. The beef pho was my favorite dish with a good broth, meat done well and decent noodles. This was good and a great place to try your first Vietnamese meal with an approachable menu and good food. read more

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This spot is one of my favorites in the area. The service is always wonderful. The owner is incredibly friendly, always there and even offers free tea or lemonade on occasion. I have always felt warmly welcomed when I'm there. While I can't say the food is hands-down the best Vietnamese food I've had, it's always good and it's always satisfying. I've been here several times now and have never had a bad meal or experience. I typically go for the beef flank pho but would also recommend trying the grilled lemongrass beef appetizer (anything lemongrass here has been delicious). Their milk tea is pretty good considering this area of the city is lacking in many options. The boba itself has sometimes been a little over or under cooked. If you're picky about your boba, I'd recommend just going with the tea or smoothie sans boba. Overall, it's a great spot with the kindest staff and owner! read more

Great humble Vietnamese place that I would've passed by had it not been for Yelp. Definitely returning here again! The good: BYOB, Great service, seemed "family run", good atmosphere. Definitely more of a lunch or casual dinner place, but that doesn't mean that it isn't great. Great food, the duck was amazing and the menu is large and extensive. Tons of "free" things like soup, salad, fruit, lemonade. The bad: Not the best atmosphere if you are looking for something nice. Overall, a fantastic experience for a great little place in Lincoln Park. read more

Simply Pasteur - Roasted duck sandwich sans mayo - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would walk 2 miles to eat here. The food is very authentic and always fresh. I try to make it here every time I visit Chicago. Two thumbs up! read more

Simply Pasteur - Chicken Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I arrived at the restaurant at 9:15 PM (Yelp and the restaurants website says it's open until 10:00 PM). We waited around for a minute or two until the hostess came up. She said the restaurant was closed. Ok, no problem. We prepared to leave, when the hostess asked us how we got in the restaurant. We didn't understand what she meant because we walked in the front door. She told us that she locked the door, and then accused us of climbing in the restaurant through one of the front windows. Never thought I'd experience someone at a restaurant accuse me of climbing in through a window, but yeah. I won't be coming here ever again. read more

Great ambience, great drink selection, and great food at a great price!! Our server was lovely and super helpful! Recommend this place for anyone looking for a great night out; good for vegetarians too! (I loved the avocado cream cheese wraps!) read more

I haven't been here in years! Recently, we decided to go again since we were in the neighborhood. The food is still delicious! Each time we've been here recently, I've gotten an order of dumplings for an appetizer and the large pho (you get to choose 2 meat additions). The owner has been so kind and generous! One of our orders didn't have any "grilled shrimp" and he was able to substitute it with another side for us and gave us extra meat in the entree. :) Very kind of him and definitely not expected of him to do so! Will definitely stop by again for more when we are in the area! read more