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"Bouillabaisse "Jean Claude" is just excellent, the broth (enhanced with a savory rouille) brimming with mussels, meaty chunks of lobster, everything at its textural best..." | ||||||||
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“"Top Ten French Bistros"
"The moules, or mussels, were steamed with white wine and herbs, the pinky flesh succulent and lush with flavor. While sopping up the juices with crusty French bread, the famous song by Fred Astaire went through my head: "Heaven, I'm in heaven.""
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"Sister to Jean-Claude Poilevey's popular Le Bouchon (and named after a critic's description of that tiny Bucktown bistro), this is a more spacious and gracious destination, with an open, airy feel. Well-prepared versions of bistro standards include the delicate bouillabaisse in a lobster-saffron broth; ragout of super-tender rabbit, onions, and mashed potatoes; steak frites; sensational escargots bourguignon; onion soup; and salade Lyonnaise (greens, bacon lardons, croutons, and poached egg). The dessert menu boasts traditional soufflés, with your choice of Grand Marnier or chocolate. At lunch, choose from an abbreviated menu of appetizers and salads, soups, sandwiches, and entrees, or opt for a hearty plat du jour, perhaps tuna Niçoise on Monday, or duck legs braised in red wine with mushrooms and potato purée on Thursday. There's also a daily $22 three-course lunch featuring soup or salad and your choice of entree and dessert." | ||||||||
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"For any Francophile, entering La Sardine instantly transports the senses back to the heyday of the bistro circuit. Located directly across the street from Harpo Studios, La Sardine first appeared on the restaurant radar upon its 1998 opening. As a sister to Bucktown's (still!) amazingly popular Le Bouchon, La Sardine survived when many petite cafes were essentially guillotined off the Chicago market.
La Sardine's continued popularity can be attributed as much to its playful decor as to its cuisine. Tomato-colored walls provide the backdrop for two splashy pillars capturing a day in the life of a beautiful mermaid. Small sardines are nailed strategically throughout the restaurant. West Loop neighborhoodies and a number of suburbanites lured in the area by its proximity to the highway file in en masse on prix-fixe Tuesdays, when $25 covers a three-course feast (and the delightful kind, where you can pick any dish on the entire menu). The same special is available mid-day for $3 less.
The energy level of La Sardine only goes up when patrons combine dining and imbibing. A selection of all French wines seems more comprehensive (and just as reasonable) as the country's special section at Binny's. With its half off special, Mondays are the best nights for sampling the grapes along the Seine.
You'll need more than bread with the wine, and La Salade Lyonnaise is an art perfected by Jean Claude Poilevey that includes greens with lardoons, poached eggs and crotons. It's best as a warm-up to Le Steak Grille Maitre d'Hotel that is coated in a deliciously authentic French green butter and piled with pommes frites (Think super-size portions). Go sparingly on the fries because it's practically a sin to dine at a bistro and skip dessert. This holds double for La Sardine, where pastry chefs have honed an Americanized form of creme brulee that's smaller and lighter than the pastries across the pond but still decadently French."
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"A sister bistro to the ever-popular Le Bouchon in Bucktown, La Sardine was hip long before this now-booming neighborhood was, and continues to thrive because of its great food and low prices. The atmosphere is so comfy that diners--trendy retirees and young professionals--linger for hours. Warm cherry-wood accents and brick walls complement vibrantly painted columns, while subdued lighting balances a noisy room. Service works as a polished team. The Food Mismatched plates are a charming touch to a meal that begins with perfectly crusty French bread. Sweet, flaky onion, spinach and bleu cheese tart makes an excellent starter. Bouillaibaisse is chock-full of lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels and more, accompanied by delicious, toasted bread spread with coarse Dijon for dipping. Flavorful duck breast with green lentils is also a winner. Try superb, flaky apple tart or warm chocolate souffle for dessert." | ||||||||
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"Jean-Claude Poilevey (Le Bouchon) continues to lure crowds into this tiny Parisian café (hence the name) with high ceilings and an airy feel. The menu is filled with timeless classics with hints of excitement. Dishes to look for include roasted chicken with velvety acorn squash purée or sautéed sweetbreads with gnocchi and mustard sauce. As for the straight and narrow dishes---escargots in garlicky butter, bouillabaisse---they don't disappoint. So it's no wonder why the baked French onion soup and steak frites are among the restaurant's exemplary choices. The wine list is small but carefully selected, and the waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable without being overbearing." | ||||||||
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