Le Bouchon
Le Bouchon has been a Chicago staple for decades, but my love affair with this restaurant began about 7 years ago, while working for a small law firm in the Loop. I was fortunate enough to secure a job working for two people who loved food as much as I do, and they (unintentionally) turned me into the boujie Chicago food snob I am today (shoutout Darlene Strickland and Gary Moore). About twice a year, the firm would take us out for “lunch,” at one of the Poilevy family restaurants, which, at the time, included Le Bouchon and the dearly departed, La Sardine. These “lunches” would begin at noon and consist of free flowing bottles of wine and course after course of the best French food I’d ever tasted. As long time family friends of the Poilevys, my bosses enjoyed some special privileges, all of which were on full display at these events, including off menu items and private dining before the restaurants opened to the public. This is how I go my first taste for so many different foods including oysters, sweet breads, duck, squab, and an all time favorite, foie gras (don’t come for me). Nowadays, I tend to just visit Le Bouchon on my own. It’s an excellent spot for solo diners, if you’re lucky enough to grab a spot at the bar. Although reservations are hard to come by, I find that if you go after 8, grabbing a bar spot isn’t too difficult.
There’s a dish at Le Bouchon for every mood. Just need something cheap and delicious? Go for the Salad Lyonnaise and a French Onion Soup. In the mood for steak? Get the Steak Frites (Manion style is the way to go - the steak is served on top of the fries and smothered in the best pepper sauce you’ve ever had, a nod to Chef Manion down at El Che). I could go on all day about the dishes at Le Bouchon, and I go through phases on what my favorite dish is (currently the moules frites). In an effort to expedite things and not bore you, here’s a list of classics that you cant go wrong with:
Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup. To my French speaking friends - I know I’m missing the accents - it’s a side effect of being technologically inept. Sue me.)
Y’all know this one: beefy, oniony broth, filled with caramelized onions and topped with bread and gooey gruyere cheese, toasted to perfection. I’d argue Bouchon’s is the best in the game.
Salad Lyonnaise
This salad is so simple and so. freaking. delicious. It’s simple frisee topped with a poached egg, crispy pork lardons, croutons fried up in the pork fat, and topped with a mustard vinaigrette. The only better Lyonnaise I’ve had is served at Bouchon’s sister restaurant, Obelix, which adds confit duck on top. Kill me now.
Moules a la Provencale (Mussels)
Let. Me. TELL YOU: these mussels are the SHIT. I first tasted mussels at Le Bouchon and they set the bar high - I’ve literally never had a better mussel. The only mussels I’ve been told can compete are served at Mariscos San Pedro, which adds up, considering they’re another Bouchon sister restaurant. I dream about the broth these things are cooked in and literally slurp it up by the spoonful. When I need a lighter comfort meal, this is what I order.
Steak Frites (Do I need to translate this one? It’s steak with French fries. Look at the pic to the right )
Although this dish is served a few ways, the only acceptable way to order it is with the pepper sauce, Manion style. Sure, you could order is with just the herb butter, or just the sauce on the steak, but that would be boring, and a dish this tasty deserves better. Just get it Manion style, trust me.
Poulet Roti (Roasted Chicken)
This juicy chicken dish is another favorite. It’s served with the softest, garlicyiest mashed potatoes, green beans, and covered in a delicious chicken gravy. My mouth is watering just looking at that picture. This half chicken is enough to share with someone. Or for a second meal the next day.
There are so many hits on this menu, please don’t take this as an exhaustive list. The specials ALWAYS hit, especially the summer ones. If you see something with fresh summer corn (I could live on their sweet corn creme brulee) or Saturn peaches, PLEASE order it. In the winter, try the cassoulet or whatever Foie Gras preparation they have on the menu. I’ve never had a bad one.
And don’t even get me started on dessert. If there’s one thing a Poilevy restaurant is going to nail, it’s the desserts. I’ve never had a bad dessert at any of their restaurants (you haven’t eaten a churro until you experienced the churros at Taqueria Chingon). As I mentioned above, whatever creme brulee presentation they have on the menu is going to be great. There are pictures of an almond cake in the gallery below that I went back for several times last summer. And I’m not even a huge apple person, but the Jean-Claude apple tarte is also crazy good. Just get dessert, please. This isn’t the spot to skip it (in fact, although I’m writing this review from Piece, I may stop by Le Bouchon for a dessert on the way home).
There’s a reason Le Bouchon is a Chicago staple - it’s consistently delicious, homey, and is going to be a fantastic meal every time. Not to mention, it’s still family owned and run like a real French Bouchon. The staff is friendly and inviting - there are several times I’ve gone in later and have just hung out with the servers and bartenders like I’m part of the crew - something they very much could have excluded me from, and probably would have at other places. Le Bouchon is a warm hug of a restaurant and one that I will travel back to, no matter where I live, for the rest of my life. Now without further ado, please enjoy all of the Le Bouchon pictures I could find in my phone!
