Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
Sameet Sapra · 780 Google reviewsBavette's Bar & Boeuf — high-caliber steakhouse in River North. Order the Mashed Potatoes. No frills and no gimmicks, just a solid honest room. "The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery" — Saeed Darvish [$$$$]
What 4,085 diners keep saying
What 4,085 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf is a prime example of fine dining in Chicago. If you are looking for an experience featuring excellent beef and classic cocktails in a sophisticated setting, this place is superb. Atmosphere and Vibe As soon as you step inside, you are transported to another world. The interior is a blend of "Old Chicago" and a French speakeasy style—featuring dim lighting, leather booths, and jazz music. It feels very romantic and premium, making it the perfect choice for a date night or a special occasion. The Food The menu is focused and impressive, rooted in the classic French steakhouse tradition. Steaks: The main draw here is the beef. The dry-aged ribeye and filet mignon are the most popular choices. The quality of the meat and the cooking technique—which delivers a perfect char and a juicy center—make this one of the best steakhouses in Chicago. Sides and Other Dishes: Don’t overlook the sides. The Truffle Mac & Cheese and the Garlic Mashed Potatoes are the stars of the menu. Additionally, their French Onion Soup is highly acclaimed. Dessert: Don’t miss the Chocolate Cream Pie; it is incredibly rich and delicious. Service The service is highly professional and attentive. The servers are incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and can guide you toward excellent choices. However, this spot is very popular, so making a reservation in advance is essential. Conclusion Bavette’s is not just a place to eat; it is an experience. If you are in Chicago and looking for a memorable dinner, this place will not disappoint. It is a premium establishment, but the quality and the atmosphere make every penny worth it.”
“This is a place that I can’t stop coming back to. Every steak that I have had has not disappointed. For sides, the truffle Mac N Cheese and the mushrooms do not disappoint either. The hype behind the restaurant is very much so worth it!”
“Came here for my 30th birthday and had the best time. The steak truly was delicious, but so was the crab cake and elotes salad. Everything was well done. Even though it was busy and popping, the way the round booths are situated, the date still felt romantic!”
“Amazing food! My husband and I got in line at 2:45 for a 3pm reservation on the patio. We ended up asking and getting seated in a real seat - amazing! We had great service and great atmosphere. The mixed green apple salad was 11/10, elote side 12/10, truffle Mac side 9/10 (very truffle forward - hubby not crazy for truffle), steak frites (best steak we've had in the city) 15/10, only thing we felt slightly disappointed on was the burger (8/10). We are Chicago burger snobs and this one just didn't hit for us. All in all, great vibes and great food - we will 100% be back to try another steak and sides!”
“Came here for a special dinner the week after our wedding after hearing great things! Took 3 tries to get the reservation but it was worth it. The food was wonderful, especially the steak and desserts! Service was a bit slow at the start but it looked like a full house. The crème brûlée was very delicious, perfect way to end the meal!”
“We accidentally made a reservation at the wrong Bavette’s location for a special birthday celebration. When our group of six arrived and realized the mistake, we were worried our plans were ruined. Despite it being an extremely busy night and the restaurant being at full capacity, the host team was incredibly kind, accommodating, and helpful. They went above and beyond to rearrange things and were able to seat all six of us within just 15 minutes. Huge kudos to the host team for their exceptional hospitality and professionalism. The food was outstanding, and our server, Rich, was absolutely amazing—attentive, friendly, and genuinely helped make the evening memorable. Thanks to the entire team, our birthday celebration turned out to be even more special than we had hoped. We can’t wait to come back!”
“Bavette’s absolutely lives up to the hype. We ordered the filet mignon petit, the Wagyu burger, and the truffle mac and cheese, and every dish exceeded our expectations. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and it practically melted in our mouths. It’s easily one of the best steaks we’ve ever had and more than deserving of all the rave reviews. The Wagyu burger was equally impressive, and adding the egg and bacon is an absolute must. It elevates an already outstanding burger with the perfect combination of rich, savory flavors. The truffle mac and cheese was the ideal side. It struck the perfect balance between creamy cheese and earthy truffle, with neither flavor overpowering the other. It complemented the rest of the meal beautifully. The service was just as exceptional as the food. Our waiter was incredibly attentive and detail-oriented, consistently checking in to make sure my partner and I were enjoying every part of our meal. From the food to the service, every aspect of our visit exceeded our expectations. Bavette’s is absolutely worth the hype, and we’ll definitely be returning the next time we’re in Chicago.”
“Bavette's absolutely lived up to the hype. Even days later, I'm still thinking about the steak. We started with the Lyonnaise Salad, which was surprisingly one of the highlights of the meal. I don't usually rave about salads, but this one was delicious. It comes with two thick-cut pieces of bacon that were incredibly juicy and flavorful. For our entrees, we ordered the Classic Ribeye (Chicago Cut) and Bavette's Spiced Fried Chicken, with Pommes Frites and the Truffle Mac & Cheese on the side. Every single dish was outstanding. The ribeye was hands down the best steak I've ever had—perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and packed with flavor. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and the sides were just as impressive. You honestly can't go wrong with anything we ordered. The service was excellent. Our server was attentive without hovering, checked on us several times throughout the meal, asked about any allergies beforehand, and made sure there were no concerns with the dishes we selected. That level of care was really appreciated. The atmosphere is beautiful and incredibly romantic. The restaurant is very dimly lit with table lamps, creating a cozy, intimate ambiance. The downside is that it can be so dark that it's difficult to read the menu or even navigate around the restaurant. There are only two restrooms on the main floor, so the wait was pretty long. There are additional restrooms downstairs, but I found them difficult to locate because of how dark it was inside. The only part of the experience I didn't enjoy was that a staff member repeatedly came by to clear our table between courses. My friends and I were still talking and enjoying the evening, but he kept asking if we were finished with dishes, which made the meal feel a little rushed. It was a small annoyance during an otherwise fantastic dinner. Getting a reservation can definitely feel like a battle. We ended up visiting on a weekday and waited about an hour without a reservation, which honestly wasn't too bad. Yes, it's expensive, but the quality of the food, service, and overall experience make it absolutely worth the price. I'd gladly come back again, especially for that ribeye.”
“Our server Lauren was amazing She was very attentive and answered all of our questions. The oysters, steak and drinks were a 10/10 and I will definitely be going back. The reservations were a little difficult to get but a great place to dine nonetheless!”
“Bavette's pulls off something that genuinely not many restaurants manage: it feels like a speakeasy that someone decided should also serve exceptional steaks. The room downstairs on Kinzie is low-lit and warm with red leather banquettes, vintage wallpaper, and live jazz floating through the room on most nights. It's romantic in a way that doesn't feel contrived, and the whole place hums with a particular energy that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. The bone-in dry-aged ribeye is the headline and it earns every word written about it, deeply crusted on the outside and richly marbled inside, the kind of steak that makes the theatrical presentations at other places feel unnecessary by comparison. We also ordered the shortrib stroganoff on a recommendation from the server, who turned out to be absolutely right about it. Braised until tender, in a cream sauce that's got just enough depth to feel proper without being heavy, it's one of those dishes you don't see many steakhouses bothering with and you immediately wish they did. The fried oysters are the starter worth ordering, golden and clean with a good crust and a dipping sauce alongside. For dessert the chocolate cream pie showed up in a generous slice and was the right balance of rich and cold, exactly the thing you want after a steak this substantial. The martinis here are also excellent and the bar pours with a generosity that sets the right tone before dinner even starts. Reservations open 21 days in advance and fill up fast, with each new day going live at 9am. Weeknights are slightly easier to book than weekends but not by much. Valet is available right outside on Kinzie, which takes the parking stress off entirely.”
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