Chez Joël

“came here for the first time to celebrate a birthday.”

came here for the first time to celebrate a birthday. we were seated right away in an outdoor area. it was super cute, but leaves were starting to fall and one did land on our table so something to be aware of when sitting outdoors. the food came out pretty fast after ordering. my table and i loved the mussels, scallops, and pasta. highly recommend those dishes. they also served complementary bread that went great with the sauce from the mussels and escargot. the crème brûlée was disappointing as it was burnt. still, definitely worth trying. street parking was easy to find

annie

Oct 2025

“I love this experience.”

I love this experience. I was able to bring my mentees and shared knowledge and culture with them. I look forward to the next time!

Melvin Henley

Sep 2025

“Stumbled across this place and had to go in.”

Stumbled across this place and had to go in. We ended up sitting at the bar with Joanna, who was an awesome bartender/server. She made our experience amazing!! The special was beef Wellington and it was SO good. Also very much enjoyed the Brie appetizer and the sorbet! Everything about this place exceeded my expectations and will definitely be going back.

Taylor

Sep 2025

“Go, just go! The food was fantastic, the service impeccable and the ambiance charming and...”

Go, just go! The food was fantastic, the service impeccable and the ambiance charming and welcoming. A++

Theresa R

Sep 2025

“Juanita was the absolute best server we’ve ever had.”

Juanita was the absolute best server we’ve ever had! (Like I’m not exaggerating). She’s spectacular, extremely knowledgeable and made our experience a one of a kind! We had all the specials and the blueberry tart, Eveyrthing left us speechless. We are definitely coming back! Thank you for helping us celebrate such a special night 🧡

Josselyn Sorto

Aug 2025

“I had a wonderful experience at Chez Joel-a true gem for French cuisine.”

I had a wonderful experience at Chez Joel-a true gem for French cuisine. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, elegant, and inviting. The service was attentive without being intrusive, and the staff made thoughtful recommendations that really enhanced the meal. Every dish was absolutely delicious and well presented !

Aleksandra Mihajlovic

May 2025

“Great place for a date night if you like dark places with lamps, food was great didn’t have any...”

Great place for a date night if you like dark places with lamps, food was great didn’t have any complaints about anything except there is a bit of a wait time for them to get to your table, personally i didn’t mind the place was packed and ive worked in the service industry so i get it when a place is busy only thing that threw the vibe off was the music cutting off every 5 min other than that had a great time

L. S.

Feb 2025

“I dined at this charming French restaurant, and it was an unforgettable experience.”

I dined at this charming French restaurant, and it was an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was perfect for a romantic evening—intimate, cozy, and elegantly lit. It truly felt like a little slice of Paris. The wine selection was impeccable, with plenty of options to pair perfectly with each course. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, ensuring our glasses were never empty and offering thoughtful recommendations throughout the evening. We started with the French onion soup, which was rich, flavorful, and topped with a perfectly golden layer of melted cheese. For the main course, I had the whitefish, which was cooked to perfection—delicate, flaky, and accompanied by a light, complementary sauce. To finish, the puff pastry ice cream dessert was a delightful surprise: buttery, crisp layers of pastry encasing creamy, smooth ice cream. It was a perfect end to the meal. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything was exceptional. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to enjoy a romantic night out or simply indulge in outstanding French cuisine. Five stars!

Tara Early

Feb 2025

“This was the second time I came to Chez Joël.”

This was the second time I came to Chez Joël. The first experience was good with both food and service. I remember thinking I would like to come back and try a few more things on the menu. Unfortunately it took me almost a year to come back, and that was a mistake! I wish I had come back sooner! This place is amazing! The service was great both times! The food options are good and they taste so good as well! They had a rack of lamb as one of the specials this time around and let me tell you, DELICIOUS. It was served with mashed potatoes, asparagus, carrots and mushrooms! The vegetables were phenomenal. I could have had 5 more servings of them. (But I'm glad I didn't because I left sufficiently full, if I had more I would have had a hard time getting home from being TOO full 😬) The potatoes were good too but were definitely the weakest part of the dish, not in a bad way but something has to take that spot. The flavor of the lamb was so good and cooked perfectly. I was pleasantly surprised with how much meat was there too! I've been to some places with small lamb portions and this was not that! The bread that came out before the meal was nice since I was pretty hungry coming in. The bread came with butter and some kind of spread (unsure exactly but I think olive base?) that was quite delicious. I ordered two drinks, the Dentelle and the Brulant potion. Both were good, I'm more of a cognac person so I liked the Dentelle more. I tried some of the ravioli my spouse got and it was pretty delicious too! We finished the meal with a dessert. Which rounded the meal out perfectly. Chez is now cemented in my top 3 personal favorite restaurants I've been to so far in Chicago. For me I legitimately would give it a 10/10. IF I HAD to knock a few points off because nothing is "perfect" I'd still have to go 9.5-9.8 and say it COULD be a little bigger inside. It doesn't feel cramped or anything but the tables felt a little closer to each other than a lot of restaurants in West loop where I usually eat. Really not an issue for me but just something I noticed and that's me being very nit picky. I love this place

Jack Robbins

Jan 2025

“What a wonderful place.”

What a wonderful place! Went before seeing Les Mis downtown and it was the perfect spot. Tried escargot for the first time and could've had 100 more. Everything was beyond delicious, fresh, hot, etc. Can't wait to go again.

Machaela DeSano

Jan 2025

“Delightful French bistro.”

Delightful French bistro. A place that brings France to you! You’ll savor each dish while sipping excellent French wines in a beautifully decorated atmosphere with staff who are attentive, friendly, and not overbearing. High praises from everyone at my table!

Beth-Ann Young

Nov 2024