Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf

Third time’s the charm! My boyfriend and I came here for a third round and the food and service were both above and beyond. We didn’t have a reservation but luckily we managed to snatch a walk-​in table at 5:00pm. We shared the foie gras terrine, which was packed with plenty of foie gras. I had the equally delicious short rib stroganoff. The meat was tender and juicy and the sauce creamy and buttery. I especially enjoyed the texture of the pasta, which was slightly chewy with a nice bite at the end. My boyfriend had the lamb chops, which. dare I say it. were the best lamb chops either of us have ever had. Crunchy salty exterior and nice and pink in the middle. It almost melted in your mouth it was so tender.
Service was wonderful. I think the negative experience we had in the past was a fluke because 2 out of 3 times we’ve gone, the service has been great. The waiter this time was outgoing and friendly, just what you’d expect from such a highly rated restaurant. He made wonderful suggestions on what to drink with dinner and even packed us some fresh hot bread with our leftovers.
TIP on reheating meat: Don’t nuke it in the microwave! It will lose all of its texture. Instead, seal it in a ziplock baggy with the air sucked out and run hot tap water (hottest the tap can get) over it until you’ve reached the desired temperature. Then, give it a very quick sear in a very hot, heavy pan.

Once you enter Bavette’s, you are suddenly taken back to France back in the day. We ate downstairs which felt like we were very much in an old school speakeasy. Such great space, the folks at Hogsalt knock it out of the park again.
Now to the food, we started with the duck and goat cheese terrine which was amazing with plenty of bread and apricot mustard to top off to offer a sweet and vinegar flavor. I ended up with the 10oz filet and we shared the elotes and brussels sprouts. I found myself savoring every bite. I will go out on a limb and even state that it was one of the finest dining and steak experiences I have ever had. This is a must have if you’re in Chicago.

Classy, elegant, beautiful, great service you will find it all here.
It’s a steak house and not a cheap one. But go for it, if you are planning a special night for your man, you are sure to impress.

Dark and eclectic and almost seems like something from the prohibition era and I say it with good intentions. Classic jazz playing in the background, the vibe is upbeat and relaxed.
We had the bone marrow appetizer and I had the ribeye. My husband had the porterhouse? I don’t recall what HE ate because I was all too focused on my food and drink. It was all fabulous. The entire experience was amazing! We can’t wait to try it again next time we’re in Chicago.
Edited to say; our experience here was on 8÷1÷2014 and we still talk fondly about this place.

I went here with the wife to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We started with mixed drinks, which were excellent. She had a negroni. The service is good.
We ordered raw oysters that were good, but not as good as we have had on the east coast.
For dinner my wife ordered filet mignon and I had the dry aged ribeye. I liked the ribeye. The wife found that her filet was too fatty. She pointed out that a filet should not have inedible gristle/​fat running through it. A filet is supposed to be lean and this one was not. It was also served cold. I had a similar issue with too much fat, but accept that it happens frequently that half of a ribeye is fat.
We ordered two sides that were awesome. By that I mean they were some of the best we have had the in Chicago. We ordered the creamed spinach and Mac and cheese.
Overall this was a good experience, but not good enough when compared to the high price.

I’m not from Chicago but I know they’re pretty big on their steakhouses. A couple of friends and I were a little torn between Bavettes and Kinzie, and I’m so glad we chose this place. Right when you walk in the vibes are really nice, pretty dim like most steakhouses but also a nice modern feel. We were seated downstairs where there were huge booths and a center area with some couches and chairs.
We decided it might be a nice idea to split since we had all just had food and drinks at happy hour. We started off with an order of the garlic shrimp which was really flavorful and extra garlic-​y just the way I like it. Then we got the bone in filet mignon, which was really tender and had an amazing flavor and marinade. For sides we shared the mac and cheese (make sure to add bacon!) and the elote style corn which was amazing. The entire meal was so delicious and to top it off, we got the chocolate cream pie which was literally the BEST dessert I’ve ever had. Don’t come to Bavette’s without trying it because you will regret it.
Overall Bavette’s did not fail to disappoint. Steak is one of my favorite entrees to order when I go out to eat and this place does it right.

No exaggeration, at the top of my list of favorite meals ever.
My wife & I enjoyed the following (would recommend everything we had)
Appetizer:
BAKED GOAT CHEESE
Entrees:
ROASTED CHICKEN (outstanding)
BONE IN FILET MIGNON (probably best steak I have ever had)
Sides:
LOADED BAKED POTATO
ELOTE STYLE CORN (didn’t know what to expect and loved it)
WILD MUSHROOMS
Dessert:
Chocolate Cream Pie (disgustingly good)

Excellent dinner experience. The setting is dark, warm and sexy. The service was top notch. Tried the oysters east and west. They were both fantastic but the east were my favorite. For dinner the steak frites. It was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. It was cooked perfectly. It was buttery soft and seasoned perfectly. The portion was a tad small but still a good size. They also serve a warm and toasty sourdough bread with some melted butter that was very tasty.
I do recommend ordering a whiskey on a large and I mean really large ice cube. I highly recommend this establishment.

This place has been on my list for quite some time now. the wait was definitely worth it. The food was soooo good! I was a little worried at first because we didn’t have reservations. but I called ahead and made sure if it would be ok and it was. We went on a Sunday around 5 (when they open) and they seated us right away even though they were already fully booked. The staff was great — very kind and helpful. Our waiter was awesome as well. He came and checked up on us often even though he had several other tables. The atmosphere is very quiet and romantic. The two of us shared the dry aged rib eye, elote, and spinach. So freaking good… I’m already craving more. Next time I go I’m definitely making reservations to sit more towards the middle so we can enjoy the setting along with the food.

Oh gosh just order anything and everything!
This is my absolute favorite place to order a steak… it literally melts in your mouth! Love their salads, sides, and desserts as well. And in case you think I forgot about the drinks, they’re yummy here too. This is truly a 5 star gem!
Also, this makes a great sexy date spot. *hint hint* Just go!

Whenever someone needs a recommendation for a restaurant for a birthday/​graduation/​Chicago visit I always tell them Bavettes! The restaurant is beautiful inside, it reminds me of a speakeasy. I have been here a few times for birthday celebrations and would recommend the steak frites, creamed spinach, and wedge salad!
You can bring a bottle of wine but you have to share a glass with a person of your choosing in the restaurant. Their specialty drinks are delicious as well!
If you can’t get reservations you can usually get a table of you get there 10 minutes before they open.

Perhaps it’s redundant to add yet another five-​star review to a place that is just about universally agreed to be amazing, but I can’t help myself! Bavette’s has become a standout among all the great restaurants in Chicago, and is a great choice for a date or a celebratory family dinner. It’s decorated like a 1920s speakeasy with low lighting, big comfy leather booths, mirrors, and eclectic tableware, and the resulting ambiance is really special.
The steaks at Bavette’s are top notch. But I am personally just as wowed, if not more so, by their sides! The creamed spinach is a must-​order, as is the wedge salad. In the spinach, I always taste either gruyère or bleu cheese — I can’t figure out which — and it lends such richness and depth of flavor to the dish. The wedge salad is outstanding, and features a ranch-​like dressing (not too thick, just right) that lightly coats the lettuce, and is complemented by a generous sprinkle of fresh herbs and thick slabs of very high-​quality bacon. You can tell the dressing has quite a bit of garlic in it, but it’s not overpowering. I’ve tried to replicate it at home from a recipe I saw on Serious Eats, and it’s definitely close, but the restaurant’s still can’t be beat!
For main dishes, I’ve tried the steaks, meatloaf, and fried chicken with gravy, and the chicken in particular is phenomenal. There are so many impressive and delicious-​sounding options on the menu that it’s hard to choose, and I’m sure you can’t go wrong. I’ve seen the burger walk past many times and thought it looked really tasty. Might have to go with that one next time!
It’s smart to get reservations here, because Bavette’s can fill up pretty fast. They do have a large downstairs room so the restaurant is bigger than it looks initially, but even with all that space, over the holidays my family got reservations a month in advance and could still only come at either 5pm or 9:30pm. What can I say, it’s a popular joint for good reason!
We also had a really wonderful server for this last dinner — he had blond hair and glasses and worked downstairs. He even procured my dad his favorite cocktail that wasn’t on the menu anymore, and offered (without us asking) to chop up our wedge salad so we could split it more easily. Very thoughtful.

Amazing venue with intimate décor and ambience. Set with a 1920s atmosphere with like music.
Old fashioned tasty but could’ve been made with single large ice cube, would have made it more traditional.
We wanted the typical marbling and tenderness of a bone in rib eye but the dry aged was a little much with the marbling, certain parts were just mouthfuls of chewy lard.
Sides were all amazing. Waitress erroneously brought us the corn and when we pointed that out, she simply gave it to us on the house. Great gesture.
They have an interested BYO policy, where if you bring your own they want you to give away a glass to another table. We were fortunate to receive a glass from another table, and it turned out to be a tasty red.
Excellent service from our waiter.
Would definitely return.

This is a 4.5 that I’m rounding up to a 5.
Upon entering, it’s hard not to notice how great the ambiance is. It’s easy to get the feeling like you walked back in time, like maybe the 40s. We got a cocktail at the upstairs bar/​dining area before being brought to our table downstairs. I got a Sazerac which was excellent. I tasted their Negroni and Lion’s Tail, both were well made too. The 5 of us shared a bottle of wine iwth our meal too that fit our meal perfectly. Once downstairs, you’ll notice there is a different vibe from upstairs. It feels more lounge/​den like which worked too. I do prefer the upstairs though.
Shawn, our server, was awesome and helped guide us through our meal and helped make sure we didn’t over do it as we were first inclined to do. Really appreciate that. Here’s a break down of what we demolished:
Starters:
Foie Gras — Disappointing, it wasn’t bad, but I’ve had better more flavorful Foie elsewhere.
Bone Marrow — Great, but Au Cheval’s is still my favorite (another Hogsalt gem).
Mains:
Bone In Ribeye –This was great, but we all agreed that there was not a lot of meat around the actual bone. In fact, it was really fatty there and not the good melt in your mouth type of fat either. Because of that, if I got this again, I’d do the Chicago Cut Ribeye instead which is boneless.
Filet Minion — Super tender with excellent flavor.
Lamb Chops — This was the highlight for me. They were delicious. My inner cave man came out when I got to the bone. Cleaning it off was possibly my favorite part of the meal. So freaking good!
Sides:
Mac n Cheese — Great!
Creamed Spinach — Delicious!
Brussels Sprouts — Pretty good.
Dessert:
Chocolate Pie — Incredible, totally lived up to the hype.
Espresso — They no longer use Boatruss Roasters, they now use Metropolis and I don’t feel it was as smooth as the espressos I’ve had at Au Cheval (when they were using Boatruss), but it was still damn good.
A great experience that didn’t come as a surprise. All Hogsalt spots I’ve been to and return to continue to always on point.

Wow, what a beautiful spacious restaurant with some prohibition era style and a bit of Woody Allen feel.
Although the food smelled absolutely delicious, my husband and I came only for some good classic cocktails in the speakeasy with full service below the restaurant, The Parlor.
Wonderful lounge and delicious choices. Because it is Gilt Room’s sister biz, the menu for drinks and cocktails is almost the same as in The Library. That was quite surprising, especially cause the price was on average 2 dollars higher than at the Library.
Still, great place and great drinks.

It’s quiet.
It’s amply candlelit.
It’s a date spot.
Friday night prime time had to be booked 1.5 months in advance to secure a spot downstairs. Upstairs is more robust and lively, whereas downstairs is romantic and speak-​easy. Choose wisely.
Between the two of us, we ordered and shared the peppered duck and goat cheese terrine, short rib stroganoff, and 22 ounce bone-​in dry aged rib-​eye. The only «complaint» I have is that there was so much goodness to choose from, but so little stomach capacity to handle it all.
The luscious terrine appeared like two thick slabs of ham but it’s much more glamorous than that. I took pleasure in spreading a thick layer over the toast and finishing it with a smear of apricot mustard. Each bite came in layers, from tangy to peppery to a sweetened spice.
As BB&B so aggressively strives to be different from a typical steakhouse, the short-​rib stroganoff is without doubt, a must-​try. The house-​made fettucine arrived al dente and with a slow braise, the short-​rib on top was particularly tender. The sauce was thick and creamy, making this dish excellent.
Did I mention this was my first encounter with bone-​in dry aged rib-​eye? I took a slice at the rib-​eye and allowed the unadorned beef to rest on my tongue for a moment to let the flavor sink in. Oh my, was that a tender and sexy beast crisped with steak salt. Never mind the béarnaise, I will just have my rib-​eye naked.
With that said, I have nothing but gratitude for BB&B and their excellence. My experience could not have been more memorable. Everything from the atmosphere to the food quality was top notch.

I give 5stars this time but it was somethings i didnt like but still give 5 stars… i had the age meatball which was good but the past seem under cooked… then i cant belive in the big restuarant the womens bathroom it was only one… had to wait in a line not cool at all. the waitress was great her name was sarah she very helpful and patient with us.
But i will return…

I’ve heard great things about the Chicago food scene, but this place was almost unreal.
My friend and I celebrated our 15^th friend-​versary (yea, we made it a thing) here and we absolutely loved it. The décor was old-​school steakhouse stepped up several notches with chandeliers, dim lighting, and cozy but lavish furnishing.
Filet mignon cooked to medium-​rare perfection, and the chocolate crème pie outrageously decadent.
The sweetest hostess and servers put a cherry on top of the whole experience.
I made my reservaiton a month in advance and I’m so glad I did. Back in SF now and raving about this place every chance I get.
Swoon.

Review 922 (a milestone, I know) is reserved for Bavette’s, the final «on the regular» Chicago review I’ll write. I might sprinkle in a few more here or there as catch up, but my two years as a Chicagoland resident have come and gone. Like most ex-​Chicagoans, I’ll miss the city but not the city’s winter. Bavette’s opened its doors roughly a year before I moved to Chicago, and I quickly added it to my Unilocaly bookmarks. By chance and circumstance, I never went until I was about to leave. I’m glad I squeezed it in.
Bavette’s is run by Brendan Sodikoff’s «Hogsalt» empire, and if you read my reviews, you know my love of all things Sodikoff is high (see: Cheval, Au). Thus, I went in expecting to love Bavette’s, and came out loving Bavette’s. Another thing to note about me is that my favorite steak is the one I grill at home. I’d rather spend $ 20 on a nice cut and blow on some charcoal than drop $ 60 in a white-​linen, bow-​tied establishment. The exception to that rule is steak frites. Yeah, give me a nice flat iron or skirt, grill it up real nice, throw it on a bed of fries and some aioli on the side. Winner winner, beefy dinner.
When my dining companions not-​so-​guiltily ordered a gilded dinner (that means they ordered a triple-​digit seafood tower), I almost capitulated to peer pressure and ordered Bavette’s signature bone-​in ribeye, almost violating my rule above. A cooler head prevailed, and I stuck with the steak frites for a much more optimal price. I’m glad I did. Bavette’s is a 7 oz skirt, and in combination with a hearty spread of apps and sides, it’s plenty. Plenty delicious. For me, it’s a tossup between that and Topolobampo’s mole carne asada for best piece of Chicago beef that’s partied in my mouth. I can’t recommend it enough.
I made up for the price discrepancy by also indulging in bone marrow, which is not unlike the marrow you’ll find in Bavette’s sister restaurants like Au Cheval and Maude’s. In terms of others, the elote-​style corn is the most recommended, and also well-​deserved. It’s a wholly decadent side, just doused in cream, butter, and parmesan. If you like pampering with a kick, the corn’s your huckleberry. And yeah, that seafood tower is both visually and tastily impressive. The grand tower is replete with shellfish galore, allowing you to eat, rinse, repeat at your leisure.
As good as the food is, the Sodikoff experience pays equal parts tribute to the grandeur of dining, and Bavette’s is no different. Note that coming by a reservation is about as difficult as not encountering a wait at Au Cheval. We managed to snag a 5:15-er, and within minutes of seating, the place was packed. Good luck there. If you can get it, though, you’re treated to that rich mahogany fine dining experience without the pretension to back it up. One of the coolest things (of which we did not partake, preferring to stick to cocktails) about Bavette’s is its hidden corkage fee. You can BYOB, with the only stipulation that you share a glass with another table. It’s that kind of cool.
Chicago, you’ve been good to me, and Bavette’s is just example infinity of many. Cheers.

Bavette’s is not really a steak house… not in the way most people think of steak houses at least. They don’t have a porterhouse or even a strip steak on the menu! These are classic cuts of meat that ANY true steakhouse would have (often in multiple forms). They also do not tout the origins of most of their meat and only one is listed as being aged at all (dry aged with no length of time mentioned).
Rather they offer a couple sizes of fillets and a couple rib eyes plus a steak frites. The steaks they do offer are good, no doubt but it is actually the non-​steak items that stand out and make Bavette’s unique.
They offer a Double cut pork chop that is the most moist and delicious chop I have ever had, a real stand out. Even the short rib stroganoff and meatball and fettuccine may be worth choosing over a steak. Yea, the steaks stand up just fine but you can get good steaks many places in this city.
Another thing to consider is actually the burger. It’s basically a more refined version of the much-​lauded Au Cheval burger only without the wait and it comes with fries.
They offer several variations of the classic seafood tower and though very expensive they are fresh, very well presented (all the work has been done for you) and abundant.
The drinks are nice, though somewhat typical of todays «craft movement» trend. And the desserts are worth a try, especially the home made and huge slices of pie. Finally a special nod to the house made sour dough bread which is served gratis as massively thick slabs… it is among the best bread in the city.
The Atmosphere mixes elements that have now become hallmarks of the Hogsalt group establishments (dark, rustic and «sexy») with a slightly more polished and thematic vibe (deeply upholstered booths, wood paneled walls). It’s a very pleasant vibe that feels much less corporate than most city steak houses and therefore feels more authentic and local. Its a great date spot and I think would impress in an understated less flashy way… Bavette’s is almost the anti-​steakhouse steak house. It is the opposite of the all flash Chicago Cut for example.
I would not compare Bavette’s toother tops steak spots such as RPM Steak (probably the best modern steakhouse in the city) because they are just very different things. RPM will give you a vastly better selection of steaks while Bavette’s will give you an intimate experience with a good selection of non-​steak dishes, but together they represent the vanguard on the front of steak in this city. Highly recommended.