Pasteur

This place is phenomenal from start to finish. Gorgeous dinning room with a classy, warm ambiance. Wonderful service. Absolutely delicious food with unique cocktails menu. Best ribs I’ve ever eaten!

TLDR: Potatoes and carrots in curry were raw and we gave up on getting a table.
I only post a negative review maybe once every few years because I’m generally forgiving with restaurants since my mom is a server and my family has owned a couple of them.
That said, the problems were apparently almost immediately. My friend and I walked in around 6:30pm on a Saturday without a reservation, but the dining room was clearly only about 60% full. We were asked to sit in the lounge area by the bar while they got our table ready. Normally I’d expect to be seated right away, especially since there were two four-​tops by the front window without any indication that they were reserved, but maybe they had a server or two call off so no big deal.
We sit in the lounge by the bar. 10 minutes pass before my friend and I decide we’d rather wait at the bar and grab a drink. So we get up, ordered a couple of cocktails, and they ended up being the only decently redeeming thing about the restaurant. 20 minutes pass before my friend has the idea that maybe we should just order the food to go so we don’t have to wait for whatever’s going wrong with the dining room. So we ask our bartender if we can place a to-​go order instead and he kindly obliges us. We ordered two appetizers and two entrees, I got the roast duck curry.
We ended up waiting about 45 minutes before we got our food. The bartender was kind enough to comp my friend’s drink because of the wait.
We walked out with our food and the two four-​tops up front remained empty and the dining room was still about 60% full.
We get the food home, I open my duck curry and the vegetables in it were visibly raw. The carrots were clearly uncooked baby carrots that had that white «webbing» they get when they sit out in the air for a while. Less forgivable than the carrots, the potatoes were obviously raw. I don’t mean that they were hard in the center, I mean that sticking a fork in each chunk of potato was about as effective as sticking it with a greased up spoon. They even remained white despite the yellow that normally dyes everything turmeric yellow in the curry. I’d love to know how they pulled off that trick.
Like any thai restaurant in the city, the duck and its sauce were good. But for a $ 22 dish I’d expect WAY more than I got, like cooked vegetables.
There are obviously a series of systemic issue at this restaurant, I’d recommend you go just about anywhere else in the city.

I love this place! Location is great (literally 2 minutes from the Bryn Mawr red line stop), parking is easy (either on Broadway in front of the restaurant, or any of the surrounding streets; we’ve never had an issue with finding parking when we do drive here), and the atmosphere is great; beautiful interior and one of the most beautiful patios I’ve ever sat out on! The waitstaff is also so lively and friendly and a pleasure to talk to. They also offer some excellent suggestions for food.
Of course the food is the best thing about this place. The food here is excellent, so excellent that we’ve been back several times! I’ve tried several dishes but I think you should really get the clay pot salmon (I could eat this every day, easily) or the bo luc lac! The salmon was moist and cooked perfectly and the flavoring of the bo luc lac was better than any other I’ve tried! I’m also a sucker for bread pudding as a dessert and the one they serve here is great (nice and warm with vanilla ice cream)!
Aside from the excellent food, the drinks are excellent as well. The bartender (Nick) was so fun and made us excellent drinks! Ask him for recommendations, or heck, just trust the bartender and let him do his thing! Any drink leaving the bar here will be awesome!
For the ambiance of this place and quality of the food, I think the prices are more than reasonable. If you’re looking for a classy place to take a date or even just get to some cocktails and food with friends, definitely check Pasteur out!

Go for the Phở!
The menu seems to have been pared down since the last time we dined here. Not sure if it changes seasonally, but the selection is much smaller than what you see on line when you check out the restaurant. We started with shrimp spring rolls and pork dumplings for appetizers. Then we all went for the various versions of Phở because it was cold outside and we were in the mood for warm soup. I had the beef phở and it was wonderful. I love that they bring you additional vegetables to add along with the ying/​yang design of plum sauce and siracha given to each diner in an individual bowl. My husband wanted to have the cornish hen, but was told they were out of it. He then reviewed the menu and asked for the monkfish, which they also did not have. It would have been better if our server had told us at the beginning what they did not have available. We had cocktails, wine, coffee, and dessert. i had the warm tapioca served with bananas and it was delicious. Cost per person including tax and tip was $ 50. We will definitely return.

I’ve passed Pasteur on Broadway for years and always thought…“hmm I wonder what that place is like?” Well after years, I finally went to Pasteur and it is not at all what I thought.
First, it is huge dining area with numerous rooms. Second, it’s a white cloth Vietnamese restaurant with classy French décor. Third, it’s quite tasty.
My table got several appetizers. The Beef rice was just OK, I wouldn’t order it again. But the Veggie Egg Rolls were delicious! Make sure to wrap the roll in lettuce and cilantro, it absolutely enhances the dish.
As an entrée I had the basil shrimp which was tasty and flavorful. However I tried my wife’s bone in ribs, and her meal definitely «won.» I would definitely order the bone in ribs next time I’m there as the meat was really really tasty.
For dessert we splurged on the fried banana, which was a wonderfully sweet and decadent cap to the meal.
Pasteur is not what I thought it was going to be but that ended up being for the better. It’s a tasty place and I would recommend it.

Amazing experience! My fiancé and I were driving to another destination when we ventured into Pasteur.
This was my first visit and I was happily surprised by the kaleidoscope of flavors! We are avid connoisseurs of fine dining. It’s sort of a hobby, if you will.
We were thoroughly impressed with the food and especially the service. The bartender Nick made an incredible version of an Old Fashioned named «New Fashioned».
Mia, our server, was delightful and helped us navigate through their menu helping us make the absolute best choices available.
The food was impeccable… The service matched the beauty of this hidden Edgewater gem.
If you want to satisfy you pallet in the right type of ambiance, then this place is for you.
Romantic setting, delicious food and the service definitely heightened our experience.
Planning on a visit again soon.

Came here for a friend’s birthday and had a great time. The food was delicious and I highly recommend you give Pasteur a try.
I recommend you try
*Goi Con (charbroiled lemongrass beef)
*Shrimp Papaya Salad
*Calamari Sa-​te
*Basil Shrimp
*Seared Pork Tenderloin (it’s bacon wrapped!!)

Had a fantastic experience here last Friday night. Our food and drinks were delicious, the décor/​ambiance lovely and our service was great (thanks Eddie!). We were celebrating our anniversary with two other couples and the six of us had a really great evening. We’ll be back soon!

I echo the same review as all of the other negative posts. Great atmosphere, good food, but OH MY GOD, the service is AWFUL. When we were there the main dining area was completely empty with just a few people on the patio. It appeared that they had enough staff to cover the tables, but I have no idea where the staff was the entire eventing. We had to basically beg to get additional drinks and our bill. This was all after waiting at the bar for 20 minutes to get a drink before the bartender bothered to make appearance. Maybe the host could have offered us water or walked back to alert the bartender that he had customers???
Pasteur — Where is your management? Someone who cares should be there running the show.

This Is great place for stuff
We love this place and have been coming for move then 30 years
Shalom

I had an incredible experience as I entered the restaurant; I was immediately pulled in by its unique ambiance and culture. When I had first heard of this location from a friend, I had expectations of ‘Oh, it’s another Vietnamese restaurant.’ Much to my surprise, I was greeted by a wonderful staff and atmosphere. I cannot stress enough how ‘magical’ it was to dine in a classy, yet affordable and casual environment.
I was there with a date and friends and I had a classic bowl of Phở while my date had the tamarind sour soup (Canh Chua Tom) and both were exceptional. I highly recommend trying one or both of those menu items! We also shared a platter of dumplings that really left me curious on what other appetisers I need to sample, it was that good!
The bartender working that night (Nick) was great to chat with here and there and made some stellar drinks. He was very kind and easy to talk to, helping us with some menu recommendations. I definitely recommend anyone to visit the bar as it’s fully stocked!
When I visit Chicago again, I’ll definitely be visiting Pasteur again. I had a terrific experience and am in love with the classy atmosphere without breaking my wallet. Thanks!

Been here just a few times over the years and it is just progressively worse each time. From food to service the quality has just diminished from what it was the first time.
Probably my last try.

I would imagine that the food is great but it’s hard to find out because you cannot get service here — literally.
There appeared to be only three people working and the dining room was fairly full. Anyone who got service did so by flagging down a waiter. If you sat quietly and waited politely, you were ignored.
I and my dining companion left after 45 minutes of waiting. We went down the street to Burke’s Public House where we got immediate service. Thank you!

I really wanted to like this restaurant but the host/​waiter was rude. Maybe because we were early for our reservations? Doesn’t even matter because the place was EMPTY!
We had the groupon so it was the prix fixe menu which you think they would want to highlight their best dishes? There was hardly anything to choose from and what we did have was not worth the money you would pay!
— potstickers — the grease oozed out of them
— lemongrass beef spring rolls– no lemongrass to be found
— shrimp papaya salad– was okay, nothing special
— shrimp sa-​te — tasted like something you’d get from a takeout/​fast food Chinese restaurant. It was so disappointing.
— flourless chocolate cake– was good but just a huge hunk of fudge
— fried bananas with green tea ice cream– in comparison to everything else it was the best dish of the entire night

This update is just for the host staff — not their delicious food or gorgeous patio.
My husband and I had a reservation at Pasteur tonight. When we checked in with the host he didn’t acknowledge our reservation and, in a very off-​putting tone, said that it would be 20 minutes. When I mentioned that we had a reservation he rolled his eyes and repeated, this time in an even more snotty tone, that we’d have to wait.
I totally understand that Saturday at 7:00pm is a busy time and even with a reservation, you won’t always get seated immediately. Had he just apologized and greeted us nicely it would’ve been completely fine. Sadly, I can’t say we’ll venture back to Pasteur anytime soon — maybe when they change hosts.

I absolutely love this place! First walked in, I was amazed about the décor and the whole unique atmosphere of the restaurant. The seating was very spacious. I came here with a date and love trying new Vietnamese food. This place is much different, because it has a classy and casual setting compared to other plain Vietnamese restaurants.
The service was excellent where they were swift and friendly. I had the roasted duck, and I must say that the tamarind sauce complements the duck very well. Most importantly, the duck wasn’t dry! I also had their Phở and my date had their Vietnamese Sour Soup, which I highly recommend.
Overall, it was a great experience, and if I need Vietnamese food in Chicago, this is the first place where I will go! Also, full bar with bartenders who really know how to make drinks. Great place for a date as well!

I am a bit torn on this place. The food is avyually pretty good but nothing really stands out. The service is above average and the back patio is wonderful in summer time. The dumplings and gyoza apps are great. I wish I could give 3.5 stats here…

This place probably would not have even come in my radar if not for the Groupon. I finally made a reservation (which was seamless and did not matter that I had a Groupon!) and went there on a Friday night.
We had got the four course menu so we started off with their Tofu Spring rolls which was good. The spring roll was light and almost bland but it paired well with the sauce.
As our second course we got the Papaya salad without Shrimp and it was delicious. The papaya’s tangy flavor was complemented by the hot curry/​soy sauce mixed salad dressing. We enjoyed every bite of it! I really wish I had the recipe for this one so we could try it at home.
For main course — we got (1) Clay pot Salmon — Which was really good according to my husband and (2) Clay pot Tofu and Vegetables — Which almost tasted like a Thai curry, which I loved. It was big enough for two portions as it had plenty of vegetables (Vegetarians rejoice!)
And finally we had Chocolate Flour-​less cake and Fried Banana w/​Green Tea Ice Cream. I relished the Green Tea Ice-​Cream and took a bite of the cake. It was pretty dense, chocolatey and delicious. All in all — I loved the food and the atmosphere. The place was tastefully decorated and definitely looked more like a fine dining restaurant.
The service was superb. Our server, Richard checked on us a few times and ensured everything was good. Our plates were cleared away and our waters were refilled on time. I would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Last night, my husband and I went on a double date to Pasteur. We’d never really given this place a second thought until we saw the Groupon. I’m really glad we went because the food was awesome and we had a great time.
First, let me talk about the cocktails. This place is worth a visit even if you’re just having drinks. Between the four of us I tried the kumite, blood orange margarita, and the dirty girl. We all agreed that the dirty girl was the best. It’s a dirty martini with bleu cheese and chile-​stuffed olives. The blood orange margarita was definitely a close second. Their drink menu apparently changes a lot so I’ll definitely be back soon to see what’s new.
Now, the food. It was superb. Just absolutely delicious. Our prix fixe came with four courses. To start we had the lemongrass beef roll and the shrimp tempura. I also tried the potstickers. The beef roll was by far my favorite. I really liked the shrimp but the batter wasn’t really tempura. It’s okay, though. I’d order it again even knowing it’s a little different than traditional tempura because it tasted so good. It was crisp and creamy like shrimp rangoon. The shrimp and papaya salad might have been my favorite bite all night. The salad was a delicious julienne of fruit and herbs and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. For our entrees we had the clay pot salmon and the bo luc lac. I also tried my friend’s chicken curry. Everything was great. The bo luc lac was tender and perfectly seasoned. The salmon was delectable and it came in a much bigger portion than expected. In fact, I’d say that about everything. This place isn’t cheap but you get a lot of bang for your buck. The chicken curry was nicely seasoned and came with yams and eggplant.
I’m not much of a dessert person but the flourless chocolate cake and fried banana with green tea ice cream were excellent. The four of us quickly devoured them.
The service was impeccable. Our server, Tony, was just great. The staff are very well-​trained and we never had to wait for another cocktail or to have our plates cleared. They were courteous and consummate professionals. This place is assuredly worth a trip to Edgewater. Check it out if you love great French Vietnamese cuisine!

A group of three of us shared a New Year’s Eve dining experience here. Right around the corner from my close friend’s condo, we took the short walk to this special Vietnamese restaurant. For such an unassuming exterior, we found ourselves among an interesting mixture of casual to very well dressed patrons. A large bouquet of fresh flowers adorned the hostess stand which featured the heady, musky aromas of asiatic lilies– a favorite of mine.
As I understand, the place has recently reopened after a complete interior overhaul. I’m happy to announce that the result are comfortable and just upscale enough to make your experience special. The larger dining room on the left features high ceilings and French Vietnamese touches which certainly whisked me away from the bitter cold Chicago weather. Tables were adorned with tasteful fresh flower mini arrangements.
We started off by ordering cocktails. I had a surprisingly potent and delicious triple rye punch, certainly a winner if you’re a whiskey aficionado. Between us three, we shared two appetizers and a salad, perfect for tasting portions. The poached shrimp spring rolls were a hit, as were the crispy vegetable dumplings. The green papaya salad with shrimp was equally good. For entrees, two had the duck breast with a tamarind glaze and minced vegetables. They adored the way it was prepared and generally didn’t want to share. I loved my curried monkfish entrée, mixed with mushrooms, peppers both sweet and hot, and other vegetables. Honestly, I’d guess that this $ 22 entrée would be big enough to share.
Service was professional and smart. It didn’t matter that our appetizers came out before our drinks, since our waiter explained that the bartender was a bit backed up this holiday evening. We were two bottles of champagne to the wind before we entered the place. With the additional cocktail at dinner, I was more than a bit saucy, suggestive, and downright scandalous to the waiter. He rolled with my punches like a pro, so I give him an A+.
The gorgeous, renovated bathroom was unfortunately dysfunctional. The temperature was frigid and the water at the sink didn’t work. I wasn’t too impressed with the dessert menu, so we skipped this course. No matter, I’m going back. The food is very tasty, the value is very good, the service is smart, and the atmosphere is upscale.