CHIReview
Le Bouchon
Situated on the corner of Damen and Armitage in Bucktown, Le Bouchon is a quaint French restaurant that is the epitome of what we want a quaint French restaurant to be. It’s small, cozy (OK, maybe a little cramped), and has just a big enough bar to drink and eat at if you so choose. On top of the atmosphere and decor, the service is prompt, casual, and friendly. Of course, that all means nothing without good food, so it’s a good thing the dishes at Le Bouchon could make best friends out of Jets and Sharks, Yankees and Red Sox, Montagues and Capulets...you get the point.
We haven’t eaten everything on the menu, but that’s only because we can never get past some of our favorite dishes, which you can check out in the Food Rundown below. Even so, we feel comfortable saying you should order anything that catches your eye because it probably won't disappoint.
Food Rundown
French Onion Soup
A hearty force field of cheese pleasantly blocks your way into a thin, well- flavored broth.
Salad Lyonnaise
The traditional mixed greens, poached egg, and lardons (pork fat). Remember, it’s healthy, because it’s a salad.
Escargot
It’s a scientific fact that the more garlic and butter in your food the better it is. This escargot attempts to prove science right.
Steamed Mussels
Quite possibly our favorite mussels in the city. A creamier sauce with a hint of coconut milk and lemongrass – don’t let them take away the plate just because the mussels are gone.
Monkfish, Lobster, Mussels, Clams, Prawns, Saffron Broth, Croutons
A cioppino, or fish stew. The saffron broth has a little bit of spice. A great order if shellfish is your thing.
Steak Frites
A well-cooked top sirloin with a whole lot of garlic butter and even more fries. Feel good dish with some feel good flavors. You’ll feel even better when you dip the fries into that mussel broth.
Poulet Roti
We don’t normally order chicken at restaurants, but we firmly believe French restaurants are usually the place to break that rule. Half a roasted chicken with arugula, potatoes, and sauce moutarde. Sauce moutarde is a fancy (French) way of saying creamy mustard sauce, but focus more on eating than pronouncing it correctly.
