Bistro Dre

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Address:
2965 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Neighborhood:
Lakeview / East Lakeview

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Cuisine:
Contemporary American

Price: $30 and under

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Bistro Dre Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.bistrodre.com/
Phone: (773) 697-9067
Hours of Operation:
Brunch: Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Dinner: Tuesday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday - Saturday: 6:00pm - 11:00pm, Sunday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Payment Options: Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary American, Comfort Food
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: BYO Liquor, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

Getting there

Cross Street: Southport and Wellington
Public Transit: Brown Line stops at Sheffield at Belmont
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Metered off street parking available. Street parking available on Wellington.

A word from Bistro Dre

Cozy Lakeview spot with american/european influence for brunch and dinner. Upscale comfort food favorites presented in a rustic shared plate format. The menu changes with the seasons with choices for vegetarian/vegan also. B.Y.O.B. makes the bistro a perfect choice for intimate or group gatherings… and the decor and bistro atmosphere creates a great ambience for the perfect get-together. Plates are presented with portions that can be easily shared. Belgium fries/mac and cheese/chicken and waffles/unique selections in flatbread choice and homemade desserts that are made on the premises make dining at Bistro Dre an experience that you will want to enjoy often.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Diner Reviews

"We loved this neighborhood gem. Friendly wait staff who know the menu. The dishes are a creative twist on comfort food served family style, so all are intended for sharing. I can see coming back many times to work our way through all the items on the menu. We sat outside and although this is on a busy street, it did not feel like we were in the traffic like other Chicago sidewalk cafes. BYOB. Great spot for pre-theater dining -- near the Atheneum. The waiter paced our meal perfectly to get us out in time for the show."
Dined on 7/24/2014
"The food was very good, but the kitchen was particularly slow this mid-week evening. the owner was very apologetic and comped us a desert."
Dined on 7/23/2014
"my new favorite chicago restaurant...every aspect was perfect"
Dined on 7/23/2014
"Maybe it's not a secret because it's always full, but Bistro Dre is charming, delicious and a great date night. There was also a lot of ladies' nights happening while we were there, so I bet that's fun too."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Bistro Dre is by far one of the best BYOBs in Chicago! It has a wonderful menu, suited to fit any craving! Definitely check this place out!"
Dined on 7/11/2014
" Good service, great food and a BYOB with outside seating. What more could you ask? We will return."
Dined on 7/11/2014
"Bistro Dre is so unexpected and so wonderful! We took a group with us the second time just so we could try more. Their Belgium fries are out of this world. Enjoy as a date night or with a group and BYOB!"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"We chose Bistro Dre because of it's proximity to the Athenaeum Theater. We were very pleasantly surprised at the creativity of the menu, the friendliness of the staff and owners and the charming ambience. We especially enjoyed the way they served each item family style, so we could enjoy a portion of every dish. It would be a fun way to have dinner with a small group. The Whitefish with Quinoa, Bacon and Fennel Crust was fabulous - incredible crispy edges infused with a luscious, smoky bacon flavor. The Surf and Turf (Filet and Shrimp) was done to perfection and the steak was sliced horizontally so each of us could have plenty of the seared crust. The Banana Bread Alaska is a dessert not to be missed. We will return soon!"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"I visited Bistro Dre for the first time two weeks ago and was impressed by the incredible food and service. We loved the chicken & waffles, mac n' cheese, and spinach salad. We were so impressed that we brought our friends for the Tuesday night chicken & waffle special, only to discover their chicken dish no longer included delicious cornbread waffles. We told the waiter how disappointed we were since we had returned for that dish, and he assured us the biscuit now being served with the meal was made with the same ingredients, only in a different shape. When it arrived, the biscuit was small and tasted very different. We asked for a few extra biscuits for the table and were brought one to share between our three orders."
Dined on 6/24/2014
"Loved this small and friendly bistro. Small plates to share including fabulous pear salad and lobster bisque. Excellent fish and steak to share. Welcoming service including a chat with the owner. BYOB. A fun might out at a place to which we definitely will return!"
Dined on 6/7/2014
"Beet stuffed beets and Mushroom tart were really yummy. Entrees not so much, the "blue cheese crusted" steak consisted of crumbled blue cheese on top that was torched like a creme brulee, giving it that butane taste, but the steak was cooked perfectly and tasted great. The pork entree was good. Dessert was really good. It was a thurday evening dinner, not many diners. I had high expectations for some great food, while not blown away, I was satisfied and will return to try their brunch."
Dined on 6/5/2014
"All the food was wonderful, as always, and service was attentive and quick, but not overbearing. The noise level was especially high. . This appeared to be in part because there was one extremely loud table that everyone was trying to speak over. It was a little disappointing because it soured the experience and took away from the otherwise good experience, but will forever be remembered as just a really loud dinner that spoiled conversation. Seared salmon, Belgian frites, greek salad, french onion soup, and tomato basil soup were all flawless and delicious, enjoyed by everyone at the table. "
Dined on 5/31/2014
"AND friendly service AN BYOB - what more could you want? New on the menu - bone marrow - yum. Also delicious - mushroom tart - I wasn't going to have the sauce, but it was yummy. We LOVE this place!"
Dined on 5/25/2014
"The owners are amazing, the selections were very creative. The banana bread pudding with salted caramel dessert was unforgetable!"
Dined on 5/16/2014
"Recent dinner experience was good enough to warrant a second visit, but could have been better. Some menu items (i.e. fried green tomatoes, spa salmon, sweat potato pie) were excellent. A few (salad and some risotto) were very weak. Service was quite good and it's a very nice space so, we'll try again."
Dined on 5/10/2014
"We are so glad we found this small neighborhood gem! The service from being greeted at the door to our waiter's attention was great and friendly. The menu had a great selection of different foods which covered a range of tastes. From Bistro poutine with brisket to a spinach salad with apples and goat cheese, there was something for everyone in our party. The plates are very large and meant to be shared so keep that in mind when ordering. We can't wait to return to try other dishes we simply didn't have room for on our first visit. We had a delightful meal in every sense."
Dined on 4/29/2014
"Enjoyed another dinner at Bistro Dre. Have been there several times over past few months. Seem to have a better handle on seating and food and service remains quite good. A BYOB to recommend."
Dined on 4/26/2014
"I wanted to take my best friend to dinner to say "thanks for everything!" and a local wine distributer recommended Bistro Dre. Dinner was outstanding and the service was superb. Al, in particular, really made us fee at home. Now, I can't wait to come back to Chicago and back to Bistro Dre!"
Dined on 4/25/2014
"The restaurant needs a make over. From the bric-a-brac on the walls to the seating arrangements to the menu. It's a jumble of stuff. The staff on the other hand were very friendly and ready to answer questions you may have on the menu. Would I come here again? Not for french dinning, cause I'm confused, empanadas, flatbread (pizza), pasta with shrimp that wasn't fresh (frozen), Italian soft drinks. And the dessert menu you can get anywhere, not very special. Sorry, this wasn't a winner."
Dined on 4/13/2014
"I went to this restaurant twice in one week. Absolutely love everything about it. Great to go with groups and share plates. Also great for dates! Wouldn't change a thing"
Dined on 4/6/2014
"This is wonderful restaurant, BYOB, with delicious food. The Chef is innovative. The staff makes you feel so welcome. ALong with hugs and thanks when you depart. GREAT restaurant!"
Dined on 4/5/2014
"Bistro Dre was very cute inside, BYOB, and had excellent service. Everything we tried was good, but some highlights would be the pear salad & the poutine!"
Dined on 4/5/2014
"We didn't have special plan for the night we went to Bistro Dre, this restaurant made it. We think that the food and service was excelent and enough reasons to come back, with the dessert we confirm it, it was the top. We will come back! Great place, it was very noisy but you forget everything once you start to enjoy the food."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"What started out as a wonderful evening, ended as one of the worst dining experiences. The disappointment came once our desserts were ordered. Our waiter had not paced our meal, nor did he inform us that we needed to be out by a certain time. We were asked to move tables, then asked to move to the bar, but there was no availability at either. We were asked, again, to hurry up, pay our bill and leave. We paid our bill and finally moved to an open table, but then we ere asked to stop moving plates from the previous diners and told that we could be kicked out of there. We left, knowing we would NEVER go back again, nor would we recommend anyone supporting Bistro Dre’s customer harassment. There many other wonderful restaurants to try."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Everything about our meal and dining experience was perfect. The staff goes out of their way to accommodate. For example, before our outstanding meal (beet salad, fish, steak were out of this world) I had a small bottle of Korbel to share with my partner as a mini-celebration, as per BYOB. The waiter noticed, and brought a beautiful plate of champagne grapes and whipped goat cheese on strawberries with crumbled hazelnuts for us to nosh on with the champagne. Completely gratis and unexpected, this is truly an exceptional place."
Dined on 3/14/2014
"Best Belgian Fries! My favorite restaurant in Chicago! Not pretentious - Not glam -don't go to impress your high maintenance friends (keep them out of this place - keep it our secret) just super delicious tasty food - not obtainable at those "big" restaurants that are typical in Chicago. IT is a restaurant where the Chef owner runs the kitchen! YES YES YES YES!!! This place has a European vibe and seems more NY. My wife, family and I love this place and its BYOB. Ready for this???? Pellegrino at $3/bottle- take that ripoff restaurants that charge $7. Super nice staff and Chef/Owner's parents are there to help servers! BRAVO! This places saves West Lakeview dining - it is well worth it!"
Dined on 2/20/2014
"Our waiter was a bit older so I was trying to cut him some slack but he kept saying the strangest things. The service definitely left A LOT to be desired. Now to the food... Our steak was chewy and tough despite being cooked as ordered at medium rare. At $24 I was expecting a higher quality meat (like you'd see at HB). We also ordered the Mac and cheese which was basically pasta with Alfredo sauce on it and was also over priced at $17. The only thing that actually met our expectations based on the price was the Brie plate. Overall I will not be returning and wished I hadn't wasted $80 or my evening here!"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We heard great things about this place & were excited to go for Valentine's weekend. It's very cramped, and waay too bright, hence my 2 stars for ambience. The host could have been better while waiting. We sat near the door and both froze to death, the widows were drafty and everytime the door opened you got hit hard with cold air. (Obviously a different story in the summer). The lobster bisque was probably the most amazing thing I've ever tasted in my entire life!! Excited to see fried chicken on the menu, however, very disappointed with it. Too dry and smokey, almost sent it back but didn't want to bother. Overall, we were disappointed. The fact that it's BYOB is nice and our waiter was very friendly."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We arrived around 11am Saturday for brunch, and were quickly seated (we had made reservations, but there was a decent amount of space left). Our server was wonderfully charming and delightful, bringing us homemade banana bread (free!) and coffee right away while we looked over the menu. I got the steak and eggs, she ordered the smoked salmon benedict. Steak and eggs were great. The smoked salmon benedict was incredible. Well paired flavors. Toast and croissant that came afterwards were delicious, as was the coffee cake (free). Can't recommend this place enough for brunch. Definitely going back soon."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We had 8 o'clock reservations and were seated immediately. Overall, food was great, atmosphere very cozy, and love that it's BYOB. We will be back in a 'normal' night. However, service could have been better. I rarely give negative reviews on service because food is foremost in my book, but when the service is lacking, it interferes with the food experience. Understandably, it was valentines day and busy/crowded, but there was a definite discrepancy between us and the service given to both tables on either side of us, by the same server. Maybe they should have had hired an extra server."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We went her for Valentine's day. We were visiting Chicago, and chose this place based solely on OpenTable's reviews and proximity to our hotel. We were very pleased with the experience. The tables were tightly spaced, but that is to be expected in most cities with limited floor space. The portions of the food were designed for sharing. 2-3 people could split each plate. It was a littl abnormal, but fun to decide what to eat as a group. This is a BYOB place, so bring a bottle of wine if you would like some with your meal. Overall a really great little place, we would go back often if we lived in town."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We loved the ambiance and food at Bistro Dre on Valentine's Day. Our waiter was patient and funny. The only thing we could have lived without was the chef screaming from the kitchen and cops showing up, but it was entertaining. Still a great meal, and we'll go back."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"A cozy, homey place for a cold winter's night. Bring your own bottle,share a few plates and relax."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"service was not the best as one server didnt show up to work but amazing food as always"
Dined on 2/8/2014
"all of the food was excellent, save the salmon. the portion was small and the pan searing left oil behind. excellent service."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"I randomly stumbled upon Bistro Dre while making reservations on open table and was intrigued by the menu so I decided to give it a try. The restaurant is meant as a shared plates concept and the great thing about them is the portions are large for shared plates. We had a group of 3 and none of us had to worry about fighting over the food, there was more than enough for all of us. The mac and cheese is a must as is the banana bread baked Alaska. Our service was great and the food was fantastic. It's BYOB so our bill was very reasonable. I would absolutely go back to try all the items we wanted but didn't have room for!"
Dined on 1/30/2014
"After visiting Bistro Dre two times now I cannot recommend this restaurant. The first time I visited the food was not very good. We ordered the seared whitefish and quinoa and the fish was not fresh and tasted fishy. We sent it back the owner apologized and said they just started working with a new fish supplier so please come back. This time around I can say that Bistro Dre was the absolute worst dining experience. Our waiter did not pace our meal to accomodate the table after us, so the owner came and said he needed our table and that he would need for us to move. He was so rude and unprofessional. With so many good restaurants in the city I will never give Bistro Dre another try and I would not recommend it to anyone."
Dined on 1/16/2014
"I dine out a lot and had never heard of Bistro Dre...I chose it simply because it was local to the theatre we were going, it had an engaging menu and good reviews. That said, it was one of the finest recent meals I've had: the menu was creative, the service was outstanding, the ambience was as close as any restaurant (other than Kiki's) in Chicago to a true french bistro and most importantly, the food was great! We are already scheduled to go back...I can't give this restaurant enough praise: Oustanding!"
Dined on 1/15/2014
"Me and my fiance went here for my birthday the other night and it was great! We shared the Chicken and waffles, which was 1/2 price ($10) since it was Tuesday, and it was delicious. We also shared the roasted beet stuffed beets, which were so fresh and yummy if you like beets. It's also great that its BYOB, which saves alot of money. For dessert, we shared the banana bread alaska, which was awesome-banana bread, ice cream, caramel sauce, caramel popcorn-what's not to love? I highly recommend Bistro Dre and will definitely be coming back."
Dined on 1/14/2014
"Our service was good but there were not enough wait staff"
Dined on 1/4/2014

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