Chez JoelThe BestMy sister and I took our mother for Mother's day because we love French food. I went on line and choose Chez Joel because of the location and great reviews.
We were so pleased with the entire experience. Our food was cooked to perfection, our server was pleasant and had a great sense of humor, our deserts were mouth-watering. We didn't leave a morsal on our plates! I can't wait to go back.
Thank you, Cez Joel, for making this a memorable Mother's day for us all.
Ramona Garrett5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFrench in Little ItalyMost amazing find of an authentic French Bistro in the LIttle Italy neighborhood in Chicago. Not very well known but oh the food was superb. Felt like we (3 couples) were in a bistro in France--very authentic. Each person had a different food, from lamb to salmon to steak and every plate was licked clean. Small and initimate, the noise level was above moderate but somehow it conveyed and energy that we all felt was very healthy. Will definitely return, have already recommended to others.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food - good and simpleI had the grilled Salmon that was cooked to perfection the vegetables that came with the dish were savory. I wish there were more veggies with this dish. I also had the Bloody Mary, it was a bit over powered by the horseradish. My wife and daughter had the eggs Benedictine and they loved the eggs. This was a special occasion in celebration to my daughter's First Communion and the Chez Joel fulfilled the moment.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Anniversary SpotChez Joel is a bit of an unexpected gem near the University of Illinois at Chicago. My fiance and I went there for our anniversary and loved the not over-the-top romantic ambiance, with the candles and dim lighting. I ordered the coq au vin and my fiance had one of the specials, which was salmon. Both were excellent. Our server noticed us exchanging cards and, correctly assuming that it was our anniversary, put a candle in our dessert, which was a nice touch. We had a great time and would love to go back for another special occasion.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Outdoor Dining!Always have a great meal here! We were pleasantly surprised that the garden was open! The weather and food were just perfect!!!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMPicture PerfectChez Joel is a beautiful little restaurant with a fabulous courtyard. The food is delicious,
And the service is great.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my third time atThis was my third time at Chez Joel and I had a guest who is a gourmet cook with me.
She RAVED over and over again about the Sea Bass and loved the restaurant!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous BouillabaiseChez Joel is a very nice authentic French restaurant in Little Italy. The restaurant is small and quaint. We were celebrating an anniversary and liked the atmosphere and the low noise level. The food was fabulous! We both had the Bouillabaise (seafood stew) and loved it! It was some of the best Bouillabaise, which is one of my favorite French dishes. We will definitely go back.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful, yet again!I love this little French joint nestled in the middle of a vibrant Little Italy. The food is always stellar and beautifully presented on the plate. What I really love is the whole ambiance. I always go if I want to be pampered and eat terrific food, without the stuffier more buttoned up feel that you may get at some of the French spots downtown. In the summer they have a wonderful patio. You really should make the trip and try it. Fantastic.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMCharmed and CharmingAll around lovely place. The food is excellent, the ambiance is pleasant, service is consistently attentive enough...just all around exceedingly charming and charmed ambiance.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFrench Food on Taylor St? YES!!!Second time there and this time we brought friends. Very good and underated French restaurant. Service very friendly and food is really good. You may like the "ambiance" of the new and cool restaurants in River North, but if you want good food, good service, a conversation friendly meal, and a resonably priced bistro, this is your place.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful dinner. IWe had a wonderful dinner.
I had a spectacular Sea Bass entree,
And my husband had Escargot and Filet
Mignon, both really delicious. The steak
Was done to perfection.
Mike, our waiter, took very good care of us.
It's a beautiful restaurant space, and we will
Definitely be back!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMTraditionally Ooh la laA little like visiting a neighborhood bistro or café in Paris. Small, intimate. Very traditional French food. Started with a beautifully presented salad with endive, green, pecans in a very light mustard vinaigrette. Coq au Vin was flavorful and moist; sea bass had wonderful flavors on the plate. Everything was b eautifully seasoned and presented. Creme brulé may be a simple dessert, but this one was one of the best I've ever had. Simple yes, but intense vanilla flavor and silky texture just made it perfect. Would definitely go again.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and great service.Great food and great service. We will definitely come back once we are in town4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMMy mom was craving bouillabaisse,My mom was craving bouillabaisse, and they knocked it out of the park. Food was great. Had a great time.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFrench bistro in Little ItalyBrunch the day before Easter was delightful. We had a birthday celebration for two people and everyone enjoyed their entrees. Valet parking, limited metered parking on Taylor street, and residential permit street parking north and south of Taylor street. Very good, attentive, unobtrusive service. Pastries were delightfully French and delicious. I highly recommend Chez Joel, a neighborhood gem and delightful French bistro.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second trip fromThis was our second trip from Milwaukee to Chicago to see a show, and after our first experience at Chez Joel we could not wait to go back again. We first ventured from Milwaukee to Chicago on Valentine's Day weekend and were fortunate to find this exquisite little restaurant for a romantic dinner. Our second trip served to reinforce our first impression: Chez Joel is a find!
Everything we have tried on the menu has been fantastic, from the cream of mushroom soup to main courses to the creme brulee! The tastes are magnifique!
We brought our college student son with us on this visit and he seconds our endorsement. If you have not yet tried Chez Joel, make plans soon for a special dining experience worth driving 2 hours each way for!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSpeechlessWhat a great place to dine! I wanted to do something special for my fiance because we haven't gone out in what felt like a year. (We just welcomed our son). From the moment we walked in the service was great. We started with the grilled octopus. She had the Flounder whichwas one the specials, while I had the lamb. EVERYTHING was great. The wines that the waitress suggested were a perfect compliment. No matter what I say it would be an understatement. Just go and enjoy!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMChez Joel is an excellentChez Joel is an excellent and very reliable French Restaurant on Taylor Street in Chicago. We have been dining here for a number of years. The food is always great and the service is very good. Many people don't know that the during the warm weather they have a very nice outdoor space that we dine in whenever weather permits. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. The wine list, although not extensive, is nice and we can always find something in the $40-$50 range that is good.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMChez Joel is a true treasureChez Joel is a true treasure and the most romantic secret in Chicago. Private and cozy, with attentive servers knowledgeable of both the food and wine selections.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSure is nice that, over theSure is nice that, over the years, they've managed to maintain the quality of the food while adding variety to the menu and improving the service.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMA Pleasant Evening at Chez JoelVery nice little restaurant, off the beaten path. Charming decor, good menu. The pate is exceptional. My date and I both had the filet mignon, which was excellent. Chez Joel allows you to bring your own wine for a $25 corkage fee, but their own wine list is more than adequate, and reasonably priced. Our server could have been a bit more attentive. A fun restaurant, and I would definitely return here for another meal.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have never been disappointedWe have never been disappointed at this Taylor Street gem. Quality service and high standards are a constant. The menu maintains the French "must haves", including Coq au Vin and Steak Frites. In addition. they offer wonderful specials that will please any pallet. Not pretentious, Chez Joel has been our go-to restaurant for years !! Always a treat to dine there.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific choice for a romantic mealVery good service
Excellent Valentines Day special menu
Lovely decor
No problem finding street parking if you have a Zone 5 sticker, otherwise the valet is reasonable2/14/2013 12:00:00 AM