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CheSa’s Bistro & Bar, Chicago, IL

CheSa’s Bistro & Bar

4.4
4.4
134 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
Top Tags:
CheSa’s Bistro & Bar will offer a fusion of Creole and contemporary American flavors in a full fine dining ambiance. The 1800-square-foot bar & bistro will feature a scratch-made entirely gluten-free menu. Prepare your palette for starters such as charbroiled oysters; main course dishes such as chicken pasta made with roux creamy mix tortellini; finally, the dessert menu will feature items like deep-fried cinnamon rolls. There is something for everyone, including a kid’s menu plus vegetarian options. Expect a delicious array of craft cocktails as well.
We look forward to you coming to experience more of what Avondale has to offer, and to introduce your taste buds to a memorable food experience!

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Creole / Cajun / Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–6:30 pm Fri 9:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (773) 754-8523
  • Website
    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077635960045
  • Dress code
    Jacket Preferred
  • Owned/operated by
    Black/African American, Women
  • Executive chef
    Chef CheSa
  • Private party facilities
    Offering a beautiful 8-person private dining area within a glass enclosure. Perfect for a family dinner, graduation party or business meeting.
  • Location
    3235 West Addison, Suite C, Chicago, IL 60618
  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Cross street
    W Addison St
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Addison & Elston
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

  • New Years Weekend Brunch

    Dec 30, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024
    Mark your calendars for the New Year's Brunch Weekend at Chesa's Bistro & Bar! From December 30th to January 1st, we will be serving a delectable brunch menu from 11am to 4pm. Start the year off right with delicious food and great company!

What 134 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Chicago

    Great for brunch

134 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was flavorful and well portioned. Watch out for the additional service charges on your bill.

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  2. Mamamel

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Gluten free and delicious! They can also do some items dairy free. CheSa is a phenomenal cook and whether you have dietary restrictions doesn’t matter, this place is excellent.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Kevin was nice and very attentive and the service was great

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  4. FeliseMB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Friendly service. Food was good, yet portion size didn't reflect the price.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I write this review with much regret. Regret because I had such high hopes of enjoying a good meal after seeing the restaurant and owner featured on one of the local tv stations Sunday morning. I made a reservation, which had to be reserved with a credit card. I thought, this place must be great and in high demand. My party and I arrived a few minutes early. We were seated shortly thereafter. The place is small and quaint. Two servers were on duty. Our server came to us approximately 10 minutes after we were seated. We ordered coffee. The server suggested we place our food order at the same time. Our coffee arrived some thirty minutes later. The cream was sour. As we waited another hour plus for our meals, we began talking to guests at a nearby table. They said they had been there for nearly two hours before only half of their group began to receive their orders. We asked them about the food. They replied, not impressed. Our orders arrived an hour and a half or more after being seated. The presentation left a lot to be desired. Each of us tasted our food. Neither of us could proceed with eating our meals. Unfortunately, the food was horrible tasting and not prepared as expected. My wife and I enjoy and look forward to trying new restaurants. I’ve eaten at many Chicago restaurants, this was the worse restaurant experience I’ve ever had. In addition to the quality on the food being subpar, the price was not commensurate with the location and service.

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  6. CheriD

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    As a business owner I try to support other diverse businesses. The aesthetic was nice, staff was very attentive. We were just not happy with our starters and entree. Both were cold, not prepared properly and was not very flavorful. The restaurant had just re-open, may not have been fully prepared. May try again in the future. Our meals were discounted.

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  7. citychic

    Chicago

    21 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My friend and I enjoyed our food. The serivce was great, and we will return.

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  8. Yaa100

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The gold was good, the music was just right, and the staff was lovely.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We had a reservation at 11am for 5 people. We picked the earliest reservation spot as 2 people in our group needed to head the the airport at 12:40. Our waitress, while sweet did not seem like she knew what she was doing. We asked if there was coffee as it wasn’t on the menu & ordered 2 coffees with almond milk/cream & sugar. It took about 20 minutes for her to bring the coffee. It was hot but not filtered well as there were lots of coffee grounds in it. We asked for more almond milk/cream & this took another 5-7 minutes to arrive after asking first the female manager/owner and then our waitress. While waiting for the coffee we placed our food order; 4 people ordered entrees no modifications & 1 person ordered scrambled eggs & sausage. At this point there were only 2 other tables seated in the restaurant so not busy. After the waitress dropped off the coffee & extra creamer(about 25 minutes after ordering our food) she stopped back by & asked if we wanted to put in any appetizers which we thought was strange as we should have been getting our food any minute at that point. She then stopped by again 10-15 min later and said our food should be right up. Then the male owner/manager came over & said at 12:30 they would be bringing around free mimosas for everyone as part of their 1 year anniversary celebration. I looked at my watch at that point & it was 12:20. We were getting increasingly frustrated as it had been over an hour since we sat down. At 12:30 the waitress said they didn’t have sausage and offered bacon instead. At 12:35 the food and free mimosas still had not arrived so we told our waitress 2 people had to leave so to just cancel their food order. While the food was good it was extremely overpriced for the portion sizes. They also added an automatic 18% tip which is absurd since the service was SO bad. Recieved a text the next day offering free appetizers on our next visit to make up for the long wait time. Needless to say we will not be returning.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is delicious and the service was excellent. The owner stopped by our table several times to visit with us. We will definitely make this a repeat stop.

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  11. AmberW

    San Francisco

    43 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Me and my mom came here for the first time for brunch on Sunday and everything was wonderful. They gave us a complementary glass of champagne which was nice! The staff was excellent! Very professional, very attentive and nice! The Dj was good also! Our food and drinks were delicious!

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  12. mcgemz

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious AND gluten free! We had the fried chicken & beignet waffles, short rib & grits, and crab cakes. Everything was incredibly tasty, but the short rib & grits was the standout for me. Incredibly kind staff, great music, and comfortable environment. Can’t wait to try the dinner menu!

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service, great food and drinks, we will definitely be a repeat customers.

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  14. SunniS

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The weekend brunch at Che'Sa's is phenomenal. Numerous delicious food options available to choose. The atmosphere is very energetic and the service is awesome. This was my 4th time dining there. Needless to say it has become my go to spot to entertain family and friends for brunch.

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  15. TrendaD

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The purple grits and short ribs were amazing!! The Catfish platter was great! Seasoned well and crispy, which is how it should be. The cheddar biscuits are cute and yummy. You won't go wrong, with anything on the menu!

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  16. MarkM

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very good chicken and waffles! Great service! Will be back again!

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  17. AttyBrown

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I went for my birthday brunch. My reserved table had a birthday balloon and note. Host was very attentive. Food was great. I had garlic lamb chops. The smothered potatoes were amazing. My friend had chicken and beignet waffle. I tried the waffle and loved it. She said the chicken was not very seasoned but I didn’t try the chicken. The mimosas were good too. Nothing bad to say. Have already recommended and would definitely go again.

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  18. RasheedaB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was wonderful!!!! Food, mimosa and services was top notch!!!!

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  19. Tina

    Chicago

    13 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    The host and waitstaff was very friendly and customer service oriented. The food presentation was creative . However, the brunch menu was limited. Ordered the catfish , eggs and potatoes. Fish battered was very salty but was fried hard, the eggs were scrambled but were hard and cold as if they had been sitting out for a while and the potatoes were soaked in oil and cold. I couldn’t eat the food. They offered to give me something else. I declined their offer. Overall the price was expensive for the small bowl of food. I wish them well as a black owned and operated restaurant . Best Regards.

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This experience was a 10/10. I loved every part of it from the staff to the food! I can’t wait to come back to Chicago to eat their food!

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  21. LaceyS

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love this place. As having celiac disease, having a restaurant that offers everything gluten free is a blessing. Hopefully this establishment will open back up on weekdays.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Experienced this hidden gem. Absolutely love the fact that there is a parking lot 🙌🏾 with easy access. Construction provides a challenge so allow extra time. Service was great, DJ playing a mix of all the hits. Drinks were great. Value overall, good.

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  23. OluchiO

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Good vibes. Good food, although it wasn't hot, seemed like it sat out for a bit, and drinks were great. Unfortunately, we waited almost an hour before we got our food. Overall, I'd go back again!

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love this place for an amazing gluten free brunch! Chicken and beignet waffles are fantastic. Hoping to try it for dinner soon.

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    My son and I decided to go here for brunch Sunday after church. To my surprise the place was very welcoming and just around a great vibe from the time we walked in. There was a Dj playing a nice selection of songs. We didn’t wait long to be seated. Our sever was great and apologized for running out of champagne for the mimosa flight so he made me one big glass of pineapple mimosa..on him! It was soooo good. He might have been the owner(not sure) I ordered the catfish and potatoes with a waffle on the side 😋 delicious. My son had the chicken and waffles of course. Tried his chicken so flavorful. We(I) really enjoyed ourselves and will be back. Thanks Lamar for a great 1st time experience of this establishment

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  26. ReginaldG

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    This place has the potential to be a phenomenal dining experience. The food is good but overpriced. The service is extremely slow and the poor customer service leaves a lot to be desired. This is a good spot for a few people but I do not recommend it for a parties larger than 4 people. It will be a pass for me.

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  27. HassanaM

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food I give 4/10 it wasn’t all of that..tik tok definitely hype it up. The chicken was fired to hard. The oysters was over cooked

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  28. RayM

    Chicago

    47 reviews

    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Highly recommended. We had 3 different dishes. All the food had so much flavor! Don’t miss the Cajun corn. The peach cobbler was amazing, too.

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  29. SHEILAY

    Chicago

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good, excellent drinks however the service was slow and the venue was not even crowded at the time we went.

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  30. LaceyS

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have to eat gluten free due to having celiac disease. When I tell you this was the BEST gf food I’ve ever had! The seasoning of the chicken… awesome. It didn’t need anything. No hot sauce, dipping sauce…NOTHING! And the waffles. O. M. G. I will be making the 1.5 hour trip more frequently just to satisfy my soul. I appreciate this place and so did the rest of my crew!

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  31. TekeciaB

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The lamb chops were amazing. Cooked perfectly. Loved the vibe it had. Highly recommend

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  32. Shawn

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Saw this place on IG but it definitely didn’t live up to the expectations. I had the lamp chops and he had the catfish. The server was nice, that was probably the best part of our experience. It took a while for our food to come out which was surprising because there were only 2 other tables seated when we came in…nonetheless the catfish was blah (not much seasoning to it) and both of our Eggs were cold. The overall meal was just basic. I was shocked at the price because it wasn’t worth it at all but hey I can say at least I tried it…

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  33. Chill

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for Brunch and food was delicious! Freshly cooked, seasoned perfectly. Had the Catfish skillet which included 2 nice sized filets , eggs, and seasoned potatoes out of this world! My friend ordered the Bourbon Peach Beinget Waffles which were very favorable. They have an in-house DJ which was great! He played 90'S R&B selections. Ambiance and decor very nice! The only negative was not honoring what's on their own website and in-house menu which reads 4 Mimosas to a flight. Instead they only gave you 3 and we were told that the menu was incorrect. Needless to say, 3 SMALL Mimosas was not worth the $27. So, if you decide on the Mimosas just get the Carafe for a few $$ more and split that. Overall, I would definitely return as the service, food, and music were great!!

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  34. PickyFoodie

    Chicago

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Live brunch DJ? Check. Ridongculous beignet waffles with heavenly, crispy fried chicken? Double check. Seriously, this place is too nice for the strip mall it’s located in. Go have you some.

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  35. CalB

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    CheSa’s is one of the top restaurants I’ve been to in Chicago. People are sleeping on this place. Whether or not you are gluten free, you need to go!

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  36. CynthiaC

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place was excellent. Food was amazing and I can't wait to go back.

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  37. Foodie1

    Chicago

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We tried CheSa's for the 1st time for thier Sunday Brunch and the food was pretty good. We will try them again for Dinner very soon to give a complete review.

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  38. CynthiaP

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was great, a little pricey, but the food and ambience was great!

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was Top Notch service was Excellent 👌 5 stars👏

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  40. SunniS

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was my second visit to CheSa's. As usual the service was great and food awesome. Both CheSa and her chef came out and talked with us which added to the friendly vibe of the restaurant. I will definitely be going again to part-take in this wonderful establishment.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

CheSa’s Bistro & Bar is rated 4.4 stars by 134 OpenTable diners.

CheSa’s Bistro & Bar does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for CheSa’s Bistro & Bar

3235 West Addison, Suite C, Chicago, IL 60618

Additional information

  • Cross street
    W Addison St
  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–6:30 pm Fri 9:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Creole / Cajun / Southern
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Jacket Preferred
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Addison & Elston
  • Owned/operated by
    Black/African American, Women
  • Executive chef
    Chef CheSa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

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Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

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