Le Petit Paris
Le Petit Paris is a casual French bistro where comfort and conversation are key to the dining experience. Head Chef and Owner Alain Sutbon greets every guest and sets the tone for the evening over a glass of his favorite red wine. Located near Chicago's famous Miracle Mile, Le Petit Paris has become a go-to haven for tired tourists and locals after a long day of shopping.
The food at Le Petit Paris is described as approachable French cuisine. Diners can try classic dishes like a Coq a Vin Rouge, which is chicken in a red wine sauce served with bacon, carrots, mushrooms and onions. If guests want a true taste of France, they can choose with the iconic duck a l'orange, served in a grand mariner sauce. Le Petit Paris also keeps an extensive collection of French wines for guests to pair with each meal.
Safety precautions
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Limited number of seated diners
Popular dishes
Steak Tartare
Include appropriate garnish of Vegetable or Potato. Traditional steak tartare with pomme frites
10 reviews
Rack of Lamb
Herbs de Provence, Port Wine Sauce
7 reviews
Pate Maison
House preparation of pate, terrine, toasted points, mustard and cornichons
7 reviews
Outstanding food plus the personal touch of having the owner be our server—exquisite dinner experience
Very rude service from french owner/waiter. Slammed his hand down on table at one point. Constantly making rude comments. Food was mediocre at best.
Great interaction with the staff.
The food was very good
First time dining here - outstanding food & wine! The calf's liver was incredible. The owner was very kind. We will be back for sure.
Excellent food - very well priced. Wonderful neighborhood gem ,cozy inside. Not fancy or new but terrific food and delightful service!
If you are looking for an evening of gaslighting and gamesmanship go for it. Like so many other reviewers our experience was nothing short of bizarre. Restaurant is very dark, dated and smells musty. The owner/waiter/bartender is unkempt and obnoxiously rude.
Several of the dishes -that were 'specials' they were out.
With each order of appetizer, salad and soup we were questioned with-
Are you going to eat this? You want this? Only eating soup and salad-ok 'eye roll'.
At this point , of course my daughter and I were ready to leave but you see, we had walked in a snowstorm and taxis/Uber were not running. We were trapped.
The good news is that what we ate was good. The woman chef in the kitchen did a wonderful job.
Evidently the place has regulars whom either live in the building or close by that said owner semi-fawns over. Along with us there were 2 other tables of 2.
On the way out the owner yells-
Did you get a cab?
I said -yes
The comeback from him ?
"Lucky!"🙄
Love it. Love Alain too.
Delicious food.
Wonderful atmosphere for a romantic evening, outstanding food and an iconic, entertaining and interesting owner-chef.
We always highly recommend lePetit Paris. The food is sensational; the host Alain is a perfect host; and the ambiance is wonderfully quirky and quaint. We have tried every entree and highly recommend. Desserts are equally good. Best, of course, is the host owner who makes each guest so welcome.
Excellent service, great chef!
This is our favorite restaurant in the Gold Coast. It’s a hidden gem. The food is amazing, the prices are unbeatable, the owner is also your server and he is a true gentleman and a wonderful host. Highly recommended!
Fantastic French restaurant, the owner and chef, Alain is a delightful host. The food is simply delicious.
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was romantic.
We ate there Thursday and enjoyed our meals so much that we went back on Friday! The lamb was delicious!
Alain is a gracious host, eager to please. Quaint and comfortable room with classic French fare. This time I had the veal liver and it was delicious as has been every meal I’ve had there.
The restaurant is a little slice of Paris from yesteryear. The food was good and I enjoyed using my little bit of French for which great patience and kindness was showed. The recommended wine was excellent and a very good value.
The food was EXCELLENT and the owner was fantastic. Easily one of the best hidden gems in the city. The prices are the lowest I’ve ever seen at this quality of restaurant anywhere.
During this challenging time, this long-standing restaurateur is delivering a relaxing atmosphere and a delicious meal that is true to the French tradition. Favorites like escargot and foie de veau did not disappoint! The room ambiance is rather dated but some feel that is part of the charm. Kudos and thank you for a great experience.
Wonderful food and wine with a quiet atmosphere and social distancing. Delicious and not to be missed. It’s truly French.
Always Excellent!! Enjoyed the Sunday evening dinner
Awesome little tucked away gem. And Alan was a fabulous host!
Phenomenal. Outstanding food. The owner is amazing will definitely return
We picked Le Petit Paris off of OpenTable as w were looking for a nice French place in Chicago to celebrate our anniversary, and also decided to treat our niece - who lives in Chicago - to dinner out. It was a cool and very windy night, and I believe this kept things quiet. The proprietor, m. Alain, was attentive, energetic, and obviously personally engaged in his work. The short wine list made things simpler, and both the chardonnay which my wife had, and the cabernet which I chose, were excellent. The pate appetizer was smooth, firm, and didn’t overwhelm. As a lover of pate, I would have loved a bigger portion of it. My wife’s salmon was cooked to perfection - the best she’s every had, according to her. There were steak dishes (with appropriate sauces), but I chose to go with one of the more traditional French dishes. I was going to have the duck a l’orange, but they were out (quelle dommage!), so I ordered the boeuf bourgignon. As a culinary hobbyist, I have made this dish at home (using a French recipe), but I have never had it in a restaurant, and certainly not made by a professional chef (and native Frenchman). While comparing them, I think I have done a fairly good job, but the one I had at Le Petit Paris was obviously a level or two above, and superb - subtle flavor (I have added worcestershire sauce to mine, and should probably use a little bit less burgundy), the beef was tender and I really didn’t need to use a knife. For dessert we shared - what else? - creme brûlée. Again, something I’ve made before, but still haven’t mastered caramelizing the sugar evenly on top (which m. Alain obviously has no problem with). It was a good finish to a delightful meal. Le Petit Paris is located in the ground floor of one of the condo buildings between N. Michigan Ave and the lake, and especially at night, you can miss it - although it has been around for about 20 years. There will be a return visit and hope it stays a part of the neighborhood.
The food, ambiance, and service is always outstanding!!! The best French restaurant in Chicago!!
Wonderful French restaurant with a delightful bar. It is an excellent venue for a romantic dinner with someone you love.
Exquisite food and impeccable service. We really enjoyed our dinner. The martinis are served in an spectacular glassware. I highly recommended.
The owner was a delight to be around as well.
One of our favorite restaurants for more than 12 years. Love the food, ambiance and owner. So happy it is still open!
Our first meal out! Fantastic food in a safe environment with great service. It’s so nice to be able to eat dinner at Le Petit Paris again!! If you’re looking for inside dining that’s relaxed, safe and delicious, I highly recommend Le Petit Paris.
Best French food in the city period, and at an affordable price! The Duck a l'orange at this hidden gem was spectacular, as well as the escargot and French onion soup. Can not wait to go back!
It is always a delight to enjoy the delicious traditional French fare. The escargot are wonderful, as is the apple tart. On my last two visits I have had the trout almondine special which was delicious. A very relaxed setting and incredible prices. My husband loves the wine selection which is extremely affordable! We love that this delicious restaurant is a quick walk from our home!
Perfect European style restaurant. Very quiet! And the food was delicious! It's the same level with restaurants in France. The only thing they can work on is interior, some of the elements are a bit out of place (ceiling). Strongly recommend!
Petite Paris is a very special experience. Don’t miss it.
A true hidden gem in the city. One of my favorite restaurants. The food is always fantastic, with top notch service in a lovely setting!
Great ambiance. Wonderful service.
Good food and drinks.
Really amazing experience. Excellent service and food in a cozy setting. I highly recommend this restaurant!
We love Le Petit Paris and we are so glad it is back open! Wonderful food and very reasonable prices. A hidden gem.
Le Petite Paris is one of my husband and I favorite restaurant! Alain is very attentive, fantastic customer service! I have been dining here for over 10 years and have never had a bad meal, food is flavorful. This is a hidden gem in Chicago!
We had a wonderful time! A sweet table next to the window with fantastic service! Our meal was amazing. Will definitely visit again!
The waiter was helpful with the French menu and the food was delicious.
FAQs
Le Petit Paris is rated 4.7 stars by 462 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. Due to local restrictions, this restaurant may not be accepting reservations at the moment.