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Aquitaine
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2221 N Lincoln Ave(between Geneva Ter & Webster Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 698-8456
- Nearest Transit:
-
Fullerton (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
59 reviews for Aquitaine
Review Highlights
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"I had the smoked mushroom soup with chive cream and truffle..." In 4 reviews -
"Third Course: Muscat Poached Pear Salad." In 5 reviews -
"The dinner we had made started off our evening so well." In 3 reviews
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59 reviews in English
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Review from Erin S.
Chicago, IL
2/25/2012
My husband and I went to Aquitaine for restaurant week and had 5:00pm reservations on a Saturday night. (We had our 8-month-old with us, so we were trying to eat before it got too crowded.) The menu was larger than was advertised on their website, which made it even harder for my husband to decide what to order. (I was set on what I wanted before we went in there.)
My husband described this as the "perfect dinner." He started with the cheese plate, which was a great size for an appetizer. A few bites of each kind of cheese, a nice hunk of bread, grapes, a lot of butter and jam. I had the soup and salad, which was delicious. For our entrees, I had the braised short ribs, which were fork tender. There was no excess fat, any bones, or any inedible parts, which you sometimes find with short ribs. The portion size was very nice, and the asparagus and mashed potatoes that came with it were generous, but not to the point of making me uncomfortable. He ordered the duck with roast potatoes and green beans, which I tried and found to be wonderful. We both cleaned our plates. My only complaint was that I wish there was a little more sauce with the short ribs; not because they were dry, but because I really liked the sauce.
For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse dessert, and he had the vanilla and raspberry dessert one. If the restaurant had been empty, we probably would have licked our plates, but didn't want to embarrass ourselves around other people.
And, our server (Lindsay) was wonderful. When we arrived, she had set up a high chair for us at the table without us even asking, which was wonderful when we weren't sure what to expect when bringing a baby to this kind of a restaurant. The food came out at a very nice pace and she consistently made sure that it was good and that we didn't need anything, but not to the point where we felt she was being pushy or making us uncomfortable.
We will definitely return to this restaurant even when it's not restaurant week. And, while the duck and the short ribs don't appear to be on the regular menu right now, we're hoping that they add them to the menu because they were just that delicious and we'd love to have them again! -
Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
2/18/2012 3 photos
I've been wanting to do a wine dinner here for a while. Their corkage is $15, which is no big deal with the wines that were brought. So, with a fellow burgundy geek in town, I finally used that as an excuse to come here.
This dinner demanded that various items were ordered to share with everyone. So, to start things off we got the mussels, rabbit ravioli, and the gnocchi. I'll start with the mussels which were pretty good. The broth was nice, but I wanted something extra from it. On the other hand, the ravioli was utterly awesome. While it doesn't take me much to eat rabbit, to have it in ravioli form and have it be this good is just awesome. The gnocchi was extremely good as well. Very light and fluffy with the gnocchi itself being of good size. The brown butter sauce that was with it certainly didn't hurt it at all.
I decided to get the pork shoulder. It just seemed right for me. This was braised well and all it took was a fork to dig into it. That's exactly how a slow cooked meat needs to be. What helped was that it was wonderfully savory as well. I took my sweet time with it and enjoyed every bit of it
And finally, the foie gras. Yes, it's listed as an appetizer, but it's truly a dessert. This was exactly what you'd want out of foie. The piece was pretty big and it was seared absolutely perfectly. While I'm generally partial to foie gras, this was some seriously quality foie gras.
The service was excellent the entire night. Our waitress let us dine at our own pace while being available when we needed her. We were on a thursday and there weren't that many people in here, the set up is such that I feel we would've gotten the same attention with a full house -
Review from Miriam R.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I went to Aquitaine recently for a birthday dinner. We had a reservation, and they seated us right away upon arriving. The staff was very attentive. The restaurant is really lovely and intimate.
They had a special appetizer of sweet breads, which was excellent, and we all enjoyed the Duck Confit Mac & Cheese. The Seafood Linguine was our favorite dish, and the Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder was also very good. Two of us got the Lobster tail, which was our least favorite of the dishes. It wasn't bad, just a little salty and otherwise a little bit bland.
Overall a great experience--a nice place for a date or a relaxed evening of good food and good wine. -
Review from D O.
Chicago, IL
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Dessert was my favorite part. The Rose is what I had - it's an amazing souffle with a gilded hazelnut and a very delicate flavorful crust.
The smoked mushroom soup was also excellent.
My main beef is with the main dishes: they cut corners. For example the cauliflower and tomatoes that came with my skate wing looked and tasted like they were briefly deep fried. There are better ways to cook vegetables! My bf's sides looked like those veggies you take out of a frozen veggie bag, heat up, and serve.
Drinks tasted nice but gave me a wicked headache in the morning, so I'm a little torn on those.
I liked the decor, I'll say that. It's a pleasant place to hang out. -
Review from Lydia B.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2012
Overall we had a good experience at Aquitaine, our food was good, we ordered a cheese plate (which my boyfriend and I both agreed was better than our meals), the lobster tail, and the salmon. The service was good as well. The ambiance was nice, I love the wallpaper and its nice and dark. It was energetic in there because there was a birthday party going on. Street parking was easy which I was surprised about because of the area. I don't know if I'll be back just because there are so many places in the city to try out, but overall it was a pretty good experience.
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Review from Ben S.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011
I came here a few nights ago to catch up with a friend over a nice meal and because it was within walking distance to my new favorite cocktail bar the Barrelhouse Flat up the street. We did make reservations because of the small venue thinking that we might need them based on other reviews. To our surprise when we arrived we were the only people in the place and it remained that way the entire evening. Granted, it was a Monday night but still, I guess I expected at least one other table around.
Anyway, they have 5 dollar martini Monday's and we took advantage, mine was appropriately made and that made me happy. We started with a duck crepe and it was awesome, I wanted to roll up inside it. I ended up getting a (pork I think) slow roasted pot roast that came with carrots and some potatoes. The carrots came out perfect, the potatoes made me a little sad but I did save them to last, soft but hard on the outside like they sat under a heat lamp too long on a buffet. The pork was done well, obviously cooked earlier and reheated, so it couldn't have been that hard to mess up. It came out hot but seemed to get cold a little quicker than usual, I don't know if that was the food or the fact that we had a lot of catching up to do and the conversation was pretty long. My dining companion had a fish dish, it looked good and she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.
My family runs a small farm and being in touch with meat prices I always complain in my head about how much I'm paying for beef/lamb/pork knowing I can get it for a fraction of the price, this is usually the reason I don't order them, that being said I thought the pot roast was overpriced for what was served and I probably wouldn't order it again. I was just in the mood for warm comfort food.
All in all I really enjoyed this place, the soft music, a really nice decor. I will come back again on the weekend to see what it's like in full swing. It has this charming environment that would be perfect for a date. -
Review from Therese C.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2011
Great Service. Great Food. I live in the neighborhood and will definitely go again!
We started out with 2 appetizers, the Duck Crepe and the Rabbit Ravioli. The crepe was phenomenal!!! Tons of flavor and a large portion size. The ravioli was just ok. I did like the stone mustard sauce... but overall wouldn't order it again.
For our main courses we had the Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder and Lobster Tail with truffled gnocchi. I was told the pork was great. The lobster was killer! -
Review from Sarah Z.
Chicago, IL
9/4/2011
I had one of the worst bloody marys I have ever had here.
And our waiter was not friendly. Perhaps he was annoyed that he only had two tables for a Sunday brunch.
Despite the place being dead, I had to ask for a coffee refill.
The food was pretty good, but nothing mind blowing.
Won't be back. -
Review from EV G.
Chicago, IL
10/11/2011
The atmosphere and decor is very quaint and cute. The service was awful, but it may have partly been the kitchen's fault - the food was piping hot but we waited forever and the waitress never did pour our wine or apologize. At least we had the bottle of wine to pour ourselves.
The food was a really mixed bag.
Appetizers:
Tarte with apples, bacon and blue cheese - well it was tasty but basically a quiche. There was one discernible hunk of blue cheese and no apples that we could find. Scallops wrapped in prosciutto with corn succotash - entirely bland. How do you end up with bland when you have prosciutto?
Mains:
Mustard pork chops - chewy and not much mustard. Though another diner's dish which we saw looked to have plenty of mustard crust so i guess its a coin toss. Salmon - best dish of the group, had just a touch of jalapeno to make it interesting and was well prepared. I had the gnocchi appetizer (described as mushrooms, tomato, basil) in a larger portion with shrimp. The gnocchi itself was amazing - light, fluffy, delicious. But there were about 3 teeny pieces of tomato, no mushrooms and no discernible basil. And no sauce at all. It was truly bizarre - dry gnocchi with shrimp.
Also odd, we asked about the whole rainbow trout and whether it was deboned. Answer: mostly, but there are some small bones. When I asked if it could be filleted and served boneless she said 'Sure. But there are some small bones. Most people eat them.' Really? How small are they? I mean who eats fish bones?
Needless to say - not paying a return visit. -
Review from Carly H.
Cincinnati, OH
1/6/2012
I met my gf here at this small, cute little French-like decor restaurant in Lincoln Park. They had the most tasty Sauvignon Blanc - had a tasted of black pepper. Yum! They had many delicious options on the menu, that made it a hard to decide on.. Ultimately were were very pleased with the selections our waitress gave - Pan seared Tilapia and Seafood linguine. Yum!
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Review from Jillian I.
Milwaukee, WI
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food, nice service and great pricing! $8 for a huge sandwich including soup. The Amber Cake with Fleur de Sel we had for dessert was TO DIE FOR (the owner added a little left over ice cream he made earlier that day)!!
Love it! I ordered an Avocado BLT (sort of) and it was the hit of our orders. The Open Face Smoked Salmon sandwich Beet Salad were super yummy, too.
The Sous Chef/Owner waited on us and was helpful, charming and very nice. I fully support this locally owned/chef operated business. Way to make a difference!
We did not order wine, but the short list was diverse and well thought out. Pricing was MORE than fair for both wine and food. An affordable and fun lunch experience for em and my girlfriends! -
Review from Eric R.
Glen Ellyn, IL
11/11/2011
Last night, a friend and I ended up trying Aquitaine first out of sheer desperation. We were 40-minutes late getting downtown and to our 7pm reservation at another area restaurant. We found a parking spot in front of Aquitaine and, since our reservation was surely 'gone' and we had limited time to eat (9pm movie at the Landmark). We were surprised and delighted by what we found inside!
We ordered a wonderful White Bordeaux by the glass, pancetta-wrapped sea scallops, a tart with blue cheese, ham and Michigan apples and a fabulous smoked mushroom soup with truffle oil. We savored every bite, down to the last slurp of soup.
Service was great. We were surprised we were the only ones in the restaurant with food of this caliber! The atmosphere was lovely, on the romantic side with soft lighting and good decor. We will be back! -
Review from Shradha A.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2011
Cozy cute ambiance, window slide open in the summer, not too loud and good for catching up, friendly service, not attentive though (no water refills)!
Food was not bad, but as a vegetarian, only 1 appetizer and 1 entree option. -
Review from Samantha K.
Forest Park, IL
1/16/2012
A foodie friend and I randomly decided on Aquitaine for an early dinner on an early fall day this past September. We were pleasantly surprised with the quite, cute restaurant . They have a great ever changing menu. We shared the duck confiet macaroni and cheese as an appetizer. I had a braised pork shoulder with vegetables thy was so tender it melted in my mouth! Delish! She had lobster (which she is allergic to fish -Not Shelfish- and asked that her lobster no come in contact at all with any other fish and the chef was more then accounted sting!) Everything was filling and reasonably priced! I plan on returning soon to see the changes to the menu!
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Review from Helena B.
4/25/2011
We arrive at 6:59 Saturday evening - perfectly in line with our 7:00 reservation. Problem: they have us scheduled for 7:30. Boyfriend has the email up on his phone and it's clear the error is theirs. No worries, I don't mind waiting at the bar. I do, however, mind waiting in the awkward entryway while the servers slowly come to the conclusion that the bar would be a better place to wait. Ominous foreshadowing.
We are seated at 7:20. As soon as we have the server's attention, we place orders for soups/salads, and entrees. My beet salad arrives shortly thereafter and is quite tasty. I love beets and am getting excited about the return of fresh Spring vegetables.
In keeping with the Spring theme, I'd ordered the amberjack fish (fresh from South Carolina) and Boyfriend ordered the spring chicken. Here's where the wheels fell off the wagon. The food was perfectly decent - simple preparations done reasonably well - but it arrived at our table at 8:30. Yes, noted the time. You would, too, had you been sitting there that long wondering what was going on. By way of explanation, our server made a comment to the effect that they can only cook one chicken at a time. Hmmm.
Soooo, dessert? Do we want to risk being here all night? I point out that, were we to leave, we could make it to a favorite frozen custard place in Roscoe Village before said establishment closes. However, we decide to stick it out. We are here, let's do this. An order for a peanut butter tart is placed.
After a false start (the server assured us that the tart will be out in two minutes only to realize the tart to which she was referring was destined for another table), our dessert gets to our table at 9:30. The speed of service is downright comical at this point. Our coffee (finished before the dessert arrived) was comped, but that didn't shake the feeling that we should have headed to the aforementioned custard shop. After such exaggerated wait time, the tart would have to be amazing not to annoy the bejeebus out of me. No such luck, PB Tart.
So there it is - our meal took two and a half hours. After that much time, you'd anticipate a few additional courses. I suppose we had a beer course as I drained my glass between the salad and the main course, but that just made me talk non-stop and visit the loo more than once. No dice, Aquitaine.Listed in: Livin' La Vida Lincoln
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Review from Bill H.
6/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I enjoyed an amazing lunch here last Thursday. The prices are great -. Entrees at $8 to $10, and appetizers a few dollars less. I started off sharing a duck confit crepe -- just as delicious as it sounds. My entree, a steak sandwich, was perfectly cooked and well-portioned. Our waiter was extremely friendly, and took the time to talk me through the local beers (and even how best to use public transit). Good stuff.
I highly recommend this place to folks visiting the area and looking for a classy but casual meal. -
Review from Daniel S.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011
I will keep this as concise as possible, as no one enjoys reading long reviews. It was the worst dining experience of my life. We ordered two appetizers: petite tart and the duck confit mac & cheese. We waited a half hour for the tart. It was gelatinous and the goat cheese flavor was diluted because the chef mixed it with the egg instead of placing it on top of the egg. We waited an additional fifteen minutes before asking our waitress about the mac & cheese. She told us that she forgot to put in the order, probably because she did not write down anything. In addition to being scatterbrained, she would disappear for fifteen minutes at a time and return with malodorous, cigarette-saturated breath. Appetizing, I know. When we finally received the mac & cheese, it was runny and bland - I could barely taste the flavor of the duck, which is usually rich and savory.
The first two entrees I requested were sold out (roasted rabbit and pheasant), so I decided on the venison osso buco and my girlfriend ordered the braised pork shoulder. I was skeptical about the venison to begin with, because osso buco is an Italian dish and chefs don't usually braise already lean, tender meats, such as venison. I should add that chefs do braise leaner cuts of meat, such as shanks, but the cuts are also tougher than others, which is why chefs braise them. Anyway, the venison arrived inedible. It was so dry and tough that, when I cut it, the meat actually flaked off and appeared white. However, the flavor was worse - imagine what canned dog food would taste like. I had one bite and offered my girlfriend a bite that she could not bear to swallow. Her "braised pork shoulder" was simply run of the mill pork pot roast, seriously: same veggies, same flavor, different meat.
Just when I thought the nightmare was over, I looked at the check and realized that they charged me eight dollars for a cocktail I did not order. Unbelievable.
Finally, when something comes out of the kitchen not as ordered I usually try to enjoy it, regardless. I don't normally complain, and I try to find a reason to say something positive about restaurants with a hard-working staff that prepares good food. Aquitaine is an embarrassment to French establishments everywhere. I would not recommend it to anyone. -
Review from Kenneth D.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
Fantastic food and excellent service. A welcome addition to Lincoln Park dining scene.
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Review from Becky S.
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I overslept for one of our reservations and had a coupon for Aquitaine. After figuring out how to get there from the bus we hit the road excited for the French food. We were warmly greeted and sat at a nice table in the cozy restaurant. There are maybe 8 tables in the restaurant and a large old bar.
My friend had the Country Vegetable Pistou soup which was like a minestrone. Very tasty.
I had the smoked mushroom soup with chive cream and truffle croutons. This was really amazing. I am a huge fan of puree consistency mushroom soups that have a lot of flavor.
Next I had the duck confit crepe which was amazing. I am a big fan of duck confit and this crepe was both a generous protion and incredibly delicious. The duck was moist and flavored well. The crepe was light and delicate.
My friend had the scallops. I had a bite of these and they were really great. They were plump, flavorful and seared perfectly. A nice rocket salad on the side made it complete.
I had the chicken with zucchini and mushroom which was good. They do not mention that on the menu this is indeed HALF A CHICKEN. Good lord these are generous portions! Look at that thing down there! I also loved that it had a beautiful crisp skin and was incredibly juicy.
My friend had the turbinado glazed salmon which was tasty. There was a roasted kale and mushroom side which was good as well.
For dessert we had the popular amber cake which was really delicious. It had a golden caramel color, salty and sweet taste and a delicious crust made of lemon madelines. So delicious!
I really loved this restaurant. Everyone was really friendly and the food was delicious. Being that it was on the bus line was an incredible bonus. The area of Lincoln Park is very hopping at night, you could easily dine at Aquitaine and have an after dinner drink down the street. -
Review from Tim R.
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stopped by here a few months ago, but only just remembered to review it. The menu looked like delicious, classical French bistro food. I had a bottle of reasonably-priced wine, a cheese plate, and a delicious almond-based cake for dessert. I was planning on an entree, but the huge amount of cheese I devoured prevented me. It wasn't exactly a balanced or representative meal, but delicious nonetheless. I have no idea why this place isn't always packed: I much preferred it to the nearby Gemini Bistro, both in atmosphere, quality, and value.
Listed in: Listomania, French
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Review from Jeff G.
10/10/2011
i'd say 3.5 is dead on.
the food is slightly above average, but not amazing.
we ordered a cheese plate which was enough cheese for 3 and they only brought out like 6 tiny slices of bread and we had to ask for more.
my salmon was a little on the fish side. wife's pork was dry in places but moist in others. it was a monday night and dead in there. -
Review from Mike P.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Great food. GREAT WINE! They must have a great wine vendor because the selection is off the charts. I loved the saffron creme mussels, duck confit crepe, and the bistro burger. The service is fantastic and you can't beat the atmosphere.
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Review from Jules H.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011
My husband and I wander over to Aquataine when we need to get out of our 3 block radius of restaurants. The atmosphere is quaint and romantic and a great place for date night so we can talk and catch up. Both times Lynsay has been our server and she's fabulous - especially to put up with my husbands sarcasm. Our favorites last time around were the mussels, mushroom soup and lobster. Great neighborhood gem!
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Review from Jennifer J.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2011
Good brunch spot. Went here for brunch on a Sunday and the place was pretty quiet, which was a nice break from our usual Nookies spot. Loved my food here and I felt so much better afterwards instead of eating a greasy diner breakfast. I definitely plan to go back.
I got the avocado sandwich with french onion and it was AWESOME. I really really enjoyed the french onion soup and the thin onion rings on top. The bf got an omelet that he liked but I don't think he thought it was as amazing as my meal.
All in all, I would go back for brunch. Not sure about dinner, but if it's anything like brunch, it's probably good. -
Review from Vester B.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/9/2011
Welp Yelp.....we went back for dinner and it was equally amazing as brunch was over a month ago. This place is terrific; freshest ingredients and desirable menu items. I want to try everything!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2011
My husband and I stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant one Sunday while trying to find a good… Read more »
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Review from Tina M.
Silver Spring, MD
2/25/2011
My boyfriend took me here for Valentine's Day - great choice. Small restaurant but surprisingly not crowded - the decor is beautiful and makes for a nice atmosphere. They had rose petals on every table for Valentine's Day. :) The staff is also really nice - I heard a waitress tell a table she forgot an ingredient in a cocktail so it was on the house - and they are also really relaxed and not rushing you to turn the table faster as so many restaurants do.
The food - really good. The duck mac and cheese appetizer is a must - and be sure to split it, it's too much for one person (might work as a meal if you're not incredibly hungry).
If you get cold easily, don't sit where the cold air can get you from the door - even though they have 2, you still get a little breeze every time someone opens it. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Frankfort, IL
10/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
In the mood to get your French on? Then hustle your derriere over to Aquitaine for a meal that is magnifique!
We walked over after a matinee at the Apollo Theater, having found a great coupon on http://restaurant.com. I immediately liked it from the outside, it looked très français to me and the inside was beautifully decorated in calm grays and blacks. The music was low key, contemporary french which further contributed to the civilized tranquility.
I had the poached pear salad which was a wonderful collection of contrasting tastes and textures. I followed that with the Seafood Linguine with generous amounts of mussels, shrimp and calamari, it was divine, subtle and satisfying. The Pinot Grigio, coffee and fabulous chocolate dessert completed an incredible meal.
Interested in a french meal that is ooh la la at an oh so reasonable price? Visit this restaurant before everyone else discovers it.
Bon Appétit!Listed in: Mais oui
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Review from Daniel S.
New York, NY
2/6/2011
Really quite good, and very reasonably priced.
Interior design is more chic than the picture here lets on.
My girlfriend and I ordered:
1. Duck confit mac & cheese - extremely rich and delicious. Highly recommend.
2. roasted beet & orange salad w/ baby spinach - nice, delicate, not exceptional
3. braised pork shoulder w roasted potatoes & carrots - also very rich. good sized portion, very tender pork, nice sauce / ragout. recommend.
4. seafood linguine - delicious. nice buttery and salty sauce, with perfectly al dente pasta. mussels, calamari, and shrimp all cooked well.
5. malbec - very reasonably priced and quite drinkable.
Will almost certainly return.
One thing: do not sit by the door. Although doubled up to prevent incoming gusts of cold wind, they close too slowly to be effective. -
Review from Stephen R.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious.
Onion soup is heavenly and the lunch menu is great. They DO do take-out, and are so sweet when doing so.
Delicious soups and sandwiches. I can't say much for their dinner menu (though I wish I could!) but they've always been stellar during the lunch hours. -
Review from Emily F.
San Antonio, TX
4/6/2011
My husband and I loved this place. It has intrigued us on many a walk through the neighborhood, and we finally tried it out last Friday night.
It's a small, quaint place with beautiful decor and a cozy feel. It wasn't packed, despite being prime hours on a Friday night (we were actually able to change our reservation from 7:30 to 6:30 without any problems), but there were enough patrons to prevent you from feeling like you were the only one there.
We ordered the duck confit mac & cheese...which was rich, decadent, and delicious. As were our cocktails (maybe not rich and decadent...but they WERE delicious). Hubs had the Venison Ossobucco, and I had the Rabbit. Both of us were delighted with how things turned out. They work really well with rustic French flavors at this place. And the waitress paired my Rabbit with an excellent wine.
All in all, a delightful dining experience. Highly recommend it. Especially to Lincoln Park-ers...who can enjoy walking to this fine establishment. -
Review from Thomas S.
Los Angeles, CA
9/2/2010
So, I used to work with the Executive Chef of Aquitaine at David Burke's Primehouse. I knew that she was a good cook, but I wasn't sure what to expect from her at her own place. Let me just say, I had high expectations, and she exceeded them all. She has a small but incredibly effective menu. I went through four courses of heaven, and I certainly left happy.
I started with the Petite Tart, which was creamy and delicious, and the crust was absolutely brilliant. Then, I moved onto a Mixed Green salad. The salad was simple, but the pears went so well with the walnuts, and the balsamic picked up those flavors nicely. Next was the entrée, Braised Pork Shoulder. I can't say enough good things about this dish. The poached pears were a natural pairing (har har) for the dish, with fingerling potatoes, and carrots alongside. The pork was perfectly cooked. That sort of melt in your mouth kind of good. I'm drooling as I write this. Finally, dessert... They receive the main portion of desserts from a local shop, and whatever caramelly goodness I had was a delight. But Chef Holly has also started to do her own ice creams, and the Hazelnut Coffee ice cream she made was fantastic, and went very well with the main portion of the dish.
If I can find one uniting theme in my visit, it's Harmony. Every flavor and element in each dish just fit with the other. It's not a complicated menu. She has started with great food, with simple and fresh ingredients, that just go well together.
I intend to come back and try the lunch menu, and I am certainly taking my lady friend here for dinner very soon. No need to dress up, I was in a t-shirt and shorts. But when I bring my girl, I'll be wearing a tie, nice shoes, and my sexy eyes. -
Review from Amanda G.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2011
This is just the place I have been looking for in Lincoln Park. The food is fancy, beautiful, and absolutely delicious. My husband and I had their restaurant week menu, which is composed of items from the regular menu.
I had the onion soup, pear salad, salmon, and amber cake. I only wish the onion soup had more broth and less bread. Other than that, the portion sizes, flavors, salt, etc. were perfect. The sauce on the salmon was probably pretty unhealthy but it was awesome. I was full, but not in a food-coma sort of way.
My husband had the mushroom soup, cheese tart, pork shoulder, and emotion chocolate cake. His only complaint was that the cheese tart was too big, haha. The pork shoulder could not have been cooked better.
The ambiance mirrors the quality and uniqueness of the food; the decor is cozy and welcoming (side note - really cool wallpaper). Our server, Alyse, was awesome. Lastly, the regular menu prices are totally reasonable ($20 for salmon, $4 for soup, $20 - $30 for a bottle of wine). Highly recommended. -
Review from Paul H.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2010
Previous post is right on the money. Rib eye was mind blowing. My gf had the duck with hazelnut stout sauce and roasted squash...tried... again, most amazing. The staff was very helpful, as well as, knowledgeable, in guiding us, on our choices. Top notch experience.
Will be a regular. -
Review from Lindsey B.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2011
Enjoyable dining experience, in an intimate setting. The decor is beautiful, but the place is extremely small. You'll need a reservation, I would recommend booking it through http://villagevines.com to save 30% off your meal. The service was attentive.
Recommendations: Duck Mac & Cheese ... Loved it! -
Review from Jennifer N.
Chicago, IL
2/25/2011
I'm only sad that I no longer live 2 blocks away from this spot because it is divine! I went last night with two friends for restaurant week and we all loved everything we ate, the service was lovely and wow, the amber cake?! I just had my leftover salmon for lunch and was compelled to write this review because, even reheated in the microwave for just one minute, delicious! Served with kale and mushrooms (but I still don't understand the jalapeno garnish on top - and I even asked about it).
If I do have dessert, I prefer chocolate, but we got three desserts and shared. The amber cake was, hands down, the winner.
The women's bathroom is a bit awkward, especially with a table of men sitting next to the door, and I wish the lights were just a tad dimmer, but I will absolutely be back. -
Review from Joscelyn M.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2010
This is one of my new favorite restaurants! It's very cozy, cute and charming, and the service is very warm and friendly.
But on to the more important - the food. My friends and I split the duck mac and cheese - I feared the cheese may overpower the duck, but was proven wrong. There is a very light amount of cheese which allows the rich duck flavor to shine through. We also ordered the tartlet - which was small, as the name implies, but yummy! I had the salmon which was perfectly done with a slightly sweet sauce. My friends had the duck and steak dishes and all were incredible. I especially liked the roasted veggies and potatoes that came with the duck. And the duck itself was outstanding. Finally, dessert. We ordered this chocolate / hazelnut beauty that we devoured. Yum. -
Review from Briana H.
Brooklyn, NY
10/8/2010
I ended up here on a recent visit to Chicago while scouting a place to eat before a set at Kingston Mines. We ended up wandering into the Greenhouse Theater and buying tickets to a late night show. At the box office, they had cards stating that theater patrons get half off a bottle of wine at Aquitaine, so off we went.
The place was not crowded and an island of civility admidst a block full of college bars. We started off with a muscat poached pear salad, which was very tasty, although the dressing was a tad on the sweet side for me. For my entree, I had the light and dark and ravioli, which was delicious. I particularly loved the mushroom ones. Simple but so well done, and the pasta tasted freshly made. The hubs had the hanger steak, which came with with a tasty side of a kind of potato and beet casserole. His report was that it was one of the best steaks he's eaten. We of course had our half-priced bottle of wine and everything was lovely, but unfortunately we were too stuffed for dessert. If you happen to be seeing a show at the Greenhouse, Aquitaine is a perfect place to go before or after. The place has an extremely spacious bar as well. A perfect evening in Lincoln Park. -
Review from jessica L.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2011
This is my first yelp review. I've been to Aquitaine twice now - once with a few girlfriends and then went back with my boyfriend. It is fabulous; minimalist decor, pretty and small (maybe 15 tables at most) - was romantic for two, but there were also large groups there as well.
The restaurant is somewhat quiet, and the food is awesome. The duck mac and cheese is so good, I wanted to lick the bowl. The entrees are good size portions with nice sides - a vegetable and ususally a potato dish. I had the duck the first time, the pork the second. Both melt in your mouth. The wine list is small, but has some good ones that don't break the bank. I LOVE this place and can't wait to go back. -
Review from Zack C.
Chicago, IL
5/30/2011
When I first arrived, I was on the verge of a quarter life crisis (due to rain), and by the end of my omelette, the feeling had completely subsided.
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Review from Nicole K.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2010
I feel like I've been duped. The sensual, flavorful menu descriptions combined with the rave reviews on Yelp led me to believe I was in for a dining experience, or at least one worth my money. However, I have NO idea what anyone here is talking about - this was one of the poorest (if not the poorest) restaurant experiences I've had living in Chicago.
Believe me, we gave the place a chance. We ordered four courses, disappointed with each and praying the next would redeem the previous. Alas, each left us even more disillusioned, and I walked out feeling slighted that I paid so much (even after a http://Restaurant.com certificate!) for such an unmemorable meal. Following is an outline of the travesty:
First course: Duck Confit Mac 'n Cheese. Other Yelpers, this is where you steered me most wrong. Have you ever had duck confit before? Or a gourmet macaroni and cheese? This tasted like chicken and dumplings on its best bite, tuna noodle casserole on its worst. The cheese was runny and bland, and, in a taste test, one could not distinguish the duck confit from canned tuna or pulled dark-meat chicken.
Second Course: Smoked Mushroom Soup and Pistou. Sadly, the soup was the best course, and that was because it was just normal and unmemorable. The Smoked Mushroom had good flavor, but the "truffled crouton" was literally ONE tiny crouton that had already sank and become soggy in the soup's depths, and the half-tsp of "chive cream" didn't go very far. The Pistou was sadly the best item of the night, as it's pretty hard to mess up vegetable soup, but it was still inferior to even a Panera garden vegetable due to the soggy shell pasta.
Third Course: Muscat Poached Pear Salad. While the Roquefort and honey walnuts were good, the pears resembled the canned fruit you got in your third-grade cafeteria lunch, and the balsamic dressing was undetectable.
Dinner Course: Venison Osso Bucco and 10 oz. Ribeye. First, the Osso Bucco. Normally you could just tap the bone and the meat would fall off. However, my boyfriend struggled to remove the dry, chewy meat. The tomato linguine it was served with was oversalted. My steak was a horrible cut, entirely too thin, so that even though I ordered it medium rare, it came out gray in the middle. The pan fried onions and potatoes were the most boring steak sides I've ever received. Overall, just totally unimpressed.
After waiting an eternity to clear our dinner plates that we had clearly pushed aside, the waitress came over and was stunned that we did not want to take anything (i.e., our entire meal) home. Then she was stunned that we didn't want to add insult to misery by ordering dessert. Finally, when I handed over my http://Restaurant.com certificate, I could see her huffing and eye-rolling to her coworkers as she entered the discount. First of all, I still tipped on the full amount, so sweetie still got her cut. Secondly, that meal was DEFINTELY not worth the full bill and not even close to being worth the discounted price! For that amount, I could have eaten that many courses in any other nice restaurant in Chicago. Guess this is the price I pay for attempting to discover new restaurants....
