"…recommend the Maine Lobster, Veal Tenderloin and Grand Marnier souffle…"
(in 5 reviews)
"this is exquisite dining and most suitable for a special occasion."
(in 10 reviews)
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Les Nomades
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River East
222 E Ontario St
(between Fairbanks Ct & Mc Clurg Ct)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 649-9010
222 E Ontario St
(between Fairbanks Ct & Mc Clurg Ct)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 649-9010
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand (Red)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Attire:
- Formal (Jacket Required)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
46 reviews for Les Nomades
Review Highlights
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What could I possibly say about this restaurant that hasn't been said? Probably nothing, but I feel the need to rave about it nonetheless.
Yes, ok, this place was WASPy and high class, and no, you're not fooling anyone with that Coach purse. However, I'd have to be a huge prick to deduct points for that.
We had the four course prix-fixe meal, and everything was impeccable! I went to dinner famished and my stomach and I left completely satisfied and content.
HIGHLY recommend the Maine Lobster, Veal Tenderloin and Grand Marnier souffle. I literally had to stop talking because I wanted my tongue only to savor the delicate balance of ingredients that was my meal. (Usually it's flailing around in my mouth trying to form words or something, but this dinner shut it up.)
How could it be that the interior felt both cozy and contemporary? What is it that they put in the veal tenderloin that is like crack to me? Why can't I eat like this everyday? Oh right, $$$$
oh Les Nomades, I'll think of you until we meet again...
Les Nomades remains at the top of our list in Chicago. But one warning: If you sit down and your waiter's name is Eric, get up and leave. Go down the street to Subway. You'll have a better experience.
This was my wife's birthday. There are three occasions which, in my book, demand a good restaurant and good service - my wife's birthday, our anniversary, and Valentine's Day. Mess with those occasions and you'll be on my shit-list forever. Forever! I'm not going to waste time explaining why Eric is now on that list, beyond me getting up mid-meal and going to talk to the owner. She apologized, made sure we saw little of Eric after that, and saw to it we had a few free drinks and great service thereafter. Thank goodness for the great meal which overshadowed Eric's inattention.
The meal. We had the degustation menu - 9 or 10 courses. Not bite size samples, but real courses with small serving, still big enough for 6-10 bites each. Everything except the sweetbreads were terrific. We had diver scallops with a cauliflower purée and braised oxtail, foie gras, lobster with carrot puree, crispy sweetbreads, Arctic char with English pea morel mushroom ragout, roasted venison with pickled cherries, a fruit soup, and a dessert assortment. Look at the menu online if you want to see specific preparations of these dishes. The preparations, presentations, and combinations were fabulous. I'm a big sweetbread fan, and I don't like the overcooked "crispy" sweetbreads they serve here. But everything else was an event in itself. Tender scallops, melt-in-your-mouth warm foie gras, moist flavorful char, strong tasting venison that matched perfect with the picked cherries.
Instead of dessert I had a cheese plate. From their excellent assortment I had two cheeses I already knew and one new one - an Italian brescianella stationate. Loved all on them, especially the new one. The brescianella is similar to taleggio. It's semi-soft, smooth, rich, and creamy with a good aftertaste.
After a couple pre-dinner drinks, we had a great Chatauneuf-du-Pape white with the meal. Then I had a little red with the venison and a great port with the cheeses.
Since we've always had exceptional service at Les Nomades, and never had a disappointing meal, I'm writing off the service from this one visit. Everything here is upscale, in a warm welcoming way. But I do believe in the once-wiser, twice-the-fool saying, and won't be giving Eric (or Erik, who cares) another chance to screw up my meal.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/18/2008
It doesn't get any better than this. Perfect service, perfect preparation, perfect presentation.… Read more »
I need to read the English dictionary to come up with new words to accurately describe the culinary delight that is Les Nomades. I was blown away with how amazing every dish was. While I agree with other posters that Les Nomades is not inventive, sometimes traditional french cuisine done to perfection is better than inventiveness. While some of the more inventive fine dining restuarants in Chicago do offer courses that are mind blowing, hardly ever do I have a meal that is perfect from start to finish. There literally was nothing I would have changed or critiqued about my meal.
I started with the lobster, which was cooked to perfection. My crispy fried egg salad truly was an experience. The outside of the egg was slightly crispy with the help of a light dusting of bread crumbs, while the inside of the poached egg was perfectly runny. My main was the veal tenderloin prepared three ways. Finally, for dessert, and I can't stress this enough, nirvana is found in Les Nomades souffles. I would return just for the souffles, and I am not even a dessert person. I would gladly go here again, and eagerly await my next visit.
An amazing, amazing restaurant! The food is incredible, wine was out of this world! We had the 5 course prix-fixe and it was fantastic! The foie gras was soo good, and also the grand marnier souffle was the stuff of dreams! The server was very good.. made excellent wine recommendations, was there when we wanted him.. he was very professional. The atmosphere was better than I was expecting.. well lit, lots of wood and light colors.. I was expecting low light, and darkness but I appreciated the more uplifting light/color scheme. It was good to be able t see the food well- food comes out beautifully presented.
This place is VERY expensive but worth it- food and service was impeccable, flawless.
There is a one-month lag between my writing of this review and my visit to Les Nomades. I had occasion to go to the restaurant for my birthday (one year away from a 'significant' b-day). This was during the Labor Day weekend, and Les Nomades was an oasis from the holiday revelry going on in and around Michigan Avenue. The restaurant came highly recommended to me by a mentor, who is established and a fixture in the Chicago networking scene. She recommended the lunch prix fixe; I came with my parents for dinner. The experience put me in mind of my first visit to Chanterelle, in New York City. Both restaurants are equally rarefied and the cuisine is best enjoyed on special occasions. I wish I had worked backward from the dessert selection. I would definitely recommend this as a destination for a special-occasion dinner and at some point would like to sample the prix fixe lunch.
Won-der-ful!
Really good, really French...
We have eaten here several times and it does not disappoint!
The food is good and the service is too..
The only fair warning is that the crowd is typically a) on the older side or b) really stiff and awkward special occasion diners.
So be prepared for a fairly up-tight and hushed dining experience... it's a bit of a shame that the crowd isn't more diverse.
Oh yeah, the space is really nice too both upstairs and down.
My girlfriend took me here for my birthday a few months ago so I'm a bit fuzzy on details, but it was too nice of an experience to not Yelp about.
We went with the chef's menu in order to get the full experience, but there are shorter four and five course menus which are somewhat cheaper. However, you don't exactly go to a place like this to save money...
The opening soup was delicious, with light truffle foam. The scallop was yummy and fresh. The foie gras was unbelievably good and has made me a fan of foie gras for life. The lobster tortellini again featured truffle foam (can you tell this place loves their truffle?). The kampachi was probably the best main course. By this time, we were somewhat full already so the quail and beef dishes that followed were a bit more muted in flavor. The goat cheese they served afterward was super salty, but then again, I'm not a huge cheese fan. The blood orange soup was really good, and the remaining desserts were all fairly light.
The waiters at the restaurant felt somewhat out of place and perhaps too young for the clientele (who were all waaay older than us). The first floor seems to just be two rows of tables along either side of long hallway. This made the restaurant steadily louder over the course of the night as more diners arrived. The overall temperature was a bit cold for my girlfriend so they provided a shawl. Overall, a very nice experience and fantastic, if rich food.
I dined here with some family last week and it was wonderful. We were told to try and sit upstairs and it was beautiful. The artwork in the restaurant is amazing so make sure you check it out while you are walking through.
The food was absolutely amazing. We all ordered from the fix prie menu and it was amazing. I started with an amazing diver scallop. The scallops was perfectly cooked and everything it was served with went together perfectly. For second course I had the crispy fried egg which was amazing. It had a great crisp to it from bread crumbs but the yoke was perfectly runny. It was served with asparagus which was so amazing. I then had venison for my main course which I had never had before but it was cook perfectly. I ended with the most amazing apple tart I have ever had. It was perfect. Everyone at the table had different things and everything was wonderful. would go again for sure.
Wow! In my book, Les Nomades is one of the best restaurants in Chicago. The food was awesome, the service was awesome, the wine list was huge (and unique). Everything about this place rocks. It's expensive for sure but well worth it. And you can get reservations here somewhat easily.
The crowd is definitely on the older side but no different then any place with great and expensive food.
Les Nomades is well deserving of 5 stars in my book. Everything was spot on, the ambiance was wonderful, the service was attentive, the wine selection was comprehensive and of course, the food was fantastic. We did the standard prix fixe menu and the pace and spacing of the dishes were well timed, the portions were the perfect size and the overall experience was sensational. We'll definitely be coming here again and again.
A couple things were big standouts for me. The food was very sophisticated and had a creative, modern flair, but without going over the top. It was true to classic French style in the tastes and presentation, but with just enough innovation to bring a new twist to old favorites. The lobster risotto was amazing, both the risotto and the lobster were cooked to perfection, and the textures and flavors were to die for. I highly recommend ordering that if it's on the menu. And according to my GF, the duck breast with foie gras was the best she's had outside of Paris. For me, the filet was simply outstanding as were all of the accompaniments.
(One minor quibble, Les Nomades, like many restaurants these days, seem to love to trot out the foam on multiple dishes. Why is this trend so pervasive? Foam on one dish per meal is more than enough. We get it, it's cute, it's modern, it used to be innovative. Enough! Just step away from the nitrous oxide and walk away.).
Rant over.
Another thing that I loved was that the wine list was phenomenal AND the prices seemed to be very reasonable. The sommelier was very helpful and had some very nice suggestions. Went with a half bottle of 2006 Chassigne-Montrachet White Burgundy with the appetizers and then a bottle of 2002 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes Red Burgundy for the balance of the meal. Both were outstanding (and yes we were pretty tipsy by the end of dinner!).
Les Nomades has displaced Charlie Trotter's as my second favorite restaurant in Chicago, although it's still pretty far behind the incomparable Alinea. Still, it's a wonderful place and more than worth a visit.
Without question, the finest dining experience the city of Chicago has to offer. True, classic French cuisine done in a way that only a master restaurateur (Mary Beth) can do. I have eaten at Les Nomades over 15 times and can remember each and every visit with fond memories. The service is far beyond that of Charlie Trotter's, Alinea, Tru, Everest, Spiaggia or any of the other wallet eating restaurants in Chicago. I have referred to the service at Les Nomades as "frighteningly good" on numerous occasions and have never had a dish there that did not meet or exceed my expectations. Any reviewers which complain about the steep financial obligation shouldn't be eating here, or should at least think of the meal as art, aside from the "was it worth it" attitude. Les Nomades is what you make of it... I have spent $400 there and I have spent over $2,000 there. Every time has been a wonderful gastronomic adventure through classic French cuisine. The restaurant in not pretentious, unless you want it to be, and then it is very pretentious... but again, these people need not apply. You can be loud and have a great time there and not feel that you are infecting the others around you... or, you can dine alone there and be in a tranquil zone of gluttonous pleasure. Please disregard any poor reviews of this legendary establishment... they come from people whom either don't get it and never will or can't afford it - but tried to one night and then missed a car payment. Bottom line: This restaurant rocks!
I dined here last night and it was terrific. The restaurant has an elegant town home setting that balances formality & friendliness. Dinner may be paired with fine wines as uncommon ingredients come together in harmony. In operation for 25 years this fine establishment remains true to its distinctive character as an oasis of civilized tranquility amidst the bustling activity of its Streeterville location. Culinary creations delight the most discriminating palates. Savor Sautéed Foie Gras, with roasted apricot; Roasted Breast & Confit Leg of Duck au jus with curry, or Duo of Roasted Quail & Bison, dandelion salad & red wine sauce with anchovy. Artisan cheeses are extraordinary & pastries are sublime; try Zesty Lime Tart, or Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake if you have room for dessert.
Rich, rich, rich.
The food was divine and rich. The wine selections paired perfectly and rich. The after dinner cheese plate, rich. The bill...if you want to be a regular than you'd best be rich.
This place was fabulous--small intimate feel with on the spot service and wonderful food that more than met my expecations.
Love this place! We went for our anniversary and it was worth the money. Great staff, not overwhelming, delicate food with great flavors. It was truly an excellent experience!
My boyfriend and I went to Les Nomades last night while we were visiting Chicago. First impressions of the restaurant were good - we were promptly seated on the second floor, there was a sizable crowd of diners (but not too many), and they gave us a wide table backing up to a booth in the corner. Very nice.
We ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and there were lots of choices. The courses were lovely, but very small portions. The waiter had a wonderful wine recommendation, and the service in general was excellent. They take their flatware very seriously, as it was changed after each and every course (we had five in total!) The waiter also recommended the raspberry souffle, and I would do the same for anyone visiting this restaurant - it was delicious!
My only complaint was that even at the height of dinner the restaurant was eerily quiet. They had music playing softly - and I mean very, very softly - in the background, but it was so quiet in there that not only could you hear the conversations of the other diners, but you felt as if they could hear all of yours. My boyfriend and I spent half the evening whispering to each other because we felt so uncomfortable.
Other than that, we really loved Les Nomades.
#1 best service!!!!
Very classy place!!! Very Expensive but worth it!!!!
The wait staff and customer service are excellent and they are really on top of things!!!
The food was delicious!!!!! Watch out for the 30 dollars apartif champagne glass that they offer. It's good but 30 dollars a glass?
The infamous $120 prix fix.
i just love it...
Remoulade sandwich...... super yum!
I should have reviewed Les Nomades months ago as I think of it often. My experience here was perfection. My boyfriend and I were in town for a weekend, and we decided to wine and dine ourselves the first night we were there. After reading the reviews on yelp and visiting the website, I knew this was the place to experience.
The service was excellent, and the food was unbelievably delicious. I was absolutely stuffed at the end of the meal, but you mustn't skip le dessert - the souffle was exceptional!
I could see how some people may feel that this restaurant is a bit stuffy, but amongst all the other wonderful things Les Nomades has to offer, I didn't really notice any sort of pretentiousness. I did, however, notice that I was by far the youngest person in the restaurant (my bf has me by 11 years). This may have caught a stare or two...
But if you are looking for romance and to please yourself, your date, whomever, this is the place. It is a bit spendy, so best to save it for a special occasion :)
Holy Crap. I almost needed a change of underpants this place was so good. I had the $120 prix fix that began with the most sumptious seared foie gras, white asparagus soup with truffle froth, sea bass, duck breast, and apple tart whilst my man friend had the smaller course meal of assorted pate, duck consomme, venison, and grand marnier souffle. Yep...I am pretty much a cow.
All I can say is that the food is visually stunning and tastes heavenly. Absolutely worth the $400 bucks I dropped. I have to say few restaurants I've been to have left me feeling good about dropping that many bones, but hats off to the chef!
The service can't be beat and the ambiance is perfect to share a wonderful meal with that special someone.
The French really know how to kick it old school with the Sotheby's artwork and kitchy bathroom decor. Overall the restaurant is jacket only standard....quiet and older.
I definitely think Les Nomades is the best french restaurant in the city.
I have celebrated some very special occasions at Les Nomades, including a New Year's Eve dinner. Unfortuantely, I had a terrible cold on New Year's and was unable to enjoy the food to its fullest because I was sick, but the service and atmosphere was perfect. I went back for a special wine dinner at the restaurant and was truly impressed. The food was outstanding....choose between a prixe-fixe four or five couse dinner.
It's a very romantic restaurant, located in an old brownstone...very unique from other restaurants in the city. It's the perfect restaurant for a special occasion with a significant other.
At a restaurant of this caliber you expect the service to be flawless, and it definitely is at Les Nomades.
However, expect to pay the price...this restaurant is by no means cheap.
My husband picked out this place for his work/conference. It was a party of 18 so we all had the opportunity to taste a little of our neighbor's place. The portions are small, small like a golf ball. But by the time your third course arrives, you're feeling stuffed.
I had a 5-course dinner ($115) and my husband only had a 4-course dinner($100). The waiters paired us off with wine and I found it to be perfect!
I ordered the Herb Roasted Maine lobster/ winter squash to start, Duck Consomm which was okay considering how much I love duck, Grilled Tasmanian Salmon (very good, tender), Angus Beef Filet (also tender and juicy) , Pear Bavarois for dessert... I wanted more so I ate off of my husband's plate, too.
He ordered Three preparations of Smoked Salmon (we loved it), Cauliflower Soup (better than my duck), Roasted Venison Loin (I didn't like it as much, a bit on the dry side) , Warm Chocolate Tart (always safe and delicious).
Martini/Cosmos- a bit weak but I wouldn't expect them to make slamming martinis anyways.
I believe this is a jacket & RSVP required restaurant. Nice atmosphere, I think we overwhelmed our waiters because I felt like they were off that evening. I would come back every two years. Their menu was memorable and...heavy.
Les Nomades is the best traditional French restaurant in Chicago, both before and after their semi-recent chef change. Both savory and sweet dishes are prepared with exquisite attention to detail and stay true to traditional French preparation. I have loved every dish I have ever tried at Les Nomades, and with several trips at a minimum of four courses per, that's quite a few!
The wine list is broad but French-centered, and offers some good values, trophy bottles, and a lot in between. They have a good selection of wines by the glass as well as half bottles. They periodically host winemaker dinners, and one I attended last year with several Bordeaux producers was delightful (note: they did pair my guest and I at a table with another couple without any prior disclosure, a rare error in service.) More typical of their wine service are thoughtful delights such as on NYE 2005 where as a lovely end to a prix fixe dinner that included merely an un-elaborated upon "Champagne Toast" they brought out several magnums of well aged Krug Multi-Vintage for everyone to ring in the new year with one of the best bubblies.
In addition to the great cuisine, Les Nomades is also set in a charming brownstone surrounded by an ever-increasing array of high rises in Streeterville. The decor, like everything else at Les Nomades, is elegant, understated, and romantic. The service is a tad stuffy, which is to be expected a traditional high-end French eatery, but walks the delicate line between attentiveness and unobtrusiveness to a 'T.'
Went to Nomades on a very romantic 5th date last year ... I'm now planning on marrying the man ... and NOT just b/c he took me there, but oh my did it help! This place is the epitome of a fancy night out. You definitely feel pampered with their table side service and flight of waiters. I've never had a dining experience like it - truly wonderful.
5 course tasting menu including amuse bouche, sweetbreads, fish, meats, cheese, pastry ... you'll be full for days.
Save it for a special, special occasion ... but do go, it's an experience you won't soon forget.
Les Nomades was exquisitely delicious. I adore French food. I was surprised by my boyfriend with a restaurant which I had been coveting but had not dined. What more could I ask for, my favorite cuisine and 5 star service. A night that was orchestrated by the ones around me, only to be enjoyed thoroughly with a twinkle in my eye and a lovers stare.
I started with the Lobster, a beautiful presentation only shadowed by the sensation as I sipped champagne. Followed by the octopus and frisee salad. Frisee to me, visually reminds me of a sea vegetable with the sturdy structure of a leafy greens. The octopus was lightly grilled to perfection. The penultima course was by far the star of the evening, rack of lamb, seared to medium rare. My night finished with a dessert graced with a lone sparkling candle and a warm kiss of the Grand Marnier souffle.
Service was impeccable and the cuisine memorable. The atmosphere was a little proper but sometimes it's a pleasure to be held to a higher standard. -- Etiquette school pays off.
j'adore...
Listen up here people... I was in a doo doo mood today, murderous rage actually but had already made plans to go here. Let me tell you this: their crispy veal sweetbreads with mustard greens, that made me crack a smile. It was beautiful. So is the rest but I'm sure you've heard enough from the other reviews. The $120 prix fix is so worth it. After all the food is digested, I'll be in a crabby ass mood again but at that one moment in time.. I was liking it.
A word to the wise: never go to a fancy restaurant the day before Valentine's Day. I think our server was a newby, brought in to handle the Valentine's Day rush and he did have the slightest bit of insight into the menu. You would think that if you worked at a restaurant that is so well-regarded, you would have some sort of pride and enthusiasm in the food. Not this guy!
As for the food, it was yummy and everything was well-cooked. However, there was no unique twist or personal take on classics that makes other nice restaurants in Chicago, like North Pond and Boka, for example, so special. Les Nomades seemed boring and stodgy in comparison. The old-fashioned decor didn't really help and the whole place seemed a bit tired and better suited for the over-40-from-the-suburbs-crowd.
Dining at Les Nomades is like eating at the fine estate of a close friend. Service is extremely understated but very competent and always gracious. Food quality is very, very good. You may not find super interesting wow flavors here (like one may find at Charlie's (Charlie Trotter's) for example) but you will not be disappointed either.
I had the pastry chef bake a special cake for a birthday we were celebrating and frankly it was the best cake I have every tasted in my life. Sheer perfection!
Everything about dining at Les Nomades is superb. But be ready for one of the largest checks ($$$$) you will ever see (based upon Chicago standards).
If you want to drop your mortgage payment on a meal, this is the place to do it. Elegant, classy, zero attitude staff -- fine dining as it should be. Oh, and the food is always flawless. Heck, we'll pay the mortgage next month. ;o)
Side note: when you make your reservation, request to be seated upstairs -- it's much cozier.
Je vous aime tres beaucoup, Les Nomades.
It may be romantic to speak in French idiom, but you only have to speak one language to truly enjoy the Les Nomades experience, and it's Food, not French. Be prepared for the apex in dining if you are lucky enough to find someone willing to treat you to a special occasion event such as this. It is not for the faint of palate, nor the faint of wallet... a sense of adventure and the realization that you're not just having "dinner" is a prerequisite (along with a fabulous dress for you and a dinner jacket for your sweetie). This is your evening and it will be worthy of every penny if you truly do enjoy perfection, quality and decadence wrapped up in a pretty package of white linen and real silver.
Like it's prix fixe predecessors Les Nomades offers a lengthy and splendid culinary tour in an option of four or five courses. Unlike it's progenitors, you get to select each of your dishes from a generous course menu selection. This was much to my delight as there is always that one dish that rears it's ugly head in my prix fixe line up that I just positively don't care for (not to name names, ahem, Moto beet salad) and ends up unfortunately wasted. Not one morsel at Les Nomades went unwanted or cast off... quite the opposite as I savored each layer of carefully prepared flavor and began my ascent into culinary heaven.
Let's briefly touch base on a few celestial highlights:
+ Langoustine and seared Sea Scallop, leek confit, garlic, Cognac natural jus - Small portion, but amazing sweet flavor and texture.
+ Roasted Quail grilled Vidalia onion, chicories, grain mustard, apple and watercress sauce - HUGE portion for a starter and HUGE flavor to go with... it's mind blowing!
+ Duck Consomme with organic root vegetables and duck confit ravioli - The only course I could potentially call a 'dud', it tasted great but was a bit boring. I should have ordered something far more adventurous.
+ Frisee and Grilled Octopus Salad, aged sherry vinegar, lardons, potato and soft poached quail egg - Anything with runny eggs always scores BIG POINTS in my book.
+ Sauteed Loup de Mer, hedgehog mushrooms, pearl onions and cauliflower soubise - If you are going for the five courses, you'll need to select a fish course. The Loup de Mar far exceeds the Salmon. Even if you're ordering for two, you should both have this, you won't want to share.
+ Rack of Lamb with roasted garlic and basil, artichoke, goat cheese, Provencal vegetable, rosemary jus - Sweet love of Julia Child!!! This was liquid gold on a plate. The goat cheese mousse was divine, and the lamb, to die for.
+ The "optional" Cheese Course - Just do it, you're already spending an arm and a leg... so what's a little upgrade? Get the stinkiest, ripest fromage money can buy and enjoy slowly with the warm, crusty raisin bread, nuts and grapes as accouterments.
+ Classic Souffles - IMHO, this is the only dessert to be had here (I sampled four). You're at one of the finest French restaurants, do yourself a favor and have an impeccably prepared souffle. I don't care which flavor you choose, just have one.
If at the end of all that you are still hungry, then I don't know what to tell you. Try filling up on some more of that French bread. The whole experience is perfectly timed, perfectly served, perfectly prepared, just perfect. I could not have asked for a better birthday surprise, and if it takes me another 27 years to finagle someone into bringing me back to Les Nomades, I'll wait out those years in eager anticipation.
OK everyone - the 5 stars go to the exceptional food and service here - but as others have pointed out, Les Nom is a big ticket restaurant. It does very well in bringing a bit of Parisian fine dining to our own Paris on the Prairie.
This restaurant used to be a private dinner club where you could only go if you were a member. It maintains that sense of exclusivity with small rooms of only a few tables in each. Service attentive but unobtrusive.
Remember a few things when going to Les Nom: 1) haute cuisine is super rich; 2) dress smart, men with jacket and tie; and 3) expect to spend at least $100 - and likely $150-200 - per person. Make this one a special occasion restaurant, live it up for an evening, and enjoy.
Excellent service with very, very good food. They handled a company holiday dinner with ease, and were extremely accommodating throughout, showering us with 3-5 people at any given time. We never waited or asked for anything that they hadn't already taken care of.
But who cares, how's the damn cuisine? Did one of their standard 5 course choice prie fixe for $115 (plus a boatload more for the sauce & gratuity). I started with their day boat Sea Scallop, asparagus and Hen of the Woods mushroom risotto. Sorry, but unsure what the 'day boat' piece referred to, but this dish was excellent. Next was the duck consomm, which came with some veggies and a single duck confit ravioli floating on top. A very small taste, but nice nonetheless.
For the mains, their Tasmanian salmon served with assorted vegetables, apple, and a horseradish emulsion was fantastic. Some of the better seafood I've had in Chicago. I also snagged a bite of the recommended entre, the Loup de Mer with chanterelle mushrooms. Easily, one of the best pieces of seafood I've had in the city. Onward to the Angus fillet served with a potato gratin...very nice steak, perfectly prepared.
Dessert? That was a war at the table, as everyone wanted a try of what they didn't get. I went for the souffl w/ Grand Marnier, which if you like this kind of thing was excellent. Stole a bite of the chocolate tart - if you're a choco-nut, this is a must-try.
It was one of those meals where everyone was staring with envy at their neighbors plate, but also quickly stabbed anyone too close to their own meal. Good situation to be: everyone's happy.
I was a bit snoozed by the atmosphere, though. If you enjoy dining near your great gram-gram;s Parlour, you'll be at home here. This is an old row house they turned into a restaurant, but the decor remained. Extremely quiet, with a somber dining crowd. Anything louder than a giggle will get you weird looks. Or if you're not holding an AARP card. This place is actually a 4.5 star for me, but only b/c I have to compare against my other top-ranking joints.
P.S. "Sauce" is old-time-speak for the booze.
We've been craving French food and tonight our meal certainly hit the spot. My boyfriend is still raving about it as I type! The food was delicious and the ambience struck a perfect balance between elegant and intimate. It's also nice to see good-sized portions that fill you up steadily with each course and don't leave you feeling stuffed or hungry. Service was wonderful, but you already knew that!
Since we went through a good number of courses between the two of us, I'm just going to mention my favorites, although they were all very good: the puff pastry amuse-bouche (what a nice surprise!) was scrumptious, the carrot soup was rich and tasty, and the duck breast with the stuffed onion and foie gras (which I usually never eat) was the highlight of the meal.
For dessert, if you like Grand Marnier, the souffle is a good pick, although I, not being a fan of Grand Marnier, didn't eat much of it. I always like to try creme brulee at different places and the trio served here was quite nice, although I don't think I will ever be a fan of the chocolate take on it. Overall the food was incredibly well prepared and beautifully presented. Dinner did leave a big dent in our wallets but I hope we can come back sometime soon!
Won't be back . I went to Les Nomades for my B-day . The food was good but you could cut the racial tension with a knife. I arrived with my husband who is white, my girlfriend who is African American and myself , Latina . When we were seated , (and I am not exaggerating when I say) the woman who my African American friend was seated next to grabbed her purse like my friend was going to take it . We just laughed it off . Then 10mins later the woman loudly exclaims "WE ARE LEAVING" as she looked at us . Again we brushed it off . Meanwhile I ordered a $115 bottle of wine which the waiter brought back the wine menu to me to make sure I knew how much it cost . ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! Here we were finely dress , not strangers to fine dining being treated like idiots. The waiter backed off when he noticed I was about to call for a manager. We all ordered the 5 course meal , which was good but not memorable . I have to say there are so many wonderful restaurants in Chicago that dealing with all this nonsense did not warrant spending $600 at this restaurant. We won't be back . I highly recommend Le Lan , Mk or Graham Elliot's Restaurant where you will be treated with respect no matter who you are.
Not being a fan of fine dining in general, I'm more a burger and fries kind of guy, I was a little skeptical about going here. I gave in, however, and made a night of it. Don't we all give in to the little lady?
Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be one of the best meals I've ever had! I can't pronounce most of what I ate, the girlfriend ordered for us, but it was all very delicious. The service, outstanding. I didn't even feel out of place. I would dfinitely go back here, after a little more saving up of course!
Not as good as advertised, we had big hopes for this place but were unimpressed by the service and the food.
So sublime. Quite an experience. Pure dining bliss. The room is actually cozier than I expected for a fine dining place, yet still refined. The service was impeccable (except for the lapse in telling us the third course was taking a bit long...but when you treasure every minute there, who really minds?), the wine fantastic and the food was pure knock-out. Seasonal, well thought-out, perfectly cooked. Not a wrong note anywhere.
Not being a sophisticate I was a bit leary when friends suggested this restaurant for a going away dinner, one of our friends is moving to London :(
Getting your table can be a bit intimidating, but the waiters are so wonderful and helpful you soon get over any misgivings you might have brought with you. The food here is some of the best I've ever had the pleasure to eat, and I became an instant fan of foie gras. It is expensive, but very very worth it.
Les Nomades may have the cuisine to compete with the big names, but the service is flawed. I took my wife there for an anniversary dinner, and was deeply disappointed.
We waited over 5 minutes after seating to be greeted by a waiter for our initial drink order.
Between courses, an assistant waiter brought the wrong silverware (knives for the meat course when the soup/salad course was next).
When I got up to visit the restroom, a busboy removed my napkin - didn't fold or replace it, and I had to ask for a new one.
We waited over 10 minutes after the main course for the cheese plate. We ordered coffee immediately after the main course, and I had to remind an assistant waiter to bring it to us.
It also did not help the dining experience to be seated at a table in a corner against a smoked glass partition with a huge vased flower arrangement looming over my right shoulder. As the diner facing toward the wall, I was never able to see the waiters approaching the table. The atmosphere of the room may have been lovely, but I didn't see it from my poor seat.
I expect and shrug off lapses like these at a $20 restaurant. When the dinner runs $90-105 without drinks as it does at Les Nomades, there is absolutely no excuse for this kind of experience.
I agree wholeheartedly with the majority...this is exquisite dining and most suitable for a special occasion. My boyfriend just surprised me with reservations for my birthday...the food, the service, the romantic ambiance...an experience I won't soon forget. I am still day-dreaming about the wonderful flavors...so rich and so delectable!
this is FINE dining!
