Top Best French Restaurants in Bruce Lake

"Nothing sounds better right now than sitting in a quaint French bistro together, preferably in France. But there’s a lot about the above statement that’s not happening anytime soon. At least you can still create the illusion by ordering food and wine from Le Bouchon - a charming French spot in Wicker Park."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Le Bouchon (@bouchonchicago)"

"This Michael Mina-run brasserie may be inside the luxe Waldorf Astoria hotel, but that doesn’t make it a stuffy affair. Just keep an eye out for the “Chariot de Rosé”—a roving bar cart of rosé hand-picked by the somms. Diners are a mix of done-up travelers and foodies looking for a quiet, civilized meal (though they’re as amped as twenty-somethings at a taco truck to tuck into Michael Mina's classic French preparations)."

"If you're going to create a space reminiscent of a particular time, place and spirit, 1920's Paris would be it. Margeaux Brasserie is Chef Michael Mina's "moveable feast" to double metaphor Hemingway's ode to the city of the 20's. The restaurant's traditional brasserie fare is enlivened by Midwestern ingredients and bonhomie."

"Celebrity chef Michael Mina made his Chicago debut over the summer inside the Waldorf Astoria. His sultry brasserie combines 1920s glam with traditional fare for lavish dining experience. Nibble on duck wings à l'orange and escargots à la bordelaise or indulge in a pristine shellfish tower."

"Named for Marchesa Luisa Casati, an Italian muse and patron of the arts renowned for hosting parties teaming with interesting people, food, wine and song - this is your romantic sweet spot. The Main Salon is inspired by the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice or dine in The Apartment modeled after a Parisian pied-a-terre. Start with European cheese and charcuterie, caviar service or medallions of foie gras for moments of sheer decadence."

"Hidden in a cobblestone alley, RM Champagne Salon is a West Loop gem exemplifying a Euro-inspired ambiance with contemporary flair. Warming and most definitely romantic, this hideaway haven is a French bistro, giving up impeccable eats such as their Lobster Mac & Cheese or Steak Frites. Chandeliers decorate the ceiling, and their marble fireplace takes the limelight."

"With excellent food and a European tone, RM Champagne Salon is simultaneously dainty and unpretentious. Enjoy the abundant champagne and mini-dessert selections, and if you’re in a hungrier mood, peruse their various entrees that range from lobster mac and cheese to salmon tartare. If the weather is nice, grab a table on the brick patio draped with string lights."

"Photo courtesy of RM Champagne Salon on rmchampagnesalon.com. A quaint, European inspired place. The salon is made even more cozy with the installation of marble fireplaces and a roomy patio."

"According to La Boulangerie owner Vincent Colombet, the canelé is in his blood. After all, it's one of the most celebrated traditional sweets of his home region of Bordeaux, where, he says, it's not an everyday staple, but rather a special-occasion treat. Though he believes his background gives his version (which is prepared in his central cooking facility on Elston) an edge over those of his peers, still he finds it challenging to produce an exact replica of the canelé of his youth, largely because the rum commonly used in Bordeaux is difficult to source in his adopted city."

"La Boulangerie found on W Logan Blvd boasts a whole range of baking specialties. There are usually 11 staple macaron flavors on offer, with others coming and going based on the season. Currently, flavors include mint chocolate, dark chocolate hazelnut, lemon poppy seed, raspberry, and lavender chocolate."

"Fortunately, you don’t have to take a 10-hour flight to get a French croissant. Bonjour Café Bakery is the perfect place to grab a chocolate croissant on the go or sit, relax, and enjoy a warm quiche. This cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, making this the perfect place to enjoy warm weather with fresh pastries."

"For when you want a pastry to go with your coffee, the Bonjour Cafe should be your top pick. Unsurprisingly from the shop’s name, this French-style bakery has a changing seasonal selection of fresh baked goods. They range from rose-flavored macarons, eclairs, and croissants."

"The lakefront Navy Pier offers tons of dining options, many with outdoor patios featuring water views. Enjoy a classic “cheezborger” at Billy Goat Tavern, casual Mexican fare at Chango Lango, frozen cocktails at the tiki bar at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, or smoked meats at Harry Caray’s Tavern. Explore all outdoor food and drink options at Navy Pier."

"Another north-side brewery that knows their specialty and sticks to it, Metropolitan has a huge industrial-style space on the Chicago river a few minutes from Bucktown. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy their German-style lagers while taking in a view of the Windy City skyline. The staff here are incredibly welcoming, and the taproom manages to retain a friendly neighborhood feeling to it while serving up some world-class beers."

"Serving up German-style lagers, Metropolitan Brewing is located in a converted 125-year-old warehouse with tranquil river views. Their popular beers — such as Dynamo and Krankshaft — are named for the industrial history of Chicago. In the taproom, you can get a pint, a growler, a six pack, a case of bottles, even a keg of their lager."

"Since 2009, Metropolitan Brewing has specialized in bringing Chicago German-style lager, like their flagship brew, Krankshaft. Krankshaft is a Kölsch style beer and uses lemon flavor to pay homage to the characteristics of beer brewed in Cologne. Krankshaft can be found year-round."

"With a fireplace anchoring the dining room and an all-weather patio touting a retractable roof, guests can eat, drink and spend time with friends. A dog-friendly outdoor cafe offers open-air dining."

"Fountainhead is a bar that revolves around beer and also boasts a seasonal rooftop garden. The cozy second-story terrace is rife with Chicagoans clutching steins of German ambers and Czech Pilsners. Along with beer, the menu is replete with bourbon, scotch, whiskey, wine and cocktails, which can be paired with snacks from the kitchen downstairs."

"Simple and straightforward, Fountainhead is a North Center bar that opens up seasonally. There’s little in the way of signature cocktails, as beer and whiskey are the focus here, with lots of drafts on tap for the most refined hop-head, and a simple bar food menu that can hit the spot and soak up all those heady brews."

"The founders, former tech co-workers turned brewers, rehabbed much of the 19th-century industrial building themselves. The result is a soaring but cozy space that features brick walls, a 40-foot-long oak bar, a patio, and picnic tables that encourage mingling. They also encourage you to bring your everything, including food, games, darts, kids, and dogs — but they’re got the beer covered."

"Lo Rez has spent the last year posting snapshots of their great events so we're so excited that they have reopened their space (with precautions!). They are also offering cheap home delivery throughout the Chicago area."

"Another north-side brewery that knows their specialty and sticks to it, Metropolitan has a huge industrial-style space on the Chicago river a few minutes from Bucktown. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy their German-style lagers while taking in a view of the Windy City skyline. The staff here are incredibly welcoming, and the taproom manages to retain a friendly neighborhood feeling to it while serving up some world-class beers."

"Serving up German-style lagers, Metropolitan Brewing is located in a converted 125-year-old warehouse with tranquil river views. Their popular beers — such as Dynamo and Krankshaft — are named for the industrial history of Chicago. In the taproom, you can get a pint, a growler, a six pack, a case of bottles, even a keg of their lager."

"Since 2009, Metropolitan Brewing has specialized in bringing Chicago German-style lager, like their flagship brew, Krankshaft. Krankshaft is a Kölsch style beer and uses lemon flavor to pay homage to the characteristics of beer brewed in Cologne. Krankshaft can be found year-round."

"If you don’t want to bake, or fry in this case too, then decorate with DIY cookie and doughnut kits ($14) starring colorful icing and sprinkles. You may find inspiration in the bakery’s smiley face cookies and Easter lamb cakes, wearing icing medical masks. Owner Can Lao, who revived the historic bakery in the Bridgeport neighborhood back in February, recently added Chinese egg tarts, plus a few staple items like paper towels, gloves, milk and Yakult, the yogurt-like drink."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."

"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."

"Le Macaron found on West Armitage Avenue invites guests to experience the best of French cuisine. The coffee shop’s website describes its macarons as the perfect delicacy, original and elegant, and we think they’re 100% correct. Le Macaron does offer some really fun flavors alongside the more traditional choices, though: including bubblegum, violet cassis, gingerbread, and strawberry key lime."