Mon Ami Gabi

07/31/10

Nice ambiance,,,average food..lousy service

by jimy39 at Citysearch

Serving us was a chore to our waitress. Everything was an effort. Her attitude dampened our whole experience and the food, while some items were very good, were not good enough to offset the poor service. French Onion Soup was bland and lacked any depth. Probably the worst we ever had. Halibut and scallops were cooked well.

Don't think we'll visit this place again.

• Pros: Ambiance, Bananas Foster, Halibut
• Cons: Our Waitress. Disappointing French Onion Soup

03/07/09

Vaguely disappointing

by jriehm at Citysearch

This wasn't our first visit -- and I truly don't know why we returned. I guess we forget -- it's a pretty popular place, so we keep thinking it'll be wonderful. Except it's not. Nice wine list -- but $15 Kir Royales left us feeling cheated. The pommes frites are just plain awful -- the traditional French version are delightful, and these are tiny and hard and disappointing. The pork shank was too much bone and fat, and not enough meat. The creme brulee felt chintzy. Service wasn't terrible, but why did our waiter take each course separately? I wish we had more dramatic complaints -- so maybe we'd definitely remember not to go back.

12/17/07

Great French for a great price! Delicious overall!

by jules1984 at Citysearch

This is one of the best places to go in Chicago for affordable, quintessential French food without the heavy price tag, or the snooty staff. Very friendly and personable staff. Neighborhood feel. The onion soup has it's good and iffy days, but always melts in your mouth. My only problem is that the menu is very limited. Mostly meat and some sort of potato, there are some good fish options. Generous portions; I love having great food for lunch the next day. The desserts are yummy too! Great wine list, although most tend to be heavy wines. Small dining room, so make reservations!

• Pros: The staff, atmosphere, prices.
• Cons: Limited menu.

11/19/07

Regrettably disappointing...sigh

by Searcher44 at Citysearch

For more than 20 years we've gone to Mon Ami Gabi and its predecessor in the same location Un Grand Cafe. Our most recent visit was more than disappointing (i) two steaks ordered were clearly of an inferior cut or grade of beef - were not done as ordered and frankly on the tough and chewy side (ii) coffee delivered with caffeine rather than without (iii) a New York strip, usually highly reliable - was done correctly but the texture and odor suggested that it had either been frozen and thawed more than once or had been left out at room temp far too long. One salad ordered was dressed way too heavily. On the plus side the desserts were as reliable as always and the wine list remains fairly priced. I had the impression that they are crowding more people into the space than was the case a few years ago but that's just a hunch. Service was prompt and efficient. Perhaps just a bad Sunday night - but overall disappointing.

01/28/07

Very Romantic

by malexan at Citysearch

IT can be very romantic especailly if you sit in the back room. I went on a friday night and i was plesently suprised that the noise level was down the whole time i was there. The food is delicious as well as the wine. My one problem is that we arrived on time for a 9:30 reservation but waited untill ten to be seated. After that the service was great. It is a little bit of paris in chicago.

• Pros: Food, Wine