Cafe Des Architectes/CDA

12/06/08

Amazing french food

by rashad83 at Citysearch

Me and wife went to Cafe des Architectes for a weekend brunch and i gotta say the food and the service are real good, the salmon salad had to be the best salad i ever had, the rest of the food is awesome too. This place is great for a morning coffee and breakfast too, the vibe is new and modern.nice place.

• Pros: Great french food and atmosphere
• Cons: nothing

07/05/08

Amazing brunch

by genafm at Citysearch

Though a little snooty, this place was great. My group of 4 was seated right away and they were pretty prompt with our drinks. Thankfully the place was open and serving brunch at noon on the fourth of July. We didn't get our bread basket until our food arrived, but our food was on the table in no time flat and it was DELICIOUS! All of us were satisfied with our meals. I was a little irked by how long it took our waiter to return so I could ask for a refil, and it still took him over 5 minutes to get it to me, but over all it was a good dining experience. Very nice place, pretty setting, fantastic food. Now if only they could find someone other than the man with the heavy French accent to answer the phone...

• Pros: GREAT and quick food, awesome look
• Cons: Snooty French man on phone, slow on refills

01/22/08

Super

by abigael at Citysearch

I had lunch at the Cafe des Architectes while on business in Chicago. I am from Montreal and often travel to France on business. I did not except the place to be so 'French', considering it's in North America. It was therefore a good surprise. The food was delightful, I loved their selection of little desserts, and the wine was soooo good. Excellent experience!

01/18/08

Stylish, upscale hotel dining with a distinctly French flair from former one sixtyblue Chef Martial Noguier.

by Contributor at Citysearch

When Chef Noguier took the reins at this cosmopolitan Gold Coast restaurant, he brought his seasonal, local culinary mantra with him. Tender star anise-spiced short ribs with Nichols Farm baby carrots and mushroom veloute with black truffle kick-start the fine, French-tinged menu. Offerings rotate seasonally to showcase the best regional produce. Just off the gleaming lobby of the Sofitel Water Tower hotel, the sophisticated space is contemporary and sleek, with burgundy walls, bone-leather chairs and stunning 20-foot-high windows that lean out toward the street.

09/28/06

A Disappointment

by b12751 at Citysearch

Had high expectations for the French food of the French hotel (Hotel Sofitel) in CHI. Those expectations were not met - not even close.

Everything about this restaurant is great, except the food.

Chef's muse lobster sushi was overwhelmed with a hot sauce. Dinner rolls were the culinary attraction with the raisin roll the star. Green olive tapenade was interesting but slightly salty. Tomato volute (soup) had a Campbellish character. Arugula salad bland. Entree portion sizes were small. Guinea hen entree had a lamb like taste and sea bass not the freshest. Waiter suggested not to order the risotto entree and characterized it as bland. Side dishes were above average. Desserts - well we were characterizing them with grocery store brands. Even the French coffee tasted like old perculator coffee.

If this is 'French' food, I'll stick with the 'French-American' type found elsewhere in CHI.

Wife said it best, " It's still hotel food ".

• Pros: Complimentary Hotel Parking
• Cons: "It's Still Hotel Food"

08/07/06

Only True Real French in Chicago

by parisian at Citysearch

I am French, from Paris. This is the one and only real French Restaurant in Chicago. I tried all the others so-called French Restaurants here: They are adapted to "American taste" and American expectations. Cafe des Architectes serves true French food (no extra sugar in sauces for exemple), the staff is as discret as they are in France ( = does not interrupt your conversation every 5 minutes to ask if you are doing okay, like a child) and very observant.

If you really want to eat French, that is THE place to go.

+ Ladies, if you are on a diet, eat lunch & dinner at the Cafe des Architectes for 7 days and you'll see what I mean (Quality over quantity = your body feels it and it shows).

Et voila. Bon Appetit.

Sylvia

• Pros: REAL FRENCH Restaurant, from service to setting to dishes.
• Cons: Absolutely None

05/29/06

Wonderful restaurant

by bun_bunn at Citysearch

I found this restaurant on citysearch and was totally satisfied with it. The ambience was nice and formal, very modern and beautiful settings. Service was great; I love the French accent of the waiters too! I like the way the have smaller amount for the appetizer to give you an initial taste, and then just the right amount for the entree; I am sure you don't feel hungry stepping out of the restaurant, unless you look for a huge meal. And the food actually has some Japanese influence too, even in the way they decorate the dishes.

• Pros: Great food and servic
• Cons: Expensive

12/29/05

A Glimpse of a European Bistro

by irina_f at Citysearch

This is even better than European bistros - an ambience of a European bistro combined with the best of what American service has to offer, great price-quality ratio, delicious food. Highly recommended.

01/28/05

Memorable experience

by sharkchicago at Citysearch

I had a great experience at the Cafe des Architectes where food, service and atmosphere met my expectations.

• Pros: food, staff, atmosphere

10/31/04

Great dinner

by littleshark at Citysearch

I had dinner at Cafe des Architectes with my girlfriend for our 1st year anniversary, and we had a great service.

The server helped us in choosing our dishes and was able to answer any questions about the menu.

They also offered us a beautiful dessert (white chocolate and raspberry mousse cake) with Happy Anniversary written on it.

I will definitely recommend this restaurant.

• Pros: Valet, Atmosphere, Food