Cafe Des Architectes

(312) 324-4063

20 E Chestnut
Chicago, IL 60611 41.8984 -87.6275

Neighborhoods: Central, Near North Side

Reviews & Ratings for Cafe Des Architectes

4.5 Star Rating: Recommended

15 reviews

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by parisian

August 07, 2006

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

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by rashad83

December 06, 2008

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

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

by genafm

July 05, 2008

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

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3 Star Rating: Average

Contributor

April 22, 2008

good brunch with a nice menu. pretty fair prices compared to a lot of hotel restaurants in the area.

a nice brunch atmosphere, with big windows and lots of sunlight.

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by abigael

January 22, 2008

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!

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

by Contributor

January 18, 2008

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.

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3 Star Rating: Average

by b12751

September 28, 2006

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"

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by bun_bunn

May 29, 2006

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

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by irina_f

December 29, 2005

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.

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by sharkchicago

January 28, 2005

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

  • Pros: food, staff, atmosphere

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Cafe Des Architectes

20 E Chestnut
Chicago, IL 60611

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