Had the seafood omelette and basket of French bread with chicken sausage on the side. Everything was fresh and delicious. Prompt and professional service. Asked for a bowl of fresh berries as a desert even though not menu. "Sure" was the reply with a friendly smile. Hung around the table while my business partner checked out of hotel. They cleared the table and brought me a fresh carafe of French press coffee (Lavazza) (see pic). If you're on a business trip or just passing through, you'll be glad you ate here.
(5)
Leily P.
If you want fancy, French, full of White people and overpriced - you've got it right here. 4 stars because what do you expect from a French restaurant? Also the service was nice, especially since I'm dressed in my "relaxe" pants, not fancy and White, and ordered to go. It's currently thunderstorming so I'm stuck at the Sofitel with nothing but room service or this restaurant. Ordered the veal and am 100% happy with the quality of the meat. Yum, but expect tiny portions.
(4)
Michelle K.
4.5 I LOVED BRUNCH HERE. I came with a cherished friend and I am so glad that I marked this place off the list with her and the meal and company were both delightful. But I also need to stop going for brunch on the weekdays. I would love to come back to try their actual brunch menu one weekend OR dinner. We ordered the bacon and gruyère quiche and farmhouse benedict to share. The crust on the quiche was just flaky enough and the gruyère wasn't too heavy at all for the dish. The bacon and gruyère coupled well together. The prosciutto I thought might be a little much as prosciutto is saltier than I prefer in food but the dish as a whole wasn't too salty. The apple (it says fuji on the menu but looked like julienned green apples) balanced out the cheese and bacon/prosciutto with its tart and sweetness. The farmhouse benedict may have been the best eggs benedict I've ever had and I have had many many eggs benedict in my life (I almost always order benedict at any breakfast/brunch I eat and even make it at home!) The sourdough gave the dish enough structure and was heavy enough to support the short rib, egg, greens, and tomato jam. The eggs were perfectly poached with the yolk still runny. The braised short rib was a little saucier than I like but it was okay because the eggs were so on point. The greens and tomato jam topped it off nicely and pulled it all together well. We also asked if they had macarons which they didn't--BUT the pastry chef was so gracious as to give us two strawberry macaron to eat. These were by far the best macaron I've had outside of Paris--crunchy on the outside and so, so, so very chewy and light on the inside. The same could be said for the croissant!
(4)
Neil D.
Excellent Restuarant for Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner. Overall as good as any resturant on the Gold Coast of Chicago. Reasonable prices,quality food and generally the service is very good. Please give this hidden gem in streeterville a try.
Eh. I feel like that sums up my experience. I mean don't get me wrong, the staff was nice, the atmosphere was good, the chairs...those chairs were damn comfortable, thats for sure. They go around giving 1 pastry/person which is a nice gesture I suppose. The problem was the food just wasnt that good. It's like 6 dollars for a pair of eggs at this joint but the taste of the food was basic. And I tried what what my brothers had too...the pancakes and seafood omelet. Both average. I had the eggs benedict...average..actually undercooked. I was so hungry was the only reason I kept eating it. I probably should have sent it back for another but thats just not really my style. Anyways its basically the combination of being pretty damn expensive and underwhelming food which led to my 2 star rating, which is surprising given the reputation of the place. Its probably closer to a 2.5 really but guess Im not feeling generous today.
(2)
Taylor C.
Restaurant week! I came here for restaurant week earlier this year, purely because of the name. I'm an architecture student, so I had to try it out! The waiters were all very nice right when we entered, asking us if we wanted to hang out coats and such. We were seated along the window in the front, which gave a nice view of the overall restaurant. The interior was quite pretty with the tall floor to ceiling windows, and the cool ambiance. We had a prefixed meal for restaurant week which entailed 5 courses. They were all pretty good, and I enjoyed all of them, but I have to say, it wasn't amazing. I ordered a cappuccino and some sparkling water as well. For 75 dollars, I had expected a pretty damn good meal. I'd come here again, maybe not for restaurant week, but to try their other dishes.
(4)
VC V.
We picked this place because I had an out-of-town visitor who was looking to try foie gras, and a friend had mentioned this place before. The place look very beautiful from outside (it is in a hotel) and looked equally elegant inside. Our servers were very courteous and attentive. We love their french accents! We had the foie gras to start with and it was probably one of the best foie gras dishes I ever had. My friend ordered the venison, and I had the amish chicken. Both were good. When the server brought out the dessert menu, we said we were quite full but would take a look. Then he brought out a dessert flight for us, on the house! It was a lovely surprise and the dessert (chocolates, marshmallows, macaroons) was certainly amazing. Next time, I know where to bring my guests for a great French dinner.
(5)
Ian L.
Overall: 4 star food, 4.5 star ambience. great value for Restaurant Week lunch menu, spacious layout. The lady and I ordered the Restaurant Week Menu, it was absolutely delicious. The poached pear and goat cheese salad had a great balance, but was overshadowed by the chestnut veloute with scallops, which was astounding, the creaminess balanced with the rich sauteed scallops. The seared Michigan whitefish was a little off, not as fresh as we would have liked. It had hints of cumin. (Clearly inferior to braised beef short rib) The braised beef short rib was delicious, perfect in texture and complemented by the wonderful butternut squash. The dessert: tasty, very good, nothing too exceptional. We would definitely go back though.
(4)
Helen S.
I decided to come here for a graduation brunch (my graduation, go me whoo) with my parents and bf, and it was not a great choice. We had all opted to get the brunch sampler, so I'll run through it real quick. 1. Bread basket (assorted croissants and bread) - great, we agreed that this was probably our favorite part of the meal 2. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs - this came in the form of three shots of juice (mango, pomegranate, and something I can't remember). I was expecting fresh fruit, and had I known I was getting juice, I wouldn't have ordered a glass with my meal. They also got my juice order wrong, and it took awhile to get this corrected. 2. Mains: -pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche - good, I liked it enough to take leftovers home -mesclun greens - okay salad, pretty interesting -chicken and waffle - even McDonalds makes better chicken fingers -mini white truffle omelet - gross 3. Desserts: - honey vanilla parfait - way too sweet, and the honey yogurt combo was odd - chocolate opera cake? - way too sweet - strawberry panna cotta - well balanced, my favorite part of the meal Overall, the brunch sampler may be a good value considering the sheer bulk of the food, but in terms of quality and taste, it was definitely lacking for the price. I would not want to return, at least not for brunch.
(2)
Lily Z.
I came here for a double date dinner. I made the reservations through Savored, which saved us about 30-40% on our meal. THANK YOU SAVORED.COM! It's a very modern place. They have different menus such as a healthy fit menu, regular menu, chef's selection, etc. They have someone walking around with a bread basket and provided European butter and some other spread. Service was attentive. We received a complimentary amuse bouche which was a beef tartare. I didn't eat it since I was going meatless weekday diet. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting, we finally flagged down our waiter and inquired whether it was still coming or if we are waiting for our appetizers. He apologized and brought out a veggie friendly amuse bouche. Our overall dinner was nice. I came in here afraid that the portions were going to be tiny, but I was relieved to get a normal person's amount of food. They were able to substitute the carrots in my salmon dish for broccolini. Everyone else enjoyed their food. The Colorado lamb looked amazing. They provided a complimentary dessert tower for the four of us, which was a nice touch. Even though we ordered sorbet for dessert. Overall, this was a nice place for dinner. It definitely helped that we had that coupon from Savored, so it was only $90 a couple including tip! I don't know if I would come back here again though. Maybe if we wanted a romantic/low-key dinner that wouldn't break the bank.
(3)
Valigirl V.
Where to begin... Beautiful modern restaurant located in the hotel Sofitel Water Tower off the "Mag Mile". Prices were reasonable ($120/pp) including cocktails, wine and desserts. Foie Gras and bread basket were absolutely delish. Every course was prepared with great care, and appeared as a work of art...truly exceptional. All six members in our party absolutely LOVED their food. The main issues that yielded only a 3-star rating, are as follows: 1) our "singing French waiter" Roni, who really overdid things. In an upscale restaurant such as this one does not lend itself to servers "serenading" the ladies at the table. 2) Several diners in our party ordered Copper River Salmon. One diner received a piece of conventional "farm raised salmon", discerned by it's noticeably lighter color. The meal was replaced, but took over 30 min to arrive! By this time, other diners had all finished their main course. 3) There was absolutely no offer to remove the meal from the bill for the inconvenience. However, as the hostess of this dinner, I did request, and the waiter removed the charge... I should not have had to request the removal of the charge! Nearing the end of our meal, Roni was beyond obsequious, between the singing and then writing down his website and handing each one of us a card with the info...not cool. I would definitely dine here again, food and atmosphere are ranked at + 5 stars, albeit with a different server and hopefully no food incidents. Also check out "Le Bar" on the other side of the hotel... Great spot for a cocktail! I highly recommend the French Mule...Vodka, champagne, ginger liquor, lime juice on ice.
(3)
Cinnamon M.
Expensive, but worth every bite and every minute! You will not be disappointed! I don't know how anyone with taste buds could rate this any less than 5! I'm attributing it to a pedantic hatred of anything French! The staff is amazing as well! Ask for Romi, The Singing Chef!!!! He sings a beautiful rendition of La Vie En Rose! What more can I say? The food is off the chart, the service is off the chart! I only wish I were a millionaire because I'd eat here everyday if I could!
(5)
Valerie J.
I've been here at least 11 times, and I agree that some of the servers are green - but you cannot go wrong w/Romi as your waiter. Not only is he charming, fun, and efficient, he also has the voice of an angel (well, a French angel) and will sing to you! I loved the oysters with creme fraiche and caviar and I hope they make a reappearance on the menu. Right now they have a gorgeously delicate foie gras plate I highly recommend. Chef Greg and his sous chef Justin are both whizzes when it comes to preparing fish. Greg made halibut for my fiance and I a month ago that made said Fiance proclaim Cafe des Architectes is his new favorite restaurant!! This past weekend we went with our friend Leigh and she was in heaven! From the chilled tomato soup to the cheese course to the truly awesome rabbit three ways - it was pleasure all around! Then of course came desserts (and thank goodness these 2 are sweet tooths!) Along w/the wonderful food we had great wine recommended by Romi. I always love going here and can't believe I've never reviewed it before. Thank you for existing, Cafe des Architects!
Achtung clueless brunchers. I am shocked at the excitement of Brunch at some average resto where you can overpay and wait forever to get some meh breakfast food that you could prepare at home. Why this is so popular is a surprise to me. If you are hung from the night before, grow a pair and get a burger like a normal person. If you are with a group that insists on "BRUNCHING", pay the extra $5 a person and get a great experience. I have been visiting the Sofitel since it opened. I was here today with some visitors and we all loved the place. Top noch food, perfect service.lovely place AND unlimited FANTASTIC baked goods, along with french-press coffee.
(5)
Wing C.
I had a Gilt City voucher, which was a good deal for a three course meal with wine. However, I still don't think the food was worth the prices. The amuse bouche was a smoked beet, which just tasted like a regular beet. Next, I had the spring risotto, which was a little heavy, but not too salty. Then I had the seared Arctic char, which was cooked nicely, with a crispy skin. Finally, I had the Valrhona chocolate sphere, which was also okay. The hard chocolate shell had a caramel mouse inside, but it was too liquidity and tasted more like melted whipped cream. Overall, although the staff was attentive and the Sofitel Hotel and CDA looked nice, the meal was just average.
My husband and I stayed at the Sofitel for our anniversary and had dinner at Cafe des Architects. We had an 8:00pm reservation and were seated immediately at a good table. The service was perfect; I would go back just to be waited on by our waiter. Charming, pleasant, French, highly knowledgable about the wine and food, perfectly timed - a delight. We ordered a Beaujolais but when I tasted it I really didn't like it. Our waiter was very accommodating, said not to worry one bit, asked me what I like, and brought something different for me to taste. I loved it. The food was delicious. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the trout, and we both devoured our meals. We also had appetizers, which were outstanding. We even asked for more bread. I love dessert, but I wasn't a fan of desserts at CDA. I had the chocolate and my husband had a parfait, and although his was nice, I didn't finish mine. I'm not sure when I've ever not finished something chocolate before. I can't describe exactly what wasn't right, but neither the taste nor the texture were appealing to me. Despite the dessert, I give CDA five stars and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Chrissy N.
Went for brunch on a Sunday at noon with parents. Was almost full but not busy, no wait. (Good- because we had no reservations for brunch.) The decor was elegant, fresh flowers, modern, clean, white leather booths, deep burgundy walls. The wait staff was very professional, and the hostess was a doll. The food came promptly. Bread comes before the meal. The coffee (complimentary with entree) was absolutely delicious!
(4)
Kristen L.
Came here for a classy dinner for a bachelorette party, pre-debauchery, and it's safe to say that we chose well. Food: Excellent. Judging by the prices and the "fine dining" category, you'd think that they'd either be lacking in taste or portions. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that both were superb. I ordered the seared duck breast which came with asparagus and sliced potatoes which was absolutely heavenly. The duck breast (as the server so politely explained) was a bit tougher and game-y due to it being wild caught, but Lord was it good. It was cooked perfectly and it had a nice ring of fat which added the perfect amount of savory goodness. Also ordered the Loaded Potato Fries, thinking that the main entrees were going to be small, and it was a ginormous portion. BUT, the taste, again, all there. The fries themselves were huge and paired with bacon, parmesan cheese, and sour cream aioli, it was freaking AWESOME. OH AND...complimentary appetizer and dessert?! YES, PLEASE! Service: To infinity, and beyond! For real. Our server, a legitimate French man (loved his accent!) was oh-so-kind and very attentive throughout the entire meal. Being part of a larger group, I can imagine it being hard trying to keep up with everything, but he was always very polite, thanked US after we ordered/asked for anything, AND threw some French vocab. to boot! I always like to judge my service on how many times my water glass empties, and at Cafe des Architectes my glass NEVER went empty. Ambiance: Definitely romantic, but again, great if you want a classy dinner with the girls. They're also very accommodating--we were about 15-20 minutes late for our reservation, but they had everything set up for us and weren't annoyed/frustrated with us. Cafe des Architectes? Exquis!
(5)
Grace C.
Came here for lunch during the week. Many of business luncheon are happening. Service is pretty good. Their 4 course lunch menu was not impressive as all four of mini dishes came at once on a big plate. Taste was not bad,,,,but I will not get it again if I go back. Their chicken sandwich was pretty good. The restaurant is located on the first floor left side of sofitel entrance. It is pretty small place. Taste: 3-4 rating Service: 4 rating Atmosphere: 2. i found dirty spot on the couch. restaurant is pretty small...
(3)
Bernice R.
Ah, fine dining at its best! Service: Top Notch. We were a little late for our 7:45 reservation but they were very nice about it and saved our table (of 7) for us. Our waiter was very professional and had great recommendations! Further, the other staff members were great team players filling waters, removing plates, etc. Also, as for the spacing of the meals and checking on our table, they did an awesome job. Food: Best french food I've ever had. I had the prix fixe dinner: beet salad, salmon, and the sorbet trio. I highly suggest any of those three! In addition to the three courses, our table had complementary bread and olive spread and butter, a wonderful amuse bouche which really gave us a glimpse of the wonderful meal ahead of us, and dessert tower! I also got a plate that said "Congratulations" in chocolate because this was my bachelorette party dinner! Price: No doubt, I think the price matches the quality of service and the quality and quantity of the food (btw, you won't be leaving hungry, as some may worry about fancy-high class restaurants). Overall, Cafe des Architectes is very classy restaurant that has delectable food and superb service! MERCI BEAUCOUP!
(5)
Michael S.
It's all about service folks. Thank you CdA for helping make my anniversary dinner a great one! So I really enjoy great service as it's about the whole experience when you dine somewhere. From the start with the complimentary coat check to everyone saying bonsoir I was already pleased. We had a tuna tartin with caviar as a complimentary amuse bouche and also two sparkling wines. Both were unexpected and added to the experience. I was a bit disappointed in the menu as they didn't have the bass I was looking forward too, but the short rib I got instead was excellent. Gf got the butter poached lobster and she was quite pleased with both the taste and how much of it she got. Oh, we also got the oxtail tortellini which was good, but nothing to rave about and the cheese ritual which I would say was like the oxtail. Bread though with the olive tapenade was nice and filling. :) Didn't do dessert as we were going to the chocolate bar at the Peninsula, but we got complimentary desserts as part of our meal for our anniversary. Really good opera cake... Overall, with the service I really want to give a 5, but I think they were close.
(4)
Tim P.
Food is amazing. Perfectly executed and always seasonal. This restaurant is located in the Hotel Sofitel, which is a French luxury hotel chain, so you come in with somewhat high expecations for French cuisine. They do not disappoint. If you get their Filet Mignon, they will even do it "bleu" which is the way the French order their steak. Their cheese plate comes with mini-Madaleines, and at the end of the meal each table will get their mignardise (tower of mini bite-sized desserts that include macarons). You can also order a Cafe Noisette and they'll make it for you. We had a magnificent bottle of French Pinot Noir that was beautiful on the palate. We shall return for sure (actually this is our 5th or 6th time here).
(5)
Richard B.
We just had dinner there last night and had an amazing time. We had a few friends in from out of town, the food was good the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Our waiter and the others that served us were attentive, helpful, but not overbearing. They explained the menu to us, and each thing that was served was given to the ladies at the table first, as it should be. My girlfriend and I both had the friends and neighborhood menu which is an amazing deal for $32.00, for appetizer I had the diver scallop, and my girlfriend had the young coho with potatoes. Both were excellent and very well presented. The entrees were amazing, we both had the Potato gnocci with shrimp and asparagus. We had bread pudding and creme brule for desert which was a marvelous finish to a great meal. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a place on the gold coast to stop and have a great meal.
(5)
Janet X.
My friend and I came for the Neighborhood Friends $29 prix fixe on a recommendation from a coworker. The Cafe is on the ground floor of the Sofitel; with its soft lighting and clean, sleek design, it looked more like a lounge than a restaurant. Huge windows offered a view to the outside regardless of where you were sitting. We were seated almost immediately and a beautiful bread basket came shortly afterwards. It took us a fairly long time to flag down a server, but when he came he was gracious, patient, and even a little funny (and yes, he was French!). I chose the shepherd's pie for an appetizer and the duck breast for an entree, and the server recommended the praline crisp for dessert. Even though the courses looked small, they were excellent and very filling -- of course, the delicious rolls with sunflower seeds didn't hurt either. But my biggest surprise came with dessert. It was really fantastic! I'm usually not a dessert person, but I have to say that it was probably the best part of my meal. All in all, I'd definitely come back again!
(4)
Anna P.
I went here for restaurant week because I was drawn by the restaurant week menu, proximity to my apartment (it's cold out!!!), and positive reviews of the atmosphere. The hotel is gorgeous and the restaurant has a nice ambiance as well, although the tables were a bit squeezed together. The food was great, but not the best I've ever had. The service was slow but attentive, which was good for a nice romantic dinner out but once we decided we wanted the check it took forever! Overall, I liked this place and might come back but it didn't blow me away.
(3)
Jiyoun B.
It was so beautiful. Decor, I mean. Gosh, I love love the hotel, the restaurant should reflect that, no? Our waiter was awesome, he seemed genuinely French but friendly. The food? I don't know. We've been to enough French restaurants to know there are traditional French cooking restaurants and very creative French restaurants. Cafe Des Architectes were neither. I did like the presentation and I loved their appetizer but the main entree and dessert? I ate half the entree and a bite of dessert. The waiter did mention the menu and the chef will change so maybe another try? We'll see.
(3)
Adrian G.
CDA had a fabulous menu for V-Day, and it was a fantastic experience! The pairings were amazing! The salmon and beef dish were crazy. And the fruit salad dessert was delightful! A splurge for parents like us, but well worth the escape!
(5)
Mihir P.
Our experience started out odd. Let me explain: We (6 of us) walked in and there was no host stand of any sort. A waitress happened to be looming in the area so I spoke to her. Our table was set and she brought us there. I liked that the ladies were given the menus first. Our waiter asked us if we wanted wine but we first wanted to see the cocktail menu and requested one. He didn't come back until about 10 minutes later without it and asked about an appetizer order - some us knew what we wanted some didn't since we were expecting the drink menu first. So those who knew ordered an app. Then I reminded him about the drink menu. He came back with it and asked what we wanted - he only brought one and none of us even had a chance to read it so he took the rest of the app orders and then by the time that was over, half of us knew what drinks we wanted so those who knew ordered. He then walked away while the rest of us knew what we wanted. Awkward. So we had to call him back. The busser and food runners were well trained and the food was delicious. I recommend the brussel sprout w/ lamb bacon to start and the duck for dinner - I cleaned up both plates. I also tried my friend's chicken and it was perfectly cooked but very mild. Decor/atmosphere is modern and sleek but it was SO QUIET. I think it wiuld be more crowded if the place had more energy.
(3)
Michael G.
This is mediocrity at its most expensive. Price doesn't make it good. Mediocre service, food,plating, dirty chairs,. Staff changing over to breakfast while still dining. Nah.
(2)
David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 4 Service: 2 Came here with the gf and her parents for lunch around 1pm Saturday. 3-hour non-dinner valet parking is $13 with restaurant validation. Bread basket was good - chocolate croissant, small baguettes, and some other items. 1. Brunch sampler, 25 Served with fresh fruit juice and coffee or tea ~Good. Opted for oj. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs *** ~Good. Instead of pieces of fruit on a stick, the kebabs were actually three tall shot glasses of fruit juice. Last time I checked the dictionary, a kebab is "a dish consisting of small pieces of meat, tomatoes, onions, etc, threaded onto skewers and grilled, generally over charcoal." pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche mesclun greens chicken and waffle mini white truffle omelet *** ~Okay. Smoked salmon was okay, but the bread and onions didn't pair well. Mesclun green salad was pretty good, and whatever ingredient looked like dirt underneath the salad was amusing and creative. Chicken and waffle was mediocre, as was the omelet. assorted mini desserts ~Mediocre. We got honey vanilla parfait, a chocolate layered cake, and a strawberry panna cotta with nuts and strawberries. Honey vanilla parfait was too sweet, and I didn't like the pairing on top. Cake was okay, and the panna cotta was more like a marshmallow. Service was disappointing. They gave my gf oj instead of the grapefruit juice she ordered. I brought it up to a male server, but they still didn't fix the problem. I then brought it up with our original server, who was nowhere to be seen until the end of our meal, and it was eventually fixed.
(2)
Lindsay B.
Dined here for breakfast as part of our package at the Sofitel Hotel, and I really enjoyed my meal. Breakfast initially looked pricey, but it came with so many components it was definitely worth the price. With my meal I also received coffee, juice, and a lovely basket of croissants and pastries that were delicious (I wanted to sneak them out in my purse, but refrained). Both of our meals were delicious. I likely won't be back, but that is only because I am not in the city often. If I were to stay at the Sofitel again, I would definitely have breakfast here! Service was also excellent for our meal, and many diners were there alone working or having a few moments of peace which seemed rather nice. Check it out for breakfast in the area.
(4)
Jill W.
Restaurant Week Review -Great atmosphere--warm, romantic, comfortable -Started with bubbles and worked my way through butternut squash veloute with duck confit, braised short rib, and chocolate ganache--all were outstanding, -Great wine pairing suggestions for entree and dessert -While the food was great, I was really hoping for more meticulous service. While not bad at all, we had to refill our own flutes, and plates took a while to get cleared after we were obviously done eating. Little things I know, but just had higher expectations. -Certainly recommend to friends for a tasty/special occasion prix fixe tasting.
In a word. Delicious. The decor is sophisticated and warm. The service: attentive but not oppressive, the waiter was helpful without feeling pushy. It was the food though that really made it. Usually I wouldn't go to a hotel restaurant. In this case I would make an exception. The food was innovative and delicious.
We had a truly lovely dinner here on a recent Friday night, with 30% off courtesy of Savored. First of all, the setting is beautiful and tres-urban. Very sleek and stylish--perfect for a fancy night on the town. The crowd is sophisticated and the overall aesthetic of the dining room/lounge just screams "classy." It was great. The food: we both had the tasting menu. My partner had the standard menu, with a mixed vegetable starter, amish chicken, and peach dessert. The chicken was excellent: tender, flavorful, and not the least bit overcooked. I went with the "de-light" prix fixe because of dietary restrictions. I went with a beet salad, a succulent piece of salmon, and a sorbet trio. All were perfectly seasoned, precisely cooked, and beautifully plated. The service: in a word, impeccable. In several words: warm, knowledgeable, and invisible. Each and every person, from our server to the bread guy, was great. Everyone had a smile, and was unobtrusive. When I was ordering my dessert, my waiter actually steered me toward one of his favorites, pointing out that my original selection didn't really showcase the strengths of the chef. I truly appreciate that kind of informed assistance. The wine list was somewhat skinny for a high-class French restaurant, but we nevertheless found a winner of a Bordeaux.
(4)
Pack C.
overall impression after the meal: food portion is really small.. isn't worth the price at all! We went there during the restaurant wk. the place was packed and the service was very slow! I had bouillabaise (french seafood soup) for my appetizer. It's too creamy by bouillabaise standard and under-seasoned. I was pretty disappointed actually. My bf had a stuffed quail which is pretty good. I had a veal dish for my entree. It came with 2 pieces of meat: beef stew sized. It tasted really good but definitely isn't worth the price. We also ordered a monk fish entree. The fish was really fresh and well cooked. We had chocolate mousse and pistachio cream for desserts. They are just ok. We were glad to go there and check it out but we won't go back there again
(3)
Emann B.
Had a biz lunch here and was pleasantly surprised. The service, from the greeter to the server was excellent. So wonderful to be greeted warmly with a big smile. Had the tuna nicoise which had a rich tasty sauce underneath the lettuce. A bit like a sweet hollandaise. Very good.
(4)
John S.
Denigrating hotel restaurants is easy and done often. Perhaps talented chefs want a less hurried more focused audience so they avoid places where every scrambled egg will be expensed. However, recently my wife were on business from San Diego and we ate at The Sofitel Chicago's Cafe des Architectes and had one of our most memorable meals ever. And there's no mystery that the energy, artistry, and elegance of the fare is due to Executive Chef Greg Biggers. We had six plates during the evening and each showed the kind of focus and forethought that makes fine food both a great experience and a wonderful memory. On this same trip we ate at Tru and MK. Chef Biggers had distinguished himself at Tru before his arrival at Cafe des Architectes but his current offerings are purely his inspiration. MK and Tru were excellent and we will probably dine there again. But we will certainly dine at Cafe des Architectes as often as we are in Chicago.
(5)
Yvonne B.
This is the magical story of four ladies who treated M for a birthday dinner. We were truly pampered by the phenomenal service offered by Cafe Des Architectes. The food was inventive and burst with complex flavors. With that introduction, let me tell you my tale. I waited in the bar area and mused over the drink menu. Two cocktails caught my eye: the Bee's Knees and the Old Fashioned. I asked the server if they were martinis. No, they're not, but they'd be happy to make them into martinis just for me. In fact, he offered to bring me mini versions of each! I was afraid that double fisting would give off a lush impression so I said that I would start with the Bee's Knees and get the Old Fashioned later. I was still sipping the Bee's Knees as all of us assembled in the bar. Another server gathered our glasses on a tray and carried them for us to the table. It was so nice to seamlessly transition from bar to table. We did not have to worry about paying for our drinks there or anything. What a treat. One of my friends noticed the five-course tasting menu for $75. We were interested, but a little nervous since one friend is vegetarian. The server didn't know if that was okay and said that he'd ask the chef for us. Despite having a large wedding in the banquet hall upstairs, the chef came out and discussed the five-course tasting menu with us! I was absolutely delighted. Four of us agreed to the five-course menu and my vegetarian friend chose a single appetizer and entree. While seated, I finished my Bee's Knees. A server silently removed it from the table (and without a word) replaced it with the Old Fashioned martini! I didn't even have to ask for it! One of my friends realized that her iPhone no longer had a charge. She asked a server if they happened to have a charger and they brought one to her! Between the chef, my martinis, and now this charger, this place earned it's 5-star rating even before we ate any of the food. Seriously. We each took turns going to the bathroom. The bathroom is on the second floor and has about six alcoves within it with lots of mirrors. It felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland for me, but in a very positive, surreal way. It was constantly clean (a cleaning person was nearby at all times) and the flowers near the basin were fresh, beautiful, and fragrant. Finally, our food was delicious. I loved trying different foods, but that's really not for everybody. M conceded that she would rather simply have an appetizer and entree, but was also pleased with the food in general. What was most impressive about the food is that the chef sent out extra little plates for our vegetarian friend to give her nibbles while everyone else was working on other plates. At the end of our meal I was satisfied, but M was still hungry. She thought that having an entree would have been more filling than lots of small plates. M was so pleased with her experience at Cafe Des Architectes for her birthday dinner that she vowed to return the very next day for the New York Strip Steak dinner! No lie - we're going back again tonight. The end.
(5)
Char Y.
came for the famed burger and thorough enjoyed the experience. the wonderful service, the delicious food, the ambiance, etc. burger - great taste and texture with awesome fries lobster roll - the best in chicago! huge lumps of lobster in a buttery bun will come back!
A pleasant surprise in the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. We did a business dinner with the 5 course Chef tasting menu with the wine pairings. The food and wine choices did not disappoint! We would definitely keep this restaurant as an option on our list. The Tasting was 75.00 per person and the wine pairings were an additional 40.00. The food was presented well and out halibut and filet were cooked to perfection. Highly recommend!
(4)
Eric M.
I like Cafe des Architectes a lot. I have to admit that I often forget about it, but just because it's in a hotel and not on my normal route of going anywhere. The food, though is always great, as is the decor. I've always had good service, too. On my last visit I had a billing issue, but they took care of it right away with no problem. I don't expect perfection with everything, but I do expect things to be fixed when they go awy, and they handled it very well.
My true rating is 3 1/2 stars, only giving this place 3 stars doesn't do it justice. As expected the portions were a tad small but the platings were beautiful. I got the House Made Goat Cheese dish for my first course and it really wasn't anything I expected and it's not something I would get again. My girlfriend ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartar which was a lot better than the appetizer that I ordered. For my main course I got the Maine Lobster and Duroc Pork Belly. The Lobster was only 1/2 a tail and covered in a sauce that I wasn't particularly a fan of but it was still good. I mean it is lobster after all :-) The Pork Belly was amazing. It was the highlight of the meal for sure! I'm not a big dessert guy but I really enjoyed the Pear Gingerbread Tart. Cafe' Des Architectes is very good and I would come back for the Pork Belly.
(3)
Ivanka B.
Food was excellent but the service really almost killed the review for this place. I am a huge Sofitel fan - am even having my nuptials here next May - but the kitchen timing and service in the restaurant really has me concerned. The courses themselves were superb - the chestnut veloute and perfectly seared scallops were divine, as was the sumptuous short rib but entrees next to us were not fired appropriately - one diner finished his short rib before his friend's had even come out. Our first course had the same issue, I wouldn't touch my veloute until my friend was served her salad. A server even asked me if everything was ok because I wasn't eating and only after I told him that I was waiting for her salad did it finally appear, thus my course was cold .... Regardless, presentation is flawless, flavors are layered and delightful - just hope this was a fluke during Restaurant Week since I know it can get kind of crazy busy. Desserts were absolutely beautiful!
(4)
Stella W.
I love their croissants served during brunch! it's the best in chicago! this is huge since i don't usually like croissants coz it's hard to find one that has the right balance of the flakiness and "breadiness"! Their dinner was well executed as well! The food was really tasty. Service is always great and pleasant... So then why 3 stars? Well, the new high-tea they just started having. The tea selection was good. but... They executed the high tea slightly different from the tradition. Instead serving scones/sandwiches/etc on a tower rack, they served savory and sweet pastries on a flat tray. The sweet items were good...but I am a bit disappointed on their savory items. These were prosciuttos on a toast, some kinda creamy cheese on a toast and a smoked salmon puff. Since you need to make reservation for the tea, so I guess they prepared all the food and placed them on the tray they were gonna bring to your table ahead of time. So the bread of the savory items were a bit stale since they have been sitting out. And i was expected to having the tea at their regular restaurant space, but it was actually at their private dining event area, so I felt like I was having a business meals with the white wall and white light. Not too sure if it worths the $30...though the sweet items def. tasted better than those at the Drake or Pennisula...the savory items were as disappointing as those at the Drakes and Pennisula.....hmmm....
(3)
Anne K.
A group of my friends made reservations here last weekend for a wonderful brunch. The menu is woderful, but why in the world did I order a burger? Beats me! Duhh... I would have sooooo much rather order anything else on that superb menu. I don't in general like croissants (spelling?). They're flakey... buttery... gooey... just not my thing. This is first time in my life I ate a croissant and L O V E D IT!!! OMG... I would actually go back and have just that. The service was superb! Our waiter(s) were so helpful and always magically appeared when anyone needed something. The facility is great. It's almost divided into 3 sections, so depending what mood you're in, you can rest assured it will cater to your moodiness. Hightops, booths, tables, quiet and cozy, jazzy and snazzy, it's got it all. Definitely coming back... for whatever the occasion.
(5)
Sruts A.
Having lived in the neighborhood for two years and walking past Sofitel, I never realized therein resided a wonderful French restaurant by the name of Cafe des Architectes! It's a wonderful and chic restaurant on the 1st floor (Le Bar occupies one half of the floor), with outdoor seating when weather permits. You'll be greeted by a very nice Frenchman, led to your table by an Englishman, and then waited upon by Frenchmen and women :) There were several favorites on the menu and between my two friends and I, we picked out some of the best food that the chef could cook up - (appetizers) Escargots, Lemon Ricotta Tortellini and a delicious plate of crab salad (chef's compliments!); (entree) salmon, duck breast, chicken ballantine - all of which were rich in flavor, cooked to delicious perfection... melt in your mouth perfection! And then there was dessert. Ah! Apart from the tower of marshmallows, macaroons (some of the best I've ever had!) and caramels, we ordered the strawberry verrine and apricot cremeux, the first of which was full of tart surprises! I probably also ought to mention the olive cream cheese/butter spread that was served with the bread at the very start of the meal. We spent close to two hours at the restaurant and didn't even realize the time flying by! The staff was fantastic! Courteous and conversing with all the guests with friendly smiles. Go with their suggestions for drinks if you please. I look forward to coming back here!
(5)
A I.
Came here for dinner as part of a business meeting, and had a lovely time. The service was impeccable, the dinners delightful. My halibut was perfectly cooked, the bread selection was unique and delicious, and the portions were just right.
(5)
Mary B.
Our dining experience here was nothing less than one of the best we have had! We were celebrating our anniversary- and the Chef went out of his way to tailor the tasting menu to our food interests. The wine pairing was exceptional-the food was beautiful as well as delicious! The courses came out with nice timing-and although it was a "tasting" menu - each was substantial - not just one bite-cannot recommend this restaurant enough! We have been to some very top rated Chicago "foodie" restaurants - and often disappointed - but not here!
(5)
Meredith K.
For the price, I'd go somewhere else. This is like Zealous but with greener servers. The feeling is like they're using students. The service is nice and friendly but very clunky. For example the salads arrived while we still had the amuse. The bread & butter stayed at our table the entire time. After we finished the dessert I was asked if I was finished with the bread. LOL! Its definitely not stuffy. They did have a lot of pride in what they were doing so I can excuse it not being the ballet that you get at a place like Tru. The food was good but not good enough for the price. The bread and butter was pretty great. The olive tapenade was salty and over powered the bread. I had the tomato watermelon salad while my boyfriend had the sweetbreads with lobster claw. I should not that we were using the Gilt City voucher so had to over off of that menu. That choice hardly seems fair!! He loved the sweetbreads. I was confused by my salad. It was cubes of tomato and watermelon with a random cube of gelatin. Some avocado whip and a greasy tortilla chip. It was eh. It didn't seem to come together but I can't put my finger on what it was missing. It didn't have personality. Then I had the halibut which had moments of greatness. I found the olive tapenade on it again which coupled with capers made it a little over salted. The veggies were perfect. The fish itself was cooked perfectly. Light and crispy on top. My boyfriend had the beef option. He said it was very good. We finished with the milk chocolate blueberry dessert. It was ok. I kind of wish I didn't eat all of it because it wasn't fabulous. Then we got the check from our main waiter who never checked in on us after we ordered so we didn't order another drink. I only owed for tax and tip. He didn't come back to take the payment either! So we left cash. I guess that worked out better for him. Given the large number of fabulous restaurants in Chicago, some with better service, better views, better food - even if the price is more or less - I don't think I'll be back.
(3)
Dawn D.
How I love thee? A friend hosted my 35th bday dinner and I absolutely has the best birthday ever! The decor was delightful, and my seared Alaskan salmon melted like butter. The waitstaff were lovely. It was all so excellent. I excused myself in the middle of my dinner and when I came back my last 3 bites were gone. I was slightly sad only to find, that my dinner was comp'd because of the early pick up. Everyone was chatting so no one realized my plate was gone. No worries though- I enjoyed every bit of this experience and will definitely return soon.
(5)
Jamie B.
Outstanding service AND outstanding croissants (the most winningest combo, in my book). I can't think of a place I've been recently where every single person I encountered (from the Sofitel valets to the cafe host) was so professional, courteous, and friendly.
(5)
Julien D.
Great restaurant, and great brunches. I stay regularly at this hotel, and I never find it inconvenient to eat at their restaurant. Indeed it is consistently of same quality, the food is always cautiously put together in the healthiest ways. Portions are reasonable and it is all about balance. This is true for taste, presentation, and quantities. The staff is always nice and here to help. They are always ready to make anything they can in order to fit your dietary restriction or wishes. Even if the request had nothing to do with the menu.
(4)
Olivia L.
I made a last-minute dinner reservation at Cafe des Architectes via Savored. It was a late night in the middle of the week, so there were plenty of open tables. But the reservation gave us a hefty discount, so why not? The decor is very modern and chic. My bf and I were offered a seat by the windows. Usually when people sit at opposite ends of a table, one person has a great view of the restaurant while the other simply has a wall to stare at. Not so at Cafe des Architectes! The full-length windows give a great view to the latter person. There were 3 types of bread to choose from, served with butter and an olive spread. It's nice to have choices! My bf and I settled on the Cheese Ritual as an appetizer to share - 7 cheeses of the chef's selection (more choices!). The dish had a good range of cheeses, some sharp, others creamy. There was one blue cheese that was a bit too powerful for me to enjoy. The cheeses were also served with small strawberries, which packed a lot of flavor, and madeleines, which seemed unusual... After a palate-cleansing, complimentary watermelon puree, my bf ordered the prime ribeye while I had the rabbit. The prime ribeye looked perfectly cooked (rare). The rabbit came prepared three ways, all deliciously tender and juicy. This was my first experience eating rabbit, and it was unlike anything I have ever tasted before. Simply life-altering. Dessert was a whole other meal unto itself! I had the cherry blossom panna cotta, which was bursting with sakura flavor, and my bf had the rhubarb baba. After ordering the dessert, the waiter brought out a tower of complimentary mini desserts: chocolate truffles, raspberry jelly candy (too sweet), and pistachio macarons. What really puts Cafe des Architectes at the top, though, is the service and atmosphere. All the servers, from our French waiter to the guy refilling our water, were incredibly friendly and professional. The restaurant itself was very intimate - I would love to return for another experience!
(5)
Corinne M.
I've been here for brunch several times and my favorite part about it is the great and well lit dining space and the tasty pastries that come with brunch. I mean it, this place is classy in delivery, even the coffee press is chic. The food however, is only so-so-- as in average. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, but for a French hotel, it definitely doesn't live up to the stereotype of fabulous French cuisine. All that said, it's good and I always come back, because it's such a pretty place to come and meet up with friends over breakfast on the weekends.
(3)
Zand S.
I would say this place is good to try out once but as far as going back there again? no thanks. I wasn't impressed with their lunch menu. We had diver scallops, I believe scallops at the restaurant cross the street is much better...We also had Chicken tartine and Amish chicken with maple whipped sweet potato. The Amish chicken with whipped sweet potato was excellent, and even though I would give it 4/5 points still the experience and the food wasn't impressive enough to draw me back to that place. We have too many restaurants and places to try out.
(3)
Megan G.
I was at tea with Carolynne and Unity, but while they both gave this tea 4 stars, I have to say it was definitely only a 3 star experience for me (I've always suspected Carolynne and Unity were nicer people than I am...) I was excited when we entered the Sofitel's lobby. It is lovely and plush and filled with fresh flowers. I gazed eagerly towards the dining room...only to realize tea was held in a different room. It was also lovely, but definitely less plush and was pretty loud (a wall of glass windows + bare walls = noise bouncing all over the place). Cafe Des Architectes has a nice selection of teas available (8 to be exact) and offers red, white, green and traditional black teas. A nice touch is that a sample of the teas are brought to you so you can sniff them before making a selection (except they all smelled very similar to my nose...possibly from having been stored in together?) Your tea is brought loose leaf in an individual pot and timers are placed on the table so you know for how long to allow the tea to steep. Others have mentioned only getting one pot of tea, but the waiters repeatedly offered to refill our pots with water - I'm not sure if this is a new practice. Tea snacks are brought out with your tea. For us, there were 3 savory and 4 sweet pieces each. And pieces they were - as others have mentioned, everything was bite sized. Tea offerings are typically less than a full meal, but I think this was the smallest volume of food I've ever seen offered at a tea. The sweet selections were better than the savory but neither was mind-blowing. Overall my biggest problem with Cafe Des Architectes tea is the price point. We had the $15 Living Social vouchers and if this tea were always $15, it would be an amazing deal. Even $20 would be totally reasonable. At the normal $30 price, it isn't worth it - that's on par with some of the more expensive teas in town and those offer posher settings and more/better food. But tea service here IS new - I'll be keeping my eyes on subsequent reviews to see if Cafe Des Architectes either steps up its game or lowers prices to match their offerings.
(3)
Paul H.
Great food and service, a must visit!
(4)
Michael C.
Brunch was fantastic! The quiche was superb, service impeccable. The menu is quite well laid out and has many options for the brunch crowd. Especially nice during the week. The only downfall is the coffee, although served table-side and in a french press, the flavor was lacking, it was akin to airline coffee, which was frustrating, but a nice to have it pressed table side If you are near gold coast, I encourage you to stop in and check it out. A little more expensize breakfast than Starbucks, but for 18+tip, it's well worth it! Enjoy!
(5)
Polly M.
A friend recommended this restaurant and we were disappointed. :( 2 of us want to try the duck entree and they were out of duck. They ended up w/fish dishes, yet the fishes were overcooked. I ordered the rabbit dish and there were sand in the vegetables. We ended up paying $80/person (a drink, entree, dessert, tax, and tips). Very disappointed...:(
(2)
Bryan B.
We went on a Sunday night and had the opportunity to take advantage of their prix fixe meal. I was worried b/c sometimes the portion size on these meals can be light. I was wrong. Each portion was a very nice size and it did not seem like they scaled it back for the deal. We also got our dinners with the wine pairing for each course and I thought the wine choices were excellent. Spot on. My only complaint which I saw also on here was the lack of a coat room or them offering. They do have one but they are not proactive about it. They only way they were taking coats is if you asked about it. For $43 each person w/ wine for the prix fixe cannot be beat. Service was great and they did not rush us on a slow Sunday night.
(4)
Mopsie B.
Confession: I am a Sofitel devotee and just about everything they do is the best in my view. That said, I went to Cafe des Architectes as a patron and not as a hotel guest last weekend, alone. I brought a book and a craving for croissants on a warm Saturday afternoon. All I can say is, once again, the staff of the Sofitel exceeded my expectations. They literally never say no. I had a mimosa, and the egg white omelette and lots of lovely pastries and fruit. All for $27? How worth it is that? Granted, I was witness to a lot of pretension on the part of the guests but Sofitel can't help whom it attracts. It was refreshingly free of a crowd and the staff goes so far as to offer newspapers to those of us dining solo. Class, all the way. My husband and I will be back to stay soon.
(5)
Chi-foodie A.
I just started Yelping a few weeks ago! but Ihave been plenty of times to this Restaurant and , so far one of the most luxurious places i ever been and their Menu constantly changing at least the times i been is always something different, i personally appreciate it that. Decor is beautiful , high ceiling a big white chandelier , metal all over and gorgeous velvet and red walls, the minute you walk in it just takes your breath away Server was knowledgeable, he described everything on the menu and very attentive we started with the scollop is was so good that we order a second one... you could taste how fresh the scallops were nice and tender as well the baby octopus nicosie with purple potatoes i wasn't so interesting on the purple potatoes but it sounded good !!!they were great. Entrees Seared Tuna with celery pure and Fillet Mignon with sweet potatoes and herbs. It was cook to our request . perfection is not the word! Cafe des Architectes it exceeded our expectations but i am not finish.. the best part love the wine list and try a couple. Pascual Toso Malbec Mendoza.... and tasty Clous Do Bois their Champagne as well is great and for dessert something a never had caramel cremeux yes thats rigth a popcorn sherbet delicioso i will definitely joint them once again and again
(5)
Diana R.
I came here during restaurant week because lets face it, in this economy.... But I digress, Our waiter was great! He was albanian and had little side stories to tell us that were funny. He also recommended a few of the best things off the menu. My appetizer was the duck confit... it was delicious and pretty big for an appetizer at a swanky downtown restaurant. This is also coming from a person who doesn't like duck. I kind of want some now. Entree: I ordered the steak medium. and i will order steak medium for the rest of my life because it was darn good. Dessert: Now this is where it gets really good. The pistachio dome... it sounds weird but this dessert will get me to commit murder. I would kill for another slice. so so good! Also, the waiter stated that the chef enjoyed doing the menu so much that they have EXTENDED restaurant week for another week! Until March 7th! If you go, invite me!
(5)
Rafael C.
It took restaurant week and good company to finally get me to Cafe Des Architectes and I'm glad for it. I liked what I saw on the prix fixe menu and gave it a go. The service was excellent as the waiter was very friendly and outgoing. He also filled in the blanks when we needed some sound advice which worked out well. It's amazing how sometimes you don't get good service at the more pricier places but not so this night. This guy was in top form! My choices for the evening were: The Swan Creek Farm Pork Belly, Gnocchi and the Floating Island. The pork belly was very nice and a good start. The Gnocchi was excellent and I loved how flavors from the dish combined real well. The dessert was my least favorite as I decided I like dense desserts compared to this very light dish. I did also love the layout of the restaurant after I got over how small the place was. It was decorated with a very nice, modern and clean look. Coat check and free valet parking was a nice bonus. If I had a knock, I'd say that the portion size is a little underwhelming considering the prices they charge. For the time being, I'm just going to assume that they may have skimped a little because of the special menu that week. Either way, the food tasted great and the service was top notch.
(4)
Chinwe N.
I came to Cafe des Architectes for a NYE dinner with family and friends. I have only eaten a French meal one other time, so I wanted to visit more restaurants.I went to grad school at Loyola down the street, so I would pass this place all the time. It always looked modern and swanky, so I was excited to see what it had to offer. The hotel is beautiful and the restaurant was impeccably presented with great lighting, a beautiful tablescape and great overall ambiance. Food: There was a prix-fix e menu with 5 courses and an a la carte option. The prix-fixe was $85, but my sample wine-flight (5 options of 3 reds, whites, or champagne) with appetizer, entree and dessert off the a la carte menu, were cumulatively cheapter than that . The food however was pretty succulent, no complaints here ;-) I had the Mushroom veloute soup which was divine! The rack of lamp was delicious, but this chef interpreted medium well more pink than I'm used to. I finished with the Chocolate Pistachio Dome. The meal was very very rich but I love savory food so no disappointments. I sampled food off the prix-fixe menu my sis ate, there were items on that menu that weren't available a la carte, the short ribs with foie gras was exquisite! Service: The service is what downgrades my 5 star review to 4 stars because it was problematic. We spent over 3 hours here, with a 2:1 ratio of waiting for our food vs. eating. We ran through two bread baskets (had to refuse the 3rd, we wanted our food!) and the chef sent out a beet salad with goat cheese to apologize for the wait. For spending this kind of money, I expect the service to be on par with the food, which it was not here. Overall: Definitely great food, ambiance and location. The hotel service is top notch, you can valet your car for free if you're eating dinner (unheard of downtown) and the bathrooms are very cute. Definitely worth a trip if you can devote time to savoring your company and meal.
(4)
Emerson C.
I had dinner here with a couple of friends. The portions are ultra small.. but I must say.. very well prepared. I had the Lobster and mango salad with organic avocado tian, citrus cream and black caviar. The mango compliments the Lobster and the Citrus cream that was topped on it. The salad was so so.. nothing extravagant, but try the NY Strip Steak. The meat was succulent. So tender and was made just right. I love spreading steak sauce all over my steaks, but this one didn't need one drop. Just the preparation was excemplary. I tried the wine trio.. one white, one red, and the last with the desert was a port wine. They complimented each course. A definite place to drop by if you are looking for a snazzy French Bistro
(4)
Avital l.
this is a very nice place the service is very good the prices are not bad I love the atmosphere, a great place for couple to have a romantic dinner or a special date. I will come back
(4)
jenn m.
I was not impressed with this restaurant in the Sofitel Hotel at all. Sure it was fancy and "french", but my experience proved less appealing. Our usual Perriot Gourmet restaurant wait was insanely long, so we decided to venture out and try to find another place for breakfast one particular early summer afternoon. We settled on the Sofitel, both being French food fans. I recall ordering a crepe style breakfast with grilled fruit and a cafe mocha. The Crepe breakfast was fancy, but certainly not filling and the "cafe mocha" was served as a tiny shot of espresso with some chocolate in it. Needless to say I left hungry, jittery and not very happy.
(2)
K B.
Wonderful service and ambiance, but the food is not quite five-star. Perhaps it was because my entree, a duck breast was a bit over-done when it was supposed to be medium-rare, I do feel that a restaurant of this caliber should not make such a rookie mistake. The wine list was very limited as well, with the least expensive bottles starting at over $55 - for a bottle of white, I think this is pretty absurd. To be fair, 3 of our 4 courses we enjoyed were very good (the lobster salad is amazing!), and we will be back. Our server was extremely attentive and very charming and made our experience quite memorable by singing an Edith Piaf song during the dessert course (it was Valentines Day weekend). The space itself is beautiful and I would come in just for the ambiance, perhaps to have a drink at the lovely lit-up bar.
(4)
Marcos L.
Decent grub. A little too shmancy without quite enough fancy for the buck if you ask me. For starters we had some stuff like chicharron, only undercooked and itty-bitty and 40 times the price at Mekatos, but tasty as hell. The beef was delish. Duck was a good deal, relatively. Very hot mamitas at adjacent table; hard to pay rapt attention to my own dining companions. Dessert was sort of chewy. Cocktails rocked, but at these prices they damn well better rock. In fact, I think they should throw in some kind of shoulder massage or something. Anyway, if you have stacks of dough and like to put on the dog, this is as good a choice as, well, several others. If you're dating a 22-year-old from Chicago Heights, she will definitely be wowed - you are getting in tonight, tiger!
(3)
Arnab M.
I see that the Sofitel's bistro has mixed reviews, but frankly, I've had few complaints with my numerous dinners here, but I've yet to have breakfast and lunch here, perhaps it sucks then? Their menu is fairly varied, the French fusiony cuisine is pretty good, and their service is quick. They don't have a whole lot of vegetarian options though. Like any fancy hotel restaurant, it is grossly overpriced, but oh well, it's not like I was paying for it... Oh, the desserts are SCRUMPTIOUS!!! Me likey...
(4)
Randall B.
Wow! This place was Phenomonal. A weekend in Chicago, dinner at Nomi and PaneCaldo, but CafeDes Architectes?CDA was the BEST. Fantastic wait staff, excited and very knowledable about the food. Wow, I can't believe how nice this place was. The ambiance was great! The food was so good I never wanted it to end. I can't say enough about CDA. If you think you have had great food in Chicago, you must eat here as I think it is the best meal I have ever had here! The chef menu was a bargain at only $42 for three course dinner. However, the Fois Gras and the rack of lamb is terrific, and not to be passed up. Oh, almost forgot the wine list is well thought out and reasonably priced. They have wine flights are a bargain and worth exploring!
(5)
Holly C.
This places seems a little expensive, but when you consider that your brunch includes orange juice, coffee and an amazing basket of pastries (croissants, pan au chocolat, and other fruity pastry things) it doesn't seem quite so bad. The service was pretty good but not amazing - it was super busy though. The food was really good, I had the ham and gruyere crepes and my friend had the crab cakes benedict, they were both very good. With a couple of drinks each, tip and food we paid about $40 each but you could definitely go cheaper if you don't drink.
(4)
Wilt C.
Overpriced for very ordinary food. Any sidewalk bistro in Paris does it better and at a lower price. Beware hotel restaurants.
(2)
Gfiddy F.
Chic et magnifique.
(5)
Liz L.
I went here on a thursday evening and the place was completely empty. Yes, it was a thursday but it was still dinner time for goodness sake. The interior design was chiq and modern, only if the food was such as well. I went with the prix fixe menu. I had scallops for appetizer. The presentation was decent, the scallops were seared perfectly and the sauce wasn't overwhelming. If only there was more than ONE scallop. I feel like this was an in-between restaurant's attempt to seem like fine dining, but it just came across as annoying. Had the beef tenderloin as an entree. This portion was just fine, too bad it was unbelievably salty. It tasted like something from a high school dining hall. Had the ginger souffle for dessert, which was pleasant. It tasted of authentic, real ginger but wasn't overwhelming. Being in the price range between casual and fine dining does not give you the right to have your food have an identity crisis between low and high quality. There are plenty of restaurants in this area that give you a better money's worth.
(2)
Brett K.
Came expecting a mostly likely amazing but ungodly overpriced brunch and to my surprise found the former without the latter. Don't even look at the a la cart menu, just come and get the the CDA brunch sampler, for the quality, what a deal! $25 for a three ring circus of flavors and presentation. Start with the already included bread and muffin basket, I could have stopped with three more of these but then the flood gates open... orange juice and coffee, a trio of shots of exotic fruit juices with a piece of the fruit accompanying each, a smoked salmon dish, brioche french toast with caramelized apples, a caviar avocado and pistachio (thats right) patty, scrambled eggs bake with chorizo and to top it off a sampler of some of the best french pastries you've ever seen/tasted. I would give every item on that list 4 or 5 stars no problem . Now if that's not a deal, I don't know what is. Service was awesome and the atmosphere is very chic but comfortable and laid back.
(4)
Michael C.
Stylish, good portions, attentive service. When I took prospective clients there the other day they had a large and pretty loud group that would have been better placed in a private dining room. It was pretty expensive and we didn't have any alcohol. I had the salmon salad, which came with a generous portion of avocado!
(4)
Bernard D.
I have dined here about a dozen times over the years. The menu changes, the quality does not. I may have had an "ok" salmon dish once, otherwise, I have always been thrilled! Service is impeccable (maybe because I speak French, but still). Waiters are invisible, but somehow always there when you need them. The food is interesting, fresh, rich, fun! Save room for desert; the current chef has some realy tasty treats and the presentation is beautiful. I recommend making a reservation and asking for a seat at the window. The view is not particularly great, but it feels like the right place to be in this room. Cafe des Architectes is not for everyone. It serves really French food. The menu is usually limited. The portions are just right; no Chicago style family sizes here. And you'll have to spend a little to get the full experience. Have three courses, and wine, and be ready to spend up to $100 per person. If you want to sit down for a relaxed long meal and enjoy quality French in Chicago, you will not be dissapointed.
Have come for dinner in the main dining room, afternoon tea in the banquet room to the right of the elevators, and just for drinks at Le Bar. It's part of the Sofitel - this location is well-appointed, elegant, contemporary with a soaring lobby. The entire staff is exceptional and perfect, exactly as expected from a luxury hotel, and I love that so many of them are French, so I can chatter away with them (with a bad accent). The dining space is very chic, and the food is very good. Of course, I can't find the other pics except for the tea from a year ago, but I'm still posting them since they really showcase the caliber of this restaurant.
(4)
Mai S.
Revisited on 6/13/13 on a dinner date! The wait staff remembered me and was most courteous. Food was exceptional as before and chef sent out complimentary a La Blanche (sp??) wonderful cream desert!! Exquisite view from inside and outside to the terrace dining! We loved the place!!
(5)
Adena B.
I'll admit, I was here a while ago (while we stayed at the Sofitel), but that just speaks volumes about it: it was an exceptionally memorable meal with great service and excellent food. Also, this is the place where I got my non-raw-fish-eating mother to eat tuna tartar for the first time! "What's the big deal?" you ask? SHE LOVED IT, that's what's the big deal! The same woman who cringes at sushi (seriously, something's wrong with her, I know), and scowls at a gorgeous slab of seared Ahi, ATE. TUNA. TARTAR. AND LOVED IT. OK. Glad I got that out of my system. Needless to say, their food is fantastic; get your hands on anything you can, and then order some more. You'll be paying a good amount for it, but it'll be worth it. Trust me.
Brunch is absolutely amazing! We had a wonderful saturday brunch. I hate the salmon pastrami benedict and my fiancee had the berry crepes. Both were amazing. BTW, the coffee and pastries served will make you feel like you are in France.
(5)
Karen A.
Sleek, pricey, elegant but relaxed, excellent gracious service and very good food. Brunch was delightful with a giant basket of croissants, brioche, and other delectables to compliment the wonderful gruyere and spinach omelette I struggled to select from the appealing choices on the menu. My dining companion had the eggs benedict, served with fingerling potatoes and a grilled tomato. My coffee came in a giant press and was excellent as well. This is a classy and mellow place to have a $$ romantic brunch.
(4)
Jenny H.
Located in the magnificent marvel of the Sofitel, Cafe des Architectes was equally as beautiful, warm and super romantique. We were promptly greeted with a "bonsoir" by all the staff in passing. In fashion of all things french, we should've went the bottled approach as our tap H2O harbored some dubious cardboard-esque floaters. Once that was brought to their attention, our server quickly remedied the situation by offering us a sample of varying bottled water throughout the night. With our respective wines, I decided on a prosecco for the evening and perused the Restaurant Week menu SEARED LAMB RILLETTE Wonderfully seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth with a delightful quail egg on top. Contrasted nicely with a small side of greens and cuts of what I could best describe as tiny gherkins. Crisp tiny brioche toasts. PORK BELLY AND SCALLOP The pork belly was rich and luscious. Beautifully accented with a base of polenta. I only wished it was a little crispier. The scallop was well seared with flavorful braised greens. HAZELNUT DACQUOISE I regret not ordering the Vanilla Honey Parfait, as this was a little more muted than I anticipated. I did enjoy the tiny pops of sweet apricot and scoop of refreshingly creamy (perhaps parsnip) ice cream. Cleansing for the palate. The main course was the definite highlight of the meal-- who wouldn't enjoy a delicious meat cake with luxurious layers of adipose and lean carcass? Overall, a successful restaurant week dinner.
(4)
Caroline C.
Have a sweet tooth? Well, not just any sweet tooth, but a gold, diamond bedazzled, hoity-toity crystal sugar tooth? Cafe des Architectes will keep your dentist in business for the rest of your life! I don't have such a tooth, or even an inclination towards sugary things for that matter, but the Dessert Degustation at CDA opened my eyes to a whole new world of sweet, candy land goodnesss that I didn't know existed. The bf and I have gone multiple times now just for the dessert tasting - which for 4 courses, dessert wine or cognac pairing included, is pricey, but is also the best $60/person we've ever spent on dessert in our lives. The first time, we looked at each other after trying each dish and its respective pairing with wonderment, "how is such delicious sugary amazingness possible??" and have not been let down by pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky's creations since. We've actually never had anything off of the regular menu at Cafe des Architectes......but who needs dinner when you can have dessert?
(5)
O.M. R.
Been here last saturday and i was impressed of the following: 1. The prices for brunch: really affordable for a place that feels and looks so pretentious. 2. The food isn't served in those huge quantities that you eat until you're stuffed. And that's a good thing in my book! Didn't like: 1. The restroom was outside the restaurant and on a different floor. 2. Parking inexistent. Typical Chicago...
My wife and I stayed at the Sofitel and decided to dine at the in-house restaurant, Cafe des Architects Despite some trepidation about Hotel restaurants, this was a class above and turned out our best dining experience in Chicago. The food here is exemplary. Definitely French, full of flavour and exceptionally presented. My wife had the scallops followed by salmon. I had heirloom tomato salad for appetiser with Haddock as main course. The tastes were divine. And to cap this off the service was outstanding - would you believe the waiter went on one knee and sang La Vie En Rose to my wife - the complete song! Very romantic. Together with the famed sweets tower we were very pleasantly surprise to receive a complimentary apple cognac. Delicious. If you are looking for a top class French dining experience in Chicago look no further. Note also they gave a great bar for after dinner drinks if you need to kick-on.
(5)
Romana Y.
Opting for a Michelin-recommended restaurant, we arrived at CDA. The Sofitel Hotel is of elegance. The layout, decor, furnishings all left the eyes insatiably hungry. The service was very attentive, the space was open, and the lighting was just right. French cuisine is not of particular interest to me; however, for French, this was exquisitely good. We started off with the fresh burrata and escargots, which were both very rich/creamy and had ample garlic taste. We proceeded with the beet salad, as well as the Baby Bibb salad. The beet salad was decent, but the Bibb salad (fantastic eggplant) was great! I opted for the wild Alaskan halibut, and my date had the rabbit with swiss chard. The AL Halibut was superb, and the mushrooms and turnips further amplified the taste. The rabbit was meaty, and tender, as well, paired with delicate swiss chard. Our dinner was far greater than we anticipated, given we were enticed by the ambiance more so than the French cuisine. Additionally, we had a cheese plate: Langres, Amablu, and Heard it through the grapevine. WOW- Heard it through the Grapevine (hard cheese) was a perfect pair with our apple cognac drinks. The dessert tower was also an artful, and complimentary, surprise! I enjoyed the ambiance, food, decor, and camaraderie enough to arrive here, again, the following week with girlfriends.
(4)
Jennie T.
I came here to try their Restaurant Week lunch menu. The restaurant is located in the Sofitel hotel, and I loved that they greeted me in French. "Bonjour mademoiselle." The winter squash soup is good. The duck confit could be a bit more juicy though-- it was a bit dry. The service was REALLY slow that day. It took them forever to get me my seared arctic char. The entree was really good though. Perhaps it was because I was constantly looking around, wondering about when they were going to bring my food, that the staff came and apologized to me about the wait. They even took 20% off my bill, which I thought was nice... ...Until I think I got food poisoning from this place. Suffice it to say, I'd probably never come here again.
(3)
May Y.
I mainly come to Cafe des Architectes either because I am looking for a quiet place for girls' talk or a last-minute fancy dinner location. Although the food is slightly overpriced here, I like the quiet and peaceful ambiance of this place. It is also quite convenient, since it is just next to the Contemporary Art Museum of Chicago and Argo Tea. I used to like the beet salad and the dessert, particularly the pistachio cake, here. However, after Cafe des Architectes changed its chef last year, the food becomes average. Yet, I would consider coming back, if I have an event in MCA, because of the good service. Here is an example of its excellent service - When my friends and I decided to come here for her birthday the last minute, the waiters immediately arranged a table for a party of six for us. Cafe des Architectes also gave her a cute snowman birthday cake for free, since it was around Christmas time. All of us had a great time. Cafe des Architectes - the place for girls' talk. Food: 2 Decor: 4 Service: 4
(2)
Denny M.
My wife and I stopped in for brunch after church on Sunday. Amazing breakfast. The croissant were fresh, buttery and delightful. Fresh squeezed OJ, eggs are eggs, meat and an awesome pot of french press coffee. While this might not be the place for every day, it might just be the best breakfast in the city. Actually, if I lived in the hood I might have breakfast here every day. I would highly recommend it for a "special" breakfast.
Dinner at CDA is a pleasure. The food is excellent, the wine choices are well thought out and the prices, steep. But. Its properly done and the room is ambient, letting you forget that you're sitting in a hotel lobby - and the staff is well trained, thorough and enjoyable. Great experience. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joyce C.
Came with some lovely folks for Restaurant Week. It is pretty here, but I have agree with Eric V.'s assessment on the entire experience to a tee. None of the food stood out, and especially disappointing for me at least was the desserts. I am a huge fan of Fahy, since he was last at Blackbird. I was looking forward to sampling some of his brilliance at CDA, but alas, all we got a whole bunch of mediocrity, which actually fit the rest of the meal, sadly. Hopefully this is not the typical experience, bur rather occurred because it was RW.
(3)
Bill Y.
We liked the food. Unique. The staff was more than kind. Small portions though. A bit over priced. However, the service made up for it. Make sure you go in the lounge/bar of the hotel.
(4)
Johnny T.
Still fantastic. I think CdA is a restaurant one should experience every season, as the menu changes radically, but always manages to match the weather, food and emotional expectation of the month of dining. Standouts from my most recent meal: Hum cocktail - Hum will always be delicious. In anything. Pair it with fizzy, fruity liquids and you have a winner each and every time. Went down like water. Hit me in the head like Oscar de la Hoya in a wig and fishnets. Sweet Potato Gnocchi - roasted garlic cream and lemon confit make this dish a delight to the tastebuds. I am not at all a fan of the sweet potato (blame Thanksgiving + marshmallows + pineapple + canned yams; hate the stuff) but, for some reason, gnocchi will class just about anything up enough for me to try it. This is an appetizer and is an appetizer portion, but the dish is rich enough that it's surprisingly filling. Beware in a good way. Guinea Hen - this is the second time I have eaten it and I am still not sure about what differentiates it from regular ol' chicken... but whatever it is, I like it. The protein was prepared with maitake mushrooms and boursin polenta. Combine these flavors with every bite. Cut the meat up into little bites and run it through the veggies if you must, but it's not an accident that these profiles were paired with one another. I haven't enjoyed a poultry dish this much in quite some time. Fruit soup - I am too done. Fruit soup? For real? Served cold and with a spoon made up of sugar that you can eat? I apologize to all the members of the Red Hat club I ran out on to Michigan Avenue to slap because this was so good. I couldn't help myself. Service was prompt, professional and delightful as always. I don't have anything negative to say. The fact that CdA could effortlessly transition from one chef to another without the slightest upset to the tongue or overall experience goes to the strength of the concept and the steeliness of the brand. I may only get here once a season but I know that each time I do, it will be an experience to remember and relish.
(5)
Catherine S.
Came here for dinner on my anniversary and had a great experience. I made my reservation on Groupon Reserve and ended up saving some money on dinner which was nice since CDA is an upscale restaurant in the middle of downtown. The restaurant wasn't crowded at all and my boyfriend and I were seated immediately. The service was great with waiters and bussers coming often to refill water, check on how we were enjoying the food, and make sure we were taken care of. We started out with the Cheese and Charcuterie appetizer which I enjoyed. It had a few different local cheeses and meats along with some tasty bread and honey. I had the Amish Chicken Ballantine which was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the Duck Breast which was also very good. I really enjoyed the bread that came with the meal too (sourdough, olive, or multigrain). The pleasant surprises of the night were the complimentary amuse bouche and dessert tower. The dessert tower had the most delicious marshmallow I've ever had! I will definitely be returning soon.
(5)
Nancy L.
If your in the mood for a French style brunch in a modern atmosphere head here. It's in the Sofitel. The dining room is open and light, the service attentive and food is great. As a fan of Eggs Benedict I decided to try the farmhouse Benedict which had the expected hollandaise sauce with poached eggs placed on tender pieces of braised spareribs on a bead of arugula on a slice of crusty sourdough bread. Non of it was on my plate at the end of the meal and my tastebuds were very happy. The kids had Nutella pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes with fresh berry smoothies to drink so they were delighted too. Their fresh fruit was nice. Of course the coffee, croissants, and baguette were all great too but at a french restaurant that should be table stakes.
(5)
Ivy M.
Both the food and the ambience are decent and elegant. Perfect experience. Servers are nice and accommodating.
(5)
Tatyana M.
We didn't expect such a great experience from the hotel's restaurant, but found a real gem. The ambiance, the food, the service, the vibe - EVERYTHING WAS OUTSTANDING! I can't believe they even offer 30% off through the savored.com on the top of such a great experience. That meal was one of the highlights of our "foodie" trip to Chicago. Thank you so much to the Chef's and the whole staff.
(5)
Sharon K.
Went here for my birthday with my boyfriend. The pomegranate martini was one of the best martinis I've ever had! The waiter strongly recommended the halibut , which was pretty good but not amazing. The filet mignon had a strange iron taste to it and even though I ordered medium , it was more like medium-well/well-done. The oysters appetizers and the drinks definitely made up for the entree. Nice restaurant to stop by at if you are in the area.
(3)
Elaine G.
I came here with a friend around 9:30pm on a random, snowy Tuesday after Bistro Voltaire decided to shut down their kitchen since it was a slow day, despite the fact that we had reservations. We were looking for a place that's open late and found ourselves at The Sofitel. Two guys in suits opened the door for us as we walked in (always a nice touch). The interior of the hotel was beautiful - dimly lit and very upscale. A hostess promptly appeared and seated us by the windows. My friend and I both ended up getting the 3-course prix fixe menu ($39). There were only two selections for each course, but everything was super good. Amuse bouche - A pear-based bite with some greens and slices of salami. I hadn't eaten meat in a couple of days, so I liked the salami although the thing was certainly nothing breathtaking. Butternut Squash Veloute - a delicious and creamy bowl of butternut squash soup with spinach meringue and garlic crouton. Roasted Duck Breast - I absolutely love, duck although most of the duck dishes I've had were from Asian restaurants. This dish definitely did not disappoint - the meat was incredibly tender and the flavor was amazing. There were two hearty pieces and a nice touch of broccolini on the side. Sorbet Trio - a trio of I think raspberry, lemon, and orange (I can't remember exactly, so don't call me out on that). It was very light and refreshing. For drinks, I had The Grapefruit Rickey ($15), which had vodka and St. Germain (I'm obsessed with anything elderflower flavored). It came in a super large glass and was very refreshing, although I could barely taste any hint of alcohol. After our meal, the server brought us a complimentary dessert tower. My friend and I were totally stuffed by then, but we don't like to say no to free food. There were 8 bite-sized delicacies of 4 varieties: mini macaroon, mini marshmallow, root beer chocolate (my favorite - even though I don't even like root beer), and another chocolate with filling. Atmosphere: While we were there, there was a group of ladies-who-lunch type, a couple, and a table of middle-aged businessmen. The restaurant (and hotel) seemed very empty - by the time we left around 11pm, we were the only ones there. But we never felt rushed and the service was very professional - attentive without being too in-your-face.
(5)
Al W.
I took my family here for Chef Biggers' Thanksgiving dinner. What a wonderful experience! The food was wonderful, the service excellent and the atmosphere was great. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Kate W.
Great dinner, lovely location. Excellent service. We ate off the de-light menu and were very pleased. Thanks for providing the calorie counts for the food!
(4)
#NAME?
I ate here once for a business lunch a couple years ago and decided to try the place out for dinner-Made reservations at 6:30 and we arrived about 5 minutes late, but we were ok b/c the place was still pretty empty- It's a somewhat small place inside the Sofitel hotel, b/c we were seated near the entrance it felt like a hotel restuarant- FOOD: My husband and I both opted for the Prixe Fix special ($45), appetizer, entree and dessert-Before our appetizers came out we were brought a tiny serving of some duck pastry, I do not like duck, I tried it but pushed it aside- Appetizers:I ordered the Scallop/Short Rib combo, forget the other ingredient in the mix-Scallop was sitting on top of the shortrib and I believe it was a parsnip sauce-It was good, but kind of an odd flavoring pair, the pan seared scallop on top of a sweet/bbq tasting shortrib-My husband ordered the green salad, on top of a squash puree with apple cider dressing, it was a lot of salad and nice and fresh- Entree: We both ordered the skirt steak, I had mine done R, husband agreed he should've had his prepared this way instead of MR-It came with a mushroom puree and cooked mushrooms on the plate-It was good but nothing that amazing that I'll be telling people to order- Dessert: My husband opted for the Chocolate Ribbon; some sort of chocolate thing that came with salted caramel that was poured on top-I got the Pumpkin Coupe, 3 layers of mousse- It was nice but I don't think I'll come back, I mean service was good but there was just something lacking about the place that left me hanging-
(2)
Donna K.
I went to Cafe Des Architects for restaurant week. I went in there not knowing what to expect. I did hear that they have great desserts but I'm not really a dessert person.. The tasting menu had varieties of dishes so my friends and I ordered one of each so we can all sample each other's dish. From what I remember we had the duck and soup to start and it was magnificent. The duck was so tender and flavored so well I forgot what game I was eating for a second. The meat literally fell off the bones. I had the soup and I was presented an empty plate with some garnish sprinkled over it. Luckily, before I opened my mouth and made an ass of myself, the server poured my soup into it from a small glass pitcher. The presentation was unnecessary but interesting, nevertheless. The soup was hearty and rich. I was surprised but I actually was getting pretty full before the entrees came out. My friends ordered the steak (med. rare, of course) and it came out cooked to perfection. Pink in the middle and juicy. I had the fish. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I took a bite and it was slimey and undercooked. The hostess and the server must've seen the look on my face because they rushed over right away and asked if anything was wrong. I HATE sending food back but I told them the fish isn't what I expected. The server was very apologetic and sent it back and I had the chicken instead. The chicken was great, BTW. Dessert was great, too. The ambience of this place beautiful. The lobby is beautiful and the restaurant is romantic and not too dark. I have to give this place 5 stars not just for the delicious food but for the superb service. Everyone in my party (of 6) left full and satisfied.
(5)
Kim N.
Beautiful setting, impeccable service, unique and delicious food. Can you really ask for anything more? I came here last night looking for somewhere delicious to treat myself after many weeks of eating in chain restaurants in the middle of nowhere Indiana. To the hostesses - If there is plenty of room, don't sit 2-tops right next to one another. My hostess quickly corrected and offered to let me move down one, but later on in the night, another hostess sat a 2-top right next to me when there were plenty of other tables. The waiter, Remy, is charming, informative, unobtrusive. At one point, he moved so quickly and quietly, I didn't' realize he was there at all! And I was by myself! On to the food: The varied bread basket is served with butter & olive tapenade (which tastes great with the crusty raisin roll!) I went with the prix fixe and chose Boulliabaisse & the Catch of the Day, which was chilean sea bass. Bouliabaisse was superb. Just a touch creamy with a perfect amount of lemon zest to really make all the flavors sing! It was a perfect portion of mussels, scallops and everything tasted fresh & flavorful. The Chilean Sea Bass was perfectly done as well. Really nice sauce underneath the small, but perfect portion. for dessert, I opted for a vanilla custard with some sort of fruit on top. It was ok. I should have followed the waiter's reco for the chocolate dessert. All in all, Fab food, setting, and service. Definitely check it out! Dessert was a fani
(5)
Chas R.
Great presentation at breakfast. Authentic French pastries. Polished, though sometimes slow service.
(3)
Aurore L.
So - after talking with Pascale (owner of the famous Bonjour Cafe in Hyde Park, possible future employer of your servitor and in the know of all the French places in the city) I learned that even though their croissants are wonderful (and they are - believe me) they are not made there but imported from France frozen and baked on the spot.......... Not quite as impressive then but still pretty damn good!
(5)
Niki C.
My first foray into Restaurant Week & didn't know quite what to expect. The soup wasn't too rich, the gnocci was small portioned but tasty, yet the Floating Island was the best part of the meal. The ambiance is very modern & chic, but the tables are entirely too close together. My date & I were having what was turning out to be a heated (yet still playful) debate about when adults are "ready" to have a child & I felt as if the tables flanking us got quite an earful ... & we were talking quietly. I caught a few people nodding in agreement or smiling at our back-and-forth. Best part, though, was our server Brian. He was friendly & attentive & just seemed genuinely happy to be there.
Simply amazing. Went there for our 15th wedding anniversary. We got the prime rib and the pork tenderloin. Both were magnificent. The chef does an amazing job with contrasting flavors and textures. The beet salad and cheese plate were also superb. A true culinary adventure!
(5)
Claire Y.
Certainly a nice, upscale restaurant with all things French (even the waiters). The food was great (not necessarily stellar) with the very artsy-fancy presentation that is expected of such a place. The service was elegant and adequately attentive. Located within the Sofitel, it's got that chic-modern ambiance with a touch of old-world elegance. A nice place to impress a date (though, quite frankly, there are better, tastier options in the area). There are no restrooms within the restaurant -- you have to walk across the hotel lobby and take the elevator to the 2nd flr. Nice bathrooms. After all - this is a classy hotel.
(4)
Jeanus T.
Second time to this place. The first was a couple years ago for the Chicago restaurant week. I remember them being better back then! What happened since? I had the 3 courses and the salmon was tiny and flavorless! Every dish was so tiny that I was still hungry after 3 courses and half a bottle of pinot! The two stars are basically for the service. The staff is superb! But they need a new executive chef!
(2)
Carolynne M.
Cafe Des Architectes offers an afternoon tea (which appears to be relatively new, as there was nothing written about it before the Living Social deal was offered in November '11 and only the most vague info on their website now). Anyway, a $15 tea was too good of a deal to pass up, so a bunch of us grabbed the deal and went yesterday to check it out. First up, the tea service is not held in the main dining room. Which made me a little sad at first, because the restaurant looked just lovely. We were shown instead to what seems to be a private dining room just off the lounge area. While not as nice, it is a comfortable, modern room with a wall of windows that look onto the street. Interesting details about this tea that I have not seen at other places: -there is a long glass tube with indents along one side, and it holds about 6 different sugars. You have to ask which is which, since it is not marked, but it is a conversation starter for sure and fun to experiment with each type. -there is an hourglass with 3 settings on the table that will time your brewing of the tea for you. The green one is for weak tea, the white is the recommended time, and the red is for strong tea. Very helpful since once I get talking I tend to lose track of time. -they bring out a wooden box with all the teas inside so you can see and smell each one, which does make for an easier time selecting (rather than blindly choosing based on the name). I went for the Sencha Scent of the Mountain, which was a lovely, mild green tea. -the treats come out arranged on a bamboo tray rather than the traditional stacked plate holder. I wish there had been a menu given to us, or it listed on the website, because I would have liked to remember what each of the items we had were. I know for the sweets there was a tiny creme puff, one was a purple macaron, one was a lemon/chocolate petit four and something that tasted like a firm whipped creme within a pastry shell. The savory items were a prosciutto on toast, a salmon puff and a cucumber something on bread. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. When asked for certain things (like milk or more hot water), it was brought promptly. I love afternoon tea and am glad I had a chance to experience a slightly different take on it.
(4)
Jessica T.
Brunch is so fantastic here. Hardly any wait, delicious food (there was tourchon de foie gras on my waffles!), and excellent service. More expensive than most brunch places, but it includes pastries, fresh juice and coffee. Chic atmosphere, and the entire staff at the Sofitel is welcoming, whether you're a guest or not. I cannot stress enough the recommendation!
(5)
Rachael Z.
Their brunch is much better than their dinner. Their crepes are the best I have ever had in my life but their venison and rabbit is good but not spectacular...it was a bit on the dry side. However, the ambience, the great staff and amazing hotel make up for even the slightest mistake. It is French cuisine, so do not expect a rib sticking dinner. The absolute must have date night place or high scale ladies night out. The staff was so nice that they actually presented me the chair to sit on, will ask you right away if you want the staff to hang your coat, and come out with the wine list. It is not noisy or too uptight for being a fine dining restaurant. I would definetely come back.
My husband and I have had dinner here four times and counting. We were obviously drawn to return to this place by both the food and service. The quality of the food has always been very good, befitting to the standards of Sofitel where the restaurant is located. The food here always seemed like they have been well thought out by the chef. Starting with the basket of breads, there were raisin bread, baguette, and focaccia. A small serving of olive spread is given with the breads. The olive spread was just pure olive goodness. We've tried many different items on the menu and they have been consistently very good. The flatiron steak was tender and well prepared. The tuna tartare was delicious that I ate it on its own without the crisp bread slices that came with it just so I could savor the pure goodness of it. Besides the ala carte menu, they always offer a 3-course prix fixe option. The service here has also been consistently good. Though located at the luxury Sofitel, there's no air of uppity at Cafe des Architectes. It's perfect for a pleasant night for dinner that you don't necessarily have to wait until there's a special occasion.
(5)
Boon K.
i love the space and it was the perfect place to go for a romantic dinner. I had the Ahi Tuna with white tuffile oil since I thought it was a interesting combination. It was light and the chef really thought about texture. I like the sear of the tuna, the crispy eggroll like mushroom, and the fresh watercrest salad on top. Just perfect. Foie Gras nothing so unique but still good. My bf had the lamb and I like it too but I think he like my dish more. They also gave us a little take home box with chocolates & cookies. It was perfect because after dinner went to a show and had after.
(4)
Daniel M.
Reserved for our Christmas dinner on eve - the host took us to our table after looking at us from up to down. Once we were seated, give us our menu and left - we still have our coats and didn't know where to put them except on our seat. ( -1 ) We order our wine and place our $65 per person 3 course prefix dinner. We waited for our food and here comes appetizers - just a second after it the server realized and brought out the bread and butter. ( -1 ) We had duck and sea bass which were good portion and taste very well but not at this price. ( -1 ) The desserts maybe the best thing we had at the whole dinner. We didn't realize until other tables were leaving ( the wait staff there were asking each guest for their jacket/coat color) that - we and other Asian tables were not offer to take our jacket away. ( -1 ) The food maybe great, but in Chicago, you can get just as great food elsewhere for better price and the service just ruin our Christmas dinner. ( -1 ) To summarize - we just feel discriminated ( we pay the same $ than the next guy - why do we get treated differently?!?!) Well, needless to say, there are soooo many places we can go for much better food and way much better service.
(1)
Ela G.
I came to Cafe Des Architectes for their new Afternoon Tea offering, having learned about it through the Living Social deal. I had just been in London a few months ago and had afternoon tea at Harrod's...now they do it up right. Unlimited tea, with unlimited delicious tea sandwiches, scones w/clotted creme, macaroons, the works! Here in America, apparently we do it a little differently...Normally this tea service is $30.00, but with the living social deal it was $15. It includes one pot of tea per person and a tray of savory and sweet items, each person gets one piece of each item. The ambiance in the restaurant is great, but unfortunately, this tea service needs to iron out some of the kinks. For the living social price, it's a good deal in theory. For the full price, no way. First of all, only one pot of tea per person? Wait, where am I? What is this? ...cause I thought it was Afternoon TEA! How about hooking me up with as much tea as I want, it's TEA, not gold! Secondly, there were way too many sweet options and very teenie tiny savory options. 4 out of the 6 items were sweet. Not to mention, the savory options were miniscule....the smoked salmon puff pastry was DELICIOUS, but it was the size of a nickle and the smoked salmon was the size of a dime...come on people?! Stop nickle and diming me! I know tea time shouldn't qualify as a meal, but one cannot survive on sugar alone! The sweet options were on the whole well-made, but I felt completely sick after eating hardly any savory options and all that sugar. I wish I had some more tea to wash all this sugar and creme down...but sorry, no cigar. I will say the variety of different sugars (raw, rock, cane, etc.) on the table to accompany the tea was a nice touch, and the teas they carried were interesting and of good quality. The shortbread cookies, Sage and Lemon, were also amazingly buttery and delicious. Unfortunately I just will not be re-visiting Cafe Des Architectes for tea again until they: 1. Offer more tea for afternoon tea... 2. Offer a more reasonable proportion of savory items 3. The sweet items should have more variety, consider more substantial items like scones as opposed to the same creme/fillings/goo just in different forms and colors.
(2)
Janet W.
I came here for a prix fixe dinner on one of their busy nights. I liked their interior decor... the lights by the bar change color and look really cool. Our waiter welcomed us with some French which was cute. The 2 person tables are spaced a little too close. I could hear the conversations of the two couples seated on both sides of us. Overall though, service and atmosphere were good for how many people there were. I had their bouillabaisse (mussels and lobster) for the appetizer and a beef entree. The appetizer was reeeeeaaaly good. The main dish and desert were good too, but given the price range, they were just average. So now that I've said a bunch of good stuff about this place, why only 3 stars? My problem with the place is: I WAS STILL HUNGRY AFTER THE MEAL I can see this place being good for groups or business meals when you don't want to get full and you don't say things that are too private or inappropriate to be heard.
(3)
Annie R.
I visited Cafe Des Architectes on the last day of restaurant week, here in Chicago. They provided 2 menu options ($33 and $44) and we each chose from one menu. I would say that the items with the $44 option are definitely worth it! $44 menu, we ordered: braised beef appetizer, grouper entree, and chocolate/passion fruit cake for dessert. The dessert was INCREDIBLE! perfect balance of sweet and sour! the braised beef was soft and full of flavor, and the grouper was fried just perfectly crispy on the outside, but fresh and flavorful on the inside. Overall, loved the place, the service, and the food. I would consider returning, especially for the dessert options! The Sofitel Hotel itself is also an interesting place to visit!
(4)
Chloe Z.
had a great waiter. upon my inquiry, he offered some great off-the-menu cocktails. so sweet! Yet in the end I went with the Backyard Blackberry Margarita. The thyme with the drink is a bloody brilliant idea! The drink came off as aromatic, striking a perfect balance between spice, alcohol, and berries Do try their cherry matcha dessert! It beats everything I'd had in any Japanese/Asian/French restaurant in both the US and Asia. Will def go back to explore more dishes on the menu.
(5)
sam g.
The setting is definitely up scale, unusual, and interesting. After that it only gets worse. The service was sub par. They tried to seat us at a terrible table. When we asked if we could have a different one, they agreed it was not such a great table and gave us a much better one. I know that someone has to sit at the bad table, by why try and pawn it off on us? During the meal they continued to interrupt, trying to grab our plates. It was not conducive to enjoying a great meal. But, in this case, since the meal wasn't that great - maybe they had an excuse? The food was blah. Not a single one of us had a dish that we really liked. The vegetarian entre was the worst - essentially a plate of mush. The presentation of all the dishes was haphazard at best - not fitting with decor. For the price, it was terrible.
I chose this restaurant for a special occasion, and I was underwhelmed. While the sofitel is a beautiful hotel, the restaurant doesn't really do a good job of separating itself from the hotel--the whole time I was there, I just felt like I was dining in a hotel. This is largely in part because the restaurant is very open-- which I normally appreciate open spaces/high ceilings, but despite the fact that the architecture is spacious, the seating is not. We were practically sharing our dinner with the couples on either side of us. There is not much seating in the restaurant, and the primary backdrop of the restaurant space is the hotel lobby. Beyond the ambiance, the food was good, but not great for the price. There were no flavors or unique menu items that really stood out to me. So yes, this is an upscale place to dine and the sofitel is beautiful, but it's definitely not a foodie place and don't expect any stand-out things on the menu.
(3)
Jennie C.
Well I finally made it back to CDA for their real food...I mean dinner. Ok, maybe not the regular menu since it was restaurant week. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it. Started out with the lamb rillette, which was my least favorite dish of the evening, as the lamb, though tender, was too gamey for my taste. Fortunately, the evening improved with every dish that followed. The duck breast had a beautiful smokey flavor, and the persimmon puree was intriguing (buttery-smooth yet so much more complexity than standard mashed potatoes), the cauliflower added crunch and welcomed acidity. And the dessert, how could I not talk about dessert from my favorite pastry chef? I got the hazelnut dacquoise, which a a joy to look at and equally pleasing on the palate - light and airy cake with perfectly toasted hazelnuts, banana cream and coffee ice crystals. His desserts are always so balanced I can't get enough of it. My only complaint was the price. The RW menu was $44, which I usually associate with luxurious additions such as foie gras or steak, but these were not found anywhere on the menu. I'm sure they use excellent ingredients, but so do other restaurants of similar caliber. So I'd say their food is slightly over-priced, especially given the small portion size (not sure if it's due to RW). Having said that, I appreciate the creative mix of flavors and beautiful presentation. And I'll always be back for dessert!
(4)
Angela M.
CDA delivered a winning restaurant week menu! I dined with a large group, and it was the first time at CDA for most of us. I had the squash veloute (i.e. soup) with duck confit. Amazing - the salty, rich duck confit added the perfect balance to the silky soup. And they had a polished table-side service where the servers poured the soup from a gravy boat over the duck that was already in the bowl - very fancy! The main entree is what earns CDA a 4 - rather than a 5 - in my book. I ordered the scallop and pork belly. I know it is French food, but the plate was WAY too rich. Even the scallop, which can be prepared very light and fresh, was heavy and overwhelming, likely because of copious amounts of butter it was cooked in. There wasn't anywhere to turn for relief - my sides were boursin cheese-laden polenta and braised greens.. heavy, heavy, heavy. I enviously eyed my friend's fish - why did I decide I wasn't in the mood for fish tonight? - as I choked down as much as I could of my fatty pork belly. It was delicious, to be sure, but the kind of delicious I can only handle a few bites of. But then came dessert, and the heaviness of dinner vanished immediately with the light, ethereal perfection on my plate. I ordered the vanilla honey parfait which I'm pretty confident was by far the best dessert offering (not that I tried the others...). It was a deconstructed take on parfait. There were so many intricate components carefully scattered on the plate and I didn't even know what half of it was, but it was amazing and delicious - one of the best desserts I've ever had. One piece completely airy, dissolving instantly and the next bite a burst of citrus flavor. Incredible. I also had a cocktail called "Angela Fresh" which was made with tequila - strong and delicious. Overall, a memorable dinner and a spot I would go back to.
(4)
Dee C.
Winter salad: spiced ricotta, braised apples, frisee lettuce. Honey foam was amazing with this salad dish. Loved this amazing salad. Roasted beet salad: blood orange, goat cheese, and radish. This is a great, "cute" restaurant in the sofitel hotel. It has very modern decor. Dark chocolate ganashe was a great desert. Being a vegetarian is very hard, but they were accomodating...and I didn't know if they would be since it was restaurant week and they had their special menu. This place is pricey.....could easily be $100 for two with a drink each. Drinks are pricey. We stuck to our three course meal and were very satisfied. The salad was so refreshing I can still taste it....the honey foam was oh so amazing. I had steamed vegetables for the main course. They were better than just ok so I was happy. I would go again. I would need some sort of deal to go again since it can get pretty pricey.
(4)
Lindsey N.
I met up with friends for afternoon tea (two of them had a LivingSocial voucher) at Cafe des Architectes. The decor was delightful, as was our waiter. He was very attentive, but not intrusive. There were 7 or 8 choices of tea (green,black, white, and red) and all of my "tea-mates" chose the Paris Blend black tea, which was very nice. The selection of bites were also delicious; mostly sweet, but some savory. The one with prosciutto was perfect, as were the lavender macarons. Other memorable edible elements included a creme puff, passionfruit eclair, salmon puff with caviar, and lemon-basil cookies. I would have liked more of a balance between the sweet and savory items. There seemed to be way more sweet items. Overall, everything was very nice. Elegant, without being stuffy.
(4)
Olivia L.
Impeccable. Elegant. Yummy. With my siblings in town, I really wanted to take them out to a nice place. Although every place I've eaten at were booked for the rest of the night, but we got super lucky and found a just cancelled reservation slot at 7:30 at the Cafe des Architectes. Upon entrance, we were immediately greeted with "Bonsoir."-- although corny, it was still cute. The place definitely was elegant, but with a chic European decor that makes it a tad on the fun side. And despite how loud the three of us are when we are together, it didn't seem to have bothered other people-- meaning the environment is good for slightly louder conversations (or parties of 3 or more), seeing that we still had our privacy and our neighbors did as well. Service was spectacular. The wait staff was so attentive, but yet not intruding. We were greeted with smiles throughout the email and our drinks were replenished quite frequently. Now for the best part- FOODIES! We each ordered different entrees: the rabbit, the lamb and the seared tuna. All three had their distinct style. The lamb was delicious and went so well with a pumpkin puree- deeming an amazing savory and sweet taste. The rabbit was extremely interesting- cooked in three different ways (mmmm!). The tuna was seared perfectly and despite the size of the fish piece-- it was surprisingly filling! We ended the night with the petit dessert platter- which came with madeleines, a macaron with raspberry couli, a mini creme brulee, a mini hazelnut-marshmallow cake and a mini valrhona/espresso cake. It was the perfect sweetness for the three of us- and the variety was amazing (especially the mini creme brulee, which my brother finished off quite quickly!). Bottom line: It's a great environment with great food! Although a bit pricey for the plates, I had a wonderful time.
(4)
Graeme F.
This remains my favourite hotel restaurant in North America for Eggs Benny. Perfect for prior to a business meeting - not heavy at all, which is what its supposed to be. The lightest, tastiest version going. In fact, great for breakfast period.
(5)
Mary J C.
I feel this place deserves to be recognized by Michelin, the execution was flawless, the taste of each dish was a delightful surprise! We tried: - Diver Scallop - with duck confit, curry cauliflower and golden raisins - wow, amazing combination of ingredients. Cooked to perfection - Oysters with pomegranate horseradish - what an invention - Foie Gras - super fresh, perfectly cooked, served with blackberry jam and braised pear - mmmm - Alaskan Halibut - served on baby spinach, with fingerling potatoes and lobster veloute - I was in heaven! For dessert we tried Chocolate Box, served with chestnut mousse, toasted brioche ice cream and fig... yamie :) Pricey, yes but well worth it. Now that sitting outside was available, it was such a pleasure to dine under the Chicago sky at this fantastic restaurant! I want to go back!
(5)
Steven M.
I had the pleasure of eating at CDA recently and I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience, this is a gem of a restaurant. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the hostess and our jackets were immediately spirited off to the coat closet. We were seated at a lovely window table and immediately offered water, bread and a drinks menu right off the bat (why can't every restaurant figure this part out?). We sampled a few of their special cocktails and they were awesome. First time I've had a Sazerac, and it was fantastic! We selected the 7 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. Here's where it got really cool: My GF and I each had different dishes all the way through the meal! So we got to sample about 13 different dishes throughout the meal (only the cheese plate was in common)! A very novel and fun approach. Sara was pretty impressed that they selected Diver Scallop and Duck Breast for her which are two of her all time favorites. How did they know? :-) As the meal progressed we were just blown away by not just the freshness of the ingredients and the wonderful tastes, but also how Chef Biggers harmonized each dish with the next so that it was a wonderful tapestry of flavors. Each dish seemed to compliment the previous one and almost serve as a prelude to the next dish as well. The crescendo for me was the pan seared crusted pork loin which was to die for. It was perfectly seasoned, wonderfully prepared and the complementary flavors from the puree and veggies was delicious. The other great thing was that we had 7 courses but didn't leave stuffed to the point of discomfort, the dishes were full of flavor but not heavy, just light, fresh fresh fresh and tremendously satisfying. In my mind this is how it should be done. The wines were solid although not superstars and the portion sizes were just okay. I would've paid more for a stronger wine list and more generous pours! The decor is great, a very chic modern design and comfy tables. The service throughout the night was amazing, very attentive on all counts, knowledgeable and friendly. As a nice touch, Chef Biggers came by to ask how everything was at the end of the meal. I think the CDA should feel lucky to have him, he's doing great work here. So, does CDA deserve the same rating as Les Nomandes or Alinea? No, but it's not really fair to compare them as those are in a different category and certainly far more expensive. However, CDA earned five stars from me because they provide honest, approachable, FRESH and delicious food with impeccable service & fabulous decor for a reasonable price. Well done, CDA, I'm a big fan.
(5)
Natalka K.
I was here last night with a friend as part of Chicago's Restaurant Week. We had a good table in the middle of the room. We started off with a glass of their Rose Champagne each. Since we chose to do the the prix-fix menu - I had the Poached Pear and Delaware Fireball Salad and my friend had Chestnut Veloute with added scallops. Maine we had the Seared Michigan Whitefish and the Braised Beef Short Rib. Dessert - was the Citrus Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Noir. It was all very delicious! The only way they would get a straight 5 would be their lack of waiters and serves. They brought out my friend's starter, but I was waiting for my salad! At least 10 minutes went by, until they brought it out. Our main courses came out together and so did our desserts. While we were finishing up our desserts, the table next to us, had the same problem. We also had to motion to someone to pick up our check, because they weren't attentive. Hopefully I come back next time, they will be more customer aware.
(4)
Ling L.
If CDA shows up in Restaurant Week again, save the date and head out there. Among all the participants in RW, CDA definitely delivers on both value and choices. Our group of 4 ordered different items and had a blast passing them around and tasting. I'm pleasantly surprised that portions were not meagre for the prix fixe. All of our protein were done to perfection. The only thing I was disappointed in was my chocolate dessert. I like a good rich chocolate but that was too close to my nonfavorite consistency of a flourless cake, and I wished I had gone with the alternative. While the space was small, its high ceilings gave it an air of sophistication, and served very well for an intimate date night or a private group affair. And I have to echo Eddy C's observation of the attentive service. It's enough without being obnoxious. So, CDA, please return for RW -- you certainly gave the other options a run for the money and selection.
(4)
Kelli Ann L.
This review is "tainted" in a good way - based on various times we have had the pleasure to meet the Chef at places like Taste of the Nation, and other great city tasting events. Every time we have had his food, it has been wonderful. The Chef is also extremely pleasant, which makes it better. We happened to be downtown on Valentines Day for some "medical" things - and thought that it would be appropriate to head on over 2 blocks from where we were to have a great dinner- celebrate no matter what news we received. We noted that Cafe Des Architectes was very close, and decided that based on tasting in the past, a nice walk over for a great meal was a good idea. Unfortunately, they were serving a special "menu" for the evening - a prix fixe at $79.00 - which did not include or offer wine to pair...you had 4 courses and you chose from several options in each course. We decided to start with Champagne, duh.....and then ordered a bottle of wine. Our server was great, and actually showed us a bottle 1/2 the price of what we were going to order and said it was a better wine.....who knew! Down sold on a French Wine - I'll take it! And he was right - the Cote du Rhone we ordered was lovely. My hubby and I both ordered different items in each course - EVERYTHING was great! From some of the best oysters I have had (albeit there were THREE of them....) - to my single scallop over sweetbreads, to my sole short rib...to my chocolate desert.....it really was extremely tasty....my gripe...the portions were smaller than I have ever seen....and we do tasting menus ALOT! I was very glad that we had a drink at the bar with some snacks and bread with dinner.....because elf food does not even begin to describe how small they servings were. We also ordered a desert wine for my hubby, and we both had cappuccinos- yum! My issue for cost is....since we recently went to Le Titi de Paris....and for the same price (and our bottle of wine at "Paris" was double the cost as "Cafe") - we had more than 4 times the amount of food....and also had full meal leftovers for the next night.....and the food was INCREDIBLE there.....so..... Final thing - I WILL go back - not on Valentines Day. I think the food is outstanding - I am hoping that the portions will be more ample when we return. :0)
(4)
Camille P.
The cafe in the Sofitel was on my list but it couldn't have been a more perfect circumstance for arriving here to dine when I did. I was meeting a girlfriend for lunch and when I called to arrange a meeting point, it turned out that we were in the same 'hood, only a couple blocks from each other and a only couple of blocks from Cafe des Architectes. The last bit of summer sun was shining directly onto the patio, calling to us to enjoy a sophisticated lunch and a crisp glass of vin blanc. Who am I to refuse such a calling? It started with a beautiful bread basket, all made in house, which included, a pretzel roll, baguette, and crispy parmesan crackers, served with both butter and a zippy green olive tapanade. We decide to go the 'snacky' route, ordering a few small plates to pick at while we sunned ourselves and chatted about life and love and all things girlie. My partner in crime is a trusting woman, putting her faith in me to order what I pleased. The first selection was the Chicken Liver Pate with Fig Jam, Cognac Gelee and Brioche. I could never pass up such a concoction! The pate was good, not the best I'd ever had, but darn good, and after trying it on the brioche, I found that I preferred to smear it on the baguette. Sometimes it can be TOO rich. The butter toasted buttery brioche just sent this already decadent spread with its sweet condiments over the edge for me. Luckily, I found a way to continue to enjoy it. We both agreed that the Diver Scallop with Duck Confit, Curried Cauliflower & Golden Raisins sounded interesting. We went for it and were glad we did. The scallop was perfectly done (yes, THE (ONE) scallop...come on...), the duck, deep and flavorful while the curry lent an exciting counterpoint and loud flavor component to the dish. A little pop of sweet came every once in a while from the raisins. A success! Lastly, we ordered another 'jar'. This time something on the lighter side. A tartar of both ahi & yellowtail tunas with a yuzu-avocado puree was topped with a dollop of caviar and served with taro chips. The fish was good, of course, and the puree was creamy and smooth with the necessary little acidic zip from the yuzu. It was quite nice with the mellow sweetness and hearty crunch of the fried taro root. Pretty, isn't it? I can't say that the service was incredibly impressive. When I asked about a specific wine, our server gave me blatantly wrong information and then tried to argue with me about it despite the fact that she was clearly uneducated on the subject. Just say "I don't know"... it's so much better than lying about it. And when returning from the restroom, my friend nearly got pummeled by a busser. That carried our conversation for a while. In a place like this, you'd expect management to train their staff to let the guest pass when coming to a head. Not so much the case here. Kinda strange. Anyway, overall, a delicious and enjoyable lunch. The Short Version (Out of 10)... Food: 8 Service: 6 Ambiance: 9 Overall impression: 8 Would I go back? Under the right circumstances, yes.
(4)
Ryan B.
Wow. Just wow. Five course tasting menu. Romoula as our server. Impeccable service staff who accurately described each dish. Great wine pairings. Nice atmosphere to relax and enjoy with a date or small group of friends. Not a typical hotel restaurant. Overall a really wonderful experience. Thank you Romoula for making tonight one to remember.
(4)
Michael W.
So....does a restaurant have to be that cool, hip, "new" place to give you a five start experience? The answer is a resounding "no", and I think CDA is proof. OK....I'm not sure....maybe Cafe des Architectes is new, or maybe it is really hip....I'm not really up on the inside track on that. But we ate there at prime time on a Saturday night and the place wasn't crazy crowded or bustling or anything like that. It wasn't full of beautiful "cool" people, or people that think they are "cool"(let's see how many times I can use the "air quotes" during this review). There was absolutely zero pretense in the room....none. So take all that junk away, and what do you have left? For starters....a stunning design. The Sofitel lobby has a beautiful modern and clean look to it. And that same design sensability carries right into CDA. In fact, the walls don't go all the way up to the ceiling in CDA, so you actually are dining in a part of the lobby, in some sense. It somehow comes off with this modern, edgy loft type feel to it while still maintaining a good warm feeling. Now let us consider the staff. Just impeccable, warm and friendly service. They really balance taking care of you and being available with what I assume is a French our European sensibility of not hounding you. Our initial drink order took a few extra minutes longer than you might expect to arrive. No big deal in my mind, but our waitress apologized profusely and followed up to tell use they were on the house! Seriously??? That was a five star move, CDA....well played. The food? Simply fantastic. My dining companions and I all tried different items from the $45 prix fix and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. Flavorful, eye-pleasing, and just straight up fresh and good. Definitely an excellent dollar to quality value for your food here. 5 stars across the board for you CDA. Thankyou for a wonderful dining experience!
(5)
Tony A.
"Small portions, harmonious flavors, and surprisingly filling..." Came in for dinner for restaurant week. The restaurant offered two distinct menu at two price points. One price point was $33 and the other for $44. The $44 choice offered a much luxurious choice but that depends on who you ask. I thought it didn't justify the extra money. I think the strength of this restaurant is the natural flavors of the ingredients and how they play well with each other. Beyond that strength, there is much to be desired. If you look at the menu, the ingredients used tend to be traditional french fare. Lastly, the dessert "Chocolat Moelleux" was disappointing. If there is anything I think that French cuisine is worth, it would be their desserts. However, their performance at the end lead to a one-star deduction here. I guess I will come back one day when its restaurant week again...
(3)
Jenny B.
I like it here everything is great
(4)
Carol M.
A fabulous find I heart of Gold Coast ! My husband and I had one of the best meals we have had across the pond from Paris. Decor is casual but elegant and the food was fabulous. Service was knowledgeable and attentive. When we return to Chicago---'this will be our first stop!
(5)
Jack P.
I took the opportunity to try the special four-course lunch tasting menu here, which goes for $20.98. I had been to the bar before for after work drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and the place is on my list for that particular activity. Great spot to take clients. If I had any... I chose to dine inside. Even though the weather was perfect for dining al fresco, I am not fond of their outdoor tables. Without any sort of greenery, it feels like sitting in a parking lot. Besides, the dining room, with its high ceilings and dramatic hanging lamps makes for a much better ambiance. And there was more of a crowd inside. I found the service overall to be gracious and friendly. Not too much swelling of the attitudinal glands. I was seated promptly, handed a beautiful and tasty bread basket with a variety of bread worthy of the French. From then on, there was a nice "team" approach to service, as one of four or five might bring you a drink, your meal, more water, etc. The servers all seemed very European. One of them when I asked about what appeared to be olive tapenade with the bread basket assured me that yes it was green olives and "leetle feeshes" (or anchovies.) In fact, all the servers lent a particular feel to the place. They all seemed like extras from "Young Frankenstein" or that "Rocky Horror" movie. And I mean that in most loving and supportive way :-). Great casting of dining room staff! En plus, there was a large group of French business people having lunch near me, and one guy in particular with slicked back hair, a too-small silver PeeWee Herman suit and dress shoes with no socks, who although he was talking business, was really trying to seduce every woman at his table. It seemed so "Paree." I found the food to be French-worthy, too. For the tasting, you choose one item from each of three categories of appetizer, salad, main course, and the dessert is pre-chosen for you. The choices are excellent. They could just try to pawn off cheap stuff like sausages, charcuteries, plain greens, but they don't. I had a cold carrot soup, which was a bright yellow, but didn't taste too much like carrots- more like squash, but it was a nice starter. Then I had a salad of sliced fresh cooked shrimp with cabbage and fennel. Absolutely delicious in flavor and pleasing in texture. The main event was grilled Mahi-Mahi on a bed of sweetly-cooked and seasoned red cabbage, topped with a tasty and eye-pleasing garnish. The fish was cooked to perfection. Dessert consisted of a tablespoon-size glob of chocolate mousse and a small tart with chocolate filling and berries. The entire tasting is brought to you at once on a large square plate with four smaller 4" x 4" plates, so you could start with dessert if you wanted too. I thought the portions were very adequate, and again French-worthy. I walked away sated but not too full (I kept myself from eating the entire bread basket, which was difficult, as I have never met a carb I didn't like.) I would definitely recommend this tasting menu. It's a great value. And eating at Les Architectes is fun and elegant.
(4)
T.J. S.
Came here for drinks and dessert. The Mango Bella was out of this world!!! I also had the Noir Chocolate! Again...out of this world. I highly recommend this place to anyone. I made a reservation. The staff was friendly and actually knew who I was when I arrived. Everyone should go for desserts and drinks at least once.
(5)
Keith F.
food was excellent for the price - it's in a hotel so the setting is nothing special. the hotel itself is a very nice property. all in all - a very good meal in a great location.
(4)
Jenny Z.
Cafe des Architectes.....words cannot express how bad our experience was with you! My husband and I brought his mother in law there today for afternoon tea but we were all very disappointed. There were two positives about today and two only....1) we got to sit in the actual restaurant (usually people sit in a separate boring room for tea) and 2) the actual tea itself was enjoyable. Other than that, it was shockingly bad! $30/person for a tea service should at least make a person full. What we received each was two shortbread the size of quarters, a smoked salmon sandwich the size of a 1x1 inch square (with stale/dry bread), a quarter size macaroon, a mini puff pastry with cheese cream, 2 mini scones each and some mini toasts with cumcumber and olive. I was starving! To make matters worse, throughout the meal, we could barely hear each other talk because some man was vacuming around the restaurant. He was actually going under the tables where people were sitting. When asked why they had to vacum right that moment, the manager said the croissants were very flaky and fell on the floor. The croissants aren't the only flaky thing at Cafe Des Architectes!!!!! Cafe des Architectes is obviously trying to do some modern twist on the afternoon tea but fails miserably. How can you charge that money for one small pot of tea and a few crappy nibbles? I will never go back.
(1)
Ming C.
I can't think of anything unsatisfying about this restaurant. It is AWESOME!! Food is rich and flavorful. Service is outstanding. Decor is cool. Best of all, you can sit in one of the best neighborhoods in chicago and enjoy the last few beautiful summer days in French style.
(5)
Jenny T.
Yum, yum, yum! I have been a very lucky foodie as of late. Last night I had to attend an event in the Sofitel bar. Appetizers were served & after getting little bites of appetizers prepared by Marcel of Cafe Des Architectes I knew I needed more. My boss & I stepped out early only to walk 20 feet away to grab some dinner. We were greeted promptly & happily & seated by the wall of windows. I was a bit nervous because of how expensive it is, but lucky us - 3 for under $30 was going on. 3 dishes for $29.00, um yes please! Our lovely French waiter could not have been kinder & I followed his directions to the T. Belgium Endive Salad? Sure! Flat Iron steak? Um, yes please! Praline crunch? Oh...I suppose I will. The salad came out in an edible bowl. Love it. The variety of greens was fabulous & the light dressing only made it more delicious. The blue cheese was very delicious & I don't even like blue cheese! It was quite a decent portion for a salad & I made sure to enjoy each & every bite. The steak came out after & was delicious. It was a bit rarer than I like, but I ate it all up. I didn't even care. The mushrooms & potatoes that the strips of steak were so beautifully arranged on were 100% complimentary. Nothing stole the show, it was a collaborative effort. Finally, the dessert. Oh my Lord. It was sort of a mousse, but was was in perfect rectangles. They sat on a bed of crunchy delicious & had crunch teeny flakes of pralines inside of the mousse. A delicious, crunchy, carmel-y rice krispie sat on top. Um, this was heaven in a dessert. I want to bring everyone & anyone back for this deal. However, if no one's up for joining me I will have no problem pretending I'm in Europe dressed to the nines, reading a book, and dining on some delicious food all on my own.
(5)
Laila C.
Holy mackeral the food here is phenomenal! I went on a Monday night for their prix fixe. There's about 4 choices per appetizer, entree and dessert which makes it much better than some prix fixes already. My friend and I were treated to a complimentary amuse bouche of beet soup. It was cold, crisp and tart with a hint of sweetness. Although an interesting choice for an amuse bouche, I liked it. To start, I ordered the short ribs on cauliflower puree. SO delicious. The short ribs were not melt in your mouth tender, but that's what made it so delicious. I was able to use it to wipe up all the puree. Definitely how short ribs should be. My friend had the oxtail shepards pie and it comes with a thin crispy crostini. I had a bite and I might have to order my own the next time I go! My flat iron steak entree with parsnip puree, fingerling potatoes and peas forced me to eat beyond regular capacity. Truth be told, after the bread tray and the appetizer, I was 80% full already. But upon seeing the steak, there was no way I could let any of it go to waste. After the delicious praline crunch dessert which "tasted like a fancy, hazelnut filled kit kat" (that's a good thing!) our server presented us with another complimentary dessert! Lemon marshmallow and an apricot jelly candy. AND in the end our server gave us another card for $20 off our next meal there...so I guess there's no excuse not to go back!!! A great discovery and a great weeknight treat!
(5)
Eric B.
Our experience at Cafe Des Architectes was only a partial experience, but we enjoyed the taste we had. We only experienced part of the menu, because it was Restaurant Week. They had a standard prix fixe, with certain items from the regular menu available as upgrades. This is an irresistible opportunity for me, as my love for dinner upgrades is exceeded only by my love for travel upgrades. I heartily recommend the duck confit appetizer - its one of the best I've had, with a well sized duck leg that melts in your mouth. Its almost a meal in and of itself. Of course, we didn't stop there - I upgraded to the rack of lamb, and Kelly upgraded to the Delmonico steak, both of which exceeded our expectations. Desserts, too, were superb, as was the French press coffee. Taking a look at the menu currently online, I see that CDA varies its menu seasonally, so you may have to wait until the fall for the duck confit and rack of lamb, but the options currently available will undoubtedly satisfy. But what of the restaurant itself? As I said above, we did not experience it fully -- on that Saturday night, a server was sick, (for Restaurant Week? Mon Dieu!) and in response they closed off part of the restaurant (it did feel small). But, our taste of the decor was complete. The atmosphere at CDA is clubby and romantic - dark walls, low lighting, with a white banquette to create visual contrast. It is more of a French Mag Mile restaurant than a French Bistro. This dark sleekness is an extension of the dark sleekness of the hotel, the Sofitel. Personally, I felt that the decor of the Sofitel was too dark and dated, in an 80s style. But if you are looking for a Mag Mile / Streeterville type experience, rather than a country bistro, a la La Sardine or Kiki's or Bistrot Zinc, CDA fits the bill. And a final note, for by Bourbon boozer friends, the bar in the Sofitel has Templeton Rye, and makes excellent manhattans. Note that the bar in the restaurant does not have Templeton, but my server sent my order over to the bar for fulfillment -- make sure yours does the same.
(4)
Eric V.
In a word, underwhelming. The entire restaurant week menu showed promise, but dish after dish tasted flat and lacked character. The squash soup had nice texture but was very straightforward, especially if you take away the duck confit. Some additional spice or garnish for flavor/texture would have gone a long way. The entree, two separate preparations of pork belly and scallop, was the dish I looked forward to the most. Again, flat. The pork belly was surprisingly tough and desperately needed more braising time. The glaze could have also used a hint of spice or sweetness to perk up the one note flavor profile. At least the scallop was nicely seared and the confit of collard greens on which it was served was quite tasty. Sadly, you know something's amiss when the greens are the best part of a dish featuring both pork belly and scallop. At this point, I was hoping dessert would be this meal's saving grace. I went with the chocolate and barley "soil", expecting pastry chef Fahy's extensive resume to make this dish shine. I got my hopes up too high. The plate of soil-esque cocoa granules and toasted barley (I'm guessing to imitate worms in the soil) was odd. The dark chocolate ice cream (encased in a thin chocolate shell) wasn't nearly enough to play counterpart to the spoon fulls of dry granules. I'm all for playfulness and creativity, but this dish didn't work for me. From a service standpoint, our server was friendly but perhaps a little green around the edges. I don't expect long dissertations on each dish but a little more detail on preparation would have been nice. She also made the rookie mistake of saying "I can't personally recommend the beet dish since I don't like beets". Don't like beets, fine. Just don't dissuade your customers from ordering it. It could have been a very fine first course but now we'll never know. Within the context of restaurant week, the $44 price tag really wasn't merited nor was a supplemental charge for the filet of beef entree. Last I checked, Naha's $33 menu featured both Kurobuta pork belly and Wagyu beef, with the only up charge coming from an alternate entree of duck and foie gras. If not for the good company, the meal could have been much less pleasant. In the end, there was nothing egregiously bad to complain about, but nothing to boast about either. Perhaps we simply just ran into a case of sacrificing quality for quantity. It's restaurant week, so I'll take the good with the bad.
(3)
Jessie L.
We had the five course meal and it was amazing. I have never savored my food like I did during this meal. The alcohol was definitely steep, so we just had water and still an amazing meal. We were greeted by the chef at the end of the meal, not at our request but because the server saw how much we were enjoying our meal. Service was attentive and they were able to anticipate needs. Romantic for two and also pretty good for people watching on the patio. Just wonderful :)
(5)
Suana W.
3.5 stars. i couldn't find any great faults, but neither did the food absolutely wow me. prices were okay too, perhaps a bit on the steep side. all in all, i don't really have a strong opinion about this place. - beef tartar three ways made me realize i prefer carpaccio - guinea hen was nice, if a big dry - coworker's lobster on the surf + turf was barely cooked...probably on purpose?
(3)
Jenna S.
Recently we've really been digging this place...and I hate to review it so the word gets outs...but it's really overdue to Cafe des Architectes. One word: DESSERT. Yes, the chocolate pistachio dome is aamm-azing. Seriously, one of the best desserts i've ever had. And it's $10 to boot. Sign me up! I've only had the full dinner once, but I can highly recommend coming here for a nice, slow pace evening of dessert and drinks.
(4)
Audre L.
Solid 4 stars. Despite being a hotel restaurant, the food is good, interesting and original. The dining room is european-mod. Winter salad was inspired and the arctic char was perfectly cooked. The deserts were amazing as well.
pretty space. but the tables/seating are a bit odd (chairs are not comfy, tables are too small). good drinks. polite staff but they are not that warm. appetizers were unique but not that tasty. main course was good, but not great. desserts were nice to look at, but also not great. overpriced. this place puts appearance/presentation over quality - that leaves one unsatisfied
(2)
Puja A.
The food was really good! Fresh seafood, great flavor, nice mix of textures. Everything we ate was yummy. There was also a nice wine selection. The service was not good. I had to catch someone to order my wine when I first got seated. I ordered the 5 course prix fix which did not have a menu (I asked) and was not told what each course was until I asked..for each course. The servers were perfectly nice once I did interact with them, it was just hard to get the service you expect. I believe someone mentioned valet parking was free on here. I had to pay $12 or $13 (can't remember) so I am not sure how you can score that. The ambiance is nice, contemp, but the bathrooms are on the second floor which is a bit out of the way.
(4)
Allison K.
My boyfriend and I did the Chef's pre-fix dinner here a few weeks ago. We had just gotten back from a trip to NYC where we had several AMAZING dinners so we could have been easily dissappointed by this dinner... but it was a Wonderful experience! First, the pre-fix for only $42????? Um... that is ridiculously inexpensive. Second, the decor is brilliant! So modern, and everything was of such high quality! From the shining silver tables to the plush velvet chairs to the gorgeous lighting - I didn't want to leave! It's inside my favorite hotel - the Sofitel in the gold coast. Third, the service was incredible. Our waiter was so knowlegable. He taught us all of the quirky facts about the fish that my boyfriend ordered (how they were born female and changed to male and they had to catch them at just the right time, etc...) He picked out the perfect wine for us. He was extremely attentive but not overbearing/annoying. Just when our fresh bread (like 5 different types and so yummy!) was no longer warm, voila - replaced with fresh hot from the oven bread. The portions are huge for a french restaurant. Huge. Not a little bite of this, or 5 bites of that, but very large which surprised me considering the low price. We had this french desert sampling and didn't like one of the options so we didn't eat it. Guess what? The waiter brought us out a whole new desert! I have recommended this place to EVERYONE I know. Those who have taken up my advice have had a great experience as well!
(5)
Gabriela R.
Great chic place for brunch ! Food is exquisite and love the service :)
(5)
Catherine X.
I LOVE this chic little restaurant that's tucked away from Michigan Avenue-- still in the heart of the city, but a few blocks away from the Mag Mile so that it's not kitschy and overrun with tourists. Everything from the decor to the silverware to the arrangement of the food is classy with a modern flail. The server was very attentive (and not snobby at all) to us on our Girls Night Out. Service. Service throughout the night remained impeccable even after the place started filling up later and later. My glass was never less than half full :) The scallops in my appetizer were the biggest I've ever seen, and the sauce flavorful with just the right amount of butter. I didn't think it could get any better, but then there was my beef tenderloin entree and DESSERT! As a girl who needs Days of the Week socks to make decisions for her, I ordered the Dessert Sampler to quell my raging sweet tooth. Everything was delectable! Usually there's one ugly duckling out of the bunch (some fancy schmancy disguised candy bar), but I could hardly get enough of them all! Next time I could just come here for cocktails and dessert alone. The Ivoire Mango Mojito is calling my name... I'm just waiting for another special occasion/lunar cycle to go!
(5)
Lesley G.
I went here with some friends during restaurant week. There is pretty cool atmosphere. If you want to go out for a nice, expensive French meal with a real modern flair and atmosphere that is more trendy than stuffy, then this is a good choice. We all got different stuff and tasted everything and it was all very good. We also got wine flights, which was fun. I won't be rushing back, but that's because I don't often go to expensive, fancy places. But it was worth seeing and I am glad we went.
(3)
Helena D.
The Sofitel Hotel in Chicago is one of the most beautiful modern hotels in Chicago - an architectural gem in the Gold Coast, its restaurant, Cafe Des Architectes, is a bold statement of bold pops of red fabrics, shiny metal statues, glass tables, and gleaming black marble floors, and white leather chairs. Sleek and modern, the hotel caters to the global-minded international guests and business workers who appreciate sophisticated dishes and a vibrant atmosphere. When senior-level clients are in town, this is one of my favorite hotels to recommend, as well as one of the better lunch restaurants in the area. It is not uncommon to dine amongst European businessmen speaking any number of foreign languages and dining at adjacent tables. Those not familiar to French cuisine can take advantage of their 4-course Executive Lunch, which allows you to pick between 2 options for each course (appetizer, salad, entree). I went with the ahi tuna tartare, crab salad, seared salmon, and the dessert which was a creme brulee that day. My guests also opted for the Executive Lunch, which runs just $22/person. It's an incredible deal and the food just electrifies your taste buds -- it is THAT GOOD and satisfying. The service is impeccable and anywhere you look in the dining room, your eyes are treated to a beautiful restaurant that highlights the soaring ceilings, architectural detail, and Euro-chic decor. You're lucky to stay here as it is easily $600/night (without a corporate discount on a standard room). High-end weddings and receptions often occur here at this hotel - and if you're in the area and want a cocktail, do check out the bar just a few feet away from the Cafe - it's called (smartly enough) "Le Bar" and is so cozy and warm. Nowhere else will you have as good of a chance to mingle with an international crowd who will gladly switch to English and speak with you. Go here for lunch and dinner and afterwards check out the hotel bar. 5-stars, easily. This is for the more upscale, international, power crowd who take great pride in the food they consume and the clothes they wear.
(5)
D W.
I was here recently for dinner. Nice atmosphere. Food was quite average and a bit overpriced. The Malbec wine by the glass was expensive, and sour. The steak I ordered was cold. The waitress was nice, but tried to act a bit French with some French phrases which sounded a bit pretentious. Though the restaurant was quite empty, they seated some people right next to us which I though was not necessary considering there were plenty of places to site in the place. I made the best of the meal, but I would not return. Though I would consider breakfast here.
(2)
Rebecca L.
I want this to be a 3 1/2 but yelp doesn't do halves. I had dinner here for the first (and maybe only) time last Friday night. The atmosphere is good and the food all sounds good. For the price it didn't quite wow me. I think the thing that actually ruined the meal was that my dessert was sub-par. I got the 3 course meal. The Salmon Rillet was great! The short ribs were pretty good though I wanted more veggies and less meat. The dessert I chose was beignet with ice cream. The beignets were really cold and cold fried dough is just not good. We did order the cheese plate which was great and the wine selection is suitable. I might go back here for brunch as I feel like I might enjoy that more, but I probably will not eat dinner here again unless I am really craving salmon rillet as that was my highlight. I would be interested to try the duck as well.
(3)
Kimberly N.
Had a group of 6 for dinner and they took excellent care of everyone! I wanted to try everything that came out to the table - it looked beautiful and every bite was wonderful! My only disappointment was the still present Valentine's menu - I was hoping for something different but would go back again to see what other options they have.
(4)
Anna L.
Food was okay, not as great as I had hoped. Got the three-course prix fixe for $40 - left with a very full belly. Flavor combinations are intriguing, but don't always come together. Can end up feeling like much ado about nothing. Nevertheless, the service at this place is very attentive/kind and decor is chic and modern (consistent with Sofitel Hotel). Outdoor seating area is particularly lovely.
(3)
Ivam P.
At the beginning we thought that would be boring, but after a the special appetizer from the Chef we realized that we were lucky to be there... Service, was great, food absolutely gorgeous... Definitely, would recommend and come back! ;-)
(5)
Jeff S.
Wonderful food and service in a beautiful French hotel. Many hotel guests go outside the hotel for dinner due to the amazing choices in Chicago. However,very few can match the quality and price point for elegant French food. There is a great prix fix menu every day. We had the salmon and chicken entrees and they were excellent. Starters and desserts were also great. Extensive wine list, but all French. I'm not a novice, but it was difficult for me to find a wine that was reasonable in price and familiar. Service staff was very attentive and caring.
(5)
Marissa B.
Had I known we were going here, I would have worn my fancy pants. The restaurant is tucked off the lobby of the swanky Sofitel hotel. The place was bustling on this Sunday morning and the hostess estimated our wait time would be "10-20 minutes, but it really could be more like 5. Or 30. Hard to say". It ended up being about 10-15, so I guess she was right on target - although how could she not be, with that spread. The place is pricey. Belgian Waffles/Pancakes for about $12 and Egg-based entrees for about $17. The menu was creative, they had interesting options beyond the norm. I had to keep reminding myself that these prices included a basket of pastries, juice, and coffee/tea. I had the Belgian Waffle. It was topped with berry compote & whipped cream. The blueberries seemed like they could have been fresh, but the strawberries seemed like they had been frozen; I would have preferred all fresh fruit. My friend had the egg white/spinach/mushroom souflee. It was very nicely presented in a pool of tomato sauce and topped with fried potatoes. She said if you were the type who likes the yolks, you wouldn't like it. If you're an egg-white-sort-of-a-person, it's delish. The service was good, but they seemed to be using a team approach. We got approached by one man for drink orders, a few minutes later a lady came up to try to take drink orders, after receiving our drinks a different man came to take our food orders, then two more people ended up bringing our food. While all were very nice, I couldn't tell you which of these people, if any, were our "official" server. BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a fancy pants sort of breakfast with innovative menu items, this is the place.
Shepherd's pie at a French bistro? I read the yelp review and was prepared for it and had the same reaction when I saw it. What are ya doing with that there shepherd's pie on yer menu? I dined at the Cafe last night for restaurant week. I'm not a french food aficionado, but I've been dabbling since I got a Julia Child cook book and since I went to Cyrano's for independent restaurant week. I got news for you- the Shepherd's pie was AMAZING. Tender, juicy beef so cooked down the meat was almost reduced to gravy, topped with smooth buttery mashed potatoes. Its not French, but the "French" did make it amazing. The soup was good- i would say basic except for the lovely plating they did. The duck was ok- I'm not a duck eater- I don't like the "slimy/greasy" texture in general, but I thought there was a lot of flavor in this preparation. I wasn't too fond of the main course- I thought that the white fish had a lot of interesting elements used with a lot of character in each, but I didn't like the way they all went together. Same for the chicken. The steak was my favorite- my friend ordered it medium and it was tender and juicy. Medium rare would have been even better. The gnocchi were also very good- I'm used to heavier Italian gnocchi. I really enjoyed the light cloud like texture of the French execution. I was thrilled with my desert- I had seen terrible looking faded pictures of Julia Child's version in my vintage cookbook.....what arrived to the table was much different! Lovely light texture of the meringue, creamy sauce and delightful sweet crunchy little almonds essential to each bite. Pure delight! I do want to go back and try the full menu sometime to see what other large plates they have. The service was very good and I enjoyed their dining room and having the door opened by the charming doorman. They really need to put some wheels on those seats....no graceful way to get up from the table when you are butt scooting your seat that is hopelessly stuck on the carpet. So, perhaps they'll earn a few more stars back on the return visit.
(3)
Eric L.
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. The last few "higher end" places I have been to were disappointing. But CDA did not disappoint. My wife and I had the 3 source prefix menu and the starter and main dish were excellent. My wife had the vegetables to start and I had the salmon rillette, both were very good. The braised beef for the main course was made perfectly and my wife's chicken was also very good. The only place where this place falls short is the dessert. The sweet corn bavarios was way too salty and the chocolate bar was a bit rich for me. But otherwise, this was a very good meal and I would go back here.
(4)
Leigh K.
Absolutely gorgeous space. I took my boyfriend here during Restaurant Week. It would have been a perfect romantic night out had the guy who was sat next to us talked loudly into his cellphone about business 90% of the time. The service was perfect. I loved our waiter, the bus boy, and the hostess. Our waiter suggested wine pairings for our meals and they were lovely. I love that there are cards with the descriptions of each wine in the order they are presented to you. Since it was RW, I wonder if the portions were smaller than usual. My duck confit appetizer was plentiful and the chicken dish was so succulent and large. However, my boo's order [both app & entree] were wee. I went away totally full, but I do believe he snacked after we got home. The pistachio dome dessert is now on my top desserts of all time list. I never would have picked it on my own, but I trust server's opinions and I took ours and I am so glad I did. I would definitely come back here, if only for the dessert. Even with the deal, I dropped a fair amount of cash. My boo is so worth it though.
(4)
Eddy C.
It's not often I'll rave about a restaurant purely based on it service. But that was the case with Cafe Des Architectes, where they pay special attention to detail that truly makes for a fine dining experience. From the presentation to the dishes to the manager checking in on us twice to make sure that everything was going well to the coffee pressed right before your eyes, the place epitomizes class. The food is terrific -- not quite up there with the likes of Tru and Trotter's but still on the high end scale. I ordered the pan seared dorade, which came on a bed of black rice and tasted a bit like mackerel (good if you like mackerel, which I do). My fiancee ordered the seared ahi tuna, which came cut up in three large chunks and served with a salad. Again, good food but not necessarily anything special. Given that it is located inside the Sofitel, Cafe Des Architectes caters to a lot of business customers and tourists, which was readily apparent during our meal. Some people don't like places like that; I personally don't mind as long as the food and service is good. If you're looking for a fancy dinner out with top notch service, I would highly recommend giving Cafe Des Architectes a look.
We were a bit disappointed with the food at CDA. I had read great things about the restaurant, but the food was just mediocre the night we were there. The bread wasn't warm, the soup was a bit watery, and the fish wasn't tender. The desserts were good though. Maybe it was just an off night. The service was very good. Although our main waiter wasn't as accomodating as CDA has a reputation of being, the additional waitstaff were friendly and attentive.
(2)
Denise B.
My mom decided she was too tired to cook for only three people on Christmas, so we headed to Cafe Des Architectes' prix fixe menu on Christmas day. The menu was obviously limited, but it had a decent selection, aside from no vegetarian main course options (luckily, none of us were vegetarian). The wine list was limited too, but they did say at the bottom of the menu that you could ask the server if you wanted more options. The restaurant was somewhat small, with a very sleek and modern style. I liked the funky colored chairs, and they were quite comfortable as well. The food was excellent. I took the opportunity to try venison for the first time ever, and while I discovered that I don't love game, they prepared it very well. I loved the crab salad as well as the ice cream cake dessert. The service was fine but not outstanding. Our servers were present and appropriately attentive, but not outstandingly attentive, and it did seem like we were rushed a bit through the courses. While I wasn't quite as impressed as our meal out on Christmas Eve, I still had a good time at Cafe Des Architectes.
(4)
Rahul S.
I finally got a chance to eat here last Saturday when some of my friends took me out for a bday brunch! First off, the menu is great, including everything from egg white omelettes and crepes to sandwiches and salads. While the food is certainly not cheap, the kicker is the FREE bakery basket, fresh fruit juices, tea, and coffee. I had one of the chocolate croissants which was so flaky and delicious. I decided to splurge a bit and ordered the denny's equivalent to the grand slam... the brunch sampler to be exact! In addition to all the free goodies above, first up was a trio of exotic fruit shooter drinks which were so amazing and sophisticated it's hard for me to describe. Some of the juices included Kiwi, lychee, and cranberry/apple blended w/ other stuff to make creations I could have drank a gallon of! Next up was smoked salmon napoleon, brioche french toast w/ caramelized apples, organic avocado and tomato tian w/ stuergeon caviar, pistachio oil, and spicy scrambled eggs w/ chorizo, each arranged beautifully on a plate w/ 4 quadrants. All had outstanding and fresh ingredients, and it was quite fun just eating the whole thing w/ the range of textures and flavors. As if I didn't have anough food, out came a trio of mini desserts which had to be my favorite part, tied w/ the trio of juices in the beginning. If I remember correctly, there was a chocolate eclair, mocha cake, and raspberry creme brule type custard. Holy crap, they might have been mini, but they were packed w/ unbelievable goodness. While everything seems to taste better when the tab is picked up, I would come back here as a paying customer in a heartbeat!
(4)
Big B.
A fan of the Sofitel brand, and a Chicago native I decided I must sample this dinner menu. After reading the 'amazing' things the chef here has done with the menu I figure my husband and I would give it a whirl. It a nut shell, it was overpriced and undercooked. Our apps were OK, my hubby had a Caesar salad and I the shrimp/ octupus dish. Our dinner, horrible. My husband ordered the gnochi (so you ask what does a Frenchie know about gnochi) exactly, absolutely nada... it was horrid. First off there were no gnochi, it was all baby shrimp (that smelled quite fishy), possibly three tiny gnochi were slipped in. I ordered fresh local 'farm' veggies and to my delight they were seriously undercooked and to be frank served on a stick of butter. I'm a fan of French fare but this was just food gone wrong. Bottom line, don't bother.
(1)
Susie S.
Listen. This is the only time a food-a-holic like me will say it: the food is just decent, but this place is still worth it. I love the decor - the steel and glass and oversized mod chandeliers. We sat in a table with the huge windows overlooking the hotel entrance and kicked back with the people watching. There was a gaggle of 15 girls strutting like frozen peacocks in their weather-inappropriate sundresses. A friend and I split the three course brunch special. 1. Trio of Fruit Kebabs - Not sure why they would call these Kebabs. They are JUICE. Albeit served with fruit on a skewer. Luckily they were yum enough that we didn't care. 2. Four overly pretentious small plates - I believe they were something with smoked salmon, brioche french toast, avocado w/ some caviar shizz, and scrambled eggs with chorizo. The best one was actually the down-homey scrambled eggs. 3. Mini desserts It was definitely worth the price ($25) if you were splitting, and we more than ate our fill given the endless bakery baskets. Hey, a girl's gotta be fab on a budget.
(4)
Erika G.
Awesome place for after work drinks, 'cos who doesn't dig those Architects? In the gorgeous Sofitiel hotel - slightly elitist, snooty and European, but hey . . . sometimes I am as well! :-)
(3)
C T.
Went here for dinner on a rainy Sunday evening with a friend. Nice interior. Plenty of waitstaff to serve your every need. I wish I could give 3.5 but given a choice between 3 and 4, I chose 3. I'll say this: food was between okay and good. Waitstaff were wonderful, attentive, sweet--being French and having accents I think helps. There is definitely attention to detail--serving pretty food with grace is how I'd describe it. I got the prix fixe they do for dinner on Sundays thru Tuesdays. All for about $30 a person, but don't quote me on that. My meal consisted of creamy cauliflower soup, walleye pike (from website, pike includes: manila clams, flageolet beans, basil puree) for entree, and crispy praline something or other for dessert. The soup was smooth, a bit bland, but improved slightly with the buttery brioche. The pike was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented, but the manila clams tasted like tiny little flavorless mussels. The basil puree didn't have much punch either. If I cooked the entree at home I'd be kind of impressed with myself, but at a restaurant, I want to be wowed. Dessert was a bit of a disappointment, but as part of the meal package I guess it was what I paid for. It kind of just tasted like your basic piece of Belgian chocolate...on a large plate and presented with a dusting of cocoa. It looked pretty but tasted average. So looks, presentation and service get all the stars. Taste-wise, the dishes mentioned will not get a repeat performance.
(3)
sarah b.
Innovative French inspired food. The space is a little austere with bold red accents and a lot of white and black with high dramatic ceilings. Architecturally this place is definitely distinctive, but not warm. The food is very good and innovative with a few glitches. I had the arugula/spinach salad with goat cheese and it was very heavy on spinach that was the heavy variety. For my entree, I had the tuna which was high grade tuna, but the sides while well prepared weren't very flavorful. Attentive service, decent wine flights, good value, and a great location make this a restaurant worth visiting.
(3)
Valerie H.
My usual Sunday brunch spot. I go every weekend for brunch with a friend, we always try different places, but this is THE place. We always come back. If a friend is in town, i also choose this brunch place. Never had dinner here though... What we do is share eggs Benedict and pancakes. They serve delicious coffee and fresh orange juice. The orders come with a FABULOUS bread basket (includes pan au chocolat, sourdough bread, croissants.. incredible). Then we get the eggs Benedict and like a "dessert" the pancakes. These are the best pancakes in town, they are very soft and airy inside. The eggs Benedict have the best hollandaise sauce (creamy and thin). The waiters are very nice, except for one "french" lady, slightly rude, but gives a french touch to the waiters. The cost is pretty good for everything you get. We usually spend for what I have described... $18.
(5)
Happiness L.
This review is for their afternoon tea service. Although pretty on the platter the small delicacies that were served with our tea were not filling and a few of the sweets left a lot to be desired. They also did not have all tea selections available, being out of two. The wait service was not at all what one would expect from a fine dining restaurant. I am not sure if they were understaffed or undertrained, however there was so little attention paid to us during our time there that it was not even close to a special experience. We went there with a certificate with realistic yet some what high expectations, however for $30 per person you are a lot better off skipping this place and going to the Drake instead. Disappointed and no plans for a return visit. On the other hand, the bar area in the hotel is nice and I highly recommend that...but for the restaurant...no way.
(2)
E M.
I came here during restaurant week, for which they offer a prix fixe three course menu. The chicken breast entree was by far the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. I expected a lot from the desserts here, but the chocolate cake that I had was a bit disappointing and underwhelming. The Cafe des Architectes has a nice atmosphere and decor, and the service was good. I hope to give this place a second try during next year's restaurant week, or maybe go for their Neighborhood Friends menu.
(4)
Kelly K.
I came for Restaurant Week since my criteria was: close to home and some place I've never tried. The monkfish was good, but the pineapple soup was really the highlight of the meal.
(4)
Aileen O.
I dined here during Chicago Restaurant Week with two friends. I love the open space - definitely give it points for being a classy spot. I was a tad disappointed with the food: the sauce with my escargot appetizer was too salty, my butternut squash risotto was bland and the pineapple tapioca part of my dessert trio was just weird. I guess I'm not a big fan of small tapioca - the texture reminded me of fish eyes. I hear good things about their brunch. I would consider going back just for that.
(3)
Isabella W.
My friends and I come here for brunch after working out at Exhale on Saturdays, bc there is a dearth of good brunch/breakfast places in the area. But, thank goodness for the Sofitel, bc their breakfast/brunch option does satisfy. If you order an entree (vs. say, like the $8 oatmeal), it ranges from $15-$18, and you get fresh fruit juice (OJ or grapefruit), french-pressed coffee, basket of pastries, and your entree. It's a great deal, and I do enjoy the ambiance -- esp. since you do feel like you're in Europe while dining there. I've had the crepes (ham & gruyere cheese), but don't recommend that b/c the ham comes diced, which akes me think it's canned. The "a votre sante), on the other hand, was really well made, and delicious. It' an egg white dish, with button mushrooms, spinach, with tomato jus (yum!), The jus was sooo yummy (and fresh-tasting), I dipped my egg whites in all of it! The bakery basket is actually what I look forward to -- although I'm not a sweets person.. It comes with 2 butter croissants, 2 chocolate croissants, apricot pastry, cinnamon roll, etc. etc. This basket reminded me of the hotel breakfasts I had in Italy - the croissants and pastries are so flaky and delicious! You can also wrap up the entire pastry basket to-go. I would love to try their non-brunch options.. maybe sit at le bar for a drink!
(3)
Ceal P.
3.5 stars, rounded down. Came here first for restaurant week 2/2010. That was a fantastic experience and would have rated 4 stars then. Came back here for Christmas eve where they had a pre fixe dinner 3 courses with amuse and petit fours for $65/person. Not as impressed. I've been a huge chaser of the michelin guide hub-bub so I wanted to see why this great chef didn't get any love. The food: - the foie amuse was probably a highlight. Creamy, light yet still rich and paired with a fig jam. Only thing is the brioche underneath was done so ahead of time that it was slightly soggy. - scallop appetizer: the scallop itself was best of quality, a bit over salted but rather that than under. Perfect sear and cooked well. The hedgehog mushroom was the best part! So delicious and paired well with the scallop. The cauliflower didn't add anything to the plate. There was also frisee and tomato chunks on the plate. The frisee was pretty but too bitter for the plate and I guess tomato for acid but I didn't like the flavor combo. - duck with fennel brocolini: the duck was medium rare but they should have been sliced thinner because the bigger chunks still were not tender enough even though it was cooked medium rare. The fennel gave a good texture but it should have been dressed! No flavor at all - dessert: Bouche de Noel: was pretty solid. the peppermint was masked in small this round bites scattered on the plate. not a bad modern version. - petit fours: enjoyed more than the dessert, gelee and truffle, yum. ultimately the last thing that put me below 4 stars for this experience was the service. overall not bad, but a miss at times. our waiter was very nice, but not overly attentive to the details. nice but rough around the edges. nice but not special enough for xmas dinner.
(3)
Isa B.
I am a connoisseur of French food; I own a bistro myself. This is one of the best places I've ever eaten at. The service was impeccable; the food superb (not a lot of vegetarian options, but I'll be back for the same romaine lettuce and butter squash dishes). There were 4 of us on a Friday night and I can't tell you how delightful it was for all of us. Expensive? yes but very worth it. I must add there were about 6 cosmopolitans, a glass of Pinot Noir and three gins, so that adds to the bill. This is really a French place because the decoration, the portions, the taste were absolutely out of this world. I will be back for sure. I don't understand how anyone can give this place less than 4 stars at the least... Perhaps they changed managers or owners or chefs, I don't know but October 2007, it was fantastic. My palate will be forever grateful. FREE VALET and a gorgeous Sofitel hotel.
(5)
V. L.
We ordered a PB&J sandwich for my 4 year old. What? A PB&J in a French restaurant? Yes, and it was the best PB&J in the whole world. It's been half a year and my kid still asked me to buy that PB&J for her lunch. This was how good the chef was. Making a very simple food memorable. Everything we had that evening was delicious. We will difinitely go back again when we visit Chicago.
(5)
Michael S.
AMAZING food. Great service. The new chef has wowed me twice here. Been here twice for dinner and everything was awesome. Next I want to try the brunch! Read my full review from thanksgiving! bestgaychicago.com/2008/…
(5)
Jason L.
Breakfast at the French restaurant in the Sofitel lobby was $15 for a two egg omelet with soggy bacon, toast and orange juice/coffee. There's a diner within walking distance in any direction with the same items for half the price, cooked to perfection. I prefer to entertain my guests with great food as opposed to vapid atmosphere.
(2)
Puja D.
This place has a very creative feel from the moment you walk in. In the Sofitel - all white, curved glass exterior makes it look very artistic indeed. The service is excellent, or rather top notch. They have architectural drawings on the walls - very nice touch. Now on to the food: it is just okay. For the price you are paying, and the level of restaurant this is - you would expect some really good food. However, it didnt live up to the expectations. Presented creatively, but lacked in flavor. The salad had way too much olive oil, the fish in the apetizer was definetly not the freshest, and the entree was okay. So thats why I give this restaurant three stars.
(3)
Jim S.
I ate here for a client lunch today and it was AWESOME! One option is a prix fixed $22 option. I had an awesome soup, salad, beef dish and dessert. It also came with excellent bread. I will be back asap!
I had an awesome experience here! We arrived late but were still promptly seated! My friend and I were hoping to order off the regular menu, but instead we were told that they only had the restaurant week menu. The choices were limited but sufficient. I ordered the Belgian Endive Salad. It was the most delicious salad I've ever had (it had candied walnuts, pear, blue cheese, mixed greens, a sweet dressing, held together in a thinly fried pastry sheet shaped into a bowl). Great presentation. As an entree we had the hanger steak and braised short rib. Super soft meat with a savory sauce. And for dessert we ordered the coconut crunch which is basically lime curd, coconut milk, and pineapple on the side. It was delicious! Prior to the meal, we were served complimentary bread with butter and another tasty concoction. It was blended olives, jalepeno, cilantro, and some other tasty ingredients. Soooo good. The service was awesome. From the bus boy to the water boy to the waiter to the hostess. Everyone provided great customer service! My only complaint is the location of the restrooms. You have to walk out of the restaurant, past the lobby, take the elevator upstairs to the 2nd floor, and then when you find the bathroom, they architecturally designed it into a maze (at least the ladies restrooms were). I got dizzy trying to find the stall! And then had to find my way back to the restaurant! Other than that my experience was just perfect!
(5)
Carrie L.
The 'executive lunch' for $22 is amazing. The food is presented so beautifully and the flavors are great. The decor, ambiance, and service are all top notch. Although pricey for dinner, this lunch option is great for a special meal (ie: birthday). I felt like it was a good value for all the food I got (salad, appetizer, entree, and two mini desserts).
Loved it !!! We sat by the window - amazing ambiance - especially after the sun goes down! All the vegetarian dishes were perfect! There was a drink.... something with grapefruit in the name- delicious !!! Had three. At the end - even though we decided to relocate for dessert, they still brought me a little plate of goodies with a birthday candle, and an older French gentleman sang Happy Anniverseux to me in a low French voice. I nearly melted into the seat. Will def. be back!!!
I love French food, so when my friend and I went here for Bastile Day, I was expecting great things. How can you not expect great things when it's part of Le Sofitel? First cue - tables to the right and to the left were complaining. I thought, 'how high maintenance can you get?' (I'm always on the side of the server) but after an hour, I knew EXACTLY why they were complaining. They sat us, then left us for 30 minutes without checking back one time. I couldn't even get anyone to bring us water. I would flag someone down and they would say "of course" and then nothing would happen. After 40 minutes, I flagged a waiter down (not ours of course, he was no where to be seen) and I said, "We want to cancel our order. Please tell our waiter." Miracle of miracles, the soup came bustling out w/in 5 minutes. No apologies, just promises that the rest of the meal would be coming out shortly. My friend didn't want to cause a scene so we stayed, but if I had been there with other people, I definitely would have refused the soup and left (there were 3 courses still coming!! The french fries were cold by the way. I was not impressed by the food). Go here only if you have time for a 2 hour dinner and want to chat chat chat, and see a lot of beautiful French people (the only benefit!)
(1)
Nancy H.
It's beautiful and all in here, but the service wasn't the greatest (we weren't greeted at the door; in fact, we waited a few minutes until a man in a suit seated us) and neither was the food. You feel elegant sitting in here, and you pay the price to sit in such a swanky restaurant. I paid $17 for a salad, and the entrees were $30+. And if I remember correctly, the carpeting felt too plush for a restaurant; it made me uncomfortable eating in there, like I would ruin the carpet if I spilled. I probably won't be coming back here.
(2)
Milesh Milan J.
There are days when I just want to relax, have a great brunch, catch up with friends, appreciate the beautiful ambiance, not worry about service issues and also do some people watching - on those days, I opt to go to Cafe Des Architectes! Their brunch is not as expensive if you consider the whole package! Basket of delicious pastries along with your brunch! I usually like to order the hot chocolate, grapefruit juice, scrambled tabbouleh (it is a perfect blend of scrambled eggs, goat cheese, tabbouleh with mint, garlic, tomato & parsley) or berries and apple crêpes! I have noticed that their service is best when it is not super crowded!
(4)
Marie S.
In one word - creative. From appetizers to dessert, their creativity shines and is unparalleled. Simple flavors fused together create beautifully presented and very appetizing dishes. Small portions - yes. But definitely big flavor that is well worth it.
(4)
Lu C.
My friends and I came here for a triple date for restaurant week. Yes, we were the round table centerpiece of the restaurant! This place is located in the Sofitel Hotel, and after the nice and filling meal (and super fancy restrooms), I really wanted to satisfy my huge food coma with a nice and fancy hotel room right upstairs. Unlike 676, this place offered large sized portions (I had to give some away to my bf), and goood food. Each of us ordered different appetizers, entrees, and desserts, and they all came out plated creatively and very tasty. The steak came in two types on one dish and both types were amazing. The place was a small room but the atmosphere was very modern and artsy, and the view was nice as well. I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Eitan S.
The best breakfast in town. period. Cant beat the selection of baked goods that comes with any Egg-celent order. using real butter, chocolate Croissant is used with real dark chocolate, with over %50 of Chocolate-solids, i would say. its a great taste of europe, here in Chicago-land. to top that, good coffee and free fresh orange juice... what else does one need to start a hedonistic weekend? I highly recommend the Steaks & Eggs, and the smoked salmon entires.
(5)
Carolyn K.
Went last week, our second time here. We chose to sit in the bar right off the main restaurant for two reasons: the tables in the restaurant are close together, and the bar area was child-free. We had very attentive, professional service. The food is incredible (I am a new fan of pork belly!). I love the atmosphere of this place. We saw the chef walking around several times. Valet is only $13. This is a place we will be back to!
(5)
nico s.
French? well, once you start with Shepard's Pie at the top of the menu, you should know something's not quite right! a duck confit that was far from the degree of tenderness it required, a steak that was chewy (despite the assurances of the server "it's quite tender!"), a white fish that defined the very category of bland... bon dieu, what a terrible, terrible disappointment! the saving point - the dessert. the floating island - the only thing these "architects" can build to last. certainly, not french. certainly, not "architects" but amateurs trying to build without bricks.
(1)
J. C.
We've had breakfast here several times when we're staying in the city. The coffee is outstanding (although my beau believed it was from Italy and not France). I love the attention to detail and the fresh, but simple, menu. However, I would not go out of my way to dine here if I weren't already staying in the hotel - it's still a hotel restaurant at heart.
(4)
tom d.
Last weekend I took my lovely wife for a nice diner. The food was excellent. We ordered the Ahi Tuna Tartare (highly recommended), the Grilled Portobello Mushroom and the Braised Short Ribs were fantastic. We finished with the Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake and if nothing else, this alone will bring us back to the Cafe. The service was great and the location is unbeatable. One of the best diner we have had in a long time. Highly recommended!
(5)
G H.
I went here for brunch on a Saturday. The food was actually decent. I had a great salad and my friend had a sandwich. Nothing spectacular, but tasted good. The good part ends there. When we walked up, the hostess was talking to a server. She looked at us I smiled at her, and she went back to what she was doing. We continued to stand there until she finally looked up again and asked "Oh...do you need a table?" Ummm yes. That would be why we are standing here. The server was just as unfriendly and unattentive. He took our drink order and our food order and that was the total number of times he was at our table. He never offered to refill our drinks or ask us how we were doing until we were done with our meal and our empty plates were sitting in front of us. He didn't even clear our plates. The busperson came over and did it 10 minutes later. I know this crappy service wasn't due to the fact that the restaurant was busy - there were only 6 other tables besides ours. All in all, I wouldnt recommend Cafe des Architectes. However, if you do decide to go there and Aramis is your server - RUN AWAY!
(2)
laurence m.
This restaurant is a true marvel. We were a table of 4 and had a fantastic dinner! Talk about pure satisfaction....this is what you will find there. Evey dish delivers above and beyond expectations. The flavors are bold and well balanced. We are foodies , we dine out a lot but there are very very few places that makes us truly happy... this is one of them and on top the the list. The desserts as well are incredible, and the service elegant, non intrusive but attentive.
(5)
Manja C.
I give the restaurant ambiance an A++...very slick, trendy decor with reds, blacks and whites (without being too 80's.) We ordered from the Neighborhood Prix Fixe menu for $28 each. I thought that menu had a better selection than the daily menu offered. In terms of service, i think that our server became a bit intimidated when Chef Nogier started walking around the floor. The restaurant had about 6 tables sat and I'd imagine that it could become more popular if they keep up with the Prix fixe menu with Nogier's innovate creations.
(3)
sandra h.
SLOW!!! Plan on taking a two hour lunch if you eat here. This is great if you are not in a hurry. This is a "ladies who lunch" sort of place. The food is decent and the atmosphere is polished. The best part of the meal was the bread . . . a great selection of French breads all made in house paired with creamy European style butter.
(3)
Bill M.
This boldly designed restaurant with a French flair is attached to the glamorous Sofitel hotel. The architectural theme extends to the black-and-white images of buildings around the world, and the paper napkin rings roll out as rulers. The menu is interesting and seems to change every time I dine here. The best dishes include three versions of a meat type (I ate duck, and the guy at the next table had beef) with a side dish, and these items are served in four different square plates. Conceptually this is like that Pizza Hut thing with four small pizzas in one box, but the difference is that the food here is GOOD. The presentation of the food is very artistic, and where else can you get a knife that can stand upon its own edge? The breads and desserts are very good as you would expect from a French restaurant. I think this restaurant is much underrated and would do very well even if not attached to a great hotel like the Sofitel.
(5)
Andy V.
Wow! Just had lunch today at Cafe Des Archtitectes and it was fantastic. I have walked past this restraurant hundreds of times and am glad I ventured in today. I had their beef carpaccio appetizer and gnocchi pasta. Unbelievable.
(5)
Brandon H.
A very vibrantly decorated French-influenced restaurant located in the lobby of the Sofitel hotel. The food here is very good, and often the presentation of the dishes is on par with their quality. In particular the rack of lamb was very tasty, and the chocolate cake with a side of pineapples was unique and pleasantly surprising. The only thing preventing a 5-star rating was the service. Our meal managed to take just over two hours and fifteen minutes. This did not seem to be the standard, as we saw many other tables seated and finished before we had the opportunity to pay for our meal.
(4)
Peng L.
A group of friends and I went there for Chicago restaurant week. Great food and great service! My friend's shrimp salad (forgot the name) appetizer was tasting and refreshing. My husband said his filet beef entry was the best he ever had. My pineapple soup dessert was superb; it wrapped up the dinner perfectly.
(5)
Leah A.
went for lunch with dougie yesterday. we paid $65 each, including tip, and had a bottle of pellegrino, a bottle of delicious white bordeaux, 2 'executive lunches' (four courses, all served at the same time), two coffees. ticket time was a little long, space was beautiful, service friendly but not overbearing, and food was very interesting and tasty. bread basket was awesome....so was the green olive tapenade. one weird thing was the techno music at 230 in the afternoon. a little too much. i'll definitely go back for one of their prix fixe nights/ lunches, etc. it was yummy, and i got to eat quince. i love quince.
(4)
Tom H.
Went here for New Year's eve prix fixe, and it was terrible. With the exception of dessert, every course was either cooked incorrectly or seasoned incorrectly. Also, the wine list is terrible.
(1)
Cathy G.
This place really hit it out of the park for us. Everything about the place seemed to be doing it right. It was bustling but not jammed at 8:30 on a Friday night. It is a beautiful space - lighting is glorious. We had to bump into the chef to get to our table - he was greeting all the diners personally and came around again later on. The three course prix fixe meal was splendid. First came an 'amuse bouche' of a tiny bit of braised vegetables and chorizo - it was so tiny and tasty. We had the beef tenderloin & the fish entrees, both were beautiful. The flavors were satisfyingly traditional, yet with some nicely fresh twists in the vegetables garnish & sauces that highlighted the dishes. Our appetizers ( a salad and a diver scallop) were splendid too. The scallop was one of the best appetizers I have ever tasted. Desserts were fine - we were full by this time so I don't know if I was underwhelmed because of that. We had a "baked alaska" that seemed like a good idea, but the spongy cake on the bottom didn't quite make it. This was the only thing that wasn't just excellent. The chocolate pistachio dome dessert was terrific though. The service was great. Our waiter was a young fellow who was knowledgeable; very kind and attentive. We had ordered a bottle of Puligny-Montrachet that turned out to be "corked." (we weren't too sure - it honestly had never happened to either of us, so we were a bit insecure about sending it back, but the waiter had the bartender taste it, and they agreed. We tried a second bottle of the same and sheepishly sent it back too - same problem. We were able to find a good choice, but were pleased by how 'not a big deal' this was for the server and it actually was almost amusing. (though sad to see that much what-ought-to-be good wine go down the drain!) After we finished, we headed to the lovely hotel bar (which was crowded) and after about 15 minutes, the maitre 'd found me to return my hat and umbrella which I'd left under my chair. So I would give the service here a major 5 stars. I wanted to give the place 5 stars, that one dessert was just underwhelming. Bottom line is that this place is great. We eat a lot of good restaurants and have gotten burned a few times lately by following a good review to a place that was just marginal. This place was a delight!
(5)
Jenna H.
Chic, French & Inoffensive (which isn't an easy balance). I went here with a friend who was visiting from out of town, and we both agreed it was one of the best brunches we've had in some time. The pastry basket was filled with wonderful flaky croissants--a mix of plain & chocolate-filled. We were starving but the menu had so many enticing options we had to send the (very understanding & helpful) server back... twice. They have a 4-or 5-course brunch sampler that we decided to share. Each of the courses was scrumptious and there was a good balance between sweet and savory items. The French-press coffee was also quite good. I was surprised that the prices were reasonable, especially given the area, restaurant & complexity of menu items. The service was outstanding, and the atmosphere is well-suited for an upscale brunch.
(4)
Francois B.
Trendy but tasteful; creative but not over-the-top. Note: the restaurant manager has just changed, and this may considerably impact the service and atmosphere. Service is pretty much always excellent -Geoffrey is *the* act (he hails from Kenya and speaks five or six languages fluently), but the other waiters are usually really nice too, including the very much telenovela-hero-like Mexican. The ambience is distinctly different in the morning, for lunch and at dinner. In the weekday mornings, quite a few business breakfasts in addition to the hotel guests', but usually not too busy. The breakfast items *are* delicious, even if what makes the "viennoiserie" (croissants, pains au chocolat, etc.) "authentically Parisian" is what I like the least about it -its slight dryness. The smoothie flight (perhaps not on the menu, but you can usually order it anyway) is not to be missed, while the fresh glass of orange juice is bottomless. This is perhaps one of the best values still available -the Architectes so far have always introduced new delicious things as a bargain (the $1 a piece mini-desserts are a good example) before making them super-expensive as soon as it becomes popular. Brunch on the weekends is in some ways even more amazing than breakfast, and you should definitely try the brunch sampler at least once -but make sure you're hungry and have some time. The lunch menu is very decent; the sampler menu, one of those once-upon-a-time-very-affordable items, is an excellent choice for a relatively fast and balanced lunch. It is prepared in 30 minutes max, and consists of four little plates aesthetically disposed on a larger one: one appetiser, one small salad, one main course and a couple of mini-desserts. The portions appear to be terribly small, but, especially with the addition of the gorgeous in-house baked bread, this is a very filling lunch and one that leaves your palate as well as your healthy conscience satisfied. Dinner is more formal and costly, but the dishes are amazing. The wine list, unfortunately, is execrable -I hear it's a corporate decision from Sofitel- however after a while you may be able to talk your way to some of their unlisted wines. UPDATE: It's been a year since Fabien, the former restaurant manager who brought the Architectes to such a high standard, has left; and it's been a year in which we haven't gone back to the Sofitel. Our recent experience confirms our worst fears: service has gone done considerably, and the food, if still decent, has lost any originality (the same things were on the menu when we had last frequented the place). Too bad.
(3)
Sohini K.
The interior design of the place is great and innovative. We were there for dinner, and while the food was good and well prepared, the service was a bit of a let-down. The waitstaff were kind of slow and not particularly friendly.
(3)
Adam B.
Meeting at the Sofatel for cocktails at 7:30 on a Friday night, we found the hotel bar to be packed with plenty of smokers and no seats. So, we made our way over to the Cafe Des Architechtes bar to have some drinks. The bar has about 5 seats and then there are 4 tables in the bar as well. Nice bartenders...excellent drinks...Overall, we had a great time. We ordered this combo of apps at the bar, and it was pretty good food. The chicken satay was excellent...really good, tasty, tender chicken with a great peanut sauce. The other apps in the platter were good, but not that memorable. While we didn't order dinner, they kept passing us on the way from the kitchen and the food looked and smelled outstanding. We did have dessert that looked so good that we took a picture of it. It was pretty good to eat. So, don't be telling too many people about this, but I think it's a great place to meet for drinks early in the night (by the time we left, it was a full house) and probably to have dinner as well.
(4)
Joyce R.
Spare me! I'm not sure I've had as bad a dining experience ever. Were part of a group dinner ($135 pp) which we know isn't bad for city dining.. but given the hype, we expected something other than the blah decor in the private room.. and other than the three spoonsful of crab that was a part of the salad.. dinner was awful. Husband had filet as main course and reported it was good-"nothing special". I had the fish selection and it was tasteless..might as well have been marinated cardboard. Vegetables were nondescript. The pineapple dessert offering was so painfully bad.. the tablespoon of pineapple sorbet was good, as was the thin candied pineapple slice.. the cake component was so dry and the ?? separating the cake .. well.. ???. Presentation is good.. but expect halfway good cuisine also. Service? Considering that must be what we paid for... nothing special. Sorry.. go to Mike Ditkas two blocks away.. 100% better!! We're in Chicago twice a year.. no repeats here!
E K.
Had the seafood omelette and basket of French bread with chicken sausage on the side. Everything was fresh and delicious. Prompt and professional service. Asked for a bowl of fresh berries as a desert even though not menu. "Sure" was the reply with a friendly smile. Hung around the table while my business partner checked out of hotel. They cleared the table and brought me a fresh carafe of French press coffee (Lavazza) (see pic). If you're on a business trip or just passing through, you'll be glad you ate here.
(5)Leily P.
If you want fancy, French, full of White people and overpriced - you've got it right here. 4 stars because what do you expect from a French restaurant? Also the service was nice, especially since I'm dressed in my "relaxe" pants, not fancy and White, and ordered to go. It's currently thunderstorming so I'm stuck at the Sofitel with nothing but room service or this restaurant. Ordered the veal and am 100% happy with the quality of the meat. Yum, but expect tiny portions.
(4)Michelle K.
4.5 I LOVED BRUNCH HERE. I came with a cherished friend and I am so glad that I marked this place off the list with her and the meal and company were both delightful. But I also need to stop going for brunch on the weekdays. I would love to come back to try their actual brunch menu one weekend OR dinner. We ordered the bacon and gruyère quiche and farmhouse benedict to share. The crust on the quiche was just flaky enough and the gruyère wasn't too heavy at all for the dish. The bacon and gruyère coupled well together. The prosciutto I thought might be a little much as prosciutto is saltier than I prefer in food but the dish as a whole wasn't too salty. The apple (it says fuji on the menu but looked like julienned green apples) balanced out the cheese and bacon/prosciutto with its tart and sweetness. The farmhouse benedict may have been the best eggs benedict I've ever had and I have had many many eggs benedict in my life (I almost always order benedict at any breakfast/brunch I eat and even make it at home!) The sourdough gave the dish enough structure and was heavy enough to support the short rib, egg, greens, and tomato jam. The eggs were perfectly poached with the yolk still runny. The braised short rib was a little saucier than I like but it was okay because the eggs were so on point. The greens and tomato jam topped it off nicely and pulled it all together well. We also asked if they had macarons which they didn't--BUT the pastry chef was so gracious as to give us two strawberry macaron to eat. These were by far the best macaron I've had outside of Paris--crunchy on the outside and so, so, so very chewy and light on the inside. The same could be said for the croissant!
(4)Neil D.
Excellent Restuarant for Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner. Overall as good as any resturant on the Gold Coast of Chicago. Reasonable prices,quality food and generally the service is very good. Please give this hidden gem in streeterville a try.
(5)Brooke L.
Cafe des Architectes, I blame YOU for this 5 pound weight gain! I've eaten here twice and each time was fabulous (not to mention the numerous trips to Le Bar - also great) So breakfast, they bring you the most amazing coffee and fresh squeezed juice along with an assortment of fresh bakery bread. I ordered the Brioche French Toast, this 34894389348923489234347832478 calories of heaven included a fantastic berry compote. YUM! My husband got Eggs Bénédict and he declared TH to have "the greatest Hollandaise known to man." So there ya go. You should try them. We arrived for dinner like 5 minutes before closing time. I felt AWFUL for being one of THOSE people. But I was H-ANGRY, and I was impressed with the service and courtesy we received. For dinner we started with the Butternut Squash Velouté. It was some sorta meringue and cream. I had the Porcini Rubbed New York Strip with gingered carrots, black truffle, and ricotta dumplings while the husband went with the Roasted Maple Leak Duck. Anyway, I've eaten/drank nothing bad here. Oh, you should let the bartenders make you whatever they want. It's always GREAT!
(4)William Y.
Eh. I feel like that sums up my experience. I mean don't get me wrong, the staff was nice, the atmosphere was good, the chairs...those chairs were damn comfortable, thats for sure. They go around giving 1 pastry/person which is a nice gesture I suppose. The problem was the food just wasnt that good. It's like 6 dollars for a pair of eggs at this joint but the taste of the food was basic. And I tried what what my brothers had too...the pancakes and seafood omelet. Both average. I had the eggs benedict...average..actually undercooked. I was so hungry was the only reason I kept eating it. I probably should have sent it back for another but thats just not really my style. Anyways its basically the combination of being pretty damn expensive and underwhelming food which led to my 2 star rating, which is surprising given the reputation of the place. Its probably closer to a 2.5 really but guess Im not feeling generous today.
(2)Taylor C.
Restaurant week! I came here for restaurant week earlier this year, purely because of the name. I'm an architecture student, so I had to try it out! The waiters were all very nice right when we entered, asking us if we wanted to hang out coats and such. We were seated along the window in the front, which gave a nice view of the overall restaurant. The interior was quite pretty with the tall floor to ceiling windows, and the cool ambiance. We had a prefixed meal for restaurant week which entailed 5 courses. They were all pretty good, and I enjoyed all of them, but I have to say, it wasn't amazing. I ordered a cappuccino and some sparkling water as well. For 75 dollars, I had expected a pretty damn good meal. I'd come here again, maybe not for restaurant week, but to try their other dishes.
(4)VC V.
We picked this place because I had an out-of-town visitor who was looking to try foie gras, and a friend had mentioned this place before. The place look very beautiful from outside (it is in a hotel) and looked equally elegant inside. Our servers were very courteous and attentive. We love their french accents! We had the foie gras to start with and it was probably one of the best foie gras dishes I ever had. My friend ordered the venison, and I had the amish chicken. Both were good. When the server brought out the dessert menu, we said we were quite full but would take a look. Then he brought out a dessert flight for us, on the house! It was a lovely surprise and the dessert (chocolates, marshmallows, macaroons) was certainly amazing. Next time, I know where to bring my guests for a great French dinner.
(5)Ian L.
Overall: 4 star food, 4.5 star ambience. great value for Restaurant Week lunch menu, spacious layout. The lady and I ordered the Restaurant Week Menu, it was absolutely delicious. The poached pear and goat cheese salad had a great balance, but was overshadowed by the chestnut veloute with scallops, which was astounding, the creaminess balanced with the rich sauteed scallops. The seared Michigan whitefish was a little off, not as fresh as we would have liked. It had hints of cumin. (Clearly inferior to braised beef short rib) The braised beef short rib was delicious, perfect in texture and complemented by the wonderful butternut squash. The dessert: tasty, very good, nothing too exceptional. We would definitely go back though.
(4)Helen S.
I decided to come here for a graduation brunch (my graduation, go me whoo) with my parents and bf, and it was not a great choice. We had all opted to get the brunch sampler, so I'll run through it real quick. 1. Bread basket (assorted croissants and bread) - great, we agreed that this was probably our favorite part of the meal 2. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs - this came in the form of three shots of juice (mango, pomegranate, and something I can't remember). I was expecting fresh fruit, and had I known I was getting juice, I wouldn't have ordered a glass with my meal. They also got my juice order wrong, and it took awhile to get this corrected. 2. Mains: -pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche - good, I liked it enough to take leftovers home -mesclun greens - okay salad, pretty interesting -chicken and waffle - even McDonalds makes better chicken fingers -mini white truffle omelet - gross 3. Desserts: - honey vanilla parfait - way too sweet, and the honey yogurt combo was odd - chocolate opera cake? - way too sweet - strawberry panna cotta - well balanced, my favorite part of the meal Overall, the brunch sampler may be a good value considering the sheer bulk of the food, but in terms of quality and taste, it was definitely lacking for the price. I would not want to return, at least not for brunch.
(2)Lily Z.
I came here for a double date dinner. I made the reservations through Savored, which saved us about 30-40% on our meal. THANK YOU SAVORED.COM! It's a very modern place. They have different menus such as a healthy fit menu, regular menu, chef's selection, etc. They have someone walking around with a bread basket and provided European butter and some other spread. Service was attentive. We received a complimentary amuse bouche which was a beef tartare. I didn't eat it since I was going meatless weekday diet. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting, we finally flagged down our waiter and inquired whether it was still coming or if we are waiting for our appetizers. He apologized and brought out a veggie friendly amuse bouche. Our overall dinner was nice. I came in here afraid that the portions were going to be tiny, but I was relieved to get a normal person's amount of food. They were able to substitute the carrots in my salmon dish for broccolini. Everyone else enjoyed their food. The Colorado lamb looked amazing. They provided a complimentary dessert tower for the four of us, which was a nice touch. Even though we ordered sorbet for dessert. Overall, this was a nice place for dinner. It definitely helped that we had that coupon from Savored, so it was only $90 a couple including tip! I don't know if I would come back here again though. Maybe if we wanted a romantic/low-key dinner that wouldn't break the bank.
(3)Valigirl V.
Where to begin... Beautiful modern restaurant located in the hotel Sofitel Water Tower off the "Mag Mile". Prices were reasonable ($120/pp) including cocktails, wine and desserts. Foie Gras and bread basket were absolutely delish. Every course was prepared with great care, and appeared as a work of art...truly exceptional. All six members in our party absolutely LOVED their food. The main issues that yielded only a 3-star rating, are as follows: 1) our "singing French waiter" Roni, who really overdid things. In an upscale restaurant such as this one does not lend itself to servers "serenading" the ladies at the table. 2) Several diners in our party ordered Copper River Salmon. One diner received a piece of conventional "farm raised salmon", discerned by it's noticeably lighter color. The meal was replaced, but took over 30 min to arrive! By this time, other diners had all finished their main course. 3) There was absolutely no offer to remove the meal from the bill for the inconvenience. However, as the hostess of this dinner, I did request, and the waiter removed the charge... I should not have had to request the removal of the charge! Nearing the end of our meal, Roni was beyond obsequious, between the singing and then writing down his website and handing each one of us a card with the info...not cool. I would definitely dine here again, food and atmosphere are ranked at + 5 stars, albeit with a different server and hopefully no food incidents. Also check out "Le Bar" on the other side of the hotel... Great spot for a cocktail! I highly recommend the French Mule...Vodka, champagne, ginger liquor, lime juice on ice.
(3)Cinnamon M.
Expensive, but worth every bite and every minute! You will not be disappointed! I don't know how anyone with taste buds could rate this any less than 5! I'm attributing it to a pedantic hatred of anything French! The staff is amazing as well! Ask for Romi, The Singing Chef!!!! He sings a beautiful rendition of La Vie En Rose! What more can I say? The food is off the chart, the service is off the chart! I only wish I were a millionaire because I'd eat here everyday if I could!
(5)Valerie J.
I've been here at least 11 times, and I agree that some of the servers are green - but you cannot go wrong w/Romi as your waiter. Not only is he charming, fun, and efficient, he also has the voice of an angel (well, a French angel) and will sing to you! I loved the oysters with creme fraiche and caviar and I hope they make a reappearance on the menu. Right now they have a gorgeously delicate foie gras plate I highly recommend. Chef Greg and his sous chef Justin are both whizzes when it comes to preparing fish. Greg made halibut for my fiance and I a month ago that made said Fiance proclaim Cafe des Architectes is his new favorite restaurant!! This past weekend we went with our friend Leigh and she was in heaven! From the chilled tomato soup to the cheese course to the truly awesome rabbit three ways - it was pleasure all around! Then of course came desserts (and thank goodness these 2 are sweet tooths!) Along w/the wonderful food we had great wine recommended by Romi. I always love going here and can't believe I've never reviewed it before. Thank you for existing, Cafe des Architects!
(5)Andrew R.
I had a very pleasant time here. I brought my top heaux who was very impressed. The servers were all like "Bonne soirée monsieur" so I was all like "Guten tag mein Franzose", which of course made for an awkward introduction. Pork rillette, whitefish and some nice Chardonnay. Once our server realized I did not subscribe to the views of das fuehrer he was very accommodating with a nice recommendation of cheeses. Food, presentation and service were all executed with the tact and care one would expect from a culture that gave the world Gerard Depardieu's Speedo. I left Frenchy a nice tip (in Freedom Dollars of course) and complimented him on the fine decor. We hugged it out. I'll be back for bottomless mimosas on game day.
(4)AV G.
Achtung clueless brunchers. I am shocked at the excitement of Brunch at some average resto where you can overpay and wait forever to get some meh breakfast food that you could prepare at home. Why this is so popular is a surprise to me. If you are hung from the night before, grow a pair and get a burger like a normal person. If you are with a group that insists on "BRUNCHING", pay the extra $5 a person and get a great experience. I have been visiting the Sofitel since it opened. I was here today with some visitors and we all loved the place. Top noch food, perfect service.lovely place AND unlimited FANTASTIC baked goods, along with french-press coffee.
(5)Wing C.
I had a Gilt City voucher, which was a good deal for a three course meal with wine. However, I still don't think the food was worth the prices. The amuse bouche was a smoked beet, which just tasted like a regular beet. Next, I had the spring risotto, which was a little heavy, but not too salty. Then I had the seared Arctic char, which was cooked nicely, with a crispy skin. Finally, I had the Valrhona chocolate sphere, which was also okay. The hard chocolate shell had a caramel mouse inside, but it was too liquidity and tasted more like melted whipped cream. Overall, although the staff was attentive and the Sofitel Hotel and CDA looked nice, the meal was just average.
(3)Nishan P.
It's my birthday... not really. My birthday was one month ago, but that didn't stop my dear friend Yanyao N from taking me out for a birthday lunch. She picked Café Des Architectes. I had never heard of the place, but I figured it was French. I think it means Cafe of Architects. Four years of high school French are finally coming in handy. The place is bright and modern. Chef hat lamp shades hang above the tables. The hostess greeted me with, "Bonjour!" Yup, definitely French. We started with a squash soup. A waiter brought out bowls with sweet potato cubes and duck confit, and poured soup over them at the table. Fancy! Yanyao ordered a cocktail: some grapefruit thing. She let me try a sip. It was very good, but I couldn't have one because I had to work after lunch. I got the Seared Arctic Char. It was served on Brussels sprouts and salsify puree. As the French would say: incroyable!!! The fish skin was so nice and crispy, and the whole dish so flavorful! The Miniature Parisian Desserts looked like works of art - almost too pretty to eat. But that didn't stop me from scoffing them up. The praline cream filled choux-pastry cookie was my favorite. The whole lunch was très magnifique. I'll be returning to Café des Architectes tout de suite. Merci beaucoup, Yanyao!
(5)Marie D.
My husband and I stayed at the Sofitel for our anniversary and had dinner at Cafe des Architects. We had an 8:00pm reservation and were seated immediately at a good table. The service was perfect; I would go back just to be waited on by our waiter. Charming, pleasant, French, highly knowledgable about the wine and food, perfectly timed - a delight. We ordered a Beaujolais but when I tasted it I really didn't like it. Our waiter was very accommodating, said not to worry one bit, asked me what I like, and brought something different for me to taste. I loved it. The food was delicious. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the trout, and we both devoured our meals. We also had appetizers, which were outstanding. We even asked for more bread. I love dessert, but I wasn't a fan of desserts at CDA. I had the chocolate and my husband had a parfait, and although his was nice, I didn't finish mine. I'm not sure when I've ever not finished something chocolate before. I can't describe exactly what wasn't right, but neither the taste nor the texture were appealing to me. Despite the dessert, I give CDA five stars and can't wait to go back.
(5)Chrissy N.
Went for brunch on a Sunday at noon with parents. Was almost full but not busy, no wait. (Good- because we had no reservations for brunch.) The decor was elegant, fresh flowers, modern, clean, white leather booths, deep burgundy walls. The wait staff was very professional, and the hostess was a doll. The food came promptly. Bread comes before the meal. The coffee (complimentary with entree) was absolutely delicious!
(4)Kristen L.
Came here for a classy dinner for a bachelorette party, pre-debauchery, and it's safe to say that we chose well. Food: Excellent. Judging by the prices and the "fine dining" category, you'd think that they'd either be lacking in taste or portions. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that both were superb. I ordered the seared duck breast which came with asparagus and sliced potatoes which was absolutely heavenly. The duck breast (as the server so politely explained) was a bit tougher and game-y due to it being wild caught, but Lord was it good. It was cooked perfectly and it had a nice ring of fat which added the perfect amount of savory goodness. Also ordered the Loaded Potato Fries, thinking that the main entrees were going to be small, and it was a ginormous portion. BUT, the taste, again, all there. The fries themselves were huge and paired with bacon, parmesan cheese, and sour cream aioli, it was freaking AWESOME. OH AND...complimentary appetizer and dessert?! YES, PLEASE! Service: To infinity, and beyond! For real. Our server, a legitimate French man (loved his accent!) was oh-so-kind and very attentive throughout the entire meal. Being part of a larger group, I can imagine it being hard trying to keep up with everything, but he was always very polite, thanked US after we ordered/asked for anything, AND threw some French vocab. to boot! I always like to judge my service on how many times my water glass empties, and at Cafe des Architectes my glass NEVER went empty. Ambiance: Definitely romantic, but again, great if you want a classy dinner with the girls. They're also very accommodating--we were about 15-20 minutes late for our reservation, but they had everything set up for us and weren't annoyed/frustrated with us. Cafe des Architectes? Exquis!
(5)Grace C.
Came here for lunch during the week. Many of business luncheon are happening. Service is pretty good. Their 4 course lunch menu was not impressive as all four of mini dishes came at once on a big plate. Taste was not bad,,,,but I will not get it again if I go back. Their chicken sandwich was pretty good. The restaurant is located on the first floor left side of sofitel entrance. It is pretty small place. Taste: 3-4 rating Service: 4 rating Atmosphere: 2. i found dirty spot on the couch. restaurant is pretty small...
(3)Bernice R.
Ah, fine dining at its best! Service: Top Notch. We were a little late for our 7:45 reservation but they were very nice about it and saved our table (of 7) for us. Our waiter was very professional and had great recommendations! Further, the other staff members were great team players filling waters, removing plates, etc. Also, as for the spacing of the meals and checking on our table, they did an awesome job. Food: Best french food I've ever had. I had the prix fixe dinner: beet salad, salmon, and the sorbet trio. I highly suggest any of those three! In addition to the three courses, our table had complementary bread and olive spread and butter, a wonderful amuse bouche which really gave us a glimpse of the wonderful meal ahead of us, and dessert tower! I also got a plate that said "Congratulations" in chocolate because this was my bachelorette party dinner! Price: No doubt, I think the price matches the quality of service and the quality and quantity of the food (btw, you won't be leaving hungry, as some may worry about fancy-high class restaurants). Overall, Cafe des Architectes is very classy restaurant that has delectable food and superb service! MERCI BEAUCOUP!
(5)Michael S.
It's all about service folks. Thank you CdA for helping make my anniversary dinner a great one! So I really enjoy great service as it's about the whole experience when you dine somewhere. From the start with the complimentary coat check to everyone saying bonsoir I was already pleased. We had a tuna tartin with caviar as a complimentary amuse bouche and also two sparkling wines. Both were unexpected and added to the experience. I was a bit disappointed in the menu as they didn't have the bass I was looking forward too, but the short rib I got instead was excellent. Gf got the butter poached lobster and she was quite pleased with both the taste and how much of it she got. Oh, we also got the oxtail tortellini which was good, but nothing to rave about and the cheese ritual which I would say was like the oxtail. Bread though with the olive tapenade was nice and filling. :) Didn't do dessert as we were going to the chocolate bar at the Peninsula, but we got complimentary desserts as part of our meal for our anniversary. Really good opera cake... Overall, with the service I really want to give a 5, but I think they were close.
(4)Tim P.
Food is amazing. Perfectly executed and always seasonal. This restaurant is located in the Hotel Sofitel, which is a French luxury hotel chain, so you come in with somewhat high expecations for French cuisine. They do not disappoint. If you get their Filet Mignon, they will even do it "bleu" which is the way the French order their steak. Their cheese plate comes with mini-Madaleines, and at the end of the meal each table will get their mignardise (tower of mini bite-sized desserts that include macarons). You can also order a Cafe Noisette and they'll make it for you. We had a magnificent bottle of French Pinot Noir that was beautiful on the palate. We shall return for sure (actually this is our 5th or 6th time here).
(5)Richard B.
We just had dinner there last night and had an amazing time. We had a few friends in from out of town, the food was good the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Our waiter and the others that served us were attentive, helpful, but not overbearing. They explained the menu to us, and each thing that was served was given to the ladies at the table first, as it should be. My girlfriend and I both had the friends and neighborhood menu which is an amazing deal for $32.00, for appetizer I had the diver scallop, and my girlfriend had the young coho with potatoes. Both were excellent and very well presented. The entrees were amazing, we both had the Potato gnocci with shrimp and asparagus. We had bread pudding and creme brule for desert which was a marvelous finish to a great meal. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a place on the gold coast to stop and have a great meal.
(5)Janet X.
My friend and I came for the Neighborhood Friends $29 prix fixe on a recommendation from a coworker. The Cafe is on the ground floor of the Sofitel; with its soft lighting and clean, sleek design, it looked more like a lounge than a restaurant. Huge windows offered a view to the outside regardless of where you were sitting. We were seated almost immediately and a beautiful bread basket came shortly afterwards. It took us a fairly long time to flag down a server, but when he came he was gracious, patient, and even a little funny (and yes, he was French!). I chose the shepherd's pie for an appetizer and the duck breast for an entree, and the server recommended the praline crisp for dessert. Even though the courses looked small, they were excellent and very filling -- of course, the delicious rolls with sunflower seeds didn't hurt either. But my biggest surprise came with dessert. It was really fantastic! I'm usually not a dessert person, but I have to say that it was probably the best part of my meal. All in all, I'd definitely come back again!
(4)Anna P.
I went here for restaurant week because I was drawn by the restaurant week menu, proximity to my apartment (it's cold out!!!), and positive reviews of the atmosphere. The hotel is gorgeous and the restaurant has a nice ambiance as well, although the tables were a bit squeezed together. The food was great, but not the best I've ever had. The service was slow but attentive, which was good for a nice romantic dinner out but once we decided we wanted the check it took forever! Overall, I liked this place and might come back but it didn't blow me away.
(3)Jiyoun B.
It was so beautiful. Decor, I mean. Gosh, I love love the hotel, the restaurant should reflect that, no? Our waiter was awesome, he seemed genuinely French but friendly. The food? I don't know. We've been to enough French restaurants to know there are traditional French cooking restaurants and very creative French restaurants. Cafe Des Architectes were neither. I did like the presentation and I loved their appetizer but the main entree and dessert? I ate half the entree and a bite of dessert. The waiter did mention the menu and the chef will change so maybe another try? We'll see.
(3)Adrian G.
CDA had a fabulous menu for V-Day, and it was a fantastic experience! The pairings were amazing! The salmon and beef dish were crazy. And the fruit salad dessert was delightful! A splurge for parents like us, but well worth the escape!
(5)Mihir P.
Our experience started out odd. Let me explain: We (6 of us) walked in and there was no host stand of any sort. A waitress happened to be looming in the area so I spoke to her. Our table was set and she brought us there. I liked that the ladies were given the menus first. Our waiter asked us if we wanted wine but we first wanted to see the cocktail menu and requested one. He didn't come back until about 10 minutes later without it and asked about an appetizer order - some us knew what we wanted some didn't since we were expecting the drink menu first. So those who knew ordered an app. Then I reminded him about the drink menu. He came back with it and asked what we wanted - he only brought one and none of us even had a chance to read it so he took the rest of the app orders and then by the time that was over, half of us knew what drinks we wanted so those who knew ordered. He then walked away while the rest of us knew what we wanted. Awkward. So we had to call him back. The busser and food runners were well trained and the food was delicious. I recommend the brussel sprout w/ lamb bacon to start and the duck for dinner - I cleaned up both plates. I also tried my friend's chicken and it was perfectly cooked but very mild. Decor/atmosphere is modern and sleek but it was SO QUIET. I think it wiuld be more crowded if the place had more energy.
(3)Michael G.
This is mediocrity at its most expensive. Price doesn't make it good. Mediocre service, food,plating, dirty chairs,. Staff changing over to breakfast while still dining. Nah.
(2)David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 4 Service: 2 Came here with the gf and her parents for lunch around 1pm Saturday. 3-hour non-dinner valet parking is $13 with restaurant validation. Bread basket was good - chocolate croissant, small baguettes, and some other items. 1. Brunch sampler, 25 Served with fresh fruit juice and coffee or tea ~Good. Opted for oj. Trio of exotic fruit kebabs *** ~Good. Instead of pieces of fruit on a stick, the kebabs were actually three tall shot glasses of fruit juice. Last time I checked the dictionary, a kebab is "a dish consisting of small pieces of meat, tomatoes, onions, etc, threaded onto skewers and grilled, generally over charcoal." pastrami smoked salmon with caviar crème fraîche mesclun greens chicken and waffle mini white truffle omelet *** ~Okay. Smoked salmon was okay, but the bread and onions didn't pair well. Mesclun green salad was pretty good, and whatever ingredient looked like dirt underneath the salad was amusing and creative. Chicken and waffle was mediocre, as was the omelet. assorted mini desserts ~Mediocre. We got honey vanilla parfait, a chocolate layered cake, and a strawberry panna cotta with nuts and strawberries. Honey vanilla parfait was too sweet, and I didn't like the pairing on top. Cake was okay, and the panna cotta was more like a marshmallow. Service was disappointing. They gave my gf oj instead of the grapefruit juice she ordered. I brought it up to a male server, but they still didn't fix the problem. I then brought it up with our original server, who was nowhere to be seen until the end of our meal, and it was eventually fixed.
(2)Lindsay B.
Dined here for breakfast as part of our package at the Sofitel Hotel, and I really enjoyed my meal. Breakfast initially looked pricey, but it came with so many components it was definitely worth the price. With my meal I also received coffee, juice, and a lovely basket of croissants and pastries that were delicious (I wanted to sneak them out in my purse, but refrained). Both of our meals were delicious. I likely won't be back, but that is only because I am not in the city often. If I were to stay at the Sofitel again, I would definitely have breakfast here! Service was also excellent for our meal, and many diners were there alone working or having a few moments of peace which seemed rather nice. Check it out for breakfast in the area.
(4)Jill W.
Restaurant Week Review -Great atmosphere--warm, romantic, comfortable -Started with bubbles and worked my way through butternut squash veloute with duck confit, braised short rib, and chocolate ganache--all were outstanding, -Great wine pairing suggestions for entree and dessert -While the food was great, I was really hoping for more meticulous service. While not bad at all, we had to refill our own flutes, and plates took a while to get cleared after we were obviously done eating. Little things I know, but just had higher expectations. -Certainly recommend to friends for a tasty/special occasion prix fixe tasting.
(4)Unity O.
This review of is for the afternoon tea service since The Living Social deal 1st let me know they even offer afternoon tea. Here are a few things to know about me before getting too far along in this review: I HATE tea, do not like it at all (I go to afternoon teas mainly for the company & the lovely little finger sandwiches) I am a bit of kleptomaniac (not proud of it, but there you have it. Mainly I steal pens, but I like trinkets too ;-) I am a chocoholic...truly, I have a problem I love me some deals (cheap is good, FREE is better! It's my mantra for life). Ok, now that you have been prepped...let's get to the review. Afternoon tea service seems to be a newish thing for Cafe Des Architectes, but you would not really know it from the service & all the lovely touches throughout. The tea is served in smaller room that the restaurant that is off on the other side of the Soifitel Hotel. I was a bit sad not to be in the main dining area, but I got over that pretty quickly when I saw the room. It had an intimate feel that seemed pretty proper for an afternoon of catching up with the tea ladies while sipping our cares away. One downside is that there was nothing to really absorb sound, so there was a constant buzzing in the air with all the folks enjoying an afternoon of tea sandwiches, desserts, and hot beverages. I always have coffee at these monthly afternoon teas & the tea ladies do not hold it against me (PHEW!). As I mentioned above, I sometimes take things that are not mine & man was I sorely tempted here. There were so many nice touches at the tea that I had not encountered at other teas. Here is a list of things I wanted: *glass long tube with 6 divots for sugar...there was 6 different types of sugar (it was great). *an hour glass item with 3 different settings so you can have tea the way you like it. Oh man, I so wanted to through that thing in my purse. *wooden boxes that contained jars of teas something like 8 different kinds. The jars were open so you could smell the different types. *the bamboo tray that the treats & sandwiches out on. *the spoon holder. *the honey jar...if you saw it, you would understand. Alright before you start thinking me an awful person, I did not steal anything but as you can see, they really went to town on the atmosphere & table service. Speaking of service, the staff was attentive without being overbearing. They were available for questions & any items that were needed, but they did not rush us or make us feel unwanted. Now the food was alright (so-so if you will) and it pains me to say it since I really wanted to love it. The pastries while nice, where not fabulous and the tea sandwiches were decent (there are better to be had at other places). My hope is that Café Des Architectes will work out what type of sandwiches & pastries. While I loved my time here, I think you should know that this service does not come cheap. It is $30 per person...that is rather a steep price for what is offered. There are many other places that offer stellar afternoon teas for that price (or a little less). Not sure if I would come back for tea at that price, but if a deal is offered, then for sure. One last nice touch is that each of us received a cardboard box containing a cherry & goat cheese tart as a parting treat...so that pushed this 3 star experience to a 4 star one. It is the little things people.
(4)Sean G.
*Review of Afternoon Tea* The teas were very good. I appreciated them bringing a sample box w/ the eight teas inside so you could actually use your nose to decide what tea to drink. We enjoyed the white tea and the Darjeeling. The bites to eat are exactly that. Little more than a bite each. Some were good (prosciutto bite and the macaroon), but mostly they were forgettable. The Salmon paste was flavorful, but was placed atop a thoroughly bland and dry bit of bread/pastry. The LivingSocial deal made it worthwhile, but if you are looking for something more than two cups of tea and snack, the Café Des Architectes simply will not do. Consider tea at the Peninsula hotel if you are looking for a tea-centric midday MEAL. More expensive ($50), but worth ever penny. Unfortunately, I can't quite say the same for our experience here. Bottom line: Expensive for what you get (Tea + appetizer), but not unenjoyable.
(3)Adam J.
In a word. Delicious. The decor is sophisticated and warm. The service: attentive but not oppressive, the waiter was helpful without feeling pushy. It was the food though that really made it. Usually I wouldn't go to a hotel restaurant. In this case I would make an exception. The food was innovative and delicious.
(5)Patty C.
My hubby and I had a nice time here. We got here at 8:00 p.m. and our table was not ready yet, so they gave us 2 glasses of champagne on the house. We didn't even have to wait 5 minutes and we were seated. Our server was very nice and very professional. He had a heavy French accent, and that made the experience even more fun. The decor was chic and modern, and the lighting was just right. Now for the food, Appetizer: Maine Diver Scallops with morel mushrooms / white asparagus / meyer lemon foam - very tasty and yummy Foie gras with strawberry gelée / rhubarb marmalade / homemade brioche - this was very rich and good Entree: Beef Tenderloin with spring onion purée / thumbelina carrots / watercress - good solid steak, not the best, but still good Ahi Tuna "A la Plancha" with wild mushrooms / watercress salad / white truffle oil - this was very flavorful and nicely presented Side: Wild mushrooms - very good, but a little too salty Dessert: Baked Alaska - yummy and refreshing Overall, we had a nice time and will definitely come back.
(4)Vic M.
My most recent visit to CDA was as a guest at a weeknight business dinner set for ten. The food was outstanding. Our server recommended the Kumamoto Oysters and Foie Gras first courses as the house specialties, but I went with the Diver Scallop. OMG, so good. The scallop was just perfectly seared, under duck confit with some kind of curry cauliflower and raisins. I had the Walleye Pike as my entrée, and finished every last bite. The Guinea Hen looked delicious as well, and everyone at the table loved what they had ordered. I probably wouldn't be eating here as a routine or anything, but I'll definitely be back for Restaurant Week and keeping an eye out for any special dinners they might do. Overall, very good.
(4)Dave S.
We had a truly lovely dinner here on a recent Friday night, with 30% off courtesy of Savored. First of all, the setting is beautiful and tres-urban. Very sleek and stylish--perfect for a fancy night on the town. The crowd is sophisticated and the overall aesthetic of the dining room/lounge just screams "classy." It was great. The food: we both had the tasting menu. My partner had the standard menu, with a mixed vegetable starter, amish chicken, and peach dessert. The chicken was excellent: tender, flavorful, and not the least bit overcooked. I went with the "de-light" prix fixe because of dietary restrictions. I went with a beet salad, a succulent piece of salmon, and a sorbet trio. All were perfectly seasoned, precisely cooked, and beautifully plated. The service: in a word, impeccable. In several words: warm, knowledgeable, and invisible. Each and every person, from our server to the bread guy, was great. Everyone had a smile, and was unobtrusive. When I was ordering my dessert, my waiter actually steered me toward one of his favorites, pointing out that my original selection didn't really showcase the strengths of the chef. I truly appreciate that kind of informed assistance. The wine list was somewhat skinny for a high-class French restaurant, but we nevertheless found a winner of a Bordeaux.
(4)Pack C.
overall impression after the meal: food portion is really small.. isn't worth the price at all! We went there during the restaurant wk. the place was packed and the service was very slow! I had bouillabaise (french seafood soup) for my appetizer. It's too creamy by bouillabaise standard and under-seasoned. I was pretty disappointed actually. My bf had a stuffed quail which is pretty good. I had a veal dish for my entree. It came with 2 pieces of meat: beef stew sized. It tasted really good but definitely isn't worth the price. We also ordered a monk fish entree. The fish was really fresh and well cooked. We had chocolate mousse and pistachio cream for desserts. They are just ok. We were glad to go there and check it out but we won't go back there again
(3)Emann B.
Had a biz lunch here and was pleasantly surprised. The service, from the greeter to the server was excellent. So wonderful to be greeted warmly with a big smile. Had the tuna nicoise which had a rich tasty sauce underneath the lettuce. A bit like a sweet hollandaise. Very good.
(4)John S.
Denigrating hotel restaurants is easy and done often. Perhaps talented chefs want a less hurried more focused audience so they avoid places where every scrambled egg will be expensed. However, recently my wife were on business from San Diego and we ate at The Sofitel Chicago's Cafe des Architectes and had one of our most memorable meals ever. And there's no mystery that the energy, artistry, and elegance of the fare is due to Executive Chef Greg Biggers. We had six plates during the evening and each showed the kind of focus and forethought that makes fine food both a great experience and a wonderful memory. On this same trip we ate at Tru and MK. Chef Biggers had distinguished himself at Tru before his arrival at Cafe des Architectes but his current offerings are purely his inspiration. MK and Tru were excellent and we will probably dine there again. But we will certainly dine at Cafe des Architectes as often as we are in Chicago.
(5)Yvonne B.
This is the magical story of four ladies who treated M for a birthday dinner. We were truly pampered by the phenomenal service offered by Cafe Des Architectes. The food was inventive and burst with complex flavors. With that introduction, let me tell you my tale. I waited in the bar area and mused over the drink menu. Two cocktails caught my eye: the Bee's Knees and the Old Fashioned. I asked the server if they were martinis. No, they're not, but they'd be happy to make them into martinis just for me. In fact, he offered to bring me mini versions of each! I was afraid that double fisting would give off a lush impression so I said that I would start with the Bee's Knees and get the Old Fashioned later. I was still sipping the Bee's Knees as all of us assembled in the bar. Another server gathered our glasses on a tray and carried them for us to the table. It was so nice to seamlessly transition from bar to table. We did not have to worry about paying for our drinks there or anything. What a treat. One of my friends noticed the five-course tasting menu for $75. We were interested, but a little nervous since one friend is vegetarian. The server didn't know if that was okay and said that he'd ask the chef for us. Despite having a large wedding in the banquet hall upstairs, the chef came out and discussed the five-course tasting menu with us! I was absolutely delighted. Four of us agreed to the five-course menu and my vegetarian friend chose a single appetizer and entree. While seated, I finished my Bee's Knees. A server silently removed it from the table (and without a word) replaced it with the Old Fashioned martini! I didn't even have to ask for it! One of my friends realized that her iPhone no longer had a charge. She asked a server if they happened to have a charger and they brought one to her! Between the chef, my martinis, and now this charger, this place earned it's 5-star rating even before we ate any of the food. Seriously. We each took turns going to the bathroom. The bathroom is on the second floor and has about six alcoves within it with lots of mirrors. It felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland for me, but in a very positive, surreal way. It was constantly clean (a cleaning person was nearby at all times) and the flowers near the basin were fresh, beautiful, and fragrant. Finally, our food was delicious. I loved trying different foods, but that's really not for everybody. M conceded that she would rather simply have an appetizer and entree, but was also pleased with the food in general. What was most impressive about the food is that the chef sent out extra little plates for our vegetarian friend to give her nibbles while everyone else was working on other plates. At the end of our meal I was satisfied, but M was still hungry. She thought that having an entree would have been more filling than lots of small plates. M was so pleased with her experience at Cafe Des Architectes for her birthday dinner that she vowed to return the very next day for the New York Strip Steak dinner! No lie - we're going back again tonight. The end.
(5)Char Y.
came for the famed burger and thorough enjoyed the experience. the wonderful service, the delicious food, the ambiance, etc. burger - great taste and texture with awesome fries lobster roll - the best in chicago! huge lumps of lobster in a buttery bun will come back!
(4)Jim N.
Bon, bon, et bon! I truly enjoyed a most exceptional meal on a Wednesday evening in this surprisingly sparsely populated restaurant. I found the room to be stylish yet somehow still comfortable and the attentive staff was helpful and cheery. Their greetings in French were appreciated and my pigeon-French replies were treated with respect and a little humor. Our waiter hailed from a neighborhood near Loyola and was simply delightful. That said, the star of the show was the exquisite food and its amazing presentation. This is haute cuisine at its finest - as good or better than any meal I've had in Paris. We started with their signature cocktails which were delicately balanced and then shared the oysters which were fresh, colorfully presented, yet avoided overpowering the oyster. Well done, Monsieur! We were also delivered a delicate pastry about the size of a quarter and 1 inch high that provided a perfect bridge to our entrees. I found this detail to be very thoughtful. My entrée was a beautifully plated rabbit, spliced into three mini-meals, each one unique yet complementary to the other. Each featured a sublime sauce that added flavor without overwhelming. One actually had a curry base which surprised and delighted me even though I'm not typically drawn to curry based food. Lastly, the vegetable blend on this plate was perhaps the biggest surprise of all. I am definitely not a big veggie lover, but I would go for this blend every day if I could. Fresh yellow squash, brussel sprouts, perhaps another item or two all in a light sauce that brought out the flavor while cutting out the bitterness I find a bit unwelcome in less prepared forms. My date ate light and enjoyed her snapper sashimi as an entrée. Her plating was simply a work of art and we both regret not taking a picture to share in this review. We paired these meals with a nice pinot noir - many pinots to choose from, btw, at prices ranging from $40ish to well beyond my Wednesday evening budget. We finished the wine with a selection of three cheeses which our waiter helped select. It was nice to share a cheese plate that was appropriately room temperature. We closed with a dessert tray filled with macaroons and various white and dark chocolate creations. We only had room for the macaroons (amazing!) while the chocolates must wait for later today. I strongly recommend this restaurant for that special occasion in your future. This is the type of place and experience that reminds me just why it is I love Chicago.
(5)Heather R.
A pleasant surprise in the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. We did a business dinner with the 5 course Chef tasting menu with the wine pairings. The food and wine choices did not disappoint! We would definitely keep this restaurant as an option on our list. The Tasting was 75.00 per person and the wine pairings were an additional 40.00. The food was presented well and out halibut and filet were cooked to perfection. Highly recommend!
(4)Eric M.
I like Cafe des Architectes a lot. I have to admit that I often forget about it, but just because it's in a hotel and not on my normal route of going anywhere. The food, though is always great, as is the decor. I've always had good service, too. On my last visit I had a billing issue, but they took care of it right away with no problem. I don't expect perfection with everything, but I do expect things to be fixed when they go awy, and they handled it very well.
(4)Heidi R.
I love the Sofitel hotel - the decor is gorgeous and the atmosphere is so sophisticate and modern. We walked around the lobby and checked out the Christmas decorations and the elaborate gingerbread houses they had displayed which were very neat. Upon entering the restaurant we waited for a few minutes before anyone came to us but we saw many workers walking around. The staff was very friendly, they asked where we wanted to be seated. We didn't care so a man walked us to our table and took our jackets. The restaurant seemed a little stuffy for my liking. On both sides of our table were tables almost touching ours because they were so close. I looked at my boyfriend and we both almost felt too uncomfortable to even talk to each other because we were so close to the people next to us and it was SO quiet in there. It's a good thing the cuisine is not reflective of the boring atmosphere! We were using a gift certificate for dinner for 2. Not knowing what was included we asked the server and he said anything we want except alcohol. Our mouths were watering! I ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartar and my boyfriend ordered the house made goat cheese. The tartar was amazing, and the goat cheese was interesting and plated very nicely but not anything really appealing about the taste. As an entrée we both ordered Maine Lobster and Duroc Pork Belly with Swiss chard and oyster mushrooms. The pork belly which is one of my favorite meals was amazing. And of course you cannot go wrong with lobster. The portion was small but after a few baskets of bread (yes they just kept bringing us bread) I think we were both pretty full! The bread was so good too, a pretzel bun, baguette and a brown roll with butter and olive tapenade. So delicious! And who doesn't love good bread service? I hate filling up on bread but when it's this good, who cares? We usually don't order dessert but hey when its free - why not! From our server's recommendations I had the acorn brioche with apples and the best ice cream ever. My boyfriend ordered the pear gingerbread tart. We destroyed both rather quickly. I am not ashamed of my appetite that night, when food is that good its hard not to indulge. I'd definitely go back!
(4)Adam M.
My true rating is 3 1/2 stars, only giving this place 3 stars doesn't do it justice. As expected the portions were a tad small but the platings were beautiful. I got the House Made Goat Cheese dish for my first course and it really wasn't anything I expected and it's not something I would get again. My girlfriend ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartar which was a lot better than the appetizer that I ordered. For my main course I got the Maine Lobster and Duroc Pork Belly. The Lobster was only 1/2 a tail and covered in a sauce that I wasn't particularly a fan of but it was still good. I mean it is lobster after all :-) The Pork Belly was amazing. It was the highlight of the meal for sure! I'm not a big dessert guy but I really enjoyed the Pear Gingerbread Tart. Cafe' Des Architectes is very good and I would come back for the Pork Belly.
(3)Ivanka B.
Food was excellent but the service really almost killed the review for this place. I am a huge Sofitel fan - am even having my nuptials here next May - but the kitchen timing and service in the restaurant really has me concerned. The courses themselves were superb - the chestnut veloute and perfectly seared scallops were divine, as was the sumptuous short rib but entrees next to us were not fired appropriately - one diner finished his short rib before his friend's had even come out. Our first course had the same issue, I wouldn't touch my veloute until my friend was served her salad. A server even asked me if everything was ok because I wasn't eating and only after I told him that I was waiting for her salad did it finally appear, thus my course was cold .... Regardless, presentation is flawless, flavors are layered and delightful - just hope this was a fluke during Restaurant Week since I know it can get kind of crazy busy. Desserts were absolutely beautiful!
(4)Stella W.
I love their croissants served during brunch! it's the best in chicago! this is huge since i don't usually like croissants coz it's hard to find one that has the right balance of the flakiness and "breadiness"! Their dinner was well executed as well! The food was really tasty. Service is always great and pleasant... So then why 3 stars? Well, the new high-tea they just started having. The tea selection was good. but... They executed the high tea slightly different from the tradition. Instead serving scones/sandwiches/etc on a tower rack, they served savory and sweet pastries on a flat tray. The sweet items were good...but I am a bit disappointed on their savory items. These were prosciuttos on a toast, some kinda creamy cheese on a toast and a smoked salmon puff. Since you need to make reservation for the tea, so I guess they prepared all the food and placed them on the tray they were gonna bring to your table ahead of time. So the bread of the savory items were a bit stale since they have been sitting out. And i was expected to having the tea at their regular restaurant space, but it was actually at their private dining event area, so I felt like I was having a business meals with the white wall and white light. Not too sure if it worths the $30...though the sweet items def. tasted better than those at the Drake or Pennisula...the savory items were as disappointing as those at the Drakes and Pennisula.....hmmm....
(3)Anne K.
A group of my friends made reservations here last weekend for a wonderful brunch. The menu is woderful, but why in the world did I order a burger? Beats me! Duhh... I would have sooooo much rather order anything else on that superb menu. I don't in general like croissants (spelling?). They're flakey... buttery... gooey... just not my thing. This is first time in my life I ate a croissant and L O V E D IT!!! OMG... I would actually go back and have just that. The service was superb! Our waiter(s) were so helpful and always magically appeared when anyone needed something. The facility is great. It's almost divided into 3 sections, so depending what mood you're in, you can rest assured it will cater to your moodiness. Hightops, booths, tables, quiet and cozy, jazzy and snazzy, it's got it all. Definitely coming back... for whatever the occasion.
(5)Sruts A.
Having lived in the neighborhood for two years and walking past Sofitel, I never realized therein resided a wonderful French restaurant by the name of Cafe des Architectes! It's a wonderful and chic restaurant on the 1st floor (Le Bar occupies one half of the floor), with outdoor seating when weather permits. You'll be greeted by a very nice Frenchman, led to your table by an Englishman, and then waited upon by Frenchmen and women :) There were several favorites on the menu and between my two friends and I, we picked out some of the best food that the chef could cook up - (appetizers) Escargots, Lemon Ricotta Tortellini and a delicious plate of crab salad (chef's compliments!); (entree) salmon, duck breast, chicken ballantine - all of which were rich in flavor, cooked to delicious perfection... melt in your mouth perfection! And then there was dessert. Ah! Apart from the tower of marshmallows, macaroons (some of the best I've ever had!) and caramels, we ordered the strawberry verrine and apricot cremeux, the first of which was full of tart surprises! I probably also ought to mention the olive cream cheese/butter spread that was served with the bread at the very start of the meal. We spent close to two hours at the restaurant and didn't even realize the time flying by! The staff was fantastic! Courteous and conversing with all the guests with friendly smiles. Go with their suggestions for drinks if you please. I look forward to coming back here!
(5)A I.
Came here for dinner as part of a business meeting, and had a lovely time. The service was impeccable, the dinners delightful. My halibut was perfectly cooked, the bread selection was unique and delicious, and the portions were just right.
(5)Mary B.
Our dining experience here was nothing less than one of the best we have had! We were celebrating our anniversary- and the Chef went out of his way to tailor the tasting menu to our food interests. The wine pairing was exceptional-the food was beautiful as well as delicious! The courses came out with nice timing-and although it was a "tasting" menu - each was substantial - not just one bite-cannot recommend this restaurant enough! We have been to some very top rated Chicago "foodie" restaurants - and often disappointed - but not here!
(5)Meredith K.
For the price, I'd go somewhere else. This is like Zealous but with greener servers. The feeling is like they're using students. The service is nice and friendly but very clunky. For example the salads arrived while we still had the amuse. The bread & butter stayed at our table the entire time. After we finished the dessert I was asked if I was finished with the bread. LOL! Its definitely not stuffy. They did have a lot of pride in what they were doing so I can excuse it not being the ballet that you get at a place like Tru. The food was good but not good enough for the price. The bread and butter was pretty great. The olive tapenade was salty and over powered the bread. I had the tomato watermelon salad while my boyfriend had the sweetbreads with lobster claw. I should not that we were using the Gilt City voucher so had to over off of that menu. That choice hardly seems fair!! He loved the sweetbreads. I was confused by my salad. It was cubes of tomato and watermelon with a random cube of gelatin. Some avocado whip and a greasy tortilla chip. It was eh. It didn't seem to come together but I can't put my finger on what it was missing. It didn't have personality. Then I had the halibut which had moments of greatness. I found the olive tapenade on it again which coupled with capers made it a little over salted. The veggies were perfect. The fish itself was cooked perfectly. Light and crispy on top. My boyfriend had the beef option. He said it was very good. We finished with the milk chocolate blueberry dessert. It was ok. I kind of wish I didn't eat all of it because it wasn't fabulous. Then we got the check from our main waiter who never checked in on us after we ordered so we didn't order another drink. I only owed for tax and tip. He didn't come back to take the payment either! So we left cash. I guess that worked out better for him. Given the large number of fabulous restaurants in Chicago, some with better service, better views, better food - even if the price is more or less - I don't think I'll be back.
(3)Dawn D.
How I love thee? A friend hosted my 35th bday dinner and I absolutely has the best birthday ever! The decor was delightful, and my seared Alaskan salmon melted like butter. The waitstaff were lovely. It was all so excellent. I excused myself in the middle of my dinner and when I came back my last 3 bites were gone. I was slightly sad only to find, that my dinner was comp'd because of the early pick up. Everyone was chatting so no one realized my plate was gone. No worries though- I enjoyed every bit of this experience and will definitely return soon.
(5)Jamie B.
Outstanding service AND outstanding croissants (the most winningest combo, in my book). I can't think of a place I've been recently where every single person I encountered (from the Sofitel valets to the cafe host) was so professional, courteous, and friendly.
(5)Julien D.
Great restaurant, and great brunches. I stay regularly at this hotel, and I never find it inconvenient to eat at their restaurant. Indeed it is consistently of same quality, the food is always cautiously put together in the healthiest ways. Portions are reasonable and it is all about balance. This is true for taste, presentation, and quantities. The staff is always nice and here to help. They are always ready to make anything they can in order to fit your dietary restriction or wishes. Even if the request had nothing to do with the menu.
(4)Olivia L.
I made a last-minute dinner reservation at Cafe des Architectes via Savored. It was a late night in the middle of the week, so there were plenty of open tables. But the reservation gave us a hefty discount, so why not? The decor is very modern and chic. My bf and I were offered a seat by the windows. Usually when people sit at opposite ends of a table, one person has a great view of the restaurant while the other simply has a wall to stare at. Not so at Cafe des Architectes! The full-length windows give a great view to the latter person. There were 3 types of bread to choose from, served with butter and an olive spread. It's nice to have choices! My bf and I settled on the Cheese Ritual as an appetizer to share - 7 cheeses of the chef's selection (more choices!). The dish had a good range of cheeses, some sharp, others creamy. There was one blue cheese that was a bit too powerful for me to enjoy. The cheeses were also served with small strawberries, which packed a lot of flavor, and madeleines, which seemed unusual... After a palate-cleansing, complimentary watermelon puree, my bf ordered the prime ribeye while I had the rabbit. The prime ribeye looked perfectly cooked (rare). The rabbit came prepared three ways, all deliciously tender and juicy. This was my first experience eating rabbit, and it was unlike anything I have ever tasted before. Simply life-altering. Dessert was a whole other meal unto itself! I had the cherry blossom panna cotta, which was bursting with sakura flavor, and my bf had the rhubarb baba. After ordering the dessert, the waiter brought out a tower of complimentary mini desserts: chocolate truffles, raspberry jelly candy (too sweet), and pistachio macarons. What really puts Cafe des Architectes at the top, though, is the service and atmosphere. All the servers, from our French waiter to the guy refilling our water, were incredibly friendly and professional. The restaurant itself was very intimate - I would love to return for another experience!
(5)Corinne M.
I've been here for brunch several times and my favorite part about it is the great and well lit dining space and the tasty pastries that come with brunch. I mean it, this place is classy in delivery, even the coffee press is chic. The food however, is only so-so-- as in average. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, but for a French hotel, it definitely doesn't live up to the stereotype of fabulous French cuisine. All that said, it's good and I always come back, because it's such a pretty place to come and meet up with friends over breakfast on the weekends.
(3)Zand S.
I would say this place is good to try out once but as far as going back there again? no thanks. I wasn't impressed with their lunch menu. We had diver scallops, I believe scallops at the restaurant cross the street is much better...We also had Chicken tartine and Amish chicken with maple whipped sweet potato. The Amish chicken with whipped sweet potato was excellent, and even though I would give it 4/5 points still the experience and the food wasn't impressive enough to draw me back to that place. We have too many restaurants and places to try out.
(3)Megan G.
I was at tea with Carolynne and Unity, but while they both gave this tea 4 stars, I have to say it was definitely only a 3 star experience for me (I've always suspected Carolynne and Unity were nicer people than I am...) I was excited when we entered the Sofitel's lobby. It is lovely and plush and filled with fresh flowers. I gazed eagerly towards the dining room...only to realize tea was held in a different room. It was also lovely, but definitely less plush and was pretty loud (a wall of glass windows + bare walls = noise bouncing all over the place). Cafe Des Architectes has a nice selection of teas available (8 to be exact) and offers red, white, green and traditional black teas. A nice touch is that a sample of the teas are brought to you so you can sniff them before making a selection (except they all smelled very similar to my nose...possibly from having been stored in together?) Your tea is brought loose leaf in an individual pot and timers are placed on the table so you know for how long to allow the tea to steep. Others have mentioned only getting one pot of tea, but the waiters repeatedly offered to refill our pots with water - I'm not sure if this is a new practice. Tea snacks are brought out with your tea. For us, there were 3 savory and 4 sweet pieces each. And pieces they were - as others have mentioned, everything was bite sized. Tea offerings are typically less than a full meal, but I think this was the smallest volume of food I've ever seen offered at a tea. The sweet selections were better than the savory but neither was mind-blowing. Overall my biggest problem with Cafe Des Architectes tea is the price point. We had the $15 Living Social vouchers and if this tea were always $15, it would be an amazing deal. Even $20 would be totally reasonable. At the normal $30 price, it isn't worth it - that's on par with some of the more expensive teas in town and those offer posher settings and more/better food. But tea service here IS new - I'll be keeping my eyes on subsequent reviews to see if Cafe Des Architectes either steps up its game or lowers prices to match their offerings.
(3)Paul H.
Great food and service, a must visit!
(4)Michael C.
Brunch was fantastic! The quiche was superb, service impeccable. The menu is quite well laid out and has many options for the brunch crowd. Especially nice during the week. The only downfall is the coffee, although served table-side and in a french press, the flavor was lacking, it was akin to airline coffee, which was frustrating, but a nice to have it pressed table side If you are near gold coast, I encourage you to stop in and check it out. A little more expensize breakfast than Starbucks, but for 18+tip, it's well worth it! Enjoy!
(5)Polly M.
A friend recommended this restaurant and we were disappointed. :( 2 of us want to try the duck entree and they were out of duck. They ended up w/fish dishes, yet the fishes were overcooked. I ordered the rabbit dish and there were sand in the vegetables. We ended up paying $80/person (a drink, entree, dessert, tax, and tips). Very disappointed...:(
(2)Bryan B.
We went on a Sunday night and had the opportunity to take advantage of their prix fixe meal. I was worried b/c sometimes the portion size on these meals can be light. I was wrong. Each portion was a very nice size and it did not seem like they scaled it back for the deal. We also got our dinners with the wine pairing for each course and I thought the wine choices were excellent. Spot on. My only complaint which I saw also on here was the lack of a coat room or them offering. They do have one but they are not proactive about it. They only way they were taking coats is if you asked about it. For $43 each person w/ wine for the prix fixe cannot be beat. Service was great and they did not rush us on a slow Sunday night.
(4)Mopsie B.
Confession: I am a Sofitel devotee and just about everything they do is the best in my view. That said, I went to Cafe des Architectes as a patron and not as a hotel guest last weekend, alone. I brought a book and a craving for croissants on a warm Saturday afternoon. All I can say is, once again, the staff of the Sofitel exceeded my expectations. They literally never say no. I had a mimosa, and the egg white omelette and lots of lovely pastries and fruit. All for $27? How worth it is that? Granted, I was witness to a lot of pretension on the part of the guests but Sofitel can't help whom it attracts. It was refreshingly free of a crowd and the staff goes so far as to offer newspapers to those of us dining solo. Class, all the way. My husband and I will be back to stay soon.
(5)Chi-foodie A.
I just started Yelping a few weeks ago! but Ihave been plenty of times to this Restaurant and , so far one of the most luxurious places i ever been and their Menu constantly changing at least the times i been is always something different, i personally appreciate it that. Decor is beautiful , high ceiling a big white chandelier , metal all over and gorgeous velvet and red walls, the minute you walk in it just takes your breath away Server was knowledgeable, he described everything on the menu and very attentive we started with the scollop is was so good that we order a second one... you could taste how fresh the scallops were nice and tender as well the baby octopus nicosie with purple potatoes i wasn't so interesting on the purple potatoes but it sounded good !!!they were great. Entrees Seared Tuna with celery pure and Fillet Mignon with sweet potatoes and herbs. It was cook to our request . perfection is not the word! Cafe des Architectes it exceeded our expectations but i am not finish.. the best part love the wine list and try a couple. Pascual Toso Malbec Mendoza.... and tasty Clous Do Bois their Champagne as well is great and for dessert something a never had caramel cremeux yes thats rigth a popcorn sherbet delicioso i will definitely joint them once again and again
(5)Diana R.
I came here during restaurant week because lets face it, in this economy.... But I digress, Our waiter was great! He was albanian and had little side stories to tell us that were funny. He also recommended a few of the best things off the menu. My appetizer was the duck confit... it was delicious and pretty big for an appetizer at a swanky downtown restaurant. This is also coming from a person who doesn't like duck. I kind of want some now. Entree: I ordered the steak medium. and i will order steak medium for the rest of my life because it was darn good. Dessert: Now this is where it gets really good. The pistachio dome... it sounds weird but this dessert will get me to commit murder. I would kill for another slice. so so good! Also, the waiter stated that the chef enjoyed doing the menu so much that they have EXTENDED restaurant week for another week! Until March 7th! If you go, invite me!
(5)Rafael C.
It took restaurant week and good company to finally get me to Cafe Des Architectes and I'm glad for it. I liked what I saw on the prix fixe menu and gave it a go. The service was excellent as the waiter was very friendly and outgoing. He also filled in the blanks when we needed some sound advice which worked out well. It's amazing how sometimes you don't get good service at the more pricier places but not so this night. This guy was in top form! My choices for the evening were: The Swan Creek Farm Pork Belly, Gnocchi and the Floating Island. The pork belly was very nice and a good start. The Gnocchi was excellent and I loved how flavors from the dish combined real well. The dessert was my least favorite as I decided I like dense desserts compared to this very light dish. I did also love the layout of the restaurant after I got over how small the place was. It was decorated with a very nice, modern and clean look. Coat check and free valet parking was a nice bonus. If I had a knock, I'd say that the portion size is a little underwhelming considering the prices they charge. For the time being, I'm just going to assume that they may have skimped a little because of the special menu that week. Either way, the food tasted great and the service was top notch.
(4)Chinwe N.
I came to Cafe des Architectes for a NYE dinner with family and friends. I have only eaten a French meal one other time, so I wanted to visit more restaurants.I went to grad school at Loyola down the street, so I would pass this place all the time. It always looked modern and swanky, so I was excited to see what it had to offer. The hotel is beautiful and the restaurant was impeccably presented with great lighting, a beautiful tablescape and great overall ambiance. Food: There was a prix-fix e menu with 5 courses and an a la carte option. The prix-fixe was $85, but my sample wine-flight (5 options of 3 reds, whites, or champagne) with appetizer, entree and dessert off the a la carte menu, were cumulatively cheapter than that . The food however was pretty succulent, no complaints here ;-) I had the Mushroom veloute soup which was divine! The rack of lamp was delicious, but this chef interpreted medium well more pink than I'm used to. I finished with the Chocolate Pistachio Dome. The meal was very very rich but I love savory food so no disappointments. I sampled food off the prix-fixe menu my sis ate, there were items on that menu that weren't available a la carte, the short ribs with foie gras was exquisite! Service: The service is what downgrades my 5 star review to 4 stars because it was problematic. We spent over 3 hours here, with a 2:1 ratio of waiting for our food vs. eating. We ran through two bread baskets (had to refuse the 3rd, we wanted our food!) and the chef sent out a beet salad with goat cheese to apologize for the wait. For spending this kind of money, I expect the service to be on par with the food, which it was not here. Overall: Definitely great food, ambiance and location. The hotel service is top notch, you can valet your car for free if you're eating dinner (unheard of downtown) and the bathrooms are very cute. Definitely worth a trip if you can devote time to savoring your company and meal.
(4)Emerson C.
I had dinner here with a couple of friends. The portions are ultra small.. but I must say.. very well prepared. I had the Lobster and mango salad with organic avocado tian, citrus cream and black caviar. The mango compliments the Lobster and the Citrus cream that was topped on it. The salad was so so.. nothing extravagant, but try the NY Strip Steak. The meat was succulent. So tender and was made just right. I love spreading steak sauce all over my steaks, but this one didn't need one drop. Just the preparation was excemplary. I tried the wine trio.. one white, one red, and the last with the desert was a port wine. They complimented each course. A definite place to drop by if you are looking for a snazzy French Bistro
(4)Avital l.
this is a very nice place the service is very good the prices are not bad I love the atmosphere, a great place for couple to have a romantic dinner or a special date. I will come back
(4)jenn m.
I was not impressed with this restaurant in the Sofitel Hotel at all. Sure it was fancy and "french", but my experience proved less appealing. Our usual Perriot Gourmet restaurant wait was insanely long, so we decided to venture out and try to find another place for breakfast one particular early summer afternoon. We settled on the Sofitel, both being French food fans. I recall ordering a crepe style breakfast with grilled fruit and a cafe mocha. The Crepe breakfast was fancy, but certainly not filling and the "cafe mocha" was served as a tiny shot of espresso with some chocolate in it. Needless to say I left hungry, jittery and not very happy.
(2)K B.
Wonderful service and ambiance, but the food is not quite five-star. Perhaps it was because my entree, a duck breast was a bit over-done when it was supposed to be medium-rare, I do feel that a restaurant of this caliber should not make such a rookie mistake. The wine list was very limited as well, with the least expensive bottles starting at over $55 - for a bottle of white, I think this is pretty absurd. To be fair, 3 of our 4 courses we enjoyed were very good (the lobster salad is amazing!), and we will be back. Our server was extremely attentive and very charming and made our experience quite memorable by singing an Edith Piaf song during the dessert course (it was Valentines Day weekend). The space itself is beautiful and I would come in just for the ambiance, perhaps to have a drink at the lovely lit-up bar.
(4)Marcos L.
Decent grub. A little too shmancy without quite enough fancy for the buck if you ask me. For starters we had some stuff like chicharron, only undercooked and itty-bitty and 40 times the price at Mekatos, but tasty as hell. The beef was delish. Duck was a good deal, relatively. Very hot mamitas at adjacent table; hard to pay rapt attention to my own dining companions. Dessert was sort of chewy. Cocktails rocked, but at these prices they damn well better rock. In fact, I think they should throw in some kind of shoulder massage or something. Anyway, if you have stacks of dough and like to put on the dog, this is as good a choice as, well, several others. If you're dating a 22-year-old from Chicago Heights, she will definitely be wowed - you are getting in tonight, tiger!
(3)Arnab M.
I see that the Sofitel's bistro has mixed reviews, but frankly, I've had few complaints with my numerous dinners here, but I've yet to have breakfast and lunch here, perhaps it sucks then? Their menu is fairly varied, the French fusiony cuisine is pretty good, and their service is quick. They don't have a whole lot of vegetarian options though. Like any fancy hotel restaurant, it is grossly overpriced, but oh well, it's not like I was paying for it... Oh, the desserts are SCRUMPTIOUS!!! Me likey...
(4)Randall B.
Wow! This place was Phenomonal. A weekend in Chicago, dinner at Nomi and PaneCaldo, but CafeDes Architectes?CDA was the BEST. Fantastic wait staff, excited and very knowledable about the food. Wow, I can't believe how nice this place was. The ambiance was great! The food was so good I never wanted it to end. I can't say enough about CDA. If you think you have had great food in Chicago, you must eat here as I think it is the best meal I have ever had here! The chef menu was a bargain at only $42 for three course dinner. However, the Fois Gras and the rack of lamb is terrific, and not to be passed up. Oh, almost forgot the wine list is well thought out and reasonably priced. They have wine flights are a bargain and worth exploring!
(5)Holly C.
This places seems a little expensive, but when you consider that your brunch includes orange juice, coffee and an amazing basket of pastries (croissants, pan au chocolat, and other fruity pastry things) it doesn't seem quite so bad. The service was pretty good but not amazing - it was super busy though. The food was really good, I had the ham and gruyere crepes and my friend had the crab cakes benedict, they were both very good. With a couple of drinks each, tip and food we paid about $40 each but you could definitely go cheaper if you don't drink.
(4)Wilt C.
Overpriced for very ordinary food. Any sidewalk bistro in Paris does it better and at a lower price. Beware hotel restaurants.
(2)Gfiddy F.
Chic et magnifique.
(5)Liz L.
I went here on a thursday evening and the place was completely empty. Yes, it was a thursday but it was still dinner time for goodness sake. The interior design was chiq and modern, only if the food was such as well. I went with the prix fixe menu. I had scallops for appetizer. The presentation was decent, the scallops were seared perfectly and the sauce wasn't overwhelming. If only there was more than ONE scallop. I feel like this was an in-between restaurant's attempt to seem like fine dining, but it just came across as annoying. Had the beef tenderloin as an entree. This portion was just fine, too bad it was unbelievably salty. It tasted like something from a high school dining hall. Had the ginger souffle for dessert, which was pleasant. It tasted of authentic, real ginger but wasn't overwhelming. Being in the price range between casual and fine dining does not give you the right to have your food have an identity crisis between low and high quality. There are plenty of restaurants in this area that give you a better money's worth.
(2)Brett K.
Came expecting a mostly likely amazing but ungodly overpriced brunch and to my surprise found the former without the latter. Don't even look at the a la cart menu, just come and get the the CDA brunch sampler, for the quality, what a deal! $25 for a three ring circus of flavors and presentation. Start with the already included bread and muffin basket, I could have stopped with three more of these but then the flood gates open... orange juice and coffee, a trio of shots of exotic fruit juices with a piece of the fruit accompanying each, a smoked salmon dish, brioche french toast with caramelized apples, a caviar avocado and pistachio (thats right) patty, scrambled eggs bake with chorizo and to top it off a sampler of some of the best french pastries you've ever seen/tasted. I would give every item on that list 4 or 5 stars no problem . Now if that's not a deal, I don't know what is. Service was awesome and the atmosphere is very chic but comfortable and laid back.
(4)Michael C.
Stylish, good portions, attentive service. When I took prospective clients there the other day they had a large and pretty loud group that would have been better placed in a private dining room. It was pretty expensive and we didn't have any alcohol. I had the salmon salad, which came with a generous portion of avocado!
(4)Bernard D.
I have dined here about a dozen times over the years. The menu changes, the quality does not. I may have had an "ok" salmon dish once, otherwise, I have always been thrilled! Service is impeccable (maybe because I speak French, but still). Waiters are invisible, but somehow always there when you need them. The food is interesting, fresh, rich, fun! Save room for desert; the current chef has some realy tasty treats and the presentation is beautiful. I recommend making a reservation and asking for a seat at the window. The view is not particularly great, but it feels like the right place to be in this room. Cafe des Architectes is not for everyone. It serves really French food. The menu is usually limited. The portions are just right; no Chicago style family sizes here. And you'll have to spend a little to get the full experience. Have three courses, and wine, and be ready to spend up to $100 per person. If you want to sit down for a relaxed long meal and enjoy quality French in Chicago, you will not be dissapointed.
(5)Kevin T.
We seemed to be the only people in the place without foreign accents, and our waiter took notice and assumed we were locals. Located in a hotel in that part of town, I suppose it's frequented by travelers. Indeed the man next to us appeared to be some British business traveler dining by himself on an off night and electing to go for the gold on a rather decadent dinner on any sort of night, opting for a fois gras starter, lamb chops, and an entire bottle of wine, all of which he ordered and polished off with a remarkably casual air. Note to self, I should have inquired what he did for a living, because he had made a good call. When it came time to elect a dessert, this rotund man became giddy like a school girl (so far so out of character) and went for a full cheese plate. He asked about this and that. The (accented) waiter said this was good and this was fresh in from Italy or France or that this was American, but it was good (pardon me) and so on and so forth. Again, I couldn't blame him too much. Clearly if this was a normal dinner, he was doing something right. Me on the other hand, I was here with a friend. It's become something of a tradition to go to a nice dinner, a tasting menu sort of place, with a wine pairing which always makes for a good time and the Cafe des Architectes made the cut. We informed our waiter we'd be doing the five course degustation menu ($75) with wine pairing ($40). We were brought a small frisée and prosciutto salad (of sorts) to start followed by a burrata salad, oxtail ravioli, halibut, steak, and custard for me and foie gras, frisée salad with beets, lobster, duck, and a chocolate plate for my friend. I've never been to a restaurant when, after ordering a tasting menu, different items are brought out to each participant -- I thought it was interesting and fun. And for the most part, they, though dumb luck, paired pretty well with the tastes of each of the diners they went to. The person who doesn't like fois gras didn't get it, et cetera. Except for perhaps the dessert course, I am most certainly a chocolate person and the custard with edible flowers and ice cream was nice, but not nearly as in your face rich and tasty as the chocolate assortment my friend received. Fortunately for me, that friend was too full to continue and I got to sample it. That said, I'm not sure if anything wowed me. Dishes were creative, to be sure, but routinely came out not-quite-hot. At first I thought of it as a fluke, but dish after dish I came to realize that it was just the way it was going. Service was good and friendly -- I think we made it abundantly clear early on that we were pretty casual and I think our primary waiter lightened up a bit. A nice enough environment with good service, but lacking in the food department, in the end I was not that impressed.
(3)Lola K P.
Have come for dinner in the main dining room, afternoon tea in the banquet room to the right of the elevators, and just for drinks at Le Bar. It's part of the Sofitel - this location is well-appointed, elegant, contemporary with a soaring lobby. The entire staff is exceptional and perfect, exactly as expected from a luxury hotel, and I love that so many of them are French, so I can chatter away with them (with a bad accent). The dining space is very chic, and the food is very good. Of course, I can't find the other pics except for the tea from a year ago, but I'm still posting them since they really showcase the caliber of this restaurant.
(4)Mai S.
Revisited on 6/13/13 on a dinner date! The wait staff remembered me and was most courteous. Food was exceptional as before and chef sent out complimentary a La Blanche (sp??) wonderful cream desert!! Exquisite view from inside and outside to the terrace dining! We loved the place!!
(5)Adena B.
I'll admit, I was here a while ago (while we stayed at the Sofitel), but that just speaks volumes about it: it was an exceptionally memorable meal with great service and excellent food. Also, this is the place where I got my non-raw-fish-eating mother to eat tuna tartar for the first time! "What's the big deal?" you ask? SHE LOVED IT, that's what's the big deal! The same woman who cringes at sushi (seriously, something's wrong with her, I know), and scowls at a gorgeous slab of seared Ahi, ATE. TUNA. TARTAR. AND LOVED IT. OK. Glad I got that out of my system. Needless to say, their food is fantastic; get your hands on anything you can, and then order some more. You'll be paying a good amount for it, but it'll be worth it. Trust me.
(4)Kristine C.
Café de Architectes We happened into this restaurant because of a Groupon (30% off ala carte menu), I do not think I would have tried this place otherwise. French cuisine is not high on my list. Located in the Sofitel Hotel the restaurant is small and sleek. It is very modern and colorful but I still felt cold and unable to settle in comfortably. Everyone greets you with a nice French greeting. I never know how to respond with French or English. The staff were polite and tried to keep the elegance of the restaurant but played off our cute comments and attempts to lighten the atmosphere a bit. We started with three different cheeses (at the time of this review the menu online has not been update to their winter menu); Langres, a semi-soft goat cheese, and firm WI cow cheese with espresso rind. (If you have been following along with my other reviews, you will note that I have a hard time eating cheese, especially goat cheese. The enzymes in my mouth do not allow me to enjoy the flavor some people get.) Of these three I was able to semi-enjoy the firm cow cheese. The espresso rind made it somewhat smoky. For our entrees we opted for the Halibut and Diver Scallops to share. They are large plates but the chef was gracious enough to split our Halibut. I was pleasantly surprised with this dish. The puree with garlic was warm and delicious for a cold evening. The potatoes and mushrooms were perfect and provided the right amount of texture to accompany the fish. I enjoyed the lightly browned and crisped top, but did make the fish a tough to cut. The Diver Scallop plate came with five scallops seared to a crisp on top with orange and soy-ish type sauces topped with salmon roe. The few mushrooms also included with the dish were so salty I almost had to spit one out. Over all the combined ingredients were so salty I could not finish my portion. We also ordered the Chocolate Ribbon for dessert. It came with a soft gooey ribbon of chocolate laid across the plate, a salted caramel ice cream and small fudge brownie bites. The ice cream had a buttery caramel flavor you do not expect to be part of a smooth cold cream. I couldn't stay away from it. The gold flakes added to the dessert will make you rich inside when eaten! We ended the evening with a dessert from the chef, a three tier sculpture decorated with small macaroons, chocolate drops and peta de fruit. I would return to the restaurant to try their de-light menu. It is a three course dinner focused on healthy eating. Overall , I can only give three stars due to the saltiness of the scallop dish.
(3)Edwin P.
Brunch is absolutely amazing! We had a wonderful saturday brunch. I hate the salmon pastrami benedict and my fiancee had the berry crepes. Both were amazing. BTW, the coffee and pastries served will make you feel like you are in France.
(5)Karen A.
Sleek, pricey, elegant but relaxed, excellent gracious service and very good food. Brunch was delightful with a giant basket of croissants, brioche, and other delectables to compliment the wonderful gruyere and spinach omelette I struggled to select from the appealing choices on the menu. My dining companion had the eggs benedict, served with fingerling potatoes and a grilled tomato. My coffee came in a giant press and was excellent as well. This is a classy and mellow place to have a $$ romantic brunch.
(4)Jenny H.
Located in the magnificent marvel of the Sofitel, Cafe des Architectes was equally as beautiful, warm and super romantique. We were promptly greeted with a "bonsoir" by all the staff in passing. In fashion of all things french, we should've went the bottled approach as our tap H2O harbored some dubious cardboard-esque floaters. Once that was brought to their attention, our server quickly remedied the situation by offering us a sample of varying bottled water throughout the night. With our respective wines, I decided on a prosecco for the evening and perused the Restaurant Week menu SEARED LAMB RILLETTE Wonderfully seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth with a delightful quail egg on top. Contrasted nicely with a small side of greens and cuts of what I could best describe as tiny gherkins. Crisp tiny brioche toasts. PORK BELLY AND SCALLOP The pork belly was rich and luscious. Beautifully accented with a base of polenta. I only wished it was a little crispier. The scallop was well seared with flavorful braised greens. HAZELNUT DACQUOISE I regret not ordering the Vanilla Honey Parfait, as this was a little more muted than I anticipated. I did enjoy the tiny pops of sweet apricot and scoop of refreshingly creamy (perhaps parsnip) ice cream. Cleansing for the palate. The main course was the definite highlight of the meal-- who wouldn't enjoy a delicious meat cake with luxurious layers of adipose and lean carcass? Overall, a successful restaurant week dinner.
(4)Caroline C.
Have a sweet tooth? Well, not just any sweet tooth, but a gold, diamond bedazzled, hoity-toity crystal sugar tooth? Cafe des Architectes will keep your dentist in business for the rest of your life! I don't have such a tooth, or even an inclination towards sugary things for that matter, but the Dessert Degustation at CDA opened my eyes to a whole new world of sweet, candy land goodnesss that I didn't know existed. The bf and I have gone multiple times now just for the dessert tasting - which for 4 courses, dessert wine or cognac pairing included, is pricey, but is also the best $60/person we've ever spent on dessert in our lives. The first time, we looked at each other after trying each dish and its respective pairing with wonderment, "how is such delicious sugary amazingness possible??" and have not been let down by pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky's creations since. We've actually never had anything off of the regular menu at Cafe des Architectes......but who needs dinner when you can have dessert?
(5)O.M. R.
Been here last saturday and i was impressed of the following: 1. The prices for brunch: really affordable for a place that feels and looks so pretentious. 2. The food isn't served in those huge quantities that you eat until you're stuffed. And that's a good thing in my book! Didn't like: 1. The restroom was outside the restaurant and on a different floor. 2. Parking inexistent. Typical Chicago...
(3)Carl G.
If I should ever require a "last meal," my only request is that Chef Greg Biggers prepare it. I cannot give enough thanks to this chef, nor to the excellent wait staff for the gift of such an exceptional dining experience. I have been in Chicago for eight days now, eating at an incredible variety of restaurants, and Café des Architectes stands out in a way that I did not think possible. I was dining alone and when I arrived, the hostess was nice enough to ask if I wanted a newspaper or magazine. As it was, I wanted to keep up with a chess tournament, so I declined and stayed with my smart phone. I was given my choice of where to sit, which is a great touch for a lonely diner. Too many restaurants will put a solitary eater in the least desirable table. Although the menu is seasonal, I will discuss what I ate. I ordered the Meyer Lemon Ricotta Tortellini, which was served with polenta, Moroccan veal jus, tasso ham, and, I believe, pea greens. It was quite wonderful, beautifully presented and without a single fault. Much to my surprise, Chef Biggers came out and introduced himself, complimenting me on my choice of dishes for the evening (I had pulled out many of the stops, he pulled out the rest himself). The chef sent me an amuse-bouche, which is a traditional touch, but one sadly absent from every other restaurant in Chicago that fed me. What really shocked me was that I was then sent the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Torchon, which had some a variety of accompaniments, the most exquisite of which was the streusel. It caused the foie gras' flavor to pop. The rhubarb jam, it must be noted, was a delicate touch, much superior to the habit of serving foie gras with mustard (something I've never understood). I followed the foie gras with the Spring Pea Velouté, served at an absolutely perfect temperature, cool enough to take full advantage of the fresh peas. This was assembled at the table by the waitress, who did a fantastic job throughout the meal. After the velouté, I had the duck. It's always a sign of living dangerously when duck breast is served with a dinner knife instead of a steak knife, but it worked out fine. The duck breast (sitting on a corn purée with asparagus and I think morels and chanterelles though I could be wrong) was cooked expertly. For desert I had a selection of tiny deserts, all of which were wonderful. I expect that they were the work of Leigh Omilinsky, whose talents are very well known. Then... another surprise... I was sent a tasting selection of amazing creations from marshmallows to Chambourd macaron. A delight. During the meal I had two grapefruit rickeys, a couple of bottles of water, and I finished with an excellent café au lait. I don't know why some reviewers have been upset with the drinks. I drink. Probably too much. And I was very satisfied with the skills of the bartender. I know that some reviewers have also characterized the restaurant as expensive. It was not, in my opinion, over-priced. Indeed, I think that compared to similarly situated restaurants both in Chicago and in New York, I think that Café des Architectes was an exceptionally good deal. I cannot compliment the service of the waitstaff or the professionalism of Chef Biggers enough. This was one of the best meals I've ever eaten, and definitely the highlight of my trip to Chicago. By all means, eat here. Take your time. Enjoy and respect the food and the experience. Next time I am in Chicago, I will certainly return.
(5)Murray B.
My wife and I stayed at the Sofitel and decided to dine at the in-house restaurant, Cafe des Architects Despite some trepidation about Hotel restaurants, this was a class above and turned out our best dining experience in Chicago. The food here is exemplary. Definitely French, full of flavour and exceptionally presented. My wife had the scallops followed by salmon. I had heirloom tomato salad for appetiser with Haddock as main course. The tastes were divine. And to cap this off the service was outstanding - would you believe the waiter went on one knee and sang La Vie En Rose to my wife - the complete song! Very romantic. Together with the famed sweets tower we were very pleasantly surprise to receive a complimentary apple cognac. Delicious. If you are looking for a top class French dining experience in Chicago look no further. Note also they gave a great bar for after dinner drinks if you need to kick-on.
(5)Romana Y.
Opting for a Michelin-recommended restaurant, we arrived at CDA. The Sofitel Hotel is of elegance. The layout, decor, furnishings all left the eyes insatiably hungry. The service was very attentive, the space was open, and the lighting was just right. French cuisine is not of particular interest to me; however, for French, this was exquisitely good. We started off with the fresh burrata and escargots, which were both very rich/creamy and had ample garlic taste. We proceeded with the beet salad, as well as the Baby Bibb salad. The beet salad was decent, but the Bibb salad (fantastic eggplant) was great! I opted for the wild Alaskan halibut, and my date had the rabbit with swiss chard. The AL Halibut was superb, and the mushrooms and turnips further amplified the taste. The rabbit was meaty, and tender, as well, paired with delicate swiss chard. Our dinner was far greater than we anticipated, given we were enticed by the ambiance more so than the French cuisine. Additionally, we had a cheese plate: Langres, Amablu, and Heard it through the grapevine. WOW- Heard it through the Grapevine (hard cheese) was a perfect pair with our apple cognac drinks. The dessert tower was also an artful, and complimentary, surprise! I enjoyed the ambiance, food, decor, and camaraderie enough to arrive here, again, the following week with girlfriends.
(4)Jennie T.
I came here to try their Restaurant Week lunch menu. The restaurant is located in the Sofitel hotel, and I loved that they greeted me in French. "Bonjour mademoiselle." The winter squash soup is good. The duck confit could be a bit more juicy though-- it was a bit dry. The service was REALLY slow that day. It took them forever to get me my seared arctic char. The entree was really good though. Perhaps it was because I was constantly looking around, wondering about when they were going to bring my food, that the staff came and apologized to me about the wait. They even took 20% off my bill, which I thought was nice... ...Until I think I got food poisoning from this place. Suffice it to say, I'd probably never come here again.
(3)May Y.
I mainly come to Cafe des Architectes either because I am looking for a quiet place for girls' talk or a last-minute fancy dinner location. Although the food is slightly overpriced here, I like the quiet and peaceful ambiance of this place. It is also quite convenient, since it is just next to the Contemporary Art Museum of Chicago and Argo Tea. I used to like the beet salad and the dessert, particularly the pistachio cake, here. However, after Cafe des Architectes changed its chef last year, the food becomes average. Yet, I would consider coming back, if I have an event in MCA, because of the good service. Here is an example of its excellent service - When my friends and I decided to come here for her birthday the last minute, the waiters immediately arranged a table for a party of six for us. Cafe des Architectes also gave her a cute snowman birthday cake for free, since it was around Christmas time. All of us had a great time. Cafe des Architectes - the place for girls' talk. Food: 2 Decor: 4 Service: 4
(2)Denny M.
My wife and I stopped in for brunch after church on Sunday. Amazing breakfast. The croissant were fresh, buttery and delightful. Fresh squeezed OJ, eggs are eggs, meat and an awesome pot of french press coffee. While this might not be the place for every day, it might just be the best breakfast in the city. Actually, if I lived in the hood I might have breakfast here every day. I would highly recommend it for a "special" breakfast.
(5)Ericka A.
I have never done an afternoon tea time before. I sip tea in the comfort of my own home or order a pot at Russian, Chinese and Japanese restaurants. The steaming cups are usually accompanied by huge and heavy meals. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I've always longed to feel prim and proper, to see how the other 1% lives. Enter Café Des Architectes and LivingSocial. Lori L, Josh V and I purchased a deal on LivingSocial. It was $15 for the $30 Afternoon Tea on Saturday. I was super excited and took the opportunity to wear a dress with sweater and flats. It wasn't exactly formal, but I didn't feel too out of place. The café is located inside the Sofitel hotel and business casual fit right in. The afternoon tea service included two cups worth of your pick of tea. I went with the Pomegranate Oolong and tried Lori's Paris black tea. Both were superb and went well with the 7 light bites and shortbread starters. The shortbread came in two varieties, Lemon and Sage. The mini sandwiches and pastries were perfect. I'm probably going to butcher what they were, but here goes my best shot: 1) Buttered toast with cream cheese, cucumber and olives. 2) Puff pastry topped with a smoked salmon-crème fraiche mix and caviar. 3) Toast with prosciutto. 4) Chocolate covered éclair with passion fruit cream filling. 5) Macaroon. 6) Puff pastry topped with pistachio cream, mini macaroons and an alcohol-infused cranberry. 7) Egg yolk-filled cookie cup with vanilla bean cream topping. I loved everything. I think for $30 it is affordable as an occasional treat and it was definitely worth every penny of the $15 we paid for the deal. When the bill came it was all taken care of except for the tax, which was about $5 for the 3 of us. And coming at 2pm was the perfect late lunch to keep me satisfied until dinnertime.
(5)Brad B.
Dinner at CDA is a pleasure. The food is excellent, the wine choices are well thought out and the prices, steep. But. Its properly done and the room is ambient, letting you forget that you're sitting in a hotel lobby - and the staff is well trained, thorough and enjoyable. Great experience. Highly recommended.
(5)Joyce C.
Came with some lovely folks for Restaurant Week. It is pretty here, but I have agree with Eric V.'s assessment on the entire experience to a tee. None of the food stood out, and especially disappointing for me at least was the desserts. I am a huge fan of Fahy, since he was last at Blackbird. I was looking forward to sampling some of his brilliance at CDA, but alas, all we got a whole bunch of mediocrity, which actually fit the rest of the meal, sadly. Hopefully this is not the typical experience, bur rather occurred because it was RW.
(3)Bill Y.
We liked the food. Unique. The staff was more than kind. Small portions though. A bit over priced. However, the service made up for it. Make sure you go in the lounge/bar of the hotel.
(4)Johnny T.
Still fantastic. I think CdA is a restaurant one should experience every season, as the menu changes radically, but always manages to match the weather, food and emotional expectation of the month of dining. Standouts from my most recent meal: Hum cocktail - Hum will always be delicious. In anything. Pair it with fizzy, fruity liquids and you have a winner each and every time. Went down like water. Hit me in the head like Oscar de la Hoya in a wig and fishnets. Sweet Potato Gnocchi - roasted garlic cream and lemon confit make this dish a delight to the tastebuds. I am not at all a fan of the sweet potato (blame Thanksgiving + marshmallows + pineapple + canned yams; hate the stuff) but, for some reason, gnocchi will class just about anything up enough for me to try it. This is an appetizer and is an appetizer portion, but the dish is rich enough that it's surprisingly filling. Beware in a good way. Guinea Hen - this is the second time I have eaten it and I am still not sure about what differentiates it from regular ol' chicken... but whatever it is, I like it. The protein was prepared with maitake mushrooms and boursin polenta. Combine these flavors with every bite. Cut the meat up into little bites and run it through the veggies if you must, but it's not an accident that these profiles were paired with one another. I haven't enjoyed a poultry dish this much in quite some time. Fruit soup - I am too done. Fruit soup? For real? Served cold and with a spoon made up of sugar that you can eat? I apologize to all the members of the Red Hat club I ran out on to Michigan Avenue to slap because this was so good. I couldn't help myself. Service was prompt, professional and delightful as always. I don't have anything negative to say. The fact that CdA could effortlessly transition from one chef to another without the slightest upset to the tongue or overall experience goes to the strength of the concept and the steeliness of the brand. I may only get here once a season but I know that each time I do, it will be an experience to remember and relish.
(5)Catherine S.
Came here for dinner on my anniversary and had a great experience. I made my reservation on Groupon Reserve and ended up saving some money on dinner which was nice since CDA is an upscale restaurant in the middle of downtown. The restaurant wasn't crowded at all and my boyfriend and I were seated immediately. The service was great with waiters and bussers coming often to refill water, check on how we were enjoying the food, and make sure we were taken care of. We started out with the Cheese and Charcuterie appetizer which I enjoyed. It had a few different local cheeses and meats along with some tasty bread and honey. I had the Amish Chicken Ballantine which was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the Duck Breast which was also very good. I really enjoyed the bread that came with the meal too (sourdough, olive, or multigrain). The pleasant surprises of the night were the complimentary amuse bouche and dessert tower. The dessert tower had the most delicious marshmallow I've ever had! I will definitely be returning soon.
(5)Nancy L.
If your in the mood for a French style brunch in a modern atmosphere head here. It's in the Sofitel. The dining room is open and light, the service attentive and food is great. As a fan of Eggs Benedict I decided to try the farmhouse Benedict which had the expected hollandaise sauce with poached eggs placed on tender pieces of braised spareribs on a bead of arugula on a slice of crusty sourdough bread. Non of it was on my plate at the end of the meal and my tastebuds were very happy. The kids had Nutella pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes with fresh berry smoothies to drink so they were delighted too. Their fresh fruit was nice. Of course the coffee, croissants, and baguette were all great too but at a french restaurant that should be table stakes.
(5)Ivy M.
Both the food and the ambience are decent and elegant. Perfect experience. Servers are nice and accommodating.
(5)Tatyana M.
We didn't expect such a great experience from the hotel's restaurant, but found a real gem. The ambiance, the food, the service, the vibe - EVERYTHING WAS OUTSTANDING! I can't believe they even offer 30% off through the savored.com on the top of such a great experience. That meal was one of the highlights of our "foodie" trip to Chicago. Thank you so much to the Chef's and the whole staff.
(5)Sharon K.
Went here for my birthday with my boyfriend. The pomegranate martini was one of the best martinis I've ever had! The waiter strongly recommended the halibut , which was pretty good but not amazing. The filet mignon had a strange iron taste to it and even though I ordered medium , it was more like medium-well/well-done. The oysters appetizers and the drinks definitely made up for the entree. Nice restaurant to stop by at if you are in the area.
(3)Elaine G.
I came here with a friend around 9:30pm on a random, snowy Tuesday after Bistro Voltaire decided to shut down their kitchen since it was a slow day, despite the fact that we had reservations. We were looking for a place that's open late and found ourselves at The Sofitel. Two guys in suits opened the door for us as we walked in (always a nice touch). The interior of the hotel was beautiful - dimly lit and very upscale. A hostess promptly appeared and seated us by the windows. My friend and I both ended up getting the 3-course prix fixe menu ($39). There were only two selections for each course, but everything was super good. Amuse bouche - A pear-based bite with some greens and slices of salami. I hadn't eaten meat in a couple of days, so I liked the salami although the thing was certainly nothing breathtaking. Butternut Squash Veloute - a delicious and creamy bowl of butternut squash soup with spinach meringue and garlic crouton. Roasted Duck Breast - I absolutely love, duck although most of the duck dishes I've had were from Asian restaurants. This dish definitely did not disappoint - the meat was incredibly tender and the flavor was amazing. There were two hearty pieces and a nice touch of broccolini on the side. Sorbet Trio - a trio of I think raspberry, lemon, and orange (I can't remember exactly, so don't call me out on that). It was very light and refreshing. For drinks, I had The Grapefruit Rickey ($15), which had vodka and St. Germain (I'm obsessed with anything elderflower flavored). It came in a super large glass and was very refreshing, although I could barely taste any hint of alcohol. After our meal, the server brought us a complimentary dessert tower. My friend and I were totally stuffed by then, but we don't like to say no to free food. There were 8 bite-sized delicacies of 4 varieties: mini macaroon, mini marshmallow, root beer chocolate (my favorite - even though I don't even like root beer), and another chocolate with filling. Atmosphere: While we were there, there was a group of ladies-who-lunch type, a couple, and a table of middle-aged businessmen. The restaurant (and hotel) seemed very empty - by the time we left around 11pm, we were the only ones there. But we never felt rushed and the service was very professional - attentive without being too in-your-face.
(5)Al W.
I took my family here for Chef Biggers' Thanksgiving dinner. What a wonderful experience! The food was wonderful, the service excellent and the atmosphere was great. We will definitely be back!
(5)Kate W.
Great dinner, lovely location. Excellent service. We ate off the de-light menu and were very pleased. Thanks for providing the calorie counts for the food!
(4)#NAME?
I ate here once for a business lunch a couple years ago and decided to try the place out for dinner-Made reservations at 6:30 and we arrived about 5 minutes late, but we were ok b/c the place was still pretty empty- It's a somewhat small place inside the Sofitel hotel, b/c we were seated near the entrance it felt like a hotel restuarant- FOOD: My husband and I both opted for the Prixe Fix special ($45), appetizer, entree and dessert-Before our appetizers came out we were brought a tiny serving of some duck pastry, I do not like duck, I tried it but pushed it aside- Appetizers:I ordered the Scallop/Short Rib combo, forget the other ingredient in the mix-Scallop was sitting on top of the shortrib and I believe it was a parsnip sauce-It was good, but kind of an odd flavoring pair, the pan seared scallop on top of a sweet/bbq tasting shortrib-My husband ordered the green salad, on top of a squash puree with apple cider dressing, it was a lot of salad and nice and fresh- Entree: We both ordered the skirt steak, I had mine done R, husband agreed he should've had his prepared this way instead of MR-It came with a mushroom puree and cooked mushrooms on the plate-It was good but nothing that amazing that I'll be telling people to order- Dessert: My husband opted for the Chocolate Ribbon; some sort of chocolate thing that came with salted caramel that was poured on top-I got the Pumpkin Coupe, 3 layers of mousse- It was nice but I don't think I'll come back, I mean service was good but there was just something lacking about the place that left me hanging-
(2)Donna K.
I went to Cafe Des Architects for restaurant week. I went in there not knowing what to expect. I did hear that they have great desserts but I'm not really a dessert person.. The tasting menu had varieties of dishes so my friends and I ordered one of each so we can all sample each other's dish. From what I remember we had the duck and soup to start and it was magnificent. The duck was so tender and flavored so well I forgot what game I was eating for a second. The meat literally fell off the bones. I had the soup and I was presented an empty plate with some garnish sprinkled over it. Luckily, before I opened my mouth and made an ass of myself, the server poured my soup into it from a small glass pitcher. The presentation was unnecessary but interesting, nevertheless. The soup was hearty and rich. I was surprised but I actually was getting pretty full before the entrees came out. My friends ordered the steak (med. rare, of course) and it came out cooked to perfection. Pink in the middle and juicy. I had the fish. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I took a bite and it was slimey and undercooked. The hostess and the server must've seen the look on my face because they rushed over right away and asked if anything was wrong. I HATE sending food back but I told them the fish isn't what I expected. The server was very apologetic and sent it back and I had the chicken instead. The chicken was great, BTW. Dessert was great, too. The ambience of this place beautiful. The lobby is beautiful and the restaurant is romantic and not too dark. I have to give this place 5 stars not just for the delicious food but for the superb service. Everyone in my party (of 6) left full and satisfied.
(5)Kim N.
Beautiful setting, impeccable service, unique and delicious food. Can you really ask for anything more? I came here last night looking for somewhere delicious to treat myself after many weeks of eating in chain restaurants in the middle of nowhere Indiana. To the hostesses - If there is plenty of room, don't sit 2-tops right next to one another. My hostess quickly corrected and offered to let me move down one, but later on in the night, another hostess sat a 2-top right next to me when there were plenty of other tables. The waiter, Remy, is charming, informative, unobtrusive. At one point, he moved so quickly and quietly, I didn't' realize he was there at all! And I was by myself! On to the food: The varied bread basket is served with butter & olive tapenade (which tastes great with the crusty raisin roll!) I went with the prix fixe and chose Boulliabaisse & the Catch of the Day, which was chilean sea bass. Bouliabaisse was superb. Just a touch creamy with a perfect amount of lemon zest to really make all the flavors sing! It was a perfect portion of mussels, scallops and everything tasted fresh & flavorful. The Chilean Sea Bass was perfectly done as well. Really nice sauce underneath the small, but perfect portion. for dessert, I opted for a vanilla custard with some sort of fruit on top. It was ok. I should have followed the waiter's reco for the chocolate dessert. All in all, Fab food, setting, and service. Definitely check it out! Dessert was a fani
(5)Chas R.
Great presentation at breakfast. Authentic French pastries. Polished, though sometimes slow service.
(3)Aurore L.
So - after talking with Pascale (owner of the famous Bonjour Cafe in Hyde Park, possible future employer of your servitor and in the know of all the French places in the city) I learned that even though their croissants are wonderful (and they are - believe me) they are not made there but imported from France frozen and baked on the spot.......... Not quite as impressive then but still pretty damn good!
(5)Niki C.
My first foray into Restaurant Week & didn't know quite what to expect. The soup wasn't too rich, the gnocci was small portioned but tasty, yet the Floating Island was the best part of the meal. The ambiance is very modern & chic, but the tables are entirely too close together. My date & I were having what was turning out to be a heated (yet still playful) debate about when adults are "ready" to have a child & I felt as if the tables flanking us got quite an earful ... & we were talking quietly. I caught a few people nodding in agreement or smiling at our back-and-forth. Best part, though, was our server Brian. He was friendly & attentive & just seemed genuinely happy to be there.
(4)Maria C.
This is a great restaurant with amazing food and great service. It has a very chique atmosphere and its location is perfect. So these are all the attributes that you need on a good restaurant, right? You really get them all here. I had the prix fixe menu and started with a Cauliflower cream (to die for, super delicate and tasty) and then a Filet Mignon. The best part though was the cheese selection that my husband ordered (enough to share for sure). And to crown the night we had a chocolate soufflé. This is a must go place for special occasions. And for all you get, it's a good value.
(4)Eli W.
Simply amazing. Went there for our 15th wedding anniversary. We got the prime rib and the pork tenderloin. Both were magnificent. The chef does an amazing job with contrasting flavors and textures. The beet salad and cheese plate were also superb. A true culinary adventure!
(5)Claire Y.
Certainly a nice, upscale restaurant with all things French (even the waiters). The food was great (not necessarily stellar) with the very artsy-fancy presentation that is expected of such a place. The service was elegant and adequately attentive. Located within the Sofitel, it's got that chic-modern ambiance with a touch of old-world elegance. A nice place to impress a date (though, quite frankly, there are better, tastier options in the area). There are no restrooms within the restaurant -- you have to walk across the hotel lobby and take the elevator to the 2nd flr. Nice bathrooms. After all - this is a classy hotel.
(4)Jeanus T.
Second time to this place. The first was a couple years ago for the Chicago restaurant week. I remember them being better back then! What happened since? I had the 3 courses and the salmon was tiny and flavorless! Every dish was so tiny that I was still hungry after 3 courses and half a bottle of pinot! The two stars are basically for the service. The staff is superb! But they need a new executive chef!
(2)Carolynne M.
Cafe Des Architectes offers an afternoon tea (which appears to be relatively new, as there was nothing written about it before the Living Social deal was offered in November '11 and only the most vague info on their website now). Anyway, a $15 tea was too good of a deal to pass up, so a bunch of us grabbed the deal and went yesterday to check it out. First up, the tea service is not held in the main dining room. Which made me a little sad at first, because the restaurant looked just lovely. We were shown instead to what seems to be a private dining room just off the lounge area. While not as nice, it is a comfortable, modern room with a wall of windows that look onto the street. Interesting details about this tea that I have not seen at other places: -there is a long glass tube with indents along one side, and it holds about 6 different sugars. You have to ask which is which, since it is not marked, but it is a conversation starter for sure and fun to experiment with each type. -there is an hourglass with 3 settings on the table that will time your brewing of the tea for you. The green one is for weak tea, the white is the recommended time, and the red is for strong tea. Very helpful since once I get talking I tend to lose track of time. -they bring out a wooden box with all the teas inside so you can see and smell each one, which does make for an easier time selecting (rather than blindly choosing based on the name). I went for the Sencha Scent of the Mountain, which was a lovely, mild green tea. -the treats come out arranged on a bamboo tray rather than the traditional stacked plate holder. I wish there had been a menu given to us, or it listed on the website, because I would have liked to remember what each of the items we had were. I know for the sweets there was a tiny creme puff, one was a purple macaron, one was a lemon/chocolate petit four and something that tasted like a firm whipped creme within a pastry shell. The savory items were a prosciutto on toast, a salmon puff and a cucumber something on bread. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. When asked for certain things (like milk or more hot water), it was brought promptly. I love afternoon tea and am glad I had a chance to experience a slightly different take on it.
(4)Jessica T.
Brunch is so fantastic here. Hardly any wait, delicious food (there was tourchon de foie gras on my waffles!), and excellent service. More expensive than most brunch places, but it includes pastries, fresh juice and coffee. Chic atmosphere, and the entire staff at the Sofitel is welcoming, whether you're a guest or not. I cannot stress enough the recommendation!
(5)Rachael Z.
Their brunch is much better than their dinner. Their crepes are the best I have ever had in my life but their venison and rabbit is good but not spectacular...it was a bit on the dry side. However, the ambience, the great staff and amazing hotel make up for even the slightest mistake. It is French cuisine, so do not expect a rib sticking dinner. The absolute must have date night place or high scale ladies night out. The staff was so nice that they actually presented me the chair to sit on, will ask you right away if you want the staff to hang your coat, and come out with the wine list. It is not noisy or too uptight for being a fine dining restaurant. I would definetely come back.
(4)Dennis S.
I so-o-o wanted to have a good experience at Café des Architectes. But instead it was a complete crash and burn. The host started us out wrong, with an "Aren't you lucky to be here trying to talk to someone as important as me" attitude. Only when I asked if they could take our coats, as we got to the table, did he say "Of course." How about offering before we got to the table and asked? The table - it was filthy. Crumbs everywhere. I looked at the table next to us - same story. The holder for the salt and pepper shaker had layers of filth under the shakers. I lifted the pepper shaker and ran my finger around the holder - it was like a Chicago windowsill which hadn't been cleaned in several months. Stemware - water spots on every single piece. Food - disappointing. French fries with truffle oil? Only the first fry had any truffle taste. The rest had none. The pasta dish came in a bowl hotter than the pasta. It was clearly made up and put under the heat lamp while my wife's steak sandwich was prepared. (The fries were hers, the truffle comments hers also.) $15 each for glasses of white wine - a nice Sancerre, but not that nice. Excellent bread, to go with the frozen butter. Service was again excellent. My comments on the odd décor stand. This is not a good French restaurant. It's a hotel dining room separated from the lobby by a partition, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with little to offer other than a famous chef who should move on to a real restaurant.
(2)Teri Y.
My husband and I have had dinner here four times and counting. We were obviously drawn to return to this place by both the food and service. The quality of the food has always been very good, befitting to the standards of Sofitel where the restaurant is located. The food here always seemed like they have been well thought out by the chef. Starting with the basket of breads, there were raisin bread, baguette, and focaccia. A small serving of olive spread is given with the breads. The olive spread was just pure olive goodness. We've tried many different items on the menu and they have been consistently very good. The flatiron steak was tender and well prepared. The tuna tartare was delicious that I ate it on its own without the crisp bread slices that came with it just so I could savor the pure goodness of it. Besides the ala carte menu, they always offer a 3-course prix fixe option. The service here has also been consistently good. Though located at the luxury Sofitel, there's no air of uppity at Cafe des Architectes. It's perfect for a pleasant night for dinner that you don't necessarily have to wait until there's a special occasion.
(5)Boon K.
i love the space and it was the perfect place to go for a romantic dinner. I had the Ahi Tuna with white tuffile oil since I thought it was a interesting combination. It was light and the chef really thought about texture. I like the sear of the tuna, the crispy eggroll like mushroom, and the fresh watercrest salad on top. Just perfect. Foie Gras nothing so unique but still good. My bf had the lamb and I like it too but I think he like my dish more. They also gave us a little take home box with chocolates & cookies. It was perfect because after dinner went to a show and had after.
(4)Daniel M.
Reserved for our Christmas dinner on eve - the host took us to our table after looking at us from up to down. Once we were seated, give us our menu and left - we still have our coats and didn't know where to put them except on our seat. ( -1 ) We order our wine and place our $65 per person 3 course prefix dinner. We waited for our food and here comes appetizers - just a second after it the server realized and brought out the bread and butter. ( -1 ) We had duck and sea bass which were good portion and taste very well but not at this price. ( -1 ) The desserts maybe the best thing we had at the whole dinner. We didn't realize until other tables were leaving ( the wait staff there were asking each guest for their jacket/coat color) that - we and other Asian tables were not offer to take our jacket away. ( -1 ) The food maybe great, but in Chicago, you can get just as great food elsewhere for better price and the service just ruin our Christmas dinner. ( -1 ) To summarize - we just feel discriminated ( we pay the same $ than the next guy - why do we get treated differently?!?!) Well, needless to say, there are soooo many places we can go for much better food and way much better service.
(1)Ela G.
I came to Cafe Des Architectes for their new Afternoon Tea offering, having learned about it through the Living Social deal. I had just been in London a few months ago and had afternoon tea at Harrod's...now they do it up right. Unlimited tea, with unlimited delicious tea sandwiches, scones w/clotted creme, macaroons, the works! Here in America, apparently we do it a little differently...Normally this tea service is $30.00, but with the living social deal it was $15. It includes one pot of tea per person and a tray of savory and sweet items, each person gets one piece of each item. The ambiance in the restaurant is great, but unfortunately, this tea service needs to iron out some of the kinks. For the living social price, it's a good deal in theory. For the full price, no way. First of all, only one pot of tea per person? Wait, where am I? What is this? ...cause I thought it was Afternoon TEA! How about hooking me up with as much tea as I want, it's TEA, not gold! Secondly, there were way too many sweet options and very teenie tiny savory options. 4 out of the 6 items were sweet. Not to mention, the savory options were miniscule....the smoked salmon puff pastry was DELICIOUS, but it was the size of a nickle and the smoked salmon was the size of a dime...come on people?! Stop nickle and diming me! I know tea time shouldn't qualify as a meal, but one cannot survive on sugar alone! The sweet options were on the whole well-made, but I felt completely sick after eating hardly any savory options and all that sugar. I wish I had some more tea to wash all this sugar and creme down...but sorry, no cigar. I will say the variety of different sugars (raw, rock, cane, etc.) on the table to accompany the tea was a nice touch, and the teas they carried were interesting and of good quality. The shortbread cookies, Sage and Lemon, were also amazingly buttery and delicious. Unfortunately I just will not be re-visiting Cafe Des Architectes for tea again until they: 1. Offer more tea for afternoon tea... 2. Offer a more reasonable proportion of savory items 3. The sweet items should have more variety, consider more substantial items like scones as opposed to the same creme/fillings/goo just in different forms and colors.
(2)Janet W.
I came here for a prix fixe dinner on one of their busy nights. I liked their interior decor... the lights by the bar change color and look really cool. Our waiter welcomed us with some French which was cute. The 2 person tables are spaced a little too close. I could hear the conversations of the two couples seated on both sides of us. Overall though, service and atmosphere were good for how many people there were. I had their bouillabaisse (mussels and lobster) for the appetizer and a beef entree. The appetizer was reeeeeaaaly good. The main dish and desert were good too, but given the price range, they were just average. So now that I've said a bunch of good stuff about this place, why only 3 stars? My problem with the place is: I WAS STILL HUNGRY AFTER THE MEAL I can see this place being good for groups or business meals when you don't want to get full and you don't say things that are too private or inappropriate to be heard.
(3)Annie R.
I visited Cafe Des Architectes on the last day of restaurant week, here in Chicago. They provided 2 menu options ($33 and $44) and we each chose from one menu. I would say that the items with the $44 option are definitely worth it! $44 menu, we ordered: braised beef appetizer, grouper entree, and chocolate/passion fruit cake for dessert. The dessert was INCREDIBLE! perfect balance of sweet and sour! the braised beef was soft and full of flavor, and the grouper was fried just perfectly crispy on the outside, but fresh and flavorful on the inside. Overall, loved the place, the service, and the food. I would consider returning, especially for the dessert options! The Sofitel Hotel itself is also an interesting place to visit!
(4)Chloe Z.
had a great waiter. upon my inquiry, he offered some great off-the-menu cocktails. so sweet! Yet in the end I went with the Backyard Blackberry Margarita. The thyme with the drink is a bloody brilliant idea! The drink came off as aromatic, striking a perfect balance between spice, alcohol, and berries Do try their cherry matcha dessert! It beats everything I'd had in any Japanese/Asian/French restaurant in both the US and Asia. Will def go back to explore more dishes on the menu.
(5)sam g.
The setting is definitely up scale, unusual, and interesting. After that it only gets worse. The service was sub par. They tried to seat us at a terrible table. When we asked if we could have a different one, they agreed it was not such a great table and gave us a much better one. I know that someone has to sit at the bad table, by why try and pawn it off on us? During the meal they continued to interrupt, trying to grab our plates. It was not conducive to enjoying a great meal. But, in this case, since the meal wasn't that great - maybe they had an excuse? The food was blah. Not a single one of us had a dish that we really liked. The vegetarian entre was the worst - essentially a plate of mush. The presentation of all the dishes was haphazard at best - not fitting with decor. For the price, it was terrible.
(2)Mike S.
We visited Café Des Architectes for dinner on a Blackboard Eats deal for their 5-course degustation menu, with wine pairings. The entire menu was wonderful-- highlights included: Prosciutto-wrapped monkfish, squash risotto, fall mushrooms Roasted duck, cauliflower, smoked apricot sauce Chocolate bar, burnt caramel ice cream, coffee cream The service was just okay, our server was slightly aloof. She didn't know much about the dishes and needed help from others to explain them to us. Also, the runners are dressed too casually. Their outfits don't match the dressy atmosphere and it's strange to see them rushing around the dining room in what appear to be jeans and un-tucked, grey short-sleeved shirts. Not a real complaint, just odd. The Blackboard Eats discount was a phenomenal value, as their normal pricing is already quite reasonable for the level of cuisine they are putting out. I would definitely come back to try something from the a la carte menu, and as many desserts as possible!!!
(4)Liz A.
I chose this restaurant for a special occasion, and I was underwhelmed. While the sofitel is a beautiful hotel, the restaurant doesn't really do a good job of separating itself from the hotel--the whole time I was there, I just felt like I was dining in a hotel. This is largely in part because the restaurant is very open-- which I normally appreciate open spaces/high ceilings, but despite the fact that the architecture is spacious, the seating is not. We were practically sharing our dinner with the couples on either side of us. There is not much seating in the restaurant, and the primary backdrop of the restaurant space is the hotel lobby. Beyond the ambiance, the food was good, but not great for the price. There were no flavors or unique menu items that really stood out to me. So yes, this is an upscale place to dine and the sofitel is beautiful, but it's definitely not a foodie place and don't expect any stand-out things on the menu.
(3)Jennie C.
Well I finally made it back to CDA for their real food...I mean dinner. Ok, maybe not the regular menu since it was restaurant week. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it. Started out with the lamb rillette, which was my least favorite dish of the evening, as the lamb, though tender, was too gamey for my taste. Fortunately, the evening improved with every dish that followed. The duck breast had a beautiful smokey flavor, and the persimmon puree was intriguing (buttery-smooth yet so much more complexity than standard mashed potatoes), the cauliflower added crunch and welcomed acidity. And the dessert, how could I not talk about dessert from my favorite pastry chef? I got the hazelnut dacquoise, which a a joy to look at and equally pleasing on the palate - light and airy cake with perfectly toasted hazelnuts, banana cream and coffee ice crystals. His desserts are always so balanced I can't get enough of it. My only complaint was the price. The RW menu was $44, which I usually associate with luxurious additions such as foie gras or steak, but these were not found anywhere on the menu. I'm sure they use excellent ingredients, but so do other restaurants of similar caliber. So I'd say their food is slightly over-priced, especially given the small portion size (not sure if it's due to RW). Having said that, I appreciate the creative mix of flavors and beautiful presentation. And I'll always be back for dessert!
(4)Angela M.
CDA delivered a winning restaurant week menu! I dined with a large group, and it was the first time at CDA for most of us. I had the squash veloute (i.e. soup) with duck confit. Amazing - the salty, rich duck confit added the perfect balance to the silky soup. And they had a polished table-side service where the servers poured the soup from a gravy boat over the duck that was already in the bowl - very fancy! The main entree is what earns CDA a 4 - rather than a 5 - in my book. I ordered the scallop and pork belly. I know it is French food, but the plate was WAY too rich. Even the scallop, which can be prepared very light and fresh, was heavy and overwhelming, likely because of copious amounts of butter it was cooked in. There wasn't anywhere to turn for relief - my sides were boursin cheese-laden polenta and braised greens.. heavy, heavy, heavy. I enviously eyed my friend's fish - why did I decide I wasn't in the mood for fish tonight? - as I choked down as much as I could of my fatty pork belly. It was delicious, to be sure, but the kind of delicious I can only handle a few bites of. But then came dessert, and the heaviness of dinner vanished immediately with the light, ethereal perfection on my plate. I ordered the vanilla honey parfait which I'm pretty confident was by far the best dessert offering (not that I tried the others...). It was a deconstructed take on parfait. There were so many intricate components carefully scattered on the plate and I didn't even know what half of it was, but it was amazing and delicious - one of the best desserts I've ever had. One piece completely airy, dissolving instantly and the next bite a burst of citrus flavor. Incredible. I also had a cocktail called "Angela Fresh" which was made with tequila - strong and delicious. Overall, a memorable dinner and a spot I would go back to.
(4)Dee C.
Winter salad: spiced ricotta, braised apples, frisee lettuce. Honey foam was amazing with this salad dish. Loved this amazing salad. Roasted beet salad: blood orange, goat cheese, and radish. This is a great, "cute" restaurant in the sofitel hotel. It has very modern decor. Dark chocolate ganashe was a great desert. Being a vegetarian is very hard, but they were accomodating...and I didn't know if they would be since it was restaurant week and they had their special menu. This place is pricey.....could easily be $100 for two with a drink each. Drinks are pricey. We stuck to our three course meal and were very satisfied. The salad was so refreshing I can still taste it....the honey foam was oh so amazing. I had steamed vegetables for the main course. They were better than just ok so I was happy. I would go again. I would need some sort of deal to go again since it can get pretty pricey.
(4)Lindsey N.
I met up with friends for afternoon tea (two of them had a LivingSocial voucher) at Cafe des Architectes. The decor was delightful, as was our waiter. He was very attentive, but not intrusive. There were 7 or 8 choices of tea (green,black, white, and red) and all of my "tea-mates" chose the Paris Blend black tea, which was very nice. The selection of bites were also delicious; mostly sweet, but some savory. The one with prosciutto was perfect, as were the lavender macarons. Other memorable edible elements included a creme puff, passionfruit eclair, salmon puff with caviar, and lemon-basil cookies. I would have liked more of a balance between the sweet and savory items. There seemed to be way more sweet items. Overall, everything was very nice. Elegant, without being stuffy.
(4)Olivia L.
Impeccable. Elegant. Yummy. With my siblings in town, I really wanted to take them out to a nice place. Although every place I've eaten at were booked for the rest of the night, but we got super lucky and found a just cancelled reservation slot at 7:30 at the Cafe des Architectes. Upon entrance, we were immediately greeted with "Bonsoir."-- although corny, it was still cute. The place definitely was elegant, but with a chic European decor that makes it a tad on the fun side. And despite how loud the three of us are when we are together, it didn't seem to have bothered other people-- meaning the environment is good for slightly louder conversations (or parties of 3 or more), seeing that we still had our privacy and our neighbors did as well. Service was spectacular. The wait staff was so attentive, but yet not intruding. We were greeted with smiles throughout the email and our drinks were replenished quite frequently. Now for the best part- FOODIES! We each ordered different entrees: the rabbit, the lamb and the seared tuna. All three had their distinct style. The lamb was delicious and went so well with a pumpkin puree- deeming an amazing savory and sweet taste. The rabbit was extremely interesting- cooked in three different ways (mmmm!). The tuna was seared perfectly and despite the size of the fish piece-- it was surprisingly filling! We ended the night with the petit dessert platter- which came with madeleines, a macaron with raspberry couli, a mini creme brulee, a mini hazelnut-marshmallow cake and a mini valrhona/espresso cake. It was the perfect sweetness for the three of us- and the variety was amazing (especially the mini creme brulee, which my brother finished off quite quickly!). Bottom line: It's a great environment with great food! Although a bit pricey for the plates, I had a wonderful time.
(4)Graeme F.
This remains my favourite hotel restaurant in North America for Eggs Benny. Perfect for prior to a business meeting - not heavy at all, which is what its supposed to be. The lightest, tastiest version going. In fact, great for breakfast period.
(5)Mary J C.
I feel this place deserves to be recognized by Michelin, the execution was flawless, the taste of each dish was a delightful surprise! We tried: - Diver Scallop - with duck confit, curry cauliflower and golden raisins - wow, amazing combination of ingredients. Cooked to perfection - Oysters with pomegranate horseradish - what an invention - Foie Gras - super fresh, perfectly cooked, served with blackberry jam and braised pear - mmmm - Alaskan Halibut - served on baby spinach, with fingerling potatoes and lobster veloute - I was in heaven! For dessert we tried Chocolate Box, served with chestnut mousse, toasted brioche ice cream and fig... yamie :) Pricey, yes but well worth it. Now that sitting outside was available, it was such a pleasure to dine under the Chicago sky at this fantastic restaurant! I want to go back!
(5)Steven M.
I had the pleasure of eating at CDA recently and I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience, this is a gem of a restaurant. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the hostess and our jackets were immediately spirited off to the coat closet. We were seated at a lovely window table and immediately offered water, bread and a drinks menu right off the bat (why can't every restaurant figure this part out?). We sampled a few of their special cocktails and they were awesome. First time I've had a Sazerac, and it was fantastic! We selected the 7 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. Here's where it got really cool: My GF and I each had different dishes all the way through the meal! So we got to sample about 13 different dishes throughout the meal (only the cheese plate was in common)! A very novel and fun approach. Sara was pretty impressed that they selected Diver Scallop and Duck Breast for her which are two of her all time favorites. How did they know? :-) As the meal progressed we were just blown away by not just the freshness of the ingredients and the wonderful tastes, but also how Chef Biggers harmonized each dish with the next so that it was a wonderful tapestry of flavors. Each dish seemed to compliment the previous one and almost serve as a prelude to the next dish as well. The crescendo for me was the pan seared crusted pork loin which was to die for. It was perfectly seasoned, wonderfully prepared and the complementary flavors from the puree and veggies was delicious. The other great thing was that we had 7 courses but didn't leave stuffed to the point of discomfort, the dishes were full of flavor but not heavy, just light, fresh fresh fresh and tremendously satisfying. In my mind this is how it should be done. The wines were solid although not superstars and the portion sizes were just okay. I would've paid more for a stronger wine list and more generous pours! The decor is great, a very chic modern design and comfy tables. The service throughout the night was amazing, very attentive on all counts, knowledgeable and friendly. As a nice touch, Chef Biggers came by to ask how everything was at the end of the meal. I think the CDA should feel lucky to have him, he's doing great work here. So, does CDA deserve the same rating as Les Nomandes or Alinea? No, but it's not really fair to compare them as those are in a different category and certainly far more expensive. However, CDA earned five stars from me because they provide honest, approachable, FRESH and delicious food with impeccable service & fabulous decor for a reasonable price. Well done, CDA, I'm a big fan.
(5)Natalka K.
I was here last night with a friend as part of Chicago's Restaurant Week. We had a good table in the middle of the room. We started off with a glass of their Rose Champagne each. Since we chose to do the the prix-fix menu - I had the Poached Pear and Delaware Fireball Salad and my friend had Chestnut Veloute with added scallops. Maine we had the Seared Michigan Whitefish and the Braised Beef Short Rib. Dessert - was the Citrus Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Noir. It was all very delicious! The only way they would get a straight 5 would be their lack of waiters and serves. They brought out my friend's starter, but I was waiting for my salad! At least 10 minutes went by, until they brought it out. Our main courses came out together and so did our desserts. While we were finishing up our desserts, the table next to us, had the same problem. We also had to motion to someone to pick up our check, because they weren't attentive. Hopefully I come back next time, they will be more customer aware.
(4)Ling L.
If CDA shows up in Restaurant Week again, save the date and head out there. Among all the participants in RW, CDA definitely delivers on both value and choices. Our group of 4 ordered different items and had a blast passing them around and tasting. I'm pleasantly surprised that portions were not meagre for the prix fixe. All of our protein were done to perfection. The only thing I was disappointed in was my chocolate dessert. I like a good rich chocolate but that was too close to my nonfavorite consistency of a flourless cake, and I wished I had gone with the alternative. While the space was small, its high ceilings gave it an air of sophistication, and served very well for an intimate date night or a private group affair. And I have to echo Eddy C's observation of the attentive service. It's enough without being obnoxious. So, CDA, please return for RW -- you certainly gave the other options a run for the money and selection.
(4)Kelli Ann L.
This review is "tainted" in a good way - based on various times we have had the pleasure to meet the Chef at places like Taste of the Nation, and other great city tasting events. Every time we have had his food, it has been wonderful. The Chef is also extremely pleasant, which makes it better. We happened to be downtown on Valentines Day for some "medical" things - and thought that it would be appropriate to head on over 2 blocks from where we were to have a great dinner- celebrate no matter what news we received. We noted that Cafe Des Architectes was very close, and decided that based on tasting in the past, a nice walk over for a great meal was a good idea. Unfortunately, they were serving a special "menu" for the evening - a prix fixe at $79.00 - which did not include or offer wine to pair...you had 4 courses and you chose from several options in each course. We decided to start with Champagne, duh.....and then ordered a bottle of wine. Our server was great, and actually showed us a bottle 1/2 the price of what we were going to order and said it was a better wine.....who knew! Down sold on a French Wine - I'll take it! And he was right - the Cote du Rhone we ordered was lovely. My hubby and I both ordered different items in each course - EVERYTHING was great! From some of the best oysters I have had (albeit there were THREE of them....) - to my single scallop over sweetbreads, to my sole short rib...to my chocolate desert.....it really was extremely tasty....my gripe...the portions were smaller than I have ever seen....and we do tasting menus ALOT! I was very glad that we had a drink at the bar with some snacks and bread with dinner.....because elf food does not even begin to describe how small they servings were. We also ordered a desert wine for my hubby, and we both had cappuccinos- yum! My issue for cost is....since we recently went to Le Titi de Paris....and for the same price (and our bottle of wine at "Paris" was double the cost as "Cafe") - we had more than 4 times the amount of food....and also had full meal leftovers for the next night.....and the food was INCREDIBLE there.....so..... Final thing - I WILL go back - not on Valentines Day. I think the food is outstanding - I am hoping that the portions will be more ample when we return. :0)
(4)Camille P.
The cafe in the Sofitel was on my list but it couldn't have been a more perfect circumstance for arriving here to dine when I did. I was meeting a girlfriend for lunch and when I called to arrange a meeting point, it turned out that we were in the same 'hood, only a couple blocks from each other and a only couple of blocks from Cafe des Architectes. The last bit of summer sun was shining directly onto the patio, calling to us to enjoy a sophisticated lunch and a crisp glass of vin blanc. Who am I to refuse such a calling? It started with a beautiful bread basket, all made in house, which included, a pretzel roll, baguette, and crispy parmesan crackers, served with both butter and a zippy green olive tapanade. We decide to go the 'snacky' route, ordering a few small plates to pick at while we sunned ourselves and chatted about life and love and all things girlie. My partner in crime is a trusting woman, putting her faith in me to order what I pleased. The first selection was the Chicken Liver Pate with Fig Jam, Cognac Gelee and Brioche. I could never pass up such a concoction! The pate was good, not the best I'd ever had, but darn good, and after trying it on the brioche, I found that I preferred to smear it on the baguette. Sometimes it can be TOO rich. The butter toasted buttery brioche just sent this already decadent spread with its sweet condiments over the edge for me. Luckily, I found a way to continue to enjoy it. We both agreed that the Diver Scallop with Duck Confit, Curried Cauliflower & Golden Raisins sounded interesting. We went for it and were glad we did. The scallop was perfectly done (yes, THE (ONE) scallop...come on...), the duck, deep and flavorful while the curry lent an exciting counterpoint and loud flavor component to the dish. A little pop of sweet came every once in a while from the raisins. A success! Lastly, we ordered another 'jar'. This time something on the lighter side. A tartar of both ahi & yellowtail tunas with a yuzu-avocado puree was topped with a dollop of caviar and served with taro chips. The fish was good, of course, and the puree was creamy and smooth with the necessary little acidic zip from the yuzu. It was quite nice with the mellow sweetness and hearty crunch of the fried taro root. Pretty, isn't it? I can't say that the service was incredibly impressive. When I asked about a specific wine, our server gave me blatantly wrong information and then tried to argue with me about it despite the fact that she was clearly uneducated on the subject. Just say "I don't know"... it's so much better than lying about it. And when returning from the restroom, my friend nearly got pummeled by a busser. That carried our conversation for a while. In a place like this, you'd expect management to train their staff to let the guest pass when coming to a head. Not so much the case here. Kinda strange. Anyway, overall, a delicious and enjoyable lunch. The Short Version (Out of 10)... Food: 8 Service: 6 Ambiance: 9 Overall impression: 8 Would I go back? Under the right circumstances, yes.
(4)Ryan B.
Wow. Just wow. Five course tasting menu. Romoula as our server. Impeccable service staff who accurately described each dish. Great wine pairings. Nice atmosphere to relax and enjoy with a date or small group of friends. Not a typical hotel restaurant. Overall a really wonderful experience. Thank you Romoula for making tonight one to remember.
(4)Michael W.
So....does a restaurant have to be that cool, hip, "new" place to give you a five start experience? The answer is a resounding "no", and I think CDA is proof. OK....I'm not sure....maybe Cafe des Architectes is new, or maybe it is really hip....I'm not really up on the inside track on that. But we ate there at prime time on a Saturday night and the place wasn't crazy crowded or bustling or anything like that. It wasn't full of beautiful "cool" people, or people that think they are "cool"(let's see how many times I can use the "air quotes" during this review). There was absolutely zero pretense in the room....none. So take all that junk away, and what do you have left? For starters....a stunning design. The Sofitel lobby has a beautiful modern and clean look to it. And that same design sensability carries right into CDA. In fact, the walls don't go all the way up to the ceiling in CDA, so you actually are dining in a part of the lobby, in some sense. It somehow comes off with this modern, edgy loft type feel to it while still maintaining a good warm feeling. Now let us consider the staff. Just impeccable, warm and friendly service. They really balance taking care of you and being available with what I assume is a French our European sensibility of not hounding you. Our initial drink order took a few extra minutes longer than you might expect to arrive. No big deal in my mind, but our waitress apologized profusely and followed up to tell use they were on the house! Seriously??? That was a five star move, CDA....well played. The food? Simply fantastic. My dining companions and I all tried different items from the $45 prix fix and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. Flavorful, eye-pleasing, and just straight up fresh and good. Definitely an excellent dollar to quality value for your food here. 5 stars across the board for you CDA. Thankyou for a wonderful dining experience!
(5)Tony A.
"Small portions, harmonious flavors, and surprisingly filling..." Came in for dinner for restaurant week. The restaurant offered two distinct menu at two price points. One price point was $33 and the other for $44. The $44 choice offered a much luxurious choice but that depends on who you ask. I thought it didn't justify the extra money. I think the strength of this restaurant is the natural flavors of the ingredients and how they play well with each other. Beyond that strength, there is much to be desired. If you look at the menu, the ingredients used tend to be traditional french fare. Lastly, the dessert "Chocolat Moelleux" was disappointing. If there is anything I think that French cuisine is worth, it would be their desserts. However, their performance at the end lead to a one-star deduction here. I guess I will come back one day when its restaurant week again...
(3)Jenny B.
I like it here everything is great
(4)Carol M.
A fabulous find I heart of Gold Coast ! My husband and I had one of the best meals we have had across the pond from Paris. Decor is casual but elegant and the food was fabulous. Service was knowledgeable and attentive. When we return to Chicago---'this will be our first stop!
(5)Jack P.
I took the opportunity to try the special four-course lunch tasting menu here, which goes for $20.98. I had been to the bar before for after work drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and the place is on my list for that particular activity. Great spot to take clients. If I had any... I chose to dine inside. Even though the weather was perfect for dining al fresco, I am not fond of their outdoor tables. Without any sort of greenery, it feels like sitting in a parking lot. Besides, the dining room, with its high ceilings and dramatic hanging lamps makes for a much better ambiance. And there was more of a crowd inside. I found the service overall to be gracious and friendly. Not too much swelling of the attitudinal glands. I was seated promptly, handed a beautiful and tasty bread basket with a variety of bread worthy of the French. From then on, there was a nice "team" approach to service, as one of four or five might bring you a drink, your meal, more water, etc. The servers all seemed very European. One of them when I asked about what appeared to be olive tapenade with the bread basket assured me that yes it was green olives and "leetle feeshes" (or anchovies.) In fact, all the servers lent a particular feel to the place. They all seemed like extras from "Young Frankenstein" or that "Rocky Horror" movie. And I mean that in most loving and supportive way :-). Great casting of dining room staff! En plus, there was a large group of French business people having lunch near me, and one guy in particular with slicked back hair, a too-small silver PeeWee Herman suit and dress shoes with no socks, who although he was talking business, was really trying to seduce every woman at his table. It seemed so "Paree." I found the food to be French-worthy, too. For the tasting, you choose one item from each of three categories of appetizer, salad, main course, and the dessert is pre-chosen for you. The choices are excellent. They could just try to pawn off cheap stuff like sausages, charcuteries, plain greens, but they don't. I had a cold carrot soup, which was a bright yellow, but didn't taste too much like carrots- more like squash, but it was a nice starter. Then I had a salad of sliced fresh cooked shrimp with cabbage and fennel. Absolutely delicious in flavor and pleasing in texture. The main event was grilled Mahi-Mahi on a bed of sweetly-cooked and seasoned red cabbage, topped with a tasty and eye-pleasing garnish. The fish was cooked to perfection. Dessert consisted of a tablespoon-size glob of chocolate mousse and a small tart with chocolate filling and berries. The entire tasting is brought to you at once on a large square plate with four smaller 4" x 4" plates, so you could start with dessert if you wanted too. I thought the portions were very adequate, and again French-worthy. I walked away sated but not too full (I kept myself from eating the entire bread basket, which was difficult, as I have never met a carb I didn't like.) I would definitely recommend this tasting menu. It's a great value. And eating at Les Architectes is fun and elegant.
(4)T.J. S.
Came here for drinks and dessert. The Mango Bella was out of this world!!! I also had the Noir Chocolate! Again...out of this world. I highly recommend this place to anyone. I made a reservation. The staff was friendly and actually knew who I was when I arrived. Everyone should go for desserts and drinks at least once.
(5)Keith F.
food was excellent for the price - it's in a hotel so the setting is nothing special. the hotel itself is a very nice property. all in all - a very good meal in a great location.
(4)Jenny Z.
Cafe des Architectes.....words cannot express how bad our experience was with you! My husband and I brought his mother in law there today for afternoon tea but we were all very disappointed. There were two positives about today and two only....1) we got to sit in the actual restaurant (usually people sit in a separate boring room for tea) and 2) the actual tea itself was enjoyable. Other than that, it was shockingly bad! $30/person for a tea service should at least make a person full. What we received each was two shortbread the size of quarters, a smoked salmon sandwich the size of a 1x1 inch square (with stale/dry bread), a quarter size macaroon, a mini puff pastry with cheese cream, 2 mini scones each and some mini toasts with cumcumber and olive. I was starving! To make matters worse, throughout the meal, we could barely hear each other talk because some man was vacuming around the restaurant. He was actually going under the tables where people were sitting. When asked why they had to vacum right that moment, the manager said the croissants were very flaky and fell on the floor. The croissants aren't the only flaky thing at Cafe Des Architectes!!!!! Cafe des Architectes is obviously trying to do some modern twist on the afternoon tea but fails miserably. How can you charge that money for one small pot of tea and a few crappy nibbles? I will never go back.
(1)Ming C.
I can't think of anything unsatisfying about this restaurant. It is AWESOME!! Food is rich and flavorful. Service is outstanding. Decor is cool. Best of all, you can sit in one of the best neighborhoods in chicago and enjoy the last few beautiful summer days in French style.
(5)Jenny T.
Yum, yum, yum! I have been a very lucky foodie as of late. Last night I had to attend an event in the Sofitel bar. Appetizers were served & after getting little bites of appetizers prepared by Marcel of Cafe Des Architectes I knew I needed more. My boss & I stepped out early only to walk 20 feet away to grab some dinner. We were greeted promptly & happily & seated by the wall of windows. I was a bit nervous because of how expensive it is, but lucky us - 3 for under $30 was going on. 3 dishes for $29.00, um yes please! Our lovely French waiter could not have been kinder & I followed his directions to the T. Belgium Endive Salad? Sure! Flat Iron steak? Um, yes please! Praline crunch? Oh...I suppose I will. The salad came out in an edible bowl. Love it. The variety of greens was fabulous & the light dressing only made it more delicious. The blue cheese was very delicious & I don't even like blue cheese! It was quite a decent portion for a salad & I made sure to enjoy each & every bite. The steak came out after & was delicious. It was a bit rarer than I like, but I ate it all up. I didn't even care. The mushrooms & potatoes that the strips of steak were so beautifully arranged on were 100% complimentary. Nothing stole the show, it was a collaborative effort. Finally, the dessert. Oh my Lord. It was sort of a mousse, but was was in perfect rectangles. They sat on a bed of crunchy delicious & had crunch teeny flakes of pralines inside of the mousse. A delicious, crunchy, carmel-y rice krispie sat on top. Um, this was heaven in a dessert. I want to bring everyone & anyone back for this deal. However, if no one's up for joining me I will have no problem pretending I'm in Europe dressed to the nines, reading a book, and dining on some delicious food all on my own.
(5)Laila C.
Holy mackeral the food here is phenomenal! I went on a Monday night for their prix fixe. There's about 4 choices per appetizer, entree and dessert which makes it much better than some prix fixes already. My friend and I were treated to a complimentary amuse bouche of beet soup. It was cold, crisp and tart with a hint of sweetness. Although an interesting choice for an amuse bouche, I liked it. To start, I ordered the short ribs on cauliflower puree. SO delicious. The short ribs were not melt in your mouth tender, but that's what made it so delicious. I was able to use it to wipe up all the puree. Definitely how short ribs should be. My friend had the oxtail shepards pie and it comes with a thin crispy crostini. I had a bite and I might have to order my own the next time I go! My flat iron steak entree with parsnip puree, fingerling potatoes and peas forced me to eat beyond regular capacity. Truth be told, after the bread tray and the appetizer, I was 80% full already. But upon seeing the steak, there was no way I could let any of it go to waste. After the delicious praline crunch dessert which "tasted like a fancy, hazelnut filled kit kat" (that's a good thing!) our server presented us with another complimentary dessert! Lemon marshmallow and an apricot jelly candy. AND in the end our server gave us another card for $20 off our next meal there...so I guess there's no excuse not to go back!!! A great discovery and a great weeknight treat!
(5)Eric B.
Our experience at Cafe Des Architectes was only a partial experience, but we enjoyed the taste we had. We only experienced part of the menu, because it was Restaurant Week. They had a standard prix fixe, with certain items from the regular menu available as upgrades. This is an irresistible opportunity for me, as my love for dinner upgrades is exceeded only by my love for travel upgrades. I heartily recommend the duck confit appetizer - its one of the best I've had, with a well sized duck leg that melts in your mouth. Its almost a meal in and of itself. Of course, we didn't stop there - I upgraded to the rack of lamb, and Kelly upgraded to the Delmonico steak, both of which exceeded our expectations. Desserts, too, were superb, as was the French press coffee. Taking a look at the menu currently online, I see that CDA varies its menu seasonally, so you may have to wait until the fall for the duck confit and rack of lamb, but the options currently available will undoubtedly satisfy. But what of the restaurant itself? As I said above, we did not experience it fully -- on that Saturday night, a server was sick, (for Restaurant Week? Mon Dieu!) and in response they closed off part of the restaurant (it did feel small). But, our taste of the decor was complete. The atmosphere at CDA is clubby and romantic - dark walls, low lighting, with a white banquette to create visual contrast. It is more of a French Mag Mile restaurant than a French Bistro. This dark sleekness is an extension of the dark sleekness of the hotel, the Sofitel. Personally, I felt that the decor of the Sofitel was too dark and dated, in an 80s style. But if you are looking for a Mag Mile / Streeterville type experience, rather than a country bistro, a la La Sardine or Kiki's or Bistrot Zinc, CDA fits the bill. And a final note, for by Bourbon boozer friends, the bar in the Sofitel has Templeton Rye, and makes excellent manhattans. Note that the bar in the restaurant does not have Templeton, but my server sent my order over to the bar for fulfillment -- make sure yours does the same.
(4)Eric V.
In a word, underwhelming. The entire restaurant week menu showed promise, but dish after dish tasted flat and lacked character. The squash soup had nice texture but was very straightforward, especially if you take away the duck confit. Some additional spice or garnish for flavor/texture would have gone a long way. The entree, two separate preparations of pork belly and scallop, was the dish I looked forward to the most. Again, flat. The pork belly was surprisingly tough and desperately needed more braising time. The glaze could have also used a hint of spice or sweetness to perk up the one note flavor profile. At least the scallop was nicely seared and the confit of collard greens on which it was served was quite tasty. Sadly, you know something's amiss when the greens are the best part of a dish featuring both pork belly and scallop. At this point, I was hoping dessert would be this meal's saving grace. I went with the chocolate and barley "soil", expecting pastry chef Fahy's extensive resume to make this dish shine. I got my hopes up too high. The plate of soil-esque cocoa granules and toasted barley (I'm guessing to imitate worms in the soil) was odd. The dark chocolate ice cream (encased in a thin chocolate shell) wasn't nearly enough to play counterpart to the spoon fulls of dry granules. I'm all for playfulness and creativity, but this dish didn't work for me. From a service standpoint, our server was friendly but perhaps a little green around the edges. I don't expect long dissertations on each dish but a little more detail on preparation would have been nice. She also made the rookie mistake of saying "I can't personally recommend the beet dish since I don't like beets". Don't like beets, fine. Just don't dissuade your customers from ordering it. It could have been a very fine first course but now we'll never know. Within the context of restaurant week, the $44 price tag really wasn't merited nor was a supplemental charge for the filet of beef entree. Last I checked, Naha's $33 menu featured both Kurobuta pork belly and Wagyu beef, with the only up charge coming from an alternate entree of duck and foie gras. If not for the good company, the meal could have been much less pleasant. In the end, there was nothing egregiously bad to complain about, but nothing to boast about either. Perhaps we simply just ran into a case of sacrificing quality for quantity. It's restaurant week, so I'll take the good with the bad.
(3)Jessie L.
We had the five course meal and it was amazing. I have never savored my food like I did during this meal. The alcohol was definitely steep, so we just had water and still an amazing meal. We were greeted by the chef at the end of the meal, not at our request but because the server saw how much we were enjoying our meal. Service was attentive and they were able to anticipate needs. Romantic for two and also pretty good for people watching on the patio. Just wonderful :)
(5)Suana W.
3.5 stars. i couldn't find any great faults, but neither did the food absolutely wow me. prices were okay too, perhaps a bit on the steep side. all in all, i don't really have a strong opinion about this place. - beef tartar three ways made me realize i prefer carpaccio - guinea hen was nice, if a big dry - coworker's lobster on the surf + turf was barely cooked...probably on purpose?
(3)Jenna S.
Recently we've really been digging this place...and I hate to review it so the word gets outs...but it's really overdue to Cafe des Architectes. One word: DESSERT. Yes, the chocolate pistachio dome is aamm-azing. Seriously, one of the best desserts i've ever had. And it's $10 to boot. Sign me up! I've only had the full dinner once, but I can highly recommend coming here for a nice, slow pace evening of dessert and drinks.
(4)Audre L.
Solid 4 stars. Despite being a hotel restaurant, the food is good, interesting and original. The dining room is european-mod. Winter salad was inspired and the arctic char was perfectly cooked. The deserts were amazing as well.
(4)MaryAnne M.
Two words for you: Pork belly. Like Pork Belly? Keep reading. Like many recent reviewers I was here for restaurant week. Vanessa was kind enough to plan a Monday night dinner for us. I had been here once for an employee holiday party and of course, for drinkies in the bar. While I realize this is not a review of the hotel lobby it is super sexy and sleek. Restaurant itself: we were greeted warmly & seated once our entire party arrived. Took our coats and seated us. Service itself was impeccable. Warm rolls brought to the table. Our server? Lovely, just lovely. Attentive and informative without being obtrusive. I ordered the following: *Swan Creek Farm Pork Belly- Nichol's Jerusalem artichokes / hedgehog mushrooms / white truffle oil Now I am well aware people are CONSTANTLY describing things as "melting in my mouth" I am, right here, right now calling BULLSHIT on every one of those persons. Unless of course they are describing the Swan Creek Farm Pork Belly at Cafe Des Architectes. Otherwise, they are bald - faced liars. And you should also let them know they are fibbers. This dish was perfect in every aspect. The flavors melted together perfectly. I was mildly embarrassed that I wanted to lick the plate clean. Just mildly. *Duo of Beef- Hanger steak and braised short ribs / shallot purée / watercress salad Here is where things somehow managed to get even better. The steak & short ribs were perfect complements to each other. Shallots and watercress an lovely contrast to the duo. See above "melt in your mouth" comment. *Floating Island- Steamed meringue / crème anglaise / caramelized almonds As I have often said in the past I am hardly a dessert enthusiast. I'm typically over the moon when there is a non-chocolate dessert available. This dessert was the best combo of my favorite dessert: non-chocolate and sweet. Add in the almonds and it was ideal. The entire meal was ideal.
(5)Nat M.
pretty space. but the tables/seating are a bit odd (chairs are not comfy, tables are too small). good drinks. polite staff but they are not that warm. appetizers were unique but not that tasty. main course was good, but not great. desserts were nice to look at, but also not great. overpriced. this place puts appearance/presentation over quality - that leaves one unsatisfied
(2)Puja A.
The food was really good! Fresh seafood, great flavor, nice mix of textures. Everything we ate was yummy. There was also a nice wine selection. The service was not good. I had to catch someone to order my wine when I first got seated. I ordered the 5 course prix fix which did not have a menu (I asked) and was not told what each course was until I asked..for each course. The servers were perfectly nice once I did interact with them, it was just hard to get the service you expect. I believe someone mentioned valet parking was free on here. I had to pay $12 or $13 (can't remember) so I am not sure how you can score that. The ambiance is nice, contemp, but the bathrooms are on the second floor which is a bit out of the way.
(4)Allison K.
My boyfriend and I did the Chef's pre-fix dinner here a few weeks ago. We had just gotten back from a trip to NYC where we had several AMAZING dinners so we could have been easily dissappointed by this dinner... but it was a Wonderful experience! First, the pre-fix for only $42????? Um... that is ridiculously inexpensive. Second, the decor is brilliant! So modern, and everything was of such high quality! From the shining silver tables to the plush velvet chairs to the gorgeous lighting - I didn't want to leave! It's inside my favorite hotel - the Sofitel in the gold coast. Third, the service was incredible. Our waiter was so knowlegable. He taught us all of the quirky facts about the fish that my boyfriend ordered (how they were born female and changed to male and they had to catch them at just the right time, etc...) He picked out the perfect wine for us. He was extremely attentive but not overbearing/annoying. Just when our fresh bread (like 5 different types and so yummy!) was no longer warm, voila - replaced with fresh hot from the oven bread. The portions are huge for a french restaurant. Huge. Not a little bite of this, or 5 bites of that, but very large which surprised me considering the low price. We had this french desert sampling and didn't like one of the options so we didn't eat it. Guess what? The waiter brought us out a whole new desert! I have recommended this place to EVERYONE I know. Those who have taken up my advice have had a great experience as well!
(5)Gabriela R.
Great chic place for brunch ! Food is exquisite and love the service :)
(5)Catherine X.
I LOVE this chic little restaurant that's tucked away from Michigan Avenue-- still in the heart of the city, but a few blocks away from the Mag Mile so that it's not kitschy and overrun with tourists. Everything from the decor to the silverware to the arrangement of the food is classy with a modern flail. The server was very attentive (and not snobby at all) to us on our Girls Night Out. Service. Service throughout the night remained impeccable even after the place started filling up later and later. My glass was never less than half full :) The scallops in my appetizer were the biggest I've ever seen, and the sauce flavorful with just the right amount of butter. I didn't think it could get any better, but then there was my beef tenderloin entree and DESSERT! As a girl who needs Days of the Week socks to make decisions for her, I ordered the Dessert Sampler to quell my raging sweet tooth. Everything was delectable! Usually there's one ugly duckling out of the bunch (some fancy schmancy disguised candy bar), but I could hardly get enough of them all! Next time I could just come here for cocktails and dessert alone. The Ivoire Mango Mojito is calling my name... I'm just waiting for another special occasion/lunar cycle to go!
(5)Lesley G.
I went here with some friends during restaurant week. There is pretty cool atmosphere. If you want to go out for a nice, expensive French meal with a real modern flair and atmosphere that is more trendy than stuffy, then this is a good choice. We all got different stuff and tasted everything and it was all very good. We also got wine flights, which was fun. I won't be rushing back, but that's because I don't often go to expensive, fancy places. But it was worth seeing and I am glad we went.
(3)Helena D.
The Sofitel Hotel in Chicago is one of the most beautiful modern hotels in Chicago - an architectural gem in the Gold Coast, its restaurant, Cafe Des Architectes, is a bold statement of bold pops of red fabrics, shiny metal statues, glass tables, and gleaming black marble floors, and white leather chairs. Sleek and modern, the hotel caters to the global-minded international guests and business workers who appreciate sophisticated dishes and a vibrant atmosphere. When senior-level clients are in town, this is one of my favorite hotels to recommend, as well as one of the better lunch restaurants in the area. It is not uncommon to dine amongst European businessmen speaking any number of foreign languages and dining at adjacent tables. Those not familiar to French cuisine can take advantage of their 4-course Executive Lunch, which allows you to pick between 2 options for each course (appetizer, salad, entree). I went with the ahi tuna tartare, crab salad, seared salmon, and the dessert which was a creme brulee that day. My guests also opted for the Executive Lunch, which runs just $22/person. It's an incredible deal and the food just electrifies your taste buds -- it is THAT GOOD and satisfying. The service is impeccable and anywhere you look in the dining room, your eyes are treated to a beautiful restaurant that highlights the soaring ceilings, architectural detail, and Euro-chic decor. You're lucky to stay here as it is easily $600/night (without a corporate discount on a standard room). High-end weddings and receptions often occur here at this hotel - and if you're in the area and want a cocktail, do check out the bar just a few feet away from the Cafe - it's called (smartly enough) "Le Bar" and is so cozy and warm. Nowhere else will you have as good of a chance to mingle with an international crowd who will gladly switch to English and speak with you. Go here for lunch and dinner and afterwards check out the hotel bar. 5-stars, easily. This is for the more upscale, international, power crowd who take great pride in the food they consume and the clothes they wear.
(5)D W.
I was here recently for dinner. Nice atmosphere. Food was quite average and a bit overpriced. The Malbec wine by the glass was expensive, and sour. The steak I ordered was cold. The waitress was nice, but tried to act a bit French with some French phrases which sounded a bit pretentious. Though the restaurant was quite empty, they seated some people right next to us which I though was not necessary considering there were plenty of places to site in the place. I made the best of the meal, but I would not return. Though I would consider breakfast here.
(2)Rebecca L.
I want this to be a 3 1/2 but yelp doesn't do halves. I had dinner here for the first (and maybe only) time last Friday night. The atmosphere is good and the food all sounds good. For the price it didn't quite wow me. I think the thing that actually ruined the meal was that my dessert was sub-par. I got the 3 course meal. The Salmon Rillet was great! The short ribs were pretty good though I wanted more veggies and less meat. The dessert I chose was beignet with ice cream. The beignets were really cold and cold fried dough is just not good. We did order the cheese plate which was great and the wine selection is suitable. I might go back here for brunch as I feel like I might enjoy that more, but I probably will not eat dinner here again unless I am really craving salmon rillet as that was my highlight. I would be interested to try the duck as well.
(3)Kimberly N.
Had a group of 6 for dinner and they took excellent care of everyone! I wanted to try everything that came out to the table - it looked beautiful and every bite was wonderful! My only disappointment was the still present Valentine's menu - I was hoping for something different but would go back again to see what other options they have.
(4)Anna L.
Food was okay, not as great as I had hoped. Got the three-course prix fixe for $40 - left with a very full belly. Flavor combinations are intriguing, but don't always come together. Can end up feeling like much ado about nothing. Nevertheless, the service at this place is very attentive/kind and decor is chic and modern (consistent with Sofitel Hotel). Outdoor seating area is particularly lovely.
(3)Ivam P.
At the beginning we thought that would be boring, but after a the special appetizer from the Chef we realized that we were lucky to be there... Service, was great, food absolutely gorgeous... Definitely, would recommend and come back! ;-)
(5)Jeff S.
Wonderful food and service in a beautiful French hotel. Many hotel guests go outside the hotel for dinner due to the amazing choices in Chicago. However,very few can match the quality and price point for elegant French food. There is a great prix fix menu every day. We had the salmon and chicken entrees and they were excellent. Starters and desserts were also great. Extensive wine list, but all French. I'm not a novice, but it was difficult for me to find a wine that was reasonable in price and familiar. Service staff was very attentive and caring.
(5)Marissa B.
Had I known we were going here, I would have worn my fancy pants. The restaurant is tucked off the lobby of the swanky Sofitel hotel. The place was bustling on this Sunday morning and the hostess estimated our wait time would be "10-20 minutes, but it really could be more like 5. Or 30. Hard to say". It ended up being about 10-15, so I guess she was right on target - although how could she not be, with that spread. The place is pricey. Belgian Waffles/Pancakes for about $12 and Egg-based entrees for about $17. The menu was creative, they had interesting options beyond the norm. I had to keep reminding myself that these prices included a basket of pastries, juice, and coffee/tea. I had the Belgian Waffle. It was topped with berry compote & whipped cream. The blueberries seemed like they could have been fresh, but the strawberries seemed like they had been frozen; I would have preferred all fresh fruit. My friend had the egg white/spinach/mushroom souflee. It was very nicely presented in a pool of tomato sauce and topped with fried potatoes. She said if you were the type who likes the yolks, you wouldn't like it. If you're an egg-white-sort-of-a-person, it's delish. The service was good, but they seemed to be using a team approach. We got approached by one man for drink orders, a few minutes later a lady came up to try to take drink orders, after receiving our drinks a different man came to take our food orders, then two more people ended up bringing our food. While all were very nice, I couldn't tell you which of these people, if any, were our "official" server. BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a fancy pants sort of breakfast with innovative menu items, this is the place.
(3)Beth F.
This is such a hip yet surprisingly quiet spot to dine. Three friends and I dined here for dinner not really knowing what to expect. From the moment we entered through the revolving doors of the Sofitel Hotel and into the restaurant we were greeted by the scent of fresh flowers and modern, yet warm, décor. The atmosphere was classy and calming, while remaining interesting at every glance. The menu is limited, but I assume it's always changing. The prices were slightly high but reasonable for the unique nature of each dish. Everything was overall delightful. The presentation was slightly more pleasing than the overall flavor, which was by no means disappointing. My one complaint was the overpowering truffle flavor in everything. Our caesar and beet salads and cauliflower soups were light but perfectly composed. My Ahà Tuna over spring green garnished ratatouille was the most disappointing as I don't think I was truly in the mood for it. The beef tenderloin and rib tips were outstanding. Then came dessert, and this is the one course you should not miss. It was delicious and rich, while not being overly heavy. The evening was topped off by the matradee who, after retrieving our coats and thoughtfully placing them out of our way when we left, bent to one knee and serenaded us with a french tune on a whim. Overall the flavors are creative and wonderfully presented. Go here for the atmosphere and except a meal to remember.
(4)Christine W.
Shepherd's pie at a French bistro? I read the yelp review and was prepared for it and had the same reaction when I saw it. What are ya doing with that there shepherd's pie on yer menu? I dined at the Cafe last night for restaurant week. I'm not a french food aficionado, but I've been dabbling since I got a Julia Child cook book and since I went to Cyrano's for independent restaurant week. I got news for you- the Shepherd's pie was AMAZING. Tender, juicy beef so cooked down the meat was almost reduced to gravy, topped with smooth buttery mashed potatoes. Its not French, but the "French" did make it amazing. The soup was good- i would say basic except for the lovely plating they did. The duck was ok- I'm not a duck eater- I don't like the "slimy/greasy" texture in general, but I thought there was a lot of flavor in this preparation. I wasn't too fond of the main course- I thought that the white fish had a lot of interesting elements used with a lot of character in each, but I didn't like the way they all went together. Same for the chicken. The steak was my favorite- my friend ordered it medium and it was tender and juicy. Medium rare would have been even better. The gnocchi were also very good- I'm used to heavier Italian gnocchi. I really enjoyed the light cloud like texture of the French execution. I was thrilled with my desert- I had seen terrible looking faded pictures of Julia Child's version in my vintage cookbook.....what arrived to the table was much different! Lovely light texture of the meringue, creamy sauce and delightful sweet crunchy little almonds essential to each bite. Pure delight! I do want to go back and try the full menu sometime to see what other large plates they have. The service was very good and I enjoyed their dining room and having the door opened by the charming doorman. They really need to put some wheels on those seats....no graceful way to get up from the table when you are butt scooting your seat that is hopelessly stuck on the carpet. So, perhaps they'll earn a few more stars back on the return visit.
(3)Eric L.
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. The last few "higher end" places I have been to were disappointing. But CDA did not disappoint. My wife and I had the 3 source prefix menu and the starter and main dish were excellent. My wife had the vegetables to start and I had the salmon rillette, both were very good. The braised beef for the main course was made perfectly and my wife's chicken was also very good. The only place where this place falls short is the dessert. The sweet corn bavarios was way too salty and the chocolate bar was a bit rich for me. But otherwise, this was a very good meal and I would go back here.
(4)Leigh K.
Absolutely gorgeous space. I took my boyfriend here during Restaurant Week. It would have been a perfect romantic night out had the guy who was sat next to us talked loudly into his cellphone about business 90% of the time. The service was perfect. I loved our waiter, the bus boy, and the hostess. Our waiter suggested wine pairings for our meals and they were lovely. I love that there are cards with the descriptions of each wine in the order they are presented to you. Since it was RW, I wonder if the portions were smaller than usual. My duck confit appetizer was plentiful and the chicken dish was so succulent and large. However, my boo's order [both app & entree] were wee. I went away totally full, but I do believe he snacked after we got home. The pistachio dome dessert is now on my top desserts of all time list. I never would have picked it on my own, but I trust server's opinions and I took ours and I am so glad I did. I would definitely come back here, if only for the dessert. Even with the deal, I dropped a fair amount of cash. My boo is so worth it though.
(4)Eddy C.
It's not often I'll rave about a restaurant purely based on it service. But that was the case with Cafe Des Architectes, where they pay special attention to detail that truly makes for a fine dining experience. From the presentation to the dishes to the manager checking in on us twice to make sure that everything was going well to the coffee pressed right before your eyes, the place epitomizes class. The food is terrific -- not quite up there with the likes of Tru and Trotter's but still on the high end scale. I ordered the pan seared dorade, which came on a bed of black rice and tasted a bit like mackerel (good if you like mackerel, which I do). My fiancee ordered the seared ahi tuna, which came cut up in three large chunks and served with a salad. Again, good food but not necessarily anything special. Given that it is located inside the Sofitel, Cafe Des Architectes caters to a lot of business customers and tourists, which was readily apparent during our meal. Some people don't like places like that; I personally don't mind as long as the food and service is good. If you're looking for a fancy dinner out with top notch service, I would highly recommend giving Cafe Des Architectes a look.
(4)Stephanie F.
My girlfriends and I decided to check this place out on a Tuesday night. We rarely venture out to this part of town, and it was definitely a great experience! The chic-modern décor, very friendly matri'd, and interesting menu made this a fantastic choice for our girls night. I selected the prixe frixe menu, so I could try a little bit of everything. The price is high, but definitely worth it for the amount of food you get. The dessert was absolutely heavely - I highly recommend the pistachio dome and flourless cake. YUM! The evening ended with our matri-d serenading us with a lovely french song. I will definitely come back!
(4)K E.
We were a bit disappointed with the food at CDA. I had read great things about the restaurant, but the food was just mediocre the night we were there. The bread wasn't warm, the soup was a bit watery, and the fish wasn't tender. The desserts were good though. Maybe it was just an off night. The service was very good. Although our main waiter wasn't as accomodating as CDA has a reputation of being, the additional waitstaff were friendly and attentive.
(2)Denise B.
My mom decided she was too tired to cook for only three people on Christmas, so we headed to Cafe Des Architectes' prix fixe menu on Christmas day. The menu was obviously limited, but it had a decent selection, aside from no vegetarian main course options (luckily, none of us were vegetarian). The wine list was limited too, but they did say at the bottom of the menu that you could ask the server if you wanted more options. The restaurant was somewhat small, with a very sleek and modern style. I liked the funky colored chairs, and they were quite comfortable as well. The food was excellent. I took the opportunity to try venison for the first time ever, and while I discovered that I don't love game, they prepared it very well. I loved the crab salad as well as the ice cream cake dessert. The service was fine but not outstanding. Our servers were present and appropriately attentive, but not outstandingly attentive, and it did seem like we were rushed a bit through the courses. While I wasn't quite as impressed as our meal out on Christmas Eve, I still had a good time at Cafe Des Architectes.
(4)Rahul S.
I finally got a chance to eat here last Saturday when some of my friends took me out for a bday brunch! First off, the menu is great, including everything from egg white omelettes and crepes to sandwiches and salads. While the food is certainly not cheap, the kicker is the FREE bakery basket, fresh fruit juices, tea, and coffee. I had one of the chocolate croissants which was so flaky and delicious. I decided to splurge a bit and ordered the denny's equivalent to the grand slam... the brunch sampler to be exact! In addition to all the free goodies above, first up was a trio of exotic fruit shooter drinks which were so amazing and sophisticated it's hard for me to describe. Some of the juices included Kiwi, lychee, and cranberry/apple blended w/ other stuff to make creations I could have drank a gallon of! Next up was smoked salmon napoleon, brioche french toast w/ caramelized apples, organic avocado and tomato tian w/ stuergeon caviar, pistachio oil, and spicy scrambled eggs w/ chorizo, each arranged beautifully on a plate w/ 4 quadrants. All had outstanding and fresh ingredients, and it was quite fun just eating the whole thing w/ the range of textures and flavors. As if I didn't have anough food, out came a trio of mini desserts which had to be my favorite part, tied w/ the trio of juices in the beginning. If I remember correctly, there was a chocolate eclair, mocha cake, and raspberry creme brule type custard. Holy crap, they might have been mini, but they were packed w/ unbelievable goodness. While everything seems to taste better when the tab is picked up, I would come back here as a paying customer in a heartbeat!
(4)Big B.
A fan of the Sofitel brand, and a Chicago native I decided I must sample this dinner menu. After reading the 'amazing' things the chef here has done with the menu I figure my husband and I would give it a whirl. It a nut shell, it was overpriced and undercooked. Our apps were OK, my hubby had a Caesar salad and I the shrimp/ octupus dish. Our dinner, horrible. My husband ordered the gnochi (so you ask what does a Frenchie know about gnochi) exactly, absolutely nada... it was horrid. First off there were no gnochi, it was all baby shrimp (that smelled quite fishy), possibly three tiny gnochi were slipped in. I ordered fresh local 'farm' veggies and to my delight they were seriously undercooked and to be frank served on a stick of butter. I'm a fan of French fare but this was just food gone wrong. Bottom line, don't bother.
(1)Susie S.
Listen. This is the only time a food-a-holic like me will say it: the food is just decent, but this place is still worth it. I love the decor - the steel and glass and oversized mod chandeliers. We sat in a table with the huge windows overlooking the hotel entrance and kicked back with the people watching. There was a gaggle of 15 girls strutting like frozen peacocks in their weather-inappropriate sundresses. A friend and I split the three course brunch special. 1. Trio of Fruit Kebabs - Not sure why they would call these Kebabs. They are JUICE. Albeit served with fruit on a skewer. Luckily they were yum enough that we didn't care. 2. Four overly pretentious small plates - I believe they were something with smoked salmon, brioche french toast, avocado w/ some caviar shizz, and scrambled eggs with chorizo. The best one was actually the down-homey scrambled eggs. 3. Mini desserts It was definitely worth the price ($25) if you were splitting, and we more than ate our fill given the endless bakery baskets. Hey, a girl's gotta be fab on a budget.
(4)Erika G.
Awesome place for after work drinks, 'cos who doesn't dig those Architects? In the gorgeous Sofitiel hotel - slightly elitist, snooty and European, but hey . . . sometimes I am as well! :-)
(3)C T.
Went here for dinner on a rainy Sunday evening with a friend. Nice interior. Plenty of waitstaff to serve your every need. I wish I could give 3.5 but given a choice between 3 and 4, I chose 3. I'll say this: food was between okay and good. Waitstaff were wonderful, attentive, sweet--being French and having accents I think helps. There is definitely attention to detail--serving pretty food with grace is how I'd describe it. I got the prix fixe they do for dinner on Sundays thru Tuesdays. All for about $30 a person, but don't quote me on that. My meal consisted of creamy cauliflower soup, walleye pike (from website, pike includes: manila clams, flageolet beans, basil puree) for entree, and crispy praline something or other for dessert. The soup was smooth, a bit bland, but improved slightly with the buttery brioche. The pike was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented, but the manila clams tasted like tiny little flavorless mussels. The basil puree didn't have much punch either. If I cooked the entree at home I'd be kind of impressed with myself, but at a restaurant, I want to be wowed. Dessert was a bit of a disappointment, but as part of the meal package I guess it was what I paid for. It kind of just tasted like your basic piece of Belgian chocolate...on a large plate and presented with a dusting of cocoa. It looked pretty but tasted average. So looks, presentation and service get all the stars. Taste-wise, the dishes mentioned will not get a repeat performance.
(3)sarah b.
Innovative French inspired food. The space is a little austere with bold red accents and a lot of white and black with high dramatic ceilings. Architecturally this place is definitely distinctive, but not warm. The food is very good and innovative with a few glitches. I had the arugula/spinach salad with goat cheese and it was very heavy on spinach that was the heavy variety. For my entree, I had the tuna which was high grade tuna, but the sides while well prepared weren't very flavorful. Attentive service, decent wine flights, good value, and a great location make this a restaurant worth visiting.
(3)Valerie H.
My usual Sunday brunch spot. I go every weekend for brunch with a friend, we always try different places, but this is THE place. We always come back. If a friend is in town, i also choose this brunch place. Never had dinner here though... What we do is share eggs Benedict and pancakes. They serve delicious coffee and fresh orange juice. The orders come with a FABULOUS bread basket (includes pan au chocolat, sourdough bread, croissants.. incredible). Then we get the eggs Benedict and like a "dessert" the pancakes. These are the best pancakes in town, they are very soft and airy inside. The eggs Benedict have the best hollandaise sauce (creamy and thin). The waiters are very nice, except for one "french" lady, slightly rude, but gives a french touch to the waiters. The cost is pretty good for everything you get. We usually spend for what I have described... $18.
(5)Happiness L.
This review is for their afternoon tea service. Although pretty on the platter the small delicacies that were served with our tea were not filling and a few of the sweets left a lot to be desired. They also did not have all tea selections available, being out of two. The wait service was not at all what one would expect from a fine dining restaurant. I am not sure if they were understaffed or undertrained, however there was so little attention paid to us during our time there that it was not even close to a special experience. We went there with a certificate with realistic yet some what high expectations, however for $30 per person you are a lot better off skipping this place and going to the Drake instead. Disappointed and no plans for a return visit. On the other hand, the bar area in the hotel is nice and I highly recommend that...but for the restaurant...no way.
(2)E M.
I came here during restaurant week, for which they offer a prix fixe three course menu. The chicken breast entree was by far the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. I expected a lot from the desserts here, but the chocolate cake that I had was a bit disappointing and underwhelming. The Cafe des Architectes has a nice atmosphere and decor, and the service was good. I hope to give this place a second try during next year's restaurant week, or maybe go for their Neighborhood Friends menu.
(4)Kelly K.
I came for Restaurant Week since my criteria was: close to home and some place I've never tried. The monkfish was good, but the pineapple soup was really the highlight of the meal.
(4)Aileen O.
I dined here during Chicago Restaurant Week with two friends. I love the open space - definitely give it points for being a classy spot. I was a tad disappointed with the food: the sauce with my escargot appetizer was too salty, my butternut squash risotto was bland and the pineapple tapioca part of my dessert trio was just weird. I guess I'm not a big fan of small tapioca - the texture reminded me of fish eyes. I hear good things about their brunch. I would consider going back just for that.
(3)Isabella W.
My friends and I come here for brunch after working out at Exhale on Saturdays, bc there is a dearth of good brunch/breakfast places in the area. But, thank goodness for the Sofitel, bc their breakfast/brunch option does satisfy. If you order an entree (vs. say, like the $8 oatmeal), it ranges from $15-$18, and you get fresh fruit juice (OJ or grapefruit), french-pressed coffee, basket of pastries, and your entree. It's a great deal, and I do enjoy the ambiance -- esp. since you do feel like you're in Europe while dining there. I've had the crepes (ham & gruyere cheese), but don't recommend that b/c the ham comes diced, which akes me think it's canned. The "a votre sante), on the other hand, was really well made, and delicious. It' an egg white dish, with button mushrooms, spinach, with tomato jus (yum!), The jus was sooo yummy (and fresh-tasting), I dipped my egg whites in all of it! The bakery basket is actually what I look forward to -- although I'm not a sweets person.. It comes with 2 butter croissants, 2 chocolate croissants, apricot pastry, cinnamon roll, etc. etc. This basket reminded me of the hotel breakfasts I had in Italy - the croissants and pastries are so flaky and delicious! You can also wrap up the entire pastry basket to-go. I would love to try their non-brunch options.. maybe sit at le bar for a drink!
(3)Ceal P.
3.5 stars, rounded down. Came here first for restaurant week 2/2010. That was a fantastic experience and would have rated 4 stars then. Came back here for Christmas eve where they had a pre fixe dinner 3 courses with amuse and petit fours for $65/person. Not as impressed. I've been a huge chaser of the michelin guide hub-bub so I wanted to see why this great chef didn't get any love. The food: - the foie amuse was probably a highlight. Creamy, light yet still rich and paired with a fig jam. Only thing is the brioche underneath was done so ahead of time that it was slightly soggy. - scallop appetizer: the scallop itself was best of quality, a bit over salted but rather that than under. Perfect sear and cooked well. The hedgehog mushroom was the best part! So delicious and paired well with the scallop. The cauliflower didn't add anything to the plate. There was also frisee and tomato chunks on the plate. The frisee was pretty but too bitter for the plate and I guess tomato for acid but I didn't like the flavor combo. - duck with fennel brocolini: the duck was medium rare but they should have been sliced thinner because the bigger chunks still were not tender enough even though it was cooked medium rare. The fennel gave a good texture but it should have been dressed! No flavor at all - dessert: Bouche de Noel: was pretty solid. the peppermint was masked in small this round bites scattered on the plate. not a bad modern version. - petit fours: enjoyed more than the dessert, gelee and truffle, yum. ultimately the last thing that put me below 4 stars for this experience was the service. overall not bad, but a miss at times. our waiter was very nice, but not overly attentive to the details. nice but rough around the edges. nice but not special enough for xmas dinner.
(3)Isa B.
I am a connoisseur of French food; I own a bistro myself. This is one of the best places I've ever eaten at. The service was impeccable; the food superb (not a lot of vegetarian options, but I'll be back for the same romaine lettuce and butter squash dishes). There were 4 of us on a Friday night and I can't tell you how delightful it was for all of us. Expensive? yes but very worth it. I must add there were about 6 cosmopolitans, a glass of Pinot Noir and three gins, so that adds to the bill. This is really a French place because the decoration, the portions, the taste were absolutely out of this world. I will be back for sure. I don't understand how anyone can give this place less than 4 stars at the least... Perhaps they changed managers or owners or chefs, I don't know but October 2007, it was fantastic. My palate will be forever grateful. FREE VALET and a gorgeous Sofitel hotel.
(5)V. L.
We ordered a PB&J sandwich for my 4 year old. What? A PB&J in a French restaurant? Yes, and it was the best PB&J in the whole world. It's been half a year and my kid still asked me to buy that PB&J for her lunch. This was how good the chef was. Making a very simple food memorable. Everything we had that evening was delicious. We will difinitely go back again when we visit Chicago.
(5)Michael S.
AMAZING food. Great service. The new chef has wowed me twice here. Been here twice for dinner and everything was awesome. Next I want to try the brunch! Read my full review from thanksgiving! bestgaychicago.com/2008/…
(5)Jason L.
Breakfast at the French restaurant in the Sofitel lobby was $15 for a two egg omelet with soggy bacon, toast and orange juice/coffee. There's a diner within walking distance in any direction with the same items for half the price, cooked to perfection. I prefer to entertain my guests with great food as opposed to vapid atmosphere.
(2)Puja D.
This place has a very creative feel from the moment you walk in. In the Sofitel - all white, curved glass exterior makes it look very artistic indeed. The service is excellent, or rather top notch. They have architectural drawings on the walls - very nice touch. Now on to the food: it is just okay. For the price you are paying, and the level of restaurant this is - you would expect some really good food. However, it didnt live up to the expectations. Presented creatively, but lacked in flavor. The salad had way too much olive oil, the fish in the apetizer was definetly not the freshest, and the entree was okay. So thats why I give this restaurant three stars.
(3)Jim S.
I ate here for a client lunch today and it was AWESOME! One option is a prix fixed $22 option. I had an awesome soup, salad, beef dish and dessert. It also came with excellent bread. I will be back asap!
(4)Erin P.
The vendor who was taking me out shares my love of good food so I suggested going to a restaurant participating in restaurant week for our business lunch. Rather than the 3- course prix fixe standard, Café des Architects had a four small plate offering. While you do not get the luxury of choosing what you want for each course, they served a beautifully plated selection of four sampler courses all at once. The meal included a creamy cauliflower soup, a grilled octopus salad (c'mon be brave it was amazing!), flat iron steak and a silky chocolate mousse with thin crunchy wafers. Perfect portion sizes so that I was full, but not stuffed, nor was I still hungry. In addition to the meal we were brought a selection of four different fresh breads, butter and green olive tapenade. I really enjoyed their strong French press coffee we had with dessert. My only complaint was that the dessert came out with the other plates- but at my request the server quickly removed the other dishes so I could enjoy my dessert. The dining room was smaller than I expected- while we did not need the 2 person reservation we had for lunch, I could see it getting quite crowed for dinner. Our server was great and was very excited to recommend the restaurant week menu. It appears they do a similar type offering regularly for lunch, even if its not restaurant week. Food came out very quickly as if they were conscious about it being a work lunch- but we did not feel rushed either. It looks like the do $30 prix fixe menu on Sunday and Monday nights- I think I will be back to check this out in the near future.
(4)Janet E.
I had an awesome experience here! We arrived late but were still promptly seated! My friend and I were hoping to order off the regular menu, but instead we were told that they only had the restaurant week menu. The choices were limited but sufficient. I ordered the Belgian Endive Salad. It was the most delicious salad I've ever had (it had candied walnuts, pear, blue cheese, mixed greens, a sweet dressing, held together in a thinly fried pastry sheet shaped into a bowl). Great presentation. As an entree we had the hanger steak and braised short rib. Super soft meat with a savory sauce. And for dessert we ordered the coconut crunch which is basically lime curd, coconut milk, and pineapple on the side. It was delicious! Prior to the meal, we were served complimentary bread with butter and another tasty concoction. It was blended olives, jalepeno, cilantro, and some other tasty ingredients. Soooo good. The service was awesome. From the bus boy to the water boy to the waiter to the hostess. Everyone provided great customer service! My only complaint is the location of the restrooms. You have to walk out of the restaurant, past the lobby, take the elevator upstairs to the 2nd floor, and then when you find the bathroom, they architecturally designed it into a maze (at least the ladies restrooms were). I got dizzy trying to find the stall! And then had to find my way back to the restaurant! Other than that my experience was just perfect!
(5)Carrie L.
The 'executive lunch' for $22 is amazing. The food is presented so beautifully and the flavors are great. The decor, ambiance, and service are all top notch. Although pricey for dinner, this lunch option is great for a special meal (ie: birthday). I felt like it was a good value for all the food I got (salad, appetizer, entree, and two mini desserts).
(5)Justine K.
Boy was I nervous when we decided to have brunch here this past weekend! My fiancé and I recently signed a contract with the Sofitel for our wedding next year and neither one of us has tried the food at Café Des Architectes. My fiancé's parents were in town and couldn't wait to check out the Sofitel and eat at this restaurant. I was praying that it would be a good experience and it absolutely was, without a doubt, one of the best brunches anyone of us has ever had!!! Luckily, as suspected, it wasn't the usual, unsanitary brunch buffet but a very impressive menu with a great variety of plates to chose from. It was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon so it was nice that we got seated, somewhat promptly, outside on their patio. It did take our hostess quite awhile to seat us, (boy was she taking her sweet time walking back and forth to help get our table set up). It was a site to see! I'm just glad she wasn't a waitress! My future father-in-law ordered the eggs benedict and said, I quote, "these are the best eggs benedict I've ever had and I've had a lot of eggs benedict in my lifetime"! My future mother-in-law and I ordered the ahi tuna salads served with a very tasty mustard vinaigrette and they were huge and so fresh! I was expecting a very small portion of the ahi tuna since it's such a delicacy but the portion was more than generous and it left me satisfied and full for the rest of the afternoon. My fiancé ordered the crepes and loved them and his brother ordered an omelet that he seemed to really enjoy. I can't leave out the amazing and obviously very fresh, complimentary croissant and pastry basket! My fiancé's mom wanted to take the leftover basket items with her for our trip to the beach!! (she's Italian)! Ha ha! The freshly brewed coffee was also a nice treat! The pot they served it in was something I've never seen before. The fresh grounds were still in it but once you pushed this contraption down, the liquid rose to the top leaving the grounds compressed. Wow! Yes, this is a pretty pricey place to have brunch but it was very well worth it. It's definitely a place to try once and I can almost guarantee you'll be back for more! I'm absolutely more confident now that the food at my wedding will be just as amazing! (It better be)! ;-)
(5)M J.
Loved it !!! We sat by the window - amazing ambiance - especially after the sun goes down! All the vegetarian dishes were perfect! There was a drink.... something with grapefruit in the name- delicious !!! Had three. At the end - even though we decided to relocate for dessert, they still brought me a little plate of goodies with a birthday candle, and an older French gentleman sang Happy Anniverseux to me in a low French voice. I nearly melted into the seat. Will def. be back!!!
(5)M J.
Went there for brunch and really had a great time. The brunch menu had a decent vegetarian selection. I had the Belgium waffles with vanilla whipped cream, berry compote and they were outstanding. The bloody mary was very good too. We also had the A Votre Santé scrambled egg whites, mushrooms, spinach, roasted tomato jus. I would this place recommend this place. Check it out.
(4)martini g.
I love French food, so when my friend and I went here for Bastile Day, I was expecting great things. How can you not expect great things when it's part of Le Sofitel? First cue - tables to the right and to the left were complaining. I thought, 'how high maintenance can you get?' (I'm always on the side of the server) but after an hour, I knew EXACTLY why they were complaining. They sat us, then left us for 30 minutes without checking back one time. I couldn't even get anyone to bring us water. I would flag someone down and they would say "of course" and then nothing would happen. After 40 minutes, I flagged a waiter down (not ours of course, he was no where to be seen) and I said, "We want to cancel our order. Please tell our waiter." Miracle of miracles, the soup came bustling out w/in 5 minutes. No apologies, just promises that the rest of the meal would be coming out shortly. My friend didn't want to cause a scene so we stayed, but if I had been there with other people, I definitely would have refused the soup and left (there were 3 courses still coming!! The french fries were cold by the way. I was not impressed by the food). Go here only if you have time for a 2 hour dinner and want to chat chat chat, and see a lot of beautiful French people (the only benefit!)
(1)Nancy H.
It's beautiful and all in here, but the service wasn't the greatest (we weren't greeted at the door; in fact, we waited a few minutes until a man in a suit seated us) and neither was the food. You feel elegant sitting in here, and you pay the price to sit in such a swanky restaurant. I paid $17 for a salad, and the entrees were $30+. And if I remember correctly, the carpeting felt too plush for a restaurant; it made me uncomfortable eating in there, like I would ruin the carpet if I spilled. I probably won't be coming back here.
(2)Milesh Milan J.
There are days when I just want to relax, have a great brunch, catch up with friends, appreciate the beautiful ambiance, not worry about service issues and also do some people watching - on those days, I opt to go to Cafe Des Architectes! Their brunch is not as expensive if you consider the whole package! Basket of delicious pastries along with your brunch! I usually like to order the hot chocolate, grapefruit juice, scrambled tabbouleh (it is a perfect blend of scrambled eggs, goat cheese, tabbouleh with mint, garlic, tomato & parsley) or berries and apple crêpes! I have noticed that their service is best when it is not super crowded!
(4)Marie S.
In one word - creative. From appetizers to dessert, their creativity shines and is unparalleled. Simple flavors fused together create beautifully presented and very appetizing dishes. Small portions - yes. But definitely big flavor that is well worth it.
(4)Lu C.
My friends and I came here for a triple date for restaurant week. Yes, we were the round table centerpiece of the restaurant! This place is located in the Sofitel Hotel, and after the nice and filling meal (and super fancy restrooms), I really wanted to satisfy my huge food coma with a nice and fancy hotel room right upstairs. Unlike 676, this place offered large sized portions (I had to give some away to my bf), and goood food. Each of us ordered different appetizers, entrees, and desserts, and they all came out plated creatively and very tasty. The steak came in two types on one dish and both types were amazing. The place was a small room but the atmosphere was very modern and artsy, and the view was nice as well. I'd definitely go back!
(4)Eitan S.
The best breakfast in town. period. Cant beat the selection of baked goods that comes with any Egg-celent order. using real butter, chocolate Croissant is used with real dark chocolate, with over %50 of Chocolate-solids, i would say. its a great taste of europe, here in Chicago-land. to top that, good coffee and free fresh orange juice... what else does one need to start a hedonistic weekend? I highly recommend the Steaks & Eggs, and the smoked salmon entires.
(5)Carolyn K.
Went last week, our second time here. We chose to sit in the bar right off the main restaurant for two reasons: the tables in the restaurant are close together, and the bar area was child-free. We had very attentive, professional service. The food is incredible (I am a new fan of pork belly!). I love the atmosphere of this place. We saw the chef walking around several times. Valet is only $13. This is a place we will be back to!
(5)nico s.
French? well, once you start with Shepard's Pie at the top of the menu, you should know something's not quite right! a duck confit that was far from the degree of tenderness it required, a steak that was chewy (despite the assurances of the server "it's quite tender!"), a white fish that defined the very category of bland... bon dieu, what a terrible, terrible disappointment! the saving point - the dessert. the floating island - the only thing these "architects" can build to last. certainly, not french. certainly, not "architects" but amateurs trying to build without bricks.
(1)J. C.
We've had breakfast here several times when we're staying in the city. The coffee is outstanding (although my beau believed it was from Italy and not France). I love the attention to detail and the fresh, but simple, menu. However, I would not go out of my way to dine here if I weren't already staying in the hotel - it's still a hotel restaurant at heart.
(4)tom d.
Last weekend I took my lovely wife for a nice diner. The food was excellent. We ordered the Ahi Tuna Tartare (highly recommended), the Grilled Portobello Mushroom and the Braised Short Ribs were fantastic. We finished with the Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake and if nothing else, this alone will bring us back to the Cafe. The service was great and the location is unbeatable. One of the best diner we have had in a long time. Highly recommended!
(5)G H.
I went here for brunch on a Saturday. The food was actually decent. I had a great salad and my friend had a sandwich. Nothing spectacular, but tasted good. The good part ends there. When we walked up, the hostess was talking to a server. She looked at us I smiled at her, and she went back to what she was doing. We continued to stand there until she finally looked up again and asked "Oh...do you need a table?" Ummm yes. That would be why we are standing here. The server was just as unfriendly and unattentive. He took our drink order and our food order and that was the total number of times he was at our table. He never offered to refill our drinks or ask us how we were doing until we were done with our meal and our empty plates were sitting in front of us. He didn't even clear our plates. The busperson came over and did it 10 minutes later. I know this crappy service wasn't due to the fact that the restaurant was busy - there were only 6 other tables besides ours. All in all, I wouldnt recommend Cafe des Architectes. However, if you do decide to go there and Aramis is your server - RUN AWAY!
(2)laurence m.
This restaurant is a true marvel. We were a table of 4 and had a fantastic dinner! Talk about pure satisfaction....this is what you will find there. Evey dish delivers above and beyond expectations. The flavors are bold and well balanced. We are foodies , we dine out a lot but there are very very few places that makes us truly happy... this is one of them and on top the the list. The desserts as well are incredible, and the service elegant, non intrusive but attentive.
(5)Manja C.
I give the restaurant ambiance an A++...very slick, trendy decor with reds, blacks and whites (without being too 80's.) We ordered from the Neighborhood Prix Fixe menu for $28 each. I thought that menu had a better selection than the daily menu offered. In terms of service, i think that our server became a bit intimidated when Chef Nogier started walking around the floor. The restaurant had about 6 tables sat and I'd imagine that it could become more popular if they keep up with the Prix fixe menu with Nogier's innovate creations.
(3)sandra h.
SLOW!!! Plan on taking a two hour lunch if you eat here. This is great if you are not in a hurry. This is a "ladies who lunch" sort of place. The food is decent and the atmosphere is polished. The best part of the meal was the bread . . . a great selection of French breads all made in house paired with creamy European style butter.
(3)Bill M.
This boldly designed restaurant with a French flair is attached to the glamorous Sofitel hotel. The architectural theme extends to the black-and-white images of buildings around the world, and the paper napkin rings roll out as rulers. The menu is interesting and seems to change every time I dine here. The best dishes include three versions of a meat type (I ate duck, and the guy at the next table had beef) with a side dish, and these items are served in four different square plates. Conceptually this is like that Pizza Hut thing with four small pizzas in one box, but the difference is that the food here is GOOD. The presentation of the food is very artistic, and where else can you get a knife that can stand upon its own edge? The breads and desserts are very good as you would expect from a French restaurant. I think this restaurant is much underrated and would do very well even if not attached to a great hotel like the Sofitel.
(5)Andy V.
Wow! Just had lunch today at Cafe Des Archtitectes and it was fantastic. I have walked past this restraurant hundreds of times and am glad I ventured in today. I had their beef carpaccio appetizer and gnocchi pasta. Unbelievable.
(5)Brandon H.
A very vibrantly decorated French-influenced restaurant located in the lobby of the Sofitel hotel. The food here is very good, and often the presentation of the dishes is on par with their quality. In particular the rack of lamb was very tasty, and the chocolate cake with a side of pineapples was unique and pleasantly surprising. The only thing preventing a 5-star rating was the service. Our meal managed to take just over two hours and fifteen minutes. This did not seem to be the standard, as we saw many other tables seated and finished before we had the opportunity to pay for our meal.
(4)Peng L.
A group of friends and I went there for Chicago restaurant week. Great food and great service! My friend's shrimp salad (forgot the name) appetizer was tasting and refreshing. My husband said his filet beef entry was the best he ever had. My pineapple soup dessert was superb; it wrapped up the dinner perfectly.
(5)Leah A.
went for lunch with dougie yesterday. we paid $65 each, including tip, and had a bottle of pellegrino, a bottle of delicious white bordeaux, 2 'executive lunches' (four courses, all served at the same time), two coffees. ticket time was a little long, space was beautiful, service friendly but not overbearing, and food was very interesting and tasty. bread basket was awesome....so was the green olive tapenade. one weird thing was the techno music at 230 in the afternoon. a little too much. i'll definitely go back for one of their prix fixe nights/ lunches, etc. it was yummy, and i got to eat quince. i love quince.
(4)Tom H.
Went here for New Year's eve prix fixe, and it was terrible. With the exception of dessert, every course was either cooked incorrectly or seasoned incorrectly. Also, the wine list is terrible.
(1)Cathy G.
This place really hit it out of the park for us. Everything about the place seemed to be doing it right. It was bustling but not jammed at 8:30 on a Friday night. It is a beautiful space - lighting is glorious. We had to bump into the chef to get to our table - he was greeting all the diners personally and came around again later on. The three course prix fixe meal was splendid. First came an 'amuse bouche' of a tiny bit of braised vegetables and chorizo - it was so tiny and tasty. We had the beef tenderloin & the fish entrees, both were beautiful. The flavors were satisfyingly traditional, yet with some nicely fresh twists in the vegetables garnish & sauces that highlighted the dishes. Our appetizers ( a salad and a diver scallop) were splendid too. The scallop was one of the best appetizers I have ever tasted. Desserts were fine - we were full by this time so I don't know if I was underwhelmed because of that. We had a "baked alaska" that seemed like a good idea, but the spongy cake on the bottom didn't quite make it. This was the only thing that wasn't just excellent. The chocolate pistachio dome dessert was terrific though. The service was great. Our waiter was a young fellow who was knowledgeable; very kind and attentive. We had ordered a bottle of Puligny-Montrachet that turned out to be "corked." (we weren't too sure - it honestly had never happened to either of us, so we were a bit insecure about sending it back, but the waiter had the bartender taste it, and they agreed. We tried a second bottle of the same and sheepishly sent it back too - same problem. We were able to find a good choice, but were pleased by how 'not a big deal' this was for the server and it actually was almost amusing. (though sad to see that much what-ought-to-be good wine go down the drain!) After we finished, we headed to the lovely hotel bar (which was crowded) and after about 15 minutes, the maitre 'd found me to return my hat and umbrella which I'd left under my chair. So I would give the service here a major 5 stars. I wanted to give the place 5 stars, that one dessert was just underwhelming. Bottom line is that this place is great. We eat a lot of good restaurants and have gotten burned a few times lately by following a good review to a place that was just marginal. This place was a delight!
(5)Jenna H.
Chic, French & Inoffensive (which isn't an easy balance). I went here with a friend who was visiting from out of town, and we both agreed it was one of the best brunches we've had in some time. The pastry basket was filled with wonderful flaky croissants--a mix of plain & chocolate-filled. We were starving but the menu had so many enticing options we had to send the (very understanding & helpful) server back... twice. They have a 4-or 5-course brunch sampler that we decided to share. Each of the courses was scrumptious and there was a good balance between sweet and savory items. The French-press coffee was also quite good. I was surprised that the prices were reasonable, especially given the area, restaurant & complexity of menu items. The service was outstanding, and the atmosphere is well-suited for an upscale brunch.
(4)Francois B.
Trendy but tasteful; creative but not over-the-top. Note: the restaurant manager has just changed, and this may considerably impact the service and atmosphere. Service is pretty much always excellent -Geoffrey is *the* act (he hails from Kenya and speaks five or six languages fluently), but the other waiters are usually really nice too, including the very much telenovela-hero-like Mexican. The ambience is distinctly different in the morning, for lunch and at dinner. In the weekday mornings, quite a few business breakfasts in addition to the hotel guests', but usually not too busy. The breakfast items *are* delicious, even if what makes the "viennoiserie" (croissants, pains au chocolat, etc.) "authentically Parisian" is what I like the least about it -its slight dryness. The smoothie flight (perhaps not on the menu, but you can usually order it anyway) is not to be missed, while the fresh glass of orange juice is bottomless. This is perhaps one of the best values still available -the Architectes so far have always introduced new delicious things as a bargain (the $1 a piece mini-desserts are a good example) before making them super-expensive as soon as it becomes popular. Brunch on the weekends is in some ways even more amazing than breakfast, and you should definitely try the brunch sampler at least once -but make sure you're hungry and have some time. The lunch menu is very decent; the sampler menu, one of those once-upon-a-time-very-affordable items, is an excellent choice for a relatively fast and balanced lunch. It is prepared in 30 minutes max, and consists of four little plates aesthetically disposed on a larger one: one appetiser, one small salad, one main course and a couple of mini-desserts. The portions appear to be terribly small, but, especially with the addition of the gorgeous in-house baked bread, this is a very filling lunch and one that leaves your palate as well as your healthy conscience satisfied. Dinner is more formal and costly, but the dishes are amazing. The wine list, unfortunately, is execrable -I hear it's a corporate decision from Sofitel- however after a while you may be able to talk your way to some of their unlisted wines. UPDATE: It's been a year since Fabien, the former restaurant manager who brought the Architectes to such a high standard, has left; and it's been a year in which we haven't gone back to the Sofitel. Our recent experience confirms our worst fears: service has gone done considerably, and the food, if still decent, has lost any originality (the same things were on the menu when we had last frequented the place). Too bad.
(3)Sohini K.
The interior design of the place is great and innovative. We were there for dinner, and while the food was good and well prepared, the service was a bit of a let-down. The waitstaff were kind of slow and not particularly friendly.
(3)Adam B.
Meeting at the Sofatel for cocktails at 7:30 on a Friday night, we found the hotel bar to be packed with plenty of smokers and no seats. So, we made our way over to the Cafe Des Architechtes bar to have some drinks. The bar has about 5 seats and then there are 4 tables in the bar as well. Nice bartenders...excellent drinks...Overall, we had a great time. We ordered this combo of apps at the bar, and it was pretty good food. The chicken satay was excellent...really good, tasty, tender chicken with a great peanut sauce. The other apps in the platter were good, but not that memorable. While we didn't order dinner, they kept passing us on the way from the kitchen and the food looked and smelled outstanding. We did have dessert that looked so good that we took a picture of it. It was pretty good to eat. So, don't be telling too many people about this, but I think it's a great place to meet for drinks early in the night (by the time we left, it was a full house) and probably to have dinner as well.
(4)Joyce R.
Spare me! I'm not sure I've had as bad a dining experience ever. Were part of a group dinner ($135 pp) which we know isn't bad for city dining.. but given the hype, we expected something other than the blah decor in the private room.. and other than the three spoonsful of crab that was a part of the salad.. dinner was awful. Husband had filet as main course and reported it was good-"nothing special". I had the fish selection and it was tasteless..might as well have been marinated cardboard. Vegetables were nondescript. The pineapple dessert offering was so painfully bad.. the tablespoon of pineapple sorbet was good, as was the thin candied pineapple slice.. the cake component was so dry and the ?? separating the cake .. well.. ???. Presentation is good.. but expect halfway good cuisine also. Service? Considering that must be what we paid for... nothing special. Sorry.. go to Mike Ditkas two blocks away.. 100% better!! We're in Chicago twice a year.. no repeats here!
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