Chicago｜Still Craving It After Leaving — Chez Joel

Recommend a charming and affordable French restaurant in Chicago where you can enjoy a breezy evening with a glass of wine 🍷. Chez Joel isn’t large, but the ambiance is lovely — especially the back patio filled with lush greenery 🌿. Perfect for a date night ❤️. 🦆 Duck Liver Pâté: Not foie gras, but I couldn’t really tell the difference. Tasty, though not mind-blowing. 🍄 Mushroom Truffle Soup: You must order this! An absolute highlight — I kept thinking about it even after finishing all the dishes. Rich truffle flavor, blended with cream and finely puréed mushrooms… simply divine 😭✨. This soup isn’t on the regular menu, so be sure to ask for the today’s special — it’s usually recommended! 🐌 Escargots: Plump and tender snails in a fragrant herb sauce with a strong olive oil 🫒 aroma — perfect for dipping bread into! 🐸 Frog Legs: So good and meaty! Biting into a thigh was super satisfying 🥰. Served with Japanese seaweed salad and spinach prepared in a very Chinese-style — an interesting and tasty combo. 🍤 Seafood Stew: Gave me a bit of a Northeastern-style pickled cabbage seafood pot vibe? Sweet, tangy, and very appetizing — and the seafood was large and fresh! 🥩 Steak: Just okay. You might want to try other dishes instead. 🍚 Mushroom Fried Rice: Sticky rice stir-fried with asparagus and mushrooms — felt like the perfect cozy winter dish 🥣. Drizzled with aromatic black truffle oil… so fragrant 😌. Note: I tried the grilled lamb chops on a later visit (also an off-menu special), but even cooked medium, they were quite dry — not recommended. They have lots of hidden dishes! Always ask your server for the today’s special, usually featuring seasonal seafood 🦞🐟 — which means it’s extra fresh. 📍 Address: 1119 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607 Reservations available via OpenTable 📅 #ChicagoEats #FrenchFood #ChicagoRestaurants #LifeInChicago #ChicagoFoodGuide