Chicago Food Exploration | Marchesa — An Elegant French Restaurant

This French restaurant has been on my Chicago must-try list for a while, and it came highly praised online. When I saw they were participating in Restaurant Week, I didn’t hesitate to book a reservation! 📍 Marchesa Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Located on Wells Street, slightly west of downtown Chicago. Street parking is available but can be tricky to find. The entire building in photo 1 belongs to them — spanning three floors plus a basement. The first floor houses the bar and main dining area with a dim, modern ambiance. Outdoor seating is also available at the entrance, though nothing extraordinary. BUT!!! The second floor’s decor is absolutely breathtaking — super elegant! 🏛️ Designed like a French apartment, filled with art pieces and decorative objects, it even has a cozy little atrium with a sofa. Dining by the window, I felt like the Champs-Élysées was right outside (too bad I’m not a European socialite 😆). Words can’t fully capture the vibe — you’ll have to experience it yourself! Pro tip: Request seating on the second floor! The basement is also said to be uniquely charming — I’ll have to explore that next time! 🍽️ What We Ordered: 1️⃣ Wild Mushroom Soup Served with goat cheese puffs. Highly recommended — so delicious I wanted another bowl! 🍄💖 2️⃣ Insalata Marchesa A solid salad — not mind-blowing but tasty for a salad. 🥗 3️⃣ Angus Beef Shank Osso Buco A generous portion of roasted beef shank with vegetables — above average in flavor. 🥩 4️⃣ Pennette al Tartufo (extra order) Pasta with truffle sauce, mushrooms, and cheese — decent but not exceptional. 🍝 5️⃣ Desserts We tried the white chocolate pudding, crème brûlée, and tiramisu. The desserts were a tad disappointing — maybe because I personally prefer less sweetness. 🍮 The service here was also impressive! 👨🍳 After the meal, the chef came out to greet us — a lovely personal touch. Overall, Marchesa is a must-visit French restaurant in Chicago, perfect for dates or gatherings with friends! 💃🥂 #Chicago #ChicagoEats #FrenchRestaurant #MarchesaChicago #FineDining #RestaurantWeek