Declaring Dear Margaret the Best French Restaurant in Chicago

A small but standout Canadian-influenced French bistro with lovely vintage decor. Went on a friend’s recommendation and was genuinely blown away — highly recommend! Their menu changes often, and sometimes there’s even a hidden menu — don’t hesitate to ask your server for recommendations. The whole team radiates passion for food and attention to ingredients. 💡 Portion tip: One small plate + one large plate per person is usually plenty. Here’s what we tried this time: 🌟 Duck Liver Mousse + Baguette Smooth, rich mousse with sweet-tart jam spread on freshly toasted baguette. Perfection — we finished the bread in seconds 😂. 🌟 Fried Smelts Crispy little fish with taco-style sauce — super fragrant and not greasy at all. 🌟 Squash & Porcini A delicate, flavor-packed dish. Zucchini prepared in a way I’ve never had — still crisp and fresh, paired with earthy mushrooms and onions. Mind-opening! 🌟 Gorgonzola Dolce Creamy blue cheese with honey (the honey was amazing, though I’m not the biggest blue cheese fan 😅). 🌟 Split Pea Pansies The vegetarian pick for my boyfriend — fresh and thoughtfully prepared. 🌟 Pan-Roasted Walleye Haven’t had fish this good in a long time — perfect seasoning, cook, plating, and quality. Flawless. 🌟 Porcelette Belly Even though I usually avoid fatty meat, I ate two pieces! The crackling skin, tender fat, and fennel pairing showed real dedication to the craft. 🌟 60-Day Dry-Aged New York Strip Beautifully aged flavor and spot-on cooking — though the portion was a bit small. 🍮 Dessert: Maple Crème Brûlée — silky, creamy, and not too sweet. Honestly, almost nothing disappoints here, and with the rotating menu, it’s easy to return again and again. Super recommend! #MyFoodDiary #HiddenGem #SmallButMighty #FoodLove #FoodieLife #WeekendEats #Chicago