Le Select — Chicago’s Top French Restaurant of 2023 (Already!) 🥂

Even though 2023 just began, I’m ready to call it — Le Select, the new venture from the Boka Restaurant Group, is easily Chicago’s best new French restaurant this year. The chef is Daniel Rose, lured from NYC’s Michelin-starred Le Coucou. The restaurant director is my friend Cara from Oriole. With a dream team like that, quality is guaranteed. 🦴 Bone marrow — many places serve it, but here it’s mixed with breadcrumbs so it’s rich but not overly fatty, and perfectly seasoned.🙌😁 🦴 Steak au Poivre — a 12oz New York strip cooked to a beautiful pink inside, with a peppery Cognac sauce that has a hint of Szechuan peppercorn. Every bite was heavenly. 🦴 Duck breast — tender with just a touch of fat, served with a sweet glaze, orange slices, and frisée. Could have been a tad more tender, but still delicious and not greasy. 🦴 Appetizer: skate and crab terrine with sea urchin — the uni (likely from Maine) was salty rather than sweet, but the terrine itself was incredibly savory without the usual overwhelming saltiness of French pâtés.❤️😍 🦴 Non-alcoholic drinks are limited, but the bartender can improvise — my citrus-based mocktail was bright and refreshing.👍😘 🦴 Dessert: coupe fôret noire — cherry sorbet that tasted like real cherries, not artificial flavor, paired with a not-too-sweet chocolate cake. Perfection. 🦴 Complimentary pistachio cake and chocolates at the end were outstanding — even better than Boka’s petits fours! The upstairs bar is now open — perfect for a date night or classy evening out. Le Select: 504 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 #ChicagoEats #FrenchRestaurant #LeSelect #BokaGroup #FineDining #DateNight