Dear Margaret Reviews

Canada is known for hockey but not food, right? Well, Dear Margaret is out to prove the critics wrong. Founded in 2020, the French/Canadian restaurant has attracted a lot of favorable buzz in a relative short period of time. Located at 2965 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, at West Wellington, between Diversey and Belmont, Dear Margaret is open from 5 to 10 Wednesday through Sunday. For starters, my wife and I had an heirloom tomato salad with horseradish creme, mushrooms, radishes, Montreal steak spice and buttermilk blue cheese and a charcuterie and cheese tray with house-made bread and butter. For an entree, my wife chose pan roasted ruby trout with smoked cherry tomatoes, green beans, mushrooms and arugula. I never have tasted pheasant before but it came highly recommended. So why not? Dear Margaret's version was delicious with mousseline (French as in hollandaise sauce) stuffed leg, fried breast, cauliflower, pickled carrots, basil and pheasant broth. For dessert, we shared portions of blueberry Basque cake with white chocolate mousse and maple vanilla creme brulee with a shortbread cookie. If French/Canadian cuisine is good enough for such hockey greats as Rocket Richard and Jean Beliveau, it's good enough for us.

A unexpected pleasure. Excellent service outstanding menu selection for all 4 of us. Food was prepared excellently..

French place where the food is all fancily prepared, fresh, and varies a bit with the seasons. Instead of having separate menu breakouts, all food dishes are listed in one section from smallest to biggest. Choices fit on one side of a menu page; yet everything was really good. Would have liked a few more wine choices. Service was top notch.

For reasons unexplained to me, there are few French restaurants in Chicago. They are outnumbered by influences from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, even India and the Philippines. But one French restaurant that comes highly recommended is Dear Margaret, a French-Canadian inspired venue featuring award-winning chef Ryan Brosseau. Located at 2965 North Lincoln Avenue, in the Lakeview neighborhood, the menu is drawn from Brosseau's childhood in southern Ontario, the fertile bread basket of Canada and the nation's largest farming region. He utilizes such ingredients as pork, game meat, wild fowl, lake fish and artisan cheeses to produce a French-Canadian menu with a distinct Midwestern flair. Since opening in 2021, Dear Margaret has won a myriad of awards, including Best New Restaurant, 50 Best Restaurants in America, Top 10 Restaurants in Chicago, Michelin Bib Gourmand and Best Hospitality. Open from 5 to 10 Wednesday through Saturday and 5 to 9 on Sunday, Brosseau pays homage to his mother, Margaret. I started with Charcuterie & Cheese with home-made bread and butter, a petite greens salad and sunflower seed granola, red wine vinaigrette and parmesan and lamb sweetbreads with truffle, fig, mustard seed, turnip and fried sage. For an entree, I chose a 12-ounce Slagel Farm steak with creamed greens and caramelized onion butter. Slagel Farm, located in Fairbury, Illinois, near Bloomington, offers a Midwestern taste. For dessert, I opted for ricotta panna cotta with rotating jam, hazelnut and oat streusel and fennel. Margaret would be proud.

We had high hopes for this new restaurant that had attracted a lot of recent buzz. Yes, the food was good. But, relative to the price, not sufficiently special. The wine prices were grossly out of line.

Where to start? Lovely small, intimate space of less than 40 people. Very French-Canadian feeling. Small tables, tight space. Simple menu. Charcuterie of four ‘meats’ & four cheeses. Duck mouse patê was awesome; the blue cheese was incredible too. They’ve a couple of goat cheeses that had we room in our stomachs…, split spaghetti squash carbonara. Excellent. All kinds of French-Canadian-ish entrees. Steak, pork, duck, chicken…, looked great (and filling). Wine selection was solid too. Desert was awesome: chocolate mousse. The after diner “amaro” was sublime. If you can get in, go. Enjoy!

Dear Margaret is a homey-looking little storefront restaurant with about 40 seats but the menu, which changes at least seasonally, is sophisticated. Dishes, mostly French or French-inspired, have fancy ingredients that combine to delight your tongue. We arrived a little early on a Thursday night for our bar-seats dinner reservation. They were ready for us and seated us at once. We were given menus and offered drinks (beer, wine by glass or bottle and cider are on offer, no cocktails). The compact menu has small plates at the top and entree-size ones below. We chose 2 of each for the two of us. While it didn't seem like a lot of food, the dishes we ordered were rich and filling. It was ample. We ordered a pomme Dauphine for each of us. They came a bit chilled which was a surprise, the crunchy potato shell filled with airy oyster mousse and topped with tiny black caviar eggs. Delicious. We followed with the lightly poached scallops (2 to an order) in a bed of thick and creamy beurre blanc. Likewise delicious. For mains, I had pork schnitzel which was topped with a large quantity of Bearnaise sauce + tiny cut up vegetables. It was good but a bit salty for my taste. I was unable to do it justice. My companion had the chicken livers, recommended by our charming waiter Chad, They were a hit and quickly disappeared. We had to try a dessert, so ordered the buttermilk cheesecake to share. Topped with caramel, walnuts and little chunks of cooked apple, it was creamy, light, tangy and superb. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. We felt welcome. Dinner for 2 with one glass of wine came to $140 with tax but before tip. Street parking was easy to find nearby. It was an altogether enjoyable dinner out. The restaurant is celebrating its second anniversary this month. I hope it will be around for many more years.

What a charming and pleasant experience it was dining at Dear Margaret. We shared all our dishes and wine to help really get a taste of what is possible. We started with a wonderful white wine. A beautiful way to start the night. Then we shared a pair of Pommes Dauphine. Delightfully light, sweet and fragrant. Then we had Domaine Rolet, Fried Smelts, Vaudavon Sweet Potato, and Roasted Cabbage Crêpe. All seasoned perfectly and delicious. Then we shared the main proteins; a delicious Aged Duck Breast (this was the best duck I have ever eaten!) and the 21-Day Dry-Aged CDK Bavette Steak. The steak was great, but the duck won the day. Of course we had to have the Tallow Fries. We also shared the Roasted Squash, a sweet and savory delicacy. And we wrapped up the night with the Apple Cider Crème Brûlée. It was a wonderful gastronomic adventure. Cheers!

Two friends for dinner on a Friday evening, a first visit. All items were shared. For charcuterie we ordered Duck Liver Mousse and Camembert. On weekends they offer a baguette so we requested that. The pairing of the blueberry jam with the mousse and the 'granola' for texture was a lovely combination. The baguette was quite warm and made for a flavorful starter. The Camembert wedge seemed slightly skimpy. Next we ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad served in a bowl and comprised of beautifully ripe red and yellow tomatoes, with a few maitake mushrooms sprinkled in but the really interesting flavors were the horseradish cream and buttermilk blue cheese that nicely paired with the tomatoes. Not sure the dish needed both, but both were excellent in the dish. For the entrée we ordered Pan Roasted Ruby Trout served with green beans and a flavorful sauce. The trout had a crispy skin and was well cooked. For dessert we shared Blueberry Basque Cake served with White Chocolate Mousse and a bit of tarragon. Delicious and flavorful. The restaurant's choice of brewed coffee did not disappoint. Rich but not bitter and perfect accompaniment to the dessert. We had a very knowledgeable server who, when asked, offered suggestions. We felt the pricing was mostly fair and as expected. However there were some offerings that seemed slightly overpriced. The restaurant was very very noisy during our 8pm seating, so much so, many times it was quite difficult to hear our server. There are a few tables on the sidewalk if sitting outside is desired. I look forward to eating here again.

We had the absolute best experience at Dear Margaret last night celebrating our anniversary. From the moment we sat down, they made it feel special — a glass of prosecco (or sparkling wine) appeared almost immediately, and it was such a thoughtful touch to kick off the evening. The food? Incredible. The potatoes dauphine were crisp, airy, and addictive — the kind of thing you keep saying “just one more” about until they’re gone. The duck was perfectly cooked, rich and flavorful without being heavy, and the polenta was so creamy and savory. Everything tasted so balanced and carefully prepared, you could tell the kitchen really cared. Our waitress was an absolute delight — warm, attentive without hovering, and genuinely happy to be part of our celebration. She just made the whole night feel easy and special. We ended with the strawberry rhubarb hand pie, and honestly, it was the perfect finale: buttery, flaky pastry with that sweet-tart filling that made you want to linger over every bite. The space itself is charming in that unpretentious, quietly confident way — comfortable enough to feel relaxed, but with just the right amount of polish to feel like you’re treating yourself. We left feeling completely taken care of and already plotting our next visit. If you’re looking for a spot in Chicago that delivers on both food and atmosphere, Dear Margaret is absolutely worth it.

What a wonderful treat in our neighborhood. To be honest, we've been meaning to go for months, but it's hard to get a reservation, but we finally got in on a Saturday night and had a marvelous meal. From the weekend special fresh-baked baguette to the two cheese we picked to accompany it to the honeycomb that goes with it - no attention to detail was spared. We also enjoyed a unique endive & micro-greens salad. But the star of the show was the duck! Get the duck. The ribeye was also good, but the duck! The service was fantastic as well. Little known secret: the outdoor dining is first come, first serve, so don't sleep on this place if you've got dining alfresco on your mind.

Carefully picked ingredients with knowledgeable staff. The food was all tremendous yet unique in its plating and flavor pairings. I had the gnocchi and my partner tried the duck, both were incredible. We both were very meh on French food prior to this experience but now can say we’re fans! The fries are the best in the city so though you may be tempted to pass, would definitely recommend!

My husband and I went to Dear Margaret for French Canadian cuisine and were blown away. The food was excellent and I loved the quaint feeling of the restaurant. It was so delicious that we recommended it to our in laws who also loved it! The crème brûlée was great as well.

I would call Dear Margaret a French Canadian Hearty Food. We tried both vegetable dishes and meat. Charred and Smoked Carrots, Roasted Parsnips, and Charred Broccoli. Fried Smelts and Putsins (hearty soup) from the medium menu. From the large menu the Braised Beef Shank, Roasted Lamb and Tourtiere (Meat Pie) The best compliment came from my wife when she said everything tasted as it should. My son and would say that all was either eaten that evening and all leftovers were eaten the next day without delay. THIS WAS TAKE OUT I expect to go back for take again but am really looking forward to eating there when ti opens.

Fantastic neighbourhood restaurant, that was absolutely buzzing the night we went for dinner. The food was really special , we had duck rillette, smelts utterly fabulous, Redfish and scallops. The front of house Terry was hugely welcoming and our server Chad was great. This restaurant is about 25 minutes from downtown Chicago . If you are a foodie just go , but make sure you have a reservation!

French restaurants are few and far between in Chicago. My wife and I had a favorite bistro but it went out of business before we could sample half the menu. But Dear Margaret looks like a keeper. Located at 2965 North Lincoln Avenue, at West Wellington, in the Lakeview neighborhood, it has earned high marks in only two years, having been named Best New Restaurant in Chicago in 2021 and one of the 50 best restaurants in America in 2022 and receiving a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2022. Chef Ryan Brosseau uses Midwestern ingredients and French/Canadian inspiration to produce delicious and creative dishes that even a meat and potatoes kind of guy can appreciate. Open from 5 to 10 Wednesday through Saturday an 5 to 9 on Sunday, Dear Margaret has found a home in a city that loves pizza, hot dogs and Italian beef. For starters, my wife and I shared escargot, Kennebec fries and petite greens with Belgian endive, honey walnut vinaigrette, sourdough croutons and ricotta salata. For her entree, my wife selected whole roasted rainbow trout with herb salad and spring onion vinaigrette. I opted for a 21-day dry aged ribeye steak with creamed nettles, Montreal steak seasoning and pommes frites. For dessert, we shared carrot cake with cream cheese icing and toasted coconut, pecans and golden raisins and chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline. I may never fall in love with French cooking but a restaurant like Dear Margaret certainly can be persuasive.

Two of the best dishes we've had in a while @ (Michelin Bib) DEAR MARGARET on Lincoln Touted as *French-Canadian*, focused on local/classic ingredients and prep. We try to catch my bride's fav Sturgeon whenever it pops up. Here, Oven roasted w/ persillade crust, sauce estragon, grape agrodolce, paddlefish caviar. It was outstanding. Mine, a tough to find item, Stuffed Quail w/ chestnut sausage, pear, fall spice demi glace, sage, nasturtium. Both plates truly captured the 🇨🇦 sensibility. When my quail was served wife commented, "That really looks French!" "And smells Canadian!", I replied.  "A touch of deep roasted mapley/butterscotchey aroma not strictly FRENCH." Our waitress, who was standing nearby chuckled and asked if she might share that comment with their chef "He'd LOVE hearing that!" House baguette/butter, an excellent salad which included Ossau Iraty Basque cheese 🤙 and the HUGE CHUNK of carrot cake. Wine by the glass. Excellent dishes across the board.

Hubby and I came here for restaurant week and we are so glad we made the trek into the city for it. The restaurant has been getting a lot of great press of late so the only reservation we could get was for 9:30pm. Hubby call to see if we could possibly get in any earlier and we were able to move it up to 9. Yay! We were greeted at the door by Lacy, (person my husband spoke to on the phone) the owner! She is amazing, so warm and welcoming! We welcomed the opportunity to get her recommendations on the menu. Straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. We began with the fresh tomato salad and the fried quail. Both were outstanding! The salad was refreshingly fresh and cucumber sauce especially tasty. The fried quail is a star! The breading was perfection, crispy and seasoned just right. I had the sirloin and hubby the parsnip for our mains. Of the two, the parsnip was the better choice. The brown butter sauce made this simple ingredient seem decadent. The sirloin was the only dish that was just slightly disappointing. Though the seasoning was great, the cut of meat is not my favorite and tends to the tough side. Side note: our server is the house sommelier and he was generous to provide us with some sips to decide our wines. My wine was the perfect pairing with the sirloin. Kudos to Terry! Sadly they were out of the maple crème brulee so we ordered one each of the cookie and bread pudding. The cookie was the better choice. We look forward to sharing this new find with our friends!

Best New Restaurant in Chicago! Wonderful menu with a French theme @ Midwestern twist. Fried smelts, walleye, roasted rabbit and steak frites all expertly prepared to name a few dishes we enjoyed! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. This family owned establishment is going to be a hit once the word is out. NOTE: Right now BYOB

We went with good friends for dinner. A outstanding meal once again. Menu was changed since our last visit. Some of the items we enjoyed were THe stuffed Saddle of Lamb (outstanding) Grilled Bone in Pork Chop. My friend said that it was very good and the Brandy Mushroom Cream Sauce was to die for. My wife had the Aged Duck Breast with a smoked tea and honey glaze which she enjoyed. The final result was that our friends said this was a great find and reasonably priced. This is fine dining with Mid-Range pricing. Very easy street parking.

Second visit as good as the first. Everything this restaurant serves is made with skill and love. Our server was the same person who amused us our first time and for that we were grateful. Sit back, try to decide what fabulous creation to order and be prepared to swoon over what you choose. It’s a privilege to dine here in this warm and unpretentious French Canadien restaurant that fails to disappoint on any level. Don’t pass on any tart on the dessert selections.

This is a little neighborhood restaurant tucked away from the glitz of downtown Chicago. We arrived for an early dinner (6pm) and the place was already buzzing. We were warmly greeted at the door & a table was ready for us. The server was great - engaging, polite, and attentive. We were surprised by the volume of food -- we ordered more than we could eat (hint: order a couple of things at a time). We found the food too salty for our tastes. The ambience of the restaurant was challenging -- the music was loud and we were seated uncomfortably close to a table of 4 -- we heard everything they said -- because like us, they had to raise their voices to hear one another over other patrons and the music which defied identification. Some people call the noise a "good vibe," but we call it unpleasant. One of us lived in Montreal and was hard pressed to identify truly Quebecois dishes other than simply having French Canadian names and the use of beef tallow. Dear Margaret is a nice place but we are unlikely to return because of the noise and the salty food -- hence the 3 star rating.

Local neighborhood restaurant ambiance with OUTSTANDING food. We swooned over each dish and I highly, highly recommend having one pomme Delphine. For as great a food city as Chicago, it is a statement to say that I will be coming back . . . again and again.

Fans of French Canadian cuisine, rejoice! Dear Margaret offers a small but mighty menu of comfort-food specialties that are not easy to find outside Quebec. Pommes dauphine with oyster mousse were out of this world. Highly recommend the braised beets with pecan praline or the duck-liver mousse, and if they're baking baguettes when you're there, order one, by all means. But the menu is seasonal, so you may be offered a completely different set of wonderful dishes. Parsnip cake for dessert has made carrot cake seem dull by comparison. Thoughtful non-alcoholic drinks. Sweet service in a very casual environment. Worth a trip off the beaten path.