Le Colonial Reviews

I have been going to the colonial for 25 years and our last experience was very disappointing... The ambiance is still the same but the quality of the food is surely not. The plates have too much food which made us feel like we were in a cheap restaurant... when the plates are very expensive !! The manager... Does not respond very well and certainly does care when you tell him that 5 persons got sick ( not going to give details here ... ) after eating there... What a great birthday celebration when your stomach is not feeling good afterwards ! Very sad.

We are regular visitors to Chicago to see family and have been fortunate to have visited and eaten in some great hotels and restaurants over what now is a 23 year period. For me, this was the best restaurant experience by far. The service was impeccable, with great food (the Pho and the Spring Rolls were beyond perfect) complimented by an excellent and extensive wine list. After our meal we retired to the beautiful and welcoming Bar Area where I enjoyed the very best "Smoked Old Fashioned" I can't wait to return to Chicago for another visit and to experience Le Colonial again

Beautiful decor and fantastic food. The French/Vietnamese cuisine is amazing This upstairs oasis is just wonderful. The service was good, and the food was delicious. Treat yourself.

Hidden gem for a quick afternoon bite. Pleasant atmosphere and excellent cuisine. Very intimate setting in the heart of great great shopping area!

Amazing atmosphere in this Vietnamese restaurant that breathes a Colonial atmosphere. We had a light lunch here, the salades were exquisite. So were the cocktails ☺️ definitely will come back here!

Very cool atmosphere , great service and great food. Ordered the spring rolls and wontons for starters and both were great. We each ordered salads (mine was chicken and cabbage Goi Ga $16) which were all excellent. Service level was tremendous. Our waiter was attentive , patient and helped with menu selections.

Walking distance from our hotel, we arrived without a reservation. Although the restaurant was busy, there definitely was room for us at a great table near the bar. Busy but not loud, great waitstaff and service, white table cloths and a nice ambiance. The menu is a French-Vietnamese creation with creative appetizers, soups and salads, as well as entrées. Ours was a party of four and as we had a pizza for lunch, we ordered conservatively: an appetizer and soup or salad each. We shared everyone’s dishes, which was a terrific way to get a great overview of the quality of the dishes. We all raved about each and every dish: spring rolls, tuna tartare and monkfish followed by beef pho, eggplant, lotus root salad and seafood dumpling soup. DELICIOUS 😋! My only suggestion is that the wattage is turned up on the lighting. In our corner it was so dark we could barely read the menu and it was impossible to take photos.

Great place with decoration reminding me of French colonial buildings in Vietnam and Cambodia (loves the detail of the fans running while it was snowing outside). Food was perfect: vegetable rolls, shrimp on sugar cane, shaking beef, and the desserts... Just the pho didn’t taste as authentic as in the streets of Ho-Chi-Minh. Great service as well.

Even better after the move - brighter, higher end, better. We came for lunch and it was simply bustling non stop with activity. Beautiful space with lots more natural lighting. We had the pho soup, Cha gio and mushroom sticky rice. Service was a bit slow but the food was delicious! The soup was so robust and fresh - with herbs. Cha Gio was tasty but the best for the mushroom stick rice. That was made with shitake and other mushrooms with herbs and green onions - just scrumptious. In addition Mayor Emanuel was there for lunch too.

Terrible dinner! Very disappointed with our waiter who seemed to have better things to do rather then serving us dinner.

I look for restaurants that make things that I don't, so a Vietnamese restaurant fit the bill. This one is a little more sophisticated in its offerings than some that I have visited, and the restaurant, while quite busy, ran smoothly and efficiently, and has a very large staff that works well together. The dishes are flavorful and well seasoned, but none of the ones that we tried were particularly hot, and in general the flavors were more subtle than in many more highly spiced Asian foods. As one might expect, there are hints of both Chinese and Thai flavor combinations in different dishes. The menu includes a limited but diverse assortment of large dishes, and a wide array of small plates and sides. We tried entrees featuring salmon and duck, both of which were perfectly prepared, and shrimp rolls and chicken dumplings as appetizers, which were just as good. There are a lot of other things on the menu that look interesting, so this is a place that I expect to return to when I get back to Chicago. The restaurant is on the third story of an older building that retains a lot of interesting architectural features. It is not a huge place, and seems to be quite popular, so reservations are recommended.

I always loved Le Colonial for it's welcoming ambiance, food, and decor. Whether a warm mental getaway from Chicago's Winter or a lovely summer dinner on their terrace - I was sad to hear they were relocating. I'm usually disappointed when a restaurant you love relocates or renovates because you love what you love and you aren't interested in it changing. However, I went to the new location on 57 E Oak this evening and absolutely was amazed. I loved it, even more. It kept the same style, the same elegance, the same design (even a terrace), but was newer, and just delicious from the hand painted walls to the fireplace nook - and of course, the food- was perfect. The owners, bartenders, and hosts were so gracious and lovely. Thank you.

We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at Le Colonial. The service was impeccable. Knowing it was our anniversary, they gave us the best seat in the house. Of course the food and drink was perfect. We were treated with the utmost hospitality. I look forward to dining here again next time we are in town. Phenomenal atmosphere.

We used to be regulars (at least twice a month) back at the old location 3-15 years ago but hadn't visited in the last 3 years. We finally went again 4 weeks ago and have already returned again this week. The food hasn't changed, all our old favorites are still on the menu but we actually like the new location even better than the original. Drink menu has improved with some tasty cocktails and the wine selection is still top notch. We will continue to be loyal customers.

Girls night out and we ended up here after having a few appetizers in the neighborhood. The food was so great! I loved the spicy shrimp stir fry, brussel sprouts, and sticky mushroom rice. Service was impeccable! I cannot wait to go back!

I made a dinner reservation here well in advance for a special trip to Chicago with my daughter based a friend’s recommendation. I was surprised when we were seated in a dark, noisy corner in the bar and not the dining room. The only light was from a flat screen TV showing a sporting event. The food was very good but we felt rushed and too close to the table next to us. My last impression was my cup of coffee with dessert which was lukewarm at best. We were in and out in an hour. Given this restaurant’s reputation it was a disappointment

Le Colonial moved - and the new location doesn't come close to the old ambiance - so disappointed! To add to our disappointment, the menu choices are substantially less than before. So sad - this was a restaurant we sent everyone to - we will be searching for a new favorite.

This restaurant, with its ambiance, color, decor, and staff uniform, mimics colonial french/indochine settings. It's like being transport back in time to Hanoi with design touches in yellow, plantation fans from above and square art-deco tiles below. The decor reminds me of Graham Greene's book The Quiet American and the movie "The Lover". Kudos to the designer/decorator/owner for a very good recreation of Vietnam's colonial past. Food was well prepared and presented for a fine-dining like experience. Service was attentive. Although delicious, food was dialed back in terms of strong, aromatic, truly authentic Vietnamese smells and palate to satisfy wider range of guests.

937 N Rush St Chicago IL. Food was excellent. Pho was delicious Great appetizers Cha Gio & Chao Tom Family enjoyed this restaurant We would go again

So many menu to choose from - they even have live pasta and burger station. The food are arranged so nicely and looked so sumptuous. The staff are also so nice and accommodating, especially Judith, Rania, and Safa. We will definetly be back again.

The place is located in a very nice and central area. The atmosphere is very pleasant, and although we arrived without a reservation, they did their best to make room for us, the place, according to what they told us, is always full. The food is delicious and the service very good

I LOVE this restaurant! It is drop-dead gorgeous, has a fabulous menu, the food is impeccably prepared and the service is excellent. Can't wait to return!!!

Thought I would re-review the restaurant since it moved from Rush Street to newly built out premises on Oak Street. Pleased to report that, as charming as the original space was, the new place is even more attractive. A recent dinner with friends was top notch from the cocktails to the many tasty appetizers and entrees. The service was excellent at all levels and our server was intimately familiar with the food and drink choices. Bottled wine prices seemed fair. The menu options offer spicy fare for those who want it and a good number of non spicy items for those who are not fans of heat in their food. Colonial continues to be a well managed upscale operation for a sophisticated dining experience.

This restaurant is very unique as it is two types of food wrapped into one. Asia and French. The place is very attractive and the service is excellent. It is on a “hot “ street Oak Street just west of the Avenue ( Michigan) the names of the food I cannot remember but the waitstaff will guide you though your order

Good experience trying this fusion french vietnamese restaurant. All the dishes we order were good. The service was okay, they made sure all the table had everything we order. Also it was fast, all the dishes came in less than 15 minutes or so. My personal favorite The Crispy Brussel Sprouts.

Great swanky dinner date spot. Americanized Vietnamese food that did not necessarily match the ambiance. Decor is superbe but I wasn’t sure how I felt about it considering it is emulating the time in which the French colonized Vietnam ? Cocktails were phenomenal. Service was lacking. Prices were fair/inexpensive for its location being on oak street. Would have expected more from this restaurant at first sight. Overall nice but wouldn’t make the detour again.

Food was delicious; service was attentive but unobtrusive, beautiful restaurant. We loved George our waiter and all of the bussing was done quietly and without interrupting our discourse. We highly recommend this spot.

My daughter is familiar with Le Colonial in San Francisco. So, she wanted to take us to this one. First of all, it is in a magnificent area! Then, it is on the second floor. It has a verandah whose windows open. There are plants and greenery all over . Absolutely charming!!! The food was exquisite. There wasn’t a thing I wouldn’t order again. The service ,impeccable! I would definitely recommend this to everyone. Classy, quiet elegance and superb cuisine!

It was a nice place to enjoy lunch! I was grateful for the gluten free items on the menu as well. The atmosphere was excellent.

Priority treatment here is given to locals, therefore I recommend you find somewhere else if you are merely visiting Chicago. I understand the need to look after the customers who will return on a regular basis, rather than the passing business of people visiting Chicago perhaps only once. But please don't make it so obvious. Rude reception staff, who seem to think they are doing you a favour by allowing you to dine here. Food average at best.

Moved from Rush to Oak St - the new space is beautiful; there's a bit less of colonial rubber plantation feel. Very crowded, even on weeknights, the bar is too small. Food is good, but dishes can be incomplete; the green curry is delicious, but is served like a bowl of stew/soup (no rice). The fried rice is good, but a little dull on it's own (great with the curry, but that requires ordering 2 entrees). Panna cotta is nice, but the citrus rind overwhelms the delicate custard. Decadent Vietnamese coffee. Very good/nice servers.

As someone who was really a fan of the original location, its warmth and character, I was a little skeptical that I would feel the same way about the new spot. My fears were ungrounded - thankfully - the new spot is elegant, warm, and really congenial. And the food was fantastic, just like in the old spot. Yay!

We had an excellent experience. The food was outstanding. Our service was top notch. Their Red Snapper for two was my favorite seafood order in at least the last ten years. I went back to the hotel a very happy man. On this occasion, as an out of towner, my research (perhaps my wife's) paid off, Just so you know, we split an order of Spring Rolls and Pho, ordered their signature Red Snapper for two with some accompanying rice. Very satisfying. The ambiance was relaxing and first class. The service was excellent

Le Colonial is our favourite Chicago restaurant. This week we had dinner, and once again, were not disappointed. The food was terrific, the service caring and efficient and the atmosphere is always upbeat and fun. Michael Wilholt the upstairs Maitre D' always helps make our visits so special. Michael is an upbeat professional and a very fun host. He consistently makes us feel welcomed with his warm hospitality. We'll be back!

We hadn’t been at Le Colonial in years and were thrilled when we returned and found it even better than we had remembered. The food outstanding, the decor fitting and the service unobtrusive and impeccable. A truly wonderful experience.

This restaurant lives up to its name. You enter and feel like you have traveled back in time to French Vietnam. Every table was full and there was a buzz of enjoyment that filled the room. Dumplings, ribs, monkfish all were excellent starters. The noodles with filet mignon were heavenly. Apparently it is part of the lunch menu but they offered to make it for us for dinner. As a main course, we had a spice-crusted snapper. It was served whole and was a work of art. They offered to filet it but we preferred to eat it Asian style, peeling the meet off the bone with our chopsticks. The wine list was excellent. Memorable. Highly recommended.

Le Colonial gave us a spectacular lunch. The atmosphere, with its old-style charm, was beautiful, but the food and cocktails were the real stars. Every dish and drink was thoughtfully made, and we left feeling it was a truly amazing and special meal.

Le Colonial on Rush was probably my favorite restaurant in downtown Chicago. It has now moved around the corner on to Oak and gone upstairs. The place was packed on a Thursday and there was no space to wait (we did have a reservation) and the bar area was full. They have attempted to create a Vietnamese decor in a larger more streamlined space but the losses are considerable. The old place had a dark wood Laisser-faire atmosphere the new does not. The menu remains strong but the absence of their wonderful bouillabaisse causes concern. After all these criticisms I still recommend you check out LC if you are in the Chicago area.

Spending Sunday afternoon with a dinner at Le Colonial: the best choice ever. Well treated, friendly and good. Fully booked, but we felt as we were there on a small family dinner.

We went for dinner last Friday. We had to made reservation early. I reserved it at 10 am and I got 4:15 pm which is fine for us. The restaurant has a intimate, romantic and classy feel to it. We sat by the bay window on the Veranda. Picture cannot justify the vibe. Curry is our best choice. We love the food and restaurant. There are a lot of meter parking near the hotel but we still have to come early to find a parking. I can't wait to go back.

Le colonial reopened on Oak Street! I’ve been out of town for a while, so hasn’t even realized they were closed for a spell. The menu has all the classics- the shrimp in sugarcane with wraps is just as delicious as I remember. We tried the whole snapper as well as the eggplant. Menu descriptions state “spicy,” but the heat level was a pleasant kick easily tolerated by a heat wimp like me. As I went to the washroom, I passed the cozy fireplace sitting area at the end of the bar... and wished I had another night free in chicago.

This place is gorgeous ! They kept many of the pretty elements at their old place on Rush St. but now there's room to move. Love the porch area and the huge plants. The bar is lovely as well and very cozy, would be a great spot for drinks. The food was as good as always- classic Vietnamese . I think they did a great job with this new location. The steamed spring rolls are great and so are the chicken dumplings and the fried rice. A nice place to share and try some new things- never had anything there that I didn't think was outstanding- my favorite cuisine and they do it right. Basic but elegant.

We absolutely love this restaurant The location The decor The top notch service by Dina The excellent food so fresh and tasty The wine list is superb Do not hesitate to book in advance! A GEM ❤️❤️❤️

Beautiful restaurant. We sat in the balcony area which was stunning. Decor is gorgeous and very comfortable. The food is out of this world. Eddie , our server was very knowledgable and attentive. One of the best restaurants I have been too.

A great lunch stop while downtown! We ordered multiple dishes & shared them all - and loved them! Everything was fresh, light & delicious!

The food was mediocre at best, the service was excellent, the food, wine and liquor was incredibly overpriced. The end result is a very poor value. We went to Le Colonial based on Trip Advisor reviews and we were very disappointed.

This place is gorgeous to look at, but most importantly, the food is exceptional. The service is excellent as well. We six enjoyed all aspects of the evening, but if you go on a quieter evening, try to get seated in the back dining room-- so elegant. We were in the front and it was fine since it was quieter. You can't go wrong with any choice. Great selections for vegetarians if you are into that. Highly recommended!

Great place to go for a celebration or a special event. Beautifully decorated- lots of plants & intimate spaces. Attended during the holiday season with friends. Our service was impeccable and the food was amazing. We loved the tartare, the eggrolls & spring rolls for our starters. For our mains we had the whole snapper, Brussels spouts, the stir fry & a few salads to share. It was a unique Vietnamese meal. We also shared the tapioca pudding & a flaming chocolate dessert. We did not leave hungry. Thank you.

I had the Oxtail Soup (PHO BO). Perhaps the best soup I’ve had in years. The service was outstanding; waiters that actually know how to serve which is not easy to find. Cannot wait to go back.

This is a pleasant restaurant to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with a French twist. Service is pretty good, and vibe is from by-gone era. In a city where history is thrown in the history bin, this is a place where you can enjoy some good food and classic vibe. I believe it is a bit too hyped and overrated. However, it is offering a good experience for a steep tab.

First visit to new location. Impeccably designed. Great layout, ambiance and views. Modern yet unquestionably inspired by European bistros. Excellent service. We split the chicken potstickers, chicken/cabbage salad and shaking beef and it was just right for 2 people. Excellent cocktails including 2 lychee martinis. Highly recommend visiting.

Lunch with friends. We tried many dishes as everyone took a couple of courses and we tasted everything. No raw or special meats. It was a great discovery so much so that I wanted to go back to eat some courses again. Well prepared cuisine, very light, before strong and dominant flavors, impeccable service and very nice location. A mixture of Asian/Vietnamese cuisine. Try without a doubt.

We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved this restaurant. The atmosphere and food were both excellent. We don’t eat at the same restaurants often in Chicago because there are so many to try - but this is one we would go back

Beautiful ambiance, great service and food. Appetizers are small so keep that in mind. Entrees can be shared by 2. Duck was our least favorite. Pho was great, scallop salad was great as was the gulf shrimp entree. If you wish to sit in the open air area make sure when making a reservation you state that.

Clearly a trendy place - it was packed for dinner - very noisy I am not a fan of places where you can hardly see what is in your plate. I know very much about Asian food, travelled several times to Vietnam, and food is average, far from local tastes.... If you like posh places, it might be yours - if you are looking for true Vietnamese cuisine, probably not

Having experience at other Le Colonials this one was not good. Started off by (being from Holland and Fan of LC) reservation of outside table went wrong..and was MY fault ? as I should have known that is would be busy on the balcony...excuse me? I had changed my reserved time to later time to get place on balcony. Having USA friends along who, based on our praises on LC, we got enthusiastic... this was a bummer. Could be the intro..but the food tasted nice...not great as f.e. in New York where they make you feel welcomed!

It was one of the best Asian restaurants in Chicago. I strongly recommend people who are looking for nice & delicious restaurant. I ate a lunch special which includes two dishes and coffee. Wow, That was perfect in terms of both quality and quantity. One thing I disliked was the greeter. I felt unwelcome when I was there with my companion.

Food was phenomenal! The service was impeccable! And the ambiance was perfect! We felt like we were in Southeast Asia- We loved it!

This is one of my better finds while in Chicago. I am Vietnamese and am very particular about Asian fusion restaurants. I mean how can I not be? My mom is the best cook ever, says every Asian kid. But really, I wanted to come here just for Happy Hour (I think they call it Social Hour) which is Mon-Fri between 3-6pm (bar/lounge area only and first come first served). I figured if it’s not that great, well, at least I got it for 1/3 of the price. Boy was I wrong. I have to say this food tasted just like my mom’s cooking, and that says a LOT! So for Social Hour at the bar/lounge area (plenty of seating) we had five drinks ($9 each) and six dishes (also $9 each). We prob could’ve just had four dishes but it was so yummy and with a late dinner at 9pm, we figured why not. I didn’t take nearly as many photos as I could and should have. The food was really good, and the sauces are really telling. The nuoc mam (fish sauce) tasted just like my mom’s! Usually, happy hour drinks are watered down but not here. The ONE thing I would suggest is maybe adding a brown based drink. When I say ’brown’ I mean like bourbon based. The drinks offered are very girly (viet gin gimlet, lychee martini and bellini). For food we ordered the dumplings, eggrolls, viet cabbage salad and spring rolls. They also do not skimp on portions. HH menus tend to be less in cost, but they also take away a piece or two. Not here. Their portions and quality of food is good and tastes so yummy. Most dishes served at least four dishes, but more like six. Btw, service is impeccable. I honestly don’t remember one dirty dish on our table. Nothing was ever left sitting on the table and your glass was never empty. They get your drink order in before you can even ask. Definitely a great find and I would totally come back.

The service was courteous, although they were indifferent to our request to fix the flickering light overhead. The extreme disappointment was overcooked fish, badly sliced vegetables, and mediocre sauces. A great disappointment for a special birthday celebration!

Our daughter who moved to Chicago a few years ago said when we came to visit, we had to eat at her new favorite restaurant. On a family trip, we had travelled to Vietnam and have wonderful memories of the country, the people and in particular the food. Le Colonial is a very classy 1920's era SE Asia restaurant on the upper level of a building. Reservations are highly suggested. We let our daughter recommend what was good on the menu but frankly everything looked delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed Banh Uot, which was beef crepes. The shrimp spring rolls were quickly devoured. My husband ordered Hoanh Thanh which was seafood soup with vegetables, sea bass, shrimp and crabmeat. He did not share! The Bo Luc Lac which was shaking beef and filet mignon was just as delicious. I would also recommend the chicken dumplings. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. My lychee martini was perfection. Service was fantastic. I ran out of superlatives! Le Colonial is now our favorite restaurant but sadly, we do not live near Chicago!

This was a very special lunch and welcome break from shopping. We were unsure if we were dressed appropriately as we were very casual the hostess welcomed us and assured us that we were fine. Our server was friendly and attentive. The food and drinks were delicious. We enjoyed the crispy vegetable rolls, vegetable stir fry, pan seared dumplings and pork noodle bowl.

Truth be told, my wife and I never dined at Le Colonial when it was located on Rush Street for over 20 years. I guess we were turned off by the Vietnamese fare. But Le Colonial recently moved to new digs at 57 East Oak Street in the city's fashionable shopping district and friends couldn't wait to encourage us to try it out. Located on the third floor of a Gold Coast row house with balcony seating and an outdoor patio and romantic a setting of indoor palm trees, orchids and bamboo with white tablecloths, uniformed servers with mandarin-collared jackets, large windows, a bar, Occidental artwork and a bright decor, Le Colonial is better than ever. But would we cater to the French-Vietnamese food? Not to worry. We were very impressed, nary a complaint. We started with some small plates, crispy shrimp and pork rolls, bowls of Hanoi beef noodle soup and duck noodle soup and seared sea scallop salad. For her large plate, my wife chose roasted Scottish salmon with mushrooms, coconut lobster broth, jasmine rice and crispy brussels sprouts. She was delighted. I opted for the restaurant's signature dish, crispy whole red snapper with spicy garlic glaze, garlic green beans and Wok-sauteed garlic egg noodles. I was delighted, too. For dessert, we shared a plate of creme brulee. And, encouraged to try it, my wife fell in love with a cup of Vietnamese coffee. Le Colonial has found a new home on Oak Street and it figures to be very popular.

All dishes have amazing flavors in preparation and light sauces. Duck, chicken or steak and shrimp were delicious. Appetizers and salads offer lots of variety. Bar is also a great spot to relax and even eat dinner.

This was my first visit to the new location. The tables are jammed together; my chair constantly made contact with the person seated behind me. It was impossible for the two of us to co-exist. Very uncomfortable. Leaving the table for the ladies room was a major undertaking. I ordered the Roasted Half Duck, which was very fatty, overcooked, tasteless. The Sticky Rice was beyond sticky. I could plunge my fork in the wad of goo and emerge with the entire ball attached to the utensil. Inedible. Although everything was tasteless last nite, I have a horrible after taste today.

Nice environment, staff were friendly but with slow service. The cuisine is elevated Vietnamese food, didn’t really get any French vibe at all. Everything I ate was good, but nothing spectacular or memorable. The shaky beef may have been the best dish I had. Cocktails were unique. Overall, was a nice place for a business dinner but forgettable after the meal.

While this Restaurant is comfortable, I found the lighting such that I had to use my phone torch to read the menu. I also found that the music to be too loud and to be invasive. The food was average for its type but the portions were generous and the service was very quick and efficient. My friends noted that the cocktails were very good.

A few months ago La Colonial moved into a new site, on Oak St. Beautiful lay out on the upper floor. The design of the restaurant is superb and made our meal so much better.Superb tasting dishes, all great.

This restaurant has lovely French/tropical flair and reminded me of being in Saigon. We had the shrimp on lemongrass and the eggplant for appetizers. Delicious! The Beef Luc Lok was excellent as was the chicken curry. The drinks were creative, strong, and delicious. The coconut-lime panna cotta and the chocolate cake for dessert were great. Of course, we completed the meal with delicious, strong/sweet Vietnamese coffee. Can't wait to return!

I have tried different dishes - Pho, spring roll and seafood ceviche. Seafood ceviche lacks of lime juice and tiger chili. Pho is too salty for me. The cost for lunch is about ~$35. It is too expensive for me. The restaurant provides very good service. It is not a good place for single.

Great vegan options, wonderful service and good for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike! I highly recommend the vegan mango cashew yam curry it was really really good! They have good spiciness level and brown rice which was also great

I was really excited to try this place given that I love Thai and Vietnamese food. Upon entering, you need to take an elevator up a few levels to get to the main dining area. I was promptly greeted by one of the hosts and we were seated for our reservation right away. We requested to have a spot which overlooked the street but that would have been an additional wait time, so we decided to sit in the main dining area. Menus were brought to the table promptly and water glasses filled shortly after that. I was a little irritated because they didn't give us the full drink menu; I guess it was missing a few pages. We had to wait about ten minutes for the full drink menu and it took awhile for us to get those drinks. Our server wasn't very attentive as he was serving a larger party behind us. Slow service the rest of the night. We had to flag our server down a bunch of times to put in more dishes and more drinks. Each time it took about 10 minutes to find our server and another 15 to actually get the drinks. Now, the food made up for it and justifies why I am giving this place a 4 star review and not 3. We had Chao Tom - Very well flavored and I loved the combination of mint, cilantro, and dipping sauce together. Ca Bam - This was probably my favorite dish of the night. Very well seasoned and flavors mixed well together. Cari Tom - Very good curry. A little heavy but still a good balance of spices. The shrimp were cooked fantastically as well. Ga Xao Xa Ot - Probably my second favorite dish of the night. It comes in second because I was a little shocked at the portion size with this plate. It needed a few more pieces of chicken. Overall, a very good restaurant. Service lacked, but food made up for it. Maybe go in knowing that you may need to wait a bit or start off the meal a little bit on the assertive side haha. Also, you may need to order a side dish of their white rice if you have a dish like the curry.

Obnoxious staff, if you’re Black you sit in the back and don’t dare ask questions. Rude hostess. Super dark to the point where we couldn’t read the menu. It’s not a place for Black folks to go spend their hard earned dollars.

This restaurant is pricey. Now with that said the rest is great. The place is an experience. From your trip up the elevator to the aroma of incense and the Vietnamese decor at the hostess station. The hostess greets you in traditional Vietnamese clothing and escorts you to a table. It’s like waking into a tropical Asian oasis. The food is so good and fun to share. Atmosphere top notch as is wait staff. We really enjoyed this restaurant.

We stopped by here for lunch while shopping. The food and ambiance is just perfect. I had a salad. It was absolutely delicious and I loved how light it was, but still so full of flavor and fresh. My only complaint is that I wish it had more chicken on it. I also had the ceviche and I think it was some of the best I’ve ever tried. If you haven’t tried this restaurant, it’s a must in Chicago. Would love to return for dinner next time we’re in town.

As we were planning our trip to Chicago, and we realized that there is a Le Colonial there, we immediately made reservations. We were first introduced to this restaurant in NYC (unfortunately it is now permanently closed) and we loved it. Then we discovered one in San Francisco, and it was as good as the one in NYC. So of course we had to try the one in Chicago. It was just a good as the other two. The service is impeccable and the food is outstanding. Kudos to the owner(s) for maintaining the ambiance as well as the quality of the food across all the restaurants. I've kiddingly said that perhaps we should plan our vacations based on whether or not the city has a Le Colonial!

First dinner experience at Le Colonial (have been there before for lunch). Great ambiance and interesting menu (but wine list could be wider in the more affordable end of the spectrum). Food was consistently very good, including a couple of soups, a couple of curries and a noodle dish, but none of the dishes (maybe with the exception of a dessert) was truly excellent. Service had ups and downs (previous service at a lunch experience was excellent, though): Waiter forgot an appetizer and white wine was too warm ad he still served full glasses before chilling it more. Not a world-class experience, and only an OK value, but overall a restaurant to enjoy.

Had a great time at Le Colonial, this is one of the best spots for dining in Chicago. Service was superb, one of the best I've experienced in Chicago. Food was phenomenal and the overall ambiance was top notch. We will try their brunch menu next time we are in town, this place is now part of my list of top five dining spots in Chicago.

Nice place for lunch in the heart of downtown Chicago. The service is nice and servers are courteous. Food is ok. I guess it is oriental. Not too filling but it's ok. You still feel light after a meal. Somewhat expensive.

We were in Chicago to watch our MN Twins play at your amazing Wrigley Field and friends told us we must go go this restaurant. We are so glad we did, everything about the experience made us feel great. And next time we come, we promise we won't be in our baseball gear!

The food was well made to order with fresh ingredients. Our only mistake was to order too many of the small plates like a tapas. The short ribs were excellent, but four meaty pieces is. It small, two would work. Like wise the garlic green beans side would serve 5-6 portions. The monk fish was also excellent. Also the cocktail drink were large. So two small dishes and a side vegetable is plenty for two adults. Great food and atmosphere with excellent service just better advice on portion size.

I have been a regular at Le Colonial since it first opened. Le Colonial is just as excellent in its new home. Somehow they managed to transplant the design and ambiance into the new space. The food was a wonderful as ever.

Went for lunch with family. Table overlooked Oak street on a beautiful day. Setting is gorgeous very different from usual Asian restaurants. Food was outstanding from appetizers to desserts to Vietnamese coffee. Will be back

I have now been to Le Colonial twice and the food is superb! Unfortunately the service is spotty. On both occasions they have forgotten to bring items we ordered to the table. Plus on this last trip, they were so slow and it was difficult to get the check when we were ready to leave. The food, the food, the food. This is where it is at. Every dish is completely on point! The curries are the best I have every had! I have tried both the chicken curry and the green shrimp curry. Different from each other and hard to choose a favorite. The whole sea bass is AMAZING! Beautifully presented delicious to boot. The spring rolls and the ribs are a must to start your meal. The peanut sauce with the spring rolls is creamy peanutty goodness. And the sticky sauce on the ribs is finger lickn' good! I also tried a taste of hubby's seafood dumpling soup. It's going directly onto my must order list! I also need to add that we had a vegan in our group and she was able to order spring rolls made vegan. Also they made the chicken curry vegan by deleting the chicken and adding tofu. Love that they offered these options!

I would give seven stars if I could. The service, food and atmosphere is superb. I have worked, stayed and dined in some of the best hotels, private clubs, venues and restaurants in the world. Le Colonial Chicago is amazing. I do not drink alcohol and so my waiter described and served me a fantastic mocktail. The food was excellent, with flavours pouring out, beautifully presented. Some of the best I have had in any restaurant. The star of the show was the glazed red snapper which my waiter filleted for me at the table. When I asked if I could have the cheeks, he knew exactly what I wanted and served me beautifully. A true professional. Throughout the evening, the waiting staff serving me built a comfortable rapport and set the tone for what was to be an incredible dining experience. I was made to feel very, very special and this is what hospitality is all about. Thank you to the team at Le Colonial Chicago.

Hello, my husband and I made a reservation at this restaurant weeks ago so that we could celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. When we arrived there were three people at the host/hostess stand. We were told our table was not ready yet. Then a man rudely said,"ready?" He then led us into the bar where it was very dark, noisy, chairs that were way too large and low, but swiveled. When we walked in we saw two beautiful rooms with white linen table cloths and plenty of tables that were empty. It was 5:30. I felt humiliated and embarrassed that this person thought so little of us. Le Colonial came highly recommended by the Ritz Carlton... I decided to go back to the hostess/host stand and asked "what on earth have we done wrong here that you put us in a bar?" She then said she would take care of the situation and led us to a lovely table in one of the dining rooms. There we were treated very well. Service excellent and food marvelous. This was a most unfortunate situation. Somebody better take a closer look at the Maitre D's and possibly give them more professional training.

Comfortable place with fast service. Quality and ingenuity in the Food and presentation of the dishes and abundant. Although friendly the service is not very attentive.

Lovely atmosphere and great flavors. The service was friendly, and overall it was a very nice experience. Would definitely come back.

Beautiful atmosphere, professional and welcoming staff, perfect service and elegant beverages for before our meal. We were a table of four and ordered quite a lot to sample. Not a weak dish in the almost embarrassing parade of plates. From welcome to departure our entire dining experience was positive.

My first time to Le Colonial in Chicago and I was very pleased. Service was exceptional, the menu was interesting and even on a Tuesday night, the place was hopping. Not cheap, but worth it. Highly recommend for a special meal.

This was our favorite restaurant during a 5 night stay in Chicago. We went here on the second night and immediately booked it again for our last night. Having been to Asian inspired restaurants in NYC, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, I can say Le Colonial tops them all. The dishes are a blend of French/Vietnamese/Asian style, done to perfection. We had a table on the “terrace” at the front of the restaurant both days. The decor, lighting, table for two, was perfect. Everything we had, from cocktails, small plates, entrees, and deserts was five stars. French Kiss, Old Cuban, and Smoked Old Fashioned are terrific cocktails. I must recommend Shrimp on Sugar Cane, Baby Back Ribs, Pan Seared Chicken Dumplings for the small plates. Excellent large plates are Chicken Curry, Roasted Duck, Sate Spiced Filet, and Noodle Stir Fry w/Chicken. If you have had these dishes elsewhere, the best is yet to come when you have them at Le Colonial. Must haves for desert are Vanilla Creme Brûlée and Warm Chocolate Cake served flambé. Yes, you’ve had these deserts elsewhere, but you must order them here. And don’t forget to have the Vietnamese Coffee. It’s unlike any other coffee! Service was top notch, be sure to ask for Francisco or Juan as your server.

A hotel guest of mine recommended this place if I ever visited here in Chicago. Luckily I saved this restaurant on my list to remember. We tried this fine French-Vietnamese Asian cuisine and it was never a doubt. I loved the venue, located in Magnificent Mile. The restaurant itself was very nice and clean. Our waiter recommended few dishes and one of them I tried. The chicken curry, forgot the name, which is good. And of course, my favorite Pho. I’m glad we dined here to try the place and it was perfect.

Consistently good quality French Thai food is the hallmark of this place, in an upscale pleasant and sunny atmosphere particularly if you see it in the main dining room. We’ve been coming to this restaurant consistently for over 2 decades, before they moved into their new location. We have always had excellent quality meals here, and for that reason we always come back. It’s the place where we bring out of town guests, and they always leave impressed and satisfied. We particularly love their tuna tartare, their curries with chicken and hallmark fried rice. But you can never go wrong with the noodle dishes as well! older staff are used to dealing with an educated client channel, that know what they like and are able to serve them professionally and pleasantly as well. They are one of the most well prepared staff of any restaurants in Chicago. We always look for the tables served by Jorge, which has been working here for many years (and he even remembers your name!). And for that reason, and many others we will always continue to come back.

When Le Colonial moved to a new location nearby, they went to great effort recreating the atmosphere that made any meal there feel special. From the moment the doormen usher you in, the high level of service begins to set Le Colonial apart. All the dishes were delicious and beautifully served. The green coconut curry rich with the perfect amount of heat. A leisurely evening felt like we’d been away.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch in a delightful setting... Having been to Vietnam, the food style and flavorings seemed most authentic to us. The appetizers were all excellent - the crispy veggie rolls, baby back ribs and yellow fin tuna tartare. For entrees, the Pho Bo was outstanding, as was the seared scallop salad. We diner on the terrace, and as the weather was picture perfect, the windows were open. The setting was perfect. Our service was prompt, pleasant and attentive. The tables are relatively close together, but we did not feel uncomfortable in any way. Overall, it was a great experience and I would highly recommend the restaurant.

This was our first visit to the new location which is dramatic and on one floor entered through an elevator. The food is as before-exquisite. Everyone loved their meal but we knew we would. The kitchen is always consistent and the rooms are glamorous. We are so lucky Le Colonial is in Chicago.

Vietnamese food for folks who think Sunday night chop suey is an Asian dish. A few sprinkles of cilantro and a bit of lemon grass is their idea of authentic cuisine. Everything tasted the same. The room itself is beautiful, and many middle-aged men were kind enough to take their nieces to dinner. I guess we need to call this a family restaurant.

Happy to find this fabulous restaurant. Celebrating a few things, it was the perfect spot for a celebration dinner. Vietnamese French - perfect! Lovely staff, beautiful space on the second floor and the food was quite memorable! Check out the menu .. we loved everything we ordered! Chicken - Fish - Shrimp - Veg.

Delicious and surprisingly affordable place for everything from light snacks to full entree and an excellent assortment of wines, drinks and more. We weren't terribly hungry, so we shared three small plates and each was better than the last. Service is excellent and nonintrusive while timely. I would definitely recommend reservations.

Different. You enter street level but go up one floor to the restaurant. It was exciting not knowing what was at the top of the stairs! Well, it was stunning! Warm welcome. Modern kind of flashy top notch atmosphere. The food was just off the charts exotic. Wine delicious. A bit pricey, but not complaining. Will def go back!

Excellent menu quality and service Our regular go to place A great lunch meal is several small plates and the dumpling seafood soup

I really did not enjoy my experience at Le Colonial . When we arrived the hostess took us to what felt like a seating area for overflow from the bar . We assumed this was for a pre dinner cocktail but when we realised they expected us to eat here we simply refused and this more or less set the tone for the night . The setting is impressive but the experience was definitely style over substance and the constant upselling by staff became boring. Portions are huge so please keep this in mind when ordering. We had the famous red snapper main that everyone raves about and it was disappointing to say the least , dry and tasteless. When you are using a knife to cut fish like a ribeye I imagine you get my point. We asked the waiter if we needed anything with the main and he recommended ordering more sides which we 100% did not need . The amount of wasted food was actually disgraceful and the famous take home routine isn't much fun when you are staying in a hotel room . Our meal cost $300 including the tacky surcharge and was easily the least enjoyable meal during my visit to Chicago. I genuinely do not understand all of the positive reviews for such highly priced mediocre food and service.

Went here for lunch with a couple of coworkers. We ordered a bunch of food to share and were not disappointed. The new space is bright and crisp and the decor is stunning. The waiter was very good and professional -- you feel like you're in an upscale restaurant.

The restaurant is really very beautiful, green plants, black/white photos of Vietnam, ceiling fans, beautiful tiling, perfect lighting. On the other hand it is rather noisy, especially avoid the tables facing the bar in a rather dark alcove or loses the magic of the place, (we refused the table and 7 minutes later we were in the veranda, great) The food is ok but nothing dazzling, very limited choice for vegetarians, 1 starter of very good rolls and a mixed salad with tofu that's it! The roast duck tasted good but without the crispiness we expected. The bill commensurate with the neighborhood (Hermès, Prada Louboutin etc…) I would conclude by saying that it is the perfect restaurant for lovers of beautiful decor (very) less concerned with the originality of the dishes and with a well-stocked wallet.

When I entered the reception area of the and the inside of the restaurant, my first impression is everything is well thought and invested: the picture, the scent, the long banana tree paper panels, the visit cards, the way the hostess dressed. Nothing can not be thought. The foods are amazing and authentic as a Vietnamese can tell. There are also some Chinese (eg. Fried dumplings) or fusion (eg. Brussel Spouts sides). All are delicious. This is one of the most high-end Vietnamese restaurant in the US or at least in the midwest or east coast that I have ever been to and experienced. The other side of my feeling is, the atmosphere and the service somehow gives you the feeling of “colonization”. This restaurant seems to be established with the concept the “colony” to serve the “empire”. All servers seems to be requested to guide guests from the “empire world” than the normalized world. For me as the offspring from the “colony world”, I did not find a real connection as they tried to guide me as if I were from the “empire’s world”. You can still find a dozen of restaurant as such in Saigon or Ho Chi Minh city now with the same interior design, taste, flavors, foods, but totally different vibe.

My out of town coworkers live this restaurant so we eat at Le Colonial every time they're in town. Everything went according to our usual experience. No more than 5 minutes after I paid the bill, while I was ordering an Uber, the manager approached our table and asked us to please leave because other people are waiting. I found this very abrupt and rude, and was embarrassed in front of my out of town colleagues. There has to be a better way to approach customers and say hey get up and leave! This was a huge turn off for me and very disappointing to see this behavior from the manager. We were not hanging out after we paid the bill. Extremely embarrassing!

Last night was our fourth visit to Le Colonial for dinner, and we were as pleased as the previous three times! The food, service, and decor are all top notch. It has quickly become our favorite restaurant not only in Chicago but in the entire Midwest. The food is always outstanding in taste and presentation; the service is friendly but professional without being stuffy; and the decor is memorable. We highly recommend Le Colonial, especially for couples celebrating one another!

Had not been here in a while but this was our favorite restaurant when we lived in Chicago. The new location is great, very spacious and has a large porch overlooking oak street. Food is still excellent and they have great covid safety measures. We felt quite safe in the open porch and it was not that cold. Missed the duck entree and macaroon dessert that we used to love. Hope they bring those dishes back. The shaking beef was excellent as was the chicken crepe appetizer and the Vietnamese coffee. Did not like the sauce in the banana pudding. Hope to be back soon. Recommend!

From the moment you walk in the front door, you feel as though you are in SE Asia under the French influence. Elegant, pretty, attention to detail. All lovely. The menu was so good that I had to choose by process of elimination rather than attraction. Food was excellent, especially the crispy Brussel sprouts and Bo Filet (filet mignon in satay sauce). The Peking duck was fine, but ranked #3 in our choices. There are countless stellar restaurants in Chicago, but this one was so good, that I will have it be a regular place to go.

What a beautiful restaurant to enjoy a lovely meal. Go early and have a seat at the bar/lounge if you can. The bar and restaurant are both beautiful and make you think of a time gone by. The food is excellent and there are many really nice options for a vegetarian or a meat eater. The staff is friendly, helpful with menu questions and overall excellent. Ask the server for their recommendation. Our table really enjoyed the crispy vegetable rolls and loved that the server gave us some advise on one dishes that could easily work for a vegetarian with simple modifications. Delightful evening and excellent food.

Amazing food, by far the best Tom Kha soup I have ever had. Fried rice was tasty and a large portion to boot. Complex flavors and a nice blend of savory to slightly spicy. Nice wine selection. The most memorable thing about this restaurant is the lovely ladies holding court in the mid afternoon. There were several tables of women eating, drinking and visiting with each other throughout the late afternoon. Great people watching.

Loved the atmosphere in the old place, almost like being in Hanoi 75 years ago. The new spot is nearly as good. Wonderful bar area. Food ranged from five stars - noodle dishes - to three - surprisingly, the duck... Service not up to the level of the food, sadly. Had to flag our waiter down several times. Still the best Vietnamese restaurant in Chicago, though...

First visit to the new location on Oak Street. Walking along the street past all the jewelers and designer boutiques set the tone. A smiling doorman ushered us inside. The elevator took us to the third floor hostess station where three young women in traditional Vietnamese dress greeted us, checked our coats and ushered us to a good end table in the dining room. As an aside, I think one's experience of the restaurant will depend a lot on where one is seated. The bar is dark, crowded and noisy. The dining room and enclosed terrace overlooking Oak St. are light, airy, and set the mood of 1920's French colonial Saigon very well. The menu isn't large and doesn't seem to change seasonally. The food is French-accented Vietnamese. Everything we ordered (an appetizer, a meat salad, 2 mains and a dessert for 2 people) from the cocktail to dessert was well prepared with perfectly balanced flavors. We were actually pleasantly surprised as the restaurant food was better than we remembered. Our waiter was helpful in choosing the right amount of dishes that went well together, service was smooth and the meal was well-paced. It was not too loud where we were seated at the back of the very pretty room. On a Friday night, it was well-heeled crowd with a mix of Millenials and older folks. At least 2 tables were celebrating birthdays. We enjoyed it.

Delicious food, stellar service, and stunning atmosphere. Heartily recommend for special occasions or to treat yourself. Pricey, but lovely.

This lovely formal restaurant does everything beautifully, including decor, presentation, service and food. I can’t say enough good things about my julep and glass of Sancerre, our mushroom crepe appetizer, or our main dishes — mine was a spicy green curry. Make a reservation, be on time, dress nicely, and enjoy. Prices are high but so is quality.

The food was quite good and the presentation attractive. The service was prompt and efficient and the atmosphere was evocative of the theme. The problem was the many hard surfaces coupled with a filled dining room made it almost too difficult to talk and be heard at our table for two. Also this was a major wedding anniversary and I guess I have been spoiled over the years by receiving some sort of recognition from the restaurant-alas not here. Why ask us if it doesn’t matter? In any case let me say that Dina our server did a nice job. Our Martinis were great and we chose to share 4 small plates which were beautifully presented and tasted great. We had Cha Gio (Crispy Shrimp & Pork Rolls), Goi Cuon ( Chilled Shrimp Rolls), Ca Song (Spicy Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare) and Ca Bam (Hanoi Style Monkfish). So the food & service moved it from a 3 to a 4 Star review. The noise and the lack of recognition (we have had everything from a gracious congratulation to free food from other establishments) conspired to lower the rating and means we won’t be going back there. I doubt they will mind.

Great food and a wonderful atmosphere. We were there over Thanksgiving and they were busier than usual. Reservations would have been appropriate in this case, as we ended up in the bar instead of the dining room. other than seating (our fault), it was wonderful.

Excellent location, very nicely designed, good service. The food is very good too, although not outstanding.

Rude hostess.She place us at bar at 12.00 at noon!Good kitchen but bad service when you have no reservation.

Party of 4 for dinner on a week night. Excellent window table. Food and service were first rate -- no complaints there. Moved down from 5 star because the seating feels cheek-to-jowl (e.g., difficult to scoot back your chair without hitting the opposite chair). Quality of the food/service almost makes up for this, but not quite.

What a pleasant surprise Le Colonial was. Gorgeous restaurant with high end colonial design. We dined on a Friday night and the joint was jumping. We ordered the whole fried red snapper, green shrimp curry, and chicken curry. The food was excellent and and had a complexity of spices that you would expect at a high end dining establishment. We also ordered old fashioneds. They were expertly prepared and quite boozy. Can’t wait to go back here. Pro tip: if you plan on dining here on Friday or Saturday night at a reasonable hour, make your reservations at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

Le Colonial Restaurant is a chic, relaxed and modern restaurant. I went twice in May 2019. My favourite waiter is Luis, who is kind and generous and knows his craft. He offers good recommendations and is very polite. I really enjoyed the beef pho, creme brulee and vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk (hot). It's nice to have company, as the plates vary in sizes. Best not to order on impulse but adopt a wait and see approach, so that you don't end up ordering too much food! 😊😋😉 Bon appetite 😘

Beautiful and atmospheric venue, sophisticated elegance. Excellent service. Top notch Vietnamese. Marvelous apps and outstanding entrees (red snapper house specialty recommended. Loved the green shrimp curry and shrimp stir fry also delicious). Can’t wait to return!

The decor is impressive and reflect images of a time when Vietnam was a French colony. The restaurant always is packed and because it is in high demand they inform you at check-in that you have the table for 2-hours which is plenty of time for drinks and a leisurely meal. The service is outstanding, but I felt the food while good didn't reflect the price. The shrimp on sugar cane (Chao Tom) was a major disappointment with little or no taste. The rice noodle (Banh Cuon), chrispy shrimp and pork rolls (Cha Gio) and Hanoi beef noodle soup (Pho Bo) were much better - the soup was our favorite. We will give it another chance and try other dishes to see why its so many people's favorite.

We visited the "old" Le Colonial several times and loved the atmosphere and liked its food. Today you will not gaze at the door expecting Catherine Deneuve from" Indochine" to arrive. Instead you arrive to a nondescriptive building and are ushered to the third floor business like. Even though they have transferred many of the old decor lacks charm of authentic replica of an era. The Menu is still similar and the shrimp in sugar cane magnificent as well as the baby back ribs in their signture hoisin sauce, but the beef steamed rice crepes were bland and worse, too watery.The prices have gone up along with the posh location and they have followed the horrendous American trend of fleecing the customer for wine by the glass. The tables are crammed and not very conducive to a romantic encounter specially in our case; we had a young lady eating alone next table and constantly chatting on a handless phone throughout the meal. The restaurant admonishes customers about proper dress but not on polite manners. The French touch remains, specially in the presentation of the dishes and desserts. Service was good but not great.

The lunch menu is appealing and proposes food and size for everybody's taste.The ingredients, flavors and texture are excellent, perfectly prepared and presented. I also welcomed that the decor, ambiance and service are reminiscent of another time and place.

Had a delicious dinner at Les colonial this evening. Great service and delicious food as always. I gave the Restaurant this rating because when we received the bill, there was a charge of 3% added called Restaurant surcharge. No prior notice and no indication what it was. When I asked the server, who was lovely, she said oh, that’s just additional price. It’s not a big deal, but it’s just really tacky.

Concierge recommend the resto while I visited Chicago for business on my own. The aesthetics of the restaurant wash very chic and 1920’s vibe. Nice, beautiful and fabulous atmosphere. The service was very friendly and professional. The food was excellent. Highly recommend anyone visiting Chicago.

Everything we ordered was amazing.. from duck to fish .. all seasoned perfectly. The staff was delightful and I would go back every time I am in Chicago.

This is a local restaurant, located at the Gold Coast Historic District. The service was very friendly and helpful, and the food was excellent. It is a lively place, a bit noisy, but you can get a bit of the local life in Chicago. It is worth a visit!!

We came cross this on a visit to Chicago last year and managed to get seats at the bar for dinner. Came back for lunch this last weekend. Three of us shared the dumplings and ribs, followed by the prawn curry, shaking beef and chicken stir fry, all of which were excellent. Highly recommended - the service was also very good and overall good value.

There are so many great Chicago restaurants, but Le Colonial is in that top tier of favorites (Oriole, Next, etc.). We have walked by plenty of times but never visited. I then had a friend mention that was her favorite restaurant, so we made a reservation. Le Colonial recently moved to a new location on fashionable Oak Street. Situated on the third floor, the restaurant is awash in light. The service is professional and attentive, with uniforms that match the Vietnamese theme. We had a lovely table. The menu is a bit overwhelming - so many great options. My wife did a bunch of research and we walked in knowing what we wanted to order. Our starters were the shrimp on the sugarcane and the monkfish. Both HUGE winners. The portions are small, so you could have even ordered a third plate to share. It was excellent. For our entrees, we had the shaking beef and the spicy shrimp. We loved the beef. Shrimp was also quite good. We paired that with the vegetable fried rice with the ginger chicken. I liked the rice better than my wife. Overall, this was an excellent experience. We felt like insiders, since it's clear that most of the people in the restaurant were locals. It's clearly a local kind of place that has served as the customers for so long. Le Colonial is an absolute gem.

We walked in at about 5:15 without a reservation and were kindly seated in the bar area where a table was reserved for 6:30. The host wanted us to "enjoy the table" which we certainly did. We ordered several small plates and each was delicious, especially the scallops. The restaurant is not easy to find, as it is on the second floor, but it's definitely worth the effort. It has a lovely atmosphere, and we felt so welcomed.

A celebration to great Vietnamese food with a french touch. We are in love with Pho, it has a lot of character. Chilled & fried vegetables were very good. And finally the duck. Exceptional with a ginger/tamarind sauce. The place moved to a larger venue in a second floor. Very nice.

Our recent Thursday night dining was exceptional experience in fine evening. This place represents the quaint essential Vietnamese experience, a fusion between asian and French foods. The variety of preparations covers that quite well and then some. Have no fear for vegetarians or vegans at this establishment, the dilemma is what to choose. The wine list is extensive and runs the full gauntlet of domestic and imports, with an accent on French wines. Our server (Francesto) was quite knowledgeable, and with his assistance matched us up with a French Rose for our seafood dishes that was perfect. Make a reservation as even on a Thursday night we had to get in early (5:00) as they were full. Enjoy.

We went for a special occasion. All the Beautiful People around us were there just for lunch. Tucked in with the Prada and Hermes “shoppes” on Oak Street, the location seemed just right for the experience. We saw several “name” shopping bags casually tucked under some of the tables. We love the San Francisco namesake, but this was our first visit to Chicago’s version. We were totally pleased, and our expectations for coddled delight were fully met. What can you say? Everything was elegant and smooth with ring-kissing welcoming. Starting with the warm reception at the entry, the greeting as we got off the elevator at the sunlit third floor dining area and finishing with Vietnamese coffee on the plush settee at the main bar fireplace, the whole experience was soothing and satisfying. Ambience is set with carefully placed orchids, potted bamboo, designer au dai’s and mandarin-collar jackets on the service staff. At table you could easily slip into your pose as movie extras in a romantic adventure movie. Something like Raffles meets Shangri La. But if your sense of political correctness gags at the thought of French colonial nostalgia, fear not. Le Colonial is pure gastronomic fantasy in a setting designed for the flavors of the menu and nothing more. As soon as we hit the lottery, we too would like to think of it as our place for lunch and just desserts.

Very creative dishes of vietnamese food with a touch of french class. Excellent service, elegant decor. Most enjoyable. Not cheap.

This was a great restaurant. I loved the ambiance and the service. We had cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, and dessert. See the pictures!

Wonderful food and excellent service in a very sophisticated inviting environment. I had a wonderful Italian wine to compliment the four dishes we ordered and shared. Waiter was super accommodating and very attentive. Food was tasty, perfectly cooked and reminded me of my time in Viet Nam. Great spot!

Le Colonial has been a favorite of my wife and me for 20 years. It was never the darling of the food mafia, but we loved the ambiance, the food, and the service. We were devastated when it closed last year. Although we were told it was only moving around the corner, we were sure it wouldn't be the same. We had dinner in the new place this week, and are glad to report that Le Colonial is back and just as good as before. They've done a great job in recreating the "old Saigon" ambiance. The service is expert and helpful. The food seems as good as before. There are some new items on the menu, but all or most of our old favorites are still there. My wife had chilled summer rolls, and a chicken curry. I had shrimp wrapped around sugar cane and a Vietnamese bouillabaisse. We enjoyed every bite. Our only criticism--they don't offer brown rice any more. Pity. Anyway, we'll be back--often.

This restaurant is amazing and worth the stop every time you go to Chicago. The sugarcane shrimp was amazing. We also got the yellow and green curry. They were so good and were richer and creamer than pretty much anywhere else. Everything was a cut above other restaurants and even the peanut dipping sauce was memorable. Wonderful ambiance and friendly staff.

My wife and I have eaten at Le Colonial several times at its old location on Rush St. and loved it every time This was our first visit to the new location on Oak Street, and we found it to be even better: the new space is more open and airy, the decor is unshowily elegant, the food is delicious, and our server, Guillermo, was very knowledgeable and helpful. We'll be back the next time we're in Chicago.

Le Colonial is a chain of Eastern Asian restaurants, usually with pleasant ambiance, good food and efficient service. We had visited several of their franchises, but this was our first visit to the one in Chicago. Located towards the North end of the Mile, it is surrounded by multiple high-end restaurants, shops and stores. It is on a second floor, with excellent security and friendly, efficient service. The restaurant itself looks tired, in need of an update. The food, while good, didn't match similar dishes we had enjoyed in other Le Colonial sites (Houston, Atlanta). The wine list was creditable, but not outstanding. Prices were what you would expect from the area, but in excess of what we got in terms of quality.

I was a steak and potatoes kind of guy until I discovered other delicious cuisines such as Spanish, Greek, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese. Oh, I still prefer pizza and Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs. But, in our travels, my wife and I have learned to enjoy other tasty dishes. Like Le Colonial, an upscale French/Vietnamese restaurant on Chicago's Gold Coast. Located at 47 East Oak Street, it is a romantic and sophisticated eatery in a row house that features a palm-filled dining room, balcony seating and an outdoor patio. Open from noon to 10 Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 on Friday, 11:30 to 11 on Saturday and 11:30 to 10 on Sunday, Le Colonial offers small plates and large plates to delight the palate. My wife and I started with rice noodles ravioli with Miller Farms chicken, mushrooms, bean sprouts and Nuoc Cham sauce, bowls of seafood dumpling soup and beef noodle soup and sesame beef noodles with grilled sesame beef, rice noodles, basil and lime garlic vinaegrette. For her large plate, my wife chose roasted mini-glazed Scottish salmon with Shiitake mushrooms, coconut lobster broth and boly bok choy with green beans and jasmine rice. I opted for one of the house's signature dishes, Cari Tom, consisting of Gulf shrimp, snow peas, zucchini, bamboo shoots and spicy coconut green curry broth. For dessert, we shared black sesame creme brulee and passion fruit cheesecake. Foreign dishes sometimes take time to get used to. But Le Colonial tastes like home cooking.

Famous French Vietnamese restaurant! Great romantic restaurant with excellent service and good food! A Chicago landmark if you’re looking for a quiet romantic night out with just the right atmosphere and a good conversation and atmosphere!

Had a 3 hour relaxed lunch with a party of 6. Everything was great. Wonderful dishes with unique ingredients and flavors. Atmosphere is top notch as was the service and food. So relaxing and enjoyable on a lazy winter Saturday in Chicago. The establishment takes some heat for its prices which is peculiar to me. If your not looking at menus and prices before you chose a restaurant then shame on you. To me the money spent was well worth it. Been here a few times before this trip and will continue to be a customer. Splendid.

Food was superb as was service and the drinks. Future wife had trout wrapped in a banana leaf while I had a pork dish (#25) with refreshing aromatic vegetable accents. The place feels and looks right for the food and the little bar upstairs is a fun escape. If she was happy and wanted to come back again someday to this place, then my own impression must have been right. I think this is in the top 25 places for me as a dining experience.

We had an excellent dinner at Le Colonial. The menu was very extensive and the food was delicious. The prices are somewhat high. The drinks are excellent. The décor is beautiful. It is a very high energy restaurant that gets a very attractive clientele. The wait staff were charming and professional. The location is excellent on Oak Street. We highly recommend Le Colonial

We were a party of five ranging in age from 80 to 17 We had a variety of food including beef, chicken and vegetarian dishes. All were presented beautifully and were very good. The new space is gorgeous and the service is excellent. Our waiter gave us wonderful suggestions. It would have been a perfect evening if they had only had different music. There is a lounge connected to the restaurant and they played techno music for the two hours we were there. Everyone in our party agreed that it ruined the experience. Too bad! We will not return.

So happy to go for dinner this evening. Patricia was our server and was a delight. Everything she suggested after we asked, was absolutely sensational! I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. So relaxed but upscale too. We will definitely return and we don't even live in the state. Drinks, wine, food, absolutely delicious!!

We go to Le Colonial every time we visit Chicago, which is once a year. They basically do everything right with no detail left to chance. The food and service is incredible and very consistent, the surroundings are spot on Colonial era Vietnam. I can not recommend this experience enough.

Choice of small and large plates. We shared three small plates which were ample for a mid-day lunch. The salad with minced veggies and greens plus chunks of grapefruit was fresh and tasty (we requested to leave out the lemon grass). The tiny egg rolls had a unique texture from the translucent wrap. Dipping sauce served on the side. Quantity was ample to share. The brussels sprouts were the best - crunchy, thin outer leaves with soft warm sprouts, flavored with lemon zest. Service was efficient. Our order arrived quickly considering that the restaurante was full at mid-day. Our waiter was friendly however he didn’t need to inquire how everything was « tasting » FOUR TIMES during the meal!

First time at new location. Still one of our favorites in Chicago . Rafa and his team are on top of everything. Food was great ( Shrimp on sugar can and crispy red snapper ) and good service . Keep it up 😀

Making a reservation was an effort! The phone etiquette is missing. I sensed rudeness in the voice of someone taking reservations. I should have not pursued it but I thought it was recommended by five star hotel, why not? Anyway, the ratings of this restaurant was a bit over the top. To have a reservation and left you standing at the corner of the bar for almost twenty minutes was totally ludicrous. Next, the food was Not impressive to say the least. I wonder what was all the rave! Every item we ordered it seems was totally loaded with salt. The waitress was on top of her skills. But, will I come back , NO. Will I recommend it? Don’t waste your time. Too many wonderful restaurants that you can get great service and enjoyable food.

Wow Le Colonial where do I begin? A Chicago native highly recommended the place so we called to make a reservation. Despite it being a Tuesday night only thing available was 4 pm. But as we were staying at the Peninsula Hotel, I asked the concierge to see if he could get us (me, my husband & teen son) anything closer to 5-6 pm. Peninsula Concierge was able to get us a 5:30 pm albeit “in the lounge” vs the main dining area which we said was fine as long as the menu was served in both. (The lounge area is adjacent to dining room it’s just the area with tables in the bar) We arrived @approx 5:20ish & another group of 3 were in the elevator with us. We informed the hostess that we had a 5:30 reservation for dinner (for party of 3) . The party of 3 behind us told the hostess they did not have a reservation but just wanted to go to the bar lounge area for drinks. That party was directed in, whereupon they found a small booth area near bar. We were led to a “table” in that same bar/lounge area. Although they managed to put 4 chairs around the table, it was literally a bar venue table. The walk in party of 3 behind us had literally secured a roomier area than we did (with a reservation for DINNER made thru an ostensibly “luxury hotel concierge” - not sure what this says about Peninsula Hotel’s prestige factor) Btw the place was NOT exactly crowded. There were numerous empty tables both in the lounge and main dining area, but we totally understand that others had made reservations so they were likely holding the tables . NOTE - even as we left @approx 6:50 pm there were several empty tables both in the lounge & main dining, so query whether they could’ve easily put us at any other table than the awful small cocktail table - especially where they knew we were a party of 3 for DINNER not just drinks. We proceeded to order cocktails & several appetizers to start. Although I was thinking that this small table was ridiculous to accommodate for dinner & was wondering how it was going to fit the shared plates we ordered. Sure enough as the appetizers arrived, they were clearly unable to fit all 4 on the table. Another server came by and insisted on “serving us” each piece of the appetizer into our personal plates (obvi bc he could see there was no way to fit so he wanted to try & clear as many appetizers as possible quickly) . This gesture was extremely annoying - we felt like kids where an adult was trying to ladle a portion into each kids plate. Now growing increasingly annoyed & wondering how on earth we would be able to order dinner dishes (the nature of this type of food especially is to order several different dishes to share family style) . I asked our server how we were going to order dinner at this table & asked to speak to manager. (Btw the manager had passed by our table earlier so he clearly saw our quandary but didn’t make mention of it other than a cursory “how is everything?” ) After flagging down a couple different people and explaining the situation, someone finally came by & said they would move us to a different table. They did - to one of the standard 4 - tops in the same lounge area. But the “transfer” (esp as my plate still had all my appetizers) was extremely haphazard. We ended up having to carry our cutlery & water glass ourselves, & they just plopped us at new table, which was bereft of any silverware, napkins or anything. I flagged down our server to ask her for a new napkin & silverware as I was still trying to finish eating but she was visibly annoyed & aggravated. (In fairness, totally get it. She was assigned to our table, no fault of hers that we as a party of 3 wanted to order several dishes & then due to my complaint we moved, leaving her to just clean up our old table but now we are at a different servers section) I’m sum, we managed to order additional dinner dishes & drinks, which all fit now in the bigger table. Because I truly felt bad that with Covid, shortage of workers etc & the whole ordeal, we just tried to eat our food as fast as possible so as to turn over the table quickly in case they had given us a table reserved for someone else. At 6:30 (almost to an hour of when we were seated at 5:30), we asked for the check. We even attempted to clear & stack all the dishes to make it easier to bus the table. It took them another 15+ min to get us the check. (Meanwhile we noticed a party of 2 that came in right after us get their check & leave before us. Another party on our opposite side were there still lingering with their drinks just taking up the table) All this aside - the FOOD is Phenomenal! We tried 4 different apps, 4-5 different entrees & several cocktails. All 3 of us loved every dish. So on that sense, this is definitely a must try restaurant! I’m truly not one of those individuals that only posts negative reviews on TripAdvisor bc they had a bad experience at a restaurant or felt slighted in some way. (To Le Colonial - if you read this review and don’t give a crap, that’s fine. But if you think I’m just an unjustified irate customer , I urge u to go look at my prior write-ups. The vast majority of my reviews are in praise. I take the time to do lengthy write ups because I think TripAdvisor is a great research tool for others and I personally utilize for research into places I’m wanting to go. ). So Le Colonial, if u think this is a biased unfair account, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to discuss with you & would welcome the opportunity to hear from you. In a few days we will be heading back to Seattle so I don’t fear that I’ll be dining there again anytime soon to repeat this ordeal. I did speak with the Peninsula Concierge to let him know because when booking future reservations for guests staying at this hotel, perhaps there needs to be better communication.

Le Colonial has moved from Rush Street to Oak Street in a beautiful new location. The food and service were superb. I highly recommend the eggplant and calamari. Le Colonial is a French Vietnamese Restaurant. We will return there next trip.

Four of us dined Saturday, August 31, 2019 to celebrate a birthday. We had been to Le Colonial a year ago in their previous location and found it delightful. This time...quite the opposite. We ordered a number (8) of sharable dishes, both hot & cold. Much to our surprise ALL dishes appeared at once. There was not enough room on the table to fit everything. We felt very rushed as we felt the need to eat as quickly as possible so that the hot dishes did not get cold. When I mentioned to the waiter that we would have wanted the food to be staged. He basically said "sorry" and shrugged. Very poor service Not certain if they wanted to turn the table quickly as the restaurant was full. But it certainly felt like the waste of $200.Dinner was pretty much over in 30 minutes. Guess we could have gone to Panda Express for much less. In addition, we went into the bar for an after dinner drink (as we had ample time for our next appointment). The bartender was smug, somewhat dismissive and bordering on rude. We will definitely take our $$ elsewhere.

We have been to Le Colonial many times thought the years and have wonderful memories from dinners at their old location. This was our second visit to their new place on Oak. The setting is very lovely and true to the old space. The menu, however, has been shrunk down and our two long time favorites were taken off, which is disappointing.m, with nothing similar to replace them. It's still a wonderful restaurant with a great staff and beautiful space.

It was somewhat deflating/sad experience for us, due primarily to unpleasant service We have eaten in Le Colonial twice before (in the previous location) and were delighted. Therefore, for our special guests, we planned a dinner at Le Colonial as the first exciting point during our trip to Chicago. Due to both our fault and bad service attitude, it ended up being a very poor outcome and a disappointment. - After driving for 5 hours, we had unexpected delay to check in into hotel, so we called Le Colonial that we would be arriving 15 minutes late. Since we could not get into the room, we called again that we would be 30 minutes late compared to the original reservation. - During the second call, the person answering the call was far from empathetic and actually quite rude (both in tone and the choice of words). Unfortunately, we still went to the restaurant. - When we arrived, despite our phone calls, Le Colonial had already given away the table. When I mentioned that we are fast eaters, they gave us a table in the bar area. - We gladly agreed, but were seated in a dark corner of a bar: unpleasant, extremely loud (to a degree that it was difficult to hear each other). - While we were aware of limited time, the waitress multiple times reminded us that we do not have a lot of time to eat. - I think the food was good, but not excellent, although I must admit that by that time the whole groups' excitement was gone and we were just trying to wrap up the event and not to say anything to each other about the food or the restaurant. The whole experience of sitting in a dark loud room and being hurried up dominates my memory. While I can blame myself for being late, it was also obvious that the staff did not care too much on any step. We left with quite deflated impressions.

We were traveling on a girls trip and happened upon this restaurant. The atmosphere is amazing and the food is even better! You must try to dumplings, shrimp skewer appetizer and pho!

Recommended to us by two separate people that live in Chicago. As the name suggests it has a great colonial feel with wonderful atmosphere. Our server Eddie was great and gave us his menu recommendations. Food was hot and spicy and delicious. Recommend a visit.

Recommended by a friend and boy was he right. Everything was wonderful and tasty. Appetizers, dinner and dessert were perfect. Great location and nicely done restaurant on the 3rd floor of the building. Great service as well

I was not entirely sure what "French Vietnamese" food was when I booked Le Colonial on a recent trip. Having eaten there now, I'm still not sure I really understand the cuisine or its defining characteristics - though that really doesn't matter. What matters is that the ambiance, service, food, and drinks were all absolutely spectacular; unlike any other restaurant I've been to. It's the type of place you truly need to experience rather than read about in a post like this in order to understand exactly what it's like. There's such a perfect balance of spice and flavor in the menu that makes each dish unique and enjoyable. If you're not a huge fan of spicy food, don't worry, there's something there for you that you'll more than enjoy. The restaurant is also rather lively, but without being overly loud, making for a fun yet relaxing atmosphere. Great meal, great experience, a definite recommendation if you're in the area.

I had a great experience! It is a beautiful place and the food was delicious! Wife has been wanting to go for a while, we finally made it and I loved it! Service was great and the food was very good. I am definitely going back!

We stopped here on a Monday on our last day of a weekend getaway. The decor is absolutely stunning! Ambience was great. We were seated near the windows where it was nice and bright. Our server opened the window per our request, so we could enjoy the weather and sights. We all had a bowl of pho and it was good, but small. We also ordered appetizers and cocktails, which were also very good. I would love to eat here again and try some other dishes. Overall, it was a relaxing meal before our 6-hour drive home.