Les Nomades Reviews

Went to Les Nomadss for a business dinner. The atmosphere was quiet and easy to have a private conversation. The food was fantastic. Make sure you have a soufflé for desert!

This is one of my favorite all time restaurants and both my fathers & his wife's favorite as well. My folks live in the Chicago area so can visit more frequently than I. Classic French style food that is always on and most creative with a very nice wine selection and excellent service as well. Yes, better than most restaurants in Paris today!!!! At an early Fathers Day celebration in June, we were eating Foie Gras, Seared Scallops, Peekytoe Crab, Maryland Crab, Halibut, Salmon, Flourless Chocolate Cake, & Apple Tart....Wow! Every menu item is sensational plus .....as I write this review, I can't wait until my next dinner at Les Nomades!!

We made reservations here on the advice of a friend. I was reluctant because of the price. But the flavors were out of this world. The Mushroom Soup was incredible. The tenderloin beef was so tender and delicious, my friend swears you don't even need teeth to chew it! Don was our server with great recommendations. A meal to remember for a long time to come.

actually knew of this place, had never been, found it by accident after long day in the medical center area. easily took a last minute reservation. best value is the before 5:30 p.m. three course meal for $75 per person. lobster/shrimp salad with mango was amazing, as was the calamari - have never had better calamari, chefs should learn this technique; puts the old fried calamari to shame. sea bass perfectly sautéed, light, flavorful; lamb and veal dish was incredible. desserts after above almost too perfect. who could do five courses here? service was excellent. one of my best meals ever, certainly the best of Chicago.

Our large group really enjoyed our food. The service was exceptional! For what it is, I think it is a 5. One thing on the lighter side. I felt like I was eating in a funeral parlor. It could be seen as romantic, but several folks in my group at least thought the similarities were funny. Enjoy this very dignified old place in all its formal stuffiness.

This was our first time at Les Nomades, and think it may now become our favorite fancy Chicago dining establishment - surpassing Tru. My husband and I ordered 4 courses for $125. We each had two glasses of wine, which were priced at $10 each, which were surprisingly affordable. For dinner I had asparagus risotto, warm lobster and shrimp mango salad, dover sole, and the coconut financier for dessert. My husband had the pates, stone crab salad, dover sole, and the hazelnut chocolate tart for dessert. The amuse buche of kambucha (sp?) squash was delicious, leaving us wanting more. The entire evening was delightful.

Small, quiet, comfortable, classy place with excellent food year after year. Salad with pomegranate is a stand-out. Great service, choice of different number of courses, and they will accommodate preferences, which is much appreciated, as is the complimentary birthday cake.

What an incredible meal! We celebrated our 28th anniversary here, and I’m so glad we did. The five course tasting menu was nothing short of excellent. We also had wine pairings which were fabulous as well. Fine dining at its best!

This is one of the best places in Chicago I have eaten in 30 years. Excellent food; prepared expertly; served wtih style and class. Keep in mind thought that they are glad you came to dine with them - they are not the typical snooty American French restaurant. It reminds me of the great Parisian places that are far away from the tourist locations. Excellent choice. I will return.

This was a birthday dinner and a once-a-year kind of experience. This restaurant is very expensive, but it's wonderful tasting menu is worth it, from start to finish. My wife and I started with appetizers of fresh oysters on the half shell and seared foie gras, proceeded through a salad course involving shrimp, lobster, and terrine of crab, served with delectable dressings, had entrees of duckling, sweetbreads, and venison, and dessert of soufflé and profiteroles. The wine list is super extensive, and not just expensive...there are several wines available for less than $50 a bottle, though many, particularly the French selections, are in three and four digits. Service is impeccable, not obsequious, and the wait staff is very knowledgeable. What the venue lacks in ambiance it more thasn makes up for in every other category. Plan to spend a couple of hours if you go the tasting menu route, which is really the only way to go. Haven't had French food this good and service as professional since going to Le Francais in Wheeling over 25 years ago!

I dined here as a party of 5 for a Birthday celebration on a Friday at 5:30 p.m. I can't say enough about this restaurant. The atmosphere, service, food, and dining experience all a 5 Star. Because there were 5 of us at a price fixed meal (appetizer, entree, dessert) there was so much tasting going on other people's dishes. Not one single dish bad all the flavors from appetizers to entrees, and desserts, all balanced in perfect harmony. All the wonderful extra tastings to clear the palette and extra dessert assortments made this my favorite restaurant in Chicago Excellent dining experience which made an excellent Birthday celebration for all.

I am tired of French Restaurants. I'm even tired of the 3 star ones in Paris. Yet if that's what you are looking for this one is met acceptable. Hot and cold running waiters. A hushed ambiance. A pleasant town house venue in downtown Chicago. The trouble with the cuisine in my mind, both in France and anywhere else is that much of it these days has to be prepared ahead of time and then reheated in a micro wave and you (or rather I) can taste the difference between what is freshly cooked and what remicrowaved. Also I find the sauces tiresome. I prefer a perfectly roasted fish (NOT overcooked) in butter and lemon to one sauced up. That said, if you like French cuisine, this is an acceptable choice. Go before 6:00 pm (make reservation first) and your dinner in less. 3 courses for $75 (without wine).

The restaurant was delightfully quiet and the food was good. Apparently it used to be a private dining club way back when. Beautiful and romantic evening!

I've visited this fine restaurant for over 20 years; it is without a doubt one of the finest in America. Started as a private club; it has been opened to the public for some time now. It is a little like a step back in time (Paris 1935?), but the food is anything but dated. This is everything that defines "fine dining"! The service and food are AMAZING; Roland and Mary-Beth are still very much in charge. My only wish is that I did not live so far away now or I'd be there with greater frequency.

I will say upfront that the price of the meal was a little over the top (at 125 pp) however, there was a lot of care put into the meals and their presentation and the attentiveness of the wait staff. We started off with and interesting corn soup amuse bouche. I think had the pate plate. The ratio of bread to pate was a little off but it was a great selection nonetheless. I had the duck which was very good and was accompanied by some great vegetables. Bread at the table also went well with dinner. A dessert amuse bouche of pear and mango was amazing. For dessert I had the raspberry soufflé and it was divine! The décor is very old world, not for everyone. It was a great mature dining experience.

Les Nomades is a wonderful special occasion/intimate restaurant. The menu is classically French but very creative and complex. The setting has a Parisian feel, tables are far apart and service is superb. The setting is romantic but also comfortable for non-romantic occasions. Have a good appetite when coming here!

The entrance to this small restaurant is almost unnoticeable - except for the charming garden at the front door. Jackets are required for men, excellent food, ambience, attentive staff. Although there were a couple of orders that were missed, they were quickly provided. The building is full of character and must have been a home at one time. There was even a non-working fireplace in the ladies room! Atmosphere was wonderful. Very pricey, but a very memorable experience.

We have been to Les Nomades a few times and always excellent. The secret to Les Nomades is to go on Thursdays when there is no fee for BYOB. The food and service at Les Nomades is always outstanding. We love that they offer cheese as an option to a sweet dessert.

We have talked about dining here often, but seem to go with the newly opened restaurants getting all the rave reviews. (That doesn't always work to our benefit). In the midst of the high-rises in downtown Chicago, you might miss this historic brownstone. We were greeted at the entrance, our coats taken and seated immediately. Exceptional, attentive service continued the entire meal. The thing that impressed me the most about this restaurant was that none of the staff was pretentious. From start to finish we were treated with top-notch service without being overbearing. While my husband and I typically dine at upscale, pre fixe restaurants without our daughter (11), she joined us for this experience. She chose three courses and the adults chose four. Between the three of us we had a variety of menu items to taste and all of them were delicious. While my husband is extremely good with wines, he asked for the sommelier for a recommendation between two he had selected. The wine list is one of the most impressive he's seen. The three-course menu is $90 and the four-course $125 (nice size portions), much less than we've paid in other similar establishments. With three cocktails, wine and coffee, the entire experience was $730 plus tax.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Les Nomades. The service was friendly and attentive and our selections were fine. So…what's the issue? Les Nomades is very expensive, with a modest bottle of wine for two you'll pay about $400 - $500. I just didn't feel wowed for that price point. The restaurant itself needs an update. It has the potential to be gorgeous, but needs some attention and a bit of a 'make over'. I couldn't help but feel that with some physical updates and some adjustments to the menu to add a bit more interest to the selections, one could have a much more positive reaction to this destination. Given the options in Chicago, I wouldn't return nor could I recommend the location.

There are so many things to like about Les Nomades that one lengthy review might not be adequate to cover them all. (1) You feel as though you are entering a Parisian home, a turn-of-the-century brownstone that DeGaulle might have owned. (2) The dining rooms at the 222 East Ontario Street location in Chicago's posh Streeterville neighborhood are adorned with stunning floral arrangements, beautiful Lalique vases, wood-burning fireplaces and original artwork. (3) Since 1978, owner Mary Beth Licconi and chef Roland Licconi have fashioned a romantic, charming space into one of the finest restaurants in the world. It is fine French dining at its best...magnificent food, impeccable service, quiet surroundings. (4) And for old fuddy-duddies like us, it is a wonderful step back in time to see the semblance of a dress code, jackets for men and cocktail dresses for women. Choose a four-course or five-course meal. We started with smoked salmon and escargot and duck consomme and warm lobster and shrimp salad. For entrees, we chose a duo of slow-roasted veal and lamb chop and braised Wagyu beef short rib. For dessert, we passed up our first choices, raspberry souffle and fresh apple tart, in favor of sharing the "assortment"--a plate of caramel ice cream, coconut creme brulee, chocolate mousse cake and lemon tart. Les Nomades is a great place to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary. From the moment you walk in the door, you have a feeling that it is going to be a dining experience unlike any you've ever had before.

Superb food and wine selection. Seating is a bit close, but works out well. Conveniently located French restaurant. Better for adults then children with their fixed price menu. They also offer a nice "early bird" special with a lower amount of servings. We celebrated a special birthday and it was very nice! This is the fourth time I have eaten there and I live 2-3 hours outside of Chicago.

We went to Les Nomades looking for a good culinary experience in Chicago. Les Nomades has by far exceeded our expectations! We are comfortable saying that this restaurant matches a 2 stars Michelin Guide restaurant in France (which are awarded to some of the very best restaurants). We went for the 5 courses menu ($145\person) and had a wonderful experience. Compared to other highly rated restaurants in town, we really enjoyed the quiet environment, great service, and truly exceptional food. Please note that this restaurant requires guests to be well dressed (jackets for men; cocktail gowns for women).

This is a great place for a special night. The food is excellent. While the atmosphere is formal (men need to wear a jacket) the staff are friendly and unpretentious. We had a lovely night here.

Beautiful brownstone with a quaint garden. Interior foyer had a lovely fireplace with a wood fire burning. Everyone was friendly and attentive without being pretentious. Every bite was delicious and the menu was sophisticated but we did not have to google every word. The staff presented every course with expert description. If your looking for a gourmet French restaurant that gets it right, you have arrived!

Wonderful ambiance to match the excellent menu. The souffle was to die for. Took my sister as a special treat for her birthday she was blown away. A must if you are visiting Chicago

No other menu compares to the thoroughness of this old-school restaurant that epitomizes fine dining in the true sense. Why travel to Paris when you can catch a cab (oops, meant lyft) here?

Simply put, what an amazing experience! My wife and I wanted a romantic dinner for our date night. We chose the five course meal off the menu. It was all amazing. Out of all the food, my favorite was the mushroom soup!!! I wish I could've had more of it. The service was perfect, very friendly and helpful. Huge wine list. I left very happy. I appreciated the dress code and that all men must wear suit coats or sport jackets. It helped make the atmosphere. I would love to go back!

This was our second visit to Chicago. This is fine dining; an elegant restaurant, experienced servers (more than 20 years in the front of the house), attentive, friendly service, and outstanding food. As were last here in 2006 (they keep records) this is not here today gone tomorrow overnight sensation. They willingly got a cab for us after dinner and after dark, which is always appreciated in large cities.

Les Nomades remains our favorite special-occasion restaurant in Chicago. They source extraordinary ingredients and prepare them with imagination and a gentle hand. The wine list is extensive and includes smart affordable choices and trophy wines. Service is remarkably attentive and skilled. This is a place for a magical evening.

This was our first time visiting this restaurant as it came highly recommended. The atmosphere and staff were very pleasant. It is a prix fixed 4 or 5 course menu with at least 4 or 5 options to choose from within each course. One of our guests did not want dessert so the restaurant ended up crediting our bill back for the cost of the dessert. Pricey but well worth a try.

Excellent menu with top notch execution. Outstanding food & wine service. Do not miss the Artichoke Terrine nor the Sweetbreads.

Wonderful evening and delicious food . They only serve a tasting menu but they offer numerous selections and generous portions .The Risotto is outstanding ! The lobster and shrimp salad is incredibly tasty. Very fresh fish selection and a great ending with a cheese platter . Overall a memorable meal and great discreet service . The restaurant is very quaint and intimate. Will definitely go back. We loved it!

Our third time at Les Nomades. The fois gras was delicious and bursting with flavor, the lobster and shrimp salad and the duck is a must as well as the grand marnier souffle. We have had a memorable and exquisite experience every time but, this time we felt that the courses came too soon. Our first waiter was too anxious to serve us right away and i felt that until we ordered, he would not leave us alone. It was our 40th anniversary and we wanted to take the time to look through the wine list and select without rush. He asked if we wanted champagne as soon as we sat down when we told him we had not decided, seemed annoyed. Finally we got the champagne as he suggested. Thank God that after that a different waiter took care of us. I don't know if we will be back because with all the great restaurants in Chicago there are plenty to choose that serve fois gras that I love. I would suggest more deliberate service but, maybe it was our first waiter.

This is the best French food I have eaten since dining at the La Table d'Eugene in Paris. Dining was one the finest experiences I have had in a very long time. Friendly, welcoming service was outstanding. We felt as though we were honored guests with family. The food was every bit as wonderful. This is an old school, elegant restaurant that has a local and hip clientele. Although it is very expensive, the experience is well worth the price. A fantastic place for a very special treat. I am looking forward to visiting again and again.

This was our first visit to Les Nomades and it certainly had the feel of a small quality restaurant. Everything was quite tasty and the service was excellent. Since we're not exactly foodies, it seemed that it was quite expensive. We did have an enjoyable time with our friends who love this place.

Excellent service above everything, excellent food, very quite environment if that's what you look for and perfect course sizes.

Six of us dined at LN. The menu is interesting with the option of ordering 3-5 courses. We all decided 3-4 would be plenty. For appetizers, the escargot got a thumps up with a “delish” comment. The foie gras was nicely done with a 7-8 out of 10. The warm lobster and shrimp salad was fabulous and got a 10, whereas the Salad Lyonnaise was 5 out of 10. The mushroom soup got a 7-8. For the main courses, the veal sweetbreads got a 9 out of 10; the roasted duck breast and confit duck leg plate got an 8; the special fish got a 9; the Wagyu beef got a 10. The desserts were very good — Grand Marnier and raspberry soufflés — chocolate desserts were absolutely yummy!

This is fine dinning as it was meant to be. The food is creative without being ridiculous. The wine selection is broad and deep. Cocktails are generous and made exactly the right way. The restaurant is so comfortable and intimate that the experience of dinning is a respite and a rejuvenation. We arrived at 6:30 and were seated promptly. We finished around 10:00. We were never hurried and never felt that we were waiting unduly. This review, as many of mine tend to be, is personal in nature and includes the occasional sarcasm or jest. I apologize in advance. Please do not take my remarks personally. I don't know you. The review is intended to help you decide if this is the experience you want and it is therefore important that it be read in the context of knowing a bit about the reviewer. The occasion for dinning at Les Nomades was the celebration of my wife's 60th birthday. The evening that I planned included the secret surprise of my flying our two adult children in from other parts of the country and having them at the restaurant to meet us. The maître d' was so helpful and accommodating. The entire event worked flawlessly. The week had included the not small tragedy of having worked actively in the election and losing. To say that we needed a warm family evening together to recover is putting it mildly. This evening was perfect for that. It was ultimately a celebration of my wife's birthday and of our family. This was due in large measure to this wonderful restaurant. I had requested a table upstairs, which is particularly intimate. I had also requested one of the tables in front of the fireplace (there are two fireplaces). This was accommodated completely. Our waiter, Don, was absolutely excellent. He commanded a small and unseen cadre of help. He checked everything before it arrived to be sure it was correct. He made sure that the pace of the evening was appropriate and assisted with the wine selection, which was daunting. Dinner is purely prix fix. You have the option of four or five courses. The difference is that with a five course meal you may choose a main course from both land and sea. With the four course option, it is one or the other. Cocktails included a Manhattan that was not too sweet; complex enough to compliment and not overwhelm the bourbon. I am certain the bitters are made in-house. My daughter had an old fashioned which she seemed similarly enthusiastic about. My son had a "whiskey and coke" which is-what-it-is and my wife ordered a glass of red wine. More regarding the wine below. Cocktails were followed by an 'amuse bouche' which was a complex soup/ bisque. It is just that, though... an amuse. If you are not familiar with this, you should note that it isn't one of the courses. It isn't intended to feed you, just to get you interested. And it does this marvelously. First courses included an artichoke terrine that is a signature dish and I can understand why. It is a triangle of the purest and most intense artichoke imaginable. If you don't love artichoke, don't order this (but one wonders why you are at a restaurant of this type). My daughter ordered fresh oysters. Despite the fact that Chicago is...well...the Midwest, we could have been in Boston considering how succulent and fresh these oysters were. My son had a first course of risotto that included pureed asparagus throughout the beautiful risotto. The scallop appetizer was for me and was sensational: crisp on the outside and exploding with scallop flavor on the inside. This was highlighted with bits of lardon on a tomato based reduction. And let's not forget the shrimp and lobster salad with wonderful giant cress perfectly complimenting the warm seafood pieces. We ordered main courses that included a combination of a veal medallion with lamb loin, accompanied by eggplant and a lamb/ thyme reduction. Wow. I love sweetbreads and the appearance of these on the menu, of course, grabbed my attention (anyone that enjoys sweetbreads will understand this). It was accompanied by slices of bison ribeye, rare to medium rare. The sweetbread was perfectly prepared - crisp on the outside and a soft, luscious interior. Please read the chapter "Why Aren't the French Dropping Like Flies" In the book "The Man Who Ate Everything, by Jeffrey Steingarten in order to understand why it is important to drink wine with this dish! Do not miss the Grand Marnier soufflé. There are a number of dessert soufflés, but why bother? Artisanal cheeses were unique and excellent with great variety. A selection of gelati and sorbets were interesting if you prefer something on the colder side. Okay; lets discuss the wine list. It is almost as long as one of James Michener's longer novels. Prices range into the thousand dollar plus area. They are from all over the world - France (mais oui), Spain, Germany, South America, Africa, California. I know something about wine, but I am no oenophile. I was moderately intimidated. A discussion lead by Don included an unembarrassing appraisal of price range that was not revealed to the rest of the table (pointing to the menu - "something in this range?"); followed by inquiries about taste/flavor profiles (dark? earthy? lighter? layered? etc...). We landed upon an excellent red, comfortably within my range (which was generous but not insane. I am unwilling to go deep into three figures, but I am willing to swim in the shallow end of that pool). We enjoyed an excellent pinot noir that worked well with all of the main dishes. There is a selection of wines by the glass that are also reasonably priced. Please note that "reasonable" is comparative. The overall result is as if spending an evening in a beautiful restaurant in a neighborhood of Paris. The room is quiet. The food is intense. I have been to France a number of times and although there are many excellent French restaurants in the United States, few are able to achieve that most exquisite level of flavor, aroma and texture that French cooking is known for. I feel that this is largely due to the ingredients. The French use little in the way of preservatives and do not develop produce for heartiness or ease of transport. They grow it to taste good. As a result, the fundamental ingredients themselves are far more delicious than what is generally available here. Somehow, amazingly, as if with magic, Chef Roland Liccioni is able to achieve this level of cuisine.

This a cozy restaurant and a perfect setting for our 18th wedding anniversary. The service was very attentive and also friendly, a good combination. The food is expertly prepared French classics everything was delicious. My only complaint would be the bread, I think a restaurant of this caliber could do better in that regard. This experience does not come cheap but it is worth it.

Been dining with Mary Beth and Chef Roland in varied establishments for 40 years. His innovative culinary artisnal interpretation of Classic French cuisine is beyond compare. Mary Beth's dining room direction, floral arranging, and superbly trained staff speak for themselves. Many also have been with her for many years and continue to serve us expertly with flair and attention to every detail, including crumb sweepers. A tomato gazpacho started things off as an amuse bouche. The tempura soft shell crab was light and delicate with an excellent dill cream sauce. On to the poached lobster in a vanilla cream sauce, wonderfully accompanied with varied fresh fruit supremes, whose acidity complemented the other flavor sensations. A peach soup with a quenelle of peach gelato was just the right palate refresher. Main course, veal sweetbreads and midrare sirloin. Whoa! Freshly brewed robust hot coffee accompanied Rolands amazing Grand Marnier Souffle. Finally a tray of jellied candies, chocolate moussey slices, madelines and pear macaroons finalized the evening. Visit for a special occasion or any occasion will become SPECIAL.

The exterior is lovely, but when we first walked in, I was surprised; it seemed unlike other high-end restaurants. The interior, while somewhat austere by comparison, is very quiet, with an abundance of fresh flowers and original art along the walls. Overall, the service was excellent, attentive, but unobtrusive. The meal started with an amuse bouche, and became more wonderful, particularly the entrees and dessert. My feeling is that the first course or two were good, but not great, although the later courses and the environment made for a wonderful experience.

I took my wife here to celebrate her birthday. The staff was amazing, very helpful and very personable. We started with sparkling rose which was outstanding. With the first half of the meal we each had a glass of Sauvignon blanc recommended by the staff and was excellent. First course was the artichoke terrine and asparagus risotto. Both were wonderfully prepared and presented. Second was the duck consommé and warm lobster and shrimp salad. Both again absolutely fantastic. Then we each had a glass of red French wine also recommended and was wonderful. And for the main course the roasted duck and duo of slow roasted veal and lamb. Hard for me to say which I preferred. The duck was truly amazing. And then dessert, pastry assortment and praline mille-fueille both again wonderful. All of the meal was so well prepared with amazing presentation and such tremendous attention to detail. The incredible amount of time and effort to prepare and present each course was noticed and so appreciated. The suggested wine pairing was perfect with their amazing wine selections. It was an evening to remember and will certainly repeat when we return to Chicago.

In the heart of Chicago with excellent French food. Service was exceptional with constant attention. A little pricey but worth it!!!

During our stay in Chicago, we chose this restaurant due to the positive reviews here on TA. The host welcomed my wife with a “Happy Birthday”, which was very nice. The prix-fixe menu provides a variety of choices, desert included. We chose a caviar salmon plate and the sea scallop plate as the first course. Both were very good and appropriately sized. Next, we had the warm lobster salad and the chopped romaine salad. The lobster salad was delicious. The romaine salad was disappointingly average and I wish I had chosen an alternative. For the main course we both chose meat, but fish was also available. The veal medallions and the prime beef rib-eye were delicious and prepared to perfection. For desert, I had the creme brûlée, and my wife ordered a chocolate soufflé. My wife knows a great soufflé and makes them at home. Le Nomades soufflé was done on top but the interior had not formed correctly and was mushy. She left much of it behind. Service during the meal was top notch with multiple waitstaff assisting our server who was terrific. To provide perspective, Les Nomades is a $500+ per couple experience which included our 1 cocktail and 2 wines by the glass. If you’ve dined at this price point or above, you most likely will have expectations. Given the narrow dimensions of the building, the dining areas are rather small. We were seated at the center dining area of this townhouse. Our dining table overlooked an opening where the waitstaff brings food from the kitchen and also returns dirty dishes. I mention this because the table where we were seated also had view of a rectangular table just beyond our seats where dirty meal dishes were accumulated and then taken away. This same table is also used to organize the food brought from the kitchen and then arranged per the ticket the server has in hand. Yes, the dirty dishes spend a short amount of time on this “out in the open” table. But, I believe at this price point, having this staging table in proximity to the clientele is not desirable. In Les Nomades defense, I could not see any area in the room where this staging could be better served. Not being able to see into the kitchen, I have to assume there’s no room in there for expo or service prep. In the end, it was a nice experience, but could have been even better.

Everything I previously wrote STILL APPLIES! We go for our anniversary every year and can’t wait to go back. We ADORE Les Nomades and appreciate everything it is. Cuddos and we’ll done. Thank you for another extraordinary experience.

I make it a point to dine at this place when we are in Chicago. The food, the service and ambiance are topnotch. I like how quiet, private and relaxing this place is to eat at. The food is consistently great. The souflè seems to take all my worries in the world away.This restaurant is the very definition of fine dining.

I found this restaurant online as it was highly recommended, and as a serious foodie, this was one of the most amazing meals that I’ve had in a long time for fine dining. The menu choices, the preparation of the food, the incredible flavors, and the service were outstanding. In addition, I thought the wine list was most impressive, with many choices and what I considered reasonable markups. My food was delicious, perfectly prepared, and I was incredibly impressed. I highly recommend this extraordinary restaurant for its perfectly prepared and food, service, and ambiance. I honestly thought the food and service were better than one of my former Chicago favorites from the past, Charlie Trotter’s in its heyday years ago

A delightful French restaurant featuring haute cuisine with modern twists. Fresh ingredients and excellent vegetable pairings. Wagyu short ribs and soufflé selection are MUST orders. Service is personable and unobtrusive. They punch way above their weight class. Pricey, but far less pretentious than many of its Chicago competitors. It’s all about the diner here, with one of the owners in the front of the house to welcome you as if you’re a guest in her home. Highly recommend.

This restaurant did not disappoint. The cuisine , as the name suggest, is very French. We did try to speak to the maitre D in French but he did not understand us, so obviously not completely authentic. My husband had the escargots to start and he said they were fabulous. I had the fois gras and the duck. Both again were delicious. We both had different soufflés which again were superb. Not a cheap evening but could not fault the food or the establishment. Well worth a visit.

Beautiful flower arrangements… I can’t argue with that. Food was well below my expectation. Soft shelled crab was not light tempura, but some hard crusty, dare I say corn based covering of a flavorless crab that did not express one drop of the delicious nectar of the sea, that should be tasted, contained by the chitin exoskeleton of the crab, which exoskeleton was non discernable from the hard batter covering, of the grossly overcooked crab. Other accoutrements on the plate were rendered useless. Assorted house-prepared pâtés were all very good, but could have been bought at a specialty store. Marinated King crab, endive, clementine purée, avocado….. fell short. I could not tell if the bite of King crab was marinated, and the dollop of crab salad was over salted and saturated with some sort of mayonnaise/aioli. The breads were nice. My sweetbreads were well sourced and cooked to absolute perfection, but the rest of the plate did nothing for me. Anyone can prolong the cooking of beef cheeks until they become soft and fall apart into a pulled meat texture, then flavored with bottled barbeque sauce. I detected no peppercorn sauce, and the sherry sauce tasted more like a sweetened grape jelly made into a sauce by adding a bit of apple cider vinegar. The vegetables were overcooked and drenched in the composite of sauces, sugars and salts. The cheese plate was 5 stars, but it was dropped on the table with no descriptions…. I guess our waiter wanted us to go home. Regardless, the Epoisses (one of 5 on the plate), soft pungent cheese was delightful with the green apple and red grapes. But they wanted to get rid of us, punctuated by someone turning the air conditioning real low to freeze us out of the room. I guess we overstayed our four-person $850 welcome.

There are - sadly - few restaurants remaining in America that serve the highest quality food in a beautiful venue with impeccable service. If you like French and modern Continental cuisine of the most refined sort, look no further than Les Nomades in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago just east of Michigan Avenue and a few blocks north of the Chicago River. It is the beautiful pairing of a talented chef and a lovely owner who assures that the service and ambiance are second to none. And did I mention the exquisite art and fresh flowers that are a prefect complement to the fine dining experience? If you haven't been to Les Nomades recently, make a reservation now, then take your time to savor a truly exceptional dining experience.

After some glitches the service stepped up — They can flat out cook — however there are some rough edges — all in all very good

Wow, what a bad experience. Don't know where to start. Room, dowdy, dated, ugly flowers and overall less than expected. Food, I sent back the first course, over fried and inedible, only to get a seafood terrine which was tasteless. Seafood salad was a few shrimp and lobster pieces with overdressed greens. Next course, forgettable dover sole and tasteless sea bass Next course, two overcooked meats, completely tasteless and hardly recognizable duck, awful. Finally, thankfully, dessert. a tasteless soufflé and burnt chocolate cake. The bread should have been a give-away; Cold and plain. Bottom line, don't bother, especially given the price.

38th wedding Anniversary came on October 25, 2018 Rochelle L. and Leonard E. has a very quiet evening dining on a cold but warmer evening in Streeterville at one of their most favor french restaurant called Les Nomades. Les Nomades is 222 East Ontario in Chicago. They returned again because of not just good, but great space and overwhelming great food for their palate. Rochelle L has a 4 course dining experience, and Leonard E. added an additional course. Each course left both of them wanting that to be a full meal.... Yes, keep that course coming..... Plats Premiers Hawaiian Ahi tuna tart, parmesan za’atar sable, confit tomato, zucchini, green beans, saffron sauce. The favors were transferred with each bit. The Hawaiian Ali Tuna melted in your mouth, asking for one more piece. Rochelle's Escargots, yellow tomato coulis, Roquefort cheese was enjoyed one snail at a time. The sauce the was surrounding the snails was supped up one by one, sometime accompanied by a crust of french bread. Les Poisso The size of Rochelle Grilled Scottish Salmon, wild rice, cucumber and beet salad, eggless béarnaise was much larger then Leonard's salmon in the previous course.. Leonard's Roasted duck breast and confit duck leg, Savoy cabbage, truffle corn purée, sauce Rouennaise.... make you him want more and just more ...... Les Viandes et Les Volailles Grilled romaine, warm goat cheese salad, pomegranate, Honeycrisp apple, balsamic Caesar dressing was Leonard's 5th course. One salad was teaser. They has to move on. avant le dernier cours (Before the last course) A rhubarb pear apple soup with a dollop of pear sorbet cleanse the palate for the next and final eating. Les Fromages et Les Desserts Fresh apple tart with green apple sorbet An assortment of candies and macaroons were place on the table. Calling in advance they honored the dining by presenting a little cake with a lighted candle with a plate written in chocolate saying "Happy 38th Anniversary ". Now the table has all the sweetness required for a sugar rush..... The service was well appointed for the evening and water glasses were never empty until the end.... The table was handled by Aaron, Erwin, and Edwin. The final course came with great conversation by Nicholas Butera. He was oversee the house that evening, Mary Beth was not seen, although Chef Roland Liccioni came to greet his friends next to our table. Les Nomades still holds-on to a very top spot for dining. Yes, The napkins are overly generous portion of material. Rochelle L. was well please with the selection for their anniversary.... Leonard E commented doing and after dining for 3-1/2 hours, they had not a care in the world. Shalom

This is a classic, high end French restaurant. Not a bistro. Not some chi-chi foo-foo pretentious Dexter's Laboratory but an elegant French dining experience. I never got a chance to dine at Le Francais in Wheeling and always dreamed of going. Once I discovered that the duo that elevated that amazing establishment to even greater heights were in charge at Les Nomades, I had to go. Am I ever glad that we went. Located in an elegant brownstone in the Gold Coast, you are instantly transported to another place and time. The service was impeccable and the food, AMAZING. We loved everything we had from the mushroom soup to the Grand Marnier soufflé . Was it pricey ? Yes. Will we go back? Definitely!!! Some chefs want your evening to be about them. Les Nomades serves excellent food with exceptional service that enhances your evening. Perhaps some people don't appreciate this type of experience anymore, but we adored it. Thank you Mary Beth for a memorable evening and we hope to see you again soon.

We found this restaurant looking for a special place for dinner for a special occasion. Les Nomades was a perfect choice. This is not a restaurant for non foodies! We've dined in restaurants all over the world and if you like European style, class and elegance you will love this restaurant. We were greeted very warmly at the door by the owner then taken to our table where we had excellent service. Our server was knowledgeable about the wines they had to offer, the food was delicious, beautifully prepared and presented. Our experience could not have been any better. We will go back as often as we can.

My wife and I arrived with a booking made by the Peninsula Hotel weeks ago. Unfortunately they had not made the booking. The front of house treated us with grace and respect and after 30 minutes we had a table. This is not a feat they can do at will but we appreciated their efforts on this occasion. The meal is classic but modern French and on this vacation in the USA it was the best meal we have had in four weeks. The service was exemplary being both ever present but never intrusive. The wine list is extensive with some fine wines including some Bordeaux first growths. We chose a second growth from Margaux but there is a full range of both local and international wines. Prices seem in line with other restaurants of this class. The main dining room is pleasant but not to detract from our experience it maybe best described as "understated". I strongly recommend this as a destination restaurant but do not expect the common experience where quantity swamps quality.

I had waited 3 years to find an opportunity to visit this high-end French restaurant, and finally had the chance to visit Les Nomades thanks to a gift from my employer. Reservations must be made by phone, and at that time I was tacitly informed that a jacket is required. Because the visit was a gift, I had thought to “check in” on FB, but the menu explicitly required that guests speak in moderate tones, and cell phones and cameras were not permitted in the dining area. The food was certainly good, as it should be for a $$$$ level restaurant. However, the entire evening was marred by the table behind me, whose patron had clearly not read the good manners fine print: I was subjected to two hours of raucous conversation, table pounding, and vulgar language including numerous F-bombs. Not to be prudish, but I was spending hundreds of dollars to dine in Streeterville, not hang out at a bar in Wrigleyville. After the meal, my wife exchanged a few words with the waiter about the boorish behavior, but as I was in the restroom, I was not even aware anything was said at all until later. One might say it is not the restaurant’s fault, but, if they are going to require a jacket, they can also request some better behavior if it is lacking. At the very least, I could have received an apology, but no comment was made to me at all. For a meal that set me back several Benjamins, it will certainly not make my list of delightful dining experiences.

First, the food was fantastic. If you're in the mood for a great meal, absolutely go. If, on the other hand you are also in the mood to enjoy the company of friends, go anywhere else. We have dined out with the same couple at least 10 times a year for many years and last Saturday at Nomades, we were "shhh'd" for the first time. The restaurant really isn't that quiet but the occasional laughter at our table was too much for management and they told us to keep it down. We're all in our middle 50's but we brought the average age down by a lot. Mostly old fossils who don't appreciate anyone enjoying each other rather than just the food. The place is a bit full of themselves. We made a mental note to come back when we're 80 and using walkers... To top off the evening, we waited for 20 minutes for our car at the restaurant's valet station. One final bit is the guy with the shaved head who seated us was smelled like an ashtray. Disgusting.

Highest ratings for cleanliness, professional and friendly staff and food! Staff was friendly and went out of their way for all their patrons. Food was excellent fresh and timely. Room was warm and well appointed. Cleanest restaurant I have ever been in. I could go into specifics of what I ordered etc but I find that too specific for a restaurant of this caliber. Critical reviews of this establishment reflect on the writers more than this restaurant. You wont sit around for three or four hours eating but do you really want to spend more than 90 mins on dinner on a Saturday nite?

Charming, cozy, small place, always beautifully decorated, with excellent food and service. Everything we had was good (sea bass, sole, apple tart dessert, espresso), though the bread could be better; the amuse-bouche pumpkin soup was divine. The only note of disappointment was no recognition for the birthday we mentioned when making the reservation (<an hour before arrival).

Perfection in food, service and setting. Very French. Old fashioned, wonderful cooking. Quiet, romantic room. Great for a special occasion.

The setting is lovely and quiet enough to have a good conversation. The food is well prepared--small portions but with an interesting twist. The downfall--the price. All meals are pre fix at $140 for small portions with no beverages. Bring your own wine? There is a $50 corkage fee!

Great atmosphere, low noise level, great food, friendly and very attentive service. Nice to be in a great Chicago restaurant where you can hear the others at your table without them having to raise their voice over the noise. Awesome experience!

This is the second time I've eaten at Les Nomades (third if you count a long-ago visit to Le Français). I love the classic French cuisine that they offer and the excellent service they provide.

My husband and I have been coming here for at least 30 years as frequent visitors to Chicago. My parents enjoyed dining at Les Nomandes and introduced us to this lovely restaurant. We particularly like the fish preparations. Sweetbreads are always outstanding. they've been very accommodating to serve as a first course.

Went with family of 4. Had called ahead to make sure they could accommodate daughter's gluten free needs. Was assured they could and they delivered in every way. She was able to order just about anything on the menu and they were able to adjust accordingly. Each course was delicious and service was highly attentive, Wine list extensive and prices in line with what you would expect.

We are from Chicago, have known the chef for years and are pretty well traveled as well. This is hands down the best French in Chicago and arguably the country. Classic high end French cooking of the highest order. I've spent a lot of time in Paris over the last several decades and this tops some of the best I've had there as well. If you have the chance to visit, be sure to splurge and do all 5 courses and pair the wines--you will be glad you did, you will enjoy an memorable meal in a very gracious setting.

In an American restaurant scene increasingly dominated by bean counters it is gratifying to find plain table cloths and Lalique light appliques with a subdued atmosphere, and attentive, efficient service. Where the various dishes are served at the proper cadence and well appointed. The food is excellent from the caviar surprise and foie gras to the roast duck or veal sweetbreads, going through the wild mushroom soup and ending with the artisan cheeses or souffle. All housed in a charming classic old Chicago building surrounded by those modern impersonal glass towers devouring downtown. Feels like an oasis of civilization in the middle of modern aseptic urban atmosphere. In the midst of this serenity one wonders about the future of such unique places. We were early and the clients were past their social security deadlines. Yet, our confidence for a surviving future grew as the evening progressed as younger generations kept coming with the advancement of time. The price is not economy class, but given the quality of food, service and setting it is much better value that similarly priced or ranked Chicago restaurants. Indeed, at a par with some of the Michelin starred restaurants in Western Europe. A place we intend to revisit in our trips to the windy city.

On the plus side the asparagus risotto was stunning however the rest of the meal was average. Duck breast was overcooked when pointed out there was no response The course's come very quickly which detracted from the experience it would seem most are pre made otherwise not sure how you could possible serve in such a short time and seemed to be a race and in the end we asked them twice to slow down Whilst the requirement of jackets for men is a nice touch but that really where the refinement ends they are pretending to be something they are not.

Dined to celebrate a birthday. Visited here many years ago and still top notch. Small, formal dining areas with beautiful floral arrangements and nice lighting. Service is excellent. Food in visually small portions but excellent and filling. Lobster salad, halibut, and short ribs were excellent. Excellent wine choice affirmed by server. Soufflé is a must. Mocha was delicious. Very enjoyable evening. Appreciated the side by side seating in a booth. Wonderful birthday dinner.

From the moment we arrived and saw the fabulous old brownstone Les Nomades converted we knew the evening was going to be special. The food was marvelous, atmosphere and service was second to none. Wonderful wine selections for every course completed a great evening.

Service was excellent and very attentive. The seafood salad and paella were top notch. The entrees were a bit of a let down in so far as they were barely warm. Delicious but either sitting around for awhile or something. The food comes out fairly quickly so maybe it's done in batches. The soufflé must be the best I've ever had. Given the price I'm going to rate them one notch down from excellent.

Les Nomades is in a beautifully decorated town house in downtown Chicago. The food was inventive and flawlessly prepared/presented. The linens were absolutely first rate, a welcome change from the ubiquitous trend toward bare (and loud) tables. The service was among the most professional we have encountered, yet never stuffy. We selected the four-course menu, which included unusual pairings of ingredients and unfailingly excellent preparation. This is a restaurant whose quality you will encounter only rarely - don't miss it!

My wife and I enjoyed our wedding anniversary at Les Nomades—-again. We have been there for the last number of anniversaries and have had great times each visit. The staff is great and is a very close second to the wonderful food and wine. We were presented with an after-dinner anniversary dessert that recognized the number of years we have been married. Les Nomades richly deserves all the rave reviews it gets. We hope to return many times.

OK, simple story here - Chicago has many, many offerings. Why would I go to Les Nomades twice in 4 nights? It is that good. Service is superb and the food choices and quality are outstanding. It is not the typically pretentious French eatery and the servers are helpful but respectful. Nice quiet ambiance, relaxed, they will move quickly if you signal so or move at your pace - they are very good at reading this. They offer a fairly arrow set of options on a prix fixe menu but there is enough choice to please a group of different eaters.I am truly fortunate (financially) that I do not live in Chicago and only get there 9-10 times per year.

It has been written that French restaurants are on the decline in Chicago and I suppose it is regrettably so. But If you are looking for the best in French cooking and ambiance, look no further than Les Nomades at 222 East Ontario Street in downtown Streeterville. It has been several years since we dined at Les Nomades, before Roland and Mary Beth Liccioni moved from Le Francais in Wheeling in 2000. This is a grand partnership. They ran the famous Le Francais for 10 years as husband and wife. They are no longer married but they run a taught ship at Les Nomades. Mary Beth, who purchased the restaurant in 1993, is recognized as one of the top 10 pastry chefs in the world. Roland, the chef, has fashioned a magnificent menu and one of the greatest wine lists in the world. And what an atmosphere! Les Nomades is situated in a flower-filled brownstone with fireplaces and a luxurious Parisian decor. Les Nomades opened in 1978 as a private club, membership by invitation only. It went public in 1996. Under the Liccionis' stewardship, a four-course meal costs $115, a five-course meal costs $130 and, if you arrive no later than 5:30 p.m., you can enjoy a three-course meal for $65. No matter what you choose at the AAA 5 Diamond restaurant, you won't be disappointed. For starters, we selected escargot and smoked salmon tartare roulade and Alaskan King Crab leg. We also opted for mushroom soup and warm lobster and shrimp salad. For entrees, I chose the sauteed Alaskan halibut over the grilled Scottish salmon. My wife was very satisfied with the slow-roasted veal and lamb loin. Dessert may be the most exciting course of all. But what to choose? Raspberry or Grand Mariner or hazelnut souffle? Gluten-free coconut cake with raspberry sauce and passion fruit raspberry sorbet? Warm flourless chocolate cake? Warm chocolate praline tart? Fresh apple tart with green apple sorbet? Napoleon never had it so good.

I was visiting a longtime friend in Chicago and he wanted us to go to Les Nomades, a place I had not heard of before notwithstanding my many visits to Chicago. It's fixed price for four or five courses, jacket required (no tie necessarily) and diners are asked to speak softly. A truly amazing meal in quality, diverse choices, and professional but nonobtrusive service. Among the highlights: the lobster salad and the flourless chocolate cake. Highly recommend it.

Three of us dined at Les Nomades on a Saturday night and it was one of the best meals of my rather decadent life. There was not one aspect of this dinner that was not excellent or better. This is haute cuisine for sure. Everything we ordered was prepared perfectly (I had perhaps the best foie gras ever, only problem was the small portion) the sweetbreads and bison was to die for! The wine list is excellent and they had everything we ordered from it (which were good values). I was surprised by some of the negative reviews I had seen and now I am suspicious of them as this was quite nearly a perfect dinner experienced by three discerning diners.

Being a total food freak and traveling constantly to major cities, we search out some of the best foods, and restaurants, well first jacket required, didn't have one on , had a brand new 90.00 shirt on, so they provided the jacket, well what if I had my own jacket on and got hot, if I take it off do they not serve me? Silly rule, But onto the food, my sweet breads, very dry, way to mucht other junk on the plate,almost seemed deep fried rather than sautéed. The lamb, huge piece of grissel and so strong flavor it over powered the veal loin, which also was over cooked and dry, the apps, were delicious though, mushroom soup with a white truffle foam was to die for good,my asparagrass risotto, also wonderful, dessert soufflé , was almost like a soup, way to wet. Not being told, we took the starter glass of champagne, and bottled water, whoop now, maybe they should have told us it was 50.00 bucks, like ouch, they made it seem as if it was a comp,NOT, so for the money ,, way to much, and have had way to much better food for much less, Probably should have tried the fish.

Lots of character in this old mansion. We chose the wine pairing which I highly recommend. Food was excellent and the service matched.

From the moment you walk into Les Nomades, strike up a conversation with owner, Mary Beth, and sip your first glass of Champagne, this restaurant transports you to another time period. Everything from the surprise from the chef through dessert brings your taste buds to heightened levels. The wine list is extensive and thoughtful. When you leave after dinner you want to check your calendar and create the next time.

My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Les Nomades. We are experienced travelers and diners and our meal on this evening rates as one of the best (perhaps top5) restaurants. The prix fixe menu had a lot of unusual and beautiful offerings. Every course had a beautiful presentation. The service was attentive but everything was paced beautifully. They have a great wine list. After dessert they presented us with a small chocolate cake with a candle with happy anniversary and the year written in chocolate. We also had a plate of of small sweets after dessert! The restaurant was formal but not stuffy, with a warm and friendly staff that made this a most memorable evening. It is expensive but it it as well worth it.

I had the best meal of my life last night at Les Nomades. Fantastic service and delicious food. The wine pairings made each dish even tastier

Definitely more towards classic French cuisine. Nice ambiance. The food was good, but to me, the service far outshined it. Atmosphere is comfortable with well-space tables, nice lighting, etc. Very uncommon today, it was also really, really quiet. Service was some of the best I've experienced. Very engaging, knowledgeable, and efficient. Could not have asked for anything more. We went with the 4-course which was plenty of food for us. I went with two of the specials that night: the white asparagus with morels and hollandaise and the Dover sole with brown butter along with two items from the menu: Lobster and Shrimp Salad and a Grand Marnier Soufflé The asparagus and morels were disappointing. I found the asparagus to be a bit undercooked and woody while the hollandaise was really foamy, but lacking the velvety texture and slight tartness that I like. Morels were really good. Lobster salad was nice. Fresh greens. Lobster served warm. Mango dressing really good. Dover Sole - Didn't care for it. Brown butter sauce was on the oily side and the fish was slightly overcooked for my taste. Souffle - I've never seen a soufflé rise that high before, but it was a sight to see. It had a nice and light Grand Marnier flavor. I thought the texture of desert was quite good. All in all, it was a good dinner, but an expensive dinner. If you value service, you will love it here.

This is a really elegant venue. The service is top shelf and quite attentive and the food is delicious. It is no wonder that it has so many positive reviews. A special hint: if you arrive before 5:15 pm there is an early menu option that offers 3 courses for those with time commitments, but anyone can have it if seated by 5:15. Love this restaurant and will definitely return again.

Meal in and meal out, year in and year out, never a miss, never a failure. Our recent dinner was no exception. There were only two of us, and we were able to sample six different wines. Very few restaurants in the world have single pours of this caliber. The pairings were perfect for each course. We each ordered different meals. The quality of the cuisine and presentation was faultless. The service from long-established wait staff as well as new trainees shows the attention of an experienced hand at the front of the house. Restaurants come, and restaurants go. There is always the new hot spot and the great new chef who moves on six months later. We leave for Paris next week and will be quite happy if we do nearly as well there as we did at Les Nomades. It is one of those restaurants that is really worth the price.

A haven of quiet elegance near the Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. Within walking distance of many hotels, from Marriott to Starwood to Hyatt to Hilton. Champagne offered on arrival Extensive wine list. Small portions with concentrated flavors. Fresh garnishes with flavor complement main ingredients Staff attentive while encouraging a leisurely experience. Early seating allows a 3 rather than 4/5 course experience. Wild mushroom soup and fresh halibut were complemented with fresh fruit plate as dessert. A classic venue coming back after a few years of less attentive management

Les Nomades is your classic old style French/American restaurant in the heart of Chicago. The menu is fixed price ($130 or $145) depending on whether you want just a meat or fish course or both. The appetizers are well crafted and it's good to see foie gras back on the menu. Traditional duck breast, steak, etc. for meat and salmon, haibut, etc. for a fish option are well prepared and served with a great deal of style. And, do not forget the soufflé for dessert! The wine list is extensive and the ambiance is old world quiet and subdued. I highly recommend Les Nomades if you are in Chicago and seeking classic, traditional French/American fare.

Wonderful location, food and service. Classic French menu, fabulous attentive waiters,great winelist and extraordinary food. We went for our anniversary and were very pleased. Definitely will return.

I'm lucky enough to travel and eat at nice restaurants on a regular basis. Having said that, this was honestly one of the best meals I have ever eaten. It surpassed many of the meals that I've had in Paris. The menu was innovative and the flavor so were exquisite. Everything was cooked to perfection. The seared foie gras literally brought tears to my eyes. The service was impeccable. The prix fixe menu for 4 courses was $118 and worth every penny. If you want to splurge on a fancy meal, this is the place.

I had the most excellent time here and was treated extraordinarily. My guest and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal and our wine. It was a special treat to eat here and I can't recommend enough how wonderful this restaurant is.

I made a Thursday night reservation two weeks in advance. The occasion was my anniversary. We showed up on time and found the restaurant closed. When we dialed their phone number, a woman answered and confirmed our reservation but informed us that they were closed for the evening and didn't even offer an apology for not calling us to inform us of the closing. The valet said that at least twenty diners from the previous night had shown up and similarly found the restaurant closed. For restauranteurs as experienced as the Liccionis it's hard to justify such unprofessional conduct.

This elegant townhouse-- almost hidden- is small and reeks of elite. If you don't like a formal fixed prix menu, stay away. But after the initial gulp at the price, we settled in and enjoyed every single dish immensely. We had a glass of good champagne, a modest model of wine- and our bill came to over 400 dollars. So there, I've said it- and now you are forewarned. But would we do it again ? Yes...Each course was delicious- we had four, not five- and were stuffed. The piece de resistance, as they say, was the Grand Marnier Soufflé- ( they do several flavors) which was perfect, huge and beyond scrumptious. I wish I could just go there and have a couple of those.. Anyhow, the rooms are tasteful, simple, very French- the upstairs is a little cozier, but both floors are similar...and everything is cooked to perfection. Our waiter was very competent, but not particularly friendly. I would have guessed he was French- but he was not. He had just copied the style I suppose ( or been selected for it). I think he cracked a smile once. Still, the overall professionalism of the operation echos the great French restaurants of yesteryear in the United States ( and still present in Europe). No reason by the way to call out our individual dishes- everything was perfect.

For the past few years this has been one of my favorites in Chicago. No more- this place has now turned into the stereotypical French snobby place who feel there is no other place as good as they are. After eating here 9-10 times the past 5 years I can say the food is still great. But the attitude of the owners and especially the servers had become quite arrogant.

This a beautiful restaurant for a special occasions. It located of Michigan ave in a little brown/grey stone. You feel that you are ding in France.

My family celebrated my parents 60th wedding anniversary here. We were very disappointed. My parents were at one time annual travelers to Paris France each September to celebrate their wedding anniversary. It made sense to celebrate their anniversary here. I have to agree with jonofPatz from Le Bugue, France in his review (May 18, 2017) which he stated Les Nomades "was on life support or DOA." No truer words from a French chef. Food servings were minute, maybe satisfying enough for an anorexic. Food was tasty but insufficient. I thought the grand marnier soufflé might be the redeeming finale but the desert was tasting of alcohol. Not like Jovans was back in 70's and 80's where you tasted the grand marnier flavor but not the alcohol. God, I wish we still had Jovans still around. This place doesn't come CLOSE to Jovans. And the gratis desert, a chocolate cake, which couldn't feed two people marked their 50th anniversary- off by 10 years. They couldn't even get that right.😞 Don't celebrate a cherished event that could be well spent at another deserving restaurant. Recommend Le Forge Restaurant Paris France. My parents favorite. Les Nomades doesn't hold a candle to it. Ambience-not french at all. The truth hurts.

We dine at Les Nomades whenever we are in Chicago. This is the one place we always visit, and we have been going for 25 years. This is what fine dining should be. The food is wonderful. The sauces and combinations of flavors in each dish make the food something to really savor and enjoy. The same Maitre d' has been there for many years. He is truly a professional and helps make the experience what it should be. The floral arrangements in the restaurant are just beautiful, and we always enjoy them. This is where you go for a truly lovely meal. It is so hard to find restaurants of this caliber with the attention to details. Dinner is not inexpensive, but it is well worth the price! Around $400 for two with wine, and 3 to 4 courses each.

Loved Les Nomades ( pronounced Lee Nomaade, meaning The Nomads ) in every aspect.The service was impeccable, The server was very attentive, yet not intrusive and asked us if we wanted to change the seat as we had noisy neighbors but we were fine. He helped us chose the various options from the set menu and his recommendations were perfect. The slow roasted veal and lamb duo were amazing as were the duck while the souffles are among the best. They have a good collection of Chablis and other French Wine. Would love to go here again!!!

This is definitely a special occasion place perfect for an anniversary dinner. It’s quiet, cozy, upscale and the food is delicious. Located in the Streeterville area in an old Brownstone. Wait staff goes beyond in service - in fact it feels like you are outnumbered there’s so many attending to you. Menu is French with wonderful options. We opted for the 4 course prix fix. Escargots and fois gras to start, warm lobster salad and wild mushroom soup, the duo of veal and lamb loin were all stand outs. The grand marnier soufflé is wonderful! We did a wine pairing and I felt they were very generous, even giving my husband an extra pour. Prices reflect the food but felt it was totally worth the splurge. Loved the art on the walls as well. Chef Roland even came out of the kitchen to say hello. Wish we’d thought to check to see if they had valet parking - spent way more in a parking garage.

Set in a completely charming 2 story building, the ambiance is perfect. Service was wonderful, everything about this place is classy. A lovely throwback to a genuine dining experience - ah! Best kir royals in the city and a wonderful wine list. Fixed price for 4 or 5 items. Best dish to me was the asparagus risotto. Lyonnaise salad missed the mark as did the Dover sole that had a carrot sauce on it so I wasn’t sure what I was eating. Soufflés were served beautifully. This is a quiet, simply lovely spot but some of the food preparations were disappointing.

Les Nomades carries on the finest French tradions in French cuisine and offers either a four- or five-course menu with great options. Located two blocks east of Michigan Avenue in Ontario Street, this is a real gem. Requires a jacket for men.

Have dined at Les Nomades for a number of years with close friends who meet in Chicago every December. If you want loud, edgy and "out there" it isn't for you. The room is beautiful, the art stunning and the staff impeccable. The menu is beautiful and an evening here is far more than simply "eating out." We have had countless meals at the finest dining establishments in Chicago and Les Nomades remains our ultimate destination of choice. Classic dining at its best. Please, please, please, don't every change.

An awesome place for a romantic dinner in downtown Chicago. There are a lot of great restaurants here, but compared to some of our other favorites, this one is quieter and the tables aren’t squeezed together. Jackets are required but it isn’t stuffy. It’s a fixed price menu which we don’t usually go for, but plenty of great choices. Adding both a meat and a fish course is only an extra $15 but unless you’re under 30 or extremely hungry, you’ll be very satisfied without the extra. Oh, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Opus Overture red sold by the glass, a treat!

What a find! We stayed in the EMC2 hotel literally right next door and decided to have a night cap there, from there we decided to have dinner the next night with another couple. Owner, Mary beth? Was there at the front both nights greeting guests. Not only were they welcoming but remembered us from the night before and excited we could return. We felt like family honestly. Despite the dress code of a jacket required the atmosphere didn’t feel pretentious or stuffy because of this. Service was excellent and very willing to assist. Our waiter, Carlos, was very helpful and fun. He wanted us to have a great meal and not just a good but great experience. On to the food... the menu works as a 4 or 5 course meal and can choose each course. There are a lot of options. Everything we had was excellent, two stand outs were the beef short rib and duck. The grand mariner soufflé was very good but the flourless chocolate cake was to die for! They have a very extensive wine list also to choose from, however more on the expensive side. If you are looking for an excellent meal with a traditional welcoming/romantic feel this is your place. I’m so glad we stumbled upon this place and will definitely be returning the next time we are town!

We have wanted to have dinner at Les Nomades for a long time and finally were able to fit it into our schedule on a Thursday evening. We knew it was going to be more expensive than what we normally spend, but we felt it was going to be worth is as we have been away from France for almost a month and were looking for a taste of home. However upon arriving at the restaurant, I knew that this was anything but a traditional French restaurant. First we walked into the dining room and felt like the room was devoid of any emotion, The servers were walking around stiffly and did not seem to enjoy their jobs. Then within not more than one minute after getting seated, we were abruptly asked did we want a Champagne or a Kir, without any wine list or even a welcome to our restaurant, etc. I felt hurried and rushed all evening long, where in France I am use to a meal like this taking two to three hours where as I felt like we were at a fast food joint. The food was good but not great and very overpriced for the quality. The wine list was adequate but again emphasized the most expensive bottles instead of providing a broad range of French appellations with a variety of prices. All said I was extremely disappointed with our meal and will never return to this restaurant.

Service was what you would expect from high end restaurant. Food solid but other than Sautéed foie gras which was exceptional; nothing was all that special. Wine mark-up seems pretty extreme. Figure at least $200 per person. I have had many better meals for half or more than half less in Chicago.

Normally, we are not fans of "set course" menu only, but we decided to try it and took the 4 course meal plan. There were plebty of items to choose from, so we were all set. The food was very tasty and service superb. Only come here for VERY special occasions. We celebrated our anniversary but they just offered a VERY SMALL piece of chocolate cake with no writing on the plate!

My husband and I just had another glorious evening at Les Nomades. We were treated like royalty from start to finish. Everything was wonderful, but especially the duck, which we'd had before and loved once again. We love the elegance, the unpretentious atmosphere, the concern over the details of a meal, and of course, the food, which is exquisite. For a special occasion, it's absolutely our favorite restaurant in Chicago!

Our recent tasting meal, our first visit ever, was a trip back to Chicago fine "French" dining of the 70's, but with the addition of foam. The Foie gras is justly renowned and was a great starter. The lobster salad was delicious as was the venison/ sweetbread entree. Desserts did not disappoint. Service was, as to be expected at this price point ,very good. There are reasonably priced choices on the wine list. All in all a nice venue for a special occasion

Absolutely outstanding!! The food was perfect from presentation to taste. We did wine pairings (~$72/person) and they were spot on with some very interesting twists and takes on the pairings. As noted it is expensive, but worth the experience for a special occasion. Love the dress attire, it's so nice to actually get dressed up for a night out, brings the whole experience to a level that is sadly, becoming a thing of the past.

The headline tells everything. The service was excellent, attentive, but not too much. Food was good, but portions were quite small. Just when we were starting to enjoy a dish, it was all gone. Value for money was terrible. Having recently lived in France, the same meal would have been 25% of the cost paid at Les Nomades. No value for money. No reason to return or recommend.

Truly an exceptional experience. We were on a business trip for our company and chose the restaurant for its location and reviews. What a find!!!! From the moment we entered we were greeted as special clients , we felt so welcome. The decor was perfect and food was outstanding. Their wine choices were brilliant and they helped us pair with our food impeccably. We look forward to traveling to Chicago again to make another trip here.

We were told by some of our friends that this was the best restaurant in Chicago, but we were disappointed, especially given how expensive it is. The service, atmosphere, and wines were excellent. And the amuse bouches that were brought out were quite good. But the caviar covered smoked salmon tartare and the mushroom soup was only so so, and the confit de canard was overcooked and a bit tasteless. Overall, our experience was a let down.

Les Nomades is a place we try to visit whenever we are in Chicago. And it always meets our expectations. We were greeted and directed to our table. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. Help with wines was exceptional. And the food is beyond incredible. It is presented in a way to make the dining even more of an experience. I recommend it to everyone who appreciates fine dining!

The restaurant is located in a townhouse wedged between two high rise buildings( hotels). Once we walked through the front door, we found a charming fireplace and a cozy dining room with vases of flowers in crystal vases lit from below. Presentation of the the various dishes demonstrated creativity and thoughtfulness. My pate appetizer was good and my husband’s fois gras melted in his mouth. The second course of warm lobster salad was outstanding. They didn’t skimp on the lobster and the dressing is light and subtle. I had the short ribs for a main course and it actually was the weakest of all the dishes. It was melt in the mouth tender but the taste seems to be all in the sauce and not the meat. My husband had Dover sole and the filets were cut up into narrow strips and arranged artfully . I thought it was a refreshing presentation but my husband said he would prefer that the filets were served intact. But he said the sole was very fresh. My dessert was a fruit plate and the fruits were beautifully arranged in the plate. My husband soufflé was light and huge. Attention to détail extended to our after dinner cappuccino. Even the saucer was heated to keep the beverage hot .

Outstanding food and superior, meticulous service. I had the 4 course menu which was excellent and I was able to arrange for half glasses of various wines to accompany each course. For my main entree I had the duck and it was delicious. The apple souflee dessert was to die for. A classically French evening and I loved every minute. What a wonderful experience!!

I loved this restaurant! The food was really good and we didin't have to wait long time for the dishes. The service was amazing! Make reservation is a must. FormclotjesVery expensive though.

Despite residing near Les Nomades for decades, I had never visited. I was eager to do so. As an aficionado of traditional French food, with little interest in food as architecture, deconstructed BLTs or PB & Js, no gimmicks, please, I enjoyed myself. I was hungry, and when the waiter told my guest that she might find the asparagus risotto portion too large, i ordered that, and enjoyed it. My other starter was a salad with two fried shrimp and two pieces of lobster. A fish entree was good but not exceptional. The raspberry souffle was the best dessert of my lifetime. It was magnificent, not to be missed. The wine list is extensive, and expensive. I asked the sommelier if he could find a nice French white wine not too far above $100, and I was delighted when he recommended a Pouilly-Fuisse priced at $75. It was excellent, pairing nicely with the food choices. Les Nomades is not inexpensive, but the food was good. Service persons arrived quickly when needed, and were courteous and helpful, attentive, not arrogant. I was made to feel welcome, and look forward to returning sometime soon.

We enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner. Classic French food, everything is quite good, but the duck is the standout choice; expertly prepared with black lentils and Savoy cabbage. Briskly elegant service did fall flat a couple of times, but all in all, very good. Ambience is soft and reserved; perfectly tuned to an earlier era, but certainly not dated. We would return in a heartbeat.

These types of restaurants are very difficult to find. Often when you do, they are stuffy and overpriced. That is not the case here. When you walk in the greeting is warm, friendly, and you feel like you are walking into their home. The staff seemed genuinely happy to see us. There was a slight mix up in our reservation (likely our fault) that was resolved with us hardly noticing. Our server was formal, yet friendly. He was very well versed on the menu and the very extensive wine list. I am a food person and the food was over the top wonderful. The portions were appropriately sized. The flavors were complex, and the presentation spectacular. While the food was amazing, the service was better. Our server was formal yet approachable. We had one guest who canceled after being 20 min late, and we were not rushed at all. He even gave us a list of his local favorite restaurants to try for the rest of our stay. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a unique dining experience.

From the time you enter the front door, you know you are in for a special experience. The staff is amazing; someone is near you (without being overbearing) at all times. The attention to detail and the atmosphere is one of the most memorable you will find. We had a fabulous waiter who explained everything in detail and offered input on each item making it easier to make a decision. Mixed grill was to die for and the souffle are a must. Wine is a little on the pricey side, so go on Thursdays when they waive corkage fee. A special place for the special occasion.

Les Nomades is the antithesis of what the "restaurant scene" has come to be. There's nothing especially inventive or novel about it and it's not the sort of place that you post about on instagram to inspire jealousy among your "friends." It's a classic French restaurant serving classic French food in classic French style. In many respects it is more self-consciously French than most restaurants in Paris today. All this, along with an aging clientele, gives it a somewhat stuffy and old-fashioned character. We were the youngest diners in the restaurant when we visited and we are comfortably middle-aged. The emphasis here is not on the lighting, the decor, the DJ, or any of that--it's on the food, the wine, and the service, all of which were truly impeccable. Indeed, a number of the dishes were among the best I've enjoyed in many years, and really the epitome of French cuisine. The foie gras, the mushroom soup, and the beef tenderloin were divine, as was the apple tart. The wine pairings were equally excellent, as was the service. And though the cooking is squarely within the French tradition, it isn't dated or tired. There were subtle Asian influences in my tenderloin and lyonnaise salad that made both dishes really come alive and stand out, and the presentation of the foie gras was quite modern and visually artistic. Honestly, this isn't the sort of restaurant I would eat at often. It's too sleepy and too expensive, and it's not especially fun. It's serious and takes itself seriously. But I have so much respect for people who take their craft to this level that I can only rate Les Nomades as a five-star destination. It's absolutely worth your time and money if you want to have some of the best French food you will find in the US.

We were looking forward to a lovely meal at this Chicago classic but were bitterly disappointed. To start the decor is a bit outdated as waiters in suits attend slightly obsequiously to the tables. We waited a good while for our menus, filled with pretentious "gourmet" dishes. Guests were invited to select either a menu of 4 or more dishes. The dishes themselves were not individually priced. The first starter was more of a classic starter while the second were either a soup or salads. These were fairly all right although the asparagus risotto with wild mushrooms and celeriac foam disappointed. The "Dover" Sole main course was completely inedible, unfresh, overcooked, overspiced with quinoa and a fatty potato patty and did not ressemble any Dover Sole I have had the pleasure of eating. We looked forward to the dessert souffles but were served a dessert without the light yet creamy texture souffles should have. It was accompanied by a watery creme anglaise. The Grand Marnier version was very boozy. Throughout the service did nothing to contribute to the pleasure of the evening, interrupting our conversation, pontificating on the ingredients of the different dishes and serving sometimes hastily, sometimes very slowly. The heyday if this restaurant is long gone. On a Saturday night only some of the tables were full.

Les Nomades is a great special occasion restaurant. The service is impeccable and the food delightful. We celebrated our 35 wedding anniversary at Les Nomades and enjoyed every minute. The menu is filling but it is so fun to have all of the courses. The wine list is also excellent.

It's hard for me find even a minor flaw in the food, service or atmosphere. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like royalty. Incredible wine list. Food prep and presentation was perfect. This dining experience isn't for everyone. Definitely not a place for kids. For one thing, it is very expensive. Men are required to wear jackets (what a novel concept!). No phones or photo taking in the dining room (another great idea). In other words, it is fine dining at its best.

Been patron previously, great French crusine, service food, wine, ambience. One feels back in elegant Paris restaurant. Beautiful flowers, elegance, great service. Reasonably priced. Proprietor really cares about her guests! Definitely return!

Nothing short of amazing! Probably one of the top 5 best meals I’ve ever had in my life. The ambiance is unique, especially for people from a newer city. In Austin, 1992 is old. In Chicago, they go back to the 1800’s. Very interesting and quaint. We loved it. As for the food, every single bite was amazing! This place is a well kept secret for locals and regulars. I’m lucky to have stumbled upon it. Marybeth the owner is also extremely charming, and made the dining experience even more interesting! I can’t wait to go back!

Yes, it is fantastically expensive. 2 people, one bottle of reasonable champagne, and desert wines is over $500 with a tip. Honestly, perhaps different for people who do this regularly, there is no way to actually say that ANY meal is actually worth that much. You cannot make this sort of decision based on value. That said, I thought Les Nomades was a wonderful experience. Service from the start was superb. We asked for upstairs seating based in a previous review and I would second that recommendation. It is a bit quieter and peaceful upstairs, and unlike some places, the service does not suffer. Our waiter was great. Always available when needed, and very good recommendations when we asked. The food is very good. I was less enthused with the Loup de Mer that others go gaga over, but it was still excellent. Every dish was well prepared, and inline with expectations. Desserts were exceptional. They obviously employ a proper pastry chef. I won't go deep on the food. It really is pretty much exactly what I expected. I have eaten better in Paris, but have not in Chicago, although I will admit that as a suburbanite, we only get into the city occasionally, so have not really tried very hard. One thing some have noted, that I will second, is an extremely well-curated wine list. Champagne selections are actual interesting, and I was pleasantly surprised to see my favorite (and not particularly well-known) cognac on their list. They have the Napoleon version of this, and the Clos de St Catherine version of a wonderful Loir dessert wine. Both of these are slightly offbeat choices, but are absolutely perfect. Evidence of the care and knowledge that seems to have gone into the entire list. Last tip. If, like me, you are doing a date night in the city, the W on Lakeshore is an easy walk, and eliminates the stress of driving, parking, hassle from a wonderful evening.

This is a price fixe restaurant with the cheapest option being $115 for four courses. The atmosphere is hushed, white tablecloth. Lots of people pour your wine, bring your food, clear your place. The food is very good but not spectacular, not the memorable kind of experience you might expect at these prices. On the other hand, a worthy special occasions restaurant.

Les Nomades offers classic French food in a very traditional setting. The service is impeccable and the food is marvelous. The restaurant is a must if you are a fan of traditional French cuisine. The chef uses perfect ingredients- the meal does not disappoint!

On our last day during a recent visit to Chicago, we ended up choosing the best for last. A quaint restaurant in an old brownstone, conveniently located by our hotel, we were warmly greeted by the owner and promptly seated at our table. An extensive wine ‘book’ accompanied our menus and our server explained the suggested style of ordering, which were 4-5 courses as well as the specials for the evening. We eventually ordered a half bottle of a fantastic Italian Barolo. They also offer a wine pairing option, which might not be such a bad idea too. After enjoying our glasses of champagne, we indulged in our amuse-bouche, a squash blossom soup. This was then followed by the appetizer special of the lobster mousse stuffed zucchini blossoms with an amazing broth and a selection of 4 pates accompanied by toasted brioche bread, mustard sauce, garlic sauce and micro greens with cornichons. We traded tastes as both dishes were so different from each other with varied textures and extremely flavorful. The 2nd courses consisted of a warm lobster and shrimp salad and Salade Lyonnaise. The first including a beet chip with a mango dressing while the 2nd included frisée, crispy Iberco ham, haricots verts withs crouton and a pouched egg. The 3rd course, which can also included a 4th course, is the entree. A decent selected of fish and even greater selection of meat. One of us opted for the sweetbreads. The plate contained two sauces a green peppercorn sauce and a red wine garlic sauce, accompanied asparagus, roasted carrot and braised endive. The 2nd entree was the daily special that had a red wine reduction topped by fresh morel mushrooms, a medium rare filet with whipped potatoes, snow peas and micro greens. Let’s just say none of these required a doggie bag. The dessert selections are varied, but not overwhelming, making the choices not too difficult. Various soufflés are featured and the lemon version won out. The chocolate praline tart was the other choice. It included roasted hazelnuts, caramel pear sauce and chocolate sorbet. These were both superb and also a dish of a macaroon, madeleine, a white peach gelee and a filled chocolate containing Grand Marnier. The wait staff was outstanding and made to smile to keep one of our party pleased as they did ‘loosen’ up and seem to really enjoy themselves without breaking too far from the upscale required protocol and we did thank the owner on the way out for permitting them to put up with us.

We were very disappointed with our experience at Les Nomades largely due to the odd behavior of the waitstaff. It was difficult to engage with them particularly regarding assistance with wine selection which they effectively declined to provide. They volunteered little assistance with food selection and responded brusquely and perfunctorily to our inquiries. I don't know what issues the waitstaff had with us but I will never return to Les Nomades.

This is my second time here and I would go again whenever I travel to Chicago. It is a classic french restaurant with fixe prix menu of 3 or 4 courses. Highlights of meal: Sauteed foie gras, lobster and shrimp salad with mango vinaigrette, waygu short ribs. Ramey Chardonnay

Les Nomades is one of the finest French restaurants that we have had a chance to experience in our lifetime. From the moment that you step in to the restaurant, you are warmly welcomed by the owners and directed to your seat. The tasting menu is worth every penny and definitely recommend from beginning to end. We decided to choose the five course menu, and we were not disappointed. I would recommend for the near future if wine pairing could be considered in the near future to compliment each meal. Overall, this restaurant is a gem that is worth exploring and will highly recommend anytime!

My wife and I came here years ago and enjoyed it. We decided to treat ourselves for a date night, and we weren't disappointed. The food was delicious and our server, Jose, was wonderful.

From the moment you arrive, the service is amazing, the food is fantastic and the ambiance is hat you would expect for fine dining.

This restaurant never disappoints. This was our first time visiting in a few years, and it remains in a league of its own. The service is perfect—certainly not rushed, but always there if you need something. This isn’t just a dinner—it’s an experience. I think we were there for nearly 3 hours, and loved every minute of it. Some of the items we had were risotto, caviar, lobster salad, mushroom soup, beef, short ribs, duck and of course soufflé for dessert. All were amazing. It’s quite expensive, but it’s a memorable evening for sure.

The food here is amazing, the staff is attentive, and they are all experts and are the best at what they do. With that said, the atmosphere is very stuffy and the meal was extremely pricy. The menu is prix fixe and 4 courses was $125 per person with no wine included. The head waiter was very professional but would not crack a smile. We love fine dining but the atmosphere and price at Les Nomades left us wishing we would have gone to another restaurant instead. The waiters in France were much friendlier than the guys at Les Nomades.

I wish I had written a review immediately after dining here so that I would have a record of the delicious details. But I forgot to write it so I guess I will have to go back again as soon as possible! It was expensive and absolutely worth it. Excellent, somewhat old-fashioned (and non-intrusive) service, pleasant decor, fabulous food.

This was our 20th anniversary. first time at this restaurant and Chicago. The atmosphere is pleasant the vases of fresh flowers beautiful, small restaurant inside, close seating. it was too brightly lit in my opinion, and there was a party of 6 in the back fairly close to us that were loud-not obnoxious youngsters-just loud talking. We sat next to a nice couple (celebrating their 10th) and we chatted with them a bit. The food was a 4 or 5 course tasting, we did the 4 courses. It was good, the second course was really good-lobster/shrimp type salad & husband had peeky toe crab. Husband's main course was short rib and mine was halibut-cooked well, but only warm in temperature-I didn't say anything but for only 6 filled tables in the restaurant it should have been piping hot. The hostess-mature woman was nice, a waiter-adorable with purple bow tie was nice-though he did not service us really, In my my opinion our waiter could have given us more attention and more personalized service. I would have thought that they would give us a champagne toast on the house-what they did was give a small square of chocolate cake with a candle in addition to our already included dessert. I thought that was a bit odd. Speaking of dessert-it was a big let down for me. I had a Grand Marnier souffle that was very dry-not good at all. My husband peach tart with pineapple sorbet was much better. The 4 couse tasting was $125, we had 1 glass of champagne, 1 glass white wine, and 1 glass red wine $400.00 bill-in my opinion not worth it. We had better service at Gibson's and Beacon Tavern.

You will need a reservation because this is a small place, most of all in Covid times, where tables were far from each other. My husband and I were lucky to find one for the same day, after a cancellation from another restaurant. The tasting menu can include 4 or 5 options: appetizer, soup or salad, fish or meat and cheeses or dessert. Some courses offer 2 choices, some others 4 or 5. But of course, the count increases with complementary amuse-bouche, sorbet and petit fours. We got a cauliflower soup as amuse-bouche, Then, we ordered escargots, lobster salad, mushroom salad with white truffle foam. My husband ordered the Dover sole and I asked for duck. Before dessert, we got a passion fruit soup with white peach sorbet as intermezzo and finished with artisan cheeses and a hazelnut soufflé that tasted as heaven and felt as a cloud. But in short, all courses were amazing. Then, with the petit fours (that I asked to pack, to go) came an anniversary cake for us. Make sure you are hungry enough. My husband and I made the mistake of having a late lunch. Before the main course I knew I was full, but couldn´t avoid eating the next and the next course. That night I felt sick, but it was all my fault.

Impeccable food, service, and ambiance. Perfectly prepared French cuisine, from a deconstructed salad lyonnaise through the main fish and meat courses, to the perfectly risen souffles. No phones, jackets required, and the room is always comfortably quiet and intimate. At Les Nomades, you get the refinement for which you pay.

Very elegant, excellent presentation and degustation of the many exquisite and highly elaborated dishes. Beautiful place all the way around, excellent service and wine selection. I have never been disappointed of this restaurant and is comparable with any great restaurant in France.

The chef is highly regarded and well known for at least 20 years, and still working hard to make excellent and creative food in the sauce heavy French tradition. In short, if you enjoy French food, this restaurant is a must in Chicago. If you're lucky enough to find mushroom soup on the menu it's a must have item. The waiters are very good without being too stuffy. The setting is elegant without being overdone.

We have been going to Les Nomades for more than twenty years, and I am not sure we would go back. The food was disappointing, but the service is what really tanked the experience. There was not a dish in the first course that any of the four of us were excited to order, and that played out when we ate our selections. The caviar dish was "gross" and lacking caviar, the snails were heavily oversauced and the risotto had an odd tasting foam on top that made it less palatable. The salad and soup dishes were, as expected, very good. However, the server decided to deliver my husband's cheese course, which is usually served right before or right after dessert, as a second course because he didn't order a soup or salad. This is not how it would be served in a typical high-end restaurant and it was not enjoyed as a second course. The salmon was fishy and undercooked, three of us at the table ordered it and none of us were happy. When the salmon came out of the kitchen and was served to tables around us, we could smell it - never a good indicator. The short rib was great, the beef tenderloin was not. It was chewy, served lukewarm, and had a lot of sinew. One of things we look forward to eating at Les Nomades is the souffle. We ordered one souffle and it came out burned on top, you could taste the scorch - the rest of it was great but the top was not edible. On to the service - from the moment we were seated, our server was smug and dismisssive. We asked about the ice cream, and he waved his hand and said "I'll just do an assorment." We pressed on flavors because there are some we don't like - he said "oh, it is usually chocolate, vanilla, and caramel." When the ice cream was served, these were not the flavors and it was not eaten. When we asked for descriptions of dishes, he said "it's delicious" and had no interest in engaging with us on our order. The cheese plate, served in the wrong sequence, was set down by him on the table and he turned and walked away - we had to chase someeone down to get a description of what we were served. During a later course, he set down our plates and said "it should be obvious what's on the plate" and walked away. We had told the restaurant that we were celebrating a birthday, which he noted early in the dinner, and yet when our desserts came there was no acknowledgement of the birthday (we have been there for several birthday celebrations, there is always a candle in the dessert and some message from the restaurant/servers). We then sat there for almost 30 minutes after dessert waiting for someone to come to our table, and by the time we were able to get our check we had no interest in waiting around for a candle. We came home and put a candle in a mochi and sang Happy Birthday in our kitchen. This dinner was not consistent with the almost 20 other experiences we've had there over the years, and the service was especially out of character.

The food is a 4 but the decor and atmosphere brings it down to a 3. The food was interesting and not as stuffy as you think it will be when you walk in. I had the salmon appetizer and the smoked salmon with crispy rice was delicious. The amuse bouche of heirloom tomato gazpacho was also yummy. My main course was Turbot. It was good- not great. My husbands short ribs were to die for. Dessert was also fabulous. Service was perfect. So why the three- when yo walk in it smells musty (it was rainy so maybe that's not typical) and the decor is outdated but somehow not shabby chic. The banquets are stiff red velvet and not all that comfortable. A good ventilation system and some updating and I would go back-otherwise I would pick another place.

For many years, we've marked the most romantic and special events of our lives at Les Nomades, and we've brought our most special traveling visitors here. It is dining perfection, with warmth and pleasure. You feel a bit like royalty - amongst sprawling place settings, bold fresh flowers, and endless servers. But the serving is all done thoughtfully around you without a pretentious tone. The restaurant is tucked into a lovely Chicago brownstone, so you feel like you're in a private dining club. We are very partial to the upstairs dining room, which has beautiful banquettes, pillows, rugs, fabrics - it feels like an opium den- more serene and personal than downstairs, where one is likely to see politicians and names you know, and a slightly more vibrant dining scene. Take your pick. There are more visually stunning restaurants in Chicago, but the food here is the star. Yes, you're likely to have an expensive fixed price multi course meal, but I've never been when they weren't happy to drop a course for me, as I eat less. Or you can go early for the smaller menu, easier on the wallet. Before the food, give the Sommelier big credit for making the "big book" of bottles fun, and not at all intimidating to find something exciting. You can put them through their paces, or ask for a simple recommendation with no cocked eyebrows. And the food - well so many courses and choices, all so delicious. There is a great event for the diabetic a selection of fine cheeses. For the sweet lover, raspberry (and all) soufles are incredible. We love their soups - or cappuccinos as they're sometimes called - like my airy mushroom with more mushroom flavor and less heavy cream than anything I've ever had, and a holiday Chestnut soup, unforgettable. It's difficult to order, because there are choices - from light seafood to classic french anchors - rack of lamb, foix gras, pate. And, we've never had a disappointing experience here. If we move, this restaurant, our doctors and the Christmas lights on Michigan Avenue are things we will miss most in Chicago. Go. It's a delicious, indulgent, memorable experience.

We walked in without a reservation, got lucky, and received such a warm welcome from the Maitre De who was able to accommodate us. Not having an option for a wine pairing, we asked our server Josie for her suggestion and were so happy with her wine pairing for the entree and dessert. While an incident occurred at the table next to us during our meal, the waitstaff handled it with such grace and moved us to a more comfortable location to enjoy our dessert. Overall a reliable pre-fixe with elevated and personalized service.

Our lunch was soo great! our server (i forgot his name) was very friendly and patient with us as we didnt know exactly what we were craving at the time! His suggestions were incredibe!

We've been here many times and the experience just keeps getting better. We talk about our dinners here all the time as one of our best dining experiences in the world - no exaggeration. The seared foie gras appetizer I just can't get enough of and we also had the caviar surprise with was absolutely sublime - a new offering on the menu for us. The warm lobster and shrimp salad is consistently excellent as is the duo of duck. The sweetbreads and bison ribeye were so beautifully and deliciously done, couldn't ask for better a better dining experience, service, preparation, presentation - excellent, excellent, excellent! And don't miss the souffles!

The best classic French food in Chicago. with a wine list to match. Be sur to have the soufflé. Roland grows some the produce which is outstanding.

The atmosphere in this rather small restaurant, located in what must have been a town home at one time, is understated elegance and comfort. Service is impeccable and the classic French food seems better than ever. The fixed price menu offers plenty of choice and, at four courses, almost too much food. Cocktails are well made and the wines, whether by the glass or bottle are generally outstanding, They prepare the best soufflés in Chicago and at least equal to those served in top French restaurants in NYC. It is not inexpensive but, considering the general excellence, not outrageously priced.

We could not have had a better experience to celebrate a milestone birthday. Our waiter Jose was attentive but gave us plenty of time to enjoy our cocktails and fabulous food. We chose the four course prix fe menu and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed hot and cold foie gras from Hudson Valley and a shrimp and Lobster salad. Main courses of Wagyu beef short ribs and lamb / veal loin were cooked perfectly. Apple tart and mini sweet plate ended a sublime meal. Great selection of wines, including half bottles. Highly recommend this restaurant.

A lovely setting, excellent service and food - what more could you want? We really enjoyed our dinner at Les Nomades and would go again in a heartbeat. Formal setting but not stuffy in the least.

I was a dinner guest with dear friends and had a spectacular meal. I started with a melt in your mouth Heirloom Tomato Salad, the entree was roasted Lamb and Veal loin and dessert was a fluffy lemon soufflé. Service was top of the line and the food was very special. It's an exceptional fine dining experience.

One our top 5 dining experiences globally, Les Nomades always delights us! Sumptuously prepared food, a tremendous wine selection, served ever so graciously, in an intimate environment where it is easy to talk. As the evening unfolds, the culinary theater evolves. Reserve ahead for this dining delight!

Les Nomades is one of the best French restaurant in Chicago. I you are a French food lover, this is the place. In our dinner only 2 type of testing menu was offer.

Thursday is the night to bring your own wine as they waive a corkage charge on one bottle per 2 diners. As we were a party of four we brought two bottles with us, an opportunity to have superior wines, which if ordered off the wine list would be so expensive that most people would be reluctant to indulge in them. When we arrived the bottles were immediately taken and arrived by our table promptly. The claret was decanted to let it breath and the Champagne chilled. We had drinks before ordering and they had my favorite single malt scotch. The waiter was very helpful in answering questions about the menu and my guests decided on 4 courses and I decided on 5. We all had different items and were all well pleased with it’s presentation and taste. Service was impeccable throughout our more than 2 1/2 hour repast. As two of us were observing our birthdays 2 plates with “Happy Birthday” scripted on it in chocolate and a piece of cake with candle came out with our deserts. We left with a sense of contentment having enjoyed a great meal, well served, in an elegant setting.

Les Nomades continues to be a bastion of exquisite French cuisine with modern flavors and fresh ingredients. Service was outstanding- a warm friendly welcome, a nice fire in the fireplace in the reception area, and fantastic team at the table. Atmosphere was calm, spacious between tables, and conducive to conversation. The wine list was extensive and the sommelier was very helpful and friendly (not overbearing). The flavors were wonderful, creative, and fresh. The portion sizes were ample, but not overwhelming. And the price was appropriate and very reasonable to other top-end fine dining in Chicago. In conclusion, a great experience. We have dined here several times over the years we lived in Chicago, and now several times since we moved away. This remains a wonderful restaurant in Chicago and we recommend for fine French influenced dining in Chicago.

Les Nomades is a very special place, providing the type of dining experience that memories are made of! We enjoyed Les Nomades for a delayed wedding anniversary celebration and it was special from start to finish. Our choice was either a four course or five-course prix fixe with prices that were appropriate. The appetizers we chose of Foie Gras and Pate were each delicious and the good times were only starting to roll. For our second course, we each enjoyed a delicious and generous-sized Warm Shrimp and Lobster Salad...the excitement was building. For entrees (we had chosen the four-course menu), we again chose the same item: a Duo of Veal and Lamb (prepared medium rare). The veal was good; the lamb was outstanding. To cap off our dining adventure, we had early on ordered the Grand Marnier soufflé. It was delicious to the last bit! While this was our first time to Les Nomades, it will certainly not be our last. The professionalism of the wait staff and the warmth and caring attention of the owner set this restaurant on a high level of Special Places to Enjoy, Recommend and, if lucky, Revisit. Les Nomades...easy to recommend for a very special dining experience!

Great ambience with a lovely Christmas tree in the entryway, decorations throughout the restaurant, lots of flowers, and low lighting. The servers are all very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and the wines. We were given cauliflower soup to start, which was flavorful. Then there was a basket of warm bread with a couple of rolls (complimentary) served with soft butter. I had the foie gras to start, which was very tasty with the fruit compote, while my husband had the seared scallop and tempura shrimp, which he loved. We both chose the wild mushroom soup with truffle foam for the next course. So creamy and delicious. My husband had the swordfish for his next course (about 5 ounces, lightly seasoned), which he enjoyed. He then had the Wagyu beef short rib while I had the loup de mer. We each tried both dishes and agreed the the Wagyu was probably our favorite from the whole menu (and a surprisingly large portion for a tasting menu). The loup de mer was actually larger than I had expected, as well, so my husband helped finish that. I went with the flourless chocolate cake for dessert (it smelled heavenly as they served it). It was warm and decadent - yum! My husband opted for the cheese plate - 4 cheeses served with toasted bread and some fruit. The servers never missed a beat and were very pleasant. Overall a wonderful dining experience.

This cozy gem of a restaurant does not disappoint. The service is exceptional as most of the staff has been there for years. The chef creates creative and imaginative dishes that are delicious and exquisitely prepared and presented. There are so many intriguing options from which to choose at each course and you will find yourself wanting more at the end even though you are so satisfied. Probably the best French restaurant that I've ever been to. The kitchen can accommodate allergies and preferences easily (which I don't always experience). The ambiance is cozy and relaxing . You can dress to the nines or business casual and feel at home with the cozy fireplaces and eclectic decor.

We have been repeat customers for more than a decade.. We visit for special occasions but also whenever we wish to enjoy elegant, classic French food in the luxurious, intimate setting in what I assume was once a private town home, Cocktails here are perfectly balanced and prepared. The wine list is ambitious and extensive and those served by the glass are quite good. Service at this white tablecloth restaurant is always excellent, Staff at every position are knowledgeable and pleasant. The exquisite food offerings are fixed price, 4 or 5 courses always with sufficient choices for each course. Everything from the bread though the astonishing deserts is world class, I cannot think of any other place in Chicago offering such quality dining and also giving customers choice, I personally dislike ordering whatever the chef feels like making. Men are required to wear a jacket,