Maude's Liquor Bar

We were excited to snag a last minute Saturday night res on Resy. We were seated promptly upstairs, which had a warm, intimate atmosphere and actually reminded me of Bavette's a bit. Cocktails were strong, simple, and delicious. We started with the French onion fondue which I'd been eyeing in others' reviews, and it lived up to expectations. Crispy gruyere topped a layer of soft and tasty onions. Chewy French bread was provided a as a a vessel for the cheesy goodness, and it did its job nicely! I got the salmon for dinner, which had a crispy outer sear and was perfectly medium inside. My boyfriend's steak was huge and thin, which provided more seared surface area. The béarnaise was a perfect dipping sauce that I can only attempt to recreate next time I make steaks at home. Overall, great service, ambiance, and classic French food! Will definitely be back soon

Fully love this place. There was a hole in my Chicago restaurant life when Bistro Voltaire closed. I really love that place. It was quaint, classically French and understated. MLB has filled the void. Great decor with some bougie elegance but somehow still classy and understated. The escargot were classically prepared and delicious. Dunking the crusty French bread in the buttery garlic remnants was the highlight of my night. Great wine list with a few great cocktails to boot. It would be a great date spot, but I also look forward to coming back here solo and eating at the bar, getting my full creepy hipster Parisian on.

We came here in March for my boyfriend's birthday upon the recommendation of a friend. Right away I knew I liked the ambience when we got there. It was filled with people but not uncomfortably crowded, and you could hear people laughing and enjoying their meals. We were taken upstairs and seated in a cozy corner. Although seating was a little tight upstairs, it was still nice to be able to have a full dinner conversation without having to yell across the table. I wasn't a huge fan of how dark the place was or how tight it was to get into my seat going to and from the bathroom, but it was still pretty good seating options. Our waiter was very friendly and made some excellent recommendations. We got salmon tartare, steak tartare, and mussels. Everything was DELICIOUS. Honestly the food itself is off the charts. We will definitely be coming back!

My girlfriend and I went here for her birthday dinner before our show at the Lyric Opera. This place makes you feel like you are a celebrity. We walked in for our reservation at 5:30 on a Saturday night, and were seated right away. Our server, James, immediately asked if we had any dietary restrictions. For my weird diet that my doctor has put me on (Low FODMAP), I cannot have garlic or onions. James helped me out immensely with my order and was very knowledgeable about the food. My girlfriend started with the St. Germain Fizz (which was fantastic) and I had their French witbier (1664). Both were so good we got more of the same drinks. Then for the food - we ordered the Steak Tartare which was outstanding. I'd come here again just for the steak tartare alone. I had the smashed potatoes, and even without garlic, these were some of the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. Then my girlfriend had the ricotta gnocchi, which, being an Italian girl, she even told me it was the best gnocchi she has ever had. Of course, as garlicky as it was, I couldn't have any... but I ended up having a couple bites anyway (couldn't resist - don't tell the doctor). It was amazing. Every bite was filled with flavor from the brown butter and the mushrooms to the soft, pillow potato gnocchi. We were so full that we ended up opting out of dessert, plus we had to make it to our play. This place isn't cheap, but it is super-romantic, amazing food, fantastic drinks, and awesome service (thank you, James!). I know we will both be back, and will encourage everyone to try this place out!

Super cute hidden gem in the Loop. Maybe it's not "hidden", but I've been to Chicago so many times and I swear I find a new bar I love each time. Maude's is such a cute little speakeasy French cafe and brasserie! We stopped in for a quick drink before dinner and were seated immediately. The interior is so lush without feeling stuffy! There are deep green velvet semi-circle booths, small cafe tables, hanging chandeliers, jazz playing and a beautiful dark bar that's got some pretty pink lighting. They have drink specials for happy hour and service was fantastic! I want to come back here and eat food!!