CHIReview
photo credit: Bavette's
Bavette's
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Bavette’s shouldn’t be that special. It’s a steakhouse in a city full of them. And since opening in River North in 2012, the team behind it has cloned its signature dishes and 1920s aesthetic across the city at places like Armitage Alehouse, Trivoli Tavern, and Ciccio Mio. In Vegas, you can even celebrate winning $2 playing slots with a Bavette’s prime rib sandwich.
But the famous steakhouse remains one of Chicago's hardest restaurants to get into. And for good reason. Dinner at Bavette’s isn’t just a meal—it’s an immersive experience that grabs you with its penchant for nostalgia and some of the best food in the city.
photo credit: Bavette’s
Bavette’s successfully sells the idea that you’ve wandered into an era where Louis Armstrong might drop a new single. The dark, windowless space and early jazz soundtrack make it feel like Prohibition is still a thing—an illusion that’s only interrupted when someone whips out a phone flashlight to read the menu. Flickering candlelight shines on their collection of ornately framed paintings, rustic mirrors, and a “free wine daily” sign. And when curiosity about that sign is rewarded with a complimentary glass of red or white, it’s easy to buy into all of Bavette’s charm before even having a bite.
Unsurprisingly, cow is front and center on the menu. Whether you get a filet or the 32oz wagyu porterhouse, it’ll be the platonic ideal of a steak. Deep beefiness extends from the charred exterior to the juicy medium rare center—it doesn’t need anything extra. That said, you should absolutely try their tangy bearnaise and maybe sprinkle some of the accompanying salt blend.
But as good as the steak is, you don’t need it to have an incredible meal. The appetizers, sides, and non-steak entrees are as worthy of a spotlight as a premium cut of aged ribeye. Their Lyonnaise salad separates itself from piles of sleepy old frisee with thick slabs of sweet, fatty bacon. Large sides like creamed spinach and mac and cheese tempt you into making them a main course. And though fried chicken isn’t a standard steakhouse order, it deserves to be here—the peppery crispy skin and tender thigh meat go down even better with the accompanying buttery mashed potatoes and sweet peas.
photo credit: Bavette's
As hard as it is to get into Bavette’s (reservations vanish as soon as they become available) we can’t seem to stay away. It keeps reeling us in, whether it’s for an anniversary, a client dinner, or a solo meal when the only company we want is wine and a phenomenal piece of meat. This is tasteful escapism at its finest—not some cheesy Boardwalk Empire marketing activation. Throw in the exceptional food and service, and Bavette’s encapsulates what makes a steakhouse relevant. No other place in this city wrought with steakhouses keeps us not-so-secretly hoping someone else cancels just so we have a chance at a spot. Dinner at 10pm on a Wednesday? We’ll take it.
Food Rundown
Crab Cake
Lyonnaise Salad
photo credit: Bavette's
Double Wagyu Cheeseburger
photo credit: Bavette's
Steak
Fried Chicken
photo credit: Bavette's