A stylish steakhouse offering timeless fare, including seafood towers and ribeyes, with a focus on strong cocktails and an international wine list across its Chicago and Las Vegas locations.
Brendan Sodikoff is a highly successful American chef and restaurateur, recognized as a 'culinary wunderkind'. He is the founder of the Chicago-based Hogsalt Hospitality group, known for creating distinct and popular...
Insights
ItalianAmericanBurgersSteakhouseFine diningDinnerLate NightFine DiningCocktail Bar
Last updated: 7/20/2026, 3:27:55 AM
Key Information
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf is a stylish departure from a traditional steakhouse in Chicago, blending French flair with fine dining and an unabashedly fun atmosphere. It's renowned for its intimate, low-lit, speakeasy-like ambiance, featuring leather booths, exposed brick, and a sultry jazz soundtrack. Since its opening in 2012, it has been consistently difficult to secure reservations, a testament to its enduring popularity.
Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with patrons consistently praising the exceptional atmosphere, top-notch service, and high-quality food. The steaks, particularly the dry-aged ribeyes and filet, receive rave reviews for their perfect cooking and seasoning. Appetizers like crab cakes and shrimp and garlic bread are also highly lauded. The classic cocktails, extensive bourbon list, and curated wine selection are frequently highlighted. While some minor criticisms occasionally surface regarding desserts being too sweet or steak crusts being overcooked for individual preference, these are rare exceptions to an otherwise stellar dining experience. The difficulty of obtaining a reservation is a common theme, underscoring its desirability.
Additional Details
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf has locations in both Chicago and Las Vegas. The Chicago establishment is described as having an atmosphere reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy, contributing to its unique charm and appeal.
Accommodates some dietary requests (e.g., inquiries about cooking oils)
Best Times to Visit
Reservations are highly recommended and often need to be made well in advance, sometimes up to 21 days out, due to the restaurant's immense popularity. It is consistently busy, especially during dinner hours, making advance booking essential for a guaranteed table.
5
Amazing food! My husband and I got in line at 2:45 for a 3pm reservation on the patio. We ended up asking and getting seated in a real seat - amazing! We had great service and great atmosphere. The mixed green apple salad was 11/10, elote side 12/10, truffle Mac side 9/10 (very truffle forward - hubby not crazy for truffle), steak frites (best steak we've had in the city) 15/10, only thing we felt slightly disappointed on was the burger (8/10). We are Chicago burger snobs and this one just didn't hit for us. All in all, great vibes and great food - we will 100% be back to try another steak and sides!
There are steakhouses in Chicago that feel like business dinners with good lighting, and then there's Bavette's, which feels like something altogether different. You walk down into this low-lit basement room with leather booths, exposed brick, a sultry jazz soundtrack rolling through the whole place, and you immediately understand why it's been nearly impossible to get into since it opened in 2012. The energy in the room is hard to pin down, somewhere between a 1920s speakeasy and a very good dream. We had a reservation and still almost didn't get one, they release them online 21 days in advance and they go fast.
The steak frites showed up first and I want to say clearly that the bearnaise sauce on the side is reason enough to come here alone. It's buttery and tarragon-forward and makes the perfectly broiled frites feel like they were destined for it. The dry-aged ribeye was next, 22 ounces, crust on the outside, the kind of pink center that arrives exactly as requested. We also went for the crab cakes with remoulade, which were fresher and more delicate than expected from a steakhouse, and the short rib stroganoff with hand-cut pasta was the kind of dish that surprises you at a place called a steakhouse. It shouldn't be that good and yet. The wedge salad with its thick-cut bacon made a strong case for itself as a starter.
Cocktails are classic and well-executed, the bourbon list is serious, and the wine list has depth without being punishing. Service is sharp without being stiff. Come for a birthday, an anniversary, or just because you've been thinking about a great steak.
This is my favorite steakhouse in Chicago so far. The wait can be very long without a reservation, but it's definitely worth it. I ordered one of the dry-aged rib eyes with loaded baked potatoes and a side salad. The steak was extremely tender and perfectly seasoned for my taste. For dessert, I ordered the carrot cake which was a little too sweet for my palette.
Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner at Bavette’s. This is bar none, the best atmosphere at a steakhouse I’ve ever been in. We were sat downstairs in this cozy room. The service was top notch. The wait staff made sure we were well taken care of. Now on to the food. All the the appetizers were AMAZING. Salads are big enough to share with 2 people. Shrimp and garlic bread was fantastic. Mashed potatoes were delicious. The only thing I wasn’t blown away by was my steak. The crust on it was cooked too much for my own personal taste. The steak on the inside was cooked perfectly however. I had a ribeye and my fiancé has the filet which she loved, and I also liked it more than my steak. Reservations here are difficult, but not impossible and if you get an opportunity to go, do it.
Went for my birthday. Easy to get in if you get there early. Big restaurant. Wedge & chicken liver was very good. Steak was good. Dessert was just ok, strawberries & cream. Would recommend & would go back.
