Les Nomades - Chicago, Illinois

Bob Baker

My wife and I visited Les Nomades for the first time this past Saturday evening and it was spectacular. This is an old school French restaurant from top to bottom. Excellent food, excellent wine list, impeccable service — attentive but not cloying — subdued light, white tablecloths, wood burning fireplace. The place exudes understated elegance you just won’t find anywhere else. Jacket required, it just fits the mood of this wonderful place, but they aren’t stuffy at all. A genuinely nice staff dedicated to making your visit a memorable one. To top it off, I inadvertently left behind my credit card and the staff mailed it back to me along with a card, hand-penned in calligraphy, thanking us for coming and wishing my wife and I a happy new year. Even something as mundane as forgetting your credit card affords an opportunity for style and grace at Les Nomades. This place is at the top of the list of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. If you’ve not been there by all means go. One of the most memorable dining experiences you can have.

Paul Meijer

Les Nomades in Chicago provided an exceptional backdrop for an evening with the Chicago Dinner Club, featuring Daniel Drews, Nicole Ruiz, and myself. The event commenced with a delightful cocktail named JT, blending orange juice, Cointreau, Campari, and champagne—a refreshing start to our culinary journey.

The first course presented a duo of seared scallops and tempura shrimp, elegantly paired with sauce gribiche and a smooth Kabocha squash purée, enhanced by a lemongrass lobster sauce. The dish was a harmonious meld of textures and flavors.

Next, we savored a fricassee of escargots, where the earthiness of braised leek and celery root met the robustness of a red wine garlic sauce, crafting a bold yet refined taste profile.

The warmth of the lobster, served with greens and a tangy mango dressing, continued the seafood theme, the lobster sauce cordon adding a luxurious touch to the fresh, vibrant ingredients.

A sautéed Dover sole followed, lying atop a warm fingerling potato salad, the saffron sauce providing a subtle but distinct flavor that elevated the dish to new heights.

The Mediterranean Sea bass, simply sautéed, allowed the natural flavors of the fish to shine through, demonstrating the kitchen’s confidence in letting quality ingredients speak for themselves.

The braised Wagyu short-rib was a highlight, its richness perfectly counterbalanced by a creamy pommes purée and a classic red wine sauce, demonstrating the chef’s deft hand at traditional comforts.

Roasted Peking duck breast came next, served with lentils and a sauce Rouennaise, the mandarin glaze adding a sweet citrus note that cut through the richness of the duck beautifully.

To conclude, a mocha soufflé with chocolate sauce, and Crème brûlée served alongside my signature cappuccino, a decadent ending to a memorable meal.

The night at Les Nomades stood out not just for its extraordinary food but also for its flawless service, making it a splendid evening of gastronomy and camaraderie.

Brittany S

Lovely little place!!! My husband and I went here as we love course dinners. I really liked the complimentary accompaniment foods- the fruit soup was so sweet and good. My first course of seared pate was very well done, and my husband really liked his fish course. They had delicious wine parings, and I could honestly eat a bowl of their mushroom soup every day of my life.

Alicia McNamara Grott

I hadn’t been there for 20 years. It was very nice. I prefer a menu where I can choose exactly what I want, but we were prepared for this. I was thrilled they had valet parking! I seem to remember the decor being more intimate.

Dea Welsh

Amazing food. Their first course section is always incredible. I almost wish I could just eat those for the entire meal. Beautiful dishes. Great flavors. Excellent service. I've never had a bad experience there. I never understood the hype about souffles, until theirs. Had the grand Marnier souffle. It was incredible. Light, fluffy, a delicate cloud of grand Marnier loveliness. Also, if you like foie gras (how could you not), get whatever dish they create around it. It is always incredible. The current item, in banana water of all things, is incredible. Crispy! and sweet. Unique goodness.
Love, love, love this place.

Nancy Shiao

Great service! Lovely ambiance! Hazelnut Soufflé is fantastic. Lobster salad is wonderful.

But the sauce for duck was average… not impressed by it. It was kind of a unbalanced asian fusion sauce. Kind of disappointed by our main entree

Meggie Mangione (“Meggie with an 'e'”)

Exquisite experience and wonderful choice for my birthday! Everything was done with incredible attention to detail. We enjoyed the four course meal option - recommend the scallop duo, lobster salad followed by short rib and the crème brûlée for dessert! Hubs had a special off-the-menu dessert AND chocolate soufflé that was magnifique!

mary tongren

We had a beautiful evening at this restaurant. Our server was excellent. Every course was absolutely delicious and made to perfection! It’s worth the splurge if you love fine dining.