Troquet Bar / Bistro / French Restaurant

Lakeview, Chicago –

Established by the owners of LM, a well-regarded nearby French restaurant, Troquet takes a corner bar space and puts a cozy European twist on Chicago’s usual neighborhood tavern.

Huge front windows – left completely open in warm weather – help offset the claustrophobia of consistent crowds, allowing the ever-present aroma of croque monsieur and duck confit to waft outside.

Apart from the few stools along the bar, tables for small groups fill most of the floor, while a handful of TVs might be tuned to Chicago sporting events but are otherwise kept off duty.

The rest of the décor has a muted European feel, with black-and-white photos of Paris hanging on the cream- and rose-colored walls and a few chalkboards bearing the latest daily specials.

No kitschy French souvenirs up in here!

Most of the patrons are chill neighborhood professionals who come to enjoy budget-friendly table wines or the tidy selection of craft beers with their casual French bites, so while the venue is by no means a hipster haven or a yuppie warehouse, both are plentiful among the regular crowd.

The lack of highchairs, however, prevents it from ever becoming a stroller convention in this family-friendly neighborhood.

No babies up in here!

Meanwhile, when the climate cooperates, Troquet’s sidewalk patio rounds out that perfect Parisian day in Chicago, and is used by many as an excuse to get in on some daydrinking.

Vive la France!