CheSa’s Bistro & Bar

I'm going to break this down, as the most honest review ever. For starters I felt bad , it's New Year's Eve and me even being a minute late I call , to ensure and let the restaurant know I'm going to be late, I got there at 5:14pm, and no one was there( reservation was at 5pm) . The waiter was a gentlemen. Sat us & gave us a ‘ holiday menu ‘ which had very limited items ( things I had not seen on TikTok that brought me to CheSa's ) so disappointed but my wife and I shared the seafood gumbo. Gumbo was mid. I'd rate it 4/10. But we were starving , and craving catfish & lobster etc. which again was why we came. The server was a gentlemen ( stated he can't serve alcohol drinks ) which was fine. However .. about 20 mins of us chillen a group of 2 & then another couple and then party of 10 came in and the bartender arrived and took the drinks for all tables except ours ( mind you we were the first there ) on top of that I noticed everyone else but us had the actual menu and not the ‘ holiday menu ‘ we had. RED FLAG. After being served the seafood gumbo finally I asked for a regular menu like everyone else, got it, and no one came to ask if there was something else we wanted to order. Bartender of age never came to our table to ask if there was anything other than water , we wanted to drink. Another RED FLAG. Overall super disappointed I was looking forward to the deep fried lobster Mac and cheese & my wife wanted the catfish jambalaya. Yet we settled to share gumbo. Which again was mid. We are big foodies and travel and eat all around the country and this was a place we were dying to try , yet got limited access to menu , and then saw full menu was available. Overall 1/10 experience. Because we support black owned businesses I think id give this place one more chance. But I'm not from here, & first impressions are everything. Who knows when we'll be back.

Overall bad experience. atmosphere not welcoming, very expensive and def not tasty, very salty.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I was here about 2 years ago and I STILL think of this food. We had a group of 4 and ordered many different dishes so that we all could try them. The food was to die for! Literally, there wasn't one thing we didn't care for. I highly recommend this place! Only one of us in our party is gluten free and yet we all LOVED the food. I will definitely be back again when I'm in the area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Some of the best food I’ve ever had. So good! Will definitely be back.

CheSa’s Bistro & Bar – Chicago – Review

CheSa’s Bistro & Bar brings a unique, upscale twist to comfort food with a fully gluten-free menu focused on Southern and Creole-inspired dishes. Known for their lobster mac, shrimp & grits, and creative cocktails, the flavors are bold and well-balanced. The ambiance is stylish yet cozy, and service is consistently friendly and attentive. A standout spot for foodies with dietary restrictions or anyone looking for elevated soul food in Chicago.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Green Tomatoes

The place is very quaint , cute & locally owned. The owner was nice and was very helpful when she saw I didn’t like a dish. She had the kitchen to remake which it was then good . The waffles were really good.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

What a delicious dinner! Chicken and waffles were fantastic, as was the crawfish etouffee. Lobster Mac and cheese was just ok for us and we probably wouldn't order again. Cocktails were so good too.

As someone who was diagnosed celiac for the last 10 years, it's really hard to find a restaurant you can trust that won't have cross-contamination and also taste AMAZING!!!! Do you know how hard it is to find good tasty gluten-free food? CheSa's will be a staple in my life. They serve brunch lunch and dinner and I only got two taste a select few entrées. I'm so excited to go back.

CheSa and team are doing their BIG ONE!!!
I went Saturday night without a reservation and there was no wait.
We ordered the Hushpuppies, Lemon Pepper Salmon, Chicken and Beignet Waffles, and Catfish and Jambalaya. Everything was 5/5 no notes!!!! AND it’s 100% gluten free. They don’t use GMO food either so everything tastes so fresh and like real food.
Julian and CheSa were our waiters and were really attentive, offering great service.

This food was so good, seriously you HAVE to go!!!!
I can’t wait to go back!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great customer service and the food was delicious. The owner was very attentive and made sure the service was up to par.

The atmosphere was inviting, the food was exceptional, and the service truly elevated the entire experience.
One of the highlights of my visit was the bartender, Mia. She was not only friendly and attentive but also incredibly skilled at what she does.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Between the delicious food, great ambiance, and Mia’s outstanding service behind the bar, I’ll definitely be coming back soon. Highly recommend stopping by and make sure to grab a seat at the bar if Mia’s working!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went on Friday with live music. Single guitarist, but still able to converse with a moderate noise level. The food and drinks were on point as always

From the time I walked in the door, service was great and very attentive. The Orleans omelet was delicious and full of flavor along with the waffle. I will definitely recommend it and I will be returning.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely fantastic evening here!! My daughter is Celiac....every dish was DELICIOUS and safe for her to eat. My husband and I have no food allergies but the food was wonderful!!! The cocktail I ordered was delightful!! Pineapple coconut deliciousness!! The Alligator Cheese dip was wonderful and the meat was very very tender. We ordered the Catfish and Jambalaya and the Lobster Mac and Cheese.....both amazing!! The breading was light and crispy with no aftertaste. Finally, we shared the Beignet Waffles with Peaches and Ice Cream for dessert (not on the menu BTW but available). Like a taste of heaven lol!! Seriously, we would have loved this place even if we didn't have a GF kiddo with us. Prices are moderate but a good value and the waiter was super pleasant and engaging. The environment was modern, very clean, and comfy. Excellent!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Peach Cobbler, Fried Chicken \u0026 Beignet Waffles, Fried Lobster Tail and Gumbo