Venteux Brasserie, Cafe & Oyster Bar

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was welcoming 🙏
All the waiters had a smile on their faces and that was a plus for me 👍

Always order more than we intend to here. It's all so good. I'm a sucker for the caviar martini.

Nestled inside the iconic Carbide & Carbon Building, Venteux Brasserie is a stunning French restaurant that combines elegant Parisian charm with modern French cuisine. From the beautiful dining room to the fresh oysters and expertly crafted cocktails, every detail made this a memorable experience.

Their happy hour is definitely worth checking out:
🥂 Monday–Friday | 4:00–6:00 PM
🍸 Martini Thursdays | 4:00–9:00 PM
✨ Enjoy $6 martinis with the purchase of a food item, including Dirty, Espresso, and Lemon Drop Martinis.

Whether you’re exploring the Chicago Riverwalk, looking for an after-work happy hour, or planning a date night downtown, this is the perfect place to stop for drinks, oysters, and delicious French-inspired dishes. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful, the food was delicious, and I’ll definitely be back.

Highly recommend adding Venteux to your Chicago dining list!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of the worst-run restaurants I’ve been to.

We were staying at the adjacent Pendry hotel and ate breakfast here on multiple mornings. Every day, there were plenty of empty tables, yet the hostess told us they couldn’t seat us because they were still waiting for staff to arrive. The quoted wait was often up to an hour, even though this was well into breakfast service and the restaurant had been open for hours.

We ended up sitting at the bar instead, where it still took nearly 20 minutes to flag someone down to take our order. The bar was completely empty. If the restaurant isn’t staffed to serve guests, it’s hard to understand why it’s open.

Thinking it was just a one-off issue, we made a reservation for the following morning. We arrived on time, found plenty of open tables, and were told they had overbooked reservations and it would still be a 20 to 30 minute wait, even with a reservation.

The food was fine, but entirely forgettable. Unfortunately, the service and overall operation were so disorganized that I can’t recommend dining here. Even if breakfast credits are included with your hotel stay, I’d spend them elsewhere.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 1

worst front of house service I’ve ever experienced. we’re staying in the Pendry so came for breakfast a few days. we noticed they’re very busy and there can be quite a long wait for walking in so the last morning we decided to make a reservation. was floored when the FOH told us that we had to wait 30 mins for our reserved time since there are “other reservations in front of us”. absolute mess of a restaurant and clearly run poorly. honestly gives Chicago hospitality a bad name.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

I visited Venteux Brasserie, Cafe & Oyster Bar during my trip to Chicago, and it was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I had. The restaurant has a stylish French-inspired atmosphere that's elegant yet comfortable, making it a wonderful place for any occasion.

I ordered a dozen fresh oysters to start, followed by steak frites and a cappuccino to finish. Everything was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The oysters were incredibly fresh, the steak was tender and perfectly cooked, and the crispy fries were the ideal side. Every dish reflected great attention to quality.

The service was exceptional. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to recommend oysters and wine pairings, making the meal feel even more special.

One tip: if you love seafood, ask about the daily oyster selection. It's also worth making a reservation for dinner, especially on weekends, and outdoor seating is a great option when the weather is nice.

Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Venteux Brasserie, Cafe & Oyster Bar. Thank you to the entire team for the outstanding food, excellent service, and beautiful atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Rudest behavior i have ever seen. Worst possible treatment by the South Asian looking guy at the bar. I went their for some light snacks and beer and sat at the bar. The guy was rude and mistreating from beginning to the end. I ignored it thinking they look busy, but he literally threw the check folder at me instead of keeping it on the table or handing it over. Worst possible experience. The rest of the staff was really nice and kind though.

Oysters were on point and service was outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed the French onion soup too. And the Negroni was spot-on. Nice place in the heart of the city when you’re on Michigan Ave and want something a little out of the ordinary!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Service is so slow because this fancy establishment barely hires any staff and the two servers we see are cleaning tables making coffee taking orders and everything in between. If you wanted to have some peaceful and sit-down and wait for long hours beyond eternity, you can come down here. Latte was good and omelette is nice.

Chairs are dirty. Why the expensive and self-proclaimed so called luxury hotel has staff shortage. All the dollars that’s being earned goes where?

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

We had a wonderful dining experience overall. The food was delicious from start to finish. We ordered the baked Brie, escargot, sole, mushrooms, and creamed spinach, and everything was flavorful and well prepared. The sole was good, though it could have been cooked a little better.

The drinks were excellent, and the food came out surprisingly fast. Service was prompt and courteous throughout the meal. While the staff was professional, the service lacked a bit of warmth, personality, and character that would have made the experience even more memorable.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a lovely atmosphere that makes it a great place to dine. Despite a few minor points, we enjoyed our visit and will definitely return, perhaps to try breakfast or happy hour next time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Excellent experience here. Really good French inspired food. I especially love the quality of the baguette. My one recommendation is to serve the cauliflower dish warm instead of cold, it was very good but as the waitress did warn us, it was different.

Food was alright - coq au vin was good but the weird chicken square it was served on, I couldn’t finish. Partner ordered short ribs, they were fine. The oysters were fine, I think the “west coast” and “east coast” were the same thing. Dessert and coffee were okay, not great. Pretty mid for the price.

The whole time we were there, three influencers were setting up and using bright o-ring lights to take photos of their food and record videos next to us. It was horribly annoying - why have them do this on a Friday night at 7pm?!

Service was slow, one waitress for the entire restaurant. She was doing her best but probably had 20+ tables? Also there were random tables around the restaurant with no chairs, and stuff piled up on them. It just felt like sloppy cleaning and organization.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Cute atmosphere, great drinks. Food is ok. Don’t get the pancakes, look good, taste bland

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

My husband and I visited for his birthday and father's day! We had a wonderful time trying the lobster boil--which was a fresh choice and a bit unexpected! The flavors were great, more on the subtle side so if you're looking for a cajun boil you can expect a French take on the dish. The cocktails were also great. And you can't go wrong with French Onion soup. Not pictured, but we also had the oysters--easily my fave in the city! Specifically the West Coast (I usually prefer oysters from Massachusetts but these topped that!).

Atmosphere: 5

During my meal, I found a piece of parchment paper left inside my food. This is a basic quality-control failure that should never happen in a restaurant that presents itself as a high-end dining experience. When I brought it to the staff's attention, the response was even more disappointing than the mistake itself. No manager came to speak with me, there was no meaningful apology, and nothing was comped despite the obvious issue with the dish. Mistakes can happen in any kitchen, but how a restaurant handles them matters. The lack of accountability and customer service ensured I won't be returning.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1