Troquet – Hotel Felix

2 Reviews on “Troquet – Hotel Felix”

• Gourmet Rambler

  River North is the area of Chicago that isnt lacking in restaurants. There is one (or several) on most every corner. Whatever cuisine your heart desires. Anything can be found in River North, though usually it costs a pretty penny. This is not the neighborhood for bargains or holes in the wall. Amid all the glitz and glamor it is easy to overlook sometimes mediocre quality of food and drinks. That maybe one of the biggest reasons that I, personally, dont dine in River North all that often. That is until I discovered Troquet River North, a lovely and understated casual French bistro that doesnt break the bank. Having fallen for its charm, I am left asking myself: Pourquoi pas? Why not River North? As long as I can sit at the high top in the window, watching the world go by, sipping a cocktail and noshing at Troquet, WHY NOT?Troquet is dark and polished in red and black, with old-world atmosphere and unpretentious attitude. The menu is concise and to the point, with easy French classics like steak frites, tartines and house-made charcuterie. Wines by the glass are on draft (on my visit I enjoyed a delightful glass of Tablas Creek red from Paso Robles). There are cocktails for every palate. I sipped the Lavende, a refreshing concoction of Gvine Flourasion gin, St.Germaine and lavender syrup garnished with mint. Another highlight was the Romarin, a summer sipper of house-infused rosemary gin, St. Germaine, lemon and soda. Those go down dangerously easy on a hot day!Troquet is dark and polished in red and black, with old-world atmosphere and unpretentious attitude. The menu is concise and to the point, with easy French classics like steak frites, tartines and house-made charcuterie. Wines by the glass are on draft (on my visit I enjoyed a delightful glass of Tablas Creek red from Paso Robles). There are cocktails for every palate. I sipped the Lavende, a refreshing concoction of Gvine Flourasion gin, St.Germaine and lavender syrup garnished with mint. Another highlight was the Romarin, a summer sipper of house-infused rosemary gin, St. Germaine, lemon and soda. Those go down dangerously easy on a hot day!The food is decidedly un-fussy, but beautifully executed. On my visit we tried a silky smooth beet soup (daily special) with dill and creme fraiche. While reminiscent of the hearty borscht flavors of my childhood, Troquets version was subtle, jewel hued and lady-like. Perfect balance of earthy beets and creamy creme fraiche, an herbaceous whisper of dill. Sign me up for a bowl of that every time.The house-made charcuterie stole the show with headcheese of all things. Slices of it glistened on the platter with as many different hues of color as there were variations of texture and flavor. Each bite revealed something new and different. For those scared of headcheese, trust me, try this one. It will change your mind, I promise.We tried the mussels in white wine (excellent!) soaking up every bit of sauce with crusty baguette. These are a steal every Thursday, when for $15 you can eat as many as your heart and stomach desire. Steak tartine was lovely in its simplicity: an open-faced sandwich of perfectly cooked rosy steak, horseradish sauce and fresh arugula. A classic by anyones measure. But what stole my heart was Troquets steak tartare. At the time of my visit it wasnt even on the menu, but chef prepared it for us by request. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I look at the picture below, and am instantly hungry for more.In true French bistro style, Troquet offers attractive daily specials that I am looking forward to experiencing in the near future along with the rest of the wine list and more delicious cocktails. Pick one from the list below and ask yourselves: Pourquoi pas? Why not be French tonight?If you are looking for me, I will be at Troquet, at a high top by the window, watching the world go by. Because life is too short, so why not?{This review was originally published on May 21st, 2014}

  July 30, 2015, 11:43 am

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• Capi

  Yummy breakfast – steak and eggs were delish and French brioche was perfect. Maybe a little pricey for my pocket- but worth it!

  October 23, 2014, 11:25 pm

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