Romantic French Restaurants in Chicago

French food is considered the ultimate in dining by many people throughout the world. French cuisine is often considered the most refined and elegant style of cooking in the world. There are actually many styles of French food. The French style of cooking that we like associate with France is 'Haute Cuisine". Haute Cuisine is the classical, and fancy, style of meal that is reserved for the most special of occasions. Even in France, most people don't eat Haute Cuisine on a daily basis.

There are many regional differences in French cooking, depending on the styles of the area and regional availability of ingredients. Whatever the region, French cooking is a highly developed art form. Following are some of the ingredients used in regional variations of French cooking. that you might find on a French restaurant menu:

Northwest France: butter, cream and apples.
Southwest France: duck fat, foie gras, porcini and gizzards
Southeast France: olive oil, herbs and tomatoes
Northern France: potatoes, pork, endives and beer. Shows Flemish cuisine influences.
Eastern France: lard, sausages, beer and sauerkraut. Shows German cuisine influences.

In addition to these regional specialties, there are styles of cooking, such as Loire Valley cuisine, Alsace cuisine, Basque cuisine and Roussillon. Regional French cooking uses locally grown vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood.

The French cuisine that we most likely find in American restaurants is "Haute Cuisine", although there may be regional influences. Dining in a French restaurant is a special treat and perfect for a romantic dinner.

Following are some of the most romantic French restaurants in Chicago. Dining in a French restaurant tends to be on the expensive side. Where available, I have listed the price range for the main entrees. There will likely be several additions to the main course, such as, appetizer, salad or starter, side courses, dessert and wine. The prices listed are not the total by any means.