Brasserie Jo any current thoughts?

I am curious to what anyone has to say about Brasserie Jo and how it has changed over the years. Is it still good or in a state of decline?

I've been there a couple times in the past year and thought it quite good, but two caveats:

1) On both occasions I ordered the Choucroute Alsacienne which is a giant pile of smoked meats and sausages with boiled potatoes on a pile of cole slaw - a traditional Alsacian meal that I find delicious. Also paired with very nice and reasonably priced red wines - Moulin-a-Vent Beajolais the last time. I had been there once before and ordered the seafood in a bag which I vaguely recall was quite good, but that was a few years ago.

2) I don't know what it used to be like when it opened, so I have no sense of whether it has improved or declined over the years.

I have been to a number of other French Bistros in Chicago - Bistro Margot, La Sardine, Le Bouchon, Kiki's, Cyrano's, Marche - and thought this was at the top of the list along with La Sardine. La Sardine wins extra points from me for their Tuesday night special (3 coures meal for $25) which is the best deal in town in my mind.

We've been, maybe 4-5 times, over a two-year period. Always a good meal, never a great meal but I don't go there expecting a great meal. I like the atmosphere of the place. I usually order the rack of lamb and find it very tasty and meaty. It's a "Lettuce" restaurant and the menu is fairly similar to Mon Ami Gabi.

My frame of reference is only two years so I can't speak to any decline, etc.

Is the outside area still dog-friendly?

I've only eaten there once, about two years ago. I ate at the bar and had tarte flambee, onion soup and frog legs. I didn't care for their preparation of either the soup or the frogs. The onion soup was probably the worst I had ever had. The cheese had hardened into a clump that sunk to the middle of the dish. The environment was nice, but I don't really feel compelled to try anything else there.

I've been eating at Brasserie Jo a couple times a year for many years -- and aside from one sad incident where i bit into their VERY crusty baguette and lost a filling (yeah...whole tooth had to come out -- it was a sad night) I've always enjoyed myself there. Good steak frites, these lovely garlicky haricots verts and service has always been good and attentive for a mid range restaurant. I always find an affordable delicious french red to drink with my steak, too.

I would recommend it. They used to have a deal that if you wore a hat on Thursdays (or Tuesdays?) you got dessert free. And I'm sure they'll have all sorts of specials for Bastille Day (July 14)

bobby z wrote:I am curious to what anyone has to say about Brassiere Jo and how it has changed over the years. Is it still good or in a state of decline?

Bobby,

I find myself at Brassiere Jo a couple of times a year, though never of my own design. I always leave pleasantly surprised at the overall experience, food, service, ambiance and general professionalism. If possible I try to arrive in advance of my dining companions as I find Brassiere Jo's bar quite convivial.

I'm a skate fan, which BJ does a consistently nice job with.


Choucroute Alsacienne, as has been mentioned upthread, is a reliable choice as well.


Enjoy,
Gary

Brasserie Jo
59 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312-595-0800

G Wiv wrote:
I find myself at Brassiere Jo a couple of times a year, though never of my own design. I always leave pleasantly surprised at the overall experience, food, service, ambiance and general professionalism. If possible I try to arrive in advance of my dining companions as I find Brassiere Jo's bar quite convivial.

I'm a skate fan, which BJ does a consistently nice job with.


Choucroute Alsacienne, as has been mentioned upthread, is a reliable choice as well.


Enjoy,
Gary

Brasserie Jo
59 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312-595-0800

I must say that I'm in complete agreement with G Wiv on the two items that he mentioned, along with a very nice steak frites or hanger steak, depending on the daily specials and my mood that night. Have never had a bad experience there, just got a little bummed when they stopped serving lunch a few years ago. It had been a favorite with me for client lunches.

So my second French bistro meal is an many nights. Chicago is going to make me fat.

My meal at Brasserie Jo tonight was entirely pleasant. Yes, there's certainly room for improvement, but this is a restaurant that largely satisfies what I look for in brasserie. First, it actually has interesting beer. Second it has a wide variety of bistro classics beyond steak frites, roasted chicken, and onion soup. I was pleased to see frog's legs, tarte flambee, and other delicious classics on the menu.

I liked receiving the warm baguette, even if the bread isn't of the highest quality. I also loved the complimentary carrot sticks they bring out at the beginning of each meal. So simple with just a bit of horseradish, garlic, olives, some herbs but totally delicious.

Started off with oysters that were very meh. My oysters at Bin 36 last week were far superior.

Then had the tarte flambee. Not the best I've had but certainly acceptable and enjoyable. I thought it was a bit heavy on the cheese, but that's just me.

The burger was fine, if signifcantly underseasoned. The patty also lacked a certain beefiness and any significant char. On the plus side it was cooked to my specified rare/med-rare and I enjoyed the onions and brie that sat atop the patty. The frites here also didn't suck.

It's not so much that the food was even that great, the place just seemed welcoming. I liked the space, the service was fine, and the late-night dinner vibe worked for me. I'll be back.

Wow, it's been a couple years. Had a bit of an underwhelming experience here two nights ago. Not to say that it was bad, but I think my party felt like they walked away having paid a bit too much for food that was a bit too mediocre. Walked in with a eight-top, so it's not like we were giving the restaurant ideal circumstances in which to shine, but I thought the meal should've been a a little better than what it was.

Chef Joho was in the house, in street clothes, walking around. Our server, however, was a bit more scarce. Took quite a while for him to take our order and an hour for the food to come out. Restaurant wasn't super full so this wasn't ideal. Also, the reports on the food were mixed, with a few temperature issues.

I'll end up visiting again, the place is solid enough, but I'm certainly not singing its praises.

I've always been underwhelmed by Brassiere Jo and stopped going there. I think there are better places doing this type of food.

Which? Sometimes I need something like this close to the office.

BryanZ wrote:Which? Sometimes I need something like this close to the office.

Off the top of my head, I like Bistro 110, which is fairly close by.

I've never found the food exciting, but it's a wonderful bar with a great selection of Belgian, French, and American craft beers. It's quiet with a good atmosphere, the bartenders are very knowledgeable about beer, and best of all, (with the exception of special events) there is no vulgar plasma television. The food's not the reason I go, but it is more than adequate to keep me from getting hungry while drinking beer.

I can't think of anywhere else that has a specific Alsatian brasserie focus like Brasserie Jo does, but if you're looking for something French and will accept a bistro instead, then I like Cyrano's on Wells.

I find Bistro 110 to be severely underwhelming.

Cyrano's Bistrot
546 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654-9193
(312) 467-0546
http://www.cyranosbistrot.com/

We went 2 weeks ago. It was fine, but I found my steak frites quite underwhelming. It was done as requested, but very salty, mushy, and paper thin.

(and just so you don't think I never want salt, at least 2 of the places we ate last week in Istanbul made me want salt )

aschie30 wrote:I can't think of anywhere else that has a specific Alsatian brasserie focus like Brasserie Jo does, but if you're looking for something French and will accept a bistro instead, then I like Cyrano's on Wells.

While Brasserie Jo calls themselves a brasserie, they don't look anything like any brasserie I've seen in Paris or anywhere else in France. They really are more like a bistro.

John Danza wrote:While Brasserie Jo calls themselves a brasserie, they don't look anything like any brasserie I've seen in Paris or anywhere else in France. They really are more like a bistro.

How so? I mean, maybe it doesn't *look* like some of the grand Parisian brasseries like Bofinger and there are some bistro standards on the menu at Brasserie Jo such as Steak Frites and Roasted Chicken, but the focus on beer and certain Alsatian menu items like Choucroute and Tarte Flambée are things you won't generally see at a bistro (at least I haven't yet). I'll give you this -- I suppose Brasserie Jo is about as authentic Alsatian as Bofinger in Paris.

aschie30 wrote:

John Danza wrote:While Brasserie Jo calls themselves a brasserie, they don't look anything like any brasserie I've seen in Paris or anywhere else in France. They really are more like a bistro.

How so? I mean, maybe it doesn't *look* like some of the grand Parisian brasseries like Bofinger and there are some bistro standards on the menu at Brasserie Jo such as Steak Frites and Roasted Chicken, but the focus on beer and certain Alsatian menu items like Choucroute and Tarte Flambée are things you won't generally see at a bistro (at least I haven't yet).

A friend of mine works at Brasserie Jo and told me tonight that there are plans to make it more brasserie-like--to stay open later, focus on smaller fare and double the 19 (?) beers on draft. She didn't know the timeline for these changes though.

FWIW from Patricia Wells:

"Chat Participant: So what IS the difference between a brasserie and a bistro?

Patricia Wells: A brasserie is a large establishment, originally a brewery from Alsace, so in Paris it is a large place selling beer and sauerkraut, and open all hours. A bistro is traditionally a small family place, small menu, just a few tables with limited menu."

http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/news/9907/20/patricia.wells/

Of course, these distinctions are all becoming muddled nowadays, and I wouldn't be surprised to see "The Cafe Bistro Brasserie" open somewhere in the outlands in the near future.

happy_stomach wrote:

aschie30 wrote:

John Danza wrote:While Brasserie Jo calls themselves a brasserie, they don't look anything like any brasserie I've seen in Paris or anywhere else in France. They really are more like a bistro.

How so? I mean, maybe it doesn't *look* like some of the grand Parisian brasseries like Bofinger and there are some bistro standards on the menu at Brasserie Jo such as Steak Frites and Roasted Chicken, but the focus on beer and certain Alsatian menu items like Choucroute and Tarte Flambée are things you won't generally see at a bistro (at least I haven't yet).

A friend of mine works at Brasserie Jo and told me tonight that there are plans to make it more brasserie-like--to stay open later, focus on smaller fare and double the 19 (?) beers on draft. She didn't know the timeline for these changes though.

turns out the Brasserie Jo concept change is the real deal, not some Graham Elliott swap the tabelecloths and send out a press release thing. I stopped in today, and the changeover, which is scheduled to be completed next Wednesday, is well underway. 20 new beer taps, including some really outstanding, hard-to-find American and European brews. Charcuterie and beer-friendly food are a much bigger focus now, and the food's being prepared by a new chef who comes from Tru.

I ate every last morsel of meat off of these delicious, very garlicky frog legs:



I'm excited about the changes at Brasserie Jo.

Those do look great. I'm a huge fan of frog legs. I've got sixteen of them in my freezer right now. I'm going to prepare them very similarily to the style in the picture for Sunday night's Bears game. Lots of garlic, butter, and a touch of dry white wine. Delicious!!

Just noticed this topic for the first time.

Isn't it interesting how one letter in the wrong place can change the entire meaning?

jimwdavis wrote:Just noticed this topic for the first time.

Isn't it interesting how one letter in the wrong place can change the entire meaning?

Jim-

Nice catch.

My friend who works at Brasserie Jo treated me to some very pleasant snacks there last night:

Crudités:



Smoked salmon over crispy potatoes:



Beer & cheese beignets:



Duck rillettes:



Moules:



Frites with dipping sauces:





Endive salad:



Skate wing:



Crème caramel:



Profiteroles:



My favorites were the horseradish-y crudités, the mussels with a luxurious Riesling broth, smoked salmon, the cabbage slaw under the beignet, the very well-balanced endive salad, the gorgeous skate, the dense, intensely creamy crème caramel and the gigantic, stupendous profiteroles.

Based on how they looked, I thought the frites would be wimpy, but they were actually quite good and crispy. The dipping sauces were all pretty subtle; I was content to dip frites in with the mussels. The rillettes were also just OK--not ducky enough for me, perhaps overly seasoned.

I didn't drink beer last night, so I can't comment on the expanded list, but I was grateful for the reminder that Brasserie Jo is a cozy space in a convenient location with significant, tasty food. I need to stop in there more.

Brasserie Jo used to be my go-to restaurant for after work dining (I'm a sad soul who both lives and works in the Loop). Everytime I went there, my girlfriend would say to me "Why don't we go here more often". However, the last time we went I was severely underwhelmed. Their famous shrimp bag, which my girlfriend has had previously and liked quite a bit, came out with a very strong 'fish' taste and was quite cold, and my coq au vin was just "ok".

Maybe it's because I've been cooking a lot of Julia Child's recipe for Coq au Vin at home, but I've come to expect a lot from my Coq and this one did not deliver.

This was some time ago so I don't remember all of the details, but the service wasn't that great and it just wasn't a great night. I prefer Chez Joel and Kiki's for my french fix now....

We went for Valentine's Day. They had a 4 course menu for $49. I was underwhelmed. We started with a cold pastry puff with a bit of something inside it (I think the food runner said it was salmon?) It was like something out of the freezer section of the grocery store. The next course we had was a free-form shrimp ravioli with "DiVine sauce." This was ok, but not great. The mushrooms were the best part of it. I could have done without the pasta skins. Third course was cream of celeriac for me, salad for DH. Again, meh. The entree was salmon for DH, "airline" chicken breast for me. (This is how waitress described. How accurate! Heh.) I didn't want steak and didn't want fish, so that left the chicken. I guess I should have ordered better, but the steak was a $10 upcharge, which seemed ridiculous. The whole meal was very "banquety." It didn't seem like "real restaurant food," but rather stuff you'd get at a wedding or other catered event. It was quite disappointing since I have fond memories of great meals there.
On the upside, the bread and butter is still great, and the chocolate dessert (a moussey cake) hit the spot. We had a LEYE gift card to use, so it wasn't so bad, but all in all, forgettable meal.

Brown wrote:The entree was salmon for DH, "airline" chicken breast for me. (This is how waitress described. How accurate! Heh.)

OK, so that name is one you can't blame on the restaurant It means a chicken breast with the wing still attached (like an airplane, it's got wings...)

I was there right before Christmas with my daughter and was underwhelmed.

bjackson wrote:Brasserie Jo used to be my go-to restaurant for after work dining (I'm a sad soul who both lives and works in the Loop). Everytime I went there, my girlfriend would say to me "Why don't we go here more often". However, the last time we went I was severely underwhelmed. Their famous shrimp bag, which my girlfriend has had previously and liked quite a bit, came out with a very strong 'fish' taste and was quite cold, and my coq au vin was just "ok".

Maybe it's because I've been cooking a lot of Julia Child's recipe for Coq au Vin at home, but I've come to expect a lot from my Coq and this one did not deliver.

This was some time ago so I don't remember all of the details, but the service wasn't that great and it just wasn't a great night. I prefer Chez Joel and Kiki's for my french fix now....

I too expect a lot from my coq, but sometimes it isn't any good when there is too much vin.