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Bandol Brasserie & Raw Bar
$$$ · Seafood

100 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603
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ZipPicks Awards

Best Seafood in Loop

Vibe Check this spot

Food Quality 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Consistency 5
Cultural Relevance 5

0 / 5 selected

Master Critic Review

Bandol Brasserie & Raw Bar 8.1
Loop
Vibes: Date Night Magic Trendy Table Hotspots Happy Hour Hotspots Group Dining Gatherings
A polished Loop brasserie that earns its seafood credentials through a dedicated raw bar—oysters, tartare, and coastal French mains like bouillabaisse. It shines when you order in a tight sequence: raw bar first, then one seafood main, so the table doesn’t sprawl across too many lanes.
Must-Try Dishes: Oysters, Bouillabaisse, Salmon tartare
Scores:
Value: 7.4 Service: 7.8 Consistency: 7.9 Food Quality: 8.3 Atmosphere: 8.6 Cultural Relevance: 7.6
What makes it special: A Loop raw bar wrapped in a stylish brasserie setting.
Who should go: After-work diners who want oysters and a polished room.
When to visit: Happy hour or pre-theater dinner for best pacing.
What to order: Oysters, salmon tartare, bouillabaisse.
Insider tip: Start with the raw bar immediately—then add just one main to finish.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: No dedicated lot—use nearby paid garages in the Loop; street parking is limited and gets tough after 5pm on weekdays.
Dress code: Smart casual leaning dressy—nice jeans work, but a date-night outfit fits the room better.
Noise level: Moderate—lively brasserie energy, but you can still hold a normal conversation.
Weekend wait: 45–75 min without a reservation (bar seats may open sooner).
Weekday lunch: 0–15 min most days; 15–25 min during peak office lunch.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—salads and a few vegetable-forward starters/sides, but it’s not a vegetarian-focused menu.
Vegan options: Limited—expect 1–2 workable choices with modifications (ask about butter/cream in sauces).
Gluten-free options: Some options—raw bar and simple seafood plates can work, but cross-contact risk is possible in a brasserie kitchen.
Best For
Better for: Raw-bar-first dining in a stylish Loop setting—great for oysters + cocktails, seafood starters, and a French-coastal main without going full fine dining.
Consider Alternatives If: You want a quiet, intimate room (it can get lively), need lots of vegan choices, or you’re trying to do a big menu-sprawl group order—choose a broader, more crowd-pleasing seafood spot instead.