ZipPicks Awards
Best Fine Dining Restaurants in South Loop
Master Critic Review
Taureaux Tavern
7.9
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
An elevated Loop brasserie-style room that’s strongest when you order like a French tavern: one soup, one steak-frites, and a martini or glass of red. It works best for business lunches and early dinners where the menu’s classics hit reliably without turning into a marathon.
Must-Try Dishes:
French Onion Soup, Steak Frites, Lobster Roll
Scores:
Value: 8.6
Service: 7.7
Consistency: 8.1
Food Quality: 8
Atmosphere: 6.5
Cultural Relevance: 7.4
What makes it special: French-inspired tavern classics with a steak-frites backbone.
Who should go: Business lunches and steak-frites regulars.
When to visit: Weekday lunch or early dinner before the rush.
What to order: French onion soup, steak frites, lobster roll.
Insider tip: Go classic: soup + steak frites beats a scattered order.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Paid garages and metered street parking nearby; street spots are competitive after 5pm. Plan on a garage if you’re doing happy hour or dinner, and leave a few extra minutes for Loop traffic.
Dress code: Smart casual. Jeans are fine with a nice top, but business-attire blends in best (blazer, blouse, clean shoes).
Noise level: Moderate. Easy for business conversation and group catch-ups, but the room can get lively during happy hour.
Weekend wait: 20–40 min without a reservation (longer if there’s a nearby event or theater crowd).
Weekday lunch: 0–15 min most days; 15–25 min during peak lunch (12:00–1:15).
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — you can build a full meal with soup/salad starters and at least one satisfying vegetable-forward main, but the menu leans steak-and-seafood overall.
Vegan options: Limited — doable with a couple of adjustments (ask for oil/lemon dressing and skip butter/cheese), but it’s not a vegan-first kitchen.
Gluten-free options: Some options available — proteins and salads are the safest plays, and the kitchen can usually guide you away from breaded sauces/sides, but cross-contact is possible in a busy service.
Best For
Better for: A reliable Loop power lunch, classic French-tavern ordering, and a clean ‘one-and-done’ steak frites moment that doesn’t drag into a long fine-dining marathon.
Consider Alternatives If: You want a quiet, romantic whisper-level room, a tasting-menu-style experience, or a deeply vegetarian/vegan-friendly menu—pick a calmer, more destination-style spot instead.