City: Chicago, IL

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (312) 595-0800

Address: 59 W. Hubbard St.

Description: Hardcore French-food traditionalists may quibble with the liberties this restaurant takes with its small and large plates of French food—croque monsieur fingers?—but that doesn’t seem to bother the crowds that gather here on a nightly basis. Helmed by multi-award-winning chef J. Joho (who was also behind Brasserie JO, the previous longtime restaurant at this address), Paris Club has other big names behind it too: It’s run by RJ and Jerrod Melman, sons of restaurateur extraordinaire Rich Melman and owners of nearby HUB51 and SUB51, which makes it no surprise that this River North spot aims to make French food more user-friendly for a new generation of diners. Dishes include chicken drumettes, individual puff pastry–topped escargots, ahi tuna steak frites, and paper bag snapper. A bit further afield are the duck cracklings with spicy vinaigrette, pig’s feet bonbons, and sautéed foie gras with braised pineapple. The bustling bar with its reasonably priced wine on tap and fun cocktails (the “limonade” has lavender soda) makes for a great place to take in the scene over a few small plates. As the night progresses, be prepared for a loud, clublike atmosphere to take over. Just open: Studio Paris, its rooftop lounge. Open nightly for dinner, late-night dining Mon through Sat.