Restaurant

Bar La Rue

Name: Bar La Rue
Address: 820 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL, 60661, US
Telephone: (312) 533-4607
Price range: moderate

French•Chicago•moderate

Bar La Rue is one of the best french restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Bar La Rue is what happens when someone actually commits to the bit.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

Bar La Rue is what happens when someone actually commits to the bit. Fulton Market has no shortage of places trying to straddle the line between neighborhood bar and destination restaurant, but most of them hedge. Bar La Rue reportedly skips the hedging entirely. The 3,000-square-foot room on West Fulton is built around a patinaed zinc bar top with green crystal chandeliers overhead, black-and-white print wallpaper on one wall and glimmering metallic on the other — grit and glamor in genuine tension, not just described in a press release. Out front, an all-season pergola seats 25 with infrared heat and cooling, which means this place is operating as a real streetside bar year-round in Chicago. That's not décor, that's a position. The crowd it draws, by all accounts, is people who want to eat and drink seriously without performing seriousness. The kitchen carries serious résumé lines — Chef Nikitas Pyrgis came up through La Guérite in Cannes, with Chef Partner Athinagoras Kostakos holding Alain Ducasse credentials — and somehow neither of those facts seem to be running the room. The menu is French-American and specific about it. The Provence Style Burger is known for arriving with gruyère cheese fondue rather than a simple slice of melted cheese, which is the kind of detail that separates a concept from a kitchen that can actually execute one. Then there are the Bougie Chicken Nuggets, served with 5g osetra caviar and ranch crème fraîche — a combination that sounds like a bit and is apparently treated like a serious dish. On the dessert side, the Brûléed French Toast, Dark Chocolate Tart, and Warm Apple Bread Pudding round out a menu that leans into comfort without abandoning its point of view. Sit at the zinc bar if you can get it — the pergola works for a first drink, but the bar is reportedly where the room shows you what it actually is. The Bougie Chicken Nuggets are the order to send a skeptical friend when you're trying to explain what this place is doing. Book ahead for weekends; this isn't the kind of spot that has a quiet Friday.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

Cocktails and foodcocktailsdate night moodysmall plateslate night

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.6

2,797 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.6

Rating

Based on 2797 reviews

Best used for

date night and Cocktails and food

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

Chicago · 820 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA

Price

moderate

Google rating

9.6 from 2,797 reviews

Phone

(312) 533-4607

Photos of Bar La Rue

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Bar La Rue on video

Short: MissesMae (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: KeralaJesus feat Phoebe the Cat (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: Viva La Food (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

What to order

Signature dishes at Bar La Rue

Brûléed French Toast

vanilla custard, cinnamon brown sugar gelato

Dark Chocolate Tart

salted caramel, hazelnut crumble, whipped creme fraiche

Warm Apple Bread Pudding

cider toffee caramel, vanilla gelato

Why go

What makes Bar La Rue worth the move

Bar La Rue works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Brûléed French Toast and Dark Chocolate Tart also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 2,797 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.6 from 2,797 Google reviews

Best used for

date night and Cocktails and food

Style

French in Chicago

Spend

moderate

Best for

Cocktails and food cocktails date night moody small plates late night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.6 from 2,797 reviews

Price point: moderate

Popular dishes: Brûléed French Toast, Dark Chocolate Tart, Warm Apple Bread Pudding

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Bar La Rue

Google snapshot

9.6 from 2,797 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

Boka Group has a knack for making a room feel more expensive than it is, and Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna at 531 N Wells St.

Tavern style pizzacasual nighttakeout

2127 reviews

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Website Menu Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: 820 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA
Phone: (312) 533-4607
Price: moderate
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.6 (2,797 reviews)
Cuisine: French
Neighborhood: Chicago

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Bar La Rue serve?

Bar La Rue is a French restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Bar La Rue is what happens when someone actually commits to the bit.

What is Bar La Rue best for?

Bar La Rue is best for cocktails and food, cocktails, date night, moody, small plates, late night. Bar La Rue works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Brûléed French Toast and Dark Chocolate Tart also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 2,797 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Bar La Rue?

Bar La Rue is in the moderate price range (moderate). Google rating: 9.6 from 2,797 reviews

What should I order at Bar La Rue?

Start with Brûléed French Toast, Dark Chocolate Tart, Warm Apple Bread Pudding and Bougie Chicken Nuggets. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Bar La Rue worth visiting?

Bar La Rue holds a 9.6 Google rating from 2,797 reviews. Bar La Rue works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Brûléed French Toast and Dark Chocolate Tart also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 2,797 Google reviews.

Where is Bar La Rue located?

Bar La Rue is located at 820 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Does Bar La Rue take reservations?

Yes, Bar La Rue accepts reservations. You can book a table online through their reservations page.

Is Bar La Rue good for a date night?

Yes — Bar La Rue is tagged for date night dining. Bar La Rue works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Brûléed French Toast and Dark Chocolate Tart also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 2,797 Google reviews.

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