Paris Club
59 West Hubbard
Chicago, IL 60610
312-595-0800
website: www.parisclubchicago.com
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-12am
Thurs-Fri 4pm-2am
Sat: 4pm-3am
Sun 4pm-10pm
Well-known French Chef Joho, and RJ and Jerrod Melman, sons of Rich Melman of “Lettuce Entertain You” fame have re-invented the space, which was formally Brasserie Jo. They are introducing to the River North neighborhood of Chicago a very straightforward, brasserie-style of French cooking, which will definitely appeal to a new generation of diners, with an emphasis on share-plates. They have assembled an impressive culinary team of some of the most respected names in French dining. The Paris Club kitchen will be led by executive chef Tim Graham (Brasserie JO, TRU), as well as notable French-trained chefs Walter Manzke (Church & State, Bastide), Doug Psaltis (Alain Ducasse, French Laundry) and Michael Bellovich (HUB 51).
Highlights of the menu include Scallop and Uni Tartare (an interesting combination), Sweet Frites, Short Rib Bourguinon and Vegetable Cassoulet plated with an array of fresh and seasonal sautéed vegetables. Smaller portions make ordering simple and encourage guests to try a variety of offerings, such as Escargot by the piece, Lamb Meatballs with Harissa Tomato Sauce, and bite-size Croque Monsieurs “fingers”. In addition to these items, Paris Club also serves an array of homemade charcuteries and pates.
The team has handpicked a list of more than 10 champagnes, 25 reds and 25 whites representing France and U.S. vintners to offer guests easy, reasonably-priced, drinkable wines by the glass or bottle (see below). The restaurant will also feature a number of proprietary wines and craft beers on tap, as well as signature champagne cocktails and aperitifs.
Studio Paris upstairs is an indoor/outdoor lounge that doubles as a functioning photo studio by day and nightclub by night. The club features an impressive outdoor lounge seating area under a retractable glass roof (a necessity due to Chicago’s quickly changing weather) that opens to the Chicago skyline. A 25-foot bar, festooned with bottles of French champagne, connects the indoor/outdoor bar area. Somewhat resembling the high energy clubs frequently seen throughout Europe, guests can expect to hear great music, see impromptu sets from recording artists visiting the Windy City and take in music spun by guest DJs from around the world.
The only way to secure a table reservation is with bottle service. Should you wish to come upstairs for cocktails or small bites, check in when you arrive – they let people enter based on availability. Table reservations can be made by filling out the form on their website Studio Paris is also available to host private events and photo shoots.
Studio Paris: Hours of Operation:
Wed 5:00pm-12:00am
Thurs-Fri 5:00pm-2:00am
Sat 6:00pm-3:00am
Sun 5:00pm-11:00pm
Culinary Tidbits . . . It sounds like an attention-getting scheme to me, although next month when Grant Achatz opens a new restaurant in Chicago called “Next”, if in fact it opens, could be the most burdensome ever in culinary history. “My idea of fun seems to be more work,” he said; he will remain in charge of Alinea, his acclaimed restaurant nearby, while he is refining the new menu, which will be painstakingly reproduced from the classical French repertoire: whole lobes of foie gras baked in brioche, clear turtle soup with Madeira, duck pressed and sauced with its own blood and marrow, as served at the Tour d’Argent in Paris for more than 200 years.
