We were disappointed, but I'll leave this one three stars for now... We went because of the Yelp-advertised $35 prix fixe for 1 app and 2 entrees, but they are not doing that any more. It was a Tuesday, though, which is their 1/2 price martini night. Their specialty martinis are creative, but generally under-powered. I was able to down 3 and still have room for a couple of draft beers later. No, I dont usually get this tanked on a Tuesday, but we walked and the weather got bad, so we drank until the clouds cleared. The draft beers were a good value, but the martinis are over-priced if you pay full price. Anyway, she ordered the pork tenderloin and I had the seafood ravioli. I was very happy with the taste of my dish, but thought the portion size small for a $26 price tag. The price and portion of the pork were good, but the food was not. The server talked up how the chef prefers to serve the pork tenderloin at medium, but hers were very much well done and not so flavorful in addition. They also only give you one solitary roll. Since we are close, and this place has so much potential (great bar), we'll give it another try and hopefully I'll be able to raise my rating.
(3)
Catherine S.
Impress your date/boss/bourgeois friends: 1. When placing your group reservation, request the tasting room. Intimate and sophisticated. 2. That lovely puff pastry/wild mushroom dish on the menu? It's pronounced "fe-yuh-TAY." You could point out that it's missing a second e and an accent mark, but that would be gauche. Instead, comment on what a nice selection of vegetarian items there are on the menu and how rare that is for a French restaurant. 3. Do finish the meal with a dessert sampler and some fabulous coffee. Offer to pick up "lah-dishy-ohn". It won't set you back too much (unless you've added one wall of the tasting room to your meal.)
(4)
Regular G.
Cafe Pyrenees is an underrated restaurant in Libertyville. It is a perfect place for an outing with family. The food was delicious and the service was great. What impressed me the most, though, was the atmosphere. The inside is set as if you were in a rural village in France. Since it is so underrated, it is usually not so crowded, so you will be able to get a table that is fairly isolated, adding to the quiet and relaxing atmosphere. If you are looking for a place to have a relaxing and delicious meal after a long day, go to Cafe Pyrenees.
(4)
Erin G.
While a bit more casual than we expected, the environment was pleasant and comfortable. We were invited immediately to go to the bar for a free wine-tasting where the bartenders were knowledgeable and entertaining. We all ordered the special Bastille Day wine menu. All the food was simply delicious, and the wine pairings were excellent. What was especially noticeable on this visit was the service: our party had a personal emergency come up, and the staff graciously hurried our courses along.
(5)
Robert M.
Wow is all I can say, Food was great, the wine list amazing. Wait staff was top of the line. You would never think this place was so amazing from the location. I was in the area for Military event and just by chance stopped in, we were looking for a good meal and got way more than we were looking for.... We will visit this place again.
(5)
Mike L.
Service was professional. Wine choices and variety is staggering and each glass I had was just fine. Nice decor and atmosphere. The only real problem I had with this place is the food. Don't get me wrong it tastes great and is high quality; however the portions are way to small for the price paid. I've been to plenty of restaurants where the food is of the same high quality and you actually get full eating it. For example they claim a steak and chicken dinner special yet the steak is merely four of five pieces sliced on a bias to look larger to the viewer. Same for the chicken. You may fool my eyes, but not my Tummy! Bottom line is nice place, good food albeit not enough, and expensive for what you get. Might impress a first date because really who eats a lot on a first date? but if you want to get your eat on this is not the place. If my meal had more substance with my food I'd of given it four stars. I've eaten here three times and each time I walk away feeling the same. If the French don't eat large portions I'm guessing I'll never see Paris because I'll starve first.
(3)
Corinne D.
I has a dinner there a few months ago. The appetizers and meals were very good. I will definitely go back. I did not attend a special event dinner. Perhaps that was the key for the great quality based on other feedbacks I read. I say give this place a second shot if you weren't completely satisfied.
(4)
Tammy M.
Had a wonderful evening at Cafe Pyrenees last evening. The outdoor seating was lovely, service, by Rolando was perfect and out light bites very good. We shared an interesting appetizer... tomatoes stuffed with mozzeralla an basil then deep fried. The batter was disappointing, but overall flavor good. Mari's favorite salad is outstanding - and HUGE. My husband enjoyed one of the specials; shrimp, scallop and sauteed soft shell crab over a little orzo and a citrus beurre blanc sause. We learned they have complimentary wine tastings on Thursday evenings when we walked in and saw a familiar face, Tom, offering some lovely sips. The "Beast" was a perfect choice for this warm summer evening. Dessert... ah, the Hockey Puck........ I have had it before and it continues to be very pleasing to the chocoloate loving side of me. Looking forward to another visit very soon.
(4)
Mike S.
I absolutely love this place! I first learned about this place from my high school French class. This French-inspired restaurant has a really intimate atmosphere. The lights are dimmed, and there is always a good amount of space between your table and the ones nearby. The wait staff is always very courteous and willing to make special requests to the kitchen for your order. This place is truly a hidden treasure because it is kind of tucked away in a corner of a shopping mall just north of downtown Libertyville. It doesn't look especially big from the outside, but it's quite surprising how many this place can fit (comfortably too!). Another great thing about this place is that the owner always has different specials going on. There is always a list of special events on the tables. Most of the time, these can save you a fair amount of $$$! My personal favorites at Cafe Pyrenees are: the Baked Goat Cheese, Duck Quesadilla, Beef Medallions, and the Chicken Paillarde Definitely check this place out!
(5)
Kat G.
VERY DISAPPOINTING! I decided to try this place with a work friend since it got good reviews on Yelp and is in the area we work. Cafe Pyrenees is a corner store of an L shaped strip mall. It looks tiny from the outside but is in fact Huge inside. It is like walking into a french villa. It is very tastefully decorated and very new. If you are looking for a place that Looks great, This is it. Unfortunately the food was not so good. The waiter was hard to understand. He brought us two rolls and that was it, never asked if we wanted more. It would have been nice to have another roll with the soup. When our entrees came - I had to laugh. My friend had the seafood ravioli: there were Seriously 3 pieces of shrimp and two ravioli pockets. It was too small a portion. My friend said the food was bland and the shrimp did not taste fresh. I had the marinated and grilled hangar steak. It was OK - but very bland. I don't think the vegetables were made from fresh veggies. Save your money for someplace else.
(2)
Lea G.
Went here for lunch with colleagues who loves the place. First impression walking in eclectic decor, homey (kids drawings are posted on the walls). The menu was creative. I ordered the duo of duck which I liked. The service was attentive and professional. Sad I didn't get to try dessert or the wine list.
(3)
Lance J.
Have been meaning to write about this place for a long time. Moved away from Vernon Hills and now this is my go to destination every time I return to visit. The Beef Bourguignon is really really good. I wish Chef Jean-Marc would bring back the Pork Tenderloin with the Shrimp on top and the mustard sauce. That was always my favorite. If your like me and in town visiting your best bet is to sit at the bar. The 2 bartenders (I think Denny and Ro??) are extremely nice and will take good care of you.
(5)
Sam W.
Their take out lunch orders are a great value. Their lunch sandwiches are a step above anything you will get at the chains. I love their grilled chicken with carmelized onions and brie. I recommend the build a bag for lunch, what a great deal, plus the restaurant is right across the street from our Dental Office.
(5)
Matt B.
Half price martini night on Friday...oh yes...great bar, great bartenders, just an overall nice place.
(3)
Ed W.
Maybe we were spoiled because we were looking for a place to have dinner the day after Valentine's day. So here it was Sunday night - and many restaurants in the Libertyville area are closed. Not only was Cafe Pyrenees open - it was almost empty. We were seated in the small wine tasting room - and had it to ourselves for the first hour. The bonus was you can bring your own wine on Sunday's - with no corkage fee. The onion soup was excellent, as was the duck quesadilla and the thinly sliced beef appetizer. We split the entree that came with two 4oz filets and a couple of shrimp. The medium rare was more like rare, but I didn't mind because in most places med rare is mostly medium. They didn't mind at all that we brought our own wine and split an entree. Those two factors allowed us to enjoy a great meal for under $70, including tip. The wine selection is not bad if you choose to order it there. They do have the overpriced status selections, but there are good wines for under $20 as well. One note - if you do bring a bottle - try to make it a good one - that justifies why you brought it. The decor is well suited to the type of restaurant it is try to be - French Chateau. The bar is large and you can order food there as well. We think of this place as an undiscovered treasure - at least on Sunday evenings.
(5)
Kristin J.
Very disappointed. We had a reservation but that didn't matter at all, we were seated in the order of arrival and had to wait. We were seated in a tiny room that felt like a mock wine cellar. (My husband wondered if we should introduce ourselves to everyone since it felt like we were sitting together and could hear each others conversations very clearly!) The bread was not very good. My husband ordered the Spanish Paella and was very disappointed. It was a poor rendition of a gumbo. The woman at the table next to us was also disappointed in the dish. My water glass was empty through 90% of the dinner. Considering the high menu prices I expected much better service and better food.
(1)
Randy C.
Although I've been going to this place for years, I have to admit: I nearly always get the same thing when I go to Cafe Pyrenees: the fish special of the day, and the soup of the day. They have done great things with basil, white wine, and especially saffron. And the pureed soups they make have always been just right. Perhaps the best part of this place is atmosphere. Especially when I've been stressed, I go here to relax and enjoy a fine meal, and reset my day.
(4)
Shawn C.
Cafe' Pyrenees is one of our regular hangouts. We really like the ambiance, food and bar. The food is highlight here beef bourgognone, fish special and game plate being my favorites. The French onion soup is very good as is the escargot. When they have it the cassoulet is awesome. Service is friendly but professional, and the bar is always fun. I'm not a big dessert guy but the cheese plate is pretty good. Their wine selection is always changing and they sell most bottles retail if you find something you really like.
(4)
Larry B.
Used to be good back in the CLinton years, but not so much now. THe Hostess was snotty ( I mean this isnt TRU or Trotters for Christs sake) the service was slow and inattentive. I ordered skate which if not prepared correctly is full of ammonia. This was not preparerd correctly. Gone downhill Im sorry to say.
(2)
Paola D.
We had a great meal for $20. It was the special of the night. I had a vegetable soup, a chicken pot pie, and dessert for only $20, and the portions were pretty good too! This was definitely a good deal and the place is cozy. Good service. Food is ok, but cannot complain for the price.
(4)
Karen B.
Cafe Pyrenees is always on my list for special visitors and special occasions. If I'm just being nice to myself, i start to miss it if I don't go every other month or so. It's the real French bistro experience right here in Lake County. Creative marketing keeps people interested in trying new dishes. Everything is fresh, delicious, and well-prepared. Service is always excellent, and the owners and staff welcome newcomers and remember and appreciate loyal regulars. Portion sizes are just right. Our tab last night was affordable because we had the 4-course prix fixe menu, The Retro Menu, where the price is the year, $20.11, and it was Tuesday where certain wines by the bottle were half price.
(5)
Steve S.
People rave about this place. I think not, the food was not up to par and the service well let say I get better at Burger King !!!!!(it was bad)
(1)
Meinhard G.
A good French Restaurant with an easygoing atmosphere, more like a Bistro not a "restaurant" you think of. The bar area is a nice casual place to linger. On a recent Wednesday, every table was occupied, probably because of the $1.00 glass $5.00 Bottle wine for consuming at the restaurant or to take home. The food is good to very good, people are very friendly and the service is knowledgeable and fast. A winner! I like the nice wine glasses they use!
(3)
Trinidad T.
my husband and i went to this place after 10pm looking for dinner, they only had the "late" menu available at that hour, so that's what we did... ordered a few dishes each and had a taste of everything, and it was good!! the escargo was yummy, as was the duck quesadillas! the seafood was also very good... strangely we ordered a scallop and shrimp pasta that came out with only shrimp... whoops! we had a stormy night and the chocolate martini was was awesome! the creme brulee and peach parfait were yummy and larger than we expected... our waitress wasn't as tentative as we liked, but was nice... the owners were very nice as they talked amongst themselves, everyone was cheerful :) we can't wait to go back to see the full dinner menu and try some other drinks.
(4)
Vinny The Vacuum S.
I went to this place when they were still in Vernon Hills. If it is still under the same ownership then I recommend it. You can tell they really put thought into their menu b/c they have something for everyone. Plus they have a complete collection of fine wines to go with any dinner. I wouldn't call this fine dining but it is definitely upscale compared to a night at Friday's. The prices reflect the food but, hey, you can't eat at Friday's all the time.
(4)
Kelly F.
My husband and I have been meaning to try this place for months. Last night we finally decided to check it out. I was a little worried when we first pulled in to the parking lot - with it being a Tuesday night I figured I would not need to make reservations, but the lot was full. I had to loop around a few times until someone else left. When we got into the restaurant, though, we were seated right away. The woman who seated us told us their special for the day (Tuesday) which was half price martinis (whoo - hoo!) and also buy one entree get one free (double whoo - hoo!) I got a Cosmo, which was good - strong, but not overly so. My husband got a flight of white wines, which he enjoyed. I started with a house salad. I'm not usually a huge fan of house salads unless they're done well because I don't find much appetizing about a big pile of lettuce. This one, though it was mostly a big pile of lettuce with a few tomatoes and some grated carrots, was perfect. The house dressing is great and coated every leaf perfectly but the salad was not soggy. My husband had the onion soup, which he said was the best he had ever had. For the entrees, I had the Pyrenees Pasta - being a vegetarian, it was pretty much my only entree option. The pasta itself was average, but the sauce and grilled veggies were fantastic. Also, if you like goat cheese you will not be disappointed. My husband had the Beef Carpaccio. He said it was fantastic. We decided to splurge a little and have dessert. I can't resist a good Creme Brulee, and I was definitely not disappointed! My husband ordered the Delice Des Pyrenees. He took one bite and said it was waaayyy too much chocolate for him, which is fine by me - I wrapped it up to take home for later! The service was great, we were given enough time between soup / salad and entree to relax a little before out entrees came out. The waiter didn't check on us much after our dinner came, which I guess is not a huge deal since I don't like to be bothered while I eat. The water glass was constantly refilled, which was great. One of my only complaints, which comes with being a parent of a toddler, is that there is no changing table in the washroom - which is weird to me since their accessible stall was big enough to park my car in.
(5)
Philip P.
We only went their for dessert but liked the Creme Brulet, rather tasty. Would like to go back again to try their wine and entrees.
(3)
Sam C.
Hmmm...not sure why this place is getting Five Stars. Been there twice now and the food has been decent each time, but certainly not the quality of LeBouchon on Armitage Ave or even Bistro Margot on Well St. in the city. May be we were there on off nights. Then again, when you live near the Wisconsin border, beggars can't be choosers when Cafe Pyrenees is less than ten minutes away...so I would recommend it, just don't expect it to be five stars.
(3)
MaryLou G.
French food at good prices... C'est magnifique! Menu selections, food quality, presentation, service - Cafe Pyrenees has it all. Excellent wine cellar too.
(5)
Tony P.
I really like this place and yesterday was no exception. We came with no reservations, 7:30 Friday night. Were seated in a matter of minutes. My wife had liver, I had duck plate. Both were excellent. Top notch. For appetisers, we had escargots and portobello mushrooms in some sort of quite delicious sauce. We topped everything with their creme brulee and coffee. Service was just fine. The only complain I have, portions are too small, like in every French restaurant. Precisely as Jacky Mason said in one of his funny monologues. But seriously though, the place is fantastic. Have been in numerous times, never had any issues some reviewers here are complaining. The best French place in the burbs and overall, one of the best restaurants.
Absolutely amazing! Went there yesterday for a Valentine's dinner. I made an online reservation for 7:30 pm. When we arrived we were advised there was gonna be a wait time as the place was packed. No big deal for us. We grabbed two drinks at the bar. Both drinks were awesome (lemon drop for me and old fashioned for the hubs). We started our meal with the soups. I had a lobster bisque and my husband had baked onion soup. Both were spectacular! Escargot followed the soups. It was buttery and garlicky goodness. And the bread was amazingly crispy and warm. For our entrees we had a Dover sole and a hanger steak. Both were perfectly cooked and delicious. We almost licked out plates it was that good. We finished our amazing dinner with Le Dome. Should I say it was amazing? No, it was more than that! Perfection. Our service was very good and attentive. We are definitely coming back!
(5)
Kevin S.
Have enjoyed this bistro for more than 20 years. Just love the food, the owners and the waitstaff many of whom have been serving here for the entire time. Menu is standard French fare with nice balance. Wife favorite hanger steak and fries. Wine list is good and reasonably priced.
(5)
Madeline L.
Went here for a family dinner. The staff seemed friendly and the inside is way larger than what you would expect. The escargot and goat cheese dip were delicious! However, the entree I ordered tasted extremely bitter and gritty. I ordered the liver and I've tried many different kinds. If it's cooked right, there is absolutely no bloody, bitter taste. I couldn't even finish it because it tasted so odd. I thought maybe it was just my tastebuds so I had my relatives try it and they also agreed there was something wrong with the taste. I remember after trying that, I looked up that specific liver (I forgot what it was. I think beef liver?) online to see if maybe that's just how it tastes. Unfortunately, it's not supposed to taste like that at all. I found out that if it did taste bloody, more than likely the chef didn't cook it right or it's gone bad. I really hoped that this would become a favorite since I love french food and it's not too far. If I do go back, I definitely won't be ordering that again and suggest others not to as well. Although, I don't know many people who like liver anyways :p
Meh. We made reservations on a Friday, anticipating celebrating our wedding anniversary. When we arrived, we were seated right away, but it took almost 20 minutes for a server to acknowledge us. It appeared there was a large party in the private room, and staff were splitting their time between the party and the rest of the floor. It took a long time to have our orders taken, to be checked on after food arrived, to get our bill. The food was good -- I had the hanger steak, which was served in a really good brandy peppercorn sauce. My husband had the bouillabaisse,which he seemed to enjoy. We shared creme brulee for dessert, which was good, but not the most amazing creme brulee we'd ever had. We'll likely come back and give it another chance -- the food was worth it -- and we'll hope for more attentive service.
(3)
Carl H.
We were invited to eat here by our Libertyville residents couple who gave it good reviews and we're excited to take us there. We did have 7:30 reservations and were promptly seated in a booth as requested. Unfortunately that is where the attentive service stopped. We waited for at least 15 minutes for our waiter, who eventually took our drink order, brought them a few minutes later, then disappeared for the next 20 minutes. A woman asked if we wanted bread. When we replied yes, she also disappeared but didn't return with the bread until we flagged her down some 10 minutes. We quickly realized that the main floor staff were being deployed to the room in the back for a large party. When our waiter continued to ignore us, we finally waved down another waiter to take our order. The duck I ordered came out as ordered and was well presented and tasty. The lobster bisque came out luke warm and had to be returned to be reheated. Although tasty, the lobster was missing in action, with only a few small shreds present. The wife had the hanger steak which was presented rare as ordered, and was delicious. Again, however, we had to waive down our waiter to get our check, which took another 20 minutes! Our Libertyville couple who selected the cafe were very apologetic and somewhat embarrassed that the service was so poor. Although the food was good, the service, or lack thereof, isn't worth a return visit.
This restaurant is one of my favorite in lake county! My parents and I have gone here for ever and have got to know the staff and owner! There such nice people and are always warm and friendly when ever we walk in. The food is always on point. There house salad homemade dressing is out of this world! I go there sometimes just because I'm craving their dressing! I also recommend the beef bourguignon that just melts in your mouth. Shot out to Jesus one of the waiters who has been there im pretty sure since they opened. He knows everything there is to know about the wine and food! MUST GO. You won't regret it!
(5)
Stan D.
I must say, as a once-a-month visitor since they moved into their new North Libertyville location, their food never misses my palate! Just convincingly awesome chicken - it's not "just" chicken breast and way better than chic-fil-et (could that be French? No) But, one thing I have noticed recently, is their music nights. One band in particular pleasing to my ear is Kurt Yost & The Jazz conceptions. I had heard from a few regulars there that "they're back!" , I didn't know they had left, but then again, I haven't been to the Cafe P for a while. This band is 5 star, playing your familiar 'standards' like Dindi or Donna Lee, to Be-bop of Dizzy Giilespie, to the somewhat av ante garde tunes by Ornette Coleman or Lennie Tristano (yet even those are supremely accessible to the most "pop" ear). Let's put it this way, this band is no careless whisper, no Kenny G wanna-bes -this band is the real deal. Just this passed Saturday night, a local(?) Jazz Violinist who sounded like a cross between Grapelli and our own local Jerry Goodman! That was a nice surprise on top of this jazz dessert of a band! That same night, their Vibist, Ken(?) Hall, presented one of his originals, very nice. Fantastic conceptions of jazz, really, good job! One thing - please have a professional photographer re-take your photos!
(5)
Chris X.
Made a reservation for dinner, but after 35 minutes of standing by the door waiting and still not being seated, we decided to leave. Not a very good conclusion to our first visit. This is a restaurant in a suburban strip mall, not Les Nomades in Chicago. The hostess was very clueless and not particularly polite. A walk-in couple who came in after us was offered a table by the hostess, before offering it to us or another party with a reservation We saw other patrons who were also angry because they had been waiting 45 minutes. My recommendation is for people to just go to Sushi Thai a few shops over instead.
Had a wonderful experience here! It seems when you walk in you might feel you're underdressed but in fact it is quite a casual attire establishment. I would absolutely recommendation the escargot and hanger steak to both my friends and my enemies (friends... well that's obvious and enemies because eating something so succulent and delicious might get whatever stick there is out of their asses!). The appetizer scallops were great as well though I didn't care for the shrimp. My only sad thing to say is that they served French fries with my fantastic steak (now one of my top 3 steaks ever). I get it... French food, french fries but c'mon! They seriously tasted like someone ran to McDonald's. Now when I soaked said McD's fries in the juices of my steak... THAT was an instant mouthgasm. Had the creme brulee for dessert, again, another amazing dish. :-) They also have a bar side with the full menu served and I know I'll definitely back for the escargot and steak! Two apps, two entrees, one dessert, one glass of wine and one beer was $92. Not bad honestly. I've been to similar establishments, and no favorite-ever escargot, and paid double. Great ambience and waiter service as well.
(5)
Mom Of 2 Boys P.
Love this place. Great food, great staff and great wine. Love the goat cheese app! The seafoods is always fresh and yummy! We love to visit and have apps and wine. The wild wine sale is the best. Twice a year I think April and October- you can taste and secure some amazing wine at an amazing price. Would highly recommend!!
(5)
Chris U.
Great food, great service, great wine...all at a very reasonable price. Ask for the wine room if you have a big party. Great spot!
(5)
Greg B.
Do not let the position of the restaurant in the strip mall fool you, it is bigger on the inside. Service was very good. Never an empty glass. Menu we'll organized. Food prepared well and served promptly. We we're a large party, we'll over 40. They were prepared for us, well organized and made us feel comfortable. I will return and plan on enjoying more of the selections.
(4)
Michael N.
If it was my first visit I would give it 5 stars but a true rating would be 3 and a half stars. I've visited 5 times now and to dive right into the food, three of my five visits I've ordered the same thing...Beef Bourguignon. And the first time I had it, it was most excellent and easily one of the best beef dishes I had ever had. Cooked perfectly and tender. Then when I came back a year later I decided to order the same dish. Something about it was not as magical. Beef was a little tougher and more chewy, seasoning felt a little different but was still a good dish. The next couple times I split a number of dishes with the rest of our group and it was decent. On our last visit I decided to go back to the beef bourguignon one more time and again it was similar to the second visit...still good but not to the level that it was before. Will we go back? Probably eventually, but I don't think it's a spot that I'll go out of my way to get to as I have in the past.
(4)
Carolyn A.
This place is a hidden gem. The Food, service and ambiance are exceptional. The French food is authentic and delicious. It is well worth the trip.
(5)
Joan S.
CP is always a reliable choice for excellent food, and as often as we eat there, we're still surprised by the stand-out excellence of some dishes. My daughter likes salads and my son likes steak, so the Mari's salad/hangar steak combination always works for my picky eaters. My husband raves about their fresh fish. The barramundi with basil sauce was particularly good the last time we were there - very fresh and an unusual sauce. Soups are always vegetable blends with little or no cream (Vichyssoise and gazpacho were the choices this week). I got the beef bourguignon, which is always a solid choice: very tender beef in burgundy sauce that's somewhere between a delicate pot roast and stew. Other standouts we've had over the years: duck quesadillas, the charcuterie tray, rack of lamb - even their lunch omelette is delicious and special! And OMG - just get the Hockey Puck for dessert. You'll thank me! As others have said, the restaurant is in a strip mall, but once you walk through the front door, you would never know it. Full beautiful bar and dark wood make for a romantic, relaxing atmosphere. There are a couple of party rooms for events. Perhaps a little-known secret outside the area is that the restaurant sells wine by the bottle. If you like what you have at your meal, you can take it home, and it's generally an excellent value because they buy in bulk. I have a friend who uses this restaurant as her wine shop. I'm dropping a star because this last visit, prices had gone up. The $14.50 hangar steak that used to be an o.k. mid-week dinner choice is now $20, making this more of a special occasion restaurant for us. We'll still be back - just a couple times a year now instead of once a month.
(4)
Jim M.
This was a surprise in the corner out of sight not easily seen a real gem,the food was great and so was the atmosphere.
(5)
Beth U.
I recently went here with my family and was thoroughly disappointed. The dinner was a solid one star and the dessert was 3/4 for the bread souffle. I had the sauteed calf liver ordered medium rare. I received it well done which is an automatic death blow for liver. Instead of tender and yummy it was hard and had that not so nice aftertaste, I would not serve that in my kitchen at home. I only ate half and the au gratin which was pretty decent. On top of that even though it wasn't busy in the dining room the food took forever and I could not get a water refill to save my life. It got to the point where I got up and refilled my own water twice from where they were keeping the pitcher. Keep in mind, this review is only for what I had, so the other dishes may be better, but given the prices at this place there's no way I'd want to even bother.
(2)
Julie A.
Just finished our Valentine's Day dinner. Loved the special menu & everything tasted perfect! I had the ahi tuna - served rare over a vegetable mix with tomato base and my partner had the Dover sole - served over rice with nice flavor but not over powering for the sole. We started with soups & salads. The best part of the meal was our waiter Alex - he listed to what kind of wine we were considering & offered to make a selection. Which was also perfection! We will always pick Cafe P as our 'special place'!!
(5)
Jim F.
Chicken was great! Veggies too. Potato just right. The service is very good. I purchases a bottle of wine on a special promotion for only $14 dollars. Great time!
(5)
Stephen M.
This is your local french cafe. It's the place, that place in the neighborhood. If you're lucky. Reliable in every way: atmosphere, service, drinks and food. The bread rolls come out-of-the-oven warm and are light, crusty and very satisfying. When you place your order, have the soup. They are pureed generally and shout freshness and true taste. The entrees haven't failed once when we've come. The chicken is always moist; the fish always fresh. One solid mark of this cafe is it's perfect matching of sauce to entree. Simple French. Enjoyable. Service? There is a balance to service between hovering and ignoring. This waitstaff has a perfect rhythm--nearly all being longtime servers there. And oftentimes Mari, the co-owner, is there and she will stop to visit, staying to talk, only if you like. She's responsible for the wine selections and has done a very credible job of it. I can't comment on the desserts, but the coffee is a fine end to what always turns out to be an enjoyable cafe dinner.
(3)
Kevin P.
We love this place. They food is very good, but what keeps us coming back is the excellent staff. There is no turnover and they are very well trained. They are friendly and warm. They perfect place for a group outing or a quiet evening with your spouse.
(5)
Elyse C.
Venison sausage why have I never had this before? This place is great! Came in on a Friday for "flight Fridays" I was pleased. My husband and I both got white wine flights it was bogo. Then we shared the duck quesadilla which was quite good. I had a goat cheese salad for din which was great and my hubby had the game plate special which was so good!! We will be going back to try several new dishes!
(4)
Evan S.
I found this restaurant to have a very cozy atmosphere, with a great "local" feeling bar and a nice dining room area separated. With a decent assortment of wines and specialty cocktails, and two TVs flanking the bar, the place feels a bit "homey" in the nice suburb of Libertyville. I was there with a large group (~50 people) and we were accomodated with a prix fixe menu. I started with the Asparagus Soup, served hot, which was a different, lighter option for me. For entree, I had the breaded chicken breast with potatoes and vegetables. The flavor was good, not stellar, but I cleaned my plate as if it were my last meal. The one major disappointment was the creme brulee - it wasn't very good at all. I should have stuck with the ol' reliable chocolate dessert. If you find yourself in Libertyville (which I suspect WON'T happen unless you live here or make a concerted effort to go), it's worth a try.
(3)
Tim E.
Back again to Cafe Pyrenees and the consistency is amazing. I had the bouillabaisse and it was excellent. The mussels and clams were done perfectly, saffron broth delectable, and the fish fillet was moist, tender , and tasty. The big surprise was the scallops though. Many times in bouillabaisse they end up rubbery or a weird consistency. Not at Pyrenees. They were great. My wife had the Beef Bourguignon and she raved about it. Service was on point but never rushed. He stopped by several times to check on us and even asked how fast we wanted our courses. He was fast with coffee refills and overall just about perfect. He earned my (not easily given) 25% tip award. I seldom pass out that "honor" 129.00 with tip ...two dinners and two glasses of wine each, coffee tea and Baileys.....not sure where to go for a better dining bang for buck but we will keep looking.
(4)
Ben W.
This place has the potential to be something great but really fell short on my families most recent visit. We had made a reservation for one of their wine dinners a couple of months in advance that included 5 courses with 5 wine pairings. We arrived right on time for our 8:30 reservation and the hostess said it would be a couple of minutes, no big deal. A couple of minutes turned into 15 minutes and then into 30 minutes. They did offer us some champagne while we waited but we did not realize until we sat down that this was the first wine for the meal. We thought it may have been a complementary glass due to the half hour wait, but our fault for assuming. They did end up bringing each of us another glass of champagne for the first course which was nice, but we realized later we thought wrong again. The mango cherry chutney on brioche was very good and did match up well with the champagne, a good first course. We were then informed by our waiter that they were out of the beef bourguignon, the main course of the wine dinner and instead would be served filet mignon. With reservations made so early in advance for a planned menu, how do you run out of the main course? We found out that they ran out because they let walk-ins take tables and partake in the wine dinner. This also explains why we had a half hour wait. But back to the food; The second course of ricotta & spinach ravioli was very good as was the third course of duck breast on herbed polenta. The "Mari Salad" was also very good so by this time we had pretty much forgotten about the earlier issues. When the filet arrived we were surprised to see that it was about three or four thin slices on top of long grain rice. We tried to imagine that we were putting tender pieces of beef cooked in wine with a little mashed potatoes into our mouths, but the boring taste of over hyped filet mignon and rice did not cut it. I feel bad for our waiter because he had no control over this and maybe he took the brut of our disappointment, but completely agreed with our displeasure. Our waiter did save each of us a serving of the creme brulee in fear that it would also run out. The brandy pairing brought out the vanilla and citrus flavors in the desert. A good ending to an up and down wine dinner. When we received the check we noticed that there was an extra charge of $17 on the bill. This ended up to be for the "extra" champagne we received earlier in the night. It was almost as if they wanted to make us upset and they were doing a good job at it. After we brought it to their attention they stated it was confusion on their part and provided us with $20 in gift certificates plus a couple bottles of wine. Finally, they realized what service recovery is! In conclusion, it seems they need to work out a few kinks with their wine dinner such as not letting walk-ins take tables, make sure you have enough food for the reserved tables, and learn the concept of service recovery after you make a mistake.
(2)
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Address :1762 N Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL, 60048
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Fri Coat Check : Yes Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Tim J.
We were disappointed, but I'll leave this one three stars for now... We went because of the Yelp-advertised $35 prix fixe for 1 app and 2 entrees, but they are not doing that any more. It was a Tuesday, though, which is their 1/2 price martini night. Their specialty martinis are creative, but generally under-powered. I was able to down 3 and still have room for a couple of draft beers later. No, I dont usually get this tanked on a Tuesday, but we walked and the weather got bad, so we drank until the clouds cleared. The draft beers were a good value, but the martinis are over-priced if you pay full price. Anyway, she ordered the pork tenderloin and I had the seafood ravioli. I was very happy with the taste of my dish, but thought the portion size small for a $26 price tag. The price and portion of the pork were good, but the food was not. The server talked up how the chef prefers to serve the pork tenderloin at medium, but hers were very much well done and not so flavorful in addition. They also only give you one solitary roll. Since we are close, and this place has so much potential (great bar), we'll give it another try and hopefully I'll be able to raise my rating.
(3)Catherine S.
Impress your date/boss/bourgeois friends: 1. When placing your group reservation, request the tasting room. Intimate and sophisticated. 2. That lovely puff pastry/wild mushroom dish on the menu? It's pronounced "fe-yuh-TAY." You could point out that it's missing a second e and an accent mark, but that would be gauche. Instead, comment on what a nice selection of vegetarian items there are on the menu and how rare that is for a French restaurant. 3. Do finish the meal with a dessert sampler and some fabulous coffee. Offer to pick up "lah-dishy-ohn". It won't set you back too much (unless you've added one wall of the tasting room to your meal.)
(4)Regular G.
Cafe Pyrenees is an underrated restaurant in Libertyville. It is a perfect place for an outing with family. The food was delicious and the service was great. What impressed me the most, though, was the atmosphere. The inside is set as if you were in a rural village in France. Since it is so underrated, it is usually not so crowded, so you will be able to get a table that is fairly isolated, adding to the quiet and relaxing atmosphere. If you are looking for a place to have a relaxing and delicious meal after a long day, go to Cafe Pyrenees.
(4)Erin G.
While a bit more casual than we expected, the environment was pleasant and comfortable. We were invited immediately to go to the bar for a free wine-tasting where the bartenders were knowledgeable and entertaining. We all ordered the special Bastille Day wine menu. All the food was simply delicious, and the wine pairings were excellent. What was especially noticeable on this visit was the service: our party had a personal emergency come up, and the staff graciously hurried our courses along.
(5)Robert M.
Wow is all I can say, Food was great, the wine list amazing. Wait staff was top of the line. You would never think this place was so amazing from the location. I was in the area for Military event and just by chance stopped in, we were looking for a good meal and got way more than we were looking for.... We will visit this place again.
(5)Mike L.
Service was professional. Wine choices and variety is staggering and each glass I had was just fine. Nice decor and atmosphere. The only real problem I had with this place is the food. Don't get me wrong it tastes great and is high quality; however the portions are way to small for the price paid. I've been to plenty of restaurants where the food is of the same high quality and you actually get full eating it. For example they claim a steak and chicken dinner special yet the steak is merely four of five pieces sliced on a bias to look larger to the viewer. Same for the chicken. You may fool my eyes, but not my Tummy! Bottom line is nice place, good food albeit not enough, and expensive for what you get. Might impress a first date because really who eats a lot on a first date? but if you want to get your eat on this is not the place. If my meal had more substance with my food I'd of given it four stars. I've eaten here three times and each time I walk away feeling the same. If the French don't eat large portions I'm guessing I'll never see Paris because I'll starve first.
(3)Corinne D.
I has a dinner there a few months ago. The appetizers and meals were very good. I will definitely go back. I did not attend a special event dinner. Perhaps that was the key for the great quality based on other feedbacks I read. I say give this place a second shot if you weren't completely satisfied.
(4)Tammy M.
Had a wonderful evening at Cafe Pyrenees last evening. The outdoor seating was lovely, service, by Rolando was perfect and out light bites very good. We shared an interesting appetizer... tomatoes stuffed with mozzeralla an basil then deep fried. The batter was disappointing, but overall flavor good. Mari's favorite salad is outstanding - and HUGE. My husband enjoyed one of the specials; shrimp, scallop and sauteed soft shell crab over a little orzo and a citrus beurre blanc sause. We learned they have complimentary wine tastings on Thursday evenings when we walked in and saw a familiar face, Tom, offering some lovely sips. The "Beast" was a perfect choice for this warm summer evening. Dessert... ah, the Hockey Puck........ I have had it before and it continues to be very pleasing to the chocoloate loving side of me. Looking forward to another visit very soon.
(4)Mike S.
I absolutely love this place! I first learned about this place from my high school French class. This French-inspired restaurant has a really intimate atmosphere. The lights are dimmed, and there is always a good amount of space between your table and the ones nearby. The wait staff is always very courteous and willing to make special requests to the kitchen for your order. This place is truly a hidden treasure because it is kind of tucked away in a corner of a shopping mall just north of downtown Libertyville. It doesn't look especially big from the outside, but it's quite surprising how many this place can fit (comfortably too!). Another great thing about this place is that the owner always has different specials going on. There is always a list of special events on the tables. Most of the time, these can save you a fair amount of $$$! My personal favorites at Cafe Pyrenees are: the Baked Goat Cheese, Duck Quesadilla, Beef Medallions, and the Chicken Paillarde Definitely check this place out!
(5)Kat G.
VERY DISAPPOINTING! I decided to try this place with a work friend since it got good reviews on Yelp and is in the area we work. Cafe Pyrenees is a corner store of an L shaped strip mall. It looks tiny from the outside but is in fact Huge inside. It is like walking into a french villa. It is very tastefully decorated and very new. If you are looking for a place that Looks great, This is it. Unfortunately the food was not so good. The waiter was hard to understand. He brought us two rolls and that was it, never asked if we wanted more. It would have been nice to have another roll with the soup. When our entrees came - I had to laugh. My friend had the seafood ravioli: there were Seriously 3 pieces of shrimp and two ravioli pockets. It was too small a portion. My friend said the food was bland and the shrimp did not taste fresh. I had the marinated and grilled hangar steak. It was OK - but very bland. I don't think the vegetables were made from fresh veggies. Save your money for someplace else.
(2)Lea G.
Went here for lunch with colleagues who loves the place. First impression walking in eclectic decor, homey (kids drawings are posted on the walls). The menu was creative. I ordered the duo of duck which I liked. The service was attentive and professional. Sad I didn't get to try dessert or the wine list.
(3)Lance J.
Have been meaning to write about this place for a long time. Moved away from Vernon Hills and now this is my go to destination every time I return to visit. The Beef Bourguignon is really really good. I wish Chef Jean-Marc would bring back the Pork Tenderloin with the Shrimp on top and the mustard sauce. That was always my favorite. If your like me and in town visiting your best bet is to sit at the bar. The 2 bartenders (I think Denny and Ro??) are extremely nice and will take good care of you.
(5)Sam W.
Their take out lunch orders are a great value. Their lunch sandwiches are a step above anything you will get at the chains. I love their grilled chicken with carmelized onions and brie. I recommend the build a bag for lunch, what a great deal, plus the restaurant is right across the street from our Dental Office.
(5)Matt B.
Half price martini night on Friday...oh yes...great bar, great bartenders, just an overall nice place.
(3)Ed W.
Maybe we were spoiled because we were looking for a place to have dinner the day after Valentine's day. So here it was Sunday night - and many restaurants in the Libertyville area are closed. Not only was Cafe Pyrenees open - it was almost empty. We were seated in the small wine tasting room - and had it to ourselves for the first hour. The bonus was you can bring your own wine on Sunday's - with no corkage fee. The onion soup was excellent, as was the duck quesadilla and the thinly sliced beef appetizer. We split the entree that came with two 4oz filets and a couple of shrimp. The medium rare was more like rare, but I didn't mind because in most places med rare is mostly medium. They didn't mind at all that we brought our own wine and split an entree. Those two factors allowed us to enjoy a great meal for under $70, including tip. The wine selection is not bad if you choose to order it there. They do have the overpriced status selections, but there are good wines for under $20 as well. One note - if you do bring a bottle - try to make it a good one - that justifies why you brought it. The decor is well suited to the type of restaurant it is try to be - French Chateau. The bar is large and you can order food there as well. We think of this place as an undiscovered treasure - at least on Sunday evenings.
(5)Kristin J.
Very disappointed. We had a reservation but that didn't matter at all, we were seated in the order of arrival and had to wait. We were seated in a tiny room that felt like a mock wine cellar. (My husband wondered if we should introduce ourselves to everyone since it felt like we were sitting together and could hear each others conversations very clearly!) The bread was not very good. My husband ordered the Spanish Paella and was very disappointed. It was a poor rendition of a gumbo. The woman at the table next to us was also disappointed in the dish. My water glass was empty through 90% of the dinner. Considering the high menu prices I expected much better service and better food.
(1)Randy C.
Although I've been going to this place for years, I have to admit: I nearly always get the same thing when I go to Cafe Pyrenees: the fish special of the day, and the soup of the day. They have done great things with basil, white wine, and especially saffron. And the pureed soups they make have always been just right. Perhaps the best part of this place is atmosphere. Especially when I've been stressed, I go here to relax and enjoy a fine meal, and reset my day.
(4)Shawn C.
Cafe' Pyrenees is one of our regular hangouts. We really like the ambiance, food and bar. The food is highlight here beef bourgognone, fish special and game plate being my favorites. The French onion soup is very good as is the escargot. When they have it the cassoulet is awesome. Service is friendly but professional, and the bar is always fun. I'm not a big dessert guy but the cheese plate is pretty good. Their wine selection is always changing and they sell most bottles retail if you find something you really like.
(4)Larry B.
Used to be good back in the CLinton years, but not so much now. THe Hostess was snotty ( I mean this isnt TRU or Trotters for Christs sake) the service was slow and inattentive. I ordered skate which if not prepared correctly is full of ammonia. This was not preparerd correctly. Gone downhill Im sorry to say.
(2)Paola D.
We had a great meal for $20. It was the special of the night. I had a vegetable soup, a chicken pot pie, and dessert for only $20, and the portions were pretty good too! This was definitely a good deal and the place is cozy. Good service. Food is ok, but cannot complain for the price.
(4)Karen B.
Cafe Pyrenees is always on my list for special visitors and special occasions. If I'm just being nice to myself, i start to miss it if I don't go every other month or so. It's the real French bistro experience right here in Lake County. Creative marketing keeps people interested in trying new dishes. Everything is fresh, delicious, and well-prepared. Service is always excellent, and the owners and staff welcome newcomers and remember and appreciate loyal regulars. Portion sizes are just right. Our tab last night was affordable because we had the 4-course prix fixe menu, The Retro Menu, where the price is the year, $20.11, and it was Tuesday where certain wines by the bottle were half price.
(5)Steve S.
People rave about this place. I think not, the food was not up to par and the service well let say I get better at Burger King !!!!!(it was bad)
(1)Meinhard G.
A good French Restaurant with an easygoing atmosphere, more like a Bistro not a "restaurant" you think of. The bar area is a nice casual place to linger. On a recent Wednesday, every table was occupied, probably because of the $1.00 glass $5.00 Bottle wine for consuming at the restaurant or to take home. The food is good to very good, people are very friendly and the service is knowledgeable and fast. A winner! I like the nice wine glasses they use!
(3)Trinidad T.
my husband and i went to this place after 10pm looking for dinner, they only had the "late" menu available at that hour, so that's what we did... ordered a few dishes each and had a taste of everything, and it was good!! the escargo was yummy, as was the duck quesadillas! the seafood was also very good... strangely we ordered a scallop and shrimp pasta that came out with only shrimp... whoops! we had a stormy night and the chocolate martini was was awesome! the creme brulee and peach parfait were yummy and larger than we expected... our waitress wasn't as tentative as we liked, but was nice... the owners were very nice as they talked amongst themselves, everyone was cheerful :) we can't wait to go back to see the full dinner menu and try some other drinks.
(4)Vinny The Vacuum S.
I went to this place when they were still in Vernon Hills. If it is still under the same ownership then I recommend it. You can tell they really put thought into their menu b/c they have something for everyone. Plus they have a complete collection of fine wines to go with any dinner. I wouldn't call this fine dining but it is definitely upscale compared to a night at Friday's. The prices reflect the food but, hey, you can't eat at Friday's all the time.
(4)Kelly F.
My husband and I have been meaning to try this place for months. Last night we finally decided to check it out. I was a little worried when we first pulled in to the parking lot - with it being a Tuesday night I figured I would not need to make reservations, but the lot was full. I had to loop around a few times until someone else left. When we got into the restaurant, though, we were seated right away. The woman who seated us told us their special for the day (Tuesday) which was half price martinis (whoo - hoo!) and also buy one entree get one free (double whoo - hoo!) I got a Cosmo, which was good - strong, but not overly so. My husband got a flight of white wines, which he enjoyed. I started with a house salad. I'm not usually a huge fan of house salads unless they're done well because I don't find much appetizing about a big pile of lettuce. This one, though it was mostly a big pile of lettuce with a few tomatoes and some grated carrots, was perfect. The house dressing is great and coated every leaf perfectly but the salad was not soggy. My husband had the onion soup, which he said was the best he had ever had. For the entrees, I had the Pyrenees Pasta - being a vegetarian, it was pretty much my only entree option. The pasta itself was average, but the sauce and grilled veggies were fantastic. Also, if you like goat cheese you will not be disappointed. My husband had the Beef Carpaccio. He said it was fantastic. We decided to splurge a little and have dessert. I can't resist a good Creme Brulee, and I was definitely not disappointed! My husband ordered the Delice Des Pyrenees. He took one bite and said it was waaayyy too much chocolate for him, which is fine by me - I wrapped it up to take home for later! The service was great, we were given enough time between soup / salad and entree to relax a little before out entrees came out. The waiter didn't check on us much after our dinner came, which I guess is not a huge deal since I don't like to be bothered while I eat. The water glass was constantly refilled, which was great. One of my only complaints, which comes with being a parent of a toddler, is that there is no changing table in the washroom - which is weird to me since their accessible stall was big enough to park my car in.
(5)Philip P.
We only went their for dessert but liked the Creme Brulet, rather tasty. Would like to go back again to try their wine and entrees.
(3)Sam C.
Hmmm...not sure why this place is getting Five Stars. Been there twice now and the food has been decent each time, but certainly not the quality of LeBouchon on Armitage Ave or even Bistro Margot on Well St. in the city. May be we were there on off nights. Then again, when you live near the Wisconsin border, beggars can't be choosers when Cafe Pyrenees is less than ten minutes away...so I would recommend it, just don't expect it to be five stars.
(3)MaryLou G.
French food at good prices... C'est magnifique! Menu selections, food quality, presentation, service - Cafe Pyrenees has it all. Excellent wine cellar too.
(5)Tony P.
I really like this place and yesterday was no exception. We came with no reservations, 7:30 Friday night. Were seated in a matter of minutes. My wife had liver, I had duck plate. Both were excellent. Top notch. For appetisers, we had escargots and portobello mushrooms in some sort of quite delicious sauce. We topped everything with their creme brulee and coffee. Service was just fine. The only complain I have, portions are too small, like in every French restaurant. Precisely as Jacky Mason said in one of his funny monologues. But seriously though, the place is fantastic. Have been in numerous times, never had any issues some reviewers here are complaining. The best French place in the burbs and overall, one of the best restaurants.
(5)Fred M.
My wife and I have been coming here for years (way back to when it was located in Vernon Hills at Milwaukee and 60). Today, (Mother's Day) we decided to bring our teenage son and daughter. We started with a few hors d'oeuvres - short rib ravioli, stuffed quail, and vegetable risotto. All three were excellent, but we all agreed that the short rib ravioli was the best of the trio. My wife also ordered French onion soup, and declared it amongst the best she's ever had. Now for our entrées: My wife had filet topped with bleu cheese. It was phenomenal. My son and daughter both had chicken pillared. The chicken was great, but I think they could have found a better pairing than couscous. I had the whitefish. It was cooked to perfection, but a little bland. Some of the reviews on here rip the place for slow service. The majority of Americans are very impatient. Europeans don't like to rush meals. The wait staff is very polite and attentive, but don't expect to be in and out in 40 minutes. Relax and enjoy the total dining experience. Cafe Pyrenees is a top-notch French restaurant. The location is a bit odd, (it is jammed in the back of a strip-mall, and shares a parking lot with Walgreens and a gas station). It would definitely be better suited for downtown Libertyville, but the somewhat odd location isn't enough to alter my rating. Bon Appetit!!!!
(5)Natalie K.
Absolutely amazing! Went there yesterday for a Valentine's dinner. I made an online reservation for 7:30 pm. When we arrived we were advised there was gonna be a wait time as the place was packed. No big deal for us. We grabbed two drinks at the bar. Both drinks were awesome (lemon drop for me and old fashioned for the hubs). We started our meal with the soups. I had a lobster bisque and my husband had baked onion soup. Both were spectacular! Escargot followed the soups. It was buttery and garlicky goodness. And the bread was amazingly crispy and warm. For our entrees we had a Dover sole and a hanger steak. Both were perfectly cooked and delicious. We almost licked out plates it was that good. We finished our amazing dinner with Le Dome. Should I say it was amazing? No, it was more than that! Perfection. Our service was very good and attentive. We are definitely coming back!
(5)Kevin S.
Have enjoyed this bistro for more than 20 years. Just love the food, the owners and the waitstaff many of whom have been serving here for the entire time. Menu is standard French fare with nice balance. Wife favorite hanger steak and fries. Wine list is good and reasonably priced.
(5)Madeline L.
Went here for a family dinner. The staff seemed friendly and the inside is way larger than what you would expect. The escargot and goat cheese dip were delicious! However, the entree I ordered tasted extremely bitter and gritty. I ordered the liver and I've tried many different kinds. If it's cooked right, there is absolutely no bloody, bitter taste. I couldn't even finish it because it tasted so odd. I thought maybe it was just my tastebuds so I had my relatives try it and they also agreed there was something wrong with the taste. I remember after trying that, I looked up that specific liver (I forgot what it was. I think beef liver?) online to see if maybe that's just how it tastes. Unfortunately, it's not supposed to taste like that at all. I found out that if it did taste bloody, more than likely the chef didn't cook it right or it's gone bad. I really hoped that this would become a favorite since I love french food and it's not too far. If I do go back, I definitely won't be ordering that again and suggest others not to as well. Although, I don't know many people who like liver anyways :p
(3)Thomas K.
Café Pyrenees is a wonderful French restaurant. I would feel remiss if I didn't mention their lunch boxes, which are pre-packed and satisfying for a relatively low price.
(5)Stacy O.
Meh. We made reservations on a Friday, anticipating celebrating our wedding anniversary. When we arrived, we were seated right away, but it took almost 20 minutes for a server to acknowledge us. It appeared there was a large party in the private room, and staff were splitting their time between the party and the rest of the floor. It took a long time to have our orders taken, to be checked on after food arrived, to get our bill. The food was good -- I had the hanger steak, which was served in a really good brandy peppercorn sauce. My husband had the bouillabaisse,which he seemed to enjoy. We shared creme brulee for dessert, which was good, but not the most amazing creme brulee we'd ever had. We'll likely come back and give it another chance -- the food was worth it -- and we'll hope for more attentive service.
(3)Carl H.
We were invited to eat here by our Libertyville residents couple who gave it good reviews and we're excited to take us there. We did have 7:30 reservations and were promptly seated in a booth as requested. Unfortunately that is where the attentive service stopped. We waited for at least 15 minutes for our waiter, who eventually took our drink order, brought them a few minutes later, then disappeared for the next 20 minutes. A woman asked if we wanted bread. When we replied yes, she also disappeared but didn't return with the bread until we flagged her down some 10 minutes. We quickly realized that the main floor staff were being deployed to the room in the back for a large party. When our waiter continued to ignore us, we finally waved down another waiter to take our order. The duck I ordered came out as ordered and was well presented and tasty. The lobster bisque came out luke warm and had to be returned to be reheated. Although tasty, the lobster was missing in action, with only a few small shreds present. The wife had the hanger steak which was presented rare as ordered, and was delicious. Again, however, we had to waive down our waiter to get our check, which took another 20 minutes! Our Libertyville couple who selected the cafe were very apologetic and somewhat embarrassed that the service was so poor. Although the food was good, the service, or lack thereof, isn't worth a return visit.
(2)Megan B.
Meh. Wanted to try this cafe for years. We figured Valentine's Day would be as good a time as any to go for the first time. So, maybe it's unfair to rate a place based on one of the busiest nights of the year, but here I go: The French onion soup was completely bland. Zero flavor, mushy bread, not enough cheese. The rolls and butter were delicious. The crab cake was good, but nothing spectacular. My fiancé had the salmon and said it was not that great. It looked undercooked to me. The staff was attentive at the beginning but when we were finished it took 20 minutes to get the check. So yeah, I'd say based on our experience, we won't be returning. Not worth the money, weird atmosphere.
(2)Alli R.
This restaurant is one of my favorite in lake county! My parents and I have gone here for ever and have got to know the staff and owner! There such nice people and are always warm and friendly when ever we walk in. The food is always on point. There house salad homemade dressing is out of this world! I go there sometimes just because I'm craving their dressing! I also recommend the beef bourguignon that just melts in your mouth. Shot out to Jesus one of the waiters who has been there im pretty sure since they opened. He knows everything there is to know about the wine and food! MUST GO. You won't regret it!
(5)Stan D.
I must say, as a once-a-month visitor since they moved into their new North Libertyville location, their food never misses my palate! Just convincingly awesome chicken - it's not "just" chicken breast and way better than chic-fil-et (could that be French? No) But, one thing I have noticed recently, is their music nights. One band in particular pleasing to my ear is Kurt Yost & The Jazz conceptions. I had heard from a few regulars there that "they're back!" , I didn't know they had left, but then again, I haven't been to the Cafe P for a while. This band is 5 star, playing your familiar 'standards' like Dindi or Donna Lee, to Be-bop of Dizzy Giilespie, to the somewhat av ante garde tunes by Ornette Coleman or Lennie Tristano (yet even those are supremely accessible to the most "pop" ear). Let's put it this way, this band is no careless whisper, no Kenny G wanna-bes -this band is the real deal. Just this passed Saturday night, a local(?) Jazz Violinist who sounded like a cross between Grapelli and our own local Jerry Goodman! That was a nice surprise on top of this jazz dessert of a band! That same night, their Vibist, Ken(?) Hall, presented one of his originals, very nice. Fantastic conceptions of jazz, really, good job! One thing - please have a professional photographer re-take your photos!
(5)Chris X.
Made a reservation for dinner, but after 35 minutes of standing by the door waiting and still not being seated, we decided to leave. Not a very good conclusion to our first visit. This is a restaurant in a suburban strip mall, not Les Nomades in Chicago. The hostess was very clueless and not particularly polite. A walk-in couple who came in after us was offered a table by the hostess, before offering it to us or another party with a reservation We saw other patrons who were also angry because they had been waiting 45 minutes. My recommendation is for people to just go to Sushi Thai a few shops over instead.
(1)Terri V.
We went here last night. Our reservations were for 6:45 and we were not seated until 7:10. No apologies or free anything. The décor is nice and surprisingly big inside.. They had live music, but they were playing pop and country. The service was incredibly slow. It took almost two hours and we didn't have appetizers or dessert. The food was very salty. Rack of lamb was more like lamb pops($29). The bouillabaisse had lots of mussels, but only two medium size shrimp ($26). Fillet was served without the accompanying sauce and had to be brought back. The salad Mari was good, but meat is served rare even though medium was requested. ($14).We won't be going back. Too slow, too salty, too expensive for what you get.
(1)Teresa T.
Had a wonderful experience here! It seems when you walk in you might feel you're underdressed but in fact it is quite a casual attire establishment. I would absolutely recommendation the escargot and hanger steak to both my friends and my enemies (friends... well that's obvious and enemies because eating something so succulent and delicious might get whatever stick there is out of their asses!). The appetizer scallops were great as well though I didn't care for the shrimp. My only sad thing to say is that they served French fries with my fantastic steak (now one of my top 3 steaks ever). I get it... French food, french fries but c'mon! They seriously tasted like someone ran to McDonald's. Now when I soaked said McD's fries in the juices of my steak... THAT was an instant mouthgasm. Had the creme brulee for dessert, again, another amazing dish. :-) They also have a bar side with the full menu served and I know I'll definitely back for the escargot and steak! Two apps, two entrees, one dessert, one glass of wine and one beer was $92. Not bad honestly. I've been to similar establishments, and no favorite-ever escargot, and paid double. Great ambience and waiter service as well.
(5)Mom Of 2 Boys P.
Love this place. Great food, great staff and great wine. Love the goat cheese app! The seafoods is always fresh and yummy! We love to visit and have apps and wine. The wild wine sale is the best. Twice a year I think April and October- you can taste and secure some amazing wine at an amazing price. Would highly recommend!!
(5)Chris U.
Great food, great service, great wine...all at a very reasonable price. Ask for the wine room if you have a big party. Great spot!
(5)Greg B.
Do not let the position of the restaurant in the strip mall fool you, it is bigger on the inside. Service was very good. Never an empty glass. Menu we'll organized. Food prepared well and served promptly. We we're a large party, we'll over 40. They were prepared for us, well organized and made us feel comfortable. I will return and plan on enjoying more of the selections.
(4)Michael N.
If it was my first visit I would give it 5 stars but a true rating would be 3 and a half stars. I've visited 5 times now and to dive right into the food, three of my five visits I've ordered the same thing...Beef Bourguignon. And the first time I had it, it was most excellent and easily one of the best beef dishes I had ever had. Cooked perfectly and tender. Then when I came back a year later I decided to order the same dish. Something about it was not as magical. Beef was a little tougher and more chewy, seasoning felt a little different but was still a good dish. The next couple times I split a number of dishes with the rest of our group and it was decent. On our last visit I decided to go back to the beef bourguignon one more time and again it was similar to the second visit...still good but not to the level that it was before. Will we go back? Probably eventually, but I don't think it's a spot that I'll go out of my way to get to as I have in the past.
(4)Carolyn A.
This place is a hidden gem. The Food, service and ambiance are exceptional. The French food is authentic and delicious. It is well worth the trip.
(5)Joan S.
CP is always a reliable choice for excellent food, and as often as we eat there, we're still surprised by the stand-out excellence of some dishes. My daughter likes salads and my son likes steak, so the Mari's salad/hangar steak combination always works for my picky eaters. My husband raves about their fresh fish. The barramundi with basil sauce was particularly good the last time we were there - very fresh and an unusual sauce. Soups are always vegetable blends with little or no cream (Vichyssoise and gazpacho were the choices this week). I got the beef bourguignon, which is always a solid choice: very tender beef in burgundy sauce that's somewhere between a delicate pot roast and stew. Other standouts we've had over the years: duck quesadillas, the charcuterie tray, rack of lamb - even their lunch omelette is delicious and special! And OMG - just get the Hockey Puck for dessert. You'll thank me! As others have said, the restaurant is in a strip mall, but once you walk through the front door, you would never know it. Full beautiful bar and dark wood make for a romantic, relaxing atmosphere. There are a couple of party rooms for events. Perhaps a little-known secret outside the area is that the restaurant sells wine by the bottle. If you like what you have at your meal, you can take it home, and it's generally an excellent value because they buy in bulk. I have a friend who uses this restaurant as her wine shop. I'm dropping a star because this last visit, prices had gone up. The $14.50 hangar steak that used to be an o.k. mid-week dinner choice is now $20, making this more of a special occasion restaurant for us. We'll still be back - just a couple times a year now instead of once a month.
(4)Jim M.
This was a surprise in the corner out of sight not easily seen a real gem,the food was great and so was the atmosphere.
(5)Beth U.
I recently went here with my family and was thoroughly disappointed. The dinner was a solid one star and the dessert was 3/4 for the bread souffle. I had the sauteed calf liver ordered medium rare. I received it well done which is an automatic death blow for liver. Instead of tender and yummy it was hard and had that not so nice aftertaste, I would not serve that in my kitchen at home. I only ate half and the au gratin which was pretty decent. On top of that even though it wasn't busy in the dining room the food took forever and I could not get a water refill to save my life. It got to the point where I got up and refilled my own water twice from where they were keeping the pitcher. Keep in mind, this review is only for what I had, so the other dishes may be better, but given the prices at this place there's no way I'd want to even bother.
(2)Julie A.
Just finished our Valentine's Day dinner. Loved the special menu & everything tasted perfect! I had the ahi tuna - served rare over a vegetable mix with tomato base and my partner had the Dover sole - served over rice with nice flavor but not over powering for the sole. We started with soups & salads. The best part of the meal was our waiter Alex - he listed to what kind of wine we were considering & offered to make a selection. Which was also perfection! We will always pick Cafe P as our 'special place'!!
(5)Jim F.
Chicken was great! Veggies too. Potato just right. The service is very good. I purchases a bottle of wine on a special promotion for only $14 dollars. Great time!
(5)Stephen M.
This is your local french cafe. It's the place, that place in the neighborhood. If you're lucky. Reliable in every way: atmosphere, service, drinks and food. The bread rolls come out-of-the-oven warm and are light, crusty and very satisfying. When you place your order, have the soup. They are pureed generally and shout freshness and true taste. The entrees haven't failed once when we've come. The chicken is always moist; the fish always fresh. One solid mark of this cafe is it's perfect matching of sauce to entree. Simple French. Enjoyable. Service? There is a balance to service between hovering and ignoring. This waitstaff has a perfect rhythm--nearly all being longtime servers there. And oftentimes Mari, the co-owner, is there and she will stop to visit, staying to talk, only if you like. She's responsible for the wine selections and has done a very credible job of it. I can't comment on the desserts, but the coffee is a fine end to what always turns out to be an enjoyable cafe dinner.
(3)Kevin P.
We love this place. They food is very good, but what keeps us coming back is the excellent staff. There is no turnover and they are very well trained. They are friendly and warm. They perfect place for a group outing or a quiet evening with your spouse.
(5)Elyse C.
Venison sausage why have I never had this before? This place is great! Came in on a Friday for "flight Fridays" I was pleased. My husband and I both got white wine flights it was bogo. Then we shared the duck quesadilla which was quite good. I had a goat cheese salad for din which was great and my hubby had the game plate special which was so good!! We will be going back to try several new dishes!
(4)Evan S.
I found this restaurant to have a very cozy atmosphere, with a great "local" feeling bar and a nice dining room area separated. With a decent assortment of wines and specialty cocktails, and two TVs flanking the bar, the place feels a bit "homey" in the nice suburb of Libertyville. I was there with a large group (~50 people) and we were accomodated with a prix fixe menu. I started with the Asparagus Soup, served hot, which was a different, lighter option for me. For entree, I had the breaded chicken breast with potatoes and vegetables. The flavor was good, not stellar, but I cleaned my plate as if it were my last meal. The one major disappointment was the creme brulee - it wasn't very good at all. I should have stuck with the ol' reliable chocolate dessert. If you find yourself in Libertyville (which I suspect WON'T happen unless you live here or make a concerted effort to go), it's worth a try.
(3)Tim E.
Back again to Cafe Pyrenees and the consistency is amazing. I had the bouillabaisse and it was excellent. The mussels and clams were done perfectly, saffron broth delectable, and the fish fillet was moist, tender , and tasty. The big surprise was the scallops though. Many times in bouillabaisse they end up rubbery or a weird consistency. Not at Pyrenees. They were great. My wife had the Beef Bourguignon and she raved about it. Service was on point but never rushed. He stopped by several times to check on us and even asked how fast we wanted our courses. He was fast with coffee refills and overall just about perfect. He earned my (not easily given) 25% tip award. I seldom pass out that "honor" 129.00 with tip ...two dinners and two glasses of wine each, coffee tea and Baileys.....not sure where to go for a better dining bang for buck but we will keep looking.
(4)Ben W.
This place has the potential to be something great but really fell short on my families most recent visit. We had made a reservation for one of their wine dinners a couple of months in advance that included 5 courses with 5 wine pairings. We arrived right on time for our 8:30 reservation and the hostess said it would be a couple of minutes, no big deal. A couple of minutes turned into 15 minutes and then into 30 minutes. They did offer us some champagne while we waited but we did not realize until we sat down that this was the first wine for the meal. We thought it may have been a complementary glass due to the half hour wait, but our fault for assuming. They did end up bringing each of us another glass of champagne for the first course which was nice, but we realized later we thought wrong again. The mango cherry chutney on brioche was very good and did match up well with the champagne, a good first course. We were then informed by our waiter that they were out of the beef bourguignon, the main course of the wine dinner and instead would be served filet mignon. With reservations made so early in advance for a planned menu, how do you run out of the main course? We found out that they ran out because they let walk-ins take tables and partake in the wine dinner. This also explains why we had a half hour wait. But back to the food; The second course of ricotta & spinach ravioli was very good as was the third course of duck breast on herbed polenta. The "Mari Salad" was also very good so by this time we had pretty much forgotten about the earlier issues. When the filet arrived we were surprised to see that it was about three or four thin slices on top of long grain rice. We tried to imagine that we were putting tender pieces of beef cooked in wine with a little mashed potatoes into our mouths, but the boring taste of over hyped filet mignon and rice did not cut it. I feel bad for our waiter because he had no control over this and maybe he took the brut of our disappointment, but completely agreed with our displeasure. Our waiter did save each of us a serving of the creme brulee in fear that it would also run out. The brandy pairing brought out the vanilla and citrus flavors in the desert. A good ending to an up and down wine dinner. When we received the check we noticed that there was an extra charge of $17 on the bill. This ended up to be for the "extra" champagne we received earlier in the night. It was almost as if they wanted to make us upset and they were doing a good job at it. After we brought it to their attention they stated it was confusion on their part and provided us with $20 in gift certificates plus a couple bottles of wine. Finally, they realized what service recovery is! In conclusion, it seems they need to work out a few kinks with their wine dinner such as not letting walk-ins take tables, make sure you have enough food for the reserved tables, and learn the concept of service recovery after you make a mistake.
(2)