Bavette's
30 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 3 threads.
What people say, in short
Bavette's draws broad support among the steakhouse recommendations, though not everyone prefers its steak. Diners praise the atmosphere; one also likes the sides and non-steak mains. Another describes the room as dark and clubby but noisy and cramped. One warns that reservations are hard to secure, while two describe successful walk-ins. One commenter recommends the carrot cake. A dissenting diner was unimpressed after a visit, and another prefers its other dishes to its steak.
Address
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf, 218 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
At a glance
- Price
- Premium
- Signature dishes
- Carrot cake
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Bavette's, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/tazorac in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Calls Bavette's their favorite but warns that getting a reservation there is hard.
- Recommendsu/bigbodybup in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025value
Visited recently and found it worth the cost and any wait.
- Recommendsu/smash816 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Says they agree with the Bavette's pick.
- Recommendsu/ReplaceSelect in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Found Bavette's good; also discusses its corkage arrangement without clearly criticizing it.
- Recommendsu/braydenk in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Says Bavette's rules and puts Smoque Steak forward as a new contender.
- Recommendsu/lavidaloco123 in r/chicagofood · May 2024ambience
Calls Bavette's excellent but says the room is noisy, dark, cramped and clubby.
- Recommendsu/spade_andarcher in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025taste
Calls Bavette's a great steakhouse, apart from the group's other spots.
- Recommendsu/JoeGPM in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Groups Bavette's among big-name steakhouses that are hard to get wrong.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Thomzzz in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Says Bavette's clearly outclasses other steakhouses.
- Recommendsu/stoprobbers in r/chicagofood · May 2024wait time
Urges walk-ins since not every table is reserved and the bar has full service; is seated at the bar now.
- Recommendsu/ResolutionAny5091 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Suggests Bavette's as the best steakhouse.
- Recommendsu/MotherofDingDongs in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Calls Bavette's the clear top pick, though El Che is easier to book.
- Recommendsu/Michal-Krappenschitz in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Bavette's is the clear best in their view.
- Recommendsu/sleepyhead314 in r/chicagofood · May 2024ambience
Darker interior with an almost prohibition-era ambiance.
- Recommendsu/LauterTuna in r/chicagofood · May 2024taste
Agrees with the Bavette's pick and suggests saving room for the carrot cake.
- Recommendsu/xYsoad in r/chicagofood · May 2024ambience
Rates Bavette's ambience and sides the best, and says the non-steak mains are excellent too.
- Recommendsu/Mama-Bear419 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Took a visiting relative there last-minute with no booking, got seated fast, and enjoyed the meal.
- Recommendsu/Apprehensive_Lack189 in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025
Lists Bavette's among current favorites; notes these spots skew pricey.
- Recommendsu/Wakeup22 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Lists Bavette's among the best downtown steakhouses.
- Recommendsu/daiginjo666 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Calls Bavette's a favorite alongside Asador Bastian and better than Boefhaus.
- Recommendsu/destroys_burritos in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Agrees with the recommendation of Bavette's.
- Mixedu/dudelydudeson in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025taste
Found Bavette's good but not their best ever, though likely top in Chicago.
- Recommendsu/rmac1228 in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025
Lists Bavette's among places that deserve their hype.
- Recommendsu/monkeybiziu in r/chicagofood · May 2024
One of the standard steakhouses that will be great.
- Caveatu/Vandelay-Industriess in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Been once and wasn't impressed at all, though may revisit.
- Recommendsu/blipsman in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Names Bavette's as a recommendation.
- Recommendsu/ssxtricky5 in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Lists Bavette's among their picks.
- Recommendsu/ragingcicada in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Agrees that Bavette's is great.
- Recommendsu/General_Douglas in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Calls it the final word in Chicago steakhouses.
- Mixedu/herecomes_the_sun in r/chicagofood · May 2024variety
Likes Bavette's more for its non-steak dishes than its steak.
Also on
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Freshness
Details last checked 4 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.