The Grocery Bistro is refinery at its finest— all the farm-fresh variety of a grocery polished and amplified by an innovative menu, talented new chef, and serene setting.

The Grocery Bistro started as a new concept of Marcel Somfelean for a casual dinning experience with a twist in gourmet-connoisseur food. We opened our doors in March 2009 in the West Loop and have been going strong ever since.  We are a BYOB restaurant located two blocks from Harpo Studios, near Greektown and a few minutes away from Chicago’s theater district and United Center.

The contemporary French-influenced American fare is seasonal; organic ingredients are handpicked from first-class local meat and seafood markets year-round.

While executive chef Dan Marquis’s contemporary American menu skews slightly upscale (pan-seared big eye tuna, grilled organic hanger steak, etc.), the atmosphere, featuring a chalkboard menu, rustic maple woods, and bright white pendant lamps, is straight informal and cozy.

A popular exploitation of Chef Daniel Marquis’ renowned skill in meat preparation is their succulent prosciutto-wrapped rabbit, served with an earthy parsnip purée, cipollini onions, and a curried carrot crêpe. Pulling exceptional flavor from various spice shops across the city, it’s no wonder that The Grocery Bistro’s seasoning is a signature. Patrons can taste such precise and layered flavoring in dishes like the succulent Pork Cheeks, complemented by creamy pumpkin polenta and roasted apples. The artisan cheese flight changes daily, and is served with a crisp garlic crostini, truffle honey, and apricot-fig terrine.

The atmosphere here is kept lively and engaging by the communal table, an elegant focal point of the dining room at this West Loop bistro, which is done up in a calming palette of earth tones with complementary slate tiling, mahogany furniture. Trendy music, classic movies, romantic candles, flower arrangements and white tablecloths add to the ambiance. The menu is displayed gracefully on a wall-spanning chalkboard, while other walls act as a rotating gallery for local artists. The best part about this re-envisioned grocery oasis? It’s BYOB. There are always a few vegetarian selections as well. Before you dine, stop by Perman Wine Selections next door, which works with the restaurant to provide appropriate pairings.