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Jilly's Cafe, Evanston, IL

Jilly's Cafe

4.6
4.6
670 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a booking

2 people
20:30
Booked 1 time today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions

Located just outside the city of Chicago, Jilly's Café has been called a "North Shore Treasure" by Zagat's 2002 restaurant survey. Our French Countryside decor, handpicked flowers, and friendly wait staff make for an intimate and cozy atmosphere suitable for all kinds of occasions(NOW PATIO AVAILABLE,ASK FOR HOURS). Here authentic French food is served with an American twist making for enough dishes to keep our specials changing daily. We offer a Sunday brunch that carefully combines a traditional American brunch with French flavors, while champagne effortlessly flows throughout the course of the meal. Jilly's is available for private parties, and reservations are strongly recommended.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00–14:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (847) 869-7636
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Marcos Sanchez.
  • Private party facilities
    Our French Countryside decor, handpicked flowers, and friendly wait staff make for an intimate and cozy atmosphere suitable for all kinds of occasions. Please contact us for more information about reserving our private dining room!
  • Area
    Evanston
  • Cross Street
    Central St
  • Parking details
    Street parking on Central Street for lunch or anytime. For dinner during weekdays after 6:00 PM, Saturdays after 12:00 PM and Sunday anytime, parking is available at the HEART AutoCare parking lot located adjacent to the North on Greenbay Road. Please do not park outside those time at the HEART parking lot.Thank you
  • Public transit
    Walking distance to "Evanston Central Street" stop on the Metra line (UP-N to Kenosha). Ten minute walk to the CTA Purple line: "Central" stop.
  • Additional
    Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Wine

Experiences

  • NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION

    US$130.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER 4 Course Prix Fixed Dinner $130 per person Appetizers: Crab Cake, (Lobster) Escargot, Lobster Ravioli Soup or Salad Entrees: Veal Chop, Chilean Seabass, Filet Mignon, Lobster Risotto Selection of Desserts
    NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION photo

What 670 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Jilly's Cafe in Evanston is a charming French bistro that delights with "outstanding food" and attentive service. Patrons rave about the "cozy atmosphere" and "fantastic dining experiences." While some note the restaurant can feel a bit cramped, the "delicious cuisine" and "welcoming staff" ensure a memorable visit.

670 Reviews
  1. Thomas

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Perfect spot for a quiet Tuesday night birthday meal, trying some heretofore unsampled French cuisine in a comfortable and warm setting. Our server was conversant in all aspects of the menu and attentive to every detail, especially the water glasses and bread. I had a pre-dinner Jilly's Fashioned cocktail that really hit the spot, and the appetizers, beet salad, and entrees (bouillabaisse in my case) were winners.

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  2. Al

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was very mediocre and the others were high. We will not be returning.

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  3. Christine

    VIP

    Chicago

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was very good. Not very busy at the restaurant. Staff was nice.

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  4. bari

    VIP

    Chicago

    93 reviews

    5.0

    93 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious food and friendly service. The bouillabaisse was amazing and a large portion! Everyone really enjoyed their meal of fois gras, crab cake, caesar salad, grilled octopus, branzino, steak and Chilean sea bass. It was like being at a French cafe for a little while! Definitely will return.

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  5. Edward

    VIP

    Chicago

    594 reviews

    5.0

    594 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner at Jilly’s was fabulous, as always! After cocktails, our starters were my wife’s butternut squash soup which was great! (She let me taste!) I had the most flavorful, tender escargot I have ever had! Then we had entrees that were incredible! My wife had short ribs and I had venison; both were terrific. Accompanied by a French Pinot Noir, this dinner was simply wonderful. It was all enhanced by our server, Haydee, who paced it perfectly, was attentive, efficient, and the nicest person. We love Jilly’s!

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  6. Maggie

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love this place, and when in town, try to get back to it. Always great food, lovely and friendly service. What else can we say?

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  7. Joanna

    Milwaukee

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 23 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely local dinner with very yummy food. We will definitely come again!

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  8. Gene

    Chicago

    16 reviews

    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Jilly's has been around for a long time, and it kinda shows it. The ambience is kinda 1960's rooming house chic (well-worn, unchanged, with crystal chandeliers and second-hand furniture). The clientele is mostly elderly Northshore folks. The food is what was considered fancy French 40 years ago. For the most part it is tasty and well-prepared, although my mussels were overcooked and rubbery and another person in our party has a steak that he ordered as medium rare, but it had no pink in it whatsoever. It still tasted good enough that he didn't send it back. It has a homey feel. The servers are nice. The prices are steep.

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  9. Peggy

    VIP

    Chicago

    23 reviews

    3.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant needs to remove one table for 4. Everything is so squeezed together people can’t get to their seats without causing the people at the next table to get up and move. It really impacts one’s comfort during the meal. Other diners are way too close. I had duck and did not care for the sauce. My partner had lamb chops which looked great. He said they were good and tasted about the same as what we would make at home. He said the mashed potatoes were great, as was the cabbage soup recommended by the waitress. I loved the escargot. A little loud.

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  10. Abby

    VIP

    Chicago

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A great neighborhood spot! It feels like you're in a bistro in France. Great ambiance. Will definitely be back.

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FAQs

Jilly's Cafe does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Jilly's Cafe also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (847) 869-7636.

Jilly's Cafe is rated 4.6 stars by 670 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
20:30
Booked 1 time today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Jilly's Cafe

2614 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Central St
  • Area
    Evanston
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00–14:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking on Central Street for lunch or anytime. For dinner during weekdays after 6:00 PM, Saturdays after 12:00 PM and Sunday anytime, parking is available at the HEART AutoCare parking lot located adjacent to the North on Greenbay Road. Please do not park outside those time at the HEART parking lot.Thank you
  • Public transit
    Walking distance to "Evanston Central Street" stop on the Metra line (UP-N to Kenosha). Ten minute walk to the CTA Purple line: "Central" stop.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Marcos Sanchez.
  • Additional
    Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Wine
  • Phone number
    (847) 869-7636
  • Private party facilities
    Our French Countryside decor, handpicked flowers, and friendly wait staff make for an intimate and cozy atmosphere suitable for all kinds of occasions. Please contact us for more information about reserving our private dining room!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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