Did you know there is a French-American Brasserie with an actual working carousel bar in the middle of Chicago’s Loop Theater District? Well, now you do! I’ve enjoyed Francois Frankie a few times in the summer/fall of 2024, and I’m here to give it a resounding recommendation for drinks and dining in Chicago!

Francois Frankie opened in Chicago in 2019, but has garnered more attention this year, when Matt Ayala became the Executive Chef. Bringing back his signature “Cochon Volant Le Cheeseburger Royale” was what drew me here, and will keep me coming back for a long time. This cheeseburger is one of Chicago’s absolute best, is worth a detour, and you don’t have to wait in long lines to get it.

The space at Francois Frankie’s is open, invoking an airy french brasserie, with a large carousel bar at the front, which rotates very slowly. About 20 people can fit at the bar, and there is additional seating around the carousel. The rest of the space is done up in a modern french style, with larger, more comfortable bistro chairs at dark tables, and banquette seating around the perimeter. It’s a bustling and fun place, especially pre-theater.

During the few times I’ve visited, for starters, I’ve loved the croque monsieur croquettes, which are crispy, cheesy, and salty. A great beginning to any meal. I also enjoyed the fried calamari, which is served with a slightly spicy remoulade. They include some fried up lemons and jalapeno slices as well, which jazz up an otherwise pretty standard menu option.

Like I mentioned earlier, I came for the burger. Cochon Volant used to be one of my favorite places for lunch in the Loop, and had one of my favorite burgers of all-time, but it closed during COVID, never to return. One of my favorite Instagram accounts, Windy City Burger Reviews ranked the Cochon Volant burger in the Top Five in the city, which I 100% agreed with. When I heard that the CV chef claimed the helm at Francois Frankies this year, AND he brought back one of the best burgers in Chicago, I had to check it out.

Indeed, the burger lived up to my very high expectations. It’s two super-thin patties, perfectly grilled up with a little bit of crunch, but not as much as, say, a smashburger. The patties are thick enough to maintain the taste and juiciness of the beef, which it should, since it’s American Wagyu. There’s a slice of American Cheese on top of each patty, and in my opinion, American cheese is the best for getting the perfect level of melt on a burger.

Additionally, the burgers include thin-cut house pickles, confit onions, and a special dijonnaise sauce that is absolutely dynamite. The brioche bun is fluffy and buttery and manages to hold all of the goods together quite well. Honestly, this burger is damn-near perfect. You can add thick-cut bacon to it, but I don’t think it’s necessary. The fries here are also excellent. Super crispy on the outside and not too greasy, a little mushy in the middle; and they serve them with a truffle aioli, which is totally necessary at a french bistro.

The second time back, I veered a bit off course, and ordered the traditional Steak Frites, which was a 7 oz. cut of hangar steak, served with a giant pile of those amazing fries with the truffle aioli. It was excellent, and a really nice cut of steak, but I lamented not getting the burger again and stole a few remaining bites of my husband’s burger. Francois Frankie offers other standard French fare such as mussels, short ribs, and even a bouillabaisse, which I’m excited to try, but it will be hard to not get the burger again!

Desserts here at FF are really nice, and the creme brulee is perfectly crusty on the top and nice and vanilla creamy underneath, as it should be. No flavors. No frills. Just well-executed creme brulee. We also tried the cookie skillet with vanilla ice cream, served up in a super hot skillet, right to the table. The cookie was really nice and crisp on the outside with a magnificently gooey and chocolaty center with a massive scoop of vanilla on top. I haven’t had a cookie skillet this good in a really long time. Yum!

Finally, they do cocktails really well here, and have a decent list of wines by the glass. They often do a special cocktail based on whatever Broadway shows are in town, and I enjoyed the sweeter, butterbeer’ish “Cursed Child” at our last visit prior to the Harry Potter show for dessert. Pictured below is the snazzy, spicy, not-too-sweet Rita Punch. Come for lunch or dinner, and come hungry. Le Cheeseburger Royale is an absolute gem, and their cocktails are unique and fun. Don’t overlook this snappy, bustling Brasserie when booking your next meal out in the Loop!