The best steakhouse in Chicago will close in less than a month—here’s your last date to dine

Chicago steakhouse fans, this is your sign to make that reservation you’ve been putting off.

Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, the moody River North steakhouse that has become one of the city’s most coveted dinner destinations, is closing temporarily next month. Its last night of service will be Saturday, September 19, giving you less than a month to squeeze in one more steak, martini and as many of those decadent sides as you can manage.

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The good news: This is not goodbye forever. Bavette’s is expected to reopen in mid-November, although an exact reopening date has not yet been announced. The restaurant has not given a specific reason for the temporary closure, either.

In the meantime, there’s still time to get your fix at the restaurant at 218 W. Kinzie St., where the dimly lit, jazz-soundtracked dining room has been one of Chicago’s most reliable settings for a very serious dinner. The restaurant is known for its French-inflected take on the classic steakhouse.

The menu includes classic cuts alongside steak frites with béarnaise, but part of the fun of Bavette’s is ordering enough food to make your table look like you’re hosting Thanksgiving for a very carnivorous family. Crab cakes, roasted bone marrow, a wedge salad, sourdough with cultured butter and the short rib stroganoff are among the restaurant’s other longtime favorites. And don't sleep on the chocolate cream pie.

Bavette’s opened in 2012 and has earned a reputation as one of Chicago’s top steakhouses, including recognition from the Michelin Guide. It’s also the kind of restaurant where getting a reservation can require more advance planning than you might expect for dinner. Reservations are released 21 days ahead, daily at 9am. The restaurant also accepts walk-ins at the bar, which offers a full menu.

So mark the calendar: September 19 is your last chance to dine at Bavette’s before the temporary shutdown. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to order a giant steak and pretend you’re in a glamorous 1920s movie, this is it. 

Bavette's is located at 218 W Kinzie St. It's open Mondays through Thursdays from 4pm to 10:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 3pm to 11pm; and Sundays from 3pm to 10:30pm. For more information and to make a reservation, click here.