Vie

I liked going to Vie with my wife or a friend twice a month. The food is good, and compared to the garbage in Western Springs, La Grange, oakbrook, and the surrounding suburbs, people should feel grateful that there is at least one good restaurant in the suburbs. But, i gotta say, though vie is relatively superior in almost every way to every nearby restaurant.. there is still considerable room for improvement. They need more dishes where the flavors JUMP OUT at you. I had a burger recently, and they built it up like it was the best burger in the world. It was not, it was just a friggin' burger- that simple. Vie is really good, and the chef is surely capable of conceiving a great dish, but he needs to do it more frequently. To much of the Vie menu, celebrity and wonderful press aside, is filler. Pros: Fresh ingredients, and concern for quality Cons: Same menu for months on end more

Maybe it was an off-night for the chef, or maybe because everyone in my party has frequented Chez Panisse (the restaurant that pioneered using seasonal local ingredients) none of us was particularly impressed with the food at Vie. Not bad, but not what I expected from word-of-mouth. Pros: good service Cons: overrated food more

Me and my wife went to Vie in Western Springs with some friends, and the freshness of ingredients was well appreciated by our party. But fresh, wholesome ingredients do not alone make for a great meal. I ordered the gnocchi, which was obviously made in house, and surely well done, but it came with pork confit and other ingredients that really didn't enhance the dish a bit. Another time we had cabbage rolls, which were ""serviceable"" but just nothing great. The only better than average dish for the evening was a salad with shrimp and ""spicy aioli."" Deserts, i think need a total makeover at vie. None of us thought any of the deserts were anything special-- oh, wait, with one exception- the butter cake was delicious. \r In this recession, i would only spend my money at a restaurant if i knew i was in for an amazing evening. Vie does not deliver on its promise. more

I've been to Vie a couple of times for a romantic night out and it suits the bill perfectly. I like the food and the extensive wine list. I don't agree it's as good as Trotter's or something, but I don't like food made like a science experiment. I highly recommend it for a night out on the town with your special someone. Pros: Romantic... Cons: nothing.... more

Ok, I've been going to Vie for about a year and a half, and i truly have had some memorable dishes. But lately, either i'm ordering the wrong stuff or something, but i just have not been that impressed with the food. Last time I went i had a salmon appetizer which was nothing special, and a panzanella which did nothing for me. In fact, everything our party ordered was just average. I'm not suggesting it was bad, it just all seemed boring and simple. We went to Tallgrass a month ago, and were blown away by the amazing flavors. Tallgrass, in my estimation, is way better than Vie, but maybe Vie is just approaching cuisine from a more traditional angle. Perhaps it's just a matter of opinion. I kind of felt like they are becoming more about an image, and are cutting corners on the cuisine lately. Pros: Service, Nice Ambiance Cons: Food not that impressive more

Myself and my girlfirend wen to Vie restaurant with our husbands yesterday, and were a bit disappointed in some of the dishes. I had a wonderfully prepared sturgeon with potatoes and a ramp vinaigrette and lemon mayonaisse. It was delicious! Last time, I went to Vie ( a few months back), I had an outstanding ""wood-grilled fluke with shaved radishes, herb aioli, this nice ""brothy sauce"" which contrasted nicely with the aioli, and house-made pickles"". It was heaven. My girlfriend ordered a dud, however. The walleye pike was very mediocre, and came with a boring accompaniment of braising greens and potato chips! I tried her dish and truly felt sorry that she was experiencing such bland flavors, especially since my dish was so nice. Our husbands, who we have to drag by their ears to go to a nice place (they prefer hot dogs and beer), enjoyed their orders of strip steaks. We ordered gnocchi as an appetizer, and it was good, but far from stellar like the gnocchi we ordered on our last visit (which came with fines herbes, parmagiano regiano, and wild mushrooms, which was amazing!). This time it just came with peas and lacked any dazzle. The foie gras was excellent though, as always! Last time, everything we ordered was great, but this time, there were a few dishes that ""missed the mark."" \r Pros: Good food, good service Cons: some dishes missed the mark more

Vie is really very good. Everytime i go there i experience something new and exciting. I really had the best fish i've ever had a couple months ago there...it was fluke and it came with fingerling potatos, pickled garlic, radishes and an awesome aioli. They always do great things with gnochhi. We have two great restaurants in the suburbs right now...Vie and courtright's, and those are pretty much the only places really worth going to. Salbute was great, but sadly left Hinsdale late last year, and the west suburbs could use some more great restaurants. Bistro Banilileu (sp?), or sequel, is gone to now, and that was a pretty good restaurant as well. Pros: great cuisine more

We went there one night that we didn't feel like driving downtown and consider ourselves extremely lucky to... more

We went there one night that we didn't feel like driving downtown and consider ourselves extremely lucky to have found this awesome restaurant. ... more

After great reviews from chowhound, LTH forum, and various critics, I was excited to take my parents here for their anniversary. nice setting -- contemporary design, pictures, and a surprisingly large space. everyone from the hostess to the person that gave us bread and water were pleasant. the only person we unfortunately interacted with the most ended up having somewhat of an attitude...for some reason he didnt give us a decanter for our bottle of wine (other tables received one). i dont care whether or not a decanter is used, but I found it irritating that we're the only table not offered... and when my dad ordered ""steak"", he asked, ""um, are you talking about the strip steak?"" it was the only ""steak"" on the menu, I found it unnecessary to make my dad feel stupid and second guess his order. not terrible service, but snobby and not very helpful.\r \r we had the foie gras, gnocchi appetizers, (special) corned beef, strip steak, bass, and pork belly for dinner. everything was cooked well timing-wise, but there was way too much sourness (pickling) and saltiness.. taste was so strong I felt like I needed some sort of starch to settle the flavor (especially the bacon/pork belly)...but there weren't any. foie gras melted in my mouth, but the sauce was too sweet and a bit sour too...\r the only thing that wasn't too strong was probably the well-made gnocchi (without the vegetables that came w/ it), as it melted in my mouth. the two slices of bread served to each of us was also quite good, tho two out of four of us had the ends of the loaf served to us.\r \r while the flavors were somewhat inspiring, it was way too strong. Unfortunately, I would not be interested in wasting my time for a return (thanks to the memorably disappointing server Frank). more

My wife and I treated my parents to dinner last month and had a 5-Star experience at Vie. We enjoyed the variety of each course. The portions are ""just right"" - the presentation is awesome, but not over the top where you feel like you're paying for a work of art, rather than a meal.\r \r My wife and mother enjoyed a few different wines the sommelier recommended, and my father enjoyed the single malt scotches. I don't drink alcohol and still had an easy time ordering N/A drinks (N/A beer & virgin cocktails). \r \r Be prepared to spend about $60/per person with drinks and gratuity - a great value when you factor in that the food, the service, the atmosphere are all top-notch/5-star and will exceed your expectations Pros: Ambience, free parking, close to Metra Cons: Closed on Mondays, reservations are hard to book - the place fills up fast! more

Vie is a great addition to the western suburban and Chicagoland dining scene. In fact, it's worth a drive from downtown or elsewhere if you're feeling adventurous. The restaurant was full when we visited, so make reservations. (All you conventioneers keep going to Rush Street.)\r \r We began with champagne to celebrate a birthday. It was a great evening with original tasting food and excellent service. Scallops are a good start. Then, we ordered the short ribs and venison loin. David, our waiter, patiently answered all of our food and ingredient questions. We had many. The room is a mix of what i call contemporary graphic designer ""moderne"" with lots of grey tones. Personally, I like the look of the room. I think it's very sophisticated and well-appointed. We asked to be reseated to a table in an alcove that was quiet. \r \r We will return and suggest you go to Vie. Bravo, chef Vibrant. Pros: Fresh. Novel approach to local vendors. Intriguing. Parking is not a problem in this commuter town. Note: There's a take out service if you need something for someone on short order. Cons: Some tables near the door and back by the kitchen (no kidding!) are in high traffic patterns which I'd avoid, but otherwise. Overall. Great. more

Went to Vie a second time on a Friday night. I got a little worried when my wife and I walked in and realized there was no need for a reservation ~ 15% seated. \r \r My wife noticed that Chef Virant has an affinity for the use of various forms of vinegar. It seems to be omnipresent in the preparations. Note: His passion is pickling.....Hmmm.\r He also seems to concentrate on maximizing the number of ingredients in his haute cuisine. I am not a chef, but there is a satiation point. Chef studied at the CIA in upstate NY. I have eaten at the CIA several times. His teachers never taught him to prepare food this way.\r \r Interesting that both the waiter and the Chef asked us if we were coming back - as if they had asked this question before....Hmmm. We told them no, and to my surprise neither attempted to change our minds. One thing is for sure, neither of them have ever sold a car.\r \r Vie is a beautiful, chic restaurant, where I am afraid that it's biggest attribute is not the food, but as a trendy place to be seen. \r \r Pros: Beautiful Venue Cons: The Over Restaurant - over rated, overly expensive, over flavored food-too many ingredients more

I am disappointed when a restaurant such as Vie serves excellent food without sparkles. Now, that may sound unfair to you. But when I go to an expensive restaurant (Vie is expensive) I expect to be surprised by something. I wasn't. Vie has well executed dishes and excellent service. The wine list is reasonably priced. That is good. But the dining room is loud. So, when you reserve (a must), make sure to ask for a table near the fireplace. The room is slightly more intimate and not as loud as the main dining area. Enjoy! Pros: Great, creative food, Good service, Easy parking Cons: Conversation challeng, Lacks a spark more

The food from the beginning to the end of the meal was just excellent. more

Wow. Talk about amazing. The food and staff were excellent. Very romantic. The chocolate lava cake was pure satisfaction. The food may seem at bit pricey but you won't regret spending the money. more