Chez Jacques

So good! This is one of my favorite restaurants. I have gone here for brunch a bunch of times and highly recommend it. I love the vanilla berry crepes and the ham and gruyère crepes, they are awesome! I also love the lox and potato pancake and the crab cakes. The biggest problem is trying to figure out what I want to have because everything is so good. The prices are also extremely reasonable. The patio is very nice during the summer and it is always a very quiet place.
I have also been here for lunch, the sandwiches are great. Dinner is good also try the French onion soup!

First time visit. Service was perfect. Peppercorn Steak with a sauce that I wanted to lick off the plate. Dessert was a simple crêpe with apples. I will return.

It took me way too long to visit Chez Jacques. I have no excuse and I could kick myself for missing out on this for so long. I have gone twice for lunch. On my first visit, I was meeting a friend who was more than fashionably late. I decided to order a croissant to tide me over. It seemed to take a while although it just probably seemed long because I was still waiting for my friend. The croissant came to the table with butter and jam or was it preserves? I am not sure. All I know is that it was fresh from the oven and wonderful. For lunch I ordered a croque madame with fries. The bread was delicious and the ham was easily some of the best I ever had. The fries were perfect. I loved this so much I ordered it on my second visit. I would like to try more menu items on my next visit. Service has always been attentive and friendly.

I’m so happy to have found Chez Jaques. This place is a real gem. While I enjoy fine dining and French food I’m not a gourmet but I do know quality and the food and service are pretty much on target. Our group enjoyed a variety of offerings including crepes, scallops and beef borignone. The three course prix fixe are an excellent bet.
If live within 20 miles do yourself a favor and stop in.

Stopped at Chez Jacques for lunch today with my fiancé and ten year old daughter. I have to say, I was very, very impressed.
The service was absolutely fantastic. Our server was polite, kind, personable, and on the ball.
The food was fantastic. We all ordered the French onion soup. Talk about out of this world! I ordered the chicken curry crepes. Yum! My fiancé had the turkey, tomato, and brie sandwich. This was also amazing. Simple ingredients that added up to big flavor. My daughter ordered the banana Nutella crepes and they were also a hit.

Awesome French restaurant. I had awesome moules when I visited France. Chez Jacques had exact same taste moules. Loved pork chap and sorbet.

This is what I want when I want French. An intimate, relaxed atmosphere with nice décor, painted to look like the crumbling plaster walls of some Parisian back street.
Service and food were both top notch. We ordered as much as we could handle, and then dessert! Everything was impeccable, we tried each other’s dishes, and had a sweet, romantic dinner together. I will recommend this as Milwaukee’s French benchmark.

With all the new places popping up in Walkers Point, I sometimes forget about old favorites (and then feel guilty about it). Case in point, Chez Jacques. CJ’s been around a long time for good reason — tasty, traditional and very authentic French food.
Sure, I’m a fan of Patische, Coquette and La Reve too, but Jacques’ food tastes the closest to what I had in Parisian bistros. His Onion soup is the best in town — light, full of fresh thyme and not overly salty. Today, I broke with tradition and ordered the chicken dumpling soup (because I knew I could steal some of my husbands onion soup!) which was perfect — homemade dumplings, big chunks of tasty veggies and a great broth.
I love that you can have brunch every day until 3pm — there’s a nice selection of omlettes, quiches and crepes (sweet or savory) to pick from. Today I went with a pâté sandwich which is my absolute favorite and also hard to find — it was exactly what I wanted. Perfect, crusty baguette, savory pâté, crunchy cornichons and spicy Dijon mustard… yumm. My husband ordered a classic croque Monsieur which he really liked because it wasn’t overly greasy.
If you’re hungrier than that, you can’t go wrong with the classics for entrees. I like their steak frites and the cassoulet (which is a mountain of food btw). The Mister likes their scallops and beef bourgogne. In terms of price point, I’d say CJ’s is about the same or a little less than the other French places in town. They’ve also got a strong, accessable wine list with a good number of by-​the-​glass options.
I’ve also always had really good service here too — attentive without being intrusive and generally very efficient. That may be because Jacques is always here — always — and never seems to stop moving. One second he’s clearing plates, the next he’s pouring drinks or checking in to make sure you’re happy. That level of commitment shows in the food for sure.
I won’t forget you again, Chez Jacques.

Not to sound snotty, but amen! Finally, a place that can master the true pronunciation of crêpe. It’s not a CRAPE, people! It makes me cringe when servers insist on saying that.
Anyway, I visited Chez Jacques a few years ago with my parents, and returned a few months ago with a friend. It was just as I remembered and equally delicious. My friend and I visited on a cold Tuesday night, so needless to say, there weren’t too many people in the restaurant. Our server was attentive, almost too attentive, but I’m sure he was just bored. He was friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere was classy, yet casual. It didn’t feel stuffy or pretentious.
The food was awesome! Both of us loved our appetizer (the olive spread and the baked goat cheese), our crêpes (roast beef mushroom), and the dessert (crème brûlée). And this almost goes without mentioning, but the wine was fabulous! There are so many more items I’d love to try as well. I will definitely be back to work my way thru their menu :) I found their prices to be considerably reasonable, so that was another plus.

This place was was a solid choice for lunch. Service was pleasant but it took a very long time to get our food. Was there for about an hour and a half.
I was with 2 others and 2 of us ordered the french onion soup. It took over a half hour to get the soup BUT it was worth the wait. Not a crispy top like the pictures show but still delicious.
We got our sandwiches soon after and they were very good. I got the Croque Monsieur which was great. Pretty large portion.
Overall would give it a second shot because the food was yummy.

So I finally made it to Chez Jacques. And now I’m a little irritated. Because despite the fact that City Tin has been burning a hole in my pocket… I’ve had yet to make it here!
Now it’s a bit blustery and Autumn-​ish in the 414 so we weren’t able to take advantage of what sounds and looks like an awesome tucked away patio. But the whole atmosphere was french provincial-​slash-​bistro. Warm and inviting and exactly what you’d expect. There’s hard wood floors, a few (tasteful and not overdone) pics of the Eiffel tower and a beautiful bar when you walk in.
Ordered: I don’t know about you but nothing says French restaurant more than Escargot so we started with that. so delicious! Server with a buttery phyllo pastry. We also tried the stuffed mushrooms but I prefer the snails.
Other– French onion soup. Also wonderful.
Croque Madame. Sweet Bejeezus. A beautiful buttery sandwich with ham, cheese topped with a fried egg. I couldn’t finish the whole thing but it made me want to get some pain, some jambon and fromage, throw it in some beurre and try to create my own version some weekend morning. (Might not be as good but hey, I can try.)
I had a sparkling cidre, served (& tasting) a little like champagne. ooh, also best hot chocolate (chocolat? le chocolat? Irrelevant side note: anyone remember chococat? hello kitty’s boy cat friend? anyhow, as always, I digress…) ever. I would have never thought the hot chocolate here would have been so awesome!
Our service was very attentive.
Ooh…and bike parking out front (cuz how else do you get to a fine French restaurant than on your bike??:)

Descriptive phrase: plush French restaurant.
Four of us came for dinner on a Friday night, and oddly our reservation was not needed as Chez Jacques was empty. It’s a cute place, located right on 1^st in Walker’s Point and with both a dining area and separate bar. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and made the whole experience better than it would’ve been.
I got to try a bit of the Onion Soupe Gratinee ($ 5.50) a friend got, which was rich and extremely cheesy. My entrée was the Côtes de Porc «Normandy» ($ 20.95). This was a thoroughly unremarkable dish. The description (Pork chops with caramelized apple glaze and Calvados (apple brandy). Served with saffron rice.) was on-​point, but it just was not anywhere as delicious as it sounds. The cuts of pork were either sub-​par or poorly-​prepared, The sliced apples on top were fresh, but the glaze was overly-​sweet and extremely heavy. I love saffron rice, and theirs was as tasty as any other $ 1 bag from the store. No additional spice to be found.
Hard to judge a place on one poor entrée, but this meal at Chez Jacques was below what I expected (and not in the same league as other French restaurants nearby). Service was great, and my Port ($ 6) was a nice treat, but I won’t be frequenting Chez Jacques for dinner.

I had never gone to a French restaurant but went here for a b-​day celebration. I was expecting something somewhat, I don’t know, stuffy, like you see in movies or in Blondie. But it was somewhat casual though very nice– you could dress-​up, ie suit jacket, and not feel out of place.
It was easy to find. I did not see any lot parking but there was pretty good street parking.
The wait staff was very nice, and helpful. The menu was in French and English.
WE HAD SNAILS! They were quite good, somewhat like oysters; prepared with garlic and butter.
Besides snails we had stuffed mushrooms, ham sandwich (with fried egg on top), crepes (seafood), and a vegetable sandwich. And soup, French of course, onion soup.
The onion soup was good, though I would recommend more soup and less fromage. It was not too salty though. I have had onion soup too salty to eat.
We did not partake of wine list. We did have a apple cider, cidre en Francais, and that was good. We were surprised by the good decaf. It was from and local roaster. The server kept our cups full.
There was a variety of priced items on the menu. Ala carte, sandwiches, to fixed price meals.
I recommend and would return.

After Rick R.‘s recommendation for brunch here, the man and I were finally able to swing in Saturday morning.
We pulled up at 10:30 and it was pretty dead. We entered the dark lounge area and were greeted by the owner, Jacques. We opted to sit on the patio and WOW! It was tucked behind the building and full of lush green trees, perfectly manicured flowers and landscaping. The wall of the building was covered in a beautiful mural of France. If it weren’t for the loud construction crew right outside, I would have forgotten I was in the city at all.
The brunch/​drink menu was pretty scarce — mimosa, bloody, coffee. I got a screwdriver and Joe got the bloody. While the garnished were nothing to note (an olive, pickle, lemon, lime and some celery salt) he noted that the mix was pretty flavorful and could taste a nice pour of vodka. I also felt that the vodka was a strong component of my drink, but it didn’t taste like gordons — it was an enjoyably strong and well made drink.
We had the ham and gruyère crepes and the crab benedict. The crab benedict was plated beautifully and had a ton of food. The crepes were literally two tubes on a plate. I would suggest maybe throwing a little dish of fruit or SOMETHING on the side there? The gruyère and the sauce was delicious, the ham was salty and hot and the crepes were cooked just how I like, crispy on the edges! The crab bene was a TON of crabmeat on top of an english muffin, tons of eggs and topped with an awesome-​yet-​nameless reddish sauce that was awesome. There were chunked american potatoes on the side that were seasoned lightly with salt and pepper but they were seriously and perfectly al dente. I sampled many bites…
Our server, Marco, was attentive and friendly — food came out in a timely manner and we really enjoyed our meal. I will be back to try the supper entrees!

We’ve all had those days when we just feel like we need to get away.
But schedules and commitments and budgets and such don’t always allow us to go as far as we’d like.
May I suggest a trip to Walker’s Point and the long standing classic French eatery, Chez Jacques.
Like many European dwellings, the looks from the outside can be a bit deceiving. And when you step into the doors you immediately feel the influence of France. The low ceilings, the terrazzo floor, and the general aesthetic will transport you.
Go with it and enjoy.
If It weather allows, choose seats on the patio. You will quickly lose any sense of the city that surrounds you. The large oak trees, the precise landscaping and the beautiful paintings truly impress. My pictures do not begin to do justice to this serene and welcoming setting.
Since we were there for brunch my guest and I both ordered the classic bloody mary. They taste was solid, but very much tomato based with none of the requisite layers from the trifecta of seasonings; celery salt, horseradish, and worcestershire. What was even more disappointing for me was that when my friend ordered a second bloody is was perfectly prepared and seasoned. Someone there knew how to make a great drink and they didn’t have them doing it all the time (sadface).
Entrees were much more consistent, and delish. My guest was thrilled with the omelette and the Nicoise Tuna Salad was one of the best I’ve had. The tuna salad was hearty in portion and flawless in taste. Dots of finely chopped celery and onions along with traditional seasoning balanced the flavor perfectly. The accompanying green beans and potatoes were fresh and perfectly cooked and seasoned. And the nicoise olives provided the little bit of salt that was needed to bring the dish together.
Service was excellent; attentive but not overbearing. And the brunch menu has the usual suspects (pancakes, omelettes, crepes and benedicts (6.95 — 11.95) as well as two special dishes, Crab Benedict and Smoked Salmon potato cake, both priced at 13.50. And of much excitement to me, the brunch menu is served until 3pm, seven days a week!
So the very next time you’re needing a getaway, if only for a few hours, Chez Jacques should be at the top of your list!

Did you know there is a patio out back? I din’t. I bike past here everyday and thought this cute little restaurant is on such an unfortunate/​busy street. So thank you City Tin 2014 for dragging me in otherwise I would have missed this little gem.
Service is fantastic. I feel the the food is fairly priced. Actually, a bit cheaper than some places I have been recently and better. I had the Boeuf Bourguignon. Very rich and filling. I really enjoyed it. Our server paired the wine perfectly for me.
I will absolutely be back and write a more detailed review!

Incredible happy hour deals and impeccable service in a cozy, unpretentious setting — yeah, that works for me.
My journey to Chez Jacques started simply enough.
My daughter wanted crepes and the restaurant showed up on the list when I searched for crepes on Unilocal.
First impressions: Umm, not that great — the post-​industrial backdrop to the restaurant could serve as a set for a remake of Escape from New York. It seemed like a strange setting for creperie. However, there was plenty of free, street parking and the location was a short drive to our next stop (Miller Park), so we ventured inside.
Once we passed through the front door, we were instantly teleported from Rust Belt Milwaukee to the banks of the Seine. The first thing that caught our eye was the magnificent mahogany bar, which allayed our initial concerns about the location. The tin ceilings, rustic tile floor and French café music playing in the background also created a welcoming ambience.
The host warmly greeted my daughter and I and led us to our table. Our server promptly explained the happy hour specials: $ 1 off a glass of wine and $ 6 for any appetizer.
As expected from a French bistro, Chez Jacques offers an impressive wine list including some special cellar selections of older vintages and rare finds. I appreciated the detailed tasting notes that accompanied each selection. I decided on the Le Grand Noir, which came with the following description «Black cherry and raspberry intermingle with floral and spice elements leading to a rich wine with a long finish». How could I resist?
I ordered a pair of appetizers and my daughter immediately zeroed in on the banana-​nutella crêpe.
The wonderfully balanced Bouchee a la Reine (veal and porcini mushrooms in a puff pastry with a cream sauce) was a veritable steal at $ 6 during happy hour. It offered great textural contrast between the delightfully flakey puff pastry and the fork tender veal. Complementing the dish was a silky smooth cream sauce, accented with a garnish of chopped parsley.
We also enjoyed Fromage de Chevre a la Provencale (baked goat cheese with tomatoes, garlic, basil and toast). Some places dumb down their happy hour specials, but that certainly is not the case at Chez Jacques where is received a generous serving of slightly grassy goat cheese in an impeccably seasoned bed of tomato sauce. Again, I appreciated the balance between creamy cheese and the brightness of the sauce. The toasted baguettes provided the added textural element needed to complete the dish.
The banana-​nutella crêpe was ginormous and received two thumbs up from my daughter who is a self-​proclaimed nutella aficionado. Also receiving high marks was the thick and creamy hot chocolate, covered with a billowy pile of whipped cream.
Since we visited the restaurant during the lull between the lunch and dinner services, we were the only patrons in the restaurant. Even though my daughter and I were dressed for that evening’s Brewers game, we did not feel out of place in the relaxed bistro setting. Without other patrons to keep him busy, our server doted on us during our entire stay.
At this point, a four star rating seems appropriate, since I only sampled a pair of appetizers. Based on my experience, I have no problem recommending Chez Jacques and I look forward to visiting again the next time my travels take me to Milwaukee.

Editorial: I’m going to be the unpopular guy that doesn’t pick the other «French» restaurants as my favorite. I prefer Chez Jacques.
I had a conversation with a friend about the French dining options. I was defending Chez Jacques and they were defending the others. We compromised at calling Chez Jacques a «classic» French restaurant, while the others are more modernized French «bistros.» I can live with that.
My argument… let’s start with the fact that Chez Jacques originally had an actual French chef, trained in classic French cooking — in France. The chef has since gone, but some of the cooks currently with Chez Jacques were trained by that chef and are using his recipes. I also like the fact that the owner is French.
Then let’s add value. The entrees are priced fairly and servings are generous, so diners feel like they «got their money’s worth.» Plus, the food is delicious which is a bonus.
My favorite dish is the Boeuf Bourguignon, «Burgundy beef stew cooked in red wine with mushrooms, pearl onions and bacon. Served over purée potatoes. 19.95» This dish is rich, very rich.
I’ve also had the Côtes de Porc «Normandy», «Pork chops with caramelized apple glaze and Calvados (apple brandy) served with a savory saffron rice. (20.95) and the Poisson a la Provençale, currently with Tilapia, but was made with a Lake Superior Whitefish when I had it. The fish is baked with tomatoes, onions, capers and white wine and served with savory saffron rice (19.95).
As you can guess, the pork chops with the caramelized apple glaze with apple brandy were incredible! The whitefish was perfectly cooked and the saffron rice was a great complement to both entrees.
A few months ago, I went in to try the Cassoulet, with pork sausage, pork chop, duck confit, white beans, and bread crumbs for texture. I enjoyed the dish, but it was served in a large white bowl, with each component beside each other instead of in a tapered cast iron crock and layered components. The serving was large and since the dish is only served in the winter, it would be cost prohibitive to invest in cast iron pans large enough to hold all of that food and only use them a couple of months a year, so I definitely understand that.
Once or twice a week, there are live musicians which add to the romantic ambience that Chez Jacques provides.
Want to bring in a large group? They offer a private dining room that seats 20 – 25. Want to dine outside? Try their back patio. They also serve weekend brunch until 3:00.
Those are the reasons I prefer Chez Jacques to the others, which are good in their way, but this place is my favorite.

Seriously, Chez Jacques makes their balsamic vinaigrette from scratch, and it is the best I have ever had. SO GOOD. I ordered the house salad and wasn’t really feeling the mustardy dressing that accompanied it. Our server — a blonde guy who was extremely nice, by the way — brought me the vinaigrette and seriously, it was heaven. H E A V E N.
Their $ 7 glass of pinot noir is a really good deal. My husband had the Croque Monsieur and said it was better than any he’s had in Milwaukee — even Le Rêve’s, his old standby. They had an asparagus soup the day we went in, and it was delicious. So full of flavor for a creamy soup. Can’t wait to go back!

First time at Chez Jacques for me. Second time for Cheryl. We were there on Friday at noon, after thanksgiving (11÷29÷13), for lunch.
My first impression when parking in front of the location was, «What an unusual part of town for a French Café.» When we walked in, we were greeted warmly and «en Francais» by a gentleman whom I subsequently learned was Jacques, the owner and namesake of the restaurant. (At my request, he posed for a picture after we ate that I posted).
The inside of the restaurant is decorated simply but did, indeed, feel like a French café, though we’ve never been in France. The menu is not complicated, but is filled with French food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including but not limited to omelets, crepes, croissant sandwiches, quiches, French cheese plates, escargots, tapenade, Boeuf Bourguignon, etc. as well as one (or two) three course meal choices.
We shared a splendid spinach and Roquefort omelet, accompanied by sliced and plain roasted baby (what I believe were) Yukon potatoes; simple and healthy. We also shared an order of crab cakes. These were outstanding and obviously house made, accompanied with a creamy ground mustard sauce that was perfect. A glass of the house (French) Rose was «tres bien.» (See the pix I took).
We took a look at the rest of the restaurant after eating. It is very nicely decorated and an impressive space, much larger than it first looks when walking in. Jacques informed us that there is a dining area in the patio, as well, weather permitting. The large wood bar is inviting and in a large space.
We really like Chez Jacques. It feels like an upscale family owned bistro that I can easily imagine is in Paris. Pricing is reasonable. Service was excellent. There are quite a few items on the menu we’re looking forward to trying during our next visit.

La nourriture est délicieuse, le service est excellent, l’ambiance est élégante. L’endroit idéal pour un dîner romantique, stationnement est très facile à droite sur devant. Je né parlais même français avant de manger ici.