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Interior - Jilly's Cafe, Evanston, IL

Jilly's Cafe

4.5 (757)
$31 to $50
French
2614 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201

Make a reservation

A photo of Jilly's Cafe restaurant

Jilly's Cafe

4.5
$31 to $50
French
Evanston

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem

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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:30 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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!
  • Neighborhood
    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, Takeout, Wine

All Experiences

  • Thanksgiving Dinner

    $80.00 per person

    1 - 8 people

    Oct 20, 2026 - Nov 26, 2026
    Our Thanksgiving celebration featuring a 4-course tasting menu consist of traditional Thanksgiving entrees & Jilly's Cafe classics. The tasting menu is $80 per person and reservation will be available from 11am -6 pm.
    Thanksgiving Dinner Photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Jilly's Cafe.

4.5

4.5
(757)
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    French

  • North Suburbs

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Jilly's Cafe in Evanston is a charming French bistro praised for its "attentive service" and "delicious food." Highlights include venison and lobster risotto. The intimate setting and "great wine list" make it perfect for special occasions. Some guests noted challenges with parking and occasional inconsistency in food quality.
757 Reviews
  1. Larry

    Chicago1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have eaten at your restaurant several times and it has always been excellent Last night we had dinner again and ambience, service ,appetizers were all great However our entree, rack of lamb, was almost inedible Very fatty with no taste Need to change to a better purveyor, preferably domestic lamb

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  2. William Gold

    South Carolina3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Group of 3 had a terrific meal and excellent wine. Owner was SO hospitable!! Thank you!

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  3. Erin and Steve Gold

    Chicago27 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on October 17, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Have not been for many years but wanted to try it again. Food was all super salty from the salad to the chicken as well as risotto. Expected more from such an established place. Won’t be back.

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  4. Connie Gold

    Chicago49 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely elegant place. Parking is always a challenge but it's worth it. A little pricey but the early bird helps. 3 course meal for $50. Wonderful for a special occasion

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  5. Jerry Gold

    Chicago27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 13, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our friends were impressed with the entire setting.

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  6. Mia

    Chicago3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 7, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The space was a little messy, but everything was so good!

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  7. Sal

    Chicago21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We came from the western suburb to celebrate my wife's birthday. We had never been at the restaurant. The food was very ,very good. Lucas was very helpful and efficient. A couple of other tables even sang happy birthday to my wife; along with Lucas. Good time!!

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  8. Dominic Gold

    Chicago26 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on August 26, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was pretty good but a little too salty for my taste. Very unhappy about being charged 4% for using a credit card.

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  9. Mark Gold

    Chicago26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 12, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Jilly’s is a small gem of a bistro in north Evanston. It’s not often I find venison on the menu so I very much enjoyed it as an entree. My partner also enjoyed her mushroom risotto. The service was as great as the cuisine. We highly recommend Jilly’s!

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  10. Marcie

    St. Louis1 review

    5.0

    Dined on August 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything about Jilly's was amazing! I had the Lobster Risotto, one of the specials on the menu. One of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life! I had no room for the Creme Brulee so that was taken to go and enjoyed later. Absolutely delicious! A special thank to our waiter Lucas!! He made our evening even more enjoyable!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:30 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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!
  • Neighborhood
    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, Takeout, Wine

FAQs

Jilly's Cafe feels like a cozy, intimate French‑country bistro, handpicked flowers, white‑linen tables, and a small dining room create a charming, Old‑Europe atmosphere that’s quiet on low‑crowd nights and more energetic when full.

Guests frequently describe portions as generous, ample and satisfying without being excessive.

For a quieter, more relaxed meal, visit Jilly's Cafe on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, reviewers call Tuesday nights quiet and said Wednesday evenings weren’t very busy, while weekends tend to be packed.

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, neat clothing is appropriate, though many guests still choose to dress up a touch for anniversaries and special occasions.

Yes, families are welcome: guests note staff happily accommodated a toddler, children have enjoyed meals here, and family parties (including visits with a daughter) are described positively.

Yes, guests report that staff handle dietary needs and substitutions, and the team happily accommodates celebration requests; reservations and related requests are commonly made via OpenTable or the restaurant website.

Yes, Jilly's Cafe is a cosy, intimate spot often chosen for anniversaries and special evenings, with many guests praising its romantic, conversation‑friendly atmosphere.

The venue is not wheelchair accessible, but staff have been willing to accommodate young children, guests report the team was happy to work with a toddler during their visit.

Jilly's Cafe has a small, intimate main dining room (about 30 seats) and now offers an outdoor patio, the space is cozy and closely spaced, perfect for intimate dinners.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. North Suburbs
  5. Evanston

Make a reservation

A photo of Jilly's Cafe restaurant

Jilly's Cafe

4.5
$31 to $50
French
Evanston

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 5 times today
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