Have you ever wanted to get a taste of France without actually going there? The new restaurant Petite Vie Brasserie will offer you just that. The French cafe is a spinoff of the now permanently closed restaurant Vie, which was located at 4471 Lawn Ave., in Western Springs. 

Petite Vie Brasserie is located at 909 Burlington Ave., Western Springs, just around the corner from the former location of Vie–both owned by successful chef Paul Virant. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this new restaurant.

My first impression of Petite Vie Brasserie was that it was very inviting and chic while also having an upscale atmosphere. Although I have never been to France myself, I definitely felt like I was walking into a French cafe. The design choices were a combination of authentic French style as well as an incorporation of some modern elements which I appreciated.

While Petite Vie does offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, my family and I decided to go for dinner during the week. When we arrived at our table, we ordered three appetizers to try out. We ordered the Parisienne Gnocchi ($13), Escargot á Bourguignonne ($16) and the Demi Baguette ($7). The gnocchi was different from what I was used to, but I liked it. It was soft gnocchi covered in a light sauce and cooked vegetables placed on top. I also enjoyed the baguette. It was served with warm butter on the side as well as dijon mustard and cornichons, which is typical in France. I actually enjoyed the combo of all three sides. It was very savory. I didn’t try the escargot, but my dad said that they were absolutely delicious. 

For my main course, I got the Petite Vie Burger ($20). My mom got the Halibut Veronique ($36), and my dad got the Steak Frites ($33). The burger was served with brie, mushrooms, caramelized onions, truffle cornichon aioli, and a side of pomme frites (fries). It was different from any burger I had before, but it was very good. The toppings all tied very well together and gave the burger hints of savory and sweet. 

I tried my dad’s steak and my mom’s halibut as well. The steak was tender and delicious. I would definitely order that next time. Although I’m not a huge fish person, the flavor was very mild and not too fishy.

For dessert, my parents and I got the Profiteroles ($14). This dish included three cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream and layered in chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. The ice cream was smooth and flavorful, and the puff was airy and light, making them a perfect combo. This was a great way to end the meal, and I would definitely recommend ordering these if you visit Petite Vie Brasserie. 

I was slightly disappointed by the size of the space since it was small. My parents and I had a reservation but still had to wait 15 minutes after the time we were supposed to be seated because of the lack of space. 

Overall, my experience was very good. We had excellent service and I enjoyed trying out many foods that I had never had before. If you are looking for somewhere that’s lively and unique, I would definitely check out Petite Vie Brasserie.

Petite Vie is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 p.m., Friday from 4-9:30 p.m. and 11-2 p.m., and then again from 4-9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday’s hours are 11-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.

5/5 paws