Before CAFE LE COQ opened in June, chef Steve Chiapetti was better known for the Mediterranean and contemporary American food he served at his restaurants Grapes and Mango, respectively, than for French cooking–but he’s also headed the kitchens at Mossant Bistro and Rhapsody. He reemerged after a one-year hiatus to join owner Jim August, general manager of Carlucci on Halsted in the late 80s, who also only recently jumped back in the game. After 15 years in retail (he owns two Irish import shops), August converted his Oak Park children’s boutique, Kid’s Stuff, into this charming French bistro with classic blue-and-white-tile floors, a tin-paneled ceiling, and wallpaper embossed with fleurs-de-lis. Etched Victorian glass shades cover wall sconces, and porcelain replicas of roosters (the cafe’s namesake) are perched on a ledge above the cafe tables. Chiapetti’s not taking any chances in the kitchen: the menu is classic, featuring a Lyonnaise salad, onion soup, mussels steamed in white wine, and a tuna nicoise. Plats du jour like trout amandine (Tuesdays) and coq au vin (Sundays) supplement the menu. Dishes arrive covered with silver domes, and servers take pride in the coordinated act of unveiling–an unexpected touch for a place where no entree is over $20. The mostly French wine list is moderately priced, with some decent vintages and lesser-known wines. Cafe le Coq is at 734 Lake in Oak Park, 708-848-2233.
