After a wonderful 37 years in the community, D&J Bistro will be closing its doors on February 14, 2026. Located off of Rand Road in Lake Zurich, the bistro is known for its delectable French and American cuisine with hints of Asian influences. The bistro is also home to countless memories in the community which were welcomed by staff, friends and family.
In the fall of 1987, Dominique and Jacqueline opened D&J as a casual French restaurant, which quickly grew a positive reputation around the community. The restaurant was featured on shows such as Chicago’s Best (WGN) and WTTW’s Check, Please! D&J Bistro celebrated both American holidays and French traditions. As quoted on D&J’s website, “[the bistro] used to gather, celebrate, and belong. Food brings joy, connection, and memories”,
Setting:
It was a brisk night, with the snow arriving soon. When I walked into the restaurant, I was greeted with a warm welcome from staff. The bistro is on the smaller side, but successfully manages a decently sized bar along with quite a few tables. The restaurant is lit with warm overhead lights, fairy lights lining the borders and doorframes, along with a candle at every table. The walls are lined with paintings and photos. Overall, the restaurant is very well kept, and the staff is friendly.
Appetizer:
To start, my family and I ordered our beverages which came out quickly, along with glasses of water on the table to start, which were refilled throughout our meal. Complimentary bread and butter was presented to us after we were given time to look over the large menu. As a starter, we ordered Escargot du Bistro (Snails with garlic shallot butter). The order came out in a timely fashion, with six snails for our enjoyment. They were warm when presented to us. The escargot was the perfect size, the butter was tasteful and perfectly seasoned, and the snails were tender and rich. The Escargot du Bistro was $13, a reasonable price for such a delicious starting dish.
Main Course:
(To preface, I ordered off of January’s special menu). After the starters, we were given some time to digest our food, and spend quality time as a family. I had a hard time deciding what to order due to all of the options between the specials and the regular menu. I ended up deciding on the Mini Chateaubriand au Poivre, which was a 6 oz filet wrapped with pancetta (Italian salt-cured pork belly), accompanied by mashed potatoes and black peppercorn sauce.
When breaking down this meal, the filet was succulent, filled with flavor and delightful juices, and was nicely complemented with the pancetta, which gave a small hint of sweetness to offset the richness of the meat. The mashed potatoes were decent, a little bland but nonetheless creamy and warm, a nice addition to the flavorful dish. I also had a few bites of fish, which was prepared nicely, and melted into my mouth with a buttery taste along with hints of lemon. The price for the Mini Chateaubriand au Poivre was $36, which is around average in the restaurant industry.
Desserts:
After finishing up dinner, we were presented with a dessert menu with around 10 items to choose from. We ordered two, a classic vanilla Crème Brûlée and profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and a thick, dark chocolate sauce. To start, the vanilla crème brûlée was on the larger side, especially because it was only $11. It was presented beautifully, with a thin caramelized crust. Inside was a dense, vanilla custard, which was wonderful.
Lastly the profiteroles, which are pastry balls that are filled with an ice cream of your choice (in this case vanilla). These were quite large, filled with heaping scoops of tasteful vanilla ice cream, and topped with a warm chocolate sauce. These were amazing and very filling. They were only $5.50. These two desserts were a great way to end the meal.
D&J Bistro has been a staple in the Lake Zurich community since 1987, and has served its customers with joy and grace throughout their time here. Since the announcement of their closure, the community has come together to support them in their last weeks of service. On their website, the owners said they are closing their restaurant with appreciation and gratitude, while thanking the community for making their restaurant treasured and unforgettable.
