An Escapist’s Paradise
Le Colonial is a celebration of seductive spirit and vivid flavors reminiscent of Saigon in the 1920s. With locations in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and Lake Forest, the famed Vietnamese restaurant is designed to capture a bygone era of sophistication and opulence. Heralded as an escapist’s paradise, celebrated restaurateurs Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King deliver on exquisite attention to detail in a luxurious classic and romantic atmosphere in the iconic Market Square of Lake Forest.
Based on 159 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.2 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ Delivery
Address:
655 Forest Ave, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (847) 474-1500
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Sunday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
11:30 AM–10 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 11:30 AM–11 PM |
Menu
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Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Reviews
Justin Zhang
We arrived early in the evening on Sunday and had booked outdoor seating for dinner.
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Juliana Nikolich
This is absolutely the place to go for a special occasion. The atmosphere is elevated and intimate and the service was impeccable. Our favorite dishes were the chicken dumplings, papaya salad, salmon, pickled vegetables, and crème brûlée. Our waiter Vette gave us fabulous recommendations and ensured that our birthday guest was celebrated. Was thinking of everyone I had to recommend this restaurant to as we were eating. Well done, Le Colonial!
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Kelly Rose
I truly loved this restaurant. We went on a Thursday night and it was inviting and bustling with all patrons fully enjoying their dining experience. Walking in, it is inviting and warm. Beautiful decor. Drinks were outstanding. I ordered a smoked old fashioned and it came with the smoker on top, it was like drinking a comforting campfire! The best I’ve had. Food and service were both 10/10
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Alec Cepak
This dish, the (bo bu lac) shaking beef was a stunning dish. The filet was cooked perfectly. And was paired to perfection with the onion and watercress. The lemon pepper vinaigrette dressing was delicious. As for side dishes, the garlic noodles and pickled vegetables I highly recommend getting
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Cleia Edwards
I ordered the papaya salad I gota bowl off cabbage also, the crispy pasta was too much and not flavors.
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Steve Bae
Le colonial is a hidden gem for sure! The exterior doesn’t compare to how the inside looks. When I first walked up I thought it’s just a plan restaurant. When I entered I was highly surprised. It look amazing compared to other places I have been to. The wait staff was great! They offered recommendations and walked my friend and I through the menu. The food was amazing! I felt everything was just right! The ambiance was great! I loved all the settings and then Décor inside! I have to say check Le Colonial out for high quality food and great experience!
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Nina Gorges
Second time here and so in love with this place. The atmosphere, food, cocktails, decor, and staff. Jason greeted us at the door with a smile and made us feel right at home. He made sure to get us situated to our table as we waited at the bar and had a drink. Btw, the bar area is so romantic and they prepare some mean drinks. Emily waits on us when we’re here. She’s badass in so many ways. Funny, great sense of humor, and has great recommendations every single time. We ordered Filthy dirty martini and a whiskey sour made with egg white. Drinks are not watered down so expect some happiness running through you in a matter of minutes lol. For appetizer, we ordered the shrimp spring roll that come with a killer peanut sauce, they’re great! For dinner we ordered, my favorite CHICKEN CURRY ❤️ I literally can eat this meal everyday. It is so so so delicious. I had Emily kick up the heat, and WOW! We also ordered the stir fry, shrimp stir fry and everything was cooked to perfection. Not too salty and definitely made with love. Look forward to the next time LC ❤️ THANK YOU ❤️
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Alexis Kersey
I am here to write a review for one reaso and one thing only— To share how wonderful our dining experience was thanks to the lovely Luca, who gave nothing but excellent top notch service. He was attentive, gave great recommendations, and even ran through menu items perfectly with his Irish accent. He was a delight and the definition of fine dining service. Le colonial LF location is such a wonderful addition. As a fan of the old rush st location and the newer oak street, I was happy to experience the beauty that is it’s lake forest location. The PDR looks incredible. Can’t wait to come back and hopefully have Luca as our server again!
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Ilya Filatoff
A Great 1st time experience at this place and location which only opened July 2022. A very unique blend of French & Vietnamese cuisines. Food was excellent! Service is great! The only difficulty is to make a reservation for more than 4 people at the right time and date, so make your reservation way ahead.
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Robert
Atmosphere is nice, server was friendly. The crispy noodle dish had zero flavor to it. Zero. I also do not respect any restaurant who sneaks in a charge of 3% “Service Fee” above a gratuity. This is especially true for a restaurant that is $100/per guest. If you need to adjust your operation to accommodate increased cost, do it through your menu pricing, not a cheap money grab. But I guess that may be hard to do when you already charge $28 for crispy noodles and tofu with zero flavor.
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