Served by Dominic himself
My wife and I went to D&J on a whim. No reservations. Upon entering I informed Dominic that we did not have reservations but loved dining there and this was a "spur of the moment" decision. He was elated. The true meaning of "Bistro" he proclaimed. He had no available seats and instead made a table for us in the bar, and because he had no wait staff to serve us, he became our waiter. Unbelievable service.    [30 Oct 2006 10:15:18]

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Recommended Dishes: ALL

     ­Ken   

My favorite place
Around Buffalo Grove there are several French restaurants that are worthy of note, but this place in Lake Zurich is my pick. The prix fixe menu is always intriging and reasonably priced. The food is of high quality and the atmosphere relaxed - not stiff and formal as other French restaurants of this quality.    [14 Sep 2006 15:56:26]

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Recommended Dishes: Skatewing in a buerre blanc sauce, Salad Lyonaise, Chilean sea bass

     ­Anonymous   

A perfect bistro
We are weekly customers. The food is always delicious, the service is attentive and discrete, the wine list extensive.    [12 Mar 2006 14:56:24]

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Recommended Dishes: Skate wing, duck mousse pate, pork medallions, veal cheeks, ravioli of foie gras and duck confit

     ­Anonymous   

Reply to Deeply disappointed service
Dear DDS,
You know, some days are Miracles and some days are Mysteries. I think that day that you had your meal was one of those Mysteries.

The things you talk about in a less than desirable way, are EXACTLY the things that impressed me the most, but in a very positive way. On my last visit, the waitress DID understand the wine list very well, and made some great recommendations. She was so familiar with the items on the menu, that we discussed the technique for preparing a dish with alternative ingredients. It was a very warm day, and the the room was crowded, and so, on her own volition, she brought a chilled wine bottle cooler to the table so my Fisher beer would keep the chill! That had NEVER happened to me before nor has it happened anywhere I have been since. THAT touch is a better example of what can be expected than the water and menu unpleasantness you describe.

As a businessman myself, I know that there are days when everything goes well, and then, for some unknown reason, days when, the harder one tries, the worse things get. As customers, I think we have a right to expect perfection, but we also have to roll with it when things go wrong.

I am only a customer in this wonderful little place, but I would like to make two suggestions. First, please contact Dominique and let him know what happened. He can't fix it without knowing about it, and I know he wants to know. Second, come back again and give it another try. I also know you want be disappointed.

John Washbush
Milwaukee, Wisconsin    [08 Jun 2005 11:41:06]

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Recommended Dishes: Everything.

     ­John Washbush   John at Washbush dot Com

Customer abuse
We used to enjoy D&J, but will never return. After bringing some "off-tasting" shellfish in the paella to the attention of Dominic (the owner) he flipped out and started yelling at us at out table. YIKES!! Totally creepy!    [18 Jan 2005 13:43:51]

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     ­James Juul   

Deeply disappointed service
Good food, but incredibly disappointing service: we had to wait for a half hour before being seated, despite an advanced reservation; no water served until 10 minutes after being seated, and repeated request; one knife was missing and we could not get another one until repeated request; the waiter clearly did not understand the wine list and could not recommend a wine; we got three menus for four people and never got the fourth one even after repeated request; we decided to serve water ourselves, after the glasses being empty for half of the night; coffee was ordered but did not make to the table until God-knows-when. We left the restaurant knowing we would never go back.    [06 May 2002 12:37:39]

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     ­susan