Beloved French restaurant Les Nomades has officially said au revouir. Owner Mary Beth Liccioni announced on Instagram that the fine-dining icon is closing, marking the end of a wildly successful 32-year run at 222 E Ontario Street in Streeterville.
The three-story brownstone was listed for sale in the summer of 2024 for $3.5 million, and though Les Nomades’ lease wasn’t set to expire until June 2026, the restaurant cites the building’s impending sale as the reason for the closure.
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Known for its seasonally-inspired French fare, the fine-dining restaurant was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2010 and was recommended by the esteemed Michelin Guide. The closing menu, which is still posted at the eatery’s entrance, included wild mushroom soup, loup de mer (European sea bass), beef tenderloin and flourless chocolate cake, as well as oysters, caviar, scallops and lobster-stuffed zucchini.
Longtime Les Nomades chef Roland Liccioni built the restaurant into the culinary icon it is today. He won the 1997 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest and, most recently, received the Culinary Excellence of the Year Award at the 2025 Jean Banchet Awards. Past chefs also include Donald Young (Duck Sel) and Chris Nugent (Goosefoot).
Photograph: Lauren Brocato for Time Out
Iconic restaurateur Jovan Trboyevic opened Les Nomades as a private members club in 1978. At the time, it was an old-school, invite-only institution with annual membership dues of $1 and a strict jacket policy. In 1993, Roland and his then-wife, Mary Beth Liccioni, purchased the restaurant and operated it until its closure.
Photograph: Lauren Brocato for Time OutLes Nomades’ closing menu
Owner Mary Beth Liccioni said in an Instagram post, “The time has come for us to hang up our aprons and say farewell. When we opened our doors 32 years ago, we never could have imagined the incredible journey ahead—the laughter shared over meals, the celebrations hosted at our tables and the friendships that blossomed over the years. You welcomed us into your lives, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
Dining and Cooking