Le Colonial

GOLD COAST. This restaurant combines French and Vietnamese cuisines to glorious effect. Evoking images of French-occupied Saigon, the interior is full of stylish bamboo accents, photographs, banana trees, and rattan furnishings. An upscale crowd turns out for dishes such as seared whole red snapper with chile peppers and garlic, chicken breast in coconut curry, or grilled purée of shrimp with angel hair. You can't go wrong with anything on the lengthy, well-rounded menu, and the wine list offers plenty of French classics. EL: Red line to Chicago/State