Le Colonial Lake Forest opens with a chic crowd and a smashing rocker!

Judging from the jam-packed, well-heeled crowd at Le Colonial Lake Forest, its grand opening was a great success! The beloved restaurant has slowly opened with some family and friends nights leading up to the official opening on Wednesday, July 6, at 655 Forest Avenue. Tucked into a charming cul-de-sac in Lake Forest’s Market Square, the restaurant oozes charm and a sort of suburban escapism.

The two-level, 12,500-sq-ft structure is decked out with lush greenery, colorful artwork and dark mahogany furnishings inspired by 1920s French Colonial Southeast Asia, just like its sister restaurant located in Chicago’s Gold Coast at 57 E. Oak St.

On this special night, I spied maître d’ Rafael Lopez greeting guests, which included Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan. Partygoers were spread out across the space enjoying the flower bedecked patio, the intimate upstairs dining area, the cozy bar and comfortable side terrace. Hors d’ouevres, such as caviar filled cones, were being offered at stations and on silver trays by servers dressed in the restaurant’s signature deep blue colors while a DJ spun the latest hits.

Outside, invited guests walked a blue carpet before posing at sponsor Whispering Angels’ pink backdrop branded with the restaurant’s logo. Media relations expert and founder of CO-OP PR, Whitley Bouma Herbert, checked guests in and even helped snap a photo or two. She runs a tight ship but every one of her events is always a great success, just like this one.

I predict this instant hotspot will do very well. With a delicious French-Vietnamese menu, a chic crowd and a warm, inviting environment, how could it not?

(Le Colonial Lake Forest, 655 Forest Avenue, 847.474.1500, lecoloniallakeforest.com)