Petite Vie is Chef Paul Virant's French café and brasserie in downtown Western Springs, located just around the corner from his former restaurant Vie, which closed in October 2023 after 19 years. Now celebrating two years in business, Petite Vie was named Best New Restaurant of the Year by the Chicago Tribune in 2025, and its brunch program was named one of OpenTable's 100 Best Brunch Spots in America for 2025.

Virant — a James Beard nominee, Food & Wine Best New Chef, and Jean Banchet Awards Chef of the Year — also owns Vistro Prime, a steakhouse in Hinsdale, and Gaijin, Chicago's first okonomiyaki restaurant, in the West Loop. Petite Vie marks his return to French cuisine, the style he trained in before branching into other cuisines. "French cuisine is where my journey began," says Virant. "It's been rewarding to return to those flavors and traditions — and to see the community embrace it."

Located at 909 Burlington Avenue, Petite Vie seats 65 guests and blends the warmth of a traditional French brasserie with modern design, a collaboration between Virant, his wife Jennifer, and designer Jody Tate. Artwork throughout — including pieces from local artists and finds from the team's time in Paris — adds character to the space.