Hemmingway’s Bistro

I live in oak park and have been wanting to try this place for a while now. However when you have a 15 month old it becomes harder to find the time.
We had the Sunday brunch buffet and checked in for a20% of total bill which was quite a steal imo. Regularly it’s 32.95 pp. Included in the buffet was a small but high quality selection of breads, muffins, and CROISSANTS! (THIS WAS THE BEST CROISSANT I’VE EVER HAD). They also had smoked salmon, mussels, oysters on the halfshell, and shrimp cocktail. Along with a selection of desserts, fruit platter, Farro salad, mixed greens, etc.
Each person also gets to order one main dish. My wife and mom each had the lake superior white fish in a caper butter sauce, along with the sautéed spinach and some mashed potatoes (this was excellent. I give the potatoes a 10.)
Overall value was outstanding, and I look forward to trying their dinner sometime. Great job.
Oh, our waiter kinda looked like an American Eric ripert. Service was excellent as well! Highly recommended and a short walk from downtown oak park!

I was really excited to try this restaurant, as I have heard great things. I called ahead and made a reservation because it was my fiancé’s birthday. We sat for over 10 minutes before someone came to offer us a beverage and take our order. That was the last time we actually saw our server until he placed our check on our table… he did not ask if we wanted anything else, and certainly did not mention dessert. When I had called to schedule a reservation, they told me they made a note under my name that it was a birthday and we would get to pick a dessert on the house. (The server would pick or we could choose from a list). I was really disappointed at the lack of service we received, as it was for a special occasion. The food was decent overall, but bad service is enough to make us definitely not go back.

Love love love this cozy restaurant. Breakfast and lunch are fantastic. The service is great too. Ask for Matthew at dinner time. So sweet and attentive. Makes my 89 year old Mom laugh! She loves their coffee.
The Beef Wellington is mouthwatering as is everything on the menu.
Such a quaint place in Oak Park.
Try it you won’t be disappointed.

Excellent service and food was exceptional and fresh! Will absolutely return to this restaurant for more!

Barely mediocre. Slow service. Food overdone. Potatoes raw. Won’t be back. Took 10 minutes to be seated and probably the same for anyone to take our order. When the food came it wasn’t what was ordered and when it came back one if the orders was way over cooked

Sorry to say, but our most edible item was the bread and butter. This place was just not our bag. Overall the food was tasteless. Wine was drinkable, but normally if I like something I will want to go home with the vintage/​year. At $ 16.00 a glass, we thought we could get lucky…
He had the crispy shrimp, served separate from the beans it normally sits atop, as suggested by the waiter. It looked brown, black, and bland. I tried the beans. They had zero seasoning. Rather boring. I’ve had canned beans that have tasted better. I had the lobster. It came in an interesting arrangement. At first, I was OK with it. It wasn’t anywhere near what I’m used to in terms of quality. I ate some of it, as it came with cappellini cream pasta laden with julienne vegetables. It had promise, but It began to lack flavor after I started eating it, and I couldn’t help but think about wasting calories on something that really wasn’t worth it. The hub said the claw of the lobster tasted like an old change purse. Rubbery.
Hubby actually had to gobble down several mints after we left, just to get the experience out of his mind. It was also hard to swallow the $ 99 bill, knowing we could’ve gone to one of our favorite haunts for about half the price. I have now been told that French restaurants are off-​limits with him. This one seals the coffin.
The wait staff was fine, although they offered us more bread and never brought it. I guess we didn’t speak out about what our real experience was when directly asked (I would have) because the hub typically doesn’t do that type of a thing. He thinks they should realize that the food is sub-​par by eating it themselves and having a minimal sense of awareness about it. Sorry Hemmingway’s. We had high hopes but we definitely won’t be back.

First time visiting was a disaster. Was very excited to try this place as I’ve worked at a French bistro before. Took at least 10 min to be greeted by a server. It was not busy. Then as soon as our drink order was placed another server came to greet us. Beer had a sediment in it neither the bartender or server could explain (one was comp’d off the bill). Food was great. When looking over desert menu my boyfriend sitting across from me pointed out a bug! Which I could only tell you in our opinions what kind it looked to be… You could probably guess as well. The server immediately told the bartender (manger?) and after the bill was paid she came to us and said she was just informed of our intruder and gave us a $ 10 gift certificate. Needless to say we won’t be visiting again.

Special place for quality food
Beef Wellington is wonderful
Ahi tuna was great
Good service
Wide wine selection
Come see /​taste for yourself!

Quality food, wonderful service, perfect atmosphere, charming, elegant, enjoyable experience.
My husband and I shared the warm brie and it was delicious, we also had the trout almondine which i would easily go back for, and the red snapper which was perfectly cooked. Service maybe slower than your average restaurant but this was a sign that the food was being freshly cooked and it gave us time to digest between courses. We finished with the mango soufflé which was not too sweet and the perfect end to our meal.
Their warm bread and butter are a treat too. Worth the price for everything.

Great food, great atmosphere, great service, AND live music. This place does everything right. I wish the price was a little lower, but that does not stop me from finding myself here every couple of weeks.

What a gem! Stopped not knowing anything about the restaurant but, was in the neighborhood. Started out at the bar and loved the ambiance. We could have been in a small bistro in Paris. Decided to have the mussels– they were excellent. From there we had the beet salad with blue cheese and citrus which was very good. At this point we were hooked and then ordered the steak/
frites. The frites were hand cut and just the way they should be prepared if at a local bistro. We had to have dessert so we ordered the apple tarte with ice cream– home made and first rate. This place is a treasure. The service was attentive and on point without being overbearing. We’ll be back. It was a quiet Wednesday night, this place deserves more attention. Just the kind of place we are always looking for when we travel.

Nice chef and waiter! Great breakfast and service! Good price with the Unilocal code. Highly recommend!

Another GNO spot and I didn’t know what to expect. There were four of us this time.
We each started off with our own personal baguette which we all devoured. Guess we were hungrier than we thought. Three of the girls ordered the Thursday special, Duck a l’Orange, they all loved it. I ordered the daily special, Walleye, it was sauteed in a creamy buttery sauce and melted in my mouth. We all had wine and cocktails as well. For you winos out there, their wine list is extensive.
For dessert, we shared a Crème Brulee. Nothing special about it but it was good.
The atmosphere is a tad fancy but they’d accommodate anyone and everyone. Our waiter was extremely helpful and attentive, not to mention patient.
I’d go back. After looking up the place I realized they have an awesome brunch menu and I want to go back just for that.

It appears this place is inconsistent in food quality and service. Unlike other reviews here, we had great service. Some food was great and some not so good at all.
Lobster dinner was the biggest disappointment. Overcooked, waterlogged pasta with super bland lobster. No lemon was served with it, I guess I could’ve asked. The lobster dish desperately needed salt. Steak frites was good. Crab Cake was amazing.
I don’t think it’s a four star restaurant, maybe for suburbs it is.

A diamond fully polished.
Fine, delicious food. Classy décor. Old-​school elegant music. And Tom is simply the best! Our brunch couldn’t have been a better experience.
Hemmingway’s Bistro is the place to go when you want to feel like a Queen.

Theoretically, people come here to celebrate the milestones in their lives, but hubby and I came, with no intention (well, my boss told me to go and have some nice dinner today after I got off work). I guess I was a good listener and followed her instruction.
We browsed through the menu, and «the classic» caught my eye. This is a giant seafood platter shared between two (2) people. I decided on it immediately. Well, that was easy since I am a seafood junkie. Hubby concurred as well.
The presentation of the «the classic» was a showstopper, at least it caught the attention from the adjacent table. The picture I took did not do the justice at all; the tray was too large to fit my camera screen. If you are a raw seafood lover, this dish will be right in your alley. Hubby and I blissfully munched the lobsters, crabs, mussels, clams, oysters, and jumbo shrimps. There were also three (3) types of dipping sauces: vinegrette, cocktail, and garlic. They were also very bold in flavors, so I made sure I did not over-​dip so that it did not overpower the natural flavor seafood was supposed to render.
Everything we had was very fresh. I especially enjoyed the jumbo shrimps. They were ones of the best I ever had. The overall service was quite attentive. We really did not need much from them since we did not order any wine to pair with our dinner.
The ambiance was intimate, so if you are looking for a place to celebrate some accomplishments in your life or simply wanting to impress someone who means a lot to you, this place can potentially be it!

Came here with a wonderful group of ladies and scarfed down some eats!
I would describe this restaurant as modern, but quaint. It’s relatively spacious, but homey. This place won me over when they gave us each our own little baguette wrapped in a paper bag and a cup of butter. AND you get request more. Finally I don’t have to share!
The cocktail list is short, but the pear martini I had was great. The do have a nice wine list to choose from as well.
Three of us ordered Thursday’s special, the duck a l’ orange. It was tender and delicious and served with two potato and goat cheese fritters and cabbage. The fritters were great — I don’t even like goat cheese! You can’t taste it, which is why I liked it. I felt like Fred Flintstone with the duck… I wanted to go all cave man on it, but it’s a nice place so I refrained. Needless to say it’s tough to get all of the meat, but worth it. We shared the crème brûlée for dessert — very good!
The service was good overall. Our waiter had a sexy accent and was attentive at first. Later on he seemed to forget about us… it took a while to get our bill. But, he did give us enough time to eat/​conversate/​look over the menu.
Make sure to check-​in on Unilocal!There’s a deal for 20% off your entire bill. We definitely took advantage of this — it was a good deal!

Hemmingway’s Bistro may sound hoity-​toity and super fancy, especially being located in the lobby of a hotel and all, but it really is fairly casual and openly accepted our group’s loud laughter and possibly too loud comments about the following:
1. The desire to eat ice cream out of a trough
2. Re-​telling horror stories of bachelorette parties and, of course, barf
3. How someone got «lucky» twice that day
4. Uncertainty about how to cut our duck al orange, followed by some stabbing motions
5. Purposely mis-​pronouncing French menu items
So, now that you’re confident that you too are acceptable company at Hemmingway’s, slather that baby baguette with butter and scarf it down! I was hungry when I arrived, and a little disappointed that I didn’t see a bread basket. Oh, just you WAIT. The waiter gave us each our own little baby baguette wrapped in a paper bag and a cup of butter. The bread was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. Current jaw pain be damned, I tore that sh*t up!
Make sure to check-​in on Unilocal!There’s a deal for 20% off your ENTIRE bill. It’s valid Sunday-​Thursday, and yes, it’s also good on alcohol! I initially was drinking only water, but once I saw that deal, I ordered up a French 77 martini which was made with only my favorite ingredients of course: gin, St. Germain, and champagne.
The cocktail list is short, but there are a lot of satisfying options. The wine list is extensive, as it takes up the entire back of the menu!
Three out of four of us ordered Thursday’s special, the duck. It was tender and cooked well, and served with two potato and goat cheese fritters. As previously mentioned it was a bit of tackle with a fork and knife since the bones were still involved. This was a delicious dish, and I’m glad I gave it a try.
We shared the crème brûlée for dessert, which was nicely caramelized on top with raspberries. Yum!
For four of us, four entrees/​four cocktails/​one dessert, including the 20% off deal, came out to about $ 40 a person (including tax and tip).
The service was good. Our waiter had a nice accent and took the time to tell us about the specials. He also gave us plenty of time to decide on drinks and entrees. When it was time for the check, it seemed he may have forgotten about us, but overall it was a great experience.
I love this place, I’d definitely go back.

My husband and I came here to celebrate his birthday on a Tuesday evening. It wasn’t crowded at all — we made a reservation, but that wasn’t necessary. It’s a cute little bistro inside — it has character and class.
Our waitress and the hostess are very nice. There isnt too much options on the dinner menu, but it is pretty expensive. My husband started with a glass of their red wine. For appetizer we ordered the smoked salmon. it came with potato pancake and some kind of raddish cream? It was very very good. My favorite dish of the night! Very tasty! For entrée, I ordered the seafood strudel. It came in an interesting shape, like a volcano! It was tasty as well. the cream sauce on the bottom added extra flavors to the dish. The seafood strudel consists of salmon, scallop, lobster, shrimp, and bits of celery. I really enjoyed it — it was a big portion so I could only finish half of it. My husband ordered their New York strip which he liked. came with a side of potatoes, creamed spinach, and some kind of tomato. He enjoyed it too. We were too full for dessert.
Overall, nice place, good food but expensive, good service, and parking isn’t hard.

Once again, they must have my photo posted in the kitchen, this always happens to me.
This is a darling space, brightly colored, a small bar area, a most pleasant wait staff, a small menu with daily specials,
So one of the ladies I was with ordered the fish special that arrived steaming hot and she said it was delicious. The other woman ordered crepes, I could see the steam rising from her plate, and she totally devoured it. Then there was today’s quiche special that I ordered. I could not even begin to guess how long it had been sitting, waiting to be served. Not hot, not even warm. The side salad had a dressing that tasted like pure vinegar. Needless to say, I enjoyed the warm, crusty bread served with spreadable butter. Fortunately, the quiche was removed from the bill.
This appears to be a perfect spot for ladies who lunch.
I loved the brightness, I loved that we did not have to yell while speaking to one another, and the bread was delicious. Service was quick and pleasant.
Return? Not sure about that one.