Red Oak Room at Cantigny

I am pretty upset to write this review as I am looking into this venue for a potential wedding reception site.
My boyfriend/​soon to be fiancé, family and I arrived at noon for brunch and no one was there to greet us or seat us. I had to ask another patron about what we were supposed to do, and after five minutes had passed, the PATRON had to flag down a server to find us someone.
Turns out the hostess was hiding out in the back office even though brunch hours are clearly until 12:30 pm.
The hostess did not apologize nor did she do anything to make us feel special. She took her time in setting the table for us so that we were finally seated around 12:15 pm. Again, brunch ended at 12:30 pm.
Later on as I was taking pictures of the venue, I caught the hostess sitting at the bar in the back and not doing anything.
I have to commend the server who flagged the hostess down who treated us respectfully. He promptly refilled our waters and my coffee.
The food was not bad but I was hoping for more in light of the price. My favorite was the biscuits and gravy. Other offerings were fruit, mini muffins, pancakes, belgian waffles, hand-​carved ham, made to order omelettes, bread pudding, fritattas and eggs benedict.
Overall, I am pretty crushed as this was our first choice for a venue.

Well, for starters, this is a place with a view. Beautiful setting and a fantastic buffet! Service was spot on!

We returned to the Red Oak room for the Sunday brunch and thought it was very good as well as a good value. Mind you, it’s not a brunch with dozens of items. But… t has something for everyone and everything I ate was very good. Standouts were the bread pudding and the veggie frittata. The Douwe Egbert coffee was excellent. Our server, Emily, was very attentive and constantly refilling our water and coffee. At $ 16 per person, I think this is a solid value. I would much rather enjoy a buffet with a dozen dishes that are prepared with care than an extravaganza where food sits for hours.
The Cantigny Sunday Brunch is a solid thumbs up in my book.

Brought in a large party with out a reservation. They seated us in less than five minutes and the service from there was great.

Enjoy going for brunch here. Options are great! Reservations recommended. Never had a bad exp. Average price for a buffet. great views.

I booked this place for my wedding reception because my wife and I wanted our ceremony at Cantigny gardens (which I would give 4 stars and definitely recommend despite the constantly awol planner), and this package allowed a solid backup site for our ceremony if the weather was bad (fortunately we had good weather).
General comments:
It was a good sized venue for 100 people. Hotels near I88 in Naperville/​Warrenville are not far for out-​of-​town guests. None of my guests used the outdoor patio even though the weather was perfect. There is plenty of parking. There is no PA system, the DJ must provide it.
The good:
Price is competitive (def not «cheap,» we are talking about a wedding here). It was cheaper than Morton Arboretum, which is probably its main competitor for outdoor venues in this price range. They were transparent with how 7.25% would be added to our bill for tax and 20% for gratuity.
The drinks were surprisingly good. Surprisingly because I went with the cheapest drink package, plus $ 2/​person more for an expanded beer menu. In addition to the beer, the cocktails were tasty and the bartender was efficient and professional. I probably would have given this place two stars if it weren’t for the drinks and bartender.
The chicken carbonera was also better than I expected. But perhaps my expectations were just low (see below). I was a tad upset they took my food away while I left my table to greet some guests (I wanted to finish it, dammit!)
The bad:
I was expecting a little more décor work than was provided by the planner. They provided a choice of tablecloth color (white or ivory i believe) but that was about it. A family friend (not Red Oak Room or Cantigny) did 90% of our decorating. The planner should have been more transparent about what they would or would not provide from the beginning.
Communicating with the planner was challenging and is my biggest reason for not giving a higher rating. Emails and voicemails consistently went weeks without a reply, even after multiple attempts. For example, it took more than a month for me to get my rehearsal time planned because the staff was always unavailable and would never return my calls. If I asked three questions in an email, I would get an answer to two of them with the third completely ignored. This happened multiple times — almost to the point of becoming comical. Even paying for the damn thing was a struggle which required multiple emails and calls until I was finally able to get ahold of them.
Overall, the vibe I got from the planning staff was «We do this every weekend and it’s always oh so awesome and we get paid for it, therefore there is no need to go above and beyond and oh yea I’ll just get back to my client whenever I feel like it– their questions don’t really matter because I’m going to do exactly what I do every week anyway.»
I’m aware that this is not the Four Seasons, but still… if I’m paying someone $ 10k I expect a minimum degree of punctuality and professionalism. The reception got «taken care of» in the end but the planner definitely tested my patience over the months leading up to the the big day. The logistics of choosing a date, tasting appointment, menu, guest list and basic decorations should not have been as goddamn aggravating as it was.
Despite my worries, I had an awesome time. I don’t have any regrets. I’m willing to concede that a little stress is an inevitable part of wedding planning, but I believe the planning staff here exceeded a reasonable level. By no means am I shouting «stay away from this place,» but 5 months after my wedding I believe the only value in this place for a wedding reception is it provides an inclement weather backup for a ceremony at Cantigny Gardens. In other words, had I known the weather would be perfect and that the planning process would be as annoying as it was, I would not have chosen Red Oak Room for my reception. I definitely would choose a ceremony at Rose Garden again though.
TL;DR had a wedding reception here. was a grand ‘ol time in the end but the planning staff was super aggravating. to me the only reason to have a wedding reception here is it also provides a backup in case the weather is bad for a garden ceremony

My daughter’s wedding reception was here. Some of the food was great, some not so much. The décor was beautiful. There are lots of rules and the waitstaff cut up and served the entire wedding cake, without saving the top tier — as is customary — for the bride and groom. I was very diappointed with that.

My husband and I came here for Sunday brunch. The food and price were both great and the service was wonderful, too. Very attentive staff. The biggest flaw was the country music playing. My husband and I both found it very odd for the setting and it seemed to not go at all with the atmosphere. Change the music to classical, jazz, etc and it would be a much nicer Sunday morning experience.

I loved this place when my mom’s former boss (she now works for a much nicer guy… Mike Lanham State Farm Insurance) took us out to breakfast for Christmas. I took full advantage of the omelet bar, loading it with bacon, sausage, and onion. This was again, in my obese days. I also loaded up on french toast and potatoes (naturally) because I am an American and it is SO hard to say no to these things! Change your habits, change your life, people! That is my inspiration for you today!
I didn’t have to pay! Expensive as hell! I’d rather try Warrenville Pancake House down the road OR Red Apple Pancake House in Carol Stream, The Verdict, or Egglectic farther North in Wheaton! More bang for your buck! The views at this place were awesome… I mean, it is a golf course
At this point of my life, I was not addicted to black coffee, but if I was I bet I would have gotten one refill. This is why i hate buffet style dining. Not only the drink service is usually terrible, but did little Jimmy decide to touch every donut on the tray before he picked which type he wanted? I bet mommy let Jimmy do that because Jimmy is a spoiled brat… hahah!
If you’re in the area, want to splurge, and you’re not paying (ha), I’d stop here. Won’t go out of my way to go again!

I have no complaints. Really, the Sunday buffet was just what you’d expect — nothing more. You won’t be ‘blown-​away’ or disappointed — just satisfied.

We just had our wedding reception at the Red Oak Room at Cantigny. The event went smoothly, the food was wonderful, and the space was beautiful. The best part, however, was working with the event coordinator, Karen Elmore. She is organized, friendly, flexible, dependable, and creative. She took our ideas and ran with them. We couldn’t have asked for a more special day. Thanks Karen!

After reading how far in advance reservations are required for the Father’s Day brunch, and reviewing the menu listed online, I decided that the Red Oak Room would be an ideal spot to take my husband and daughter for a nice meal on Father’s Day. My husband has enjoyed golfing at Cantigny, so I thought he’d enjoy dining there as well. The setting was nice, and we had a table at the window overlooking the water fountain (this was worth the 1 star given). The experience went downhill fast from there. Immediately after being seated, a server approached and asked what we would like to drink. I asked for just a minute to look at our options, and she turned on her heel without a smile or saying a word. A little ruder than normal, I thought at the time. We each decided to just have lemonade which was refilled somewhat regularly but was consistently warm. Our plates would be taken before we were finished, along with our silverware which was never replenished — fortunately our original setting came with both a salad and dinner fork. Service was just not friendly, and they didn’t have to do anything other than occasionally refill a glass or take a partially eaten plate away. When we received the bill that automatically added 15% gratuity — for a party of 2 (my daughter is only 1 year old and wasn’t served anything), and for a buffet which apparently required no real interaction between us and the servers — we could see why they didn’t need to be friendly or helpful at all. I don’t see the need to add gratuity to the bill in that situation. Perhaps better service would have improved our overall thought of the meal.
Now for the food. They offered three seatings for the day, and we were at the 3^rd and final seating. We were there a couple minutes early, and I had expected that the food would be fresh for each seating. There is no way that was the case. Everything had a sort of film over it, like what you would expect late in the afternoon at a hospital cafeteria. The shrimp cocktail was peel and eat — and not de-​veined — which was not at all what I expected at the price charged per person. The sushi was worse than what I’d find at a discount chain grocery store — seriously. The whole thing reminded us both of a low-​end Las Vegas hotel buffet. Items that should have been cold were room temperature. Items that should have been hot were room temperature. Plus, there were things listed on the menu online that they must have run out of by our sitting because they were nowhere to be found. The entire experience was such a huge disappointment. We’ve thrown away $ 100 before, and unfortunately probably will again, but it certainly never feels good when it happens and that’s the feeling we got today after this less than mediocre dining experience.

I attended a wedding weeks back here. And while my friend chose to end his life with marriage, I chose some kick ass entrees from this beautiful establishment. The food was as wonderful as the ambiance.

I am currently planning a wedding reception at the Red Oak Room and so far I have been extremely impressed with the venue, and the staff, save a minor hiccup here or there.
I met with Patti, a food and drink manager who, despite not being the main event manager, was extremely knowledgeable, and helpful. She took a lot of time breaking down options, pricing, and weighing the pros and cons of each package with my mom and I. She did not seem alarmed at all when we informed her that the wedding was happening in 7 weeks — which was a welcome non reaction. I have found Cantigny to be competitively priced, and in my opinion offers a beautiful space for a wedding reception that does not feel like a reception hall — which I can’t stand. I’ll update as i go along, but so far so good (please don’t be the kiss of death)

My husband and I live in the city and wanted to get married there, but couldn’t afford the prices. I was really bummed until we visited Cantigny. It was absolutely beautiful and reasonably priced. We chose to have the ceremony at the park in the rose garden and the reception at the Red Oak Room at the golf course. Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans.
We had to decide hours before the ceremony whether to move it inside due to looming rain clouds. The coordinator, Karen, was really helpful and steered us toward the right decision. We didn’t have time to get everything to the patio at the Red Oak Room, but we were able to move it inside in the visitors center at the park. I had never spent much time in the visitors center and was a little concerned about what it would look like. Fortunately, it was perfect. The room was decorated very nicely and the coordinator there (Megan, who I had never met) worked tirelessly to make everything happen. We were very happy with how everything turned out. Megan was also really helpful in taking care of a crying flower girl.
The reception was equally great. Although it was raining, we had great views of the golf course, wonderful covered patio, and a beautiful room. I probably asked Karen a million questions over the many months of planning and she was very patient and responsive. Her answer to everything was «we’ll make it happen.» It really took a lot of stress away. I attended the once a year food tasting and wasn’t very impressed. It tasted like generic wedding food. Again, Cantigny came through. The food was fantastic. We got rave reviews from the guests — everything from the soup to the 10:30pm sundae bar was a hit. I would also like to thank the staff. They were courteous, helpful, professional, and a pleasure to work with. We would also like to thank Pete the bartender for making us some seriously great margaritas for the night.
It was the perfect location for our event and I am still very happy with our choice. I wouldn’t even think twice about having another event there.

C.R. found this place as a Brunch destination on our trip to Kane County. The setting is beautiful. The dining hall is made up of dark wood, and there was golf memorabilia donning the walls. The restaurant overlooks a couple of holes on the Golf course. All of this leads to a really nice atmosphere for a meal.
I hate to say it, but the Brunch was pretty mediocre. They offered your normal brunch staples like Bacon, Sausage, Potato’s and fresh fruit. All of these were ok. The Biscuit’s and gravy were really bland. I guess I spent too much time in the south and have become a biscuits and gravy snob.
The service was good and the setting was elegant, but they food really need to be improved. If I’m ever in the area or if I play the course, I would give it a shot again. I can’t really complain, $ 14.00 is not a lot of money to pay to get your grub on, but considering the beautiful setting, the food was disappointing.

Definitely a solid three star breakfast. The setting is beautiful, with a great view of the golf course, and for $ 13.95, the buffet selection cant be beat. However, service is a bit flakey and some of the food is not so good because it doesnt get turned over enough.
Good:
Sausage
Bacon
Carved Meat (listed as ham on the placard but actually was turkey)
fruit
potatoes
Bad:
Johnny Cakes (small and dry)
Grits (congealed and tasteless)
Southern eggs benedict (had potential with the fried green tomato on it, but overall it was too dry and needed quite a bit of salt to make it palatable)
DIdnt try:
omelets (but the ones that passed by looked well made and they had a lot of ingredient choices)
French toast
Biscuits and Gravy
cereal
yogurt
baked goods
waffles
All in all a pretty good brunch for the price. All drinks, aside from coffee, are extra.

I struggled with how to rank the Red Oak Room. I was there for the breakfast buffet with a group. The setting is lovely — there’s a beautiful view of the lake at the golf course.
The breakfast buffet is exactly as promised on their website. It has a little more selection than you’ll get at a nice hotel — there’s bread pudding and carved ham in addition to the usual cereals, fruit, biscuits/​gravy, muffins, etc. and the hash browns, while pretty flavorless, included bits of onion and other vegetable. There’s an omelet station and waffles. The omelet station offers more choices than one would usually get — notably, sun-​dried tomatoes and fresh spinach are options. Ask for your omelet well-​done — mine was underdone, with liquid egg in the middle, and so was someone else’s in the group. The baked goods appeared to include some of the same pre-​made options (powdered donuts, mini-​muffins) you’d get at a Holiday Inn, which I found disappointing. Of course, you can’t get a Bloody Mary or mimosas at a Holiday Inn.
Price for the buffet is $ 13.95 plus drinks. I got an orange juice, which was nothing remarkable. Service was OK — it’s a buffet and we were there starting at noon for a buffet which stops seating at 12:30.
For a vegetarian, unless you’re here with a group, don’t bother. If the omelet station had produced a properly cooked omelet, this would be a solid three stars. As it is, I struggled and am giving the third star for the surroundings and the view, which was truly lovely. Might be a solid three stars if you eat meat.