My husband and son took me to Hemmingway's Bistro on my birthday last Saturday. We sat at a secluded table in a little nook that was perfect. Right away we were brought water in a basket of warm crusty bread with butter. Then we met our server, Axel. He was a young man with lots of knowledge of the menu. He was personable and engaging. We started out with drinks. I asked our server Axel if the bartender could make a bees knees, and he said if they had the ingredients they would make one. It turned out Axel was the one who made my cocktail and it was spot on. We shared the chicken liver pate hors d'oeuvre. The pate was served with three small crostini toasts, cornichons, cubes of clear jelly which we couldn't figure out what it was, and Dijon mustard. The pate was very good but it was disappointing to only receive three small crostinis on the plate because the ratio of pate to crostini was way off. We had to ask for another basket of bread so we could finish the pate. For dinner my husband had beef wellington, my son had lamb chops and I had the special for Saturday, soft shell crabs. Each of us enjoyed our dinners. My son asked for creamed spinach instead of the ratatouille that came with the lamb chops, and Axel was happy to make the substitution. I'm so glad I went with softshell crabs because I hardly ever see them offered on a menu. They were delicious! We ended sharing a mango soufflé - after I made a wish, of course! I forgot how much I love dining at Hemmingway's. I definitely recommend this bistro for lunch or dinner or even their jazzy brunch on Sundays. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. read more

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Went for the champagne brunch and had a nice overall experience, though with a few caveats. The brunch is $52 per person, which includes one moderately sized brunch entrée, one glass of champagne, and unlimited access to the buffet. The buffet was okay--not bad, but not especially memorable. It included crab claws, shrimp, oysters, smoked salmon, bagels, a wilted salad, pasta salad, and a handful of dessert options. The savory items were fine but didn't feel elevated for the price point. Quiche was served cold which is not my preferred temperature. That said, the desserts were the highlight. The crème brûlée and lemon tart were excellent and definitely the standout items of the buffet. One downside was the service, our waiter was MIA for a while, which made things feel a bit disjointed, especially when trying to get the check. Overall, it's an okay brunch with a nice atmosphere and solid dessert offerings, but for the price, the buffet selection felt a bit underwhelming. Worth trying once, especially if you're there for a leisurely brunch and good sweets, but not a must-repeat for the food alone. read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

On our walk through Oak Park, I saw this restaurant and told my friend we should check it out for a late lunch. I thought it was gonna be some walk-in, walk-out place. WRONG! This place was very pretty and looked very fancy. I was definitely not dressed nice to be in a place like this but one guy walked in with shorts so I didn't feel so bad. It's an homage to Ernest Hemingway, who spent a lot of time in France, and the restaurant is French based. The music so enjoyable too. Their drink menu paid honor to some of his books, one being Death In The Afternoon. It came out looking good, reminding me of a limoncello. It was actually champagne and absinthe. I took a taste and holy hell. Absinthe is a heavy version of Jaeger for me so, I'll just say my friend finished it and loved it. Getting to the food, there was a sign that mentioned sweet corn bisque. Sounds simple right? This was highly elevated and caught me by surprise. It had croutons, parsley and what I thought was Parmesan shaving, but turned out to be crab meat. It came up when my friend (who was also under the impression of visually seeing Parmesan) mentioned fish stock. We later got confirmation from our waiter Axel. My house salad was great, but my friend went with the Grilled Salmon Niçoise with the star of the dish, olives field greens, potatoes, boiled egg, green beans, red onion and anchovies on top. A very intricate dish and my friend enjoyed it. Once I was done with my salad. Axel brought out the dessert menu, and there was Creme Brûlée. Whenever I see it, I'm tempted and forced to have one. I was severely disappointed with the result Let a creme brûlée snob break this down. The picture I posted shows a BEAUTIFUL presentation of the dish. A 9 in my book: the first one I've consumed with powdered sugar on top. It also had a raspberry compote zig zagged across. The disappointment came at the crack......there wasn't one..... The top wasn't very thick, giving me an indication of more to come. That was the start of going downhill. Next was the custard that was textbook creamy, but didn't have a strong Madagascar vanilla flavor. It was also lukewarm. Most times the custard for me is cold, so I can let that go since not all kitchens have a blast chiller. With all this being said: they gotta stop charging $13 for this. Steakhouses around the country bested this one. I would rather have never seen it and instead went my friend's choice. A beautiful apple tart, with a perfect helping of vanilla ice cream, and perfect strawberries. He said it was good and offered me some, but I chose to suffer with my choices in life. The help was amazing and very friendly. I will recommend anyone visiting Oak Park to eat here, sans the creme brûlée. read more

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Sunday Brunch at Hemmingway's Bistro is such a fun experience! My husband, myself, a friend and her husband went to Hemmingway's recently and was pleasantly surprised with everything! Such a cute little gem- you walk into the restaurant and feel like you're enjoying Sunday Brunch in a French restaurant! The Brunch menu is a fixed price, which actually felt worthwhile with the options and quality given! Brunch includes an entree, a glass of champagne and access to the buffet. The buffet options were so delicious too! I had oysters and crab as part of the buffet options. The pastries were beyond yummy too! I especially loved the muffins. I got the Crabcake Benedict which was plated beautifully and tasted the part. Service was also really lovely with someone always checking in and taking care of us! Oh and if you're into live music, there's live jazz too! read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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What a joke this place was. It took an hour to be served 2 orders of appetizers. The beet salad was insulting. The place was cute and crowded. Service was lacking in all respects. I would never dine her again. Ps. A woman at the next table laughed obnoxiously out loud constantly with what sounded like a cross between a braying donkey and the Wicked Witch. read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Beet salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

This was the first time I tried escargot. I ordered the Duo of Magret Duck and it was superb! Just a heads up it's only street parking. read more

The happy hour is such a good deal, oysters and wine...yes please! My older son loves their cheeseburger, I love everything from the duck to the French onion soup. So delicious, feels like you're in a French bistro. read more

My wife and I really enjoy this place. The food is always very good, consistent year after year. The wine list is extensive and well-matched. We recommend this as an authentic French bistro in the Oak Park area. We typically have salad, starters, and steak frites. Great options! read more

First visit to Hemingway's, and I would definitely return. It's a classic French bistro menu, and the food was excellent. Walleye special with spinach/mash lemon beurre sauce was excellent, frisée salad with lardons/poached egg excellent, foie gras appetizer excellent, French 77 cocktail excellent. Crabcake was pretty good but fell a little short of excellent. Service was outstanding. Only reason for 4 stars is that interior needs a refresh - we were seated next to some very dusty decor of fake plants and old champagne bottles, which made me then focus on the entire interior and notice it looking a bit dated. But overall, wonderful food and service. read more

Very nice and classy place to go. Food was excellent and the service was wonderful although the prices are very high so expect to put down a little money read more

We loved all aspects of the restaurant. The service, cuisine was delicious and the atmosphere was inviting as well as enjoyable. We will continue to enjoy the food and can't wait to go again. We went for a birthday celebration before our friends relocate. read more

Super cute bistro a short walk from downtown Oak Park. Waitstaff are excellent! Friendly and attentive. Went for dinner, and looking forward to going back for their weekend jazz brunch. Washrooms are located out of the restaurant and down the hall. Not a dealbreaker, but a bit inconvenient. Parking is a bit of a bear, so I suggest arriving early and finding a spot close to the neighboring church. read more

What a cute bistro! My friend has been here before, but this was my first time. The waiter was attentive and made sure our water glasses were always filled. We both had delicious hamburgers. My friend altered the choices a bit, but there was no problem with that. read more

Every visit has been a pleasure. Impeccable service; wonderful food and libations. Highly recommend their jazz brunch On Sundays!!

Nice hidden gem tucked away in Oak Park, to what was an old hotel. Staff very friendly and attentive. WDCB recommended the Jazz brunch. Way laid back feel here, and the two man/woman band played a variety of Jazz. However, the brunch was limited and kind of pricey. Overall I enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - The Bar Area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Always wanted to try this place. Went with a colleague when I was on a work trip to Chicago area. Sat outside. Very nice service. I was torn about what to order -- ended up ordering the Cobb salad. I remember it not being great. I would not order it there again. Place was fairly expensive as well. If I ever go again, I'll have to try something different. I'm read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Cobb salad. Small and kind of dry. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

We have been here three times, once for dinner and twice for brunch. Each time we had Tom as the server and each time he was amazing and a lot of fun. The actual space is located in the basement (sort of) of a hotel of sorts. There are stairs that lead down a level, then you have to go down a second set of stairs to get to the restaurant. Space-wise it is not that large and seating can be tight, depending on where you are seated. There is a cute bar to your immediate right as you enter the restaurant. Once you go to the back of the restaurant, there is another eating area that is elevated with additional tables. When we had dinner there, it was in the winter of 2022. As one reviewer mentioned, it was very hot but the table we were sitting at was near a window that was open, so we were getting some cool air. But at some point I had to ask Tom to close it a bit as it was getting cold even for me. As a starter, I got Foie Gras du Jour. It came with caramelized fruit, candy onions, parsnip puree, balsamic vinaigrette There was a generous portion of of the foie gras and it was very good. Keeping on that path I also got the Beef Wellington. with a mushroom duxelle, foie gras, all of which was wrapped in puff pastry and a red wine sauce. If you are interested in this dish, be aware that it is only available on Saturday & Sundays. I thought this was prepared well, the beef was tender and the pastry was nice a flakey. The Queen got the Maine Lobster a la Champagne with julienne vegetables, spaghettini, champagne cream and of course lobster. This was a lovely looking entre and there was plenty of lobster in it. She enjoyed it a lot. For dessert I got the soufflé. I was told up front that if I wanted that, I would need to place my order in advance due to the time it took to prepare it. Once it came out, it was beautifully prepared and plated. It was very light and airy. For brunch, it is a like a hybrid one: there is a station with pastries, muffins, cheeses, cured meats, smoked salmon, croissants, fruit, and seafood (oysters, shrimp and crab legs). Then you are also allowed to order off of the brunch menu. The first time I got the Ham, Gruyere and Egg Sandwich (French ham, gruyere, sunny side egg, béchamel sauce, brioche); this was an excellent dish, with a hint of sweetness. I felt like the bread had been prepared like French toast. It was a nice touch of savory and sweet that I enjoyed. The second time I came for brunch I got the Roast du Jour, which was pork medallions with mashed potatoes and green beans. Different vibe for me for brunch but nonetheless good. Another great thing about brunch is that there is live music, with vocals by Petra Van Nois, who is amazing. It is a nice touch while having a meal and drink. The wine list is pretty nice...there are about five bubbles ranging from $55 to $230, with two of my favorites being on their: Perrier-Jouet, Fleur "04" ($230.00) and Cremant d'Alsace Rose, Burckel Jung ($70). The red and white lists looks pretty good as well, but honestly I only focus on bubbles. Getting here can be a bit of a hike coming from Chicago, but it is worth it every now and then. And the best part is if you are a first time visitor, check in on Yelp and get 15% off or at least I did earlier this year. Give it and this place a try. read more

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I came here for my anniversary with my boyfriend and I went again for my birthday. I love it here, it's cozy and has amazing service. I felt comfortable here and the food was amazing. I got the Beef Wellington twice and will be back to try the other options. I also had the espresso Martini and loved it. read more

We love this French-themed eatery. From the Lobster specials every week to the more French cuisine, we go as often as we can. It's worth the drive from Chicago even in the snow! Very much like being in France, the service can be spotty but the food is great and it's meant to be for eating with friends or family and enjoying the ambiance. read more

Excellent service, delicious food ---- chicken liver pate 5 star! Perfect day for outside seating.

The Champagne brunch is absolutely wonderful! All of the food tastes amazing, every bite is delicious! This is a rare gem! The atmosphere is so comfortable and beautiful, we loved it. The service is exceptional! The buffet was replenished immediately. We just had our son and daughter-in-law's baby shower at Hemingway's Bistro during the Champagne Brunch and the service couldn't be better. Lucia helped us every step of the way and the event went smoothly and was so beautiful because of her! The staff helped us set up and were very attentive to our guests. The experience was exceptional and we couldn't have asked for a better one. We were also lucky to meet the Chef and he congratulated our family. This was so special to us and we will definitely be back again and again! Loved it! read more

Let me start with service, because it was the best part! The service is impeccable! Our server was knowledgeable and really nice! No complains at all! Perfect! The restaurant has a good location but no parking. It is ok because you can always find a spot on the street. Food was ok. My dish was average ( chicken salad) but my friend's dish was awesome! I tried it and it was so savory and tasty! Delicious! She ordered some crepes (even though it doesn't look like classic crepes, you will see the photo). All in all I think this place needs some renovation, but- maybe it is the goal to keep place like this, a little bit old fashioned, I don't know‍ read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Chicken salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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My wife and I were recently here for their Sunday brunch. She had the omelette and I had the eggs Benedict and they were both very good! We had this with the buffet that has all sorts of goodies including oysters and crab claws and crème brule. Everything tasted great and the service/live music was amazing. We will be back for brunch and will also look into an early dinner with oyster and drink specials! read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Sunday brunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I've eaten here three times in the past six months. Very good at first, THE BREAD SERVICE IS WONDERFUL. The food quality has been inconsistent. Had Beef Wellington twice, and it was very rare in spite of my asking for medium. Onion soup was bland. Shrimp de Jonghe was overcooked all three times I've ordered. Chicken pot pie was way over starched and gummy. Steak au poivre was good and cooked to my liking. They have bench seating at many of their tables which are heated and despite my requests they cannot be turned off which made my table of four have to switch mid dinner.THEY ALSO CHARGE 3% FLR CREDIT CARD USE WHOCH IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR S RESTAURANT. read more

Oh my gosh! Where to start? The lobster special was a standout, offering a whole lobster and sides for just $40--a fantastic deal! The charming decor added to the enjoyable dining experience. Highly recommended. read more

The wife and I chose Hemmingway's for the 49th anniversary of our first date. We've dined there many times over the years and find that their menu changes, but their standards do not. We started with the chicken liver paté, which came with all the usual accoutrements, was satisfying, if a bit less rich than the typical duck liver patés we've had. I ordered the scallops, and my wife ordered the cassoulet. Both delicious and satisfying. We left room for dessert, which was the soufflé (we ordered when we came in: it takes time to prepare). Dark chocolate and raspberry coulis. What more do you need to know? OK, our waiter, Axel, was courteous, attentive without hovering, and knew the menu backwards and forwards. Shortly after we arrived, a party sat at the next table, and one of the women was wearing an overpowering perfume, to which I'm allergic. I asked to be moved, and we got a new table without a hitch, thank you very much! The setting will remind well traveled diners of a traditional European style pension or hotel, because that's what it is. Charming old world vibe. Plenty of parking around the corner. read more

Was wanting to go there for quite some time and was disappointed. Ambiance is nice, but food and service were disappointing. We went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't busy. Had to flag down people to find our waiter more than once. Had steak and au gratin potatoes. Steak was average and potatoes were undercooked. Not sure if I'd go back. read more

Adorable historic cafe with good food and nice atmosphere. Great backstory too. Very cute and would make a perfect date spot

Had a lovely dinner at Hemingway's Bistro although it was hot as Hades inside on the evening we dined. Very attentive and courteous server. Started with French onion soup (fantastic) and mushroom soup (okay). We weren't terribly hungry, so our mains were the blue cheese endive salad and food gras, both of which were delicious. For dessert, apple pie and mango soufflé. When we first sat down, the waiter told us the soufflé took about 40 minutes, so I told him right then I would order one now. It took about 30 mins after we finished our entrees for it to come out. Super annoying cause it made us late to our next engagement. But it was very tasty. read more

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Plenty of delicious food options for a night out with family or friends. Good beverages, a lot of different wines and some good cocktails. I like the house beer. Service is excellent. Love the French bistro ambiance, and plenty of seating. read more

Fantastic, fresh food. This place is known for its seafood and has a good variety of well-prepared dishes like crab cakes, mussels, clams, fish, and shrimp. But the menu also has traditional French-inspired fare like baked Brie, fresh salads, and some vegetarian options. The vibe is romantic but not stuffy. Good place for a date. read more

We generally come here once or twice a year, largely because the husband likes it. I remain unimpressed and highly stressed when we hit the 90 minute mark and I know it's only minutes before he gets grouchy that the meal is taking so long. No matter what you do to try to rush yourself along ("we can order everything now!") this is always going to be close to 2 hours start to finish. And why? We aren't ordering anything insane, we are t slow eaters. Don't you want to turn the table? The cassoulet was not my favorite. It's too soupy and where are the breadcrumbs on the top? While the meats in it are fully cooked, the veg and beans seem half cooked. The chicken pot pie has little to no chicken and the cheese plate comes with whopping three pieces of crostini. It's just not worth it to me, no matter how much of an "institution" the place is. read more

Food and cocktails were wonderful. Sat at the bar; great ambiance. Bartender was very nice. Cozy place to be on a cold evening.

This is a gorgeous intimate setting for any occasion. I went here for lunch and was beyond impressed. It's in a cute building just down a some stairs and around a corner. They do also have outdoor seating which is a great option in such a unique neighborhood. The service was great from start to finish. It wasn't overly crowded, but you'd most certainly want to have a reservation for dinner judging by what I've seen on Open Table. But the food...ok the food is unbelievable. The crab cake was perfect. The wrapped Brie was so well balanced with honey and a sprinkle of almond slices. Each of the various veggies, sauces, and garnishes were fresh and well thought out. The steak I'd ordered was done as requested. The accompanying fries were unimpressive but why was I ordering fries in a French restaurant? I'll take the blame for that one. Finished with a soufflé that should be ordered first but will be so worth it. Take a date here or celebrate a special occasion here and you will have a totally unforgettable experience. read more

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Dinner was wonderful. What an adorable spot with an authentic French ambiance down to the white tablecloths. Our food was absolutely delicious and a great value for the quality. The service was excellent with generous pours of wine and cocktails. We enjoyed everything from the homemade, complimentary french bread to the decadent souffle for dessert. They supposedly have a champagne Sunday brunch and we plan to be back. Fabulous! read more

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Super cute place, great date place. The service was really nice and I loved that they gave us our space and I did not feel rushed at all. Got the mushroom bisque which was okay but wow is there a huge difference in the size of the cup/bowl- go with the bowl. The prosciutto wrapped scallops were amazing. Perfectly cooked but I did feel that it was heavy on the capers. Reasonably priced. Would come back! read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Prosciutto wrapped scallops - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Wish it was good, but it's not. Overpriced and downright bad. A few easy changes would make it a great place, but the owners don't seem interested in improving things. We shan't return. read more

Stopped by after finding this place on yelp while walking in the area. Located in a historic looking hotel. The service is warm and welcoming. The food was delicious. My only regret is not staying for dessert: wanted to try the soufflé but it takes 40 minutes to bake. read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - Oysters - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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We had Sunday brunch here today. The food was fabulous, the service was great, and the value was solid. For roughly $50 one gets an entrée selection, access to a Buffet with pastries, salads, quiche, etc. dessert and a champagne cocktail. I had the white fish piccata, which they call white fish with capers and lemon butter sauce. It was so delicious. My friend had the traditional breakfast. I would definitely go back. read more

Hemmingway's Bistro - White fish with capers and lemon butter sauce, and a traditional breakfast in the background - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

The place is a bit old fashioned and located in the lower floor of the building. The waiter was super sweet and the service was great, which is why I gave a higher rating. The food, however, was average at best. For the price, I'd certainly expect much better. I don't think I'll be coming back. read more