This is by far the best French style bistro around! Whether you're coming during the week or on the weekend, I'd recommend making a reservation as they get busy. Today was my first time attending the Jazz Brunch, but it was phenomenal all around and I will undoubtedly return in the near future! read more

Dinner menu is very unique! Yum! Breakfast is pretty standard. Pleasant atmosphere. Very clean. Live music on some days. Very classy overall. This place in my experience is mostly frequented by groups of friends or couples in their late 40's and 50's but a millennial walking into this place won't feel awkward at all. Clean bathrooms attached to the hotel where the restaurant is located. Fresh flowers on each table. Very attentive waiters and staff. This place is a very solid 4 star because o reserve 5 stars for something totally out of the ordinary amazing. I recommend this restaurant. Go check it out. read more

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

We absolutely love Hemmingway's Bistro! Great wine list with some delicious French selections (along with their spot-on recommendations.) We started with the Foes Gra and Escargot - deliciously prepared! My husband had the Amish chicken pot pie which he loved. I had the wild mushroom strudel. SO GOOD! Definitely not stuffy but great service and quality food! Beautiful setting. Definitely recommend it - treat yourself! yum read more

Very good. Have meant to go for years. Wife and I met college friends who live in Oak Park. Good food. Good menu. Reasonable prices. Excellent service. We had the excellent French onion soup and a butternut squash bisque. Beef Wellington. I had the New York strip with peppercorn. Very good. The chocolate mousse for dessert and a couple cappuccinos and they had to carry me out. We definitely will return! read more

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 creme brulee 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 Yelp! There's a deal for 20% off your entire bill. We definitely took advantage of this - it was a good deal! read more

WOW!! I can't believe that no one has reviewed this place yet!! A definite must, people in Oak Park. We must have passed up this place a billion times driving back and forth on Oak Park Avenue. Located inside the The Write Inn on the west side of Oak Park Avenue, Hemmingway's Bistro is one of Oak Park's fine dining establishments that I highly recommend you visit. Considering that the Executive Chef has many Chicago accolades having once run Le Meridien and Chez Paul, it is no surprise that our dining experience left us wanting more. On one hand, I'm inclined to keep it a secret since no one has Yelped it just yet, but on the other hand, my review would be justified because the whole dining experience was so awesome. We got there around 9 p.m. and I was so bummin' because they have live jazz from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays. We caught the tail end of the live performance and we definitely missed some awesome jazz. But now we know where to go on Wednesdays when we want good music, good drinks AND good food. We started out with a really nice Vouvray, a clean, fruity white that leaves a fresh palate with no aftertaste. Definitely a good choice suggested by the sommelier and our server, Justyna. We added a 1/2 dozen each of Blue Points and Malpaques (oysters) which started us off quite wonderfully. We also ordered the escargot which was everything escargot should be...buttery, garlicky with just the right amount of seasoning and cooked just right so that it stayed tender and didn't become chewy. We followed the appetizers with one of the specials of the evening which was a crab encrusted trout with a light hollandaise sauce. I'm not really a fish person but the crab encrusted trout was calling my name. The Hub ordered the roasted fish of the day, whole red snapper surrounded by mussels in a red saffron broth, filleted right at the table with a side of herb spaetzle, little pieces of fried pancake-like dough. Our server presented and filleted the fish right in front of us, while the Hub and I just watched, salivating. Just as she finished filleting the fish, my dish arrived and both dishes were served at the same time. Both dishes were superb, although my dish was slightly richer than I preferred. My Hub switched dishes with me and I had no problem digging into his dish. The combination of the spaetzel and saffron broth was really delicious, almost like comfort food. My trout was served with a side of potatoes and a side of spinach, both complimenting the flavor of the fish without overpowering it. There was something about both dishes that had me feeling all warm and comfortable, just like comfort food. It made me feel all relaxed and comfortable. For dessert, we ordered the souffle of the day, which was a grand marnier/mango souffle. We had to order it when we ordered our dinner because it took 30 minutes to make. But when it came out, it tasted like they had taken it right out of the oven. It was light and creamy and so flavorful. We also had the selection of cheese and fruits for dessert. I don't know where the cheeses were from, but we had a guyere, a gorgonzola, a cheddar, a brie and a goat's milk cheese. They were served with thin slices of green and red apples and strawberries with some walnuts and it was such a beautiful and simple finish to our meal. We also had a couple of cappuccinos, and I have to say, it was one of the BEST cappuccinos I've EVER had. Compliment all the great food with great service, a really cozy ambiance and reasonable pricing, it is definitely somewhere we plan on going to again, and maybe next time with some friends. And it's definitely somewhere we would recommend anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience. There are 'du jour' specials for many of the menu items. For dinner, the specials include cassoulet or Coq Au Vin (they ran out of the Coq Au Vin when we got there but that was fine...we weren't in the mood for chicken). There is a roasted fish du jour, soup du jour, dessert du jour, etc. so there's always a reason to go back on a daily basis. Justyna claims that this little jewel is a hopping scene on Friday nights, so for those who are looking for 'the scene' in Oak Park, check it out and let us know. The Hub and I are definitely checking out the Brunch sometime really soon. So if you are in the area or interested in hiking it west to Oak Park, check it out. Definitely a must for Oak Parkians!! read more

I've been here for both brunch and dinner. Both are wonderful. The brunch is so cheap! 15 bucks for all you can eat seafood, cakes. Breads, pasta, and complimentary champagne! For dinner the pig roast is really outstanding. Melts in your mouth. The fish is always fresh as well. I wanted to give you five stars but our server yesterday was horrible. She seemed like we were wasting her time. I asked her what was on the buffet and she told me to just get up and look. Yeah very rude. Also she was closing down when my mom and I were still eating and she was very loud and rude. Don't know her name but she was just so bitchy, I hope I never get her again! read more

The worst French food I've had. The seafood smelled rancid. The bun was stale, the bread was flavorless. This restaurant gives French and Bistro bad names. read more

I rarely leave a review of a restaurant, unless there was a real problem. Went there for lunch today, 1 pm reservation for 4. The restaurant is on the main floor of an old hotel. We were seated in the first 4 top immediately to the left of the entrance. If you go, DON'T sit there. The thermostat was on the wall by our table and showed a reading of 84 degrees. (It was set at 55). When we complained, the staff said there was nothing they could do, as the heat is set by the hotel. They didn't offer to move us, as there was ample room. The most uncomfortable meal I have ever had. Cant review the food because i just wanted to eat and leave. Don't think I'll be back. read more

Fabulous savory foods and wine by the glass. Dessert was VERY poor and our service was absolutely terrible. Took my father out for his 65th there. Food was very well executed. Had the lump crab gratin to start. Was good (a bit overpriced at $15) for the portion size and amount of crab, but good. The onion soup was good, but my father said the escargot was solid but forgettable. The roasted beet salad was superb and the herb encrusted white fish) was excellent. The best thing I had in the night was the roasted lamb. Best lamb I've ever had. The first courses were very good. They weren't cheap, but I don't mind paying for quality. These dishes were acceptable for the price. Sadly, there were more than a few problems though. Due to my father being older, we made reservations early (at 6:30). The acoustics of place were poor andy my father had trouble hearing people. His hearing is ok, but compromised. We were seated immediately and the hostess was emotionless and rude at best. I don't expect a red carpet roll out, but expecting to be treated like you're not someone they're pissed off at shouldn't be too much to ask. It wasn't anything awful, but all 4 people in our group were wondering what was going on with the greeting.....it was just odd, like we walked in during the middle of a fight. We ordered drinks, and the waitress came back to inform us that the liquor they had run out of the liquor, Ri, for our manhattans. They had a replacement (not nearly as good) but these things happen. Then we were informed that they had no mint left for my fiancee's drink. Ok, also these things happen, but at 6:45 at night it's a surprise. It did take us almost 15 minutes to get our drinks, but since they didn't have many of hte ingredients, it make sense. We ordered appetizers and then went to order entrees. We were told that they were out of beef wellingtons. 3 people at our table were planning on ordering this. I understand that things like that are limited in availability. However, when we're ordering at 7:30 at night, in a place that is 1/2 full, if the availability is that low, there is no excuse for not telling us to put in a claim on one as they are in extraordinarily short supply. When I pointed this out, the waitress said that a table ordered a lot of them so they ran out unexpectedly. Repeating my earlier point, if the supply is so short that one table can run you out, there's no reason the waitstaff doesn't say the Wellington's are in very short supply and could run out at any time. Luckily the replacement entree I got was very good, so I would have been ok with the meal. Then we get to desert. Due to the confusion with dinner, I forgot to order the soufflé with it. So I ordered one, and then my father ordered one as well. The waitress asked if anyone else wanted one and my father told her yes. She repeated back two soufflés, anyone else and went on her way. When she handed out dessert menus she handed my father one. He said, "Wait, I ordered the soufflé." She replied with, "No, only he did (pointing to me)." At which point we said there were two. She told us not to worry as they always cook two unless one deflates. So we should be fine. While not outwardly belligerent, when combined with the earlier events, begins to show a pattern of behavior. The good news is that soufflés didn't deflate. The bad news is they were overcooked and the waitress needed a knife to cut through it. They were absolutely terrible. That being said, I didn't want to keep being a complainer so just let sleeping dogs lie. There is no reason, that I should need a knife to eat a soufflé. It should have been sent back though, it was absolutely terrible. I had left most of it in the ramekin, and the waitress never bothered to ask why i hadn't eaten any of it. Note the waitress bought us a small glass of (very good) dessert wine to apologize for being out of stuff. It wasn't enough. The fact that she named being out of stuff and had no clue how poor the service was speaks volumes. For 4 people the tab, with a tip far bigger than it should have been, ended up a tinge over $400. For a meal carrying that cost, there shouldn't be this many problems. I'd like to go back, but I don't know if I'm willing to risk that much money on a spotty performance. The entrees were superbly executed but the rest of the experience was poor. Pay attention to the multiple reviews talking about service, this appears to not be an isolated incident. I didn't think the service was overly slow like some said, but there's major issues with the overall experience. Too bad. This should be a good place. But for a place you're paying over $100 a person, this shouldn't happen. of the regard for the customers: The waitstaff never once asked us how our entrees or desserts were, and argued with us that the beef wellington's running out wasn't their fault. Not acceptable for a $400 meal. read more

The choices were great. Favorite was the seafood strudel and the mussels Riesling. The service was fantastic. The atmosphere was quaint in the lower level of a hotel. Aaron was fantastic; sharing the restaurant history and details about the dishes. read more

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. read more

Extremely poor service; food not so bad. Had a 6:30 reservation; seated promptly after waiting 10 minutes for valet. Ordered drinks while reviewing menu. Placed appetizers and entree orders at 7:10. Apps were delivered promptly; entrees were not out until 8:50!!! The server never came by to explain delay. Not until we asked at 8:30 did the manager come out to say there was a "complication" in the kitchen. Really?? We had to ask? No one offered to tell us earlier? And then, the only compensation was a free drink? Plus the kicker...even after manager said food was coming right out, it took another 20 minutes. The food is fine/the atmosphere quaint but not great enough to compensate for such slow, unprofessional service. Diner be warned. read more

Incompetent staff. Limited menu. Small portions. Expensive. Poor quality food. Not recommended.

Delicious. I've only been here for breakfast, which is a shame. That being said, I've sampled probably half of their breakfast menu. All of their egg dishes are wonderful; I'm a sucker for Eggs Benedict, and theirs may be the best I've had in Chicago, topped with a little bit of chopped parsley. Their French toast is also a winner. The ham in their ham and cheese omelet is a whole slice, which is a bit odd but not really a negative. All of their fruit (see, I can eat healthy breakfast food!) is incredibly fresh. Now to find an occasion to go for dinner. read more

Best bread ever! I just love their mini baguettes. Stopped in for lunch the other day and it was pretty busy. My onion soup was great and I tried one of their special duck dishes and it was fabulous. read more

Excellent location, charming ambiance and high quality European dishes with great service - Hemmingway's Bistro hits all the marks Tucked into the corner of the Write Inn (across the street from the Hemingway Museum), this namesake restaurant was an unexpected find on a tree-lined street a few blocks from the EL. Coming in through the hotel entrance (and past an ancient elevator with an oak door), the dining room and modest bar occupy a an L-shaped space with tall old-fashioned windows and pale gold walls lit by sconces The menu is resolutely midi -French with daily specials such as flounder Grenobloise and beef tongue. For dinner, I had excellent mussels Reisling paired with Kronenburg Special on tap, and a meltingly delicious saddle of rabbit in a grainy mustard sauce served over spatsle accompanied with a good Cotes du Rhone from the modest but well chosen and moderately priced list. The staff were very knowledgeable and professional with nice touches of service (eg a hot mini-baguette arriving in a small brown bag to retain the warmth. With hors d'oeuvres well below 10$ and entrees in the 15$ range, this is terrific value for the quality of the dishes, menu choices service and location. read more

This place has all the standard french fare. We ended up ordering all the appetizers we love--foie gras, mussels, escargot, french onion soup, and the frisee salad. We ended up with no room for the main entree. We enjoyed the mussels, the escargot was fine, not enough garlic though, the french onion soup could have used more cheese, and the salad was a little too wilted. Our foie gras was not seared well enough. The inside was frozen cold, we had to send it back. The main entrees looked really delicious. The beef wellington, chicken pot pie and the wild mushroom streudel looked really tasty. This fish looked pretty good as well. We ordered a grand marnier souflee towards our last appetizer. It was outstanding!! I am normally a chocolate person, but I knew how difficult good souffles were to come by. I was not disappointed. I do wish I had room for the chocolate mousse that was being scooped out of a large tureen in the main dining room. It looked absolutely decadent!!! I will definitely go back. read more

Went to the Sunday brunch for a birthday party. The brunch menu advertises a buffet with all you can eat shrimp crab legs salads cheese fruit pastries and a few other things. Then there was a made to order menu where you were allowed to order one item from the menu. So let's start with the buffet, the buffet was a table long with one tossed salad one pasta salad 2 blocks of cheese shrimp oysters and clams. NO CRAB LEGS AT ALL btw that was one of the reasons we selected this place. Secondly the price was about $45 a person which to me is a little expensive when you can only order one thing from the menu. I've been to plenty brunch spots and all of them allow you to order as much as you want or at least have a bigger buffet. Won't be going back. There was a live band which was nice and the servers were very pleasant as well. Food wasn't bad but overall over priced and that's why it gets 2 stars read more

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The ambiance of the restaurant and neighborhood are enough, but the top notch service and excellent food really make a statement of their own. A definite must dine of the area, I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict for breakfast, truly magnificent. read more

My Boyfriend and I tried this place out, having no idea what to expect. I had seen a positive review on yelp, and with that in hand we checked it out. I ordered a fish sandwich and frites. Our waitress had told us the fish had just arrived an hour earlier so it would be extremely fresh. I have never had such a delicious fish sandwich in my life. It was tasty and the sauce it was in was light but delectable. The frites were crunchy and rather addicting as well. Our waitress was also very down to earth, for the restaurant being very elegant, I was concerned our waitress would be pretentious. Not the case. She answered all of our questions very patiently and was very down to earth. I can't wait to go back! read more

An Oak Park charmer which ties in well with Hemmingway's home town! Love the space and windows which let in natural light, smacks of a quaint Paris space. Food and service are a solid 4 but the specials and live music add to the experience making it a five star. read more

This is by far the best French style bistro around! Whether you're coming during the week or on the weekend, I'd recommend making a reservation as they get busy. Today was my first time attending the Jazz Brunch, but it was phenomenal all around and I will undoubtedly return in the near future! read more

I had a bad experience: we arrived and it was FREEZING in there -- maybe 65 when it was 79 outside. They were not responsive or helpful about that. Plus it smelled very strongly of disinfectant. We really couldn't stay. When we let the hostess know on the way out, she didn't seem to give a hoot. Not what I like in Oak Park read more

Its a quaint little place, very cosy. The thing that strikes you about this place is the fast and efficient customer service. The person who waits on you even describes the dish for you and takes in your suggestions for customization. Also checks to see if the dish is up to your liking. Overall very good service. read more

The food was okay, but we waited 25 minutes (for breakfast nonetheless), when I politely asked one of the servers if they could check on what is taking so long, rather than checking with the kitchen themselves they went and got our server. I've worked in restaurants, and especially in fine dining everyone should help make sure the customer has an excellent experience not just pass the buck. The worst part though was our servers reaction to our complaint!! She just said it's coming and when it came a few minutes later she said, "see, it's here?" Yes, I know my food is coming, my complaint was the long wait time. I get that it's not your fault but get a manager, check on the kitchen, apologize for the terrible service. Ridiculous. read more

I like this place quite a bit! It is a nice little cozy place with good food and great ambience. It is a bit pricey, but go and give it a try. A date for two with two steaks and sides and a bottle of wine plus tipo was about 100, so pretty average for a meal at this type of restaurant. read more

Not only is food a wonderful experience, consistently good, some of our favorites like; Spinach salad served table side, white fish and the crab cake, but it's also the experienced staff and owners who welcome new and returning patrons that keep us coming back for more. Our most recent visit was a special surprise when we came in and sat at the bar, Danielle making us some of her wonderful martini's. Chris(the owner)came over and told us he had something special for us and proceeded to go back to the kitchen to make us some of the most amazing shrimp we have ever had. Never have I or my husband experienced such a wonderful gesture! This is most definitely our favorite restaurant, we want to also acknowledge some other wonderful staff; Aron, Sue, Darren and Tom. Love you all! read more

Been here for brunch and dinner. Brunch--can't beat complimentary champagne, food is great, and there are tons of windows so it's really sunny which makes for great atmosphere. Dinner--great food as well, almost too good, and the chocolate mousse is to-die-for! Drinks were made well, and service was just right. read more

Great place. Comfortable setting. Our server was very helpful. I recommend getting frites because they are freshly sliced everyday. The warm goat cheese salad was portioned so that I left feeling with a perfect fullness level for an afternoon lunch. read more

Love this restaurant! Love the food and great service. It's a great place for a date or hanging out with the girls.

Atmosphere great! Good okay! Clean and bright. Waiters were attentive. Table spacing a little tight.

Very good atmosphere. I like their menu! Huge selection of food! Good vibes and prices! Highly recommended!

Hemingway's is a special place. Service is impeccable, the decor is of another time (in a good way), and the food is outstanding. We come occasionally for brunch, and there's usually a lounge singer providing a serene ambience to the dining room. There's also usually a brunch buffet of some sort that always looks and sounds delicious. However, we always opt for the more affordable menu items, which are a great value when you compare brunch items at other places. I usually get the eggs Benedict. The eggs are always poached to perfection, and the hollandaise is always homemade. Comes with small roasted potatoes. We also normally split one or their delicious fruit waffles. Would recommend this place for anyone, but especially to people who have never been here. It is truly someplace to visit at least once, because you're sure to be back. read more

Based on good reviews, my adult daughter and I had breakfast there. We found a great ambience and a very professional and cheerful waiter. I had French toast with fresh berries and smoked bacon. Both were excellent. My daughter had a crepe and said it was also excellent and declared it her new favorite breakfast place in Oak Park. Pricing was perhaps 20% higher than a diner but the quality of the food and the comfortable setting were well worth the difference. We both highly recommend it! read more

I would definitely recommend their bistro burger royale. It was big and juicy. I loved it.

We came here for breakfast. Everything was good and the service was very attentive. Besides, the place was classic and comfortable

In a town like Chicago where overpriced restaurants abound Hemingway's Bistro takes the cake. Not because it is more expensive than the rest but because of the ratio of price to quality is very high. Mediocre food at best, so overpriced that even their servers are ashamed to mention it and only mumble the price of their specials. In addition the location is in an area of Oak Park with very confusing parking regulations that if you go for brunch you are almost guaranteed a parking ticket. To be fair, it is quaint and the servers are professional and attentive. read more

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. read more

I like this place so much that I literally just married one of their servers. Get the chocolate mousse!!!