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Oaken Bistro Bar

4.1 (113 reviews)
Open • 6:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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OAKEN BISTRO BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Dogs allowed
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Oaken Bistro Bar

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Side Salad VG, VE, GF
anubia r.

I am just in love with this restaurant! The food, the service, the ambiance. Five stars! I had the short rib bolognese with a side salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was fresh and crispy, the vinaigrette super light but very flavorful. Now let's get into the bolognese! Pasta was cooked perfectly, the flavors were on point. I loved the way the beef was cooked, very tender and well seasoned. A good hefty amount of cheese. Amazing dish all around. The service was stellar, very attentive and friendly. The server is the person who recommended the beef bolognese. I believe her name was Sutti. She was so sweet and attentive. Loved her! Nice place with an upscale feel and lovely atmosphere. All in all a 10/10.

Ryan D.

I met a friend for lunch at Oaken Bistro Bar. There was a decent crowd for noon on a Wednesday. We had the smash burger and grown up grilled cheese. These familiar favorites are elevated with premium ingredients. We were celebrating my friend's birthday so we got a lemon cake. The cake was fresh but the blueberry compote was very tart. Since I made a reservation and I told our server that we were celebrating a birthday, they didn't charge us for the cake. Our server was nice but service was slow. It took us just under two hours to get in and out. Still the food was excellent and I recommend Oaken Bistro Bar.

Yogurt European Breakfast Bowl VE, GF
Adam S.

Great service at this hotel bistro + bar. I ate here for breakfast and for lunch and was... whelmed. Not overly, not underly, just whelmed. The thing that kept me from going back on my last day of my trip was that the portion to price ratio is so far outta whack, IMO. My first meal here, a breakfast consisting of about 20 grams of yogurt and some fresh berries, clocked in at almost twenty bucks. I was so hungry after it that I was sneaking granola bars and nuts out of my travel bag. Next day, we had lunch here as a group and it was good. I got a Cobb Salad which is naturally filling since it has avocado, egg, chicken and other whole foods in it. I enjoyed it and felt like the ingredients were all good quality (except for iceberg lettuce! I didn't know that was still a thing with so many quality greens out there). So it's a bit corporate, a bit sterile, and a bit boring IMO, but it's also fine for what it is. Just know you will pay way more than the average per dish, but that's sort of how it goes with a corporate hotel restaurant.

Kate M.

Yummy little spot in the Forester Hotel! I came here with some colleagues prior to an event for work and it ended up being the perfect spot for a quick bite. The hotel looks brand spankin new and is really pretty! The restaurant space is beautifully done too, and there looks to be a great patio space for when the weather's nice. Our server Betsey was very warm and welcoming. The menu had pretty light offerings, but since I was hungry I went with the Oaken burger. I really liked the burger and the brioche bun it was served on. Plus, the truffle fries were fantastic! Overall really pleased with my dining experience here, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal too!

Oaken Burger
Mirella K.

What a lovely restaurant located inside The Forester Hotel! This is definitely a nice spot for some dinner, lunch, or drinks. Our server, Betsy (I think that's how she spelled it but I could be wrong!), was super attentive and sweet. My party and I came here around 1:15pm on a Thursday and were sat immediately. Even though there was still plenty of open tables and no wait, there was still more people there than I thought there would be on a random Thursday in the middle of the day! The food was good. My cobb salad was pretty standard - for $20 I think it could've maybe been more plentiful. I also prefer a hard boiled egg than a poached egg in my cobb salad. I tried the truffle fries and they were delicious. My party also enjoyed their food. There's easy parking right out in front since this restaurant is part of a hotel. If I'm ever in the area I'd stop by for some food or drinks!

Staci C.

Suzie runs a beautiful bar restaurant here M-Th... she's attentive and makes you feel right at home and the ambiance and food and beverage are delightful- you feel right at home whether a night top, the bar, or a cozy corner nook like me... I will be back to this swanky and upscale (not snobby) establishment!

Menu
Allen A.

We came here not knowing it was a hotel lobby restaurant. That said, the food was really good and well priced for what we got. Plus they had some items labeled GF gluten free which I liked. Our server was great and - yes - it was a hotel feel but I still liked the vibe. I would come back

Truffle Fries VG Oaken Burger

I dined here for dinner and ordered breakfast from here to my room. Dinner service was a bit slow, but the staff was friendly and attentive. When I got dinner here on a Thursday, it was very lively and crowded with a lot of people ordering drinks. This made it a nice atmosphere to dine alone in. Both meals I ordered from here were surprisingly high quality and flavorful for a hotel restaurant. I would definitely recommend!

Inside
Alexandra A.

The decor and ambiance are very cozy and relaxing, a nice spot to relax and have some food and drinks. There is plenty of indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio. The staff is friendly and gave recommendations on food and drinks. Service was quick, everything was timed out well. I was here for happy hour and for breakfast: Happy hour - a generous 3 stars - I'm bummed that I'm not rating this higher. The drinks are way too sweet and the pricing for happy hour is high. I understand it's a Hyatt hotel so fine. I don't consider the pricing to be a happy hour deals though. I cant say much about the happy hour apps as I only had the beef empanada. It was OK at best. Breakfast - 5 stars - the options they have are perfect!! We had the Apple wood smoked salmon eggs Benedict that came with potatoes, goodness that was phenomenal. It was well balanced and delicious. We also had the chilaquiles. DO ADD THE CHORIZO. This was equally as delicious. I really enjoyed breakfast here. Pricing is fair, especially considering how brunch places have gotten expensive and the quality of food for breakfast here was top tier. I highly recommend grabbing breakfast here if you're able to. Soooo good

St. Charles Benedict, Shakshuka GFA, Cornmeal Pancakes VE

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Ask the Community - Oaken Bistro Bar

The Lucky Duck

The Lucky Duck

4.4
(14 reviews)
3.0 mi

Wow! Just Wow! I can't recommend this place enough. It's an art gallery + a restaurant, serving up…read morethe most delicious Asian fusion dishes. I went here with a group of 5 via a reservation. We were immediately welcomed and greeted by a wonderful host who sat us and explained the menu options and recommended we try everything. We did just that we tried over half the menu and everything was incredible. Highly recommend the deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, bao buns, spicy edamame, udon noodles and more. After dinner we popped into the other side of the bar which is an art gallery and the bartender was so friendly, welcoming and fun! We walked around the art gallery, enjoying the beautiful exhibit and sipped our cocktails for at least an hour. This was such a wonderful experience, we will def be back!

We are really excited to try this because it was advertised as a speakeasy, which was right next to…read morethe gallery restaurant that we have been to before and we like their food. It wasn't so much a speakeasy because it was not hidden, but that didn't really matter to us once we were there . The food was Asian themed and they had different drinks than the other restaurant next-door . I thought the focal point would be a bar in the middle of the restaurant, but there was never any bar that I could locate so that was also confusing. The food was really good. We had black garlic, deviled eggs, some tuna tartare and a lamb Ragu that was really good. So if you're looking for speakeasy, this is not really a speakeasy, but it has really good Asian food so just an FYI when browsing the Internet. The only reason I gave it four stars is because I was expecting one thing when I walked in and I got another, but we were pleasantly surprised with the food and drinks that we received so we will be back.

Photos
Bulgogi Fries
Bulgogi Fries
Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs
Bulgogi fries

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Bulgogi fries
Feather Glass Wine Bar & Eatery

Feather Glass Wine Bar & Eatery

4.8
(92 reviews)
2.6 mi

Feather Glass Wine Bar & Eatery - Vernon Hills, IL…read more Overall Rating: Highly Recommended Feather Glass is a fantastic spot that nails the wine bar experience with a beautiful, modern aesthetic and top-tier service. While the food is incredibly tasty, a few minor tweaks to the composition and seasoning of certain dishes would make the experience truly flawless. The Highlights: Drinks, Ambience, & Service * The Flights: We thoroughly enjoyed both the wine and mimosa flights. They are well-curated, beautifully presented, and a great way to sample their extensive selection. * Atmosphere: The ambience is excellent and sophisticated, making it one of the most visually appealing spots in Vernon Hills. * Service: The staff provides excellent service--attentive and professional throughout the entire meal. Food Feedback & Suggestions * Mediterranean Flatbread: Very flavorful, but the olives can make it quite salty. Adding a balsamic glaze would provide a sweet contrast to balance out the saltiness. * Beet Salad: Features fresh, high-quality ingredients. This dish would benefit from a touch more salt and a bit more acid (like a bright vinegar) in the dressing to really highlight the earthy beets. * Paneer Palak Bites: A delicious fusion idea, but the execution was slightly misleading and difficult to eat. The bread lacked the expected toasted crispiness, and because the paneer is served in a thin slice, it often slides off, leaving the sauce on the plate. * Suggestion: Try chopping the paneer into small cubes, bruschetta-style, and mixing them directly with the sauce. Layering that mixture onto a properly toasted baguette would create a much more stable and crunchy bite while keeping the great texture of the cheese. Final Verdict Despite these small suggestions, this is a great restaurant that you should definitely check out. The flavors are delicious and the overall experience is wonderful.

The 5-star rating for this restaurant is very misleading…read more My husband and I came here on a Wednesday night to celebrate our 14 year anniversary. There were only two other tables there when we arrived. Nice ambience and decor. Everything arrived lukewarm or cold which is so odd considering there weren't a lot of people there. We waited quite a bit too so were shocked when our food wasn't hot. Paneer Palak Bites: Flavorful and yummy. A lot smaller than I thought they would be and they give you 5. My husband and I split the last one but I'll never understand why appetizers would be served in odd numbers. Especially considering how small and thin the baguettes were. Chicken Sliders: Tasty! The naan "buns" were a little thick though and had a weird greasy taste. We ended up taking the top naan off and eating it like a taco. The potatoes it came with had a lot of flavor but were tiny mushy little cubes. Almost as if they were frozen. Chicken Kabobs: Rice was cold. Some of the chicken wasn't cooked. I had to shine a light to the plate because it tasted off and it was pink. The waitress saw me do this but didn't approach us or say anything. We're not ones to complain so we just ate what we could. Honestly though, we could have went down the street to Pita Inn and had WAY better quality and warm food. The chicken at Pita Inn is always so moist and tender. This was literally pink, chewy and hard to cut. It was just terrible. Ended up spending about $160 including tip and the bottle of wine we had. For that price, you'd expect much better quality of food. Really wanted to love this place so it's very disappointing. We ended up going out for pizza and beer afterwards to end the night on a good note.

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Our Bar
Our Bar
Seared Cilantro Scallops
Seared Cilantro Scallops
Wine and Momosa Flights we mixed them up

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Wine and Momosa Flights we mixed them up
Mojo’s Vinyl Bar

Mojo’s Vinyl Bar

4.4
(8 reviews)
5.2 mi

It's a place for peaceful music lovers and the owner is so welcoming and gracious ,…read more I saw David Hildebrand perform there and it was a perfect location to see a mellow show in their intimate but classy main room I'm still Sean Logan and I support this review and I encourage you to visit MoJos for all of your mellow music and libations needs in the near future

I grew up in Highland Park and was always hanging out in Highwood, and I wish this place existed…read morewhen I grew up. A lounge with a wall of vinyl that you can select from and have the proprietor play for you is just a really cool idea and I'm amazed that more places don't offer this type of nostalgia. There is a tiny bar up at the front that the owner sells water, sodas (bottles and cans) and alcohol. There is a menu of drinks available that the owner can make for you or that he has available in bottles and cans. There is no food available, but you are allowed to bring in your own. There is a small private room to set up a table of food, place some tabletop games and listen to the music, host a meeting, have small gatherings or other type of event. They do offer different events in the main room and for the birthday I attended there; karaoke was then offered later that night. It seems there are some regulars who turn out for that so it's definitely a great neighborhood spot for regulars and newcomers alike. They also offer some board games and party games to make the your time there a lot more enjoyable with fun games, great music, and good vibes. I can't wait to visit again.

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Wide variety of liquor and cocktails
Wide variety of liquor and cocktails
Mojo’s Vinyl Bar
Live music at Mojo's

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Live music at Mojo's
Yard House

Yard House

4.2
(83 reviews)
2.4 mi

From going to corporate events and hanging out with friends, I've gone to Yard House a good amount…read moreand always enjoyed the food, but never found it to be super special. My food experience at this location was a bit better than other locations I've tried and makes me excited to come back to try more items. Like other locations, there is plenty of parking and interior resembles a more upscale sports bar. Service is relatively quick despite how busy they are and prices are pretty fair for the quality of food. I started my meal off with Poke Nachos, one of four that I've had in the last few months and this was possibly the best of the bunch. This had a good amount of raw ahi tuna (though a few more chunks would be nice) and added some additional flavors through nori and sesame seeds so that it was a bit less sauce dependent than other versions I've tried. The wontons were super crispy and avocado was nice and creamy. The mix of serranos, white truffle sauce, sweet soy ginger sauce, sriracha aioli, cilantro, and green onions all mixed together to create a great flavor. I was very impressed with the amount of flavor packed into a dish that's only 880 calories. The crispy traditional wings were also cooked nicely, the skin was nice and crispy while the meat was not overcooked. The buffalo sauce was a bit light for me, though good if you aren't looking for something that's too tangy or spicy. The Korean chili garlic had the right level of sweetness mixed with a good amount of garlic flavor and a light level of spiciness. This is one of the better preparations I've had outside of Korean Fried Chicken specialist restaurants. For entrees the Ahi Tuna Crunchy salad is one of the better versions of this dish that I've had as well. The field greens, broccoli slaw, and crispy wontons were a nice base with the soy vinaigrette -- but the star of the dish was the seared rare and blackened ahi tuna. Super flavorful and prepared just right, this was better than the steak I had eaten for lunch and again a very healthy way to pack a lot of flavor into a low number of calories. On the flipside, the kurobata pork sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've had so far this year. The berkshire pork isn't super fatty, but just enough to have a great level of tenderness and flavor when grilled. The candied bacon, white american cheese, and house-made blueberry ketchup did a fantastic job of adding some saltiness and just a bit of extra fat (without seeming excessive) and giving the dish just a little acid. The total combination worked perfectly in harmony and is worth making a special trip to eat again. I ended the meal with the S'more brownie meltdown. This was done well -- with a nice fudge brownie that had great chocolate flavor and matched perfectly with the graham cracker toffee. This would've been the highlight of the dish, had it not been for the delicious combination of the marshmallow gelato and dark chocolate sauce. I'm not a giant fan of marshmallows, but this gelato was amazing and tied everything together perfectly. Overall, an unexpectedly great experience from a restaurant chain that I've gone to many times. Without a doubt, I know which location to take my friends and family to for special meals in the future.

I went here for the first time with my family for my birthday and it was the best choice…read more Wait time was about 15 minutes for our party. Our server Lindsey was new but they were absolutely amazing! We ordered the Brussel sprouts as an aappetizer and they were very tasty with the Gochujang sauce. It was crispy without being burnt. For my entree I have the Korean cheesesteak. The meat was sauced perfectly and the pairing with the green onions and kimchi brought it together nicely. I upgraded to truffle parmesan fries. We ordered fish and chips, mix n match tacos, chicken and pancakes and everyone seemed to enjoy what they ate. They also do a little something special for your bday. Parking is not big enough so you have to get lucky. If you're big on beer this is the place ro go to try lots of different options. They also have a good happy hour which is why it was packed when we made it a little after.

Photos
Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.
Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.
Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.
Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.
Mac + Cheese]² - With white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan and panko cheddar crust.

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Mac + Cheese]² - With white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan and panko cheddar crust.

Oaken Bistro Bar - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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