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    Oaken Bistro Bar

    4.1 (114 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Oaken Bistro Bar Photos

    OAKEN BISTRO BAR ATMOSPHERE

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

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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

    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

    Truffle Fries VG Oaken Burger

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    Page 1 of 3

    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
    (93 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    I love this place! The staff and owner are so wonderful! The seasonal soup is delicious. Sometimes…read morethey host a calligraphy night which is so fun and relaxing. Plus they have a cool selection of Indian wines. Absolutely a place to check out!

    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.

    Photos
    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.

    Photos
    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

    Oaken Bistro Bar - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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