Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Little Gem Cafe

    3.8 (359 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Little Gem Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Little Gem Cafe Photos

    THE LITTLE GEM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like The Little Gem Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - The Little Gem Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside
    Suzanne F.

    Great place for drinks and dinner. It was a perfect evening to sit outside. The drinks were made perfect and lots of options on the menu. We weren't very hungry and just wanted to share something so ordered the mixed seafood salad. The portion was fairly small so wouldn't consider it an entree salad. I've been here before with my husband and we ordered entrees and everything was very good. Service is friendly and prompt. I definitely recommend!

    Main dining room
    Denyce M.

    Not sure how we came across Gem, don't remember if it was a recommendation or not. But whatever the reason, I am glad we discovered this place if only for the Fig & Honey Brie Crostini, ended up getting two orders of those (triple cream mascarpone and Black Mission Fig). We walked into a very cute and intimate space with exposed bricks and low lighting. We were seated immediately and our server was right on top of us to welcome us. I started with a bottle of Portell Cava Brut. Of course these folks had no idea who we were because the server brought over a stopper for the bottle...it did not get use :-) As I mentioned earlier, we started with the Fig & Honey Brie Crostini. This was a lovely combination of savory and sweet and did not last long, hence the second order. For dinner we all went for the Braised Boneless Short Ribs (creamy polenta, crispy onions, Brussel sprouts) and the Gouda Stuffed Pork Chop (green beans, crispy Yukon potato, chimichurri). Both of these dishes were excellent, with the flavors nicely blending together. The short rib meat was very tender to the point where you didn't really need a knife. The pork chop was interesting because in my mind's eye I could not imagine how the the gouda and chimichurri would work, but it did. We didn't do dessert because I had a cake I made waiting at home for us. But the meal was a very good one. Service was great and our server was checking in on us enough to see that we were ok, but not to the point of not letting us enjoy each other's company. We could come back here for a meal. I would like to check out their brunch menu to see it holds up...you know brunch is my favorite food group :-)

    So much caked up dust and germs right above our heads and plates.
    Elizabeth M.

    Came here on a Saturday just before 5:00 and service was pretty bad. There were at least four waitstaff around but service was extremely slow and inattentive. At one point, we asked to be moved because the staff were just complaining about work only a few feet away from us. The food was good with good portion sizes. Calamari was my favorite. However, the prices are a bit too ambitious for what you get. Their dishes are not worth $30/plate. As an aside, they really need to clean their fan blades. Gross.

    Cristina W.

    The place was very good. We went for appetizers and drinks. Great service and atmosphere. Will definitely go back.

    Colleen L.

    If you're looking for a special place to have wonderful dinner, the Little Gem Cafe is a sure bet. The food, service, and ambiance are top-notch. We came from Detroit to spend the weekend in Chicago celebrating my husband's 80 birthday. On a friend's recommendation, we went to this restaurant. We were immediately seated as we had reservations. The warmth of the brick walls and lighting created an intimate setting. It had an old (in a nice way) and comfortable feel, which was perfect for our gathering. I ordered the paella, which I believe, was the best meal I've ever eaten. Carlos, our waiter, helped me pair it with a sparkling wine. It was perfection. After the meal, we enjoyed a delicious chocolate mousse and crème brûlée. Thank you, The Little Gem Cafe for making our celebration so memorable. A special thanks to Carlos whose warmth and kindness will not be forgotten.

    New Zealand Lamb Chops
    Sabrina C.

    Something that I love more than finding a good happy hour- is discovering hidden gems wherever I go! The Little Gem Cafe is located in the Chicago/Oakpark area and is definitely a treasure in the neighborhood! I sat on the side that has live jazz and loved it! Even Connor loved it - that's his little hand, giving the thumbs up at the end of the video! Lol The food was so tasty and the service was great! Eats in the Sea Scallops Au Gratin - sooooo good! Fried Calamari- loved it! The breading was super light and crunchy Salmon Filet New Zealand Lamb Chops Orecchiette Pasta Everything was so good! Fun fact: Tuesday- Thursday, they have a date night special that comes with a 3 Course Dinner for 2 , with a Bottle of Wine! You choose 1 Appetizer and 1 Dessert, 2 Salads and 2 Entrees!!! Go check them out and tell 'em that Planes & Plates sent you!!! Enjoy!

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Thank you Martyna, it is always our pleasure to serve you

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Oh what a shame, I’m so sorry to hear this, why don’t you call me.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Cool - please don't. Rude.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Thank You!

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 1
    Love this 16
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Thank You Elizabeth

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Maggi C.
    3
    249
    38

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    : (

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cristina W.
    37
    178
    1358

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Thank you So Much, that's really sweet.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Oh my goodness Colleen. Thank You.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Violet C.
    52
    40
    96

    1 year ago

    All I can say is... I definitely must go again for the food, service & ambiance. Great live music. see you soon! We'll bring some friends.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John R.
    39
    12
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dee M.
    0
    188
    32

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of kyle
    0
    1
    0

    6 months ago

    Very delightful little place for lunch Service was very sufficient. Will definitely try again.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Quin T.
    259
    1319
    338

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Excellent choices.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Oh Dear

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Awesome - Thank you.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Justin thank you for taking the time to review!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    So Silly, What is the world coming to? ps. Our Coffee is the Best!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Miz S.
    106
    2
    0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Judith L.

    Judith L.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The Little Gem Cafe

    Do you have a brunch menu?

    Hello - Thank you for asking - YES! we do Here is the link… Read more

    What's the difference in the seating? I see "encore" and "little gem" seating areas.

    Hi Jim Little Gem Cafe is a beautiful restaurant with a bar and lounge for dining and cocktails.… Read more

    Do you have anything gluten free that's safe for someone with a gluten allergy to consume?

    Hello Andrea B. yes we have lots of gluten free menu items. Fresh Fish, Choice cuts of meat, vegetables and gluten free pasta etc. Hope to see you soon!

    Hi there! Are you folks delivering with all that's going on? Thank you!

    YES - We offer Curb Side Pick up Tuesday thru Sunday from 3:00pm to 9:00pm Delivery will be available this week also. CALL 708 . 613 . 5491… Read more

    Will you be open on New Years Day for lunch?

    Hello Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately we will not be open on New Years Day.… Read more

    What time do you open on Sunday?

    Hello We open at 11am every day except Monday

    Do they have happy hour specials?

    Hi - Yes we have drink specials in the bar and lounge from 3:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday thru Thursday.… Read more

    Would a vegan find enough to eat here?

    Hello - Yes a vegan would have lots of options here. Chef Martin will customize any dish and there is always a fresh supply of tasty vegetables.

    View All 10 Questions

    You might also consider

    La Grande Boucherie

    La Grande Boucherie

    4.3(624 reviews)
    8.9 miNear North Side
    $$$

    For my boyfriend and I's first sit down meal in Chicago, I chose to indulge in brunch at La Grande…read moreBoucherie. I had seen it previously advertised on TikTok and decided it looked like a nice, upscale dining experience and the perfect mimosa-filled brunch opportunity. Upon coming in at 11 when the location opened, I was already impressed by the beautiful cafe inspired French interior. The warm lighting and refined Parisian details were so beautiful and elegant, and I especially loved the look of the bar, which is a central statement of this restaurant. I chose the French toast breakfast and my boyfriend got the steak and eggs, and we both had mimosas as well! My French toast was light, fluffy, and delicious, definitely a solid choice. My boyfriend was super impressed by the steak and eggs and said it was the best breakfast he had our entire trip! The food itself was great and I would love to come back and try their dinner menu at some point. The service, however, is what truly stood out to me in our experience. Our servers were very helpful, knowledgeable about the menu, and speedy. We truly felt taken care of. Fernando was the sweetest and most welcoming, and he immediately made my boyfriend and I feel so welcomed and at home in Chicago. We greatly enjoyed our conversation with him and he even gifted me a coffee table book detailing the history and menu of La Grande Boucherie, which was so kind and such an amazing gesture. Fernando set our experience apart from any other dining experience in Chicago and he made this meal one of our favorites!

    Came here last night for dinner with another couple for the first time. While the food was good,…read morethe service was not so I don't think I'll be back. For starters, we had a reservation which I would recommend. We were seated right away and while the place is large inside, I'm not sure what walk-in availability is like. The food: we really enjoyed the octopus, escargot, I had the Filet Mignon Au Poivre, and the banana/coconut entremet. The octopus was tender and flavorful; octopus cooked right (especially in smaller pieces) is hard to find so I was impressed. The escargot was nice and buttery/garlicky, and piping hot. I LOVED my Filet with the green peppercorn cream sauce! It was delicious and my husband was surprised I ate so much of it. It was cooked exactly as I asked, the meat had good flavor, and the sauce was delicious and well balanced + the right consistency. Lastly, the banana and coconut dessert was a pleasant surprise. The banana flavor was fresh (not artificial) and had the right balance of coconut. It was creamy, not too sweet, and had the right balance of textures with the outer coating and the crumble underneath - if you like banana or coconut at all I'd say it's a must order! The creme brulee was just okay. My issue was the service - the table next to ours LIT ON FIRE because a menu was over the top of a candle. After burning half the menu and the fire was getting larger, our partners ran over and put it out with their napkins. They yelled and there was NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from the staff at all - at least 2 staff saw and one waiters eyes got big for a minute and she turned away. Not even a thank you from anyone to our partners for putting it out, and they had to ask for new napkins because theirs had black char on them. We were in the middle of enjoying our appetizers and my friend was just digging into her French onion soup from our first round and the staff kept trying to take our plates away. My friend had to tell them 3 times to please leave the soup at the table, and overall made us feel very rushed. We weren't taking a long time to eat at all so felt very weird? When the entrees were dropped on the table, my friend got a steak and they kept trying to give her a butter knife. It took multiple attempts to get the correct knife. Then once we were done eating it took a while to get our plates and old glasses cleared away. Overall service timing was off and their aggressiveness in the beginning of trying to take our plates away + the lack of response to A FIRE in the restaurant was pretty alarming. While I enjoyed the food there, the service was pretty bad and I feel unsafe with the lack of response to a fire in the restaurant so I don't think we'll return.

    Photos
    La Grande Boucherie - Inside during Christmas

    Inside during Christmas

    La Grande Boucherie - La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    La Grande Boucherie - La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    See all

    La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    Pomeroy - Creme Brulee

    Pomeroy

    4.4(279 reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$$

    Tuesday Short Rib is to die for. What a special spot. Peaceful character, and delicious food.read more

    I absolutely love Pomeroy!  I know I have said it many times.  This past Mother's Day we went to…read morePomeroy again.  It has become our go-to restaurant for celebrations.  I always consider Mother's Day the ultimate test for any restaurant, and Pomeroy passes with flying colors year after year! As expected, the restaurant was packed, both inside and in the beautiful courtyard. Families filled the dining room, with children of all ages at about 90% of the tables. The team at Pomeroy has been so consistent and professional, that all of our dishes were delivered at a perfect and steady pace, and qualities remained high. Although we got a different server each time we went, they were all very welcoming, friendly, and attentive.  This time, Carlisle did such a wonderful job even though she was super busy, and she wished me a happy Mother's Day several times to make sure that my day was special.  I must mention that the friendly hostess greeted me with well wishes too, and said happy Mother's day again when we left. We had noticed that they had replaced the couch in front of the courtyard fireplace with more tables.  Who could blame them when they had so many patrons to seat.  However, the courtyard still looked gorgeous. Now on to the food and drinks.  I had a mocktail Bleu 75 ($13) that's my favorite, my husband had a glass of chardonnay ($17), our daughter had a Le Spritz Strawberry ($16).  We shared an order of Sea Scallops ($23) and a Warm Tomato Tarte ($19).  I had my go-to dish which was the Mediterranean Sea Bass ($38), I loved the seared skin that was crispy on the edges. Husband and Daughter each ordered a Spring Halibut ($92 for 2) from the Mother's Day menu.  We ordered 2 Strawberry Crème Brulee ($28 for 2), and I shared 1 with my husband.  I also had a cappuccino ($6). The check came up to $283.05 before tips (they add a 3% surcharge to each guest check, which may be removed upon request, we didn't).  As always, our dinner was very enjoyable and it's worth the money.  I had a very happy Mother's Day dinner, and it ended a wonderful weekend with high notes!  We will keep returning!

    Photos
    Pomeroy - Bar area

    Bar area

    Pomeroy - Creme Brulee

    Creme Brulee

    Pomeroy - Tomato tart

    See all

    Tomato tart

    Bandol - Crab Cakes

    Bandol

    3.7(111 reviews)
    8.9 miThe Loop

    For lunch, I'm not sure there's any better chill spot to grab a bite in the Loop. Low-key,…read moresophisticated, refined. I popped in for a quick solo lunch and indulged in the croque monsieur + fries. The rest of the menu had enticing things but I knew what I wanted and would not be swayed. After a small wait, which I mention only because it really wasn't busy, my food was served. The look matched the flavor: delicious! It's nice that the other French place, offering nearly the exact same offering here in the exact same spot, was replaced with a worthy newcomer. Bandol checks all the boxes you'd want.

    Bandol is good for lunch, but the breakfast I had today was terrible. I ordered a chocolate…read morecroissant, and like in a lot of American restaurants, it was a fake croissant, more like gummy white bread in a croissant form. It was ultra-soft, with a minuscule dab of chocolate. The poached eggs were completely flavorless. They might have been old eggs six weeks away from the farm, I don't know, but all I could taste was the chalky whites. And by the way, poached eggs should always be served with a spoon without the customer having to ask. How do you eat poached eggs with a fork? I asked for my English muffin to be "burnt" (crispy.) They were soft and gummy, just like the croissant. And no jam or jelly was offered. The waiter was polite but inattentive. It's annoying to say, specifically, "I'll have two poached eggs with crispy bacon" and then have the waiter come back and say, "do you want sausage or bacon with that?" And like most restaurants these days, they've switched to that thick-cut bacon that can't be cooked crispy. The breakfast came with a very small side of potatoes, which tasted fine. And I had some green tea that was...okay, but not even remotely like the delicious green tea that most Japanese restaurants offer. I asked my waiter to clear away my plate when I was done, but he either didn't hear me or misunderstood, because he left the plate sitting there. Lastly, when people are eating breakfast, especially on a weekday, they usually have some place they need to get to, and don't want to linger. It took too long after I put my card down for the waiter to pick it up. Every one of these things is a minor complaint (except for the tasteless eggs.) But add them all up and it makes me think -- even though I'm in the area frequently -- "I'll never go back here for breakfast." Overall, a disappointing experience.

    Photos
    Bandol - Croque Monsieur Breakfast plate

    Croque Monsieur Breakfast plate

    Bandol - Parfait

    Parfait

    Bandol - Pain ai Chocolat

    See all

    Pain ai Chocolat

    Le Bouchon - Poulet Roti

    Le Bouchon

    4.0(823 reviews)
    6.7 miBucktown
    $$$

    This is one that is worth the hype. Well loved for good reason. There were no misses! We tried the…read morecrab tartlet, French onion soup, mussels, rabbit pot pie, duck l'orange for two, and the delicious maple crème brûlée. Every bite was scrumptious and we absolutely will be back! And the staff were all lovely. It is a really small space but that's part of the charm of being a traditional little French restaurant!

    Le Bouchon is an excellent example of the idea one *can* have too much of a good thing. Alas, there…read morewere more things that went a little south with the experience. I ordered the Escargot and the French Onion Soup. There was also free baguette included at the start of the meal. I loved that the baguette had a substantial crust, for it was an absolute delight to butter it up (though not the best butter in the world), and dip it into the herbaceous escargot butter. However, the inside, despite its temperature, was still gooey/doughy. Too much crust or some other technical issue? I'll let those with baking experience sound off. Whatever the case, the last thing I want to do with fresh baguette is ripping out the innards and rolling it into a ball of silly putty. Now, for the escargot... ah snails, an old favorite, for I don't really love fast food (ha!) These were mostly good, save for two things: First, the texture was still just a little slimy, reminiscent of an oyster. 30 seconds more cook time is all they needed, a minute would be too much! Second, the sauce didn't do them any favors. I've had escargot in a rich, buttery, garlicky, slightly herbed sauce that was beyond divine. This dish went triple-overboard, if not more, on the greens - making it resemble a chimichurri rather than something turning snails into decadence. Now, we arrive at the French Onion Soup. The sheer amount of cheese was so excessive that I recoiled even though I have a line item in my budget for cheese. I fished what remained out, and consumed it only out of spite. Now, while I appreciate the use of crusty bread that didn't turn into soggy croutons, the size of the pieces was too large. I'm one who orders prepared food with the understanding that it is prepared and should require minimal additional work. Steaks that need slicing are exempt, soup is not. Unfortunately, there was one more undoing: while I can understand a less sweet soup may be normal variation in the recipe, one of the spoonfuls had something very sour, as if it was a large wad of sour cream (though none was present). This made were otherwise rich and flavorful broth less than enjoyable. When it comes to the service, this had some good and bad. It was friendly, attentive, and the food came out fast. However, an item of note is that finished plates were not cleared in due course. This applies not only to myself but also the stranger sitting next to me. Final verdict: I wanted to love Le Bouchon, really I did. I was even hoping, at first, to try more of the menu on a return visit. However, the poor execution across the board does not provide the confidence needed for a return visit.

    Photos
    Le Bouchon - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    Le Bouchon - Agnolotti

    Agnolotti

    Le Bouchon - Upon arrival, hot baguette is paired with my cappuccino.  Delicious way to open the conversation.

    See all

    Upon arrival, hot baguette is paired with my cappuccino. Delicious way to open the conversation.

    The Little Gem Cafe - newamerican - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...