I was a solo diner with a reservation. I saw a couples table available but was not seated until 15 minutes later. Once seated, they took 40 minutes to take my order. I was also not provided any utensils even after I received the main dish. I felt completely neglected and I'm unsure if they were busy or understaffed or “forgot” about me but I saw 2 tables, that arrived after me, get serviced before me. I hesitate to say if it was targeted but I was sat in the very corner with a wall blocking me from view of the entire rest of the dining area. I say targeted because when pairing this with the extremely bad service it can't help but pop into my mind as a possibility. I was at the restaurant from 7:50-9:30 and I ate my food in 20 minutes. The rest of the time was waiting to be serviced or receive my meal. The food itself was fine but the service left such a bad taste in my mouth.
Heather
Little gem is a great spot for a date night or even just cocktails at the bar. The ambience is romantic, the food is incredible.
Kathleen
Really lovely brunch location off the beaten path in downtown Oak Park. Food was good, lots of tea options, and great for catching up with a friend (not noisy!). Would love more sweet options on the brunch menu tho!
Gail
I love this place! The music has been great and service is excellent. I would highly recommend.!
Robin
Unfortunately their staff needs more training, very short staffed, we had a problem with our reservation and the manager didnt come out to handle it, the poor wait service had to run back and forth to this person. And the manager said she had already assigned tables in the main dining room but then had a table available but in reality the entire time we were there, the place was empty until we left then it filled up. Food is delicious as always.
Lauren
Not the best night very disappointed , service for this special occasion was really bad, actually Thu the tea box at me while rushing to another table.
Thomas
Although this is one of our favorite Oak Park restaurants, their Thanksgiving fixed price menu left us quite disappointed. The food was mediocre and they ran out of rare and medium rare prime rib. In addition, for roughly $100 a plate, the servings should have been ample but weren't. The service, however, was good. Overall this was a mediocre dining experience at best.
Lakeshia
A true Gem this place is 💎 My family of 12 booked our Thanksgiving day dinner here and everyone loved their “Thanksgiving Day Menu” selection. EVERYTHING was delicious. The customer service was excellent and the ambiance was nice. We all agreed that we'd for sure return on a regular day to again enjoy what's on the menu outside of a holiday. Oh and the owner herself stopped by to say hello and to make sure everything was ok in which it was! Thank you Judith✨
MARTIN
Celebrating an anniversary is always special and we chose The Little Gem. Server was exceptional in serve and providing information. Just the right touch of checking in was appreciated. Then the food, yes, that is why we go there. No disappointment. Always the right temperature and taste. So do you get the idea that we recommend The Little gem.? Yes, we do! Marty
Karen
Loved the atmosphere, service, cocktails, beet salad and Branzino. Mussels were not the best. Still would return. Maria was lovely.
Grossly Overpriced Napa Valley wine . Inappropriate wine glasses for full red reds . Server said that they used to serve the wine in the large red appropriate wine glasses but the customers broke them , wtf answer??? The old fashion was a uninspired zero . Weekend Jazz option canceled about a month ago , no reason offered except that the owner was 'going in another direction' or that she was trying to figure out whether she was going to do with music or not ? Very, very average pasta . The bar keeper started making noise by bouncing the dishes around to signal that he wanted the customers to bounce an hour before the posted closing time . His chase away method worked even after we complained to him . All in all a bad experience. Waitress was nice but that wasn't why we were there . Two earlier visits within the last 2 months were first rate . However different crew and attitude on this LAST visit.
Irina Hynes
I keep thinking about the dinner I had here with a friend, when we were both on medications that prevented us from ordering alcohol. As soon as the waiter heard no drinks, his attitude cooled, even though we ordered apps and desserts. When I got coffee to go with dessert, it was room temperature, and tasted like it had been sitting on the burner for too long. I told waiter it was cold, so he nuked it for a minute and brought it back just warm, still undrinkable.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Kate G
It’s a classic. We loved the mussels, French onion soup, and entrees. I’ll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baked French Onion Soup, Orecchiette Pasta, Seafood Risotto, Soup, Salmon Filet, Prince Edward Island Mussels, New Zealand Lamb Chops, Herb Crust Angus Hanger Steak
L Deathray
Loved the food and service. I’m sensitive to sounds so the noise level was too much for me. But otherwise the place really is a gem. We had the seafood risotto and it was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Risotto
Robert
Food was excellent and the service was attentive but cocktails which were good too but there's an up charges that was “unexpected”. Friendly suggestion: just charge $18 for the cocktail. But this isn't downtown, it's lovely Oak Park (which I prefer)
I was a solo diner with a reservation. I saw a couples table available but was not seated until 15 minutes later. Once seated, they took 40 minutes to take my order. I was also not provided any utensils even after I received the main dish. I felt completely neglected and I'm unsure if they were busy or understaffed or “forgot” about me but I saw 2 tables, that arrived after me, get serviced before me. I hesitate to say if it was targeted but I was sat in the very corner with a wall blocking me from view of the entire rest of the dining area. I say targeted because when pairing this with the extremely bad service it can't help but pop into my mind as a possibility. I was at the restaurant from 7:50-9:30 and I ate my food in 20 minutes. The rest of the time was waiting to be serviced or receive my meal. The food itself was fine but the service left such a bad taste in my mouth.
Little gem is a great spot for a date night or even just cocktails at the bar. The ambience is romantic, the food is incredible.
Really lovely brunch location off the beaten path in downtown Oak Park. Food was good, lots of tea options, and great for catching up with a friend (not noisy!). Would love more sweet options on the brunch menu tho!
I love this place! The music has been great and service is excellent. I would highly recommend.!
Unfortunately their staff needs more training, very short staffed, we had a problem with our reservation and the manager didnt come out to handle it, the poor wait service had to run back and forth to this person. And the manager said she had already assigned tables in the main dining room but then had a table available but in reality the entire time we were there, the place was empty until we left then it filled up. Food is delicious as always.
Not the best night very disappointed , service for this special occasion was really bad, actually Thu the tea box at me while rushing to another table.
Although this is one of our favorite Oak Park restaurants, their Thanksgiving fixed price menu left us quite disappointed. The food was mediocre and they ran out of rare and medium rare prime rib. In addition, for roughly $100 a plate, the servings should have been ample but weren't. The service, however, was good. Overall this was a mediocre dining experience at best.
A true Gem this place is 💎 My family of 12 booked our Thanksgiving day dinner here and everyone loved their “Thanksgiving Day Menu” selection. EVERYTHING was delicious. The customer service was excellent and the ambiance was nice. We all agreed that we'd for sure return on a regular day to again enjoy what's on the menu outside of a holiday. Oh and the owner herself stopped by to say hello and to make sure everything was ok in which it was! Thank you Judith✨
Celebrating an anniversary is always special and we chose The Little Gem. Server was exceptional in serve and providing information. Just the right touch of checking in was appreciated. Then the food, yes, that is why we go there. No disappointment. Always the right temperature and taste. So do you get the idea that we recommend The Little gem.? Yes, we do! Marty
Loved the atmosphere, service, cocktails, beet salad and Branzino. Mussels were not the best. Still would return. Maria was lovely.
Restaurantji Recommends
Grossly Overpriced Napa Valley wine . Inappropriate wine glasses for full red reds . Server said that they used to serve the wine in the large red appropriate wine glasses but the customers broke them , wtf answer??? The old fashion was a uninspired zero . Weekend Jazz option canceled about a month ago , no reason offered except that the owner was 'going in another direction' or that she was trying to figure out whether she was going to do with music or not ? Very, very average pasta . The bar keeper started making noise by bouncing the dishes around to signal that he wanted the customers to bounce an hour before the posted closing time . His chase away method worked even after we complained to him . All in all a bad experience. Waitress was nice but that wasn't why we were there . Two earlier visits within the last 2 months were first rate . However different crew and attitude on this LAST visit.
I keep thinking about the dinner I had here with a friend, when we were both on medications that prevented us from ordering alcohol. As soon as the waiter heard no drinks, his attitude cooled, even though we ordered apps and desserts. When I got coffee to go with dessert, it was room temperature, and tasted like it had been sitting on the burner for too long. I told waiter it was cold, so he nuked it for a minute and brought it back just warm, still undrinkable.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
It’s a classic. We loved the mussels, French onion soup, and entrees. I’ll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baked French Onion Soup, Orecchiette Pasta, Seafood Risotto, Soup, Salmon Filet, Prince Edward Island Mussels, New Zealand Lamb Chops, Herb Crust Angus Hanger Steak
Loved the food and service. I’m sensitive to sounds so the noise level was too much for me. But otherwise the place really is a gem. We had the seafood risotto and it was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Risotto
Food was excellent and the service was attentive but cocktails which were good too but there's an up charges that was “unexpected”. Friendly suggestion: just charge $18 for the cocktail. But this isn't downtown, it's lovely Oak Park (which I prefer)
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