50 Best Wine Bars near Oak Park

“One of the best things about this locally owned business, is that it is locally owned!
Everything you want in a wine store that you don't always find, a great selection, very knowledgeable staff, great accompaniments like snacks and gifts, and a nice clean place that is extremely welcoming.

It's a great place to stop in the summertime and enjoy a cold glass of white sitting on the patio and in the winter time enjoying a nice glass of red sitting in the tasting room. They have lots of things that are not easy to find and what you would consider a gem! They pride themselves on having a unique selection different from the big box shops!

There are price points for everybody and everybody will feel comfortable shopping here.

Did I mention these are local owners and they are in the store almost every day, a little gem in our town!“

“Blueberry Wine is awesome!!“

“Pablo, our waiter, was exceptional. During our first visit here, he warmly welcomed us and showcased impressive knowledge of the menu, even extending to items not listed. He encouraged us to customize our meal to our liking, and he certainly delivered! For starters, we chose the grilled calamari and Rockefeller oysters. The calamari was tender and impeccably cooked, steering clear of the typical rubbery texture. Opting for balsamic instead of oil was a perfect choice. The oysters were superb, not overwhelmed with cheese. I ordered the veal picatta from the menu, expecting a thin slab, but was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion size. The angel hair pasta complemented the dish well, although I could have done without the mushrooms – a personal preference, which I should've mentioned. Nonetheless, if you're a mushroom enthusiast, they give you plenty. My boyfriend ordered off-menu, enjoying the Zuppe di Pesce with shrimp, clams, extra calamari, and rigatoni Diablo style in red sauce. It was absolutely amazing and satisfied his taste without being overly spicy. To accompany the meal, I had a glass of the house Chardonnay, which was light and buttery. Even my boyfriend, who doesn't typically drink wine, enjoyed it. Our heartfelt thanks to Pablo and the owner/chef Giovanni for an outstanding dining experience, both in terms of the meal and the service.“

“My Fiancé and I discovered this restaurant after watching “Somebody Feed Fill” and were inspired and intrigued by Sarah’s restaurant and craftsmanship. We had our eye on getting reservations here for a very long time and we ended up landing lunch reservations for my Fiancés birthday (whom is also a Chef). We just happened to be seated by the expo line near the kitchen where we saw Sarah working. From start to finish our server Rose, and Sarah made sure our experience was personalized special. Sarah even signed the cookbook we bought and menu! Everything was on point from the food to the service. I can see why it’s so hard to get a reservation here! If we could rate our experience higher we would. We greatly appreciate the hospitality and dedication that this restaurant displays!“

“Food was delicious. Everything we had was amazing.“

“Amazing all around!!! The food was delicious and service was great. The pita was incredible and the hummus was truly authentic. We had the schnitzel which was super crunchy and the sauce on the side was very flavorful. The patio in the back is so nice and spacious and the word burning oven inside really sets the vibe. The drinks were also unique and delicious. You have to go!!“

“My wife and I had our rehearsal dinner here and had a great time! The planning process was stress free and Anne did a great job answering any questions we had. The service was great and all of our guests enjoyed the food and drinks! The upstairs space is great for small gatherings. We highly recommend Lena Brava for anyone that is looking for a venue to host their rehearsal dinner!“

“The food was very good. But this is definitely a place where you are paying for excellent and it was not quite that. Appetizers and desert were great, wine list as well. But the salmon I had for my main was underwhelming—the marinade was far too heavy on the fish sauce.“

“We had the best time here for an early dinner before heading downtown for a show. Highlights of the meal are the French Onion Toast and Ricotta Gnocci. They also have a mocktail menu which had some delicious drinks on it. Will definitely be back soon!“

“Im embarrassed it took us a couple of years to finally dine here but I'm SO grateful we FINALLY arrived and assure you we will be back again soon. Fun cocktail menu, great wine list and an impeccably delivered menu and great service! Thank you for the perfect date night!“

“I’ve lost count of how many burgers I’ve eaten from Rootstock over the years, and somehow it still manages to exceed my expectations every single time.

This burger became a pandemic takeout staple in our house, but whether I’m dining in or grabbing it to go, the quality never wavers. The burger is everything you want it to be—perfectly cooked, deeply flavorful, and somehow both comforting and indulgent at the same time.

And then there are the fries. Plenty of places serve fries with garlic aioli, but Rootstock’s version is one of those dishes I find myself craving weeks later. Crisp, golden, and consistently excellent.

What impresses me most is the consistency. Restaurants can have great nights and off nights, but Rootstock seems incapable of missing. After years of visits and takeout orders, they’ve earned my trust completely.

I’ve eaten burgers all over Chicago, and this remains my favorite. If you live nearby, consider yourself lucky. If you don’t, it’s worth the trip.“

“A fantastic and unique experience. I came in looking for a glass of wine while I killed some time. I got an enjoyable journey through global natural wines and other beverages. Robert is a gem of a person who wants you to love your time here. And the duck fat potatoes are sublime.“

“I had a great time wine tasting here! We sat out on their patio, which was secluded and quiet. The perfect armosphere for a catch up with friends or a date night. The food is delicious too. My favorite was the shrimp ceviche. On Wednesdays, they do happy hour specials on tasting flights! I really enjoyed the Mediterranean white flight. Their broader wine list is also incredibly diverse, representing many regions and flavors. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Great staff and every thing we ordered was absolutely fantastic.“

“Absolutely love this place and bar manager knows his wines. Very informative.“

“Our favorite spot in Park Ridge. Excellent food and wines. Very friendly to our kids during brunch and early dinners. Strongly recommend the wine club. Monthly selections have all been outstanding.“

“We always look forward to takeout (during COVID) and look forward to seeing you in person. Pizza is always fantastic!!! Always!“

“excellent food - we both the spring rolls and the egg rolls. the crab fried rice and vegetable salad with rice noodles were also really tasty.“

“Great Bavarian liverwurst sausage and hunters sausage. First time there this past weekend and will back for sure when I get back to Chicago. Rooftop beer 🍺 and sausage was awesome too!!“

“This is a fantastic place to enjoy great food at reasonable prices. The menu offers delicious options, the drinks are just as enjoyable, and the welcoming atmosphere makes it a great spot for any occasion. The restaurant is also family and dog friendly, which makes it even more inviting.

The customer service was outstanding. Our waitress was amazing—friendly, funny, and attentive throughout the entire meal, making the experience even more enjoyable. The beautiful interior adds to the overall charm, creating a comfortable place to relax and dine. Between the excellent food, great drinks, warm hospitality, and inviting atmosphere, this is a place I would definitely recommend.“

“All around excellent experience“

“It’s a lovely place!! I loved the service, and best of all was the live music in Spanish!! ...exactly what we were looking for. We’re definitely making it our favorite spot. Plus, the service is the best—they never rushed us out or gave us dirty looks for lingering at the table like most places do.“

“This place is insane. The food is so delicious and interesting while still being totally accessible and not at all frou frou. Cannot believe the reviews about small portions - the plates I tried were all perfectly portioned for two diners to share. My main dish, a duck breast, was over-portioned if anything. The service was very attentive and they offered thoughtful touches like the option to order a half size plate of bread. I did find the all-male staff (both front and back of house) a little odd.“

“Had the chance to participate in the Bourbon Raffle today and it did NOT disappoint. Great staff, fair raffle and left today Happy!! See y’all soon!“

“We thought the atmosphere was cozy, service was very nice, and food was really good/tasty. We shared the Arugula Beet Salad and Grilled Octopus apps, then had the Grilled Salmon (really tasty!) and Chicken Verdura (tasted as expected) entrées. Also, the cheesecake they served we both agreed was better tasting than any we’d had before.“

“By far, one of my new favorite restaurants in the city. The food was creative yet simple, the cocktails were craft, and the ambiance was just perfect for the mood. I enjoyed my whole experience so much, I wish I could come here regularly, but unfortunately I do not have that kind of budget. Nettare stole my heart for sure.

And a huge shoutout to the staff, they really made the place so special.“

“A charming wine bar with a thoughtfully curated selection of wines and perfectly paired cheeses. The atmosphere is cozy yet refined, making it ideal for a relaxed evening or a date night. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive, always ready to recommend the perfect pairing. Definitely a place worth coming back to.“

“Incredible drinks with a very friendly and vibrant vibe. Highly recommended for cocktail aficionados or just someone who appreciates a good cocktail. The staff is incredibly attentive to details and they always have some Cheez-Its to nosh on in-between sips. Cucumber water to stay hydrated and great artwork all over the place. Nice happy hour specials and very interesting offerings. Motown Martini Mondays are fun too.“

“I called ahead on a Tuesday for their dinner reservations, we were told they weren't busy that night so we went ahead and made the one hour drive just for their sushi and their great reviews. We had the best experience and their sushi was truly top notch. We basically ordered everything on the menu from sushi, caviar to desserts and drinks. they did not disappoint, customer service was superb. The owner even came outside to attend us, he showed up with his own bottle of sake. I truly appreciate the great experience we had at this beautiful and clean restaurant. I have nothing bad to say, the food was high quality and extremely delicious. I definitely recommend this location, even if you have kids which I did. We left so happy and satisfied, loved it.“

“LOVED the drinks and our Entrée was Spectacular can't wait to go back“

“Beautiful Birthday dinner here in one of the cabanas. Liked the privacy and obscuridad the cabanas and low lights gave. Flavors of soup , scallops, and rib eye were great. Definitely recommend for a date night or girls night 😍“

“Love this spot! Went for a wine tasting and had a cheese board and flatbread and it made for a perfect date night! The wines were really nice and we ended up taking two bottles home. Service is so friendly and everyone is so kind! Makes for a nice night out for sure!“

“I’m bringing all my friends here. Tonight was my first time but absolutely not my last. Lauren Hall was so delightful. The staff was also very kind ❤️“

“The food here is beyond exquisite. Homemade gnocchi and table side polenta steal the show, but everything is amazing. Make sure to ask for a table outside in the wine garden in the back. You will pass through this tiny restaurant into a true oasis in the back. The unassuming front of the restaurant wouldn’t make you think the food is as incredible as it is.“

“If you are looking for a really special food experience with a cozy casual atmosphere, this is an awesome place to visit. The chef, Ms Dani Kaplan, is the daughter of one of my closest bff. OMG! Each bite is a tastebud delight! And the bar - so special! If you want a true, high-quality, Chicago, eating experience don’t miss this place!!!!“

“We had a delicious breakfast and the service was Excellent. Looking forward to coming back for lunch and mock tails.“

“Fabulous addition to the neighborhood! A great spot to have a glass solo, meet up with friends, take a class, or bring a bottle home. They were super accommodating when I brought in a group of girlfriends, seating us at the back table with very attentive service. Very reasonable prices, too.“

“The dinner was fabulous. Our server was wonderful! The desserts are amazing! The decor is beautiful!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Tonight, the Wife and I asked for a table of 4, saw multiple tables open. Host replied with "Looks like we're not going to have table free for the rest of the night." Our 2 friends walked in about 5 minutes after us for a table, Host proceeds to not automatically deny them and asks the servers. Servers apparently had a problem with having another table until another server came worked it out. Finally, Wife and I walk back in to join our friends and overhear 2 servers discussing with the host about not seating anyone after 9pm (they close at midnight btw) Great to know that you wanting to close early is more important than actually doing your jobs and making easy money (we only got drinks and 2 apps) Pathetic, will not come back. Sayonara!“

“Fabulous as always A Chicago go to for me“

“There aren't many rum bars in the city; so if that's your thing, Queen Mary's has to be on your list. The place isn't big, and you can't make reservations. But I found it cozy, and their staff is AMAZING. I used caps because they have a solid grasp on their selection and made excellent recommendations.

By the way - they serve a wide variety of spirits (not just rum) but I came for the rare bottles you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere. Another thing I liked was the price; all their pours were reasonably priced. Next time I go, I'll try some of their small bites or several items from their cocktail menu.“

“Great selection of wines and delicious small bites. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.“

“Wonderful all around. Great service. Great food. Nice decor. Perfect street parking“

“What an amazing wine bar. They have an excellent list that really pleased my out of town sommelier friend. They even have a lovely franciocorta that is really hard to find and really lovely staff that are funny and warm. It’s everything you would want in an Armitage wine bar: old world, vibey, laid back, high quality — will return“

“Vincent is a wonderful place. Love the food and frequently live performers as well.“

“First timers and now we will be regulars! The hospitality, atmosphere and fare were outstanding! From the knowledgeable staff, the welcoming management and the hostess that went WAY above and beyond to be sure my disabled husband was accommodated from when we booked our reservation to the end of our dining experience - we couldn’t have been more delighted! See you again soon, Lardon!“

“Love this place it’s a great date night“

“Amazing time and they have karaoke on Fridays! It was super fun!😁🥰“

“We recently got married at The Elm this past weekend (10/13/2024) and can't express in words how satisfied we were with their service. Starting from the first day that we went to see The Elm we were treated with the upmost respect and professionalism. We had our ceremony in the Kensington room, and our reception in the Madison room. The atmosphere and vibe of both rooms was everything that we could hope for. The staff was incredible, the food/drinks were AMAZING, and our guests had nothing but positive feedback. WE HIGHLY RECOMMED THIS PLACE FOR A WEDDING AND/OR ANY OTHER EVENT.“