It was lovely to sit outside and have Hemmingway's outstanding food and service. Their martinis are great, though I am not usually a martini drinker.
ARIELLE
What a great find, we loved our dining experience here! As a designer, I have to first point out the beautiful architectural details in this restaurant. The building is very old, and it has some of the most gorgeous Torrazzo and brass inlay floors I've ever seen, and the plaster on the walls was incredible. It even had Venetian style plaster details, whoever did this space is probably no longer with us. This type of Plaster work is only done by very few people these days. That said, it was a fantastic French vibe, the pictures online do not do this space justice. It is way cuter inside! I love a linen tablecloth. I love that the servers all had white pressed shirts on. The menu was exactly what you would expect for French fair, it was very traditional and served on white plates. Everything we ate was delicious. The crabcake was definitely crab forward, no filler here. My husband had the white fish and I had the steak frites, we switched entrées halfway through so that we could each try each other's and everything was delicious! We were sat at a two top in the same room as the bar and I loved watching the bartender make all the cocktails to order. That was very impressive. This is just a personal note, but when my husband and I go out for dinner, sometimes we are sat at a two top and when this typically happens, we're normally joined by another couple at some point in the reservation. Now this doesn't bother my husband and I because we always like to eavesdrop and listen to everyone's conversations, and we were lucky enough that the couple next to us was on a second or third date and it was not going well. 😂😂 entertaining for us to say the least but if you're someone that really wants a private dinner, this might not be the restaurant for that, as the tables are close together. We came to Hemingway‘s because we were going to a candlelight show at the art center across the street, we will absolutely be back. This was such a spectacular date night!! We will be back!
Ellen
Excellent meal in a relaxing and charming atmosphere. For us it was a birthday celebration and we had plenty of time for conversing and enjoying both our appetizers and our main courses. The pate appetizer is fabulous, ask for more cornishons! Our waiter gave us just the right amount of attention and good advice on our entrées. p'Perfect 
teri
I was disappointed in food as well as service . I made a reservation on phone as well as website . I informed on both that my dad was visiting from Michigan for his wedding anniversary . When there was no mention I mentioned it to the waiter which he replied happy anniversary . The shrimp was quite tough and the flavor was not pleasant . The crab cake was overcooked on outside again the flavor of the crab was missing . My dad said his French toast was good and his wife said the whitening fish was ok as well . It was a disappointment to say the least . It was my first time there I live in area but would not recommend to there's as well I will not be back . Teri Aidara Our reservation was Sunday 12:30
Joanne
We attended the Sunday Jazz Brunch. There was a variety of salads, cheeses and pastries to select. The items were fresh tasting and promptly replenished. The Crepes Gratinee and Herb White Fish were served warm and a great accompaniment to the brunch items. We enjoyed the jazz music played through the meal.
Joann
It was a summer Saturday lunch, we were near a loudish table ,hostess moved us to quiet table!
Diane
Hemingway's Bistrot has been the go to place in Oak Park for my girlfriend and I whenever we're looking for dining in OP. The food, service and French Bistrot feel never disappoints! Whether having the hamburger, quiche of the day, salad nicoise or whitefish with spinach, the menu selections are consistently excellent! Bon apetite!
John
Definitely a white-table cloth experience but unfortunately the over-priced menu doesn't come up to its prices. We hadn't been there in years and now we remember why. The three of us only had entrees ($50 per person with tax and tip) and all three of us left disappointed. My steak frites - the frites were greasy and soggy. My husband's steak au poivre - the sauce was very runny. Our friend's mixed grille, although he enjoyed the one sausage, the rest was dry. The wine was good but one of the largest mark-ups we had seen in our regular eating out.
Tom
My wife had the whitefish which was fantastic. She really enjoyed it. I had the chicken dish which was not very good. The chicken was dry and very tough.
Regina
Excellent service for our dinner on the patio. Entrees were beautifully prepared and delicious - the lamb and fish almondine.
Onion soup was very watery no depth to it needed to have more beef stock or consommé. The duck breast had been thawed days before, and consisted of one quarter of a breast (ie, had been cut in half) was medium to medium well instead of the rare to medium rare, rare ordered. The parsnips were course and poorly flavored. The duck breast was supposed to have five spices, which were non-existent. The fois gras was excellent, and properly cooked. All in all, a restaurant we have gone to many times over the many years has significantly declined and Not Worth It.
Edward
I've been to Hemingways Bistro at least a half a dozen times. 3X for brunch and 3x for dinner. It seems to be an OP favorite, But while I really, really, really want to like this place it has proven to be simply "delightfully mediocre". Brunches have been kind of a disaster. There really is nothing special about the cheese and pastry table. And I do NOT believe that the pastries are made in-house, they are more on par with something one would get at Starbucks. Last time my son and I had brunch there my meal was cold. The waitstaff DID try to fix it, but service responsiveness was really poor this day. We waited for over 45 minutes to receive our breakfast – AND it wasn't really that crowded. I just recently had dinner there last week. The bread was excellent and the baked brie was fantastic. But the lyonnaise frisbee salad was just meh. The salad lacked flavor and the lardons were really tiny. I also ordered the Shrimp de jonghe and is was swimming in oil – and I am guessing the shrimp were frozen, as they were hard and overcooked. I'm glad that others enjoy Hemingways, but I have given it my last go.
Hinesh
Good food. Wait staff may have been short staffed. Took a long time to place order, get food, clear table, pay, etc.
Carol
Great spot for a special occasion. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of a Paris bistro. Start with a cocktail. We enjoyed a French 77 along with a baked brie appetizer. Blue point oysters on the half shell had just the right touch of briny to go with a spicy sauce. Try the fish special of the day. The pike was delicious and came with a mix of asparagus and fingerling potatoes. The beef wellington was cooked to perfection and came with au gratin potatoes and green beans. Raspberry souffle to finish along with chocolate mousse. An excellent evening where dinner was the star. Thank you Juan for taking such good care of us.
Lisa
Always a delight. Onion soup is one of the best. So glad there is still a good French restaurant remaining in the Chicago area.
It was lovely to sit outside and have Hemmingway's outstanding food and service. Their martinis are great, though I am not usually a martini drinker.
What a great find, we loved our dining experience here! As a designer, I have to first point out the beautiful architectural details in this restaurant. The building is very old, and it has some of the most gorgeous Torrazzo and brass inlay floors I've ever seen, and the plaster on the walls was incredible. It even had Venetian style plaster details, whoever did this space is probably no longer with us. This type of Plaster work is only done by very few people these days. That said, it was a fantastic French vibe, the pictures online do not do this space justice. It is way cuter inside! I love a linen tablecloth. I love that the servers all had white pressed shirts on. The menu was exactly what you would expect for French fair, it was very traditional and served on white plates. Everything we ate was delicious. The crabcake was definitely crab forward, no filler here. My husband had the white fish and I had the steak frites, we switched entrées halfway through so that we could each try each other's and everything was delicious! We were sat at a two top in the same room as the bar and I loved watching the bartender make all the cocktails to order. That was very impressive. This is just a personal note, but when my husband and I go out for dinner, sometimes we are sat at a two top and when this typically happens, we're normally joined by another couple at some point in the reservation. Now this doesn't bother my husband and I because we always like to eavesdrop and listen to everyone's conversations, and we were lucky enough that the couple next to us was on a second or third date and it was not going well. 😂😂 entertaining for us to say the least but if you're someone that really wants a private dinner, this might not be the restaurant for that, as the tables are close together. We came to Hemingway‘s because we were going to a candlelight show at the art center across the street, we will absolutely be back. This was such a spectacular date night!! We will be back!
Excellent meal in a relaxing and charming atmosphere. For us it was a birthday celebration and we had plenty of time for conversing and enjoying both our appetizers and our main courses. The pate appetizer is fabulous, ask for more cornishons! Our waiter gave us just the right amount of attention and good advice on our entrées. p'Perfect 
I was disappointed in food as well as service . I made a reservation on phone as well as website . I informed on both that my dad was visiting from Michigan for his wedding anniversary . When there was no mention I mentioned it to the waiter which he replied happy anniversary . The shrimp was quite tough and the flavor was not pleasant . The crab cake was overcooked on outside again the flavor of the crab was missing . My dad said his French toast was good and his wife said the whitening fish was ok as well . It was a disappointment to say the least . It was my first time there I live in area but would not recommend to there's as well I will not be back . Teri Aidara Our reservation was Sunday 12:30
We attended the Sunday Jazz Brunch. There was a variety of salads, cheeses and pastries to select. The items were fresh tasting and promptly replenished. The Crepes Gratinee and Herb White Fish were served warm and a great accompaniment to the brunch items. We enjoyed the jazz music played through the meal.
It was a summer Saturday lunch, we were near a loudish table ,hostess moved us to quiet table!
Hemingway's Bistrot has been the go to place in Oak Park for my girlfriend and I whenever we're looking for dining in OP. The food, service and French Bistrot feel never disappoints! Whether having the hamburger, quiche of the day, salad nicoise or whitefish with spinach, the menu selections are consistently excellent! Bon apetite!
Definitely a white-table cloth experience but unfortunately the over-priced menu doesn't come up to its prices. We hadn't been there in years and now we remember why. The three of us only had entrees ($50 per person with tax and tip) and all three of us left disappointed. My steak frites - the frites were greasy and soggy. My husband's steak au poivre - the sauce was very runny. Our friend's mixed grille, although he enjoyed the one sausage, the rest was dry. The wine was good but one of the largest mark-ups we had seen in our regular eating out.
My wife had the whitefish which was fantastic. She really enjoyed it. I had the chicken dish which was not very good. The chicken was dry and very tough.
Excellent service for our dinner on the patio. Entrees were beautifully prepared and delicious - the lamb and fish almondine.
Restaurantji Recommends
Onion soup was very watery no depth to it needed to have more beef stock or consommé. The duck breast had been thawed days before, and consisted of one quarter of a breast (ie, had been cut in half) was medium to medium well instead of the rare to medium rare, rare ordered. The parsnips were course and poorly flavored. The duck breast was supposed to have five spices, which were non-existent. The fois gras was excellent, and properly cooked. All in all, a restaurant we have gone to many times over the many years has significantly declined and Not Worth It.
I've been to Hemingways Bistro at least a half a dozen times. 3X for brunch and 3x for dinner. It seems to be an OP favorite, But while I really, really, really want to like this place it has proven to be simply "delightfully mediocre". Brunches have been kind of a disaster. There really is nothing special about the cheese and pastry table. And I do NOT believe that the pastries are made in-house, they are more on par with something one would get at Starbucks. Last time my son and I had brunch there my meal was cold. The waitstaff DID try to fix it, but service responsiveness was really poor this day. We waited for over 45 minutes to receive our breakfast – AND it wasn't really that crowded. I just recently had dinner there last week. The bread was excellent and the baked brie was fantastic. But the lyonnaise frisbee salad was just meh. The salad lacked flavor and the lardons were really tiny. I also ordered the Shrimp de jonghe and is was swimming in oil – and I am guessing the shrimp were frozen, as they were hard and overcooked. I'm glad that others enjoy Hemingways, but I have given it my last go.
Good food. Wait staff may have been short staffed. Took a long time to place order, get food, clear table, pay, etc.
Great spot for a special occasion. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of a Paris bistro. Start with a cocktail. We enjoyed a French 77 along with a baked brie appetizer. Blue point oysters on the half shell had just the right touch of briny to go with a spicy sauce. Try the fish special of the day. The pike was delicious and came with a mix of asparagus and fingerling potatoes. The beef wellington was cooked to perfection and came with au gratin potatoes and green beans. Raspberry souffle to finish along with chocolate mousse. An excellent evening where dinner was the star. Thank you Juan for taking such good care of us.
Always a delight. Onion soup is one of the best. So glad there is still a good French restaurant remaining in the Chicago area.
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