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Oaken Bistro + Bar, Lake Forest, IL

Oaken Bistro + Bar

4.7
4.7
246 Reviews
$30 and under
American
200 N Field Dr, Lake Forest, IL 60045-2513

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Innovative
  • Gluten-free-friendly
Oaken is a modern, upscale American Bistro + Bar with a global influence. Enjoy all-day dining in Lake Forest with elevated burgers & salads as well as dishes with more unique, worldly flavor trends like our popular Oaken Burger, Cubano with Crispy Pork Belly, or Braised Short Rib. When it’s time for Happy Hour, the sleek lounge features a craft cocktail menu with signature herbal-infused offerings as well as an eclectic wine list and local beers. Enjoy all day drinks and dining in the contemporary dining room, the inviting 25-seat outdoor patio, or order take-out or delivery. Branch out from your ordinary routine and unearth Oaken!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Christian Alejandro
  • Catering
    Oaken Bistro + Bar is happy to cater your next event!
  • Private party facilities
    Gather and entertain at Oaken Bistro + Bar, the only modern, upscale all day dining in Lake Forest, IL Enjoy a flexible American menu with a global influence. Complement your meal with a signature herbal-infused cocktail menu or a bottle from an extensive wine list. Reserve the outdoor patio, a private event room, or buy out the entire restaurant!
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Lake Forest
  • Cross street
    Townline Rd and Field Dr
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking in the hotel's adjacent parking lot.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Mother's Day Brunch

    May 11, 2025 only
    Celebrate the special woman in your life with a fantastic meal at Oaken Bistro! Enjoy our delicious brunch menu, plus a few special additions to make the day even more memorable. Our hotel team also decorates the lobby, creating the perfect backdrop for a lovely photo with mom. Important Details: - This is not a buffet. - A credit card is required to secure your reservation. - A $50 fee applies for same-day cancellations or no-shows.
    Mother's Day Brunch Photo

What 246 people are saying

Oaken Bistro + Bar reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Oaken Bistro + Bar, nestled in The Forester Hotel, delights with "amazing food" and "great service." Guests praise its "beautiful ambiance" and "creative and delicious" menu offerings. Signature drinks and dishes like the goat cheese and honey appetizer and shrimp appetizer are highlights. Perfect for a diverse dining experience.

246 Reviews
  1. Susan VIP

    Chicago28 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Terrific little restaurant! Went there for Sunday brunch and really enjoyed it. Especially the blood orange mimosas, the Mexican skillet, and the eggs Benedict. My husband enjoyed his Cuban sandwich too. Furthermore, the ambiance is new and lovely and the searing is very comfy. It’s a hidden gem in the Bannockburn/Lake Forest area!
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 3 days ago
    Susan, thank you for the kind words. We're so happy you've found us! I'll pass on the kind words to Chef Christian. Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  2. gretchen

    Chicago14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Surprised at how wonderful this out of the way treasure is! Worth going there again- no question! Try the goat cheese and honey appetizer! Wow! Looking forward to returning soon.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for taking time to write a review. We're happy you found us. We look forward to seeing you again. We're changing our menu a little in the next couple of weeks, but we'll make sure to keep the goat cheese and honey. It's a staff favorite for sure. Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  3. Bonnie

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Casual dining with great food. Great attention by all staff and never felt rushed. Signature drinks were spot on delish. We will be back to this hidden gem!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Christopher VIP

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    There was nothing wrong with our meal per se. We were just surprised by some unexpected upcharges. Would we go back? Not likely. We don’t mind spending what we did on our meal, but we would expect more for what we paid.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on March 31, 2025
    Hello Christopher, Thank you for taking time to write a review. We appreciate all feedback. I'm going to reach out privately. I'd like to know about those charges and how we could remedy this. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  5. Judith

    Chicago60 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We just love this restaurant in the forester hotel! Beautiful ambiance, great service and amazing food. The menu is interesting and something for everyone.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on March 31, 2025
    Thank you for the kind words Judith. We appreciate you taking time share your experience. We look forward to seeing you again. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  6. KelliF VIP

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food and service! We will definitely be back!
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on March 31, 2025
    Thank you for taking time to write a review. We appreciate the kind words. We look forward to having you back Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  7. Bruce VIP

    Chicago32 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was very good and so was the food. I was very pleased with my experience.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on February 27, 2025
    Thanks Bruce! We aim to please. We also appreciate you taking time to give us a review. We hope to see again. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  8. Taylor

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely Valentine’s Day dinner. Food and service were excellent, great staff. Clean, lively atmosphere.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on February 27, 2025
    Thank you Taylor. We appreciate your review. We're happy to help make your day special. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  9. Taylor

    Minneapolis1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing food. Had the chicken with risotto and it was amazing. It was a quiet nice atmosphere will come and go.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on February 27, 2025
    Thank you Taylor. We appreciate you taking your time to share your kind words. The Roasted Chicken Breast is almost always my first recommendation. I'm glad you liked it. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  10. Mark

    Chicago59 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service all around from all the staff. Great value.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on February 27, 2025
    Thank you Mark. We appreciate you taking time to give us a review. We hope to see you again soon. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Oaken Bistro + Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (847) 582-6410.

Oaken Bistro + Bar is rated 4.7 stars by 246 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. North Suburbs
  5. Lake Forest

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Oaken Bistro + Bar

200 N Field Dr, Lake Forest, IL 60045-2513

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Townline Rd and Field Dr
  • Neighborhood
    Lake Forest
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking in the hotel's adjacent parking lot.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Christian Alejandro
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Oaken Bistro + Bar is happy to cater your next event!
  • Private party facilities
    Gather and entertain at Oaken Bistro + Bar, the only modern, upscale all day dining in Lake Forest, IL Enjoy a flexible American menu with a global influence. Complement your meal with a signature herbal-infused cocktail menu or a bottle from an extensive wine list. Reserve the outdoor patio, a private event room, or buy out the entire restaurant!
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