Hemmingway's Bistro

Name: Hemmingway's Bistro
Address: 211 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL, United States, 60302
Telephone: (708) 524-0806
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.6

4.6 (1302)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

211 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 22, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

At Hemmingway's Bistro the menu combines classic French dishes with the freshest Midwest ingredients.
The daily specials reflect the chef's love for fresh seafood. Using mostly East-coast seafood flown in from Boston daily, the chef creates dishes like wild mushroom-crusted halibut on horseradish whipped potatoes and roasted sea bass on Caussoulet beans.
There is also a Parisian seafood bar offering towers of Plateau de Fruit de Mer with fresh oysters, clams, shrimp, and lobster.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood, French American
Hours of operation
Mon–Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Sun 3:00 pm–7:30 pm
Phone number
(708) 524-0806
Website
http://www.hemmingwaysbistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Christopher C Ala

Location
211 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Neighborhood
Oak Park
Cross street
Lake and Oak Park Ave
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Green Line on Oak Park Ave
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

$2 FRESH OYSTERS
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM,Fri - Sat - 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Join us MONDAY - FRIDAY, at HEMMINGWAY'S BISTRO, for our Oyster Bar Special from 2:30PM - 5:30PM Enjoy $2 fresh oysters available alongside our daily fresh Seafood Lunch and Dinner Menus!
$5 OFF ALL COCKTAILS
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
$5 OFF ALL COCKTAILS, WEEKDAYS, 2:30 - 5:30PM

Popular dishes

Soupe du Jour$9.00
Onion Soupe Gratinée$12.00
beef broth, Gruyére cheese
Chicken Liver Paté$14.00
Dijon mustard, cornichons
Mussels á la Marinière$16.00
white wine, fine herbs
Escargots de Bourgogne$15.00
garlic, pernod d'anise
Smoked Salmon$18.00
potato pancake, horseradish cream
Bistro Cheese Plate$17.00
fresh fruit, toasted crostini
Baked Brie$18.00
apricot preserves, wildflower honey
Lump Crab Cake$18.00
apple endive salade, grain mustard

Salades

Petite Salade$10.00
house vinaigrette
Frisée$14.00
bacon lardons, farm egg, croutons
Warm Goat Cheese$13.00
oven-dried tomatoes, chive vinaigrette
Grilled Chicken Cobb$19.00
avocado, blue cheese, bacon, egg, tomatoes
Maine Lobster$30.00
mango vinaigrette

Les Plats du Jour

Sandwiches

Served with pommes frites or fruit

Ham, Gruyére and Egg$18.00
apple, smoked ham, brioche, béchamel sauce
Smoked Salmon BLT$18.00
avocado, red pepper aioli, wheat breat
Blackened Whitefish$18.00
Lemon caper aioli
Bistro Burger$19.00
smoked bacon, brie
Bistro Burger Royale$28.00
foie gras, truffle mayo

Plats Principaux

Bistro Omelette$16.00
pommes frites
Quiche Du Jour$18.00
petite salade
Crepes Gratinée$17.00
French ham, gruyére cheese, asparagus
Baked Acorn Squash$23.00
mediterranean cous cous, balsamic glaze
Grilled Steak Frites$32.00
pommes frites, tomato persillé, beurre d'Maitre
Herb Crusted Whitefish$30.00
sauté spinach, pommes purée, lemon beurre blanc
Pan Roastefd Jumbo Maine Scallops$36.00
prosciutto, chanterelle, fingerling, scallion butter
Cape Cod Mussel Riesling$28.00
pommes rouge, riesling creme
Grilled Amish Chicken Paillard$26.00
arugula, tomato, mozzarella pearls

What 1,302 people are saying

Hemmingway's Bistro 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

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Near West
Great for brunch
Near West
Neighborhood gem
Near West
Romantic
Near West
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Hemmingway's Bistro exudes a "classic French bistro" atmosphere with a "reasonable price" and "excellent service." Guests love the "wonderful ambiance" and "delicious cocktails." Standout dishes include "pan-seared halibut," "raspberry soufflé," and "crab cake with apple-endive salad." The live jazz on Wednesdays adds to the "special experience."

1,302 Reviews

J
John
Chicago / Illinois2 reviews
1.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
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.
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T
Tom
South Carolina3 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 14, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
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.
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R
Regina VIP
Chicago / Illinois113 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service for our dinner on the patio. Entrees were beautifully prepared and delicious - the lamb and fish almondine.
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r
ruth
Chicago / Illinois2 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 11, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
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.
1 person found this helpful
E
Edward VIP
Chicago / Illinois13 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
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.
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H
Hinesh
Chicago / Illinois1 review
4.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Good food. Wait staff may have been short staffed. Took a long time to place order, get food, clear table, pay, etc.
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R
Robert VIP
Washington, D.C. Area93 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 5, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
A neighborhood gem. Great food and attentive service!
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P
Paul VIP
Chicago / Illinois90 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A wonderful experience. Fabulous lunch menu and perfectly prepared and presented dishes. Plus, an outstanding waiter. Thank you
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C
Carol VIP
Chicago / Illinois44 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
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.
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L
Lisa VIP
Chicago / Illinois78 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
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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FAQs

Hemmingway's Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (708) 524-0806.

Hemmingway's Bistro is rated 4.6 stars by 1302 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 22, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

211 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Additional information

Cross street
Lake and Oak Park Ave
Neighborhood
Oak Park
Hours of operation
Mon–Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Sun 3:00 pm–7:30 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood, French American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Green Line on Oak Park Ave
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Christopher C Ala
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.hemmingwaysbistro.com/
Phone number
(708) 524-0806

Hemmingway's Bistro

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

$2 FRESH OYSTERS

$5 OFF ALL COCKTAILS

French Onion Soup

Tea

Beef Wellington

Hors D'oeuvres

Soupe du Jour$9.00

Onion Soupe Gratinée$12.00

Chicken Liver Paté$14.00

Mussels á la Marinière$16.00

Escargots de Bourgogne$15.00

Smoked Salmon$18.00

Bistro Cheese Plate$17.00

Baked Brie$18.00

Lump Crab Cake$18.00

Salades

Petite Salade$10.00

Frisée$14.00

Warm Goat Cheese$13.00

Grilled Chicken Cobb$19.00

Maine Lobster$30.00

Les Plats du Jour

Sandwiches

Ham, Gruyére and Egg$18.00

Smoked Salmon BLT$18.00

Blackened Whitefish$18.00

Bistro Burger$19.00

Bistro Burger Royale$28.00

Plats Principaux

Bistro Omelette$16.00

Quiche Du Jour$18.00

Crepes Gratinée$17.00

Baked Acorn Squash$23.00

Grilled Steak Frites$32.00

Herb Crusted Whitefish$30.00

Pan Roastefd Jumbo Maine Scallops$36.00

Cape Cod Mussel Riesling$28.00

Grilled Amish Chicken Paillard$26.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Hemmingway's Bistro offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Hemmingway's Bistro restaurant rated?

Is Hemmingway's Bistro currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information