Oaken Bistro + Bar

Review summary

1. V

   Vasuda

   Milwaukee

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   We went on December 25 and the place was about 40# full. It took 25 mins to get our drinks order out and another 15 before food finally showed up. Maybe they were understaffed and that’s why the service was slow. But what surprised me was the potion size. We’d ordered skillets and the skillets were the size of dessert plates. For $19 for a skillet the food was shockingly less. And we’d ordered the Mexican skillet that had some barely there pieces of chorizo in some gravy and otherwise the plate was full of just potatoes. Very disappointed.
   

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2. D

   Debbie

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   The atmosphere is very pleasant at the Oaken Bistro and Bar. Service was excellent and the food was great. We had the wild mushroom and sausage penne, salmon and chioggia beet salad.
   

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3. E

   Elizabeth

   VIP

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 15 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing food and service! Definitely will be going back!! The goat cheese and honey appetizer is phenomenal with the flavors blending together nicely in a rich decadent experience! The wild mushrooms were sautéed just right and so very flavorful! Would HIGHLY recommend this place for the food, ambiance and most of all the excellent hospitable service!
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 5 days ago

   Thank you for the review Elizabeth. We love it when we hit right spot. I'll make sure to share your praise for the food with Chef. Happy Holidays! Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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4. V

   Vicki

   VIP

   Chicago

   30 reviews

   4.0

   30 reviews

   Dined on 6 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We had not been here in while, because service was poor. Glad to report that service has improved, considerably. The food has been fantastic, and this visit was fantastic as well. I love the seasonal menu, and really appreciate how the food is much more innovative than other local restaurants. There was a loud group/party in bar, they were only reason to pull down ambiance and noise level. The restaurant is very open to bar, creating extra noise. We will be back again for happy hour.
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 9 December 2024

   Thank you for giving us a review and another opportunity. We really do appreciate it. We look forward to having you back for happy hour! Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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5. M

   Mark

   Chicago

   57 reviews

   5.0

   57 reviews

   Dined on 1 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Well trained Staff. Britany was great and so was the food!
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 9 December 2024

   Thank you for taking time give us a review. I will share the shout out with Brittany and the kitchen team. Hope to see you again soon. Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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6. D

   Donzel

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 22 November 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Oaken is always very consistent. Excellent drinks, very good food and good service. Last night was a little noisy and slow to receive our food because of the holiday bizarre, but overall still very good.
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 30 November 2024

   Thank you for taking time to give us a review. The Northwestern Hospital Lake Forest Holiday Boutique really did draw a crowd. It was very exciting to see so many locals come out and support the hospital and the vendors, but it was also a lot of people in our restaurant and hotel. You will find on a typical night the drinks, food and service are the same, but the traffic is a little lighter. Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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7. M

   Melissa

   Charlotte

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 9 November 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   This restaurant had such great reviews that we decided to try it. I was surprised when we pulled up to see it is in a hotel, but everything about it is very nice and the food is creative and delicious.
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 30 November 2024

   Thank you for taking time to write a review. Yes, we are in The Forester Hotel and a little harder to find than most restaurants in the area, but we work hard to be a great restaurant for the local community as well as those travelers we see from the hotel. We hope to see you again soon. Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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8. R

   Roger

   Chicago

   71 reviews

   4.0

   71 reviews

   Dined on 31 October 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Dining room was noisy last night as there was a halloween party going on in the hotel reception next door. Service was very good and prompt. My wife's salmon was outstanding, very tasty and well prepared. My fish and chips were average. The batter around the fish was too dry.
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 29 November 2024

   Thank you for taking time to write a review. We appreciate all the feedback we can get. Chef has been making adjustments to our fish + chips batter because of yours and similar responses. I think it's a little more airy and light than before. We hope you get a chance to try it. Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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9. K

   Ken

   Northern MI

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 27 October 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We dine at Oaken fairly often. My 92 year old mother and her 98 year old boyfriend love to be taken there after church on Sundays. It’s easy in easy out with walkers and the staff is very accommodating. The food and service is great as well.
   

   Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 30 October 2024

   Thank you for taking time to write a review. We see a lot of travelers from the hotel, many who return on a regular basis for various reasons, but we think of ourselves primarily as a restaurant that caters to our community, where friends and families can gather and celebrate, so a review like this is makes my day. I will make sure to share your compliments with our staff. Gabriel Boden General Manager
   

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10. J

    Joe

    Detroit

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 22 October 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2

    Took 2 hours to get our food. Several dishes were cold and French fries were all undercooked and not editable. Appetizers took almost and hour and also came out cold. Disappointing especially given the price.
    

    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on 30 October 2024

    Thank you for taking time to write a review. Good or bad, we appreciate all feedback. We have made some adjustments to avoid situations like yours in the future. Regardless, I don't want to offer excuses. We will make sure, if we get the chance to see you again, you will have a great experienced. Gabriel Boden General Manager
    

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