Oaken Bar + Bistro — Restaurant in Lake Forest

-OVERALL- The chef saved the day on every front. Between coming out to take my order, informing me that the menu is organized by portion size, and creating some absolutely delicious food, this place gets 5 stars entirely because of her. In case the owner sees this: I am referring to the chef with short, blonde hair who loves the chocolate pudding! I will definitely be coming back. That said, my waitress - while kind and friendly - took nearly 30 minutes to take my order after seating me. I am lucky the chef came out to do so instead. I also waited a bit too long to get my check. I know it's COVID times though, and these folks are working hard, so I can't blame the waitress for a long wait here and there... Unfortunately I can't recommend coming here if you're in a hurry. The food is more than worth the wait though!

-ATMOSPHERE/LOCATION- Located inside a modern but cozy hotel. Plenty of seating. A couple of TV's. Soft music and low lighting. Gives a somewhat fancy vibe. Plenty of parking. Nice and warm inside.

-MENU- Items on the menu are organized by portion size, however this is not intuitive. Small portions are under a section called "Saplings", medium portions are under another section (I forget the name of this one) and large portions are under a section called "Timber". This naming convention is cute, but I had no idea I was about to order a small portion. Luckily the chef shared this information with me and I was able to pick something larger. The chef is an incredible woman and I will share more about her soon.

There is also an interesting happy hour menu from 3pm-6pm, Mon-Fri, where you can get a bunch of different items all for $5, including wine and beer. I will definitely be back to try this.

-SERVICE- After being seated at my table I waited for about 10 minutes (not bad) when the chef showed up to take my order. She was friendly and very helpful. I told her I would be wanting dessert, and she suggested I order a small or medium entree portion to ensure I wouldn't be too full. This is when I realized the menu is organized by portion size. After she took my order, my original waitress came back another 15 minutes later (so almost a half hour after I sat down... not good) to take my order. I informed her that the chef had already taken my order. She seemed surprised.

The food came out after about 20 minutes, which I don't think is too long. However, it took about 10 minutes for the waitress to bring me my check after I asked.

-FOOD- Absolutely delightful. I had the chocolate pudding dessert and spaghetti and meatballs. Both were so, so good. The meatball was perfectly cooked, and the chocolate pudding far exceeded my expectations. I have no idea how the chef managed to make something as homogenous as chocolate pudding so... interesting. Lots of different flavors. Definitely try this if you...

Never judge a book by its cover. When I arrived, the empty parking lot and the restaurant being inside a hotel initially raised red flags. However, with limited options and an open mind, I decided to give it a try—and was blown away. The cuisine and customer service were exceptional! They even fresh squeezed lemonade for me!

Oaken Bar + Bistro: A Taste of Elegance in Every Bite

Beef Tenderloin Empanadas The empanadas set the tone with their flaky crust and tender, perfectly seasoned beef filling. Accompanied by vibrant chimichurri and a zesty lemon tomato sauce, this starter balances richness and brightness with precision. Each bite feels indulgent yet fresh, leaving you eager for more.

Oaken Salad This salad takes simplicity to an elevated level. A mix of fresh greens pairs unexpectedly well with juicy orange segments and velvety whipped ricotta. The lavender vanilla vinaigrette adds a subtle floral sweetness, tying the dish together beautifully. A sourdough crostini provides the perfect crunch, making this a standout plate for anyone craving a sophisticated yet light option.

Atlantic Salmon A dish that seamlessly combines comforting and refined elements. The salmon, cooked to perfection, sits atop a silky potato purée that practically melts on the tongue. Earthy wild mushrooms add depth, while the buerre rouge sauce lends a rich, tangy finish. Every element works in harmony, creating a dish that’s both comforting and memorable.

And of course, my signature cappuccino…

Oaken Bar + Bistro shows its mastery in weaving together thoughtful ingredients with elevated techniques, making each plate a well-orchestrated delight.

Here’s a bit about the venue: Oaken Bistro + Bar is a modern, upscale American bistro located in Lake Forest, Illinois. It offers all-day dining with a menu that blends elevated American classics, such as burgers and salads, with globally influenced dishes like Beef Tenderloin Empanadas and the Cubano sandwich.

The restaurant features a sleek lounge serving craft cocktails, including signature herbal-infused options, alongside an eclectic wine list and local beers. Guests can enjoy their meals in a contemporary dining room, a 25-seat outdoor patio, or opt for take-out and delivery services.

Executive Chef Christian Alejandro leads the culinary team, offering a diverse American menu with international influences from Latin America, Italy, and Creole cuisines. Chef Alejandro was recently inducted into the Disciples Escoffier organization, highlighting his...

If you were thinking about coming here for holiday afternoon tea, don't do it. We made a reservation a few weeks out and the week out they cancelled it for no reason. We then had to call and ask why it was cancelled and they said it was an error on their part. That should have been our first indication to not go here for afternoon tea. We are afternoon tea people and often hit up afternoon tea wherever and whenever we can but we had no expectations for this place. Firstly the tea they give you is in bags on the table and is store bought. I actually had a ton of the same exact tea at home so that was disappointing. Our waitress was very unfriendly and didn't bother to even tell us what she was bringing out on the tier. She also never asked if we wanted anything else to drink other than tea and water which was a shame for her since we were eyeing holiday cocktails but she never asked and it was hard getting a hold of her so we passed. She brought out one tier of food for 4 people. We were shocked at this since many of the food items had 3 pieces. We ultimately had to stop her and ask for another tier which she was shocked we would be ordering.. what kind of a waitress doesn't try to upsell? She saw we had 4 people and knew the tiers only could feed maybe 2 but didn't ask if we wanted another. We never even ordered the one tier she just assumed we only wanted one and brought only one out. The food was frozen and honestly like they just took it out of the freezer to thaw for us. We also had to ask for jam since they didn't offer that up. The "scones" we were served were literally bits of scones they cut up. Not scones at all. We never got one full size one at all. Overall it seemed like this place has never done afternoon tea before and probably only are good with serving booze. The gentleman with the long hair was very nice and did handle our water refills and the male waiter who eventually came during the end of our time there and took over for the rude lady waiter was nice. If we had had him maybe we would have enjoyed ourselves more. The lady waitress didn't even bother to tell us what was on the tiers and literally told us to read the paper menu and figure it out. Never will we go back to this establishment which is a shame since we were excited for...