Hoja Santa — Restaurant in Oak Park

Hostess was very nice. We were a party of six and decided to sit outside. Love their outside area! Our server was very friendly and attentive. We ordered multiple plates and shared since it was everyone’s first time here. I would recommend doing that! Dishes that we ordered included, the guacamole which was super tasty and fresh, beautiful presentation and enough to share with six people. The ceviche as well was very fresh, and flavorful and enough to share with six people. The Caesar salad comes grilled, it was just a bit over grilled but I loved the dressing and ate all my salad! The skirt steak is a winner, it was perfectly cooked to a medium temperature, comes with a side of yuca fries that were amazing. We also ordered the ribeye, it was good but the skirt steak was beyond delicious that the ribeye didn’t measure up. We also ordered the chicken, I would not order it again, not only did the price seem high to me for the portion but it was very bland, and it sat on a curry tasting sauce. They had a very smooth red wine Casa Madero from Mexico, the bottle was $85 each, we had two, along with some cocktails. Their cocktails were very good. For desert we tried their flan and their home donuts, you can get them stuffed with Nutella or plain, I opted for plain with Nutella on the side. They were these fluffy, delicious, warm donuts holes, they are a must try! The flan was very good as well, more of a dense flan but definitely with lots of flavor and enough to share. They also have very good cappuccinos! But all in all I would go back for the skirt steak, the guacamole and ceviche as well as the Casa Madero bottle of...

I had the pleasure of dining at this gem of a restaurant, and it was an experience worth raving about. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warm hospitality of the staff, particularly an older gentleman whose welcoming demeanor set the tone for the entire evening.

Starting with the Guacamole as an appetizer, I was already impressed by the freshness and flavor. However, it was the Lamb Shank that truly stole the show. Tender, succulent meat, perfectly complemented by a well-balanced sauce, accompanied by greens and potatoes that were cooked to perfection.

The culinary journey continued with the special flan and donuts for dessert, each artfully plated and bursting with flavor. The combination of flan, berry compote, and mint was a revelation, while the donuts were the epitome of sweetness without being overwhelming.

To accompany the exquisite meal, we indulged in their cocktails, expertly crafted with a balance of flavors that perfectly complemented each dish.

Beyond the culinary delights, the ambiance of the restaurant was inviting and charming, making it easy to linger for hours in good company. The staff's attentiveness only added to the overall experience, making our three-hour stay feel like a delightful escape.

In conclusion, this restaurant offers not only great food but also a memorable dining experience. I am already looking forward to returning for more culinary delights and...

As someone who works in Hospitality i am very much aware that it is illegal to add an automatic gratuity to any bill especially if the customer isn't even aware of it . It can be classified as a service charge not automatic gratuity and even then customer is not obligated to pay for service charges or automatic gratuity. Life hack when you see restaurants charge the 2% service fee when you pay with a card they are making you pay for restaurant supplies and credit card fees that the ownership should be responsible for and you CAN ask for it to be removed.

I think we were judged because of how we look and server assumed we wouldn't tip. Decent service decent food but shady business practices. I tip 20%+ every time because I too live off tips.

I find it laughable in your response. It is not standard to add automatic gratuity for parties of 5 or more in the hospitality industry. For it to be considered a legal and standard ethical business practice , it definitely needs to be mentioned and notice added which it wasn't. So illegal. And if I had taken pictures of the faces of your stand maybe you would have understood that we were definitely judged.It seems to me that because we were not wearing certain clothing.Automatic gratuity was added to ensure that the server made money.... Which again , adding automatic gratuity without letting the customer know... Shady business...