Scratch On Lake

This location has very nice servers, they were definitely helpful the entire time. I ordered “nice legs” from the menu and the chicken had absolutely no seasoning. The margaritas were tasty although filled with ice. And I also tried the Texas Burger and I liked it but my friend loved it!!! The truffle fries were a no for me. Overall it was ok.

always fun and good food! JR made such a great cocktail and was very nice to yap with!

So I was not impressed with its selections, however my friends chicken tenders were good. I gave my grill cheese entree to a homeless person.

Servers are great nice and helpful. The only redeeming quality. The food is completely inedible. Salad came in a paper basket caked in blue cheese. Dressing was awful. Bacon looked like dog food. The smash burger was horrible. The meat tasted very low quality and came on a giant bun? Under seasoned, over cooked, inedible. Do not come for the food. Based on the owners responses on here, they seem to be completely uninterested in their customers opinions. Complacent, this place used to be good.

The Texas burger was so good that I almost forgot to take the picture. My first visit, everything was awesome! Usually not a fan of pretzel buns, but this was the exception. Excellent beer and cider selection, beautiful location, and great service from sweet people. A new local favorite.

We were sat quickly and all the staff was very kind to us! We enjoyed that while the staff was prompt and on top of everything, they didn’t hover over our table. The appetizer we got was SO incredible. We got the pretzel bites with cheese and I would go back simply for this. Amazing!! Of course I didn’t get a photo of them. But then I got a pulled pork sandwich and my sister got the Texas burger and holy moly, they were both incredible! Lovely atmosphere, great reasonably priced food, and friendly staff! We will definitely be back!

Maybe I lucked out, or maybe they had an off day….or maybe reviews are just one persons view hahah. I had a double smash burger here and that paired with $3 Hamms really can’t be beat. Burger was tasty there and heated up later. Came at around noon and not super busy

Was there a couple weeks ago. Food was as good as you would expect for a bar. The tzatziki fries were my favorite thing. Also had some mac n cheese with pulled pork, and the cubano. I would be a regular if I lived in Oak Park for sure.

The environment was great. Great turkey sandwich. Children's menu. Had beer samples that night, we had the raspberry. I would like to go back but live no where near there. Oak Park was nice and location was great.

It is 930 p.m. on a Friday night and I wanted to grab a burger and a glass of wine. Imagine it taking 5 minutes to be greeted in an almost empty restaurant. Ordered red wine. No offer of water (pretty standard in the industry to offer). Asked if kitchen still open. Bartender said yes and presented me a menu. Took another 5 minutes for her to recognize i had made a decision (too busy chatting with other employees). Order a scratch burger. It came so over cooked it was almost inedible but I was starving. Never got a check back. Had to ask for water. Watched the BT spray down the bat next to me eating. I guess they close at 1030???? To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I eat here every few months and normally enjoy myself. Whomever is responsible for the p.m. shift needs to understand service. I know this place caters to a young crowd but they deserve to know what good service should look like. Tonight was NOT it. Alot of years in the restaurant business makes me a harsh critic because I know what it should look like. Bummed it was such a disappointment.

It's good. The pulled pork "taco" is my favorite and we order from here all the time. The location is good and the service is fast

Nice vibe. Some great salad options. Love the Fall Harvester Salad with Ground Turkey! Decent music on weekends. Good servers.

Their demerits are all easily avoidable, that's the part that hurts. The fries? They don't have to be drippingly soggy. The chicken? It doesn't have to be beef-jerky rubbery and dry. The staff? They don't have to be so distracted or lackadaisical. Beers taste like they're served in a glass that wasn't washed out. Again, avoidable. Gets by on outdoor seating and location. Somehow stays consistently mid.

Not good work! I order a double smash burger. It comes with American cheese and a special sauce, bread and butter pickle and lettuce. This burger looked good when I open the box. The first bite left me confused! The bun was soft but everything else was bad!!! The bread and butter pickles was salty , the special sauce ...salty! The American cheese ...salty! Burger patties ....again salty!!!!!!!!!! The patties also was bright red in the middle, not medium,but rare! I spent an extra dollar on coleslaw....salty! Fries was good because they had no salt! This was just a bad experience!!!! Please learn balance!!!!! My blood pressure is thru the roof!!!

Decent food and service. A good neighborhood spot with plenty of energy and in a great location.

It looks better than it tastes. Lacks salt, seasoning, and it doesn't even taste like cheese. I'm not sure what kind of watery cheese sauce they use but I had to add my own cheese just to make it somewhat edible. Definitely won't be ordering from there again.

Scratch wrap was excellent. Great chicken flavor and the fries are fresh cut, low salt and amazing! Service was ok they were short on staff I was told. The restaurant is nice with a medium sized bar area and plenty of tables.

Was downtown Oak Park and decided to try out Scratch on Lake. The restaurant seems to be a local staple to visit and I love a scratch kitchen for fresh ingredients. The inside has a tavern/pub feel to it and they offer daily specials. It was not overly crowded for a Sunday lunch and bears game. We decided to stick to food only and ordered the mac and cheese with bacon as well as the chili mac. Our server was a bit scattered and apologized for the slower service as more people came in after us and a larger grub hub order was placed. It did leave us feeling the front of house and kitchen was understaffed. Either way we were optimistic for our food! While the mac and cheese was delicious, the chili mac felt lacking in the toppings category. Everything did taste fresh but we may not order the same entrees next time. They do offer a 10% discount for cash which made our bill about $20; great price!

The turkey melt was disgusting. Very unsatisfied. I am not at all a picky eater and just could not eat this. Our waiter didn't care to compensate for the terrible food.

Smash burger was overcooked - and dry. Fries? Dry. Mac and cheese? Wet! Do they not drain their pasta? Total for two: 62 bucks Plus tip. No bueno.

Came here with friends after a long day of day drinking and everything hit the spot. The tater tots were a perfect start. For dinner, I ordered the Cheeseburger Bowl because I hadn't seen a vegetable in 24 hours and it was delicious. Completely inhaled it. One of my friends ordered the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese in the smaller portion and there was so much food! She doesn't do leftovers so I took it home and it was amazing on day 2. Definitely will be back!

I was craving fish and chips and Scratch On Lake scratched that itch. But was it the best fish and chips? Probably not. They have a pretty vast menu, not super busy, and generally friendly to a crazy toddler. Would I come back? Probably not.

I've been here a handful of times this summer and I've never left happy about my experience. I've tried multiple food options and they're mediocre at best and definitely way overpriced. The staff I've interacted with are cordial but they are not good at their jobs and don't seem to care. I really don't understand how this place is still in business.

Scratch on Lake is just that... a scratch. Ok let me give more context. This is a supposed stable in oak park that many people tend to eat at. Ive given this place a try once before but I sat outside in the summer and ordered mac and cheese along with some fries. Nothing to special so I didn't review. I decided to change that by going in to see what the hype was about. This establishment gives me the vibes that it only receives business because it's on a major street, not because it's actually good. I was not truly impressed with my visit here. It was empty during prime time on a warm weathered Saturday. My friend and I am naturally were seated right away in super worn and tattered booths. The menus definitely were old and needed to be clean. Our server was the best out of the entire experience. She was tentative alert and quick paced. My friend and I chose to order the spicy chicken sandwich. The picture speaks for itself. The slaw was overllllllly soupy and glopped all over the sandwich. The lazy skirts of sriracha on top was not creative and the cucumbers were unnecessary. Seeing as I was hungry I ate it but I was not impressed. This is besides the fact the burger was $13.75 solo and you have to pay for fries separately. The taste and quality of the meal versus the price did not match up and I really need them to humble themselves. I'm not inclined to return

I was disappointed twice in one visit. I have been somewhat loyal to SK when a craving for a nice juicy burger would hit. However, this time I ordered a burger at Scratch on Lake and after the first couple of bites, I I noticed on my third bite that the burger was really dry. It looked like it was reheated and/or like it was made prior and then it was quickly reheated. The server was very nice and understanding and accommodating and offered to bring me a new burger. Due to time restraints I was not able to sit down and enjoy the second burger, instead I had it "to go." Upon returning home. I cut the burger in half and noticed that it looked the same as the first one (visually texture wise). I wanted to give it a fair chance so I took a bite...only to be disappointed, it was exactly the same as the first one in the restaurant, very dry and dense, this burger almost tastes like a packaged/preformed burger. I can honestly say that I will not be ordering any more burgers from Scratch Kitchen. Over the years with expansion and a new storefront opening up on Lake Street, I have noticed that Scratch Kitchen burgers are not what it "used to be" when they first opened at their original location in Forest Park. The quality has gone down, including the french fries, which every time I have ordered from there, the fries were very limp and looks extra greasy, I get it, they are french fries so they are greasy, but they are very limp and when I eat fries I would like for it to be somewhat crispy...at least have some texture, other than being 'limp.' Goodbye SK

This was my first time eating at Scratch on Lake. I was looking for a good sandwich near me, and I found Scratch on Lake through a Google search. I ordered carry-out and my food was ready within 15 min of ordering (A+ for timing!) I went with the Pulled pork sandwich on a subbed out gluten free bun. It was an extra few dollars for the GF bun, but it was around the same typical price other restaurants would charge. The sandwiches come with a side included, so I went for the regular fries Taste overall: The pulled pork was AMAZING. I don't like my pulled pork overly saucey, so the amount of bbq was perfect for me. If you're a sauce lover, I recommend asking for extra. The fries were OK, not my favorite and could use a little bit more seasoning and/or salt. I would definitely try a different side for next time. I will definitely be back to Scratch on Lake! Featured: Pulled pork sandwich, Regular fries

I came here Friday night with an old co-worker around 7PM. It was a nice crowd of people. It was a live band playing in the corner of the restaurant. Full side bar serving up the drinks. My Co-Worker wanted to sit inside at a booth. I preferred to have sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the nice weather. Our waiter was energetic and friendly. The menu had a list of unique and creative food names. I wanted to play it safe. So, I ordered the chicken strips with fries. My co-worker ordered the Impossible Burger which came with a lot of melted cheddar cheese on top. She had to scrap off the cheese. I enjoyed the live band and the chill vibes. The food needs some work. I would probably come again only to enjoy the music.

While on a little weekend getaway, stopped by this cute restaurant in the Oak Park section of Chicago, where everything is made from scratch. The food and service was phenomenal. They also have a pretty impressive cocktail list as well. The peach basil margarita is really refreshing. It was so good I was tempted to get another one lol. For lunch we kept it simple with the sandwiches. I had the lamb burger, and instead of fries got a side salad, with a really delicious lemon dressing. One of my friends got the smash burger and my other friend got a Cuban sandwich. Again to be brutally honest, you can't go wrong with anything off the menu all the food is fire. They also have nice weekly specials, like 1/2 priced burger night on Mondays, fish fry on Fridays, plus a host of other 1/2 priced deals. I told my friend, that I want to come back here for the next visit. Price point matches the food quality as well. SKL is such a nice addition to the Oak Park area. Will most definitely return

drinks were good , food not so good, we got the buffalo Mac n cheese and it was one of the most disgusting we have ever tasted super watery no flavor don't know what that was but it was not cheese the "buffalo chicken" didn't have buffalo sauce it was like a dry rub but the chicken was super dry

Tasty place to eat at in oak park! Quick service, music isn't too loud and the food comes out hot! I ordered the scratch burger (single) with the buttery garlic fries and enjoyed my food. Next time, I probably won't get the buttery garlic fries, because they weren't all that crazy lol and I think the normal fries will suffice. Looking forward to coming back here and trying their Buffalo Mac!!

Great food don't get me wrong, but my only problem is having to SEPARATELY PAY for a side of fries. I paid $22 for an impossible burger AND an order of fries when the side of fries should already be included.

Love the food always. Bring back the pizza! Friendly staff, friendly patrons. Always love the ambiance. Friday and Saturday rocks with the special guest rocking it out! And I love the weekly specials. On Friday special was the Birria Burger. Can't wait u til they do that one again. Love you SCRATCH IN LAKE

wish i could give 0 stars. my family and i ate here yesterday 1/2/2025 around 7-730pm. we came for trivia and only had the scratch house salad with grilled chicken. at around 3am this morning, all of us have been nonstop vomiting. Either the chicken wasn't cooked fully or the lettuce wasn't washed. Only 1 person in my family did not touch the salad and they are perfectly fine. BEWARE WHAT YOU EAT HERE YOU WILL GET FOOD POISONING THEY ARE NOT HANDLING THEIR FOOD SAFELY! i will be telling everyone i know and posting on every platform about the poor food handling and food poisoning. UPDATE: i called the oak park health department and they stated that this restaurant has been a problem. BEWARE SECOND UPDATE: update: My mother and I posted the reviews to allow the public to understand our troubling experience on 1/3/2025. The owner of this business looked for my mothers information and sent her a private message harassing her for telling the public the truth about the poor food handling this restaurant practices on 1/4/2025. I will be providing a screenshot for everyone to see how the owner talks to anyone who leaves a bad review. if the owner cannot handle truthful negative reviews then maybe he shouldn't be owning a business. Beware everyone! if you leave a bad review the owner will stalk you and message you PRIVATELY and harass you for leaving HONEST NEGATIVE REVIEWS ABOUT THIS DISGUSTING PLACE!

The burger here was sloppy goodness even with a single patty. Lots of flavor, and I love the crunch on this smashburger-style patty. The burger was a little light on the side fries that can be added on, though. The other oddity? The skillet cookie had great flavor but was served...not quite warm? Semi-cold? Lukewarm? Either way, NOT hot, the first time that I was not warned to not touch the skillet, which is a bad sign. I almost need to ask Scratch to heat that cookie up next time! Love a good bar kitchen near my house, so I'll be back to try some other stuff on the menu. The curds were OK but not amazing; that scratch burger is certainly the reason to give this a look.

I love the burgers here. But for some reason the kitchen is always closed early even though they say they are open to 11pm. Try the scratch burger!!

The menu items look and read AMAZING!!! The wait staff was hit or miss. We walk in and sit ourselves no acknowledgement from staff, no direction where to sit. One waitress was fooling around on a computer another was serving. We sat for 43 mins waiting for someone to acknowledge us. I'm usually the one expecting more from business' so I let my friends deal in their time, mine was ten minutes ago theirs was 43 mins. At that point a waitress was walking by and my friends BOTH asked if we have a server. She said yes I'll get her but quickly corrected herself and said I can take your orders. She took all three orders and put them in and mentioned it to our server then our server decided to do her job. She brought us water and the server who took our order delivered our food quickly. This was our first visit so we decided to all get something different and share. Started - 1# Chicken wings - excellent cook and seasoning I was shocked they were legs FULL legs not drummettes. Order 1 - St Patty special Corned Beef sandwich on rye w/fries Order 2 Mediterranean Fries Order 3 - Friday Happy Hour special Cod fish and fries Of these three meals the BEST was the item that is not a menu staple the Corned beef. It was amazing and worth the price. The rest was just ok let me explain. The fish was cooked too fast the outside was crispy but directly under the skin was this mushy batter on all three pieces. The Mediterranean fries were good they just needed a binder or sauce to blend or make the meal come together. We were there almost 3 hours waiting, eating, and talking and the waitress covering our section stood by a computer in a corner doing who knows what certainly not serving us or the others around us. After finishing our meal we realized the waitress never asked to refill our water glass I don't know maybe customers only get one glass of water. The good news - it's a tall glass. Let's put a ribbon on this review and shut it down the place is tight but spacious I don't think the use of space is good, nice music playing in the background. But when you say scratch I'd like to see more items made FROM SCRATCH on the menu. Also highlight those scratch item and ask wait staff to do the same. Don't leave first time customers to their own decisions. In the end when our waitress finally came to the table I asked "did you forget about us" she stumbled and fumbled then finally the truth came out I was distracted and she apologized. Oh well we all have good and bad days. And that's the scratch on Scratch on Lake Oak Park.

Service was amazing. Your staff is very friendly and professional. I had a Cuban that was really good, the rest of our party seemed to enjoy theirs as well. Great drink selections and nice atmosphere. My wife comes here a lot, I may be joining her more!

Love the vibe, cool decor, cozy wooden booth, and plenty of space between tables. Everyone on staff was masked, which was appreciated. No wait to be seated for lunch today. I got the Impossible Burger, and upgraded to a gluten-free bun and sweet potato fries, which came to $19. That is definitely more than I typically pay for a veggie burger and fries, but I was really grateful they offered not just one, but a few entrees that were vegetarian + gluten-free. That can be a tricky combo. My burger and fries were delicious. Service was prompt and friendly. We had a great time and will definitely come back.

I recently visited Scratch on Lake restaurant, and I have to say that I was highly disappointed with my experience. I wanted to grab a bite to eat after leaving puppy training class with my dog. Usually, I would NEVER take my dog to a restaurant; however, due to another dog being on the patio, I thought it would be okay. Even seeing the dog there, I still wanted to ensure it was okay. I asked a server, and he said yeah and pointed me to a table. Then what I assumed to be a manager came out and asked if there would be one at my party. I confirmed, and he brought me water. A few minutes later, a different server came over and told me that, unfortunately, dogs were not allowed on the patio even though one was already on the deck. At this point, my pup was lying down while the other dog was eager to see other guests and continuously approaching people. I had high hopes and wanted to try this place! However, this experience really put a sour taste in my mouth. It honestly hurt my feelings as I just wanted a quick meal after class this afternoon. Overall, I would not recommend Scratch on Lake restaurant. Many other options offer better food, service, and ambiance for a similar price. Save your money and go elsewhere. This 1-star review is due to the CLEAR discrimination that I experienced today. If another party was allowed to dine with their dog, why wasn't I?

Walked over to Scratch for lunch on a Saturday. It was pretty crowded but found a table to sit at. It took awhile to get a waitress to take our order but the place was pretty crowded. Two of us ordered the fire burger with fries. It was good no doubt. I actually expected it to be spicier but it was pretty tame. A nice heat from start to finish. The fries were good. The place has plenty of tvs and a full bar to watch games. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

I have hesitated writing this review as I always try to see the best in people. However, after part of my party (4 people) waited 40 minutes for a couple of beers and soft drinks and the rest of our party (14 people) got drinks almost 50 minutes after we arrived I feel the need to indicate how poor the service is. We are regulars. We wait to be seated, we wait for menus. We move tables to accommodate our party.Some people order 2 drinks at a time because it's easier than having to wait. I cannot tell you the number of times I have been brought a can of beer without a glass. Tonight I was served a turkey burger that was pink and then was told by my server that the cook said it was done even though it was pink because that is the way their meat is. I am a chef, cooked turkey isn't pink. I did get a replacement burger which is still pink. We go to many many brew pubs in the area and I have never experienced such poor service. Not even when things opened up during the pandemic and every place was short staffed. It is almost comical how poor the service is and it's a shame because when the food is cooked properly, it is delicious. They used to have some of The best fish tacos I have ever had. Another frustration is when you walk back to the rest room and multiple staff members are sitting on the side shooting the breeze or eating while customers are going unserved. I want to like this place but I haven't been given a reason to so a zero star review seems appropriate but Yelp won't allow it so one it is.

Scratch On Lake is one of Oak Park's best restaurants in the city. The Scratch Burger and fries was the best and the brownie with ice cream and whipped cream was a delight. The staff made sure that customers were happy with the service. The flatscreen TV sets has every sporting events there is. The surroundings is something out of Cheers and I love it. Scratch On Lake is perfect for a night on the town.

Scratch On Lake is one of Oak Park's best restaurants to go for night out on the town. The burgers are delicious and you can watch many sports on their flatscreen television sets. The staff are friendly and the service are top of the line. I recommend Scratch On Lake to those who love to eat a great meal.

The food is so good here. Scratch burger has a truffled arugula that is wonderful if you out an egg on it. Problem: Pepsi products. It's the reason we don't go here more than once a year. It's just too awful.

Great burgers and service. Friendly staff. Took my kids here who love the cheeseburgers as do I. I decided to try the sausage crostini and man oh man, way too hot for me. Uncomfortably to hot. Wish they would crisp up the french fries too. Need to come back and try other things on the menu. House Pinot noir is pretty good.

Homemade Pickles and House Fries were delicious. My burger was prepared medium just right very juicy. I ordered the Down South Burger, Fries, & Pepsi bill total was $22 even...little pricey just enough portion size. I almost never finish my entire bigger and fries at a restaurant. The music or band wasn't there when I arrived but chill atmosphere. My server was training a new member friendly staff overall. I want togo back order truffle fries or pork fries, fish fry.

the service is terrible. the food is ok nothing really stood out to me though. The bar selection is nice though.

Just had dinner here after a long work day. Scratch is a nice casual place to enjoy a drink and a simple meal. I especially like the cheeseburger bowl. The service was more than rushed, like McDonalds rushed. Our server, Ben, demonstrated no awareness of social etiquette. From getting drink orders to interrupting my partner and I while we were obviously having an involved discussion. I always thought this was a place to have a leisurely, casual meal. He even interrupted out discussion to leave the check. To which my response was might as well leave it so we can get out of here. He left the check and asked if there was something wrong with the service. I told him I didn't wish to discuss it with him in the middle of the dining area. He persisted to ask what was wrong. I asked him I will speak to a manager. Ben continued to ask about the service. I finally told him that he could leave the check and walk away. To put a cherry on the whole experience, he didn't even pick up the check, he had a female server pick it up. We've been to Scratch about 6 times in our 3 years living in Oak Park. This experience will keep us away forever. I can't recommend it to anyone. The food is okay, the charm of the place is the atmosphere. Now that is ruined.

Excellent service, speedy service time, and mouth-watering American style cuisine. Nestled on the edge of the Frank Lloyd Wright historic districts Scratch on Lake provides an excellent place for travelers to refuel after architectural tours. We loved the gravy fries.

Greatest Oak Park restaurant. Food was amazing and cheap! Service was also better than any other place! Five stars. I live out West, so it's worth the drive out here.

Cuban sandwich was far from the mark and inedible. Stale bread and toppings thrown on haphazard with a side of soggy fries. Replaced it with a cup of chili. Equally unappetizing. I will continue my search for a good cuban sandwich.

I ordered the chicago combo "burger" Ill leave pictures. I understand i ordered garlic butter fries with it, i just didnt expect the entire thing to be dripping in butter.

Went there tonight for a few cocktails and was horrified to see four mice run across the floor. My friend and I left immediately. I will not be back.

Pretty good bar food with a fun atmosphere! The service was great and everyone was attentive. They were easily able to sit our party of four and made sure we got everything that we needed! Food was a bit on the pricey side to be in the suburbs, but I was still go back again if I was in the area.

Yummm!!! Ordered to go from this place before and yesterday my boyfriend and I came in for indoor dining. Clean, fast and friendly service, delicious food, and hand sanitizers on the table. Yesterday we ordered the prosciutto pea Mac and cheese for an app- DELICIOUS! And we got 2 burgers I got the fire burger (instead of pork I got regular beef patty) and BF got the buratta special burger-DELICIOUS! Previously we also got the Chicago combo burger and the Texas burger and 5/5 would recommend!!

I almost didn't come because of the reviews, but I'm glad I did. It was a party of 3 in Indigenous Peoples Day. We arrived about 4:15 and were greeted and seated by a lovely little hostess. Our waiter seemed new, but was very friendly. Two had lots of questions and he just went and found out the information. The drinks were delicious. My friend had a French martini and I had the Maui Mule. We all loved our food and the fries. The Asian bowl was extraordinarily fresh and delicious. If I lived close, the Asian bowl would be on my weekly dinner rotation list.

My review or rating is driven by how long it took to get our drinks. The food was good. Our server was good. However when the drinks we ordered are served after the food has been served, that led to a poor experience for us. It was a Monday night and very few customers in the restaurant. I don't want to hear about staffing either. We ordered 3 drinks and one was a draft beer. Also there were 2 people working behind the bar.