The Little Gem Cafe

Absolutely great restaurant. The Little Gem Cafe had a great, cozy atmosphere with a dapper look. The dessert was delicious. We had the tiramisu and creme brulé. For my entire I had the monk fish which was a special and enjoyed it. For appetizers we had the calamari (couldn't eat because allergy), the hummus and olive (my favorite) and some bread with cheese and figs if I recall correctly(?) which was also amazing. The drink menu was well crafted and offered a variety of specials. I would definitely return.

Cute little whole in the wall, the service was impeccable, the food is to die for! Chef's kiss!! I wanted Sangria, but they didn't have it and my server whipped up something that tastes exactly like Sangria and I was surprised! Great suggestion from the server. We had the appetizers Calamari-cooked to perfection, and the crispy Eggplant with tomato, cheese and balsamic glaze that was amazing. The entrees we absolutely loooove were the cheese stuffed pork chop, roasted chicken, and beef braised ribs. It was all cooked to perfection, nothing left on our plates! Would absolutely go again!

I'm moving my reviews over from Yelp. Originally published 2/2020 Great place for a nice meal with the wife! I had been to see these guys for lunch (killer burger, see photo) and knew that I wanted to get back in for dinner. They served me a burger good enough to warrant a return visit so I brought the wife in for their Monday/Wednesday dinner special on a Wednesday (live music scared us off of Monday night). They run an amazing date night special: $75 for a 3-course dinner for two, including a bottle of wine. We aren't really "wine people" so we asked the waiter to recommend a red wine based on our food order. There was a decent explanation behind the recommendation and it tasted fine but wine doesn't really resonate with me so the name or description didn't lodge itself sufficiently in my brain to make it into the review. Sorry about that. We started with the brie crostinis. I like brie and I like bread so there's just about no common configuration of those ingredients that won't work for me. That said, these were delicious! I really enjoyed the chunk of fig and the drizzle of honey. The crostinis were toasted well without being dry while the brie was delightfully softened. I didn't really like sharing them with the wife. Next up was the entree course. We had one order of roasted chicken and the hangar steak. We split the entrees but I didn't really develop a favorite. Both were pretty good but neither was life-changing. For dessert we had their Godiva chocolate mousse. It was pretty good but also a bit on the pedestrian side. The service was absolutely impeccable!

First time visiting this restaurant, Mother's day 2025. The meal was packaged for the ocassion. The egg and steak was my order. The meat was a little tough. The restaurant had only about 10 tables but was very noisy. The waiter was not very attentive, did not even remembered what each order from which person (Carlos).

I wanted to try a new place fora ladies get-together I was hosting. I called Little Gem and the owner answered. I was looking to place an order for noon on a Saturday and wanted to verify if the dinner menu would be available at that time. She asked me to text her the order I wanted to place and she would get with the chef to ensure they can accommodate everything I wanted. The customer service was above and beyond! And everything came out delicious. I will definitely be ordering from here again!

**NEIGHBORHOOD GEM ALERT**We a party of 12, the restaurant was ready when we arrived. We did not have to wait for the entire party to arrive, we were seated immediately as we arrived. The staff was very accommodating. The manager came over and introduced herself to us and welcomed us to the restaurant. The restaurant is intimate but festive. They have live entertainment on the weekend so that was nice. I recommend the braised short rib. No one complained about their food, but the prime rib needed to be cooked a bit more before it was enjoyable. All in all, it was a good time and I look forward to returning!

We went for an early dinner right after 3pm, we told the server we only had 40 minutes before Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio tour nearby. The service was very quick and we got out around 3:45pm without feeling rushed. The food is delicious, the server is very professional. Wish we had more time to get some drink and enjoy more. Cash is preferred for tips.

Great local restaurant fantastic service food and drinks. Kyle our host, waiter, and bartender was great. It appeared he was a one man operation and doing a great job of taking care of the rest of the customer's as well as us. The French onion soup was off the hook!

Very delightful little place for lunch Service was very sufficient. Will definitely try again.

My son and his girlfriend went to this place last night and he's very demanding when it comes to burgers!! Actually I could say with certainty that he's tried burgers in every continent! He told me that this place had really good burgers little expensive though.. Service was great Jeremy was great bartender, They really enjoyed the atmosphere the music was a bit too loud but the ambience was fun. Overall recommend go try their food and check them out!

Great place for drinks and dinner. It was a perfect evening to sit outside. The drinks were made perfect and lots of options on the menu. We weren't very hungry and just wanted to share something so ordered the mixed seafood salad. The portion was fairly small so wouldn't consider it an entree salad. I've been here before with my husband and we ordered entrees and everything was very good. Service is friendly and prompt. I definitely recommend!

Food outstanding , always on point!! Creative menu, beautiful presentation. Delicious' Small restaurant, spacious seating. Never feels crowded. Acoustic s can make it sound crowded.service excellent Fun price fixe menus.

Great location amazing food and service. We were vacationing in Chicago looking for a great place to eat and have a drink and we are happy we found The Little Gem Cafe. When in Chicago, we will definitely come back.

Came here on a Saturday just before 5:00 and service was pretty bad. There were at least four waitstaff around but service was extremely slow and inattentive. At one point, we asked to be moved because the staff were just complaining about work only a few feet away from us. The food was good with good portion sizes. Calamari was my favorite. However, the prices are a bit too ambitious for what you get. Their dishes are not worth $30/plate. As an aside, they really need to clean their fan blades. Gross.

Not sure how we came across Gem, don't remember if it was a recommendation or not. But whatever the reason, I am glad we discovered this place if only for the Fig & Honey Brie Crostini, ended up getting two orders of those (triple cream mascarpone and Black Mission Fig). We walked into a very cute and intimate space with exposed bricks and low lighting. We were seated immediately and our server was right on top of us to welcome us. I started with a bottle of Portell Cava Brut. Of course these folks had no idea who we were because the server brought over a stopper for the bottle...it did not get use :-) As I mentioned earlier, we started with the Fig & Honey Brie Crostini. This was a lovely combination of savory and sweet and did not last long, hence the second order. For dinner we all went for the Braised Boneless Short Ribs (creamy polenta, crispy onions, Brussel sprouts) and the Gouda Stuffed Pork Chop (green beans, crispy Yukon potato, chimichurri). Both of these dishes were excellent, with the flavors nicely blending together. The short rib meat was very tender to the point where you didn't really need a knife. The pork chop was interesting because in my mind's eye I could not imagine how the the gouda and chimichurri would work, but it did. We didn't do dessert because I had a cake I made waiting at home for us. But the meal was a very good one. Service was great and our server was checking in on us enough to see that we were ok, but not to the point of not letting us enjoy each other's company. We could come back here for a meal. I would like to check out their brunch menu to see it holds up...you know brunch is my favorite food group :-)

Went there after our walking tour nearby. Very nice establishment. Attentive and helpful staff. Nice seasonal drink choices and even a special holiday menu. The stacked eggplant appetizer was very good, we recommend it!

If you're looking for a special place to have wonderful dinner, the Little Gem Cafe is a sure bet. The food, service, and ambiance are top-notch. We came from Detroit to spend the weekend in Chicago celebrating my husband's 80 birthday. On a friend's recommendation, we went to this restaurant. We were immediately seated as we had reservations. The warmth of the brick walls and lighting created an intimate setting. It had an old (in a nice way) and comfortable feel, which was perfect for our gathering. I ordered the paella, which I believe, was the best meal I've ever eaten. Carlos, our waiter, helped me pair it with a sparkling wine. It was perfection. After the meal, we enjoyed a delicious chocolate mousse and crème brûlée. Thank you, The Little Gem Cafe for making our celebration so memorable. A special thanks to Carlos whose warmth and kindness will not be forgotten.

All I can say is... I definitely must go again for the food, service & ambiance. Great live music. see you soon! We'll bring some friends.

Something that I love more than finding a good happy hour- is discovering hidden gems wherever I go! The Little Gem Cafe is located in the Chicago/Oakpark area and is definitely a treasure in the neighborhood! I sat on the side that has live jazz and loved it! Even Connor loved it - that's his little hand, giving the thumbs up at the end of the video! Lol The food was so tasty and the service was great! Eats in the Sea Scallops Au Gratin - sooooo good! Fried Calamari- loved it! The breading was super light and crunchy Salmon Filet New Zealand Lamb Chops Orecchiette Pasta Everything was so good! Fun fact: Tuesday- Thursday, they have a date night special that comes with a 3 Course Dinner for 2 , with a Bottle of Wine! You choose 1 Appetizer and 1 Dessert, 2 Salads and 2 Entrees!!! Go check them out and tell 'em that Planes & Plates sent you!!! Enjoy!

The place was very good. We went for appetizers and drinks. Great service and atmosphere. Will definitely go back.

Went here for lunch. Our waiter was amazing and very attentive. The restaurant is beautifully designed. Now the food is absolutely amazing!!!! I had the sliced prime rib sandwich with the truffle fries and it was perfection!!!!

Smaller sized, dimly lit, dark wood, classy, nice little sidewalk patio. Service was cool and reserved, but attentive and sufficient. I ordered the petit filet mignon, medium. The outside had the perfect char and the inside was cooked perfectly and was super juicy. It was accompanied by herb butter and a red wine reduction. The side of broccoli was cooked just right--not soggy, but right between crunchy and tender. I also ordered an additional side, the whipped potatoes. They were smooth and buttery, though I prefer my potatoes with skin on and with more seasoning (this is just personal preference). I had a couple of cocktails--the basil mojito and their take on the Pimm's cup. Both were light and refreshing. Pretty reasonably priced at 12.00 each. They had several interesting martinis and a couple bourbon/whiskey drinks. The menu had several elevated, sophisticated dishes, such as salmon, braised short ribs on pasta made in-house, branzino, and more. I really waffled on the cavetelli pasta with short ribs vs the filet mignon--I may have to go back and try the former. Prices aren't cheap, but appropriate for this level of food. Two drinks, an extra side, and my entree was just over 86 dollars including tax, but not tip. This spot is near paid parking, lots of street parking, a short walk from the Frank Lloyd Wright home and Ernest Hemingway's birth home. They also have brunch and a date night menu. They have a bar next door that hosts live music sometimes. Could be a great brunch or dinner option while exploring the area.

Food was excellent and service was very good. A little on the pricey but worth. Parking and traffic difficult

We stopped by for brunch and absolutely loved it! The cafe is charming and quaint and we received excellent and attentive service from Mariia. We sipped on glasses of cava and their signature little gem martini. We dined on the smoked salmon benedict that was amazing! Surprisingly, the chilaquiles were also amazing! I will definitely be back for more fine foods.

Was lovely 4 years ago . Disappointing! Food , service , loud live music! Can't enjoy conversation nor bartender can hear what are we ordering. Voodoo decor , stinky smell . Muscles had nothing inside , few of them were like dry raisins , broken no broth . Save your money and go somewhere alse . This is very honest review.

On our date night we visited The Little Gem Cafe. Let's start with the pros..... The decor was eclectic and gave the place a very romantic aesthetic. They also offer outdoor dining which would have been perfect for the warm indian summer evening. But since our reservation was for live music, we were seated in the sister restaurant next door....I will get to this in more detail in a bit....The music was smooth jazz and the musician was very good. He even spent some time walking around and socializing we everyone. I really enjoyed that. It was a very nice touch. Now the cons.....Like I mentioned, we were seated in the sister restaurant, which was next door, called Encore. This is where the live music is performed. This appeared to cause some confusion for patrons, including us. The setting was intimate, that is to say it was small and seating was limited. We arrive early, so we had out choice of seating, although the hostess was trying to seat us at the bar. Although we didn't know it at the time, we opted to set next to were the musician would be performing. We had ideal seating for the show. Although our waiter was attentive initially, they appeared to be understaffed and not equipped to deal with the crowd. We ordered everything at once and he cleared the excess dishes away at the end. I'm thankful we were sitting at a larger table. We were able to clear the used dishes to the other side of the table. I will admit, he made sure our water glasses were never empty but he only came to check on us once after we initally ordered. We were there for 2 and half hours. The food was less than desirable. We started with the calamari. It was excellent, although I didn't understand why they put the sauce underneath it, instead of on the side. We just asked for sauce on the side. Next drinks, I had an old fashioned and my wife had a margarita. The drinks weren't mixed well and we didn't enjoy the drinks. For entrees, my wife had the salmon. It wasn't seasoned and overcooked. I had the lamb chops. They couldv'e been seasoned more and I don't prefer my food to be covered in gravy but the gravy provided more flavor.....Side note, the lamb chops tasted better than they looked on the plate. The experience overall was just ok. The live music and the available street parking save the evening from being terrible.

Decided to check out Lilttle Gem Cafe in Oak Park. Reserved a table for 2. We were seated right away... and to our surprise, they had live music playing soulful blues... this was AMAZING!!! We had a couple of cocktails... they were great! The food was top notch, and the service was outstanding. The ambiance was romantic with the low lights and intimate setting. Then, the live music began. It had us bobbing our heads and singing along. Thus was such a great experience... oh, and we even got a free dessert for checking in on Yelp. I completely recommend the Little Gem to all. This place will not disappoint.

You can take this review however you like. I don't write reviews to disrespect anyone's establishment, but when I write a review and then receive a nasty, unwelcoming response from the manager, I feel like i should say something. I started going through the reviews for this restaurant and I noticed a pattern. The current manager, Judith L. Only responds to black people reviews with irritation or disgust, while praising and welcoming back other people despite their review. Other reviews, which also gave less stars than mine, were much more negative than mine. I attached some pictures and again you guys can determine for yourself but I advise you to look through the reviews yourself. A black woman shared her opinion of the food and Judith wasn't nice and apologetic about her experience. Meanwhile there are several 1 and 2 star reviews from non-black people complaining about the music, the food, the service, and the prices. Some even said they would t be back. Did Judith respond with attitude or snarky, sarcastic comments? Absolutely not! She welcomed them back, thanked them for coming, apologized for their experience, and told them to contact her personally to fix any problems. I agree with the other review about not feeling welcomed. Not from the staff. The people who waited on us where pleasant, but after receiving Judith's response, I KNOW I'm not welcome. Again, take this how you like. I write dozens of reviews and I never made anything about race. However, I do recognize a pattern. So, Judith should be happy to know that I won't be back and neither of us have to deal with the other.

The Little Gem Cafe is on the short list of my favorite restaurants! Delicious fresh food, welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff. The sea bass with roasted potatoes and carrots was absolute perfection! Flaky, moist fish, crispy, creamy potatoes, sweet carrots and a rich buttery sauce created a balance of textures and flavors not to be missed! Tiramisu and crème brûlée were rich, smooth, and not overly sweet. The perfect ends of an exquisite meal! Our server Tara was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The gentle jazz music and lively conversations added to the homey atmosphere of this lovely restaurant! The whole package is reminiscent of the family cafes in Paris. Merci!!

We have lived a few minutes from this restaurant for almost 30 years. We have patronized it repeatedly. Tonight, however, my dinner was subpar; the Australian sea bass was barely edible but was priced at $42. Very disappointing. Plus, their smallish house salad was $16. Again, that's ridiculous. Other meals by my fellow diners were better.

Apparently they discriminate here. We saw this place and thought it looked nice, so we tried walking in without a reservation around 6:30p. The host told us they were "completely booked all night" and turned us away. Out of curiosity, we looked on OpenTable, which showed reservations available in 15 minute increments all night. Just to confirm it wasn't a glitch, we called the restaurant and asked if they had any availability, and the *same host* told us they could easily seat us if we came in. Very strange way to run a business. Obviously we will never try this place now, and from the look of the other reviews, it seems like we dodged a bullet.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Appetizers were delicious, ordered mussels and burrata. The mains we ordered were sea bass, the half chicken, gouda stuffed pork chop, and short ribs. Everyone practically licked their plates clean. Drinks were fabulous as well. I had the Pimms Royal, hubs had Viognier. For dessert (thanks for the free dessert, Yelp!) we ordered creme brulee and were not disappointed. The BEST part was the live music. Lovely folk-y jazz. I will definitely return! This is a great date place or terrific for a double date, which is what we came for!

Unfortunately I wouldn't really consider this a gem at all. We made reservations here for dinner one evening. We showed up and they were turning away people who also had reservations. They told us that they could seat us next door at their sister restaurant instead, but that there would be live music. We were with elderly family members and asked what kind of live music this would be. The hostess didn't know, so we said we'd wait for our table in the main restaurant to be ready. Even though she had offered this as an option, she continued to pressure us to move to the sister restaurant instead. We relented and went to the sister restaurant, where there was a private party happening-- not live music, after all. We were told the private party would be emptying out soon but we could sit at a table next to the group of about 30 people milling around and chatting until that happened. We were hungry and believed them! But the party took about an hour after that to empty out. It was pretty weird to be having a sit-down dining experience while these people thought they had reserved the entire restaurant (our waitress let us know that there had been a miscommunication about this). I ordered brussels sprouts and PEI mussels. The brussels sprouts were delicious, and a generous portion. But the mussels came out very cold in a creamy sauce. It was not great, but we didn't have many other options for dinner at this point. With our Yelp check-in, we had an offer for a free dessert. The waitress offered us chocolate mousse and we accepted. It took another twenty minutes to come out, after a pretty slow dinner overall. We had other negative encounters with this restaurant as well, that all seemed connected to the same basic issue of poor communication, bad management/planning and overworked staff. If the food was great, we'd give it another shot, but it wasn't worth the wait and uncomfortable interactions.

This is one of the family favorites. It's super hard to get all four of us to enjoy the same place, but Little Gem delivers time after time. The girls love the soups and the pasta with pesto and sausage, but they LIVE for the pretzel skillet cookie. That is one of the best desserts we have ever had - anywhere. They make a great cocktail - whether their own or one on request. I've tried at least six different entrees and never had a bad one. I have a lot of issues with many restaurants in terms of the usual offerings and usually end up with a max of maybe 2-3 things I can actually eat, but here not so! I hope they stay around forever!

I wish I could rate this place a zero. I went for Sunday brunch and I was made fun of for drinking too much coffee. Excuse me? You charged me $5 for a cup of weak drip coffee and then were mad when I asked for a second cup? Bye.

So gross, friend convinced me to try it again and it was truly terrible. I believe I saw bugs as well. Dirty establishment and awful food.

Small neighborhood restaurant. Waitstaff were attentive. The menu is seasonal. A good option for lunch near the Frank Lloyd Wright home.

Initially visited for Brunch, which was DELICIOUS. Savory. Attentive Staff. I have since returned for dinner and was not disappointed.

UPDATE in response to the owner. When you have dietary restrictions the options are limited. Pancakes with sugary icing is definitely not an option for me. Salt and pepper option as the owner mentioned isn't needed if the chef properly season the food prior to it being served.

Posting this review after two glasses of Chardonnay that accompanied my Excellent takeout branzino - so bear with me. First of all I had this meal in house a few days ago, and loved it so much I stopped in Oak Park (the mecca!) to have it again via takeout. I ordered, the lovely smiling hostess told me it would be ready in about 20 minutes. I decided to walk and shop in Oak Park. which I clearly LOVE! Came back 40 ish minutes later, picked up my order from the still lovely hostess, fearing I had ruined it cause it would be cold and not reheat well. Let me say... a smile and pleasant greeting to a single black woman picking up takeout or eating alone, can mean the world - totally different story at Picolo Sogno in the city...but that's for a different time. Anyway got my salad and branzino home and it has just been heaven on my little porch here! I didn't even bother to reheat and it was still delicious! The only problem - I've had this meal twice. What else can I try that will be just as good?

I wish I had looked at the lowest reviews first (like I normally do) having been in F & B for decades. I know what to look for. One thing? When a mgr, owner, chefs chooses to respond to reviews by either dismissing, or berating one's experience? That speaks volumes about how your experience will be. Not to mention its HIGHLY unprofessional. Real establishments do not do that. They value feedback and strive to be better. Its called hospitality 101. On the outside this place looks cute. Inside it's not bad. However? They have a half closed off room in the back of the restaurant that really should be at least closed off with some nice screen or something. If you are paying 20-30 a pop for an entree? Plus everything else? You shouldn't have to look at bus tubs or extra chairs etc. Onto the food and the service. The food was mediocre at best. Luke warm, bland, plating was like something from 1990s. Service : clearly short staffed and where the servers are all taking 15 minutes to get to a table for acknowledgement then when they did ? It was hurried order taker. No information, just rushed vibe. Again, you can be busy and not be just an "order taker" I could go anywhere to get that. So when I pay 20-30 for an entree? I do have expectations. So yeah, had I looked at the responses to other dinners? I would have never bothered. They truly do not deserve your business or your $.

Came in for the fixed price dinner ($95 for two) last week; tasty. The service was friendly and the space was nice too; we had to sit inside because all of the outdoor tables were full, but that just meant we had the indoor space to ourselves with some live music on a Thursday night. The food was only OK; in fact, we didn't take the leftovers from our meal, which almost never happens. The salad was probably the best thing I had, but the mix of steak and veggie risotto entrees were average. The fig and honey brie crostinis were also only OK; served warm, but the bread was really plain. Now, as a deal, I was OK with $60 per person (after tax and tip) for this meal, but nothing about the food was special. (We had a chocolate mousse for dessert, which wasn't bad.) Love having the chance at live music, but otherwise I'm glad I checked the box on this one.

If you are of African descent steer clear. Our waiter was Jack M. He did not like the fact that we were there. He took a while to bring us water and take our orders. It wasn't busy at all. It was after lunch but before dinner. He was rude and more than double charged my credit card after the fact. Glad I took a picture of my receipt. Days go by noticed the charge on my Card statement but didn't pay any mind to the amount because it should've been what I paid. Noticed a different day that he actually charged me $83 (and some change) for a $40 meal. So please if you go here pay close attention to your food and keep your receipt because your charge on your report might be more than you actually paid. I guess he needed the money so he charged me more than double when my receipt clearly stated $40. And I repeat it wasn't busy at this time. There were probably 4-5 tables being occupied.

The Little Gem Cafe is a gem indeed. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and rustic. While the menu is decidedly upscale the vibe is casual. The staff is nice and welcoming. Our server was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable and made great suggestions. They have a large drink menu full of standards and specialty drinks. I went with the raspberry martini made with vodka, chambord, and pineapple juice. It was refreshing, sweet, and dangerously drinkable. They have a good sized food menu with something for everyones taste. For a starter I got the fig and honey brie crostini with triple cream mascarpone and black mission fig. It was creamy and yet slightly chewy and had a delightfully sweet yet savory flavor. It was also perfectly portioned for an appetizer. With for relatively small crostini's you could easily enjoy this tasty appetizer with out filling up. A great way to start the meal. For dinner I had the stuffed pork chop with smoked gouda, crispy potatoes, and chimichurri honey brussell sprouts. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. With lots of well balanced flavor and a mixture of great textures. For dessert I had the chocolate mousse. It was creamy and chocolaty but was surprisingly light. A great way to end a great meal. The prices were very reasonable as well. I highly recommend.

Came here on a date night and had a good experience. We started off with the beet salad which was okay. I've had better. For the main course I had the pork chop which was very delicious. My wife had the chicken which was also very good. The wine selection was fine. Live instrumental jazz was playing in the music room next door so that was a nice option to add to the experience. Overall a good option for a date night or meeting friends.

This, please was exceptional. We showed up an hour before they closed. Kitchen was closed but right on time for the jazz band to go on. Enjoyed a margarita a martini and great conversation very intimate space excellent for first dates or nice quiet conversations. The customer service was amazing due to the fact that the restaurant was closed. They were extremely friendly and recommended us to come back early, but nice experience. Did not want to take photos of too much so people could come and check it out.

Service and ambiance are top notch, especially for the oak park area. I find the food to be a bit under seasoned. The coookery is always well executed

Absolutely adorable little spot with good martinis and the food was good. My fiancé had the shrimp scampi I had the boneless chicken entree the sauce was delicious. The jazz musician was perfect and the made the atmosphere even better for date night. Will definitely be back.

I went here with my husband years ago for lunch. The food was wonderful and the ambiance was great. A nice little place to have a delicious meal. Very romantic.

We visited The Little Gem Cafe a few weekends ago and had just an okay experience. My husband and I were popping around to a few places for a date nite and started off here. We made reservations simply online and all the associates were wearing masks when we arrived. It took a few minutes for someone to come greet us, but he was kind when he did. The inside of this place is adorable! I really like to exposed brick and lighting. I tried the Citrus Basil Manhattan. It was a little different than what I'd normally order but I liked the lime juice and basil simple syrup in there. super refreshing and I could definitely see people ordering this in the upcoming summer months. Plus they use Makers Mark which I enjoy. My husband got The New Old fashioned and he said it was okay. It tasted a bit watered down for his taste. Our experience could have been better if they weren't fixing the loud machine behind the bar. I absolutely understand things happen but unfortunately the sound was over-powering and wasn't a relaxing environment during our time here. I noticed that they have a date night menu to-go online and I think we may try that route if we stop by next time!

Where do I begin? I dined in at Encore by Little Gem and unfortunately, my experience was overshadowed by an unpleasant surprise: cockroaches. The ambiance seemed inviting with the live music but I couldn't help notice not 1 or 2 but 3 roaches crawl across the bar. The staff was friendly and also couldn't help but overhear something along the lines of the owner not doing anything about the roach issue. The food itself was nothing to rave about, very mediocre. Brie crostinis were slightly burnt, the mussels were clearly dead and expressed that to the server who saw how empty they were and gladly asked the kitchen to bring a new batch which I was grateful for. The half chicken was flavorful and the brussels sprouts were good. Basil Manhattan was okay. Just felt like for these prices, our expectations were high... Certainly felt discomfort of feeling like environment was unclean and made me wonder where else these critters are amongst the restaurant. While I appreciate that restaurants can have their off days, the presence of cockroaches is a health concern that shouldn't be overlooked. This place clearly missed the mark on cleanliness and urge others to consider dining elsewhere in Oak Park.

Went there tonight... mussels were half empty and the other half were tiny. Can't believe the chef was proud of what he served

This place has been here quite awhile - got together with friends and family to check it out. It's a nice kind of quaint place inside - we were a party of six and were seated immediately. After perusing the menu, I decided to go with the pork chop stuffed with gouda. A few of us slao decide dto share an order of fried calamari. The calamari was niceiy done not too "floppy" or crispy... really hit the spot. The pork chop was good, but didn't really wow me. Service was described as relaxed... which can translate into slow, but we weren't really going anywhere so that wasn't a factor in our dining experience that evening. The servers were pleasant however! I might go back, but with so many places to choose from these days, it might be awhile, There just wasn't enough to set the place apart in order for me to make a point out of coming again.

Great service. Cookie was a very good cookie. The cookie was easily a 9.5/10. Also very nice scenery. If I lived here I would come here like every week or two. All the workers are very nice and efficient at their job. It was one of the best meals I've had in my life. Definitely a top 10 meal.

Great spot for date night, even with a 4-year old in tow. We've been there a few times and have had a good meals and drinks each time. The time we brought our son, the restaurant made him a macaroni and cheese and a Shirley Temple cocktail. He felt very special. We all had a nice time. Side note: I highly recommend going to (so-called) Gypsy Jazz Night, too (not with your kid though!). Intimate atmosphere and a really fun night out in Oak Park.

Happy hour @littlegemcafe in Oak Park, IL We luckily got to sit outside - normally happy hour is only offered in the bar area (this is an old way of thinking - get people in and offer HH everywhere) Drinks were inventive and tasty. If you like a bitter cocktail the Pimms Royal is perfect.

Oak Park is a strange place. And by "strange" I mean my friend is right when she says there's not much around. Something about alcohol being banned from certain areas. Luckily for my dinner with her and another colleague, we found Little Gem Cafe on Yelp. It's a whiskey bar and restaurant. Perfect! Because we had dinner at 7:00 PM on a random Wednesday, the restaurant was practically empty. Service was wonderful, and I love the dim and sultry ambiance. We were seated towards the back. Everything on the menu looked amazing, both food and drink. We probably had one too many Manhattans, but I was sober enough to enjoy the marbled New York Strip I ordered, served with roasted cauliflower, chimichurri, and crispy potato. It was beautifully and colorfully plated and was delicious. Would recommend this dish. I can't remember too much about the experience, but I had fun! My colleague and I walked here, but it sounds like there's plenty of street parking nearby. I'd love to come here again on my next visit to Oak Park. Drinks and food were fantastic, and customer service was friendly. You could say that the Little Gem Cafe is a little gem in the neighborhood...