If you’re visiting Chicago for a few days, you might want to check out what nearby Oak Park has to offer. History, literature, and architecture buffs will want to make the weekend drive to the ‘burbs to see where Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright spent their days. Of course, your trip isn’t complete without trying the best local restaurants. Whether you’re heading back to the city after a quick overnight trip or just want to have your fill of breakfast food, stop by to try some of the best local brunch spots in Oak Park.
Of course, your trip isn’t complete without trying the best local restaurants. Whether you’re heading back to the city after a quick overnight trip or just want to have your fill of breakfast food, stop by to try some of the best local brunch spots in Oak Park.
A homegrown family restaurant that serves up all your favorite breakfast and comfort food options, you will feel the warm welcoming spirit of George’s once you enter their doorstep. They are famous for their fluffy omelets, but you should also give their breakfast sandwiches and breakfast specials a try. They also serve up some great burgers and sandwiches for lunch, and their selection of soups changes daily.
If you’re looking for a place that reminds you of mom’s home cooked meals, you’ve come to the right place. Delia’s Kitchen serves the best American and European comfort food in Oak Park. Their menu, which includes filling skillets, benedicts and french toasts, offers plenty of room for vegetarian options. You may just forget about your diet when you get ahold of their fluffy buttermilk pancakes, their bestseller, said to be the best in Chicago. They are only open for breakfast and lunch.
Chicken and waffles are among the best combinations of food out there. No one can seem to resist this classic Southern comfort dish that can be eaten at all times of the day. That’s why it comes at no surprise that after almost 10 years in business, the brand that started in Chicago has ventured out to include several branches, including this one in Oak Park. Besides the chicken and waffle combos, the restaurant also serves soul food dishes including catfish and salmon, going as far as having catfish and waffle combo plates.
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Hemingway would have been honored to have this charming French bistro named after him, and would have probably frequented the place. Featuring French dishes with Midwestern ingredients, Hemmingway’s Bistro takes Head Chef Ala’s love for seafood and incorporates it into his daily specials which include staples such as Coq au Vin, Cassoulet Toulousain, Bouillabaisse, Beef Wellington and Duck à l’Orange. Weekend brunch is a Parisian buffet that can be enjoyed with a side of a live jazz band playing in the background.
What are your favorite brunch spots in Oak Park? If we missed something great, let us know in the comments below!
Author: Maddy Osman, an SEO Content Strategist who has a passion for blogging. Her lifestyle blog, ChicagoCheapAss, shows young adults how to find the best deals and values in Chicago!
So much is going on in the night around Halloween this year in Oak Park that we thought we should put together a blog with all the highlights. So from haunted tango to spooky parties, you’ll find something that makes you go boo!
Green Halloween
Kicking off our blog is something the kids will love; it’s theGreen Halloween event on Saturday, Oct 14th. It runs from 11am-3pm and is free! It’s spread out over a few locations including: a free screening of Minions at the Lake Theatre at 10am; a Pumpkin Patch at the Wonder Works Children’s Museum; free popcorn samples at Wells Street Popcorn and, at 1:30pm, Scary Storytelling over at Ten Thousand Villages. It’s all anchored by the Green Pumpkin Trail where you can grab healthy treats that are also eco-friendly.
Halloween Tango Party
Something where you won’t find kids is the 21+Halloween Tango Party on Sat, Oct 21 at Dance Spa over at 1890 N. Milwaukee Ave. Here you can learn how to tango in the spirit of Gomez & Morticia Addams before taking to the dance floor for the rest of the night. Costumes are encouraged so let’s see how many of us can turn this into an Addams Family Tango Flashmob!
Halloween Night Party
Come Halloween you’ll want to dress up in your best scary finery and hit theHalloween Night Party that’s being hosted by LoganSquarist at the General over at 2528 N. California Avenue. Tricks (and treats) include a DJ, scary movies, games, and a photobooth. There’ll also be Halloween-themed cocktails and even a pie special! It promises to be a fun time for all and even includes trick-or-treating with the kids out front at 5:30pm.
With so much going on in and around Oak Park, Halloween this year will be unmissable. Have fun wherever you go and if you do drink, do so responsibly. Happy Halloween!!
There are several reasons why people love seafood—the variety, dietary benefits, and the fact that each bite makes you think of sunny skies and sandy beaches.
The Midwest may not seem like a great spot for seafood, but thankfully, it’s easy to have fresh seafood shipped in from the coasts. You can also count on fresh catches from nearby Lake Michigan to satisfy your seafood craving. Whether you like your seafood raw, grilled, broiled or fried, there are several seafood restaurants in Oak Park worth trying if you don’t want to make the drive to Chicago.
Seafood Junction is a chain of seafood restaurants around Illinois, but their food is anything but generic. Seafood Junction started as a family business and continues to be owned and operated by one, so the highest standards are put into every aspect of the dining experience—especially the food. There is a timely wait because food is served freshly cooked and piping hot. Customers swear by their homemade butter and cocktail sauce, which goes with almost every seafood dish they offer: be it crab, shrimp or catfish.
Poor Phil’s is known in Oak Park as a place to get amazing drinks, but did you know that they also serve seafood? They offer specials on their oysters, which fans rave about and also serve brunch, aside from dinner. Besides their oysters, their Catfish Po’ Boy and Crabby Lobster Salad are must-tries!
Gaetano’s 412 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
Gaetano’s takes the best flavors from the Italian coast of Sicily and brings them to Forest Park. Chef Gaetano, who owns and manages the restaurant, has many credentials to boast of, having previously prepared meals for two former Italian presidents and working in Paris, Milan, and London. The restaurant is a bit pricey and upscale for its location, but patrons consider the price tag affordable, given the quality. Gaetano’s offers tasting menus so if it’s your first time, try the Chef’s Choice, which is personalized according to your dietary needs.
Oliver’s 412 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
After 30 years of managing the kitchens of luxury hotels all over America, Chef Oliver Valenzuela decided to put up his own American bistro in 2012, which was famed for its scallops and landed him on TV and several publications. This bistro has since closed, but he’s put up two other restaurants in Illinois. Oliver’s is the third, which opened just last year. For this, he partnered up with John Mautner (for drinks) to bring a different kind of dining experience to Berwyn. Oliver’s serves up prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood in a relaxed farm-to-table concept. All seafood is served fresh and flavorful, but if guests had to recommend a dish to try, it would be the salmon and Chef Oliver’s famous scallops.
What are your favorite spots for seafood in Oak Park or nearby Chicago? Drop a line in the comments below so we can start planning our next night out!
Author: Maddy Osman, an SEO Content Strategist who has a passion for blogging. Her lifestyle blog, ChicagoCheapAss, shows young adults how to find the best deals and values in Chicago!
When people think about parks, they often associate them as places for people to commune with nature. Did you know that there are several health benefits associated with going to parks?
According to Diana Allen, Chief of the National Parks Services’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Program, frequently visiting parks have positive mental, physical and spiritual health benefits. Besides these positive results, visiting parks allows kids to be kids and have playtime away from electronic gadgets.
According to the Park District of Oak Park, there are several recreation centers in Oak Park that include 13 parks spanning 84 acres of parkland. Here are our top picks for the best parks in Oak Park.
Longfellow Park distinguishes itself from the other parks in the city by having the only full basketball court in the area. Besides this useful feature, the park also plays host to lighted tennis courts, newly-built playgrounds, an outdoor ice skating rink for the winter and a splash pad for those hot summer days. The park is very handicap-friendly as it has a handicap entrance built, as well as water wheelchairs available for use in the splash pad. The park also has a multipurpose room that families can rent for celebrations.
Maple Park 1001-1099 S Harlem Ave
Maple Park is the park district’s third largest park and features lots of recreational facilities such as baseball, soccer and tennis courts. The park is very pet-friendly as it features a dog park (permit required) and running path, perfect for getting in some exercise while walking your dog. Aside from the playground, kids can get in a lot of play time from the several open fields—ideal for kite flying, ultimate frisbee and just running around.
Acquired in 1912, Scoville Park was the first parcel of land purchased by the Park District of Oak Park. With so much history behind it, it’s no wonder that the “Peace Triumphant” Monument from World War 1 is located in the park and remains its major point of identification. Scoville Park is often used as a venue for various community activities, such as summer concerts, art fairs, and the annual Day in Our Village event. Aside from that, people also enjoy the park’s other amenities that include three tennis courts, an open field and playground. Scoville Park also offers wifi access for those who can’t completely disconnect.
After a 5-year environmental clean-up due to soil contamination, Barrie Park re-opened in 2005. When the park re-opened, it did so with its current distinguishing feature—the sled hill! Facilities include basketball, softball/baseball courts, and a multipurpose field. The Barrie Center field house has rooms available for use, as well as an indoor playground.
Which of Oak Park’s best parks will you be visiting this fall? Drop a line in the comments below.
Author: Maddy Osman, an SEO Content Strategist who has a passion for blogging. Her lifestyle blog, ChicagoCheapAss, shows young adults how to find the best deals and values in Chicago!
Nothing beats staying home, kicking back, and ordering some takeout! But where in Oak Park can you find the best places for takeout? Our new blog has all the answers – so sit back and have your phone handy because you’re gonna get hungry REALLLL fast!
Starting our blog on the best places for takeout in Oak Park isSuburrito at (708) 555-0142. If you’re hungry – and hungry for Mexican – this is the perfect place for you as the servings are both delicious and huge! It’s similar in concept to Chipotle but has a unique feeling to it. You can pick a protein (they also have veggie options available) which they then transform into a burrito, torta, taco dinner, chilaquile, or even a morisqueta! The food is delicious and the prices very reasonable.
Next up on our blog on the best places for takeout in Oak Park isPapaspiros at (708) 555-0142. This is Greek food done right – and we mean right! We ordered the Greek Lamb Sausage w/ Grilled Red Peppers, Herbs and Spices and , we were glad we did. We also tried their Shrimp Saganaki and we feel duty bound to inform you that we’d like to be buried in one when we die just in case. It was amazing!! There are lots of vegetarian and fish options here too along with all the lamb.
Rounding out our blog on the best places for takeout in Oak Park isFelony Franks at (708) 555-0142 – and they do hot dogs that are so good they should be outlawed! We ordered the Italian Job (Italian sausage made to their specs) and a Parolish (char broiled Polish sausage) along with the hand-cut Felony Fries and a strawberry shake and loved every last bite (there were two of us).
Have you decided who to call now? We hope our blog on the best places for takeout in Oak Park has been a help. So place that order, put a good movie on, and kick back – you’ve earned it!
Neighboring River Forest has some amazing cocktail bars to spend an evening – have you tried any? Well if you’re wondering which ones are worth your time (and money) wonder no further for we’ve got your answers in our new blog, the Best Cocktail Bars Around River Forest.
Kicking off our blog on the best cocktail bars around River Forest is theHeritage over at 7403 Madison Street and open six days a week (except Mondays). The food here is meant for sharing and comes in small and large plates. But you’re here for the cocktails which is pretty amazing. Check out their “Something & Tonic” menu which rotates pairings with Tonic, their amazing wine list, their craft beer and the food (which is delicious). They also serve up donuts – hush-puppy styled pastries with an icing you can either pour or dip.
Next up on our blog on the best cocktail bars around River Forest isMaya Del Sol at 144 S. Oak Park Ave where they focus on Latin Fusion cuisine. Their drinks menu is epic – from sipping tequilas (so many brands we can’t even list them!), regular tequila, whiskeys, mezcal, reposado, anejo, rum, gin, vodka, and cordials! And that’s not even mentioning the wine list. There’s a drink here for every occasion (and some you can make up on the spot if you want!) but let’s not forget the food. We sampled the Ahi Tuna and the Braised Beef and loved them both.
And finishing up our blog on the best cocktail bars around River Forest is theQuincy Street Distillery, a few blocks away at 39 E. Quincy St. Yes, it’s a distillery and yes, you can tour it, but the cocktails they serve up are delicious and perfectly made! It’s all about artisanal distilling here and the flavors they mix it up with are epic. We sampled the Persimmon and Honey and the Water Tower On Fire Cinnamon Whiskey and ! We’re sure glad we took a Lyft there because things got much sillier after that! It’s a great place – we’re sure you’ll love it.
There you go – some amazing cocktail bars with some delicious drinks! Wherever you go, be sure to drink responsibly!
As you know, River Forest is a hop, skip and a jump away from Oak Park and well worth checking out – especially for its amazing brunch spots. But which are the best? It’s the focus of our brand new blog, the Best Brunch Spots in River Forest.
Kicking off our blog on the best brunch spots in River Forest isMadison Park Kitchen over at 7525 W. Madison St. This place – open daily from 7am-4pm – is known for it’s homemade signature dishes which include the Baked Apple Pancake, Frittatas, and speciality wraps. But that’s just touching the tip of the menu. We sampled the Buffalo Chicken Skillet with Poached Eggs and !! The service is great here too – it’s a real neighborhood gem.
Next up on our blog on the best brunch spots in River Forest isBlue Max Coffee over at 26 Lathrop Avenue. Open Mon-Fri from 7am-3pm and weekends from 8am-3pm, the food and coffee on tap here is tasty and delicious! We sampled the Huevos Benedictos and washed it down with a Guatemalan roast and loved it. They even have a patio here so the people watching is fun too.
Bringing our blog on the best brunch spots in River Forest to a close isMom’s Place over at 819 Harlem Ave and is open Tue-Sun from 7am-8pm and Monday from 7am-3am. I guess they really don’t want to go home on Mondays for some reason! In all seriousness though, Mom’s Place isn’t cheap but it’s good. Fresh and delicious, in fact. We sampled the tortilla soup, French Toast and a Fried Shrimp Meal and you’d swear Mom made everything! They even host events here but they’re mostly in the evening – so if you like brunch, head back there later on.
Clearly River Forest has some amazing brunch spots so we recommend you checking them out. If you know of any others you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below!
Oak Park has some great pet stores – but which are the best? The ones we know we can find the coolest toys, the tastiest treats, and that something extra? We cover them in our brand new blog, the Best Pet Stores in Oak Park.
Kicking off our blog on the best pet stores in Oak Park is Sirius Cooks over at 142 Harrison Street. What makes Sirius Cooks so special is that they sell all sorts of unique and specialized foods for your dogs and cats that’s both good for them AND the environment! So yes, there’s their own home-made stuff as well as product from other manufacturers. Our little boy, a Schnoodle, is in love with the green beans and carrot frozen yoghurt we picked up for him – and with the way he showered us with licks afterwards means we’ll be taking him back again. And again.
Next up on our blog on the best pet stores in Oak Park isScratch ‘N Sniff over at 120 N. Marion. There’s plenty to love here. Especially the unique, and often whimsical gift choices – and not just the ones aimed at the furries in our lives. They have stuff for us too, from flasks to scarves to clocks and more. Our Schnoodle loved the bakery they have on site (what a surprise) (not), and we loved the prices – which are pretty reasonable.
Finishing up our blog on the best pet stores in Oak Park isOak Park Natural Pet & Fish over at 23 N. Harlem Ave. Open Mo-Fri from 10am-8pm and Sat-Sun from 10am-6pm, contains plenty of dog food and treats – but they also sell fish, aquariums, and everything in between! Looking for feeder mice for your snakes? They have ‘em. Looking for turtles? Check. Looking for birds? Check. Are we going back there repeatedly? Big check!
And there you go – some of the best pet stores in Oak Park! We hope your furry, feathery or scaly friend loves the shopping there!
September is packed with events so we’re highlighting some of the best in our new blog: The Best September Events in the Oak Park area!
So much is going on, up, down, and around Oak Park this September that you’ll need to mark your calendar to keep up. We decided to focus our brand new blog on bringing you the highlights of what you can expect and so without further ado let’s dive into the Best September Events in/near Oak Park!
Berwyn’s Oktoberfest
Kicking off our blog on the best September events in and around Oak Park isBerwyn’s Oktoberfest running from Sept 15-Sept 16th. Here you’ll find a celebration of all things German and includes live music, a food court and a carnival! And did we mention the Beer Garden? Wow, it’s gonna be a doozy, that’s for sure. On Saturday you can bring the kids for the Family Pavilion that will have appearances from McGruff, the Berwyn PD’s crime dog alongside face-painting and more. Expect performances from R-Gang, 16 Candles, Sails and Tributosaurus.
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Oaktoberfest
Next up on our blog on the best September events in/near Oak Park is the duelingOaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park on Sept 15-16 – yep, you’re gonna have to decide whether you do two days of this or one day each with Berwyn’s Oktoberfest. Expect live music from the Monophonics, Lady Wray, and the Dead Horses alongside your craft beer, food, and kids’ Root Beer Garden.
Cabaret Night
Rounding out our blog on the best September events in/near Oak Park isChicago A Cappella’s Cabaret Night on Sept 23rd at 7:30pm. Hosted at the Open Door Theater at 902 S. Ridgeland Ave, you can join the singers from Chicago A Cappella presenting an intimate evening of cabaret music for just one night. You also get to mingle with the cast at a reception afterward – which is included in the ticket price!
Not bad, right? Some fun events to do right here in/near Oak Park in September.
The Oak Park Conservatory is a local gem; a stellar establishment that’s filled with flora, fauna, and history – and it’s free! We figured we’d put together a blog focusing on one of Oak Park’s top three historical sites so here it is: your guide to the Oak Park Conservatory!
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Located at 615 Garfield Street, and open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm (they’re closed Mondays!), the OPC gets around 30,000 visitors each year. But where did it all begin? The conservatory began in 1914 as a project for the community at large; a place where residents could house their exotic plants there while they went out of town. The glass structure was built in 1929 however by 1970 it had fallen into a state of decay. That was when locals stepped in and saved it, expanding it into a space to teach kids and gardeners alike.
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The Oak Park Conservatory contains three indoor showrooms with names that reflect what you’ll find there. There’s the Mediterranean room that’s filled with plants from the Calfornia coasts alongside ones from Chile, South Africa and even Australia. The Tropical room is, as you expect, pretty humid and filled with fig trees, banana trees, and papaya trees – alongside birds of paradise and a central pond. The Desert room is just as hot but much drier and filled with cacti and other desert plants like Venus Fly Traps, Pitcher Plants and Sun Dews.
There are many events that take place here too such as the upcoming Fall Fest on Sunday, Sept 24th from 11am-2pm. Stop by and celebrate the arrival of Autumn with horse-drawn hayrides and a free pumpkin for each family to attend. You can also stop by the Fall Harvest Market on Friday Sept 22nd where you can pick up mums, fall pansies, broom corn, gourds and more!
Interested in becoming a volunteer? The Oak Park Conservatory is always looking for more Docents, Special Event Volunteers, and even Committee Members. Simply hit up theFriends of the Oak Park Conservatory website for more details.
How can we be sure you’ll love it here? Well simply check out some of the visitor testimonials:
Zachary P: “OPC has a great annual plant sale and a bunch of worthwhile benefits for members. Definitely worth a visit if in the area and must visit if you live here.”
Eric H: “Oak Park Conservatory is a wonderful place to take a break from the rest of the world and just be in nature.”
Jennifer B: “This Conservatory is quite a delightful little gem!”
Sarah S: “They have a beautiful koi pond and some very talkative parrots, which I think children would really enjoy.”
So what are you waiting for? We’ll see you at the Oak Park Conservatory!
