Best Cozy Restaurants in Villa Park

Food is excellent. Tables are too close together. Diners next to us were 1 foot apart from us—uncomfortably close for conversation. (And they had children who were unhappy.) Noise level grows with the crowd so go early or deal with it. Service is the same—starts out great and then wanes as the crowd grows. But food is great so I’ll keep going back.

The food was amazing and the service was great! It did feel like we were at a Cooper's Hawk, though, and not an Italian restaurant. Another thing that was similar to a past Cooper's Hawk experience was that we had to wait 15 minutes with a reservation. The restaurant was fairly empty at 4:00 pm and the hostess told us they're just clearing our table when we checked in right at our reservation time, but we still had to wait 15 minutes to be seated. Not really a big deal, but it's not a pleasant experience when you had a time reserved and you're waiting fairly long to finally be seated. We had the Pasta Fagioli, which was fantastic, and the short rib papardelle and rigatoni alla vodka, both of which were soooo good and light. It didn't feel heavy like normal when eating pasta. The chocolate hazelnut cake and gelato trio was also delicious! Our server, Robert R., was friendly and helpful! He didn't rush us at all and was honest and knowledgeable. The restaurant is in the Oak Brook Mall area, so parking can be a challenge.

We hosted a brunch for ten. The food ordered ranged from eggs to pancaked and waffles to the honey chicken sandwich. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. We were seated at the front on right side of restaurant at a round table. No one was crowded and we could all be heard when we talked. This area seemed like we had our own private room. Would definitely return and recommend.

Great atmosphere and the buffalo shrimp are amazing

This has become our new Christmas Eve tradition! From the moment we walked in, the festive atmosphere was absolutely enchanting, with stunning Christmas decorations that added such a warm, cozy touch. The food was nothing short of spectacular—each dish was beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The service was impeccable as well; our server was friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. It's rare to find a place that excels in every area, but the Colonial Room at the Drake in Oakbrook truly does. Whether you're here for a holiday gathering or just a special meal, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend!