Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Oaken Bistro + Bar, Lake Forest, IL

Oaken Bistro + Bar

4.5 (252)
$30 and under
American
200 N Field Dr, Lake Forest, IL 60045-2513

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
10:30 PM
animated flamesBooked 6 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
  • Innovative
Oaken is a modern, upscale American Bistro + Bar with a global influence. Enjoy all-day dining in Lake Forest with elevated burgers & salads as well as dishes with more unique, worldly flavor trends like our popular Oaken Burger, Cubano with Crispy Pork Belly, or Braised Short Rib. When it’s time for Happy Hour, the sleek lounge features a craft cocktail menu with signature herbal-infused offerings as well as an eclectic wine list and local beers. Enjoy all day drinks and dining in the contemporary dining room, the inviting 25-seat outdoor patio, or order take-out or delivery. Branch out from your ordinary routine and unearth Oaken!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Christian Alejandro
  • Catering
    Oaken Bistro + Bar is happy to cater your next event!
  • Private party facilities
    Gather and entertain at Oaken Bistro + Bar, the only modern, upscale all day dining in Lake Forest, IL Enjoy a flexible American menu with a global influence. Complement your meal with a signature herbal-infused cocktail menu or a bottle from an extensive wine list. Reserve the outdoor patio, a private event room, or buy out the entire restaurant!
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Lake Forest
  • Cross street
    Townline Rd and Field Dr
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking in the hotel's adjacent parking lot.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 252 people are saying

Oaken Bistro + Bar reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Oaken Bistro + Bar, a "hidden gem" in The Forester Hotel, offers "phenomenal" food and "excellent" service in a "pleasant" atmosphere. Diners rave about its unique menu and signature drinks. Highlights include the goat cheese and honey appetizer and wild mushroom dishes. Overall, it's a delightful spot for brunch or dinner.
252 Reviews
  1. Brian

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience. The food was excellent, and the service was polite & courteous.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jeffrey VIP

    Chicago18 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Had a very enjoyable meal. Delicious food, excellent service in a nice space with a good vibe.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Tim

    Indiana5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding atmosphere for dinner, bartender and waitress were excellent. Great customer service, food quality was very good. The quantity was good and the chef did an amazing job with the meals. The clam chowder was good, salads were good. The sides were large portions to share. Highly recommend Oaken Bistro as a restaurant to make reservations.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you for taking time to give us a review. I will pass on the compliments to Chef. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tae’lor

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    the food was phenomenal & the service was above & beyond. i definitely plan to dine here again.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you for taking time to write a review, and thank you for the kind words. We try to go above and beyond. We look forward to having you back. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  5. Terri VIP

    Chicago13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food great hidden gem! We will definitely come back. Love the bar area too!
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you for taking time to write a review. We're glad you found us! We look forward to having you back again. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  6. JoAnn

    Chicago20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were excellent! I had the Salmon and it was delicious. A great place to eat before going to the Citadel Theater in Lake Forest.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you for taking time to write a review. We love the Citadel! So many great shows there. We hope to see you again for the next show. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  7. Susan VIP

    Chicago28 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Terrific little restaurant! Went there for Sunday brunch and really enjoyed it. Especially the blood orange mimosas, the Mexican skillet, and the eggs Benedict. My husband enjoyed his Cuban sandwich too. Furthermore, the ambiance is new and lovely and the searing is very comfy. It’s a hidden gem in the Bannockburn/Lake Forest area!
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on April 28, 2025
    Susan, thank you for the kind words. We're so happy you've found us! I'll pass on the kind words to Chef Christian. Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  8. gretchen

    Chicago14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Surprised at how wonderful this out of the way treasure is! Worth going there again- no question! Try the goat cheese and honey appetizer! Wow! Looking forward to returning soon.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on April 28, 2025
    Thank you for taking time to write a review. We're happy you found us. We look forward to seeing you again. We're changing our menu a little in the next couple of weeks, but we'll make sure to keep the goat cheese and honey. It's a staff favorite for sure. Cheers! Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

  9. Bonnie

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Casual dining with great food. Great attention by all staff and never felt rushed. Signature drinks were spot on delish. We will be back to this hidden gem!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Christopher VIP

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    There was nothing wrong with our meal per se. We were just surprised by some unexpected upcharges. Would we go back? Not likely. We don’t mind spending what we did on our meal, but we would expect more for what we paid.
    Oaken Bistro + BarResponded on March 31, 2025
    Hello Christopher, Thank you for taking time to write a review. We appreciate all feedback. I'm going to reach out privately. I'd like to know about those charges and how we could remedy this. Gabriel Boden General Manager

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Oaken Bistro + Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (847) 582-6410.

Oaken Bistro + Bar is rated 4.5 stars by 252 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. North Suburbs
  5. Lake Forest

Make a reservation


animated flamesBooked 6 times today
Google Map for Oaken Bistro + Bar

200 N Field Dr, Lake Forest, IL 60045-2513

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Townline Rd and Field Dr
  • Neighborhood
    Lake Forest
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 6:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking in the hotel's adjacent parking lot.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Christian Alejandro
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Oaken Bistro + Bar is happy to cater your next event!
  • Private party facilities
    Gather and entertain at Oaken Bistro + Bar, the only modern, upscale all day dining in Lake Forest, IL Enjoy a flexible American menu with a global influence. Complement your meal with a signature herbal-infused cocktail menu or a bottle from an extensive wine list. Reserve the outdoor patio, a private event room, or buy out the entire restaurant!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo