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The Little Gem Restaurant, Oak Park, IL

The Little Gem Restaurant

4.6
4.6
1180 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
This Intimate, Stylish Little Restaurant is Elegant and Romantic
With a Warm and Welcoming Atmosphere.
A Relaxed Fine Dining Experience.
Casual or Smart - All Feel At Ease.

DATE NIGHT SPECIAL : Sunday thru Thursday 3 Course Dinner For 2 w/Bottle of Wine $99 per couple.
Reservations are Recommended - Walkins are always Welcome.
Full Bar with a Speciality Bourbon Collection, Fine Wines and Craft Cocktails.
Also Check Out - Next Door - Our Venue Called ENCORE! is just as cosy, warm and inviting, same delicious menu but with the addition of LIVE JAZZ In ENCORE Thursday, Friday + Saturday.

Outdoor Dining Available Weather Permitting.
**ALSO - PRIVATE PARTIES For Up To 70 Guests in either Venue.
Check Out: https://encorelittlegem.com

Gift Cards, Private Parties and Customized Menus.
Please call (917) 327 8997 or Visit https://thelittlegemcafe.com
Email us : info@thelittlegemcafe.com

We Look Forward to Serving You!

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Bistro, European
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–9:30 pm Happy Hour Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Bar + Lounge Tue–Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Eduardo Calderon
  • Catering
    Our Wonderful Chef Loves to Cook!<br />We can cater events up to 100 Guests On + Off Premises<br />Menus offer Hot + Cold Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts.<br /><br />Select Canapes, Hors d'oeuvres, Cheese Boards, Fresh Fruit, Charcuteries, French Crudite's and more.<br />Fresh Seafood : Beef : Pork : Poultry : Vegetarian : Vegan : Gluten Free.<br />Email today us for more info
  • Private party facilities
    Unique, Customized, Party Packages Available in Little Gem + Right Next Door in Encore! by Little Gem. (A Beautiful Party Private and Events Space).Dining : Dancing : Cocktails : Live Music : Formal Dinners : Casual Mixers This Elegant Little Gem is Perfect for Any OccasionParties Fully Customizable to Suit Your Vision, Our Food is Delicious!
  • Neighborhood
    Oak Park
  • Cross street
    Lake St.
  • Parking details
    $1 for 1 Hour Metered Street Parking Also two parking lots on this blockFree Street Parking after 8:00pm and Free on Sundays!
  • Public transit
    Green Line Train Harlem Stop just 2 blocks awayBus Transportation along Lake Street, Harlem Avenue Junction is just a Block away.
  • Entertainment
    Live Jazz : Vintage Jazz Recordings : World Music : Euro Instrumentals
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Easter Sunday Lunch and Dinner

    $85.00 per person

    Apr 20, 2025 only
    Celebrate with Family and Friends This Easter Sunday At The Little Gem Cafe and Encore. A Delicious 4 Course Dinner With Dessert. Price Fixed Set Menu Kids $55, Adults $85 per person Soft Drinks, Tea and Coffee Included. We Look Forward To Serving You! Please See Our Menu Online - Here is The Link https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/d156cd14-3f93-46b1-8a81-3831fa662071/Easter%20Lunch%20and%20Dinner.pdf
    Easter Sunday Lunch and Dinner Photo

What 1,180 people are saying

The Little Gem Restaurant 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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Near West

    Great for brunch

  • Near West

    Healthy

  • Near West

    Romantic

  • Near West

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Little Gem Restaurant offers an intimate ambiance with "superior service" and "delicious food." Guests rave about the "excellent" seafood and steaks, while brunch options receive high praise. The lively atmosphere is enhanced by live music, making it perfect for special occasions. Despite some mixed reviews, many patrons call it a "neighborhood favorite."
1,180 Reviews
  1. Gus VIP

    Chicago2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I made a reservation online for yesterday and received a confirmation. It was confusing with how it was listed on Open Table. It was listed with The Little Gem at the top, and I could see that "Encore" was listed further below in the confirmation. I called Encore just to be sure and confirm and they said they had our reservation, When I arrived at 4:35, our reservation was at 4:45, the guy there at the bar told me they don't open until 5:00. We had limited time because we were attending a theatre event in town. I explained what I did in making the reservation. The other two people hadn't arrived yet so he said I could grab a table anywhere. Our waiter was polite, but when asked which salad he would recommend between the Chopped Salad and Eggplant stack, he recommended the Eggplant stack. There were three of us who were going to share dishes. The stack literally had 3 SMALL slices of eggplant with a skimpy slice of cheese on top and a drizzle of dressing on the plate. I order that lots of times in restaurants and have never seen that dish so small. The roasted boneless half chicken was great though. We enjoyed that. I have been to this restaurant once before for a retirement party and it was a good experience. This time I was somewhat disappointed, and it was confusing with making the reservation.

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  2. Diane VIP

    Chicago4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Dinner was our second unpleasant dining experience at The Little Gem. We ordered prime rib which we were looking forward to and both dinners had a horrible piece of meat nothing like prime rib and the vegetables were overly salty. The calamari appetizer was not freshly made. The food was inedible. There was no manager on site. Our server did offer a discount and we left. The first time we had brunch there which was equally unenjoyable. We cannot recommend The Little Gem. It is over priced and has subpar food. We like to support local businesses but we will not give it another try.

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  3. Sandra

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Ggem was perfect. The mocktail drink were fanastic. The food was almostly delicious not a crumb left on our plates. The atmosphere and noise level made talking with each other in our group so easy. What a lovely spot for a fabulous and reasonable night out.

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  4. Adrianne

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a perfect place for a special occasion. Everything was yummy & the service was on point!

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  5. Mals48

    Chicago16 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 14, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was good, ambiance lovely. Unexpected live music was well done and enjoyed but added to the noise level when we wanted to visit. Food was on the higher priced end, tended to be spicy or peppery and generally not to our taste palettes.

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  6. michele VIP

    Chicago72 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We had reserved a table in the Encore room but were advised they were fully booked even though the room was empty except for one table. Very disappointing.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Living nearby we’ve been to Little Gem many times. Hoping for a quiet Sunday evening meal, the Sea Bass was inedible. The salmon over done and heavily seasoned. At just under $100 for no appetizers, two entrees, two cocktails and no dessert, we were disappointed. It’s doubtful we’ll be back anytime soon.

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  8. PeterW

    Miami6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Too bad we live out of town or we would return every week. Excellent experience.

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  9. Mike

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This spot truly lives up to it’s name. It can be pricey after a few cocktails, but the service and quality are very high. Great ambience, and the staff are incredibly kind. We’ll be back!

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  10. ROBERT

    Chicago35 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was good. Service was rushed to get us out of the restaurant in 70 minutes. As it turned out, not a good choice selection to meet with an old friend

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FAQs

The Little Gem Restaurant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (708) 613-5491.

The Little Gem Restaurant is rated 4.6 stars by 1180 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Little Gem Restaurant

189 N Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60301

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Lake St.
  • Neighborhood
    Oak Park
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–9:30 pm Happy Hour Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Bar + Lounge Tue–Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Bistro, European
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    $1 for 1 Hour Metered Street Parking Also two parking lots on this blockFree Street Parking after 8:00pm and Free on Sundays!
  • Public transit
    Green Line Train Harlem Stop just 2 blocks awayBus Transportation along Lake Street, Harlem Avenue Junction is just a Block away.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Eduardo Calderon
  • Entertainment
    Live Jazz : Vintage Jazz Recordings : World Music : Euro Instrumentals
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Our Wonderful Chef Loves to Cook!<br />We can cater events up to 100 Guests On + Off Premises<br />Menus offer Hot + Cold Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts.<br /><br />Select Canapes, Hors d'oeuvres, Cheese Boards, Fresh Fruit, Charcuteries, French Crudite's and more.<br />Fresh Seafood : Beef : Pork : Poultry : Vegetarian : Vegan : Gluten Free.<br />Email today us for more info
  • Private party facilities
    Unique, Customized, Party Packages Available in Little Gem + Right Next Door in Encore! by Little Gem. (A Beautiful Party Private and Events Space).Dining : Dancing : Cocktails : Live Music : Formal Dinners : Casual Mixers This Elegant Little Gem is Perfect for Any OccasionParties Fully Customizable to Suit Your Vision, Our Food is Delicious!
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