I needed something very specific for a recipe, it's so hard to find guanciale to make carbonara!…read more Carnivore was about the 10th place I called and they right away let me know they had plenty! As soon as I walked in, I saw so many goodies I knew I was taking home. They had a very well curated selection of fancy condiments from small makers, rare ingredients, and the highest quality version of many every day foods! Everyone behind the counter was so friendly and knowledgeable. I had to try one of their sandwiches and got the salmon po boy at their recommendation. It was really well seasoned and super fresh with a very generous slice of fish on it. Definitely coming back for another one next time I'm in the area! Thank you so much for great service and products!

A gem of a shop! Great selection of quality meat and seafood. Very knowledgeable and kind staff…read more They make you feel very welcome! The lunch was unbelievable! Was nice to finally have a burger not dripping in grease. The sausage was an andouille. Had a nice kick to it and might have been even better than the burger. I'll come back to try some other items for sure.

Rustico was a really wonderful dining experience. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere felt…read morerelaxed and welcoming, and the service made the evening especially enjoyable! The bread service was fantastic. The tomato focaccia and the baguette were both excellent and I had to remind myself not to fill up on it before the main meal! LOL! We started with the calamari which was very well seasoned and clearly not the typical frozen version you often see from foodservice distributors. It tasted fresh, was crispy, and well prepared. For dinner I ordered the margherita pizza which was simple and delicious. I ended up ordering a second one to-go for my partner who couldn't make it to dinner. He also loved it - even after it sat for ~30 min or so while we chatted more, then drove home to the Maywood area. I would imagine their delivery is pretty good based on that! My mom had the rigatoni vodka with added crumbled Italian sausage which she loved, and my dad ordered the Marcelino. He loved the generous amount of seafood and how well seasoned it was. My parents are big wine drinkers and my dad was especially impressed with the wine list and the selection available. Oscar was an incredible server!! He struck the perfect balance of being attentive while still letting us enjoy a relaxed, unhurried evening. The support staff and food runners were also fantastic and very friendly, making the entire service experience feel polished! I also loved the kitchen was more open which gives you confidence in the quality and care that goes into the food. The dining space is inviting with a nice bar area and an additional room that looks perfect for busy nights or private gatherings. Overall a great restaurant that we would absolutely return to!!

I almost didn't know what to make of our visit. We were here about a week ago and things started…read morepretty slow. The table bread didn't come out until we ordered and we waited quite a minute to order because our waiter would take a while to come back each time. The restaurant was not crowded at all so it was hard to understand what was taking so long. The first batch of bread was hard and my child's pasta pieces were also somewhat hard. It was just a bit of a mess at first. Then all of our food finally came, plates were smelling good and that helped lift our moods. My husband said that his pasta was just really spicy and the flavor itself wasn't really there. My pasta (vongole) was actually pretty good. We had to ask for Parmesan which helped with flavor for sure but I tried to have no complaints once our dishes came out. It was a nice place to try. If I was to visit again, I would be going to try their paella.

I can't say enough about this place. The food is great. The service is outstanding. The vibe,…read moreperfect. Local or traveler, they will treat you right.

I visited Poor Phil's on a weekend night and it was busy! I was able to seat myself at the bar and…read moremy bartender made me feel welcome and answered my questions. He had great recommendations about the menu, and I was not disappointed. Poor Phil's is known for their seafood, and I now see why. I enjoyed the atmosphere here, a great neighborhood pub with interesting decor and a friendly laid back vibe. I'll be back as they have nice outdoor seating as well.

It was a lazy Saturday so I ordered delivery. I received my order within the hour which was very…read moreimpressive. I ordered catfish, shrimp, hushpuppies and cole slaw. Hungry girl syndrome kicked in so I forgot to take pictures of my food but everything was fresh and hot when it arrived. The catfish and shrimp were well seasoned and perfectly fried. The hushpuppies were fantastic! They were golden brown but melted in your mouth. I'm hooked! Everything was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be ordering again.

Ok heard about this place and I've been looking for a place that have frog legs. Found my new place…read moreto go to. I don't have to travel far to get 'em. So, here goes! Ordered different things on the menu from frog legs, big shrimp, fried mushroom, fried okra, and salmon croquette. All are delicious and lightly breaded just the way I like it. I actually can taste the meat on the frog legs unlike other places. Oh my, the shrimp was big, fresh, and savory. Everything was great and worth it. Less breading for sure. I will be back and try other things on the menu! Place is right off Madison/Austin-Chicago side and street parking available. And let's not forget, the service was nice and made you feel welcome.

I want to start with the positive -- the food was absolutely awesome! Everything we ordered was…read moreflavorful and well-prepared. The drinks were definitely on the pricey side, but honestly, they were worth it. Now for the not-so-great part -- the service was disappointing. No one was rude or unfriendly, but we rarely saw our server and had to wait or flag someone down just to ask basic questions. It just didn't feel attentive. When we walked in, they checked our IDs, which felt a little unnecessary given our age, but we understand policies are policies. The ambiance was nice and calm with music playing in the background, and the bar wasn't crowded, which made us even more confused about the lack of service. We would go back when we're in town -- if only for the food -- because that part truly did not disappoint.

Food was delicious! I had oysters and a seafood boil. Relaxed social environment! Service was good…read moreand friendly.

My husband and son took me to Hemmingway's Bistro on my birthday last Saturday. We sat at a…read moresecluded table in a little nook that was perfect. Right away we were brought water in a basket of warm crusty bread with butter. Then we met our server, Axel. He was a young man with lots of knowledge of the menu. He was personable and engaging. We started out with drinks. I asked our server Axel if the bartender could make a bees knees, and he said if they had the ingredients they would make one. It turned out Axel was the one who made my cocktail and it was spot on. We shared the chicken liver pate hors d'oeuvre. The pate was served with three small crostini toasts, cornichons, cubes of clear jelly which we couldn't figure out what it was, and Dijon mustard. The pate was very good but it was disappointing to only receive three small crostinis on the plate because the ratio of pate to crostini was way off. We had to ask for another basket of bread so we could finish the pate. For dinner my husband had beef wellington, my son had lamb chops and I had the special for Saturday, soft shell crabs. Each of us enjoyed our dinners. My son asked for creamed spinach instead of the ratatouille that came with the lamb chops, and Axel was happy to make the substitution. I'm so glad I went with softshell crabs because I hardly ever see them offered on a menu. They were delicious! We ended sharing a mango soufflé - after I made a wish, of course! I forgot how much I love dining at Hemmingway's. I definitely recommend this bistro for lunch or dinner or even their jazzy brunch on Sundays. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday.

Went for the champagne brunch and had a nice overall experience, though with a few caveats. The…read morebrunch is $52 per person, which includes one moderately sized brunch entrée, one glass of champagne, and unlimited access to the buffet. The buffet was okay--not bad, but not especially memorable. It included crab claws, shrimp, oysters, smoked salmon, bagels, a wilted salad, pasta salad, and a handful of dessert options. The savory items were fine but didn't feel elevated for the price point. Quiche was served cold which is not my preferred temperature. That said, the desserts were the highlight. The crème brûlée and lemon tart were excellent and definitely the standout items of the buffet. One downside was the service, our waiter was MIA for a while, which made things feel a bit disjointed, especially when trying to get the check. Overall, it's an okay brunch with a nice atmosphere and solid dessert offerings, but for the price, the buffet selection felt a bit underwhelming. Worth trying once, especially if you're there for a leisurely brunch and good sweets, but not a must-repeat for the food alone.

Came here for lunch with my parents and family. Wonderful menu and service. Great outdoor seating…read moreeven with North Avenue rushing by. We ordered bruschetta, calamari, bolegnese, lamb chops. Great servings sizes. Perfect amount. The inside decor is terrific. Would love to come back for dinner.

I came here last night with my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. I was super excited because we often…read morepass by this place. Unfortunately, we were kind of let down by the service. They were definitely not prepared for the crowd of couples. A few minutes after we sat down, a waitress who was not ours came by and asked if we had ordered already. We said no, thinking that she would help get us started. Instead, she took my boyfriend's menu to hand to her table. This left a bad impression on us. Food wise, it was delicious and all food came out in a timely manner. They were being pretty strict about only being seated for 1.5 hours max due to the rush. Our waitress was fine, checked in on us in a timely manner. I love the interior design of this place, and it looks really nice in their patio. I don't think I'll be coming back though, at least not during any nights I know it'll be crowded.

This place is a hidden gem! I'm definitely coming back. I got the seafood special and my friend got…read morelamb chops. It was delicious!

The customer service was extremely disappointing. The bartender was rude, dismissive, and had an…read moreattitude the entire time. She never once checked in to see if I needed anything or if everything was okay, and every interaction felt snappy and unwelcoming. I ordered from the happy hour menu and paid $10 for two tiny sliders, which felt very overpriced for the portion size. On top of that, gratuity was automatically included, which may explain why there seemed to be little concern about providing decent customer service.

This place has amazing delicious Korean food, both in person and for takeout. I say that as someone…read morecoming from the Bay Area and loving the Korean food there too. This is one of the best Asian food restaurants in Oak Park. I highly highly recommend this place to any lovers of Korean food. I've been here 4 times since it opened recently! My top recommendations are the Tteokbokki (The Rose or Mala flavor), The Bulgogi Salad, the Braised Short Rib and the Mala Stir Fry. All the other meats like the Bulgogi and Short Rib are good here too. Service is prompt and friendly!

NEW KOREAN SPOT! Opened up over the summer…read more Tteokbokki dishes, soups, rice bowls and fried favorites fill the menu. Tip: be mindful of "spice level" on the menu. I am not a huge spicy person, but can take a little heat. 1 tamale = 6 spice level 3 tamale = 10 spice level The owner is Korean and the dishes are great and always being tweaked. I have had Korean food, but dang, the spice level is insane. I would love the option to tone down some of the spice for some of the dishes to try them. 1 tamale spice level for me was enough, my sinuses were cleared out! Whew They are known for their rice cakes! Tried the rose tyeokbokki and it was tasty with little sausages, cabbage, noodles, rice cakes. Beef dumplings were crisp and flaky. Kids: chicken fingers and fries is the only kid friendly option Service was friendly and quick and the restaurant is somewhat quiet with soft music playing in the background. Overall, great experience and will definitely be back to try more of the dishes!

I came here on the recommendation of a few friends who live in the Berwyn/Cicero area, and this was…read morea welcomed recommendation. The decor is has a sophisticated but super casual flair. I didn't realize it before going, but this is a restaurant that serves small plates which I've come to enjoy because I do like often like a variety of dishes to try and this place did not disappoint. The star of the show, however were the cocktails! I am an old-fashioned drinker, myself, and the cocktails were made perfectly. If for nothing else, I'll always keep this restaurant on my list of places to visit just so I can have their delicious drinks.

I was actually surprised on the vast menu items they offer from Italian pasta to tapas. Pedro was…read morevery nice to talk to as he introduced us to the specials of the day. The dinning room was fairly large as we walked in and sat close to the door. Pedro gave us the specials of the day and I ordered the seafood risotto ($32). My friend ordered the Fettuccine Fruitti di Mare ($30). Both dishes was good, with the right balance of protein and noodles. My risotto was a bit too cheesy but it was manageable. Service was very good, they stopped by to check on you and replace the dishes if needed. Overall, the food and service was great. There are plenty of street parking around the restaurant. I would come back for more next time.