Brookfield Zoo is an outstanding destination for families, animal enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a fun, educational day outdoors. The zoo is massive and beautifully laid out, with a wide variety of animals from all around the world. Each exhibit is thoughtfully designed to provide naturalistic habitats for the animals while giving visitors great opportunities to observe and learn. Highlights include the Tropic World primates, Great Bear Wilderness, and the Seven Seas dolphin habitat, all of which are immersive and unforgettable. The zoo places a strong emphasis on conservation and education, with interactive displays and programs that engage both kids and adults. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the animals they care for. Throughout the park, there are plenty of places to rest, grab food, or enjoy a shaded break, making it easy to spend the whole day exploring without feeling rushed. What really makes Brookfield Zoo special is the balance it strikes between fun and learning. It’s not just about seeing animals—it’s about understanding their habitats, behaviors, and the importance of protecting them. Every visit feels rewarding, and there’s always something new to discover. This zoo is truly a gem in the Chicago area and well worth a visit. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, Brookfield Zoo always delivers a memorable and inspiring experience.

Wonderful zoo! Can’t say enough about it. Large enclosures, enrichment for animals. The new gorilla and spider monkey exhibit is such a hit amongst visitors. You get up close to so many animals. Food and service was great! I’m going again as I did not get to see it all! Easy entrance and exit. Totally recommended!

Ive been coming here for years . Im happy theyre expanding exhibits for some of the animals but i hope they do that for all of their animals soon. A lot of exhibits were empty too. Its also very pricey if you dont have a pass and dont bring your own food. Overall its a very nice zoo. The dolphin show has been changed to be more informative and less showy tricks. Which makes sense but its not like those dolphins are returning to the wild.

Took the kids to Boo at the Zoo over the weekend and had an absolute blast. There was plenty of parking to go around. The bathrooms were accessible. The interior of the exhibits were quite warm so be prepared for that. And overall I think my only gripe would be the expensive low-grade food. Cheers!

Lots of animals and exhibits. There are many interactive things to do as well as many employees and volunteers to offer insights. They have their own app with a great GPS enabled map with overlays for animals, food, amenities, and special events so it's easy to find what you're looking for. It is a large zoo so it is helpful to plan ahead of time for your trip. Food is on the expensive side. Gift shops as well, but for an inexpensive souvenir they have Mold-a-ramas and Penny presses. $20 for parking. Look into different discount options on their website for the best deal for you.

Beautiful fall day at Brookfield Zoo 💕 We went on a Tuesday. No admission cost. Just had to pay for parking. Not too many people, considering it was a free day. A few school groups. Lots of Halloween decorations. And they are getting ready for the Christmas trees.

Brookfield Zoo is hands down my favorite zoo I’ve ever been to! This was my husband’s and kids’ first visit, and they were completely amazed — not only by how big the zoo is, but also by how beautifully it’s set up. You can easily spend the entire day here and still not see everything in detail. What really stands out is the incredible diversity of animals. From majestic big cats and playful primates to exotic birds and fascinating reptiles, there’s something new and exciting around every corner. We were impressed by how well the habitats are designed to match the animals’ natural environments, and how healthy and active all the animals looked. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and there are plenty of shaded areas, rest spots, and family-friendly amenities to make the visit comfortable. It’s the perfect mix of education and fun — my kids left with wide eyes and endless stories to tell. Brookfield Zoo has truly set the bar for what a zoo experience should be. We can’t wait to come back!

The park was busy today so I was not able to get any photos of the playground without being the creepy guy taking pictures of kids. Instead, this was a quiet spot to rest after fighting much of the Chicago traffic, park the van for a bit and then eat my lunch from one of the benches in the park. The park is three blocks long but quite narrow. There are walking paths, a soccer field, tennis courts, baseball fields and a fenced dog park at the north end. Nicely shaded and with plenty of places to sit. Note that Harlem Avenue is a major thoroughfare complete with buses. There is little Fencing or gates between the park and the road so be aware of people walking around.

I walk my dogs there morning and night every day. As you can see in the morning Maple park is a flop house. At night it's a complete free for all.

Very large open area great for doing a wide range of activities. Never too crowded and the playground is very fun for kids. The dog play area is locked and only allowed if you are a member, but walking the dogs around the rest of the park is still enjoyable.

It was a little empty even with the good weather but still fun for the kid!

Very nice park to visit. There are picnic tables with protected seating. Bathrooms are available. The style gave me jail vibes which stopped me from using them. Because there were so many small children I would of appreciated a more fenced in playground. There were also some sketchy people walking by so I would definitely keep an eye on my kids. But more fenced in playground would also make it feel more secure.

The upgraded park makes it a great place for the kids to play. Also has a dog park at the northern side.

Pretty nice new park. Lots of equipment for almost every age range. Good shade, lots of grass to run in.

We visited the Observatory on a Saturday, and it looked like they had a couple events going on both inside and outside but it was a separate area from the walk through. It was a bit smaller than I thought it would be based off the photos but even still the plants and layout were beautiful. Its near a residential area and parking was easy, I'd say we parked maybe a black away. We walked up and entered through the main entrance and signed in. They had one of those penny machines that flatten and shape a new design on the penny (it took 2 quarters plus the penny) and its so cute! It took only about 10-15 minutes to walk through but we took our time and enjoyed getting up close to the plants and revisiting some so we spent maybe 30 total minutes in the greenhouses. They had two birds that looked healthy and happy and were responsive when we said their names. I loved them both! Overall I loved being here, seeing the plants, especially the black ZZ which is on my list!

This was a smaller, but sweet, conservatory. It is free to enter but you need to sign in upon entry. They had some nice displays and the building also houses community space. They had a wonderful display of cacti and succulents; we have been to the desert botanical garden in Phoenix and their display here had cacti we had not seen before. Also, they were decorated for Halloween, so great for the kids this time of year.

This is a small exotic plant conservatory located near Rehm Park. It takes about 20 minutes to walk through the tropical area and the desert plant area. The plants are very unusual and interesting. There is also an outodoor area with a fountain for kids to play in warmer weather. Our family lives nearby, so a walk to Rehm Park and visit to the conservatory is always fun for the kids. When I visited this week, there were fun decorations for Halloween. There is no entrance fee, but you can make a donation.

It's the perfect size for a quick trip that you can enjoy. The room has benches so that if you have kids or people who need a break, they can sit down and enjoy the plant life. The street parking is a bit tricky, but if you go during the middle of the day it's easier to find some free space.

We needed to kill time for an hour while one of our family members had a dr appointment in oak park. So we decided to check this out again. This tine they had it decorated all for Halloween. It was so cute and the entire conservatory takes about 30 min max to explore, maybe less. The outside area is for children and they have a water fountain they can explore and some outdoor activities. There's parking on the side streets. Enterance is free, you just have to sign in. They have a room for parties and also a back patio for events. There was one going on that day actually. Must see if you like conservatories, but just remember, its very small compared to others in the Chicago. Its still definetly worth the visit.

Free entry. Gardens are beautiful and would be great to host an event here. I saw so many different types of plants and flowers! Many that I hadn't seen before. They also have two adorable parrots.

Beautiful outdoor mini garden, cactus room and exotic room.Events venue with terrace. Located across children park.Street parking.Pock up mums here.

Petersen’s Ice Cream is a true classic that feels like a nostalgic step back in time. From the moment you walk in, the old-school charm greets you, with its vintage decor and welcoming atmosphere. The ice cream itself is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor—exactly what you’d expect from a place with over 100 years of history. Their classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and butter pecan are timeless, but their seasonal specials are always a delightful surprise. Whether you're enjoying a cone, a sundae, or a malt, Petersen's delivers an authentic, no-frills ice cream experience that takes you back to simpler times. A must-visit for any ice cream lover!

After trying multiple samples, felt like ice cream was lacking in flavor. Went for the classic - a scoop of cookie dough ice cream. Ice cream was very creamy and packed with loads of chocolate and cookie dough. Shop had a nostalgic vibe.

Great ice cream, creamy, flavorful and mouth watering! Service was slow as they only had one person the night we stopped in to get a scoop. Line was out the door. Was worth the wait. Some bench seating outside, few tables inside. Reasonable prices. Lady was friendly despite being overwhelmed.

The truth is that this place is in need of an overhaul! It feels like the owners don’t care to keep it going. The location is great and it gets plenty of foot traffic and business. It is kept clean. It has your basic variety of scoop ice cream flavors…. But that’s where the pros stop. I am there often and whenever I’m there, there is only one older person working. This older person is running the entire shop by themselves. This person has also been mentioned in other reviews as being cold and rude, but I believe this is due to a language barrier. This same one person takes smoke breaks by the outdoor seating where kids are eating ice cream. Because of these reasons, service is VERY slow and the atmosphere is uninviting. I wish they had more staff (even one extra set of hands to help out!) and more equipment to really provide quicker service for things like milkshakes and sundaes. The decor feels untouched for decades and boring. It’s a shame because it’s been there so long and I’d love to see our local ice cream spot thrive but it truly feels like the owners don’t really care about keeping it running and are doing the bare minimum. In summary, there is only one person who seems to work here and they smoke around child customers. The service is slow. The atmosphere is tired and unwelcoming. What this place has going for it is its history, loyal customer base, and the location.

Great place! I loved the ice cream, it was creamy and tasty. The servers were kind and nice. I tried the mint choc chip ice cream and was delicious, I would come back here soon.

I used to live in the area decades ago so Petersen’s is an old neighborhood favorite. So glad some things don’t change and their turtle sundae is as decadent and delicious as I remember.

Try this place out and honestly, I don't get it. Everyone is always talking about the ice cream here but I feel like it's not that special, the ice cream taste a little watery and are basic flavors I can get any where else. The staff here are so rude and are plainly rasict! Would never come here again.

I thought our servers were very friendly and helpful and it made our party fell very welcome. As for the food we ordered a salad as an appetizer and it came out in about 6 minutes. All together we rated the salad with a 9.5/10. Next we orders a deep dish pizza and although the wait was long (about 40 min) it was worthwhile all together we rated it a 10/10. This is definitely my favorite pizza ever. If you are coming to Chicago just for vacation or you’ve lived here for a while you need to try this pizza.

We didn't order this salad... They thought we should just eat it anyways... My husband HATES fennel... They finally agreed to make us another salad, that we had to go get... But it was free... Like really? We wanted it delivered and we were not planning on paying for it mam' . What the beep.... When we picked it up, we were greeted with a great sense of humor that changed our mood... "Here is your chicken salad" she said.... Finishing with... I m kidding! All ended we'll, we left we a smile and we can are enjoying our salad!

This location has been present for a long time in Oak Park! Celebrated my niece’s 14th birthday…the bruschetta was excellent! We ordered the Chicago Special, which is Chicken sausage, Spinach, Mushroom. It is a good selection. No complaints.

Travelled from Virginia and wanted to try “classic Chicago pie”. Wasn’t disappointed. Learned that the pie took 40 min+ to cook, so we had a quick chicken parmigiana sandwich (perfect). Decided to order the pie anyways, toured the Frank Lloyd studio nearby, then came back to get our food. We’ve had it for two meals, and super delicious! Even cold the crust was amazing. Folks need to stop complaining and just embrace this wonderful regional masterpiece.

I ordered the new Tavern Style Pizza from this location, and it was completely inedible. Parts of the pizza were so hard and dry they couldn’t be chewed, the cheese was burnt and stuck to the box, and there was no pizza sauce at all. When I called to report it, the manager told me, “That’s how we sell it — it’s supposed to be very crispy,” and said I’d have to bring it back for a refund even though it was already late at night. I found that response unhelpful and dismissive. I’ve enjoyed Giordano’s for years, but this was an awful experience — poor quality and poor customer service. A pizza should be crispy, not burned and moistureless. I expected much better from Giordano’s.

So we landed early from O’Hare on Saturday and we were on the way to visit someone, but had left home early so we were starving. Every time we come into the city, we stop at Giordano’s. This location ruined our pizza experience- we ordered tavern style pizza and got brought thin crust, which does not taste good at all. They forgot to make one of our deep dishes, and suddenly we were running late for our visit. Do not recommend this location at all.

Overall my family enjoyed our visit to Giordano's in Oak Park / River Forest. We went there specifically on a Thursday to take advantage of the Monday through Thursday special which is 30% off all pizzas. DINE IN ONLY for a limited time, so phone first if you go for that. We were able to get a great deal and have 3 different kinds of pizzas including a deep dish ground beef and spinach. a thin crust pepperoni and a create your own thin with banana peppers, red onions and sausage. Plenty of topping options. We were seated quickly and we had a good waitress. We had a little trouble with the bill not been not being processed correctly but it was fixed and we would go again. Gratuity was already included in the bill. I just love Chicago Giordano 🍕 🥰❤👍pizza!!!! My husband could eat it daily.

I recommend the A La Carte pasta dishes or their chicken dishes for take out but not the stadium pizza. I ordered a $60 dollar stadium half sausage half pepperoni and my family didn’t like it. Not enough toppings and bread was very very thick. Kinda made my stomach hurt. I should’ve of asked for thin with more cheese. Their atmosphere is clean and presentable.

Our first visit to Salerno’s Pizza & Pasta was a fantastic experience! The food quality was incredible and we enjoyed our time the food was delicious and not greasy or too oily, and the service was excellent. Our waitress Kylie, was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, Kylie added a positive touch to our dining experience. 😊 We'll definitely be returning! Overall everything was perfect 🤩 thank you

The hostess is very nice and took us to our seats quickly. Our order was taken quickly and bought to the table pretty fast. I had the fried chicken, nothing that special,it tasted fried but that's about it. Not much flavor with lack of seasoning would have made the chicken better. Small salad with just lettuce no toppings. The chicken France not sure if I spelled it right but that did have some good flavors to it. The payed was pretty good. The prices are a bit high for me but a nice place for date night.

My experience here was having a. ..n after funeral lunch and not as a regular customer. It was more of a banquet style lunch, and I did not want to take pictures of the food amongst family and friends. This was a multi course lunch starting with calamari, which was lightly battered and fried just right. They then had pizza split with cheese and sausage, pasta, salad, and chicken with potatoes, which resembled a Chicken Piccata. They even made a special item for us which was requested by the family because the family member would go to this restaurant for the item. Dessert was a sampling of cannoli and tiramisu. The room was comfortable and decorated with photos of Italian celebrities. The staff was on point and worked efficiently to get the dishes out and made sure everyone had what they needed to be satisfied. My background is 100% Italian, and I rarely, if ever, go to an Italian restaurant. I prefer making it all at home. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste of all of the food. I'm over an hour away from the location, so I would not visit again, but if you are looking for a place to go after an event, then this would be a good spot. My photos are limited because of the reason for the visit.

Recently ordered a tray of spaghetti with meat sauce for a party. It was a fan favorite. I wanted spaghetti n meatballs, however their meatballs are huge so they don't do that. I made my own on the side. They give you rolls, which were perfect to make little meatball sandwiches or eat with the pasta. They also sell the sternos($8) to keep your food hot. Good service and price for catering! Fast forward 8/11/25... I never was a fan of their huge slices of pizza because the dough to sauce/cheese ratio was off. Too doughy!!I had a sausage slice yesterday. Wow! They changed things up. Thinner, more sauce and cheese. Thank you. May have to leave Dinico's for a few.

Wow! Massive bowls of pasta, delicious pizza. You really can't go wrong. FYI, Monday is half priced pizza day, BUT the pizza is discounted, while the toppings are full priced. Wasn't a huge deal but would have been nice to know previous to ordering, rather than the price shock of the bill. Definitely will return.

Food is always good and our server was awesome. Never a disappointment. They need a kids menu. My son like the Alfredo but a regular one is too big for him. Please consider kids meals smaller portions.

Food is delicious! Locals at a mom and pop is always a fave of mine to see and be apart of. Service is always great, they sell some Brazilian items in bulk, the risoles are always perfectly crisp on the outside and savory on the inside.... they never disappoint. Though they don't open til 10a, they have great coffee too!

This place is an absolute gem. Tasty authentic Brazilian food at a reasonable price. I felt like I was back in Brazil! Excellent service as well. There were 2 of us and we split an entree and ordered several appetizers, a salad, and dessert. Delicious!

Went based on Yelp reviews. Very casual restaurant, food is good, fresh, home cooking. My husband had a la carte, steak/onions, came with rice and beans, was very impressed, and raved about how yummy beans and steak were. I had buffet, grabbed my plate -- fresh salad, pasta, rice, beans, beef -- went to counter, all for just $8.95. Lots of parking in the back. Staff is friendly, you can see they care about making a customer happy. We'll be back.

If you want delicious homemade Brazilian food, this is the pace. Delicious, fresh, every day food from Brazil, Taste of Brazil is a great addition to Oak Park great restaurants variety.The atmosphere is cozy and the staff rocks! I simply LOVE this place and if you are in Oak Park surroundings, make sure to stop by.

Cute, casual little place with food that all seems authentic. We shared a bunch appetizers, probably every appetizer on the menu, at least in one or two flavors. One thing to bear in mind is that most (all?) of the appetizers are fried and have a thick fried outer layer of breading. They're delicious, but that's just something to think about. I really can't un-recommend any of the apps, we got what we were in the mood for, some chicken, some beef, some veggie, and it was all good. The yucca fries were also tasty, a bit dry, even with the hot sauce, so next time I might want more sauces (I shouldhave just asked for ketchup, but maybe vinegar would be good, too). The yucca comes as a decent-sized bowl serving, and is very filling. We didn't end up finishing everything. Four stars, for me, means good, I'd recommend it and go out of my way to have it again, but it wasn't mind-blowing, and I couldn't eat it every day (the frying is partially accountable for that). They definitely hype their lemonade on the menu, and it's good. I think it was actually limeade, not that it makes much of a difference. It was very refreshing. The waiter was very friendly, service was pretty quick given the light staffing (it looked like two servers, and I didn't peer into the kitchen to see how many people were in there, but it certainly wasn't bustling). The outdoor seating is nice, and the sidewalk doesn't seem too busy, so we didn't have crowds walking past. The desserts sounded good, but there was also an ice cream place across the street that we noticed had a huge line, so that seemed like the place to be. There's metered parking aplenty around, although you'll have to bring coins or download their app -- it's like Oak Park is targeting it's parking at grannies and teens, but for the rest of us who would like to use bills or a credit card, we're out of luck.

Used to be one of our favorites places to eat in Oak Park when we first moved in nearby, but now only visit about once a year. Mainly the menu has not changed at all so nothing new worth checking out, while the prices have steadily creeped up over time. Favorites are the meatloaf entree, veggie pastel, and salmon bagel sandwich. The onions on the steak sandwich can range from barely cooked to perfectly caramelized; just roll the dice on that one. Handful of tables available outside when weather permits. Their homemade hot sauce is quite good and they started bottling and selling it a couple years ago.

Literally had no idea this place was in the area. I decided to give it a go, I end up ordering the salmon on bagel. The inside was very nice, nice vibe with music in the background nothing loud. The lady who took my order was kind. As for the salmon goes, it's was pretty great for a stab in the dark guess. My only qualm was this horseradish I Think it was I wasn't exactly thrilled about but the bagel was delicious, and the sweet potatoes fries were the cats kimono! 9/10 would eat here again!

Autre Monde is a very special experience. Don't let the name 'cafe' fool you because this is a high dining and high quality service where you should enjoy a nice dinner or date here. Take your time and pick from the variety of spirits here. The dishes are so savory and make for great shared plates. I've had the pleasure of attending one of their anniversaries and they certainly know how to celebrate.

Platonic ideal of the essential neighborhood restaurant. Can't believe it took me this long to stop in but I'll be back with company! I had an amazing, fresh mezze plate with piping hot bread and a variety of dips and veggies. The chicken thighs were deeply flavorful and moist, served with the lightest perfect tzatziki. House made brown butter ice cream was so good, as was the seasonal gin & tonic with rosemary and peppercorns. Service on a Sunday evening was attentive but casual; everything was just as it should be. Can't wait to get out to the back garden and try some of the pasta options.

One of the best restaurant in the near west suburbs. The food is a multi national Mediterranean vibe with tapas mezze appetizers, bread served in charming Spanish tuna tins and entrees that are tasty and beautifully prepared. The night I dined I had the steak frites and they were not shy about applying salt to those wonderful potatoes. The crispy pork belly is definitely not to be missed along with the desserts. The menus change often so show up often. There was a diverse mix of people that dined that night and is family friendly with a neighborhood feel and is a posh establishment without being pretentious. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable about the restaurant, what it produces and they genuinely seem to enjoy being there.

I must say they is a great restaurant, I would have never found it or just go to it on my own if it wasn't for a friend. After 2yrs of talking about it we finally went. We ordered a lot of food but it was good. Food was great I had the steak but it really just tasted like a bland hamburger with no buns or pre seasoning. Atmosphere was nice and romantic. Our waiter could have been friendlier I let him know twice this was our first time there and just ignored the fact. I then asked for recommendations as a friend referred us and he didn't seem to enthusiastic to share. I really likes the chef or the guy that brought us our food he was more attentive than the waiter we had to tip him separately bc the 1st guys kinda sucked especially since it seemed he didn't care so much or maybe it was his off day idk but overall great place. In house pita and hummus was my favorite!

Consistently features Mediterranean influnced, locally sourced, seasonal meals. Good wine & cocktail menu. Try the 'blood orange gimlet'.

I'm satisfied. The food was simple but delicious. The cocktails were very good and creative. Service was great as well. Very cozy place and well lighting. Street parking but free for two hours and pretty easy to find.

We got the chef’s tasting menu because decisions are hard. Tuna pate, shrimp on delicate little squares of polenta, tender grilled octopus, risotto, duck sausage flatbread, pork belly, salmon, with cannoli and pot du creme for dessert. This joint never disappoints.

Some magnificent homes. But lots of traffic and parking is not the easiest. We certainly didn’t hate it — how could one? — but we didn’t love it as much as we had expected. It certainly worth a visit, especially if you are a fan of architecture.

Love the vibrant energy of Downtown Oak Park! From unique shops to fantastic dining, there’s always something new to explore. The area is clean, walkable, and full of charm. A true gem in the Chicago suburbs.

Whether it’s visiting at nighttime or during the day, downtown Oak Park is always lively and beautiful! A large variety of restaurants and stores offers a unique experience that you don’t find often near the Chicagoland area. Easily accessible as well with the train station being a 5 minute walk from most popular stores. It’s a quiet alternative to shopping malls and the downtown Chicago area, definitely a hidden gem!

We attended the What's Blooming on Harrison festival as vendors, and it was a fantastic experience. There was live music, lots of people out shopping, and we had a great day overall. Highly recommend it!

Downtown Oak Park is quaint, walkable, friendly, and leisurely. Just take your time and walk, talk, view, and taste. Thursday night out is just beginning. Every Thursday evening restaurants put out bistro sets and welcome customers to purchase special tickets to taste different fares up and down the avenue. Add free live entertainment and you've got a great evening out while supporting local business and not breaking the bank. From Thursday skip to Saturday and there's the best Farmer's Market in the area. Just go to the Oak Park Village website for times and more info. I ❤️Oak Park !

This place could be 5 stars with better service. The atmosphere, and entertainment was really nice but maybe they need more staff or training?? It took 30 minutes to get water and menu, another 40 minutes for a glass of wine. We never, saw the waiter again, or a chance to order food. Left money for drinks on the table. Despite all Harold Dawson was a beast on the sax. I enjoyed every tune he played. Because of him I'm going to give this place another try.

I don't like crowds. And downtown Oak Park, is always crowded. I love the Lake Theater and the Jerusalem Cafe. That's all I like about Oak Park.

★★★★★ The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour in Oak Park, IL, is a phenomenal experience! Walking through the home where Wright lived and worked from 1889 to 1909 is like stepping into the mind of a genius. The guided tour is engaging, with passionate docents sharing fascinating stories about Wright’s life and early Prairie-style designs. The meticulously restored spaces—especially the stunning playroom and octagonal studio—are breathtaking, showcasing his innovative use of light, space, and natural materials. Pair it with the self-guided audio tour of Oak Park’s Wright-designed homes for a full immersion into his legacy. Affordable, well-organized, and inspiring, this is a must-visit for architecture lovers or anyone curious about American design history. Easy to reach via CTA Green Line, too! Highly recommend!

This visit was one of the highlights of my Chicago trip. I'm an architecture nerd more interested in skyscrapers than Prairie style, so I wasn't expecting to be blown away, but the tour completely exceeded my expectations. The staff were wonderful. Lexi was incredibly sweet and even got me into a sold-out tour slot after I was initially turned away. My guide Karl was fantastic, he was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the hour-long tour fly by. The house itself is really beautiful and the whole neighborhood has a special vibe. There were local artists painting watercolor scenes of nearby Wright homes which added to the charm. I highly recommend visiting here!

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is an absolute must-see when visiting Chicago. Walking through the house of such an iconic architect was a truly inspiring experience. Every room is filled with fascinating details that showcase Wright’s creativity and unique vision, from the way he used natural light to the thoughtful flow of space. Being inside the environment where he lived and worked gave me a much deeper appreciation for his genius, and it left a lasting impression on me. The guided tour was excellent—very well-organized, engaging, and full of interesting stories that brought both the architecture and Wright’s personal life to life. The staff and guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about sharing his legacy, which made the visit even more enjoyable. This museum is a true cultural gem and a great way to step into history. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a design lover, or simply curious, I highly recommend visiting. It’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave.

🏛️ Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio: A Prairie Paradise 🏛️ We rolled into Oak Park on a sleepy mid-weekday and snagged our tickets same-day—no fuss, but if you’ve got a schedule tighter than a cantilever beam, grab them online in advance. 🕰️ Tour Tip Plan on an hour for the guided walkthrough plus extra time to wander the restored gardens and stroll the block. Wright’s architectural fingerprints are everywhere—there are several of his houses down the street. If you crave more context, the gift shop sells a neighborhood audio tour (for a few extra bucks), kind of like a podcast with Frank himself. 👩‍🏫 Inside Scoop Our guide was a walking encyclopedia of Prairie School lore. Photos? Snap away! Video? Keep the phone in your pocket. Don't become distracted by making the video and missing the details. ( I got the friendly “no video” nudge mid-tour, and I appreciate it.) It was a great reminder to live in the moment and take in the details. No harm, no foul—just a reminder that some masterpieces deserve to be admired, not filmed. Filming is a distraction that may cause you to stumble into items that can't be replaced. 🌿 Beyond the Home After you soak in the sleek horizontals, peek at the Unity Temple and other FLW gems around town. It’s like a mini architectural scavenger hunt, and each stop proves Wright really did think “outside the box.” ✨ Final Verdict This beautifully restored slice of design history is a must for road-tripping culture vultures. Bonus: You’ll feel smarter just by breathing in that Prairie breeze. #WrightAtHome #PrairieParadise #ArchitectureRoadtrip #TrailheadTreasures #UnityTempleBound #MidweekMarvels

I was wandering aimlessly through Chicago when I stumbled upon the house Frank Lloyd Wright grew up in along with one of his first workspaces. It is now a museum open to the public. This is a controversial take, but the Fountainhead is my favorite book of all time and Frank Lloyd Wright was a major inspiration for the novel, so I had to pop in. I was SO excited. Sometimes I feel like the universe just throws you treats when you’re living right. I entered and realized you could only see the home and workspace if you booked a guided tour. When I inquired about a tour, they said they had no spots left for the day. It hurt, hurt BAD. I tucked my tail between my legs and scoured the gift shop for a little trinket. As I was trinket shopping, there were 2 girls trying to get in one of the tours for the day. The attendant told them what they told me, but they were not taking no for an answer. “My friend came from Serbia just to see this… is there any way she can go? Please, I’ll just wait. PLEASE. Is there anything you can do?” After going back and forth, the girl begging and pleading for minutes, the attendant said “Fine… we will add 1 spot to the tour for her but it starts right now.” A jolt of pure RAGE shot through my bloodstream. I was about to lose it. I was seeing red. What a slap in the face to me who had just been rejected. As I turned around to unleash my blind fury, I had to check myself. One half of my brain said to the other half “Honestly Johnny, she wanted it more than you did. You know she did. If you wanted it that bad, you would have pressed the attendant like she did. You just saw first hand that a closed mouth does not get fed.” Damn. So true. This was just proof again that you gotta go after what you want in life. Pure passion and grit will win out more often than not. I needed this lesson. RIP FRANK! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

I had the chance to come back to visit this place again after 9 years. The house didn’t age as much as I did. I had fun touring this place again. The interior was beautiful. It’s also interesting to see that between the 2 volunteers that gave my tours, the stories they told were different. Overall good experience. I strongly recommend booking the tour ahead of time. There isn’t always one available when people arrive.

As expected, small spaced in Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs! Tour felt rushed and guide was unfriendly, hence less the one star. Otherwise, the house and studio are amazing! Bonus 7 houses nearby to see also! They are privately owned, but you can see from the outside.

Open only four days a week - hence only 3 stars for me. I think that for such a great and important American writer the opening hours are just insufficient. Otherwise, there's a bench on the porch you can sit on and relax.

Wonderful experience, the house is restored with great effort and care. The guide was very knowledgeable, engaging and answered all questions. This is the house where Earnest spent his first 6 years of his life and where he was born. You learn a lot about the family and the values that shaped their life. If you are a history and literature nerd like myself you will absolutely love this. If you are not you will still have a magical time because you will be transported back in time for an hour.

I was here last month with my mother and sister. We love Hemingway, so this was a great opportunity for us to know more about him! The staffs were exceptionally kind and knowledgeable. We really appreciated the detailed explanation of his entire life with his family. I would say if you have ever read Hemingway's work and loved it, you may not want to say you've been to Chicago without visiting here! Already miss that day.

Interesting house that was restored, but the stories about Hemingway and his early life make the tour worth the trip. A lot of work was put into bringing the house back to what it would look like when Hemingway lived there, including some original artifacts.

The renovation of the home is remarkable. The level of detail provided by our guide (Sue) could not have been better. This tour was a birthday gift for my daughter (at her request) and we both remarked that the experience was one of the best ever. So many times presentations are factual, but very dry and detached. Sue's lovely speaking voice and pleasant demeanor complimented the wealth of information she shared and gave special insight to family life in the home. Thank you!

The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum is a historical gem that takes you back in time. The house is beautifully preserved and provides fascinating insight into the writer’s early life. The guides are passionate and knowledgeable, making the tour even more engaging. Every room is filled with details that reflect the Hemingway family’s lifestyle and history. A must-visit for literature lovers and anyone interested in American heritage.

This is my "better late than never" review for the Ernest Hemingway birthplace museum. I had the opportunity to tour this historic house last year and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. It was a quiet weekday afternoon and I had the tour guide to myself. I have read several biographies about Ernest Hemingway, but I learned new information during my visit and it was lovely to see the home the way it would have looked when the Hemingway family lived there. I enjoyed the story of Hemingway's father, Clarence, (who was a doctor and delivered all of his children), standing on the wraparound porch and blowing a cornet fanfare, announcing to the neighborhood the birth of his first son. In Hemingway's sister, Marcelline Hemingway Sanford's memoir, ''At the Hemingway's'', she describes the house and the rooms in great detail. I recommend this book if you would like to learn more about the family and house. Although not part of the current house tour, Marcelline described the outhouse that once stood on the property: "At the rear of the house behind bushes of flowering pink Wigela stood the old outhouse, screened by latticework from the view of the street and used only for emergencies when our single bathroom was overcrowded." The Hemingway birthplace is open three afternoons a week, 1-5pm and Saturday 10am-5pm. This is a very worthwhile tour if you enjoy the novels of Ernest Hemingway and want to learn more about his life or are just interested in Victorian architecture.

This public park is very well kept and bear places to buy a quick bite for a picnic. The restroom are tidy. The kid's play area is large and seems safe.

Scoville Park is conveniently located next to the Oak Park Main library. We often take the kids to the playground after we check out books at the library. It is a very pretty, small park with walking paths, open spaces and several seating areas. The sculptures are very interesting, including the very impressive World War I memorial called ''Peace Triumphant''. It is dedicated to the Oak Park veterans of World War I. The plaque on the back of the memorial includes the name of legendary author Ernest Hemingway, along with over 2400 residents who fought between 1914 and 1918. The memorial displays three bronze statues, representing the armed services of land, sea and air. I find that kids enjoy looking at and talking about the big statues. The playground is ideal for small children. The tennis courts are great for older children, teens and adults, and there are clean restrooms adjacent to the playground. Oak Park hosts a lot of seasonal events at the park, including the Sunday evvening summer concert series.

I like this park very much. It has a big grassy area that I believe is a venue for concerts etc. Plenty of seating all around. Playground, tennis courts, restroom and best of all, it is beside the Oak Park Library. Another best thing is that it has WiFi!

The park district of Oak Park and the village do a wonderful job of making there parks accessible, friendly and engaging.

This has always been a wonderful park! On sunny days it's full and nature is thriving. Nestled in downtown Oak Park, you can't go wrong!

Amazing park, there is a bakery right across the street. I love to just go and sit down with my coffee and take in the breeze especially during fall time. Also the library is right next to it.

Long time gathering point in central Osk Park. Tennus courts, playground, washrooms all available.

this is very nice experience for me and my hubby, we got a lot of fresh organic fruits and veges mist of all the fresh bake challah.

It was great going through the Oak Park farmers market. Just like all other farmers markets it is a little bit more expensive I understand that. You just have to be wise on choosing what you buy. Just make sure if you want to support the farmers that the products you are buying are from natural farmers and not people trying to solicit other stuff that are not from the farm.

Summer farm markets are my absolute favorite. fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, and bread sparkle in the morning sun. Donuts and a band are always the perfect companions. They make every Saturday morning filled with joy.

Today, we helped a 75 year young lady who was in distress at the Oak Park Farmers Market. Even though she waa speaking to me with her eyes don't call 911. I explained quickly I am a nurse we need help.It was great to see he move from a catatonic state to fully oriented and speaking clearly. Thank you Lord!!!!!

Beautiful environment and great people. I love attending the farmer's market every year. You can always find delicious foods.

I haven't visited in many years. Purchased the freshest, best tasting peaches and green beans I've had all summer. Largest Farmers Market I've been to in years. Lots of choices and reasonable prices.

We love the abundance of fresh produce..and of course the doughnuts!! Love listening to the musicians who gather and play!!

Food is amazing service is great l never try lamb before and wao was good l definitely come back

I recently tried this place for the first time this week. I have been back every day since. (3 days in a row). I've been in Oak Park for almost two years and I'm almost mad at myself for not trying them sooner. The staff has been very welcoming which I always appreciate. Each time I've been there, I had the combination. A great amount of food for a very reasonable price especially the lunch special. Look forward to trying other options from there!

Absolutely amazing. I tried this place out for the first time & I’ve already been back 3 times within a week. So good, everything is so fresh & just taste very natural. I used to eat fast food for my lunch break, but for the same price you can get a real, authentic, hearty meal

I've only ever had the beef shish kabob when I come here, but the meat is so tender and delicious that I crave it all the time!

MUST TRY! This is one of the best middle-eastern places I have ever tried. The falafel is TO DIE FOR!! The staff and atmosphere is so nice. If you are ever in the mood for some Arab food, this is the place to go. Such good affordable prices for incredible fresh food.

Great food and fantastic taste. Very consistent always. Only thing is it is weird that they charge for a small dab of sauce. That left me wondering. Jerusalem never did that in the past.

Highly recommend! The food is delicious, good portion sizes, good price. Casual, relax environment and good service.

I really enjoy this spot for brunch. I’m a steak and eggs guy and they do not disappoint. They also provide a variety of juices for your mimosas, always a plus. Not the biggest place but very comfortable and clean. Make a reservation and stop in they stop serving brunch at 2:30.

Wow! Fantastic food, superb cocktails. My wife and I had the guacamole and stuffed poblano pepper to start and the lamb barbacoa. Absolutely delicious. Isidro, the bartender is a genius mixologist. We were blown away by every cocktail we tasted.

This little gem in Oak Park - let me tell you it’s a must go. If you’re in the area visiting or you’re a local who hasn’t had the chance to visit, I highly recommend this place. It doesn’t matter what time or food you’re going for: it’s all delicious. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner… it’s all amazing. I’ve tried so many things on their menu and Ive never been disappointed! It’s a small location & parking can be a little tricky depending on what time you go but don’t let it stop you from trying this spot. From someone who truly knows what GOOD latin food is supposed to taste like, if you’re looking for delicious true Latin flavors… I can honestly say this is the place for it.

It was my first time here with a friend. We sat outside. Our server was attentive, sweet, and friendly throughout our time here. She warmed up our coffee for us. She gave us the recommendation to eat their chilaquiles. The chilaquiles with the steak were delicious. I recommend any reading this review to check out Amerikas. The service and food were delicious! Lastly, we had two dogs with us. They brought us water for dogs. The staff here are sweet and friendly.

Amerikas is amazing!! They have American breakfast as well as typical Mexican options for brunch. Bottomless mimosas are $30 and time limit is 1.5 hrs. They give you the entire bottle of champagne and juice on the side to mix it yourself!! Amazing!! Bloody Mary was delicious. Paloma was our waitress and she was very attentive. Outside seating was great option too. I will return here soon!

Decided to sit outside due to not enough space inside and it was too loud. Perfect weather to have lunch outside. Food was good. Servers were nice.

Right when you walk they’re very attentive, really nice, food and drinks were amazing. Recommend coming here. Paloma gave amazing service throughout my time here.

Hemmingway Bistro is an absolute gem! ✨ I stopped by for dinner and had an incredible experience—great food, strong drinks, and top-tier service. 🍽️ Food & Drinks 🍸 Martini – 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Delicious & strong—just the way I like it! No watered-down drinks here. 🐌 Escargot w/ Butter & Bread – 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was my first time trying escargot, and I was pleasantly surprised! Perfectly seasoned, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Definitely highly recommended! 🌟 Service & Experience 🪑 Sat at the bar and had such a great time! The bartender was super kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable—gave me great recommendations, not just for the restaurant but for the area. Made me feel right at home. 💕 🎶 Bonus! It’s right across the street from a museum—after dinner, I walked over and enjoyed a jazz concert. Such a perfect way to end the night! 🚗 Parking & Ambiance 🚗 No parking lot, but street parking available (if you get lucky!). ✨ Clean, cozy, and inviting atmosphere. 💰 Price & Final Thoughts 💰 Reasonably priced—felt like great value for the quality. 💯 Would I go back? Absolutely! The food, service, and overall vibe were all on point. If you’re looking for a chic but laid-back spot with great drinks and escargot that’ll surprise you, this is it! 🍸🐌✨

We went for the Sunday jazz champagne brunch and spent almost $70 per person (with tax and tip). The brunch includes a main dish (we got crab cake, lobster toast, and white fish), a buffet (pastries, cheese, quiche, smoked salmon, raw oyster, crab leg, fruit, and desserts), and a free drink (champagne, tea, coffee, or juice). There was also a guitarist and a singer playing jazz. The main dishes and the smoked salmon were really good. Overall it was a pretty enjoyable brunch, despite it being slightly overpriced.

Very disappointed! We were so excited to finally eat here and the food was terrible. In a time when eating at home is very inexpensive, it's expected that restaurants (especially high-priced places) NEED to have a top-notch menu. Even the menu didn't look appetizing. I knew right away that the food was going to be awful because the Manhattan cocktail I ordered was the worst cocktail I've ever had in my life. I ALWAYS predict the food based on a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned-- and well, my theory held true. The bread I had tasted like chewing gum. The duck I had tasted like a Costco rotisserie chicken leg and my wife's steak frites tasted like week old liver. The fries were okay. The salad on both of our plates looked and tasted like the salad that's at the bottom of an Aldi mixed salad container (look at the picture provided). I ended up eating everything on my plate because I was very hungry! At no point did our server ask us how the food was because I'm quite certain that even he knew it was trash. Save your hard earned money and eat somewhere else. I will never eat here again, even if someone paid me. Seriously, the chef needs to be evaluated. The servers were nice tho.

I hadnt been here in years ...I had the Gruyere ham & eggs on brioche with fruit ..coffee ..nice outdoor patio .. nice place ..i sat outside .the issue was they were busy inside and it seemed they didn't have enough help because the folks on the patio were getting ignored ..the servers a Were very nice .. the service was slow ... OQ

It was a beautiful afternoon, so lunch at Hemingway's was necessary. The sidewalk seating is wonderful in the shade of umbrellas and the inn. The menu is full of bistro classics. We went for two specials of the day: the foie Gras appetizer with figs and honey, and the halibut with asparagus, potatoes, and mushrooms. Both were delicious. Dessert was profiteroles, also very nice. Summer having lunch outside is perfection.

First time last time. Dinner reservations at 745 after a show. Seated on time outside on a beautiful summer evening. Waitress poor at best. Shrimp cocktail delicious. Warm goat cheese salad amazing! Herb crusted whitefish & steak very good. Service very poor. When a waitress comes to your table two & three times to ask us if we got our appetizer & did you get your salads? Isn’t that her job? We got our appetizer in a very timely manner. Big time gap between appetizer & salad. Salad arrives & then dinner came about three minutes later. We did not get asked how our meals were or if we wanted more to drink. She had a heavy accent & at times was difficult to understand. We had to ask for our check. $175.00 later & not worth it.

I made a reservation for the Champagne jazz Sunday brunch . My father was visiting from out of town celebrating his wedding anniversary . We arrived a bit early . The bistro was not crowded. The brunch consist of a buffet, glass champagne or champagne mix drink , an entree from menu . The shrimp on the buffet were quite rubbery tough texture poor taste . The quiche was not flavorful as well . My choice of entree was the poached egg on crab cake . The crab cake was really over cooked on outside and missing the fresh crab taste completely no crab taste detected . My father said his French toast was good . And his wife said the whitening fish was good as well. The jazz band was pleasing . When I made the reservation I discussed with the contact person that it was my dad’s wedding anniversary and he was from out of town . They indicated they would acknowledge and do a little something special . But no mention towards the end of the meal I mentioned it to the waiter which he replied happy anniversary . There so many places around I should have taken them to for same price with most fresh & top of the line with flavor and great customer service . I would not recommend their brunch . The food the fresh ingredients is just lacking .

First time viditing this restaurant, Mother's day 2025. The meal was packaged for the ocassion. The egg and steak was my order. The neat was a little tough. The restaurant had only about 10 tables nut was very noisy. The waiter was not very attentive, did not even remembered what each order from which person (Carlos).

We went for an early dinner right after 3pm, we told the server we only had 40 minutes before Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio tour nearby. The service was very quick and we got out around 3:45pm without feeling rushed. The food is delicious, the server is very professional. Wish we had more time to get some drink and enjoy more. Cash is preferred for tips.

Cute little whole in the wall, the service was impeccable, the food is to die for! Chef's kiss!! I wanted Sangria, but they didn't have it and my server whipped up something that tastes exactly like Sangria and I was surprised! Great suggestion from the server. We had the appetizers Calamari-cooked to perfection, and the crispy Eggplant with tomato, cheese and balsamic glaze that was amazing. The entrees we absolutely loooove were the cheese stuffed pork chop, roasted chicken, and beef braised ribs. It was all cooked to perfection, nothing left on our plates! Would absolutely go again!

So we ate here once before, but quite some time ago. We didn’t have a reservation and it a Thursday evening with plenty of seating available. Service was good…nothing exceptional, but good. John was nice and polite…also the bartender. $14 for a sparingly spread of Brie and some figs with some honey on 4 small slices of common bread is pure profit for the restaurant. Skip Plentiful hummus, but the ration of pita was incorrect. Sea bass was average and chopped salad with salmon was slightly above average. Skip the truffle fries…$14 and sitting in a mess of too much oil. I’m going to sit this one out next time.

Had brunch after my breast cancer awareness walk on 9/28/24. The little gem omelet and cornbeef hash was a hit with the group. The food was amazing! The atmosphere was spot on! And the service was impeccable! Even got a sweet treat on the house! Thank you so much, The Little Gem,for making this day a bit more special.

**NEIGHBORHOOD GEM ALERT**We a party of 12, the restaurant was ready when we arrived. We did not have to wait for the entire party to arrive, we were seated immediately as we arrived. The staff was very accommodating. The manager came over and introduced herself to us and welcomed us to the restaurant. The restaurant is intimate but festive. They have live entertainment on the weekend so that was nice. I recommend the braised short rib. No one complained about their food, but the prime rib needed to be cooked a bit more before it was enjoyable. All in all, it was a good time and I look forward to returning!

Loved the food and service. I’m sensitive to sounds so the noise level was too much for me. But otherwise the place really is a gem. We had the seafood risotto and it was delicious.