Meet us where romance is on the menu
A romantic European-style café that is elegant but unpretentious, the Little Gem is the perfect place for a date night.
In fact, the Date Night Dinner for Two is what’s on the menu Wednesday and Thursday nights. That’s when you can enjoy a three-course meal with a bottle of wine. The Date Night menu offers many choices, including Angus Hanger Steak with cracked pepper and roasted cauliflower, or opt for a Vegetarian Risotto with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, asparagus, and crispy onions.
Or sip a cocktail made from the specialty bourbon collection while watching live swing or jazz music on Monday and Tuesday nights. On these nights, the restaurant feels like a Parisian jazz club where the musicians fill the space with music and the chefs fill the tables with elegant, European-inspired dishes.
The weekend brunch menu and weekday lunch menu pair well with an ambiance reminiscent of a bustling and bright European café.
The Little Gem is open:
Monday from 5pm-10pm
Tuesday 11am- 9pm
Wednesday 11am-9pm
Thursday 11am-9:30pm
Friday 11am to 9:30pm
Saturday 11am-9:30pm
Sunday 11am-10pm
Don’t miss Happy Hour Sunday through Thursday from 3:30pm to 6:30pm or the Friday and Saturday night chef-inspired dinner specials.
The Date Night specials take place on Wednesday and Thursday nights and include three courses and a bottle of wine.
Live music is swinging at the Little Gem Monday and Tuesday nights (seasonally).
The three-course “Date Night Dinner for Two” is $95 per couple and includes a bottle of wine. There is no cover charge for most live music events at Little Gem.
Judith Lalor and her husband, Kirt, own The Little Gem where the customer is considered the gem.
You will likely see Judith or Kirt if you visit the cafe where the restaurant staff and guests are considered family.
In the kitchen, Chef Martin Mondragon is whipping up his European-inspired dishes while keeping the guest experience at the forefront of every move he makes in the kitchen.
The Little Gem is located at 189 N. Marion Street in Oak Park. It’s a six-minute walk from the Harlem/Lake Stop on the “L” train or a 15-minute drive west of Chicago.