I just visited Amelias with a friend and it was late so we just had a few drinks and some app's. The waitress was super cool and friendly and we ordered Jack whiskey, she said they do small batch liquors (bonus) it was super tasty. the truffle fries blew my head off they were sooooo good. The flatbread served before the meal tasted like dirt and was super dry and pasty (rosemary) and the salad again had rosemary all over it yucko-again the dirt taste with no offer to take it off the check (hmmmm?????) You kind of have to be ignorant not to offer to take it off the check if it is not even eaten. The strawberry rhubard pie was super yummy with only a small hint of rhubarb but still good. I would def go back if only for those great fries!
(4)
Jet H.
Just found this little gem and stepped in for late dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and excellence of the food. Enjoyed a very fresh spinach salad and a delicious (and thick) burger and a bottle of cider. My girl had the mac n cheese and enjoyed it as well. Leave room for dessert - they're great! Also rolled in for late breakfast one Sunday afternoon and gobbled down the french toast, remarkable bacon and great cup of coffee. A local joint that sources it's ingredients locally. Yes, yes and yes again. I'll be coming back to this place regularly. I hear they have a decent wing night.
(4)
Mojo P.
Don't. I ordered two burgers from Grub Hub and it was a bust. They were late, the burgers came without condiments, and the "roasted mushroom" topping is not roasted by any conventional method I am aware of. Unless you include a nuker. No pickle, no lettuce, no tomato, no mayo, and not even an insulting packet of ketchup. You get a burger that has been in the freezer so long that it's not even aware that Obama is the President. Also, everything was burned. Not "charred". Frickin' burned. Ugh. So let's recap: $32 plus a six dollar tip for the driver, for exactly two burgers with bacon, cheese, shrooms and onions = should have gone to Burger King. Please, Amelia's, remove this item from your menu if you hate it so much.
(1)
Mindy B.
So, got this delivered and I gotta say, the quality of the food was not there because of it. I could tell that our food sat for too long waiting to come to us, and this was sad. My Mac n cheese & lentil soup survived and were awesome, but our French fries, tarts, and my friend's catfish had that "I've been sweating my crispy wonderfulness off while waiting for the delivery driver," appearance and taste. I will try to get into the restaurant sometime because I tasted potential greatness; just disappointed when a place can't bring it to me.
(3)
Nick C.
Amelia's is the newest restaurant to open in Forest Park and it brings something we've needed for a while: modern American cuisine. My better half and I had the pleasure of dining here this evening and aside from the typical hiccups new restaurants go through (new staff, getting used to the way things are run, etc) the food was delicious, the staff was sincerely friendly, and the portions were large as well as fairly priced (their drinks too!). We will definitely be going back. Best of luck to them.
(4)
Ben M.
At least the food was good. I can't say the same for the service. We went to Amelia's for bunch today with high expectations, but left disappointed. The bunch menu was pretty extensive. I had the French toast and was pleasantly surprised, though it is hard to mess up deep fried brioche. My dining companions each had one of the two omelettes on the menu, one regular and one egg white. Both were happy with their choices. But that service..... When we arrived there was only one or two tables with other patrons. We were shown to our seats, and our drink orders taken. After a long, but appropriate, wait we received or drinks and or brunch orders were taken. Then we waited and waited and waited. Not only did we not receive our food, but our drinks ran dry. Finally our food arrived. Exited to start digging in we examined our food. Sadly what we saw in front of us was not what we ordered. After some time of trying to flag down our waiter, we altered him to the error. He was happy to fix the problem, so he told the food back. Now we are foodless and drinkless, with fine, unimpeded view of the Ike. One of my dining companions finally had enough and sought out a waiter to refill her drink, however, when the waiter came he didnt seem to either notice or care that everyone else at the table had empty drinks. The corrected food arrived, with much more hast than the first round. I would like to reiterate that the food was tasty, but the service was pretty unbearable. It definitely left a sour taste in our mouths.
(3)
Allison N.
This review is long overdue...I no longer live in the area, but it's close to where I grew up. My fiance and I were in town for the holidays. We went to Amelia's with my brother and his fiance, for our New Years Eve dinner. It was a fixed menu of 5 courses, I believe, for a great price. We decided to add the wine pairings for an additional $20. Normally I don't care enough to pay extra for wine pairings, but it was NYE and let me say, it was WELL WORTH IT! The portions were impressive. With six courses, including desert, I couldn't believe how much food we were getting in each course for the price. With pre-fixed menus, I've had two experiences in the past: getting a really good deal but the food was meh or paying a hefty price for quality food but each course was 3 bites. This was pleasantly not what I'm used to. You could tell from the start, the chef was passionate about the quality of ingredients and knew what he was doing in the kitchen. At no point in the meal did I feel shortcuts were taken to justify the price. Each course was sooo yummy. I must admit, I've never had mussels and the thought of them grosses me out. I tried them to prove to myself I would try anything once. Nope. Not my thing...the rest of the table guests GLADLY finished them off while I dipped the toast in the delicious broth...worked for me! Long story short, I cannot go back regularly because I live in Los Angeles, but I plan to go back when in town visiting family. I STRONGLY recommend people from the area check it out. It's a hidden gem off the beaten path, that won't disappoint...
(5)
Nico s.
I finally got an opportunity to go to this awesome establishment. I went to this location outside of my normal eating route. I needed to go there because I promised the owners that I would come and try the cuisine. I had the chipotle chicken sandwich. Let me tell you the sandwich was awesome.. I enjoyed the layers of the sandwich and the flavor was very good. I did have my two friends who are food critics in their part time and the food to them was run of the mill. It was not spectacular but it was not bad but keep in mind the comparison of food was to gourmet food. The two of them ordered Mac and cheese and pork poboy. They were full but did mention the lack of complexity in flavor. I enjoyed my plate, customer service was awesome the waitress was beyond helpful and involved in the experience so I will be returning for the chipotle sandwich and great customer service.
(4)
Grace N.
Amelia's has a lot of potential because it offers good food that aims at the Chicago gastropub style, but it would benefit from a serious facelift because at this point, it looks and smells like a diner (i.e. musty), there's odd music playing randomly from a jukebox, and their wine (especially for the prices) really should be served in stemware. In short, the ambiance doesn't match the food or the higher prices But to be fair, my husand and I enjoyed our meals here.
(3)
Leilani L.
I love the concept here and the inventive dishes. The food preparation is uneven and the service is polite, but distant and slow. This restaurant needs Chef Robert! It's close but getting it wrong in some key areas. But I will keep coming back, hoping they keep improving!
(3)
Edwin W.
Wow! Finally, a great, comfortable place, with terrific service, and excellent food on Harrison St.!!! We have been waiting patiently for Amelia's to open, and have been rewarded for our patience with a wonderful wine and beer list, and a fresh, locavore approach to the menu. So far, we have tried the scallops with bacon risotto (O-M-G!), the fish and chips (light and clean-tasting, with outrageously good house-made smoked shrimp tartar sauce), the burger (perfection), the turkey wrap (yum!), the mac and cheese (our take-out full-order was a bit small, and lacking the crunchy topping, but serviceable, nonetheless), and the amazing local asparagus salad with Wisconsin bleu cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. We will definitely be regulars, and hope you will, too! We want Amelia's around for a long time.
(4)
Nicole R.
Great little place with amazing, local food. Stopped in for bunch and the food blew me away! We were brought a little treat of doughnut puffs with powdered sugar....split the last one with their homemade jam - WOW! I had the skillet #2, with local potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, roasted garlic, bleu cheese, and fried eggs, and my friend had omelette #2 with ham, peppers, onions, and american cheese, and both also had bloody marys. Everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The homemade jam, whipped butter, and homemade hot sauce were a great touch! I will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)
Dr. John Z.
The food is good so it sucks I have to write this review. This is based solely on their delivery customer service. Dude on phone: Hey it's Amelia's, guy. Me: Hey buddy. You sent the wrong order. Dude on phone: Ok friend. Do you want us to send the right order? Me: Oh no, not at all. You see, I figure you keep a log of these things. Maybe there's a wrong order census that you have to go through every year and I figured I'd help you out. I know how rough is it if the books get all messed up so I'm looking out for you... Yes! Of course, I want you to send the right food! Dude on phone: Hey relax, guy. Me: Don't call me guy, friend! Dude on phone: I'm not you friend, buddy! Me: I'm not you're buddy, guy! ...(20 minutes later - knock on door) Dude at door: Hey guy, did I give you the wrong order? Me: Yeah buddy. Dude at door: Well... do you want me to bring you the right order? Me: No. Actually, I was wondering if you could revive Scuzzlebutt and have him make me a nice wicker basket with his celery arm while I chat with his Patrick Duffy leg. Maybe pitch him an idea for a new - Yes, I want the right food! Dude at door: Hey guy, relax. Me: Don't tell me to relax, buddy! Dude at door: Don't call me buddy, friend! Me: Don't call me friend, guy! You get the point. Maybe attaching the receipt to the bag would prevent mistakes. But then again, maybe not. And by the way, in no way have I ever utilized hyberbole for the purpose of creative license. I don't even know what those words mean.
(2)
Evan V.
Came out to Amelia's late on a Monday night, and we had a terrific dining experience. I had the stuffed eggplant, which was very tasty. I'm not a vegetarian, so I am often a skeptical of meatless fare, but the vegetables were perfectly cooked, the flavors were well-balanced, and it was well-matched to a very savory side of mashed sweet potatoes. Great wine list, too. I had a very refreshing Pouilly Fuisse, which was perfect on a warm summer night. My girlfriend had the wild mushroom wrap with a side of Illinois asparagus, crisp and drizzled with a flavorful sauce. Extra points for using locally-grown ingredients! You'll be pleasantly surprised by this quiet, unassuming cafe, which I believe is on its way to becoming one of Forest Park's "best kept secrets" in 2012. Good work! Evan
(4)
Franco B.
I had a craving for wings and I found the perfect cure: Amelia's. Although they have a lot more to offer in their, the wings that I ordered were spot on. Try the dry rubbed or buffalo wings you won't say no to another dozen wings. Awesome service as well.
(4)
Frank W.
Really good spot for well done pub-style dining. Very solid beer selection (bottles), and a few interesting rotating taps. We had the hot pretzels (really really tasty, cooked perfectly and the tastier "stick" variety not the classic shape), the Mac & cheese with mushroom and bacon (perfect size, and awesome flavor, not nauseatingly rich like some restaurants make it), and the scallops with risotto (awesome). Reasonably priced for fancy bar fare, and like the emphasis on fresh and local this place has. Cozy atmosphere, a neighborhood gem!
(4)
Kimberly W.
My five stars may be premature and is based on delivery, but I'll definitely be visiting the restaurant and will update soon. Everything was excellent. Delicious, smoky mac and cheese, homemade pretzels with beer-cheese heaven, and this tomato-chipotle bisque that was darned addictive. I also give extra credit for the sweet and appreciative delivery guy. Fast service, open late on weekends... something we needed badly in Forest Park. Happy eaters here. Can't wait to visit. Update: OK, didn't wait to visit, went this morning for breakfast. Loved it! Can't wait to watch this place grow. Service was a bit... leisurely? And the server didn't have all the answers, but that's to be expected; they've only been open a couple of weeks. It also gave us time to smile at our fellow Forest Parkians which is what we want--a place to meet and hang out in the neighborhood. As for the food? Great prices, not-too-big portions (that's not a complaint, mind you. I'd rather have less and pay less). The mushroom-bacon-gouda skillet was YUM. So was the French toast. And they gave us a little basket of beignets... really! Here! In Illinois! Beignets! So cool. Note: As we walked through town, we stopped at a garage sale and chatted with the people about how THEY had been to Amelia's and loved it. Stopped at Ed's Way and chatted with the employees and other customers about how THEY had been there and loved it. We have very high hopes for this spot! I realize that five stars is generous; I'm not a huge five-star-giver. Thing is, this is EXACTLY what I wanted here.
(5)
Tay H.
Very pleased with this new place! I have been excited for Amelia's to open since reading about it in the paper and was not disappointed. The food and beverage selection was great...so many options, I have to return! And the service was amazing. I was surprised with how much I like it on their first day...I really expected more hiccups!
(5)
Carlos G.
We rolled in about 10:15 p.m. after some friends had performed at the Taste of Melrose Park. We were greeted by a very nice young lady, I asked her if they were still open and she said yes, proceeding to set up our 10 person table right away. Our party arrived and we were all very complimentary of the decor and vibe that the place has. One person did not that she was unsure if the place existed since there was nothing around there. Diamond in the rough. I had the fried goat cheese salad, it was ok, I didnt care too much for the goat cheese fritters, I think I will stay with fresh goat cheese. My kids split the 4 cheese macaroni and wow! I ended up eating it. it was late so dont judge me! :) My friend had the rum raisin bread pudding and he loved it. Other people in our party had the BLT (good), Ceasar wrap (delicious) and fish and chips. The bread that came with clam chowder was very good! I will return, I love these local joints
(5)
Jenna E.
I really want to LOVE this place, and my BF and I just had the best Salmon of our lives there this week, along with learning all about its environmentally friendly Icelandic roots. The owners are great. The food is spectacular and both thoughtfully sourced and exquisitely prepared. The service can be really hit or miss tho. The ambiance is odd: pretty good in bar (a little TV overload), terrible in the dining room, and prob best on the new patio (the whole place's decorating feels very "shanty Irish" tho, as mom would say. Aka: DIY). The nicely designed cocktail menu can be horribly prepared by your untrained server (I've officially had the worst Bloody Mary of my life there, among other horrors). Good wine list and great micro brews on tap. I'm still so hopeful they'll get their act together because there is so much going for it- and it's a few blocks away!
(3)
John V.
Has potential, but failed to capitalize on it. The food is way to salty. I ordered the airline chicken breast with the mustard gravy over mashed potatoes. Salt,salt, salt. My wife ordered the shrimp special. Again, way too salty. We ordered an appetizer which was truffle fries. The appetizer was good but the fries were cold. The place was not even that busy. The man hosting and serving us was a nice simple fellow, but he asked for our order 3 times and brought the wrong drinks. I'm not beyond mistakes but, its a small place and has a very personable approach to its patrons. Mistakes way heavily with your patrons here. Customer service was good and presentation overall was clean, but my dining experience has been better elsewhere.
(2)
Michelle W.
I can't recommend Amelia's enough. A diverse menu of solid food, thoughtfully prepared. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will have plenty to choose from. It has a small, focused menu (as it should be for a place this size) but there are great choices and I've never been disappointed from breakfast to seafood to burgers to after work drinks. They have a small but good draft list, and they change it often. It is a gem in the neighborhood and I'm proud to call it my local.
(4)
Kimberly C.
We went here with some friends who had all good things to say about this place...another gem in Forest Park that is tucked out of the way. For an appetizer, because we were all curious but no one wanted to indulge in an entire serving, we shared a mac-n-cheese with bacon. It was so decadent...totally worth a try! For dinner, I had the roasted chicken...it was so moist & delicious and such a huge portion! My husband had the pork shank, and he really enjoyed it, but it was a lot smaller than the chicken (lucky for him, I let him finish my chicken!) Our server was excellent, super personable & gave good menu suggestions. The only thing I didn't love is the cocktail (cherry something?)...it seemed watered down & didn't pack a lot of punch. But I'm anxious to go back for that chicken & some more Mac-n-cheese!
(4)
Christine D.
Food is always outstanding. We've eaten here 4-5 times in the last 6 months. We've had the chicken/dumplings, pork butt, burger, fish, salads, mac&cheese, sliders, you name it. Service is usually very pleasant, but just really slow. Takes forever to get drinks - even when sitting at a table in the bar, which we have done a few times. God forbid they bring the wrong drink - you might as well just give up and take it. Timing of soup/salad is too close to entree. Everyone is very very nice - its just annoying to have to wait longer than you should for each part of the dinner including bringing of the check. We will still go there but if they could even this out, this place would be a home run.
(3)
Denail T.
I was very exited to try Amelia's since I read about them taking over the old Harrison Street Cafe space. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I entered the dark but welcoming restaurant. My waiter wasn't knowledgeable about the days specials and my request for a well done hamburger resulted in a burger than was bloody when I cut into it. There was one bright spot in the visit, my friends Illinois heirloom tomato salad with homemade mozzarella looked good enough to eat!
(2)
Julie C.
Most of the food was fine, but the service was RIDICULOUSLY slow. The server brought our drinks and then didn't return for almost 10 minutes to take our order. Then the food took a very long time to arrive (and after all that, my husband's "medium" burger was practically raw--but he didn't want to send it back for fear of how long it would take). Unfortunately, we had promised the kids earlier that they could order dessert, so they did, and that took 15 minutes to arrive. There were two servers working and only four tables occupied, so there's just no excuse for this. Overall, we were there for more than two hours because the service was so slow. Also, the back area by the bathroom doors is DISGUSTING. It smells like sewage and there are flies everywhere. I was hoping to find a neighborhood gem here, but we won't be going back.
(2)
joel l.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and had a burger while the GF had a salad. Food was good but they only had one server and the manager left her hanging when the place filled up for the lunch rush. People started walking out because it was taking so long to order. I can't blame the server as she was working as fast as she could and was apologetic while the manager was off talking to friends at another table. Hopefully he learns a little bit about how to run a restaurant.
(3)
Heather E.
This review is mostly about the delivery service. The food, unfortunately, is amazing. I say unfortunately, because after the most recent incident, we will not be ordering from here anymore. My husband always orders a burger. Always medium rare. It was always delivered in a decent amount of time (usually within an hour, once or twice maybe a little longer). Last week, it came cooked well done. We called and let them know, since they had never messed it up before, thinking maybe there was a new cook or something. Manager Greg said that next time it would be on the house. Great! So next time we ordered (last night), we got basically the same order again, and figured just the burger would be on the house. No, Greg said the whole order was. Wow how nice of them right? So... why only 2 stars? Our food took almost 2 hours to arrive, that's why. Ice cold. At the 1 hour and 15 minute mark, I called and asked if they knew when it might arrive, and was told it should "be there any minute, the driver is out with it right now". After 1 hour and 35 minutes, my husband called again, and was told they would contact the driver and call us back. Never got a phone call. We ordered at 6:09pm. Food arrived at 7:54pm. Delivery time of 1 hour and 41 minutes is completely unacceptable. If you are going to offer delivery, do it right. We won't be ordering from here anymore.
(2)
Matt B.
I'm lucky enough to live around the corner from here. All I need to say about their food is this: Following a trainwreck of a camping trip I took two weeks ago, the first thing I did when I got back home was put on dry shoes for the first time in 48 hours, and the second thing I did was order garlic fries and chicken wings from Amelia's. I've can honesty say I've never had a bad meal here, and their drinks are great too- the shandy in particular is terrific. They also recently opened a nice outdoor area for the season. Another big plus for me they are big, big, big into supporting local business, getting everything they can from local merchants.
(5)
Kate N.
Just had a lovely lunch at Amelia's. The place was very quiet, which is a shame--peeps need to get over there! Decor is okay, but service was great! Waitress was on time with everything without being pushy. The menu is interesting and diverse. I had an heirloom tomato salad with basil, feta and oil as an appetizer...delish. And my entree was the special: buttermilk crusted fried quail with a salad of greens, carmalized red onions and candies walnuts. Perfect! Dessert was the pie of the day--a square ramekin of strawberries and peaches with a dollop of whipped cream. I want to bathe in it. Lovely wine, beer and liquor selections and efforts to prepare locavore food topped off the experience. The only drawback for me is the limited vegetarian options, as my DH is a vegetarian. One or two visits will exhaust the possibilities for him. I am hoping they will add a veggie special of the day to accommodate couples like us--one a dedicated carnivore, one definitely not. With the wide array of veggies already available on the menu, I hope they will see how easy it would be to offer a daily veggie special as well (e.g., asparagus with pasta; puff pastry tart with veggies and feta...) I will be back for lunch and will also encourage DH to come for dinner. Let's hope he has enough options to want to go back!
(4)
Bubbly K.
I have dined at Amelia's 4 times thus far, several of them with my husband. The great thing about this place is the quality of the ingredients, the fair prices for what you receive, the friendly front of the house crew and overall the dishes are quite well done. It kind of feels like you are at your uncles house and he is a really good cook but you have to wait for the good food to be cooked to order.. dum de dum. The heirloom tomato salad is fab, the night we had it they had no bread (No Bread?) to sop up all the tasty juice. Too Bad, some crusty bread would have put that over the top. My husband enjoyed a perfectly cooked scallop dish, I had a stellar blackened fish special, both were excellent. The mac n cheese sounded great, once I got about halfway thru the bowl it was great but the top part was dry and not coated with the sauce so it was pretty ho hum - I think chef should mix it or finish it with a top of cheese and pop under the broiler to put it over the top. Another time, we shared the much anticipated burger.. it was great tasting meat however just "ok" as the burger was overcooked- asked for med-rare and it was med well (no pink in sight) and kind of dry being overcooked. The bun was not toasted, I think that would make it a little better, along with some condiments like grey poupon mustard and some mayo. We will try it again next time. I had the chicken sandwich and that as well seems like it is so close to being great. Just needs to be a little less dry (had to toss all the extra bun that was on the sides...) They have a nice little wine list and seem to promote the beers. Some negatives that I hope get attention soon after this opening learning curve. The bar is definitely "cheers like" with the TV's as the focal point. The dining room needs to be the in-between for families and date night, girls dining out etc. Currently each time we have been there, the dining room is too bright, with zero ambiance for dinner. Maybe make the lights a little dimmer, some candles or those new non candle flickering lights would be nice. I know you want to be kid friendly which is cool but we have kids and don't want to feel like we are at McDonalds or Panera for dinner. Maybe put some soft music on.. Some fabric or pictures on the wall.. fun tablecloths or place-mats, wash the front windows often. Make the outside appealing and maybe lose some of the beer signs, it seems a bit confusing for the calibar of what you are cooking up. Although the staff is super nice, it sure would be nice if the chef came out once and a while to say hi - check out what is going on with the dinners, even when it is very slow this has not occurred when we have been there. You don't have to go all New Robozo :) (although we love that place too) but show a little hospitality. One night when I dined alone in the near empty dining room, the female owner walked passed me about 4 times, and never looked at me or said hello. Then when I left no one said goodbye or thank you. The owner turned her back behind the bar on me. Please show that you appreciate our business.That would go a long way for long time loyalty. we will be your biggest cheerleaders if you give back a little love. Anyway, enough for now, I don't mean to be harsh, we will be back. Good Luck and folks reading this, do check them out. We hope they will be around for a long time and are busy and successful! Cheers~
(4)
Russ D.
I've eaten here twice now for breakfast and enjoyed it both times. Creative dishes with lots of flavor.
(4)
Andy B.
Great food. Great Beer selection. Highly recommend. Their jambalaya is off the charts too. Glad I found this gem!!!
(5)
James T.
For a neighborhood spot, this place is amazing! The food is amazing. Fresh, rich, and cooked with some soul. Then add to that incredibly reasonable prices even on cocktails! A small batch bourbon manhattan for $5!!! Considering the area this place beats out Lake Street Bar and Grill, Bar Louie, and Piggy Back by far.
(5)
Dawn B.
I liked Thu place. food was good and my girlfriends an I had fun hanging out and chatting. improvements could be made in service...the waitress seemed disinterested and hesitant. should have told us if we replaced pita chips with fries it was extra. the fries were delicious though. the drinks were weak except for the long island ice tea that was a wow!!! I would go again and recommend it, but I hope the staff will be happier to see customers next time.
(3)
Jesse P.
Oh yeah! We dined here late last night and thank goodness for an awesome later night eatery in the Forest Park area. Everything is homemade and very American! We jammed on the amish chicken wings, mac and cheese, new england clam chowder (the chef/owner is from boston) a salami sandwich, garlic french fries and butterscotch pudding. The cocktails were super tasty and hit the spot. A very laid back, good old fashion home cooking and affordable enough to splurge on several plates and drinks. We didn't try any entree's this time but we will be back. Good job guys!
(5)
Karen B.
Love this place! Food is excellent and prices are reasonable. I like to cook at home, so when I go out to spend money for a meal, it had better be worth it...this place definitely is!
(5)
Carri H.
I like it. It seems like a very homegrown operation, and unique from other Forest Park bar eateries. You can tell they care about their food a lot. They locally source as much of it as they can, from produce to meats to bread products. I had a salad that was clearly fresh-picked and full of summer veggies. I love the small-but-good draft beer selection. Had a half order of mac for an app and the sauce was a lovely melding of 4 quality cheeses. My girl had the chipotle chicken sandwich which was rather bland. The sauce looked like it contained chipotle but didnt taste like it. Because they use fresh amish chicken (the whole chicken), it had dark meat on it which she does not prefer. Took home a dessert order of berry pie, which was pretty effing delicious the next night. Ambiance could use some help, but this place has pretty decent dinner prices. Cute little neighborhood place, i hope it sticks.
(4)
Brian L.
Wow. Shockingly good food. I had low expectations for this place, that may have had something to do with my response for the food. I had the pork belly over red beans and andouille sausage. Excellent. My wife got the bean causollet. Also, quite good. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food that my kids received off of the kids menu. You can often tell the quality of the restaurant by what they give the kids. The mac and cheese and chicken wings they got were very tasty. It seems like the reviews for this place are all over the place. Our server was excellent; very attentive and helpful. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Mary R.
Updated: we went back last night. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked, and my husband had this chicken-fried steak special (which has has asked me to beg, here, to have added to the menu). Delicious food, friendly service, good beers. Service was casual and certainly not super-speedy, but everything was obviously freshly made just for us, and our server (in the bar area) was timely and attentive. We had a lovely time. Keep up the great work, Amelia's. I'm so so so happy to have you in the neighborhood. :)
(5)
TS S.
I read the reviews before going here last night, and it was what I expected from the reviews. Sure enough, service was slow but friendly. We also had to ask to get refills and dessert. We got here at 7:45 to eat dinner before a 9:30 movie in the neighborhood. We didn't get served dinner until 8:53, so we missed the movie. The food was good, but not as good as I had hoped. I had the fish & chips. I did like the place though, and I will go back again. Just not with any expectation of how long it will take.
(3)
c d.
We enjoyed our visit and hope for many more. Awesome to have a family friendly causal spot in walking distance. Things were running smoothly for only being open for a week. Service was friendly and helpful. The chicken chipotle sandwich was great, chicken good perfectly (moist and tender). Hand cuts fires were sooo good! Kids loved the kids options, though the chipotle tomato bisque, while delicious is probably not the best option for the kids soup. For a pricier option the duck was fantastic (though I would have like a bit more spice). So many other options we wanted to try, we will be back for sure!
(4)
Bobby D.
Another great new eatery around. The New England Clam Chowder was great. The Seafood Jambalaya was another great entree. I must try some of the other items next time. This place is WELL WORTH IT!!!!.
(5)
Reda M.
I took a friend to lunch there on Wednesday. We were greeted and served by a very attentive sever named Amy.My friend had the clam chowder soup which he said was fantastic we both had the chicken bacon ranch wrap which was delicious. I also had the garlic fries which were great also. everything was great. Great food great drinks and great service. moderately priced 5 *****'s.
(5)
Scott T.
I just had Dinner here on a Wed night. This is based On my first time here. We had the hot wings which were pretty good And the Ranch served seemed fresh and tasty. I also had the Hanger steak. It was OK. It was served A little cool to my liking. It was tender but it needed a little More flavor and wine Sauce. The Mash Potatoes were Good as well as the carrots. The dinner salad was served at room Temp and needed to be colder. The decor is casual. It was ok. I really didn't feel comfortable for some reason. There was also a bit of a musty smell to the place. I am a pretty laid back Person so it doesn't bother me a bunch. What did Bother me however is the fruit flies swirling over Our table. I had to keeping shooing them away. I will be back to try more items and give them another chance The food was Good but not great and they need to warm the place Up a bit regarding ambiance.
(2)
Lolo H.
Amelia's has good food, good drinks and good service!
(5)
Monica M.
We recently had dinner at Amelias at it was fantastic! The service was amazing, friendly and accomodating. The food was delicous and unique. My husband and I had sandwiches that were filling, tasty and delicious. I can not wait until next time when I get the diver scallops. Our server told us the chef specializes in seafood, so we are very excited. Highly recommend!!
(5)
W S.
Some of the food was good, some of it suffered from poor execution. The menu calls out the farm where they got the wings, but the wings themselves are no larger or different than any other wing joint. My burger was well cooked and good, but the garlic fries I ordered had a large glob of garlic dumped on them like a scoop of ice cream, which is strange (you can see it in the photos on yelp, I would have thought they'd toss the fries?). Decent beer list, but were out of the first two I ordered. The desserts were good. The prices were very good. I would try this place again, I think it has good potential and hopefully is just getting its feet wet.
My boyfriend and I were so glad the restaurant opened and we stopped in to try it yesterday. The food was very good- Diver Scallops cooked absolutely perfectly - Chef Ramsey would have approved. Mac and Cheese super tasty too. Most intriguing to me is the small dessert menu-pie and bread pudding of the day! We tried the strawberry rhubarb - great pie crust served in a cute rectangular ramekin. Simple DIY decor still being tweaked. I'm sure all will deserve a 5 star on our next visit.
(4)
Brad Z.
Updated to reply to Sarah from Amelia's: While I appreciate your attempts to source locally, I stand by my comment that you need to do more research. As I mentioned in my initial review, I grew up working on a farm in Northwest Indiana and have pretty decent knowledge of growing seasons. I am also somebody who for years has frequented at least 2 or 3 farmers markets every weekend (Forest Park included) and I'm pretty familiar with the products offered throughout the growing season and with most of the vendors who sell at our area farmers' markets. As such, I was surprised and happy to read in your reply that you purchase produce from Nichols Farm at the Forest Park Farmers Market. But, because I too frequent the Forest Park market, I didn't recall ever seeing Nichols Farm out there. I am well aware however that they sell at the Oak Park and other nearby markets. I did not have the opportunity to go to the Forest Park market this past Friday, but my wife did, so I asked her if Nichols Farm was there. She didn't think so. So, we called Nichols' Farm just to see if perhaps there had been a change and they were now selling at Forest Park. Unfortunately, they are not. Being big fans of Asparagus, we also inquired as to whether they were still selling it. Not only are they not selling in Forest Park, but they also told us that Asparagus season is long over. I don't know who informed you that Nichols is at Forest Park, but they are not, and you apparently are mistaking some other vendor for Nichols. Whoever at Forest Park has asparagus is also getting it from somewhere else because, drought or no drought, that growing season is long past. I was also excited to learn via your reply that Ed's Way is now sourcing grass-fed/finished beef. I had inquired with them about that almost 6 months ago and was told they didn't carry it. So, when I read your reply to my wife she excitedly called the meat market at Ed's Way wanting to learn more. Unfortunately, they don't carry grass-fed/finished beef. The gentleman she spoke to in the meat department understood exactly what she was looking for when she asked for grass-fed/finished beef and he said, "no, I'm pretty sure all the beef we get has been fed corn." She asked whether grass-fed/finished could be special ordered. He went on to clarify that all of their beef comes from one distributor, and that distributor doesn't offer grass-fed/finished beef. Yes, you can argue that all beef cattle start out eating grass, but for the majority of them that is only for the few short early months of their life. They are definitely not finished on grass but rather stuck in feed lots and fed corn and silage. This has been so widely publicized by Michael Pollan and documentaries like Food, Inc. that the terms 'grass -fed' and 'grass-finished' are accepted in the food industry as meaning cows that were not raised on corn and silage. It seems to me that somebody has been misleading you. If you had really read my initial review, you would have realized that in general I gave you a positive review. I was disappointed that your restaurant didn't take the 'local/organic' theme far enough, but I know that is not important criteria for most diners and is difficult to accomplish when you're trying to maintain a certain price-point. I can tell from your reply that you take the theme seriously. To accuse me of being irresponsible is simply ironic given that there is still obviously a lot more that you need to learn about the source of the food you advertise to your patrons.
(3)
Karen M.
1st time dining here on a friend's recommendation. Meal started out fine with a tasty calamari appetizer. It all went downhill from there. Soup course: waiting...waiting...waiting...finally arrived - clam chowder - weirdly seasoned; tomato chipotle bisque - poorly executed. A bisque should be creamy, this was like eating smoky flavored tomato paste - tried, but couldn't eat it. Entree course: more waiting and waiting... jambalaya was spicy, but otherwise flat and without any depth of flavor; chicken and dumplings - just terrible. The chicken was overly salted, the skin was fatty and gelatinous, the mustard seed coating was uneven and clumpy and the dumplings were an embarrassment, still raw in the centers. We waited at least half an hour between soup and entree being served. There was a party of six seated behind us that waited 20 minutes just to be given water. The water had been poured into glasses and was just sitting on a counter. We could hear them complaining and discussing whether or not they should go somewhere else. Also, the restaurant didn't have enough menus to pass out. They had to wait for one table to finish ordering to then bring the menus to other waiting tables. People were having to share menus to place their orders. It's hard to describe the total lack of organization here. The person who seated us when we arrived, Terry, seemed to be pretty efficient. Unfortunately, he wasn't our server. We wound up with Will, who just isn't cut out for this job. We often spotted him standing in the bar area. Maybe he was waiting for drink orders...maybe he was checking on the score of a game? An efficient server would not just stand around waiting for drinks, they would be taking other orders, serving food, etc. We were dining on a Saturday night. When we arrived, there were only 4 other tables occupied, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait so long for each course. By the time we were leaving, the restaurant had become more crowded, but it's a really small place, so crowded only meant maybe 10 -12 tables occupied. If they can't handle that number of customers efficiently, something is very wrong with how they are running either their kitchen, or training their staff. I'm guessing it's both. I really wanted to like this place. My friend gave it a good recommendation. The menu sounded good. Other reviewers seemed to like it. I just can't get over the combination of bad food and service.
(1)
Jill D.
I really wanted to like this place. I went in to get a carry-out menu and decided to stay. I ordered a pint and about 25% of it was foam. I ordered their Bosc Pear Salad for $8 and had them add chicken for $2.50. The salad arrived on a small plate--like you would use for toast--not even a salad plate. I would have needed several of these salads if I was ordering salad as a meal--which I was. When I left I had to go somewhere to eat. 10.50 for what was essentially a small dinner salad--need to re-think that.
(1)
Thatgirl T.
First and foremost, the food here is terrific. Our service was also great. I'm only giving 4 out of 5 stars because I think the atmosphere could be a bit better... My husband and I were out on a Saturday night without any reservations (dumb on our part) but had read about some new places in Forest Park. We called Amelia's and they didn't have a wait, so we decided to give it a try. We are really happy we did. I'm even debating about writing this review because the food is so good, I want Amelia's to be our secret spot, but I also want it to do well, so I'm spreading the word. We walked in, and a very friendly host greeted us. We chose to sit in the bar because it had a warmer feel than the main dining area. The bar felt more "dinner like". The main dining room (in my opinion) could use a little help with a few very simple changes - if they removed the sugar caddies from the tables for instance at dinner, and only brought them out when people ordered iced tea or coffee, that would give it more of a dinner feel to match their terrific menu (there were sugar caddies on every table, and that felt very much like a lunch place as opposed to a nice dinner place). Or if they dimmed the lights and had candles on the tables, it would slightly upgrade the main dining room and give it a more dinner-like feel without really changing much else about the dining room. Their menu is spectacular, but the dining room doesn't mimic the dining experience you have there. That's why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Anyway - onto the service and the food. We had a terrific server. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We liked the drink selections a lot. Lots of craft beers, which my husband loved. I liked the wine list. Our server was knowledgeable about the wines, and offered me a taste of what I was interested in. I saw in someone else's review that they thought the wine should be served in stemware, I liked their glasses. She also was able to answer all of our questions about the menu, as was the food runner. We had the hot pretzels with two housemade dipping sauces (super delicious), the Bosc pear salad with bleu cheese and pecans, and we both ordered the grass-fed hangar steak with these amazing potatoes and buttered carrots. I'm a very picky eater when it comes to meat, and it was really nice to go to a place that served grass-fed steak. It was so tender and delicious. I ordered mine medium/medium well and my husband ordered his medium, and they were both cooked perfectly. Then we split the homemade pecan pie. The menu said that it was supposed to have Brown Cow ice cream on it, but it had whipped cream on it, and our server never indicated to us that it wasn't going to. To other's points, our first course did take a loooonnnnnggggggg time to come out. But, the wait was worth it. The timing between our first and second courses wasn't so long, but it took a very long time for the first course to come out. If the restaurant had been full, I'm not sure what the timing would have been like... However, we will definitely return. We were really pleased with our meal. However, we would not want to sit in the main dining room. I think that atmosphereically, we wouldn't like to sit in there.
(4)
Mary O.
This eatery has huge potential! The idea of having a mostly organic meal prepared in a local, casual diner-type atmosphere is fantastic. We arrived around 5p on a Saturday night, the dining room was not too inviting as it was pretty much empty and no one greeted us. We didn't quite to what to do, sit or not? Rough start. The waitress didn't seem to know the menu all that well, and didn't highlight the wonderful foods we might want to try. Te service was very, very slow. As more people came in, they too waited and waited and some were getting annoyed.....when our food finally arrived, the hangar steaks were fabulous, as was the pot roast. I had asked if the pot roast came with potatoes, the waitress said that they didn't, so I ordered a side of potatoes, but indeed, the pot roast did come with potatoes.....double mashed potatoes. The crust on the turkey pot pie, was okay, same with the pie for dessert. Overall, good food, we'll be back, but the waitress needed more training, so she could describe the food and charm us with the wonderful menu. Wine pours were very skimpy, oh well. Amelia's just needs to get the timing, training of the waitstaff (at least the one we had) and consistency down and I will be really happy.
(4)
Sarah C.
This was our second time eating dinner at Amelia's. I would recommend it! The first time we were a bit disappointed due to the fact that they were out of a few things and didn't tell us. They also had substituted other things (such as a sandwich roll for a wrap) without telling us ahead. The food was good though. This time they told us up front what they were out of (not much) and were much more attentive. WE had the Eggplant, a Turkey Po' Boy, and the Mustard Chicken--all fabulous! Good wine list and nice beers. The only thing I would say is to change their music a bit to enhance the atmosphere during dinner hours. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Michelle M.
The food is good. Very disappointed with the wine pour. If I am paying $8.50 for a glass of wine I hope to get a glass of wine. I hope someone teaches them how to pour wine. I would also suggest that they do not allow kids in the bar area.
(3)
Donny W.
We've been back and service times have improved greatly. And still great food. If they keep this up, this could turn out to be a great restaurant! We'll be visiting again.
(4)
Christopher F.
This place rocks!!! Great food, great staff, great experience!!!
(5)
Abby K.
So happy to have a casual place to dine on this side of the tracks! Food is amazing - particularly the mac and cheese. Was a bit skeptical on pita chips instead of fries but they didn't disappoint. Decent selection of craft beer (good array of types of beer - red, ipa, stout, etc), but would love more options overall - haven't checked out weekend brunch, but looking forward to going back regularly!
(5)
Jeff K.
I was excited to bring my family to try Amelia's after reading all the positive reviews here. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder. After waiting 45 minutes it finally arrived. Why does it take 45 minutes to make a bowl of soup, especially when there was only one other small table seated at 5pm on a Saturday? We were ready to dig in by the time it arrived, but unbelievably was barely warm and thick like paste. Yuck. So we sent it back and asked for a new hot bowl of soup. The next bowl of clam chowder was much better and tasty. Not the best I've ever had but OK. For entrees I ordered the Fish & Chips which the waitress said were great. They were very, very thickly battered small pieces of cod and the batter was so salty, I couldn't eat more than one piece and sent it back. The coleslaw that came with it tasted like a mixture of salt, vinegar and soap. And, on top of everything else it wasn't that hot, and the fries were cold. My wife had the chipotle chicken sandwich came on a dry grocery store roll, which was way too thick. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The mac & cheese was pretty good. I wish them the best, but we will not be visiting here again.
(1)
Tamara S.
This could be a really good restaurant, despite being in an out of the way spot. They do a lot of things right. They are farm to table. They list their suppliers for their meats and their vegetables. They make their own sauces and salad dressings. The menu is interesting ranging from lighter bites (bosc pear salad) to heavier options (hangar steak, macaroni and cheese with lots of topping options). The waitstaff is attentive and seems to care about the restaurant. However, what keeps this from being a 5 star place are the little things. We went in after the movies, and were the only table, one couple leaving just as we were arriving. I had a delicious hamburger and my husband had the macaroni. However, the wait for the food was long. My hamburger arrived in a plastic basket with white paper more apropos for a hot dog stand. There was no bill 'envelope' or any place to put our money except right on the table. Even a small dish would have been preferable. I was also surprised the owner or chef did not come by to see how we were liking the food. It is a new place. The waitress thanked us for coming in. An additional personal touch would have been nice. So again, try this place. I would like for it to make it. They just have to put in a few more finishing touches. I will go back, regardless.
(4)
Andrea K.
I've been here a few times for dinner and twice for brunch. The dinner alone was enough for me to come back. I have had the shrimp scampi which was fantastic. I also got a big bowl of mac and cheese for dinner once (hey it was my birthday) and they let me substitute and put peas in it. It was delicious and I recommend getting at least a side of Mac and cheese if it's your first time. Now the big surprise for me was brunch. I was craving French toast but I hadn't found a *great* French toast place yet in the area. We happened to drive by and saw that they serve brunch. So we stopped in and I ordered the French toast. I don't know why it was so good... Maybe the challah bread from Prairie Bread bakery... But it was mouth-watering despite not being overly fancy like way too many brunch places do now. I also got a mimosa which was nice since my old go-to brunch place does not have mimosas. It was the perfect brunch and at a very good price. Overall, try it for dinner (especially if you haven't been since the new owners took over). If you haven't gone for brunch, you must go now.
(5)
Karyn C.
It was hard to give this place a zero stars though I wanted to. We had a Groupon ordered the butternut squash soup which basically was tasteless super thick. Then we ordered the chicken with dumplings once again tasteless. I asked for a fresh cup of coffee I mean fresh she said she would brew a pot. Coffee was cold and weak. So she said she brew another pot which basically I don't think she ever brewed a pot to begin with but it was just OK. Waitress came to light candles on the table which were all empty but she didn't light ours. Would I be back,give it a second chance? NO
(1)
Jennifer N.
Three of us came here on Friday evening around 8pm. We decided to eat outside on the patio where there are four tables. As our food and drinks came, we were the only ones out there on a pretty beautiful night. Service was attentive and the food was delicious. No complaints there. I had the vegetable bake while the two others in my party had burgers. The vegetable bake was full of flavor, was a tad spicy but overall filling and I was impressed! At about 9pm, suddenly the wind picks up and almost immediately the umbrellas from all the tables (yes ALL) start flying up and toward us. One right after another they are lifting up out of all four tables, and are airborne! Holy shit! One flies up over, and hits my friend in the back, and as ours is jetting up into the air i quickly grab the pole and hold on tight--because all I can imagine is this giant wooden stick on its way back down jabbing me in the head. It all is happening so quickly. My one friend is able to hold onto two umbrellas fabric, while the other friend goes to knock on the door to inside, to ask the servers for some help. They come out to find us holding down these giant umbrellas as the rain has now started...all of us (servers included) have this look on our faces like "what the eff just happened?!?" We hand over the umbrellas to the workers and go inside... We finish our drinks inside at a highboy, and our bills come. Full price! We were nearly empaled by large wooden sticks on your patio, and we need to pay full price?? My friend asks to speak to the manager to see if we can get any kind of discount on this bill. The manager ends up being our server, who explains to her that he cannot predict the weather and therefore no discount will be given. How disappointing. This could have easily been a 5 star review, but this untimely incident soured our overall experience. Sir, what you said is true. We cannot predict the weather. But you can go to Home Depot and purchase some anchors for your outdoor table umbrellas, because of that sheer fact alone! It is very unlikely I will return. Tsk, tsk.
(2)
Jordan K.
This place is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in Forest Park. The weekend brunch menu is incredible and well priced. We just took my parents and sister last weekend and spent less than $50 and were all very satisfied. A couple new discoveries. The Salmon BLT with a fried egg. It's difficult to convey how amazing this combination is. Great bread from a local bakery, crisp bacon and fresh lettuce and tomato, but the star is the full salmon fillet sitting in there. It pairs incredibly well with the salty bacon. This is an absolute must have dish. The fries are perfect and well salted too. The breakfast dishes are excellent as well. Thick sweet french toast, awesome pancakes, savory home fries, and a well made breakfast burrito are among the things we've tried. I don't know how the place was before the new owners, but it currently is producing some very very good food. Give this place a try. Sure the decor and tables could be spruced up a little, but you will quickly forget about that after you try the food.
(5)
Carolyn S.
I've been here twice now with different people. Everything we've ordered has been delicious! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and huge portions.
(5)
Tom W.
Went there for birthday dinner with friend. I ordered a vegetable stew dish, I thought it was a beef stew. When I asked about the beef my mistake was pointed out and I took full responsibility but our waiter insisted I cooking some steak and adding it to my dish. While this was fantastically over the top service, when I rec my bow back the steak and the vegetable stew combo was fantastic!! I hope I can order it again. The food and service will bring me back.
(5)
Misha M.
Whether you're in Forest Park for a quick visit looking for a quick bite or a drink, Amelia's is a nice place to park it. If you check in on yelp and show your waitress you get 10% off your bill. The orange sherbert walls and beautiful art work gives your eyes something to marvel while you wait for your food. If you're not up for dining hall style seating, there is usually room at the bar and plenty of conversation to get into. My 8 piece hot wings and full plate of fries came out piping hot and fresh. And if my hot winged palate stands correct, those wings were tossed and drug through a bottle of Franks Red Hot, which in my opinion is the best way to do it. Let my Grandmother tell it, they got the recipe from her. The chocolate tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was just right, just the perfect size to finish off a great meal. And even when my card declined ;( after swiping the third time and I offered to pay part of my $14.00 with the $8 in cash I had on me and bring the rest the next day, the manager told me he tossed out the other $6. I dropped in the next morning with the remaining $6, leaving my waitress Brianna a $4 tip. The waitresses are cool, laid back and know their stuff. Its really just a nice, if-you-happen-to-be-or-live-in-the-neighborhood spot with a great staff and good food. Check them out sometime.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Service was great, our waitress was a sweetheart. That being said, after finding hair in my food I was told the manager was on his way out to talk to me. Not only did he never come to talk to me, they took nothing off the bill. I won't be going back.
(1)
Lynn H.
Great neighborhood find. Lots of beers, great salads and all entrees were fantastic! Will definitely return!
(4)
Maranda T.
I ordered my family dinner from here. My cob salad had a long blonde hair in it. My husband's Angus burger was flavorless. The French fries were so over cooked it felt like it would chip a tooth. The only food that was ok was the kids size chicken wing. Dinner was not cheap. I will not be a returning Customer.
(1)
Susie C.
My husband and I decided to come here to give it a try. The location isn't that great - probably because it's not in heavily visited areas like downtown. It's by the 290 highway and there isn't much businesses around this restaurant so you don't really notice it until you drive by it. It wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. They have a bar section and a regular dining section. Most of the crowd were at the bar area since the Bulls and Hawks game were going on. The inside of this restaurant is like an average dining place - it has a strange odor inside. Service is really slow. We found out our waiter is also the bartender, so we can't really blame him..we think the restaurant just needs more help during this time because it took a good half hour before our food were served after we ordered. As for the food, it is very good. I would give this place 5 stars for the food, but because the service was very slow I gave this place a 4. My husband and I started with the cobb salad and the macaroni and cheese with chicken. The mac and cheese was delicious! My husband and I loved it! Having the chicken there definitely enhances the taste - they have a selection of toppings for the mac and cheese. The cobb salad was good as well. For entree, I ordered the wild diver scallop which was scallops on top of a bed of bacon/spinach/mushroom rissoto topped with spicy mayo. This was really good. The presentation was nice, too. My husband ordered their jambalaya..he said it was too saucy for his liking. He would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't as saucy/wet. It was a long dinner, but the food is really good. I definitely come back and hopes the service will be faster this time.
(4)
Shannon W.
Delicious and affordable. This place is nice and offers pub like food. The wait staff is a bit slow but very friendly. I like the calamari and the sandwiches are good as well. I enjoy sitting in the bar as a posed to sitting in the restaurant section.
(4)
Matthew K.
Meh. Way over priced expecially on grub hub. The pasta was not so great. The garlic fries are mediocre. The best thing there is the Ruben which is sub part from other places. Would only go there for convenience
(3)
Cat C.
Having just moved to Oak Park from the North Side, I decided to try Amelia's after a friend recommended it. Experience was fantastic from start to finish. The owner was behind the bar and came by to give us a full run-down on the beer list and menu. (Beer was delicious and he said it changes often. Burger and turkey sandwich were phenom. Homemade pie is supposed to be great too.) The owner also took the time to talk to us about the area and recommended some other beer places nearby. Overall: I love the neighborhood feel (clearly some regulars at the bar), friendliness, beer list and food. Definitely check them out!
(5)
Erika G.
Good place. Not exceptional, not awful. What was cuter was the bar out front, which looks more intriguing.
(3)
Meredith B.
This place has some of the best french toast in the area. My husband and I like this place, though we don't love it. The French toast is delicious, as is the homemade bagel. Its easy to get a table. The beignets served at the beginning are hot and fresh and delicious. However, the concerns mentioned in other reviews we also had. First, there were some kind of bug flying around inside (this was a few weeks ago, so maybe that problem has been solved). Also, the service was not great- we had to ask for water to be refilled and the table was sticky when we sat down. Lastly, for a breakfast joint, their coffee was not good (which is a major issue at every breakfast place in the area except for Buzz). If the idea is locally sourced ingredients, why not do Metropolis coffee in Chicago, which is fantastic. The stuff just tasted weak and blah. I think there is a lot of potential in this place and I look forward to trying their dinner menu during the winter. We will keep going, though if they improved, we would probably make this a weekly spot for brunch (though the coffee would have to be good for this to happen).
(3)
Joette T.
This was my second visit, but the first time having a meal. I like their concept which is freshly made, locally sourced food. I also like the craft beer and small batch spirits that dominate their bar offerings. I'll need another visit or two to really have a solid, enduring opinion. My husband and I both had chicken; I had the winter cobb salad, he had the chicken & dumplings. We both thought that some bites tasted too salty while others seemed fine. Not sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're brining the chicken and the result is uneven. If they're touting a better quality bird, that's what I want to taste, not salt. Presentation is great. The portion sizes seem just right. Overall I think the prices are extremely reasonable. Can't say that I was impressed with the service. The bartender was nice enough, just slow. On each visit I didn't get much of a sense of any personality from the staff or the establishment. Maybe I just haven't been there at the right time. It's a cute place and with the addition of a little more energy in dealing with customers, Amelia's could become a destinatiin in Forest Park.
(3)
Jen R.
Was really looking forward to going. Our first visit, the menu looked good. Easy parking. We went in a Sunday around noon. Problem was the cook has never done breakfast/lunch before. So that was an issue, tables were left sitting for a while before they were cleaned and orders were not written down so orders got screwed up. We finally got to talk to one of the owners and it became a little pained sad really.. I know "were a small business" but get with the program. Some of the bill was comped but that's not the point. Definite disconnect.. Too bad was hoping to make this a new go to place in FP.. Get the tables cleaned, please set the tables, please attempt to bring drinks in a timely manner..... PLEASE! Sorry won't be back...
(2)
Will V.
Second time eating here. First time the food was good, but not great. This time we stopped in for chicken wings on special, and ended up with a couple of other entrees as well. The chicken wings were pretty awesome, probably some of the best I've had, served with really tasty house-made sauces. The rest of the food was good too, maybe a bit better than the first time we visited. They keep a nice little selection of craft beers on tap, and they have a decent and inexpensive little wine menu. Friendly staff, but do not go to Amelia's expecting a Michelin-type restaurant experience, it's very much a down to earth, casual atmosphere. If you want something, ask for it, and they'll accommodate, but don't expect overly attentive service, you're better off elsewhere. For me, it's perfect.
(4)
Bailey D.
Where the heck am I? A roadside truck stop? A sports bar? A five-star restaurant? A converted gas station? The home of a genius chef? Yeah, I'm not yanking your chain. Amelia's in Forest Park could pass for any and all of those things. It has an unassuming location, look and set-up but the food is high- class. I like the unexpected. I really do. This is a gem. Don't expect a sexy date spot or an elegant dining experience. Instead, count on upscale food, organic ingredients, salt-of- the-earth servers in a local dive atmosphere. We ordered cassoulet, hangar steak, roast chicken and dumplings, birthday brownie and some sort of tequila baileys-ish shot. What an adventure. I love Amelia's!
(5)
Lea J.
My favorite OP spot. Fresh, real ingredients & delicious. OP lacks restaurants this good w/fresh organic ingredients & needs more like them.
(5)
Matt M.
So this is "not so good food and drink"... actually its downright terrible. We got this on grubhub and it was downright terrible. I would say the temperature was to blame and the slow service which has happened before with grubhub... but that was not the case. We got the food reasonably fresh but it was bland, tasteless, watery, and just plain bad. Normally I say something clever and suggest eating something from a garbage can instead but I was just flabbergasted by the mixed (and often positive) reviews from this place only to get slapped in the face with below-truck-stop-standard fare.
(1)
Cara D.
For a small family run joint it was impressive. they make almost everything from scratch including mayo and sour cream. They source their bread from the local bakery, meat from the lical butcher and on and on. I had the angis burger with truffle fries and it was the best meal I have had in a while. And for under $9 I challenge someone to find better. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)
Leonard W.
"Oh looks something new" "I'm going to try them" 1 year later I finally decided I was going to try them lol I cam here with my Mom around 1:30pm on a Saturday.was disappointed when give a brunch menu. (I knew from yelp/foursquare reviews/photos that I had wanted to try out the mustard chicken which turns out is a dinner item) I ordered the Mac and Cheese (w Andouille, Bacon, Chicken, Mushrooms) My Mother a burger (don't recall the name but it had blue cheese on it.) As I bite into my Mac and Cheese "WOW!...this is actually good" I say to myself. TRUE comfort food. Really had a lot of taste in it. Got to nibble a little on the blue cheese burger and thought it was done very well. We were actually so impressed we came back for dinner later that night. Ordered the calamari. (was a very decent size nothing spectacular about it. had some banana peppers at the bottom which gave them a nice little kick) also ordered the daily flat bread (chicken smoked BBQ with caramelized onions and Gouda cheese) WOW!! x2 after about three bites I'm thinking which family & friends I'll be bringing here for their birthday dinner. Really it was amazing. the combination of flavors work well and can say I never tasted anything quite like it. (the only drawback it was a daily special so not sure if they'll still have it the next time I'm back) I ordered the Mustard and Herb Crusted Half Chicken. (for some reason I was starting to think this was going to be like the calamari, nothing special but) WOW (just one wow ...the flat bread is still king lol) I would order it again (but not soon as I would love to try out their other dishes) I would give Amelia's 4.25 stars. This is laragly due to location/settings. I ate at the dinning area during brunch and the bar area for dinner. (the bulls game was on!) I would hate to have to be here if they were over 50% full. Parking sucks, the bar area is small off the top of my head I think maybe a 5 tables and the bar. so the area was full due to the game being on. Which means you need to be there BEFORE the game if you plan on watching at the bar. The bartender/waiter kept going into the fridge which produced this BRIGHT light in what was suppose to be a dark/cozy atmosphere or was it suppose to be a bar?
(4)
Mary Ann C.
Pretty sad to give the two star review, as I was so excited to dine here. I arrived for lunch yesterday at 12:30 to a mostly empty restaurant. No one greeted me at the door, but after being seated, the server was very friendly and warm. The restaurant was not particularly clean, but the decor is a big improvement from the diner that was hear preciously. I was really expecting it to look a lot better... The big issue has nothing to do with any of the above paragraph. It is the food.....This is what I was so looking forward to as it is locally sourced at Amelias. The butternut squash soup was very dull and bland. It did taste of truffle oil, but this did not save it. The fish po-boy, though, was an even bigger shock. There was a very, very small piece of fish on it. In fact, I ate 1/3 of sandwich with no fish...just bread and condiments, because the piece was SO small. I waited awhile for the sandwich and the fish was also not crisp. Very odd, since it is fried. The bread and toppings were tasty. This was a really disappointing sandwich, sadly. I wish I could get my ten dollars back, as this was not a good lunch at all.
(2)
Hans G.
I don't understand some (well, any) of the negative reviews I've read about Amelia's. I come here a lot, and I've never experienced any of the negative things that some report. I've brought many people here, including larger parties approaching 20 people at least three times, once without any prior notice and a short deadline to get out and be somewhere else. The service has always been at least adequate to the task, and usually quite good, even when the restaurant filled up on both sides shortly after my large group arrived. Twice. By now I've had pretty much everything on the menu and a few things that aren't, and I've never had anything that wasn't very good. That includes the eggplant soup, and I generally dislike eggplant otherwise. My friends that I've brought here have not uncommonly raved about the food, and more than a few have come back on their own, even from as far as northern Lake County, and they've repeated their good experiences. So I can't explain the negative reviews. In what must be approaching 100 visits I've never seen anything like what they report, though surely everyone has a bad day now and again.
(5)
Claire M.
I thought this place was really good. We live like, half a block away and were never really fans of the place that was here before so I'm glad to have somewhere so close that is tasty - and serves alcohol. I had read the menu beforehand and really, really was looking forward to the soft pretzel appetizer but they didn't have any. =( We ordered the garlic fries instead which while very tasty, I was still bummed because the pretzels were what I really wanted. The garlic taste wasn't too overwhelming like certain OTHER local places (ahem, the place where I had a stomachache for 3 days after eating theirs!). I ordered the caesar salad wrap with a cup of tomato bisque soup. The other half ordered a burger. I can't offer any opinion on the burger, and the other half didn't really say anything either way so... My wrap was VERY good. Very, very good. As was the soup - it had a kick to it. I liked it. I feel like we had something else too and for the life of me, I can't remember what it may have been. Did the other half have clam chowder?? I could be way off on that, they may not even have clam chowder on the menu but for some reason that's where my mind is going. Oh!! Macaroni and cheese!! That's what it was! It was DELICIOUS!!! God I can't believe that's not the first thing I raved about. From the description on the menu, it sounded similar to the kind they have at Uncommon Ground and it was 10 times better at Amelia's than it was there. And it was only like $2.50 for a totally adequate portion. It did take awhile to get our food (our waitress seemed a little annoyed/frustrated) at that fact but we weren't in a hurry and it was worth the wait. We were also there on the 2nd day they were open so I'm sure that had something to do with it however, there were only a handful of people in there. Drinks were served right away and refilled promptly. I didn't have any wine this night, but I surely will on return visits - and there WILL be return visits. There are several other things on the menu that I really want to try.
(4)
Annie D.
This place is great! So many beer options and great local food. I bought some hot sauce for home too! Get the eggplant soup- seriously.
(5)
Laura T.
Saw what looked like a cute outdoor bar-food kind of place on our way to the pool and stopped back here for lunch earlier today. Didn't know what to expect, but was so pleasantly surprised to sit and read thru the breakfast and lunch options on a perfect summer day with the back patio almost completely to ourselves. Much more sophisticated menu than we were expecting, as indicated by the presence of Gouda and goat cheese--right? The skillet with sourced-farm bacon, Gouda and Carmelized onions sounded fantastic but since I consider potatoes a waste of carbs, I asked if I could get it as an omelet and was told all skillets can be prepared as one lets and vice versa. Then the server dropped off a basket of comp, hot, fresh beignets--which I do Not consider a waste of carbs. That also kept our toddler sated and occupied. My Bloody Mary was well seasoned and not overdone, service super attentive and although we only had an omelette and a skillet, we were very impressed. Can't wait to revisit this hidden treasure. If I had to offer a neg it would be that there are semi trucks passing quite a bit. They might want to throw up a privacy fence. So psyched to have this great new option nearby!!
(4)
Jim L.
I ordered delivery tonight. The order took an hour and forty minutes. The sandwich was cold, its bread chewy, and the whole thing wrapped in saran wrap before being tossed into a paper bag on top of a cold clump of fries, each as tough as beef jerky. Inedible. Now, I'm still hungry, and everywhere else is closed. Don't make the same mistake I did.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
Amelia's is closing in 3 Weeks - very sad to say. The last day will be Nov 24th. We are super sad about this because we just found this gem. Today was our second experience here. Food was delicious and the bill was roughly $50 for appetizers, entrees, drinks, desserts, and coffee. I had the Summer Vegetable Pot Roast and the husband got Chicken and dumplings. Both were awesome. I also had the Pumpkin Soup and the Cheesecake - which you could tell was homemade and creamy. We will definitely be back many times before they close on the 24th.
(5)
Steven E.
We had a mixed experience tonight at Amelia's. The kitchen was very slow (over 60 minutes from order to the main course) but the food was, by and large, delicious. We started with the garlic French fries, which took a half hour to arrive but which were seasoned perfectly and immediately devoured by my two children. For entrees we found the Amish chicken to be outstanding, with a rich flavor and texture. The barbecued pork belly over jambalaya was likewise creative and flavorful. A salmon entree was well seasoned but slightly overcooked, and a pasta dish with turkey, bacon, and broccoli left us somewhat unsatisfied, needing perhaps an alfredo sauce to bind the dish together. Service was above average but ultimately unable to overcome the slow kitchen. In addition, the furnace was out, with the dining room at 59 degrees during our meal. I really want to give Amelia's a higher rating. They exhibit flashes of creativity in their menu, but in the end the execution is so inconsistent that higher marks can't be justified.
(3)
Ania K.
Soooo happy to be back as an Amelia's customer. The one week without them was a long one. The employee I spoke of in the previous review has been dealt with. Not surprisingly I wasn't the only one that complained about her rudeness. On to the review: The food here is delicious, I especially recommend the Caesar salad with Amish pulled chicken. The dressing is light and tangy and the chicken is always juicy. Also, highly highly highly recommend the flat bread, any and all are outstanding. My husband is addicted to the buffalo chicken sandwich and garlic fries. They do not mess around with the amount of garlic either. We as garlic lovers appreciate that thoroughly! The place is warm and cozy; nice ambiance and great quality beer selection. I'm a Delerium lover myself, and I can't think of many places that have it. Amelia's thankfully does. I love that they serve organic and local food. This is a place worth supporting. Also, very impressed with the owners and their customer service.
(5)
M W.
Amelia's has a lot of potential. Loved their outdoor eating area, and the inside was cool looking as well. The servers were all very warm and welcoming. I had the garlic parmesan fries, which were so good, but pretty strong. I also ordered a burger with bacon and cheddar. All of the ingredients tasted like good quality (I appreciated that the bun was from Kay's), however the burger patty was WAY too big. It seemed like a 3/4 pounder. I could barely wrap my mouth around it, and my jaw actually got sore. Even my boyfriend thought it was too much burger, and he is a total carnivore. His turkey sandwich was pretty good. I will definitely give this place another go-I just won't get the burger next time!
(4)
C T.
If the review were solely for food, I would give them 5 stars. My only complaint is regarding their phone etiquette. I typically order through Grubhub Which has a limited menu so I have to call regarding daily specials etc. They always seem off put by having to ask the kitchen what the special is. As a server, I feel like you should already know it and if not don't give me attitude about having to ask someone. Now on to the food. The meat is purchased from a local butcher every morning. That rocks! Produce is mostly Illinois organic. That rocks too! The Mac n chz isn't like a southern traditional baked dish. It's more modern style with great fresh ingredients. Amish chicken- delicious. Desserts authentic and full of flavor. I look forward to trying many more of their menu items. The bar had good specials as well. Love that they deliver as well. I finally went in to eat and the food was even better- not surprising! Give Amelia's a chance. They are a great food addition to the area.
(4)
Cathleen F.
This update is to upgrade Amelia's to 5 stars. In the 8 or so months Amelia's has been there, it has really grown into a beloved neighborhood restaurant with fresh ingredients, quality dishes, and excellent service. A few (more) tips: 1. Get the fries. 2. Don't ignore the specials, if they have them the night you dine. They're always fabulous. 3. Chat with your server(s)--they are all so friendly and make you feel like a member of the Amelia's family. With the overflow of dive bars, Irish pubs and Italian restaurants up on Madison, Forest Park is lucky to have Amelia's. Don't miss out!
(5)
Catie F.
Bear with me - because although this place doesn't appear too special from the outside AND it's a bit off of the beaten path, it sure is worth a visit. I have a close friend who lives within walking distance, and she had been raving to me about Amelia's fresh, local, and delicious menu. My boyfriend and I finally got to try it and I am very pleased with their service and their food. We did take-out (and he picked up) so I can't advise on their interior, but the phone service and packaging were definitely well-done. Although we didn't need it, we were offered cutlery, napkins, condiments, etc. A nice gesture. Onto the food ... I ordered the Golden Lentil Soup topped with herb oil, balsamic syrup & pita chip croutons. Oh my yummy. This is the best lentil soup I've had, hands down. The Balsamic adds a nice tangy kick (just enough) and though I might have snubbed the pita chips (extra carbs!) the crouton-like version was a wonderful, crunchy addition to the soup. I had a side of roasted root vegetables, which were vibrant and yummy. My one gripe with this side is the amount of oil / butter that was left at the bottom of the carton when I finished. Although the veggies are roasted, they are finished in a saute pan, hence the excess fats (could have done without that). Another side was the mashed parsnips - creamy, smooth, tasty, and even MORE comforting than traditional mashed potatoes, IMHO. Both sides were a great value for the $2.50 price tag. My boyfriend had the Turkey Po' Boy, which smelled and looked awesome from afar - unfortunately he housed it far too quickly for me to sneak a bite. The warm, hearty sandwich had just the right textures of melty, creamy, crunchy and satisfying (so I've been told). I did sneak a seasoned french fry or two and they are approved! Overall, I think the prices are good (especially for Chicago), the ingredients are fresh, and the menu is interesting and satisfying. One watch-out: since it's small and seemingly family-owned, the restaurat shuts down every once-in-awhile. They're closed Tuesdays (found out the hard way!) and took a week's vacation for the holiday season so give them a call BEFORE you show up!
(4)
Deena H.
It is advertised way better than it is. Delivery is longer than an hour. Order was wrong too. Ate in once but the place seemed dingy for a place that serves lamb. I had higher hopes and I gave this place a couple of chances. I didn't give a one star because they have a pretty good home made pie that bumps them up to two stars.
(2)
chris p.
Amelia 's is tucked away just over the Circle Ave bridge to Harrison in Forest Park, Il. The food is great and there is something for everyone. The quality is excellent with Scottish salmon, grass fed steak tips, scallops, chicken and dumplings to tasty desserts. There are burgers, sandwiches and salads for lighter fare. The blueberry pie was not overly sweet and was served beautifully latticed as an individual mini pie with a knob of ice cream. The service can be tweaked a bit. There is a bar area for more casual dining. It is worth the trip off the beaten path on Madison Avenue over the bridge to Amelia's.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
The bf and I came here for dinner on an early Friday night. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and decided to sit in the bar area which is separated from the general dinning room (for those who want to bring the kiddies here). We started with an order of crab cakes which were a tad tiny but soooooooo good. For diner the bf ordered a burger which he devoured in minutes. I notice they cooked it medium rare opposed to the medium he requested, but he said it was so good he didn't mind. I ordered the pork chop entree that came with cabbage and potatoes...it was absolutely delicious! Everything we ate tasted amazing and you could tell was very fresh. For 1 appetizer, 1 burger, 1 dinner entree (served only after 5PM), 1 beer, 2 cocktails and dessert the bill came to about $60. I wish I could give 5 stars but some people (I believe employees since they were coming from the kitchen) kept stepping outside for cigarette breaks and each time the side door was opened the stench of smoke would draft in making my amazing dinner not so appetizing. :( Also my blueberry mojito cocktail was nothing special, even a tad watered down. All and all I was very pleased with Amelias; the staff is great, the decor is a huge improvement and it's nice to have somewhere other than Madison Street to get a craft beer or glass of wine. Looking forward to an expanded cocktail list! Go check them out!
(4)
Tamer A.
Meh. They are trying, and maybe a bit too hard. On delivery, they have gotten my order wrong both times I have ordered. At the restaurant (once), it kind of smelled weird and there were a few fruit flies. The waiter was okay but kind of strange sometimes. And the food, which I really wanted to like, was just okay. Eggplant soup-really good Wings-really good Pasta-regular, lacking flavor, sauce too water, had to substitute chicken because they had not more turkey Lamb-there is no way that lamb was braised right, because braised lamb should be soft and buttery, not tough. Also, it was too gamey, could have used some black pepper or citrus or something.
(2)
Yvonne O.
We came here on the recommendation of another place's manager, so we had high expectations. And, after reading the reviews, we certainly didn't think anything would go wrong. First, we were seated and waited forever for anyone to come back. They admitted a miscommunication and comped our first round of drinks - nice touch. But, from there, things were just nothing special and we were deluged by flies and gnats the whole night, which was awful. All restaurants have to deal with doors to the outside, why can't this place get it together. I had the hangar steak and while the meat was good, it was more rare than medium and the balsamic crap on top ruiined it for me. The pretzel sticks to start were good, but the sauces they came with were quite boring. Husband had the pork belly and liked it. The place was also roasting, which was just uncomfortable. Certainly this is "Amelia's Good Food" and not "Great Food", btu the service (once they got it together) was friendly and helpful. I'll wait for colder weather and death of bugs outdoors to give this another try.
(2)
Lisa P.
Had a birthday dinner here and it was very satisfying! 5 of us, Fish & Chips, Hanger Steak, Roast chicken, Fried Chicken-special of the day. Calamari app the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and spinach, caramelized onions is outstanding!, and parmesan white truffle fries, cheesecake dessert. Attentive service, prepared right. They were out of salmon, and also their famous peach pie, which was disappointing. We'll be back to try lunch.
(4)
R Paul M.
We REALLY wanted to give this place a very good review -- we applaud the use of local sources and the stated dedication to quality. But it's also about the execution and the service was slow (at a Sunday brunch time with the place nowhere near full) and the was food just OK. My sausage patties were very spiced up so I couldn't tell them from any other chain breakfast, the home ties were cold and the eggs not really scrambled but squashed. My partner found only the tiniest piece of bacon in her so-called Bacon, Garlic, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Potatoes, Smoked Gouda skillet and said it was mostly potatoes. If in the area we would give it another try.
(3)
Michael-Colin R.
Did my due diligence, read all the reviews, ignored the over the top glowing and super bad and figured the truth was somewhere in the middle. After discovering that delivery was clearly not their forte, we made the short trip down the street to this place to have a great meal and why shouldn't we expect one? The reviews here promised we would get one. How there can be so many 4 and even 5 star reviews of this place is absolutely beyond me. Where do I even begin... Atmosphere: A coat of paint and some new chairs does not constitute "decor". It basically looks exactly like the old Harrison St Cafe. The place was stuffy, musty, hot and even the booth we sat in was uncomfortable. Service: There is NO excuse for long wait times on anything when you are the only patrons in the place. I expect to wait when you're busy, that's a given. When I'm the only one there I fully expect efficiency. I shouldn't have to wait ten minutes to get a drink refill, get my check, or to get my credit card run and my slip brought back to me. Food: We had the small mac n cheese for an app and yes, it was good. (It's great at Scratch Kitchen too and it's less expensive there.) I had the jambalaya. Mediocre. The salmon in it was a nice touch and while the shrimp were generous, the sausage was non-existent. How can you skimp on sausage when making jambalaya? The portion was far less than generous and the dish was flavorless. Does the chef actually know what authentic jambalaya should taste like and what spices are used in it? How you can make something like jambalaya flavorless is totally beyond me. My partner had the pear salad. Now here is my big issue with our visit. He's six foot 4 and 230 lbs. When a man that size orders a salad it's the server's job to anticipate needs and ask, "Are you having that as a starter or as your meal, because it's the size of a side salad so if you're hungry, that's not going to cut it for you." Not a word of suggestion or recommendation was made. Yes the salad was nice, but again it was a very small salad on a side salad sized plate. She didn't even bother to ask him if it was ok and if he would still require something else. We began with iced tea which came out totally murky and weird. We switched to a Diet Coke and I had a hard cider. Those together with the meal plus tip came to $50. GROSSLY overpriced. When you pay $50 for a meal there is NO excuse to leave hungry. (We eat for $40 at Scratch Kitchen and can barely finish what we get.) No atmosphere. No flavor. No great service. No value. No thanks. A footnote: This issue doesn't fit under any category so I have to add it here. The place suffers from and outrageous GNAT problem. We spent our ENTIRE visit swatting the annoying things away as we were trying to enjoy what little we could of our meal. It was almost comical... (Neither of us were laughing of course.) Concept C- Execution D+ Menu B- Service C+ Quality B Value C- Grade C
(1)
Bill H.
My book club met here for dinner a few weeks ago. After my last experience, I was more than a little skeptical about returning here. Thankfully, the service was much, much better compared to the last time I was there. Waitstaff were attentive and courteous, food was good, and we were all able to get individual bills for our orders. I will probably visit again in the near future.
(4)
Diana S.
Came here earlier this week with my boyfriend for dinner and was really impressed with their food and dessert. I had the Chicken Pesto and was really good but what I loved was their mac and cheese. I don't usually like mac and cheese at all but my bf ordered it and after a taste, I couldn't get enough - I ended up eating half of it. Super tasty and highly recommend! For dessert, we had the Peach Blueberry pie and it truly has to be the best pie I have ever tasted. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and we couldn't stop eating it. Not too sweet. Lives up to the hype - Must try. Great restaurant with a great cook and baker! Their service is worth noting too - our waiter was super friendly and attentive. Certainly plan to eat here again.
(4)
Igor K.
A quick search on grubhub, landed us here. Looked like a very nice place, so we parked and in we went. after entering, someone at the host booth looked puzzled. i wasnt sure if we were even welcomed in. he yelled something in spanish, and a minute later, a nice gentlemen told us we can sit anywhere. after sitting down, we saw that the menu that he gave us, didnt have the kids kabobs, like grubhub said i can order. i asked if i can order the chicken kabobs, he said its brunch and that its a diff menu (it was approx 2pm on a Sat), but he said he'll ask if they can make it. sure enough, they, did.. i was very pleased with this! thank you! the order came out in a timely manner. didnt wait too long. when the food came out, the restaurant became a little more packed. 3 other families walked in. before that, we were the only ones in the space. although the bar had a few people. after the food, the server barely said a word to us. our flat crisp bread, had a piece of hair on it, and we were pretty dissatisfied with that. there was another family there, that seemed like a "regular" so the attention was basically to them, the entire time. their drinks and refills were coming non stop. it was a sure let down. Getting bill was a bit of a task, and took longer than the actual food wait. we have a 1yo and a 4yo, so the waiting part is a bit of a task. so when the bill came, i didnt even look at it, because i didnt want him to disappear again. so i quickly handed him the payment card. i still left a standard tip, because i believe that the restaurant was simply, under staffed. To summarize, the server probable wasnt an actual server, the menu descriptions were very bland, and didnt really "sell" me the food. it was our 1st time here, and the experience was a downfall. this place is NOT cheap.. its actually quite pricey. and you know, i CANNOT justify the food, price and service as a combination. its completely off. i wont tell you fellow readers to NOT go here. I wont say that this was my first and last time here, either. I'll keep my eyes peeled on reviews, and hopefully they will improve. the menu idea of organic and homemade are a rarity, so hopefully, i will return one day and experience at least a 4 star service.
(2)
Tom K.
Never come here with a big group. I was here with a group, and we all were waiting about 45+ minutes for our food to arrive. The food came all at once, and most everyone's plates were cold. I ordered a 1/2 order of Mac and Cheese and it was cold (I also ordered it with tomatoes, and they didn't put any on it). The Mac and Cheese wasn't anything all that special, really. I also ordered a chicken wrap with the fries, which were ice cold. Nothing all that special, really. The parking lot is tiny. The waitstaff appeared to all be on their first day on the job. I would not go back here.
(1)
Andy B.
Great food. Great Beer selection. Highly recommend. Their jambalaya is off the charts too. Glad I found this gem!!!
(5)
Jesse P.
Oh yeah! We dined here late last night and thank goodness for an awesome later night eatery in the Forest Park area. Everything is homemade and very American! We jammed on the amish chicken wings, mac and cheese, new england clam chowder (the chef/owner is from boston) a salami sandwich, garlic french fries and butterscotch pudding. The cocktails were super tasty and hit the spot. A very laid back, good old fashion home cooking and affordable enough to splurge on several plates and drinks. We didn't try any entree's this time but we will be back. Good job guys!
(5)
Frank W.
Really good spot for well done pub-style dining. Very solid beer selection (bottles), and a few interesting rotating taps. We had the hot pretzels (really really tasty, cooked perfectly and the tastier "stick" variety not the classic shape), the Mac & cheese with mushroom and bacon (perfect size, and awesome flavor, not nauseatingly rich like some restaurants make it), and the scallops with risotto (awesome). Reasonably priced for fancy bar fare, and like the emphasis on fresh and local this place has. Cozy atmosphere, a neighborhood gem!
(4)
James T.
For a neighborhood spot, this place is amazing! The food is amazing. Fresh, rich, and cooked with some soul. Then add to that incredibly reasonable prices even on cocktails! A small batch bourbon manhattan for $5!!! Considering the area this place beats out Lake Street Bar and Grill, Bar Louie, and Piggy Back by far.
(5)
Dawn B.
I liked Thu place. food was good and my girlfriends an I had fun hanging out and chatting. improvements could be made in service...the waitress seemed disinterested and hesitant. should have told us if we replaced pita chips with fries it was extra. the fries were delicious though. the drinks were weak except for the long island ice tea that was a wow!!! I would go again and recommend it, but I hope the staff will be happier to see customers next time.
(3)
Russ D.
I've eaten here twice now for breakfast and enjoyed it both times. Creative dishes with lots of flavor.
(4)
Bubbly K.
I have dined at Amelia's 4 times thus far, several of them with my husband. The great thing about this place is the quality of the ingredients, the fair prices for what you receive, the friendly front of the house crew and overall the dishes are quite well done. It kind of feels like you are at your uncles house and he is a really good cook but you have to wait for the good food to be cooked to order.. dum de dum. The heirloom tomato salad is fab, the night we had it they had no bread (No Bread?) to sop up all the tasty juice. Too Bad, some crusty bread would have put that over the top. My husband enjoyed a perfectly cooked scallop dish, I had a stellar blackened fish special, both were excellent. The mac n cheese sounded great, once I got about halfway thru the bowl it was great but the top part was dry and not coated with the sauce so it was pretty ho hum - I think chef should mix it or finish it with a top of cheese and pop under the broiler to put it over the top. Another time, we shared the much anticipated burger.. it was great tasting meat however just "ok" as the burger was overcooked- asked for med-rare and it was med well (no pink in sight) and kind of dry being overcooked. The bun was not toasted, I think that would make it a little better, along with some condiments like grey poupon mustard and some mayo. We will try it again next time. I had the chicken sandwich and that as well seems like it is so close to being great. Just needs to be a little less dry (had to toss all the extra bun that was on the sides...) They have a nice little wine list and seem to promote the beers. Some negatives that I hope get attention soon after this opening learning curve. The bar is definitely "cheers like" with the TV's as the focal point. The dining room needs to be the in-between for families and date night, girls dining out etc. Currently each time we have been there, the dining room is too bright, with zero ambiance for dinner. Maybe make the lights a little dimmer, some candles or those new non candle flickering lights would be nice. I know you want to be kid friendly which is cool but we have kids and don't want to feel like we are at McDonalds or Panera for dinner. Maybe put some soft music on.. Some fabric or pictures on the wall.. fun tablecloths or place-mats, wash the front windows often. Make the outside appealing and maybe lose some of the beer signs, it seems a bit confusing for the calibar of what you are cooking up. Although the staff is super nice, it sure would be nice if the chef came out once and a while to say hi - check out what is going on with the dinners, even when it is very slow this has not occurred when we have been there. You don't have to go all New Robozo :) (although we love that place too) but show a little hospitality. One night when I dined alone in the near empty dining room, the female owner walked passed me about 4 times, and never looked at me or said hello. Then when I left no one said goodbye or thank you. The owner turned her back behind the bar on me. Please show that you appreciate our business.That would go a long way for long time loyalty. we will be your biggest cheerleaders if you give back a little love. Anyway, enough for now, I don't mean to be harsh, we will be back. Good Luck and folks reading this, do check them out. We hope they will be around for a long time and are busy and successful! Cheers~
(4)
Karen B.
Love this place! Food is excellent and prices are reasonable. I like to cook at home, so when I go out to spend money for a meal, it had better be worth it...this place definitely is!
(5)
Carri H.
I like it. It seems like a very homegrown operation, and unique from other Forest Park bar eateries. You can tell they care about their food a lot. They locally source as much of it as they can, from produce to meats to bread products. I had a salad that was clearly fresh-picked and full of summer veggies. I love the small-but-good draft beer selection. Had a half order of mac for an app and the sauce was a lovely melding of 4 quality cheeses. My girl had the chipotle chicken sandwich which was rather bland. The sauce looked like it contained chipotle but didnt taste like it. Because they use fresh amish chicken (the whole chicken), it had dark meat on it which she does not prefer. Took home a dessert order of berry pie, which was pretty effing delicious the next night. Ambiance could use some help, but this place has pretty decent dinner prices. Cute little neighborhood place, i hope it sticks.
(4)
Brian L.
Wow. Shockingly good food. I had low expectations for this place, that may have had something to do with my response for the food. I had the pork belly over red beans and andouille sausage. Excellent. My wife got the bean causollet. Also, quite good. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food that my kids received off of the kids menu. You can often tell the quality of the restaurant by what they give the kids. The mac and cheese and chicken wings they got were very tasty. It seems like the reviews for this place are all over the place. Our server was excellent; very attentive and helpful. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Mary R.
Updated: we went back last night. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked, and my husband had this chicken-fried steak special (which has has asked me to beg, here, to have added to the menu). Delicious food, friendly service, good beers. Service was casual and certainly not super-speedy, but everything was obviously freshly made just for us, and our server (in the bar area) was timely and attentive. We had a lovely time. Keep up the great work, Amelia's. I'm so so so happy to have you in the neighborhood. :)
(5)
TS S.
I read the reviews before going here last night, and it was what I expected from the reviews. Sure enough, service was slow but friendly. We also had to ask to get refills and dessert. We got here at 7:45 to eat dinner before a 9:30 movie in the neighborhood. We didn't get served dinner until 8:53, so we missed the movie. The food was good, but not as good as I had hoped. I had the fish & chips. I did like the place though, and I will go back again. Just not with any expectation of how long it will take.
(3)
c d.
We enjoyed our visit and hope for many more. Awesome to have a family friendly causal spot in walking distance. Things were running smoothly for only being open for a week. Service was friendly and helpful. The chicken chipotle sandwich was great, chicken good perfectly (moist and tender). Hand cuts fires were sooo good! Kids loved the kids options, though the chipotle tomato bisque, while delicious is probably not the best option for the kids soup. For a pricier option the duck was fantastic (though I would have like a bit more spice). So many other options we wanted to try, we will be back for sure!
(4)
Bobby D.
Another great new eatery around. The New England Clam Chowder was great. The Seafood Jambalaya was another great entree. I must try some of the other items next time. This place is WELL WORTH IT!!!!.
(5)
Reda M.
I took a friend to lunch there on Wednesday. We were greeted and served by a very attentive sever named Amy.My friend had the clam chowder soup which he said was fantastic we both had the chicken bacon ranch wrap which was delicious. I also had the garlic fries which were great also. everything was great. Great food great drinks and great service. moderately priced 5 *****'s.
(5)
Scott T.
I just had Dinner here on a Wed night. This is based On my first time here. We had the hot wings which were pretty good And the Ranch served seemed fresh and tasty. I also had the Hanger steak. It was OK. It was served A little cool to my liking. It was tender but it needed a little More flavor and wine Sauce. The Mash Potatoes were Good as well as the carrots. The dinner salad was served at room Temp and needed to be colder. The decor is casual. It was ok. I really didn't feel comfortable for some reason. There was also a bit of a musty smell to the place. I am a pretty laid back Person so it doesn't bother me a bunch. What did Bother me however is the fruit flies swirling over Our table. I had to keeping shooing them away. I will be back to try more items and give them another chance The food was Good but not great and they need to warm the place Up a bit regarding ambiance.
(2)
Lolo H.
Amelia's has good food, good drinks and good service!
(5)
Monica M.
We recently had dinner at Amelias at it was fantastic! The service was amazing, friendly and accomodating. The food was delicous and unique. My husband and I had sandwiches that were filling, tasty and delicious. I can not wait until next time when I get the diver scallops. Our server told us the chef specializes in seafood, so we are very excited. Highly recommend!!
(5)
W S.
Some of the food was good, some of it suffered from poor execution. The menu calls out the farm where they got the wings, but the wings themselves are no larger or different than any other wing joint. My burger was well cooked and good, but the garlic fries I ordered had a large glob of garlic dumped on them like a scoop of ice cream, which is strange (you can see it in the photos on yelp, I would have thought they'd toss the fries?). Decent beer list, but were out of the first two I ordered. The desserts were good. The prices were very good. I would try this place again, I think it has good potential and hopefully is just getting its feet wet.
My boyfriend and I were so glad the restaurant opened and we stopped in to try it yesterday. The food was very good- Diver Scallops cooked absolutely perfectly - Chef Ramsey would have approved. Mac and Cheese super tasty too. Most intriguing to me is the small dessert menu-pie and bread pudding of the day! We tried the strawberry rhubarb - great pie crust served in a cute rectangular ramekin. Simple DIY decor still being tweaked. I'm sure all will deserve a 5 star on our next visit.
(4)
Brad Z.
Updated to reply to Sarah from Amelia's: While I appreciate your attempts to source locally, I stand by my comment that you need to do more research. As I mentioned in my initial review, I grew up working on a farm in Northwest Indiana and have pretty decent knowledge of growing seasons. I am also somebody who for years has frequented at least 2 or 3 farmers markets every weekend (Forest Park included) and I'm pretty familiar with the products offered throughout the growing season and with most of the vendors who sell at our area farmers' markets. As such, I was surprised and happy to read in your reply that you purchase produce from Nichols Farm at the Forest Park Farmers Market. But, because I too frequent the Forest Park market, I didn't recall ever seeing Nichols Farm out there. I am well aware however that they sell at the Oak Park and other nearby markets. I did not have the opportunity to go to the Forest Park market this past Friday, but my wife did, so I asked her if Nichols Farm was there. She didn't think so. So, we called Nichols' Farm just to see if perhaps there had been a change and they were now selling at Forest Park. Unfortunately, they are not. Being big fans of Asparagus, we also inquired as to whether they were still selling it. Not only are they not selling in Forest Park, but they also told us that Asparagus season is long over. I don't know who informed you that Nichols is at Forest Park, but they are not, and you apparently are mistaking some other vendor for Nichols. Whoever at Forest Park has asparagus is also getting it from somewhere else because, drought or no drought, that growing season is long past. I was also excited to learn via your reply that Ed's Way is now sourcing grass-fed/finished beef. I had inquired with them about that almost 6 months ago and was told they didn't carry it. So, when I read your reply to my wife she excitedly called the meat market at Ed's Way wanting to learn more. Unfortunately, they don't carry grass-fed/finished beef. The gentleman she spoke to in the meat department understood exactly what she was looking for when she asked for grass-fed/finished beef and he said, "no, I'm pretty sure all the beef we get has been fed corn." She asked whether grass-fed/finished could be special ordered. He went on to clarify that all of their beef comes from one distributor, and that distributor doesn't offer grass-fed/finished beef. Yes, you can argue that all beef cattle start out eating grass, but for the majority of them that is only for the few short early months of their life. They are definitely not finished on grass but rather stuck in feed lots and fed corn and silage. This has been so widely publicized by Michael Pollan and documentaries like Food, Inc. that the terms 'grass -fed' and 'grass-finished' are accepted in the food industry as meaning cows that were not raised on corn and silage. It seems to me that somebody has been misleading you. If you had really read my initial review, you would have realized that in general I gave you a positive review. I was disappointed that your restaurant didn't take the 'local/organic' theme far enough, but I know that is not important criteria for most diners and is difficult to accomplish when you're trying to maintain a certain price-point. I can tell from your reply that you take the theme seriously. To accuse me of being irresponsible is simply ironic given that there is still obviously a lot more that you need to learn about the source of the food you advertise to your patrons.
(3)
Karen M.
1st time dining here on a friend's recommendation. Meal started out fine with a tasty calamari appetizer. It all went downhill from there. Soup course: waiting...waiting...waiting...finally arrived - clam chowder - weirdly seasoned; tomato chipotle bisque - poorly executed. A bisque should be creamy, this was like eating smoky flavored tomato paste - tried, but couldn't eat it. Entree course: more waiting and waiting... jambalaya was spicy, but otherwise flat and without any depth of flavor; chicken and dumplings - just terrible. The chicken was overly salted, the skin was fatty and gelatinous, the mustard seed coating was uneven and clumpy and the dumplings were an embarrassment, still raw in the centers. We waited at least half an hour between soup and entree being served. There was a party of six seated behind us that waited 20 minutes just to be given water. The water had been poured into glasses and was just sitting on a counter. We could hear them complaining and discussing whether or not they should go somewhere else. Also, the restaurant didn't have enough menus to pass out. They had to wait for one table to finish ordering to then bring the menus to other waiting tables. People were having to share menus to place their orders. It's hard to describe the total lack of organization here. The person who seated us when we arrived, Terry, seemed to be pretty efficient. Unfortunately, he wasn't our server. We wound up with Will, who just isn't cut out for this job. We often spotted him standing in the bar area. Maybe he was waiting for drink orders...maybe he was checking on the score of a game? An efficient server would not just stand around waiting for drinks, they would be taking other orders, serving food, etc. We were dining on a Saturday night. When we arrived, there were only 4 other tables occupied, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait so long for each course. By the time we were leaving, the restaurant had become more crowded, but it's a really small place, so crowded only meant maybe 10 -12 tables occupied. If they can't handle that number of customers efficiently, something is very wrong with how they are running either their kitchen, or training their staff. I'm guessing it's both. I really wanted to like this place. My friend gave it a good recommendation. The menu sounded good. Other reviewers seemed to like it. I just can't get over the combination of bad food and service.
(1)
Jill D.
I really wanted to like this place. I went in to get a carry-out menu and decided to stay. I ordered a pint and about 25% of it was foam. I ordered their Bosc Pear Salad for $8 and had them add chicken for $2.50. The salad arrived on a small plate--like you would use for toast--not even a salad plate. I would have needed several of these salads if I was ordering salad as a meal--which I was. When I left I had to go somewhere to eat. 10.50 for what was essentially a small dinner salad--need to re-think that.
(1)
Thatgirl T.
First and foremost, the food here is terrific. Our service was also great. I'm only giving 4 out of 5 stars because I think the atmosphere could be a bit better... My husband and I were out on a Saturday night without any reservations (dumb on our part) but had read about some new places in Forest Park. We called Amelia's and they didn't have a wait, so we decided to give it a try. We are really happy we did. I'm even debating about writing this review because the food is so good, I want Amelia's to be our secret spot, but I also want it to do well, so I'm spreading the word. We walked in, and a very friendly host greeted us. We chose to sit in the bar because it had a warmer feel than the main dining area. The bar felt more "dinner like". The main dining room (in my opinion) could use a little help with a few very simple changes - if they removed the sugar caddies from the tables for instance at dinner, and only brought them out when people ordered iced tea or coffee, that would give it more of a dinner feel to match their terrific menu (there were sugar caddies on every table, and that felt very much like a lunch place as opposed to a nice dinner place). Or if they dimmed the lights and had candles on the tables, it would slightly upgrade the main dining room and give it a more dinner-like feel without really changing much else about the dining room. Their menu is spectacular, but the dining room doesn't mimic the dining experience you have there. That's why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Anyway - onto the service and the food. We had a terrific server. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We liked the drink selections a lot. Lots of craft beers, which my husband loved. I liked the wine list. Our server was knowledgeable about the wines, and offered me a taste of what I was interested in. I saw in someone else's review that they thought the wine should be served in stemware, I liked their glasses. She also was able to answer all of our questions about the menu, as was the food runner. We had the hot pretzels with two housemade dipping sauces (super delicious), the Bosc pear salad with bleu cheese and pecans, and we both ordered the grass-fed hangar steak with these amazing potatoes and buttered carrots. I'm a very picky eater when it comes to meat, and it was really nice to go to a place that served grass-fed steak. It was so tender and delicious. I ordered mine medium/medium well and my husband ordered his medium, and they were both cooked perfectly. Then we split the homemade pecan pie. The menu said that it was supposed to have Brown Cow ice cream on it, but it had whipped cream on it, and our server never indicated to us that it wasn't going to. To other's points, our first course did take a loooonnnnnggggggg time to come out. But, the wait was worth it. The timing between our first and second courses wasn't so long, but it took a very long time for the first course to come out. If the restaurant had been full, I'm not sure what the timing would have been like... However, we will definitely return. We were really pleased with our meal. However, we would not want to sit in the main dining room. I think that atmosphereically, we wouldn't like to sit in there.
(4)
Mary O.
This eatery has huge potential! The idea of having a mostly organic meal prepared in a local, casual diner-type atmosphere is fantastic. We arrived around 5p on a Saturday night, the dining room was not too inviting as it was pretty much empty and no one greeted us. We didn't quite to what to do, sit or not? Rough start. The waitress didn't seem to know the menu all that well, and didn't highlight the wonderful foods we might want to try. Te service was very, very slow. As more people came in, they too waited and waited and some were getting annoyed.....when our food finally arrived, the hangar steaks were fabulous, as was the pot roast. I had asked if the pot roast came with potatoes, the waitress said that they didn't, so I ordered a side of potatoes, but indeed, the pot roast did come with potatoes.....double mashed potatoes. The crust on the turkey pot pie, was okay, same with the pie for dessert. Overall, good food, we'll be back, but the waitress needed more training, so she could describe the food and charm us with the wonderful menu. Wine pours were very skimpy, oh well. Amelia's just needs to get the timing, training of the waitstaff (at least the one we had) and consistency down and I will be really happy.
(4)
Sarah C.
This was our second time eating dinner at Amelia's. I would recommend it! The first time we were a bit disappointed due to the fact that they were out of a few things and didn't tell us. They also had substituted other things (such as a sandwich roll for a wrap) without telling us ahead. The food was good though. This time they told us up front what they were out of (not much) and were much more attentive. WE had the Eggplant, a Turkey Po' Boy, and the Mustard Chicken--all fabulous! Good wine list and nice beers. The only thing I would say is to change their music a bit to enhance the atmosphere during dinner hours. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Michelle M.
The food is good. Very disappointed with the wine pour. If I am paying $8.50 for a glass of wine I hope to get a glass of wine. I hope someone teaches them how to pour wine. I would also suggest that they do not allow kids in the bar area.
(3)
Donny W.
We've been back and service times have improved greatly. And still great food. If they keep this up, this could turn out to be a great restaurant! We'll be visiting again.
(4)
Christopher F.
This place rocks!!! Great food, great staff, great experience!!!
(5)
Abby K.
So happy to have a casual place to dine on this side of the tracks! Food is amazing - particularly the mac and cheese. Was a bit skeptical on pita chips instead of fries but they didn't disappoint. Decent selection of craft beer (good array of types of beer - red, ipa, stout, etc), but would love more options overall - haven't checked out weekend brunch, but looking forward to going back regularly!
(5)
Jeff K.
I was excited to bring my family to try Amelia's after reading all the positive reviews here. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder. After waiting 45 minutes it finally arrived. Why does it take 45 minutes to make a bowl of soup, especially when there was only one other small table seated at 5pm on a Saturday? We were ready to dig in by the time it arrived, but unbelievably was barely warm and thick like paste. Yuck. So we sent it back and asked for a new hot bowl of soup. The next bowl of clam chowder was much better and tasty. Not the best I've ever had but OK. For entrees I ordered the Fish & Chips which the waitress said were great. They were very, very thickly battered small pieces of cod and the batter was so salty, I couldn't eat more than one piece and sent it back. The coleslaw that came with it tasted like a mixture of salt, vinegar and soap. And, on top of everything else it wasn't that hot, and the fries were cold. My wife had the chipotle chicken sandwich came on a dry grocery store roll, which was way too thick. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The mac & cheese was pretty good. I wish them the best, but we will not be visiting here again.
(1)
Tamara S.
This could be a really good restaurant, despite being in an out of the way spot. They do a lot of things right. They are farm to table. They list their suppliers for their meats and their vegetables. They make their own sauces and salad dressings. The menu is interesting ranging from lighter bites (bosc pear salad) to heavier options (hangar steak, macaroni and cheese with lots of topping options). The waitstaff is attentive and seems to care about the restaurant. However, what keeps this from being a 5 star place are the little things. We went in after the movies, and were the only table, one couple leaving just as we were arriving. I had a delicious hamburger and my husband had the macaroni. However, the wait for the food was long. My hamburger arrived in a plastic basket with white paper more apropos for a hot dog stand. There was no bill 'envelope' or any place to put our money except right on the table. Even a small dish would have been preferable. I was also surprised the owner or chef did not come by to see how we were liking the food. It is a new place. The waitress thanked us for coming in. An additional personal touch would have been nice. So again, try this place. I would like for it to make it. They just have to put in a few more finishing touches. I will go back, regardless.
(4)
Andrea K.
I've been here a few times for dinner and twice for brunch. The dinner alone was enough for me to come back. I have had the shrimp scampi which was fantastic. I also got a big bowl of mac and cheese for dinner once (hey it was my birthday) and they let me substitute and put peas in it. It was delicious and I recommend getting at least a side of Mac and cheese if it's your first time. Now the big surprise for me was brunch. I was craving French toast but I hadn't found a *great* French toast place yet in the area. We happened to drive by and saw that they serve brunch. So we stopped in and I ordered the French toast. I don't know why it was so good... Maybe the challah bread from Prairie Bread bakery... But it was mouth-watering despite not being overly fancy like way too many brunch places do now. I also got a mimosa which was nice since my old go-to brunch place does not have mimosas. It was the perfect brunch and at a very good price. Overall, try it for dinner (especially if you haven't been since the new owners took over). If you haven't gone for brunch, you must go now.
(5)
Karyn C.
It was hard to give this place a zero stars though I wanted to. We had a Groupon ordered the butternut squash soup which basically was tasteless super thick. Then we ordered the chicken with dumplings once again tasteless. I asked for a fresh cup of coffee I mean fresh she said she would brew a pot. Coffee was cold and weak. So she said she brew another pot which basically I don't think she ever brewed a pot to begin with but it was just OK. Waitress came to light candles on the table which were all empty but she didn't light ours. Would I be back,give it a second chance? NO
(1)
Tom W.
Went there for birthday dinner with friend. I ordered a vegetable stew dish, I thought it was a beef stew. When I asked about the beef my mistake was pointed out and I took full responsibility but our waiter insisted I cooking some steak and adding it to my dish. While this was fantastically over the top service, when I rec my bow back the steak and the vegetable stew combo was fantastic!! I hope I can order it again. The food and service will bring me back.
(5)
Shannon W.
Delicious and affordable. This place is nice and offers pub like food. The wait staff is a bit slow but very friendly. I like the calamari and the sandwiches are good as well. I enjoy sitting in the bar as a posed to sitting in the restaurant section.
(4)
Matthew K.
Meh. Way over priced expecially on grub hub. The pasta was not so great. The garlic fries are mediocre. The best thing there is the Ruben which is sub part from other places. Would only go there for convenience
(3)
Jennifer N.
Three of us came here on Friday evening around 8pm. We decided to eat outside on the patio where there are four tables. As our food and drinks came, we were the only ones out there on a pretty beautiful night. Service was attentive and the food was delicious. No complaints there. I had the vegetable bake while the two others in my party had burgers. The vegetable bake was full of flavor, was a tad spicy but overall filling and I was impressed! At about 9pm, suddenly the wind picks up and almost immediately the umbrellas from all the tables (yes ALL) start flying up and toward us. One right after another they are lifting up out of all four tables, and are airborne! Holy shit! One flies up over, and hits my friend in the back, and as ours is jetting up into the air i quickly grab the pole and hold on tight--because all I can imagine is this giant wooden stick on its way back down jabbing me in the head. It all is happening so quickly. My one friend is able to hold onto two umbrellas fabric, while the other friend goes to knock on the door to inside, to ask the servers for some help. They come out to find us holding down these giant umbrellas as the rain has now started...all of us (servers included) have this look on our faces like "what the eff just happened?!?" We hand over the umbrellas to the workers and go inside... We finish our drinks inside at a highboy, and our bills come. Full price! We were nearly empaled by large wooden sticks on your patio, and we need to pay full price?? My friend asks to speak to the manager to see if we can get any kind of discount on this bill. The manager ends up being our server, who explains to her that he cannot predict the weather and therefore no discount will be given. How disappointing. This could have easily been a 5 star review, but this untimely incident soured our overall experience. Sir, what you said is true. We cannot predict the weather. But you can go to Home Depot and purchase some anchors for your outdoor table umbrellas, because of that sheer fact alone! It is very unlikely I will return. Tsk, tsk.
(2)
Jordan K.
This place is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in Forest Park. The weekend brunch menu is incredible and well priced. We just took my parents and sister last weekend and spent less than $50 and were all very satisfied. A couple new discoveries. The Salmon BLT with a fried egg. It's difficult to convey how amazing this combination is. Great bread from a local bakery, crisp bacon and fresh lettuce and tomato, but the star is the full salmon fillet sitting in there. It pairs incredibly well with the salty bacon. This is an absolute must have dish. The fries are perfect and well salted too. The breakfast dishes are excellent as well. Thick sweet french toast, awesome pancakes, savory home fries, and a well made breakfast burrito are among the things we've tried. I don't know how the place was before the new owners, but it currently is producing some very very good food. Give this place a try. Sure the decor and tables could be spruced up a little, but you will quickly forget about that after you try the food.
(5)
Lauren V.
We especially love Amelia ' s for weekend breakfast and brunch! Friendly service, delicious food at a great price.
(4)
Carolyn S.
I've been here twice now with different people. Everything we've ordered has been delicious! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and huge portions.
(5)
Misha M.
Whether you're in Forest Park for a quick visit looking for a quick bite or a drink, Amelia's is a nice place to park it. If you check in on yelp and show your waitress you get 10% off your bill. The orange sherbert walls and beautiful art work gives your eyes something to marvel while you wait for your food. If you're not up for dining hall style seating, there is usually room at the bar and plenty of conversation to get into. My 8 piece hot wings and full plate of fries came out piping hot and fresh. And if my hot winged palate stands correct, those wings were tossed and drug through a bottle of Franks Red Hot, which in my opinion is the best way to do it. Let my Grandmother tell it, they got the recipe from her. The chocolate tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was just right, just the perfect size to finish off a great meal. And even when my card declined ;( after swiping the third time and I offered to pay part of my $14.00 with the $8 in cash I had on me and bring the rest the next day, the manager told me he tossed out the other $6. I dropped in the next morning with the remaining $6, leaving my waitress Brianna a $4 tip. The waitresses are cool, laid back and know their stuff. Its really just a nice, if-you-happen-to-be-or-live-in-the-neighborhood spot with a great staff and good food. Check them out sometime.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Service was great, our waitress was a sweetheart. That being said, after finding hair in my food I was told the manager was on his way out to talk to me. Not only did he never come to talk to me, they took nothing off the bill. I won't be going back.
(1)
Lynn H.
Great neighborhood find. Lots of beers, great salads and all entrees were fantastic! Will definitely return!
(4)
Susie C.
My husband and I decided to come here to give it a try. The location isn't that great - probably because it's not in heavily visited areas like downtown. It's by the 290 highway and there isn't much businesses around this restaurant so you don't really notice it until you drive by it. It wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. They have a bar section and a regular dining section. Most of the crowd were at the bar area since the Bulls and Hawks game were going on. The inside of this restaurant is like an average dining place - it has a strange odor inside. Service is really slow. We found out our waiter is also the bartender, so we can't really blame him..we think the restaurant just needs more help during this time because it took a good half hour before our food were served after we ordered. As for the food, it is very good. I would give this place 5 stars for the food, but because the service was very slow I gave this place a 4. My husband and I started with the cobb salad and the macaroni and cheese with chicken. The mac and cheese was delicious! My husband and I loved it! Having the chicken there definitely enhances the taste - they have a selection of toppings for the mac and cheese. The cobb salad was good as well. For entree, I ordered the wild diver scallop which was scallops on top of a bed of bacon/spinach/mushroom rissoto topped with spicy mayo. This was really good. The presentation was nice, too. My husband ordered their jambalaya..he said it was too saucy for his liking. He would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't as saucy/wet. It was a long dinner, but the food is really good. I definitely come back and hopes the service will be faster this time.
(4)
Cat C.
Having just moved to Oak Park from the North Side, I decided to try Amelia's after a friend recommended it. Experience was fantastic from start to finish. The owner was behind the bar and came by to give us a full run-down on the beer list and menu. (Beer was delicious and he said it changes often. Burger and turkey sandwich were phenom. Homemade pie is supposed to be great too.) The owner also took the time to talk to us about the area and recommended some other beer places nearby. Overall: I love the neighborhood feel (clearly some regulars at the bar), friendliness, beer list and food. Definitely check them out!
(5)
Erika G.
Good place. Not exceptional, not awful. What was cuter was the bar out front, which looks more intriguing.
(3)
Maranda T.
I ordered my family dinner from here. My cob salad had a long blonde hair in it. My husband's Angus burger was flavorless. The French fries were so over cooked it felt like it would chip a tooth. The only food that was ok was the kids size chicken wing. Dinner was not cheap. I will not be a returning Customer.
(1)
Meredith B.
This place has some of the best french toast in the area. My husband and I like this place, though we don't love it. The French toast is delicious, as is the homemade bagel. Its easy to get a table. The beignets served at the beginning are hot and fresh and delicious. However, the concerns mentioned in other reviews we also had. First, there were some kind of bug flying around inside (this was a few weeks ago, so maybe that problem has been solved). Also, the service was not great- we had to ask for water to be refilled and the table was sticky when we sat down. Lastly, for a breakfast joint, their coffee was not good (which is a major issue at every breakfast place in the area except for Buzz). If the idea is locally sourced ingredients, why not do Metropolis coffee in Chicago, which is fantastic. The stuff just tasted weak and blah. I think there is a lot of potential in this place and I look forward to trying their dinner menu during the winter. We will keep going, though if they improved, we would probably make this a weekly spot for brunch (though the coffee would have to be good for this to happen).
(3)
Joette T.
This was my second visit, but the first time having a meal. I like their concept which is freshly made, locally sourced food. I also like the craft beer and small batch spirits that dominate their bar offerings. I'll need another visit or two to really have a solid, enduring opinion. My husband and I both had chicken; I had the winter cobb salad, he had the chicken & dumplings. We both thought that some bites tasted too salty while others seemed fine. Not sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're brining the chicken and the result is uneven. If they're touting a better quality bird, that's what I want to taste, not salt. Presentation is great. The portion sizes seem just right. Overall I think the prices are extremely reasonable. Can't say that I was impressed with the service. The bartender was nice enough, just slow. On each visit I didn't get much of a sense of any personality from the staff or the establishment. Maybe I just haven't been there at the right time. It's a cute place and with the addition of a little more energy in dealing with customers, Amelia's could become a destinatiin in Forest Park.
(3)
Jen R.
Was really looking forward to going. Our first visit, the menu looked good. Easy parking. We went in a Sunday around noon. Problem was the cook has never done breakfast/lunch before. So that was an issue, tables were left sitting for a while before they were cleaned and orders were not written down so orders got screwed up. We finally got to talk to one of the owners and it became a little pained sad really.. I know "were a small business" but get with the program. Some of the bill was comped but that's not the point. Definite disconnect.. Too bad was hoping to make this a new go to place in FP.. Get the tables cleaned, please set the tables, please attempt to bring drinks in a timely manner..... PLEASE! Sorry won't be back...
(2)
Will V.
Second time eating here. First time the food was good, but not great. This time we stopped in for chicken wings on special, and ended up with a couple of other entrees as well. The chicken wings were pretty awesome, probably some of the best I've had, served with really tasty house-made sauces. The rest of the food was good too, maybe a bit better than the first time we visited. They keep a nice little selection of craft beers on tap, and they have a decent and inexpensive little wine menu. Friendly staff, but do not go to Amelia's expecting a Michelin-type restaurant experience, it's very much a down to earth, casual atmosphere. If you want something, ask for it, and they'll accommodate, but don't expect overly attentive service, you're better off elsewhere. For me, it's perfect.
(4)
Bailey D.
Where the heck am I? A roadside truck stop? A sports bar? A five-star restaurant? A converted gas station? The home of a genius chef? Yeah, I'm not yanking your chain. Amelia's in Forest Park could pass for any and all of those things. It has an unassuming location, look and set-up but the food is high- class. I like the unexpected. I really do. This is a gem. Don't expect a sexy date spot or an elegant dining experience. Instead, count on upscale food, organic ingredients, salt-of- the-earth servers in a local dive atmosphere. We ordered cassoulet, hangar steak, roast chicken and dumplings, birthday brownie and some sort of tequila baileys-ish shot. What an adventure. I love Amelia's!
(5)
Lea J.
My favorite OP spot. Fresh, real ingredients & delicious. OP lacks restaurants this good w/fresh organic ingredients & needs more like them.
(5)
Matt M.
So this is "not so good food and drink"... actually its downright terrible. We got this on grubhub and it was downright terrible. I would say the temperature was to blame and the slow service which has happened before with grubhub... but that was not the case. We got the food reasonably fresh but it was bland, tasteless, watery, and just plain bad. Normally I say something clever and suggest eating something from a garbage can instead but I was just flabbergasted by the mixed (and often positive) reviews from this place only to get slapped in the face with below-truck-stop-standard fare.
(1)
Leonard W.
"Oh looks something new" "I'm going to try them" 1 year later I finally decided I was going to try them lol I cam here with my Mom around 1:30pm on a Saturday.was disappointed when give a brunch menu. (I knew from yelp/foursquare reviews/photos that I had wanted to try out the mustard chicken which turns out is a dinner item) I ordered the Mac and Cheese (w Andouille, Bacon, Chicken, Mushrooms) My Mother a burger (don't recall the name but it had blue cheese on it.) As I bite into my Mac and Cheese "WOW!...this is actually good" I say to myself. TRUE comfort food. Really had a lot of taste in it. Got to nibble a little on the blue cheese burger and thought it was done very well. We were actually so impressed we came back for dinner later that night. Ordered the calamari. (was a very decent size nothing spectacular about it. had some banana peppers at the bottom which gave them a nice little kick) also ordered the daily flat bread (chicken smoked BBQ with caramelized onions and Gouda cheese) WOW!! x2 after about three bites I'm thinking which family & friends I'll be bringing here for their birthday dinner. Really it was amazing. the combination of flavors work well and can say I never tasted anything quite like it. (the only drawback it was a daily special so not sure if they'll still have it the next time I'm back) I ordered the Mustard and Herb Crusted Half Chicken. (for some reason I was starting to think this was going to be like the calamari, nothing special but) WOW (just one wow ...the flat bread is still king lol) I would order it again (but not soon as I would love to try out their other dishes) I would give Amelia's 4.25 stars. This is laragly due to location/settings. I ate at the dinning area during brunch and the bar area for dinner. (the bulls game was on!) I would hate to have to be here if they were over 50% full. Parking sucks, the bar area is small off the top of my head I think maybe a 5 tables and the bar. so the area was full due to the game being on. Which means you need to be there BEFORE the game if you plan on watching at the bar. The bartender/waiter kept going into the fridge which produced this BRIGHT light in what was suppose to be a dark/cozy atmosphere or was it suppose to be a bar?
(4)
Mary Ann C.
Pretty sad to give the two star review, as I was so excited to dine here. I arrived for lunch yesterday at 12:30 to a mostly empty restaurant. No one greeted me at the door, but after being seated, the server was very friendly and warm. The restaurant was not particularly clean, but the decor is a big improvement from the diner that was hear preciously. I was really expecting it to look a lot better... The big issue has nothing to do with any of the above paragraph. It is the food.....This is what I was so looking forward to as it is locally sourced at Amelias. The butternut squash soup was very dull and bland. It did taste of truffle oil, but this did not save it. The fish po-boy, though, was an even bigger shock. There was a very, very small piece of fish on it. In fact, I ate 1/3 of sandwich with no fish...just bread and condiments, because the piece was SO small. I waited awhile for the sandwich and the fish was also not crisp. Very odd, since it is fried. The bread and toppings were tasty. This was a really disappointing sandwich, sadly. I wish I could get my ten dollars back, as this was not a good lunch at all.
(2)
Hans G.
I don't understand some (well, any) of the negative reviews I've read about Amelia's. I come here a lot, and I've never experienced any of the negative things that some report. I've brought many people here, including larger parties approaching 20 people at least three times, once without any prior notice and a short deadline to get out and be somewhere else. The service has always been at least adequate to the task, and usually quite good, even when the restaurant filled up on both sides shortly after my large group arrived. Twice. By now I've had pretty much everything on the menu and a few things that aren't, and I've never had anything that wasn't very good. That includes the eggplant soup, and I generally dislike eggplant otherwise. My friends that I've brought here have not uncommonly raved about the food, and more than a few have come back on their own, even from as far as northern Lake County, and they've repeated their good experiences. So I can't explain the negative reviews. In what must be approaching 100 visits I've never seen anything like what they report, though surely everyone has a bad day now and again.
(5)
Claire M.
I thought this place was really good. We live like, half a block away and were never really fans of the place that was here before so I'm glad to have somewhere so close that is tasty - and serves alcohol. I had read the menu beforehand and really, really was looking forward to the soft pretzel appetizer but they didn't have any. =( We ordered the garlic fries instead which while very tasty, I was still bummed because the pretzels were what I really wanted. The garlic taste wasn't too overwhelming like certain OTHER local places (ahem, the place where I had a stomachache for 3 days after eating theirs!). I ordered the caesar salad wrap with a cup of tomato bisque soup. The other half ordered a burger. I can't offer any opinion on the burger, and the other half didn't really say anything either way so... My wrap was VERY good. Very, very good. As was the soup - it had a kick to it. I liked it. I feel like we had something else too and for the life of me, I can't remember what it may have been. Did the other half have clam chowder?? I could be way off on that, they may not even have clam chowder on the menu but for some reason that's where my mind is going. Oh!! Macaroni and cheese!! That's what it was! It was DELICIOUS!!! God I can't believe that's not the first thing I raved about. From the description on the menu, it sounded similar to the kind they have at Uncommon Ground and it was 10 times better at Amelia's than it was there. And it was only like $2.50 for a totally adequate portion. It did take awhile to get our food (our waitress seemed a little annoyed/frustrated) at that fact but we weren't in a hurry and it was worth the wait. We were also there on the 2nd day they were open so I'm sure that had something to do with it however, there were only a handful of people in there. Drinks were served right away and refilled promptly. I didn't have any wine this night, but I surely will on return visits - and there WILL be return visits. There are several other things on the menu that I really want to try.
(4)
Annie D.
This place is great! So many beer options and great local food. I bought some hot sauce for home too! Get the eggplant soup- seriously.
(5)
Laura T.
Saw what looked like a cute outdoor bar-food kind of place on our way to the pool and stopped back here for lunch earlier today. Didn't know what to expect, but was so pleasantly surprised to sit and read thru the breakfast and lunch options on a perfect summer day with the back patio almost completely to ourselves. Much more sophisticated menu than we were expecting, as indicated by the presence of Gouda and goat cheese--right? The skillet with sourced-farm bacon, Gouda and Carmelized onions sounded fantastic but since I consider potatoes a waste of carbs, I asked if I could get it as an omelet and was told all skillets can be prepared as one lets and vice versa. Then the server dropped off a basket of comp, hot, fresh beignets--which I do Not consider a waste of carbs. That also kept our toddler sated and occupied. My Bloody Mary was well seasoned and not overdone, service super attentive and although we only had an omelette and a skillet, we were very impressed. Can't wait to revisit this hidden treasure. If I had to offer a neg it would be that there are semi trucks passing quite a bit. They might want to throw up a privacy fence. So psyched to have this great new option nearby!!
(4)
Mallory S.
Saw reviews for pies being so delicious. Came in for dessert and got one of each daily pie offering. Both were horrible(dry, glue like filling, flavorless) and cold after we waited long enough that they should be piping hot. Thought it was just maybe an off day and they tried again and brought out two more. Little warmer and still as horrible. Ate a small bite of each, barely enough to know they were just as bad. She only took one off the bill. And she, the owner, didn't even come say anything to us about it. We were the only table in there! Unbelievable! I work in restaurants and I would never ever make someone pay for garbage like that. I wouldn't have fed that to my dog. If she had owned up to the fact that her pies were a compliment to dog Shi@ I'd have never written this review. Her rational according to the server was that they brought out 4 pies so she had to charge me even though we Ate no more than one bite. If I just didn't like it that'd be one thing but they were poor quality, crap. Straight up junk. Blah
(1)
Jim L.
I ordered delivery tonight. The order took an hour and forty minutes. The sandwich was cold, its bread chewy, and the whole thing wrapped in saran wrap before being tossed into a paper bag on top of a cold clump of fries, each as tough as beef jerky. Inedible. Now, I'm still hungry, and everywhere else is closed. Don't make the same mistake I did.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
Amelia's is closing in 3 Weeks - very sad to say. The last day will be Nov 24th. We are super sad about this because we just found this gem. Today was our second experience here. Food was delicious and the bill was roughly $50 for appetizers, entrees, drinks, desserts, and coffee. I had the Summer Vegetable Pot Roast and the husband got Chicken and dumplings. Both were awesome. I also had the Pumpkin Soup and the Cheesecake - which you could tell was homemade and creamy. We will definitely be back many times before they close on the 24th.
(5)
Steven E.
We had a mixed experience tonight at Amelia's. The kitchen was very slow (over 60 minutes from order to the main course) but the food was, by and large, delicious. We started with the garlic French fries, which took a half hour to arrive but which were seasoned perfectly and immediately devoured by my two children. For entrees we found the Amish chicken to be outstanding, with a rich flavor and texture. The barbecued pork belly over jambalaya was likewise creative and flavorful. A salmon entree was well seasoned but slightly overcooked, and a pasta dish with turkey, bacon, and broccoli left us somewhat unsatisfied, needing perhaps an alfredo sauce to bind the dish together. Service was above average but ultimately unable to overcome the slow kitchen. In addition, the furnace was out, with the dining room at 59 degrees during our meal. I really want to give Amelia's a higher rating. They exhibit flashes of creativity in their menu, but in the end the execution is so inconsistent that higher marks can't be justified.
(3)
Cara D.
For a small family run joint it was impressive. they make almost everything from scratch including mayo and sour cream. They source their bread from the local bakery, meat from the lical butcher and on and on. I had the angis burger with truffle fries and it was the best meal I have had in a while. And for under $9 I challenge someone to find better. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)
M W.
Amelia's has a lot of potential. Loved their outdoor eating area, and the inside was cool looking as well. The servers were all very warm and welcoming. I had the garlic parmesan fries, which were so good, but pretty strong. I also ordered a burger with bacon and cheddar. All of the ingredients tasted like good quality (I appreciated that the bun was from Kay's), however the burger patty was WAY too big. It seemed like a 3/4 pounder. I could barely wrap my mouth around it, and my jaw actually got sore. Even my boyfriend thought it was too much burger, and he is a total carnivore. His turkey sandwich was pretty good. I will definitely give this place another go-I just won't get the burger next time!
(4)
Ania K.
Soooo happy to be back as an Amelia's customer. The one week without them was a long one. The employee I spoke of in the previous review has been dealt with. Not surprisingly I wasn't the only one that complained about her rudeness. On to the review: The food here is delicious, I especially recommend the Caesar salad with Amish pulled chicken. The dressing is light and tangy and the chicken is always juicy. Also, highly highly highly recommend the flat bread, any and all are outstanding. My husband is addicted to the buffalo chicken sandwich and garlic fries. They do not mess around with the amount of garlic either. We as garlic lovers appreciate that thoroughly! The place is warm and cozy; nice ambiance and great quality beer selection. I'm a Delerium lover myself, and I can't think of many places that have it. Amelia's thankfully does. I love that they serve organic and local food. This is a place worth supporting. Also, very impressed with the owners and their customer service.
(5)
Catie F.
Bear with me - because although this place doesn't appear too special from the outside AND it's a bit off of the beaten path, it sure is worth a visit. I have a close friend who lives within walking distance, and she had been raving to me about Amelia's fresh, local, and delicious menu. My boyfriend and I finally got to try it and I am very pleased with their service and their food. We did take-out (and he picked up) so I can't advise on their interior, but the phone service and packaging were definitely well-done. Although we didn't need it, we were offered cutlery, napkins, condiments, etc. A nice gesture. Onto the food ... I ordered the Golden Lentil Soup topped with herb oil, balsamic syrup & pita chip croutons. Oh my yummy. This is the best lentil soup I've had, hands down. The Balsamic adds a nice tangy kick (just enough) and though I might have snubbed the pita chips (extra carbs!) the crouton-like version was a wonderful, crunchy addition to the soup. I had a side of roasted root vegetables, which were vibrant and yummy. My one gripe with this side is the amount of oil / butter that was left at the bottom of the carton when I finished. Although the veggies are roasted, they are finished in a saute pan, hence the excess fats (could have done without that). Another side was the mashed parsnips - creamy, smooth, tasty, and even MORE comforting than traditional mashed potatoes, IMHO. Both sides were a great value for the $2.50 price tag. My boyfriend had the Turkey Po' Boy, which smelled and looked awesome from afar - unfortunately he housed it far too quickly for me to sneak a bite. The warm, hearty sandwich had just the right textures of melty, creamy, crunchy and satisfying (so I've been told). I did sneak a seasoned french fry or two and they are approved! Overall, I think the prices are good (especially for Chicago), the ingredients are fresh, and the menu is interesting and satisfying. One watch-out: since it's small and seemingly family-owned, the restaurat shuts down every once-in-awhile. They're closed Tuesdays (found out the hard way!) and took a week's vacation for the holiday season so give them a call BEFORE you show up!
(4)
Deena H.
It is advertised way better than it is. Delivery is longer than an hour. Order was wrong too. Ate in once but the place seemed dingy for a place that serves lamb. I had higher hopes and I gave this place a couple of chances. I didn't give a one star because they have a pretty good home made pie that bumps them up to two stars.
(2)
chris p.
Amelia 's is tucked away just over the Circle Ave bridge to Harrison in Forest Park, Il. The food is great and there is something for everyone. The quality is excellent with Scottish salmon, grass fed steak tips, scallops, chicken and dumplings to tasty desserts. There are burgers, sandwiches and salads for lighter fare. The blueberry pie was not overly sweet and was served beautifully latticed as an individual mini pie with a knob of ice cream. The service can be tweaked a bit. There is a bar area for more casual dining. It is worth the trip off the beaten path on Madison Avenue over the bridge to Amelia's.
(4)
C T.
If the review were solely for food, I would give them 5 stars. My only complaint is regarding their phone etiquette. I typically order through Grubhub Which has a limited menu so I have to call regarding daily specials etc. They always seem off put by having to ask the kitchen what the special is. As a server, I feel like you should already know it and if not don't give me attitude about having to ask someone. Now on to the food. The meat is purchased from a local butcher every morning. That rocks! Produce is mostly Illinois organic. That rocks too! The Mac n chz isn't like a southern traditional baked dish. It's more modern style with great fresh ingredients. Amish chicken- delicious. Desserts authentic and full of flavor. I look forward to trying many more of their menu items. The bar had good specials as well. Love that they deliver as well. I finally went in to eat and the food was even better- not surprising! Give Amelia's a chance. They are a great food addition to the area.
(4)
Tamer A.
Meh. They are trying, and maybe a bit too hard. On delivery, they have gotten my order wrong both times I have ordered. At the restaurant (once), it kind of smelled weird and there were a few fruit flies. The waiter was okay but kind of strange sometimes. And the food, which I really wanted to like, was just okay. Eggplant soup-really good Wings-really good Pasta-regular, lacking flavor, sauce too water, had to substitute chicken because they had not more turkey Lamb-there is no way that lamb was braised right, because braised lamb should be soft and buttery, not tough. Also, it was too gamey, could have used some black pepper or citrus or something.
(2)
Cathleen F.
This update is to upgrade Amelia's to 5 stars. In the 8 or so months Amelia's has been there, it has really grown into a beloved neighborhood restaurant with fresh ingredients, quality dishes, and excellent service. A few (more) tips: 1. Get the fries. 2. Don't ignore the specials, if they have them the night you dine. They're always fabulous. 3. Chat with your server(s)--they are all so friendly and make you feel like a member of the Amelia's family. With the overflow of dive bars, Irish pubs and Italian restaurants up on Madison, Forest Park is lucky to have Amelia's. Don't miss out!
(5)
Elizabeth R.
The bf and I came here for dinner on an early Friday night. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and decided to sit in the bar area which is separated from the general dinning room (for those who want to bring the kiddies here). We started with an order of crab cakes which were a tad tiny but soooooooo good. For diner the bf ordered a burger which he devoured in minutes. I notice they cooked it medium rare opposed to the medium he requested, but he said it was so good he didn't mind. I ordered the pork chop entree that came with cabbage and potatoes...it was absolutely delicious! Everything we ate tasted amazing and you could tell was very fresh. For 1 appetizer, 1 burger, 1 dinner entree (served only after 5PM), 1 beer, 2 cocktails and dessert the bill came to about $60. I wish I could give 5 stars but some people (I believe employees since they were coming from the kitchen) kept stepping outside for cigarette breaks and each time the side door was opened the stench of smoke would draft in making my amazing dinner not so appetizing. :( Also my blueberry mojito cocktail was nothing special, even a tad watered down. All and all I was very pleased with Amelias; the staff is great, the decor is a huge improvement and it's nice to have somewhere other than Madison Street to get a craft beer or glass of wine. Looking forward to an expanded cocktail list! Go check them out!
(4)
Yvonne O.
We came here on the recommendation of another place's manager, so we had high expectations. And, after reading the reviews, we certainly didn't think anything would go wrong. First, we were seated and waited forever for anyone to come back. They admitted a miscommunication and comped our first round of drinks - nice touch. But, from there, things were just nothing special and we were deluged by flies and gnats the whole night, which was awful. All restaurants have to deal with doors to the outside, why can't this place get it together. I had the hangar steak and while the meat was good, it was more rare than medium and the balsamic crap on top ruiined it for me. The pretzel sticks to start were good, but the sauces they came with were quite boring. Husband had the pork belly and liked it. The place was also roasting, which was just uncomfortable. Certainly this is "Amelia's Good Food" and not "Great Food", btu the service (once they got it together) was friendly and helpful. I'll wait for colder weather and death of bugs outdoors to give this another try.
(2)
Lisa P.
Had a birthday dinner here and it was very satisfying! 5 of us, Fish & Chips, Hanger Steak, Roast chicken, Fried Chicken-special of the day. Calamari app the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and spinach, caramelized onions is outstanding!, and parmesan white truffle fries, cheesecake dessert. Attentive service, prepared right. They were out of salmon, and also their famous peach pie, which was disappointing. We'll be back to try lunch.
(4)
Michael-Colin R.
Did my due diligence, read all the reviews, ignored the over the top glowing and super bad and figured the truth was somewhere in the middle. After discovering that delivery was clearly not their forte, we made the short trip down the street to this place to have a great meal and why shouldn't we expect one? The reviews here promised we would get one. How there can be so many 4 and even 5 star reviews of this place is absolutely beyond me. Where do I even begin... Atmosphere: A coat of paint and some new chairs does not constitute "decor". It basically looks exactly like the old Harrison St Cafe. The place was stuffy, musty, hot and even the booth we sat in was uncomfortable. Service: There is NO excuse for long wait times on anything when you are the only patrons in the place. I expect to wait when you're busy, that's a given. When I'm the only one there I fully expect efficiency. I shouldn't have to wait ten minutes to get a drink refill, get my check, or to get my credit card run and my slip brought back to me. Food: We had the small mac n cheese for an app and yes, it was good. (It's great at Scratch Kitchen too and it's less expensive there.) I had the jambalaya. Mediocre. The salmon in it was a nice touch and while the shrimp were generous, the sausage was non-existent. How can you skimp on sausage when making jambalaya? The portion was far less than generous and the dish was flavorless. Does the chef actually know what authentic jambalaya should taste like and what spices are used in it? How you can make something like jambalaya flavorless is totally beyond me. My partner had the pear salad. Now here is my big issue with our visit. He's six foot 4 and 230 lbs. When a man that size orders a salad it's the server's job to anticipate needs and ask, "Are you having that as a starter or as your meal, because it's the size of a side salad so if you're hungry, that's not going to cut it for you." Not a word of suggestion or recommendation was made. Yes the salad was nice, but again it was a very small salad on a side salad sized plate. She didn't even bother to ask him if it was ok and if he would still require something else. We began with iced tea which came out totally murky and weird. We switched to a Diet Coke and I had a hard cider. Those together with the meal plus tip came to $50. GROSSLY overpriced. When you pay $50 for a meal there is NO excuse to leave hungry. (We eat for $40 at Scratch Kitchen and can barely finish what we get.) No atmosphere. No flavor. No great service. No value. No thanks. A footnote: This issue doesn't fit under any category so I have to add it here. The place suffers from and outrageous GNAT problem. We spent our ENTIRE visit swatting the annoying things away as we were trying to enjoy what little we could of our meal. It was almost comical... (Neither of us were laughing of course.) Concept C- Execution D+ Menu B- Service C+ Quality B Value C- Grade C
(1)
Bill H.
My book club met here for dinner a few weeks ago. After my last experience, I was more than a little skeptical about returning here. Thankfully, the service was much, much better compared to the last time I was there. Waitstaff were attentive and courteous, food was good, and we were all able to get individual bills for our orders. I will probably visit again in the near future.
(4)
R Paul M.
We REALLY wanted to give this place a very good review -- we applaud the use of local sources and the stated dedication to quality. But it's also about the execution and the service was slow (at a Sunday brunch time with the place nowhere near full) and the was food just OK. My sausage patties were very spiced up so I couldn't tell them from any other chain breakfast, the home ties were cold and the eggs not really scrambled but squashed. My partner found only the tiniest piece of bacon in her so-called Bacon, Garlic, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Potatoes, Smoked Gouda skillet and said it was mostly potatoes. If in the area we would give it another try.
(3)
Diana S.
Came here earlier this week with my boyfriend for dinner and was really impressed with their food and dessert. I had the Chicken Pesto and was really good but what I loved was their mac and cheese. I don't usually like mac and cheese at all but my bf ordered it and after a taste, I couldn't get enough - I ended up eating half of it. Super tasty and highly recommend! For dessert, we had the Peach Blueberry pie and it truly has to be the best pie I have ever tasted. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and we couldn't stop eating it. Not too sweet. Lives up to the hype - Must try. Great restaurant with a great cook and baker! Their service is worth noting too - our waiter was super friendly and attentive. Certainly plan to eat here again.
(4)
Jet H.
Just found this little gem and stepped in for late dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and excellence of the food. Enjoyed a very fresh spinach salad and a delicious (and thick) burger and a bottle of cider. My girl had the mac n cheese and enjoyed it as well. Leave room for dessert - they're great! Also rolled in for late breakfast one Sunday afternoon and gobbled down the french toast, remarkable bacon and great cup of coffee. A local joint that sources it's ingredients locally. Yes, yes and yes again. I'll be coming back to this place regularly. I hear they have a decent wing night.
(4)
Mojo P.
Don't. I ordered two burgers from Grub Hub and it was a bust. They were late, the burgers came without condiments, and the "roasted mushroom" topping is not roasted by any conventional method I am aware of. Unless you include a nuker. No pickle, no lettuce, no tomato, no mayo, and not even an insulting packet of ketchup. You get a burger that has been in the freezer so long that it's not even aware that Obama is the President. Also, everything was burned. Not "charred". Frickin' burned. Ugh. So let's recap: $32 plus a six dollar tip for the driver, for exactly two burgers with bacon, cheese, shrooms and onions = should have gone to Burger King. Please, Amelia's, remove this item from your menu if you hate it so much.
(1)
Mindy B.
So, got this delivered and I gotta say, the quality of the food was not there because of it. I could tell that our food sat for too long waiting to come to us, and this was sad. My Mac n cheese & lentil soup survived and were awesome, but our French fries, tarts, and my friend's catfish had that "I've been sweating my crispy wonderfulness off while waiting for the delivery driver," appearance and taste. I will try to get into the restaurant sometime because I tasted potential greatness; just disappointed when a place can't bring it to me.
(3)
Igor K.
A quick search on grubhub, landed us here. Looked like a very nice place, so we parked and in we went. after entering, someone at the host booth looked puzzled. i wasnt sure if we were even welcomed in. he yelled something in spanish, and a minute later, a nice gentlemen told us we can sit anywhere. after sitting down, we saw that the menu that he gave us, didnt have the kids kabobs, like grubhub said i can order. i asked if i can order the chicken kabobs, he said its brunch and that its a diff menu (it was approx 2pm on a Sat), but he said he'll ask if they can make it. sure enough, they, did.. i was very pleased with this! thank you! the order came out in a timely manner. didnt wait too long. when the food came out, the restaurant became a little more packed. 3 other families walked in. before that, we were the only ones in the space. although the bar had a few people. after the food, the server barely said a word to us. our flat crisp bread, had a piece of hair on it, and we were pretty dissatisfied with that. there was another family there, that seemed like a "regular" so the attention was basically to them, the entire time. their drinks and refills were coming non stop. it was a sure let down. Getting bill was a bit of a task, and took longer than the actual food wait. we have a 1yo and a 4yo, so the waiting part is a bit of a task. so when the bill came, i didnt even look at it, because i didnt want him to disappear again. so i quickly handed him the payment card. i still left a standard tip, because i believe that the restaurant was simply, under staffed. To summarize, the server probable wasnt an actual server, the menu descriptions were very bland, and didnt really "sell" me the food. it was our 1st time here, and the experience was a downfall. this place is NOT cheap.. its actually quite pricey. and you know, i CANNOT justify the food, price and service as a combination. its completely off. i wont tell you fellow readers to NOT go here. I wont say that this was my first and last time here, either. I'll keep my eyes peeled on reviews, and hopefully they will improve. the menu idea of organic and homemade are a rarity, so hopefully, i will return one day and experience at least a 4 star service.
(2)
Tom K.
Never come here with a big group. I was here with a group, and we all were waiting about 45+ minutes for our food to arrive. The food came all at once, and most everyone's plates were cold. I ordered a 1/2 order of Mac and Cheese and it was cold (I also ordered it with tomatoes, and they didn't put any on it). The Mac and Cheese wasn't anything all that special, really. I also ordered a chicken wrap with the fries, which were ice cold. Nothing all that special, really. The parking lot is tiny. The waitstaff appeared to all be on their first day on the job. I would not go back here.
(1)
Jennifer W.
I just visited Amelias with a friend and it was late so we just had a few drinks and some app's. The waitress was super cool and friendly and we ordered Jack whiskey, she said they do small batch liquors (bonus) it was super tasty. the truffle fries blew my head off they were sooooo good. The flatbread served before the meal tasted like dirt and was super dry and pasty (rosemary) and the salad again had rosemary all over it yucko-again the dirt taste with no offer to take it off the check (hmmmm?????) You kind of have to be ignorant not to offer to take it off the check if it is not even eaten. The strawberry rhubard pie was super yummy with only a small hint of rhubarb but still good. I would def go back if only for those great fries!
(4)
Ben M.
At least the food was good. I can't say the same for the service. We went to Amelia's for bunch today with high expectations, but left disappointed. The bunch menu was pretty extensive. I had the French toast and was pleasantly surprised, though it is hard to mess up deep fried brioche. My dining companions each had one of the two omelettes on the menu, one regular and one egg white. Both were happy with their choices. But that service..... When we arrived there was only one or two tables with other patrons. We were shown to our seats, and our drink orders taken. After a long, but appropriate, wait we received or drinks and or brunch orders were taken. Then we waited and waited and waited. Not only did we not receive our food, but our drinks ran dry. Finally our food arrived. Exited to start digging in we examined our food. Sadly what we saw in front of us was not what we ordered. After some time of trying to flag down our waiter, we altered him to the error. He was happy to fix the problem, so he told the food back. Now we are foodless and drinkless, with fine, unimpeded view of the Ike. One of my dining companions finally had enough and sought out a waiter to refill her drink, however, when the waiter came he didnt seem to either notice or care that everyone else at the table had empty drinks. The corrected food arrived, with much more hast than the first round. I would like to reiterate that the food was tasty, but the service was pretty unbearable. It definitely left a sour taste in our mouths.
(3)
Allison N.
This review is long overdue...I no longer live in the area, but it's close to where I grew up. My fiance and I were in town for the holidays. We went to Amelia's with my brother and his fiance, for our New Years Eve dinner. It was a fixed menu of 5 courses, I believe, for a great price. We decided to add the wine pairings for an additional $20. Normally I don't care enough to pay extra for wine pairings, but it was NYE and let me say, it was WELL WORTH IT! The portions were impressive. With six courses, including desert, I couldn't believe how much food we were getting in each course for the price. With pre-fixed menus, I've had two experiences in the past: getting a really good deal but the food was meh or paying a hefty price for quality food but each course was 3 bites. This was pleasantly not what I'm used to. You could tell from the start, the chef was passionate about the quality of ingredients and knew what he was doing in the kitchen. At no point in the meal did I feel shortcuts were taken to justify the price. Each course was sooo yummy. I must admit, I've never had mussels and the thought of them grosses me out. I tried them to prove to myself I would try anything once. Nope. Not my thing...the rest of the table guests GLADLY finished them off while I dipped the toast in the delicious broth...worked for me! Long story short, I cannot go back regularly because I live in Los Angeles, but I plan to go back when in town visiting family. I STRONGLY recommend people from the area check it out. It's a hidden gem off the beaten path, that won't disappoint...
(5)
Nico s.
I finally got an opportunity to go to this awesome establishment. I went to this location outside of my normal eating route. I needed to go there because I promised the owners that I would come and try the cuisine. I had the chipotle chicken sandwich. Let me tell you the sandwich was awesome.. I enjoyed the layers of the sandwich and the flavor was very good. I did have my two friends who are food critics in their part time and the food to them was run of the mill. It was not spectacular but it was not bad but keep in mind the comparison of food was to gourmet food. The two of them ordered Mac and cheese and pork poboy. They were full but did mention the lack of complexity in flavor. I enjoyed my plate, customer service was awesome the waitress was beyond helpful and involved in the experience so I will be returning for the chipotle sandwich and great customer service.
(4)
Grace N.
Amelia's has a lot of potential because it offers good food that aims at the Chicago gastropub style, but it would benefit from a serious facelift because at this point, it looks and smells like a diner (i.e. musty), there's odd music playing randomly from a jukebox, and their wine (especially for the prices) really should be served in stemware. In short, the ambiance doesn't match the food or the higher prices But to be fair, my husand and I enjoyed our meals here.
(3)
Leilani L.
I love the concept here and the inventive dishes. The food preparation is uneven and the service is polite, but distant and slow. This restaurant needs Chef Robert! It's close but getting it wrong in some key areas. But I will keep coming back, hoping they keep improving!
(3)
Edwin W.
Wow! Finally, a great, comfortable place, with terrific service, and excellent food on Harrison St.!!! We have been waiting patiently for Amelia's to open, and have been rewarded for our patience with a wonderful wine and beer list, and a fresh, locavore approach to the menu. So far, we have tried the scallops with bacon risotto (O-M-G!), the fish and chips (light and clean-tasting, with outrageously good house-made smoked shrimp tartar sauce), the burger (perfection), the turkey wrap (yum!), the mac and cheese (our take-out full-order was a bit small, and lacking the crunchy topping, but serviceable, nonetheless), and the amazing local asparagus salad with Wisconsin bleu cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. We will definitely be regulars, and hope you will, too! We want Amelia's around for a long time.
(4)
Nicole R.
Great little place with amazing, local food. Stopped in for bunch and the food blew me away! We were brought a little treat of doughnut puffs with powdered sugar....split the last one with their homemade jam - WOW! I had the skillet #2, with local potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, roasted garlic, bleu cheese, and fried eggs, and my friend had omelette #2 with ham, peppers, onions, and american cheese, and both also had bloody marys. Everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The homemade jam, whipped butter, and homemade hot sauce were a great touch! I will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)
Nick C.
Amelia's is the newest restaurant to open in Forest Park and it brings something we've needed for a while: modern American cuisine. My better half and I had the pleasure of dining here this evening and aside from the typical hiccups new restaurants go through (new staff, getting used to the way things are run, etc) the food was delicious, the staff was sincerely friendly, and the portions were large as well as fairly priced (their drinks too!). We will definitely be going back. Best of luck to them.
(4)
Evan V.
Came out to Amelia's late on a Monday night, and we had a terrific dining experience. I had the stuffed eggplant, which was very tasty. I'm not a vegetarian, so I am often a skeptical of meatless fare, but the vegetables were perfectly cooked, the flavors were well-balanced, and it was well-matched to a very savory side of mashed sweet potatoes. Great wine list, too. I had a very refreshing Pouilly Fuisse, which was perfect on a warm summer night. My girlfriend had the wild mushroom wrap with a side of Illinois asparagus, crisp and drizzled with a flavorful sauce. Extra points for using locally-grown ingredients! You'll be pleasantly surprised by this quiet, unassuming cafe, which I believe is on its way to becoming one of Forest Park's "best kept secrets" in 2012. Good work! Evan
(4)
Dr. John Z.
The food is good so it sucks I have to write this review. This is based solely on their delivery customer service. Dude on phone: Hey it's Amelia's, guy. Me: Hey buddy. You sent the wrong order. Dude on phone: Ok friend. Do you want us to send the right order? Me: Oh no, not at all. You see, I figure you keep a log of these things. Maybe there's a wrong order census that you have to go through every year and I figured I'd help you out. I know how rough is it if the books get all messed up so I'm looking out for you... Yes! Of course, I want you to send the right food! Dude on phone: Hey relax, guy. Me: Don't call me guy, friend! Dude on phone: I'm not you friend, buddy! Me: I'm not you're buddy, guy! ...(20 minutes later - knock on door) Dude at door: Hey guy, did I give you the wrong order? Me: Yeah buddy. Dude at door: Well... do you want me to bring you the right order? Me: No. Actually, I was wondering if you could revive Scuzzlebutt and have him make me a nice wicker basket with his celery arm while I chat with his Patrick Duffy leg. Maybe pitch him an idea for a new - Yes, I want the right food! Dude at door: Hey guy, relax. Me: Don't tell me to relax, buddy! Dude at door: Don't call me buddy, friend! Me: Don't call me friend, guy! You get the point. Maybe attaching the receipt to the bag would prevent mistakes. But then again, maybe not. And by the way, in no way have I ever utilized hyberbole for the purpose of creative license. I don't even know what those words mean.
(2)
Franco B.
I had a craving for wings and I found the perfect cure: Amelia's. Although they have a lot more to offer in their, the wings that I ordered were spot on. Try the dry rubbed or buffalo wings you won't say no to another dozen wings. Awesome service as well.
(4)
Kimberly W.
My five stars may be premature and is based on delivery, but I'll definitely be visiting the restaurant and will update soon. Everything was excellent. Delicious, smoky mac and cheese, homemade pretzels with beer-cheese heaven, and this tomato-chipotle bisque that was darned addictive. I also give extra credit for the sweet and appreciative delivery guy. Fast service, open late on weekends... something we needed badly in Forest Park. Happy eaters here. Can't wait to visit. Update: OK, didn't wait to visit, went this morning for breakfast. Loved it! Can't wait to watch this place grow. Service was a bit... leisurely? And the server didn't have all the answers, but that's to be expected; they've only been open a couple of weeks. It also gave us time to smile at our fellow Forest Parkians which is what we want--a place to meet and hang out in the neighborhood. As for the food? Great prices, not-too-big portions (that's not a complaint, mind you. I'd rather have less and pay less). The mushroom-bacon-gouda skillet was YUM. So was the French toast. And they gave us a little basket of beignets... really! Here! In Illinois! Beignets! So cool. Note: As we walked through town, we stopped at a garage sale and chatted with the people about how THEY had been to Amelia's and loved it. Stopped at Ed's Way and chatted with the employees and other customers about how THEY had been there and loved it. We have very high hopes for this spot! I realize that five stars is generous; I'm not a huge five-star-giver. Thing is, this is EXACTLY what I wanted here.
(5)
Tay H.
Very pleased with this new place! I have been excited for Amelia's to open since reading about it in the paper and was not disappointed. The food and beverage selection was great...so many options, I have to return! And the service was amazing. I was surprised with how much I like it on their first day...I really expected more hiccups!
(5)
Carlos G.
We rolled in about 10:15 p.m. after some friends had performed at the Taste of Melrose Park. We were greeted by a very nice young lady, I asked her if they were still open and she said yes, proceeding to set up our 10 person table right away. Our party arrived and we were all very complimentary of the decor and vibe that the place has. One person did not that she was unsure if the place existed since there was nothing around there. Diamond in the rough. I had the fried goat cheese salad, it was ok, I didnt care too much for the goat cheese fritters, I think I will stay with fresh goat cheese. My kids split the 4 cheese macaroni and wow! I ended up eating it. it was late so dont judge me! :) My friend had the rum raisin bread pudding and he loved it. Other people in our party had the BLT (good), Ceasar wrap (delicious) and fish and chips. The bread that came with clam chowder was very good! I will return, I love these local joints
(5)
Jenna E.
I really want to LOVE this place, and my BF and I just had the best Salmon of our lives there this week, along with learning all about its environmentally friendly Icelandic roots. The owners are great. The food is spectacular and both thoughtfully sourced and exquisitely prepared. The service can be really hit or miss tho. The ambiance is odd: pretty good in bar (a little TV overload), terrible in the dining room, and prob best on the new patio (the whole place's decorating feels very "shanty Irish" tho, as mom would say. Aka: DIY). The nicely designed cocktail menu can be horribly prepared by your untrained server (I've officially had the worst Bloody Mary of my life there, among other horrors). Good wine list and great micro brews on tap. I'm still so hopeful they'll get their act together because there is so much going for it- and it's a few blocks away!
(3)
Michelle W.
I can't recommend Amelia's enough. A diverse menu of solid food, thoughtfully prepared. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will have plenty to choose from. It has a small, focused menu (as it should be for a place this size) but there are great choices and I've never been disappointed from breakfast to seafood to burgers to after work drinks. They have a small but good draft list, and they change it often. It is a gem in the neighborhood and I'm proud to call it my local.
(4)
John V.
Has potential, but failed to capitalize on it. The food is way to salty. I ordered the airline chicken breast with the mustard gravy over mashed potatoes. Salt,salt, salt. My wife ordered the shrimp special. Again, way too salty. We ordered an appetizer which was truffle fries. The appetizer was good but the fries were cold. The place was not even that busy. The man hosting and serving us was a nice simple fellow, but he asked for our order 3 times and brought the wrong drinks. I'm not beyond mistakes but, its a small place and has a very personable approach to its patrons. Mistakes way heavily with your patrons here. Customer service was good and presentation overall was clean, but my dining experience has been better elsewhere.
(2)
Kimberly C.
We went here with some friends who had all good things to say about this place...another gem in Forest Park that is tucked out of the way. For an appetizer, because we were all curious but no one wanted to indulge in an entire serving, we shared a mac-n-cheese with bacon. It was so decadent...totally worth a try! For dinner, I had the roasted chicken...it was so moist & delicious and such a huge portion! My husband had the pork shank, and he really enjoyed it, but it was a lot smaller than the chicken (lucky for him, I let him finish my chicken!) Our server was excellent, super personable & gave good menu suggestions. The only thing I didn't love is the cocktail (cherry something?)...it seemed watered down & didn't pack a lot of punch. But I'm anxious to go back for that chicken & some more Mac-n-cheese!
(4)
Christine D.
Food is always outstanding. We've eaten here 4-5 times in the last 6 months. We've had the chicken/dumplings, pork butt, burger, fish, salads, mac&cheese, sliders, you name it. Service is usually very pleasant, but just really slow. Takes forever to get drinks - even when sitting at a table in the bar, which we have done a few times. God forbid they bring the wrong drink - you might as well just give up and take it. Timing of soup/salad is too close to entree. Everyone is very very nice - its just annoying to have to wait longer than you should for each part of the dinner including bringing of the check. We will still go there but if they could even this out, this place would be a home run.
(3)
Denail T.
I was very exited to try Amelia's since I read about them taking over the old Harrison Street Cafe space. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I entered the dark but welcoming restaurant. My waiter wasn't knowledgeable about the days specials and my request for a well done hamburger resulted in a burger than was bloody when I cut into it. There was one bright spot in the visit, my friends Illinois heirloom tomato salad with homemade mozzarella looked good enough to eat!
(2)
Julie C.
Most of the food was fine, but the service was RIDICULOUSLY slow. The server brought our drinks and then didn't return for almost 10 minutes to take our order. Then the food took a very long time to arrive (and after all that, my husband's "medium" burger was practically raw--but he didn't want to send it back for fear of how long it would take). Unfortunately, we had promised the kids earlier that they could order dessert, so they did, and that took 15 minutes to arrive. There were two servers working and only four tables occupied, so there's just no excuse for this. Overall, we were there for more than two hours because the service was so slow. Also, the back area by the bathroom doors is DISGUSTING. It smells like sewage and there are flies everywhere. I was hoping to find a neighborhood gem here, but we won't be going back.
(2)
joel l.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and had a burger while the GF had a salad. Food was good but they only had one server and the manager left her hanging when the place filled up for the lunch rush. People started walking out because it was taking so long to order. I can't blame the server as she was working as fast as she could and was apologetic while the manager was off talking to friends at another table. Hopefully he learns a little bit about how to run a restaurant.
(3)
Heather E.
This review is mostly about the delivery service. The food, unfortunately, is amazing. I say unfortunately, because after the most recent incident, we will not be ordering from here anymore. My husband always orders a burger. Always medium rare. It was always delivered in a decent amount of time (usually within an hour, once or twice maybe a little longer). Last week, it came cooked well done. We called and let them know, since they had never messed it up before, thinking maybe there was a new cook or something. Manager Greg said that next time it would be on the house. Great! So next time we ordered (last night), we got basically the same order again, and figured just the burger would be on the house. No, Greg said the whole order was. Wow how nice of them right? So... why only 2 stars? Our food took almost 2 hours to arrive, that's why. Ice cold. At the 1 hour and 15 minute mark, I called and asked if they knew when it might arrive, and was told it should "be there any minute, the driver is out with it right now". After 1 hour and 35 minutes, my husband called again, and was told they would contact the driver and call us back. Never got a phone call. We ordered at 6:09pm. Food arrived at 7:54pm. Delivery time of 1 hour and 41 minutes is completely unacceptable. If you are going to offer delivery, do it right. We won't be ordering from here anymore.
(2)
Matt B.
I'm lucky enough to live around the corner from here. All I need to say about their food is this: Following a trainwreck of a camping trip I took two weeks ago, the first thing I did when I got back home was put on dry shoes for the first time in 48 hours, and the second thing I did was order garlic fries and chicken wings from Amelia's. I've can honesty say I've never had a bad meal here, and their drinks are great too- the shandy in particular is terrific. They also recently opened a nice outdoor area for the season. Another big plus for me they are big, big, big into supporting local business, getting everything they can from local merchants.
(5)
Kate N.
Just had a lovely lunch at Amelia's. The place was very quiet, which is a shame--peeps need to get over there! Decor is okay, but service was great! Waitress was on time with everything without being pushy. The menu is interesting and diverse. I had an heirloom tomato salad with basil, feta and oil as an appetizer...delish. And my entree was the special: buttermilk crusted fried quail with a salad of greens, carmalized red onions and candies walnuts. Perfect! Dessert was the pie of the day--a square ramekin of strawberries and peaches with a dollop of whipped cream. I want to bathe in it. Lovely wine, beer and liquor selections and efforts to prepare locavore food topped off the experience. The only drawback for me is the limited vegetarian options, as my DH is a vegetarian. One or two visits will exhaust the possibilities for him. I am hoping they will add a veggie special of the day to accommodate couples like us--one a dedicated carnivore, one definitely not. With the wide array of veggies already available on the menu, I hope they will see how easy it would be to offer a daily veggie special as well (e.g., asparagus with pasta; puff pastry tart with veggies and feta...) I will be back for lunch and will also encourage DH to come for dinner. Let's hope he has enough options to want to go back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jennifer W.
I just visited Amelias with a friend and it was late so we just had a few drinks and some app's. The waitress was super cool and friendly and we ordered Jack whiskey, she said they do small batch liquors (bonus) it was super tasty. the truffle fries blew my head off they were sooooo good. The flatbread served before the meal tasted like dirt and was super dry and pasty (rosemary) and the salad again had rosemary all over it yucko-again the dirt taste with no offer to take it off the check (hmmmm?????) You kind of have to be ignorant not to offer to take it off the check if it is not even eaten. The strawberry rhubard pie was super yummy with only a small hint of rhubarb but still good. I would def go back if only for those great fries!
(4)Jet H.
Just found this little gem and stepped in for late dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and excellence of the food. Enjoyed a very fresh spinach salad and a delicious (and thick) burger and a bottle of cider. My girl had the mac n cheese and enjoyed it as well. Leave room for dessert - they're great! Also rolled in for late breakfast one Sunday afternoon and gobbled down the french toast, remarkable bacon and great cup of coffee. A local joint that sources it's ingredients locally. Yes, yes and yes again. I'll be coming back to this place regularly. I hear they have a decent wing night.
(4)Mojo P.
Don't. I ordered two burgers from Grub Hub and it was a bust. They were late, the burgers came without condiments, and the "roasted mushroom" topping is not roasted by any conventional method I am aware of. Unless you include a nuker. No pickle, no lettuce, no tomato, no mayo, and not even an insulting packet of ketchup. You get a burger that has been in the freezer so long that it's not even aware that Obama is the President. Also, everything was burned. Not "charred". Frickin' burned. Ugh. So let's recap: $32 plus a six dollar tip for the driver, for exactly two burgers with bacon, cheese, shrooms and onions = should have gone to Burger King. Please, Amelia's, remove this item from your menu if you hate it so much.
(1)Mindy B.
So, got this delivered and I gotta say, the quality of the food was not there because of it. I could tell that our food sat for too long waiting to come to us, and this was sad. My Mac n cheese & lentil soup survived and were awesome, but our French fries, tarts, and my friend's catfish had that "I've been sweating my crispy wonderfulness off while waiting for the delivery driver," appearance and taste. I will try to get into the restaurant sometime because I tasted potential greatness; just disappointed when a place can't bring it to me.
(3)Nick C.
Amelia's is the newest restaurant to open in Forest Park and it brings something we've needed for a while: modern American cuisine. My better half and I had the pleasure of dining here this evening and aside from the typical hiccups new restaurants go through (new staff, getting used to the way things are run, etc) the food was delicious, the staff was sincerely friendly, and the portions were large as well as fairly priced (their drinks too!). We will definitely be going back. Best of luck to them.
(4)Ben M.
At least the food was good. I can't say the same for the service. We went to Amelia's for bunch today with high expectations, but left disappointed. The bunch menu was pretty extensive. I had the French toast and was pleasantly surprised, though it is hard to mess up deep fried brioche. My dining companions each had one of the two omelettes on the menu, one regular and one egg white. Both were happy with their choices. But that service..... When we arrived there was only one or two tables with other patrons. We were shown to our seats, and our drink orders taken. After a long, but appropriate, wait we received or drinks and or brunch orders were taken. Then we waited and waited and waited. Not only did we not receive our food, but our drinks ran dry. Finally our food arrived. Exited to start digging in we examined our food. Sadly what we saw in front of us was not what we ordered. After some time of trying to flag down our waiter, we altered him to the error. He was happy to fix the problem, so he told the food back. Now we are foodless and drinkless, with fine, unimpeded view of the Ike. One of my dining companions finally had enough and sought out a waiter to refill her drink, however, when the waiter came he didnt seem to either notice or care that everyone else at the table had empty drinks. The corrected food arrived, with much more hast than the first round. I would like to reiterate that the food was tasty, but the service was pretty unbearable. It definitely left a sour taste in our mouths.
(3)Allison N.
This review is long overdue...I no longer live in the area, but it's close to where I grew up. My fiance and I were in town for the holidays. We went to Amelia's with my brother and his fiance, for our New Years Eve dinner. It was a fixed menu of 5 courses, I believe, for a great price. We decided to add the wine pairings for an additional $20. Normally I don't care enough to pay extra for wine pairings, but it was NYE and let me say, it was WELL WORTH IT! The portions were impressive. With six courses, including desert, I couldn't believe how much food we were getting in each course for the price. With pre-fixed menus, I've had two experiences in the past: getting a really good deal but the food was meh or paying a hefty price for quality food but each course was 3 bites. This was pleasantly not what I'm used to. You could tell from the start, the chef was passionate about the quality of ingredients and knew what he was doing in the kitchen. At no point in the meal did I feel shortcuts were taken to justify the price. Each course was sooo yummy. I must admit, I've never had mussels and the thought of them grosses me out. I tried them to prove to myself I would try anything once. Nope. Not my thing...the rest of the table guests GLADLY finished them off while I dipped the toast in the delicious broth...worked for me! Long story short, I cannot go back regularly because I live in Los Angeles, but I plan to go back when in town visiting family. I STRONGLY recommend people from the area check it out. It's a hidden gem off the beaten path, that won't disappoint...
(5)Nico s.
I finally got an opportunity to go to this awesome establishment. I went to this location outside of my normal eating route. I needed to go there because I promised the owners that I would come and try the cuisine. I had the chipotle chicken sandwich. Let me tell you the sandwich was awesome.. I enjoyed the layers of the sandwich and the flavor was very good. I did have my two friends who are food critics in their part time and the food to them was run of the mill. It was not spectacular but it was not bad but keep in mind the comparison of food was to gourmet food. The two of them ordered Mac and cheese and pork poboy. They were full but did mention the lack of complexity in flavor. I enjoyed my plate, customer service was awesome the waitress was beyond helpful and involved in the experience so I will be returning for the chipotle sandwich and great customer service.
(4)Grace N.
Amelia's has a lot of potential because it offers good food that aims at the Chicago gastropub style, but it would benefit from a serious facelift because at this point, it looks and smells like a diner (i.e. musty), there's odd music playing randomly from a jukebox, and their wine (especially for the prices) really should be served in stemware. In short, the ambiance doesn't match the food or the higher prices But to be fair, my husand and I enjoyed our meals here.
(3)Leilani L.
I love the concept here and the inventive dishes. The food preparation is uneven and the service is polite, but distant and slow. This restaurant needs Chef Robert! It's close but getting it wrong in some key areas. But I will keep coming back, hoping they keep improving!
(3)Edwin W.
Wow! Finally, a great, comfortable place, with terrific service, and excellent food on Harrison St.!!! We have been waiting patiently for Amelia's to open, and have been rewarded for our patience with a wonderful wine and beer list, and a fresh, locavore approach to the menu. So far, we have tried the scallops with bacon risotto (O-M-G!), the fish and chips (light and clean-tasting, with outrageously good house-made smoked shrimp tartar sauce), the burger (perfection), the turkey wrap (yum!), the mac and cheese (our take-out full-order was a bit small, and lacking the crunchy topping, but serviceable, nonetheless), and the amazing local asparagus salad with Wisconsin bleu cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. We will definitely be regulars, and hope you will, too! We want Amelia's around for a long time.
(4)Nicole R.
Great little place with amazing, local food. Stopped in for bunch and the food blew me away! We were brought a little treat of doughnut puffs with powdered sugar....split the last one with their homemade jam - WOW! I had the skillet #2, with local potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, roasted garlic, bleu cheese, and fried eggs, and my friend had omelette #2 with ham, peppers, onions, and american cheese, and both also had bloody marys. Everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The homemade jam, whipped butter, and homemade hot sauce were a great touch! I will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)Dr. John Z.
The food is good so it sucks I have to write this review. This is based solely on their delivery customer service. Dude on phone: Hey it's Amelia's, guy. Me: Hey buddy. You sent the wrong order. Dude on phone: Ok friend. Do you want us to send the right order? Me: Oh no, not at all. You see, I figure you keep a log of these things. Maybe there's a wrong order census that you have to go through every year and I figured I'd help you out. I know how rough is it if the books get all messed up so I'm looking out for you... Yes! Of course, I want you to send the right food! Dude on phone: Hey relax, guy. Me: Don't call me guy, friend! Dude on phone: I'm not you friend, buddy! Me: I'm not you're buddy, guy! ...(20 minutes later - knock on door) Dude at door: Hey guy, did I give you the wrong order? Me: Yeah buddy. Dude at door: Well... do you want me to bring you the right order? Me: No. Actually, I was wondering if you could revive Scuzzlebutt and have him make me a nice wicker basket with his celery arm while I chat with his Patrick Duffy leg. Maybe pitch him an idea for a new - Yes, I want the right food! Dude at door: Hey guy, relax. Me: Don't tell me to relax, buddy! Dude at door: Don't call me buddy, friend! Me: Don't call me friend, guy! You get the point. Maybe attaching the receipt to the bag would prevent mistakes. But then again, maybe not. And by the way, in no way have I ever utilized hyberbole for the purpose of creative license. I don't even know what those words mean.
(2)Evan V.
Came out to Amelia's late on a Monday night, and we had a terrific dining experience. I had the stuffed eggplant, which was very tasty. I'm not a vegetarian, so I am often a skeptical of meatless fare, but the vegetables were perfectly cooked, the flavors were well-balanced, and it was well-matched to a very savory side of mashed sweet potatoes. Great wine list, too. I had a very refreshing Pouilly Fuisse, which was perfect on a warm summer night. My girlfriend had the wild mushroom wrap with a side of Illinois asparagus, crisp and drizzled with a flavorful sauce. Extra points for using locally-grown ingredients! You'll be pleasantly surprised by this quiet, unassuming cafe, which I believe is on its way to becoming one of Forest Park's "best kept secrets" in 2012. Good work! Evan
(4)Franco B.
I had a craving for wings and I found the perfect cure: Amelia's. Although they have a lot more to offer in their, the wings that I ordered were spot on. Try the dry rubbed or buffalo wings you won't say no to another dozen wings. Awesome service as well.
(4)Frank W.
Really good spot for well done pub-style dining. Very solid beer selection (bottles), and a few interesting rotating taps. We had the hot pretzels (really really tasty, cooked perfectly and the tastier "stick" variety not the classic shape), the Mac & cheese with mushroom and bacon (perfect size, and awesome flavor, not nauseatingly rich like some restaurants make it), and the scallops with risotto (awesome). Reasonably priced for fancy bar fare, and like the emphasis on fresh and local this place has. Cozy atmosphere, a neighborhood gem!
(4)Kimberly W.
My five stars may be premature and is based on delivery, but I'll definitely be visiting the restaurant and will update soon. Everything was excellent. Delicious, smoky mac and cheese, homemade pretzels with beer-cheese heaven, and this tomato-chipotle bisque that was darned addictive. I also give extra credit for the sweet and appreciative delivery guy. Fast service, open late on weekends... something we needed badly in Forest Park. Happy eaters here. Can't wait to visit. Update: OK, didn't wait to visit, went this morning for breakfast. Loved it! Can't wait to watch this place grow. Service was a bit... leisurely? And the server didn't have all the answers, but that's to be expected; they've only been open a couple of weeks. It also gave us time to smile at our fellow Forest Parkians which is what we want--a place to meet and hang out in the neighborhood. As for the food? Great prices, not-too-big portions (that's not a complaint, mind you. I'd rather have less and pay less). The mushroom-bacon-gouda skillet was YUM. So was the French toast. And they gave us a little basket of beignets... really! Here! In Illinois! Beignets! So cool. Note: As we walked through town, we stopped at a garage sale and chatted with the people about how THEY had been to Amelia's and loved it. Stopped at Ed's Way and chatted with the employees and other customers about how THEY had been there and loved it. We have very high hopes for this spot! I realize that five stars is generous; I'm not a huge five-star-giver. Thing is, this is EXACTLY what I wanted here.
(5)Tay H.
Very pleased with this new place! I have been excited for Amelia's to open since reading about it in the paper and was not disappointed. The food and beverage selection was great...so many options, I have to return! And the service was amazing. I was surprised with how much I like it on their first day...I really expected more hiccups!
(5)Carlos G.
We rolled in about 10:15 p.m. after some friends had performed at the Taste of Melrose Park. We were greeted by a very nice young lady, I asked her if they were still open and she said yes, proceeding to set up our 10 person table right away. Our party arrived and we were all very complimentary of the decor and vibe that the place has. One person did not that she was unsure if the place existed since there was nothing around there. Diamond in the rough. I had the fried goat cheese salad, it was ok, I didnt care too much for the goat cheese fritters, I think I will stay with fresh goat cheese. My kids split the 4 cheese macaroni and wow! I ended up eating it. it was late so dont judge me! :) My friend had the rum raisin bread pudding and he loved it. Other people in our party had the BLT (good), Ceasar wrap (delicious) and fish and chips. The bread that came with clam chowder was very good! I will return, I love these local joints
(5)Jenna E.
I really want to LOVE this place, and my BF and I just had the best Salmon of our lives there this week, along with learning all about its environmentally friendly Icelandic roots. The owners are great. The food is spectacular and both thoughtfully sourced and exquisitely prepared. The service can be really hit or miss tho. The ambiance is odd: pretty good in bar (a little TV overload), terrible in the dining room, and prob best on the new patio (the whole place's decorating feels very "shanty Irish" tho, as mom would say. Aka: DIY). The nicely designed cocktail menu can be horribly prepared by your untrained server (I've officially had the worst Bloody Mary of my life there, among other horrors). Good wine list and great micro brews on tap. I'm still so hopeful they'll get their act together because there is so much going for it- and it's a few blocks away!
(3)John V.
Has potential, but failed to capitalize on it. The food is way to salty. I ordered the airline chicken breast with the mustard gravy over mashed potatoes. Salt,salt, salt. My wife ordered the shrimp special. Again, way too salty. We ordered an appetizer which was truffle fries. The appetizer was good but the fries were cold. The place was not even that busy. The man hosting and serving us was a nice simple fellow, but he asked for our order 3 times and brought the wrong drinks. I'm not beyond mistakes but, its a small place and has a very personable approach to its patrons. Mistakes way heavily with your patrons here. Customer service was good and presentation overall was clean, but my dining experience has been better elsewhere.
(2)Michelle W.
I can't recommend Amelia's enough. A diverse menu of solid food, thoughtfully prepared. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will have plenty to choose from. It has a small, focused menu (as it should be for a place this size) but there are great choices and I've never been disappointed from breakfast to seafood to burgers to after work drinks. They have a small but good draft list, and they change it often. It is a gem in the neighborhood and I'm proud to call it my local.
(4)Kimberly C.
We went here with some friends who had all good things to say about this place...another gem in Forest Park that is tucked out of the way. For an appetizer, because we were all curious but no one wanted to indulge in an entire serving, we shared a mac-n-cheese with bacon. It was so decadent...totally worth a try! For dinner, I had the roasted chicken...it was so moist & delicious and such a huge portion! My husband had the pork shank, and he really enjoyed it, but it was a lot smaller than the chicken (lucky for him, I let him finish my chicken!) Our server was excellent, super personable & gave good menu suggestions. The only thing I didn't love is the cocktail (cherry something?)...it seemed watered down & didn't pack a lot of punch. But I'm anxious to go back for that chicken & some more Mac-n-cheese!
(4)Christine D.
Food is always outstanding. We've eaten here 4-5 times in the last 6 months. We've had the chicken/dumplings, pork butt, burger, fish, salads, mac&cheese, sliders, you name it. Service is usually very pleasant, but just really slow. Takes forever to get drinks - even when sitting at a table in the bar, which we have done a few times. God forbid they bring the wrong drink - you might as well just give up and take it. Timing of soup/salad is too close to entree. Everyone is very very nice - its just annoying to have to wait longer than you should for each part of the dinner including bringing of the check. We will still go there but if they could even this out, this place would be a home run.
(3)Denail T.
I was very exited to try Amelia's since I read about them taking over the old Harrison Street Cafe space. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I entered the dark but welcoming restaurant. My waiter wasn't knowledgeable about the days specials and my request for a well done hamburger resulted in a burger than was bloody when I cut into it. There was one bright spot in the visit, my friends Illinois heirloom tomato salad with homemade mozzarella looked good enough to eat!
(2)Julie C.
Most of the food was fine, but the service was RIDICULOUSLY slow. The server brought our drinks and then didn't return for almost 10 minutes to take our order. Then the food took a very long time to arrive (and after all that, my husband's "medium" burger was practically raw--but he didn't want to send it back for fear of how long it would take). Unfortunately, we had promised the kids earlier that they could order dessert, so they did, and that took 15 minutes to arrive. There were two servers working and only four tables occupied, so there's just no excuse for this. Overall, we were there for more than two hours because the service was so slow. Also, the back area by the bathroom doors is DISGUSTING. It smells like sewage and there are flies everywhere. I was hoping to find a neighborhood gem here, but we won't be going back.
(2)joel l.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and had a burger while the GF had a salad. Food was good but they only had one server and the manager left her hanging when the place filled up for the lunch rush. People started walking out because it was taking so long to order. I can't blame the server as she was working as fast as she could and was apologetic while the manager was off talking to friends at another table. Hopefully he learns a little bit about how to run a restaurant.
(3)Heather E.
This review is mostly about the delivery service. The food, unfortunately, is amazing. I say unfortunately, because after the most recent incident, we will not be ordering from here anymore. My husband always orders a burger. Always medium rare. It was always delivered in a decent amount of time (usually within an hour, once or twice maybe a little longer). Last week, it came cooked well done. We called and let them know, since they had never messed it up before, thinking maybe there was a new cook or something. Manager Greg said that next time it would be on the house. Great! So next time we ordered (last night), we got basically the same order again, and figured just the burger would be on the house. No, Greg said the whole order was. Wow how nice of them right? So... why only 2 stars? Our food took almost 2 hours to arrive, that's why. Ice cold. At the 1 hour and 15 minute mark, I called and asked if they knew when it might arrive, and was told it should "be there any minute, the driver is out with it right now". After 1 hour and 35 minutes, my husband called again, and was told they would contact the driver and call us back. Never got a phone call. We ordered at 6:09pm. Food arrived at 7:54pm. Delivery time of 1 hour and 41 minutes is completely unacceptable. If you are going to offer delivery, do it right. We won't be ordering from here anymore.
(2)Matt B.
I'm lucky enough to live around the corner from here. All I need to say about their food is this: Following a trainwreck of a camping trip I took two weeks ago, the first thing I did when I got back home was put on dry shoes for the first time in 48 hours, and the second thing I did was order garlic fries and chicken wings from Amelia's. I've can honesty say I've never had a bad meal here, and their drinks are great too- the shandy in particular is terrific. They also recently opened a nice outdoor area for the season. Another big plus for me they are big, big, big into supporting local business, getting everything they can from local merchants.
(5)Kate N.
Just had a lovely lunch at Amelia's. The place was very quiet, which is a shame--peeps need to get over there! Decor is okay, but service was great! Waitress was on time with everything without being pushy. The menu is interesting and diverse. I had an heirloom tomato salad with basil, feta and oil as an appetizer...delish. And my entree was the special: buttermilk crusted fried quail with a salad of greens, carmalized red onions and candies walnuts. Perfect! Dessert was the pie of the day--a square ramekin of strawberries and peaches with a dollop of whipped cream. I want to bathe in it. Lovely wine, beer and liquor selections and efforts to prepare locavore food topped off the experience. The only drawback for me is the limited vegetarian options, as my DH is a vegetarian. One or two visits will exhaust the possibilities for him. I am hoping they will add a veggie special of the day to accommodate couples like us--one a dedicated carnivore, one definitely not. With the wide array of veggies already available on the menu, I hope they will see how easy it would be to offer a daily veggie special as well (e.g., asparagus with pasta; puff pastry tart with veggies and feta...) I will be back for lunch and will also encourage DH to come for dinner. Let's hope he has enough options to want to go back!
(4)Bubbly K.
I have dined at Amelia's 4 times thus far, several of them with my husband. The great thing about this place is the quality of the ingredients, the fair prices for what you receive, the friendly front of the house crew and overall the dishes are quite well done. It kind of feels like you are at your uncles house and he is a really good cook but you have to wait for the good food to be cooked to order.. dum de dum. The heirloom tomato salad is fab, the night we had it they had no bread (No Bread?) to sop up all the tasty juice. Too Bad, some crusty bread would have put that over the top. My husband enjoyed a perfectly cooked scallop dish, I had a stellar blackened fish special, both were excellent. The mac n cheese sounded great, once I got about halfway thru the bowl it was great but the top part was dry and not coated with the sauce so it was pretty ho hum - I think chef should mix it or finish it with a top of cheese and pop under the broiler to put it over the top. Another time, we shared the much anticipated burger.. it was great tasting meat however just "ok" as the burger was overcooked- asked for med-rare and it was med well (no pink in sight) and kind of dry being overcooked. The bun was not toasted, I think that would make it a little better, along with some condiments like grey poupon mustard and some mayo. We will try it again next time. I had the chicken sandwich and that as well seems like it is so close to being great. Just needs to be a little less dry (had to toss all the extra bun that was on the sides...) They have a nice little wine list and seem to promote the beers. Some negatives that I hope get attention soon after this opening learning curve. The bar is definitely "cheers like" with the TV's as the focal point. The dining room needs to be the in-between for families and date night, girls dining out etc. Currently each time we have been there, the dining room is too bright, with zero ambiance for dinner. Maybe make the lights a little dimmer, some candles or those new non candle flickering lights would be nice. I know you want to be kid friendly which is cool but we have kids and don't want to feel like we are at McDonalds or Panera for dinner. Maybe put some soft music on.. Some fabric or pictures on the wall.. fun tablecloths or place-mats, wash the front windows often. Make the outside appealing and maybe lose some of the beer signs, it seems a bit confusing for the calibar of what you are cooking up. Although the staff is super nice, it sure would be nice if the chef came out once and a while to say hi - check out what is going on with the dinners, even when it is very slow this has not occurred when we have been there. You don't have to go all New Robozo :) (although we love that place too) but show a little hospitality. One night when I dined alone in the near empty dining room, the female owner walked passed me about 4 times, and never looked at me or said hello. Then when I left no one said goodbye or thank you. The owner turned her back behind the bar on me. Please show that you appreciate our business.That would go a long way for long time loyalty. we will be your biggest cheerleaders if you give back a little love. Anyway, enough for now, I don't mean to be harsh, we will be back. Good Luck and folks reading this, do check them out. We hope they will be around for a long time and are busy and successful! Cheers~
(4)Russ D.
I've eaten here twice now for breakfast and enjoyed it both times. Creative dishes with lots of flavor.
(4)Andy B.
Great food. Great Beer selection. Highly recommend. Their jambalaya is off the charts too. Glad I found this gem!!!
(5)James T.
For a neighborhood spot, this place is amazing! The food is amazing. Fresh, rich, and cooked with some soul. Then add to that incredibly reasonable prices even on cocktails! A small batch bourbon manhattan for $5!!! Considering the area this place beats out Lake Street Bar and Grill, Bar Louie, and Piggy Back by far.
(5)Dawn B.
I liked Thu place. food was good and my girlfriends an I had fun hanging out and chatting. improvements could be made in service...the waitress seemed disinterested and hesitant. should have told us if we replaced pita chips with fries it was extra. the fries were delicious though. the drinks were weak except for the long island ice tea that was a wow!!! I would go again and recommend it, but I hope the staff will be happier to see customers next time.
(3)Jesse P.
Oh yeah! We dined here late last night and thank goodness for an awesome later night eatery in the Forest Park area. Everything is homemade and very American! We jammed on the amish chicken wings, mac and cheese, new england clam chowder (the chef/owner is from boston) a salami sandwich, garlic french fries and butterscotch pudding. The cocktails were super tasty and hit the spot. A very laid back, good old fashion home cooking and affordable enough to splurge on several plates and drinks. We didn't try any entree's this time but we will be back. Good job guys!
(5)Karen B.
Love this place! Food is excellent and prices are reasonable. I like to cook at home, so when I go out to spend money for a meal, it had better be worth it...this place definitely is!
(5)Carri H.
I like it. It seems like a very homegrown operation, and unique from other Forest Park bar eateries. You can tell they care about their food a lot. They locally source as much of it as they can, from produce to meats to bread products. I had a salad that was clearly fresh-picked and full of summer veggies. I love the small-but-good draft beer selection. Had a half order of mac for an app and the sauce was a lovely melding of 4 quality cheeses. My girl had the chipotle chicken sandwich which was rather bland. The sauce looked like it contained chipotle but didnt taste like it. Because they use fresh amish chicken (the whole chicken), it had dark meat on it which she does not prefer. Took home a dessert order of berry pie, which was pretty effing delicious the next night. Ambiance could use some help, but this place has pretty decent dinner prices. Cute little neighborhood place, i hope it sticks.
(4)Brian L.
Wow. Shockingly good food. I had low expectations for this place, that may have had something to do with my response for the food. I had the pork belly over red beans and andouille sausage. Excellent. My wife got the bean causollet. Also, quite good. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food that my kids received off of the kids menu. You can often tell the quality of the restaurant by what they give the kids. The mac and cheese and chicken wings they got were very tasty. It seems like the reviews for this place are all over the place. Our server was excellent; very attentive and helpful. Definitely will be back.
(5)Mary R.
Updated: we went back last night. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked, and my husband had this chicken-fried steak special (which has has asked me to beg, here, to have added to the menu). Delicious food, friendly service, good beers. Service was casual and certainly not super-speedy, but everything was obviously freshly made just for us, and our server (in the bar area) was timely and attentive. We had a lovely time. Keep up the great work, Amelia's. I'm so so so happy to have you in the neighborhood. :)
(5)TS S.
I read the reviews before going here last night, and it was what I expected from the reviews. Sure enough, service was slow but friendly. We also had to ask to get refills and dessert. We got here at 7:45 to eat dinner before a 9:30 movie in the neighborhood. We didn't get served dinner until 8:53, so we missed the movie. The food was good, but not as good as I had hoped. I had the fish & chips. I did like the place though, and I will go back again. Just not with any expectation of how long it will take.
(3)c d.
We enjoyed our visit and hope for many more. Awesome to have a family friendly causal spot in walking distance. Things were running smoothly for only being open for a week. Service was friendly and helpful. The chicken chipotle sandwich was great, chicken good perfectly (moist and tender). Hand cuts fires were sooo good! Kids loved the kids options, though the chipotle tomato bisque, while delicious is probably not the best option for the kids soup. For a pricier option the duck was fantastic (though I would have like a bit more spice). So many other options we wanted to try, we will be back for sure!
(4)Bobby D.
Another great new eatery around. The New England Clam Chowder was great. The Seafood Jambalaya was another great entree. I must try some of the other items next time. This place is WELL WORTH IT!!!!.
(5)Reda M.
I took a friend to lunch there on Wednesday. We were greeted and served by a very attentive sever named Amy.My friend had the clam chowder soup which he said was fantastic we both had the chicken bacon ranch wrap which was delicious. I also had the garlic fries which were great also. everything was great. Great food great drinks and great service. moderately priced 5 *****'s.
(5)Scott T.
I just had Dinner here on a Wed night. This is based On my first time here. We had the hot wings which were pretty good And the Ranch served seemed fresh and tasty. I also had the Hanger steak. It was OK. It was served A little cool to my liking. It was tender but it needed a little More flavor and wine Sauce. The Mash Potatoes were Good as well as the carrots. The dinner salad was served at room Temp and needed to be colder. The decor is casual. It was ok. I really didn't feel comfortable for some reason. There was also a bit of a musty smell to the place. I am a pretty laid back Person so it doesn't bother me a bunch. What did Bother me however is the fruit flies swirling over Our table. I had to keeping shooing them away. I will be back to try more items and give them another chance The food was Good but not great and they need to warm the place Up a bit regarding ambiance.
(2)Lolo H.
Amelia's has good food, good drinks and good service!
(5)Monica M.
We recently had dinner at Amelias at it was fantastic! The service was amazing, friendly and accomodating. The food was delicous and unique. My husband and I had sandwiches that were filling, tasty and delicious. I can not wait until next time when I get the diver scallops. Our server told us the chef specializes in seafood, so we are very excited. Highly recommend!!
(5)W S.
Some of the food was good, some of it suffered from poor execution. The menu calls out the farm where they got the wings, but the wings themselves are no larger or different than any other wing joint. My burger was well cooked and good, but the garlic fries I ordered had a large glob of garlic dumped on them like a scoop of ice cream, which is strange (you can see it in the photos on yelp, I would have thought they'd toss the fries?). Decent beer list, but were out of the first two I ordered. The desserts were good. The prices were very good. I would try this place again, I think it has good potential and hopefully is just getting its feet wet.
(3)Maris W.
What a disappointment! I want the old place back!!! Why ruin a good thing? The staff was nice but the service stinks. We went Sunday morning at 10:30 & were seated right away, the place only had 3 other full tables. It took them 10 min to ask us if we wanted something to drink. We ordered from the limited menu expecting awesome food. Womp womp womp... Asked for no tomatoes. Got tomatoes. Asked for over medium eggs. Got them hard. Reordered them over easy got them medium. There was absolutely no ham in the ham skillet. The skillet is served in a soufflé ramekin. The pancakes were slightly bigger than silver dollar and thin like crepes. The toast was thin like it came from an economy bread loaf. The idea that they source locally and make a lot of their own items was interesting but overall it was not executed well. The flavor was just ok at best. I will not waste my time or money coming here again.
(1)Laurie L.
My boyfriend and I were so glad the restaurant opened and we stopped in to try it yesterday. The food was very good- Diver Scallops cooked absolutely perfectly - Chef Ramsey would have approved. Mac and Cheese super tasty too. Most intriguing to me is the small dessert menu-pie and bread pudding of the day! We tried the strawberry rhubarb - great pie crust served in a cute rectangular ramekin. Simple DIY decor still being tweaked. I'm sure all will deserve a 5 star on our next visit.
(4)Brad Z.
Updated to reply to Sarah from Amelia's: While I appreciate your attempts to source locally, I stand by my comment that you need to do more research. As I mentioned in my initial review, I grew up working on a farm in Northwest Indiana and have pretty decent knowledge of growing seasons. I am also somebody who for years has frequented at least 2 or 3 farmers markets every weekend (Forest Park included) and I'm pretty familiar with the products offered throughout the growing season and with most of the vendors who sell at our area farmers' markets. As such, I was surprised and happy to read in your reply that you purchase produce from Nichols Farm at the Forest Park Farmers Market. But, because I too frequent the Forest Park market, I didn't recall ever seeing Nichols Farm out there. I am well aware however that they sell at the Oak Park and other nearby markets. I did not have the opportunity to go to the Forest Park market this past Friday, but my wife did, so I asked her if Nichols Farm was there. She didn't think so. So, we called Nichols' Farm just to see if perhaps there had been a change and they were now selling at Forest Park. Unfortunately, they are not. Being big fans of Asparagus, we also inquired as to whether they were still selling it. Not only are they not selling in Forest Park, but they also told us that Asparagus season is long over. I don't know who informed you that Nichols is at Forest Park, but they are not, and you apparently are mistaking some other vendor for Nichols. Whoever at Forest Park has asparagus is also getting it from somewhere else because, drought or no drought, that growing season is long past. I was also excited to learn via your reply that Ed's Way is now sourcing grass-fed/finished beef. I had inquired with them about that almost 6 months ago and was told they didn't carry it. So, when I read your reply to my wife she excitedly called the meat market at Ed's Way wanting to learn more. Unfortunately, they don't carry grass-fed/finished beef. The gentleman she spoke to in the meat department understood exactly what she was looking for when she asked for grass-fed/finished beef and he said, "no, I'm pretty sure all the beef we get has been fed corn." She asked whether grass-fed/finished could be special ordered. He went on to clarify that all of their beef comes from one distributor, and that distributor doesn't offer grass-fed/finished beef. Yes, you can argue that all beef cattle start out eating grass, but for the majority of them that is only for the few short early months of their life. They are definitely not finished on grass but rather stuck in feed lots and fed corn and silage. This has been so widely publicized by Michael Pollan and documentaries like Food, Inc. that the terms 'grass -fed' and 'grass-finished' are accepted in the food industry as meaning cows that were not raised on corn and silage. It seems to me that somebody has been misleading you. If you had really read my initial review, you would have realized that in general I gave you a positive review. I was disappointed that your restaurant didn't take the 'local/organic' theme far enough, but I know that is not important criteria for most diners and is difficult to accomplish when you're trying to maintain a certain price-point. I can tell from your reply that you take the theme seriously. To accuse me of being irresponsible is simply ironic given that there is still obviously a lot more that you need to learn about the source of the food you advertise to your patrons.
(3)Karen M.
1st time dining here on a friend's recommendation. Meal started out fine with a tasty calamari appetizer. It all went downhill from there. Soup course: waiting...waiting...waiting...finally arrived - clam chowder - weirdly seasoned; tomato chipotle bisque - poorly executed. A bisque should be creamy, this was like eating smoky flavored tomato paste - tried, but couldn't eat it. Entree course: more waiting and waiting... jambalaya was spicy, but otherwise flat and without any depth of flavor; chicken and dumplings - just terrible. The chicken was overly salted, the skin was fatty and gelatinous, the mustard seed coating was uneven and clumpy and the dumplings were an embarrassment, still raw in the centers. We waited at least half an hour between soup and entree being served. There was a party of six seated behind us that waited 20 minutes just to be given water. The water had been poured into glasses and was just sitting on a counter. We could hear them complaining and discussing whether or not they should go somewhere else. Also, the restaurant didn't have enough menus to pass out. They had to wait for one table to finish ordering to then bring the menus to other waiting tables. People were having to share menus to place their orders. It's hard to describe the total lack of organization here. The person who seated us when we arrived, Terry, seemed to be pretty efficient. Unfortunately, he wasn't our server. We wound up with Will, who just isn't cut out for this job. We often spotted him standing in the bar area. Maybe he was waiting for drink orders...maybe he was checking on the score of a game? An efficient server would not just stand around waiting for drinks, they would be taking other orders, serving food, etc. We were dining on a Saturday night. When we arrived, there were only 4 other tables occupied, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait so long for each course. By the time we were leaving, the restaurant had become more crowded, but it's a really small place, so crowded only meant maybe 10 -12 tables occupied. If they can't handle that number of customers efficiently, something is very wrong with how they are running either their kitchen, or training their staff. I'm guessing it's both. I really wanted to like this place. My friend gave it a good recommendation. The menu sounded good. Other reviewers seemed to like it. I just can't get over the combination of bad food and service.
(1)Jill D.
I really wanted to like this place. I went in to get a carry-out menu and decided to stay. I ordered a pint and about 25% of it was foam. I ordered their Bosc Pear Salad for $8 and had them add chicken for $2.50. The salad arrived on a small plate--like you would use for toast--not even a salad plate. I would have needed several of these salads if I was ordering salad as a meal--which I was. When I left I had to go somewhere to eat. 10.50 for what was essentially a small dinner salad--need to re-think that.
(1)Thatgirl T.
First and foremost, the food here is terrific. Our service was also great. I'm only giving 4 out of 5 stars because I think the atmosphere could be a bit better... My husband and I were out on a Saturday night without any reservations (dumb on our part) but had read about some new places in Forest Park. We called Amelia's and they didn't have a wait, so we decided to give it a try. We are really happy we did. I'm even debating about writing this review because the food is so good, I want Amelia's to be our secret spot, but I also want it to do well, so I'm spreading the word. We walked in, and a very friendly host greeted us. We chose to sit in the bar because it had a warmer feel than the main dining area. The bar felt more "dinner like". The main dining room (in my opinion) could use a little help with a few very simple changes - if they removed the sugar caddies from the tables for instance at dinner, and only brought them out when people ordered iced tea or coffee, that would give it more of a dinner feel to match their terrific menu (there were sugar caddies on every table, and that felt very much like a lunch place as opposed to a nice dinner place). Or if they dimmed the lights and had candles on the tables, it would slightly upgrade the main dining room and give it a more dinner-like feel without really changing much else about the dining room. Their menu is spectacular, but the dining room doesn't mimic the dining experience you have there. That's why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Anyway - onto the service and the food. We had a terrific server. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We liked the drink selections a lot. Lots of craft beers, which my husband loved. I liked the wine list. Our server was knowledgeable about the wines, and offered me a taste of what I was interested in. I saw in someone else's review that they thought the wine should be served in stemware, I liked their glasses. She also was able to answer all of our questions about the menu, as was the food runner. We had the hot pretzels with two housemade dipping sauces (super delicious), the Bosc pear salad with bleu cheese and pecans, and we both ordered the grass-fed hangar steak with these amazing potatoes and buttered carrots. I'm a very picky eater when it comes to meat, and it was really nice to go to a place that served grass-fed steak. It was so tender and delicious. I ordered mine medium/medium well and my husband ordered his medium, and they were both cooked perfectly. Then we split the homemade pecan pie. The menu said that it was supposed to have Brown Cow ice cream on it, but it had whipped cream on it, and our server never indicated to us that it wasn't going to. To other's points, our first course did take a loooonnnnnggggggg time to come out. But, the wait was worth it. The timing between our first and second courses wasn't so long, but it took a very long time for the first course to come out. If the restaurant had been full, I'm not sure what the timing would have been like... However, we will definitely return. We were really pleased with our meal. However, we would not want to sit in the main dining room. I think that atmosphereically, we wouldn't like to sit in there.
(4)Mary O.
This eatery has huge potential! The idea of having a mostly organic meal prepared in a local, casual diner-type atmosphere is fantastic. We arrived around 5p on a Saturday night, the dining room was not too inviting as it was pretty much empty and no one greeted us. We didn't quite to what to do, sit or not? Rough start. The waitress didn't seem to know the menu all that well, and didn't highlight the wonderful foods we might want to try. Te service was very, very slow. As more people came in, they too waited and waited and some were getting annoyed.....when our food finally arrived, the hangar steaks were fabulous, as was the pot roast. I had asked if the pot roast came with potatoes, the waitress said that they didn't, so I ordered a side of potatoes, but indeed, the pot roast did come with potatoes.....double mashed potatoes. The crust on the turkey pot pie, was okay, same with the pie for dessert. Overall, good food, we'll be back, but the waitress needed more training, so she could describe the food and charm us with the wonderful menu. Wine pours were very skimpy, oh well. Amelia's just needs to get the timing, training of the waitstaff (at least the one we had) and consistency down and I will be really happy.
(4)Sarah C.
This was our second time eating dinner at Amelia's. I would recommend it! The first time we were a bit disappointed due to the fact that they were out of a few things and didn't tell us. They also had substituted other things (such as a sandwich roll for a wrap) without telling us ahead. The food was good though. This time they told us up front what they were out of (not much) and were much more attentive. WE had the Eggplant, a Turkey Po' Boy, and the Mustard Chicken--all fabulous! Good wine list and nice beers. The only thing I would say is to change their music a bit to enhance the atmosphere during dinner hours. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Michelle M.
The food is good. Very disappointed with the wine pour. If I am paying $8.50 for a glass of wine I hope to get a glass of wine. I hope someone teaches them how to pour wine. I would also suggest that they do not allow kids in the bar area.
(3)Donny W.
We've been back and service times have improved greatly. And still great food. If they keep this up, this could turn out to be a great restaurant! We'll be visiting again.
(4)Christopher F.
This place rocks!!! Great food, great staff, great experience!!!
(5)Abby K.
So happy to have a casual place to dine on this side of the tracks! Food is amazing - particularly the mac and cheese. Was a bit skeptical on pita chips instead of fries but they didn't disappoint. Decent selection of craft beer (good array of types of beer - red, ipa, stout, etc), but would love more options overall - haven't checked out weekend brunch, but looking forward to going back regularly!
(5)Jeff K.
I was excited to bring my family to try Amelia's after reading all the positive reviews here. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder. After waiting 45 minutes it finally arrived. Why does it take 45 minutes to make a bowl of soup, especially when there was only one other small table seated at 5pm on a Saturday? We were ready to dig in by the time it arrived, but unbelievably was barely warm and thick like paste. Yuck. So we sent it back and asked for a new hot bowl of soup. The next bowl of clam chowder was much better and tasty. Not the best I've ever had but OK. For entrees I ordered the Fish & Chips which the waitress said were great. They were very, very thickly battered small pieces of cod and the batter was so salty, I couldn't eat more than one piece and sent it back. The coleslaw that came with it tasted like a mixture of salt, vinegar and soap. And, on top of everything else it wasn't that hot, and the fries were cold. My wife had the chipotle chicken sandwich came on a dry grocery store roll, which was way too thick. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The mac & cheese was pretty good. I wish them the best, but we will not be visiting here again.
(1)Tamara S.
This could be a really good restaurant, despite being in an out of the way spot. They do a lot of things right. They are farm to table. They list their suppliers for their meats and their vegetables. They make their own sauces and salad dressings. The menu is interesting ranging from lighter bites (bosc pear salad) to heavier options (hangar steak, macaroni and cheese with lots of topping options). The waitstaff is attentive and seems to care about the restaurant. However, what keeps this from being a 5 star place are the little things. We went in after the movies, and were the only table, one couple leaving just as we were arriving. I had a delicious hamburger and my husband had the macaroni. However, the wait for the food was long. My hamburger arrived in a plastic basket with white paper more apropos for a hot dog stand. There was no bill 'envelope' or any place to put our money except right on the table. Even a small dish would have been preferable. I was also surprised the owner or chef did not come by to see how we were liking the food. It is a new place. The waitress thanked us for coming in. An additional personal touch would have been nice. So again, try this place. I would like for it to make it. They just have to put in a few more finishing touches. I will go back, regardless.
(4)Andrea K.
I've been here a few times for dinner and twice for brunch. The dinner alone was enough for me to come back. I have had the shrimp scampi which was fantastic. I also got a big bowl of mac and cheese for dinner once (hey it was my birthday) and they let me substitute and put peas in it. It was delicious and I recommend getting at least a side of Mac and cheese if it's your first time. Now the big surprise for me was brunch. I was craving French toast but I hadn't found a *great* French toast place yet in the area. We happened to drive by and saw that they serve brunch. So we stopped in and I ordered the French toast. I don't know why it was so good... Maybe the challah bread from Prairie Bread bakery... But it was mouth-watering despite not being overly fancy like way too many brunch places do now. I also got a mimosa which was nice since my old go-to brunch place does not have mimosas. It was the perfect brunch and at a very good price. Overall, try it for dinner (especially if you haven't been since the new owners took over). If you haven't gone for brunch, you must go now.
(5)Karyn C.
It was hard to give this place a zero stars though I wanted to. We had a Groupon ordered the butternut squash soup which basically was tasteless super thick. Then we ordered the chicken with dumplings once again tasteless. I asked for a fresh cup of coffee I mean fresh she said she would brew a pot. Coffee was cold and weak. So she said she brew another pot which basically I don't think she ever brewed a pot to begin with but it was just OK. Waitress came to light candles on the table which were all empty but she didn't light ours. Would I be back,give it a second chance? NO
(1)Jennifer N.
Three of us came here on Friday evening around 8pm. We decided to eat outside on the patio where there are four tables. As our food and drinks came, we were the only ones out there on a pretty beautiful night. Service was attentive and the food was delicious. No complaints there. I had the vegetable bake while the two others in my party had burgers. The vegetable bake was full of flavor, was a tad spicy but overall filling and I was impressed! At about 9pm, suddenly the wind picks up and almost immediately the umbrellas from all the tables (yes ALL) start flying up and toward us. One right after another they are lifting up out of all four tables, and are airborne! Holy shit! One flies up over, and hits my friend in the back, and as ours is jetting up into the air i quickly grab the pole and hold on tight--because all I can imagine is this giant wooden stick on its way back down jabbing me in the head. It all is happening so quickly. My one friend is able to hold onto two umbrellas fabric, while the other friend goes to knock on the door to inside, to ask the servers for some help. They come out to find us holding down these giant umbrellas as the rain has now started...all of us (servers included) have this look on our faces like "what the eff just happened?!?" We hand over the umbrellas to the workers and go inside... We finish our drinks inside at a highboy, and our bills come. Full price! We were nearly empaled by large wooden sticks on your patio, and we need to pay full price?? My friend asks to speak to the manager to see if we can get any kind of discount on this bill. The manager ends up being our server, who explains to her that he cannot predict the weather and therefore no discount will be given. How disappointing. This could have easily been a 5 star review, but this untimely incident soured our overall experience. Sir, what you said is true. We cannot predict the weather. But you can go to Home Depot and purchase some anchors for your outdoor table umbrellas, because of that sheer fact alone! It is very unlikely I will return. Tsk, tsk.
(2)Jordan K.
This place is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in Forest Park. The weekend brunch menu is incredible and well priced. We just took my parents and sister last weekend and spent less than $50 and were all very satisfied. A couple new discoveries. The Salmon BLT with a fried egg. It's difficult to convey how amazing this combination is. Great bread from a local bakery, crisp bacon and fresh lettuce and tomato, but the star is the full salmon fillet sitting in there. It pairs incredibly well with the salty bacon. This is an absolute must have dish. The fries are perfect and well salted too. The breakfast dishes are excellent as well. Thick sweet french toast, awesome pancakes, savory home fries, and a well made breakfast burrito are among the things we've tried. I don't know how the place was before the new owners, but it currently is producing some very very good food. Give this place a try. Sure the decor and tables could be spruced up a little, but you will quickly forget about that after you try the food.
(5)Carolyn S.
I've been here twice now with different people. Everything we've ordered has been delicious! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and huge portions.
(5)Tom W.
Went there for birthday dinner with friend. I ordered a vegetable stew dish, I thought it was a beef stew. When I asked about the beef my mistake was pointed out and I took full responsibility but our waiter insisted I cooking some steak and adding it to my dish. While this was fantastically over the top service, when I rec my bow back the steak and the vegetable stew combo was fantastic!! I hope I can order it again. The food and service will bring me back.
(5)Misha M.
Whether you're in Forest Park for a quick visit looking for a quick bite or a drink, Amelia's is a nice place to park it. If you check in on yelp and show your waitress you get 10% off your bill. The orange sherbert walls and beautiful art work gives your eyes something to marvel while you wait for your food. If you're not up for dining hall style seating, there is usually room at the bar and plenty of conversation to get into. My 8 piece hot wings and full plate of fries came out piping hot and fresh. And if my hot winged palate stands correct, those wings were tossed and drug through a bottle of Franks Red Hot, which in my opinion is the best way to do it. Let my Grandmother tell it, they got the recipe from her. The chocolate tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was just right, just the perfect size to finish off a great meal. And even when my card declined ;( after swiping the third time and I offered to pay part of my $14.00 with the $8 in cash I had on me and bring the rest the next day, the manager told me he tossed out the other $6. I dropped in the next morning with the remaining $6, leaving my waitress Brianna a $4 tip. The waitresses are cool, laid back and know their stuff. Its really just a nice, if-you-happen-to-be-or-live-in-the-neighborhood spot with a great staff and good food. Check them out sometime.
(4)Tiffany M.
Service was great, our waitress was a sweetheart. That being said, after finding hair in my food I was told the manager was on his way out to talk to me. Not only did he never come to talk to me, they took nothing off the bill. I won't be going back.
(1)Lynn H.
Great neighborhood find. Lots of beers, great salads and all entrees were fantastic! Will definitely return!
(4)Maranda T.
I ordered my family dinner from here. My cob salad had a long blonde hair in it. My husband's Angus burger was flavorless. The French fries were so over cooked it felt like it would chip a tooth. The only food that was ok was the kids size chicken wing. Dinner was not cheap. I will not be a returning Customer.
(1)Susie C.
My husband and I decided to come here to give it a try. The location isn't that great - probably because it's not in heavily visited areas like downtown. It's by the 290 highway and there isn't much businesses around this restaurant so you don't really notice it until you drive by it. It wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. They have a bar section and a regular dining section. Most of the crowd were at the bar area since the Bulls and Hawks game were going on. The inside of this restaurant is like an average dining place - it has a strange odor inside. Service is really slow. We found out our waiter is also the bartender, so we can't really blame him..we think the restaurant just needs more help during this time because it took a good half hour before our food were served after we ordered. As for the food, it is very good. I would give this place 5 stars for the food, but because the service was very slow I gave this place a 4. My husband and I started with the cobb salad and the macaroni and cheese with chicken. The mac and cheese was delicious! My husband and I loved it! Having the chicken there definitely enhances the taste - they have a selection of toppings for the mac and cheese. The cobb salad was good as well. For entree, I ordered the wild diver scallop which was scallops on top of a bed of bacon/spinach/mushroom rissoto topped with spicy mayo. This was really good. The presentation was nice, too. My husband ordered their jambalaya..he said it was too saucy for his liking. He would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't as saucy/wet. It was a long dinner, but the food is really good. I definitely come back and hopes the service will be faster this time.
(4)Shannon W.
Delicious and affordable. This place is nice and offers pub like food. The wait staff is a bit slow but very friendly. I like the calamari and the sandwiches are good as well. I enjoy sitting in the bar as a posed to sitting in the restaurant section.
(4)Matthew K.
Meh. Way over priced expecially on grub hub. The pasta was not so great. The garlic fries are mediocre. The best thing there is the Ruben which is sub part from other places. Would only go there for convenience
(3)Cat C.
Having just moved to Oak Park from the North Side, I decided to try Amelia's after a friend recommended it. Experience was fantastic from start to finish. The owner was behind the bar and came by to give us a full run-down on the beer list and menu. (Beer was delicious and he said it changes often. Burger and turkey sandwich were phenom. Homemade pie is supposed to be great too.) The owner also took the time to talk to us about the area and recommended some other beer places nearby. Overall: I love the neighborhood feel (clearly some regulars at the bar), friendliness, beer list and food. Definitely check them out!
(5)Erika G.
Good place. Not exceptional, not awful. What was cuter was the bar out front, which looks more intriguing.
(3)Meredith B.
This place has some of the best french toast in the area. My husband and I like this place, though we don't love it. The French toast is delicious, as is the homemade bagel. Its easy to get a table. The beignets served at the beginning are hot and fresh and delicious. However, the concerns mentioned in other reviews we also had. First, there were some kind of bug flying around inside (this was a few weeks ago, so maybe that problem has been solved). Also, the service was not great- we had to ask for water to be refilled and the table was sticky when we sat down. Lastly, for a breakfast joint, their coffee was not good (which is a major issue at every breakfast place in the area except for Buzz). If the idea is locally sourced ingredients, why not do Metropolis coffee in Chicago, which is fantastic. The stuff just tasted weak and blah. I think there is a lot of potential in this place and I look forward to trying their dinner menu during the winter. We will keep going, though if they improved, we would probably make this a weekly spot for brunch (though the coffee would have to be good for this to happen).
(3)Joette T.
This was my second visit, but the first time having a meal. I like their concept which is freshly made, locally sourced food. I also like the craft beer and small batch spirits that dominate their bar offerings. I'll need another visit or two to really have a solid, enduring opinion. My husband and I both had chicken; I had the winter cobb salad, he had the chicken & dumplings. We both thought that some bites tasted too salty while others seemed fine. Not sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're brining the chicken and the result is uneven. If they're touting a better quality bird, that's what I want to taste, not salt. Presentation is great. The portion sizes seem just right. Overall I think the prices are extremely reasonable. Can't say that I was impressed with the service. The bartender was nice enough, just slow. On each visit I didn't get much of a sense of any personality from the staff or the establishment. Maybe I just haven't been there at the right time. It's a cute place and with the addition of a little more energy in dealing with customers, Amelia's could become a destinatiin in Forest Park.
(3)Jen R.
Was really looking forward to going. Our first visit, the menu looked good. Easy parking. We went in a Sunday around noon. Problem was the cook has never done breakfast/lunch before. So that was an issue, tables were left sitting for a while before they were cleaned and orders were not written down so orders got screwed up. We finally got to talk to one of the owners and it became a little pained sad really.. I know "were a small business" but get with the program. Some of the bill was comped but that's not the point. Definite disconnect.. Too bad was hoping to make this a new go to place in FP.. Get the tables cleaned, please set the tables, please attempt to bring drinks in a timely manner..... PLEASE! Sorry won't be back...
(2)Will V.
Second time eating here. First time the food was good, but not great. This time we stopped in for chicken wings on special, and ended up with a couple of other entrees as well. The chicken wings were pretty awesome, probably some of the best I've had, served with really tasty house-made sauces. The rest of the food was good too, maybe a bit better than the first time we visited. They keep a nice little selection of craft beers on tap, and they have a decent and inexpensive little wine menu. Friendly staff, but do not go to Amelia's expecting a Michelin-type restaurant experience, it's very much a down to earth, casual atmosphere. If you want something, ask for it, and they'll accommodate, but don't expect overly attentive service, you're better off elsewhere. For me, it's perfect.
(4)Bailey D.
Where the heck am I? A roadside truck stop? A sports bar? A five-star restaurant? A converted gas station? The home of a genius chef? Yeah, I'm not yanking your chain. Amelia's in Forest Park could pass for any and all of those things. It has an unassuming location, look and set-up but the food is high- class. I like the unexpected. I really do. This is a gem. Don't expect a sexy date spot or an elegant dining experience. Instead, count on upscale food, organic ingredients, salt-of- the-earth servers in a local dive atmosphere. We ordered cassoulet, hangar steak, roast chicken and dumplings, birthday brownie and some sort of tequila baileys-ish shot. What an adventure. I love Amelia's!
(5)Lea J.
My favorite OP spot. Fresh, real ingredients & delicious. OP lacks restaurants this good w/fresh organic ingredients & needs more like them.
(5)Matt M.
So this is "not so good food and drink"... actually its downright terrible. We got this on grubhub and it was downright terrible. I would say the temperature was to blame and the slow service which has happened before with grubhub... but that was not the case. We got the food reasonably fresh but it was bland, tasteless, watery, and just plain bad. Normally I say something clever and suggest eating something from a garbage can instead but I was just flabbergasted by the mixed (and often positive) reviews from this place only to get slapped in the face with below-truck-stop-standard fare.
(1)Cara D.
For a small family run joint it was impressive. they make almost everything from scratch including mayo and sour cream. They source their bread from the local bakery, meat from the lical butcher and on and on. I had the angis burger with truffle fries and it was the best meal I have had in a while. And for under $9 I challenge someone to find better. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)Leonard W.
"Oh looks something new" "I'm going to try them" 1 year later I finally decided I was going to try them lol I cam here with my Mom around 1:30pm on a Saturday.was disappointed when give a brunch menu. (I knew from yelp/foursquare reviews/photos that I had wanted to try out the mustard chicken which turns out is a dinner item) I ordered the Mac and Cheese (w Andouille, Bacon, Chicken, Mushrooms) My Mother a burger (don't recall the name but it had blue cheese on it.) As I bite into my Mac and Cheese "WOW!...this is actually good" I say to myself. TRUE comfort food. Really had a lot of taste in it. Got to nibble a little on the blue cheese burger and thought it was done very well. We were actually so impressed we came back for dinner later that night. Ordered the calamari. (was a very decent size nothing spectacular about it. had some banana peppers at the bottom which gave them a nice little kick) also ordered the daily flat bread (chicken smoked BBQ with caramelized onions and Gouda cheese) WOW!! x2 after about three bites I'm thinking which family & friends I'll be bringing here for their birthday dinner. Really it was amazing. the combination of flavors work well and can say I never tasted anything quite like it. (the only drawback it was a daily special so not sure if they'll still have it the next time I'm back) I ordered the Mustard and Herb Crusted Half Chicken. (for some reason I was starting to think this was going to be like the calamari, nothing special but) WOW (just one wow ...the flat bread is still king lol) I would order it again (but not soon as I would love to try out their other dishes) I would give Amelia's 4.25 stars. This is laragly due to location/settings. I ate at the dinning area during brunch and the bar area for dinner. (the bulls game was on!) I would hate to have to be here if they were over 50% full. Parking sucks, the bar area is small off the top of my head I think maybe a 5 tables and the bar. so the area was full due to the game being on. Which means you need to be there BEFORE the game if you plan on watching at the bar. The bartender/waiter kept going into the fridge which produced this BRIGHT light in what was suppose to be a dark/cozy atmosphere or was it suppose to be a bar?
(4)Mary Ann C.
Pretty sad to give the two star review, as I was so excited to dine here. I arrived for lunch yesterday at 12:30 to a mostly empty restaurant. No one greeted me at the door, but after being seated, the server was very friendly and warm. The restaurant was not particularly clean, but the decor is a big improvement from the diner that was hear preciously. I was really expecting it to look a lot better... The big issue has nothing to do with any of the above paragraph. It is the food.....This is what I was so looking forward to as it is locally sourced at Amelias. The butternut squash soup was very dull and bland. It did taste of truffle oil, but this did not save it. The fish po-boy, though, was an even bigger shock. There was a very, very small piece of fish on it. In fact, I ate 1/3 of sandwich with no fish...just bread and condiments, because the piece was SO small. I waited awhile for the sandwich and the fish was also not crisp. Very odd, since it is fried. The bread and toppings were tasty. This was a really disappointing sandwich, sadly. I wish I could get my ten dollars back, as this was not a good lunch at all.
(2)Hans G.
I don't understand some (well, any) of the negative reviews I've read about Amelia's. I come here a lot, and I've never experienced any of the negative things that some report. I've brought many people here, including larger parties approaching 20 people at least three times, once without any prior notice and a short deadline to get out and be somewhere else. The service has always been at least adequate to the task, and usually quite good, even when the restaurant filled up on both sides shortly after my large group arrived. Twice. By now I've had pretty much everything on the menu and a few things that aren't, and I've never had anything that wasn't very good. That includes the eggplant soup, and I generally dislike eggplant otherwise. My friends that I've brought here have not uncommonly raved about the food, and more than a few have come back on their own, even from as far as northern Lake County, and they've repeated their good experiences. So I can't explain the negative reviews. In what must be approaching 100 visits I've never seen anything like what they report, though surely everyone has a bad day now and again.
(5)Claire M.
I thought this place was really good. We live like, half a block away and were never really fans of the place that was here before so I'm glad to have somewhere so close that is tasty - and serves alcohol. I had read the menu beforehand and really, really was looking forward to the soft pretzel appetizer but they didn't have any. =( We ordered the garlic fries instead which while very tasty, I was still bummed because the pretzels were what I really wanted. The garlic taste wasn't too overwhelming like certain OTHER local places (ahem, the place where I had a stomachache for 3 days after eating theirs!). I ordered the caesar salad wrap with a cup of tomato bisque soup. The other half ordered a burger. I can't offer any opinion on the burger, and the other half didn't really say anything either way so... My wrap was VERY good. Very, very good. As was the soup - it had a kick to it. I liked it. I feel like we had something else too and for the life of me, I can't remember what it may have been. Did the other half have clam chowder?? I could be way off on that, they may not even have clam chowder on the menu but for some reason that's where my mind is going. Oh!! Macaroni and cheese!! That's what it was! It was DELICIOUS!!! God I can't believe that's not the first thing I raved about. From the description on the menu, it sounded similar to the kind they have at Uncommon Ground and it was 10 times better at Amelia's than it was there. And it was only like $2.50 for a totally adequate portion. It did take awhile to get our food (our waitress seemed a little annoyed/frustrated) at that fact but we weren't in a hurry and it was worth the wait. We were also there on the 2nd day they were open so I'm sure that had something to do with it however, there were only a handful of people in there. Drinks were served right away and refilled promptly. I didn't have any wine this night, but I surely will on return visits - and there WILL be return visits. There are several other things on the menu that I really want to try.
(4)Annie D.
This place is great! So many beer options and great local food. I bought some hot sauce for home too! Get the eggplant soup- seriously.
(5)Laura T.
Saw what looked like a cute outdoor bar-food kind of place on our way to the pool and stopped back here for lunch earlier today. Didn't know what to expect, but was so pleasantly surprised to sit and read thru the breakfast and lunch options on a perfect summer day with the back patio almost completely to ourselves. Much more sophisticated menu than we were expecting, as indicated by the presence of Gouda and goat cheese--right? The skillet with sourced-farm bacon, Gouda and Carmelized onions sounded fantastic but since I consider potatoes a waste of carbs, I asked if I could get it as an omelet and was told all skillets can be prepared as one lets and vice versa. Then the server dropped off a basket of comp, hot, fresh beignets--which I do Not consider a waste of carbs. That also kept our toddler sated and occupied. My Bloody Mary was well seasoned and not overdone, service super attentive and although we only had an omelette and a skillet, we were very impressed. Can't wait to revisit this hidden treasure. If I had to offer a neg it would be that there are semi trucks passing quite a bit. They might want to throw up a privacy fence. So psyched to have this great new option nearby!!
(4)Jim L.
I ordered delivery tonight. The order took an hour and forty minutes. The sandwich was cold, its bread chewy, and the whole thing wrapped in saran wrap before being tossed into a paper bag on top of a cold clump of fries, each as tough as beef jerky. Inedible. Now, I'm still hungry, and everywhere else is closed. Don't make the same mistake I did.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Amelia's is closing in 3 Weeks - very sad to say. The last day will be Nov 24th. We are super sad about this because we just found this gem. Today was our second experience here. Food was delicious and the bill was roughly $50 for appetizers, entrees, drinks, desserts, and coffee. I had the Summer Vegetable Pot Roast and the husband got Chicken and dumplings. Both were awesome. I also had the Pumpkin Soup and the Cheesecake - which you could tell was homemade and creamy. We will definitely be back many times before they close on the 24th.
(5)Steven E.
We had a mixed experience tonight at Amelia's. The kitchen was very slow (over 60 minutes from order to the main course) but the food was, by and large, delicious. We started with the garlic French fries, which took a half hour to arrive but which were seasoned perfectly and immediately devoured by my two children. For entrees we found the Amish chicken to be outstanding, with a rich flavor and texture. The barbecued pork belly over jambalaya was likewise creative and flavorful. A salmon entree was well seasoned but slightly overcooked, and a pasta dish with turkey, bacon, and broccoli left us somewhat unsatisfied, needing perhaps an alfredo sauce to bind the dish together. Service was above average but ultimately unable to overcome the slow kitchen. In addition, the furnace was out, with the dining room at 59 degrees during our meal. I really want to give Amelia's a higher rating. They exhibit flashes of creativity in their menu, but in the end the execution is so inconsistent that higher marks can't be justified.
(3)Ania K.
Soooo happy to be back as an Amelia's customer. The one week without them was a long one. The employee I spoke of in the previous review has been dealt with. Not surprisingly I wasn't the only one that complained about her rudeness. On to the review: The food here is delicious, I especially recommend the Caesar salad with Amish pulled chicken. The dressing is light and tangy and the chicken is always juicy. Also, highly highly highly recommend the flat bread, any and all are outstanding. My husband is addicted to the buffalo chicken sandwich and garlic fries. They do not mess around with the amount of garlic either. We as garlic lovers appreciate that thoroughly! The place is warm and cozy; nice ambiance and great quality beer selection. I'm a Delerium lover myself, and I can't think of many places that have it. Amelia's thankfully does. I love that they serve organic and local food. This is a place worth supporting. Also, very impressed with the owners and their customer service.
(5)M W.
Amelia's has a lot of potential. Loved their outdoor eating area, and the inside was cool looking as well. The servers were all very warm and welcoming. I had the garlic parmesan fries, which were so good, but pretty strong. I also ordered a burger with bacon and cheddar. All of the ingredients tasted like good quality (I appreciated that the bun was from Kay's), however the burger patty was WAY too big. It seemed like a 3/4 pounder. I could barely wrap my mouth around it, and my jaw actually got sore. Even my boyfriend thought it was too much burger, and he is a total carnivore. His turkey sandwich was pretty good. I will definitely give this place another go-I just won't get the burger next time!
(4)C T.
If the review were solely for food, I would give them 5 stars. My only complaint is regarding their phone etiquette. I typically order through Grubhub Which has a limited menu so I have to call regarding daily specials etc. They always seem off put by having to ask the kitchen what the special is. As a server, I feel like you should already know it and if not don't give me attitude about having to ask someone. Now on to the food. The meat is purchased from a local butcher every morning. That rocks! Produce is mostly Illinois organic. That rocks too! The Mac n chz isn't like a southern traditional baked dish. It's more modern style with great fresh ingredients. Amish chicken- delicious. Desserts authentic and full of flavor. I look forward to trying many more of their menu items. The bar had good specials as well. Love that they deliver as well. I finally went in to eat and the food was even better- not surprising! Give Amelia's a chance. They are a great food addition to the area.
(4)Cathleen F.
This update is to upgrade Amelia's to 5 stars. In the 8 or so months Amelia's has been there, it has really grown into a beloved neighborhood restaurant with fresh ingredients, quality dishes, and excellent service. A few (more) tips: 1. Get the fries. 2. Don't ignore the specials, if they have them the night you dine. They're always fabulous. 3. Chat with your server(s)--they are all so friendly and make you feel like a member of the Amelia's family. With the overflow of dive bars, Irish pubs and Italian restaurants up on Madison, Forest Park is lucky to have Amelia's. Don't miss out!
(5)Catie F.
Bear with me - because although this place doesn't appear too special from the outside AND it's a bit off of the beaten path, it sure is worth a visit. I have a close friend who lives within walking distance, and she had been raving to me about Amelia's fresh, local, and delicious menu. My boyfriend and I finally got to try it and I am very pleased with their service and their food. We did take-out (and he picked up) so I can't advise on their interior, but the phone service and packaging were definitely well-done. Although we didn't need it, we were offered cutlery, napkins, condiments, etc. A nice gesture. Onto the food ... I ordered the Golden Lentil Soup topped with herb oil, balsamic syrup & pita chip croutons. Oh my yummy. This is the best lentil soup I've had, hands down. The Balsamic adds a nice tangy kick (just enough) and though I might have snubbed the pita chips (extra carbs!) the crouton-like version was a wonderful, crunchy addition to the soup. I had a side of roasted root vegetables, which were vibrant and yummy. My one gripe with this side is the amount of oil / butter that was left at the bottom of the carton when I finished. Although the veggies are roasted, they are finished in a saute pan, hence the excess fats (could have done without that). Another side was the mashed parsnips - creamy, smooth, tasty, and even MORE comforting than traditional mashed potatoes, IMHO. Both sides were a great value for the $2.50 price tag. My boyfriend had the Turkey Po' Boy, which smelled and looked awesome from afar - unfortunately he housed it far too quickly for me to sneak a bite. The warm, hearty sandwich had just the right textures of melty, creamy, crunchy and satisfying (so I've been told). I did sneak a seasoned french fry or two and they are approved! Overall, I think the prices are good (especially for Chicago), the ingredients are fresh, and the menu is interesting and satisfying. One watch-out: since it's small and seemingly family-owned, the restaurat shuts down every once-in-awhile. They're closed Tuesdays (found out the hard way!) and took a week's vacation for the holiday season so give them a call BEFORE you show up!
(4)Deena H.
It is advertised way better than it is. Delivery is longer than an hour. Order was wrong too. Ate in once but the place seemed dingy for a place that serves lamb. I had higher hopes and I gave this place a couple of chances. I didn't give a one star because they have a pretty good home made pie that bumps them up to two stars.
(2)chris p.
Amelia 's is tucked away just over the Circle Ave bridge to Harrison in Forest Park, Il. The food is great and there is something for everyone. The quality is excellent with Scottish salmon, grass fed steak tips, scallops, chicken and dumplings to tasty desserts. There are burgers, sandwiches and salads for lighter fare. The blueberry pie was not overly sweet and was served beautifully latticed as an individual mini pie with a knob of ice cream. The service can be tweaked a bit. There is a bar area for more casual dining. It is worth the trip off the beaten path on Madison Avenue over the bridge to Amelia's.
(4)Elizabeth R.
The bf and I came here for dinner on an early Friday night. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and decided to sit in the bar area which is separated from the general dinning room (for those who want to bring the kiddies here). We started with an order of crab cakes which were a tad tiny but soooooooo good. For diner the bf ordered a burger which he devoured in minutes. I notice they cooked it medium rare opposed to the medium he requested, but he said it was so good he didn't mind. I ordered the pork chop entree that came with cabbage and potatoes...it was absolutely delicious! Everything we ate tasted amazing and you could tell was very fresh. For 1 appetizer, 1 burger, 1 dinner entree (served only after 5PM), 1 beer, 2 cocktails and dessert the bill came to about $60. I wish I could give 5 stars but some people (I believe employees since they were coming from the kitchen) kept stepping outside for cigarette breaks and each time the side door was opened the stench of smoke would draft in making my amazing dinner not so appetizing. :( Also my blueberry mojito cocktail was nothing special, even a tad watered down. All and all I was very pleased with Amelias; the staff is great, the decor is a huge improvement and it's nice to have somewhere other than Madison Street to get a craft beer or glass of wine. Looking forward to an expanded cocktail list! Go check them out!
(4)Tamer A.
Meh. They are trying, and maybe a bit too hard. On delivery, they have gotten my order wrong both times I have ordered. At the restaurant (once), it kind of smelled weird and there were a few fruit flies. The waiter was okay but kind of strange sometimes. And the food, which I really wanted to like, was just okay. Eggplant soup-really good Wings-really good Pasta-regular, lacking flavor, sauce too water, had to substitute chicken because they had not more turkey Lamb-there is no way that lamb was braised right, because braised lamb should be soft and buttery, not tough. Also, it was too gamey, could have used some black pepper or citrus or something.
(2)Yvonne O.
We came here on the recommendation of another place's manager, so we had high expectations. And, after reading the reviews, we certainly didn't think anything would go wrong. First, we were seated and waited forever for anyone to come back. They admitted a miscommunication and comped our first round of drinks - nice touch. But, from there, things were just nothing special and we were deluged by flies and gnats the whole night, which was awful. All restaurants have to deal with doors to the outside, why can't this place get it together. I had the hangar steak and while the meat was good, it was more rare than medium and the balsamic crap on top ruiined it for me. The pretzel sticks to start were good, but the sauces they came with were quite boring. Husband had the pork belly and liked it. The place was also roasting, which was just uncomfortable. Certainly this is "Amelia's Good Food" and not "Great Food", btu the service (once they got it together) was friendly and helpful. I'll wait for colder weather and death of bugs outdoors to give this another try.
(2)Lisa P.
Had a birthday dinner here and it was very satisfying! 5 of us, Fish & Chips, Hanger Steak, Roast chicken, Fried Chicken-special of the day. Calamari app the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and spinach, caramelized onions is outstanding!, and parmesan white truffle fries, cheesecake dessert. Attentive service, prepared right. They were out of salmon, and also their famous peach pie, which was disappointing. We'll be back to try lunch.
(4)R Paul M.
We REALLY wanted to give this place a very good review -- we applaud the use of local sources and the stated dedication to quality. But it's also about the execution and the service was slow (at a Sunday brunch time with the place nowhere near full) and the was food just OK. My sausage patties were very spiced up so I couldn't tell them from any other chain breakfast, the home ties were cold and the eggs not really scrambled but squashed. My partner found only the tiniest piece of bacon in her so-called Bacon, Garlic, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Potatoes, Smoked Gouda skillet and said it was mostly potatoes. If in the area we would give it another try.
(3)Michael-Colin R.
Did my due diligence, read all the reviews, ignored the over the top glowing and super bad and figured the truth was somewhere in the middle. After discovering that delivery was clearly not their forte, we made the short trip down the street to this place to have a great meal and why shouldn't we expect one? The reviews here promised we would get one. How there can be so many 4 and even 5 star reviews of this place is absolutely beyond me. Where do I even begin... Atmosphere: A coat of paint and some new chairs does not constitute "decor". It basically looks exactly like the old Harrison St Cafe. The place was stuffy, musty, hot and even the booth we sat in was uncomfortable. Service: There is NO excuse for long wait times on anything when you are the only patrons in the place. I expect to wait when you're busy, that's a given. When I'm the only one there I fully expect efficiency. I shouldn't have to wait ten minutes to get a drink refill, get my check, or to get my credit card run and my slip brought back to me. Food: We had the small mac n cheese for an app and yes, it was good. (It's great at Scratch Kitchen too and it's less expensive there.) I had the jambalaya. Mediocre. The salmon in it was a nice touch and while the shrimp were generous, the sausage was non-existent. How can you skimp on sausage when making jambalaya? The portion was far less than generous and the dish was flavorless. Does the chef actually know what authentic jambalaya should taste like and what spices are used in it? How you can make something like jambalaya flavorless is totally beyond me. My partner had the pear salad. Now here is my big issue with our visit. He's six foot 4 and 230 lbs. When a man that size orders a salad it's the server's job to anticipate needs and ask, "Are you having that as a starter or as your meal, because it's the size of a side salad so if you're hungry, that's not going to cut it for you." Not a word of suggestion or recommendation was made. Yes the salad was nice, but again it was a very small salad on a side salad sized plate. She didn't even bother to ask him if it was ok and if he would still require something else. We began with iced tea which came out totally murky and weird. We switched to a Diet Coke and I had a hard cider. Those together with the meal plus tip came to $50. GROSSLY overpriced. When you pay $50 for a meal there is NO excuse to leave hungry. (We eat for $40 at Scratch Kitchen and can barely finish what we get.) No atmosphere. No flavor. No great service. No value. No thanks. A footnote: This issue doesn't fit under any category so I have to add it here. The place suffers from and outrageous GNAT problem. We spent our ENTIRE visit swatting the annoying things away as we were trying to enjoy what little we could of our meal. It was almost comical... (Neither of us were laughing of course.) Concept C- Execution D+ Menu B- Service C+ Quality B Value C- Grade C
(1)Bill H.
My book club met here for dinner a few weeks ago. After my last experience, I was more than a little skeptical about returning here. Thankfully, the service was much, much better compared to the last time I was there. Waitstaff were attentive and courteous, food was good, and we were all able to get individual bills for our orders. I will probably visit again in the near future.
(4)Diana S.
Came here earlier this week with my boyfriend for dinner and was really impressed with their food and dessert. I had the Chicken Pesto and was really good but what I loved was their mac and cheese. I don't usually like mac and cheese at all but my bf ordered it and after a taste, I couldn't get enough - I ended up eating half of it. Super tasty and highly recommend! For dessert, we had the Peach Blueberry pie and it truly has to be the best pie I have ever tasted. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and we couldn't stop eating it. Not too sweet. Lives up to the hype - Must try. Great restaurant with a great cook and baker! Their service is worth noting too - our waiter was super friendly and attentive. Certainly plan to eat here again.
(4)Igor K.
A quick search on grubhub, landed us here. Looked like a very nice place, so we parked and in we went. after entering, someone at the host booth looked puzzled. i wasnt sure if we were even welcomed in. he yelled something in spanish, and a minute later, a nice gentlemen told us we can sit anywhere. after sitting down, we saw that the menu that he gave us, didnt have the kids kabobs, like grubhub said i can order. i asked if i can order the chicken kabobs, he said its brunch and that its a diff menu (it was approx 2pm on a Sat), but he said he'll ask if they can make it. sure enough, they, did.. i was very pleased with this! thank you! the order came out in a timely manner. didnt wait too long. when the food came out, the restaurant became a little more packed. 3 other families walked in. before that, we were the only ones in the space. although the bar had a few people. after the food, the server barely said a word to us. our flat crisp bread, had a piece of hair on it, and we were pretty dissatisfied with that. there was another family there, that seemed like a "regular" so the attention was basically to them, the entire time. their drinks and refills were coming non stop. it was a sure let down. Getting bill was a bit of a task, and took longer than the actual food wait. we have a 1yo and a 4yo, so the waiting part is a bit of a task. so when the bill came, i didnt even look at it, because i didnt want him to disappear again. so i quickly handed him the payment card. i still left a standard tip, because i believe that the restaurant was simply, under staffed. To summarize, the server probable wasnt an actual server, the menu descriptions were very bland, and didnt really "sell" me the food. it was our 1st time here, and the experience was a downfall. this place is NOT cheap.. its actually quite pricey. and you know, i CANNOT justify the food, price and service as a combination. its completely off. i wont tell you fellow readers to NOT go here. I wont say that this was my first and last time here, either. I'll keep my eyes peeled on reviews, and hopefully they will improve. the menu idea of organic and homemade are a rarity, so hopefully, i will return one day and experience at least a 4 star service.
(2)Tom K.
Never come here with a big group. I was here with a group, and we all were waiting about 45+ minutes for our food to arrive. The food came all at once, and most everyone's plates were cold. I ordered a 1/2 order of Mac and Cheese and it was cold (I also ordered it with tomatoes, and they didn't put any on it). The Mac and Cheese wasn't anything all that special, really. I also ordered a chicken wrap with the fries, which were ice cold. Nothing all that special, really. The parking lot is tiny. The waitstaff appeared to all be on their first day on the job. I would not go back here.
(1)Andy B.
Great food. Great Beer selection. Highly recommend. Their jambalaya is off the charts too. Glad I found this gem!!!
(5)Jesse P.
Oh yeah! We dined here late last night and thank goodness for an awesome later night eatery in the Forest Park area. Everything is homemade and very American! We jammed on the amish chicken wings, mac and cheese, new england clam chowder (the chef/owner is from boston) a salami sandwich, garlic french fries and butterscotch pudding. The cocktails were super tasty and hit the spot. A very laid back, good old fashion home cooking and affordable enough to splurge on several plates and drinks. We didn't try any entree's this time but we will be back. Good job guys!
(5)Frank W.
Really good spot for well done pub-style dining. Very solid beer selection (bottles), and a few interesting rotating taps. We had the hot pretzels (really really tasty, cooked perfectly and the tastier "stick" variety not the classic shape), the Mac & cheese with mushroom and bacon (perfect size, and awesome flavor, not nauseatingly rich like some restaurants make it), and the scallops with risotto (awesome). Reasonably priced for fancy bar fare, and like the emphasis on fresh and local this place has. Cozy atmosphere, a neighborhood gem!
(4)James T.
For a neighborhood spot, this place is amazing! The food is amazing. Fresh, rich, and cooked with some soul. Then add to that incredibly reasonable prices even on cocktails! A small batch bourbon manhattan for $5!!! Considering the area this place beats out Lake Street Bar and Grill, Bar Louie, and Piggy Back by far.
(5)Dawn B.
I liked Thu place. food was good and my girlfriends an I had fun hanging out and chatting. improvements could be made in service...the waitress seemed disinterested and hesitant. should have told us if we replaced pita chips with fries it was extra. the fries were delicious though. the drinks were weak except for the long island ice tea that was a wow!!! I would go again and recommend it, but I hope the staff will be happier to see customers next time.
(3)Russ D.
I've eaten here twice now for breakfast and enjoyed it both times. Creative dishes with lots of flavor.
(4)Bubbly K.
I have dined at Amelia's 4 times thus far, several of them with my husband. The great thing about this place is the quality of the ingredients, the fair prices for what you receive, the friendly front of the house crew and overall the dishes are quite well done. It kind of feels like you are at your uncles house and he is a really good cook but you have to wait for the good food to be cooked to order.. dum de dum. The heirloom tomato salad is fab, the night we had it they had no bread (No Bread?) to sop up all the tasty juice. Too Bad, some crusty bread would have put that over the top. My husband enjoyed a perfectly cooked scallop dish, I had a stellar blackened fish special, both were excellent. The mac n cheese sounded great, once I got about halfway thru the bowl it was great but the top part was dry and not coated with the sauce so it was pretty ho hum - I think chef should mix it or finish it with a top of cheese and pop under the broiler to put it over the top. Another time, we shared the much anticipated burger.. it was great tasting meat however just "ok" as the burger was overcooked- asked for med-rare and it was med well (no pink in sight) and kind of dry being overcooked. The bun was not toasted, I think that would make it a little better, along with some condiments like grey poupon mustard and some mayo. We will try it again next time. I had the chicken sandwich and that as well seems like it is so close to being great. Just needs to be a little less dry (had to toss all the extra bun that was on the sides...) They have a nice little wine list and seem to promote the beers. Some negatives that I hope get attention soon after this opening learning curve. The bar is definitely "cheers like" with the TV's as the focal point. The dining room needs to be the in-between for families and date night, girls dining out etc. Currently each time we have been there, the dining room is too bright, with zero ambiance for dinner. Maybe make the lights a little dimmer, some candles or those new non candle flickering lights would be nice. I know you want to be kid friendly which is cool but we have kids and don't want to feel like we are at McDonalds or Panera for dinner. Maybe put some soft music on.. Some fabric or pictures on the wall.. fun tablecloths or place-mats, wash the front windows often. Make the outside appealing and maybe lose some of the beer signs, it seems a bit confusing for the calibar of what you are cooking up. Although the staff is super nice, it sure would be nice if the chef came out once and a while to say hi - check out what is going on with the dinners, even when it is very slow this has not occurred when we have been there. You don't have to go all New Robozo :) (although we love that place too) but show a little hospitality. One night when I dined alone in the near empty dining room, the female owner walked passed me about 4 times, and never looked at me or said hello. Then when I left no one said goodbye or thank you. The owner turned her back behind the bar on me. Please show that you appreciate our business.That would go a long way for long time loyalty. we will be your biggest cheerleaders if you give back a little love. Anyway, enough for now, I don't mean to be harsh, we will be back. Good Luck and folks reading this, do check them out. We hope they will be around for a long time and are busy and successful! Cheers~
(4)Karen B.
Love this place! Food is excellent and prices are reasonable. I like to cook at home, so when I go out to spend money for a meal, it had better be worth it...this place definitely is!
(5)Carri H.
I like it. It seems like a very homegrown operation, and unique from other Forest Park bar eateries. You can tell they care about their food a lot. They locally source as much of it as they can, from produce to meats to bread products. I had a salad that was clearly fresh-picked and full of summer veggies. I love the small-but-good draft beer selection. Had a half order of mac for an app and the sauce was a lovely melding of 4 quality cheeses. My girl had the chipotle chicken sandwich which was rather bland. The sauce looked like it contained chipotle but didnt taste like it. Because they use fresh amish chicken (the whole chicken), it had dark meat on it which she does not prefer. Took home a dessert order of berry pie, which was pretty effing delicious the next night. Ambiance could use some help, but this place has pretty decent dinner prices. Cute little neighborhood place, i hope it sticks.
(4)Brian L.
Wow. Shockingly good food. I had low expectations for this place, that may have had something to do with my response for the food. I had the pork belly over red beans and andouille sausage. Excellent. My wife got the bean causollet. Also, quite good. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food that my kids received off of the kids menu. You can often tell the quality of the restaurant by what they give the kids. The mac and cheese and chicken wings they got were very tasty. It seems like the reviews for this place are all over the place. Our server was excellent; very attentive and helpful. Definitely will be back.
(5)Mary R.
Updated: we went back last night. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked, and my husband had this chicken-fried steak special (which has has asked me to beg, here, to have added to the menu). Delicious food, friendly service, good beers. Service was casual and certainly not super-speedy, but everything was obviously freshly made just for us, and our server (in the bar area) was timely and attentive. We had a lovely time. Keep up the great work, Amelia's. I'm so so so happy to have you in the neighborhood. :)
(5)TS S.
I read the reviews before going here last night, and it was what I expected from the reviews. Sure enough, service was slow but friendly. We also had to ask to get refills and dessert. We got here at 7:45 to eat dinner before a 9:30 movie in the neighborhood. We didn't get served dinner until 8:53, so we missed the movie. The food was good, but not as good as I had hoped. I had the fish & chips. I did like the place though, and I will go back again. Just not with any expectation of how long it will take.
(3)c d.
We enjoyed our visit and hope for many more. Awesome to have a family friendly causal spot in walking distance. Things were running smoothly for only being open for a week. Service was friendly and helpful. The chicken chipotle sandwich was great, chicken good perfectly (moist and tender). Hand cuts fires were sooo good! Kids loved the kids options, though the chipotle tomato bisque, while delicious is probably not the best option for the kids soup. For a pricier option the duck was fantastic (though I would have like a bit more spice). So many other options we wanted to try, we will be back for sure!
(4)Bobby D.
Another great new eatery around. The New England Clam Chowder was great. The Seafood Jambalaya was another great entree. I must try some of the other items next time. This place is WELL WORTH IT!!!!.
(5)Reda M.
I took a friend to lunch there on Wednesday. We were greeted and served by a very attentive sever named Amy.My friend had the clam chowder soup which he said was fantastic we both had the chicken bacon ranch wrap which was delicious. I also had the garlic fries which were great also. everything was great. Great food great drinks and great service. moderately priced 5 *****'s.
(5)Scott T.
I just had Dinner here on a Wed night. This is based On my first time here. We had the hot wings which were pretty good And the Ranch served seemed fresh and tasty. I also had the Hanger steak. It was OK. It was served A little cool to my liking. It was tender but it needed a little More flavor and wine Sauce. The Mash Potatoes were Good as well as the carrots. The dinner salad was served at room Temp and needed to be colder. The decor is casual. It was ok. I really didn't feel comfortable for some reason. There was also a bit of a musty smell to the place. I am a pretty laid back Person so it doesn't bother me a bunch. What did Bother me however is the fruit flies swirling over Our table. I had to keeping shooing them away. I will be back to try more items and give them another chance The food was Good but not great and they need to warm the place Up a bit regarding ambiance.
(2)Lolo H.
Amelia's has good food, good drinks and good service!
(5)Monica M.
We recently had dinner at Amelias at it was fantastic! The service was amazing, friendly and accomodating. The food was delicous and unique. My husband and I had sandwiches that were filling, tasty and delicious. I can not wait until next time when I get the diver scallops. Our server told us the chef specializes in seafood, so we are very excited. Highly recommend!!
(5)W S.
Some of the food was good, some of it suffered from poor execution. The menu calls out the farm where they got the wings, but the wings themselves are no larger or different than any other wing joint. My burger was well cooked and good, but the garlic fries I ordered had a large glob of garlic dumped on them like a scoop of ice cream, which is strange (you can see it in the photos on yelp, I would have thought they'd toss the fries?). Decent beer list, but were out of the first two I ordered. The desserts were good. The prices were very good. I would try this place again, I think it has good potential and hopefully is just getting its feet wet.
(3)Maris W.
What a disappointment! I want the old place back!!! Why ruin a good thing? The staff was nice but the service stinks. We went Sunday morning at 10:30 & were seated right away, the place only had 3 other full tables. It took them 10 min to ask us if we wanted something to drink. We ordered from the limited menu expecting awesome food. Womp womp womp... Asked for no tomatoes. Got tomatoes. Asked for over medium eggs. Got them hard. Reordered them over easy got them medium. There was absolutely no ham in the ham skillet. The skillet is served in a soufflé ramekin. The pancakes were slightly bigger than silver dollar and thin like crepes. The toast was thin like it came from an economy bread loaf. The idea that they source locally and make a lot of their own items was interesting but overall it was not executed well. The flavor was just ok at best. I will not waste my time or money coming here again.
(1)Laurie L.
My boyfriend and I were so glad the restaurant opened and we stopped in to try it yesterday. The food was very good- Diver Scallops cooked absolutely perfectly - Chef Ramsey would have approved. Mac and Cheese super tasty too. Most intriguing to me is the small dessert menu-pie and bread pudding of the day! We tried the strawberry rhubarb - great pie crust served in a cute rectangular ramekin. Simple DIY decor still being tweaked. I'm sure all will deserve a 5 star on our next visit.
(4)Brad Z.
Updated to reply to Sarah from Amelia's: While I appreciate your attempts to source locally, I stand by my comment that you need to do more research. As I mentioned in my initial review, I grew up working on a farm in Northwest Indiana and have pretty decent knowledge of growing seasons. I am also somebody who for years has frequented at least 2 or 3 farmers markets every weekend (Forest Park included) and I'm pretty familiar with the products offered throughout the growing season and with most of the vendors who sell at our area farmers' markets. As such, I was surprised and happy to read in your reply that you purchase produce from Nichols Farm at the Forest Park Farmers Market. But, because I too frequent the Forest Park market, I didn't recall ever seeing Nichols Farm out there. I am well aware however that they sell at the Oak Park and other nearby markets. I did not have the opportunity to go to the Forest Park market this past Friday, but my wife did, so I asked her if Nichols Farm was there. She didn't think so. So, we called Nichols' Farm just to see if perhaps there had been a change and they were now selling at Forest Park. Unfortunately, they are not. Being big fans of Asparagus, we also inquired as to whether they were still selling it. Not only are they not selling in Forest Park, but they also told us that Asparagus season is long over. I don't know who informed you that Nichols is at Forest Park, but they are not, and you apparently are mistaking some other vendor for Nichols. Whoever at Forest Park has asparagus is also getting it from somewhere else because, drought or no drought, that growing season is long past. I was also excited to learn via your reply that Ed's Way is now sourcing grass-fed/finished beef. I had inquired with them about that almost 6 months ago and was told they didn't carry it. So, when I read your reply to my wife she excitedly called the meat market at Ed's Way wanting to learn more. Unfortunately, they don't carry grass-fed/finished beef. The gentleman she spoke to in the meat department understood exactly what she was looking for when she asked for grass-fed/finished beef and he said, "no, I'm pretty sure all the beef we get has been fed corn." She asked whether grass-fed/finished could be special ordered. He went on to clarify that all of their beef comes from one distributor, and that distributor doesn't offer grass-fed/finished beef. Yes, you can argue that all beef cattle start out eating grass, but for the majority of them that is only for the few short early months of their life. They are definitely not finished on grass but rather stuck in feed lots and fed corn and silage. This has been so widely publicized by Michael Pollan and documentaries like Food, Inc. that the terms 'grass -fed' and 'grass-finished' are accepted in the food industry as meaning cows that were not raised on corn and silage. It seems to me that somebody has been misleading you. If you had really read my initial review, you would have realized that in general I gave you a positive review. I was disappointed that your restaurant didn't take the 'local/organic' theme far enough, but I know that is not important criteria for most diners and is difficult to accomplish when you're trying to maintain a certain price-point. I can tell from your reply that you take the theme seriously. To accuse me of being irresponsible is simply ironic given that there is still obviously a lot more that you need to learn about the source of the food you advertise to your patrons.
(3)Karen M.
1st time dining here on a friend's recommendation. Meal started out fine with a tasty calamari appetizer. It all went downhill from there. Soup course: waiting...waiting...waiting...finally arrived - clam chowder - weirdly seasoned; tomato chipotle bisque - poorly executed. A bisque should be creamy, this was like eating smoky flavored tomato paste - tried, but couldn't eat it. Entree course: more waiting and waiting... jambalaya was spicy, but otherwise flat and without any depth of flavor; chicken and dumplings - just terrible. The chicken was overly salted, the skin was fatty and gelatinous, the mustard seed coating was uneven and clumpy and the dumplings were an embarrassment, still raw in the centers. We waited at least half an hour between soup and entree being served. There was a party of six seated behind us that waited 20 minutes just to be given water. The water had been poured into glasses and was just sitting on a counter. We could hear them complaining and discussing whether or not they should go somewhere else. Also, the restaurant didn't have enough menus to pass out. They had to wait for one table to finish ordering to then bring the menus to other waiting tables. People were having to share menus to place their orders. It's hard to describe the total lack of organization here. The person who seated us when we arrived, Terry, seemed to be pretty efficient. Unfortunately, he wasn't our server. We wound up with Will, who just isn't cut out for this job. We often spotted him standing in the bar area. Maybe he was waiting for drink orders...maybe he was checking on the score of a game? An efficient server would not just stand around waiting for drinks, they would be taking other orders, serving food, etc. We were dining on a Saturday night. When we arrived, there were only 4 other tables occupied, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait so long for each course. By the time we were leaving, the restaurant had become more crowded, but it's a really small place, so crowded only meant maybe 10 -12 tables occupied. If they can't handle that number of customers efficiently, something is very wrong with how they are running either their kitchen, or training their staff. I'm guessing it's both. I really wanted to like this place. My friend gave it a good recommendation. The menu sounded good. Other reviewers seemed to like it. I just can't get over the combination of bad food and service.
(1)Jill D.
I really wanted to like this place. I went in to get a carry-out menu and decided to stay. I ordered a pint and about 25% of it was foam. I ordered their Bosc Pear Salad for $8 and had them add chicken for $2.50. The salad arrived on a small plate--like you would use for toast--not even a salad plate. I would have needed several of these salads if I was ordering salad as a meal--which I was. When I left I had to go somewhere to eat. 10.50 for what was essentially a small dinner salad--need to re-think that.
(1)Thatgirl T.
First and foremost, the food here is terrific. Our service was also great. I'm only giving 4 out of 5 stars because I think the atmosphere could be a bit better... My husband and I were out on a Saturday night without any reservations (dumb on our part) but had read about some new places in Forest Park. We called Amelia's and they didn't have a wait, so we decided to give it a try. We are really happy we did. I'm even debating about writing this review because the food is so good, I want Amelia's to be our secret spot, but I also want it to do well, so I'm spreading the word. We walked in, and a very friendly host greeted us. We chose to sit in the bar because it had a warmer feel than the main dining area. The bar felt more "dinner like". The main dining room (in my opinion) could use a little help with a few very simple changes - if they removed the sugar caddies from the tables for instance at dinner, and only brought them out when people ordered iced tea or coffee, that would give it more of a dinner feel to match their terrific menu (there were sugar caddies on every table, and that felt very much like a lunch place as opposed to a nice dinner place). Or if they dimmed the lights and had candles on the tables, it would slightly upgrade the main dining room and give it a more dinner-like feel without really changing much else about the dining room. Their menu is spectacular, but the dining room doesn't mimic the dining experience you have there. That's why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Anyway - onto the service and the food. We had a terrific server. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We liked the drink selections a lot. Lots of craft beers, which my husband loved. I liked the wine list. Our server was knowledgeable about the wines, and offered me a taste of what I was interested in. I saw in someone else's review that they thought the wine should be served in stemware, I liked their glasses. She also was able to answer all of our questions about the menu, as was the food runner. We had the hot pretzels with two housemade dipping sauces (super delicious), the Bosc pear salad with bleu cheese and pecans, and we both ordered the grass-fed hangar steak with these amazing potatoes and buttered carrots. I'm a very picky eater when it comes to meat, and it was really nice to go to a place that served grass-fed steak. It was so tender and delicious. I ordered mine medium/medium well and my husband ordered his medium, and they were both cooked perfectly. Then we split the homemade pecan pie. The menu said that it was supposed to have Brown Cow ice cream on it, but it had whipped cream on it, and our server never indicated to us that it wasn't going to. To other's points, our first course did take a loooonnnnnggggggg time to come out. But, the wait was worth it. The timing between our first and second courses wasn't so long, but it took a very long time for the first course to come out. If the restaurant had been full, I'm not sure what the timing would have been like... However, we will definitely return. We were really pleased with our meal. However, we would not want to sit in the main dining room. I think that atmosphereically, we wouldn't like to sit in there.
(4)Mary O.
This eatery has huge potential! The idea of having a mostly organic meal prepared in a local, casual diner-type atmosphere is fantastic. We arrived around 5p on a Saturday night, the dining room was not too inviting as it was pretty much empty and no one greeted us. We didn't quite to what to do, sit or not? Rough start. The waitress didn't seem to know the menu all that well, and didn't highlight the wonderful foods we might want to try. Te service was very, very slow. As more people came in, they too waited and waited and some were getting annoyed.....when our food finally arrived, the hangar steaks were fabulous, as was the pot roast. I had asked if the pot roast came with potatoes, the waitress said that they didn't, so I ordered a side of potatoes, but indeed, the pot roast did come with potatoes.....double mashed potatoes. The crust on the turkey pot pie, was okay, same with the pie for dessert. Overall, good food, we'll be back, but the waitress needed more training, so she could describe the food and charm us with the wonderful menu. Wine pours were very skimpy, oh well. Amelia's just needs to get the timing, training of the waitstaff (at least the one we had) and consistency down and I will be really happy.
(4)Sarah C.
This was our second time eating dinner at Amelia's. I would recommend it! The first time we were a bit disappointed due to the fact that they were out of a few things and didn't tell us. They also had substituted other things (such as a sandwich roll for a wrap) without telling us ahead. The food was good though. This time they told us up front what they were out of (not much) and were much more attentive. WE had the Eggplant, a Turkey Po' Boy, and the Mustard Chicken--all fabulous! Good wine list and nice beers. The only thing I would say is to change their music a bit to enhance the atmosphere during dinner hours. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Michelle M.
The food is good. Very disappointed with the wine pour. If I am paying $8.50 for a glass of wine I hope to get a glass of wine. I hope someone teaches them how to pour wine. I would also suggest that they do not allow kids in the bar area.
(3)Donny W.
We've been back and service times have improved greatly. And still great food. If they keep this up, this could turn out to be a great restaurant! We'll be visiting again.
(4)Christopher F.
This place rocks!!! Great food, great staff, great experience!!!
(5)Abby K.
So happy to have a casual place to dine on this side of the tracks! Food is amazing - particularly the mac and cheese. Was a bit skeptical on pita chips instead of fries but they didn't disappoint. Decent selection of craft beer (good array of types of beer - red, ipa, stout, etc), but would love more options overall - haven't checked out weekend brunch, but looking forward to going back regularly!
(5)Jeff K.
I was excited to bring my family to try Amelia's after reading all the positive reviews here. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder. After waiting 45 minutes it finally arrived. Why does it take 45 minutes to make a bowl of soup, especially when there was only one other small table seated at 5pm on a Saturday? We were ready to dig in by the time it arrived, but unbelievably was barely warm and thick like paste. Yuck. So we sent it back and asked for a new hot bowl of soup. The next bowl of clam chowder was much better and tasty. Not the best I've ever had but OK. For entrees I ordered the Fish & Chips which the waitress said were great. They were very, very thickly battered small pieces of cod and the batter was so salty, I couldn't eat more than one piece and sent it back. The coleslaw that came with it tasted like a mixture of salt, vinegar and soap. And, on top of everything else it wasn't that hot, and the fries were cold. My wife had the chipotle chicken sandwich came on a dry grocery store roll, which was way too thick. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The mac & cheese was pretty good. I wish them the best, but we will not be visiting here again.
(1)Tamara S.
This could be a really good restaurant, despite being in an out of the way spot. They do a lot of things right. They are farm to table. They list their suppliers for their meats and their vegetables. They make their own sauces and salad dressings. The menu is interesting ranging from lighter bites (bosc pear salad) to heavier options (hangar steak, macaroni and cheese with lots of topping options). The waitstaff is attentive and seems to care about the restaurant. However, what keeps this from being a 5 star place are the little things. We went in after the movies, and were the only table, one couple leaving just as we were arriving. I had a delicious hamburger and my husband had the macaroni. However, the wait for the food was long. My hamburger arrived in a plastic basket with white paper more apropos for a hot dog stand. There was no bill 'envelope' or any place to put our money except right on the table. Even a small dish would have been preferable. I was also surprised the owner or chef did not come by to see how we were liking the food. It is a new place. The waitress thanked us for coming in. An additional personal touch would have been nice. So again, try this place. I would like for it to make it. They just have to put in a few more finishing touches. I will go back, regardless.
(4)Andrea K.
I've been here a few times for dinner and twice for brunch. The dinner alone was enough for me to come back. I have had the shrimp scampi which was fantastic. I also got a big bowl of mac and cheese for dinner once (hey it was my birthday) and they let me substitute and put peas in it. It was delicious and I recommend getting at least a side of Mac and cheese if it's your first time. Now the big surprise for me was brunch. I was craving French toast but I hadn't found a *great* French toast place yet in the area. We happened to drive by and saw that they serve brunch. So we stopped in and I ordered the French toast. I don't know why it was so good... Maybe the challah bread from Prairie Bread bakery... But it was mouth-watering despite not being overly fancy like way too many brunch places do now. I also got a mimosa which was nice since my old go-to brunch place does not have mimosas. It was the perfect brunch and at a very good price. Overall, try it for dinner (especially if you haven't been since the new owners took over). If you haven't gone for brunch, you must go now.
(5)Karyn C.
It was hard to give this place a zero stars though I wanted to. We had a Groupon ordered the butternut squash soup which basically was tasteless super thick. Then we ordered the chicken with dumplings once again tasteless. I asked for a fresh cup of coffee I mean fresh she said she would brew a pot. Coffee was cold and weak. So she said she brew another pot which basically I don't think she ever brewed a pot to begin with but it was just OK. Waitress came to light candles on the table which were all empty but she didn't light ours. Would I be back,give it a second chance? NO
(1)Tom W.
Went there for birthday dinner with friend. I ordered a vegetable stew dish, I thought it was a beef stew. When I asked about the beef my mistake was pointed out and I took full responsibility but our waiter insisted I cooking some steak and adding it to my dish. While this was fantastically over the top service, when I rec my bow back the steak and the vegetable stew combo was fantastic!! I hope I can order it again. The food and service will bring me back.
(5)Shannon W.
Delicious and affordable. This place is nice and offers pub like food. The wait staff is a bit slow but very friendly. I like the calamari and the sandwiches are good as well. I enjoy sitting in the bar as a posed to sitting in the restaurant section.
(4)Matthew K.
Meh. Way over priced expecially on grub hub. The pasta was not so great. The garlic fries are mediocre. The best thing there is the Ruben which is sub part from other places. Would only go there for convenience
(3)Jennifer N.
Three of us came here on Friday evening around 8pm. We decided to eat outside on the patio where there are four tables. As our food and drinks came, we were the only ones out there on a pretty beautiful night. Service was attentive and the food was delicious. No complaints there. I had the vegetable bake while the two others in my party had burgers. The vegetable bake was full of flavor, was a tad spicy but overall filling and I was impressed! At about 9pm, suddenly the wind picks up and almost immediately the umbrellas from all the tables (yes ALL) start flying up and toward us. One right after another they are lifting up out of all four tables, and are airborne! Holy shit! One flies up over, and hits my friend in the back, and as ours is jetting up into the air i quickly grab the pole and hold on tight--because all I can imagine is this giant wooden stick on its way back down jabbing me in the head. It all is happening so quickly. My one friend is able to hold onto two umbrellas fabric, while the other friend goes to knock on the door to inside, to ask the servers for some help. They come out to find us holding down these giant umbrellas as the rain has now started...all of us (servers included) have this look on our faces like "what the eff just happened?!?" We hand over the umbrellas to the workers and go inside... We finish our drinks inside at a highboy, and our bills come. Full price! We were nearly empaled by large wooden sticks on your patio, and we need to pay full price?? My friend asks to speak to the manager to see if we can get any kind of discount on this bill. The manager ends up being our server, who explains to her that he cannot predict the weather and therefore no discount will be given. How disappointing. This could have easily been a 5 star review, but this untimely incident soured our overall experience. Sir, what you said is true. We cannot predict the weather. But you can go to Home Depot and purchase some anchors for your outdoor table umbrellas, because of that sheer fact alone! It is very unlikely I will return. Tsk, tsk.
(2)Jordan K.
This place is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in Forest Park. The weekend brunch menu is incredible and well priced. We just took my parents and sister last weekend and spent less than $50 and were all very satisfied. A couple new discoveries. The Salmon BLT with a fried egg. It's difficult to convey how amazing this combination is. Great bread from a local bakery, crisp bacon and fresh lettuce and tomato, but the star is the full salmon fillet sitting in there. It pairs incredibly well with the salty bacon. This is an absolute must have dish. The fries are perfect and well salted too. The breakfast dishes are excellent as well. Thick sweet french toast, awesome pancakes, savory home fries, and a well made breakfast burrito are among the things we've tried. I don't know how the place was before the new owners, but it currently is producing some very very good food. Give this place a try. Sure the decor and tables could be spruced up a little, but you will quickly forget about that after you try the food.
(5)Lauren V.
We especially love Amelia ' s for weekend breakfast and brunch! Friendly service, delicious food at a great price.
(4)Carolyn S.
I've been here twice now with different people. Everything we've ordered has been delicious! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and huge portions.
(5)Misha M.
Whether you're in Forest Park for a quick visit looking for a quick bite or a drink, Amelia's is a nice place to park it. If you check in on yelp and show your waitress you get 10% off your bill. The orange sherbert walls and beautiful art work gives your eyes something to marvel while you wait for your food. If you're not up for dining hall style seating, there is usually room at the bar and plenty of conversation to get into. My 8 piece hot wings and full plate of fries came out piping hot and fresh. And if my hot winged palate stands correct, those wings were tossed and drug through a bottle of Franks Red Hot, which in my opinion is the best way to do it. Let my Grandmother tell it, they got the recipe from her. The chocolate tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was just right, just the perfect size to finish off a great meal. And even when my card declined ;( after swiping the third time and I offered to pay part of my $14.00 with the $8 in cash I had on me and bring the rest the next day, the manager told me he tossed out the other $6. I dropped in the next morning with the remaining $6, leaving my waitress Brianna a $4 tip. The waitresses are cool, laid back and know their stuff. Its really just a nice, if-you-happen-to-be-or-live-in-the-neighborhood spot with a great staff and good food. Check them out sometime.
(4)Tiffany M.
Service was great, our waitress was a sweetheart. That being said, after finding hair in my food I was told the manager was on his way out to talk to me. Not only did he never come to talk to me, they took nothing off the bill. I won't be going back.
(1)Lynn H.
Great neighborhood find. Lots of beers, great salads and all entrees were fantastic! Will definitely return!
(4)Susie C.
My husband and I decided to come here to give it a try. The location isn't that great - probably because it's not in heavily visited areas like downtown. It's by the 290 highway and there isn't much businesses around this restaurant so you don't really notice it until you drive by it. It wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. They have a bar section and a regular dining section. Most of the crowd were at the bar area since the Bulls and Hawks game were going on. The inside of this restaurant is like an average dining place - it has a strange odor inside. Service is really slow. We found out our waiter is also the bartender, so we can't really blame him..we think the restaurant just needs more help during this time because it took a good half hour before our food were served after we ordered. As for the food, it is very good. I would give this place 5 stars for the food, but because the service was very slow I gave this place a 4. My husband and I started with the cobb salad and the macaroni and cheese with chicken. The mac and cheese was delicious! My husband and I loved it! Having the chicken there definitely enhances the taste - they have a selection of toppings for the mac and cheese. The cobb salad was good as well. For entree, I ordered the wild diver scallop which was scallops on top of a bed of bacon/spinach/mushroom rissoto topped with spicy mayo. This was really good. The presentation was nice, too. My husband ordered their jambalaya..he said it was too saucy for his liking. He would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't as saucy/wet. It was a long dinner, but the food is really good. I definitely come back and hopes the service will be faster this time.
(4)Cat C.
Having just moved to Oak Park from the North Side, I decided to try Amelia's after a friend recommended it. Experience was fantastic from start to finish. The owner was behind the bar and came by to give us a full run-down on the beer list and menu. (Beer was delicious and he said it changes often. Burger and turkey sandwich were phenom. Homemade pie is supposed to be great too.) The owner also took the time to talk to us about the area and recommended some other beer places nearby. Overall: I love the neighborhood feel (clearly some regulars at the bar), friendliness, beer list and food. Definitely check them out!
(5)Erika G.
Good place. Not exceptional, not awful. What was cuter was the bar out front, which looks more intriguing.
(3)Maranda T.
I ordered my family dinner from here. My cob salad had a long blonde hair in it. My husband's Angus burger was flavorless. The French fries were so over cooked it felt like it would chip a tooth. The only food that was ok was the kids size chicken wing. Dinner was not cheap. I will not be a returning Customer.
(1)Meredith B.
This place has some of the best french toast in the area. My husband and I like this place, though we don't love it. The French toast is delicious, as is the homemade bagel. Its easy to get a table. The beignets served at the beginning are hot and fresh and delicious. However, the concerns mentioned in other reviews we also had. First, there were some kind of bug flying around inside (this was a few weeks ago, so maybe that problem has been solved). Also, the service was not great- we had to ask for water to be refilled and the table was sticky when we sat down. Lastly, for a breakfast joint, their coffee was not good (which is a major issue at every breakfast place in the area except for Buzz). If the idea is locally sourced ingredients, why not do Metropolis coffee in Chicago, which is fantastic. The stuff just tasted weak and blah. I think there is a lot of potential in this place and I look forward to trying their dinner menu during the winter. We will keep going, though if they improved, we would probably make this a weekly spot for brunch (though the coffee would have to be good for this to happen).
(3)Joette T.
This was my second visit, but the first time having a meal. I like their concept which is freshly made, locally sourced food. I also like the craft beer and small batch spirits that dominate their bar offerings. I'll need another visit or two to really have a solid, enduring opinion. My husband and I both had chicken; I had the winter cobb salad, he had the chicken & dumplings. We both thought that some bites tasted too salty while others seemed fine. Not sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're brining the chicken and the result is uneven. If they're touting a better quality bird, that's what I want to taste, not salt. Presentation is great. The portion sizes seem just right. Overall I think the prices are extremely reasonable. Can't say that I was impressed with the service. The bartender was nice enough, just slow. On each visit I didn't get much of a sense of any personality from the staff or the establishment. Maybe I just haven't been there at the right time. It's a cute place and with the addition of a little more energy in dealing with customers, Amelia's could become a destinatiin in Forest Park.
(3)Jen R.
Was really looking forward to going. Our first visit, the menu looked good. Easy parking. We went in a Sunday around noon. Problem was the cook has never done breakfast/lunch before. So that was an issue, tables were left sitting for a while before they were cleaned and orders were not written down so orders got screwed up. We finally got to talk to one of the owners and it became a little pained sad really.. I know "were a small business" but get with the program. Some of the bill was comped but that's not the point. Definite disconnect.. Too bad was hoping to make this a new go to place in FP.. Get the tables cleaned, please set the tables, please attempt to bring drinks in a timely manner..... PLEASE! Sorry won't be back...
(2)Will V.
Second time eating here. First time the food was good, but not great. This time we stopped in for chicken wings on special, and ended up with a couple of other entrees as well. The chicken wings were pretty awesome, probably some of the best I've had, served with really tasty house-made sauces. The rest of the food was good too, maybe a bit better than the first time we visited. They keep a nice little selection of craft beers on tap, and they have a decent and inexpensive little wine menu. Friendly staff, but do not go to Amelia's expecting a Michelin-type restaurant experience, it's very much a down to earth, casual atmosphere. If you want something, ask for it, and they'll accommodate, but don't expect overly attentive service, you're better off elsewhere. For me, it's perfect.
(4)Bailey D.
Where the heck am I? A roadside truck stop? A sports bar? A five-star restaurant? A converted gas station? The home of a genius chef? Yeah, I'm not yanking your chain. Amelia's in Forest Park could pass for any and all of those things. It has an unassuming location, look and set-up but the food is high- class. I like the unexpected. I really do. This is a gem. Don't expect a sexy date spot or an elegant dining experience. Instead, count on upscale food, organic ingredients, salt-of- the-earth servers in a local dive atmosphere. We ordered cassoulet, hangar steak, roast chicken and dumplings, birthday brownie and some sort of tequila baileys-ish shot. What an adventure. I love Amelia's!
(5)Lea J.
My favorite OP spot. Fresh, real ingredients & delicious. OP lacks restaurants this good w/fresh organic ingredients & needs more like them.
(5)Matt M.
So this is "not so good food and drink"... actually its downright terrible. We got this on grubhub and it was downright terrible. I would say the temperature was to blame and the slow service which has happened before with grubhub... but that was not the case. We got the food reasonably fresh but it was bland, tasteless, watery, and just plain bad. Normally I say something clever and suggest eating something from a garbage can instead but I was just flabbergasted by the mixed (and often positive) reviews from this place only to get slapped in the face with below-truck-stop-standard fare.
(1)Leonard W.
"Oh looks something new" "I'm going to try them" 1 year later I finally decided I was going to try them lol I cam here with my Mom around 1:30pm on a Saturday.was disappointed when give a brunch menu. (I knew from yelp/foursquare reviews/photos that I had wanted to try out the mustard chicken which turns out is a dinner item) I ordered the Mac and Cheese (w Andouille, Bacon, Chicken, Mushrooms) My Mother a burger (don't recall the name but it had blue cheese on it.) As I bite into my Mac and Cheese "WOW!...this is actually good" I say to myself. TRUE comfort food. Really had a lot of taste in it. Got to nibble a little on the blue cheese burger and thought it was done very well. We were actually so impressed we came back for dinner later that night. Ordered the calamari. (was a very decent size nothing spectacular about it. had some banana peppers at the bottom which gave them a nice little kick) also ordered the daily flat bread (chicken smoked BBQ with caramelized onions and Gouda cheese) WOW!! x2 after about three bites I'm thinking which family & friends I'll be bringing here for their birthday dinner. Really it was amazing. the combination of flavors work well and can say I never tasted anything quite like it. (the only drawback it was a daily special so not sure if they'll still have it the next time I'm back) I ordered the Mustard and Herb Crusted Half Chicken. (for some reason I was starting to think this was going to be like the calamari, nothing special but) WOW (just one wow ...the flat bread is still king lol) I would order it again (but not soon as I would love to try out their other dishes) I would give Amelia's 4.25 stars. This is laragly due to location/settings. I ate at the dinning area during brunch and the bar area for dinner. (the bulls game was on!) I would hate to have to be here if they were over 50% full. Parking sucks, the bar area is small off the top of my head I think maybe a 5 tables and the bar. so the area was full due to the game being on. Which means you need to be there BEFORE the game if you plan on watching at the bar. The bartender/waiter kept going into the fridge which produced this BRIGHT light in what was suppose to be a dark/cozy atmosphere or was it suppose to be a bar?
(4)Mary Ann C.
Pretty sad to give the two star review, as I was so excited to dine here. I arrived for lunch yesterday at 12:30 to a mostly empty restaurant. No one greeted me at the door, but after being seated, the server was very friendly and warm. The restaurant was not particularly clean, but the decor is a big improvement from the diner that was hear preciously. I was really expecting it to look a lot better... The big issue has nothing to do with any of the above paragraph. It is the food.....This is what I was so looking forward to as it is locally sourced at Amelias. The butternut squash soup was very dull and bland. It did taste of truffle oil, but this did not save it. The fish po-boy, though, was an even bigger shock. There was a very, very small piece of fish on it. In fact, I ate 1/3 of sandwich with no fish...just bread and condiments, because the piece was SO small. I waited awhile for the sandwich and the fish was also not crisp. Very odd, since it is fried. The bread and toppings were tasty. This was a really disappointing sandwich, sadly. I wish I could get my ten dollars back, as this was not a good lunch at all.
(2)Hans G.
I don't understand some (well, any) of the negative reviews I've read about Amelia's. I come here a lot, and I've never experienced any of the negative things that some report. I've brought many people here, including larger parties approaching 20 people at least three times, once without any prior notice and a short deadline to get out and be somewhere else. The service has always been at least adequate to the task, and usually quite good, even when the restaurant filled up on both sides shortly after my large group arrived. Twice. By now I've had pretty much everything on the menu and a few things that aren't, and I've never had anything that wasn't very good. That includes the eggplant soup, and I generally dislike eggplant otherwise. My friends that I've brought here have not uncommonly raved about the food, and more than a few have come back on their own, even from as far as northern Lake County, and they've repeated their good experiences. So I can't explain the negative reviews. In what must be approaching 100 visits I've never seen anything like what they report, though surely everyone has a bad day now and again.
(5)Claire M.
I thought this place was really good. We live like, half a block away and were never really fans of the place that was here before so I'm glad to have somewhere so close that is tasty - and serves alcohol. I had read the menu beforehand and really, really was looking forward to the soft pretzel appetizer but they didn't have any. =( We ordered the garlic fries instead which while very tasty, I was still bummed because the pretzels were what I really wanted. The garlic taste wasn't too overwhelming like certain OTHER local places (ahem, the place where I had a stomachache for 3 days after eating theirs!). I ordered the caesar salad wrap with a cup of tomato bisque soup. The other half ordered a burger. I can't offer any opinion on the burger, and the other half didn't really say anything either way so... My wrap was VERY good. Very, very good. As was the soup - it had a kick to it. I liked it. I feel like we had something else too and for the life of me, I can't remember what it may have been. Did the other half have clam chowder?? I could be way off on that, they may not even have clam chowder on the menu but for some reason that's where my mind is going. Oh!! Macaroni and cheese!! That's what it was! It was DELICIOUS!!! God I can't believe that's not the first thing I raved about. From the description on the menu, it sounded similar to the kind they have at Uncommon Ground and it was 10 times better at Amelia's than it was there. And it was only like $2.50 for a totally adequate portion. It did take awhile to get our food (our waitress seemed a little annoyed/frustrated) at that fact but we weren't in a hurry and it was worth the wait. We were also there on the 2nd day they were open so I'm sure that had something to do with it however, there were only a handful of people in there. Drinks were served right away and refilled promptly. I didn't have any wine this night, but I surely will on return visits - and there WILL be return visits. There are several other things on the menu that I really want to try.
(4)Annie D.
This place is great! So many beer options and great local food. I bought some hot sauce for home too! Get the eggplant soup- seriously.
(5)Laura T.
Saw what looked like a cute outdoor bar-food kind of place on our way to the pool and stopped back here for lunch earlier today. Didn't know what to expect, but was so pleasantly surprised to sit and read thru the breakfast and lunch options on a perfect summer day with the back patio almost completely to ourselves. Much more sophisticated menu than we were expecting, as indicated by the presence of Gouda and goat cheese--right? The skillet with sourced-farm bacon, Gouda and Carmelized onions sounded fantastic but since I consider potatoes a waste of carbs, I asked if I could get it as an omelet and was told all skillets can be prepared as one lets and vice versa. Then the server dropped off a basket of comp, hot, fresh beignets--which I do Not consider a waste of carbs. That also kept our toddler sated and occupied. My Bloody Mary was well seasoned and not overdone, service super attentive and although we only had an omelette and a skillet, we were very impressed. Can't wait to revisit this hidden treasure. If I had to offer a neg it would be that there are semi trucks passing quite a bit. They might want to throw up a privacy fence. So psyched to have this great new option nearby!!
(4)Mallory S.
Saw reviews for pies being so delicious. Came in for dessert and got one of each daily pie offering. Both were horrible(dry, glue like filling, flavorless) and cold after we waited long enough that they should be piping hot. Thought it was just maybe an off day and they tried again and brought out two more. Little warmer and still as horrible. Ate a small bite of each, barely enough to know they were just as bad. She only took one off the bill. And she, the owner, didn't even come say anything to us about it. We were the only table in there! Unbelievable! I work in restaurants and I would never ever make someone pay for garbage like that. I wouldn't have fed that to my dog. If she had owned up to the fact that her pies were a compliment to dog Shi@ I'd have never written this review. Her rational according to the server was that they brought out 4 pies so she had to charge me even though we Ate no more than one bite. If I just didn't like it that'd be one thing but they were poor quality, crap. Straight up junk. Blah
(1)Jim L.
I ordered delivery tonight. The order took an hour and forty minutes. The sandwich was cold, its bread chewy, and the whole thing wrapped in saran wrap before being tossed into a paper bag on top of a cold clump of fries, each as tough as beef jerky. Inedible. Now, I'm still hungry, and everywhere else is closed. Don't make the same mistake I did.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Amelia's is closing in 3 Weeks - very sad to say. The last day will be Nov 24th. We are super sad about this because we just found this gem. Today was our second experience here. Food was delicious and the bill was roughly $50 for appetizers, entrees, drinks, desserts, and coffee. I had the Summer Vegetable Pot Roast and the husband got Chicken and dumplings. Both were awesome. I also had the Pumpkin Soup and the Cheesecake - which you could tell was homemade and creamy. We will definitely be back many times before they close on the 24th.
(5)Steven E.
We had a mixed experience tonight at Amelia's. The kitchen was very slow (over 60 minutes from order to the main course) but the food was, by and large, delicious. We started with the garlic French fries, which took a half hour to arrive but which were seasoned perfectly and immediately devoured by my two children. For entrees we found the Amish chicken to be outstanding, with a rich flavor and texture. The barbecued pork belly over jambalaya was likewise creative and flavorful. A salmon entree was well seasoned but slightly overcooked, and a pasta dish with turkey, bacon, and broccoli left us somewhat unsatisfied, needing perhaps an alfredo sauce to bind the dish together. Service was above average but ultimately unable to overcome the slow kitchen. In addition, the furnace was out, with the dining room at 59 degrees during our meal. I really want to give Amelia's a higher rating. They exhibit flashes of creativity in their menu, but in the end the execution is so inconsistent that higher marks can't be justified.
(3)Cara D.
For a small family run joint it was impressive. they make almost everything from scratch including mayo and sour cream. They source their bread from the local bakery, meat from the lical butcher and on and on. I had the angis burger with truffle fries and it was the best meal I have had in a while. And for under $9 I challenge someone to find better. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)M W.
Amelia's has a lot of potential. Loved their outdoor eating area, and the inside was cool looking as well. The servers were all very warm and welcoming. I had the garlic parmesan fries, which were so good, but pretty strong. I also ordered a burger with bacon and cheddar. All of the ingredients tasted like good quality (I appreciated that the bun was from Kay's), however the burger patty was WAY too big. It seemed like a 3/4 pounder. I could barely wrap my mouth around it, and my jaw actually got sore. Even my boyfriend thought it was too much burger, and he is a total carnivore. His turkey sandwich was pretty good. I will definitely give this place another go-I just won't get the burger next time!
(4)Ania K.
Soooo happy to be back as an Amelia's customer. The one week without them was a long one. The employee I spoke of in the previous review has been dealt with. Not surprisingly I wasn't the only one that complained about her rudeness. On to the review: The food here is delicious, I especially recommend the Caesar salad with Amish pulled chicken. The dressing is light and tangy and the chicken is always juicy. Also, highly highly highly recommend the flat bread, any and all are outstanding. My husband is addicted to the buffalo chicken sandwich and garlic fries. They do not mess around with the amount of garlic either. We as garlic lovers appreciate that thoroughly! The place is warm and cozy; nice ambiance and great quality beer selection. I'm a Delerium lover myself, and I can't think of many places that have it. Amelia's thankfully does. I love that they serve organic and local food. This is a place worth supporting. Also, very impressed with the owners and their customer service.
(5)Catie F.
Bear with me - because although this place doesn't appear too special from the outside AND it's a bit off of the beaten path, it sure is worth a visit. I have a close friend who lives within walking distance, and she had been raving to me about Amelia's fresh, local, and delicious menu. My boyfriend and I finally got to try it and I am very pleased with their service and their food. We did take-out (and he picked up) so I can't advise on their interior, but the phone service and packaging were definitely well-done. Although we didn't need it, we were offered cutlery, napkins, condiments, etc. A nice gesture. Onto the food ... I ordered the Golden Lentil Soup topped with herb oil, balsamic syrup & pita chip croutons. Oh my yummy. This is the best lentil soup I've had, hands down. The Balsamic adds a nice tangy kick (just enough) and though I might have snubbed the pita chips (extra carbs!) the crouton-like version was a wonderful, crunchy addition to the soup. I had a side of roasted root vegetables, which were vibrant and yummy. My one gripe with this side is the amount of oil / butter that was left at the bottom of the carton when I finished. Although the veggies are roasted, they are finished in a saute pan, hence the excess fats (could have done without that). Another side was the mashed parsnips - creamy, smooth, tasty, and even MORE comforting than traditional mashed potatoes, IMHO. Both sides were a great value for the $2.50 price tag. My boyfriend had the Turkey Po' Boy, which smelled and looked awesome from afar - unfortunately he housed it far too quickly for me to sneak a bite. The warm, hearty sandwich had just the right textures of melty, creamy, crunchy and satisfying (so I've been told). I did sneak a seasoned french fry or two and they are approved! Overall, I think the prices are good (especially for Chicago), the ingredients are fresh, and the menu is interesting and satisfying. One watch-out: since it's small and seemingly family-owned, the restaurat shuts down every once-in-awhile. They're closed Tuesdays (found out the hard way!) and took a week's vacation for the holiday season so give them a call BEFORE you show up!
(4)Deena H.
It is advertised way better than it is. Delivery is longer than an hour. Order was wrong too. Ate in once but the place seemed dingy for a place that serves lamb. I had higher hopes and I gave this place a couple of chances. I didn't give a one star because they have a pretty good home made pie that bumps them up to two stars.
(2)chris p.
Amelia 's is tucked away just over the Circle Ave bridge to Harrison in Forest Park, Il. The food is great and there is something for everyone. The quality is excellent with Scottish salmon, grass fed steak tips, scallops, chicken and dumplings to tasty desserts. There are burgers, sandwiches and salads for lighter fare. The blueberry pie was not overly sweet and was served beautifully latticed as an individual mini pie with a knob of ice cream. The service can be tweaked a bit. There is a bar area for more casual dining. It is worth the trip off the beaten path on Madison Avenue over the bridge to Amelia's.
(4)C T.
If the review were solely for food, I would give them 5 stars. My only complaint is regarding their phone etiquette. I typically order through Grubhub Which has a limited menu so I have to call regarding daily specials etc. They always seem off put by having to ask the kitchen what the special is. As a server, I feel like you should already know it and if not don't give me attitude about having to ask someone. Now on to the food. The meat is purchased from a local butcher every morning. That rocks! Produce is mostly Illinois organic. That rocks too! The Mac n chz isn't like a southern traditional baked dish. It's more modern style with great fresh ingredients. Amish chicken- delicious. Desserts authentic and full of flavor. I look forward to trying many more of their menu items. The bar had good specials as well. Love that they deliver as well. I finally went in to eat and the food was even better- not surprising! Give Amelia's a chance. They are a great food addition to the area.
(4)Tamer A.
Meh. They are trying, and maybe a bit too hard. On delivery, they have gotten my order wrong both times I have ordered. At the restaurant (once), it kind of smelled weird and there were a few fruit flies. The waiter was okay but kind of strange sometimes. And the food, which I really wanted to like, was just okay. Eggplant soup-really good Wings-really good Pasta-regular, lacking flavor, sauce too water, had to substitute chicken because they had not more turkey Lamb-there is no way that lamb was braised right, because braised lamb should be soft and buttery, not tough. Also, it was too gamey, could have used some black pepper or citrus or something.
(2)Cathleen F.
This update is to upgrade Amelia's to 5 stars. In the 8 or so months Amelia's has been there, it has really grown into a beloved neighborhood restaurant with fresh ingredients, quality dishes, and excellent service. A few (more) tips: 1. Get the fries. 2. Don't ignore the specials, if they have them the night you dine. They're always fabulous. 3. Chat with your server(s)--they are all so friendly and make you feel like a member of the Amelia's family. With the overflow of dive bars, Irish pubs and Italian restaurants up on Madison, Forest Park is lucky to have Amelia's. Don't miss out!
(5)Elizabeth R.
The bf and I came here for dinner on an early Friday night. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and decided to sit in the bar area which is separated from the general dinning room (for those who want to bring the kiddies here). We started with an order of crab cakes which were a tad tiny but soooooooo good. For diner the bf ordered a burger which he devoured in minutes. I notice they cooked it medium rare opposed to the medium he requested, but he said it was so good he didn't mind. I ordered the pork chop entree that came with cabbage and potatoes...it was absolutely delicious! Everything we ate tasted amazing and you could tell was very fresh. For 1 appetizer, 1 burger, 1 dinner entree (served only after 5PM), 1 beer, 2 cocktails and dessert the bill came to about $60. I wish I could give 5 stars but some people (I believe employees since they were coming from the kitchen) kept stepping outside for cigarette breaks and each time the side door was opened the stench of smoke would draft in making my amazing dinner not so appetizing. :( Also my blueberry mojito cocktail was nothing special, even a tad watered down. All and all I was very pleased with Amelias; the staff is great, the decor is a huge improvement and it's nice to have somewhere other than Madison Street to get a craft beer or glass of wine. Looking forward to an expanded cocktail list! Go check them out!
(4)Yvonne O.
We came here on the recommendation of another place's manager, so we had high expectations. And, after reading the reviews, we certainly didn't think anything would go wrong. First, we were seated and waited forever for anyone to come back. They admitted a miscommunication and comped our first round of drinks - nice touch. But, from there, things were just nothing special and we were deluged by flies and gnats the whole night, which was awful. All restaurants have to deal with doors to the outside, why can't this place get it together. I had the hangar steak and while the meat was good, it was more rare than medium and the balsamic crap on top ruiined it for me. The pretzel sticks to start were good, but the sauces they came with were quite boring. Husband had the pork belly and liked it. The place was also roasting, which was just uncomfortable. Certainly this is "Amelia's Good Food" and not "Great Food", btu the service (once they got it together) was friendly and helpful. I'll wait for colder weather and death of bugs outdoors to give this another try.
(2)Lisa P.
Had a birthday dinner here and it was very satisfying! 5 of us, Fish & Chips, Hanger Steak, Roast chicken, Fried Chicken-special of the day. Calamari app the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and spinach, caramelized onions is outstanding!, and parmesan white truffle fries, cheesecake dessert. Attentive service, prepared right. They were out of salmon, and also their famous peach pie, which was disappointing. We'll be back to try lunch.
(4)Michael-Colin R.
Did my due diligence, read all the reviews, ignored the over the top glowing and super bad and figured the truth was somewhere in the middle. After discovering that delivery was clearly not their forte, we made the short trip down the street to this place to have a great meal and why shouldn't we expect one? The reviews here promised we would get one. How there can be so many 4 and even 5 star reviews of this place is absolutely beyond me. Where do I even begin... Atmosphere: A coat of paint and some new chairs does not constitute "decor". It basically looks exactly like the old Harrison St Cafe. The place was stuffy, musty, hot and even the booth we sat in was uncomfortable. Service: There is NO excuse for long wait times on anything when you are the only patrons in the place. I expect to wait when you're busy, that's a given. When I'm the only one there I fully expect efficiency. I shouldn't have to wait ten minutes to get a drink refill, get my check, or to get my credit card run and my slip brought back to me. Food: We had the small mac n cheese for an app and yes, it was good. (It's great at Scratch Kitchen too and it's less expensive there.) I had the jambalaya. Mediocre. The salmon in it was a nice touch and while the shrimp were generous, the sausage was non-existent. How can you skimp on sausage when making jambalaya? The portion was far less than generous and the dish was flavorless. Does the chef actually know what authentic jambalaya should taste like and what spices are used in it? How you can make something like jambalaya flavorless is totally beyond me. My partner had the pear salad. Now here is my big issue with our visit. He's six foot 4 and 230 lbs. When a man that size orders a salad it's the server's job to anticipate needs and ask, "Are you having that as a starter or as your meal, because it's the size of a side salad so if you're hungry, that's not going to cut it for you." Not a word of suggestion or recommendation was made. Yes the salad was nice, but again it was a very small salad on a side salad sized plate. She didn't even bother to ask him if it was ok and if he would still require something else. We began with iced tea which came out totally murky and weird. We switched to a Diet Coke and I had a hard cider. Those together with the meal plus tip came to $50. GROSSLY overpriced. When you pay $50 for a meal there is NO excuse to leave hungry. (We eat for $40 at Scratch Kitchen and can barely finish what we get.) No atmosphere. No flavor. No great service. No value. No thanks. A footnote: This issue doesn't fit under any category so I have to add it here. The place suffers from and outrageous GNAT problem. We spent our ENTIRE visit swatting the annoying things away as we were trying to enjoy what little we could of our meal. It was almost comical... (Neither of us were laughing of course.) Concept C- Execution D+ Menu B- Service C+ Quality B Value C- Grade C
(1)Bill H.
My book club met here for dinner a few weeks ago. After my last experience, I was more than a little skeptical about returning here. Thankfully, the service was much, much better compared to the last time I was there. Waitstaff were attentive and courteous, food was good, and we were all able to get individual bills for our orders. I will probably visit again in the near future.
(4)R Paul M.
We REALLY wanted to give this place a very good review -- we applaud the use of local sources and the stated dedication to quality. But it's also about the execution and the service was slow (at a Sunday brunch time with the place nowhere near full) and the was food just OK. My sausage patties were very spiced up so I couldn't tell them from any other chain breakfast, the home ties were cold and the eggs not really scrambled but squashed. My partner found only the tiniest piece of bacon in her so-called Bacon, Garlic, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Potatoes, Smoked Gouda skillet and said it was mostly potatoes. If in the area we would give it another try.
(3)Diana S.
Came here earlier this week with my boyfriend for dinner and was really impressed with their food and dessert. I had the Chicken Pesto and was really good but what I loved was their mac and cheese. I don't usually like mac and cheese at all but my bf ordered it and after a taste, I couldn't get enough - I ended up eating half of it. Super tasty and highly recommend! For dessert, we had the Peach Blueberry pie and it truly has to be the best pie I have ever tasted. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and we couldn't stop eating it. Not too sweet. Lives up to the hype - Must try. Great restaurant with a great cook and baker! Their service is worth noting too - our waiter was super friendly and attentive. Certainly plan to eat here again.
(4)Jet H.
Just found this little gem and stepped in for late dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and excellence of the food. Enjoyed a very fresh spinach salad and a delicious (and thick) burger and a bottle of cider. My girl had the mac n cheese and enjoyed it as well. Leave room for dessert - they're great! Also rolled in for late breakfast one Sunday afternoon and gobbled down the french toast, remarkable bacon and great cup of coffee. A local joint that sources it's ingredients locally. Yes, yes and yes again. I'll be coming back to this place regularly. I hear they have a decent wing night.
(4)Mojo P.
Don't. I ordered two burgers from Grub Hub and it was a bust. They were late, the burgers came without condiments, and the "roasted mushroom" topping is not roasted by any conventional method I am aware of. Unless you include a nuker. No pickle, no lettuce, no tomato, no mayo, and not even an insulting packet of ketchup. You get a burger that has been in the freezer so long that it's not even aware that Obama is the President. Also, everything was burned. Not "charred". Frickin' burned. Ugh. So let's recap: $32 plus a six dollar tip for the driver, for exactly two burgers with bacon, cheese, shrooms and onions = should have gone to Burger King. Please, Amelia's, remove this item from your menu if you hate it so much.
(1)Mindy B.
So, got this delivered and I gotta say, the quality of the food was not there because of it. I could tell that our food sat for too long waiting to come to us, and this was sad. My Mac n cheese & lentil soup survived and were awesome, but our French fries, tarts, and my friend's catfish had that "I've been sweating my crispy wonderfulness off while waiting for the delivery driver," appearance and taste. I will try to get into the restaurant sometime because I tasted potential greatness; just disappointed when a place can't bring it to me.
(3)Igor K.
A quick search on grubhub, landed us here. Looked like a very nice place, so we parked and in we went. after entering, someone at the host booth looked puzzled. i wasnt sure if we were even welcomed in. he yelled something in spanish, and a minute later, a nice gentlemen told us we can sit anywhere. after sitting down, we saw that the menu that he gave us, didnt have the kids kabobs, like grubhub said i can order. i asked if i can order the chicken kabobs, he said its brunch and that its a diff menu (it was approx 2pm on a Sat), but he said he'll ask if they can make it. sure enough, they, did.. i was very pleased with this! thank you! the order came out in a timely manner. didnt wait too long. when the food came out, the restaurant became a little more packed. 3 other families walked in. before that, we were the only ones in the space. although the bar had a few people. after the food, the server barely said a word to us. our flat crisp bread, had a piece of hair on it, and we were pretty dissatisfied with that. there was another family there, that seemed like a "regular" so the attention was basically to them, the entire time. their drinks and refills were coming non stop. it was a sure let down. Getting bill was a bit of a task, and took longer than the actual food wait. we have a 1yo and a 4yo, so the waiting part is a bit of a task. so when the bill came, i didnt even look at it, because i didnt want him to disappear again. so i quickly handed him the payment card. i still left a standard tip, because i believe that the restaurant was simply, under staffed. To summarize, the server probable wasnt an actual server, the menu descriptions were very bland, and didnt really "sell" me the food. it was our 1st time here, and the experience was a downfall. this place is NOT cheap.. its actually quite pricey. and you know, i CANNOT justify the food, price and service as a combination. its completely off. i wont tell you fellow readers to NOT go here. I wont say that this was my first and last time here, either. I'll keep my eyes peeled on reviews, and hopefully they will improve. the menu idea of organic and homemade are a rarity, so hopefully, i will return one day and experience at least a 4 star service.
(2)Tom K.
Never come here with a big group. I was here with a group, and we all were waiting about 45+ minutes for our food to arrive. The food came all at once, and most everyone's plates were cold. I ordered a 1/2 order of Mac and Cheese and it was cold (I also ordered it with tomatoes, and they didn't put any on it). The Mac and Cheese wasn't anything all that special, really. I also ordered a chicken wrap with the fries, which were ice cold. Nothing all that special, really. The parking lot is tiny. The waitstaff appeared to all be on their first day on the job. I would not go back here.
(1)Jennifer W.
I just visited Amelias with a friend and it was late so we just had a few drinks and some app's. The waitress was super cool and friendly and we ordered Jack whiskey, she said they do small batch liquors (bonus) it was super tasty. the truffle fries blew my head off they were sooooo good. The flatbread served before the meal tasted like dirt and was super dry and pasty (rosemary) and the salad again had rosemary all over it yucko-again the dirt taste with no offer to take it off the check (hmmmm?????) You kind of have to be ignorant not to offer to take it off the check if it is not even eaten. The strawberry rhubard pie was super yummy with only a small hint of rhubarb but still good. I would def go back if only for those great fries!
(4)Ben M.
At least the food was good. I can't say the same for the service. We went to Amelia's for bunch today with high expectations, but left disappointed. The bunch menu was pretty extensive. I had the French toast and was pleasantly surprised, though it is hard to mess up deep fried brioche. My dining companions each had one of the two omelettes on the menu, one regular and one egg white. Both were happy with their choices. But that service..... When we arrived there was only one or two tables with other patrons. We were shown to our seats, and our drink orders taken. After a long, but appropriate, wait we received or drinks and or brunch orders were taken. Then we waited and waited and waited. Not only did we not receive our food, but our drinks ran dry. Finally our food arrived. Exited to start digging in we examined our food. Sadly what we saw in front of us was not what we ordered. After some time of trying to flag down our waiter, we altered him to the error. He was happy to fix the problem, so he told the food back. Now we are foodless and drinkless, with fine, unimpeded view of the Ike. One of my dining companions finally had enough and sought out a waiter to refill her drink, however, when the waiter came he didnt seem to either notice or care that everyone else at the table had empty drinks. The corrected food arrived, with much more hast than the first round. I would like to reiterate that the food was tasty, but the service was pretty unbearable. It definitely left a sour taste in our mouths.
(3)Allison N.
This review is long overdue...I no longer live in the area, but it's close to where I grew up. My fiance and I were in town for the holidays. We went to Amelia's with my brother and his fiance, for our New Years Eve dinner. It was a fixed menu of 5 courses, I believe, for a great price. We decided to add the wine pairings for an additional $20. Normally I don't care enough to pay extra for wine pairings, but it was NYE and let me say, it was WELL WORTH IT! The portions were impressive. With six courses, including desert, I couldn't believe how much food we were getting in each course for the price. With pre-fixed menus, I've had two experiences in the past: getting a really good deal but the food was meh or paying a hefty price for quality food but each course was 3 bites. This was pleasantly not what I'm used to. You could tell from the start, the chef was passionate about the quality of ingredients and knew what he was doing in the kitchen. At no point in the meal did I feel shortcuts were taken to justify the price. Each course was sooo yummy. I must admit, I've never had mussels and the thought of them grosses me out. I tried them to prove to myself I would try anything once. Nope. Not my thing...the rest of the table guests GLADLY finished them off while I dipped the toast in the delicious broth...worked for me! Long story short, I cannot go back regularly because I live in Los Angeles, but I plan to go back when in town visiting family. I STRONGLY recommend people from the area check it out. It's a hidden gem off the beaten path, that won't disappoint...
(5)Nico s.
I finally got an opportunity to go to this awesome establishment. I went to this location outside of my normal eating route. I needed to go there because I promised the owners that I would come and try the cuisine. I had the chipotle chicken sandwich. Let me tell you the sandwich was awesome.. I enjoyed the layers of the sandwich and the flavor was very good. I did have my two friends who are food critics in their part time and the food to them was run of the mill. It was not spectacular but it was not bad but keep in mind the comparison of food was to gourmet food. The two of them ordered Mac and cheese and pork poboy. They were full but did mention the lack of complexity in flavor. I enjoyed my plate, customer service was awesome the waitress was beyond helpful and involved in the experience so I will be returning for the chipotle sandwich and great customer service.
(4)Grace N.
Amelia's has a lot of potential because it offers good food that aims at the Chicago gastropub style, but it would benefit from a serious facelift because at this point, it looks and smells like a diner (i.e. musty), there's odd music playing randomly from a jukebox, and their wine (especially for the prices) really should be served in stemware. In short, the ambiance doesn't match the food or the higher prices But to be fair, my husand and I enjoyed our meals here.
(3)Leilani L.
I love the concept here and the inventive dishes. The food preparation is uneven and the service is polite, but distant and slow. This restaurant needs Chef Robert! It's close but getting it wrong in some key areas. But I will keep coming back, hoping they keep improving!
(3)Edwin W.
Wow! Finally, a great, comfortable place, with terrific service, and excellent food on Harrison St.!!! We have been waiting patiently for Amelia's to open, and have been rewarded for our patience with a wonderful wine and beer list, and a fresh, locavore approach to the menu. So far, we have tried the scallops with bacon risotto (O-M-G!), the fish and chips (light and clean-tasting, with outrageously good house-made smoked shrimp tartar sauce), the burger (perfection), the turkey wrap (yum!), the mac and cheese (our take-out full-order was a bit small, and lacking the crunchy topping, but serviceable, nonetheless), and the amazing local asparagus salad with Wisconsin bleu cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. We will definitely be regulars, and hope you will, too! We want Amelia's around for a long time.
(4)Nicole R.
Great little place with amazing, local food. Stopped in for bunch and the food blew me away! We were brought a little treat of doughnut puffs with powdered sugar....split the last one with their homemade jam - WOW! I had the skillet #2, with local potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, roasted garlic, bleu cheese, and fried eggs, and my friend had omelette #2 with ham, peppers, onions, and american cheese, and both also had bloody marys. Everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The homemade jam, whipped butter, and homemade hot sauce were a great touch! I will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)Nick C.
Amelia's is the newest restaurant to open in Forest Park and it brings something we've needed for a while: modern American cuisine. My better half and I had the pleasure of dining here this evening and aside from the typical hiccups new restaurants go through (new staff, getting used to the way things are run, etc) the food was delicious, the staff was sincerely friendly, and the portions were large as well as fairly priced (their drinks too!). We will definitely be going back. Best of luck to them.
(4)Evan V.
Came out to Amelia's late on a Monday night, and we had a terrific dining experience. I had the stuffed eggplant, which was very tasty. I'm not a vegetarian, so I am often a skeptical of meatless fare, but the vegetables were perfectly cooked, the flavors were well-balanced, and it was well-matched to a very savory side of mashed sweet potatoes. Great wine list, too. I had a very refreshing Pouilly Fuisse, which was perfect on a warm summer night. My girlfriend had the wild mushroom wrap with a side of Illinois asparagus, crisp and drizzled with a flavorful sauce. Extra points for using locally-grown ingredients! You'll be pleasantly surprised by this quiet, unassuming cafe, which I believe is on its way to becoming one of Forest Park's "best kept secrets" in 2012. Good work! Evan
(4)Dr. John Z.
The food is good so it sucks I have to write this review. This is based solely on their delivery customer service. Dude on phone: Hey it's Amelia's, guy. Me: Hey buddy. You sent the wrong order. Dude on phone: Ok friend. Do you want us to send the right order? Me: Oh no, not at all. You see, I figure you keep a log of these things. Maybe there's a wrong order census that you have to go through every year and I figured I'd help you out. I know how rough is it if the books get all messed up so I'm looking out for you... Yes! Of course, I want you to send the right food! Dude on phone: Hey relax, guy. Me: Don't call me guy, friend! Dude on phone: I'm not you friend, buddy! Me: I'm not you're buddy, guy! ...(20 minutes later - knock on door) Dude at door: Hey guy, did I give you the wrong order? Me: Yeah buddy. Dude at door: Well... do you want me to bring you the right order? Me: No. Actually, I was wondering if you could revive Scuzzlebutt and have him make me a nice wicker basket with his celery arm while I chat with his Patrick Duffy leg. Maybe pitch him an idea for a new - Yes, I want the right food! Dude at door: Hey guy, relax. Me: Don't tell me to relax, buddy! Dude at door: Don't call me buddy, friend! Me: Don't call me friend, guy! You get the point. Maybe attaching the receipt to the bag would prevent mistakes. But then again, maybe not. And by the way, in no way have I ever utilized hyberbole for the purpose of creative license. I don't even know what those words mean.
(2)Franco B.
I had a craving for wings and I found the perfect cure: Amelia's. Although they have a lot more to offer in their, the wings that I ordered were spot on. Try the dry rubbed or buffalo wings you won't say no to another dozen wings. Awesome service as well.
(4)Kimberly W.
My five stars may be premature and is based on delivery, but I'll definitely be visiting the restaurant and will update soon. Everything was excellent. Delicious, smoky mac and cheese, homemade pretzels with beer-cheese heaven, and this tomato-chipotle bisque that was darned addictive. I also give extra credit for the sweet and appreciative delivery guy. Fast service, open late on weekends... something we needed badly in Forest Park. Happy eaters here. Can't wait to visit. Update: OK, didn't wait to visit, went this morning for breakfast. Loved it! Can't wait to watch this place grow. Service was a bit... leisurely? And the server didn't have all the answers, but that's to be expected; they've only been open a couple of weeks. It also gave us time to smile at our fellow Forest Parkians which is what we want--a place to meet and hang out in the neighborhood. As for the food? Great prices, not-too-big portions (that's not a complaint, mind you. I'd rather have less and pay less). The mushroom-bacon-gouda skillet was YUM. So was the French toast. And they gave us a little basket of beignets... really! Here! In Illinois! Beignets! So cool. Note: As we walked through town, we stopped at a garage sale and chatted with the people about how THEY had been to Amelia's and loved it. Stopped at Ed's Way and chatted with the employees and other customers about how THEY had been there and loved it. We have very high hopes for this spot! I realize that five stars is generous; I'm not a huge five-star-giver. Thing is, this is EXACTLY what I wanted here.
(5)Tay H.
Very pleased with this new place! I have been excited for Amelia's to open since reading about it in the paper and was not disappointed. The food and beverage selection was great...so many options, I have to return! And the service was amazing. I was surprised with how much I like it on their first day...I really expected more hiccups!
(5)Carlos G.
We rolled in about 10:15 p.m. after some friends had performed at the Taste of Melrose Park. We were greeted by a very nice young lady, I asked her if they were still open and she said yes, proceeding to set up our 10 person table right away. Our party arrived and we were all very complimentary of the decor and vibe that the place has. One person did not that she was unsure if the place existed since there was nothing around there. Diamond in the rough. I had the fried goat cheese salad, it was ok, I didnt care too much for the goat cheese fritters, I think I will stay with fresh goat cheese. My kids split the 4 cheese macaroni and wow! I ended up eating it. it was late so dont judge me! :) My friend had the rum raisin bread pudding and he loved it. Other people in our party had the BLT (good), Ceasar wrap (delicious) and fish and chips. The bread that came with clam chowder was very good! I will return, I love these local joints
(5)Jenna E.
I really want to LOVE this place, and my BF and I just had the best Salmon of our lives there this week, along with learning all about its environmentally friendly Icelandic roots. The owners are great. The food is spectacular and both thoughtfully sourced and exquisitely prepared. The service can be really hit or miss tho. The ambiance is odd: pretty good in bar (a little TV overload), terrible in the dining room, and prob best on the new patio (the whole place's decorating feels very "shanty Irish" tho, as mom would say. Aka: DIY). The nicely designed cocktail menu can be horribly prepared by your untrained server (I've officially had the worst Bloody Mary of my life there, among other horrors). Good wine list and great micro brews on tap. I'm still so hopeful they'll get their act together because there is so much going for it- and it's a few blocks away!
(3)Michelle W.
I can't recommend Amelia's enough. A diverse menu of solid food, thoughtfully prepared. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will have plenty to choose from. It has a small, focused menu (as it should be for a place this size) but there are great choices and I've never been disappointed from breakfast to seafood to burgers to after work drinks. They have a small but good draft list, and they change it often. It is a gem in the neighborhood and I'm proud to call it my local.
(4)John V.
Has potential, but failed to capitalize on it. The food is way to salty. I ordered the airline chicken breast with the mustard gravy over mashed potatoes. Salt,salt, salt. My wife ordered the shrimp special. Again, way too salty. We ordered an appetizer which was truffle fries. The appetizer was good but the fries were cold. The place was not even that busy. The man hosting and serving us was a nice simple fellow, but he asked for our order 3 times and brought the wrong drinks. I'm not beyond mistakes but, its a small place and has a very personable approach to its patrons. Mistakes way heavily with your patrons here. Customer service was good and presentation overall was clean, but my dining experience has been better elsewhere.
(2)Kimberly C.
We went here with some friends who had all good things to say about this place...another gem in Forest Park that is tucked out of the way. For an appetizer, because we were all curious but no one wanted to indulge in an entire serving, we shared a mac-n-cheese with bacon. It was so decadent...totally worth a try! For dinner, I had the roasted chicken...it was so moist & delicious and such a huge portion! My husband had the pork shank, and he really enjoyed it, but it was a lot smaller than the chicken (lucky for him, I let him finish my chicken!) Our server was excellent, super personable & gave good menu suggestions. The only thing I didn't love is the cocktail (cherry something?)...it seemed watered down & didn't pack a lot of punch. But I'm anxious to go back for that chicken & some more Mac-n-cheese!
(4)Christine D.
Food is always outstanding. We've eaten here 4-5 times in the last 6 months. We've had the chicken/dumplings, pork butt, burger, fish, salads, mac&cheese, sliders, you name it. Service is usually very pleasant, but just really slow. Takes forever to get drinks - even when sitting at a table in the bar, which we have done a few times. God forbid they bring the wrong drink - you might as well just give up and take it. Timing of soup/salad is too close to entree. Everyone is very very nice - its just annoying to have to wait longer than you should for each part of the dinner including bringing of the check. We will still go there but if they could even this out, this place would be a home run.
(3)Denail T.
I was very exited to try Amelia's since I read about them taking over the old Harrison Street Cafe space. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I entered the dark but welcoming restaurant. My waiter wasn't knowledgeable about the days specials and my request for a well done hamburger resulted in a burger than was bloody when I cut into it. There was one bright spot in the visit, my friends Illinois heirloom tomato salad with homemade mozzarella looked good enough to eat!
(2)Julie C.
Most of the food was fine, but the service was RIDICULOUSLY slow. The server brought our drinks and then didn't return for almost 10 minutes to take our order. Then the food took a very long time to arrive (and after all that, my husband's "medium" burger was practically raw--but he didn't want to send it back for fear of how long it would take). Unfortunately, we had promised the kids earlier that they could order dessert, so they did, and that took 15 minutes to arrive. There were two servers working and only four tables occupied, so there's just no excuse for this. Overall, we were there for more than two hours because the service was so slow. Also, the back area by the bathroom doors is DISGUSTING. It smells like sewage and there are flies everywhere. I was hoping to find a neighborhood gem here, but we won't be going back.
(2)joel l.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and had a burger while the GF had a salad. Food was good but they only had one server and the manager left her hanging when the place filled up for the lunch rush. People started walking out because it was taking so long to order. I can't blame the server as she was working as fast as she could and was apologetic while the manager was off talking to friends at another table. Hopefully he learns a little bit about how to run a restaurant.
(3)Heather E.
This review is mostly about the delivery service. The food, unfortunately, is amazing. I say unfortunately, because after the most recent incident, we will not be ordering from here anymore. My husband always orders a burger. Always medium rare. It was always delivered in a decent amount of time (usually within an hour, once or twice maybe a little longer). Last week, it came cooked well done. We called and let them know, since they had never messed it up before, thinking maybe there was a new cook or something. Manager Greg said that next time it would be on the house. Great! So next time we ordered (last night), we got basically the same order again, and figured just the burger would be on the house. No, Greg said the whole order was. Wow how nice of them right? So... why only 2 stars? Our food took almost 2 hours to arrive, that's why. Ice cold. At the 1 hour and 15 minute mark, I called and asked if they knew when it might arrive, and was told it should "be there any minute, the driver is out with it right now". After 1 hour and 35 minutes, my husband called again, and was told they would contact the driver and call us back. Never got a phone call. We ordered at 6:09pm. Food arrived at 7:54pm. Delivery time of 1 hour and 41 minutes is completely unacceptable. If you are going to offer delivery, do it right. We won't be ordering from here anymore.
(2)Matt B.
I'm lucky enough to live around the corner from here. All I need to say about their food is this: Following a trainwreck of a camping trip I took two weeks ago, the first thing I did when I got back home was put on dry shoes for the first time in 48 hours, and the second thing I did was order garlic fries and chicken wings from Amelia's. I've can honesty say I've never had a bad meal here, and their drinks are great too- the shandy in particular is terrific. They also recently opened a nice outdoor area for the season. Another big plus for me they are big, big, big into supporting local business, getting everything they can from local merchants.
(5)Kate N.
Just had a lovely lunch at Amelia's. The place was very quiet, which is a shame--peeps need to get over there! Decor is okay, but service was great! Waitress was on time with everything without being pushy. The menu is interesting and diverse. I had an heirloom tomato salad with basil, feta and oil as an appetizer...delish. And my entree was the special: buttermilk crusted fried quail with a salad of greens, carmalized red onions and candies walnuts. Perfect! Dessert was the pie of the day--a square ramekin of strawberries and peaches with a dollop of whipped cream. I want to bathe in it. Lovely wine, beer and liquor selections and efforts to prepare locavore food topped off the experience. The only drawback for me is the limited vegetarian options, as my DH is a vegetarian. One or two visits will exhaust the possibilities for him. I am hoping they will add a veggie special of the day to accommodate couples like us--one a dedicated carnivore, one definitely not. With the wide array of veggies already available on the menu, I hope they will see how easy it would be to offer a daily veggie special as well (e.g., asparagus with pasta; puff pastry tart with veggies and feta...) I will be back for lunch and will also encourage DH to come for dinner. Let's hope he has enough options to want to go back!
(4)