Well, I've been here a couple of times now for lunch and dinner and I think that I can write a good post on this bistro. Let's start with the good stuff: I really like this place and would recommend it. The menu items are creative and tasty; excellent cheese and meat selections; room is comfortable, liked the old pics on the walls though with the farm stuff; service staff is generally friendly and efficient, except for one bad experience which I'll get into below. This is a really great place to go for a date or just to kick back with a cheese plate and glass of wine. They also have music on certain nights which is fun if you like that sort of thing. We also like the manager Karl, whom we have met twice now when he checked in on our table to see how our experience was. He is really nice and funny too! Now for the constructive criticism: I did have one bad dining experience because of my server who just generally has a poor disposition. However, I must note that she is pregnant and I cannot imagine that being on her feet all day is comfortable, so I give her a pass on that one. The food seems to take a bit longer than most other restaurants, but the quality is very good, so I give a pass on that one too. I'm pretty sure that we saw the owner and one of the workers from the market side drinking at the bar and getting loud. Really unprofessional to see the staff who should be helping with service drinking alcohol. The reason why I bring this up is because the bistro was swamped and could have used the extra hands helping out, instead the owner ignored what was going on and was drinking. Our experience would have been different if the owner greeted us, rather than being a fellow patron. The lunch service is much slower than the dinner service. All in all, I really like this place and am willing to keep coming back. And if the owner reads this - stop by and say hi to the patrons - we really like that kind of attention. Thanks...
(4)
Andrew S.
Love stopping in on weeknights for a quick red wine flight. They have really perfected their food menu since my first visit a few years ago when they opened/expanded in this location. The space is really sophisticated and I like that the market portion is very much part of the space. You have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, which are beautifully done. Some items on the food menu don't really seem to justify their price... not that there aren't some lovely things at a good value. They far make up for this with an excellent selection of wines & beers.
(4)
Daniil V.
You should: Make The Trip Sizzle: a Party In Your Mouth Juice: Diverse selection of cheese, beer & wine flights, tapas-style menu, almond-stuffed olives & salumi. Check Please: $$
(5)
HOLLY M.
I LOVE the food! I hate the service. Slow, surly waitress, very annoying. Food rocks though!
(3)
trista r.
Went to Marion Street Cheese Market last Friday with some friends. There were probably about 15 of us at the table. We had a reservation, so the staff were aware that there would be that many of us at a table. Let me just say, the service was ATROCIOUS! The server was painfully painfully slow, did not check on the table in a timely manner (probably every 15 mninutes is a good idea with a table that size, it was more like once every 30), when she did check on the table she would only go to one side or the other and not ask everyone at table how they were doing, and at two different points the server was downright RUDE. We ordered a few different cheese plates and I asked for a cheese knife, as there was no knife brought out. We had ordered other things so everyone's knives were being used for that. Plus, THIS IS A CHEESE PLACE RIGHT?! So when I ask for a cheese knife do not be a complete jerk to me! "The knife at your table isn't good enough?" NO! It's not! The knife at the table has been used for the meat platter and we have several vegetarians at our table and the knife at the table is not a cheese knife!!!And the knife never came by the way. I understand that the place is busy, that the table has a lot of requests, etc, but you KNEW about the large table coming in so PLAN for that sort of thing. We all spent a lot of money in there, and you expect good service when spending that much. Sorry, end of rant about poor service. Anyway, the cheese was good. I guess that's the point of this place. But I would just buy the cheese and eat it somewhere else, anywhere else. Or skip it and visit the Whole Foods cheese section. The wine list was a JOKE. Seriously. Don't even bother, you aren't even close to doing it right, you'd be better off letting people bring in their own wine because you have no idea what you are doing. Beer list was great. Husband had mac and cheese with cajun chicken something or other, which was good. Charcuterie platter was good. Spinach salad - I've had better at Panera Bread. For less money. Friend had an eggplant thing, which was also good. Atmosphere was nice as well, cozy and dark and good for conversation. They also had a band which was unexpected but great. All in all, I don't mind spending a lot of money for good food and good service, but Marion Street Cheese Market? Sorry hun, you are just not it.
(2)
A D.
Similar vein - poor service. Husband and I went to lunch. Person in front of us was being seated. Whew! Who knew it took over 5 minutes to seat one lady? We were finally seated and it took 10 minutes to get a menu. I should have ordered my fave cauliflower sandwich but instead I opted for their new crunchy eggplant with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. No where on the menu did it say it was served on a brioche bun. Funny, the other listings detailed the bread, but since this had none I assumed the crunchy eggplant took the place of a bun. The brioche was so incredibly egg-y and rich that it competed with the strong sandwich flavors and really made the whole sandwich come up a loser. The eggplant prep included frying it in oil after being breaded with panko crumbs. Do yourself a favor, skip this unless you like the notion of fried eggplant topped with great Italian elements then essentially rolled up in brioche French toast san syrup. I would've told this to my waiter, but wait...he never came back. We had to ask the server filling up our water if he could tell our waiter that we were still breathing.
(2)
Marielle S.
Bought the Groupon for this place, otherwise probably wouldn't have driven all the way to Oak Park for brunch.. Now that I've been there, though, I definitely want to go back. One, our waitress was awesome. I said to my fiance, "man, we really are being high maintenance, asking all these questions.. but it's kind of our waitress's fault for being so nice!" halfway joking, but mostly serious. We had a lot of questions about everything from the cheese tastings to the wine and beer selection, but she helped with everything. I ended up ordering a glass of wine and the portabello benedict. It was SO GOOD. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise sauce was unbelievably rich (but not in an ew-my-stomach-hurts-from-eating-this-kind-of-way) with truffle. The English muffin also had a layer of pesto on it. The fiance ordered two samplings; one of cheese, the other pate. His plates were smallish (and about $12 each), but they were totally YUM. Well, I didn't try the pate, but the cheese was YUM (and it came with a spoon of jam and some spatterings of nuts and cranberries). The decor was really charming, and even though we went around 1 on a Saturday, it wasn't too crowded. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch and am excited to try it for dinner.
(4)
Anceert M.
I called them to make a reservation for me & my hubby. I wanted to redeeem my groupon this evening (07/30/11) so I mentioned it to the receptionist who was making the reservation. She was a bit snappy (no in a good way) when she heard my accent. So she told me that they were all booked for that night. So I told my hubby to call them back(obliously, he does not has an accent) and we got a reservation. Go figure!, right . We got there and I saw a quite a few open tables, which I was a bit disappointment.,But the food was GREAT. I love the watermelon/arugula salad & feta cheese & wine vinaigrette. & the pesto risotto Yumm-o ,plus dark chocolate-expresso ice crean & marshmallow for dessert even better. Thanks for a wonderful dinner & waiter-service. Not so much with the receptionist
(4)
Frances B.
I'm a regular customer. I love the wine and cheese and some of the food is great. It's too expensive for bad/slow service. Very few diners the last time I was there and had to hunt down our waiter. It didn't get any better even after he knew we had been waiting for water and menus for about 15 minutes. Oh well. I'll probably be back because it's just few blocks away from my home. I'll lower my expectations.
(2)
buddy l.
very trendy, extremely pretentious, terrible service- but worth it! We went in yesterday, not exactly dressed to the 9's (not TERRIBLE, just casual clothes, but when compared to the other 'sunday-church clothes, we felt a little under dressed) and the wait staff stood in front of us and argued who would take our table for over 20 minutes, assuming we would not tip, which is the worst thing to presume since 3\4 people with our party are in the service industry- therefore always tip 20%. Even after that the manager saw we were flustered, and about to get up and go but she rushed over and was very polite and asked if everything was OK, and our waiter actually ended up being very kind. But the food is why we made ourselves stay, the hangover fries alone are worth trying, especially ...if hungover. The benedicts are extraordinarily yummy, particularly since the ham is smoked and the cheddar is aged, and the Hollandaise sauce is not too heavy. But my favorite thing on the menu, which is why I keep returning, is the ham sandwich on pretzel bun. DELISH! Unfortunately I think that will be my last visit- because I mean, come on who argues in front of a table full of guest. I sure hope our, even though kind waiter, felt like shit after we left since our tip was still more than generous. And honestly, I don't see this business surviving for much longer, since everyone else I've spoken to who's been here say they enjoyed the food, and even the broad beer selection and fun things in the deli to try out- but the verdict is in and the terrible service out weighs the pros of the actual restaurant. There's just too many other businesses to choose from who enjoy their job to serve their guest which food just as tasty, there's no point in paying more for side dishes and getting snubbed for desert.
(3)
Megan O.
The ambiance is very nice here, and some of the food ordered by others at my table had potential, but the AWFUL, AWFUL service here far overshadowed any positives. Our waitress, who had the personality of a cardboard box, paid little attention to us. So little that it took me ten minutes to get her to return to the kitchen the sandwich I had ordered that was ICE COLD in the middle. She then brought it back out, clearly zapped in the microwave for about 10 seconds, still cold in the middle, and did not return. At the end of the meal, when we inquired why some of our items had been taxed twice and at 12 1/2 %, neither she nor the manager had any idea. I'd consider getting cheese here, but will never sit down for a meal again.
(1)
Jessica G.
My favorite place to splurge! Love the Cheese Flights! Love the food. Great service. Go there with friends when we have a reason to celebrate.
(5)
Douglas A.
I had two Groupons for Marion Street Cheese Market, and I used them both in one day - one for lunch with one friend, and the other for dinner with another friend. Both friends and I liked the food very much! I had a bowl of the mushroom soup they were offering that day, and the combination of mushrooms, cheese and other ingredients made a memorable mushroom soup I could enjoy eating very regularly! At dinner time I had a cup of the other soup that had chickpeas and chorizo in a tomato base. It was a good soup if one likes that combination, but I decided I don't like chorizo well enough to want to order in in anything again. For lunch I had the Ploughman's lunch. The pate was tasty though mild; the farmhouse cheddar was delicious; and the dried fruit also included some nuts, especially blanched almonds. The menu listed Stichelton blue as being part of the plate, but I don't remember any cheese other than the cheddar, but there was a small crock of a tasty apple butter on the platter, so I'm guessing they were out of the blue cheese and simply substituted that without telling me. My friend and I ordered the largest French coffee press offered, and it provided us with the listed six cups of delicious coffee. (They also offer 4- and 2-cup sizes of French pressed coffee as well as other styles of coffee and other beverages.) For dinner my main course was the mac and cheese I had seen on the lunch menu and had wanted to try, and I asked for the version with chicken added. The flavors of the three cheeses - cheddar, parmesan, and chevre - combined with the pasta that was cooked to be chewy rather than lacking any body, as pasta often is, were wonderful together. It made me want to begin experimenting at home with various combinations of cheeses in my own mac and cheese, rather than simply using the same old cheddar with, perhaps, a little Kraft grated parmesan shaken in. But MSCM uses some of the excellent cheeses they also sell in the market section, so a lot of the wonderful flavor has to do with the chef having made excellent choices in combining the flavors of the various cheeses - and cheeses and vegetables and/or meats in other dishes. One other reviewer that I read complained about having been ignored or rudely treated and not assisted in the market section. From my wandering around in that section before going into the restaurant area, I would say that the shop may not train their personnel well enough or hire people who are interested in learning enough about what they're selling to be of real assistance to their customers. If you know what special cheeses or specialized meats or wines you want, MSCM has some wonderful things to offer; but don't go in expecting to get much knowledgeable advice about what they've got. In fact, if I were looking for wine, I'd rather go to Binny's, since their people really know their stock. All in all, I'd definitely go back to MSCM and pay full price for the food in the restaurant. It would be a nice place to take guests or on a special occasion.
(4)
Libby H.
Marion Street Cheese Market catered part of our wedding, and everything was just perfect. We had tasted a slew of cheese with them in preparation, and they put together a great spread with our favorites. They were even willing to order special order cheese that they didn't normally have (in our case, our favorite chevre). The accompaniments (e.g., nuts, fruit) were great, and our guests raved about the cheese and setup all night and after the event. I haven't eaten in the restaurant, but I can't say enough good things about the cheese counter and catering staff.
(5)
natalie h.
I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone I know! The food was so delicious and the servers very patient. I went with some friends all of us loving cheese and wine and other things on the menu but not knowing what would go together well. Not only did the server carefully answer all our questions taking into considerations our specific tastes ( of which we all four had different faves) but she also gave us beer samples to compliment our cheeses. She even let us order each course at a time since we didn't know if we'd have enough room to get to dessert. Luckily we paced ourselves and did make it to the delicious dessert menu. We each ordered something different and then passed it to the left so eventually tried their whole dessert menu. All four of us loved the entire everything we ate. I have to save up calories to go back:)
(5)
Matthew Y.
Review Update! This is an update to a previous review (now almost 2 years old) that is located at the end of this review. I have returned to MSCM only a few times since my original review and recognized a discrepancy between service/product and cost. I am aawarding MSCM with 4 stars following this evening's quasi-meal (pints, cheese flight, and mac-n-cheese). We (my gf joined me) originally wanted a few pints and a cheese flight - we had that and an amazing mac-n-cheese and returned home with a six-pack. Service was much better this time. Out waitress was great and provided us with printed material and a senior staff person to answer questions that were out of the scope of her everyday responsibilities Our waitress provided us with printed stickers for each cheese featured on our flight - this makes remembering what we ordered much easier. I wish she was provided with more details about some of the offerings we selected. I do not hold this against her. She was cool and mad the experience pleasurable. The sun-dried mac-n-cheese is amazing. Order it. We had a question about beer, our waitress introduced us to Charlie (their resident beer expert). Charlie is pleasant to speak with, knowledgeable about the beer he selected, and motivated us to leave with a six-pack of a beer we thought was gone! Thank you Charlie. This evening's experience has encouraged a return visit in the near-future. - end of update - Original Review (1 star): I was looking for a specific cheese and recommended an alternative cheese because of color. The person in the cheese section had limited knowledge of cheese. When I was unsure which cheese to look for after my original choice was unavailable the person I was speaking with did not demonstrate service one expects from a specialty shop. I have been in other shops that will ask which ask if I am pairing the cheese with a specific wine, what I am serving this with , or any number of other appropriate questions an "expert" sales person should ask a customer. I do not expect detailed service from the Schnucks cheese island, a "cheese market" should provide a service that demonstrates knowledge and enthusiasm. Go to an alternative boutique market if you want to purchase cheese from a connoisseur that will help develop your own appreciation for this product. Marion Street Cheese Market may be a good option if you are local and need cheese in a pinch or you know exactly what you want.
(4)
Margo L.
5 stars for the cheese and wine shop. Candy the wine buyer is very knowledgeable and really listens to what type of wine you are interested in, what you like, what food you will be serving it with, etc. I know that I can get some wine for a better price elsewhere, but Candy makes it worth the extra dollar. 5 stars for the cheese and deli counter. The staff are all wonderful. They are very helpful recommending new cheeses and deli meats. 5 stars for the staff checking you out. There is one woman in particular who is so friendly and warm and always remembers me when I come in. She makes it a complete pleasure to shop here. Now for the restaurant..... I really, really want to like it. I love the shop, so felt that it wouldl be a natural fit to also love the restaurant. Sadly, the service keeps me from enjoying myself to the point where I fear I have just had my last meal there. Now, there is one waitress who is great. I wish I knew her name -but she is an attractive brunette around 25 or so. She is wonderful at her job- she really explains each dish, she brings out the bread herself and explains what type of bread she is presenting, she recommends wines and is just generally an awesome person. Sadly, she is the lone star here. Since I love the shop and frequent it so often, I have dined here about a dozen times. Most recently for dinner last Friday night. I arrived before my date. After about 15 minutes of sitting at a table by myself my wait person finally came up to me to ask if I was ""dining alone"". When I explained I was early and would like a glass of wine I was met with a look of pure contempt and it took 10 minutes more to get the glass of wine I ordered. (I really was waiting on someone!) I suggested that I might order an appetizer. It was suggested that I order the cheese puffs. My date arrived and it was another 10 minutes before he was offered anything to drink. Our cheese puffs arrived and they were o.k. - nothing special. My drink was emptied, his drink was emptied and still we waited. Meanwhile, the bread that the one great waitress had so painstakinlgy described to me on previous visits kept passing by our tables. Do we not deserve the same bread and butter as our fellow patrons? Do we look like we are on Atkins or something? I finally grabbed our wait person and asked for both refills on the wine and some bread. The wine arrived... the bread did not. (This is actually the third time I have eaten here and not been offered bread, I am beginning to take it personally!) Our food came - fish and chips and the flat bread special. The flat bread was o.k. but the fish and chips were awful. First of all, there was way too much mayonnaise in the aioli sauce you were supposed to dip your chips in. As for the fish, they were so bland that 3/4 of the plate remained uneaten (as well as all of the chips because we never saw our wait person again to ask for ketchup). When asked about the uneaten plate of food we spoke up and said that it was bland and really not to our liking at all. We also suggested that our wine glasses would have loved to have been re-filled. We were greeted by a blank stare and the check. I would have chalked this up to one bad experience, but the week before I had a similar episode with a different wait staff and frankly had repeated the same scenario with everyone except the apparently one and only good wait person on staff. I suggest visiting the wine and cheese shop and skipping the restaurant until they figure out that customers are actually there to enjoy the experience. Frankly, I would suggest having the wine and cheese shop staff train the wait staff.
(3)
Aurore L.
What better way to celebrate cheese, the love of my (culinary) life than by devoting to it my 100th review?!?!? OK. You are right. I am not exactly writing an ode to cheese; we are talking business here. But this place has it so right and makes cheese such a star that one can easily forgive me the amalgam. The store itself is as beautiful as a big wheel of comte (one of my old time favorites...). It's very clean, sharp and tasty. I was already very impressed by the first location but this one is just amazing and blew me away. It is almost a dream come true. The cheese selection is imposing; you can of course find all the staples but also a large choice of local products which are more often than not great options. The cured meats section is quite inviting too - they carry an amazing collection of Spanish hams. You can also find all you need to make your dinner of cold-cuts an unforgettable gourmet experience - from high-end crackers to fig jam to robust wines.......mmmmmm.....divine. They even push the good taste to making their own chocolates - and here I surrender. I cannot resist anymore.... The eat-in section is lovely decorated and you can satisfy a lot of your cheese cravings through their inventive menu which even features my beloved raclette - an Alpine wonder of melted cheese and potatoes. The only time (so far) I went there service was very slow but our waitress made up for it and offered a free basket of pastries....taking time is an integral part of cheese making....and I am fine with that. In my next life I want to work here.
(4)
David J.
The cheese shop happens to be 2 blocks from my house so I frequent it for 2 things. If I am out of beer I will go pick up an obscure and interesting 6 pack and if I'm in the mood for a croissant for breakfast I will pick them up to go. More than that, I can't say I'd do much with them. When I'm in there for a quick stop the 'beer buyer' will be there and I'm listening to a 30 minute soliloquy on a particular beer. There is one particular cashier that does not limit ANY conversation with any customer no matter how long the line is. If the croissants weren't so good and the beers weren't so delicious and convenient I wouldn't go. Read the other reviews for the service speed. All have accurately described my experiences and hence I go for the quick grab and go only.
(3)
Shannon P.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Having dined alone and with a large party, stopped in for a light snack ($$), beer and wine tasting (free-$$), growler refill ($$), children's story time (free) on Wednesdays--we feel like the Marion Street Cheese Market is an extension of our living room. We enjoy the ambiance and products. People, products and place are a superb quality and are worth the price. A true community gem.
(5)
Ed O.
I am reluctant to write about this place because it is the only place I have ever been to that hasn't had a line out the door for Sunday Brunch. As mentioned by others, the service is somewhat slow, but well informed about the food and eager to please. This past Sunday featured a string duo and my companion and I had french press coffee with our Waffles and Quiche. The Waffle was light and airy, covered berries and syrup, but not to the point of sogginess. My quiche was Gruyere and spinach with a light crisp crust and plenty of cheese. The tab was higher than a usual Sunday diner omelette/pancakes, but the quality was worth it. I haven't been here for dinner, so I am eager to try that out some time.
(4)
Brian L.
Small plates and apps are outstanding. The cheese plates and wines are excellent. I've been somewhat disappointed by the entrees (probably because the small plates have been so consistently well executed)
(4)
Arthur P.
Wine selection = very very minimal. Wine prices = way over priced. service = very poor. brunch/lunch* = a joke! they have some nerve! *super minimal menu, though they have a full kitchen(too expensive to hire a real cook I guess). Had the turkey club for $9. Got a very small sandwich with the cheapest deli cuts of turkey you can get and no sides. dont waste your time or money on this place.
(1)
Tony P.
Great food, and atmosphere. Kinda pricey, but it's a great place to try for celebrating, or just a special date. We used the Groupon, which cut our bill in half. We tried each of their beer pairings with our food, which was nice. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Katherine D.
Absolutely amazing. They carry a wide variety of cheese, many of them local varieties. I got a goat cheese (the best I've -ever- had) from Wisconsin, Cheddar from Wisconsin, more goat cheese from Vermont, and a couple of imported types. The other major reason to go there is the wine: they have a whole wall full, all stored properly sideways :) They also carry other local items, such as chocolate, toffee, honey, and preserves. A small selection of deli meats, frozen entrees, and other accessories finishes everything off nicely. Oh, and everyone's super nice. No attitude at all, though they could get away with a little, and I got lots of samples!
(5)
Dann B.
Wine and cheese. That is what this place specializes in. Nice restaurant. Good place for a date. Live music some nights. I suggest getting a wine flight, then pick your favorite from that and get glasses of it all night. Food is good but there are far better meals to be had in Oak Park, best is just to drink and snack here. There is a little shop attached where you can buy most of the stuff you can order here to take home and serve yourself. Wait staff was friendly and happy. While dining here my car was broken into, I don't hold that against the place but it really shocked me as I thought Oak Park was suppose to be a nice place. No one has ever vandalized my car in Chicago. Conclusion: Oak Park may look nice but it's has a dark underside just as bad as any Chicago neighborhood.
(4)
Mike O.
One has to separate the service from the food. I am a big fan of the MSCM and have been there many, many times since they opened the new location (once we were there 4 times in 3 weeks). However, starting with the change in staff a couple of months ago, the service has gone way downhill. I may have considered this place a 4+ star place before, but its down to 3 and getting worse. Even more odd is that they recently rearranged the dining room to add more tables, but apparently didn't supplement the already diminishing service with more staff. I'm not going to get into my last 2 experiences, but lets say they were 2 star experiences. I still think you should try it for yourself, but know what you're getting into. Food: Excellent. 4 to 5 star casual bistro with plenty of small plate offerings. Quality and flavor is always good and the one reason I will go back. Wine: Above average. Bin 36 is still better but there are some good surprises on the menu. The new Wine Steward/Buyer is stuffier, snottier, and less accessible than the previous, which again is hurting the experience. Beer: 5 stars. An excellent constant rotation of craft beers offered as a 6 glass taster. Top quality beers from craft brewers. Dining Room Service: Poor. Best experienced as a couple. Do NOT go with kids or a group greater than 4. Bar Service: 4 stars. Used to be 5 but they changed out the staff and they're not quite as personable. But at least at the bar they are attentive and don't disappear for 30 minutes after you order dessert. I understand folks who have given this place high marks. Its a great concept in a great location. But they need better service consistency and a return to the more accessible, friendlier, and service-oriented staff.
(3)
Cecilia G.
went there with a groupon (I risked losing it because I waited till last days before expiration but in the end it all went smoothly!) and with 2 other friends who didn't have a groupon. we shared everything so we all got to taste both the groupon tasting menu and the other food they ordered.. every single thing was delicious! a great pumpkin soup, fig salad, creamed corn polenta (I loved that one!!), pork belly and goat shoulder.. also we tasted some of their cheeses and they were all really great. their cheese shop must be awesome!! it's adjoining to the restaurant so we browsed it, very inviting! they also had live music, which was very pleasant except that our table was like 1 foot away from them! but the overall atmosphere was nice, our waitress gave us nice suggestions and advice. prices are a bit on the high side but the quality of food and the ambiance are worth it! plus they source a lot of the food locally and are very sustainability-oriented. love it! i just wish it were in chicago!
(4)
Kara H.
Great variety of wine and beer. The food is decent. I would stick to lunch /small plates and flights and skip dinner.
(4)
Kat M.
Ooooooh, I'm in love, I'm in love! Awesome food, great wine, and I'm only talking about the restaurant - I've not shopped for cheese here. A friend and I sat outside in the warm weather a few weeks ago and were dazzled by the small plates that we ordered. I think our absolute favorite was the macaroni and cheese... the dish was served in the two adorable casseroles that it was baked in. One casserole had mac and cheese with broccoli and one had bacon in it. MMMMMMMMMM, a comfort food orgasm in your mouth. The seaweed salad was also excellent. I also had a beet salad with goat cheese to myself since my friend is not such a fan of the root vegetables and I was not disappointed. The cheese that the chef had selected for the beet salad was so creamy and good; there's a reason that they specialize in cheese. We both dropped about $50 but walked away so stuffed we could barely move, and we also each had 2 glasses of wine at around $10/glass. It could have been cheaper, but if you're going to dine, do it the Marion Street Cheese Market way... it's worth it.
(5)
Laine K.
I love cheese and this amazing place not only has a great shop but a fantastic restaurant to go with it. I highly recommend taking the server's advice on cheese. I've been here twice to eat in the restaurant and three times to visit the shop. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Previously, I had the good fortune of trying a fantastic blue cheese with honey comb. This time I had an amazing raspberry jelly with the Black Swan raw cows milk. The bread here is really great too. I bought a baguette for a dinner one time and it was so good I saved a bit in the freezer to be meter out for my carb craving. The cheese is so much fun! Try the cheesecake with the salted caramel sauce. My favorite wine flight is the "How do you say red wine in Spanish?" flight. I promptly bought two bottles of the Barbazul from the wine shop. How beautiful is bread, olives, cheese and wine!! I wish that I lived closer to this place so I more often and I feel like five stars just isn't quite enough.
(5)
Logan C.
What a great place. The inside is fabolous and compliments the wonderful food. Every experience I've had here was new and exciting and did not disappoint. Aside from the modern style plates, everything here is great. I can't say that I've ever had a better (or more pricey) cut of salame to compliment a dish. Definitely check this place out.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Great spot for apps, wine and/or beer, and cheese. Menu is a nice mix of standard items and specials. I like that they emphasize using local farmers for most of their items. Service is good most of the time. They have a nice shop attached to the restaurant and an outdoor seating area.
(4)
Michelle M.
My fiance and I LOVE this place, and really I have to admit that we probably go there once a week between the 2 of us. There are things we love, and things that we think need improvement which is why I only gave the 4 stars, hopefully we can give a 5 star rating upgrade later down the road. Things we love: the rotating menu, the menu is always an exploration and is probably not for fans of places like TGI Fridays or Denny's. Other things we love: the artisan cheeses they offer, and Trevor, our cheese guy who always pairs up our cheeses with something delish, like lavender infused honey. yum. Things we hope they can improve on: the sometimes slow staff. The staff is very nice and friendly, but I honestly have to put them in the artsy semi-flaky category (sorry guys - trust me I know- I am one of them). The other thing I was not so happy with was the included gratuity on the New Years Eve dinner bill... service was surely not up to snuff and we were charged for sub-par service. But still Marion Street Cheese Market is one of our 2 favorite foodie places to go in Oak Park, and trust me, I have met many people like me who love (and have a slight addiction to) MSCM in our hood!
(4)
Julie W.
The wine and cheese are really good, haven't had a bad one yet. However, the food and sometimes the service, can leave a bit more to desire.
(3)
Alicia P.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this restaurant, and all because of the service. I finally went there after wanting to for awhile, because I bought a Groupon for a Beer Flights and a Prix Fix Menu for two (great deal btw). I loved the talented young musicians playing jazz on guitar and violin. Good thing they were there though, because they helped slightly in drowning out my neighbors' conversations, since it was very crowded. I don't know if the extremely slow service was because I had a Groupon or not, but in my opinion, they should have provided excellent service so I would be convinced to go back and pay full price. Dessert took the longest, and I know for a fact that they didn't bake me an entire cheesecake to cut out two slices from it! Then when I got my check after having a TWO hour dinner, they had not charged me correctly. A half hour later, and after speaking with the manager TWICE, I paid the right amount. The food was creative, and I liked the interestingly unique flavors in my risotto. However, I won't be back unless I feel the urge to buy overpriced chocolates, wine or cheese.
(2)
Joey C.
I've gone to the Marion Street Cheese Market for dinner a couple of times, and am a HUGE fan of it. The beer flight is a fun way to sample their range of unique brews on tap. The food......DELICIOUS! We had a baked brie appetizer, and it was heavenly! I do agree that they have a very small menu, however the food is absolutely delicious. I also love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. It is a very chill, intimate setting and a perfect date place. I definitely recommend that everyone try the restaurant for dinner.
(5)
Dusty P.
This is an update, having now made my third trip to MSCM - and now I have to take away one of their stars. Unfortunately, I haven't seen an improvement in streamlining their bar & kitchen operations to provide better service, which is VASTLY disappointing to me, because I really really really do like this place. I like having plenty of time to sit and chat with my friends and family, and this is a great place to do it, but I want a full-ish wine glass while I do... and my glass was empty much to often. For a cheese & wine bar, I don't think that's too much to ask... Our waitress was friendly but clueless; she had to go ask someone else every time we had a question on the food. She was always willing to go ask, but I wish she had been a little more knowledgable. Please, please, please, if the owner is reading this - tell your servers & bartenders & kitchen staff to step it up!!!!
(3)
Jillian B.
Wow. MSCM is near home but I would travel from the city or far suburbs to dine here. The wine and cheese selections are delicious and the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable servers are prepared to guide you through to an amazing experience. I have been for brunch, lunch and dinner and the food never disappoints. The retail staff is actually more friendly and knowledgeable than the servers -- take home some treats too.
(5)
Cody Y.
Marion Street Cheese Market is wonderful spot to pick up wines, beers, cheese and they have a really nice restaurant. My wife and I went to MSCM for Valentines and really enjoyed the servings. It's also a great lunch spot for a good sandwich. Definitely worth a visit for those in the area.
(4)
Ruth Ann M.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become my new favorite place since reopening at a new location. It is a fun and unique place to go when you have friends in town or a date to impress. The wine menu is split into three price columns...wine by the bottle, the glass, or a (nice portion) "taste". You can create your own wine flight by ordering a few taste portions. The food is amazing too. I would recommend going there hungry and trying a few of the taste plates. The hummus and tapenade plate is my favorite!
(5)
Juliette B.
great food & service. we went here on a friday night & i definitely recommend this place for a great meal or a great date night. we ordered a bunch of small plates and flights and were beyond impressed with everything. most of the vendors at their shop were familiar names from the chicago farmer's markets, i'm sure their menu ingredients are the same. if you are coming in from the city take the green line in- don't drive- it's a 20 min trip tops & you'll be very thankful to hop on the train after all of their yummy flights (both the beer and wine selections are great).
(5)
Kimberly C.
this place has gotten so much better! i think after a year and a half, they've worked out the kinks of running a shop/restaurant/bar/cheese world and have finally gotten some pretty awesome servers, decent portions and excellent pours of wine :) yay! i love how the menu changes but the things i really love always seem to stay, i love the live music (although it can be a little loud sometimes), i love that eric (the owner) is around almost every night we visit (although, is it healthy to spend that much time at the bar? ;)
(4)
Christine I.
The staff are very helpful and friendly! When you ask someone a question the person often takes time to assist you. They have an interesting variety of gourmet treats and the wine selection is WONDERFUL! They know their wine.
(5)
Danielle C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Oak Park. Their dishes are amazing, they have interesting combinations of food and they are always delicious. I tried the breakfast menu there and was blown away. They don't have disgustingly huge portions, so you don't feel like you're either wasting food or being a glutton. Service has been sketchy every time I've been there, usually slow and somewhat inattentive waiters. And this has occurred almost everytime I've been there, so it's always someone different. It is not, however, so bad that it stops me from going there, just a minor annoyance. They usually offer good vegetarian options.
(4)
C H.
I want to LOVE these guys so badly... I really do. And they are getting there...truly. Let me say at the outset that the now 8-months old expanded MSCM is beautiful and the product is wonderful. On the pricier side, but not unexpectedly so for the items, the quality and the "atmosphere." The market portion is slightly revised from when it opened last summer and seems to be running smoothly. Service at the cheese counter is hugely improved from last year. Helpful, attentive and knowledgeable - back to what it was in the tiny old store. The wine-monger, Candy, is outstanding. However, the kitchen and cafe are still working out the kinks, now eight months after opening. It's good but not great...and not consistent. Either the service is off but the food is great or the kitchen didn't get it right but the server is good. At this point, and at these prices, the service AND the food should be great, every time. And, may I suggest a soup-and-salad or soup-and-sandwich combo for the lunch menu? Too expensive to get a bowl of soup AND and an entree...and too much food for the "ladies who lunch." This an amazing place. Great concept and great mission and great foodie-values and great website and great people. We badly want it to succeed in Oak Park. And it's getting there. C'mon guys in the restaurant part...keep pressing forward... you need to earn a place in our hearts and on our "fave list" with more than good intent!
(3)
L C.
I went for dinner on my first visit, and tried a salad and the warmed goat cheese appetizer. With a glass of wine, and the great atmosphere, I was so relaxed and comfortable. I went back two days later to enjoy breakfast and brunch there with my parents and daughter. Again, creative ingredients for what could normally be boring breakfast omelets. Will definitely go there again...
(5)
j c.
5 stars because this place truly is.....as good as it gets. My favorite dining experience of all time. Been to thousands of restaurants in Chicago, the East Coast, etc. and this place is the top of the heap. Have been to MSCM about 25-30 times and it has been CONSISTENTLY EXCEPTIONAL every time! The hostess staff is probably the only "average" aspect of the restaurant. The wait staff is top notch. They know the dishes, the pairings with wines and beers, they are appropriately attentive and ABSOLUTELY add to the experience. I believe that other restaurants (including 6 or 7 in Oak Park) should send their staffs to be trained by Jamie and Kelly. My only wish is that wherever I go to eat that I could take one of that pair with. The food is fantastic. They could listen to their customers requests and desires a bit more, but you will not be disappointed in a single item on the menu. AND consistent? Are they ever!!! Reasonable prices. Good atmosphere. Great place for dates or just a time with friends. They have live music a few noghts a week. The bands are not headliners, however they add to the experince with some very creative, well done musical performances. My girlfriend is a music teacher and has a good ear for music and rates the bands VERY SOLID. Great experience!!!!!!! They need to make the fish and chips permanent. Trust me, try their F & C and you'll never want to eat "someone else's" subpar fish and chips again.
(5)
Kate S.
Cheese, beer, wine, chocolate...pretty much everything amazing about life. And they do it well! The staff is super friendly and helpful, and the store is organized excellently for such a small space.
(5)
L N.
We went there last Saturday around 1p. It was not incredibly busy as three waiters we milling about the bar area the entire time we were there. It took 15 minutes before a waiter even showed up to our table. Then, after ordering, it took 20 minutes to get a meat and cheese plate to our table. Overall, what should have taken 45 minutes max, turned into an hour and 20 minute ordeal. The meats and cheeses were ok, but nothing I can't go get at Caputo cheese market to bring home. As we don't often go out to eat, the service needs to be decent and the food drastically better than what I can prepare at home. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market did not fit the bill on either account. Finally, the decor, while nice, is a bit strange. It sort of looks like a high-end bar, which doesn't really align with a restaurant with "Cheese Market" in its name. In addition, there are a lot of different items of the menu that don't jibe with the Cheese Market theme and would fit better in a high-end bar or even a breakfast/brunch place. As such, I think this establishment is struggling with an identity issue in terms of what it wants to be.
(1)
Cali K.
After thinking Oak Park was a completely dry town, I discovered Marion Street Cheese Market not too long ago and I stopped in last night to pick up a bottle of wine. The customer service was amazing. Candie recommended a great bottle of Adobe White to compliment my sushi take-out. She was very knowledgeable about wines in general, and after a glass or two, I thank her for the recommendation. She also informed me that they have free wine tastings on the weekends and that alone gives me reason to return. Although I did not try out the cafe just yet, they have an outdoor seating area that will be perfect for summer!
(5)
Maegan B.
Quite possibly my favorite restaurant! Everything I've had there is delicious from cheese flights to salads to soups to entrees to wine. Wait staff is helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. Would recommend this to anyone who is in the Oak Park area. Also has a super cute cheese and wine shop.
(5)
Mary B.
WOWIE, WOWIE. A week or so ago I was having a bad day and decided to take myself out for dinner. I had been hearing about Marion Street and decided why not! I walked in and was greeted promptly by the hostess who informed me that there would be a short wait. I had a really delicious south african wine at the bar until a table was available. Once I sat down my server came up and I think she could tell I was having a crappy day because she immediately engaged me in conversation and was very friendly and helpful. All of her suggestions were delicious and even though I was stuffed from the hazlenut encrusted brie and the lamb shoulder I ordered, I managed to suck down a little trio of crembrulees for dessert. I think this place is GOLD. SOLID GOLD.
(5)
Cynthia G.
10 stars! This place is wonderful. I went to pick out some cheese and olives for a little gift set for Christmas, and the staff spent forever assisting me and let me try a million different cheeses. They also wrapped it up prettily in a nice little bag, and I didn't end up spending much at all. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kelley F.
Ok, I love cheese so it's no surprise that I would highly rate a cheese shop - however, were the shop to be poorly staffed or annoying, I might be inclined to rate it lower, at the expense of good cheese. That all said, the Marion Street Cheese Market is fantastic! The staff is wonderful - so nice and so very helpful. My sister and I stopped in just before the holidays and during a time many retail employees were just at their wits end, but the Market's employees seemed happy and genuinely interested in helping us make our selections. They gave us samples and recommendations. The selection is a nice one and they offer a variety of things to pair the cheeses with, from wine to olives. Overall, an excellent experience. It was my first visit but I can promise it won't be my last!
(5)
Bob W.
They have to seriously reconsider their growler prices. In case you don't know, growlers are half-gallon containers of draft beer. They're enjoying a renewed popularity particularly in the craft beer-world. Two Brothers and Revolution Brewing will refill a growler for between $6-10 depending on the beer. Marion St. charges $18 and up for refills of the same beer. That is a huge markup.
(3)
gd v.
Have been here many times...like the atmosphere, the wine & deli selections and the restaurant. The staff are very nice, accommodating & know their stuff. It is a bit pricey...but I think worth it for the quality of food & wine you are getting. Your best bet is to order a few different apz's & then split a meal with a friend . My favorite...the warm olives...so very simple but so good! Little advice...always make sure to ask if the wine you ordered is being substituted by another...though it may be equally as good or even better... you still should know which brand you are drinking. The deli selections are perfect for a dinner party!
(4)
Sarah R.
After having a few drinks at Poor Phils we needed something to eat and all the fried food on their menu just wasn't appealing that night. We'd heard good things about the Cheese Market so we headed that way. At first when we walked in we felt super underdressed in our jeans and hoodies not realizing this was a nicer place to dine. Thankfully we were still warmly welcomed by the hostess and there was an opening at the bar so we felt comfortable sitting there. I can't remember what it was but there was a nice micro-brew on tap for only $4 that was absolutely delicious. We both got that to start and then began looking at the cheeses. We ended up doing a cheese tasting and also got the Focaccia. I can't remember what cheese we had exactly but they were nicely paired with fruit, nuts, and spreads and were just absolutely delicious. We were loving every moment with that cheese and were sad when it was gone, until we tasted the Focaccia. Whoa...Again I can't remember what it was exactly and it changes every day but there were roasted veggies and a light sprinkle of cheese. It was amazing. I had no idea Focaccia could be that good. We were super happy that we stopped into the Marion Street Cheese Market that night. I would highly recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area!
(5)
Anna F.
I love the food here and I HATE the service. I really respect what the chef is doing with local ingredients, but for the price, the service needs to be far, FAR better. I feel like I am a glutton for punishment going back here time and time again. Great eats and drinks but you have to wait and wait and ask for basic things that should have made their way to your table ( like cutlery or menus or sugar etc.). I think the problem is the management especially this one server/front of house manager named Kate or Katie. She is beyond flaky and dreadful. I can't believe she has been working there so long. I shudder when she is my server. Really I think I have a bizarre love/hate relationship with this place. Literally tonight what should have been a 90 minute dinner stretched to 3 hours and we might have ordered dessert were it not for having been there so long. On many other occasions I have waited a full half hour for a glass of wine to show up at my table. Seriously MCSM get some proper management in place!!! This may well have been my last time visiting.
(2)
Liz F.
i love marion street, despite sometimes being absolutely floored at the incompetence of its waitstaff. i feel bad even saying it, because i know and like many of the excellent staff at mscm, but there are a few waiters who just seem totally clueless. how does it take over half an hour to bring out a beer flight? and why must i sit staring at my cheese pairings for half of that time? i've heard others complain about the service as well, which is too bad because the cheese, wine, and beer selections both in the restaurant and the retail store are amazing. the restaurant food itself is also pretty good, if a little boring, and is occassionally great.
(3)
Rich B.
CANNOT RECOMMEND this restaurant due repeated very bad service. I have watched a group of wait staff chatting behind the counter while food takes 45 minutes to arrive - and then it can be cold and incomplete. You can order a beer and a glass of wine and wait 20 minutes for it to show up and then it will be wrong. I really wanted to like this restaurant. But I have had to just get up and walk out twice. At least two other times it was all I could do to stay in my chair in the hope that my dining experience would get better any moment. I have had some good meals here. But no Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park restaurant has been as needlessly disappointing. The food is usually okay but the service has ranged from good to just plain awful. I have brought out of town guests here and have been very embarrassed for choosing this restaurant to try to show off Oak Park. This place has even goofed up a limit menu breakfast. Go to Winberie's in Oak Park for a consistently better food value and better service. The Marion Street Grille could be good if better managed and if it had experienced wait staff that actually cared. It has a couple of good waitresses, but the rest wait staff just doesn't belong there.
(1)
Amanda G.
I adore this quaint place, tucked away in Oak Park! When this establishment was born, there was not much to it; but, boy, have they grown!! More wine choices, more cheese choices, full menu. Yes, please! My gal pal and I started with a refreshing sparkling rose and a cheese platter. Since we could not decide, so I waitress picked all her favorites. Our cheese adventure started with a sweet, light cheese and ended with a rich, earthy cheese. So AWESOME!! We decided to split a salad and the crab cake sandwich. Oh my....holy yumminess!! Best way to round out lunch?? Another glass of wine and some great conversation. I am so glad this place found its way to Oak Park!
(4)
Amy O.
Live music, chocolates and sooo much cheese! The only thing not to love about this place is the watered down coffee and the you-look-too-young-so-I'm-not-giving-you-good-Âservice syndrome. I do. I look 16 or 17. I am 25.
(4)
Ryan A.
Far and away the best customer service we've ever had. you don't have to be an expert on wine/cheeses, you will get plenty of help from the staff there. we have been there several times now and always get suggestions from their service team who are more than willing to help you as you peruse on the store side. in fact, i was even given help with the microbrews they have there. the restaurant is also great, and the service their is outstanding- especially nick the bartender. this is probably the best place in Oak Park, a must for anyone in the area
Ok - they definitely have a ventilation problem here. My clothes and hair were immersed in the smell of burnt oil when I left and even at times when I was there my eyes were watering. It's such a contrast to the overall feel of this place that it's such a shame! Food on the other hand equalled yummy yummy yummy! For brunch we had the mixed breads, the insanely decadent hangover sandwich (be warned its not for the faint hearted or calorie counters) and the quiche of the day (red peppers and goats cheese). $5 spicylicous bloody marys were a treat!
(4)
Andrew S.
had brunch there this weekend. overall great restaurant- food, service and atmosphere. the chilaquiles were excellent and i thoroughly enjoyed my bloody mary. i regret not purchasing from their cheese case, maybe next time.
(4)
Ashly S.
Where to begin? Cheese...wine...new, incredible menu...ridiculous desserts...yeah, it's all good. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of dining at the Marion Street Cheese Market while visiting friends in the Chicagoland area and it was wonderful. Our server was not only knowledgable but enthusiastic about the menu -- he offered recommendations that were spot on and totally delicious. They have an appetizer that is a crabcake paired with a thai apple salad and it was amazing! So complex and delicious, surprisingly light and altogether such a cool idea. For dinner, I went with the bacon-wrapped rabbit leg and it was beautifully done. Amazing little spot in Oak Park -- highly recommend this spot. :)
(5)
Thomas C.
Started as a hole in the wall place to get some really good cheese. Relocated and became a really good place to get cheese, wine and craft beers. Now it is a great place, period. About the only thing anybody could reaosnably complain about are the prices, and they aren't bad when you consider th quality of what you are getting. Yes you can go to famous liquors and find many of the same beers for a few bucks less, but you won't tap into the knowledge the Charlie has, and you won't have access to the great cheeses, wines and other "pair this with your wine, cheese or beer" offerings that are in abundance in this great little place.
(5)
Dennis L.
My second visit to Marion Street for brunch was less impressive. The food was still very good, but the service was dreadfully slow. Additionally, they needed to install or turn up the exhaust fan in the kitchen. All of my clothes left smelling like I was standing over a deep fryer. I certainly hope my experience today was a fluke. I am only dropping one star as the food was delicious.
(3)
K. E.
What I really recommend is you should go to this place and buy wine and cheese (and a loaf of bread) and take it home and call it dinner. The "cheesemongers" behind the cheese cases offer 5-star service including tastes, recommendations, good ideas on what goes with what. I have bought some great cheese flights with their help - and fed them to some very picky eaters with astonishing success. The pricing in the cheese cases is by the quarter-pound. This seems very smart to me. You could faint over the prices if you saw the full-pound price on everything - but who buys a full pound of stuff like that?? And they'll cut you as small a piece as you want. I have a soft spot for this place because of a bunch of personal connections - but in reference to all the complaints about service in other reviews, I feel your pain. I'm not sure why they never quite get it together. I'll probably keep going, but lately I've been hesitating about recommending dining in. If you sign up for their email list, you'll always get some kind of discount. That's really worth checking out. Good luck.
(4)
Bo Y.
Easily one of the best American restaurants in the oak park neighborhood. I like how their menus change periodically. The prices are quite good, imo. The dinner Entree portions are pretty huge. I went last night and I had the trout. Probably 10 oz portion with a pesto cream sauce and rock shrimp. We also got the scallop appetizer- the sear wasn't very good, and was only seared on one side. The octopus was OK as well, I couldn't really figure out the dish. My mother in law had the crab stuffed walleye with a salt and vinegar potato salad. The fish was well cooked. We also ordered a few sides-sprouts, root veggies with goat cheese, and a mac and cheese. The sprouts were quite good as was the root vegetables, but the Mac and cheese had an off putting taste to it for some reason. I took one bite and stopped there. The highlight of the night was definitely the prosciutto and fig flatbread. Easily the best flatbread I've ever had. Everything about it was just perfect. Needless to say I will be returning since it's only 1 block from my house. The service was quite attentive as well. We sat outside and the offered to store our stroller. As we were getting ready to leave they brought out the stroller for us. So really overall I'd give it. 4.5/5 stars.
(4)
Nico s.
if you ever go here, besides the awesome staff here the food is amazing every time. If you get Rachel or Sara as bartendresses ask for old fashioned's they are amazing. the chicken biscuit with spicy mango salsa is soo good. For the people that are looking for a new beer, visit charlie in the retail section,, this guy is very approachable and on point with regard to the different beer selections and emerging brews. all and all I can't speak highly enough to the complete package that you will find in this place. Live music great ambiance superb staff.
(5)
Hip S.
I have been here probably about 6 times and I WANT SO BADLY FOR IT TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS! I have been there for every meal, for business, with girlfriends, and with husband. I mean, really...cocktails, wine, cheese...what's not to love? A few things unfortunately: 1. Service. The servers I have had, without fail, have been beyond confused. They do not know the menu. They cannot answer questions. And more than once, there have been errors because the server doesn't know what is being ordered. 2. "We are out of that". Half of my visits involved this phrase. Out of "muddled berries"? 3. General feeling of paying too much for the experience. I am happy to pay lots of money to restaurants and certainly don't grumble about portion sizes or purchasing bottled water. But each time, I find myself thinking "Meh. For this amount of money, I should not be thinking 'meh'" So I'm taking a sabbatical from this cute local place and will, because I really want to love it, be back again. I hope I am able to update with emojis and other excitable things!
(3)
Joe T.
Don't get carry out. I ordered carryout and the two soups I ordered were probably 3 ounces each. Food is great and service is good but not when carrying out. Won't make that mistake again.
(2)
Eric S.
Cheeses christ, they weren't kidding about this place. MSCM's reputation precedes them (being the 2nd or 3rd highest-rated business in the Oak Park area), and for good reason. Between the exemplary charcuterie trays and attentive service, I can fully understand why so many people are enamored with this establishment. It took me nearly 15 months to discover this delightful spot, despite living less than a half mile away. Better late than never, I 'spose. Nevertheless, what I found was a reasonably upscale bistro with a great menu and decent wine list. I was told the wait would be 8 minutes which wound up being closer to 15, but being seated on the outdoor veranda was a treat. A glass of Bordeaux for myself and a Manhattan for my companion got us started, though I was hoping for a Shiraz or Chianti on their wine listing and found nothing of the sort. We selected 3 cheeses and 2 meats from their 'pick 5' for $19, with a goat cheese, sheep's milk cheese, and an aged blue cheese accompanied by a smooth salami and spicy chorizo-style sausage. The platter came with a raspberry preserve and pine nuts with sliced ciabatta bread. Because I eat like an anaconda, I had to order something else to gorge on. I opted for the duck ravioli, which was served amidst a parmesan au jus and spinach with strands of prosciutto. For $16, I felt it was of reasonable value; the flavor of the duck was mild without being overwhelmed by the parmesan and prosciutto. It was surprisingly filling. Value-wise, the tab totaled an even $100 with tip (we got 2 drinks apiece, averaging $11/pp) and it was just about as much as I expected. A relatively pricey endeavor, but justified by the quality of items. Our server did a nice job taking care of us and the patio was perfect for people-watching. MSCM is a great place to take a date on a summer evening, if I do say so myself. The shop inside has a great variety of things for purchase and there's even a glass case filled with fancy-shmancy chocolate truffles (we're talking $2.25/piece). I'd like to return someday in the future, but one visit to this trendy cheese castle is enough to last for a while. Still, I highly recommend!
(5)
Laura H.
I live in Michigan and every Chicago trip I make, Marion Street Cheese market now has to be apart of it! This place is awesome. The staff knows everything about the cheese and wine that they sell and they are sooooo friendly. My friends and I tend to have a lot of questions when we are purchasing our wine and cheese and we always leave very happy! Highly suggest!
(5)
nina D.
This place is great. I went here with my friends from NYC and DC and they were very impressed with the small plates we ordered (corn-crawfish fritters and the midwestern tour cheese plate) as well as the gourmet chocolates we took home. Can you believe they make a Devon St. chocolate with garam masala? A blue cheese chocolate? A Gold Coast chocolate with edible gold? It was like taking our taste buds on a culinary adventure :) Very cool stuff!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Came in today 11/20 & was exited to see the new menu. Much needed update was done to the cocktail menu. Menu has been winterized to include soups, warm cocktails, etc. Apparently the wine menu was also updated. I liked the new red Bordeaux.
(4)
Marek C.
Honesty nothing special about this place . Their food is not even average ... Plus I did not like out waitress as far as her attitude ... Asian girl was very unfriendly ... I had this impression we did bother her when we asked simple questions ... No smile... No nothing .... Defiantly I'm not coming back ... I can take my money anywhere else and get better customer service ...
(1)
Lea J.
This is my favorite local stop off spot for happy hours. They make some of the best drinks in Cook Cty, have a continuous seasonal supply of the best craft beers ever, along w/tons of locally distilled spirits made w/fresh botanicals & spices. The menu has something for everyone, esp if you like paring wines w/cheese plates. And the staff is the best!!
Went here to pick up some beer at 4:40 pm, sign on the door said they were open till 5:00 pm and the doors were locked. The two workers inside looked at us and then back to their phone. Tried all three entrances, all locked.
(1)
Timothy T.
Loooove this place, especially sitting outside in the summer as we love to watch the L and Metra trains go by on the elevated tracks across the street. The food is nothing but high quality, this includes the cheese counter itself and the dessert / chocolate display. I'm sad to say the Hangover sandwich is no longer on the menu, but the amazing Cauliflower dish remains (thank goodness!). If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you'll love their new dish w loads of them. Excellent restaurant.
(5)
Erika S.
Amaaaazing. I took my family here for brunch one weekend afternoon some time ago and we had a cheese and charcuterie plate to start with some phenomenal cheese and some kind of fig jam that tasted fantastic with the milder cheeses, not to mention some bangin' prosciutto. I had a delicious sandwich loaded with cheese, but their menu changes fairly frequently depending on what is in season and what they have in stock. I have had one "bad" experience there, but let me tell you why I still give this place 5 stars. A few weekends ago was my birthday, and my parents wanted to take me to brunch wherever I wanted. I selected Marion Street Cheese Market (this was on a different occasion than the above), and we sat outside on a somewhat windy but warm day. Little did we know that a baby shower was being held there the same day. The indoor dining room was full of attendees, and the kitchen was backed the hell up because of it. We ordered, and waited, oh, 45 minutes for our food? I could understand the delay with the number of baby shower attendees inside, and the wait staff (and the manager) apologized profusely for the delay. When our food came out, my order, as well as my father's (we'd both gotten the chilaquiles) was cold. Delicious, but cold. My father and I reluctantly called over the waiter and noted our food was cold (it was good and I would have eaten it and I HATE sending food back and I never do it but it... well... was cold). Waiter again apologized profusely. We expected them to just pop it in the microwave and bring it right back out, as that's really all it needed. About 20 minutes later, my dad and I were still sans food. It occurred to me then what was happening. They were making it up to us by cooking us entirely new plates of food. They don't BS around here. When it did finally come back out, it was spectacular. I'd never had chilaquiles before but it was flaky, flavorful, and just plain amazing. I'd never had anything like it. Worth the wait. Plus it was a lovely afternoon, I was just enjoying my parents' company. Then, the manager came out and said our entire bill was comped due to the delays. It was a kind gesture (that was pretty well warranted given the circumstances) and meant that I got a free birthday brunch. I've also patronized Marion Street for their wine and beer. The cheese is a little steep for me (I only feed myself in my house, so a 1/4 lb of cheese would likely go wasted before it went bad) but the wine and beer selection has some reasonable options. They also are the only place I have seen outside of the DC area carrying Flying Dog "Raging Bitch" beer which gives me a little slice of home. Try their truffles too from the little chocolate counter next to the beer fridge. I've had a few varieties and they are absolutely delicious. I'll continue to come back to Marion Street Cheese Market again and again!
(5)
Kathy R.
Okay, guys...the food here is still top-notch, but they really need to work on the service part. The last few times I've been here, the service has really been pretty bad. I brought a girlfriend here after repeatedly telling her how great the place is. This was the day that I've never had worse service! We were seated and ignored for quite a long time. I had to go grab someone to finally talk to us. He sucked. He spent all his time, hanging out behind the bar counter, chatting with another server. I have also never stiffed ANYONE. We left him one dollar...on a $50 check. He sucked that badly! Okay, so, I went back with a group weeks later. This time, they server was good and the food was excellent. If they could iron out the inconsistencies with the service, it will once again return to a 5 star establishment in my eyes.
(4)
Kari G.
The brunch here is delicious! My kids devoured the bacon, the French toast, eggs & yogurt and granola. I had the roasted cauliflower sandwich and my husband had the sweet potato grits and eggs with a side of potatoes. Everything was sooo good and we will definitely be back!!
(5)
Chuck F.
Unique in every way. The food and presentation show an attention to both, quality and detail. The wine and cheese selection,from the shop, are impeccable.
(5)
M W.
I must admit, their mac n cheese is delicious. I did wish that I had some hot sauce to put on it. Definitely wasn't worth $14 though (but I wasn't paying so I didn't mind too much haha). Also, I would imagine for $14 it would be a pretty large portion, but it wasn't. The other person I was with had a lamb pasta dish with pomegranate seeds. It was fine. Not as flavorful or big of a portion for the price. As we definitely had room to spare at the end of the meal, we shared a dessert, a chocolate pudding with crème fraîche. The crème fraîche tasted like greek yogurt (which I am definitely not a fan of). The dessert was also ridiculously small, and DEFINITELY not worth $7. The food can be pretty good depending on what you order, but it's pretty overpriced and small.
You know that movie Hustle and Flow? Remember the song "Whoop That Trick". I have a new saying for yelp that can be applied to good or bad reviews and the saying goes like this: I need to "Yelp That $#*7" I came up with it after we ate at Marion Street this weekend. I have been to this place about 5 times for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. We keep coming back because it happens to be one of my family members favorite places to dine. This weekend we stopped in with a group of 10 people. The kids sat at a separate table and ordered grilled cheese, smoked salmon and a cheese flight. The restaurant was quiet, not busy. The brussel sprouts with raisins and the cauliflower appetizer was some of the best food I have ever tasted. I even insisted that the server tell the chef that. We had an army of people ignoring our table of 6. 2 servers, 3 bus staff. Because we had 2 servers waiting on our table they were in a constant state of confusion. When the appetizers were dropped the server left without giving us any silverware or napkins. We helped ourselves to the bus station for supplies after a few moments realizing that no one was coming back for us. But we were still short napkins and silverware. We eventually started eating with our fingers since the appetizers were getting cold. The appetizer and salad plates were still on the table when the entree's came. The server had no idea who ordered what and we had to remind them every step of the way. Our server would disappear for long periods of time. Maybe he was scared of us or too cold since we were sitting outside. Not sure why he would be scared though we were pretty polite, no special orders, pretty simple stuff. When I asked for another glass of wine and they asked me "what did you order?". Hell, I couldn't remember the French name of the white wine that I ordered, it was some complicated name, not an easy peasy thing like "Chardonnay". When we got the 400.00 bill I almost choked considering that we had to beg for napkins, water, silverware, wine, and attention of kind etc. You know the service here is never really that great come to think of it. I am giving it 3 stars because the food is good. But seriously, get your act together. For 400.00 I expect better service.
(2)
Gina S.
Cheese!!!!!! I was pretty much grinning ear to ear at this gormet cheese counter. So many cheeses! It's more than a cheese market, there's wine and a restaurant all rolled into one super cute market cafe located in downtown Oak Park (one of my new favorite places just outside the city). After trying a few cheeses, some of my own suggestion and some suggested by the Cheesewoman, I settled on a delicious 4 year aged Gouda (nutty with hints of caramel) and a Gruyère Surchoix (smooth & mellow with light floral notes). I contemplated trying some of the blue cheese, but it would have been more out of curiosity because there were a few blue cheeses that were a little bluer than I've ever seen. I'm talking like furry little balls of blueness with cheese somewhere under than coat of blue. I WILL be back!
(5)
Sherri B.
Al fresco dining on a beautiful day with a wonderful cheese platter and great wine. Plate presentation was awesome. Service was friendly and attentive.
(5)
Andrew T.
A very cool place, with lots to choose from. Three cases of cheese, with a sort of cheddar/gouda type case, a cream/goat case, and a blue case. Lots of selection, and what I felt were some very helpful staff. The particular person that waited on me didn't have the best suggestions, but one other woman who i listened to advising other people had great tips that I took advantage of. We walked out with a piece of blue, wrapped in pear brandy soaked grape leaves (spectacular), a piece of heavenly goat cheese with an ash rind, a triple cream that was supposed to taste of mushrooms (but was actually a little cabbage-y) and my person favorite, a large hunk of Wensleydale. By the way - big points to Marion Street for stocking this in plain. I can get it anywhere I want with cranberries in it, but then it tastes like cranberries, and not like cheese. Also cool are the hand written placards with icons and check marks indicating milk type. The staff is writing the sort of reviews that belong on wine bottles - one cheese had hints of "forest floor and lambs quarters." I don't know that I wanted that one. A reasonable meat case as well - including some interesting things, and a hunk of real jamon serrano, at just $1000/lb. I did not indulge. They also offer cheese flights, apparently, but as we were on our was to New Rebozo, we decided to take ours home. It is a little expensive, but they have some things that are probably hard to find. And it's not an every day indulgence anyway. Not to my taste, but they had an awesome selection of craft and micro brew beers - I have friends who should probably go here just to sample a huge range of IPAs. Either way, we'll be back. There's lots more to sample.
(4)
Dave J.
Really, really, really good! A great selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. My wife and I ate dinner here, and ordered a few meats and cheeses from their "cheese monger" menu to start off with. I wish our waitress was a bit more knowledgeable about the selections. I asked her what one type of cheese was like, tastewise, and she said she didn't know. I'd like to think that the servers would be very knowledgeable about what's on their menu. When one of our cheese choices was unavailable, she replaced the cheese without asking which one we wanted, she just brought out whatever SHE thought would be good. I knocked off a star from my rating because of this. The main courses, cider-braised pork "osso buco" and crispy fried chicken were outstanding. Top quality ingredients, nicely prepared. There were some excellent selections on the beer and wine menu as well. I think that I'm going to cut back on my alcohol consumption in Cook County from now on, as there was a 12.5% TAX for the beer and wine we ordered. I know it's not the restaurant's fault, but still good enough reason to imbibe in Lake County, or elsewhere. I've eaten here for lunch in the past as well, and whatever soup is on the menu, please be sure to order it! The soups are EXCELLENT! All in all, a great place for lunch or dinner. A nice selection of cheeses and cured meats in their deli case too, along with a good selection of wines and microbrewed beers.
(4)
Alicia K.
I think I can summarize my slew of experiences here in two words: IN. LOVE. This place is pretty much what happens when you mix the best of everything together -- great food, good service, sustainability and a strong regard for the environment, cheese, and wine. What more do you need?! I've been for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and never cease to be impressed with my experience. It's true MSCM is a tad bit "pricey," but frankly, you get what you pay for. Everything here is delicious and insanely fresh. The only downside is that they do change their menu based on seasonal ingredients and what's local and available, so sometimes you will fall head over heels for something (e.g. their coconut curry soup... OH EM GEE... HEAVENLY!!!) but then not be able to get it there again for a year. When that's the only downside, though, can you really complain?! The cheese counter has an insane number of options, all fantastic, and their employees are very knowledgable and able to help you find just what you're looking for. (Our current obsession is the Le'Amuse Gouda. Try it with honey crisp apples on wheat thins. This will literally change your life.) Wine selection is out of this world, and again, super knowledgeable employees. They sometimes have wine tastings or other cute events, so if you live nearby, you may want to inquire about those. And if I haven't convinced you to try it yet, fine -- don't listen to me. But maybe the 100+ other 4 & 5 star reviews will help sway you? ;]
(5)
Dawn B.
I really love coming here. It feels like a "treat" every time. I do wish the prices were a little more affordable for the food. Their wine specials on various days are really good, so I guess that makes up for it. The staff is knowledgeable about the vino and the cheese---I usually tell them the things I like and let them pick.
(4)
Mary Ann C.
Yummmm. I have been here many times for meals and retail purchases (dating back to their old, tiny location. I love this place. Good service. Knowledgeable service. Good food and great products. Enjoyed lunch yesterday outside. Finally tried the cauliflower sandwich (amazing) with a lovely glass of wine. Loved that the server noticed the wine I picked out and told me what an interesting choice it was (plus gave me extra tips on the selection). The fruit salad with mint was a great addition to the meal. A must visit when in Oak Park!!!
(4)
Anastacia B.
Dear Marion St, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I followed my rules and sat at the bar. Attentive knowledgeable server/bartender- who at the end of the meal gave me a sample of Gin I asked about. I saw you sell it in your shop. Guess who will be back to get a bottle! Thank you for offering 10% off at the bottom of my food receipt toward a purchase in the shop. It took me 20 minutes to decide what I wanted. Reading the menu is like food porn. (Sorry I went there but I did).....I finally settled on the Goat cheese salad with hazel nuts and roasted grapes as well as the mushroom skillet. My friend ordered the fresh corn quiche. Now I'm ruined for brunch anywhere else... Only quirk, front of house staff- 4 of them at host stand. We said hello- no response. We stood for a few awkward moments waiting to be acknowledged...just eye contact and- I'll be with you in a moment- works wonders....
(5)
Ellen M.
This was downright fantastic. Date and I arrived on a Sunday at about 4:15, before dinner service, in one of those weird days of starting with a late breakfast and skipping lunch. Dinner doesn't begin until 5, but the cheese bar was open. Cheese it was! A flight of five, including a terrific sheep cheese and a salty goat, and excellent jam. It held us until dinner. Dinner! Yes...golden beet salad with arugula and a carpaccio plate. So good. Date had the black bean soup and the mac/cheese. Mac/cheese fans, you MUST partake of the Marion Street Cheese Market macaroni and cheese. I can't say I've ever tasted a nicer sauce. Drinks were a flight of south american wines for me, some fancy yet masculine cocktail for him. Dessert: chocolate. 'Nuff said, my friends. Service: attuned. I appreciated that they offered to get rid of the television when they noticed I made a face when I saw it. We were the only ones in the room at the time, and *shoom* the big screen faded into the ceiling without a care. Nice beer list. Accessible, but good choices. I will be back.
(4)
Anne D.
I came here for the first time last year for lunch and had a fabulous grilled cheese, so I was already a fan. Recently I bought a Groupon for a prix fixe menu with craft beer pairings for 2. Yum! I enjoyed all three beer tastings and all of the food. We each got to choose one of two dishes for each of three courses, so we decided to get one of everything and split them. Pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, grits (yes, grits - but they were fantastic) with mushrooms and bleu cheese, chocolate cake, and a stout float with caramel ice cream and chipotle-seasoned cookies. We thoroughly enjoyed each thing and it was a great opportunity to try dishes that I probably wouldn't normally order. Despite what some reviews have said, the service was good even though they were crowded. We had just long enough between courses to finish each before the next came, and the check came promptly. The only thing that might hold me back from coming here again soon is that the prices are pretty steep. I think I'll probably return for lunch or brunch to save a little money, and maybe come back for a special dinner.
(4)
Sam G.
Save your stationery because this is no place to write home about. This pretentious, overpriced, sub par establishment will probably leave you hungry and irritated. I would give food itself a B-, but the portions were incredibly small and overpriced. The service was slow. After finishing my beer halfway through me meal, I order another and waited 12 minutes before canceling it and asking for the check. Seriously, Oak Park has many better places, particularly for the price.
(1)
Jose G.
I would consider myself a regular here - at least at the bar stools for a beverage, cheese flight and conversation with the bartenders. By the way, the beers they serve are all craft/micro brews. No Miller Lite here! Which is a good thing if you ask me. If you're a beer fan and like trying unique brews, have a sampler, or just ask for a little taste. I don't necessarily come here for their full dinner menus. The food is fantastic though, Chef Leonard does a great job with the menus, but just not my style for dinner. The Mac-N-Choose is great! There's usually a meat option and a non-meat option for this dish - just ask your servers. Speaking of servers, I think they're hit or miss. If they know you and recognize that you're in fairly often, they're great. On occasion though, we'll get a new (to us) server who isn't as attentive or friendly. The retail side of the MSCM has a great selection of wines, craft beers, cheeses, meats, truffles, honeys, unique kitchen items.. too many to list! If you're looking for a gift for someone who appreciates this stuff, they can put together a nice gift basket for you. If you want the scoop on their beers, talk to Charlie, he really knows his stuff and will guide you to the right beer! They sometimes have free tastings, usually on the weekends it seems. All in all, a great little Bistro! They are doing their part for the environment and are very into supporting local businesses. If you're in the Oak Park area, stop in to visit them!
(5)
Jeffrey M.
This is a great spot. My gf and I had an awesome cheese flight, and a couple awesome wine flights. I loved the mac n cheese special. After dinner we shopped in the awesome gourmet grocery store. Picked up some amazing brie, cheddar, and taleggio. Some foie gras and duck liver. Another pate of chicken liver and pork mousse. Also a couple of bottles of some awesome wine.
(4)
Angela M.
The one star is based on my experience and service. This is NOT a food review... for I didn't have a chance to try. Based on the name, I went to dinner with the realization that I would most likely NOT be eating anything... I mean it's a CHEESE market. My dad picked this place for his birthday, and I'm vegan... But, I was surprised to see that they had a tempeh sandwich on their menu. I asked the waiter if they could put the sandwich in a lettuce wrap or even just on a bed of lettuce as a salad due to not knowing what the bread was made with eggs, milk, etc. He looked at me like I had three heads attached to my neck and said "No. We can't do that." At first I thought he had a dry sense of humor and was being sarcastic with me, so I said "Okay, so you can't put a sandwich on a piece of lettuce instead of bread? Even though you sell salad?" He looked at me with confusion and said, "No. That's not something that we do." My sister in law even chimed in stating that I'm a vegan, and that there's no way to put it on a salad? He stuck with his "No." The waiter went around the table asking for everyone's order, when he got to me he asked, "So, what can I get for you?" I said, "I'm good." He then said, "Are you sure I can't accomodate you with something?" Then I looked at him like he had 4 heads attached to his neck and politely declined. Now, if you're not a vegan or vegetarian you might think this is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time that common sense looses to ignorance. Unrelated to veganism; It's like the time I went into Starbucks and they didn't have any regular coffee. Needless to say I won't be recommending this to any vegetarians or vegans... even though their menu clearly states "Please read our menus carefully and tell us what you cannot eat ask your server about our vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options".... i guess that means that they'll accomodate you as long as you don't ask for a lettuce substitute? yeah... that totally makes sense.
(1)
Don P.
I asked for de-caffinated coffee for dessert and drank two cups. It is now 3:31 a.m. and I am wide awake. ~~ Someone screwed up. ~~ If I could only speak to the manager and my server at this moment, but I am sure that they are both enjoying blissful sleep. It is hard to get past the pain of this because I will be thrown off my schedule for the rest of the weekend. I am not at all pleased with this surprising outcome of an otherwise okay experience. The price of foregone sleep is too great to pay.
(1)
Tony P.
Marion Street has a great ambiance and it really is a great date place or just a meeting spot for wine and cheese lovers/fantics. This is the kind of place that would make a great middle of the week (hello flight night!) get together or a nice weekend spot for when you want to relax and enjoy all the different tastes they have to offer and try something new for a change. My date and I came here for flight night! They have a great menu and just have so many options to try. I was really excited to try everything. Our server was spot on with his recommendations and with all of the wine and cheese they offer, it was a good thing too. Olives, cheese and wine oh my, what more could you ask for? After the flights and appetizers we had it was hard to even think about a main course but that didn't stop us from trying their cheesecake, which was very good. I would like to think the Spanish flight was absolutely delicious!! My date was even nice enough to treat me to a bottle of the Barbazul. I think she knows I am just going to share it with her anyway... They offer a lot of options for a quick stop for a new kitchen gadget, browse their truffle selection or just a great way to enjoy your evening and soak up everything, just like their tasty crusty bread they offer. Looking forward to our next visit as we didn't get try everything we wanted.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Great food, poor service. My husband and I recently moved back to Oak Park after 3 years away. Excited about their draft selection, we've gone here a few weeks in a row. Every week, we are consistently disappointed with the service (although the food and drinks are great). We've had to asked to be served every time, takes a long time to be served a drink (10 minutes the last time!) and often hear the other staff complaining behind the bar. The bar backs and other staff around don't seem to be empowered to serve customers drinks when the bartender is unavailable. The one time when a woman served me the bar manager got on her for it--in front of us! How awkward! Although I love the food and drinks I'm afraid that we'll be giving this spot up for a while. We had hoped it was better after living away for a few years but nothing has changed....
(2)
Lynnette K.
I was staying in the Chicago area for work and drove 45 minutes to go here. I was here a couple years ago and am very glad that I came back. Spinach salad with buffalo mozzarella was perfect as was the special of the night -- Mac and cheese with braised pork. I'd drive twice as far for their awesome food. Plus Oak Park is a great little town.
(5)
Jared W.
I have to admit, I've never eaten in here, but I've taken some of the food out several times, and have always enjoyed it. The most impressive thing though is the beer selection. They don't have a lot of cooler space, but they've clearly made it a point to stock it with the best beers possible.
(4)
Jojo F.
Confessions of an Ex Vegan: Part One. It's true. Somewhere in my trip to Lawrence, KS last month, I ended my six month vegan trip. Was I running with the wrong crowd? No, just enjoying time with two of the most fantastic friends, who also happen to be postdoc students and lovers of life. Well, our friends were in Chicago this week and they wanted to have a meal of, "Something we don't have in Lawrence". Fair enough. With the fabulous suggestions from all my Yelp friends in hand, my new found enjoyment for cheese in moderation and the need to park my car somewhere where the parking wasn't as much as the meal, I reserved a table for 4 at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. The host and server were helpful, graceful and full of recommendations. I had the spinach salad and the francophile cheese plate. I was convinced that I was having a cheese-morphine high. Cheese-morphine?? Yeah, I know. See: tinyurl.com/6pxkw In any case, my husband, friends and I were impressed, to say the least. Totally going back.
(5)
Scott S.
Good Food, Good Wine, Solid Service So why 2 stars? You can't leave this place without smelling like you've been standing over a deep fat fryer. Seriously, whenever my wife goes we have to immediately put her clothes (including her coat) in the wash before the smell permeates the house. Now she leaves her winter coat in the car before going in to avoid having to send it to the cleaners. But, she freezes all the way home. The odor is so bad you can smell it outside the restaurant along the windows on the west side of the restaurant. Seriously, fix your ventilation problems. It's gross.
(2)
John S.
Stressful day at work? Shed it all off with cheese! First time in this downtown area and its very nice. The streets are all brick! Anywho, sat at the bar and had a Pride and Joy and cheese puffs (Sartori parmesan + grilled scallion + WI cheddar + dijonnaise). The puffs are so gooey! Then I had a cheese flight sampler that I can't remember for the life of me what it was, but it was three cheeses and nuts, sauce, and dried cranberries. (w/ bread) and crackers) Finished it with another Pride and Joy. This place is really big. One side of it is a market with a nice wine and cheese selection. The other side is the restaurant. Very cozy vibes. Great staff too. I shall be back to try their main dishes!
(4)
Cristina T.
I came back here last night for dinner. For a Friday night around 7:30 we only waited about 15 minutes for the table. We waited at the bar area and had some wine and cheese to start. When we were seated at the table the servers brought our wine and cheese along. Unfortunately we were seated practically next to the band playing. It was also pretty hot inside the restaurant. Luckily the good food made up for it. We continued onto the shrimp wontons which were perfectly fried and salted. We also tried the bruschetta duo-the smoked trout and the pesto ones were very good. We also split the macaroni and cheese with Nueske's bacon mixed in. It was perfectly creamy and delicious. The only thing I thought was weird was the service. Last time I came to MSCM we sat at the bar and loved the personal service we received. Our service this time was a little spotty. When I filled out the bill, I just wrote the total amount with tip included. The server awkwardly came out and asked me if I could write out the tip amount in the space. He said he couldn't process the bill without this filled in. What? I do this practically at every restaurant and have never been asked this question before. It was so awkward with the server standing and watching me fill in his tip. Other than that, I love MSCM. Their cheese selection is amazing as is their bar area. Next time I think I will just sit there. Great atmosphere, location and food. Its just unfortunate that I had such awkward service.
(4)
Laura G.
That cauliflower sandwich I just devoured was the best lunch I've eaten in a year. Finger-lickin' good.
(5)
Brian F.
One of the nicer places to lunch in the Oak Park area. This used to be a simple cheese market and have now, recently, expanded to include an excellent wine bar and bistro. The Execuitve Chef, Leonard Hollander, really knows his stuff. He takes full advantage of the expansive charcuterie and cheese selections at the market to both upgrade classic recipes and create culinary sensations that are both deicious and unusual. How about a BLTP (Bacon Lettuce Tomato and Procciutto) which includes arugula, basil and avocado. The Ham n' Swiss is built with gruyere cheese, horseradish aioli and carmelized onions. Ever have a Honey Roasted Cauliflower sandwich. I know that some of you are shuddering as I did at the thought... It is superb! I've never been there for dinner but the menu looks excellent and I know they have live music many evenings. My only complaint, which takes a star from my rating, is the extremely slow kitchen. I really have to assume that I will be sitting in the restaurant for at least 45 minutes for lunch to get soup and a sandwich. They seem to be improving somewhat over the last year but it still falls behind expectations.
(4)
Nick D.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a great place to pick up some unique brews and wine. They also have a variety of specialty foods from local artisans. I've never tried the food here, but I've heard good things. One of my favorite treats are the sea salt caramels.
(4)
Marie B.
One word -- yum. Ok, two words -- really yummy!? Making the trek from the western suburbs to the city...stuck on I88...beau suggests we meet somewhere in between. I do a quick search on Open Table and Yelp and locate this place. My first thought: this place has got to be expensive! WRONG!! Although the decor is lovely!! Wonderfully lit -- even on a rainy spring night. Highly polished cherry wood, sweet little displays of yummy snacks and a wide array of wines....that's the little market. The cafe/dining room is quite cozy with warm lighing and cosy sitting areas to chat, flirt or simply gaze into your loved one's eyes. There was also a great jazz quartet to provide background music! But, I digress...on to the food -- which was very reasonably priced...as was the wine selection -- I had a great Pinot Noir for $8 a glass! Try that in the "city"!? The goat cheese salad was really the best I have ever eaten. Fantastic assortment of baby greens with this fantastic citrus vinagerette and a perfectly crunchy piece of goat cheese. This would have been a meal in itself, but I had ordered the flat bread of the day. Here is where I was very impressed. I have an allergy to onion...thus, I usually ask how things are prepared. This night, I was too busy flirting..and gazing...that I forgot. So the dish arrived with onion. I told the waitress who was very sweet about the whole thing. She and - I assume the owner - were sooooo apologetic I felt bad!! While the dish was being redone, they brought a selection of fantastic cheese and bread (as a complimentary treat!). When the flat bread arrived, I was so full from eating the cheese that I couldn't do it justice -- but, it looked yummy -- and I boxed it for a later time. The beau had the fish and chips which I tasted -- the fish was wonderfully prepared and the french fries were equally good. I am hooked...next time I am stuck on I88...will just pop off and hang out at "the market"!
(4)
Janet E.
This place has A LOT of cheese. Unfortunately, I didnt order any food with cheese from here! But I did try the mushroom with spinach which had goat cheese and it was really good! This dish came with your choice of bread as well as a side of butter and apple jam. The jam was delicious! I ordered the dirty south benedict. It was good, but I thought it would be more fancy then what I expected. The menu here is pretty extensive and I was contemplating between a lot of the choices. I wouldnt mind coming back to try something else. We had a group of 18 so our food took about 40 minutes to be prepared. Just an FYI in case you wanted to throw a special event here. But the service was excellent! The prices are also reasonably priced. They sell a lot of other items here other than cheese. They had a lot of dipping sauces, jams, chocolates, wine and beer. However flagging down a person to ring up your purchases can be challenging. Lots of metered parking around the area.
(4)
Cass V.
I'm speaking only toward the market area. They have a great selection of jams, curd, wonderful chocolates and condiments. It's a little pricey but that's to be expected for the quality. Makes for great gift ideas!
(4)
James M.
Just about everything i've had here has been pretty tasty. It's one of my three standbys in Oak Park, which is seriously lacking in all-area restaurants. But this one definitely qualifies. Salads are always tasty. Main dishes are very flavorful--what I mean is that i'm from the school of "if the ingredient is listed, I wanna taste it, not imagine that it might be there", and this place has pretty bold flavoring. Not always a fan of the mac n choose special, but when it's good, it's the best thing on the menu (chefs, bring back the lobster and mac, please). Pork chop was pretty bland, though the accompanying sides were tasty. Besides that, everything else has been very good. Of course, the cheese and chocolate here are seriously incredible. Those two things alone make this place worth the trip.
(4)
Jelena Z.
I love wine. And craft beer. Chocolate, too. Culinary books even though I'm not the best cook, yet (doesn't mean I'm not trying and learning). Chutneys, meats, artisan sandwiches and crepes. Housewares such as aprons, glasses and cheese boards galore. Marion Street.... you seem to have it all! This space struck me as very NYC, and I mean that in the best way. There's a strong regard for sustainability and the environment, and both the urban touches (steel, glass) and the homey accents (chalkboards, polished woods) lend to a palpable warm and inviting feel. After checking out the retail side, be sure to step on over to the cafe. The menu is decidedly simple and focuses on cheese and charcuterie. Though, they also feature an impressive brunch offering. Next time: maple syrup crepe (Vermont butter & cheese butter)! My inaugural visit (believe me, there will be more) consisted of dabbling in the vino and cheese. I dabble well and deep within the cheese and wine realm, and this is when the close proximity to the green line comes in especially handy. Ahem... and if I can make a suggestion, sign up for the email newsletter ( marionstreetcheesemarket… ) so you too can stay informed of free (yes, FREE) craft beer and wine tastings on the weekends. PS- a giftcard from Marion Street Market would probably make most of the people on your shopping list happy!
(5)
Valerie R.
1 complaint to get out of the way: 1) I REEKED when I left this place. I had to air out my purse and wash my scarf! I don't know if this is usual (my friend had the same issue) and didn't notice any smoky smells at all when I was there, but it sure stuck to my clothes. On to the good stuff. Waiter: Superb. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, fast. Food: the cheeses and oils were all delicious, and their drink menu had plenty of great choices. The entrees were a bit overpriced for me and not my favorite part of the meal, but tasty none the less. Ambiance: LOVE it! A shop with goodies connected right to a classy place to nosh. This ended up being a nice location for a dinner for our party of 4 and I'd definitely return.
(4)
April W.
I would love to be able to give this place 4 stars, even 5. The food was really very good. TO start with the positive we loved the Cheese Puffs with the Sriracha dipping sauce. We also did a cheese platter, charcuterie and several dishes we shared. All was delicious. Good portions and great presentation. The cheese puffs were to die for and I love one of the goudas we had on the platter. I also read about a wine and I went into the wine shop and Francesca was a doll and very helpful and I walked out with two bottles of wine , one that my mother devoured and really enjoyed very much. Now for the bad. I read on here on MANY reviews that the service here was bad. So I was prepared to be frustrated but I was not prepared with just how bad it was. Here are some things that happened: 1. The server did not come over to our table for a good 20 minutes (maybe more) after we were seated. We had a small child with us, who behaves well in restaurants. But she never ever came over to see if we wanted something for her to start with nor asked us if we wanted a drink. We literally had to flag down the hostess to get the server to come over. 2. We asked for a kids menu, she never brought it. 3. I only was given the drink special menu and when I asked if this was all they had, the server said yes. Later on in the meal, I saw the extensive wine list. I was so pissed, I would have spent quite a bit more and ordered some nicer glasses of wine. 4. When my friends and I go out to eat, we like to linger, but we tip WELL. In between each round of ordering, she never ever came back. We had to flag her down a million times. We kept making jokes that we should get her cell number cause she was nowhere to be found. The problem for the restaurant for this is for sure, a loss of money, because the longer we sta, the more full we got and the less we ordered. 5. She made US do all the work. When she brought the drinks she handed them all to me and made me pass them, we were only a table of 4, it wasn't like she couldnt serve? She also never brought us plates. When we asked TWICE she dumped off 3 plates at the table on the end and never brought some of us silverware. We had to ask again for 2 more plates, pass tehm out ourselves and get up and go to another table to get silverware. 6. There was NO knowledge shared about the menu or the cheeses, or the wine, or the drinks, we never upsold on anything else like dessert or anything. BAD for Business OWNERS! the thing was, it was not even busy in here. I am really annoyed with whomever owns this place that they must see time and time again, people touting bad service and yet they do nothing about this. Either they dont read their yelp reviews or they dont care. It is really a shame because the food was better than great and bordering on AMAZING. I have to say that despite the amazing food and the great service in the wine shop by francesca, I dont think I would ever go back to this place based on the horrible, horrible service.
(2)
Jason B.
Marion Street Cheese Market is simply a great place to go. The food is amazing, they have great wine and beer on tap/in bottles. The servers are delightful, the host was extremely helpful. My girlfriend had trouble eating a part of her entree and needed a sharper knife so I asked a bus boy he said "let me see what I can do." Within a couple of minutes he came back and said "the best I could do is this pairing knife one of the chefs gave me." My reaction was that of amazement, I didn't expect such a quick response and how he simple got the job done. KUDOS!! Also, at the end of the night after enjoy the roasted chicken which I had and my girlfriend at the pork belly we got desert which was a diet killing multi-layered chocolate berry sauce goodness (the name escapes me, but the server recommended it). A different server came over (we stayed to enjoy the live music, which isn't so loud you can't have a conversation - thank goodness for that!) and dropped off a beer on the house! FIVE STARS FOR ME!!! We're going back tonight a friend who's coming in from out of town.
(5)
V S.
The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the tuna salad sandwich minus the corn and bread. It looked good but it had corn in it and i wasn't able to pick it all out. The people I was with enjoyed their meals. I had a bite of the cauliflower sandwich and it was really good.
(4)
Lisa B.
This has become one of my favorite places in Oak Park. When you think about it (and I have) it is probably the only non-chain place aside from Eric's Deli that is consistently open for lunch. Eric's is fine when you're with the kids or in the mood for a quick bite, but MSCM is a civilized, classy spot for a tete a tete with a lover or friend. When it first opened up, the service was spotty, but I think the crew has its act together now. I love how the chef uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible. I also appreciate the sensible portion sizes. Let's just say you probably won't need a doggie bag. I was pleased to notice today that they sell bread from the fantastic Labriola bakery in addition to the cheese, sweets and charcuterie in the market section. Do make a point to try one of their special turtle candies: dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Oh, lord. Take it from Yelp's resident chocoholic, it's amazing.
(5)
Michelle C.
Without a reservation, my mom, dad and I showed up at 9:15am on Mother's Day. The gal at the front was sweet and said all the tables were reserved but that we could sit at the bar and order. She handed us a brunch menu and we were off. The bartender was a sweet girl who smiled at us immediately and took our drink orders (Mimosa) and offered for my mom to try the special "mom mosa" for Mother's Day (which was infused with peach vodka - she loved!). The traditional mimosas were quite good as well! We were told to start at the brunch buffet which housed a variety of finger foods from cheese and prosciutto to bread pudding, zucchini bread, fresh fruit, bagels with spread, chorizo and so on. The zucchini bread was absolutely delicious and the cheese choices were also quite yummy. My mom loved the bread pudding and kept raving about it until my dad finally tried some off her plate. For the made-to-order dishes, we ordered as follows: Me = French toast Mom = Waffle with cheddar and bacon Dad = Crabcake Benedict We all liked our food...once it came out. It took nearly 45-50 mins. for our food to be served. Finally when we asked the bartender she said there was a "printing error" and that our food would be out shortly. Once the food came they had forgotten the black forest ham my mom ordered as a side and it cam out so late that my mom had to take it home in a doggy-bag since she was done with her meal by the time the cooks got around to warming up the ham. The bartender went from good to mediocre within the hour. I had to track her down for a cup of coffee, she never asked if we wanted another mimosa, and by the time we left she seemed somewhat dismissive. What I will say is that this place is very cozy and has a nice vibe. There were all sorts of families crammed in for brunch and the room filled up quickly. I know this place is a hot spot, so I wasn't surprised that things got a little confused with or order (and to be fair, they took my mom's mimosa off the bill), but I expected a little friendlier service considering it was a special day - Mother's Day! I will return again. This is a great place for a mid-afternoon glass of wine, brunch, and catching up with friends. It's also a stone's throw from my apartment, so count me in!
(3)
Elena K.
Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere. All of their menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are great. Waiters could back off a little, but that's my personal taste, I prefer pretty hands off wait staff. Nonetheless, one of my favorite spots in the area!
(5)
katy l.
I have to echo previous comments and say that while the meal was fantastic, the service was lacking. Our server was a nice gentleman, but certainly not in any hurry. It took him a solid 10 minutes just for the initial approach. Meanwhile, there was probably 3 other tables with people at them, so he certainly wasn't overwhelmed with other guests. Then, when we asked him about the wine choices, his wine list knowledge did not blow my bangs back. He sole descriptor of a sauvignon blanc was "floral." Right. Thanks. Our food came out promptly after we finally got to order it, but the two-top does not have much room for guests who order a few small plates. We were perpetually tryign to carefully shift things around, when it would've all been moot if we could've had one of the many larger empty tables. But, the food was awesome. We had a cheese flight that was tasty, followed by the quiche (whatever garnish was underneath made me go "mmmm"), and the cauliflower sandwich, which was so sweet and very delicious. My girlfriend and I were taking the opportunity to catch up over this dinner, so it was nice not to feel rushed, but it also would've been nice to have the option of having our plates cleared and/or our check brought less than 20 minutes after we were done. Our waiter just seemed to be putzing around, so it's not as though he seemed otherwise occupied with side work, and finally, I had to catch his eye before he came to offer us a check. We did eat here on a somewhat snowy Wednesday night, so maybe they didn't have their "A" staff on, but this meal could've been a 5-star meal with just a little more attentiveness.
(4)
Andrew J.
Went in for Sunday brunch. The staff was very pleasant and our server was very attentive. I had a chorizo skillet with jalapenos and tomatoes added. the jalepenos were very thinly sliced so they were great, and the lime and sour cram went so well with the dish. I even added some hot sauce, which I liked so much that I bought a bottle. This was the best skillet that I've ever had, and I'd go back any Sunday for the brunch,
(5)
Robert B.
I wandered in here at about 1 pm on a rainy Monday, mostly drawn by the promise of cheese from the shop and a chance to dry off slightly. I checked out the cheese market, then noticed the moderate but well-selected beer options. But then the smells wafting from the kitchen hit me and my stomach insisted that I sit for a bit and partake of their menu. The menu is small, but definitely fresh and crafted with food lovers in mind. It obviously revolves around cheeses and artisan meats, but there is plenty of choice here for everyone. I selected their tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, you say? Well, yes, but only in the best way. The soup was a tomato garlic bisque with just the right amount of roasted garlic and so creamy and good. The sandwich included two cheeses of the chefs choice, tomato, avocado and bacon, all on grilled sourdough. What? Yeah, it's as good as you think it is. The staff was super friendly. And while their draft beer selection is small, it contains some great rare selections. The wine list is also quite nice, and all are half price on Mondays! You have to give this place a try.
(5)
Shyam S.
My dad had told me about this place, but from the outside, I just assumed it was kind of like the French Market downtown: a series of stalls inside with random foods, and a focus on cheeses. While there are a lot of cheeses and charcuterie at this market, there is actually a full-blown wine selection inside, as well a restaurant with enough seating for 50 people. We had a really great meal. Both of us had the carrot and garlic soup (delish) and we split the asparagus with lemon, and the grilled octopus (squeeze some lemon over it and it makes it even better). We then shared the seared whitefish, and both loved it. All in all, a quality meal, at a great restaurant.
(4)
Kat G.
Came here for the first time last Wednesday. They are a small boutique restaurant/shop right off the Harlem green line stop in Oak Park. They have a chocolatier, wine selection, and cheese bar, restaurant all into one. This place is a lot of different things but I do feel they do a good job. They are a little on the pricey side but if you go on a Wednesday night it's half bottle wine night. Food is good, a little over priced but everything we had was consistently good. We enjoyed the Brussel sprout side, duck and shrimp tacos, and the American cheese board. All were good. As someone who has been to Napa, I can say they do have a good wine selection. If you want to go for a nice date night this is a good place to do it.
(4)
Corey C.
Superb wines, cheeses and plates! My new favorite spot. I highly recommend and will be back soon
(5)
Chris E.
We brought a group around noon on a Saturday. We got a mix of breakfast and lunch items: pancakes, salad, fruit and cheese plate (for our one year old) and sandwiches. Everyone loves their food and was high quality, perhaps even over the top. My only ding against them was that they didn't have a specific menu for their beer selection. They sell many different cans and bottles from their retail space and had 5 or 6 drafts so I would liked to have been educated on my options. We'll definitely be returning for a date night or a weekend when we're looking to impress or splurge on a meal.
(4)
Lindsey E.
I keep wanting to like the food at Marion Street, but I think it's time to acknowledge that I just don't. Don't get me wrong...it's not bad...just meh. And for the prices they are charging, it should be better than meh. The wine selection, on the other hand, is really good. It too is quite pricey, but if you head over on a Wednesday for half-priced bottles, you'll at least be in the range of other, comparable wine bar's prices. The ambiance is great...very warm and inviting, especially if you're there when they have live music. The attached wine and cheese market is pretty killer too. If you're going as a restaurant patron, don't bother with an appetizer or entree...just get a cheese platter and some wine...but make sure you go on a Wednesday!
(3)
Kristen H.
I am not sure if I was there long enough to give this place a fair review. After reading my fellow Yelpers' reviews about their amazing cauliflower sandwich, I immediately had to try it. It was not clear though that that sandwich is only on the lunch menu, not the dinner menu. The dinner menu was a little too stuffy and all of the entrees only consisted of meat. My friend and I decided to just split an appetizer of the sundries bravas, and they were surprisingly delicious! I had a glass of the Lucialliano Primavera and it was so full-bodied that I fell in love. I will be back for lunch, just not sure if it is my type of place for dinner.
(4)
Lola P.
I have been here a few times. For the food and then for the drinks. I am a big fan of the drinks. Wise Fool is by far the best drink I have ever had. If you love bourbon, whiskey, and classical cocktails definetly order one! Great wine selection too. Personally I am not a fan of the food. I find it falls short of how it sounds, the quality does not match the quality of the drinks, the items in the shop, and the customer service. To sum up, I enjoy everything here except for the food.
(4)
Bill L.
Holding back from 5 stars only because my experience was limited to wine and cheese, BUT I completely enjoyed both. I'm glad I didn't experience the less than stellar service some have mentioned recently. Everyone was kind and attentive. Wine selection wasn't as extensive as I would expect, but good variety regardless. Cheese selection was terrific. Menu descriptions of those I tried were spot on. Bottom line is I can't wait to make the trip from the city for my next visit, and that trip is very easy as the green line Harlem stop is across the street.
(4)
Karl C.
I really, really enjoyed this place. Marion Street Cheese Market has two sections: at one end, you will find a large assortment of wine, micro-brewed beer and a bountiful cheese counter. The other end is a moderate-sized cafe complete with a stage large enough for a two or three piece jazz band. Wine, cheese, jazz and good company -- what else can you ask for? I started off with the autumn red wine flight, which consisted of three half glasses of wine from California, Argentina and France. All were very good. I followed that up with a delicious Cheddah! cheese flight (the French Cantalet was my favorite). A light beer flight with five samples followed. They served me a fresh, lemony witte which was great but the others were mediocre, and please stay away from the grapefruit extract Surly Furious. I got pretty hungry so I ordered their fish and chips. The fish was crispy, beer-battered excellence. Their fries tasted very good but were listlessly soft. The ambiance of this place really impressed me. It's sleek and urban with undertones of sustainability; I was surprised to find out that their comfortable cafe chairs were made partly with reused car seat belts. The vibe is such where you can come here on a date to impress the wino you've been eyeing or barge in with a group of ten cheeseheads. You'll feel equally at home either way. The cherry on top of the meatloaf that was my visit was the band that night. They were playing up-tempo jazz covers of songs like "Dear Prudence" which was awesome. You could really bob your head to their stuff after a few glasses of wine and/or a pound of cheese. I highly recommend Marion Street Cheese. If you like wine, cheese and some poppy jazz, you need to check this place out.
(5)
Angela D.
Until now, Bin 36 downtown was my favorite wine and cheese place. They have officially been overthrown :) Excellent wine and cheese, great appetizers, delicious and creative entrees. And while it's not in any way cheap, it's reasonable for the quality of food and wine, and the great selection of desserts and "grocery" items made available for you even if you're just stopping in to stock up foir a dinner party. My only complaint was that service was REALLY slow. I kept joking that our waitress had dies because seriously, we would go 25 minutes and never even see her. We were not in any hurry so it wasn't a dealbreaker and it WAS a busy Saturday night so chances are on a weeknight we'd be waited on hand and foot. We started with a wine flight and cheese tray, the french one, and I don't remember the actual name but it's easy to pick out. The cheeses were DIVINE, and came with a nice assortment of bread, crackers, nuts and a royal jelly. We tried the sliders, and actually preferred the grilled beet to the duck. the duck was really tender and flavorful but the beet was so interesting and unique! We also had a flatbread pizza of the day, similar to a BBQ chicken but far more tasty than the standard pizza. The best part was the lamb stew entree that we shared. It was a huge portion so glad we split. The most tender, fall off the bone lamb I've had like that. Came in a savory onion broth with lentils and a few vegetables. I cannot wait to go back and try something else!! They had live music the night we went, that was a really nice suprise too. Not too loud, and the singer fit right in with the feel of the place. High quality without being pretentious, mellow and just....nice. Not sure how much more original praise I can add :)
(4)
Meg X.
Went here as part of my friends' monthly Supper Club group. Our server (Tony) was attentive, friendly, and helpful. We split the Pickle Flight, which included pearl onions, turnips, and okra. The turnips and okra were excellent but for whatever reason the pearl onions weren't so great. I got a 5-cheese flight, I can't remember which cheeses, but it was delicious. One of the group got the ribs, and it came stacked about 7" high with ribs, potatoes, etc. It looked like that opening from the Flintstones where Fred orders those ribs and they tip the car over. Another in our group had the white whine flight and really enjoyed it. The barbecue chicken was kind of weird because it was breaded and baked; no barbecue. But whatever, it was still good. I had some kind of baked peach thing for dessert. It was fantastic! Overall a great, quiet place for dinner. Friendly service and great menu. It's easier to just take the green line there than to try to find parking. It's across the street from the Marion exit of the Harlem stop of the green line.
(4)
Allison R.
I have been to Marion Street Cheese Market on numerous occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just to shop. If you're a vegetarian you'll appreciate the Cauliflower Melt sandwich. The apples and the cheese really make this sandwich delicious. It was a little on the greasy side, but I'm willing to overlook that based on taste. Unlike the Grilled Cheese sandwich, which almost needs something else to help it get away from being too cheesy (I never thought I would say that), the Cauliflower Melt is very well balanced. I think the brunch menu is by far the best. French press coffee with French toast or the mushroom skillet is a great reason to get out of bed on a Saturday morning. Overall, I think this restaurant puts together a really unique menu that's a little on the pricey side, but worth it every once in a while. It's a great place to eat with a group so you can order different things and sample everyone's dish. I think your experience here all depends on who you get as a server. Some are great. They'll explain the menu options and really seem to care about getting your food out in a reasonable time. Others are...not. It's really a gamble and it's sad because great food should always come with great service. On a side note I will say that on the retail side I've had very positive experiences in terms of service. Everyone seems to be fairly knowledgeable about all the products. I love the addition of the chocolates and the wine display is pretty awesome as well.
(4)
Steve M.
Pretty cool spot for the 'burbs! :) They don't do regular coffee here. Only french press. Also, they ask you if you want a small, medium or large press, which they'll bring to your table. Make sure you over order. (If you think you want a small, go medium.) Everyone at the table ordered breakfast skillets. Mine was the salmon and scrambled egg skillet. Somewhere in the back of the house the orders got mixed up and everyone got their food 10 minutes before mine showed up. No big deal, really, but it was weird to be the only one eating at the table when it finally did show. Flavor-wise, it was largely uninspiring. Nice presentation though. If I go back (and I would), I'd like to head back for dinner. The space looks really cool. TONS of cheeses, a pretty serious wine selection, and a small stage for jazzy musicians.
(3)
Lauren C.
The quiche was great! Also side note- this place has a small shop and they sell Three Floyd's Zombie Dust beer.
(4)
Melissa T.
Have not eaten in but did enjoy some delicious cheese and, oddly enough, the best licorice I've ever had is from there. I picked up both summer sausage and pate there, however, that was mediocre at best. I really like this place, but I'm not in love with this place like others are. In all honesty, I'm more likely to head to the Caputo cheese mart for cheese than here.
(3)
Laura V.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a real gem. I've been here half a dozen times, primarily just for drinks and all experiences have been wonderful. The restaurant/shop is beautiful, modern, clean, dark and feels sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. I always get the beer flight and there even some vegan options - just ask.
(5)
Alicia P.
Worst service I have ever experienced. Not only did the waitress tell me "i need to see your face" to judge if I could have a glass of wine, she grabbed my ID, threw it back at me, then told me she needed to see a credit card to verify...of which she the back at me. We asked for a new server and the manager apologized. Based on other reviews about the service, don't expect a comp for anything if you are treated poorly either considering the quantity of customer service reviews-we surely didn't receive anything. Food was overpriced, not as good as it should be for a cheese market (mac and cheese was just ok...nothing special). We also had chicken-ok- . Really nothing special. Unless they can work on customer service and improve the quality or decrease the price, go somewhere else
(1)
Thomas L.
I like this place. The wine is good and the prices are reasonable. The cheese plates are also very good. Let me preface what I'm about to say about the food menu with the fact that I am not a foodie. However, it took my girlfriend and I about 30 minutes to decide on what to eat. One, I had to google about half of the items on the menu. Perhaps I am a simpleton but here is an example: Bison Carpaccio 11/Anson Mills farro | soy braised shiitake |crispy shallot | sesame crème fraiche . If you can tell me what the hell that means than disregard. We decided to share the Risotto which was designated as a "large plate." In retrospect though it wasn't very big and if you don't fill up on bread and cheese beforehand, you should be able to handle a large plate fairly easily. I will say that the Risotto was delicious. The wine menu is good and they also have a decent (although small) selection of craft beer. The service was prompt but I'm not sure that the waitress knew what she was doing (although she overtly apologized when asked a question as she said the menu was new). All in all I would give this place the thumbs up. I will say that the menu should be tailored to people who live in Oak Park and not Tuscany. PS- They also have a nice little shop where you can buy craft beer, cheese, and wine, etc.
(4)
James K.
Great beer and wine selection is excellent. Lot of beers that are difficult to find anywhere else. Very knowledgeable staff. Except for the cheese flights and other staples, food is kind of hit or miss.
(4)
April P.
This place is incredible. There is an astounding assortment of cheeses, all picked by someone with an obvious divine taste in cheeses. The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant and comfortable. I don't know if that's because they did a good job designing the interior or simply because it is a place entirely devoted to cheese. Either way, it is a wonderful place and part of me wishes there were more like it while the other part is simply happy that I have the pleasure of partaking in such a unique invention and that part is happy it is the only one around. Thanks Marion Street Cheese Market! Never change.
(5)
Megan G.
I had a great bruncing experience here and let's he honest, who doesn't love a good brunch? My two dearest friends were in town for the weekend and wanted to meet my mom for a brunch and shopping escapade so I thought it would be fun for them to see the lovely downtown Oak Park area. It helps that my parents live there so we parked at their place and hoofed it to MSCM. The problem? We were hungover. The solution? Marion Street Cheese Market. But how does a cheese market help with a hangover you ask? The answer is simple. And dirty. Hangover fries. Yep, that's what they're called, right there on the menu. North Country bacon + all-natural sausage + Pastureland's organic cheddar + sunny side Milo's farm egg. Basically breakfast heaven on a plate. They are all about local, seasonal, and artisinal fare and they can make it taste good. We scarfed them down in no time flat while my mother insisted on telling the server that she didn't raise me to drink like a fish (her favorite game). We all had lovely meals following the savior hangover fries and we got a 4 pack of Goose Island Sofie on our way out, just in case. Perf.
(4)
michael s.
way more than your average stinky cheese hole. they have really good food.
(4)
Jo B.
This is a desperate plea to the owners of MSCM. Please please please do something about your horribly trained, apathetic, rude staff. I live in OP, I want to support this place because I think it has so much potential but I just can't bring myself to endure the terrible experience that dining here brings. Tried again last night...the hostess couldn't seat me outside because she didn't "think" there were any tables. How about walking outside and checking? Then she didn't know how long our wait might be because she "had no idea" when these customers had sat down but she did know that none of them had asked for their bill yet so it was likely to be at least 45 minutes. OMG. Read your reviews, owners, and see what your customers are saying about your staff. Please.
(1)
B L.
The owner should have been on hand last night. Workers are standing around, and yet ONE waiter for the entire dining room is going 100 MPH. Service was bad. First off, my spouse ordered his drink (asked for club soda with lemon but got it with lime) and received it AFTER he was done with his meal. (How do you forget a beverage?) The cocktail that I had was bizarro.... is the bartender getting creative? The vodka drink tasted like it had cloves in it. I had to send it back, and I rarely will do that. The grilled cheese sandwich was dry, and it consisted of 1 sliver of cheese slapped between two thick thick pieces of bread. The pasta salad was strange. I'd never order it again. We eat out all the time in Oak Park and we won't go back here except for perhaps a glass of wine. Pricing is high and service is not good. Food is average to weird. The owner must be a newbie to the biz. He/she should do a time/motion study. Workers are not choreographed. Nothing is in synch. You wait forever for your stuff, and yet there are workers with little/ nothing to do.
(1)
Colleen M.
I should preface this by saying that I'm lactose-intolerant so I'm not the person to comment about their cheese selection. :) I heard people raving about their wine selection and their bistro so when a groupon became available I bought it. We went to the bistro on a Friday night. They weren't crowded when we first arrived. We opted to order some appetizers and wine. It must have took 30 minutes for them to prepare the appetizers. (Who knew Bruschetta and Focaccia took so long?) I dropped my fork and the server said he would bring a new one. After waiting nearly 5 minutes, I flagged down someone else. The food was delicious and I enjoyed my wine. Overall, I found the selection good and the service ho-hum. I wouldn't go out of the way to go back but if I was in the area I might stop in again.
(3)
Andrew C.
I love this place. I've been coming back ever since I discovered it in 2010. The market is a fantastic place to pick up meats, cheeses, wines and many other specialty gourmet items. The restaurant is always excellent - seasonal menus offer unique, tasty dishes that really rise above many of the restaurants you'll find in downtown Chicago for a fraction of the price. A helpful staff and cozy patio in the warmer months are extra incentive to visit frequently!!
(5)
Jennifer J.
The first time I visited, I had a great experience. Lunch was awesome- everything I ate was delicious and very impressive. The service was average but the food was so amazing that I planned to return very soon. The next time I went in to pick up some espresso beans in the market. The staff was extremely helpful. The place was really starting to grow on me. The next time I stopped by quickly to see if they had burrata as I had just had it at dinner elsewhere a few nights ago. The staff working the cheese counter didn't offer to help and I had to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention even though there were a few people behind the counter. I asked about the burrata and was informed in a rather rude tone that it's seasonal. "do you have any idea when you'll have it again" i asked. "no not really" was the reply I received. Hmm okay. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. When I was notified that a groupon was available for this place, I quickly jumped on it. I figured I could take some friends out to dinner and introduce them to this great restaurant (I still felt the restaurant was great and my less than positive experience in the market was a one time kinda thing). I decided to stop in here on a saturday to pick up some wine & treats for a friend as a valentine's day gift. I was really looking forward to purchasing wine from here because I figured their staff was knowledgeable and could point me in the right direction. There appeared to be only one gentleman working in the wine section and he was helping a couple purchase quite a few bottles (we're talking 14 bottles of wine here). I understand that that's a great sale, I really do. They deserve guidance on their purchases. But so do I! The couple selecting wine scoffed at me as I reached for a bottle. I'm sure I looked very puzzled and was partially hoping that the lost look on my face would alert a staff member that I needed some assistance. I browsed the wine for about 15 minutes and no one offered to help me. I really would have thought the gentleman helping the couple would have asked me if I needed help in between bottle selections with them. I was annoyed and walked over to the cheese section. Again, the staff behind the counter ignored me (multiple employees behind the counter and only 1 customer besides myself looking at the cheeses). Do I look like I don't fit in? Is that why I don't get helped? I planned on dropping well over the amount of the groupon on this visit but was beginning to get extremely frustrated and began to look for items to just hit the minimum spend on the groupon. I must have walked back and forth from the cheese counter to the wine area 4-5 times and not once did someone offer to help me. I finally selected 2 bottles of wine and 2 cheeses from the prepackaged fridge (I really wanted to give my friend some cute cheesemonger style wrapped cheese but because I felt unwelcome at the cheese counter, I selected some plastic wrapped organic varieties). When it came time to check out, the young lady ringing me up seemed to struggle a bit. My total at that point was around $73 so minus my groupon, I was still spending about $33. In my head, the total didn't seem right but I just went with it because at this point, I just wanted to get out of there (the young lady ringing me up even commented on how tired I looked- i didn't tell her I was actually just annoyed with my experience there). When I presented my groupon on my iphone, she attempted to enter it herself but somehow cleared out the whole transaction. The gentleman who was helping the couple select wine came over and reentered my purchases. This time the total was only $58. The young lady was charging me incorrectly for the cheese. I paid and walked out quite annoyed with the experience. I have one more groupon for this place and I fully intend to give them another chance. I drank one of the bottles I purchased here and while I was not assisted with my selection, the wine I picked out was great and I would definitely like to purchase it again. I plan on bringing some friends here for dinner sometime soon because I'm hopeful I'll have another positive experience in the restaurant and I'm a bit fearful that if I use the groupon towards a purchase in the market, I may have another sour experience and be turned off to this place for good. I love the concept and location and hopefully my next experience will be great and I'll be writing a new 5 star review on here =)
(3)
Beth Z.
Service seems to have plummeted over the last few months. And if you are ordering anything like a tray, the service is abysmal, and the staff does not seem to care. I have loved this place for a long time, tried to look the other way when problems occur (ever sit for over an hour just waiting for a waiter to come over, and give you water?) but the last straw was when I just showed up to pick up a cheese tray (and they are NOT cheap) that was ordered and paid for long ago, I went the extra step to call multiple times, leave messages (b/c no one answers phone, you get v-mail) to remind them I would be in, so I would not have to wait, parking is not easy - and of course, it is not ready. Won't be back here for a long time, and will not recommend to others. Sad to lose a good place.
(2)
Ryan B.
This place is fun! If you go, you have to get a wine or beer flight and a flight of cheeses and sausages. There are definitely other places that serve food like this, but not in Oak Park (that I am aware of). The dinner menu looks to have expanded over the past year or so. However, it still feels small, and there may be some people that wouldn't find anything that fits their tastes. So, I would check out the menu online if you or your guests have specific or limited tastes. Each time I have eaten dinner here, I wasn't amazed by my entree, but it was still good. What I did appreciate was the creativity and quality. Each entree has a unique feel to it that added to its goodness, if that makes any sense. The atmosphere is great. Mellow, live music and a cheese shop to boot! Service was excellent on my last visit (although, we had a newbie on my first visit that wasn't so hot). This place is starting to move into my top 3 Oak Park area restaurants. The fun factor, quality, and creativity give this place 4 stars (it's actually more like 3.5, but that's not an option so I am rounding up). -Cheers
(4)
Dana A.
Tonight was my third visit, and it was tops! We had a fantastic server...Kelly. Kudos on the wine recommendation generated from my rudimentary description! Every cheese, small plate, soup and salad was right on time by suggestion and in course. This has become the ultimate catch-up-on-girl-talk spot for me and my suburb dwellin' friends. We get an atmosphere that could just as well be NYC with selections fresh from the local and regional vendors. No matter what you do on a visit to Marion Street Cheese Market, ALWAYS order a cheese flight (and let the staff make recos) and ALWAYS leave with a couple chocolates...and maybe a craft beer (or two) for home.
(5)
C W.
Okay, I'm dropping them to one star. I went in for lunch on Sunday, parking outside and putting an hour on the parking meter. That should be enough time, right, for someone who just wanted a sandwich and wouldn't even need to peruse the menu to know which one, right? Wrong. I ordered immediately after I sat down, yet ended up having to bolt down my sandwich as it arrived 10 minutes before my meter expired. That's right: it took them FIFTY MINUTES to make a sandwich. They weren't slammed (not that that would excuse it even so), and there was no explanation for the incredible delay. I don't care how good the food sometimes is-- it's just not worth it to risk waiting that long or encountering one of their many other service problems.
(1)
Lisa D.
I just had the BEST carrot cake EVER!!!! I'm bringing my rating up a star because of it. It's like pudding but cake, I don't really know....but it's amaaaaaaazing! Wine-good Service-Good Atmosphere-Good Cheese-delicious Carrot Cake- Amaaaaaaaaazing!
(5)
Rhonda G.
Stopped in with a friend and decided to share a few small plates of food and have some wine: Ahi Tuna: Excellent!! A definite must try Cheese Puffs: Great! Like mini cheese sticks bites only better Vegetable pizza with Cab crust: Excellent! These three items and we were good to go on the food side of things. For wine I enjoyed an Oregon Gewurztraminer which was just OK Friend had a Malbec which she loved It's worth mentioning that out waiter (Joseph) was the nicest guy ever, and he absolutely knows exactly when to return to check on the patrons and when to stay away...Kudos Joe, Can I call you Joe? On the retail side I perused the goods and was able to taste a couple of the cheese selections before deciding on my purchase. You also get 10% off of your retail purchase after dining in the cafe. The wine selection is not huge but it isn't small or mediocre by any means and I walked away with a great Spanish cava to be enjoyed at a later date.
(5)
Helena G.
We went to this restaurant with another couple, they had a Groupon. So we had the special degustation menu for Groupons: pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, gritts and samples of 3 or 4 types of beer. We also tasted some cheeses (queso de Mano is very good) and chorizos. As desert we had chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse. I think that the concept of this place is gourmet food (at least the prices are high). We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The food was delicious. The staff was very helpful and nice. I also loved the musical performance, the musicians played Bossa Nova and it was fantastic! The issues are: - portions sizes are small and - pricey
(3)
Reuben H.
Came back here last night with good company for dinner. My original review stands with a couple of updates. Service was better- more attentive, still very friendly, and overall more comfortable. The lone server seemed to do a great job balancing all of the tables and keeping things timely. The food was nice- I ordered the potato raclette which came already prepared on a hot plate. I was hoping it would somehow come for me to do myself- but that is totally unreasonable to do for one person alone. Overall, I would suggest this place to anyone who loves all things cheese! They pay homage to some great cheeses and couple them with a very good wine and beer selection (beer pairings with cheese- what more do you want me to say?!?!?).
(4)
Michael B.
Professional staff, pleasant atmosphere, and beautiful half circle wine rack. Will be back soon
(4)
Paul D.
What can I say about The Marion Street Cheese Market other than it's pretty damn awesome. Nestled in the heart of Hemingway's birthplace it sits on the corner of Marion Street (naturally) and South Blvd so parking isn't much of a problem even with the other restaurants that share the same block, and if you get there after six you don't have to pay for the privilege to park on the street. When you arrive you walk through the market, surrounded by a huge wine rack and a sea of cheeses (which is marketing gold, especially that once you taste their selections of cheeses and wine you can buy pretty much whatever you had on the way out, which I did), to get to the dining area. The wife and I arrived on a night that had live music, and from the flyer I saw later in the evening I see that isn't unusual to find here. Our waiter, Jamie (who looked like a younger, blonde Rain Wilson from the "Office") was very attentive and not over baring and had no problem at all explaining what was on the menu and would answer any question. We started with an excellent bottle of Gewurztraminer and a three cheese flight of Wisconsin cheeses, which were fantastic. Very buttery and pared well with the Gewurztraminer. For our appetizer we both went with the Baby Spinach Salad that had Ader Kase blue cheese, dried cranberries with white balsamic vinaigrette and toasted almonds and in my opinion was one of the best salads I ever had. The main course consisted of Spice Roasted Olives and Bread (wife) made with Spanish Olive Oil, roasted fennel , red peppers with a crusty bread, with me choosing the Lamb Pappardelle (which was outstanding) made up of Mint Creek Farm lamb shoulder, roasted shallots, ricotta salata, pomegranate, and mint which I paired with a glass of Cantina Sociale Coertino. The Gewurztraminer not being a hearty enough wine for the lamb. We ended with a dessert port and a double espresso. All in all The Marion Street Market is just a great place to hang out with friends, loved ones or just by yourself as they boast a nice bar where you can also eat at if not wanting a table or you are there just for a cheese and wine flights. I also noticed they have a bourbon flight as well, and it'll be on my list on my next visit. Live Jazz is also a regularity. The only draw backs where that the Spice Roasted Olives and Bread wasn't as good as it ought to have been, and ended up being heavy and tasted more of if it came from a jar, and that they could have done with about three less tables. Where I was seated near the bar and in a heavy traffic area, I was constantly bumped into by passing servers and we felt a little close to the other tables around us. Other than that we had a great time and spent most of the night there.
(4)
Rachel B.
Service has improved greatly the last two times I was there. I think they have ironed out the kinks. Oh.... I love their crispy eggplant sandwich and they currently have a fall special - Apple Cider Gelato which is very yummy!
(5)
Vinifer D.
YUMMMMMMM! I love cheese! I came here with a group of my chef friends when I was in culinary school. We got to sample at least 10-12 different cheeses! From what I can remember, one of my personal favorites was the Beaufort Chalet. This is made from unpasteurized cow's milk. Absolutely delicious! I'm not big on the blue cheeses, however, this little cheese shop made me a fan! I didn't get to sample anything besides cheese, because this was a learning course in cheese. I'd love to go back here and sample some more!
(4)
Kevin G.
This is one of our favorite places to eat and Oak Park. The cheese alone could make me give this place 5 stars, but the rest of the menu and very knowledgeable staff put it off the charts. I sympathize with the reviewer that couldn't get her quick coffee before running off to work, but if you look closely at the sign above the door, you will notice that it does NOT say "Starbucks." This is a great place to go to have great conversation and to SAVOR some really well-crafted food and beverages (kind of the OPPOSITE of a fast food joint). Perhaps the only thing I could fault Marion Street Cheese Market for is a bit of inconsistency in the wait staff. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Marion Street Cheese Market and let the guys and gals behind the counter educate me in the ways of the cheese. It seems like there's no practical limit to the amount of different cheeses they'll let you try and if you know what you like, but don't know the name, they'll patiently take you through the whole case until you find it. They have cheese, wine, and beer flights on the menu as well as a broad selection of very creative dishes that vary by the season. One of our favorites is their pizzas-- and if you like grilled cheese, just you wait! This ain't your mama's kraft singles on buttered bread! Three kinds of cheese plus a little pickled veggies make this the BEST grilled cheese I've ever had! There's always something on the menu that makes us go "Oooooohhhhh.... Let's try /that/!" Great place to take a date who's a foodie, or any foodie, for that matter. Great place for expanding your culinary comfort zone a little. A little pricey, but not out of reach. One of our new year's resolutions was to only go every /other/ week because it's a little too expensive for us to go /every/ week. Haven't been doing too well on that particular resolution.... ;-) Go there, try it-- ask for Trevor to make you a cheese flight of his choice!
(5)
Nicole M.
It's a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. Getting a wine or beer flight and a cheese sampler spread as an appetizer are musts. Everything on the brunch menu sounds phenomenal - come with a group so you can try a good handful of dishes. Not a huge restaurant - reservations are the way to go.
(5)
Amanda B.
This place is on the expensive side for my husband and I for dinner, so we've only been once when we had gift certificate, but I've been multiple times for lunch with friends and family, when the prices are a little more moderate. Each time it has been amazing! I have had the Chevre Salad and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. Both were phenomenal. I am a cheese fiend so anything with a large ball of cheese on the plate is going to win my favor but the salad is well sized and filling! The sandwich, likewise is filling and I could not finish it. The chutney/salsa they had on the sandwich was divine! It added such a freshness to the fried green tomatoes that it sat on. Great balance! My parents and I also purchased a cheese plate when we went. 3 out of 4 cheeses were very well received, so much so that my parents bought all three kinds of cheese. Their favorite was the Little Boy Blue, and as they live out of town, have repeatedly requested me to make the trip to the shop to purchase it and bring to them when we visit. Worth the money in their opinion! Service has always been good and the servers have always been able to give good recommendations when I was struggling between two choices and each time, they were spot on!
(5)
Rita S.
Hostess was quite unfriendly and service was slooooow. Food was ok but very pricey $14.00 for Mac and Cheese?? $20.00 pork chop was tough. Single bathrooms made for waiting lines in small hallway, and don't wash your hands because you won't get enough water out of the faucet to rinse off the soap???
(2)
Valerie S.
A great place for cheese and wine tasting.
(5)
Tracy O.
This was my second time here. First time, there was a festival in Oak Park, and the service was extremely slow. This time there was constuction on Maple Ave. and it was not crowded. The service was much better. We enjoyed a cheese plate, which was good. I had the spanish wine flight, which was a little overpriced in my opinion. The crab cake small plate was decent to share. The food is not outstanding, but quaint place to go for some wine and cheese.
(3)
Marissa G.
I've only picked up cheese and wine here, I've not been to the restaurant, but from what I experienced I was impressed. Their staff is incredibly patient and knowledgable. When I was there the cheese guy was busy with several customers tasting cheese, and he was always kind and attentive, never brushing anyone off and keeping the flow moving. There was also champagne tasting, which was lots of fun, and I walked away with a great bottle for a party. The chocolate selection is pretty impressive too. Be ready to spend a pretty penny, but for a special occasion, I think it's worth it!
(4)
Kim S.
I. Love. This. Place. Ok I can see why people may not like it. It's kind of confusing as a newbie. The layout is very long, there are multiple counters to order and pay for different types of items, and there's a bar/restaurant in the back. A restaurant which doesn't allow you to order food between certain hours of the day. Weird I know.. but PERSEVERE!! IT IS WORTH IT! As a cheese and wine shop it's great. They have a large selection and the staff is typically friendly and helpful. They have wine and cheeeeese and awesome beer and lil noshes to boot. Sometimes you have to wait a lil for service but I like to think that they care SO much about each customer that they don't want to cut them short to help someone else. Altho maybe you don't need to engage in conversation with the customer after the transaction is over and someone is patiently waiting to buy some juice or something. All this grand stuff aside the FOOD is why I'm giving it five stars. We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning and they asked if we had reservations. I'm like uhhh no? I don't think I've ever made a reservation for breakfast. Regardless they whispered a lil bit about shuffling tables and seated us right away. Awesome. The menu was full of tantalizing goodies but I opted for a mashed avocado benedict. The hubs got some meat thingy - looked like a roast or something with onions, etc. While we waited we enjoyed a cup of coffee. Not fancy lattes or cappucinos, just plain old coffee. I swear I'm doing somthing wrong when I make coffee at home - this was amazing coffee. I don't know the details, it could be Folgers for all I know but it was good.. damn good. The food came and was amazing. My eggs were poached perfectly - SUPER important for a benedict. The bacon was just right and sooo good. I took a bite of whatever the hubs got - also yummy. Everything was yummy. The potatoes on the side were too. AH! My mouth is watering now! So pleased. Was full forever. Definitely going back - with a reservation. P.S. They have Two Brother's Domaine DuPage on tap. So divine.
(5)
Ms L.
How do I love cheese....let me count the ways. Maybe I watched too much Urkel as a child, but cheese is one of my favorite things ever...food or otherwise. So of course I scooped up two Groupons to Marion Street Cheese Market when I had the chance. Kudos to the staff for allowing me to use one Groupon for a meal and the other for a wine purchase - and also allowing me to use the Groupon app on my phone (I always forget to print things out). Techie that I am - this was a huge bonus for me. Me and the beau stopped in during lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The first thing I'll comment on is that the ambience was incredibly soothing. Lots of bamboo and Asian styled decor -- it actually felt like a sushi restaurant I'd visit. No complaints there. The waitress was great at recommending new drinks to try -- we had the coconut water and house lemonade to start, since we knew we would be picking up a few bottles on the way home. The mango/almond french toast was amazing...and my beau's turkey avacado club looked pretty good too. The cucumber salad was delish - I wish there was a larger serving. After stuffing ourselves, we went to the wine & cheese section...oh my. Reasonably priced, though I'd recommend adding some additional lighting in the wine section -- it was sometimes hard to read the labels. The guy behind the cheese counter made some really tasty recommendations to go with the wines we picked. This was a pretty solid wine bar/cafe -- I'd definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Yum!
(4)
Victoria h.
Husband and I made reservations for a 6pm dinner on a Friday night. When we arrived we were seated immediately and I noticed that there were a few tables still empty. After we were seated, we waited for our server. Then we waited some more. Then I asked the hostess to get our server and we waited some more. Finally, the server came and took our order. The server had a guy with him who was training(?). I ordered the Mac and cheese and husband ordered fish and chips.The mac and cheese was, I'm sorry to say, flavorless. I'm the last person in the world to add salt to anything and this dish needed salt badly. It was just bland, I can't explain it. I took most of it home and ate some of my husband's delicious dinner. The fish and chips were incredible! I highly recommend them. The fish were crispy and the fries were pre-soaked in vinegar in just the right amount. The dish also comes with tartar sauce which my husband hates. He asked for cocktail sauce instead and got it! When we were done, the trainee asked us how our meal was, put the mac&cheese in the to-go box, asked if we wanted dessert and....nothing. No check. We couldn't find our server (or the trainee) for a while. So we waited. Then we waited some more. Then the server came, asked us the same questions again and finally brought us our check. I will definitely give it another chance and order something else.
(3)
M.K. O.
The service has been a bit awkward and slow for each of my visits; this creates an uncomfortable mismatch as the food is fantastic (innovative and seasonal menu, perhaps the best food in Oak Park) and the atmosphere is equally great. Our waitress for the most recent experience came out with our food and froze for a few seconds wide-eyed mid dining room before setting the plates down at our table and saying something like, "Oh my God, I like totally forgot what I was doing." We were one of 2 tables in the restaurant.
(3)
Jen A.
I've been here several times and think that my review will now reflect an average of all my experiences. The food, beer, wine, menu, and retail store are fantastic. The service and the prices bring down my rating. We love coming in and trying cheese or choosing beer and wine to go. One time, we came in and the person in the retail area said "you have to buy that stuff at the bar." So we went to the cashier behind the bar, and she replies "No, you have to buy that in ths store area". We head back to the store and she says "No, you have to buy that stuff at the bar." Make up your mind... There have been two occasions where we have gone in for dinner, ordered drinks and one entree each, and the service was stretched out over two hours. Slow... Also, I have a hard time coming in here and ordering dinner for less than $50 per person, when you include drinks. I'm sure you can do it, but its a challenge. If the food was a little more affordable, we'd probably find a way to stop by more often. If you want a good meal, this is worth a stop...if you don't mind overpriced food or waiting 2 hours to finish dinner.
(3)
Kymberly J.
This is an update of my last review. I was a little upset last time because they were a little disorganized from the move but now they have grown on me. I stopped by the other day to give goat cheese another shot. Now I love it and can't get enough. The guy at the cheese counter patiently sliced me some samples to try and schooled me on the wonderful world of goat cheese and the local market. I bought a small wheel and he threw in a free baugette. awww... The next Saturday I went back for lunch. I had the vegan tostada with shrooms, red pepper and hummus and some baked french onion soup. It was the perfect lunch; fresh ingredients and served on cute little plates. The waitress was a little frazzled but kept a smile on her face the whole time - now that's a professional! The next time I go, even just for drinks, I want to try one of the beer or wine flights. They have have what seems to be a nice collection of microbrews that I am dying to sample.
(4)
Mary M.
I keep trying to like this place since it's got great food, wonderful wines and a beautiful shoppe/deli. However, there's a huge disconnect between the resto's foodie persona and the lackadaisical, gourmet-illiterate staff. Today's outing resulted in the same impression---someone in the kitchen is working their ass off, and it all gets lost in translation when it makes it to the table, which by the way could take over 45 minutes for a sandwich (even when the place is 1/2 empty. Show some respect for your customers and hire a crew who appears to give a damn!
(2)
Leo I.
Spaghetti Carbonara should not involve a fried egg, over-easy, dumped on top of the pasta. Neither should it require the synthetic bacon crumbles that Country Buffet provides for salad toppings. Oh, by the way, Carbonara is not a soup and if it were it would not be served in a bowl full of olive oil! With that said, I must admit that the restaurant is at a great location, has a well-appointed dining room, and the cheese-display is beautiful and exudes a market-style setting. But the menu is uninspired and it almost feels as if it is microwave-driven. The service can be hit or miss. When it takes 20 minutes to produce two cheese tray appetizers on a very slow night (2 more tables occupied) one is left to wonder: are they watching for the cheese to age first?
(1)
Shannon W.
I have not eaten here, but they have an amazing wine selection. I wanted to find a nice bottle of Malbec for some friends and I called ahead, spoke with Charlie and Marcus - the two retail guys and they know their stuff! Charlie helped me find the perfect bottle, and within my price range and had it placed on hold for me. I got it a few days later and my friends loved it! They even gift wrapped it for me and they had a giveaway that day of a cute reusable bag. Love all their window display "things for the kitchen" as well!
(5)
Lindsey H.
Awesome, intriguing and lovely. Three of us went for lunch on a Satuday afternoon. The chilaquiles skillet was divine, crunchy tortilla with a beautiful green salsa and fried eggs on top. I am a tough critic on this dish, and these were the best I have had at a restaurant anywhere (even Mr. Bayless'!). It had every person at the table asking if we would all share dishes. My cohorts ordered the club sandwich and the extremely succulent french toast with cherry caramel sauce, vanilla bean, mascarpone, and toasted almonds. Needless to say we all ate every morsel on our plates. Our bill came to about $40 and we left awestruck and happy planning our next visit.
(4)
Stephen L.
I live in Oak Park and go to this place a lot. However, I only go for the food. The service is a JOKE. It is at the point that I place my own food orders at the bar. My last visit for lunch was 1.5 hours long - unless they improve, I'm not going back. If they fire some staff and do some serious service training this place could be good.
(1)
Molly O.
I have been a HUGE fan of this establishment since it's origin. I was very excited to see their expansion, and I am always rooting for them to succeed. However, I have a couple of fairly large issues with their service. Early on I gave them a pass, assuming they were learning the ropes (the service was just plain horrible.) That was over a year ago. I just had lunch there today and again, the service is way under par. Two of us ordered the mac n cheese (which was under seasoned.) When I looked for the salt and pepper shakers they were on all the other tables but ours. My friend ordered a salad, however it wasn't served with a bread stick. The other tables around us who did order salads were served with 2 homemade bread sticks. I would go back for the cheese flights and a glass of wine and sit at the bar. The lunch is overpriced for the quality . I cannot comment on the dinners.
(3)
Karen S.
Had brunch here the other day and it was very good. Food is very well-prepared, and you can tell the ingredients are very fresh. I had eggs with grilled tomatoes, and it was delicious. I love how the toast comes in a little cast iron pot to keep it warm. I've never seen that before, and it was a nice little surprise. Service was excellent. Took advantage of the 10% off coupon on our receipt and bought a bottle of Shiraz that was wonderful. Will for sure go back-next time to dry dessert!
(4)
Senorita J.
You can never go wrong with cheese! Plus the drinks are awesome and servers are nice.
(4)
rebecca g.
This is my go-to place to create a cheese platter for a party! Amazing selection and they carry things I haven't seen anywhere else. I've had brunch there twice and was impressed both times. Great bloody Marys, delicious pork chiliquiles and great sandwiches. I recently moved to OP from Chicago's Northside and we will be regulars!! Love it!!
(5)
Cheryl W.
Yes, I had a Groupon for this place....that being said, I think it's a great place for apps and cheese, the wine was incredible and hubby loved the microbrew flight, however I don't think I'd recommend it for dinner. While our waitress was very pleasant, she didn't seem to know a lot about the food and had to go ask every time we had questions. Also, she disappeared at the end of the meal (more later on that). So we came on a Sunday night and were seated immediately. I had a glass of wine and my husband had the flight of microbrews. We also had a one of the "pre-figured-out" cheese platters (the Espania or something like that) to start as an app. So YUM on both counts...one star there! I ordered the scallops and husband ordered the mac and cheese. The scallops were good, but nothing out of this world and although hubby was not commenting and he had a lot of it wrapped to go, later he said he should have tried the fish and chips, so I'm taking that as a not-that-great. Fast forward to after dinner, we wanted to try some desserts and ordered a couple. Unfortunately 30 minutes later our waitress and desserts were MIA and our appetite was gone, so I just asked for the check from some passing waiter. Apparently it was then realized that our desserts were forgotten about. A second star for comping us for our drinks for forgetting about us after dinner. As far as ambiance...if you go when it's still very light out, it's very dark inside. So takes a bit to adjust. Once adjusted though, you're good to go. So, that being said, we probably won't be back for dinner. Although the drinks, apps and cheeses we had were great, so if you're looking for something like that - this is your place!
(2)
James R.
I'm a huge fan! The service is great, wait staff as really improved, great food, and they have live music. Nice outdoor eating, but treat yourself to a table inside when you're in the mood for a little romance. Try the roasted chicken with spinach...... it will rock your world. Live, Love, Eat. JLR
(4)
A. J.
Excellent service; very good food. Really enjoyed cheese diversity. Ordered something I was negatively surprised by, they took care of it. I liked that.
(4)
Grace G.
I give Marion Street Cheese Market an outstanding review because everytime I dine or drink here, I get the very best service and experience. I most recently dined here with a large group on a Saturday night and our server was absolutely wonderful. He was attentive, patient, and able to make solid recommendations on great wine and cheese pairings. I tried the "Mac and Choose" this time around (a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese with andouille sausage) and it was very good and very filling. For an elegant evening out with friends or for a date, I don't think you can go wrong here.
(5)
Dusty K.
***Review is for the cheese counter only*** On a rare trip to Oak Park to rid myself of an ever growing Oak Park groupon stack, I was happy to find this place. Upon walking in, my eyes were immediately drawn to the large cheese counter stretching over 3 display windows. I had planned to spend my groupon on cheese only but seeing the display only reinforced that decision. It takes some time to browse through all the selections but they have many options from hard cheeses to soft and local varieties to top quality imports. The good news is that they are more than happy to walk you through any of your likes and dislikes while offering suggestions. I ended up with 3 cheeses and a small container of rye crackers. The brie was soft and cream cheese like while the ten year aged cheedar is sharp and delicious. I have yet to try my Kaskaskia cheese (I believe it's a hard grating sheeps milk cheese) but it sounded and smells fantastic. It will be sprinkled over homemade pasta in my near future. I haven't eaten here for lunch but it looks like a nice spot to get a bite. I have another groupon and can't wait to purchase additional cheeses. They also have several beer and wine options along with bacon and butter selections from nearby farms (I've seen a few of them from local farmer's markets). I really liked this place and can see myself coming back without a groupon.
(4)
Haines J.
What a great location for the wine, cheese, jazz, food lover. This place has really invested in the customer experience. From the vast inventory of wine displayed in the west wing of the store. Follow along to the restaurant and see all the fresh cheese from around the world. A simple menu stating that they do what they do well. Thank you for a great time and awesome meal.
(5)
Tammy H.
Joe and I had the Groupon and made a day trip out to Oak Park. The folks there were SUPER pleasant. Our plan was to get $40 in cheese and that's exactly what we did. The cheese monger was very patient and observant to what Joe and I wanted and what I didn't like, haha. We tried a lot of stinky cheese and a lot of it was good. He was also willing to give us as little or as much as we wanted. The people that work here are just plain nice and easy to talk to. We had a very pleasant visit discussing cheese and Groupons :) Also, I'd recommend the Dante cheese out of the cooler. You'd be ok buying an entire wheel of it.
(4)
Jenny Z.
Initially this place seemed a bit too trendy and pretentious-we made reservations on a Thursday night and the hostess wouldn't let us sit down until all of our party was present...and there were tons of tables available. Oh well, maybe it was a ploy to get people to walk around the shop and buy stuff? I don't mind though, any gourmet food or wine/beer they had to offer looked great. Once we sat down it was pure bliss! We got a cheese plate from Vermont that came with lots of little goodies. We all ordered a fish dish....the salmon was slightly fishy but was still delicious and the quinoa that came with it was amazing. My husband's fish and chips was perfect, phenomenal even. Then we ordered the brownie for dessert....it was dense, rich and came with caramel and cream and I still get cravings for it so i have to go back:)
(4)
Kaitlyn V.
A bit pricey but quite lovely. A cheese/wine/beer shop to one side, and a restaurant to the other (a bar would be a nice addition, especially as they won't seat you until your full party arrives). Cheese-lovers will be in heaven, but lactose is not my best friend and I still had a wonderful meal and a great time! I went to college in a hippie town in upstate New York, and this reminds me of some of the nicer restaurants there -- that's a huge compliment. I love the focus on sustainability, local/seasonal foods, small batches, responsible sourcing, etc. All tied up with energetic creativity, in a modern but cozy environment. I'm a vegetarian, and the menu offered several unique and creative options - always a very welcome surprise! There was also great fish, chicken and meat for the carnivores in our crowd. Loved that the dishes have both wine and beer pairings, and the flights were fabulous. Entrees are a reasonable size but if you're very hungry, be sure to get an appetizer or soup/salad.
(4)
Jenny P.
What a cute place!! We came to check this place out after having a groupon for it, and we were impressed! The wine selection is great and the woman who made some suggestions based on our taste was very helpful. The wine we chose was only a $10 bottle of Chilean cab sav, and she was right on by stating don't let the price fool you...it was delicious! Next was choosing a cheese, and the woman behind the counter was quick to make suggestions based on our wine selection. I forget the name of the cheese, but it was from Vermont and boy was it good! There is a little cafe/restaurant attached that included some outdoor seating and I would love to come by and try it out! They also had a a cooler with interesting beers available for purchase in 6 packs, and would like to try some of those too! Only reason it does not get 5 stars is b/c I need to try out the cafe service and food first! But what a neat place!
(4)
Tina W.
Marion Street Cheese Market is part cheese and wine shop, part restaurant. The decor is nice. There are lots of windows to the street, there was a wraparound bar and deli counter, and the wood paneling gave it a classy yet comfortable feel. After seeing all the neat architechture in Oak Park, this place fit in nicely. They have a wide beer and wine selection with very reasonable prices. I had some interesting wines in my white, pink, red flight and they let me make a substitution for one of the wines. My boyfriend had the beer flight (with 5 beers!) and they were all beers he had never tried. The food was pretty good. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, which I really liked. It's hard to get eggplant that isn't rubbery! Neither of us had any cheese... My only complaint is with the coffee, which tasted burnt. Granted we arrived at 2pm, past the peak of coffee serving time, but they were still serving the brunch menu and I think the coffee could have been fresher considering.
(4)
mei s.
what a fun place this is! This is a place i would tell my friends to go on date night! Off the main path in Oak Park. It is a quiet area but the inside was definitely bustling. It's a very cool spot. They had a jazz trio playing. It was not a loud place, so definitely not a place you'd go with the girls or the boys. It had a good mix of ages. And it is definitely not a pickup place. It is a date spot for sure. The service was friendly and helpful. However, we had asked for a recommendation for a cheese flight for our second course. We specifically said we do not like bland cheese, like Swiss. He recommended either the Midwest flight or the francophile. We went with the francophile, which had a mixture of soft and hard cheese. However, three of the hard cheeses were very bland. We were trying to figure out a way to get them to perk up by eating the dried apricots, but still no luck. The brie was nice and so was the blue cheese. But overall, we were very disappointed by the cheese flight. Next time, we will have to try the Midwest. We started with two salads which were really good, the baby spinach and the warm goat cheese. We also ordered the cheese puffs. I thought they were going to be more like gougeres, but they were more like little pastries with melted cheese inside. they were fine, but not as tasty as i had expected for NY cheddar. For our entrees, we ordered the duck carbonara and the crispy skin barramundi. They were excellent. The duck carbonara, was so beautiful with the fried egg on top. And the pasta was perfectly prepared, al dente. The crispy baramundi was also really good. the risotto was a cake that was oven crisped. and the almond brown butter with the carrots, was unbelievable. you could totally taste the brown butter. it was delicious. we were really full afterwards, so unfortunately, no room for desert or coffee. although i really wanted some coffee. but two glasses of wine and a flight of beer prohibited any room for more liquid. I will definitely come back again. The fish and chips looked awesome!! Can't wait to try it and some other cheeses.
(5)
Chris L.
No matter why you come here, you will not be disappointed. If you're hungry - the food in the Bistro is great (I've enjoyed both dinner and brunch). If you're thirsty - they have an ever changing handful of microbrews on tap. If you want cheese - they will not laugh at you're lack of cheese knowledge, I promised (and I now know how I feel about soft rind cheese, or was it washed rind cheese???). If you want to buy local - you can get cheese, beer, melt-in-your-mouth toffee, honey and even pastured local eggs at a fair price. And if you are coming there for the obvious wine - Candy and the other helpful staff will steer you in the right direction even with a $10 - $15 budget. It's a great small, local business that supports lots of other small, local businesses. For the last 6 months or so, I've made it a point to stop in about every 2 weeks or so. Instead of taking the easy way out and grabbing a bottle of wine or a dozen eggs while I'm grocery shopping at Jewel, I take the time to go here instead. Don't just save it for special occasions, make it part of your routine. And feel free to treat yourself to a little piece of toffee as a reward for supporting the market! P.S. I think the profile lists it as "not" kid friendly, but they give stickers to my kids from the cheese shop, they have weekly story times and dinners just for little ones. I think that's pretty kid friendly. P.S.S. Sign up for their kinda regular newsletter and get the benefit of 10 - 15% off coupons that usually come with each one!
(5)
Cassie S.
Marion Street is a dangerous collection of delicious things. Its new space is extremely classy--with nifty environmentalist touches, including what I'm pretty sure are recycled seatbelts woven together to form the backs and seats of the chairs. Wonderful chocolates, cheese, and even milk and eggs from farms--though these are a little pricey--if you're just grabbing stuff to take home. Fantastic menu of little surprises if you're eating there. Some good and surprisingly affordable wines are on offer, to take with you or consume on the premises. This place can go from very fancy live music to showing the game du jour on the flatscreen in two seconds--it has a good down to earth streak. Best place to buy good honey in Oak Park when the farmers' market is shut down for the winter.
(5)
Turner F.
Really, Marion Street Cheese Market should have two Yelp entries--one for the restaurant and one for the market. The market is great for that last minute hostess gift you kept putting off until right before the dinner party, as has been said before: the market is full of great cheeses, meats, and wines, as well as other specialty groceries like high-end yogurt and dinner crackers--delicious. I agree that the service can be slow and the employees less than fully engaged sometimes but disagree that it is bad service. The laid back atmosphere is evident from the moment you walk into the place. When I have had questions, I seek the staff out. I don't wait for them to initiate. The restaurant is what makes MSCM truly deserve 5+ Yelp stars. The often-changing menu caters to adventurous foodies and more skittish restaurant-goers alike. They certainly have the hit-you-over-the-head hearty meaty dishes with lamb and sometimes boar and decadently thick 'focaccia du jour' that I would argue could appeal to just about anyone (except for maybe the boar), but they also have subtler, more obscure dishes creatively combining their extensive cheese offerings with various purees, pastas, fish, and fowl. A note about their location for those of us who are car-less: MSCM is ~50 feet away from the Harlem green line el stop. In other words, the 'but it's all the way out in Oak Park' excuse is only valid because of how long it takes to get to Oak Park, not because it's inaccessible by CTA. I've been to MSCM about 5 times, which, considering I live downtown, do not own a vehicle and am quite lazy, shows just how good my experiences have been to keep me coming back.
(5)
Caiti S.
Dear Marion Street Cheese Market, I want to like you. I want to feel the same way about you that so many others do, but I just can't. I totally support the way you do things, with a focus on local, organic and sustainable ingredients. But that doesn't outweight the problems I've had. It's been a year and a half since my first visit (which wasn't the best), and the second visit only enforced my feelings I had the first time around. My husband and I dined for brunch today. Before the meal, we were offered biscotti, but this biscotti should really have come with a warning that you will likely need dental work after attempting to bite the hardest, crunchiest cookie I've ever tried to eat. I will perhaps take the blame for this, however, as I am not a coffee-drinker and didn't have a hot liquid to dip the biscotti into, which perhaps might have softened it into something more edible. Lesson learned: Have the biscotti with coffee or risk breaking your teeth. For my entree, I ordered the honey-roasted cauliflower sandwich (with apples, aged cheddar and curry aioli on multigrain bread, which was supposed to come with my choice of side) and my husband ordered a rhubarb french toast with sweet chevre. While waiting for our food, I overheard a chef say to our waitress that a cauliflower sandwich was coming up, and that he wanted to know what side was ordered with it. (I assume that he was referring to my sandwich, as there were not many other patrons in the restaurant.) My waitress, who I now realize failed to ask what side I wanted when I ordered, told the chef to "put whatever you feel like" with the sandwich. I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect the waitress to come over and ask what side I actually WANTED, rather than telling the cook to put on the plate whatever he had. My husband loved his French toast, and I had a bite and agree that it was wonderful. However, I did not love the taste of my cauliflower sandwich. The cauliflower was over-roasted and bitter, and the sandwich was completely lacking the aged cheddar that the menu described. Yes, the Cheese Market failed to put the CHEESE on my sandwich. The bread was wonderful, but certainly not enough to redeem the meal. I sadly left feeling quite unsatisfied. Maybe I'll give the MSCM one more try, but between lackluster service and food that has left me wanting more, I'm still waiting to be impressed like others seem to be.
(2)
Craig G.
Attended a birthday dinner there last night., not at all what I thought it would be. Service was okay and the waitress was very nice. However, the reasonable price /(food quality + portion size) = horrible, for this reason alone, I wont be back. Why cant these restaurants figure out that the economy is in the dumps and now is NOT the best time to gouge your customers. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market is not alone in this. The restaurants who survive will find the right balance.
(2)
Christina S.
After my original review, I feel it only fair to warn people... The cheese puffs are no more. Sigh. I was appalled when I heard the words, "Oh, we don't have those on the menu anymore." The watier then tried to sell me on some arrancini. They were delicious, but just not the same. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.
(4)
Vanessa D.
These guys are off my list. I went here 2 weeks ago, excited to purchase a few of my favorite cheeses. I was so pleased to find they had all three (L'Amuse Gouda, Cashel Bleu, and Ewephoria). I was unhappy to see that the two people working behind the cheese counter didn't seem to be real "cheesemongers" or even know much about proper handling of and packing of the different cheeses. Not to mention the one woman's inability to cut the cheese, no pun intended. When I came home and opened up the Cashel Bleu I was immediately surprised to find that there was something seriously wrong with this cheese. A good portion of it (1/4) seemed to be a brownish color with a wet consistently. On top of that, all the blue portions were covered in tiny little white dots. Now, I am not a cheese professional but I have eaten Cashel Bleu plenty of times to know that this is NOT normal. I immediately called the shop and spoke to the person who answered the phone. She interrupted me and transferred me to the cheese department. It rings a million times and no one answers. Mind you, this was approximately 5PM on a Tuesday evening. So, I left a voicemail, explaining the issue and gave my name and phone number, asking them to call me back. They did not call back. Bad customer service means I will never visit your store again. Plus, the prices of the cheeses I purchased happen to be significantly less at Fox & Obel, where I've never had any issues with their cheese or customer service.
(1)
Jeremiah T.
The diver scallops were the best I have had, and I have had quite a few. They have quite a variety of cheese (of course). All the cheese I sampled on my flight were exquisite, the goat cheese was especially delicate and impressive. Their wine selection is an impressive collection of quality, sustainable wines. The menu provides pairing suggestions of both wine and beer with your main course. Our server was quite helpful and attentive in our meal selection. My party thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and highly recommend a visit.
(5)
M H.
MMMMMM!!!! Great food and great service!!! They are vegetarian friendly which I love, lots of organic items and the menu is very creative. Great wine selection and you can buy wine and cheeses and meats to take home with you. I would recommend reservations. They also have special events and live bands on certian nights.
(5)
Inbalsp S.
This has become my go-to spot for gifts! They have such an exciting variety of unique products, from wonderful cheeses to craft ales. We've dined here a couple of times and enjoyed the experience, overall. But I think their strongest suit is the gourmet foods for purchase. Wonderful as hostess gifts and even holiday gifts! Oh, and my favorite part is the expert advice on hand by the staff. They are so helpful in finding the perfect gift for any occasion.
(4)
Claudia M.
Met some friends here tonight. Had the 5 cheese and meat appetizer. Loved the cheese mix that the waiter recommended. Afterwards shared fried green tomatoes, brushetta and margherita flatbread. All delicious. Was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the waiter and staff was. This is my new favorite place in Oak Park. PLUS, they have the most delicious chocolate desserts!
(5)
Dejan B.
Great and hip place in Oak Park. Some guides to the city say this is a must visit and I have to agree. Its location is great, very close (walking distance) to many other attractions in Oak Park like the Unity Temple, Frank Lloyd Wrights studio, Hemingway's house, etc. Yes, you will find a LOT of cheese here...However, the restaurant also serves a lot of very good non-cheese meals and for the location you can get some at pretty reasonable prices. They have a large wine section with regular wine tastings, and also a lot of events going on...One of the most important things to me is they have a emphasis on sustainability and being a little more socially-responsible than some other places. If you are in Oak Park I recommend checking this place out...
(4)
Aaron A.
Having been a fan of the smaller version of MSCM on the other side of the tracks, I need to segment this big shop and review the segments separately. Cheese & charcuterie: 3 stars. I loved the smaller Marion Street Cheese Market when it was on the other side of the train tracks (it deserved 4-5 stars). The staff was very small, but knew exactly what they were doing. Now that they've made the move, they have more staff who are less expert. It is much harder to get any good advice now. Also, the wider counter layout makes it easier for other jerks to push in front of you. I'm not British, but I do like an orderly queue. The old market was so small that there was no other way. At this point, you could go to a high-end grocery store and get an equal or better cheese-buying experience. Not good when "cheese market" is half of your name! Wine: 4 stars. Big improvement here after the move! The selection is not as large as at big wine superstores, of course. But the staff knows the inventory, and they are very helpful. I would say the most helpful employees I've encountered here work in the wine section. And they never talk down to a less knowledgeable customer, which frequently happens at dedicated wine shops. I also really like the circular wine "cellar." Charming. Restaurant: 3 stars. If either the service were worthy of the prices and decor (which would take a big improvement), or the prices were reflective of the mediocre service, then this would jump to 4 stars instantly. I really like the food, but I don't like to pay that much for good food and inept service. I should make special mention of a great meal I had with my wife and some friends last Valentine's day. It was a prix fixe 5 course menu, and a friend and I added the beer pairings. Brilliant! A perfect beer for every course, including salad and dessert. I'd never had a beer paired with dessert before, and it was revelatory. Marion St. Cheese Market has great local beer, all the time. But we were told over the phone that we could buy wine at the wine section and drink it with dinner, so we bought two bottles. When we gave one to the server, she made a big deal about how they shouldn't do that, and that they would anyway, and would charge a $15 corkage fee. Wait a minute! $15 corkage fee AND a guilt trip for wine THAT WE JUST PURCHASED IN THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT!?! Bullshit! But the silver lining, of course, is that I had the revelatory beer pairings, so it all ended OK.
(3)
Caroline B.
This place was awesome! I came here around 11am on Sunday for Brunch and we made reservations anticipating a crowded restaurant but the place wasn't that crowded, and I hope it stays that way because I can definitely see myself popping in here more often! I had the Bacado Benedict: eggs Benedict with bacon, avocado spread, and a chili hollandaise. It came with a side of potatoes and I must say that the potatoes were just as good as the eggs benedict, they were the perfect amount of crispiness....delicious! It was all topped off by a great waitress. You could just tell that the food was fresh and good quality, worth the extra money I would normally spend on breakfast. The attached shop was full of fine foods that I would love to try, cheese, wine, beer, spreads and dips, crackers, ice cream, chocolates, all sorts of things. Another great Oak Park find, I love my new adopted town.
(5)
Just T.
Hello, my name is F and I have a cheese addiction. Marion Street Cheese Market is my favorite place to go score some cheese for a binge. The cheesemongers behind the counter are always knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is fairly deep and wide. A tip for newbies: the cheese counter most always has a basket of "orphans" sitting out. These little cheese chunks are the perfect way to grab some quick, cheap cheese you might not usually buy. The restaurant has a menu that is often updated and everything I've tried has been good to great. Service can be slow. So relax and order a specialty beer. Last note - the cheese and meat flights might not seem like much food, but you'll be surprised.
(4)
Andrew D.
A paradise for pretentious snobs trying to fit into Oak Park. The CHEESE is great, I'll give them that. But everything (beer, wine, entire food menu, cheeses, meats, desserts) is so overpriced it's not worth the effort. For the same cheese at half the price visit Caputo's Cheese Market on North Ave. For better beer, ambience, and friendlier staff go to Poor Phil's a block away. Food came out cold... any place serving lukewarm food automatically gets nothing above 2 stars. And this place didn't have the service to earn the second star. Dined her about a year ago, so I might give it another chance since I heard a new kitchen staff was hired. But most likely not. Don't shop here - way overpriced.
(1)
Bill R.
A $35 Mother's Day buffet that DOES NOT include coffee (or any other drink) where you are rushed at every step of the meal seems a little ridiculous. The food was ok. The Buffett had some weird stuff like blue cheese potato salad. I like blue cheese but not for breakfast or in a potato salad. There were a few other items that were good but some others that were also a little off. Mom does not drink. But they have a free Mimosa for moms. So mom gets a free orange juice in a small glass instead (no champagne flute allowed for OJ apparently). Someone else orders a mimosa and gets charged $9.50. Wow. Seems like they could work something out there and maybe charged us $3 for the OJ (but again why are we paying for non-alcoholic beverages on top of $35???) But I inquired and no dice. We had 9am reservations. The doors opened around 9:10. It was a cold Chicago spring morning and mom stood in the cold waiting for them to open along with some other families with small kids. We were then rushed to order and rushed to pay. Great. About 8 open tables when we were leaving so it was unclear why they felt compelled to rush us every step of the way!!! I guess $35 per person only gets you about 40 minutes in this place because that was the pace they were on. we stretched it to about 1:15 and after about 15 minutes the waitress had asked for our orders at least twice even though we hadn't been to the Buffett yet. She was also sure to come for the check - even walking away with it in under an hour although it had not been paid because it had only sat there for 5 minutes and we were determined to get some of our money's worth and stay at least an hour. They need to work on a few things if they want to charge these prices. This was an annoying enough experience that I am writing my first yelp review.
(2)
Samir R.
Had a Groupon, so the wife and I decided to check this place out. Our server was awesome, she was very energetic and you could tell she likes what she does. Wife had an excellent flight of Spanish reds, and the pours were pretty generous. I had the Dogfish World Wide Stout, also a great pour for a beer that hits at 18%. We shared a cheese flight of 5, some good cheeses. We also shared a Mac and cheese. Probably the best mac I have had. This was some good stuff. Only downfall is the price, a little steep, but using the Groupon helped. We even bought a bottle of the wine we had from the shop before we left and a bottle of Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Ale. Great beer selection for guys or gals who don't do a lot of wine such as myself. Would probably go back again, it's right next to the Metra, so a good stop for a drink and cheese, hop back on and head to Elmhurst.
(4)
Miss A.
I went for lunch with a friend on a Friday afternoon. Wine: Good, but overpriced. Or, at least, they didn't offer any glasses under $8. Food: Started with the soup of the day, tomato with quinoa. It was good, but not awesome. Next had the cauliflower sandwich - AWESOME! So good. Yum. However, for the price it was quite small. I'm not one of those people who needs to gorge or take half the meal home to feel like I've gotten a good deal, but this was a genuinely small sandwich. At this point in the meal, I was not full...My friend and I shared the cupcake duo. The cupcakes were TINY and, well, not exactly to die for. Service: Ok. The host was busy stocking some shelves in the shop when I entered, and a server rudely ::ahem::'ed him to indicate that I was waiting for a table. I didn't need to see that...awkward. The same server was polite an inobtrusive, but I was still a little wierded out by witnessing her scold the poor host. Overall, a decent experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make the trip again.
(3)
Kc H.
Having gone here a couple times, I must say that Marion Street is a great neighborhood standby. As I am a fan of yummy cheeses and wines, this place fits the bill and is especially nice for a date night. Their mac and cheese is no Kumas (albeit in the same price range) but their food is executed well and quite good.
(4)
Michael D.
Finally!! An eatery in downtown Oak Park that is nice without being pretentious, artsy without being de rigeur, where one can wear one's favorite tropical shirt without being shown to a table behind a potted plant. Long have we waited in this western 'burb for something downtown Chicago-ish, interesting and delicious, without the shlep and the rapacious parking fees. The drought is over! Noteworthy item: it started as a shop no bigger than a wedge of Brie--always carrying fresh and hard to find cheeses--then grew into a hybrid restaurant/wine and cheese shop in newer, posher digs a half block away, multiplying it's personnel roster from counting 'em on one hand, into the mid double digits. This was our first foray into the restaurant side of the biz, and what a pleasant surprise it was. Cheese-y in the best possible way; where else can one design a flight of cheeses from an extensive list, for ones own personal consumption? Couple this with a glass of vino from a similarly populated wine list, talk your date into speaking with a French accent, and voila! Waaaaay cheaper than going to Paris. The food was uniformly excellent, and our waiter was a veritable cheese savant, something not often found in Oak Park and environs. The spousal unit had scallops, so fresh they could've just jumped out of the Atlantic. Unceremoniously ogling dishes being delivered to other tables, it all looked terrific. Fish and chips looked about as British as could be, and a generous helping to boot. Note to self: try these next time. Dessert was equally as tasty/festive: fresh berries something-or-other, with a sauce that was out of this world. Ambiance: great, laid back vibe, decor in rich woods and stone. If you enjoy nibbling on your bacon infused dark chocolate couched in nature''s embrace, there are cafe tables lined up outside, on busy yet somehow quiet Marion Street. High, cheesy five, Marion Street Cheese Market! PS, note to management: it was REALLY hard to get thru to an actual person to make a reservation! I called three times, three times they switched me over to the reservations line, and three times it went to voicemail. If you're calling a place requesting an opportunity to spend money in their establishment, one would think they would leap at the chance, yes? Finally, on the fourth try, with grim determination, I explained my plight to the nice lady, and she WALKED the phone over to a reservations human, who completed my request with aplomb. Business tip: re evaluate your reservations procedures--others may not have the same terrier-with-a-rat stick to it've-ness! Subsequent visit, 11/27/10: went back, for a pre-theatre nosh, and again, was delighted, overall, with the experience. Nitpicky stuff: I was hoping to see some additions to the menus, perhaps some specials. Yes, the celery root soup was quite tasty--those no doubt change on a regular basis--I'm talking in the entree department. The menu is not extensive, and with just a few offerings, one gets ho hum about going to the same place. The fish and chips (British style, deep fried) seemed a bit bland, but they're also bland in Britain, so there ya have it. It'd be helpful if the malt vinegar came in a shaker as it does in Merry Olde, rather than a small serving cup; fish is not an easily dunked comestible--it's rather fond of falling off into the liquid, and you find yourself fishing for the fish. Ironically. Still--it remains a GREAT wine and cheese (or whine and cheese, depending on how your day went) or coffee/dessert/chatting kind of place, perfect for chilling and whiling away a Saturday date night.
(4)
Alexandra W.
So a friend was playing a gig here the other night so a few of the girls decided to get together and check it out... Little disorganized, but nothing severe. They were quick with the communication and keeping us in the loop while waiting for a table. Once seated - we did a make our own cheese plate - we savored every morsel. The waitress even teased us about never seeing one last that long...little did she know we had gone out for Thai before hand -but no one was willing to let a shred of cheese go to waste. Great selection of Ciders...enough that I was able to sample several in an evening. Dessert is a must. They carry Ruth & Phil's ice cream - that's a star in it's own. My bread pudding was great. My Friends Mint Chocolate Dream - was dreamy and quite fitting as her birthday dessert. And the third gal pal went with an assortment of truffles. She enjoyed them, and she's a truffle maker! So if you ever hear of the West Side Winders playing a gig there - stop by, tip back a tall one and slip into some indulgence. And if they're not playing there...well at least you have cheese & dessert.
(5)
Emily S.
Love this place! (1) Fabulous wine flights that are on special during the week! (2) Gourmet cheese fries, need I say more? I went with a few girlfriends one night after work, and we had a great time. The server was knowledgeable, friendly and made several solid picks for us. The food, particularly the cheese, was delish! Those cheese fries...mmm...
(5)
Laurie H.
A great place for conversation and good food. Went there last night with an old friend because we needed to catch up, and it was the right choice. The service (once we got it) was attentive but not intrusive. The dining area has lots of small tables, carefully spaced, to encourage conversation and minimal noise from the kitchen/retail area. And our meals were terrific. I had the chicken and it was completely awesome -- I wasn't expecting anything so tender and delicious from a place that specialized in cheeses. My friend went with the cheese & charcuterie and was pleased, as well. I subtracted one star because the service was so spotty at first. One waiter brought us water and then disappeared. No menus. Nada. After a long while a waitress showed up and asked if anyone had taken our order. When she realized our situation, she was apologetic and very helpful with our wine selections. It didn't hamper our dining experience, but it is something management should look out for. Because from reading other reviews, this sort of thing does seem to happen frequently.
(4)
Tina B.
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but there IS such a thing as too much cheese. And it is way, way less than what you think it would be. I only ate like two, maybe three, pounds or so of the stuff at the most, but I just left feeling really, really full and kind of sick - you might want to try to make sure you eat less than three pounds of cheese here. But it's really hard to not eat too much, because that junk is in everything in here. The cheesy pomme frites are really good and might even be almost worth the $9 price tag, but I implore you to not eat them in between a five-cheese cheese plate and a cheese cake dessert. And there are cheese samples all over the place and freaking chocolate samples all over the place too. And don't get me started on the shaved coppa salami. It's almost kind of gross if you come here lacking will power. Like a food version of a Hellraiser-esque purgatory. A dark, swarthy den filled with cheeses, wine, chocolate and cured meats. But with a well thought out kids' menu and beautiful wooden high chairs, too. Sweet. They also have three different flavors of wine soda. And a lovely toasted sesame seed truffle. Wear stretchy pants, or better yet - a loose dress (it's only a muumuu if you're in the muumuu mindset, baby). And bring money, lots of money, because this bitch is one costly decadence- they even have a damned $7 cup of coffee on the menu.
(4)
Rachel Z.
So my second time here, it was much busier. It was their one year anniversary, so my sister and I went to try out the $5 glasses of wine and appetizer platters. My sister ordered a glass of the white wine, a rioja, and it was a darker white wine, very yellow, and had a very crisp and sweet taste to it. I enjoyed it, she prefers riesling, so she ordered the bubbly on special. The bubbly looked like bubbly grape juice and it tasted like cheap champagne. We didn't finish our glasses of wine, but we enjoyed trying something new. For our first appetizer, we got a the $5 sampler. One was a piece of hard toast with a mushroom pate on it - way too much pate for my taste. The other was a piece of toast with a small slice of cheese, jam, and a couple slices of apples on top, sweet and delicious. The next was a small baked good filled with brie, if you like brie, you'd be in business. Next we ordered the Cheesy Puffs. So delicious. Fried Cheddar Cheese with a bit of olive oil. Absolutely wonderful and we devoured them. My sister and I had a fun experience and definitely will go back for a glass of wine, since its a couple blocks from my house. This is the 2nd time the server failed to impress, average service.
(3)
Jean S.
I'm sorry guys. I REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was so disjointed as to be annoying and to ruin the whole experience. The sandwiches were good enough, and my husband enjoyed the beer flight, but overall I found the place a turnoff. I will say that the retail side was absolutely charming and the clerks there were very attentive, knowledgeable and pleasant. We left with a nice bottle of white. My recommendation: go pick up some cheese and wine there and bring it home. Leave the dine out experience for elsewhere.
(2)
c d.
Recently went back to give the small plates menu a try, glad we did. We sat outside on a beautiful night. Perfect spot for people watching and maybe even running into a few friends heading off the train. There were so many yummy sounding options on the menu, it was hard to narrow it down to a few. We went with the ploughman cheese flight. The cheese were delicious and the chutney was a perfect compliment. Perfect plain on bread too. We also had the pork belly sliders, I think they may have been on special that evening. My first taste of pork belly. The sliders were very substantial! Lastly we ordered another special, stuffed figs. They were really good, though very rich. A lot went a long way. Our waitress was excellent. She was especially helpful when it came time to order beer. She also knew the menu items and was able to recommend dishes to help us narrow our decisions. Looking forward to checking out the MSCM offerings at the new mid-week market.
(4)
Christina G.
Definitely one of the nicer places in Oak Park. Obviously a great place for wine, cheese and the like. The food is always good. Ambiance is very nice. Staff/service is very friendly, and knowlegable, but sometimes a little scattered and slow, but something that the rest makes up for.
(4)
John L.
This is one of the places I really miss in Oak Park. The food is great and the beer selection (both for dine-in and retail) is well thought out. The service is always slow so we never go there if we were in a hurry. Also, I don't know what the problem is with the ventilation, but we always smell like a kitchen after leaving. These 2 issues keep the MSCM from getting 5 stars.
(4)
Tara C.
What a disappointing evening. I stopped in for a glass of wine, hoping to sit outside. The construction made that impossible so I sat at the bar. When I arrived, I was the only customer there. I ordered a glass of Prosecco and the bartender brought it without delay. As the evening drew on, I ordered 2 glasses of cava. To the bartender's credit, he continued to ask me if i wanted anything else. The problem was when I wanted to close out and there was a high-maintenance woman nearby with her son. I'm in the service industry so I understand getting her outta there but wow, I felt so ignored. I finally put my credit card on the edge of the bar and still waited about 8 minutes before I was acknowledged. He could barely muster a thank you when he gave me my copy to sign. The check was $24.50 for 3 glasses of sparkling wine. Don't waste your time or money in the cheese market. They don't know what they have or what things cost. Apparently I don't fit the right mold for a customer to whom they offer samples. I bought a bottle of cava and some duck pate from the cooler and called it a night. My high hopes for this place have been shattered.
(2)
Michael W.
Cheese. Glorious cheese. La-la-li-la-lah-lah! Tasty & extremely filling. Surprisingly delicious for what looked like a small amount of food.
(3)
Slu S.
On a terrible morning for me, I had an incredible 15 minutes are Marion Street Cheese Market. I came in not knowing what to expect other than they had a good selection of cured meats. What they had was a lovely, knowledgeable, young woman working the counter who loved to share information about the meats in the cooler. From the lardo, which was one of the best things ever, to the La Quercia proscuitto, better than many Italian Proscuitto's despite its Iowa roots, to the Jamon Iberico with its lovely salty sweetness, she sliced all sorts of charcuterie with a smile and a story for each one. On a black Saturday, it certainly was one of the brightest moments. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Mark F.
We went there with some friends who live in Oak Park and loved it! The menu isn't your typical menu. You can tell a great deal of thought went into it. While the food isn't necessarily spectacular, the quality of ingredients is very apparent. Would definitely go back!
(4)
Chris C.
3 stars is an average - 2 stars for the restaurant, 4 stars for the shop. First, the good: The cafe section has a vast array of cheeses which the staff will gladly give you a taste of along with their recommendations. The beer selection is nice and almost all craft. There are usually a nice selection of out of the ordinary wines though. Now for the cafe. I will admit it is sometimes hit and miss. Sometimes I g and its quite nice (as in just overpriced). Most of the time however the service is s-l-o-w. Doesn't matter if we're the only ones there. 20 minutes for a check is unreal. And they got rid of everything that made us want to go - good appetizers, beer flights, etc etc. Suffice to say if you use a Groupon and still feel ripped off... But every weekend night they are packed so maybe its me.
(3)
Tina C.
Well for years I've been a regular, for the food NOT the service (except for nick the bartender) so a couple weeks ago I returned for the last time. I've put up with shotty service, but this particular day was just terrible to say the least. This day time bartender I saw giving away free drinks to some guy while he ignored me for 15 min. I sat there with an empty glass while he walked by me like 15 times. I did not say anything because I shouldn't have to. I usually stay for a couple glasses of wine but that day I left early and spent my money down the street where I was treAted much better. I mean for a regular who has been spending money at an establishment should get some kind of better service than I received right?? Just a waste of time and money. at this place. Don't bother it's been years since this place has opened and service has gotten worse, I see no improvement for the future here.
(1)
Rob B.
Outstanding service and tasty food. I'll be back! So excited OP has something like this now
(5)
Nancy M.
One of my favs. Especially dining al fresco in the summer. Come hungry, and have nothing to do after. This is belly food. Hangover Fries. Amazing. I have eaten many times, and it is terrific. Everytime. Brkfst. Lunch & Dinner.
(4)
Megan B.
I love the Marion Street Cheese Market! They have a fresh, ever-changing menu of lovely bistro items. The cheese puffs are divine. More and more people seem to be discovering it, so I've found lately going to dinner early or a bit later is optimal. They have a lovely selection of cheese (duh), but also fine artisan meats and chocolates, as well as local beverages, wine, and other dairy products for sale in the 'market' portion of the shop. Wait staff is very friendly, though a few times we've been forgotten at the end of our meal and it's taken a little too long to get our check. The owners have outfitted the restaurant with sustainable and recycled products wherever possible, from the responsibly harvested wood tables to the recycled seatbelt chairs. And it's all done tastefully and with a modern flair. Overall, the quality of the food, as well as the fact that it's all local, sustainable and organic when possible makes this place one of my favorites in Oak Park. I agree with other reviewers that it's a great date spot. I brought my boyfriend here for dessert and coffee on our first date! My friends and I love to go here for special (or not so special) occasions. I plan on taking my parents as well the next time they come to visit. This is a great casual restaurant to go to if you want to eat a good meal.
(4)
Puja A.
I have been here twice. Groupon got me there. The food will keep me going back. The pork belly was amazing. Probably the best I have ever had. The chipotle seasonal cookies had the right kick and flavoring. Great local beer and wine selection. They offer flights as well. The service was also really good. The server walked by and heard us discussing what was in the cookies, she stopped and let us know she would find out. The empty plates were cleared and spacing of the different courses was perfect. The place has a small dining area to allow for a nice sized cheese, wine, and beer market. You get 10% off groceries with your dining receipt. Oh, and it is super close to the green line (and maybe blue, not sure).
(5)
Jennifer S.
Ok yes I had to update this review. I gave them AMPLE time to work out the kinks and the kitchen is still the slowest I have ever seen! I don't blame the wait staff because they are stuck dealing with the kitchen. Oh and NEVER go there for coffee before work. It takes them 20 minutes just to do a Chai Latte with no one else waiting!
(2)
Kelly R.
there is nothing like getting some cheese (which they will help you navigate the overwhelming variety), crackers, chocolate, a nice bottle of wine and sitting in the park near by on a sunny afternoon... oh how I long for days like those! (my ratings for kids, noise, and groups are based on how I patronize this business)
(5)
Erin V.
I pass by this place all the time but wanted to save it for a special occasion. My mom was visiting this past weekend so I made reservations for Saturday night at 8PM. We arrived a little late and probably weren't seated until about 8:20. And then we proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait. Our waitress stopped by to say she'd be right with us but she didn't come again over until my husband gave her "a look" from across the room. You know the look I'm talking about. Anyway, once she took our order everything seemed to go much more smoothly. Or maybe that was just due to the bottle of wine we were drinking. The food was AMAZING and I thought it was a nice touch that most all the menu items were labeled to tell you if they were vegetarian, vegan, or even gluten-free. After dinner it was fun to look around the retail section of the store. And if we hadn't been stuffed, tipsy, and if it hadn't been 10PM we probably would have bought something to take home. All in all, I wasn't that impressed with the service but the food and the atmosphere made up for that. Some people have complained that the prices are too high, but my mom (who lives in downstate Illinois) commented that she thought the bill was quite reasonable for a bottle of wine, a beer, a cheese flight, and three entrees. We'll definitely be back and hopefully next time the service will be a little bit more consistent.
(4)
Eagle R.
The cheese puffs alone suspends you into a temporary cheese bliss. We also had the roasted olives serve with fresh baguette also very good. Serve was excellent I had ordered the wrong eggs and it was not a problem to get the eggs the way I wanted. Hot was chocolatey and delicious. Though they need to work on the mac and cheese for a cheese shop it was tasteless and not so cheesy. The shop was well stock it being a small shop.
(5)
Joan K.
Was disappointed that the a couple of the cases were empty. nothing caught my eye there and I'm a gourmet food junkie. The place has a nice aroma when you walk in..smokey, but there is no smoked meat other than pre packed salami and bacon. Some cheese, but not at all what I had expected. Would not drive out of my way to go here again
(1)
Jamie J.
This place is considerably bigger than I expected, and I could see myself spending more than the 10 minutes I did today on a future trip. Everything is well laid-out, making sure that you don't have to hunt around for any of the merchandise. I swear some of these places don't want you to buy their stuff. Not so with the helpful people at Marion Street. I got a couple generous samples before getting some of "the only true Gruyer made in the US". I haven't had a good Gruyere in awhile, but I can tell you it was delicious. The family is Swiss and I have to hand it to them. I also picked up some Parmigiano Regiano and while it tasted great, the price wasn't anything special. I can get great cheese closer to where I live, but I'll probably swing by next time I'm in Oak Park.
(4)
Daina B.
I love cheese. No, I L-O-V-E cheese. So when we moved in to Oak Park and learned that a cheese market was close to our condo I was stoked. Marion Cheese Market is a wonderful combination of market/ wine shop/ restaurant. I love the market/wine shop, that's what gives it it's high marks. We often come here to stock up on some Two Brothers (mouth waters) Domaine DuPage. MSCM has a variety of wines and beer, not incredibly extensive, but a good variety. They even have interesting candies. Their cheese and meat selection is pretty nice, but I have yet to actually purchase some. You can also buy a fondu pot here, although my husband has to discourage me every time (you know it will just end up collecting dust in the cabinet anyway). The restaurant on the other hand is just OK. I have eaten here a total of four times in the course of a year and every time the food all had the same problem. WAY TOO SALTY. And coming from a girl that likes to eat the skin off a jewel 'lightly' seasoned rotisserie chicken, well, then you know it's salty. And the variety of flavor really isn't that great. Every meal has pretty much tasted the same for me. Whether it's a chicken dish or their bison. But, I really do love their wine flights. A fair price for what they offer. Their cheese flights on the other hand - It's All Gouda is delicious, but unfortunately my most recent trip they seemed to give us much less cheese than what they normally give us. This bothered me because usually when I go it's just me and my hubby and we have plenty of cheese to share. But this time we took an out-of-towner and they gave us LESS cheese than when it's just the two of us, for the same price (ridiculous). I'll probably go here to eat again, but I'll stick with the small plates because of the price. I will definitely go to the market section again to get our Two Brother's fix. Plus that is is literally right off the green line/ metra so that is a major plus.
(4)
Happy Mama M.
I love this place! Its great for lunch- really have only been there for lunch or to pick up wine. The menu is creative and delicious (I was a little nervous about the cauliflower sandwich!). The people working in the wine section are terrific and always pick out great wines!
(5)
nan B.
Great place to get fresh quality cheeses. We bought several cheeses and some wine. There are many unique cheeses you won't find at your local grocery store. There are lot of other items like chocolate, wine and crackers ect... The St. Andre cheese is as good as it gets! The staff is nice.
(5)
Rebekah H.
We went to the Marion Street Cheese Market this weekend to see the band playing there and were we happy we did. This place is fantastic! Everythign from our cheese platter to our main dishes were phenomenal. The service was fantastic and the ambiance was great. This is a fabulous addition to Oak Park and real reason for us to get out of the city!
(4)
faline m.
the food is great, i had the skillet which was wonderful. service is very good too. i will be back!
I went here today with my daughter, because i am home for a while and we wanted to see each other. She had a turkey sandwich and I had a chicken sandwich. They came with a cup of soup which was delicious. The prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. I like the portion size, just right, not huge "American Portion." They have an ample selection of wines and beers. I would happily come back here.
(5)
John T.
Wonderful selection of cheeses and various other delicacies. I always love going into this place and sampling new cheeses. A big pricey, but other than that, a great place to find cheeses for your party.
(4)
David C.
This is a gem of Oak Park and that's saying something because I've been a customer at just about every business in this suburb because A) I used to live in a nearby suburb, B) I went to high school in Oak Park, C) my grandma lives in Oak Park, and D) I work in a nearby suburb. We came here on a weekday evening and it was bustling with people. We had a reservation for which two of the three of us were 10 minutes late. They didn't open the table until all of us had arrived, but they were gracious enough to hold the table. Our service was not overly attentive, but our water glasses were always filled and our waiter was kind enough to entertain my girlfriend's whim of taking a picture of our group with her phone. I was perfectly pleased with the service we received. Cheese flight: There were enough sourdough bread pieces for each of us, some type of decoratively splattered dipping sauces, bits of apple, and nuts. This was the first time I've ever had a cheese flight and it was fun. They have quite a selection of cheeses and our waiter was extremely helpful in helping us choose which to get. Burger and beer: I got the burger for my entree, which I later realized may not have been the best choice for a place like this. I wasn't really wowed by the burger, but that may be because I've had so many burgers around Chicago to compare it to. The beer was excellent. There was live jazz music, which I found really cool. They did covers of popular songs, like "Toxic" by Britney Spears. It certainly added to the romantic ambiance (yes, even if it's Britney Spears). Overall, we had a really pleasant experience. I was expecting my food to cost more. I felt that $30 for my portion of the bill was pretty reasonable given what I got. Next time I'm here, I'm going to go for the BBQ pork mac and cheese and one of the $7 desserts. These look like the most appealing options to satisfy my palate. I definitely recommend coming here, especially for a romantic date night that you don't want to break the bank.
(4)
Julie A.
Went for lunch, and we were seated near the kitchen in front of the fireplace. By the end of the meal, my and my mom's eyes were burning from the fumes from the kitchen, and we left there stinking like the kitchen! It was terrible! I still smell it in my hair. And there was no apply on my cauliflower melt which was disappointing too. None of this is a deal breaker, just avoid sitting in this area.
(3)
A W.
Went here last night and this is my go to spot for a "treat." Half price bottle Wednesday made sharing the bill with a friend manageable since it is not cheap. Our waitress did a great job recommending a wine and even provided a couple samples to us to help us decide. We usually get appetizers with one of the cheese and charcuterie options and it is more than enough. Last night we had the bacon wrapped dates which were divine. There was a live singer who did a great job adding ambience to the whole experience. Really lovely experience for wine, conversation, and good food.
(5)
Angela P.
I'd like an omelet with all the cheese please! I came for brunch with my friend Aimee M., and while the menu is somewhat small, I had the hardest time deciding what to order. It all looked so good! The build-your-own omelet won me over once I saw that you can pick 3 ingredients. I chose the white cheddar, goat cheese, and gruyere. For an extra $1, I added roasted tomatoes as my 4th ingredient. This omelet was delicious and made with some serious cheese - creamy, melty, CHEESE! The omelet was served with seasoned potatoes which were also very good. I ordered a side of rye toast with jam as well. The homemade jam was really good, but I definitely coulda, shoulda, woulda, skipped the toast & jam and still left stuffed. Marion Street also does bottomless mimosas, but since I was ever so slightly hungover from the previous night's festivities (an office Christmas party) and would be off to celebrate a family birthday later that night, sooo I chose a single mimosa. The bottomless option was tempting though. While I absolutely did NOT need dessert, they had me at "donut." The chocolate sauce was delectable. Our waiter was friendly and also apologetic about the single fruit fly that momentarily buzzed around my drink. Since I only saw the one, and we were already finished eating, I don't see any reason to make a stink about it. They did have a door open, and well, shit happens. Anyway, he was more than happy to tell us about the specials and didn't look at me like I was crazy when I asked for an omelet with three kinds of cheese. There is, of course, a small cheese market within the restaurant. I had my eye on some truffle goat cheese, which I vowed to come back for later, but for some reason I didn't. When I left the restaurant I also noticed a slight stink in the air. It smelled of grease, eggs, and bacon. Oh wait, that was me. Yikes! Luckily I had no one to impress at the moment and plenty of time to air out. But eau de breakfast isn't my favorite perfume. A little (more) ventilation would help! Best omelet ever though. The cheese possibilities are endless. I need to come back here for dinner!
(5)
Scott G.
I've been here to eat several times and have always been impressed with their food. They serve fresh, innovative, seasonally inspired modern american food as well as an excellent brunch. I also like their craft beer selection, which while small, usually has very high quality offerings and have stopped in numerous times just to get beer to go. They have a much more extensive wine selection than beer selection. The prices do seem a bit high compared to other places in the area but the atmosphere is on the upscale side. Lastly, the cheese selection is phenomenal and the staff incredibly knowledgeable. I have gone several time to get cheese to-go and have always managed to find the right cheese for the mood / occasion.
(4)
Bibi L.
We had so much brunch food I can't remember. Basically everything was delicious. Good food heals all wounds
(4)
Jane P.
Stick with cheese and wine because the kitchen food is very blah. The staff is super friendly but honestly everything I tried was mediocre at best. "picked things"- served in a cast iron mini skillet (weird) are room temperature pickled carrots + radishes. Not worth it at all. Burrata: the cheese itself is good, but served with a whacky sliced bread roll that's thick and swirled with rye? Seriously don't get it. Flavorless oily pesto and some cold carrots on top of the cheese. Cauliflower and Brie Flatbread: Really wanted to like this one but despearately lacked salt (not on the table). Over oily focaccia with some melted brie and cauliflower- self explanatory. No bueno Duck Ravioli: arguably the worst thing I ate just because it was SOOOOO salty. The ravioli itself was fine, but the broth and pancetta and greens served in a mess atop the plate were just like a slab of salt.
(3)
Jason V.
Connoisseurs collection was amazing. We also got a 5 piece select your own cheese and meat tray. Yummy yummy yummy. We were kind of full so we skipped right to dessert. Had the cheesecake and the buttermilk berry cake. Again it was perfect. We had wines with the cheese and dessert wines with dessert. They had a nice selection of wines that were pleasing to the palate.
(4)
J D.
I used to love this place, and I still want to. But the smell of fried fish that permeates the air inside is so off putting that we can't eat here or buy cheese to take home. I don't know why they can't fix the ventilation but it is such a disgusting smell that has lasted for months we cannot recommend this place any longer. Avoid until you hear or smell otherwise
(1)
Linda L.
It was 3pm and my friend and I were famished after not having eaten for a day. The cheese flight I had here was nothing but 5 stars. We ordered the España Americana, which came with haystack mountain queso de mano (raw goat), WSDC dante (sheep), and sweet grass dairy asher blue (raw cow), along with a bit of prosciutto, fuet salami, pickled vegetables, quince jam, mango chutney, sliced apples, and mustard. This arrived promptly with a bread basket and a small cup of nuts. The WSDC dante was my favorite cheese by far! The salami and prosciutto were delicious, and the mango chutney was a great way to cleanse the palate between different cheeses. For the meal itself, I ordered the pork mac and cheese and my friend the firebird sandwich. His order came with a small fruit cup filled with cantelope and honeydew. The mac and cheese was very rich and a touch (though not overbearingly) salty for me. After eating it, I told myself that in the future I should remember to only get mac and cheese as a side dish. The mac and cheese contained shreds of pork and some large chucks (think baby portabellos or button mushrooms cut into fourths) of mushrooms. I would give this portion of the meal three stars. It was pouring outside after we finished eating, so we spent some time browsing around the store (about half the restaurant is the dining room and the other half is a store). They sell not only chachuterie and cheeses here, but also wine, chocolate, and various other snacks sourced from other Chicago shops. A fun browse!
(4)
Susie C.
I wanted to try this place for quite awhile, and we finally did with a group of our friends. We already had dinner, so we came here to socialize with wine and cheese. I read from reviews here that we must make reservations to come since they get busy on the weekend, so we did..but we strolled in around 930pm so it wasn't that busy at that time. Almost each one of my friend ordered a flight of wine. I had the Tour de France with couple others. My husband ordered the Firearm. Another friend ordered the Cheese Friendly. And another friend ordered the Sparkle one..so we each almost tried out every flight on the menu..except for the Wonderland one or something that starts with the letter W. My flight was decent. I'm not a big wine drinker at all, but my flight had a mix of white and red wine which I enjoyed. My husband's Firearm was all red. It was on the heavier red side. He thought his was okay. He is much a bigger wine drinker than most of us. Almost each one of us have a favorite and had a non-favorite. We also ordered cheese - had a midwest tour and another one that I forgot the name. Also ordered 3 types of meats.. proscuitto was our favorite! We stayed way past the time the restaurant closed and they didn't kick us out. We really appreciate that. They close at 11pm, but we were there til 12am without knowing the time. We had a really good time. The atmosphere was really nice.. Definitely a michelin rated place. Definitely will come back. We all had a great time..staff was very friendly and helpful!
(4)
Katherine M.
SO close to 5 stars. We really like this place & go often, so often we're learning the names of the staff... Food variety & cleverness - great Quality - EXCELLENT but not every night of the week. Sunday & Monday evenings they aren't so much on their game. If you see a beer in the package store (lots of great small brewery choices) you can order it to your table! Live music many nights, some small combos, sometimes a singer.
(4)
Chan C.
Marion Market reopened! Disappointed again at Marion Market. The Kale salad was a small $7 serving. Dressing was watery. The grilled cheese sandwich was toasted to burnt level, bacon on it (I asked for no bacon), the fries were dark brown with an old oil taste and cold, the tomatoes on sandwich were overly soft with no flavor. Waiters nearly never get it right. Their bored disinterest is appalling. Darn, I live near, but too many poor meals here. Typical for Marion, but at least no fruit flies.
(1)
Kristi C.
Came here on a Wednesday with some family members. They had live music and 1/2 off bottles of wine that night (yay!). We shared the fried brussel sprouts and roasted fingerling potatoes. We each ordered our own entrees. The food menu looked very good and I was grateful they had vegan/vegetarian options. The service (I believe his name was Tim) was on point. It's a very relaxing atmosphere and we probably sat there a few hours (and a few bottles of wine). Be sure to save room for dessert.
(5)
Emily C.
The staff here is LOVELY--so friendly, knowledgable and enthusiastic about their craft!
(4)
Emilio F.
I must start by saying that I selected this place during my travels because potentially they have 3 of my favorite things: cheese, wine and charcuterie. Also, back in the DC area there is a similar place that this place should have blown away. The ambiance, the store layout and the size of it are impressive. Ok, now for the bad news. I was equally disappointed in several areas: 1. The cheese selection seems inadequate in selection for a cheese market. I was also shocked to see a total disregard for cheese from outside the U.S. Seems an injustice to the consumer to not offer some of the superior cheeses from abroad. 2. Wine storage 101 tells us to never store bottles upright, but all the wines for sale at the retail space are upright. 3. Fruit is a great accompaniment to cheese, but they also bring fruit flies, which are a horrible accompaniment to my wine drinking and dinner eating experience. I felt like I was fighting a couple before they claimed my wine. 4. The menu does not really reflect the cheese and charcuterie other than in cheese and meat boards. I would expect to see more die t correlation to entice me to buy these ingredients for home. 5. The staff is either lacking in knowledge about cheese, wine and the menu...or they felt my requests for pairings and recommendations wasn't important. They had nothing to say without my questions, and seemed to know next to nothing about most of the large plates. 6. My duck confit looked delicious, but was VERY over salted. I know this because I love salt and salty food, and I still found it too salty. Pretty rookie mistake for a kitchen putting out fancy dishes. Don't think I'll be back
(2)
Marcin O.
Came here for brunch recently, it's one of my favorite places in Oak Park. A nice selection of wines and cheeses along with chocolates and other assortments. As usual the service is awesome, friendly caring staff that make the experience very enjoyable. We had the cauliflower sandwich which is amazing and I never liked cauliflower, but give it a shot. The grits, oh man, pure gold. And the autumn french toast...well for me, not quite there. The first bite was great, very dense with nuts and caramel, like eating cake, pound cake ... And not French toast. Coffee is great and tea leaves steep in little carafes. Overall a great place for brunch so come check it out!
(4)
Lyndsey A.
This place is a bit pricy, but man do they have the best Mac and cheese of all time. It's topped with breadcrumbs and it's a perfect piece of heaven. They also have a cool craft beer selection.
(4)
Sarah R.
This is one of my favorites. It's located in Downtown Oak Park. My favorite thing to do is sit at the bar with B and order one of their charcuterie plates and pair it with a wine flight.
(4)
Heather H.
I went here for brunch. My husband had the eggs benedict and I had the meat benedict, with chorizo, black beans and a sunny side up egg, which was on special. Both meals were absolutely delicious. The service was good as well. UPDATE: I forgot that I originally rated this place so highly. I'm changing it from 5 stars to 3. After having some good experiences with the breakfast/brunch we went back for lunch. It was summer so we sat outside. The service was terrible and it took an hour to get our food. There is no excuse for this. While the breakfast was always good the lunch items we got were really disappointing. Even 6 months later I still recall getting a dry, salty chicken sandwich. This was more of a 1 star experience. We haven't been back to see if this place can redeem itself.
(3)
Adam K.
Since Marion Street Cheese Market has been sold to a new owner, it has taken a radical dip downward and is not way overpriced for what they want to be perceived as. I used to really enjoy going here for cheese plates and beer and an occasional dinner. It is now empty most of the time and I would not go.
(2)
Rachel D.
The only reason, and I do mean ONLY reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the menu recently changed and the new options have been good, but don't live up to some of the discontinued items. The food here is wonderful. The cheese is delicious and the flavors are thoughtful. There's a reason why the curry sandwich made the Chicago's Best Sandwich list in Chicago Magazine. But by far the best item on the menu was, yes WAS the cheese puffs with a lime sriracha aioli. And they have been discontinued. Grief, disillusionment, anger--I've felt them all. I tried to console myself with the flash fried brussels sprouts or the buffalo cauliflower, but more bad news. Those are gone, too. I still go there, and I keep hoping that MSCM will see the light and bring back those stellar items. The menu did have some positive changes, namely adding bacon to the MSCM sandwich. One final note, I think all the salads could use a little more dressing. More sauce. Pretty much across the board. All this said, I still go there every opportunity I get, and I will continue to do so. Great place!!
(4)
Betsy P.
I wanted to love this place but when it came to the Romaine Beet Salad, they failed. The lettuce had no life to it. Dressing was bland, it just did not have any substance. Come on, how can you mess up on a salad. This salad was BORING! They could have put fresh walnuts, grilled beets, green leaf lettuce and a delicious dressing, but no you did not do that. Service was disappointing too. Some people say, never say never, but I'm serious, I'm never coming back here.
(2)
H T.
The food during breakfast is decent but overly pricey. The service is usually good, and the atmosphere is clean and comfortable.
(3)
Kelly S.
I waited about four visits to this place before writing my review. I knew this place had potential, and I figured they were just working out some grand opening kinks in the service. I was right. Visit #1 was by myself on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great food. I had the fall vegetable potato skillet. Love the Bodum coffee service. However the waiter made a comment and made me feel wierd for dining alone and that I didn't know how to work my coffee pot. Visit #2 was with my boyfriend for breakfast early on a Tuesday morning about 7:30am. I think they open at 6:00am and none of the staff could get their act together. The waiter blamed it on the weekend staff putting things where the Tuesday AM staff couldn't find them. (They were closed on Mondays until recently.) Visit#3 was with the BF again after a movie at the Lake theater. We wanted a good glass of wine and dessert. Walked in about 8:30pm and sat at the bar. Bartender asked if we were having dinner. We said just dessert and wine. He had to go ASK SOMEONE IF THIS WAS OK????? We almost got up and left. Who would feel welcome after that? In the end, he warmed up to us and we enjoyed our wine and dessert. Still left with a sour taste in my mouth. My most recent visit was with a friend on a Saturday night... about 7:30pm.. Place was PACKED. But in a good way! Service was spot on. (Thanks Joe!) Food was delish and came out in a timely manner. We even lingered a bit after our meal to shop in the store. I have to take off one star for my previous experiences. Hopefully they have their systems in place now and I won't be let down again.
(4)
H G.
I've dined at Marion Street Cheese Market's Cafe maybe four times in the last few years. I'm not wowed by cheese and charcuterie plates. Pasta and pizza aren't usually something I wax poetic over. I've tasted all of that at MSCM. It was alright. The generally comfortable ambiance, a "green" attitude, and a couple of excellent dishes makes this a recommended spot. This is an excellent restaurant to relax, sip on wine, and enjoy some lovely dishes. Another menu item that I'm not usually impressed by are salads. However, the warm chevre salad is exquisitely delicious. I enjoyed it first with pistachios as the goat cheese coating, which was the best and most memorable. The warmth of the cheese, the crunchiness of the coating, the sweetness of the fruits, and bite of the greens were a potent combination. They change up the ingredients by the season, but I'm glad it's become a key item on the menu. Then, at my last visit, I ordered something that I normally wouldn't -- tamales. The flavor was excellent and the quantity was right. Also, I hope to try the chef's creative sandwiches for lunch sometime soon. The dinner pricing here is pretty steep for my wallet though. I would go back more if my individual bill wasn't between $30 - $40 each time. Thank goodness for Groupon. Some points to improve on... -- Found the entertainment in the corner during dinner to be loud for the space. I appreciated the effort, but it served as a prompt to leave since it was difficult to converse after they started playing. -- The cocktails need improvement, as they seemed overly sour.
(4)
patina w.
The last time I went there, we had a bad experience. The wait staff ignored us for 15 minutes, our food took forever, no one came by to check on us/refill glasses/etc for at least 30 minutes. However, I spoke to the manager & both he & our MIA waitress apologized & they gave us 50% off our bill. BUT...the food is amazing, the store is always fun to look around at, the beer is great, the live music is always appropriate and did I mention the food is amazing? We'll continue to go there, hoping that one time was just a fluke. (I do occasionally notice the wait staff hanging out in the corner behind the bar, chatting, while I see people trying to wave them over & order. The manager should have a chat with them-it's not professional & looks bad!) There is one waitress, she's got a couple of facial piercings-not sure of her name-but that girl is on her game! Knows every cheese, wine, what to pair, can tell you about every dish, is prompt & helpful without being overbearing...she's awesome!
(4)
Katie M.
If I was rating on food alone, no doubt I would give MSCM 5 stars... I have dreams about the Cauliflower Sandwich, crave cheese from the array of selections and never had Mac Cheese better anywhere else. I look forward to new seasons to try the new menu's at dinner. I'm surprised everytime, but I need to be adventure too. They reason I need to take away a star, is the music is too loud. I enjoy it when I dine alone, but impossible to converse with a guest. I appericate that everything is fresh & made to order... But getting the check at the end of the meal takes just as long as the meal it seems (little dramatic). But I try to have cash, becasue waiting to sign a credit card slip is an an additional 15 minutes. I love this place, I'm just aware that I can not be in a hurry. MSCM wants to give you an experience, a treat... Savor the experience, do not try to rush and a meal can become something magically. I do not drink, though the wine tasting can make me thirsty from across the room. If you like buttery Carmel that melting in your mouth, pick one up in front on the way out... Best few cents I can spend.
(4)
Bill W.
This place is great! The restaurant staff is really friendly and knows their product well. The food is expensive, but well worth it. The staff in the wine shop knows their stuff as well, and is quite willing to say "that guy over there knows this, let me grab him". All in all, it's well worth the trip.
(5)
Lindley E.
Come here for some of the most spectacular cafe bathrooms this side of Manhattan. You'll want to lock the door and spend a few minutes just taking in the tiles, the glass wall, the super-sleek toilet. The bathroom is easily accessed from the wine side of the shop and lines are usually short. If there are other bathroom tourists there, you may have a wait a few extra minutes for your chance to gawk. Once you are done with the bathroom, you'll have to stop off in the cafe for a snack or a meal. Service is friendly and attentive, the food is good, and there's a great selection of American craft beers. I really like this place. It is worth going out of your way - to Oak Park, even - to take in this ambitious cafe/shop and fill your gut. I'm going back, and I'm taking my family. We'll be in the bathroom for hours, so you might plan on emptying your bladder before you leave home that day.
(4)
Laura T.
I can't believe that I'd gotten wine here for over a year and never sat down at the restaurant to eat! I plan to make up for lost time now. Everything was wonderful, from our knowledgeable server to the live jazz, the scrumptious wine, the wonderful food that made me feel like I was in Spain. Loved the warm olives and bread app. Thoroughly enjoyed our 5 item board of 3 cheeses and prosciutto and serrano ham. And after all of that I have to say that my favorite part was the wine, a fabulous malbec that our server recommended. Can't imagine anyone not loving this place!!
(5)
Christian L.
Excellent wine list, handcrafted beer on draft, menu... and the atmosphere is cozy (if a little bit too warm!). The bartenders and server we had were knowledgeable and attentive, and made great suggestions, especially pairing food to drink. Also, the live jazz/contemporary rock music was a nice, nonintrusive accompaniment to the drinking, eating, and conversation. Highly recommended.
(4)
Richard S.
Outstanding food. Unusual and always surprising. Excellent quality.
(5)
Tina T.
Marion Street Cheese Market must be the entrance to heaven, as this place is simply an orgasm of taste and smell! Fine, smelly cheeses, great wines, fantastic cured meats, lots of chutneys and sauces, wonderful crusty breads; and this is just the beginning of the delights in store. They are part retail, part cafe; and although I did not eat there, the menu looked tasty and worthy of a trip back. No, instead I dropped a cool $50 on a couple of cheeses; a fantastic but expensive Parmagiano Reggiano that my family ate in about an hour; a runny smelly tasty Cypress Grove goat cheese, and mozzarella di buffala. You get the idea. A plethora of gourmet foods and wines - come here to enjoy the goods yourself!
I'm very sorry to say this because I once loved coming here to eat, but this place has totally gone downhill in the past six months. I don't know if Marion Street is getting too snotty for its own good or if GROUPON did this place in, but everything has been totally lacking lately. The servers have been downright rude, and many of their once quality servers seemed to have left/quit. On top of that, the workers don't seem very knowledgeable about the menu, or pairings. And several times we had to wait for someone to check if we needed anything, get our bill, or get our change. (I'm not unreasonable, but I don't think you should have to sit for 20 minutes after you've finished everything before you get your check, do you? We finally flagged another server altogether and asked for our bill.) Three times we have had several plates come out at once, and those of you who have been there know there is barely room at any given table for that. I made the mistake of bringing friends there and one person didn't even receive his appetizer until after the rest of us had eaten ours. Every single time I've had crab or lobster there, there have been pieces of shell in my food; this I tried to forgive when the rest of the food/service was still good. But last time--and I mean our LAST time there--everything was bad, from timing to service to the food, which was cold-ish when we got it. The people next to us had to return a plate because eggs weren't cooked right. That's pretty basic stuff. And the cheese plates, which I LOVED, seem to have gotten smaller, shabbier in terms of quantity and presentation...is it just me who noticed this? Finally, when I'm dropping money at a place, I don't really appreciate that the sommelier cops an attitude because I asked if they stocked a wine that retails for about 25.00 a bottle. Honestly, she acted like the label was beneath her because it was 'mainstream' (WTF?). (Tip: A professional response might have been, "Oh, we don't, because we try and stock hard-to-find wines that aren't readily available at other wine stores." Not, "Sorry, that's too MAINSTREAM.") I wanted to say, hey look, you're not the only person in the world who knows a thing or two about wine--really. Keep treating your patrons like they're beneath you, and see if people come back. Again: Is everyone just overly stressed by GROUPON? Because maybe then you shouldn't do groupon. This restaurant can't really compete with most of the places we've been to in the city, so while they're trying to lure people in (and not doing a good job serving them) they are also totally alienating people who were there, five, six times a month. Way to go, MSCM! I wrote into Marion Street's FB page and said our meal was really sub par, and though the person wrote to me (privately, mind you) and admitted they recognized there were problems in the kitchen and with service, she took my comment down, immediately. I guess they don't want the truth getting around. Well, word does get around. In short, service has totally been lacking, all across this restaurant. Totally overrated these days. And this is no longer a restaurant I'd ever recommend to strangers or friends. I'm not wasting my time there, anymore
(1)
Justin R.
I love this place. The food is good, atmosphere is upbeat, and they have a great selection of wine, beer, chocolates, and cheese. Seriously, if you have the slightest desire to learn more about cheese, you should go in and talk the cheese monger there. They are knowledgeable and there appreciation for cheese is infectious. You might just learn something. Also - they are a great alternative if you would like to buy a bottle of wine or case of beer in the downtown Oak Park area.
(5)
Latonya D.
I've been a fan of the Marion Street Wine and Cheese Market since they opened and I've always raved about their service and food........................Until Now! I called to reserve a table of 15 on a friday for my birthday which was fine. The day before my birthday I received a call from someone that worked there who asked for my email address. My response was why??? She said I was told you were coming here for your birthday and I need to send you a list of bakeries that we work with and if you want a cake you would have to use one of those bakeries. My response..."Mam who said anything about a cake?" She then proceeded to tell me that she needed my credit card number to hold my reservation. I simply asked her when did this start because I come there quite a bit. She said it started recently. I asked to speak to a manager she hung up on me. When I called back she answered the phone exactly like this "hold on". She never said the name of the establishment. I was livid!! When I finally got hold of the manager she went on to tell me that this was something new they were implementing because people make reservations and then don't come. That's fine with me but why would you wait until the day before my reservation to call me?? The manager ended up telling me that I didnt need a credit card to hold my reservation. The next day I arrived about 30 minutes before my reservation. I told the hostess who I was and I was told my table was not ready. I left out for a few and when I came back at 6:50 p.m. my table was still not ready. I was finally seated at 7:30. I had a couple of people that were late but majority of my party was there. The hostess kept sending my waiter over to the table asking where my party was. He was very very rude! I think I'm going to give The Wine and Cheese Market a break for a while maybe they can clean up their act. The food, wine and cheese is wonderful but because the service sucks so bad they deserve 2 stars. I was nice and gave them 3 because our waiter was great!
(3)
Alejandra V.
I love this place! I've been here more then a few times and have tasted several of their dishes. I'm a generally trusting person and either the company I am with or the server pick out half my meal. I have yet to be disappointed here. I always get the cheese flight (different cheeses almost everytime.) and usually drink the beer. Now this I am aware is ridiculous seeing as how they have a wine shop on the otherside of the restaurant but theres something about a cold beer that just gets me. The staff is always kind and always busy but are never stingy on service. It's great for girls night and we will for sure be coming back.
(5)
Bex M.
I'm torn about this place. I think it's completely adorable decor and enjoyable to sit and chat there but it is just wildly--WILDLY--overpriced! From the grocery and market items ($7 for Plugra butter when I can buy it for $2-3 less at Whole Foods just across the street? I mean it's MORE expensive than Whole Foods?!) to the restaurant everything is tasty and absurdly expensive for what it is. I had good service when I went here for a meal and the food was good. But for $50+ we got the following "large" plates: 2 medium-sized crab cakes with a mustard sauce for $15; 4 pieces of jumbo fried Shrimp for another $15; and two glasses of some of the least expensive wine on the menu. Honestly? We laughed out loud as the waiter walked away. $30 for two small appetizers? I don't get it. You can go to Francesca Fiore on a Wednesday night get two apps, two meals and two desserts for $50--and it will feed you for days! Cucina Paradiso is just as a great a deal. Their appetizers portions are only $5-$7 and the meals are fairly priced as well. That said? The "large" plates were tasty--not delicious but tasty. I don't mind paying extra for quality or for a special experience but this was not it. Perhaps I just ordered wrong. I'll keep an open mind but avoid the hilariously mis-labeled "large" plates that cost as much as large entrees at comparable restaurants in the area.
(3)
Tanya S.
Interesting cafe. This place has an original menu- by original I mean, standard breakfast items- eggs, crepes, potatoes- but specialized . For Example: I had the apple crepes, but this is what they really are: Wheat Crepes, Hillside Orchards Poached Apples with Vermont Butter & Cheese Mascarpone $8- Delicious and HUGE portion. They also have 'french press' coffee which is a nice touch. Perfect for a brisk fall morning.
(4)
Rodrigo D.
The food here is good. My only complaint is that the food took a little too long to come out of the kitchen. If the appetizer came out quickly, I guess I would have not been as bothered. If you order a meal and a drink expect to pay about $25 per person.
(3)
D. S. H.
The name sums it up quite nicely. I have eaten dinner here a handful of times and each time was good or better, but my favorite thing here is to have a craft beer from the tap and a cheese flight. They let you choose cheeses for your flight even if they are not listed on the menu. Their cheese selection is a force to be reckoned with. I come here most every time I visit Oak Park and have not even begun to put a dent in trying all the different choices they have available. If you are looking to try some of the best cheeses made, this would be the place to go.
(5)
Kimberly K.
My boyfriend and I went here with a groupon for a food and beer pairing. We were able to choose one of two first courses, one of two second courses, and one of two desserts. With each course you receive a beer tasting. The food was absolutely amazing and the beer matched well. We additionally bought some cheeses and additional beers to taste that were wonderful. They had live jazz music that was subtle enough that it did not interupt you conversation, but pleasant to hear the entire night. The waiter was friendly and helpful and I ended up buying a cheese that we had tasted that night. I really can think of nothing I did not like about my experience will absolutely be back in the future.
(5)
Sara C.
I am very overdue in my review of MSCM. We had a great time - the wine was great, cheese and pork products which served as our dinner were delicious. Since then, I have gone to purchase cheese/wine have gotten 5-star service at the cheese counter. The knock (1 star off) for me was our service for dinner. i don't like be rushed, but the service was not great - too slow. Our waitress was not attentive enough for this type of almost tapas-style dinner. Again, I'd give it a another try in a heart beat because of the food, but hoping for better service.
(4)
Ela G.
AWESOME! Super excited about finding this little Gem in Oak Park. The interior had a great modern vibe. The staff is super friendly... we walked in at 9:55 to find the kitchen closing and they still let us order a couple of small plates. We didn't have the wine, but draft beer instead.. microbrews! $9 for a flight of 5 choices? why sure! Some of the pints were only $4, which was lovely, especially since the place is slightly fancy. Fancy, but they were totally chill that we walked in with jeans and fleeces on (like I said... we stumbled upon the place) I love the fact that the portions are New York sized... Aka: don't split a dish. Smaller portions=more plate art=better quality=looks more appetizing. The food isn't amazing, but it's almost there... I think that we just missed with the beef tartar is all... maybe some of the other options are a bit more tasty. Oh! And there was an excellent jazz trio there too! I'm seeing this as a soon to be favorite of mine in Oak Park.
(5)
Sara N.
Yes you may wait. And yes there's a few misses. But it's always at least interesting, sometimes amazing and the flights are great.
(4)
Jenny J.
I love wine and cheese and you can get both at Marion Street Cheese Market. I haven't had a chance to sit and eat there yet, but I do buy cheese and wine here. The staff here is great and knowledgeable when it comes to both cheese and wine, I can appreciate that because sometimes I need a little help.
(5)
Wynter R.
I LOVE this place! The food is always unique and fresh from local farms. The warm goat cheese salad is awesome.
(5)
Lauren A.
This place is a nice to take someone on a date. It's small and cozy with a good vibe. I ordered the mac and cheese, in my opinion it was rather tasteless. I was expecting more based on the disciption. You would think that a cheese place would try and take a more unique approach to mac and cheese, but it was nothing to rave about. We also ordered two cheese flights prior to our main meal and both were enjoyable. Service was good overall, no complaints there. I'd go again, but order something different next time.
(3)
niki k.
Nothing bad to say about this place, service is impeccable, food is great, we went with about 10 of us, they seated us in less than 20 minutes, and everyone loved their food and wines. it's a must try!
(4)
Rob W.
I went here to look for a gift and discovered many options. The staff was very helpful and offered me several things to consider for giving. Also, there were enough employees during the busy Christmas season that I didn't find myself looking or waiting to be helped. The Market has a great stock of wine, beer cheeses and gizmos associated with all of the above. Fun place to visit. I didn't try the restaurant but hope to sometime in the future. Generally, the place reminded me of Foodstuffs in Evanston/Glenview/Lake Forest, but less deli & bakery emphasis and more on the liquor and cheese. Worth checking out if in the Oak Park area.
(4)
Nicole W.
Who wouldn't want to dine, snack and shop at a cheese market? Besides someone who is lactose intolerant or a hater of fromage, I suppose. Well, I don't want to be friends with fromage haters, so if you like the cheese, keep reading. Marion Street Cheese Market is damn precious. The patio is glorious, the goods insides are delicious and delightful and the service is great. Andrea R and I dined al fresco and indulged in a few savory snacks. Both the cauliflower sandwich - flavorful with a mustard kick, and the quiche - rich yet perfectly light in texture were great options for lunch. Next time I drop by I definitely want to order an entire cheese plate to myself. And a bottle of wine...also for myself. Hugs to the very kind waiter who brought us a complimentary dessert to congratulate my dining partner and me on our pregnancies. The chocolate creme dessert with marshmallows and pecan sandies is truly a dream come true. Get it.
(5)
Daniel C.
I went here with my mom for lunch after the frank lloyd wright museum upon recommendation from a friend. I felt like the food wasn't actually that interesting or tasty. The flavor combinations were boring and the sides were bland as ever. The prices seemed a lil high for oak park. They do have a grocery store area for buying cheese, chocolates and wine.
(2)
Karen B.
Used to be one our favorite places. The staff here has been and remains great. They changed ownership recently and abandoned the artisan food menu. I have seen a Cisco truck making deliveries. They just served us sliced multigrain bread that looks a step up from wonder bread. The lesson here is that quality DOES matter.
(1)
Matt S.
An upscale cafe/restaurant/artisanal market that feels like it should be tucked away in some nice neighborhood of Manhattan instead of oak park. We had drinks and dinner there a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable. The bartender was quite knowledgable about craft beer and ended up raiding the market side of the store's beer stock to recommend something I'd like (which I did). Dinner was 1/2 off wine by the bottle, and although we didn't like the only chardonnay they had, the malbec was good and very cost effective. We had a cheese platter with this incredible Guinness soaked cheese, and the entrees were all large portions and delicious. My pork chop w polenta and mushroom was a bit larger of a chop than I was expecting, but that's always a good problem. The bolognaisse and the hanger steak were literally wolfed down at our table. We didn't stay for dessert unfortunately, but we did get to hear about 20min of the El string duo playing that set up in the main dining area. I'd definitely go again but there are also a few other restaurants I like in Oak Park so I'm in no rush--it was very good, though.
(4)
Michelle B.
I have passed by this restaurant for years, now i'm mad at myself for missing out on all of those years of good food!!! This place is about as good as it gets. It's a simple, unassuming, french style bistro in the middle of Oak Park that serves the most delicious food ever. They have a mix of french and some american style food, and honestly i've never said this about any restaurant ever. I want to try their entire menu! I can't wait to go back so I can try something new because everything I've had so far was wonderful!. They have appetizers, full plates, soup/salad and charcuterie (they call it cheese flights), honestly the charcuterie can be a meal in itself. The staff is attentive and knowledgable about the menu, their wines pair well with their food and the ambiance is wonderful, the do live music on weekends as opposed to the imposing sound system. I will be back soon!
(5)
Fabiola B.
I have been going here for 2-3 years, usually for birthdays and anniversaries. And every time has been wonderful. I ate here tonight and the experience was not good! It was a night and day comparison to the wonderful service and food I had at the very same place 4 months ago. Tonight felt as if I was at a different place. My visit today was bad. They sat us by the closet for napkins, glasses, silverware, etc. needless to say, every other second the would come to grab this or that and the door only half opens as it bumps with the table we were dining. It felt a bit intrusive. (I have never seen this closet in the past and I'm sure I sat by the same area before! Now to the food, I know the menu changes according to what is available in each the season, that's their thing and I love this about this restaurant, but it seems that their menu has less options than before. And I have been there around this time of the year before. We order a flight Española Americana, we have ordered this in the past so we know what it looks like, we received 3 cheeses but only 2 slices of one of the cheeses. Instead of getting slices of apples as we had in pasts visits, we received 4 pieces of chopped apple. It felt odd. However, when we were leaving I saw 2 other tables getting the same flight with slices of apple, not chopped pieces. And with 3 slices of the cheeses. Then it made sense, perhaps we received the left overs of lunch since we were dining at 5PM! I also noticed that other people who were dining there, received bread and butter as they sat down, but we didn't. Our food was ok, not fantastic or memorable as before. My husband didn't even finish his soup! I was quite disappointed that they didn't have flatbreads for starters anymore. When I asked about it, the waiter was sort of short and just said that they didn't have it anymore and walked away. I had no chance to asked why. When they brought the Kale salad, the presentation was poor, it look as if it was the left overs of another dish. I remember eating deliciously presented salads before. That is not the case anymore. The food was eatable but I could have had better service and better food at a cheaper price elsewhere. Last, the waiter seemed bother by the fact that we didn't order any wine. We don't drink for health reasons, we are free to just get water, but perhaps getting people drunk to mask the quality and flavor of their dishes is the new motto now! It is time for me to look for a new place.
(1)
Angie M.
I'm super into this place. Really, I like any spot where I can not only buy wine, cheese, craft beers, chocolates, crackers, crisps, nuts, etc. but sit outside and nosh on yummy eats. Marion Street Cheese Market is WINNING, ya'll. The restaurant is pretty great. My only gripe with the food is that pretty much everything on the menu is super rich, so while I loved the grub, it was fairly heavy on the old tummy. If your stomach is at all sensitive to rich food, you may have issues. However, I did love love love the arugula/feta/watermelon salad and the cheese puffs were retro bliss. Insider tip: If you dine at the restaurant, you get 10% off your purchase at the store. So what are you waiting for?? Get over there and check out the small but respectable wine and craft beer selections. The employees are really knowledgeable so they'll be quick to help you find a beverage to suit your tastes. I was recommended a crisp, light white wine that rang in at $11 a bottle. And it was AMAZING. The cheese counter is great, too. I picked up a fresh gouda and a chipotle cheddar that were slammin. All in all WELL worth the trip to Oak Park. Wine and cheese for everyone!
(4)
Tammie B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. It is fantastic. I have been here many times and have had only one disappointing meal. Food is well above standard fair; menu has several unique items; atmosphere is intimate; and it has take home store for specialty cheeses, meats, chocolates and craft beer.
(5)
Lois H.
Everything was delicious, the cocktails, wine and food. The whitefish and walleye were cooked perfectly.
(4)
Caterina S.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! The customer service was outstanding and the food was simply AMAZING!!! Well done!
(5)
Michelle S.
Eggs benedict - add spinach, sauce on the side. Easy, right? Not so at the Marion Street Cheese Market. Spinach - not sure what we'll charge you, says the waitress. Sauce smothered all over the benedict. No apology, no offer for anything to munch on while they are fixing my dish (and all 3 started eating). Then, nasty fried potatoes arrive with the benedict. I would have far preferred a fruit cup or anything but fried pot's. I was not impressed.
(2)
Judson B.
Food, selections of cheese, wine and for that matter, interesting distilled spirits is excellent. Too bad the staff seems to excel at misplaced arrogance. Not worth it, lots of other places want to engage customers.
(2)
Kim L.
I came here for New Years Eve and all the fruit flies around our table and on our meal was such a turn off that I don't want to return.
(2)
Emily J.
In all the times I've eaten at Marion St Cheese Market, I've never had brunch....until this past weekend. Ladies & gentlemen: I have found a new brunch spot! This place is heaven for the stomach!
(5)
Grace N.
MSCM is kind of like turkey bacon - good in theory, but a tad disappointing. In light of its reputation, I've given it a fair shot with dinner, brunch, and market purchases. Dinner was good but the portions were a tad small, and the charcuterie plate included a sopressata that was dry, rubbery, and flavorless. I love their heated outdoor dining option. Who doesn't love dining on the cobbled haven of Marion Street? But I am a self-proclaimed Bloody Mary aficionado, and the flavor of their bloodies is just unpalatable. It had too much garlic, and I'm guessing, pureed celery that gave it a bitter flavor, which resulted in a mouthful of icky sludge. The veggie benedict had a lovely pea puree, but the underlying chopped carrots was just a flavor and texture mismatch, and spinach or artichokes would have been a better complement. I think that MSCM should rest its laurels on being just that - a market. For Christmas Eve, we loaded up on an array of meats, cheeses and wine, and had a great pre-dinner feast at home. Just stay away from their sopressata.
(3)
Rachel P.
I've been here once before and had a wonderful time with good wine, cheese and friends, BUT I was extremely disappointed with the experience we had two nights ago. The wine and cheese were great as usual but good food can be ruined by poor environment. There were so many fruit flies around our table that we could not ignore them! Not only did they fly all around us and the food, a couple of my friends even had flies in their wine by the end of night. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant! I would've approached the manager that night, but did not do so only because there was a big group of us and I did not want to interrupt our gathering.
(2)
Yvonne B.
Ooh la la mi Marion! You sing happiness in my heart. MSCM one of the places that makes my neighborhood so freakin' ah-mazing! MSCM makes me the cool kid at my wine parties because they ensure that I'm equipped with only the best libation for my budget. Next they hook me up with delectable cheeses, chocolate, and charcuterie pairings. Because of MSCM, I seem like a master sommelier to my friends even though (lean in close for this secret...) I know nothing about this stuff. Oh but oh! The Marion Street Cheese Market doesn't stop there! They also have a restaurant. Oh YEAH. And they sometimes have live jazz. So, while you're sitting in your chair made out of recycled seat belts (they're super duper green) and savoring some locally grown fare from an ever-changing menu, you can listen to some smooth jams. I've recently discovered the MSCM brunch which is what spurred this second review. The brunch is unlike any other one I've ever seen in my life. There's regular stuff like eggs and oatmeal, but most of the food is really unique. For example, I had something called "Chilaquiles" with my $5 Bloody Mary my first breakfast. It definitely hit the spot. I brought M with me the very next Sunday and she thought it was pretty mind-blowing too. But besides the awesome food and cool store, MSCM sets itself apart with their people. The employees have professional and nerdy personalities. They know a LOT of stuff about their food, wine, and everything. It makes me feel good to be surrounded by such great people and humbled that they are serving me.
(5)
Violet C.
The pate excellent, the olives to die for, the Amish chicken out of this world. The warm spinach salad... It's mine! No sharing!
(5)
Robby K.
Not only does cauliflower grow year round, but it goes really well with peanuts!? who would have thought! ~that was one of the sides that came with my Coconut Milk Braised Short Rib. Another side was green potatoes that were that color because of a Basil infusion. and lastly atop this meat and vegetable tower. lime zested apples with some kinda seeds in it. everything was delicious. Any meat lover would agree that this is the BEST SHORT RIB IN THE CITY. Across any culture, this is the most succulent- dripping wet fat- delicate cut of heaven. and get this, it was Valentines day so wile making the reservation you can add a bouquet of roses for your table! **Reservations are a great idea for this place if you plan on going around dinner time.** the gf ordered the Lobster Risotto- it was pretty great. zzzllliippzoupzip Rewind! lets talk about the Pate appetizer. it was $10 but totally WORTH THE PORTION SIZE. it was really fun to try and budget the large cup of Pate with the amount of flat bread served with it. also the house made pickles and mustard sauce are fun to make little sandwiches out of, and try to master the most perfectly balanced bite. this place is a diamond in the rough and can compete with any seasonal Michelin star restaurant in the city. *this place is BETTER THAN PERENNIAL VIRANT! and similar style as well. GREAT PORTIONS. --WORTH THE MONEY --KILLER BEER/COCKTAIL/WINE LIST including a sparkling pinot noir that was the best 'champaign' i had ever had. this kind of restaurant makes me want to know more about food. it is inspiring. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
(5)
Nancy E.
The fruit flies swarming around our table were annoying, and landing on our food, disgusting. Our clothes reeked of rancid grease after leaving there. The charcuterie platter was a disappointment and the wine although delicious was overpriced. Service was so-so. Sorry, this is not my favorite place.
(1)
Danielle S.
Another great Yelp find! I saw this as the ROTD a long time ago, bookmarked it, and decided I just had to try it, Note to those who don't know the area - they have coin meter parking (that is enforced). I couldn't find parking anywhere else. So come prepared! Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a wall of wine, a case containing gourmet chocolates, an array of cheeses, and a refrigerator full of beers. Someone also greeted us right away and asked if we needed any help. We decided to sit in the Bistro and take our time with some wine and cheese flights and a sandwich. We ordered the Connoisseur's Collection cheese flight, the seasonal red and white wine flights, and the Autumn club. Everything was great! It was nice to be able to try a bunch of different things for a decent price. Our waiter was very helpful and had a lot of knowledge about the different cheese and what was on the menu. There is something for everyone here! They also have events and specials (they day we went it was half off glasses of wine). Something to check out as well! A great experience, great service, and great food!
(5)
Sammy L.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. We ended up sitting at the bar because the wait was about an hour, so I would make a reservation. Other than that, everything was great. The service was friendly and the food was delicious. I had the chilaquiles and they were SO. LEGIT. My friend had the cauliflower melt and loved it. I'll definitely return!
(5)
Tina C.
Well this place has changed for the better. The last few times I was here I was very pleased. The pea soup is exceptional and so is the service. Adrian is a wonderful sever who has great knowledge of wine and knows the menu very well. The pan drippings is ultimate comfort food. Half off bottles of wine on Wednesday!
(4)
Kimberly S.
My husband and I have been regulars here for brunch for almost 2 years. We love the unique options and the quality, and I'm saddened to say that it's lost all its charm. All of our favorites are either gone or not as good. No more cheese puffs. No more breakfast breads. No more muesli as a side (now it's just plain old fries). And what used to be the best grilled cheese ever with several kinds of ooey gooey cheesy goodness seems to be all about the bread. I removed one side of the bread and could still barely taste the minuscule amount cheddar. Yep, only cheddar now. We have been told the dinner is still great, but that's not what we loved about this place. And we're told they've gone through several different chefs lately and even a change in ownership. I hope someday it gets back to what used to a 5-star brunch. Until then, there are just too many amazing Chicago restaurants for us to settle for this.
(2)
Burt A.
Food was good Service was terrible! Waited 30 min for food and I had to make a suggestion of at least bringing part of the order Out to get any food Waiter makes no suggestions and generally Did not seem to care. Trendy for sure But service was a joke
(1)
Jodie K.
I wrote this a long time ago but never posted it: Some places I visit I leave saying "I enjoyed but will likely try another place next time." It is rare for me to say, "I can't wait to come back here." Well, here it is I can't wait to come back here. I have since been back many times and often make the trek out from Midway just to pick up lunch and catering. To my friends at Marion Street, I confess I did try somewhere else last time I was in Chicago, turns out you were closed for a couple weeks-we are even now. What was going on?
(5)
Tracey W.
Great... but, no longer have Jeni's Ice Cream. :(
(5)
Michael R.
One of our favorite places in the world. Today we had the Midwest cheese flight, the spinach salad and the roasted cauliflower sandwich with curry aoili aged cheddar and apples. Outstanding food, warm and friendly service with a modern pleasing atmosphere. Cauliflower sandwich is a must have.
(5)
Matthew M.
The cheese and cocktails are great. Service is better then it was. But how rude is it of them to tell me mid meal that we are testing the fire alarms. Can't you open early or something to do that. I'm paying to enjoy my time not suffer through a high pitched buzzer. I used to love this place but it has been slipping with new management. Maybe they will take time and think about customers before trying to make over their restaurant during open hours.
(2)
Wendy E.
So normally I like this place however today I was offended by this restaurant We had a reservation for 2 people. The restaurant was busy and all but one table which sat 4 ppl was available and we were denied this four top although no one else was waiting but us and we had a reservation. Needles to say offended that the staff refused to seat us since obviously 2 people are not as lucrative as 4 people we left!!! So I wouldn't make a reservation unless there are enough people in your party to merit seating.
(1)
Tim O.
This review is for their brunch. Their wine and cheese selection is amazing and their dinners are delicious, but their breakfast/brunch was terrible. I don't know if their a- team was on vacation, but the food took forever and came out burnt to a crisp. I was served an omelet that had a crispy crust and another person was served a skillet that was almost black on top. I've worked in restaraunts and it is inexcusable to send food out that was that poorly cooked. The cook shouldn't have put it in the window and the waiter never should've brought it to the table. The second round was still crispy, assuming that this was the best they could do and ate it. I will go there for wine and dinner, by will never return for breakfast.
(2)
Sue T.
A place where we can look at cheese, taste cheese *and* sit down and order food made with good cheese - what's not to like? Except that the potato bacon soup was served barely warm and had a strange slightly sour overtone, maybe from the smoked bacon. The chopped salad was fairly ordinary. The sandwich selection was unusual and my spouse enjoyed his turkey-cranberry chutney. So a mixed experience this time but it's still a good place to visit.
(3)
Sheree B.
I have eaten here several times and shopped in the wine/cheese shop on other occasions. We have had the most enjoyable time here, snacking on cheeses we have never tried before along with some delicious wine. All this with background jazz musicians playing music, we couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, their recommendations were spot on.
(5)
Kryste N.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become a regular stop for me when in Oak Park. I love their cheeses and meats, wine selection is great, chocolates are fantastic, and I love the random items they carry like Lillie's Q barbeque sauce! One of my favorite places to go!!
(4)
Sol A.
Love this place! I was so excited when I walked into this place. The concept is well thought out & executed. Great atmosphere, good food, appetizers, wine, cheese & music. Very relaxing. It's been a while since I've visited. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)
Randy S.
Went here last night with Mertz (yeah, I call him "Mertz" now) for a beer. This was my first time here, but with all Draft beers being $4, and well placed television to watch the game on - I was sold from minute 1. The service was polite, and familiar - both things you would expect from a local place in OP. if you are looking for a Tuesday party spot - look elsewhere. There were few patrons to speak of. But if you enjoy a quiet beer, with nice ambiance you should swing by. Maybe next time I will try the food.
(4)
Kristen R.
Always have a way pleasant dining experience here. I treat friends to Marion St. Cheese when we have a big celebration and want to celebrate big! Friendly and knowledgable staff.
(4)
Tracy T.
I am afraid this is my last visit. I have been to the market more than a dozen times and I believe that in the last few months the food and service have gone down, down, down. The place was sold a year or so ago and I thought it would bring some good changes. The service is unresponsive -- no water without asking. If you ask if the dish has peppers, the server says I don't know rather than "one moment and I'll ask the chef." The food no longer appears to be local. The food flavor is now uninteresting. And a nit -- but the menu descriptions are staccato rather than inviting. They have lost their way.
(1)
Pamela C.
One of my favorite restaurants in Oak Park. Perfect spot for a date night. Cute little patio, and only a block from the El/Metra. I have food allergies and the staff carefully noted the comment in my Opentable reservation and even contacted me ahead of time to make sure they could accommodate me. Impressive. Great wine and beer selection. Really enjoyed the summer wine flights. The staff provided excellent suggestions. Some of the best mac n cheese on the face of the earth.... ;) Looking forward to our next visit. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(5)
Vlad L.
Been here million times. I love the concept of seasonal menu (more restaurants in US should adopt that). Food is great, good variety of drinks. They also have a store which is open late, so you can always stop by, grab a bottle of wine, some cheese, olives, cured meats.
(5)
Cindi C.
Had brunch here with my family last weekend. The Bloody Marys were good, I like mine spicy and the waitress quickly fixed mine when it came out not so spicy. We shared a cheese platter between the 5 of us and it was just right to curb the hunger before our meal. We all ordered different items and everyone's food was delicious and hot. The two of us who had eggs benedict wished they were a little softer, but it was too delicious to stop eating and return for a redo. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Adam Y.
2x is the charm! As my second visit I have to say it is only getting better. For the concept, a wine/cheese restaurant/wine store, it's fantastic. The food is so great, and I've never had any issues with the service, but I tend to not be shy about setting my expectations if the server seems pre-occupied. Enjoy this fun little location in Oak Park for an afternoon of wine and cheese.
(5)
Andrea R.
I admit I've been looking for an excuse to go back to Oak Park for weeks now just so I can enjoy another meal at Marion Street Cheese Market. My colleague and fellow pregno, Nicole W, and I were lucky enough to score a table on their patio on a beautiful summer day. At the suggestion of our very helpful waiter we decided to spli the cauliflower melt and quiche. Both were so delicious that I'd be sure to order them again next time, although I have a feeling you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. We passed on dessert, but our favorite waiter brought out a complimentary chocolate dessert and cookies just to congraulate us on our pregnancies. I definitely don't need the extra calories these days, but it was still very much appreciated...and tasted delightful. Consdier yourself lucky if you have Marion Street Cheese Market in your backyard. And if not..it's worth the drive!
(5)
Gino W.
During the summer I would always pass by this place and say to myself that I should return for an outdoor seat. But I would never get up early enough to get to Oak Park for such a seating. Then a friend wanted to meet after work and we had both wanted to try out Marion Street Cheese Market. Oh my God was I glad we did. We had a flight of olive oil, a flight of cheese, wine, crab fritters, and bruschetta. Usually restaurants and lounges that serve the kind of fare that you get at Marion Street Cheese Market rack up on price while suffering a little in quality. Now that I have been indoctrinated into how to enjoy flights of olive oils and cheeses thanks to an incredible waitress, I will return once the weather is consistently warm so that I can have an outdoor seat and reminisce about being in France.
(5)
Hugdealer E.
lots of great beer pops up here. they also have a nice stock of deli meat / cheese if you're into that. it's not very cheap, but the stuff they sell is never found at bargain bin prices. get what you pay for. has separate area for eating, never dined there.
(4)
Tara G.
The cheese and charcuterrie boards were great. High quality and nice assortment, just a bit overpriced. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Nice Oak Park spot.
(4)
Debra L.
Where to begin. I will start with the positive. Great server. And that's it. Not one dish we ordered is worth commenting on. The temperature in the place was hot. The exhaust was not working so it was like breathing hot smoke. Then the food. I had Chilaquilles which weren't even close to what you'd expect. Tortilla chips batter and baked into something more like a dressing. Dried shredded pork. Bland green sauce. Need I go on. And don't even think about the shredded pork hash. No seasoning to speak of. Ordered two over easy eggs and got fried eggs instead. The final dish was the cauliflower sandwich and it was OK. Don't think I will be headed back anytime soon.
(1)
Christian W.
Great bistro style restaurant. Had the beet (not beef) carpaccio, brussel sprouts, and maple chicken. All were craftily prepared and delicious.
(5)
Kate O.
Overall enjoyed this restaurant. I was running late and my friends ordered a brunch appetizer of old fashioned doughnuts which perfectly arrived warm and crispy right as I did. Definitely recommend them. I ordered the Traditional Benedict, but was served the chorizo benedict. We had already been waiting a while for our food so I decided not to send it back. I really should have sent it back, Hollandaise and chorizo do not go well together. They sent us a cheese plate which was a nice service repair. I would probably go back, but make sure that I spoke with more clear diction.
(3)
Susan M.
I have to do it -- I have to. The last two times I've been here service has not been awesome, and neither has the food. I thought especially since they have reached Michelin status, they would rock my socks off. We had a 120.00 dinner last night, and it was not memorable enough. Stand out was.... um nothing. Service was just ok, halibut was dry, cake was dryer. I pick on service because the service here the first three times we dined was outstanding, The server was excited to meet us and tell us all about their cheese/beer/wine flight options. Their knowledge of everything on the menu impressed me, the smiles were nice too. It's hit or miss these days. I hope they amaze me just once more because I used to rave about them, brag brag brag -- only to be let down twice in a row - 7 months apart. Eh. Hurts.
(3)
Craig S.
It pains me to write this review. I really want to like this place. I mean *really*. But I don't. Well, that's not true. I *love* the cheese shop! They'll always get my business! Such a great selection. But this review is about the restaurant. Here it is, plain and simple. This place takes itself way too seriously. When a restaurant puts itself (and/or its chef's whims) above its clientele, I'm not going to be a fan. If you order something off the menu, and ask if they can leave something out, only to have the server tell you that the chef doesn't like to do that, well, it sends a message. And that message is that it's more important that the chef makes what he wants than you get what you want. That is all well and good. If that's the place you want to be, then go ahead and own it. It's just not for me. Especially since the server didn't even bother to ask, and the request was to omit the bacon from a scallop dish. So that, coupled with the very high prices, has shifted that place from a once-a-month or so stop for us down to maybe once a year just to see if things have improved. I'm looking at their menu now, and see enough changes that we may give them a shot again soon, in which case I'll update this review. Also, our nights in Oak Park are Thursdays, which for this place means loud jazz being performed live in the dining area. I'm just not into that. If you are (and a lot of people seem to be), then you'll dig it, but we find ourselves pining for the intermissions so we can actually have some table talk.
(2)
Cher M.
The best part of the Marion Street Cheese Market is the actual market. Get cheese, charcuterie, wine (especially the wine!) to take home and you'll be happy. The Cafe, not so much. Sure, it's good food, but the service can swing from helicopter waitresses to AWOL bartenders. There's no middle ground. I did really enjoy the wine flights that I've had here (I've try a new one each time), but I'd rather do that and get dinner elsewhere, as this place is overpriced. It's hard to enjoy a meal if you can only afford to order the pickles. My advice? Skip the bipolar service, but stop in when it's not busy for one of the wine flights.
(2)
Cathy G.
I really enjoyed Marion Street Cheese Market. The food was good, the service was good, and the atmosphere was exactly what I looked for on my birthday with family and a close friend. We dined outside and ordered a cheese plate, several entrees, but no drinks (middle of the day, MIL of BFF doesn't drink). The food was tasteful, well presented, and reasonably priced. The flat-bread pizza was very yummy and gave us reasonable left-overs for late that night. On my second visit, we purchased an IXA silver tequila for consumption at home. As I am a resident of Jalisco, Mexico, I was interested in trying an organic tequila. The tequila left a lot to be desired, but I applaud Marion Street for offering something a bit eclectic and outside the box. The chocolates are exquisite. As are the ice creams. I highly suggest the Goat Cheese and Tart Cherry Ice Cream.
(4)
Diana M.
This place seems to be very popular, so we made the mistake of taking company. We went for brunch on a Saturday and they seemed to be out of everything we wanted. What we wound up ordering was incredibly greasy and not very flavorful. Since its so popular we figured we should give it another chance. This time they had the food we wanted to order (and a beautiful outdoor patio), but again the food was so greasy and heavy and nothing special. We LOVE the gourmet shop attached to the restaurant though and go their often for local beers and food gifts.
(2)
Na S.
My girlfriend and I sat there for dinner for hours, just chatting away. I love the casual and sophisticated atmosphere. We were surrounded by espresso wood with beautiful decor. There are lots of options on the menus as well, depending on how full you are. You can select from cheese flights, small plates, or large plates. Everything we got was excellent. SO satisfying. I can only say that about what I've ordered by I bet everything else is just as heavenly. Connoisseur's Collection Midwest Tour Smoked Salmon Crispy brussel sprouts with candied hazelnuts Braised rabbit with buckwheat gnocchi
(5)
Jennifer Q.
We came back here again the other day. The first time I tried the eggplant sandwich and the salmon sandwich. This time I tried the cauliflower sandwich -yup that's right. It's like sauteed cauliflower with some really tasty spices, apple and cheese on wheat toast. The combination of flavors was awesome! Really nice environment, service and tasty food. I like that they have craft beers too! Oh, and don't forget to pick up a few fancy chocolates on your way out. They are super delish!!
SPECTACULAR service. I am talkin about YOU friendly host/busboy, and YOU eddie, awesome server. Went there for dinner, tried a few beers on tap that were nice. Very comfy vibe inside...awesome pickle jar, had some nice Pork loin chop was really nice, had a great cherry mostarda on top. Went back for brunch, nice outdoor area, very nice server Mike took care of us, he forgot to put in our order, but he owned up to it and gave us some nice bread tray for his mixup. He didn't try to cover it up, honest mistake, we were waitin for company so it was no big deal. Wasn't crazy about my meat benedict (chorizo), just didn't do it for me. Only reason for the 4 stars. Will def be back.
(4)
Johnny A.
I am going to have to agree with another review, the food and selection is excellent and exciting. The service is weird. I have been twice, first time it was packed and the food far out weighed any woes for the service. Second time, unpacked and the service was bizarre and bad. We were all kind of afraid our waitress was gonna snap at any moment after she yelled at us multiple times. We waited for our table to be pushed together and bussed for almost 15 minutes, but not because it was busy, because the wait staff was inefficient and having a hard time working together. The waitress seemed to pull it together, but for a special family outing- it is a shame that she was stealing the fun and impacting the beautiful atmosphere and great food. I would definitely return if I was in the neighborhood, but definitely not with a large group or if I was feeling sensitive.
(3)
J X.
Loved this little gem. Classic breakfast was really solid. Simple, but outstanding ingredients make all the difference. Also got a pork ragout on cheddar grits that was fantastic. Place is pricey for the portions, which were small. Overall though, if I lived nearby, I would be a definite regular. I'd love to try some of the cheeses and other items. They have a spicy prosciutto spread that looked great.
(5)
Shannon M.
Lactose intolerants, beware. This place is not kidding around. Walk in the door and you'll face, well, cheese. All kinds of cheese. If you choose the adventure to your left, there will be more cheese, plus gourmet goodies like preserves, candy, oil, olives, beer, wine and more to tempt your artisanal taste buds. If you choose the adventure to the right, you will head for the small bistro area and settle in for a meal most likely featuring some of these delightful products. Sunday brunch -- made with sustainable ingredients and a seasonal menu -- was a splendid choice as a first meal here. My friend's traditional-type breakfast was a big honkin' load of satisfaction to him, including coffee with cream. I ordered French toast, wonderfully caramelized and syrupy on thick bread, and made it more decadent by asking the waitress to get a small pitcher of cream (as came with the coffee), which I promptly soaked the bread in. The result was similar to tres leches cake. Far too sinful for a morning meal, yet so worth it. Deliciously crisp bacon rounded out the entree. I would love to come back to try a cheese flight or a later-in-the-day meal to see what other variety they offer.
(4)
Sal x.
First of all, the food here was delicious, tasty, interesting...I could go on and on. I really appreciate their focus on local, artisanal, and seasonal offerings, as well as the thoughtful and complex approach to vegetarian dishes. More than just the run of the mill lentils and couscous. We usually dine at Green Zebra and I have to say, the quality and flavor of the food rivaled some of our best meals at GZ. Now, on to my 2-star rating. We dined at the bar, where service was less than stellar. It was abysmal. It was the bartender, Mike's, demeanor that leaves us with a difficult decision: forgo the great food due to poor service, or ENDURE just to enjoy the tastes? We will defer that decision, but in the meantime below are a few of Mike's missteps: 1. He "could pour me a beer flight but it would take a really long time." Great, I'll just have a singe beer. 2. Mike: "Are you finished? Is this garbage?" Sure, if you call what is left on my place garbage, then I guess it is. 3. Mike: "Let me move your wine flights so you don't ruin the menu." Sure, we didn't put it there. 4. He was cleaning up the bar before we were, and 5 other tables, were finished eating. I didn't sit at the bar to watch a clean-up crew. At 9:30. 5. Latecomers (9:50pm) were turned away, or given "4 minutes to order." You're supposed to be open until 11:30. If I was the owner I would like to know what I could do to rectify this situation. The poor service seems to be a Yelp trend. You need (re)train your wait staff, specifically Mike. The other bartender in training and bar back were very friendly and efficient workers. Looks like you have a sour grape on your hands. Fix it and we will be back.
(2)
Jacqueline A.
For some reason I thought this was a wine bar. Maybe because they devote the entire front to wine, and hold tastings on Fridays. Well, it's not! I attended one of their tastings, and it was so brief even though I chatted up the rep that I decided to grab a glass of wine at the bar. I found their wine list to be completely uninspired...Mark West Pinot Noir? I find that insulting. I know this is a place that flaunts being green, and every time my water glass fell below half it was replaced with a new one. New glass, new ice...I would be all over my kids for that kind of waste. The three stars are for previous times I've eaten here. I enjoyed sitting outside, and the food & service were fine then.
(3)
R todd N.
Generally excellent food but slow wait, and FAil on cocktails. Excellent curry /crap soup, great hamachi, and their entrees are very good. Amish chicken dish is reliable. Most entrees are a b+. However, We ordered two cocktail (historically cocktails have been a highlight there) - a strawberry mojito and a dark and stormy. We got two glass that tasted like a bunch of lime juice with the only difference being one had strawberries. You could not even try to explain either of these as "innovations" of the respective drinks we ordered but our waitress did! Not a clue regarding what the ingredients of either should be and no apologies but a credit. Typically liked this place but stepping back.
(2)
Nichole C.
In case you don't want to read my specifics, the short is -- I was pretty disappointed. I would maybe go back for cheese plates and wine on the patio in nicer weather but may ultimately decide it's not worth the trip. Here's the story: Met a friend for lunch, we were seated quickly and offered drinks. I ordered soup and a salad, the soup came out first and it was the wrong soup. No big deal, she brought me the correct one a little while later but when it came, it was verbally referred to as a chili, which was an accurate description. I wouldn't have ordered chili, I wanted soup, which is what the menu said. For the record the soup that I sent back was really well balanced in flavor with a nice texture, my bad. Then came the salad, it was supposed to be a smoked trout salad with black kale. Sadly, it had NO KALE on it whatsoever, just a small sampling of arugula and other mixed greens. There were also 2 "bagel chips," more precisely described as ultra-thin wafers, so thin that there was no hope of eating the large quantity of cream cheese plopped on the plate. It wasn't well thought out and I ended up with a lot of leftover fish and cream cheese because there was nothing to eat it with. Sad times for me, but my friend enjoyed her cauliflower melt.
(2)
Kyle H.
An update! (But with no stars bump? Read on...). Another lovely visit to charming Oak Park and the Marion Street Cheese Market. It's so easy to kill time in Oak Park, I arrived ahead of my dining company and bellied up to the small bar area at Marion Street Cheese Market. The barkeep was a charming and attentive server, and he quickly brought me both drink and food menus, answered my questions about Seasonal beers on hand, until my guest arrived. Leaving the bar and being seated at a table by the Hostess with my guest, I guess they can't transfer a bar tab, as the charming barkeep ran over with my bill, to pay up. Scoundrel! Cad! Bounder! I guess he thought I ran out on the bar tab. My bad. I figure it would be transfered to the dinner bill, like at most restaurants. The meal was Heaven. Ordered the Espana/Americana cheese and charcuterie sampler, and our server Juan was superb at explaining what was served. Actually, he was superb all night, and recommended an excellent wine pairing as well. Entrees! I could not pass up the Pumpkin Tamales with Spicy Cranberry Salsa, served over wilted spinach. Wilted spinach is steamed, not sauteed, I learned. And you could tell- it tasted really fresh, and paired well with my tamales and my guest's fried chicken! Those tamales were incredible! Amazing. I need a moment... Had dessert as well, and enjoyed the jazz duo (as Thursday nights are WDCB jazz night), but then waited for the server to take the bill for a very long time. He was on point all night, so it wasn't a big deal- just between that and the bar tab transfer prevents a fifth star. When I've saved up enough money from my paper route, I'm definitely going to give Marion Street another try to get that fifth star! And I'm going to enjoy it, myself too, of course.
(4)
Rhonda W.
Great Wine, Great service (Phil), didn't have dinner so we'll be back!
(5)
Sherri B.
Al fresco dining on a beautiful day with a wonderful cheese platter and great wine. Plate presentation was awesome. Service was friendly and attentive.
(5)
Tracy T.
I am afraid this is my last visit. I have been to the market more than a dozen times and I believe that in the last few months the food and service have gone down, down, down. The place was sold a year or so ago and I thought it would bring some good changes. The service is unresponsive -- no water without asking. If you ask if the dish has peppers, the server says I don't know rather than "one moment and I'll ask the chef." The food no longer appears to be local. The food flavor is now uninteresting. And a nit -- but the menu descriptions are staccato rather than inviting. They have lost their way.
(1)
Kristen R.
Always have a way pleasant dining experience here. I treat friends to Marion St. Cheese when we have a big celebration and want to celebrate big! Friendly and knowledgable staff.
(4)
Andrew T.
A very cool place, with lots to choose from. Three cases of cheese, with a sort of cheddar/gouda type case, a cream/goat case, and a blue case. Lots of selection, and what I felt were some very helpful staff. The particular person that waited on me didn't have the best suggestions, but one other woman who i listened to advising other people had great tips that I took advantage of. We walked out with a piece of blue, wrapped in pear brandy soaked grape leaves (spectacular), a piece of heavenly goat cheese with an ash rind, a triple cream that was supposed to taste of mushrooms (but was actually a little cabbage-y) and my person favorite, a large hunk of Wensleydale. By the way - big points to Marion Street for stocking this in plain. I can get it anywhere I want with cranberries in it, but then it tastes like cranberries, and not like cheese. Also cool are the hand written placards with icons and check marks indicating milk type. The staff is writing the sort of reviews that belong on wine bottles - one cheese had hints of "forest floor and lambs quarters." I don't know that I wanted that one. A reasonable meat case as well - including some interesting things, and a hunk of real jamon serrano, at just $1000/lb. I did not indulge. They also offer cheese flights, apparently, but as we were on our was to New Rebozo, we decided to take ours home. It is a little expensive, but they have some things that are probably hard to find. And it's not an every day indulgence anyway. Not to my taste, but they had an awesome selection of craft and micro brew beers - I have friends who should probably go here just to sample a huge range of IPAs. Either way, we'll be back. There's lots more to sample.
(4)
Dave J.
Really, really, really good! A great selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. My wife and I ate dinner here, and ordered a few meats and cheeses from their "cheese monger" menu to start off with. I wish our waitress was a bit more knowledgeable about the selections. I asked her what one type of cheese was like, tastewise, and she said she didn't know. I'd like to think that the servers would be very knowledgeable about what's on their menu. When one of our cheese choices was unavailable, she replaced the cheese without asking which one we wanted, she just brought out whatever SHE thought would be good. I knocked off a star from my rating because of this. The main courses, cider-braised pork "osso buco" and crispy fried chicken were outstanding. Top quality ingredients, nicely prepared. There were some excellent selections on the beer and wine menu as well. I think that I'm going to cut back on my alcohol consumption in Cook County from now on, as there was a 12.5% TAX for the beer and wine we ordered. I know it's not the restaurant's fault, but still good enough reason to imbibe in Lake County, or elsewhere. I've eaten here for lunch in the past as well, and whatever soup is on the menu, please be sure to order it! The soups are EXCELLENT! All in all, a great place for lunch or dinner. A nice selection of cheeses and cured meats in their deli case too, along with a good selection of wines and microbrewed beers.
(4)
Don P.
I asked for de-caffinated coffee for dessert and drank two cups. It is now 3:31 a.m. and I am wide awake. ~~ Someone screwed up. ~~ If I could only speak to the manager and my server at this moment, but I am sure that they are both enjoying blissful sleep. It is hard to get past the pain of this because I will be thrown off my schedule for the rest of the weekend. I am not at all pleased with this surprising outcome of an otherwise okay experience. The price of foregone sleep is too great to pay.
(1)
Tony P.
Marion Street has a great ambiance and it really is a great date place or just a meeting spot for wine and cheese lovers/fantics. This is the kind of place that would make a great middle of the week (hello flight night!) get together or a nice weekend spot for when you want to relax and enjoy all the different tastes they have to offer and try something new for a change. My date and I came here for flight night! They have a great menu and just have so many options to try. I was really excited to try everything. Our server was spot on with his recommendations and with all of the wine and cheese they offer, it was a good thing too. Olives, cheese and wine oh my, what more could you ask for? After the flights and appetizers we had it was hard to even think about a main course but that didn't stop us from trying their cheesecake, which was very good. I would like to think the Spanish flight was absolutely delicious!! My date was even nice enough to treat me to a bottle of the Barbazul. I think she knows I am just going to share it with her anyway... They offer a lot of options for a quick stop for a new kitchen gadget, browse their truffle selection or just a great way to enjoy your evening and soak up everything, just like their tasty crusty bread they offer. Looking forward to our next visit as we didn't get try everything we wanted.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Great food, poor service. My husband and I recently moved back to Oak Park after 3 years away. Excited about their draft selection, we've gone here a few weeks in a row. Every week, we are consistently disappointed with the service (although the food and drinks are great). We've had to asked to be served every time, takes a long time to be served a drink (10 minutes the last time!) and often hear the other staff complaining behind the bar. The bar backs and other staff around don't seem to be empowered to serve customers drinks when the bartender is unavailable. The one time when a woman served me the bar manager got on her for it--in front of us! How awkward! Although I love the food and drinks I'm afraid that we'll be giving this spot up for a while. We had hoped it was better after living away for a few years but nothing has changed....
(2)
Lynnette K.
I was staying in the Chicago area for work and drove 45 minutes to go here. I was here a couple years ago and am very glad that I came back. Spinach salad with buffalo mozzarella was perfect as was the special of the night -- Mac and cheese with braised pork. I'd drive twice as far for their awesome food. Plus Oak Park is a great little town.
(5)
Jared W.
I have to admit, I've never eaten in here, but I've taken some of the food out several times, and have always enjoyed it. The most impressive thing though is the beer selection. They don't have a lot of cooler space, but they've clearly made it a point to stock it with the best beers possible.
(4)
Jojo F.
Confessions of an Ex Vegan: Part One. It's true. Somewhere in my trip to Lawrence, KS last month, I ended my six month vegan trip. Was I running with the wrong crowd? No, just enjoying time with two of the most fantastic friends, who also happen to be postdoc students and lovers of life. Well, our friends were in Chicago this week and they wanted to have a meal of, "Something we don't have in Lawrence". Fair enough. With the fabulous suggestions from all my Yelp friends in hand, my new found enjoyment for cheese in moderation and the need to park my car somewhere where the parking wasn't as much as the meal, I reserved a table for 4 at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. The host and server were helpful, graceful and full of recommendations. I had the spinach salad and the francophile cheese plate. I was convinced that I was having a cheese-morphine high. Cheese-morphine?? Yeah, I know. See: tinyurl.com/6pxkw In any case, my husband, friends and I were impressed, to say the least. Totally going back.
(5)
Scott S.
Good Food, Good Wine, Solid Service So why 2 stars? You can't leave this place without smelling like you've been standing over a deep fat fryer. Seriously, whenever my wife goes we have to immediately put her clothes (including her coat) in the wash before the smell permeates the house. Now she leaves her winter coat in the car before going in to avoid having to send it to the cleaners. But, she freezes all the way home. The odor is so bad you can smell it outside the restaurant along the windows on the west side of the restaurant. Seriously, fix your ventilation problems. It's gross.
(2)
John S.
Stressful day at work? Shed it all off with cheese! First time in this downtown area and its very nice. The streets are all brick! Anywho, sat at the bar and had a Pride and Joy and cheese puffs (Sartori parmesan + grilled scallion + WI cheddar + dijonnaise). The puffs are so gooey! Then I had a cheese flight sampler that I can't remember for the life of me what it was, but it was three cheeses and nuts, sauce, and dried cranberries. (w/ bread) and crackers) Finished it with another Pride and Joy. This place is really big. One side of it is a market with a nice wine and cheese selection. The other side is the restaurant. Very cozy vibes. Great staff too. I shall be back to try their main dishes!
(4)
Cristina T.
I came back here last night for dinner. For a Friday night around 7:30 we only waited about 15 minutes for the table. We waited at the bar area and had some wine and cheese to start. When we were seated at the table the servers brought our wine and cheese along. Unfortunately we were seated practically next to the band playing. It was also pretty hot inside the restaurant. Luckily the good food made up for it. We continued onto the shrimp wontons which were perfectly fried and salted. We also tried the bruschetta duo-the smoked trout and the pesto ones were very good. We also split the macaroni and cheese with Nueske's bacon mixed in. It was perfectly creamy and delicious. The only thing I thought was weird was the service. Last time I came to MSCM we sat at the bar and loved the personal service we received. Our service this time was a little spotty. When I filled out the bill, I just wrote the total amount with tip included. The server awkwardly came out and asked me if I could write out the tip amount in the space. He said he couldn't process the bill without this filled in. What? I do this practically at every restaurant and have never been asked this question before. It was so awkward with the server standing and watching me fill in his tip. Other than that, I love MSCM. Their cheese selection is amazing as is their bar area. Next time I think I will just sit there. Great atmosphere, location and food. Its just unfortunate that I had such awkward service.
(4)
Laura G.
That cauliflower sandwich I just devoured was the best lunch I've eaten in a year. Finger-lickin' good.
(5)
Brian F.
One of the nicer places to lunch in the Oak Park area. This used to be a simple cheese market and have now, recently, expanded to include an excellent wine bar and bistro. The Execuitve Chef, Leonard Hollander, really knows his stuff. He takes full advantage of the expansive charcuterie and cheese selections at the market to both upgrade classic recipes and create culinary sensations that are both deicious and unusual. How about a BLTP (Bacon Lettuce Tomato and Procciutto) which includes arugula, basil and avocado. The Ham n' Swiss is built with gruyere cheese, horseradish aioli and carmelized onions. Ever have a Honey Roasted Cauliflower sandwich. I know that some of you are shuddering as I did at the thought... It is superb! I've never been there for dinner but the menu looks excellent and I know they have live music many evenings. My only complaint, which takes a star from my rating, is the extremely slow kitchen. I really have to assume that I will be sitting in the restaurant for at least 45 minutes for lunch to get soup and a sandwich. They seem to be improving somewhat over the last year but it still falls behind expectations.
(4)
Nick D.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a great place to pick up some unique brews and wine. They also have a variety of specialty foods from local artisans. I've never tried the food here, but I've heard good things. One of my favorite treats are the sea salt caramels.
(4)
Marie B.
One word -- yum. Ok, two words -- really yummy!? Making the trek from the western suburbs to the city...stuck on I88...beau suggests we meet somewhere in between. I do a quick search on Open Table and Yelp and locate this place. My first thought: this place has got to be expensive! WRONG!! Although the decor is lovely!! Wonderfully lit -- even on a rainy spring night. Highly polished cherry wood, sweet little displays of yummy snacks and a wide array of wines....that's the little market. The cafe/dining room is quite cozy with warm lighing and cosy sitting areas to chat, flirt or simply gaze into your loved one's eyes. There was also a great jazz quartet to provide background music! But, I digress...on to the food -- which was very reasonably priced...as was the wine selection -- I had a great Pinot Noir for $8 a glass! Try that in the "city"!? The goat cheese salad was really the best I have ever eaten. Fantastic assortment of baby greens with this fantastic citrus vinagerette and a perfectly crunchy piece of goat cheese. This would have been a meal in itself, but I had ordered the flat bread of the day. Here is where I was very impressed. I have an allergy to onion...thus, I usually ask how things are prepared. This night, I was too busy flirting..and gazing...that I forgot. So the dish arrived with onion. I told the waitress who was very sweet about the whole thing. She and - I assume the owner - were sooooo apologetic I felt bad!! While the dish was being redone, they brought a selection of fantastic cheese and bread (as a complimentary treat!). When the flat bread arrived, I was so full from eating the cheese that I couldn't do it justice -- but, it looked yummy -- and I boxed it for a later time. The beau had the fish and chips which I tasted -- the fish was wonderfully prepared and the french fries were equally good. I am hooked...next time I am stuck on I88...will just pop off and hang out at "the market"!
(4)
Janet E.
This place has A LOT of cheese. Unfortunately, I didnt order any food with cheese from here! But I did try the mushroom with spinach which had goat cheese and it was really good! This dish came with your choice of bread as well as a side of butter and apple jam. The jam was delicious! I ordered the dirty south benedict. It was good, but I thought it would be more fancy then what I expected. The menu here is pretty extensive and I was contemplating between a lot of the choices. I wouldnt mind coming back to try something else. We had a group of 18 so our food took about 40 minutes to be prepared. Just an FYI in case you wanted to throw a special event here. But the service was excellent! The prices are also reasonably priced. They sell a lot of other items here other than cheese. They had a lot of dipping sauces, jams, chocolates, wine and beer. However flagging down a person to ring up your purchases can be challenging. Lots of metered parking around the area.
(4)
Cass V.
I'm speaking only toward the market area. They have a great selection of jams, curd, wonderful chocolates and condiments. It's a little pricey but that's to be expected for the quality. Makes for great gift ideas!
(4)
James M.
Just about everything i've had here has been pretty tasty. It's one of my three standbys in Oak Park, which is seriously lacking in all-area restaurants. But this one definitely qualifies. Salads are always tasty. Main dishes are very flavorful--what I mean is that i'm from the school of "if the ingredient is listed, I wanna taste it, not imagine that it might be there", and this place has pretty bold flavoring. Not always a fan of the mac n choose special, but when it's good, it's the best thing on the menu (chefs, bring back the lobster and mac, please). Pork chop was pretty bland, though the accompanying sides were tasty. Besides that, everything else has been very good. Of course, the cheese and chocolate here are seriously incredible. Those two things alone make this place worth the trip.
(4)
Jelena Z.
I love wine. And craft beer. Chocolate, too. Culinary books even though I'm not the best cook, yet (doesn't mean I'm not trying and learning). Chutneys, meats, artisan sandwiches and crepes. Housewares such as aprons, glasses and cheese boards galore. Marion Street.... you seem to have it all! This space struck me as very NYC, and I mean that in the best way. There's a strong regard for sustainability and the environment, and both the urban touches (steel, glass) and the homey accents (chalkboards, polished woods) lend to a palpable warm and inviting feel. After checking out the retail side, be sure to step on over to the cafe. The menu is decidedly simple and focuses on cheese and charcuterie. Though, they also feature an impressive brunch offering. Next time: maple syrup crepe (Vermont butter & cheese butter)! My inaugural visit (believe me, there will be more) consisted of dabbling in the vino and cheese. I dabble well and deep within the cheese and wine realm, and this is when the close proximity to the green line comes in especially handy. Ahem... and if I can make a suggestion, sign up for the email newsletter ( marionstreetcheesemarket… ) so you too can stay informed of free (yes, FREE) craft beer and wine tastings on the weekends. PS- a giftcard from Marion Street Market would probably make most of the people on your shopping list happy!
(5)
Valerie R.
1 complaint to get out of the way: 1) I REEKED when I left this place. I had to air out my purse and wash my scarf! I don't know if this is usual (my friend had the same issue) and didn't notice any smoky smells at all when I was there, but it sure stuck to my clothes. On to the good stuff. Waiter: Superb. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, fast. Food: the cheeses and oils were all delicious, and their drink menu had plenty of great choices. The entrees were a bit overpriced for me and not my favorite part of the meal, but tasty none the less. Ambiance: LOVE it! A shop with goodies connected right to a classy place to nosh. This ended up being a nice location for a dinner for our party of 4 and I'd definitely return.
(4)
April W.
I would love to be able to give this place 4 stars, even 5. The food was really very good. TO start with the positive we loved the Cheese Puffs with the Sriracha dipping sauce. We also did a cheese platter, charcuterie and several dishes we shared. All was delicious. Good portions and great presentation. The cheese puffs were to die for and I love one of the goudas we had on the platter. I also read about a wine and I went into the wine shop and Francesca was a doll and very helpful and I walked out with two bottles of wine , one that my mother devoured and really enjoyed very much. Now for the bad. I read on here on MANY reviews that the service here was bad. So I was prepared to be frustrated but I was not prepared with just how bad it was. Here are some things that happened: 1. The server did not come over to our table for a good 20 minutes (maybe more) after we were seated. We had a small child with us, who behaves well in restaurants. But she never ever came over to see if we wanted something for her to start with nor asked us if we wanted a drink. We literally had to flag down the hostess to get the server to come over. 2. We asked for a kids menu, she never brought it. 3. I only was given the drink special menu and when I asked if this was all they had, the server said yes. Later on in the meal, I saw the extensive wine list. I was so pissed, I would have spent quite a bit more and ordered some nicer glasses of wine. 4. When my friends and I go out to eat, we like to linger, but we tip WELL. In between each round of ordering, she never ever came back. We had to flag her down a million times. We kept making jokes that we should get her cell number cause she was nowhere to be found. The problem for the restaurant for this is for sure, a loss of money, because the longer we sta, the more full we got and the less we ordered. 5. She made US do all the work. When she brought the drinks she handed them all to me and made me pass them, we were only a table of 4, it wasn't like she couldnt serve? She also never brought us plates. When we asked TWICE she dumped off 3 plates at the table on the end and never brought some of us silverware. We had to ask again for 2 more plates, pass tehm out ourselves and get up and go to another table to get silverware. 6. There was NO knowledge shared about the menu or the cheeses, or the wine, or the drinks, we never upsold on anything else like dessert or anything. BAD for Business OWNERS! the thing was, it was not even busy in here. I am really annoyed with whomever owns this place that they must see time and time again, people touting bad service and yet they do nothing about this. Either they dont read their yelp reviews or they dont care. It is really a shame because the food was better than great and bordering on AMAZING. I have to say that despite the amazing food and the great service in the wine shop by francesca, I dont think I would ever go back to this place based on the horrible, horrible service.
(2)
Jason B.
Marion Street Cheese Market is simply a great place to go. The food is amazing, they have great wine and beer on tap/in bottles. The servers are delightful, the host was extremely helpful. My girlfriend had trouble eating a part of her entree and needed a sharper knife so I asked a bus boy he said "let me see what I can do." Within a couple of minutes he came back and said "the best I could do is this pairing knife one of the chefs gave me." My reaction was that of amazement, I didn't expect such a quick response and how he simple got the job done. KUDOS!! Also, at the end of the night after enjoy the roasted chicken which I had and my girlfriend at the pork belly we got desert which was a diet killing multi-layered chocolate berry sauce goodness (the name escapes me, but the server recommended it). A different server came over (we stayed to enjoy the live music, which isn't so loud you can't have a conversation - thank goodness for that!) and dropped off a beer on the house! FIVE STARS FOR ME!!! We're going back tonight a friend who's coming in from out of town.
(5)
V S.
The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the tuna salad sandwich minus the corn and bread. It looked good but it had corn in it and i wasn't able to pick it all out. The people I was with enjoyed their meals. I had a bite of the cauliflower sandwich and it was really good.
(4)
Lisa B.
This has become one of my favorite places in Oak Park. When you think about it (and I have) it is probably the only non-chain place aside from Eric's Deli that is consistently open for lunch. Eric's is fine when you're with the kids or in the mood for a quick bite, but MSCM is a civilized, classy spot for a tete a tete with a lover or friend. When it first opened up, the service was spotty, but I think the crew has its act together now. I love how the chef uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible. I also appreciate the sensible portion sizes. Let's just say you probably won't need a doggie bag. I was pleased to notice today that they sell bread from the fantastic Labriola bakery in addition to the cheese, sweets and charcuterie in the market section. Do make a point to try one of their special turtle candies: dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Oh, lord. Take it from Yelp's resident chocoholic, it's amazing.
(5)
Michelle C.
Without a reservation, my mom, dad and I showed up at 9:15am on Mother's Day. The gal at the front was sweet and said all the tables were reserved but that we could sit at the bar and order. She handed us a brunch menu and we were off. The bartender was a sweet girl who smiled at us immediately and took our drink orders (Mimosa) and offered for my mom to try the special "mom mosa" for Mother's Day (which was infused with peach vodka - she loved!). The traditional mimosas were quite good as well! We were told to start at the brunch buffet which housed a variety of finger foods from cheese and prosciutto to bread pudding, zucchini bread, fresh fruit, bagels with spread, chorizo and so on. The zucchini bread was absolutely delicious and the cheese choices were also quite yummy. My mom loved the bread pudding and kept raving about it until my dad finally tried some off her plate. For the made-to-order dishes, we ordered as follows: Me = French toast Mom = Waffle with cheddar and bacon Dad = Crabcake Benedict We all liked our food...once it came out. It took nearly 45-50 mins. for our food to be served. Finally when we asked the bartender she said there was a "printing error" and that our food would be out shortly. Once the food came they had forgotten the black forest ham my mom ordered as a side and it cam out so late that my mom had to take it home in a doggy-bag since she was done with her meal by the time the cooks got around to warming up the ham. The bartender went from good to mediocre within the hour. I had to track her down for a cup of coffee, she never asked if we wanted another mimosa, and by the time we left she seemed somewhat dismissive. What I will say is that this place is very cozy and has a nice vibe. There were all sorts of families crammed in for brunch and the room filled up quickly. I know this place is a hot spot, so I wasn't surprised that things got a little confused with or order (and to be fair, they took my mom's mimosa off the bill), but I expected a little friendlier service considering it was a special day - Mother's Day! I will return again. This is a great place for a mid-afternoon glass of wine, brunch, and catching up with friends. It's also a stone's throw from my apartment, so count me in!
(3)
Elena K.
Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere. All of their menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are great. Waiters could back off a little, but that's my personal taste, I prefer pretty hands off wait staff. Nonetheless, one of my favorite spots in the area!
(5)
rebecca g.
This is my go-to place to create a cheese platter for a party! Amazing selection and they carry things I haven't seen anywhere else. I've had brunch there twice and was impressed both times. Great bloody Marys, delicious pork chiliquiles and great sandwiches. I recently moved to OP from Chicago's Northside and we will be regulars!! Love it!!
(5)
katy l.
I have to echo previous comments and say that while the meal was fantastic, the service was lacking. Our server was a nice gentleman, but certainly not in any hurry. It took him a solid 10 minutes just for the initial approach. Meanwhile, there was probably 3 other tables with people at them, so he certainly wasn't overwhelmed with other guests. Then, when we asked him about the wine choices, his wine list knowledge did not blow my bangs back. He sole descriptor of a sauvignon blanc was "floral." Right. Thanks. Our food came out promptly after we finally got to order it, but the two-top does not have much room for guests who order a few small plates. We were perpetually tryign to carefully shift things around, when it would've all been moot if we could've had one of the many larger empty tables. But, the food was awesome. We had a cheese flight that was tasty, followed by the quiche (whatever garnish was underneath made me go "mmmm"), and the cauliflower sandwich, which was so sweet and very delicious. My girlfriend and I were taking the opportunity to catch up over this dinner, so it was nice not to feel rushed, but it also would've been nice to have the option of having our plates cleared and/or our check brought less than 20 minutes after we were done. Our waiter just seemed to be putzing around, so it's not as though he seemed otherwise occupied with side work, and finally, I had to catch his eye before he came to offer us a check. We did eat here on a somewhat snowy Wednesday night, so maybe they didn't have their "A" staff on, but this meal could've been a 5-star meal with just a little more attentiveness.
(4)
Dennis L.
My second visit to Marion Street for brunch was less impressive. The food was still very good, but the service was dreadfully slow. Additionally, they needed to install or turn up the exhaust fan in the kitchen. All of my clothes left smelling like I was standing over a deep fryer. I certainly hope my experience today was a fluke. I am only dropping one star as the food was delicious.
(3)
Amanda G.
I adore this quaint place, tucked away in Oak Park! When this establishment was born, there was not much to it; but, boy, have they grown!! More wine choices, more cheese choices, full menu. Yes, please! My gal pal and I started with a refreshing sparkling rose and a cheese platter. Since we could not decide, so I waitress picked all her favorites. Our cheese adventure started with a sweet, light cheese and ended with a rich, earthy cheese. So AWESOME!! We decided to split a salad and the crab cake sandwich. Oh my....holy yumminess!! Best way to round out lunch?? Another glass of wine and some great conversation. I am so glad this place found its way to Oak Park!
(4)
Amy O.
Live music, chocolates and sooo much cheese! The only thing not to love about this place is the watered down coffee and the you-look-too-young-so-I'm-not-giving-you-good-Âservice syndrome. I do. I look 16 or 17. I am 25.
(4)
Ryan A.
Far and away the best customer service we've ever had. you don't have to be an expert on wine/cheeses, you will get plenty of help from the staff there. we have been there several times now and always get suggestions from their service team who are more than willing to help you as you peruse on the store side. in fact, i was even given help with the microbrews they have there. the restaurant is also great, and the service their is outstanding- especially nick the bartender. this is probably the best place in Oak Park, a must for anyone in the area
Ok - they definitely have a ventilation problem here. My clothes and hair were immersed in the smell of burnt oil when I left and even at times when I was there my eyes were watering. It's such a contrast to the overall feel of this place that it's such a shame! Food on the other hand equalled yummy yummy yummy! For brunch we had the mixed breads, the insanely decadent hangover sandwich (be warned its not for the faint hearted or calorie counters) and the quiche of the day (red peppers and goats cheese). $5 spicylicous bloody marys were a treat!
(4)
Andrew S.
had brunch there this weekend. overall great restaurant- food, service and atmosphere. the chilaquiles were excellent and i thoroughly enjoyed my bloody mary. i regret not purchasing from their cheese case, maybe next time.
(4)
Ashly S.
Where to begin? Cheese...wine...new, incredible menu...ridiculous desserts...yeah, it's all good. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of dining at the Marion Street Cheese Market while visiting friends in the Chicagoland area and it was wonderful. Our server was not only knowledgable but enthusiastic about the menu -- he offered recommendations that were spot on and totally delicious. They have an appetizer that is a crabcake paired with a thai apple salad and it was amazing! So complex and delicious, surprisingly light and altogether such a cool idea. For dinner, I went with the bacon-wrapped rabbit leg and it was beautifully done. Amazing little spot in Oak Park -- highly recommend this spot. :)
(5)
Bill L.
Holding back from 5 stars only because my experience was limited to wine and cheese, BUT I completely enjoyed both. I'm glad I didn't experience the less than stellar service some have mentioned recently. Everyone was kind and attentive. Wine selection wasn't as extensive as I would expect, but good variety regardless. Cheese selection was terrific. Menu descriptions of those I tried were spot on. Bottom line is I can't wait to make the trip from the city for my next visit, and that trip is very easy as the green line Harlem stop is across the street.
(4)
Karl C.
I really, really enjoyed this place. Marion Street Cheese Market has two sections: at one end, you will find a large assortment of wine, micro-brewed beer and a bountiful cheese counter. The other end is a moderate-sized cafe complete with a stage large enough for a two or three piece jazz band. Wine, cheese, jazz and good company -- what else can you ask for? I started off with the autumn red wine flight, which consisted of three half glasses of wine from California, Argentina and France. All were very good. I followed that up with a delicious Cheddah! cheese flight (the French Cantalet was my favorite). A light beer flight with five samples followed. They served me a fresh, lemony witte which was great but the others were mediocre, and please stay away from the grapefruit extract Surly Furious. I got pretty hungry so I ordered their fish and chips. The fish was crispy, beer-battered excellence. Their fries tasted very good but were listlessly soft. The ambiance of this place really impressed me. It's sleek and urban with undertones of sustainability; I was surprised to find out that their comfortable cafe chairs were made partly with reused car seat belts. The vibe is such where you can come here on a date to impress the wino you've been eyeing or barge in with a group of ten cheeseheads. You'll feel equally at home either way. The cherry on top of the meatloaf that was my visit was the band that night. They were playing up-tempo jazz covers of songs like "Dear Prudence" which was awesome. You could really bob your head to their stuff after a few glasses of wine and/or a pound of cheese. I highly recommend Marion Street Cheese. If you like wine, cheese and some poppy jazz, you need to check this place out.
(5)
Angela D.
Until now, Bin 36 downtown was my favorite wine and cheese place. They have officially been overthrown :) Excellent wine and cheese, great appetizers, delicious and creative entrees. And while it's not in any way cheap, it's reasonable for the quality of food and wine, and the great selection of desserts and "grocery" items made available for you even if you're just stopping in to stock up foir a dinner party. My only complaint was that service was REALLY slow. I kept joking that our waitress had dies because seriously, we would go 25 minutes and never even see her. We were not in any hurry so it wasn't a dealbreaker and it WAS a busy Saturday night so chances are on a weeknight we'd be waited on hand and foot. We started with a wine flight and cheese tray, the french one, and I don't remember the actual name but it's easy to pick out. The cheeses were DIVINE, and came with a nice assortment of bread, crackers, nuts and a royal jelly. We tried the sliders, and actually preferred the grilled beet to the duck. the duck was really tender and flavorful but the beet was so interesting and unique! We also had a flatbread pizza of the day, similar to a BBQ chicken but far more tasty than the standard pizza. The best part was the lamb stew entree that we shared. It was a huge portion so glad we split. The most tender, fall off the bone lamb I've had like that. Came in a savory onion broth with lentils and a few vegetables. I cannot wait to go back and try something else!! They had live music the night we went, that was a really nice suprise too. Not too loud, and the singer fit right in with the feel of the place. High quality without being pretentious, mellow and just....nice. Not sure how much more original praise I can add :)
(4)
Meg X.
Went here as part of my friends' monthly Supper Club group. Our server (Tony) was attentive, friendly, and helpful. We split the Pickle Flight, which included pearl onions, turnips, and okra. The turnips and okra were excellent but for whatever reason the pearl onions weren't so great. I got a 5-cheese flight, I can't remember which cheeses, but it was delicious. One of the group got the ribs, and it came stacked about 7" high with ribs, potatoes, etc. It looked like that opening from the Flintstones where Fred orders those ribs and they tip the car over. Another in our group had the white whine flight and really enjoyed it. The barbecue chicken was kind of weird because it was breaded and baked; no barbecue. But whatever, it was still good. I had some kind of baked peach thing for dessert. It was fantastic! Overall a great, quiet place for dinner. Friendly service and great menu. It's easier to just take the green line there than to try to find parking. It's across the street from the Marion exit of the Harlem stop of the green line.
(4)
Sam G.
Save your stationery because this is no place to write home about. This pretentious, overpriced, sub par establishment will probably leave you hungry and irritated. I would give food itself a B-, but the portions were incredibly small and overpriced. The service was slow. After finishing my beer halfway through me meal, I order another and waited 12 minutes before canceling it and asking for the check. Seriously, Oak Park has many better places, particularly for the price.
(1)
Allison R.
I have been to Marion Street Cheese Market on numerous occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just to shop. If you're a vegetarian you'll appreciate the Cauliflower Melt sandwich. The apples and the cheese really make this sandwich delicious. It was a little on the greasy side, but I'm willing to overlook that based on taste. Unlike the Grilled Cheese sandwich, which almost needs something else to help it get away from being too cheesy (I never thought I would say that), the Cauliflower Melt is very well balanced. I think the brunch menu is by far the best. French press coffee with French toast or the mushroom skillet is a great reason to get out of bed on a Saturday morning. Overall, I think this restaurant puts together a really unique menu that's a little on the pricey side, but worth it every once in a while. It's a great place to eat with a group so you can order different things and sample everyone's dish. I think your experience here all depends on who you get as a server. Some are great. They'll explain the menu options and really seem to care about getting your food out in a reasonable time. Others are...not. It's really a gamble and it's sad because great food should always come with great service. On a side note I will say that on the retail side I've had very positive experiences in terms of service. Everyone seems to be fairly knowledgeable about all the products. I love the addition of the chocolates and the wine display is pretty awesome as well.
(4)
Steve M.
Pretty cool spot for the 'burbs! :) They don't do regular coffee here. Only french press. Also, they ask you if you want a small, medium or large press, which they'll bring to your table. Make sure you over order. (If you think you want a small, go medium.) Everyone at the table ordered breakfast skillets. Mine was the salmon and scrambled egg skillet. Somewhere in the back of the house the orders got mixed up and everyone got their food 10 minutes before mine showed up. No big deal, really, but it was weird to be the only one eating at the table when it finally did show. Flavor-wise, it was largely uninspiring. Nice presentation though. If I go back (and I would), I'd like to head back for dinner. The space looks really cool. TONS of cheeses, a pretty serious wine selection, and a small stage for jazzy musicians.
(3)
Lauren C.
The quiche was great! Also side note- this place has a small shop and they sell Three Floyd's Zombie Dust beer.
(4)
Melissa T.
Have not eaten in but did enjoy some delicious cheese and, oddly enough, the best licorice I've ever had is from there. I picked up both summer sausage and pate there, however, that was mediocre at best. I really like this place, but I'm not in love with this place like others are. In all honesty, I'm more likely to head to the Caputo cheese mart for cheese than here.
(3)
Laura V.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a real gem. I've been here half a dozen times, primarily just for drinks and all experiences have been wonderful. The restaurant/shop is beautiful, modern, clean, dark and feels sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. I always get the beer flight and there even some vegan options - just ask.
(5)
Alicia P.
Worst service I have ever experienced. Not only did the waitress tell me "i need to see your face" to judge if I could have a glass of wine, she grabbed my ID, threw it back at me, then told me she needed to see a credit card to verify...of which she the back at me. We asked for a new server and the manager apologized. Based on other reviews about the service, don't expect a comp for anything if you are treated poorly either considering the quantity of customer service reviews-we surely didn't receive anything. Food was overpriced, not as good as it should be for a cheese market (mac and cheese was just ok...nothing special). We also had chicken-ok- . Really nothing special. Unless they can work on customer service and improve the quality or decrease the price, go somewhere else
(1)
Thomas L.
I like this place. The wine is good and the prices are reasonable. The cheese plates are also very good. Let me preface what I'm about to say about the food menu with the fact that I am not a foodie. However, it took my girlfriend and I about 30 minutes to decide on what to eat. One, I had to google about half of the items on the menu. Perhaps I am a simpleton but here is an example: Bison Carpaccio 11/Anson Mills farro | soy braised shiitake |crispy shallot | sesame crème fraiche . If you can tell me what the hell that means than disregard. We decided to share the Risotto which was designated as a "large plate." In retrospect though it wasn't very big and if you don't fill up on bread and cheese beforehand, you should be able to handle a large plate fairly easily. I will say that the Risotto was delicious. The wine menu is good and they also have a decent (although small) selection of craft beer. The service was prompt but I'm not sure that the waitress knew what she was doing (although she overtly apologized when asked a question as she said the menu was new). All in all I would give this place the thumbs up. I will say that the menu should be tailored to people who live in Oak Park and not Tuscany. PS- They also have a nice little shop where you can buy craft beer, cheese, and wine, etc.
(4)
James K.
Great beer and wine selection is excellent. Lot of beers that are difficult to find anywhere else. Very knowledgeable staff. Except for the cheese flights and other staples, food is kind of hit or miss.
(4)
April P.
This place is incredible. There is an astounding assortment of cheeses, all picked by someone with an obvious divine taste in cheeses. The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant and comfortable. I don't know if that's because they did a good job designing the interior or simply because it is a place entirely devoted to cheese. Either way, it is a wonderful place and part of me wishes there were more like it while the other part is simply happy that I have the pleasure of partaking in such a unique invention and that part is happy it is the only one around. Thanks Marion Street Cheese Market! Never change.
(5)
Megan G.
I had a great bruncing experience here and let's he honest, who doesn't love a good brunch? My two dearest friends were in town for the weekend and wanted to meet my mom for a brunch and shopping escapade so I thought it would be fun for them to see the lovely downtown Oak Park area. It helps that my parents live there so we parked at their place and hoofed it to MSCM. The problem? We were hungover. The solution? Marion Street Cheese Market. But how does a cheese market help with a hangover you ask? The answer is simple. And dirty. Hangover fries. Yep, that's what they're called, right there on the menu. North Country bacon + all-natural sausage + Pastureland's organic cheddar + sunny side Milo's farm egg. Basically breakfast heaven on a plate. They are all about local, seasonal, and artisinal fare and they can make it taste good. We scarfed them down in no time flat while my mother insisted on telling the server that she didn't raise me to drink like a fish (her favorite game). We all had lovely meals following the savior hangover fries and we got a 4 pack of Goose Island Sofie on our way out, just in case. Perf.
(4)
michael s.
way more than your average stinky cheese hole. they have really good food.
(4)
Jo B.
This is a desperate plea to the owners of MSCM. Please please please do something about your horribly trained, apathetic, rude staff. I live in OP, I want to support this place because I think it has so much potential but I just can't bring myself to endure the terrible experience that dining here brings. Tried again last night...the hostess couldn't seat me outside because she didn't "think" there were any tables. How about walking outside and checking? Then she didn't know how long our wait might be because she "had no idea" when these customers had sat down but she did know that none of them had asked for their bill yet so it was likely to be at least 45 minutes. OMG. Read your reviews, owners, and see what your customers are saying about your staff. Please.
(1)
B L.
The owner should have been on hand last night. Workers are standing around, and yet ONE waiter for the entire dining room is going 100 MPH. Service was bad. First off, my spouse ordered his drink (asked for club soda with lemon but got it with lime) and received it AFTER he was done with his meal. (How do you forget a beverage?) The cocktail that I had was bizarro.... is the bartender getting creative? The vodka drink tasted like it had cloves in it. I had to send it back, and I rarely will do that. The grilled cheese sandwich was dry, and it consisted of 1 sliver of cheese slapped between two thick thick pieces of bread. The pasta salad was strange. I'd never order it again. We eat out all the time in Oak Park and we won't go back here except for perhaps a glass of wine. Pricing is high and service is not good. Food is average to weird. The owner must be a newbie to the biz. He/she should do a time/motion study. Workers are not choreographed. Nothing is in synch. You wait forever for your stuff, and yet there are workers with little/ nothing to do.
(1)
Colleen M.
I should preface this by saying that I'm lactose-intolerant so I'm not the person to comment about their cheese selection. :) I heard people raving about their wine selection and their bistro so when a groupon became available I bought it. We went to the bistro on a Friday night. They weren't crowded when we first arrived. We opted to order some appetizers and wine. It must have took 30 minutes for them to prepare the appetizers. (Who knew Bruschetta and Focaccia took so long?) I dropped my fork and the server said he would bring a new one. After waiting nearly 5 minutes, I flagged down someone else. The food was delicious and I enjoyed my wine. Overall, I found the selection good and the service ho-hum. I wouldn't go out of the way to go back but if I was in the area I might stop in again.
(3)
Alicia K.
I think I can summarize my slew of experiences here in two words: IN. LOVE. This place is pretty much what happens when you mix the best of everything together -- great food, good service, sustainability and a strong regard for the environment, cheese, and wine. What more do you need?! I've been for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and never cease to be impressed with my experience. It's true MSCM is a tad bit "pricey," but frankly, you get what you pay for. Everything here is delicious and insanely fresh. The only downside is that they do change their menu based on seasonal ingredients and what's local and available, so sometimes you will fall head over heels for something (e.g. their coconut curry soup... OH EM GEE... HEAVENLY!!!) but then not be able to get it there again for a year. When that's the only downside, though, can you really complain?! The cheese counter has an insane number of options, all fantastic, and their employees are very knowledgable and able to help you find just what you're looking for. (Our current obsession is the Le'Amuse Gouda. Try it with honey crisp apples on wheat thins. This will literally change your life.) Wine selection is out of this world, and again, super knowledgeable employees. They sometimes have wine tastings or other cute events, so if you live nearby, you may want to inquire about those. And if I haven't convinced you to try it yet, fine -- don't listen to me. But maybe the 100+ other 4 & 5 star reviews will help sway you? ;]
(5)
Dawn B.
I really love coming here. It feels like a "treat" every time. I do wish the prices were a little more affordable for the food. Their wine specials on various days are really good, so I guess that makes up for it. The staff is knowledgeable about the vino and the cheese---I usually tell them the things I like and let them pick.
(4)
Mary Ann C.
Yummmm. I have been here many times for meals and retail purchases (dating back to their old, tiny location. I love this place. Good service. Knowledgeable service. Good food and great products. Enjoyed lunch yesterday outside. Finally tried the cauliflower sandwich (amazing) with a lovely glass of wine. Loved that the server noticed the wine I picked out and told me what an interesting choice it was (plus gave me extra tips on the selection). The fruit salad with mint was a great addition to the meal. A must visit when in Oak Park!!!
(4)
Anastacia B.
Dear Marion St, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I followed my rules and sat at the bar. Attentive knowledgeable server/bartender- who at the end of the meal gave me a sample of Gin I asked about. I saw you sell it in your shop. Guess who will be back to get a bottle! Thank you for offering 10% off at the bottom of my food receipt toward a purchase in the shop. It took me 20 minutes to decide what I wanted. Reading the menu is like food porn. (Sorry I went there but I did).....I finally settled on the Goat cheese salad with hazel nuts and roasted grapes as well as the mushroom skillet. My friend ordered the fresh corn quiche. Now I'm ruined for brunch anywhere else... Only quirk, front of house staff- 4 of them at host stand. We said hello- no response. We stood for a few awkward moments waiting to be acknowledged...just eye contact and- I'll be with you in a moment- works wonders....
(5)
Ellen M.
This was downright fantastic. Date and I arrived on a Sunday at about 4:15, before dinner service, in one of those weird days of starting with a late breakfast and skipping lunch. Dinner doesn't begin until 5, but the cheese bar was open. Cheese it was! A flight of five, including a terrific sheep cheese and a salty goat, and excellent jam. It held us until dinner. Dinner! Yes...golden beet salad with arugula and a carpaccio plate. So good. Date had the black bean soup and the mac/cheese. Mac/cheese fans, you MUST partake of the Marion Street Cheese Market macaroni and cheese. I can't say I've ever tasted a nicer sauce. Drinks were a flight of south american wines for me, some fancy yet masculine cocktail for him. Dessert: chocolate. 'Nuff said, my friends. Service: attuned. I appreciated that they offered to get rid of the television when they noticed I made a face when I saw it. We were the only ones in the room at the time, and *shoom* the big screen faded into the ceiling without a care. Nice beer list. Accessible, but good choices. I will be back.
(4)
Anne D.
I came here for the first time last year for lunch and had a fabulous grilled cheese, so I was already a fan. Recently I bought a Groupon for a prix fixe menu with craft beer pairings for 2. Yum! I enjoyed all three beer tastings and all of the food. We each got to choose one of two dishes for each of three courses, so we decided to get one of everything and split them. Pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, grits (yes, grits - but they were fantastic) with mushrooms and bleu cheese, chocolate cake, and a stout float with caramel ice cream and chipotle-seasoned cookies. We thoroughly enjoyed each thing and it was a great opportunity to try dishes that I probably wouldn't normally order. Despite what some reviews have said, the service was good even though they were crowded. We had just long enough between courses to finish each before the next came, and the check came promptly. The only thing that might hold me back from coming here again soon is that the prices are pretty steep. I think I'll probably return for lunch or brunch to save a little money, and maybe come back for a special dinner.
(4)
Jose G.
I would consider myself a regular here - at least at the bar stools for a beverage, cheese flight and conversation with the bartenders. By the way, the beers they serve are all craft/micro brews. No Miller Lite here! Which is a good thing if you ask me. If you're a beer fan and like trying unique brews, have a sampler, or just ask for a little taste. I don't necessarily come here for their full dinner menus. The food is fantastic though, Chef Leonard does a great job with the menus, but just not my style for dinner. The Mac-N-Choose is great! There's usually a meat option and a non-meat option for this dish - just ask your servers. Speaking of servers, I think they're hit or miss. If they know you and recognize that you're in fairly often, they're great. On occasion though, we'll get a new (to us) server who isn't as attentive or friendly. The retail side of the MSCM has a great selection of wines, craft beers, cheeses, meats, truffles, honeys, unique kitchen items.. too many to list! If you're looking for a gift for someone who appreciates this stuff, they can put together a nice gift basket for you. If you want the scoop on their beers, talk to Charlie, he really knows his stuff and will guide you to the right beer! They sometimes have free tastings, usually on the weekends it seems. All in all, a great little Bistro! They are doing their part for the environment and are very into supporting local businesses. If you're in the Oak Park area, stop in to visit them!
(5)
Jeffrey M.
This is a great spot. My gf and I had an awesome cheese flight, and a couple awesome wine flights. I loved the mac n cheese special. After dinner we shopped in the awesome gourmet grocery store. Picked up some amazing brie, cheddar, and taleggio. Some foie gras and duck liver. Another pate of chicken liver and pork mousse. Also a couple of bottles of some awesome wine.
(4)
Angela M.
The one star is based on my experience and service. This is NOT a food review... for I didn't have a chance to try. Based on the name, I went to dinner with the realization that I would most likely NOT be eating anything... I mean it's a CHEESE market. My dad picked this place for his birthday, and I'm vegan... But, I was surprised to see that they had a tempeh sandwich on their menu. I asked the waiter if they could put the sandwich in a lettuce wrap or even just on a bed of lettuce as a salad due to not knowing what the bread was made with eggs, milk, etc. He looked at me like I had three heads attached to my neck and said "No. We can't do that." At first I thought he had a dry sense of humor and was being sarcastic with me, so I said "Okay, so you can't put a sandwich on a piece of lettuce instead of bread? Even though you sell salad?" He looked at me with confusion and said, "No. That's not something that we do." My sister in law even chimed in stating that I'm a vegan, and that there's no way to put it on a salad? He stuck with his "No." The waiter went around the table asking for everyone's order, when he got to me he asked, "So, what can I get for you?" I said, "I'm good." He then said, "Are you sure I can't accomodate you with something?" Then I looked at him like he had 4 heads attached to his neck and politely declined. Now, if you're not a vegan or vegetarian you might think this is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time that common sense looses to ignorance. Unrelated to veganism; It's like the time I went into Starbucks and they didn't have any regular coffee. Needless to say I won't be recommending this to any vegetarians or vegans... even though their menu clearly states "Please read our menus carefully and tell us what you cannot eat ask your server about our vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options".... i guess that means that they'll accomodate you as long as you don't ask for a lettuce substitute? yeah... that totally makes sense.
(1)
Michael B.
Professional staff, pleasant atmosphere, and beautiful half circle wine rack. Will be back soon
(4)
Paul D.
What can I say about The Marion Street Cheese Market other than it's pretty damn awesome. Nestled in the heart of Hemingway's birthplace it sits on the corner of Marion Street (naturally) and South Blvd so parking isn't much of a problem even with the other restaurants that share the same block, and if you get there after six you don't have to pay for the privilege to park on the street. When you arrive you walk through the market, surrounded by a huge wine rack and a sea of cheeses (which is marketing gold, especially that once you taste their selections of cheeses and wine you can buy pretty much whatever you had on the way out, which I did), to get to the dining area. The wife and I arrived on a night that had live music, and from the flyer I saw later in the evening I see that isn't unusual to find here. Our waiter, Jamie (who looked like a younger, blonde Rain Wilson from the "Office") was very attentive and not over baring and had no problem at all explaining what was on the menu and would answer any question. We started with an excellent bottle of Gewurztraminer and a three cheese flight of Wisconsin cheeses, which were fantastic. Very buttery and pared well with the Gewurztraminer. For our appetizer we both went with the Baby Spinach Salad that had Ader Kase blue cheese, dried cranberries with white balsamic vinaigrette and toasted almonds and in my opinion was one of the best salads I ever had. The main course consisted of Spice Roasted Olives and Bread (wife) made with Spanish Olive Oil, roasted fennel , red peppers with a crusty bread, with me choosing the Lamb Pappardelle (which was outstanding) made up of Mint Creek Farm lamb shoulder, roasted shallots, ricotta salata, pomegranate, and mint which I paired with a glass of Cantina Sociale Coertino. The Gewurztraminer not being a hearty enough wine for the lamb. We ended with a dessert port and a double espresso. All in all The Marion Street Market is just a great place to hang out with friends, loved ones or just by yourself as they boast a nice bar where you can also eat at if not wanting a table or you are there just for a cheese and wine flights. I also noticed they have a bourbon flight as well, and it'll be on my list on my next visit. Live Jazz is also a regularity. The only draw backs where that the Spice Roasted Olives and Bread wasn't as good as it ought to have been, and ended up being heavy and tasted more of if it came from a jar, and that they could have done with about three less tables. Where I was seated near the bar and in a heavy traffic area, I was constantly bumped into by passing servers and we felt a little close to the other tables around us. Other than that we had a great time and spent most of the night there.
(4)
Kevin G.
This is one of our favorite places to eat and Oak Park. The cheese alone could make me give this place 5 stars, but the rest of the menu and very knowledgeable staff put it off the charts. I sympathize with the reviewer that couldn't get her quick coffee before running off to work, but if you look closely at the sign above the door, you will notice that it does NOT say "Starbucks." This is a great place to go to have great conversation and to SAVOR some really well-crafted food and beverages (kind of the OPPOSITE of a fast food joint). Perhaps the only thing I could fault Marion Street Cheese Market for is a bit of inconsistency in the wait staff. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Marion Street Cheese Market and let the guys and gals behind the counter educate me in the ways of the cheese. It seems like there's no practical limit to the amount of different cheeses they'll let you try and if you know what you like, but don't know the name, they'll patiently take you through the whole case until you find it. They have cheese, wine, and beer flights on the menu as well as a broad selection of very creative dishes that vary by the season. One of our favorites is their pizzas-- and if you like grilled cheese, just you wait! This ain't your mama's kraft singles on buttered bread! Three kinds of cheese plus a little pickled veggies make this the BEST grilled cheese I've ever had! There's always something on the menu that makes us go "Oooooohhhhh.... Let's try /that/!" Great place to take a date who's a foodie, or any foodie, for that matter. Great place for expanding your culinary comfort zone a little. A little pricey, but not out of reach. One of our new year's resolutions was to only go every /other/ week because it's a little too expensive for us to go /every/ week. Haven't been doing too well on that particular resolution.... ;-) Go there, try it-- ask for Trevor to make you a cheese flight of his choice!
(5)
Nicole M.
It's a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. Getting a wine or beer flight and a cheese sampler spread as an appetizer are musts. Everything on the brunch menu sounds phenomenal - come with a group so you can try a good handful of dishes. Not a huge restaurant - reservations are the way to go.
(5)
Amanda B.
This place is on the expensive side for my husband and I for dinner, so we've only been once when we had gift certificate, but I've been multiple times for lunch with friends and family, when the prices are a little more moderate. Each time it has been amazing! I have had the Chevre Salad and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. Both were phenomenal. I am a cheese fiend so anything with a large ball of cheese on the plate is going to win my favor but the salad is well sized and filling! The sandwich, likewise is filling and I could not finish it. The chutney/salsa they had on the sandwich was divine! It added such a freshness to the fried green tomatoes that it sat on. Great balance! My parents and I also purchased a cheese plate when we went. 3 out of 4 cheeses were very well received, so much so that my parents bought all three kinds of cheese. Their favorite was the Little Boy Blue, and as they live out of town, have repeatedly requested me to make the trip to the shop to purchase it and bring to them when we visit. Worth the money in their opinion! Service has always been good and the servers have always been able to give good recommendations when I was struggling between two choices and each time, they were spot on!
(5)
Laura H.
I live in Michigan and every Chicago trip I make, Marion Street Cheese market now has to be apart of it! This place is awesome. The staff knows everything about the cheese and wine that they sell and they are sooooo friendly. My friends and I tend to have a lot of questions when we are purchasing our wine and cheese and we always leave very happy! Highly suggest!
(5)
Tracy O.
This was my second time here. First time, there was a festival in Oak Park, and the service was extremely slow. This time there was constuction on Maple Ave. and it was not crowded. The service was much better. We enjoyed a cheese plate, which was good. I had the spanish wine flight, which was a little overpriced in my opinion. The crab cake small plate was decent to share. The food is not outstanding, but quaint place to go for some wine and cheese.
(3)
Marissa G.
I've only picked up cheese and wine here, I've not been to the restaurant, but from what I experienced I was impressed. Their staff is incredibly patient and knowledgable. When I was there the cheese guy was busy with several customers tasting cheese, and he was always kind and attentive, never brushing anyone off and keeping the flow moving. There was also champagne tasting, which was lots of fun, and I walked away with a great bottle for a party. The chocolate selection is pretty impressive too. Be ready to spend a pretty penny, but for a special occasion, I think it's worth it!
(4)
Kim S.
I. Love. This. Place. Ok I can see why people may not like it. It's kind of confusing as a newbie. The layout is very long, there are multiple counters to order and pay for different types of items, and there's a bar/restaurant in the back. A restaurant which doesn't allow you to order food between certain hours of the day. Weird I know.. but PERSEVERE!! IT IS WORTH IT! As a cheese and wine shop it's great. They have a large selection and the staff is typically friendly and helpful. They have wine and cheeeeese and awesome beer and lil noshes to boot. Sometimes you have to wait a lil for service but I like to think that they care SO much about each customer that they don't want to cut them short to help someone else. Altho maybe you don't need to engage in conversation with the customer after the transaction is over and someone is patiently waiting to buy some juice or something. All this grand stuff aside the FOOD is why I'm giving it five stars. We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning and they asked if we had reservations. I'm like uhhh no? I don't think I've ever made a reservation for breakfast. Regardless they whispered a lil bit about shuffling tables and seated us right away. Awesome. The menu was full of tantalizing goodies but I opted for a mashed avocado benedict. The hubs got some meat thingy - looked like a roast or something with onions, etc. While we waited we enjoyed a cup of coffee. Not fancy lattes or cappucinos, just plain old coffee. I swear I'm doing somthing wrong when I make coffee at home - this was amazing coffee. I don't know the details, it could be Folgers for all I know but it was good.. damn good. The food came and was amazing. My eggs were poached perfectly - SUPER important for a benedict. The bacon was just right and sooo good. I took a bite of whatever the hubs got - also yummy. Everything was yummy. The potatoes on the side were too. AH! My mouth is watering now! So pleased. Was full forever. Definitely going back - with a reservation. P.S. They have Two Brother's Domaine DuPage on tap. So divine.
(5)
Ms L.
How do I love cheese....let me count the ways. Maybe I watched too much Urkel as a child, but cheese is one of my favorite things ever...food or otherwise. So of course I scooped up two Groupons to Marion Street Cheese Market when I had the chance. Kudos to the staff for allowing me to use one Groupon for a meal and the other for a wine purchase - and also allowing me to use the Groupon app on my phone (I always forget to print things out). Techie that I am - this was a huge bonus for me. Me and the beau stopped in during lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The first thing I'll comment on is that the ambience was incredibly soothing. Lots of bamboo and Asian styled decor -- it actually felt like a sushi restaurant I'd visit. No complaints there. The waitress was great at recommending new drinks to try -- we had the coconut water and house lemonade to start, since we knew we would be picking up a few bottles on the way home. The mango/almond french toast was amazing...and my beau's turkey avacado club looked pretty good too. The cucumber salad was delish - I wish there was a larger serving. After stuffing ourselves, we went to the wine & cheese section...oh my. Reasonably priced, though I'd recommend adding some additional lighting in the wine section -- it was sometimes hard to read the labels. The guy behind the cheese counter made some really tasty recommendations to go with the wines we picked. This was a pretty solid wine bar/cafe -- I'd definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Yum!
(4)
K. E.
What I really recommend is you should go to this place and buy wine and cheese (and a loaf of bread) and take it home and call it dinner. The "cheesemongers" behind the cheese cases offer 5-star service including tastes, recommendations, good ideas on what goes with what. I have bought some great cheese flights with their help - and fed them to some very picky eaters with astonishing success. The pricing in the cheese cases is by the quarter-pound. This seems very smart to me. You could faint over the prices if you saw the full-pound price on everything - but who buys a full pound of stuff like that?? And they'll cut you as small a piece as you want. I have a soft spot for this place because of a bunch of personal connections - but in reference to all the complaints about service in other reviews, I feel your pain. I'm not sure why they never quite get it together. I'll probably keep going, but lately I've been hesitating about recommending dining in. If you sign up for their email list, you'll always get some kind of discount. That's really worth checking out. Good luck.
(4)
Rita S.
Hostess was quite unfriendly and service was slooooow. Food was ok but very pricey $14.00 for Mac and Cheese?? $20.00 pork chop was tough. Single bathrooms made for waiting lines in small hallway, and don't wash your hands because you won't get enough water out of the faucet to rinse off the soap???
(2)
Victoria h.
Husband and I made reservations for a 6pm dinner on a Friday night. When we arrived we were seated immediately and I noticed that there were a few tables still empty. After we were seated, we waited for our server. Then we waited some more. Then I asked the hostess to get our server and we waited some more. Finally, the server came and took our order. The server had a guy with him who was training(?). I ordered the Mac and cheese and husband ordered fish and chips.The mac and cheese was, I'm sorry to say, flavorless. I'm the last person in the world to add salt to anything and this dish needed salt badly. It was just bland, I can't explain it. I took most of it home and ate some of my husband's delicious dinner. The fish and chips were incredible! I highly recommend them. The fish were crispy and the fries were pre-soaked in vinegar in just the right amount. The dish also comes with tartar sauce which my husband hates. He asked for cocktail sauce instead and got it! When we were done, the trainee asked us how our meal was, put the mac&cheese in the to-go box, asked if we wanted dessert and....nothing. No check. We couldn't find our server (or the trainee) for a while. So we waited. Then we waited some more. Then the server came, asked us the same questions again and finally brought us our check. I will definitely give it another chance and order something else.
(3)
M.K. O.
The service has been a bit awkward and slow for each of my visits; this creates an uncomfortable mismatch as the food is fantastic (innovative and seasonal menu, perhaps the best food in Oak Park) and the atmosphere is equally great. Our waitress for the most recent experience came out with our food and froze for a few seconds wide-eyed mid dining room before setting the plates down at our table and saying something like, "Oh my God, I like totally forgot what I was doing." We were one of 2 tables in the restaurant.
(3)
Jen A.
I've been here several times and think that my review will now reflect an average of all my experiences. The food, beer, wine, menu, and retail store are fantastic. The service and the prices bring down my rating. We love coming in and trying cheese or choosing beer and wine to go. One time, we came in and the person in the retail area said "you have to buy that stuff at the bar." So we went to the cashier behind the bar, and she replies "No, you have to buy that in ths store area". We head back to the store and she says "No, you have to buy that stuff at the bar." Make up your mind... There have been two occasions where we have gone in for dinner, ordered drinks and one entree each, and the service was stretched out over two hours. Slow... Also, I have a hard time coming in here and ordering dinner for less than $50 per person, when you include drinks. I'm sure you can do it, but its a challenge. If the food was a little more affordable, we'd probably find a way to stop by more often. If you want a good meal, this is worth a stop...if you don't mind overpriced food or waiting 2 hours to finish dinner.
(3)
Kymberly J.
This is an update of my last review. I was a little upset last time because they were a little disorganized from the move but now they have grown on me. I stopped by the other day to give goat cheese another shot. Now I love it and can't get enough. The guy at the cheese counter patiently sliced me some samples to try and schooled me on the wonderful world of goat cheese and the local market. I bought a small wheel and he threw in a free baugette. awww... The next Saturday I went back for lunch. I had the vegan tostada with shrooms, red pepper and hummus and some baked french onion soup. It was the perfect lunch; fresh ingredients and served on cute little plates. The waitress was a little frazzled but kept a smile on her face the whole time - now that's a professional! The next time I go, even just for drinks, I want to try one of the beer or wine flights. They have have what seems to be a nice collection of microbrews that I am dying to sample.
(4)
Mary M.
I keep trying to like this place since it's got great food, wonderful wines and a beautiful shoppe/deli. However, there's a huge disconnect between the resto's foodie persona and the lackadaisical, gourmet-illiterate staff. Today's outing resulted in the same impression---someone in the kitchen is working their ass off, and it all gets lost in translation when it makes it to the table, which by the way could take over 45 minutes for a sandwich (even when the place is 1/2 empty. Show some respect for your customers and hire a crew who appears to give a damn!
(2)
Karen S.
Had brunch here the other day and it was very good. Food is very well-prepared, and you can tell the ingredients are very fresh. I had eggs with grilled tomatoes, and it was delicious. I love how the toast comes in a little cast iron pot to keep it warm. I've never seen that before, and it was a nice little surprise. Service was excellent. Took advantage of the 10% off coupon on our receipt and bought a bottle of Shiraz that was wonderful. Will for sure go back-next time to dry dessert!
(4)
Senorita J.
You can never go wrong with cheese! Plus the drinks are awesome and servers are nice.
(4)
Leo I.
Spaghetti Carbonara should not involve a fried egg, over-easy, dumped on top of the pasta. Neither should it require the synthetic bacon crumbles that Country Buffet provides for salad toppings. Oh, by the way, Carbonara is not a soup and if it were it would not be served in a bowl full of olive oil! With that said, I must admit that the restaurant is at a great location, has a well-appointed dining room, and the cheese-display is beautiful and exudes a market-style setting. But the menu is uninspired and it almost feels as if it is microwave-driven. The service can be hit or miss. When it takes 20 minutes to produce two cheese tray appetizers on a very slow night (2 more tables occupied) one is left to wonder: are they watching for the cheese to age first?
(1)
Shannon W.
I have not eaten here, but they have an amazing wine selection. I wanted to find a nice bottle of Malbec for some friends and I called ahead, spoke with Charlie and Marcus - the two retail guys and they know their stuff! Charlie helped me find the perfect bottle, and within my price range and had it placed on hold for me. I got it a few days later and my friends loved it! They even gift wrapped it for me and they had a giveaway that day of a cute reusable bag. Love all their window display "things for the kitchen" as well!
(5)
Lindsey H.
Awesome, intriguing and lovely. Three of us went for lunch on a Satuday afternoon. The chilaquiles skillet was divine, crunchy tortilla with a beautiful green salsa and fried eggs on top. I am a tough critic on this dish, and these were the best I have had at a restaurant anywhere (even Mr. Bayless'!). It had every person at the table asking if we would all share dishes. My cohorts ordered the club sandwich and the extremely succulent french toast with cherry caramel sauce, vanilla bean, mascarpone, and toasted almonds. Needless to say we all ate every morsel on our plates. Our bill came to about $40 and we left awestruck and happy planning our next visit.
(4)
Stephen L.
I live in Oak Park and go to this place a lot. However, I only go for the food. The service is a JOKE. It is at the point that I place my own food orders at the bar. My last visit for lunch was 1.5 hours long - unless they improve, I'm not going back. If they fire some staff and do some serious service training this place could be good.
(1)
Molly O.
I have been a HUGE fan of this establishment since it's origin. I was very excited to see their expansion, and I am always rooting for them to succeed. However, I have a couple of fairly large issues with their service. Early on I gave them a pass, assuming they were learning the ropes (the service was just plain horrible.) That was over a year ago. I just had lunch there today and again, the service is way under par. Two of us ordered the mac n cheese (which was under seasoned.) When I looked for the salt and pepper shakers they were on all the other tables but ours. My friend ordered a salad, however it wasn't served with a bread stick. The other tables around us who did order salads were served with 2 homemade bread sticks. I would go back for the cheese flights and a glass of wine and sit at the bar. The lunch is overpriced for the quality . I cannot comment on the dinners.
(3)
Cheryl W.
Yes, I had a Groupon for this place....that being said, I think it's a great place for apps and cheese, the wine was incredible and hubby loved the microbrew flight, however I don't think I'd recommend it for dinner. While our waitress was very pleasant, she didn't seem to know a lot about the food and had to go ask every time we had questions. Also, she disappeared at the end of the meal (more later on that). So we came on a Sunday night and were seated immediately. I had a glass of wine and my husband had the flight of microbrews. We also had a one of the "pre-figured-out" cheese platters (the Espania or something like that) to start as an app. So YUM on both counts...one star there! I ordered the scallops and husband ordered the mac and cheese. The scallops were good, but nothing out of this world and although hubby was not commenting and he had a lot of it wrapped to go, later he said he should have tried the fish and chips, so I'm taking that as a not-that-great. Fast forward to after dinner, we wanted to try some desserts and ordered a couple. Unfortunately 30 minutes later our waitress and desserts were MIA and our appetite was gone, so I just asked for the check from some passing waiter. Apparently it was then realized that our desserts were forgotten about. A second star for comping us for our drinks for forgetting about us after dinner. As far as ambiance...if you go when it's still very light out, it's very dark inside. So takes a bit to adjust. Once adjusted though, you're good to go. So, that being said, we probably won't be back for dinner. Although the drinks, apps and cheeses we had were great, so if you're looking for something like that - this is your place!
(2)
James R.
I'm a huge fan! The service is great, wait staff as really improved, great food, and they have live music. Nice outdoor eating, but treat yourself to a table inside when you're in the mood for a little romance. Try the roasted chicken with spinach...... it will rock your world. Live, Love, Eat. JLR
(4)
A. J.
Excellent service; very good food. Really enjoyed cheese diversity. Ordered something I was negatively surprised by, they took care of it. I liked that.
(4)
Valerie S.
A great place for cheese and wine tasting.
(5)
Kaitlyn V.
A bit pricey but quite lovely. A cheese/wine/beer shop to one side, and a restaurant to the other (a bar would be a nice addition, especially as they won't seat you until your full party arrives). Cheese-lovers will be in heaven, but lactose is not my best friend and I still had a wonderful meal and a great time! I went to college in a hippie town in upstate New York, and this reminds me of some of the nicer restaurants there -- that's a huge compliment. I love the focus on sustainability, local/seasonal foods, small batches, responsible sourcing, etc. All tied up with energetic creativity, in a modern but cozy environment. I'm a vegetarian, and the menu offered several unique and creative options - always a very welcome surprise! There was also great fish, chicken and meat for the carnivores in our crowd. Loved that the dishes have both wine and beer pairings, and the flights were fabulous. Entrees are a reasonable size but if you're very hungry, be sure to get an appetizer or soup/salad.
(4)
Dusty K.
***Review is for the cheese counter only*** On a rare trip to Oak Park to rid myself of an ever growing Oak Park groupon stack, I was happy to find this place. Upon walking in, my eyes were immediately drawn to the large cheese counter stretching over 3 display windows. I had planned to spend my groupon on cheese only but seeing the display only reinforced that decision. It takes some time to browse through all the selections but they have many options from hard cheeses to soft and local varieties to top quality imports. The good news is that they are more than happy to walk you through any of your likes and dislikes while offering suggestions. I ended up with 3 cheeses and a small container of rye crackers. The brie was soft and cream cheese like while the ten year aged cheedar is sharp and delicious. I have yet to try my Kaskaskia cheese (I believe it's a hard grating sheeps milk cheese) but it sounded and smells fantastic. It will be sprinkled over homemade pasta in my near future. I haven't eaten here for lunch but it looks like a nice spot to get a bite. I have another groupon and can't wait to purchase additional cheeses. They also have several beer and wine options along with bacon and butter selections from nearby farms (I've seen a few of them from local farmer's markets). I really liked this place and can see myself coming back without a groupon.
(4)
Haines J.
What a great location for the wine, cheese, jazz, food lover. This place has really invested in the customer experience. From the vast inventory of wine displayed in the west wing of the store. Follow along to the restaurant and see all the fresh cheese from around the world. A simple menu stating that they do what they do well. Thank you for a great time and awesome meal.
(5)
Tammy H.
Joe and I had the Groupon and made a day trip out to Oak Park. The folks there were SUPER pleasant. Our plan was to get $40 in cheese and that's exactly what we did. The cheese monger was very patient and observant to what Joe and I wanted and what I didn't like, haha. We tried a lot of stinky cheese and a lot of it was good. He was also willing to give us as little or as much as we wanted. The people that work here are just plain nice and easy to talk to. We had a very pleasant visit discussing cheese and Groupons :) Also, I'd recommend the Dante cheese out of the cooler. You'd be ok buying an entire wheel of it.
(4)
Jenny Z.
Initially this place seemed a bit too trendy and pretentious-we made reservations on a Thursday night and the hostess wouldn't let us sit down until all of our party was present...and there were tons of tables available. Oh well, maybe it was a ploy to get people to walk around the shop and buy stuff? I don't mind though, any gourmet food or wine/beer they had to offer looked great. Once we sat down it was pure bliss! We got a cheese plate from Vermont that came with lots of little goodies. We all ordered a fish dish....the salmon was slightly fishy but was still delicious and the quinoa that came with it was amazing. My husband's fish and chips was perfect, phenomenal even. Then we ordered the brownie for dessert....it was dense, rich and came with caramel and cream and I still get cravings for it so i have to go back:)
(4)
Jenny P.
What a cute place!! We came to check this place out after having a groupon for it, and we were impressed! The wine selection is great and the woman who made some suggestions based on our taste was very helpful. The wine we chose was only a $10 bottle of Chilean cab sav, and she was right on by stating don't let the price fool you...it was delicious! Next was choosing a cheese, and the woman behind the counter was quick to make suggestions based on our wine selection. I forget the name of the cheese, but it was from Vermont and boy was it good! There is a little cafe/restaurant attached that included some outdoor seating and I would love to come by and try it out! They also had a a cooler with interesting beers available for purchase in 6 packs, and would like to try some of those too! Only reason it does not get 5 stars is b/c I need to try out the cafe service and food first! But what a neat place!
(4)
Tina W.
Marion Street Cheese Market is part cheese and wine shop, part restaurant. The decor is nice. There are lots of windows to the street, there was a wraparound bar and deli counter, and the wood paneling gave it a classy yet comfortable feel. After seeing all the neat architechture in Oak Park, this place fit in nicely. They have a wide beer and wine selection with very reasonable prices. I had some interesting wines in my white, pink, red flight and they let me make a substitution for one of the wines. My boyfriend had the beer flight (with 5 beers!) and they were all beers he had never tried. The food was pretty good. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, which I really liked. It's hard to get eggplant that isn't rubbery! Neither of us had any cheese... My only complaint is with the coffee, which tasted burnt. Granted we arrived at 2pm, past the peak of coffee serving time, but they were still serving the brunch menu and I think the coffee could have been fresher considering.
(4)
Grace G.
I give Marion Street Cheese Market an outstanding review because everytime I dine or drink here, I get the very best service and experience. I most recently dined here with a large group on a Saturday night and our server was absolutely wonderful. He was attentive, patient, and able to make solid recommendations on great wine and cheese pairings. I tried the "Mac and Choose" this time around (a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese with andouille sausage) and it was very good and very filling. For an elegant evening out with friends or for a date, I don't think you can go wrong here.
(5)
mei s.
what a fun place this is! This is a place i would tell my friends to go on date night! Off the main path in Oak Park. It is a quiet area but the inside was definitely bustling. It's a very cool spot. They had a jazz trio playing. It was not a loud place, so definitely not a place you'd go with the girls or the boys. It had a good mix of ages. And it is definitely not a pickup place. It is a date spot for sure. The service was friendly and helpful. However, we had asked for a recommendation for a cheese flight for our second course. We specifically said we do not like bland cheese, like Swiss. He recommended either the Midwest flight or the francophile. We went with the francophile, which had a mixture of soft and hard cheese. However, three of the hard cheeses were very bland. We were trying to figure out a way to get them to perk up by eating the dried apricots, but still no luck. The brie was nice and so was the blue cheese. But overall, we were very disappointed by the cheese flight. Next time, we will have to try the Midwest. We started with two salads which were really good, the baby spinach and the warm goat cheese. We also ordered the cheese puffs. I thought they were going to be more like gougeres, but they were more like little pastries with melted cheese inside. they were fine, but not as tasty as i had expected for NY cheddar. For our entrees, we ordered the duck carbonara and the crispy skin barramundi. They were excellent. The duck carbonara, was so beautiful with the fried egg on top. And the pasta was perfectly prepared, al dente. The crispy baramundi was also really good. the risotto was a cake that was oven crisped. and the almond brown butter with the carrots, was unbelievable. you could totally taste the brown butter. it was delicious. we were really full afterwards, so unfortunately, no room for desert or coffee. although i really wanted some coffee. but two glasses of wine and a flight of beer prohibited any room for more liquid. I will definitely come back again. The fish and chips looked awesome!! Can't wait to try it and some other cheeses.
(5)
Chris L.
No matter why you come here, you will not be disappointed. If you're hungry - the food in the Bistro is great (I've enjoyed both dinner and brunch). If you're thirsty - they have an ever changing handful of microbrews on tap. If you want cheese - they will not laugh at you're lack of cheese knowledge, I promised (and I now know how I feel about soft rind cheese, or was it washed rind cheese???). If you want to buy local - you can get cheese, beer, melt-in-your-mouth toffee, honey and even pastured local eggs at a fair price. And if you are coming there for the obvious wine - Candy and the other helpful staff will steer you in the right direction even with a $10 - $15 budget. It's a great small, local business that supports lots of other small, local businesses. For the last 6 months or so, I've made it a point to stop in about every 2 weeks or so. Instead of taking the easy way out and grabbing a bottle of wine or a dozen eggs while I'm grocery shopping at Jewel, I take the time to go here instead. Don't just save it for special occasions, make it part of your routine. And feel free to treat yourself to a little piece of toffee as a reward for supporting the market! P.S. I think the profile lists it as "not" kid friendly, but they give stickers to my kids from the cheese shop, they have weekly story times and dinners just for little ones. I think that's pretty kid friendly. P.S.S. Sign up for their kinda regular newsletter and get the benefit of 10 - 15% off coupons that usually come with each one!
(5)
Cassie S.
Marion Street is a dangerous collection of delicious things. Its new space is extremely classy--with nifty environmentalist touches, including what I'm pretty sure are recycled seatbelts woven together to form the backs and seats of the chairs. Wonderful chocolates, cheese, and even milk and eggs from farms--though these are a little pricey--if you're just grabbing stuff to take home. Fantastic menu of little surprises if you're eating there. Some good and surprisingly affordable wines are on offer, to take with you or consume on the premises. This place can go from very fancy live music to showing the game du jour on the flatscreen in two seconds--it has a good down to earth streak. Best place to buy good honey in Oak Park when the farmers' market is shut down for the winter.
(5)
Turner F.
Really, Marion Street Cheese Market should have two Yelp entries--one for the restaurant and one for the market. The market is great for that last minute hostess gift you kept putting off until right before the dinner party, as has been said before: the market is full of great cheeses, meats, and wines, as well as other specialty groceries like high-end yogurt and dinner crackers--delicious. I agree that the service can be slow and the employees less than fully engaged sometimes but disagree that it is bad service. The laid back atmosphere is evident from the moment you walk into the place. When I have had questions, I seek the staff out. I don't wait for them to initiate. The restaurant is what makes MSCM truly deserve 5+ Yelp stars. The often-changing menu caters to adventurous foodies and more skittish restaurant-goers alike. They certainly have the hit-you-over-the-head hearty meaty dishes with lamb and sometimes boar and decadently thick 'focaccia du jour' that I would argue could appeal to just about anyone (except for maybe the boar), but they also have subtler, more obscure dishes creatively combining their extensive cheese offerings with various purees, pastas, fish, and fowl. A note about their location for those of us who are car-less: MSCM is ~50 feet away from the Harlem green line el stop. In other words, the 'but it's all the way out in Oak Park' excuse is only valid because of how long it takes to get to Oak Park, not because it's inaccessible by CTA. I've been to MSCM about 5 times, which, considering I live downtown, do not own a vehicle and am quite lazy, shows just how good my experiences have been to keep me coming back.
(5)
Inbalsp S.
This has become my go-to spot for gifts! They have such an exciting variety of unique products, from wonderful cheeses to craft ales. We've dined here a couple of times and enjoyed the experience, overall. But I think their strongest suit is the gourmet foods for purchase. Wonderful as hostess gifts and even holiday gifts! Oh, and my favorite part is the expert advice on hand by the staff. They are so helpful in finding the perfect gift for any occasion.
(4)
Caiti S.
Dear Marion Street Cheese Market, I want to like you. I want to feel the same way about you that so many others do, but I just can't. I totally support the way you do things, with a focus on local, organic and sustainable ingredients. But that doesn't outweight the problems I've had. It's been a year and a half since my first visit (which wasn't the best), and the second visit only enforced my feelings I had the first time around. My husband and I dined for brunch today. Before the meal, we were offered biscotti, but this biscotti should really have come with a warning that you will likely need dental work after attempting to bite the hardest, crunchiest cookie I've ever tried to eat. I will perhaps take the blame for this, however, as I am not a coffee-drinker and didn't have a hot liquid to dip the biscotti into, which perhaps might have softened it into something more edible. Lesson learned: Have the biscotti with coffee or risk breaking your teeth. For my entree, I ordered the honey-roasted cauliflower sandwich (with apples, aged cheddar and curry aioli on multigrain bread, which was supposed to come with my choice of side) and my husband ordered a rhubarb french toast with sweet chevre. While waiting for our food, I overheard a chef say to our waitress that a cauliflower sandwich was coming up, and that he wanted to know what side was ordered with it. (I assume that he was referring to my sandwich, as there were not many other patrons in the restaurant.) My waitress, who I now realize failed to ask what side I wanted when I ordered, told the chef to "put whatever you feel like" with the sandwich. I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect the waitress to come over and ask what side I actually WANTED, rather than telling the cook to put on the plate whatever he had. My husband loved his French toast, and I had a bite and agree that it was wonderful. However, I did not love the taste of my cauliflower sandwich. The cauliflower was over-roasted and bitter, and the sandwich was completely lacking the aged cheddar that the menu described. Yes, the Cheese Market failed to put the CHEESE on my sandwich. The bread was wonderful, but certainly not enough to redeem the meal. I sadly left feeling quite unsatisfied. Maybe I'll give the MSCM one more try, but between lackluster service and food that has left me wanting more, I'm still waiting to be impressed like others seem to be.
(2)
Craig G.
Attended a birthday dinner there last night., not at all what I thought it would be. Service was okay and the waitress was very nice. However, the reasonable price /(food quality + portion size) = horrible, for this reason alone, I wont be back. Why cant these restaurants figure out that the economy is in the dumps and now is NOT the best time to gouge your customers. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market is not alone in this. The restaurants who survive will find the right balance.
(2)
Christina S.
After my original review, I feel it only fair to warn people... The cheese puffs are no more. Sigh. I was appalled when I heard the words, "Oh, we don't have those on the menu anymore." The watier then tried to sell me on some arrancini. They were delicious, but just not the same. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.
(4)
Vanessa D.
These guys are off my list. I went here 2 weeks ago, excited to purchase a few of my favorite cheeses. I was so pleased to find they had all three (L'Amuse Gouda, Cashel Bleu, and Ewephoria). I was unhappy to see that the two people working behind the cheese counter didn't seem to be real "cheesemongers" or even know much about proper handling of and packing of the different cheeses. Not to mention the one woman's inability to cut the cheese, no pun intended. When I came home and opened up the Cashel Bleu I was immediately surprised to find that there was something seriously wrong with this cheese. A good portion of it (1/4) seemed to be a brownish color with a wet consistently. On top of that, all the blue portions were covered in tiny little white dots. Now, I am not a cheese professional but I have eaten Cashel Bleu plenty of times to know that this is NOT normal. I immediately called the shop and spoke to the person who answered the phone. She interrupted me and transferred me to the cheese department. It rings a million times and no one answers. Mind you, this was approximately 5PM on a Tuesday evening. So, I left a voicemail, explaining the issue and gave my name and phone number, asking them to call me back. They did not call back. Bad customer service means I will never visit your store again. Plus, the prices of the cheeses I purchased happen to be significantly less at Fox & Obel, where I've never had any issues with their cheese or customer service.
(1)
Andrew C.
I love this place. I've been coming back ever since I discovered it in 2010. The market is a fantastic place to pick up meats, cheeses, wines and many other specialty gourmet items. The restaurant is always excellent - seasonal menus offer unique, tasty dishes that really rise above many of the restaurants you'll find in downtown Chicago for a fraction of the price. A helpful staff and cozy patio in the warmer months are extra incentive to visit frequently!!
(5)
Jennifer J.
The first time I visited, I had a great experience. Lunch was awesome- everything I ate was delicious and very impressive. The service was average but the food was so amazing that I planned to return very soon. The next time I went in to pick up some espresso beans in the market. The staff was extremely helpful. The place was really starting to grow on me. The next time I stopped by quickly to see if they had burrata as I had just had it at dinner elsewhere a few nights ago. The staff working the cheese counter didn't offer to help and I had to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention even though there were a few people behind the counter. I asked about the burrata and was informed in a rather rude tone that it's seasonal. "do you have any idea when you'll have it again" i asked. "no not really" was the reply I received. Hmm okay. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. When I was notified that a groupon was available for this place, I quickly jumped on it. I figured I could take some friends out to dinner and introduce them to this great restaurant (I still felt the restaurant was great and my less than positive experience in the market was a one time kinda thing). I decided to stop in here on a saturday to pick up some wine & treats for a friend as a valentine's day gift. I was really looking forward to purchasing wine from here because I figured their staff was knowledgeable and could point me in the right direction. There appeared to be only one gentleman working in the wine section and he was helping a couple purchase quite a few bottles (we're talking 14 bottles of wine here). I understand that that's a great sale, I really do. They deserve guidance on their purchases. But so do I! The couple selecting wine scoffed at me as I reached for a bottle. I'm sure I looked very puzzled and was partially hoping that the lost look on my face would alert a staff member that I needed some assistance. I browsed the wine for about 15 minutes and no one offered to help me. I really would have thought the gentleman helping the couple would have asked me if I needed help in between bottle selections with them. I was annoyed and walked over to the cheese section. Again, the staff behind the counter ignored me (multiple employees behind the counter and only 1 customer besides myself looking at the cheeses). Do I look like I don't fit in? Is that why I don't get helped? I planned on dropping well over the amount of the groupon on this visit but was beginning to get extremely frustrated and began to look for items to just hit the minimum spend on the groupon. I must have walked back and forth from the cheese counter to the wine area 4-5 times and not once did someone offer to help me. I finally selected 2 bottles of wine and 2 cheeses from the prepackaged fridge (I really wanted to give my friend some cute cheesemonger style wrapped cheese but because I felt unwelcome at the cheese counter, I selected some plastic wrapped organic varieties). When it came time to check out, the young lady ringing me up seemed to struggle a bit. My total at that point was around $73 so minus my groupon, I was still spending about $33. In my head, the total didn't seem right but I just went with it because at this point, I just wanted to get out of there (the young lady ringing me up even commented on how tired I looked- i didn't tell her I was actually just annoyed with my experience there). When I presented my groupon on my iphone, she attempted to enter it herself but somehow cleared out the whole transaction. The gentleman who was helping the couple select wine came over and reentered my purchases. This time the total was only $58. The young lady was charging me incorrectly for the cheese. I paid and walked out quite annoyed with the experience. I have one more groupon for this place and I fully intend to give them another chance. I drank one of the bottles I purchased here and while I was not assisted with my selection, the wine I picked out was great and I would definitely like to purchase it again. I plan on bringing some friends here for dinner sometime soon because I'm hopeful I'll have another positive experience in the restaurant and I'm a bit fearful that if I use the groupon towards a purchase in the market, I may have another sour experience and be turned off to this place for good. I love the concept and location and hopefully my next experience will be great and I'll be writing a new 5 star review on here =)
(3)
Beth Z.
Service seems to have plummeted over the last few months. And if you are ordering anything like a tray, the service is abysmal, and the staff does not seem to care. I have loved this place for a long time, tried to look the other way when problems occur (ever sit for over an hour just waiting for a waiter to come over, and give you water?) but the last straw was when I just showed up to pick up a cheese tray (and they are NOT cheap) that was ordered and paid for long ago, I went the extra step to call multiple times, leave messages (b/c no one answers phone, you get v-mail) to remind them I would be in, so I would not have to wait, parking is not easy - and of course, it is not ready. Won't be back here for a long time, and will not recommend to others. Sad to lose a good place.
(2)
Kate S.
Cheese, beer, wine, chocolate...pretty much everything amazing about life. And they do it well! The staff is super friendly and helpful, and the store is organized excellently for such a small space.
(5)
Ryan B.
This place is fun! If you go, you have to get a wine or beer flight and a flight of cheeses and sausages. There are definitely other places that serve food like this, but not in Oak Park (that I am aware of). The dinner menu looks to have expanded over the past year or so. However, it still feels small, and there may be some people that wouldn't find anything that fits their tastes. So, I would check out the menu online if you or your guests have specific or limited tastes. Each time I have eaten dinner here, I wasn't amazed by my entree, but it was still good. What I did appreciate was the creativity and quality. Each entree has a unique feel to it that added to its goodness, if that makes any sense. The atmosphere is great. Mellow, live music and a cheese shop to boot! Service was excellent on my last visit (although, we had a newbie on my first visit that wasn't so hot). This place is starting to move into my top 3 Oak Park area restaurants. The fun factor, quality, and creativity give this place 4 stars (it's actually more like 3.5, but that's not an option so I am rounding up). -Cheers
(4)
Dana A.
Tonight was my third visit, and it was tops! We had a fantastic server...Kelly. Kudos on the wine recommendation generated from my rudimentary description! Every cheese, small plate, soup and salad was right on time by suggestion and in course. This has become the ultimate catch-up-on-girl-talk spot for me and my suburb dwellin' friends. We get an atmosphere that could just as well be NYC with selections fresh from the local and regional vendors. No matter what you do on a visit to Marion Street Cheese Market, ALWAYS order a cheese flight (and let the staff make recos) and ALWAYS leave with a couple chocolates...and maybe a craft beer (or two) for home.
(5)
C W.
Okay, I'm dropping them to one star. I went in for lunch on Sunday, parking outside and putting an hour on the parking meter. That should be enough time, right, for someone who just wanted a sandwich and wouldn't even need to peruse the menu to know which one, right? Wrong. I ordered immediately after I sat down, yet ended up having to bolt down my sandwich as it arrived 10 minutes before my meter expired. That's right: it took them FIFTY MINUTES to make a sandwich. They weren't slammed (not that that would excuse it even so), and there was no explanation for the incredible delay. I don't care how good the food sometimes is-- it's just not worth it to risk waiting that long or encountering one of their many other service problems.
(1)
Lisa D.
I just had the BEST carrot cake EVER!!!! I'm bringing my rating up a star because of it. It's like pudding but cake, I don't really know....but it's amaaaaaaazing! Wine-good Service-Good Atmosphere-Good Cheese-delicious Carrot Cake- Amaaaaaaaaazing!
(5)
Rhonda G.
Stopped in with a friend and decided to share a few small plates of food and have some wine: Ahi Tuna: Excellent!! A definite must try Cheese Puffs: Great! Like mini cheese sticks bites only better Vegetable pizza with Cab crust: Excellent! These three items and we were good to go on the food side of things. For wine I enjoyed an Oregon Gewurztraminer which was just OK Friend had a Malbec which she loved It's worth mentioning that out waiter (Joseph) was the nicest guy ever, and he absolutely knows exactly when to return to check on the patrons and when to stay away...Kudos Joe, Can I call you Joe? On the retail side I perused the goods and was able to taste a couple of the cheese selections before deciding on my purchase. You also get 10% off of your retail purchase after dining in the cafe. The wine selection is not huge but it isn't small or mediocre by any means and I walked away with a great Spanish cava to be enjoyed at a later date.
(5)
Helena G.
We went to this restaurant with another couple, they had a Groupon. So we had the special degustation menu for Groupons: pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, gritts and samples of 3 or 4 types of beer. We also tasted some cheeses (queso de Mano is very good) and chorizos. As desert we had chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse. I think that the concept of this place is gourmet food (at least the prices are high). We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The food was delicious. The staff was very helpful and nice. I also loved the musical performance, the musicians played Bossa Nova and it was fantastic! The issues are: - portions sizes are small and - pricey
(3)
Reuben H.
Came back here last night with good company for dinner. My original review stands with a couple of updates. Service was better- more attentive, still very friendly, and overall more comfortable. The lone server seemed to do a great job balancing all of the tables and keeping things timely. The food was nice- I ordered the potato raclette which came already prepared on a hot plate. I was hoping it would somehow come for me to do myself- but that is totally unreasonable to do for one person alone. Overall, I would suggest this place to anyone who loves all things cheese! They pay homage to some great cheeses and couple them with a very good wine and beer selection (beer pairings with cheese- what more do you want me to say?!?!?).
(4)
Claudia M.
Met some friends here tonight. Had the 5 cheese and meat appetizer. Loved the cheese mix that the waiter recommended. Afterwards shared fried green tomatoes, brushetta and margherita flatbread. All delicious. Was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the waiter and staff was. This is my new favorite place in Oak Park. PLUS, they have the most delicious chocolate desserts!
(5)
Jeremiah T.
The diver scallops were the best I have had, and I have had quite a few. They have quite a variety of cheese (of course). All the cheese I sampled on my flight were exquisite, the goat cheese was especially delicate and impressive. Their wine selection is an impressive collection of quality, sustainable wines. The menu provides pairing suggestions of both wine and beer with your main course. Our server was quite helpful and attentive in our meal selection. My party thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and highly recommend a visit.
(5)
H T.
The food during breakfast is decent but overly pricey. The service is usually good, and the atmosphere is clean and comfortable.
(3)
M H.
MMMMMM!!!! Great food and great service!!! They are vegetarian friendly which I love, lots of organic items and the menu is very creative. Great wine selection and you can buy wine and cheeses and meats to take home with you. I would recommend reservations. They also have special events and live bands on certian nights.
(5)
Dejan B.
Great and hip place in Oak Park. Some guides to the city say this is a must visit and I have to agree. Its location is great, very close (walking distance) to many other attractions in Oak Park like the Unity Temple, Frank Lloyd Wrights studio, Hemingway's house, etc. Yes, you will find a LOT of cheese here...However, the restaurant also serves a lot of very good non-cheese meals and for the location you can get some at pretty reasonable prices. They have a large wine section with regular wine tastings, and also a lot of events going on...One of the most important things to me is they have a emphasis on sustainability and being a little more socially-responsible than some other places. If you are in Oak Park I recommend checking this place out...
(4)
Aurore L.
What better way to celebrate cheese, the love of my (culinary) life than by devoting to it my 100th review?!?!? OK. You are right. I am not exactly writing an ode to cheese; we are talking business here. But this place has it so right and makes cheese such a star that one can easily forgive me the amalgam. The store itself is as beautiful as a big wheel of comte (one of my old time favorites...). It's very clean, sharp and tasty. I was already very impressed by the first location but this one is just amazing and blew me away. It is almost a dream come true. The cheese selection is imposing; you can of course find all the staples but also a large choice of local products which are more often than not great options. The cured meats section is quite inviting too - they carry an amazing collection of Spanish hams. You can also find all you need to make your dinner of cold-cuts an unforgettable gourmet experience - from high-end crackers to fig jam to robust wines.......mmmmmm.....divine. They even push the good taste to making their own chocolates - and here I surrender. I cannot resist anymore.... The eat-in section is lovely decorated and you can satisfy a lot of your cheese cravings through their inventive menu which even features my beloved raclette - an Alpine wonder of melted cheese and potatoes. The only time (so far) I went there service was very slow but our waitress made up for it and offered a free basket of pastries....taking time is an integral part of cheese making....and I am fine with that. In my next life I want to work here.
(4)
Aaron A.
Having been a fan of the smaller version of MSCM on the other side of the tracks, I need to segment this big shop and review the segments separately. Cheese & charcuterie: 3 stars. I loved the smaller Marion Street Cheese Market when it was on the other side of the train tracks (it deserved 4-5 stars). The staff was very small, but knew exactly what they were doing. Now that they've made the move, they have more staff who are less expert. It is much harder to get any good advice now. Also, the wider counter layout makes it easier for other jerks to push in front of you. I'm not British, but I do like an orderly queue. The old market was so small that there was no other way. At this point, you could go to a high-end grocery store and get an equal or better cheese-buying experience. Not good when "cheese market" is half of your name! Wine: 4 stars. Big improvement here after the move! The selection is not as large as at big wine superstores, of course. But the staff knows the inventory, and they are very helpful. I would say the most helpful employees I've encountered here work in the wine section. And they never talk down to a less knowledgeable customer, which frequently happens at dedicated wine shops. I also really like the circular wine "cellar." Charming. Restaurant: 3 stars. If either the service were worthy of the prices and decor (which would take a big improvement), or the prices were reflective of the mediocre service, then this would jump to 4 stars instantly. I really like the food, but I don't like to pay that much for good food and inept service. I should make special mention of a great meal I had with my wife and some friends last Valentine's day. It was a prix fixe 5 course menu, and a friend and I added the beer pairings. Brilliant! A perfect beer for every course, including salad and dessert. I'd never had a beer paired with dessert before, and it was revelatory. Marion St. Cheese Market has great local beer, all the time. But we were told over the phone that we could buy wine at the wine section and drink it with dinner, so we bought two bottles. When we gave one to the server, she made a big deal about how they shouldn't do that, and that they would anyway, and would charge a $15 corkage fee. Wait a minute! $15 corkage fee AND a guilt trip for wine THAT WE JUST PURCHASED IN THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT!?! Bullshit! But the silver lining, of course, is that I had the revelatory beer pairings, so it all ended OK.
(3)
Caroline B.
This place was awesome! I came here around 11am on Sunday for Brunch and we made reservations anticipating a crowded restaurant but the place wasn't that crowded, and I hope it stays that way because I can definitely see myself popping in here more often! I had the Bacado Benedict: eggs Benedict with bacon, avocado spread, and a chili hollandaise. It came with a side of potatoes and I must say that the potatoes were just as good as the eggs benedict, they were the perfect amount of crispiness....delicious! It was all topped off by a great waitress. You could just tell that the food was fresh and good quality, worth the extra money I would normally spend on breakfast. The attached shop was full of fine foods that I would love to try, cheese, wine, beer, spreads and dips, crackers, ice cream, chocolates, all sorts of things. Another great Oak Park find, I love my new adopted town.
(5)
Just T.
Hello, my name is F and I have a cheese addiction. Marion Street Cheese Market is my favorite place to go score some cheese for a binge. The cheesemongers behind the counter are always knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is fairly deep and wide. A tip for newbies: the cheese counter most always has a basket of "orphans" sitting out. These little cheese chunks are the perfect way to grab some quick, cheap cheese you might not usually buy. The restaurant has a menu that is often updated and everything I've tried has been good to great. Service can be slow. So relax and order a specialty beer. Last note - the cheese and meat flights might not seem like much food, but you'll be surprised.
(4)
Andrew D.
A paradise for pretentious snobs trying to fit into Oak Park. The CHEESE is great, I'll give them that. But everything (beer, wine, entire food menu, cheeses, meats, desserts) is so overpriced it's not worth the effort. For the same cheese at half the price visit Caputo's Cheese Market on North Ave. For better beer, ambience, and friendlier staff go to Poor Phil's a block away. Food came out cold... any place serving lukewarm food automatically gets nothing above 2 stars. And this place didn't have the service to earn the second star. Dined her about a year ago, so I might give it another chance since I heard a new kitchen staff was hired. But most likely not. Don't shop here - way overpriced.
(1)
Bill R.
A $35 Mother's Day buffet that DOES NOT include coffee (or any other drink) where you are rushed at every step of the meal seems a little ridiculous. The food was ok. The Buffett had some weird stuff like blue cheese potato salad. I like blue cheese but not for breakfast or in a potato salad. There were a few other items that were good but some others that were also a little off. Mom does not drink. But they have a free Mimosa for moms. So mom gets a free orange juice in a small glass instead (no champagne flute allowed for OJ apparently). Someone else orders a mimosa and gets charged $9.50. Wow. Seems like they could work something out there and maybe charged us $3 for the OJ (but again why are we paying for non-alcoholic beverages on top of $35???) But I inquired and no dice. We had 9am reservations. The doors opened around 9:10. It was a cold Chicago spring morning and mom stood in the cold waiting for them to open along with some other families with small kids. We were then rushed to order and rushed to pay. Great. About 8 open tables when we were leaving so it was unclear why they felt compelled to rush us every step of the way!!! I guess $35 per person only gets you about 40 minutes in this place because that was the pace they were on. we stretched it to about 1:15 and after about 15 minutes the waitress had asked for our orders at least twice even though we hadn't been to the Buffett yet. She was also sure to come for the check - even walking away with it in under an hour although it had not been paid because it had only sat there for 5 minutes and we were determined to get some of our money's worth and stay at least an hour. They need to work on a few things if they want to charge these prices. This was an annoying enough experience that I am writing my first yelp review.
(2)
Samir R.
Had a Groupon, so the wife and I decided to check this place out. Our server was awesome, she was very energetic and you could tell she likes what she does. Wife had an excellent flight of Spanish reds, and the pours were pretty generous. I had the Dogfish World Wide Stout, also a great pour for a beer that hits at 18%. We shared a cheese flight of 5, some good cheeses. We also shared a Mac and cheese. Probably the best mac I have had. This was some good stuff. Only downfall is the price, a little steep, but using the Groupon helped. We even bought a bottle of the wine we had from the shop before we left and a bottle of Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Ale. Great beer selection for guys or gals who don't do a lot of wine such as myself. Would probably go back again, it's right next to the Metra, so a good stop for a drink and cheese, hop back on and head to Elmhurst.
(4)
Miss A.
I went for lunch with a friend on a Friday afternoon. Wine: Good, but overpriced. Or, at least, they didn't offer any glasses under $8. Food: Started with the soup of the day, tomato with quinoa. It was good, but not awesome. Next had the cauliflower sandwich - AWESOME! So good. Yum. However, for the price it was quite small. I'm not one of those people who needs to gorge or take half the meal home to feel like I've gotten a good deal, but this was a genuinely small sandwich. At this point in the meal, I was not full...My friend and I shared the cupcake duo. The cupcakes were TINY and, well, not exactly to die for. Service: Ok. The host was busy stocking some shelves in the shop when I entered, and a server rudely ::ahem::'ed him to indicate that I was waiting for a table. I didn't need to see that...awkward. The same server was polite an inobtrusive, but I was still a little wierded out by witnessing her scold the poor host. Overall, a decent experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make the trip again.
(3)
Kc H.
Having gone here a couple times, I must say that Marion Street is a great neighborhood standby. As I am a fan of yummy cheeses and wines, this place fits the bill and is especially nice for a date night. Their mac and cheese is no Kumas (albeit in the same price range) but their food is executed well and quite good.
(4)
Sara N.
Yes you may wait. And yes there's a few misses. But it's always at least interesting, sometimes amazing and the flights are great.
(4)
Jenny J.
I love wine and cheese and you can get both at Marion Street Cheese Market. I haven't had a chance to sit and eat there yet, but I do buy cheese and wine here. The staff here is great and knowledgeable when it comes to both cheese and wine, I can appreciate that because sometimes I need a little help.
(5)
Wynter R.
I LOVE this place! The food is always unique and fresh from local farms. The warm goat cheese salad is awesome.
(5)
Michael D.
Finally!! An eatery in downtown Oak Park that is nice without being pretentious, artsy without being de rigeur, where one can wear one's favorite tropical shirt without being shown to a table behind a potted plant. Long have we waited in this western 'burb for something downtown Chicago-ish, interesting and delicious, without the shlep and the rapacious parking fees. The drought is over! Noteworthy item: it started as a shop no bigger than a wedge of Brie--always carrying fresh and hard to find cheeses--then grew into a hybrid restaurant/wine and cheese shop in newer, posher digs a half block away, multiplying it's personnel roster from counting 'em on one hand, into the mid double digits. This was our first foray into the restaurant side of the biz, and what a pleasant surprise it was. Cheese-y in the best possible way; where else can one design a flight of cheeses from an extensive list, for ones own personal consumption? Couple this with a glass of vino from a similarly populated wine list, talk your date into speaking with a French accent, and voila! Waaaaay cheaper than going to Paris. The food was uniformly excellent, and our waiter was a veritable cheese savant, something not often found in Oak Park and environs. The spousal unit had scallops, so fresh they could've just jumped out of the Atlantic. Unceremoniously ogling dishes being delivered to other tables, it all looked terrific. Fish and chips looked about as British as could be, and a generous helping to boot. Note to self: try these next time. Dessert was equally as tasty/festive: fresh berries something-or-other, with a sauce that was out of this world. Ambiance: great, laid back vibe, decor in rich woods and stone. If you enjoy nibbling on your bacon infused dark chocolate couched in nature''s embrace, there are cafe tables lined up outside, on busy yet somehow quiet Marion Street. High, cheesy five, Marion Street Cheese Market! PS, note to management: it was REALLY hard to get thru to an actual person to make a reservation! I called three times, three times they switched me over to the reservations line, and three times it went to voicemail. If you're calling a place requesting an opportunity to spend money in their establishment, one would think they would leap at the chance, yes? Finally, on the fourth try, with grim determination, I explained my plight to the nice lady, and she WALKED the phone over to a reservations human, who completed my request with aplomb. Business tip: re evaluate your reservations procedures--others may not have the same terrier-with-a-rat stick to it've-ness! Subsequent visit, 11/27/10: went back, for a pre-theatre nosh, and again, was delighted, overall, with the experience. Nitpicky stuff: I was hoping to see some additions to the menus, perhaps some specials. Yes, the celery root soup was quite tasty--those no doubt change on a regular basis--I'm talking in the entree department. The menu is not extensive, and with just a few offerings, one gets ho hum about going to the same place. The fish and chips (British style, deep fried) seemed a bit bland, but they're also bland in Britain, so there ya have it. It'd be helpful if the malt vinegar came in a shaker as it does in Merry Olde, rather than a small serving cup; fish is not an easily dunked comestible--it's rather fond of falling off into the liquid, and you find yourself fishing for the fish. Ironically. Still--it remains a GREAT wine and cheese (or whine and cheese, depending on how your day went) or coffee/dessert/chatting kind of place, perfect for chilling and whiling away a Saturday date night.
(4)
Alexandra W.
So a friend was playing a gig here the other night so a few of the girls decided to get together and check it out... Little disorganized, but nothing severe. They were quick with the communication and keeping us in the loop while waiting for a table. Once seated - we did a make our own cheese plate - we savored every morsel. The waitress even teased us about never seeing one last that long...little did she know we had gone out for Thai before hand -but no one was willing to let a shred of cheese go to waste. Great selection of Ciders...enough that I was able to sample several in an evening. Dessert is a must. They carry Ruth & Phil's ice cream - that's a star in it's own. My bread pudding was great. My Friends Mint Chocolate Dream - was dreamy and quite fitting as her birthday dessert. And the third gal pal went with an assortment of truffles. She enjoyed them, and she's a truffle maker! So if you ever hear of the West Side Winders playing a gig there - stop by, tip back a tall one and slip into some indulgence. And if they're not playing there...well at least you have cheese & dessert.
(5)
Emily S.
Love this place! (1) Fabulous wine flights that are on special during the week! (2) Gourmet cheese fries, need I say more? I went with a few girlfriends one night after work, and we had a great time. The server was knowledgeable, friendly and made several solid picks for us. The food, particularly the cheese, was delish! Those cheese fries...mmm...
(5)
Laurie H.
A great place for conversation and good food. Went there last night with an old friend because we needed to catch up, and it was the right choice. The service (once we got it) was attentive but not intrusive. The dining area has lots of small tables, carefully spaced, to encourage conversation and minimal noise from the kitchen/retail area. And our meals were terrific. I had the chicken and it was completely awesome -- I wasn't expecting anything so tender and delicious from a place that specialized in cheeses. My friend went with the cheese & charcuterie and was pleased, as well. I subtracted one star because the service was so spotty at first. One waiter brought us water and then disappeared. No menus. Nada. After a long while a waitress showed up and asked if anyone had taken our order. When she realized our situation, she was apologetic and very helpful with our wine selections. It didn't hamper our dining experience, but it is something management should look out for. Because from reading other reviews, this sort of thing does seem to happen frequently.
(4)
Christian L.
Excellent wine list, handcrafted beer on draft, menu... and the atmosphere is cozy (if a little bit too warm!). The bartenders and server we had were knowledgeable and attentive, and made great suggestions, especially pairing food to drink. Also, the live jazz/contemporary rock music was a nice, nonintrusive accompaniment to the drinking, eating, and conversation. Highly recommended.
(4)
Richard S.
Outstanding food. Unusual and always surprising. Excellent quality.
(5)
Tina B.
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but there IS such a thing as too much cheese. And it is way, way less than what you think it would be. I only ate like two, maybe three, pounds or so of the stuff at the most, but I just left feeling really, really full and kind of sick - you might want to try to make sure you eat less than three pounds of cheese here. But it's really hard to not eat too much, because that junk is in everything in here. The cheesy pomme frites are really good and might even be almost worth the $9 price tag, but I implore you to not eat them in between a five-cheese cheese plate and a cheese cake dessert. And there are cheese samples all over the place and freaking chocolate samples all over the place too. And don't get me started on the shaved coppa salami. It's almost kind of gross if you come here lacking will power. Like a food version of a Hellraiser-esque purgatory. A dark, swarthy den filled with cheeses, wine, chocolate and cured meats. But with a well thought out kids' menu and beautiful wooden high chairs, too. Sweet. They also have three different flavors of wine soda. And a lovely toasted sesame seed truffle. Wear stretchy pants, or better yet - a loose dress (it's only a muumuu if you're in the muumuu mindset, baby). And bring money, lots of money, because this bitch is one costly decadence- they even have a damned $7 cup of coffee on the menu.
(4)
Rachel Z.
So my second time here, it was much busier. It was their one year anniversary, so my sister and I went to try out the $5 glasses of wine and appetizer platters. My sister ordered a glass of the white wine, a rioja, and it was a darker white wine, very yellow, and had a very crisp and sweet taste to it. I enjoyed it, she prefers riesling, so she ordered the bubbly on special. The bubbly looked like bubbly grape juice and it tasted like cheap champagne. We didn't finish our glasses of wine, but we enjoyed trying something new. For our first appetizer, we got a the $5 sampler. One was a piece of hard toast with a mushroom pate on it - way too much pate for my taste. The other was a piece of toast with a small slice of cheese, jam, and a couple slices of apples on top, sweet and delicious. The next was a small baked good filled with brie, if you like brie, you'd be in business. Next we ordered the Cheesy Puffs. So delicious. Fried Cheddar Cheese with a bit of olive oil. Absolutely wonderful and we devoured them. My sister and I had a fun experience and definitely will go back for a glass of wine, since its a couple blocks from my house. This is the 2nd time the server failed to impress, average service.
(3)
Jean S.
I'm sorry guys. I REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was so disjointed as to be annoying and to ruin the whole experience. The sandwiches were good enough, and my husband enjoyed the beer flight, but overall I found the place a turnoff. I will say that the retail side was absolutely charming and the clerks there were very attentive, knowledgeable and pleasant. We left with a nice bottle of white. My recommendation: go pick up some cheese and wine there and bring it home. Leave the dine out experience for elsewhere.
(2)
c d.
Recently went back to give the small plates menu a try, glad we did. We sat outside on a beautiful night. Perfect spot for people watching and maybe even running into a few friends heading off the train. There were so many yummy sounding options on the menu, it was hard to narrow it down to a few. We went with the ploughman cheese flight. The cheese were delicious and the chutney was a perfect compliment. Perfect plain on bread too. We also had the pork belly sliders, I think they may have been on special that evening. My first taste of pork belly. The sliders were very substantial! Lastly we ordered another special, stuffed figs. They were really good, though very rich. A lot went a long way. Our waitress was excellent. She was especially helpful when it came time to order beer. She also knew the menu items and was able to recommend dishes to help us narrow our decisions. Looking forward to checking out the MSCM offerings at the new mid-week market.
(4)
Christina G.
Definitely one of the nicer places in Oak Park. Obviously a great place for wine, cheese and the like. The food is always good. Ambiance is very nice. Staff/service is very friendly, and knowlegable, but sometimes a little scattered and slow, but something that the rest makes up for.
(4)
John L.
This is one of the places I really miss in Oak Park. The food is great and the beer selection (both for dine-in and retail) is well thought out. The service is always slow so we never go there if we were in a hurry. Also, I don't know what the problem is with the ventilation, but we always smell like a kitchen after leaving. These 2 issues keep the MSCM from getting 5 stars.
(4)
Tara C.
What a disappointing evening. I stopped in for a glass of wine, hoping to sit outside. The construction made that impossible so I sat at the bar. When I arrived, I was the only customer there. I ordered a glass of Prosecco and the bartender brought it without delay. As the evening drew on, I ordered 2 glasses of cava. To the bartender's credit, he continued to ask me if i wanted anything else. The problem was when I wanted to close out and there was a high-maintenance woman nearby with her son. I'm in the service industry so I understand getting her outta there but wow, I felt so ignored. I finally put my credit card on the edge of the bar and still waited about 8 minutes before I was acknowledged. He could barely muster a thank you when he gave me my copy to sign. The check was $24.50 for 3 glasses of sparkling wine. Don't waste your time or money in the cheese market. They don't know what they have or what things cost. Apparently I don't fit the right mold for a customer to whom they offer samples. I bought a bottle of cava and some duck pate from the cooler and called it a night. My high hopes for this place have been shattered.
(2)
Michael W.
Cheese. Glorious cheese. La-la-li-la-lah-lah! Tasty & extremely filling. Surprisingly delicious for what looked like a small amount of food.
(3)
Slu S.
On a terrible morning for me, I had an incredible 15 minutes are Marion Street Cheese Market. I came in not knowing what to expect other than they had a good selection of cured meats. What they had was a lovely, knowledgeable, young woman working the counter who loved to share information about the meats in the cooler. From the lardo, which was one of the best things ever, to the La Quercia proscuitto, better than many Italian Proscuitto's despite its Iowa roots, to the Jamon Iberico with its lovely salty sweetness, she sliced all sorts of charcuterie with a smile and a story for each one. On a black Saturday, it certainly was one of the brightest moments. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Mark F.
We went there with some friends who live in Oak Park and loved it! The menu isn't your typical menu. You can tell a great deal of thought went into it. While the food isn't necessarily spectacular, the quality of ingredients is very apparent. Would definitely go back!
(4)
Chris C.
3 stars is an average - 2 stars for the restaurant, 4 stars for the shop. First, the good: The cafe section has a vast array of cheeses which the staff will gladly give you a taste of along with their recommendations. The beer selection is nice and almost all craft. There are usually a nice selection of out of the ordinary wines though. Now for the cafe. I will admit it is sometimes hit and miss. Sometimes I g and its quite nice (as in just overpriced). Most of the time however the service is s-l-o-w. Doesn't matter if we're the only ones there. 20 minutes for a check is unreal. And they got rid of everything that made us want to go - good appetizers, beer flights, etc etc. Suffice to say if you use a Groupon and still feel ripped off... But every weekend night they are packed so maybe its me.
(3)
Tina C.
Well for years I've been a regular, for the food NOT the service (except for nick the bartender) so a couple weeks ago I returned for the last time. I've put up with shotty service, but this particular day was just terrible to say the least. This day time bartender I saw giving away free drinks to some guy while he ignored me for 15 min. I sat there with an empty glass while he walked by me like 15 times. I did not say anything because I shouldn't have to. I usually stay for a couple glasses of wine but that day I left early and spent my money down the street where I was treAted much better. I mean for a regular who has been spending money at an establishment should get some kind of better service than I received right?? Just a waste of time and money. at this place. Don't bother it's been years since this place has opened and service has gotten worse, I see no improvement for the future here.
(1)
Rob B.
Outstanding service and tasty food. I'll be back! So excited OP has something like this now
(5)
Nancy M.
One of my favs. Especially dining al fresco in the summer. Come hungry, and have nothing to do after. This is belly food. Hangover Fries. Amazing. I have eaten many times, and it is terrific. Everytime. Brkfst. Lunch & Dinner.
(4)
Megan B.
I love the Marion Street Cheese Market! They have a fresh, ever-changing menu of lovely bistro items. The cheese puffs are divine. More and more people seem to be discovering it, so I've found lately going to dinner early or a bit later is optimal. They have a lovely selection of cheese (duh), but also fine artisan meats and chocolates, as well as local beverages, wine, and other dairy products for sale in the 'market' portion of the shop. Wait staff is very friendly, though a few times we've been forgotten at the end of our meal and it's taken a little too long to get our check. The owners have outfitted the restaurant with sustainable and recycled products wherever possible, from the responsibly harvested wood tables to the recycled seatbelt chairs. And it's all done tastefully and with a modern flair. Overall, the quality of the food, as well as the fact that it's all local, sustainable and organic when possible makes this place one of my favorites in Oak Park. I agree with other reviewers that it's a great date spot. I brought my boyfriend here for dessert and coffee on our first date! My friends and I love to go here for special (or not so special) occasions. I plan on taking my parents as well the next time they come to visit. This is a great casual restaurant to go to if you want to eat a good meal.
(4)
Puja A.
I have been here twice. Groupon got me there. The food will keep me going back. The pork belly was amazing. Probably the best I have ever had. The chipotle seasonal cookies had the right kick and flavoring. Great local beer and wine selection. They offer flights as well. The service was also really good. The server walked by and heard us discussing what was in the cookies, she stopped and let us know she would find out. The empty plates were cleared and spacing of the different courses was perfect. The place has a small dining area to allow for a nice sized cheese, wine, and beer market. You get 10% off groceries with your dining receipt. Oh, and it is super close to the green line (and maybe blue, not sure).
(5)
Jennifer S.
Ok yes I had to update this review. I gave them AMPLE time to work out the kinks and the kitchen is still the slowest I have ever seen! I don't blame the wait staff because they are stuck dealing with the kitchen. Oh and NEVER go there for coffee before work. It takes them 20 minutes just to do a Chai Latte with no one else waiting!
(2)
Kelly R.
there is nothing like getting some cheese (which they will help you navigate the overwhelming variety), crackers, chocolate, a nice bottle of wine and sitting in the park near by on a sunny afternoon... oh how I long for days like those! (my ratings for kids, noise, and groups are based on how I patronize this business)
(5)
Erin V.
I pass by this place all the time but wanted to save it for a special occasion. My mom was visiting this past weekend so I made reservations for Saturday night at 8PM. We arrived a little late and probably weren't seated until about 8:20. And then we proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait. Our waitress stopped by to say she'd be right with us but she didn't come again over until my husband gave her "a look" from across the room. You know the look I'm talking about. Anyway, once she took our order everything seemed to go much more smoothly. Or maybe that was just due to the bottle of wine we were drinking. The food was AMAZING and I thought it was a nice touch that most all the menu items were labeled to tell you if they were vegetarian, vegan, or even gluten-free. After dinner it was fun to look around the retail section of the store. And if we hadn't been stuffed, tipsy, and if it hadn't been 10PM we probably would have bought something to take home. All in all, I wasn't that impressed with the service but the food and the atmosphere made up for that. Some people have complained that the prices are too high, but my mom (who lives in downstate Illinois) commented that she thought the bill was quite reasonable for a bottle of wine, a beer, a cheese flight, and three entrees. We'll definitely be back and hopefully next time the service will be a little bit more consistent.
(4)
Eagle R.
The cheese puffs alone suspends you into a temporary cheese bliss. We also had the roasted olives serve with fresh baguette also very good. Serve was excellent I had ordered the wrong eggs and it was not a problem to get the eggs the way I wanted. Hot was chocolatey and delicious. Though they need to work on the mac and cheese for a cheese shop it was tasteless and not so cheesy. The shop was well stock it being a small shop.
(5)
Joan K.
Was disappointed that the a couple of the cases were empty. nothing caught my eye there and I'm a gourmet food junkie. The place has a nice aroma when you walk in..smokey, but there is no smoked meat other than pre packed salami and bacon. Some cheese, but not at all what I had expected. Would not drive out of my way to go here again
(1)
Jamie J.
This place is considerably bigger than I expected, and I could see myself spending more than the 10 minutes I did today on a future trip. Everything is well laid-out, making sure that you don't have to hunt around for any of the merchandise. I swear some of these places don't want you to buy their stuff. Not so with the helpful people at Marion Street. I got a couple generous samples before getting some of "the only true Gruyer made in the US". I haven't had a good Gruyere in awhile, but I can tell you it was delicious. The family is Swiss and I have to hand it to them. I also picked up some Parmigiano Regiano and while it tasted great, the price wasn't anything special. I can get great cheese closer to where I live, but I'll probably swing by next time I'm in Oak Park.
(4)
Daina B.
I love cheese. No, I L-O-V-E cheese. So when we moved in to Oak Park and learned that a cheese market was close to our condo I was stoked. Marion Cheese Market is a wonderful combination of market/ wine shop/ restaurant. I love the market/wine shop, that's what gives it it's high marks. We often come here to stock up on some Two Brothers (mouth waters) Domaine DuPage. MSCM has a variety of wines and beer, not incredibly extensive, but a good variety. They even have interesting candies. Their cheese and meat selection is pretty nice, but I have yet to actually purchase some. You can also buy a fondu pot here, although my husband has to discourage me every time (you know it will just end up collecting dust in the cabinet anyway). The restaurant on the other hand is just OK. I have eaten here a total of four times in the course of a year and every time the food all had the same problem. WAY TOO SALTY. And coming from a girl that likes to eat the skin off a jewel 'lightly' seasoned rotisserie chicken, well, then you know it's salty. And the variety of flavor really isn't that great. Every meal has pretty much tasted the same for me. Whether it's a chicken dish or their bison. But, I really do love their wine flights. A fair price for what they offer. Their cheese flights on the other hand - It's All Gouda is delicious, but unfortunately my most recent trip they seemed to give us much less cheese than what they normally give us. This bothered me because usually when I go it's just me and my hubby and we have plenty of cheese to share. But this time we took an out-of-towner and they gave us LESS cheese than when it's just the two of us, for the same price (ridiculous). I'll probably go here to eat again, but I'll stick with the small plates because of the price. I will definitely go to the market section again to get our Two Brother's fix. Plus that is is literally right off the green line/ metra so that is a major plus.
(4)
Alejandra V.
I love this place! I've been here more then a few times and have tasted several of their dishes. I'm a generally trusting person and either the company I am with or the server pick out half my meal. I have yet to be disappointed here. I always get the cheese flight (different cheeses almost everytime.) and usually drink the beer. Now this I am aware is ridiculous seeing as how they have a wine shop on the otherside of the restaurant but theres something about a cold beer that just gets me. The staff is always kind and always busy but are never stingy on service. It's great for girls night and we will for sure be coming back.
(5)
Kelly S.
I waited about four visits to this place before writing my review. I knew this place had potential, and I figured they were just working out some grand opening kinks in the service. I was right. Visit #1 was by myself on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great food. I had the fall vegetable potato skillet. Love the Bodum coffee service. However the waiter made a comment and made me feel wierd for dining alone and that I didn't know how to work my coffee pot. Visit #2 was with my boyfriend for breakfast early on a Tuesday morning about 7:30am. I think they open at 6:00am and none of the staff could get their act together. The waiter blamed it on the weekend staff putting things where the Tuesday AM staff couldn't find them. (They were closed on Mondays until recently.) Visit#3 was with the BF again after a movie at the Lake theater. We wanted a good glass of wine and dessert. Walked in about 8:30pm and sat at the bar. Bartender asked if we were having dinner. We said just dessert and wine. He had to go ASK SOMEONE IF THIS WAS OK????? We almost got up and left. Who would feel welcome after that? In the end, he warmed up to us and we enjoyed our wine and dessert. Still left with a sour taste in my mouth. My most recent visit was with a friend on a Saturday night... about 7:30pm.. Place was PACKED. But in a good way! Service was spot on. (Thanks Joe!) Food was delish and came out in a timely manner. We even lingered a bit after our meal to shop in the store. I have to take off one star for my previous experiences. Hopefully they have their systems in place now and I won't be let down again.
(4)
H G.
I've dined at Marion Street Cheese Market's Cafe maybe four times in the last few years. I'm not wowed by cheese and charcuterie plates. Pasta and pizza aren't usually something I wax poetic over. I've tasted all of that at MSCM. It was alright. The generally comfortable ambiance, a "green" attitude, and a couple of excellent dishes makes this a recommended spot. This is an excellent restaurant to relax, sip on wine, and enjoy some lovely dishes. Another menu item that I'm not usually impressed by are salads. However, the warm chevre salad is exquisitely delicious. I enjoyed it first with pistachios as the goat cheese coating, which was the best and most memorable. The warmth of the cheese, the crunchiness of the coating, the sweetness of the fruits, and bite of the greens were a potent combination. They change up the ingredients by the season, but I'm glad it's become a key item on the menu. Then, at my last visit, I ordered something that I normally wouldn't -- tamales. The flavor was excellent and the quantity was right. Also, I hope to try the chef's creative sandwiches for lunch sometime soon. The dinner pricing here is pretty steep for my wallet though. I would go back more if my individual bill wasn't between $30 - $40 each time. Thank goodness for Groupon. Some points to improve on... -- Found the entertainment in the corner during dinner to be loud for the space. I appreciated the effort, but it served as a prompt to leave since it was difficult to converse after they started playing. -- The cocktails need improvement, as they seemed overly sour.
(4)
patina w.
The last time I went there, we had a bad experience. The wait staff ignored us for 15 minutes, our food took forever, no one came by to check on us/refill glasses/etc for at least 30 minutes. However, I spoke to the manager & both he & our MIA waitress apologized & they gave us 50% off our bill. BUT...the food is amazing, the store is always fun to look around at, the beer is great, the live music is always appropriate and did I mention the food is amazing? We'll continue to go there, hoping that one time was just a fluke. (I do occasionally notice the wait staff hanging out in the corner behind the bar, chatting, while I see people trying to wave them over & order. The manager should have a chat with them-it's not professional & looks bad!) There is one waitress, she's got a couple of facial piercings-not sure of her name-but that girl is on her game! Knows every cheese, wine, what to pair, can tell you about every dish, is prompt & helpful without being overbearing...she's awesome!
(4)
Katie M.
If I was rating on food alone, no doubt I would give MSCM 5 stars... I have dreams about the Cauliflower Sandwich, crave cheese from the array of selections and never had Mac Cheese better anywhere else. I look forward to new seasons to try the new menu's at dinner. I'm surprised everytime, but I need to be adventure too. They reason I need to take away a star, is the music is too loud. I enjoy it when I dine alone, but impossible to converse with a guest. I appericate that everything is fresh & made to order... But getting the check at the end of the meal takes just as long as the meal it seems (little dramatic). But I try to have cash, becasue waiting to sign a credit card slip is an an additional 15 minutes. I love this place, I'm just aware that I can not be in a hurry. MSCM wants to give you an experience, a treat... Savor the experience, do not try to rush and a meal can become something magically. I do not drink, though the wine tasting can make me thirsty from across the room. If you like buttery Carmel that melting in your mouth, pick one up in front on the way out... Best few cents I can spend.
(4)
Bill W.
This place is great! The restaurant staff is really friendly and knows their product well. The food is expensive, but well worth it. The staff in the wine shop knows their stuff as well, and is quite willing to say "that guy over there knows this, let me grab him". All in all, it's well worth the trip.
(5)
Lindley E.
Come here for some of the most spectacular cafe bathrooms this side of Manhattan. You'll want to lock the door and spend a few minutes just taking in the tiles, the glass wall, the super-sleek toilet. The bathroom is easily accessed from the wine side of the shop and lines are usually short. If there are other bathroom tourists there, you may have a wait a few extra minutes for your chance to gawk. Once you are done with the bathroom, you'll have to stop off in the cafe for a snack or a meal. Service is friendly and attentive, the food is good, and there's a great selection of American craft beers. I really like this place. It is worth going out of your way - to Oak Park, even - to take in this ambitious cafe/shop and fill your gut. I'm going back, and I'm taking my family. We'll be in the bathroom for hours, so you might plan on emptying your bladder before you leave home that day.
(4)
Sandra N.
I'm very sorry to say this because I once loved coming here to eat, but this place has totally gone downhill in the past six months. I don't know if Marion Street is getting too snotty for its own good or if GROUPON did this place in, but everything has been totally lacking lately. The servers have been downright rude, and many of their once quality servers seemed to have left/quit. On top of that, the workers don't seem very knowledgeable about the menu, or pairings. And several times we had to wait for someone to check if we needed anything, get our bill, or get our change. (I'm not unreasonable, but I don't think you should have to sit for 20 minutes after you've finished everything before you get your check, do you? We finally flagged another server altogether and asked for our bill.) Three times we have had several plates come out at once, and those of you who have been there know there is barely room at any given table for that. I made the mistake of bringing friends there and one person didn't even receive his appetizer until after the rest of us had eaten ours. Every single time I've had crab or lobster there, there have been pieces of shell in my food; this I tried to forgive when the rest of the food/service was still good. But last time--and I mean our LAST time there--everything was bad, from timing to service to the food, which was cold-ish when we got it. The people next to us had to return a plate because eggs weren't cooked right. That's pretty basic stuff. And the cheese plates, which I LOVED, seem to have gotten smaller, shabbier in terms of quantity and presentation...is it just me who noticed this? Finally, when I'm dropping money at a place, I don't really appreciate that the sommelier cops an attitude because I asked if they stocked a wine that retails for about 25.00 a bottle. Honestly, she acted like the label was beneath her because it was 'mainstream' (WTF?). (Tip: A professional response might have been, "Oh, we don't, because we try and stock hard-to-find wines that aren't readily available at other wine stores." Not, "Sorry, that's too MAINSTREAM.") I wanted to say, hey look, you're not the only person in the world who knows a thing or two about wine--really. Keep treating your patrons like they're beneath you, and see if people come back. Again: Is everyone just overly stressed by GROUPON? Because maybe then you shouldn't do groupon. This restaurant can't really compete with most of the places we've been to in the city, so while they're trying to lure people in (and not doing a good job serving them) they are also totally alienating people who were there, five, six times a month. Way to go, MSCM! I wrote into Marion Street's FB page and said our meal was really sub par, and though the person wrote to me (privately, mind you) and admitted they recognized there were problems in the kitchen and with service, she took my comment down, immediately. I guess they don't want the truth getting around. Well, word does get around. In short, service has totally been lacking, all across this restaurant. Totally overrated these days. And this is no longer a restaurant I'd ever recommend to strangers or friends. I'm not wasting my time there, anymore
(1)
Justin R.
I love this place. The food is good, atmosphere is upbeat, and they have a great selection of wine, beer, chocolates, and cheese. Seriously, if you have the slightest desire to learn more about cheese, you should go in and talk the cheese monger there. They are knowledgeable and there appreciation for cheese is infectious. You might just learn something. Also - they are a great alternative if you would like to buy a bottle of wine or case of beer in the downtown Oak Park area.
(5)
Tina T.
Marion Street Cheese Market must be the entrance to heaven, as this place is simply an orgasm of taste and smell! Fine, smelly cheeses, great wines, fantastic cured meats, lots of chutneys and sauces, wonderful crusty breads; and this is just the beginning of the delights in store. They are part retail, part cafe; and although I did not eat there, the menu looked tasty and worthy of a trip back. No, instead I dropped a cool $50 on a couple of cheeses; a fantastic but expensive Parmagiano Reggiano that my family ate in about an hour; a runny smelly tasty Cypress Grove goat cheese, and mozzarella di buffala. You get the idea. A plethora of gourmet foods and wines - come here to enjoy the goods yourself!
I've been a fan of the Marion Street Wine and Cheese Market since they opened and I've always raved about their service and food........................Until Now! I called to reserve a table of 15 on a friday for my birthday which was fine. The day before my birthday I received a call from someone that worked there who asked for my email address. My response was why??? She said I was told you were coming here for your birthday and I need to send you a list of bakeries that we work with and if you want a cake you would have to use one of those bakeries. My response..."Mam who said anything about a cake?" She then proceeded to tell me that she needed my credit card number to hold my reservation. I simply asked her when did this start because I come there quite a bit. She said it started recently. I asked to speak to a manager she hung up on me. When I called back she answered the phone exactly like this "hold on". She never said the name of the establishment. I was livid!! When I finally got hold of the manager she went on to tell me that this was something new they were implementing because people make reservations and then don't come. That's fine with me but why would you wait until the day before my reservation to call me?? The manager ended up telling me that I didnt need a credit card to hold my reservation. The next day I arrived about 30 minutes before my reservation. I told the hostess who I was and I was told my table was not ready. I left out for a few and when I came back at 6:50 p.m. my table was still not ready. I was finally seated at 7:30. I had a couple of people that were late but majority of my party was there. The hostess kept sending my waiter over to the table asking where my party was. He was very very rude! I think I'm going to give The Wine and Cheese Market a break for a while maybe they can clean up their act. The food, wine and cheese is wonderful but because the service sucks so bad they deserve 2 stars. I was nice and gave them 3 because our waiter was great!
(3)
Bex M.
I'm torn about this place. I think it's completely adorable decor and enjoyable to sit and chat there but it is just wildly--WILDLY--overpriced! From the grocery and market items ($7 for Plugra butter when I can buy it for $2-3 less at Whole Foods just across the street? I mean it's MORE expensive than Whole Foods?!) to the restaurant everything is tasty and absurdly expensive for what it is. I had good service when I went here for a meal and the food was good. But for $50+ we got the following "large" plates: 2 medium-sized crab cakes with a mustard sauce for $15; 4 pieces of jumbo fried Shrimp for another $15; and two glasses of some of the least expensive wine on the menu. Honestly? We laughed out loud as the waiter walked away. $30 for two small appetizers? I don't get it. You can go to Francesca Fiore on a Wednesday night get two apps, two meals and two desserts for $50--and it will feed you for days! Cucina Paradiso is just as a great a deal. Their appetizers portions are only $5-$7 and the meals are fairly priced as well. That said? The "large" plates were tasty--not delicious but tasty. I don't mind paying extra for quality or for a special experience but this was not it. Perhaps I just ordered wrong. I'll keep an open mind but avoid the hilariously mis-labeled "large" plates that cost as much as large entrees at comparable restaurants in the area.
(3)
Tanya S.
Interesting cafe. This place has an original menu- by original I mean, standard breakfast items- eggs, crepes, potatoes- but specialized . For Example: I had the apple crepes, but this is what they really are: Wheat Crepes, Hillside Orchards Poached Apples with Vermont Butter & Cheese Mascarpone $8- Delicious and HUGE portion. They also have 'french press' coffee which is a nice touch. Perfect for a brisk fall morning.
(4)
Rodrigo D.
The food here is good. My only complaint is that the food took a little too long to come out of the kitchen. If the appetizer came out quickly, I guess I would have not been as bothered. If you order a meal and a drink expect to pay about $25 per person.
(3)
D. S. H.
The name sums it up quite nicely. I have eaten dinner here a handful of times and each time was good or better, but my favorite thing here is to have a craft beer from the tap and a cheese flight. They let you choose cheeses for your flight even if they are not listed on the menu. Their cheese selection is a force to be reckoned with. I come here most every time I visit Oak Park and have not even begun to put a dent in trying all the different choices they have available. If you are looking to try some of the best cheeses made, this would be the place to go.
(5)
Kimberly K.
My boyfriend and I went here with a groupon for a food and beer pairing. We were able to choose one of two first courses, one of two second courses, and one of two desserts. With each course you receive a beer tasting. The food was absolutely amazing and the beer matched well. We additionally bought some cheeses and additional beers to taste that were wonderful. They had live jazz music that was subtle enough that it did not interupt you conversation, but pleasant to hear the entire night. The waiter was friendly and helpful and I ended up buying a cheese that we had tasted that night. I really can think of nothing I did not like about my experience will absolutely be back in the future.
(5)
Sara C.
I am very overdue in my review of MSCM. We had a great time - the wine was great, cheese and pork products which served as our dinner were delicious. Since then, I have gone to purchase cheese/wine have gotten 5-star service at the cheese counter. The knock (1 star off) for me was our service for dinner. i don't like be rushed, but the service was not great - too slow. Our waitress was not attentive enough for this type of almost tapas-style dinner. Again, I'd give it a another try in a heart beat because of the food, but hoping for better service.
(4)
Ela G.
AWESOME! Super excited about finding this little Gem in Oak Park. The interior had a great modern vibe. The staff is super friendly... we walked in at 9:55 to find the kitchen closing and they still let us order a couple of small plates. We didn't have the wine, but draft beer instead.. microbrews! $9 for a flight of 5 choices? why sure! Some of the pints were only $4, which was lovely, especially since the place is slightly fancy. Fancy, but they were totally chill that we walked in with jeans and fleeces on (like I said... we stumbled upon the place) I love the fact that the portions are New York sized... Aka: don't split a dish. Smaller portions=more plate art=better quality=looks more appetizing. The food isn't amazing, but it's almost there... I think that we just missed with the beef tartar is all... maybe some of the other options are a bit more tasty. Oh! And there was an excellent jazz trio there too! I'm seeing this as a soon to be favorite of mine in Oak Park.
(5)
Lauren A.
This place is a nice to take someone on a date. It's small and cozy with a good vibe. I ordered the mac and cheese, in my opinion it was rather tasteless. I was expecting more based on the disciption. You would think that a cheese place would try and take a more unique approach to mac and cheese, but it was nothing to rave about. We also ordered two cheese flights prior to our main meal and both were enjoyable. Service was good overall, no complaints there. I'd go again, but order something different next time.
(3)
niki k.
Nothing bad to say about this place, service is impeccable, food is great, we went with about 10 of us, they seated us in less than 20 minutes, and everyone loved their food and wines. it's a must try!
(4)
susan g.
Well, I've been here a couple of times now for lunch and dinner and I think that I can write a good post on this bistro. Let's start with the good stuff: I really like this place and would recommend it. The menu items are creative and tasty; excellent cheese and meat selections; room is comfortable, liked the old pics on the walls though with the farm stuff; service staff is generally friendly and efficient, except for one bad experience which I'll get into below. This is a really great place to go for a date or just to kick back with a cheese plate and glass of wine. They also have music on certain nights which is fun if you like that sort of thing. We also like the manager Karl, whom we have met twice now when he checked in on our table to see how our experience was. He is really nice and funny too! Now for the constructive criticism: I did have one bad dining experience because of my server who just generally has a poor disposition. However, I must note that she is pregnant and I cannot imagine that being on her feet all day is comfortable, so I give her a pass on that one. The food seems to take a bit longer than most other restaurants, but the quality is very good, so I give a pass on that one too. I'm pretty sure that we saw the owner and one of the workers from the market side drinking at the bar and getting loud. Really unprofessional to see the staff who should be helping with service drinking alcohol. The reason why I bring this up is because the bistro was swamped and could have used the extra hands helping out, instead the owner ignored what was going on and was drinking. Our experience would have been different if the owner greeted us, rather than being a fellow patron. The lunch service is much slower than the dinner service. All in all, I really like this place and am willing to keep coming back. And if the owner reads this - stop by and say hi to the patrons - we really like that kind of attention. Thanks...
(4)
Andrew S.
Love stopping in on weeknights for a quick red wine flight. They have really perfected their food menu since my first visit a few years ago when they opened/expanded in this location. The space is really sophisticated and I like that the market portion is very much part of the space. You have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, which are beautifully done. Some items on the food menu don't really seem to justify their price... not that there aren't some lovely things at a good value. They far make up for this with an excellent selection of wines & beers.
(4)
Daniil V.
You should: Make The Trip Sizzle: a Party In Your Mouth Juice: Diverse selection of cheese, beer & wine flights, tapas-style menu, almond-stuffed olives & salumi. Check Please: $$
(5)
HOLLY M.
I LOVE the food! I hate the service. Slow, surly waitress, very annoying. Food rocks though!
(3)
trista r.
Went to Marion Street Cheese Market last Friday with some friends. There were probably about 15 of us at the table. We had a reservation, so the staff were aware that there would be that many of us at a table. Let me just say, the service was ATROCIOUS! The server was painfully painfully slow, did not check on the table in a timely manner (probably every 15 mninutes is a good idea with a table that size, it was more like once every 30), when she did check on the table she would only go to one side or the other and not ask everyone at table how they were doing, and at two different points the server was downright RUDE. We ordered a few different cheese plates and I asked for a cheese knife, as there was no knife brought out. We had ordered other things so everyone's knives were being used for that. Plus, THIS IS A CHEESE PLACE RIGHT?! So when I ask for a cheese knife do not be a complete jerk to me! "The knife at your table isn't good enough?" NO! It's not! The knife at the table has been used for the meat platter and we have several vegetarians at our table and the knife at the table is not a cheese knife!!!And the knife never came by the way. I understand that the place is busy, that the table has a lot of requests, etc, but you KNEW about the large table coming in so PLAN for that sort of thing. We all spent a lot of money in there, and you expect good service when spending that much. Sorry, end of rant about poor service. Anyway, the cheese was good. I guess that's the point of this place. But I would just buy the cheese and eat it somewhere else, anywhere else. Or skip it and visit the Whole Foods cheese section. The wine list was a JOKE. Seriously. Don't even bother, you aren't even close to doing it right, you'd be better off letting people bring in their own wine because you have no idea what you are doing. Beer list was great. Husband had mac and cheese with cajun chicken something or other, which was good. Charcuterie platter was good. Spinach salad - I've had better at Panera Bread. For less money. Friend had an eggplant thing, which was also good. Atmosphere was nice as well, cozy and dark and good for conversation. They also had a band which was unexpected but great. All in all, I don't mind spending a lot of money for good food and good service, but Marion Street Cheese Market? Sorry hun, you are just not it.
(2)
A D.
Similar vein - poor service. Husband and I went to lunch. Person in front of us was being seated. Whew! Who knew it took over 5 minutes to seat one lady? We were finally seated and it took 10 minutes to get a menu. I should have ordered my fave cauliflower sandwich but instead I opted for their new crunchy eggplant with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. No where on the menu did it say it was served on a brioche bun. Funny, the other listings detailed the bread, but since this had none I assumed the crunchy eggplant took the place of a bun. The brioche was so incredibly egg-y and rich that it competed with the strong sandwich flavors and really made the whole sandwich come up a loser. The eggplant prep included frying it in oil after being breaded with panko crumbs. Do yourself a favor, skip this unless you like the notion of fried eggplant topped with great Italian elements then essentially rolled up in brioche French toast san syrup. I would've told this to my waiter, but wait...he never came back. We had to ask the server filling up our water if he could tell our waiter that we were still breathing.
(2)
Marielle S.
Bought the Groupon for this place, otherwise probably wouldn't have driven all the way to Oak Park for brunch.. Now that I've been there, though, I definitely want to go back. One, our waitress was awesome. I said to my fiance, "man, we really are being high maintenance, asking all these questions.. but it's kind of our waitress's fault for being so nice!" halfway joking, but mostly serious. We had a lot of questions about everything from the cheese tastings to the wine and beer selection, but she helped with everything. I ended up ordering a glass of wine and the portabello benedict. It was SO GOOD. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise sauce was unbelievably rich (but not in an ew-my-stomach-hurts-from-eating-this-kind-of-way) with truffle. The English muffin also had a layer of pesto on it. The fiance ordered two samplings; one of cheese, the other pate. His plates were smallish (and about $12 each), but they were totally YUM. Well, I didn't try the pate, but the cheese was YUM (and it came with a spoon of jam and some spatterings of nuts and cranberries). The decor was really charming, and even though we went around 1 on a Saturday, it wasn't too crowded. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch and am excited to try it for dinner.
(4)
Anceert M.
I called them to make a reservation for me & my hubby. I wanted to redeeem my groupon this evening (07/30/11) so I mentioned it to the receptionist who was making the reservation. She was a bit snappy (no in a good way) when she heard my accent. So she told me that they were all booked for that night. So I told my hubby to call them back(obliously, he does not has an accent) and we got a reservation. Go figure!, right . We got there and I saw a quite a few open tables, which I was a bit disappointment.,But the food was GREAT. I love the watermelon/arugula salad & feta cheese & wine vinaigrette. & the pesto risotto Yumm-o ,plus dark chocolate-expresso ice crean & marshmallow for dessert even better. Thanks for a wonderful dinner & waiter-service. Not so much with the receptionist
(4)
Frances B.
I'm a regular customer. I love the wine and cheese and some of the food is great. It's too expensive for bad/slow service. Very few diners the last time I was there and had to hunt down our waiter. It didn't get any better even after he knew we had been waiting for water and menus for about 15 minutes. Oh well. I'll probably be back because it's just few blocks away from my home. I'll lower my expectations.
(2)
buddy l.
very trendy, extremely pretentious, terrible service- but worth it! We went in yesterday, not exactly dressed to the 9's (not TERRIBLE, just casual clothes, but when compared to the other 'sunday-church clothes, we felt a little under dressed) and the wait staff stood in front of us and argued who would take our table for over 20 minutes, assuming we would not tip, which is the worst thing to presume since 3\4 people with our party are in the service industry- therefore always tip 20%. Even after that the manager saw we were flustered, and about to get up and go but she rushed over and was very polite and asked if everything was OK, and our waiter actually ended up being very kind. But the food is why we made ourselves stay, the hangover fries alone are worth trying, especially ...if hungover. The benedicts are extraordinarily yummy, particularly since the ham is smoked and the cheddar is aged, and the Hollandaise sauce is not too heavy. But my favorite thing on the menu, which is why I keep returning, is the ham sandwich on pretzel bun. DELISH! Unfortunately I think that will be my last visit- because I mean, come on who argues in front of a table full of guest. I sure hope our, even though kind waiter, felt like shit after we left since our tip was still more than generous. And honestly, I don't see this business surviving for much longer, since everyone else I've spoken to who's been here say they enjoyed the food, and even the broad beer selection and fun things in the deli to try out- but the verdict is in and the terrible service out weighs the pros of the actual restaurant. There's just too many other businesses to choose from who enjoy their job to serve their guest which food just as tasty, there's no point in paying more for side dishes and getting snubbed for desert.
(3)
Megan O.
The ambiance is very nice here, and some of the food ordered by others at my table had potential, but the AWFUL, AWFUL service here far overshadowed any positives. Our waitress, who had the personality of a cardboard box, paid little attention to us. So little that it took me ten minutes to get her to return to the kitchen the sandwich I had ordered that was ICE COLD in the middle. She then brought it back out, clearly zapped in the microwave for about 10 seconds, still cold in the middle, and did not return. At the end of the meal, when we inquired why some of our items had been taxed twice and at 12 1/2 %, neither she nor the manager had any idea. I'd consider getting cheese here, but will never sit down for a meal again.
(1)
Jessica G.
My favorite place to splurge! Love the Cheese Flights! Love the food. Great service. Go there with friends when we have a reason to celebrate.
(5)
Douglas A.
I had two Groupons for Marion Street Cheese Market, and I used them both in one day - one for lunch with one friend, and the other for dinner with another friend. Both friends and I liked the food very much! I had a bowl of the mushroom soup they were offering that day, and the combination of mushrooms, cheese and other ingredients made a memorable mushroom soup I could enjoy eating very regularly! At dinner time I had a cup of the other soup that had chickpeas and chorizo in a tomato base. It was a good soup if one likes that combination, but I decided I don't like chorizo well enough to want to order in in anything again. For lunch I had the Ploughman's lunch. The pate was tasty though mild; the farmhouse cheddar was delicious; and the dried fruit also included some nuts, especially blanched almonds. The menu listed Stichelton blue as being part of the plate, but I don't remember any cheese other than the cheddar, but there was a small crock of a tasty apple butter on the platter, so I'm guessing they were out of the blue cheese and simply substituted that without telling me. My friend and I ordered the largest French coffee press offered, and it provided us with the listed six cups of delicious coffee. (They also offer 4- and 2-cup sizes of French pressed coffee as well as other styles of coffee and other beverages.) For dinner my main course was the mac and cheese I had seen on the lunch menu and had wanted to try, and I asked for the version with chicken added. The flavors of the three cheeses - cheddar, parmesan, and chevre - combined with the pasta that was cooked to be chewy rather than lacking any body, as pasta often is, were wonderful together. It made me want to begin experimenting at home with various combinations of cheeses in my own mac and cheese, rather than simply using the same old cheddar with, perhaps, a little Kraft grated parmesan shaken in. But MSCM uses some of the excellent cheeses they also sell in the market section, so a lot of the wonderful flavor has to do with the chef having made excellent choices in combining the flavors of the various cheeses - and cheeses and vegetables and/or meats in other dishes. One other reviewer that I read complained about having been ignored or rudely treated and not assisted in the market section. From my wandering around in that section before going into the restaurant area, I would say that the shop may not train their personnel well enough or hire people who are interested in learning enough about what they're selling to be of real assistance to their customers. If you know what special cheeses or specialized meats or wines you want, MSCM has some wonderful things to offer; but don't go in expecting to get much knowledgeable advice about what they've got. In fact, if I were looking for wine, I'd rather go to Binny's, since their people really know their stock. All in all, I'd definitely go back to MSCM and pay full price for the food in the restaurant. It would be a nice place to take guests or on a special occasion.
(4)
Libby H.
Marion Street Cheese Market catered part of our wedding, and everything was just perfect. We had tasted a slew of cheese with them in preparation, and they put together a great spread with our favorites. They were even willing to order special order cheese that they didn't normally have (in our case, our favorite chevre). The accompaniments (e.g., nuts, fruit) were great, and our guests raved about the cheese and setup all night and after the event. I haven't eaten in the restaurant, but I can't say enough good things about the cheese counter and catering staff.
(5)
natalie h.
I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone I know! The food was so delicious and the servers very patient. I went with some friends all of us loving cheese and wine and other things on the menu but not knowing what would go together well. Not only did the server carefully answer all our questions taking into considerations our specific tastes ( of which we all four had different faves) but she also gave us beer samples to compliment our cheeses. She even let us order each course at a time since we didn't know if we'd have enough room to get to dessert. Luckily we paced ourselves and did make it to the delicious dessert menu. We each ordered something different and then passed it to the left so eventually tried their whole dessert menu. All four of us loved the entire everything we ate. I have to save up calories to go back:)
(5)
Matthew Y.
Review Update! This is an update to a previous review (now almost 2 years old) that is located at the end of this review. I have returned to MSCM only a few times since my original review and recognized a discrepancy between service/product and cost. I am aawarding MSCM with 4 stars following this evening's quasi-meal (pints, cheese flight, and mac-n-cheese). We (my gf joined me) originally wanted a few pints and a cheese flight - we had that and an amazing mac-n-cheese and returned home with a six-pack. Service was much better this time. Out waitress was great and provided us with printed material and a senior staff person to answer questions that were out of the scope of her everyday responsibilities Our waitress provided us with printed stickers for each cheese featured on our flight - this makes remembering what we ordered much easier. I wish she was provided with more details about some of the offerings we selected. I do not hold this against her. She was cool and mad the experience pleasurable. The sun-dried mac-n-cheese is amazing. Order it. We had a question about beer, our waitress introduced us to Charlie (their resident beer expert). Charlie is pleasant to speak with, knowledgeable about the beer he selected, and motivated us to leave with a six-pack of a beer we thought was gone! Thank you Charlie. This evening's experience has encouraged a return visit in the near-future. - end of update - Original Review (1 star): I was looking for a specific cheese and recommended an alternative cheese because of color. The person in the cheese section had limited knowledge of cheese. When I was unsure which cheese to look for after my original choice was unavailable the person I was speaking with did not demonstrate service one expects from a specialty shop. I have been in other shops that will ask which ask if I am pairing the cheese with a specific wine, what I am serving this with , or any number of other appropriate questions an "expert" sales person should ask a customer. I do not expect detailed service from the Schnucks cheese island, a "cheese market" should provide a service that demonstrates knowledge and enthusiasm. Go to an alternative boutique market if you want to purchase cheese from a connoisseur that will help develop your own appreciation for this product. Marion Street Cheese Market may be a good option if you are local and need cheese in a pinch or you know exactly what you want.
(4)
Margo L.
5 stars for the cheese and wine shop. Candy the wine buyer is very knowledgeable and really listens to what type of wine you are interested in, what you like, what food you will be serving it with, etc. I know that I can get some wine for a better price elsewhere, but Candy makes it worth the extra dollar. 5 stars for the cheese and deli counter. The staff are all wonderful. They are very helpful recommending new cheeses and deli meats. 5 stars for the staff checking you out. There is one woman in particular who is so friendly and warm and always remembers me when I come in. She makes it a complete pleasure to shop here. Now for the restaurant..... I really, really want to like it. I love the shop, so felt that it wouldl be a natural fit to also love the restaurant. Sadly, the service keeps me from enjoying myself to the point where I fear I have just had my last meal there. Now, there is one waitress who is great. I wish I knew her name -but she is an attractive brunette around 25 or so. She is wonderful at her job- she really explains each dish, she brings out the bread herself and explains what type of bread she is presenting, she recommends wines and is just generally an awesome person. Sadly, she is the lone star here. Since I love the shop and frequent it so often, I have dined here about a dozen times. Most recently for dinner last Friday night. I arrived before my date. After about 15 minutes of sitting at a table by myself my wait person finally came up to me to ask if I was ""dining alone"". When I explained I was early and would like a glass of wine I was met with a look of pure contempt and it took 10 minutes more to get the glass of wine I ordered. (I really was waiting on someone!) I suggested that I might order an appetizer. It was suggested that I order the cheese puffs. My date arrived and it was another 10 minutes before he was offered anything to drink. Our cheese puffs arrived and they were o.k. - nothing special. My drink was emptied, his drink was emptied and still we waited. Meanwhile, the bread that the one great waitress had so painstakinlgy described to me on previous visits kept passing by our tables. Do we not deserve the same bread and butter as our fellow patrons? Do we look like we are on Atkins or something? I finally grabbed our wait person and asked for both refills on the wine and some bread. The wine arrived... the bread did not. (This is actually the third time I have eaten here and not been offered bread, I am beginning to take it personally!) Our food came - fish and chips and the flat bread special. The flat bread was o.k. but the fish and chips were awful. First of all, there was way too much mayonnaise in the aioli sauce you were supposed to dip your chips in. As for the fish, they were so bland that 3/4 of the plate remained uneaten (as well as all of the chips because we never saw our wait person again to ask for ketchup). When asked about the uneaten plate of food we spoke up and said that it was bland and really not to our liking at all. We also suggested that our wine glasses would have loved to have been re-filled. We were greeted by a blank stare and the check. I would have chalked this up to one bad experience, but the week before I had a similar episode with a different wait staff and frankly had repeated the same scenario with everyone except the apparently one and only good wait person on staff. I suggest visiting the wine and cheese shop and skipping the restaurant until they figure out that customers are actually there to enjoy the experience. Frankly, I would suggest having the wine and cheese shop staff train the wait staff.
(3)
David J.
The cheese shop happens to be 2 blocks from my house so I frequent it for 2 things. If I am out of beer I will go pick up an obscure and interesting 6 pack and if I'm in the mood for a croissant for breakfast I will pick them up to go. More than that, I can't say I'd do much with them. When I'm in there for a quick stop the 'beer buyer' will be there and I'm listening to a 30 minute soliloquy on a particular beer. There is one particular cashier that does not limit ANY conversation with any customer no matter how long the line is. If the croissants weren't so good and the beers weren't so delicious and convenient I wouldn't go. Read the other reviews for the service speed. All have accurately described my experiences and hence I go for the quick grab and go only.
(3)
Shannon P.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Having dined alone and with a large party, stopped in for a light snack ($$), beer and wine tasting (free-$$), growler refill ($$), children's story time (free) on Wednesdays--we feel like the Marion Street Cheese Market is an extension of our living room. We enjoy the ambiance and products. People, products and place are a superb quality and are worth the price. A true community gem.
(5)
Ed O.
I am reluctant to write about this place because it is the only place I have ever been to that hasn't had a line out the door for Sunday Brunch. As mentioned by others, the service is somewhat slow, but well informed about the food and eager to please. This past Sunday featured a string duo and my companion and I had french press coffee with our Waffles and Quiche. The Waffle was light and airy, covered berries and syrup, but not to the point of sogginess. My quiche was Gruyere and spinach with a light crisp crust and plenty of cheese. The tab was higher than a usual Sunday diner omelette/pancakes, but the quality was worth it. I haven't been here for dinner, so I am eager to try that out some time.
(4)
Brian L.
Small plates and apps are outstanding. The cheese plates and wines are excellent. I've been somewhat disappointed by the entrees (probably because the small plates have been so consistently well executed)
(4)
Arthur P.
Wine selection = very very minimal. Wine prices = way over priced. service = very poor. brunch/lunch* = a joke! they have some nerve! *super minimal menu, though they have a full kitchen(too expensive to hire a real cook I guess). Had the turkey club for $9. Got a very small sandwich with the cheapest deli cuts of turkey you can get and no sides. dont waste your time or money on this place.
(1)
Tony P.
Great food, and atmosphere. Kinda pricey, but it's a great place to try for celebrating, or just a special date. We used the Groupon, which cut our bill in half. We tried each of their beer pairings with our food, which was nice. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Katherine D.
Absolutely amazing. They carry a wide variety of cheese, many of them local varieties. I got a goat cheese (the best I've -ever- had) from Wisconsin, Cheddar from Wisconsin, more goat cheese from Vermont, and a couple of imported types. The other major reason to go there is the wine: they have a whole wall full, all stored properly sideways :) They also carry other local items, such as chocolate, toffee, honey, and preserves. A small selection of deli meats, frozen entrees, and other accessories finishes everything off nicely. Oh, and everyone's super nice. No attitude at all, though they could get away with a little, and I got lots of samples!
(5)
Dann B.
Wine and cheese. That is what this place specializes in. Nice restaurant. Good place for a date. Live music some nights. I suggest getting a wine flight, then pick your favorite from that and get glasses of it all night. Food is good but there are far better meals to be had in Oak Park, best is just to drink and snack here. There is a little shop attached where you can buy most of the stuff you can order here to take home and serve yourself. Wait staff was friendly and happy. While dining here my car was broken into, I don't hold that against the place but it really shocked me as I thought Oak Park was suppose to be a nice place. No one has ever vandalized my car in Chicago. Conclusion: Oak Park may look nice but it's has a dark underside just as bad as any Chicago neighborhood.
(4)
Rebekah H.
We went to the Marion Street Cheese Market this weekend to see the band playing there and were we happy we did. This place is fantastic! Everythign from our cheese platter to our main dishes were phenomenal. The service was fantastic and the ambiance was great. This is a fabulous addition to Oak Park and real reason for us to get out of the city!
(4)
faline m.
the food is great, i had the skillet which was wonderful. service is very good too. i will be back!
(5)
Rachel B.
Service has improved greatly the last two times I was there. I think they have ironed out the kinks. Oh.... I love their crispy eggplant sandwich and they currently have a fall special - Apple Cider Gelato which is very yummy!
(5)
Vinifer D.
YUMMMMMMM! I love cheese! I came here with a group of my chef friends when I was in culinary school. We got to sample at least 10-12 different cheeses! From what I can remember, one of my personal favorites was the Beaufort Chalet. This is made from unpasteurized cow's milk. Absolutely delicious! I'm not big on the blue cheeses, however, this little cheese shop made me a fan! I didn't get to sample anything besides cheese, because this was a learning course in cheese. I'd love to go back here and sample some more!
(4)
Mike O.
One has to separate the service from the food. I am a big fan of the MSCM and have been there many, many times since they opened the new location (once we were there 4 times in 3 weeks). However, starting with the change in staff a couple of months ago, the service has gone way downhill. I may have considered this place a 4+ star place before, but its down to 3 and getting worse. Even more odd is that they recently rearranged the dining room to add more tables, but apparently didn't supplement the already diminishing service with more staff. I'm not going to get into my last 2 experiences, but lets say they were 2 star experiences. I still think you should try it for yourself, but know what you're getting into. Food: Excellent. 4 to 5 star casual bistro with plenty of small plate offerings. Quality and flavor is always good and the one reason I will go back. Wine: Above average. Bin 36 is still better but there are some good surprises on the menu. The new Wine Steward/Buyer is stuffier, snottier, and less accessible than the previous, which again is hurting the experience. Beer: 5 stars. An excellent constant rotation of craft beers offered as a 6 glass taster. Top quality beers from craft brewers. Dining Room Service: Poor. Best experienced as a couple. Do NOT go with kids or a group greater than 4. Bar Service: 4 stars. Used to be 5 but they changed out the staff and they're not quite as personable. But at least at the bar they are attentive and don't disappear for 30 minutes after you order dessert. I understand folks who have given this place high marks. Its a great concept in a great location. But they need better service consistency and a return to the more accessible, friendlier, and service-oriented staff.
(3)
Cecilia G.
went there with a groupon (I risked losing it because I waited till last days before expiration but in the end it all went smoothly!) and with 2 other friends who didn't have a groupon. we shared everything so we all got to taste both the groupon tasting menu and the other food they ordered.. every single thing was delicious! a great pumpkin soup, fig salad, creamed corn polenta (I loved that one!!), pork belly and goat shoulder.. also we tasted some of their cheeses and they were all really great. their cheese shop must be awesome!! it's adjoining to the restaurant so we browsed it, very inviting! they also had live music, which was very pleasant except that our table was like 1 foot away from them! but the overall atmosphere was nice, our waitress gave us nice suggestions and advice. prices are a bit on the high side but the quality of food and the ambiance are worth it! plus they source a lot of the food locally and are very sustainability-oriented. love it! i just wish it were in chicago!
(4)
Kara H.
Great variety of wine and beer. The food is decent. I would stick to lunch /small plates and flights and skip dinner.
(4)
Kat M.
Ooooooh, I'm in love, I'm in love! Awesome food, great wine, and I'm only talking about the restaurant - I've not shopped for cheese here. A friend and I sat outside in the warm weather a few weeks ago and were dazzled by the small plates that we ordered. I think our absolute favorite was the macaroni and cheese... the dish was served in the two adorable casseroles that it was baked in. One casserole had mac and cheese with broccoli and one had bacon in it. MMMMMMMMMM, a comfort food orgasm in your mouth. The seaweed salad was also excellent. I also had a beet salad with goat cheese to myself since my friend is not such a fan of the root vegetables and I was not disappointed. The cheese that the chef had selected for the beet salad was so creamy and good; there's a reason that they specialize in cheese. We both dropped about $50 but walked away so stuffed we could barely move, and we also each had 2 glasses of wine at around $10/glass. It could have been cheaper, but if you're going to dine, do it the Marion Street Cheese Market way... it's worth it.
(5)
Laine K.
I love cheese and this amazing place not only has a great shop but a fantastic restaurant to go with it. I highly recommend taking the server's advice on cheese. I've been here twice to eat in the restaurant and three times to visit the shop. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Previously, I had the good fortune of trying a fantastic blue cheese with honey comb. This time I had an amazing raspberry jelly with the Black Swan raw cows milk. The bread here is really great too. I bought a baguette for a dinner one time and it was so good I saved a bit in the freezer to be meter out for my carb craving. The cheese is so much fun! Try the cheesecake with the salted caramel sauce. My favorite wine flight is the "How do you say red wine in Spanish?" flight. I promptly bought two bottles of the Barbazul from the wine shop. How beautiful is bread, olives, cheese and wine!! I wish that I lived closer to this place so I more often and I feel like five stars just isn't quite enough.
(5)
Ruth Ann M.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become my new favorite place since reopening at a new location. It is a fun and unique place to go when you have friends in town or a date to impress. The wine menu is split into three price columns...wine by the bottle, the glass, or a (nice portion) "taste". You can create your own wine flight by ordering a few taste portions. The food is amazing too. I would recommend going there hungry and trying a few of the taste plates. The hummus and tapenade plate is my favorite!
(5)
Juliette B.
great food & service. we went here on a friday night & i definitely recommend this place for a great meal or a great date night. we ordered a bunch of small plates and flights and were beyond impressed with everything. most of the vendors at their shop were familiar names from the chicago farmer's markets, i'm sure their menu ingredients are the same. if you are coming in from the city take the green line in- don't drive- it's a 20 min trip tops & you'll be very thankful to hop on the train after all of their yummy flights (both the beer and wine selections are great).
(5)
C H.
I want to LOVE these guys so badly... I really do. And they are getting there...truly. Let me say at the outset that the now 8-months old expanded MSCM is beautiful and the product is wonderful. On the pricier side, but not unexpectedly so for the items, the quality and the "atmosphere." The market portion is slightly revised from when it opened last summer and seems to be running smoothly. Service at the cheese counter is hugely improved from last year. Helpful, attentive and knowledgeable - back to what it was in the tiny old store. The wine-monger, Candy, is outstanding. However, the kitchen and cafe are still working out the kinks, now eight months after opening. It's good but not great...and not consistent. Either the service is off but the food is great or the kitchen didn't get it right but the server is good. At this point, and at these prices, the service AND the food should be great, every time. And, may I suggest a soup-and-salad or soup-and-sandwich combo for the lunch menu? Too expensive to get a bowl of soup AND and an entree...and too much food for the "ladies who lunch." This an amazing place. Great concept and great mission and great foodie-values and great website and great people. We badly want it to succeed in Oak Park. And it's getting there. C'mon guys in the restaurant part...keep pressing forward... you need to earn a place in our hearts and on our "fave list" with more than good intent!
(3)
L C.
I went for dinner on my first visit, and tried a salad and the warmed goat cheese appetizer. With a glass of wine, and the great atmosphere, I was so relaxed and comfortable. I went back two days later to enjoy breakfast and brunch there with my parents and daughter. Again, creative ingredients for what could normally be boring breakfast omelets. Will definitely go there again...
(5)
j c.
5 stars because this place truly is.....as good as it gets. My favorite dining experience of all time. Been to thousands of restaurants in Chicago, the East Coast, etc. and this place is the top of the heap. Have been to MSCM about 25-30 times and it has been CONSISTENTLY EXCEPTIONAL every time! The hostess staff is probably the only "average" aspect of the restaurant. The wait staff is top notch. They know the dishes, the pairings with wines and beers, they are appropriately attentive and ABSOLUTELY add to the experience. I believe that other restaurants (including 6 or 7 in Oak Park) should send their staffs to be trained by Jamie and Kelly. My only wish is that wherever I go to eat that I could take one of that pair with. The food is fantastic. They could listen to their customers requests and desires a bit more, but you will not be disappointed in a single item on the menu. AND consistent? Are they ever!!! Reasonable prices. Good atmosphere. Great place for dates or just a time with friends. They have live music a few noghts a week. The bands are not headliners, however they add to the experince with some very creative, well done musical performances. My girlfriend is a music teacher and has a good ear for music and rates the bands VERY SOLID. Great experience!!!!!!! They need to make the fish and chips permanent. Trust me, try their F & C and you'll never want to eat "someone else's" subpar fish and chips again.
(5)
L N.
We went there last Saturday around 1p. It was not incredibly busy as three waiters we milling about the bar area the entire time we were there. It took 15 minutes before a waiter even showed up to our table. Then, after ordering, it took 20 minutes to get a meat and cheese plate to our table. Overall, what should have taken 45 minutes max, turned into an hour and 20 minute ordeal. The meats and cheeses were ok, but nothing I can't go get at Caputo cheese market to bring home. As we don't often go out to eat, the service needs to be decent and the food drastically better than what I can prepare at home. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market did not fit the bill on either account. Finally, the decor, while nice, is a bit strange. It sort of looks like a high-end bar, which doesn't really align with a restaurant with "Cheese Market" in its name. In addition, there are a lot of different items of the menu that don't jibe with the Cheese Market theme and would fit better in a high-end bar or even a breakfast/brunch place. As such, I think this establishment is struggling with an identity issue in terms of what it wants to be.
(1)
Cali K.
After thinking Oak Park was a completely dry town, I discovered Marion Street Cheese Market not too long ago and I stopped in last night to pick up a bottle of wine. The customer service was amazing. Candie recommended a great bottle of Adobe White to compliment my sushi take-out. She was very knowledgeable about wines in general, and after a glass or two, I thank her for the recommendation. She also informed me that they have free wine tastings on the weekends and that alone gives me reason to return. Although I did not try out the cafe just yet, they have an outdoor seating area that will be perfect for summer!
(5)
Maegan B.
Quite possibly my favorite restaurant! Everything I've had there is delicious from cheese flights to salads to soups to entrees to wine. Wait staff is helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. Would recommend this to anyone who is in the Oak Park area. Also has a super cute cheese and wine shop.
(5)
Mary B.
WOWIE, WOWIE. A week or so ago I was having a bad day and decided to take myself out for dinner. I had been hearing about Marion Street and decided why not! I walked in and was greeted promptly by the hostess who informed me that there would be a short wait. I had a really delicious south african wine at the bar until a table was available. Once I sat down my server came up and I think she could tell I was having a crappy day because she immediately engaged me in conversation and was very friendly and helpful. All of her suggestions were delicious and even though I was stuffed from the hazlenut encrusted brie and the lamb shoulder I ordered, I managed to suck down a little trio of crembrulees for dessert. I think this place is GOLD. SOLID GOLD.
(5)
Cynthia G.
10 stars! This place is wonderful. I went to pick out some cheese and olives for a little gift set for Christmas, and the staff spent forever assisting me and let me try a million different cheeses. They also wrapped it up prettily in a nice little bag, and I didn't end up spending much at all. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kelley F.
Ok, I love cheese so it's no surprise that I would highly rate a cheese shop - however, were the shop to be poorly staffed or annoying, I might be inclined to rate it lower, at the expense of good cheese. That all said, the Marion Street Cheese Market is fantastic! The staff is wonderful - so nice and so very helpful. My sister and I stopped in just before the holidays and during a time many retail employees were just at their wits end, but the Market's employees seemed happy and genuinely interested in helping us make our selections. They gave us samples and recommendations. The selection is a nice one and they offer a variety of things to pair the cheeses with, from wine to olives. Overall, an excellent experience. It was my first visit but I can promise it won't be my last!
(5)
Bob W.
They have to seriously reconsider their growler prices. In case you don't know, growlers are half-gallon containers of draft beer. They're enjoying a renewed popularity particularly in the craft beer-world. Two Brothers and Revolution Brewing will refill a growler for between $6-10 depending on the beer. Marion St. charges $18 and up for refills of the same beer. That is a huge markup.
(3)
gd v.
Have been here many times...like the atmosphere, the wine & deli selections and the restaurant. The staff are very nice, accommodating & know their stuff. It is a bit pricey...but I think worth it for the quality of food & wine you are getting. Your best bet is to order a few different apz's & then split a meal with a friend . My favorite...the warm olives...so very simple but so good! Little advice...always make sure to ask if the wine you ordered is being substituted by another...though it may be equally as good or even better... you still should know which brand you are drinking. The deli selections are perfect for a dinner party!
(4)
Sarah R.
After having a few drinks at Poor Phils we needed something to eat and all the fried food on their menu just wasn't appealing that night. We'd heard good things about the Cheese Market so we headed that way. At first when we walked in we felt super underdressed in our jeans and hoodies not realizing this was a nicer place to dine. Thankfully we were still warmly welcomed by the hostess and there was an opening at the bar so we felt comfortable sitting there. I can't remember what it was but there was a nice micro-brew on tap for only $4 that was absolutely delicious. We both got that to start and then began looking at the cheeses. We ended up doing a cheese tasting and also got the Focaccia. I can't remember what cheese we had exactly but they were nicely paired with fruit, nuts, and spreads and were just absolutely delicious. We were loving every moment with that cheese and were sad when it was gone, until we tasted the Focaccia. Whoa...Again I can't remember what it was exactly and it changes every day but there were roasted veggies and a light sprinkle of cheese. It was amazing. I had no idea Focaccia could be that good. We were super happy that we stopped into the Marion Street Cheese Market that night. I would highly recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area!
(5)
Anna F.
I love the food here and I HATE the service. I really respect what the chef is doing with local ingredients, but for the price, the service needs to be far, FAR better. I feel like I am a glutton for punishment going back here time and time again. Great eats and drinks but you have to wait and wait and ask for basic things that should have made their way to your table ( like cutlery or menus or sugar etc.). I think the problem is the management especially this one server/front of house manager named Kate or Katie. She is beyond flaky and dreadful. I can't believe she has been working there so long. I shudder when she is my server. Really I think I have a bizarre love/hate relationship with this place. Literally tonight what should have been a 90 minute dinner stretched to 3 hours and we might have ordered dessert were it not for having been there so long. On many other occasions I have waited a full half hour for a glass of wine to show up at my table. Seriously MCSM get some proper management in place!!! This may well have been my last time visiting.
(2)
Liz F.
i love marion street, despite sometimes being absolutely floored at the incompetence of its waitstaff. i feel bad even saying it, because i know and like many of the excellent staff at mscm, but there are a few waiters who just seem totally clueless. how does it take over half an hour to bring out a beer flight? and why must i sit staring at my cheese pairings for half of that time? i've heard others complain about the service as well, which is too bad because the cheese, wine, and beer selections both in the restaurant and the retail store are amazing. the restaurant food itself is also pretty good, if a little boring, and is occassionally great.
(3)
Rich B.
CANNOT RECOMMEND this restaurant due repeated very bad service. I have watched a group of wait staff chatting behind the counter while food takes 45 minutes to arrive - and then it can be cold and incomplete. You can order a beer and a glass of wine and wait 20 minutes for it to show up and then it will be wrong. I really wanted to like this restaurant. But I have had to just get up and walk out twice. At least two other times it was all I could do to stay in my chair in the hope that my dining experience would get better any moment. I have had some good meals here. But no Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park restaurant has been as needlessly disappointing. The food is usually okay but the service has ranged from good to just plain awful. I have brought out of town guests here and have been very embarrassed for choosing this restaurant to try to show off Oak Park. This place has even goofed up a limit menu breakfast. Go to Winberie's in Oak Park for a consistently better food value and better service. The Marion Street Grille could be good if better managed and if it had experienced wait staff that actually cared. It has a couple of good waitresses, but the rest wait staff just doesn't belong there.
(1)
Logan C.
What a great place. The inside is fabolous and compliments the wonderful food. Every experience I've had here was new and exciting and did not disappoint. Aside from the modern style plates, everything here is great. I can't say that I've ever had a better (or more pricey) cut of salame to compliment a dish. Definitely check this place out.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Great spot for apps, wine and/or beer, and cheese. Menu is a nice mix of standard items and specials. I like that they emphasize using local farmers for most of their items. Service is good most of the time. They have a nice shop attached to the restaurant and an outdoor seating area.
(4)
Michelle M.
My fiance and I LOVE this place, and really I have to admit that we probably go there once a week between the 2 of us. There are things we love, and things that we think need improvement which is why I only gave the 4 stars, hopefully we can give a 5 star rating upgrade later down the road. Things we love: the rotating menu, the menu is always an exploration and is probably not for fans of places like TGI Fridays or Denny's. Other things we love: the artisan cheeses they offer, and Trevor, our cheese guy who always pairs up our cheeses with something delish, like lavender infused honey. yum. Things we hope they can improve on: the sometimes slow staff. The staff is very nice and friendly, but I honestly have to put them in the artsy semi-flaky category (sorry guys - trust me I know- I am one of them). The other thing I was not so happy with was the included gratuity on the New Years Eve dinner bill... service was surely not up to snuff and we were charged for sub-par service. But still Marion Street Cheese Market is one of our 2 favorite foodie places to go in Oak Park, and trust me, I have met many people like me who love (and have a slight addiction to) MSCM in our hood!
(4)
Julie W.
The wine and cheese are really good, haven't had a bad one yet. However, the food and sometimes the service, can leave a bit more to desire.
(3)
Alicia P.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this restaurant, and all because of the service. I finally went there after wanting to for awhile, because I bought a Groupon for a Beer Flights and a Prix Fix Menu for two (great deal btw). I loved the talented young musicians playing jazz on guitar and violin. Good thing they were there though, because they helped slightly in drowning out my neighbors' conversations, since it was very crowded. I don't know if the extremely slow service was because I had a Groupon or not, but in my opinion, they should have provided excellent service so I would be convinced to go back and pay full price. Dessert took the longest, and I know for a fact that they didn't bake me an entire cheesecake to cut out two slices from it! Then when I got my check after having a TWO hour dinner, they had not charged me correctly. A half hour later, and after speaking with the manager TWICE, I paid the right amount. The food was creative, and I liked the interestingly unique flavors in my risotto. However, I won't be back unless I feel the urge to buy overpriced chocolates, wine or cheese.
(2)
Joey C.
I've gone to the Marion Street Cheese Market for dinner a couple of times, and am a HUGE fan of it. The beer flight is a fun way to sample their range of unique brews on tap. The food......DELICIOUS! We had a baked brie appetizer, and it was heavenly! I do agree that they have a very small menu, however the food is absolutely delicious. I also love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. It is a very chill, intimate setting and a perfect date place. I definitely recommend that everyone try the restaurant for dinner.
(5)
Andrew J.
Went in for Sunday brunch. The staff was very pleasant and our server was very attentive. I had a chorizo skillet with jalapenos and tomatoes added. the jalepenos were very thinly sliced so they were great, and the lime and sour cram went so well with the dish. I even added some hot sauce, which I liked so much that I bought a bottle. This was the best skillet that I've ever had, and I'd go back any Sunday for the brunch,
(5)
Dusty P.
This is an update, having now made my third trip to MSCM - and now I have to take away one of their stars. Unfortunately, I haven't seen an improvement in streamlining their bar & kitchen operations to provide better service, which is VASTLY disappointing to me, because I really really really do like this place. I like having plenty of time to sit and chat with my friends and family, and this is a great place to do it, but I want a full-ish wine glass while I do... and my glass was empty much to often. For a cheese & wine bar, I don't think that's too much to ask... Our waitress was friendly but clueless; she had to go ask someone else every time we had a question on the food. She was always willing to go ask, but I wish she had been a little more knowledgable. Please, please, please, if the owner is reading this - tell your servers & bartenders & kitchen staff to step it up!!!!
(3)
Jillian B.
Wow. MSCM is near home but I would travel from the city or far suburbs to dine here. The wine and cheese selections are delicious and the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable servers are prepared to guide you through to an amazing experience. I have been for brunch, lunch and dinner and the food never disappoints. The retail staff is actually more friendly and knowledgeable than the servers -- take home some treats too.
(5)
Cody Y.
Marion Street Cheese Market is wonderful spot to pick up wines, beers, cheese and they have a really nice restaurant. My wife and I went to MSCM for Valentines and really enjoyed the servings. It's also a great lunch spot for a good sandwich. Definitely worth a visit for those in the area.
(4)
nina D.
This place is great. I went here with my friends from NYC and DC and they were very impressed with the small plates we ordered (corn-crawfish fritters and the midwestern tour cheese plate) as well as the gourmet chocolates we took home. Can you believe they make a Devon St. chocolate with garam masala? A blue cheese chocolate? A Gold Coast chocolate with edible gold? It was like taking our taste buds on a culinary adventure :) Very cool stuff!
(5)
Happy Mama M.
I love this place! Its great for lunch- really have only been there for lunch or to pick up wine. The menu is creative and delicious (I was a little nervous about the cauliflower sandwich!). The people working in the wine section are terrific and always pick out great wines!
(5)
Kimberly C.
this place has gotten so much better! i think after a year and a half, they've worked out the kinks of running a shop/restaurant/bar/cheese world and have finally gotten some pretty awesome servers, decent portions and excellent pours of wine :) yay! i love how the menu changes but the things i really love always seem to stay, i love the live music (although it can be a little loud sometimes), i love that eric (the owner) is around almost every night we visit (although, is it healthy to spend that much time at the bar? ;)
(4)
Christine I.
The staff are very helpful and friendly! When you ask someone a question the person often takes time to assist you. They have an interesting variety of gourmet treats and the wine selection is WONDERFUL! They know their wine.
(5)
Danielle C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Oak Park. Their dishes are amazing, they have interesting combinations of food and they are always delicious. I tried the breakfast menu there and was blown away. They don't have disgustingly huge portions, so you don't feel like you're either wasting food or being a glutton. Service has been sketchy every time I've been there, usually slow and somewhat inattentive waiters. And this has occurred almost everytime I've been there, so it's always someone different. It is not, however, so bad that it stops me from going there, just a minor annoyance. They usually offer good vegetarian options.
(4)
nan B.
Great place to get fresh quality cheeses. We bought several cheeses and some wine. There are many unique cheeses you won't find at your local grocery store. There are lot of other items like chocolate, wine and crackers ect... The St. Andre cheese is as good as it gets! The staff is nice.
(5)
Laura T.
I can't believe that I'd gotten wine here for over a year and never sat down at the restaurant to eat! I plan to make up for lost time now. Everything was wonderful, from our knowledgeable server to the live jazz, the scrumptious wine, the wonderful food that made me feel like I was in Spain. Loved the warm olives and bread app. Thoroughly enjoyed our 5 item board of 3 cheeses and prosciutto and serrano ham. And after all of that I have to say that my favorite part was the wine, a fabulous malbec that our server recommended. Can't imagine anyone not loving this place!!
(5)
Thomas C.
Started as a hole in the wall place to get some really good cheese. Relocated and became a really good place to get cheese, wine and craft beers. Now it is a great place, period. About the only thing anybody could reaosnably complain about are the prices, and they aren't bad when you consider th quality of what you are getting. Yes you can go to famous liquors and find many of the same beers for a few bucks less, but you won't tap into the knowledge the Charlie has, and you won't have access to the great cheeses, wines and other "pair this with your wine, cheese or beer" offerings that are in abundance in this great little place.
(5)
Bo Y.
Easily one of the best American restaurants in the oak park neighborhood. I like how their menus change periodically. The prices are quite good, imo. The dinner Entree portions are pretty huge. I went last night and I had the trout. Probably 10 oz portion with a pesto cream sauce and rock shrimp. We also got the scallop appetizer- the sear wasn't very good, and was only seared on one side. The octopus was OK as well, I couldn't really figure out the dish. My mother in law had the crab stuffed walleye with a salt and vinegar potato salad. The fish was well cooked. We also ordered a few sides-sprouts, root veggies with goat cheese, and a mac and cheese. The sprouts were quite good as was the root vegetables, but the Mac and cheese had an off putting taste to it for some reason. I took one bite and stopped there. The highlight of the night was definitely the prosciutto and fig flatbread. Easily the best flatbread I've ever had. Everything about it was just perfect. Needless to say I will be returning since it's only 1 block from my house. The service was quite attentive as well. We sat outside and the offered to store our stroller. As we were getting ready to leave they brought out the stroller for us. So really overall I'd give it. 4.5/5 stars.
(4)
Nico s.
if you ever go here, besides the awesome staff here the food is amazing every time. If you get Rachel or Sara as bartendresses ask for old fashioned's they are amazing. the chicken biscuit with spicy mango salsa is soo good. For the people that are looking for a new beer, visit charlie in the retail section,, this guy is very approachable and on point with regard to the different beer selections and emerging brews. all and all I can't speak highly enough to the complete package that you will find in this place. Live music great ambiance superb staff.
(5)
Hip S.
I have been here probably about 6 times and I WANT SO BADLY FOR IT TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS! I have been there for every meal, for business, with girlfriends, and with husband. I mean, really...cocktails, wine, cheese...what's not to love? A few things unfortunately: 1. Service. The servers I have had, without fail, have been beyond confused. They do not know the menu. They cannot answer questions. And more than once, there have been errors because the server doesn't know what is being ordered. 2. "We are out of that". Half of my visits involved this phrase. Out of "muddled berries"? 3. General feeling of paying too much for the experience. I am happy to pay lots of money to restaurants and certainly don't grumble about portion sizes or purchasing bottled water. But each time, I find myself thinking "Meh. For this amount of money, I should not be thinking 'meh'" So I'm taking a sabbatical from this cute local place and will, because I really want to love it, be back again. I hope I am able to update with emojis and other excitable things!
(3)
Joe T.
Don't get carry out. I ordered carryout and the two soups I ordered were probably 3 ounces each. Food is great and service is good but not when carrying out. Won't make that mistake again.
(2)
Eric S.
Cheeses christ, they weren't kidding about this place. MSCM's reputation precedes them (being the 2nd or 3rd highest-rated business in the Oak Park area), and for good reason. Between the exemplary charcuterie trays and attentive service, I can fully understand why so many people are enamored with this establishment. It took me nearly 15 months to discover this delightful spot, despite living less than a half mile away. Better late than never, I 'spose. Nevertheless, what I found was a reasonably upscale bistro with a great menu and decent wine list. I was told the wait would be 8 minutes which wound up being closer to 15, but being seated on the outdoor veranda was a treat. A glass of Bordeaux for myself and a Manhattan for my companion got us started, though I was hoping for a Shiraz or Chianti on their wine listing and found nothing of the sort. We selected 3 cheeses and 2 meats from their 'pick 5' for $19, with a goat cheese, sheep's milk cheese, and an aged blue cheese accompanied by a smooth salami and spicy chorizo-style sausage. The platter came with a raspberry preserve and pine nuts with sliced ciabatta bread. Because I eat like an anaconda, I had to order something else to gorge on. I opted for the duck ravioli, which was served amidst a parmesan au jus and spinach with strands of prosciutto. For $16, I felt it was of reasonable value; the flavor of the duck was mild without being overwhelmed by the parmesan and prosciutto. It was surprisingly filling. Value-wise, the tab totaled an even $100 with tip (we got 2 drinks apiece, averaging $11/pp) and it was just about as much as I expected. A relatively pricey endeavor, but justified by the quality of items. Our server did a nice job taking care of us and the patio was perfect for people-watching. MSCM is a great place to take a date on a summer evening, if I do say so myself. The shop inside has a great variety of things for purchase and there's even a glass case filled with fancy-shmancy chocolate truffles (we're talking $2.25/piece). I'd like to return someday in the future, but one visit to this trendy cheese castle is enough to last for a while. Still, I highly recommend!
(5)
Robert B.
I wandered in here at about 1 pm on a rainy Monday, mostly drawn by the promise of cheese from the shop and a chance to dry off slightly. I checked out the cheese market, then noticed the moderate but well-selected beer options. But then the smells wafting from the kitchen hit me and my stomach insisted that I sit for a bit and partake of their menu. The menu is small, but definitely fresh and crafted with food lovers in mind. It obviously revolves around cheeses and artisan meats, but there is plenty of choice here for everyone. I selected their tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, you say? Well, yes, but only in the best way. The soup was a tomato garlic bisque with just the right amount of roasted garlic and so creamy and good. The sandwich included two cheeses of the chefs choice, tomato, avocado and bacon, all on grilled sourdough. What? Yeah, it's as good as you think it is. The staff was super friendly. And while their draft beer selection is small, it contains some great rare selections. The wine list is also quite nice, and all are half price on Mondays! You have to give this place a try.
(5)
Shyam S.
My dad had told me about this place, but from the outside, I just assumed it was kind of like the French Market downtown: a series of stalls inside with random foods, and a focus on cheeses. While there are a lot of cheeses and charcuterie at this market, there is actually a full-blown wine selection inside, as well a restaurant with enough seating for 50 people. We had a really great meal. Both of us had the carrot and garlic soup (delish) and we split the asparagus with lemon, and the grilled octopus (squeeze some lemon over it and it makes it even better). We then shared the seared whitefish, and both loved it. All in all, a quality meal, at a great restaurant.
(4)
Kat G.
Came here for the first time last Wednesday. They are a small boutique restaurant/shop right off the Harlem green line stop in Oak Park. They have a chocolatier, wine selection, and cheese bar, restaurant all into one. This place is a lot of different things but I do feel they do a good job. They are a little on the pricey side but if you go on a Wednesday night it's half bottle wine night. Food is good, a little over priced but everything we had was consistently good. We enjoyed the Brussel sprout side, duck and shrimp tacos, and the American cheese board. All were good. As someone who has been to Napa, I can say they do have a good wine selection. If you want to go for a nice date night this is a good place to do it.
(4)
Corey C.
Superb wines, cheeses and plates! My new favorite spot. I highly recommend and will be back soon
(5)
Chris E.
We brought a group around noon on a Saturday. We got a mix of breakfast and lunch items: pancakes, salad, fruit and cheese plate (for our one year old) and sandwiches. Everyone loves their food and was high quality, perhaps even over the top. My only ding against them was that they didn't have a specific menu for their beer selection. They sell many different cans and bottles from their retail space and had 5 or 6 drafts so I would liked to have been educated on my options. We'll definitely be returning for a date night or a weekend when we're looking to impress or splurge on a meal.
(4)
Lindsey E.
I keep wanting to like the food at Marion Street, but I think it's time to acknowledge that I just don't. Don't get me wrong...it's not bad...just meh. And for the prices they are charging, it should be better than meh. The wine selection, on the other hand, is really good. It too is quite pricey, but if you head over on a Wednesday for half-priced bottles, you'll at least be in the range of other, comparable wine bar's prices. The ambiance is great...very warm and inviting, especially if you're there when they have live music. The attached wine and cheese market is pretty killer too. If you're going as a restaurant patron, don't bother with an appetizer or entree...just get a cheese platter and some wine...but make sure you go on a Wednesday!
(3)
Kristen H.
I am not sure if I was there long enough to give this place a fair review. After reading my fellow Yelpers' reviews about their amazing cauliflower sandwich, I immediately had to try it. It was not clear though that that sandwich is only on the lunch menu, not the dinner menu. The dinner menu was a little too stuffy and all of the entrees only consisted of meat. My friend and I decided to just split an appetizer of the sundries bravas, and they were surprisingly delicious! I had a glass of the Lucialliano Primavera and it was so full-bodied that I fell in love. I will be back for lunch, just not sure if it is my type of place for dinner.
(4)
Lola P.
I have been here a few times. For the food and then for the drinks. I am a big fan of the drinks. Wise Fool is by far the best drink I have ever had. If you love bourbon, whiskey, and classical cocktails definetly order one! Great wine selection too. Personally I am not a fan of the food. I find it falls short of how it sounds, the quality does not match the quality of the drinks, the items in the shop, and the customer service. To sum up, I enjoy everything here except for the food.
I went here today with my daughter, because i am home for a while and we wanted to see each other. She had a turkey sandwich and I had a chicken sandwich. They came with a cup of soup which was delicious. The prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. I like the portion size, just right, not huge "American Portion." They have an ample selection of wines and beers. I would happily come back here.
(5)
John T.
Wonderful selection of cheeses and various other delicacies. I always love going into this place and sampling new cheeses. A big pricey, but other than that, a great place to find cheeses for your party.
(4)
David C.
This is a gem of Oak Park and that's saying something because I've been a customer at just about every business in this suburb because A) I used to live in a nearby suburb, B) I went to high school in Oak Park, C) my grandma lives in Oak Park, and D) I work in a nearby suburb. We came here on a weekday evening and it was bustling with people. We had a reservation for which two of the three of us were 10 minutes late. They didn't open the table until all of us had arrived, but they were gracious enough to hold the table. Our service was not overly attentive, but our water glasses were always filled and our waiter was kind enough to entertain my girlfriend's whim of taking a picture of our group with her phone. I was perfectly pleased with the service we received. Cheese flight: There were enough sourdough bread pieces for each of us, some type of decoratively splattered dipping sauces, bits of apple, and nuts. This was the first time I've ever had a cheese flight and it was fun. They have quite a selection of cheeses and our waiter was extremely helpful in helping us choose which to get. Burger and beer: I got the burger for my entree, which I later realized may not have been the best choice for a place like this. I wasn't really wowed by the burger, but that may be because I've had so many burgers around Chicago to compare it to. The beer was excellent. There was live jazz music, which I found really cool. They did covers of popular songs, like "Toxic" by Britney Spears. It certainly added to the romantic ambiance (yes, even if it's Britney Spears). Overall, we had a really pleasant experience. I was expecting my food to cost more. I felt that $30 for my portion of the bill was pretty reasonable given what I got. Next time I'm here, I'm going to go for the BBQ pork mac and cheese and one of the $7 desserts. These look like the most appealing options to satisfy my palate. I definitely recommend coming here, especially for a romantic date night that you don't want to break the bank.
(4)
Julie A.
Went for lunch, and we were seated near the kitchen in front of the fireplace. By the end of the meal, my and my mom's eyes were burning from the fumes from the kitchen, and we left there stinking like the kitchen! It was terrible! I still smell it in my hair. And there was no apply on my cauliflower melt which was disappointing too. None of this is a deal breaker, just avoid sitting in this area.
(3)
A W.
Went here last night and this is my go to spot for a "treat." Half price bottle Wednesday made sharing the bill with a friend manageable since it is not cheap. Our waitress did a great job recommending a wine and even provided a couple samples to us to help us decide. We usually get appetizers with one of the cheese and charcuterie options and it is more than enough. Last night we had the bacon wrapped dates which were divine. There was a live singer who did a great job adding ambience to the whole experience. Really lovely experience for wine, conversation, and good food.
(5)
Angela P.
I'd like an omelet with all the cheese please! I came for brunch with my friend Aimee M., and while the menu is somewhat small, I had the hardest time deciding what to order. It all looked so good! The build-your-own omelet won me over once I saw that you can pick 3 ingredients. I chose the white cheddar, goat cheese, and gruyere. For an extra $1, I added roasted tomatoes as my 4th ingredient. This omelet was delicious and made with some serious cheese - creamy, melty, CHEESE! The omelet was served with seasoned potatoes which were also very good. I ordered a side of rye toast with jam as well. The homemade jam was really good, but I definitely coulda, shoulda, woulda, skipped the toast & jam and still left stuffed. Marion Street also does bottomless mimosas, but since I was ever so slightly hungover from the previous night's festivities (an office Christmas party) and would be off to celebrate a family birthday later that night, sooo I chose a single mimosa. The bottomless option was tempting though. While I absolutely did NOT need dessert, they had me at "donut." The chocolate sauce was delectable. Our waiter was friendly and also apologetic about the single fruit fly that momentarily buzzed around my drink. Since I only saw the one, and we were already finished eating, I don't see any reason to make a stink about it. They did have a door open, and well, shit happens. Anyway, he was more than happy to tell us about the specials and didn't look at me like I was crazy when I asked for an omelet with three kinds of cheese. There is, of course, a small cheese market within the restaurant. I had my eye on some truffle goat cheese, which I vowed to come back for later, but for some reason I didn't. When I left the restaurant I also noticed a slight stink in the air. It smelled of grease, eggs, and bacon. Oh wait, that was me. Yikes! Luckily I had no one to impress at the moment and plenty of time to air out. But eau de breakfast isn't my favorite perfume. A little (more) ventilation would help! Best omelet ever though. The cheese possibilities are endless. I need to come back here for dinner!
(5)
Scott G.
I've been here to eat several times and have always been impressed with their food. They serve fresh, innovative, seasonally inspired modern american food as well as an excellent brunch. I also like their craft beer selection, which while small, usually has very high quality offerings and have stopped in numerous times just to get beer to go. They have a much more extensive wine selection than beer selection. The prices do seem a bit high compared to other places in the area but the atmosphere is on the upscale side. Lastly, the cheese selection is phenomenal and the staff incredibly knowledgeable. I have gone several time to get cheese to-go and have always managed to find the right cheese for the mood / occasion.
(4)
Bibi L.
We had so much brunch food I can't remember. Basically everything was delicious. Good food heals all wounds
(4)
Jane P.
Stick with cheese and wine because the kitchen food is very blah. The staff is super friendly but honestly everything I tried was mediocre at best. "picked things"- served in a cast iron mini skillet (weird) are room temperature pickled carrots + radishes. Not worth it at all. Burrata: the cheese itself is good, but served with a whacky sliced bread roll that's thick and swirled with rye? Seriously don't get it. Flavorless oily pesto and some cold carrots on top of the cheese. Cauliflower and Brie Flatbread: Really wanted to like this one but despearately lacked salt (not on the table). Over oily focaccia with some melted brie and cauliflower- self explanatory. No bueno Duck Ravioli: arguably the worst thing I ate just because it was SOOOOO salty. The ravioli itself was fine, but the broth and pancetta and greens served in a mess atop the plate were just like a slab of salt.
(3)
Jason V.
Connoisseurs collection was amazing. We also got a 5 piece select your own cheese and meat tray. Yummy yummy yummy. We were kind of full so we skipped right to dessert. Had the cheesecake and the buttermilk berry cake. Again it was perfect. We had wines with the cheese and dessert wines with dessert. They had a nice selection of wines that were pleasing to the palate.
(4)
J D.
I used to love this place, and I still want to. But the smell of fried fish that permeates the air inside is so off putting that we can't eat here or buy cheese to take home. I don't know why they can't fix the ventilation but it is such a disgusting smell that has lasted for months we cannot recommend this place any longer. Avoid until you hear or smell otherwise
(1)
Linda L.
It was 3pm and my friend and I were famished after not having eaten for a day. The cheese flight I had here was nothing but 5 stars. We ordered the España Americana, which came with haystack mountain queso de mano (raw goat), WSDC dante (sheep), and sweet grass dairy asher blue (raw cow), along with a bit of prosciutto, fuet salami, pickled vegetables, quince jam, mango chutney, sliced apples, and mustard. This arrived promptly with a bread basket and a small cup of nuts. The WSDC dante was my favorite cheese by far! The salami and prosciutto were delicious, and the mango chutney was a great way to cleanse the palate between different cheeses. For the meal itself, I ordered the pork mac and cheese and my friend the firebird sandwich. His order came with a small fruit cup filled with cantelope and honeydew. The mac and cheese was very rich and a touch (though not overbearingly) salty for me. After eating it, I told myself that in the future I should remember to only get mac and cheese as a side dish. The mac and cheese contained shreds of pork and some large chucks (think baby portabellos or button mushrooms cut into fourths) of mushrooms. I would give this portion of the meal three stars. It was pouring outside after we finished eating, so we spent some time browsing around the store (about half the restaurant is the dining room and the other half is a store). They sell not only chachuterie and cheeses here, but also wine, chocolate, and various other snacks sourced from other Chicago shops. A fun browse!
(4)
Susie C.
I wanted to try this place for quite awhile, and we finally did with a group of our friends. We already had dinner, so we came here to socialize with wine and cheese. I read from reviews here that we must make reservations to come since they get busy on the weekend, so we did..but we strolled in around 930pm so it wasn't that busy at that time. Almost each one of my friend ordered a flight of wine. I had the Tour de France with couple others. My husband ordered the Firearm. Another friend ordered the Cheese Friendly. And another friend ordered the Sparkle one..so we each almost tried out every flight on the menu..except for the Wonderland one or something that starts with the letter W. My flight was decent. I'm not a big wine drinker at all, but my flight had a mix of white and red wine which I enjoyed. My husband's Firearm was all red. It was on the heavier red side. He thought his was okay. He is much a bigger wine drinker than most of us. Almost each one of us have a favorite and had a non-favorite. We also ordered cheese - had a midwest tour and another one that I forgot the name. Also ordered 3 types of meats.. proscuitto was our favorite! We stayed way past the time the restaurant closed and they didn't kick us out. We really appreciate that. They close at 11pm, but we were there til 12am without knowing the time. We had a really good time. The atmosphere was really nice.. Definitely a michelin rated place. Definitely will come back. We all had a great time..staff was very friendly and helpful!
(4)
Katherine M.
SO close to 5 stars. We really like this place & go often, so often we're learning the names of the staff... Food variety & cleverness - great Quality - EXCELLENT but not every night of the week. Sunday & Monday evenings they aren't so much on their game. If you see a beer in the package store (lots of great small brewery choices) you can order it to your table! Live music many nights, some small combos, sometimes a singer.
(4)
Chan C.
Marion Market reopened! Disappointed again at Marion Market. The Kale salad was a small $7 serving. Dressing was watery. The grilled cheese sandwich was toasted to burnt level, bacon on it (I asked for no bacon), the fries were dark brown with an old oil taste and cold, the tomatoes on sandwich were overly soft with no flavor. Waiters nearly never get it right. Their bored disinterest is appalling. Darn, I live near, but too many poor meals here. Typical for Marion, but at least no fruit flies.
(1)
Kristi C.
Came here on a Wednesday with some family members. They had live music and 1/2 off bottles of wine that night (yay!). We shared the fried brussel sprouts and roasted fingerling potatoes. We each ordered our own entrees. The food menu looked very good and I was grateful they had vegan/vegetarian options. The service (I believe his name was Tim) was on point. It's a very relaxing atmosphere and we probably sat there a few hours (and a few bottles of wine). Be sure to save room for dessert.
(5)
Emily C.
The staff here is LOVELY--so friendly, knowledgable and enthusiastic about their craft!
(4)
Emilio F.
I must start by saying that I selected this place during my travels because potentially they have 3 of my favorite things: cheese, wine and charcuterie. Also, back in the DC area there is a similar place that this place should have blown away. The ambiance, the store layout and the size of it are impressive. Ok, now for the bad news. I was equally disappointed in several areas: 1. The cheese selection seems inadequate in selection for a cheese market. I was also shocked to see a total disregard for cheese from outside the U.S. Seems an injustice to the consumer to not offer some of the superior cheeses from abroad. 2. Wine storage 101 tells us to never store bottles upright, but all the wines for sale at the retail space are upright. 3. Fruit is a great accompaniment to cheese, but they also bring fruit flies, which are a horrible accompaniment to my wine drinking and dinner eating experience. I felt like I was fighting a couple before they claimed my wine. 4. The menu does not really reflect the cheese and charcuterie other than in cheese and meat boards. I would expect to see more die t correlation to entice me to buy these ingredients for home. 5. The staff is either lacking in knowledge about cheese, wine and the menu...or they felt my requests for pairings and recommendations wasn't important. They had nothing to say without my questions, and seemed to know next to nothing about most of the large plates. 6. My duck confit looked delicious, but was VERY over salted. I know this because I love salt and salty food, and I still found it too salty. Pretty rookie mistake for a kitchen putting out fancy dishes. Don't think I'll be back
(2)
Marcin O.
Came here for brunch recently, it's one of my favorite places in Oak Park. A nice selection of wines and cheeses along with chocolates and other assortments. As usual the service is awesome, friendly caring staff that make the experience very enjoyable. We had the cauliflower sandwich which is amazing and I never liked cauliflower, but give it a shot. The grits, oh man, pure gold. And the autumn french toast...well for me, not quite there. The first bite was great, very dense with nuts and caramel, like eating cake, pound cake ... And not French toast. Coffee is great and tea leaves steep in little carafes. Overall a great place for brunch so come check it out!
(4)
Lyndsey A.
This place is a bit pricy, but man do they have the best Mac and cheese of all time. It's topped with breadcrumbs and it's a perfect piece of heaven. They also have a cool craft beer selection.
(4)
Sarah R.
This is one of my favorites. It's located in Downtown Oak Park. My favorite thing to do is sit at the bar with B and order one of their charcuterie plates and pair it with a wine flight.
(4)
Heather H.
I went here for brunch. My husband had the eggs benedict and I had the meat benedict, with chorizo, black beans and a sunny side up egg, which was on special. Both meals were absolutely delicious. The service was good as well. UPDATE: I forgot that I originally rated this place so highly. I'm changing it from 5 stars to 3. After having some good experiences with the breakfast/brunch we went back for lunch. It was summer so we sat outside. The service was terrible and it took an hour to get our food. There is no excuse for this. While the breakfast was always good the lunch items we got were really disappointing. Even 6 months later I still recall getting a dry, salty chicken sandwich. This was more of a 1 star experience. We haven't been back to see if this place can redeem itself.
(3)
Adam K.
Since Marion Street Cheese Market has been sold to a new owner, it has taken a radical dip downward and is not way overpriced for what they want to be perceived as. I used to really enjoy going here for cheese plates and beer and an occasional dinner. It is now empty most of the time and I would not go.
(2)
Rachel D.
The only reason, and I do mean ONLY reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the menu recently changed and the new options have been good, but don't live up to some of the discontinued items. The food here is wonderful. The cheese is delicious and the flavors are thoughtful. There's a reason why the curry sandwich made the Chicago's Best Sandwich list in Chicago Magazine. But by far the best item on the menu was, yes WAS the cheese puffs with a lime sriracha aioli. And they have been discontinued. Grief, disillusionment, anger--I've felt them all. I tried to console myself with the flash fried brussels sprouts or the buffalo cauliflower, but more bad news. Those are gone, too. I still go there, and I keep hoping that MSCM will see the light and bring back those stellar items. The menu did have some positive changes, namely adding bacon to the MSCM sandwich. One final note, I think all the salads could use a little more dressing. More sauce. Pretty much across the board. All this said, I still go there every opportunity I get, and I will continue to do so. Great place!!
(4)
Betsy P.
I wanted to love this place but when it came to the Romaine Beet Salad, they failed. The lettuce had no life to it. Dressing was bland, it just did not have any substance. Come on, how can you mess up on a salad. This salad was BORING! They could have put fresh walnuts, grilled beets, green leaf lettuce and a delicious dressing, but no you did not do that. Service was disappointing too. Some people say, never say never, but I'm serious, I'm never coming back here.
(2)
Jennifer H.
Came in today 11/20 & was exited to see the new menu. Much needed update was done to the cocktail menu. Menu has been winterized to include soups, warm cocktails, etc. Apparently the wine menu was also updated. I liked the new red Bordeaux.
(4)
Lea J.
This is my favorite local stop off spot for happy hours. They make some of the best drinks in Cook Cty, have a continuous seasonal supply of the best craft beers ever, along w/tons of locally distilled spirits made w/fresh botanicals & spices. The menu has something for everyone, esp if you like paring wines w/cheese plates. And the staff is the best!!
Went here to pick up some beer at 4:40 pm, sign on the door said they were open till 5:00 pm and the doors were locked. The two workers inside looked at us and then back to their phone. Tried all three entrances, all locked.
(1)
Timothy T.
Loooove this place, especially sitting outside in the summer as we love to watch the L and Metra trains go by on the elevated tracks across the street. The food is nothing but high quality, this includes the cheese counter itself and the dessert / chocolate display. I'm sad to say the Hangover sandwich is no longer on the menu, but the amazing Cauliflower dish remains (thank goodness!). If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you'll love their new dish w loads of them. Excellent restaurant.
(5)
Erika S.
Amaaaazing. I took my family here for brunch one weekend afternoon some time ago and we had a cheese and charcuterie plate to start with some phenomenal cheese and some kind of fig jam that tasted fantastic with the milder cheeses, not to mention some bangin' prosciutto. I had a delicious sandwich loaded with cheese, but their menu changes fairly frequently depending on what is in season and what they have in stock. I have had one "bad" experience there, but let me tell you why I still give this place 5 stars. A few weekends ago was my birthday, and my parents wanted to take me to brunch wherever I wanted. I selected Marion Street Cheese Market (this was on a different occasion than the above), and we sat outside on a somewhat windy but warm day. Little did we know that a baby shower was being held there the same day. The indoor dining room was full of attendees, and the kitchen was backed the hell up because of it. We ordered, and waited, oh, 45 minutes for our food? I could understand the delay with the number of baby shower attendees inside, and the wait staff (and the manager) apologized profusely for the delay. When our food came out, my order, as well as my father's (we'd both gotten the chilaquiles) was cold. Delicious, but cold. My father and I reluctantly called over the waiter and noted our food was cold (it was good and I would have eaten it and I HATE sending food back and I never do it but it... well... was cold). Waiter again apologized profusely. We expected them to just pop it in the microwave and bring it right back out, as that's really all it needed. About 20 minutes later, my dad and I were still sans food. It occurred to me then what was happening. They were making it up to us by cooking us entirely new plates of food. They don't BS around here. When it did finally come back out, it was spectacular. I'd never had chilaquiles before but it was flaky, flavorful, and just plain amazing. I'd never had anything like it. Worth the wait. Plus it was a lovely afternoon, I was just enjoying my parents' company. Then, the manager came out and said our entire bill was comped due to the delays. It was a kind gesture (that was pretty well warranted given the circumstances) and meant that I got a free birthday brunch. I've also patronized Marion Street for their wine and beer. The cheese is a little steep for me (I only feed myself in my house, so a 1/4 lb of cheese would likely go wasted before it went bad) but the wine and beer selection has some reasonable options. They also are the only place I have seen outside of the DC area carrying Flying Dog "Raging Bitch" beer which gives me a little slice of home. Try their truffles too from the little chocolate counter next to the beer fridge. I've had a few varieties and they are absolutely delicious. I'll continue to come back to Marion Street Cheese Market again and again!
(5)
Rob W.
I went here to look for a gift and discovered many options. The staff was very helpful and offered me several things to consider for giving. Also, there were enough employees during the busy Christmas season that I didn't find myself looking or waiting to be helped. The Market has a great stock of wine, beer cheeses and gizmos associated with all of the above. Fun place to visit. I didn't try the restaurant but hope to sometime in the future. Generally, the place reminded me of Foodstuffs in Evanston/Glenview/Lake Forest, but less deli & bakery emphasis and more on the liquor and cheese. Worth checking out if in the Oak Park area.
(4)
Nicole W.
Who wouldn't want to dine, snack and shop at a cheese market? Besides someone who is lactose intolerant or a hater of fromage, I suppose. Well, I don't want to be friends with fromage haters, so if you like the cheese, keep reading. Marion Street Cheese Market is damn precious. The patio is glorious, the goods insides are delicious and delightful and the service is great. Andrea R and I dined al fresco and indulged in a few savory snacks. Both the cauliflower sandwich - flavorful with a mustard kick, and the quiche - rich yet perfectly light in texture were great options for lunch. Next time I drop by I definitely want to order an entire cheese plate to myself. And a bottle of wine...also for myself. Hugs to the very kind waiter who brought us a complimentary dessert to congratulate my dining partner and me on our pregnancies. The chocolate creme dessert with marshmallows and pecan sandies is truly a dream come true. Get it.
(5)
Daniel C.
I went here with my mom for lunch after the frank lloyd wright museum upon recommendation from a friend. I felt like the food wasn't actually that interesting or tasty. The flavor combinations were boring and the sides were bland as ever. The prices seemed a lil high for oak park. They do have a grocery store area for buying cheese, chocolates and wine.
(2)
Karen B.
Used to be one our favorite places. The staff here has been and remains great. They changed ownership recently and abandoned the artisan food menu. I have seen a Cisco truck making deliveries. They just served us sliced multigrain bread that looks a step up from wonder bread. The lesson here is that quality DOES matter.
(1)
Matt S.
An upscale cafe/restaurant/artisanal market that feels like it should be tucked away in some nice neighborhood of Manhattan instead of oak park. We had drinks and dinner there a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable. The bartender was quite knowledgable about craft beer and ended up raiding the market side of the store's beer stock to recommend something I'd like (which I did). Dinner was 1/2 off wine by the bottle, and although we didn't like the only chardonnay they had, the malbec was good and very cost effective. We had a cheese platter with this incredible Guinness soaked cheese, and the entrees were all large portions and delicious. My pork chop w polenta and mushroom was a bit larger of a chop than I was expecting, but that's always a good problem. The bolognaisse and the hanger steak were literally wolfed down at our table. We didn't stay for dessert unfortunately, but we did get to hear about 20min of the El string duo playing that set up in the main dining area. I'd definitely go again but there are also a few other restaurants I like in Oak Park so I'm in no rush--it was very good, though.
(4)
Michelle B.
I have passed by this restaurant for years, now i'm mad at myself for missing out on all of those years of good food!!! This place is about as good as it gets. It's a simple, unassuming, french style bistro in the middle of Oak Park that serves the most delicious food ever. They have a mix of french and some american style food, and honestly i've never said this about any restaurant ever. I want to try their entire menu! I can't wait to go back so I can try something new because everything I've had so far was wonderful!. They have appetizers, full plates, soup/salad and charcuterie (they call it cheese flights), honestly the charcuterie can be a meal in itself. The staff is attentive and knowledgable about the menu, their wines pair well with their food and the ambiance is wonderful, the do live music on weekends as opposed to the imposing sound system. I will be back soon!
(5)
Fabiola B.
I have been going here for 2-3 years, usually for birthdays and anniversaries. And every time has been wonderful. I ate here tonight and the experience was not good! It was a night and day comparison to the wonderful service and food I had at the very same place 4 months ago. Tonight felt as if I was at a different place. My visit today was bad. They sat us by the closet for napkins, glasses, silverware, etc. needless to say, every other second the would come to grab this or that and the door only half opens as it bumps with the table we were dining. It felt a bit intrusive. (I have never seen this closet in the past and I'm sure I sat by the same area before! Now to the food, I know the menu changes according to what is available in each the season, that's their thing and I love this about this restaurant, but it seems that their menu has less options than before. And I have been there around this time of the year before. We order a flight Española Americana, we have ordered this in the past so we know what it looks like, we received 3 cheeses but only 2 slices of one of the cheeses. Instead of getting slices of apples as we had in pasts visits, we received 4 pieces of chopped apple. It felt odd. However, when we were leaving I saw 2 other tables getting the same flight with slices of apple, not chopped pieces. And with 3 slices of the cheeses. Then it made sense, perhaps we received the left overs of lunch since we were dining at 5PM! I also noticed that other people who were dining there, received bread and butter as they sat down, but we didn't. Our food was ok, not fantastic or memorable as before. My husband didn't even finish his soup! I was quite disappointed that they didn't have flatbreads for starters anymore. When I asked about it, the waiter was sort of short and just said that they didn't have it anymore and walked away. I had no chance to asked why. When they brought the Kale salad, the presentation was poor, it look as if it was the left overs of another dish. I remember eating deliciously presented salads before. That is not the case anymore. The food was eatable but I could have had better service and better food at a cheaper price elsewhere. Last, the waiter seemed bother by the fact that we didn't order any wine. We don't drink for health reasons, we are free to just get water, but perhaps getting people drunk to mask the quality and flavor of their dishes is the new motto now! It is time for me to look for a new place.
(1)
Angie M.
I'm super into this place. Really, I like any spot where I can not only buy wine, cheese, craft beers, chocolates, crackers, crisps, nuts, etc. but sit outside and nosh on yummy eats. Marion Street Cheese Market is WINNING, ya'll. The restaurant is pretty great. My only gripe with the food is that pretty much everything on the menu is super rich, so while I loved the grub, it was fairly heavy on the old tummy. If your stomach is at all sensitive to rich food, you may have issues. However, I did love love love the arugula/feta/watermelon salad and the cheese puffs were retro bliss. Insider tip: If you dine at the restaurant, you get 10% off your purchase at the store. So what are you waiting for?? Get over there and check out the small but respectable wine and craft beer selections. The employees are really knowledgeable so they'll be quick to help you find a beverage to suit your tastes. I was recommended a crisp, light white wine that rang in at $11 a bottle. And it was AMAZING. The cheese counter is great, too. I picked up a fresh gouda and a chipotle cheddar that were slammin. All in all WELL worth the trip to Oak Park. Wine and cheese for everyone!
(4)
Tammie B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. It is fantastic. I have been here many times and have had only one disappointing meal. Food is well above standard fair; menu has several unique items; atmosphere is intimate; and it has take home store for specialty cheeses, meats, chocolates and craft beer.
(5)
Lois H.
Everything was delicious, the cocktails, wine and food. The whitefish and walleye were cooked perfectly.
(4)
Caterina S.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! The customer service was outstanding and the food was simply AMAZING!!! Well done!
(5)
Michelle S.
Eggs benedict - add spinach, sauce on the side. Easy, right? Not so at the Marion Street Cheese Market. Spinach - not sure what we'll charge you, says the waitress. Sauce smothered all over the benedict. No apology, no offer for anything to munch on while they are fixing my dish (and all 3 started eating). Then, nasty fried potatoes arrive with the benedict. I would have far preferred a fruit cup or anything but fried pot's. I was not impressed.
(2)
Judson B.
Food, selections of cheese, wine and for that matter, interesting distilled spirits is excellent. Too bad the staff seems to excel at misplaced arrogance. Not worth it, lots of other places want to engage customers.
(2)
Kim L.
I came here for New Years Eve and all the fruit flies around our table and on our meal was such a turn off that I don't want to return.
(2)
Emily J.
In all the times I've eaten at Marion St Cheese Market, I've never had brunch....until this past weekend. Ladies & gentlemen: I have found a new brunch spot! This place is heaven for the stomach!
(5)
Marek C.
Honesty nothing special about this place . Their food is not even average ... Plus I did not like out waitress as far as her attitude ... Asian girl was very unfriendly ... I had this impression we did bother her when we asked simple questions ... No smile... No nothing .... Defiantly I'm not coming back ... I can take my money anywhere else and get better customer service ...
(1)
Grace N.
MSCM is kind of like turkey bacon - good in theory, but a tad disappointing. In light of its reputation, I've given it a fair shot with dinner, brunch, and market purchases. Dinner was good but the portions were a tad small, and the charcuterie plate included a sopressata that was dry, rubbery, and flavorless. I love their heated outdoor dining option. Who doesn't love dining on the cobbled haven of Marion Street? But I am a self-proclaimed Bloody Mary aficionado, and the flavor of their bloodies is just unpalatable. It had too much garlic, and I'm guessing, pureed celery that gave it a bitter flavor, which resulted in a mouthful of icky sludge. The veggie benedict had a lovely pea puree, but the underlying chopped carrots was just a flavor and texture mismatch, and spinach or artichokes would have been a better complement. I think that MSCM should rest its laurels on being just that - a market. For Christmas Eve, we loaded up on an array of meats, cheeses and wine, and had a great pre-dinner feast at home. Just stay away from their sopressata.
(3)
Rachel P.
I've been here once before and had a wonderful time with good wine, cheese and friends, BUT I was extremely disappointed with the experience we had two nights ago. The wine and cheese were great as usual but good food can be ruined by poor environment. There were so many fruit flies around our table that we could not ignore them! Not only did they fly all around us and the food, a couple of my friends even had flies in their wine by the end of night. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant! I would've approached the manager that night, but did not do so only because there was a big group of us and I did not want to interrupt our gathering.
(2)
Yvonne B.
Ooh la la mi Marion! You sing happiness in my heart. MSCM one of the places that makes my neighborhood so freakin' ah-mazing! MSCM makes me the cool kid at my wine parties because they ensure that I'm equipped with only the best libation for my budget. Next they hook me up with delectable cheeses, chocolate, and charcuterie pairings. Because of MSCM, I seem like a master sommelier to my friends even though (lean in close for this secret...) I know nothing about this stuff. Oh but oh! The Marion Street Cheese Market doesn't stop there! They also have a restaurant. Oh YEAH. And they sometimes have live jazz. So, while you're sitting in your chair made out of recycled seat belts (they're super duper green) and savoring some locally grown fare from an ever-changing menu, you can listen to some smooth jams. I've recently discovered the MSCM brunch which is what spurred this second review. The brunch is unlike any other one I've ever seen in my life. There's regular stuff like eggs and oatmeal, but most of the food is really unique. For example, I had something called "Chilaquiles" with my $5 Bloody Mary my first breakfast. It definitely hit the spot. I brought M with me the very next Sunday and she thought it was pretty mind-blowing too. But besides the awesome food and cool store, MSCM sets itself apart with their people. The employees have professional and nerdy personalities. They know a LOT of stuff about their food, wine, and everything. It makes me feel good to be surrounded by such great people and humbled that they are serving me.
(5)
Violet C.
The pate excellent, the olives to die for, the Amish chicken out of this world. The warm spinach salad... It's mine! No sharing!
(5)
Robby K.
Not only does cauliflower grow year round, but it goes really well with peanuts!? who would have thought! ~that was one of the sides that came with my Coconut Milk Braised Short Rib. Another side was green potatoes that were that color because of a Basil infusion. and lastly atop this meat and vegetable tower. lime zested apples with some kinda seeds in it. everything was delicious. Any meat lover would agree that this is the BEST SHORT RIB IN THE CITY. Across any culture, this is the most succulent- dripping wet fat- delicate cut of heaven. and get this, it was Valentines day so wile making the reservation you can add a bouquet of roses for your table! **Reservations are a great idea for this place if you plan on going around dinner time.** the gf ordered the Lobster Risotto- it was pretty great. zzzllliippzoupzip Rewind! lets talk about the Pate appetizer. it was $10 but totally WORTH THE PORTION SIZE. it was really fun to try and budget the large cup of Pate with the amount of flat bread served with it. also the house made pickles and mustard sauce are fun to make little sandwiches out of, and try to master the most perfectly balanced bite. this place is a diamond in the rough and can compete with any seasonal Michelin star restaurant in the city. *this place is BETTER THAN PERENNIAL VIRANT! and similar style as well. GREAT PORTIONS. --WORTH THE MONEY --KILLER BEER/COCKTAIL/WINE LIST including a sparkling pinot noir that was the best 'champaign' i had ever had. this kind of restaurant makes me want to know more about food. it is inspiring. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
(5)
Nancy E.
The fruit flies swarming around our table were annoying, and landing on our food, disgusting. Our clothes reeked of rancid grease after leaving there. The charcuterie platter was a disappointment and the wine although delicious was overpriced. Service was so-so. Sorry, this is not my favorite place.
(1)
Danielle S.
Another great Yelp find! I saw this as the ROTD a long time ago, bookmarked it, and decided I just had to try it, Note to those who don't know the area - they have coin meter parking (that is enforced). I couldn't find parking anywhere else. So come prepared! Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a wall of wine, a case containing gourmet chocolates, an array of cheeses, and a refrigerator full of beers. Someone also greeted us right away and asked if we needed any help. We decided to sit in the Bistro and take our time with some wine and cheese flights and a sandwich. We ordered the Connoisseur's Collection cheese flight, the seasonal red and white wine flights, and the Autumn club. Everything was great! It was nice to be able to try a bunch of different things for a decent price. Our waiter was very helpful and had a lot of knowledge about the different cheese and what was on the menu. There is something for everyone here! They also have events and specials (they day we went it was half off glasses of wine). Something to check out as well! A great experience, great service, and great food!
(5)
Sammy L.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. We ended up sitting at the bar because the wait was about an hour, so I would make a reservation. Other than that, everything was great. The service was friendly and the food was delicious. I had the chilaquiles and they were SO. LEGIT. My friend had the cauliflower melt and loved it. I'll definitely return!
(5)
Tina C.
Well this place has changed for the better. The last few times I was here I was very pleased. The pea soup is exceptional and so is the service. Adrian is a wonderful sever who has great knowledge of wine and knows the menu very well. The pan drippings is ultimate comfort food. Half off bottles of wine on Wednesday!
(4)
Kimberly S.
My husband and I have been regulars here for brunch for almost 2 years. We love the unique options and the quality, and I'm saddened to say that it's lost all its charm. All of our favorites are either gone or not as good. No more cheese puffs. No more breakfast breads. No more muesli as a side (now it's just plain old fries). And what used to be the best grilled cheese ever with several kinds of ooey gooey cheesy goodness seems to be all about the bread. I removed one side of the bread and could still barely taste the minuscule amount cheddar. Yep, only cheddar now. We have been told the dinner is still great, but that's not what we loved about this place. And we're told they've gone through several different chefs lately and even a change in ownership. I hope someday it gets back to what used to a 5-star brunch. Until then, there are just too many amazing Chicago restaurants for us to settle for this.
(2)
Burt A.
Food was good Service was terrible! Waited 30 min for food and I had to make a suggestion of at least bringing part of the order Out to get any food Waiter makes no suggestions and generally Did not seem to care. Trendy for sure But service was a joke
(1)
Jodie K.
I wrote this a long time ago but never posted it: Some places I visit I leave saying "I enjoyed but will likely try another place next time." It is rare for me to say, "I can't wait to come back here." Well, here it is I can't wait to come back here. I have since been back many times and often make the trek out from Midway just to pick up lunch and catering. To my friends at Marion Street, I confess I did try somewhere else last time I was in Chicago, turns out you were closed for a couple weeks-we are even now. What was going on?
(5)
Tracey W.
Great... but, no longer have Jeni's Ice Cream. :(
(5)
Michael R.
One of our favorite places in the world. Today we had the Midwest cheese flight, the spinach salad and the roasted cauliflower sandwich with curry aoili aged cheddar and apples. Outstanding food, warm and friendly service with a modern pleasing atmosphere. Cauliflower sandwich is a must have.
(5)
Matthew M.
The cheese and cocktails are great. Service is better then it was. But how rude is it of them to tell me mid meal that we are testing the fire alarms. Can't you open early or something to do that. I'm paying to enjoy my time not suffer through a high pitched buzzer. I used to love this place but it has been slipping with new management. Maybe they will take time and think about customers before trying to make over their restaurant during open hours.
(2)
Wendy E.
So normally I like this place however today I was offended by this restaurant We had a reservation for 2 people. The restaurant was busy and all but one table which sat 4 ppl was available and we were denied this four top although no one else was waiting but us and we had a reservation. Needles to say offended that the staff refused to seat us since obviously 2 people are not as lucrative as 4 people we left!!! So I wouldn't make a reservation unless there are enough people in your party to merit seating.
(1)
Tim O.
This review is for their brunch. Their wine and cheese selection is amazing and their dinners are delicious, but their breakfast/brunch was terrible. I don't know if their a- team was on vacation, but the food took forever and came out burnt to a crisp. I was served an omelet that had a crispy crust and another person was served a skillet that was almost black on top. I've worked in restaraunts and it is inexcusable to send food out that was that poorly cooked. The cook shouldn't have put it in the window and the waiter never should've brought it to the table. The second round was still crispy, assuming that this was the best they could do and ate it. I will go there for wine and dinner, by will never return for breakfast.
(2)
Sue T.
A place where we can look at cheese, taste cheese *and* sit down and order food made with good cheese - what's not to like? Except that the potato bacon soup was served barely warm and had a strange slightly sour overtone, maybe from the smoked bacon. The chopped salad was fairly ordinary. The sandwich selection was unusual and my spouse enjoyed his turkey-cranberry chutney. So a mixed experience this time but it's still a good place to visit.
(3)
Pamela C.
One of my favorite restaurants in Oak Park. Perfect spot for a date night. Cute little patio, and only a block from the El/Metra. I have food allergies and the staff carefully noted the comment in my Opentable reservation and even contacted me ahead of time to make sure they could accommodate me. Impressive. Great wine and beer selection. Really enjoyed the summer wine flights. The staff provided excellent suggestions. Some of the best mac n cheese on the face of the earth.... ;) Looking forward to our next visit. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(5)
Adam Y.
2x is the charm! As my second visit I have to say it is only getting better. For the concept, a wine/cheese restaurant/wine store, it's fantastic. The food is so great, and I've never had any issues with the service, but I tend to not be shy about setting my expectations if the server seems pre-occupied. Enjoy this fun little location in Oak Park for an afternoon of wine and cheese.
(5)
Andrea R.
I admit I've been looking for an excuse to go back to Oak Park for weeks now just so I can enjoy another meal at Marion Street Cheese Market. My colleague and fellow pregno, Nicole W, and I were lucky enough to score a table on their patio on a beautiful summer day. At the suggestion of our very helpful waiter we decided to spli the cauliflower melt and quiche. Both were so delicious that I'd be sure to order them again next time, although I have a feeling you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. We passed on dessert, but our favorite waiter brought out a complimentary chocolate dessert and cookies just to congraulate us on our pregnancies. I definitely don't need the extra calories these days, but it was still very much appreciated...and tasted delightful. Consdier yourself lucky if you have Marion Street Cheese Market in your backyard. And if not..it's worth the drive!
(5)
Gino W.
During the summer I would always pass by this place and say to myself that I should return for an outdoor seat. But I would never get up early enough to get to Oak Park for such a seating. Then a friend wanted to meet after work and we had both wanted to try out Marion Street Cheese Market. Oh my God was I glad we did. We had a flight of olive oil, a flight of cheese, wine, crab fritters, and bruschetta. Usually restaurants and lounges that serve the kind of fare that you get at Marion Street Cheese Market rack up on price while suffering a little in quality. Now that I have been indoctrinated into how to enjoy flights of olive oils and cheeses thanks to an incredible waitress, I will return once the weather is consistently warm so that I can have an outdoor seat and reminisce about being in France.
(5)
Hugdealer E.
lots of great beer pops up here. they also have a nice stock of deli meat / cheese if you're into that. it's not very cheap, but the stuff they sell is never found at bargain bin prices. get what you pay for. has separate area for eating, never dined there.
(4)
Tara G.
The cheese and charcuterrie boards were great. High quality and nice assortment, just a bit overpriced. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Nice Oak Park spot.
(4)
Debra L.
Where to begin. I will start with the positive. Great server. And that's it. Not one dish we ordered is worth commenting on. The temperature in the place was hot. The exhaust was not working so it was like breathing hot smoke. Then the food. I had Chilaquilles which weren't even close to what you'd expect. Tortilla chips batter and baked into something more like a dressing. Dried shredded pork. Bland green sauce. Need I go on. And don't even think about the shredded pork hash. No seasoning to speak of. Ordered two over easy eggs and got fried eggs instead. The final dish was the cauliflower sandwich and it was OK. Don't think I will be headed back anytime soon.
(1)
Christian W.
Great bistro style restaurant. Had the beet (not beef) carpaccio, brussel sprouts, and maple chicken. All were craftily prepared and delicious.
(5)
Kate O.
Overall enjoyed this restaurant. I was running late and my friends ordered a brunch appetizer of old fashioned doughnuts which perfectly arrived warm and crispy right as I did. Definitely recommend them. I ordered the Traditional Benedict, but was served the chorizo benedict. We had already been waiting a while for our food so I decided not to send it back. I really should have sent it back, Hollandaise and chorizo do not go well together. They sent us a cheese plate which was a nice service repair. I would probably go back, but make sure that I spoke with more clear diction.
(3)
Randy S.
Went here last night with Mertz (yeah, I call him "Mertz" now) for a beer. This was my first time here, but with all Draft beers being $4, and well placed television to watch the game on - I was sold from minute 1. The service was polite, and familiar - both things you would expect from a local place in OP. if you are looking for a Tuesday party spot - look elsewhere. There were few patrons to speak of. But if you enjoy a quiet beer, with nice ambiance you should swing by. Maybe next time I will try the food.
(4)
Susan M.
I have to do it -- I have to. The last two times I've been here service has not been awesome, and neither has the food. I thought especially since they have reached Michelin status, they would rock my socks off. We had a 120.00 dinner last night, and it was not memorable enough. Stand out was.... um nothing. Service was just ok, halibut was dry, cake was dryer. I pick on service because the service here the first three times we dined was outstanding, The server was excited to meet us and tell us all about their cheese/beer/wine flight options. Their knowledge of everything on the menu impressed me, the smiles were nice too. It's hit or miss these days. I hope they amaze me just once more because I used to rave about them, brag brag brag -- only to be let down twice in a row - 7 months apart. Eh. Hurts.
(3)
Craig S.
It pains me to write this review. I really want to like this place. I mean *really*. But I don't. Well, that's not true. I *love* the cheese shop! They'll always get my business! Such a great selection. But this review is about the restaurant. Here it is, plain and simple. This place takes itself way too seriously. When a restaurant puts itself (and/or its chef's whims) above its clientele, I'm not going to be a fan. If you order something off the menu, and ask if they can leave something out, only to have the server tell you that the chef doesn't like to do that, well, it sends a message. And that message is that it's more important that the chef makes what he wants than you get what you want. That is all well and good. If that's the place you want to be, then go ahead and own it. It's just not for me. Especially since the server didn't even bother to ask, and the request was to omit the bacon from a scallop dish. So that, coupled with the very high prices, has shifted that place from a once-a-month or so stop for us down to maybe once a year just to see if things have improved. I'm looking at their menu now, and see enough changes that we may give them a shot again soon, in which case I'll update this review. Also, our nights in Oak Park are Thursdays, which for this place means loud jazz being performed live in the dining area. I'm just not into that. If you are (and a lot of people seem to be), then you'll dig it, but we find ourselves pining for the intermissions so we can actually have some table talk.
(2)
Cher M.
The best part of the Marion Street Cheese Market is the actual market. Get cheese, charcuterie, wine (especially the wine!) to take home and you'll be happy. The Cafe, not so much. Sure, it's good food, but the service can swing from helicopter waitresses to AWOL bartenders. There's no middle ground. I did really enjoy the wine flights that I've had here (I've try a new one each time), but I'd rather do that and get dinner elsewhere, as this place is overpriced. It's hard to enjoy a meal if you can only afford to order the pickles. My advice? Skip the bipolar service, but stop in when it's not busy for one of the wine flights.
(2)
Cathy G.
I really enjoyed Marion Street Cheese Market. The food was good, the service was good, and the atmosphere was exactly what I looked for on my birthday with family and a close friend. We dined outside and ordered a cheese plate, several entrees, but no drinks (middle of the day, MIL of BFF doesn't drink). The food was tasteful, well presented, and reasonably priced. The flat-bread pizza was very yummy and gave us reasonable left-overs for late that night. On my second visit, we purchased an IXA silver tequila for consumption at home. As I am a resident of Jalisco, Mexico, I was interested in trying an organic tequila. The tequila left a lot to be desired, but I applaud Marion Street for offering something a bit eclectic and outside the box. The chocolates are exquisite. As are the ice creams. I highly suggest the Goat Cheese and Tart Cherry Ice Cream.
(4)
Diana M.
This place seems to be very popular, so we made the mistake of taking company. We went for brunch on a Saturday and they seemed to be out of everything we wanted. What we wound up ordering was incredibly greasy and not very flavorful. Since its so popular we figured we should give it another chance. This time they had the food we wanted to order (and a beautiful outdoor patio), but again the food was so greasy and heavy and nothing special. We LOVE the gourmet shop attached to the restaurant though and go their often for local beers and food gifts.
(2)
Na S.
My girlfriend and I sat there for dinner for hours, just chatting away. I love the casual and sophisticated atmosphere. We were surrounded by espresso wood with beautiful decor. There are lots of options on the menus as well, depending on how full you are. You can select from cheese flights, small plates, or large plates. Everything we got was excellent. SO satisfying. I can only say that about what I've ordered by I bet everything else is just as heavenly. Connoisseur's Collection Midwest Tour Smoked Salmon Crispy brussel sprouts with candied hazelnuts Braised rabbit with buckwheat gnocchi
(5)
Jennifer Q.
We came back here again the other day. The first time I tried the eggplant sandwich and the salmon sandwich. This time I tried the cauliflower sandwich -yup that's right. It's like sauteed cauliflower with some really tasty spices, apple and cheese on wheat toast. The combination of flavors was awesome! Really nice environment, service and tasty food. I like that they have craft beers too! Oh, and don't forget to pick up a few fancy chocolates on your way out. They are super delish!!
I have eaten here several times and shopped in the wine/cheese shop on other occasions. We have had the most enjoyable time here, snacking on cheeses we have never tried before along with some delicious wine. All this with background jazz musicians playing music, we couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, their recommendations were spot on.
(5)
Vlad L.
Been here million times. I love the concept of seasonal menu (more restaurants in US should adopt that). Food is great, good variety of drinks. They also have a store which is open late, so you can always stop by, grab a bottle of wine, some cheese, olives, cured meats.
(5)
Cindi C.
Had brunch here with my family last weekend. The Bloody Marys were good, I like mine spicy and the waitress quickly fixed mine when it came out not so spicy. We shared a cheese platter between the 5 of us and it was just right to curb the hunger before our meal. We all ordered different items and everyone's food was delicious and hot. The two of us who had eggs benedict wished they were a little softer, but it was too delicious to stop eating and return for a redo. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Peter H.
SPECTACULAR service. I am talkin about YOU friendly host/busboy, and YOU eddie, awesome server. Went there for dinner, tried a few beers on tap that were nice. Very comfy vibe inside...awesome pickle jar, had some nice Pork loin chop was really nice, had a great cherry mostarda on top. Went back for brunch, nice outdoor area, very nice server Mike took care of us, he forgot to put in our order, but he owned up to it and gave us some nice bread tray for his mixup. He didn't try to cover it up, honest mistake, we were waitin for company so it was no big deal. Wasn't crazy about my meat benedict (chorizo), just didn't do it for me. Only reason for the 4 stars. Will def be back.
(4)
Johnny A.
I am going to have to agree with another review, the food and selection is excellent and exciting. The service is weird. I have been twice, first time it was packed and the food far out weighed any woes for the service. Second time, unpacked and the service was bizarre and bad. We were all kind of afraid our waitress was gonna snap at any moment after she yelled at us multiple times. We waited for our table to be pushed together and bussed for almost 15 minutes, but not because it was busy, because the wait staff was inefficient and having a hard time working together. The waitress seemed to pull it together, but for a special family outing- it is a shame that she was stealing the fun and impacting the beautiful atmosphere and great food. I would definitely return if I was in the neighborhood, but definitely not with a large group or if I was feeling sensitive.
(3)
J X.
Loved this little gem. Classic breakfast was really solid. Simple, but outstanding ingredients make all the difference. Also got a pork ragout on cheddar grits that was fantastic. Place is pricey for the portions, which were small. Overall though, if I lived nearby, I would be a definite regular. I'd love to try some of the cheeses and other items. They have a spicy prosciutto spread that looked great.
(5)
Shannon M.
Lactose intolerants, beware. This place is not kidding around. Walk in the door and you'll face, well, cheese. All kinds of cheese. If you choose the adventure to your left, there will be more cheese, plus gourmet goodies like preserves, candy, oil, olives, beer, wine and more to tempt your artisanal taste buds. If you choose the adventure to the right, you will head for the small bistro area and settle in for a meal most likely featuring some of these delightful products. Sunday brunch -- made with sustainable ingredients and a seasonal menu -- was a splendid choice as a first meal here. My friend's traditional-type breakfast was a big honkin' load of satisfaction to him, including coffee with cream. I ordered French toast, wonderfully caramelized and syrupy on thick bread, and made it more decadent by asking the waitress to get a small pitcher of cream (as came with the coffee), which I promptly soaked the bread in. The result was similar to tres leches cake. Far too sinful for a morning meal, yet so worth it. Deliciously crisp bacon rounded out the entree. I would love to come back to try a cheese flight or a later-in-the-day meal to see what other variety they offer.
(4)
Kryste N.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become a regular stop for me when in Oak Park. I love their cheeses and meats, wine selection is great, chocolates are fantastic, and I love the random items they carry like Lillie's Q barbeque sauce! One of my favorite places to go!!
(4)
Sol A.
Love this place! I was so excited when I walked into this place. The concept is well thought out & executed. Great atmosphere, good food, appetizers, wine, cheese & music. Very relaxing. It's been a while since I've visited. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)
Sal x.
First of all, the food here was delicious, tasty, interesting...I could go on and on. I really appreciate their focus on local, artisanal, and seasonal offerings, as well as the thoughtful and complex approach to vegetarian dishes. More than just the run of the mill lentils and couscous. We usually dine at Green Zebra and I have to say, the quality and flavor of the food rivaled some of our best meals at GZ. Now, on to my 2-star rating. We dined at the bar, where service was less than stellar. It was abysmal. It was the bartender, Mike's, demeanor that leaves us with a difficult decision: forgo the great food due to poor service, or ENDURE just to enjoy the tastes? We will defer that decision, but in the meantime below are a few of Mike's missteps: 1. He "could pour me a beer flight but it would take a really long time." Great, I'll just have a singe beer. 2. Mike: "Are you finished? Is this garbage?" Sure, if you call what is left on my place garbage, then I guess it is. 3. Mike: "Let me move your wine flights so you don't ruin the menu." Sure, we didn't put it there. 4. He was cleaning up the bar before we were, and 5 other tables, were finished eating. I didn't sit at the bar to watch a clean-up crew. At 9:30. 5. Latecomers (9:50pm) were turned away, or given "4 minutes to order." You're supposed to be open until 11:30. If I was the owner I would like to know what I could do to rectify this situation. The poor service seems to be a Yelp trend. You need (re)train your wait staff, specifically Mike. The other bartender in training and bar back were very friendly and efficient workers. Looks like you have a sour grape on your hands. Fix it and we will be back.
(2)
Jacqueline A.
For some reason I thought this was a wine bar. Maybe because they devote the entire front to wine, and hold tastings on Fridays. Well, it's not! I attended one of their tastings, and it was so brief even though I chatted up the rep that I decided to grab a glass of wine at the bar. I found their wine list to be completely uninspired...Mark West Pinot Noir? I find that insulting. I know this is a place that flaunts being green, and every time my water glass fell below half it was replaced with a new one. New glass, new ice...I would be all over my kids for that kind of waste. The three stars are for previous times I've eaten here. I enjoyed sitting outside, and the food & service were fine then.
(3)
R todd N.
Generally excellent food but slow wait, and FAil on cocktails. Excellent curry /crap soup, great hamachi, and their entrees are very good. Amish chicken dish is reliable. Most entrees are a b+. However, We ordered two cocktail (historically cocktails have been a highlight there) - a strawberry mojito and a dark and stormy. We got two glass that tasted like a bunch of lime juice with the only difference being one had strawberries. You could not even try to explain either of these as "innovations" of the respective drinks we ordered but our waitress did! Not a clue regarding what the ingredients of either should be and no apologies but a credit. Typically liked this place but stepping back.
(2)
Nichole C.
In case you don't want to read my specifics, the short is -- I was pretty disappointed. I would maybe go back for cheese plates and wine on the patio in nicer weather but may ultimately decide it's not worth the trip. Here's the story: Met a friend for lunch, we were seated quickly and offered drinks. I ordered soup and a salad, the soup came out first and it was the wrong soup. No big deal, she brought me the correct one a little while later but when it came, it was verbally referred to as a chili, which was an accurate description. I wouldn't have ordered chili, I wanted soup, which is what the menu said. For the record the soup that I sent back was really well balanced in flavor with a nice texture, my bad. Then came the salad, it was supposed to be a smoked trout salad with black kale. Sadly, it had NO KALE on it whatsoever, just a small sampling of arugula and other mixed greens. There were also 2 "bagel chips," more precisely described as ultra-thin wafers, so thin that there was no hope of eating the large quantity of cream cheese plopped on the plate. It wasn't well thought out and I ended up with a lot of leftover fish and cream cheese because there was nothing to eat it with. Sad times for me, but my friend enjoyed her cauliflower melt.
(2)
Kyle H.
An update! (But with no stars bump? Read on...). Another lovely visit to charming Oak Park and the Marion Street Cheese Market. It's so easy to kill time in Oak Park, I arrived ahead of my dining company and bellied up to the small bar area at Marion Street Cheese Market. The barkeep was a charming and attentive server, and he quickly brought me both drink and food menus, answered my questions about Seasonal beers on hand, until my guest arrived. Leaving the bar and being seated at a table by the Hostess with my guest, I guess they can't transfer a bar tab, as the charming barkeep ran over with my bill, to pay up. Scoundrel! Cad! Bounder! I guess he thought I ran out on the bar tab. My bad. I figure it would be transfered to the dinner bill, like at most restaurants. The meal was Heaven. Ordered the Espana/Americana cheese and charcuterie sampler, and our server Juan was superb at explaining what was served. Actually, he was superb all night, and recommended an excellent wine pairing as well. Entrees! I could not pass up the Pumpkin Tamales with Spicy Cranberry Salsa, served over wilted spinach. Wilted spinach is steamed, not sauteed, I learned. And you could tell- it tasted really fresh, and paired well with my tamales and my guest's fried chicken! Those tamales were incredible! Amazing. I need a moment... Had dessert as well, and enjoyed the jazz duo (as Thursday nights are WDCB jazz night), but then waited for the server to take the bill for a very long time. He was on point all night, so it wasn't a big deal- just between that and the bar tab transfer prevents a fifth star. When I've saved up enough money from my paper route, I'm definitely going to give Marion Street another try to get that fifth star! And I'm going to enjoy it, myself too, of course.
(4)
Rhonda W.
Great Wine, Great service (Phil), didn't have dinner so we'll be back!
(5)
Kathy R.
Okay, guys...the food here is still top-notch, but they really need to work on the service part. The last few times I've been here, the service has really been pretty bad. I brought a girlfriend here after repeatedly telling her how great the place is. This was the day that I've never had worse service! We were seated and ignored for quite a long time. I had to go grab someone to finally talk to us. He sucked. He spent all his time, hanging out behind the bar counter, chatting with another server. I have also never stiffed ANYONE. We left him one dollar...on a $50 check. He sucked that badly! Okay, so, I went back with a group weeks later. This time, they server was good and the food was excellent. If they could iron out the inconsistencies with the service, it will once again return to a 5 star establishment in my eyes.
(4)
Kari G.
The brunch here is delicious! My kids devoured the bacon, the French toast, eggs & yogurt and granola. I had the roasted cauliflower sandwich and my husband had the sweet potato grits and eggs with a side of potatoes. Everything was sooo good and we will definitely be back!!
(5)
Chuck F.
Unique in every way. The food and presentation show an attention to both, quality and detail. The wine and cheese selection,from the shop, are impeccable.
(5)
M W.
I must admit, their mac n cheese is delicious. I did wish that I had some hot sauce to put on it. Definitely wasn't worth $14 though (but I wasn't paying so I didn't mind too much haha). Also, I would imagine for $14 it would be a pretty large portion, but it wasn't. The other person I was with had a lamb pasta dish with pomegranate seeds. It was fine. Not as flavorful or big of a portion for the price. As we definitely had room to spare at the end of the meal, we shared a dessert, a chocolate pudding with crème fraîche. The crème fraîche tasted like greek yogurt (which I am definitely not a fan of). The dessert was also ridiculously small, and DEFINITELY not worth $7. The food can be pretty good depending on what you order, but it's pretty overpriced and small.
You know that movie Hustle and Flow? Remember the song "Whoop That Trick". I have a new saying for yelp that can be applied to good or bad reviews and the saying goes like this: I need to "Yelp That $#*7" I came up with it after we ate at Marion Street this weekend. I have been to this place about 5 times for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. We keep coming back because it happens to be one of my family members favorite places to dine. This weekend we stopped in with a group of 10 people. The kids sat at a separate table and ordered grilled cheese, smoked salmon and a cheese flight. The restaurant was quiet, not busy. The brussel sprouts with raisins and the cauliflower appetizer was some of the best food I have ever tasted. I even insisted that the server tell the chef that. We had an army of people ignoring our table of 6. 2 servers, 3 bus staff. Because we had 2 servers waiting on our table they were in a constant state of confusion. When the appetizers were dropped the server left without giving us any silverware or napkins. We helped ourselves to the bus station for supplies after a few moments realizing that no one was coming back for us. But we were still short napkins and silverware. We eventually started eating with our fingers since the appetizers were getting cold. The appetizer and salad plates were still on the table when the entree's came. The server had no idea who ordered what and we had to remind them every step of the way. Our server would disappear for long periods of time. Maybe he was scared of us or too cold since we were sitting outside. Not sure why he would be scared though we were pretty polite, no special orders, pretty simple stuff. When I asked for another glass of wine and they asked me "what did you order?". Hell, I couldn't remember the French name of the white wine that I ordered, it was some complicated name, not an easy peasy thing like "Chardonnay". When we got the 400.00 bill I almost choked considering that we had to beg for napkins, water, silverware, wine, and attention of kind etc. You know the service here is never really that great come to think of it. I am giving it 3 stars because the food is good. But seriously, get your act together. For 400.00 I expect better service.
(2)
Gina S.
Cheese!!!!!! I was pretty much grinning ear to ear at this gormet cheese counter. So many cheeses! It's more than a cheese market, there's wine and a restaurant all rolled into one super cute market cafe located in downtown Oak Park (one of my new favorite places just outside the city). After trying a few cheeses, some of my own suggestion and some suggested by the Cheesewoman, I settled on a delicious 4 year aged Gouda (nutty with hints of caramel) and a Gruyère Surchoix (smooth & mellow with light floral notes). I contemplated trying some of the blue cheese, but it would have been more out of curiosity because there were a few blue cheeses that were a little bluer than I've ever seen. I'm talking like furry little balls of blueness with cheese somewhere under than coat of blue. I WILL be back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
susan g.
Well, I've been here a couple of times now for lunch and dinner and I think that I can write a good post on this bistro. Let's start with the good stuff: I really like this place and would recommend it. The menu items are creative and tasty; excellent cheese and meat selections; room is comfortable, liked the old pics on the walls though with the farm stuff; service staff is generally friendly and efficient, except for one bad experience which I'll get into below. This is a really great place to go for a date or just to kick back with a cheese plate and glass of wine. They also have music on certain nights which is fun if you like that sort of thing. We also like the manager Karl, whom we have met twice now when he checked in on our table to see how our experience was. He is really nice and funny too! Now for the constructive criticism: I did have one bad dining experience because of my server who just generally has a poor disposition. However, I must note that she is pregnant and I cannot imagine that being on her feet all day is comfortable, so I give her a pass on that one. The food seems to take a bit longer than most other restaurants, but the quality is very good, so I give a pass on that one too. I'm pretty sure that we saw the owner and one of the workers from the market side drinking at the bar and getting loud. Really unprofessional to see the staff who should be helping with service drinking alcohol. The reason why I bring this up is because the bistro was swamped and could have used the extra hands helping out, instead the owner ignored what was going on and was drinking. Our experience would have been different if the owner greeted us, rather than being a fellow patron. The lunch service is much slower than the dinner service. All in all, I really like this place and am willing to keep coming back. And if the owner reads this - stop by and say hi to the patrons - we really like that kind of attention. Thanks...
(4)Andrew S.
Love stopping in on weeknights for a quick red wine flight. They have really perfected their food menu since my first visit a few years ago when they opened/expanded in this location. The space is really sophisticated and I like that the market portion is very much part of the space. You have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, which are beautifully done. Some items on the food menu don't really seem to justify their price... not that there aren't some lovely things at a good value. They far make up for this with an excellent selection of wines & beers.
(4)Daniil V.
You should: Make The Trip Sizzle: a Party In Your Mouth Juice: Diverse selection of cheese, beer & wine flights, tapas-style menu, almond-stuffed olives & salumi. Check Please: $$
(5)HOLLY M.
I LOVE the food! I hate the service. Slow, surly waitress, very annoying. Food rocks though!
(3)trista r.
Went to Marion Street Cheese Market last Friday with some friends. There were probably about 15 of us at the table. We had a reservation, so the staff were aware that there would be that many of us at a table. Let me just say, the service was ATROCIOUS! The server was painfully painfully slow, did not check on the table in a timely manner (probably every 15 mninutes is a good idea with a table that size, it was more like once every 30), when she did check on the table she would only go to one side or the other and not ask everyone at table how they were doing, and at two different points the server was downright RUDE. We ordered a few different cheese plates and I asked for a cheese knife, as there was no knife brought out. We had ordered other things so everyone's knives were being used for that. Plus, THIS IS A CHEESE PLACE RIGHT?! So when I ask for a cheese knife do not be a complete jerk to me! "The knife at your table isn't good enough?" NO! It's not! The knife at the table has been used for the meat platter and we have several vegetarians at our table and the knife at the table is not a cheese knife!!!And the knife never came by the way. I understand that the place is busy, that the table has a lot of requests, etc, but you KNEW about the large table coming in so PLAN for that sort of thing. We all spent a lot of money in there, and you expect good service when spending that much. Sorry, end of rant about poor service. Anyway, the cheese was good. I guess that's the point of this place. But I would just buy the cheese and eat it somewhere else, anywhere else. Or skip it and visit the Whole Foods cheese section. The wine list was a JOKE. Seriously. Don't even bother, you aren't even close to doing it right, you'd be better off letting people bring in their own wine because you have no idea what you are doing. Beer list was great. Husband had mac and cheese with cajun chicken something or other, which was good. Charcuterie platter was good. Spinach salad - I've had better at Panera Bread. For less money. Friend had an eggplant thing, which was also good. Atmosphere was nice as well, cozy and dark and good for conversation. They also had a band which was unexpected but great. All in all, I don't mind spending a lot of money for good food and good service, but Marion Street Cheese Market? Sorry hun, you are just not it.
(2)A D.
Similar vein - poor service. Husband and I went to lunch. Person in front of us was being seated. Whew! Who knew it took over 5 minutes to seat one lady? We were finally seated and it took 10 minutes to get a menu. I should have ordered my fave cauliflower sandwich but instead I opted for their new crunchy eggplant with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. No where on the menu did it say it was served on a brioche bun. Funny, the other listings detailed the bread, but since this had none I assumed the crunchy eggplant took the place of a bun. The brioche was so incredibly egg-y and rich that it competed with the strong sandwich flavors and really made the whole sandwich come up a loser. The eggplant prep included frying it in oil after being breaded with panko crumbs. Do yourself a favor, skip this unless you like the notion of fried eggplant topped with great Italian elements then essentially rolled up in brioche French toast san syrup. I would've told this to my waiter, but wait...he never came back. We had to ask the server filling up our water if he could tell our waiter that we were still breathing.
(2)Marielle S.
Bought the Groupon for this place, otherwise probably wouldn't have driven all the way to Oak Park for brunch.. Now that I've been there, though, I definitely want to go back. One, our waitress was awesome. I said to my fiance, "man, we really are being high maintenance, asking all these questions.. but it's kind of our waitress's fault for being so nice!" halfway joking, but mostly serious. We had a lot of questions about everything from the cheese tastings to the wine and beer selection, but she helped with everything. I ended up ordering a glass of wine and the portabello benedict. It was SO GOOD. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise sauce was unbelievably rich (but not in an ew-my-stomach-hurts-from-eating-this-kind-of-way) with truffle. The English muffin also had a layer of pesto on it. The fiance ordered two samplings; one of cheese, the other pate. His plates were smallish (and about $12 each), but they were totally YUM. Well, I didn't try the pate, but the cheese was YUM (and it came with a spoon of jam and some spatterings of nuts and cranberries). The decor was really charming, and even though we went around 1 on a Saturday, it wasn't too crowded. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch and am excited to try it for dinner.
(4)Anceert M.
I called them to make a reservation for me & my hubby. I wanted to redeeem my groupon this evening (07/30/11) so I mentioned it to the receptionist who was making the reservation. She was a bit snappy (no in a good way) when she heard my accent. So she told me that they were all booked for that night. So I told my hubby to call them back(obliously, he does not has an accent) and we got a reservation. Go figure!, right . We got there and I saw a quite a few open tables, which I was a bit disappointment.,But the food was GREAT. I love the watermelon/arugula salad & feta cheese & wine vinaigrette. & the pesto risotto Yumm-o ,plus dark chocolate-expresso ice crean & marshmallow for dessert even better. Thanks for a wonderful dinner & waiter-service. Not so much with the receptionist
(4)Frances B.
I'm a regular customer. I love the wine and cheese and some of the food is great. It's too expensive for bad/slow service. Very few diners the last time I was there and had to hunt down our waiter. It didn't get any better even after he knew we had been waiting for water and menus for about 15 minutes. Oh well. I'll probably be back because it's just few blocks away from my home. I'll lower my expectations.
(2)buddy l.
very trendy, extremely pretentious, terrible service- but worth it! We went in yesterday, not exactly dressed to the 9's (not TERRIBLE, just casual clothes, but when compared to the other 'sunday-church clothes, we felt a little under dressed) and the wait staff stood in front of us and argued who would take our table for over 20 minutes, assuming we would not tip, which is the worst thing to presume since 3\4 people with our party are in the service industry- therefore always tip 20%. Even after that the manager saw we were flustered, and about to get up and go but she rushed over and was very polite and asked if everything was OK, and our waiter actually ended up being very kind. But the food is why we made ourselves stay, the hangover fries alone are worth trying, especially ...if hungover. The benedicts are extraordinarily yummy, particularly since the ham is smoked and the cheddar is aged, and the Hollandaise sauce is not too heavy. But my favorite thing on the menu, which is why I keep returning, is the ham sandwich on pretzel bun. DELISH! Unfortunately I think that will be my last visit- because I mean, come on who argues in front of a table full of guest. I sure hope our, even though kind waiter, felt like shit after we left since our tip was still more than generous. And honestly, I don't see this business surviving for much longer, since everyone else I've spoken to who's been here say they enjoyed the food, and even the broad beer selection and fun things in the deli to try out- but the verdict is in and the terrible service out weighs the pros of the actual restaurant. There's just too many other businesses to choose from who enjoy their job to serve their guest which food just as tasty, there's no point in paying more for side dishes and getting snubbed for desert.
(3)Megan O.
The ambiance is very nice here, and some of the food ordered by others at my table had potential, but the AWFUL, AWFUL service here far overshadowed any positives. Our waitress, who had the personality of a cardboard box, paid little attention to us. So little that it took me ten minutes to get her to return to the kitchen the sandwich I had ordered that was ICE COLD in the middle. She then brought it back out, clearly zapped in the microwave for about 10 seconds, still cold in the middle, and did not return. At the end of the meal, when we inquired why some of our items had been taxed twice and at 12 1/2 %, neither she nor the manager had any idea. I'd consider getting cheese here, but will never sit down for a meal again.
(1)Jessica G.
My favorite place to splurge! Love the Cheese Flights! Love the food. Great service. Go there with friends when we have a reason to celebrate.
(5)Douglas A.
I had two Groupons for Marion Street Cheese Market, and I used them both in one day - one for lunch with one friend, and the other for dinner with another friend. Both friends and I liked the food very much! I had a bowl of the mushroom soup they were offering that day, and the combination of mushrooms, cheese and other ingredients made a memorable mushroom soup I could enjoy eating very regularly! At dinner time I had a cup of the other soup that had chickpeas and chorizo in a tomato base. It was a good soup if one likes that combination, but I decided I don't like chorizo well enough to want to order in in anything again. For lunch I had the Ploughman's lunch. The pate was tasty though mild; the farmhouse cheddar was delicious; and the dried fruit also included some nuts, especially blanched almonds. The menu listed Stichelton blue as being part of the plate, but I don't remember any cheese other than the cheddar, but there was a small crock of a tasty apple butter on the platter, so I'm guessing they were out of the blue cheese and simply substituted that without telling me. My friend and I ordered the largest French coffee press offered, and it provided us with the listed six cups of delicious coffee. (They also offer 4- and 2-cup sizes of French pressed coffee as well as other styles of coffee and other beverages.) For dinner my main course was the mac and cheese I had seen on the lunch menu and had wanted to try, and I asked for the version with chicken added. The flavors of the three cheeses - cheddar, parmesan, and chevre - combined with the pasta that was cooked to be chewy rather than lacking any body, as pasta often is, were wonderful together. It made me want to begin experimenting at home with various combinations of cheeses in my own mac and cheese, rather than simply using the same old cheddar with, perhaps, a little Kraft grated parmesan shaken in. But MSCM uses some of the excellent cheeses they also sell in the market section, so a lot of the wonderful flavor has to do with the chef having made excellent choices in combining the flavors of the various cheeses - and cheeses and vegetables and/or meats in other dishes. One other reviewer that I read complained about having been ignored or rudely treated and not assisted in the market section. From my wandering around in that section before going into the restaurant area, I would say that the shop may not train their personnel well enough or hire people who are interested in learning enough about what they're selling to be of real assistance to their customers. If you know what special cheeses or specialized meats or wines you want, MSCM has some wonderful things to offer; but don't go in expecting to get much knowledgeable advice about what they've got. In fact, if I were looking for wine, I'd rather go to Binny's, since their people really know their stock. All in all, I'd definitely go back to MSCM and pay full price for the food in the restaurant. It would be a nice place to take guests or on a special occasion.
(4)Libby H.
Marion Street Cheese Market catered part of our wedding, and everything was just perfect. We had tasted a slew of cheese with them in preparation, and they put together a great spread with our favorites. They were even willing to order special order cheese that they didn't normally have (in our case, our favorite chevre). The accompaniments (e.g., nuts, fruit) were great, and our guests raved about the cheese and setup all night and after the event. I haven't eaten in the restaurant, but I can't say enough good things about the cheese counter and catering staff.
(5)natalie h.
I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone I know! The food was so delicious and the servers very patient. I went with some friends all of us loving cheese and wine and other things on the menu but not knowing what would go together well. Not only did the server carefully answer all our questions taking into considerations our specific tastes ( of which we all four had different faves) but she also gave us beer samples to compliment our cheeses. She even let us order each course at a time since we didn't know if we'd have enough room to get to dessert. Luckily we paced ourselves and did make it to the delicious dessert menu. We each ordered something different and then passed it to the left so eventually tried their whole dessert menu. All four of us loved the entire everything we ate. I have to save up calories to go back:)
(5)Matthew Y.
Review Update! This is an update to a previous review (now almost 2 years old) that is located at the end of this review. I have returned to MSCM only a few times since my original review and recognized a discrepancy between service/product and cost. I am aawarding MSCM with 4 stars following this evening's quasi-meal (pints, cheese flight, and mac-n-cheese). We (my gf joined me) originally wanted a few pints and a cheese flight - we had that and an amazing mac-n-cheese and returned home with a six-pack. Service was much better this time. Out waitress was great and provided us with printed material and a senior staff person to answer questions that were out of the scope of her everyday responsibilities Our waitress provided us with printed stickers for each cheese featured on our flight - this makes remembering what we ordered much easier. I wish she was provided with more details about some of the offerings we selected. I do not hold this against her. She was cool and mad the experience pleasurable. The sun-dried mac-n-cheese is amazing. Order it. We had a question about beer, our waitress introduced us to Charlie (their resident beer expert). Charlie is pleasant to speak with, knowledgeable about the beer he selected, and motivated us to leave with a six-pack of a beer we thought was gone! Thank you Charlie. This evening's experience has encouraged a return visit in the near-future. - end of update - Original Review (1 star): I was looking for a specific cheese and recommended an alternative cheese because of color. The person in the cheese section had limited knowledge of cheese. When I was unsure which cheese to look for after my original choice was unavailable the person I was speaking with did not demonstrate service one expects from a specialty shop. I have been in other shops that will ask which ask if I am pairing the cheese with a specific wine, what I am serving this with , or any number of other appropriate questions an "expert" sales person should ask a customer. I do not expect detailed service from the Schnucks cheese island, a "cheese market" should provide a service that demonstrates knowledge and enthusiasm. Go to an alternative boutique market if you want to purchase cheese from a connoisseur that will help develop your own appreciation for this product. Marion Street Cheese Market may be a good option if you are local and need cheese in a pinch or you know exactly what you want.
(4)Margo L.
5 stars for the cheese and wine shop. Candy the wine buyer is very knowledgeable and really listens to what type of wine you are interested in, what you like, what food you will be serving it with, etc. I know that I can get some wine for a better price elsewhere, but Candy makes it worth the extra dollar. 5 stars for the cheese and deli counter. The staff are all wonderful. They are very helpful recommending new cheeses and deli meats. 5 stars for the staff checking you out. There is one woman in particular who is so friendly and warm and always remembers me when I come in. She makes it a complete pleasure to shop here. Now for the restaurant..... I really, really want to like it. I love the shop, so felt that it wouldl be a natural fit to also love the restaurant. Sadly, the service keeps me from enjoying myself to the point where I fear I have just had my last meal there. Now, there is one waitress who is great. I wish I knew her name -but she is an attractive brunette around 25 or so. She is wonderful at her job- she really explains each dish, she brings out the bread herself and explains what type of bread she is presenting, she recommends wines and is just generally an awesome person. Sadly, she is the lone star here. Since I love the shop and frequent it so often, I have dined here about a dozen times. Most recently for dinner last Friday night. I arrived before my date. After about 15 minutes of sitting at a table by myself my wait person finally came up to me to ask if I was ""dining alone"". When I explained I was early and would like a glass of wine I was met with a look of pure contempt and it took 10 minutes more to get the glass of wine I ordered. (I really was waiting on someone!) I suggested that I might order an appetizer. It was suggested that I order the cheese puffs. My date arrived and it was another 10 minutes before he was offered anything to drink. Our cheese puffs arrived and they were o.k. - nothing special. My drink was emptied, his drink was emptied and still we waited. Meanwhile, the bread that the one great waitress had so painstakinlgy described to me on previous visits kept passing by our tables. Do we not deserve the same bread and butter as our fellow patrons? Do we look like we are on Atkins or something? I finally grabbed our wait person and asked for both refills on the wine and some bread. The wine arrived... the bread did not. (This is actually the third time I have eaten here and not been offered bread, I am beginning to take it personally!) Our food came - fish and chips and the flat bread special. The flat bread was o.k. but the fish and chips were awful. First of all, there was way too much mayonnaise in the aioli sauce you were supposed to dip your chips in. As for the fish, they were so bland that 3/4 of the plate remained uneaten (as well as all of the chips because we never saw our wait person again to ask for ketchup). When asked about the uneaten plate of food we spoke up and said that it was bland and really not to our liking at all. We also suggested that our wine glasses would have loved to have been re-filled. We were greeted by a blank stare and the check. I would have chalked this up to one bad experience, but the week before I had a similar episode with a different wait staff and frankly had repeated the same scenario with everyone except the apparently one and only good wait person on staff. I suggest visiting the wine and cheese shop and skipping the restaurant until they figure out that customers are actually there to enjoy the experience. Frankly, I would suggest having the wine and cheese shop staff train the wait staff.
(3)Aurore L.
What better way to celebrate cheese, the love of my (culinary) life than by devoting to it my 100th review?!?!? OK. You are right. I am not exactly writing an ode to cheese; we are talking business here. But this place has it so right and makes cheese such a star that one can easily forgive me the amalgam. The store itself is as beautiful as a big wheel of comte (one of my old time favorites...). It's very clean, sharp and tasty. I was already very impressed by the first location but this one is just amazing and blew me away. It is almost a dream come true. The cheese selection is imposing; you can of course find all the staples but also a large choice of local products which are more often than not great options. The cured meats section is quite inviting too - they carry an amazing collection of Spanish hams. You can also find all you need to make your dinner of cold-cuts an unforgettable gourmet experience - from high-end crackers to fig jam to robust wines.......mmmmmm.....divine. They even push the good taste to making their own chocolates - and here I surrender. I cannot resist anymore.... The eat-in section is lovely decorated and you can satisfy a lot of your cheese cravings through their inventive menu which even features my beloved raclette - an Alpine wonder of melted cheese and potatoes. The only time (so far) I went there service was very slow but our waitress made up for it and offered a free basket of pastries....taking time is an integral part of cheese making....and I am fine with that. In my next life I want to work here.
(4)David J.
The cheese shop happens to be 2 blocks from my house so I frequent it for 2 things. If I am out of beer I will go pick up an obscure and interesting 6 pack and if I'm in the mood for a croissant for breakfast I will pick them up to go. More than that, I can't say I'd do much with them. When I'm in there for a quick stop the 'beer buyer' will be there and I'm listening to a 30 minute soliloquy on a particular beer. There is one particular cashier that does not limit ANY conversation with any customer no matter how long the line is. If the croissants weren't so good and the beers weren't so delicious and convenient I wouldn't go. Read the other reviews for the service speed. All have accurately described my experiences and hence I go for the quick grab and go only.
(3)Shannon P.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Having dined alone and with a large party, stopped in for a light snack ($$), beer and wine tasting (free-$$), growler refill ($$), children's story time (free) on Wednesdays--we feel like the Marion Street Cheese Market is an extension of our living room. We enjoy the ambiance and products. People, products and place are a superb quality and are worth the price. A true community gem.
(5)Ed O.
I am reluctant to write about this place because it is the only place I have ever been to that hasn't had a line out the door for Sunday Brunch. As mentioned by others, the service is somewhat slow, but well informed about the food and eager to please. This past Sunday featured a string duo and my companion and I had french press coffee with our Waffles and Quiche. The Waffle was light and airy, covered berries and syrup, but not to the point of sogginess. My quiche was Gruyere and spinach with a light crisp crust and plenty of cheese. The tab was higher than a usual Sunday diner omelette/pancakes, but the quality was worth it. I haven't been here for dinner, so I am eager to try that out some time.
(4)Brian L.
Small plates and apps are outstanding. The cheese plates and wines are excellent. I've been somewhat disappointed by the entrees (probably because the small plates have been so consistently well executed)
(4)Arthur P.
Wine selection = very very minimal. Wine prices = way over priced. service = very poor. brunch/lunch* = a joke! they have some nerve! *super minimal menu, though they have a full kitchen(too expensive to hire a real cook I guess). Had the turkey club for $9. Got a very small sandwich with the cheapest deli cuts of turkey you can get and no sides. dont waste your time or money on this place.
(1)Tony P.
Great food, and atmosphere. Kinda pricey, but it's a great place to try for celebrating, or just a special date. We used the Groupon, which cut our bill in half. We tried each of their beer pairings with our food, which was nice. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)Katherine D.
Absolutely amazing. They carry a wide variety of cheese, many of them local varieties. I got a goat cheese (the best I've -ever- had) from Wisconsin, Cheddar from Wisconsin, more goat cheese from Vermont, and a couple of imported types. The other major reason to go there is the wine: they have a whole wall full, all stored properly sideways :) They also carry other local items, such as chocolate, toffee, honey, and preserves. A small selection of deli meats, frozen entrees, and other accessories finishes everything off nicely. Oh, and everyone's super nice. No attitude at all, though they could get away with a little, and I got lots of samples!
(5)Dann B.
Wine and cheese. That is what this place specializes in. Nice restaurant. Good place for a date. Live music some nights. I suggest getting a wine flight, then pick your favorite from that and get glasses of it all night. Food is good but there are far better meals to be had in Oak Park, best is just to drink and snack here. There is a little shop attached where you can buy most of the stuff you can order here to take home and serve yourself. Wait staff was friendly and happy. While dining here my car was broken into, I don't hold that against the place but it really shocked me as I thought Oak Park was suppose to be a nice place. No one has ever vandalized my car in Chicago. Conclusion: Oak Park may look nice but it's has a dark underside just as bad as any Chicago neighborhood.
(4)Mike O.
One has to separate the service from the food. I am a big fan of the MSCM and have been there many, many times since they opened the new location (once we were there 4 times in 3 weeks). However, starting with the change in staff a couple of months ago, the service has gone way downhill. I may have considered this place a 4+ star place before, but its down to 3 and getting worse. Even more odd is that they recently rearranged the dining room to add more tables, but apparently didn't supplement the already diminishing service with more staff. I'm not going to get into my last 2 experiences, but lets say they were 2 star experiences. I still think you should try it for yourself, but know what you're getting into. Food: Excellent. 4 to 5 star casual bistro with plenty of small plate offerings. Quality and flavor is always good and the one reason I will go back. Wine: Above average. Bin 36 is still better but there are some good surprises on the menu. The new Wine Steward/Buyer is stuffier, snottier, and less accessible than the previous, which again is hurting the experience. Beer: 5 stars. An excellent constant rotation of craft beers offered as a 6 glass taster. Top quality beers from craft brewers. Dining Room Service: Poor. Best experienced as a couple. Do NOT go with kids or a group greater than 4. Bar Service: 4 stars. Used to be 5 but they changed out the staff and they're not quite as personable. But at least at the bar they are attentive and don't disappear for 30 minutes after you order dessert. I understand folks who have given this place high marks. Its a great concept in a great location. But they need better service consistency and a return to the more accessible, friendlier, and service-oriented staff.
(3)Cecilia G.
went there with a groupon (I risked losing it because I waited till last days before expiration but in the end it all went smoothly!) and with 2 other friends who didn't have a groupon. we shared everything so we all got to taste both the groupon tasting menu and the other food they ordered.. every single thing was delicious! a great pumpkin soup, fig salad, creamed corn polenta (I loved that one!!), pork belly and goat shoulder.. also we tasted some of their cheeses and they were all really great. their cheese shop must be awesome!! it's adjoining to the restaurant so we browsed it, very inviting! they also had live music, which was very pleasant except that our table was like 1 foot away from them! but the overall atmosphere was nice, our waitress gave us nice suggestions and advice. prices are a bit on the high side but the quality of food and the ambiance are worth it! plus they source a lot of the food locally and are very sustainability-oriented. love it! i just wish it were in chicago!
(4)Kara H.
Great variety of wine and beer. The food is decent. I would stick to lunch /small plates and flights and skip dinner.
(4)Kat M.
Ooooooh, I'm in love, I'm in love! Awesome food, great wine, and I'm only talking about the restaurant - I've not shopped for cheese here. A friend and I sat outside in the warm weather a few weeks ago and were dazzled by the small plates that we ordered. I think our absolute favorite was the macaroni and cheese... the dish was served in the two adorable casseroles that it was baked in. One casserole had mac and cheese with broccoli and one had bacon in it. MMMMMMMMMM, a comfort food orgasm in your mouth. The seaweed salad was also excellent. I also had a beet salad with goat cheese to myself since my friend is not such a fan of the root vegetables and I was not disappointed. The cheese that the chef had selected for the beet salad was so creamy and good; there's a reason that they specialize in cheese. We both dropped about $50 but walked away so stuffed we could barely move, and we also each had 2 glasses of wine at around $10/glass. It could have been cheaper, but if you're going to dine, do it the Marion Street Cheese Market way... it's worth it.
(5)Laine K.
I love cheese and this amazing place not only has a great shop but a fantastic restaurant to go with it. I highly recommend taking the server's advice on cheese. I've been here twice to eat in the restaurant and three times to visit the shop. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Previously, I had the good fortune of trying a fantastic blue cheese with honey comb. This time I had an amazing raspberry jelly with the Black Swan raw cows milk. The bread here is really great too. I bought a baguette for a dinner one time and it was so good I saved a bit in the freezer to be meter out for my carb craving. The cheese is so much fun! Try the cheesecake with the salted caramel sauce. My favorite wine flight is the "How do you say red wine in Spanish?" flight. I promptly bought two bottles of the Barbazul from the wine shop. How beautiful is bread, olives, cheese and wine!! I wish that I lived closer to this place so I more often and I feel like five stars just isn't quite enough.
(5)Logan C.
What a great place. The inside is fabolous and compliments the wonderful food. Every experience I've had here was new and exciting and did not disappoint. Aside from the modern style plates, everything here is great. I can't say that I've ever had a better (or more pricey) cut of salame to compliment a dish. Definitely check this place out.
(5)Tiffany T.
Great spot for apps, wine and/or beer, and cheese. Menu is a nice mix of standard items and specials. I like that they emphasize using local farmers for most of their items. Service is good most of the time. They have a nice shop attached to the restaurant and an outdoor seating area.
(4)Michelle M.
My fiance and I LOVE this place, and really I have to admit that we probably go there once a week between the 2 of us. There are things we love, and things that we think need improvement which is why I only gave the 4 stars, hopefully we can give a 5 star rating upgrade later down the road. Things we love: the rotating menu, the menu is always an exploration and is probably not for fans of places like TGI Fridays or Denny's. Other things we love: the artisan cheeses they offer, and Trevor, our cheese guy who always pairs up our cheeses with something delish, like lavender infused honey. yum. Things we hope they can improve on: the sometimes slow staff. The staff is very nice and friendly, but I honestly have to put them in the artsy semi-flaky category (sorry guys - trust me I know- I am one of them). The other thing I was not so happy with was the included gratuity on the New Years Eve dinner bill... service was surely not up to snuff and we were charged for sub-par service. But still Marion Street Cheese Market is one of our 2 favorite foodie places to go in Oak Park, and trust me, I have met many people like me who love (and have a slight addiction to) MSCM in our hood!
(4)Julie W.
The wine and cheese are really good, haven't had a bad one yet. However, the food and sometimes the service, can leave a bit more to desire.
(3)Alicia P.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this restaurant, and all because of the service. I finally went there after wanting to for awhile, because I bought a Groupon for a Beer Flights and a Prix Fix Menu for two (great deal btw). I loved the talented young musicians playing jazz on guitar and violin. Good thing they were there though, because they helped slightly in drowning out my neighbors' conversations, since it was very crowded. I don't know if the extremely slow service was because I had a Groupon or not, but in my opinion, they should have provided excellent service so I would be convinced to go back and pay full price. Dessert took the longest, and I know for a fact that they didn't bake me an entire cheesecake to cut out two slices from it! Then when I got my check after having a TWO hour dinner, they had not charged me correctly. A half hour later, and after speaking with the manager TWICE, I paid the right amount. The food was creative, and I liked the interestingly unique flavors in my risotto. However, I won't be back unless I feel the urge to buy overpriced chocolates, wine or cheese.
(2)Joey C.
I've gone to the Marion Street Cheese Market for dinner a couple of times, and am a HUGE fan of it. The beer flight is a fun way to sample their range of unique brews on tap. The food......DELICIOUS! We had a baked brie appetizer, and it was heavenly! I do agree that they have a very small menu, however the food is absolutely delicious. I also love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. It is a very chill, intimate setting and a perfect date place. I definitely recommend that everyone try the restaurant for dinner.
(5)Dusty P.
This is an update, having now made my third trip to MSCM - and now I have to take away one of their stars. Unfortunately, I haven't seen an improvement in streamlining their bar & kitchen operations to provide better service, which is VASTLY disappointing to me, because I really really really do like this place. I like having plenty of time to sit and chat with my friends and family, and this is a great place to do it, but I want a full-ish wine glass while I do... and my glass was empty much to often. For a cheese & wine bar, I don't think that's too much to ask... Our waitress was friendly but clueless; she had to go ask someone else every time we had a question on the food. She was always willing to go ask, but I wish she had been a little more knowledgable. Please, please, please, if the owner is reading this - tell your servers & bartenders & kitchen staff to step it up!!!!
(3)Jillian B.
Wow. MSCM is near home but I would travel from the city or far suburbs to dine here. The wine and cheese selections are delicious and the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable servers are prepared to guide you through to an amazing experience. I have been for brunch, lunch and dinner and the food never disappoints. The retail staff is actually more friendly and knowledgeable than the servers -- take home some treats too.
(5)Cody Y.
Marion Street Cheese Market is wonderful spot to pick up wines, beers, cheese and they have a really nice restaurant. My wife and I went to MSCM for Valentines and really enjoyed the servings. It's also a great lunch spot for a good sandwich. Definitely worth a visit for those in the area.
(4)Ruth Ann M.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become my new favorite place since reopening at a new location. It is a fun and unique place to go when you have friends in town or a date to impress. The wine menu is split into three price columns...wine by the bottle, the glass, or a (nice portion) "taste". You can create your own wine flight by ordering a few taste portions. The food is amazing too. I would recommend going there hungry and trying a few of the taste plates. The hummus and tapenade plate is my favorite!
(5)Juliette B.
great food & service. we went here on a friday night & i definitely recommend this place for a great meal or a great date night. we ordered a bunch of small plates and flights and were beyond impressed with everything. most of the vendors at their shop were familiar names from the chicago farmer's markets, i'm sure their menu ingredients are the same. if you are coming in from the city take the green line in- don't drive- it's a 20 min trip tops & you'll be very thankful to hop on the train after all of their yummy flights (both the beer and wine selections are great).
(5)Kimberly C.
this place has gotten so much better! i think after a year and a half, they've worked out the kinks of running a shop/restaurant/bar/cheese world and have finally gotten some pretty awesome servers, decent portions and excellent pours of wine :) yay! i love how the menu changes but the things i really love always seem to stay, i love the live music (although it can be a little loud sometimes), i love that eric (the owner) is around almost every night we visit (although, is it healthy to spend that much time at the bar? ;)
(4)Christine I.
The staff are very helpful and friendly! When you ask someone a question the person often takes time to assist you. They have an interesting variety of gourmet treats and the wine selection is WONDERFUL! They know their wine.
(5)Danielle C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Oak Park. Their dishes are amazing, they have interesting combinations of food and they are always delicious. I tried the breakfast menu there and was blown away. They don't have disgustingly huge portions, so you don't feel like you're either wasting food or being a glutton. Service has been sketchy every time I've been there, usually slow and somewhat inattentive waiters. And this has occurred almost everytime I've been there, so it's always someone different. It is not, however, so bad that it stops me from going there, just a minor annoyance. They usually offer good vegetarian options.
(4)C H.
I want to LOVE these guys so badly... I really do. And they are getting there...truly. Let me say at the outset that the now 8-months old expanded MSCM is beautiful and the product is wonderful. On the pricier side, but not unexpectedly so for the items, the quality and the "atmosphere." The market portion is slightly revised from when it opened last summer and seems to be running smoothly. Service at the cheese counter is hugely improved from last year. Helpful, attentive and knowledgeable - back to what it was in the tiny old store. The wine-monger, Candy, is outstanding. However, the kitchen and cafe are still working out the kinks, now eight months after opening. It's good but not great...and not consistent. Either the service is off but the food is great or the kitchen didn't get it right but the server is good. At this point, and at these prices, the service AND the food should be great, every time. And, may I suggest a soup-and-salad or soup-and-sandwich combo for the lunch menu? Too expensive to get a bowl of soup AND and an entree...and too much food for the "ladies who lunch." This an amazing place. Great concept and great mission and great foodie-values and great website and great people. We badly want it to succeed in Oak Park. And it's getting there. C'mon guys in the restaurant part...keep pressing forward... you need to earn a place in our hearts and on our "fave list" with more than good intent!
(3)L C.
I went for dinner on my first visit, and tried a salad and the warmed goat cheese appetizer. With a glass of wine, and the great atmosphere, I was so relaxed and comfortable. I went back two days later to enjoy breakfast and brunch there with my parents and daughter. Again, creative ingredients for what could normally be boring breakfast omelets. Will definitely go there again...
(5)j c.
5 stars because this place truly is.....as good as it gets. My favorite dining experience of all time. Been to thousands of restaurants in Chicago, the East Coast, etc. and this place is the top of the heap. Have been to MSCM about 25-30 times and it has been CONSISTENTLY EXCEPTIONAL every time! The hostess staff is probably the only "average" aspect of the restaurant. The wait staff is top notch. They know the dishes, the pairings with wines and beers, they are appropriately attentive and ABSOLUTELY add to the experience. I believe that other restaurants (including 6 or 7 in Oak Park) should send their staffs to be trained by Jamie and Kelly. My only wish is that wherever I go to eat that I could take one of that pair with. The food is fantastic. They could listen to their customers requests and desires a bit more, but you will not be disappointed in a single item on the menu. AND consistent? Are they ever!!! Reasonable prices. Good atmosphere. Great place for dates or just a time with friends. They have live music a few noghts a week. The bands are not headliners, however they add to the experince with some very creative, well done musical performances. My girlfriend is a music teacher and has a good ear for music and rates the bands VERY SOLID. Great experience!!!!!!! They need to make the fish and chips permanent. Trust me, try their F & C and you'll never want to eat "someone else's" subpar fish and chips again.
(5)Kate S.
Cheese, beer, wine, chocolate...pretty much everything amazing about life. And they do it well! The staff is super friendly and helpful, and the store is organized excellently for such a small space.
(5)L N.
We went there last Saturday around 1p. It was not incredibly busy as three waiters we milling about the bar area the entire time we were there. It took 15 minutes before a waiter even showed up to our table. Then, after ordering, it took 20 minutes to get a meat and cheese plate to our table. Overall, what should have taken 45 minutes max, turned into an hour and 20 minute ordeal. The meats and cheeses were ok, but nothing I can't go get at Caputo cheese market to bring home. As we don't often go out to eat, the service needs to be decent and the food drastically better than what I can prepare at home. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market did not fit the bill on either account. Finally, the decor, while nice, is a bit strange. It sort of looks like a high-end bar, which doesn't really align with a restaurant with "Cheese Market" in its name. In addition, there are a lot of different items of the menu that don't jibe with the Cheese Market theme and would fit better in a high-end bar or even a breakfast/brunch place. As such, I think this establishment is struggling with an identity issue in terms of what it wants to be.
(1)Cali K.
After thinking Oak Park was a completely dry town, I discovered Marion Street Cheese Market not too long ago and I stopped in last night to pick up a bottle of wine. The customer service was amazing. Candie recommended a great bottle of Adobe White to compliment my sushi take-out. She was very knowledgeable about wines in general, and after a glass or two, I thank her for the recommendation. She also informed me that they have free wine tastings on the weekends and that alone gives me reason to return. Although I did not try out the cafe just yet, they have an outdoor seating area that will be perfect for summer!
(5)Maegan B.
Quite possibly my favorite restaurant! Everything I've had there is delicious from cheese flights to salads to soups to entrees to wine. Wait staff is helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. Would recommend this to anyone who is in the Oak Park area. Also has a super cute cheese and wine shop.
(5)Mary B.
WOWIE, WOWIE. A week or so ago I was having a bad day and decided to take myself out for dinner. I had been hearing about Marion Street and decided why not! I walked in and was greeted promptly by the hostess who informed me that there would be a short wait. I had a really delicious south african wine at the bar until a table was available. Once I sat down my server came up and I think she could tell I was having a crappy day because she immediately engaged me in conversation and was very friendly and helpful. All of her suggestions were delicious and even though I was stuffed from the hazlenut encrusted brie and the lamb shoulder I ordered, I managed to suck down a little trio of crembrulees for dessert. I think this place is GOLD. SOLID GOLD.
(5)Cynthia G.
10 stars! This place is wonderful. I went to pick out some cheese and olives for a little gift set for Christmas, and the staff spent forever assisting me and let me try a million different cheeses. They also wrapped it up prettily in a nice little bag, and I didn't end up spending much at all. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Kelley F.
Ok, I love cheese so it's no surprise that I would highly rate a cheese shop - however, were the shop to be poorly staffed or annoying, I might be inclined to rate it lower, at the expense of good cheese. That all said, the Marion Street Cheese Market is fantastic! The staff is wonderful - so nice and so very helpful. My sister and I stopped in just before the holidays and during a time many retail employees were just at their wits end, but the Market's employees seemed happy and genuinely interested in helping us make our selections. They gave us samples and recommendations. The selection is a nice one and they offer a variety of things to pair the cheeses with, from wine to olives. Overall, an excellent experience. It was my first visit but I can promise it won't be my last!
(5)Bob W.
They have to seriously reconsider their growler prices. In case you don't know, growlers are half-gallon containers of draft beer. They're enjoying a renewed popularity particularly in the craft beer-world. Two Brothers and Revolution Brewing will refill a growler for between $6-10 depending on the beer. Marion St. charges $18 and up for refills of the same beer. That is a huge markup.
(3)gd v.
Have been here many times...like the atmosphere, the wine & deli selections and the restaurant. The staff are very nice, accommodating & know their stuff. It is a bit pricey...but I think worth it for the quality of food & wine you are getting. Your best bet is to order a few different apz's & then split a meal with a friend . My favorite...the warm olives...so very simple but so good! Little advice...always make sure to ask if the wine you ordered is being substituted by another...though it may be equally as good or even better... you still should know which brand you are drinking. The deli selections are perfect for a dinner party!
(4)Sarah R.
After having a few drinks at Poor Phils we needed something to eat and all the fried food on their menu just wasn't appealing that night. We'd heard good things about the Cheese Market so we headed that way. At first when we walked in we felt super underdressed in our jeans and hoodies not realizing this was a nicer place to dine. Thankfully we were still warmly welcomed by the hostess and there was an opening at the bar so we felt comfortable sitting there. I can't remember what it was but there was a nice micro-brew on tap for only $4 that was absolutely delicious. We both got that to start and then began looking at the cheeses. We ended up doing a cheese tasting and also got the Focaccia. I can't remember what cheese we had exactly but they were nicely paired with fruit, nuts, and spreads and were just absolutely delicious. We were loving every moment with that cheese and were sad when it was gone, until we tasted the Focaccia. Whoa...Again I can't remember what it was exactly and it changes every day but there were roasted veggies and a light sprinkle of cheese. It was amazing. I had no idea Focaccia could be that good. We were super happy that we stopped into the Marion Street Cheese Market that night. I would highly recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area!
(5)Anna F.
I love the food here and I HATE the service. I really respect what the chef is doing with local ingredients, but for the price, the service needs to be far, FAR better. I feel like I am a glutton for punishment going back here time and time again. Great eats and drinks but you have to wait and wait and ask for basic things that should have made their way to your table ( like cutlery or menus or sugar etc.). I think the problem is the management especially this one server/front of house manager named Kate or Katie. She is beyond flaky and dreadful. I can't believe she has been working there so long. I shudder when she is my server. Really I think I have a bizarre love/hate relationship with this place. Literally tonight what should have been a 90 minute dinner stretched to 3 hours and we might have ordered dessert were it not for having been there so long. On many other occasions I have waited a full half hour for a glass of wine to show up at my table. Seriously MCSM get some proper management in place!!! This may well have been my last time visiting.
(2)Liz F.
i love marion street, despite sometimes being absolutely floored at the incompetence of its waitstaff. i feel bad even saying it, because i know and like many of the excellent staff at mscm, but there are a few waiters who just seem totally clueless. how does it take over half an hour to bring out a beer flight? and why must i sit staring at my cheese pairings for half of that time? i've heard others complain about the service as well, which is too bad because the cheese, wine, and beer selections both in the restaurant and the retail store are amazing. the restaurant food itself is also pretty good, if a little boring, and is occassionally great.
(3)Rich B.
CANNOT RECOMMEND this restaurant due repeated very bad service. I have watched a group of wait staff chatting behind the counter while food takes 45 minutes to arrive - and then it can be cold and incomplete. You can order a beer and a glass of wine and wait 20 minutes for it to show up and then it will be wrong. I really wanted to like this restaurant. But I have had to just get up and walk out twice. At least two other times it was all I could do to stay in my chair in the hope that my dining experience would get better any moment. I have had some good meals here. But no Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park restaurant has been as needlessly disappointing. The food is usually okay but the service has ranged from good to just plain awful. I have brought out of town guests here and have been very embarrassed for choosing this restaurant to try to show off Oak Park. This place has even goofed up a limit menu breakfast. Go to Winberie's in Oak Park for a consistently better food value and better service. The Marion Street Grille could be good if better managed and if it had experienced wait staff that actually cared. It has a couple of good waitresses, but the rest wait staff just doesn't belong there.
(1)Amanda G.
I adore this quaint place, tucked away in Oak Park! When this establishment was born, there was not much to it; but, boy, have they grown!! More wine choices, more cheese choices, full menu. Yes, please! My gal pal and I started with a refreshing sparkling rose and a cheese platter. Since we could not decide, so I waitress picked all her favorites. Our cheese adventure started with a sweet, light cheese and ended with a rich, earthy cheese. So AWESOME!! We decided to split a salad and the crab cake sandwich. Oh my....holy yumminess!! Best way to round out lunch?? Another glass of wine and some great conversation. I am so glad this place found its way to Oak Park!
(4)Amy O.
Live music, chocolates and sooo much cheese! The only thing not to love about this place is the watered down coffee and the you-look-too-young-so-I'm-not-giving-you-good-Âservice syndrome. I do. I look 16 or 17. I am 25.
(4)Ryan A.
Far and away the best customer service we've ever had. you don't have to be an expert on wine/cheeses, you will get plenty of help from the staff there. we have been there several times now and always get suggestions from their service team who are more than willing to help you as you peruse on the store side. in fact, i was even given help with the microbrews they have there. the restaurant is also great, and the service their is outstanding- especially nick the bartender. this is probably the best place in Oak Park, a must for anyone in the area
(5)Dennis S.
The meal was a disaster, for which they did not charge me. So I'll skip the restaurant part of Marion St. Cheese Market and just rate them as a cheese shop. As a cheese shop, it's disappointing. If I lived in the Oak Park area, I'd be ecstatic that they have such a great little shop in town. But a destination, it's not. Worth detouring off the Eisenhower - no. Their selection of American cheeses is good. So if you want to get patriotic and expand your knowledge of small American artisanal cheese makers, this is a good place. But if you want to have the full range of cheeses to select from, Whole Foods and Sam's/Binny's off North Avenue still win the day in Chicagoland. Their selection of goudas was good, as was their selection of blues. Beyond that their European choices were pretty limited. And their prices were high - for example, the highest price I've seen in Chicago for Wisconsin's Pleasant Ridge Reserve. Their staff was pleasant, but couldn't figure out how to cut a requested quarter-pound piece of cheese. Showing two poorly cut pieces, he said "This one's .19 pound and this one's .34 - which one do you want?" Nor did he know the cheeses I was asking for by name - I had to point to them for him. That's not a big issue if you know what you want, but most people want advice at a cheese counter. I guess that's too much to expect in Oak Park. The shop's overall selection is very interesting. Wines, cheeses, cured meats, exotic foods, decorations, paraphernalia, all the things you need to sell to make money in a small suburban shop. The décor is a mess - it looks like every time the owner had another profitable quarter, he/she hired a different architect to design another 20 feet of wall space. Nothing matches anything else, although everything is well done. It's beyond eclectic - it's confused. It's money spent on decorations to attract the suburban housewife rather than money spent on building a good cheese selection. Probably the right strategy for making money in Oak Park! I'd prefer a deli counter with knowledgeable staff and a great selection.
(3)Naomi E.
Ok - they definitely have a ventilation problem here. My clothes and hair were immersed in the smell of burnt oil when I left and even at times when I was there my eyes were watering. It's such a contrast to the overall feel of this place that it's such a shame! Food on the other hand equalled yummy yummy yummy! For brunch we had the mixed breads, the insanely decadent hangover sandwich (be warned its not for the faint hearted or calorie counters) and the quiche of the day (red peppers and goats cheese). $5 spicylicous bloody marys were a treat!
(4)Andrew S.
had brunch there this weekend. overall great restaurant- food, service and atmosphere. the chilaquiles were excellent and i thoroughly enjoyed my bloody mary. i regret not purchasing from their cheese case, maybe next time.
(4)Ashly S.
Where to begin? Cheese...wine...new, incredible menu...ridiculous desserts...yeah, it's all good. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of dining at the Marion Street Cheese Market while visiting friends in the Chicagoland area and it was wonderful. Our server was not only knowledgable but enthusiastic about the menu -- he offered recommendations that were spot on and totally delicious. They have an appetizer that is a crabcake paired with a thai apple salad and it was amazing! So complex and delicious, surprisingly light and altogether such a cool idea. For dinner, I went with the bacon-wrapped rabbit leg and it was beautifully done. Amazing little spot in Oak Park -- highly recommend this spot. :)
(5)Thomas C.
Started as a hole in the wall place to get some really good cheese. Relocated and became a really good place to get cheese, wine and craft beers. Now it is a great place, period. About the only thing anybody could reaosnably complain about are the prices, and they aren't bad when you consider th quality of what you are getting. Yes you can go to famous liquors and find many of the same beers for a few bucks less, but you won't tap into the knowledge the Charlie has, and you won't have access to the great cheeses, wines and other "pair this with your wine, cheese or beer" offerings that are in abundance in this great little place.
(5)Dennis L.
My second visit to Marion Street for brunch was less impressive. The food was still very good, but the service was dreadfully slow. Additionally, they needed to install or turn up the exhaust fan in the kitchen. All of my clothes left smelling like I was standing over a deep fryer. I certainly hope my experience today was a fluke. I am only dropping one star as the food was delicious.
(3)K. E.
What I really recommend is you should go to this place and buy wine and cheese (and a loaf of bread) and take it home and call it dinner. The "cheesemongers" behind the cheese cases offer 5-star service including tastes, recommendations, good ideas on what goes with what. I have bought some great cheese flights with their help - and fed them to some very picky eaters with astonishing success. The pricing in the cheese cases is by the quarter-pound. This seems very smart to me. You could faint over the prices if you saw the full-pound price on everything - but who buys a full pound of stuff like that?? And they'll cut you as small a piece as you want. I have a soft spot for this place because of a bunch of personal connections - but in reference to all the complaints about service in other reviews, I feel your pain. I'm not sure why they never quite get it together. I'll probably keep going, but lately I've been hesitating about recommending dining in. If you sign up for their email list, you'll always get some kind of discount. That's really worth checking out. Good luck.
(4)Bo Y.
Easily one of the best American restaurants in the oak park neighborhood. I like how their menus change periodically. The prices are quite good, imo. The dinner Entree portions are pretty huge. I went last night and I had the trout. Probably 10 oz portion with a pesto cream sauce and rock shrimp. We also got the scallop appetizer- the sear wasn't very good, and was only seared on one side. The octopus was OK as well, I couldn't really figure out the dish. My mother in law had the crab stuffed walleye with a salt and vinegar potato salad. The fish was well cooked. We also ordered a few sides-sprouts, root veggies with goat cheese, and a mac and cheese. The sprouts were quite good as was the root vegetables, but the Mac and cheese had an off putting taste to it for some reason. I took one bite and stopped there. The highlight of the night was definitely the prosciutto and fig flatbread. Easily the best flatbread I've ever had. Everything about it was just perfect. Needless to say I will be returning since it's only 1 block from my house. The service was quite attentive as well. We sat outside and the offered to store our stroller. As we were getting ready to leave they brought out the stroller for us. So really overall I'd give it. 4.5/5 stars.
(4)Nico s.
if you ever go here, besides the awesome staff here the food is amazing every time. If you get Rachel or Sara as bartendresses ask for old fashioned's they are amazing. the chicken biscuit with spicy mango salsa is soo good. For the people that are looking for a new beer, visit charlie in the retail section,, this guy is very approachable and on point with regard to the different beer selections and emerging brews. all and all I can't speak highly enough to the complete package that you will find in this place. Live music great ambiance superb staff.
(5)Hip S.
I have been here probably about 6 times and I WANT SO BADLY FOR IT TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS! I have been there for every meal, for business, with girlfriends, and with husband. I mean, really...cocktails, wine, cheese...what's not to love? A few things unfortunately: 1. Service. The servers I have had, without fail, have been beyond confused. They do not know the menu. They cannot answer questions. And more than once, there have been errors because the server doesn't know what is being ordered. 2. "We are out of that". Half of my visits involved this phrase. Out of "muddled berries"? 3. General feeling of paying too much for the experience. I am happy to pay lots of money to restaurants and certainly don't grumble about portion sizes or purchasing bottled water. But each time, I find myself thinking "Meh. For this amount of money, I should not be thinking 'meh'" So I'm taking a sabbatical from this cute local place and will, because I really want to love it, be back again. I hope I am able to update with emojis and other excitable things!
(3)Joe T.
Don't get carry out. I ordered carryout and the two soups I ordered were probably 3 ounces each. Food is great and service is good but not when carrying out. Won't make that mistake again.
(2)Eric S.
Cheeses christ, they weren't kidding about this place. MSCM's reputation precedes them (being the 2nd or 3rd highest-rated business in the Oak Park area), and for good reason. Between the exemplary charcuterie trays and attentive service, I can fully understand why so many people are enamored with this establishment. It took me nearly 15 months to discover this delightful spot, despite living less than a half mile away. Better late than never, I 'spose. Nevertheless, what I found was a reasonably upscale bistro with a great menu and decent wine list. I was told the wait would be 8 minutes which wound up being closer to 15, but being seated on the outdoor veranda was a treat. A glass of Bordeaux for myself and a Manhattan for my companion got us started, though I was hoping for a Shiraz or Chianti on their wine listing and found nothing of the sort. We selected 3 cheeses and 2 meats from their 'pick 5' for $19, with a goat cheese, sheep's milk cheese, and an aged blue cheese accompanied by a smooth salami and spicy chorizo-style sausage. The platter came with a raspberry preserve and pine nuts with sliced ciabatta bread. Because I eat like an anaconda, I had to order something else to gorge on. I opted for the duck ravioli, which was served amidst a parmesan au jus and spinach with strands of prosciutto. For $16, I felt it was of reasonable value; the flavor of the duck was mild without being overwhelmed by the parmesan and prosciutto. It was surprisingly filling. Value-wise, the tab totaled an even $100 with tip (we got 2 drinks apiece, averaging $11/pp) and it was just about as much as I expected. A relatively pricey endeavor, but justified by the quality of items. Our server did a nice job taking care of us and the patio was perfect for people-watching. MSCM is a great place to take a date on a summer evening, if I do say so myself. The shop inside has a great variety of things for purchase and there's even a glass case filled with fancy-shmancy chocolate truffles (we're talking $2.25/piece). I'd like to return someday in the future, but one visit to this trendy cheese castle is enough to last for a while. Still, I highly recommend!
(5)Laura H.
I live in Michigan and every Chicago trip I make, Marion Street Cheese market now has to be apart of it! This place is awesome. The staff knows everything about the cheese and wine that they sell and they are sooooo friendly. My friends and I tend to have a lot of questions when we are purchasing our wine and cheese and we always leave very happy! Highly suggest!
(5)nina D.
This place is great. I went here with my friends from NYC and DC and they were very impressed with the small plates we ordered (corn-crawfish fritters and the midwestern tour cheese plate) as well as the gourmet chocolates we took home. Can you believe they make a Devon St. chocolate with garam masala? A blue cheese chocolate? A Gold Coast chocolate with edible gold? It was like taking our taste buds on a culinary adventure :) Very cool stuff!
(5)Jennifer H.
Came in today 11/20 & was exited to see the new menu. Much needed update was done to the cocktail menu. Menu has been winterized to include soups, warm cocktails, etc. Apparently the wine menu was also updated. I liked the new red Bordeaux.
(4)Marek C.
Honesty nothing special about this place . Their food is not even average ... Plus I did not like out waitress as far as her attitude ... Asian girl was very unfriendly ... I had this impression we did bother her when we asked simple questions ... No smile... No nothing .... Defiantly I'm not coming back ... I can take my money anywhere else and get better customer service ...
(1)Lea J.
This is my favorite local stop off spot for happy hours. They make some of the best drinks in Cook Cty, have a continuous seasonal supply of the best craft beers ever, along w/tons of locally distilled spirits made w/fresh botanicals & spices. The menu has something for everyone, esp if you like paring wines w/cheese plates. And the staff is the best!!
(5)Jessica M.
If this restaurant was in San Diego, or I lived in Oak Park, I would never leave. On my visit, the three of us enjoyed several appetizers, wine, and craft beer. The cheese plate was delicious, and the "asparagus chips" that garnished the arancini blew my mind! My only criticism would be the pork macaroni and cheese. Don't get me wrong, it was super tasty! But it was not what you expect to get when you order macaroni and cheese... The macaroni was swimming in a delicious veal-flavored béchamel sauce, with a few slices of fontina melted on top. It is not the ooey gooey, decadent, cheese-filled dish that is macaroni and cheese. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed it, and do not regret the order. Dessert was freshly made donuts, and a couple dishes of gelato. Both were great. But the best part of the experience was our waiter, Victor. He was knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and attentive. When I make it back to Oak Park, I will be requesting to sit in his section!
(4)Liz S.
Went here to pick up some beer at 4:40 pm, sign on the door said they were open till 5:00 pm and the doors were locked. The two workers inside looked at us and then back to their phone. Tried all three entrances, all locked.
(1)Timothy T.
Loooove this place, especially sitting outside in the summer as we love to watch the L and Metra trains go by on the elevated tracks across the street. The food is nothing but high quality, this includes the cheese counter itself and the dessert / chocolate display. I'm sad to say the Hangover sandwich is no longer on the menu, but the amazing Cauliflower dish remains (thank goodness!). If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you'll love their new dish w loads of them. Excellent restaurant.
(5)Erika S.
Amaaaazing. I took my family here for brunch one weekend afternoon some time ago and we had a cheese and charcuterie plate to start with some phenomenal cheese and some kind of fig jam that tasted fantastic with the milder cheeses, not to mention some bangin' prosciutto. I had a delicious sandwich loaded with cheese, but their menu changes fairly frequently depending on what is in season and what they have in stock. I have had one "bad" experience there, but let me tell you why I still give this place 5 stars. A few weekends ago was my birthday, and my parents wanted to take me to brunch wherever I wanted. I selected Marion Street Cheese Market (this was on a different occasion than the above), and we sat outside on a somewhat windy but warm day. Little did we know that a baby shower was being held there the same day. The indoor dining room was full of attendees, and the kitchen was backed the hell up because of it. We ordered, and waited, oh, 45 minutes for our food? I could understand the delay with the number of baby shower attendees inside, and the wait staff (and the manager) apologized profusely for the delay. When our food came out, my order, as well as my father's (we'd both gotten the chilaquiles) was cold. Delicious, but cold. My father and I reluctantly called over the waiter and noted our food was cold (it was good and I would have eaten it and I HATE sending food back and I never do it but it... well... was cold). Waiter again apologized profusely. We expected them to just pop it in the microwave and bring it right back out, as that's really all it needed. About 20 minutes later, my dad and I were still sans food. It occurred to me then what was happening. They were making it up to us by cooking us entirely new plates of food. They don't BS around here. When it did finally come back out, it was spectacular. I'd never had chilaquiles before but it was flaky, flavorful, and just plain amazing. I'd never had anything like it. Worth the wait. Plus it was a lovely afternoon, I was just enjoying my parents' company. Then, the manager came out and said our entire bill was comped due to the delays. It was a kind gesture (that was pretty well warranted given the circumstances) and meant that I got a free birthday brunch. I've also patronized Marion Street for their wine and beer. The cheese is a little steep for me (I only feed myself in my house, so a 1/4 lb of cheese would likely go wasted before it went bad) but the wine and beer selection has some reasonable options. They also are the only place I have seen outside of the DC area carrying Flying Dog "Raging Bitch" beer which gives me a little slice of home. Try their truffles too from the little chocolate counter next to the beer fridge. I've had a few varieties and they are absolutely delicious. I'll continue to come back to Marion Street Cheese Market again and again!
(5)Kathy R.
Okay, guys...the food here is still top-notch, but they really need to work on the service part. The last few times I've been here, the service has really been pretty bad. I brought a girlfriend here after repeatedly telling her how great the place is. This was the day that I've never had worse service! We were seated and ignored for quite a long time. I had to go grab someone to finally talk to us. He sucked. He spent all his time, hanging out behind the bar counter, chatting with another server. I have also never stiffed ANYONE. We left him one dollar...on a $50 check. He sucked that badly! Okay, so, I went back with a group weeks later. This time, they server was good and the food was excellent. If they could iron out the inconsistencies with the service, it will once again return to a 5 star establishment in my eyes.
(4)Kari G.
The brunch here is delicious! My kids devoured the bacon, the French toast, eggs & yogurt and granola. I had the roasted cauliflower sandwich and my husband had the sweet potato grits and eggs with a side of potatoes. Everything was sooo good and we will definitely be back!!
(5)Chuck F.
Unique in every way. The food and presentation show an attention to both, quality and detail. The wine and cheese selection,from the shop, are impeccable.
(5)M W.
I must admit, their mac n cheese is delicious. I did wish that I had some hot sauce to put on it. Definitely wasn't worth $14 though (but I wasn't paying so I didn't mind too much haha). Also, I would imagine for $14 it would be a pretty large portion, but it wasn't. The other person I was with had a lamb pasta dish with pomegranate seeds. It was fine. Not as flavorful or big of a portion for the price. As we definitely had room to spare at the end of the meal, we shared a dessert, a chocolate pudding with crème fraîche. The crème fraîche tasted like greek yogurt (which I am definitely not a fan of). The dessert was also ridiculously small, and DEFINITELY not worth $7. The food can be pretty good depending on what you order, but it's pretty overpriced and small.
(3)Angel W.
I really wish I had more nice things to say about Marion Street Cheese Market. My friend and I went out of our way to travel here and discovered that most of the roads around the restaurant were closed/blocked off. Since I am not from the area and we could not determine how safe the neighborhood was, we called the restaurant to get walking directions. The staff was completely unhelpful and had no idea where we were or how to navigate us to the restaurant. Turns out we were right on the other side of the road behind an obvious landmark; a large hotel. When we mentioned the road was blocked, the staff person acted confused. The ENTIRE road is blocked, how could they not understand why we could not find them? I am still utterly confused myself about how the staff could be so clueless. The restaurant has a nice ambience and a cozy bar area. And I did like one and a half of the courses I ordered and those are the only two compliments I can offer Marion Street Cheese Market.. Our server was a bit snooty. Service was somewhat slow. Marion Street Café was offering a price fix menu that included pumpkin bisque. I did not want the entire price fixe menu but inquired about ordering the bisque separately. The restaurant could not accommodate me since they were concerned about running out of soup for the other patrons that may order from the price fixe menu between the time I arrived and the next hour, when they would be closing. Soup would have been nice since it was raining and they could not offer directions so we were walking in the rain for a bit. The server mentioned many people had requested the bisque and they could not accommodate all of the requests. Well, duh, why don't you put it on the regular menu if it's so popular rather than flaunting it in people's faces? So anyways, I settled for the warm chevre salad with roasted apples + seedling cider vinaigrette + sunflower seeds +Capriole farmstead Chevre. It was okay. I of course would have preferred the soup. The beer boiled peanuts were good. There was one particular bruschetta that was fantastic - Heirloom potato confit + caramelized peppers + black garlic aioli. Definitely worth trying! The other variations of bruschetta were not that great - 1) Black eyed peas + Edward's country ham + green tomato jam and 2) Lentil sunchoke mash + grilled mushroom + rosemary balsamic My friend's roasted beet salad was pretty good and was made with Green Acres beets + moody blue cheese +candied pecans + organic arugula +sherry vinaigrette My friend did not enjoy the $12 wine price per glass. I had high hopes for this place, but found the staff to be inhospitable between the inability to offer directions or to offer a soup from their menu. Also the server mentioned that the construction was hurting their business, but I didn't really see them trying so hard to impress the clientele who went out of their way to patronize the venue. After our experience here, my friend said she was picking the restaurant the next night, and I have to say she did a much better job finding a place that we liked than I did.
(3)Lauren R.
You know that movie Hustle and Flow? Remember the song "Whoop That Trick". I have a new saying for yelp that can be applied to good or bad reviews and the saying goes like this: I need to "Yelp That $#*7" I came up with it after we ate at Marion Street this weekend. I have been to this place about 5 times for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. We keep coming back because it happens to be one of my family members favorite places to dine. This weekend we stopped in with a group of 10 people. The kids sat at a separate table and ordered grilled cheese, smoked salmon and a cheese flight. The restaurant was quiet, not busy. The brussel sprouts with raisins and the cauliflower appetizer was some of the best food I have ever tasted. I even insisted that the server tell the chef that. We had an army of people ignoring our table of 6. 2 servers, 3 bus staff. Because we had 2 servers waiting on our table they were in a constant state of confusion. When the appetizers were dropped the server left without giving us any silverware or napkins. We helped ourselves to the bus station for supplies after a few moments realizing that no one was coming back for us. But we were still short napkins and silverware. We eventually started eating with our fingers since the appetizers were getting cold. The appetizer and salad plates were still on the table when the entree's came. The server had no idea who ordered what and we had to remind them every step of the way. Our server would disappear for long periods of time. Maybe he was scared of us or too cold since we were sitting outside. Not sure why he would be scared though we were pretty polite, no special orders, pretty simple stuff. When I asked for another glass of wine and they asked me "what did you order?". Hell, I couldn't remember the French name of the white wine that I ordered, it was some complicated name, not an easy peasy thing like "Chardonnay". When we got the 400.00 bill I almost choked considering that we had to beg for napkins, water, silverware, wine, and attention of kind etc. You know the service here is never really that great come to think of it. I am giving it 3 stars because the food is good. But seriously, get your act together. For 400.00 I expect better service.
(2)Gina S.
Cheese!!!!!! I was pretty much grinning ear to ear at this gormet cheese counter. So many cheeses! It's more than a cheese market, there's wine and a restaurant all rolled into one super cute market cafe located in downtown Oak Park (one of my new favorite places just outside the city). After trying a few cheeses, some of my own suggestion and some suggested by the Cheesewoman, I settled on a delicious 4 year aged Gouda (nutty with hints of caramel) and a Gruyère Surchoix (smooth & mellow with light floral notes). I contemplated trying some of the blue cheese, but it would have been more out of curiosity because there were a few blue cheeses that were a little bluer than I've ever seen. I'm talking like furry little balls of blueness with cheese somewhere under than coat of blue. I WILL be back!
(5)Sherri B.
Al fresco dining on a beautiful day with a wonderful cheese platter and great wine. Plate presentation was awesome. Service was friendly and attentive.
(5)Andrew T.
A very cool place, with lots to choose from. Three cases of cheese, with a sort of cheddar/gouda type case, a cream/goat case, and a blue case. Lots of selection, and what I felt were some very helpful staff. The particular person that waited on me didn't have the best suggestions, but one other woman who i listened to advising other people had great tips that I took advantage of. We walked out with a piece of blue, wrapped in pear brandy soaked grape leaves (spectacular), a piece of heavenly goat cheese with an ash rind, a triple cream that was supposed to taste of mushrooms (but was actually a little cabbage-y) and my person favorite, a large hunk of Wensleydale. By the way - big points to Marion Street for stocking this in plain. I can get it anywhere I want with cranberries in it, but then it tastes like cranberries, and not like cheese. Also cool are the hand written placards with icons and check marks indicating milk type. The staff is writing the sort of reviews that belong on wine bottles - one cheese had hints of "forest floor and lambs quarters." I don't know that I wanted that one. A reasonable meat case as well - including some interesting things, and a hunk of real jamon serrano, at just $1000/lb. I did not indulge. They also offer cheese flights, apparently, but as we were on our was to New Rebozo, we decided to take ours home. It is a little expensive, but they have some things that are probably hard to find. And it's not an every day indulgence anyway. Not to my taste, but they had an awesome selection of craft and micro brew beers - I have friends who should probably go here just to sample a huge range of IPAs. Either way, we'll be back. There's lots more to sample.
(4)Dave J.
Really, really, really good! A great selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. My wife and I ate dinner here, and ordered a few meats and cheeses from their "cheese monger" menu to start off with. I wish our waitress was a bit more knowledgeable about the selections. I asked her what one type of cheese was like, tastewise, and she said she didn't know. I'd like to think that the servers would be very knowledgeable about what's on their menu. When one of our cheese choices was unavailable, she replaced the cheese without asking which one we wanted, she just brought out whatever SHE thought would be good. I knocked off a star from my rating because of this. The main courses, cider-braised pork "osso buco" and crispy fried chicken were outstanding. Top quality ingredients, nicely prepared. There were some excellent selections on the beer and wine menu as well. I think that I'm going to cut back on my alcohol consumption in Cook County from now on, as there was a 12.5% TAX for the beer and wine we ordered. I know it's not the restaurant's fault, but still good enough reason to imbibe in Lake County, or elsewhere. I've eaten here for lunch in the past as well, and whatever soup is on the menu, please be sure to order it! The soups are EXCELLENT! All in all, a great place for lunch or dinner. A nice selection of cheeses and cured meats in their deli case too, along with a good selection of wines and microbrewed beers.
(4)Alicia K.
I think I can summarize my slew of experiences here in two words: IN. LOVE. This place is pretty much what happens when you mix the best of everything together -- great food, good service, sustainability and a strong regard for the environment, cheese, and wine. What more do you need?! I've been for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and never cease to be impressed with my experience. It's true MSCM is a tad bit "pricey," but frankly, you get what you pay for. Everything here is delicious and insanely fresh. The only downside is that they do change their menu based on seasonal ingredients and what's local and available, so sometimes you will fall head over heels for something (e.g. their coconut curry soup... OH EM GEE... HEAVENLY!!!) but then not be able to get it there again for a year. When that's the only downside, though, can you really complain?! The cheese counter has an insane number of options, all fantastic, and their employees are very knowledgable and able to help you find just what you're looking for. (Our current obsession is the Le'Amuse Gouda. Try it with honey crisp apples on wheat thins. This will literally change your life.) Wine selection is out of this world, and again, super knowledgeable employees. They sometimes have wine tastings or other cute events, so if you live nearby, you may want to inquire about those. And if I haven't convinced you to try it yet, fine -- don't listen to me. But maybe the 100+ other 4 & 5 star reviews will help sway you? ;]
(5)Dawn B.
I really love coming here. It feels like a "treat" every time. I do wish the prices were a little more affordable for the food. Their wine specials on various days are really good, so I guess that makes up for it. The staff is knowledgeable about the vino and the cheese---I usually tell them the things I like and let them pick.
(4)Mary Ann C.
Yummmm. I have been here many times for meals and retail purchases (dating back to their old, tiny location. I love this place. Good service. Knowledgeable service. Good food and great products. Enjoyed lunch yesterday outside. Finally tried the cauliflower sandwich (amazing) with a lovely glass of wine. Loved that the server noticed the wine I picked out and told me what an interesting choice it was (plus gave me extra tips on the selection). The fruit salad with mint was a great addition to the meal. A must visit when in Oak Park!!!
(4)Anastacia B.
Dear Marion St, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I followed my rules and sat at the bar. Attentive knowledgeable server/bartender- who at the end of the meal gave me a sample of Gin I asked about. I saw you sell it in your shop. Guess who will be back to get a bottle! Thank you for offering 10% off at the bottom of my food receipt toward a purchase in the shop. It took me 20 minutes to decide what I wanted. Reading the menu is like food porn. (Sorry I went there but I did).....I finally settled on the Goat cheese salad with hazel nuts and roasted grapes as well as the mushroom skillet. My friend ordered the fresh corn quiche. Now I'm ruined for brunch anywhere else... Only quirk, front of house staff- 4 of them at host stand. We said hello- no response. We stood for a few awkward moments waiting to be acknowledged...just eye contact and- I'll be with you in a moment- works wonders....
(5)Ellen M.
This was downright fantastic. Date and I arrived on a Sunday at about 4:15, before dinner service, in one of those weird days of starting with a late breakfast and skipping lunch. Dinner doesn't begin until 5, but the cheese bar was open. Cheese it was! A flight of five, including a terrific sheep cheese and a salty goat, and excellent jam. It held us until dinner. Dinner! Yes...golden beet salad with arugula and a carpaccio plate. So good. Date had the black bean soup and the mac/cheese. Mac/cheese fans, you MUST partake of the Marion Street Cheese Market macaroni and cheese. I can't say I've ever tasted a nicer sauce. Drinks were a flight of south american wines for me, some fancy yet masculine cocktail for him. Dessert: chocolate. 'Nuff said, my friends. Service: attuned. I appreciated that they offered to get rid of the television when they noticed I made a face when I saw it. We were the only ones in the room at the time, and *shoom* the big screen faded into the ceiling without a care. Nice beer list. Accessible, but good choices. I will be back.
(4)Anne D.
I came here for the first time last year for lunch and had a fabulous grilled cheese, so I was already a fan. Recently I bought a Groupon for a prix fixe menu with craft beer pairings for 2. Yum! I enjoyed all three beer tastings and all of the food. We each got to choose one of two dishes for each of three courses, so we decided to get one of everything and split them. Pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, grits (yes, grits - but they were fantastic) with mushrooms and bleu cheese, chocolate cake, and a stout float with caramel ice cream and chipotle-seasoned cookies. We thoroughly enjoyed each thing and it was a great opportunity to try dishes that I probably wouldn't normally order. Despite what some reviews have said, the service was good even though they were crowded. We had just long enough between courses to finish each before the next came, and the check came promptly. The only thing that might hold me back from coming here again soon is that the prices are pretty steep. I think I'll probably return for lunch or brunch to save a little money, and maybe come back for a special dinner.
(4)Sam G.
Save your stationery because this is no place to write home about. This pretentious, overpriced, sub par establishment will probably leave you hungry and irritated. I would give food itself a B-, but the portions were incredibly small and overpriced. The service was slow. After finishing my beer halfway through me meal, I order another and waited 12 minutes before canceling it and asking for the check. Seriously, Oak Park has many better places, particularly for the price.
(1)Jose G.
I would consider myself a regular here - at least at the bar stools for a beverage, cheese flight and conversation with the bartenders. By the way, the beers they serve are all craft/micro brews. No Miller Lite here! Which is a good thing if you ask me. If you're a beer fan and like trying unique brews, have a sampler, or just ask for a little taste. I don't necessarily come here for their full dinner menus. The food is fantastic though, Chef Leonard does a great job with the menus, but just not my style for dinner. The Mac-N-Choose is great! There's usually a meat option and a non-meat option for this dish - just ask your servers. Speaking of servers, I think they're hit or miss. If they know you and recognize that you're in fairly often, they're great. On occasion though, we'll get a new (to us) server who isn't as attentive or friendly. The retail side of the MSCM has a great selection of wines, craft beers, cheeses, meats, truffles, honeys, unique kitchen items.. too many to list! If you're looking for a gift for someone who appreciates this stuff, they can put together a nice gift basket for you. If you want the scoop on their beers, talk to Charlie, he really knows his stuff and will guide you to the right beer! They sometimes have free tastings, usually on the weekends it seems. All in all, a great little Bistro! They are doing their part for the environment and are very into supporting local businesses. If you're in the Oak Park area, stop in to visit them!
(5)Jeffrey M.
This is a great spot. My gf and I had an awesome cheese flight, and a couple awesome wine flights. I loved the mac n cheese special. After dinner we shopped in the awesome gourmet grocery store. Picked up some amazing brie, cheddar, and taleggio. Some foie gras and duck liver. Another pate of chicken liver and pork mousse. Also a couple of bottles of some awesome wine.
(4)Angela M.
The one star is based on my experience and service. This is NOT a food review... for I didn't have a chance to try. Based on the name, I went to dinner with the realization that I would most likely NOT be eating anything... I mean it's a CHEESE market. My dad picked this place for his birthday, and I'm vegan... But, I was surprised to see that they had a tempeh sandwich on their menu. I asked the waiter if they could put the sandwich in a lettuce wrap or even just on a bed of lettuce as a salad due to not knowing what the bread was made with eggs, milk, etc. He looked at me like I had three heads attached to my neck and said "No. We can't do that." At first I thought he had a dry sense of humor and was being sarcastic with me, so I said "Okay, so you can't put a sandwich on a piece of lettuce instead of bread? Even though you sell salad?" He looked at me with confusion and said, "No. That's not something that we do." My sister in law even chimed in stating that I'm a vegan, and that there's no way to put it on a salad? He stuck with his "No." The waiter went around the table asking for everyone's order, when he got to me he asked, "So, what can I get for you?" I said, "I'm good." He then said, "Are you sure I can't accomodate you with something?" Then I looked at him like he had 4 heads attached to his neck and politely declined. Now, if you're not a vegan or vegetarian you might think this is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time that common sense looses to ignorance. Unrelated to veganism; It's like the time I went into Starbucks and they didn't have any regular coffee. Needless to say I won't be recommending this to any vegetarians or vegans... even though their menu clearly states "Please read our menus carefully and tell us what you cannot eat ask your server about our vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options".... i guess that means that they'll accomodate you as long as you don't ask for a lettuce substitute? yeah... that totally makes sense.
(1)Don P.
I asked for de-caffinated coffee for dessert and drank two cups. It is now 3:31 a.m. and I am wide awake. ~~ Someone screwed up. ~~ If I could only speak to the manager and my server at this moment, but I am sure that they are both enjoying blissful sleep. It is hard to get past the pain of this because I will be thrown off my schedule for the rest of the weekend. I am not at all pleased with this surprising outcome of an otherwise okay experience. The price of foregone sleep is too great to pay.
(1)Tony P.
Marion Street has a great ambiance and it really is a great date place or just a meeting spot for wine and cheese lovers/fantics. This is the kind of place that would make a great middle of the week (hello flight night!) get together or a nice weekend spot for when you want to relax and enjoy all the different tastes they have to offer and try something new for a change. My date and I came here for flight night! They have a great menu and just have so many options to try. I was really excited to try everything. Our server was spot on with his recommendations and with all of the wine and cheese they offer, it was a good thing too. Olives, cheese and wine oh my, what more could you ask for? After the flights and appetizers we had it was hard to even think about a main course but that didn't stop us from trying their cheesecake, which was very good. I would like to think the Spanish flight was absolutely delicious!! My date was even nice enough to treat me to a bottle of the Barbazul. I think she knows I am just going to share it with her anyway... They offer a lot of options for a quick stop for a new kitchen gadget, browse their truffle selection or just a great way to enjoy your evening and soak up everything, just like their tasty crusty bread they offer. Looking forward to our next visit as we didn't get try everything we wanted.
(5)Elizabeth G.
Great food, poor service. My husband and I recently moved back to Oak Park after 3 years away. Excited about their draft selection, we've gone here a few weeks in a row. Every week, we are consistently disappointed with the service (although the food and drinks are great). We've had to asked to be served every time, takes a long time to be served a drink (10 minutes the last time!) and often hear the other staff complaining behind the bar. The bar backs and other staff around don't seem to be empowered to serve customers drinks when the bartender is unavailable. The one time when a woman served me the bar manager got on her for it--in front of us! How awkward! Although I love the food and drinks I'm afraid that we'll be giving this spot up for a while. We had hoped it was better after living away for a few years but nothing has changed....
(2)Lynnette K.
I was staying in the Chicago area for work and drove 45 minutes to go here. I was here a couple years ago and am very glad that I came back. Spinach salad with buffalo mozzarella was perfect as was the special of the night -- Mac and cheese with braised pork. I'd drive twice as far for their awesome food. Plus Oak Park is a great little town.
(5)Jared W.
I have to admit, I've never eaten in here, but I've taken some of the food out several times, and have always enjoyed it. The most impressive thing though is the beer selection. They don't have a lot of cooler space, but they've clearly made it a point to stock it with the best beers possible.
(4)Jojo F.
Confessions of an Ex Vegan: Part One. It's true. Somewhere in my trip to Lawrence, KS last month, I ended my six month vegan trip. Was I running with the wrong crowd? No, just enjoying time with two of the most fantastic friends, who also happen to be postdoc students and lovers of life. Well, our friends were in Chicago this week and they wanted to have a meal of, "Something we don't have in Lawrence". Fair enough. With the fabulous suggestions from all my Yelp friends in hand, my new found enjoyment for cheese in moderation and the need to park my car somewhere where the parking wasn't as much as the meal, I reserved a table for 4 at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. The host and server were helpful, graceful and full of recommendations. I had the spinach salad and the francophile cheese plate. I was convinced that I was having a cheese-morphine high. Cheese-morphine?? Yeah, I know. See: tinyurl.com/6pxkw In any case, my husband, friends and I were impressed, to say the least. Totally going back.
(5)Scott S.
Good Food, Good Wine, Solid Service So why 2 stars? You can't leave this place without smelling like you've been standing over a deep fat fryer. Seriously, whenever my wife goes we have to immediately put her clothes (including her coat) in the wash before the smell permeates the house. Now she leaves her winter coat in the car before going in to avoid having to send it to the cleaners. But, she freezes all the way home. The odor is so bad you can smell it outside the restaurant along the windows on the west side of the restaurant. Seriously, fix your ventilation problems. It's gross.
(2)John S.
Stressful day at work? Shed it all off with cheese! First time in this downtown area and its very nice. The streets are all brick! Anywho, sat at the bar and had a Pride and Joy and cheese puffs (Sartori parmesan + grilled scallion + WI cheddar + dijonnaise). The puffs are so gooey! Then I had a cheese flight sampler that I can't remember for the life of me what it was, but it was three cheeses and nuts, sauce, and dried cranberries. (w/ bread) and crackers) Finished it with another Pride and Joy. This place is really big. One side of it is a market with a nice wine and cheese selection. The other side is the restaurant. Very cozy vibes. Great staff too. I shall be back to try their main dishes!
(4)Cristina T.
I came back here last night for dinner. For a Friday night around 7:30 we only waited about 15 minutes for the table. We waited at the bar area and had some wine and cheese to start. When we were seated at the table the servers brought our wine and cheese along. Unfortunately we were seated practically next to the band playing. It was also pretty hot inside the restaurant. Luckily the good food made up for it. We continued onto the shrimp wontons which were perfectly fried and salted. We also tried the bruschetta duo-the smoked trout and the pesto ones were very good. We also split the macaroni and cheese with Nueske's bacon mixed in. It was perfectly creamy and delicious. The only thing I thought was weird was the service. Last time I came to MSCM we sat at the bar and loved the personal service we received. Our service this time was a little spotty. When I filled out the bill, I just wrote the total amount with tip included. The server awkwardly came out and asked me if I could write out the tip amount in the space. He said he couldn't process the bill without this filled in. What? I do this practically at every restaurant and have never been asked this question before. It was so awkward with the server standing and watching me fill in his tip. Other than that, I love MSCM. Their cheese selection is amazing as is their bar area. Next time I think I will just sit there. Great atmosphere, location and food. Its just unfortunate that I had such awkward service.
(4)Laura G.
That cauliflower sandwich I just devoured was the best lunch I've eaten in a year. Finger-lickin' good.
(5)Brian F.
One of the nicer places to lunch in the Oak Park area. This used to be a simple cheese market and have now, recently, expanded to include an excellent wine bar and bistro. The Execuitve Chef, Leonard Hollander, really knows his stuff. He takes full advantage of the expansive charcuterie and cheese selections at the market to both upgrade classic recipes and create culinary sensations that are both deicious and unusual. How about a BLTP (Bacon Lettuce Tomato and Procciutto) which includes arugula, basil and avocado. The Ham n' Swiss is built with gruyere cheese, horseradish aioli and carmelized onions. Ever have a Honey Roasted Cauliflower sandwich. I know that some of you are shuddering as I did at the thought... It is superb! I've never been there for dinner but the menu looks excellent and I know they have live music many evenings. My only complaint, which takes a star from my rating, is the extremely slow kitchen. I really have to assume that I will be sitting in the restaurant for at least 45 minutes for lunch to get soup and a sandwich. They seem to be improving somewhat over the last year but it still falls behind expectations.
(4)Nick D.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a great place to pick up some unique brews and wine. They also have a variety of specialty foods from local artisans. I've never tried the food here, but I've heard good things. One of my favorite treats are the sea salt caramels.
(4)Marie B.
One word -- yum. Ok, two words -- really yummy!? Making the trek from the western suburbs to the city...stuck on I88...beau suggests we meet somewhere in between. I do a quick search on Open Table and Yelp and locate this place. My first thought: this place has got to be expensive! WRONG!! Although the decor is lovely!! Wonderfully lit -- even on a rainy spring night. Highly polished cherry wood, sweet little displays of yummy snacks and a wide array of wines....that's the little market. The cafe/dining room is quite cozy with warm lighing and cosy sitting areas to chat, flirt or simply gaze into your loved one's eyes. There was also a great jazz quartet to provide background music! But, I digress...on to the food -- which was very reasonably priced...as was the wine selection -- I had a great Pinot Noir for $8 a glass! Try that in the "city"!? The goat cheese salad was really the best I have ever eaten. Fantastic assortment of baby greens with this fantastic citrus vinagerette and a perfectly crunchy piece of goat cheese. This would have been a meal in itself, but I had ordered the flat bread of the day. Here is where I was very impressed. I have an allergy to onion...thus, I usually ask how things are prepared. This night, I was too busy flirting..and gazing...that I forgot. So the dish arrived with onion. I told the waitress who was very sweet about the whole thing. She and - I assume the owner - were sooooo apologetic I felt bad!! While the dish was being redone, they brought a selection of fantastic cheese and bread (as a complimentary treat!). When the flat bread arrived, I was so full from eating the cheese that I couldn't do it justice -- but, it looked yummy -- and I boxed it for a later time. The beau had the fish and chips which I tasted -- the fish was wonderfully prepared and the french fries were equally good. I am hooked...next time I am stuck on I88...will just pop off and hang out at "the market"!
(4)Janet E.
This place has A LOT of cheese. Unfortunately, I didnt order any food with cheese from here! But I did try the mushroom with spinach which had goat cheese and it was really good! This dish came with your choice of bread as well as a side of butter and apple jam. The jam was delicious! I ordered the dirty south benedict. It was good, but I thought it would be more fancy then what I expected. The menu here is pretty extensive and I was contemplating between a lot of the choices. I wouldnt mind coming back to try something else. We had a group of 18 so our food took about 40 minutes to be prepared. Just an FYI in case you wanted to throw a special event here. But the service was excellent! The prices are also reasonably priced. They sell a lot of other items here other than cheese. They had a lot of dipping sauces, jams, chocolates, wine and beer. However flagging down a person to ring up your purchases can be challenging. Lots of metered parking around the area.
(4)Cass V.
I'm speaking only toward the market area. They have a great selection of jams, curd, wonderful chocolates and condiments. It's a little pricey but that's to be expected for the quality. Makes for great gift ideas!
(4)James M.
Just about everything i've had here has been pretty tasty. It's one of my three standbys in Oak Park, which is seriously lacking in all-area restaurants. But this one definitely qualifies. Salads are always tasty. Main dishes are very flavorful--what I mean is that i'm from the school of "if the ingredient is listed, I wanna taste it, not imagine that it might be there", and this place has pretty bold flavoring. Not always a fan of the mac n choose special, but when it's good, it's the best thing on the menu (chefs, bring back the lobster and mac, please). Pork chop was pretty bland, though the accompanying sides were tasty. Besides that, everything else has been very good. Of course, the cheese and chocolate here are seriously incredible. Those two things alone make this place worth the trip.
(4)Jelena Z.
I love wine. And craft beer. Chocolate, too. Culinary books even though I'm not the best cook, yet (doesn't mean I'm not trying and learning). Chutneys, meats, artisan sandwiches and crepes. Housewares such as aprons, glasses and cheese boards galore. Marion Street.... you seem to have it all! This space struck me as very NYC, and I mean that in the best way. There's a strong regard for sustainability and the environment, and both the urban touches (steel, glass) and the homey accents (chalkboards, polished woods) lend to a palpable warm and inviting feel. After checking out the retail side, be sure to step on over to the cafe. The menu is decidedly simple and focuses on cheese and charcuterie. Though, they also feature an impressive brunch offering. Next time: maple syrup crepe (Vermont butter & cheese butter)! My inaugural visit (believe me, there will be more) consisted of dabbling in the vino and cheese. I dabble well and deep within the cheese and wine realm, and this is when the close proximity to the green line comes in especially handy. Ahem... and if I can make a suggestion, sign up for the email newsletter ( marionstreetcheesemarket… ) so you too can stay informed of free (yes, FREE) craft beer and wine tastings on the weekends. PS- a giftcard from Marion Street Market would probably make most of the people on your shopping list happy!
(5)Valerie R.
1 complaint to get out of the way: 1) I REEKED when I left this place. I had to air out my purse and wash my scarf! I don't know if this is usual (my friend had the same issue) and didn't notice any smoky smells at all when I was there, but it sure stuck to my clothes. On to the good stuff. Waiter: Superb. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, fast. Food: the cheeses and oils were all delicious, and their drink menu had plenty of great choices. The entrees were a bit overpriced for me and not my favorite part of the meal, but tasty none the less. Ambiance: LOVE it! A shop with goodies connected right to a classy place to nosh. This ended up being a nice location for a dinner for our party of 4 and I'd definitely return.
(4)April W.
I would love to be able to give this place 4 stars, even 5. The food was really very good. TO start with the positive we loved the Cheese Puffs with the Sriracha dipping sauce. We also did a cheese platter, charcuterie and several dishes we shared. All was delicious. Good portions and great presentation. The cheese puffs were to die for and I love one of the goudas we had on the platter. I also read about a wine and I went into the wine shop and Francesca was a doll and very helpful and I walked out with two bottles of wine , one that my mother devoured and really enjoyed very much. Now for the bad. I read on here on MANY reviews that the service here was bad. So I was prepared to be frustrated but I was not prepared with just how bad it was. Here are some things that happened: 1. The server did not come over to our table for a good 20 minutes (maybe more) after we were seated. We had a small child with us, who behaves well in restaurants. But she never ever came over to see if we wanted something for her to start with nor asked us if we wanted a drink. We literally had to flag down the hostess to get the server to come over. 2. We asked for a kids menu, she never brought it. 3. I only was given the drink special menu and when I asked if this was all they had, the server said yes. Later on in the meal, I saw the extensive wine list. I was so pissed, I would have spent quite a bit more and ordered some nicer glasses of wine. 4. When my friends and I go out to eat, we like to linger, but we tip WELL. In between each round of ordering, she never ever came back. We had to flag her down a million times. We kept making jokes that we should get her cell number cause she was nowhere to be found. The problem for the restaurant for this is for sure, a loss of money, because the longer we sta, the more full we got and the less we ordered. 5. She made US do all the work. When she brought the drinks she handed them all to me and made me pass them, we were only a table of 4, it wasn't like she couldnt serve? She also never brought us plates. When we asked TWICE she dumped off 3 plates at the table on the end and never brought some of us silverware. We had to ask again for 2 more plates, pass tehm out ourselves and get up and go to another table to get silverware. 6. There was NO knowledge shared about the menu or the cheeses, or the wine, or the drinks, we never upsold on anything else like dessert or anything. BAD for Business OWNERS! the thing was, it was not even busy in here. I am really annoyed with whomever owns this place that they must see time and time again, people touting bad service and yet they do nothing about this. Either they dont read their yelp reviews or they dont care. It is really a shame because the food was better than great and bordering on AMAZING. I have to say that despite the amazing food and the great service in the wine shop by francesca, I dont think I would ever go back to this place based on the horrible, horrible service.
(2)Jason B.
Marion Street Cheese Market is simply a great place to go. The food is amazing, they have great wine and beer on tap/in bottles. The servers are delightful, the host was extremely helpful. My girlfriend had trouble eating a part of her entree and needed a sharper knife so I asked a bus boy he said "let me see what I can do." Within a couple of minutes he came back and said "the best I could do is this pairing knife one of the chefs gave me." My reaction was that of amazement, I didn't expect such a quick response and how he simple got the job done. KUDOS!! Also, at the end of the night after enjoy the roasted chicken which I had and my girlfriend at the pork belly we got desert which was a diet killing multi-layered chocolate berry sauce goodness (the name escapes me, but the server recommended it). A different server came over (we stayed to enjoy the live music, which isn't so loud you can't have a conversation - thank goodness for that!) and dropped off a beer on the house! FIVE STARS FOR ME!!! We're going back tonight a friend who's coming in from out of town.
(5)V S.
The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the tuna salad sandwich minus the corn and bread. It looked good but it had corn in it and i wasn't able to pick it all out. The people I was with enjoyed their meals. I had a bite of the cauliflower sandwich and it was really good.
(4)Lisa B.
This has become one of my favorite places in Oak Park. When you think about it (and I have) it is probably the only non-chain place aside from Eric's Deli that is consistently open for lunch. Eric's is fine when you're with the kids or in the mood for a quick bite, but MSCM is a civilized, classy spot for a tete a tete with a lover or friend. When it first opened up, the service was spotty, but I think the crew has its act together now. I love how the chef uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible. I also appreciate the sensible portion sizes. Let's just say you probably won't need a doggie bag. I was pleased to notice today that they sell bread from the fantastic Labriola bakery in addition to the cheese, sweets and charcuterie in the market section. Do make a point to try one of their special turtle candies: dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Oh, lord. Take it from Yelp's resident chocoholic, it's amazing.
(5)Michelle C.
Without a reservation, my mom, dad and I showed up at 9:15am on Mother's Day. The gal at the front was sweet and said all the tables were reserved but that we could sit at the bar and order. She handed us a brunch menu and we were off. The bartender was a sweet girl who smiled at us immediately and took our drink orders (Mimosa) and offered for my mom to try the special "mom mosa" for Mother's Day (which was infused with peach vodka - she loved!). The traditional mimosas were quite good as well! We were told to start at the brunch buffet which housed a variety of finger foods from cheese and prosciutto to bread pudding, zucchini bread, fresh fruit, bagels with spread, chorizo and so on. The zucchini bread was absolutely delicious and the cheese choices were also quite yummy. My mom loved the bread pudding and kept raving about it until my dad finally tried some off her plate. For the made-to-order dishes, we ordered as follows: Me = French toast Mom = Waffle with cheddar and bacon Dad = Crabcake Benedict We all liked our food...once it came out. It took nearly 45-50 mins. for our food to be served. Finally when we asked the bartender she said there was a "printing error" and that our food would be out shortly. Once the food came they had forgotten the black forest ham my mom ordered as a side and it cam out so late that my mom had to take it home in a doggy-bag since she was done with her meal by the time the cooks got around to warming up the ham. The bartender went from good to mediocre within the hour. I had to track her down for a cup of coffee, she never asked if we wanted another mimosa, and by the time we left she seemed somewhat dismissive. What I will say is that this place is very cozy and has a nice vibe. There were all sorts of families crammed in for brunch and the room filled up quickly. I know this place is a hot spot, so I wasn't surprised that things got a little confused with or order (and to be fair, they took my mom's mimosa off the bill), but I expected a little friendlier service considering it was a special day - Mother's Day! I will return again. This is a great place for a mid-afternoon glass of wine, brunch, and catching up with friends. It's also a stone's throw from my apartment, so count me in!
(3)Elena K.
Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere. All of their menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are great. Waiters could back off a little, but that's my personal taste, I prefer pretty hands off wait staff. Nonetheless, one of my favorite spots in the area!
(5)katy l.
I have to echo previous comments and say that while the meal was fantastic, the service was lacking. Our server was a nice gentleman, but certainly not in any hurry. It took him a solid 10 minutes just for the initial approach. Meanwhile, there was probably 3 other tables with people at them, so he certainly wasn't overwhelmed with other guests. Then, when we asked him about the wine choices, his wine list knowledge did not blow my bangs back. He sole descriptor of a sauvignon blanc was "floral." Right. Thanks. Our food came out promptly after we finally got to order it, but the two-top does not have much room for guests who order a few small plates. We were perpetually tryign to carefully shift things around, when it would've all been moot if we could've had one of the many larger empty tables. But, the food was awesome. We had a cheese flight that was tasty, followed by the quiche (whatever garnish was underneath made me go "mmmm"), and the cauliflower sandwich, which was so sweet and very delicious. My girlfriend and I were taking the opportunity to catch up over this dinner, so it was nice not to feel rushed, but it also would've been nice to have the option of having our plates cleared and/or our check brought less than 20 minutes after we were done. Our waiter just seemed to be putzing around, so it's not as though he seemed otherwise occupied with side work, and finally, I had to catch his eye before he came to offer us a check. We did eat here on a somewhat snowy Wednesday night, so maybe they didn't have their "A" staff on, but this meal could've been a 5-star meal with just a little more attentiveness.
(4)Andrew J.
Went in for Sunday brunch. The staff was very pleasant and our server was very attentive. I had a chorizo skillet with jalapenos and tomatoes added. the jalepenos were very thinly sliced so they were great, and the lime and sour cram went so well with the dish. I even added some hot sauce, which I liked so much that I bought a bottle. This was the best skillet that I've ever had, and I'd go back any Sunday for the brunch,
(5)Robert B.
I wandered in here at about 1 pm on a rainy Monday, mostly drawn by the promise of cheese from the shop and a chance to dry off slightly. I checked out the cheese market, then noticed the moderate but well-selected beer options. But then the smells wafting from the kitchen hit me and my stomach insisted that I sit for a bit and partake of their menu. The menu is small, but definitely fresh and crafted with food lovers in mind. It obviously revolves around cheeses and artisan meats, but there is plenty of choice here for everyone. I selected their tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, you say? Well, yes, but only in the best way. The soup was a tomato garlic bisque with just the right amount of roasted garlic and so creamy and good. The sandwich included two cheeses of the chefs choice, tomato, avocado and bacon, all on grilled sourdough. What? Yeah, it's as good as you think it is. The staff was super friendly. And while their draft beer selection is small, it contains some great rare selections. The wine list is also quite nice, and all are half price on Mondays! You have to give this place a try.
(5)Shyam S.
My dad had told me about this place, but from the outside, I just assumed it was kind of like the French Market downtown: a series of stalls inside with random foods, and a focus on cheeses. While there are a lot of cheeses and charcuterie at this market, there is actually a full-blown wine selection inside, as well a restaurant with enough seating for 50 people. We had a really great meal. Both of us had the carrot and garlic soup (delish) and we split the asparagus with lemon, and the grilled octopus (squeeze some lemon over it and it makes it even better). We then shared the seared whitefish, and both loved it. All in all, a quality meal, at a great restaurant.
(4)Kat G.
Came here for the first time last Wednesday. They are a small boutique restaurant/shop right off the Harlem green line stop in Oak Park. They have a chocolatier, wine selection, and cheese bar, restaurant all into one. This place is a lot of different things but I do feel they do a good job. They are a little on the pricey side but if you go on a Wednesday night it's half bottle wine night. Food is good, a little over priced but everything we had was consistently good. We enjoyed the Brussel sprout side, duck and shrimp tacos, and the American cheese board. All were good. As someone who has been to Napa, I can say they do have a good wine selection. If you want to go for a nice date night this is a good place to do it.
(4)Corey C.
Superb wines, cheeses and plates! My new favorite spot. I highly recommend and will be back soon
(5)Chris E.
We brought a group around noon on a Saturday. We got a mix of breakfast and lunch items: pancakes, salad, fruit and cheese plate (for our one year old) and sandwiches. Everyone loves their food and was high quality, perhaps even over the top. My only ding against them was that they didn't have a specific menu for their beer selection. They sell many different cans and bottles from their retail space and had 5 or 6 drafts so I would liked to have been educated on my options. We'll definitely be returning for a date night or a weekend when we're looking to impress or splurge on a meal.
(4)Lindsey E.
I keep wanting to like the food at Marion Street, but I think it's time to acknowledge that I just don't. Don't get me wrong...it's not bad...just meh. And for the prices they are charging, it should be better than meh. The wine selection, on the other hand, is really good. It too is quite pricey, but if you head over on a Wednesday for half-priced bottles, you'll at least be in the range of other, comparable wine bar's prices. The ambiance is great...very warm and inviting, especially if you're there when they have live music. The attached wine and cheese market is pretty killer too. If you're going as a restaurant patron, don't bother with an appetizer or entree...just get a cheese platter and some wine...but make sure you go on a Wednesday!
(3)Kristen H.
I am not sure if I was there long enough to give this place a fair review. After reading my fellow Yelpers' reviews about their amazing cauliflower sandwich, I immediately had to try it. It was not clear though that that sandwich is only on the lunch menu, not the dinner menu. The dinner menu was a little too stuffy and all of the entrees only consisted of meat. My friend and I decided to just split an appetizer of the sundries bravas, and they were surprisingly delicious! I had a glass of the Lucialliano Primavera and it was so full-bodied that I fell in love. I will be back for lunch, just not sure if it is my type of place for dinner.
(4)Lola P.
I have been here a few times. For the food and then for the drinks. I am a big fan of the drinks. Wise Fool is by far the best drink I have ever had. If you love bourbon, whiskey, and classical cocktails definetly order one! Great wine selection too. Personally I am not a fan of the food. I find it falls short of how it sounds, the quality does not match the quality of the drinks, the items in the shop, and the customer service. To sum up, I enjoy everything here except for the food.
(4)Bill L.
Holding back from 5 stars only because my experience was limited to wine and cheese, BUT I completely enjoyed both. I'm glad I didn't experience the less than stellar service some have mentioned recently. Everyone was kind and attentive. Wine selection wasn't as extensive as I would expect, but good variety regardless. Cheese selection was terrific. Menu descriptions of those I tried were spot on. Bottom line is I can't wait to make the trip from the city for my next visit, and that trip is very easy as the green line Harlem stop is across the street.
(4)Karl C.
I really, really enjoyed this place. Marion Street Cheese Market has two sections: at one end, you will find a large assortment of wine, micro-brewed beer and a bountiful cheese counter. The other end is a moderate-sized cafe complete with a stage large enough for a two or three piece jazz band. Wine, cheese, jazz and good company -- what else can you ask for? I started off with the autumn red wine flight, which consisted of three half glasses of wine from California, Argentina and France. All were very good. I followed that up with a delicious Cheddah! cheese flight (the French Cantalet was my favorite). A light beer flight with five samples followed. They served me a fresh, lemony witte which was great but the others were mediocre, and please stay away from the grapefruit extract Surly Furious. I got pretty hungry so I ordered their fish and chips. The fish was crispy, beer-battered excellence. Their fries tasted very good but were listlessly soft. The ambiance of this place really impressed me. It's sleek and urban with undertones of sustainability; I was surprised to find out that their comfortable cafe chairs were made partly with reused car seat belts. The vibe is such where you can come here on a date to impress the wino you've been eyeing or barge in with a group of ten cheeseheads. You'll feel equally at home either way. The cherry on top of the meatloaf that was my visit was the band that night. They were playing up-tempo jazz covers of songs like "Dear Prudence" which was awesome. You could really bob your head to their stuff after a few glasses of wine and/or a pound of cheese. I highly recommend Marion Street Cheese. If you like wine, cheese and some poppy jazz, you need to check this place out.
(5)Angela D.
Until now, Bin 36 downtown was my favorite wine and cheese place. They have officially been overthrown :) Excellent wine and cheese, great appetizers, delicious and creative entrees. And while it's not in any way cheap, it's reasonable for the quality of food and wine, and the great selection of desserts and "grocery" items made available for you even if you're just stopping in to stock up foir a dinner party. My only complaint was that service was REALLY slow. I kept joking that our waitress had dies because seriously, we would go 25 minutes and never even see her. We were not in any hurry so it wasn't a dealbreaker and it WAS a busy Saturday night so chances are on a weeknight we'd be waited on hand and foot. We started with a wine flight and cheese tray, the french one, and I don't remember the actual name but it's easy to pick out. The cheeses were DIVINE, and came with a nice assortment of bread, crackers, nuts and a royal jelly. We tried the sliders, and actually preferred the grilled beet to the duck. the duck was really tender and flavorful but the beet was so interesting and unique! We also had a flatbread pizza of the day, similar to a BBQ chicken but far more tasty than the standard pizza. The best part was the lamb stew entree that we shared. It was a huge portion so glad we split. The most tender, fall off the bone lamb I've had like that. Came in a savory onion broth with lentils and a few vegetables. I cannot wait to go back and try something else!! They had live music the night we went, that was a really nice suprise too. Not too loud, and the singer fit right in with the feel of the place. High quality without being pretentious, mellow and just....nice. Not sure how much more original praise I can add :)
(4)Meg X.
Went here as part of my friends' monthly Supper Club group. Our server (Tony) was attentive, friendly, and helpful. We split the Pickle Flight, which included pearl onions, turnips, and okra. The turnips and okra were excellent but for whatever reason the pearl onions weren't so great. I got a 5-cheese flight, I can't remember which cheeses, but it was delicious. One of the group got the ribs, and it came stacked about 7" high with ribs, potatoes, etc. It looked like that opening from the Flintstones where Fred orders those ribs and they tip the car over. Another in our group had the white whine flight and really enjoyed it. The barbecue chicken was kind of weird because it was breaded and baked; no barbecue. But whatever, it was still good. I had some kind of baked peach thing for dessert. It was fantastic! Overall a great, quiet place for dinner. Friendly service and great menu. It's easier to just take the green line there than to try to find parking. It's across the street from the Marion exit of the Harlem stop of the green line.
(4)Allison R.
I have been to Marion Street Cheese Market on numerous occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just to shop. If you're a vegetarian you'll appreciate the Cauliflower Melt sandwich. The apples and the cheese really make this sandwich delicious. It was a little on the greasy side, but I'm willing to overlook that based on taste. Unlike the Grilled Cheese sandwich, which almost needs something else to help it get away from being too cheesy (I never thought I would say that), the Cauliflower Melt is very well balanced. I think the brunch menu is by far the best. French press coffee with French toast or the mushroom skillet is a great reason to get out of bed on a Saturday morning. Overall, I think this restaurant puts together a really unique menu that's a little on the pricey side, but worth it every once in a while. It's a great place to eat with a group so you can order different things and sample everyone's dish. I think your experience here all depends on who you get as a server. Some are great. They'll explain the menu options and really seem to care about getting your food out in a reasonable time. Others are...not. It's really a gamble and it's sad because great food should always come with great service. On a side note I will say that on the retail side I've had very positive experiences in terms of service. Everyone seems to be fairly knowledgeable about all the products. I love the addition of the chocolates and the wine display is pretty awesome as well.
(4)Steve M.
Pretty cool spot for the 'burbs! :) They don't do regular coffee here. Only french press. Also, they ask you if you want a small, medium or large press, which they'll bring to your table. Make sure you over order. (If you think you want a small, go medium.) Everyone at the table ordered breakfast skillets. Mine was the salmon and scrambled egg skillet. Somewhere in the back of the house the orders got mixed up and everyone got their food 10 minutes before mine showed up. No big deal, really, but it was weird to be the only one eating at the table when it finally did show. Flavor-wise, it was largely uninspiring. Nice presentation though. If I go back (and I would), I'd like to head back for dinner. The space looks really cool. TONS of cheeses, a pretty serious wine selection, and a small stage for jazzy musicians.
(3)Lauren C.
The quiche was great! Also side note- this place has a small shop and they sell Three Floyd's Zombie Dust beer.
(4)Melissa T.
Have not eaten in but did enjoy some delicious cheese and, oddly enough, the best licorice I've ever had is from there. I picked up both summer sausage and pate there, however, that was mediocre at best. I really like this place, but I'm not in love with this place like others are. In all honesty, I'm more likely to head to the Caputo cheese mart for cheese than here.
(3)Laura V.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a real gem. I've been here half a dozen times, primarily just for drinks and all experiences have been wonderful. The restaurant/shop is beautiful, modern, clean, dark and feels sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. I always get the beer flight and there even some vegan options - just ask.
(5)Alicia P.
Worst service I have ever experienced. Not only did the waitress tell me "i need to see your face" to judge if I could have a glass of wine, she grabbed my ID, threw it back at me, then told me she needed to see a credit card to verify...of which she the back at me. We asked for a new server and the manager apologized. Based on other reviews about the service, don't expect a comp for anything if you are treated poorly either considering the quantity of customer service reviews-we surely didn't receive anything. Food was overpriced, not as good as it should be for a cheese market (mac and cheese was just ok...nothing special). We also had chicken-ok- . Really nothing special. Unless they can work on customer service and improve the quality or decrease the price, go somewhere else
(1)Thomas L.
I like this place. The wine is good and the prices are reasonable. The cheese plates are also very good. Let me preface what I'm about to say about the food menu with the fact that I am not a foodie. However, it took my girlfriend and I about 30 minutes to decide on what to eat. One, I had to google about half of the items on the menu. Perhaps I am a simpleton but here is an example: Bison Carpaccio 11/Anson Mills farro | soy braised shiitake |crispy shallot | sesame crème fraiche . If you can tell me what the hell that means than disregard. We decided to share the Risotto which was designated as a "large plate." In retrospect though it wasn't very big and if you don't fill up on bread and cheese beforehand, you should be able to handle a large plate fairly easily. I will say that the Risotto was delicious. The wine menu is good and they also have a decent (although small) selection of craft beer. The service was prompt but I'm not sure that the waitress knew what she was doing (although she overtly apologized when asked a question as she said the menu was new). All in all I would give this place the thumbs up. I will say that the menu should be tailored to people who live in Oak Park and not Tuscany. PS- They also have a nice little shop where you can buy craft beer, cheese, and wine, etc.
(4)James K.
Great beer and wine selection is excellent. Lot of beers that are difficult to find anywhere else. Very knowledgeable staff. Except for the cheese flights and other staples, food is kind of hit or miss.
(4)April P.
This place is incredible. There is an astounding assortment of cheeses, all picked by someone with an obvious divine taste in cheeses. The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant and comfortable. I don't know if that's because they did a good job designing the interior or simply because it is a place entirely devoted to cheese. Either way, it is a wonderful place and part of me wishes there were more like it while the other part is simply happy that I have the pleasure of partaking in such a unique invention and that part is happy it is the only one around. Thanks Marion Street Cheese Market! Never change.
(5)Megan G.
I had a great bruncing experience here and let's he honest, who doesn't love a good brunch? My two dearest friends were in town for the weekend and wanted to meet my mom for a brunch and shopping escapade so I thought it would be fun for them to see the lovely downtown Oak Park area. It helps that my parents live there so we parked at their place and hoofed it to MSCM. The problem? We were hungover. The solution? Marion Street Cheese Market. But how does a cheese market help with a hangover you ask? The answer is simple. And dirty. Hangover fries. Yep, that's what they're called, right there on the menu. North Country bacon + all-natural sausage + Pastureland's organic cheddar + sunny side Milo's farm egg. Basically breakfast heaven on a plate. They are all about local, seasonal, and artisinal fare and they can make it taste good. We scarfed them down in no time flat while my mother insisted on telling the server that she didn't raise me to drink like a fish (her favorite game). We all had lovely meals following the savior hangover fries and we got a 4 pack of Goose Island Sofie on our way out, just in case. Perf.
(4)michael s.
way more than your average stinky cheese hole. they have really good food.
(4)Jo B.
This is a desperate plea to the owners of MSCM. Please please please do something about your horribly trained, apathetic, rude staff. I live in OP, I want to support this place because I think it has so much potential but I just can't bring myself to endure the terrible experience that dining here brings. Tried again last night...the hostess couldn't seat me outside because she didn't "think" there were any tables. How about walking outside and checking? Then she didn't know how long our wait might be because she "had no idea" when these customers had sat down but she did know that none of them had asked for their bill yet so it was likely to be at least 45 minutes. OMG. Read your reviews, owners, and see what your customers are saying about your staff. Please.
(1)B L.
The owner should have been on hand last night. Workers are standing around, and yet ONE waiter for the entire dining room is going 100 MPH. Service was bad. First off, my spouse ordered his drink (asked for club soda with lemon but got it with lime) and received it AFTER he was done with his meal. (How do you forget a beverage?) The cocktail that I had was bizarro.... is the bartender getting creative? The vodka drink tasted like it had cloves in it. I had to send it back, and I rarely will do that. The grilled cheese sandwich was dry, and it consisted of 1 sliver of cheese slapped between two thick thick pieces of bread. The pasta salad was strange. I'd never order it again. We eat out all the time in Oak Park and we won't go back here except for perhaps a glass of wine. Pricing is high and service is not good. Food is average to weird. The owner must be a newbie to the biz. He/she should do a time/motion study. Workers are not choreographed. Nothing is in synch. You wait forever for your stuff, and yet there are workers with little/ nothing to do.
(1)Colleen M.
I should preface this by saying that I'm lactose-intolerant so I'm not the person to comment about their cheese selection. :) I heard people raving about their wine selection and their bistro so when a groupon became available I bought it. We went to the bistro on a Friday night. They weren't crowded when we first arrived. We opted to order some appetizers and wine. It must have took 30 minutes for them to prepare the appetizers. (Who knew Bruschetta and Focaccia took so long?) I dropped my fork and the server said he would bring a new one. After waiting nearly 5 minutes, I flagged down someone else. The food was delicious and I enjoyed my wine. Overall, I found the selection good and the service ho-hum. I wouldn't go out of the way to go back but if I was in the area I might stop in again.
(3)Andrew C.
I love this place. I've been coming back ever since I discovered it in 2010. The market is a fantastic place to pick up meats, cheeses, wines and many other specialty gourmet items. The restaurant is always excellent - seasonal menus offer unique, tasty dishes that really rise above many of the restaurants you'll find in downtown Chicago for a fraction of the price. A helpful staff and cozy patio in the warmer months are extra incentive to visit frequently!!
(5)Jennifer J.
The first time I visited, I had a great experience. Lunch was awesome- everything I ate was delicious and very impressive. The service was average but the food was so amazing that I planned to return very soon. The next time I went in to pick up some espresso beans in the market. The staff was extremely helpful. The place was really starting to grow on me. The next time I stopped by quickly to see if they had burrata as I had just had it at dinner elsewhere a few nights ago. The staff working the cheese counter didn't offer to help and I had to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention even though there were a few people behind the counter. I asked about the burrata and was informed in a rather rude tone that it's seasonal. "do you have any idea when you'll have it again" i asked. "no not really" was the reply I received. Hmm okay. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. When I was notified that a groupon was available for this place, I quickly jumped on it. I figured I could take some friends out to dinner and introduce them to this great restaurant (I still felt the restaurant was great and my less than positive experience in the market was a one time kinda thing). I decided to stop in here on a saturday to pick up some wine & treats for a friend as a valentine's day gift. I was really looking forward to purchasing wine from here because I figured their staff was knowledgeable and could point me in the right direction. There appeared to be only one gentleman working in the wine section and he was helping a couple purchase quite a few bottles (we're talking 14 bottles of wine here). I understand that that's a great sale, I really do. They deserve guidance on their purchases. But so do I! The couple selecting wine scoffed at me as I reached for a bottle. I'm sure I looked very puzzled and was partially hoping that the lost look on my face would alert a staff member that I needed some assistance. I browsed the wine for about 15 minutes and no one offered to help me. I really would have thought the gentleman helping the couple would have asked me if I needed help in between bottle selections with them. I was annoyed and walked over to the cheese section. Again, the staff behind the counter ignored me (multiple employees behind the counter and only 1 customer besides myself looking at the cheeses). Do I look like I don't fit in? Is that why I don't get helped? I planned on dropping well over the amount of the groupon on this visit but was beginning to get extremely frustrated and began to look for items to just hit the minimum spend on the groupon. I must have walked back and forth from the cheese counter to the wine area 4-5 times and not once did someone offer to help me. I finally selected 2 bottles of wine and 2 cheeses from the prepackaged fridge (I really wanted to give my friend some cute cheesemonger style wrapped cheese but because I felt unwelcome at the cheese counter, I selected some plastic wrapped organic varieties). When it came time to check out, the young lady ringing me up seemed to struggle a bit. My total at that point was around $73 so minus my groupon, I was still spending about $33. In my head, the total didn't seem right but I just went with it because at this point, I just wanted to get out of there (the young lady ringing me up even commented on how tired I looked- i didn't tell her I was actually just annoyed with my experience there). When I presented my groupon on my iphone, she attempted to enter it herself but somehow cleared out the whole transaction. The gentleman who was helping the couple select wine came over and reentered my purchases. This time the total was only $58. The young lady was charging me incorrectly for the cheese. I paid and walked out quite annoyed with the experience. I have one more groupon for this place and I fully intend to give them another chance. I drank one of the bottles I purchased here and while I was not assisted with my selection, the wine I picked out was great and I would definitely like to purchase it again. I plan on bringing some friends here for dinner sometime soon because I'm hopeful I'll have another positive experience in the restaurant and I'm a bit fearful that if I use the groupon towards a purchase in the market, I may have another sour experience and be turned off to this place for good. I love the concept and location and hopefully my next experience will be great and I'll be writing a new 5 star review on here =)
(3)Beth Z.
Service seems to have plummeted over the last few months. And if you are ordering anything like a tray, the service is abysmal, and the staff does not seem to care. I have loved this place for a long time, tried to look the other way when problems occur (ever sit for over an hour just waiting for a waiter to come over, and give you water?) but the last straw was when I just showed up to pick up a cheese tray (and they are NOT cheap) that was ordered and paid for long ago, I went the extra step to call multiple times, leave messages (b/c no one answers phone, you get v-mail) to remind them I would be in, so I would not have to wait, parking is not easy - and of course, it is not ready. Won't be back here for a long time, and will not recommend to others. Sad to lose a good place.
(2)Ryan B.
This place is fun! If you go, you have to get a wine or beer flight and a flight of cheeses and sausages. There are definitely other places that serve food like this, but not in Oak Park (that I am aware of). The dinner menu looks to have expanded over the past year or so. However, it still feels small, and there may be some people that wouldn't find anything that fits their tastes. So, I would check out the menu online if you or your guests have specific or limited tastes. Each time I have eaten dinner here, I wasn't amazed by my entree, but it was still good. What I did appreciate was the creativity and quality. Each entree has a unique feel to it that added to its goodness, if that makes any sense. The atmosphere is great. Mellow, live music and a cheese shop to boot! Service was excellent on my last visit (although, we had a newbie on my first visit that wasn't so hot). This place is starting to move into my top 3 Oak Park area restaurants. The fun factor, quality, and creativity give this place 4 stars (it's actually more like 3.5, but that's not an option so I am rounding up). -Cheers
(4)Dana A.
Tonight was my third visit, and it was tops! We had a fantastic server...Kelly. Kudos on the wine recommendation generated from my rudimentary description! Every cheese, small plate, soup and salad was right on time by suggestion and in course. This has become the ultimate catch-up-on-girl-talk spot for me and my suburb dwellin' friends. We get an atmosphere that could just as well be NYC with selections fresh from the local and regional vendors. No matter what you do on a visit to Marion Street Cheese Market, ALWAYS order a cheese flight (and let the staff make recos) and ALWAYS leave with a couple chocolates...and maybe a craft beer (or two) for home.
(5)C W.
Okay, I'm dropping them to one star. I went in for lunch on Sunday, parking outside and putting an hour on the parking meter. That should be enough time, right, for someone who just wanted a sandwich and wouldn't even need to peruse the menu to know which one, right? Wrong. I ordered immediately after I sat down, yet ended up having to bolt down my sandwich as it arrived 10 minutes before my meter expired. That's right: it took them FIFTY MINUTES to make a sandwich. They weren't slammed (not that that would excuse it even so), and there was no explanation for the incredible delay. I don't care how good the food sometimes is-- it's just not worth it to risk waiting that long or encountering one of their many other service problems.
(1)Lisa D.
I just had the BEST carrot cake EVER!!!! I'm bringing my rating up a star because of it. It's like pudding but cake, I don't really know....but it's amaaaaaaazing! Wine-good Service-Good Atmosphere-Good Cheese-delicious Carrot Cake- Amaaaaaaaaazing!
(5)Rhonda G.
Stopped in with a friend and decided to share a few small plates of food and have some wine: Ahi Tuna: Excellent!! A definite must try Cheese Puffs: Great! Like mini cheese sticks bites only better Vegetable pizza with Cab crust: Excellent! These three items and we were good to go on the food side of things. For wine I enjoyed an Oregon Gewurztraminer which was just OK Friend had a Malbec which she loved It's worth mentioning that out waiter (Joseph) was the nicest guy ever, and he absolutely knows exactly when to return to check on the patrons and when to stay away...Kudos Joe, Can I call you Joe? On the retail side I perused the goods and was able to taste a couple of the cheese selections before deciding on my purchase. You also get 10% off of your retail purchase after dining in the cafe. The wine selection is not huge but it isn't small or mediocre by any means and I walked away with a great Spanish cava to be enjoyed at a later date.
(5)Helena G.
We went to this restaurant with another couple, they had a Groupon. So we had the special degustation menu for Groupons: pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, gritts and samples of 3 or 4 types of beer. We also tasted some cheeses (queso de Mano is very good) and chorizos. As desert we had chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse. I think that the concept of this place is gourmet food (at least the prices are high). We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The food was delicious. The staff was very helpful and nice. I also loved the musical performance, the musicians played Bossa Nova and it was fantastic! The issues are: - portions sizes are small and - pricey
(3)Reuben H.
Came back here last night with good company for dinner. My original review stands with a couple of updates. Service was better- more attentive, still very friendly, and overall more comfortable. The lone server seemed to do a great job balancing all of the tables and keeping things timely. The food was nice- I ordered the potato raclette which came already prepared on a hot plate. I was hoping it would somehow come for me to do myself- but that is totally unreasonable to do for one person alone. Overall, I would suggest this place to anyone who loves all things cheese! They pay homage to some great cheeses and couple them with a very good wine and beer selection (beer pairings with cheese- what more do you want me to say?!?!?).
(4)Michael B.
Professional staff, pleasant atmosphere, and beautiful half circle wine rack. Will be back soon
(4)Paul D.
What can I say about The Marion Street Cheese Market other than it's pretty damn awesome. Nestled in the heart of Hemingway's birthplace it sits on the corner of Marion Street (naturally) and South Blvd so parking isn't much of a problem even with the other restaurants that share the same block, and if you get there after six you don't have to pay for the privilege to park on the street. When you arrive you walk through the market, surrounded by a huge wine rack and a sea of cheeses (which is marketing gold, especially that once you taste their selections of cheeses and wine you can buy pretty much whatever you had on the way out, which I did), to get to the dining area. The wife and I arrived on a night that had live music, and from the flyer I saw later in the evening I see that isn't unusual to find here. Our waiter, Jamie (who looked like a younger, blonde Rain Wilson from the "Office") was very attentive and not over baring and had no problem at all explaining what was on the menu and would answer any question. We started with an excellent bottle of Gewurztraminer and a three cheese flight of Wisconsin cheeses, which were fantastic. Very buttery and pared well with the Gewurztraminer. For our appetizer we both went with the Baby Spinach Salad that had Ader Kase blue cheese, dried cranberries with white balsamic vinaigrette and toasted almonds and in my opinion was one of the best salads I ever had. The main course consisted of Spice Roasted Olives and Bread (wife) made with Spanish Olive Oil, roasted fennel , red peppers with a crusty bread, with me choosing the Lamb Pappardelle (which was outstanding) made up of Mint Creek Farm lamb shoulder, roasted shallots, ricotta salata, pomegranate, and mint which I paired with a glass of Cantina Sociale Coertino. The Gewurztraminer not being a hearty enough wine for the lamb. We ended with a dessert port and a double espresso. All in all The Marion Street Market is just a great place to hang out with friends, loved ones or just by yourself as they boast a nice bar where you can also eat at if not wanting a table or you are there just for a cheese and wine flights. I also noticed they have a bourbon flight as well, and it'll be on my list on my next visit. Live Jazz is also a regularity. The only draw backs where that the Spice Roasted Olives and Bread wasn't as good as it ought to have been, and ended up being heavy and tasted more of if it came from a jar, and that they could have done with about three less tables. Where I was seated near the bar and in a heavy traffic area, I was constantly bumped into by passing servers and we felt a little close to the other tables around us. Other than that we had a great time and spent most of the night there.
(4)Rachel B.
Service has improved greatly the last two times I was there. I think they have ironed out the kinks. Oh.... I love their crispy eggplant sandwich and they currently have a fall special - Apple Cider Gelato which is very yummy!
(5)Vinifer D.
YUMMMMMMM! I love cheese! I came here with a group of my chef friends when I was in culinary school. We got to sample at least 10-12 different cheeses! From what I can remember, one of my personal favorites was the Beaufort Chalet. This is made from unpasteurized cow's milk. Absolutely delicious! I'm not big on the blue cheeses, however, this little cheese shop made me a fan! I didn't get to sample anything besides cheese, because this was a learning course in cheese. I'd love to go back here and sample some more!
(4)Kevin G.
This is one of our favorite places to eat and Oak Park. The cheese alone could make me give this place 5 stars, but the rest of the menu and very knowledgeable staff put it off the charts. I sympathize with the reviewer that couldn't get her quick coffee before running off to work, but if you look closely at the sign above the door, you will notice that it does NOT say "Starbucks." This is a great place to go to have great conversation and to SAVOR some really well-crafted food and beverages (kind of the OPPOSITE of a fast food joint). Perhaps the only thing I could fault Marion Street Cheese Market for is a bit of inconsistency in the wait staff. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Marion Street Cheese Market and let the guys and gals behind the counter educate me in the ways of the cheese. It seems like there's no practical limit to the amount of different cheeses they'll let you try and if you know what you like, but don't know the name, they'll patiently take you through the whole case until you find it. They have cheese, wine, and beer flights on the menu as well as a broad selection of very creative dishes that vary by the season. One of our favorites is their pizzas-- and if you like grilled cheese, just you wait! This ain't your mama's kraft singles on buttered bread! Three kinds of cheese plus a little pickled veggies make this the BEST grilled cheese I've ever had! There's always something on the menu that makes us go "Oooooohhhhh.... Let's try /that/!" Great place to take a date who's a foodie, or any foodie, for that matter. Great place for expanding your culinary comfort zone a little. A little pricey, but not out of reach. One of our new year's resolutions was to only go every /other/ week because it's a little too expensive for us to go /every/ week. Haven't been doing too well on that particular resolution.... ;-) Go there, try it-- ask for Trevor to make you a cheese flight of his choice!
(5)Nicole M.
It's a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. Getting a wine or beer flight and a cheese sampler spread as an appetizer are musts. Everything on the brunch menu sounds phenomenal - come with a group so you can try a good handful of dishes. Not a huge restaurant - reservations are the way to go.
(5)Amanda B.
This place is on the expensive side for my husband and I for dinner, so we've only been once when we had gift certificate, but I've been multiple times for lunch with friends and family, when the prices are a little more moderate. Each time it has been amazing! I have had the Chevre Salad and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. Both were phenomenal. I am a cheese fiend so anything with a large ball of cheese on the plate is going to win my favor but the salad is well sized and filling! The sandwich, likewise is filling and I could not finish it. The chutney/salsa they had on the sandwich was divine! It added such a freshness to the fried green tomatoes that it sat on. Great balance! My parents and I also purchased a cheese plate when we went. 3 out of 4 cheeses were very well received, so much so that my parents bought all three kinds of cheese. Their favorite was the Little Boy Blue, and as they live out of town, have repeatedly requested me to make the trip to the shop to purchase it and bring to them when we visit. Worth the money in their opinion! Service has always been good and the servers have always been able to give good recommendations when I was struggling between two choices and each time, they were spot on!
(5)Rita S.
Hostess was quite unfriendly and service was slooooow. Food was ok but very pricey $14.00 for Mac and Cheese?? $20.00 pork chop was tough. Single bathrooms made for waiting lines in small hallway, and don't wash your hands because you won't get enough water out of the faucet to rinse off the soap???
(2)Valerie S.
A great place for cheese and wine tasting.
(5)Tracy O.
This was my second time here. First time, there was a festival in Oak Park, and the service was extremely slow. This time there was constuction on Maple Ave. and it was not crowded. The service was much better. We enjoyed a cheese plate, which was good. I had the spanish wine flight, which was a little overpriced in my opinion. The crab cake small plate was decent to share. The food is not outstanding, but quaint place to go for some wine and cheese.
(3)Marissa G.
I've only picked up cheese and wine here, I've not been to the restaurant, but from what I experienced I was impressed. Their staff is incredibly patient and knowledgable. When I was there the cheese guy was busy with several customers tasting cheese, and he was always kind and attentive, never brushing anyone off and keeping the flow moving. There was also champagne tasting, which was lots of fun, and I walked away with a great bottle for a party. The chocolate selection is pretty impressive too. Be ready to spend a pretty penny, but for a special occasion, I think it's worth it!
(4)Kim S.
I. Love. This. Place. Ok I can see why people may not like it. It's kind of confusing as a newbie. The layout is very long, there are multiple counters to order and pay for different types of items, and there's a bar/restaurant in the back. A restaurant which doesn't allow you to order food between certain hours of the day. Weird I know.. but PERSEVERE!! IT IS WORTH IT! As a cheese and wine shop it's great. They have a large selection and the staff is typically friendly and helpful. They have wine and cheeeeese and awesome beer and lil noshes to boot. Sometimes you have to wait a lil for service but I like to think that they care SO much about each customer that they don't want to cut them short to help someone else. Altho maybe you don't need to engage in conversation with the customer after the transaction is over and someone is patiently waiting to buy some juice or something. All this grand stuff aside the FOOD is why I'm giving it five stars. We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning and they asked if we had reservations. I'm like uhhh no? I don't think I've ever made a reservation for breakfast. Regardless they whispered a lil bit about shuffling tables and seated us right away. Awesome. The menu was full of tantalizing goodies but I opted for a mashed avocado benedict. The hubs got some meat thingy - looked like a roast or something with onions, etc. While we waited we enjoyed a cup of coffee. Not fancy lattes or cappucinos, just plain old coffee. I swear I'm doing somthing wrong when I make coffee at home - this was amazing coffee. I don't know the details, it could be Folgers for all I know but it was good.. damn good. The food came and was amazing. My eggs were poached perfectly - SUPER important for a benedict. The bacon was just right and sooo good. I took a bite of whatever the hubs got - also yummy. Everything was yummy. The potatoes on the side were too. AH! My mouth is watering now! So pleased. Was full forever. Definitely going back - with a reservation. P.S. They have Two Brother's Domaine DuPage on tap. So divine.
(5)Ms L.
How do I love cheese....let me count the ways. Maybe I watched too much Urkel as a child, but cheese is one of my favorite things ever...food or otherwise. So of course I scooped up two Groupons to Marion Street Cheese Market when I had the chance. Kudos to the staff for allowing me to use one Groupon for a meal and the other for a wine purchase - and also allowing me to use the Groupon app on my phone (I always forget to print things out). Techie that I am - this was a huge bonus for me. Me and the beau stopped in during lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The first thing I'll comment on is that the ambience was incredibly soothing. Lots of bamboo and Asian styled decor -- it actually felt like a sushi restaurant I'd visit. No complaints there. The waitress was great at recommending new drinks to try -- we had the coconut water and house lemonade to start, since we knew we would be picking up a few bottles on the way home. The mango/almond french toast was amazing...and my beau's turkey avacado club looked pretty good too. The cucumber salad was delish - I wish there was a larger serving. After stuffing ourselves, we went to the wine & cheese section...oh my. Reasonably priced, though I'd recommend adding some additional lighting in the wine section -- it was sometimes hard to read the labels. The guy behind the cheese counter made some really tasty recommendations to go with the wines we picked. This was a pretty solid wine bar/cafe -- I'd definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Yum!
(4)Victoria h.
Husband and I made reservations for a 6pm dinner on a Friday night. When we arrived we were seated immediately and I noticed that there were a few tables still empty. After we were seated, we waited for our server. Then we waited some more. Then I asked the hostess to get our server and we waited some more. Finally, the server came and took our order. The server had a guy with him who was training(?). I ordered the Mac and cheese and husband ordered fish and chips.The mac and cheese was, I'm sorry to say, flavorless. I'm the last person in the world to add salt to anything and this dish needed salt badly. It was just bland, I can't explain it. I took most of it home and ate some of my husband's delicious dinner. The fish and chips were incredible! I highly recommend them. The fish were crispy and the fries were pre-soaked in vinegar in just the right amount. The dish also comes with tartar sauce which my husband hates. He asked for cocktail sauce instead and got it! When we were done, the trainee asked us how our meal was, put the mac&cheese in the to-go box, asked if we wanted dessert and....nothing. No check. We couldn't find our server (or the trainee) for a while. So we waited. Then we waited some more. Then the server came, asked us the same questions again and finally brought us our check. I will definitely give it another chance and order something else.
(3)M.K. O.
The service has been a bit awkward and slow for each of my visits; this creates an uncomfortable mismatch as the food is fantastic (innovative and seasonal menu, perhaps the best food in Oak Park) and the atmosphere is equally great. Our waitress for the most recent experience came out with our food and froze for a few seconds wide-eyed mid dining room before setting the plates down at our table and saying something like, "Oh my God, I like totally forgot what I was doing." We were one of 2 tables in the restaurant.
(3)Jen A.
I've been here several times and think that my review will now reflect an average of all my experiences. The food, beer, wine, menu, and retail store are fantastic. The service and the prices bring down my rating. We love coming in and trying cheese or choosing beer and wine to go. One time, we came in and the person in the retail area said "you have to buy that stuff at the bar." So we went to the cashier behind the bar, and she replies "No, you have to buy that in ths store area". We head back to the store and she says "No, you have to buy that stuff at the bar." Make up your mind... There have been two occasions where we have gone in for dinner, ordered drinks and one entree each, and the service was stretched out over two hours. Slow... Also, I have a hard time coming in here and ordering dinner for less than $50 per person, when you include drinks. I'm sure you can do it, but its a challenge. If the food was a little more affordable, we'd probably find a way to stop by more often. If you want a good meal, this is worth a stop...if you don't mind overpriced food or waiting 2 hours to finish dinner.
(3)Kymberly J.
This is an update of my last review. I was a little upset last time because they were a little disorganized from the move but now they have grown on me. I stopped by the other day to give goat cheese another shot. Now I love it and can't get enough. The guy at the cheese counter patiently sliced me some samples to try and schooled me on the wonderful world of goat cheese and the local market. I bought a small wheel and he threw in a free baugette. awww... The next Saturday I went back for lunch. I had the vegan tostada with shrooms, red pepper and hummus and some baked french onion soup. It was the perfect lunch; fresh ingredients and served on cute little plates. The waitress was a little frazzled but kept a smile on her face the whole time - now that's a professional! The next time I go, even just for drinks, I want to try one of the beer or wine flights. They have have what seems to be a nice collection of microbrews that I am dying to sample.
(4)Mary M.
I keep trying to like this place since it's got great food, wonderful wines and a beautiful shoppe/deli. However, there's a huge disconnect between the resto's foodie persona and the lackadaisical, gourmet-illiterate staff. Today's outing resulted in the same impression---someone in the kitchen is working their ass off, and it all gets lost in translation when it makes it to the table, which by the way could take over 45 minutes for a sandwich (even when the place is 1/2 empty. Show some respect for your customers and hire a crew who appears to give a damn!
(2)Leo I.
Spaghetti Carbonara should not involve a fried egg, over-easy, dumped on top of the pasta. Neither should it require the synthetic bacon crumbles that Country Buffet provides for salad toppings. Oh, by the way, Carbonara is not a soup and if it were it would not be served in a bowl full of olive oil! With that said, I must admit that the restaurant is at a great location, has a well-appointed dining room, and the cheese-display is beautiful and exudes a market-style setting. But the menu is uninspired and it almost feels as if it is microwave-driven. The service can be hit or miss. When it takes 20 minutes to produce two cheese tray appetizers on a very slow night (2 more tables occupied) one is left to wonder: are they watching for the cheese to age first?
(1)Shannon W.
I have not eaten here, but they have an amazing wine selection. I wanted to find a nice bottle of Malbec for some friends and I called ahead, spoke with Charlie and Marcus - the two retail guys and they know their stuff! Charlie helped me find the perfect bottle, and within my price range and had it placed on hold for me. I got it a few days later and my friends loved it! They even gift wrapped it for me and they had a giveaway that day of a cute reusable bag. Love all their window display "things for the kitchen" as well!
(5)Lindsey H.
Awesome, intriguing and lovely. Three of us went for lunch on a Satuday afternoon. The chilaquiles skillet was divine, crunchy tortilla with a beautiful green salsa and fried eggs on top. I am a tough critic on this dish, and these were the best I have had at a restaurant anywhere (even Mr. Bayless'!). It had every person at the table asking if we would all share dishes. My cohorts ordered the club sandwich and the extremely succulent french toast with cherry caramel sauce, vanilla bean, mascarpone, and toasted almonds. Needless to say we all ate every morsel on our plates. Our bill came to about $40 and we left awestruck and happy planning our next visit.
(4)Stephen L.
I live in Oak Park and go to this place a lot. However, I only go for the food. The service is a JOKE. It is at the point that I place my own food orders at the bar. My last visit for lunch was 1.5 hours long - unless they improve, I'm not going back. If they fire some staff and do some serious service training this place could be good.
(1)Molly O.
I have been a HUGE fan of this establishment since it's origin. I was very excited to see their expansion, and I am always rooting for them to succeed. However, I have a couple of fairly large issues with their service. Early on I gave them a pass, assuming they were learning the ropes (the service was just plain horrible.) That was over a year ago. I just had lunch there today and again, the service is way under par. Two of us ordered the mac n cheese (which was under seasoned.) When I looked for the salt and pepper shakers they were on all the other tables but ours. My friend ordered a salad, however it wasn't served with a bread stick. The other tables around us who did order salads were served with 2 homemade bread sticks. I would go back for the cheese flights and a glass of wine and sit at the bar. The lunch is overpriced for the quality . I cannot comment on the dinners.
(3)Karen S.
Had brunch here the other day and it was very good. Food is very well-prepared, and you can tell the ingredients are very fresh. I had eggs with grilled tomatoes, and it was delicious. I love how the toast comes in a little cast iron pot to keep it warm. I've never seen that before, and it was a nice little surprise. Service was excellent. Took advantage of the 10% off coupon on our receipt and bought a bottle of Shiraz that was wonderful. Will for sure go back-next time to dry dessert!
(4)Senorita J.
You can never go wrong with cheese! Plus the drinks are awesome and servers are nice.
(4)rebecca g.
This is my go-to place to create a cheese platter for a party! Amazing selection and they carry things I haven't seen anywhere else. I've had brunch there twice and was impressed both times. Great bloody Marys, delicious pork chiliquiles and great sandwiches. I recently moved to OP from Chicago's Northside and we will be regulars!! Love it!!
(5)Cheryl W.
Yes, I had a Groupon for this place....that being said, I think it's a great place for apps and cheese, the wine was incredible and hubby loved the microbrew flight, however I don't think I'd recommend it for dinner. While our waitress was very pleasant, she didn't seem to know a lot about the food and had to go ask every time we had questions. Also, she disappeared at the end of the meal (more later on that). So we came on a Sunday night and were seated immediately. I had a glass of wine and my husband had the flight of microbrews. We also had a one of the "pre-figured-out" cheese platters (the Espania or something like that) to start as an app. So YUM on both counts...one star there! I ordered the scallops and husband ordered the mac and cheese. The scallops were good, but nothing out of this world and although hubby was not commenting and he had a lot of it wrapped to go, later he said he should have tried the fish and chips, so I'm taking that as a not-that-great. Fast forward to after dinner, we wanted to try some desserts and ordered a couple. Unfortunately 30 minutes later our waitress and desserts were MIA and our appetite was gone, so I just asked for the check from some passing waiter. Apparently it was then realized that our desserts were forgotten about. A second star for comping us for our drinks for forgetting about us after dinner. As far as ambiance...if you go when it's still very light out, it's very dark inside. So takes a bit to adjust. Once adjusted though, you're good to go. So, that being said, we probably won't be back for dinner. Although the drinks, apps and cheeses we had were great, so if you're looking for something like that - this is your place!
(2)James R.
I'm a huge fan! The service is great, wait staff as really improved, great food, and they have live music. Nice outdoor eating, but treat yourself to a table inside when you're in the mood for a little romance. Try the roasted chicken with spinach...... it will rock your world. Live, Love, Eat. JLR
(4)A. J.
Excellent service; very good food. Really enjoyed cheese diversity. Ordered something I was negatively surprised by, they took care of it. I liked that.
(4)Grace G.
I give Marion Street Cheese Market an outstanding review because everytime I dine or drink here, I get the very best service and experience. I most recently dined here with a large group on a Saturday night and our server was absolutely wonderful. He was attentive, patient, and able to make solid recommendations on great wine and cheese pairings. I tried the "Mac and Choose" this time around (a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese with andouille sausage) and it was very good and very filling. For an elegant evening out with friends or for a date, I don't think you can go wrong here.
(5)Dusty K.
***Review is for the cheese counter only*** On a rare trip to Oak Park to rid myself of an ever growing Oak Park groupon stack, I was happy to find this place. Upon walking in, my eyes were immediately drawn to the large cheese counter stretching over 3 display windows. I had planned to spend my groupon on cheese only but seeing the display only reinforced that decision. It takes some time to browse through all the selections but they have many options from hard cheeses to soft and local varieties to top quality imports. The good news is that they are more than happy to walk you through any of your likes and dislikes while offering suggestions. I ended up with 3 cheeses and a small container of rye crackers. The brie was soft and cream cheese like while the ten year aged cheedar is sharp and delicious. I have yet to try my Kaskaskia cheese (I believe it's a hard grating sheeps milk cheese) but it sounded and smells fantastic. It will be sprinkled over homemade pasta in my near future. I haven't eaten here for lunch but it looks like a nice spot to get a bite. I have another groupon and can't wait to purchase additional cheeses. They also have several beer and wine options along with bacon and butter selections from nearby farms (I've seen a few of them from local farmer's markets). I really liked this place and can see myself coming back without a groupon.
(4)Haines J.
What a great location for the wine, cheese, jazz, food lover. This place has really invested in the customer experience. From the vast inventory of wine displayed in the west wing of the store. Follow along to the restaurant and see all the fresh cheese from around the world. A simple menu stating that they do what they do well. Thank you for a great time and awesome meal.
(5)Tammy H.
Joe and I had the Groupon and made a day trip out to Oak Park. The folks there were SUPER pleasant. Our plan was to get $40 in cheese and that's exactly what we did. The cheese monger was very patient and observant to what Joe and I wanted and what I didn't like, haha. We tried a lot of stinky cheese and a lot of it was good. He was also willing to give us as little or as much as we wanted. The people that work here are just plain nice and easy to talk to. We had a very pleasant visit discussing cheese and Groupons :) Also, I'd recommend the Dante cheese out of the cooler. You'd be ok buying an entire wheel of it.
(4)Jenny Z.
Initially this place seemed a bit too trendy and pretentious-we made reservations on a Thursday night and the hostess wouldn't let us sit down until all of our party was present...and there were tons of tables available. Oh well, maybe it was a ploy to get people to walk around the shop and buy stuff? I don't mind though, any gourmet food or wine/beer they had to offer looked great. Once we sat down it was pure bliss! We got a cheese plate from Vermont that came with lots of little goodies. We all ordered a fish dish....the salmon was slightly fishy but was still delicious and the quinoa that came with it was amazing. My husband's fish and chips was perfect, phenomenal even. Then we ordered the brownie for dessert....it was dense, rich and came with caramel and cream and I still get cravings for it so i have to go back:)
(4)Kaitlyn V.
A bit pricey but quite lovely. A cheese/wine/beer shop to one side, and a restaurant to the other (a bar would be a nice addition, especially as they won't seat you until your full party arrives). Cheese-lovers will be in heaven, but lactose is not my best friend and I still had a wonderful meal and a great time! I went to college in a hippie town in upstate New York, and this reminds me of some of the nicer restaurants there -- that's a huge compliment. I love the focus on sustainability, local/seasonal foods, small batches, responsible sourcing, etc. All tied up with energetic creativity, in a modern but cozy environment. I'm a vegetarian, and the menu offered several unique and creative options - always a very welcome surprise! There was also great fish, chicken and meat for the carnivores in our crowd. Loved that the dishes have both wine and beer pairings, and the flights were fabulous. Entrees are a reasonable size but if you're very hungry, be sure to get an appetizer or soup/salad.
(4)Jenny P.
What a cute place!! We came to check this place out after having a groupon for it, and we were impressed! The wine selection is great and the woman who made some suggestions based on our taste was very helpful. The wine we chose was only a $10 bottle of Chilean cab sav, and she was right on by stating don't let the price fool you...it was delicious! Next was choosing a cheese, and the woman behind the counter was quick to make suggestions based on our wine selection. I forget the name of the cheese, but it was from Vermont and boy was it good! There is a little cafe/restaurant attached that included some outdoor seating and I would love to come by and try it out! They also had a a cooler with interesting beers available for purchase in 6 packs, and would like to try some of those too! Only reason it does not get 5 stars is b/c I need to try out the cafe service and food first! But what a neat place!
(4)Tina W.
Marion Street Cheese Market is part cheese and wine shop, part restaurant. The decor is nice. There are lots of windows to the street, there was a wraparound bar and deli counter, and the wood paneling gave it a classy yet comfortable feel. After seeing all the neat architechture in Oak Park, this place fit in nicely. They have a wide beer and wine selection with very reasonable prices. I had some interesting wines in my white, pink, red flight and they let me make a substitution for one of the wines. My boyfriend had the beer flight (with 5 beers!) and they were all beers he had never tried. The food was pretty good. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, which I really liked. It's hard to get eggplant that isn't rubbery! Neither of us had any cheese... My only complaint is with the coffee, which tasted burnt. Granted we arrived at 2pm, past the peak of coffee serving time, but they were still serving the brunch menu and I think the coffee could have been fresher considering.
(4)mei s.
what a fun place this is! This is a place i would tell my friends to go on date night! Off the main path in Oak Park. It is a quiet area but the inside was definitely bustling. It's a very cool spot. They had a jazz trio playing. It was not a loud place, so definitely not a place you'd go with the girls or the boys. It had a good mix of ages. And it is definitely not a pickup place. It is a date spot for sure. The service was friendly and helpful. However, we had asked for a recommendation for a cheese flight for our second course. We specifically said we do not like bland cheese, like Swiss. He recommended either the Midwest flight or the francophile. We went with the francophile, which had a mixture of soft and hard cheese. However, three of the hard cheeses were very bland. We were trying to figure out a way to get them to perk up by eating the dried apricots, but still no luck. The brie was nice and so was the blue cheese. But overall, we were very disappointed by the cheese flight. Next time, we will have to try the Midwest. We started with two salads which were really good, the baby spinach and the warm goat cheese. We also ordered the cheese puffs. I thought they were going to be more like gougeres, but they were more like little pastries with melted cheese inside. they were fine, but not as tasty as i had expected for NY cheddar. For our entrees, we ordered the duck carbonara and the crispy skin barramundi. They were excellent. The duck carbonara, was so beautiful with the fried egg on top. And the pasta was perfectly prepared, al dente. The crispy baramundi was also really good. the risotto was a cake that was oven crisped. and the almond brown butter with the carrots, was unbelievable. you could totally taste the brown butter. it was delicious. we were really full afterwards, so unfortunately, no room for desert or coffee. although i really wanted some coffee. but two glasses of wine and a flight of beer prohibited any room for more liquid. I will definitely come back again. The fish and chips looked awesome!! Can't wait to try it and some other cheeses.
(5)Chris L.
No matter why you come here, you will not be disappointed. If you're hungry - the food in the Bistro is great (I've enjoyed both dinner and brunch). If you're thirsty - they have an ever changing handful of microbrews on tap. If you want cheese - they will not laugh at you're lack of cheese knowledge, I promised (and I now know how I feel about soft rind cheese, or was it washed rind cheese???). If you want to buy local - you can get cheese, beer, melt-in-your-mouth toffee, honey and even pastured local eggs at a fair price. And if you are coming there for the obvious wine - Candy and the other helpful staff will steer you in the right direction even with a $10 - $15 budget. It's a great small, local business that supports lots of other small, local businesses. For the last 6 months or so, I've made it a point to stop in about every 2 weeks or so. Instead of taking the easy way out and grabbing a bottle of wine or a dozen eggs while I'm grocery shopping at Jewel, I take the time to go here instead. Don't just save it for special occasions, make it part of your routine. And feel free to treat yourself to a little piece of toffee as a reward for supporting the market! P.S. I think the profile lists it as "not" kid friendly, but they give stickers to my kids from the cheese shop, they have weekly story times and dinners just for little ones. I think that's pretty kid friendly. P.S.S. Sign up for their kinda regular newsletter and get the benefit of 10 - 15% off coupons that usually come with each one!
(5)Cassie S.
Marion Street is a dangerous collection of delicious things. Its new space is extremely classy--with nifty environmentalist touches, including what I'm pretty sure are recycled seatbelts woven together to form the backs and seats of the chairs. Wonderful chocolates, cheese, and even milk and eggs from farms--though these are a little pricey--if you're just grabbing stuff to take home. Fantastic menu of little surprises if you're eating there. Some good and surprisingly affordable wines are on offer, to take with you or consume on the premises. This place can go from very fancy live music to showing the game du jour on the flatscreen in two seconds--it has a good down to earth streak. Best place to buy good honey in Oak Park when the farmers' market is shut down for the winter.
(5)Turner F.
Really, Marion Street Cheese Market should have two Yelp entries--one for the restaurant and one for the market. The market is great for that last minute hostess gift you kept putting off until right before the dinner party, as has been said before: the market is full of great cheeses, meats, and wines, as well as other specialty groceries like high-end yogurt and dinner crackers--delicious. I agree that the service can be slow and the employees less than fully engaged sometimes but disagree that it is bad service. The laid back atmosphere is evident from the moment you walk into the place. When I have had questions, I seek the staff out. I don't wait for them to initiate. The restaurant is what makes MSCM truly deserve 5+ Yelp stars. The often-changing menu caters to adventurous foodies and more skittish restaurant-goers alike. They certainly have the hit-you-over-the-head hearty meaty dishes with lamb and sometimes boar and decadently thick 'focaccia du jour' that I would argue could appeal to just about anyone (except for maybe the boar), but they also have subtler, more obscure dishes creatively combining their extensive cheese offerings with various purees, pastas, fish, and fowl. A note about their location for those of us who are car-less: MSCM is ~50 feet away from the Harlem green line el stop. In other words, the 'but it's all the way out in Oak Park' excuse is only valid because of how long it takes to get to Oak Park, not because it's inaccessible by CTA. I've been to MSCM about 5 times, which, considering I live downtown, do not own a vehicle and am quite lazy, shows just how good my experiences have been to keep me coming back.
(5)Caiti S.
Dear Marion Street Cheese Market, I want to like you. I want to feel the same way about you that so many others do, but I just can't. I totally support the way you do things, with a focus on local, organic and sustainable ingredients. But that doesn't outweight the problems I've had. It's been a year and a half since my first visit (which wasn't the best), and the second visit only enforced my feelings I had the first time around. My husband and I dined for brunch today. Before the meal, we were offered biscotti, but this biscotti should really have come with a warning that you will likely need dental work after attempting to bite the hardest, crunchiest cookie I've ever tried to eat. I will perhaps take the blame for this, however, as I am not a coffee-drinker and didn't have a hot liquid to dip the biscotti into, which perhaps might have softened it into something more edible. Lesson learned: Have the biscotti with coffee or risk breaking your teeth. For my entree, I ordered the honey-roasted cauliflower sandwich (with apples, aged cheddar and curry aioli on multigrain bread, which was supposed to come with my choice of side) and my husband ordered a rhubarb french toast with sweet chevre. While waiting for our food, I overheard a chef say to our waitress that a cauliflower sandwich was coming up, and that he wanted to know what side was ordered with it. (I assume that he was referring to my sandwich, as there were not many other patrons in the restaurant.) My waitress, who I now realize failed to ask what side I wanted when I ordered, told the chef to "put whatever you feel like" with the sandwich. I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect the waitress to come over and ask what side I actually WANTED, rather than telling the cook to put on the plate whatever he had. My husband loved his French toast, and I had a bite and agree that it was wonderful. However, I did not love the taste of my cauliflower sandwich. The cauliflower was over-roasted and bitter, and the sandwich was completely lacking the aged cheddar that the menu described. Yes, the Cheese Market failed to put the CHEESE on my sandwich. The bread was wonderful, but certainly not enough to redeem the meal. I sadly left feeling quite unsatisfied. Maybe I'll give the MSCM one more try, but between lackluster service and food that has left me wanting more, I'm still waiting to be impressed like others seem to be.
(2)Craig G.
Attended a birthday dinner there last night., not at all what I thought it would be. Service was okay and the waitress was very nice. However, the reasonable price /(food quality + portion size) = horrible, for this reason alone, I wont be back. Why cant these restaurants figure out that the economy is in the dumps and now is NOT the best time to gouge your customers. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market is not alone in this. The restaurants who survive will find the right balance.
(2)Christina S.
After my original review, I feel it only fair to warn people... The cheese puffs are no more. Sigh. I was appalled when I heard the words, "Oh, we don't have those on the menu anymore." The watier then tried to sell me on some arrancini. They were delicious, but just not the same. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.
(4)Vanessa D.
These guys are off my list. I went here 2 weeks ago, excited to purchase a few of my favorite cheeses. I was so pleased to find they had all three (L'Amuse Gouda, Cashel Bleu, and Ewephoria). I was unhappy to see that the two people working behind the cheese counter didn't seem to be real "cheesemongers" or even know much about proper handling of and packing of the different cheeses. Not to mention the one woman's inability to cut the cheese, no pun intended. When I came home and opened up the Cashel Bleu I was immediately surprised to find that there was something seriously wrong with this cheese. A good portion of it (1/4) seemed to be a brownish color with a wet consistently. On top of that, all the blue portions were covered in tiny little white dots. Now, I am not a cheese professional but I have eaten Cashel Bleu plenty of times to know that this is NOT normal. I immediately called the shop and spoke to the person who answered the phone. She interrupted me and transferred me to the cheese department. It rings a million times and no one answers. Mind you, this was approximately 5PM on a Tuesday evening. So, I left a voicemail, explaining the issue and gave my name and phone number, asking them to call me back. They did not call back. Bad customer service means I will never visit your store again. Plus, the prices of the cheeses I purchased happen to be significantly less at Fox & Obel, where I've never had any issues with their cheese or customer service.
(1)Jeremiah T.
The diver scallops were the best I have had, and I have had quite a few. They have quite a variety of cheese (of course). All the cheese I sampled on my flight were exquisite, the goat cheese was especially delicate and impressive. Their wine selection is an impressive collection of quality, sustainable wines. The menu provides pairing suggestions of both wine and beer with your main course. Our server was quite helpful and attentive in our meal selection. My party thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and highly recommend a visit.
(5)M H.
MMMMMM!!!! Great food and great service!!! They are vegetarian friendly which I love, lots of organic items and the menu is very creative. Great wine selection and you can buy wine and cheeses and meats to take home with you. I would recommend reservations. They also have special events and live bands on certian nights.
(5)Inbalsp S.
This has become my go-to spot for gifts! They have such an exciting variety of unique products, from wonderful cheeses to craft ales. We've dined here a couple of times and enjoyed the experience, overall. But I think their strongest suit is the gourmet foods for purchase. Wonderful as hostess gifts and even holiday gifts! Oh, and my favorite part is the expert advice on hand by the staff. They are so helpful in finding the perfect gift for any occasion.
(4)Claudia M.
Met some friends here tonight. Had the 5 cheese and meat appetizer. Loved the cheese mix that the waiter recommended. Afterwards shared fried green tomatoes, brushetta and margherita flatbread. All delicious. Was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the waiter and staff was. This is my new favorite place in Oak Park. PLUS, they have the most delicious chocolate desserts!
(5)Dejan B.
Great and hip place in Oak Park. Some guides to the city say this is a must visit and I have to agree. Its location is great, very close (walking distance) to many other attractions in Oak Park like the Unity Temple, Frank Lloyd Wrights studio, Hemingway's house, etc. Yes, you will find a LOT of cheese here...However, the restaurant also serves a lot of very good non-cheese meals and for the location you can get some at pretty reasonable prices. They have a large wine section with regular wine tastings, and also a lot of events going on...One of the most important things to me is they have a emphasis on sustainability and being a little more socially-responsible than some other places. If you are in Oak Park I recommend checking this place out...
(4)Aaron A.
Having been a fan of the smaller version of MSCM on the other side of the tracks, I need to segment this big shop and review the segments separately. Cheese & charcuterie: 3 stars. I loved the smaller Marion Street Cheese Market when it was on the other side of the train tracks (it deserved 4-5 stars). The staff was very small, but knew exactly what they were doing. Now that they've made the move, they have more staff who are less expert. It is much harder to get any good advice now. Also, the wider counter layout makes it easier for other jerks to push in front of you. I'm not British, but I do like an orderly queue. The old market was so small that there was no other way. At this point, you could go to a high-end grocery store and get an equal or better cheese-buying experience. Not good when "cheese market" is half of your name! Wine: 4 stars. Big improvement here after the move! The selection is not as large as at big wine superstores, of course. But the staff knows the inventory, and they are very helpful. I would say the most helpful employees I've encountered here work in the wine section. And they never talk down to a less knowledgeable customer, which frequently happens at dedicated wine shops. I also really like the circular wine "cellar." Charming. Restaurant: 3 stars. If either the service were worthy of the prices and decor (which would take a big improvement), or the prices were reflective of the mediocre service, then this would jump to 4 stars instantly. I really like the food, but I don't like to pay that much for good food and inept service. I should make special mention of a great meal I had with my wife and some friends last Valentine's day. It was a prix fixe 5 course menu, and a friend and I added the beer pairings. Brilliant! A perfect beer for every course, including salad and dessert. I'd never had a beer paired with dessert before, and it was revelatory. Marion St. Cheese Market has great local beer, all the time. But we were told over the phone that we could buy wine at the wine section and drink it with dinner, so we bought two bottles. When we gave one to the server, she made a big deal about how they shouldn't do that, and that they would anyway, and would charge a $15 corkage fee. Wait a minute! $15 corkage fee AND a guilt trip for wine THAT WE JUST PURCHASED IN THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT!?! Bullshit! But the silver lining, of course, is that I had the revelatory beer pairings, so it all ended OK.
(3)Caroline B.
This place was awesome! I came here around 11am on Sunday for Brunch and we made reservations anticipating a crowded restaurant but the place wasn't that crowded, and I hope it stays that way because I can definitely see myself popping in here more often! I had the Bacado Benedict: eggs Benedict with bacon, avocado spread, and a chili hollandaise. It came with a side of potatoes and I must say that the potatoes were just as good as the eggs benedict, they were the perfect amount of crispiness....delicious! It was all topped off by a great waitress. You could just tell that the food was fresh and good quality, worth the extra money I would normally spend on breakfast. The attached shop was full of fine foods that I would love to try, cheese, wine, beer, spreads and dips, crackers, ice cream, chocolates, all sorts of things. Another great Oak Park find, I love my new adopted town.
(5)Just T.
Hello, my name is F and I have a cheese addiction. Marion Street Cheese Market is my favorite place to go score some cheese for a binge. The cheesemongers behind the counter are always knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is fairly deep and wide. A tip for newbies: the cheese counter most always has a basket of "orphans" sitting out. These little cheese chunks are the perfect way to grab some quick, cheap cheese you might not usually buy. The restaurant has a menu that is often updated and everything I've tried has been good to great. Service can be slow. So relax and order a specialty beer. Last note - the cheese and meat flights might not seem like much food, but you'll be surprised.
(4)Andrew D.
A paradise for pretentious snobs trying to fit into Oak Park. The CHEESE is great, I'll give them that. But everything (beer, wine, entire food menu, cheeses, meats, desserts) is so overpriced it's not worth the effort. For the same cheese at half the price visit Caputo's Cheese Market on North Ave. For better beer, ambience, and friendlier staff go to Poor Phil's a block away. Food came out cold... any place serving lukewarm food automatically gets nothing above 2 stars. And this place didn't have the service to earn the second star. Dined her about a year ago, so I might give it another chance since I heard a new kitchen staff was hired. But most likely not. Don't shop here - way overpriced.
(1)Bill R.
A $35 Mother's Day buffet that DOES NOT include coffee (or any other drink) where you are rushed at every step of the meal seems a little ridiculous. The food was ok. The Buffett had some weird stuff like blue cheese potato salad. I like blue cheese but not for breakfast or in a potato salad. There were a few other items that were good but some others that were also a little off. Mom does not drink. But they have a free Mimosa for moms. So mom gets a free orange juice in a small glass instead (no champagne flute allowed for OJ apparently). Someone else orders a mimosa and gets charged $9.50. Wow. Seems like they could work something out there and maybe charged us $3 for the OJ (but again why are we paying for non-alcoholic beverages on top of $35???) But I inquired and no dice. We had 9am reservations. The doors opened around 9:10. It was a cold Chicago spring morning and mom stood in the cold waiting for them to open along with some other families with small kids. We were then rushed to order and rushed to pay. Great. About 8 open tables when we were leaving so it was unclear why they felt compelled to rush us every step of the way!!! I guess $35 per person only gets you about 40 minutes in this place because that was the pace they were on. we stretched it to about 1:15 and after about 15 minutes the waitress had asked for our orders at least twice even though we hadn't been to the Buffett yet. She was also sure to come for the check - even walking away with it in under an hour although it had not been paid because it had only sat there for 5 minutes and we were determined to get some of our money's worth and stay at least an hour. They need to work on a few things if they want to charge these prices. This was an annoying enough experience that I am writing my first yelp review.
(2)Samir R.
Had a Groupon, so the wife and I decided to check this place out. Our server was awesome, she was very energetic and you could tell she likes what she does. Wife had an excellent flight of Spanish reds, and the pours were pretty generous. I had the Dogfish World Wide Stout, also a great pour for a beer that hits at 18%. We shared a cheese flight of 5, some good cheeses. We also shared a Mac and cheese. Probably the best mac I have had. This was some good stuff. Only downfall is the price, a little steep, but using the Groupon helped. We even bought a bottle of the wine we had from the shop before we left and a bottle of Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Ale. Great beer selection for guys or gals who don't do a lot of wine such as myself. Would probably go back again, it's right next to the Metra, so a good stop for a drink and cheese, hop back on and head to Elmhurst.
(4)Miss A.
I went for lunch with a friend on a Friday afternoon. Wine: Good, but overpriced. Or, at least, they didn't offer any glasses under $8. Food: Started with the soup of the day, tomato with quinoa. It was good, but not awesome. Next had the cauliflower sandwich - AWESOME! So good. Yum. However, for the price it was quite small. I'm not one of those people who needs to gorge or take half the meal home to feel like I've gotten a good deal, but this was a genuinely small sandwich. At this point in the meal, I was not full...My friend and I shared the cupcake duo. The cupcakes were TINY and, well, not exactly to die for. Service: Ok. The host was busy stocking some shelves in the shop when I entered, and a server rudely ::ahem::'ed him to indicate that I was waiting for a table. I didn't need to see that...awkward. The same server was polite an inobtrusive, but I was still a little wierded out by witnessing her scold the poor host. Overall, a decent experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make the trip again.
(3)Kc H.
Having gone here a couple times, I must say that Marion Street is a great neighborhood standby. As I am a fan of yummy cheeses and wines, this place fits the bill and is especially nice for a date night. Their mac and cheese is no Kumas (albeit in the same price range) but their food is executed well and quite good.
(4)Michael D.
Finally!! An eatery in downtown Oak Park that is nice without being pretentious, artsy without being de rigeur, where one can wear one's favorite tropical shirt without being shown to a table behind a potted plant. Long have we waited in this western 'burb for something downtown Chicago-ish, interesting and delicious, without the shlep and the rapacious parking fees. The drought is over! Noteworthy item: it started as a shop no bigger than a wedge of Brie--always carrying fresh and hard to find cheeses--then grew into a hybrid restaurant/wine and cheese shop in newer, posher digs a half block away, multiplying it's personnel roster from counting 'em on one hand, into the mid double digits. This was our first foray into the restaurant side of the biz, and what a pleasant surprise it was. Cheese-y in the best possible way; where else can one design a flight of cheeses from an extensive list, for ones own personal consumption? Couple this with a glass of vino from a similarly populated wine list, talk your date into speaking with a French accent, and voila! Waaaaay cheaper than going to Paris. The food was uniformly excellent, and our waiter was a veritable cheese savant, something not often found in Oak Park and environs. The spousal unit had scallops, so fresh they could've just jumped out of the Atlantic. Unceremoniously ogling dishes being delivered to other tables, it all looked terrific. Fish and chips looked about as British as could be, and a generous helping to boot. Note to self: try these next time. Dessert was equally as tasty/festive: fresh berries something-or-other, with a sauce that was out of this world. Ambiance: great, laid back vibe, decor in rich woods and stone. If you enjoy nibbling on your bacon infused dark chocolate couched in nature''s embrace, there are cafe tables lined up outside, on busy yet somehow quiet Marion Street. High, cheesy five, Marion Street Cheese Market! PS, note to management: it was REALLY hard to get thru to an actual person to make a reservation! I called three times, three times they switched me over to the reservations line, and three times it went to voicemail. If you're calling a place requesting an opportunity to spend money in their establishment, one would think they would leap at the chance, yes? Finally, on the fourth try, with grim determination, I explained my plight to the nice lady, and she WALKED the phone over to a reservations human, who completed my request with aplomb. Business tip: re evaluate your reservations procedures--others may not have the same terrier-with-a-rat stick to it've-ness! Subsequent visit, 11/27/10: went back, for a pre-theatre nosh, and again, was delighted, overall, with the experience. Nitpicky stuff: I was hoping to see some additions to the menus, perhaps some specials. Yes, the celery root soup was quite tasty--those no doubt change on a regular basis--I'm talking in the entree department. The menu is not extensive, and with just a few offerings, one gets ho hum about going to the same place. The fish and chips (British style, deep fried) seemed a bit bland, but they're also bland in Britain, so there ya have it. It'd be helpful if the malt vinegar came in a shaker as it does in Merry Olde, rather than a small serving cup; fish is not an easily dunked comestible--it's rather fond of falling off into the liquid, and you find yourself fishing for the fish. Ironically. Still--it remains a GREAT wine and cheese (or whine and cheese, depending on how your day went) or coffee/dessert/chatting kind of place, perfect for chilling and whiling away a Saturday date night.
(4)Alexandra W.
So a friend was playing a gig here the other night so a few of the girls decided to get together and check it out... Little disorganized, but nothing severe. They were quick with the communication and keeping us in the loop while waiting for a table. Once seated - we did a make our own cheese plate - we savored every morsel. The waitress even teased us about never seeing one last that long...little did she know we had gone out for Thai before hand -but no one was willing to let a shred of cheese go to waste. Great selection of Ciders...enough that I was able to sample several in an evening. Dessert is a must. They carry Ruth & Phil's ice cream - that's a star in it's own. My bread pudding was great. My Friends Mint Chocolate Dream - was dreamy and quite fitting as her birthday dessert. And the third gal pal went with an assortment of truffles. She enjoyed them, and she's a truffle maker! So if you ever hear of the West Side Winders playing a gig there - stop by, tip back a tall one and slip into some indulgence. And if they're not playing there...well at least you have cheese & dessert.
(5)Emily S.
Love this place! (1) Fabulous wine flights that are on special during the week! (2) Gourmet cheese fries, need I say more? I went with a few girlfriends one night after work, and we had a great time. The server was knowledgeable, friendly and made several solid picks for us. The food, particularly the cheese, was delish! Those cheese fries...mmm...
(5)Laurie H.
A great place for conversation and good food. Went there last night with an old friend because we needed to catch up, and it was the right choice. The service (once we got it) was attentive but not intrusive. The dining area has lots of small tables, carefully spaced, to encourage conversation and minimal noise from the kitchen/retail area. And our meals were terrific. I had the chicken and it was completely awesome -- I wasn't expecting anything so tender and delicious from a place that specialized in cheeses. My friend went with the cheese & charcuterie and was pleased, as well. I subtracted one star because the service was so spotty at first. One waiter brought us water and then disappeared. No menus. Nada. After a long while a waitress showed up and asked if anyone had taken our order. When she realized our situation, she was apologetic and very helpful with our wine selections. It didn't hamper our dining experience, but it is something management should look out for. Because from reading other reviews, this sort of thing does seem to happen frequently.
(4)Tina B.
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but there IS such a thing as too much cheese. And it is way, way less than what you think it would be. I only ate like two, maybe three, pounds or so of the stuff at the most, but I just left feeling really, really full and kind of sick - you might want to try to make sure you eat less than three pounds of cheese here. But it's really hard to not eat too much, because that junk is in everything in here. The cheesy pomme frites are really good and might even be almost worth the $9 price tag, but I implore you to not eat them in between a five-cheese cheese plate and a cheese cake dessert. And there are cheese samples all over the place and freaking chocolate samples all over the place too. And don't get me started on the shaved coppa salami. It's almost kind of gross if you come here lacking will power. Like a food version of a Hellraiser-esque purgatory. A dark, swarthy den filled with cheeses, wine, chocolate and cured meats. But with a well thought out kids' menu and beautiful wooden high chairs, too. Sweet. They also have three different flavors of wine soda. And a lovely toasted sesame seed truffle. Wear stretchy pants, or better yet - a loose dress (it's only a muumuu if you're in the muumuu mindset, baby). And bring money, lots of money, because this bitch is one costly decadence- they even have a damned $7 cup of coffee on the menu.
(4)Rachel Z.
So my second time here, it was much busier. It was their one year anniversary, so my sister and I went to try out the $5 glasses of wine and appetizer platters. My sister ordered a glass of the white wine, a rioja, and it was a darker white wine, very yellow, and had a very crisp and sweet taste to it. I enjoyed it, she prefers riesling, so she ordered the bubbly on special. The bubbly looked like bubbly grape juice and it tasted like cheap champagne. We didn't finish our glasses of wine, but we enjoyed trying something new. For our first appetizer, we got a the $5 sampler. One was a piece of hard toast with a mushroom pate on it - way too much pate for my taste. The other was a piece of toast with a small slice of cheese, jam, and a couple slices of apples on top, sweet and delicious. The next was a small baked good filled with brie, if you like brie, you'd be in business. Next we ordered the Cheesy Puffs. So delicious. Fried Cheddar Cheese with a bit of olive oil. Absolutely wonderful and we devoured them. My sister and I had a fun experience and definitely will go back for a glass of wine, since its a couple blocks from my house. This is the 2nd time the server failed to impress, average service.
(3)Jean S.
I'm sorry guys. I REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was so disjointed as to be annoying and to ruin the whole experience. The sandwiches were good enough, and my husband enjoyed the beer flight, but overall I found the place a turnoff. I will say that the retail side was absolutely charming and the clerks there were very attentive, knowledgeable and pleasant. We left with a nice bottle of white. My recommendation: go pick up some cheese and wine there and bring it home. Leave the dine out experience for elsewhere.
(2)c d.
Recently went back to give the small plates menu a try, glad we did. We sat outside on a beautiful night. Perfect spot for people watching and maybe even running into a few friends heading off the train. There were so many yummy sounding options on the menu, it was hard to narrow it down to a few. We went with the ploughman cheese flight. The cheese were delicious and the chutney was a perfect compliment. Perfect plain on bread too. We also had the pork belly sliders, I think they may have been on special that evening. My first taste of pork belly. The sliders were very substantial! Lastly we ordered another special, stuffed figs. They were really good, though very rich. A lot went a long way. Our waitress was excellent. She was especially helpful when it came time to order beer. She also knew the menu items and was able to recommend dishes to help us narrow our decisions. Looking forward to checking out the MSCM offerings at the new mid-week market.
(4)Christina G.
Definitely one of the nicer places in Oak Park. Obviously a great place for wine, cheese and the like. The food is always good. Ambiance is very nice. Staff/service is very friendly, and knowlegable, but sometimes a little scattered and slow, but something that the rest makes up for.
(4)John L.
This is one of the places I really miss in Oak Park. The food is great and the beer selection (both for dine-in and retail) is well thought out. The service is always slow so we never go there if we were in a hurry. Also, I don't know what the problem is with the ventilation, but we always smell like a kitchen after leaving. These 2 issues keep the MSCM from getting 5 stars.
(4)Tara C.
What a disappointing evening. I stopped in for a glass of wine, hoping to sit outside. The construction made that impossible so I sat at the bar. When I arrived, I was the only customer there. I ordered a glass of Prosecco and the bartender brought it without delay. As the evening drew on, I ordered 2 glasses of cava. To the bartender's credit, he continued to ask me if i wanted anything else. The problem was when I wanted to close out and there was a high-maintenance woman nearby with her son. I'm in the service industry so I understand getting her outta there but wow, I felt so ignored. I finally put my credit card on the edge of the bar and still waited about 8 minutes before I was acknowledged. He could barely muster a thank you when he gave me my copy to sign. The check was $24.50 for 3 glasses of sparkling wine. Don't waste your time or money in the cheese market. They don't know what they have or what things cost. Apparently I don't fit the right mold for a customer to whom they offer samples. I bought a bottle of cava and some duck pate from the cooler and called it a night. My high hopes for this place have been shattered.
(2)Michael W.
Cheese. Glorious cheese. La-la-li-la-lah-lah! Tasty & extremely filling. Surprisingly delicious for what looked like a small amount of food.
(3)Slu S.
On a terrible morning for me, I had an incredible 15 minutes are Marion Street Cheese Market. I came in not knowing what to expect other than they had a good selection of cured meats. What they had was a lovely, knowledgeable, young woman working the counter who loved to share information about the meats in the cooler. From the lardo, which was one of the best things ever, to the La Quercia proscuitto, better than many Italian Proscuitto's despite its Iowa roots, to the Jamon Iberico with its lovely salty sweetness, she sliced all sorts of charcuterie with a smile and a story for each one. On a black Saturday, it certainly was one of the brightest moments. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Mark F.
We went there with some friends who live in Oak Park and loved it! The menu isn't your typical menu. You can tell a great deal of thought went into it. While the food isn't necessarily spectacular, the quality of ingredients is very apparent. Would definitely go back!
(4)Chris C.
3 stars is an average - 2 stars for the restaurant, 4 stars for the shop. First, the good: The cafe section has a vast array of cheeses which the staff will gladly give you a taste of along with their recommendations. The beer selection is nice and almost all craft. There are usually a nice selection of out of the ordinary wines though. Now for the cafe. I will admit it is sometimes hit and miss. Sometimes I g and its quite nice (as in just overpriced). Most of the time however the service is s-l-o-w. Doesn't matter if we're the only ones there. 20 minutes for a check is unreal. And they got rid of everything that made us want to go - good appetizers, beer flights, etc etc. Suffice to say if you use a Groupon and still feel ripped off... But every weekend night they are packed so maybe its me.
(3)Tina C.
Well for years I've been a regular, for the food NOT the service (except for nick the bartender) so a couple weeks ago I returned for the last time. I've put up with shotty service, but this particular day was just terrible to say the least. This day time bartender I saw giving away free drinks to some guy while he ignored me for 15 min. I sat there with an empty glass while he walked by me like 15 times. I did not say anything because I shouldn't have to. I usually stay for a couple glasses of wine but that day I left early and spent my money down the street where I was treAted much better. I mean for a regular who has been spending money at an establishment should get some kind of better service than I received right?? Just a waste of time and money. at this place. Don't bother it's been years since this place has opened and service has gotten worse, I see no improvement for the future here.
(1)Rob B.
Outstanding service and tasty food. I'll be back! So excited OP has something like this now
(5)Nancy M.
One of my favs. Especially dining al fresco in the summer. Come hungry, and have nothing to do after. This is belly food. Hangover Fries. Amazing. I have eaten many times, and it is terrific. Everytime. Brkfst. Lunch & Dinner.
(4)Megan B.
I love the Marion Street Cheese Market! They have a fresh, ever-changing menu of lovely bistro items. The cheese puffs are divine. More and more people seem to be discovering it, so I've found lately going to dinner early or a bit later is optimal. They have a lovely selection of cheese (duh), but also fine artisan meats and chocolates, as well as local beverages, wine, and other dairy products for sale in the 'market' portion of the shop. Wait staff is very friendly, though a few times we've been forgotten at the end of our meal and it's taken a little too long to get our check. The owners have outfitted the restaurant with sustainable and recycled products wherever possible, from the responsibly harvested wood tables to the recycled seatbelt chairs. And it's all done tastefully and with a modern flair. Overall, the quality of the food, as well as the fact that it's all local, sustainable and organic when possible makes this place one of my favorites in Oak Park. I agree with other reviewers that it's a great date spot. I brought my boyfriend here for dessert and coffee on our first date! My friends and I love to go here for special (or not so special) occasions. I plan on taking my parents as well the next time they come to visit. This is a great casual restaurant to go to if you want to eat a good meal.
(4)Puja A.
I have been here twice. Groupon got me there. The food will keep me going back. The pork belly was amazing. Probably the best I have ever had. The chipotle seasonal cookies had the right kick and flavoring. Great local beer and wine selection. They offer flights as well. The service was also really good. The server walked by and heard us discussing what was in the cookies, she stopped and let us know she would find out. The empty plates were cleared and spacing of the different courses was perfect. The place has a small dining area to allow for a nice sized cheese, wine, and beer market. You get 10% off groceries with your dining receipt. Oh, and it is super close to the green line (and maybe blue, not sure).
(5)Jennifer S.
Ok yes I had to update this review. I gave them AMPLE time to work out the kinks and the kitchen is still the slowest I have ever seen! I don't blame the wait staff because they are stuck dealing with the kitchen. Oh and NEVER go there for coffee before work. It takes them 20 minutes just to do a Chai Latte with no one else waiting!
(2)Kelly R.
there is nothing like getting some cheese (which they will help you navigate the overwhelming variety), crackers, chocolate, a nice bottle of wine and sitting in the park near by on a sunny afternoon... oh how I long for days like those! (my ratings for kids, noise, and groups are based on how I patronize this business)
(5)Erin V.
I pass by this place all the time but wanted to save it for a special occasion. My mom was visiting this past weekend so I made reservations for Saturday night at 8PM. We arrived a little late and probably weren't seated until about 8:20. And then we proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait. Our waitress stopped by to say she'd be right with us but she didn't come again over until my husband gave her "a look" from across the room. You know the look I'm talking about. Anyway, once she took our order everything seemed to go much more smoothly. Or maybe that was just due to the bottle of wine we were drinking. The food was AMAZING and I thought it was a nice touch that most all the menu items were labeled to tell you if they were vegetarian, vegan, or even gluten-free. After dinner it was fun to look around the retail section of the store. And if we hadn't been stuffed, tipsy, and if it hadn't been 10PM we probably would have bought something to take home. All in all, I wasn't that impressed with the service but the food and the atmosphere made up for that. Some people have complained that the prices are too high, but my mom (who lives in downstate Illinois) commented that she thought the bill was quite reasonable for a bottle of wine, a beer, a cheese flight, and three entrees. We'll definitely be back and hopefully next time the service will be a little bit more consistent.
(4)Eagle R.
The cheese puffs alone suspends you into a temporary cheese bliss. We also had the roasted olives serve with fresh baguette also very good. Serve was excellent I had ordered the wrong eggs and it was not a problem to get the eggs the way I wanted. Hot was chocolatey and delicious. Though they need to work on the mac and cheese for a cheese shop it was tasteless and not so cheesy. The shop was well stock it being a small shop.
(5)Joan K.
Was disappointed that the a couple of the cases were empty. nothing caught my eye there and I'm a gourmet food junkie. The place has a nice aroma when you walk in..smokey, but there is no smoked meat other than pre packed salami and bacon. Some cheese, but not at all what I had expected. Would not drive out of my way to go here again
(1)Jamie J.
This place is considerably bigger than I expected, and I could see myself spending more than the 10 minutes I did today on a future trip. Everything is well laid-out, making sure that you don't have to hunt around for any of the merchandise. I swear some of these places don't want you to buy their stuff. Not so with the helpful people at Marion Street. I got a couple generous samples before getting some of "the only true Gruyer made in the US". I haven't had a good Gruyere in awhile, but I can tell you it was delicious. The family is Swiss and I have to hand it to them. I also picked up some Parmigiano Regiano and while it tasted great, the price wasn't anything special. I can get great cheese closer to where I live, but I'll probably swing by next time I'm in Oak Park.
(4)Daina B.
I love cheese. No, I L-O-V-E cheese. So when we moved in to Oak Park and learned that a cheese market was close to our condo I was stoked. Marion Cheese Market is a wonderful combination of market/ wine shop/ restaurant. I love the market/wine shop, that's what gives it it's high marks. We often come here to stock up on some Two Brothers (mouth waters) Domaine DuPage. MSCM has a variety of wines and beer, not incredibly extensive, but a good variety. They even have interesting candies. Their cheese and meat selection is pretty nice, but I have yet to actually purchase some. You can also buy a fondu pot here, although my husband has to discourage me every time (you know it will just end up collecting dust in the cabinet anyway). The restaurant on the other hand is just OK. I have eaten here a total of four times in the course of a year and every time the food all had the same problem. WAY TOO SALTY. And coming from a girl that likes to eat the skin off a jewel 'lightly' seasoned rotisserie chicken, well, then you know it's salty. And the variety of flavor really isn't that great. Every meal has pretty much tasted the same for me. Whether it's a chicken dish or their bison. But, I really do love their wine flights. A fair price for what they offer. Their cheese flights on the other hand - It's All Gouda is delicious, but unfortunately my most recent trip they seemed to give us much less cheese than what they normally give us. This bothered me because usually when I go it's just me and my hubby and we have plenty of cheese to share. But this time we took an out-of-towner and they gave us LESS cheese than when it's just the two of us, for the same price (ridiculous). I'll probably go here to eat again, but I'll stick with the small plates because of the price. I will definitely go to the market section again to get our Two Brother's fix. Plus that is is literally right off the green line/ metra so that is a major plus.
(4)Happy Mama M.
I love this place! Its great for lunch- really have only been there for lunch or to pick up wine. The menu is creative and delicious (I was a little nervous about the cauliflower sandwich!). The people working in the wine section are terrific and always pick out great wines!
(5)nan B.
Great place to get fresh quality cheeses. We bought several cheeses and some wine. There are many unique cheeses you won't find at your local grocery store. There are lot of other items like chocolate, wine and crackers ect... The St. Andre cheese is as good as it gets! The staff is nice.
(5)Rebekah H.
We went to the Marion Street Cheese Market this weekend to see the band playing there and were we happy we did. This place is fantastic! Everythign from our cheese platter to our main dishes were phenomenal. The service was fantastic and the ambiance was great. This is a fabulous addition to Oak Park and real reason for us to get out of the city!
(4)faline m.
the food is great, i had the skillet which was wonderful. service is very good too. i will be back!
(5)Natalia K.
Smells like cheese, but it's a cheese shop, after all. Cute décor. Definitely trying for an upscale and modern ambience and the prices reflect this. The food, however, did not measure up. We came for brunch. I enthusiastically ordered the chilaquiles. The taste was decent, but it was not at all as expected. It was almost an egg and tortilla casserole, rather than salsa, eggs, and meat on tortilla chips. If this was a modern interpretation, I'll take the old-fashioned one. Not worth the trip from the city.
(2)Stephen B.
I went here today with my daughter, because i am home for a while and we wanted to see each other. She had a turkey sandwich and I had a chicken sandwich. They came with a cup of soup which was delicious. The prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. I like the portion size, just right, not huge "American Portion." They have an ample selection of wines and beers. I would happily come back here.
(5)John T.
Wonderful selection of cheeses and various other delicacies. I always love going into this place and sampling new cheeses. A big pricey, but other than that, a great place to find cheeses for your party.
(4)David C.
This is a gem of Oak Park and that's saying something because I've been a customer at just about every business in this suburb because A) I used to live in a nearby suburb, B) I went to high school in Oak Park, C) my grandma lives in Oak Park, and D) I work in a nearby suburb. We came here on a weekday evening and it was bustling with people. We had a reservation for which two of the three of us were 10 minutes late. They didn't open the table until all of us had arrived, but they were gracious enough to hold the table. Our service was not overly attentive, but our water glasses were always filled and our waiter was kind enough to entertain my girlfriend's whim of taking a picture of our group with her phone. I was perfectly pleased with the service we received. Cheese flight: There were enough sourdough bread pieces for each of us, some type of decoratively splattered dipping sauces, bits of apple, and nuts. This was the first time I've ever had a cheese flight and it was fun. They have quite a selection of cheeses and our waiter was extremely helpful in helping us choose which to get. Burger and beer: I got the burger for my entree, which I later realized may not have been the best choice for a place like this. I wasn't really wowed by the burger, but that may be because I've had so many burgers around Chicago to compare it to. The beer was excellent. There was live jazz music, which I found really cool. They did covers of popular songs, like "Toxic" by Britney Spears. It certainly added to the romantic ambiance (yes, even if it's Britney Spears). Overall, we had a really pleasant experience. I was expecting my food to cost more. I felt that $30 for my portion of the bill was pretty reasonable given what I got. Next time I'm here, I'm going to go for the BBQ pork mac and cheese and one of the $7 desserts. These look like the most appealing options to satisfy my palate. I definitely recommend coming here, especially for a romantic date night that you don't want to break the bank.
(4)Julie A.
Went for lunch, and we were seated near the kitchen in front of the fireplace. By the end of the meal, my and my mom's eyes were burning from the fumes from the kitchen, and we left there stinking like the kitchen! It was terrible! I still smell it in my hair. And there was no apply on my cauliflower melt which was disappointing too. None of this is a deal breaker, just avoid sitting in this area.
(3)A W.
Went here last night and this is my go to spot for a "treat." Half price bottle Wednesday made sharing the bill with a friend manageable since it is not cheap. Our waitress did a great job recommending a wine and even provided a couple samples to us to help us decide. We usually get appetizers with one of the cheese and charcuterie options and it is more than enough. Last night we had the bacon wrapped dates which were divine. There was a live singer who did a great job adding ambience to the whole experience. Really lovely experience for wine, conversation, and good food.
(5)Angela P.
I'd like an omelet with all the cheese please! I came for brunch with my friend Aimee M., and while the menu is somewhat small, I had the hardest time deciding what to order. It all looked so good! The build-your-own omelet won me over once I saw that you can pick 3 ingredients. I chose the white cheddar, goat cheese, and gruyere. For an extra $1, I added roasted tomatoes as my 4th ingredient. This omelet was delicious and made with some serious cheese - creamy, melty, CHEESE! The omelet was served with seasoned potatoes which were also very good. I ordered a side of rye toast with jam as well. The homemade jam was really good, but I definitely coulda, shoulda, woulda, skipped the toast & jam and still left stuffed. Marion Street also does bottomless mimosas, but since I was ever so slightly hungover from the previous night's festivities (an office Christmas party) and would be off to celebrate a family birthday later that night, sooo I chose a single mimosa. The bottomless option was tempting though. While I absolutely did NOT need dessert, they had me at "donut." The chocolate sauce was delectable. Our waiter was friendly and also apologetic about the single fruit fly that momentarily buzzed around my drink. Since I only saw the one, and we were already finished eating, I don't see any reason to make a stink about it. They did have a door open, and well, shit happens. Anyway, he was more than happy to tell us about the specials and didn't look at me like I was crazy when I asked for an omelet with three kinds of cheese. There is, of course, a small cheese market within the restaurant. I had my eye on some truffle goat cheese, which I vowed to come back for later, but for some reason I didn't. When I left the restaurant I also noticed a slight stink in the air. It smelled of grease, eggs, and bacon. Oh wait, that was me. Yikes! Luckily I had no one to impress at the moment and plenty of time to air out. But eau de breakfast isn't my favorite perfume. A little (more) ventilation would help! Best omelet ever though. The cheese possibilities are endless. I need to come back here for dinner!
(5)Scott G.
I've been here to eat several times and have always been impressed with their food. They serve fresh, innovative, seasonally inspired modern american food as well as an excellent brunch. I also like their craft beer selection, which while small, usually has very high quality offerings and have stopped in numerous times just to get beer to go. They have a much more extensive wine selection than beer selection. The prices do seem a bit high compared to other places in the area but the atmosphere is on the upscale side. Lastly, the cheese selection is phenomenal and the staff incredibly knowledgeable. I have gone several time to get cheese to-go and have always managed to find the right cheese for the mood / occasion.
(4)Bibi L.
We had so much brunch food I can't remember. Basically everything was delicious. Good food heals all wounds
(4)Jane P.
Stick with cheese and wine because the kitchen food is very blah. The staff is super friendly but honestly everything I tried was mediocre at best. "picked things"- served in a cast iron mini skillet (weird) are room temperature pickled carrots + radishes. Not worth it at all. Burrata: the cheese itself is good, but served with a whacky sliced bread roll that's thick and swirled with rye? Seriously don't get it. Flavorless oily pesto and some cold carrots on top of the cheese. Cauliflower and Brie Flatbread: Really wanted to like this one but despearately lacked salt (not on the table). Over oily focaccia with some melted brie and cauliflower- self explanatory. No bueno Duck Ravioli: arguably the worst thing I ate just because it was SOOOOO salty. The ravioli itself was fine, but the broth and pancetta and greens served in a mess atop the plate were just like a slab of salt.
(3)Jason V.
Connoisseurs collection was amazing. We also got a 5 piece select your own cheese and meat tray. Yummy yummy yummy. We were kind of full so we skipped right to dessert. Had the cheesecake and the buttermilk berry cake. Again it was perfect. We had wines with the cheese and dessert wines with dessert. They had a nice selection of wines that were pleasing to the palate.
(4)J D.
I used to love this place, and I still want to. But the smell of fried fish that permeates the air inside is so off putting that we can't eat here or buy cheese to take home. I don't know why they can't fix the ventilation but it is such a disgusting smell that has lasted for months we cannot recommend this place any longer. Avoid until you hear or smell otherwise
(1)Linda L.
It was 3pm and my friend and I were famished after not having eaten for a day. The cheese flight I had here was nothing but 5 stars. We ordered the España Americana, which came with haystack mountain queso de mano (raw goat), WSDC dante (sheep), and sweet grass dairy asher blue (raw cow), along with a bit of prosciutto, fuet salami, pickled vegetables, quince jam, mango chutney, sliced apples, and mustard. This arrived promptly with a bread basket and a small cup of nuts. The WSDC dante was my favorite cheese by far! The salami and prosciutto were delicious, and the mango chutney was a great way to cleanse the palate between different cheeses. For the meal itself, I ordered the pork mac and cheese and my friend the firebird sandwich. His order came with a small fruit cup filled with cantelope and honeydew. The mac and cheese was very rich and a touch (though not overbearingly) salty for me. After eating it, I told myself that in the future I should remember to only get mac and cheese as a side dish. The mac and cheese contained shreds of pork and some large chucks (think baby portabellos or button mushrooms cut into fourths) of mushrooms. I would give this portion of the meal three stars. It was pouring outside after we finished eating, so we spent some time browsing around the store (about half the restaurant is the dining room and the other half is a store). They sell not only chachuterie and cheeses here, but also wine, chocolate, and various other snacks sourced from other Chicago shops. A fun browse!
(4)Susie C.
I wanted to try this place for quite awhile, and we finally did with a group of our friends. We already had dinner, so we came here to socialize with wine and cheese. I read from reviews here that we must make reservations to come since they get busy on the weekend, so we did..but we strolled in around 930pm so it wasn't that busy at that time. Almost each one of my friend ordered a flight of wine. I had the Tour de France with couple others. My husband ordered the Firearm. Another friend ordered the Cheese Friendly. And another friend ordered the Sparkle one..so we each almost tried out every flight on the menu..except for the Wonderland one or something that starts with the letter W. My flight was decent. I'm not a big wine drinker at all, but my flight had a mix of white and red wine which I enjoyed. My husband's Firearm was all red. It was on the heavier red side. He thought his was okay. He is much a bigger wine drinker than most of us. Almost each one of us have a favorite and had a non-favorite. We also ordered cheese - had a midwest tour and another one that I forgot the name. Also ordered 3 types of meats.. proscuitto was our favorite! We stayed way past the time the restaurant closed and they didn't kick us out. We really appreciate that. They close at 11pm, but we were there til 12am without knowing the time. We had a really good time. The atmosphere was really nice.. Definitely a michelin rated place. Definitely will come back. We all had a great time..staff was very friendly and helpful!
(4)Katherine M.
SO close to 5 stars. We really like this place & go often, so often we're learning the names of the staff... Food variety & cleverness - great Quality - EXCELLENT but not every night of the week. Sunday & Monday evenings they aren't so much on their game. If you see a beer in the package store (lots of great small brewery choices) you can order it to your table! Live music many nights, some small combos, sometimes a singer.
(4)Chan C.
Marion Market reopened! Disappointed again at Marion Market. The Kale salad was a small $7 serving. Dressing was watery. The grilled cheese sandwich was toasted to burnt level, bacon on it (I asked for no bacon), the fries were dark brown with an old oil taste and cold, the tomatoes on sandwich were overly soft with no flavor. Waiters nearly never get it right. Their bored disinterest is appalling. Darn, I live near, but too many poor meals here. Typical for Marion, but at least no fruit flies.
(1)Kristi C.
Came here on a Wednesday with some family members. They had live music and 1/2 off bottles of wine that night (yay!). We shared the fried brussel sprouts and roasted fingerling potatoes. We each ordered our own entrees. The food menu looked very good and I was grateful they had vegan/vegetarian options. The service (I believe his name was Tim) was on point. It's a very relaxing atmosphere and we probably sat there a few hours (and a few bottles of wine). Be sure to save room for dessert.
(5)Emily C.
The staff here is LOVELY--so friendly, knowledgable and enthusiastic about their craft!
(4)Emilio F.
I must start by saying that I selected this place during my travels because potentially they have 3 of my favorite things: cheese, wine and charcuterie. Also, back in the DC area there is a similar place that this place should have blown away. The ambiance, the store layout and the size of it are impressive. Ok, now for the bad news. I was equally disappointed in several areas: 1. The cheese selection seems inadequate in selection for a cheese market. I was also shocked to see a total disregard for cheese from outside the U.S. Seems an injustice to the consumer to not offer some of the superior cheeses from abroad. 2. Wine storage 101 tells us to never store bottles upright, but all the wines for sale at the retail space are upright. 3. Fruit is a great accompaniment to cheese, but they also bring fruit flies, which are a horrible accompaniment to my wine drinking and dinner eating experience. I felt like I was fighting a couple before they claimed my wine. 4. The menu does not really reflect the cheese and charcuterie other than in cheese and meat boards. I would expect to see more die t correlation to entice me to buy these ingredients for home. 5. The staff is either lacking in knowledge about cheese, wine and the menu...or they felt my requests for pairings and recommendations wasn't important. They had nothing to say without my questions, and seemed to know next to nothing about most of the large plates. 6. My duck confit looked delicious, but was VERY over salted. I know this because I love salt and salty food, and I still found it too salty. Pretty rookie mistake for a kitchen putting out fancy dishes. Don't think I'll be back
(2)Marcin O.
Came here for brunch recently, it's one of my favorite places in Oak Park. A nice selection of wines and cheeses along with chocolates and other assortments. As usual the service is awesome, friendly caring staff that make the experience very enjoyable. We had the cauliflower sandwich which is amazing and I never liked cauliflower, but give it a shot. The grits, oh man, pure gold. And the autumn french toast...well for me, not quite there. The first bite was great, very dense with nuts and caramel, like eating cake, pound cake ... And not French toast. Coffee is great and tea leaves steep in little carafes. Overall a great place for brunch so come check it out!
(4)Lyndsey A.
This place is a bit pricy, but man do they have the best Mac and cheese of all time. It's topped with breadcrumbs and it's a perfect piece of heaven. They also have a cool craft beer selection.
(4)Sarah R.
This is one of my favorites. It's located in Downtown Oak Park. My favorite thing to do is sit at the bar with B and order one of their charcuterie plates and pair it with a wine flight.
(4)Heather H.
I went here for brunch. My husband had the eggs benedict and I had the meat benedict, with chorizo, black beans and a sunny side up egg, which was on special. Both meals were absolutely delicious. The service was good as well. UPDATE: I forgot that I originally rated this place so highly. I'm changing it from 5 stars to 3. After having some good experiences with the breakfast/brunch we went back for lunch. It was summer so we sat outside. The service was terrible and it took an hour to get our food. There is no excuse for this. While the breakfast was always good the lunch items we got were really disappointing. Even 6 months later I still recall getting a dry, salty chicken sandwich. This was more of a 1 star experience. We haven't been back to see if this place can redeem itself.
(3)Adam K.
Since Marion Street Cheese Market has been sold to a new owner, it has taken a radical dip downward and is not way overpriced for what they want to be perceived as. I used to really enjoy going here for cheese plates and beer and an occasional dinner. It is now empty most of the time and I would not go.
(2)Rachel D.
The only reason, and I do mean ONLY reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the menu recently changed and the new options have been good, but don't live up to some of the discontinued items. The food here is wonderful. The cheese is delicious and the flavors are thoughtful. There's a reason why the curry sandwich made the Chicago's Best Sandwich list in Chicago Magazine. But by far the best item on the menu was, yes WAS the cheese puffs with a lime sriracha aioli. And they have been discontinued. Grief, disillusionment, anger--I've felt them all. I tried to console myself with the flash fried brussels sprouts or the buffalo cauliflower, but more bad news. Those are gone, too. I still go there, and I keep hoping that MSCM will see the light and bring back those stellar items. The menu did have some positive changes, namely adding bacon to the MSCM sandwich. One final note, I think all the salads could use a little more dressing. More sauce. Pretty much across the board. All this said, I still go there every opportunity I get, and I will continue to do so. Great place!!
(4)Betsy P.
I wanted to love this place but when it came to the Romaine Beet Salad, they failed. The lettuce had no life to it. Dressing was bland, it just did not have any substance. Come on, how can you mess up on a salad. This salad was BORING! They could have put fresh walnuts, grilled beets, green leaf lettuce and a delicious dressing, but no you did not do that. Service was disappointing too. Some people say, never say never, but I'm serious, I'm never coming back here.
(2)H T.
The food during breakfast is decent but overly pricey. The service is usually good, and the atmosphere is clean and comfortable.
(3)Kelly S.
I waited about four visits to this place before writing my review. I knew this place had potential, and I figured they were just working out some grand opening kinks in the service. I was right. Visit #1 was by myself on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great food. I had the fall vegetable potato skillet. Love the Bodum coffee service. However the waiter made a comment and made me feel wierd for dining alone and that I didn't know how to work my coffee pot. Visit #2 was with my boyfriend for breakfast early on a Tuesday morning about 7:30am. I think they open at 6:00am and none of the staff could get their act together. The waiter blamed it on the weekend staff putting things where the Tuesday AM staff couldn't find them. (They were closed on Mondays until recently.) Visit#3 was with the BF again after a movie at the Lake theater. We wanted a good glass of wine and dessert. Walked in about 8:30pm and sat at the bar. Bartender asked if we were having dinner. We said just dessert and wine. He had to go ASK SOMEONE IF THIS WAS OK????? We almost got up and left. Who would feel welcome after that? In the end, he warmed up to us and we enjoyed our wine and dessert. Still left with a sour taste in my mouth. My most recent visit was with a friend on a Saturday night... about 7:30pm.. Place was PACKED. But in a good way! Service was spot on. (Thanks Joe!) Food was delish and came out in a timely manner. We even lingered a bit after our meal to shop in the store. I have to take off one star for my previous experiences. Hopefully they have their systems in place now and I won't be let down again.
(4)H G.
I've dined at Marion Street Cheese Market's Cafe maybe four times in the last few years. I'm not wowed by cheese and charcuterie plates. Pasta and pizza aren't usually something I wax poetic over. I've tasted all of that at MSCM. It was alright. The generally comfortable ambiance, a "green" attitude, and a couple of excellent dishes makes this a recommended spot. This is an excellent restaurant to relax, sip on wine, and enjoy some lovely dishes. Another menu item that I'm not usually impressed by are salads. However, the warm chevre salad is exquisitely delicious. I enjoyed it first with pistachios as the goat cheese coating, which was the best and most memorable. The warmth of the cheese, the crunchiness of the coating, the sweetness of the fruits, and bite of the greens were a potent combination. They change up the ingredients by the season, but I'm glad it's become a key item on the menu. Then, at my last visit, I ordered something that I normally wouldn't -- tamales. The flavor was excellent and the quantity was right. Also, I hope to try the chef's creative sandwiches for lunch sometime soon. The dinner pricing here is pretty steep for my wallet though. I would go back more if my individual bill wasn't between $30 - $40 each time. Thank goodness for Groupon. Some points to improve on... -- Found the entertainment in the corner during dinner to be loud for the space. I appreciated the effort, but it served as a prompt to leave since it was difficult to converse after they started playing. -- The cocktails need improvement, as they seemed overly sour.
(4)patina w.
The last time I went there, we had a bad experience. The wait staff ignored us for 15 minutes, our food took forever, no one came by to check on us/refill glasses/etc for at least 30 minutes. However, I spoke to the manager & both he & our MIA waitress apologized & they gave us 50% off our bill. BUT...the food is amazing, the store is always fun to look around at, the beer is great, the live music is always appropriate and did I mention the food is amazing? We'll continue to go there, hoping that one time was just a fluke. (I do occasionally notice the wait staff hanging out in the corner behind the bar, chatting, while I see people trying to wave them over & order. The manager should have a chat with them-it's not professional & looks bad!) There is one waitress, she's got a couple of facial piercings-not sure of her name-but that girl is on her game! Knows every cheese, wine, what to pair, can tell you about every dish, is prompt & helpful without being overbearing...she's awesome!
(4)Katie M.
If I was rating on food alone, no doubt I would give MSCM 5 stars... I have dreams about the Cauliflower Sandwich, crave cheese from the array of selections and never had Mac Cheese better anywhere else. I look forward to new seasons to try the new menu's at dinner. I'm surprised everytime, but I need to be adventure too. They reason I need to take away a star, is the music is too loud. I enjoy it when I dine alone, but impossible to converse with a guest. I appericate that everything is fresh & made to order... But getting the check at the end of the meal takes just as long as the meal it seems (little dramatic). But I try to have cash, becasue waiting to sign a credit card slip is an an additional 15 minutes. I love this place, I'm just aware that I can not be in a hurry. MSCM wants to give you an experience, a treat... Savor the experience, do not try to rush and a meal can become something magically. I do not drink, though the wine tasting can make me thirsty from across the room. If you like buttery Carmel that melting in your mouth, pick one up in front on the way out... Best few cents I can spend.
(4)Bill W.
This place is great! The restaurant staff is really friendly and knows their product well. The food is expensive, but well worth it. The staff in the wine shop knows their stuff as well, and is quite willing to say "that guy over there knows this, let me grab him". All in all, it's well worth the trip.
(5)Lindley E.
Come here for some of the most spectacular cafe bathrooms this side of Manhattan. You'll want to lock the door and spend a few minutes just taking in the tiles, the glass wall, the super-sleek toilet. The bathroom is easily accessed from the wine side of the shop and lines are usually short. If there are other bathroom tourists there, you may have a wait a few extra minutes for your chance to gawk. Once you are done with the bathroom, you'll have to stop off in the cafe for a snack or a meal. Service is friendly and attentive, the food is good, and there's a great selection of American craft beers. I really like this place. It is worth going out of your way - to Oak Park, even - to take in this ambitious cafe/shop and fill your gut. I'm going back, and I'm taking my family. We'll be in the bathroom for hours, so you might plan on emptying your bladder before you leave home that day.
(4)Laura T.
I can't believe that I'd gotten wine here for over a year and never sat down at the restaurant to eat! I plan to make up for lost time now. Everything was wonderful, from our knowledgeable server to the live jazz, the scrumptious wine, the wonderful food that made me feel like I was in Spain. Loved the warm olives and bread app. Thoroughly enjoyed our 5 item board of 3 cheeses and prosciutto and serrano ham. And after all of that I have to say that my favorite part was the wine, a fabulous malbec that our server recommended. Can't imagine anyone not loving this place!!
(5)Christian L.
Excellent wine list, handcrafted beer on draft, menu... and the atmosphere is cozy (if a little bit too warm!). The bartenders and server we had were knowledgeable and attentive, and made great suggestions, especially pairing food to drink. Also, the live jazz/contemporary rock music was a nice, nonintrusive accompaniment to the drinking, eating, and conversation. Highly recommended.
(4)Richard S.
Outstanding food. Unusual and always surprising. Excellent quality.
(5)Tina T.
Marion Street Cheese Market must be the entrance to heaven, as this place is simply an orgasm of taste and smell! Fine, smelly cheeses, great wines, fantastic cured meats, lots of chutneys and sauces, wonderful crusty breads; and this is just the beginning of the delights in store. They are part retail, part cafe; and although I did not eat there, the menu looked tasty and worthy of a trip back. No, instead I dropped a cool $50 on a couple of cheeses; a fantastic but expensive Parmagiano Reggiano that my family ate in about an hour; a runny smelly tasty Cypress Grove goat cheese, and mozzarella di buffala. You get the idea. A plethora of gourmet foods and wines - come here to enjoy the goods yourself!
(4)Comensal A.
The café at Marion Street Cheese Market has come a long way since I visited shortly after it opened. The lunch menu was pedestrian, at best, back then, but is now quite sophisticated. They have clearly acquired a real chef. There's a compact list of salads and sandwiches, a quiche (and a focaccia) of the day, a terrific menu of soft drinks, and an intriguing selection of wines and craft beers. Today I had a honey-glazed cauliflower sandwich with shaved apple and white cheddar on multigrain toast -- outrageously good in every respect. For a side, I chose quinoa with mushrooms & bacon -- also tasty. I washed it all down with a Goose Island orange cream soda, and left with a satisfied smile on my face, eager to return and try everything else on the menu...
(4)Sandra N.
I'm very sorry to say this because I once loved coming here to eat, but this place has totally gone downhill in the past six months. I don't know if Marion Street is getting too snotty for its own good or if GROUPON did this place in, but everything has been totally lacking lately. The servers have been downright rude, and many of their once quality servers seemed to have left/quit. On top of that, the workers don't seem very knowledgeable about the menu, or pairings. And several times we had to wait for someone to check if we needed anything, get our bill, or get our change. (I'm not unreasonable, but I don't think you should have to sit for 20 minutes after you've finished everything before you get your check, do you? We finally flagged another server altogether and asked for our bill.) Three times we have had several plates come out at once, and those of you who have been there know there is barely room at any given table for that. I made the mistake of bringing friends there and one person didn't even receive his appetizer until after the rest of us had eaten ours. Every single time I've had crab or lobster there, there have been pieces of shell in my food; this I tried to forgive when the rest of the food/service was still good. But last time--and I mean our LAST time there--everything was bad, from timing to service to the food, which was cold-ish when we got it. The people next to us had to return a plate because eggs weren't cooked right. That's pretty basic stuff. And the cheese plates, which I LOVED, seem to have gotten smaller, shabbier in terms of quantity and presentation...is it just me who noticed this? Finally, when I'm dropping money at a place, I don't really appreciate that the sommelier cops an attitude because I asked if they stocked a wine that retails for about 25.00 a bottle. Honestly, she acted like the label was beneath her because it was 'mainstream' (WTF?). (Tip: A professional response might have been, "Oh, we don't, because we try and stock hard-to-find wines that aren't readily available at other wine stores." Not, "Sorry, that's too MAINSTREAM.") I wanted to say, hey look, you're not the only person in the world who knows a thing or two about wine--really. Keep treating your patrons like they're beneath you, and see if people come back. Again: Is everyone just overly stressed by GROUPON? Because maybe then you shouldn't do groupon. This restaurant can't really compete with most of the places we've been to in the city, so while they're trying to lure people in (and not doing a good job serving them) they are also totally alienating people who were there, five, six times a month. Way to go, MSCM! I wrote into Marion Street's FB page and said our meal was really sub par, and though the person wrote to me (privately, mind you) and admitted they recognized there were problems in the kitchen and with service, she took my comment down, immediately. I guess they don't want the truth getting around. Well, word does get around. In short, service has totally been lacking, all across this restaurant. Totally overrated these days. And this is no longer a restaurant I'd ever recommend to strangers or friends. I'm not wasting my time there, anymore
(1)Justin R.
I love this place. The food is good, atmosphere is upbeat, and they have a great selection of wine, beer, chocolates, and cheese. Seriously, if you have the slightest desire to learn more about cheese, you should go in and talk the cheese monger there. They are knowledgeable and there appreciation for cheese is infectious. You might just learn something. Also - they are a great alternative if you would like to buy a bottle of wine or case of beer in the downtown Oak Park area.
(5)Latonya D.
I've been a fan of the Marion Street Wine and Cheese Market since they opened and I've always raved about their service and food........................Until Now! I called to reserve a table of 15 on a friday for my birthday which was fine. The day before my birthday I received a call from someone that worked there who asked for my email address. My response was why??? She said I was told you were coming here for your birthday and I need to send you a list of bakeries that we work with and if you want a cake you would have to use one of those bakeries. My response..."Mam who said anything about a cake?" She then proceeded to tell me that she needed my credit card number to hold my reservation. I simply asked her when did this start because I come there quite a bit. She said it started recently. I asked to speak to a manager she hung up on me. When I called back she answered the phone exactly like this "hold on". She never said the name of the establishment. I was livid!! When I finally got hold of the manager she went on to tell me that this was something new they were implementing because people make reservations and then don't come. That's fine with me but why would you wait until the day before my reservation to call me?? The manager ended up telling me that I didnt need a credit card to hold my reservation. The next day I arrived about 30 minutes before my reservation. I told the hostess who I was and I was told my table was not ready. I left out for a few and when I came back at 6:50 p.m. my table was still not ready. I was finally seated at 7:30. I had a couple of people that were late but majority of my party was there. The hostess kept sending my waiter over to the table asking where my party was. He was very very rude! I think I'm going to give The Wine and Cheese Market a break for a while maybe they can clean up their act. The food, wine and cheese is wonderful but because the service sucks so bad they deserve 2 stars. I was nice and gave them 3 because our waiter was great!
(3)Alejandra V.
I love this place! I've been here more then a few times and have tasted several of their dishes. I'm a generally trusting person and either the company I am with or the server pick out half my meal. I have yet to be disappointed here. I always get the cheese flight (different cheeses almost everytime.) and usually drink the beer. Now this I am aware is ridiculous seeing as how they have a wine shop on the otherside of the restaurant but theres something about a cold beer that just gets me. The staff is always kind and always busy but are never stingy on service. It's great for girls night and we will for sure be coming back.
(5)Bex M.
I'm torn about this place. I think it's completely adorable decor and enjoyable to sit and chat there but it is just wildly--WILDLY--overpriced! From the grocery and market items ($7 for Plugra butter when I can buy it for $2-3 less at Whole Foods just across the street? I mean it's MORE expensive than Whole Foods?!) to the restaurant everything is tasty and absurdly expensive for what it is. I had good service when I went here for a meal and the food was good. But for $50+ we got the following "large" plates: 2 medium-sized crab cakes with a mustard sauce for $15; 4 pieces of jumbo fried Shrimp for another $15; and two glasses of some of the least expensive wine on the menu. Honestly? We laughed out loud as the waiter walked away. $30 for two small appetizers? I don't get it. You can go to Francesca Fiore on a Wednesday night get two apps, two meals and two desserts for $50--and it will feed you for days! Cucina Paradiso is just as a great a deal. Their appetizers portions are only $5-$7 and the meals are fairly priced as well. That said? The "large" plates were tasty--not delicious but tasty. I don't mind paying extra for quality or for a special experience but this was not it. Perhaps I just ordered wrong. I'll keep an open mind but avoid the hilariously mis-labeled "large" plates that cost as much as large entrees at comparable restaurants in the area.
(3)Tanya S.
Interesting cafe. This place has an original menu- by original I mean, standard breakfast items- eggs, crepes, potatoes- but specialized . For Example: I had the apple crepes, but this is what they really are: Wheat Crepes, Hillside Orchards Poached Apples with Vermont Butter & Cheese Mascarpone $8- Delicious and HUGE portion. They also have 'french press' coffee which is a nice touch. Perfect for a brisk fall morning.
(4)Rodrigo D.
The food here is good. My only complaint is that the food took a little too long to come out of the kitchen. If the appetizer came out quickly, I guess I would have not been as bothered. If you order a meal and a drink expect to pay about $25 per person.
(3)D. S. H.
The name sums it up quite nicely. I have eaten dinner here a handful of times and each time was good or better, but my favorite thing here is to have a craft beer from the tap and a cheese flight. They let you choose cheeses for your flight even if they are not listed on the menu. Their cheese selection is a force to be reckoned with. I come here most every time I visit Oak Park and have not even begun to put a dent in trying all the different choices they have available. If you are looking to try some of the best cheeses made, this would be the place to go.
(5)Kimberly K.
My boyfriend and I went here with a groupon for a food and beer pairing. We were able to choose one of two first courses, one of two second courses, and one of two desserts. With each course you receive a beer tasting. The food was absolutely amazing and the beer matched well. We additionally bought some cheeses and additional beers to taste that were wonderful. They had live jazz music that was subtle enough that it did not interupt you conversation, but pleasant to hear the entire night. The waiter was friendly and helpful and I ended up buying a cheese that we had tasted that night. I really can think of nothing I did not like about my experience will absolutely be back in the future.
(5)Sara C.
I am very overdue in my review of MSCM. We had a great time - the wine was great, cheese and pork products which served as our dinner were delicious. Since then, I have gone to purchase cheese/wine have gotten 5-star service at the cheese counter. The knock (1 star off) for me was our service for dinner. i don't like be rushed, but the service was not great - too slow. Our waitress was not attentive enough for this type of almost tapas-style dinner. Again, I'd give it a another try in a heart beat because of the food, but hoping for better service.
(4)Ela G.
AWESOME! Super excited about finding this little Gem in Oak Park. The interior had a great modern vibe. The staff is super friendly... we walked in at 9:55 to find the kitchen closing and they still let us order a couple of small plates. We didn't have the wine, but draft beer instead.. microbrews! $9 for a flight of 5 choices? why sure! Some of the pints were only $4, which was lovely, especially since the place is slightly fancy. Fancy, but they were totally chill that we walked in with jeans and fleeces on (like I said... we stumbled upon the place) I love the fact that the portions are New York sized... Aka: don't split a dish. Smaller portions=more plate art=better quality=looks more appetizing. The food isn't amazing, but it's almost there... I think that we just missed with the beef tartar is all... maybe some of the other options are a bit more tasty. Oh! And there was an excellent jazz trio there too! I'm seeing this as a soon to be favorite of mine in Oak Park.
(5)Sara N.
Yes you may wait. And yes there's a few misses. But it's always at least interesting, sometimes amazing and the flights are great.
(4)Jenny J.
I love wine and cheese and you can get both at Marion Street Cheese Market. I haven't had a chance to sit and eat there yet, but I do buy cheese and wine here. The staff here is great and knowledgeable when it comes to both cheese and wine, I can appreciate that because sometimes I need a little help.
(5)Wynter R.
I LOVE this place! The food is always unique and fresh from local farms. The warm goat cheese salad is awesome.
(5)Lauren A.
This place is a nice to take someone on a date. It's small and cozy with a good vibe. I ordered the mac and cheese, in my opinion it was rather tasteless. I was expecting more based on the disciption. You would think that a cheese place would try and take a more unique approach to mac and cheese, but it was nothing to rave about. We also ordered two cheese flights prior to our main meal and both were enjoyable. Service was good overall, no complaints there. I'd go again, but order something different next time.
(3)niki k.
Nothing bad to say about this place, service is impeccable, food is great, we went with about 10 of us, they seated us in less than 20 minutes, and everyone loved their food and wines. it's a must try!
(4)Rob W.
I went here to look for a gift and discovered many options. The staff was very helpful and offered me several things to consider for giving. Also, there were enough employees during the busy Christmas season that I didn't find myself looking or waiting to be helped. The Market has a great stock of wine, beer cheeses and gizmos associated with all of the above. Fun place to visit. I didn't try the restaurant but hope to sometime in the future. Generally, the place reminded me of Foodstuffs in Evanston/Glenview/Lake Forest, but less deli & bakery emphasis and more on the liquor and cheese. Worth checking out if in the Oak Park area.
(4)Nicole W.
Who wouldn't want to dine, snack and shop at a cheese market? Besides someone who is lactose intolerant or a hater of fromage, I suppose. Well, I don't want to be friends with fromage haters, so if you like the cheese, keep reading. Marion Street Cheese Market is damn precious. The patio is glorious, the goods insides are delicious and delightful and the service is great. Andrea R and I dined al fresco and indulged in a few savory snacks. Both the cauliflower sandwich - flavorful with a mustard kick, and the quiche - rich yet perfectly light in texture were great options for lunch. Next time I drop by I definitely want to order an entire cheese plate to myself. And a bottle of wine...also for myself. Hugs to the very kind waiter who brought us a complimentary dessert to congratulate my dining partner and me on our pregnancies. The chocolate creme dessert with marshmallows and pecan sandies is truly a dream come true. Get it.
(5)Daniel C.
I went here with my mom for lunch after the frank lloyd wright museum upon recommendation from a friend. I felt like the food wasn't actually that interesting or tasty. The flavor combinations were boring and the sides were bland as ever. The prices seemed a lil high for oak park. They do have a grocery store area for buying cheese, chocolates and wine.
(2)Karen B.
Used to be one our favorite places. The staff here has been and remains great. They changed ownership recently and abandoned the artisan food menu. I have seen a Cisco truck making deliveries. They just served us sliced multigrain bread that looks a step up from wonder bread. The lesson here is that quality DOES matter.
(1)Matt S.
An upscale cafe/restaurant/artisanal market that feels like it should be tucked away in some nice neighborhood of Manhattan instead of oak park. We had drinks and dinner there a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable. The bartender was quite knowledgable about craft beer and ended up raiding the market side of the store's beer stock to recommend something I'd like (which I did). Dinner was 1/2 off wine by the bottle, and although we didn't like the only chardonnay they had, the malbec was good and very cost effective. We had a cheese platter with this incredible Guinness soaked cheese, and the entrees were all large portions and delicious. My pork chop w polenta and mushroom was a bit larger of a chop than I was expecting, but that's always a good problem. The bolognaisse and the hanger steak were literally wolfed down at our table. We didn't stay for dessert unfortunately, but we did get to hear about 20min of the El string duo playing that set up in the main dining area. I'd definitely go again but there are also a few other restaurants I like in Oak Park so I'm in no rush--it was very good, though.
(4)Michelle B.
I have passed by this restaurant for years, now i'm mad at myself for missing out on all of those years of good food!!! This place is about as good as it gets. It's a simple, unassuming, french style bistro in the middle of Oak Park that serves the most delicious food ever. They have a mix of french and some american style food, and honestly i've never said this about any restaurant ever. I want to try their entire menu! I can't wait to go back so I can try something new because everything I've had so far was wonderful!. They have appetizers, full plates, soup/salad and charcuterie (they call it cheese flights), honestly the charcuterie can be a meal in itself. The staff is attentive and knowledgable about the menu, their wines pair well with their food and the ambiance is wonderful, the do live music on weekends as opposed to the imposing sound system. I will be back soon!
(5)Fabiola B.
I have been going here for 2-3 years, usually for birthdays and anniversaries. And every time has been wonderful. I ate here tonight and the experience was not good! It was a night and day comparison to the wonderful service and food I had at the very same place 4 months ago. Tonight felt as if I was at a different place. My visit today was bad. They sat us by the closet for napkins, glasses, silverware, etc. needless to say, every other second the would come to grab this or that and the door only half opens as it bumps with the table we were dining. It felt a bit intrusive. (I have never seen this closet in the past and I'm sure I sat by the same area before! Now to the food, I know the menu changes according to what is available in each the season, that's their thing and I love this about this restaurant, but it seems that their menu has less options than before. And I have been there around this time of the year before. We order a flight Española Americana, we have ordered this in the past so we know what it looks like, we received 3 cheeses but only 2 slices of one of the cheeses. Instead of getting slices of apples as we had in pasts visits, we received 4 pieces of chopped apple. It felt odd. However, when we were leaving I saw 2 other tables getting the same flight with slices of apple, not chopped pieces. And with 3 slices of the cheeses. Then it made sense, perhaps we received the left overs of lunch since we were dining at 5PM! I also noticed that other people who were dining there, received bread and butter as they sat down, but we didn't. Our food was ok, not fantastic or memorable as before. My husband didn't even finish his soup! I was quite disappointed that they didn't have flatbreads for starters anymore. When I asked about it, the waiter was sort of short and just said that they didn't have it anymore and walked away. I had no chance to asked why. When they brought the Kale salad, the presentation was poor, it look as if it was the left overs of another dish. I remember eating deliciously presented salads before. That is not the case anymore. The food was eatable but I could have had better service and better food at a cheaper price elsewhere. Last, the waiter seemed bother by the fact that we didn't order any wine. We don't drink for health reasons, we are free to just get water, but perhaps getting people drunk to mask the quality and flavor of their dishes is the new motto now! It is time for me to look for a new place.
(1)Angie M.
I'm super into this place. Really, I like any spot where I can not only buy wine, cheese, craft beers, chocolates, crackers, crisps, nuts, etc. but sit outside and nosh on yummy eats. Marion Street Cheese Market is WINNING, ya'll. The restaurant is pretty great. My only gripe with the food is that pretty much everything on the menu is super rich, so while I loved the grub, it was fairly heavy on the old tummy. If your stomach is at all sensitive to rich food, you may have issues. However, I did love love love the arugula/feta/watermelon salad and the cheese puffs were retro bliss. Insider tip: If you dine at the restaurant, you get 10% off your purchase at the store. So what are you waiting for?? Get over there and check out the small but respectable wine and craft beer selections. The employees are really knowledgeable so they'll be quick to help you find a beverage to suit your tastes. I was recommended a crisp, light white wine that rang in at $11 a bottle. And it was AMAZING. The cheese counter is great, too. I picked up a fresh gouda and a chipotle cheddar that were slammin. All in all WELL worth the trip to Oak Park. Wine and cheese for everyone!
(4)Tammie B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. It is fantastic. I have been here many times and have had only one disappointing meal. Food is well above standard fair; menu has several unique items; atmosphere is intimate; and it has take home store for specialty cheeses, meats, chocolates and craft beer.
(5)Lois H.
Everything was delicious, the cocktails, wine and food. The whitefish and walleye were cooked perfectly.
(4)Caterina S.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! The customer service was outstanding and the food was simply AMAZING!!! Well done!
(5)Michelle S.
Eggs benedict - add spinach, sauce on the side. Easy, right? Not so at the Marion Street Cheese Market. Spinach - not sure what we'll charge you, says the waitress. Sauce smothered all over the benedict. No apology, no offer for anything to munch on while they are fixing my dish (and all 3 started eating). Then, nasty fried potatoes arrive with the benedict. I would have far preferred a fruit cup or anything but fried pot's. I was not impressed.
(2)Judson B.
Food, selections of cheese, wine and for that matter, interesting distilled spirits is excellent. Too bad the staff seems to excel at misplaced arrogance. Not worth it, lots of other places want to engage customers.
(2)Kim L.
I came here for New Years Eve and all the fruit flies around our table and on our meal was such a turn off that I don't want to return.
(2)Emily J.
In all the times I've eaten at Marion St Cheese Market, I've never had brunch....until this past weekend. Ladies & gentlemen: I have found a new brunch spot! This place is heaven for the stomach!
(5)Grace N.
MSCM is kind of like turkey bacon - good in theory, but a tad disappointing. In light of its reputation, I've given it a fair shot with dinner, brunch, and market purchases. Dinner was good but the portions were a tad small, and the charcuterie plate included a sopressata that was dry, rubbery, and flavorless. I love their heated outdoor dining option. Who doesn't love dining on the cobbled haven of Marion Street? But I am a self-proclaimed Bloody Mary aficionado, and the flavor of their bloodies is just unpalatable. It had too much garlic, and I'm guessing, pureed celery that gave it a bitter flavor, which resulted in a mouthful of icky sludge. The veggie benedict had a lovely pea puree, but the underlying chopped carrots was just a flavor and texture mismatch, and spinach or artichokes would have been a better complement. I think that MSCM should rest its laurels on being just that - a market. For Christmas Eve, we loaded up on an array of meats, cheeses and wine, and had a great pre-dinner feast at home. Just stay away from their sopressata.
(3)Rachel P.
I've been here once before and had a wonderful time with good wine, cheese and friends, BUT I was extremely disappointed with the experience we had two nights ago. The wine and cheese were great as usual but good food can be ruined by poor environment. There were so many fruit flies around our table that we could not ignore them! Not only did they fly all around us and the food, a couple of my friends even had flies in their wine by the end of night. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant! I would've approached the manager that night, but did not do so only because there was a big group of us and I did not want to interrupt our gathering.
(2)Yvonne B.
Ooh la la mi Marion! You sing happiness in my heart. MSCM one of the places that makes my neighborhood so freakin' ah-mazing! MSCM makes me the cool kid at my wine parties because they ensure that I'm equipped with only the best libation for my budget. Next they hook me up with delectable cheeses, chocolate, and charcuterie pairings. Because of MSCM, I seem like a master sommelier to my friends even though (lean in close for this secret...) I know nothing about this stuff. Oh but oh! The Marion Street Cheese Market doesn't stop there! They also have a restaurant. Oh YEAH. And they sometimes have live jazz. So, while you're sitting in your chair made out of recycled seat belts (they're super duper green) and savoring some locally grown fare from an ever-changing menu, you can listen to some smooth jams. I've recently discovered the MSCM brunch which is what spurred this second review. The brunch is unlike any other one I've ever seen in my life. There's regular stuff like eggs and oatmeal, but most of the food is really unique. For example, I had something called "Chilaquiles" with my $5 Bloody Mary my first breakfast. It definitely hit the spot. I brought M with me the very next Sunday and she thought it was pretty mind-blowing too. But besides the awesome food and cool store, MSCM sets itself apart with their people. The employees have professional and nerdy personalities. They know a LOT of stuff about their food, wine, and everything. It makes me feel good to be surrounded by such great people and humbled that they are serving me.
(5)Violet C.
The pate excellent, the olives to die for, the Amish chicken out of this world. The warm spinach salad... It's mine! No sharing!
(5)Robby K.
Not only does cauliflower grow year round, but it goes really well with peanuts!? who would have thought! ~that was one of the sides that came with my Coconut Milk Braised Short Rib. Another side was green potatoes that were that color because of a Basil infusion. and lastly atop this meat and vegetable tower. lime zested apples with some kinda seeds in it. everything was delicious. Any meat lover would agree that this is the BEST SHORT RIB IN THE CITY. Across any culture, this is the most succulent- dripping wet fat- delicate cut of heaven. and get this, it was Valentines day so wile making the reservation you can add a bouquet of roses for your table! **Reservations are a great idea for this place if you plan on going around dinner time.** the gf ordered the Lobster Risotto- it was pretty great. zzzllliippzoupzip Rewind! lets talk about the Pate appetizer. it was $10 but totally WORTH THE PORTION SIZE. it was really fun to try and budget the large cup of Pate with the amount of flat bread served with it. also the house made pickles and mustard sauce are fun to make little sandwiches out of, and try to master the most perfectly balanced bite. this place is a diamond in the rough and can compete with any seasonal Michelin star restaurant in the city. *this place is BETTER THAN PERENNIAL VIRANT! and similar style as well. GREAT PORTIONS. --WORTH THE MONEY --KILLER BEER/COCKTAIL/WINE LIST including a sparkling pinot noir that was the best 'champaign' i had ever had. this kind of restaurant makes me want to know more about food. it is inspiring. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
(5)Nancy E.
The fruit flies swarming around our table were annoying, and landing on our food, disgusting. Our clothes reeked of rancid grease after leaving there. The charcuterie platter was a disappointment and the wine although delicious was overpriced. Service was so-so. Sorry, this is not my favorite place.
(1)Danielle S.
Another great Yelp find! I saw this as the ROTD a long time ago, bookmarked it, and decided I just had to try it, Note to those who don't know the area - they have coin meter parking (that is enforced). I couldn't find parking anywhere else. So come prepared! Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a wall of wine, a case containing gourmet chocolates, an array of cheeses, and a refrigerator full of beers. Someone also greeted us right away and asked if we needed any help. We decided to sit in the Bistro and take our time with some wine and cheese flights and a sandwich. We ordered the Connoisseur's Collection cheese flight, the seasonal red and white wine flights, and the Autumn club. Everything was great! It was nice to be able to try a bunch of different things for a decent price. Our waiter was very helpful and had a lot of knowledge about the different cheese and what was on the menu. There is something for everyone here! They also have events and specials (they day we went it was half off glasses of wine). Something to check out as well! A great experience, great service, and great food!
(5)Sammy L.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. We ended up sitting at the bar because the wait was about an hour, so I would make a reservation. Other than that, everything was great. The service was friendly and the food was delicious. I had the chilaquiles and they were SO. LEGIT. My friend had the cauliflower melt and loved it. I'll definitely return!
(5)Tina C.
Well this place has changed for the better. The last few times I was here I was very pleased. The pea soup is exceptional and so is the service. Adrian is a wonderful sever who has great knowledge of wine and knows the menu very well. The pan drippings is ultimate comfort food. Half off bottles of wine on Wednesday!
(4)Kimberly S.
My husband and I have been regulars here for brunch for almost 2 years. We love the unique options and the quality, and I'm saddened to say that it's lost all its charm. All of our favorites are either gone or not as good. No more cheese puffs. No more breakfast breads. No more muesli as a side (now it's just plain old fries). And what used to be the best grilled cheese ever with several kinds of ooey gooey cheesy goodness seems to be all about the bread. I removed one side of the bread and could still barely taste the minuscule amount cheddar. Yep, only cheddar now. We have been told the dinner is still great, but that's not what we loved about this place. And we're told they've gone through several different chefs lately and even a change in ownership. I hope someday it gets back to what used to a 5-star brunch. Until then, there are just too many amazing Chicago restaurants for us to settle for this.
(2)Burt A.
Food was good Service was terrible! Waited 30 min for food and I had to make a suggestion of at least bringing part of the order Out to get any food Waiter makes no suggestions and generally Did not seem to care. Trendy for sure But service was a joke
(1)Jodie K.
I wrote this a long time ago but never posted it: Some places I visit I leave saying "I enjoyed but will likely try another place next time." It is rare for me to say, "I can't wait to come back here." Well, here it is I can't wait to come back here. I have since been back many times and often make the trek out from Midway just to pick up lunch and catering. To my friends at Marion Street, I confess I did try somewhere else last time I was in Chicago, turns out you were closed for a couple weeks-we are even now. What was going on?
(5)Tracey W.
Great... but, no longer have Jeni's Ice Cream. :(
(5)Michael R.
One of our favorite places in the world. Today we had the Midwest cheese flight, the spinach salad and the roasted cauliflower sandwich with curry aoili aged cheddar and apples. Outstanding food, warm and friendly service with a modern pleasing atmosphere. Cauliflower sandwich is a must have.
(5)Matthew M.
The cheese and cocktails are great. Service is better then it was. But how rude is it of them to tell me mid meal that we are testing the fire alarms. Can't you open early or something to do that. I'm paying to enjoy my time not suffer through a high pitched buzzer. I used to love this place but it has been slipping with new management. Maybe they will take time and think about customers before trying to make over their restaurant during open hours.
(2)Wendy E.
So normally I like this place however today I was offended by this restaurant We had a reservation for 2 people. The restaurant was busy and all but one table which sat 4 ppl was available and we were denied this four top although no one else was waiting but us and we had a reservation. Needles to say offended that the staff refused to seat us since obviously 2 people are not as lucrative as 4 people we left!!! So I wouldn't make a reservation unless there are enough people in your party to merit seating.
(1)Tim O.
This review is for their brunch. Their wine and cheese selection is amazing and their dinners are delicious, but their breakfast/brunch was terrible. I don't know if their a- team was on vacation, but the food took forever and came out burnt to a crisp. I was served an omelet that had a crispy crust and another person was served a skillet that was almost black on top. I've worked in restaraunts and it is inexcusable to send food out that was that poorly cooked. The cook shouldn't have put it in the window and the waiter never should've brought it to the table. The second round was still crispy, assuming that this was the best they could do and ate it. I will go there for wine and dinner, by will never return for breakfast.
(2)Sue T.
A place where we can look at cheese, taste cheese *and* sit down and order food made with good cheese - what's not to like? Except that the potato bacon soup was served barely warm and had a strange slightly sour overtone, maybe from the smoked bacon. The chopped salad was fairly ordinary. The sandwich selection was unusual and my spouse enjoyed his turkey-cranberry chutney. So a mixed experience this time but it's still a good place to visit.
(3)Sheree B.
I have eaten here several times and shopped in the wine/cheese shop on other occasions. We have had the most enjoyable time here, snacking on cheeses we have never tried before along with some delicious wine. All this with background jazz musicians playing music, we couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, their recommendations were spot on.
(5)Kryste N.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become a regular stop for me when in Oak Park. I love their cheeses and meats, wine selection is great, chocolates are fantastic, and I love the random items they carry like Lillie's Q barbeque sauce! One of my favorite places to go!!
(4)Sol A.
Love this place! I was so excited when I walked into this place. The concept is well thought out & executed. Great atmosphere, good food, appetizers, wine, cheese & music. Very relaxing. It's been a while since I've visited. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)Randy S.
Went here last night with Mertz (yeah, I call him "Mertz" now) for a beer. This was my first time here, but with all Draft beers being $4, and well placed television to watch the game on - I was sold from minute 1. The service was polite, and familiar - both things you would expect from a local place in OP. if you are looking for a Tuesday party spot - look elsewhere. There were few patrons to speak of. But if you enjoy a quiet beer, with nice ambiance you should swing by. Maybe next time I will try the food.
(4)Kristen R.
Always have a way pleasant dining experience here. I treat friends to Marion St. Cheese when we have a big celebration and want to celebrate big! Friendly and knowledgable staff.
(4)Tracy T.
I am afraid this is my last visit. I have been to the market more than a dozen times and I believe that in the last few months the food and service have gone down, down, down. The place was sold a year or so ago and I thought it would bring some good changes. The service is unresponsive -- no water without asking. If you ask if the dish has peppers, the server says I don't know rather than "one moment and I'll ask the chef." The food no longer appears to be local. The food flavor is now uninteresting. And a nit -- but the menu descriptions are staccato rather than inviting. They have lost their way.
(1)Pamela C.
One of my favorite restaurants in Oak Park. Perfect spot for a date night. Cute little patio, and only a block from the El/Metra. I have food allergies and the staff carefully noted the comment in my Opentable reservation and even contacted me ahead of time to make sure they could accommodate me. Impressive. Great wine and beer selection. Really enjoyed the summer wine flights. The staff provided excellent suggestions. Some of the best mac n cheese on the face of the earth.... ;) Looking forward to our next visit. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(5)Vlad L.
Been here million times. I love the concept of seasonal menu (more restaurants in US should adopt that). Food is great, good variety of drinks. They also have a store which is open late, so you can always stop by, grab a bottle of wine, some cheese, olives, cured meats.
(5)Cindi C.
Had brunch here with my family last weekend. The Bloody Marys were good, I like mine spicy and the waitress quickly fixed mine when it came out not so spicy. We shared a cheese platter between the 5 of us and it was just right to curb the hunger before our meal. We all ordered different items and everyone's food was delicious and hot. The two of us who had eggs benedict wished they were a little softer, but it was too delicious to stop eating and return for a redo. We will definitely be back!
(4)Adam Y.
2x is the charm! As my second visit I have to say it is only getting better. For the concept, a wine/cheese restaurant/wine store, it's fantastic. The food is so great, and I've never had any issues with the service, but I tend to not be shy about setting my expectations if the server seems pre-occupied. Enjoy this fun little location in Oak Park for an afternoon of wine and cheese.
(5)Andrea R.
I admit I've been looking for an excuse to go back to Oak Park for weeks now just so I can enjoy another meal at Marion Street Cheese Market. My colleague and fellow pregno, Nicole W, and I were lucky enough to score a table on their patio on a beautiful summer day. At the suggestion of our very helpful waiter we decided to spli the cauliflower melt and quiche. Both were so delicious that I'd be sure to order them again next time, although I have a feeling you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. We passed on dessert, but our favorite waiter brought out a complimentary chocolate dessert and cookies just to congraulate us on our pregnancies. I definitely don't need the extra calories these days, but it was still very much appreciated...and tasted delightful. Consdier yourself lucky if you have Marion Street Cheese Market in your backyard. And if not..it's worth the drive!
(5)Gino W.
During the summer I would always pass by this place and say to myself that I should return for an outdoor seat. But I would never get up early enough to get to Oak Park for such a seating. Then a friend wanted to meet after work and we had both wanted to try out Marion Street Cheese Market. Oh my God was I glad we did. We had a flight of olive oil, a flight of cheese, wine, crab fritters, and bruschetta. Usually restaurants and lounges that serve the kind of fare that you get at Marion Street Cheese Market rack up on price while suffering a little in quality. Now that I have been indoctrinated into how to enjoy flights of olive oils and cheeses thanks to an incredible waitress, I will return once the weather is consistently warm so that I can have an outdoor seat and reminisce about being in France.
(5)Hugdealer E.
lots of great beer pops up here. they also have a nice stock of deli meat / cheese if you're into that. it's not very cheap, but the stuff they sell is never found at bargain bin prices. get what you pay for. has separate area for eating, never dined there.
(4)Tara G.
The cheese and charcuterrie boards were great. High quality and nice assortment, just a bit overpriced. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Nice Oak Park spot.
(4)Debra L.
Where to begin. I will start with the positive. Great server. And that's it. Not one dish we ordered is worth commenting on. The temperature in the place was hot. The exhaust was not working so it was like breathing hot smoke. Then the food. I had Chilaquilles which weren't even close to what you'd expect. Tortilla chips batter and baked into something more like a dressing. Dried shredded pork. Bland green sauce. Need I go on. And don't even think about the shredded pork hash. No seasoning to speak of. Ordered two over easy eggs and got fried eggs instead. The final dish was the cauliflower sandwich and it was OK. Don't think I will be headed back anytime soon.
(1)Christian W.
Great bistro style restaurant. Had the beet (not beef) carpaccio, brussel sprouts, and maple chicken. All were craftily prepared and delicious.
(5)Kate O.
Overall enjoyed this restaurant. I was running late and my friends ordered a brunch appetizer of old fashioned doughnuts which perfectly arrived warm and crispy right as I did. Definitely recommend them. I ordered the Traditional Benedict, but was served the chorizo benedict. We had already been waiting a while for our food so I decided not to send it back. I really should have sent it back, Hollandaise and chorizo do not go well together. They sent us a cheese plate which was a nice service repair. I would probably go back, but make sure that I spoke with more clear diction.
(3)Susan M.
I have to do it -- I have to. The last two times I've been here service has not been awesome, and neither has the food. I thought especially since they have reached Michelin status, they would rock my socks off. We had a 120.00 dinner last night, and it was not memorable enough. Stand out was.... um nothing. Service was just ok, halibut was dry, cake was dryer. I pick on service because the service here the first three times we dined was outstanding, The server was excited to meet us and tell us all about their cheese/beer/wine flight options. Their knowledge of everything on the menu impressed me, the smiles were nice too. It's hit or miss these days. I hope they amaze me just once more because I used to rave about them, brag brag brag -- only to be let down twice in a row - 7 months apart. Eh. Hurts.
(3)Craig S.
It pains me to write this review. I really want to like this place. I mean *really*. But I don't. Well, that's not true. I *love* the cheese shop! They'll always get my business! Such a great selection. But this review is about the restaurant. Here it is, plain and simple. This place takes itself way too seriously. When a restaurant puts itself (and/or its chef's whims) above its clientele, I'm not going to be a fan. If you order something off the menu, and ask if they can leave something out, only to have the server tell you that the chef doesn't like to do that, well, it sends a message. And that message is that it's more important that the chef makes what he wants than you get what you want. That is all well and good. If that's the place you want to be, then go ahead and own it. It's just not for me. Especially since the server didn't even bother to ask, and the request was to omit the bacon from a scallop dish. So that, coupled with the very high prices, has shifted that place from a once-a-month or so stop for us down to maybe once a year just to see if things have improved. I'm looking at their menu now, and see enough changes that we may give them a shot again soon, in which case I'll update this review. Also, our nights in Oak Park are Thursdays, which for this place means loud jazz being performed live in the dining area. I'm just not into that. If you are (and a lot of people seem to be), then you'll dig it, but we find ourselves pining for the intermissions so we can actually have some table talk.
(2)Cher M.
The best part of the Marion Street Cheese Market is the actual market. Get cheese, charcuterie, wine (especially the wine!) to take home and you'll be happy. The Cafe, not so much. Sure, it's good food, but the service can swing from helicopter waitresses to AWOL bartenders. There's no middle ground. I did really enjoy the wine flights that I've had here (I've try a new one each time), but I'd rather do that and get dinner elsewhere, as this place is overpriced. It's hard to enjoy a meal if you can only afford to order the pickles. My advice? Skip the bipolar service, but stop in when it's not busy for one of the wine flights.
(2)Cathy G.
I really enjoyed Marion Street Cheese Market. The food was good, the service was good, and the atmosphere was exactly what I looked for on my birthday with family and a close friend. We dined outside and ordered a cheese plate, several entrees, but no drinks (middle of the day, MIL of BFF doesn't drink). The food was tasteful, well presented, and reasonably priced. The flat-bread pizza was very yummy and gave us reasonable left-overs for late that night. On my second visit, we purchased an IXA silver tequila for consumption at home. As I am a resident of Jalisco, Mexico, I was interested in trying an organic tequila. The tequila left a lot to be desired, but I applaud Marion Street for offering something a bit eclectic and outside the box. The chocolates are exquisite. As are the ice creams. I highly suggest the Goat Cheese and Tart Cherry Ice Cream.
(4)Diana M.
This place seems to be very popular, so we made the mistake of taking company. We went for brunch on a Saturday and they seemed to be out of everything we wanted. What we wound up ordering was incredibly greasy and not very flavorful. Since its so popular we figured we should give it another chance. This time they had the food we wanted to order (and a beautiful outdoor patio), but again the food was so greasy and heavy and nothing special. We LOVE the gourmet shop attached to the restaurant though and go their often for local beers and food gifts.
(2)Na S.
My girlfriend and I sat there for dinner for hours, just chatting away. I love the casual and sophisticated atmosphere. We were surrounded by espresso wood with beautiful decor. There are lots of options on the menus as well, depending on how full you are. You can select from cheese flights, small plates, or large plates. Everything we got was excellent. SO satisfying. I can only say that about what I've ordered by I bet everything else is just as heavenly. Connoisseur's Collection Midwest Tour Smoked Salmon Crispy brussel sprouts with candied hazelnuts Braised rabbit with buckwheat gnocchi
(5)Jennifer Q.
We came back here again the other day. The first time I tried the eggplant sandwich and the salmon sandwich. This time I tried the cauliflower sandwich -yup that's right. It's like sauteed cauliflower with some really tasty spices, apple and cheese on wheat toast. The combination of flavors was awesome! Really nice environment, service and tasty food. I like that they have craft beers too! Oh, and don't forget to pick up a few fancy chocolates on your way out. They are super delish!!
(4)Rachel B.
We ordered several Entrées, the squash risotto and pork shoulder. Both excellent. We also ordered several sides. The Brussels sprouts were tasty, but very oily and so was the buffalo cauliflower. Drinks were only mediocre. We had ordered the drink special of the evening and they had run out of ingredients by 7pm....kind of strange. The service was just ok. The waitress made sure our water glasses were filled, but that was about it.
(3)Peter H.
SPECTACULAR service. I am talkin about YOU friendly host/busboy, and YOU eddie, awesome server. Went there for dinner, tried a few beers on tap that were nice. Very comfy vibe inside...awesome pickle jar, had some nice Pork loin chop was really nice, had a great cherry mostarda on top. Went back for brunch, nice outdoor area, very nice server Mike took care of us, he forgot to put in our order, but he owned up to it and gave us some nice bread tray for his mixup. He didn't try to cover it up, honest mistake, we were waitin for company so it was no big deal. Wasn't crazy about my meat benedict (chorizo), just didn't do it for me. Only reason for the 4 stars. Will def be back.
(4)Johnny A.
I am going to have to agree with another review, the food and selection is excellent and exciting. The service is weird. I have been twice, first time it was packed and the food far out weighed any woes for the service. Second time, unpacked and the service was bizarre and bad. We were all kind of afraid our waitress was gonna snap at any moment after she yelled at us multiple times. We waited for our table to be pushed together and bussed for almost 15 minutes, but not because it was busy, because the wait staff was inefficient and having a hard time working together. The waitress seemed to pull it together, but for a special family outing- it is a shame that she was stealing the fun and impacting the beautiful atmosphere and great food. I would definitely return if I was in the neighborhood, but definitely not with a large group or if I was feeling sensitive.
(3)J X.
Loved this little gem. Classic breakfast was really solid. Simple, but outstanding ingredients make all the difference. Also got a pork ragout on cheddar grits that was fantastic. Place is pricey for the portions, which were small. Overall though, if I lived nearby, I would be a definite regular. I'd love to try some of the cheeses and other items. They have a spicy prosciutto spread that looked great.
(5)Shannon M.
Lactose intolerants, beware. This place is not kidding around. Walk in the door and you'll face, well, cheese. All kinds of cheese. If you choose the adventure to your left, there will be more cheese, plus gourmet goodies like preserves, candy, oil, olives, beer, wine and more to tempt your artisanal taste buds. If you choose the adventure to the right, you will head for the small bistro area and settle in for a meal most likely featuring some of these delightful products. Sunday brunch -- made with sustainable ingredients and a seasonal menu -- was a splendid choice as a first meal here. My friend's traditional-type breakfast was a big honkin' load of satisfaction to him, including coffee with cream. I ordered French toast, wonderfully caramelized and syrupy on thick bread, and made it more decadent by asking the waitress to get a small pitcher of cream (as came with the coffee), which I promptly soaked the bread in. The result was similar to tres leches cake. Far too sinful for a morning meal, yet so worth it. Deliciously crisp bacon rounded out the entree. I would love to come back to try a cheese flight or a later-in-the-day meal to see what other variety they offer.
(4)Sal x.
First of all, the food here was delicious, tasty, interesting...I could go on and on. I really appreciate their focus on local, artisanal, and seasonal offerings, as well as the thoughtful and complex approach to vegetarian dishes. More than just the run of the mill lentils and couscous. We usually dine at Green Zebra and I have to say, the quality and flavor of the food rivaled some of our best meals at GZ. Now, on to my 2-star rating. We dined at the bar, where service was less than stellar. It was abysmal. It was the bartender, Mike's, demeanor that leaves us with a difficult decision: forgo the great food due to poor service, or ENDURE just to enjoy the tastes? We will defer that decision, but in the meantime below are a few of Mike's missteps: 1. He "could pour me a beer flight but it would take a really long time." Great, I'll just have a singe beer. 2. Mike: "Are you finished? Is this garbage?" Sure, if you call what is left on my place garbage, then I guess it is. 3. Mike: "Let me move your wine flights so you don't ruin the menu." Sure, we didn't put it there. 4. He was cleaning up the bar before we were, and 5 other tables, were finished eating. I didn't sit at the bar to watch a clean-up crew. At 9:30. 5. Latecomers (9:50pm) were turned away, or given "4 minutes to order." You're supposed to be open until 11:30. If I was the owner I would like to know what I could do to rectify this situation. The poor service seems to be a Yelp trend. You need (re)train your wait staff, specifically Mike. The other bartender in training and bar back were very friendly and efficient workers. Looks like you have a sour grape on your hands. Fix it and we will be back.
(2)Jacqueline A.
For some reason I thought this was a wine bar. Maybe because they devote the entire front to wine, and hold tastings on Fridays. Well, it's not! I attended one of their tastings, and it was so brief even though I chatted up the rep that I decided to grab a glass of wine at the bar. I found their wine list to be completely uninspired...Mark West Pinot Noir? I find that insulting. I know this is a place that flaunts being green, and every time my water glass fell below half it was replaced with a new one. New glass, new ice...I would be all over my kids for that kind of waste. The three stars are for previous times I've eaten here. I enjoyed sitting outside, and the food & service were fine then.
(3)R todd N.
Generally excellent food but slow wait, and FAil on cocktails. Excellent curry /crap soup, great hamachi, and their entrees are very good. Amish chicken dish is reliable. Most entrees are a b+. However, We ordered two cocktail (historically cocktails have been a highlight there) - a strawberry mojito and a dark and stormy. We got two glass that tasted like a bunch of lime juice with the only difference being one had strawberries. You could not even try to explain either of these as "innovations" of the respective drinks we ordered but our waitress did! Not a clue regarding what the ingredients of either should be and no apologies but a credit. Typically liked this place but stepping back.
(2)Nichole C.
In case you don't want to read my specifics, the short is -- I was pretty disappointed. I would maybe go back for cheese plates and wine on the patio in nicer weather but may ultimately decide it's not worth the trip. Here's the story: Met a friend for lunch, we were seated quickly and offered drinks. I ordered soup and a salad, the soup came out first and it was the wrong soup. No big deal, she brought me the correct one a little while later but when it came, it was verbally referred to as a chili, which was an accurate description. I wouldn't have ordered chili, I wanted soup, which is what the menu said. For the record the soup that I sent back was really well balanced in flavor with a nice texture, my bad. Then came the salad, it was supposed to be a smoked trout salad with black kale. Sadly, it had NO KALE on it whatsoever, just a small sampling of arugula and other mixed greens. There were also 2 "bagel chips," more precisely described as ultra-thin wafers, so thin that there was no hope of eating the large quantity of cream cheese plopped on the plate. It wasn't well thought out and I ended up with a lot of leftover fish and cream cheese because there was nothing to eat it with. Sad times for me, but my friend enjoyed her cauliflower melt.
(2)Kyle H.
An update! (But with no stars bump? Read on...). Another lovely visit to charming Oak Park and the Marion Street Cheese Market. It's so easy to kill time in Oak Park, I arrived ahead of my dining company and bellied up to the small bar area at Marion Street Cheese Market. The barkeep was a charming and attentive server, and he quickly brought me both drink and food menus, answered my questions about Seasonal beers on hand, until my guest arrived. Leaving the bar and being seated at a table by the Hostess with my guest, I guess they can't transfer a bar tab, as the charming barkeep ran over with my bill, to pay up. Scoundrel! Cad! Bounder! I guess he thought I ran out on the bar tab. My bad. I figure it would be transfered to the dinner bill, like at most restaurants. The meal was Heaven. Ordered the Espana/Americana cheese and charcuterie sampler, and our server Juan was superb at explaining what was served. Actually, he was superb all night, and recommended an excellent wine pairing as well. Entrees! I could not pass up the Pumpkin Tamales with Spicy Cranberry Salsa, served over wilted spinach. Wilted spinach is steamed, not sauteed, I learned. And you could tell- it tasted really fresh, and paired well with my tamales and my guest's fried chicken! Those tamales were incredible! Amazing. I need a moment... Had dessert as well, and enjoyed the jazz duo (as Thursday nights are WDCB jazz night), but then waited for the server to take the bill for a very long time. He was on point all night, so it wasn't a big deal- just between that and the bar tab transfer prevents a fifth star. When I've saved up enough money from my paper route, I'm definitely going to give Marion Street another try to get that fifth star! And I'm going to enjoy it, myself too, of course.
(4)Rhonda W.
Great Wine, Great service (Phil), didn't have dinner so we'll be back!
(5)Sherri B.
Al fresco dining on a beautiful day with a wonderful cheese platter and great wine. Plate presentation was awesome. Service was friendly and attentive.
(5)Tracy T.
I am afraid this is my last visit. I have been to the market more than a dozen times and I believe that in the last few months the food and service have gone down, down, down. The place was sold a year or so ago and I thought it would bring some good changes. The service is unresponsive -- no water without asking. If you ask if the dish has peppers, the server says I don't know rather than "one moment and I'll ask the chef." The food no longer appears to be local. The food flavor is now uninteresting. And a nit -- but the menu descriptions are staccato rather than inviting. They have lost their way.
(1)Kristen R.
Always have a way pleasant dining experience here. I treat friends to Marion St. Cheese when we have a big celebration and want to celebrate big! Friendly and knowledgable staff.
(4)Andrew T.
A very cool place, with lots to choose from. Three cases of cheese, with a sort of cheddar/gouda type case, a cream/goat case, and a blue case. Lots of selection, and what I felt were some very helpful staff. The particular person that waited on me didn't have the best suggestions, but one other woman who i listened to advising other people had great tips that I took advantage of. We walked out with a piece of blue, wrapped in pear brandy soaked grape leaves (spectacular), a piece of heavenly goat cheese with an ash rind, a triple cream that was supposed to taste of mushrooms (but was actually a little cabbage-y) and my person favorite, a large hunk of Wensleydale. By the way - big points to Marion Street for stocking this in plain. I can get it anywhere I want with cranberries in it, but then it tastes like cranberries, and not like cheese. Also cool are the hand written placards with icons and check marks indicating milk type. The staff is writing the sort of reviews that belong on wine bottles - one cheese had hints of "forest floor and lambs quarters." I don't know that I wanted that one. A reasonable meat case as well - including some interesting things, and a hunk of real jamon serrano, at just $1000/lb. I did not indulge. They also offer cheese flights, apparently, but as we were on our was to New Rebozo, we decided to take ours home. It is a little expensive, but they have some things that are probably hard to find. And it's not an every day indulgence anyway. Not to my taste, but they had an awesome selection of craft and micro brew beers - I have friends who should probably go here just to sample a huge range of IPAs. Either way, we'll be back. There's lots more to sample.
(4)Dave J.
Really, really, really good! A great selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. My wife and I ate dinner here, and ordered a few meats and cheeses from their "cheese monger" menu to start off with. I wish our waitress was a bit more knowledgeable about the selections. I asked her what one type of cheese was like, tastewise, and she said she didn't know. I'd like to think that the servers would be very knowledgeable about what's on their menu. When one of our cheese choices was unavailable, she replaced the cheese without asking which one we wanted, she just brought out whatever SHE thought would be good. I knocked off a star from my rating because of this. The main courses, cider-braised pork "osso buco" and crispy fried chicken were outstanding. Top quality ingredients, nicely prepared. There were some excellent selections on the beer and wine menu as well. I think that I'm going to cut back on my alcohol consumption in Cook County from now on, as there was a 12.5% TAX for the beer and wine we ordered. I know it's not the restaurant's fault, but still good enough reason to imbibe in Lake County, or elsewhere. I've eaten here for lunch in the past as well, and whatever soup is on the menu, please be sure to order it! The soups are EXCELLENT! All in all, a great place for lunch or dinner. A nice selection of cheeses and cured meats in their deli case too, along with a good selection of wines and microbrewed beers.
(4)Don P.
I asked for de-caffinated coffee for dessert and drank two cups. It is now 3:31 a.m. and I am wide awake. ~~ Someone screwed up. ~~ If I could only speak to the manager and my server at this moment, but I am sure that they are both enjoying blissful sleep. It is hard to get past the pain of this because I will be thrown off my schedule for the rest of the weekend. I am not at all pleased with this surprising outcome of an otherwise okay experience. The price of foregone sleep is too great to pay.
(1)Tony P.
Marion Street has a great ambiance and it really is a great date place or just a meeting spot for wine and cheese lovers/fantics. This is the kind of place that would make a great middle of the week (hello flight night!) get together or a nice weekend spot for when you want to relax and enjoy all the different tastes they have to offer and try something new for a change. My date and I came here for flight night! They have a great menu and just have so many options to try. I was really excited to try everything. Our server was spot on with his recommendations and with all of the wine and cheese they offer, it was a good thing too. Olives, cheese and wine oh my, what more could you ask for? After the flights and appetizers we had it was hard to even think about a main course but that didn't stop us from trying their cheesecake, which was very good. I would like to think the Spanish flight was absolutely delicious!! My date was even nice enough to treat me to a bottle of the Barbazul. I think she knows I am just going to share it with her anyway... They offer a lot of options for a quick stop for a new kitchen gadget, browse their truffle selection or just a great way to enjoy your evening and soak up everything, just like their tasty crusty bread they offer. Looking forward to our next visit as we didn't get try everything we wanted.
(5)Elizabeth G.
Great food, poor service. My husband and I recently moved back to Oak Park after 3 years away. Excited about their draft selection, we've gone here a few weeks in a row. Every week, we are consistently disappointed with the service (although the food and drinks are great). We've had to asked to be served every time, takes a long time to be served a drink (10 minutes the last time!) and often hear the other staff complaining behind the bar. The bar backs and other staff around don't seem to be empowered to serve customers drinks when the bartender is unavailable. The one time when a woman served me the bar manager got on her for it--in front of us! How awkward! Although I love the food and drinks I'm afraid that we'll be giving this spot up for a while. We had hoped it was better after living away for a few years but nothing has changed....
(2)Lynnette K.
I was staying in the Chicago area for work and drove 45 minutes to go here. I was here a couple years ago and am very glad that I came back. Spinach salad with buffalo mozzarella was perfect as was the special of the night -- Mac and cheese with braised pork. I'd drive twice as far for their awesome food. Plus Oak Park is a great little town.
(5)Jared W.
I have to admit, I've never eaten in here, but I've taken some of the food out several times, and have always enjoyed it. The most impressive thing though is the beer selection. They don't have a lot of cooler space, but they've clearly made it a point to stock it with the best beers possible.
(4)Jojo F.
Confessions of an Ex Vegan: Part One. It's true. Somewhere in my trip to Lawrence, KS last month, I ended my six month vegan trip. Was I running with the wrong crowd? No, just enjoying time with two of the most fantastic friends, who also happen to be postdoc students and lovers of life. Well, our friends were in Chicago this week and they wanted to have a meal of, "Something we don't have in Lawrence". Fair enough. With the fabulous suggestions from all my Yelp friends in hand, my new found enjoyment for cheese in moderation and the need to park my car somewhere where the parking wasn't as much as the meal, I reserved a table for 4 at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. The host and server were helpful, graceful and full of recommendations. I had the spinach salad and the francophile cheese plate. I was convinced that I was having a cheese-morphine high. Cheese-morphine?? Yeah, I know. See: tinyurl.com/6pxkw In any case, my husband, friends and I were impressed, to say the least. Totally going back.
(5)Scott S.
Good Food, Good Wine, Solid Service So why 2 stars? You can't leave this place without smelling like you've been standing over a deep fat fryer. Seriously, whenever my wife goes we have to immediately put her clothes (including her coat) in the wash before the smell permeates the house. Now she leaves her winter coat in the car before going in to avoid having to send it to the cleaners. But, she freezes all the way home. The odor is so bad you can smell it outside the restaurant along the windows on the west side of the restaurant. Seriously, fix your ventilation problems. It's gross.
(2)John S.
Stressful day at work? Shed it all off with cheese! First time in this downtown area and its very nice. The streets are all brick! Anywho, sat at the bar and had a Pride and Joy and cheese puffs (Sartori parmesan + grilled scallion + WI cheddar + dijonnaise). The puffs are so gooey! Then I had a cheese flight sampler that I can't remember for the life of me what it was, but it was three cheeses and nuts, sauce, and dried cranberries. (w/ bread) and crackers) Finished it with another Pride and Joy. This place is really big. One side of it is a market with a nice wine and cheese selection. The other side is the restaurant. Very cozy vibes. Great staff too. I shall be back to try their main dishes!
(4)Cristina T.
I came back here last night for dinner. For a Friday night around 7:30 we only waited about 15 minutes for the table. We waited at the bar area and had some wine and cheese to start. When we were seated at the table the servers brought our wine and cheese along. Unfortunately we were seated practically next to the band playing. It was also pretty hot inside the restaurant. Luckily the good food made up for it. We continued onto the shrimp wontons which were perfectly fried and salted. We also tried the bruschetta duo-the smoked trout and the pesto ones were very good. We also split the macaroni and cheese with Nueske's bacon mixed in. It was perfectly creamy and delicious. The only thing I thought was weird was the service. Last time I came to MSCM we sat at the bar and loved the personal service we received. Our service this time was a little spotty. When I filled out the bill, I just wrote the total amount with tip included. The server awkwardly came out and asked me if I could write out the tip amount in the space. He said he couldn't process the bill without this filled in. What? I do this practically at every restaurant and have never been asked this question before. It was so awkward with the server standing and watching me fill in his tip. Other than that, I love MSCM. Their cheese selection is amazing as is their bar area. Next time I think I will just sit there. Great atmosphere, location and food. Its just unfortunate that I had such awkward service.
(4)Laura G.
That cauliflower sandwich I just devoured was the best lunch I've eaten in a year. Finger-lickin' good.
(5)Brian F.
One of the nicer places to lunch in the Oak Park area. This used to be a simple cheese market and have now, recently, expanded to include an excellent wine bar and bistro. The Execuitve Chef, Leonard Hollander, really knows his stuff. He takes full advantage of the expansive charcuterie and cheese selections at the market to both upgrade classic recipes and create culinary sensations that are both deicious and unusual. How about a BLTP (Bacon Lettuce Tomato and Procciutto) which includes arugula, basil and avocado. The Ham n' Swiss is built with gruyere cheese, horseradish aioli and carmelized onions. Ever have a Honey Roasted Cauliflower sandwich. I know that some of you are shuddering as I did at the thought... It is superb! I've never been there for dinner but the menu looks excellent and I know they have live music many evenings. My only complaint, which takes a star from my rating, is the extremely slow kitchen. I really have to assume that I will be sitting in the restaurant for at least 45 minutes for lunch to get soup and a sandwich. They seem to be improving somewhat over the last year but it still falls behind expectations.
(4)Nick D.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a great place to pick up some unique brews and wine. They also have a variety of specialty foods from local artisans. I've never tried the food here, but I've heard good things. One of my favorite treats are the sea salt caramels.
(4)Marie B.
One word -- yum. Ok, two words -- really yummy!? Making the trek from the western suburbs to the city...stuck on I88...beau suggests we meet somewhere in between. I do a quick search on Open Table and Yelp and locate this place. My first thought: this place has got to be expensive! WRONG!! Although the decor is lovely!! Wonderfully lit -- even on a rainy spring night. Highly polished cherry wood, sweet little displays of yummy snacks and a wide array of wines....that's the little market. The cafe/dining room is quite cozy with warm lighing and cosy sitting areas to chat, flirt or simply gaze into your loved one's eyes. There was also a great jazz quartet to provide background music! But, I digress...on to the food -- which was very reasonably priced...as was the wine selection -- I had a great Pinot Noir for $8 a glass! Try that in the "city"!? The goat cheese salad was really the best I have ever eaten. Fantastic assortment of baby greens with this fantastic citrus vinagerette and a perfectly crunchy piece of goat cheese. This would have been a meal in itself, but I had ordered the flat bread of the day. Here is where I was very impressed. I have an allergy to onion...thus, I usually ask how things are prepared. This night, I was too busy flirting..and gazing...that I forgot. So the dish arrived with onion. I told the waitress who was very sweet about the whole thing. She and - I assume the owner - were sooooo apologetic I felt bad!! While the dish was being redone, they brought a selection of fantastic cheese and bread (as a complimentary treat!). When the flat bread arrived, I was so full from eating the cheese that I couldn't do it justice -- but, it looked yummy -- and I boxed it for a later time. The beau had the fish and chips which I tasted -- the fish was wonderfully prepared and the french fries were equally good. I am hooked...next time I am stuck on I88...will just pop off and hang out at "the market"!
(4)Janet E.
This place has A LOT of cheese. Unfortunately, I didnt order any food with cheese from here! But I did try the mushroom with spinach which had goat cheese and it was really good! This dish came with your choice of bread as well as a side of butter and apple jam. The jam was delicious! I ordered the dirty south benedict. It was good, but I thought it would be more fancy then what I expected. The menu here is pretty extensive and I was contemplating between a lot of the choices. I wouldnt mind coming back to try something else. We had a group of 18 so our food took about 40 minutes to be prepared. Just an FYI in case you wanted to throw a special event here. But the service was excellent! The prices are also reasonably priced. They sell a lot of other items here other than cheese. They had a lot of dipping sauces, jams, chocolates, wine and beer. However flagging down a person to ring up your purchases can be challenging. Lots of metered parking around the area.
(4)Cass V.
I'm speaking only toward the market area. They have a great selection of jams, curd, wonderful chocolates and condiments. It's a little pricey but that's to be expected for the quality. Makes for great gift ideas!
(4)James M.
Just about everything i've had here has been pretty tasty. It's one of my three standbys in Oak Park, which is seriously lacking in all-area restaurants. But this one definitely qualifies. Salads are always tasty. Main dishes are very flavorful--what I mean is that i'm from the school of "if the ingredient is listed, I wanna taste it, not imagine that it might be there", and this place has pretty bold flavoring. Not always a fan of the mac n choose special, but when it's good, it's the best thing on the menu (chefs, bring back the lobster and mac, please). Pork chop was pretty bland, though the accompanying sides were tasty. Besides that, everything else has been very good. Of course, the cheese and chocolate here are seriously incredible. Those two things alone make this place worth the trip.
(4)Jelena Z.
I love wine. And craft beer. Chocolate, too. Culinary books even though I'm not the best cook, yet (doesn't mean I'm not trying and learning). Chutneys, meats, artisan sandwiches and crepes. Housewares such as aprons, glasses and cheese boards galore. Marion Street.... you seem to have it all! This space struck me as very NYC, and I mean that in the best way. There's a strong regard for sustainability and the environment, and both the urban touches (steel, glass) and the homey accents (chalkboards, polished woods) lend to a palpable warm and inviting feel. After checking out the retail side, be sure to step on over to the cafe. The menu is decidedly simple and focuses on cheese and charcuterie. Though, they also feature an impressive brunch offering. Next time: maple syrup crepe (Vermont butter & cheese butter)! My inaugural visit (believe me, there will be more) consisted of dabbling in the vino and cheese. I dabble well and deep within the cheese and wine realm, and this is when the close proximity to the green line comes in especially handy. Ahem... and if I can make a suggestion, sign up for the email newsletter ( marionstreetcheesemarket… ) so you too can stay informed of free (yes, FREE) craft beer and wine tastings on the weekends. PS- a giftcard from Marion Street Market would probably make most of the people on your shopping list happy!
(5)Valerie R.
1 complaint to get out of the way: 1) I REEKED when I left this place. I had to air out my purse and wash my scarf! I don't know if this is usual (my friend had the same issue) and didn't notice any smoky smells at all when I was there, but it sure stuck to my clothes. On to the good stuff. Waiter: Superb. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, fast. Food: the cheeses and oils were all delicious, and their drink menu had plenty of great choices. The entrees were a bit overpriced for me and not my favorite part of the meal, but tasty none the less. Ambiance: LOVE it! A shop with goodies connected right to a classy place to nosh. This ended up being a nice location for a dinner for our party of 4 and I'd definitely return.
(4)April W.
I would love to be able to give this place 4 stars, even 5. The food was really very good. TO start with the positive we loved the Cheese Puffs with the Sriracha dipping sauce. We also did a cheese platter, charcuterie and several dishes we shared. All was delicious. Good portions and great presentation. The cheese puffs were to die for and I love one of the goudas we had on the platter. I also read about a wine and I went into the wine shop and Francesca was a doll and very helpful and I walked out with two bottles of wine , one that my mother devoured and really enjoyed very much. Now for the bad. I read on here on MANY reviews that the service here was bad. So I was prepared to be frustrated but I was not prepared with just how bad it was. Here are some things that happened: 1. The server did not come over to our table for a good 20 minutes (maybe more) after we were seated. We had a small child with us, who behaves well in restaurants. But she never ever came over to see if we wanted something for her to start with nor asked us if we wanted a drink. We literally had to flag down the hostess to get the server to come over. 2. We asked for a kids menu, she never brought it. 3. I only was given the drink special menu and when I asked if this was all they had, the server said yes. Later on in the meal, I saw the extensive wine list. I was so pissed, I would have spent quite a bit more and ordered some nicer glasses of wine. 4. When my friends and I go out to eat, we like to linger, but we tip WELL. In between each round of ordering, she never ever came back. We had to flag her down a million times. We kept making jokes that we should get her cell number cause she was nowhere to be found. The problem for the restaurant for this is for sure, a loss of money, because the longer we sta, the more full we got and the less we ordered. 5. She made US do all the work. When she brought the drinks she handed them all to me and made me pass them, we were only a table of 4, it wasn't like she couldnt serve? She also never brought us plates. When we asked TWICE she dumped off 3 plates at the table on the end and never brought some of us silverware. We had to ask again for 2 more plates, pass tehm out ourselves and get up and go to another table to get silverware. 6. There was NO knowledge shared about the menu or the cheeses, or the wine, or the drinks, we never upsold on anything else like dessert or anything. BAD for Business OWNERS! the thing was, it was not even busy in here. I am really annoyed with whomever owns this place that they must see time and time again, people touting bad service and yet they do nothing about this. Either they dont read their yelp reviews or they dont care. It is really a shame because the food was better than great and bordering on AMAZING. I have to say that despite the amazing food and the great service in the wine shop by francesca, I dont think I would ever go back to this place based on the horrible, horrible service.
(2)Jason B.
Marion Street Cheese Market is simply a great place to go. The food is amazing, they have great wine and beer on tap/in bottles. The servers are delightful, the host was extremely helpful. My girlfriend had trouble eating a part of her entree and needed a sharper knife so I asked a bus boy he said "let me see what I can do." Within a couple of minutes he came back and said "the best I could do is this pairing knife one of the chefs gave me." My reaction was that of amazement, I didn't expect such a quick response and how he simple got the job done. KUDOS!! Also, at the end of the night after enjoy the roasted chicken which I had and my girlfriend at the pork belly we got desert which was a diet killing multi-layered chocolate berry sauce goodness (the name escapes me, but the server recommended it). A different server came over (we stayed to enjoy the live music, which isn't so loud you can't have a conversation - thank goodness for that!) and dropped off a beer on the house! FIVE STARS FOR ME!!! We're going back tonight a friend who's coming in from out of town.
(5)V S.
The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the tuna salad sandwich minus the corn and bread. It looked good but it had corn in it and i wasn't able to pick it all out. The people I was with enjoyed their meals. I had a bite of the cauliflower sandwich and it was really good.
(4)Lisa B.
This has become one of my favorite places in Oak Park. When you think about it (and I have) it is probably the only non-chain place aside from Eric's Deli that is consistently open for lunch. Eric's is fine when you're with the kids or in the mood for a quick bite, but MSCM is a civilized, classy spot for a tete a tete with a lover or friend. When it first opened up, the service was spotty, but I think the crew has its act together now. I love how the chef uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible. I also appreciate the sensible portion sizes. Let's just say you probably won't need a doggie bag. I was pleased to notice today that they sell bread from the fantastic Labriola bakery in addition to the cheese, sweets and charcuterie in the market section. Do make a point to try one of their special turtle candies: dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Oh, lord. Take it from Yelp's resident chocoholic, it's amazing.
(5)Michelle C.
Without a reservation, my mom, dad and I showed up at 9:15am on Mother's Day. The gal at the front was sweet and said all the tables were reserved but that we could sit at the bar and order. She handed us a brunch menu and we were off. The bartender was a sweet girl who smiled at us immediately and took our drink orders (Mimosa) and offered for my mom to try the special "mom mosa" for Mother's Day (which was infused with peach vodka - she loved!). The traditional mimosas were quite good as well! We were told to start at the brunch buffet which housed a variety of finger foods from cheese and prosciutto to bread pudding, zucchini bread, fresh fruit, bagels with spread, chorizo and so on. The zucchini bread was absolutely delicious and the cheese choices were also quite yummy. My mom loved the bread pudding and kept raving about it until my dad finally tried some off her plate. For the made-to-order dishes, we ordered as follows: Me = French toast Mom = Waffle with cheddar and bacon Dad = Crabcake Benedict We all liked our food...once it came out. It took nearly 45-50 mins. for our food to be served. Finally when we asked the bartender she said there was a "printing error" and that our food would be out shortly. Once the food came they had forgotten the black forest ham my mom ordered as a side and it cam out so late that my mom had to take it home in a doggy-bag since she was done with her meal by the time the cooks got around to warming up the ham. The bartender went from good to mediocre within the hour. I had to track her down for a cup of coffee, she never asked if we wanted another mimosa, and by the time we left she seemed somewhat dismissive. What I will say is that this place is very cozy and has a nice vibe. There were all sorts of families crammed in for brunch and the room filled up quickly. I know this place is a hot spot, so I wasn't surprised that things got a little confused with or order (and to be fair, they took my mom's mimosa off the bill), but I expected a little friendlier service considering it was a special day - Mother's Day! I will return again. This is a great place for a mid-afternoon glass of wine, brunch, and catching up with friends. It's also a stone's throw from my apartment, so count me in!
(3)Elena K.
Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere. All of their menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are great. Waiters could back off a little, but that's my personal taste, I prefer pretty hands off wait staff. Nonetheless, one of my favorite spots in the area!
(5)rebecca g.
This is my go-to place to create a cheese platter for a party! Amazing selection and they carry things I haven't seen anywhere else. I've had brunch there twice and was impressed both times. Great bloody Marys, delicious pork chiliquiles and great sandwiches. I recently moved to OP from Chicago's Northside and we will be regulars!! Love it!!
(5)katy l.
I have to echo previous comments and say that while the meal was fantastic, the service was lacking. Our server was a nice gentleman, but certainly not in any hurry. It took him a solid 10 minutes just for the initial approach. Meanwhile, there was probably 3 other tables with people at them, so he certainly wasn't overwhelmed with other guests. Then, when we asked him about the wine choices, his wine list knowledge did not blow my bangs back. He sole descriptor of a sauvignon blanc was "floral." Right. Thanks. Our food came out promptly after we finally got to order it, but the two-top does not have much room for guests who order a few small plates. We were perpetually tryign to carefully shift things around, when it would've all been moot if we could've had one of the many larger empty tables. But, the food was awesome. We had a cheese flight that was tasty, followed by the quiche (whatever garnish was underneath made me go "mmmm"), and the cauliflower sandwich, which was so sweet and very delicious. My girlfriend and I were taking the opportunity to catch up over this dinner, so it was nice not to feel rushed, but it also would've been nice to have the option of having our plates cleared and/or our check brought less than 20 minutes after we were done. Our waiter just seemed to be putzing around, so it's not as though he seemed otherwise occupied with side work, and finally, I had to catch his eye before he came to offer us a check. We did eat here on a somewhat snowy Wednesday night, so maybe they didn't have their "A" staff on, but this meal could've been a 5-star meal with just a little more attentiveness.
(4)Dennis L.
My second visit to Marion Street for brunch was less impressive. The food was still very good, but the service was dreadfully slow. Additionally, they needed to install or turn up the exhaust fan in the kitchen. All of my clothes left smelling like I was standing over a deep fryer. I certainly hope my experience today was a fluke. I am only dropping one star as the food was delicious.
(3)Amanda G.
I adore this quaint place, tucked away in Oak Park! When this establishment was born, there was not much to it; but, boy, have they grown!! More wine choices, more cheese choices, full menu. Yes, please! My gal pal and I started with a refreshing sparkling rose and a cheese platter. Since we could not decide, so I waitress picked all her favorites. Our cheese adventure started with a sweet, light cheese and ended with a rich, earthy cheese. So AWESOME!! We decided to split a salad and the crab cake sandwich. Oh my....holy yumminess!! Best way to round out lunch?? Another glass of wine and some great conversation. I am so glad this place found its way to Oak Park!
(4)Amy O.
Live music, chocolates and sooo much cheese! The only thing not to love about this place is the watered down coffee and the you-look-too-young-so-I'm-not-giving-you-good-Âservice syndrome. I do. I look 16 or 17. I am 25.
(4)Ryan A.
Far and away the best customer service we've ever had. you don't have to be an expert on wine/cheeses, you will get plenty of help from the staff there. we have been there several times now and always get suggestions from their service team who are more than willing to help you as you peruse on the store side. in fact, i was even given help with the microbrews they have there. the restaurant is also great, and the service their is outstanding- especially nick the bartender. this is probably the best place in Oak Park, a must for anyone in the area
(5)Dennis S.
The meal was a disaster, for which they did not charge me. So I'll skip the restaurant part of Marion St. Cheese Market and just rate them as a cheese shop. As a cheese shop, it's disappointing. If I lived in the Oak Park area, I'd be ecstatic that they have such a great little shop in town. But a destination, it's not. Worth detouring off the Eisenhower - no. Their selection of American cheeses is good. So if you want to get patriotic and expand your knowledge of small American artisanal cheese makers, this is a good place. But if you want to have the full range of cheeses to select from, Whole Foods and Sam's/Binny's off North Avenue still win the day in Chicagoland. Their selection of goudas was good, as was their selection of blues. Beyond that their European choices were pretty limited. And their prices were high - for example, the highest price I've seen in Chicago for Wisconsin's Pleasant Ridge Reserve. Their staff was pleasant, but couldn't figure out how to cut a requested quarter-pound piece of cheese. Showing two poorly cut pieces, he said "This one's .19 pound and this one's .34 - which one do you want?" Nor did he know the cheeses I was asking for by name - I had to point to them for him. That's not a big issue if you know what you want, but most people want advice at a cheese counter. I guess that's too much to expect in Oak Park. The shop's overall selection is very interesting. Wines, cheeses, cured meats, exotic foods, decorations, paraphernalia, all the things you need to sell to make money in a small suburban shop. The décor is a mess - it looks like every time the owner had another profitable quarter, he/she hired a different architect to design another 20 feet of wall space. Nothing matches anything else, although everything is well done. It's beyond eclectic - it's confused. It's money spent on decorations to attract the suburban housewife rather than money spent on building a good cheese selection. Probably the right strategy for making money in Oak Park! I'd prefer a deli counter with knowledgeable staff and a great selection.
(3)Naomi E.
Ok - they definitely have a ventilation problem here. My clothes and hair were immersed in the smell of burnt oil when I left and even at times when I was there my eyes were watering. It's such a contrast to the overall feel of this place that it's such a shame! Food on the other hand equalled yummy yummy yummy! For brunch we had the mixed breads, the insanely decadent hangover sandwich (be warned its not for the faint hearted or calorie counters) and the quiche of the day (red peppers and goats cheese). $5 spicylicous bloody marys were a treat!
(4)Andrew S.
had brunch there this weekend. overall great restaurant- food, service and atmosphere. the chilaquiles were excellent and i thoroughly enjoyed my bloody mary. i regret not purchasing from their cheese case, maybe next time.
(4)Ashly S.
Where to begin? Cheese...wine...new, incredible menu...ridiculous desserts...yeah, it's all good. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of dining at the Marion Street Cheese Market while visiting friends in the Chicagoland area and it was wonderful. Our server was not only knowledgable but enthusiastic about the menu -- he offered recommendations that were spot on and totally delicious. They have an appetizer that is a crabcake paired with a thai apple salad and it was amazing! So complex and delicious, surprisingly light and altogether such a cool idea. For dinner, I went with the bacon-wrapped rabbit leg and it was beautifully done. Amazing little spot in Oak Park -- highly recommend this spot. :)
(5)Bill L.
Holding back from 5 stars only because my experience was limited to wine and cheese, BUT I completely enjoyed both. I'm glad I didn't experience the less than stellar service some have mentioned recently. Everyone was kind and attentive. Wine selection wasn't as extensive as I would expect, but good variety regardless. Cheese selection was terrific. Menu descriptions of those I tried were spot on. Bottom line is I can't wait to make the trip from the city for my next visit, and that trip is very easy as the green line Harlem stop is across the street.
(4)Karl C.
I really, really enjoyed this place. Marion Street Cheese Market has two sections: at one end, you will find a large assortment of wine, micro-brewed beer and a bountiful cheese counter. The other end is a moderate-sized cafe complete with a stage large enough for a two or three piece jazz band. Wine, cheese, jazz and good company -- what else can you ask for? I started off with the autumn red wine flight, which consisted of three half glasses of wine from California, Argentina and France. All were very good. I followed that up with a delicious Cheddah! cheese flight (the French Cantalet was my favorite). A light beer flight with five samples followed. They served me a fresh, lemony witte which was great but the others were mediocre, and please stay away from the grapefruit extract Surly Furious. I got pretty hungry so I ordered their fish and chips. The fish was crispy, beer-battered excellence. Their fries tasted very good but were listlessly soft. The ambiance of this place really impressed me. It's sleek and urban with undertones of sustainability; I was surprised to find out that their comfortable cafe chairs were made partly with reused car seat belts. The vibe is such where you can come here on a date to impress the wino you've been eyeing or barge in with a group of ten cheeseheads. You'll feel equally at home either way. The cherry on top of the meatloaf that was my visit was the band that night. They were playing up-tempo jazz covers of songs like "Dear Prudence" which was awesome. You could really bob your head to their stuff after a few glasses of wine and/or a pound of cheese. I highly recommend Marion Street Cheese. If you like wine, cheese and some poppy jazz, you need to check this place out.
(5)Angela D.
Until now, Bin 36 downtown was my favorite wine and cheese place. They have officially been overthrown :) Excellent wine and cheese, great appetizers, delicious and creative entrees. And while it's not in any way cheap, it's reasonable for the quality of food and wine, and the great selection of desserts and "grocery" items made available for you even if you're just stopping in to stock up foir a dinner party. My only complaint was that service was REALLY slow. I kept joking that our waitress had dies because seriously, we would go 25 minutes and never even see her. We were not in any hurry so it wasn't a dealbreaker and it WAS a busy Saturday night so chances are on a weeknight we'd be waited on hand and foot. We started with a wine flight and cheese tray, the french one, and I don't remember the actual name but it's easy to pick out. The cheeses were DIVINE, and came with a nice assortment of bread, crackers, nuts and a royal jelly. We tried the sliders, and actually preferred the grilled beet to the duck. the duck was really tender and flavorful but the beet was so interesting and unique! We also had a flatbread pizza of the day, similar to a BBQ chicken but far more tasty than the standard pizza. The best part was the lamb stew entree that we shared. It was a huge portion so glad we split. The most tender, fall off the bone lamb I've had like that. Came in a savory onion broth with lentils and a few vegetables. I cannot wait to go back and try something else!! They had live music the night we went, that was a really nice suprise too. Not too loud, and the singer fit right in with the feel of the place. High quality without being pretentious, mellow and just....nice. Not sure how much more original praise I can add :)
(4)Meg X.
Went here as part of my friends' monthly Supper Club group. Our server (Tony) was attentive, friendly, and helpful. We split the Pickle Flight, which included pearl onions, turnips, and okra. The turnips and okra were excellent but for whatever reason the pearl onions weren't so great. I got a 5-cheese flight, I can't remember which cheeses, but it was delicious. One of the group got the ribs, and it came stacked about 7" high with ribs, potatoes, etc. It looked like that opening from the Flintstones where Fred orders those ribs and they tip the car over. Another in our group had the white whine flight and really enjoyed it. The barbecue chicken was kind of weird because it was breaded and baked; no barbecue. But whatever, it was still good. I had some kind of baked peach thing for dessert. It was fantastic! Overall a great, quiet place for dinner. Friendly service and great menu. It's easier to just take the green line there than to try to find parking. It's across the street from the Marion exit of the Harlem stop of the green line.
(4)Sam G.
Save your stationery because this is no place to write home about. This pretentious, overpriced, sub par establishment will probably leave you hungry and irritated. I would give food itself a B-, but the portions were incredibly small and overpriced. The service was slow. After finishing my beer halfway through me meal, I order another and waited 12 minutes before canceling it and asking for the check. Seriously, Oak Park has many better places, particularly for the price.
(1)Allison R.
I have been to Marion Street Cheese Market on numerous occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just to shop. If you're a vegetarian you'll appreciate the Cauliflower Melt sandwich. The apples and the cheese really make this sandwich delicious. It was a little on the greasy side, but I'm willing to overlook that based on taste. Unlike the Grilled Cheese sandwich, which almost needs something else to help it get away from being too cheesy (I never thought I would say that), the Cauliflower Melt is very well balanced. I think the brunch menu is by far the best. French press coffee with French toast or the mushroom skillet is a great reason to get out of bed on a Saturday morning. Overall, I think this restaurant puts together a really unique menu that's a little on the pricey side, but worth it every once in a while. It's a great place to eat with a group so you can order different things and sample everyone's dish. I think your experience here all depends on who you get as a server. Some are great. They'll explain the menu options and really seem to care about getting your food out in a reasonable time. Others are...not. It's really a gamble and it's sad because great food should always come with great service. On a side note I will say that on the retail side I've had very positive experiences in terms of service. Everyone seems to be fairly knowledgeable about all the products. I love the addition of the chocolates and the wine display is pretty awesome as well.
(4)Steve M.
Pretty cool spot for the 'burbs! :) They don't do regular coffee here. Only french press. Also, they ask you if you want a small, medium or large press, which they'll bring to your table. Make sure you over order. (If you think you want a small, go medium.) Everyone at the table ordered breakfast skillets. Mine was the salmon and scrambled egg skillet. Somewhere in the back of the house the orders got mixed up and everyone got their food 10 minutes before mine showed up. No big deal, really, but it was weird to be the only one eating at the table when it finally did show. Flavor-wise, it was largely uninspiring. Nice presentation though. If I go back (and I would), I'd like to head back for dinner. The space looks really cool. TONS of cheeses, a pretty serious wine selection, and a small stage for jazzy musicians.
(3)Lauren C.
The quiche was great! Also side note- this place has a small shop and they sell Three Floyd's Zombie Dust beer.
(4)Melissa T.
Have not eaten in but did enjoy some delicious cheese and, oddly enough, the best licorice I've ever had is from there. I picked up both summer sausage and pate there, however, that was mediocre at best. I really like this place, but I'm not in love with this place like others are. In all honesty, I'm more likely to head to the Caputo cheese mart for cheese than here.
(3)Laura V.
Marion Street Cheese Market is a real gem. I've been here half a dozen times, primarily just for drinks and all experiences have been wonderful. The restaurant/shop is beautiful, modern, clean, dark and feels sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. I always get the beer flight and there even some vegan options - just ask.
(5)Alicia P.
Worst service I have ever experienced. Not only did the waitress tell me "i need to see your face" to judge if I could have a glass of wine, she grabbed my ID, threw it back at me, then told me she needed to see a credit card to verify...of which she the back at me. We asked for a new server and the manager apologized. Based on other reviews about the service, don't expect a comp for anything if you are treated poorly either considering the quantity of customer service reviews-we surely didn't receive anything. Food was overpriced, not as good as it should be for a cheese market (mac and cheese was just ok...nothing special). We also had chicken-ok- . Really nothing special. Unless they can work on customer service and improve the quality or decrease the price, go somewhere else
(1)Thomas L.
I like this place. The wine is good and the prices are reasonable. The cheese plates are also very good. Let me preface what I'm about to say about the food menu with the fact that I am not a foodie. However, it took my girlfriend and I about 30 minutes to decide on what to eat. One, I had to google about half of the items on the menu. Perhaps I am a simpleton but here is an example: Bison Carpaccio 11/Anson Mills farro | soy braised shiitake |crispy shallot | sesame crème fraiche . If you can tell me what the hell that means than disregard. We decided to share the Risotto which was designated as a "large plate." In retrospect though it wasn't very big and if you don't fill up on bread and cheese beforehand, you should be able to handle a large plate fairly easily. I will say that the Risotto was delicious. The wine menu is good and they also have a decent (although small) selection of craft beer. The service was prompt but I'm not sure that the waitress knew what she was doing (although she overtly apologized when asked a question as she said the menu was new). All in all I would give this place the thumbs up. I will say that the menu should be tailored to people who live in Oak Park and not Tuscany. PS- They also have a nice little shop where you can buy craft beer, cheese, and wine, etc.
(4)James K.
Great beer and wine selection is excellent. Lot of beers that are difficult to find anywhere else. Very knowledgeable staff. Except for the cheese flights and other staples, food is kind of hit or miss.
(4)April P.
This place is incredible. There is an astounding assortment of cheeses, all picked by someone with an obvious divine taste in cheeses. The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant and comfortable. I don't know if that's because they did a good job designing the interior or simply because it is a place entirely devoted to cheese. Either way, it is a wonderful place and part of me wishes there were more like it while the other part is simply happy that I have the pleasure of partaking in such a unique invention and that part is happy it is the only one around. Thanks Marion Street Cheese Market! Never change.
(5)Megan G.
I had a great bruncing experience here and let's he honest, who doesn't love a good brunch? My two dearest friends were in town for the weekend and wanted to meet my mom for a brunch and shopping escapade so I thought it would be fun for them to see the lovely downtown Oak Park area. It helps that my parents live there so we parked at their place and hoofed it to MSCM. The problem? We were hungover. The solution? Marion Street Cheese Market. But how does a cheese market help with a hangover you ask? The answer is simple. And dirty. Hangover fries. Yep, that's what they're called, right there on the menu. North Country bacon + all-natural sausage + Pastureland's organic cheddar + sunny side Milo's farm egg. Basically breakfast heaven on a plate. They are all about local, seasonal, and artisinal fare and they can make it taste good. We scarfed them down in no time flat while my mother insisted on telling the server that she didn't raise me to drink like a fish (her favorite game). We all had lovely meals following the savior hangover fries and we got a 4 pack of Goose Island Sofie on our way out, just in case. Perf.
(4)michael s.
way more than your average stinky cheese hole. they have really good food.
(4)Jo B.
This is a desperate plea to the owners of MSCM. Please please please do something about your horribly trained, apathetic, rude staff. I live in OP, I want to support this place because I think it has so much potential but I just can't bring myself to endure the terrible experience that dining here brings. Tried again last night...the hostess couldn't seat me outside because she didn't "think" there were any tables. How about walking outside and checking? Then she didn't know how long our wait might be because she "had no idea" when these customers had sat down but she did know that none of them had asked for their bill yet so it was likely to be at least 45 minutes. OMG. Read your reviews, owners, and see what your customers are saying about your staff. Please.
(1)B L.
The owner should have been on hand last night. Workers are standing around, and yet ONE waiter for the entire dining room is going 100 MPH. Service was bad. First off, my spouse ordered his drink (asked for club soda with lemon but got it with lime) and received it AFTER he was done with his meal. (How do you forget a beverage?) The cocktail that I had was bizarro.... is the bartender getting creative? The vodka drink tasted like it had cloves in it. I had to send it back, and I rarely will do that. The grilled cheese sandwich was dry, and it consisted of 1 sliver of cheese slapped between two thick thick pieces of bread. The pasta salad was strange. I'd never order it again. We eat out all the time in Oak Park and we won't go back here except for perhaps a glass of wine. Pricing is high and service is not good. Food is average to weird. The owner must be a newbie to the biz. He/she should do a time/motion study. Workers are not choreographed. Nothing is in synch. You wait forever for your stuff, and yet there are workers with little/ nothing to do.
(1)Colleen M.
I should preface this by saying that I'm lactose-intolerant so I'm not the person to comment about their cheese selection. :) I heard people raving about their wine selection and their bistro so when a groupon became available I bought it. We went to the bistro on a Friday night. They weren't crowded when we first arrived. We opted to order some appetizers and wine. It must have took 30 minutes for them to prepare the appetizers. (Who knew Bruschetta and Focaccia took so long?) I dropped my fork and the server said he would bring a new one. After waiting nearly 5 minutes, I flagged down someone else. The food was delicious and I enjoyed my wine. Overall, I found the selection good and the service ho-hum. I wouldn't go out of the way to go back but if I was in the area I might stop in again.
(3)Alicia K.
I think I can summarize my slew of experiences here in two words: IN. LOVE. This place is pretty much what happens when you mix the best of everything together -- great food, good service, sustainability and a strong regard for the environment, cheese, and wine. What more do you need?! I've been for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and never cease to be impressed with my experience. It's true MSCM is a tad bit "pricey," but frankly, you get what you pay for. Everything here is delicious and insanely fresh. The only downside is that they do change their menu based on seasonal ingredients and what's local and available, so sometimes you will fall head over heels for something (e.g. their coconut curry soup... OH EM GEE... HEAVENLY!!!) but then not be able to get it there again for a year. When that's the only downside, though, can you really complain?! The cheese counter has an insane number of options, all fantastic, and their employees are very knowledgable and able to help you find just what you're looking for. (Our current obsession is the Le'Amuse Gouda. Try it with honey crisp apples on wheat thins. This will literally change your life.) Wine selection is out of this world, and again, super knowledgeable employees. They sometimes have wine tastings or other cute events, so if you live nearby, you may want to inquire about those. And if I haven't convinced you to try it yet, fine -- don't listen to me. But maybe the 100+ other 4 & 5 star reviews will help sway you? ;]
(5)Dawn B.
I really love coming here. It feels like a "treat" every time. I do wish the prices were a little more affordable for the food. Their wine specials on various days are really good, so I guess that makes up for it. The staff is knowledgeable about the vino and the cheese---I usually tell them the things I like and let them pick.
(4)Mary Ann C.
Yummmm. I have been here many times for meals and retail purchases (dating back to their old, tiny location. I love this place. Good service. Knowledgeable service. Good food and great products. Enjoyed lunch yesterday outside. Finally tried the cauliflower sandwich (amazing) with a lovely glass of wine. Loved that the server noticed the wine I picked out and told me what an interesting choice it was (plus gave me extra tips on the selection). The fruit salad with mint was a great addition to the meal. A must visit when in Oak Park!!!
(4)Anastacia B.
Dear Marion St, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I followed my rules and sat at the bar. Attentive knowledgeable server/bartender- who at the end of the meal gave me a sample of Gin I asked about. I saw you sell it in your shop. Guess who will be back to get a bottle! Thank you for offering 10% off at the bottom of my food receipt toward a purchase in the shop. It took me 20 minutes to decide what I wanted. Reading the menu is like food porn. (Sorry I went there but I did).....I finally settled on the Goat cheese salad with hazel nuts and roasted grapes as well as the mushroom skillet. My friend ordered the fresh corn quiche. Now I'm ruined for brunch anywhere else... Only quirk, front of house staff- 4 of them at host stand. We said hello- no response. We stood for a few awkward moments waiting to be acknowledged...just eye contact and- I'll be with you in a moment- works wonders....
(5)Ellen M.
This was downright fantastic. Date and I arrived on a Sunday at about 4:15, before dinner service, in one of those weird days of starting with a late breakfast and skipping lunch. Dinner doesn't begin until 5, but the cheese bar was open. Cheese it was! A flight of five, including a terrific sheep cheese and a salty goat, and excellent jam. It held us until dinner. Dinner! Yes...golden beet salad with arugula and a carpaccio plate. So good. Date had the black bean soup and the mac/cheese. Mac/cheese fans, you MUST partake of the Marion Street Cheese Market macaroni and cheese. I can't say I've ever tasted a nicer sauce. Drinks were a flight of south american wines for me, some fancy yet masculine cocktail for him. Dessert: chocolate. 'Nuff said, my friends. Service: attuned. I appreciated that they offered to get rid of the television when they noticed I made a face when I saw it. We were the only ones in the room at the time, and *shoom* the big screen faded into the ceiling without a care. Nice beer list. Accessible, but good choices. I will be back.
(4)Anne D.
I came here for the first time last year for lunch and had a fabulous grilled cheese, so I was already a fan. Recently I bought a Groupon for a prix fixe menu with craft beer pairings for 2. Yum! I enjoyed all three beer tastings and all of the food. We each got to choose one of two dishes for each of three courses, so we decided to get one of everything and split them. Pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, grits (yes, grits - but they were fantastic) with mushrooms and bleu cheese, chocolate cake, and a stout float with caramel ice cream and chipotle-seasoned cookies. We thoroughly enjoyed each thing and it was a great opportunity to try dishes that I probably wouldn't normally order. Despite what some reviews have said, the service was good even though they were crowded. We had just long enough between courses to finish each before the next came, and the check came promptly. The only thing that might hold me back from coming here again soon is that the prices are pretty steep. I think I'll probably return for lunch or brunch to save a little money, and maybe come back for a special dinner.
(4)Jose G.
I would consider myself a regular here - at least at the bar stools for a beverage, cheese flight and conversation with the bartenders. By the way, the beers they serve are all craft/micro brews. No Miller Lite here! Which is a good thing if you ask me. If you're a beer fan and like trying unique brews, have a sampler, or just ask for a little taste. I don't necessarily come here for their full dinner menus. The food is fantastic though, Chef Leonard does a great job with the menus, but just not my style for dinner. The Mac-N-Choose is great! There's usually a meat option and a non-meat option for this dish - just ask your servers. Speaking of servers, I think they're hit or miss. If they know you and recognize that you're in fairly often, they're great. On occasion though, we'll get a new (to us) server who isn't as attentive or friendly. The retail side of the MSCM has a great selection of wines, craft beers, cheeses, meats, truffles, honeys, unique kitchen items.. too many to list! If you're looking for a gift for someone who appreciates this stuff, they can put together a nice gift basket for you. If you want the scoop on their beers, talk to Charlie, he really knows his stuff and will guide you to the right beer! They sometimes have free tastings, usually on the weekends it seems. All in all, a great little Bistro! They are doing their part for the environment and are very into supporting local businesses. If you're in the Oak Park area, stop in to visit them!
(5)Jeffrey M.
This is a great spot. My gf and I had an awesome cheese flight, and a couple awesome wine flights. I loved the mac n cheese special. After dinner we shopped in the awesome gourmet grocery store. Picked up some amazing brie, cheddar, and taleggio. Some foie gras and duck liver. Another pate of chicken liver and pork mousse. Also a couple of bottles of some awesome wine.
(4)Angela M.
The one star is based on my experience and service. This is NOT a food review... for I didn't have a chance to try. Based on the name, I went to dinner with the realization that I would most likely NOT be eating anything... I mean it's a CHEESE market. My dad picked this place for his birthday, and I'm vegan... But, I was surprised to see that they had a tempeh sandwich on their menu. I asked the waiter if they could put the sandwich in a lettuce wrap or even just on a bed of lettuce as a salad due to not knowing what the bread was made with eggs, milk, etc. He looked at me like I had three heads attached to my neck and said "No. We can't do that." At first I thought he had a dry sense of humor and was being sarcastic with me, so I said "Okay, so you can't put a sandwich on a piece of lettuce instead of bread? Even though you sell salad?" He looked at me with confusion and said, "No. That's not something that we do." My sister in law even chimed in stating that I'm a vegan, and that there's no way to put it on a salad? He stuck with his "No." The waiter went around the table asking for everyone's order, when he got to me he asked, "So, what can I get for you?" I said, "I'm good." He then said, "Are you sure I can't accomodate you with something?" Then I looked at him like he had 4 heads attached to his neck and politely declined. Now, if you're not a vegan or vegetarian you might think this is ridiculous, but this isn't the first time that common sense looses to ignorance. Unrelated to veganism; It's like the time I went into Starbucks and they didn't have any regular coffee. Needless to say I won't be recommending this to any vegetarians or vegans... even though their menu clearly states "Please read our menus carefully and tell us what you cannot eat ask your server about our vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options".... i guess that means that they'll accomodate you as long as you don't ask for a lettuce substitute? yeah... that totally makes sense.
(1)Michael B.
Professional staff, pleasant atmosphere, and beautiful half circle wine rack. Will be back soon
(4)Paul D.
What can I say about The Marion Street Cheese Market other than it's pretty damn awesome. Nestled in the heart of Hemingway's birthplace it sits on the corner of Marion Street (naturally) and South Blvd so parking isn't much of a problem even with the other restaurants that share the same block, and if you get there after six you don't have to pay for the privilege to park on the street. When you arrive you walk through the market, surrounded by a huge wine rack and a sea of cheeses (which is marketing gold, especially that once you taste their selections of cheeses and wine you can buy pretty much whatever you had on the way out, which I did), to get to the dining area. The wife and I arrived on a night that had live music, and from the flyer I saw later in the evening I see that isn't unusual to find here. Our waiter, Jamie (who looked like a younger, blonde Rain Wilson from the "Office") was very attentive and not over baring and had no problem at all explaining what was on the menu and would answer any question. We started with an excellent bottle of Gewurztraminer and a three cheese flight of Wisconsin cheeses, which were fantastic. Very buttery and pared well with the Gewurztraminer. For our appetizer we both went with the Baby Spinach Salad that had Ader Kase blue cheese, dried cranberries with white balsamic vinaigrette and toasted almonds and in my opinion was one of the best salads I ever had. The main course consisted of Spice Roasted Olives and Bread (wife) made with Spanish Olive Oil, roasted fennel , red peppers with a crusty bread, with me choosing the Lamb Pappardelle (which was outstanding) made up of Mint Creek Farm lamb shoulder, roasted shallots, ricotta salata, pomegranate, and mint which I paired with a glass of Cantina Sociale Coertino. The Gewurztraminer not being a hearty enough wine for the lamb. We ended with a dessert port and a double espresso. All in all The Marion Street Market is just a great place to hang out with friends, loved ones or just by yourself as they boast a nice bar where you can also eat at if not wanting a table or you are there just for a cheese and wine flights. I also noticed they have a bourbon flight as well, and it'll be on my list on my next visit. Live Jazz is also a regularity. The only draw backs where that the Spice Roasted Olives and Bread wasn't as good as it ought to have been, and ended up being heavy and tasted more of if it came from a jar, and that they could have done with about three less tables. Where I was seated near the bar and in a heavy traffic area, I was constantly bumped into by passing servers and we felt a little close to the other tables around us. Other than that we had a great time and spent most of the night there.
(4)Kevin G.
This is one of our favorite places to eat and Oak Park. The cheese alone could make me give this place 5 stars, but the rest of the menu and very knowledgeable staff put it off the charts. I sympathize with the reviewer that couldn't get her quick coffee before running off to work, but if you look closely at the sign above the door, you will notice that it does NOT say "Starbucks." This is a great place to go to have great conversation and to SAVOR some really well-crafted food and beverages (kind of the OPPOSITE of a fast food joint). Perhaps the only thing I could fault Marion Street Cheese Market for is a bit of inconsistency in the wait staff. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Marion Street Cheese Market and let the guys and gals behind the counter educate me in the ways of the cheese. It seems like there's no practical limit to the amount of different cheeses they'll let you try and if you know what you like, but don't know the name, they'll patiently take you through the whole case until you find it. They have cheese, wine, and beer flights on the menu as well as a broad selection of very creative dishes that vary by the season. One of our favorites is their pizzas-- and if you like grilled cheese, just you wait! This ain't your mama's kraft singles on buttered bread! Three kinds of cheese plus a little pickled veggies make this the BEST grilled cheese I've ever had! There's always something on the menu that makes us go "Oooooohhhhh.... Let's try /that/!" Great place to take a date who's a foodie, or any foodie, for that matter. Great place for expanding your culinary comfort zone a little. A little pricey, but not out of reach. One of our new year's resolutions was to only go every /other/ week because it's a little too expensive for us to go /every/ week. Haven't been doing too well on that particular resolution.... ;-) Go there, try it-- ask for Trevor to make you a cheese flight of his choice!
(5)Nicole M.
It's a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. Getting a wine or beer flight and a cheese sampler spread as an appetizer are musts. Everything on the brunch menu sounds phenomenal - come with a group so you can try a good handful of dishes. Not a huge restaurant - reservations are the way to go.
(5)Amanda B.
This place is on the expensive side for my husband and I for dinner, so we've only been once when we had gift certificate, but I've been multiple times for lunch with friends and family, when the prices are a little more moderate. Each time it has been amazing! I have had the Chevre Salad and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. Both were phenomenal. I am a cheese fiend so anything with a large ball of cheese on the plate is going to win my favor but the salad is well sized and filling! The sandwich, likewise is filling and I could not finish it. The chutney/salsa they had on the sandwich was divine! It added such a freshness to the fried green tomatoes that it sat on. Great balance! My parents and I also purchased a cheese plate when we went. 3 out of 4 cheeses were very well received, so much so that my parents bought all three kinds of cheese. Their favorite was the Little Boy Blue, and as they live out of town, have repeatedly requested me to make the trip to the shop to purchase it and bring to them when we visit. Worth the money in their opinion! Service has always been good and the servers have always been able to give good recommendations when I was struggling between two choices and each time, they were spot on!
(5)Laura H.
I live in Michigan and every Chicago trip I make, Marion Street Cheese market now has to be apart of it! This place is awesome. The staff knows everything about the cheese and wine that they sell and they are sooooo friendly. My friends and I tend to have a lot of questions when we are purchasing our wine and cheese and we always leave very happy! Highly suggest!
(5)Tracy O.
This was my second time here. First time, there was a festival in Oak Park, and the service was extremely slow. This time there was constuction on Maple Ave. and it was not crowded. The service was much better. We enjoyed a cheese plate, which was good. I had the spanish wine flight, which was a little overpriced in my opinion. The crab cake small plate was decent to share. The food is not outstanding, but quaint place to go for some wine and cheese.
(3)Marissa G.
I've only picked up cheese and wine here, I've not been to the restaurant, but from what I experienced I was impressed. Their staff is incredibly patient and knowledgable. When I was there the cheese guy was busy with several customers tasting cheese, and he was always kind and attentive, never brushing anyone off and keeping the flow moving. There was also champagne tasting, which was lots of fun, and I walked away with a great bottle for a party. The chocolate selection is pretty impressive too. Be ready to spend a pretty penny, but for a special occasion, I think it's worth it!
(4)Kim S.
I. Love. This. Place. Ok I can see why people may not like it. It's kind of confusing as a newbie. The layout is very long, there are multiple counters to order and pay for different types of items, and there's a bar/restaurant in the back. A restaurant which doesn't allow you to order food between certain hours of the day. Weird I know.. but PERSEVERE!! IT IS WORTH IT! As a cheese and wine shop it's great. They have a large selection and the staff is typically friendly and helpful. They have wine and cheeeeese and awesome beer and lil noshes to boot. Sometimes you have to wait a lil for service but I like to think that they care SO much about each customer that they don't want to cut them short to help someone else. Altho maybe you don't need to engage in conversation with the customer after the transaction is over and someone is patiently waiting to buy some juice or something. All this grand stuff aside the FOOD is why I'm giving it five stars. We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning and they asked if we had reservations. I'm like uhhh no? I don't think I've ever made a reservation for breakfast. Regardless they whispered a lil bit about shuffling tables and seated us right away. Awesome. The menu was full of tantalizing goodies but I opted for a mashed avocado benedict. The hubs got some meat thingy - looked like a roast or something with onions, etc. While we waited we enjoyed a cup of coffee. Not fancy lattes or cappucinos, just plain old coffee. I swear I'm doing somthing wrong when I make coffee at home - this was amazing coffee. I don't know the details, it could be Folgers for all I know but it was good.. damn good. The food came and was amazing. My eggs were poached perfectly - SUPER important for a benedict. The bacon was just right and sooo good. I took a bite of whatever the hubs got - also yummy. Everything was yummy. The potatoes on the side were too. AH! My mouth is watering now! So pleased. Was full forever. Definitely going back - with a reservation. P.S. They have Two Brother's Domaine DuPage on tap. So divine.
(5)Ms L.
How do I love cheese....let me count the ways. Maybe I watched too much Urkel as a child, but cheese is one of my favorite things ever...food or otherwise. So of course I scooped up two Groupons to Marion Street Cheese Market when I had the chance. Kudos to the staff for allowing me to use one Groupon for a meal and the other for a wine purchase - and also allowing me to use the Groupon app on my phone (I always forget to print things out). Techie that I am - this was a huge bonus for me. Me and the beau stopped in during lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The first thing I'll comment on is that the ambience was incredibly soothing. Lots of bamboo and Asian styled decor -- it actually felt like a sushi restaurant I'd visit. No complaints there. The waitress was great at recommending new drinks to try -- we had the coconut water and house lemonade to start, since we knew we would be picking up a few bottles on the way home. The mango/almond french toast was amazing...and my beau's turkey avacado club looked pretty good too. The cucumber salad was delish - I wish there was a larger serving. After stuffing ourselves, we went to the wine & cheese section...oh my. Reasonably priced, though I'd recommend adding some additional lighting in the wine section -- it was sometimes hard to read the labels. The guy behind the cheese counter made some really tasty recommendations to go with the wines we picked. This was a pretty solid wine bar/cafe -- I'd definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Yum!
(4)K. E.
What I really recommend is you should go to this place and buy wine and cheese (and a loaf of bread) and take it home and call it dinner. The "cheesemongers" behind the cheese cases offer 5-star service including tastes, recommendations, good ideas on what goes with what. I have bought some great cheese flights with their help - and fed them to some very picky eaters with astonishing success. The pricing in the cheese cases is by the quarter-pound. This seems very smart to me. You could faint over the prices if you saw the full-pound price on everything - but who buys a full pound of stuff like that?? And they'll cut you as small a piece as you want. I have a soft spot for this place because of a bunch of personal connections - but in reference to all the complaints about service in other reviews, I feel your pain. I'm not sure why they never quite get it together. I'll probably keep going, but lately I've been hesitating about recommending dining in. If you sign up for their email list, you'll always get some kind of discount. That's really worth checking out. Good luck.
(4)Rita S.
Hostess was quite unfriendly and service was slooooow. Food was ok but very pricey $14.00 for Mac and Cheese?? $20.00 pork chop was tough. Single bathrooms made for waiting lines in small hallway, and don't wash your hands because you won't get enough water out of the faucet to rinse off the soap???
(2)Victoria h.
Husband and I made reservations for a 6pm dinner on a Friday night. When we arrived we were seated immediately and I noticed that there were a few tables still empty. After we were seated, we waited for our server. Then we waited some more. Then I asked the hostess to get our server and we waited some more. Finally, the server came and took our order. The server had a guy with him who was training(?). I ordered the Mac and cheese and husband ordered fish and chips.The mac and cheese was, I'm sorry to say, flavorless. I'm the last person in the world to add salt to anything and this dish needed salt badly. It was just bland, I can't explain it. I took most of it home and ate some of my husband's delicious dinner. The fish and chips were incredible! I highly recommend them. The fish were crispy and the fries were pre-soaked in vinegar in just the right amount. The dish also comes with tartar sauce which my husband hates. He asked for cocktail sauce instead and got it! When we were done, the trainee asked us how our meal was, put the mac&cheese in the to-go box, asked if we wanted dessert and....nothing. No check. We couldn't find our server (or the trainee) for a while. So we waited. Then we waited some more. Then the server came, asked us the same questions again and finally brought us our check. I will definitely give it another chance and order something else.
(3)M.K. O.
The service has been a bit awkward and slow for each of my visits; this creates an uncomfortable mismatch as the food is fantastic (innovative and seasonal menu, perhaps the best food in Oak Park) and the atmosphere is equally great. Our waitress for the most recent experience came out with our food and froze for a few seconds wide-eyed mid dining room before setting the plates down at our table and saying something like, "Oh my God, I like totally forgot what I was doing." We were one of 2 tables in the restaurant.
(3)Jen A.
I've been here several times and think that my review will now reflect an average of all my experiences. The food, beer, wine, menu, and retail store are fantastic. The service and the prices bring down my rating. We love coming in and trying cheese or choosing beer and wine to go. One time, we came in and the person in the retail area said "you have to buy that stuff at the bar." So we went to the cashier behind the bar, and she replies "No, you have to buy that in ths store area". We head back to the store and she says "No, you have to buy that stuff at the bar." Make up your mind... There have been two occasions where we have gone in for dinner, ordered drinks and one entree each, and the service was stretched out over two hours. Slow... Also, I have a hard time coming in here and ordering dinner for less than $50 per person, when you include drinks. I'm sure you can do it, but its a challenge. If the food was a little more affordable, we'd probably find a way to stop by more often. If you want a good meal, this is worth a stop...if you don't mind overpriced food or waiting 2 hours to finish dinner.
(3)Kymberly J.
This is an update of my last review. I was a little upset last time because they were a little disorganized from the move but now they have grown on me. I stopped by the other day to give goat cheese another shot. Now I love it and can't get enough. The guy at the cheese counter patiently sliced me some samples to try and schooled me on the wonderful world of goat cheese and the local market. I bought a small wheel and he threw in a free baugette. awww... The next Saturday I went back for lunch. I had the vegan tostada with shrooms, red pepper and hummus and some baked french onion soup. It was the perfect lunch; fresh ingredients and served on cute little plates. The waitress was a little frazzled but kept a smile on her face the whole time - now that's a professional! The next time I go, even just for drinks, I want to try one of the beer or wine flights. They have have what seems to be a nice collection of microbrews that I am dying to sample.
(4)Mary M.
I keep trying to like this place since it's got great food, wonderful wines and a beautiful shoppe/deli. However, there's a huge disconnect between the resto's foodie persona and the lackadaisical, gourmet-illiterate staff. Today's outing resulted in the same impression---someone in the kitchen is working their ass off, and it all gets lost in translation when it makes it to the table, which by the way could take over 45 minutes for a sandwich (even when the place is 1/2 empty. Show some respect for your customers and hire a crew who appears to give a damn!
(2)Karen S.
Had brunch here the other day and it was very good. Food is very well-prepared, and you can tell the ingredients are very fresh. I had eggs with grilled tomatoes, and it was delicious. I love how the toast comes in a little cast iron pot to keep it warm. I've never seen that before, and it was a nice little surprise. Service was excellent. Took advantage of the 10% off coupon on our receipt and bought a bottle of Shiraz that was wonderful. Will for sure go back-next time to dry dessert!
(4)Senorita J.
You can never go wrong with cheese! Plus the drinks are awesome and servers are nice.
(4)Leo I.
Spaghetti Carbonara should not involve a fried egg, over-easy, dumped on top of the pasta. Neither should it require the synthetic bacon crumbles that Country Buffet provides for salad toppings. Oh, by the way, Carbonara is not a soup and if it were it would not be served in a bowl full of olive oil! With that said, I must admit that the restaurant is at a great location, has a well-appointed dining room, and the cheese-display is beautiful and exudes a market-style setting. But the menu is uninspired and it almost feels as if it is microwave-driven. The service can be hit or miss. When it takes 20 minutes to produce two cheese tray appetizers on a very slow night (2 more tables occupied) one is left to wonder: are they watching for the cheese to age first?
(1)Shannon W.
I have not eaten here, but they have an amazing wine selection. I wanted to find a nice bottle of Malbec for some friends and I called ahead, spoke with Charlie and Marcus - the two retail guys and they know their stuff! Charlie helped me find the perfect bottle, and within my price range and had it placed on hold for me. I got it a few days later and my friends loved it! They even gift wrapped it for me and they had a giveaway that day of a cute reusable bag. Love all their window display "things for the kitchen" as well!
(5)Lindsey H.
Awesome, intriguing and lovely. Three of us went for lunch on a Satuday afternoon. The chilaquiles skillet was divine, crunchy tortilla with a beautiful green salsa and fried eggs on top. I am a tough critic on this dish, and these were the best I have had at a restaurant anywhere (even Mr. Bayless'!). It had every person at the table asking if we would all share dishes. My cohorts ordered the club sandwich and the extremely succulent french toast with cherry caramel sauce, vanilla bean, mascarpone, and toasted almonds. Needless to say we all ate every morsel on our plates. Our bill came to about $40 and we left awestruck and happy planning our next visit.
(4)Stephen L.
I live in Oak Park and go to this place a lot. However, I only go for the food. The service is a JOKE. It is at the point that I place my own food orders at the bar. My last visit for lunch was 1.5 hours long - unless they improve, I'm not going back. If they fire some staff and do some serious service training this place could be good.
(1)Molly O.
I have been a HUGE fan of this establishment since it's origin. I was very excited to see their expansion, and I am always rooting for them to succeed. However, I have a couple of fairly large issues with their service. Early on I gave them a pass, assuming they were learning the ropes (the service was just plain horrible.) That was over a year ago. I just had lunch there today and again, the service is way under par. Two of us ordered the mac n cheese (which was under seasoned.) When I looked for the salt and pepper shakers they were on all the other tables but ours. My friend ordered a salad, however it wasn't served with a bread stick. The other tables around us who did order salads were served with 2 homemade bread sticks. I would go back for the cheese flights and a glass of wine and sit at the bar. The lunch is overpriced for the quality . I cannot comment on the dinners.
(3)Cheryl W.
Yes, I had a Groupon for this place....that being said, I think it's a great place for apps and cheese, the wine was incredible and hubby loved the microbrew flight, however I don't think I'd recommend it for dinner. While our waitress was very pleasant, she didn't seem to know a lot about the food and had to go ask every time we had questions. Also, she disappeared at the end of the meal (more later on that). So we came on a Sunday night and were seated immediately. I had a glass of wine and my husband had the flight of microbrews. We also had a one of the "pre-figured-out" cheese platters (the Espania or something like that) to start as an app. So YUM on both counts...one star there! I ordered the scallops and husband ordered the mac and cheese. The scallops were good, but nothing out of this world and although hubby was not commenting and he had a lot of it wrapped to go, later he said he should have tried the fish and chips, so I'm taking that as a not-that-great. Fast forward to after dinner, we wanted to try some desserts and ordered a couple. Unfortunately 30 minutes later our waitress and desserts were MIA and our appetite was gone, so I just asked for the check from some passing waiter. Apparently it was then realized that our desserts were forgotten about. A second star for comping us for our drinks for forgetting about us after dinner. As far as ambiance...if you go when it's still very light out, it's very dark inside. So takes a bit to adjust. Once adjusted though, you're good to go. So, that being said, we probably won't be back for dinner. Although the drinks, apps and cheeses we had were great, so if you're looking for something like that - this is your place!
(2)James R.
I'm a huge fan! The service is great, wait staff as really improved, great food, and they have live music. Nice outdoor eating, but treat yourself to a table inside when you're in the mood for a little romance. Try the roasted chicken with spinach...... it will rock your world. Live, Love, Eat. JLR
(4)A. J.
Excellent service; very good food. Really enjoyed cheese diversity. Ordered something I was negatively surprised by, they took care of it. I liked that.
(4)Valerie S.
A great place for cheese and wine tasting.
(5)Kaitlyn V.
A bit pricey but quite lovely. A cheese/wine/beer shop to one side, and a restaurant to the other (a bar would be a nice addition, especially as they won't seat you until your full party arrives). Cheese-lovers will be in heaven, but lactose is not my best friend and I still had a wonderful meal and a great time! I went to college in a hippie town in upstate New York, and this reminds me of some of the nicer restaurants there -- that's a huge compliment. I love the focus on sustainability, local/seasonal foods, small batches, responsible sourcing, etc. All tied up with energetic creativity, in a modern but cozy environment. I'm a vegetarian, and the menu offered several unique and creative options - always a very welcome surprise! There was also great fish, chicken and meat for the carnivores in our crowd. Loved that the dishes have both wine and beer pairings, and the flights were fabulous. Entrees are a reasonable size but if you're very hungry, be sure to get an appetizer or soup/salad.
(4)Dusty K.
***Review is for the cheese counter only*** On a rare trip to Oak Park to rid myself of an ever growing Oak Park groupon stack, I was happy to find this place. Upon walking in, my eyes were immediately drawn to the large cheese counter stretching over 3 display windows. I had planned to spend my groupon on cheese only but seeing the display only reinforced that decision. It takes some time to browse through all the selections but they have many options from hard cheeses to soft and local varieties to top quality imports. The good news is that they are more than happy to walk you through any of your likes and dislikes while offering suggestions. I ended up with 3 cheeses and a small container of rye crackers. The brie was soft and cream cheese like while the ten year aged cheedar is sharp and delicious. I have yet to try my Kaskaskia cheese (I believe it's a hard grating sheeps milk cheese) but it sounded and smells fantastic. It will be sprinkled over homemade pasta in my near future. I haven't eaten here for lunch but it looks like a nice spot to get a bite. I have another groupon and can't wait to purchase additional cheeses. They also have several beer and wine options along with bacon and butter selections from nearby farms (I've seen a few of them from local farmer's markets). I really liked this place and can see myself coming back without a groupon.
(4)Haines J.
What a great location for the wine, cheese, jazz, food lover. This place has really invested in the customer experience. From the vast inventory of wine displayed in the west wing of the store. Follow along to the restaurant and see all the fresh cheese from around the world. A simple menu stating that they do what they do well. Thank you for a great time and awesome meal.
(5)Tammy H.
Joe and I had the Groupon and made a day trip out to Oak Park. The folks there were SUPER pleasant. Our plan was to get $40 in cheese and that's exactly what we did. The cheese monger was very patient and observant to what Joe and I wanted and what I didn't like, haha. We tried a lot of stinky cheese and a lot of it was good. He was also willing to give us as little or as much as we wanted. The people that work here are just plain nice and easy to talk to. We had a very pleasant visit discussing cheese and Groupons :) Also, I'd recommend the Dante cheese out of the cooler. You'd be ok buying an entire wheel of it.
(4)Jenny Z.
Initially this place seemed a bit too trendy and pretentious-we made reservations on a Thursday night and the hostess wouldn't let us sit down until all of our party was present...and there were tons of tables available. Oh well, maybe it was a ploy to get people to walk around the shop and buy stuff? I don't mind though, any gourmet food or wine/beer they had to offer looked great. Once we sat down it was pure bliss! We got a cheese plate from Vermont that came with lots of little goodies. We all ordered a fish dish....the salmon was slightly fishy but was still delicious and the quinoa that came with it was amazing. My husband's fish and chips was perfect, phenomenal even. Then we ordered the brownie for dessert....it was dense, rich and came with caramel and cream and I still get cravings for it so i have to go back:)
(4)Jenny P.
What a cute place!! We came to check this place out after having a groupon for it, and we were impressed! The wine selection is great and the woman who made some suggestions based on our taste was very helpful. The wine we chose was only a $10 bottle of Chilean cab sav, and she was right on by stating don't let the price fool you...it was delicious! Next was choosing a cheese, and the woman behind the counter was quick to make suggestions based on our wine selection. I forget the name of the cheese, but it was from Vermont and boy was it good! There is a little cafe/restaurant attached that included some outdoor seating and I would love to come by and try it out! They also had a a cooler with interesting beers available for purchase in 6 packs, and would like to try some of those too! Only reason it does not get 5 stars is b/c I need to try out the cafe service and food first! But what a neat place!
(4)Tina W.
Marion Street Cheese Market is part cheese and wine shop, part restaurant. The decor is nice. There are lots of windows to the street, there was a wraparound bar and deli counter, and the wood paneling gave it a classy yet comfortable feel. After seeing all the neat architechture in Oak Park, this place fit in nicely. They have a wide beer and wine selection with very reasonable prices. I had some interesting wines in my white, pink, red flight and they let me make a substitution for one of the wines. My boyfriend had the beer flight (with 5 beers!) and they were all beers he had never tried. The food was pretty good. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, which I really liked. It's hard to get eggplant that isn't rubbery! Neither of us had any cheese... My only complaint is with the coffee, which tasted burnt. Granted we arrived at 2pm, past the peak of coffee serving time, but they were still serving the brunch menu and I think the coffee could have been fresher considering.
(4)Grace G.
I give Marion Street Cheese Market an outstanding review because everytime I dine or drink here, I get the very best service and experience. I most recently dined here with a large group on a Saturday night and our server was absolutely wonderful. He was attentive, patient, and able to make solid recommendations on great wine and cheese pairings. I tried the "Mac and Choose" this time around (a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese with andouille sausage) and it was very good and very filling. For an elegant evening out with friends or for a date, I don't think you can go wrong here.
(5)mei s.
what a fun place this is! This is a place i would tell my friends to go on date night! Off the main path in Oak Park. It is a quiet area but the inside was definitely bustling. It's a very cool spot. They had a jazz trio playing. It was not a loud place, so definitely not a place you'd go with the girls or the boys. It had a good mix of ages. And it is definitely not a pickup place. It is a date spot for sure. The service was friendly and helpful. However, we had asked for a recommendation for a cheese flight for our second course. We specifically said we do not like bland cheese, like Swiss. He recommended either the Midwest flight or the francophile. We went with the francophile, which had a mixture of soft and hard cheese. However, three of the hard cheeses were very bland. We were trying to figure out a way to get them to perk up by eating the dried apricots, but still no luck. The brie was nice and so was the blue cheese. But overall, we were very disappointed by the cheese flight. Next time, we will have to try the Midwest. We started with two salads which were really good, the baby spinach and the warm goat cheese. We also ordered the cheese puffs. I thought they were going to be more like gougeres, but they were more like little pastries with melted cheese inside. they were fine, but not as tasty as i had expected for NY cheddar. For our entrees, we ordered the duck carbonara and the crispy skin barramundi. They were excellent. The duck carbonara, was so beautiful with the fried egg on top. And the pasta was perfectly prepared, al dente. The crispy baramundi was also really good. the risotto was a cake that was oven crisped. and the almond brown butter with the carrots, was unbelievable. you could totally taste the brown butter. it was delicious. we were really full afterwards, so unfortunately, no room for desert or coffee. although i really wanted some coffee. but two glasses of wine and a flight of beer prohibited any room for more liquid. I will definitely come back again. The fish and chips looked awesome!! Can't wait to try it and some other cheeses.
(5)Chris L.
No matter why you come here, you will not be disappointed. If you're hungry - the food in the Bistro is great (I've enjoyed both dinner and brunch). If you're thirsty - they have an ever changing handful of microbrews on tap. If you want cheese - they will not laugh at you're lack of cheese knowledge, I promised (and I now know how I feel about soft rind cheese, or was it washed rind cheese???). If you want to buy local - you can get cheese, beer, melt-in-your-mouth toffee, honey and even pastured local eggs at a fair price. And if you are coming there for the obvious wine - Candy and the other helpful staff will steer you in the right direction even with a $10 - $15 budget. It's a great small, local business that supports lots of other small, local businesses. For the last 6 months or so, I've made it a point to stop in about every 2 weeks or so. Instead of taking the easy way out and grabbing a bottle of wine or a dozen eggs while I'm grocery shopping at Jewel, I take the time to go here instead. Don't just save it for special occasions, make it part of your routine. And feel free to treat yourself to a little piece of toffee as a reward for supporting the market! P.S. I think the profile lists it as "not" kid friendly, but they give stickers to my kids from the cheese shop, they have weekly story times and dinners just for little ones. I think that's pretty kid friendly. P.S.S. Sign up for their kinda regular newsletter and get the benefit of 10 - 15% off coupons that usually come with each one!
(5)Cassie S.
Marion Street is a dangerous collection of delicious things. Its new space is extremely classy--with nifty environmentalist touches, including what I'm pretty sure are recycled seatbelts woven together to form the backs and seats of the chairs. Wonderful chocolates, cheese, and even milk and eggs from farms--though these are a little pricey--if you're just grabbing stuff to take home. Fantastic menu of little surprises if you're eating there. Some good and surprisingly affordable wines are on offer, to take with you or consume on the premises. This place can go from very fancy live music to showing the game du jour on the flatscreen in two seconds--it has a good down to earth streak. Best place to buy good honey in Oak Park when the farmers' market is shut down for the winter.
(5)Turner F.
Really, Marion Street Cheese Market should have two Yelp entries--one for the restaurant and one for the market. The market is great for that last minute hostess gift you kept putting off until right before the dinner party, as has been said before: the market is full of great cheeses, meats, and wines, as well as other specialty groceries like high-end yogurt and dinner crackers--delicious. I agree that the service can be slow and the employees less than fully engaged sometimes but disagree that it is bad service. The laid back atmosphere is evident from the moment you walk into the place. When I have had questions, I seek the staff out. I don't wait for them to initiate. The restaurant is what makes MSCM truly deserve 5+ Yelp stars. The often-changing menu caters to adventurous foodies and more skittish restaurant-goers alike. They certainly have the hit-you-over-the-head hearty meaty dishes with lamb and sometimes boar and decadently thick 'focaccia du jour' that I would argue could appeal to just about anyone (except for maybe the boar), but they also have subtler, more obscure dishes creatively combining their extensive cheese offerings with various purees, pastas, fish, and fowl. A note about their location for those of us who are car-less: MSCM is ~50 feet away from the Harlem green line el stop. In other words, the 'but it's all the way out in Oak Park' excuse is only valid because of how long it takes to get to Oak Park, not because it's inaccessible by CTA. I've been to MSCM about 5 times, which, considering I live downtown, do not own a vehicle and am quite lazy, shows just how good my experiences have been to keep me coming back.
(5)Inbalsp S.
This has become my go-to spot for gifts! They have such an exciting variety of unique products, from wonderful cheeses to craft ales. We've dined here a couple of times and enjoyed the experience, overall. But I think their strongest suit is the gourmet foods for purchase. Wonderful as hostess gifts and even holiday gifts! Oh, and my favorite part is the expert advice on hand by the staff. They are so helpful in finding the perfect gift for any occasion.
(4)Caiti S.
Dear Marion Street Cheese Market, I want to like you. I want to feel the same way about you that so many others do, but I just can't. I totally support the way you do things, with a focus on local, organic and sustainable ingredients. But that doesn't outweight the problems I've had. It's been a year and a half since my first visit (which wasn't the best), and the second visit only enforced my feelings I had the first time around. My husband and I dined for brunch today. Before the meal, we were offered biscotti, but this biscotti should really have come with a warning that you will likely need dental work after attempting to bite the hardest, crunchiest cookie I've ever tried to eat. I will perhaps take the blame for this, however, as I am not a coffee-drinker and didn't have a hot liquid to dip the biscotti into, which perhaps might have softened it into something more edible. Lesson learned: Have the biscotti with coffee or risk breaking your teeth. For my entree, I ordered the honey-roasted cauliflower sandwich (with apples, aged cheddar and curry aioli on multigrain bread, which was supposed to come with my choice of side) and my husband ordered a rhubarb french toast with sweet chevre. While waiting for our food, I overheard a chef say to our waitress that a cauliflower sandwich was coming up, and that he wanted to know what side was ordered with it. (I assume that he was referring to my sandwich, as there were not many other patrons in the restaurant.) My waitress, who I now realize failed to ask what side I wanted when I ordered, told the chef to "put whatever you feel like" with the sandwich. I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect the waitress to come over and ask what side I actually WANTED, rather than telling the cook to put on the plate whatever he had. My husband loved his French toast, and I had a bite and agree that it was wonderful. However, I did not love the taste of my cauliflower sandwich. The cauliflower was over-roasted and bitter, and the sandwich was completely lacking the aged cheddar that the menu described. Yes, the Cheese Market failed to put the CHEESE on my sandwich. The bread was wonderful, but certainly not enough to redeem the meal. I sadly left feeling quite unsatisfied. Maybe I'll give the MSCM one more try, but between lackluster service and food that has left me wanting more, I'm still waiting to be impressed like others seem to be.
(2)Craig G.
Attended a birthday dinner there last night., not at all what I thought it would be. Service was okay and the waitress was very nice. However, the reasonable price /(food quality + portion size) = horrible, for this reason alone, I wont be back. Why cant these restaurants figure out that the economy is in the dumps and now is NOT the best time to gouge your customers. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market is not alone in this. The restaurants who survive will find the right balance.
(2)Christina S.
After my original review, I feel it only fair to warn people... The cheese puffs are no more. Sigh. I was appalled when I heard the words, "Oh, we don't have those on the menu anymore." The watier then tried to sell me on some arrancini. They were delicious, but just not the same. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.
(4)Vanessa D.
These guys are off my list. I went here 2 weeks ago, excited to purchase a few of my favorite cheeses. I was so pleased to find they had all three (L'Amuse Gouda, Cashel Bleu, and Ewephoria). I was unhappy to see that the two people working behind the cheese counter didn't seem to be real "cheesemongers" or even know much about proper handling of and packing of the different cheeses. Not to mention the one woman's inability to cut the cheese, no pun intended. When I came home and opened up the Cashel Bleu I was immediately surprised to find that there was something seriously wrong with this cheese. A good portion of it (1/4) seemed to be a brownish color with a wet consistently. On top of that, all the blue portions were covered in tiny little white dots. Now, I am not a cheese professional but I have eaten Cashel Bleu plenty of times to know that this is NOT normal. I immediately called the shop and spoke to the person who answered the phone. She interrupted me and transferred me to the cheese department. It rings a million times and no one answers. Mind you, this was approximately 5PM on a Tuesday evening. So, I left a voicemail, explaining the issue and gave my name and phone number, asking them to call me back. They did not call back. Bad customer service means I will never visit your store again. Plus, the prices of the cheeses I purchased happen to be significantly less at Fox & Obel, where I've never had any issues with their cheese or customer service.
(1)Andrew C.
I love this place. I've been coming back ever since I discovered it in 2010. The market is a fantastic place to pick up meats, cheeses, wines and many other specialty gourmet items. The restaurant is always excellent - seasonal menus offer unique, tasty dishes that really rise above many of the restaurants you'll find in downtown Chicago for a fraction of the price. A helpful staff and cozy patio in the warmer months are extra incentive to visit frequently!!
(5)Jennifer J.
The first time I visited, I had a great experience. Lunch was awesome- everything I ate was delicious and very impressive. The service was average but the food was so amazing that I planned to return very soon. The next time I went in to pick up some espresso beans in the market. The staff was extremely helpful. The place was really starting to grow on me. The next time I stopped by quickly to see if they had burrata as I had just had it at dinner elsewhere a few nights ago. The staff working the cheese counter didn't offer to help and I had to say "excuse me" to get someone's attention even though there were a few people behind the counter. I asked about the burrata and was informed in a rather rude tone that it's seasonal. "do you have any idea when you'll have it again" i asked. "no not really" was the reply I received. Hmm okay. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. When I was notified that a groupon was available for this place, I quickly jumped on it. I figured I could take some friends out to dinner and introduce them to this great restaurant (I still felt the restaurant was great and my less than positive experience in the market was a one time kinda thing). I decided to stop in here on a saturday to pick up some wine & treats for a friend as a valentine's day gift. I was really looking forward to purchasing wine from here because I figured their staff was knowledgeable and could point me in the right direction. There appeared to be only one gentleman working in the wine section and he was helping a couple purchase quite a few bottles (we're talking 14 bottles of wine here). I understand that that's a great sale, I really do. They deserve guidance on their purchases. But so do I! The couple selecting wine scoffed at me as I reached for a bottle. I'm sure I looked very puzzled and was partially hoping that the lost look on my face would alert a staff member that I needed some assistance. I browsed the wine for about 15 minutes and no one offered to help me. I really would have thought the gentleman helping the couple would have asked me if I needed help in between bottle selections with them. I was annoyed and walked over to the cheese section. Again, the staff behind the counter ignored me (multiple employees behind the counter and only 1 customer besides myself looking at the cheeses). Do I look like I don't fit in? Is that why I don't get helped? I planned on dropping well over the amount of the groupon on this visit but was beginning to get extremely frustrated and began to look for items to just hit the minimum spend on the groupon. I must have walked back and forth from the cheese counter to the wine area 4-5 times and not once did someone offer to help me. I finally selected 2 bottles of wine and 2 cheeses from the prepackaged fridge (I really wanted to give my friend some cute cheesemonger style wrapped cheese but because I felt unwelcome at the cheese counter, I selected some plastic wrapped organic varieties). When it came time to check out, the young lady ringing me up seemed to struggle a bit. My total at that point was around $73 so minus my groupon, I was still spending about $33. In my head, the total didn't seem right but I just went with it because at this point, I just wanted to get out of there (the young lady ringing me up even commented on how tired I looked- i didn't tell her I was actually just annoyed with my experience there). When I presented my groupon on my iphone, she attempted to enter it herself but somehow cleared out the whole transaction. The gentleman who was helping the couple select wine came over and reentered my purchases. This time the total was only $58. The young lady was charging me incorrectly for the cheese. I paid and walked out quite annoyed with the experience. I have one more groupon for this place and I fully intend to give them another chance. I drank one of the bottles I purchased here and while I was not assisted with my selection, the wine I picked out was great and I would definitely like to purchase it again. I plan on bringing some friends here for dinner sometime soon because I'm hopeful I'll have another positive experience in the restaurant and I'm a bit fearful that if I use the groupon towards a purchase in the market, I may have another sour experience and be turned off to this place for good. I love the concept and location and hopefully my next experience will be great and I'll be writing a new 5 star review on here =)
(3)Beth Z.
Service seems to have plummeted over the last few months. And if you are ordering anything like a tray, the service is abysmal, and the staff does not seem to care. I have loved this place for a long time, tried to look the other way when problems occur (ever sit for over an hour just waiting for a waiter to come over, and give you water?) but the last straw was when I just showed up to pick up a cheese tray (and they are NOT cheap) that was ordered and paid for long ago, I went the extra step to call multiple times, leave messages (b/c no one answers phone, you get v-mail) to remind them I would be in, so I would not have to wait, parking is not easy - and of course, it is not ready. Won't be back here for a long time, and will not recommend to others. Sad to lose a good place.
(2)Kate S.
Cheese, beer, wine, chocolate...pretty much everything amazing about life. And they do it well! The staff is super friendly and helpful, and the store is organized excellently for such a small space.
(5)Ryan B.
This place is fun! If you go, you have to get a wine or beer flight and a flight of cheeses and sausages. There are definitely other places that serve food like this, but not in Oak Park (that I am aware of). The dinner menu looks to have expanded over the past year or so. However, it still feels small, and there may be some people that wouldn't find anything that fits their tastes. So, I would check out the menu online if you or your guests have specific or limited tastes. Each time I have eaten dinner here, I wasn't amazed by my entree, but it was still good. What I did appreciate was the creativity and quality. Each entree has a unique feel to it that added to its goodness, if that makes any sense. The atmosphere is great. Mellow, live music and a cheese shop to boot! Service was excellent on my last visit (although, we had a newbie on my first visit that wasn't so hot). This place is starting to move into my top 3 Oak Park area restaurants. The fun factor, quality, and creativity give this place 4 stars (it's actually more like 3.5, but that's not an option so I am rounding up). -Cheers
(4)Dana A.
Tonight was my third visit, and it was tops! We had a fantastic server...Kelly. Kudos on the wine recommendation generated from my rudimentary description! Every cheese, small plate, soup and salad was right on time by suggestion and in course. This has become the ultimate catch-up-on-girl-talk spot for me and my suburb dwellin' friends. We get an atmosphere that could just as well be NYC with selections fresh from the local and regional vendors. No matter what you do on a visit to Marion Street Cheese Market, ALWAYS order a cheese flight (and let the staff make recos) and ALWAYS leave with a couple chocolates...and maybe a craft beer (or two) for home.
(5)C W.
Okay, I'm dropping them to one star. I went in for lunch on Sunday, parking outside and putting an hour on the parking meter. That should be enough time, right, for someone who just wanted a sandwich and wouldn't even need to peruse the menu to know which one, right? Wrong. I ordered immediately after I sat down, yet ended up having to bolt down my sandwich as it arrived 10 minutes before my meter expired. That's right: it took them FIFTY MINUTES to make a sandwich. They weren't slammed (not that that would excuse it even so), and there was no explanation for the incredible delay. I don't care how good the food sometimes is-- it's just not worth it to risk waiting that long or encountering one of their many other service problems.
(1)Lisa D.
I just had the BEST carrot cake EVER!!!! I'm bringing my rating up a star because of it. It's like pudding but cake, I don't really know....but it's amaaaaaaazing! Wine-good Service-Good Atmosphere-Good Cheese-delicious Carrot Cake- Amaaaaaaaaazing!
(5)Rhonda G.
Stopped in with a friend and decided to share a few small plates of food and have some wine: Ahi Tuna: Excellent!! A definite must try Cheese Puffs: Great! Like mini cheese sticks bites only better Vegetable pizza with Cab crust: Excellent! These three items and we were good to go on the food side of things. For wine I enjoyed an Oregon Gewurztraminer which was just OK Friend had a Malbec which she loved It's worth mentioning that out waiter (Joseph) was the nicest guy ever, and he absolutely knows exactly when to return to check on the patrons and when to stay away...Kudos Joe, Can I call you Joe? On the retail side I perused the goods and was able to taste a couple of the cheese selections before deciding on my purchase. You also get 10% off of your retail purchase after dining in the cafe. The wine selection is not huge but it isn't small or mediocre by any means and I walked away with a great Spanish cava to be enjoyed at a later date.
(5)Helena G.
We went to this restaurant with another couple, they had a Groupon. So we had the special degustation menu for Groupons: pumpkin cream soup, salad with figs, pork belly, gritts and samples of 3 or 4 types of beer. We also tasted some cheeses (queso de Mano is very good) and chorizos. As desert we had chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse. I think that the concept of this place is gourmet food (at least the prices are high). We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The food was delicious. The staff was very helpful and nice. I also loved the musical performance, the musicians played Bossa Nova and it was fantastic! The issues are: - portions sizes are small and - pricey
(3)Reuben H.
Came back here last night with good company for dinner. My original review stands with a couple of updates. Service was better- more attentive, still very friendly, and overall more comfortable. The lone server seemed to do a great job balancing all of the tables and keeping things timely. The food was nice- I ordered the potato raclette which came already prepared on a hot plate. I was hoping it would somehow come for me to do myself- but that is totally unreasonable to do for one person alone. Overall, I would suggest this place to anyone who loves all things cheese! They pay homage to some great cheeses and couple them with a very good wine and beer selection (beer pairings with cheese- what more do you want me to say?!?!?).
(4)Claudia M.
Met some friends here tonight. Had the 5 cheese and meat appetizer. Loved the cheese mix that the waiter recommended. Afterwards shared fried green tomatoes, brushetta and margherita flatbread. All delicious. Was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the waiter and staff was. This is my new favorite place in Oak Park. PLUS, they have the most delicious chocolate desserts!
(5)Jeremiah T.
The diver scallops were the best I have had, and I have had quite a few. They have quite a variety of cheese (of course). All the cheese I sampled on my flight were exquisite, the goat cheese was especially delicate and impressive. Their wine selection is an impressive collection of quality, sustainable wines. The menu provides pairing suggestions of both wine and beer with your main course. Our server was quite helpful and attentive in our meal selection. My party thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and highly recommend a visit.
(5)H T.
The food during breakfast is decent but overly pricey. The service is usually good, and the atmosphere is clean and comfortable.
(3)M H.
MMMMMM!!!! Great food and great service!!! They are vegetarian friendly which I love, lots of organic items and the menu is very creative. Great wine selection and you can buy wine and cheeses and meats to take home with you. I would recommend reservations. They also have special events and live bands on certian nights.
(5)Dejan B.
Great and hip place in Oak Park. Some guides to the city say this is a must visit and I have to agree. Its location is great, very close (walking distance) to many other attractions in Oak Park like the Unity Temple, Frank Lloyd Wrights studio, Hemingway's house, etc. Yes, you will find a LOT of cheese here...However, the restaurant also serves a lot of very good non-cheese meals and for the location you can get some at pretty reasonable prices. They have a large wine section with regular wine tastings, and also a lot of events going on...One of the most important things to me is they have a emphasis on sustainability and being a little more socially-responsible than some other places. If you are in Oak Park I recommend checking this place out...
(4)Aurore L.
What better way to celebrate cheese, the love of my (culinary) life than by devoting to it my 100th review?!?!? OK. You are right. I am not exactly writing an ode to cheese; we are talking business here. But this place has it so right and makes cheese such a star that one can easily forgive me the amalgam. The store itself is as beautiful as a big wheel of comte (one of my old time favorites...). It's very clean, sharp and tasty. I was already very impressed by the first location but this one is just amazing and blew me away. It is almost a dream come true. The cheese selection is imposing; you can of course find all the staples but also a large choice of local products which are more often than not great options. The cured meats section is quite inviting too - they carry an amazing collection of Spanish hams. You can also find all you need to make your dinner of cold-cuts an unforgettable gourmet experience - from high-end crackers to fig jam to robust wines.......mmmmmm.....divine. They even push the good taste to making their own chocolates - and here I surrender. I cannot resist anymore.... The eat-in section is lovely decorated and you can satisfy a lot of your cheese cravings through their inventive menu which even features my beloved raclette - an Alpine wonder of melted cheese and potatoes. The only time (so far) I went there service was very slow but our waitress made up for it and offered a free basket of pastries....taking time is an integral part of cheese making....and I am fine with that. In my next life I want to work here.
(4)Aaron A.
Having been a fan of the smaller version of MSCM on the other side of the tracks, I need to segment this big shop and review the segments separately. Cheese & charcuterie: 3 stars. I loved the smaller Marion Street Cheese Market when it was on the other side of the train tracks (it deserved 4-5 stars). The staff was very small, but knew exactly what they were doing. Now that they've made the move, they have more staff who are less expert. It is much harder to get any good advice now. Also, the wider counter layout makes it easier for other jerks to push in front of you. I'm not British, but I do like an orderly queue. The old market was so small that there was no other way. At this point, you could go to a high-end grocery store and get an equal or better cheese-buying experience. Not good when "cheese market" is half of your name! Wine: 4 stars. Big improvement here after the move! The selection is not as large as at big wine superstores, of course. But the staff knows the inventory, and they are very helpful. I would say the most helpful employees I've encountered here work in the wine section. And they never talk down to a less knowledgeable customer, which frequently happens at dedicated wine shops. I also really like the circular wine "cellar." Charming. Restaurant: 3 stars. If either the service were worthy of the prices and decor (which would take a big improvement), or the prices were reflective of the mediocre service, then this would jump to 4 stars instantly. I really like the food, but I don't like to pay that much for good food and inept service. I should make special mention of a great meal I had with my wife and some friends last Valentine's day. It was a prix fixe 5 course menu, and a friend and I added the beer pairings. Brilliant! A perfect beer for every course, including salad and dessert. I'd never had a beer paired with dessert before, and it was revelatory. Marion St. Cheese Market has great local beer, all the time. But we were told over the phone that we could buy wine at the wine section and drink it with dinner, so we bought two bottles. When we gave one to the server, she made a big deal about how they shouldn't do that, and that they would anyway, and would charge a $15 corkage fee. Wait a minute! $15 corkage fee AND a guilt trip for wine THAT WE JUST PURCHASED IN THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT!?! Bullshit! But the silver lining, of course, is that I had the revelatory beer pairings, so it all ended OK.
(3)Caroline B.
This place was awesome! I came here around 11am on Sunday for Brunch and we made reservations anticipating a crowded restaurant but the place wasn't that crowded, and I hope it stays that way because I can definitely see myself popping in here more often! I had the Bacado Benedict: eggs Benedict with bacon, avocado spread, and a chili hollandaise. It came with a side of potatoes and I must say that the potatoes were just as good as the eggs benedict, they were the perfect amount of crispiness....delicious! It was all topped off by a great waitress. You could just tell that the food was fresh and good quality, worth the extra money I would normally spend on breakfast. The attached shop was full of fine foods that I would love to try, cheese, wine, beer, spreads and dips, crackers, ice cream, chocolates, all sorts of things. Another great Oak Park find, I love my new adopted town.
(5)Just T.
Hello, my name is F and I have a cheese addiction. Marion Street Cheese Market is my favorite place to go score some cheese for a binge. The cheesemongers behind the counter are always knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is fairly deep and wide. A tip for newbies: the cheese counter most always has a basket of "orphans" sitting out. These little cheese chunks are the perfect way to grab some quick, cheap cheese you might not usually buy. The restaurant has a menu that is often updated and everything I've tried has been good to great. Service can be slow. So relax and order a specialty beer. Last note - the cheese and meat flights might not seem like much food, but you'll be surprised.
(4)Andrew D.
A paradise for pretentious snobs trying to fit into Oak Park. The CHEESE is great, I'll give them that. But everything (beer, wine, entire food menu, cheeses, meats, desserts) is so overpriced it's not worth the effort. For the same cheese at half the price visit Caputo's Cheese Market on North Ave. For better beer, ambience, and friendlier staff go to Poor Phil's a block away. Food came out cold... any place serving lukewarm food automatically gets nothing above 2 stars. And this place didn't have the service to earn the second star. Dined her about a year ago, so I might give it another chance since I heard a new kitchen staff was hired. But most likely not. Don't shop here - way overpriced.
(1)Bill R.
A $35 Mother's Day buffet that DOES NOT include coffee (or any other drink) where you are rushed at every step of the meal seems a little ridiculous. The food was ok. The Buffett had some weird stuff like blue cheese potato salad. I like blue cheese but not for breakfast or in a potato salad. There were a few other items that were good but some others that were also a little off. Mom does not drink. But they have a free Mimosa for moms. So mom gets a free orange juice in a small glass instead (no champagne flute allowed for OJ apparently). Someone else orders a mimosa and gets charged $9.50. Wow. Seems like they could work something out there and maybe charged us $3 for the OJ (but again why are we paying for non-alcoholic beverages on top of $35???) But I inquired and no dice. We had 9am reservations. The doors opened around 9:10. It was a cold Chicago spring morning and mom stood in the cold waiting for them to open along with some other families with small kids. We were then rushed to order and rushed to pay. Great. About 8 open tables when we were leaving so it was unclear why they felt compelled to rush us every step of the way!!! I guess $35 per person only gets you about 40 minutes in this place because that was the pace they were on. we stretched it to about 1:15 and after about 15 minutes the waitress had asked for our orders at least twice even though we hadn't been to the Buffett yet. She was also sure to come for the check - even walking away with it in under an hour although it had not been paid because it had only sat there for 5 minutes and we were determined to get some of our money's worth and stay at least an hour. They need to work on a few things if they want to charge these prices. This was an annoying enough experience that I am writing my first yelp review.
(2)Samir R.
Had a Groupon, so the wife and I decided to check this place out. Our server was awesome, she was very energetic and you could tell she likes what she does. Wife had an excellent flight of Spanish reds, and the pours were pretty generous. I had the Dogfish World Wide Stout, also a great pour for a beer that hits at 18%. We shared a cheese flight of 5, some good cheeses. We also shared a Mac and cheese. Probably the best mac I have had. This was some good stuff. Only downfall is the price, a little steep, but using the Groupon helped. We even bought a bottle of the wine we had from the shop before we left and a bottle of Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Ale. Great beer selection for guys or gals who don't do a lot of wine such as myself. Would probably go back again, it's right next to the Metra, so a good stop for a drink and cheese, hop back on and head to Elmhurst.
(4)Miss A.
I went for lunch with a friend on a Friday afternoon. Wine: Good, but overpriced. Or, at least, they didn't offer any glasses under $8. Food: Started with the soup of the day, tomato with quinoa. It was good, but not awesome. Next had the cauliflower sandwich - AWESOME! So good. Yum. However, for the price it was quite small. I'm not one of those people who needs to gorge or take half the meal home to feel like I've gotten a good deal, but this was a genuinely small sandwich. At this point in the meal, I was not full...My friend and I shared the cupcake duo. The cupcakes were TINY and, well, not exactly to die for. Service: Ok. The host was busy stocking some shelves in the shop when I entered, and a server rudely ::ahem::'ed him to indicate that I was waiting for a table. I didn't need to see that...awkward. The same server was polite an inobtrusive, but I was still a little wierded out by witnessing her scold the poor host. Overall, a decent experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make the trip again.
(3)Kc H.
Having gone here a couple times, I must say that Marion Street is a great neighborhood standby. As I am a fan of yummy cheeses and wines, this place fits the bill and is especially nice for a date night. Their mac and cheese is no Kumas (albeit in the same price range) but their food is executed well and quite good.
(4)Sara N.
Yes you may wait. And yes there's a few misses. But it's always at least interesting, sometimes amazing and the flights are great.
(4)Jenny J.
I love wine and cheese and you can get both at Marion Street Cheese Market. I haven't had a chance to sit and eat there yet, but I do buy cheese and wine here. The staff here is great and knowledgeable when it comes to both cheese and wine, I can appreciate that because sometimes I need a little help.
(5)Wynter R.
I LOVE this place! The food is always unique and fresh from local farms. The warm goat cheese salad is awesome.
(5)Michael D.
Finally!! An eatery in downtown Oak Park that is nice without being pretentious, artsy without being de rigeur, where one can wear one's favorite tropical shirt without being shown to a table behind a potted plant. Long have we waited in this western 'burb for something downtown Chicago-ish, interesting and delicious, without the shlep and the rapacious parking fees. The drought is over! Noteworthy item: it started as a shop no bigger than a wedge of Brie--always carrying fresh and hard to find cheeses--then grew into a hybrid restaurant/wine and cheese shop in newer, posher digs a half block away, multiplying it's personnel roster from counting 'em on one hand, into the mid double digits. This was our first foray into the restaurant side of the biz, and what a pleasant surprise it was. Cheese-y in the best possible way; where else can one design a flight of cheeses from an extensive list, for ones own personal consumption? Couple this with a glass of vino from a similarly populated wine list, talk your date into speaking with a French accent, and voila! Waaaaay cheaper than going to Paris. The food was uniformly excellent, and our waiter was a veritable cheese savant, something not often found in Oak Park and environs. The spousal unit had scallops, so fresh they could've just jumped out of the Atlantic. Unceremoniously ogling dishes being delivered to other tables, it all looked terrific. Fish and chips looked about as British as could be, and a generous helping to boot. Note to self: try these next time. Dessert was equally as tasty/festive: fresh berries something-or-other, with a sauce that was out of this world. Ambiance: great, laid back vibe, decor in rich woods and stone. If you enjoy nibbling on your bacon infused dark chocolate couched in nature''s embrace, there are cafe tables lined up outside, on busy yet somehow quiet Marion Street. High, cheesy five, Marion Street Cheese Market! PS, note to management: it was REALLY hard to get thru to an actual person to make a reservation! I called three times, three times they switched me over to the reservations line, and three times it went to voicemail. If you're calling a place requesting an opportunity to spend money in their establishment, one would think they would leap at the chance, yes? Finally, on the fourth try, with grim determination, I explained my plight to the nice lady, and she WALKED the phone over to a reservations human, who completed my request with aplomb. Business tip: re evaluate your reservations procedures--others may not have the same terrier-with-a-rat stick to it've-ness! Subsequent visit, 11/27/10: went back, for a pre-theatre nosh, and again, was delighted, overall, with the experience. Nitpicky stuff: I was hoping to see some additions to the menus, perhaps some specials. Yes, the celery root soup was quite tasty--those no doubt change on a regular basis--I'm talking in the entree department. The menu is not extensive, and with just a few offerings, one gets ho hum about going to the same place. The fish and chips (British style, deep fried) seemed a bit bland, but they're also bland in Britain, so there ya have it. It'd be helpful if the malt vinegar came in a shaker as it does in Merry Olde, rather than a small serving cup; fish is not an easily dunked comestible--it's rather fond of falling off into the liquid, and you find yourself fishing for the fish. Ironically. Still--it remains a GREAT wine and cheese (or whine and cheese, depending on how your day went) or coffee/dessert/chatting kind of place, perfect for chilling and whiling away a Saturday date night.
(4)Alexandra W.
So a friend was playing a gig here the other night so a few of the girls decided to get together and check it out... Little disorganized, but nothing severe. They were quick with the communication and keeping us in the loop while waiting for a table. Once seated - we did a make our own cheese plate - we savored every morsel. The waitress even teased us about never seeing one last that long...little did she know we had gone out for Thai before hand -but no one was willing to let a shred of cheese go to waste. Great selection of Ciders...enough that I was able to sample several in an evening. Dessert is a must. They carry Ruth & Phil's ice cream - that's a star in it's own. My bread pudding was great. My Friends Mint Chocolate Dream - was dreamy and quite fitting as her birthday dessert. And the third gal pal went with an assortment of truffles. She enjoyed them, and she's a truffle maker! So if you ever hear of the West Side Winders playing a gig there - stop by, tip back a tall one and slip into some indulgence. And if they're not playing there...well at least you have cheese & dessert.
(5)Emily S.
Love this place! (1) Fabulous wine flights that are on special during the week! (2) Gourmet cheese fries, need I say more? I went with a few girlfriends one night after work, and we had a great time. The server was knowledgeable, friendly and made several solid picks for us. The food, particularly the cheese, was delish! Those cheese fries...mmm...
(5)Laurie H.
A great place for conversation and good food. Went there last night with an old friend because we needed to catch up, and it was the right choice. The service (once we got it) was attentive but not intrusive. The dining area has lots of small tables, carefully spaced, to encourage conversation and minimal noise from the kitchen/retail area. And our meals were terrific. I had the chicken and it was completely awesome -- I wasn't expecting anything so tender and delicious from a place that specialized in cheeses. My friend went with the cheese & charcuterie and was pleased, as well. I subtracted one star because the service was so spotty at first. One waiter brought us water and then disappeared. No menus. Nada. After a long while a waitress showed up and asked if anyone had taken our order. When she realized our situation, she was apologetic and very helpful with our wine selections. It didn't hamper our dining experience, but it is something management should look out for. Because from reading other reviews, this sort of thing does seem to happen frequently.
(4)Christian L.
Excellent wine list, handcrafted beer on draft, menu... and the atmosphere is cozy (if a little bit too warm!). The bartenders and server we had were knowledgeable and attentive, and made great suggestions, especially pairing food to drink. Also, the live jazz/contemporary rock music was a nice, nonintrusive accompaniment to the drinking, eating, and conversation. Highly recommended.
(4)Richard S.
Outstanding food. Unusual and always surprising. Excellent quality.
(5)Tina B.
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but there IS such a thing as too much cheese. And it is way, way less than what you think it would be. I only ate like two, maybe three, pounds or so of the stuff at the most, but I just left feeling really, really full and kind of sick - you might want to try to make sure you eat less than three pounds of cheese here. But it's really hard to not eat too much, because that junk is in everything in here. The cheesy pomme frites are really good and might even be almost worth the $9 price tag, but I implore you to not eat them in between a five-cheese cheese plate and a cheese cake dessert. And there are cheese samples all over the place and freaking chocolate samples all over the place too. And don't get me started on the shaved coppa salami. It's almost kind of gross if you come here lacking will power. Like a food version of a Hellraiser-esque purgatory. A dark, swarthy den filled with cheeses, wine, chocolate and cured meats. But with a well thought out kids' menu and beautiful wooden high chairs, too. Sweet. They also have three different flavors of wine soda. And a lovely toasted sesame seed truffle. Wear stretchy pants, or better yet - a loose dress (it's only a muumuu if you're in the muumuu mindset, baby). And bring money, lots of money, because this bitch is one costly decadence- they even have a damned $7 cup of coffee on the menu.
(4)Rachel Z.
So my second time here, it was much busier. It was their one year anniversary, so my sister and I went to try out the $5 glasses of wine and appetizer platters. My sister ordered a glass of the white wine, a rioja, and it was a darker white wine, very yellow, and had a very crisp and sweet taste to it. I enjoyed it, she prefers riesling, so she ordered the bubbly on special. The bubbly looked like bubbly grape juice and it tasted like cheap champagne. We didn't finish our glasses of wine, but we enjoyed trying something new. For our first appetizer, we got a the $5 sampler. One was a piece of hard toast with a mushroom pate on it - way too much pate for my taste. The other was a piece of toast with a small slice of cheese, jam, and a couple slices of apples on top, sweet and delicious. The next was a small baked good filled with brie, if you like brie, you'd be in business. Next we ordered the Cheesy Puffs. So delicious. Fried Cheddar Cheese with a bit of olive oil. Absolutely wonderful and we devoured them. My sister and I had a fun experience and definitely will go back for a glass of wine, since its a couple blocks from my house. This is the 2nd time the server failed to impress, average service.
(3)Jean S.
I'm sorry guys. I REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was so disjointed as to be annoying and to ruin the whole experience. The sandwiches were good enough, and my husband enjoyed the beer flight, but overall I found the place a turnoff. I will say that the retail side was absolutely charming and the clerks there were very attentive, knowledgeable and pleasant. We left with a nice bottle of white. My recommendation: go pick up some cheese and wine there and bring it home. Leave the dine out experience for elsewhere.
(2)c d.
Recently went back to give the small plates menu a try, glad we did. We sat outside on a beautiful night. Perfect spot for people watching and maybe even running into a few friends heading off the train. There were so many yummy sounding options on the menu, it was hard to narrow it down to a few. We went with the ploughman cheese flight. The cheese were delicious and the chutney was a perfect compliment. Perfect plain on bread too. We also had the pork belly sliders, I think they may have been on special that evening. My first taste of pork belly. The sliders were very substantial! Lastly we ordered another special, stuffed figs. They were really good, though very rich. A lot went a long way. Our waitress was excellent. She was especially helpful when it came time to order beer. She also knew the menu items and was able to recommend dishes to help us narrow our decisions. Looking forward to checking out the MSCM offerings at the new mid-week market.
(4)Christina G.
Definitely one of the nicer places in Oak Park. Obviously a great place for wine, cheese and the like. The food is always good. Ambiance is very nice. Staff/service is very friendly, and knowlegable, but sometimes a little scattered and slow, but something that the rest makes up for.
(4)John L.
This is one of the places I really miss in Oak Park. The food is great and the beer selection (both for dine-in and retail) is well thought out. The service is always slow so we never go there if we were in a hurry. Also, I don't know what the problem is with the ventilation, but we always smell like a kitchen after leaving. These 2 issues keep the MSCM from getting 5 stars.
(4)Tara C.
What a disappointing evening. I stopped in for a glass of wine, hoping to sit outside. The construction made that impossible so I sat at the bar. When I arrived, I was the only customer there. I ordered a glass of Prosecco and the bartender brought it without delay. As the evening drew on, I ordered 2 glasses of cava. To the bartender's credit, he continued to ask me if i wanted anything else. The problem was when I wanted to close out and there was a high-maintenance woman nearby with her son. I'm in the service industry so I understand getting her outta there but wow, I felt so ignored. I finally put my credit card on the edge of the bar and still waited about 8 minutes before I was acknowledged. He could barely muster a thank you when he gave me my copy to sign. The check was $24.50 for 3 glasses of sparkling wine. Don't waste your time or money in the cheese market. They don't know what they have or what things cost. Apparently I don't fit the right mold for a customer to whom they offer samples. I bought a bottle of cava and some duck pate from the cooler and called it a night. My high hopes for this place have been shattered.
(2)Michael W.
Cheese. Glorious cheese. La-la-li-la-lah-lah! Tasty & extremely filling. Surprisingly delicious for what looked like a small amount of food.
(3)Slu S.
On a terrible morning for me, I had an incredible 15 minutes are Marion Street Cheese Market. I came in not knowing what to expect other than they had a good selection of cured meats. What they had was a lovely, knowledgeable, young woman working the counter who loved to share information about the meats in the cooler. From the lardo, which was one of the best things ever, to the La Quercia proscuitto, better than many Italian Proscuitto's despite its Iowa roots, to the Jamon Iberico with its lovely salty sweetness, she sliced all sorts of charcuterie with a smile and a story for each one. On a black Saturday, it certainly was one of the brightest moments. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Mark F.
We went there with some friends who live in Oak Park and loved it! The menu isn't your typical menu. You can tell a great deal of thought went into it. While the food isn't necessarily spectacular, the quality of ingredients is very apparent. Would definitely go back!
(4)Chris C.
3 stars is an average - 2 stars for the restaurant, 4 stars for the shop. First, the good: The cafe section has a vast array of cheeses which the staff will gladly give you a taste of along with their recommendations. The beer selection is nice and almost all craft. There are usually a nice selection of out of the ordinary wines though. Now for the cafe. I will admit it is sometimes hit and miss. Sometimes I g and its quite nice (as in just overpriced). Most of the time however the service is s-l-o-w. Doesn't matter if we're the only ones there. 20 minutes for a check is unreal. And they got rid of everything that made us want to go - good appetizers, beer flights, etc etc. Suffice to say if you use a Groupon and still feel ripped off... But every weekend night they are packed so maybe its me.
(3)Tina C.
Well for years I've been a regular, for the food NOT the service (except for nick the bartender) so a couple weeks ago I returned for the last time. I've put up with shotty service, but this particular day was just terrible to say the least. This day time bartender I saw giving away free drinks to some guy while he ignored me for 15 min. I sat there with an empty glass while he walked by me like 15 times. I did not say anything because I shouldn't have to. I usually stay for a couple glasses of wine but that day I left early and spent my money down the street where I was treAted much better. I mean for a regular who has been spending money at an establishment should get some kind of better service than I received right?? Just a waste of time and money. at this place. Don't bother it's been years since this place has opened and service has gotten worse, I see no improvement for the future here.
(1)Rob B.
Outstanding service and tasty food. I'll be back! So excited OP has something like this now
(5)Nancy M.
One of my favs. Especially dining al fresco in the summer. Come hungry, and have nothing to do after. This is belly food. Hangover Fries. Amazing. I have eaten many times, and it is terrific. Everytime. Brkfst. Lunch & Dinner.
(4)Megan B.
I love the Marion Street Cheese Market! They have a fresh, ever-changing menu of lovely bistro items. The cheese puffs are divine. More and more people seem to be discovering it, so I've found lately going to dinner early or a bit later is optimal. They have a lovely selection of cheese (duh), but also fine artisan meats and chocolates, as well as local beverages, wine, and other dairy products for sale in the 'market' portion of the shop. Wait staff is very friendly, though a few times we've been forgotten at the end of our meal and it's taken a little too long to get our check. The owners have outfitted the restaurant with sustainable and recycled products wherever possible, from the responsibly harvested wood tables to the recycled seatbelt chairs. And it's all done tastefully and with a modern flair. Overall, the quality of the food, as well as the fact that it's all local, sustainable and organic when possible makes this place one of my favorites in Oak Park. I agree with other reviewers that it's a great date spot. I brought my boyfriend here for dessert and coffee on our first date! My friends and I love to go here for special (or not so special) occasions. I plan on taking my parents as well the next time they come to visit. This is a great casual restaurant to go to if you want to eat a good meal.
(4)Puja A.
I have been here twice. Groupon got me there. The food will keep me going back. The pork belly was amazing. Probably the best I have ever had. The chipotle seasonal cookies had the right kick and flavoring. Great local beer and wine selection. They offer flights as well. The service was also really good. The server walked by and heard us discussing what was in the cookies, she stopped and let us know she would find out. The empty plates were cleared and spacing of the different courses was perfect. The place has a small dining area to allow for a nice sized cheese, wine, and beer market. You get 10% off groceries with your dining receipt. Oh, and it is super close to the green line (and maybe blue, not sure).
(5)Jennifer S.
Ok yes I had to update this review. I gave them AMPLE time to work out the kinks and the kitchen is still the slowest I have ever seen! I don't blame the wait staff because they are stuck dealing with the kitchen. Oh and NEVER go there for coffee before work. It takes them 20 minutes just to do a Chai Latte with no one else waiting!
(2)Kelly R.
there is nothing like getting some cheese (which they will help you navigate the overwhelming variety), crackers, chocolate, a nice bottle of wine and sitting in the park near by on a sunny afternoon... oh how I long for days like those! (my ratings for kids, noise, and groups are based on how I patronize this business)
(5)Erin V.
I pass by this place all the time but wanted to save it for a special occasion. My mom was visiting this past weekend so I made reservations for Saturday night at 8PM. We arrived a little late and probably weren't seated until about 8:20. And then we proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait. Our waitress stopped by to say she'd be right with us but she didn't come again over until my husband gave her "a look" from across the room. You know the look I'm talking about. Anyway, once she took our order everything seemed to go much more smoothly. Or maybe that was just due to the bottle of wine we were drinking. The food was AMAZING and I thought it was a nice touch that most all the menu items were labeled to tell you if they were vegetarian, vegan, or even gluten-free. After dinner it was fun to look around the retail section of the store. And if we hadn't been stuffed, tipsy, and if it hadn't been 10PM we probably would have bought something to take home. All in all, I wasn't that impressed with the service but the food and the atmosphere made up for that. Some people have complained that the prices are too high, but my mom (who lives in downstate Illinois) commented that she thought the bill was quite reasonable for a bottle of wine, a beer, a cheese flight, and three entrees. We'll definitely be back and hopefully next time the service will be a little bit more consistent.
(4)Eagle R.
The cheese puffs alone suspends you into a temporary cheese bliss. We also had the roasted olives serve with fresh baguette also very good. Serve was excellent I had ordered the wrong eggs and it was not a problem to get the eggs the way I wanted. Hot was chocolatey and delicious. Though they need to work on the mac and cheese for a cheese shop it was tasteless and not so cheesy. The shop was well stock it being a small shop.
(5)Joan K.
Was disappointed that the a couple of the cases were empty. nothing caught my eye there and I'm a gourmet food junkie. The place has a nice aroma when you walk in..smokey, but there is no smoked meat other than pre packed salami and bacon. Some cheese, but not at all what I had expected. Would not drive out of my way to go here again
(1)Jamie J.
This place is considerably bigger than I expected, and I could see myself spending more than the 10 minutes I did today on a future trip. Everything is well laid-out, making sure that you don't have to hunt around for any of the merchandise. I swear some of these places don't want you to buy their stuff. Not so with the helpful people at Marion Street. I got a couple generous samples before getting some of "the only true Gruyer made in the US". I haven't had a good Gruyere in awhile, but I can tell you it was delicious. The family is Swiss and I have to hand it to them. I also picked up some Parmigiano Regiano and while it tasted great, the price wasn't anything special. I can get great cheese closer to where I live, but I'll probably swing by next time I'm in Oak Park.
(4)Daina B.
I love cheese. No, I L-O-V-E cheese. So when we moved in to Oak Park and learned that a cheese market was close to our condo I was stoked. Marion Cheese Market is a wonderful combination of market/ wine shop/ restaurant. I love the market/wine shop, that's what gives it it's high marks. We often come here to stock up on some Two Brothers (mouth waters) Domaine DuPage. MSCM has a variety of wines and beer, not incredibly extensive, but a good variety. They even have interesting candies. Their cheese and meat selection is pretty nice, but I have yet to actually purchase some. You can also buy a fondu pot here, although my husband has to discourage me every time (you know it will just end up collecting dust in the cabinet anyway). The restaurant on the other hand is just OK. I have eaten here a total of four times in the course of a year and every time the food all had the same problem. WAY TOO SALTY. And coming from a girl that likes to eat the skin off a jewel 'lightly' seasoned rotisserie chicken, well, then you know it's salty. And the variety of flavor really isn't that great. Every meal has pretty much tasted the same for me. Whether it's a chicken dish or their bison. But, I really do love their wine flights. A fair price for what they offer. Their cheese flights on the other hand - It's All Gouda is delicious, but unfortunately my most recent trip they seemed to give us much less cheese than what they normally give us. This bothered me because usually when I go it's just me and my hubby and we have plenty of cheese to share. But this time we took an out-of-towner and they gave us LESS cheese than when it's just the two of us, for the same price (ridiculous). I'll probably go here to eat again, but I'll stick with the small plates because of the price. I will definitely go to the market section again to get our Two Brother's fix. Plus that is is literally right off the green line/ metra so that is a major plus.
(4)Alejandra V.
I love this place! I've been here more then a few times and have tasted several of their dishes. I'm a generally trusting person and either the company I am with or the server pick out half my meal. I have yet to be disappointed here. I always get the cheese flight (different cheeses almost everytime.) and usually drink the beer. Now this I am aware is ridiculous seeing as how they have a wine shop on the otherside of the restaurant but theres something about a cold beer that just gets me. The staff is always kind and always busy but are never stingy on service. It's great for girls night and we will for sure be coming back.
(5)Kelly S.
I waited about four visits to this place before writing my review. I knew this place had potential, and I figured they were just working out some grand opening kinks in the service. I was right. Visit #1 was by myself on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great food. I had the fall vegetable potato skillet. Love the Bodum coffee service. However the waiter made a comment and made me feel wierd for dining alone and that I didn't know how to work my coffee pot. Visit #2 was with my boyfriend for breakfast early on a Tuesday morning about 7:30am. I think they open at 6:00am and none of the staff could get their act together. The waiter blamed it on the weekend staff putting things where the Tuesday AM staff couldn't find them. (They were closed on Mondays until recently.) Visit#3 was with the BF again after a movie at the Lake theater. We wanted a good glass of wine and dessert. Walked in about 8:30pm and sat at the bar. Bartender asked if we were having dinner. We said just dessert and wine. He had to go ASK SOMEONE IF THIS WAS OK????? We almost got up and left. Who would feel welcome after that? In the end, he warmed up to us and we enjoyed our wine and dessert. Still left with a sour taste in my mouth. My most recent visit was with a friend on a Saturday night... about 7:30pm.. Place was PACKED. But in a good way! Service was spot on. (Thanks Joe!) Food was delish and came out in a timely manner. We even lingered a bit after our meal to shop in the store. I have to take off one star for my previous experiences. Hopefully they have their systems in place now and I won't be let down again.
(4)H G.
I've dined at Marion Street Cheese Market's Cafe maybe four times in the last few years. I'm not wowed by cheese and charcuterie plates. Pasta and pizza aren't usually something I wax poetic over. I've tasted all of that at MSCM. It was alright. The generally comfortable ambiance, a "green" attitude, and a couple of excellent dishes makes this a recommended spot. This is an excellent restaurant to relax, sip on wine, and enjoy some lovely dishes. Another menu item that I'm not usually impressed by are salads. However, the warm chevre salad is exquisitely delicious. I enjoyed it first with pistachios as the goat cheese coating, which was the best and most memorable. The warmth of the cheese, the crunchiness of the coating, the sweetness of the fruits, and bite of the greens were a potent combination. They change up the ingredients by the season, but I'm glad it's become a key item on the menu. Then, at my last visit, I ordered something that I normally wouldn't -- tamales. The flavor was excellent and the quantity was right. Also, I hope to try the chef's creative sandwiches for lunch sometime soon. The dinner pricing here is pretty steep for my wallet though. I would go back more if my individual bill wasn't between $30 - $40 each time. Thank goodness for Groupon. Some points to improve on... -- Found the entertainment in the corner during dinner to be loud for the space. I appreciated the effort, but it served as a prompt to leave since it was difficult to converse after they started playing. -- The cocktails need improvement, as they seemed overly sour.
(4)patina w.
The last time I went there, we had a bad experience. The wait staff ignored us for 15 minutes, our food took forever, no one came by to check on us/refill glasses/etc for at least 30 minutes. However, I spoke to the manager & both he & our MIA waitress apologized & they gave us 50% off our bill. BUT...the food is amazing, the store is always fun to look around at, the beer is great, the live music is always appropriate and did I mention the food is amazing? We'll continue to go there, hoping that one time was just a fluke. (I do occasionally notice the wait staff hanging out in the corner behind the bar, chatting, while I see people trying to wave them over & order. The manager should have a chat with them-it's not professional & looks bad!) There is one waitress, she's got a couple of facial piercings-not sure of her name-but that girl is on her game! Knows every cheese, wine, what to pair, can tell you about every dish, is prompt & helpful without being overbearing...she's awesome!
(4)Katie M.
If I was rating on food alone, no doubt I would give MSCM 5 stars... I have dreams about the Cauliflower Sandwich, crave cheese from the array of selections and never had Mac Cheese better anywhere else. I look forward to new seasons to try the new menu's at dinner. I'm surprised everytime, but I need to be adventure too. They reason I need to take away a star, is the music is too loud. I enjoy it when I dine alone, but impossible to converse with a guest. I appericate that everything is fresh & made to order... But getting the check at the end of the meal takes just as long as the meal it seems (little dramatic). But I try to have cash, becasue waiting to sign a credit card slip is an an additional 15 minutes. I love this place, I'm just aware that I can not be in a hurry. MSCM wants to give you an experience, a treat... Savor the experience, do not try to rush and a meal can become something magically. I do not drink, though the wine tasting can make me thirsty from across the room. If you like buttery Carmel that melting in your mouth, pick one up in front on the way out... Best few cents I can spend.
(4)Bill W.
This place is great! The restaurant staff is really friendly and knows their product well. The food is expensive, but well worth it. The staff in the wine shop knows their stuff as well, and is quite willing to say "that guy over there knows this, let me grab him". All in all, it's well worth the trip.
(5)Lindley E.
Come here for some of the most spectacular cafe bathrooms this side of Manhattan. You'll want to lock the door and spend a few minutes just taking in the tiles, the glass wall, the super-sleek toilet. The bathroom is easily accessed from the wine side of the shop and lines are usually short. If there are other bathroom tourists there, you may have a wait a few extra minutes for your chance to gawk. Once you are done with the bathroom, you'll have to stop off in the cafe for a snack or a meal. Service is friendly and attentive, the food is good, and there's a great selection of American craft beers. I really like this place. It is worth going out of your way - to Oak Park, even - to take in this ambitious cafe/shop and fill your gut. I'm going back, and I'm taking my family. We'll be in the bathroom for hours, so you might plan on emptying your bladder before you leave home that day.
(4)Sandra N.
I'm very sorry to say this because I once loved coming here to eat, but this place has totally gone downhill in the past six months. I don't know if Marion Street is getting too snotty for its own good or if GROUPON did this place in, but everything has been totally lacking lately. The servers have been downright rude, and many of their once quality servers seemed to have left/quit. On top of that, the workers don't seem very knowledgeable about the menu, or pairings. And several times we had to wait for someone to check if we needed anything, get our bill, or get our change. (I'm not unreasonable, but I don't think you should have to sit for 20 minutes after you've finished everything before you get your check, do you? We finally flagged another server altogether and asked for our bill.) Three times we have had several plates come out at once, and those of you who have been there know there is barely room at any given table for that. I made the mistake of bringing friends there and one person didn't even receive his appetizer until after the rest of us had eaten ours. Every single time I've had crab or lobster there, there have been pieces of shell in my food; this I tried to forgive when the rest of the food/service was still good. But last time--and I mean our LAST time there--everything was bad, from timing to service to the food, which was cold-ish when we got it. The people next to us had to return a plate because eggs weren't cooked right. That's pretty basic stuff. And the cheese plates, which I LOVED, seem to have gotten smaller, shabbier in terms of quantity and presentation...is it just me who noticed this? Finally, when I'm dropping money at a place, I don't really appreciate that the sommelier cops an attitude because I asked if they stocked a wine that retails for about 25.00 a bottle. Honestly, she acted like the label was beneath her because it was 'mainstream' (WTF?). (Tip: A professional response might have been, "Oh, we don't, because we try and stock hard-to-find wines that aren't readily available at other wine stores." Not, "Sorry, that's too MAINSTREAM.") I wanted to say, hey look, you're not the only person in the world who knows a thing or two about wine--really. Keep treating your patrons like they're beneath you, and see if people come back. Again: Is everyone just overly stressed by GROUPON? Because maybe then you shouldn't do groupon. This restaurant can't really compete with most of the places we've been to in the city, so while they're trying to lure people in (and not doing a good job serving them) they are also totally alienating people who were there, five, six times a month. Way to go, MSCM! I wrote into Marion Street's FB page and said our meal was really sub par, and though the person wrote to me (privately, mind you) and admitted they recognized there were problems in the kitchen and with service, she took my comment down, immediately. I guess they don't want the truth getting around. Well, word does get around. In short, service has totally been lacking, all across this restaurant. Totally overrated these days. And this is no longer a restaurant I'd ever recommend to strangers or friends. I'm not wasting my time there, anymore
(1)Justin R.
I love this place. The food is good, atmosphere is upbeat, and they have a great selection of wine, beer, chocolates, and cheese. Seriously, if you have the slightest desire to learn more about cheese, you should go in and talk the cheese monger there. They are knowledgeable and there appreciation for cheese is infectious. You might just learn something. Also - they are a great alternative if you would like to buy a bottle of wine or case of beer in the downtown Oak Park area.
(5)Tina T.
Marion Street Cheese Market must be the entrance to heaven, as this place is simply an orgasm of taste and smell! Fine, smelly cheeses, great wines, fantastic cured meats, lots of chutneys and sauces, wonderful crusty breads; and this is just the beginning of the delights in store. They are part retail, part cafe; and although I did not eat there, the menu looked tasty and worthy of a trip back. No, instead I dropped a cool $50 on a couple of cheeses; a fantastic but expensive Parmagiano Reggiano that my family ate in about an hour; a runny smelly tasty Cypress Grove goat cheese, and mozzarella di buffala. You get the idea. A plethora of gourmet foods and wines - come here to enjoy the goods yourself!
(4)Comensal A.
The café at Marion Street Cheese Market has come a long way since I visited shortly after it opened. The lunch menu was pedestrian, at best, back then, but is now quite sophisticated. They have clearly acquired a real chef. There's a compact list of salads and sandwiches, a quiche (and a focaccia) of the day, a terrific menu of soft drinks, and an intriguing selection of wines and craft beers. Today I had a honey-glazed cauliflower sandwich with shaved apple and white cheddar on multigrain toast -- outrageously good in every respect. For a side, I chose quinoa with mushrooms & bacon -- also tasty. I washed it all down with a Goose Island orange cream soda, and left with a satisfied smile on my face, eager to return and try everything else on the menu...
(4)Latonya D.
I've been a fan of the Marion Street Wine and Cheese Market since they opened and I've always raved about their service and food........................Until Now! I called to reserve a table of 15 on a friday for my birthday which was fine. The day before my birthday I received a call from someone that worked there who asked for my email address. My response was why??? She said I was told you were coming here for your birthday and I need to send you a list of bakeries that we work with and if you want a cake you would have to use one of those bakeries. My response..."Mam who said anything about a cake?" She then proceeded to tell me that she needed my credit card number to hold my reservation. I simply asked her when did this start because I come there quite a bit. She said it started recently. I asked to speak to a manager she hung up on me. When I called back she answered the phone exactly like this "hold on". She never said the name of the establishment. I was livid!! When I finally got hold of the manager she went on to tell me that this was something new they were implementing because people make reservations and then don't come. That's fine with me but why would you wait until the day before my reservation to call me?? The manager ended up telling me that I didnt need a credit card to hold my reservation. The next day I arrived about 30 minutes before my reservation. I told the hostess who I was and I was told my table was not ready. I left out for a few and when I came back at 6:50 p.m. my table was still not ready. I was finally seated at 7:30. I had a couple of people that were late but majority of my party was there. The hostess kept sending my waiter over to the table asking where my party was. He was very very rude! I think I'm going to give The Wine and Cheese Market a break for a while maybe they can clean up their act. The food, wine and cheese is wonderful but because the service sucks so bad they deserve 2 stars. I was nice and gave them 3 because our waiter was great!
(3)Bex M.
I'm torn about this place. I think it's completely adorable decor and enjoyable to sit and chat there but it is just wildly--WILDLY--overpriced! From the grocery and market items ($7 for Plugra butter when I can buy it for $2-3 less at Whole Foods just across the street? I mean it's MORE expensive than Whole Foods?!) to the restaurant everything is tasty and absurdly expensive for what it is. I had good service when I went here for a meal and the food was good. But for $50+ we got the following "large" plates: 2 medium-sized crab cakes with a mustard sauce for $15; 4 pieces of jumbo fried Shrimp for another $15; and two glasses of some of the least expensive wine on the menu. Honestly? We laughed out loud as the waiter walked away. $30 for two small appetizers? I don't get it. You can go to Francesca Fiore on a Wednesday night get two apps, two meals and two desserts for $50--and it will feed you for days! Cucina Paradiso is just as a great a deal. Their appetizers portions are only $5-$7 and the meals are fairly priced as well. That said? The "large" plates were tasty--not delicious but tasty. I don't mind paying extra for quality or for a special experience but this was not it. Perhaps I just ordered wrong. I'll keep an open mind but avoid the hilariously mis-labeled "large" plates that cost as much as large entrees at comparable restaurants in the area.
(3)Tanya S.
Interesting cafe. This place has an original menu- by original I mean, standard breakfast items- eggs, crepes, potatoes- but specialized . For Example: I had the apple crepes, but this is what they really are: Wheat Crepes, Hillside Orchards Poached Apples with Vermont Butter & Cheese Mascarpone $8- Delicious and HUGE portion. They also have 'french press' coffee which is a nice touch. Perfect for a brisk fall morning.
(4)Rodrigo D.
The food here is good. My only complaint is that the food took a little too long to come out of the kitchen. If the appetizer came out quickly, I guess I would have not been as bothered. If you order a meal and a drink expect to pay about $25 per person.
(3)D. S. H.
The name sums it up quite nicely. I have eaten dinner here a handful of times and each time was good or better, but my favorite thing here is to have a craft beer from the tap and a cheese flight. They let you choose cheeses for your flight even if they are not listed on the menu. Their cheese selection is a force to be reckoned with. I come here most every time I visit Oak Park and have not even begun to put a dent in trying all the different choices they have available. If you are looking to try some of the best cheeses made, this would be the place to go.
(5)Kimberly K.
My boyfriend and I went here with a groupon for a food and beer pairing. We were able to choose one of two first courses, one of two second courses, and one of two desserts. With each course you receive a beer tasting. The food was absolutely amazing and the beer matched well. We additionally bought some cheeses and additional beers to taste that were wonderful. They had live jazz music that was subtle enough that it did not interupt you conversation, but pleasant to hear the entire night. The waiter was friendly and helpful and I ended up buying a cheese that we had tasted that night. I really can think of nothing I did not like about my experience will absolutely be back in the future.
(5)Sara C.
I am very overdue in my review of MSCM. We had a great time - the wine was great, cheese and pork products which served as our dinner were delicious. Since then, I have gone to purchase cheese/wine have gotten 5-star service at the cheese counter. The knock (1 star off) for me was our service for dinner. i don't like be rushed, but the service was not great - too slow. Our waitress was not attentive enough for this type of almost tapas-style dinner. Again, I'd give it a another try in a heart beat because of the food, but hoping for better service.
(4)Ela G.
AWESOME! Super excited about finding this little Gem in Oak Park. The interior had a great modern vibe. The staff is super friendly... we walked in at 9:55 to find the kitchen closing and they still let us order a couple of small plates. We didn't have the wine, but draft beer instead.. microbrews! $9 for a flight of 5 choices? why sure! Some of the pints were only $4, which was lovely, especially since the place is slightly fancy. Fancy, but they were totally chill that we walked in with jeans and fleeces on (like I said... we stumbled upon the place) I love the fact that the portions are New York sized... Aka: don't split a dish. Smaller portions=more plate art=better quality=looks more appetizing. The food isn't amazing, but it's almost there... I think that we just missed with the beef tartar is all... maybe some of the other options are a bit more tasty. Oh! And there was an excellent jazz trio there too! I'm seeing this as a soon to be favorite of mine in Oak Park.
(5)Lauren A.
This place is a nice to take someone on a date. It's small and cozy with a good vibe. I ordered the mac and cheese, in my opinion it was rather tasteless. I was expecting more based on the disciption. You would think that a cheese place would try and take a more unique approach to mac and cheese, but it was nothing to rave about. We also ordered two cheese flights prior to our main meal and both were enjoyable. Service was good overall, no complaints there. I'd go again, but order something different next time.
(3)niki k.
Nothing bad to say about this place, service is impeccable, food is great, we went with about 10 of us, they seated us in less than 20 minutes, and everyone loved their food and wines. it's a must try!
(4)susan g.
Well, I've been here a couple of times now for lunch and dinner and I think that I can write a good post on this bistro. Let's start with the good stuff: I really like this place and would recommend it. The menu items are creative and tasty; excellent cheese and meat selections; room is comfortable, liked the old pics on the walls though with the farm stuff; service staff is generally friendly and efficient, except for one bad experience which I'll get into below. This is a really great place to go for a date or just to kick back with a cheese plate and glass of wine. They also have music on certain nights which is fun if you like that sort of thing. We also like the manager Karl, whom we have met twice now when he checked in on our table to see how our experience was. He is really nice and funny too! Now for the constructive criticism: I did have one bad dining experience because of my server who just generally has a poor disposition. However, I must note that she is pregnant and I cannot imagine that being on her feet all day is comfortable, so I give her a pass on that one. The food seems to take a bit longer than most other restaurants, but the quality is very good, so I give a pass on that one too. I'm pretty sure that we saw the owner and one of the workers from the market side drinking at the bar and getting loud. Really unprofessional to see the staff who should be helping with service drinking alcohol. The reason why I bring this up is because the bistro was swamped and could have used the extra hands helping out, instead the owner ignored what was going on and was drinking. Our experience would have been different if the owner greeted us, rather than being a fellow patron. The lunch service is much slower than the dinner service. All in all, I really like this place and am willing to keep coming back. And if the owner reads this - stop by and say hi to the patrons - we really like that kind of attention. Thanks...
(4)Andrew S.
Love stopping in on weeknights for a quick red wine flight. They have really perfected their food menu since my first visit a few years ago when they opened/expanded in this location. The space is really sophisticated and I like that the market portion is very much part of the space. You have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, which are beautifully done. Some items on the food menu don't really seem to justify their price... not that there aren't some lovely things at a good value. They far make up for this with an excellent selection of wines & beers.
(4)Daniil V.
You should: Make The Trip Sizzle: a Party In Your Mouth Juice: Diverse selection of cheese, beer & wine flights, tapas-style menu, almond-stuffed olives & salumi. Check Please: $$
(5)HOLLY M.
I LOVE the food! I hate the service. Slow, surly waitress, very annoying. Food rocks though!
(3)trista r.
Went to Marion Street Cheese Market last Friday with some friends. There were probably about 15 of us at the table. We had a reservation, so the staff were aware that there would be that many of us at a table. Let me just say, the service was ATROCIOUS! The server was painfully painfully slow, did not check on the table in a timely manner (probably every 15 mninutes is a good idea with a table that size, it was more like once every 30), when she did check on the table she would only go to one side or the other and not ask everyone at table how they were doing, and at two different points the server was downright RUDE. We ordered a few different cheese plates and I asked for a cheese knife, as there was no knife brought out. We had ordered other things so everyone's knives were being used for that. Plus, THIS IS A CHEESE PLACE RIGHT?! So when I ask for a cheese knife do not be a complete jerk to me! "The knife at your table isn't good enough?" NO! It's not! The knife at the table has been used for the meat platter and we have several vegetarians at our table and the knife at the table is not a cheese knife!!!And the knife never came by the way. I understand that the place is busy, that the table has a lot of requests, etc, but you KNEW about the large table coming in so PLAN for that sort of thing. We all spent a lot of money in there, and you expect good service when spending that much. Sorry, end of rant about poor service. Anyway, the cheese was good. I guess that's the point of this place. But I would just buy the cheese and eat it somewhere else, anywhere else. Or skip it and visit the Whole Foods cheese section. The wine list was a JOKE. Seriously. Don't even bother, you aren't even close to doing it right, you'd be better off letting people bring in their own wine because you have no idea what you are doing. Beer list was great. Husband had mac and cheese with cajun chicken something or other, which was good. Charcuterie platter was good. Spinach salad - I've had better at Panera Bread. For less money. Friend had an eggplant thing, which was also good. Atmosphere was nice as well, cozy and dark and good for conversation. They also had a band which was unexpected but great. All in all, I don't mind spending a lot of money for good food and good service, but Marion Street Cheese Market? Sorry hun, you are just not it.
(2)A D.
Similar vein - poor service. Husband and I went to lunch. Person in front of us was being seated. Whew! Who knew it took over 5 minutes to seat one lady? We were finally seated and it took 10 minutes to get a menu. I should have ordered my fave cauliflower sandwich but instead I opted for their new crunchy eggplant with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. No where on the menu did it say it was served on a brioche bun. Funny, the other listings detailed the bread, but since this had none I assumed the crunchy eggplant took the place of a bun. The brioche was so incredibly egg-y and rich that it competed with the strong sandwich flavors and really made the whole sandwich come up a loser. The eggplant prep included frying it in oil after being breaded with panko crumbs. Do yourself a favor, skip this unless you like the notion of fried eggplant topped with great Italian elements then essentially rolled up in brioche French toast san syrup. I would've told this to my waiter, but wait...he never came back. We had to ask the server filling up our water if he could tell our waiter that we were still breathing.
(2)Marielle S.
Bought the Groupon for this place, otherwise probably wouldn't have driven all the way to Oak Park for brunch.. Now that I've been there, though, I definitely want to go back. One, our waitress was awesome. I said to my fiance, "man, we really are being high maintenance, asking all these questions.. but it's kind of our waitress's fault for being so nice!" halfway joking, but mostly serious. We had a lot of questions about everything from the cheese tastings to the wine and beer selection, but she helped with everything. I ended up ordering a glass of wine and the portabello benedict. It was SO GOOD. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise sauce was unbelievably rich (but not in an ew-my-stomach-hurts-from-eating-this-kind-of-way) with truffle. The English muffin also had a layer of pesto on it. The fiance ordered two samplings; one of cheese, the other pate. His plates were smallish (and about $12 each), but they were totally YUM. Well, I didn't try the pate, but the cheese was YUM (and it came with a spoon of jam and some spatterings of nuts and cranberries). The decor was really charming, and even though we went around 1 on a Saturday, it wasn't too crowded. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch and am excited to try it for dinner.
(4)Anceert M.
I called them to make a reservation for me & my hubby. I wanted to redeeem my groupon this evening (07/30/11) so I mentioned it to the receptionist who was making the reservation. She was a bit snappy (no in a good way) when she heard my accent. So she told me that they were all booked for that night. So I told my hubby to call them back(obliously, he does not has an accent) and we got a reservation. Go figure!, right . We got there and I saw a quite a few open tables, which I was a bit disappointment.,But the food was GREAT. I love the watermelon/arugula salad & feta cheese & wine vinaigrette. & the pesto risotto Yumm-o ,plus dark chocolate-expresso ice crean & marshmallow for dessert even better. Thanks for a wonderful dinner & waiter-service. Not so much with the receptionist
(4)Frances B.
I'm a regular customer. I love the wine and cheese and some of the food is great. It's too expensive for bad/slow service. Very few diners the last time I was there and had to hunt down our waiter. It didn't get any better even after he knew we had been waiting for water and menus for about 15 minutes. Oh well. I'll probably be back because it's just few blocks away from my home. I'll lower my expectations.
(2)buddy l.
very trendy, extremely pretentious, terrible service- but worth it! We went in yesterday, not exactly dressed to the 9's (not TERRIBLE, just casual clothes, but when compared to the other 'sunday-church clothes, we felt a little under dressed) and the wait staff stood in front of us and argued who would take our table for over 20 minutes, assuming we would not tip, which is the worst thing to presume since 3\4 people with our party are in the service industry- therefore always tip 20%. Even after that the manager saw we were flustered, and about to get up and go but she rushed over and was very polite and asked if everything was OK, and our waiter actually ended up being very kind. But the food is why we made ourselves stay, the hangover fries alone are worth trying, especially ...if hungover. The benedicts are extraordinarily yummy, particularly since the ham is smoked and the cheddar is aged, and the Hollandaise sauce is not too heavy. But my favorite thing on the menu, which is why I keep returning, is the ham sandwich on pretzel bun. DELISH! Unfortunately I think that will be my last visit- because I mean, come on who argues in front of a table full of guest. I sure hope our, even though kind waiter, felt like shit after we left since our tip was still more than generous. And honestly, I don't see this business surviving for much longer, since everyone else I've spoken to who's been here say they enjoyed the food, and even the broad beer selection and fun things in the deli to try out- but the verdict is in and the terrible service out weighs the pros of the actual restaurant. There's just too many other businesses to choose from who enjoy their job to serve their guest which food just as tasty, there's no point in paying more for side dishes and getting snubbed for desert.
(3)Megan O.
The ambiance is very nice here, and some of the food ordered by others at my table had potential, but the AWFUL, AWFUL service here far overshadowed any positives. Our waitress, who had the personality of a cardboard box, paid little attention to us. So little that it took me ten minutes to get her to return to the kitchen the sandwich I had ordered that was ICE COLD in the middle. She then brought it back out, clearly zapped in the microwave for about 10 seconds, still cold in the middle, and did not return. At the end of the meal, when we inquired why some of our items had been taxed twice and at 12 1/2 %, neither she nor the manager had any idea. I'd consider getting cheese here, but will never sit down for a meal again.
(1)Jessica G.
My favorite place to splurge! Love the Cheese Flights! Love the food. Great service. Go there with friends when we have a reason to celebrate.
(5)Douglas A.
I had two Groupons for Marion Street Cheese Market, and I used them both in one day - one for lunch with one friend, and the other for dinner with another friend. Both friends and I liked the food very much! I had a bowl of the mushroom soup they were offering that day, and the combination of mushrooms, cheese and other ingredients made a memorable mushroom soup I could enjoy eating very regularly! At dinner time I had a cup of the other soup that had chickpeas and chorizo in a tomato base. It was a good soup if one likes that combination, but I decided I don't like chorizo well enough to want to order in in anything again. For lunch I had the Ploughman's lunch. The pate was tasty though mild; the farmhouse cheddar was delicious; and the dried fruit also included some nuts, especially blanched almonds. The menu listed Stichelton blue as being part of the plate, but I don't remember any cheese other than the cheddar, but there was a small crock of a tasty apple butter on the platter, so I'm guessing they were out of the blue cheese and simply substituted that without telling me. My friend and I ordered the largest French coffee press offered, and it provided us with the listed six cups of delicious coffee. (They also offer 4- and 2-cup sizes of French pressed coffee as well as other styles of coffee and other beverages.) For dinner my main course was the mac and cheese I had seen on the lunch menu and had wanted to try, and I asked for the version with chicken added. The flavors of the three cheeses - cheddar, parmesan, and chevre - combined with the pasta that was cooked to be chewy rather than lacking any body, as pasta often is, were wonderful together. It made me want to begin experimenting at home with various combinations of cheeses in my own mac and cheese, rather than simply using the same old cheddar with, perhaps, a little Kraft grated parmesan shaken in. But MSCM uses some of the excellent cheeses they also sell in the market section, so a lot of the wonderful flavor has to do with the chef having made excellent choices in combining the flavors of the various cheeses - and cheeses and vegetables and/or meats in other dishes. One other reviewer that I read complained about having been ignored or rudely treated and not assisted in the market section. From my wandering around in that section before going into the restaurant area, I would say that the shop may not train their personnel well enough or hire people who are interested in learning enough about what they're selling to be of real assistance to their customers. If you know what special cheeses or specialized meats or wines you want, MSCM has some wonderful things to offer; but don't go in expecting to get much knowledgeable advice about what they've got. In fact, if I were looking for wine, I'd rather go to Binny's, since their people really know their stock. All in all, I'd definitely go back to MSCM and pay full price for the food in the restaurant. It would be a nice place to take guests or on a special occasion.
(4)Libby H.
Marion Street Cheese Market catered part of our wedding, and everything was just perfect. We had tasted a slew of cheese with them in preparation, and they put together a great spread with our favorites. They were even willing to order special order cheese that they didn't normally have (in our case, our favorite chevre). The accompaniments (e.g., nuts, fruit) were great, and our guests raved about the cheese and setup all night and after the event. I haven't eaten in the restaurant, but I can't say enough good things about the cheese counter and catering staff.
(5)natalie h.
I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone I know! The food was so delicious and the servers very patient. I went with some friends all of us loving cheese and wine and other things on the menu but not knowing what would go together well. Not only did the server carefully answer all our questions taking into considerations our specific tastes ( of which we all four had different faves) but she also gave us beer samples to compliment our cheeses. She even let us order each course at a time since we didn't know if we'd have enough room to get to dessert. Luckily we paced ourselves and did make it to the delicious dessert menu. We each ordered something different and then passed it to the left so eventually tried their whole dessert menu. All four of us loved the entire everything we ate. I have to save up calories to go back:)
(5)Matthew Y.
Review Update! This is an update to a previous review (now almost 2 years old) that is located at the end of this review. I have returned to MSCM only a few times since my original review and recognized a discrepancy between service/product and cost. I am aawarding MSCM with 4 stars following this evening's quasi-meal (pints, cheese flight, and mac-n-cheese). We (my gf joined me) originally wanted a few pints and a cheese flight - we had that and an amazing mac-n-cheese and returned home with a six-pack. Service was much better this time. Out waitress was great and provided us with printed material and a senior staff person to answer questions that were out of the scope of her everyday responsibilities Our waitress provided us with printed stickers for each cheese featured on our flight - this makes remembering what we ordered much easier. I wish she was provided with more details about some of the offerings we selected. I do not hold this against her. She was cool and mad the experience pleasurable. The sun-dried mac-n-cheese is amazing. Order it. We had a question about beer, our waitress introduced us to Charlie (their resident beer expert). Charlie is pleasant to speak with, knowledgeable about the beer he selected, and motivated us to leave with a six-pack of a beer we thought was gone! Thank you Charlie. This evening's experience has encouraged a return visit in the near-future. - end of update - Original Review (1 star): I was looking for a specific cheese and recommended an alternative cheese because of color. The person in the cheese section had limited knowledge of cheese. When I was unsure which cheese to look for after my original choice was unavailable the person I was speaking with did not demonstrate service one expects from a specialty shop. I have been in other shops that will ask which ask if I am pairing the cheese with a specific wine, what I am serving this with , or any number of other appropriate questions an "expert" sales person should ask a customer. I do not expect detailed service from the Schnucks cheese island, a "cheese market" should provide a service that demonstrates knowledge and enthusiasm. Go to an alternative boutique market if you want to purchase cheese from a connoisseur that will help develop your own appreciation for this product. Marion Street Cheese Market may be a good option if you are local and need cheese in a pinch or you know exactly what you want.
(4)Margo L.
5 stars for the cheese and wine shop. Candy the wine buyer is very knowledgeable and really listens to what type of wine you are interested in, what you like, what food you will be serving it with, etc. I know that I can get some wine for a better price elsewhere, but Candy makes it worth the extra dollar. 5 stars for the cheese and deli counter. The staff are all wonderful. They are very helpful recommending new cheeses and deli meats. 5 stars for the staff checking you out. There is one woman in particular who is so friendly and warm and always remembers me when I come in. She makes it a complete pleasure to shop here. Now for the restaurant..... I really, really want to like it. I love the shop, so felt that it wouldl be a natural fit to also love the restaurant. Sadly, the service keeps me from enjoying myself to the point where I fear I have just had my last meal there. Now, there is one waitress who is great. I wish I knew her name -but she is an attractive brunette around 25 or so. She is wonderful at her job- she really explains each dish, she brings out the bread herself and explains what type of bread she is presenting, she recommends wines and is just generally an awesome person. Sadly, she is the lone star here. Since I love the shop and frequent it so often, I have dined here about a dozen times. Most recently for dinner last Friday night. I arrived before my date. After about 15 minutes of sitting at a table by myself my wait person finally came up to me to ask if I was ""dining alone"". When I explained I was early and would like a glass of wine I was met with a look of pure contempt and it took 10 minutes more to get the glass of wine I ordered. (I really was waiting on someone!) I suggested that I might order an appetizer. It was suggested that I order the cheese puffs. My date arrived and it was another 10 minutes before he was offered anything to drink. Our cheese puffs arrived and they were o.k. - nothing special. My drink was emptied, his drink was emptied and still we waited. Meanwhile, the bread that the one great waitress had so painstakinlgy described to me on previous visits kept passing by our tables. Do we not deserve the same bread and butter as our fellow patrons? Do we look like we are on Atkins or something? I finally grabbed our wait person and asked for both refills on the wine and some bread. The wine arrived... the bread did not. (This is actually the third time I have eaten here and not been offered bread, I am beginning to take it personally!) Our food came - fish and chips and the flat bread special. The flat bread was o.k. but the fish and chips were awful. First of all, there was way too much mayonnaise in the aioli sauce you were supposed to dip your chips in. As for the fish, they were so bland that 3/4 of the plate remained uneaten (as well as all of the chips because we never saw our wait person again to ask for ketchup). When asked about the uneaten plate of food we spoke up and said that it was bland and really not to our liking at all. We also suggested that our wine glasses would have loved to have been re-filled. We were greeted by a blank stare and the check. I would have chalked this up to one bad experience, but the week before I had a similar episode with a different wait staff and frankly had repeated the same scenario with everyone except the apparently one and only good wait person on staff. I suggest visiting the wine and cheese shop and skipping the restaurant until they figure out that customers are actually there to enjoy the experience. Frankly, I would suggest having the wine and cheese shop staff train the wait staff.
(3)David J.
The cheese shop happens to be 2 blocks from my house so I frequent it for 2 things. If I am out of beer I will go pick up an obscure and interesting 6 pack and if I'm in the mood for a croissant for breakfast I will pick them up to go. More than that, I can't say I'd do much with them. When I'm in there for a quick stop the 'beer buyer' will be there and I'm listening to a 30 minute soliloquy on a particular beer. There is one particular cashier that does not limit ANY conversation with any customer no matter how long the line is. If the croissants weren't so good and the beers weren't so delicious and convenient I wouldn't go. Read the other reviews for the service speed. All have accurately described my experiences and hence I go for the quick grab and go only.
(3)Shannon P.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Having dined alone and with a large party, stopped in for a light snack ($$), beer and wine tasting (free-$$), growler refill ($$), children's story time (free) on Wednesdays--we feel like the Marion Street Cheese Market is an extension of our living room. We enjoy the ambiance and products. People, products and place are a superb quality and are worth the price. A true community gem.
(5)Ed O.
I am reluctant to write about this place because it is the only place I have ever been to that hasn't had a line out the door for Sunday Brunch. As mentioned by others, the service is somewhat slow, but well informed about the food and eager to please. This past Sunday featured a string duo and my companion and I had french press coffee with our Waffles and Quiche. The Waffle was light and airy, covered berries and syrup, but not to the point of sogginess. My quiche was Gruyere and spinach with a light crisp crust and plenty of cheese. The tab was higher than a usual Sunday diner omelette/pancakes, but the quality was worth it. I haven't been here for dinner, so I am eager to try that out some time.
(4)Brian L.
Small plates and apps are outstanding. The cheese plates and wines are excellent. I've been somewhat disappointed by the entrees (probably because the small plates have been so consistently well executed)
(4)Arthur P.
Wine selection = very very minimal. Wine prices = way over priced. service = very poor. brunch/lunch* = a joke! they have some nerve! *super minimal menu, though they have a full kitchen(too expensive to hire a real cook I guess). Had the turkey club for $9. Got a very small sandwich with the cheapest deli cuts of turkey you can get and no sides. dont waste your time or money on this place.
(1)Tony P.
Great food, and atmosphere. Kinda pricey, but it's a great place to try for celebrating, or just a special date. We used the Groupon, which cut our bill in half. We tried each of their beer pairings with our food, which was nice. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)Katherine D.
Absolutely amazing. They carry a wide variety of cheese, many of them local varieties. I got a goat cheese (the best I've -ever- had) from Wisconsin, Cheddar from Wisconsin, more goat cheese from Vermont, and a couple of imported types. The other major reason to go there is the wine: they have a whole wall full, all stored properly sideways :) They also carry other local items, such as chocolate, toffee, honey, and preserves. A small selection of deli meats, frozen entrees, and other accessories finishes everything off nicely. Oh, and everyone's super nice. No attitude at all, though they could get away with a little, and I got lots of samples!
(5)Dann B.
Wine and cheese. That is what this place specializes in. Nice restaurant. Good place for a date. Live music some nights. I suggest getting a wine flight, then pick your favorite from that and get glasses of it all night. Food is good but there are far better meals to be had in Oak Park, best is just to drink and snack here. There is a little shop attached where you can buy most of the stuff you can order here to take home and serve yourself. Wait staff was friendly and happy. While dining here my car was broken into, I don't hold that against the place but it really shocked me as I thought Oak Park was suppose to be a nice place. No one has ever vandalized my car in Chicago. Conclusion: Oak Park may look nice but it's has a dark underside just as bad as any Chicago neighborhood.
(4)Rebekah H.
We went to the Marion Street Cheese Market this weekend to see the band playing there and were we happy we did. This place is fantastic! Everythign from our cheese platter to our main dishes were phenomenal. The service was fantastic and the ambiance was great. This is a fabulous addition to Oak Park and real reason for us to get out of the city!
(4)faline m.
the food is great, i had the skillet which was wonderful. service is very good too. i will be back!
(5)Rachel B.
Service has improved greatly the last two times I was there. I think they have ironed out the kinks. Oh.... I love their crispy eggplant sandwich and they currently have a fall special - Apple Cider Gelato which is very yummy!
(5)Vinifer D.
YUMMMMMMM! I love cheese! I came here with a group of my chef friends when I was in culinary school. We got to sample at least 10-12 different cheeses! From what I can remember, one of my personal favorites was the Beaufort Chalet. This is made from unpasteurized cow's milk. Absolutely delicious! I'm not big on the blue cheeses, however, this little cheese shop made me a fan! I didn't get to sample anything besides cheese, because this was a learning course in cheese. I'd love to go back here and sample some more!
(4)Mike O.
One has to separate the service from the food. I am a big fan of the MSCM and have been there many, many times since they opened the new location (once we were there 4 times in 3 weeks). However, starting with the change in staff a couple of months ago, the service has gone way downhill. I may have considered this place a 4+ star place before, but its down to 3 and getting worse. Even more odd is that they recently rearranged the dining room to add more tables, but apparently didn't supplement the already diminishing service with more staff. I'm not going to get into my last 2 experiences, but lets say they were 2 star experiences. I still think you should try it for yourself, but know what you're getting into. Food: Excellent. 4 to 5 star casual bistro with plenty of small plate offerings. Quality and flavor is always good and the one reason I will go back. Wine: Above average. Bin 36 is still better but there are some good surprises on the menu. The new Wine Steward/Buyer is stuffier, snottier, and less accessible than the previous, which again is hurting the experience. Beer: 5 stars. An excellent constant rotation of craft beers offered as a 6 glass taster. Top quality beers from craft brewers. Dining Room Service: Poor. Best experienced as a couple. Do NOT go with kids or a group greater than 4. Bar Service: 4 stars. Used to be 5 but they changed out the staff and they're not quite as personable. But at least at the bar they are attentive and don't disappear for 30 minutes after you order dessert. I understand folks who have given this place high marks. Its a great concept in a great location. But they need better service consistency and a return to the more accessible, friendlier, and service-oriented staff.
(3)Cecilia G.
went there with a groupon (I risked losing it because I waited till last days before expiration but in the end it all went smoothly!) and with 2 other friends who didn't have a groupon. we shared everything so we all got to taste both the groupon tasting menu and the other food they ordered.. every single thing was delicious! a great pumpkin soup, fig salad, creamed corn polenta (I loved that one!!), pork belly and goat shoulder.. also we tasted some of their cheeses and they were all really great. their cheese shop must be awesome!! it's adjoining to the restaurant so we browsed it, very inviting! they also had live music, which was very pleasant except that our table was like 1 foot away from them! but the overall atmosphere was nice, our waitress gave us nice suggestions and advice. prices are a bit on the high side but the quality of food and the ambiance are worth it! plus they source a lot of the food locally and are very sustainability-oriented. love it! i just wish it were in chicago!
(4)Kara H.
Great variety of wine and beer. The food is decent. I would stick to lunch /small plates and flights and skip dinner.
(4)Kat M.
Ooooooh, I'm in love, I'm in love! Awesome food, great wine, and I'm only talking about the restaurant - I've not shopped for cheese here. A friend and I sat outside in the warm weather a few weeks ago and were dazzled by the small plates that we ordered. I think our absolute favorite was the macaroni and cheese... the dish was served in the two adorable casseroles that it was baked in. One casserole had mac and cheese with broccoli and one had bacon in it. MMMMMMMMMM, a comfort food orgasm in your mouth. The seaweed salad was also excellent. I also had a beet salad with goat cheese to myself since my friend is not such a fan of the root vegetables and I was not disappointed. The cheese that the chef had selected for the beet salad was so creamy and good; there's a reason that they specialize in cheese. We both dropped about $50 but walked away so stuffed we could barely move, and we also each had 2 glasses of wine at around $10/glass. It could have been cheaper, but if you're going to dine, do it the Marion Street Cheese Market way... it's worth it.
(5)Laine K.
I love cheese and this amazing place not only has a great shop but a fantastic restaurant to go with it. I highly recommend taking the server's advice on cheese. I've been here twice to eat in the restaurant and three times to visit the shop. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Previously, I had the good fortune of trying a fantastic blue cheese with honey comb. This time I had an amazing raspberry jelly with the Black Swan raw cows milk. The bread here is really great too. I bought a baguette for a dinner one time and it was so good I saved a bit in the freezer to be meter out for my carb craving. The cheese is so much fun! Try the cheesecake with the salted caramel sauce. My favorite wine flight is the "How do you say red wine in Spanish?" flight. I promptly bought two bottles of the Barbazul from the wine shop. How beautiful is bread, olives, cheese and wine!! I wish that I lived closer to this place so I more often and I feel like five stars just isn't quite enough.
(5)Ruth Ann M.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become my new favorite place since reopening at a new location. It is a fun and unique place to go when you have friends in town or a date to impress. The wine menu is split into three price columns...wine by the bottle, the glass, or a (nice portion) "taste". You can create your own wine flight by ordering a few taste portions. The food is amazing too. I would recommend going there hungry and trying a few of the taste plates. The hummus and tapenade plate is my favorite!
(5)Juliette B.
great food & service. we went here on a friday night & i definitely recommend this place for a great meal or a great date night. we ordered a bunch of small plates and flights and were beyond impressed with everything. most of the vendors at their shop were familiar names from the chicago farmer's markets, i'm sure their menu ingredients are the same. if you are coming in from the city take the green line in- don't drive- it's a 20 min trip tops & you'll be very thankful to hop on the train after all of their yummy flights (both the beer and wine selections are great).
(5)C H.
I want to LOVE these guys so badly... I really do. And they are getting there...truly. Let me say at the outset that the now 8-months old expanded MSCM is beautiful and the product is wonderful. On the pricier side, but not unexpectedly so for the items, the quality and the "atmosphere." The market portion is slightly revised from when it opened last summer and seems to be running smoothly. Service at the cheese counter is hugely improved from last year. Helpful, attentive and knowledgeable - back to what it was in the tiny old store. The wine-monger, Candy, is outstanding. However, the kitchen and cafe are still working out the kinks, now eight months after opening. It's good but not great...and not consistent. Either the service is off but the food is great or the kitchen didn't get it right but the server is good. At this point, and at these prices, the service AND the food should be great, every time. And, may I suggest a soup-and-salad or soup-and-sandwich combo for the lunch menu? Too expensive to get a bowl of soup AND and an entree...and too much food for the "ladies who lunch." This an amazing place. Great concept and great mission and great foodie-values and great website and great people. We badly want it to succeed in Oak Park. And it's getting there. C'mon guys in the restaurant part...keep pressing forward... you need to earn a place in our hearts and on our "fave list" with more than good intent!
(3)L C.
I went for dinner on my first visit, and tried a salad and the warmed goat cheese appetizer. With a glass of wine, and the great atmosphere, I was so relaxed and comfortable. I went back two days later to enjoy breakfast and brunch there with my parents and daughter. Again, creative ingredients for what could normally be boring breakfast omelets. Will definitely go there again...
(5)j c.
5 stars because this place truly is.....as good as it gets. My favorite dining experience of all time. Been to thousands of restaurants in Chicago, the East Coast, etc. and this place is the top of the heap. Have been to MSCM about 25-30 times and it has been CONSISTENTLY EXCEPTIONAL every time! The hostess staff is probably the only "average" aspect of the restaurant. The wait staff is top notch. They know the dishes, the pairings with wines and beers, they are appropriately attentive and ABSOLUTELY add to the experience. I believe that other restaurants (including 6 or 7 in Oak Park) should send their staffs to be trained by Jamie and Kelly. My only wish is that wherever I go to eat that I could take one of that pair with. The food is fantastic. They could listen to their customers requests and desires a bit more, but you will not be disappointed in a single item on the menu. AND consistent? Are they ever!!! Reasonable prices. Good atmosphere. Great place for dates or just a time with friends. They have live music a few noghts a week. The bands are not headliners, however they add to the experince with some very creative, well done musical performances. My girlfriend is a music teacher and has a good ear for music and rates the bands VERY SOLID. Great experience!!!!!!! They need to make the fish and chips permanent. Trust me, try their F & C and you'll never want to eat "someone else's" subpar fish and chips again.
(5)L N.
We went there last Saturday around 1p. It was not incredibly busy as three waiters we milling about the bar area the entire time we were there. It took 15 minutes before a waiter even showed up to our table. Then, after ordering, it took 20 minutes to get a meat and cheese plate to our table. Overall, what should have taken 45 minutes max, turned into an hour and 20 minute ordeal. The meats and cheeses were ok, but nothing I can't go get at Caputo cheese market to bring home. As we don't often go out to eat, the service needs to be decent and the food drastically better than what I can prepare at home. Unfortunately, Marion Street Cheese Market did not fit the bill on either account. Finally, the decor, while nice, is a bit strange. It sort of looks like a high-end bar, which doesn't really align with a restaurant with "Cheese Market" in its name. In addition, there are a lot of different items of the menu that don't jibe with the Cheese Market theme and would fit better in a high-end bar or even a breakfast/brunch place. As such, I think this establishment is struggling with an identity issue in terms of what it wants to be.
(1)Cali K.
After thinking Oak Park was a completely dry town, I discovered Marion Street Cheese Market not too long ago and I stopped in last night to pick up a bottle of wine. The customer service was amazing. Candie recommended a great bottle of Adobe White to compliment my sushi take-out. She was very knowledgeable about wines in general, and after a glass or two, I thank her for the recommendation. She also informed me that they have free wine tastings on the weekends and that alone gives me reason to return. Although I did not try out the cafe just yet, they have an outdoor seating area that will be perfect for summer!
(5)Maegan B.
Quite possibly my favorite restaurant! Everything I've had there is delicious from cheese flights to salads to soups to entrees to wine. Wait staff is helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. Would recommend this to anyone who is in the Oak Park area. Also has a super cute cheese and wine shop.
(5)Mary B.
WOWIE, WOWIE. A week or so ago I was having a bad day and decided to take myself out for dinner. I had been hearing about Marion Street and decided why not! I walked in and was greeted promptly by the hostess who informed me that there would be a short wait. I had a really delicious south african wine at the bar until a table was available. Once I sat down my server came up and I think she could tell I was having a crappy day because she immediately engaged me in conversation and was very friendly and helpful. All of her suggestions were delicious and even though I was stuffed from the hazlenut encrusted brie and the lamb shoulder I ordered, I managed to suck down a little trio of crembrulees for dessert. I think this place is GOLD. SOLID GOLD.
(5)Cynthia G.
10 stars! This place is wonderful. I went to pick out some cheese and olives for a little gift set for Christmas, and the staff spent forever assisting me and let me try a million different cheeses. They also wrapped it up prettily in a nice little bag, and I didn't end up spending much at all. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Kelley F.
Ok, I love cheese so it's no surprise that I would highly rate a cheese shop - however, were the shop to be poorly staffed or annoying, I might be inclined to rate it lower, at the expense of good cheese. That all said, the Marion Street Cheese Market is fantastic! The staff is wonderful - so nice and so very helpful. My sister and I stopped in just before the holidays and during a time many retail employees were just at their wits end, but the Market's employees seemed happy and genuinely interested in helping us make our selections. They gave us samples and recommendations. The selection is a nice one and they offer a variety of things to pair the cheeses with, from wine to olives. Overall, an excellent experience. It was my first visit but I can promise it won't be my last!
(5)Bob W.
They have to seriously reconsider their growler prices. In case you don't know, growlers are half-gallon containers of draft beer. They're enjoying a renewed popularity particularly in the craft beer-world. Two Brothers and Revolution Brewing will refill a growler for between $6-10 depending on the beer. Marion St. charges $18 and up for refills of the same beer. That is a huge markup.
(3)gd v.
Have been here many times...like the atmosphere, the wine & deli selections and the restaurant. The staff are very nice, accommodating & know their stuff. It is a bit pricey...but I think worth it for the quality of food & wine you are getting. Your best bet is to order a few different apz's & then split a meal with a friend . My favorite...the warm olives...so very simple but so good! Little advice...always make sure to ask if the wine you ordered is being substituted by another...though it may be equally as good or even better... you still should know which brand you are drinking. The deli selections are perfect for a dinner party!
(4)Sarah R.
After having a few drinks at Poor Phils we needed something to eat and all the fried food on their menu just wasn't appealing that night. We'd heard good things about the Cheese Market so we headed that way. At first when we walked in we felt super underdressed in our jeans and hoodies not realizing this was a nicer place to dine. Thankfully we were still warmly welcomed by the hostess and there was an opening at the bar so we felt comfortable sitting there. I can't remember what it was but there was a nice micro-brew on tap for only $4 that was absolutely delicious. We both got that to start and then began looking at the cheeses. We ended up doing a cheese tasting and also got the Focaccia. I can't remember what cheese we had exactly but they were nicely paired with fruit, nuts, and spreads and were just absolutely delicious. We were loving every moment with that cheese and were sad when it was gone, until we tasted the Focaccia. Whoa...Again I can't remember what it was exactly and it changes every day but there were roasted veggies and a light sprinkle of cheese. It was amazing. I had no idea Focaccia could be that good. We were super happy that we stopped into the Marion Street Cheese Market that night. I would highly recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area!
(5)Anna F.
I love the food here and I HATE the service. I really respect what the chef is doing with local ingredients, but for the price, the service needs to be far, FAR better. I feel like I am a glutton for punishment going back here time and time again. Great eats and drinks but you have to wait and wait and ask for basic things that should have made their way to your table ( like cutlery or menus or sugar etc.). I think the problem is the management especially this one server/front of house manager named Kate or Katie. She is beyond flaky and dreadful. I can't believe she has been working there so long. I shudder when she is my server. Really I think I have a bizarre love/hate relationship with this place. Literally tonight what should have been a 90 minute dinner stretched to 3 hours and we might have ordered dessert were it not for having been there so long. On many other occasions I have waited a full half hour for a glass of wine to show up at my table. Seriously MCSM get some proper management in place!!! This may well have been my last time visiting.
(2)Liz F.
i love marion street, despite sometimes being absolutely floored at the incompetence of its waitstaff. i feel bad even saying it, because i know and like many of the excellent staff at mscm, but there are a few waiters who just seem totally clueless. how does it take over half an hour to bring out a beer flight? and why must i sit staring at my cheese pairings for half of that time? i've heard others complain about the service as well, which is too bad because the cheese, wine, and beer selections both in the restaurant and the retail store are amazing. the restaurant food itself is also pretty good, if a little boring, and is occassionally great.
(3)Rich B.
CANNOT RECOMMEND this restaurant due repeated very bad service. I have watched a group of wait staff chatting behind the counter while food takes 45 minutes to arrive - and then it can be cold and incomplete. You can order a beer and a glass of wine and wait 20 minutes for it to show up and then it will be wrong. I really wanted to like this restaurant. But I have had to just get up and walk out twice. At least two other times it was all I could do to stay in my chair in the hope that my dining experience would get better any moment. I have had some good meals here. But no Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park restaurant has been as needlessly disappointing. The food is usually okay but the service has ranged from good to just plain awful. I have brought out of town guests here and have been very embarrassed for choosing this restaurant to try to show off Oak Park. This place has even goofed up a limit menu breakfast. Go to Winberie's in Oak Park for a consistently better food value and better service. The Marion Street Grille could be good if better managed and if it had experienced wait staff that actually cared. It has a couple of good waitresses, but the rest wait staff just doesn't belong there.
(1)Logan C.
What a great place. The inside is fabolous and compliments the wonderful food. Every experience I've had here was new and exciting and did not disappoint. Aside from the modern style plates, everything here is great. I can't say that I've ever had a better (or more pricey) cut of salame to compliment a dish. Definitely check this place out.
(5)Tiffany T.
Great spot for apps, wine and/or beer, and cheese. Menu is a nice mix of standard items and specials. I like that they emphasize using local farmers for most of their items. Service is good most of the time. They have a nice shop attached to the restaurant and an outdoor seating area.
(4)Michelle M.
My fiance and I LOVE this place, and really I have to admit that we probably go there once a week between the 2 of us. There are things we love, and things that we think need improvement which is why I only gave the 4 stars, hopefully we can give a 5 star rating upgrade later down the road. Things we love: the rotating menu, the menu is always an exploration and is probably not for fans of places like TGI Fridays or Denny's. Other things we love: the artisan cheeses they offer, and Trevor, our cheese guy who always pairs up our cheeses with something delish, like lavender infused honey. yum. Things we hope they can improve on: the sometimes slow staff. The staff is very nice and friendly, but I honestly have to put them in the artsy semi-flaky category (sorry guys - trust me I know- I am one of them). The other thing I was not so happy with was the included gratuity on the New Years Eve dinner bill... service was surely not up to snuff and we were charged for sub-par service. But still Marion Street Cheese Market is one of our 2 favorite foodie places to go in Oak Park, and trust me, I have met many people like me who love (and have a slight addiction to) MSCM in our hood!
(4)Julie W.
The wine and cheese are really good, haven't had a bad one yet. However, the food and sometimes the service, can leave a bit more to desire.
(3)Alicia P.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this restaurant, and all because of the service. I finally went there after wanting to for awhile, because I bought a Groupon for a Beer Flights and a Prix Fix Menu for two (great deal btw). I loved the talented young musicians playing jazz on guitar and violin. Good thing they were there though, because they helped slightly in drowning out my neighbors' conversations, since it was very crowded. I don't know if the extremely slow service was because I had a Groupon or not, but in my opinion, they should have provided excellent service so I would be convinced to go back and pay full price. Dessert took the longest, and I know for a fact that they didn't bake me an entire cheesecake to cut out two slices from it! Then when I got my check after having a TWO hour dinner, they had not charged me correctly. A half hour later, and after speaking with the manager TWICE, I paid the right amount. The food was creative, and I liked the interestingly unique flavors in my risotto. However, I won't be back unless I feel the urge to buy overpriced chocolates, wine or cheese.
(2)Joey C.
I've gone to the Marion Street Cheese Market for dinner a couple of times, and am a HUGE fan of it. The beer flight is a fun way to sample their range of unique brews on tap. The food......DELICIOUS! We had a baked brie appetizer, and it was heavenly! I do agree that they have a very small menu, however the food is absolutely delicious. I also love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. It is a very chill, intimate setting and a perfect date place. I definitely recommend that everyone try the restaurant for dinner.
(5)Andrew J.
Went in for Sunday brunch. The staff was very pleasant and our server was very attentive. I had a chorizo skillet with jalapenos and tomatoes added. the jalepenos were very thinly sliced so they were great, and the lime and sour cram went so well with the dish. I even added some hot sauce, which I liked so much that I bought a bottle. This was the best skillet that I've ever had, and I'd go back any Sunday for the brunch,
(5)Dusty P.
This is an update, having now made my third trip to MSCM - and now I have to take away one of their stars. Unfortunately, I haven't seen an improvement in streamlining their bar & kitchen operations to provide better service, which is VASTLY disappointing to me, because I really really really do like this place. I like having plenty of time to sit and chat with my friends and family, and this is a great place to do it, but I want a full-ish wine glass while I do... and my glass was empty much to often. For a cheese & wine bar, I don't think that's too much to ask... Our waitress was friendly but clueless; she had to go ask someone else every time we had a question on the food. She was always willing to go ask, but I wish she had been a little more knowledgable. Please, please, please, if the owner is reading this - tell your servers & bartenders & kitchen staff to step it up!!!!
(3)Jillian B.
Wow. MSCM is near home but I would travel from the city or far suburbs to dine here. The wine and cheese selections are delicious and the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable servers are prepared to guide you through to an amazing experience. I have been for brunch, lunch and dinner and the food never disappoints. The retail staff is actually more friendly and knowledgeable than the servers -- take home some treats too.
(5)Cody Y.
Marion Street Cheese Market is wonderful spot to pick up wines, beers, cheese and they have a really nice restaurant. My wife and I went to MSCM for Valentines and really enjoyed the servings. It's also a great lunch spot for a good sandwich. Definitely worth a visit for those in the area.
(4)nina D.
This place is great. I went here with my friends from NYC and DC and they were very impressed with the small plates we ordered (corn-crawfish fritters and the midwestern tour cheese plate) as well as the gourmet chocolates we took home. Can you believe they make a Devon St. chocolate with garam masala? A blue cheese chocolate? A Gold Coast chocolate with edible gold? It was like taking our taste buds on a culinary adventure :) Very cool stuff!
(5)Happy Mama M.
I love this place! Its great for lunch- really have only been there for lunch or to pick up wine. The menu is creative and delicious (I was a little nervous about the cauliflower sandwich!). The people working in the wine section are terrific and always pick out great wines!
(5)Kimberly C.
this place has gotten so much better! i think after a year and a half, they've worked out the kinks of running a shop/restaurant/bar/cheese world and have finally gotten some pretty awesome servers, decent portions and excellent pours of wine :) yay! i love how the menu changes but the things i really love always seem to stay, i love the live music (although it can be a little loud sometimes), i love that eric (the owner) is around almost every night we visit (although, is it healthy to spend that much time at the bar? ;)
(4)Christine I.
The staff are very helpful and friendly! When you ask someone a question the person often takes time to assist you. They have an interesting variety of gourmet treats and the wine selection is WONDERFUL! They know their wine.
(5)Danielle C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Oak Park. Their dishes are amazing, they have interesting combinations of food and they are always delicious. I tried the breakfast menu there and was blown away. They don't have disgustingly huge portions, so you don't feel like you're either wasting food or being a glutton. Service has been sketchy every time I've been there, usually slow and somewhat inattentive waiters. And this has occurred almost everytime I've been there, so it's always someone different. It is not, however, so bad that it stops me from going there, just a minor annoyance. They usually offer good vegetarian options.
(4)nan B.
Great place to get fresh quality cheeses. We bought several cheeses and some wine. There are many unique cheeses you won't find at your local grocery store. There are lot of other items like chocolate, wine and crackers ect... The St. Andre cheese is as good as it gets! The staff is nice.
(5)Laura T.
I can't believe that I'd gotten wine here for over a year and never sat down at the restaurant to eat! I plan to make up for lost time now. Everything was wonderful, from our knowledgeable server to the live jazz, the scrumptious wine, the wonderful food that made me feel like I was in Spain. Loved the warm olives and bread app. Thoroughly enjoyed our 5 item board of 3 cheeses and prosciutto and serrano ham. And after all of that I have to say that my favorite part was the wine, a fabulous malbec that our server recommended. Can't imagine anyone not loving this place!!
(5)Thomas C.
Started as a hole in the wall place to get some really good cheese. Relocated and became a really good place to get cheese, wine and craft beers. Now it is a great place, period. About the only thing anybody could reaosnably complain about are the prices, and they aren't bad when you consider th quality of what you are getting. Yes you can go to famous liquors and find many of the same beers for a few bucks less, but you won't tap into the knowledge the Charlie has, and you won't have access to the great cheeses, wines and other "pair this with your wine, cheese or beer" offerings that are in abundance in this great little place.
(5)Bo Y.
Easily one of the best American restaurants in the oak park neighborhood. I like how their menus change periodically. The prices are quite good, imo. The dinner Entree portions are pretty huge. I went last night and I had the trout. Probably 10 oz portion with a pesto cream sauce and rock shrimp. We also got the scallop appetizer- the sear wasn't very good, and was only seared on one side. The octopus was OK as well, I couldn't really figure out the dish. My mother in law had the crab stuffed walleye with a salt and vinegar potato salad. The fish was well cooked. We also ordered a few sides-sprouts, root veggies with goat cheese, and a mac and cheese. The sprouts were quite good as was the root vegetables, but the Mac and cheese had an off putting taste to it for some reason. I took one bite and stopped there. The highlight of the night was definitely the prosciutto and fig flatbread. Easily the best flatbread I've ever had. Everything about it was just perfect. Needless to say I will be returning since it's only 1 block from my house. The service was quite attentive as well. We sat outside and the offered to store our stroller. As we were getting ready to leave they brought out the stroller for us. So really overall I'd give it. 4.5/5 stars.
(4)Nico s.
if you ever go here, besides the awesome staff here the food is amazing every time. If you get Rachel or Sara as bartendresses ask for old fashioned's they are amazing. the chicken biscuit with spicy mango salsa is soo good. For the people that are looking for a new beer, visit charlie in the retail section,, this guy is very approachable and on point with regard to the different beer selections and emerging brews. all and all I can't speak highly enough to the complete package that you will find in this place. Live music great ambiance superb staff.
(5)Hip S.
I have been here probably about 6 times and I WANT SO BADLY FOR IT TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS! I have been there for every meal, for business, with girlfriends, and with husband. I mean, really...cocktails, wine, cheese...what's not to love? A few things unfortunately: 1. Service. The servers I have had, without fail, have been beyond confused. They do not know the menu. They cannot answer questions. And more than once, there have been errors because the server doesn't know what is being ordered. 2. "We are out of that". Half of my visits involved this phrase. Out of "muddled berries"? 3. General feeling of paying too much for the experience. I am happy to pay lots of money to restaurants and certainly don't grumble about portion sizes or purchasing bottled water. But each time, I find myself thinking "Meh. For this amount of money, I should not be thinking 'meh'" So I'm taking a sabbatical from this cute local place and will, because I really want to love it, be back again. I hope I am able to update with emojis and other excitable things!
(3)Joe T.
Don't get carry out. I ordered carryout and the two soups I ordered were probably 3 ounces each. Food is great and service is good but not when carrying out. Won't make that mistake again.
(2)Eric S.
Cheeses christ, they weren't kidding about this place. MSCM's reputation precedes them (being the 2nd or 3rd highest-rated business in the Oak Park area), and for good reason. Between the exemplary charcuterie trays and attentive service, I can fully understand why so many people are enamored with this establishment. It took me nearly 15 months to discover this delightful spot, despite living less than a half mile away. Better late than never, I 'spose. Nevertheless, what I found was a reasonably upscale bistro with a great menu and decent wine list. I was told the wait would be 8 minutes which wound up being closer to 15, but being seated on the outdoor veranda was a treat. A glass of Bordeaux for myself and a Manhattan for my companion got us started, though I was hoping for a Shiraz or Chianti on their wine listing and found nothing of the sort. We selected 3 cheeses and 2 meats from their 'pick 5' for $19, with a goat cheese, sheep's milk cheese, and an aged blue cheese accompanied by a smooth salami and spicy chorizo-style sausage. The platter came with a raspberry preserve and pine nuts with sliced ciabatta bread. Because I eat like an anaconda, I had to order something else to gorge on. I opted for the duck ravioli, which was served amidst a parmesan au jus and spinach with strands of prosciutto. For $16, I felt it was of reasonable value; the flavor of the duck was mild without being overwhelmed by the parmesan and prosciutto. It was surprisingly filling. Value-wise, the tab totaled an even $100 with tip (we got 2 drinks apiece, averaging $11/pp) and it was just about as much as I expected. A relatively pricey endeavor, but justified by the quality of items. Our server did a nice job taking care of us and the patio was perfect for people-watching. MSCM is a great place to take a date on a summer evening, if I do say so myself. The shop inside has a great variety of things for purchase and there's even a glass case filled with fancy-shmancy chocolate truffles (we're talking $2.25/piece). I'd like to return someday in the future, but one visit to this trendy cheese castle is enough to last for a while. Still, I highly recommend!
(5)Robert B.
I wandered in here at about 1 pm on a rainy Monday, mostly drawn by the promise of cheese from the shop and a chance to dry off slightly. I checked out the cheese market, then noticed the moderate but well-selected beer options. But then the smells wafting from the kitchen hit me and my stomach insisted that I sit for a bit and partake of their menu. The menu is small, but definitely fresh and crafted with food lovers in mind. It obviously revolves around cheeses and artisan meats, but there is plenty of choice here for everyone. I selected their tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, you say? Well, yes, but only in the best way. The soup was a tomato garlic bisque with just the right amount of roasted garlic and so creamy and good. The sandwich included two cheeses of the chefs choice, tomato, avocado and bacon, all on grilled sourdough. What? Yeah, it's as good as you think it is. The staff was super friendly. And while their draft beer selection is small, it contains some great rare selections. The wine list is also quite nice, and all are half price on Mondays! You have to give this place a try.
(5)Shyam S.
My dad had told me about this place, but from the outside, I just assumed it was kind of like the French Market downtown: a series of stalls inside with random foods, and a focus on cheeses. While there are a lot of cheeses and charcuterie at this market, there is actually a full-blown wine selection inside, as well a restaurant with enough seating for 50 people. We had a really great meal. Both of us had the carrot and garlic soup (delish) and we split the asparagus with lemon, and the grilled octopus (squeeze some lemon over it and it makes it even better). We then shared the seared whitefish, and both loved it. All in all, a quality meal, at a great restaurant.
(4)Kat G.
Came here for the first time last Wednesday. They are a small boutique restaurant/shop right off the Harlem green line stop in Oak Park. They have a chocolatier, wine selection, and cheese bar, restaurant all into one. This place is a lot of different things but I do feel they do a good job. They are a little on the pricey side but if you go on a Wednesday night it's half bottle wine night. Food is good, a little over priced but everything we had was consistently good. We enjoyed the Brussel sprout side, duck and shrimp tacos, and the American cheese board. All were good. As someone who has been to Napa, I can say they do have a good wine selection. If you want to go for a nice date night this is a good place to do it.
(4)Corey C.
Superb wines, cheeses and plates! My new favorite spot. I highly recommend and will be back soon
(5)Chris E.
We brought a group around noon on a Saturday. We got a mix of breakfast and lunch items: pancakes, salad, fruit and cheese plate (for our one year old) and sandwiches. Everyone loves their food and was high quality, perhaps even over the top. My only ding against them was that they didn't have a specific menu for their beer selection. They sell many different cans and bottles from their retail space and had 5 or 6 drafts so I would liked to have been educated on my options. We'll definitely be returning for a date night or a weekend when we're looking to impress or splurge on a meal.
(4)Lindsey E.
I keep wanting to like the food at Marion Street, but I think it's time to acknowledge that I just don't. Don't get me wrong...it's not bad...just meh. And for the prices they are charging, it should be better than meh. The wine selection, on the other hand, is really good. It too is quite pricey, but if you head over on a Wednesday for half-priced bottles, you'll at least be in the range of other, comparable wine bar's prices. The ambiance is great...very warm and inviting, especially if you're there when they have live music. The attached wine and cheese market is pretty killer too. If you're going as a restaurant patron, don't bother with an appetizer or entree...just get a cheese platter and some wine...but make sure you go on a Wednesday!
(3)Kristen H.
I am not sure if I was there long enough to give this place a fair review. After reading my fellow Yelpers' reviews about their amazing cauliflower sandwich, I immediately had to try it. It was not clear though that that sandwich is only on the lunch menu, not the dinner menu. The dinner menu was a little too stuffy and all of the entrees only consisted of meat. My friend and I decided to just split an appetizer of the sundries bravas, and they were surprisingly delicious! I had a glass of the Lucialliano Primavera and it was so full-bodied that I fell in love. I will be back for lunch, just not sure if it is my type of place for dinner.
(4)Lola P.
I have been here a few times. For the food and then for the drinks. I am a big fan of the drinks. Wise Fool is by far the best drink I have ever had. If you love bourbon, whiskey, and classical cocktails definetly order one! Great wine selection too. Personally I am not a fan of the food. I find it falls short of how it sounds, the quality does not match the quality of the drinks, the items in the shop, and the customer service. To sum up, I enjoy everything here except for the food.
(4)Natalia K.
Smells like cheese, but it's a cheese shop, after all. Cute décor. Definitely trying for an upscale and modern ambience and the prices reflect this. The food, however, did not measure up. We came for brunch. I enthusiastically ordered the chilaquiles. The taste was decent, but it was not at all as expected. It was almost an egg and tortilla casserole, rather than salsa, eggs, and meat on tortilla chips. If this was a modern interpretation, I'll take the old-fashioned one. Not worth the trip from the city.
(2)Stephen B.
I went here today with my daughter, because i am home for a while and we wanted to see each other. She had a turkey sandwich and I had a chicken sandwich. They came with a cup of soup which was delicious. The prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. I like the portion size, just right, not huge "American Portion." They have an ample selection of wines and beers. I would happily come back here.
(5)John T.
Wonderful selection of cheeses and various other delicacies. I always love going into this place and sampling new cheeses. A big pricey, but other than that, a great place to find cheeses for your party.
(4)David C.
This is a gem of Oak Park and that's saying something because I've been a customer at just about every business in this suburb because A) I used to live in a nearby suburb, B) I went to high school in Oak Park, C) my grandma lives in Oak Park, and D) I work in a nearby suburb. We came here on a weekday evening and it was bustling with people. We had a reservation for which two of the three of us were 10 minutes late. They didn't open the table until all of us had arrived, but they were gracious enough to hold the table. Our service was not overly attentive, but our water glasses were always filled and our waiter was kind enough to entertain my girlfriend's whim of taking a picture of our group with her phone. I was perfectly pleased with the service we received. Cheese flight: There were enough sourdough bread pieces for each of us, some type of decoratively splattered dipping sauces, bits of apple, and nuts. This was the first time I've ever had a cheese flight and it was fun. They have quite a selection of cheeses and our waiter was extremely helpful in helping us choose which to get. Burger and beer: I got the burger for my entree, which I later realized may not have been the best choice for a place like this. I wasn't really wowed by the burger, but that may be because I've had so many burgers around Chicago to compare it to. The beer was excellent. There was live jazz music, which I found really cool. They did covers of popular songs, like "Toxic" by Britney Spears. It certainly added to the romantic ambiance (yes, even if it's Britney Spears). Overall, we had a really pleasant experience. I was expecting my food to cost more. I felt that $30 for my portion of the bill was pretty reasonable given what I got. Next time I'm here, I'm going to go for the BBQ pork mac and cheese and one of the $7 desserts. These look like the most appealing options to satisfy my palate. I definitely recommend coming here, especially for a romantic date night that you don't want to break the bank.
(4)Julie A.
Went for lunch, and we were seated near the kitchen in front of the fireplace. By the end of the meal, my and my mom's eyes were burning from the fumes from the kitchen, and we left there stinking like the kitchen! It was terrible! I still smell it in my hair. And there was no apply on my cauliflower melt which was disappointing too. None of this is a deal breaker, just avoid sitting in this area.
(3)A W.
Went here last night and this is my go to spot for a "treat." Half price bottle Wednesday made sharing the bill with a friend manageable since it is not cheap. Our waitress did a great job recommending a wine and even provided a couple samples to us to help us decide. We usually get appetizers with one of the cheese and charcuterie options and it is more than enough. Last night we had the bacon wrapped dates which were divine. There was a live singer who did a great job adding ambience to the whole experience. Really lovely experience for wine, conversation, and good food.
(5)Angela P.
I'd like an omelet with all the cheese please! I came for brunch with my friend Aimee M., and while the menu is somewhat small, I had the hardest time deciding what to order. It all looked so good! The build-your-own omelet won me over once I saw that you can pick 3 ingredients. I chose the white cheddar, goat cheese, and gruyere. For an extra $1, I added roasted tomatoes as my 4th ingredient. This omelet was delicious and made with some serious cheese - creamy, melty, CHEESE! The omelet was served with seasoned potatoes which were also very good. I ordered a side of rye toast with jam as well. The homemade jam was really good, but I definitely coulda, shoulda, woulda, skipped the toast & jam and still left stuffed. Marion Street also does bottomless mimosas, but since I was ever so slightly hungover from the previous night's festivities (an office Christmas party) and would be off to celebrate a family birthday later that night, sooo I chose a single mimosa. The bottomless option was tempting though. While I absolutely did NOT need dessert, they had me at "donut." The chocolate sauce was delectable. Our waiter was friendly and also apologetic about the single fruit fly that momentarily buzzed around my drink. Since I only saw the one, and we were already finished eating, I don't see any reason to make a stink about it. They did have a door open, and well, shit happens. Anyway, he was more than happy to tell us about the specials and didn't look at me like I was crazy when I asked for an omelet with three kinds of cheese. There is, of course, a small cheese market within the restaurant. I had my eye on some truffle goat cheese, which I vowed to come back for later, but for some reason I didn't. When I left the restaurant I also noticed a slight stink in the air. It smelled of grease, eggs, and bacon. Oh wait, that was me. Yikes! Luckily I had no one to impress at the moment and plenty of time to air out. But eau de breakfast isn't my favorite perfume. A little (more) ventilation would help! Best omelet ever though. The cheese possibilities are endless. I need to come back here for dinner!
(5)Scott G.
I've been here to eat several times and have always been impressed with their food. They serve fresh, innovative, seasonally inspired modern american food as well as an excellent brunch. I also like their craft beer selection, which while small, usually has very high quality offerings and have stopped in numerous times just to get beer to go. They have a much more extensive wine selection than beer selection. The prices do seem a bit high compared to other places in the area but the atmosphere is on the upscale side. Lastly, the cheese selection is phenomenal and the staff incredibly knowledgeable. I have gone several time to get cheese to-go and have always managed to find the right cheese for the mood / occasion.
(4)Bibi L.
We had so much brunch food I can't remember. Basically everything was delicious. Good food heals all wounds
(4)Jane P.
Stick with cheese and wine because the kitchen food is very blah. The staff is super friendly but honestly everything I tried was mediocre at best. "picked things"- served in a cast iron mini skillet (weird) are room temperature pickled carrots + radishes. Not worth it at all. Burrata: the cheese itself is good, but served with a whacky sliced bread roll that's thick and swirled with rye? Seriously don't get it. Flavorless oily pesto and some cold carrots on top of the cheese. Cauliflower and Brie Flatbread: Really wanted to like this one but despearately lacked salt (not on the table). Over oily focaccia with some melted brie and cauliflower- self explanatory. No bueno Duck Ravioli: arguably the worst thing I ate just because it was SOOOOO salty. The ravioli itself was fine, but the broth and pancetta and greens served in a mess atop the plate were just like a slab of salt.
(3)Jason V.
Connoisseurs collection was amazing. We also got a 5 piece select your own cheese and meat tray. Yummy yummy yummy. We were kind of full so we skipped right to dessert. Had the cheesecake and the buttermilk berry cake. Again it was perfect. We had wines with the cheese and dessert wines with dessert. They had a nice selection of wines that were pleasing to the palate.
(4)J D.
I used to love this place, and I still want to. But the smell of fried fish that permeates the air inside is so off putting that we can't eat here or buy cheese to take home. I don't know why they can't fix the ventilation but it is such a disgusting smell that has lasted for months we cannot recommend this place any longer. Avoid until you hear or smell otherwise
(1)Linda L.
It was 3pm and my friend and I were famished after not having eaten for a day. The cheese flight I had here was nothing but 5 stars. We ordered the España Americana, which came with haystack mountain queso de mano (raw goat), WSDC dante (sheep), and sweet grass dairy asher blue (raw cow), along with a bit of prosciutto, fuet salami, pickled vegetables, quince jam, mango chutney, sliced apples, and mustard. This arrived promptly with a bread basket and a small cup of nuts. The WSDC dante was my favorite cheese by far! The salami and prosciutto were delicious, and the mango chutney was a great way to cleanse the palate between different cheeses. For the meal itself, I ordered the pork mac and cheese and my friend the firebird sandwich. His order came with a small fruit cup filled with cantelope and honeydew. The mac and cheese was very rich and a touch (though not overbearingly) salty for me. After eating it, I told myself that in the future I should remember to only get mac and cheese as a side dish. The mac and cheese contained shreds of pork and some large chucks (think baby portabellos or button mushrooms cut into fourths) of mushrooms. I would give this portion of the meal three stars. It was pouring outside after we finished eating, so we spent some time browsing around the store (about half the restaurant is the dining room and the other half is a store). They sell not only chachuterie and cheeses here, but also wine, chocolate, and various other snacks sourced from other Chicago shops. A fun browse!
(4)Susie C.
I wanted to try this place for quite awhile, and we finally did with a group of our friends. We already had dinner, so we came here to socialize with wine and cheese. I read from reviews here that we must make reservations to come since they get busy on the weekend, so we did..but we strolled in around 930pm so it wasn't that busy at that time. Almost each one of my friend ordered a flight of wine. I had the Tour de France with couple others. My husband ordered the Firearm. Another friend ordered the Cheese Friendly. And another friend ordered the Sparkle one..so we each almost tried out every flight on the menu..except for the Wonderland one or something that starts with the letter W. My flight was decent. I'm not a big wine drinker at all, but my flight had a mix of white and red wine which I enjoyed. My husband's Firearm was all red. It was on the heavier red side. He thought his was okay. He is much a bigger wine drinker than most of us. Almost each one of us have a favorite and had a non-favorite. We also ordered cheese - had a midwest tour and another one that I forgot the name. Also ordered 3 types of meats.. proscuitto was our favorite! We stayed way past the time the restaurant closed and they didn't kick us out. We really appreciate that. They close at 11pm, but we were there til 12am without knowing the time. We had a really good time. The atmosphere was really nice.. Definitely a michelin rated place. Definitely will come back. We all had a great time..staff was very friendly and helpful!
(4)Katherine M.
SO close to 5 stars. We really like this place & go often, so often we're learning the names of the staff... Food variety & cleverness - great Quality - EXCELLENT but not every night of the week. Sunday & Monday evenings they aren't so much on their game. If you see a beer in the package store (lots of great small brewery choices) you can order it to your table! Live music many nights, some small combos, sometimes a singer.
(4)Chan C.
Marion Market reopened! Disappointed again at Marion Market. The Kale salad was a small $7 serving. Dressing was watery. The grilled cheese sandwich was toasted to burnt level, bacon on it (I asked for no bacon), the fries were dark brown with an old oil taste and cold, the tomatoes on sandwich were overly soft with no flavor. Waiters nearly never get it right. Their bored disinterest is appalling. Darn, I live near, but too many poor meals here. Typical for Marion, but at least no fruit flies.
(1)Kristi C.
Came here on a Wednesday with some family members. They had live music and 1/2 off bottles of wine that night (yay!). We shared the fried brussel sprouts and roasted fingerling potatoes. We each ordered our own entrees. The food menu looked very good and I was grateful they had vegan/vegetarian options. The service (I believe his name was Tim) was on point. It's a very relaxing atmosphere and we probably sat there a few hours (and a few bottles of wine). Be sure to save room for dessert.
(5)Emily C.
The staff here is LOVELY--so friendly, knowledgable and enthusiastic about their craft!
(4)Emilio F.
I must start by saying that I selected this place during my travels because potentially they have 3 of my favorite things: cheese, wine and charcuterie. Also, back in the DC area there is a similar place that this place should have blown away. The ambiance, the store layout and the size of it are impressive. Ok, now for the bad news. I was equally disappointed in several areas: 1. The cheese selection seems inadequate in selection for a cheese market. I was also shocked to see a total disregard for cheese from outside the U.S. Seems an injustice to the consumer to not offer some of the superior cheeses from abroad. 2. Wine storage 101 tells us to never store bottles upright, but all the wines for sale at the retail space are upright. 3. Fruit is a great accompaniment to cheese, but they also bring fruit flies, which are a horrible accompaniment to my wine drinking and dinner eating experience. I felt like I was fighting a couple before they claimed my wine. 4. The menu does not really reflect the cheese and charcuterie other than in cheese and meat boards. I would expect to see more die t correlation to entice me to buy these ingredients for home. 5. The staff is either lacking in knowledge about cheese, wine and the menu...or they felt my requests for pairings and recommendations wasn't important. They had nothing to say without my questions, and seemed to know next to nothing about most of the large plates. 6. My duck confit looked delicious, but was VERY over salted. I know this because I love salt and salty food, and I still found it too salty. Pretty rookie mistake for a kitchen putting out fancy dishes. Don't think I'll be back
(2)Marcin O.
Came here for brunch recently, it's one of my favorite places in Oak Park. A nice selection of wines and cheeses along with chocolates and other assortments. As usual the service is awesome, friendly caring staff that make the experience very enjoyable. We had the cauliflower sandwich which is amazing and I never liked cauliflower, but give it a shot. The grits, oh man, pure gold. And the autumn french toast...well for me, not quite there. The first bite was great, very dense with nuts and caramel, like eating cake, pound cake ... And not French toast. Coffee is great and tea leaves steep in little carafes. Overall a great place for brunch so come check it out!
(4)Lyndsey A.
This place is a bit pricy, but man do they have the best Mac and cheese of all time. It's topped with breadcrumbs and it's a perfect piece of heaven. They also have a cool craft beer selection.
(4)Sarah R.
This is one of my favorites. It's located in Downtown Oak Park. My favorite thing to do is sit at the bar with B and order one of their charcuterie plates and pair it with a wine flight.
(4)Heather H.
I went here for brunch. My husband had the eggs benedict and I had the meat benedict, with chorizo, black beans and a sunny side up egg, which was on special. Both meals were absolutely delicious. The service was good as well. UPDATE: I forgot that I originally rated this place so highly. I'm changing it from 5 stars to 3. After having some good experiences with the breakfast/brunch we went back for lunch. It was summer so we sat outside. The service was terrible and it took an hour to get our food. There is no excuse for this. While the breakfast was always good the lunch items we got were really disappointing. Even 6 months later I still recall getting a dry, salty chicken sandwich. This was more of a 1 star experience. We haven't been back to see if this place can redeem itself.
(3)Adam K.
Since Marion Street Cheese Market has been sold to a new owner, it has taken a radical dip downward and is not way overpriced for what they want to be perceived as. I used to really enjoy going here for cheese plates and beer and an occasional dinner. It is now empty most of the time and I would not go.
(2)Rachel D.
The only reason, and I do mean ONLY reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the menu recently changed and the new options have been good, but don't live up to some of the discontinued items. The food here is wonderful. The cheese is delicious and the flavors are thoughtful. There's a reason why the curry sandwich made the Chicago's Best Sandwich list in Chicago Magazine. But by far the best item on the menu was, yes WAS the cheese puffs with a lime sriracha aioli. And they have been discontinued. Grief, disillusionment, anger--I've felt them all. I tried to console myself with the flash fried brussels sprouts or the buffalo cauliflower, but more bad news. Those are gone, too. I still go there, and I keep hoping that MSCM will see the light and bring back those stellar items. The menu did have some positive changes, namely adding bacon to the MSCM sandwich. One final note, I think all the salads could use a little more dressing. More sauce. Pretty much across the board. All this said, I still go there every opportunity I get, and I will continue to do so. Great place!!
(4)Betsy P.
I wanted to love this place but when it came to the Romaine Beet Salad, they failed. The lettuce had no life to it. Dressing was bland, it just did not have any substance. Come on, how can you mess up on a salad. This salad was BORING! They could have put fresh walnuts, grilled beets, green leaf lettuce and a delicious dressing, but no you did not do that. Service was disappointing too. Some people say, never say never, but I'm serious, I'm never coming back here.
(2)Jennifer H.
Came in today 11/20 & was exited to see the new menu. Much needed update was done to the cocktail menu. Menu has been winterized to include soups, warm cocktails, etc. Apparently the wine menu was also updated. I liked the new red Bordeaux.
(4)Lea J.
This is my favorite local stop off spot for happy hours. They make some of the best drinks in Cook Cty, have a continuous seasonal supply of the best craft beers ever, along w/tons of locally distilled spirits made w/fresh botanicals & spices. The menu has something for everyone, esp if you like paring wines w/cheese plates. And the staff is the best!!
(5)Jessica M.
If this restaurant was in San Diego, or I lived in Oak Park, I would never leave. On my visit, the three of us enjoyed several appetizers, wine, and craft beer. The cheese plate was delicious, and the "asparagus chips" that garnished the arancini blew my mind! My only criticism would be the pork macaroni and cheese. Don't get me wrong, it was super tasty! But it was not what you expect to get when you order macaroni and cheese... The macaroni was swimming in a delicious veal-flavored béchamel sauce, with a few slices of fontina melted on top. It is not the ooey gooey, decadent, cheese-filled dish that is macaroni and cheese. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed it, and do not regret the order. Dessert was freshly made donuts, and a couple dishes of gelato. Both were great. But the best part of the experience was our waiter, Victor. He was knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and attentive. When I make it back to Oak Park, I will be requesting to sit in his section!
(4)Liz S.
Went here to pick up some beer at 4:40 pm, sign on the door said they were open till 5:00 pm and the doors were locked. The two workers inside looked at us and then back to their phone. Tried all three entrances, all locked.
(1)Timothy T.
Loooove this place, especially sitting outside in the summer as we love to watch the L and Metra trains go by on the elevated tracks across the street. The food is nothing but high quality, this includes the cheese counter itself and the dessert / chocolate display. I'm sad to say the Hangover sandwich is no longer on the menu, but the amazing Cauliflower dish remains (thank goodness!). If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you'll love their new dish w loads of them. Excellent restaurant.
(5)Erika S.
Amaaaazing. I took my family here for brunch one weekend afternoon some time ago and we had a cheese and charcuterie plate to start with some phenomenal cheese and some kind of fig jam that tasted fantastic with the milder cheeses, not to mention some bangin' prosciutto. I had a delicious sandwich loaded with cheese, but their menu changes fairly frequently depending on what is in season and what they have in stock. I have had one "bad" experience there, but let me tell you why I still give this place 5 stars. A few weekends ago was my birthday, and my parents wanted to take me to brunch wherever I wanted. I selected Marion Street Cheese Market (this was on a different occasion than the above), and we sat outside on a somewhat windy but warm day. Little did we know that a baby shower was being held there the same day. The indoor dining room was full of attendees, and the kitchen was backed the hell up because of it. We ordered, and waited, oh, 45 minutes for our food? I could understand the delay with the number of baby shower attendees inside, and the wait staff (and the manager) apologized profusely for the delay. When our food came out, my order, as well as my father's (we'd both gotten the chilaquiles) was cold. Delicious, but cold. My father and I reluctantly called over the waiter and noted our food was cold (it was good and I would have eaten it and I HATE sending food back and I never do it but it... well... was cold). Waiter again apologized profusely. We expected them to just pop it in the microwave and bring it right back out, as that's really all it needed. About 20 minutes later, my dad and I were still sans food. It occurred to me then what was happening. They were making it up to us by cooking us entirely new plates of food. They don't BS around here. When it did finally come back out, it was spectacular. I'd never had chilaquiles before but it was flaky, flavorful, and just plain amazing. I'd never had anything like it. Worth the wait. Plus it was a lovely afternoon, I was just enjoying my parents' company. Then, the manager came out and said our entire bill was comped due to the delays. It was a kind gesture (that was pretty well warranted given the circumstances) and meant that I got a free birthday brunch. I've also patronized Marion Street for their wine and beer. The cheese is a little steep for me (I only feed myself in my house, so a 1/4 lb of cheese would likely go wasted before it went bad) but the wine and beer selection has some reasonable options. They also are the only place I have seen outside of the DC area carrying Flying Dog "Raging Bitch" beer which gives me a little slice of home. Try their truffles too from the little chocolate counter next to the beer fridge. I've had a few varieties and they are absolutely delicious. I'll continue to come back to Marion Street Cheese Market again and again!
(5)Rob W.
I went here to look for a gift and discovered many options. The staff was very helpful and offered me several things to consider for giving. Also, there were enough employees during the busy Christmas season that I didn't find myself looking or waiting to be helped. The Market has a great stock of wine, beer cheeses and gizmos associated with all of the above. Fun place to visit. I didn't try the restaurant but hope to sometime in the future. Generally, the place reminded me of Foodstuffs in Evanston/Glenview/Lake Forest, but less deli & bakery emphasis and more on the liquor and cheese. Worth checking out if in the Oak Park area.
(4)Nicole W.
Who wouldn't want to dine, snack and shop at a cheese market? Besides someone who is lactose intolerant or a hater of fromage, I suppose. Well, I don't want to be friends with fromage haters, so if you like the cheese, keep reading. Marion Street Cheese Market is damn precious. The patio is glorious, the goods insides are delicious and delightful and the service is great. Andrea R and I dined al fresco and indulged in a few savory snacks. Both the cauliflower sandwich - flavorful with a mustard kick, and the quiche - rich yet perfectly light in texture were great options for lunch. Next time I drop by I definitely want to order an entire cheese plate to myself. And a bottle of wine...also for myself. Hugs to the very kind waiter who brought us a complimentary dessert to congratulate my dining partner and me on our pregnancies. The chocolate creme dessert with marshmallows and pecan sandies is truly a dream come true. Get it.
(5)Daniel C.
I went here with my mom for lunch after the frank lloyd wright museum upon recommendation from a friend. I felt like the food wasn't actually that interesting or tasty. The flavor combinations were boring and the sides were bland as ever. The prices seemed a lil high for oak park. They do have a grocery store area for buying cheese, chocolates and wine.
(2)Karen B.
Used to be one our favorite places. The staff here has been and remains great. They changed ownership recently and abandoned the artisan food menu. I have seen a Cisco truck making deliveries. They just served us sliced multigrain bread that looks a step up from wonder bread. The lesson here is that quality DOES matter.
(1)Matt S.
An upscale cafe/restaurant/artisanal market that feels like it should be tucked away in some nice neighborhood of Manhattan instead of oak park. We had drinks and dinner there a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable. The bartender was quite knowledgable about craft beer and ended up raiding the market side of the store's beer stock to recommend something I'd like (which I did). Dinner was 1/2 off wine by the bottle, and although we didn't like the only chardonnay they had, the malbec was good and very cost effective. We had a cheese platter with this incredible Guinness soaked cheese, and the entrees were all large portions and delicious. My pork chop w polenta and mushroom was a bit larger of a chop than I was expecting, but that's always a good problem. The bolognaisse and the hanger steak were literally wolfed down at our table. We didn't stay for dessert unfortunately, but we did get to hear about 20min of the El string duo playing that set up in the main dining area. I'd definitely go again but there are also a few other restaurants I like in Oak Park so I'm in no rush--it was very good, though.
(4)Michelle B.
I have passed by this restaurant for years, now i'm mad at myself for missing out on all of those years of good food!!! This place is about as good as it gets. It's a simple, unassuming, french style bistro in the middle of Oak Park that serves the most delicious food ever. They have a mix of french and some american style food, and honestly i've never said this about any restaurant ever. I want to try their entire menu! I can't wait to go back so I can try something new because everything I've had so far was wonderful!. They have appetizers, full plates, soup/salad and charcuterie (they call it cheese flights), honestly the charcuterie can be a meal in itself. The staff is attentive and knowledgable about the menu, their wines pair well with their food and the ambiance is wonderful, the do live music on weekends as opposed to the imposing sound system. I will be back soon!
(5)Fabiola B.
I have been going here for 2-3 years, usually for birthdays and anniversaries. And every time has been wonderful. I ate here tonight and the experience was not good! It was a night and day comparison to the wonderful service and food I had at the very same place 4 months ago. Tonight felt as if I was at a different place. My visit today was bad. They sat us by the closet for napkins, glasses, silverware, etc. needless to say, every other second the would come to grab this or that and the door only half opens as it bumps with the table we were dining. It felt a bit intrusive. (I have never seen this closet in the past and I'm sure I sat by the same area before! Now to the food, I know the menu changes according to what is available in each the season, that's their thing and I love this about this restaurant, but it seems that their menu has less options than before. And I have been there around this time of the year before. We order a flight Española Americana, we have ordered this in the past so we know what it looks like, we received 3 cheeses but only 2 slices of one of the cheeses. Instead of getting slices of apples as we had in pasts visits, we received 4 pieces of chopped apple. It felt odd. However, when we were leaving I saw 2 other tables getting the same flight with slices of apple, not chopped pieces. And with 3 slices of the cheeses. Then it made sense, perhaps we received the left overs of lunch since we were dining at 5PM! I also noticed that other people who were dining there, received bread and butter as they sat down, but we didn't. Our food was ok, not fantastic or memorable as before. My husband didn't even finish his soup! I was quite disappointed that they didn't have flatbreads for starters anymore. When I asked about it, the waiter was sort of short and just said that they didn't have it anymore and walked away. I had no chance to asked why. When they brought the Kale salad, the presentation was poor, it look as if it was the left overs of another dish. I remember eating deliciously presented salads before. That is not the case anymore. The food was eatable but I could have had better service and better food at a cheaper price elsewhere. Last, the waiter seemed bother by the fact that we didn't order any wine. We don't drink for health reasons, we are free to just get water, but perhaps getting people drunk to mask the quality and flavor of their dishes is the new motto now! It is time for me to look for a new place.
(1)Angie M.
I'm super into this place. Really, I like any spot where I can not only buy wine, cheese, craft beers, chocolates, crackers, crisps, nuts, etc. but sit outside and nosh on yummy eats. Marion Street Cheese Market is WINNING, ya'll. The restaurant is pretty great. My only gripe with the food is that pretty much everything on the menu is super rich, so while I loved the grub, it was fairly heavy on the old tummy. If your stomach is at all sensitive to rich food, you may have issues. However, I did love love love the arugula/feta/watermelon salad and the cheese puffs were retro bliss. Insider tip: If you dine at the restaurant, you get 10% off your purchase at the store. So what are you waiting for?? Get over there and check out the small but respectable wine and craft beer selections. The employees are really knowledgeable so they'll be quick to help you find a beverage to suit your tastes. I was recommended a crisp, light white wine that rang in at $11 a bottle. And it was AMAZING. The cheese counter is great, too. I picked up a fresh gouda and a chipotle cheddar that were slammin. All in all WELL worth the trip to Oak Park. Wine and cheese for everyone!
(4)Tammie B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. It is fantastic. I have been here many times and have had only one disappointing meal. Food is well above standard fair; menu has several unique items; atmosphere is intimate; and it has take home store for specialty cheeses, meats, chocolates and craft beer.
(5)Lois H.
Everything was delicious, the cocktails, wine and food. The whitefish and walleye were cooked perfectly.
(4)Caterina S.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! The customer service was outstanding and the food was simply AMAZING!!! Well done!
(5)Michelle S.
Eggs benedict - add spinach, sauce on the side. Easy, right? Not so at the Marion Street Cheese Market. Spinach - not sure what we'll charge you, says the waitress. Sauce smothered all over the benedict. No apology, no offer for anything to munch on while they are fixing my dish (and all 3 started eating). Then, nasty fried potatoes arrive with the benedict. I would have far preferred a fruit cup or anything but fried pot's. I was not impressed.
(2)Judson B.
Food, selections of cheese, wine and for that matter, interesting distilled spirits is excellent. Too bad the staff seems to excel at misplaced arrogance. Not worth it, lots of other places want to engage customers.
(2)Kim L.
I came here for New Years Eve and all the fruit flies around our table and on our meal was such a turn off that I don't want to return.
(2)Emily J.
In all the times I've eaten at Marion St Cheese Market, I've never had brunch....until this past weekend. Ladies & gentlemen: I have found a new brunch spot! This place is heaven for the stomach!
(5)Marek C.
Honesty nothing special about this place . Their food is not even average ... Plus I did not like out waitress as far as her attitude ... Asian girl was very unfriendly ... I had this impression we did bother her when we asked simple questions ... No smile... No nothing .... Defiantly I'm not coming back ... I can take my money anywhere else and get better customer service ...
(1)Grace N.
MSCM is kind of like turkey bacon - good in theory, but a tad disappointing. In light of its reputation, I've given it a fair shot with dinner, brunch, and market purchases. Dinner was good but the portions were a tad small, and the charcuterie plate included a sopressata that was dry, rubbery, and flavorless. I love their heated outdoor dining option. Who doesn't love dining on the cobbled haven of Marion Street? But I am a self-proclaimed Bloody Mary aficionado, and the flavor of their bloodies is just unpalatable. It had too much garlic, and I'm guessing, pureed celery that gave it a bitter flavor, which resulted in a mouthful of icky sludge. The veggie benedict had a lovely pea puree, but the underlying chopped carrots was just a flavor and texture mismatch, and spinach or artichokes would have been a better complement. I think that MSCM should rest its laurels on being just that - a market. For Christmas Eve, we loaded up on an array of meats, cheeses and wine, and had a great pre-dinner feast at home. Just stay away from their sopressata.
(3)Rachel P.
I've been here once before and had a wonderful time with good wine, cheese and friends, BUT I was extremely disappointed with the experience we had two nights ago. The wine and cheese were great as usual but good food can be ruined by poor environment. There were so many fruit flies around our table that we could not ignore them! Not only did they fly all around us and the food, a couple of my friends even had flies in their wine by the end of night. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant! I would've approached the manager that night, but did not do so only because there was a big group of us and I did not want to interrupt our gathering.
(2)Yvonne B.
Ooh la la mi Marion! You sing happiness in my heart. MSCM one of the places that makes my neighborhood so freakin' ah-mazing! MSCM makes me the cool kid at my wine parties because they ensure that I'm equipped with only the best libation for my budget. Next they hook me up with delectable cheeses, chocolate, and charcuterie pairings. Because of MSCM, I seem like a master sommelier to my friends even though (lean in close for this secret...) I know nothing about this stuff. Oh but oh! The Marion Street Cheese Market doesn't stop there! They also have a restaurant. Oh YEAH. And they sometimes have live jazz. So, while you're sitting in your chair made out of recycled seat belts (they're super duper green) and savoring some locally grown fare from an ever-changing menu, you can listen to some smooth jams. I've recently discovered the MSCM brunch which is what spurred this second review. The brunch is unlike any other one I've ever seen in my life. There's regular stuff like eggs and oatmeal, but most of the food is really unique. For example, I had something called "Chilaquiles" with my $5 Bloody Mary my first breakfast. It definitely hit the spot. I brought M with me the very next Sunday and she thought it was pretty mind-blowing too. But besides the awesome food and cool store, MSCM sets itself apart with their people. The employees have professional and nerdy personalities. They know a LOT of stuff about their food, wine, and everything. It makes me feel good to be surrounded by such great people and humbled that they are serving me.
(5)Violet C.
The pate excellent, the olives to die for, the Amish chicken out of this world. The warm spinach salad... It's mine! No sharing!
(5)Robby K.
Not only does cauliflower grow year round, but it goes really well with peanuts!? who would have thought! ~that was one of the sides that came with my Coconut Milk Braised Short Rib. Another side was green potatoes that were that color because of a Basil infusion. and lastly atop this meat and vegetable tower. lime zested apples with some kinda seeds in it. everything was delicious. Any meat lover would agree that this is the BEST SHORT RIB IN THE CITY. Across any culture, this is the most succulent- dripping wet fat- delicate cut of heaven. and get this, it was Valentines day so wile making the reservation you can add a bouquet of roses for your table! **Reservations are a great idea for this place if you plan on going around dinner time.** the gf ordered the Lobster Risotto- it was pretty great. zzzllliippzoupzip Rewind! lets talk about the Pate appetizer. it was $10 but totally WORTH THE PORTION SIZE. it was really fun to try and budget the large cup of Pate with the amount of flat bread served with it. also the house made pickles and mustard sauce are fun to make little sandwiches out of, and try to master the most perfectly balanced bite. this place is a diamond in the rough and can compete with any seasonal Michelin star restaurant in the city. *this place is BETTER THAN PERENNIAL VIRANT! and similar style as well. GREAT PORTIONS. --WORTH THE MONEY --KILLER BEER/COCKTAIL/WINE LIST including a sparkling pinot noir that was the best 'champaign' i had ever had. this kind of restaurant makes me want to know more about food. it is inspiring. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
(5)Nancy E.
The fruit flies swarming around our table were annoying, and landing on our food, disgusting. Our clothes reeked of rancid grease after leaving there. The charcuterie platter was a disappointment and the wine although delicious was overpriced. Service was so-so. Sorry, this is not my favorite place.
(1)Danielle S.
Another great Yelp find! I saw this as the ROTD a long time ago, bookmarked it, and decided I just had to try it, Note to those who don't know the area - they have coin meter parking (that is enforced). I couldn't find parking anywhere else. So come prepared! Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a wall of wine, a case containing gourmet chocolates, an array of cheeses, and a refrigerator full of beers. Someone also greeted us right away and asked if we needed any help. We decided to sit in the Bistro and take our time with some wine and cheese flights and a sandwich. We ordered the Connoisseur's Collection cheese flight, the seasonal red and white wine flights, and the Autumn club. Everything was great! It was nice to be able to try a bunch of different things for a decent price. Our waiter was very helpful and had a lot of knowledge about the different cheese and what was on the menu. There is something for everyone here! They also have events and specials (they day we went it was half off glasses of wine). Something to check out as well! A great experience, great service, and great food!
(5)Sammy L.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. We ended up sitting at the bar because the wait was about an hour, so I would make a reservation. Other than that, everything was great. The service was friendly and the food was delicious. I had the chilaquiles and they were SO. LEGIT. My friend had the cauliflower melt and loved it. I'll definitely return!
(5)Tina C.
Well this place has changed for the better. The last few times I was here I was very pleased. The pea soup is exceptional and so is the service. Adrian is a wonderful sever who has great knowledge of wine and knows the menu very well. The pan drippings is ultimate comfort food. Half off bottles of wine on Wednesday!
(4)Kimberly S.
My husband and I have been regulars here for brunch for almost 2 years. We love the unique options and the quality, and I'm saddened to say that it's lost all its charm. All of our favorites are either gone or not as good. No more cheese puffs. No more breakfast breads. No more muesli as a side (now it's just plain old fries). And what used to be the best grilled cheese ever with several kinds of ooey gooey cheesy goodness seems to be all about the bread. I removed one side of the bread and could still barely taste the minuscule amount cheddar. Yep, only cheddar now. We have been told the dinner is still great, but that's not what we loved about this place. And we're told they've gone through several different chefs lately and even a change in ownership. I hope someday it gets back to what used to a 5-star brunch. Until then, there are just too many amazing Chicago restaurants for us to settle for this.
(2)Burt A.
Food was good Service was terrible! Waited 30 min for food and I had to make a suggestion of at least bringing part of the order Out to get any food Waiter makes no suggestions and generally Did not seem to care. Trendy for sure But service was a joke
(1)Jodie K.
I wrote this a long time ago but never posted it: Some places I visit I leave saying "I enjoyed but will likely try another place next time." It is rare for me to say, "I can't wait to come back here." Well, here it is I can't wait to come back here. I have since been back many times and often make the trek out from Midway just to pick up lunch and catering. To my friends at Marion Street, I confess I did try somewhere else last time I was in Chicago, turns out you were closed for a couple weeks-we are even now. What was going on?
(5)Tracey W.
Great... but, no longer have Jeni's Ice Cream. :(
(5)Michael R.
One of our favorite places in the world. Today we had the Midwest cheese flight, the spinach salad and the roasted cauliflower sandwich with curry aoili aged cheddar and apples. Outstanding food, warm and friendly service with a modern pleasing atmosphere. Cauliflower sandwich is a must have.
(5)Matthew M.
The cheese and cocktails are great. Service is better then it was. But how rude is it of them to tell me mid meal that we are testing the fire alarms. Can't you open early or something to do that. I'm paying to enjoy my time not suffer through a high pitched buzzer. I used to love this place but it has been slipping with new management. Maybe they will take time and think about customers before trying to make over their restaurant during open hours.
(2)Wendy E.
So normally I like this place however today I was offended by this restaurant We had a reservation for 2 people. The restaurant was busy and all but one table which sat 4 ppl was available and we were denied this four top although no one else was waiting but us and we had a reservation. Needles to say offended that the staff refused to seat us since obviously 2 people are not as lucrative as 4 people we left!!! So I wouldn't make a reservation unless there are enough people in your party to merit seating.
(1)Tim O.
This review is for their brunch. Their wine and cheese selection is amazing and their dinners are delicious, but their breakfast/brunch was terrible. I don't know if their a- team was on vacation, but the food took forever and came out burnt to a crisp. I was served an omelet that had a crispy crust and another person was served a skillet that was almost black on top. I've worked in restaraunts and it is inexcusable to send food out that was that poorly cooked. The cook shouldn't have put it in the window and the waiter never should've brought it to the table. The second round was still crispy, assuming that this was the best they could do and ate it. I will go there for wine and dinner, by will never return for breakfast.
(2)Sue T.
A place where we can look at cheese, taste cheese *and* sit down and order food made with good cheese - what's not to like? Except that the potato bacon soup was served barely warm and had a strange slightly sour overtone, maybe from the smoked bacon. The chopped salad was fairly ordinary. The sandwich selection was unusual and my spouse enjoyed his turkey-cranberry chutney. So a mixed experience this time but it's still a good place to visit.
(3)Pamela C.
One of my favorite restaurants in Oak Park. Perfect spot for a date night. Cute little patio, and only a block from the El/Metra. I have food allergies and the staff carefully noted the comment in my Opentable reservation and even contacted me ahead of time to make sure they could accommodate me. Impressive. Great wine and beer selection. Really enjoyed the summer wine flights. The staff provided excellent suggestions. Some of the best mac n cheese on the face of the earth.... ;) Looking forward to our next visit. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(5)Adam Y.
2x is the charm! As my second visit I have to say it is only getting better. For the concept, a wine/cheese restaurant/wine store, it's fantastic. The food is so great, and I've never had any issues with the service, but I tend to not be shy about setting my expectations if the server seems pre-occupied. Enjoy this fun little location in Oak Park for an afternoon of wine and cheese.
(5)Andrea R.
I admit I've been looking for an excuse to go back to Oak Park for weeks now just so I can enjoy another meal at Marion Street Cheese Market. My colleague and fellow pregno, Nicole W, and I were lucky enough to score a table on their patio on a beautiful summer day. At the suggestion of our very helpful waiter we decided to spli the cauliflower melt and quiche. Both were so delicious that I'd be sure to order them again next time, although I have a feeling you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. We passed on dessert, but our favorite waiter brought out a complimentary chocolate dessert and cookies just to congraulate us on our pregnancies. I definitely don't need the extra calories these days, but it was still very much appreciated...and tasted delightful. Consdier yourself lucky if you have Marion Street Cheese Market in your backyard. And if not..it's worth the drive!
(5)Gino W.
During the summer I would always pass by this place and say to myself that I should return for an outdoor seat. But I would never get up early enough to get to Oak Park for such a seating. Then a friend wanted to meet after work and we had both wanted to try out Marion Street Cheese Market. Oh my God was I glad we did. We had a flight of olive oil, a flight of cheese, wine, crab fritters, and bruschetta. Usually restaurants and lounges that serve the kind of fare that you get at Marion Street Cheese Market rack up on price while suffering a little in quality. Now that I have been indoctrinated into how to enjoy flights of olive oils and cheeses thanks to an incredible waitress, I will return once the weather is consistently warm so that I can have an outdoor seat and reminisce about being in France.
(5)Hugdealer E.
lots of great beer pops up here. they also have a nice stock of deli meat / cheese if you're into that. it's not very cheap, but the stuff they sell is never found at bargain bin prices. get what you pay for. has separate area for eating, never dined there.
(4)Tara G.
The cheese and charcuterrie boards were great. High quality and nice assortment, just a bit overpriced. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Nice Oak Park spot.
(4)Debra L.
Where to begin. I will start with the positive. Great server. And that's it. Not one dish we ordered is worth commenting on. The temperature in the place was hot. The exhaust was not working so it was like breathing hot smoke. Then the food. I had Chilaquilles which weren't even close to what you'd expect. Tortilla chips batter and baked into something more like a dressing. Dried shredded pork. Bland green sauce. Need I go on. And don't even think about the shredded pork hash. No seasoning to speak of. Ordered two over easy eggs and got fried eggs instead. The final dish was the cauliflower sandwich and it was OK. Don't think I will be headed back anytime soon.
(1)Christian W.
Great bistro style restaurant. Had the beet (not beef) carpaccio, brussel sprouts, and maple chicken. All were craftily prepared and delicious.
(5)Kate O.
Overall enjoyed this restaurant. I was running late and my friends ordered a brunch appetizer of old fashioned doughnuts which perfectly arrived warm and crispy right as I did. Definitely recommend them. I ordered the Traditional Benedict, but was served the chorizo benedict. We had already been waiting a while for our food so I decided not to send it back. I really should have sent it back, Hollandaise and chorizo do not go well together. They sent us a cheese plate which was a nice service repair. I would probably go back, but make sure that I spoke with more clear diction.
(3)Randy S.
Went here last night with Mertz (yeah, I call him "Mertz" now) for a beer. This was my first time here, but with all Draft beers being $4, and well placed television to watch the game on - I was sold from minute 1. The service was polite, and familiar - both things you would expect from a local place in OP. if you are looking for a Tuesday party spot - look elsewhere. There were few patrons to speak of. But if you enjoy a quiet beer, with nice ambiance you should swing by. Maybe next time I will try the food.
(4)Susan M.
I have to do it -- I have to. The last two times I've been here service has not been awesome, and neither has the food. I thought especially since they have reached Michelin status, they would rock my socks off. We had a 120.00 dinner last night, and it was not memorable enough. Stand out was.... um nothing. Service was just ok, halibut was dry, cake was dryer. I pick on service because the service here the first three times we dined was outstanding, The server was excited to meet us and tell us all about their cheese/beer/wine flight options. Their knowledge of everything on the menu impressed me, the smiles were nice too. It's hit or miss these days. I hope they amaze me just once more because I used to rave about them, brag brag brag -- only to be let down twice in a row - 7 months apart. Eh. Hurts.
(3)Craig S.
It pains me to write this review. I really want to like this place. I mean *really*. But I don't. Well, that's not true. I *love* the cheese shop! They'll always get my business! Such a great selection. But this review is about the restaurant. Here it is, plain and simple. This place takes itself way too seriously. When a restaurant puts itself (and/or its chef's whims) above its clientele, I'm not going to be a fan. If you order something off the menu, and ask if they can leave something out, only to have the server tell you that the chef doesn't like to do that, well, it sends a message. And that message is that it's more important that the chef makes what he wants than you get what you want. That is all well and good. If that's the place you want to be, then go ahead and own it. It's just not for me. Especially since the server didn't even bother to ask, and the request was to omit the bacon from a scallop dish. So that, coupled with the very high prices, has shifted that place from a once-a-month or so stop for us down to maybe once a year just to see if things have improved. I'm looking at their menu now, and see enough changes that we may give them a shot again soon, in which case I'll update this review. Also, our nights in Oak Park are Thursdays, which for this place means loud jazz being performed live in the dining area. I'm just not into that. If you are (and a lot of people seem to be), then you'll dig it, but we find ourselves pining for the intermissions so we can actually have some table talk.
(2)Cher M.
The best part of the Marion Street Cheese Market is the actual market. Get cheese, charcuterie, wine (especially the wine!) to take home and you'll be happy. The Cafe, not so much. Sure, it's good food, but the service can swing from helicopter waitresses to AWOL bartenders. There's no middle ground. I did really enjoy the wine flights that I've had here (I've try a new one each time), but I'd rather do that and get dinner elsewhere, as this place is overpriced. It's hard to enjoy a meal if you can only afford to order the pickles. My advice? Skip the bipolar service, but stop in when it's not busy for one of the wine flights.
(2)Cathy G.
I really enjoyed Marion Street Cheese Market. The food was good, the service was good, and the atmosphere was exactly what I looked for on my birthday with family and a close friend. We dined outside and ordered a cheese plate, several entrees, but no drinks (middle of the day, MIL of BFF doesn't drink). The food was tasteful, well presented, and reasonably priced. The flat-bread pizza was very yummy and gave us reasonable left-overs for late that night. On my second visit, we purchased an IXA silver tequila for consumption at home. As I am a resident of Jalisco, Mexico, I was interested in trying an organic tequila. The tequila left a lot to be desired, but I applaud Marion Street for offering something a bit eclectic and outside the box. The chocolates are exquisite. As are the ice creams. I highly suggest the Goat Cheese and Tart Cherry Ice Cream.
(4)Diana M.
This place seems to be very popular, so we made the mistake of taking company. We went for brunch on a Saturday and they seemed to be out of everything we wanted. What we wound up ordering was incredibly greasy and not very flavorful. Since its so popular we figured we should give it another chance. This time they had the food we wanted to order (and a beautiful outdoor patio), but again the food was so greasy and heavy and nothing special. We LOVE the gourmet shop attached to the restaurant though and go their often for local beers and food gifts.
(2)Na S.
My girlfriend and I sat there for dinner for hours, just chatting away. I love the casual and sophisticated atmosphere. We were surrounded by espresso wood with beautiful decor. There are lots of options on the menus as well, depending on how full you are. You can select from cheese flights, small plates, or large plates. Everything we got was excellent. SO satisfying. I can only say that about what I've ordered by I bet everything else is just as heavenly. Connoisseur's Collection Midwest Tour Smoked Salmon Crispy brussel sprouts with candied hazelnuts Braised rabbit with buckwheat gnocchi
(5)Jennifer Q.
We came back here again the other day. The first time I tried the eggplant sandwich and the salmon sandwich. This time I tried the cauliflower sandwich -yup that's right. It's like sauteed cauliflower with some really tasty spices, apple and cheese on wheat toast. The combination of flavors was awesome! Really nice environment, service and tasty food. I like that they have craft beers too! Oh, and don't forget to pick up a few fancy chocolates on your way out. They are super delish!!
(4)Rachel B.
We ordered several Entrées, the squash risotto and pork shoulder. Both excellent. We also ordered several sides. The Brussels sprouts were tasty, but very oily and so was the buffalo cauliflower. Drinks were only mediocre. We had ordered the drink special of the evening and they had run out of ingredients by 7pm....kind of strange. The service was just ok. The waitress made sure our water glasses were filled, but that was about it.
(3)Sheree B.
I have eaten here several times and shopped in the wine/cheese shop on other occasions. We have had the most enjoyable time here, snacking on cheeses we have never tried before along with some delicious wine. All this with background jazz musicians playing music, we couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, their recommendations were spot on.
(5)Vlad L.
Been here million times. I love the concept of seasonal menu (more restaurants in US should adopt that). Food is great, good variety of drinks. They also have a store which is open late, so you can always stop by, grab a bottle of wine, some cheese, olives, cured meats.
(5)Cindi C.
Had brunch here with my family last weekend. The Bloody Marys were good, I like mine spicy and the waitress quickly fixed mine when it came out not so spicy. We shared a cheese platter between the 5 of us and it was just right to curb the hunger before our meal. We all ordered different items and everyone's food was delicious and hot. The two of us who had eggs benedict wished they were a little softer, but it was too delicious to stop eating and return for a redo. We will definitely be back!
(4)Peter H.
SPECTACULAR service. I am talkin about YOU friendly host/busboy, and YOU eddie, awesome server. Went there for dinner, tried a few beers on tap that were nice. Very comfy vibe inside...awesome pickle jar, had some nice Pork loin chop was really nice, had a great cherry mostarda on top. Went back for brunch, nice outdoor area, very nice server Mike took care of us, he forgot to put in our order, but he owned up to it and gave us some nice bread tray for his mixup. He didn't try to cover it up, honest mistake, we were waitin for company so it was no big deal. Wasn't crazy about my meat benedict (chorizo), just didn't do it for me. Only reason for the 4 stars. Will def be back.
(4)Johnny A.
I am going to have to agree with another review, the food and selection is excellent and exciting. The service is weird. I have been twice, first time it was packed and the food far out weighed any woes for the service. Second time, unpacked and the service was bizarre and bad. We were all kind of afraid our waitress was gonna snap at any moment after she yelled at us multiple times. We waited for our table to be pushed together and bussed for almost 15 minutes, but not because it was busy, because the wait staff was inefficient and having a hard time working together. The waitress seemed to pull it together, but for a special family outing- it is a shame that she was stealing the fun and impacting the beautiful atmosphere and great food. I would definitely return if I was in the neighborhood, but definitely not with a large group or if I was feeling sensitive.
(3)J X.
Loved this little gem. Classic breakfast was really solid. Simple, but outstanding ingredients make all the difference. Also got a pork ragout on cheddar grits that was fantastic. Place is pricey for the portions, which were small. Overall though, if I lived nearby, I would be a definite regular. I'd love to try some of the cheeses and other items. They have a spicy prosciutto spread that looked great.
(5)Shannon M.
Lactose intolerants, beware. This place is not kidding around. Walk in the door and you'll face, well, cheese. All kinds of cheese. If you choose the adventure to your left, there will be more cheese, plus gourmet goodies like preserves, candy, oil, olives, beer, wine and more to tempt your artisanal taste buds. If you choose the adventure to the right, you will head for the small bistro area and settle in for a meal most likely featuring some of these delightful products. Sunday brunch -- made with sustainable ingredients and a seasonal menu -- was a splendid choice as a first meal here. My friend's traditional-type breakfast was a big honkin' load of satisfaction to him, including coffee with cream. I ordered French toast, wonderfully caramelized and syrupy on thick bread, and made it more decadent by asking the waitress to get a small pitcher of cream (as came with the coffee), which I promptly soaked the bread in. The result was similar to tres leches cake. Far too sinful for a morning meal, yet so worth it. Deliciously crisp bacon rounded out the entree. I would love to come back to try a cheese flight or a later-in-the-day meal to see what other variety they offer.
(4)Kryste N.
Marion Street Cheese Market has become a regular stop for me when in Oak Park. I love their cheeses and meats, wine selection is great, chocolates are fantastic, and I love the random items they carry like Lillie's Q barbeque sauce! One of my favorite places to go!!
(4)Sol A.
Love this place! I was so excited when I walked into this place. The concept is well thought out & executed. Great atmosphere, good food, appetizers, wine, cheese & music. Very relaxing. It's been a while since I've visited. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)Sal x.
First of all, the food here was delicious, tasty, interesting...I could go on and on. I really appreciate their focus on local, artisanal, and seasonal offerings, as well as the thoughtful and complex approach to vegetarian dishes. More than just the run of the mill lentils and couscous. We usually dine at Green Zebra and I have to say, the quality and flavor of the food rivaled some of our best meals at GZ. Now, on to my 2-star rating. We dined at the bar, where service was less than stellar. It was abysmal. It was the bartender, Mike's, demeanor that leaves us with a difficult decision: forgo the great food due to poor service, or ENDURE just to enjoy the tastes? We will defer that decision, but in the meantime below are a few of Mike's missteps: 1. He "could pour me a beer flight but it would take a really long time." Great, I'll just have a singe beer. 2. Mike: "Are you finished? Is this garbage?" Sure, if you call what is left on my place garbage, then I guess it is. 3. Mike: "Let me move your wine flights so you don't ruin the menu." Sure, we didn't put it there. 4. He was cleaning up the bar before we were, and 5 other tables, were finished eating. I didn't sit at the bar to watch a clean-up crew. At 9:30. 5. Latecomers (9:50pm) were turned away, or given "4 minutes to order." You're supposed to be open until 11:30. If I was the owner I would like to know what I could do to rectify this situation. The poor service seems to be a Yelp trend. You need (re)train your wait staff, specifically Mike. The other bartender in training and bar back were very friendly and efficient workers. Looks like you have a sour grape on your hands. Fix it and we will be back.
(2)Jacqueline A.
For some reason I thought this was a wine bar. Maybe because they devote the entire front to wine, and hold tastings on Fridays. Well, it's not! I attended one of their tastings, and it was so brief even though I chatted up the rep that I decided to grab a glass of wine at the bar. I found their wine list to be completely uninspired...Mark West Pinot Noir? I find that insulting. I know this is a place that flaunts being green, and every time my water glass fell below half it was replaced with a new one. New glass, new ice...I would be all over my kids for that kind of waste. The three stars are for previous times I've eaten here. I enjoyed sitting outside, and the food & service were fine then.
(3)R todd N.
Generally excellent food but slow wait, and FAil on cocktails. Excellent curry /crap soup, great hamachi, and their entrees are very good. Amish chicken dish is reliable. Most entrees are a b+. However, We ordered two cocktail (historically cocktails have been a highlight there) - a strawberry mojito and a dark and stormy. We got two glass that tasted like a bunch of lime juice with the only difference being one had strawberries. You could not even try to explain either of these as "innovations" of the respective drinks we ordered but our waitress did! Not a clue regarding what the ingredients of either should be and no apologies but a credit. Typically liked this place but stepping back.
(2)Nichole C.
In case you don't want to read my specifics, the short is -- I was pretty disappointed. I would maybe go back for cheese plates and wine on the patio in nicer weather but may ultimately decide it's not worth the trip. Here's the story: Met a friend for lunch, we were seated quickly and offered drinks. I ordered soup and a salad, the soup came out first and it was the wrong soup. No big deal, she brought me the correct one a little while later but when it came, it was verbally referred to as a chili, which was an accurate description. I wouldn't have ordered chili, I wanted soup, which is what the menu said. For the record the soup that I sent back was really well balanced in flavor with a nice texture, my bad. Then came the salad, it was supposed to be a smoked trout salad with black kale. Sadly, it had NO KALE on it whatsoever, just a small sampling of arugula and other mixed greens. There were also 2 "bagel chips," more precisely described as ultra-thin wafers, so thin that there was no hope of eating the large quantity of cream cheese plopped on the plate. It wasn't well thought out and I ended up with a lot of leftover fish and cream cheese because there was nothing to eat it with. Sad times for me, but my friend enjoyed her cauliflower melt.
(2)Kyle H.
An update! (But with no stars bump? Read on...). Another lovely visit to charming Oak Park and the Marion Street Cheese Market. It's so easy to kill time in Oak Park, I arrived ahead of my dining company and bellied up to the small bar area at Marion Street Cheese Market. The barkeep was a charming and attentive server, and he quickly brought me both drink and food menus, answered my questions about Seasonal beers on hand, until my guest arrived. Leaving the bar and being seated at a table by the Hostess with my guest, I guess they can't transfer a bar tab, as the charming barkeep ran over with my bill, to pay up. Scoundrel! Cad! Bounder! I guess he thought I ran out on the bar tab. My bad. I figure it would be transfered to the dinner bill, like at most restaurants. The meal was Heaven. Ordered the Espana/Americana cheese and charcuterie sampler, and our server Juan was superb at explaining what was served. Actually, he was superb all night, and recommended an excellent wine pairing as well. Entrees! I could not pass up the Pumpkin Tamales with Spicy Cranberry Salsa, served over wilted spinach. Wilted spinach is steamed, not sauteed, I learned. And you could tell- it tasted really fresh, and paired well with my tamales and my guest's fried chicken! Those tamales were incredible! Amazing. I need a moment... Had dessert as well, and enjoyed the jazz duo (as Thursday nights are WDCB jazz night), but then waited for the server to take the bill for a very long time. He was on point all night, so it wasn't a big deal- just between that and the bar tab transfer prevents a fifth star. When I've saved up enough money from my paper route, I'm definitely going to give Marion Street another try to get that fifth star! And I'm going to enjoy it, myself too, of course.
(4)Rhonda W.
Great Wine, Great service (Phil), didn't have dinner so we'll be back!
(5)Kathy R.
Okay, guys...the food here is still top-notch, but they really need to work on the service part. The last few times I've been here, the service has really been pretty bad. I brought a girlfriend here after repeatedly telling her how great the place is. This was the day that I've never had worse service! We were seated and ignored for quite a long time. I had to go grab someone to finally talk to us. He sucked. He spent all his time, hanging out behind the bar counter, chatting with another server. I have also never stiffed ANYONE. We left him one dollar...on a $50 check. He sucked that badly! Okay, so, I went back with a group weeks later. This time, they server was good and the food was excellent. If they could iron out the inconsistencies with the service, it will once again return to a 5 star establishment in my eyes.
(4)Kari G.
The brunch here is delicious! My kids devoured the bacon, the French toast, eggs & yogurt and granola. I had the roasted cauliflower sandwich and my husband had the sweet potato grits and eggs with a side of potatoes. Everything was sooo good and we will definitely be back!!
(5)Chuck F.
Unique in every way. The food and presentation show an attention to both, quality and detail. The wine and cheese selection,from the shop, are impeccable.
(5)M W.
I must admit, their mac n cheese is delicious. I did wish that I had some hot sauce to put on it. Definitely wasn't worth $14 though (but I wasn't paying so I didn't mind too much haha). Also, I would imagine for $14 it would be a pretty large portion, but it wasn't. The other person I was with had a lamb pasta dish with pomegranate seeds. It was fine. Not as flavorful or big of a portion for the price. As we definitely had room to spare at the end of the meal, we shared a dessert, a chocolate pudding with crème fraîche. The crème fraîche tasted like greek yogurt (which I am definitely not a fan of). The dessert was also ridiculously small, and DEFINITELY not worth $7. The food can be pretty good depending on what you order, but it's pretty overpriced and small.
(3)Angel W.
I really wish I had more nice things to say about Marion Street Cheese Market. My friend and I went out of our way to travel here and discovered that most of the roads around the restaurant were closed/blocked off. Since I am not from the area and we could not determine how safe the neighborhood was, we called the restaurant to get walking directions. The staff was completely unhelpful and had no idea where we were or how to navigate us to the restaurant. Turns out we were right on the other side of the road behind an obvious landmark; a large hotel. When we mentioned the road was blocked, the staff person acted confused. The ENTIRE road is blocked, how could they not understand why we could not find them? I am still utterly confused myself about how the staff could be so clueless. The restaurant has a nice ambience and a cozy bar area. And I did like one and a half of the courses I ordered and those are the only two compliments I can offer Marion Street Cheese Market.. Our server was a bit snooty. Service was somewhat slow. Marion Street Café was offering a price fix menu that included pumpkin bisque. I did not want the entire price fixe menu but inquired about ordering the bisque separately. The restaurant could not accommodate me since they were concerned about running out of soup for the other patrons that may order from the price fixe menu between the time I arrived and the next hour, when they would be closing. Soup would have been nice since it was raining and they could not offer directions so we were walking in the rain for a bit. The server mentioned many people had requested the bisque and they could not accommodate all of the requests. Well, duh, why don't you put it on the regular menu if it's so popular rather than flaunting it in people's faces? So anyways, I settled for the warm chevre salad with roasted apples + seedling cider vinaigrette + sunflower seeds +Capriole farmstead Chevre. It was okay. I of course would have preferred the soup. The beer boiled peanuts were good. There was one particular bruschetta that was fantastic - Heirloom potato confit + caramelized peppers + black garlic aioli. Definitely worth trying! The other variations of bruschetta were not that great - 1) Black eyed peas + Edward's country ham + green tomato jam and 2) Lentil sunchoke mash + grilled mushroom + rosemary balsamic My friend's roasted beet salad was pretty good and was made with Green Acres beets + moody blue cheese +candied pecans + organic arugula +sherry vinaigrette My friend did not enjoy the $12 wine price per glass. I had high hopes for this place, but found the staff to be inhospitable between the inability to offer directions or to offer a soup from their menu. Also the server mentioned that the construction was hurting their business, but I didn't really see them trying so hard to impress the clientele who went out of their way to patronize the venue. After our experience here, my friend said she was picking the restaurant the next night, and I have to say she did a much better job finding a place that we liked than I did.
(3)Lauren R.
You know that movie Hustle and Flow? Remember the song "Whoop That Trick". I have a new saying for yelp that can be applied to good or bad reviews and the saying goes like this: I need to "Yelp That $#*7" I came up with it after we ate at Marion Street this weekend. I have been to this place about 5 times for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. We keep coming back because it happens to be one of my family members favorite places to dine. This weekend we stopped in with a group of 10 people. The kids sat at a separate table and ordered grilled cheese, smoked salmon and a cheese flight. The restaurant was quiet, not busy. The brussel sprouts with raisins and the cauliflower appetizer was some of the best food I have ever tasted. I even insisted that the server tell the chef that. We had an army of people ignoring our table of 6. 2 servers, 3 bus staff. Because we had 2 servers waiting on our table they were in a constant state of confusion. When the appetizers were dropped the server left without giving us any silverware or napkins. We helped ourselves to the bus station for supplies after a few moments realizing that no one was coming back for us. But we were still short napkins and silverware. We eventually started eating with our fingers since the appetizers were getting cold. The appetizer and salad plates were still on the table when the entree's came. The server had no idea who ordered what and we had to remind them every step of the way. Our server would disappear for long periods of time. Maybe he was scared of us or too cold since we were sitting outside. Not sure why he would be scared though we were pretty polite, no special orders, pretty simple stuff. When I asked for another glass of wine and they asked me "what did you order?". Hell, I couldn't remember the French name of the white wine that I ordered, it was some complicated name, not an easy peasy thing like "Chardonnay". When we got the 400.00 bill I almost choked considering that we had to beg for napkins, water, silverware, wine, and attention of kind etc. You know the service here is never really that great come to think of it. I am giving it 3 stars because the food is good. But seriously, get your act together. For 400.00 I expect better service.
(2)Gina S.
Cheese!!!!!! I was pretty much grinning ear to ear at this gormet cheese counter. So many cheeses! It's more than a cheese market, there's wine and a restaurant all rolled into one super cute market cafe located in downtown Oak Park (one of my new favorite places just outside the city). After trying a few cheeses, some of my own suggestion and some suggested by the Cheesewoman, I settled on a delicious 4 year aged Gouda (nutty with hints of caramel) and a Gruyère Surchoix (smooth & mellow with light floral notes). I contemplated trying some of the blue cheese, but it would have been more out of curiosity because there were a few blue cheeses that were a little bluer than I've ever seen. I'm talking like furry little balls of blueness with cheese somewhere under than coat of blue. I WILL be back!
(5)