Philander's
Genteel ambience and live jazz make a warm home for updated steakhouse fare and seafood.
Message from Philander's
Located in the Carleton off the main lobby is Philander's Restaurant, offering you the finest American and Continental cuisine in the area. Philander's offers a fine dining atmosphere showcasing excellent seasonal cuisine with fresh seafood and prime-aged steaks. Its warm decor has been recently revitalized along with the menu to offer a Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" premium wine list, quality service and elegant surroundings. The restaurant was named after the Village historian Philander Barclay who lived in Oak Park from 1878 to 1940. The walls are decorated with his photographs chronicaling the glory days of Oak Park. The restaurant has an elegant turn-of-the-century decor, showcasing a grand oak and marble octagonal jazz bar and up-scale lounge. The restaurant also highlights live jazz entertainment nightly, an outdoor cafe in the summer, and bar menu.
Editorial by Citysearch
The SceneThough it sounds like a sports bar for wayward husbands, Philander's is an oasis of clubby gentility in Oak Park's historic Carleton Hotel. Turn-of-the-century decor embraces guests in dark wood, with a magnificent oak and marble bar and photographs of the restaurant's namesake (the late village historian Philander Barclay). The welcoming setting is ideal for casual fine dining and quality live jazz nightly.
The Food
Try a wicked starter of three sizable macadamia-crusted shrimp in lobster-vanilla sauce, with a baby sweet potato cake for a bed and a kiss of port syrup. Crisp mesclun with grilled apples and pears, walnuts, figs and Maytag blue is perfectly dressed in balsamic vinaigrette; smoky, classic tortilla soup is chock full of goodies. Rock lobster tagliatelle carbonara is creamy and rich; thick-cut blackened rib eye is cooked to order and sauced with wasabi butter.
Key Points
- Wine Spec. Awd of Excellence
- Elegant Banquet Room
- Zagat Rated
The Inside Scoop
- Where to Sit - Dine in the spectacular bar and soak up the music, along with selections from the main menu or separate bar menu.
- The Extras - A children's menu features hamburgers, chicken fingers and fish nuggets. Each meal includes fries and a beverage.
- Know Before You Go - While it has a noisy rep, Philander's is conversation-friendly Sunday-Wednesday, and early evening, Thursday-Saturday (weekend music starts at 9pm).
Insider Pages Reviews for Philander's
Philanders is located in the Carleton Hotel in Oak Park. The room is dimly light and has a somewhat outdated decor. The service is friendly and attentive. The food here is wonderful, especially the salads and the lobster bisque. Main courses can be quite pricey and have been disappointing. Stick to the better and more affordable small plates.
Posted 06/14/05 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Finding Love at Philander's
by haventwemet95
Say, I met the love of my life at Philander's in 1995 although I didn't know it at the time (married in 2000).
Whenever in Oak Park a bunch of us will head over to the Carleton and Philander's, you bet. Matter of fact, time to go there this winter.
Friendly folks, great music, good foods, excellent drinks and fine service-maybe romance. What more could you ask for in a place that's great? Well, it offers even more than that!
The music is a mix, lots of jazz and blues, some swinging bands, featuring outstanding local musicians like John Wright, Sami Scott, and more. People seem to dance a lot here and you don't have to be shy in asking someone to dance (I wasn't and oh, la, la!). First visited in 1971, memories revisted often. Go!
Posted 01/11/09
Live Music Lives At Philanders!
by dnanadave
God Bless Philander's for keeping the tradition of live music- especially jazz- alive! We need more places like this... downloading music just isn't the same as experiencing it while it's being made! The staff there is phenomenol too! Joe's great, and Colleen's real cute.
NevadaDan, 2008
Pros: LIVE JAZZ
Cons: poor phil's is lame, it's got too many computers! the internet should die.
Posted 05/07/08
great music
by anan
Loved philanders... great jazz and pretty good food. macadamia nut shrimp, chicken nachos are among the best items on menu...
keep on swingin' guys
Pros: music
Cons: menu
Posted 05/26/07
Treat yourself
by bulletsob87
Philanders is a great place to dine.I discovered it about a year ago and have been going there ever since. I love the live free nightly jazz and the great service. Jim the manager is always there with a smile to greet me. The food is outstanding especially the prime aged steaks. Philander's
also has a great deal on there menu, a three course special for 2 people at only $49.00. This place is always busy and bustling with people.Treat yourself to a fun nite out at Philanders
Pros: great value, quality food and wine, great service
Posted 09/23/04
curlybangs' favorite
by curlybangs
when this restaurant first opened in the early "80s" i read a review and just knew this would be a good thing. intuitive, indeed. owners have come and gone, and one even tried to ruin this stablishment, but it has stood the test of time. 100 plus meals and only one was, well, just ok...the rest were superb. elegance, ambiance, old world charm and expensive cool that affords that inexplicable casual pleasing feeling that this place is mine. so romantic, so special. you will return. from a demanding, jaded critic.
Pros: romantic ambiance, elegance, music
Cons: none...really...
Posted 01/22/03
great restaurant, not a steak house
by bob_kilbasa
Philander's is a very good restaurant but not a place for steak. Go for the fish or the atmosphere or the beauty of downtown Oak Park but not for the steak.
Posted 01/05/03
Not Steak
by dgwinston
Philanders serves excellent food, especially seafood. Good place to have dinner if or when you venture to Oak Park. However it is not a Steak house, especially when compared to Gibsons, etc. Might serve a good steak, but one does not go there for steak.
Posted 10/23/02
crab crusted mahi mahi
by linda1965
I bet you didn't know this bar has been around for over 23 years did you? I discovered Philanderer's about 7 years ago for a office christmas party. Now I go there quite often with my friends and family. My favorite dish is the crab crusted mahi mahi and dover sole with the almond butter. My partner enjoys the ahi carpaccio and macadamia shrimp. The service is excellent, wines are pleantiful and the food is always perfect for us.
Pros: fun, great food & service, friendly bartenders
Cons: small booths
Posted 08/03/02
Vanilla and Lobster soup ROCKS!!!
by cremebrulee
This a great old school steak and seafood place.
The food and the service were the best my wife and I have ever experienced! I have diet restrictions and the chef always makes adjustments for me, even on saturday nights. We bring all of our out of town guests here for the live music and chocolate martinis.
Pros: valet, live music, quality
Cons: smokey bar
Posted 07/28/02