Charcoal Oven Restaurant
4400 Golf Rd, Skokie, IL, 60076
Charcoal Oven Restaurant Menu
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Address :
4400 Golf Rd
Skokie, IL, 60076 - Phone (847) 675-8062
- Website https://charcoalovenrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Meredith C.
I purchased a $25 coupon on restaurants.com for this place. I was so excited. The pictures on the website led me to believe we were going back in time to a swanky Sinatra-esque supper club experience. That was not the case. Upon entering I should've known. Place was empty. Hostess looked confused when I said we did not have a reservation. Which confused me because the place was empty.Decor was old. The bar area could have been my horder neighbor's basement bar. It was stacked with books and papers and junk. Place slowly filled with verrrrry old, loud, crabby patrons. Brought hand written menus, told of specials. I ordered a special beef something or other. This is when things got strange. I was brought a tiny piece of lemon tasting lasagna for my appetizer. Um what? Food came out. Fairly small portions. Waitress said we would both receive green beans as our side. Brought out a small bowl of about 8 green beans for us to share. Food was just average. Okay, fine, I thought. I was using a coupon, dining on the cheap. Can't complain....... AND THEN THE BILL CAME...... After my $25 off coupon, the bill for two "specials", 4 drinks, and 8 green beans was about $150. Then there was some mix up where I had to sign about three different receipts, no one was sure what was going on, took forever. Start to finish this whopper of a meal was about 2-2.5 hours. I'm sorry, but no. Just everything was no.
(1)Chris J.
coming from a foodie: WAY over priced for food quality and portions. The "famous greek chicken" was bland and dry... and for $25.00 all you get is chicken, green beans and a small salad -that the up charge you for having blue cheese dressing! We were a group 3 couples, 2 couples even SPLIT their meals and our bill was $580!! we didn't order dessert or apps. The service was BEYOND slow. The place has an arrogant vibe... that you as the guest, should feel honored for being there! very weird. We won't be back. Not one person at our table enjoyed their meal. MAYBE if the prices were more appropriate reflecting the portion, and quality of the meals , the meal would have been more tolerable.
(2)Gina P.
Visiting from out of state, we were excited for the experience and the seemingly fabulous menu. None of the three of us finished our meals and surprisingly, no one asked if things were ok. Very overpriced ($44 for a tasteless prime ribeye which we prepare 10 times better at home). The veal parm was dry, barely warm, very small and the sauce was bland. The staff is pleasant and the supper club feel was cool but I can't recommend it. If the prices and expectation were more in line with an off-brand chain, I could justify the mediocrity. I would have had a better meal at Olive Garden and I'm not even a fan of chain restaurants.
(2)Michael M.
I cannot say enough about this restaurant. My partner has been coming to the Oven for over 45 years and i have been coming for 14. It is old school, not an up tempo fast-paced mega kitchen production. The food is all made to order any way you want it. They have a beautiful menu that hasnt changed in over 50 years. Maria's father actually hand wrote the menu in his beautiful writing. The food is Greek inspired and you will continue to crave what you ate a few weeks later. We live downtown Chicago and have a plethora of options and we continue to drive out to the oven at leadt twice a month. My favorite things to order is Greek Chicken (hands-down the best Greek chicken anywhere in the Midwest); the Butt steak - you will be blown away at this delicious cut of meat; Lamb - any way they serve it is simply amazing; ribs, fish....if you will love it. If you enjoy laid back, no rush dinner then this is definately ypur kind of place. If you dont like the company you are with then it may be better to go to Maggiano's and get a meal in 5 minutes from the time you sit down. Its dinner time, sit down, sip on a cocktail and enjoy life - it is way too short to fuss.
(5)James B.
What a wonderful place. Food is delicious. Early 1900's feel. Owner operated. Rich and Maria are both wonderful. Tabby and Alex (servers) are great. The service is always good. The portions on the food is outstanding! I've ordered carryout numerous times. The ribs are my favorite. slide right off the bone. I would definitely recommend charcoal oven to anyone looking for a nice dinner.
(5)Doug B.
I took my department to the CO for a holiday outing as mentioned before. My group liked it so much we returned in '09 and '10. Would have gone back in '11 but the company downsized and we all got laid off. I miss those outings. Been back a few times and really like the updates Rich and Maria have done to the bar and dining room. It's getting fresher but maintaining that supper club feeling. The steaks, ribs and fish are just what you hope for and the service is better then professional, it's personal and real. Love this place!
(5)Andrew D.
I had been driving past this place my entire life and never went inside. And when I'd go back to visit, my wife would always see that awesome neon cocktails sign and say, "We gotta try that place sometime." So one time we went with my dad, before he died, my old buddy Chip R., and were served by the longtime owner Phil (Evanston graduate), before he died. I mean, we were literally the only table being served, and you'd think they'd be off their game ... they were so on it, I remember him bringing out the fish and showing us that you could see its freshness by looking at its eyes. The food was great, and the experience was so old school. I'm glad to know this place is still clicking along.
(5)Danny M.
Until last night, the best steak I'd ever had was at Ruth's Chris in Jacksonville, Fl, but the well-marbled ribeye with the "special" rub blew me away. For starters, my steak was just a really good cut of meat, but the homemade steak seasoning (you've gotta ask for it) added a strong complex coffee flavor that iced the cake. Came with homemade chips (personal fav) and peppery green beans. Service was prompt and friendly; my water glass never got empty, so I'm not sure what these other folks are whining about. The atmosphere was classic, with fresh flowers on each table and a cool tin-ceiling bar. I tried a bite, and then three, of the Greek Chicken too. If you pass the steak, the chicken's fabulous as well. Guarantee you'll have leftovers since it's gotta be almost a full chicken.
(5)Eric D.
Like many reviewers we had been passing by the Charcoal Oven for years before we finally went it. I have to say it was excellent... up until the end. Yes, the decor is old fashioned, much like the clientele. But what do you expect? It's a supper club! That's part of the charm. The place is smaller than it looks from the outside. Most but not all the tables were occupied on a Friday night. The husband and wife owners were doing the serving. The first course salad was very good, especially the homemade dressing. The rolls were piping hot, though for some odd reason they don't bring you any butter. (We looked around -- none of the other tables had it either.) My wife ordered the lobster tail. She said it was the best she ever tasted. I had the trout -- it was very fresh, with just the right amount of seasoning. All the meals come with green beans and homemade potato chips. The beans were nicely done, the chips were, well, chips. I would have loved them with a deli sandwich. They didn't really go with the rest of the meal. After our meal was finished and our dishes were cleared, my wife was excited to try one of their desserts. We waited for someone to bring us a dessert menu... and waited... and waited... and waited. I finally stopped one of the owners who was passing our table. She barely slowed down long enough to say she'd be right with us. A few minutes later I saw her chatting with another table. She never returned. It wasn't like the place was so busy they couldn't take a minute to bring us menus. If this were a less expensive place I might have been more forgiving, but when I'm spending $100 on dinner for two I expect good service from start to finish. We finally had to get up and pay at the bar, and the Charcoal Oven went from a "must return" restaurant to one I might give another chance to sometime in the future.
(3)Scott B.
Here's a summary: bad service, way overpriced, poor food quality, tiny portions, felt like they were doing you a favor having you in their otherwise empty restaurant.
(1)Mary C.
Stopped in tonight after passing this place for years and seeing the parking lot full of cars. This place needs major updating. Felt like were we sitting on the springs of the booth. Food was fair. Cottage fries and green beans were good. Chicken and steak poor to fair. Never had a filet that was so tough, even from costco. Very pricey for the quality. Would not go back.
(2)Lisa A.
The food was actually very tasty, but I don't appreciate when they say the bread/roll served was 'already dipped in butter' when in fact, it was dipped in the fryer. The decor and fixtures have not been changed since it probably opened in the 1970's. The service was initially good, until the next table arrived and then it appeared this one single elderly waitress decided to ignore us. It looks like a hole in the wall because it appears very old from the outside...and yes, it is old on the inside, too. I would not return despite the fact that the rest of the food was good (except the bread dipped in the deep fryer oil) because there are plenty of other restaurants in the neighborhood that are good, in fact, better save yourself a trip...don't bother.
(2)Sue W.
We live around the corner so we decided to try this place. Came in on a Thursday night and there were 2 tables occupied. The hostess asked if we had a reservation. Nope, no reservation. She mumbled about trying to fit us in and luckily, she could. The service is slow, the food was good. Nothing I couldn't have made at home, though. Nothing in particular stands out, other than the service being slow. So, we decided to go back. As I said, the food was good and it isn't overly expensive. Same as you'd spend at most of the full-service restaurants in the area. We walk in and she hostess asks if we have a reservation. Nope, no reservation. She mumbles about seeing if she can fit us in. goes off somewhwere, comes back a couple of minutes later. She actually seemed surprised that we were still there. There were 3 tables with customers at them and she says they're full up. "But you will come back some other time, won't you?" Today, I call to see if we can get a reservation (for tonight - a Thursday night) and the lady who answered the phone says they don't take reservations... Just come on it???? wth? Not sure if we're going to try going tonight or not, but if we do I'll be ready to walk out if she asks if we have a reservation or if she tells us that she can't fit us in because we don't have a reservation. Don't know if I should recommend calling ahead of time for a reservation or not. But if you do go, you can expect good food and very slow service.
(2)Alan M.
Allright. This is a weird one. I've driven past this restaurant much of my adult life, and never stepped foot inside. It always appeared like an "old people" place, a little supper-clubby, with no real windows to see inside, sitting all alone along Golf Road. Of course, now, that I'm officially one of the "older people" we decided to try it. Knowing that the large parking lot was often empty, we just decided to give it a try one Friday night, and walked-in. The hostess (and I use the term loosely) greeted us and asked if we had a reservation. Long pause. I looked past her into the largely empty dining room, and said "uh... no." She, then turned and looked at the room, hopefully seeing the same thing I saw and turned back and said "I'll see if I can fit you in". She then went off somewhere (maybe to take her past-due Geritol®), and she came back to say "you're in luck, we've just had a cancellation"... and led us through the empty dining room to a table. They delivered some pastichio to the table as we sat and I asked "What's this?" as we hadn't ordered anything yet. The geriatric waitress said with a little bit of attitude "It's Pastichio!"... okay, okay.... sorry. We waited a good long time for the menus to arrive, and an even longer time for the Senior Citizen brigade of waitresses to take our order. The menu was totally old school. Rat pack drinks... martini's, manhattans and the like... the meals were the same... Chicken Vesuvio, (good... but practically the whole freakin' chicken)... Sauteed Chicken Livers (those are hard to find)... but ohmigod... an entire plateful... must have been a pound! but they were good, good, good! At one point, while delivering one of the dishes, grandma... er, I meant the waitress stood on my foot while delivering it. I think she must have neuritis and can't feel her feet... I COULD! I can't really recommend this place, except in a way old-school-Ed-Debevic's-let-the-wait-staff-abuse-Âyou kinda way. The food is good, and if you've got some time, and are ready for a laugh... sure why not?
(2)Dave W.
Love this place. So different from the mass market restaurants all over. Everything is home made. We had the famous Greek chicken and a ribeye. Both were great. Also love the salad dressings which are the best anywhere.
(4)Ryan K.
This place needs a refresh. The restaurant looks great on the outside, but awful on the inside. We noticed cobwebs everywhere. The wait staff was really nice and helpful, when they came by. At one point we almost wanted to get up and walk around to find our waitress. Owners did come by to chat which is always good to see at a restaurant. The food was about as average as you can get. It wasnt bad, but wasnt good. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Agnes F.
When we went to Charcoal Oven for the first time last week, we felt we walked into a completely different era The decor is definitely old school but really charming Our server whom I think is one of the owners couldn't be nicer She patiently explained the menu items including the specials and we settled with walleye pike (panko crusted) and scrod (light lemon capers and tomato sauce) Entrees do come with appetizers (in our case, lentil soup that we gobbled up), salad (the blue cheese dressing was great), green beans and potato crisps We loved everything we had, because of time constraints, we didn't order any desserts but had espresso instead All in all, a great experience and we'll definitely be back
(4)Kathy A.
I'd never heard of this place, but apparently my grandparents and their friends used to hang out there all the time "back in the day", so when we were looking for a luncheon spot for my grandma's funeral, we decided to check it out. We stopped in a few days before the funeral was scheduled to "case the joint" and ended up having wonderful steak dinners, and wine flights. I couldn't finish all of my steak and when i asked for it to be wrapped up, I was also given a tomato "for sandwiches tomorrow". That was a nice touch (and a really good tomato)! Rich and Maria were very helpful, worked within our budget, and found room when the luncheon party was bigger than we'd anticipated. (My grandma was very popular.) The food was excellent, especially considering the fact that there were over 150 people in their little restaurant, being served family-style. The greek-style fish and chicken were so good, I couldn't stop eating it. They serve homestyle potatoes that resemble potato chips, only they're softer and some of them stick together, which makes them seem more special for some reason. The steamed vegetables had just the right amount of butter and seasoning. All-in-all, both experiences were very pleasant, and (when I can afford it), I'll be back.
(4)Jerry B.
Like the supper club atmosphere. Had some specials (rib eye and scrod) for V Day. Nothing spectacular. With 2 beers apiece, no appetizers or dessert, the $100 bill was a bit pricey. We will go again, but maybe just have greek standards like mousakka or pastichio (and a beer). That should be more reasonable.
(4)Meyke K.
We've passed by this restaurant so many times but never went inside because of the strange exterior decor. But when we finally gave it a try, we were very pleasantly surprised. The service was great, and the food was delicious. The Greek chicken was one of the best chicken dishes we have ever had. Highly recommended.
(5)Bala C.
I wanted to try this place for the "retro charm" but instead got mediocre food and bad service. We entered. The "host" basically waved at the dining room, said pick any table, and then walked away. Even the host at IHOP walks you to your table! We noticed that he (the owner?) was quite busy the entire night in the other room watching tv. The waitress (owner's wife?) would also occasionally get sucked into watching tv while we were waiting for drink refills and the bill. Charming. There was a younger guy (non-owner?) that was helping wait tables, picking up the slack, poor guy. We ordered steaks. Mine was cooked properly but very bland. I can't remember the last time I had to put salt on a steak in a restaurant. The meal also came with a special appetizer that was like a mushy bland noodle casserole. Not a fan. Unfortunately, we won't be returning. Prices are too high to risk another bad miss.
(1)Doug V.
Food was outstanding. Would highly recommend. Old school decor. My one issue was the men's room...felt like I was in a gas station. Time to update!
(4)John S.
A friend from Colo was visiting the area last week and wanted to go to a Local's favorite steak house - he said to me anything but a National Chain. I chose Charcoal Oven on Golf Rd in Skokie and couldn't of had a better all around experience. The food top notch! The wine selections / pricing superb and the graciousness and service of the Owners exemplary! A must try when seeking a North Shore location (just around the corner from Old Orchard) John S.
(5)AJ B.
After living nearby for 40 years, I finally stopped by for dinner. At 7:30pm on a Wednesday night, there was one other couple there for dinner. The restaurant was dark inside. White linen tableclothes and napkins. The inside looked old; nice but in need of an upgrade. The food was good, but a little pricey. Good sized hand written menu. I had a large, prime Sirloin butt steak. Cooked perfectly It was tender with good taste It came with small cup of soup with a couple of good tasting rolls and a salad - Both just okay. Served with a small amount of freshly made potato chips (cottage fries) and 6 stalks of asparagus (served cold) - ok Overall I enjoyed my dinner. If you want a quiet, dimly lit, romantic dinner, try this restaurant. But not sure if I will return. There are much better places nearby
(3)Sarah M.
So this place is sort of an enigma. If you've ever lived in Skokie, I guarantee you've thought, "Oh that place.. I've didn't know it was ever open." When I told people where we were going for dinner that night, that was everyone's reaction. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but oh boy, I was excited. We went on a Wednesday night. The place was "crowded" according to our server (aka the owner, aka the only woman who was serving all the tables that night). There were about 8 other tables - and really, this place is small, so that is crowded. The food is heavily based in Greek style. As a vegetarian, my one and only option was mousaka. Don't like eggplant, ack - but apparently the chef/owner hadn't made it today, so I wasn't going to get it anyway. The menu is also a bit of the mystery. When my mother asked about wine options, the owner told her there were many more options that weren't listed on the wine list, as they never really get around to updating it. But he didn't offer any hints as to what those other options were. Hmm. The prices look expensive - I think the highest priced item was rack of lamb for about $30. However, your $30 includes homemade soup (was lentil soup, vegan yay!), salad, rolls, and the lamb. They were very accomodating and put together a large salad for my entree (also if you call ahead, they will prepare a grilled veg assortment if you do not eat meat). The soup was good, the salad was tasty (lots of blue cheese yum!), and dessert - yum chocolate cake (even though I was really hoping a heavily Greek based menu would include baklava.) Would I go here again? Maybe. The meal took almost 3 hours, and most of that time wasn't spent eating - lots of waiting since the staff appears to be the owner, her husband, and one other person. The food was good (everyone was pleased for the most part). The owner and her husband are very pleasant people and made us feel welcomed. Definitely somewhere to try at least once, especially if you desire a retro feel to your meal.
(3)Pete M.
Stumbled across this place after another restaurant lost our reservation and I'm so glad. Very nice place, family owned. Really like the old time decor. Strong drinks, reasonable prices. Pretty good european beer selection but, they offer Schlitz bottles also. Entrees come with appetizer, salad, bread , vegatable. Steak was cooked properly medium rare. Very friendly staff you can actually talk to te people your eating with unlike many other restaurants today that blast lame music 60 years in business, they know what their doing. Plus - no hipsters , which is nice
(4)Ross M.
It's not for everyone, but I loved it, and will go back. If you're looking for a sophisticated, fine dining supper club, this is not it. If you're looking for fun and you wonder what going out for drinks and dinner in Chicago in the 1940 was like, you will love this. The best part of the place is the bar at the side. Old school bartender masterfully and generously pouring the cocktails that your parents used to drink in the 50's. Gorgeous old authentic-feeling bar decorated with Chicago artifacts from close to a hundred years gives a wonderful ambiance to sip you martini in. The dining side is good, and great fun. It serves up great big portions of traditional meat, potatoes and veggies meals. Traditional American on one side of the menu, greek-style on the other. You won't leave hungry. Not super elegant, but delicious, down to earth and tasty. Fun, not-too-formal service by the family of the guy who originally started the place way back is familial and entertaining more than posh and sophisticated, which we really enjoyed. Hope this place continues to come roaring back. It's an authentic North-side gem.
(5)Lisa H.
we were definitely the youngest patrons in this restaurant -- it was like stepping back in time. the steak was not very flavorful, but overall a great deal. the main entree comes with salad, bread and pasta!
(3)Brad G.
I have been frequenting this restaurant on and off for years... Have seen some negative reviews and felt that some facts need be addressed.... This is a very "different" sort of restaurant.. To the person who complained about slow service: It "is not" the sort of restaurant where you want to hit and run to catch a movie or a show.... It is a restaurant where you sit down, relax and are served at a leisurely pace...its part of this restaurant experience... You come here with your favorite person "to spend some time with a close friend or family and dine on some great food!" To the person that said that "not even salt" helped the taste (or something to that effect): There are many people out there who have an avid need to season all they eat; to the point that they lose touch with how a quality cut of beef or lamb truly tastes. The Charcoal Oven purveys much better food than most restaurants I frequent; right down to the tomatoes and/or rolls they give you before you leave the restaurant..... Bottomline: -Best rack of lamb on the planet! -Always a surprise treat for an appetizer! -The dinner rolls are to die for and the reason they do not serve them with butter is that they are already brushed in butter to put these unique rolls' taste over the edge =) -My guests have never been disappointed with the food; and I know that they return with other people!
(5)A.J. M.
I grew up nearby but never set foot inside until last weekend. I had been missing out. The decor is very old school, which gives it a charm that I liked instantly. But the food was what talked to me. The garlic rolls are delicious no question. I had the rack of lamb special, and I've never eaten better tasting lamb in my life. Just succulent, tender, and seasoned perfectly. Oh man.......Now I can't wait to go back.........
(5)Gilbert Z.
When we were looking for a site for a graduation celebration I thought of the Charcoal Oven even though I haven't been there for over 15 years and couldn't remember my last experience. It is still exactly the same 1950's supper club ambiance that I remember. You wouldn't be surprised to see Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart sitting in one of the black booths. There were seven people in our party, including a nine year old girl. We were seated promptly and sat for a while looking over the handwritten menu. Since our nine year old was very hungry, I asked for some bread. Instead we received a plate of beniegts, savory brushed with butter, rolls from heaven (these are bread, not the powdered sugar New Orleans version). These quickly disappeared as we made our selections from the menu. A word of caution .... not all the items on the menu are available nor are all the items available on the menu. Instead there is a great selection of entrees which turn out to be a mix of menu items and specials. Even though a few of a party chose entrees that were not on hand, they had no trouble deciding on an alternate choice. Dinners include the homemade beniegts, soup, salad and, of course, the entrée. Our party's main courses included fat, meaty soft shell crabs, tasty, pan fried Walleye Pike, perfectly done rack of lamb, a very large rib eye steak, steel head salmon and fall off the bone baby back ribs. Platters of home made potato chips (more like home fries) and asparagus, served family style, accompanied the entrées. Without exception, everyone in our party was extremely satisfied with their dinner. The nine year old summed it up ... "I feel like I'm on an airplane ... in first class". It's no wonder the Charcoal Oven has been around for over sixty years. The service was great, the ambiance funky, and the food over the top. As you leave you get a small bag of homegrown tomatoes or home made bread. ... you can be sure we will be back soon.
(5)Peter T.
Like many who have reviewed, I have driven by this place a hundred times and always been curious. We finally went in and were quite pleased -- we will likely go back. Service was attentive. Food was very good (rack of lamb, NY steak and chicken livers at our table). Negatives: The wine list is weak, and well over-priced for some labels. (Yellowtail Shiraz for $8 a glass?! It is $4 a *bottle* at retail.) And the decor, as many have noted, is dated. All in all, I think it is worth a trip.
(4)Stephanie s.
Okay, Yelpers, boy did you let us down. I want to say that the food was REALLY good. The atmosphere did not live up to the food. We went for a quiet "romantic"( we hoped) weeknight dinner. Yes, it does have a supper club atmosphere, but not in a good way. It has walls that are not exactly plaster, and reminded me of bad drywall paneling that you see in northern Wisconsin restaurants. The lighting was too bright and the ceiling was too high to be cozy. Honestly, it felt so strange that we had to figure out what was wrong with the room. There was only one other group besides us in the restaurant. Instead of giving us some space, they seated us directly next to the other group, which was strange. This is not a place where you go for a romantic dinner. You will really enjoy yourself if you don't care about the atmosphere.
(1)P. Rogers N.
As a huge fan of throwback joints, I was excited to finally check out Charcoal Oven on a recent Friday night. Walking in around 7pm, there were a handful of people at the bar and the dining room was half full. The middle aged guy behind the bar seemed preoccupied and didn't offer much of a welcome. Wife & I ordered a glass of wine and martini before looking over the menu. We were interested in a fairly quick pitstop / ordering a couple of appetizers, but noticed that they don't offer any. The guy offered to do shrimp cocktail or scampi for us, but we instead decided to split an entree. Veal Parmesan was the choice at $23, since there weren't too many options under $30. Pastitsio starter was fine (they gave us each a square which was nice), salad with the $1.50 Rocquefort upcharge hit the spot (especially with the piping hot rolls), and then things went a bit downhill. Dinner came out and was a relatively small, deep fried (and likely previously frozen) veal cutlet that reminded me of something you would get from a carry-out pizza joint. The veal was served with a small side of parmesan dusted penne, the standard green beans (soaked in butter but delicious with a few sauteed onions thrown in), and the house made potato chips (addictive but didn't fit in well with the entree as a previous reviewer mentioned). It was underwhelming but serviceable...I was upset at myself for not getting the Walleye, but then saw another Yelper mention theirs was "small and flavorless" on a prior visit. Busboy was nice and did a good job, and the guy behind bar warmed up a tiny bit as things wrapped up. At the end of the day, a call martini, glass of Malbec, one domestic beer, and the veal parm entree came out to $68 after a tip of just over 20%. Soon after, we realized he must have stuck it to us with a hefty split charge for the entree. Technically I never asked if he would hit us with one, but it isn't mentioned on the menu so I was a bit surprised / disappointed that he tacked it on. With the handwritten tickets they use, I don't have a line item receipt to verify, but unless the martini was $15 and the beer $8 I don't know how else the bill creeped so high. There were definitely some aspects of the place that would warrant a return visit, but I'm certainly in no hurry to do so. A bittersweet maiden voyage to Charcoal Oven; nonetheless I hope they stay afloat for decades to come.
(3)Dana M.
I am an avid runner and have ran by this place numerous times. I've seen their facade change from the plain gray to the black, orange, and yellow with the silhouettes of people on the side. The colors remind me of something French like the poster of Le Chat Noir. I was always curious about this place and finally tried it out on my birthday since I enjoy trying new places... big mistake! The service is extremely slow. It's a small place and they were not that busy.. maybe we just got the wrong server or maybe it's because we're not regulars. Right off the bat, after we sat down, it took 10 minutes before our drink order was taken. After the drinks arrived, it took another 10 minutes to get the menu. The server just never came back to check on us and definitely not to see if we needed more drinks because I finished my cocktail before I started my entree. The hardest working person there was the busboy who constantly refilled our water and cleared the table. My date had the ribeye which was overcooked even though he asked for medium rare. He thought it tasted like US Select Grade which is not restaurant quality. It was not worth $35. I had white fish, I don't even know what kind of fish it was. It was whatever the server recommended since they didn't carry a few items on the menu that I wanted. The fish was very blah with no flavor and I only picked at it. I should've ordered the ribs as I saw someone at the next table enjoying theirs but I doubt I will ever come back to even try it. With your entree, you get two sides, homemade potato chips and green beans. The chips that were not crunchy were soggy and a mouthful of oil. I did not enjoy it. The only thing I can say I liked were the beignets they served before dinner and the triple chocolate cake and ice cream we had for dessert. But how can you mess up chocolate cake? It probably wasn't made at the restaurant. I was really looking forward to eating at this place because friends of friends' families have been coming here for years and I've heard it was a fine dining experience. I mean, if this place has been open for 50 some years, I just don't get it. Sorry, it was not my cup of tea! However, the staff is very nice.
(1)Johnnie G.
Okay, so me and some friends were driving by this place on Golf Road. It looked like a small house with the old neon lights that said "luncheons" & "cocktails". My friend David said, "Ya' know I've been driving by this place for twenty years and have never stopped in." So after a drive into Evanston for a quick haircut appointment and a cocktail, we mobile googled it and read some reviews. We found out that it has been around for over fifty years, and the original owners are still running the place. And people said the food was good. We like kitsch, so what the hell. Four of us walk in on a Friday night near 10 pm. We were greeted by Phil and his wife, who are the owners. David says to her, "I've been driving by this place for twenty years and finally decided to stop in." This woman in her near 70's states, "If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that...I'd be rich and I could finally close this place!" Friggin' funny. So she sat us down at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Decor...not so much. Cool half rounded booths with tuft black leather. I think the music was on a radio station that was playing something from the seventies. Then our waitress, Sonia walks up. She is about in her 60's, and come to find out, she has been there for thirty-two years and she even makes all the dressings and the soups every day! Impressive. We order some classic cocktails like martini's and manhattans. I must say, they were pretty good. They're a Greek restaurant, but the food on the menu ranged from Rack of Lamb to BBQ Ribs to Veal Parmesan and lots of steaks and seafood in between. Ask Sonia what is good. She won't be afraid to turn her nose up at something and then say, "Try the Dover Sole. You won't regret it." The prices, I thought were great. Dinners ranged from about $12 to $30, but the $30 meal is rack of lamb. All dinners include salad and homemade soup, too. So that is like only paying $20 for the lamb! This is my new favorite place. Sonia had made lentil soup that day. Awesome! And when you order the salad, get the bleu cheese dressing. There is a pound of bleu cheese in every helping. Phil even came up and told us that he had a tray of ribs just coming out of the oven. And their daughter, who helps out with everything, even became a good friend by the end of the night. After a few hours, two cocktails each and two bottles of wine, not to mention four full meals. The tab was about $180. Not bad! Check it out. It is definitely worth it if you like kitsch and good food at a reasonable price.
(4)Liz P.
This place was DIVINE. The atmosphere is so beautiful and a throw-back to the 50s but in such an elegant and refined way. It's all family owned and the server was the daughter (?) of the owner. Fairly decent wine selection but the food was AMAZING. I got the scampi, which was the best shrimp to pass my lips, but there are far better things on the menu that I wish I would've tried. I cannot wait to go back to this place to try the lamp and kabob. A little pricey so keep this in mind for a special occasion. But well worth it, you'll love it.
(5)Mirabella Y.
My boyfriend and I have been driving past the Charcoal Oven on the way to/from O'Hare for two years now and, because it looks so inviting, have wanted to stop in every single time. We finally had the opportunity to do so last week with a friend of ours. This place is absolutely perfect. The decor is exactly as we expected: comfy-chic 50s feel. Even the cocktails were straight from a 1950's swanky cocktail lounge. The food was even better than we'd imagined it would be (and we are both die-hard afficianados of good meat). The most delightful thing was that each of the entrees came with homemade soup, salad with home made dressing, hot bread, steamed vegetables, and to-die-for home made, hot potato chips! Have I mentioned that the most expensive entree was $30 (for a huge and delicious rib eye), and entrees started at $14 (for the chicken)?! The service was fabulous. First, the waitress (and co-owner) recommended that my friend and I (both about 5'2" and 100 pounds) split the rack of lamb, which was actually the perfect amount of food. When have you EVER had a waitress/restaurant owner not try to upsell you when making a recommendation? Then, she and her husband spent 15 minutes chatting with us at the end of our meal. They were delightful to talk with. This restaurant definitely lived up to two years of anticipation. We HIGHLY recommend it to everyone!
(5)Edward A. S.
After years of passing this restaurant, we decided to stop last Saturday night for dinner. It has all of the earmarks of being a nice, old-time, suburban steakhouse. What a mistake! It was a local steakhouse alright ... but with the same prices as its best downtown counterparts near my home. The "appetizer" was Greek lasagna -- lukewarm, uninspiring. The salad was a predictable, common lettuce salad which was highlighted, however, by a delicious homemade dressing ... and accompanied by enjoyable fresh rolls. When our prime rib arrived, it was also lukewarm, rather fatty, and NOT tender enough to have been first-quality meat. We brought the temperature issue to the attention of the second waitress (I think the founder's daughter) who huffed rather noticeably and took the plates back to the kitchen (we couldn't tell if she was unhappy with us or with the chef). There was very little difference when the food returned. We finished dinner because we were hungry ... and ended with a cup of coffee. Tab? We had each enjoyed a well made drink in advance of dinner, but for nearly $100 before the tip, and with no dessert, we felt that the food, setting, and overall experience were extremely overpriced for what we had experienced. In spite of a poor economy, most people today are still willing to pay for good food, and many of them are accomplished cooks who recognize quality ingredients and service ... and can tell when anything less is brought to the table. There are many better suburban restaurants along the North Shore, and most of them will be far better looking. Let me suggest that you try one of these instead of The Charcoal Oven ... which we both agreed was very disappointing and LESS than mediocre. Frankly, we felt fleeced ....
(1)David B.
I love supper clubs and have wanted to try this place for a few years after driving by on our way to the North Shore Center in Skokie. Reading the reviews here, we kept an open mind and assumed the less stellar reviewers just "didn't get it." Not so. There are problems and you should know what you are in for if you are not one of their regulars. Everyone serving you is the owners family, which is quaint and what you'd want in a place like this, but it didn't come off as charming. It was harried and there is an expectation that you already know their less-than-descriptive menu and what you want. Half the restaurant is dark but you get blinded by the sconces across the room. Once we were reluctantly seated by the original owner's wife, not one of the other 4 people working approached us our acknowledged us or poured water for 15 minutes, even though they all walked by us to service the other 5 or 6 occupied tables. All our food was overcooked - the medium rare steak was medium well - the pork chops dry and chewy, and the fish rubbery. Forks were scooped up between servings and then the next course was dropped off without asking for drink refreshing or checking to see if everyone had any service wear with which to eat the dropped off course. After dinner, we thought about sitting in the bar since that seemed to have the ambiance we were seeking, but when we got into the doorway, it was obvious that it is used primarily as a storage area and it was uninviting. When you give them your credit card (no Amex of course) you must write down what the tip will be in advance as "they only run the card once." I have owned a few retail establishments, and this makes no sense to me. The perfect capper to the evening. I really wanted to like this restaurant and went in with an open mind and a good attitude. If the daughter of the original owner is trying to freshen it up, she needs to look beyond the decor - and focus on some simple basics of customer service. Good luck to you all and I wish you well, but I won't be back.
(2)Joan G.
We went to the Charcoal Oven for the first time last night, and we had a blast! We loved everything about it. We were looking for the retro "Wisconsin" style supper club experience, and we found it right here in the suburbs of Illinois. Family run, you will meet the owners, and they will probably be waiting on you as well. Its old school service (they don't wear name tags), which means it will be leisurely, and they won't bug you all the time. It was NOT dirty at all, just decorated in a 40s style with lots of black and brown, so its a mellow vibe. Food was top notch Greek and American food - Greek chicken is best ever had, other items our friends had looked great (we were a group of 9). Cocktails and after dinner drinks at the huge antique bar a must. You get out of this place what you put in - if you have the attitude that it is a treasure and you will enjoy what they do, the way they do it, then you will have a rare experience of truly being "back in the day" of tuck and roll upholstery, homebaked rolls and pie, and especially, the home made potato chip fries that are served family style for the table with your dinner. We spent 4 hours there, so plan to make an evening of it!
(4)Melanie V.
Um, I love this place. How can anyone ignore the fact that Charcoal Oven has such charm and personality? As soon as you walk in, you are transported back in time. The booths, chandeliers, dim lighting and the old school music? I was intrigued. The menu (written in some great cursive font) offered a variety of proteins, from pork chops to Greek chicken to salmon to liver. The entrees ranged from like $20 - $30, so it was cool to see that all the dinners came with soup, salad, bread and 2 family style sides. All inclusive - I'm in. (I don't think you actually get to choose your sides, though, as theyre already set for the day.) My mom invited me to join her and my dad pretty last minute, so I had already eaten and just ordered some soup. It was delicious (like a black bean lentil?) and perfect for the cold night. (BTW - If you decide on getting a BOWL of soup, just be warned that it is a pretty effin' large bowl of soup). Although really not hungry, I couldn't resist trying a little bit of everything that came out. The sides of green beans and potato chip things were delish as were the ribs. My Dad enjoyed the bbq sauce, which actually rarely happens. My Mom was not so into her shish kabob, but it tasted good to me! The highlights? The BREAD and the oh-so-comforting apple pie ala mode. Heavenly. Our waiter (who was incredibly nice and also the owner) informed us that the chef was also the one who was bringing out the food. Cool, right? The owner was so friendly and really made this experience enjoyable. Such a nice change of pace for dinner.
(4)Andrew P.
Andy P star or D -, never so disappointed in a eatery as this place. They even misrepresented my entree telling me it was scrod when it was Atlantic cod for the $26.00 dollar price. The salad was terrible as was the famous Greek bread which was nothing more than a large diner roll With no flavor. It seems that they do some entrees fairly well from the other reviews but this place is absolutely not worth the time or money. Service was almost professional.
(1)Karen W.
Just don't go. Dirty, from the parking lot to the entrance. Poor service. We walked out.
(1)Hannah H.
About a 2-2.5: I was quite excited to try this place out since there was a similar one out in Galena - the whole retro-esque type of leather booths with a dimly-lit ambience and supposedly some good and hearty food. However, when we walked in, we were slightly greeted and were given the choice to choose our own seats. The menu was handwritten, which seemed like an added personal touch. The entrees of the Greek Chicken and their Canadian BBQ ribs were highly recommended. I went for the ribs, whereas my husband went for the Double Cut Pork Chops as part of their 'Specials.' Both came with a steaming hot cup of vegetable lentil soup, and it was quite tasty and well-seasoned. Their homemade bread seemed weird in texture and taste at first, but it was bizarre-ly addicting (like an unsweetened chewy donut). The salad was fresh (they didn't drain much since there was quite a big puddle of water at the bottom of the bowl), but their creamy garlic dressing was quite thick and tasty. The vinaigrette dressing that my husband had was quite refreshing and tangy as well. Their 'cottage fries' were basically a chewy version of kettle chips. It was alright, but they weren't salted; the steamed green beans were okay. The pork chops were quite tough and unflavorful. The bbq ribs were okay, and I appreciated the 'bones' plate. The service was not so great as our server never came to check up on us throughout our dining experience. With the check, we received their homegrown tomatoes, which I thought was cute. I'm glad I was able to finally try this restaurant out, but not sure if I'd come back again. +fresh salads with creamy garlic dressing +MIA service
(3)Sally W.
There are two different kinds of paper placemats (with cloth napkins), 5 different kinds of silver, and a decent chopped steak, all without even a trace of irony. The bartender is "overwhelmed"; the dining room (dusty chandeliers and booth, pretty beautiful) is 3/4 empty. No music, geriatrics, not a hipster in sight; should stay in business forever. My friend says the fish is great, like grandma makes (?), expensive, but people: this is the real thing.
(4)Judy M.
We were so happily surprised by the food. We had the lamb chops, the walleye, the trout, and the whitefish. Of the fish I'd recommend the walleye and trout. The chops were great, too. our group loved the bread and sides that came with our meal. Definitely order the garlic dressing for your salad. We asked for some on the side to go with our green beans and potatoes. Maria was sick and there was only one server but he did an amazing job. Ask to sit in the red booths in the front if you want a quieter experience, although they were a little bumpy, it was still worth it as I don't like it when you can't talk with friends.
(5)Michelle D.
I don't know why this place got so many stars. We went last night...from the outside it looks like it would be fun with its cute murals and flashing sign...once inside it smelled musty and mildewy. The fixtures had cob webs on then, the floor was creaky and it felt like you were going to fall through. Our waitress acted like she could care less one way or another about the service which was barely mediocre.The food which is way over priced was not worth it. I ordered pepper steak and it was such a small amount and greasy and had no rice our noodle that it's traditionally served with and left much to desire in taste.my husband had the rack of lamb and it was a slab of meat on the plate no juice or gravy and even though a full rack it was not the typical size. The vegetables that were served were oily green beans and a bowl if potato chips they call Greek fries. As we ate our meal nobody asked how everything was until the check came I said it was ok and there was no response.the next time we spend a hundred dollars on a meal for 2 it will be at a much better restaurant.
(1)Alan L.
This is a unique, wonderful restaurant. It is a throw back to its roots as a prohibition era supper club. The owners, Maria and Rich make you feel welcome and special. The food is all home made and fresh. The menu is small and the salad/appetizers/vegetables are pre-set. The steaks are wonderful as is the fresh fish offerings. I personally love the Greek moussaka. The wine list is solid and won't disappoint. Charcoal Oven has become part of our family. We go there whenever we want to have special time together.
(5)D D.
Its been many years since I came here last because I don't live in Chicago but what a pleasant surprise to finf this place still open, still providing an exceptional meal in comfortable surroundings. Had a great meal last night. And in a world of carbon copy theme restaurants its great to find a local, family owned restaurant. I hope they stay for another 60 plus years.
(4)Kristen K.
We've passed this restaurant a million times and have talked about going for years. We finally went tonight and were really sad that we hadn't gone much sooner!!!!! The atmosphere is nostalgic and takes you back to the grand time of supper clubs. We felt like we had stepped back into an era when dinner was an event. I ordered the greek chicken...which is HUGE...and juicy! My husband had the rack of lamb...cooked to perfection! We shared a bottle of Malbec and enjoyed the pre-selected sides as they came out one by one. We would have bellied up to the old school bar but had to run bc we had a show to see. We will be back!!!!!
(4)