Philander's

01/12/09

Finding Love at Philander's

by haventwemet95 at Citysearch

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!

05/08/08

Live Music Lives At Philanders!

by dnanadave at Citysearch

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.

05/27/07

great music

by anan at Citysearch

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

10/23/06

Genteel ambience and live jazz make a warm home for updated steakhouse fare and seafood.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Though 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.

• Pros: picturesque atmospherepleasing foodgood entertainment
• Cons: uninformed service

09/24/04

Treat yourself

by bulletsob87 at Citysearch

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

01/23/03

curlybangs' favorite

by curlybangs at Citysearch

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...

01/06/03

great restaurant, not a steak house

by bob_kilbasa at Citysearch

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.

10/24/02

Not Steak

by dgwinston at Citysearch

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.

08/04/02

crab crusted mahi mahi

by linda1965 at Citysearch

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

07/29/02

Vanilla and Lobster soup ROCKS!!!

by cremebrulee at Citysearch

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