Abigail’s American Bistro

Love the place! the food is always good and fresh, there is a nice ambience and the service is great.

They don’t take reservations after 6:00. We have gone and sat at the bar for 2 hours (was told less) and have walked away AFTER WAITING hours because no tables in sight. They don’t even have a great bar to wait in with only one table and maybe 10 barstools. Food is great, atmosphere too bright. Frustrating overall. Ugh.

Great food but absolutely horrible reservation vs walk-​in policy! We live 15 miles away from the restaurant. If we cannot get a reservation (5−6pm only) we have tried to get a table as a walk-​in. The problem is they allow locals to come in at 5pm, put their names on the list, and leave. So when we get there at 6pm we end up being told that it’s a 2 – 3 hour wait. I travel all over the U. S and the world eating at all manner of restaurants. I even owned one. Abigail’s policy is the worst. It is exclusionary and alienates non-​locals. We will not eat there again unless we get a reservation. Bummer because the food is awesome.
They should require that people stay on the premises if they put their name on the list. Period.

Had my 40^th birthday dinner here and as usual it was amazing! My favorite is the salad with duck, and they know how to perfectly cook a steak.
I don’t know that I have had anything bad or even fair here. Yes sometimes you have to wait to get a table, but it is worth the wait !!!

This is a place my wife and I will always go back to. The changing menu bringing in and showcasing fresh, new ingredients is just amazing, and the quality and taste of their food is divine. This is bistro dining at it’s finest, I only wish they had longer hours!

I have been scared away for Abigail’s for a long time because I always want to eat at what I would consider prime time and I was told by friends that it is so good and so popular and so small that you need to wait forever. 4 of us arrived about 7:15pm last Thursday and we were sat immediately. (Our backup plan was going to be nearby merlos which can also be popular!). When we left a few hours later, the 4 or so seats at the bar were filled but I never saw a stream of people waiting. Dinner was everything I heard. It was
Fantastic. Menu rotates frequently apparently but the warm cauliflower in a spicy peanut sauce was remarkable. So was the cheese plate. The tuna appetizer and truffle pizza were also very good. While all entrees were enjoyed, I think the chicken vesuvio was the clear winner. There were two wine lists. I first looked at the reserve one without realizing there was a second one. There is a second one if you just dig a little deeper and I was happy with the house Pinot noir which was in the low 40s range. Our waiter was excellent and asked a few times if there were any allergies or dietary restrictions at the table.

I just came out of this cute bistro.
Saturday nights is a packed night and the wait is somewhere around 1hr. So come early
Service: no complains. Knowledgeable, sensitive, and good at his job waiter.
Food: i had the duck confit salad. I was seriously blown away. It was that good!!!
The cheese group appetizer was good as well. The warm apple pie with ice cream was also tasty, of course…
Everyone at the table (another 4 ppl) liked their food as well.
Ambiance: very nice and modern with a warm cozy feeling.
Price: no entrée goes over $ 30. Quite affordable I’m my opinion

We went there with some friends. The ambiance is very cozy and it’s great for an evening out. The food was good, but relied on the basics: fat and salt. You can’t go wrong with that, but it won’t blow your mind.

We went here yesterday for Saturday date night!
Fast version:
–First impression/​ambiance/​wait time = 3*
–Food quality/​cocktails/​wait staff = 5*
(a 6 stars if we could give it!)
Here’s the details:
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
This was my first time here, and after hearing wonderful reviews, I dressed/​anticipated a steakhouse experience (low lighting, table candles and an intimate setting) — it couldn’t have been anymore different!
Atmosphere:
The restaurant is very bright (especially for an upscale restaurant on a Saturday night), noisy, the wait time was 1.5 hours and you can’t call ahead/​book a table. Not a great start.
Moreover, the restaurant is very small and there is hardly any space to wait at the bar — so we put our names down and headed to a bar down the street. Once we sat down to eat (at 9pm) I was pretty frustrated with the whole situation. This place is LOUD! and my belly was screaming at me with just as much noise … But then…
Food/​wait staff:
BLOWN AWAY! Seriously — incredible! This is by far the tastiest meal I’ve had in a while and we are avid foodies. We had the cauliflower and citrus salad for apps, then the meatloaf and chicken for our main dishes. PHENOMENAL! My stomach was now in love, my attitude subsided and the whole experience shifted.
Our waitress was lovely! She was courteous, knowledgable about the menu and a pleasure to be served by. She even helped us navigate the interesting cocktail menu.
Overall — I have to give this place 4 stars because of the experience but you have to come here for the food. You will not be disappointed (as long as you put your name in EARLY and enjoy a snack/​glass of wine elsewhere)

If you can put up with a room filled with typical North Shore parents, you HAVE to try Abigail’s. The space is pretty tiny, so it can get pretty loud– but the food is phenomenal. I’ve always been opposed to going here, because of the clientele, but it’s my mom’s favorite so I put up with it. I got the most tender and juicy steak frites and a side of truffle aiole. The truffle aiole alone is reason to go back, but everything together was otherworldly.
Tip: to avoid the crowd go at an early time! We went at 5:00pm, and it really allowed us to take in the amazing ambiance without all the people.

Had an amazing experience the staff was so friendly and knowledgable the food was excellent we got the beets and goat cheese fritters the cheese plate which was the best I have had and we also got the flash fried Brussel sprouts they were very burnt tasting. Other than that it was soo good already what I want to order next time.

Some friends from work and I went out for a holiday dinner here. First time I’ve been here.
It was a terrific evening. This is a real find in the north suburbs. Great food, terrific ambiance, awesome drinks and wine.
They only take reservations for setting before six. Otherwise it’s first come, first serve. And it’s worth it.
We started with various of their signature drinks. I had their Old Fashioned made with 1792. It was very good.
At approached the whole dinner as if it was Tapas. They have small, mid, and entrée sized dishes. Whatever we ordered, we passed around so we could try add much as possible. It was great. Everyone found their favorite dish.
Some of the highlights for me included:
— the Hampshire Sashimi, soooo fresh and served beautifully. Very light yet flavorful.
— the Roasted Cauliflower was also very good. Complimented the entire meal. (I love Cauliflower).
— I liked the Duck Confit, but not everyone at the table agreed.
— the Flat Iron steak was good; just not great.
— we really loved the Brussels Sprouts.
— we had various desserts and they were all awesome.
We will definitely be back.

I went for late night bites and drinks.
Sophia’s cider cocktail. White whiskey and apple cider perfectness, very well made. I felt like I was drinking apple pie.
Ordered Brussel salad and it is hard to get me to like Brussel sprouts. It was roasted perfectly and crispy.
Also had the wagyu steak appetizer. You get two pieces of meat on a skewer and two skewers to an order. Chef cooked it just right, medium rare and juicy.
To finish the night, sticky toffee pudding with sour cream ice cream. Moist, soft and flavored just right. Big fan of the sour cream ice cream, I’d eat a whole tub of it.
Nice and classy yet laid back place to get together. I am going to try to go back and eat a meal.

Great Restaurant, Excellent Service, and Food is phenomenal !! Love every dish that i had last night.

This is as good as it can get in the North Shore. You know, it is as good as you can get downtown Chicago. The menu is brief, but everything on it is delicious. The wine list is well chosen, and the mixology is first class.
Those in the know also say Abigail’s burger is top 5 in Chicago. Service is professional and helpful.
So why not 5 stars, well their no reservations after 6pm policy is just plain silly. No one wants to wait in line for this level of a restaurant and not being willing to deal with reservations is a little amateurish. Just saying.

This is the best restaurant on the north shore. I might even go with best burger in Chicago. The ambiance is great for a Saturday night or lunch with friends. Located in the heart of Ravinia, Abigail’s is a staple and part of the pulse of the area. The food and drinks are top notch. The books orange martini with jalepenos is just the right way to kick off the evening. All the appetizers from the salmon tartar to the roster cauliflower are spot on. Last night I had the walleye. It was pan seared just right and the sauce was delicious. The sauces on all dishes are truly inspiring. The service is truly the best. In a time were the service industry is slipping in my opinion, Abigails is at the forefront of great service.
All together they nail the trifecta of ambiance, food and service every time.

Amazing atmosphere, packed with people. We sat at the bar and still had a blast! The food was outstanding and the flow of it was incredible. Every one is super knowledgeable and intelligent

My favorite restaurant in Highland Park.
I tend to stick to the beet salad, the sashimi tuna, the burger and the salmon. Every one of those dishes are sure to please.
Have also ordered specials a few times, and never have I been disappointed even a little bit.

The food is excellent. The challenge is getting a seat. Our last time there the two of us opted to eat outside on a (rare) nice evening rather than wait for an unknown duration for an inside table. We enjoyed a salmon tartare and smooth as silk corn soup with pre-​dinner drinks and followed it up with a non-​fatty duck confit salad, ramp gnudi and smoked trout — just slightly over-​ordering but we wanted the different small plate options to taste.
As I understand it, reservations are only taken for the first seating when they open in the evening. After that you wait your ass off outside or in the cramped bar area. So if your evening is this dinner, it works — and very well. But if you have any hope of being somewhere else on a schedule, or coming with others for whom possibly standing (not sitting) is the only option while you wait for a table, it might not work.

Great food, excellent drinks and very good service got us wondering why we don’t frequent this place more often.
It does have a «city» feel to it without so many of the eccentric city personalities.
The Door County Cherry Sour was an amazing drink. Not overly whiskey tasting it might be too sweet for some but for me it was perfectly balanced. Sweet and sour cherry flavors went very well with the whiskey.
The cheddar herb biscuits offered as a bread course are tasty but come too close to the first course, they need to come out sooner.
The duck confit frisée salad ($ 14) is certainly enough for a ladies entrée. Tender and succulent shredded duck with crispy duck (?) bacon, truffled french fries and a sunny side up egg marry well with the vinaigrette to make a savory and satisfying dish that is not too heavy.
The asparagus soup was very thick and had a strong flavor of asparagus with not too much cream. The smoked salmon topping might be a bit strong of a contrast but it tasted good together with small amounts of salmon.
The beet and goat cheese salad was solid with fried goat cheese nuggets and tender cubes of beets.
Asian pork ribs had a strong and almost too salty hoisin based glaze but the not too tender meat paired well with it.
The spinach gnudi were truffled (again) and perhaps too light (3 pieces) for the price.
The roasted half chicken was perfectly cooked with crunchy kosher salted skin, 2 measly tablespoons if a delicious and smooth parsnip purée (drowned ins delicious jus), a large mound of garlicky sautéed kale (?) and the best part of the dish — 4 smashed red potato halves that were coated in oil and roasted — creamy inside and crisp outside, they were amazing.
The molten chocolate cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream was good and very strong in chocolate but in this pairing the homemade extra-​minty ice cream overwhelmed the cake. It would have been better to serve the ice cream alone and the cake with a vanilla ice cream so as to complement the chocolate instead of fight it.
What may have been the best dish of the night was the griddled berry poundcake. Toasty warm with a crisp crust the dense and buttery cake slices had the perfect combination of sweet and savory to satisfy. It is a large dessert easily shareable by two dessert lovers. The vanilla ice cream here was complemented the other flavors well.