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- Hours:
Mon 11 am - 4 pm
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 8:30 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Thu
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
71 reviews for Jolane's Restaurant & Wine Bar
Review Highlights
"The coffee and tea served if from Julius Meinl."
(in 6 reviews)
"Don't forget the desserts - outstanding."
(in 19 reviews)
"I highly recommend the Mozart Torte."
(in 3 reviews)
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Bernice L.
Northbrook, IL
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't know how to use the word quaint and spacious in the same sentence to describe Jolane's, but that's what it's like! It feels like a quaint place to enjoy your delicious Illy coffee, but offers a beautiful spacious sun room during the cold winter months. If there's a place to go to "be outside" in the winter, it's this place. This newly renovated space about a year into it's greatness, is the place to be when you're in cold Glenview in the winter. It offers the Vitamin D that we're lacking in the winter, but keeps you warm!
The drinks menu exceeds the food menu here at Jolane's but you feel somewhat satified with your dining choices during lunch. I've never been there for dinner, but the flat paninis with your choice of homemade salt and pepper potato chips or their chicken salad with a fruit salad always make the perfect lunch for me. :) Their array of desserts is also a must if you have a sweet tooth. Who am I kidding though! There's always room for dessert for me! :) -
Review from Kristina K.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very good service and food was very good also...
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Review from Chris R.
Evanston, IL
1/15/2012
Used my $15 for $30 Living Social voucher, and boy am I glad I did...this place is nice! I'll be back, but...shhhh, don't tell to many, we want it for ourselves.
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Review from S C.
Oak Park, IL
1/19/2012
We've been to this restaurant many times. At first, when it first opened there weren't too many people dining there, but now it is busy - for good reason. It is beautiful, and the food is delicious. If you don't know already, it is connected to ABT Electronics. Someone in the family must enjoy good food! And they did not spare any expense in building this spot, for it is both bright and dark and woody at the same time. I might add that the bathroom is gorgeous and clean, too. Always a plus.
The food is great. We went for lunch, and had a delicious, warm roast beef sandwich with melted cheddar on a pretzel roll, and a cold chicken wrap. The beef was tender and delicious. The chicken tasted roasted, not processed. Both sandwiches came with warm potato chips, flavored ever so slightly with black pepper. Might I just say that their pretzel rolls are fantastic?
In previous visits, I have had the hamburger. So delicious. They used to be sort of a build your own ingredient burgers, but now you don't have the option to pick and choose. No matter, the burger is still memorable. They offer upscale coffee and baked treats. This is not an inexpensive venue. It is an oasis of calm, with good service and great food in an unexpected location. There is a Viking cooking school and store nearby, and also a Kohler store. Both worth a look. Of course the biggest draw in the area is the ABT store! For those of you who have never been, you simply must visit. You will never want to buy another appliance elsewhere! Over Christmas, with a purchase, they were giving coupons for a free coffee at Jolane's. I bought quite a few items there, so I had a bunch of coupons. Too bad I forgot to bring them on our visit to Jolane's! No matter, we enjoyed our lunch! Try Jolane's. You will like it! -
Review from Tatyana Y.
Schaumburg, IL
2/2/2012
as good as it gets!
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Review from Leo E.
Park Ridge, IL
12/15/2011
The food is good... But the service is excellent; all the servers were extremely attentive. After lunch I sat at the bar for a drink and Mellisa was my bartender; what a treat, great conversation and unbelievable service. She made me and my friends day out worth rating. Definitely worth a visit, and a compliment..!
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Review from Stephanie H.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2011
Considering other nearby options to eat in the area, this one is great. My co-workers and I call on a client out here and there's not much to choose from and then I saw this chic looking cafe. I've been twice and have been very pleased with the food. I have only been here for lunch and it generally hasn't been too crowded, but it does take a bit longer to get food out than you would think. The service has been good both times and the goulash and desserts I had were amazing. Will go back.
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Review from Darvin N.
Barrington, IL
5/18/2011
It was our first time in this place. we walked in because we thought it was cute and relaxing from the outside. We needed some quick coffee and something sweet.
The girl at the door was nice and greeted us with a smile, but the male hispanic barista was rude. We just asked if the peanut butter cookie on display was chewy or crunch, and his answer was: "I don't know, i only got minutes on my shift."
Well excuse F-ing me for taking up so much of your time!!!
Too bad the guy wasn't wearing a name tag. I so wanted to email his manager after that rude comment. -And it wasn't like we were being on one of those picky customers either. We just asked a simple question.
So we ordered, got our food, and sat down. It was only at the table that i realized he got my drink wrong. He made my latte into a cappuccino. I would have asked it to be changed, but we all know how that was gonna go down.
I would never go back here again because of that one rude server. too bad, the wine bar looked good too.Comment from Jay J. of Jolane's Restaurant & Wine Bar 7/2/2011
Darvin, thanks for reaching out and letting us about your… More » -
Review from Eileen Z.
6/21/2011 17 photos
If they would just lay off a TAD with the salt so I don't get kidney stones by the age of 26, that would be just lovely.
But besides that, Jolane's is wonderful. I've learned to ask for less salt, and what's great about Jolane's is they're CONSISTENTLY GOOD. There's gonna be things that aren't your favorites, but I haven't had a bad experience yet. I'm always hard-pressed to find restaurants that are up to par with my faves around the city whenever I'm in my hometown visiting the parental units, but I can really say I like this place.
Lunch favorite: Vegetable Foccacia (fresh spinach & arugula, sautéed mushroom, zucchini, goat cheese & sun-dried tomato pesto on herbed foccacia bread) + chips. Scrumptious! I'm pro red meat everything, so I never thought that a heap serving of vegetables could ever leave me wanting more, but it did!
Soup favorite: The Traditional (homemade veal broth, crepe noodles and chives). Simplicity at its best. I usually substitute this if all they've got is chicken noodle as their soup of the day or something.
And their complimentary bread and butter's delicious! Mainly the butter. I think I could slather that stuff on like icing on a cupcake. Oo, and be sure to check out their massive dessert menu!
Pointer: Their calamari IS NOT your typical fried or grilled calamari. It's with an Asian twist (see pictures).
Service tends to be an A+ but during my most recent visit the girl who took care of us was as aloof as aloof can be. Hopefully that was just a one time deal. -
Review from Felipe L.
Los Angeles, CA
Food: The taste of Jolane's fries reminds me of a churro - it is very interesting and worth trying. I also ordered a pot pie, which came out to be 2 mini pies with corn on the side. It was very salty. The chipotle pasta was tasty and the portion was very large. I think it is worth a try.
Service: Very good as all the waiters were polite, attentive, and friendly. Need a picture? Not a problem! Five poses? Still not a problem.
Price: On the high end of the spectrum, at about $10-15 for a plate of burger with sweet potato fries.
Summary: If you're a big fan of burgers and sweet potato fries, come to Jolane's! -
Review from DR. S.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2011
Good food, and good coffee. Service is a bit slow though! Looking forward to see some improvement.
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Review from Michele B.
Long Grove, IL
4/5/2011
I met my cousin her for a late lunch today and I have got to say I left scratching my head. What is all the 4 stars about????? We were seated right away (good) asked for our drink order (good) didn't get our drinks in what seems like for ever (BAD). So we took that as a hint that if we wanted to get our lunch before dinner we had to order and order now.
Another server than the one that took our beverage order came for our order. I decided to save room for dessert (since I heard so much about them and also stole a look at the desserts on my way in) and ordered the half portion of the Harvest Salad and asked for the dressing on the side.
Call me picky, but when you order dressing on the side doesn't that send a clue that you would like to put as much/little as you would like. Sadly, it came with so much dressing, that the greens were wilted (and they did bring MORE on the side). The portion was smaller than what a side salad would be if you were ordering a dinner. For $7.50 I thought more than a few forkfuls would not be too much to expect.
Well, I still didn't know what to do about the soggy salad and looked and flagged and no one came. Nada, zero, no one! By the time someone finally appeared to see how everything was (yet another server) my cousin was done and when I told and displayed my disappointment, all I got was a polite grin and she walked away!!!!!! Are you kidding????
Yet another server brought our check, we left our money and our appetite and will not return. -
Review from Kathleen C.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2011
Jolane's never disappoints...
My first visit was after a long day trying to find a dishwasher at Abt...(Abt is the best, by the way!). I was quite pleasantly surprised by Jolane's.
I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest - as I tried to visit one time before this and the spot was closed (though the hours showed open). However, I've been back a bunch of times since my first visit and I've never been disappointed.
The spot is quaint and adorable. It's quite close to Abt, so you can contemplate a big purchase over coffee or a meal. The spot has a good, open, friendly atmosphere. The food is quite tasty - I have to say, their burgers are some of the best. I'm not sure if they still allow you to 'make' your own burger anymore, but have the pretzel roll people - one of the best pretzel rolls in Chicago.
The prices seem to have crept up a little, but the spot is still reasonable.
Service has always been stellar. The very few minor issues we've had have always been promptly and happily resolved.
Of course, due to the spot next to the Kohler store, the bathroom is top notch!
Definitely a spot to visit if you're in the area. -
Review from Esther K.
Highland Park, IL
2/23/2011
I had high expectations for Jolane's since I've heard so many great things about this place. I was pleasantly surprised at how spectacular the food actually was.
I ordered the Roasted Chicken Sandwich, so delectable with an arugula pesto. My friends and I had a good time passing around each other's items for tasting as well. Everything we ordered -- Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich, Veggie Burger and Pulled Pork Sandwich -- was just as tasty as the others. I would only say their quiche of the day, with spinach, asparagus and goat cheese, was slightly bland.
For dessert, we all shared Topfen Strudle, Apple Strudel and a giant Chocolate Chip Cookie. My Topfen Strudle tasted just like Europe with its not-too-sweet cheese inside. And my latte was perfectly prepared. You can't go wrong with Julius Meinl coffee!
The service was superb at this place. Our server, Anna, was very attentive. Even the busboy offered to bring us more of those little Euro spice cookies upon refilling our coffee cups. Also, the real baby changing table in the women's bathroom proved to be very helpful for my friend and her baby.
Definitely looking forward to another visit soon for dinner and their great wines. -
Review from Cynthia W.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2011
Atmosphere looked good. Menu looked good. 20 minutes after we were seated our order was taken. 45 minutes later half our party's food came out. 20 minutes after that the rest of it came out. When I inquired, the server said I should have told her when I ordered that I had time constraints.
My daughters took their first bites and said the food was worth the wait and then one of them found a small dead fly in her sandwich. We showed it to the server who apologized and offered to get her another, but my daughter was too grossed out to eat. The server apologized again as we were leaving and said it was a small fruit fly. She stated the restaurant keeps a container of wine around to try to attract and trap the flies but the restaurant can do little about them. My thought: try an exterminator.Comment from Jay J. of Jolane's Restaurant & Wine Bar 8/22/2011
Cynthia, thanks for sharing your feedback with us. I am… More » -
Review from Heather L.
Des Plaines, IL
1/8/2011
I was told this is a nice place for a ladies lunch so my 7 year old daughter and I went for a little girl time and were not disappointed. It's just upscale enough to warrant a $40 price tag and just casual enough for two frazzled girls after an unsuccessful day at the mall trying to find jeans that fit in a world of skinny jeans not designed for not so skinny girls. Where's the desert menu?!
I had the seafood cocktail which was basically ceviche in a martini glass ($14). They tauted king crab legs and I thought scallops but it was mostly shrimp. And it was very good with a little jalapeno kick. I didn't make a great wine pairing with my otherwise very nice glass of pinot noir ($9). But that was my fault. My daughter had the coconut shrimp which, compared with the last time I had coconut shrimp at Rainforest Cafe, this was way better. ($10) Her meal came with a very yummy and good sized scoop of icecream. She chose chocolate with chocolate chip and it almost had the density of a gelato. Very yummy even on a cold winter day. We shared a black forest cake, also very yummy. ($8) The food plating was very pretty.
The ambience is very nice. They have a large atrium which was sufficiently heated however I preferred the warm woods and cozy decor of the indoor area. On a Saturday at 12:30 we were afraid it would be too crowded but it was just right. It's a large place and there were plenty of seats. Very attentive and friendly wait staff as well. -
Review from Elliot R.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2010
I don't like this place too much. The food and service are both good, (hence why I am giving it three stars and not two,) but they took just SO long to get our food that it ruined the experience. Jolane's is popular and trendy, and its close proximity to ABT doesn't hurt things, but when I am hungry, I like my food given to me in a timely manner. I went here two times, and both times the orders took a very long time to get to us.
Even the best place can suck if you're sitting there for an extended period, starving. It's like the the cook was out in the pasture trying to kill the cow that was going to become our dinner. If you've got a taste for good food and have forever, come here. If you're hungry, and need food sometime this century, go elsewhere. -
Review from Krystle S.
Glenview, IL
12/14/2010
Okay, so I've had both lunch and dinner at the place, but the food was just mediocre to me. So I don't recommend anyone to come here for the food.
On the other hand, I always come here for the desserts. The Mozart Torte and the Turtle Cheesecake Divine are just that.. DIVINE. They are rich, moist, and absolutely delicious. The coffee and frappes are amazing as well and are a thousand times better than anything Starbucks can make.
The desserts and coffee drinks are a bit pricier, but it's something to indulge yourself in once in a while.
Oh, and if you have the chance, try to get a seat in the large glass room (is it called the solarium?) if lovely when you're having desserts or lunch in the afternoon. -
Review from Rachel M.
Minneapolis, MN
9/9/2011
The first time I tried this restaurant was 3 years ago, the second was 3 weeks ago. Both times I experienced great tea and good food. The desserts look as good as they taste. The decor is beautiful and dark and the service was well paced. I look forward to trying the dinner menu, especially since the wine selection looks de-lish. This place would be a perfect location for a shower, ladies luncheon, or dinner date.
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Review from T L B.
Winnetka, IL
Updated - 7/16/2010
This glorified Denny's clone calls itself a wine bar! No apperitifs, no digestifs, no cheese plate... hmmm anyone else dubious?
If not, let's talk about the carpaccio! $12 for five pieces of seared tuna bites with burnt pesto on top... the chef then has the audacity to tell me that "carpaccio " means how it is cooked, not how it is cut! WHAT?! You don't cook carpaccio!!!!
So, I did some research...according to all sources, including my cooking instructor in Paris @ the Cordon Bleu... "Carpaccio is a dish of raw beef, veal or tuna thinly sliced or pounded thin so as to be able to see the dish under neath and served as an appetizer."
Skip it... go to Flight. Better food, better informed, better wine.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2009
This glorified Denny's clone calls itself a wine bar! No apperitifs, no digestifs, no cheese… Read more »
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Review from Dejan B.
7/16/2011
We just came for a coffee here (ABT hands them out to customers) and all were wowed. I thought the place was very classy and comfortable without being stuffy. It is all dark wood and sophistication without feeling exclusive (though it is a bit exclusive in its prices...it is pricey). The service was prompt, nice, and overall very good. Our drinks were delicious and the portions were generous. I plan on coming back here for a special event.
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Review from chicago b.
Des Plaines, IL
1/7/2011
Jolene's is a very cute place to grab lunch. I took my mom here over Christmas, and it has a great atmosphere for catching up over a meal. The food is pretty yummy too. I had the veggie burger, and my mom had the turkey sandwich. Their ice tea is also very refreshing. They have homemade potato chips which are also pretty tasty.
I came back a few days later with my mom and fiance. I had the brie and pear sandwhich, my mom had the burger, and my fiance had the chicken chipotle wrap. Everyone was happy with their food except my fiance wouldn't order the chicken wrap again (he wanted more flavor). The pear and brie sandwich is served open face on raisin bread, and its a great flavor combination!
Their desserts look amazing, but they are huge. I'll have to make a special trip back to sample.
I will say that the service is a little slow. They were slow to take our order and give us refills. The wait staff seemed to be spending too much time socializing with one another. -
Review from Tricia L.
Updated - 6/8/2010 3 photos
Stopped in for a leisurely Sunday brunch. The wooden decor almost makes me feel like I'm in a European country. What used to be the outdoor patio is now being transformed into a conservatory. Cool!
Both my friend and I ordered the lox sandwich. She hit the nail on the head when she commented that though the sandwich and the side (fries or chips) didn't look like much of a meal size-wise, it was filling. I would have preferred the carb to be a bagel instead of the buttery croissant, but I can't complain about the generous amount of lox loaded into the sammie. Add capers, dill, red onion, and cream cheese, and I'm on my omega-3-satisfed way.
Yes, I left full, but for dishing out $15 including tax and tip, I felt like something was missing. Improved service (the waitress took the order of the table next to us first, even though they were seated after us)? A heartier portion size? Pre-meal bread (like my table had received on my last dining occasion here)?
Overall, I won't rush back here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/26/2008
Ambiance was nice. Waitress was kind enough to bring us pretzel rolls to munch on, but the brunch… Read more »
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Review from beth a.
5/30/2011
took the momma here for mothers are awesome day
we were quickly seated w no res but the service stopped there...they were pretty busy but nowhere near capacity and we felt kinda neglected by our waiter
wanted to try a pulled pork sandwich but they were out so i settled on brisket...it was ok but kinda lacking in flavor...also the burgers looked amazing
im a big fan of sweet potato fries...jolanes were not my fav but they are no doubt an interesting plate...they almost taste like cinnamon stick breakfast dunkers...way sweet and no amount of savory...so dont be surprised if u order them
they also serve julius meinl coffee which is to die for but they just dont make it like jm does
i wanted to like this place alot more...ill havta give em another shot ;P -
Review from Marie B.
Libertyville, IL
6/21/2010
I'd easily give this place 5 stars for the food, but the service was so slow...and odd...that I had to go with 4 stars overall.
The food was very good. My friend and I both opted for the 1/2 sandwich, side salad. We both chose the harvest salad, which was well-sized. Along with the greens, it contained avocado, apples, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. Everything tasted great together. For my sandwich, I went with the roast beef and cheddar, just because it came on a pretzel bun. I was disappointed that the top of the pretzel bun was a little too toasted for my taste and was crunchy rather than soft. My friend had the apple and brie sandwich. It was served open-faced, the brie was melted, and it looked delicious.
Our waiter was nice, but not very attentive. He let way too much time pass before taking our drink order, then again between the drink and food order, and didn't really ask us how the food was (which I don't mind, but I'd expect from a place like this). I ordered a Franziskaner beer. The menu said it was a "dark wheat Belgian beer." I asked the waiter if it was the dunkel, but he did not know what I meant. I then asked if it was dark or hazy yellow, and he confidently said it was dark. However, when the beer came, it was the hefeweizen, not the dunkel. That was fine with me, as it's what I would have rather had at the time, but with only eight beers on the menu I'd think the servers should know the basics.
I would love to go back for lunch again and try some of their teas and coffee. -
Review from Mike O.
5/29/2008
So today was my birthday and the wife and kids are gone for the whole week. What am I to do? I could post a Yelp event called "Get Drunk with the Monkey" and see who shows up, but at 38 it's not my kind of game. Instead of staying home and feeling sorry, I got a "Happy birthday to me" present by upgrading my car stereo at Abt. That left me with 2-1/2 hours to kill while it was being installed.
I happened to see Jolane's at the far end of the Abt parking lot alongside a few upscale home improvement boutiques. Glancing inside, I saw a large dessert counter and decided to come in and pick out my birthday cake. I was immediately greeted by a helpful and friendly hostess who explained all the desserts to me on the spot.
And these desserts were unreal - every one of them a work of art. Flourless chocolate cake, fancy muffins, chocolate mousse swirl on a cupcake, and more. I must have spent a few minutes reviewing all my options. They all looked so delightful.
In the end, I chose Black Forest cake, which resembled a mini-volcano covered in glossy dark chocolate and spewing out a fountain of chocolate cream and chocolate shavings. The inside was filled with a white cream and brandy-soaked cherries. The sweetness of the cream, the smoothness of the chocolate and the bitterness of the cherries in brandy made for a unique flavor experience. At $6 for the piece, it was definitely worth it.
I ordered a cafe mocha to go with my cake and the barista made it perfect - no need to add any sugar - and even brought it to my table!
The sophisticated decor with wood-paneled walls, fancy lighting and elegant seating give this cafe the look of a luxurious restaurant. The service is very attentive and excellent, even for an order so simple as mine. Rows of fruit syrups, jams, and coffee beans neatly line the shelves over the food preparation area. As I sit there, a waiter walks by and offers me a glass of ice water on a shiny silver platter. A duet on piano and upright bass strum a jazzy instrumental. So this is the good life...
Five star experience, definitely! -
Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2009
Who knew a place like this existed in Glenview? My mother and I had a lovely lunch here over the weekend. We decided to sit inside to protect our faces from UV rays and extreme heat - thankfully, it was not too crowded inside.
I loved the charming decor inside the restaurant. The decor is a modern, yet very traditional at the same time. They hired a good decorator.
The menu is awesome. There is a wide variety of teas, coffee and pastries... as well as awesome entree salads, burgers, sandwiches, etc.
I had their chopped salad, dressing on the side. It was one of the best chopped salads I've had. Seriously.
Mother had the chicken salad with fruit. It was also delicious. She also had a strawberry and mango smoothie.
The one thing that was most noticeable about this restaurant is the freshness of all their ingredients. Everything was terrific.
I will definitely be back when I'm in the burbs. Their cupcake display is just too tempting. -
Review from Julia P.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2008
"Are we still going to Joju's or whatever?"
Ah, yes, Jolane's. A place I had my heart set on trying for a few months before my roommate's parents invited me and some of our friends out to eat there. In the few months that I waited to try the place, I had no idea it was a fancy restaurant, not a cafe or regular burger joint. All that I knew of it was the taste of my roommate's leftovers that I'd gobbled in delight.
Upon arrival, the courteous and friendly waitress complimented my roommate's scarf, and seated us quickly. She then brought out some water and baskets of bread, which left us demanding for more pretzel and Parmesan rolls.
As we waited for our entrees, we revered at their lit candles, tiny salt and pepper shakers, dimly lit atmosphere, and shiny silverware. We immaturely joked about boogers while an older woman at a table behind us laughed at a joke about pianos. All laughter came to a halt when our food came out. 3 of us ordered the Grilled Steak Burger, 2 of us ordered the Chicken Marsala, one had the Roasted Chicken Breast, and the other had the Mediterranean Salad. I sampled a few seasoned fries and thought them to be very chip-like and herb-y. It was good, nonetheless. I took a bite of the burger and was amazed at how it was even better than my roommate's cold leftovers. The flavors of the tomato, romesco sauce, ground steak patty, pretzel bun, sweet onions, and greens came together to beautifully.
Then I took a bite of my roommate's Chicken Marsala and blacked out from deliciousness. -
Review from Jake M.
4/28/2011
I love cafe type restaurants and Jolane's was no exception. My Kobe beef sliders were very tender, served on a homemade pretzel bun with homemade blue cheese dressing. My friends pasta was very good as well. All of the desserts are homemade and delicious.
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Review from Nicole C.
4/16/2010
I was here last week for a friend's Bridal Shower. I don't often leave the city and probably won't ever return to Jolane's, but I would definitely recommend it to nearby suburbanites. :)
We started with fruit, cheese, and cracker platters. Then, we had three lunches to choose from: cobb salad, crepes, and the burger. I went with the ham and gruyere crepes, which were very good and served along with a simple green salad.
The only problem was that not everyone was served at the same time. Some ladies at my table waited an additional 15 minutes for their food to arrive. Not a huge deal -- we had games to play and pretty stuff to look at on the table, and plenty of people to talk with to keep ourselves busy.
If I did return, I'd definitely want to go for breakfast: a coffee and a pastry. They serve a big cup of Julius Meinl coffee on a little silver platter with a little biscuit and creamer -- SO CUTE!
It looks like they're getting ready to open a glass-enclosed outdoor area, which will be nice in the summer. -
Review from Jane N.
Palatine, IL
7/5/2011
We love the food and service here but sometimes it feels like they are understaffed. We really like our waiter, Phil since he's upbeat and knowledgeable.
The food seems inconsistent - the more that I go there but all still very good. They used to have this deal where it's a huge burger, salad, and fried for under $10 - but they got rid of the salad so the value isn't all there. -
Review from Joanne B.
4/4/2010
This is a hidden gem on the edge of Glenview. It is a perfect place for a business lunch. The servers are attentive but not intrusive. It can be a little slow at times. The food is good, but somewhat overpriced. (I've never had to pay for anything here, at least.)
I would highlight the desserts and coffee. Jolane's knows how to do this. Every dessert they have is truly decadent and almost a meal to itself. I highly recommend the Mozart Torte. The atmosphere makes you feel as if you are in a classy getaway - not a block away from work. -
Review from Todor K.
Chicago, IL
4/22/2008
Jolane's Cafe and Wine Bar opened in February 2008 with a full-service restaurant located just south of Abt Electronics inside a new design center. Inside this European style coffee house are 100 seats inside plus about room for about 80 seats on their patio.
Jolane's Cafe and Wine Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a good selection of wine. The coffee and tea served if from Julius Meinl.
Dont miss the Nutella Crepes for $6.50 which is 2 crepes filled with Nutella chocolate hazelnut cream and bananas, topped with whipped cream.
More photos are at:
http://www.hotfortea.c...
Todor Krecu
http://hotfortea.yelp.com/ -
Review from T. S.
Summit, OH
Updated - 7/2/2011
Oh, there is now a bar AND solarium...makes the place that much better!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2010
Stopped in for dinner, and did not expect the truly exceptional and well-executed meal I was looking… Read more »
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Review from Robert S.
9/27/2008
Few businesses I review get five stars. This is not one of them, but it comes close had it not been for a couple of nit-picky things that would've made my dining experience better.
First off, the ambiance is tremendous for a place you wouldn't think twice about if you saw it from the road. It's easy to find German food in Chicagoland; Austrian specialties like Knöpfle (Viennese Pasta) and Austrian Goulash stand out as the two major specialties that bring a little of Jolane Abt's Austrian legacy to Glenview. Other than a few "European Specialties," it's standard American: hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and a variety of coffee drinks. The desserts are the real winners here; it's hyperbole for me to say that I was bouncing off the ceiling ogling the wonderful varieties of rich and expertly designed treats. But hyperbole is needed in a nice restaurant like this.
The only things that bothered me were the tiny glass bottles of soda and the even smaller glasses of water that were rarely filled. In restaurant management, little bottles or cans of soda is code for "we make our money through drinks, and don't offer refills." Other than that, this pleasant outpost of goodness would've received five stars. -
Review from Brooke H.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2010
Jolane's Cafe is delish! They are a little pricey for the portion size however everything is delish. This place has a European feel to it. Very nice inside and a wonderful ourdoor area that is completely covered so no bugs. The food is very good especially the desserts! The chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting is my favorite!
I have only been there for lunch so i usually get 1/2 salad and 1/2 sandwich. The Turkey and Avacado with Jolane's chopped salad is yumm! I reccommend it! -
Review from Isabelle L.
Wheeling, IL
6/14/2009
The sad part about Jolane's is that this place has potential but the execution is simply not there.
Went there for dinner with a friend on an early Sunday evening. Sat on the patio which was nice and relaxing (note, they have heating torches if needed). The first impression was good, great bread on the table almost right away but it went a bit downhill after that.
The dinner menu is not that extensive and yet two dishes listed were not available. The wine by the glass list is also limited and here again our choice was not available. I ended up ordering a harvest salad which was delicious (interesting combination of salad, turkey, cranberries, cheese, pumpkin seeds, avocado) and my friend ordered a crepe lasagna which sounded inteteresting. The entree came with a choice of soup or salad and a side dish. My friend chose soup which never came and picked butternut squash as the side dish. The butternut squash was nice but the main dish was quite salty which overwhelmed all other flavors.
The main disappointment was actually the service which was slow, slow, slow. A lot of staff running around but the place is really not organized. Our soup didn't come, our coffee was served cold. Looking at the tables around us didn''t help: table A asked to have their food packed to go as they got tired of waiting; table B returned their dish as it was the wrong order.
That's too bad. Certainly not a great experience but willing to give Jolane's a second chance as the concept is refreshing (mix of Eastern European / French food / pastries / coffee shop) in a nice setting and with free wi-fi. They just need to get their act together in the organization and excecution.
Note, the menu advertised half price glasses of wine on Thursday. Maybe I'll give them another chance on a Thursday night. -
Review from Casia J.
Evanston, IL
7/23/2009
If you want above average-to-yummy food with average or below service in a nice-ish patio in the Abt parking lot, served at a reasonable price, then hey ... you found it!
The above tells you I find this place odd. What a weird combo of elements they have going on. However, I found our food (a Saturday lunch/brunch) VERY good, the cocktails very good, and the service tolerable. Awesome herb fries!
The manager, or so read his badge, was awfully gruff when we approached the podium to be seated, but waitress was typical. Pleasant enough but not terribly efficient.
Busboy/waterboy was rather rude. His badge read his city of origin, a lesser-known smallish town in Mexico where I have been. I told him so, and he rudely laughed in my face and said "Yeah, right," and off he went! Sort of funny in retrospect. Maybe he figured me for a Glenviewian who wouldn't be found there and was pulling his leg via mimosa-induced debauchery?
In any case, I would return if in that area. -
Review from GeminiGal D.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2011
Jolane's is now one of my favorite restaurants. I celebrated my birthday here tonight by enjoying the St. Andre's burger. I enjoyed every bite of the bacon and brie burger on a pretzel bun! It also came with a caesar salad that had just the perfect amount of dressing and grated cheese. The coffee is top notch and the service was friendly and quick. The desserts are delicious, It's one of the best restaurants in the North Shore; the location is convenient with plenty of parking. I'll definitely be spreading the word about this place!
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Review from Laura N.
12/30/2009 2 photos
A friend took me here for lunch today - it's definitely different (and nicer) than a place you usually go to for lunch with a friend!
When we walked in, we were greeted with high ceilings and a wall filled with various types of coffees and teas (mmmmm!). The menu was filled with a variety of high-end sandwiches, coffees, teas, salads, and deserts (and beautifully decorated - I liked the book feel).
The crowd (as you might expect for a Wednesday afternoon) was mostly retired people, grandparents, etc. A few young college students home from break were dining with their families, as well. The staff is young, as well as the atmosphere -- classy and laid back, but not too fancy and old-fashioned.
My chai tea arrived in a bowl, basically. It was delicious. :)
The Caesar salad is one of the best I've ever had! The portion is just right: not too small but not a big mass of leaves and cheese. My turkey and avocado sandwich was perfect, as well. The meat was delicious. According to my friend, his black forest ham sandwich was great too. The chips are unique (sea salt and black pepper chips), but delicious. I ate them all very quickly!
For desert, we split a Key Lime Pie, which was absolutely marvelous. Rich and thick and yummy! It's a shame I don't like chocolate too much, because the rest of the desert menu looked so appealing (various forms of chocolate cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, etc.).
The table we were seated at was huge, as well. As we were leaving, I heard the woman arriving behind me say, "Holy moly! I could take a nap in this!"
I am curious what this place is like during the evening hours. I will have to come back some time soon with my boyfriend for a nice date or something like that!
