50 Best Italian Restaurants near Island Lake

“We love picking up a quick lunch here, our go-to are the Chicago style dogs. Always a treat for a work lunch!“

“Wonderful service and food! Eric, the manager, is excellent checking in with diners and ensuring they have everything they need.“

“Hidden in plain sight in Lake Villa, this Italian restaurant is the kind of unassuming neighborhood gem critics quietly root for. It isn’t flashy, it isn’t loud, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a place that consistently serves excellent food at fair prices. In the Lakes region—where Italian options can feel uneven—this spot rises confidently to the top. On my most recent visit, I was seated immediately at a corner table, a small but meaningful luxury in an age of hour-long waits. The dining room, typically hushed enough for actual conversation, again delivered one of its underrated pleasures: a peaceful meal without the intrusive din that plagues so many suburban restaurants. Service followed suit—friendly, attentive, and genuinely eager to help, never hovering or rushing. The kitchen remains the star. My spaghetti with vodka sauce was outstanding—rich, balanced, and among the best renditions I’ve had anywhere in the region. Other entrées at the table echoed the same strengths: sauces with clarity and depth, pastas cooked with confident restraint, portions generous without tipping into excess. Cocktails, too, arrived promptly and properly mixed, further reinforcing the sense of a kitchen-and-bar team that takes pride in their craft. If there is a shortfall, it lies in the ambiance. The room carries a certain charm, but the décor feels a step behind the quality of the food. A refresh of tables, finishes, and overall presentation would elevate the experience from very good to genuinely special. The warmth is there—the aesthetics simply haven’t caught up yet. Even so, the value proposition is undeniable. For reliably excellent Italian cuisine, low noise, easy seating, earnest service, and honest pricing, this restaurant more than earns its “highly recommended” status. It is, in every meaningful way, Lake Villa’s little culinary treasure.“

“The best! Everything is fresh and amazing. Staff and owner treat u like family. AMAZING!!!“

“The food in Bimbo restaurant is delicious , well prepared. Wish it was a little bit more variety of dishes with vegetables. Salads kind of boring, no eggplants dishes at all. About design of the rooms. One long room where we were sitting has no wall decor at all, one wall was from bricks and 3 walls dark color. One window with blinds which makes this room so dark if you want to close them from sundown of bright sun at 5 pm. Should be curtains or window shades for better protection. Please, hire a professional designer to improve your decor and atmosphere. We ordered sea bass dish , it was good , crusty a little bit but definitely not worthy $40 small piece of fish with 4 cherry tomatoes in a sauce. Calamari that we had for lunch before were too soupy, ate them with the spoon. Overall its good place to eat.“

“The food was amazing!! I need to go back and try more of their menu.“

“My girls and I just had a quick dinner here before ballet class and it was awesome! Can’t believe we waited so long to visit, we’ll be back soon! Food and service were 👍🏻👍🏻 all the way!“

“Great Place and the staff is always there for you“

“great atmosphere,quick and friendly.“

“We typically use the drive thru. We like your food, always fresh and tasty. Tonight I had the chicken avocado and strawberry salad. The salad was fresh, walnuts were sweet and crispy, dressing was very creamy. The only criticism I have is my chicken avocado and strawberry salad had no avocados. I do understand sometimes you can run out of ingredients or supply chain issues can interfere with menus. I would just ask to have this made known to us upon ordering or upon discovery, all in the interest of good customer service that you usually do deliver.“

“I came here with my friends and was expecting the normal service as usual, but this time.... it was different.
The service was INCREDIBLE and our beautiful amazing waitress Brittny was so kind and really made the experience special. She made sure to stop by and regularly offer more soup, salad and clean up.
She was so soft spoken and made such a relaxing atmosphere. We went home full, satisfied, and content.
Thank you so much Brittny!!!!
#lovethatolive“

“My thin crust pizza was always my favorite from there until I just had a deep dish Chicago style you better hang onto the box with two hands. I always went to uncle Jerry’s for the thicker pizza until now. Gallo’s kicked it out of the park and they even cut your pizza for you.“

“This place is a hidden gem in Fox Lake! The bruschetta?? Amazing! Pizza is excellent as are the sausage and meatballs… and vodka pasta is fantastic. I haven’t had much else on the menu yet…but what I HAVE had is surprisingly good! Give it a try!!“

“Great food, fair prices, friendly staff.“

“Y'all if you're looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, Zaza's Restaurant is an absolute hidden gem! 🍝 The portions are incredibly generous, and the flavors are out of this world. It's just a short 20-minute drive from our place, making it the perfect spot for a delicious meal. It's a local favorite, it’s only open on certain days, so plan accordingly! My boss is a huge fan of this place, and now I totally see why. Highly recommend! 🇮🇹 #HiddenGem #AuthenticItalian #ZazasRestaurant #FoodieFind Zaza's Steakhouse and Italian Eatery“

“Vince and his crew do a great job and the Pizza is delicious- would recommend 100% of the time- and they serve RC Cola!“

“They fit us in on New Year’s Eve and made us feel at home. The food was excellent. Kids and adults loved the food. Great, friendly service and a warm atmosphere. Thank you for making a memorable night and saving our New Years Eve!!“

“i recently had a disappointing experience at a restaurant that I felt compelled to share. I went there for dinner with my fiancée, mother, and our two young kids, ages 3 and 1. Initially, the dinner was fantastic; we were enjoying our time together and the food was great. However, after about an hour and 20 minutes, we were abruptly told we had to leave because of other reservations. This was incredibly frustrating, especially since I still had my drink left, and we had just paid our tab As we were leaving, we encountered a manager and inquired about the situation. To our shock, she responded by asking if we knew how to read English, which felt incredibly rude and unprofessional. I pulled up my reservation online and nowhere does it say there was a time limit. To make matters worse, as we walked through the bar to exit, she followed my mother and physically shoved her three times. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable in any establishment, and it left a sour taste in what could have been a lovely evening. We called the cops to make a report as the manager "lucy" (she told me this was her name) should never be able to touch a customer. Especially since we were not refusing to leave AND my kids were there to witness it all. In the car my son kept asking why the lady pushed my mom . This shouldn't be something I need to answer as it never should have happened. She tried telling the cops she did not have the "intent" to hurt but to get us out . Yet we were not even refusing to leave...only letting her know it was rude as we still had stuff that was unfinished that we paid for. I understand that restaurants have to manage reservations, but there are respectful ways to handle these situations. Additionally, she left it up to the waiter to tell us we had to leave . I won't be returning, and I hope this feedback helps others make an informed decision. And please , if you were in the bar / restaurant when this all happened , speak up on how wrong it was of her to push someone like that.“

“The place is very nice and clean. Atmosphere is clear with good vibes. When we got our food, the fries were very warm! I got the Jack Burger and it was good. I will say that it was not that warm though. Ice cream afterwards was very delicious. Strawberry is my personal favorite.“

“Main dish was good. Salad dressing needed some oil as the consistency just dripped as if no oil was added. The dressing puddled on the bottom of the bowl and did not dress the salad. The iced tea tasted like it was made from concentrate. This may seem a little nit picking but at their price point I feel the critique is reasonable.“

“Our family’s favorite pizza in Barrington. Always great food!“

“You can bring dog. Fast and good service.“

“Tonight we held a work meeting and ordered 2 family trays, everyone was working so hard when I picked up my order, even a little early, and they were all so friendly, helpful and this food was delicious! Thank you for doing such a great job for us!!“

“delicious sandwiches and I wouldn't consider anybody else for my catering needs.“

“Our first time there and wow !Amazing food!Great service!The deep dish pizza, let me tell you how amazing that was!!Everything was just great!It's a far drive for us but we would definitely make that drive again to get that food!🙂“

“The pizza is so delicious. The right amount of sauce and cheese. My boys love the pasta and meatballs. Keep up all the great work Little Joey's.“

“good food. better if you sit down“

“We found you guys years ago: your our favorite spot: Just tried your cauliflower pizza Omg it was fantastic!!!!!“

“I decided to go to LAGO for the first time last night, and I’m so grateful I did! From the moment we arrived, the valet was incredibly kind, and the ambience struck the perfect balance—upscale yet cozy and welcoming. I felt at home immediately, with that unmistakable “city” energy that makes a night out feel special. Our server, Lexi, was absolutely wonderful—beautiful, vibrant, and genuinely attentive. She went above and beyond to make my birthday feel truly special, and we all adored her. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable, and every detail reflected how much care and expertise go into this restaurant. I’ve been missing a place like this, and I can’t wait to come back. LAGO is something special.“

“Great service! Friendly. I am glad I chose to order from them.“

“We love Rosati's of Lakemoor! Their thin crust pizza is delicious, they have great wings, and their salads are large and fresh....all the food we've ordered is really consistent. We especially love their pizza sausage—true Chicago style! We usually don't eat inside the restaurant, but the carry out service and delivery service is always on time. Highly recommend this Rosati's location!“

“This pizza I just ordered was among the Best Giordano's we've ever had. We just moved to the area so this was our first time ordering from this location, we've always liked Giordano's but this was excellent! Perfect thin crust, perfect bake, lots of cheese and delicious toppings.
Will definitely be ordering from this location again. Thank you!“

“This is our go-to place for gluten-free pizza. As opposed to another popular nearby pizza place, the crust is actually fully baked. The GF crust is decent. Not as good as real crust, but better than others in the area. As with any GF pizza, I’d recommend eating it all the first night, as it’s never as good reheated.“

“Best pizza and wings out there! Always fast and hot delivery!“

“We ordered take out! Pizza was very tasting with quality sausage and pepperoni. Between my wife and I, the calzone was absolutely incredible. The perfect amount of dough accompanied with a heavy amount of cheese. Will definitely be ordering again!“

“Great atmosphere and amazing food - including not only the pizza, but their pasta dishes and appetizers. It’s our go to restaurant when we want pizza/pasta, or to enjoy live entertainment.“

“the foid was good the bartenders friendly, on the spot and gave service with a smile! band was great! dance floor tight tho.“

“5/26/26 - dinner with friends! I had the Alamo chicken sandwich. Per the menu - marinated, grilled chicken breast with cheddar cheese, Bacon on Texas Toast and Parmesan fries. It sounds really good! When I got it it was cut in half and I noticed that there was a slice of tomato 🍅 melted into the cheese on the chicken breast. But I hate tomatoes and it was a good thing that I am not allergic to them. Had it been on the menu I would have made sure that I didn't order it. Anyways also there was very little BBQ sauce and the chicken breast was dry and tough to chew. Also I ordered Parmesan fries 🍟 and they were just plain fries.
Usually when I am out by myself I definitely would have sent it back. But since I was with friends I didn't want to make them wait any longer.“

“I’m not typically one to issue 5 star reviews. However, Buddy’z was on their A game on the night of 10/16/2025 and helped the wife and I celebrate our anniversary with two very tasty pizzas. We ordered a deep dish and a thin crust, both sausage, for delivery. Both pizzas were fantastic, had plenty of toppings, great taste, and they arrived quickly, despite having ordered a deep dish. It was actually a little nostalgic calling up a pizza place and placing an order. Not like these corporate pizza places that want everything done online via some Terminator on judgement day taking your order. Better yet? The woman who answered the phone knew what she was doing. I didn’t get the person on day 2 that was left alone on her own to hopefully survive.

I worked food service for almost 20 years in pizza so I know that everything just clicked last night. Now the only question that remains is consistency! Keep it up! We will see!

It all just gelled and it helped our anniversary be a great one.

Thanks buddyz. You’ll be seeing us again.“

“Great pizza, wish they had zeppole on the dessert menu, it’s the only Rosati’s location I can’t find them at which results me in ordering from the next restaurant. I attached what zeppole look from the other locations, they don’t even have the appetizer version with the marinara. Crazy because they’re big sellers at other locations and they run out.“

“The food is always outstanding, but it's the people that truly make the experience exceptional. Every time I visit, I'm greeted with warmth and kindness. The staff goes above and beyond, especially when it comes to making my kids feel special. Their generosity and thoughtful service ensure that each visit is memorable and enjoyable.“

“What a great experience. We got out of a late wake and we’re excited Lous was still open. The person who answered was great as this out of Towner asked a bunch of questions. Pizzas were ready exactly when they said they would be and they were fantastic. First time having Lou’s thin crust and it was just as good as the deep dish.“

“5++?We were in the area conducting some personal business, and we decided to grab a bite to take home. My wife wanted a salad, and I was thinking about pizza, and getting our oldest son a Italian beef sandwich. I accomplished all three at Rosati's!It's a really small location, with a small rail bar with a few stools to sit at. Just enough to eat your food and be on your way if you're not getting to go. All of the ingredients for our meal were fresh and crisp. The pizza was extremely good, I had no issue with it. I'm going to also post this on my list of pizza joints. My son enjoyed his beef sandwich, and my wife thought it was one of the biggest, tastiest and attractive salads she's had. The staff was kind, and they brought our order out to our vehicle when it was done. I have to give them kudos, and the place was nice and clean from everything I could see. And the prices were very reasonable compared to some other establishments. I highly recommend Gabito?!?

Dietary restrictions: Ask

Kid-friendliness: Not really that type of facility, more of a grab and go.

Wheelchair accessibility: More of a grab and go, not really a sit-down location.“

“Pizza is consistently good! Love the deep dish! Really appreciate that you were open on Christmas! Thank you!“

“DELISH!!!! The Chicago Classic is a MUST HAVE! And the service is great :-)“

“The best pizza I have ever had for years! 5 out of 5 stars recommendation!!! Yummy and I cannot stop eating.❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👏👏👏🥰🥰🥰“

“My friends surprised me for my birthday. Would definitely do it again.❤“

“Great food Great customer service New owner always trying to take care of his customers“

“Rosati’s Pizza never disappoints. The slices are always fresh, hot, and full of flavor. The crust has the perfect crisp, and the sauce has just the right amount of tang. The people here are genuinely friendly and make you feel welcome every time you walk in. Service is quick. Definitely one of my go-to spots when I’m craving a good slice. Highly recommend!“

“They support live music entertainment!“