50 Best American Restaurants near Lake Forest

“Super…Great service from Ashley!!“

“Best burgers in the area!“

“Grate food and service acutely and fast“

“The atmosphere at the English Room in Lake Forest is very nice calm, classic, and a beautiful setting. The drink presentation was gorgeous. But the food itself was just okay, nothing special. I went to see what the hype was about, but overall I wasn’t very impressed.“

“Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere“

“A nice place. Bar noise infringes on restaurant but not too bad.
We were there on a Thursday and there was one person working the bar and waiting tables, so things were a bit slow.
Food was good but the dessert special, while delicious, was a bit scanty - a quarter of the bowl was the dessert (maybe less) and 3/4 was whipped cream.“

“Happy Susan Simms has brought this iconic spot back to life! The menu now offers vegan choices as well as those “dogs” we love. Couldn’t resist the chili cheese dog! Warm bun -perfect amount of cheese and chili. A yummy blast from the past back and better than ever😀“

“My first visit to Inovasi and it did not disappoint! Our server Lucia was fantastic- knowledgeable friendly and she helped me find just the right cocktail! We started with their delicious bread, and then had the crispy pork belly for appetizer. For entree we had a filet with shaved truffles and a blackened cod with lime and whipped edamame. Both were superb as was the dessert of flourless chocolate cake with raspberry purée and shipped goats cheese, and a pumpkin cheesecake. All was delicious, and the ambiance and decor was warm and inviting. We will be back!“

“We recently had a very special family event at The Board Room, and it was absolutely amazing. The room, decor, and food were all fabulous! Working with the team to coordinate the event was so easy, and the staff that worked our party was attentive and friendly. Would 100% recommend!“

“Amazing service ! Bar tender Jimmy was absolutely great. My boyfriend and I stopped by for a quick drink and soup before the movies and had a Good time thanks to him!“

“Food was very good. Server was pleasant and available whenever we needed. Very nice atmosphere. Beer selection is fantastic.“

“My Aunt Marcia Hoffman turned 90 and is a rehab center where she is confined to her room . We wanted to do something special so we call Scotty’s and the made a meal to order for pick up. It worked out great and she loved it . Thank you Scott and the entire staff for making her 90th as special as it could be under the circumstances !“

“Staff is always friendly, gave us a free t-shirt as well. Food is amazing every single time! Best chicago style food in the area.“

“There is a home flavored taste to all the dishes. Very home style foods every time. very spacious atmosphere inside or outside .“

“Stopped here on our way through town. Friendly service and delicious food in a cute little town.“

“great food, friendly staff, excellent customer service“

“Food is always good as usual“

“I Love Culvers!
The food is Always fresh, hot and made to order. Staff is always friendly and they greet you with a smile. If you love ice cream like I do, their shakes are the frosting on the cake....just incredibly great burgers!“

“The Cherry Pit Cafe, in Deerfield, IL, is an outstanding destination for breakfast or lunch, if you are looking for delicious food, a large and varied menu, and a cozy environment.Their service staff is warm and welcoming, and the restaurant is a fun step back in time with its nostalgic decor. I highly recommend it⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Nice choices. As a vegetarian I would go back. The cheesey bread felt almost healthy. The only drawback was the noise. We were hoarse when we left and it was just 3 of us at one table. Deserts were good but made to share, one desert would have been fine we got two“

“great service!!! the hostess was very polite and professional 👍“

“Cool dive bar & grill! Check out the Rondout pics on the walls“

“Great food all around and fast service. Will definitely return.“

“The staff is very friendly. The food was good. The atmosphere was wonderful. I recommend you guys to get the hamburger there they have different ones.“

“Went with family for the Friday night fish special. Was pretty good, but the gem was the variety of sizes that came with the platter. Everything could have used a bit more seasoning, except the veggies provided with it were done well. Typical decor for this type of establishment.“

“Reasonable prices, Good food“

“This restaurant is one of a kind. I love the decor, especially during a holiday. At the moment it's Valentines and Mardi Gras. The food is delicious. Be sure to check out the specials.“

“Mrs Brandy take care about our table. She is very kind of very nice lady. She helped us for choice , food she’s amazing lady. When I come again I would like to she take care about us.“

“We love the welcoming & friendly staff to my husband and I as well as my dog when eating on the comfortable and shady patio! The menu is very interesting & diverse ! Hard decisions each time! The cheese curds are delicious and unlike any other restaurants”s version! Highly recommended!!!!“

“Menu is amazing. Food is great. Awesome service awesome drinks. mediterranean chicken Greek style fish fry on Wednesdays and Fridays… cheeseburger sliders are really good“

“I was pleasantly suprised. The Fillet was fantastic . Served medium rare the way I like it. I could almoat cut it with a fork. The baked potatoe was asume as well. My server Holly was exceptional! She was pleasant, funny, and very helpful! Thank you Holly.“

“People were just as amazing as the food!“

“Great staff and delicious reasonably priced menu. If you are looking to support a small local business, start here. You will not be sorry. Oh, did I say they have the BEST tuna salad in town? SnarfOn!“

“what a great place food is delicious and atmosphere is good to have to say the chef is the best“

“GREAT SERVICE!! our waiter, June, was the best! he was very nice and so funny, good vibes the whole time! The food was so yummy and our waiters recommendations were very helpful!! thx!!!!“

“Always a wonderful meal at Meg’s. Food, service, ambience, staff....all are outstanding!!!! A true treasure in Glencoe!!!“

“Excellent food and great service every time I'm there!!!😋“

“Everyone is so friendly and wonderful. This is why we always return. Thank you all for always having our visits very pleasant.“

“To the staff at Libertyville Culver’s, thank you so much for taking care of Hanna during her Special Needs Transition Pathways work program. Hanna loved working there. Not to worry, we love Culverts and Hanna will be back!“

“This is really a wonderful restaurant. The price point is excellent and the value for money superb. The food was really, really good, and we all enjoyed our meal. The skirt steak, the lamb chops, the beet salad and the ceviche. The poached pear is something different (not sweet at all) and the chocolate cake was very tasty. And for 10 bucks you get a really solid pour of wine (probably around 9 oz), which is just unheard of in a restaurant. Service was good and we really enjoyed ourselves. Highly recommend you try this new place. They deserve to be more busy. It’s new and people need to get the word out.“

“Chef Jonathon Silver cooks a phenomenal meal to perfection! Everything was incredible from the tempura fried cauliflower, the wood grilled pear & vegetable salad, seafood bisque and to the perfectly grilled steaks. What an incredible meal.“

“Amazing experience friendliest bar tenders that make you feel at home! Customers are so friendly if you come alone you’re not alone! 100% recommend!“

“Awesome experience, love that they support local youth sports organizations. Culver’s is awesome“

“We had an amazing meal at Papa Marco’s Kabobs, and everything about the experience was outstanding. We ordered the beef and lamb shawarma plate, which came with rice and warm pita bread, and it was absolutely delicious. The meat was flavorful, well seasoned, and cooked perfectly.
The sides really elevated the meal. The hummus was smooth and rich, the baba ghanoush had great depth and smokiness, and the toum garlic sauce was incredible—bold, creamy, and addictive. Everything worked beautifully together and felt fresh and thoughtfully prepared.
As a wonderful surprise, we were also treated to complimentary baklava for dessert, which was the perfect sweet finish to an already excellent meal. That extra touch of hospitality really stood out.
Fantastic food, generous portions, and genuinely warm service. Papa Marco’s Kabobs is a place we’ll absolutely be returning to. Highly recommended.“

“Delicious burgers, fried chicken, ice cream, etc.“

“We picked Maevery last minute for our son's navy graduation dinner and it didn't dissapoint. They accommodated a last minute reservation and put us in a corner great table for easy catching up. Service was great (which we didn't experience in multiple fine dining restaurants downtown) and food was yummy and a good selection. .. they had awesome recommendations and treated us wonderfully! Didn't rush us and from 5-6pm we nearly had the place to ourselves before the dinner rush! Highly recommended by this out of town visiting family! Thank You (from Southern CA) We will be back if we are in Chicago again!“

“Love the staff. Especially the women who has owned this place for many years. Food and service is super.“

“Fried chicken on Wednesday night is delicious.“

“Bluegrass Restaurant is a wonderful, family-owned restaurant. We have been ordering takeout and eating in since we came to Highland Park three years ago. The owners take pride in managing the restaurant on a daily basis. They prioritize customer service, great food, and a warm, welcoming experience. Last night, they hosted the Highland Park/Highwood Professional Moms group. We had only expected 15 women to attend, but 25 women ended up coming. The owners and the staff were AMAZING. They brought over additional chairs. They provided us with top-notch service, including separate checks. They respected us when we were speaking to the group and quietly took orders in the background. I can't say enough nice things about this restaurant.“