50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lake Forest

“Omar gave great service! Good was very good (ravioli with tomato cream). Good for kids too!“

“Great food. awesome customer service.“

“Took my son for pizza after graduation from book camp. We didn't have time to drive to the sit down, but we managed to get a table from the restaurant next door. We enjoyed our pizza on the patio. It was way too big to finish, so we have leftovers. Thanks to whoever told us to try it out.“

“Awesome location! Store looks amazing, food taste great, and the staff are AWESOME!!“

“perfectly cooked steak- very creamy mac and cheese- sausage and peppers were perfection- service was top tier- Batman was was playing on the television behind the bar which was in perfect viewing from our table. Thanks for helping make a Daddy Daughter Day a huge success.“

“The food is fresh and always delicious. The staff is friendly and assists in wine and food pairing. Whether a large dinner, or some apps and a glass of wine, this has become my favorite place! Highly recommended..“

“Food was excellent as always and our server Moses made it extra special. Always one of my favorites!“

“Stop in for the canolli and stay for the food.“

“Great, authentic Italian cuisine. Never disappoints.“

“We went to Washington Garden’s last night with friends hoping to enjoy some good Italian food. The food was delicious! The portions were large and the waitress couldn’t have been nicer. We will be returning soon. 🥰👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“OUTSTANDING! What an amazing place that has been around and in the same family for decades. We all had homemade pasta including the gluten-free option and they were all delicious and authentic. We had just returned from Italy the prior week and it felt like we were still there! KUDOS to the family and Chef.“

“Great food , charming atmosphere . Excellent service from Anna“

“Was there Thursday night we had Braised Short ribs and crispy Brussels sprouts was delicious service was great the bartender colie made me a special drink Wow will definitely be back“

“We had a holiday party for a bunch of girls. Ignacio was a wonderful server and did a great job. So much fun.!“

“Great place for Italian!“

“We had drinks and dinner at Mundelein restaurant on Saturday 10/5/24. We didn’t have reservations so we ate at the bar. It was all excellent! Friendly staff and the bartender made an excellent Margarita! Will be going back“

“So glad I tried and continue to enjoy Maria’s Italian Bakery and Cafe! This authentic spot offers wonderful service and excellent quality menu items— highly recommend!“

“Excellent service, amazing food. Gelato is incredible! :) Very nice people there, too! Will definitely return!“

“Great experience, staff is always friendly and cleaning. The owner is very nice and was very personable being able to talk about our families as we mentioned we come there after our little one’s doctor visits. We come for the sliced pizzas deal they have although we have had the chicken strips, fries and some other appetizers. Sure we will be back soon. Wish Libertyville had more places like this.“

“Service was amazing and the food matched. Unfortunately we had to leave before we got the servers name but DL was written on the tabs bill. Amazing service from her and the bus boy working Saturday night August 31st. Very tentative and had great recommendations. We’re from the city and Francesco’s just shot to the top of our list, will be returning when we’re up this way!“

“My sister and I both ordered the grilled salmon. She asked for her to be cooked through; I asked for mine to be prepred per chef's recommendation. Both of our dishes were prepared to our specifications. Mine was seared on the outside and tender moist on the inside. To add to that perfection, the sunchoke purée had an amazing mélange of flavors. I finished my meal with the Scorza Dolce--also packed with flavor.I have now had three meals that were so exquisitely flavorful that they will stick in my mind forever (previous two are from 1981 and 2005). My salmon at Mino's is now my #1 all-time favorite meals!“

“Great Food! Great Service! Always a Favorite❤️“

“Great place to have Italian food 😊“

“Delightful owners, excellent customer service. The best lasagna we have ever tasted. It melts in your mouth. Beyond delicious!!!!“

“amazing food and awesome staff!!“

“Our first time to Primo was a special occasion as it was not only our anniversary but also our daughter was in town to visit and celebrate. Ryan V was our server and was fantastic - personable, knowledgeable and attentive! The menu is large, but don’t let that intimidate you! Ryan walked us through the app and entrees and we had everything from steak, to fish and pasta! ALL were delicious!! We will be back for sure, and highly recommend!“

“Todd and his daughter & staff are incredible . their wonderful service made my family dinner something so special. Everyone who works at this tiny gem is so welcoming. In a time when it seems every restaurant experience is rushed and rotten- Viaggo puts personal touch and love into every moment. Thank you so much Todd we will be back .“

“We had appetizers which were delicious! The place was packed! Our waitress was so great! Everyone who worked there seemed to love what they do! Speaks volumes for the owner! We will be back!“

“Amazing service! Above and beyond what we could have expected, especially with our 2 year old! Delicious food and beautiful atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“Went out with the family! Great service, our waitress Jenyttzy is a gem! Very charismatic friendly and energetic! Service was good, time passed by quickly with good times here. The Drink in the picture was strawberry lemoncello margarita. Cheers everyone!! 🥂“

“Great time last night good all of this world remember when grandma used to make it“

“I went to this place just today, the waiters were amazing, so kind and on top of stuff. The place is so big, and although they were busy, it was very sanitary. The food was amazing and had many options. The atmosphere overall was so great, everyone was so nice and it was decorated beautifully. Overall, I give this place a 10/10, definitely would recommend.“

“Great food. Their supper club menu is wonderful. #iraeats“

“We came at a quiet time - 3pm. Perfect table for 6 backing up to screened outside patio. Service - phenomenal. Skirt steak special with parm crust was delicious, perfectly cooked. Othe entrees enjoyed immensely by others. Banana pie to die for. Great experience!“

“Absolutely love this restaurant. We had brought a tray of lasagna to a party years ago and had nothing but rave reviews. We moved down to FL 7 years ago so it’s been awhile since we have been able to eat here. We bought another tray of lasagna this weekend for a party. Let me tell you…it was so delicious! We are still hearing people rave about it and hope it brings new customers your way. Your GF ravioli was awesome as well. Great food, wonderful customer service, cute restaurant. Now we just need a location opened in SWFL! We will be back and we will always highly recommend this place. Thank you!“

“We received their flyer in the mail showcasing some great-looking pizzas, pub staples, and tacos de harina. We’d never heard of Cansino’s before, but figured we’d give it a shot. Man, am I glad we did — because they’ve quickly become one of our local favorites! For years, Lou Malnati's held the crown for our favorite Chicago-style deep dish, but Cansino’s has officially taken the top spot. Their cheese blend is unbelievably creamy, stretchy, and flavorful. It’s their own house blend of California cheeses, and it reminds us of the rich, melty Wisconsin brick used in Detroit-style pies — maybe a touch creamier and a bit less salty. The sauce is hearty and well-balanced, loaded with herbs and neither too sweet nor too tart. The crust has just the right firmness and flavor, and their sausage is leaner than Lou’s but packs a bold fennel kick. We still enjoy other deep dish places, but when a craving hits, Cansino’s is our first call. We’re picky about onion rings, but Cansino’s nails it: crispy seasoned breading, and tender perfectly cooked rings of onion. The fries are also really solid, and their fried mushrooms were an unexpected hit. I’ve tried a couple of their tortas too — all were tasty, with well-seasoned beef, flavorful beans, and nicely grilled fajita-style veggies. The bread held up great. I’ve got my eye on their paninos in the near-future. The staff is super friendly and always ready with a great suggestion or two. The place is clean, bright, and well kept. Prices are fair for the area, everything we’ve ordered has been ready on time, and there's plenty of parking right in front. Their entrance is easy to access, and they’re located right across the street from the Fort Sheridan Metra Station — which makes them a perfect stop before or after a commute. Looks like their breakfast would be perfect before a train ride! We’ll definitely keep exploring more of the menu and will update with more photos as we go.“

“Nicko! Nicko did an amazing job! He was the only one waiting tables at a pretty busy time and did an amazing job taking care of everyone! Food was very good and came out quickly! The tiramisu was more or a tiramisu cake but was still delicious!“

“Louie's is the best place to eat in Waukegan. Great Italian food, thin crust pizza, fried chicken and fish. Everything is great. They give you the best bread hot from the oven when you sit down. Huge bar. Family friendly. You can't go wrong at this place.“

“Our pizza arrived quickly and cooked perfectly. We love Maciano’s! They used the best ingredients-quality cheese, great crust and the Italian sausage is wonderful!!“

“Wonderful experience! We brought our party of six to Saranello's for dinner on a Saturday evening. We were seated immediately with our OpenTable reservations. The hostess Liz was very pleasant and accommodating. Everyone including 2 children absolutely loved the food. We ordered the Arancini special and they were amazingly delicious. Our server Mike B is the best in the business. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. One of the managers Ari stopped by our table to say hello and check on our satisfaction. All six of us highly recommend Saranello's“

“Fast friendly delivery, great pizza!“

“best food ,pizza sauce is really good, if you want good take out food this place is the place 👌🙌.“

“We held a family funeral lunch at Lino’s. The staff was welcoming, attentive and very friendly as they took care of our party, which filled their banquet room. We had a couple of chicken dishes, a couple of vegetable dishes, a garden salad, potatoes, and cannoli for dessert. Our guests raved about the food, which was delicious and hot! We could not be more enthusiastic in our recommendation of Lino‘s!“

“We were in town for a convention and staying at a hotel. We decided to order a pizza our last night there. We chose Joe's at random, and we were not disappointed. Our order was delivered promptly by a very nice, and courteous person. The pizza we ordered was delicious. We loved everything about it -the thin crust, delicious sauce (not too much), and generous amount of cheese. I especially liked that the toppings were under the cheese, and there were herbs!! Kuddos to Joe's for great food and friendly service!!“

“Our group of 8 planned a mtg at Lou's at 6pm. The general dining room was very, very noisy! Upon inquiring if there was a quieter space; the Manager, Dion, went Above & Beyond to move us to a private area. Fortunately it was available. Yet, it was all because of Dion that this happened! He even helped carry our waters, drinks, etc. He made certain we were happily situated in this new space. His attitude (on a very busy night at Lou's) was fantastic!!!! Kudos to Dion!! I hope Lou's in Buffalo Grove knows what a huge impact this had on our visit last night - all because of Dion! Thank you Dion!“

“Aside from the pizza being amazing, big plus for whole wheat crust, I really think they grow their own people there! Every single time I call, no matter the reason, they are SO INCREDIBLY NICE. Every person who picks up the phone; helpful, kind, just NICE every time! How do they hire only nice people? I need the recipe. Thank you Pierros!“

“Quonset pizza is the only pizza you need.“

“Great pizza! Timely delivery.“

“Great food at a good price can't beat it. Hot and ready and on time we ordered it five stars to these guys.“