50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lake Forest

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

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an incredible experience at Follia! From the moment we walked in, everything was absolutely wonderful. The restaurant is beautiful and elegant, with such a warm and inviting atmosphere. The food was outstanding, every single thing we had was delicious and beautifully prepared.

The service was exceptional, and the entire staff made us feel so welcome. Bruno, the owner, went above and beyond to make our evening special. His warmth, hospitality, and attention to detail truly set Follia apart. He even surprised me with a beautiful gift, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected gesture.

Follia is truly a gem. Amazing food, gorgeous atmosphere, wonderful people, and an experience we won’t forget. We absolutely loved it and can’t wait to come back!“

“Great food. awesome customer service.“

“Not only was this location able to time a delivery to accommodate a train’s brief stop at the Metra station, the pizza seemed to have come right out of the oven. Fantastic food and service to match!“

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

“I had a look at some of these reviews and some are misplaced. I been to around 7 Sbarros in 3 countries and this one is up there with the best ones. I asked for a cheese and they made me a new one no fuss. I was also not asked to tip and I spoke English.“

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

“Really good Italian food and ambiance!“

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

“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!“

“Great, authentic Italian cuisine. Never disappoints.“

“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.“

“This restaurant is beautiful inside with chandeliers and nice tables and chairs I really enjoyed the fried calamari we had as a appetizer. The Lasagna is wonderful! The cannolis are so delicious too! Antonio our server was outstanding and goes out of his way to make it a enjoyable experience. Thank you Salvatore for your kindness! I highly recommend them for a delicious dinner!“

“After a couple of years away following an uneven prior experience, a recent return to Bottaio with friends proved both reassuring and mildly frustrating. The dining room remains one of the restaurant’s strongest assets: warm, attractive, and inviting in a way that signals classic Italian comfort. Unfortunately, that promise is undercut by one persistent flaw—seating that is simply uncomfortable. After fifteen minutes, the chairs distract from the experience, an avoidable misstep in a restaurant that otherwise understands ambiance. Service, by contrast, was a highlight. Our server struck an engaging balance between edgy and personable, and—most importantly—demonstrated genuine knowledge of the menu and wine list. Wine selections, guided by their recommendations, were uniformly well received by the table, showing thoughtful pairing and sound judgment. The meal began on a high note with excellent crusty bread, a simple but well-executed opening gesture that set expectations optimistically. The entrées, however, struggled to rise beyond adequacy. While none were poor, they failed to deliver the refinement or depth one hopes for. The veal parmigiana arrived in an impressively large portion but was overly breaded, sacrificing balance and nuance. In contrast, the risotto stood out as the best dish of the evening—properly executed, flavorful, and satisfying. Other diners echoed a similar sentiment: the food was good, but never quite great. This mirrors past experiences and suggests a recurring issue rather than an off night. Bottaio remains a solid option for casual Italian dining, particularly for those who value ambiance, wine, and congenial service. With greater attention to detail in the kitchen—and a renewed focus on authenticity and precision—the restaurant has the potential to elevate its culinary standing meaningfully. One hopes that future visits will see that promise more fully realized.“

“My husband and I had lunch today for the first time. The atmosphere was very nice and our waiter Louis was exceptional. The food was delicious. We were also told that to reserve space there that holds up to 80 is $200. I thought that is very reasonable. I highly recommend Olivia’s for a wonderful dining experience“

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

“My palette’s lack of sophistication prevents me from doing justice reviewing the menu items I enjoyed, but my belly is satisfied , and there were no leftovers; however, no matter the exquisite culinary notes I, likely, missed that a more refined pallet might’ve identified, there’s no way there was anything on a plate in the Chicago land area this evening that matched the atmosphere, service, and proud history shared by the staff and current owner, a descendant of the original owners who established the restaurant 123 years ago. A truly delightful experience that I intend to repeat as often as I’m able!“

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

“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. 🥰👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

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

“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“

“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!“

“I came here on 09/21/26 to bring my lady out for her birthday. I definitely made the right choice! Coming into the restaurant your set with a beautiful fire place scenery on top of nice jazz music playing. Mikita would be my server, to which was SUPERA KIND & FRIENDLY! After getting us our water and providing us with some drink recommendations on our wine, I asked him to start us with the calamari. The calamari was ANAZING! Super fresh, tasteful and literally probably best calamari I’ve had! I also got the Blue Fire Ribeye Steak to which was cooked medium rare and came out exactly that! The food came out so hot and fresh, literally the steak melts in your mouth when biting into it. The steak carried so much FLAVOR!! The sauces added on the side, I kind of wish I would had shook the Chef hands before I left! Mikita then came out with a honey cake for dessert which my lady really ENJOYED! We were completely full but somehow managed to make some room for that cake. The atmosphere was amazing and the service was beyond amazing! If you are truly looking for a nice scenery for a date night, trust my me when I say don’t second guess yourself to come here! Thank you to the Red Bottle team and the chef in the back, you keep doing what your doing! Did not let me down!“

“Came for a celebratory dinner on Saturday evening with my family. CJ was patient and hospitable and took great care of us. The food was fresh, with hearty portion sizes and full of classic Italian flavors.

We look forward to dining here again! :)“

“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 .“

“Very tasty, good service. Great food. Much better than the Italian restaurant that used to be here.

We had grilled octopus, shrimp, calamari platter and it was awesome. The house salad is made with arugula and baby tomatoes and delicious.

Meatballs and pasta is also fantastic.“

“amazing food and awesome staff!!“

“This is our family's favorite restaurant for birthdays, anniversaries, dinners with large groups...At this point we've been here probably 10 times and never once have we had a bad experience. Every server goes above and beyond to ensure that you have a WOW experience. The food and drinks are amazing every time. Last night we decided to try somewhere new since we just ate at Primo the previous weekend. The prices were the same yet the service and food did not compare. From now on we'll stick with here, where we know we'll have an amazing experience.“

“Delicious sourdough bread, eggplant parm, veal marsala, and tiramisu! They were out of mint for a Hugo spritz, but thoughtfully suggested their special spritz instead. Though the dining room got quite noisy as it filled up, the staff was extremely helpful throughout the evening.“

“Always enjoy a stop here when I'm in the area. Really a throwback to Italian-American restaurants of a bygone era down to a host of regulars and owners that seem to know half of the diners. Food is consistently good if not revolutionary, but it certainly scratches an itch for a big plate of spaghetti Bolognese or shrimp scampi.“

“I lived overseas for a number of years and came back after Covid only to find my go-to pizza spots had all closed. I spent the next three years chasing that real Chicago stuffed-crust fix and kept coming up disappointed.

Then, on my birthday today, I finally found the place that fills the void.

The sauce is robust, the cheese is generous, and the crust is exactly what you want from a quality Chicago stuffed crust pizza. Hands down, it’s the best stuffed crust I’ve had in Illinois in over 10 years, and the price is better than Lou Malnati’s (bland) and Giordano’s (#2 stuffed crust in il IMO, but far away from my location).

Great value for the money, and the people here are genuinely nice. First visit, and now loyal customer now.“

“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!“

“Great place to have Italian food 😊“

“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“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“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!!“

“My daughter loves this place. She can still pick her meal from the kids menu and I stick to the never ending salad and soup. I never finish the pasta and always eat a lot of salad before the entree arrives lol I do occasionally treat myself to an entree when I have a craving for pasta. Service has always been exceptional.

Update: We love the neverending pasta promo! My daughter has aged out of the kids menu and loves it when this promo comes along. We love to try an the different kind of combinations! Still a favorite to come to celebrate her birthday!“

“I wanted to reach out and tell you about my son's experience with Moretti's, Emily is EXSPECTIONAL and my son Michael now hangs out Moretti's!!! Michael has told me that Emily is just so kind and always guiding him on her favorite dishes. The most important thing about Emily is she is always smiling and happy to see him :) Brandi VR“

“My girlfriend and I had dinner at Saranello’s last night, and once again, we had a great experience, thanks in large part to our server, Damon. I’ve been requesting his section for years, and he has always provided exceptional service. His attention to detail and friendly personality make every visit special. Damon is definitely one of the reasons we’ll keep coming back!“

“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!“

“Pizza was delicious and was delivered hot!“

“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!“

“I have been going there for 60 years and it is still the very best. You order it with double sausage and what ever else you like on it and don't forget to order it well done. Everyone I take there said it is one of the best pizzas they ever had.“

“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!“

“Best pizza, and a good price“

“We order from here 1-3 times a week for lunch at my shop and dinner at home. The food is always fantastic, delivery is fast and the staff are very friendly and helpful. We've also gotten catering before too and that service was fantastic. Night driver Scott is awesome too!“