50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Lake Villa

“Great place and great people. Love their Red Lager and met my future wife through Harbor Brewing.“

“Some restaurants mature gracefully; a precious few actually get better with age. This charming, tightly packed spot—long a local favorite—has clearly entered its prime. After some time away, we returned slightly ahead of our reservation and were seated immediately at a table that allowed for effortless conversation. Yes, the space is compact and the tables closely spaced, but the room’s moderate hum works in its favor: lively, never intrusive. Service on this visit was exemplary—attentive without hovering, informed without pretense, and genuinely warm. Our server guided us through the menu with seasoned confidence, and his recommendations were both thoughtful and impeccably accurate. The cocktail program impressed as well, not only for its craftsmanship but for its hospitality: when one drink failed to satisfy, it was whisked away and replaced without hesitation. A small gesture, and a deeply classy one. The kitchen is cooking with clarity and conviction. My ribeye arrived perfectly executed—textbook sear, well-judged seasoning, and cooked to the precise temperature requested. It is, without exaggeration, one of the best steaks I have enjoyed locally in recent memory. Accompanying it was a special potato preparation: imagine a luxurious scalloped potato, layered and compressed, then cut into thick “steak fries.” Externally crisp, internally silky—an elevated, indulgent rethink of a familiar comfort. My wife’s mussels, presented with Thai aromatics, were equally accomplished. She praised them with the kind of enthusiasm that only a genuinely memorable dish inspires. And the French onion soup? Quite simply the finest iteration I have encountered anywhere: deeply caramelized onions, a broth with true backbone, and a cheese crown that achieves the rare alchemy of richness without heaviness. The wine list shows a commendable sensibility, particularly in its by-the-glass program, which favors quality over breadth. Pairings were easy, and our requests for slight menu modifications were met with seamless accommodation. If there is a flaw, it lies in the cramped dimensions of the room—but in practice, service and cuisine are so strong they render the limitation almost trivial. Highly recommended. This is a restaurant confidently hitting its stride, and absolutely worth your return.“

“Everything I’ve tried so far has been amazing! Fresh ingredients, clean establishment, and friendly staff. The steak and chicken Philly and burgers are my go to but the gyros are amazing as well. The fries are addicting! Give em a try and I’m willing to bet you’ll be a regular.“

“After my doctor visits, my husband treats me to lunch at the restaurant of my choice. We just passed Eggspress in Lindenhurst. I suggested we try the restaurant. We were so pleased with the food, atmosphere and service. David, our server, was very attentive and pleasant“

“I try to support our local restaurants as much as possible. When this Thai place popped up I had been happy to try it. It took me a few months to remember todo so. After a busy day I decided to order an pick up. Atmosphere is a modern sleek Asian fusion. Almost spa like. Families and groups of all ages were there enjoying their meals. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Always greeting you with a joyful hello amd smiles, even when they are swamped. Food is pretty good for a lower cost place. You can tell it is fresh ingredients and chefs that know how to create comfort food that looks beautiful and tasty. I have alot of food allergies and this place was open to working with me. I recommend them for a casual to nice dine in and definitely for any take out party!“

“First of all, Simon’s a great host who also loves to make software. We’re here all the time, and our team loves coming to Open Mic to work, be creative, and meet with clients. It’s a comfortable, welcoming space that naturally sparks good conversations and cool ideas—some of our best ideas have come out of brainstorming sessions in this spot. Sometimes we’re heads-down getting work done, sometimes sketching things out, sometimes picking up a guitar or playing a little piano between sprints. Great coffee and tea, a relaxed creative vibe, and always something interesting going on. It’s one of our favorite spots in Lake County, Illinois.“

“Good beer and good people!“

“I’m so glad I found this place! great fresh food and good service. A great addition to the neighborhood.“

“I went to The Wicked Egg with my daughter and it was a great experience. Everyone who works there is so friendly, the food was prepared quickly and tasted good. I definitely recommend The Wicked Egg!“

“Excellent food and customer service!“

“Very inviting folks! Absolutely delicious and HUGE portions for a very good price! I'll be eating off the chicken teriyaki for a week!! HIGHLY recommend!“

“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.“

“Very disappointed that they do not offer any salad combinations other than chicken. Most sandwich places offer any of their sandwiches made into a salad. For example, a simple Julianne salad with ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese would be a nice change. Cook would not substitute for chicken. If they have all the fixings, I don't see why they can't make more salad options.“

“The lengua tacos were delicious and the tamales were loaded with shredded pork. I’ll be back again soon.“

“great coffee! its very cozy“

“Very fresh and good food.“

“My favorite place to eat in Grayslake and probably Lu even Lake County. I have been a customer for years and finally placed my first catering order for my daughter’s birthday party, the process was simple and easy. Pick up was fast and speedy. All the guests LOVED the sandwiches and pasta salad and the presentation was beautiful! Plus I got to try some of my favorite sandwiches and labrettis in smaller portions. I can’t recommend them enough!!“

“Love how convenient this place is for coffee and energy drinks! So nice that the employees come up to you, making the process even easier. Look out for Rico when you're ordering at the Rollins location! Awesome service always and is super uplifting.“

“I have been to your restaurant three times first time had steak tacos ,second time ribeye burrito, tonight tampiquena dinner all three were delicious!!!! Don't change anything. You really have it going on!!!!!“

“This is genuinely our favorite pizza in the area. Brad is an absolute sweetheart. The prices are great. We ordered pizza from them for our rehearsal dinner and everyone loved it!“

“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“

“Corey was our fabulous server on this busy Saturday night. He was Extraordinary!! Attentive, helpful, so kind and thoughtful. Best dinner I’ve had in a long time with a fabulous server experience!“

“Food is always good as usual“

“I wish I got some photos because of how lovely everything was! Best wonton soup in the area hands down, and always pleasant service! We used to come here often enough that the lovely waitress would recognize my boyfriend and ask if he wanted their (fabulous) Thai beer. Wonton soup is garnished with cilantro, green onions, and DELICIOUS fried garlic, had to order some to go! Fresh sushi that is rolled very well with beautiful presentation, delicious drunken noodles, perfect miso soup, and very fresh house salad with crisp red onions (I've never had such a nice house salad like this before, honestly!) Great portions and everything always the perfect temperature!“

“Everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful. Its my 1 stop for supplements“

“Excellent pizza! Excellent Sea Bass! Great value! Personable server!“

“😀Great food, however, the “build your own burger“was a disappointment. The onions tasted bitter and very salty. I got the worst case of heartburn from this burger! OMG. Otherwise, everything else is top quality! Be careful when ordering this “build your own burger.”🍔 I’ve never tasted onions so bad, and seem to be imbedded into the meat that tasted so bitter and awful salty. Too bad because in my opinion, all other dishes are superb! Susan Lee Dzialo“

“Reasonable prices, Good food“

“Awesome place to eat and drink. Outside tables on the sand overlooking the water. Great service by Kylie.“

“Wonderful wines with a personal touch! We really enjoyed the tasting - the wines are out of this world, there's something for everyone. Everyone we met while tasting at GFWC was incredibly kind (we love a family business!). We will absolutely be back & will continue to tell others to go as well!“

“Great food, fair prices, friendly staff.“

“Great vacation get away! Very clean had everything we needed. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back.“

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

“Clean and courteous, excellent soups and sandwiches“

“Dog friendly. Lots of dogs. Good food. Great covered area. Sturdy chairs. Friendly dog lover waitresses“

“This place is definitely a cool place with good atmosphere, good service amd good food.. only reason for my 4 star is the fact that they add a delivery charge to the bill for bringing your food out.. not sure why thats really necessary when there the only ones who charge it. Overall besides that's little thing I highly recommend oaks“

“I went here for the first time this weekend & it was absolutely delicious, such a relaxing & cozy atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back, it was worth the little drive there!“

“Tried the new menu item Gyros. Hope they keep it on the menu. They were great. The Tzatziki Sauce which makes a Gyro was perfect with enough cucumbers. We now have a new place to go to for Gyros. Last, I had just about everything on their menu and everything is delicious.“

“Great place to hang out and vibe food is AMAZING drinks are BOMB 💣“

“As a semi-frequent visitor before the fire and just visited for the first time since. I'm happy to report that the quality seems to be just as good if not better, everybody got their food fast, accurate and hit the spot. The drinks were good, root beer float was killer, and the burgers and chicken sandwiches were great. Go ahead and visit before they close for the year, and looking forward to 26.“

“Jack and Sean and the while team are family friendly and have always made my time there awesome! Oh by the way they also have helped me grow the sport of Arm Wrestling by allowing me to host tournaments at thier venue! Look out for info on the next event March 28th 2026! Arm Wrestling starts at 130pm but come early for some phenomenal FOOD!!!“

“Food excellent wonderful atmosphere“

“My favorite place to eat in Grayslake and probably Lu even Lake County. I have been a customer for years and finally placed my first catering order for my daughter’s birthday party, the process was simple and easy. Pick up was fast and speedy. All the guests LOVED the sandwiches and pasta salad and the presentation was beautiful! Plus I got to try some of my favorite sandwiches and labrettis in smaller portions. I can’t recommend them enough!!“

“food and staff are always amazing. we have been coming for years and will continue to visit for years to come.“

“I live in Green Bay and I've been here twice. Both times the food and service was excellent.“

“Great service and understanding staff. My daughter accidentally knocked over her drink. The manager, Jess, was very kind and made my daughter feel at ease (who was embarrassed for spilling her drink). Jess even had another drink made for my daughter, she didn’t have to, and she cleaned the floor immediately. Great service and staff.“

“Just wanted to give a shout out to Sweet Melissa’s tonight!
Our usual guy there, Erik, let us know they were short staffed tonight and busier than usual but they still knocked it out of the park
Pizza was piping hot, both he and the bartender still came to check and bus as needed
Always 5“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Authentic 🇮🇹 Italian Cuisine. Perfect For Date Night, Friends, Family, Kid Friendly. Beautiful Atmosphere, Warm Friendly, & Inviting. Great Menu, Cozy Bar. Best Of All Chef Salvatores Culinary Delights!! Great Staff. 🙋🏻❤️🍕 🍝🥖 Tell Salvatore Leon Sent Ya!! 🤌🏼“

“best place ever an the workers awesome real nice food is amazing“

“My husband and kids stopped in for chicken dinners and it was delicious! The staff were friendly, food was great and it’s just so beautiful and clean inside. We will be back tomorrow for Bingo night!“