50 Best American Restaurants near River Forest

“I was excited to see that First Watch was finally open and we did not have a long time to wait before we got a table. The place was packed so we chose to eat outside where the wait was shorter. The food was amazing in the atmosphere was very chill. I had a meal full of sides that were all delicious. And my cousin had one of the specialty meals. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend First Watch.“

“Favorite chilakiles mmmmmmm“

“The food sounded fancy and tasted SO good! Our server, Andrew, came up with the most delicious drinks! Superb service! We’ll be back!!“

“We went last night for the first time… Great menu options, food was delicious, portions were perfect, staff was really nice. I had the Grilled Salmon, he had the Braised Pork Shoulder…definitely recommend both.“

“Great happy hour daily 5-6pm The burgers are so good !! Always fun“

“Good food, good variety. R&B classics playing in the background. What more could you ask?“

“We stopped in today on a tip and what a delicious treat! Highly recommend!“

“Excellent food and ambiance, The brick chicken is my favorite. Our friends who have lived throughout the country said the pork chop is the best they ever had“

“We had a delicious breakfast and the service was Excellent. Looking forward to coming back for lunch and mock tails.“

“The Chew was an amazing restaurant! Not only was the food amazing but the owners, Linda and Landy, and the staff were spectacular! We miss it so much! Truly an icon in our community!“

“We dined at Topaz in August 2024 and had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. We were seated in a comfortable booth. A special mention goes to our server, Sasa, who was incredibly attentive and provided great suggestions. He even surprised us with complimentary limoncellos, which were absolutely delicious. For appetizers, we had the grilled octopus and hummus—both prepared to perfection and bursting with flavor. For the main course, we chose the Dover sole and Amish chicken. These dishes were exceptional and stood out as some of the best we've ever had. The potatoes served with the sole were also a delightful surprise. Portions were generous, and the prices were quite reasonable considering the quality and quantity of the food. We highly recommend Topaz and will definitely be returning!“

“Amazing food. Great atmosphere. What more can be said?“

“Today was my first time trying this place and I was impressed with my big and delicious Merkts cheeseburger and waffle fries. I'm definitely going back to try other things. The staff was very friendly and helpful, too. I was too hungry to remember to take pics.“

“We recently got married at The Elm this past weekend (10/13/2024) and can't express in words how satisfied we were with their service. Starting from the first day that we went to see The Elm we were treated with the upmost respect and professionalism. We had our ceremony in the Kensington room, and our reception in the Madison room. The atmosphere and vibe of both rooms was everything that we could hope for. The staff was incredible, the food/drinks were AMAZING, and our guests had nothing but positive feedback. WE HIGHLY RECOMMED THIS PLACE FOR A WEDDING AND/OR ANY OTHER EVENT.“

“I'm from Iowa, took a little weekend trip to Chicago. A friend told us we HAD to try Lula's. SO thankful we did. I will be traveling back to Chicago just to take my mom here. Outstanding service from every single employee, incredible food, and just overall 10/10. Absolutely recommend.“

“We’re huge fans of The Bear, which steered us here on our Chicago trip - so glad we found this place! We loved the mushroom adobo and longnanisa breakfast sandwich! The mango tarts were amazing, as were our lattes. We left with an apple hand pie to eat the following morning, which was still had perfectly crispy pastry. Definitely worth the hour wait to get in.“

“Excellent customer service. Food was delicious and the prices weren’t bad at all. Highly recommend!“

“Been enjoying their food since they were near Austin blvd! Food is always hot and fresh! “D” the cook is the best! She is always
calm and cool cooking the food just the way
we like it! Appreciate the good food and service!“

“my best friend and I just had the BEST experience at the whale! Our waitress taylor was incredible and the manager (so sorry but we never got his name because he was just being so nice to us) was incredible as well. We will definitely return with friends and recommend anyone to try it out! classy, but not snobby, cool decor, warm kind and accommodating staff, and great food and cocktails are just the cherry on top! try the carrot cake after your meal :) Thank you again to taylor and the manager again <3“

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

“Never had a bad meal! One of our staples. Love the Red Velvet pancakes, deconstructed lobster eggs Benedict and white chocolate pretzel pancakes!!!“

“our friend/landlord brought us to you all and it was so good and fresh and juicy and it was the best food I've ever had in a long time! I really recommend this place!!“

“This is one of the best family-run restaurants in Des Plaines. Sunrise Grill has been serving the community for 18 years, and you can taste the experience in every dish. Chef Jose cooks with passion, and Sylvia’s hospitality is unmatched. Ask the staff for their recommendations—they’ve never steered me wrong!“

“I love this place and I love Giant. The crust is great, good texture and flavorful, and the cheese they use is top notch. Pepperonis were also high quality, if there’s a problem it lies with the sauce. There's hardly any, not even close to enough on either their tavern or NY style. Order the NY style with extra sauce. The tavern is so thin that there’s barely any room for sauce, if you care. Still solid tavern.“

“there is a fantastic rock and roll brunch menu. the service is excellent. and I can highly recommend the Long Island Iced Teas.“

“Great food, shakes and beer selection! Fast and friendly service. Wish the fries were thicker but that’s my personal preference. We also enjoyed the music selection.“

“The sweet sixteen is a must have!!!!!“

“This is a neighborhood staple! Good food great people!“

“Great selection of American & Mediterranean. Falafel plate & Kefta kabobs were fantastic & prepared fresh. Unexpected array of dessert options, as well. Win!“

“The wait staff and cooks are fast and friendly...the owners are outstanding! Can't wait to come back!“

“The food and the service was fabulous!!!“

“We visited after a family outing, there was a group of 11 of us and they were able to accommodate us in less than 30 min. Our waitress was Wendy and she was great! Our food was delicious and the drinks were real tasty. It was a first time visit, but it will not be the last. Thanks Country House for a good time.“

“The food was great and the service excellent. Don’t judge this place by the outside it is very nice inside. Check it out for yourself your will glad you did.“

“This place is amazing no matter your age!! My peeps from England loved it!!!! So much had to goo back a 2nd time before going bk home. Food was Lovely a long with the beverages and of course the train!!! Great service and great food 💯“

“very good 👍 service delicious coffee ☕️“

“Fine folks - Good staff workers that take photographs as well“

“This place has a cool, hip vibe and it’s fun to eat at the communal tables. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great variety of beer and creative craft cocktails. Food is beautifully plated and delicious - make sure to try the potatoes, baby gem salad and hanger steak.“

“I loved food, and very good variety of drinks and service is extraordinary Ana M. It was very attentive and gave us an excellent service [Original] Me encanto la comida, y muy buena variedad en bebidas la atencion y servicio es extraordinario ANA M. fue muy atenta y nos dio un excelente servicio“

“Very professional and the food is amazing“

“Such great service (Alex) and food! Fantastic time and we were a large group.“

“Awesome atmosphere and possibilities“

“Great staff. Excellent service. Breakfast available all day.“

“Excellent food made from scratch. Love the chicken pot pie 💕“

“Johns is a friendly, always reliable, brunch, lunch or dinner with good food, amazing desserts….(try the skillet cookie), and great service!“

“A small mom and pop place. My 1st time in this place and excellent experience. Will definitely be going back on a regular basis for a meal.“

“After a long day of travel, we were welcomed by Sid our amazing server! He made delicious suggestions and made sure we enjoyed them. Amazing service!“

“We had a large group just before lunchtime on a Saturday, and they were great about squeezing us in. Our server D was amazing, truly, and the other staff were helpful and attentive, too. The food was delicious, hot, fast, priced affordably. They have a large menu. We had some special diets in our group and there were enough options for them to find what they needed. I definitely would return and would recommend it to friends.“

“Wow, this place was good. Got the original Philly. One of the best cheese steaks that I’ve had in a while. The bread is on point. The steak is cut up in larger chunks than you typically see in cheese steaks, which I actually really liked. And you can add other ingredients for no additional charge. The meat was very fresh. And the crinkle cut fries are on point and crunchy. And has seasoning sprinkled on it. Highly recommend. Parking is a little bit tough, since it’s street parking only, so plan accordingly if you have a big group“

“They have the best soup so delicious also try their burger you won’t be disappointed.“

“It's hand down one of the best diners around state. Friendly atmosphere, great food and this Hash Skillet is the BOMB. Don't forget to also include a Sunrise Smoothie to your meals, makes the day feel so much better.

Love it since I've been coming here after my early 5am work shifts. Always leave contently full.“