50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants River Forest

“We have dined at First Watch in Florida and were thrilled to find that they opened a location in our neighborhood! There was a wait for tables when we arrived so we sat at the bar for brunch. Our server was so friendly and attentive. My husband had Carna Asada Queso Hash and I had the Million Dollar breakfast sandwich with egg, gouda, sausage, bacon and hot honey on a toasted English muffin. So delicious!!! They habe the most flavorful Bloody Mary's as well. The portions are huge by the way! By the time we left there was an even bigger wait for tables. So glad we have First Watch close by to enhance our brunch options! Worth the wait and every penny spent! We'll be back soon!“

“Good food lots of variety fine in or take out litter tickets“

“I had an outstanding experience at the Goose Island Tap Room. The atmosphere was welcoming, the beer selection was excellent, and the overall vibe made for a great time. What truly set this visit apart was the exceptional customer service provided by Brian Freeman.
Brian went above and beyond to ensure our experience was memorable. He was knowledgeable, attentive, friendly, and genuinely passionate about providing top-tier service. He took the time to answer questions, make recommendations, and make us feel valued as guests.
It's rare to find someone who combines professionalism with such a personable approach, and Brian absolutely delivered. Because of his outstanding hospitality, I'll definitely be returning and recommending Goose Island Tap Room to friends and family.
Thank you, Brian, and the entire Goose Island Tap Room team for a fantastic experience!“

“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“

“The cutest hidden gem. Food was absolutely incredible. Hands down best brunch spot around.“

“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.“

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

“Went to celebrate my mom's birthday, and let me tell you, we all had an incredible time. Everything was superb, the atmosphere of the place was amazing, food was delicious and drinks were roocking.
The best part was our waiter, Carlos G. He made our experience truly wonderful, he was very attentive and super friendly. I would definitely go back.“

“Enjoyed my first Hot Toddy here!!“

“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.“

“Excellent service very clean very delicious food well recommended 100%“

“good food and good service“

“Personalized attention. Some delicious cakes. An exquisite coffee“

“Got the double dog Chicago Style and fries, fried shrimp mild (they make it spicy too) with cocktail sauce, cheese dip and a Pepsi. Went out back and enjoyed my meal at the outdoor seating.

After moving from North Carolina, I can no longer commit heresy and put ketchup on a hot dog. I'm straight up addicted to the Chicago Style dog. Didn't expect two in one bun, but it was delicious nonetheless. Fried shrimp was crunchy and soft. Definitely gotta try the spicy next time. Fries were rolled right up with the dog and I even put some of them in the dog too cause why the hell not? 10/10 I'll be back.“

“what a great restaurant. the food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. it was a great way to end our day in Chicago“

“This place is the coolest bar I have been to in a long time, hip and fun but not pretentious. They paid attention to every detail when building and designing. The white marbel bar has clean lines and looks fresh. All of the hardware finishes look sharp and clean. The patio is large and inviting with a fire place and plenty of tables to sit at. The drink menu is creative and refreshing and the staff is kind and welcoming. I cannot say enough good things about this gem of a bar. I am excited to hang out this fall on the patio by the fireplace with good drink in My hand.“

“I have gone to Andros Taverna for many years now where I am never disappointed and always impressed with the service, the quality of food and ingredients, the atmosphere and the passion in general. Chef Doug Psaltis is a true expert and artist performing at the highest levels. The gyros are the best, best gyros in Chicago by far, the seafood world class, the homemade bread and pita are incredible. The foods and meats are cooked over wood fire, wood fire grilled. We had our daughters baptism catered from here which was excellent assortment of Greek food - this is a Greek restaurant you will go to for many years to come.“

“Great food/drinks Great service Great prices We will be back.“

“I’m so glad Dave’s Hot Chicken brought back the Hot mozz bread! It was a real highlight, and it’s great to see them being creative again. I also love that Dave’s isn’t stingy with their special sauce, setting them apart from so many others. I really hope they keep innovating with fun items like corndogs,keep up the great work!“

“Nice place, wonderful burger and good bar selection. Totally disagree with the credit card surcharge, though - no restaurant with $20 burgers should charge guests the comission!“

“Really good and fresh sushi at great prices. Love this place.“

“Amazing place and the staff are awesome“

“I’ve been going to Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits for years — back when my cousin worked there — and it’s still one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood. The ginger cookies are reason enough to visit on their own.

Everything feels thoughtful without feeling overdone. Great food, great people, and the kind of place that becomes part of your routine before you realize it. Logan Square wouldn’t feel quite the same without it.“

“loved everything about it!“

“Moonwalker is our favorite neighborhood cafe! They have the best sandwiches both for breakfast and lunch and such delicious lattes, the banana bread latte is to die for. All only made better by their incredible staff!“

“The food is made fresh and so delicious.“

“This is a fantastic place to enjoy great food at reasonable prices. The menu offers delicious options, the drinks are just as enjoyable, and the welcoming atmosphere makes it a great spot for any occasion. The restaurant is also family and dog friendly, which makes it even more inviting.

The customer service was outstanding. Our waitress was amazing—friendly, funny, and attentive throughout the entire meal, making the experience even more enjoyable. The beautiful interior adds to the overall charm, creating a comfortable place to relax and dine. Between the excellent food, great drinks, warm hospitality, and inviting atmosphere, this is a place I would definitely recommend.“

“A great new spot for brunch! My husband and I went and it was busy but we were able to sit right away. I'm gluten free and I LOVE that everything is labeled with an easy to read GF symbol so it helps me identify what I can and can't eat. The gluten free buttermilk pancakes were excellent. My husband had the corn beef skillet and he said his bloody mary was great as well! We'll definitely be back! Felisa was super friendly and made sure to answer my questions about gluten precautions.“

“A must see if you go to Chicago. Burgers are the best in the city. Great vibes.“

“Great spot for live music.“

“Always loved their Greek pastries, they are the best, started going to them 60 yrs ago with my mom and dad. We were always going to Hellas for our parties baptisms and weddings. All our holiday needs were easily available for us. Unfortunately, we moved out to Poplar Grove, Illinois near Belvedere and have missed them greatly. Always love them and it brings a tears to my eyes, that they are still around. God bless them. My parents knew the owners personally.“

“Fantastic restaurant in the neighborhood serves excellent food and donuts and takes care of the neighborhood and the world. So grateful for their presence in Rogers Park. Also the peach spicy Sammy is to die for.“

“Came in about a half hour ago. The guy working the desk with the dreads absolutely sold me. After talking about recommendations he hooked me up with the best interest. I tried the double burger [killed it], the Philly cheese steak with half beef and chicken [killed that too] and their fries with the Chicago mild sauce on top. Now being from Kentucky ive never had a real Philly before, and these guys did excellent in showing me the right experience 👏 . Id show photos but all there is left is empty containers.

Being a big fella i didnt expect to get full, but mane lemme tell ya, im about to be in a food coma. 10/10

Thank you!“

“A must try spot! Great food, coffee and atmosphere! Definitely recommend!“

“Great place & location, excellent coffee, indoor & outdoor seating, small menu but all good. Only ding on my review is that the music inside was overcranked on volume and metal-heavy. Wasn't the mellow coffee vibe you'd normally expect... UPDATE... OK we stuck around a bit longer and the volume came down and the playlist changed. So apparently it can vary somewhat. Definitely worth stopping here.“

“Wonderful food and service.“

“Good food and lovely atmosphere“

“This spot has some truly unique and incredibly tasty pastries 😍🥐 The team working there gives off such positive energy-it’s obvious they genuinely enjoy what they do, which makes the whole experience even better ✨ I absolutely loved the chai spice cinnamon roll, it was rich, warm, and perfectly balanced 🍂 and the brown butter salted caramel blondie was next-level indulgent 🤤 The pizza focaccia, though, was just okay-not bad, but nothing that really stood out. One thing to keep in mind: it gets *very* busy! When I visited, there was already a long line about 10 minutes before opening, even on a cold, snowy Saturday morning ❄️⏰ so plan ahead if you don’t want to wait too long!“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re looking for a little slice of New Orleans, Junebug Cafe is the place to be! From the moment you walk in, the aroma of rich, smooth coffee fills the air, and the first bite of their Louisiana hand pies or fluffy, powdered-sugar-dusted beignets will transport you straight to the French Quarter. The flavors are authentic, the atmosphere is warm, and every sip and bite feels like a celebration. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem—your taste buds will thank you! ☕✨ Start your morning with a little taste of New Orleans right here at Junebug Cafe! #JunebugCafe #TasteOfNOLA #BeignetsAndCoffee #CafeVibes“

“best service! And delicious chocolate pie!“

“My sister lived in Italy for a while, and we took her to Black Dog Gelato. After tasting three of the creative gelatos, she said that Black Dog has gelato as good as the best in Italy.

I haven't been to Italy very much, but there is little doubt that Black Dog may have the best gelato in Chicago. I can't say for sure because I haven't been to all the gelato stores in the Windy City, but they'd have to be five stars to compete.

When I first visited Black Dog, I tasted the pistachio gelato with pistachio bits on top and in the gelato itself. I like to test a gelatoria by tasting the pistacho, and Black Dog had me right off the bat. Since then, I've never been disappointed by their rotating roster of flavors.

The store even has a dairy-free Wednesday, and the gelato that day often tastes as good as the regular gelato.

The staff of primarily young women are welcoming and patient as you decide. They have characters that you don't find in customer service anymore: they seem to really like helping people! And they fulfill any tasting request.

Black Dog is located on a corner on Damen Avenue in Ukranian Village. It's an unassuming store that has a neighborhood feel about it.

The gelato shop appears not to have caught the eyes of the gentrification crowd. That's to the benefit of those who love it because we don't have to wait in long lines. That's their loss.

Black Dog may be a bit of a trip from the Northside, but it's tough to beat.“

“Chicken is very delicious“

“Busy brewery somewhat off the beaten path. I had not had a chance to make out here previously but specifically made the trip. Busy dog and kid family brewery, the neighborhood seemed to be out to enjoy themselves on an early weekend evening. We found room at the bar and had a couple of drinks. I enjoyed the pils and lager I had. Both were clean and easily drinkable. It was fairly loud with dogs and families but we were still able to converse comfortably. Staff was friendly and attentive.“

“I went here first time and I was so impressed. Great good. I ordered fish n chips and they brought out malt vinegar even without me asking. We ordered salmon platter. It was phenomenal. Wow. Definitely recommend this place 10/10“

“First , the smoke and aroma comin’ out the roof exhaust pipes . Lol 😛 Known for their hamburgers , dogs , apparently everything else on their menu is good . Being a member of Chicago Italian Beefs fB page , I just HAD to try theirs . Pretty darn good ! 9.0/10 Sweet n hot , dipped , nice crinkly fries 🍟 comin’ for da ride , and a tamale 🫔 to wash it down . Nice job guys at the PP in Des Plaines !!!“

“We were able able to make a reservation via Google, and when we arrived they were expecting us. The staff is really nice, took our drink order right away (coffee and waters) and then our food order soon after. I loved my endless cup of coffee and banana crepes. One person ordered chiquillas, which looked great. We added meat sides later, which came right away. The bill was totally reasonable (no separate checks tho, FYI), and everyone left full and happy.“

“Awesome breakfast and drinks, got to chat with the owner-what a great guy! 5 stars all around!“

“Best Hot Dogs in Chicago! I drive from Indiana just for a Mighty Dog!“

“2026 Chicago Brewery Journey – Fourth Stop
Stopped by Maplewood Brewery & Distillery and it’s clear right away this place is popular—very lively with a strong crowd and a great energy throughout. The beer selection is extensive, so there’s plenty to choose from.
One interesting note—the space had a noticeable coffee aroma. Not a bad smell by any means, but a little unexpected when you’re there for beer.
Overall, a fun and energetic stop with a lot to offer.“