Location: Winnetka
Top Restaurants in Winnetka
Most Popular Restaurants in Winnetka
Winnetka (/wɪˈnɛtkə/) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located 16 miles north of downtown Chicago. The population was 12,187 at the 2010 census. The village is one of the wealthiest places in the nation in terms of household income, and the richest in Illinois.
Things to do in Winnetka
1. Avli Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By Slumdog2015 - Highland Park, Illinois
Four of us for dinner. Two ordered the salmon special. Thoroughly enjoyed. The orzo was yummy. The gyros plate was good. Service was slow. Nonetheless, we opted to stay for dessert. The chocolava dessert was excellent , as was the Homer's chocolate ice cream
2. Walker Bros Original Pancake House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By Dr T
Arrived at around 4:15pm on Weds......no one person in the restaurant but my wife and I. Promptly seated, with a very happy server. Placed our order....I had a Baby Dutch which takes around 15-20 minutes...so we knew the food would take awhile. The server brought our drinks over and asked if we needed anything else. After 15 minutes, the food started coming out, but by a completely different server. Then the rest of the food came out, and that was the LAST time we saw the NEW server...why, because everybody was gossiping, etc., and not paying attention to our table....which was right in front of the window. Finally, I had to get up and ask for a beverage refill...then when I asked for the check, I finally asked where our original server disappeared to....answer..."she decided to leave". Think you better consider rolling out some new management of this place....if the servers and busboys have nothing to do but gossip our text....find something for them to do.
3. Walker Bros. Original Pancake House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 201 reviews
Reviewed By Joseph T - Indianapolis, Indiana
Busy place, large menu, great variety of breakfast options.
Our visit was on Sunday morning about 9:30 am and we had about a 20 minute wait which was reasonable considering how busy it was.
We ordered the Apple pancake to share for the table.
Coffee was very good. I had the meat lovers omelette, my wife had the vegetable omelette with swiss. My wife loved her vegetable omelette. My meat lovers omelette with swiss was good.
The hash browns were very good, we had them topped with cheese.
As many other reviews said, the Apple Pancake was terrific, definately happy we ordered it.
Service was very considering how busy it was.
All in all, Walker Brothers was a hit for us.
4. Once Upon a Bagel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By illinois travelere
Almost four years since my last review, and the Baker's Dozen after-3:00 p.m.-special has only gone up to $5.89.
The newest item on the menu is the "baygaleh" -- oblong, not round, and covered with sesame seeds -- a common street food in Israel.
Bring your purchases home, eat in, or take your goodies across the street to the recently upgraded Hubbard Woods Park -- which has plenty of picnic tables, benches, and garbage cans.
5. Homer's Ice Cream Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By Scarlettdm - Chicago, Illinois
Having seen this place featured on Chicago's Best, we just had to try it. We should have realized it wasn't great when the place was almost empty at 9:00pm on a Sat. night following a 90° day. I ordered a hot fudge sundae; my husband had two scoops in a cup. We paid over $11 for this. These were the smallest scoops we've ever seen!! My sundae had less than a teaspoon of hot fudge. My husband's two scoops in a cup were incredibly small scoops. I actually thought they got his order wrong, but there were two different ice creams in the cup. This place was a huge disappointment. The ice cream was nothing special. The prices are outrageous for the very small servings. Go some place else.
6. Reprise Coffee Roasters
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By MikeGPortland - Wilmette, Illinois
As a transplanted Portlander (i.e., someone from Portland, OR), I'm always on the lookout for a great cup of coffee and a place to spend some quiet time in the morning, so when I saw a sign announcing that a new coffee roaster was coming to a place near where I live, I just had to check it out.
Located on Green Bay Road right across the street from the big park in Hubbard Woods, Reprise Coffee Roasters made me feel like I was back in PDX in several ways - a) they serve a really tasty cup of coffee (drip, pour-overs and espresso drinks available); b) the barista was quite knowledgeable and helpful, explaining where they source their beans (and about their efforts to provide a living wage to their suppliers) and c) they offer a refrigerated case full of healthy (and somewhat pricey) food and snacks to go along with the coffee drink you order.
I had a cup of their drip, made from Nicaraguan beans, and while at first it seemed a bit mild (I'm a particular fan of dark roasts), its rich flavor really grew on me and the good taste remained while I drove back home. I also invested in a small (but filling) serving of a chia-based vanilla pudding with chunks of strawberries and blueberries in it ($5.50) - very tasty, but I was really hoping for a baked good of some type which, I'm told, is coming very soon.
In any case, the place is nicely laid-out, clean, attractively decorated and there was a background soundtrack with a mix I appreciated, so I'll certainly add this to my short list of morning coffee stops and, if you live in the area, you should too - they seem like very nice people and have their business priorities in the right place. Enjoy!
7. Taco Nano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By William F - Chicago, Illinois
More of a carry out joint--with really, really excellent taco's. Fresh ingredients provide little taste explosions in every bite. It is not cheap--dinner for two generally is about $30 without drinks--but it is well worth the price. It's small, with little ambience--but it doesn't try to be anything more than what it is--a place for excellent tacos--some of the best I've had anywhere.
8. Michael
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 125 reviews
Reviewed By ouilv2travel - Chicago, IL
We were celebrating a birthday and enjoying the special lobster dinner. Will review the lobster dinner first.
It was a five course meal with the complementary Gruyere cheese gougeres first. They are always a hit, crispy outside with a creamy gruyere mousse filling inside.
The first course was a quarter cup of a very rich and dark lobster bisque with lots of sherry flavor that had a lobster ravioli in the bottom of the cup. It had great flavor and texture. My only recommendation is that given the small size of the cup and the serving they should give you a smaller spoon for the soup, what is on the table is enormous and you would could finish the portion in three spoonfuls with that large spoon. It was served with a half dollar size baked coin of puff pastry.
The second course was almost like an iteration of the first course in a different texture. It tasted nearly identical except that it was a lobster custard/crème brûlée and mine was not completely set as it was a little runny around the edges. It was served with a mini fried lobster beignet. It would've been nicer if the first course had been a lighter, less brown note version of soup - say a lobster cappuccino and then the lobster crème brûlée wouldn't have seemed so similar - either that or serve it after a different course was served in between to separate the similarity in flavors.
The third lobster course was the bomb. A nicely sized lobster claw, tempura fried with a very large diver scallop which was perfectly sautéed, both served over a small salad of pea shoots with a lightly flavored orange vanilla vinaigrette. Could've eaten three of those and been very happy!
The last lobster course was a minuscule lobster tail (literally if it was 2 ounces I would've been surprised) that was butter poached and served with a steamed roulade of Dover sole filled with some sort of seafood mousseline. It had slices of extremely chewy and overcooked morel mushrooms and fresh peas. There was a brown demi-glace in the bottom of the bowl-like serving dish and it was a strange combination I have never had before but it did taste very good - however the essence of lobster was lost due to the very brown character of the sauce. A very large purple ringed fried beet chip adorned the plate. If the lobster had been a 3 ounce portion I think I would've been much happier with this dish.
Dessert was supposed to be a chocolate soufflé with a strawberry creme anglaise but when they brought both desserts out the special soufflé turned out to be the regular chocolate soufflé with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Since a runner brought out the dish I didn't say anything but I should've looked for the waiter to tell him. The soufflé was not fully cooked in the center so it was kind of like a combination of soufflé and lava cake in one. It tasted heavenly, but it wasn't right.
My better half ordered off of the menu and started with the house cured smoked salmon. It was an amazingly large portion of smoked salmon probably almost 6 ounces rolled into a flower and served on top of a potato gallette. The potato needed a little bit of salt.
The second course was a salad Lyonnaise with frisee, lardons, a perfectly poached egg, and crispy croutons. It also needed salt.
The third course was Osso Buco. It was divine. Perfectly meltingly tender with a large bone that still had creamy marrow in it and a delicious creamy polenta underneath. Between this and the lobster claw/scallop dish it was a tie for best of show.
The second dessert was a bombe of pistachio and cassis mousse served over a crispy crust with a salted caramel sauce. It was also delicious.
Service was good, although our server forgot to bring the salt I had asked for right when the bread service came out - I like salted butter with bread and it was an unsalted version served. It is a relaxed and leisurely pace so we were there until approximately 9:15 or so and started at 7 PM.
9. Ruth's Chris Steak House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Ruth's Chris Steak House in Northbrook, IL serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.
Reviewed By Rmfinn1
Since we moved to Northbrook in 2013, we’ve gone to Ruth’s Chris Steak House for every wedding anniversary. This year was 48. We have never been disappointed with the wonderful food and excellent service. Each year this wonderful restaurant has made this dinner special for us... from sparkling hearts spread across the table to their special dessert wishing us Happy Anniversary. We’ll be back next year for #49 as well as for other special occasions in 2018.
10. Depot Nuevo Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Award winning Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar and Brewpub. Fresh made Mexican cuisine, fantastic margaritas and a 100 bottle craft tequila list featuring only 100% de Agave tequilas. Beginning in 2016 we began brewing our own beer.
Reviewed By Chris S
Excellent central and south American food, excellent tequila and beer choices, including their own "home brew". Best tortilla chips I've ever had--could easily make a meal of Nachos Libre. The appetizers are the best part of the menu. Nice high energy atmosphere, but a little loud for intimate conversation. Our go-to neighborhood restaurant. Almost everything is gluten free.
