Location: Forest Park
Top Restaurants in Forest Park
Top 10 restaurants in Forest Park, United States
Forest Park (formerly Harlem) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, United States. The population was 14,167 at the 2010 census. The Forest Park terminal on the CTA Blue Line is the line's western terminus, located on the Eisenhower Expressway at Des Plaines Avenue.
Things to do in Forest Park
1. Emilio's Tapas Bar Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
Thank you for your interest in Emilio’s Tapas. Emilio’s Tapas is an authentic Spanish Tapas Bar Restaurant conveniently located in West Suburban Hillside. Spanish cuisine can best be described as a mix of French and Italian influences; tapas are small dishes ideal for appetizers or when ordered in rounds build a complete meal. Our menu consists of regional Spanish specialties, original dishes created by Emilio offered in both the dining room and bar for dinner daily. The restaurant is casual with spacious dining rooms and an energetic atmosphere accentuated by colorful Spanish murals, music and tiles.
Reviewed By Geoff809 - Montclair, New Jersey
Fantastic tapas dishes. 4 of us had 8 tapas and not a bad one in the bunch. Nice wine, band and dancers gave a little slice of authentic Spain to the evening. Prices were very reasonable for this upscale restaurant in the heart of the...MoreGracias for your review and rating, we appreciate it. Please stop by soon, happy hour is M-F 4:30-6:30 and we have bar bites from $1.95 in our bar!
2. Freddy's Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
5 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By Leslie M - Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Freddy's is some of the best food I've ever eaten!!! My husband and I have enjoyed this place for over 15 years since we saw it on Check, Please. Now we live in South Carolina, but will always find a way to go when we're in the area. The lemon chicken is so good that I could drink the juice. They give you free bread to sop up all that deliciousness. The seafood salad is the freshest and has most tender calamari and octopus I've ever had. They weigh the seafood first and then add the olive oil and lemons. I also highly recommend the risotto, rapini, and Italian sausage which comes a jus with peppers and potatoes. All the salads are incredibly flavorful and fresh. There are also a variety of pasta dishes, meat entrees, sandwiches, and pizza. It doesn't matter how full you are, get the gelato! I've never found any better! My favorite is the Don Vito which has a cherry base with brandied whole bing cherries and chocolate. The Oreo, dulce de leche, and fruits of the forest are also delicious!! I'm sure they all are! Get a taste of any before you buy. So hard to decide. The place is very small and the food line is at the back of a tiny and charming Italian grocery store. They will heat the food up on paper plates and you can eat in an adjacent room (outside too when the weather is nice). Or you can get it all to go. This place never disappoints! Expect long lines that move rather quickly. Holiday times are especially crowded. They do not take credit or debit cards. It's not especially cheap, but such a great value for the quality and freshness of the food. The staff who waits on you is very pleasant, many speak Spanish, and have been there for many years. Enjoy!
3. Johnnie's Beef
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By Allen21096 - Chicago, Illinois
Johnnie's Beef is located on the northwest corner of North Ave. and 75th Ave. Part of the reason that the beef is so good, is that Johnnie's Beef is competing with about six or seven restaurants within one city block. There is parking for Johnnie's Beef which does give it an edge. Though there is only a counter to stand at to eat inside, there are about eight picnic tables on the outside. Johnnie's Beef is cash only. We ordered two beef sandwiches. The first was just a regular beef with only sweet peppers. Mine was the beef with both types of peppers and dipped. I could not believe the amount of peppers on the sandwich of both types - sweet and giardiniera. But the beef, even with the extra peppers, really had a balanced taste. The peppers really did not overpower the sandwich. Johnnie's Beef is reasonably priced.
4. Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Hana S - Chicago, Illinois
The Brown Cow is a hidden gem! A hole in the wall with the best ice cream in the area! Whenever we eat on Madison street dinner is always followed by the Brown Cow. Homemade and delish!! Get the chocolate peanut butter for PB lovers❤️❤️
5. Gaetano's & Ristorantino Mediterraneo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Analyzing who Gaetano is, and where he comes from (Bagheria, Sicily), he decided to go back to his roots and the basic fundamentals of Mediterranean cuisine, honoring the chef’s who taught him, his parents, and his mentor, Francesco Paolo Sanmarco, the proprietor of A’Cuccagna in Palermo, Sicily. The Mediterranean diet is more about education and a cariety of simple, aromatic, healthy and organic ingredients. For centuries, Sicily (in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea) was invaded by Spain, Greece and the Normans, to name a few. Every invading country left their ‘mark’ on Sicily, by adding to and enhancing the cuisine. At Ristorantino Mediterraneo, you will find many flavors, more well known in other cultures, for instance, ‘sweet and sour’ flavor is more of an Arabic influence, however this is the flavor you will find in traditional Sicilian Caponata.
Reviewed By BK_overdrive - Chicago, Illinois
We have been to Gaetano's many times and always have a great meal and great service. This time was a little more special as the owner, who was doing a tasting menu for a table near us, was very willing to prepare a particularly interesting looking appetizer that went by on the way to 'the tasters'. It was wonderful (halibut and calamari) -- but more importantly what was wonderful was how happy Gaetano was to prepare it for us. Doesn't matter where you live in Chicagoland - you should make a trip to Gaetano's, at least once!
6. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 218 reviews
Reviewed By Kevin H
If you’re not from Chicago and want the “chicago style pizza” This is the place. The food is always great. Hot and fresh. This location has something that sets it aside form other locations. THE STAFF IS AWESOME.
Our waiter, Dong(?), was great. Took our order with our writing down, got it right and was polite, funny and respectful. He treated us like family and didn’t see my kids as a nuisance but interacted with them. Something I didn’t realize was missing from today’s service until he showed us.The meal was timed perfectly and was just another in what is becoming a long line of successes at this location.
This is the place that has it all. Good atmosphere, cold beer, great staff and awesome deep dish pizza. A can’t miss experience.
7. Maya Del Sol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 344 reviews
Located in Oak Park, Maya Del Sol is just minutes away from the city and surrounding suburbs of Chicago. Prepare to be whisked away by the exciting flavors and tastes from some of Latin America's most vibrant countries. The unique menu is complemented by an inventive cocktail menu and extensive wine list. Relax on one of the best patios in the Chicago area when weather permits or dine in one of our two comfortable dining rooms. If you prefer, pull up a stool in the lively bar area, which has live music on some Friday nights from 9pm - midnight. Join us in celebrating numerous special occasions throughout the year, including Mother's & Father's Day, Cinco de Maya, Day of the Dead and many more. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Maya is also available for private parties - on or off-site - perfect for weddings, rehearsals and showers.
Reviewed By klynnkitto - Oak Park
One of our favorites. (in fact -- have I really never reviewed this place before??) I'll give a specific review from our meal this past Sunday, rather than try to roll our years of dining at Maya into one long review. We started with the...MoreHello! Just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review! We are so pleased that you have enjoyed your visits over the years! Hope to see you again soon. Cheers!
8. Portillo's Hot Dogs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Home to America's favorite Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, burgers, salads, and chocolate cake.
Reviewed By Yogini109 - Oak Park, Illinois
I love Portillo's! My favorite is Italian Sausage on a hotdog bun with mustard, onions, and sport peppers. I love everything they have though. Their fries are always delicious. I can't remember one time not getting fresh fries. But again, consistency is the key. I can always expect my food to taste good and to be freshly made. Sometimes the wait is annoying, but usually not.
9. Winberie's Restaurant & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 239 reviews
Reviewed By Katherine P - Chicago, United States
We have celiac and other food allergies, and Winberries is our favorite place for extended family meals as well as smaller occasions. The Herb crusted Salmon salad with beets is my very favorite menu item. But most importantly, our orders have been prepared correctly and no one has ever had the ill affects of accidental gluten contamination. If you have a chance to have Matthew as your server, he is wonderful: attentive, exact on orders and extremely pleasant
10. Golden Steer
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Ron S - Wood Dale, Illinois
Returned to Golden Steer after a decade's absence. Still the same ambience and from what I recall, the menu is mostly the same.
We started out with a half dozen baked clams and they were definitely the highlight of the meal. Large and meaty with lots of garlic, they were excellent! I ordered one of the specials; 8oz NY strip with 3 jumbo breaded shrimp. Meals come with soup and salad. The French onion soup was very good while the salad was largely forgettable. I remember in the past you used to get a fresh, warm mini-loaf of bread. Today's bread was stale. The steak was prepared properly and OK. The jumbo shrimp were large and quite good. The strip steak/ shrimp special was $28.95. You can judge whether that's a good value.
Our meal was OK but didn't wow me as past meals at Golden Steer.
