Took my dad here for a Father's Day dinner and we had such a nice experience. The gazpacho was really a standout for me, along with the shrimp lettuce wraps. Fantastic and great flavor. He enjoyed his meal as well and we appreciated all the healthy options and the bright and clean environment. Great spot in the burbs and very busy but not too loud! read more

After a Sunday evening show at Writer's Theatre, 501 Local was the only open restaurant in the area where we could have dinner. We were glad for that. We were greeted by Mark, the owner, and assured that we could take as long as we needed for dinner. And we had the full menu available to us, not just a bar menu like you often get later in the evening. The food was excellent, and we really appreciated our server/bartender making decaf espresso martinis. Loved the Bourbon Bbq Chicken Sandwich and the Black Manhattan. When we were finishing, Mark came back to our table and we enjoyed a nice chat with him. We will definitely be going back, especially when we are able to enjoy the beautiful patio. read more

Love Love ! Definitely coming back ! avocado toast amazing!! Service was terrific, steak , lamb chops , amish chicken good ! Nothing bad to say! read more

501 Local - Love First time here and will definitely come back .. Avocado toast was amazing! - New American Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

A must-miss. Lovely decor and a bustling clientele may make you think you've found a hidden gem. Think again. We ordered and then waited at least half an hour for the first dish. Strangely enough, the sushi roll we ordered about 20 minutes or so after ordering several appetizers came almost instantly. Side note--it was on the "specials menu" that the server told us about. Would have been nice if she had mentioned that the 8-piece roll was $25, but I digress. After about 35-40 minutes of waiting our dishes arrived. Here we go: the Brussels sprouts salad, which sounded great on the menu, was underdressed--perhaps not even dressed--and was completely bland. We asked for extra dressing but that didn't help. It came with some very small, dry, tasteless feta pieces--maybe creamy French feta would have helped this dish but, I suspect, not much. The veggie spring rolls were good--although they came with a strange peanut "sauce" that had the consistency of peanut butter--not really a dipping sauce--very odd. They were tasty but cold veggie spring rolls are really more assembly than cooking. The burrata, served on frisée with a drizzle of balsamic was good but again, more assembling than cooking. We also ordered mussels in a wine broth which were underwhelming. The mussels themselves were not great--I don't know how to describe them--maybe a little chewy? The broth itself was just ok--again, a bit bland. The slice of toasted garlic(?) bread that came with it was fine but my test of a good sauce or broth is that you want mop up every bit of it with the bread and that was not the case here. The strangest dish of the night was the "Braised Beef Ragu" on the appetizer menu. We ordered it and as described, we thought it would be a small portion of a thick sauce filled with meat that we could eat with bread. Dear readers, it was soup. Yes, soup. Not exactly shareable. The manager came by the table to say he knew we had waited an inordinately long time for our food and because of that he wanted to offer us free dessert and coffee. A nice touch and completely appropriate. We mentioned that we were surprised that the soup wasn't called soup on the menu and he told us that he had heard that same comment once before. Hmmmm. Anyway--on to the free dessert. We chose the chocolate fondue. The fondue arrived with bananas, strawberries, and some sort of cake. The chocolate sauce was kind of thin and lukewarm. The waitress brought a new bowl of chocolate sauce and it was also lukewarm. At that point we surrendered and asked for the bill. Would not recommend, especially if you are a foodie. Always disappointing when a menu sounds great but the execution isn't. There was not one thing that we ordered that would cause us to say to a friend "you have to go there" which is always the mark of a really good restaurant. They do however, have a really nice patio and a very helpful staff. read more

Always great service. Relaxed upscale feel. Food is a range - tilts to elevated. Always a great spot for a nice evening out.

Solid spot. We ate on the patio and it was really nice to have a heat lamp on a cold night. The menu had some good options and our server was attentive. Overall the food was OK. My one complaint was that the burger was highly recommended and it looked great and tasted pretty good too, but it was a meatloaf on a bun. It was not a burger at all. I'll have to come back and try other stuff, but be aware if you get the burger you'll pay $17 for what truly is a meatloaf patty with some good toppings. read more

Sad to say that we had a very poor meal at 501 Local. The onion soup came in a big bowl with about four spoonsful of soup. The soup was cold, it was dark brown and overdone, and in the middle was, I guess, some brick of cheese that you couldn't cut with a knife. The side salad had a ranch dressing with absolutely no taste. My companion ordered a dinner salad which came with about six pieces of lettuce and a few pieces of (add on) boiled chicken. The waitress did return the salad for a larger one, but the salad had no taste. Be aware: the menu looks very trendy but the food is tasteless. They got the hamburger right but the fries were soggy and cold. The waitress, however, did her best to try to make things right, so the poor meal wasn't her fault that we won't be back. read more

Food was good, but restaurant was filthy. The floor looked like they hadn't been swept in a month of service. We literally saw (and pointed out) a false finger nail to managment on the floor. We were there for lunch. How many dinner services did that nail make it through before being swept .? Service was sub par as we had to ask multiple times for the fruit that came with our kids meals and drink refills. Long story short, if you want to spend $97 on lunch you might want somewhere more clean and with adequate service. read more

Service 1.5/5. Food 3.75/5. Ambiance 3.75/5. Overall 2.5/5. We were seated on the sidewalk and we were not offered service until the kitchen was closed. The food was great and the ambiance was great but the service was unacceptable. The manager did go out of his way to make our dining experience better, however it was too late. read more

501 Local - New American Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

Very cute outdoor area and the Niçoise salad may have been the best I ever had. I would go back just to order it again.

I finally made my way over to 501 Local. Four of us ate outside on the patio and had a very good experience. The hostess was pleasant and seated us quickly, the service was excellent, and the food was good. I had the Cobb salad with chicken and would definitely order it again. My husband had the pot stickers and turkey club. I really liked the pot stickers but he thought they were only 'okay.' Same for the chicken club. My friends, who eat at 501 frequently, had the scallops and Cuban sandwich and were both very happy with their meals. We also had a sparkling rosé that was very good. 501 has a nice continuum of price points, a great cocktail and wine/beer list, and a beautiful patio. I'd give them five stars if my husband had been more enthusiastic about the pot stickers and chicken club. read more

Enjoyed the food, presentation and server. Will def be back! Look forward to trying other dishes!

Excellent service, food & beverages. Would love to return if I could be assured that the deafening noise level had been mitigated. That's the sole reason for the missing perfection star. read more

I really don't think the food and drinks could be fresher. This is a lovely spot with a great garden patio. Everything we tried was amazing and the service was quick, knowledgeable and attentive. No wonder this place is almost always packed! I could live on the cucumber gazpacho! The menu is varied and all of it is presented beautifully, even down to the garnishes. Nice wine list, too. I never went inside but if you can, try the garden!! read more

501 Local is an always-reliable neighborhood staple. I especially love the spaghetti squash arrabbiata

My wife and I stopped into 501 on a rainy cold November night, after deciding not to brave a crowded outdoor/indoor restaurant nearby. Mark at 501 was incredibly accommodating. Although no 'terrariums' were available, they opened an umbrella, moved a heat lamp, and brought our pillows to sit on while we enjoyed drinks and appetizers. A Hot Toddy hit the spot, and the Sunset Sour and Harvester were solid Fall cocktails. The Burrata Kale salad was well made and split for us. Linguine with clam sauce was as expected- delicious. We were asked if we wanted a terrarium once one became available, and we were moved into one for a chocolate fondue dessert. Very nice. As Mark said when we arrived, after moving tables and heaters-"I guess the point is, we will do anything to accommodate you." That was obvious and appreciated. To all at 501, thanks for an enjoyable evening and we will be back. Stay Strong and Healthy! read more

501 local is a fantastic restaurant, the staff was exceptional, the atmosphere is welcoming and it felt very clean and safe. We loved the tiger prawn tacos, broiled salmon and the French Fries are the perfect texture . Great wine selection as well. Will be back regularly ! read more

501 Local - Tiger prawn tacos - New American Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

I met my girlfriend for dinner last night. And we thought the same awful!! The appetizer was avacado toast was soggy and non appetizing. They have a bland menu with not much to offer. Next we had halibut which tasted frozen and was not even warm. I not sure if this is how they serve it? Ambience is pretty but that's about it. Taking this one off my list !! read more

My wife and i had our first date night here since March. The food and the venue are great. However, the patio is apparently a covid-free zone with tables packed in with little concern for distancing (and being a restaurant, no masks obviously for the patrons). If you have any reservations about distancing, look elsewhere for a date night. Apologies to the restaurant, as it's a great place, but you should know better. read more

We have had the pleasure of following 501 Local's owner Mark Salmon for many years, benefiting from his expertise in developing excellent menus and a superb dining atmosphere. The restaurant enters past a wonderfully welcoming outdoor patio dining area, full of greenery including shading trees, plus a wall protecting from the activity of the street. Inside, comfortably spacious and comfortable, with bright woodwork, and an excellent bar (note the clock). Marvelously diverse menu, with a broad selection of delicious choices. Servers are all friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Our favorite venue for a local evening out read more

This spot used to be Trifecta Grill, and it seems that the owner of all three restaurants has decided to get out of the restaurant business. Now it is owned by 501 local who gave it at least an outdoor upgrade. I cannot speak to the inside as I was not inside at all. The outside has been all painted black and has much more of a city feel to it now. The drinks were fabulous and the appetizers were great for the most part. We did not have any entrées but they seemed a little pricey. Each table gets an appetizer of rice cakes with a cheese mixture and olive mixture as well. Don't bother eating them, not good! We got the ceviche, which was very heavy on shrimp but delicious. We also got the Pomme Frites which I usually don't like but were also delicious. Our final dish were the zucchini flowers which were OK but it only comes with two. For the price I feel like we should've gotten more. If you wanna go for a drink after work or just relax outside it's a great place. read more

This place is great! Had such a great time with friends last night. The patio is beautiful. Great place to grab dinner and drinks with friends and family. The servers were extremely friendly and professional and the food is amazing!! Definitely try the chili Paloma and the potstickers. read more

This is the first time in my life that I'm giving a bad review to a restaurant. The food was beyond unacceptable. Appetizers, entrees and dessert. Everything we got was a complete disaster. Way paid $80 per person for something that didn't worth even $20. Value for money is the worst restaurant I have ever been in my life read more

We had an amazing family lunch in a greenhouse! The food was amazing, staff was friendly and attentive and it was incredibly clean. We felt very safe and will be returning very soon! read more

501 Local - Outdoor greenhouses - New American Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

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Came here with my family last week. I found the menu had a wide variety of options. For an appetizer were recommended the Avocado Toast and Veggie Spring Rolls by our server, and they did not disappoint! While looking through the menu, I had found that there were seemingly a good amount of gluten free options. Having a gluten intolerance in my family, this was also extremely helpful! (They enjoyed the Spaghetti Squash!) For dinner we all had decided to split some of the entrees for the table. The Vongole Pasta and the Godzilla Sushi roll were my favorite! The service was very attentive and friendly. The manager had made a point to stop by our table after we had gotten our entree, which I felt was a nice touch in making sure we were well taken care of. On our way inside we saw some greenhouses outside that looked so comfy, which we will definitely look into for our next visit! read more

Place is fantastic. Food? Great. Service? Wonderful. Bartender Daniel and his expertise in all kinds of cocktails was unreal. Make a reservation and go. Even if it's just to sit at the bar and have a quiet drink. GO! read more

501 Local totally hit-the-spot for our long awaited date night. The entire staff, and our server Ava, were kind and attentive. The food was really delicious. We started with the chicken pot stickers and the burrata. My husband had the sea scallops, which he raved about. I had the spaghetti squash pasta. The arrabbiata sauce was really good! We both tried a few of the cockails - the espresso martini, the paloma, and the harvester - all very different from one another and delicious! The presentation was also impeccable. We sat in our own greenhouse outside, and enjoyed every minute. We'll definitely be back! read more

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501 has the best staff and food! Definitely one of our favorite go-to restaurants during the week and or on the weekend! First, let me say, everyone from the hostesses to food runners to the wait staff are professional, courteous and always accommodating! The owner, Mark is fantastic!!! You can tell his heart and soul are in making sure everyone who comes in to 501 are happy and well cared for. Aman and Colleen are also amazing and always welcoming! We love the outdoor patio (it's just so cool out there!!) Its made the pandemic and summer months much more enjoyable for us! The food is great. I am a huge fan of the Shrimp Ceviche and Avocado Toast! Mac and cheese is decadent! The burger is always a favorite! As is the chicken cutlet! Drinks are amazing - always!!! It's a favorite!!! read more

I will start with the initial walk up view of the gorgeous garden patio. You feel like you are in a secret garden filled with ivy and beautiful plants. So peaceful and romantic! Once you are inside and greeted by the hostess you can sit at a lovely table or go to the bar for one of their amazing cocktails. I would recommend the Carryover or the Chili Paloma! Both were perfect and refreshing for a summer night. The Potstickers were a great starter followed by the Tuna. Everything was served to perfection and I would order them all again. The owner was very visible and hands on offering suggestions when needed. This has to be one of my all time favorite restaurants! My only regret was that I was visiting from Atlanta and not living closer- such a perfect evening at a fabulous restaurant ! read more

Great menu and even better outside dining! The restraint is beautiful and the good is great. Try the Paloma! read more

501 Local - The beat patio on the NS! - New American Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

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This restaurant is a 10/10. I got the spaghetti squashed pasta and it was amazing. The hospitality at this joint is wonderful. It's such a cute little place. Our waiter, Virgil, was immaculate. Bodies were flying. Atmosphere was rowdy. Will definitely be returning. Check this place out!!! read more

A very welcomed addition to the Winnetka cuisine. For one thing, the food is amazing and so is the service. Very friendly staff and owners. The outdoor seating area is the best in the area. read more

Great food and outdoor area!! Love the decor! So excited to have this place in the neighborhood!!

Limited menu. Slow service, front desk staff more to be seen than to serve! Nice patio dining.

Hands down the place for a casual lunch or dinner.Great food and FANTASTIC staff not to be missed

We have been to 501 Local three times during the pandemic, and each time the food and service have been impeccable. We are so glad to have a reliably good restaurant in the neighborhood. We sat indoors this evening. They are taking all appropriate precautions and we felt perfectly safe dining there, and will return soon! read more

This makes me so sad. We used to love 501 Local but had not been there in one year since we moved away from the area and it is now nearly unrecognizable. While the ambiance is still nice, and the outdoor patio is great, the food was absolutely mediocre at best except for the burger. At our table we had a tuna salad nicoise , the tortellini and a burger. The tortellini was flavorless and the tuna nicoise was as well. Add that to the fact that there was very little food per dish and no flavor and I will suggest this is just not worth your hard-earned money! Makes me so sad. read more

Look forward to the full menu being rolled out - delayed until after 4th of July. We have tried the limited menu twice and really enjoyed the food. Drink program needs some work. Wine pours are small- smaller than other restaurants in the area with similar prices. On both is our visits the white wine was not cold enough. One cocktail was good, the other was pretty light on booze. Hoping they can bring the bar up to match the quality of the food! Patio is very nice and offers shaded tables. We will come back to try the full menu once it launches. read more

I am visiting for work and have my ESA (emotional support animal) and they have been super accommodating. They provided a great outdoor greenhouse area that they heated up and made a great space for us. The service and food was EXCELLENT! The tortellini, bruschetta, chicken cutllet and spring rolls were all top tier! Please stop here! You will not regret it! read more

Great experience! Beautiful outside atmosphere. Everyone on staff was very friendly, in particular, our server Lizzy did an amazing job. The food was awesome and the drinks were fab! Will certainly be back!!! read more

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