Ballers Bar &amp; Grill

Chances is a strip mall bar super close to home. I've never seen a crowd there. It's kind of a…read moreboring place but good enough to tie on a drink right near home or if you just need to unwind without a lot of action. It's got kind of a weird 1980s vibe but Chances is clean. The gentleman behind the bar was an absolute gentleman, friendly, professional. The food menu is actually from Rosati's Pizza at the end of the same strip mall, so it's convenient and decent food and open late. They have live music there. Periodically and I think I'll stop by to check it out one night.

The place has gone downhill never the drinks you drink if you can even get a drink I have waited up…read moreto an hour and left not going back.

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First Draft

3.1(157 reviews)

2.4 mi

Great place to meet friends! Outside seating was very nice…read more Love the food and drinks! Service was great!

First draft in downtown Grayslake came to serve and left no complaints, this is was the perfect…read morespot in town to go to for chill atmosphere and great food. The service was fantastic our waitress made great drink and food recommendations along with some relatable laughs.

Private event room on the 2nd floor

The Cubano sandwich

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Delicious looking beer selections

Shooters Sports Bar & Billiards

3.4(77 reviews)

1.7 mi

Every time I've been there, the experience has been great. Everyone was friendly and there's plenty…read moreof space between tables. I can't say much about the food, since I haven't eaten there yet, but it did look good!

Pool. Darts. Other stuff. Beer. Booze…read more This is the place. I'm home. Bring your own steel-tops and go to town.

Big pool hall with many tables.

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Bag toss area with dart board games in the background.

Jesse Oaks

3.2(94 reviews)

0.8 mi

Great bar food, amazing and accommodating service, and a super fun atmosphere!…read more Brought a very large group and they were able to handle easily and with a big smile.

I came here for the second time ever on Mother's Day, and we had a pretty good experience; however,…read moreI would much rather come here for drinks and entertainment than food. We asked to sit on the patio, and the atmosphere was awesome! We had tons of room at our 6-person table, and we had an umbrella, which was a lifesaver for the sunny, hot day. We specifically came here for their patio and entertainment; Brecken Miles was the entertainment, and he was singing and playing guitar. We were not disappointed because he was awesome! Servicewise, our waitress was nice, but admittedly, it took her a LONG time to check on us throughout our meal. There seemed to only be 2 waitresses working the patio area, so, understandably, service was a bit slow. Drinkwise, more than half of our table ordered a Pacifico because they had them on draft and in a can, but our waitress came back 10 minutes later telling us they only had one can left and were all out. Three of us ended up ordering a different drink, and thankfully, they had many options to choose from. Now, onto the biggest disappointment: the food. I ordered a new Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, and it was DROWNED in sauce. Normally, I love a ton of sauce, and when I first got my sandwich, I was excited by the amount of sauce. However, once I tasted it, I noticed that the chicken itself was so tough and overcooked that they probably put so much sauce on it to try and make the chicken more wet. Well, let me tell you, it didn't help at all. I did tell the waitress, and she was nice about taking my food back and allowing me to order something else. I ended up ordering 2 crispy tacos instead. These were fine, but nothing special and honestly very plain. My family was done with their food by the time I got my new meal, but thankfully, we were staying to listen to the music, so it didn't matter too much. Everyone else enjoyed their meals, but I tried my husband's Chicken Caesar Salad, and the chicken in that wasn't very good to me, either. It tasted plain with no seasonings. Overall, I'm sure I will come here again for some type of family affair, but I will be very selective next time about what I am ordering. NO chicken for me.

Main bar area when you enter the establishment

Dbl ord garlic cheese bread: acceptable

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BBQ'd Productions

4.2(1k reviews)

0.4 mi

Excellent service and great food! It was a clean restaurant, tons of TV's, we loved it!read more

Delicious Burnt Ends Sauces Mac n Cheese and Corn Bread! Service was great too and Dani was…read morewonderful!

Restaurant

Smokehouse Salad with Martini

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Kahlua Brownie Sundae

Emil's

3.2(293 reviews)

2.5 mi

Funny how the best meals are never planned. I ended up at Emil's on Center with some friends for a…read morelow-key birthday get-together, and it turned into another reminder of why I keep coming back. I've actually been coming here for a while. I was first introduced to the Mundelein location years ago, so when I started working in the area, I figured, why not give the Grayslake location a try too? It ended up being a great decision. I went with the buffalo wings, all flats. One thing I really appreciate is that they'll actually accommodate all flats or all drums, which surprisingly isn't as common as it should be. The wings are meaty, juicy, and cooked with a nice crisp that holds up even after being coated in sauce. The buffalo has that classic buttery flavor with just enough kick to keep each bite interesting without overpowering the wing itself. They're not trying to reinvent buffalo wings. They're just executing them really well. The biggest compliment I can give them is the consistency. Every visit tastes like the last. The recipe doesn't change because it doesn't need to. When you find something that works, you stick with it, and Emil's has. This place also always seems to be packed, and after coming here multiple times, I completely understand why. Even when I don't order the wings, everything else I've had has been just as impressive. It's the kind of place where you can confidently try something different and know you're going to leave happy. One thing that makes Emil's even more interesting is that there are two locations. I've been to both Emil's Tavern on Center and Emil's Sports Bar & Pizzeria. The menus are very similar, but the wings definitely aren't. I actually asked about it once, and they confirmed they use different recipes. Wing Rating: 8.55/10 So now I'm curious. What's the verdict? And while we're at it... flats or drums?

This place has come a long way. The pizza and sandwiches are all pretty good. Mixed cocktails…read moreare ok but not perfect. Service is great. Definitely worth a try if you haven't been here for a while.

Emil's Famous Broasted Chicken. Look at the size of the piece!! Ridiculous. Fry is larger than the leg.

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Outdoor Patio

129 Center Cut

3.2(306 reviews)

2.5 mi

My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at center cut last night and it was amazing. We…read morerecently stopped drinking. My husband enjoyed a Heineken zero and I ordered a mocktail called the Opal fizz. It was phenomenal. I want to have it again. Our server was so attentive. She was great. We had fillets with the mashed potatoes and added spinach it was very romantic and a wonderful evening.

We came to Center Cut to celebrate my friend's birthday, and the night went downhill before we even…read moreordered. We tried three different wobbly chairs before giving up and settling for the least unstable one. It took 40 minutes just to get water, and over an hour for our drinks. Mine didn't arrive until the manager stepped in--75 minutes after ordering. When our appetizer finally showed up 90 minutes in, the "stuffed mushrooms" were cold, undercooked, and missing the sausage entirely. We sent them back because there was nothing edible about them. The soup tasted good, but it arrived more than an hour into the meal--and came with burnt pieces on top, which is especially ironic considering the fire alarm was going off at the time. The alarm was blaring directly above our heads, and two families walked out during the chaos. We should have followed. The salads we ordered never arrived. Multiple menu items we attempted to order weren't available, including the salmon for the salmon salad and the prime rib sandwich. At that point, the menu felt more like a list of things they used to serve. After two hours of waiting, missing dishes, unavailable items, and nonstop disruptions--on a birthday, no less--we finally walked out. And despite everything, we still tipped our waiter because it was painfully clear the chaos wasn't entirely his fault. We walked next door to Emil's, where the difference was night and day. We were seated immediately, treated kindly, served a full meal in under 45 minutes, and they even surprised my friend with a free birthday dessert to salvage the night. Emil's saved what Center Cut completely destroyed.

View towards the back. The wall is where the lounge area and couch are located

View of community table and bar

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No apps, no liquor and no dessert for 4.

The Vine - Martini & Wine Bar

3.9(514 reviews)

2.6 mi

I took my puppy, Maya, to The Vine for lunch to do something a little different, and it couldn't…read morehave been a better experience. From the moment we arrived until we left, the service was exceptional. Every staff member was so welcoming to Maya, which made her feel completely comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised when they told me I could order lunch for her too! She enjoyed a plain burger patty and loved every bite. It was such a thoughtful touch that made the visit even more special. We're already looking forward to coming back. Thank you to everyone at The Vine for making Maya's day--and mine too!

My friend and I met here for an early dinner and had a wonderful experience. They have a nice…read morepatio, though we opted to sit inside for this visit. The staff here is extremely friendly and helpful. While they don't have a separate gluten-free menu, our server was incredibly accommodating. He went out of his way to double-check that my drink was safe and brought over an allergen menu for me. A quick note for GF diners: The menu doesn't explicitly mark gluten-free items or sides, which I wish they would change just for peace of mind. However, they do have gluten-free buns and the staff is highly attentive to allergies! The Drinks & Food: The Cocktail Menu: It's full of fun options! I had the watermelon martini to start. This was definitely on the sweeter side, but not overpowering at all. The Entree: For my entree, I ordered the Chicken BLT Pesto Sandwich (on a GF Bun) with garlic mashed potatoes: Absolutely delicious. The bun held up great and the flavor combo was spot on. Overall, it was a fantastic meal with top-notch service. I'll definitely be back, but I really hope they consider labeling their menu items and sides clearly in the future.

Vine Festive Decorations

Mediterranean Bowl

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Really good N.A. IPA.

Buffalo Wild Wings

2.5(162 reviews)

3.8 mi

As I walked in to Buffalo Wild Wings something had changed. The service staff was very nice and…read moreattentive. The food came to the table in a timely manner, wings were hot along with the other food. All the food tasted very good. All and all it was a very good experience and will be back.

Another fantastic experience at BWW Round Lake! Michelle at the bar is terrific! Food is great as…read moreusual and cold beer can't be beat!

Buffalo Wild Wings

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Buffalo Wild Wings

The Burger Den

3.3(3 reviews)

2.4 mi

I'm updating my review to let folks now that this Burger Den is actually Dennys!! . After getting…read moregreat burger and fries delivered I want to try out in person. Much to my surprise I could not find the restaurant so I called and got connected to Dennys! What the what!...this is a virtual restaurant with the food prepared by Denny's. It was still delish. But dang what an ordeal. You are not allowed to eat the food in Dennys only takeout. These burgers are hefty prices for Dennys.

Just ordered from here for the first time. I was reluctant since there were no reviews but I am…read morevery pleased with my decision! I ordered a Rodeo Ring Burger, Onion Rings and Chocolate Shake. All I can say is everything was PERFECT! The burger legitimately looked exactly like the image on the web site (I am not kidding, it looked fake, lol) with perfectly cooked Onion Rings and what had to be the best Chocolate Shake I've had in long while. I ordered on Uber Eats so I was really surprised when it arrived in perfect condition. I would have posted pictures, but I ate everything so quickly and was so surprised with how delicious everything looked and tasted, that it was all gone before it dawned on me to snap a picture, lol. I will be ordering from this Den again! Highly Recommend!

Things to do in Third Lake

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Cyndi R.

0

3

1

1 year ago

Absolutely! Here's the revised playful version with a shoutout to the awesome staff: --- We stopped by once and now we're hooked! The vibe? Chill. The drinks? On point. But the food? Total star of the show. The made-to-order guac is straight-up fire, and that homemade salsa? Amazing. We were iffy about the Won Ton Mozzarella sticks at first, but wow, they're crispy, cheesy magic without the usual breading. The staff? Super friendly and always make us feel right at home. With plenty of TVs and daily specials, it's the perfect spot to kick back, catch a game, and sip on a cocktail (or two). read more

Ross Z.

3

7

44

1 year ago

Ballers Bar & Grill is a true gem! The food is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care -- every dish we tried was spot on. The service was fantastic; attentive without ever feeling rushed. What really makes this place stand out, though, are the owners. They are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and make you feel like part of the family from the moment you walk in. It's rare to find a restaurant that nails great food, great service, and genuine hospitality all at once, but Ballers does it effortlessly. Highly recommend! read more

Marguerite F.

0

1

0

11 months ago

the food is delicious. The Mexican street corn was out of this world...The service was fast efficient and most of all friendly. The atmosphere was very welcoming . I felt like I was among friends..Very reasonably price. Highly recommend this new addition to the neighborhood. read more

Paul H.

0

1

0

1 year ago

Great food and welcoming owners. Hosted 18 of us for dinner and did a great job. Excellent customer service. They are happy you are there which is few and far between these days when you dine out. read more

Emily H.

0

22

39

11 months ago

Food was great! Service was also great. We sat at the bar and had a great experience. It got busy as the night went on, and had the golf on that we wanted to watch. We will be back! read more

Ballers Bar & Grill - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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Rail House Bar & Grill

4.4

(29 reviews)

Their wings are totally amazing. Service is always good…read more The ambiance is not the greatest but the food is so amazing that I can overlook.

Nice bar with nice clientele. I dropped in as I was in the area and hadn't been there since it…read morehad new owners, 5 1/2 years. Well lit inside. Dropped in on a Tuesday when it was Music Bingo with Kevin. He was pretty cool and funny. Lots of fun, I might add. Wish there were more people. No, I didn't win out of eight possible wins, darn it. Lol. They have a gaming area with six games. Parking is limited by the main entrance. But there's 2 hour street parking. The bartender was nice, too. U shapped bar with about 16 seats, and then there's six counter high tables. Food.....omg I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Lol. So, I ordered the chicken strips. Uh folks, these things were huge, the first I've ever seen in a bar. Tasty, they were with the house sauce. Thin batter and very moist. I also ordered the fries. A mistake on my stomach, I couldn't eat them all and they were big Crinklecut crunchy fries. Everyone I asked in the bar eating said their food was excellent. So I can imagine the rest of the food. Eugene, one of the owners, was cooking. He was also pleasant to talk to. I saw their wings and they looked yummy as well. Be advised that none of their chicken is frozen pre-battered. Hint hint. Is why it's so good. It doesn't appear there's anything on tap if that's important to you. Drinks were a good pour,but don't expect them to have everything. They have a DJ playing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday's; which gets a decent crowd according to the bartender. It's a mixed crowd when it comes to age. Overall, there's nothing negative to really say about this bar, and that's very rare for me. I will revisit because of the atmosphere and food. Locals need to visit this place often. Great job, Railhouse.

TR's Front Row On Greenwood

4.2

(30 reviews)

Had some good drinks and food at this Waukegan bar and grill. It's a lot better than it looks. TR's…read moreFront Row is located in a pretty uninteresting area of town. A lack of good places around it certainly helps it. You can get a few healthier bar food options. Chill place when it's early. It's kind of far from a lot of other things, so it's mostly the same few regulars. There's Bob And Anne's close by, but that closes early though. Good prices. It's about $5 to get well whiskey. Food is actually amazing for a bar. There's even a few vegetarian options. It's about $8 for a Beyond Burger. This comes with potato chips or another side. Of course there's plenty of traditionally greasy stuff to get. There's pizza and wings that are popular. Good stuff as far as what to get in a bar. It's located on Greenwood as you can tell by the name obviously. There's slots and plenty of TVs, so it's got lots of entertainment, and there's food options for vegans and vegetarians.

A nice looking simple and old school bar. This place has a simple menu where you can watch the cook…read moreand essentially this is like a dive bar and a unique and Hidden Gem in Waukegan I would highly very highly recommend if you like these type of places

Boyd's Hideout

4.2

(23 reviews)

Food is good. We had calamari, lobster dinner & skirt steak…read more We came today for the prime ribs but I guess they haven't served it for a while Service is excellent from Lisa. Ambiance is good. I'll be back again. Thank you for the great customer service. Pic's above provided:

Went here by word of mouth. Was disappointed at best…read more Ordered a steak sandwich and a patty melt. Wife didn't care for her steak sandwich and the patty melt was greasy and full of grizzle. Fries were cold and soggy and out the door was 40 bucks for both. . Won't be back.

Jojo's Bar & Grill

3.3

(30 reviews)

Went for the Monday night burger special. Good burger, finished the whole thing, locals have said…read moregood pizza as well. Server was pleasant. Would stop in again if I'm ever in the area.

This review is difficult for me to write because I genuinely wanted to support this business. Over…read morethe years, I have brought countless friends, family members, and visitors here because I believed in supporting local establishments. Unfortunately, despite being a loyal customer and encouraging others to spend their money here, I have repeatedly been met with disrespectful and dismissive treatment from ownership. This has not been a one-time incident or a misunderstanding. I can think of at least 5-10 separate occasions where interactions left me feeling unwelcome and unappreciated as a customer. I never expected special treatment for bringing people in. I only expected basic courtesy and respect. Instead, I often felt like my business and the business of the people I brought with me did not matter. The food and atmosphere may be fine, but customer service starts at the top. After multiple negative experiences, I can no longer recommend this place to friends or family. I sincerely hope ownership takes customer feedback more seriously in the future, because no customer should leave feeling disrespected after choosing to support a local business. 10/10 piece if shit owner. The bar tenders are great except for the older bigger lady. On top of that, my mother suffers from stage 3 cancer and when me, her, and 3 friends came(we go every week, never had a good experience with him) he went and turned the heat up 8 degree in the summer. My mom had chemo the day before and is clearly not doing well. On top of that he made it a point to complain about everything we did. I mean sitting on stools "wrong", sitting in empty seats "wrong", and "leaning" in the pool table which consisted of 2 fingers. Genuinely never felt so much hostility and rudeness from an owner. Not only that but we play slots every week and he accused us of somehow breaking a slot machine(not even possible). 10/10 would not recommend for anyone looking for a good time or good drink unless you goto the single good bartender( the one with tattoos or glasses who's only working Thursdays)

Corner Crossing

4.5

(22 reviews)

Backstory: I drank here a few times in my 20s, always had a good time. More recently (like a week…read moreago), I broke down on Grass Lake Road right outside the bar. Ran out of gas. And IMMEDIATELY, 2 of the employees and four of the patrons were by my side, helping me push the car over the tracks. WHEN THE TRAIN SIGNAL STARTED RINGING. And these people pushed my car over the tracks in one last push, and got me safely to a parking lot. They helped me back to the bar safely, helped me arrange a ride, and were incredible. So if you want a place where people are genuinely good people and will help a total stranger in a bad situation, you found it. And from what I recall, they make some AMAZING White Russians. Will I be back? Yeah, obviously. Probably with some baked goods to thank them, but first I want to let people know that the employees and patrons both are good people. And that's the kind of place that should get more attention.

Great food. Burgers and soups are exceptional. Good priced drinks. Friendly staff! Will certainly…read morebe back.

Roost 83

3.8

(66 reviews)

Seriously best gluten free buffalo chicken wrap I have ever had. The only other place I could order…read morea buffalo chicken wrap is from Foodstuffs in Lake Forest and I have to say this one beats the other. So thankful that the owner was able to accommodate a gluten-free wrap. Thank you so much for making such delicious food!! now I don't have to travel to Lake Forest for one! Happy to always support local! Also I have to say my son loved the meatball sub.

We visited Roost 83 for a school fundraiser. All of your Chicago classics in one place. Roost 83…read moreboasts a huge menu, it might be hard to decide. Staff was incredibly welcoming and kind. It took about 10 minutes from ordering for our food to be ready. Everything was made to order. On the whole, we got exactly what we expected. A generously loaded wrap, fresh, bun-less burger loaded with toppings, and more tater tots than we knew what to do with. The salt and pepper shakers in the table could use a good cleaning, they were grimy. And our table quickly ran out of napkins. But no other complaints.

Green Town Tavern

4.2

(106 reviews)

People have been telling me about the burgers at this place ever since I moved to the area, but…read moreit's inconveniently located for me. I ordered The Burger via UberEats tonight, and now I don't care that much about location. If they were good enough, at delivery temperature, for me to write a five-star review, I want these burgers right off the grill--but to go! Real chop steak, not some frozen disc. The pretzel bun was quite nice. The single slice of American cheese was far thicker than anyplace else I've had burgers outside of Wisconsin or Texas. And I was not expecting this much burger for the price!

Shoutout to our waitress, Vera, she's a queen!!…read more Great staff and amazing food, scratch made from the kitchen every day and you can tell. We traveled here for my brother's Navy graduation and his one request was burgers. This place had 12 listed on the menu so I knew it was the place. We came for lunch after just getting in and this place filled my 6'6 father so much he couldn't finish the meal. My mom, who is very particular about her tomato soup, could not stop raving about it. The restaurant has great indoor and outdoor seating. And an arcade for any one who is a big kid at heart. Day 1 of the trip and we are already planning our next stop in!

Glen Flora Tap & Grill

4.4

(22 reviews)

When you think of wings at most bars, you expect something decent, maybe a little too breaded,…read moremaybe drowning in sauce, good enough with a drink but nothing unforgettable. Glen Flora is not that. These wings genuinely outclass the usual bar standard, and they do it without trying too hard. The first thing that stands out is the crisp. Not a thick, heavy crust, just a light coating that gives you that clean crunch when you bite in. A lot of places overdo it and hide the chicken under batter. Here, the texture actually works with the meat instead of covering it up. And once you get past that crisp exterior, the chicken is seriously juicy. Tender, flavorful, and cooked the way wings are supposed to be. The hot BBQ sauce tastes exactly how good barbecue should: smoky, a little sweet, familiar in the best way. But the heat is what makes it special. It doesn't overpower. It lifts everything. The spice sharpens the sweetness and makes the smokiness pop a little more. It feels balanced, like someone actually thought about the flavor What surprised me most? I was there with a few friends, and normally that's all laughs and conversation. But once those wings hit the table, I caught myself zoning out, focused on what was in front of me. I was in my own little world. And at $1 per wing, it almost feels unfair. I ordered 15... and honestly? I should've ordered more. These aren't just "good for bar wings." They're just good. Crisp, juicy, balanced, and way better than you expect walking in. Rating: 8.7/10

Checked out this local Waukegan sports bar. Glen Flora Tap & Grill is a great place for watching…read moreany games. It has plenty of TVs and good drinks as well as okay food to munch on. For sure it's nothing fancy. There's pretty slow ass service but there's also fun times. Bar had a few people in it but we found seats and got menus. It's got about what you expect with okay prices. There's nothing to eat really that good but it's not bad though. Bar has TVs so usually it's okay watching games awhile. It's about $7 for a basic cocktail. The usual stuff like Jameson. It's about $8 for an appetizer. The Pretzel Bites were simple yet still took a long time. Basic things with cheese or mustard. They were slow again getting our bill so it was even more of a wait. Finally they brought it and we could leave. There weren't even many customers in there. Imagine what it's like when it's busy. This isn't the place to go if in a hurry. Has a pretty nondescript location by some auto garages. It's got a pretty basic menu with greasy things including pizza. This is located at the intersection of Glen Flora Avenue and Walnut.

Timothy O'Toole's Pub Gurnee

3.9

(690 reviews)

I stopped in here from out of town quite often. I've been coming here for the past four years I…read morelive in Maryland, but I always stop by here when I'm up this way for hostess had a smile could light up a stormy night and my waitress Caroline was extremely busy but extremely attentive. She also went up and helped at the front door when the busy seating incoming patrons I observed Caroline maintain a smile, even though she was busy with multiple potatoes I was a general manager for 12 years at a $15 million property I AGM as well as manager in the hospital Kudos to your management training staff you have, they always make this location, a treat to come into

Great food,great service and a awsome surver named Andrew played trivia with us he was the best…read moresurver I've ever had.

Jake Moran's

4.1

(48 reviews)