I have never heard of Fox & Turtle before, but looking at the NW Chicago Restaurant week, it looked…read moredelicious to try. I was treating my parents for my dad's birthday month (My daughter has a lot of activities, lol) and the menu appeared to have something for everyone. The 22 minute drive to Itasca was so worth it! The restaurant, which is open to the public, is on the same property as the Itasca Country Club, which is not open to the public. You go down the stairs, through the developing pizza bar, and to the restaurant. The restaurant space itself is cozy, with beautiful, natural lighting, and lots of seating options. We were asked booth or table and seated right by the picture window with beautiful views of their ice rinks and golf course. The food was above and beyond my expectations! Between the 5 people at the table, I sampled the French Onion soup, Sweet & Spicy Brussels, Bacon Smash Burger, Pot Roast Grilled Cheese, Sweet Tees (Donut Holes), Peanut Butter Smore-o, and Verde Dulce. The soup was not salty as I find some iterations, the brussels had complex flavors with hot honey, bacon, candied pistachios, and crumbled feta. The pot roast grilled cheese was very flavorful, but my boyfriend did state he wished the sandwich had more meat in it. The Sweet Tees donut holes were cooked to perfection without being oily and the jam accompaniment was a perfect texture and level of sweet. The Peanut Butter Smore-o was creamy and decadent with its perfectly ratioed layers of ganache, peanut butter mousse, Oreos, and whipped cream. The Verde Dulce, though, was the delicious classic olive oil cake with pistachio gelato & that throwback of candied pistachios from my appetizer. Even better than the food, our server, Kara, was one of the sweetest, most attentive human beings! She answered all of our questions, refilled our fountain drink and iced tea glasses when they were at 75% without prompting, made sure my dad felt celebrated with a candle, etc. Her teammate who was in charge of clearing our table was also prompt and I appreciate her asking what plates she could take. Overall, it was a beautiful late morning/early afternoon with delicious food and impeccable service. 10/10 recommend!!!

If you haven't discovered Fox & Turtle yet, you're missing one of the best hidden gems in the area…read more I was genuinely surprised to learn it's open to the public because it feels every bit like an upscale private country club. The outdoor patio overlooking the golf course is absolutely beautiful--relaxing, scenic, and the kind of place that makes you feel like you're on vacation. Even on a busy Thursday evening, the atmosphere was lively without ever feeling hectic. Our server, Jordyn, was outstanding. She looked young, but don't let that fool you--she was completely on top of everything. We were a party of six that couldn't decide what we wanted, laughed way too loudly, and probably tested her patience more than once. She handled us with grace, humor, and a smile the entire time. Somewhere along the way we started calling her "Wednesday" from The Addams Family, and she rolled with it perfectly. Great sense of humor and fantastic service. The food was excellent. The Crispy Eggplant Salad was absolutely phenomenal--fresh, flavorful, and easily large enough to share between two people. The burger was cooked perfectly, the cocktails were outstanding, and everything arrived promptly. The bar staff also deserve a shout-out. They were welcoming from the moment we arrived, made great eye contact, acknowledged everyone immediately, and had drinks in our hands in no time. That's the kind of hospitality that makes people want to come back. Fox & Turtle has the rare combination of great food, attentive service, excellent drinks, and a beautiful setting. It's the kind of place you expect to find inside an exclusive club, yet thankfully it's open for everyone to enjoy. We'll definitely be back.

Great food and great service. Family friendly restaurant that has an upbeat atmosphere, and is…read morealways a great place to watch a game. I highly recommend the ribeye sandwich, sausage pizza, and the buffalo chicken sandwich. You can't go wrong.

I would give 0 stars if I could. We came to watch the Super Bowl + halftime show. And when halftime…read morecame they changed every other screen to turning point USA and the audio. Once the real Super Bowl halftime came up they refused to switch back to that audio. This was our first impression and I'm disappointed this became a political statement. A lot of other tables left as well. If this was your intention let customers know beforehand so we can make the choice to watch elsewhere. Servers and bussers made comments to us "oh we know you're here for the halftime show!" Before it aired. Owner was no where to be found and told management they were NOT allowed to switch the audio back to the Super Bowl.

I had a disappointing experience at Woody Sports Bar. ALL TEA NO SHADE BUT HAILEY, was largely…read moreinattentive throughout our visit. We were not checked on regularly, were not offered refills, and were not asked about our experience with the food. Additionally, there were some concerning hygiene practices. She handled drinkware by the rims, and her hair was worn down while serving food and drinks, which raises concerns about cleanliness if hair were to come into contact with items being served. Service was also delayed, as she appeared to be on her phone multiple times before completing our payment. When I chose to switch from card to cash, her response came across as unprofessional. I was also surprised to see a $1.30 surcharge for card payments. While the fee itself is not the primary issue, it was not disclosed anywhere on the menu or within the restaurant, which makes it feel misleading. Lastly, I was incorrectly charged three times for a drink despite only receiving one refill. Overall, the service and lack of transparency made for a frustrating experience, the food was decent though for the price!! especially if theres "2 mexicans in the back" cooking up AMERICAN food.

A local place we've driven by many times and decided to go there for dinner one night. We now have…read morebeen there several times since and we love it! The food is exceptional and the staff is friendly and hard working. We haven't been disappointed yet!

Wine With Me is a great place to explore some excellent wines. craft beers, or cocktails, in a…read morequiet, relaxing environment. The service from Mark the owner or any of his staff, is always engaging, friendly, and helpful. Add some fine cheeses or tasty crackers/bread sticks and you are set. Consider joining their wine club to experience some exciting wines (red or white) each month, which are selected by the owner Mark from his extensive inventory. Wine With Me is one of our favorite places and we learn something new about the world of wine every visit. Stop by and check them out - You won't be disappointed!

Wine with Me is a niche experience in Itasca for your libation needs. I came in as a first-timer,…read moreasking for guidance and recommendations. I met the owner, who was very hospitable. He gave me a small tour. Advised that they have tables for tastings and even offer a small array of crackers and meats, but they are not a restaurant. He added that it's not uncommon for regulars to visit a local restaurant and just bring their food with them to enjoy their wine. There's also a selection of craft beers and spirits to choose from. We even discussed Uncle Nearest whisky! After a recommendation from the owner, I chose the VDR; Very Dark Red wine. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to go back to try more!

Everything about Twoods is perfect. The food, the drinks, the prices, the atmosphere, the TVs, the…read moreservice. Gold standard of sports bar, one of my favorite places. Thank you!

I come back to this place every time I'm in town. Staff is amazing, the food is fantastic and…read morequick. And there's always something fun going on!

This is a great family owned bar that has been around for years. The atmosphere is welcoming and…read morefriendly. The service is great and makes you feel at home.

Love this local dive bar! I've been coming for years to drink, play the video games, sing karaoke…read moreand enjoy all the wonderful people! The owners are awesome!

Stopped in on a chance following a long day of driving around Chicagoland. We were pleasantly…read moresurprised with the (thin crust) pizza. The beer nuggets are definitely worth a try as well. Friendly staff and great service made it a success!

This establishment offers reasonably priced fare with a selection that is appropriate for its size…read more During my visit, I ordered wings, fries, and a lemonade simple staples that were prepared competently and met expectations. While the menu is not particularly expansive, it provides enough variety to satisfy those seeking familiar comfort food. The staff were courteous, attentive, and provided commendable service throughout the visit. The true highlight, however, was the atmosphere. The venue boasts an impressive collection of décor that gives the space a distinctive character, and the presence of a bar contributes to its relaxed, welcoming ambiance. In conclusion, this is an excellent destination for those looking to unwind with casual classics such as burgers, pizza, wings, fries, and a refreshing beverage. However, diners seeking a more refined culinary experience, broader menu innovation, or a meal that feels more destination-worthy may find greater satisfaction at establishments such as Fox and Turtles Country Club nearby or by venturing a bit farther for a more elevated dining experience.

This place is so cool. If you've seen the Netflix show "Drink Masters," you'll have been wowed by…read morecontestant Tao Zrafi's insane creations, and wished you could drink them in real life. Well, this is about as close to doing so as you can easily get, because Tao opened NST, and this is his creation (in fact, I saw him there during my first visit!). Many of the other reviews cover the drinks really well, so there's little else to add. If you're there for "classic" cocktails, this isn't really the place (although, the foie gras old fashioned was super, sort of classic, but also unique). The point of the place is to drink flavors you've never tasted in a glass before. The BLT cocktail...literally tastes like an actual BLT (literally!)...except you're drinking it rather than chewing it. This place is so great, employees seem to really love their job. The only negative experience I've had there was related to a group of 10 or so who showed up, and this was clearly not their first stop of the evening. They were loud and already clearly buzzed, and just ordered Modelos. Not NST's fault, but I say this to say: if you come here, you should come to get completely immersed in this one-of-a-kind experience.

Definitely one of the most innovative cocktail bars in the country, if not the world (I feel…read moreentitled to say this as I've been to cocktail bars on 3 continents !). Located on the grounds of a suburban Country Club (WTF?!?!), it was worth the hour plus non rush hour drive. Decor is like a young mad scientist's Midwest basement, with different seating arrangements, from comfy couch to school gymnasium cafeteria. But to the drinks -- many classifications of cocktails to choose from on the large menu (as well as some wines, grab and go cocktails, NA/mocktails and a couple beers. Don't sleep on the empanadas from aforementioned country club. They're fantastic). Sone classic cocktails, their riffs on other classic cocktails, and then the main events : their specialties, their experiments and what is in the pipeline. Plus flights that allow you to sample the creativity. The flavors and the combinations are insane. Thick foams, clarified drinks, multi- ingredient, multi-spirit-- all well balanced (though the welcome shot of Bubble Gum and the Kinder Surprise were a tad sweeter than I usually go for). Think savory like pizza or salads. I know you can't so you better go and see what I mean !' Depending on specials, prices are $10-20/drink plus a couple of large format offerings. Games and good tunes. Come alone, with a friend or a group. That's what was there early on a Thursday. Easily accommodated. Cute bathrooms with exceptional hand towels. Take the drive and maybe get a hotel room -- that's what we're doing next time so we can really get into the offerings. I hope the area recognizes what they have in their midst. If not -- please relocate to Chicago !