I'm not sure that I've ever had a bad experience at Spirit Elephant. The handcrafted cocktails and…read moremocktails are always refreshing and flavorful and the presentation of the drinks, as well as the food is always photo-worthy. I always look forward to the seasonal rotation of menu items, as I know the ingredients will be fresh and in season, and I love looking forward to new dishes. I absolutely adore Spirit Elephant and have loved making this my go-to spot in Winnetka. I have had Meet Up events, girls brunches and date nights here, and always enjoy the experience. I've honestly been here more times than I can count. My omnivore friends are always pleasantly surprised once they've been officially introduced to the magic of Spirit Elephant. I've loved watching all of the small changes over the years, and have appreciated that the quality of the food and handcrafted cocktails has never changed. I have raved of the patio in the past, but they've since done two major upgrades, and I love spending weekend afternoons with a group of friends during the warmer months on their patio even more. The staff is phenomenal, and I appreciate that I always know my server will have an excellent recommendation whenever I stop in (I mean, you truly cannot go wrong with anything that you order).

Always a treat! Finally made it to happy hour just tinder the wire. We tried the bao buns and poke…read morenachos - both were amazing. The tofu in the bao buns was so crispy and delicious that my carnivore friend said tasted just like pork belly. Having never had pork belly, I was happy that to me it tasted like tofu since I love tofu. The poke nachos were a bit spicy for me but flavorful and delicious. Again, my friend thought it really tasted like tuna. My friend wanted to split the steak which I thought wasn't their strongest dish because it tasted more processed and not like lovely tofu nor like meat. But for those who enjoy vegan steaks, it was quite flavorful and moist. The potatoes were so fluffy and crispy. But not my fav of their dishes. As always the manager, Jordan, comes by and makes us feel like VIPs, laughing and treating us like old friends. And the whole team works together smoothly. Being surrounded by plants with perfect warm lighting makes the ambiance just as wonderful as the food itself.

It's been over 3 years since I've reviewed Grateful Bites and it is still a delicious lunch…read morediscovery in Winnetka! I am trying to eat healthier these days, and was pleasantly surprised by the selection of delicious salads and hummus on the menu. My husband ordered the Feed Your Head vegetarian white pizza, which was superb. This time the gentleman behind the counter, Matt and Matt, introduced us to hot honey and giardiniera, both made in-house. Giardiniera is an Italian relish or condiment made from a medley of crisp vegetables--typically cauliflower, carrots, celery, and peppers--pickled in vinegar or oil. Those were delicious toppings to enjoy on pizza or a salad accompaniment. Whenever we return to Winnetka, we will be sure to stop here again!

Great pizza restaurant in the heart of downtown Winnetka. They have a wild selection of pizza…read moreoptions including white pizzas. Their salads are also fantastic. The staff is very friendly and they have 4 tables if you feel like eating in or you can order out.

They have the best Berger on the Northshore It is a great…read moreplace to meet friends The decor is adorable I love the wall of Fred's The salads are very good but I can never resist the burger

Fred's Garage is truly a hidden gem in Winnetka. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is…read morewarm, inviting, and full of character. The space has a relaxed yet stylish vibe that works perfectly for brunch, lunch, or a night out with friends. The food is consistently outstanding. Every dish is flavorful and thoughtfully prepared with fresh ingredients. And I have to call this out specifically: their Fred's Garage habanero sauce with a hint of pineapple is easily one of the best sauces I've ever tried. Just the right balance of heat, sweetness, and flavor it's unforgettable. The service is what really sets this place apart. Jessica is hands down one of the best servers you'll ever come across kind, attentive, and always on point. Gabby is also amazing, bringing great energy and genuine care to every table/bar area. The owner, Cary, clearly pours his heart into the restaurant, and that pride shows in everything from the food to the atmosphere to the staff. In the summer, the patio is the place to be. The live bands and outdoor setting create a fun, welcoming vibe that makes you want to take your time, relax, and enjoy the moment. Whether you're local or passing through, Fred's Garage is the place you'll want to come back to again and again.

White bean and Jake soup is amazing. They are generous with bread and crackers. Everything is…read morevery fresh with quality ingredients.

Back for more! This time tried the garden vegetable. So yummy! It has a big variety of veggies and…read morenothing is mushy. So flavorful!

The Coconut Cloud smoothie was much better than the one I had at the Highland Park location--they…read moreused a lot more blue spirulina. The service was friendly, and the interior was clean and modern. Delicious. I'll be back to their Winnetka spot!

Everything we have tried is delicious!-from bowls to smoothies to juices to cookies!!…read more The only downside are the prices. It is a special treat to come with my kids. This is definitely a splurge-but the experience of going there has made my kids be curious about new foods and combinations of foods as well as help develop healthy habits!

Spectacular bahn mi. Very authentic. Had the pork bahn mi- #102 . Tasty pork - crust thin-…read moreflavorful and tender. All the vegetables complement the sandwhich. The bread was fresh and perfect. Excellent! Very clean- place . Nice guy behind the counter. Will come again. Loved it. Try it! Bring friends

This was a really wonderful meal. Lemongrass beef banh mi, tofu spring rolls, and lemongrass…read moreshrimp banh mi were all delicious. Avocado smoothie wasn't my favorite. Service was so kind. Definitely will go back.

The new, renovated space is wonderful and the staff as always is super friendly. There is always a…read morefriendly and family'-like vibe at Avli. Lately, we have enjoyed sitting at the bar for cocktails and appetizers. If in doubt, just ask the bar staff for recommendations and you won't go wrong. See you again soon Avli!

Date night at Avli had some great moments, but overall fell short of expectations…read more First, our waitress was super sweet and she made excellent wine recommendations, which we really appreciated. Service-wise, she was attentive and kind. We ordered a full spread and specifically asked for the courses to be paced so we could enjoy everything. When three appetizers came out at once, I politely reminded them and asked to hold off on bringing additional dishes. Unfortunately, despite that, the rest of the food continued to come out all at once. It made the experience feel rushed and frustrating, especially since dishes started getting cold before we could enjoy them. The highlights were definitely the zucchini chips, artichoke, and Greek salad, fresh, flavorful, and easily the best items we had. The rest was underwhelming. The octopus was just okay, the grilled calamari was chewy and lacked flavor, and the red snapper was a bit dry. We also never received the broccolini we ordered, which added to the disappointment. There's potential here, especially with some of the appetizers and the warm service, but the pacing and overall execution need improvement to really elevate the dining experience.

Still love this place. Came here again for the Christmas vibes 2 days before Christmas to get some…read morework done. I needed to bribe myself with coffee I didn't make myself and to get out of my house to plow through a bunch of work admin. I took a chance coming here because I know they have some laptop policies, particularly around Christmas. This time it was no laptops after 9am and then none on Friday and weekends during the holiday season. (During the rest of the year it's certain tables that aren't allowed to use laptops and/or certain tables at certain hours). I came in at 7am and it was good motivation for me to knock out a bunch of things efficiently since I have a 9am cutoff lol. They also now put that notice on their front door, which is helpful and was my complaint last year when I came here to do work on a Saturday and found out I couldn't. As always, the coffee was great, and the Home Alone installation is always fun. Their tartines are also always amazing. Definitely keeping this in my regular rotation.

Visiting family again in Wilmette! We returned to Towne and Oak…read more Of course, I got the biscuit again - it was every bit as good as the last time I was here! I brought my own honey to drizzle on it! Next, I thought I'd try the pancakes. They were okay - light but not so fluffy. I'm used to a fluffier pancake - I make them regularly at home. Beating the eggs and letting the batter sit for several minutes enables the pancake to rise and accentuates the 'cake' of pancake.

I went to Guildhall for brunch on a Sunday. We ordered the cinnamon roll, shakshuka with a side of…read moresausage, and the omelette. Everything tasted fresh and delicious! The cinnamon roll was surprisingly moist (we were skeptical due to its appearance) and sweet! The restaurant is bright and the service was very friendly. There was a nice mix of customers and there was even a party going on while we were there. I don't remember when I was last in Glencoe. It's charming! I'd love to come back for dinner or happy hour.

The inside of this restaurant is beautiful! You can also order sushi and Japanese food. There are…read moretwo restaurants that share the kitchen. I really liked the mushroom toast. Lots of unique mushroom and the creamy white sauce was delicious! The spinach ravioli was also delicious! each ravioli was stuffed. The service was attentive. We waited around 25 min for our food on a Saturday night. It's nearby the botanical gardens.

Highly recommend! Quaint, great food, service and atmosphere! So happy I found it while visiting…read moremy daughter.

Specifically made a reservation, and upon arrival our table was not ready for 10 mins. Not sure why…read morethis happened. Forced to wait in bar area which was high traffic and we were shuffled around. Not fond of our server's humor/attitude - felt a little uncomfortable. My medium rare steak was rare and I asked for it to be cooked me more. He kept asking are u sure in a condescending way, to which I replied yes, this is raw according to the high end steak houses I've been to. Yummy food though. Sucks hospitality is lacking here. Prob won't be back. Heard the bartenders are lovely people though.