Menu has more variety than when they opened and food has generally been very good on our last few visits. Tuna Poke is a favorite and the fries are crispy and served hot. Good salads. Service was prompt and staff were wearing masks. Good outdoor space for pandemic dining. read more

I was so excited we were getting a new restaurant in winnetka (finally!) but have to say I was very disappointed. I went recently with a friend for dinner (it's been open long enough now that I think the kinks should be worked out.). When we walked in inside was basically empty but outside was fairly busy. Several employees walked past us without saying as much as hello or anything and we stood there awkwardly. Finally a hostess arrived and took us to our table (never asked if we wanted inside or outside and looked generally annoyed to be there). Waitress was nice and took drink orders. I have an allergy to something in one of the drinks so I asked if it could be removed and waitress said no problem. First drink came correctly and was really good. 2nd round they handed me a drink with the ingredient I'm allergic too and thankfully I figured it out prior to drinking it. The waitress responded with "oops- that was close" and a laugh. Maybe not the best response to doing something potentially dangerous to a customer. I know accidents happen but they need to be careful when it comes to allergies. We ordered several items to try. Cheese curds, spinach dip, chicken torta, and tacos (can't recall what kind they were but it's whatever is standard on the menu). We tried to order fried chicken but they were out of it by 7pm (seems early to be out of an entree?) Cheese curds and dip were ok. Curds were more greasy fried breading than cheese and dip was no better than what you would get at a place like Fridays. My friend said her tacos were ok and my chicken torta was also ok but so greasy/heavy even though I asked for it to be without a lot of the toppings. Afterwards, I didn't feel well at all and actually ended up getting sick once home. I don't know whether anything was actually "bad" aka food poisoning or if it was just all way too greasy for my system to handle but either way I won't be back unless for drinks only. No food. I also find the menu strange. It's like the restaurant doesn't know what kind of restaurant it is. Full disclosure I also don't like 10 mile house (their other restaurant) and find their food to be greasy and mediocre too so I prob should have avoided this spot since it's the same owners. read more

I like the food and the outdoor patio. Indoors the music is MUCH too loud. It's hard to talk. Also they won't push tables together on patio so when we went with 6 people we had to split up into 2 tables. read more

I was very excited to try Fred's Garage. I had dinner with a few friends on a Saturday night. We waited for an hour and half. The ambiance was fun and the drinks were very good. The artichoke appetizer was delicious, but the entrees were not so great. I had the cheese steak sandwich and a friend ordered the vegetable couscous. We agreed the food wasn't all that. They need to work on that a bit. We all agreed we wanted to come back to sit on the patio this summer. Just for drinks and appetizers. Expect a long wait if you don't have a reservation and just marginal food. read more

Fred's is awesome! Food is great!!! @Tom G Although they don't do carry out during busy times but I respect that they make quality control there first priority. read more

Was GREAT being back at Fred's Garage today, sitting out on the patio. It was great being outside after so long. The Hostess was extremely nice and very customer service oriented. It was very warm out and we asked if we could move to a shaded table and it was done. Thank you. We had two of our favorite Garbage Salad's and an order of Tequila Shrimp Tacos. Everything was tasty and fresh. Carey and his staff, including Hosts, Servers and Support staff are always spot on. Carey is always looking around, making sure all is going well. When carry-out was our only option, Fred's was really good, especially the chicken wings. Once again, thanks to all for a pleasant and tasty lunch. See you soon. read more

First time diner.... love the atmosphere and the food! We went there for our manager holiday dinner and I am excited to go back and enjoy the outside area. To top off the experience, our server (wish I remembered his name...) was friendly and accommodating as was every other staff remember we encountered. Thank you for such an enjoyable dining experience. Look forward to seeing you in the spring/summer :) read more

great place and very kind people but very expensive food but it's worth it when your with your family friends or a date maybe

My wife and I went there with another couple. It's a fairly small place so I would definitely make reservations or go at off peak times. The outdoor has not opened yet; however when it does its going to fantastic! As far as the food....the other couple just had the pork belly egg rolls and mini Polish sausage appetizers. Both were very good. My wife had the meatloaf. It comes wrapped in a thin piece of bacon with a ginger garlic bbq sauce with Wasabi mashes potatoes. It was delicious!! I ordered the cheeseburger. It is 2 patties on a brioche bun. It was so good. It could rival Au Cheval. One of the best cheeseburgers I've had. Came with very good fries. I suggest having them put the remoulade sauce on the side...it's very very onion tasting. Prices were more or less fair. I would definitely suggest going.... read more

My husband, son, and I dined here last evening.. The cheese curds , fries , and elotes are great here.. wings were so so but nothing I would re-order.. The cheesesteak sandwich was 30% gristle.. so gross! I politely told our server who said he'd tell the cook but didn't take anything off our bill which I found very disappointing. Step up your service, dudes! read more

Was enjoying some food and drinks with good company. It was a cool and enjoyable environment until my friend was kicked out for no reason and never given one either. However satisfactory the food may be, it's never acceptable to be treated like this in your place of business. read more

The decor is nice, but we were there for the food. The server was pleasant but not extremely knowledgeable. That being said, two of us ordered the soup of the day. Personally, I didn't like it so I gave it to my husband and he thought it was really good. The soup was a cream of cauliflower and just didn't work for me ... cauliflower is basically tasteless and the balsamic drizzle on top took over the flavor of the soup. It was also served lukewarm and I prefer my soup to be hot. Everyone had the ribs for dinner and they though they were very tasty. The garlic mashed was very good and the Mexican grilled corn side was also good. The other three people finished everything and were quite happy with their choices. I had the hamburger, substituted the fries for the mixed greens. The mixed greens were fresh and I really enjoyed them. The hamburger on the other hand was overcooked and dry despite all of the toppings. The toppings were delicious, but not enough moisture to overcome the dryness of the burgers. The burgers were extremely thin and because of that I can see why they would be overcooked. Dessert ... The other couple had the apple crisp which they deemed delicious. My husband had the brownie and thought it was very good. I had the carrot cake. I was surprised to see that it was actually a deconstructed carrot cake. While the components were good, the candied carrots on top were unexpected and I really liked them, the cake itself was over-baked and again extremely dry. I'm really not a fussy person, but I guess I made some really bad decisions when ordering my food. Personally I wouldn't want to go back to Fred's again, but the other three people I was with were very happy and said that they would go again. I will not be going with them. read more

There can't be many cooler places in the suburbs than this place. The food and drinks were both great. We got the pu pu platter app tray which was had tasty and unique apps on it. - the Grains and Greens salad and Chicken and Biscuits were real tasty too. The Spruce Spritzer was the drink of choice and very good. The best part about this place is the vibe - its got a cool City bar type vibe and cool art and high ceilings - can't wait until the outdoor patio opens either. If you haven't been - check out the place! read more

We read the negative reviews but decided to give it a shot. Service was great, bar fun! Got a table right away! Ordered Hokey Poke bowl which was great, then salad with my fingers crossed it would be good, IT WAS as good as any other $20 salad in Wilmette!! They cooked my (huge piece of) Salmon to a great well done, as requested. Husband had shrimp tocos. We're "good, very good!" Fun music, just right volume. Can't wait until the outside deck is open. read more

The greeting was amazing. the servers were very attentive to our needs. Constantly checking if we were fine. And food was delivered promptly. Will visit soon!!! read more

Came in for the first time and sat at the bar. I had a few appetizers and drinks, the bartenders were very nice and knowledgeable. Pointed me towards the cauliflower which was spectacular. And the specialty drink "fall on the rocks" was mixed wonderfully by Liza. Love this place! 5 stars!! read more

Fred's outdoor patio is spacious. In terms of the food, I had the double griddle burger. It was cooked to perfection and had a nice remoulade sauce. Adding bacon to it gave it a nice crunch. The fries were seasoned fantastically. Draft selection was a bit on the low side - I had the Firestone it was a nice crisp beer to accompany my meal. Especially during this time, service may be a tad slow but the quality of food and atmosphere outweighs that aspect. I can't wait to come back. read more

Went here for a family celebration and the service was AWFUL. We had a small group and could barely get our waiter's attention the whole night. We could've kept ordering drinks if it didn't take 15 minutes per drink. The waiter even handed us the wrong check in the end (it was basically thrown at us). Took it to the manager, because we couldn't get our waiter's attention, and told him our complaints - he didn't do a thing about it. The food here is great, but the service ruins the experience every time for me. read more

Overpriced for what it is! Also felt rushed out at the bar even though place was empty.

Stopped by on a whim with my girlfriend Sunday afternoon. The outdoor patio very pleasant, with plenty of room to space out. Can't complain about the drinks, and our server was fast/friendly. Cheeseburger was juicy, and fries were excellent, also very satisfied with the portions. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. read more

We went when the restaurant was just opening for the public. People were friendly and the food was tasty. We sat inside because it was getting cold but this place will be fun in the summer. They have lots of outdoor seating. read more

Great outdoor seating and great service. Chicken salad sandwich was outstanding and salmon sandwich was also great. Chicken tacos also good. Burgers are great! Good beer and fun atmosphere!! Glad to have them in winnetka. read more

Family friendly place but also a good date night. Been here twice. Great experience both times. Food is wonderful. Servers are friendly and accommodating. Delicious tuna Niçoise salad. Tasty, well-made cocktails. Last time I went with a vegan and they easily adjusted their menu to present her with options. read more

We ate there tonight. It was awesome!! My friend and I split the meatballs appetizer. So good!! Ronnie got the burger and I got the fried chicken. The portions were huge and the food was unbelievable! His burger looked ridiculous and maybe the best fried chicken I've ever had. Get some!! read more

Went to Fred's with 2 other couples. Cool place outside was nice but wet from rain so we didn't sit out there. We ran into a ton of people we know. We ordered a few drinks all was fine - waitress forgot one of the drinks but after being reminded she brought it out. We ordered the tuna poke and cheese curds both good and got some teriyaki wings which were good but way salty !!! Food came out Little later waitress was just ok in checking back - food was mediocre it wasn't bad it's just that if i had a choice to go somewhere else like Beinlich's or Spears or shake shack I'd go there first - bar type food nobody loved their meals we got a desert to taste and the brownies were like jewel brownies With some vanilla ice cream - they need to up their game on food and desserts or they won't last long - cute concept i give it about 1/2 on the TomScale read more

Me and my group of college friends who get together a few times a year thought this would be a great choice. Not my first tine there. They were def having an off night. Took waiter a good 40 minutes to get our drinks, he said the bar was slammed. Never filled our waters all night. I got up to help myself to the water pitcher. Dinner cane and one person who only ordered a grilled chicken break got her food a good 10 minutes later- no apologies not excuses why. Seemed odd. We paid our bill and they lost one our credit cards. We searched high and low. Manager could have cared less and did not handle situation well. Claimed we never gave it. After a good 15-30 minutes we found it under a table nearby. Must have flown out of the bill holder when he collected it. The place seemed like a shit show all night. Our waiter had attitude and washed his hands of us after card went missing. No matter what we did they made us feel we were in the wrong. We are a nice group of 50 year old women but they treated us like stupid teenagers. As much as I liked my meal I will never ever return and will tell other the same advice. I think the owner would have been truly disappointed in his staff and manager that night.. read more

Food is ok, but it is incredibly over priced for the quality. Go to little Ricky's, better food, 10-20% cheaper

Yes, great place to meet and eat. What an ambiance! We love the vibe here and how they integrated the gas station history into the current design. Only wish that the same meticulous care had been given to the food. Menu needs to be reworked---question to management: Why can't you just use the Ten mile house menu here? just saying.... Burger is fine, but way overpriced. Fired chicken was average at best. Liked our server and drinks very much. Overall, the service is very good. Look---we want to come back. Fred's management, please change the menu and your chefs! Then it will be a hit. read more

First time visiting winnetka and came across Fred's garage. The food was amazing and would definitely recommend

This is a great place in downtown Winnetka. Good for both kids and adults. Service was very friendly. New Orleans Shrimp appetizer is spectacular. They have a great outdoor patio for alfresco dining. Several interesting cocktails on then menu. read more

Great place. Food was good. Enjoyed my ribs for sure. Loved the easy outdoor to indoor flow of the restaurant.

Good waitress, but food was poor for the price. No attempt at making a burger interesting. Food was greasy and unremarkable. Don't waste your money here. read more

I enjoy Fred's for the great salads and shrimp tacos, and the wonderful outdoor seating. My only complaint is the music selection. Maybe the general public likes old stadium rock ( that was playing the other night) but being on the senior side of things, how about some hip jazz and/or more eclectic sounds? I had to walk out twice this week as I just didn't want to listen to what was playing. read more

Excellent, modern North Shore spot for any occasion. Great food and staff. Very family friendly.

Came in with low expectations just based on seeing the menu and prices that seemed too high. However, my wife and I were blown away by the quality of our food. She got the couscous and I got the pasta with meat sauce. The textures and combinations of flavors in both dishes were absolutely incredible. The only complaint on the food is that it was bad for conversation - we were so immersed with the textures and flavors of those dishes that we ate in silence! Service was perfect IMO. Nothing special or over the top - the waiter was quick and knowledgeable. One complaint was on the drink. I got the Fred's Manhattan. The infused cherry was delightful. However, there was too much vermouth, not enough whiskey, which made it too sweet. read more

I had lunch at Fred's--specifically, the seasonal salad, which sounded good from the menu description (with spinach, cheese,arugula, apples, jicama, radishes and brussel sprouts). If there were brussel sprouts, they must have been microscopic, and the jicama and apples were a few very thin pieces. Arugula was sparse, as was the cheese. It was mainly a bunch of spinach with a few shreds of this and that. Plus it is $13, which is a lot for a bunch of spinach and not much else. I was very disappointed. The area between Evanston and Highland Park is not a great one when it comes to restaurants, but there must be better than this! Boring, overpriced food. Will not go back and do not recommend. read more

I went to Fred's Garage for dinner with my daughter about a month ago and we had a great time! We had the cheese curds and we thought they were yummy (less breaded than others I've had). She had the chicken and thought it was great. I had the salmon and it was unique and delicious. Our server was absolutely outstanding and recommended the apple tart dessert and it was yummy. Love the decor and had a terrific experience overall! read more

No idea how this place gets a 4/5 Star from anyone. Food is Medicore at best...over priced...drink pours are very weak. Burger was ok..fries were undercooked. Friend had shrimp tacos..bland no taste. A few drinks total bill over $100. Included 2 apps. Cheese curds were terrible...wings were ok. read more

Excellent food, service & atmosphere. The outdoor patio is very pleasant. My wife had the salmon and I had the hamburger and we were both extremely satisfied with our meals. This is a welcome addition to Winnetka. read more

Went here for lunch and was presently surprised. Don't be fooled by the name, the food was delicious and the outdoor patio is adorable. I got the grilled cheese with avocado and bacon added. It has a thin layer of grilled, crispy cheese around the sourdough bread which made it even more delicious. We also had the spinach artichoke dip for an appetizer, which also was amazing. Would definitely recommend! read more