We had dinner in downtown Naperville last weekend and passed Lennon's on our post dinner stroll. It looked like the place to be so this weekend we made our way back to check it out. From my understanding, the restaurant has three levels: level one is for small plates, level two is for small events, and level three is intimate fixed-prix meals. We sat on the first floor in the way back next to the dessert bar. The AC was on full blast which was a bit uncomfortable but everything else was great. Our server, Nick, was excellent. We started with the tuna tower and goat cheese. The tuna tower was good but nothing super special. The goat cheese was a home run hit though! The combo of goat cheese sitting in the arrabbiata sauce was so flavorful and paired so well with the fresh focaccia slices. I ordered the char-grilled octopus as my meal and my partner had the fried chicken. We were both shocked when the fried chicken arrived. It was a HUGE portion and my partner said it tasted great! We also got dessert on the house for our anniversary- we chose the apple tarte tatin which was a more unique dessert. Basically it was a Granny Smith apple with a chocolate core wrapped in pie crust and paired with a scoop of ice cream. read more

Lennon's - Spicy Tuna Tower - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Unfortunately, my experience at Lennons didn't quite meet my expectations. From the pictures online, the marketing, and overall brand identity, I expected to really like Lennon's. They even promote their upstairs "lounge" which I was super excited about (thinking it's a place to sit and drink). Well, the first drink I ordered was a total flop. What was supposed to be crafted cocktail tasted more like something I'd get from a sports bar. I went with a cosmo for my second, thinking there's no way that could be messed up, but again, it just tasted cheap to me. The star of dinner was the chicken & cauliflower appetizer. It was tender and flavorful, with a kick from the chili glaze. The short rib was tender, but tasted like salt more than anything. Now to the "lounge"... we were told the lounge was located on the second floor. When we walked up, all we saw was a bar with a worker sitting there working (not making drinks). This lounge seems to be a small space that can be rented out for private events. Overall, not impressed. I don't have reason to go back read more

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I was really looking forward to dining at Lennon's based on its reputation and beautiful atmosphere. The restaurant has a great aesthetic, and the staff was friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout the visit. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to the experience. While everything was presented nicely, the flavors were somewhat lackluster and didn't leave a lasting impression. Nothing was necessarily bad, but for the price point and overall ambiance, I expected a bit more from the menu. The service and atmosphere make this a pleasant place to visit, but I hope the food becomes more memorable in the future. I'd be willing to give it another try based on the excellent hospitality and inviting setting. read more

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I attended my reunion of medical residents this past weekend. The culminating event was dinner at the rooftop of Lennon's. This place was the perfect venue to serve as host. The wine and beer choices were extensive. Service was very attentive. The ambiance was classy but relaxed. Dinner was a set menu that was excellent. I am not sure of the proper names of the dishes but they were all superb. There was roast chicken in pea sauce that was savory. I believe there was branzino fish that was cooked perfect with crisp skin in sauce. Best of all, the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare with good charring. Thank you Lennon's! read more

Lennon's - Rooftop dining - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

I've been waiting to write a review after my first few visits because I wanted to give Lennons a fair chance and really see what the place had to offer. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and I genuinely wanted to see it succeed. But after multiple visits, I have to say that I'm extremely disappointed. There have been previous comments about the owner's attitude and level of involvement, and after experiencing the restaurant myself, I can understand where those concerns come from. From what I've personally observed, there seems to be much more emphasis on pouring shots, comping meals, and socializing than on actually making sure guests are receiving good service and that the staff is properly supported. The staff should know the menu and wine list, but that doesn't always seem to be a priority. I've also personally witnessed, on more than one occasion, alcohol being served without IDs being checked. Regardless of the circumstances, checking IDs should be standard practice and taken seriously. There have also been situations where staff seemed more focused on their friends and drinking than taking care of guests. Hearing employees discuss their paychecks was also concerning, especially when the restaurant often appears to be understaffed. I obviously don't know the circumstances behind that, but it does make me question whether staffing and employee concerns are being properly addressed. It's honestly frustrating because Lennons is a beautiful space with so much potential. I gave it multiple chances before saying anything because I wanted to see what the restaurant was really about. Unfortunately, the pattern of poor service, questionable management decisions, lack of professionalism, and what appears to be a lack of concern for both guests and staff is hard to ignore. The way it's being managed is seriously concerning. What a shame, because this place could be so much better. It seems like it's all just experimental and you can tell this is going downhill. read more

Stopped by for Happy Hour (Wed-Fri, 3-5) and the place has a cool, upscale downtown Naperville vibe. They seem to always have something going on every other Friday is comedy or live jazz, and this Wednesday they had Mahjong night. I tried the steak tacos. They looking better than they tasted. The steak was pretty chewy, and the tacos just didn't quite work for me. Since Happy Hour is still new, I'm willing to chalk it up to that. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu because the atmosphere is worth it. Hopefully the food is a little more dialed in next time. read more

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Very disappointed in this restaurant that looks upscale, trendy and fun. Service was extremely slow for not being crowded at dinner, and our server was not attentive and quite rude. We asked about my friend's drink order and the server replied "You'll get your drink when the bar makes it. I can't make it." The food lacked flavor. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer, steak bites, lobster roll, fried chicken, octopus. Some items were burnt, dry, or too salty. The fried chicken took over an hour to make! We will not be returning. Not worth the money. read more

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I discovered this restaurant via Yelp, and had the chance to check it out. The good: Server Nick was excellent. He took his time explaining the menu. He checked in on us frequently. Menu: I like the small plates concept. We split 3 small plates and 1 burger. Ambiance/decor was cute. Burger was tasty. Mac n cheese was tasty The ok Ricotta and bread Meatballs - were little cold when served The fries served with burger were strange. They had no depth/texture to them. The room for improvement Drinks from the bar. They had a couple listed on their menu. My husband ordered 2 standard cocktails and they were not good. I think it is a bartender training issue. She had her phone out to learn recipes. I got a strange vibe from other employees/management. So my over all thought is to give Lennon's a 3. If it was just based on my service from Nick, they would get a 5. Other parts of my experience are what brings my score down. read more

Some of the food was excellent, the deviled eggs and flatbread were great, the burger was decent as was the tuna tower. The service was extremely inconsistent, our server was friendly and nice but would disappear for long periods, not really checking in with us. Drinks were not received until 45 minutes after ordering. When asked if the flatbread had lamb, he wasn't sure, didn't offer to check with the kitchen and replied "oh I'm sure it's beef", it was not beef, it was lamb. We had items missing, food was very inconsistent. I named the good dishes above but dry/under seasoned steak kabobs, rubbery shrimp. Everything came out late, asked for brisket on the side for the burger, it was never delivered and the server never checked or asked. Ended the meal with a half hearted apology but not reflected in the bill. It was overall a pretty disappointing experience. read more

I am glad it's here, open and in a great space (the old Craftsmen). I am interested to see how the event space on the second floor is when it opens, along w the top floor (steak house?) as that is a great (small) patio. But, everything that ha been in the building has struggled. Service - fabulous, friendly and fast. Atmosphere- we sat on the sidewalk and it was great. Love the plantings, but the DJ just isn't my thing. Food - good. Int to see how "tapas" does here w Maison S a few min away. This isn't traditional tapas - my guest lives in Madrid and was surprised they called it tapas. Burger was very good, but small, especially for $22. We loved the steak bites and burrata. $40 marg was delicious, but that is Chicago club pricing (I think - it's been a long time). We had a great evening, loved the service and food was good. I hope they continue to evolve and be successful over the long winter read more

Lennon's - Dinner and drinks for 3 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

We stopped in for drinks while we were bouncing around downtown Naperville, and stopped in to see what came of the old Craftsman - MAN I miss that little rooftop patio! Anyway, I am glad we stopped! The look and decor of the place is lovely, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We sat at the bar, as we came for a drink, and did not order food but did peruse the menu for the future - we will definitely return, and I will update later! The menu was interesting and inventive, looking forward to trying a few things. read more

Lennon's serves tapas and craft cocktails in an aesthetically pleasing space. The second floor of this three-story restaurant has live entertainment and the top floor is slated to be a steakhouse. Sarah took care of us and was fabulous, friendly and engaging. She was always checking on us. My husband ordered an old-fashioned and I went with Sarah's suggestion, the Cloud Cover. Pisco, spiced pineapple, lemon juice and egg white - delightful. We shared four small plates for dinner starting with a beautiful gem salad. Watercress with blue cheese, snap peas, apple slices, cranberries dressed with a sherry vinaigrette. My only complaint was the salad was overdressed. Of course when I see deviled eggs on a menu, it's a must. The BLT deviled eggs didn't disappoint with its smokey bacon. The next small plate we shared was the charred Spanish octopus with gigante beans and red chili aïoli. The octopus was tender and charred perfectly. Last up, the beef tenderloin steak bites skewered with mushrooms with a chimichurri sauce and fried leeks. There were only two small steak bites on each of the three skewers, a very small portion. Definitely not worth $24 for the amount of steak that probably amounted to 2-3 ounces. However, the steak was tender and flavorful, but the star of the show actually was the fried leeks. Just give me a plate of those. We ended our dining experience sharing a dessert, the granny smith tarte tatin. A nice ending to our meal. I hope to go back to experience Lennon's brunch on a weekend, also an evening listening to live music on the second floor with one of their craft cocktails in hand. I hope this restaurant succeeds because everything from the decor to the friendly staff to the delicious food and creative cocktails was fantastic. read more

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Went in for brunch on Saturday. The ambiance is very nice. There wasn't that many people there. It took a while to get a coffee, and the food. The soft scramble wasn't soft, was cold and just ok, I added lox and had a small piece of salmon, the potatoes were also small portion. The blueberry lemon pancakes were yummy. read more

I'm a local resident, and went to Lennons for the first time on Saturday August 29tb. My boyfriend and I went to watch the magic show and Elvis impersonator . It was wonderful... so much fun. Also , the food was incredible, and atmosphere was so pretty. I had the salmon, and it was superb. I must also mention the service! Great!! We will be back , and so glad to have this local establishment! Thank you! read more

Food, service, and ambiance were all extremely disappointing. Way too overpriced for cheap ikea furniture and meals- actually, ikea's food is better. Ear grating JBL speaker tries its best to project the worst music you have possibly heard throughout the restaurant. Boyfriend and I were sat in the worst seat of the house on a shaky tiny high top right along the stairs. We had planned to spend most of the evening having dinner and drinks and spending a pretty penny for our anniversary. I even looked past not even being greeted with menus for almost 10 minutes (as a bartender/server myself I completely understand being busy on a Friday night, but I watched our server have only two other tables in their section with food runners/managers running around). Unfortunately, I longingly watched our first (and only) round of drinks sit in the well for 15 minutes, and had to remind the server after our food came out that we were waiting for them (again, I am usually so understanding when I am the one sitting at a restaurant for once, but I watched him walk out of BOH looking bored and puttering around- a good way to piss me off and make me go out of my way to actually write a yelp review is to keep me waiting for a drink, especially the initial cocktail). This 45 minute ordeal of poor service, underwhelming try hard food, and unsavory atmosphere led us to promptly closing the check and going to the George for a fabulous rest of our night! read more

Place is terrible for food. Calamari was very chewy and hard to eat. Portion sizes are way too small. Giving two stars because the drinks are decent. read more

Loved the service, trendy vibe, amazing new spot in downtown Naperville. Live entertainment on the second floor and steak house coming soon on the third floor. The owner was extremely kind and approachable. read more

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New restaurant in downtown Naperville? Have to try it! Walked in and appreciated the warm, nicely decorated atmosphere. Meeting a friend, I enjoy the concept of tapas, small plates, so we can try more dishes. Cherokee, our waitress, was friendly and helpful with suggestions. We split three small plates. I wanted to enjoy the meatballs more than I did (this was not her recommendation but I wanted to try it). The description sounds like it will be super flavorful but I feel it fell flat, lacking. The salmon was tasty and the penne was super tasty with loads of flavor. 2 out of 3 were good. read more

A MUST go! The manager, Yara, is AMAZING and made our experience unforgettable. She gave us a tour of the place and every floor is beautiful. The food was so good and I can't wait to go back and try more! read more

My friends and I dined at Lennon's last night and the experience was sub par. It took 20 mins for a waiter to come to our table, another 20 mins to get our drinks. We had to ask for water multiple times. It appeared that they were understaffed so we were trying to remain patient. The nail in the coffin occurred when my friend bit into her steak taco and right into a large piece of bone. We let the server know and he didn't seem overly concerned, even asked "what type of bone is it?" The tacos were removed from our bill but we never got a visit from a manager. I'm unlikely to return. On a positive note, the drinks we ordered were very good. read more

This is a perfect example of why you should try new restuarants. Ambiance is sophisticatedly serene, the food was delicious and the staff enhanced the experience. It has 3 floors (2 open) and each floor has its own menu and atmosphere. I can't wait until the 3rd floor launches with outside deck and music. Truly unique evening! Thank you Lennon's, see you soon! Bill & Lynnette read more

Ordered the spiced lamb balls and beef tenderloin bites. Great food. Nice wines by the glass also.

Service and Management issues...... We had dinner at Lennon's Saturday night (March Madness weekend). When we arrived at 6PM, we were the only customers in the restaurant. (found that very odd). The food was very good but the service experience was very disappointing. Ordered the Fried chicken dinner (which takes 25 minutes to make). After about 25-30 minutes, the other dinner meals were being served BUT no chicken dinner. When we inquired with our waiter, the response was another 15 minutes. After 30 minutes later we finally got the meal. Unfortunately, the other dishes which arrived 45 minutes earlier were now cold. An hour to make a chicken dinner with a restaurant that was not busy. We complained to the Manager about our experience and NO apologies and was very apathetic to our dining experience.. An unforgettable dining experience. read more

Super friendly and welcoming staff. Oren has been nothing but accommodating and friendly! live Dj's playing commercial hits and crowd favorites. Upscale yet welcoming decor. The food is amazing as well. If you haven't stopped by, make sure to check out Napervilles newest hot spot! read more

Lennon's - The Lennon's Big Burger is amazing, highly recommend Adding the fried egg is a must! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

The service is terrible. The food was also very disappointing. My wife and I had the Octopus. It was a very small portion served with beans. The Octopus itself was not very good. The steak bits were overcooked and served on a plate with enough oil change the oil in my car. We then went upstairs and enjoyed the music of Shawn Kumar, who was the best thing about the entire evening. Even upstairs, getting a drink was nearly impossible. The had no servers in the area. People had to go and get their own drinks. I don't understand why they would bring in a great music band and not have anyone to serve the people who came out to enjoy the music. It's a shame because the place looks great and has great potential. But, potential and looks don't mean anything if the food and the service doesn't improve. ​ read more

Great selection of shareable small plates. Very good service at the table. We will be back.

Food was amazing! The service was also very very good. The restaurant itself was very clean and a beautiful space! Jose was our server and he was awesome. read more

I loved my experience at Lennon's. The drinks and food was great. The atmosphere was fantastic. Jose Diaz was a great service. The food came out very quickly. read more

Second time coming to this restaurant. The calamari is great and the braised short rib is 10/10. The ambiance is great and there is no long wait for the food. read more

Wow. We arrived shortly before it opened so when they asked us to wait until 4:00 pm, it was understandable. When we came back at 4, we were told they were setting up for an event and asked us to wait another half hour but offered to seat us outside. One of our party was not too happy about it but we stayed because they told us they could seat us inside in 10 minutes. They actually were back in 5 minutes and told us they could seat us inside. We were then led past a number of desirable empty tables to the ONLY table in the place where the sun was shining directly into the eyes of 2 of the 4 diners. We took this as an intentional slight, and left feeling quite insulted But all's well that ends well. We ate at Francesca's, a few doors down, and the food (and the service) were amazing. read more

INCREDIBLE food. They have interesting mocktails (not on the menu, but just ask!). The salmon was in the most delicious sauce I've ever had. The mezze plates were nicely portioned. The steak was tender and melts in your mouth. Everything was quick and the ambiance is really swanky. Really excited to come back for date night! (Doesn't look super kid friendly) read more

Attractive menu that unfortunately left a lot to be desired. The focaccia was the highlight, the fried chicken was bland and dry. The mac & cheese was pathetic. Naperville is in desperate need of a high quality non corporate owned spot. This did not impress. read more

Hard to know where to begin... the bugs, the bad sewer smell, the bad food, or the terrible seating and service. Shared 5 small (extremely small portion) plates. Lamb meatballs -bad, Salmon - yuck fishy, tiny tenderloin skewers with less than an ounce of meat, octopus served with pinto beans What?! , .... Nothing tasted good. Served wrong vintage bottle of wine, had a reservation for 5 and sat at a table for 4 with many open larger tables. $$$$$ cost and the waitress was dismissive. Won't ever go back. read more

Girls' night at Lennons in Naperville did not disappoint! The food was next-level especially the goat cheese & arrabbiata (obsessed ) and those bourbon cocktails? 10/10, no notes. The vibe was super luxe, the DJ was vibin', and our waiter was honestly the best so accommodating! Only downside? It was freezing inside but other than that, it was giving everything it needed to give. We'll definitely be back! read more

Lennon's - Baked fresh goat's milk cheese with spicy arrabbiata and crisp focaccia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Absolutely recommend Lennon's! Amazing vibe, loved the city kinda music. We had tapas and everything was delicious. We were so full so did not order big plates. Next time! Drinks were top notch. We met Jeremy the owner, who was absolutely fantastic and since we had birthday girl at our table he offered us drinks and a treat. Definitely go to check it out, its a nice additiin to Naperville down town. Cool place! read more

Great service. Very Friendly. Food was excellent. Well prepared. Even the food that wasn't quite to my taste was still excellent. I could have eaten a dozen of the deviled eggs. The steak bites are excellent. The Salmon was absolutely delicious. And the Little gem Salad was fabulous. The little one loved the Mac and cheese with bacon. Only oddity is most of the tables and chairs are very tall. Great food, great value, great atmosphere. read more

This was a solid place with kind and prompt staff. Cozy atmosphere and fun drinks. The manager overheard us talking and brought us a special treat to take home which was very thoughtful. read more

Food was decent, cocktails a bit disappointing. Ambiance was very nice but music was awful and way too loud. Classier music or at least softer is preferred. Don't need to be listening to "wake me up before you go-go" at a nice place. read more

Went in right before closing to get a drink and some food, but they closed the kitchen 10 minutes earlier. They let us sit there past closing and allowed us to order anyway. We ordered the Lennon's Big Burger which did not come out rushed or any less. It was one of the best burgers I've had in the suburbs and I wish I took a picture. The cherry on top was that they didn't charge us for food. The owner was extremely kind and welcoming. read more

What a great experience! Great food, service, ambiance, & music (had an awesome DJ)! Deviled eggs, lamb meatballs and fried chicken were some of our faves. Owner even came to ask how everything was and took action when there was a minor hiccup. Will definitely be back and can't wait for their third floor to open this year! read more