Shame on me for never coming here when I lived in Rockford. I met the owner at an event elsewhere and came by to say hi while in town. The atmosphere is great and the food and service are wonderful. They do a nice job. Don't be like me and leave town without trying this place out. read more

With as packed and busy as it was, I was expecting amazing food. What our table got was bland and overcooked steaks and bland and overcooked pasta. The freebies - the salad and bread were the most enjoyable parts along with our toasted cheese ravioli. We should have tried the pizza, I guess. Luckily Rockford has a gazillion dining options, so the next time we're in town, we'll know that the hour wait in a packed lobby is not worth the meal. read more

Lino's is a staple in Rockford. I don't think there is anyone who lives here that hasn't tried it. We eaten here for so many family occasions. Their food is delicious and their pizza is wonderful but my favorite thing is the special salad. It really is special!! The sausage and the dressing is so amazing. They really do appreciate your business too. There have been a couple times when they put the wrong toppings on our pizza but they always make sure you get what you ordered and let us keep the other pizza as well. Out of all the times Ive been there its only happened twice and they always make sure to compensate for the mistake. read more

Food was fresh and flavorful. We had the garlic cheese bread and a medium pepperoni and sausage pizza. Everything was so tasty!! And Kristi, our server, was nothing but smiles and laughs! We adored this place! Must try!!! read more

Just the salad alone makes me want to make the 40 min drive from Dekalb to satisfy my craving! Simply stated- this place has a charm to it and its service definitely makes the place that much better. It also helps that they have great daily specials all around $10-12 which gives you salad, an entree and dessert. You really can't find a better deal nowadays! While the lasagna that I ordered was not "the" best it was still pretty tasty. Judging from what everyone says, I will have to give the pizza a try the next time I'm in town! read more

It was our first time here. It was very beautiful and the ambiance made you feel like Italy. I went with my partner and our friend. We had a fantastic waitress named Tina. The food was delicious. I ordered half lasagna half spinach raviolis. It was alot of food for your money and very tasteful. We would definitely go back but when you go make sure you make a reservation. read more

I was going to visit a fiend in the hospital across the street when I found this gem of a place. I called to order a pizza for take out and had a special request to cut the pieces into 1' squares as I would be feeding the guy with 2 broken arms. The pizza was cut just the way I asked and actually made it taste great, like an appetizer size bites. I will have to remember that for the next time I order pizza and can avoid the hot cheese chin slap. In closing, great staff, great pizza, looking forward to dining in and trying other menu items. read more

My family has been going to this restaurant every since I was a little kid. We have celebrated countless birthday's, wedding's, anniversaries and other celebrations here. Not only do they know us by name but they treat every customer like family. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual but people also dress up for celebrations here. The food is phenomenal, I recommend any of their pasta dishes and their pizza is incredible. My family also does take out from here and they have a great weekend deal for pizza, salad and soda. No matter the occasion or the day, this is a great place to stop and enjoy great food and company! read more

Best pizza deal in town for price and quality. Get he special salad. Great other dishes, especially the Chicken Parm. They also do a fantastic job with banquets. Pretty big place with a lot of seating and old time charm. A Rockford staple for years. read more

Overall, I believe Lino's is overrated. The decor is absolutely beautiful and I would go back for the ambiance alone. The food was decent. I'm not a fan of thin crust and that's all they do. The pizza did have excellent flavor I just feel it is far from the best pizza in Rockford. When I do return I plan to try something other than the pizza. read more

Wow-this place is sure popular/busy most nights. I have two entirely different experiences with Lino's over several meals here, so I averaged the ratings to get the above. 1) Carryout pizza - decent pizza, somewhat messily cut/sloppy in appearance, but has a tasty crust with not much cheese; almost a bit of smokiness can be detected in the really dry crust. They use a great pizza oven like those seen at many pizza places, but better than those who just have the typical oven or chain-driven oven-I know of three of these specific ovens presently operating in Rockford pizza places, and two of the three sell generally decent pizzas - Lino's is one of these two. 2) Dine in - just awful food, generally, and surprisingly. Attentive/polite service, but crappy wine selections (i.e. "Chianti, Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonay, etc.--not bottled brands of these, but just listed as I typed them here one line above--would it hurt to actually stock some decent bottles of these wines instead of just selling a single house wine by variety?). The eggplant I ordered was probably out of a freezer of GFS, and the food of others in my dining group looked to be of similar shoddy quality--if I wanted "Olive Garden," I'd have parked my car a few blocks east of here. If the food was not from a GFS can or bag-or similar, it certainly tasted like it was. The pasta was just average, but on the overcooked and salty side. That said, their pizza is as tasty when served indoors as it is via carryout, and their "special salad" is probably one of the better items they make here, with decent lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, and a bit of crappy parmeasean cheese (not the good kind, but the grated kind like Kraft --and others-- sells in a can)--I had them not put sausage on the salad, but it normally comes with it. The interior is not beautiful in parts, and is really neato in others (gotta love the plaza/fountain just inside of the front door and the private booths, but dislike the more "communal" room farther back, near the bar area). Lino's also supports local public service workers (I've seen the owner comp firefighters' food for when they have been "on the clock," for example) and similar groups locally, and I truly respect them for doing so. I'm not sure if I'd advise getting food other than pizza or special salad from here, as it is somewhat underwhelming, especially for the place's longevity and reputation. That said, the pizza is certainly worth a taste, and the decent, perky, service from the plentiful staff is truly a high-point here, as is the somewhat addictive "special salad." read more

This place used to be good. However, the last two times I've been, the food has been comparable to mediocre frozen food. For a town like Rockford, with an abundance of Italian restaurants, you would think they could do better. The last time I went, ordered a steak (because the meal I had previously ordered the time before was similar to a frozen dinner). I thought- they really can't screw a steak up. So I ordered the steak medium rare, thinking it should at least show up medium. Instead it showed up well done, with no one at our table having ordered a steak to that temperature. It then took almost 20 minutes to get a new steak, even while the rest of my party was enjoying their meal. Unless forced to by nostalgic family members, we will not be returning. read more

Great place to eat! I don't know what it is about the cheese, but it is extra tasty! The crust is really good, the best I've had in Rockford. read more

The large pizza (16a) was delicious and the leftovers will make several great lunches.

The pizza is delicious, the crust just right, the sauce sublime. The special salad complements it wonderfully. For a change of pace, get the lasagna, it's to kill for. One of the best Italian places I've ever been to! read more

Was lucky enough to find Lino's on Yelp, while in town cheering on my daughters softball team recently. The order was a pick-up and when I arrived was determined it hadn't been processed and was told it would be about seven minutes. Stuff happens and I wasn't upset, in the meantime the bartender offered me a drink so I enjoyed a nice glass of red wine. Next, the owner came out and apologized for the mistake and told me I wouldn't be paying and that it was on them. I wasn't looking for a freebie and I like to support small business as they deserve a profit, when the pizza arrived piping hot a few minutes later the bartender said here you go and thank you. I replied they could buy me a glass of wine but that I was paying for the pizza, NOPE, they wouldn't have it and insisted on me not paying. I left the bartender a nice tip, but didn't pay for the pizza or the wine. The owner is a true gentleman and entrepreneur who understands how to take care of his customers which I commend, and which we just don't see much of anymore, as others are so worried about the bottom-line. I avoid chain restaurants every time possible and am always looking to enjoy the local flavor. I just wanted to say thank you so much for your gesture, and we really enjoyed the pizza and are looking forward to visiting again soon, even if we have to take a special trip to Rockford! The pizza, it was amazing!! Hand tossed Crust, semi sweet sauce very tasty, nice blend of cheeses, wonderful sausage, and all fresh ingredients, DELICIOUS!! The atmosphere was really neat also, old world Italian, a true classic and definitely a fun and enjoyable place to be. Admittedly I'm a bit of a pizza snob and pretty opinionated when it comes to this particular subject - The quality of this food is something you just don't find very often. Cannot wait to get back there to enjoy another one!! Thanks again, Yelp and Lino's!! read more

This is a phenomenal traditional Italian restaurant with a wonderful ambiance and excellent staff. We had started out looking for a spaghetti and meatballs dinner and had tried another so-called Italian place in town and was disappointed, so we came here instead. My boss ordered a non-menu meal of baked spaghetti with cheese bubbling over the pasta. The kitchen was happy to serve him what he wanted. I ordered the veal parm, and was very impressed with the crisp breading and flavorful sauce. Both of us also had the house special salad and were pleasantly surprised to find chunks of sausage in with the eggs and tomatoes. The meal was so good we came back tonight, bringing more co-workers with us. The hostess, Cindy, recognized us from last night and was able to find us a table on short notice. One of the owners, Jim, heard that we were here last night and came out on a very busy night to personally greet us and thank us for coming back. We tried a pizza for an appetizer and found the thin crust to be crisp and the toppings perfectly seasoned and fresh. I cannot imagine finding a better Italian restaurant! If only they were in Texas instead of Illinois...but rest assured that every time I come to or through Rockford, I will be back! read more

I tried their pizza because I am on a mission to try out all the pizza places around the city. Lino's has great pizza that is priced really well, tastes great and the dough is not overly done. My family loves their pizzas but I will try out the other menu items. I also like how the place has a dedicated take-out department that is efficient, clean and organized. However, what shines and gives me the top impression is the customer service and this keeps me coming back as a customer -bar none. read more

Its a very busy place. Its packed on Thursday nite at 6:30 PM. Food is a bit too salty. It very hard to get service due to overcrowd. One waitress handle more then 10 tables is a bit too much. However, when the waitress is extremely friendly when she check up on you. read more

This place has my vote for best Italian Food in Rockford. Very flavorful sugo (sauce). Ask for their"special Italian salad". Great food, friendly staff, fair prices and plenty of parking. What more can you ask for? read more

My in-laws invited us for Jazz night in the bar it was very nice good music and good food, I plan on going back on Thursday with my husband now! Lasagna, pizza and wine was tasty. read more

Came in for Mothers Day May 11, 2014 with my family and it was was the first time I've been there. I had high hopes because we couldn't find a parking spot for the longest time and there was a line out the door. Very nice inside, service was great and the chef even came out which was nice. Apparently our food took longer than usual which I didn't even notice and they apologized for they didn't have too all and they were all so nice! The food was amazing! We had the fried raviolis to start they were so goooooood! I split the lasagna and cheese raviolis with my fiancé and my kids have a little pizza all delicious! Definitely will be going back soon! Thank you Lino's! read more

Good food, decent deal- not the best food. Was not good enough to compensate for the poor service. There are too many other places in the area that can provide same quality or better with good service. read more

As an Italian, I feel I'm qualified to say this is the best Italian around. This is a family-run business that been around since the early 1970s. They use organic cheese, they have gluten free options, and make everything from scratch. Service is amazing and staff is always friendly. Go here, or you're missing out! Recently on Chicago's Best for a reason!! read more

Never Ever a bad experience .. & if anything does happen to go wrong as long as you speak to a manager right away, it will be made right plus some! Great local Italian restaurant! Highly recommend .. only down side I can think of is they don't offer delivery read more

If you like your pizza greasy, this is the place for you. Needless to say, there is far superior pizza to be had in Rockford. The entrees are standard Italian dishes which are made superbly however. Definitely call for reservations though. This seems to be the place everyone in town goes to on Fridays and Saturdays. read more

If you're in Rockford and you want pizza, go to Lino's!! I got the sausage and mushroom pizza and it was amazing. The pizza sauce they use is excellent. read more

My go to place for Lasagna! The recipe has not changed for as long as I can remember! Always friendly and great carry out too

Never had a bad meal at Lino's. Most of the time we do carry out, the pasta portions are huge, pizza is always hot and the best house salad in town. Service at the carry out desk is awesome. read more

I wish this was a chain like Red Lobster! I was always at Lino's when I lived in Rockford. Thank God I moved or I would've turned into a cow! The salad is the greatest salad EVER! Like Alli I loved the lasagna as well. I give them 2 thumbs and 2 big toes UP!! =D read more

The last time I was in town Lino's was recommended to us. I expected to be blown away after all of the great comments I had received. What I got was an experience I'm still trying to forget. I was not terribly hungry so I was looking at the small pasta offerings. There were a number of pastas with "sauce". I asked the server if there were choices of sauce and she said it there was just a tomato marinara sauce. I figured it would have to be good since it was the only sauce on the menu. The meal also included a salad, bread and dessert. Sounded like a good deal. The salad came out and it was basically a plate of iceberg lettuce with some sprinklings of carrot shavings. The lettuce was in large pieces and it was not very appetizing. Then the bread came out. Again, not very overwhelmed here. It was served to us in those red plastic baskets like you get at a fast food restaurant. The "bread" looked and tasted like a hot dog bun. Obviously not made in house. Terrible!! Then the entree came out and I was hoping they were going to redeem themselves, however I was served a plate of pasta with what tasted like canned tomato puree. There was no other flavor to it. I could not detect any garlic, parsley or any other seasonings. Oh my. At this point I was so angry with the meal that I didn't even want to ask what was for "dessert". In case you are wondering, "dessert" was ice cream. Not gelato, not tiramisu, just ice cream. Yelp won't let me give them 0 stars, but that's about how good the meal was. I'm heading back to Rockford this week and I'll have to pass Lino's every day. Every day I'm going just get angry when I pass by. Worst meal ever! read more

Love the atmosphere. It was really cool the way they made the inside look like outside. The food was good. It was a great value for the price. We got salad, bread, entree, and a nice scoop of ice cream. The waitress was super nice. I would come back great restaurant in Rockford. read more

Best Italian in town. They recently raise their prices but the food is still worth the money. Amazing owners who care about their clientele and want to make the meal right. Sad when I hear people take advantage of this and say they don't like their meal just to get a free one. Best lasagna and gnocchi in town. read more

Hands down one of THE BEST PIZZAS in the ENTIRE COUNTRY! I've had pizza across many places in the US but everytime I visit from NY, I must have their cheese and basil pizza. No other pizza place compares or comes close. Their fettuccine alfredo is mouth watering delicious too. You can never go wrong with any item off the menu. They use quality ingredients and the owner Jim is gracious, humble and personally comes out to enquire if the food is okay or if you need anything, and will personally thank you for comming in and treat you as if you are a guest in his home. He will also always correct any issues if any complaints are ever addressed by a guest . Amazing food great prices. One of the best consistent customer service experiences I've ever had! read more

Any time I'm back in Rockford I have to go to Lino's for the lasagne. It is the benchmark that I use to compare all others, and I have never found it to be equalled anywhere! I've been going there since the early 80's and have never been disappointed read more

I have never had a worse experience at a restaurant where I expected to have top of the line service. The Alfredo was lumpy and lacked the creamy quality I expected. The worst Alfredo I have ever had. I went to a top of the line restaurant and got subpar quality food and SERVICE. I even called and someone posing to be the owner claimed it was the status quo. I lost all faith in a restaurant I expected to be top notch. Shame on you PINOS!! I don't complain often but this experience was terrible. read more

Whenever I visit Rockford on work assignments, I always try to come here at least once, particularly on the evenings there is live musical entertainment in the lounge. Their bar could use some more selections of brown liquors, and am disappointed shrimp scampi is not on their menu. Otherwise, the food and service is very good. read more

I eat here about once a week and have never had a bad meal. The pizza is incredible but I love everything on the menu my personal favorite is pepperoni and green olives pizza.the chicken on Thursday is world famous. The service is five star also, I really don't know how they do it! It's nice to see a small family restaurant competing with the big chains and destroy them. Thanks linos for all the years of great food and service read more

actually pulled off state streets traffic jam due to construction cause the scent of a woman ...I mean a pizza seduced my olfactory system...my nose rates this place LEGALLY HIGH. read more

Lino's - linos vintage sign - Pizza Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

The lasagna is fantastic. Service was prompt and pleasant. I mentioned that I wasn't thrilled about the wine and the manager immediately came to the table to apologize and comped the drink.m (even though I said that wasn't necessary). Incredible experience and will be back. Destiny was our server and did a wonderful job! read more