Love this small chalkboard menu place! Great catering. Family owned! Incredible meatball sandwich!

Excellent food, great selection of dishes. Tiny little place with lots of character. Parking can be a challenge but worth the effort.

Great local bakery and food. Ambiance is awesome and the owner Gino makes you feel welcomed. Highwood has great food and if you're in this area, stop by, get some pastries and coffee. You won't regret it. read more

Maria's Bakery - Get it!!! - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Great food! Great service! The owner is personable and always there! I loved the Veal Limone.

I am so happy we stopped by to eat here. They have delicious homemade soups. The minestrone soup is vegetarian-based which is the only way that I can eat it and the flavor is delicious. The lentil soup is also awesome and flavorful. The paninis are made as they're supposed to be with fresh ingredients like mozzarella, pesto sauce, etc. their espresso is delicious! I will definitely stop by again soon, especially for the soup. read more

Once again we visited this local Sicilian restaurant and were again pleased. The egg plant parmesan was perfect. The server Natalie did very well. Gino the owner was incredible and the room was talking with each other. This is what I love about neighborhood restaurant no canned meals and standardized everything just really great everything. Bravo Gena great job. read more

The place is great it's got a sweet little cozy design in my opinion it's absolutely adorable and the service was great cause my family didn't come in to order food we came in because they also sell an assortment of sweets and my father was craving fig (they have fig cookies) and I believe we met the owner who was incredibly sweet (don't know if it was the owner 100%) but it was a sweet older man. I got a cake pop and my mother and father got a cookie box which is $20 a pound and you can put whatever cookies you want in your box! read more

Bakery goods are always delicious. Italian wedding cookies galore! The lemon ricotta cookies are to die for. Cannoli are fresh, delish. Every time I come to maria's, I always have an espresso and it always hits the spot. It's drawn from a very traditional espresso machine. Cooked meals, lunch or dinner, are always homemade, fresh, loaded with flavor and love. Parking is easy on the street or around the corner in the big parking lot. Customer service is so professional and polite and prompt. read more

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Little do folks know it's the best Sicilian food in the area! Look behind you while you're looking at the baked goods the real menu is on the wall. Getting the lasagna is a staple for the house now. read more

Maria's Bakery - Lasagna - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

The sweets were far from sweet. Genuinely not impressed. Everything seemed dry and tasteless. Can't speak for the savory portion of the menu. Maybe just an off day but definitely no good this day. read more

Absolutely delicious fresh food. Will definitely go there again. I had the eggplant lasagna and loved it. Was going to save 1/2 to take home but ended up cleaning my plate it was so good. read more

Everytime my wife and I walk around Highwood, we always pass Maria's Cafe. Recently, we decided to finally give it a shot for lunch. We tried their Gnocchi special and it was AMAZING! It melts in your mouth and is accompanied with a wonderful red sauce. They have an enormous variety of pastries that look scrumptious. We tried their cannolis and were so satisfied with how delicious the pistachio and chocolate cannolis turned out. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. There's not much seating, so if you're going to dine in, pick a good time to go during the day. read more

Maria's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Stopped in for some hot chocolate and dessert! They were closing but still accommodated us. Hot chocolate was great! Wish they had signs on the desserts because it was hard to know what was what. We got tiramisu, which was pretty good, though more cakey than most of the tiramisu I've had in the past. read more

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Best Italian in the areas. Great ambiance. Have been there several times. Never disappointed and the owner is always there and very gracious. read more

Cutest little spot with great food! Feels like eating in an authentic Italian bar. The bakery is delicious and the pasta is a chefs kiss!

Outstanding food. Every simgle dish us delicious and executed with such distinct flavor and nuance. Comfort good, but HI LEVEL FOOD.. its BOTH.. this place is outstanding read more

Cute family run restaurant and bakery. The food is very good I ordered the gnocchi delish, the bakery goods are yummy as well!! Super friendly Italian owners. I will def return! read more

While it is a bakery, it is so much more. Menu is terrific- I had Lasagna, my mom had the tomato basil soup and my wife had the lobster ravioli. All were great. It was my first, but not my last visit. read more

Great sandwiches, great Italian pastries, caring staff. Try the pignolis and the Italian subs.

This place is a true gem treasure. It's like going to your Italian Grandmother's home with all the delicious authentic home-cooked Italian food and amazing Italian cookies and desserts. A perfect place for having a treat with family or friends. read more

A quaint little place with wonder food. Good prices for the quality of food. I had spinach and mushrooms lasagna with a salad, or soup is a choice. I've been here many times, and a few of my lady friends went, and they loved it. read more

Really a hidden gem in Highwood. Maria's Bakery isn't only a bakery. It is one part bakery, one part coffee cafe and one part Italian restaurant. Personally, I think the Italian restaurant is the best part! This good authentic Italian cooking! None of this new age, molecular gastronomy here. Just good Italian food at a reasonable price. All of the classics are great. Best meatball sub in area! Most recently though, I had the Gino's eggplant special. It was a delicious lunch without any bread or pasta! Only problem with Maria's though is that they aren't open late enough for dinner. Yes, they are generally open to 8 but we have walked in as late as 7:15 and been refused service with the reason that the kitchen was already shut down. This has happened on at least two occasions and we have had to leave disappointed. They were none too apologetic about it either. read more

Maria's Bakery - Aranini - meat filled - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Wonderful place. Smells heavenly when you walk in. I got eggplant parm and lasagna to heat up at home. (I requested it cold). The minestrone soup also hit the spot. I ordered two different types of focaccia (one sausage and one veggie). To top it all off, I bought a box of their decadent cookies. The women who helped me was lovely. The food was amazing. This is a hidden gem. In non-covid times, I would have treated myself to a $1 espresso and stayed a while. read more

Try the Gino special, so good! All of the cookies were so delicious. Paninis great too. The owner was so friendly and service was great. read more

Maria's Bakery - Gino's special - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Nothing special about the food other then the prices. I had the $30 veal limone and it had no taste whatsoever. The serving of calamari was barely enough for one person and the kids pasta was just eh..... The whitefish tasted like tilapia For the prices I expected something to want more of. Many other places in the area that are better tasting and a better value. It's a cute place, but to charge the prices it is far over rated. Service was slow but I think they had a event going on. read more

I've had a hard time finding an Italian restaurant my grandpa would love after Sabatino's closed. Came here with my girlfriend on my way back to the city, and -- although not nearly the same value as Sabatino's -- this might be the replacement based on taste and atmosphere. Grilled calamari, bolognese and veal ravioli puttanesca were all delicious. I would definitely buy a canned version of the puttanesca sauce. Even the bread was wonderful -- which is one of the ways my grandparents always judge a restaurant. I'm not quite sold on the bakery; the cherry cake we tried was great, but the biscotti was a bit disappointing. Maybe I just need to try more Italian cookies. I will say our order was a bit messed up (ordered one soup one salad and ended up with two soups no salad), and the minestrone was a bit bland for my taste, but I absolutely loved this place and will venture back next time I'm up north. read more

I've had a long-time love affair with their baked goods--Christmas especially. A recent add-on experience for me is that they offer a gluten-free pasta that is actually good. This is important since my partner (thus I) only have this type of pasta when we eat at home. Bravo! read more

I love this place. Food: My buddy and I had cannoli's and Cappuccino's. Cannoli's were very good. The Cappuccino's were great and huge. We had already had lunch so eating a full meal was not an option at that point but I did see and smell what they had cooking for lunch. I will certainly go back just to try their lunch/ dinner menu items. Everything looked and smelled great. Service: Can it really get any better than this? Gino makes you feel like you are an old friend stepping into his house for a visit. I wish I could speak Italian. The young lady behind the counter was shy, very helpful and has a beautiful smile. Everyone made you feel like you belong here. Ambiance: This is a very small place and they pull it off well. I felt like I was eating in my best friends mothers kitchen. I wanted to stay longer. I could easily log a couple hours eating a casual meal while conversing with a friend over coffee and a desert. Overall: This is a winner. I need to try a full meal next time. read more

Maria's is a great place to catch a coffee and a pastry afternoon pick-me-up. They are expanding their menu and hours for dinner service. The items on the menu (mostly traditional Italian dishes) certainly look tempting. I promise to report back when we have tried dinner. Next time you are overheated- give Maria's Gelato a try! read more

Maria's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

You can always count on the best with Gino's and staff at Maria's Bakery! Quick fix that will remind you that you don't have to go to Italy for ambience and good food- my where to for espresso, Italian pastries especially Zepolli for St. Joseph's day!! You will not be disappointed! read more

Does not get any better than this. Lasagna is phenomenal. Meatballs are better than any you have had before. Bakery is as good as it gets. This place is like going back in time to when people really cared about the food they prepare. Tip Top read more

Ordered fried calamari to go. Took a long time. When I finally got them, they were cold and chewy. Couldn't eat them. I was charged $17.00. Won't go back. Won't recommend. read more

Wonderful authentic Italian dishes. They prepare catering dishes too! Try the vegetable lasagna. Fantastic! Friendly people. Small town charm. Stay for the buttery Italian cookies -- dozens of varieties to choose from! Delish! read more

Maria's bakery is many things. It is a bakery, an extremely small store, an espresso bar, and a legitimate restaurant. The place feels very European and quaint. I think there are only about 7 tables total in the whole restaurant, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a full menu. The menu is hand written and changes regularly. We have eaten here a few times now and can say that the food is consistently good across the menu. We have taken friends here and they liked it as well. The staff is eclectic and helpful, clearly very passionate about what they serve. I'm a fan! Parking is on the street and could be difficult on a busy day. I can also see this place easily filling up. The prices are fair, but not cheap. The quality of the food and was was worth it. read more

Maria's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Owner is UNAPOLOGETICALLY RUDE...he does not even deserve a star!! I called a couple of days before Thanksgiving to ask they are open for Thanksgiving...his answer was "Why would I? Tell me why would I? And trust me, it was his tone of voice; as if who opens on Thanksgiving? Well, as it turns out, plenty of places who are nicer to customers were open on Thanksgiving. Mr. owner, have you ever thought that maybe there are people in the area who do not have families to celebrate Thanksgiving with and they are looking for a place to go? I was dumbfounded upon hearing his response so I hung up and I thought, I was just disrespected. Today I called to address the issue and spoke to a lady who works there who is a retired nurse - she was nice and said there is only one guy here who answers the phone and it's the owner so I asked if I can speak to him. Mr. owner certainly remembered the conversation from early last week and unapologetically asked me if there was something wrong with what he said...you have got to be kidding me!! In case you forget, you are running a business; maybe you need to be a little cordial (or at least frickin fake it!) to the folks who patronize your place. Maybe it was my accent...I see how it goes. read more

Today I stopped in for some of Maria's lemon cookies. I got small and large (who knew they come in two sizes?!). Thus is an intimate experience, with about nine tables, a coffee bar, a million cookies. Romantic music plays but not too loud. The guests ranges from a regular who comes for breakfast and lunch daily, to a family of four getting lunch, to a young couple on a date,to a couple of folks having a business lunch. There were only three tables open when I came in, and a steady stream of folks stopping by for baked goods to go. I came at lunch on a weekday, for a quick stop for a slice of pizza to go and baked goods for some guests. I can understand why folks come regular here. It's a rare gem of a place. Feels like little Italy. Daiva took great care of me today and was warm and welcoming. The kitchen sounded busy and it seems to satisfy, because the guests just kept flowing in. read more

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Delicious and hot Italian food! Service and Atmosphere is like being with family. A extensive variety in bakery, coffee and house wine add an excellent touch to any meal. Everything with Gino's signature and his charming nature:) read more

Fabulous little gem of a place I found just driving through Highwood. The aroma's alone dragged me in. Walking in I saw a little older Italian man, who I later came to know as Gino, serving what seemed to be delicious pasta dishes of which they had listed as on specials boards. The looked and smelled delicious. He bakery selection all traditional loaded with cookies and pastries and no doubt homemade. I went for the minestrone soup served with grated Parmesan cheese and bread and the meatball sandwich which came highly recommended by a super friendly girl behind the counter who was also me server. No doubt the soup was some of the best I've had. Fresh and full of veggies and with a sprinkle of Parmesan very traditional. Excellent. The meatball sandwich was good and definitely homemade. The gardiniera was HOT I asked for it. I think likely house made. The service was really good and she seemed to know the menu and place really well which tells me she has been around a while. A definite plus to the bakery she is just sorry I didn't get her name. As I was paying Gino came by and introduced himself and chatted me up a bit. It was a great experience. The good is excellent, the decor excellent, the personal service approach, priceless! I'll be back! read more

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Stopped in for a pastry after a long walk at Fort Sheridan and ordered an apple bar and and eclair. For $10 I was really disappointed that both were clearly frozen and the eclair was not only frozen inside but rock hard (in a stale way) on the outside. I can't speak for the food, which did smell good, but there was only one employee upfront who was running around trying to handle 2 tables and 2 parties at the counter, and another gentleman who came up to the front without a mask on but didn't help anyone. The place was really crowded with tables and while only two were occupied you definitely couldn't maintain 6 feet. Overall I wouldn't come here again. read more

It's time that I updated my review for Maria's. I am somewhat hesitant to do so because the last thing I need is for this place to get any more popular. It is a nice hole in the wall; it can only handle so much. That said, I feel some sense of responsibility to share the wealth. This place is amazing. It is the kind of place I am always searching for on yelp. An authentic dining experience that puts real love and care into the food. My family dines here every Sunday for lunch; everyone loves Gino's cooking. The cookies are fine but that isn't what keeps us coming back. It's the bolognese, the meatballs, the minestrone , the arancini, the spaghetti al Norma... The list goes on. Gino doesn't miss, and I have ordered nearly everything on his menu. I think he makes the best meatballs on the north shore and sometimes I wake up craving his bolognese. The guys makes a mean cappuccino. Special thanks to Gino for adding a changing table to the restroom, making this place even more family-friendly. read more