(4.25) ~ Very good overall food & service…read more DRINKS: ** Pinot Noir (De Bon) = (4.35) Very good ** Doppio Espresso = (4.25) Very good, comes w. rock candy;) ** Water (tap) = (4) very good FOOD: ** Prosciutto E Rucola (white pizza) = (4.35) Very good ** Sausage & Peppers = (4.25) Very tasty & shareable ** Bufalino D.O.P. = (4.25) Very good ** Cookie Dough Gelato = (4.25) Very tasty

My husband and I finally had a chance to visit Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Northbrook for a…read morecasual dinner. When we arrived around 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, the restaurant wasn't busy, so we could pretty much choose any table we wanted. We waited about 10 minutes for our server, Mike, who provided very nice and attentive service. I ordered an iced tea ($3) and a Salsiccia Rossa Pizza (it was $18.95 when we visited, but is now $19.95 on their website). It came topped with house-made sausage, roasted peppers, caramelized onion, fresh mozzarella, basil, chili, and olive oil. The pizza came out very quickly, so we were surprised that it was rather cold. Mike told us that their pizzas were meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, and I could see why. The center was extremely thin and soggy, making it difficult to pick up a slice with my hands. I've had Neapolitan-style pizza before, but this one was a bit extreme. Some parts of the crust were burnt, too, leaving less of the pizza to enjoy. I'm not a big eater, so, I still shared some slices with my husband. The good news is that the pizza tasted pretty good. My husband ordered a glass of Chardonnay ($12) and the Trota Iridea ($30.95), which came with rainbow trout, sautéed spinach, roasted tomato, and salmoriglio sauce. He wanted to share the dish with me, so I tried a bite of the fish. It was tasty, with nicely crispy edges. If I return to Napolita, I'll probably skip the pizza and try some of the other dishes instead. A 3% hospitality charge was added to the bill. The policy was clearly disclosed, and the charge can be removed upon request. We chose to leave it. After dinner, we took a look at the patio in the back. I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was, especially since part of it was covered. There was a live singer, and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. It looks like a lovely place to dine when the weather is nice. Overall, we had a pleasant experience, although the pizza was a disappointment. I'd consider returning to try other dishes and enjoy the patio. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Title: A True Italian Hole in the Wall -- One of the Best I've Ever Experienced!…read more Francesco's Hole in the Wall in Northbrook, Illinois, on Skokie Boulevard may just be the finest Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at! This is a genuine Italian hole-in-the-wall experience. Small, tightly packed, full of character, and absolutely bursting with atmosphere. The walls tell stories of notable actors, sports champions, and generations of locals who have discovered this little treasure. I ordered something that wasn't even on the menu -- veal parmigiana with pasta. Now that's my kind of Italian restaurant! The veal was tender, succulent, fresh, and beautifully prepared. Every bite was a pleasure. I also enjoyed their signature Hole in the Wall Salad, a wonderful addition to an already outstanding meal. Served steaming hot and it came out quickly. Our server was amazing she truly enhanced my experience. Oh and the butter cake is perfect. And here's the icing on the cake: I even got my picture taken with the legendary Francesca "Frank" Gallo! What a character and what a memorable evening! I travel to the Chicago area regularly on business as a professional actor, and you can bet I'll be back. Add Francesco's Hole in the Wall to your must-stop-and-eat list when visiting Chicago. This is Italian dining with personality, tradition, and outstanding food. Five stars!

I traveled a long way from California once a year to eat at this restaurant the food,wine , and…read moreservers are awesome !! Thank you all for filling my belly with some of the best Italian food I have eaten. Hats off to the mangers, who actually come to your table and share in your experiences ! This place is above the rest ! Delicious 1/2 chicken and lemon sauce with salad and bruschetta Wine and desserts were awesome

Ready on time. Friendly. Pizza was delicious. Perfectly…read morethin crust - firm, good texture to the bite, tomato sauce great (not too sweet or heavy), plenty of sausage and right amount of stretchy cheese. Especially, not greasy on the top surface.

We were not disappointed with our first order from Vinny's! We ordered the xl pepperoni and sausage…read morepizza... loved the thin crust! Looking forward to trying the other items on the menu next time!

Wife and I went here for dinner on Saturday night. Although it was very busy, service was great and…read morefood was fantastic. My wife had the squash ravioli on special and we both thought this was one of the BEST pastas we have tasted out at any restaurant. My wife is Italian and we regularly make pasta at home. This was sooooo good. I had the chicken Vesuvio. Was so moist and delicious. We will definitely be back. Kudos the colorful manager. Made our night the best out.

First off the service here is unbelievable. Every single person who we interacted with was super…read moreprofessional, helpful, and friendly. This is an amazing team. The food is authentic, and we should know, because we just returned from a trip to Italy and the menu seemed the exact same. The sausage and peppers app is not to be missed. The dining room has tributes to Rome and is well lit and comfortable. Overall a really great experience.

The entrees ordered were all prepared excellently, the four of us had two entree salads, a burger…read moreand the very well executed Friday Fish & Chips. The food came quickly and was as described. The server was attentive and efficient and the order came quickly. The restaurant was clean and nicely appointed. The background music wasn't too loud and didn't drown out the conversations at the table. It was an enjoyable experience for all in our group. We'll be back in the future. Heartily Recommended!!

Our group of 8 had an excellent dining experience @ Oak at the Glen. Brussels Sprouts for an…read moreappetizer, delicious wine spirits, chicken, burgers , the short rib all very good. A special shout out to Sylvia who was a server with energy, attentiveness, care , and a glowing personality! It may have been the first time for some of our group, but it will not be our last. Rich, keep on doing what you're doing, you got the formula for success! L. Feldman Vernon Hills, IL.

Great gyros. Order extra tzatziki and onions!…read more Great gyros. Order extra tzatziki and onions! Great gyros. Order extra tzatziki and onions!

I've been frequenting a Dengeo's since they first opened up in the early 70s in Skokie…read more They have evolved greatly over the years and have never disappointed. I'm a fan of the Philly Beef, my wife likes all the salads and my daughter is crazy about the Chicken Caesar Pita. The service is good, orders are served up quickly and the dining area is kept clean. A good value for your money.

We were pointed here by my daughter and her family as this is their current favorite restaurant…read more Well, she didn't let our party of 4 down, and we had a delicious, delightful Saturday night dinner here. I'm going to go with 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for our outing. Everything we ordered was delicious and top quality and the portion sizes were generous for their reasonable prices. Maria was our friendly and capable server. I made a reservation for 6:15pm, and it was needed as they are popular and their smallish space was at capacity. The patio was open out front, but it was a humid night and al fresco dining was not a desirable option by anyone. My only knock and the 1/2 star deduct is for their tight quarters. The tables are small and tightly packed, both in the smallish dining room, as well as on their patio. There is a cozy mom-and-pop vibe here, but it's honestly not the most comfortable dining, but at least tonight we had a corner table for a little more personal air space. It also got a bit loud. We had 2 appetizers and 3 entrees, and we had to have the appetizers first and with plates removed before there was enough space for the entrees. Dining for a party of 2 would be more comfortable at least, and I wouldn't hesitate to return for their great food and good value. For food and drink, we shared family style: - calamari fritte appetizer, $17 - crostini portobello appetizer, $13 - farfelle con salmone, $30 - vitella piccata, $32 - fettuccine con frutti di mare, $30 Complimentary warm French bread was provided. I also had a couple of Revolution Anti-Hero IPA's ($6 each). There is a 3% credit card fee fyi. There is also free public parking for local businesses right across Shermer Rd at the train station lot. Overall, a highly recommended, delicious, and quaint Italian restaurant and as mentioned I wouldn't hesitate to return!

I love this restaurant. The food is fantastic. This is my favorite place to take my wife to…read moredine. It's feels romantic every time I've dined here. The bread is amazing. The calamari is tasty. Have had fried and grilled. My favorite dish is the vodka penne with crumbled sausage. Great deserts. My wife always finds a good wine. This place is an absolute GEM. Bravissimo!!!!

WOW! The pizza here is delicious and the ambience is so cozy…read more You order at the counter here but there is plenty of booth and table sit-down seating. The decor is so cozy, it reminds me of my grandmas house in here haha, I love it. My partner and I split a pizza and it was plenty of food for the both of us. I also got a diet root beer , which is typically pretty hard to find so I loved that. We only waited maybe 10-15 mins for our order. Definitely recommend checking this place out!!

We went to Barnaby's around noon on a Friday and it was fairly busy. Our first surprise was that…read morethere is no table service. I ordered and paid for two small pizzas at the counter, and learned I had to go to bar for drinks. The same cashier came over to take my drink order, where I paid separately. In about 15 minutes, our pizzas were ready at the counter: One with only cheese, and the other with sausage. We immediately noticed the ruffled-edge crust, which looked more like a pie for dessert. We both took a bite of each pizza, and immediately disliked the cornmeal crust. It tasted to me like it was made from Jiffy corn muffin mix, with a cardboard-like hardness. My wife disliked it so much she barely ate one small piece of pizza. I liked their cheese and sauce, and especially liked the sausage. I managed to eat two pieces thinking I'll give it a chance, but hated that crust so much I couldn't eat a third piece. There are plenty of other items on their menu other than pizza, which are the only things we will consider for any future visit. The dining room is large with a dark, traditional wood decor. Parking is free in their own lot. Having no table service, other than cleaning tables, logically results in a tip and cost savings. Now that I know this is how Barnaby's operates, I am not down-voting them based on service.

Went last night to Merlo's in Glencoe in late dinner with my son after the playoffs. We were…read moretraveling from out of town and took a chance on Merlo's especially since it appeared to be open on the later side. I made a reservation online for its latest slot and we arrived about 7 minutes early. I could see only 4 other tables seated who looked like they were almost done with their meals but we were greeted in a friendly way at the door with"we were waiting for you" and our reservation honor. We were shown to a window table with was half booth and in a corner which I love. The rest of the atmosphere inside had dark wood chairs and tablecloth & paper cloth coverings and in the back medium-sized bar-- think old-southern euro-chic. I was told they had the TVs on with the game earlier in the evening but by the time we came, they were not only off, I could barely see the TVs. It was perfectly calm and quiet in the place but I know from the lack of reservation times that it had been hopping beforehand. The waiter Ryan was great --Just enough attention without being bothersome and no attitude when asking questions. I especially liked that there was no sense of running us out of there as I learned the kitchen was closing soon. We ordered Orecchiette pasta dish with Italian sausage and Milanese chicken with the arugula salad and Tiramisu and Chocolate cake w vanilla gelato for dessert and both of us agreed everything was scrumptiously delicious. Good selection on wine. I even had the option of a sweet wine which is rare to have. I see there are reviews about it being too loud but I think it might be best to go when there are less crowds, like later in the night or off evenings because the experience was very, very nice. I would recommend highly.

We came for the first time on a Wednesday evening. We sat outside because the weather was decent,…read morethe only issue was the cars are parked so close to the tables, that if someone has just pulled into the parking spot, the heat emanates from their car right onto your chair. Wish the tables were a little bit further away, or maybe along the wall, anyway, that was probably the only issue with the tables outside. The menu is extensive, with a wide variety of dishes. My better half got the pork chop, which was pounded thin yet still on the bone. It had a very nicely seasoned breading with lots of garlic and a few herbs. It also had three or four fresh cayenne peppers, which were sautéed with a butter type sauce and poured over the pork chop. It was nicely spicy with very good flavor. My entrée was the chicken Milanese, which was virtually identical in preparation as the pork chop, except obviously no bone, and no peppers or spicy butter sauce and was served with an arugula salad, which was delicious. Our two table mates got salads, one with grilled chicken, which was nice and warm and the other with shrimp. We also shared an order of the sautéed broccoli. It was amazing! It had nicely crisped and toasted garlic pieces, some lemon and olive oil. It was one of the most delicious broccoli side dishes I've had at a restaurant. Even though I took a pass on dessert, they ordered the cannoli which came two to an order. Am going to have to say that the cannoli shell itself was not very good. I tasted a tiny piece of it, and it seemed to have a little stale/refrigerator flavor and was not crisp or fresh tasting. That was the least favorite part of the meal. Everything else was delicious. Service was solid and there were a decent variety of wines by the glass available. We will definitely return to try other dishes that sounded great!

It had been a long time since I last visited Jet's, and I have to say, it's really stepped up. I…read moreordered the plain cheese lunch special along with the Jet's breadsticks, and the quality for the price and portion size was impressive. The manager recommended that I try their ranch, and I'm glad I did, hands down, this is my favorite ranch I've had at any Jet's location. Service was excellent. The manager was friendly, knowledgeable, and honest about the menu, giving solid recommendations on what's worth ordering. The ambiance also stood out, it has that classic, old-school '90s pizza shop vibe, which I really enjoyed. If you're on the fence, give Jet's a try for the lunch special, and don't skip the ranch sauce.

if you're looking at picking up during a football game like the Super Bowl or any big event, be…read moremindful that the parking lot is extremely small. Outside of that the service is fast. People are nice quality of the food that comes to you is pretty consistent and it is fairly similar to all the other jet's pizzas around pure takeout.