Best Casual Restaurants in Wilmette

69 restaurants available nearby

1. 501 Local

4.6

Exceptional(231)

Price: Expensive

• Bistro • Winnetka

Booked 27 times today

501 Local is a locally owned and operated upscale casual American Bistro located in downtown Winnetka. The menu offers a combination of classic and contemporary dishes with a focus on seasonal ingredients and flavors. Our service is attentive and friendly. We are a perfect choice for catching up with an old friend over lunch, grabbing a drink with coworkers on our award-winning patio, or celebrating your occasion with family or a special someone. Make your visit to Winnetka unforgettable. Dine with us at 501 Local and add an extra layer of joy to your Home Alone pilgrimage just a half mile away!

2. EJ's Place

4.8

Exceptional(1737)

Price: Expensive

• American • Skokie

Booked 30 times today

Owner, EJ Lenzi, and managers bring over 100 years of combined restaurant experience to Chicago's North Shore. Teamed with a mature, experienced wait staff, and serving the finest food products available, EJ's Place has become the North Shore's premiere supper club. Established since 1997 and selected one of the Chicago Magazine's Best New Restaurants, EJ's menu consists of prime aged steaks and chops, pristine seafood, and traditional Italian specialties. EJ's Place serves only the best, from their family to yours.

A photo of Bar Siena - North Shore restaurant

3. Bar Siena - North Shore

4.2

Awesome(985)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Skokie

Booked 30 times today

Bar Siena expands to Chicago's North Shore suburbs with their most recent location at Old Orchard Mall. Located next to Nordstrom, the new restaurant boasts an 8,500-square-foot interior along with two expansive patios. Much like its West Loop sister spot, Bar Siena North Shore combines the quaint charm of trattorias in Siena, Italy, with the industrial aesthetic of Chicagoland. The restaurant, in collaboration with Top Chef Fabio Viviani, brings the flavor, flare, and energy of casual Italian-American dining to the Midwest. Whether you're joining us for brunch, lunch, pizza, or pasta, Bar Siena North Shore is perfect for birthdays, groups, romantic dinners, or a casual date. Enjoy cocktails, happy hour, dessert, and Italian food in a vibrant atmosphere, whether you're celebrating with friends at the bar or indulging in a cozy dining experience.

4. Tapas Barcelona

4.7

Exceptional(643)

Price: Moderate

• Tapas / Small Plates • Evanston

Booked 16 times today

Dine on traditional Spanish cuisine at Tapas Barcelona. Located 1615 Chicago Ave, north suburb of Evanston and just south of Northwestern University, this restaurant offers casual comfort and a friendly setting for dining out. Tapas Barcelona has various dishes on the menu, such as baked snails and pizza topped with spinach and goat cheese. It also serves seafood and vegetarian entrées. Tapas Barcelona has a full bar that offers guests various drinks, including Spanish selections of wine. Its atmosphere is ideal for meeting up with an old friend for lunch or having dinner with the family. This restaurant welcomes reservations and provides take-out services.

A photo of L. Woods Tap and Pine Lodge restaurant

5. L. Woods Tap and Pine Lodge

4.7

Exceptional(8129)

Price: Moderate

• American • Lincolnwood

Booked 96 times today

Experience the nostalgia of a Northwoods Supper Club at L.Woods Tap & Pine Lodge. The menu features American classics and barbecue specialties. Menu highlights include 12-Hour Smoked Prime Brisket, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, BBQ Ribs, and Wisconsin Fish Fry Friday.

6. Aboyer

4.7

Exceptional(593)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Winnetka

Booked 10 times today

Aboyer (ab-wah-yay), meaning, “to bark,” is a French-American brasserie as imagined by Chef Michael Lachowicz. Aboyer wakes up the senses with a sexy, energetic vibe. Refined French pub-grub served alongside craft cocktails & wine in the contemporary space exudes a nouveau-bistro style. Located in the heart of Chicago's North Shore, the menu features starters such as Potato & Truffle Soup, Charcuterie, and Rabbit & Sage Sausage to main courses including Coq au Vin, Cassoulet, Faroe Island Salmon and more. Reservations are recommended; walk-ins are welcome. Aboyer requires a credit card to secure all reservations. Please note that reservations cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled booking will incur a $25 per guest cancellation fee & no-shows will be billed at a rate of $50 per guest.For private dining email events@georgetroisgroup.comAboyer is conveniently located across from the Indian Hill Metra.

7. The Lawn

4.3

Awesome(259)

Price: Expensive

• American • Glenview

Booked 2 times today

Whether you’re grabbing a casual lunch with family on the patio, cocktails and snacks with friends in the redesigned cozy bar and lounge area or a having a special date night dinner in our hip modern dining room, The Lawn is the perfect North Shore gathering place for us all. Seven days a week, our neighborhood bar + grill takes pride in providing lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere with views of Wilmette Golf Club. Our menu has been curated to showcase local small businesses like Zier's Prime Meats, Burhops Seafood and Harrison's Poultry. We look forward to seeing you soon!

A photo of Roka Akor - Old Orchard restaurant

8. Roka Akor - Old Orchard

4.7

Exceptional(1606)

Price: Moderate

• Steakhouse • Skokie

Booked 19 times today

Roka Akor is a premier steakhouse serving the finest steak, seafood, and sushi. Renowned for our exquisite Japanese Wagyu and Certified Kobe Beef, we are part of an elite group of fewer than 40 restaurants in the U.S. — and 1 of only a few in Chicago — licensed to serve this coveted delicacy. All of our meats and vegetables are expertly grilled to perfection over an Open Flame Charcoal Robata Grill. Elevate your dining experience with our award-winning wine list, premium sake, craft cocktails, and an extensive selection of fine whiskey.

9. Spirit Elephant

4.8

Exceptional(1542)

Price: Moderate

• Vegan • Winnetka

Booked 27 times today

Award-winning, plant-based cuisine. We cater to food-lovers, not just vegans. Try one or our specialty craft cocktails (both alcoholic and zero-proof) and be sure to save room for our wildly tasty desserts. Our space has an urban, airy vibe and our expansive, beautiful bar is a great place to meet friends after work for happy hour. Feel like some air? Book your reservation on our cozy, elegant patio and add the outdoors as an enhancement to your experience. We specialize in events at our beautiful venue (indoors and out). Our goal is to give you a memorable experience every time. Come in and enjoy a meal while you do good for your health, the planet, and all its inhabitants. We hope you will eat plants, and feel beautiful.

10. Jimoto

4.6

Exceptional(92)

Price: Moderate

• Sushi • Winnetka

Booked 13 times today

Jimoto is a locally owned and operated upscale casual American Sushi Restaurant located in downtown Winnetka. "Jimoto" is a Japanese term that can be translated as "local" or "hometown." In Japanese culture, "jimoto" often signifies a deep-rooted loyalty and support for the community, as well as a recognition of the local traditions, customs, and values. We aim to capture that essence when you visit us for a date night or just to satisfy your sushi craving! Dine with us at jimoto and add an extra layer of joy to your Home Alone pilgrimage just a half mile away!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

R
Ramy
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
This is my favorite Bar Siena location. It is ideally located in the mall, so there is a lot of parking. The entire restaurant is spacious and comfortable. The food and drinks are wonderful. Tracy, who is one of the managers, made our group of four feel very welcome.
More info
Bar Siena - North ShorePrice: Expensive• Italian• Skokie
•
4.2
H
hpvip
Chicago / Illinois •17 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
Noel was excellent waiter. Made suggestions that we followed on our first ever visit. Butternut squash soup was delicious Smooth and creamy. Needed a tad more heat. Niçoise salad with rare ahi tuna asked not blackened was plentiful and very tasty. Substituted feta cheese. Their famous burger was justified. Carmelized onions and brioche bun
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501 LocalPrice: Expensive• Bistro• Winnetka
•
4.6
M
Michele
Seattle / Eastern Washington •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The food was amazing and the service great! Just packed and hard to hear.
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Tapas BarcelonaPrice: Moderate• Tapas / Small Plates• Evanston
•
4.7
L
Lisavip
Chicago / Illinois •22 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
EJ’s Place is our go to restaurant for a great meal and awesome service. They have something for everyone: awesome steak, fresh fish and their meat sauce in their spaghetti is top notch. The valet is complimentary so it’s easy to get in and out (although the guys are super friendly and deserve a decent gratuity too.). We highly recommend this place. You won’t be disappointed.
More info
EJ's PlacePrice: Expensive• American• Skokie
•
4.8
W
Wendy
Chicago / Illinois •11 reviews
5.0
Dined on 18 Nov 2024
Our waitress was great. She took our drinks order and gave us time to look over the menu and talk. It was my family member’s birthday and we got something special from the kitchen. I had to get something changed and I found the person who helped me earlier to assist me. We loved the food and enjoyed celebrating there!
More info
L. Woods Tap and Pine LodgePrice: Moderate• American• Lincolnwood
•
4.7

Best Casual Restaurants in Wilmette

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69 restaurants available nearby

1. 501 Local

2. EJ's Place

3. Bar Siena - North Shore

4. Tapas Barcelona

5. L. Woods Tap and Pine Lodge

6. Aboyer

7. The Lawn

8. Roka Akor - Old Orchard

9. Spirit Elephant

10. Jimoto

See what locals rave about

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