Where to Dine on Chicago’s North Shore

After the success of DeNucci’s Lincoln Park, which opened in 2023, Ballyhoo Hospitality brings their same successful formula for convivial, Italian-American energy to Highland Park. Locals are already filling the front rectangular bar and large dining room, toasting with the restaurant’s signature Negronis over hand-stretched mozzarella sticks, extra crispy eggplant Parmesan, homemade tagliatelle bolognese, and New York–style pizza from Sal Lo Cascio. It’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood, complete with Sinatra standards on the playlist and a lovely outdoor patio in spring and summer. 

As its name implies, stepping into the English Room transports diners to a regal English manor, with silver-studded pintucked chairs, chandeliers twinkling overhead, and art in gilded frames lining the walls. It’s an elegant setting for a meal, whether you’re sitting indoors or in the garden (which is just as charming). Expect a tight menu of the classics done right: a skillet Yorkshire pudding with short ribs and gravy, a smashburger on a buttery brioche bun, or Rohan duck with celery root confit. And like any proper manor, The English Room also offers afternoon tea service, complete with tea sandwiches and housemade scones. 

If you find yourself in Wilmette and craving something sweet, there’s no better place than EvaDeans, a charming bakery where everything is made from scratch, from buns to breads and specialty cakes. After the morning rush, the adjoining cafe opens with breakfast and lunch options in a homey diner space, complete with cookbooks as decor. While you can certainly lean sweet at the cafe, too, there are plenty of savory options from chefs Garrett VanBergen and Jory Downer, not to mention a pretty excellent cocktail program. Come solo to enjoy a coffee and a pastry at the cozy counter, or bring the whole family for a sit-down meal. 

There aren’t that many restaurants where the art is as vibrant as the food, but Zentli is one of them. Chicago artist Alfonso Piloto Nieves is in charge of the decor here, and he doesn’t disappoint, with colorful murals and a showstopping skull made from recycled foam hanging next to the bar. The food is equally exciting; it’s of the Mexican street variety, including esquites spiked with chile, crispy taquitos stuffed with chicken tinga, and zippy nopales tacos. Cocktails are just as colorful, from classic margaritas and micheladas to the Chicha, made with mezcal, purple maize, hibiscus, pineapple, and lemon.

This ‘60s-era garage has been renovated into a sophisticated Italian spot in the heart of Winnetka. While the vibe is decidedly upscale, there are still plenty of families dining with young kids, making Mino’s a nice fit for celebrations both large and small. The menu is packed with beautifully plated options, but the fresh pastas are a standout, including the tortelloni alla Modenese that’s drizzled with sweet balsamic, a rich tagliatelle Bolognese, and a warming cacio e pepe spiked with Lampong peppercorns.

Pomeroy is Ballyhoo Hospitality’s charming contribution to the Winnetka dining scene, with a name that may sound familiar — its newer cousin Petit Pomeroy just opened in the city. But while this is a suburban spot, the bistro is always buzzing with couples on dates and large parties toasting to special occasions. The menu, too, feels celebratory: full of classic French fare, like onion soup gratinee, a buttery and warm tomato tarte with fromage blanc, trout amandine with brown butter, and steak a la Bordelaise with maitre d’butter and shallot confit.   

How is it that a spectacular French bakery ended up in Highland Park? Well, you can thank a little French guy named Ben, who grew up in Paris and baked across the city, for moving to the North Shore. Visit his shop for fresh-from-the-oven chocolate croissants, cravates filled with pastry cream, crusty baguettes, and classic French patisserie (macarons, eclairs, and the like), along with a savory menu of eggs, salads, sandwiches, and quiche. From the French music playing to the smell of butter browning, it’s a little taste of Paris right in Highland Park.

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Perhaps you’ve biked from Evanston to Lake Bluff, or you’re visiting the area to go to the beach. Either way, a stop at Inovasi for a beautiful lunch or dinner should be part of your itinerary. The culinary team sources their ingredients from over 30 local farms, and it shows. There’s shrimp and grits with grilled andouille sausage, chitarra pasta with fried pistachios, and even a caramelized pumpkin cheesecake. If you’ve got more time, try the tasting menu for Inovasi’s greatest (and most creative) hits.

You’ll find farm-to-table fare in a vibrant, colorful space at Everett Farms, from the team behind Inovasi and The Otherdoor in Lake Bluff.  Come lunch or dinner (or the excellent happy hour), and don’t sleep on the fresh bread with hand-churned butter, wild mushroom risotto, or barbecue smoked pork. The cocktail menu delivers on a good time, with drinks like the “Schitt’s Creek”-inspired “la la la la la la a little bit Alexis” with El Dorado white rum, lavender agave, cranberry, lemon, and Seedlip Garden.

Brothers Isaac and Moishe Nava hail from Huitzuco de los Figueroa in Mexico, and their eponymous spot (with a sister location in Highland Park) specializes in family recipes. Sure, there may be a cheeky salad in a huge taco shell (standard fare at a Tex-Mex spot), but there are also tacos, chile rellenos, and a can’t-miss vegetarian burrito with an array of summery vegetables and guacamole. Afterwards, be sure to check out the attached grocery shop for Mexican ingredients and specialty goods to take home.

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Another strong contender from the Ballyhoo group (Gemini Chicago, Coda di Volpe, Old Pueblo Cantina), this steakhouse is known for its dry- and wet-aged grass-fed meats. If you’re having trouble deciding, opt for the eponymous Steak Sophia: a prime flat-iron cut that’s crusted with peppercorns and topped with Cognac cream. And should you come on a Sunday, try the fried chicken special that’s served with hot cornbread and a side of your choice (go for the pommes Anna). PS. There’s also a location in Lake Forest, and a new outpost in the city. 

From chef Todd Stein and Josh Kaplan comes Deere Park, a restaurant bringing a bit of European influence and Midwestern hospitality to Highwood. The physical space and aesthetics haven’t changed much from the previous iteration, Greenwood —  with a year-round enclosed patio, two long bars with TVs, and plenty of room inside for romantic dates and larger groups — but the menu is tighter and more exciting. There are lobster dumplings in a miso broth, an excellent burger with molten American cheese, and a samoa sundae so extravagant that, when it passes you by, you have no choice but to succumb to its pleasures. 

Ravinia, home to the namesake music festival, may be one of the North Shore’s most-visited areas. At this unpretentious neighborhood bistro, there’s not a thing on the menu that disappoints, from the brussels sprouts with fish sauce caramel to to the cedar plank salmon with corn bacon succotash. If you think you’re too full for dessert, think again, because you’re not leaving without warm doughnuts. 

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