Looking for a new place to have lunch or dinner? Lake Forest is home to an array of impressive restaurants, including lively sports bars, quiet bistros, and iconic eateries. Whether you're looking for a place to have a date night, grab a bite on your lunch break, or take the whole family out for a special celebration, you're sure to find it in the area.
The Gallery
Looking for a unique date night? Check out The Gallery, an innovative, creative space that combines the concepts of restaurant and art gallery. You can enjoy dining on delicious food and drink while appreciating the current rotation of art exhibits. The menu, created by Chef Dominic Zumpano, includes creative items like hot wing ravioli and crispy pork belly for your appetizer and miso-glazed salmon and East Coast swordfish for your main course. For an after-dinner treat, try the bruleed cheesecake, a decadent dessert with passion fruit curd, topped with an almond and hazelnut crumble.
Both in-person dining and take-out orders are available at this unique Lake Forest institution, and it's easy to make a reservation or place a to-go order on the website. It's open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Location: 202 Wisconsin Ave.
Chief's Pub
Looking for a family-friendly sports bar where you can watch the big game? Check out Chief's Pub, a family-owned restaurant that celebrates firefighters and local sports teams. They serve elevated comfort food and recipes created in the firehouse kitchen, all using fresh ingredients. In addition to great food, you'll find a 150-inch HD video wall, over 80 types of beer, and outdoor seating. Visit for happy hour every Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and enjoy a range of specials. Add some Reuben egg rolls or Wisconsin cheese curds to enjoy with your drinks.
If you stay for dinner, you'll have an assortment of entrees to choose from. Share a pizza with a friend, order a burrito bowl for yourself, or eat healthy with their Kale Power Salad. If you're in the mood for a burger, check out the 3 Alarm Burger, which features eight ounces of Angus beef topped with pepper jack cheese, Cajun seasoning, and jalapenos. Chief's Pub is open Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dine in, or visit the website to place your order for carry-out.
Location: 502 N. Western Ave.
The Lantern of Lake Forest
Experience a mainstay of the Lake Forest area when you visit The Lantern of Lake Forest. Since its opening in 1934, this eatery has served guests at the same location in the downtown area. It's filled with Chicago Bears' memorabilia, as it used to be a hangout for coaches and players during the years they trained at Lake Forest College.
Enjoy an extensive menu featuring items such as quesadillas, veggie burgers, and buffalo chicken wraps. If you're looking for the eatery's specialties, check out one of the Lantern's Favorites, such as their barbecue baby back ribs, shrimp tacos, Romanian skirt steak, and chopped sirloin. They have daily specials, such as Taco Tuesday and pot roast dinner on Thursdays. Choose a seat inside or get some fresh air on the patio while you enjoy your meal. The Lantern is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, and pickup and delivery are both available.
Location: 768 N. Western Ave.
Kuro Bistro
Founded in 2019, Kuro Bistro strives to impress its guests with its contemporary take on Asian cuisine. Located downtown, the Japanese eatery is family-owned and operated, and it boasts an extensive menu that features an array of choices. Like sushi rolls? You'll find an assortment, ranging from options such as the Alaskan roll, which is filled with salmon, avocado, and cucumber, to a simple sweet potato roll. Prefer sashimi? You'll have several choices, including sweet raw shrimp, king crab, and white tuna. In addition, many entrees come with miso soup, and some are served with rice as well.
If you're looking for a quick bite for lunch, check out Kuro Bistro's lunch specials. The lunch menu is more limited than the regular menu but includes the sushi bar and Bento box items. When you dine in during the spring and summer months, enjoy patio seating. Kuro Bistro is open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner. On Sundays, the eatery is open for dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. and is closed for lunch.
Location: 950 N. Western Ave.
The Station
The Station is an upscale, farm-to-table Mexican restaurant that serves a range of dishes and specialty drinks. Choose from burritos, burrito bowls, salad bowls, tacos, and quesadillas filled with your choice of protein and topped with a range of gluten-free ingredients, such as organic romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, local tomatoes, cotija cheese, and fresh jalapenos. A kids' menu is also available and includes items like tacos and quesadillas that come with one protein and two toppings. In addition, kids' meals are served with a side of rice and beans.
For a special treat, try one of the Station's signature drinks, like the Station Margarita, which features fresh lime, lemon, orange juice, agave nectar, and reposado tequila. Plenty of nonalcoholic beverages are on the menu and include unique choices such as Oogave's natural sodas and Harney and Sons Butterfly Flower Lemonade. The Station is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Online ordering is available on the website.
Location: 840 S. Waukegan Road.
Our team at Pasquesi Sheppard LLC hopes you can use this list of Lake Forest's best restaurants to enjoy a great meal. Did we miss one of your favorite places to dine? If so, please let us know your comments, suggestions, or recommendations. We would love to hear from you.