40 Best Italian Restaurants near Island Lake

“First time patron, but passed by many times. In all honesty, I decided to pick up lunch on way to grandsons soccer game. Had gone to two other establishments before this one (others closed for some reason). Was pleasantly surprised. Order wasn't spectacular, Chicago dogs and fries ( but lots). While waiting, overlooked menu which was quite large. If everything is as good as hotdogs and fries, I'll be back. Thought prices were very reasonable.“

“Great atmosphere, great service, Johanna was amazing and very attentive. We had a bottle of Pinot Noir which was very very good, their meatballs appetiser, which my husband was a huge fan of, even though he doesn’t like ricotta that much. Unfortunately, all of the seafood in my pasta was very overcooked and the clams were so tiny, you can’t event taste them. We still enjoyed our time at this restaurant, but if we come again, I would not order any seafood here.“

“Food typically is made pretty fast, the delivery is usually fast, just about everything tastes great & the owner is very accommodating & supportive when there's an issue. I worked for Rosatis for over 10yrs & although I like the food, the pizza kept cutting the roof of my mouth but with this place, the pizza crust is a great balance of soft & crispy, at least in my opinion. A+“

“Stopped by on a week night for dinner with a friend. The restaurant feels spacious since the tables are not situated too closely. The server was friendly and helpful.I ordered the pasta with oxtail. It was delicious, full of tender meat and light pasta. I ordered the chocolate tiramisu to go. It too was full of chocolatey richness. If I was in the neighborhood I'd definitely return to try their other dishes.“

“We live 2.5 hours south of Lake Villa, but we were meeting some friends from Florida for dinner. They were in the area for their grandson’s graduation from Great Lakes Naval Academy. Found this place via Google and it had great reviews, with good reason. We wish we lived closer because it would be a favorite for sure. Probably the best bruschetta and lasagna I’ve had in a very long time. Everyone loved their entrees. We tried multiple pasta dishes and the pizza. Prices were very reasonable and our service was exceptional. Excellent dining experience all around. Highly recommend.“

“Have eaten here several times and the food is always good. Usually need to make a reservation as it's always a full house. Nice Italian atmosphere and being Italian, the food is on par with my family's traditional meals. Will definitely keep this spot on our short list of best restaurants in the area!“

“I put my lunchtime experience into AI and this is its reaction:It sounds like you experienced a transformative sandwich moment, one that not only delighted your palate but also energized you to excel in your goals. This journey of culinary discovery and the unexpected depth of flavors in a seemingly simple Italian sub have evidently shifted your perspective on what such a meal can offer. The sandwich, with its high-quality ingredients and perfect balance, became not just food but an inspiration, a catalyst for achievement. This experience underscores the power of taking a break, indulging in life's simple pleasures, and how a moment of serendipity can recharge our motivation and perspective, propelling us forward with renewed vigor.“

“I love Buddyz, always have, but last night we had a little birthday party for my mom in the back room and not only was the food the delicious as usual, and the room perfect for the occasion, they let us bring in a little entertainment (Elvis is in the building!) but it was the service tha was a knock out! Our servers were so attentive, so much fun, so friendly, they added that cherry on the cake that made the evening perfect! Thanks again Buddyz, you guys are the best!!Kid-friendliness: We had a ton of little ones and they had a blast and the servers actually brought them out pizza dough to play with - so cool!“

“We’ve ordered from here many times, they had a new delivery driver come and missed out on our appetizer, when I called they were kind and offered to adjust the mistake. They provided a dessert as an extra too. I appreciate the customer service and would definitely recommend. Bbq chicken pizza is delicious!“

“Loved SLYCE Pizza. My wife and I are big fans of coal-fired pizza. Where I'm from in the NYC tri-state area, the best Italian food is in neighborhood family tavern restaurants and those thin crust tavern pies are cooked in super hot ovens. SLYCE brings it all back. Quality ingredients, great suggested combinations, good service and pleasant ambience. There's a lot of pizza choices in Chicagoland and we drive 25 minutes to SLYCE. There must be at least 100 pizza joints in the 25 mile radius. I'll take SLYCE. Keep up the great work!“

“Small place, easy to miss. Excellent thin crust pizza. Limoncello Cake is light and delicious. The traditional bone-in wings are made to perfection. Wings were so good, they were gone before I thought to snap a pic. Very clean restaurant. Friendly staff.“

“The food is amazing. The house salad has a unique lemon oil dressing. So simple and refreshing. The neopolitan style pizza is the best in the area. Love the modern ambiance inside. Plus they have covered outdoor seating on their patio in the summer. Highly recommend if you are in the area.“

“Wonderful food & service. We got there at 4:20 for a very early dinner since we had to be at a game at 6 PM. We did not make a reservation because it was so early. They were booked solid, but we were fortunate to get a table. Dillon, our server, was terrific. The food was delicious. We will definitely be back, but next time, we will be certain to make a reservation!“

“Beyond AWESOME!!!! I just found this place online and the reviews looked good so we thought we would try it. The menu is very appetizing. We ordered delivery and it was fast, the food was hot and the delivery guy was great. The food was SO fresh! The pizza was delicious, sausage is home made and it has great crispy crust ! We also ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo with sausage and shrimp and it was out of this world. The portions are big. We can’t wait to go there and dine in. You will not be disappointed!!“

“We dined here last Friday and everything was exceptionally good. We had a drink at the bar when we arrived while we waited for our table, and then we ordered a few appetizers, entrees, and dessert with our server. Service and ambiance were top notch, there was even live music! We will definitely be back!“

“Seated immediately, greeted promptly and politely. Beverages were out quickly. The place is beautifully decorated. The ambiance is rustic Italian and romantic, yet still appropriate for a table full of family or friends. The servers are knowledgeable, their assistants are right there with refills or clearing an empty plate. Congratulations to the owner! You run a well-oiled machine...Grazie molto, avete fato la nostra ocasione speciale!! We will definitely be back for more celebrations.“

“Been coming here for 15+yrs and it never disappoints. Great food and a great value in a world where everyone is jacking up their price to absurd levels. Have had catering done for a large party, have had delivery, and stopped in for food many times and it’s always been consistent and good food. This place hasn’t changed a bit for as long as I can remember and I mean that in the best possible way!“

“This place is pretty small, but the food is delicious. I am gluten free and I never have issues eating here. My husband and I recently discovered them and now they are a household favorite.Dietary restrictions: I have a gluten allergy and I have not had a reaction after eating here. I do not believe it is celiac friendly.“

“Very nice location with top of the line food and impeccable service. The dining space is open, spacious, and comfortable. The atmosphere and acoustics make conversation pleasant. The steaks were perfect and had wonderful flavor. The portions were great, too. There was a nice drink selection. Service made us feel special. We enjoyed the meal and look forward to returning again.“

“Pizza was pretty decent. Considering we live in an area where there is no real outstanding pizza, it will do. Their specials are a good value, another problem with ordering pizza these days, it’s so expensive you might as well go for a proper meal, especially when you never seem to be able to say, “Wow! This pizza is the best!” Service was very good and fast.“

“This Giordano's is a cute and cozy place. Also whenever we have it (too much for my growing belly) the pizzas are DELICIOUS and the folks who work there are so nice. It's like they are an old fashioned pizza place from when I was a kid, not a part of a big chain. Really recommend going to this giordanos any time!!!“

“This is a takeout only restaurant. Food is excellent. I ordered a small meal ahead for 2 people and was treated very well. Bill was professional and had helpful suggestions. For amazing deep dish,pasta, or cannolis I highly recommend you try this place.“

“Wasn’t eating meat today so I got the pepper with egg sandwich it was really tasty and fresh. My friend got the fettuccine Alfredo which was really good also not too heavy with good flavor. Really good potato salad, potatoes were cut thin which made the potato salad more flavorful. Clean and nice staff.“

“Buona Beef in Kildeer hits the mark for those craving an exceptional beef sandwich! As a connoisseur of good beef sandwiches, I can say Buona stands out, rivaling even my long-time favorite, Johnny's Beef. Their sandwiches are packed with flavor, tender, and juicy, just the way a beef sandwich should be. The welcoming atmosphere and friendly service only add to the experience, making it a must-visit spot for any beef sandwich aficionado. Definitely a top pick for me!“

“We called our order in and the guy answering the phone was kind enough to remind me we had a$17.99 credit. We placed our order and we picked it up and the girl had no clue how to apply credit. We ended up with 50% off. That's great except I don't think my large pizza was $36! As a matter of fact it was $27 so our credit was not gully applied. The pizza itself was great! There is another location only 9 mins away but We go to this one a good 20 mins away because of the quality and service.“

“I had Chicken Piccata. It was exactly how I love to have it prepared (no breading). The lemony sauce was so perfect, I almost asked for a straw to get it all! (I didn't). Service was timely and made us comfortable. From the the Server to the busers. (Sp?) The space is quite compact. No one was jostled but it was a bit noisy for us. None-the-less, I highly recommend Giannis. Thanks for an excellent dining experience!“

“My family and I came in at a busy time. We were a big group. And order was confusing because we all wanted different check. I'm not going to go into all the details. However I do want to say Sara the manager was AWESOME! She came and listened to our concerns and fixed the problem. I just loved the way she handled the situation with care. I just want to day she's the best and Olive Garden is so Lucky to have her as a part of the leadership team. Thank you Sara you are the best!!!“

“Great food and atmosphere. I drive 40 minutes from Elk Grove whenever I want good thin crust pizza. The food and drinks are priced well and Kyra is an awesome server. Super attentive and friendly. Definitely an awesome bar/restaurant with great staff.“

“Sweet Melissa's Pizza and Pub was a great place to stop for a beer and food. Inside was really nice with lots of tv's. Meatball Sandwich was a monster. I had to cut the meatballs in half just to handle it. Meatballs were just ok. Parmesan Fries, Italian Egg Rolls and the soup were all delicious. The Chicken Tenders were just average. Very friendly and professional staff.“

“We order pizza from here often and love it. We appreciate the promo codes that randomly pop up as well! But I had to write this particular review for our order tonight!I got the Italian Beef - The Cheef and OMGGGGGG! Delish! I had sweet peppers added and juicy. The au jus that was on the side was so flavorful! A little spicy but not too much! I will be ordering it again!My husband ordered the Calzone with sausage and mushroom. He loved it. It’s huge and can probably feed 2!Rosati’s Rocks!“

“Ordered a pizza for pickup and when I got home it was cooked perfectly, but missing an ingredient. I called and the manager apologized re-made the pizza and personally delivered it to my house. Wonderful way to correct a mistake. And the pizza is great too.“

“Our favorite Italian restaurant! Conveniently located in downtown Cary, the ambience is cozy and hip. Options for seating are great--in the bar, indoor or outdoor. All the food we've tried from the bread and olives to pizza and main entrees to coffee and desserts have been delicious. I especially love the baked orecchiette. Service is terrific as well.“

“Everything about this location is nice and on top of that they have ice cream. Yes ice cream! They have all the regular flavors plus things like carrot cake and blueberry crumble. The managers/owner? is a sweetheart. The employees are nice and friendly, the restaurant is clean and the food is good. They even offer painting classes sometimes. What a great addition to our community.“

“I eat most meals out but very seldom review. Just not a thing I do but this was too exceptional not to share.Only 2nd time here even though 1st experience was really good and it isn't far away.Server, I think was Cheryl and her service and personality was terrific.They serve warm, crusty bread with a dipping sauce that is awesome and addictive.I had the Prawns (6 nicely steamed) with Rapini on bed of Mostaciolli in a delicious Aglio/Ohio sauce.A huge plate, enough for two and only $23!A premium dish at very affordable price.A fabulous dining experience. One of the best in many years.Parking: Easy street parking“

“Wonderful atmosphere and the our food was prepared by a real chef, something we have been unable to find of late.Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, checking often to insure a pleasant dining experience.It is pricey but worth it. We will be back.“

“This restaurant is absolutely adorable. You feel like your are downtown Chicago, in some italian neighborhood. The ambiance is the best! Their food and pizza is absolutely delicious too. The pizza is the best around. The crust is thin and crispy and the toppings are fresh. The cheese is high quality and tastes fresh. The problem is the temperature of the restaurant. It's stifling hot. It's a small place, and always crowded. The stagnant air is unbearable. We actually had to leave early because I was feeling faint from the heat. I wish they'd turn on the air or something. The hot atmosphere, coupled with it being a smaller restaurant, and always crowded, is unbearable.“

“I had a huuuuge craving for quality Fettucine Alfredo, and while I don’t have experience with authentic Italian cuisine, this was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Perfectly cooked noodles, amazingly rich flavor, and a HUGE portion of pasta…… Oh my goodness.Even though it was PACKED inside, my wife was contacted in the time alotted and was able to be in and out for take out. She said she had never seen it so full! Can’t wait to visit during date night!This was actually my first time having anything from Cucina Bella, and it was taken to go. It was exactly what I was wanting, and I even had enough for leftovers. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for quality Italian food.“

“I should have done this earlier, but I don’t usually fill out reviews. We’ve been going there occasionally for years. The food, service and ambience has always been extraordinary. They also make drinks like great bartenders did in the city years ago. So grateful we have a restaurant like this that is in the area.“

“About two days ago me & my family ordered a Full Tray of the 3Chz Baked Penne & 4 lbs of beef. Both were delicious. The pasta came with garlic bread and the beef came with French Bread, Sweet and hot peppers. Honestly really good prices for the amount of food you receive. Really enjoyed it, highly recommend catering from this location.“

“The service was slow but not due to the workers. More due to management not properly staffing the establishment. The bartender/waitress deserved some large tips for handling the plus 30 people in there today. I just went in to pick up three pizzas and had to patiently wait to be served. But she had an almost full bar and another 15 people at tables. Food was good but it seems management is lacking.“