10 Best American Restaurants in Wilmette

“We visited Pizza by Sal for the first time yesterday after hearing great things from our neighbors, and overall, it was a positive experience. The food was good, and we’d definitely order from here again.

We started with the chicken tenders, which were indeed tender—we could have gone for seconds. For the pizza, we opted for cheese, sausage, and mushrooms. It was enjoyable, though we think calling it NY style is a bit of a stretch; most wouldn’t notice unless they’re from NY like us. The pie was tasty, but it felt a bit salty, possibly due to the cheese or sauce. The crust was thin and foldable, striking a balance between crispy and soft.

We’re giving 4 stars for a couple of reasons. While the service was quick at first, it slowed down significantly when we waited about 20-30 minutes for our pizza. Our waiter seemed to forget about us, so we had to remind him.

Additionally, the prices felt high—$29 for a 16" pie with two toppings seemed steep, likely due to the "Wilmette effect." They claim to use high-quality ingredients, but inflation plays a role as well.

Lastly, the noise level increased significantly once families arrived with kids running around and using the arcade machines. We suggest the owners consider adding sound-absorbing materials to improve the dining experience. It doesn’t need to be silent, but a quieter atmosphere would be nice. Overall, it’s a place we’d return to, especially if they address these issues.

Parking: Park on the street, where you can find a spot. Double-check the signs.“

“First time at Valley Lodge Tavern and it was an outstanding experience. Cozy atmosphere, great service, top notch management, impressive menu and food. Thank you!“

“Grilled cheese with gyro meat was amazing!! There were 11 of us in our group! Service was super friendly and extremely fast! We will be back on our next trip!“

“BOOM! Dinner on fire! I love these dinners and so do my kids! We have not found one we don’t like and the quality is so much better than the mail order frozen meals. Flavor is solid and it’s not just “salt”, there is real depth to the meals. You also can heat them up and feed them to your kids when you pick them up from sports practice!!! Could not be happier this option came to carmel!!!“

“Friendly staff. Excellent farm to table food. THE BEST in the village. Convenient. Casual.“

“Back in 2012....we went to our beloved Hotcakes. The most happenin' thing was homemade tamale corn cakes. They were made with frozen corn, black beans, cumin..... topped with melted cheddar cheese. And they were served with salsa and sour cream. I looked forward to my weekly treat of utter deliciousness...with passionate desire. My husband had a bunch of favs.It was just a tiny place owned by a wonderful lady. Does anyone remember these?

Vegetarian options: Unfortunately, this was long ago. I would be more familiar with the menu if still in the area.“

“Best place in town. Would love to visit it again ❤️“

“I had the German pancake and with 100% recommend if you don't want a lot then order the baby Dutch you won't regret it. I asked for strawberries with mine.“

“We've been dining at Convito for years, and this dinner ranks among the best! Our server, Pedro, was terrific: attentive, responsive, personable. The food was great: my wife had gazpacho and chicken paillard, both of which were terrific. I started with escargots which were excellent and then loved my entree of fettuccine quatro formaggi. This was not the typical Alfredo sauce, but a lighter one with Prosciutto and mushrooms. It was incredible! One of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. We ended the dinner sharing a wonderful carrot cake with butter pecan ice cream. A memorable Labor Day weekend dinner!“

“A very pleasant “go-to” for a meal. Food is very good. Service is friendly but can be spotty depending. Location at Wilmette Golf Course is very nice with large windows overlooking golf course and outside seating. In the winter, the fireplace warms the view. Recommend.“