The Grille on Laurel
181 E Laurel Ave, Lake Forest, IL, 60045
The Grille on Laurel Menu
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Starters
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Soup And Salad
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Grille Salads
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Steaks And Chops
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Barbeque
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Grille on Laurel
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Starters
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Soup And Salad
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Grille Salads
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Steaks And Chops
-
Barbeque
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
181 E Laurel Ave
Lake Forest, IL, 60045 - Phone (847) 234-9660
- Website https://www.thegrilleonlaurel.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kim R.
Wed night fried chix special is great!
(5)Theres T.
Couple good things about this restaurant are location and the steaks. They really know how to cook a steak and the meat is good quality. Now the bad......the bar here was great....large with adequate table seating as well. Evidently someone decided they could make it better by redecorating. They swapped out the comfy chairs for the ugliest, lowest chairs they could find. If you attempt to eat in the bar area the table hits your neck if you are less than 5 feet 5. I had to reach up to cut my steak! The new décor is rather tacky with wire sun sculptures that look like the logo for the Sunday Morning show. The menu has hardly changed since the place opened and while basic, needs a make-over. And if you are going to plop down rolls on every table why can't they be fresh...or at least warmed. There is so much potential for this restaurant, hopefully there will be a change of hands for the better.
(2)Rebecca R.
When I was driving through downtown Lake Forest, I spotted this beautiful little cafe on the corner. It caught my eye because it had a ton of people sitting outside on the brick patio a little after the normal lunch hour. It seemed to be a popular lunch spot. The next time I drove by, I experienced the same thing and decided to stop in. After about 3 minutes of standing at the hostess stand, someone finally got up from the back of the room to seat us. Most people were sitting outside on the patio, but we decided it was a little too warm and settled on inside. The hostess must have been confused and finally figured out why we were standing at the front door. The waitress was much more aware and provided a nice dining experience. Through the meal we needed something and because we were the only table inside, it took a while to get any one's attention. That was a bit annoying, but we did eventually get what we needed. The three of us ordered the same thing, and it was the lunch special to make it easy with our tight schedule, so I only have one dish to judge Laurel's on. We ordered a gyros plate with a Greek side salad. I was satisfied with my meal and quite full. It was not enough to recommend this as a 'must try', but I look forward to heading back for dinner to give it another chance. The decor and bar area was very cute, and with the live music on the weekends, it might make me change my star rating. Stay tuned!
(3)Jayne A.
Haven't been to The Grille on Laurel for awhile. Glad to have returned! Our server, Nancy, was friendly and attentive. Delicious grilled ahi tuna salad without any problem requesting some ingredients more to my liking :) And, as always, fabulous burger. Wished the evening wasn't threatening rain because would have definitely enjoyed the outdoor dining on a summer evening. Instead, sat in the bar area with great piano player entertainment on a Saturday night.
(4)Susan L.
Wonderful bar and outdoor dining! Try their red snapper, very tasty and crisp dinner salads too!
(5)Charles J.
Alright, yes yes the service is not the best - but that's why you go to the BRUNCH people!!! Brunch's are hard to find in the suburbs and this one is really damn good. The whole restaurant is a tad pricy, but in terms of the brunch it's A) all you can eat B) frickin awesome and C) damn tasty. There's made to order omelets, chocolate-dipped strawberries, chef-sliced ham and prime rib, bread-pudding, sausages n bacon, eggs benedict, french toast, sundays, danisheseses and more and more and more. Go get their brunch, be a big fatty and go home and sleep the sleep of the gluttonously satisfied!
(4)Jim M.
Wish The Grille existed when I lived in LF. A great place for brunch, lunch, dinner and evening drinks. My mom, wife and I came here this past Saturday for an early lunch and it was great. Best of all is their shaded patio. Will always make this a stop when I'm in town.
(5)Jonathan D.
A nice location, many diners seemed to be enjoying a lovely evening on the patio. I ate in a private dining and selected from what I presume was an abbreviated menu. The garden salad was disappointing; actually a challenge to find the lettuce in there. For my entree I had the filet -- which was fantastic! Perfectly prepared, tender, just delicious. Finishing with the creme brûlée, which would seem hard to get wrong, but it was a bit cautiously crisped and fairly average. All in all probably a 4 star steak but much too average / below average to earn more than a 3-3.5 star rating.
(3)K G.
We loveThe Grille, it guarantees a well prepared and unfussy meal. If your looking for a fancy feast that charges for the frills, go elsewhere, you won't get that here. The food is as comfortable as the setting. Great staff, fun bartenders (that pour a great drink), good music and great food sums this place up.
(5)K D.
Beware the kale salad. Menu does not adequately describe it. I thought it was a delightful mix of fresh kale, tossed with other veggies. Kale and I go way back so I like to try wherever I can find it. Sounds good, right? What arrived at the table was sautéed (or blanched) mushy kale mixed with romaine pieces and some chopped veggies and bacon bits. Ugh. Even worse it was covered in a mound of dried out chopped chicken. When I ordered the salad the server asked if I wanted scallops or chicken on top, I replied no. So, I asked if they could make another. What came back was the same disappointing sautéed wilty kale mess. A really really odd "salad". I ate the mushy kale and pushed the other items around the plate. My friend had the skirt steak and loved it. So to each their own. But if you love fresh Kale, just know the kale does not love you back at this place. The pic I posted is the baked Brie which was okay.
(2)Nikki R.
My Chicago friends and I have met for brunch here because it's a good midway point between downtown Chicago and downtown Milwaukee-- however, it's a smidge longer of a drive for me, but I don't mind. I can't comment on anything other than the brunch, which is only served on Sundays. The $3 mimosas alone convinced us to give this place a chance. The buffet was rather good and pretty reasonable. I parked it by the omelette station because I wanted something prepared fresh for me. A good variety of ingredients to choose from and nice preparation. Overall, it was a good spot for brunch that was reasonably priced and had cheap breakfast cocktails. Not sure I'd go out of my way to go back, but it was fine for what my friends and I needed. I will say the staff was very nice. I arrived a little earlier than my friends and sat at the bar where the bartender that was on staff bought me a mimosa. That was a nice treat!
(3)John B.
Wow what a good place, so came to Mettawa on a business trip and wanted yo eat at a local stake house, found this resultant and I am glad I did. Food was very good, service was very good too. The server recommended the crab cakes and grilled Calamari. The were very good choices. If you are looking for a local stake house you need to try it, you will have a good experience.
(5)S K.
I am kind of surprised by the low stars on this place. They have the best gourmet burger that you can fully customize for the cheapest price! We have come back here repeatedly for the burgers and we are never disappointed. Plus the thick cut steak fries that accompany the burger are so good too. My friend ordered the nicoise salad with ahi and that too was so good and huge pieces of ahi in there. We also had the hot wing appetizer and they were fantastic. A definite must order when you stop in. Our waiters have always been super friendly with us as well. We have a baby and when we bring him in during the lunch rush everyone has been super nice and accommodating. I would give it 5 stars, however I feel that I need to try more from the menu before I give my blessing. However, from what I have seen and tasted thus far coming out of the kitchen, I can only assume I will bump this up to 5 stars soon enough.
(4)Qadree H.
I must say I went to Grille on Laurel for Sunday brunch not really knowing what to expect. We went after a recommendation from a local that said it is as good as the Deer Path Inn. We celebrated a new baby and I found the ambiance, service, and the feel of the place to be exceptional. However, it seemed to lack that "pizazz" that we've experienced at other Sunday brunches in Chicago and in Lake Forest as well. I thought the selection was good, but it was to be expected. I did not really feel they went above and beyond on the presentation to wow the guest with what was being offered. I think they have a local client base and they stay conservative with the bare minimal of what we need to be offered to call it a brunch. I do not want to discourage anyone from going, but I would not go out of my way to make a trip up from the city unless you wanted to meet someone that lived nearby. There appeared to be a lot of groups of 5 or more and this place offered a brunch and a space that could accommodate larger group. The look of the place is great.
(3)terry c.
This is my favorite place for food in Lake Forest.. its the nicest restaurant, with the best food, at a reasonable price. I get my favorite (the Grill Club). for like 8 bucks.. a full meal for less then what you would pay at the area sandwich shops (food and wine and the like)...
(5)Sofiya K.
The chicken Marsala was cooked perfectly, but the ahi tuna had a very strange taste that was very disappointing. Burgers looked great and my coworkers enjoyed them.Cute atmosphere.
(3)Scott B.
The Grille recently made some tweaks to its menu and I think they really did a nice job. The food here was already good, but I think what they've done is do a really nice job updating the selection a little. Prices seem a TOUCH higher, but I think they're still very reasonable for the amount of food you get. Additionally, the Grille now brings homemade chips to the table, which are really quite good. I had the Florence in the Spring flatbread pizza, which was absolutely wonderful - light but really satisfying and beautiful flavors. That's a new offering and really a new favorite. The Grille's tweaks to the menu aren't anything major, but are simply a really nice update. Again, the nice thing about the Grille is that - as restaurants go these days - it's reasonably priced for what it is and I always go away considerably full.
(5)Toshi I.
This review is based on a Sunday brunch buffet, so no comment on the service. The buffet offerings were high quality and a decent value. I enjoyed my time with my family here.
(4)Jessica B.
I came here for a private event The staff and food was great - HOWEVER, I didn't realize til after I paid that they added gratuity. Wish the waiter would of given me a heads up. But the manager I believe, left his personality somewhere else and made the event seem rushed.
(3)Evie H.
The Grille has awesome burgers at a very reasonable price, especially considering this is Lake Forest. I love that the burgers come on a pretzel bun which tastes so much better than a regular bun. We tried the Southwest burger with sweet potato fries and also had the linguine carbonara pasta. Both were better than I expected but the southwest burger has the edge because how can you beat bacon and caramelized onions on a pretzel bun? I thought the pasta was too one dimensional and too creamy for my taste (although the added pancetta was a real nice touch). I also tried some of the french onion soup which was very, very salty so beware if you're on a low sodium diet or don't like real salty stuff. Plus side though - lots and lots of onions! And my last note - don't forget to grab an Andes mint chocolate on your way out :) Definitely wouldn't be opposed to returning!
(4)Barby L.
Our last visit 3 days ago was awful! A/C not functioning, flies everywhere, items missing from orders (no mandarin oranges in the mandarin orange salad; no salmon; no bread on the table). The waiter tried hard, but the new ownership has NOT been a success, in my opinion. Will think twice about returning.
(2)hey a t.
I have to say that I'm a finicky eater, and the food is wonderful. This past visit I had the ahi tuna and it is better/comparable to Sunda. Amazing food minus the drive and no valet, total score. Bread pudding must be ordered with vanilla ice cream and it's enough to share with a few friends.
(5)Edward D.
While the outdoor seating is nice, the menu is vast, the service has too much room for improvement that I will not be dining here again. On a Wednesday night, that's not too busy, it shouldn't take 10+ minutes for the waiter to visit your table. Typically other restaurants may have another waiter stop by to at least take drink orders...take note. When the waiter finally came, he took our drink orders and an order for calamari as an appetizer as we were hungry. He brought the drinks back in a timely manner, but 25+ mins had passed with no appetizer in sight. He came over to ask if we were ready to order, which we asked about our calamari. He said, oh - just a Minute. He proceeded to take our order and then he disappeared. He visited the other tables to take their orders, and then 15 minutes later (not a minute) he came back to our table with the calamari we ordered 45 mins prior. I asked him if he forgot, and he blamed it on the kitchen. Our entrees came less than 10 mins later. For a $90 meal, service needs to improve as I was highly disappointed with being lied to and not having an overall attentive waitstaff who work as a team. I can only imagine what this might be like on a busy night.
(2)Luke C.
Service is friendly but food could be better. Basic American fair may be the way to go at this neighborshood lakeforest restaurant. Burgerss, chicken sandwiches, etc. The interior is very modern and upscale.
(3)Nicole N.
I've reviewed the Grille on Laurel twice before, but I wanted to do it again now because I am so impressed by their recent changes. A few months ago they totally reworked the menu, changed up the decor a bit, and vastly improved the outdoor seating area. We love many of the new menu items - the kale salad, the flatbreads, the brown rice bowl - and there are lots of options for customizing your meal. I had the Mediterranean flatbread tonight and it was fabulous. The service used to be uneven, but lately we haven't had any trouble with it.
(5)michael d.
My wife and I have been coming to The Grille for years. It's patio always made for a sublime Saturday date night- and the food was good, but limited. Hadn't been there since the summer of 2013 and when we arrived we could immediately see the patio was enhanced by a series of couches. But it was the news menu that made out eyes pop out. Great designer cocktails- I loved my North Shore Mule. In the past, burgers were all that seemed appealing, but the new menu had a ton of great options. I had the skirt steak, which was tender, juicy and very tasty. My wife had penne in vodka sauce with grilled chicken which she loved (and I stole half of). About halfway through the meal we overheard talk that the restaurant has recently been purchased by Marcus Lemonis of "The Profit"- and that explained a lot. His attention to detail was everywhere...especially in the enhanced enthusiasm of the staff (loved our server, Kayla). And the chance to the sample the now-famous Key West Key Lime Pie was a bonus. Cannot wait for another beautiful Saturday night to go back!
(5)M C.
Great food. The service was awesome as well. It can get packed in here quickly though and become quite cramped.
(4)Jacqueline H.
I love the grille on laurel! It's my go to Sunday brunch spot, tucked away in Lake Forest it's pretty quiet, you can stroll in at 10:30 on Sunday morning and be seated immediately! First off, they have THE best coffee I have ever had! Make sure to see Roy and ask him for his special iced coffee! I had three this morning! Fantastic! I believe the buffet is $15, and unlike most buffets the quality is exceptional! Everything is fresh, I crave the salads, they are crunchy and full of tasty bits that keep me coming back! I'm not sure how they manage to have the juiciest, most succulent fruits every weekend but they do without fail! Omelette station, carving station with ham, turkey and roast beef, bacon and sausage, eggs Benedict, potatoes, bagels with cream cheese and lox! And my favorites, they have decadent desserts, in small portions so you can have a taste and not ruin your entire day! Crime brûlée, chocolate covered strawberries, ice cream... Ahh I could go on and on! I'll see you there! :)
(5)Nancy E.
The restaurant is very loud. The service was good, the chips great. However, the hamburger less than good and there was an up-charge to change from fries to green beans, even though they were the same price on the menu.
(2)Yanni D.
Great food, outstanding service and atmosphere. Bartender Deuce and server Nancy are awesome. Marjorie Stroud performs here on Saturday nights from eight to eleven. If you like hearing music which will move you, Marjorie is one of the greatest pianist I've ever heard. She has performed with Sammy Davis, Jr. , the Staples Singers, Curtis Mayfield and so many more. She has lived in Dubai, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Holland and so many more places around the world. She's been in several movies. She studied classical music for 17 years and played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her passion in life is to use her musical talent to put a smile on a persons face and bring joy to her surroundings.
(5)Tanya W.
Great food, food value. It's great to be able to pick your side, even with sandwiches. Their Brussels sprouts are amazing. Good fresh fish.
(5)Emily B.
I had never been to this place before one of my girlfriends had her birthday party here. I thought it was pretty good, a little pricy but good nonetheless. There were not a lot of vegetarian options on the menu so I ended up getting a the mandarin salad san chicken. It was great, portion was a little small but since it was a birthday we were sure to fill up on dessert anyway. I had the flourless chocolate cake and it was heavenly. I loved the ambiance of the place, everything was beautiful and clean and the bathrooms were really nice.
(4)Lauren G.
I had the grouper, encrusted with macadamia nuts, sweet potato fries, and sautéed spinach. Everything was very good! The fish came with a lemon butter sauce on the side, which was a great idea so the fish didn't get soggy. The patio is really nice to sit at on a warm evening
(4)Peter B.
The grille is very consistent. The food is good. A good variety in the menu from salads to steak and chicken and pasta. It generally has a good vibe and energy.
(3)Michael N.
C'mon people!!! 3.5 stars??? WTF this place rocks!!! If I went to Beverly Hills and I told someone, show me what Beverly Hills is all about, they would probably take me to Rodeo Drive. If someone told me to show them what Lake Forest is all about, I would take them to The Grille on Laurel. The people here are classy, and the food is delicious. Maryland does crab cakes and football, LF does classy people and delicious food. Ashley and I came here one Friday night and had a drink in the bar. That's when my ever wandering eyes found the "Late Night Bar Special" sign. After 9pm on Fri and Sat, they have $2 bar food! Mini burgers, buffalo chicken strips, BBQ Chicken pizza. My sixth sense is the ability to find cheap eats even in the most affluent communities. The servers and bartenders are all really nice, there is live music in the bar at night, and the weekend brunch is out of this world good. Sunday brunch is $16/person with everything you can think of, including a Prime Rib carving station. I'm not a prime rib fan, but my dad and brother in law went to town on it. Saturday brunch is only $8 and includes almost everything that the Sunday brunch includes, except the meat carving stations and other "lunch" designated foods (like pasta). The Grille on Laurel also has a fish bowl of Andie's mints (I spelled that wrong) when you walk out the door. What a nice little send-off!
(5)Ashley S.
How can I be the duchess and not have a review? This place is wonderful. We've been numerous times within the last couple months. Twice for brunch, once on a Sunday and once on a Saturday. And a couple times at night to take advantage of their wonderful bar deal! The brunch is awesome, Sunday's is really great, prime rib, chicken, turkey, ham, pasta, the works, and it's $15.95. Saturday is more my style...$8 and everything you need, eggs, omelette's, potatoes, fruit, french toast...the only negative about that visit was the waiter's comment..."did you even taste your food?" I thought it was kind of rude, I know he was just trying to make conversation and be funny, but probably not something you should say to customers at brunch in Lake Forest, of all places. The bar deal is wonderful, $2 sliders, buffalo chicken strips, flat breads, I'm not sure what's all on it, but with the purchase of a drink you get some really great food for really cheap! We'll take advantage of this again, no doubt!
(5)Joel A.
First, the ambience is great. Sitting outside on the patio on a spring or summer evening while sipping wine just cannot be beat. The dining room is great too - large, but intimate within the context of your table. Secondly, the bread basket they provide is amazing. But I just have never felt completely happy with the food I have been served here. It's sort of run-of-the-mill American fare. That's not a bad thing at all, but often I've wished for something a little more memorable. I would happily come back here for a cosy conversation over wine, but if food is my top priority I would look some place else.
(3)Dan S.
Okay, maybe we should have tried the burgers. I found the Grille on Laurel to be good but nothing special. The setting and ambiance are fine although it can get a bit noisy. The patio outside would be nice in warmer weather. Service was attentive but a bit sloppy (brought less rolls than the # of people at the table, forgot the sugar for drinks etc.). No one in our group tried the meat dishes. The salads were good but pretty standard fare. The fish dishes (tilapia) in our group were good and the crab cakes were tasty. The BBQ chicken was also good but not wildly delicious to crave another trip in the future. Desserts also fit the bill but even the bread pudding which was touted to be "the best" was okay and not memorable. So, overall, I think 3 stars sums it up for us.
(3)Lisa G.
Service was good. Food was delicious and they had a lot to choose from on the menu. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I would definitely recommend it and will be coming back again soon.
(5)Tammi B.
It was ok. Mixed reviews.
(3)Kathy K.
Called for take out but the atmosphere was so inviting we decided to stay. Service to plate our meal (which was already bagged) was friendly, helpful & eager to please. Food was wonderful & we were glad we stayed!!
(5)Linda S.
We had reservations on Easter for 5 people. Tables were quite close together we were seated and several of the water glasses had lipstick lip marks on them those two classes weren't clean very well. The wait staff were rushing around which is understandable on a busy day but almost knocking people over including myself who walks with a cane. they didn't even say excuse me or I'm sorry. other than that the food was good except for the LOX which were extremely salty. I'm really not sure I would go there again.
(2)Ryan M.
Ate the Crab cake sandwhich and it was delicious. Our server though was ok. Seemed like he didn't care about servicing our table, which was weird since we were his only table.
(3)Carol C.
The location, ambiance and service are all great, along with the fact that they take reservations for any size party. That said, the food isn't fabulous, just okay. I have never had a burger, but that seems to be the best dish on the menu. I had the fish fry and, though the fish was fresh, the breading was fairly blah. I would go there again because of the location, but I don't expect an epicurian delight.
(3)Robert T.
Where else can you go and have the fantastic brunch for less that 18 bucks? The service is quick and friendly. We also returned for dinner during the week enjoying a varied and interesting menu. Great job Grille team!
(5)Luke S.
It's hard to judge this place based of the Easter Brunch that we had here, but I will say that the food was very good and the service was excellent. The restaurant was jam packed and the brunch line was really backed up at times. The staff seemed to be doing a great job of keeping the food fresh, but the patrons did not do a good job of quickly making their plates. The price of the brunch was reasonable for what we got ($20ish/per person) !I would love to come back here and try some of their normal menu items!
(4)Sondrine L.
We went for a Birthday dinner and called ahead to request a table with a nice view of the fireplace. Was disappointed to have a side table in the lounge nowhere near the fireplace, not even all that busy?!? Our server, Nancy, was terrific- very friendly and attentive and made great suggestions from the menu. I had a chicken and sausage dish but it had a ton of tiny bones.... Very tasty though. May return to sit at the bar for appetizers and drinks- looked like a nice area and vibe. Burgers looked good too. The baked Brie appetizer was amazing!
(3)Bob B.
Great burger! Certainly one of the best on the North Shore. Great service, ambience, etc. But it's the burger that sells this place.
(4)Michelle S.
A little overpriced, food disappointed me.
(2)Stephanie L.
As stated by a very famous Chicagoan, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." I feel that is the case with the Grille. You can make a restaurant beautiful with dark wood and wall art, leather chairs, and a piano, but it is still a bad restaurant. I was deceived by the pleasant decor when our server greeted us. He was sloppily dressed in a black tee and pants. His attire was no different than the bussing staff that cleared our dirty plates. The server first took our drink order, and returned fairly quick with our beverages. That is where the prompt service started and ended. There were eight of us, the majority opting for different variations of a burger with fries or fruit, and two with a split salad. The turnaround from the kitchen took nearly a half hour. I was confused by the delay given that the dining room was 85% empty. There were 3 other tables seated other than our own. When the server did come out, he came toting a single burger plate. The rest of our table began to salivate, watching a single diner feast on their room temperature fries. The fries were were not warm, but, oddly, the red cabbage cole slaw was. Everyone first asked what the metal ramekin contained, since no one was aware they were getting an additional side. Then, after discovering its unusual temperature, discarded it. That was a lot of wasted "cole slaw." There was a wasted sandwich among the plates served as well. The caprese sandwich appeared with a soggy pretzel bun that made it inedible. Any time that fresh mozzarella is used--especially when it is packed in water--it needs to be patted dry. To me, a simple home cook, patting your mozz is Cooking Prep 101. Restaurants should always tie together three elements AND in this order: quality food, quality service, decor. Tighten up the first 2 elements, and the rest will come together.
(2)J K.
Have to agree with mot reviewers..not bad but not great. Need to work on food quality...
(3)Mary G.
My husband and I went there last night after a round of golf. Got there about 5 o'clock and the place was very quiet and mellow, way too quiet for me. Had crab cakes, which were wonderful and a couple a well-poured cocktails. Needed to be alittle livlier, so we walked down to the Lantern for more livlier crowd- Lantern is always fun. So, came back around 7:30, and what a difference in atmosphere. The Grille had a great piano player, and she was awesome. The restuarant was very busy and our food was good. They had a wedding going on and we waited about 45 minutes for our dinner, but that was OK. The excellent bartenders took good care of us. But, what really put me off was the hostess. They way she talked to the staff was not good. She basically dictated to them and talked down to them. Also, at one point, my husband went to the restroom and it was crowded, she basically pushed him in the back and out of the way. She was young, but she has alot to learn. Very off-setting to the overall experience.
(3)Kay A.
We recently now have the occasion to be in Lake Forest on a regular basis and thought we would try this place as somewhere to be able to go. It is a very nice facility and generally speaking, the food is very good. However, I gave it only 2 stars because the service was so bad, we will never return for brunch or any other meal. The poor service started with the Hostess. A young, long haired girl who was not at her station when we arrive. We stood around for what seemed like sever minutes waiting to speak to someone and to be seated. Finally, she arrived ( I am only describing her so that management can determine who she is) and asked us if we had a reservation which we replied yes. She had a strapless top on and was constantly pulling it up. She then took us to a table on the right of the hostess stand and just left us there. She did not explain the buffet situation to us, did not direct anyone to bring us water, just walked away. And, they have a lovely patio area and we were not invited to take a table out there either. There were several tables available. We waited several more minutes and during that time no one came to our table to give us water or ask us if we would like to order a drink. Finally, this young girl came back to tell us that the table she gave was reserved for a large party and would we mind sitting in the bar. We move to the bar area and sat at a table next to the door. Now mind you, the table was not even set-up There were no napkins, silverware or glasses on the table, and she just walked away not speaking another word to us. Another few minutes passed, a gentleman name Jo, who was obviously the bartender can over to our table and asked if we wanted a drink. We said no and he advised us we could just go to the buffet. We did so. About the time we were almost with our meal, Joe cam back to tell us that we could have had coffee, iced tea or juice as it was included with the buffet and would we like something now. Well obviously, it was too late and all we wanted was coffee with our dessert. We felt unwelcome and they did not appreciate our business. The place seems to be poorly managed and it appears the inmates are running the asylum. Should you decide to try it - GOOD LUCK!!!!
(2)Harrison M.
Denny's on Laurel. Actually, labeling the Grille on Laurel (GOL) as Denny's on Laurel may be a slight to Denny's in this one instance where there was a breakdown in food preparation and management oversight. In the spirit of full disclosure and fairness, we have eaten at GOL during all four seasons and have been served both inside and outside. The occasion outlined below is the first time out of many meals we have had a disastrous experience at the GOL, but disastrous it was. On Sunday 12/23/2012, we had a party of eight at the GOL (two families with college and post-college age children). I ordered the whitefish special and knowing that it would be bland asked that it be spiced up with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper during preparation (many chefs welcome the chance to spice up a bland dish at the diner's request). The dish was served without the additions requested and the waitress later said that my request was given to the chef; additionally the accompanying mashed potatoes were served as a cold lump. I didn't complain upon being served because I thought that the other diners were satisfied with their orders and didn't want to spoil the festive nature of the get-together. Apparently four others were equally dissatisfied and also failed to mention the fact during the meal. Unfortunately, the facts came to light only at the end of the meal. The Chopped Steak (a regular menu item) was served without the stuffing (mozzarella, onions, peppers) and without the toppings (Portobello mushrooms and caramelized onions); this diner is always reluctant to complain but did so once the others chimed-in. Two items from the Grille Salads menu (full sized dinner salads) were watery and one other dish also drew complaints. One diner took home left-overs from a pasta dish and one diner enjoyed his pecan-crusted tilapia (both regular menu items). Clearly diners should voice their dissatisfaction immediately upon being served; we failed to do so. We were presented with the bill without any adjustments after the waitress took the complaints to the manager (did she believe that we were trying to pull some sort of stunt?); we paid the bill in full with a single credit card. One of the diner's then took the paid receipt to the manager directly who reluctantly took the two full-sized salads off the bill. Every chef will occasionally mess up a meal; however the chef(s) messed up five meals on this order. We were never offered coffee or dessert and were very disappointed with the manager's attitude (she never addressed us as a group). The waitress did a nice job and was empathetic. We choose the GOL for this festive occasion due to our satisfaction the meals and service but are very reluctant to return after this experience.
(1)Tim Y.
The food was good, which says a lot since it was buffet style. What lacked was the service. Though my water glass was always full, my soda sat empty for well over 30 minutes, never being refilled. When two of three people at the table are serving themselves, how difficult could it be to keep the drinks coming? Thankfully the food made up for the service gaffe. I'm not sure where to rate this place. The food rates a solid 3.5, but the service pulls in at a low 2. I guess 3, though "A-OK" is awful generous.
(3)Mary Pat F.
I made a reservation for a Thursday lunch to treat a friend who is celebrating his 90th birthday which I mentioned during the reservation process When we arrived it was 1pm and fairly empty. FINALLY someone came to the table - we had to ask for a wine list - when that was ordered and the first glass finally poured it sat in the wine cooler until we had to ask him to pour more ( $70 by the way ) The food was fine but we were completely ignored throughout the meal. The fellow brought the check WITHOUT asking if anyone wanted coffee or desert. I went over to the hostess and said - don't you have a bit of cake whatever with a candle for the 90th birthday - she looked at me blankly and said " we don't do anything for birthdays " like I expected them to dance around and sing! All in all, terrible service - would never go back. By the way, the decor looks like a hotel dining room
(1)David B.
I am convinced that the Grille survives because (1) it has an active bar scene (2) it's one of the only Lake Forest restaurants with outdoor dining and (3) it is one of the few restaurants in LF period! I recently dined there after a few year gap and was again disappointed by the food and service. Food was average and service was careless. If the Grille was located in Highwood the competition would kill it. But with only a handful of decent restaurants in LF it survives playing nothing but a "C" game. It can do better if it cared to.
(2)Nancy B.
Fan of The Grille, but certainly not today. Distracted waiter and poor service; my friend and I seemed to be an afterthought. Wonderful Crab Cake salad as usual. Friend's side caesar salad was loaded with diced tomatoes and had portobello mushrooms?? Huh?? My friend asked, "Do you think they have a new chef?" "Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top." (Taken from basic internet recipe.) Trust me, my creme brulee was straight out of the refrig. A thick, cold pudding and no freshly browned sugar on top. Friend had apple crisp that looked and tasted like a big pile of breakfast oatmeal. Apples inside were cold. Sincerely hope this was a one-time situation.
(2)JLA J.
Absolutely my favorite restaurant in the world. I've moved away from the area out to LA and I can't find anything this good out there! I know that sounds crazy but it's true. When I come home I absolutely have to have The Grille! I drive over an hour from my parents house in Milwaukee, WI for the French onion soup and the salad with chicken and calamari. All time favorite restaurant.
(5)Patti P.
I have dined here for lunch and dinner. The food is alway tasty, fresh and well executed. Sometimes the wait staff is a tad slow. I love sitting outside in the summer to enjoy the fresh air and fresh food.
(4)D. J. R.
My wife and I made reservations this morning (4/14/13) for brunch. We were greeted at the hostess stand immediately and seated exactly at 11:30 a.m. the time of our reservation. Well, that's where the service ended. We sat and waited, and waited, and waited. A waiter looked at us serval times, but never came over to our table to even pour the water. We waited and waited, and left! I said to the hostess on the way out that no one waited on us, thus, we were leaving. She looked at us, but said nothing. Oh, one more thing. They waiter who looked at us several times was asked by the lady of a couple next to us for some more soda. He took her glass but the look he gave her was like, well, I won't say in a forum such as this. DON'T CARE WHAT THE PRICE IS - NO SERVICE - NO GOOD!!
(1)Keith A.
this all comes down to them grossly overbooking on mother's day. My grandmother had made reservations for 11:30 am on mother's day, and we weren't seated until 12:15. The place was a complete zoo and the set up was insanely awful. The entire placed was packed and when I arrived slightly late, my entire family was still standing by the bar. We went to find out how long it we would be waiting, and they didn't really answer other then that we were on the list. wonderful After waiting 45 minutes to get our seats, we had to go back up to the buffet which was placed right by the door and in the middle of everything. Brilliant. There are tons of people waiting, and they just clutter up the general area with people grabbing food and then have us fight our way back to our table. The only thing that saved any of this was that the food was really damn good. There was a lot of different general brunch style food, but it was all great. The southwest style has browns were great, and I went back for the bread pudding dessert which was worth fighting through the crowd. The massive over booking didn't exactly leave most of us impressed, but I'd be willing to try here again on a day that is more normal
(2)Alex B.
This place is amazing. The starters are pretty large, I ordered the mini burgers which are labeled as a starter dish. Although they were small in size, they were very filling. We had dinner on the outdoor patio and it was lovely. We did have to wait for a bit before we were attended, but the ambiance and the delicious food makes for a great dining experience.
(5)Jan T.
Pretty much an alright place, although it was a little confused, I feel. The ambience as one comes in is modern, with the usual mix of cold and warm colors, metal, and wood. Then again, you get your menu and there are specials on there like meatloaf and roasted turkey, making you think the restaurant was catering to an older crowd, which was, apart from some families, indeed the case. Very confusing. Service on a Wednesday night was relatively quick, and as we were early to arrive there were plenty of tables available. Why exactly we got the table closest to the kitchen and restrooms is for someone else to determine. I would guess a rented Ford does not have the desired effect in that part of Illinois. As to the food, it was alright. I had a house salad for the first course, which featured the usual combination of veggies as well as a heart of palm, which was unique and actually tasted quite nice. The ginger dressing was acceptable. For the main I had the Lake Superior White Fish, which was an odd choice because white fish is a wide range of things, but since we are on the lakes I figured it would be good. What came out was alright once again, although whoever fileted the fish could have done a better job. I had two bones in my fish as well as random bits of skin still clinging to the side of my entree. The risotto that came with it was bland, while the spinach was ok. We skipped dessert on this one.
(2)Tuya S.
I liked this restaurant because it has certain American regal feeling into it, yet without pretentious aura . The space is divided into bar/lounge and dining sections thus creating old school club feeling. You can sip on drinks and enjoy prime wine list meanwhile catching with friends or your date and later on move to dining area to catch really good cuts of fillet mignon. Speaking of drinks you can order from extensive wine list or from traditional mixed drink menu. The dining on evenings are accompanied by live piano music.
(4)Tee G.
I don't get here very much but always have a good experience when I do. Grandma's a big fan of $5 burger night (Mondays - it's $6 after 6 p.m.). In general they run a lot of lunch and dinner specials which I think you can check out on the website. My favorite is their teriyaki chicken salad. I'm not sold on the ginger vinaigrette but the rest of it is very good. I actually eat it without dressing and just enjoy the teriyaki sauce flavor. Many of the sandwiches are more affordable, and include either fries or fresh fruit (or sweet potato fries at an extra cost). The decor is pretty pretty modern and simple, but nice. Attire on here says 'dressy' but there seem to be plenty of casual dressers too. There are a lot of comments about service, but our servers have always been attentive and quick. Really no problems there. I think one time there was a longer wait to get the check at the end, but it hasn't been the norm.
(4)Sarah G.
I love this place! Great food, good service, and fair pricing. I've only had their salads, so I can't really write an accurate review on their menu but I am a true fan of the amazing salads they prepare. The salads are creative and had a lot of ingredients in them. They are also willing to alter ingredients and preparations for dietary restrictions, or just picky eaters like me! Usually, I end up going with a large party and a bunch of girls that absolutely need to have the bill split. To me, this is a bit rude and annoying for restaurants to do but if it must be done then so be it! Anyways, they are always very accommodating and happy to split the bill, so that's nice. The atmosphere is relaxed but the bar area can get a bit loud sometimes. Service is usually very prompt and the waiters/waitresses are very kind. I did dine there with my mom once and had really awful service.... It was an older man and I felt like he was more concerned with his larger party tables than our small party of two. Beside this one instance, the service has always been great!
(4)Ernesto D.
The food was good, but the staff is a bit spastic.
(3)Elyse C.
Yum this place was good. Ordered the calamari and a crab Cake salad. The crab cake was good I don't know how the salad came about it was a little odd to have bacon and hard boiled egg on a salad with crab cakes but it all worked out. My hubby had the lamb it was a little more done then he had ordered but it's subject to the chef I guess. Oil coated the plate but the sweet potato was done perfectly and the green beans were nice and crisp! Dessert was a indulgence black and white chocolate cake the white being cheesecake yummy. I will go back and probably have a burger those looked good.
(3)Rob A.
Good beer selection and tasty appetizers. Definitely an upscale clientele.
(4)Renato P.
This place looked really nice, especially the outdoor cafe on a nice day like today. I stopped here for a nice quiet late lunch. The menu seemed like it had some interesting choices, but I was all in on the tasty burgers here. I started with the chili, I've had better, and worse, I thought it was good enough. My date tried the shrimp bisque and seemed to enjoy it. The southwest burger though was really good, topped with bacon, cheddar and grilled onions. She tried the Alpine burger and gave me all the indications it was good. I would readily check this place out for dinner if I was in the area and had a buck or two in my wallet. I might have to dress up a bit more than I did today though.
(4)Mark T.
Quality food. Service is reasonable and friendly staff. It can get busy and you may have to wait longer than usual on certain days. I personally like their brunch buffet offering.
(4)Jennifer F.
I would probably have given this 3.5 stars. Our food was good; traditional dishes prepared well. Very nice side salad, served with an artichoke heart. The key lime pie was a bit of a disappointment. The service was a bit slow, which ordinarily wouldn't have been a problem except that we were sandwiched in between two other (loud) tables. There really was not much privacy at all as the tables were right on top of one another.
(3)Tim Y.
The food was good, which says a lot since it was buffet style. What lacked was the service. Though my water glass was always full, my soda sat empty for well over 30 minutes, never being refilled. When two of three people at the table are serving themselves, how difficult could it be to keep the drinks coming? Thankfully the food made up for the service gaffe. I'm not sure where to rate this place. The food rates a solid 3.5, but the service pulls in at a low 2. I guess 3, though "A-OK" is awful generous.
(3)Jan T.
Pretty much an alright place, although it was a little confused, I feel. The ambience as one comes in is modern, with the usual mix of cold and warm colors, metal, and wood. Then again, you get your menu and there are specials on there like meatloaf and roasted turkey, making you think the restaurant was catering to an older crowd, which was, apart from some families, indeed the case. Very confusing. Service on a Wednesday night was relatively quick, and as we were early to arrive there were plenty of tables available. Why exactly we got the table closest to the kitchen and restrooms is for someone else to determine. I would guess a rented Ford does not have the desired effect in that part of Illinois. As to the food, it was alright. I had a house salad for the first course, which featured the usual combination of veggies as well as a heart of palm, which was unique and actually tasted quite nice. The ginger dressing was acceptable. For the main I had the Lake Superior White Fish, which was an odd choice because white fish is a wide range of things, but since we are on the lakes I figured it would be good. What came out was alright once again, although whoever fileted the fish could have done a better job. I had two bones in my fish as well as random bits of skin still clinging to the side of my entree. The risotto that came with it was bland, while the spinach was ok. We skipped dessert on this one.
(2)Tuya S.
I liked this restaurant because it has certain American regal feeling into it, yet without pretentious aura . The space is divided into bar/lounge and dining sections thus creating old school club feeling. You can sip on drinks and enjoy prime wine list meanwhile catching with friends or your date and later on move to dining area to catch really good cuts of fillet mignon. Speaking of drinks you can order from extensive wine list or from traditional mixed drink menu. The dining on evenings are accompanied by live piano music.
(4)Tee G.
I don't get here very much but always have a good experience when I do. Grandma's a big fan of $5 burger night (Mondays - it's $6 after 6 p.m.). In general they run a lot of lunch and dinner specials which I think you can check out on the website. My favorite is their teriyaki chicken salad. I'm not sold on the ginger vinaigrette but the rest of it is very good. I actually eat it without dressing and just enjoy the teriyaki sauce flavor. Many of the sandwiches are more affordable, and include either fries or fresh fruit (or sweet potato fries at an extra cost). The decor is pretty pretty modern and simple, but nice. Attire on here says 'dressy' but there seem to be plenty of casual dressers too. There are a lot of comments about service, but our servers have always been attentive and quick. Really no problems there. I think one time there was a longer wait to get the check at the end, but it hasn't been the norm.
(4)Mary Pat F.
I made a reservation for a Thursday lunch to treat a friend who is celebrating his 90th birthday which I mentioned during the reservation process When we arrived it was 1pm and fairly empty. FINALLY someone came to the table - we had to ask for a wine list - when that was ordered and the first glass finally poured it sat in the wine cooler until we had to ask him to pour more ( $70 by the way ) The food was fine but we were completely ignored throughout the meal. The fellow brought the check WITHOUT asking if anyone wanted coffee or desert. I went over to the hostess and said - don't you have a bit of cake whatever with a candle for the 90th birthday - she looked at me blankly and said " we don't do anything for birthdays " like I expected them to dance around and sing! All in all, terrible service - would never go back. By the way, the decor looks like a hotel dining room
(1)David B.
I am convinced that the Grille survives because (1) it has an active bar scene (2) it's one of the only Lake Forest restaurants with outdoor dining and (3) it is one of the few restaurants in LF period! I recently dined there after a few year gap and was again disappointed by the food and service. Food was average and service was careless. If the Grille was located in Highwood the competition would kill it. But with only a handful of decent restaurants in LF it survives playing nothing but a "C" game. It can do better if it cared to.
(2)Nancy B.
Fan of The Grille, but certainly not today. Distracted waiter and poor service; my friend and I seemed to be an afterthought. Wonderful Crab Cake salad as usual. Friend's side caesar salad was loaded with diced tomatoes and had portobello mushrooms?? Huh?? My friend asked, "Do you think they have a new chef?" "Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top." (Taken from basic internet recipe.) Trust me, my creme brulee was straight out of the refrig. A thick, cold pudding and no freshly browned sugar on top. Friend had apple crisp that looked and tasted like a big pile of breakfast oatmeal. Apples inside were cold. Sincerely hope this was a one-time situation.
(2)Sarah G.
I love this place! Great food, good service, and fair pricing. I've only had their salads, so I can't really write an accurate review on their menu but I am a true fan of the amazing salads they prepare. The salads are creative and had a lot of ingredients in them. They are also willing to alter ingredients and preparations for dietary restrictions, or just picky eaters like me! Usually, I end up going with a large party and a bunch of girls that absolutely need to have the bill split. To me, this is a bit rude and annoying for restaurants to do but if it must be done then so be it! Anyways, they are always very accommodating and happy to split the bill, so that's nice. The atmosphere is relaxed but the bar area can get a bit loud sometimes. Service is usually very prompt and the waiters/waitresses are very kind. I did dine there with my mom once and had really awful service.... It was an older man and I felt like he was more concerned with his larger party tables than our small party of two. Beside this one instance, the service has always been great!
(4)Ernesto D.
The food was good, but the staff is a bit spastic.
(3)Qadree H.
I must say I went to Grille on Laurel for Sunday brunch not really knowing what to expect. We went after a recommendation from a local that said it is as good as the Deer Path Inn. We celebrated a new baby and I found the ambiance, service, and the feel of the place to be exceptional. However, it seemed to lack that "pizazz" that we've experienced at other Sunday brunches in Chicago and in Lake Forest as well. I thought the selection was good, but it was to be expected. I did not really feel they went above and beyond on the presentation to wow the guest with what was being offered. I think they have a local client base and they stay conservative with the bare minimal of what we need to be offered to call it a brunch. I do not want to discourage anyone from going, but I would not go out of my way to make a trip up from the city unless you wanted to meet someone that lived nearby. There appeared to be a lot of groups of 5 or more and this place offered a brunch and a space that could accommodate larger group. The look of the place is great.
(3)Renato P.
This place looked really nice, especially the outdoor cafe on a nice day like today. I stopped here for a nice quiet late lunch. The menu seemed like it had some interesting choices, but I was all in on the tasty burgers here. I started with the chili, I've had better, and worse, I thought it was good enough. My date tried the shrimp bisque and seemed to enjoy it. The southwest burger though was really good, topped with bacon, cheddar and grilled onions. She tried the Alpine burger and gave me all the indications it was good. I would readily check this place out for dinner if I was in the area and had a buck or two in my wallet. I might have to dress up a bit more than I did today though.
(4)Mark T.
Quality food. Service is reasonable and friendly staff. It can get busy and you may have to wait longer than usual on certain days. I personally like their brunch buffet offering.
(4)terry c.
This is my favorite place for food in Lake Forest.. its the nicest restaurant, with the best food, at a reasonable price. I get my favorite (the Grill Club). for like 8 bucks.. a full meal for less then what you would pay at the area sandwich shops (food and wine and the like)...
(5)JLA J.
Absolutely my favorite restaurant in the world. I've moved away from the area out to LA and I can't find anything this good out there! I know that sounds crazy but it's true. When I come home I absolutely have to have The Grille! I drive over an hour from my parents house in Milwaukee, WI for the French onion soup and the salad with chicken and calamari. All time favorite restaurant.
(5)Patti P.
I have dined here for lunch and dinner. The food is alway tasty, fresh and well executed. Sometimes the wait staff is a tad slow. I love sitting outside in the summer to enjoy the fresh air and fresh food.
(4)Scott B.
The Grille recently made some tweaks to its menu and I think they really did a nice job. The food here was already good, but I think what they've done is do a really nice job updating the selection a little. Prices seem a TOUCH higher, but I think they're still very reasonable for the amount of food you get. Additionally, the Grille now brings homemade chips to the table, which are really quite good. I had the Florence in the Spring flatbread pizza, which was absolutely wonderful - light but really satisfying and beautiful flavors. That's a new offering and really a new favorite. The Grille's tweaks to the menu aren't anything major, but are simply a really nice update. Again, the nice thing about the Grille is that - as restaurants go these days - it's reasonably priced for what it is and I always go away considerably full.
(5)Toshi I.
This review is based on a Sunday brunch buffet, so no comment on the service. The buffet offerings were high quality and a decent value. I enjoyed my time with my family here.
(4)Jessica B.
I came here for a private event The staff and food was great - HOWEVER, I didn't realize til after I paid that they added gratuity. Wish the waiter would of given me a heads up. But the manager I believe, left his personality somewhere else and made the event seem rushed.
(3)Evie H.
The Grille has awesome burgers at a very reasonable price, especially considering this is Lake Forest. I love that the burgers come on a pretzel bun which tastes so much better than a regular bun. We tried the Southwest burger with sweet potato fries and also had the linguine carbonara pasta. Both were better than I expected but the southwest burger has the edge because how can you beat bacon and caramelized onions on a pretzel bun? I thought the pasta was too one dimensional and too creamy for my taste (although the added pancetta was a real nice touch). I also tried some of the french onion soup which was very, very salty so beware if you're on a low sodium diet or don't like real salty stuff. Plus side though - lots and lots of onions! And my last note - don't forget to grab an Andes mint chocolate on your way out :) Definitely wouldn't be opposed to returning!
(4)Barby L.
Our last visit 3 days ago was awful! A/C not functioning, flies everywhere, items missing from orders (no mandarin oranges in the mandarin orange salad; no salmon; no bread on the table). The waiter tried hard, but the new ownership has NOT been a success, in my opinion. Will think twice about returning.
(2)hey a t.
I have to say that I'm a finicky eater, and the food is wonderful. This past visit I had the ahi tuna and it is better/comparable to Sunda. Amazing food minus the drive and no valet, total score. Bread pudding must be ordered with vanilla ice cream and it's enough to share with a few friends.
(5)Edward D.
While the outdoor seating is nice, the menu is vast, the service has too much room for improvement that I will not be dining here again. On a Wednesday night, that's not too busy, it shouldn't take 10+ minutes for the waiter to visit your table. Typically other restaurants may have another waiter stop by to at least take drink orders...take note. When the waiter finally came, he took our drink orders and an order for calamari as an appetizer as we were hungry. He brought the drinks back in a timely manner, but 25+ mins had passed with no appetizer in sight. He came over to ask if we were ready to order, which we asked about our calamari. He said, oh - just a Minute. He proceeded to take our order and then he disappeared. He visited the other tables to take their orders, and then 15 minutes later (not a minute) he came back to our table with the calamari we ordered 45 mins prior. I asked him if he forgot, and he blamed it on the kitchen. Our entrees came less than 10 mins later. For a $90 meal, service needs to improve as I was highly disappointed with being lied to and not having an overall attentive waitstaff who work as a team. I can only imagine what this might be like on a busy night.
(2)Luke C.
Service is friendly but food could be better. Basic American fair may be the way to go at this neighborshood lakeforest restaurant. Burgerss, chicken sandwiches, etc. The interior is very modern and upscale.
(3)Nicole N.
I've reviewed the Grille on Laurel twice before, but I wanted to do it again now because I am so impressed by their recent changes. A few months ago they totally reworked the menu, changed up the decor a bit, and vastly improved the outdoor seating area. We love many of the new menu items - the kale salad, the flatbreads, the brown rice bowl - and there are lots of options for customizing your meal. I had the Mediterranean flatbread tonight and it was fabulous. The service used to be uneven, but lately we haven't had any trouble with it.
(5)michael d.
My wife and I have been coming to The Grille for years. It's patio always made for a sublime Saturday date night- and the food was good, but limited. Hadn't been there since the summer of 2013 and when we arrived we could immediately see the patio was enhanced by a series of couches. But it was the news menu that made out eyes pop out. Great designer cocktails- I loved my North Shore Mule. In the past, burgers were all that seemed appealing, but the new menu had a ton of great options. I had the skirt steak, which was tender, juicy and very tasty. My wife had penne in vodka sauce with grilled chicken which she loved (and I stole half of). About halfway through the meal we overheard talk that the restaurant has recently been purchased by Marcus Lemonis of "The Profit"- and that explained a lot. His attention to detail was everywhere...especially in the enhanced enthusiasm of the staff (loved our server, Kayla). And the chance to the sample the now-famous Key West Key Lime Pie was a bonus. Cannot wait for another beautiful Saturday night to go back!
(5)M C.
Great food. The service was awesome as well. It can get packed in here quickly though and become quite cramped.
(4)Jacqueline H.
I love the grille on laurel! It's my go to Sunday brunch spot, tucked away in Lake Forest it's pretty quiet, you can stroll in at 10:30 on Sunday morning and be seated immediately! First off, they have THE best coffee I have ever had! Make sure to see Roy and ask him for his special iced coffee! I had three this morning! Fantastic! I believe the buffet is $15, and unlike most buffets the quality is exceptional! Everything is fresh, I crave the salads, they are crunchy and full of tasty bits that keep me coming back! I'm not sure how they manage to have the juiciest, most succulent fruits every weekend but they do without fail! Omelette station, carving station with ham, turkey and roast beef, bacon and sausage, eggs Benedict, potatoes, bagels with cream cheese and lox! And my favorites, they have decadent desserts, in small portions so you can have a taste and not ruin your entire day! Crime brûlée, chocolate covered strawberries, ice cream... Ahh I could go on and on! I'll see you there! :)
(5)Nancy E.
The restaurant is very loud. The service was good, the chips great. However, the hamburger less than good and there was an up-charge to change from fries to green beans, even though they were the same price on the menu.
(2)Yanni D.
Great food, outstanding service and atmosphere. Bartender Deuce and server Nancy are awesome. Marjorie Stroud performs here on Saturday nights from eight to eleven. If you like hearing music which will move you, Marjorie is one of the greatest pianist I've ever heard. She has performed with Sammy Davis, Jr. , the Staples Singers, Curtis Mayfield and so many more. She has lived in Dubai, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Holland and so many more places around the world. She's been in several movies. She studied classical music for 17 years and played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her passion in life is to use her musical talent to put a smile on a persons face and bring joy to her surroundings.
(5)Tanya W.
Great food, food value. It's great to be able to pick your side, even with sandwiches. Their Brussels sprouts are amazing. Good fresh fish.
(5)Emily B.
I had never been to this place before one of my girlfriends had her birthday party here. I thought it was pretty good, a little pricy but good nonetheless. There were not a lot of vegetarian options on the menu so I ended up getting a the mandarin salad san chicken. It was great, portion was a little small but since it was a birthday we were sure to fill up on dessert anyway. I had the flourless chocolate cake and it was heavenly. I loved the ambiance of the place, everything was beautiful and clean and the bathrooms were really nice.
(4)Lauren G.
I had the grouper, encrusted with macadamia nuts, sweet potato fries, and sautéed spinach. Everything was very good! The fish came with a lemon butter sauce on the side, which was a great idea so the fish didn't get soggy. The patio is really nice to sit at on a warm evening
(4)Michael N.
C'mon people!!! 3.5 stars??? WTF this place rocks!!! If I went to Beverly Hills and I told someone, show me what Beverly Hills is all about, they would probably take me to Rodeo Drive. If someone told me to show them what Lake Forest is all about, I would take them to The Grille on Laurel. The people here are classy, and the food is delicious. Maryland does crab cakes and football, LF does classy people and delicious food. Ashley and I came here one Friday night and had a drink in the bar. That's when my ever wandering eyes found the "Late Night Bar Special" sign. After 9pm on Fri and Sat, they have $2 bar food! Mini burgers, buffalo chicken strips, BBQ Chicken pizza. My sixth sense is the ability to find cheap eats even in the most affluent communities. The servers and bartenders are all really nice, there is live music in the bar at night, and the weekend brunch is out of this world good. Sunday brunch is $16/person with everything you can think of, including a Prime Rib carving station. I'm not a prime rib fan, but my dad and brother in law went to town on it. Saturday brunch is only $8 and includes almost everything that the Sunday brunch includes, except the meat carving stations and other "lunch" designated foods (like pasta). The Grille on Laurel also has a fish bowl of Andie's mints (I spelled that wrong) when you walk out the door. What a nice little send-off!
(5)Ashley S.
How can I be the duchess and not have a review? This place is wonderful. We've been numerous times within the last couple months. Twice for brunch, once on a Sunday and once on a Saturday. And a couple times at night to take advantage of their wonderful bar deal! The brunch is awesome, Sunday's is really great, prime rib, chicken, turkey, ham, pasta, the works, and it's $15.95. Saturday is more my style...$8 and everything you need, eggs, omelette's, potatoes, fruit, french toast...the only negative about that visit was the waiter's comment..."did you even taste your food?" I thought it was kind of rude, I know he was just trying to make conversation and be funny, but probably not something you should say to customers at brunch in Lake Forest, of all places. The bar deal is wonderful, $2 sliders, buffalo chicken strips, flat breads, I'm not sure what's all on it, but with the purchase of a drink you get some really great food for really cheap! We'll take advantage of this again, no doubt!
(5)Joel A.
First, the ambience is great. Sitting outside on the patio on a spring or summer evening while sipping wine just cannot be beat. The dining room is great too - large, but intimate within the context of your table. Secondly, the bread basket they provide is amazing. But I just have never felt completely happy with the food I have been served here. It's sort of run-of-the-mill American fare. That's not a bad thing at all, but often I've wished for something a little more memorable. I would happily come back here for a cosy conversation over wine, but if food is my top priority I would look some place else.
(3)Dan S.
Okay, maybe we should have tried the burgers. I found the Grille on Laurel to be good but nothing special. The setting and ambiance are fine although it can get a bit noisy. The patio outside would be nice in warmer weather. Service was attentive but a bit sloppy (brought less rolls than the # of people at the table, forgot the sugar for drinks etc.). No one in our group tried the meat dishes. The salads were good but pretty standard fare. The fish dishes (tilapia) in our group were good and the crab cakes were tasty. The BBQ chicken was also good but not wildly delicious to crave another trip in the future. Desserts also fit the bill but even the bread pudding which was touted to be "the best" was okay and not memorable. So, overall, I think 3 stars sums it up for us.
(3)Lisa G.
Service was good. Food was delicious and they had a lot to choose from on the menu. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I would definitely recommend it and will be coming back again soon.
(5)Tammi B.
It was ok. Mixed reviews.
(3)Kathy K.
Called for take out but the atmosphere was so inviting we decided to stay. Service to plate our meal (which was already bagged) was friendly, helpful & eager to please. Food was wonderful & we were glad we stayed!!
(5)Linda S.
We had reservations on Easter for 5 people. Tables were quite close together we were seated and several of the water glasses had lipstick lip marks on them those two classes weren't clean very well. The wait staff were rushing around which is understandable on a busy day but almost knocking people over including myself who walks with a cane. they didn't even say excuse me or I'm sorry. other than that the food was good except for the LOX which were extremely salty. I'm really not sure I would go there again.
(2)Ryan M.
Ate the Crab cake sandwhich and it was delicious. Our server though was ok. Seemed like he didn't care about servicing our table, which was weird since we were his only table.
(3)Theres T.
Couple good things about this restaurant are location and the steaks. They really know how to cook a steak and the meat is good quality. Now the bad......the bar here was great....large with adequate table seating as well. Evidently someone decided they could make it better by redecorating. They swapped out the comfy chairs for the ugliest, lowest chairs they could find. If you attempt to eat in the bar area the table hits your neck if you are less than 5 feet 5. I had to reach up to cut my steak! The new décor is rather tacky with wire sun sculptures that look like the logo for the Sunday Morning show. The menu has hardly changed since the place opened and while basic, needs a make-over. And if you are going to plop down rolls on every table why can't they be fresh...or at least warmed. There is so much potential for this restaurant, hopefully there will be a change of hands for the better.
(2)Peter B.
The grille is very consistent. The food is good. A good variety in the menu from salads to steak and chicken and pasta. It generally has a good vibe and energy.
(3)Sofiya K.
The chicken Marsala was cooked perfectly, but the ahi tuna had a very strange taste that was very disappointing. Burgers looked great and my coworkers enjoyed them.Cute atmosphere.
(3)Jim M.
Wish The Grille existed when I lived in LF. A great place for brunch, lunch, dinner and evening drinks. My mom, wife and I came here this past Saturday for an early lunch and it was great. Best of all is their shaded patio. Will always make this a stop when I'm in town.
(5)Jennifer F.
I would probably have given this 3.5 stars. Our food was good; traditional dishes prepared well. Very nice side salad, served with an artichoke heart. The key lime pie was a bit of a disappointment. The service was a bit slow, which ordinarily wouldn't have been a problem except that we were sandwiched in between two other (loud) tables. There really was not much privacy at all as the tables were right on top of one another.
(3)Jonathan D.
A nice location, many diners seemed to be enjoying a lovely evening on the patio. I ate in a private dining and selected from what I presume was an abbreviated menu. The garden salad was disappointing; actually a challenge to find the lettuce in there. For my entree I had the filet -- which was fantastic! Perfectly prepared, tender, just delicious. Finishing with the creme brûlée, which would seem hard to get wrong, but it was a bit cautiously crisped and fairly average. All in all probably a 4 star steak but much too average / below average to earn more than a 3-3.5 star rating.
(3)K G.
We loveThe Grille, it guarantees a well prepared and unfussy meal. If your looking for a fancy feast that charges for the frills, go elsewhere, you won't get that here. The food is as comfortable as the setting. Great staff, fun bartenders (that pour a great drink), good music and great food sums this place up.
(5)K D.
Beware the kale salad. Menu does not adequately describe it. I thought it was a delightful mix of fresh kale, tossed with other veggies. Kale and I go way back so I like to try wherever I can find it. Sounds good, right? What arrived at the table was sautéed (or blanched) mushy kale mixed with romaine pieces and some chopped veggies and bacon bits. Ugh. Even worse it was covered in a mound of dried out chopped chicken. When I ordered the salad the server asked if I wanted scallops or chicken on top, I replied no. So, I asked if they could make another. What came back was the same disappointing sautéed wilty kale mess. A really really odd "salad". I ate the mushy kale and pushed the other items around the plate. My friend had the skirt steak and loved it. So to each their own. But if you love fresh Kale, just know the kale does not love you back at this place. The pic I posted is the baked Brie which was okay.
(2)Nikki R.
My Chicago friends and I have met for brunch here because it's a good midway point between downtown Chicago and downtown Milwaukee-- however, it's a smidge longer of a drive for me, but I don't mind. I can't comment on anything other than the brunch, which is only served on Sundays. The $3 mimosas alone convinced us to give this place a chance. The buffet was rather good and pretty reasonable. I parked it by the omelette station because I wanted something prepared fresh for me. A good variety of ingredients to choose from and nice preparation. Overall, it was a good spot for brunch that was reasonably priced and had cheap breakfast cocktails. Not sure I'd go out of my way to go back, but it was fine for what my friends and I needed. I will say the staff was very nice. I arrived a little earlier than my friends and sat at the bar where the bartender that was on staff bought me a mimosa. That was a nice treat!
(3)John B.
Wow what a good place, so came to Mettawa on a business trip and wanted yo eat at a local stake house, found this resultant and I am glad I did. Food was very good, service was very good too. The server recommended the crab cakes and grilled Calamari. The were very good choices. If you are looking for a local stake house you need to try it, you will have a good experience.
(5)S K.
I am kind of surprised by the low stars on this place. They have the best gourmet burger that you can fully customize for the cheapest price! We have come back here repeatedly for the burgers and we are never disappointed. Plus the thick cut steak fries that accompany the burger are so good too. My friend ordered the nicoise salad with ahi and that too was so good and huge pieces of ahi in there. We also had the hot wing appetizer and they were fantastic. A definite must order when you stop in. Our waiters have always been super friendly with us as well. We have a baby and when we bring him in during the lunch rush everyone has been super nice and accommodating. I would give it 5 stars, however I feel that I need to try more from the menu before I give my blessing. However, from what I have seen and tasted thus far coming out of the kitchen, I can only assume I will bump this up to 5 stars soon enough.
(4)Robert T.
Where else can you go and have the fantastic brunch for less that 18 bucks? The service is quick and friendly. We also returned for dinner during the week enjoying a varied and interesting menu. Great job Grille team!
(5)D. J. R.
My wife and I made reservations this morning (4/14/13) for brunch. We were greeted at the hostess stand immediately and seated exactly at 11:30 a.m. the time of our reservation. Well, that's where the service ended. We sat and waited, and waited, and waited. A waiter looked at us serval times, but never came over to our table to even pour the water. We waited and waited, and left! I said to the hostess on the way out that no one waited on us, thus, we were leaving. She looked at us, but said nothing. Oh, one more thing. They waiter who looked at us several times was asked by the lady of a couple next to us for some more soda. He took her glass but the look he gave her was like, well, I won't say in a forum such as this. DON'T CARE WHAT THE PRICE IS - NO SERVICE - NO GOOD!!
(1)Rebecca R.
When I was driving through downtown Lake Forest, I spotted this beautiful little cafe on the corner. It caught my eye because it had a ton of people sitting outside on the brick patio a little after the normal lunch hour. It seemed to be a popular lunch spot. The next time I drove by, I experienced the same thing and decided to stop in. After about 3 minutes of standing at the hostess stand, someone finally got up from the back of the room to seat us. Most people were sitting outside on the patio, but we decided it was a little too warm and settled on inside. The hostess must have been confused and finally figured out why we were standing at the front door. The waitress was much more aware and provided a nice dining experience. Through the meal we needed something and because we were the only table inside, it took a while to get any one's attention. That was a bit annoying, but we did eventually get what we needed. The three of us ordered the same thing, and it was the lunch special to make it easy with our tight schedule, so I only have one dish to judge Laurel's on. We ordered a gyros plate with a Greek side salad. I was satisfied with my meal and quite full. It was not enough to recommend this as a 'must try', but I look forward to heading back for dinner to give it another chance. The decor and bar area was very cute, and with the live music on the weekends, it might make me change my star rating. Stay tuned!
(3)Jayne A.
Haven't been to The Grille on Laurel for awhile. Glad to have returned! Our server, Nancy, was friendly and attentive. Delicious grilled ahi tuna salad without any problem requesting some ingredients more to my liking :) And, as always, fabulous burger. Wished the evening wasn't threatening rain because would have definitely enjoyed the outdoor dining on a summer evening. Instead, sat in the bar area with great piano player entertainment on a Saturday night.
(4)Susan L.
Wonderful bar and outdoor dining! Try their red snapper, very tasty and crisp dinner salads too!
(5)Charles J.
Alright, yes yes the service is not the best - but that's why you go to the BRUNCH people!!! Brunch's are hard to find in the suburbs and this one is really damn good. The whole restaurant is a tad pricy, but in terms of the brunch it's A) all you can eat B) frickin awesome and C) damn tasty. There's made to order omelets, chocolate-dipped strawberries, chef-sliced ham and prime rib, bread-pudding, sausages n bacon, eggs benedict, french toast, sundays, danisheseses and more and more and more. Go get their brunch, be a big fatty and go home and sleep the sleep of the gluttonously satisfied!
(4)Carol C.
The location, ambiance and service are all great, along with the fact that they take reservations for any size party. That said, the food isn't fabulous, just okay. I have never had a burger, but that seems to be the best dish on the menu. I had the fish fry and, though the fish was fresh, the breading was fairly blah. I would go there again because of the location, but I don't expect an epicurian delight.
(3)Keith A.
this all comes down to them grossly overbooking on mother's day. My grandmother had made reservations for 11:30 am on mother's day, and we weren't seated until 12:15. The place was a complete zoo and the set up was insanely awful. The entire placed was packed and when I arrived slightly late, my entire family was still standing by the bar. We went to find out how long it we would be waiting, and they didn't really answer other then that we were on the list. wonderful After waiting 45 minutes to get our seats, we had to go back up to the buffet which was placed right by the door and in the middle of everything. Brilliant. There are tons of people waiting, and they just clutter up the general area with people grabbing food and then have us fight our way back to our table. The only thing that saved any of this was that the food was really damn good. There was a lot of different general brunch style food, but it was all great. The southwest style has browns were great, and I went back for the bread pudding dessert which was worth fighting through the crowd. The massive over booking didn't exactly leave most of us impressed, but I'd be willing to try here again on a day that is more normal
(2)Alex B.
This place is amazing. The starters are pretty large, I ordered the mini burgers which are labeled as a starter dish. Although they were small in size, they were very filling. We had dinner on the outdoor patio and it was lovely. We did have to wait for a bit before we were attended, but the ambiance and the delicious food makes for a great dining experience.
(5)Luke S.
It's hard to judge this place based of the Easter Brunch that we had here, but I will say that the food was very good and the service was excellent. The restaurant was jam packed and the brunch line was really backed up at times. The staff seemed to be doing a great job of keeping the food fresh, but the patrons did not do a good job of quickly making their plates. The price of the brunch was reasonable for what we got ($20ish/per person) !I would love to come back here and try some of their normal menu items!
(4)Sondrine L.
We went for a Birthday dinner and called ahead to request a table with a nice view of the fireplace. Was disappointed to have a side table in the lounge nowhere near the fireplace, not even all that busy?!? Our server, Nancy, was terrific- very friendly and attentive and made great suggestions from the menu. I had a chicken and sausage dish but it had a ton of tiny bones.... Very tasty though. May return to sit at the bar for appetizers and drinks- looked like a nice area and vibe. Burgers looked good too. The baked Brie appetizer was amazing!
(3)Bob B.
Great burger! Certainly one of the best on the North Shore. Great service, ambience, etc. But it's the burger that sells this place.
(4)Michelle S.
A little overpriced, food disappointed me.
(2)Kim R.
Wed night fried chix special is great!
(5)Stephanie L.
As stated by a very famous Chicagoan, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." I feel that is the case with the Grille. You can make a restaurant beautiful with dark wood and wall art, leather chairs, and a piano, but it is still a bad restaurant. I was deceived by the pleasant decor when our server greeted us. He was sloppily dressed in a black tee and pants. His attire was no different than the bussing staff that cleared our dirty plates. The server first took our drink order, and returned fairly quick with our beverages. That is where the prompt service started and ended. There were eight of us, the majority opting for different variations of a burger with fries or fruit, and two with a split salad. The turnaround from the kitchen took nearly a half hour. I was confused by the delay given that the dining room was 85% empty. There were 3 other tables seated other than our own. When the server did come out, he came toting a single burger plate. The rest of our table began to salivate, watching a single diner feast on their room temperature fries. The fries were were not warm, but, oddly, the red cabbage cole slaw was. Everyone first asked what the metal ramekin contained, since no one was aware they were getting an additional side. Then, after discovering its unusual temperature, discarded it. That was a lot of wasted "cole slaw." There was a wasted sandwich among the plates served as well. The caprese sandwich appeared with a soggy pretzel bun that made it inedible. Any time that fresh mozzarella is used--especially when it is packed in water--it needs to be patted dry. To me, a simple home cook, patting your mozz is Cooking Prep 101. Restaurants should always tie together three elements AND in this order: quality food, quality service, decor. Tighten up the first 2 elements, and the rest will come together.
(2)J K.
Have to agree with mot reviewers..not bad but not great. Need to work on food quality...
(3)Mary G.
My husband and I went there last night after a round of golf. Got there about 5 o'clock and the place was very quiet and mellow, way too quiet for me. Had crab cakes, which were wonderful and a couple a well-poured cocktails. Needed to be alittle livlier, so we walked down to the Lantern for more livlier crowd- Lantern is always fun. So, came back around 7:30, and what a difference in atmosphere. The Grille had a great piano player, and she was awesome. The restuarant was very busy and our food was good. They had a wedding going on and we waited about 45 minutes for our dinner, but that was OK. The excellent bartenders took good care of us. But, what really put me off was the hostess. They way she talked to the staff was not good. She basically dictated to them and talked down to them. Also, at one point, my husband went to the restroom and it was crowded, she basically pushed him in the back and out of the way. She was young, but she has alot to learn. Very off-setting to the overall experience.
(3)Kay A.
We recently now have the occasion to be in Lake Forest on a regular basis and thought we would try this place as somewhere to be able to go. It is a very nice facility and generally speaking, the food is very good. However, I gave it only 2 stars because the service was so bad, we will never return for brunch or any other meal. The poor service started with the Hostess. A young, long haired girl who was not at her station when we arrive. We stood around for what seemed like sever minutes waiting to speak to someone and to be seated. Finally, she arrived ( I am only describing her so that management can determine who she is) and asked us if we had a reservation which we replied yes. She had a strapless top on and was constantly pulling it up. She then took us to a table on the right of the hostess stand and just left us there. She did not explain the buffet situation to us, did not direct anyone to bring us water, just walked away. And, they have a lovely patio area and we were not invited to take a table out there either. There were several tables available. We waited several more minutes and during that time no one came to our table to give us water or ask us if we would like to order a drink. Finally, this young girl came back to tell us that the table she gave was reserved for a large party and would we mind sitting in the bar. We move to the bar area and sat at a table next to the door. Now mind you, the table was not even set-up There were no napkins, silverware or glasses on the table, and she just walked away not speaking another word to us. Another few minutes passed, a gentleman name Jo, who was obviously the bartender can over to our table and asked if we wanted a drink. We said no and he advised us we could just go to the buffet. We did so. About the time we were almost with our meal, Joe cam back to tell us that we could have had coffee, iced tea or juice as it was included with the buffet and would we like something now. Well obviously, it was too late and all we wanted was coffee with our dessert. We felt unwelcome and they did not appreciate our business. The place seems to be poorly managed and it appears the inmates are running the asylum. Should you decide to try it - GOOD LUCK!!!!
(2)Elyse C.
Yum this place was good. Ordered the calamari and a crab Cake salad. The crab cake was good I don't know how the salad came about it was a little odd to have bacon and hard boiled egg on a salad with crab cakes but it all worked out. My hubby had the lamb it was a little more done then he had ordered but it's subject to the chef I guess. Oil coated the plate but the sweet potato was done perfectly and the green beans were nice and crisp! Dessert was a indulgence black and white chocolate cake the white being cheesecake yummy. I will go back and probably have a burger those looked good.
(3)Rob A.
Good beer selection and tasty appetizers. Definitely an upscale clientele.
(4)Harrison M.
Denny's on Laurel. Actually, labeling the Grille on Laurel (GOL) as Denny's on Laurel may be a slight to Denny's in this one instance where there was a breakdown in food preparation and management oversight. In the spirit of full disclosure and fairness, we have eaten at GOL during all four seasons and have been served both inside and outside. The occasion outlined below is the first time out of many meals we have had a disastrous experience at the GOL, but disastrous it was. On Sunday 12/23/2012, we had a party of eight at the GOL (two families with college and post-college age children). I ordered the whitefish special and knowing that it would be bland asked that it be spiced up with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper during preparation (many chefs welcome the chance to spice up a bland dish at the diner's request). The dish was served without the additions requested and the waitress later said that my request was given to the chef; additionally the accompanying mashed potatoes were served as a cold lump. I didn't complain upon being served because I thought that the other diners were satisfied with their orders and didn't want to spoil the festive nature of the get-together. Apparently four others were equally dissatisfied and also failed to mention the fact during the meal. Unfortunately, the facts came to light only at the end of the meal. The Chopped Steak (a regular menu item) was served without the stuffing (mozzarella, onions, peppers) and without the toppings (Portobello mushrooms and caramelized onions); this diner is always reluctant to complain but did so once the others chimed-in. Two items from the Grille Salads menu (full sized dinner salads) were watery and one other dish also drew complaints. One diner took home left-overs from a pasta dish and one diner enjoyed his pecan-crusted tilapia (both regular menu items). Clearly diners should voice their dissatisfaction immediately upon being served; we failed to do so. We were presented with the bill without any adjustments after the waitress took the complaints to the manager (did she believe that we were trying to pull some sort of stunt?); we paid the bill in full with a single credit card. One of the diner's then took the paid receipt to the manager directly who reluctantly took the two full-sized salads off the bill. Every chef will occasionally mess up a meal; however the chef(s) messed up five meals on this order. We were never offered coffee or dessert and were very disappointed with the manager's attitude (she never addressed us as a group). The waitress did a nice job and was empathetic. We choose the GOL for this festive occasion due to our satisfaction the meals and service but are very reluctant to return after this experience.
(1)