I enjoyed my meal so much that I left in a food coma. Luckily, I wasn't driving because I passed out literally in the car on the way home. My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day. The place was crowed. We were sat at a table in the way way back. I liked the table because it was larger than normal for two people. I ordered salad, steak and baked potato. They bring out free bread and butter. I ate that and had the Planters punch cocktail while waiting. The side salad was very large, and nice and fresh. I cannot complain. The steak was good and the baked potato was normal. I was very full and satisfied. I had heard the key lime pie was to die for so I took a piece home. I ate it for breakfast the next morning. IT was delish! I hope to go back sometime soon.
(5)
Mitchell Y.
Came here for my dad's birthday and thought the theme was a little strange. I'm Illinois born and bred, but Wisconsin supper clubs are hardly some exotic concept, so I thought the whole idea was a little silly. That being said, we all enjoyed our visit. Our server was friendly and even brought us a complementary flatbread to welcome us "into the club." That was a very nice touch and it tasted good to boot. We all shared the onion strings, which were pretty standard. However, the french onion soup (sensing a theme here?) was excellent. It has a different taste than most- sweeter, but it works. Since we came on a Sunday, half of the table tried the weekly fried chicken special. They didn't see what all the fuss was about. I had the ribs and they were good, but not anything past that. However, the macaroni and cheese side is the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Period. I cannot recommend it enough. For dessert we were a little ambitious and ordered both the apple strudel and gooey chocolate cake. The strudel was hard as a rock. Seriously, we all had to use our knifes like saws just to get a bit. Fortunately, the cake made up for it. All in all I'm glad to have come here, but except the mac and cheese, there are better places to be found.
(3)
L K.
I brought my mom here for lunch last week. They were busy but we were served quickly. She had fish, large piece, loved it. I had a chopped salad, asked for different dressing than listed on menu, no problem. Salad was huge, crisp, nicely presented. Lots of leftovers my mom took home. Recommended.
(5)
Adnan A.
Been craving some bbq beef ribs for a while now and I can't believe I never knew this place existed less than 10 mins away from home. When the combo order of the chicken and beef ribs was placed in front of me, I had a hard time picking up my jaw after seeing the quantity. Wasn't an issue cleaning up the plate because it was so damn good.
(5)
Melissa R.
Gooey chocolate cake is where it's at! Order ahead of time because it takes 45 minutes to cook. The food is good, and the owner is super sweet and cares about allergies, or the customers!
(4)
Kirsten V.
I would give our waiter 5 stars, 4 for food and ambiance but no stars for the rude hostess. I worked for the original Lettuce restaurant, RJ Grunts, back in the '80's for seven years and I know that Lettuce prides itself on service. I walked in at 4:30 on the Saturday of Passover (the beginning of dinner service on what was surely to be a very busy weekend). I stood at the hostess stand while the hostess talked to another employee for several minutes without even glancing at me. Finally she starts looking at the computer screen, no greeting, no smile, and says, "Yes?" Look, I'm a nicely dressed middle aged woman, not a teenager in jeans with an attitude. I give her my name, tell her how many are in my party and what time. She NOT ONCE actually looks at me. She NOT ONCE smiles or welcomes me. She starts tapping at her screen, asks me my name two more times and how many and time two more times, all while NEVER LOOKING AT ME. Maybe you'll remember that I've already given you this info if you look at me. She starts shaking her head and mumbling, no, not here, then starts to tell me that I don't have a reservation at the same time I tell her the restaurant called me to confirm. Oh there it is, she basically says to herself (still, not once in a five minute exchange, did she look at me or smile or anything) then grabs four menus and tells a much younger hostess which table to take me to. As I turned to follow the other hostess, she calls after me, Enjoy your meal. Wow. Thanks.
(3)
Rita M.
Cannot believe I never reviewed this place! First time dining here was once upon a time when my husband and I were NEWLY boyfriend and girlfriend. Back in 2009! Since then, this has been THE PLACE to go to for birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. My ma and I always split a whole slab of bbq ribs and the hubby always either gets the prime rib (unfortunately only available one night a wk, it is either a fri or sat, I forget) or the skirt steak medium rare. Great laid back ambiance. Great decor. Good quality food. Make reservations! I love the promptness shown when the hostess seats us, as we are frequent diners (hoping they can see that when and how often I make reservations) One star deducted, because the server we had when dining this past Sunday at 19:30. VERY absent-minded and forgot our plates for the bread (we all sat staring at the bread for a good 10/15 mins AND reminding her about the plates twice), and for her bringing out my ma and hubby's drinks (pops) promptly but took me a good 5/10 mins to get my non alcoholic beverage. Thank goodness I had water. Will I be back? I have been coming back since 2009!!!!! :)
(4)
J T.
First time here. The ambiance was pretty cool, kind of like a gangster feel. At least that's what I thought. We had the cheese curds first, yummy! Very good. Moved on to the the baby back ribs....well, what can I say, they were awesome!! The meat fell off the bone! Yum! Then, I was told that the apple strudel was to die for and they were right!! Make sure you order it early. It takes 40-45 minutes to make and let me tell ya, it's worth the wait!! Will definitely be back to this place!! Great service, great food and great atmosphere!
(5)
Emma C.
Delicious burgers (both meat and veggie), delicious creamed spinach, delicious twice-baked potato, delicious french onion soup, delicious side salad, delicious apple strudel. Often crowded, so make a reservation if you plan to go after 5 p.m. It's a little on the pricey side, but excellent so it's worth it once in a while. Nice place for a celebration family dinner...you'll see a lot of this going on, as well as boisterous middle-aged Jewish women on a tear with their besties and the we've-been-going-out-a-while-and-we're-not-mushy-Âbut-I-still-like-you-so we'll-eat-a-nice-meal dates. Four stars instead of five because the management is terrific at solving problems, but the staff is touch-and-go; sometimes fantastic, other times negligent, and so there are problems to solve. More than that, they need to get any carpeting out of there. We go often, and twice there was a wafting of eau de pee in the air. I think they have an older clientele at lunch, and I'm not hatin' on the seniors and I've gone enough times in which that wasn't the case, but L. Woods could use a little redecorating/updating that might include an opportunity to de-must as one must.
(4)
Katarina X.
Massive. No really, these are not plates but platters... these are not portions but gargantuan, everest-like mounds of meat and butter and cheese. Definitely an abundant example of vast quantity. A wood-paneled, plush booth seating, midwest setting that would not be out of place for a scene in Mad Men and cocktails from that time as well. The booths were sizable for our party of five- really great for conversation and sharing of plates. I apologize yelp, no cocktails for me... horribly sick the day prior- the kind of exhausting, violent, can't keep water, ginger ale or my internal organs from being thrown-up sickness that leaves one weak for da#n near the weekend in entirety. No fault of the establishment- if anything, the kind server made sure there were options for my first solid meal. I couldn't go for anything spicy or cheesy and refrained from alcohol because... still a little shaky... the prime rib the size of the Sears Tower was not going to happen. Soup? Yes please. So if you are watching your waistline or naturally restrained- there are "light" options for dinner where you can get a lovely piece of fish, you will not be able to finish, big enough to feed two heartily... instead of their towering standard sized plates that (no joke) could easily feed a nuclear family of four. The fish I ordered was very pretty to look at, clean and simple. The side options are welcome too, gigantic, but you can get a baked potato or a baked sweet potato, buttered corn, creamed spinach, fries or mashed potatoes. I like having options. My friend ordered skirt steak and it was seriously, enough to feed four. Her lemonade (it looked refreshingly divine) and her side(!) of fries was passed between five at the table with leftovers. Our men hit the cocktails, and the wine and the beer... I had no idea you could go from beer to old fashioned to Malbec but they did and seemed quite happy with their mounds of rare beef and full slabs of ribs. We finished with what looked like a burrito the size of my leg, requiring 45 minutes to prepare. Really. This is a strudel- filled with melted butter, sliced apple, cinnamon, sugar and wrapped in pastry. A table of five or six is necessary for this indulgence, very indulgent. I may not need to eat for another two or three days.
(3)
Margaret A.
Excellent food and service by Linda. Very nice cozy environment. Kids menu a plus. Will be back soon.
(5)
Lisa C.
This place is very consistent. The best part is that they have something for everybody : chicken, fish, pizza, pork, BBQ. Try to get a reservation, this place is busy in the evenings.
(5)
Nick L.
Dry, dry and dry. 6 meals and that was the overwhelming consensus. It reminds me of a Wildfire setup and menu which is no bad thing. That's about where the similarities end. It's close by to the in-laws place so it was somewhere close we could have a nice dinner. There's a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated and have no complaints there. There's also warm bread at the start but after an episode of 20/20 I eyed it skeptically. We didn't order any apps and went straight for the entrees. I was in the mood for fish and chips, wife got a full rack of pork ribs. A steak, some walleye, chicken and beef ribs were also ordered and I got to try a bit of everything. My own choice was disappointing. The fish pieces were small (typical for the US) but the coating was too crumbly. Almost like something from the freezer in a grocery store. The full rack of pork ribs was large but the meat did not fall off the bone, not super fresh I guess, and was dry. The sauce was good but it could not hide the inadequacies of the ribs. The nut crusted walleye was pretty bland and was poor and I would not advise on that. Continuing on the dry theme, the chicken was dry, not the yummy moist and juicy chicken that is so easy to eat. The steak was overpriced for the size of the portion, can't comment on quality or taste because it was ordered medium well although it looked like well done to me. The beef ribs were the tastiest and I would get that if I was to ever come again. The sides were also pretty good, hard to go wrong with a well executed jacket potato with all the trimmings. This place also charges Wildfire like prices which was painful to my wallet especially as it wasn't the greatest meal I've had. i.e. For a lot less, you can get much better.
(2)
Amy S.
MMMMMM comfort food...L. woods is the definition of comfort food from staff, to atmosphere, to food. Came here with a big group for dinner and our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the dinner. I also loved the total lodge atmosphere, they really did transform the whole place. We got a variety of things off the menu and everyone seemed to be happy with their choice. I got a bloody mary and their barbecue turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn. Unfortunately for my stomach I ate the entire plate because it was so delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and had good simple flavors. My bloody mary had a really good spicy pickle in it and a smoky flavor which wasn't my favorite but was still good. Something tells me this is one of those places where you could order anything off the menu and you wouldn't be disappointed.
(5)
Ed S.
If you're in the mood to be transported to a Wisconsin lake with out the drive then this is your spot. Had a great meal there last night. Every table in the place had either the fried chicken or the ribs. Many had both, including us. Service was fantastic and welcoming. Traditional super club fare and good beer list. Huge place with wood paneling. Very busy.
(5)
Ken H.
Took my wife here for her birthday and brought the two kids. Overall a good experience but perhaps my hopes and expectations were too high. We frequent Wisconsin supper clubs often and while the menu, decor and beverages were obviously themed and influenced by Wisconsin/Michigan back-road establishments, I expected more from the Lettuce Entertain You brand. I tried two of their Old Fashioned cocktails, the Wisconsin and the Kentucky. Both were good but not great. You would think a Wisconsin themed restaurant would "nail" Wisconsin's state cocktail. They were off. I have had much better. I had the parmesan cod and my wife the BBQ salmon. Both were very tasty. The kids had the pounded chicken and a cheese burger, also very good. The four of us split the brownie with ice cream. This was underwhelming. With so many outstanding brownie recipes out there you would think they would make something special. It was not. Our bill totaled $130, so its pricey for a supper club but its suburban Chicago location makes this understandable. Prior to visiting I really had thought my review would be 5 stars, so I was disappointed in that but overall an OK experience.
(3)
Jackie K.
We frequent L Woods quite a bit! The parmesian encusted filet is to die for! The atmosphere is great, the people are friendly and helpful. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait. Even if you have reservations, the wait time to get a table is tremendous. This place is crowded no matter when you seem to go. We started a habit of ordering for pick-up to avoid the wait, only to have to wait 30 to 40 minutes at the pick-up counter after they give you a pick-up time. Go to L Woods when you have the time.
(4)
Nancy L.
Feels like an old school supper club but with some modern twists - take a deeper look and you'll realize it's a bit Disney like in the sense it's almost too well put together around that theme. That's probably because it's owned by Lettuce Entertain You. The bar is decorated just like some old taverns I remember in rural towns so it feels really down home. Dining in the circular booth tables feels cozy and private . The food is straightforward forward American cuisine - well prepared. After coming here I realized that all the Lettuce Entertain you restaurants have pretty much the same chopped salad with blue cheese, bacon, little pasta, tomatoes and mustard vinegarette - which I really like so I'm not really complaining. I loved that they offered a baked sweet potato with a brown sugar pecan butter which was really yummy and a nice change of pace from a regular baked potato. It's a great place for a big group - broad menu that is multi generational friendly. They also have a family style menu for about $29 a person that includes starters, salad, main course, sides and dessert. The servers are well trained and attentive. When we said it was our first time there they brought us a half flatbread order to try. We'll be back when we are in the mood for american rural nostalgia and a predictable experience.
(3)
E B.
Armed with $75 in "Lettuce Entertain You" gift cards, no reservation on a late Sunday afternoon, and a slight sense of adventure, I decided to check out this place after attending a matinee musical in the Loop. We arrived at 5:30pm and the place was packed and buzzing!!! I'm a lover of all things nostalgia and found the decor to be interesting and homey, like I was in a real life episode of the 80's TV show, "Newhart." From the pictures on the wall to the lodge feel, I had plenty of atmosphere to soak up while waiting for about 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, wait staff brought a nice warm loaf of onion bread to our table with butter and water. Our waitress asked if we were first timers, greeted us with a "well, welcome..." and proceeded to explain the specials and how all the menu items are freshly prepared. She quickly brought us our cocktails, mine was a cranberry-clementine sangria with pureed fruit on the bottom. A nice blend of tart and sweet and booze. A manager dropped by our table to welcome us for being first time guests and brought a complimentary barbecue chicken and pesto flatbread for us to snack on while we enjoyed a small chopped salad that was large enough for two to share. The evening would be full of small gestures such as this, the accumulation of which, make for a great and memorable dining experience. My "deconstructed" chicken pot pie arrived to my table piping hot. The sauce was creamy and rich but not salty (which I can appreciate). The flaky crust sat atop a stew with plenty of chopped chicken pieces and veggies. My friend had the fried chicken special with mashed potatoes and cole slaw and loved it! The portions were large enough to enjoy some leftovers for lunch the following day. Dessert was an egg-nog custard cream pie with a layer of fudge, vanilla whipped cream and a gingersnap crust. Large enough to share, but you probably wouldn't want to do so. L. Woods is great comfort food, big on taste and approachable. You wouldn't come here expecting a meal carved in to work of art you're reluctant to take a fork to but you won't be at all disappointed about that fact either.
(4)
M. T.
Lots of hype, big on atmosphere like a Wisconsin lodge. Food was very good, but not great. Had the pulled pork, it was just as good as Weber Grill.
(3)
meredith d.
I love this place - the clubby atmosphere, friendly service and excellent food. Just had lunch there, and my friend and I had to wait for our entrees. We weren't complaining - we were chatting and drinking coffee - but when the food arrived, the manager came to our table to tell us that it was all on the house! Because we'd had to wait so long! I can't even tell you how long it was - maybe 30 to 45 minutes, if that. So we were comped a $50 meal! On a previous occasion, after picking up a dinner from them, we discovered that my husband's potato was missing, and they sent us two gift certificates to make up for it. So they have excellent customer service as well as delicious food. Favorites? The crusted walleye, the fried chicken (Sundays only for that one, I believe), the walleye nuggets appetizer and the meatloaf. Good decaf coffee, too (which is rare). Did I say I love this place?
(5)
Natalie B.
Downright awful. Why oh why do people come here? The average age is easily 80, maybe the older folk just don't know better? First off, it feels dirty and tables are crammed together so tightly that people can't walk through. I had to get up at least three times to let other patrons walk by ( for reference, I'm pretty thin and was pushed close in). We were at a 6 top that had an extra chair crammed in and was made up of two uneven tables that didn't match up which = spills!! So the food. Yuck! My ceaser salad was a bag of romaine lettuce with a package of store croutons thrown on and shelf stable Parmesan. The chicken, which was forgotten until I asked a bunch of times resembled what they serve at McDonalds. My childrens food was equally unappetizing and my daughter threw up after consuming it. She isn't sick-was food poisoning. The other two didn't eat at all, and my kids eat everything and a lot. Will I come again? Heck no and I suggest you don't either.
(1)
Dave C.
Great service and good comfort food. Wisconsin style supper club. The place was packed on a Friday night, which probably means things are good here. We stuck with the favorites, baby back ribs, Friday night fish fry & chocolate molten cake. It was all pretty tasty, good atmosphere, comfortable. Oh, and the Wisconsin Old Fashion was refreshing.
(4)
Kathleen C.
Oh no! Can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot as I've been here a zillion times. However, admittedly, I haven't been there in a while until this past week. It was just as I remembered! I always get basically the same thing, though I have tried many other items and I have never been disappointed. Food is always fresh and flavorful and not overly seasoned. The chopped salad - try it without dressing and then get a bunch of dressings on the side. Service is always friendly and even when the place is bustling, they know what to do! I've never had any issues with service and typically, even when there is a wait, they keep things moving pretty well. Atmosphere is somewhat lodge-y, though I suppose that goes with the supper club vibe. Very comfortable and cozy and a nice spot to have a great meal with great service and great food. Food - 5 Value - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Bathrooms - 4 Service - 5
(5)
Stephanie S.
Hubs' family is full of longtime Wisconsinites who romanticize the supper club atmosphere. So naturally we had to check out this place and see how it stacks up. We made reservations for a Tuesday night. The place was pretty crowded (had to park on a side street because the lot was full). Even with a reservation, we had to wait 15 minutes for a table. Given the way they called names, I'm not sure it mattered if we had made a reservation or not, which was pretty annoying. We were at the table for 5 or 10 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. In general it seemed our waiter, while friendly, was flustered and harried. The food was good, and portions were large. We split the small chopped salad (one of the better ones I've had with a good amount of bacon and bleu cheese). Hubs had skirt steak (ginormous), I had whitefish (nice crust, well-balanced butter sauce). No complaints on the food. Tasty and would gladly eat there again. Plus, brandy old fashioned FTW. Yes, the clientele is octogenarian. It's a little crowded and can be loud, so probably not the place for a romantic date. Hubs said the decor was "fake" (obviously, since it's part of a restaurant group and not an actual mom-and-pop supper club). Overall, I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to come here, and I'd enjoy my meal. But it's kinda far from my house and not good enough to justify the drive.
(4)
Mark F.
Amazing service, amazing food. We have been there a couple of times for a date night and with friends and have never left disappointed. The meats are great, the sides are amazing. If they have the meatloaf special, I highly recommend it. It's extremely family friendly and you can tell that the staff is really close. You would never think you are at a chain type of restaurant. It feels homie and comfortable. The bar tenders are always a riot and the servers are so personable that we found ourselves making conversation with them. We will definitely make this one of our go-to spots.
(5)
Andrew D.
One of our family favorites! The cheese curds and the brisket nachos are great starters. Both the pork ribs and the beef ribs are fantastic. I highly recommend going on Sunday for the fried chicken special. And be sure to save room for made to order gooey chocolate cake or apple strudel. They also have few signature cocktails that are delicious. Would be five stars but the service can be a little slow.
(4)
R S.
I have been a lettuce customer for over 20 years... Yet never been to L Woods. Went here for dinner the other night. They did not disappoint. Everything was wonderful. Had a great meal. The prices were reasonable. Te service was great.
(4)
David C.
Well, if you'd like to sit under a cold air vent, complain repeatedly and have the staff refuse to let you switch tables - then this is the place for you! Seriously, we LOVE the food here but I'm stunned at how poorly we were treated - right up to the manager. Particularly surprising for a Lettuce restaurant!
(1)
Hunda S.
Good steak nice place havent been here in awhile but my husband and i enjoyed it last
(4)
Sarah C.
Attended a get together for my mom here and was pleasantly surprised by not only the service but the food. My BBQ chicken was delish and I didn't hear a single complaint at the table either. The only thing I didn't love was my banana cream pie. Not only does it come with nuts on it but I found it to be a little bland. My sister had some issues with a reservation we booked months in advance after the event planner made a mistake; but the manager made it right.
(4)
Jacqueline B.
First time here & OMG I'm about 10 Ibs heavier!! To start off we had brisket nachos which were good. Dad had the NY steak, French fries & mash potatoes ..which were all good. Mom had the half chicken and ribs = good. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger (although they forgot to put bacon on it) and double baked potato..all great. EVERTHING WAS GOOD!
(4)
David R.
I'm a big fan of this restaurant; without meaning to, I've developed a habit of targeting it for casual special occasions. The first time was two nights before my wedding, the day that my family arrived in town and we needed a dinner option to please a large, disparate group. That night, I enjoyed some very solid calamari and a macadamia-encrusted tilapia special which was one of the best fish dishes that I can remember; my brother declared their pulled pork sandwich the best he's ever had. The second time was on St Patrick's Day in 2012, when the TimeOut magazine advertised a promotion where L Woods was giving away a corned beef dinner to any patron to show a passport with a stamp from the Republic of Ireland. When I showed up on the actual holiday, they told me that the deal was only for the preceding weekend. When I expressed my disappointment, the management agreed to honor the promotion after all. Hooray for customer service! And the corned beef and cabbage was not too shabby either. Recently I celebrated my second wedding anniversary there, because my wife loves this place too. We both have excellent taste. Except that she expressed no interest in my delicious barbecue ribs! Well, noone's perfect, but I love her anyway. Consistently good food, a fun casual setting, and cheerful service will keep us coming back on special occasions and maybe sometimes for no reason at all.
(4)
Patrick D.
Absolutely THE best pulled pork sandwich I've had in Chicago. Well cooked smokey moist meat. Mmmmm, mmmmm good! Great BBQ sauce on the side. You control how much goes on the sandwich. This place just keeps on doing it, and doing it very well. Do NOT be intimidated at having to order their "Famous Apple Strudel" when you order your meal. It takes 45 minutes to prepare so no ordering it after dinner.. It is wonderful, and big enough for 2 or 3. Also, probably the best floor staff of any place like this, friendly, efficient,, knowledgeable about everything on the menu,
(4)
Peter O.
Last Easter 2014, Paulina, that evening's overworked waitress from my above review graciously, kindly, expeditiously did double duty serving us while assisting us with a large family to-go order of what was (of course) delicious food while we ate and drank at leisure in the bar. Paulina has been my/our server and occasionally my bartender on many occasions since. I can not praise enough her warm, companionable decency and efficiency. This must be made clear. She's turned out to be a marvel, at the pinnacle of what is, with very few exceptions, one of the best restaurant staffs in Chicagoland. I hope to permanently have learned some necessary lessons here. ~Peter O.
(4)
Mark C.
We found this place because we wanted to use up a Lettuce Entertain You gift card and we could not be happier with our selection. The setting is like a lodge up in Wisconsin or Michigan... and a great reasonably priced menu. We were greeted by "Momma", who was waiting for us based on our reservation. An older lady that we at first thought was a customer or someone's Grandmother that wandered away from her table. But she was fun and friendly... so kudos on the nice start. For starters, the Fried Calamari was very good, although more than we needed and had to force ourselves to stop so we had room for dinner. The server was knowledgable about the selections and recommended the BBQ Ribs, which I enjoyed and partner had the BBQ chicken. Quite wonderful! The martini's at $11 a pop were good although first one was slightly warmer than the 2nd one... still a good deal at a good price. We will definitely return!
(4)
Dennis D.
One of my favorite restaurants. BBQ chicken and ribs are delicious. Brisket sandwich tender and flavorful. Highlight are daily specials. Saturday is great portion of Prime Rib and Sunday the fried chicken. Both really good Match that with the good service and a spectacular bar and you have a great dining experience that reminds you of the best old time supper clubs with modern spot on food. Enjoy this place. One of Lettuce Entertain You's more unique food establishments. Really crowded weekend nights.
(5)
Mariel I.
Went here for dinner and everything was great. We oredered the crusted whitefish and the ribs both were delicious especially their mashed potatoes. Definitely will come back.
(5)
Brenda P.
My bf and I have been here twice, staff is always friendly, we never wait long. Let's get to the best part. The food is so good!! Ribs are so soft and tender. Their french fried chicken is to die for. NY strip steak tasty!! We did have chicken and wild rice soup which was also great, definitely one of our favorites!!
(5)
William M.
Great BBQ dishes and surprisingly large delivery area. The dining room is also nice. Priced are a little high, but the food is delicious.
(4)
Olivia S.
This place is great. Every time I come back to Chicago I make my family take me here. I don't even need a menu at this point because I always get the Parmesan crusted filet. AMAZING! It might be my favorite dish of all time. I also love the baked potatoes. Overall, this place is a great place to have a wonderful dinner with family and friends. I always have a great time. Looking forward to coming back to Chicago next month and stopping in!
(5)
Dylan K.
Service here is always wonderful, food is always great and if you're feeling lazy they deliver. Their lobster bisque is my absolute favorite thing ever.
(5)
Gina T.
Amazing service and amazing food!! My friend and I sat at the bar for lunch and the bartender Steven took good care of us. And the manager Louis always came by to make sure everything was ok. I always feel taken care of when I go to Lwoods and the food is amazing! I either get the skirt steak with mashed potatoes and corn or the bbq planked salmon. But all of their food is seriously amazing.
(5)
Drake G.
Meet some old friends who work in the area last night for a going a way diner, and boy was I not disappointed.. The atmosphere is a little bit of an older crowd but don't let that sway you, the food is the real star of the show. We started with onion strings and cheese curds. That with our drinks and the bread would've been enough to fill up on, but out extremely courteous waiter brought us out a complimentary flat bread, just because. Excellent service here, can't state that enough. As good as you'll get at any high-end stake joint. We all decided to get a different entree and split everything three ways. We got a full slab of ribs, the brisket, and the Parmesan crusted filet. The ribs were my recommendation, and were excellent. I normally just get their chopped salad (which is also great, but was feeling adventurous, lol) The parmesan filet was melt in your mouth, and the brisket was tender, juicy, and also great. For sides we got the twice baked potato, creamed spinach, and Mac n cheese. They were all fabulous. So much so that before we even finished it we ordered a second helping of of the spinach and Mac n cheese... By the time the waiter came by for coffee and dessert, the food coma's had set it for all three of us, but had there been room I'm sure dessert would have been just as good. Fantastic experience and a good old fashion place in the neighborhood that you shouldn't overlook.
(5)
Erin W.
My husband, our three year old and I visited for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was packed. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server, Greg, was incredibly busy but NEVER missed a beat. He took his time to explain specials, answer questions and was very patient with our active little guy. Despite how busy he was, our food and drinks were promptly delivered to us. Food was excellent! I highly recommend for everyone, especially families. If you want incredible service, Ask for Greg.
(5)
Jim K.
Have been a frequent guest since they opened. Am lucky they are close to my home so I can enjoy all. Kids have had their picture on the wall for years as part of the kid gang! My go to place for out of town friends for a fabulous representation of Chicago's best. Kudos to Patrick and Danny and the entire staff. Back of the Woods is always fantastic, great way to enjoy LWoods even with their crazy amount of following.
Excellent food, staff, and ambiance. This is always one of our top choices for a great meal. Have enjoyed many special family and holiday gatherings here. We love the creamed spinach as a side dish and they have great salads. We enjoy the Parmesan crusted filet, the the various fish entrees, and of course the deserts.
(5)
L M.
Person with me enjoyed the brisket sandwich with cheese potatoes and coleslaw (has horseradish in it). I had a lighter dinner and enjoyed a slice of grasshopper pie for dessert. Place was packed on a Tuesday night. Service was excellent with a good sense of humor. Highly recommended.
(5)
Melissa A.
The tomatoe soup is to die for, definitely get a cup at least! One of my favorite restaurants, lots of vegetarian options (not so much vegan). The veggie burger is home made and the best I've ever had, loved by non vegos as well
(5)
Debbie I.
I upgraded this review because I received an apology for the way I was treated during a recent visit. Two staff members from L. Woods apologized to me personally which I appreciated very much. However, I did not get any feedback on what was done regarding this employee's treatment of me and the manager just kind of mumbled something like "you could come in for dinner and drinks" on us when I am in town (I recently moved out of the area). I'm thinking, what if I show up and they are like, we don't know anything about that or that manager isn't here anymore or something to that effect. I don't think that was an appropriate solution but it is what it is. I would never order food to go from there ever again but I would consider dining in when I am in town. The food was decent during this visit and everything was cooked right. No complaints on the food really. Although, it's never as good when you carry out as it is when you dine in but everyone was fairly happy with their food.
(3)
Cris G.
I've been coming to this place for a while. . Came here for pre mothers day dinner with the kids. . Calamari and the flat bread appetizers were really good. . My kids ordered steak and we're complaining that it was kind of dry .. waiter was nice enough to offer another choice of meal. . The key lime pie here is delicious. . We had a, good dinner and as, always service is great. .
(4)
Sarah M.
Went here for an anniversary dinner and would definitely recommend it to anyone craving a great steak. I have been driving past this place for years and have noticed that the sizeable parking lot is consistently packed. After trying to get in without reservations and not wanting to wait that long, we finally made a reservation and had a fantastic dinner. The filet was cooked perfectly to my order, and probably one of the best I've ever had. But, what really made the night was the apple-dessert. Oh wow. You have to order it early since it takes so long to bake, and our server told us that up front, so that's what we did. (It was definitely a share-able portion.) I personally always think it's a good sign when a dessert will take that long. :) The "old supper club" interior as they describe on their website was cozy and a nice place to have a fantastic dinner without having to feel like I needed to wear a LBD and heels. We loved it and will be back for sure.
(5)
Mike P.
BRING BACK THE BRISKET NACHOS! Love it here. Cozy vibe and great food. Server Jason provided exceptional service. Did I mention bring back the brisket nachos?
(4)
Theresa F.
Anytime I visit a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I expect it to be an experience. The only memorable experience about this place (aside from dining out with my fiance), was the prices we paid for their so-called "supper club"-style food! The decor really isn't really that amazing either. The food was great, but the prices didn't really match up to the quality and preparation of food I expected to receive at an LTY joint. We spent nearly $100 here for two dishes, dessert, and two drinks (both of which were mediocre). Should have just gone to Wildfire if I knew it would amount to that much...
(3)
Heather U.
My family and I stopped in for a late night dinner. We arrived a half hour before closing. Not only were we greeted right away but also got a table. Usually most restaurants are in a hurry as they are getting ready to close. But Greg, our server treated us the same as if we were their first customers in the door. He made sure we had enough to drink and if we needed anything else to let him know. Always a great place to eat anytime of the day!
(5)
B S.
This just isn't that good. I love all the lettuce entertain you options except this one. We were really disappointed. I just don't think the quality of food is up to par with other lettuce entertain you spots.
(1)
Cassandra F.
I was really hoping not to be disappointed at my dining experience at L. Woods. I made an online reservation, which was easy and made seating easy on a Friday. We were sat in a large table for my group, which felt a little in the middle of the traffic zone. The food was average supper club fare. Nothing to write home about. Fish was ordered as well as some of other staples like prime rib. Disappointed the traditional relish tray was not brought out. After our unenthusiatic dinner, the icing on the cake was the overall environment that felt lacking, which was followed up my the owner brushing past us and almost running us over with his car instead of asking us how we enjoyed his establishment. It was our first experience at this restaurant and I have eaten at his other establishments. It was a sour note. I would say that if you are in the area then you can give it a shot, but it's not going to remain on my top destination lists.
(2)
Beth R.
Everyone has a reason to like L. Woods. And by "everyone" I really do mean human beings from all walks of life: senior people, business people, big-boned people, celebrity people, people who hunt, and me. I can hypothesize about what the rest like, but I will speak only for myself. First and foremost, they make one of the best veggie burgers in the world. The menu has many tempting options for lunch or dinner (flatbreads, salmon, etc.), but I usually crawl back, on my hands and knees, to that veggie burger. It's big, it's homemade, has a good ratio of veg to grain, and it has a tomato pesto spread that makes my mouth happier than any Twizzler could. The desserts cover all your classic dessert bases: chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, ice cream and brownie sundaes. They're heavy and rich and if you've wondered until this point why there's dark wood paneling and dim lighting, you will know when you're finished. No one wants to make eye contact with anyone else until the evidence of gluttony is removed. Also, take note. The portions are, eh, how you say, generous. If done correctly, you can make two meals from one, and still leave feeling satisfied. If done incorrectly, you will feel uncomfortable with yourself and will swear to never touch that pre-meal onion bread again. But you know yourself and you wouldn't be able to leave it alone if you were restrained like Hannibal Lecter. The only thing food-wise that doesn't mesh for me is the fries. They seem like Ore-Ida crinkle-cuts, which is noticeable in a place where everything else seems homemade. The service is professional and the servers wear white dress shirts, black bottoms and sometimes French braids. It's simple, gracious and courteous; in a word: adult. In fact, the whole atmosphere is grown-up but unpretentious. No one's going to L. Woods so they can impress their co-workers on Monday. But, no one's going to L. Woods in an Ed Hardy t-shirt either. L. Woods manages to be a pretty great place for a wide range of people. What, like it's hard?
(4)
Em P.
Fantastic food.. fantastic service. (Billy the server is just awesome)! We started off with the pesto/mushroom flatbread. It was so light but had so much flavor. For our entrees, I had the half slab of ribs and he had the chicken/rib combo. The meat literally fell off the bone. I figured the food would be good cause Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants always have quality but this place was different then the rest. Its supper club vibe was warm and inviting and i can definitely see us going back to this place very very soon.
(5)
Sonia B.
L. Woods, where have you been all my life? Thank you for just being plain good. Good service, good quality, good food, and good atmosphere. I hadn't heard of Wisconsin Supper Clubs before coming here, and I have to admit, it is quite the concept! I had the Fried Chicken Dinner special-5 crispy, golden-brown, pieces of heaven. Oh, and did I mention it came with 2 sides? It was enough food to last me a week, but hey, I'm not complaining! L. Woods is on the pricier side, but a solid place to come for a nice dinner out without any fluff!
(4)
Irene C.
Visited L Woods this past Sunday night and the place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation. For the food, we started with the Fresh Mushroom Flatbread and the Cheese Curds. Loved the flatbread, crust was thin and über crispy. The cheese curds were also very good, but I've had better in the past. These definitely did get out the craving. For entree, I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Cod, which is served with a lemon-butter sauce that made the dish amazing. With the sauce, 5 stars, without, 3-4. Sauce gave it that special something. My husband had the ribs and chicken, which were dry rubbed, no sauce. I tried the chicken and it was some of the best flavored chicken I have had. Skin was full of spices and the chicken itself was so moist. Would highly recommend. I didn't try the ribs, but my husband said they were a little chewier, not fall of the bone. For dessert, we did the classic Apple Strudel. Enough to feed a family of 10. The thing is huge! Very crispy outside with lots of apple filling. The only thing I would do differently is maybe made the crust a little thicker to balance the amount of filling. Other than that, it was fantastic and hit the spot. Service, perfect! Will definitely be back here soon!
(4)
Nevin H.
Love the food and have been going for almost 10 years, unfortunately their prices are going up pretty quickly. $10 drinks, $25 entree's, I'm in the process of looking for another neighborhood "spot". I have a family of 4 and they are now really too expensive to take my family to. They do a very good business with older people and when the other people go away they're not gonna have much of a younger crowd because of their greedy pricing. As a $$$ its a 5 star and as a $$ It's a 2 star
(2)
Eric V.
I remember when this place was still called Bones, and can't recall eating here since then either. In the middle of the Lenten season, I caught wind of a special Friday night Wisconsin supper club menu and thought it might be time to pop my head in once more. To start, allow me to quote the wise Jerry Seinfeld... "See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them." 25 minutes after our reservation time (without even being told there would be a wait, mind you) we were finally seated. Is 25 minutes an inordinate amount of time at the end of the day? Likely not. Still, it's all about the principle. We started off on the wrong foot, but our meal got progressively better from there. A $5 Wisconsin Old Fashioned helped take the edge off, and some warm onion loaves and butter got us back on track. Our order of lightly breaded Fried Cheese Curds hit the table and, let's be honest, how can you not like deep fried cheese? Well I suppose there are the lactose intolerant but I digress. By the time our two plates of Schlitz Beer Battered Fried Haddock hit the table we were pretty content. The plate came with a side of potato pancakes that were too dense and heavy, but I was more than happy to focus my efforts on the generous portion of fresh, tasty haddock. The decor is log cabin chic and most of the clientele are extremely life experienced (that is, old). It is Lincolnwood after all so that kind of comes with the territory. What could have ended up as another reason not to dine here for another decade was ultimately salvaged by our pleasant server and some solid eats. It might not be too soon before my next dinner here, but perhaps not too long either.
(4)
Melissa F.
L Woods pretty much has everything going for it. Let's start with the atmosphere! L Woods feels like a classy old-school Wisconsin hunting lodge, I guess minus the taxidermy, which I hardly missed. The cozy - but oversized - corner booths deserve special mention...just what we needed! Sadly, the waiter started off on the wrong foot with us. I know many people like being told they look young, so maybe I'm just weird, but he kept going on and on about it - not just how I didn't look old enough to drink, but then how I looked younger, and then how I looked as young as his 9-year-old daughter. Gee thanks mister! And then I apparently look "different" from the scant 1.5 years it's been since I got my new license; out of many people who have looked at my license for age verification, only one other person ever has said this. Finally the heavens opened up somehow and I was allowed to enjoy some pinot noir! It was delicious. I saw that they were advertising marked-up versions of Whole Foods house brand wine, e.g. the pinot grigio, so caveat emptor, Yelperzzz. The tomato bisque is definitely creamy, but it's of course delicious and deserves to be a signature item. My dad loved his vegetable soup. When more people arrived, we got a mushroom flatbread, which was wonderfully crispy (almost too thin of a crust)...and we were pleasantly surprised by pesto. Jackpot! I got the chopped salad sans bleu cheese. It was amazing - and humungous, probably the largest salad I've ever seen (Rockit being a close second). I could not finish it, but I loved what I ate. If I had to nitpick, I'd put in some more ingredients to make it more exciting, like some avocado! But it was still an incredible salad, and at a steaks-and-ribs place like this, it's great to see that salad is not an afterthought! By the end of the meal, I was stuffed, especially since I had a bite of someone else's amazingly creamy mashed potatoes, no doubt enhanced by the crust that the oven supplied. And the waiter was fine and was probably just trying to be friendly and/or funny, but I think it's nice to ease up on the guess-your-age form of small talk.
(4)
Patrick O.
A big fan. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because you have to wait a while for your order. I put that down to the fact they are always crowed and the food is excellent. Other than that small inconvenience, one of the finest and we have no Problem driving past many good restaurants to get to " the L Woods"
(4)
Amy G.
We've been there three times and the other two times the food was great, but last night I had the sirloin and it was HORRIBLE. I mean, pretty much inedible. It was all chopped up and almost like a meatloaf consistency - that wouldn't even have been terrible except it was also burnt. Badly. But it seems like that's just the way it's cooked because a woman at the table next to us got it as well and my husband overheard her saying hers was terrible too. According to reviews on here the skirt steak is good and just a few dollars more. Go with that instead. Or the ribs. Or the cod. Really, anything but that awful sirloin.
(3)
Caroline A.
Their cocktails and wines are awful. You have been warned. However the food... fantastic. Get the Sesame Crusted Tilapia and Pork Ribs. I am also a big fan of their Calamari. Confession: I had some of their fries. I'm still feeling guilty about that one, but it was worth it!
(4)
Dave O.
Not enough restaurants like this. Literally. When we arrived there were people everywhere waiting for a table. In the foyer, bar, parking lot. Usually a sign of good food and that held true in this case. Dutifully put our name in and hung out in the bar. Dim lighting, wood paneling, old-school feel, and Schlitz was on tap, but they also had a decent selection of micro-brews. Cold beer in hand, the wait wasn't terrible and our group got to eyeball what people were eating. The ribs and fried chicken seemed popular and once seated that is exactly what our table got, along with one parmesean-crusted filet. Nothing green or vegetable-like hit our table all night, though they did offer a tableside chopped salad. That fried chicken was better than good. Juicy but not greasy, even the big chicken breast was perfectly cooked. I'd go back for that dish. I regret not trying the ribs but everyone said they were excellent. Looks like they don't really need my recommendation but for what it's worth: 4 stars!
(4)
Melanie S.
L Woods has always been a reliable, consistent restaurant. My family has been coming here since it was "Bones", back in the 70s. The atmosphere is a "faux" Wisconsin supper club, with wood paneling and fish plastered on the wall. Not a big fan of the decor, but I can live with it. As others have mentioned, this place is full of older people - my mom, who's no spring chicken herself, commented that she'd never seen so many walkers per square foot in her life, with the exception of a nursing home or a bingo game. The food is decent and there's enough of a variety that everyone in your party will find something - there's salads, barbecue items, fish, burgers, sandwiches, you name it. This is why it's such a destination for group dining. There are always large parties here. In fact, the last time I was here, the entire table next to us got ribs and when the server went to check on them, they all smiled with their orange faces and meat in their teeth. It was kinda gross, come to think of it. Watching people eat ribs will convince even the strongest of doubters that we evolved from primates. The service is always pleasant and might I add, PATIENT. With an older clientele, it's a given that service has to be adjusted accordingly, and the servers at L Woods always go above and beyond. Bottom line: L Woods serves up standard, American fare, with reasonable prices, ample portions, and good service. It's always consistently consistent. Sometimes that's all you're looking for in a restaurant, and this place is just that.
(4)
Frank T.
-Would've got 5 stars but the Chinese food is disappointing and I feel really unnecessary -The tradition menu is outstanding we order it at least twice a week. -Flat breads A+ -Burgers A+ -Ribs A+ -BBQ Chicken A+ - Carry out staff is great except for one
(4)
Diablo L.
Love the ribs here,very tender, also the creamed spinach is very good and went very well with my ribs..
I know this is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which might make you think chain and less authentic but they nailed it. This is all that is wonderful and cliche of a 60's supper club including the well poured martinis and the jalapeno bacon cheese and Ritz crackers they passed around in the bar area while waiting for a table. I could have eaten a whole tray of those. My steak was perfect, the sides were fantastic. The noise level was perfect and the service was on point. Their wine list included plenty of decent varietals that were both tasty and well priced ie you aren't paying $75 for a bottle of Boones Farm. My only complaint (I wasn't alone in this) was the main dining room was really chilly for a Saturday night in December. Like they had the AC going cool, not like they just had the thermostat low. I wrapped up in my scarf and toughed it out and skipped desert in lieu of my fireplace at home. But there were plenty of other ladies who asked to move due to the chill in the air. Not sure if that's apart of the supper club theme that they are going for. But minus that I'd go again any day I'm craving a steak and martini. I'll just be sure to bring my mittens.
(4)
ben w.
I had dinner here last night, wonderful food. This place reminded me of places I would go 30 years ago with my parents, dark, easy going and modestly decorated. Unlike those places the food here is up to modern day standards for sure. Chopped salad was a great way to start. I got the half chicken half slab dinner, it was excellent, but my father in law got the beef ribs and they looked amazing. I have had beef ribs before, good but kind of greasy. Not these, they were cooked just right. Great food, great portions and kid friendly. Hit it!
(5)
Debbie S.
I grew up in Wisconsin and was always a fan of the up north Supper Clubs that I used to frequent as a child. L Woods reminds me of those places -- just with better food. If you plan on eating here at any reasonable dinner hour (i.e. between 7-9), you should make a reservation. Now that we have a little one at home, we tend to go at 5 or 5:30 -- and yet, I continue to make reservations. L. Woods has a large menu. Every time I look at it though, I laugh, because on the "Lighter Fare", a hamburger and fries is listed. Now I love to eat with the best of them...but I would never consider a hamburger lighter fare. Anyway...the burgers are good, the flatbreads are good, the salads are good...but I always save room for the special warm chocolate cake that you have to order when you order your dinner because it takes about 40 minutes to make. The cake oozes out chocolate (and you get a whole cake -- this is definitely a dessert for the table) and it comes with a large side of homemade whipped cream. We always end up taking most of it home...and it's still really good the next day. L. Woods is a great option if you have a bigger group or a group where everyone has different tastes --because there is something on the menu for everyone. Children are welcomed here (which can make it a bit loud sometimes) but it's a nice option for a large family meal that is reasonably priced. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Risto D.
The only negative thing I can say about this place is the cold butter that they bring with the warm bread roll as soon as they sat you down. a room temperature butter would be a much better option.
(4)
Johanna C.
This place gets very busy most nights, so I recommend getting a reservation. I came here with a group of six, and even though we had a reservation, we still waited for 5-10 minutes. Once we were seated though, we had a great time! It is a very large restaurant, with a great atmosphere and friendly and helpful service. Will definitely be back here! The food: Pulled Pork Sandwich- I ordered this and really loved it. I have had many pulled pork sandwhich and this was juicy and held up to some of the best that I've had. Baked Mac and Cheese- Shared this with my sister, and clearly it was one of their specialties. Would definitely order it again whenever I return. Ribs- My husband ordered these and I tried some. They were very tasty and my husband gave them his stamp of approval.
(4)
Joe K.
Great great ribs. Great vibe. My dad and I really enjoyed our dinner.
(4)
Jim E.
Can't recommend this place enough!! The ribs, steak, and prime rib are the best. Don't forget to order an apple burrito when you order. ( apple strudel )
(5)
Carol L.
Looked like a bar from the outside but the foods are awesome. I LOVED their beef ribs, the best I had so far. Everything is good there, make sure you order the apple strudel for dessert, each one is freshly baked. I haven't had anything that have been disppointing... I wish it's a little closer to where I live and this restaurant is highly recommended if you're in the Lincolnwood area.
(5)
Jinx T.
An Easy Place To Be L. Woods is an excellent restaurant. The design is a throwback to another era - and this enhances the experience - giving the place a whimsical cool. Food is standard American fare - chopped salad - steaks - burgers - ribs - pot roast - fried chicken - fish - mashed potatoes - green vegetables. You get the idea. I've eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. The fish is always excellent - the almond crusted walleye has become a favorite, along with the cod. Desserts are portioned large - best to share. You'll find things like a gold brick sundae, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and fruit crumbles with ice cream. One thing the restaurant suffers from in is a rather average and limited wine list. However the wines are decent enough and priced well. Service is great too. Eat here! You will not be disappointed and want to return again soon. Highly Recommended!
(4)
Luke S.
I went here for the first time since I was 17 and I now wonder why it took me 10 years to come back here! This place is phenomenal and it's country style cooking. They have all of the comfort food that your heart desires. My family and I came here for our Easter feast and we ordered family style. We went with the chopped salad, fried chicken, dry seasoned ribs, and a steak. They were all cooked to perfection and popping with flavor. As sad as it is I think my favorite was the fried chicken. Every bite was oozing with flavor. I felt like I was on an episode of man vs. food. Do the Melman's ever do it wrong?
(5)
Sonia S.
Very good food. I had the half slab of beef ribs and the half chicken, the day before Christmas. I heard that L. Woods had great gluten-free rolls and my busboy went out of his was to get them for me. The ribs were outstanding; meaty, tender, and with a delicious bbq sauce that was both sweet and tangy. Now, unfortunately I am going to report on what I didn't like. I ordered roasted carrots and although they were good, they were served cold. I could not believe it! The chicken could have been cooked for a longer period of time. Also, my waitress forgot to bring me my coke and after she did, when my meal was halfway eaten, she did not offer me a free refill. I've been to other Lettuce Entertain You establishments and each one did offer me a free refill of pop. I will definitely return because I love all the LEYE restaurants.
(4)
Mariam K.
I LOVE L Woods! I'm not much of a meat eater, well I love burgers... but that's usually where I draw the line, I went there a couple of days ago for the first time and fell in love with it! We went in without making reservations on a Friday night.. so of course, there was a 45 minute wait (we only ended up having to wait about 20 minutes).. I was starving but decided to stick around anyway... and I'm glad I did! We got served bread while we were waiting on our food, which was amazing, I love places that give you something to snack on while you're waiting for your food! We ordered beef brisket nachos... which were the best tasting nachos I've ever had! For my main course I ordered beef ribs... I was a bit hesitant because it seemed a bit too messy for me but I read so much about the ribs that I was dying to try them. Let me just tell you.. the were the best ribs EVER... I wasn't even worried about how messy and dirty my fingers were! LOVED LOVED LOVED the taste, seasoning, and texture of it! Unfortunately I ate too much and couldn't order any dessert... but I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)
Allison C.
We went here for my mom's birthday dinner. It's an old-school, northwoods-style joint with wood paneling, fish and antlers on the wall, and maroon booths, very kitsch. The portions are HUGE! I had mahogany chicken, which was juicy and nicely spiced. My dad had beef ribs, which looked like a meal fit for Barney Rubble. My husband, brother, and granny had buttermilk battered fried chicken. It was very good, not with quite the same seasonings that we enjoy at our favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, but still very good. For dessert, they brought out a WHOLE apple strudel and a WHOLE chocolate volcano cake. The volcano cake is a chocolate orgasm in your mouth. The melty warm chocolate bursts in your mouth. The strudel was nice and flaky. Excellent liquor and beer selection. It's not far from the city, we would come back.
(5)
Mne M.
I love loveeee this place service is always very good and attentive nice and clean. They have the best Ribs when I eat light I usually get the tomatoe bisque soup which is soooo good and the Chicken Cesar salad with that I always order the small salad because the large is really big and could feed like 3 people. They also have really good wings. Yummmm I can't wait to go there again!!!
(5)
Nancy H.
Whoa. How come I hadn't heard about this place? Our party of 4 made reservations here on a Sunday night, and we were taken promptly. This place was a madhouse of happy families and cheerful waiters. I was told this is typical and is the reason why you need to make reservations. The second thing you ought to know is that portions are LARGE, and the menu is very meat-oriented. We shared the chopped salad, some type of flatbread, and I couldn't even finish half of my main entree after that. Two people can share a meal because all entrees comes with fries or a giant baked potato that is huge enough to share also. The ribs are fantastic. Full slabs are $23. The beef ribs are like oh-my-god. Have you ever seen beef ribs?? 1 rib was almost the size of my forearm. I had a burger ($10), and I couldn't even finish half of it because I was too happy enjoying the fries and over sized baked potato. Everything was cooked perfectly. We ended our meal with 1 giant slice of delicious chocolate cake, and I was ready to be rolled out of there. Seriously, don't come here if you're on a diet. Takeaways: 1) Make reservations 2) Portions are large 3) Wear fat pants
(4)
Melissa K.
What a great place! Very friendly service and really great food. Rids were the best I have had since Memphis! Just that the parking lot sucks! Don't let that stop you from having a really great meal!
(5)
Mike G.
Ordered delivery from here today. First I got a phone call telling me their menu was not up to date on GrubHub so they'd have to charge me more. Then when the food got here it was not the right order on 2 of the items and everything was cold and had been misshandled so it was messy inside the containers. All this after a $5.00 Delivery charge + Tip The flat bread was very disappointing. It is THIN THIN THIN. As in fall apart when you pick it up. All the cheese on our slid to about two pieces and left the rest a dry pesto covered mess. The second flat bread was mushroom instead of oven-dried tomato. So we didn't both eating it. Before ordering we called to confirm the Soup of the Day and were told it was harvest cheddar. When the order arrived it was some kind of vegetable soup. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was extremely wet and split open from transit. The Roasted Mahogany chicken did not come on chibata bread as advertised but on a toasted and soggied bun. Finally. The friest I got with my sandwich were awesome. Not enough to make up for all the other horrible things. But good none the less. Will NEVER order from or dine out here again.
(1)
Carol K.
Driving in a blustery winter snowstorm, I once again came across L Woods (this place must call out to me in January as I have never been here in any of the Summer months) Well on this snowy, Friday night- this place was hopping! Not a spot in the lot to park in (there is plenty of free parking on the street) and a line out the door for a table. Good thing we were fine eating and drinking at the bar. Service was good and the food was even better. I had a a dinner salad and then split the burger and a baked potato with my friend. The burger came topped with grilled onions, tomato, lettuce and some kind of "special sauce" that was quite tasty. Given it's location, L Woods is never going to be a frequent destination for me. It's almost like driving to Wisconsin (and the ambiance reminds me of the supper clubs up there) But judging by all the people there on this snowy night- they have quite the following . . . .even without me!
(4)
Rob W.
I give a place 4 or 5 stars if I definitely plan or want to go back. This place - I would, but I'm not going to make a big effort. It's OK - I just don't understand why people think the food is sooooooo great. It was very average to me. We were seated fairly promptly and within a reasonable time of our reservation - which was good given that my mom was with us and can't stand and wait too long anymore. The waiter asked us if it was our first time there, and after we told him it was, he brought us a complementary flatbread appetizer, nice touch! The service was very good and attentive - kudos on that. I ordered the pot roast (which was the evening's special) and it was fair at best. Other than the carrots that came with it, there wasn't much to rant or rave about. The portionwas small - average and the presentation was very lackluster. I also ordered the mac and cheese as it looked like it might be good -0 but it was nothing special at all. In fact, I had to send it back to get it heated up - part of it was actually cold. The rest of my family was OK with their orders - my brother ordered ribs and he said they were ok - but not as good as another place where he's had them that doesn't specialize in BBQ to the extent that L. Woods does. The waiter also brougfht out a small dish of ice cream with toppings to me for my birthday - another nice touch.Based on the service / friendliness of the place, I'd like to give it 4 stars - but the food just won't let me. Just too mediocre. I'm glad I tried L. Woods to see what the bustle was about - just wish I left there knowing why there is one.
(3)
Fred F.
excellent meatloaf and generally well prepared food at reasonable prices. usually very busy so don't expect to breeze in and out but certainly worth the short wait.
(4)
Rhonda G.
Have you ever been to a small town and they only have one "nice" restaurant in the entire town? On a Friday night you can literally find the whole town at that one place with the family in tow. This place definitely had that feel about it. The dining room was big and casual and seemingly family friendly. Rustic, if you Will. Is this your first time here? yes Well here's one of our signature flat-bread appetizers as a welcome to L. Woods. Why, thank you. It was a BBQ chicken pesto. In my mind those flavors don't mesh well but they made it work. A lovely "recession special" came in the form of a $10 bottle of wine supposedly hand picked by Alpana Singh (from Check Please and a well known Sommelier) I was pretty full after the flat bread and basket of bread they brought out but how tacky would it be to just eat the free stuff and leave? So I ordered an awesome turkey burger. How awesome? Well it ranks in my top 5 ! I got a bake potato side and it came out with little sides of all the fixins'. I also had the opportunity to try my bf's mashed potatoes...melt in your mouth fantastic and totally unhealthy! I'm digging the to-go bag for half finished bottles of wine. No more chugging the remains and leaving drunk...unless that is your goal of course. We got a slice of key lime pie to enjoy at home later and it was just OK. A bit overkill on the lime flavor but the crust was tasty.
(5)
Edward W.
Very popular and always crowded. Great decor! Upscale northwoods supper club experience. It's a fun dining experience. Service is always good and the food is consistently very good. I like the ribs here. I get them well done. Desserts good also.
(4)
t. o.
What a wonderful experience. My wife chose L Woods for our 5th wedding anniversary; we've driven by it many times, and it seemed to do great business. It looked like it would have a unique, old school vibe, and considering the 5th is the "wood anniversary"... The inside was even better than out - antler chandeliers, etc (place looks extra authentic in Hipstamatic photos on your iPhone.) She'd mentioned in a note that accompanied our reservation request that it was our anniversary, and why we'd chosen them. Explaining our short wait, they said they'd reserved a huge corner booth for us, that could have sat 8 on this incredibly busy Friday night; considering the decor, we felt like Frank and Ava circa 1962 or something, with a great view of the main dining room. Our waiter, Damian, was awesome, funny, and attentive. The manager, Terry, came by a number of times to congratulate us and check on how we were liking everything. Who does this anymore? Cocktails were great - knock you on your ass Manhattans, and great specialty Old Fashions. We started with the chop salad, which was fresh and well prepared. The small is great for two or three. Wife especially chose L Woods for the fried lake perch (her childhood fave, and increasingly rare), which came with house-made fries, and obviously freshly prepared tartar sauce. Great batter, and cooked to perfection. I love whitefish, which I was unfamiliar with until moving to Chicago a few years ago. This was the best I've had - even better than Shaw's, which I've found has about the best old-school fish and sea food in town. Great cream sauce - not too heavy. I had to get the creamed spinach, a favorite from my childhood that NO ONE seems to know how to make decently anymore. It was, like everything else, cooked to perfection. Not overdone - still fresh seeming, and delicious. Of course we had to try the apple strudel - not only was it delicious, but they also brought out a piece of their banana cream pie with a candle, both of them comped to us. Are you kidding me? Both were great, especially slathered in the extra caramel sauce provided. Of course we tipped in kind, and are guaranteed to return, with friends. Prices are on the high end of moderate, but worth it to have what promises to be predictably delicious food. We simply had a fantastic meal, and memorable special occasion.
(5)
Jessica N.
Can I say wow! the food is great! Especially the BBQ. Great service as well! And the last time we were given a complimentary appetizer. I do have to say that the wait can be quite long though. If you're in a time crunch or really hungry..this isn't the place. The first time I waited about 40 minutes. We were so close to leaving but we stuck it out since I had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card that I had to use. The second time wasnt too bad but still about a 15 minute wait. Overall I give this place a 4. Not too shabby for what's in that area!
(4)
Monica H.
Busy place! Always a good place for meat lovers (Sat prime rib, beef ribs), and my spicy, crusted tilapia was a nice treat. You can't leave a Lettuce restaurant hungry with the portion sizes, but if the vege of the day is Brussel sprouts with pear and caramelized onion do save room. Best to go with a group to share sides and desserts.
(3)
Michael H.
Really cool old "Supper Club" just on the outskirts of the City!! Basically an old Inn that was taken over by Lettuce many years ago... Inside, It's Dark/ Wood Paneling/Northwoods Trinkets/ And many photos on the walls! Place is HUGE with at least 4 dining rooms as well as a large bar, also ALWAYS Busy. The food is very good with the "Walleye Bites" Appetizer a MUST TRY ITEM!! The rest of the menu is Steak and Fish heavy with the "Parmesan Crusted Skirt Steak" a standout. The staff is what really makes this place/ The bartenders are simply amazing! One of them has even been there 45 years... Also the Managers/Owners are always on hand to make sure things are Run RIGHT!! GTFJD
(4)
Matt P.
Skirt steak is to die for. Parmesan and Peppercorn crusted
(5)
matt w.
Went for lunch at 130pm on a Saturday. It was pretty busy but we got a table right away. 18 minutes later we still had not see our waitress. We considered just leaving or going up to the bar to drink and dine when i smiled at a waitress in hopes she would be ours.. she wasn't, but she obliged and took our drink order anyway. Finally our waitress appeared and dove right in with some cockney, sorry excuse for banter type server BS.. we had some questions on the menu and she pretended to know what she was talking about but it was obvious she didn't.. we needed a minute to decipher ( which was a mistake on our part.. ). 5-10 mins later and still no sign of the server, we pleaded with the blond server to take our food order.. again she obliged but you could tell she wasn't stoked about picking up the slack for someone else. Anyway, I hate bad service, i just really hate it... and sitting there finished with a lackluster meal and empty drinks for 10 minutes during lunch is just unacceptable. We literally spent just under 2 hours there just for lunch ( 1 drink for me and 2 for my friend.. 2 hours! ). So - Service is 2 stars only because of the nice blond server that saved our asses The reason they get a little boost in total stardom is due to the food and drinks being decent. The nachos with beef roast on them are not great, its like diced up beef roast ( not like nice big shaved off chunks like you would expect ) The beef ribs were good but my buddy is really not picky.. I had the chicken pot pie, it was a 3/5. not great but not bad. overall L. Woods barely squeaks by with 3 stars.
(3)
Jacob J.
White linen tablecloth, proper heavy flatware for cutting into meat, smoky old rich man like interior. I came for the meat, ribs that is. On the expensive side but better than average. Not something I'd go out of my way for often, but it appeals to many. L Woods has been around for a long time, before them was "Bones" and I loved the food of that time. A couple that is here for dinner and drinks could easily expect a bill of around sixty to seventy dollars. It's an understatement to say that they are always busy, best to call ahead.
(4)
Dan D.
This place is a hand's down favorite of mine for a long time. Basically anything you order off the menu is bound to be tasty, filling, and amazing. Of course, there are some exceptions - aka, ones that are OUT OF THIS WORLD fantastic that you have to try once before dying (or leaving the restaurant lol).... and here is that list. 1. Tomato Bisque soup - this tasty little guy is the cheaper items on the whole menu ($3.25 cup / $4.25 bowl). But I'd gladly pay $10 because it is that good. Unlike the cafeteria style you had back in school (tastes like spaghettio's), L. Wood's has a sweet zing that is very creamy. The tomatoes really come out in the soup. Quite frankly, it's heaven in a soup. 2. Chopped Salad - signature item. ($9.99 small / $13.99 large for 4 people). Loaded with blue cheese, noodles, light and dark lettuce, carrots, plus just the right amount of their house dressing. The best salad dressing this side of the Mississippi! 3. BBQ ribs ($25.99 full slab) - these literally fall off the bone. Yup, that tender. Put away that knife and fork, because you won't be needing them here. 4. Veggie Burger - very good, very nice for a veggie burger. Handmade here, not prepackaged, reheated frozen ones... so definitely a big plus! And it is tasty as heck for the days you don't want meat, and for the non-meat eaters in our lives. And LASTLY, 5. Gooey Chocolate Cake ($10.99) - you order this at the start of your meal because it takes 45 minutes to bake. Each one is baked to order too! It comes to your table with a nice crispy outer shell, topped with whipped cream. But as you cut into it with a fork, the gooey cake is revealed. Chocolate to the extreme. A fat kid's paradise on a plate (I know because of experience). Cheers!
(4)
Megan G.
I've driven past L Woods for years and never given it much thought. It's tucked away in a strange little corner of Lincolnwood between a pool and a bank. When a friend suggested it for recent girl's dinner (close to her house, on the way home from work for me) I figured it was a better alternative that our other suburban mall choices. When I pulled into the L Woods parking lot at 6 on a Wednesday I was shocked - it was completely packed. If I can offer one piece of L Woods advice it's this: make reservations. No matter when you're going, even if you think you don't need them - make reservations. Fortunately my friend had done so on a whim - otherwise they were running at waits for 45 minutes to an hour for tables of 2. The inside of L Woods is probably nostalgic for any kid whose family forced them to take summer vacations in the Wisconsin wilderness. Lots of stuffed fish on the paneled walls (including a Northern Pike I identified as being identical to the one in my grandparents' living room). The place had a pleasant buzz, but it wasn't so loud I couldn't hear my friend. I opted for the veggie burger and a cup of corn chowder to start. The chowder was quite good, but the veggie burger was merely okay. It largely lacked flavor (and yes, veggie burgers CAN have flavor) and was extremely mushy - it fell completely apart and had to be eaten with a fork. My friend had a coupon that made our final bill incredibly reasonable but overall I wasn't that impressed. I think next time we'll meet at Cheesecake Factory.
(3)
Rachel H.
Holy Crap. This place should be called " Thisiswhyyourefat.com Restaurant". Maybe they got a little out of hand with the log cabin lodge look and thought Paul Bunyan was comin' to supper? I do not know, but it took me three days to eat my dinner. Why on earth? Anyway, I shall regale you with my tall (fat) tale. I showed up here with some LEYE gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket, and hunger burning a hole in my belly. I started out with a Jack and Cherry Coke which is actually on the menu (!) and the french onion soup. Now, I could have been done after the soup, quite honestly. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach, but I plowed onward and ordered the fried chicken special. Meanwhile, having heard it was our first time, the manager stopped by with a complimentary BBQ chicken flatbread to enhance the experience. Oh, it did. When my chicken came, I gasped. It was a pile of chicken so huge, and full of pieces so huge, I was a little terrified. Then I saw the baked potato. It was the size of Mr Potatohead. Why did they have to kill him? Why????? I made it through some of the potato (RIP) and one chicken thigh. The rest had to come home with me. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, I laughed in her face. I'll be back to try more huge entrees which will very economically feed me for several days. Also, there's "wood" in the name which is obviously my newest theme.
(4)
Jonathan C.
I don't know how I didn't review this restaurant before. My dad has been taking me to this joint back when it was called Bones. And he was going there back when it had a different name. Its been quite a while since I went there, but its always exactly what you'd expect. Good old man supper club style food, and way way way too much of it. Last time I went there, I split the beef ribs with my wife while my dad had a brisket sandwich and his HS buddy had some bbq beef sandwich. On a side note, I always like whiskey... but when I turned 21 in college and came back home, there was a time when my parents took me here. Being 21 and at this joint, I needed a stiff drink. I decided to go for a Rusty Nail and discovered the amazing mixed drink of whiskey and whiskey on the rocks.
(4)
Natalie S.
My husband and I agreed that we need to dine out in the burbs more often because of the big ass, free parking lots. They are fantastic. However... our dining experience was just about... meh. The highlights: The chopped salad. Delicious. I wish there was some egg in there but, oh well. Creamed spinach was yum. Mac and cheese was super cheesy and tasty. The cons: It's supposed to be a steakhouse... so I ordered beef. I got the peppered sirloin tips, rare. I suspect it came out of the kitchen rare but became medium after sitting under a heat lamp for 10 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I hate, hate, hate sending food back to the kitchen but my husband and I are on a budget and try not to eat out often. I don't want to waste $24 on steak I didn't even enjoy. So I sent it back. I got a piping hot, rare steak back. My husband and our friend both very much enjoyed their meals. But then again, they're good eaters. I had someone ask me when I talked about L. Woods, "how can you complain and only give it 3 stars because you ordered something and eventually got a delicious meal?". Because I just don't think I should ever have to send food back to get it the way I ordered it.
(3)
Erica D.
L Woods is our favorite neighborhood spot. We go as a family and my husband and I go for date night. Not fancy but the food is always so good. I drink a gallon of their tomato soup and their fish fry on Fridays are more like a party with friends. You always see people from the neighborhood and the service is always friendly.
(4)
Trisha B.
Came here tonight for my birthday dinner and another chicken dinner. I thought it was good the first time, the second time was fabulous. Not sure if it could have been better than the first. The pieces were huge and all I had was the wing and drumstick and half of my mashed potato and it was enough. The only thing was it was a bit cold in there. They probably hadn't turned the air off yet. There were a lot of people that had jackets on. But no reflection on the food. As Guy Fieri says.."Winner, winner chicken dinner!!" My 5 year old niece had the chicken tenders and loves it so much she wants to go back 100 more times to be in the kids club!! We'll be back again!
(4)
Jimmy W.
So I've been here like 4-5 times but always sat at the bar ordering burgers of some sort. Service was always ok since there was a bartender there to keep tabs on how you're doing. It's been a while since I've been here and today was a disappointment in all departments especially service... Ordered Peppercorn wings, juicy with good flavor, could have been cooked a bit longer for the skin to firm up a bit, ok fine. Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Very thick batter that just slides off the chicken. So you take a bite of chicken, then a bite of batter so you get both in the same "bite". Flavor is fine but overall a fried chicken failure IMO. Maybe the baby back ribs are better... I got the "DryRub" which didn't seem to have any rub on them at all, pretty flavorless. I did get a 2oz cup of BBQ sauce on the side which is good for 1/4 of the slab... For $28 I'll pass. The worst part of the whole 60 minutes of time spent there was the crap service. After placing the initial order the only time we saw the waiter again was when he brought out the food. No drink refills, no asking how things were, zero, zilch, nada! (Wait, he refilled my water, but not my iced tea or ask if I wanted another drink from the bar, I'm usually good for 3-4) Even when he brought the food he never asked us anything?! He basically said here ya go and walked away! The guy who bagged our leftovers was more helpful! There were 3 other servers standing around talking but they seemed to have no problem taking care of their tables...? Maybe our waiter was the bartender & chef as well, maybe he had to valet some cars, oh wait they don't have valet service. Who know what he was doing, but whatever it was he wasn't taking care of his table! I HATE POOR SERVICE !!!!! And they were NOT busy at all...
(2)
Maria A.
Came here the other day with my boyfriend and another. I was excited because the Wednesday night special is breaded pork tenderloin with fresh corn off the cob, mashed potatoes, apple sauce. It's my absolute favorite dish! My dinner mates had the roasted chicken, the BBQ beef bones, and the burger. Everyone seemed happy with their choices. Michael, our server, was super nice until the end when his "peppiness" abruptly ended but it might have been shared fault since we had been engaging in a witty banter over my Moscow Mule being served in a mason jar instead of a copper mug like the last time I had it. That was really my only disappointment with the meal. Michael tried to make it up to me by offering to buy me a dessert. When we didn't see anything we liked and decided to go to Oberweiss instead, it would have been nice if he had taken our moscow mules off instread but I didn't raise the question. Still one of my go-to restaurants in the city. I typically try to go on Wednesdays for the special but Sunday's special (fried chicken) is also good too. I think the only dish I wasn't too thrilled here was the prime rib special on Saturday.
(4)
Felice C.
L. Woods is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary here. Making a reservation is a definite must! The place was packed when we went. We had reservations, arrived and realized I left my wallet at home. They allowed my boyfriend to wait at the table while I went to get my wallet--but they didn't let us change the reservation time because they were completely booked. My boyfriend ordered the barbecue chicken & rib combo. And I was feeling fish, so the waitress recommended the almond crusted walleye. My boyfriend really enjoyed his barbecue meal. However, I really hated the almond crusted walleye. It was so bland, and the fish had no flavor. I barely ate a fourth of it. Service was decent, but the food wasn't good enough to have me back.
(3)
Karen C.
I'd been wanting to try L. Woods for a while & we finally trekked our way out of the city to check it out. We made a reservation on a Saturday, and good Lord am I glad we did! This place was packed. We were easily the youngest people there on a Saturday night, but sometimes that makes me feel good, what can i say? I had the salmon, it was really, really delicious... cooked perfectly & the potatoes it came with were ridiculous. The man had a steak & he said it was great. Any time I get a chance to use some of my LEYE scratchoffs & earn some points, I'm a happy camper... I've yet to be disappointed with any LEYE experience!
(4)
Valerie W.
2 excellent meals at L. Woods so far! I am surprised I forgot to leave a review last time. Oh well... here's our most recent visit. I jokingly asked my boyfriend to bring me to L. Woods for an impromptu date because I had a taste for steak but didn't want to break the bank. He grimaced a little, but it was all an act as we pulled into the parking lot at about 8pm on Wednesday evening. We opted to sit at the bar as it as just the two of us, something we're starting to do more and more. He has a thing for deviled eggs lately, so he immediately ordered the BLT deviled eggs upon seeing them on the menu. I'm a little picky about deviled eggs, its a texture thing - but these were good! They came with a peppercorn mayo, which acted as a nice dressing for the shredded lettuce, tomato, and bacon that were left behind on the plate. From there, we decided to each have a salad and split a steak. I had the classic iceberg wedge, which was loaded with bacon, grape tomatoes, red onions, and blue cheese dressing. Iceberg is not usually my favorite, except in wedge salads and on homemade tacos. This wedge was great - I asked for a TON of cracked black pepper and our bartender was happy to oblige. We shared the 14 oz char-broiled New York Strip steak -medium rare, with a double baked potato. It definitely came out more rare (borderline blue) than medium rare, but that didn't scare us away, and I was hesitant to send it back after I'd cut it in half already, for fear it would come back overdone. I'll eat an under-done steak any day of an overdone one. Bartenders did a great job of keeping our drinks and water refilled, and made nice, but not overbearing conversation. L. Woods is at the top of my Lettuce Entertain You list.
(4)
Hannah H.
About a 2-2.5: My friend and I came to check out L. Woods, as we'd heard that they were featured on 'Oceans Twelve' :P The place itself is literally a lodge, with a deep woodsy, rustic interior with leather booths. The menu featured lunch, dinner, dessert, carry-out, and even GF options. I had heard about their famous burgers, so I tried the L. Woods Old-Fashioned Burger - this contained a signature beef blend with onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, and house sauce, with a side of fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, and a pickle. The burger itself wasn't as juicy as I expected it to be and quite dried out - it was also more on the bland side, even with the house sauce. T___T The fries were okay, and the cole slaw was more on the sweeter end. Service was a bit MIA, and it was slightly too warm in there. I may come back to try out their ribs and their old-fashioned drinks. Plenty of parking in their private lot. +dried-out burgers T___T +MIA service +private lot
(3)
Hinna S.
I have been here twice and the food is consistently great. They have the best veggie burger I have had in Chicago! Not to mention that the wine selection is incredible, one of the wines tasted like an apple pie that melted in my mouth! The mashed potatoes are also a great side and they taste delicious!
(5)
Ivana B.
The apple strudel is to die for! Comfort food at its best!
(5)
Francis F.
We visited this place one Sunday ago for lunch...Enjoyed the atmosphere and service! Food was ok too but nothing really exceptional with this place that I couldn't find elsewhere for a little cheaper. I tried the apple strudel and bacon cheddar burger with side of mashed potatoes. Oh they give fresh and warm complimentary bread while you wait for orders!
(3)
The Coffin B.
My favorite restaurant. Staff is great. Manager is great. Food always perfect. Cocktails always on point. If i could I would eat here everyday. Keep up the great job everyone.
(5)
Tobin h.
The service and teamwork is constantly on magnificent display at this taste of backwoods in the heart of Lincolnwood. I saw several customers, shall we say--on the difficult side (very high maintenance) each time I've been there and each time the team of servers and managers take care of the guest with a smile to the customer's delight. The food is good and ambiance has a few too many "famous" pictures for my liking but if that's the biggest ding, L.Woods is doing just fine! It is in my dining rotation when I am in Lincolnwood and recommend it for those that are anywhere near Lincoln and Touhy.
(3)
Natasha R.
L. Woods Tap is very similar to Wildfire, but with cheaper prices. It's also smaller and has a very cozy interior, making it a perfect place to go to during the cold winter months. I bring up Wildfire because I love that restaurant and it's my go to place when options are limited or if I can't think of anything else. L. Woods has just as good of food and the service is on par as well. I've had it bookmarked for awhile, but recently had the chance to try it out with a couple of co-workers and I've been back two more times since then. Each time the food is consistent, fresh, and it's always seems to be busy, especially during lunch. The French Onion Soup is one of the best I've ever had - it was oozing with cheesy goodness! They have a great flatbread lunch combo where you can pair one of their flatbreads with either a cup of soup, salad, or a bowl of the French Onion. For $10.99 it's not a bad deal at all and the fresh mushroom flatbread is absolutely delicious. I remember the size being very intimidating but it's so thin that it almost feels as if you are eating mushrooms with air. I've also tried their chopped salad - it's good, but not as good as the one from Wildfire. And last time I tried the Chef Special - Coconut Shrimp.. it's definitely an item off the menu that I would recommend. In my opinion, eating at a LEYE Restaurant almost always guarantees a good, if not great experience. With that said, I will definitely be back and I highly suggest to check it out if you are in the Lincolnwood/Skokie area in the near future... with a reservation.
(4)
Halisa V.
If you are in the mood for some awesome beef ribs go here! L.Woods does not disappoint. Their portions are really big so make sure to come with an appetite. The interior is quite nice. The restaurant overall has a cozy feel to it. Also the place always seems to be packed, which conveys they must know what they are doing (& of course the food is good)!
(5)
Jessica C.
I actually enjoy the kitschy "cabin" atmosphere - in fact, it might be the best thing they have going. It's cute and cozy and a bit of a throwback. The food is, well, ok. It's like going to a Friday's, just a bit less "heated out of a package sent by corporate." Don't get me wrong, it's acceptable, but just not anything particularly special. The fish and chips are a little oily and bland, the chopped salad is good, but not really any different than one offered by Corner Bakery, the onion bread is warm and good in a diner sort of way. I did go one night because for some reason I was desperately craving a brownie sundae, and they didn't fail me - although I suspect it was brownie mix and I know it was not homemade ice cream. Again, that's not a crime and it's perfectly ok, it's just something that technically I can reproduce at home. As others have mentioned, it is often busy so be prepared for a wait, even though you wouldn't suspect it.
(3)
Tricia D.
What happened? I'm still dumbfounded. What didn't change was the smell of good grub wafting through the parking lot and how impressively crowded it was on a Thurs. night. What did change was that the quality of food seemed to go downhill since my last visit. The cheddar cheeseburger was served with something like Merkt's cheese spread heated on to it, which was weird and not good. K's chicken looked kind of greasy, and he said it was bland; plus, the broccoli was supposed to be steamed with butter, but that side came out like raw tree stalks. When our waitress took it back to the kitchen, it was still raw, with some shiny, not-butter-like stuff on it. Service kind of slowed down throughout the meal, and we were left with wet napkins (literally) to wipe our hands off. Never seen that before. Said wet naps were what the busboy used to clean the table too. That was one bizarre, disappointing return to one of my former suburban favorites. :o(
(2)
Mara B.
Excellent food. Skirt steak, chopped salad, tomato soup and more. I'm only giving it 4 stars because it's absurdly loud.
(4)
John T.
My wife and I went here today for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! I had the BEST skirt steak I ever had. It's very hard to find a place with good skirt steak.....but LWoods has one that I will definitely be back for. My wife had the ribs and really liked them. Our waitress Paulina was very nice, did a great job, and was always smiling and helpful. The onion rings (they call them onion 'strings')- were also the best we ever had. Can't wait till we can go there again............terrific food!!!!!
(5)
john k.
You can't go wrong coming to LWoods for a meal....I've had 50+ and can honestly say no regrets Fresh fish, salads, burgers and Prime Rib lead the parade. Closely followed by flat breads and BBQ. Of course having my favorite beer on tap...Stiegl doesn't hurt.
(4)
Kat M.
One word: AMAZEBALLS!!!! Wait.?! Can I say that on here?? Of course I can cuz its true!! Now I can only speak for the food since I did carry out. But it was so good that I can't wait to go there again. I am not a brisket kind of girl but it was so good that I am definitely gonna get it again for myself and that bread is just dreamy! L Woods you have a new best friend!!
(5)
Terese C.
Great neighborhood restaurant. Beware, the wait can be long, so have a seat at the bar & enjoy a cocktail. The food is great, and the service is quick once you are seated. This was our third time eating here. I had their Friday fish fry which I would get again.
(4)
Jay H.
This place is hit or miss on the service and food. It was the bomb at one time. Seems as lately there's an issues with either the service or food. Today it was a problem with a gift card for 25.00 that was no longer valid to use. If they are so hard up to snatch 25.00 from a customer anlong with the food n service issues then they prolly won't be here much longer.
(1)
Jack P.
Give me any place with the terms "Pine'" "Lodge," Roadhouse," or "Northwoods," and I am pretty much a sucker for it. L. Woods is no exception in its unknowing replication of my favorite boyhood spot, when I was just a wee little Yelper. It was called the Northwoods Supper Club. Our family went out for a fancy-schmancy dinner once a year there, usually at Easter, dad and the boys in our little suits and mom in her hat. A guy named nicknamed "Frenchy" (he was actually our neighbor, a chainsaw repairman) donned a beret and soothed us with tunes from the organ. They had a salad bar! Well, enough nostalgia and narrative, lest I raise the hackles of those real reviewers at The Reader and such. We came for lunch. First time for that. In the past, I've been here many times, for dinner with a friend or a group of friends, celebrating birthdays, new jobs, engagements, and a couple firings, too. My first thougth is that L. Woods is a great special occasion place for a number of reasons. Easy to get to, with lots of parking. A great bar to hang out while waiting for your party. Always has a nice party or festive buzz. Always crowded, and was so on a Tuesday at lunch. The crowd is mixed and tends to draw in more of a long-in-the-tooth North Shore types. The walls plastered with black and white 8 x 10's of customers and friends and visiting celebs like Jeff Garlin, Tom Skilling, and Steve Dahl, to name a few. Shades of The Pump Room or Gibson's. The last time I was here with a group, we shared a memorable starter portion of flatbreads and their famous chopped salad. You don't have to order much of either for it to go a long way. Otherwise, always a good go to place for comfort food such as meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, a perfectly grilled salmon filet or filet mignon. The ribs are great, if a little on the sweet side. But we all shared my recommendations, had wine, and came out of there for around $50 per/person. Service here has always been that hands-on, assertively friendly and swift variety I've come to expect with a Lettuce Entertain You operation. I've never had a complaint there. On our recent lunch for two, we had a burger and a BBQ brisket sandwich respectively. Fries and a shared key lime pie, too. Good quality, moderateley-sized servings. They sat us in one of those, as my friend Bonnie puts it, two-bedroom circular booths. There are places you could get that same fare for less in an even more casual environment, but we were taking advantage of a gift card, so it was a good place to hang for a few hours, and catch up with an old friend. Other famous (but not unique) bites here are the chocloate lava cake and the strudel dessert, either one a fun last course tradition if you become a regular. L. Woods: just a great Northwoods Supper Club and nothing more. It knows what it is and does that well. Bring mom and dad when they come to town. Have a celebration here, even if it's because you got fired. Five stars, LEYE, if you add a salad bar, and hire Frenchy at the organ.
(4)
Pamela U.
For the pure fact that L. Woods serves organic, hormone free meat, raised on local farms, my husband and I are huge fans. It's hard to find restaurants that actually care where their ingredients come from, but L. Woods is the exception. It's cozy and we have never had a server that wasn't super friendly. They often bring over free samples of different chef specialties without us even asking. My husband loves their short ribs, and I enjoy the barbeque chicken. Salads and desserts are also pretty tasty. Only negative would be the decor is a little creepy with lots of taxidermy, and the crowd isn't exactly the liveliest bunch if you know what I mean.
(4)
Shawn K.
L woods is definitely worth a try, particularly if you live on the north side. I've always had great meals there, from the appetizer to dessert. We usually start with the walleye chips or the chop salad. The full order of the chop salad is huge and would be enough, for an appetizer, to feed 3 adults, or a family or a maybe four people who aren't huge eaters. The chop salad is significantly more expensive than the walleye chips, 13$ salad and 7$ for the chips. Even still, the chop salad is worth a try. If you like walleye, the walleye chips are very good. If you don't particularly like walleye, then you may not be so impressed. The ribs are one of their signature dishes. I prefer the beef ribs to the pork. They are huge and pretty manageable. Probably not so manageable that I would order them on a first date, I would wait til the second. The meat comes off the none exactly how it should. You have to pull and cut a little bit. But, the meat isn't supposed to fall right off the bone if they are cooked right. I rarely like beef more than pork but for some reason, after trying them both, i prefer the beef. The ribs are hue, unfortunately the beef ribs only come as a full rack, unlike the pork which you can order a half rack. I never finish the full beef rack, but they taste just as good the next day. My girlfriend loves the parmesan crusted cod. It comes lightly crusted, (see pictures) in a lemony butter type sauce. Its pretty rich but really tastes light, fresh and a little citrus-ie from its accompaniments. For sides, the garlic mash potatoes are superb. Check out more of my reviews at ShawnKemp.yelp.com
(4)
Bike R.
I've dined regularly with family and friends at L.Woods Tap for nearly 3 years....over 25 times. Great atmosphere, food, service and cocktails. BUT, a month or two ago something changed. Different uniforms on the staff, headsets and a cheaper pour on cocktails - particularly, martinis. Our waitress apologized. Said, "We're not happy about it," when asked why our martinis were well below the brim, unlike many other visits. No harm or foul on our waitress. She was great. So charge me more for a good martini, who cares. But serving up a lame martini with a lame excuse makes one feel cheated, Mr. restaurant manager. Not a good sign. What's next? So a BIG 'no can do' for our group from here on out. Calo (5343 N Clark) has the best martinis around....a large place with a great vibe, tasty ribs, nice selection of pizza and other decent Italian fare as well.
(1)
Jennifer L.
If you didn't know this was a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, you probably wouldn't figure it out from the decor. It reminds me of...I don't know what, exactly. An old lodge? Ponderosa (remember those)? Your corner bar? Whatever. The food is excellent. I had the pounded chicken which came with a delightful lemon cream sauce that, when it oozed its way over to the mashed potatoes on my plate, created a heavenly pairing. My parents had the turkey special, which came with cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole. Service was quick and friendly. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Matt K.
Ordered online. The food was excellent and packaged well so everything arrived fresh. It was a bit pricey @ $25 for an appetizer & entree including delivery fees but I'll order from them again
(4)
Lorelei C.
Today was my first visit to L Woods.. My friend Dawn had told me this was a great place to eat.. and then my son Nick came in from Aurora today and asked me where I wanted to have dinner.. So..The exterior of L.Woods looks like a log cabin.. A great rustic look.. And once you enter the restaurant itself it's like you are stepping back in time, like a supper club from the 50's/60's.. Quite Classic..A bit Elegant.. It's pretty dark throughout the restaurant, any lighting is quite dim.. I guess some might like that romantic touch but.. my eyes were struggling to read/see the menu.. My son Nick who is 27 thought this was a nice restaurant.. But.. felt it's appeal would be to us older folk..(Meaning Me)! And.. yes.. most of the crowd were older than 27! Anyway.. we ordered off the dinner menu since we came in too late for the lunch menu.. And Nick said the menu did not have much variety.. What I saw/found on the menu were comfort food options.. Steaks, Chicken, Fish, Burgers etc.. I thought the menu covered enough food options.. Our server did bring a loaf of warm, onion bread for us.. But.. I had Haddock Fillets dipped in a Schlitz Beer Batter.. Nick had some chicken entree and baked Mac and Cheese.. And then for dessert I had a really good cream puff.. So..I thought L.Woods was a nice experience.. Service for the most part was on point and attentive.. Menu prices seemed for the most part to be comparable to other restaurants.. Actually..some may consider L.Woods pricing to be a little steep.. So be prepared.. If you like good food,and nice ambiance, I would suggest that you pay L. Woods a visit.. A really lovely place..:)
(4)
Ed K.
Hands done best Ribs in Chicago! I have been eating in this place for years and I have never been disappointed by anything I have tasted on the menu. A must try for BBQ Lovers!
(5)
Yvonne O.
I lived in Forest Glen for a few years and knew about this place but never made it in. I wanted to come for dinner, but since they didn't take reservations, we opted for lunch. I was shocked to see so many people there right at noon, but it is the burbs....we started with beef barley soup for me (yum) and potato skin nachos for my husband. They were not my thing, but he liked them other than the green onion on top. For the meal, I went with the three sliders (pulled pork, brisket, and chicken) which also had a ton of onion rings on each (not a fan and it wasn't noted). Husband had the chicken and rob combo, which was huge. We also had the blueberry buckle for dessert which was just okay. Total was about $80 before tip. The tubs were delicious, and the brisket was also a star. We just can't stand the sheer amount of onion on EVERYTHING. I was also surprised at no shrimp (other than cocktail) on the menu. Service started out excellent and faded a bit once the room started to get packed as we waited for the check for quite a while.
(3)
Palula C.
This is the right place to go after a night of being at Oakton and having your deranged anatomy teacher (who once expounded on the plot of the movie Over the Top to explain the Pronator Teres muscle) terrorize you with accounts of his wife's menopause, then give you a 150-question "quiz"...In other words, it's great if you're in the area. I've been to an actual Wisconsin supper club a few times (the Gun Club in Beloit, RIP), and I think their "homage" to that style is pretty solid. L Woods has some tasty beers! I discovered Wild Onion Hopslayer here...also their mac & cheese and creamed spinach are really the way to go with bar food. A couple times I got their brisket nachos, and it was just too many competing flavors for me. I would go here all the time if I were older, as a 20-something who should be on the prowl with people my own age, I would prefer to avoid the older men who ask whether you like Bob Seger...
(4)
Parker L.
If you want to have a consistently great dining experience, where the food is always prepared perfectly, the service is attentive, and you leave satisfied... L Woods is the place. I've tried almost everything on their menu over the years - their steaks are great. Salads are huge and fresh.But the best is the hamburgers. They are is just so good. (they also deliver on grub hub btw) Cons - On weekends, this place is packed. But you can usually get a table in the bar area.
(5)
Rebekah H.
This is a great spot whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Although, it is a good idea to get a reservation for dinner unless you are going to be there before 6pm. We love the flatbread/salad combos, both the mushroom and tomato flatbreads are equally delicious and I just love the chopped salad. The flatbread is so crispy and delicate but packs a flavor punch! We have also tried the Beef ribs which were very good and various other items on the menu and have been happy with all of them. For a nice small dessert, try the Goldbrick Sundae, so tasty and will not leave you stuffed!
(4)
Emily C.
We really wanted to like this place. A group of us (originally from WI) went for Friday fish fry recently to get a taste of home - L. Woods describes itself as a WI supper club. We knew it probably wouldn't be as good as home, but it wasn't really close. We loved the idea of the old fashioneds, but they were only ok. The fish fry wasn't unlimited (strike) and they didn't have potato pancakes (strike). What kind of WI fish fry is this?! Another friend ordered the flatbread and it was seriously served on something thinner than a cracker. She was still hungry afterwards (strike). We really wanted to have a go to fish fry place,. The food was fine and I didn't come up with three strikes, but I think we'll keep looking 66/365
(2)
Mark M.
called in at 4.00 to pickup dinner that included the infamous apple strudel, and i was told that it takes 45 minutes to bake, so i told the lady i was picking up at 5.30 when i arrived at 5.45 i was told the apple strudel was still cooking and it would be a minute or two more, there were 4 people behind me that got their food and 10 minutes later I was told again that it would be another minute or two, I heard the pickup manager calling a customer asking them when they would be picking up their order because it was ready 30 minutes ago, I laughed cause I was now waiting 30 minutes beyond my pickup time. when i was told a 3rd time it would be a minute or two more i told the pickup person I called an hour and half before the pickup time and it was now 30 minutes beyond the pick up time, and I had been waiting 165 minutes and had to go, so please cancel my order and credit my credit card. He had no problem doing that so i left, very disappointed and as you would guess hungry and angry. I would suggest you think twice about ever ordering for pick up from here unless you like hanging out for lengthy times in the small closet they use for pickups.
(1)
Ronni G.
Barbecue anything. I like devil sauce. Decent beer selection, classic mixed drinks. Don't miss the chopped salad-it's a meal in itself. Order the gooey chocolate cake when you order your dinner, and save room for dessert. And don't even think of coming here most nights without a reservation.
(5)
Zorin D.
I went to L. Woods to try the beef ribs which made it on to Time Out Chicago's "100 Best Things We've Tasted" list. The ribs were very good, but the Calamari was the best I've ever had in my life. If you're a calamari fan you have to try it here.
(5)
Jennifer Q.
Special shout out to server Jose A. who did a great job on my husband's birthday! The food is always good here -anything we have ordered has always been super tasty. Good food plus great service is what makes this local gem really stand out!
(4)
Mike L.
This place sure looks like a corner bar from the outside. Not knowing much about Lincolnwood my homie took me here. Upon walking into the fine establishment we were promptly greeted and seated. On a Monday night this place was packed. I knew it to be a good sign. Althought they squeeze in as many tables as they can seating was fine. A booth is the way to go if possible. This places oozes Old Skool 50's restaurant. Back then you would get soup and salad with your meal. Not here, but no matter the food is excellent. Both beef and pork ribs were outstanding. Tender, meaty, and moist......the only way to eat em. Huge portions and good service rounded out our experience. Their banana cream pie was pretty awesome not overly sweet or banana laden made it a pretty perfect ending. The name left me asking, where's Jake?
(4)
John S.
Everything was cooked to perfection! Loved that the waitress asked us about dessert when she took our dinner order since she politely reminded us they r prepared fresh and some of them take 45 minutes to bake so it would b ready when we were done eating, So we ordered an apple strudel and it was OUTSTANDING! It was easily large enough for four people!!!! It was one of the best desserts we've had at a restaurant. They also had a nice selection of desserts which did not require preordering which is great if u r not sure u want dessert. The mushroom flatbread was crisp, light and delicious! The ribs were tender and yummy! Prime rib was wonderful....can't say enough positive things about this special place!
(5)
Borat S.
There were a few things I didn't like. First off the wait was terribly long. I tried to call in my name because we had a 30 min drive ahead of us before we could get there. I wasn't very happy when he did finally get a table because it took longer than they had quoted, but once I tried the ribs I thought the wait was well worth it. The beef ribs were very good! I'm glad I waited. The molten chocolate cake was okay. If you like hot chocolate pudding you would like it.
(4)
Diana R.
You can't go bad with a place that serves French onion soup and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and I was right! L. Woods is a log cabin restaurant full of thousands of framed photos all along the walls. This place is HUGE but still retains a cozy feeling. Made reservations and came here at 6pm on a Saturday, I'm glad I made reservations, this place was packed and the wait exceeded an hour. We got seated near the bar in a cozy table that was pretty private (where's that Usher song when you need it). The pulled pork sandwich was amazing!! They really made that meat moist and the bbq sauce was right on. I also had the key lime pie for dessert and it was the best I've ever had, I even saved some for the next day and it still tasted fresh!
(5)
Joe S.
I wish I lived closer to this place. I went here randomly for lunch with a buddy the other day. What a cool place. It has a wonderful Lodge/cabin feel to it. We ate in the restaurant part and there are all these wonderful pictures and everything is wood. I was really blown away by the onion bread and my Chicken Club sandwich. Damn, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I wish it was close for a few reasons, the food and service obviously, but it had a really cool looking bar area. I could see myself bellying up to the bar and making it my local establishment. I was very surprised to hear it was a Lettuce Entertain you place as they seem more like chains...anyway, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)
Brad F.
I love coming here and getting the ribs, they were absolutely fantastic!!! Also, I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night. The service is always generally good. I always love coming to a lettuce entertain you restaurant they always are fantastic. The music was a little loud in the bar when I was there, but overall good experience, looking forward to my next visit. I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night
(5)
Catherine M.
This place cracks me up. For some reason my (non-geriatric) parents have steaked their claim in L Woods as a favorite date-night destination. That has since transended into family dinners out which are the only circumstances that I've been here for. I would say on average my husband and I (who are both in our 30s) are significantly younger (by decades) then everyone else here. Oh, and don't even THINK about stopping by between the early bird (5p.m.) dinner time- the wait is longer than the line for Le Passage on a Saturday night. The food and ambiance are fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing that has been outwardly bad. One thing I always get here is the Sprechers orange cream soda (on tap) in a frosted mug! DELISH. My mom and husband love their ribs and I guess they do them right at L Woods (I'm not such a fan in general). I usually opt for their flat breads or salads (their spinich salad is MASSIVE but tasty). All in all- it's dark. It's cozy. The food is good. The age of the average dinner is about 40 years older than me.
(3)
ardath b.
Can you say YUM! Love this place for ribs and their side choices! Back woodsy atmosphere, amazing meat choices and the seasoning beats all. I loved it so much, I celebrated my 50th birthday there, and everyone one of my friends raved about the food (except the vegetarians of course). They do have veggie choices too. Top of my list! Fantastic dessert choices too.
(5)
eStephanie M.
Every time I see the name of this restaurant it makes me laugh because my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant 3 times in 2 weekends. The waiter noticed us the second time and said, "Oh you're back for more!" We sure were! I would be more specific about what we ate, but the last time we went was a few months ago so I don't remember. All I know is that it was all good! I think it's time for another visit.
(4)
Colleen B.
L. Woods is everything you expect from a steakhouse. Very much enjoyed the bbq planked salmon. Recently returned for my father's birthday; everything from the mashed potatoes to the brontosaurus-sized beef ribs were enjoyed by all. Also, I was surprised by the decent selection of local microbrews on tap. A delicious and gut-busting meal with great service.
(4)
Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and every time its a pleasure. I mostly have been there for lunch/early supper.. I have had salmon, burgers, clubs and everything in between... its all FANTASTIC. Service is an A+ This place is definitely pricey, but well worth it. Luckily I get gift cards often and that is how i justify the trip.
(4)
Regina K.
Holy Moly, this place is delicious. My bf and I furniture shopped all day in the burbs, and we were ravenous by the time we got to L Woods. There was a wait, but we had a few tasty beers. We were comped a flatbread appetized. We had soup, the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich, and a positively delcious desert of Lava cake. I would absolutely recommend. We had a ton of leftovers, and the bill was about $60, with 2 beers and tips.
(5)
Roisin H.
The food here is REALLY yummy. I had the parmesan crusted filet (8 oz) which was delicious! My husband got the ribeye steak. I also had a martini (ok two martinis) which was really the best i've had since one I had at Keefer's (another of my fave restaurants--but much more expensive). The reason I gave only 4 stars that the server was rushed and you really had to flag her down if you wanted anything. It seemed like that was just de rigeur, though, as opposed to it just being a busy night. Oh, we also got the apple strudel (10.99- but they actually give you a WHOLE apple strudel!) which comes with a buttery caramel sauce--so delish!) The waitress let us know when we ordered our entrees it takes 40 minutes to cook. I ordered it when we were about halfway through dinner and she looks at me and goes..."You know it takes 40 minutes...?" I'm like, "Is that okay?" Sheesh!
(4)
Ryan R.
Amazing Experience. Our neighbor gave us a $50 Lettuce Entertain U card and we had been sitting on it for far to long. I guess we were trying to figure out a "date" night without our 3 year old. Well that never came to be so we had to find the right "family" restaurant. L. Woods was fantastic. I called first for a reservation and the accommodated to meet our needs. When we showed up early they sat us, no questions asked, no attitude. With a smile. Our server Jean was so great. We informed her that is was our first time and she practically rolled out the red carpet. She was very knowledgeable and helped us understand what L Woods was all about. The food was great. Authentic American. It reminded me of some of the home cooking I came to love back in Michigan. My wife and I split a Caesar salad, and we enjoyed some of their great flat bread. My son had the Kids Chicken Strips and My wife and I had the Special Shepard's Pie. We also enjoyed a beer as well. To top of the visit the manager Joe came to our table and thanked us for coming. Where else do you get that in the city? He then treated us to a giant slice of Chocolate cake...awesome! If you get a chance check out L. Woods. It is like stepping out of the city without the commute.
(5)
Jonny M.
I was wavering between A-Ok and Yay! I'm a fan in all honesty. This is clearly the local hangout. It's been years since I've stopped by as I moved to LA - however I was meeting up with friends and it seemed the ideal place for a group of 6. I'll sum as follows...its Rich Melman Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can be sure you're getting nothing but the finest in food and service. The portions were quite large (also evident by the average size of people dining there!) and the taste was good - not great. I had the parm crusted whitefish and a double baked potato. The fish was served tepid and somewhat flavorful and the double baked was outstanding. We started with an order of flatbread which was large and full of flavor. I love the decor as it reminded me of being in the Wisconsin North Woods.
The perfect, hearty dining experience before we had Bad Movie Night with some friends of ours. These friends had raved about L Woods, so we all went Saturday night (make a reservation!). I liked the atmosphere right away - log cabin, wood-paneled walls, cozy. And although I noticed people in dressier garb - celebrating some event, I guess - there were plenty like us in more casual jeans, t-shirts. The menu is built around comfort food - BBQ ribs, chicken, steaks, fish. The giant mound of onion strings was a good starter. My half BBQ chicken was moist (even the next day, reheated) and the BBQ sauce is mighty tasty. My husband liked his BBQ planked salmon, which was surrounded by corn and mashed potatoes. Please note portions are huge! Our server was great - she competently answered my questions about several entrees, and kept our glasses filled. When she asked if anyone was here for the first time, I said yes - and prepared for some tired spiel. But no - instead, she subsequently brought us a gratis plate of BBQ chicken/pesto flatbread as a "welcome." High marks for a free appetizer - and it was delicious to boot! Kids are welcome here. (They have a "Kids Club" - after a child's 10th visit, they take their pic and put it up on the wall of fame). Although we didn't request it, we were seated in the back room, which - with 2 toddlers - gave us a little more space. My friend and I got the chocolate peanut butter shake, in to-go cups. After that, we were officially stuffed (all the better, to watch Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man on the couch). I'm looking forward to trying the ribs on my next visit.
(4)
Suze R.
I wasn't that impressed with L Woods. We went on a Saturday night, even though we made a reservation 5 days in advance we got a lousy table, crammed right up against another table. Just letting you know, you will be dining with 90% senior citizens. I felt like I was in a retirement home, except for the noise. These old folks have quite an attitude too. Iv'e never been to Lincolnwood, not very friendly. Food was average, wait staff was poor considering the cost of the meal. We ordered a large caesar salad, the waitress portioned it out at the table, spilling some on the table, and just left it there and walked away! All righty then! My husband had the prime rib, it was ok. The beef ribs are huge, actually too large for the plate, which makes it very hard to eat. Overall I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Dennis S.
Vastly over rated, this second rate restaurant has prices that will put you in the poor house. Portions while fresh are small. Nothing to write home about. Avoid this pricey Americana nostalgia restaurant.
(3)
Ann Y.
My hubby and I tried L Woods for the first time yesterday and I have to say it was really good. We told the waitress it was our first time there since I wanted some recommendations, and the next thing I knew the manager brought over some BBQ chicken flatbread which was amazing and so good. It was so think and crispy with homeade pesto and the BBQ sauce was real sweet. They really offset each other well. For dinner we both had the RIbs and they were really meaty and good. I couldn't even finish my half slab. I also ordered the french onion soup which was one of the best I had in a long time. They have an extensive wine and beer list. The only thing I didn't like was the service. While the waitress got us our free appetizer she wasn't anywhere around. I had to ask for silverware and had to ask other people for our bill.I will be back, and hopefully the service will improve.
(4)
Michelle W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the northwoods feel and the food is amazing. I've been here several times, but still can't get past the pounded chicken - it is amazingly delicious! People I've gone with have also ordered ribs and steaks and such and I have never heard any complaints about the food being less than wonderful.
(5)
Emily M.
Oh my gosh its so good. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I've been there several times and everything is delicious. I haven't but I keep meaning to order their plank something salmon (yeah I'm helpful idk what the name is), but I've tried it when other people have ordered it and its incredible. Their mashed potatoes are especially good also. The service has always been great and be prepared to wait for seating because this place gets really busy (for a reason!).
(5)
Carolynne M.
My hands are literally shaking as I write this. Let me preface this by saying that for a long time I had wanted to try L Woods but for one reason or another never got the chance. Seemed like a nice, laid back joint with a nicely varied menu. Now my opinion is forever scarred due to my boss who I will nickname "Goddamn Salad Lover" (GSL) GSL is OBSESSED with the chopped salad at L Woods. SO obsessed, that for every birthday, event, or Slap-On-The-Back-Nice-Job lunch, we are treated to THE SALAD. Nothing else. Salad only. The salad isnt bad, really. Its just a bunch of pasta, lettuce, onions, bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese mixed together. Or so I told myself up until the 7th time I had it. We are now up to something like the 364th time. GSL attacks it, however, with a fervor usually reserved for starving dogs or PMS-afflicted girls near a chocolate shop. My throat is closing simply thinking about the next time this frickin salad is going to make its next appearance. Oh and dont even think that not eating the salad is an option. You wanna be a team player, you best be loading up your plate and smile as you do it!!! I'm sorry L Woods. I hear you have some other real nice stuff on your menu, like desserts and mac & cheese and fish and stuff. Please discontinue the salad so I might be able to try these other things someday! Help a girl out, huh?
(3)
Clark K.
Chopped salad, chopped salad, chopped salad. It's that good. You should probably refer to me as Mr. GSL (see Carolynne's review below) as well because it is a damn good salad! We always order it as an appetizer at L Woods. However, I do not recommend skipping on the other great entrees. L Woods calls itself a "supper club" and it has a hunting cabin feel. You feel like you are at a ski resort perhaps. I enjoy the ambiance, but not half as much as I enjoy their fried chicken. Oh man, it is crispy, fatty , and delicious. I would say just like momma used to make it, but L. Woods' is probably better. Make sure you order the mashed potatoes because they are ultra creamy. L. Woods is a great place to start/end the night after a movie at the nearby Crown theater. Highly recommended.
(5)
Connie W.
Comfortable atmosphere, excellent service, and good food.
(4)
Patty B.
Love the food here - LOVE IT! But I have to agree with some other reviewers and say that the service is really hit or miss. Sometimes awesome, sometimes horrible. The food is consistantly good (I've had more than half the menu and have always been happy), just the service isn't. Ambiance isn't all that great either, but if you don't care about that or order carry out its no biggie. Lunch during the week is usually busy, as is Saturday night. So if you aren't into crowds (especially those of an older generation) stay out at those times.
(3)
Kristina F.
If i were to drive up to this place on my own I would be plenty skeptical. The outside of it appeared to be designed by a partnership between Playskool toys and IHOP. It's a cheesy looking wood cabin style exterior that looks like a kids restaurant. I was not alone however, and i trust the taste of the people I was with, so in we went. The inside instantly reminded me of Chumley's in NY, a prohibition era pub that's got a wooden interior with old book covers plastered all over the walls. L Woods had a wooden interior, deer antler chandeliers, black and white photos plastered all over the walls and red leather booths. The parking lot was full when we pulled up so it was no surprise to have an hour wait. We ordered some (very greasy but good) fried onion and drank some gigantic beers at the bar. It took a long time to get the fried onion so they gave it to us on the house. Our bartenders and waitress were friendly. We ordered the apple strudel dessert ahead of the meal since it takes a while to cook. You might say this was a mistake because the portions are gigantic, and we were almost sickenly full by the time we left. I would say it was a mistake if the apple strudel wasn't abbbsoollluuutteelllly deeelllliiiciiouuss. Did I mention the mashed potatoes? They were delicous delicious delicious as well. I realize now that I should have forgone writing an actual review and just written "delicious delicious delicious," but too late for that. I'll elaborate: There was no ketchup on the table when my burger was served. I like a lot of ketchup on my burger and i like to put extra ketchup on my plate and dip the burger into it. I took a bite anyway and it was so moist, ketchup would have been a mistake and masked the flavor. None of the burgers I've had in ny in the last few months compare to this one. mmmmm.... I got sweet potato instead of french fries. It was gigantic. About the size of my head. Not very flavorful and I personally didn't like the brown sugar butter it was served with, but it was good with some salt. The mashed potatoes though... good god. Definitely lots of butter in there. Excellent. Very excellent. And lumpy enough but not too lumpy. Yum. There would be no fights over how mashed potatoes should be prepared for Thanksgiving if mom made them like this. And then there was the strudel. A warning: unless you are a giant of some sort or decide to commit suicide via dessert, you cannot finish this on your own. It looks like a burrito only it's three times the length of your average burrito. Warm thinly sliced apples (I prefer thinly sliced apples in apple desserts over chunky ones. yay!) contained in a flaky buttery crust. I liked it without the buttery caramel sauce, though everyone else loved it. And there were enough leftovers for everyone to have a second slice three days later when we were finally hungry again. Summary: Delicous delicious delicious!
(5)
Robyn M.
I brought my 2 yr old. They actually have a kid's menu and chocolate milk so he was in heaven. I had the bbq ribs and they were pretty good. My parents had the prime rib which they said was a bit cool and chewy but had really good flavor. We ordered the apple dessert which was so huge we had to take it home. The french onion soup was crazy good. I grew up in Wisconsin so I dig the supper club vibe. Being a Lettuce restaurant this place was definitely classier than a typical Wisco supper club but not too fancy that you feel stupid wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Solid food. Check it out.
(4)
Dana M.
I went to L. Woods for the second time and there's a reason for that! The best ribs that's a 3 minute drive from my house. Today, being Father's Day, I expected the wait to be a little bit longer even with reservations but 15 minutes wasn't too bad. Our waiter came up to our table right away and our food didn't take too long. Their onion roll is very soft, sweet, and delicious with the whipped butter! The last time I was here, I had half a chicken and ribs so of course I took it home and ended up eating it for my next 3 meals. It was that big! I ordered the beef rib tips with BBQ sauce today and again, the portions were huge! The ribs are very tender and delicious. I replaced the regular sides of either fries, mashed, or baked potato with sweet potato and that thing was seriously as big as my head. The maple walnut butter makes it even better. Looks like I have food for the next few days because of the huge portions. Next time I want to try the cherry martini!
(5)
Mary K W.
If we didn't have $150 in gift certs (thanks to The Don, our realtor) for Lettuce Entertain you restaurants, we likely wouldn't have set foot in here. I've never been attracted to the kitschy, fake vibe (you're in Northern Minnesota!! you're in Tuscany!!) of many of the Lettuce places. However, we wanted to try the ribs, and they have an extensive kids' menu, so off we went on Sat. nite. The place was packed - parking lot, waiting area, restaurant. According to other reviews, it's like this most of the time, even during the week. They had our reservation, and we were seated fairly quickly. The kids got buffalo wings and DH and I shared a ($9!!) chopped salad. Both were good, but nothing different you'd get anywhere else. I got a slab of ribs, and the waiter brought out their dry rub ribs, instead of the regular ones. I didn't feel like waiting for another order so, I just kept them, and they were ok, but you can certainly do better at any number of places in Chicago, and for about 5 bucks less a slab. DH got the prime rib, which again, was just ok, maybe a little on the tough side, and not cooked very well - he ordered it med rare, and it was very red and bloody - which seemed more rare to me. Two kids got cheeseburgers, which were enormous, and good they said; the youngest got chicken fingers, which looked to be pretty standard chicken fingers. We had a lot of leftovers to take home, and I specifically asked for bbq sauce to take home, and got none. Also, no horseradish sauce for the leftover prime rib. Oh, well. Suffice to say, we won't be back anytime soon, and why would we? There are nearly a dozen restaurants within walking distance of my house - which makes me feel a bit of pity for folks in the burbs who only have this place and maybe 5 others as their local options, all of which require a drive to get there.
(2)
Minnie L.
I really really really like L Woods. I've been there a few times - with a big party, a couples night and just with my daughter. Every time the service was pretty good! The only thing that took a little while were the drinks but then again the waiter doesn't have control over how fast the bartender makes them. Ok but let get to the amazing food. My favorite is the Devil Style Beef Ribs. They are so tasty and the portions are hugh! I also loved the mac and cheese which is good for adults and kids. My next trip I will try the Prime Rib which is only served on Saturdays. I was told it is sooooooooo yummy! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Barbara M.
No matter when I go to L Woods, I always have a wonderful meal. I wasn't looking to dig into a huge steak or chops last night around 8:30 pm, so my friends and I just had the chili, which was on the daily special menu and the FABULOUS Chopped Salad. It's so good that I crave it all the time and can't wait to back if just for that. Once you taste it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. We ordered the large salad and it filled the three of us perfectly, or so I thought. My two friends kept eyeing the desserts being devoured at the near by table and couldn't resist, so they split the hot fudge brownie sundae topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It looked so yummy and scrumptious that I had to BEG them for a taste. WOW is all I can say.......One bite of this and you'll be in chocolate brownie heaven!!!
(5)
Lynn C.
Try the chocolate lava cake, if you have any room left from the meat and potatoes (mostly) dishes. Attentive and friendly service, even when busy (which it always seems to be). The parking lot is usually packed and so are the dining rooms.
(4)
Gillian R.
I'm not seeing what the hype is behind this joint. Maybe it's my fault for ordering fish (which was ick!) at a bbq restaurant? Lesson learned for next time... The service was mediocre at best. I think I heard somewhere it used to be a free-standing and was then bought by a chain? Quality ALWAYS drops when something is bought by a chain. Bonus points for: killer mashed potatoes and free parking.
(3)
Jessica C.
Couldn't help but think of Legally Blonde when my friend picked this spot. Was a bit leery of the log-cabin action as we pulled up, but since dinner was on her, I wasn't complaining. Service started a bit slow, then livened--our server turned out to be very attentive. Was a bit thrown off by the dark, lodge atmosphere, but I did appreciate the diverse crowd. I eventually found myself feeling very comfortable here. The chopped salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. I don't know what's so special about it, since it's really made up of ordinary ingredients, but L Woods knows how to do it just right. Have to add here that the gooey chocolate cake is a must. DO NOT miss it.
(4)
Annaliza F.
y am I giving them 5 stars??? -bread, chopped salad, & calamari (mmm-hmmm) -queen cut prime rib (oooohhh yeeeaaahhh) -apple strudel & gooey chocolate cake (drrroooolll....) -I literally live down the street from this place (walking distance =) need I say more????.... *cricket cricket
(5)
Kate R.
It was a toss up between 2 and 3 stars...I find it kind of annoying that I have so much left-overs...could have split my entree with at least one other person and been stuffed. I had the parmesan crusted whitefish which for $17.00 should have had some flavor. It came with choice of side, I chose the sweet potato...and it is enough to feed a small village. Honestly where do they even get these things? With cocktails, app (large chop salad is tasty) dinner, 2 desserts for 4 people we dropped $210. with tip. I just don't think the food or the service is worth the price.
(3)
Laura T.
When we first walked into L.Woods, there were blue-hairs everywhere and it made us wonder what we were in store for (need to preface this by saying that we have kids,and everyone knows there are only two types of people who eat before 6 and that's seniors and people with children. Guess what? This is a classic case of elders knows best, a place where everything is truly fabulous. The salads are generous but nothing is as large as the beef ribs - they're huge and delicious. The meat - whether it's the prime rib, pork chop or burger - is served exactly as it should - medium rare and medium, respectively. We always order a chopped salad, calamari and when we're in a big group, the flatbreads, too. We don't think there is a place friendlier and nicer to kids. If you are plagued with a child who wants "plain pasta with butter" 24/7, the kitchen will accommodate you without a blink of the eye. This means the service is fabulous as well. Over the last few years, we've tried just about everything on the menu and we can honestly say we've always been pleased. We used to bemoan the wait until we figured out that you can call and put your name on the waiting list, show up 30 minutes later and presto, your table is ready. And there is always take-out.
(5)
Gil N.
I visited L. Woods based on Yelper reviews and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The decor, the service and mmm....*wipes away drool* the food. Wow. I was there for lunch so it wasn't very busy, that being said they still had quite a few tables taken. Save room for dessert. Trust me.
(5)
Melissa M.
Went here on Saturday night for an early Mother's Day celebration. Will not go back. A couple of us ordered the Saturday special (prime rib) and it was probably the most sub par prime rib I have ever had. It was tasteless. I asked the waiter to bring some au jus hoping that I can drown the tasteless prime rib with some juice, but the au jus was just as tasteless. But I guess I should have figured that out when the prime rib was tasteless. Tasteless prime rib, tasteless au jus. I almost asked for A-1 sauce which is blasphemous for prime rib. My mother in law ordered the special (halibut) and said it was not good. BBQ ribs were just okay. The only thing that was good was the chocolate layer cake. Waiter was not very friendly and service was super slow. How can this be a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant?
(1)
Adam S.
Had dinner with 7 the other night and was crammed in to a corner booth so tight I felt like I needed to lift my plate off the table and create my own little space so as not to knock elbows with the people on either side of me. Besides that crammed feel, the place was pretty good. Their specialty is definitely the BBQ although I thought the BBQ beef brisket sandwich was pretty skimpy, i.e. lots of bun, not a lot of cuts of beef - but what do you expect for only paying $9.95! Definite kudos on the setting; this place used to be the indy restaurant Bones which had been around for years and years. LEY bought it a few years ago and fortunately kept the old vibe and have seemingly retained the mix of clientele: north city, lincolnwood/skokie young people mixed with cranky people. :) All in all a good place for comfort food but it's also incredibly loud so if you're thinking comfort food AND chilling out, this may not be the best place.
(3)
Theresa K.
Ah, L Woods. Love the Lodge-style decor, dim lighting, and framed photographs. So cute. Reminds me of a place where a film scene might be filmed. The service is always great. Drinks are great. I like that you can order all the wine by the glass, half glass, or bottle. And their cocktails are just as good. I love the tomato bisque, fresh bread served at the table and the veggie burger. Did I mention that the veggie burgers are home made!? There's something for everyone at L. Woods. Meat lovers will love the steak salad and ribs, vegetarians will love the flat bread pizza, veggie burgers, and soups, and dessert lovers will die for their key lime pie! Great for a date or with the whole family. And with a pretty convenient location, (right off of the I-94) it's a definite must!
(5)
Annie S.
Umm apple streusel= heaven! fast and wonderful delivery. They even let you get the apple streusel prepped-not cooked, so you have the fun and wonderful smell in your house while you cook it per their directions after you ear. love it!
(4)
Kristina O.
I went to L Woods on my birthday last year and have been meaning to come back ever since. The food here is really great. The onion bread you start off with is nice and fresh, my chicken was fabulous, and the sides we had were VERY good (especially the garlic mashed potatoes). I'm not a fan of the whole "log cabin" feel, but I also really hate the idea of being in "the great outdoors." I'm pretty convinced only white people enjoy that kinda thing.
(4)
Wik G.
I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there. I bring kids there and they were all treated super nice. It's definitely a good family place with good food.
(5)
Sue K.
Definitely has that supper club feel. Never tried it, but heard the apple strudel is good. Lettuce Entertain Yourrific.
(5)
Tim L.
Amazing service. Great food and atmosphere. Feels like a place my family would've gone to growing up.
(4)
LINDA M.
great food . had take out . easy convieniant and food packaged very well for travel. would definately use them again
(4)
Rocky B.
Definitely a woodsy feel to this restaurant. Not my favorite LEYE restaurant but it's pretty decent. Service is friendly and attentive. As far as the food...there have been times that I have been there and everything from the starter to the dessert was just spot on and other times where...they weren't. Pretty good prime rib and mmm, very tasty desserts. They have a parking lot which is great. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on coming for dinner as they can get pretty crowded. But they have a nice bar area so if you do happen to just stop on my by you can always hang out and get some drinks first.
(3)
Mandy P.
My husband and I went here for the first time on Christmas Eve this year and we were truly pleased. The service was decent, the atmosphere was wonderfully cozy, and the food was GOOD. We were crazy with our ordering that night, so I'm a little embarrassed to list all the stuff we tried when we were there, but at least I can truly say I've had a sampling of much of their menu before giving an opinion on it. First we had the tomato basil bisque. It was a perfect warm thing to begin our meal on a cold winter night. The soup was tasty and the croutons were unusually good. Then we shared the chopped salad. I have seen in the reviews below that some people are gaga over the salad. I thought it was good, but not amazing. Perhaps this is because I didn't eat the bacon in it (I'm vegetarian), but my husband did and he really liked it. Even so, it's nice to be able to get a salad somewhere that has enough tasty stuff in it that when you take the meat out you aren't just left with freaking iceberg lettuce!!! There were a couple of other salads that we considered that I think would have met that criterion. For our entrees, my husband had the turkey special, which he reports was excellent, and I had the veggie burger. The veggie burger did not rock my world, but it was definitely good enough. However, the garlic mashed potatoes? To DIE for! I kid you not. I think there was more butter than anything else in those babies! Soooo good. Our additional food (the thing that really put us over the top)? Mac and cheese -- baked. Yeah. It was excellent. Amazingly, it actually tasted like cheese, rather than whatever weird stuff it often tastes like -- cream and flour, maybe? -- all those other times when I've had baked mac and cheese and was completely disappointed. I would definitely go back just to have that stuff again. Then, as if that wasn't enough, my husband (who is very thin, by the way -- damn his metabolism!) had bread pudding to top it off! I couldn't believe he could fit anything else in! I tasted the pudding, though, and while I'm not normally a fan of that stuff, this bread pudding was yummmy! It wasn't too squishy and it had a lot of flavor. While he ate, I had some of the coffee and it too was excellent -- serious flavor, not that watered down crap you get at so many places. We will be back! Oh, and to add just one more wonderful bit of info to this? Their meat is all hormone and antibiotic free (the birds are free range) and not frozen! How cool is that? And the take home bags are made with at least 50% recycled paper, but the other half, which comes from new trees, is made up for by planting three trees for every one that is cut down to make the bags! It's an old school dinner place with a conscience! Amazing! N.B.: Our wait for the table was about 15 minutes, which didn't seem too bad. If we were going back on a busier night, I would definitely make reservations (which I was told is possible) because every time I've driven by this place it has looked packed.
(4)
Mike O.
As a person who goes to Northern Wisconsin/Upper Michigan every summer, L Woods comes closest to duplicating the same kinds of heart-warming (artery clogging?) foods served in the northernost reaches of the Dairy State. Where else in Chicago can you get fried walleye. Even coleslaw, often to sweet or too creamy or just too cabbagey at other places tastes just right. Picking what to have is hard, especially when you see what others are ordering and it all looks so good too! Can't miss with mac-and-cheese even! This place has a woodsy feel to it with wood-paneled walls and pictures of seemingly regular folks dining, hung all over the walls. It gets busy around lunchtime, so get there by 11:30 for quickest service.
(4)
Russ P.
This review has many firsts for me. I have never posted a review on a restaurant, but felt my recent experience at L Woods needed one. The review may seem over the top on how bad this restaurant is, but I truly did not want anyone else having the same experience that we had. I eat out a lot. A least five+ times a week and am a gold preferred Lettuce Entertain You Member. We love all of their restaurants, since the food is consistently good with some excellent dishes. The service is almost always excellent at all of their locations. We heard from some of our friends that L Woods food is good and drove up from Old Town to give it a try. This can not be further from the case at L Woods. I can't even begin to list all of the issue this place has. This review is really a warning not to go there. 1st off the prices.....wow! No it's fine dinner prices, but this is gastro pub food that is priced way too high. They had a fish and chips special for $23. It includes a few pieces of fish and some chips. The Gage, downtown, has some of the best fish and chips and only charges $18. The Gage is kind of pricey, but for what you get, it's worth it. The original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, R.J. Grunts, charges a couple of bucks less for a burger that is much larger and taste like a real burger. Over all L Woods prices are 25% higher than better restaurants. I ordered an Old Fashion Hamburger. It seriously was one of the worst meals I have ever had. I stopped eating the fries after a few and stated that I think they are McDonald's fries. Except McDonalds have more flavor and less grease. The burger was even worst. I ordered mine medium. It comes out as a thin grilled/charred piece. I gave it a try and was disgusting. I put salt on it, which I never put extra salt on my food. Half of the burger was well done and half was rare. I had to laugh. It tasted like a poor attempt at a Burger King Whopper. I think they took someone's lunch from the kitchen and threw it on the plate. The service was poor. Not as bad as the food, but really bad. Our waitress never would come by the table. After an hour of waiting for our food we had to ask the manager what's going on. Our food showed up just after that, with no apologies or explanation. My hamburger did not have a pickle or any ketch up, like the other plates we received. We asked for ketchup, mustard and water. We never saw the guy again. The entire time our water glass sat on the edge of the table empty. We final got a couple filled after asking a few times. Final another bus boy got us our condiments. We asked for the check, as soon as we saw the waitress, and handed her our Lettuce Entertainment Gold Card. We used reward points for dinner, so dinner was free, but still not worth it. I don't think I would eat at this place again even if you paid me. It took our waitress so long to come back with the check that we got our kids ready and stood by the table to leave. After she saw us stand next to the table, she finally came back with our rewards card. All told, from the time we sat down to leaving the table took over an hour and a half. Seriously, this is the worst dinning experience I can remember having in the past five + years. This review does not even mention the delay in seating, when we had reservations or the lack of cleanliness. To summarize; if you want overpriced, greasy, poor quality food and crappy service, this is the place for you. Anyplace is better than this. I have to give LEY huge kudos. The manager, Terry, called in reference to an email I sent to the LEY within an hour. They offered us cerificates to go back and give them a second chance. We'll see how it goes.
(1)
Melissa K.
My family came here the other night for my step dad's birthday. The food we had was fantastic. The service we had lacked in comparison. The odd thing was, my brother knew our waiter and the service was still extremely slow. Maybe it was just that night, who knows. Everyone in my family loved their meals. I had the BBQ'd salmon, which was outstanding. It came on this wood plank surrounded by potatoes and corn. The Caesar salad I had I was able to share with my mom and my aunt and still had some left over. My mom's steak was cooked perfectly and my uncle's chicken looked amazing, he didn't seem to have a piece left when the meal was over. We got their two desserts that take 45 minutes to cook, also not a piece left. I'll definitely go back and hopefully I'll be able to give it 5 stars if we have better service. The food is worth going back for.
(4)
Rebecca T.
We go to L Woods twice a month, and it is always a nice experience. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the food is consistently good. We like the chopped salad to start and then we like their ribs a lot. We bring our little ones, and they eat hamburgers.
(4)
Cindy D.
Went here tonight for dinner with some girlfriends. I read the Yelp reviews before hand so we ordered chopped salad, calamari, and dry rub ribs and just shared everything. I'm not sure why the chopped salad is so good, it's not phenomenal by any means. I can make it at home!! I mean, it was good, but not up to par to everyone's review. The calamari was ordinary. The ribs were delish, tender, and plentiful. The mashed potatoes that came with the meat was very, very tasty!!! Also, we pre-ordered our dessert and got the apple strudel. It was huge!!!! It was delicious, fruity, and yummy. I would just go back to get this studel again. Def. don't miss!!!! Order during your entree because it take 45 minutes to bake. Overall, good dinner, but just share everything! The portions are big and actually they encourage you to share. With all this food, the total bill was $69 (including tip), so $23 pp.
(4)
Jasper N.
comfort food, done right! fried chicken, baby back ribs, pan fried tilapia, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, etc... if you're looking for a rib-sticking meal, check-out this little gem. it's a hike from the city, but worth the drive if you have a car. the service isn't most swift, but still good. enjoy!
(4)
Jared C.
The four of us (my wife, our kids - 9 and 6 - and I) ate lunch here on Mother's Day. I didn't get around to calling for a reservation until 9:30 on Mother's Day morning, but they were still able to fit us in with a reservation at 1:15. Far more importantly, when we arrived at 1:15 on the dot, they seated us immediately. In my book, that earns them 2-3 stars on the total score up front. The service was friendly and prompt. My wife and I both had the prime rib special; I thought mine was very good, but she did not enjoy hers as much. I think the difference was that we had ordered different temperatures -- I had asked for medium-rare, she for medium -- but looking at her plate at the end of the meal, it seemed as though hers was only cooked to medium-rare as well. If we'd thought of it sooner, we could have sent it back to be cooked a little more. We've been here a few times before, and always had a great experience. Service, ambience, and attitude: 4.5-5 stars. Food: 3-3.5 stars. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)
Anto S.
Food is delicious, the steak is to die for, service is fast and professional. Overall a great experience but it is a bit on the expensive side.
(4)
AnnaMaria V.
For casual dining this was top notch. All the food was really good. The steaks were cooked perfectly. The ribs lived up to their reputation. The service was really good. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I was with a group of five and we were seated at a big booth in the back. That was cool because we really felt like we were by ourselves, even though the restaurant was packed. Not one person at our table had any complaints & everyone agreed that we would return.
(4)
Laura P.
Good food, good service, awesome prices! I had the pulled pork sandwich and would recommend that. Also save room for dessert!
(4)
Amanda C.
We were heading for greek food and spotted L Woods. DETOUR!!!! My aunt recommended it about a year ago and I'm upset I waited so long to try it. This place is amazing! My husband and I came in for dinner tonight (Friday) around 5:30pm. We were a little worried that there would be a long wait since the parking lot was full. It was the complete opposite. We were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant is huge. It's oldsy style, very cute and warm inside. The place is HUGE. We were brought out a nice soft onion bread and butter. Sat down and looked over the menu. Our waitress, Joann, came over and offered us drinks. We didn't order any and she returned after giving us a few minutes to look over the menu. Joann was very welcoming and very thoroughly explained the specials and any items we had questions about. I was torn between the filet mignon and skirt steak. What I really loved about Joann is that she kinda hinted the choices for us. Sometimes people need a little push for deciding. To start my hubby and I shared a cole slaw. Amazingly delicious cole slaw. I ordered the skirt steak which she said was marinated in soy, pineapple and other spices. Side of sweet potato and sweet corn. Steak was cooked to perfection and spot on flavor wise. HUGE PORTION. The sweet potato was cooked perfectly also and it was served with the most delicious maple & walnut butter. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm. I can't believe I ate everything, this is a dish for two ladies to split. Per our wonderful waitress the hubby ordered the parmesan crusted cod. Uh, yum. I had a few bites. Absolutely delicious. Flavor was amazing. Mashed potatoes were also very rich and yummy. He was very pleased (and boy is he a picky one). I don't even know how we dared ordering dessert after all that food... but we did. We had the 7 layer cake which came with a freshly made whipped cream. The cream complimented the cake really well. Hubby had a cup of coffee and he said it was great... he's a picky guy with coffee also. Joann did not hover too much but came to check on us at the right times. Her over all presence made the experience that much better. Our waters were always full. The whole dinner cost $65 ($80 with tip). You might say it was a bit pricy but you know what?! For the quality of food and service, it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Andy S.
Food was good. Good atmosphere. Good beer. Didn't entirely blow me away but I would return.
(4)
Penny L.
Absolutely fantastic! The ribs are big and meaty, the mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious. Can't say enough good things about this place. It's a lettuce entertain you restaurant which is also nice. It's not in the city so it has a parking lot (score for no parallel parking!), the staff is very accommodating and the food is fresh and wonderful. It's a bit high in price but it's so worth it. Go! You won't regret it!
(5)
Chris O.
Great Friday Fish Fry place! A true Wisconsin restaurant except for the prices and the fact that they don't do all you can eat fish. The restaurant really does have that Wisconsin feeling right when you walk in the door. The old fashion is made spot on also.
(4)
Suze C.
I have always enjoyed Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, and wanted to try something else LEY offered because of great experiences, esp. at Maggiano's and Wildfire. On a Thursday night, we arrived 12 minutes late due to traffic (five of those minutes in their parking lot). The hostess chastised me for not calling to let them know. I thought she was joking, but no! The waiter was efficient and knowledgeable. My salmon portion was cooked exactly as requested but was nearly inedible because of a high sodium seasoning (I didn't see mention of this on the menu). A skimpy veggie side - a baked potato, was not cooked through. I had two classic cocktails, which did not have the expected flavor and almost no alcohol. Never had a meal so disappointing at this price point. Husband ate ribs and was disappointed as well, and he isn't very picky!
(2)
Sharee M.
We going to have a good time! Today my office had our annual Christmas party at L. Woods. I have been hearing about this great place and their food for months, so I was ready for a great time with great food! First up was the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread and Mushroom Flatbread.I loved the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread! Great favor, crispy, yummy! Our table had three servings of this! Next was the L. Woods Chopped Salad and L. Woods Orchard Salad. I (and the table) preferred the L. Woods Chopped Salad, as its mix of salad, noodles, cheese and other toppings was divine! We all had seconds on this salad. For entrees, BBQ Baby Back Ribs were served....how yummy were they! On point for being flavorful, moist, tender! Next was the Parmesan Crusted Whitefish, which was great overall. Side dished were non other than the Mashed Potatoes. Let's stop for a minute and talk about these potatoes. Just the most yummy side item I have ever tasted. Our table had about 10 dishes on this alone....they were just too good. I do know what is in them, but DO NOT skip out on the mashed potatoes here; it's just not wise on your part. ...Moving on. I did not care for the desserts being served today. Gooey Chocolate Cake did not have much of favor to me and I stop eating it after one bit. I do not like Key Lime. However, L. Wood redeemed it's self with a sugar cookie they give to us at the end of dinner, which was great! Our office had a great time in the back room. The place was busy overall, but you could not tell in our area. The service was great and prompt. Our food was great and hot. Our glasses were always filled timely. We had a great time and I could not see myself not stopping by L.Woods again (esp for mashed potatoes!
(5)
Michael H.
Great baby back ribs! Old fashioned drinks. Wisconsin memories. Half priced wine bottles on Thursday nights. Dark north woods decor with hundreds of photos. Really liked this place. Borders on 5 stars, but service kind of slow and missing a gourmet touch that would put it over the top. I would definitely return for those melt in the mouth tender ribs, no knife needed. BBQ sauce also delicious. If you grew up in Wisconsin (like I did), this place will bring a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye.
(4)
Nancy W.
I've loved this restaurant forever. I mostly have ribs when I come here. Today we finally tried their German apple strudel & it was AMAZING. I don't think they make anything that isn't excellent
(5)
C B.
I agree, what an awful restaurant to go to to celebrate your daughter choosing which college she's going to in the fall. We were told the wait was an hour, but after 30 minutes the place had thinned out a lot but we were still waiting to get a table. So we decided to sit at a table in the bar. Waited forever for a waiter. So now we are really hungry and everything we wanted to order off the menu was gone. They ran out! How do you have fried chicken as a Sunday special and then u run out of it. The other people in our group thought the portion sizes were small and over priced. Bring Bones BACK!! Don't go here! We should have gone to Wildfire or Maggiano's.
(1)
Nats A.
L woods has always been a staple in Lincolnwood (used to be called Bones before), mostly because they are part of the Lettuce entertain you club. Every Christmas we always get the LEUC gift card from relatives, and every year we go to the exact same place (even though there are more restaurants that participate in this) : L Woods. Every time we go there we ALWAYS and i mean its mandatory that we order the CHOP SALAD. The chop salad is phenomenal. Probably the best one I have had in a long time (right next to portillo's chop salad). When we order we always get the larger size which feeds four people comfortably as an appetizer. I can eat a huge one all to myself and call it a meal, but I am forced to share. :( Like I have said previous, we have been coming here for a long time, and honestly I can't find one thing to argue about. I have had anything from the queen cut steak on the menu to the pulled pork sandwich. Everything was delicious. However, it get's extremely busy on the weekends so make sure you make a reservation. Also some of the tables in the restaurant are closely joined with the next table. In some parts of the restaurant it makes you feel like your breathing down someones neck.
(4)
Corey D.
I don't think I can count the number of times I have been to L Woods. My history there dates back to when the place was called Bones and some awesome changes occurred when it switched over. This 5 star review isn't based on a recent trip (which was a actually a little dicey), but rather on years of awesome experiences in a laid back and comfortable setting. Cesar salad, fried onion strings, skirt steak with vegetable of the day and either the ooey gooey chocolate cake or the apple strudel - that's the way I've been ordering since day one. For me L Woods (like most Lettuce concepts) is a place where you can get an awesome meal, time and time again because there is a level of consistency a la chain restaurants but with down home, locally grown concepts that offer more warmth and charm than a chain. Service is always stellar, the atmosphere there is killer if you dig the leather booth, wood cabin sort of feel and the fact that I see the same staff there year to year speaks to how the place is run. Sure the menu hasn't gone through much change since the place opened, but when you like what you like why stray? Know Before You Go: Recently dessert can be hit or miss, chocolate hasn't been gooey and strudel has soft/bland outside. Both the chocolate and the apple take 45 minutes to bake, so order when you sit down.
(5)
Moni K.
Decided to come here for Easter Sunday with my family. The special menu was weak. Here is what I ordered: Calamari - Very good tomato bisque - excellent wedge salad- literally a cut wedge of salad head with bacon bits on top, Not even shredded or cut into smaller pieces. Just a wedge of salad head - lazy!!! Chicken ciabatta very bland, tasteless and the chicken was dry glass of house wine well priced $5 My husband had the chicken. sausage platter, pork This was the best of all the food but full of fat and grease thus not a very healthy option. My dad had green beans and grilled trout. Just OK This again brings me back to my chicken ciabatta--- how can you make this an Easter Special and serve it so dry. It it obvious they do not taste their own food.
(3)
B D.
Four of us drove in from the N.W. burbs last week, wanted to try the famous Friday night fish fry. I ordered it, didn't care that it was $22 cause it was to be "spectacular." It tasted good but for $22 it should have been all you can eat, two small perch and a bed of fries. Maybe , maybe an $8 value. I believe the "Capone" martini was a one finger pour of Templeton Rye this would not make Big Al proud and where is all the knotty pine (buried under old B&W pictures)?? We will now go elsewhere for the fish fry when the mood hits. As the "Sharks" say " I'm out "!
(2)
Gerry T.
I havent been here since the late 90's but it was my wife's first time coming here. Great service, plenty of good bread and nice seating. As a former angler I appreciated the stuffed large mouth and tiger muskie on the wall. As for the food, we really liked the flat bread with sliced apples. My cheeseburger and her pike sandwich were very good as well. I thought the cole slaw was just right, not too tart nor sweet. The calamari was fresh and crisp, probably the best calamari I've ever had.
(4)
Zach J.
Beef ribs. They're not always easy to find, and when you do find them, they're not always guaranteed to be fantastic. Well, that's not the case at L Woods, a cozy, log-cabin looking, North Woods-themed restaurant in Lincolnwood. Not only do they serve beef ribs, but I would go so far as to say they serve the best beef ribs in the greater Chicagoland area, or at least I have yet to have better. Their "devil-style" beef ribs are monsterously huge, and have a nice spicy kick to them. It's difficult for me to order anything other than that now, although they also have a fine selection of steaks & chops as well. They've got 2-3 seperate, large dining rooms, so you never feel to cramped. And when you walk in, they do have a full bar area that is usually a bit more lively than the seperate dining areas. If you have to wait for a table, it's a good atmosphere to cozy up to the bar and watch the game, etc. Another added bonus for L Woods is the atmosphere. The place has character, with hundreds of framed pictures of their old customers from the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The place has charm, and a welcoming, down-to-earth, unpretentious vibe about it. That's probably because it's in Lincolnwood, but whatever the case, I personally find it very refreshing. So I've gotta give this place a 5-star rating, mainly for the beef ribs, but overall the total package at L Woods = *****
(5)
Y V.
Interesting lodge atmosphere. Definitely the kind of place to take your parents out to dinner. We tried the onion strings appetizer. It's a big portion - prepare to share it with 3 other people. Thin, crispy, salty goodness. It's also a great side for any of the main courses. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly. Keep in mind that the side dishes are a la carte. Their old-fashioned burger was not what I expected, but tasty nonetheless. The patty was thin and had seared, caramelized crusts on both sides. The "special sauce" was similar to a Thousand Island dressing. I'll be back to try their fried chicken and other specials.
(4)
E G.
I made an online reservation and while enroute to dinner traffic was horrible. I called to say I would be a little late and I was informed that it would not be a problem. When I walked in there was wall to wall customers waiting to be seated. I walked up and gave my name and was immediately seated. Now that's customer service! Never disappointed whenever I come here! Eat the beef ribs they are the best!
(4)
Donna L.
ALWAYS a good time at our L. Woods... from the host to the wine to the food... everything lives up to perfection... the atmosphere is so homey, the waiters are so friendly.. and the BEEF RIBS are alllllways available and deeeeelicious! And don't forget the dessert... which takes 40 minutes to make! Chocolate cake! Apple strudel! It's hard to find a place that excels in every part of the night... the host/manager is of the friendliest.. the waiter has suggestions and recommendations... the wine pairings are heavenly, the our chopped salad was FANTASTIC... even the bread is special and delicious. Then comes the best part- the beef ribs are succulent and tasty... can't go wrong with the BBQ sauce. And after another glass of wine... the best part... dessert!
(5)
Ella B.
I would give this place a zero if I could. I've been taken here as a guest multiple times and this place is nothing special. At my last visit I was so disgusted I thought the health inspector should have paid them a visit... The evening started off with food caked on to my silverware. Now I'm not talking about a little smudge or a tiny piece of food... There was disgustingly a BIG chunk of food CAKED on my fork AND knife. I absolutely hate being the person to bother the wait staff to change my silverware but in this situation it had to be done. The waiter wasn't rude, but had a slight attitude when I asked him to change my silverware. To my surprise when he brought me a new "clean" set it also had food stuck on the silverware! (now I just asked you to replace my dirty silverware... don't you think it would be wise to double check and make sure the replacement was cleaned?) Where are your standards in giving people dirty silverware?! The WORST part was when I ate my left overs at home the next day to find a FINGER NAIL IN MY MOUTH hidden in the middle of my mashed potatoes. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had, I vomited the second I realized someone's fingernail was in my food and now inside my mouth. How does that happen?! EWW I still cringe thinking of it. Not only did I have trouble with my meal, but another guest at our table found a hair in her macaroni and cheese... I made a complaint to the manager to suggest they watch the sanitary precautions because I was so unbelievably disgusted. The manager just said they would "look into it" and I never heard from them again. It seemed like they just brushed it off and were not concerned at all. WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER. I will avoid coming to this restaurant ever again.
(1)
Miles B.
I find the place utterly charming. Lodge-style restaurant makes you feel like you're up in the north woods of Wisconsin. Food quality was a little better than you get up north (i had the Saturday Prime Rib special) . Lots of families & blue hairs here so my wife and I probably stood out a little but who cares. It's fun for someone who works in the loop and is usually choosing between big chain convenience dining (chilis, Fridays, etc) and places trying to be ultra-hip with stainless steel tables and 12 dollar martinis. Sometimes, I want to get out of the city routine without having to drive 2 hours. This is a good place for that.
(4)
Sarah B.
I feel so conflicted about L Woods. I've dined there probably a couple dozen times in my life and really enjoy the food. But too many times I've gone there and the service has been sub-par. My favorite food is the chopped salad, bar none. The apple strudel is incredible but make sure you order it during the appetizers as it takes 45 minutes to make. The flat breads are not only tasty, but very healthy as well. And the onion bread: get the onion bread! As for the service, I've had some great servers in the past and then some really inattentive, forgetful ones. Last night I was having dinner with a big group of people and the waiter took a long time getting us our drinks and came back to check on us very infrequently. We had ordered the apple strudel during our main course, and an hour later it still wasn't there. He told us it will be out in one minute, and fifteen minutes later we were still waiting. There's been other experiences when the service was mediocre or poor, to the point where sometimes it overshadowed how good the food is.
(3)
Nicholas H.
This is by far the best restaurant in Lincolnwood. The tomato bisque soup is probably the best soup I have ever had including anything that is homemade. The mac and cheese is out of this world. I will come in on a Saturday afternoon and just order tomato bisque and mac&cheese. It's that good!
(5)
Russ C.
Great French onion soup. Their almond crusted walleye is excellent and one of my go to entrees. Waiters are always knowledgeable and are very attentive. Terrific menu and have never had a bad meal or service.
(5)
Ari L.
Solid performer Letttuce Enterain You resty modeled after an old Elk's/hunting lodge. Lots of wood paneling and black & white pictures of patrons inside. I had the BBQ chicken crinkle cut french fries, which weren't bad but nothing to write home about. Service left something to be desired. If you're looking for a decent middle-of-the-road place what's not too pricey and won't offend anyone, this isn't a bad choice.
(3)
George A.
Go here. Old woodsy feel, pricey but you walk out more than happy. Leave now.
(4)
Taylor M.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new place to celebrate me buying a new car that day and him closing on a house the next. First, I have to let you know that I did not arrive here until a little after 9 pm and the restaurant closes at 10 pm. When we arrived the waiter informed us they were all out of the daily special of breaded pork (which I was hoping to try since it got amazing reviews on here!) as well as the fried calamari. At first I was a little disappointed but then I thought this is a good thing for two reasons. 1. It says that the restaurant is popular enough to run out of food and 2. that they only buy a limited amount of food so it is always fresh. So I set my sights on the Irish Salmon with apple butter but then they were out of this as well. So I settled on the Parmesan crusted cod with lemon butter sauce which was good. It is a nice light fish that just flakes apart. The food quality was good... but I still felt hungry afterwords (granted I had not had time to eat all day!). My boyfriend started with the corned beef and cabbage soup which was a little salty (which I like) and had a great taste! For his meal he tried the Devil Style Beef Ribs... which were great but did not really live up to the "devil" spiciness we were hoping for! Our waiter was fantastic and all the employees were extremely friendly. Our dishes were cleared immediately and my water never got below halfway full. However, be prepared to spend more than $30 per person after tax and tip for just two entrees. I felt it was worth the price because of the freshness and quality of the food and wait staff. The ambiance is also beautiful wood trim and decorations. I will definitely be back... and next time I am trying a drink!
(4)
Ian M.
Even though this may be one of the most stray LEY locations in the city, I'm happy L. Woods is part of the diverse family and that's a short drive from my home. This is one of those places where everyone dines to celebrate, whether it's a birthday or just a weekend family dinner. Don't be intimidated by the crowdedness. The key is to plan ahead properly whether it be online or via phone. Your table will likely not be ready at the time of your reservation, but you shouldn't expect to spend less than an hour dining here anyway. The Bell's brewery beer on tap is a plus and the small TVs playing the game(s) is a subtle but nonintrusive touch to the one dining room. When it comes to food, the ribs are always filling, but save room for creamed spinach and mashed potatoes to share. Careful, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach! Speaking of saving room, the meal won't be complete if you indulge in either the apple strudel or chocolate cake. Don't forget to order it with your dinner order so that it's nice and hot from the oven after you finish your meal.
(5)
Halleh C.
I came here for lunch the other day after having passed it on the way in and out of the city so many times. I always noticed the parking lot was full and was intrigued by its popularity. Even during lunch, this place was pretty packed. I got the french onion soup and chicken salad sandwich combo and YUM!! The soup was absolutely delicious, with a thick layer of bubbling cheese on the top. The sandwich was also pretty good. Standard chicken salad, but tasty. I only ate half of my huge sandwich and saved the other half for dinner. Not bad for 9.99! The service was excellent. I always feel bad for the female servers who have to wear a mens work uniform in places like these. Since when is the male wardrobe the default? I think that Women can look nice and professional without wearing tuxedo pants, mens button downs and a TIE. Men's clothes just don't look good on women. Back to the point... This place made me wish I was retired! (In a good way). I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Joshua N.
Hi. I'm Elle Woods and this is Bruiser Woods. We're both Gemini vegetarians. Moving on... This restaurant has nothing to do with Legally Blonde as others have mentioned. What it does have to do with is a really amazing pulled pork flatbread appetizer with pesto, caramelized onions, and ranch dressing. Also, a top notch, panko breaded, fried pork loin on wednesday nights served with homemade applesauce, corn, and mashed potatoes and gravy. There is a gargantuan side of mac and cheese that you'll have to demonstrate some real self control to stop eating, but I recommend ordering anyway. This is fat people food, there is no question about it, and I was in hog heaven. Can't wait to go back and try some more of their nightly specials. The only disappointment for me was not having my photo taken during the meal - it seems like there is a picture of just about everyone who has ever dined there on the wall somewhere.
(4)
Jen T.
This gets 3.5 stars, if half stars were an option. I've been to L.Woods numerous times. It's a good place to go with family or a large group looking for a chill meal. Their fried chicken on Sundays is really, really good. The only thing that would make it better is if they served it with waffles.... mmmmmmm. One can dream! I really like the kitschy, lodge-type atmosphere. The service is always good and it's relieving to not worry about parking. The reason I didn't give this place 4 stars is because other than my massive craving for their fried chicken, the food is just okay. I've tried most of the menu and while everything is cooked fine, nothing stands out. It's consistently predictable and frankly, a bit boring.
(3)
Dan H.
The barbeque-planked salmon is one of my favorite dishes of any restaurant in the area. I highly recommend it. The chopped salad is good, and I would recommend that over the Caesar here. They also make a decent steak, but I usually stick with the salmon. The service has always been very good, especially considering how busy it can get on the weekend.
(5)
Dave G.
Family dinner last night. Had 7pm reservations, seated somewhat later. So far, so good. We were 5 so we got a nice booth. Service and food - good. Why 3 stars then? Stay tuned.... Part, okay most of this my own fault, but I ordered the perch dinner w/o looking at the menu. I should have. Why? Because the darn dinner cost $22.99!! For a Friday perch dinner !?!? Yep. IMO, that would be a good price for 2 dinners, but one? Come on. Again, my fault for not looking at the menu. Never again. Go there? Sure, but don't do what I did.
(3)
Tony R.
My Wife took me to L. Woods for my Birthday, and I was blown away. The Sweet Sausage Flatbread was good, but the main courses wehad were phenomenal. Nothing fancy, but Ribs that rival Twin Anchors, and the best Prime Rib I have ever tasted. Only disappointment was no Spotted Cow on tap. I guess you can't get it outside of Wisconsin so I will give them a pass. They also have Shaw's Crabhouse's Key Lime Pie. Amazing.
(5)
S K.
I love this place. Have been going for years. The food deserves four stars and is the best part of the dining experience here. Either they aren't hiring quality wait staff or they aren't taking the time to train them like they used to. The new assistant manager or hostess - I am not sure which she really is - seems clueless. She barely acknowledges you. What happened to a smile and a greeting when someone walks in. She just stares and waits for your request for a table. Strange. Every single time she sends us to the least desirable table...I guess someone has to take it. We go here at least three times a month - most of the time more. I shouldn't have to tell them every time that I prefer a better table. Wait staff always seems hurried at each table and then you see them huddled up together in a corner. Too bad really - this place used to have the best servers who recognized their return diners and accommodated them with professional service. This isn't TGIF. We usually spend anywhere from $80 to $180 a visit. Now for the good - steaks are tender and cooked perfect every time! The new menu has the old favorites and some delicious new items. Maybe we will just start dining at the bar and skip the hostess/assistant manager and mediocre wait staff all together. I can't stay away from the ribs or steaks!
(2)
Karen M.
Always amazing! On our most recent visit, we were a group of 6 celebrating Mother's Day. The place was packed, but we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Our server was very attentive. The meal was outstanding. I've seen the complaints about the prices. You get what you pay for. The food is of the highest quality. I'd rather pay a bit more for a meal I know will be delicious - as well as excellent service. And you can't beat the "Up North" atmosphere. My recommendations - the almond crusted walleye; the Sat special prime rib; the Friday night Schlitz beer batter haddock. They also have fantastic fried chicken and ribs. Are you hungry? Well - get yourself over to L. Woods!
(5)
Michael L.
I received a generous Lettuce Entertain You gift card, and looked online for advice. L Woods came up and I immediately thought of Legally Blonde. The menu looked great, and 1/2 price bottles of wine Tue/Thurs didn't hurt. I went last night and had a nice dinner. We arrived around 8:15pm for dinner and the place was packed and loud. The cozy up-north Michigan cabin ambiance was comforting. I ordered the wedge salad to start and the NY strip for dinner. The salad wedge was crisp and cold, topped with bleu cheese dressing, onions and bacon. YUM. My steak was cooked perfectly rare and huge. We also ordered the Malbec, which was $27, but half off. It was a nice blend, not too sweet or dry. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, but know what tastes good. Overall it was a pleasant experience, and I would certainly return. The place emptied out by 9:00 and was much quieter than when we arrived. Also, one of the managers came over right after we ordered and brought over a flat bread appetizer, since we had never been there before. Nice touch.
(4)
Pam S.
L Woods rarely fails to please. Food is always good. Almond crusted walleye gives you a huge portion of tender fish with a great crispy crust. Skirt steak is always perfectly broiled although disappointed with the crispy onions I asked for as they were not crispy. Service is always good and their chopped salad is worth the extra price. They have recently added some Oriental meals to their takeout but have not tried them. Often crowded, loud but always good food.
(4)
Mary W.
After a Mother's Day nightmare here before, we decided to wait and go the following week to dine at L Woods. Best idea I've had in a while, it was busy, but you could move without being on top of one another. This leads to my biggest issue with L Woods. There were numerous empty tables, so what do they do? They seat us between two large groups, one of which was celebrating the birthday of one VERY annoying and LOUD child. Between screeches we asked to move tables and they moved us. Common sense would not have seated us there in the first place. Even though they were not that crowded, service was very, very slow. Don't go here if you have anywhere you need to be after dining. The meal was okay, we had Ribs, Steaks and the Fried Chicken special. For the price of meals at L Woods, they should do a better job of creating more salad choices as well as veg options that are not fat and calorie loaded. They also need to up the desert choices and sell smaller portions. The Strudel was not worth the money or wait. It will be a long time before I return.
(3)
Evan E.
Working in sales, I take a lot of customers out to lunch and dinner. I have never once had a bad meal or bad service at L. Woods. There are a heck of a lot of choices in Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood that are GREAT. I would venture to say that 75% or more of my many customers in the area choose Woods. The food is always great and there is something for everyone.. Vegetarian? They make their own Veggie Burger and its great.. Looking for something light? They have it, get a flat bread or salad. Or even better, the flatbread salad combo (if your not looking to go light). Their French Onion Soup is top notch! There is a bar tender there that works lunch practically every day. He has been working there since it was bones. Tell Frank your name once, he will remember you and your drink. I love L Woods. You will too!
(5)
Sandi S.
Ah, good ol' L. Woods, a Lincolnwood staple fashioned after a giant log cabin adorned with all the woodsy decor you might expect to find in such a space, save for the numerous framed pictures of famous celebrities/locals and repeat customers who seem more like an extension of family. I've always thought of L. Woods as a steakhouse, but they also do bbq and I think that tonight I preferred it to the steaks. So it was a balmy, summer Saturday night during tough economic times and the place was jammed. We had no reservation and were told it'd be about thirty minutes. We had never sat at the bar before and were all too happy to pass the time there. The bartender greeted us warmly and quickly. For one dirty vodka martini and one cherry martini, it was $20.13 - in Lincolnwood! But hey, it was date night, and the bartender hooked me up with two bleu cheese-stuffed olives while he fixed our drinks, so I was all good. Within only five minutes, our beeper went off and so we hurriedly paid the bill and ascended to the hostess podium where "Mama" showed us to our table. She was an older woman who wasn't entirely certain she knew where table 101 was, but she got us there. She must be part of the legacy of L. Woods. Her nametag actually said "Mama" on it and she knew many diners. The restaurant is split into four different dining areas. The few times we've been before, we've always sat in the front, but tonight, we were in the more dimly lit back area - the one with the pinewood paneling, not the room w/ faux log walls. We ordered two soups as appetizers - one French onion au gratin and one tortilla soup. The French onion was absolutely fab - not too salty, perfectly sweet, and cheese not so rubbery you need a knife and fork to get through it. The tortilla soup was almost a corn chowder, but with a spicy, limey kick. To me, it was lukewarm, but my husband doesn't care for scalding hot soups like I do, so it suited him just fine. We debated about ordering a flatbread, but skipped it only to be surprised with a mushroom flatbread compliments of the house! They thought it was our first time there, but we quickly corrected them that it had been over a year since the last visit to which the manager replied, "Close enough!" and placed it on the table. "Welcome back," he added. The flatbread was leavened lavash topped with pesto and 24-hour marinated mushrooms in herbs and olive oil, and then oven baked. Holy crap, it was delicious! Very thin. Very light. I'm so glad we got to try it. We passed on salads, though we know they're outstanding. We each got steak - me the filet mignon med rare, and hubby the queen cut prime rib med rare w/ horseradish sauce. As if that wasn't plenty, we also got a full slab of ribs! (Oink!) My steak was cooked perfectly, but hubby's a little overdone, and both were bland. It was very disappointing. We've ordered steaks there everytime, but this time they really fell flat. Aside from no flavor, they were a little tough too, or not as "cuts like butter" as they should've been. I was about to lose all hope on dinner, but then I tried the ribs. (Clouds part. Angels sing.) Y-U-M! Okay, we're back on track now. In addition to the entrees, we got a couple of sides - baked mac n' cheese and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach was rich and decadent and I slopped it all over my baked potato. The mac n' cheese was moist and cheesy and very homemade feeling, though they used a longer tube noodle which was a bit of a surprise when I plunged my fork in and pulled it out. While we tend to over-order, we're good about wrapping a lot of it to go. Despite wrapping mass quantities of everything we ordered I still didn't have room for dessert, so I took it to go as well - a simple chocolate layer cake. In fact, to do this review properly, I think I must have a bite right now ... O. M.G!!! Now, THAT was a chocolate layer cake! It came with a side of chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream speckled with vanilla bean! Okay, so wrapping up here, my cherry martini was very sweet so I ordered a digestif with a little carbonation to it - Miller Lite. The hubby got his after dinner usual, a J&B neat. The atmosphere was pleasant, upscale (for a log cabin), and the wait staff attentive and friendly. The experience over all was very positive. I'm hoping that the subpar steaks were one-offs. Although we sat amid a sea of blue hairs, there were some young families, and a few other couples out on their own "date night." I would definitely go back and even recommend it to a friend. Stick with the salads, the bbq fare, those rich sides, and THAT CAKE! You won't go wrong. For THREE entrees, two soups, two sides, one dessert, four beers, and one J&B, the bill was roughly $136 before tip.
(4)
Agnes P.
A perfect location for a cold Chicago winters night. I went to L Woods last night (Wednesday) and it was amazing. They were crowded, which I was surprised with being that it was midweek. However, they managed to get us seated promptly as well as served us our meals in a short amount of time. The waitstaff was friendly & extremely professional. No busboys trying to push you to the side - rather they move out of your way & allow you to pass. Manners are difficult to come by these days - their staff is trained well. I ordered the breaded pork tenderloin and it was amazing. The entire dish from the pork, to the mashed potatoes, to the corn tasted as if it had come straight from a grandmother's kitchen. Ahhh- and the side of apple sauce tasted house made as well. My date had a cheese burger which looked delicious. I will be back again - the food served there wasn't typical, tasted as if it was made from scratch & was surprisingly fresh.
(5)
Maria H.
My husband and I went here lastnight with my parents. We all are big fans of the woodsy Wisconsin atmosphere and this place was perfect. Big portions. Good service. We got there pretty early, around 5 and sat down right away. I had the ribs, which were fall of the bone with delicious sauce. We also shared a large chop salad and was perfect amount for 4. I was too full to eat my fries and tried husband's garlic mashed potatoes which were really amazing! Overall, a fun atmosphere. It was pretty crowded when we left at 7. And this was a Sunday :)
(5)
Anthony C.
L Woods is a restaurant that is in our rotation - a place we go to on a regular basis, usually during the week. And every time everything is right on the money, from waitstaff, to beer selection, to food. The atmosphere is wonderful - cozy, perfect lighting, and your choice of areas to sit in from the bar area to a big cozy booth on the other side. The food is always spot on. The portions are generous and the quality is top-notch. Some of our favorites are the chop salad (my favorite anywhere), the dry-rub baby back ribs, the mohagany chicken, and the breaded pork tenderloin (a special on Wednesday night). This place is busy every day, all the time, so I would always recommend getting a reservation. Go and enjoy some of the best comfort food that the city has to offer.
(4)
Eric L.
The waiter brings my friends' "Brontosaurus Ribs," my "onion strings" and my beer all at the same time. At this moment I am at a dark mood. I understand that the ribs were entered before my onion strings, in fact I don't mind if the rings comes to the table after the ribs, but since less than 5 minutes passed before me entering an order, the fact that an appetizer could be brought to my table meant that it was already prepared ahead of time. This is a restaurant sin! In order to satiate my unholy demands of all things gluttonous, do not bring me food sitting under a heat lamp; this is especially true for fried foods. As if I was some culinary neophyte, my friend explained to me that since beef ribs are so large (compared to pork I guess), he called them "brontosaurus." I picked at the onion rings. They were cold. As members of my party complained about their significant others, my friend asks for more bbq sauce. I noted, good idea, I need something hot for these onion rings from Cocytus. As I was about to join in the request for additional sauce the waiter sprinted off. It took me 10 minutes to get bbq sauce for my rings - and guess what - the sauce was frigid too.
(1)
Amie C.
I live everything about this place! The friendly people working (and a couple of cuties, too!), the ambience, the food, oh my! Heavenly chopped salad, sans blue cheese for me please! Great tomato bisque couples nicely with the complementary bread and butter. Fantastic fries and the chili looked pretty darn amazing too. My mouth watered as I walked by other tables and gazed in jealousy at the other dishes. Cannot wait to come back and try more options! Oh and they have fun bottles of pop, sprechers, I believe.
(5)
Ginny L.
My family has been going here for years, back to when it was still Bones, but oh, we love it as much as ever. Most people I go with get the steaks or ribs, which are great, but in preparation for dessert I usually go with the salad/flatbread combo. The chopped salad is GIGANTIC even when it's the side version, and the flatbread... well, it could take up half my desk. I get the feeling that even though it's crispy, delicious, and not so filling, it's absolutely terrible for me... but the salad balances that out, right? The real reason I come to L Woods is what comes next. The molten chocolate cake needs to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, and even if we're only a group of 2, we order the large size since we know we'll want leftovers. It's one of my favorite desserts on the planet, and my family's new favorite way of eating it is leftover after sitting in the freezer overnight. I still prefer it warm and gooey, but frozen is great too.
(5)
Logan S.
Went back December 15th. All I can say about my first review is "ditto". And the new desserts are wonderful!!
(5)
Tony C.
Great food and not expensive great for lunch and dinner. Worth going to.
(5)
Tom A.
Wayyyyyy back in the day, this place was called Bones and I'd travel down Touhy for their tasty treats-- mostly the fancy-schmancy bread and bagel basket (I learned to love bagels dipped in BBQ sauce here!) and of course, the Bones Burger. The decor then consisted of hand-painted caricatures of Chicago celebs and landmarks, and the place had a old-tomey supperclub kind of vibe. The menu has changed a bit since then, and the North Lodge atmosphere is certainly different, but overall the restaurant is still a treat. With cozy lighting and wood paneling/mounted fish and animals on the wall, the lodge ambiance is spot-on. L. Woods has a separate bar area set off from the main dining room, and the menu features a great selection of cocktails and beer (including beer flights with local brews). Their bread is still tasty and their barbecued chicken is great, but my heart still belongs to the Bones Burger-- but WAIT! Though it isn't on the menu, if you order a "Flagship Burger" they should provide you with a reasonable facsimile of their legendary Bones Burger, complete with onion strings and creamy bleu cheese dressing. Amazing! Another plus about L. Woods is that it stays true to it's supper club origins, and offers a Supper Club dinner service for parties of 6 or more. Your group can choose two appetizers, two salads, two main courses (including BBQ chicken, ribs, fish, or filet mignon for a little extra), two sides, and two desserts. Be sure to try the gooey chocolate cake (though make sure you order it when you arrive as it takes a bit to bake). Very homey atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great food!
(4)
Lea L.
Great lettuce entertain you restaurant...feels like you are dining in a old lodge. Food is excellent with lots of choices. Apple strudel is the bomb-- a most order to end any meal.
(4)
Chatzy F.
We absolutely love this place ! We love everything never had a bad experience ever.
(5)
Mark J.
What I like about this place is that the prices and consistency are great. This is a down scale version of Wildfire, similar menu but only 2/3 the price. You cant go wrong with the steaks, chops, and chicken here. I have on numerous occassions had the parmesan crusted filet and its has been superb. The prime rib could be better....the horseradish sauce was cut with too much and not flavorful at all. Make reservations at this spot as its crazy busy every night.
(4)
Audrey C.
Two words: Chopped Salad. The BF and I are addicted, so addicted in fact, we often order half trays of it for pick up. If you do anything at L. Woods, eat that salad. Beyond that, this is a warm, cozy place with great ambiance. We have never had a bad time or bad service, and I hope I'm not jinxing that! Steaks are reasonably priced and yummy, the desserts are great, and overall, it's an awesome time. Just make sure you make reservations!
(5)
Billy M.
I guess I will start with the good... They had a decent beer selection with local 5 Rabbits on the menu...good work. The Key Lime Pie was very good. The Walleye Chips were solid, but when you only get 5 for a table of four, its somewhat disappointing. The bad: Our waitress asked if we wanted to order the apple streudal or chocolate gooey cake (both take 45 minutes) we said no thanks, and at the end of our entrees, we were given the check...no problem Diana, we didnt want any of the OTHER 4 desserts that we said we want...thanks. The Sunday Special: Fried Chicken (AKA over battered bland chicken special) Wow, for this to be a special would make you think that it was decent or possibly good. Not the case...way too over battered. They take the chicken out of the frier and let it cool on a baking pan instead of a rack to let the grease drip away and stop the cooking process...pretty amateurish that the wings and legs were so over fried and bad, that you couldnt even eat the outside of the piece...you had to tear everything off. The chicken was actually decent once you found it...but man, not something I would order from this place again. Service was absolutely horrendous...I understand that it was Mother's Day, but my mom saw this place in the paper, and she chose it, we went there for the Sunday Special and the waitress said that they were out of chicken, then went into the kitchen to ask, then came out and said that they had some left...probably something to mention at the beginning... Overall, not good...beer was fine, pie was solid, but the meal and the service just ruined it.
(1)
jaclyn r.
Everything here is so good!
(5)
Paul A.
I LOVE L. Woods and go there often, though this past visit was disappointing due to the service. Our server tried to hard-sell us on a Lettuce Entertain You Club membership saying we begin with a Lettuce$10 credit He did not explain that there would be a $25 service charge on the check We joined anyway, but did not appreciate the misrepresentation. I go to L. Woods, Wildfire, Shaws and other Lettuce restaurants and have never encountered this before. Food as always was terrific!
(3)
Sarah L.
I had no idea this was a Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. We came here Saturday night with a reservation thankfully. Showed up around 7:00 and we barely got a parking spot! We were celebrating my mother in law's birthday and we wanted to take her to a nice restaurant near our house. We didn't have any appetizers because we saw the portion sizes. They are HUGE! I wanted to try the flat breads though, maybe next time. I had the Parmesan crusted cod with mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed my dinner! The servings are way too big and you can easily split a meal with someone. The fish and chips are a rip off. You get like 4 little pieces of fried cod and thin waffle chips. It's definitely overpriced at $18. Their burgers are fantastic and the BBQ half chicken is delicious too! This place is jumping on the weekends. I highly recommend making a reservation. The restaurant reminds me of dining at a supper club in northern Wisconsin. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Jacob K.
I was very surprised at the quality of the food as I have eaten here before with disappointment but last night was quite an experience. The place was full even at 9 PM, the service was dead on and the food was delicious- much more than I have ever witnessed from a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. The flat bread with dried tomatoes and basil was light, crisp and flavorful. I head the turkey burgers were good, the BBQ brisket sandwich was very good as were the double baked potatoes and fries. However, the best item was the BBQ ribs with devil sauce. There were 6 huge beef ribs that were tender and flavorful- possibly the best beef ribs I have had. They also had some great beer on tap and by the bottle. The chocolate layer cake was also quite good but after being stuffed (I ate my fries and 1/2 of the ribs) it was not as appetizing as it normally would be. The wait staff was wonderful and attentive coming with a bowl for the bones, moist paper towels and a good sense of humor.
(4)
Marion B.
Yum yum yum yum yum. Seriously. We stopped on our way back from Woodfield, only because we were thinking "Elle Woods," like from Legally Blonde. We eventually figured it out, and while that was happening, we were delighted by our surroundings. It was like some kind of old supper club...elderly ladies dressed to the nines, all cooing over my friend's new baby. We didn't have a reservation, but even on a Saturday we were sat in about an hour (Remember, we had no idea this place ever existed.) Reasonably priced, positively comforting food. Yum. Oh, and get the mac & cheese as an appetizer. That's what we did, and it was the right decision. We'll be back, with a rezzie. Oh my. One of our best spur of the moment decisions ever. Oh, but, fellow patrons, women are allowed to breastfeed. Quit staring. She was totally covered up.
(5)
Kristina K.
Delicious, dependable lunch spot! I've eaten in and taken out and L. Woods provides a dependable lunch no matter what. Their lunch containers have become more earth-friendly (yay!), but their take out silverware has remained the same (boo!). The pulled pork sand which is good. The burgers are delicious and juicy. The soups and chili are bowl-licking good. I know the soups are not made from scratch in house, but the Lettuce Entertain You soups are pretty good. The flat bread/pizza is a shareable portion. The macaroni and cheese is oily. L. Woods prepares the macaroni and cheese with bacon grease (which is usually yummy), but I would recommend sharing this with a friend. Some people swear by L. Woods' ribs, but I haven't had the chance to try them. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't good. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat, even to the older folks (which they have a lot of) that have a quieter-almost-on-it's-last-leg heartbeat.
(4)
Allison S.
I went on a date here a couple days ago. Since it was my first time her the waitress (who was extremely nice!) brought us a comped flat bread - it was the bbq chicken one, very delicous! Then I got the bbq planked salmon with corn and mashed potatoes, it was very good but heavy so I ended up bring half of it home. For dessert we got the Gooey Chocolate Cake. It was so rich, I wanted to eat more of it but I was starting to feel my tooth hurt! The overall vibe was a lot of older people, we were the only young people really in there that weren't with our parents. I would go back with the family, but not on another date.
(4)
Steven M.
You simply can't go wrong with the BBQ at this Lettuce Entertain You establishment. This restaurant has a great drink menu including a cherry martini, the Midwest mojito (num num) and a great beer flight for 7 bucks. The apple stick salad, Manhattan (red) clam chowder and french onion soup are pretty fantastic. Veggie burgers and flat-breads are all excellent for vegetarians and all. Beef and baby back ribs are tender and spicy, and the mahogany roast chicken and BBQ planked salmon are among my favorite entrees. Pounded Chicken a la Sima is ungodly large and big enough for 3 people if they have salads first! Oven baked desserts must be ordered at the time of your entree order although we rarely have these because, well we're calorie-counting Nazis! I think it's important to say this does not feel like a corporate chain restaurant at all. It's oh so good!
(4)
Amy S.
Yet another LEYE gift certificate to use, with an expiration of 4/15/09. So, the hubster and I ventured out of the city and to L Woods for dinner. We live right off 94, and the restaurant is very close to the Touhy exit, so given the ease in getitng there, and the quality of the food/service, I'm sure we'll be back. The place was PACKED- glad we had a reservation (we were able to get one for 7:15 on a Friday three days in advance). The number of people did not impact the quality of service. We were greeeted immediately and received wonderful service through our meal. Chopped Salad= LICK THE BOWL. Husband got Cheddar Crusted Whitefish and loved it, citing a jalapeno kick in the crust not mention on the menu but well received. I had the BBQ Trio- 3 tiny BBQ sandwiches: pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken. I ate two there, and then one for leftovers the next day, and all were fantastic. The downer.......the couple who was insanely drunk and swearing/arguing at the table next to us, got up to leave twice, verged on physical violence. No, I'm not kidding. Finally, they left. The upper...... the manager came over once the crazies went home for another drink and fightfest- he apologized profusely and offered us a free dessert. Well done, manager man. Well done. The Key Lime Pie was excellent, too.
(4)
Sarah V.
My husband and I came here this past Friday night for my birthday. We had made a reservation for 6:30, arrived just before that time and were seated right away! The restaurant has a nice vibe... It's kind of reminiscent of an old-school, lakeside supper club. Very cozy... low lighting... rustic decor. Good stuff. Our waitress, who was very friendly, introduced herself, asked if we'd dined with them before (we had not) and let us know what the specials were for the night. A few minutes later, after we'd gotten our drinks, Patrick (I'm assuming he was a manager) came to our table to deliver a complimentary flatbread order. He said he was told it was our first time dining with them and just wanted to thank us for coming out! How cool is that?? Plus the flatbread, which was a BBQ chicken with pesto sauce was phenomenal! Sooooo tasty! I ordered the french onion soup to start and my husband had a wedge salad to start and both were very good! Our meals came fairly quicky, which was great. I had the BBQ chicken and my husband had the Friday night special, which was the fried perch. Both were excellent! Also, I HIGHLY recommend the garlic mashed potatoes as a side... to die for! All in all, it was a great meal with excellent service. What more can you ask for?
(5)
jean h.
Went on a Saturday night and was told the wait would be about an hour. Got seated in probably 30 minutes. The place is very lively with people as young as toddlers to seniors in their 90's. Got seated in what seemed like an extra room in the corner. I was freezing - I'm NEVER cold. I needed to wear my winter coat the entire time. Our waitress was very good and our meal was served in a timley manner. Onion strings were good as well as the pulled pork. The mac and cheese - meh. My husband had the filet and it was really good.Nice but we were really COLD.
(3)
Carol J.
A quaint and bustling outpost of the LEYE chain, but definitely a character all is own. It reminds me of the supper club in Northern Wisconsin where I spent my summers (albiet against MY will) as a child. And I've probably been here just as many times. Food is solid with outstanding bbq ribs and chicken. Gorgeous and bountiful salads and mind boggling potatoes. I've had most of the apps on the menu and really enjoyed the crab cakes both as an app an as an entree. Service is standard Lettuce which in my opinion is pretty polished, professional and proficient. Never a problem there except when the servers get slammed during the very busy lunch rush. Big plus is the free parking. And the flatbread. And the retro ish cocktails. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. The only thing missing are the bass fisherman drinking Old Style at the bar.
(4)
Gail Z.
Disappointing after all the years of much better food. Had a reservation and were seated promptly to the table. Water glass at the table was filthy. Wait staff all seem preoccupied with other worldly thoughts than their jobs--very impersonal. Ordered beers which were poured at our table by our waitress who needs to take a lesson in how to do it correctly. Ordered their usually good onion strings and those have been changed and are now served in a paper lined cone shaped serving piece and were not strings and had no onion flavor--salty and not the same as in the past. They do always get a big crowd, but I now hesitate to return as things are going downhill. So sorry this is happening to a restaurant you could always count on in the past. Too bad.
(2)
Demetrio P.
Two words...Beef Ribs...hmmmm! This place is a no frills, old school ambiance, with good food. My last visit, I had the BBQ Beef Ribs which were excellent, tasty, no too sweet or tart, BBQ sauce was on the mark, and the ribs itself were huge! It came with about 6 beef ribs which I could only eat three! I will definitely go back and try their baby back ribs and other selections. In summary, good food, good service, okay prices.
(4)
Anthony M.
This place was packed. Fishing decor awesome. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. I'll be back.
(4)
Feisty E.
Good food, good value. Can be called romantic, if you're into roaring 20s Chicago dinner club... very dim, dark wood/lots of red. Not bad. Very comfy booths - but they have to realize they need to clean tables AND seats, esp. after people with bunch of kids eat (unfortunately, some people can't resist taking a 2 yo for dinner at 9am on Sat night). I almost sat on leftover sauce last time... They did apologize and clean up promptly after we pointed out the sauce however. No big deal, they were busy, and we were hungry. White shorts did escape a brown splotch, so it's all good ;) We've been there a total of 15 times or so over the years; some things are always consistently great. Chopped salad, whitefish and prime rib are our favorites. Last time especially, the prime rib was delish. They also get the doneness correctly every time. Another favorite is the chocolate molten/mousse cake - YUM. Place order ahead, takes 0.5 or so. It's just as good as Roy's, and more bang for your buck. The single portion is no longer available, but do not fear - you can refrigerate this cake, give it a nuke at home and enjoy it next day or two. Service is very consistent, helpful but not intrusive. Like it a lot. My only gripe is the drinks... good lord, it would be funny if wasn't so sad. Glad someone mentioned it before. Let me be very specific; do NOT order mixed drinks there, truly atrocious. Stick with your Guinness or neat liquor. Long ago, before drink quality was better than dismal (new bartender?), they had an OK Door County martini. Last 2 times I ordered, it was cherry juice (grenadine, really... gross) without a hint of vodka or actual sour cherries that supposed to come with it. This drink is their special.. wtf?? excuse my French. I used to bartend while in school, and I did share with the waitress that it is truly the worst flavored martini ever... in turn, she confided in me that the said cherry martinis are PREMADE and kept in a large pitcher. What moron pre-makes martinis, folks? We were comped for it, but I didn't *want* a free one... a wanted a good one, and was unable to get it, not even on second try. But again, the food is good (sin major butter overuse, but hey.... as an occasional treat, it probably won't kill you). Fire the bartender(s), fix the drink menu and you have a descent mid-level place for a casual meat-and-potato delight.
(3)
Kryste N.
Went for dinner last night with my mom, we went after work and got there about 6:15 - the geriatric crowd was in full attendance, and you know why? The food is great, like home cookin great! I had the skirt steak, mom had the pork tenderloin Wednesday special, and we both loved our food. My parents have a place in the north woods of WI, and my mom commented that L. Woods was like a North Woods supper club on steroids. The only complaint was that her Mojito was just ok, but to make up for it, the key lime pie we shared was about the best I've ever had, and I have eaten Key Lime pie from the FL Keys to CA, and everywhere in between and this one was a slice of heaven! I live in Edgebrook, and I'm sorry I forget this place is there cause it's really, really good.
(4)
Landi D.
We love this place and eat here more often than we probably should! Though it's great for families (and the elderly), my husband and I find ourselves at L. Woods on many a Friday night, for the good, solid food and the "recession special" wine ($10 bottle of white or red, Alpana Singh's choice, I believe). I'd been in a rut for several months with the L. Woods burger, which is awesome and one of my faves in the "city": thin-ish patty, with shredded lettuce, onion and tomato, plus "special sauce" - and I sheepishly admit that I add American cheese (what?!?). But on a recent Friday night, in a moment of carnivorous wavering, I tried the veggie burger (with the server's encouragement) - and it was sooo good! Now, I'm definitely no expert in the veggie-burger world, but I've been craving this one since I first ate it. It's house-made with grains and veggies and topped with lettuce, tomato and a sun-dried tomato spread (not listed in the description but this actually "makes" the burger). And yes, I added the yellow cheese! The texture is a little soft and messy to eat, but I didn't care. My husband always gets the chopped sirloin steak, which he loves. We also usually get either a Caesar (great, garlicky dressing), or the wedge salad (with sweet and smoky bacon). The caramelized onion loaf they bring is soft and way too easy to eat before the drinks even arrive. Desserts never disappoint. We've had the apple strudel and the chocolate cake, but to be honest, it's the pies that are our favorites, particularly whatever they have for the special. We've had sweet potato, pumpkin-pecan, chocolate mousse, etc., and they are always good (when we eat them at home because we're too full to eat it at the restaurant!).
(5)
Deborah E.
I dare say there is nothing we have NOT had on the menu. We love L Woods because some times, damn it, ya just want good old fashioned American cuisine. We eat out a lot - and it is usually some ethnic type of food, usually Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican or Chinese. But when we want a good steak or pot roast or roast turkey or Lake Perch or fried chicken, we head to L Woods. It is so reliable. I think the only time I sent anything back - which I RARELY do - is when I got my fish n chips and there was like 3 tiny litle pieces of fish - for $17.99. This happened to my brother-in-law, too, so send it back and say "What gives??" My personal faves: the onion strings, the tomato soup (AMAZING!), the Chopped Salad - truly, one of my fave salads on the planet - and the Sunday special, the Fried Chicken dinner. My mom comes to Chgo a few times per year from MI and she always wants to go to L Woods for the Sunday-only Fried Chicken. According to my mom, a fried chicken dinner ain't worth shit unless it is FOUR big pieces and has a scrumptious batter - affirmative for both at L Woods along with potato or veggie and a good biscuit with honey. Last year, when I took my mom for the chicken, they were OUT! My mother was so sad but one of the managers whipped out a card and wrote on it "One Free Entree" for my mom for her next visit. She was delighted! KUDOS TO YOU for your customer service, L Woods!
(5)
Dave S.
Just by driving by this place, I would never ever think twice about stopping in here to eat. The exterior is really unmemorable except for all of the cars in the lot on a week night. As we stepped in, I thought that the lodge type feel was a little cheesy and a bit over the top but it did remind me of all of those Wisconsin type Supper Clubs that I used to go to when travelling up north. Our server was very helpful, friendly and knowledge about the menu. Since we were firs timers there he brought us out a complimentary flatbread which was pretty darn tasty. We started out with the calamari. We typically know that fried calamari is going to be a solid appetizer choice and once again, it was here also. I ordered a full slab of ribs and it was not the best BBQ that I have ever had but it was pretty damn good and plenty damn plentiful! For dessert we split the apple strudel which was outstanding: crisp and delicious!
(4)
Anthony M.
This is one of the oldest LEU resturants, but it has not always been called L. Woods. Lets just say if you are looking for some good ol American food that reminds you of the midwest, come to L. Woods! Words can not begin to describe how great the food is and the selection they have! While the menu is big, it really has stayed the same since it first opened. Still, you can usually find one or two dishes that are really good. They are known for their Pounded Chicken, Apple Tart, Tomato Bisque, and Chocolate Cake! Also, they have a very bustling take out business so if you are in the area and want to take it home, they do a very good job with that too! If you want that backwoods feel again from the old Supper Clubs of NY and WI, come to L. Woods.
(5)
Lindsey B.
I really love L. Woods. I've been here quite often and I always try something different. Everything is excellent but I think my favorite is the pot roast. It's like being home again! They bring you these huge portions and everything is so yummy. Their mashed potatoes are like heaven. The staff is always quite friendly, but the place does get pretty busy so either make a reservation or expect a wait almost any night of the week. Their bar is a great place to kill some time while you wait though too. Don't forget dessert!
(5)
Jim R.
We had not been to the restaurant in a while. Was listening to Steve Dahls podcast and heard about it again. We went on a Tuesday night, which happened to be 1/2 off on bottles of wine. The list was not extensive, but enough to get a good bottle. We really enjoyed the meal. Good portions and reasonably priced.
(4)
Tammy Q.
Love me, L. Woods! I've had cravings for ribs from L. Woods on numerous occasions. I think they have the best ribs in the city and northside. Their ribs are the perfect blend of tangy and sweetness! The baked potato is the size of my face with globs of yummy sour cream and butter! If you tell them it's your first time, you'll get a sample of their flatbread. Plenty of dessert selections. This place is always packed so be sure to arrive early and with an empty stomach. Definitely dine in if you want the ribs. I did carry out one time and the ribs were not that great!
(5)
Elizabeth H.
We've been driving by this place for a year now and always notice how the parking lot is packed, even on a random week night. Continually it has been put in the back pocket for a time when we can't figure out where to eat and finally we reached in and brought it out to try. Great overall experience! From the moment we walked in: the decor was comfy, the hostesses were friendly and our server was attentive. We were given the complimentary BBQ Chicken flatbread since this was our first time and unfortunately this was my least favorite part of the whole meal. It may have been a little over done, but I really thought it was not good and who complains about free food!? Appetizer: Parmesan Shrimp. Good, but very rich. I had the Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails and for a pepper/steak lover I could not have been more pleased. Steak was cooked to my liking and came with a choice of potato - I went with the baked, it was huge. We also ordered a side of Mac and Cheese and it did not disappoint. Crunchy parmesan was on top and it was hard to stop eating! Our daughter was invited to join the kids club, which means every time we go in she get a hole punched out on a card and after 10 punches gets her picture on the wall! Although I think going there 10 times will take us a VERY long time, it is still a fun concept and we got $5 off of our check for doing it. All in all it seems that L. Woods does a really good job of making and keeping regulars. Next time I am in the mood for comfort I will happily return!
(4)
Steve K.
Went there last night. Food was very good, service was great and th e price was reasonable. We will go back!
(5)
Erin S.
Woohoo! I'm thrilled at this find! Calamari that's NOT overcooked + rootbeer in frosty mugs + free roast beef/pesto flat bread appetizer for being 1st timers = AWESOME! Buffalo chicken salad was nice & spicy, just the way I like things! Pork tenderloin special came with THE most crisp corn, scrumptious mashed 'spuds & homemade applesauce. (Excellent portions, no pretentious pricing & super friendly/courteous staff!) Can't wait to try it again!
(5)
Eric M.
Lots of old people; I came here with a bachelor party and the age wasn't much of a problem in fact it was kind of funny, but if you want the super ritzy atmosphere this place isn't it. Some of the drinks were slow coming, one or two were made wrong so - points there. Get the ribs, everyone who got them was pleased, while the rare steak didn't come out rare at all.
(3)
Tracy F.
The steak sandwhich was delicious, ABSOLUTELY, the best I had ever had. The fries that accompanied them were salty and dry but I completely forgave L Woods because of the perfection that was the steak sandwhich. Served on lightly toasted onion bread with tomato and lettuce, the steak sandwhich was tender, juicy, with a hint of that char taste from meat cooked over a flame. I would highly recommend it. My boyfriend got the barbequed chicken with garlic mashed and he didn't even offer a bite! Next time, I will try some of the steaks and sides items. I am sure they will be good.
(5)
Chuck k.
My wife and I went here for dinner with our friends who live in Chicago. I liked it better than she did, so here's my review. As you can glean from other review, L-woods is a rustic looking steak house. Our server was very nice and attentive, the food was at a reasonable price. We shared a flatbread, which the table enjoyed. I started with the French Onion Soup Au Gratin, which was very good and went down well on a cold evening. For my main course, the Prime Bone-in Rib eye. It was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful and juicy. For my side I had a baked potato, which was the average baked potato. But our friend split a twice baked potato and creamed spinach with me. My cholesterol went up 40 points that evening but it was worth it. I could have eaten a whole order of each by myself! For dessert the very nice Famous Apple Strudel. The pastry was nice and crisp, the apples a little tart. The caramel sauce on the side went great with it. The manager was a little odd, he'd never heard of rare salmon. But other than that, and the server goofing up the flatbread order, it was a very good meal.
(4)
Rlvb V.
This place is like your grandparent's cabin by the lake, and it makes you want to book your next vacation to Door County WI. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the service is friendly, and the food is solidly good. Just don't go there for a 'later' dinner as it all but shuts down by 9pm, unless of course you like being the only ones there. Highly recommend!
(5)
Eric M.
Great Wisconsin ambiance. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had. Definitely recommend for a fun and casual dinner with a group of friends.
(5)
J T.
Normally the carryout BBQ Baby Back Ribs at L Woods are our favorites to order. On 11/8, I ordered five full Prairie Grove Farms BBQ Baby Back Ribs -full slab at $ 25.99 which isn't cheap. Ordering online at their site is a breeze. Each order comes with a cole slaw, bread and extra sauce. This night a couple of the slabs had pieces which were a bit burnt, crispy. Hope it's not a trend to be.
(3)
Brian D.
Besides the great meal i always have, they have a gluten free menu for my girlfriend! HUGE! Great staff and bartenders too. They'll make a Brandy Alexander for dessert! Ribs are great, fish is always great, and the specials and any chicken meals are great too. Lets not forget the sides, my fav is the creamed spinach. If you havent been get your buns in there, you wont be sorry!
(5)
TS W.
Took my friend there for his birthday yesterday. First the server Justin was awesome! They asked if we were a first time customer once we said yes a manager stopped by to welcome us and gave us an appetizer on the house which was a lavosh, with cheese and asparagus on top (yummy!) I had their Parmesan Crusted Fillet it was great! My friend had their BBQ salmon which was a large portion and very yummy! For desert we had a huge chocolate gooey cake had to take most of it home! Love their tap beer selections! Will be going there again! Thanks L Woods! Highy recommend reservations and going early!
(4)
Kathleen C.
I was not expecting anything special. I thought I was going to an old person's Bennigans. However, L Woods is AMAZING! I was definitely right about the old people that swarmed the place but this place is great and I can't wait to go back. We had free bread and butter given to us when we sat down. The bread was warm and great tasting (unlike stale bread most places give). And we said it was our first time there so they gave us free flatbread. I thought it was ok but the BF loved it--even the mushrooms! We ordered calimari which was great. Really good breading and just the right amount of frying. Too bad I was getting full at this point... I just wanted a salad and although they are famous for their chopped chicken salad, i just wanted something plain. I ordered the house salad which was anything but plain! It was HUGE and had lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and croutons. The BF had low expectations. However, he ordered skirt steak which was marinated overnight in pineapple juice. He LOVED it. Every few bites he would say "This is so good." And the mashed potatoes were fabulous. I think there was a whole stick of butter in the dish that he received which is probably awful for your health but so good for your tummy! We ended our meal with a peanut butter/chocolate chip milkshake that they split into two kids cups with lids and straws. FANTASTIC! And for all that food with tip, it was only $60 with leftovers! Can't wait to go back! Especially since I was so jealous of the food on tables around us.
(4)
Pete D.
Make reservations fans! Great service and good food. Chopped salad is great and the flat bread is to die for. It is a little crowded and dark as far as ambiance goes but surprisingly it wasn't too loud. We had a larger group and Greg was our server, if you want someone who is professional and efficient ask for him!
(4)
kaya s.
Some of the best baby backs I've ever had. Good cesar too, a bit garlicky, but I'm Italian so I don't mind at all. I've been here at least a dozen times and never left unhappy. The wines are affordable and they always have good seasonal beers. The skirt steak has great flavor although it can be a little stringy but that's the nature of the cut. I recommend any of the flat-breads for an appetizer. Also order the apple strudel, and remember it takes about 45 minutes so make sure your server knows. You won't regret it, if you can't finish its just fine the next day. Warm it up in the oven, trust me. Service is usually pretty good to great. The ambiance is nice and has a homey kinda feel. Not your run of the mill leye restaurant as they seem to have become, this is more of a neighborhood establishment and is kid friendly as well. Great food for every course and good drink, good for lunch and/or dinner.
(5)
Scott H.
One of my favorite Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Why? Because it doesn't seem like a "chain"-type place at all even though the menu's visual similarity to that of Wildfire is evident. A great place to take visiting family for a great supper club-type meal or simply just a weeknight burger and draft in the tap room. This place evokes far-away lakeside spots in Northern Wisconsin or Northern Michigan and hits all the right notes for me. Their burger is one of the best I've had and the ribs (while not likely traditional barbecue) certainly hit the spot. Better make reservations as they're busy every night, but the tap room is very accommodating if you're into a slightly more casual, but still very comfy atmosphere.
(4)
Jennifer G.
Be aware this place is 70% senior citizens, so if you don't want to dine with Uncle Junior and grandma, this will not be the place for you. That aside, very standard food for a supper club type place. Good ribs, good steak, huge potatoes, etc. Be sure to tell them it is your first time - they pull out a deelish flat bread for first timers - nothing says a good meal like a free appetizer
(3)
Rex C.
Good food, service and a great dining atmosphere. It's a fun dining experience. I like the ribs, mahogany chicken, daily specials, and their soups/chili are always good.
(5)
Christy S.
My husband and I had Lettuce Entertain You gift cards that were about to expire and we decided to go somewhere we had never been. L Woods was the place. I wasn't expecting much, but man was I wrong! The service was incredible! We ordered drinks and got them what felt like seconds after we ordered them. My water glass was never empty. And there was always someone around in case the tables needed anything. Then there was the food. I ordered the cheeseburger with Merkts cheese, medium rare. When I order medium rare, I usually end up with more of a medium, and I like my meat red, so I am usually disappointed. This burger was just the perfect amount of rare for my tastes, and it was delicious! My husband ordered the steak sandwich, also medium rare, which is difficult to master on such a thin piece of meat, however, L Woods got it perfect. They serve the sandwich with a horseradish sauce that was a perfect compliment to the steak and was not too overwhelming. The fries were fries, but perfectly cooked. We ordered a side of mac n cheese because it is one of my many my weaknesses and it was amazing...so good that we ordered another side to take home with our leftovers! We will be returning to L Woods again soon!
(5)
Juliette F.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I was kind of expecting a run-of-the-mill Lettuce Entertein You experience, but I was totally wrong. The skirt steak was grilled to perfection, and my french onion soup was outstanding. They give you a treat if it's your first time there, which is a pesto BBQ flatbread... awesome! I can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu! The interior is great. It just feels like it's been an established restaurant for a very long time. Everyone is friendly, and you get the vibe that most of the diners are long-time, repeat customers. Two thumbs up for my first time at L Woods!!
(5)
Dana E.
Bottom line, my girlfriend ordered the half chicken, and it was pink, and bloody when it arrived. They promptly took it away after I asked them if it was supposed to be that way and began cooking another half chicken when all we really wanted was to be refunded for that meal. The manager came out in the meantime, and although apologetic, told us that there was a fine line between moist and undercooked. I thought to myself, "well, that undercooked option could leave a lot of people sick". In addition to the newly made half chicken (which we were afraid to eat), we received a free sundae for waiting, and then a piece of cheesecake after dinner. I guess that's okay, but again, all we really wanted was to be comped. I paid $20 for a small cod piece and green beans. It was good, but I was expecting something more. Overall, it was decent. Meh.
(2)
chris e.
ok, im writing this after a few trips to Lwoods -and last night will be my last- In all fairness i cant give them 1 star, because *ah, the food*, which is after all what the biggest deal is at a restaurant, but there are enough negatives built up over our visits there to make me say 'never again' .. Straw that broke the camel's back? - last night - because Saturdays are notoriously busy,i called and made reservations in the afternoon for 8pm. We got there 15 minutes early and were standing next to the Maitre' D's podium waiting to be seated. Along comes this guy who goes up to the podium and hes flirting and schmoozing the Maitre'D. i hear her say to him "i have an 8'oclock" he says 'ok' and goes and stands across from us with his girlfriend.. 20 mins later , guess who gets seated first? Not us! This is seriously not ok .. not only did we call earlier to make reservations first, but there were other people who walked in, like this guy, without a reservation and they were told it was going to be an hour wait. We gave the Maitre D our little pager thingy (sadly to never go off for us =P) i told her why we were leaving -her only comment was to ask me for my last name so she could take us off the books- and we left. Definately commenting to management today in an email ..not something i usually do, but yanno if the wait is normally 1+ hr, that Maitre D had better be on the ball and also know the meaning of customer service. The food is awesome -if u can ever get seated - out of the 6 or so times we have been there, we have only had 'order problems' (items forgotten or not as we ordered) twice...Good average? i suppose considering the amount of traffic they see - altho it didnt make us happy at the time - especially on the one occasion when we decided not to brave the wait times because there were no reservations available and did a 'take out' instead. We live a bit aways and not going back for the horseradish sauce ala Prime Rib. (Hmmm wish i had known that i could just have had my fiance go up to the Maitre D and flirt with her a bit and we could have been seated in front of everyone else..we would have eaten in that night) Another warning - take out portions are nowhere near the size of eat in but still the same price. Other things to consider - they do have a parking lot, where u can normally get a space (expect to have to wrangle or wait on really high volume nights like holidays) .. The pricing is definately on the high side and the dinner structure is set that u have to order the side orders if u want more than bare basics- but those are huuuuge and normally delicious ..Wait service has ranged for us from great - our first visit - ok and worth the 15% tip (most times) to poor - only once. ill miss the apple strudel -which is one of their saving graces- but not enough to make me want to deal with the treatment at the price it costs
(2)
Kristen W.
Lovely place, great ambience, very old-school. Unfortunately at this time I can't give it higher than 3 stars, only because I tried one appetizer and had one beer, so I can't comment on the food. The service was fantastic, and the place was hoppin'. I'll be sure to go back.
(3)
Chris B.
The 3 dollar beer option was an insult to everyone involved in the process of ordering it, pouring it, carrying it, delivering it, receiving it, contemplating it and drinking it. Food was great. Service was great, but I didn't appreciate an extra spoon request and a re-request to involve blaming an unknown party, followed by, "I don't know why I bother to even tip them out at all." It was all in good fun, a great meal, but please remember, the waiter has to fall on the sword, no matter how great the incompetence below.
(3)
Manda H.
I really want to know how you get your photo taken and put on the wall??? I have been coming for a few years now and I don't think I have ever had a bad experience. I love the ribs, steaks and salads. The apple strudel is amazing although I cam kind of sad you can't order a smaller version anymore. Good thing though, I get to take more home for seconds! Booths are so comfortable and I really like that they have takeout. It is cool that they filmed one of the Oceans 12 parts in the dining room.
(5)
Gina K.
Unfortunately if you are gluten free do not expect to eat here. Was out with a friend who loves this place and she had called ahead to ask about gluten free options. The person on the phone said they had a small gluten free menu. When we arrived the person seating us actually thought we were kidding when we said gluten free as if it wasn't something people really did? Granted there was probably some language barrier and age difference so I am sure it is not something that was heard of until recently. However, it was VERY uncomfortable to be laughed at. When the server came we asked again about a gluten free menu. He shrugged and said oh yea we can make some of the stuff gluten free. Uh yea. Not good enough. We left. I am sure that all you non gluten free people out there have had great food but there needs to be a better understanding of gluten free needs, simply saying you can probably do it really doesn't work when the consequences are that you will make someone very sick.
(1)
Jeff M.
right by the house-u can't beat that
(5)
Louis C.
Enjoyable, casual place. Dark, calm, but always busy. Tasty food. Whitefish with lemon sauce, baby back ribs, chopped salad, spinach salad, martinis, streudel. Wife always gets some kind of fish that's not crusted and has enjoyed it every time. Servers always unrushed, what a plus. If you want a delicious no-fail meal, this is your place. Try to reserve a booth and you'll be pleased. Bar gets crowded.
(4)
Vickie S.
Even though I have lived on the Northside for my entire life I have only been here twice. Both times were really good. I saw other people mentioned the abundance of the AARP crowd but since I am pretty unobservant I missed out on that. I did not miss out on the chopped salad which I am not addicted to as well as the parmesan crusted shrimp. Man o man they are good. Since that is all I have had there I'm not sure about the entrees but I would for sure go back for those two items.
(4)
Kimberly K.
I LOVE L. Woods. The chopped salad is wonderful, the ribs are great, the onion strings are DELICIOUS, the onion bread is great! Go there. Yum.
(4)
Jay B.
L. Woods Pine Lodge has a cozy, old school men's club atmosphere accented by a high beamed ceiling, rich, pine wood walls, and oxblood leather booths. Try to snag one on the very cool corner booths. Jason was our server; great guy he offered us offered us complimentary flat bread since it was our 1st time to restaurant. Service staff was very knowledgeable of the daily specials and answered any questions we had. I started with a Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen ( Nice beer selection from the bar), and my partner went with the Diet Coke with a lemon route. The flatbread arrived along with the drinks and everything was to our liking. Devin Ordered a Ribs and Chicken BBQ combo with Fries and I ordered the Bacon Blu Cheeseburger with Garlic Mashed. About 20 min later the yummiest food had arrived. I was blown away by my burger, 1st off it was cooked exactly how I wanted (which lately in Chicago has been hard). The bacon was crisp and the blu cheese was melting and had a slight crust from being up under the broiler for a few minutes before being brought out. And well garlic mashed potatoes, yeah awesome. My Partner enjoyed his selections, but thought the chicken was good, but nothing special. Ribs were very tasty. We ended the dinner with a wonderful Key Lime pie slice and some Lavazza coffee. Comfort food in a cozy place
(4)
Kevin S.
This place has some really good ribs. The string fried onions appetizer were great, as was the brownie desert with ice cream. If you go here for dinner, make a reservation because it gets really busy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
mollye p.
So my mom works for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants so I tend to be a little bias when it comes to their restaurants because I always get free food. BUT L Woods if flipping AMAZING!!! So they're like a tavern style cooking: meats, fish, burgers, etc. But it's all gourmet style. I love their ribs, steaks, salmon, well...pretty much anything! If you eat at the restaurant (you can also order it in and pick it up...I dunno if they do delivery) but they've got some good drinks on tap. I don't drink alcohol but they've got cream soda and orange cream soda on tap...It's the best cream soda in the world! They have AMAZING salads and DESERTS!!!! It's expensive but you honestly can't go wrong with any of their food. It's a great atmosphere also. I totally recommend it to EVERYONE!
(5)
Ashley D.
This food is so good. I like the Chopped Salad...but I crave their Tortilla Soup. Also my awesome waiter Stasch (who I always ask for)has the cooks put carrots on my salad (and I don't even have to ask) - I love great service.
(5)
Lindsay M.
we made reservation and still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. The daily special wasn't being served because it wasn't up to quality but they didn't offer a replacement. The waiter forgot part of someone's order and said he'd bring it but never did. No one told us there weren't free refills on the rootbeer. And during dinner, no one came to check on us to see if anything else was needed.
(2)
amy j.
We set out for Smoque but the line was out the door and around the corner so my husband suggested we try L. Woods. I was disappointed until I stepped inside. The charming, northwoods lodge look made me feel like I was "up north" at a Friday night supper club. Charming! We got there at the perfect time and were seated right away. Our server was courteous and friendly enough, but she was too busy to get too involved. We ordered the goat cheese and asparagus flatbread, baby back ribs, and the pulled chicken special. Everything was served hot, at a good pace and very tasty. The flatbread may have just been my favorite part of the meal, but then I think about those ribs... awesome. Just the right amount of sauce (I don't like them swimming in it) and just meaty enough to have something to really sink your teeth into. My husband's pulled chicken on corn bread was a really great combination of flavors and textures. The tangy bbq chicken on top of a slab of sweet cornbread was just right. Now I must not forget to tell you about dessert. I had the chocolate cupcake because I was already way too full but I just wanted a little something sweet. Oh my, sweet it was. I thought it was whipped cream on top but I think it was really white chocolate mousse with little bits of white chocolate in it. Delicious. My husband had the Key Lime Pie, nice big piece and very tasty. The only thing I could possibly report as negative was the temperature of the pie, it was just a little too cold. About a degree or two from being frozen. I just think the flavor is more developed when allowed to come up to room temp or at least a little closer. There was a "situation" that we should have taken care of after the table next to us was seated. One (or both) of the women had so much perfume on that it was on the verge of spoiling my appetite, we should have asked to be moved while there were still open tables. So take that as a little reminder folks, please don't wear so much smelly stuff to a restaurant. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood again.
(4)
Zack M.
Great family place, though make a reservation as it is busy!!!! Best fried chicken that I have ever tasted, available on Sundays; Delicious beef, baby back or dry rub ribs; fantastic mac and cheese. I think its still "Lettuce Entertain You", but dont let the low quality of food at wildfire put you off. This is hearty American goodness!
(5)
Alan R.
A fairly typical Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. The food is good, if not spectacular. The service was excellent until it got busy. The waiter was attentive and explained everything very well until the crowds started coming in. After that, he seemed overwhelmed. The dry rub ribs were excellent and the chicken good but not great. The salad we got as our appetizer was OK. The Sweet potato that came with my meal was like 2.5 times the size of a normal one. Take out from L-Woods might be a better option than dining in.
(3)
Mark G.
Worst experience ever! Watch out for the waitress with contagious flu! So I was meeting my friend for lunch at 1 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009. We determined that L Woods was a good place to meet since I was Downtown and she was in the Northern Suburbs. I had been to L Woods a number of years ago, but not recently. When we showed up we were seated toward the back of the restaurant, which was quite full at 1 pm when we arrived. We both looked at the menu and after about 5 minutes a waitress came over to take our order. The waitress that came over was obviously sick with the flu. She had no voice and looked ill. She apologized for her condition. I am not sure why any restaurant would allow or want a sick waitress serving patrons. I should have got up and left at that point, but instead we dealt with it. Both my friend and I asked questions about the menu. I was interested in the Monday special of turkey and stuffing--I asked what came with it other than turkey and stuffing. The waitress said nothing (turns out it also comes with carrots). My friend told the waitress she was a vegetarian. The waitress recommended the vegi burger, which my friend ordered. (This is not a particularly vegitarian friendly restaurant--few menu items and animal heads hug all around the restaurant.) We also ordered the macaroni appetizer and the lemonade flight. Our waitress then disappeared--we did not see her for 30 minutes. We noticed that it looked like all the other tables were getting fresh bread--we got nothing and had no one to ask for it. Finally, the waitress shows up with the food. She has our macaroni appetizer and food at the same time. She then puts in front of me a patty melt and gives my friend the "so called vegi burger". I say, excuse me, I ordered the turkey special. She looks confused and says she will get me the turkey. I also tell her that I would have expected the appetizer to come up before the entrees. She rudely says that the macaroni was a side. I ask her to please bring a menu over. She brings a menu over and I show her that it is an appetizer. She says nothing--not even an apology. My friend bites into her vegi burger and discovers it is actually a turkey burger. I can tell you that vegetarians are not happy when they eat meat. She became very sick and upset. We wait for our waitress to come back. 10 minutes later she appears. She has my turkey and also a vegi burger. She says she realized that she brought the wrong burger out. You would have thought she would have immediately come and taken the food back from my friend. My turkey dinner was generally good--it did take 40 minutes to get. My friend was so sick from eating turkey that she could not eat her vegi burger. (The frozen style fries with the vegi burger tasted like they had been sitting out for hours.) She ended up asking to get the vegi burger to go. Now you would expect that a waitress might be apologetic for this screw up--we get no apology or sorry. No discount, nothing. L Woods has some real service issues. We paid the bill and left. We will never go back. I really hope the management takes some corrective action. This all happened at lunch on Monday, October 12, 2009. Be careful at this place. And if your waitress is sick--ask for another waitress. Both my friend and I feel the flu coming on.
(1)
S M.
As soon as you walk in for dinner at L Woods, it's amazing. The lights are dimmed and the hostesses are so nice. We went on a Sunday night and we were immediately seated. The server, I think her name was Joanna, was incredible! She gave great recommendations and answered all of my questions with a smile. Not even five minutes after we ordered she brought us out an appetizer on the house since it was our first time there. The appetizer was so good, it was a flatbread almost like phyllo, with cheese and philly steak on top with some herbs, sliced like a little pizza. Delicious! I was undecided between chicken and the cod. Our server recommended the cod and boy did she steer me in the right direction! The cod was so delicious, with a parmesan crust and lemon juice, garlic aioli, it was to die for. My iced tea was never empty, the service was so attentive! For dessert we got a blueberry peach cobbler-type pie with vanilla ice cream on top, seriously one of the best desserts I've had in a while. Go to L Woods, you won't regret it!
(5)
Kristen H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. I've been coming here since it was called Bones. I can't remember what Bones was like except that I liked it, but I LOOOOOVE this place. I went here last night with my mother for a September 11th toast to all those that lost their lives that day. I made a reservation on opentable.com so it was great to not have to wait, although I don't think the wait was that long last night. I was upset that I wasn't there for pot roast night (Thurs.) because it's my favorite. I swear it's probably the best ever. So I looked over the menu for something else. I had it narrowed down to the skirt steak, bbq brisket, or meatloaf (the special on Tues.). I couldn't decide so I asked the waiter. He was so nice. He told me the skirt steak was his fave. I aksed him if the steak would be tough like some I've received at other places. He said no way because it's marinated in pineapple juice to tenderize it along with chili flakes and something else. He was definitely right. It was as large as a full slab of ribs and you could cut it with a butter knife. YUMMMMM!!!!! Of course I had it with the mashed potatoes because they're just as yummy. We ordered the chopped salad and tomato flatbread pizza for appetizers. The chopped salad (+ranch, - blue cheese) was the best like always. The flatbread seemed a little overdone, but still good. We also had some drinks which were also great and reasonably priced. My mom ordered some chicken dinner she loves. Our bill was ~$80. This place gets five stars for their service and five stars for their food. I don't know why I haven't been there in so long, I must be crazy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They have a kid's club, I think it's called the clean plate club. Your child gets a punchcard and once they've been there x amount of times, they get their picture taken and put in a frame on the wall. Look out for my son Kieran's pic next time you're there.
(5)
Agile R.
I love this place, It is a little over priced but the pork ribs are great and the steak fillet mignon is fantastic. Everyone has got to try their garlic mash potatoes. I don't go here often because it is a bit pricey but I always feel satisfied after a meal. The staff their are also very friendly, eager to make you feel welcome. They have a pretty nice bar also. If your ever in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out. I guarantee you'll crawl out of there from eating so much because the food was just to tasty to stop.
(5)
B. L.
This place certainly is popular , which can also mean crowded at times. The food has a little flavor of New Orleans thrown in the mix. Alot of rib/chicken places do. This location used to be another famous rib house called Bones. I think some of the same customers now visit here. Don't let the rustic exterior fool you, it can be a good place to meet clients for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Joedel G.
First of all the parking is not a problem, you can find a spot easily even though we went on Sunday. This place is rustic and on the wall you can find a lot of sports memorabilia photos. Customers are mostly on their 60's, although I've seen some family with kids, I believe a lot of locals too. It was our friends birthday party so we started with calamari and flat bread ( fresh unleavened bread that is grilled crisp with Oven-dried Tomatoes and fresh basil ) Don't forget to order the chopped salad which I think the best salad I've ever had. I had a piece of whitefish with lemon butter sauce, it was very moist and not fishy at all. Then the filet Mignon, and oh my God it was the most succulent piece of red meat I've ever had. Imagine Baked Macaroni & Cheese on the side, and again the best BM&C I've ever had. What else can I say ?, we finished our dinner with their famous Apple Strudel, baked to order though and allow 45 minutes. Excellent dinner with nice people around. Highly recommended and I would come back soon.
(5)
John F.
I feel I must disagree with the other reivewers. Each time I have eaten there it has been mediocre at best, and like all Lettuce Entertain You places it is overpriced so people using their discount cards and rewards get a fair price and everyone else pays higher. I would not recommend it.
(2)
Maximus T.
Great place to eat wonderful food and excellent service. I reccomend going on a weekday because i have gone twice and have waited 20 minutes for a table. Hey if its this jampacked its gotta be good
(5)
Maggie D.
Our most recent visit was probably our 10th dinner at L Woods. It was, as it always is, awesome. The massive sweet potato side with brown sugar butter is my favorite. The martinis are potent, the fish is fresh, and the steaks are tender. Once or twice the service has been little slow, but I suspect they were short staffed as it's usually great.
(4)
Lola L.
atmosphere is laid back...ribs and bbq chicken and spinach salad are dynamic. i had no idea it was lettuce entertain you restaurant...felt so homey
(5)
Simone G.
I've been coming to this place for quite some time. L' Woods reminds you of an old wisconsin lodge. I love it here. If you ask they will serve your drinks in pint glasses (double whiskey coke please). I've had some of the most delicious scallops here (it was a one time special), and the parmesan crusted beef filet is to die for. On top of it all the french onion soup is nothing less than perfect. It can cost a bit, but its not overly expensive. I would say its perfect for an evening somwhere between a lazy night out and that night that you really want to do it up. I would recommend that everyone at least try this restaurant once... love it or leave it, but try it once.
(5)
John T.
One of our favorite places to eat.This place has the best service in all of Chicago. From the second you walk in the door, you are treated as if you have been coming there for years, even if it is your first time! Make sure to make a trip here, especially in the winter. It is great "comfort food."
If your grandparents come to town and you want to take them out for dinner but know they would just be confused by anything even vaguely "ethnic", this place would be perfect. It's got a really nice "small town" vibe and good food with a menu of what most would consider to be "american standards"---lots of sandwiches and steaks and stuff like that. Not normally my type of restuarant, but this place is *special*.
(4)
Patrick F.
They call themselves a "Tap & Pine Lodge" - and that's exactly right. I walked in and felt like I had gone back home. Despite the size and business, it still had a cozy vibe to it. The staff recognized patrons who seemed to be repeat visitors and treated them like returning family. The food did not disappoint. My tenderloin was perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes and chili were fantastic.
(4)
Liliana S.
I love the decor and the ambience. Ive only eaten here once because it is so far out of the way from me, but I love the chicken and rib combo with double baked potato. YUM. The portions are huge and the prices are mediocre.
(4)
Kristin A.
This place has a nice feel to it. Like a cozy log cabin. I've been there serveral times and had great service. Except for this last time. AWFUL. Took us two hours to eat lunch and no apologies. Flat bread is amazing and everything else on the menu is decent.
(4)
Matt H.
Good food, doesn't blow my mind away but I like the Big Fish sandwich. Flatbread is decent but a little overpriced. Go with sandwiches.
(3)
Nicholle H.
I like to eat at this restaurant because it has a great atmosphere. The decor is lovely, giving it an old time feel. There is a touch of class in the restaurant which features American cuisine. The menu is abundant, the bar is stocked, and the food is good. The only complaint that I do have is that at times the service can be slow. Overall a great restaurant and moderately priced.
(4)
Shayna H.
This is my favorite restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My boyfriend loves the ribs and would recommend them to everyone. I have had sandwiches and steaks here and everything was excellent. I love the mashed potatoes and the pre-dinner bread. I would recommend anyone try this place at least once!
(5)
Michelle F.
I just went here for lunch with my boss and had a fabulous Southwest Chicken salad. Black beans and corn mixed in, with perfect chicken and ranch on the side. MMMMMMMmmm...Crowded for lunch, but nice atmosphere. Makes you feel like you're in a "happening" place. I'm going to take my husband here soon!
(5)
Joe S.
Good food,slightly above average. Ribs good but not the best around. SW Chix Salad is different, tasty. Chicken cooked well. Tasty Cream Soda....refreshing. Looks like an upper Wisconsin supper club lodge. Chili is pretty good. Good choice for the area.
(3)
Julia B.
This is right by my work and has great food! It's the place that was in Ocean's 12. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. There are pictures on the wall of a lot of people that have had dinner there. The food is very good. I had a flatbread and salad combo and loved it! The prices are normal too!
(4)
Khris L.
I really had high hopes for this place. It's right by my house and they're connected to L. Woods, which is considered to be a finer dining type of place. I assumed that the food from the "back of the woods" would also be of higher quality, worthy of the price they charge. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I wanted. The food quality is a bit above average, but the flavor combinations are weird enough to be inedible. The beef and broccoli and sesame chicken should be renamed to ginger beef and ginger chicken. The flavor of ginger was so overpowering in those dishes that I couldn't taste anything else. The crab rangoons were extremely salty. I mean, salty is one thing, but extremely salty is another thing. They were so salty that I couldn't believe it. The pork fried rice was smokey as if they used tidbits of L. Woods BBQ pork scraps, which was decent, but there were only a couple pieces of BBQ pork in the fried rice..and they were tiny pieces. Nothing about the food was good, except for the quality of the beef in the beef and broccoli, which we couldn't taste because of the overpowering ginger flavor. The problem with the food is bad enough, but in addition to the portion size, it would be ridiculous for anyone to pay their prices. For $10+ per entree, you would expect enough food to fill you up or at least good enough food to keep you satisfied. What they do here is, they take one of those black plastic rectangular carry out containers and fill half of it with white rice and the other half with the entree. I'm using the word "fill" in a very generous way. All in all, there just isn't any worthy value here. The food is flavored in a weird way, and the portion sizes are small enough to be insulting of the price you pay. I would have given this place a 1 star, but I don't want them to go down. I hope that they will see the negative reviews and fix the problems so I could have some good local food to eat once in a while..
(2)
Steve G.
L Woods presents a very popular and crowded lunch venue which, on the basis of Monday's visit, manages crowds efficiently and seamlessly. The dining rooms are paneled in light wood, and covered with hundreds of photos, some recognizable. Service was friendly and professional, without a hint of being rushed or pressured by the full room. Our room was hardly quiet, but conversation wasn't difficult. I ordered the Chopped Salad (chicken, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, pasta elbows and mixed greens), substituting Caesar dressing for the standard honey vinaigrette. Frankly, I can't recall when I've enjoyed a salad more. My dining companions on this business lunch, each from the surrounding area, ordered salads as well. The Skirt Steak Salad also won raves. A very comfortable restaurant, with service and food each well above expectation . . . superb.
(4)
Florence B.
My daughter and I enjoyed a tasty dinner here today. I had the crusted cod, which sat on a lovely cream sauce w bit of tart flavor. Perfectly baked fish! So flavorful. Baked spuds for us with hers being a sweet potato. Yummy sour cream topping. Why was her cole slaw so small in a little cup? We shared hot fudge sundae for dessert. We both loved it. Can't wait to go back. Nice waiter, attentive to our needs. Great spot in my area!
(5)
Mike W.
Went to L. Woods for the first time last night after seeing it on Check Please! a month or so ago. My wife and I loved it. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The only service related issued I was less than happy about was that the waitress never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink which was almost empty when the entrees arrived. The food was outstanding. My wife got the baby back ribs. They were fall off the bone and she says they were delicious. I got the Schlitz battered haddock which was a special last night. It was quite possibly the best beer battered fish I have ever eaten. We started off with their cheese curds which were the second best I've ever had. The best were at Miller Park. Overall great experience. We will definitely be back.
For the past several years, my mother has gotten a large LEYE gift card, as the Christmas present from her class (2nd grade teacher). It happens that her birthday is also in December, and we use the gift card to try new LEYE restaurants and celebrate. This year we tried L. Woods. First of all, this building looks much smaller in person, and is much less grandiose than other LEYE establishments. The walls are covered in wood, pictures of patrons, nostalgic images, mounted fish, and folk art signs. It is very Lodge like in atmosphere, so it lives up to the name. It took forever to get a server to contact my table, they are professional and friendly, but a slightly late lunch should not be a two hour affair. The service is painfully slow. The food was quite tasty, I had the ribs with "devil sauce," good for a non-bbq focused place. My mother loved the mushroom barley soup and steak sandwich. I also don't appreciate paying $3 for iced tea, and the servers leaving it dry for 5-10 minutes at a time. The service seems to suffer due to some really needy patrons. I saw one server focused on an 8-top from hell exclusively. From the same table I saw: a woman send back the same salad three times, explain that an omelette was not just eggs (all day brunch menu), and, a man send back a "very well done (his quote, not mine) burger because it was too dry. I always hold LEYE to a high standard, because they know how to run restaurants and I love the Wildfire restaurants, the food here stands up well. The food holds the line, but service is below the "wildfire standard" and it might be an overly needy customer crowd.
(4)
Marcee W.
Got lucky on a recent Saturday night without reservations, which is nearly impossible to do. They had one open table and the place was packed, as usual. Started with Lettuce's standard chopped salad which is always reliably fresh and tasty. Ordered the onion strings to munch on and although they were good, I'd skip them next time to save room for the better stuff. Baby back's were tender and delicious and my friend was surprised with a birthday treat on the house. L. Woods never fails to please!
(5)
Bill L.
I tried to give this place another chance....walked I. Looking for my guest Who,was seared inAdvance while I had to. Are an important phone call, And was told by this extremely rude, hostile named NICOLE who,had already Turned my stomach with her nasty attitude upon checking I. To see where Ahe seared my guest, stating that I seat many people, I can't tell you Where the guest is........This place smells like a "bad nursing home." I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS PLACE WAS LAST RENOVATED AND WHEN THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR HIGH CARB SOFT FOOD MENU......... ANYTHING HEALTHY BESIDES FRIED FOOD AND GREASY RINS AND CHICKEN....IS THIS REALLY A LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU REST.?
(1)
Paul G.
Fantastic experience and food. love the French onion soup iand the Apple strudel is to die for. Service is top notch. all great!!
(5)
JW W.
Ordered ribs and ckn combo with baked p.The ckn was good nice and moist.The ribs where from last night and very dry!! I thought at 3 pm in the afternoon you would get fresh ribs not old dried out spoiled ribs!! 1 hr after eating i was sick!! And it continued all night long!! Oh and the baked p was as dry as they come maybe from last night too! And if i could i would give 0 stars!! We go there all the time for dine in and never got sick.Its seems to me like the family that owns it doesnt care about quality food anymore!! DO NOT ORDER TAKEOUT!!! And its the next morning now and im still sick!!! Thanks a lot l woods!! And they just lost a good customer of 30+ years!! I wont go back now if they are serving old food!! Never use to be like this
(1)
Mister M.
Went on Sunday night --Fried Chicken night! Place was packed. Very noisy but still enjoyable. Comfortable but not relaxing. Gin and Citrus Old Fashioned was delicious Fried Chicken was really good -nice and crisp outside, moist and flavorful inside. Beef Ribs were great-Perfectly cooked with a nice char outside while remaining tender and moist. Although they were huge, i wouldn't say they were Flinstonian. Still a huge portion. Great french fries, I would have like a larger portion but it was sufficient. What they lacked in service they made up for in accommodation. They struggled a bit to keep up with the large crowd, but there was no undo waiting and you never really felt like anything was a problem. Whatever we wanted or needed we got. Desserts were also good. Killer Key Lime Pie, very similar to Joe's.
(5)
Michelle C.
Came here for my boyfriends sister's birthday on a Thursday night for dinner. WAS IT CROWDED! I didn't think that it would be that crowded especially at 730pm on a Thursday night. I came here for V-Day last year and the food was good then and is still good now. This time I tried their baby back ribs.. deliciousness as always. Waiter was very fast and could answer all questions that we had at our table about different types of entrees. Only downfall was the crowdedness. I felt like the person behind me was too close for comfort and every time I got up (to go to bathroom or bar) I had to walk around tables in a zig zag to avoid hitting someone.. lol Food was good though, GET THE MASHED POTATOES!
(4)
skip l.
Two of the three previous reviews in this Yelp appearance of L.Woods are in fact for the Big Bowl menu, which is now available for carryout from the "back of the woods" counter at the rear of the restaurant. This review is not about the Big Bowl. Most people i know are mystified why a highly regarded traditional restaurant serving ribs, steaks, chicken etc. would have a Chinese carryout menu -- especially as other good Chinese carryout is available in the area. We've never considered trying it. This review is to address Kay's 3/17/14 two star review of the L. Woods restaurant itself -- Kay and a friend apparently made one visit and had two dishes they didn't like. That review should not stand unanswered. First, over many years, we've never had a bad meal at L. Woods, so the description of the reviewer ("burned and fatty brisket" and "dry and tough" fish is at minimum very surprising -- though tastes in brisket can vary. But more surprising is that the reviewers apparently did not complain. Part of what we love about L.Woods is the excellent service. Both dishes could easily have been turned back to the kitchen with no problem and replacements provided. L. Woods prides itself on service, and has never failed to deliver, even on minor complaints. As for small portions -- again, that has not been our experience. And the ambiance -- the place is decorated to look like an old fishing lodge; kinda fun. But L. Woods has charm beyond the decor. For at least 25 years they have had Sima on their staff -- a wonderful older lady who now serves mostly as a greeter, but years ago was a cook. She would come around to the tables with samples of something she had made. Now she just serves her personal charm. Among our L. Woods menu favorites: the flatbread appetizers, the tomato bisque soup, the amazing chopped salad, the ribs, the salmon, the molten chocolate cake. The one problem is the popularity of the place: we always go early so we don't have to wait for a table. If L. Woods was really a below par restaurant, it would not enjoy such crowds. Give 'em another chance, Kay!
(4)
Mack M.
We've been here a few times now and the atmosphere is always comforting and calm. Dinner time is a little crowded but the restaurants layout accommodates the crowd. I had a great filet 2/3 occasions. The second time the steak was far overcooked; they boast superior customer service by replacing the steak, apologizing, and immediately comping the entree. Needless to say they have earned a loyal customer and I will be back with my large party.
(4)
T D.
They have the best beef ribs in town. I went there last night and was amazed how good the ribs were. In addition the mashed potatoes are awesome. The only reason I'm not putting 5 stars is because it's pretty pricey. The service is good and the place is laid out nice. They also have speciality drinks which I like. Coming back for sure.
(4)
Marcela R.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. The service is good too. The only thing is that every time we go there they have a bunch of walkers parked by the entrance which makes you feel like you are having lunch at a retirement home.... So if you care just about the food, give it a try.
(4)
Jim B.
Good potato skin nachos, and I had the basil flatbread with a salad, good value. Frank the bartender was awesome, good sangria and decent beer list. The only thing every time the woman's bathroom door opens the first 5 seats at the bar smell like old bathroom sanitizer from the gush of wind. Kinda nasty when your eating.
(4)
Charles S.
Been here a few times and always has been solid. Came right when they opened before the blue hair rush. Today for lunch I had the fried Perch with fries & coleslaw. D-lish! The fish was light and not overly breaded or too fried. The fries were crisp and tasty. Even the tartar sauce was solid. I wish I could come more often, but I live too far away.
(4)
David F.
This is one of our regular favorites. Food is always excellent and service is top notch. Parking can be a bit tricky, but it is worth the wait. Make reservations, or you will wait a long time. Beer on tap selection is great too. Highly Recommend
(5)
Chris H.
Very good all around, the food and service were both really great. Flat breads are amazing, flaky and melt in your mouth. Saturday prime rib special was excellent, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Definitely be making it back here again!
(4)
Doug R.
I've been going here since it was called, 'Bones,' and the food has always been great. Whether I've gotten the planked salmon or the steak or roast, they've always been great.
(5)
Jai R.
Great Family oriented place. Great for ribs ! The BBQ sauce they serve is warm and the complimentary onion roll in the beginning is the perfect teaser to get your appetite going. A must try place !
(5)
Emily N.
We made a reservation for 9 but the place was so crowded that we weren't able to be seated on time. A couple we were with had a baby so due to us not getting seated on time, they had to leave. The manager felt so bad that he covered all of our appetizers, first round of drinks and cut our bill in half. This was extremely generous and we were super impressed with the service! Great place!
(4)
Christine S.
I love L'Woods. The food is delish. The staff is nice and quick. However, they HAVE to get it together...there's some serious sanitation issues going on here. Within the past month, I've dined here twice... you're gonna wonder why I'd come back after the first incident and frankly, I'm beginning to wonder myself. 1. My boyfriend and I came here because I told him the food is to die for (and that could almost be literal after what happened). We were eating my most favorite thing on the menu, an L'Woods Chopped Salad and we notice something on the bottom of the plate. There's a screw (no, I'm not kidding) in our salad. A SCREW. A mothertrucking screw is in our salad. I can't make this up. After we brought it to our waiters attention, the manager took his sweet ass time (roughly 15 minutes) coming over (that didn't bother me at first...but then I eventually got upset realizing that one of us could have gotten hurt by this damn screw and he took his time seeing if we were okay). The manager was super apologetic and comped our meal which was very appreciated...but seriously, a screw in our salad! 2. We go back to for some delish food because I really do love L'Woods...no screw this time...victory is ours, so we thought. My guy is drinking his iced tea...with a long blonde hair in it. He's not a blonde. He doesn't have long hair. Our server, a long blonde haired woman is the only culprit here. So yeah, I've got an issue with the sanitation at the restaurant right now. Get it together L'Woods....get it together! You're lucky we're the ones who ended up with the screw in our salads and not someone who would take a bite with it in there, just for the sake of a lawsuit.
(1)
nicole m.
This review is for the new BIG BOWL addition to Lwoods. Very Disappointing. I am a fan of Big Bowl, but not at this location..never mind the 2.5 hour wait for delivery. The food was NOT good. The BBQ Pork fried rice had LWoods BBQ pork scraps in it..not Chinese BBQ Pork..these 2 flavors do not mix.. it was made even more unappetizing by the over cooked and mushy rice. The Orange Chicken was a flavorless 1/2 portion for $10.00. This is supposed to be Chinese food, but it was really really bland. This whole thing feels like a 1/2 ass-d rescue attempt to revitalize L Woods biz by infusing the BIG BOWL name..Better Fix It Fast!
(1)
Rachel L.
Pretty good place. Our waitress was so incredibly nice and helpful. I had the brisket sandwich, which was amazing. Also, their fries are addictive. My only complaints: -It's dark in there. Like any moment you think you'll look over an see an illegal poker game just like in the movies type of dark. -There are only two salads on the menu. Don't bring your pet rabbit. They won't like it the lack of greenery on the plates.
(4)
Joanne K.
This is a solid 4 star restaurant. The food is good, portions are huge, and it is your basic Lettuce Entertainment fare. The specials are actually decently prized, and the wine and Moscow Mule I had were pretty good as well. I will say though that the patrons are all about 80 years old, so it clears out pretty nicely after 9:15PM!
(4)
Jacquelyn E.
3 stars for excellent staff/service, great atmosphere, and amazing drink specials. The food...well that's where the problem lies. Let's start off by saying the food was lack luster and somewhat overpriced. My family of four dined at L Woods for my husbands birthday. My husband just loves BBB ribs so I searched in yelp for a good bbq rib place near Evanston. We saw that L Woods was featured on check please and everyone gave the restaurant rave reviews so L Woods it was!! We ordered the cheese curds for starters and my husband had the full slab baby back ribs, I had the fish & chips, my daughters had the pulled pork & the prime burger. The cheese curds were awesome, hot & crispy with a nice ranch dipping sauce. The food was just nothing special. My husbands ribs were quite cold and my girls food was just food. No wow factor at all. Now my food is where this place really lost points. My fish & chips was a $17.95 cruel joke of a meal. It resembled something that could have passed as a appetizer. It was basically little fish strips, and when I say little I mean no thicker or longer than pinky with most pieces being smaller than that. So basically little crunchy fried thin fish strips on top of slightly over cooked homemade chips and a thimble of coleslaw. The $5 old fashions were amazing and the customer service was outstanding but I go out to eat for the food experience and it just wasn't there. I hear the steaks are there good but I'm not willing to drop $30 per person to find out. Skip this place but if you want good drinks and a great atmosphere I guess give L Woods a shot just do yourself a favor and do not get the fish and chips.
(2)
Evelyn L.
This place was full of customers!! I was expecting delicious food, the ribs were mediocre at best, twice baked potatoes were terrible and so were the French fries!!! How can you screw up French fries??!! They were cold and soggy!! Coleslaw was no better than the stuff you can buy at Jewel's and the calamari was just okay! I wish I could say I enjoyed it, maybe I was expecting too much.....
(1)
Chrisy B.
On my first visit: I took my Mother for our annual holiday dinner. It was Friday night for 5:15 reservations. We were seated immediately in the way back room (with the fireplace). It was a very quiet area which was nice so we could talk. The room filled up with couples and families with small children. The other rooms seemed to be filled with larger (and louder) groups of people. I enjoyed our location. I had a skirt steak which was to die for. Mom had the fish/chips Friday special - delicious. For dessert we had the apple strudel which was fabulous. Our server was amazing and very personable. I would definitely recommend going, but maybe not at a really busy time if you care to hear your company.
(5)
F J.
I have ate at Lwoods for many years going back to when it was Bones.Frank the bartender is a classic. Today we had a great meal,I order their buffalo wings almost every time we go and are the best i ever had. Today i tried a new item the BLT deviled eggs (very good)..the problem is i was charged $6.95 for TWO eggs with a sprinkle of BLT on them and a about 2-3 oz peppercorn/mayo sauce. I am fine with a profit but wow not even organic eggs. Woods you should add least one more egg to the plate. I will turn i just will not order the BLT eggs.
(4)
Lulu R.
DATE NIGHT! My boyfriend and I have been on a very strict diet and we were long overdue for date/cheat on diet meal night. Once we started seeing the scales in our favor, we had to celebrate! We got there sans reservations because apparently they dont take them until 7. anyway, we got there around 6:15 P.M. this place was bustling. No seating immediately but we decided to wait, It felt very warm and happy. I knew we had made the right decision to come here. We only waited 15-20 minutes and were seated. Knowing the type of people my boyfriend and I are, we peeped the menu beforehand online. The waiter brought us an onion roll and butter for starters. (This is when I was completely won over!) We ordered the chicken and ribs combo, Fried Calamari, and skirt steak dinner. This meal was so delicious that it deserves a breakdown! BREAKDOWN: 1. Chicken and ribs combo: You know how some places throw some bbq sauce on some random chicken and a slab of ribs? Not this place! HANDS DOWN best bbq roasted chicken I have ever had. It was juicy and not over cooked. The Devil bbq sauce was a great touch too. The Ribs were also nothing short of the chicken. Equally as delicious and meaty. 2. fried Calamari- Hard to go wrong with this and served with extra lemons to squeeze over the top. Delicious! 3. Skirt Steak- cooked perfectly Medium Rare! I mean perfectly. The skirt steak was the highlight of our night! Totally tender and seasoned to perfection. Yep, PERFECTION. As the side we got the sweet potato, ask for extra pecan brown sugar butter. As my side I got the creamy spinach, which I wasn't impressed with at all. Its OK though, because I just had some of the sweet potato. The walls of this place is decorated with that lodge-y feel and with picture adorning the walls of regulars (I am guessing). I saw a lot of families and happy people. service was outstanding and parking is plentiful. Good business! I plan to return again for more delicious eats!
(4)
Mat M.
L. Woods is a really good restaurant, and really busy too. If you're looking for a Sunday Supper type of place with a home-style family atmosphere then look no further. It's party of Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group, but it's off the beaten path compared to many of their other restaurants. I've been here a fair number of times and typically the service is really good. Last night was the exception, the server was slow, and some of the items we wanted had already been 86'd for the night. They advertise their fried chicken dinner for Sunday's but somehow were already sold out by 7PM, which was really sad. If you have a high demand for your specials, then you should probably plan accordingly instead of telling customers that you run out each week. The food is always good, and last night was no exception. I'll be back - but hope our service is back to normal next time- getting drinks and menu items timely is of utmost importance!
(4)
Allison L.
L Woods is a nostalgic part of growing up in the city and reminds me of eating here with both my grandparents, friends and dates. The food is good, not everything is exceptional. The wait can be long. The service is hit or miss, but we have had way more hits than misses. We love the wings, great beef ribs and awesome skirt steak. Save room for dessert and the bar is one of the best parts of waiting a long time for table.
(3)
Jillian R.
I was expecting the food to be good, but L. Woods blew me away! My boyfriend had a $50 gift card, so we decided to splurge. I had the baked French onion soup, chopped salad, and sirloin steak sandwich. Everything I tasted was incredibly delicious. The French onion soup was hands down the best I have ever had (and I get French onion soup almost everywhere I go.) The chopped salad tasted exactly like Portillo's chopped salad, but the dressing was a bit lighter than the creamy dressing Portillo's has, making L. Woods version better. Finally....the sirloin. Oh my was it incredible. Melt in your mouth, lean steak with crispy onion strings, lettuce, and tomato, served alongside hand cut fries. Incredible! I'm salivating just remembering it. You MUST give L. Woods a try! You will not be disappointed. Quakit
(5)
Angelina S.
Great family restaurant. We celebrated Father's Day here with 3 generations of my family and had a great experience. The service was impeccable, even on a busy day such as that. And the food was tasty; we have been ordering carry out from L. Woods for years and finally had an opportunity to dine in. The koozi for my beer was a nice touch as well. Thank you L. Woods.
(4)
Jaime G.
Dude. L. Woods in Skokie rocks. Try any of the BBQ offerings with a craft beer and it's delish! Great option for lunch. The BBQ is very good but the old standbys like burgers are big and juicy as well. Other shout outs include the spicy Bloody Mary, flatbreads, and walleye chips. Flatbreads are good but are really really thin and flakey. We also missed this great looking apple strudel that apparently takes 45 minutes to come out - bet that's good too. Also, get here early cause this place fills up fast esp on the weekends. A must try in the area and worth an extra drive if you're in the city and looking for a great, kid friendly option for lunch or dinner.
(4)
AJ M.
Finally got a chance to come here, I have always thought that this was a sports bar but was surprised to see a comfy homy family log diner. I tried the beef devil ribs which was supposed to be spicy compared to reg ribs (but is not spicy at all) but still good. It comes with a decent sized side I recommend creamed spinach. Everything was great! I just wish they had a more extensive beer menu. Overall the food is good wholesome home style food in a very comforting log environment great or winter nights! Will deffinetly coming back to try more!
(5)
Yanyao N.
Having an early Sunday dinner here is basically like eating inside a retirement home slash pine lodge. The food is huge portions of LEYE's take on Wisconsinesque cuisine. Think cheese curds, walleye, shandies made in-house with Schlitz. Lovely servers and the last time I was in here, I had this ridiculously delicious side dish special of roasted local carrots with nuts and feta cheese. If it didn't remind me so much of Twin Peaks with a bunch of old people, I would probably come back more often. Hopefully next year I'll get around to trying their Friday Suppers.
(3)
Jim M.
Good food, good service, in spite of a crowded feeling in the dining room. They really pack them in.
(4)
Justin B.
I've noticed that a lot of people like this place. It is always crowded and getting a table is difficult. Let me first say that I am from Wisconsin and I wanted to see how Chicago does a supper club. We went for our anniversary. When we were seated, we waited almost 10 minutes until a server greeted us. My wife ordered a dry martini. No olive with a spear! Come on, that's a trademark of a martini! My wife did say it was pretty good though. I had the "Wisconsin" old fashioned. Learn how to make a Brandy Old-fashioned, not quite the same, but close. My wife didn't have a place setting (silverware and napkin). The food: not really worth the price. Over-priced. I've had better home cooking for less. I ordered the Chopped Sirloin 14oz and it was so salty and greasy. My wife had the walleye. Same, a pile of salty grease. I saw that they pride themselves on food cooked with love like home cooking. In all of the supper clubs in Wisconsin I have been to, I have not had such salty, greasy food at such a high price! I usually salt and pepper my food like any good Wisconsin boy, but I wanted to take salt out!! I saw the Check Please episode featuring this place. Those people have no idea what a supper club is. Blind leading the blind if others came here based on that recommendation. Hey! Where is the Salad Bar! That is a staple supper club feature. Sometimes, you can just get salad bar as your dinner! Lettuce Entertain you has a reputation and I have to say that if you are developing formulas to make chains of quality, do more research and get it right! I had better food at Outback Steakhouse, and that' not saying much! Go to Wisconsin for the real experience. Don't go to this place and call it good for the idea rip-off. Not original, and not done well.
(2)
Carla G.
I have come to L.Woods several times- overall I think it is A-OK! I have sat in the bar area and in the main restaurant. You should expect an afternoon rush, and an older crowd that comes in for an early dinner. Here is a list of what I have tried: 12 hour brisket nachos (my favorite!!), the BBQ chicken flat bread, french onion soup, walleye chips, Thursday pot roast special, walleye sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, grilled salmon, key lime pie, goldbrick sundae... I give a thumbs up to it all! Everything has great flavor! The service has been consistent at L.Woods. However, I feel I should mention my last visit because the server did not greet us with bread and took awhile to take our order. The restaurant was not busy so I was not sure what the hold up was (& I already came with an appetite). She also tried selling the dinner dessert menu during the lunch hour, what?! I found that peculiar because I have dined here before and the portions for dinner dessert are obviously larger ( and obviously cost more). Was she trying to pull one over on me and tack on a few more dollars to the bill? Who knows... I will still come back here because I love the selection of BBQ & the lodge feel.
(3)
Mike A.
We have been here twice and both times ordered the "family style" dinner. The concept is great, as it allows for everyone to get a decent portion of apps, salad, sides and main entrees. First time was for Mother's day and it was great. The food, the service: excellent! Fast forward to this past weekend, when we came in for my in-laws birthdays (they're 2 days apart). We ordered the same family style setup, but the server( who has been there for 8 months, we asked) had no idea how it worked. First she said that was for catering, we replied "No", look at the back of your menu: its there in black and white. The rest of the time she just seemed confused, befuddled and determined that we where doing something not "kosher". In addition to the family style, we had 4 diners (1 kid and 3 teens) that did not order this $31 option family option (inc $2 for desert). We had a kids meal, a salad, wings, bbq chicken dinner and soup added. Yet this waitress was convinced that somehow we where skimping somewhere. Yes, there were a few calamari and few slices of razor thin flat bread that the kids put on their plates, because the bus boy was taking away the tray anyway. So what, with drinks we are dropping almost $400 here! Was it better to throw it away in the garbage? Did we over order and cover the table with unfinished food? NO! The mgr added $20 to our tab as a fee for sharing! WTF !!! No one said anything, they just tacked it on. I called him over and he said that we were sharing apps. Really? We got one extra flatbread and order of calamari to what they originally presented to a table of 6 adult diners, which by the way show up on tiny plates and you want to charge me? F@@k you! We eat @ LEY joints quite a bit during the year, ranging from Shaw's to Wow Bao and plenty of visits to Wildfire and Big Bowl in between. The service we received here was the worst we have ever experienced at a LEY restaurant! Again we drop about $2k a year on LEY, not counting the gift cards that my mom sends our way for special occasions. The only thing that keeps this above 1 star, is that our first visit was very good and the ribs are good. We know they could do better, but that server did not deserve her auto gratuity of 18%.
(2)
S. H.
do not order mixed drinks. drinks are very weak, and for a higher end, not inexpensive restaurant, i expect better. also am disappointed in the bartenders. we have eaten at the bar when the old guy was there and also blonde female with eastern european accent and if they could have ignored us 100% they would have. It was unbelievable. 30 minutes to take a drink order, 15 minutes to take the food order, then never inquiring if everything was ok, need anything else? Not once were we asked that. And sitting, eating at a bar, it took me waiving continually in their faces to get another drink! looked right at me and my friend and looked away, went to the other end of the bar. left very low tip. normally am a min. 20% tipper, and each time with these two, left 10%. expect better from Lettuce Entertain You group. Food is good, no competition in the area, and agree with Joe R. that the front area/bar set up is horrible, over crowded, cant move.
(3)
Reda K.
I really like this. First time and it won't be the last time. The glasses on the table looked dirty but I guess they have been used for so long they have marks on them. I would say make a reservation. I will be returning.
(5)
Douglas W.
Miriam and I took my aunt and uncle out for dinner Sunday night. I had never been and the menu looked like a lot of fun. I ordered the parmesan crusted cod, baked potato and a side of broccoli. The cod came out on a huge plate. It was unidentifiable as a piece of fish. It looked like an island in the pacific. I figured there was probably fish under there somewhere. There was more breading than fish and it was swimming in a very rich and delicious lemon butter sauce. I really liked the flavors but wished the piece of fish had been nicer and the toppings more judicious. I ended up scraping quite a bit away toward the end. Good potato and slightly undercooked broccoli. The stems of the broccoli were hard to get through. I don't like them overcooked but this was a bit short. The place was packed as is the norm from what I understand. It's really loud. The service was great. I would go back and try something else maybe but I have a feeling that they're so busy that you couldn't get the care and attention to detail with your food on any occasion. It is a great concept and a cool place. I will have to think about returning.
(3)
Pam D.
It has been a while since we last ate here, but we met up with a group of old friends for dinner and had a very nice time. Although the food does not make me crazy with love, it is usually a solid tasty meal. I had the special BBQ trio, which consisted of 3 BBQ sandwiches (small) accompanied by fried onion strings and slaw. It was all good and filling. Christopher had a burger, which was also good and certainly substantial. The table shared an apple strudel, which was good and certainly huge. I think it cost $11, but fed 6 people. I would have preferred it baked a bit longer, but all in all, it was a good choice. Service as always was friendly and attentive, and for a Tuesday night, the place was packed!!!! I'm glad we had reservations.
(4)
Carl S.
Fantastic North woods atmosphere with Four Star takes on standards like, Walleye Pike Sandwiches. We always share a small Caesar Salad to start. The Bar looks like a Wisconsin Tavern from the 1950's was made over with a 2013 sports bar. 5 Flat Screens with every sporting event displayed for your entertainment. The "Oceans 12 Room", is where they filmed a scene in the movie with the same name is one of the main dining rooms with big booths and tables. All of the food is Great and so is the service. You may have to wait for a table during peak hours so call ahead.
(5)
Steve F.
Just fine for a semi-upscale (moderately priced) chain-style restaurant. Good basket of warm bread served when you are seated; food is fine; service is good. Booths are large: Can easily seat 6 adults, and cozily seat 8. Walls are cluttered with photos, including one of my cousins (they did a deal where if you ate there 10 times you'd get your picture posted). The sign on the wall that says something like "We serve only USDA inspected beef" makes the meat sound a little dodgy: What restaurant serves meat that *isn't* USDA-approved? I sure don't want to eat *there*. However, if this is your style of restaurant, you'll have no complaints.
(3)
Douglas M.
Went here for our 22nd Wedding Anniversary for the first time because of a L.E.Y. gift card, and I live 15 minutes away. So many wasted years going to far less quality restaurants much further away. Since it was a special occasion we went top shelf of the menu. I ordered the King Cut Prime Rib and it was prepared exactly as ordered, my wife and daughter ordered the Parm Crusted Filet, and my son ordered the Baby Back Ribs with the Devil sauce. We started with the Cheese curds, flat bread pizza, and the Walleye chips, everything was outstanding. Our server, sorry I forgot his name, was exceptional. He knew the menu backward and forward as a great server should, made sure we were always attended to. We just found our new Family Restaurant. Cant wait to go back and try the lesser $$ of the menu.
This restaurant is part of Lettuce Entertainment Group. With that said, the menu shares some similarities with Wildfire and other Lettuce Entertainment Group Restaurants. Overall I love the family feels and ambiance of the restaurant decor. I feel the price is equal the service and food. Even though they were busy but they get our table and food in good time.
I had a major burger craving-so we decided to try L. Woods which is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which are always pretty good.We decided to order off their take out menu, however by the time we got home our food was cold-maybe they could get different insulated containers? Anyway-that was more our fault than theirs, I popped everything on a baking dish in the oven and the fries crisped up and the burger reheated nicely. My burger was enormous-it didn't even fit on the bun! I was able to get two meals out of it. I would really like to try their meals in house next time. Again, the gentleman at the take out service was also very friendly and helpful.
(4)
Elina S.
L Woods is a restaurant located right next to where my grandpa lives so we decided to try something different and take him out for dinner. When we got in around 5pm on a Sunday night it was pretty empty but with in a few hours, the place got pretty busy so we figured it must be good. From the pictures, it had that Wildfire like feel but in reality it was much more casual than a Wildfire. The wooden walls, some leather booths, dim lighting, it was a very relaxed environment which would be perfect for a winter snow day! But I have to say, it is really dark inside, too dark for my grandpa to see so keep that in mind when bringing your elders. Now onto the important stuff, the food. The onion bread that they give you was just not good, ours felt a little stale like it was warmed up from the night before so I was not a big fan of it. They gave us a complimentary flat bread since it was our first time but I also did not enjoy it. It was way too thin and flakey and the pieces of meat on it were just blah so I'm happy I never ordered it. Than we got their creamed spinach, which is their specialty and it was pretty good, not a large portion but tasty nonetheless. For our entree we ordered their baby back ribs and they're not cheap for a full slab for $26 but we gobbled them right up. My hubby swears they are the best he ever had, but I thought they were just good and I would get them again. Okay, so this is where I kinda got annoyed. Before when we placed our order I said we will have the ribs and then get some kind of dessert and our server didn't say anything. When we were done with the ribs, I told her I would like to order their apple strudel and she said "Oh, it takes 45 minutes to bake so you will have to wait that long." Kind of a bummer, and I wish she told us earlier since I mentioned that we would get dessert and since we don't work there how would we know that it takes that long. After about a half hour wait, it arrived hot and steamy. It was delicious, full of apples, great cinnamon flavor, definitely worth waiting for. So my overall thoughts on L Woods is that it is just okay, nothing wowed me but there are definitely some tasty options on the menu, and our server did do a good job throughout the meal minus her forgetting to let us know about the apple strudel, so I may be back just to get that strudel and those ribs for carryout!
(3)
Lauren G.
Delicious food and great service! Don't expect to just walk in on a weekend, though--it gets packed! Jason E was our server and he was wonderfully attentive and knew the menu well enough to make great suggestions. The gluten free menu had enough options to keep me happy. They have gf buns and don't list their sides on the gf menu but there are gf sides available.
(5)
Will B.
Great ribs, steak, and mashed potatoes!
(5)
Jimmy M.
Food, service, manager and parking are awesome. Consistently a great time out with my family. Highly recommended.
(5)
Raul B.
Wow talk about an old school family restaurant, this is pretty much it. L Woods totally reminds me of the family style restaurants my parents used to take me too when I was a kid. I went on a sunday so of course I had to get the their special fried chicken dinner. It's basically a half a chicken with a side of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. The chicken was excellent with a thick coating and was definitely to much for me to finish. The mashed potatoes were also very good. I was looking around to see what other people were ordering and it seems a lot of people were getting the ribs so maybe next time I"ll try that. The service was great and fast even though they were very busy. The decor was very old school with that 50s pine lodge feel. I will have to go back again and try out their other menu items which all seemed delicious.
(4)
Luckia A.
I ordered delivery, it's a lazy day for me. I Ordered from this place because I wanted a good beef brisket sandwich. Let me tell you, it was amazing! Now on the ordering experience. Right off the bat, the told me that delivery could take up to 70 mins, it only took 45 so that a super plus. I have good allergies and the took the time to look everything up, a MAYJOR, plus in my book! They made a note for my specifications and I'm super grateful, anytime I can't avoid taking Benadryl like they are tic tacs is great for me! On to the food. Not what I was expecting, but still really good. The beef brisket was cut into pieces, which I usually don't like, but it was amazing! The brisket was smothered in this BBQ sauce that was smokey and sweet and the portion was huge. I only ate half of it! The Coleslaw had a great taste and texture. The french fries where delicious even though they were soggy, which normally I wouldn't touch, but again I ordered delivery so it was acceptable and DELICIOUS! Finally! DESSERT! The apple strudel was AAAMAZZINGGGGGGG!!!!! I cannot wait to take my bf to this place!!! Also, decently priced and great portions!!!!! TRY IT!!!
(5)
Lawrence C.
Outstanding is all I have to say. Never been here and went with our neighbors for the Fish Fry. Walleye appetizer was to die for, fish fry was also to die for and the half rack of ribs I had was outstanding. We will certainly be back.
(4)
Frankie R.
I was disappointed in my baby back ribs. They brought them out and they were a a little over-cooked. I was surprised that they would even serve it like that, but (1) figured the cooks knew what they were doing and (2) I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had. I also ordred mac & cheese for my daughters and neither one of them liked it, so I had my wife taste it and she said it tasted bitter. In all, I thought the place could've been better.
(2)
William V.
I enjoyed this place and will definitely return. The barbecue and fresh fish selection are very good, and the the service is great. I also like the casual, friendly atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable, too.
(4)
Joanne E.
Just got back home about an hour ago after my very first visit to L Woods. I still have happy tummy. Very happy tummy. My tummy feels like it's going to be a very happy tummy until at least lunch time tomorrow. Doesn't mean I'll skip breakfast, though. You can bet I made sure to mention as soon as our waiter came over that it was our very first time there and as the reviews I checked out on yelp* last night promised, we got a complimentary flatbread appetizer for being "first timers." That put a smile on my DH's face. And, I have to admit, it was an interesting-sounding combination (bbq chicken and pesto sauce?), but it works. I had the Turkey Burger based on someone's comment in a review that it was one of the best she'd ever had. My reaction when I saw it was, "ewww, I don't like onions in my burgers" as I could see some small green things when I cut the burger in half. However, I thought I would give it a whirl. My response when I tasted it - yummm, it IS a good turkey burger. I don't know what the green things were, but the burger was meaty, moist, and subtly flavored. So yeah, the best turkey burger I ever had. They buttered the bun, which is bad, but it tasted so good I couldn't stop eating it bun and all. My bad. My DH ordered the bbq chicken half with baked potato. I shared my broccoli with him and he shared his baked potato. Plenty of starch and greens for both of us. And after I wolfed down my burger he also shared some of his chicken. I would like to say we had leftovers to take home, but I can't. We ate everything. Thanks to the helpful hints on the reviews we ordered the apple strudel well in advance. When it came my DH was shocked at how large it was. I will admit, I thought the review that described it as a burrito, only longer, might have been a slight exaggeration. It was not. I did not, however, expect the side bowl of whipped cream and little jug of caramel sauce. What delicious accompaniments. The coffee I ordered with dessert came in a lovely L Woods ceramic mug, along with my own personal carafe of extra coffee. I always like that. And I am happy to report that we did NOT eat all the strudel, we did take over half of it home with us. All in all, as the reviews promised, a delicious meal. Why only four stars? Well, in looking at my posts I can see that I'm a little heavy on the fives so I have decided to be more discerning. If there is even one thing that throws off the experience, I will give it four stars. In this case, it was seating us RIGHT BESIDE, nay, RIGHT ON TOP OF, a large and loud group. I swear, I could have tilted my head slightly to the left and joined their conversation as I was only six inches away from two people at that table. My DH at my own table was further away and harder to hear over the cackling going on a mere six inches away from my left ear. Now, if the restaurant had been crowded when we got there it would have been fine. But it was practically empty (based on reviews we arrived for an early dinner at 4:30 - good strategy for going in with no reservation). Why sit us right on top of another group??? So, four stars for that. Will we be back? Most definitely.
(4)
Ellen P.
Yet another Grand Slam from Lettuce Entertain You, the key point being, you don't realize it's a Lettuce Entertain You til you read the fine print! Absolutely love this place. Knotty pine atmosphere is well done, great choice for families, business lunches, etc. Tried the flatbread pizza at the bar as an appetizer, the chopped salad is excellent, and the Parmesean Crusted Filet is to die for. Had no issues with either the wine choices or the cocktails - all met my expectations for this type of restaurant. It is busy on weekends, reservations recommended, and the parking lot fills up fast!
(5)
Brandon W.
Stopped into L. Woods last night to celebrate my birthday, as well as my niece's birthday too. When we arrived (we had a reservation), we were seated right away - the place had a good amount of people, but wasn't crowded. As we sat and waited for the rest of our party arrive, the place slowly started to fill up, on a Wednesday night, none the less! Anyways, while we waited we ordered drinks, and they brought out the warm delicious bread to us. I love their bread! It is warm, and slightly oniony and the creamy butter that they serve with it very delicious as well! The place wasn't extremely busy, but it still took our server awhile before he got back to our table to bring our drinks, then take our order, etc. However we placed our orders - got our food and everything tasted great! First we got an appetizer, we ordered my mothers favorite appetizer, which so happens to be the shoestring onion strings! WOW! They are crunchy, and not overly greasy, and great by themselves, or with a bit of ketchup - give them a try. Then our meals came. I ordered the Black Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails that are sitting in a shallow pool of their own of their homemade steak sauce! Along with that, I ordered their mashed potatoes. The flavor comes out on so many levels. A hint of garlic, a hint of butter, not overly salty and little bits of potato still present. Great stuff. The burgers that my mother, sister and brother-in-law ordered looked excellent and the fish that my father ordered looked really appetizing too - and I am not really into fish that much - (I like it, but have to be in the mood for it).. I love the bar in this place too, it does have that old lodge feel. It's nice to pull up to the bar on a busy night while you wait for your table to open up. Hang out, have a drink - then enjoy a great meal!
(4)
Gabriel A.
This is a classic Rib house with some great extras. They include the wings with a pretty unique batter, to the ever delicious gooey chocolate cake. Lots of nostagia on the wall and a well trained staff are what keep me coming back. Oh did I mention the still carry Schlitz!
(4)
L T.
We met some friends here the evening after Christmas, and I was kind of like "no more food!" But off we went with kids in tow... I'd been curious about this place for a while. It's like this Northwoods lodge sitting in the middle of a suburban parking lot. Kinda odd, yes? So it was packed at 5:30 for dinner - lots of oldies and families with young kids. Loud enough so that you don't have to really worry about how loud your kids are. And it's a huge wandering place - the layout reminds me of Wildfire, another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Chopped salad: yum Almond-encrusted walleye: yum, though I preferred the cod that my husband ordered. Kids were happy with the basic grilled cheese and mac n cheese. Key. lime. pie. for dessert. I'm not totally sure, but I might have hunched protectively around it so that no one else could take a stab at it. Very similar to Wildfire's. Thick graham cracker crust. Yum. We'll be back. Good to find another place near us that isn't a diner :)
(4)
Nancy K.
I highly recommend this place! Not only is the atmosphere cute with its woodsy-themed decor but the food is fabulous too! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Patti P.
Wait staff is helpful and attentive. The menu is diverse and full of healthy savory choices. I will be back. Patti P.
(4)
Dev S.
I had an excellent meal and experience here for dinner. I went to dinner on a Wednesday summer night where the place and the parking lot was packed. We were seated right away and the wait staff was great. The menu is high class american and bbq fare. Being from Texas and being a somewhat BBQ snob I wanted to try the pork ribs. I got a half rack pork ribs, slaw and baked potato. The food came in good time and piping hot. The ribs were smoked and had a good rub on them. They were very tender and meaty. The baked potato was good and so was the slaw. My experience at L. Woods was great and I would come again. The only negative thing I would say is the restaurant was very cold. Other then that I am a fan and will be going back.
(4)
Theresa B.
This used to be one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions. Last night was a big disappointment. Food was okay, but nothing special and all our food was just warm when delivered. Waitress was good, but way too busy to give the service that we expected. We never got bread brought to our table and our entrees were delivered when we were only half way through our appetizer. When I told the runner that we were still eating our appetizer, he just shrugged and continued to put our food on the table. Waitress did apologize and sent out person from kitchen and they did remove the appetizer from our bill, but the rushed service really ruined the dining experience. I don't think we will be back in the near future.
(3)
Osama S.
Local family restaurant. Wonderful people. Great food and wonderful place for families to have a meal to gather big parking lot and country still sitting.
(5)
Elaine M.
We come here several times a year for dinner, but today was my first time for lunch. While the menu items and specials are the same, the prices (and likely the portions) are a bit smaller. Also, we did not have to wait for our table, nor did we feel rushed to leave after eating. This is a huge plus when dining with 4 kids! Our server was super helpful and very patient with our large group. The noise level at lunch was a lot quieter than at dinner, too. The fried calamari appetizer was excellent - piping hot and crispy. The fried chicken (pork?) salad special was delicious, as was the BBQ beef brisket and the boneless ribs. The littles enjoyed their buttered noodles kids meal with fries / potato chips and apple sauce. Sadly, we were all too full for our favorites: mac and cheese and gooey chocolate cake. We'll back again soon.
(4)
Courtney L.
Think the scene from The Great Outdoors when John Candy thinks he is finished eating the "96 ouncer" and there is "nothing left on the plate but fat and gristle"...well, that was the makeup of my entire full slab of ribs. My BF and his mom also ordered ribs and they were exactly the same: fatty, chewy and tough. The three of us also ordered twice-baked potatoes, and when our meals arrived, one was missing, "because they were out." It was a real bummer of a time as far as the food goes. I don't think I'll be back.
(1)
Joann V.
Good place to go to when you just wanna chill and watch a game. Not as loud as bars can get. More of a restaurant setting. Everything I've had food wise was great. But then again I do know how to order ;)
(3)
Jennifer Y.
I ate at L. Woods on Friday 1.30.15 for the first time and I did not enjoy my entree. I will not be returning. -The first time we tried to go there on a Friday night for dinner (without a reservation) we were told the wait time was TWO HOURS for a party of two. So we left and made a reservation for the 30th. HOSTESS = GOOD -We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and still waited about 25 minutes. The hostess looked stressed out and apologized that we had to wait. She said many tables were taking a long time to finish their meals. We understood and told her it was alright. She seemed very genuine. I felt bad that she was stressed out because all of the tables seemed backed up. -Another customer was upset that we got called up before him. He said he was waiting for over an hour. The hostess explained that we had a reservation and he didn't. ENVIRONMENT = CROWDED -The place was PACKED with people! That's good, right? -The tables are very close together. -The decor looks old. They have an endless amount of framed pictures covering the walls. FOOD= I think it depends what you order... -They brought out onion bread with butter for the table. It was warm and delicious. -We ordered the L. Woods Chopped Salad to share and it tasted great. The portion was great for us two. Tip: If you don't like blue cheese, this is not for you. -I ordered the Chopped Sirloin Steak with a baked sweet potato. The sweet potato was baked well and they put the butter on the side. It tasted great. The steak WAS TERRIBLE. It looked like ground meat that they made into a burger. GROUND MEAT IS NOT A STEAK. I was so upset. I was too embarrassed to send it back so I just didn't eat it. -My boyfriend ordered the New York Strip. It was cooked to his preference and it tasted great. I had a bite :) I wish I ordered the New York Strip instead. SERVICE= FAIR -The server noticed I didn't eat my entree and he kindly removed it from the bill. -The server was alright, but nothing special. -He took our order, brought out the food and that was it. He never checked on us to see if we liked the food. He didn't notice I hadn't touched my entree until he was giving us the check. -The bus boys were on top of everything though. They promptly refilled our water glasses. -Jennifer Edit: I looked into what a chopped sirloin steak is supposed to be .... I guess it is supposed to be ground like a burger. I was wrong. Either way, I didn't enjoy it.
(2)
CheesecakeChick I.
Let's hear it for the Mother's Day price gouge most restaurants do. Like Valentines Day, they know you will pay the price. Food was excellently prepared, what there was of it. Mom has the halibut special, which for 26 dollars should have more than a kind of small portion of fish with 5 asparagus spears. what no potato or rice on the plate? no soup or salad to start? no, that is all ala carte I had the almond crusted walleye. it was delicious. the double baked potato was extra. I had two strawberry lemon vodka manhattans, which were tasty but weak. they brought us a sample of the barbecue chicken flat bread, which was tasty, but the onion bread loaf on the table was cold, and the butter was hard. Expensive, but we enjoyed the food we ate! Enjoyed the Wisconsin Supper Club atmosphere.
(3)
Nicole P.
We went tonight and he Michael as a server.. He is impossible not to like! He is the nicest guy and works so hard. L. Woods has the best calamari ever! It's always cooked to perfection.
(5)
Katherine D.
Stay away from the calamari. Took the family out for dinner on a week night. Ordered the calamari for an appetizer. They were deep fried, but possibly the greasiest I have ever had. Some of the pieces were undercooked, and one was downright slimy. As soon as I ate the slimy piece, I knew I was going to be ill. When seafood breaks down to the point it has no integrity, it is spoiled. Should have spit it out. Instead, I barely made it home before I became violently ill. Our server was attentive and noticed that I had not touched my dinner and the calamari was not eaten. Even though we did not ask, she immediately got the manager. The manager apologized and took the calamari off our bill and asked if she could get us something else. I appreciated their gesture, but will not be going back. The rest of the family liked the food, but nothing special.
(1)
Jiyoun B.
Steaks were perfectly cooked to order. If you order it medium rare, it came out medium rare. Their creamed spinach were made fresh, I can tell because it was bright green, not "dead" green. My fish was moist and flavorful. I can't believe I just passed by it without stepping inside for the last 25 years.
(5)
Stan C.
We came here at 7:30 on the Thursday night before the Friday of the 4th of July holiday weekend. The bad news was that there were about 15 people already in the waiting area ahead of us for a table. The good news was we had a reservation. About 5 minutes later, we were being shown to our table. I just LOVE a restaurant that honors their reservations. Within 2 minutes, our server, Dameon, was at our table taking our drink orders and answering questions about the menu. They gave us bread that would best be described as an oversized onion roll to share for the table. Quite good. Dameon told us the ribs are the most popular item on the menu. But I figured if I am visiting the Mid-West, I have to order beef. My wife and I opted to split the chopped salad and the 14 ounce NY Strip Steak. The chopped salad was huge. Our server split it at the table for us (nice touch). It had bacon, pasta, scallions, tomatoes, and bleu cheese crumbles in it. I got mine with bleu cheese dressing - a very good choice, goes very well with the salad. The steak was also a very good choice. Cooked just the way we asked. Delish. We got it with a sweet potato as a side. These were the biggest sweet potatoes I have ever seen. It came with a seasoned butter to mash in. OMG. Fabulous. The service was excellent. Our water glasses never got below half empty. The empty plates were cleared in a timely fashion. 5 star food. 5 star service. 5 star ambiance. This place is great.
(5)
Linda A.
We have been transplanted to the South for awhile now. Whenever we travel back up North it's important to get a real fish fry. This place was close to our hotel and met the criteria for our fresh fish craving. A little pricey for what you get, but it is Chicago, not Green Bay. Really good drinks, adequate but not friendly service...gets you 3 stars for A-OK from me.
(3)
Aaron P.
This place was packed on a Sunday night. Go figure, random North suburbs of Chicago where Midwesterners have nothing better to do but pack the few decent watering holes that have TVs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. There are about a dozen tables in this area separate from the main dining room. The whole thing was packed at about 8 PM. I guess they do good business. I was deceived by the fish and chips platter. I think I needed to get the appetizer version. Anyways, the fish and chips were pretty good. The crust on the fish was well done without being greasy. The ribs were also delicious. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce. The full order of ribs is just a massive amount of food. I got a key lime pie with my fat friend because we are fatties. Also, take note they have a decent beer selection.
(4)
Lisa G.
Surpringly delightful atmosphere and food. Reasonably priced and our waitress was entertaining and efficient. Great place to visit.
(5)
Kristina K.
Love this place! Definitely a family restaurant and the selection is fantastic! Love the fact that they are taking sustainable foods seriously at this establishment. More restaurants need to do the same!
(4)
Rebecca M.
My family and I had a great time. We ordered the baby back ribs, a bacon cheese burger, and a chopped salad. All of the food was AMAZING!!! The sides were also amazing. We got thought the fries and mashed potato's delicious. You should definitely come here!
(5)
Michelle G.
This place is the quintessential supper club. The paneled walls are covered with old black & white photos, stuffed fish and mounted antlers. We started with a dirty martini and a gin & basil gimlet. You must order a proper cocktail at a supper club. And yes they do have blue cheese olives. Perfectly dressed chopped salad and quite the ample portion. Dry rub baby back ribs and cedar planked bbq salmon are lip licking good. It's packed 7days a week so be sure to make a reservation. Even if you have to wait it's well worth it.
(4)
Krystel H.
Always great. I have been going here for a long time. Never disappointed Favorite item on the menu is the parm crusted skirt steak. And they have great salads The salads are huge! Great family restaurant. Definitely will continue to go to this restaurant.
(5)
scott B.
First of all, we always get outstanding service here. Consistently. Bravo to the service team. Great ribs and BBQ. Skip the fires and go for the chips if you are leaning that way. Cole slaw needs a bit of pepper to help it out. Don't forget the apple strudel.
(4)
Tamir G.
Was not expecting much but was not expecting to be disappointed either. The flat bread bbq chicken was good. Salmon plank bbq was nothing exciting. Ribs were dry. Flank steak was over cooked. Service was very attentive so I gave them the extra star.
(3)
Jimmy P.
For me this is one of the best local places in Lincolnwood for extremely delicious food and great service as well as a quality bar. Also, for the flavorful tasty food, it is relatively inexpensive. Nothing says family restaurant like L.Woods. The few negatives are: It is always busy, which in hindsight is good, but it is difficult to get a table without reservations, or sometimes with a reservation, it is hard to predict the time you will be seated because they are always slammed. So make sure you reserve your table or it could put a damper on any later plans. Also, the food is great, because it is loaded with the stuff doctors tell you to avoid. So the very thing that makes it so great, also plays a tug of war with the bad side. That is just me though, and will not always apply as a negative for everyone else. So if you are guilt free on fatty foods, and love reserving tables before going out, I'de probably go ahead and give it 5 stars for a review.
(4)
Jen Q.
We come 3-4 times a year with family, a party of 15-25. We've always been accommodated. The food is wonderful. The service is exceptional.
(5)
Jennifer G.
L Woods came through when I had to find a dinner spot for a party of 13. The ambiance worked well for the group and the menu had choices for just about any taste. Everyone raved about their meal. Almond crusted walleye, pork tenderloin, and the chopped salad earned particular raves. The meals aren't elaborate, they are comfort food done very well.
(5)
Stephen M.
I had done an earlier review and was completely unhappy. To their credit the restaurant contacted me to make amends. We returned with friends who are quite particular. Unlike our last visit which was the end of a Saturday evening, this visit was during prime time on a Sunday. Each of our entrees were as requested and good. Our server kept focused and delivered on each of our somewhat fussy requests. High marks for her. So, 'yay, I'm a fan'. I'm a fan of a responsive restaurant. They made amends, asking for another chance, believing they were better than our last experience.
(4)
Patricia M.
The service was very rushed. My "fried fish" was totally over cooked. Very disappointing and over-priced.
(1)
Russ H.
When you are looking for a great meal in an out-of-the-way place, L Woods never disappoints. The ribs and salmon are fantastic. I highly recommend. Fun place to take the entire family.
(5)
Joseph K.
Ok I have made up my mind I can not give 4 star for those bbq beef ribs this place definitely deserves a 5 star hands down and not just the bbq beef ribs but also the customer service and the whole entire menu is best food I can ever have thank you Lwoods
(5)
Alex U.
Great place for a family outing. Everyone will walk away full and happy. My son had the 12oz skirt steak, two thumbs up. Along with the key lime pie. My wife and I had the meatloaf and walleye sandwich respectively, delicious!
(4)
Lauren A.
Great place to go and relax and have some comfort food and a few beers / cocktails. We came in for the first time last weekend without a reservation and ended up sitting at a high top in the bar area. I couldn't believe it was that crowded at 5 p.m. on a Saturday! Will be making a reservation next time for sure. The server brought us a loaf of the onion bread with butter right away which was delicious. I started with a house sald which was the most enormous house salad I have ever had. Really generous plate with tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, and super tasty homemade croutons. The house dressing was also really good. For my entree, I had the BBQ half chicken with a double baked potato. The chicken was very moist, but I did think they covered it with too much sauce. I actually couldn't believe they gave me a side of BBQ sauce as well. The thing was already covered with it! I am one of those people, though, who doesn't really like sauce on meat. It drives me crazy when there is too much of it. So that may be a taste thing. The chicken itself was really good, though. The double baked potato was perfect - creamy and full of flavor. We really wanted to put in an order of the baked chocolate cake but were just way too full to do it. Next time.... As far as beers, they do have a pretty good selection of local-ish craft beers on tap. The best thing is that they have Left Hand Milk Stout on tap which is one of my top 3 favorite beers ever... and very unusual to have on tap at a random place in Chicago. So, that was awesome. I can't wait to come back to this place. It is a great place to bring family or friends and spend a couple of hours having drinks and a leisurely dinner. Just be prepared to roll yourself out of here.
(4)
Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: B- Service: B Solid, nothing flashy, across the board. Never had a bad meal, but sadly never a great meal. I recommend eating at the bar, good selection of beers on tap. The interior could use some updating, but on the whole the supper club feel is well represented. Service is good, no complaints. The food is pretty standard.
(3)
James G.
Unable to provide quality service or food. Portions and quality are inconsistent; front of house staff and management rely on lying to customers thinking they don't know better; reservations are accepted but fall by the wayside regularly (why make a reservation if you have to wait an hour to sit down?); to go orders taking an hour longer than the pick up time are inaccurate. Dried out, fatty, brisket - meant to serve 10 people - if you give each person 2oz of meat, maybe.... We've grown expect much more from a Lettuce Entertain you establishment, ever since this location was revamped from Bones barbecue it has been in a slow downhill slide. We will absolutely never come back or order carry out again. You should avoid this place if you have any respect for your time or your money because it's obvious they do not.
(1)
.Kìt À.
This place is known for the ribs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. They do a very good business. The tomato bisque soup is a must have. We ordered ribs and burgers. Both were divine. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce on the ribs. The full order of ribs is a very very massive amount of food. Key lime pie and brownie sundae are both delicious. Staff is considerate and friendly. The photos that we saw hanging on nearly every wall added history and charm. Just remember that anytime you want yummy food, tasty drinks, ribs or burgers or chicken with desserts that your sweet tooth will appreciate; then definitely drive over to Lincolnwood Illinois and stop into L Woods Tap and Pine Lodge for their delightful, delectable, dinners.
(5)
Rahul G.
This is a go to for my wife and her family and I. Easy and really yummy. Simple food, but done right. I love going on Sunday and getting the fried chicken, huge portion and so so good. The cobb salad is also giant and perfectly made. One of those places where everything is good. The ribs are excellent as well. Can get crazy crazy busy but it's worth the wait. Go for an earlier dinner and you'll be fine.
(5)
Mark G.
I chose to come here for my birthday dinner, so that speaks to how much I enjoy their food. As if coping with the stigma that comes with turning 30 wasn't enough, I realized I chose a place that attracts more old people than the entire state of Florida. I'm surprised I didn't leave L. Woods driving a mid 90's Buick LaCrossee. That didn't deter me because the ribs here are fire. I'm not even a crazy ribs person. I'm one of those people more inclined to order a burger instead. But one visit here, I was sold. I actually feel kind of bad for people who don't get to share their food with another person, because deciding between the beef ribs or dry rub baby back ribs would be strenuous. Both are really good but I would suggest the beef ribs since they're not attainable at most places. This is definitely one of those places you choose when somebody owes you dinner and you don't have to pay.
(4)
Joe R.
The service is generally pretty great here as well as the delicious food. I do however feel there is often TOO many people inside where you can't walk by the bar area, you're being bumped into by people, and there are even more people standing in walkways because they don't fit at the table. I dont like to be boxed in or surrounded by people or have their butts in my face while I am seated at a table. This is not so much of an issue if you avoid the bar area entirely. The food has been great every single time ive come in here. Get the brisket nachos, effing delicious. Sometimes they get a little stingy with the brisket, but it's by far their top appetizer IMHO.
(4)
Evelina L.
So....this place really does get 4 start only because of the most divine strudel in the whole wide world! I would say skip the rest of the meal and just order the strudel! Ok ok, since it does take 30 minutes to bake it TO ORDER, you can probably grab a quick bite to eat of something else first. Maybe. I like that they always have a fresh assortment of iced tea, lemonades and even home made soda. Portions are HUGE, but things are somewhat on the healthier side, if you don't count the quantity. During lunch, the average age is always 75 and it gets very crowded, but service never skips a beat. Try L. Strudel next time you are in the neighborhood. I mean L. Woods. :)
(4)
Still W.
Great food! Ive always liked it here
(5)
Ray D.
Awesome Cheese Curds. Probably the best in Illinois. Best BEEF RIBS in Chicagoland so far. Beef ribs are a rarity in the Midwest. And they did me proud. Ambiance has a warm Wisconsin Supper Club feel. Look forward to going back with beef rib BBQ fans.
(5)
Steve O.
We had an enjoyable dinner. Always great food. Always great service. Always a wait, but always worth the wait.
(5)
Jimmy J.
This is one of those old school type of places where you can sense who is a regular & who isnt. We were told 10 minutes for a table,but had to wait 25. It seemed like REGS were given priority but i can't be sure. Nonethless, we had a very good meal here. Friendly and effecient service by Flavio. Chopped Salad starter was solid, smaller portion @ $10 was enough for 2. Flatbread is authentic in the sense that its super thin and crispy as should be. I liked our bbq chicken flatbread although felt it odd that it and all flatbreads has pesto sauce. We sampled their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and they were dynamite. Much better than all these hyped up bbq places that do not serve the meat hot. Meat was charred on quality brioche bun and sides of Slaw and baked potato were quality. Prices were $11 which compared to the marketplace, is very good. The Salted Caramel bread pudding was delicious, and large enough for 4 to share, and was only $5.99. My last couple experiences at LEYE concepts have been piss poor (DiPescara) to mediocre (RPM Italian). L Woods delivered whatr LEYE joints generally do: Good food, dependable service, comfortable settings, at reasonable price points. We will return. I saw FULL SLAB on way out that will bring me back FO SHO.
(4)
Jose T.
L. Woods has become my family's favorite Chicago area supper club. Great food, great drinks & the perfect atmosphere. It's got an 'old school' supper club vibe that we love with everything else to match.
(5)
lee m.
Great old fashions . Fantastic portions paired with an old school dinning experience. Absolutely love this place. The service was on point. Strait forward menu, no chicken liver mousse and snobbery. Surf and turf was cooked to perfection. Great place for multi-generations to get together. I will be back.
(4)
Howard L.
We came back for dine-in Sunday night dinner, and we are back to the 5 star quality we've been used to at LL Woods over the years. We used the comp'd gift certificates sent to us for our last sub-standard take-out dinner, and had their fried chicken dinner ($17.99) and a half slab of dry rubbed baby back ribs (also $17.99). It was all simply delicious with a pint of a new red ale from the Peoria area (Tighthead Scarlet Fire Red Ale at 5.6% ABV). The buttery fried chicken was succulent on the inside and the best serving we have had to date of this Sunday night classic. Will surely be back again and may try another night for another of their renowned daily specials.
(5)
Brit M.
I started with a wow (thanks to how accommodating they were last minute on Mother's day) and ended with a "foot down never coming back again" - unless I am REAL hungry and in Lincolnwood. Everything was hit or miss. We sat down, it was a little drafty (we mentioned it) and we had an extremely pushy server (Raulberto). I've worked in the restaurant biz, so I know how hectic Mother's day can be... but our time here was terrible. We ordered the apple salad (delicious) as a starter. Now on to the complaints. Our server starting clearing plates, while we were still eating... which is a big no no in my book. It's actually my number one restaurant peev. For one its rude, because it rushes the other people and its not appetite appeasing. Also we were asked about desert while placing our appetizer order. 45 minutes for a lava cake? Seems a little crazy, and it comes off REAL pushy. I don't think about desert until desert time! Secondly, servers should be seen and not heard unless they are at your table asking you your order. Our server was so loud, we could hear him talking to other tables and barking orders to bus boys. After we stopped him from cleaning off our table, we finally placed our food order. I understand he must do this every single day, but he was speaking so fast and seemed impatient with our questions - we were getting confused on what we were ordering. Keep in mind - I am 25 and was getting confused... its not like I am elderly! When our food came, things were missing and I am pretty sure the whitefish and walleye were the same thing. I ordered wine, and it came after my meal, our creamed spinach didn't come until after our meal, and they also forgot our potatoes. I ordered the fried chicken special, and it wasn't fried thoroughly. After telling the server my chicken was doughy and not fried, he tried telling me it was just the way it was supposed to be. Really? Nothing like biting into raw egg and goopy flour. It was horrible. The dinner was overall upsetting. They ended up taking off the creamed spinach, but wow it was just a bad experience. Nothing like upsetting the mother on Mother's day! I feel bad, because we could of went any where, but Barry's mom really wanted to go there, only to have a horrible time! I will thank Patrick for seating us immediately... and the bathrooms were really clean.
(2)
Joy Z.
This place, like most Lettuce Us Entertain You restaurants, is top notch. It has a similar vibe to a old school supper club. The food is delicious. I especially love the ribs and pounded chicken. The 1/2 price bottles of wine($12) on Tuesday and Thursdays is a steal.
(4)
Penny L.
Establishment interior appearance, old. Friendly staff. Glad we made reservations. I thought I was told Delerium Nocturnal was in bottle so I ordered DN. Received Delerium Tremens in a dirty glass. Foam next to nothing. Wish I could have poured my own bottle. Taste more bitters. Ran out of fried chicken. Caesar salad wilted, small pieces, overdressed, served on hot plates. Ribs tender with decent sauce. For the locals. Iteligentsia coffee strong, had to use cream. Would go back to try the fried chicken and another shot at a properly poured beer.
(3)
Scott S.
Nothing to complain about and nothing too insanely good either, IMO. Overall I was pretty happy with the meal though, it's a TON of food, and I always say the more the merrier. ha. My uncles took home plenty of leftovers...
(4)
Lisanne F.
I'd read about their famous buttermilk chicken served on Sundays, so when someone gave me a $25 gift card, we excitedly made our reservation for 1 p.m. L. Woods sure doesn't look like much from the outside and because it's so cavernous inside, it really doesn't feel cozy, it feels stuffed with people. (Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop is way more cozy and decorated.) We sat in a booth (nicer than the tables) and were taken care of quickly by our friendly waiter. We ordered the chicken (delicious) and the Walleye Pike Sandwich, the waiter gave me a choice of potato with the sandwich and I opted for the garlic mashed potatoes, which were really good. Here's our complaints: The French Fried Chicken is $16.99 (bring a doggie bag, you can't -- or shouldn't-- eat it all). It comes with a biscuit, a teensy tiny container of slaw and potatoes, of which hubby chose the house-made chips. The chips arrived on MY plate with my sandwich, where the pickle had soaked into them. The chicken has so much coating on it, it takes up the whole plate. The biscuit was perched precariously on top (I wonder if any ever fall off on the way out of the kitchen?). The chips should have come in their own basket. For my sandwich, I had to lift up the bun to see the fish, which was a very small, round piece. For $10, the bun should've been better quality (I only ate the bottom half), the fish portion a lot larger, and ditto for the slaw. There was an interesting sauce on the sandwich but it didn't really go with the additional tartar offered. So, service is fine, atmosphere so-so, but prices are a lot to swallow. We were happy we didn't spend our own money eating here.
(2)
Ann B.
I was very hopeful for a new place to get Chinese food in Lincolnwood - however this was the worst Chinese food I have ever had. The BBQ Pork Fried Rice was awful, the Beef and Broccoli had broccoli that was yellow ! I expected fresh from L Woods but this was not. If you are looking for good cream cheese rangoons go to Panda Express because their rangoons are better and cheaper. We also had an order of their egg rolls which were long, thin and tasteless. I was told it would be 1 1/2 hour for pick up and when I complained they said ok 1 hour. This is the last time I will order from Big Bowl at L. Woods.
(1)
bill s.
Great spin on the old Wisconsin supper club! Food great and commensurate with the LEY chain. I have been a few times, and the only complaint I would have is that service feels rushed. But, then again, I have only gone on a weekend when tables are a premium. Definitely a place we will add to our "standards" list of good places to go....
(4)
Nina M.
The mac 'n cheese has been described as orgasmic, by my friend to the manager. Quite embarassing at the moment but a good laugh now. It is probably the best thing on the menu and the best mac 'n cheese in Chicago, the United States and the world. I also like the steak sandwich. I have ordered off the kids menu and was warned that I could never do that again. I would appreciate some chicken tenders for adults then. The inside is woodsy and lodgey. Warm feeling. Lot of pictures lining the walls. There are a lot of old people and regulars there. It is always pretty busy which is a good sign and I believe they filmed Oceans 11 or 13 there.
(5)
ZZ K.
Hungry and in the neighborhood. I remembered my mom telling me that this place was good, so we decided to stop on in and give them a try. Plus, the BF is a huge fan of BBQ, so I thought 2 birds with one stone! We walked in and I immediatley saw a lot of older people...always a good sign if you ask me!! Where there are old people, there is good food, good prices and large portions....usually. Hostesses were super friendly and the elderly lady that sat us, has been working there for about 20 years...obviously she likes her job. We sat on the right side of the restaurant near the bar area and the place was hopping on a Wednesday night. Impressive. A busboy immediately filled our water glasses and brought over some onion bread with butter, which was nice and worked well to tie us over. After looking at the menu, the BF ordered a French Onion soup and for dinner he had the BBQ brisket sandwich. I had the BBQ pulled chicken on cornbread, with beans and side salad. Our waitress was nice and since it was our first time we got some flat bread with goat cheese (the magic word for me), pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes. That was actually the best thing we had!! The food came out fast, so we appreciate that as well. The french onion soup was good. Lots of gooey cheese, onions, soft mushy bread and sweet oniony broth. The brisket was ehhhh, and I was not impressed. The pulled chicken on corn bread was good, but the portion was ok...I would even say on the smaller side for the price (not much chicken and more onion straws than anything. We ordered the strawberry sangria, which was a $6 special. The glass was small and contained mostly ice. Not to mention, they put in a decorative leaf of some sort which was wilted and a small not pretty looking strawberry....kind of a sad touch really. We opted for the strawberry shortcake for dessert, which was nice. They made the biscuits, lemon poppy seed, and I liked that slight change in flavor. Nice fluffy cream and strawberries...we cleaned the plate fairly quickly. So, I would give this place a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5, and we may or may not be back. I was hoping for a lot better, but maybe the items we ordered were not the best choices....who knows.
(3)
Kelly M.
How have I not reviewed this place yet?! They have a menu that is big enough to please everyone in your group, but not so big it overwhelms you. The service is great and they have fun seasonal drinks. I've yet to check out their outdoor seating area in the summer. I've heard it's very nice.
(4)
Barbara I.
At last, I agree with the majority of yelp reviewers...L Woods was a great experience. On site parking *yeah!), good food and good service. My friend and i split the chop salad (small size) - it was delicious! i had the prime rib and my friend had the ribs...the prime rib was very good - cooked to perfection and my friend reported the ribs were also very good. WE split the chocolate cake and were stuffed and nearly in food heaven when we were done. The apple martini was close to perfection. This is a good restaurant to bring your parents...old style feeling. I definitely will go back.
(4)
Brooklyn Barry B.
devil style beef ribs..need i say more.
(5)
Peter R.
My work held a retirement luncheon here not too long ago. There was about 28-30 of us, and we rented out Lynn's Back Room for our private party. We had a preset family style menu, and I must say the selections were very nice. First of all the staff here was very attentive and friendly. I don't even remember having to ask for a refill...not once. We started off with some flatbread which was quite good. I had some sweet sausage, and dried tomato flatbread, and French Onion soup. The two main entrees that I tried were the baby back ribs and the chicken a la sima. The ribs were fall of the bone fantastic! I wanted to just devour the ribs and start licking my fingers, but this was a "work" function so I practiced some etiquette. The chicken a la sima, which is their version of chicken picatta was drenched in lemon butter and capers. It was so tender and delicious that I wanted to cry, but again I had to remind myself that this was a "work" function. We ordered the apple strudel in advance since we were told it would take 30-45 minutes to prepare. The apples and cinnamon in the strudel was a sweet heavenly collaboration of delight. We were all pretty stuffed after that, but there was plenty of leftovers since the portions were gargantuan. We all stuck around for a little bit, and tried not to get induced into a food coma. This was a nice cozy spot to grab some delicious grub, and I loved the whole Supper Club environment. I will have to venture here on my own and dine in the main room, but from my experience I think I already have a man crush on this place.
(4)
Michelle A.
I'm sure this place is an institution for locals. The costumers in general look like they've been going there forever, and every time I've passed the parking lot, it's been packed. However, our experience was blah, at best. The drink I had felt so out of place and the novelty glass made it embarrassing to sip out of. I was just looking for a good, summertime drink... not one that reminded me of some cheap cruise line. The pre-dinner bread was great, though. I'll give them that. For Friday night, the menu was super limited. I ended up getting a skirt steak sandwich. For $13 bucks, it was all bread and lettuce. The steak, which I requested medium well, was barley cooked. But it didn't matter. I couldn't taste it anyways. The fries were great, but what I expected from a place like this. The ambiance was noisy, full of kids and older couples. Yet, a lot of younger people dressed up like they were at a club. I didn't get it. For the price of the bland food, limited menu, and the noise... I wont be coming back.
(2)
Dean H.
GREAT place for a business casual lunch. Not a place where you are going to negotiate a contract, but a very good restaurant with excellent food and most often wonderful service. Have never had a bad meal at L Woods.
(4)
Tracy F.
The food here is great. The atmosphere is definitely like a lodge. It's well worth the trip for great BBQ. All the food was great - ribs, fried chicken, brisket nachos. And a complimentary flatbread for new customers. Our server was great. My only complaint is our busser. He tried twice to take food while we were still eating, then he bussed the entire table clean while my step dad was still eating his food. It seemed very rushed and borderline rude.
(4)
Jay H.
Once you accept the concept of a casual, traditional American restaurant, you can appreciate the fine execution of the concept. Other than an understaffed bar, which led to a drinkless 10 minute wait for our reserved table (imagine that), everything went smoothly. The appetizer of sausage flatbrerad is reason alone to come here -- super-thin, flaky crust, delicious, and great value. The sides of creamed spinach and mac and cheese were outstanding -- and we were allowed to sub them in for our entree sides for a slight upcharge. Entrees of ribs and lake perch were solid. The sandwiches probably were a better value, but we had a Lettuce gift card to play with. Our sever Chris was extremely helpful. He asked if this was our first visit, and as it was, comped our app under corporate policy. Nice touch. Another good corporate decision was a $10 bottle wine special, selected by Alpana Singh of Check Please fame. At that price, I'll take 2, please. All in all, a very well run place with solid food and nice people. The place starts clearing out at 8:00pm, so come on the late side and miss most of the suburban family crowd.
(4)
Britni W.
This is easily one of my favorite date spots, visiting guests spot, rainy day.... pretty much anytime I can find a reason to go this is my first stop. I've yet to eat anything from here that wasn't at very least above par. The mashed potatoes are to *die* for and must be tried. The apple strudel is well worth the 45 minute wait and can easily feed four people so if it's just the two of you than I suggest you are prepared to take some home.
(5)
Kevin Y.
My family and I have been eating here occasionally since it used to be called "Bones" back in the 90s. Didn't dine in on my most recent occasion, but ordered some of the baby back ribs for takeout. These are probably some of the best sauced ribs I've had. Fall off the bone tender, but not so much that it makes it difficult to eat. The ribs came with coleslaw and I ordered mashed potatoes as a side. Both were very good. If you have room for dessert the apple strudel is very delicious, but takes a while to prepare. Remember to order it at the beginning of the meal when you order the rest of your food. I don't come here regularly, but I've found the food to be good and consistent over the years and will continue to eat here.
(4)
Kerri G.
Restaurant that tries to resemble the Northern Woods of WI. Food was good, a tad on the expensive side. Got a free flat bread for our first visit. Bathrooms sorely need updating. It's a little run down, but atmosphere and staff are wonderful!
(4)
Diana P.
This place is great-reminds me of WildFire with a twist. The flatbreads are a MUST and go very fast so order a few if you're with a group of more than 2. We went with a party of 6 and the waitstaff was fantastic, knew a lot about the food and gave suggestions that worked. Large portions, even for the sandwiches on the dinner menu. Desserts that take 45 minutes (Apple Strudel and Chocolate cake) are WORTH IT and feed 6+ each. Fun atmosphere reminds me of a log cabin. I'll be back!
(4)
Rita P.
Can I just start off by saying, lovely service. Nothing like a polite waiter that can communicate well and doesn't act like you are anything but a guest. That being said, it's a big place with photos all over the walls. It definitely has that cabin feel, and a cozy neighborhood feel. It's casual, but the service acts a par above as mentioned prior. I like to think of it as a meat and potatoes place. The ribs are really good, and everything comes in a generous portion. They are happy to bring extra plates and napkins, make side dish substitutions, and don't fuss you for sharing. There are always customers here, enough that the restaurant never feels deserted even at odd times. They have all the classic American dishes. Also, look out for coupons and deals, there are quite a few floating around in local ads and the like. That takes down the price so that it feels extra reasonable.
(4)
Nisa D.
Great food and service, i love their tomato bisque soup is to die for :). I recommend a reservation for friday nights and weekends it can be a little crowded.
(5)
Jason J.
We had friends in town and they suggested L Woods, mostly because of the half off wine on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we gave it a try. We sat at the bar waiting for our table and we're seated fairly quickly, but the first two beers on their list of tap choices they didn't carry anymore. I get it but change the sign on the wall. Our waitress was nice, but a bit slow and it was not overly crowded. We tried the special appetizer of bbq brisket nachos. It was good but small for 10 bucks, and there was very little brisket in it and the pieces were tiny. It's known for barbeque so I got the ribs and chicken, and my wife got the parmesan crusted cod. Mine was good, and the portion was big. The twice baked potato was the real star. My wife said the fish was okay, but tried the filet and said it was much better. For a lettuce entertain you place the food was good, and the prices were reasonable. If we were in the area and had a taste for bbq or a steak, we would go back to L Woods.
(3)
Christina B.
Wonderful food, amazing service and an atmosphere from a bye-gone era. This place is all about nostalgia, family and good food. Everything is amazing on the menu. Everyone has a smiling face when you walk in. They begin the meal with a loaf of onion bread and keep it coming as long as you can eat it! Everything is good on the menu...literally everything. The apple strudel is delicious and **Note: it takes 45 minutes to cook so order it with your drinks at the start of your meal** We sat near the hostess stand and I have to say, everyone in the establishment loves "mama" who stands there like she has for what I can imagine has been decades passed. Every who passes her gives her a little hug; from waitresses, hostesses and even the busboys. Everyone cares about her and you really get a sense it's a caring, friendly and loving place. It comes across that way in the food. I can see how it's a place that withstands time and generations continue to come there; I know I will! PS--it's a "lettuce entertain you" restaurant so bring your cards...you can rack up some serious points there!
(5)
Matt C.
Great experience! Would go back in a second... Our server Jesus was great as well!! Every item was Cooked to perfection...
(5)
Tracy B.
Whatever you decide to eat, you must order the flatbread, I repeat: you MUST order the flatbread. Can you tell I really liked the flatbread? Super-thin, delicate and crispy - and substantial. I was quite surprised at how large the order was. Ahhh, yummy goodness. I've been here a couple times now and have had mostly simple dishes: Chicken sandwiches and salads. It's always been tasty. This past time was no exception, I had the skirt steak salad. It always impresses me when a restaurant can make a good skirt steak. L Woods got it right; a steak that can very easily turn out overcooked and tough was tender and juicy. What is not to like about this place? It is literally a Pine Lodge. Rustic and comfortable and just dark enough not to be considered too dark or too bright. I try to get there as often as possible and now that I read the the mac 'n cheese is orgasmic, I must go back sooner rather than later.
(4)
Adam B.
L. Woods has some of the best burgers in the Chicago region. For dinner, no one beats their Prime Rib special. And don't leave without dessert!
(5)
Valerie G.
I passed by this place so many times and thought it was an bar or lodge for older folks. Finally, stopped in on a Friday night and there was a two hour wait! Didn't stay but went back the following weekend with reservations and realized why you need to call in advance: the food is really good! I didn't know this but it's a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant and on your first trip there, they give you a free flat beard. I say it's my first time, every time. I like getting free stuff and I'm cheap! Try their barbecue plank salmon. It's on a bed of mashed potatoes and it's amazing. They have great soups, salads and overall well made American foods. The dishes are pretty on par with their sister restaurant Mity Nice Grill. Ordered their lava cake for dessert once...it was a 10 inch cake for two people. So delicious but wayyy to big! They also have wine specials with $10 house bottles of red or white...can't beat that! My only qualm is that every time we go, we are the clear minority- not just in race but age. Lots of elderly white people. Don't get me wrong...everyone is always very nice but it is kind of strange that the only people who look like me are the bus boys.
(4)
Tim H.
This place is always packed whenever I come. It is best to make a reservation unless you are ok with a one hour wait. Service is good...as good as it can be for a casual restaurant given how busy the place always is. The Baby Back Ribs are awesome. My favorite side is their gigantic double bake potato. (The potato is so large that it makes me worry whether it is chemically safe to eat...they get injected with steroids or something?) My dining party 4 was stuffed when it came time for dessert ordering. We asked the waitress whether any of the desserts would change our lives. She recommended the chocolate cake. Although all my dining companions liked the cake, I was the only one willing to say it was the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Moist, chocolaty, and not too sweet. Don't forget to try the chocolate cake, it might change your life!
(4)
Amanda G.
This is a total old-school, Midwestern place. Lots of beef, huge portions, etc. We shared a flat bread, that was really good. It didn't really fit with the rest of the menu, but it was tasty. I had salmon, and had asked for it rare. The server didn't seem to find this unusual. When it came out cooked through, my friend told me to send it back. I did, and the manager came out to ask me if I really wanted it rare.He went on to tell me that he had NEVER had anyone ask for salmon rare. WTF??? My friend and her husband work in the restaurant industry and said this was weird, and rare salmon is served in Chicago, he was just strange.. Whatever....It came out rare, and was good. We shared the apple strudel for dessert, and it was soooo good. Probably the best part of the meal. Prices were reasonable, and service was good, (except for the odd-ball mgr.)
(3)
h c.
Eh... sorry L. Woods... I really wanted to like you, but unfortunately, you blew it.. twice! First time i went i got the "Prime" Bone-In Ribeye.. "grilled to perfection", yeah right... i ordered it RARE and it came WELL DONE. Of course, that's not hard to screw up since the steak was seriously about 1/4 inch thick... and it was $33 too! so, not worth it.... to their credit, after the waiter asked me how the steak was, i gave him a face, like, are you serious???? they didnt charge me for it. Well, the night actually started off with the waiter messing up the flight of beer that i had ordered, but he did make it up by leaving me the 'extra' beer that was not the correct one. tonight, i went for the 2nd time and only because i wanted to give it another chance cause i really wanted to like this place. Aside from the baby back ribs, which my girlfriend likes to order, and i have to admit, it's very good and worth the price... i had heard that they had a really good skirt steak there.... so, i decided to try it tonight. Well, not sure what the rave is about, it wasnt that good. Again, i ordered it RARE and it came out relatively close, medium to medium well. And, again it's not hard to mess up cause it's so damn thin. I thought the portion was pretty small for a skirt steak.. usually those are pretty big plates, but not here. Overall, the steak was just ok, chewy and not that flavorful, seemed very oily. Now, i tell you, if you want a GREAT skirt steak, you gotta go to Las Tablas (that's going to be my next review!) Also, both times i went we had ordered the fried calamari and both times i was disappointed. I guess it was fine because it was fried and anything fried is good, right??? maybe? i dont know.. i really couldnt find the calamari in the fried dough here. I honestly think there was about 30% calamari and the rest was oily, greasy, batter. This time the portion was pretty small as well, i dont think it was that small the last time... recession i guess. What else? there was just so many things i didnt like about the food at this place, sorry. place was fine, nice decor and atmostphere, crowded all the time too... it's the food that was small, oily, and not worth it... I dont know, maybe it's me, but i just dont get this place and aside from the ribs, it's just not worth it.... and how can they screw up my RARE steak twice???
(2)
Kent B.
L. Woods is located on Lincoln Avenue and Kostner in Lincolnwood. There is a large private parking lot for off-street parking. The decor is Wisconsin Supper Club with hundreds of framed black and white photos of their patrons hanging on the walls. You'll also find stuffed fish on the walls and deer antler chandeliers. Hey der. I've eaten at L. Woods on several occasions. My experiences have been mixed. On my most recent visit, I had a chopped salad and a BBQ brisket sandwich. The chopped salad was excellent and fresh. I had their mustard vinaigrette dressing (salty), but they offer several other dressings. The sliced BBQ brisket sandwich was tasty, but overloaded with barbecue sauce. The menu indicated the brisket was smoked for 12-hours, but I couldn't taste the meat through the sauce. Also, while tender, it didn't seem 12-hour tender. My sandwich came with thin, waffle potato chips, which were greasy and cole slaw. On other visits, I've eaten fish, which has either been excellent or below average. I've also eaten their beef ribs and found them to be good and meaty. Our waiter was attentive, polite and friendly. As before, I'll probably be back, but not for awhile.
(4)
Jaz P.
So popular with the northern suburb locals. I got there at 6:10pm on Wednesday night last week and had my pick of covetable parking spots in the roomy lot. The rest of my family arrived in their separate cars 10 minutes later and they all had to park on the street. The same thing happened to me too once when I tried to go to L Woods to watch a Sunday football game. Inside, the restaurant has a nice, warm, Midwestern lodgey feel and the several rooms are filled with regulars who look like they even go weekly. I've only been a handful of times but my small family has regularly scored and we get this nice corner banquet that fits all 6 of us. Yes, I know we're small Asian people! The ribs are solid and ample in portion- I had 5 and distributed the other 7 to the rest of the table, including our youngest 3-yr old carnivore, my niece. Funnily, nobody else in my family ordered ribs but they were all equally stoked with their dishes. The breaded veal is about the same size as my full slab of ribs. The chopped salad lives up to its reputation, and a meal could be made of it. You might want to order sauce on the side cause there's alot. One issue with the menu is that the Ribeye which has been a long favorite of my brothers' and various others, including out of town friends, has recently been removed from the menu. He looked almost crestfallen at the news- it was just that good! I decided I'm going to help him write in to L Woods to ask for it to get back on the menu. To cap off our delicious meal, we ordered the special chocolate cake. But put your order in early!
(5)
Herman B.
Great food!! I too like many others went here when it was Bones, and had the ribs then. Now I went here recently and had the BBQ cedar planked Salmon, with Potatoes and Corn, very yummy. My wife had the Burger, which she said was very good we split a side of Creamed Spinach also very good, others in our party had the ribs and also the brisket and Walleye, and all said good...seems one cant go wrong, portion size is generous, and ambiance is comfortable, but somewhat dark (if you don't like that ask to be seated closer to the front of the Restaurant).
(5)
Tracey M.
I will admit upfront I have a bit of a bias towards L Woods. Primarily because "back in the day" (otherwise known as my childhood) the space was another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant called Bone which my family frequented weekly and then periodically in high school. So, from the start walking into this space brought brings back many happy memories. I have a difficult time knowing exactly what to begin with - the food, the food or the atmosphere. Since I already stated why I looked forward to visiting L Woods (well, aside from those I was dining with) I will talk about the atmosphere. The only thing I would have changed about the atmosphere was the dim lighting. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it didn't make taking pictures during dinner easy. Aside from that, I enjoyed the atmosphere. It was cozy and inviting. The service was very good. Our waiter was so attentive that when he saw how engrossed we all were in conversation with one another he opted to give us some more time rather than interrupting us to find out what we wanted to eat. I thought was extremely courteous and thoughtful of him to do. Lastly, the food . . . Two words: Beef Ribs. One of the reasons my family frequented Bones back in the day was for their beef ribs and as far as I am aware, L Woods is the only restaurant in the greater Chicagoland area that serves beef ribs. Since the only form of pork I really eat is bacon ribs is a very special meal for me. I can't tell you the number of times I've looked for these at other places - with out success. The best part is that they are out of this world good! I mean really good. A lot bigger than I remember having as a child, but I wouldn't expect everything to be exactly the same. BTW - have I mentioned how phenomenal the beef ribs taste? They're even excellent reheated as well. Overall, L Woods did not disappoint and I'm glad that I finally got the chance to dine there. I will, without question, be back again.
(5)
Daniel T.
Great atmosphere, very fine food, good service. A little disappointed that our 7:00 reservation meant 7:30 seating, but the crowd must mean it is good. Not much room to wait at the bar, but the food was great. Friday is Wisconsin night so you'll have several fish options, breaded pork tenderloin, cheese curds, and $2 Schlitz on the menu. There is lot to like here.
(4)
Megan F.
My husband and I came here last night for dinner. We were greeted by a spunky older woman who seated us with a smile and a sense of humor. The service was fantastic. In fact, my husband ordered the filet, and the head waiter returned to our table about 15 minutes later to let us know it would be another 10 minutes because they had overcooked the meat and it hadn't met their standard for service. Of course, we were just fine with that, and very much appreciated the level of service. Specifically, I have to highlight dessert. The Nutter Butter Banana Cream Pie is heaven. Fresh ingredients, wonderful flavor; a perfect indulgence! Finally, as we were finishing up dessert, our waiter returned with our bill, informing us that the appetizer and dessert were "on the house". We were blown away by the gesture, and would have happily paid for both. However, this brought our dining experience to a perfect 5 stars. L. Wood's is a place for good food and superb service in warm, comfy setting.
(5)
Christine M.
A client is just down the street from L. Woods, so we always end up here for lunch. I have always had a good experience. The chopped salad almost puts Portillo's to shame. They have an amazing seasonal soup in the fall/winter (can't recall the name), but just the smell of it made a second person order.... then a third.... then the fourth at the table :) Cozy atmosphere. Service has always been reliable, except for my last visit. I happened to stop in on the weekend with my husband while we were in the area. Service started out wonderful, but we really had to flag our server down in order to get the check and out of there. That was a little annoying. Aside from that, still a great meal. I had my salad and he had the shrimp po'boy - which I even loved. Next time I'll have to try the apple strudel!
(4)
Bob B.
Perhaps the best ribs ever. Juicy, perfect mix of sweet and spicy, falling of the bone tender. Great service. Nice beer selection.
(5)
arlene d.
The food was very good did not like the service. The hostess not very friendly threw menus on table when seated us . The waiter did not like either rushed to take our order not attentive at all. Food was good had the crusted white fish with green beans lunch portion very good size for price would have liked it to come with a starch but oh well. Little on noisy side
(3)
Scott S.
The place was packed on a Wednesday night to my surprise. The food was tasty and the prices were reasonable.
(4)
pete d.
An over an hour wait for a table. Drinks at the bar at downtown prices. An over hour wait for our entree. On a Tuesday night The waiter seemed to be nice by giving us extra bread. Kitchen seemed to be overwhelmed Had ribs had better. It was a corporate version of a Northern Wisconsin restaurant.
(1)
Jeff G.
i'd have to give this a 3.75. have only been one time, seems like a place with a lot of regulars. chopped salad was very good. we got two entrees: the baby back rib/chicken plate. ribs were about the best i have ever had, loved them! chicken was pretty bland, barely any sauce at all, however the brisket sandwich was DRIPPING with bbq sauce. i like sauce but probably the first time in my life i have ever though something had too much. they should have put some of that sauce on the chicken, service was shotty, probably cause we were sitting at the island bar without a server. went sat night ~730 with no reservations and it was jam packed. i thought the price of a draft 312 was high at $7.50, though i guess it was probably 22 or 24 oz.
(4)
aggie c.
Always nice to enjoy the pleasure of having an unique place such as L woods. Framed pictures of actual customers from the moment you walk in till the very end. Oceans 11 had a scene filmed inside and it's called the oceans 11 room. Pretty neat. Nice presentation good service. Overall food is decent. Sandwich bread is a little too hard, but the mashed potatoes are to die for. Definately will be back soon!
(4)
Katherine D.
Stay away from the calamari. Took the family out for dinner on a week night. Ordered the calamari for an appetizer. They were deep fried, but possibly the greasiest I have ever had. Some of the pieces were undercooked, and one was downright slimy. As soon as I ate the slimy piece, I knew I was going to be ill. When seafood breaks down to the point it has no integrity, it is spoiled. Should have spit it out. Instead, I barely made it home before I became violently ill. Our server was attentive and noticed that I had not touched my dinner and the calamari was not eaten. Even though we did not ask, she immediately got the manager. The manager apologized and took the calamari off our bill and asked if she could get us something else. I appreciated their gesture, but will not be going back. The rest of the family liked the food, but nothing special.
(1)
Jiyoun B.
Steaks were perfectly cooked to order. If you order it medium rare, it came out medium rare. Their creamed spinach were made fresh, I can tell because it was bright green, not "dead" green. My fish was moist and flavorful. I can't believe I just passed by it without stepping inside for the last 25 years.
(5)
Stan C.
We came here at 7:30 on the Thursday night before the Friday of the 4th of July holiday weekend. The bad news was that there were about 15 people already in the waiting area ahead of us for a table. The good news was we had a reservation. About 5 minutes later, we were being shown to our table. I just LOVE a restaurant that honors their reservations. Within 2 minutes, our server, Dameon, was at our table taking our drink orders and answering questions about the menu. They gave us bread that would best be described as an oversized onion roll to share for the table. Quite good. Dameon told us the ribs are the most popular item on the menu. But I figured if I am visiting the Mid-West, I have to order beef. My wife and I opted to split the chopped salad and the 14 ounce NY Strip Steak. The chopped salad was huge. Our server split it at the table for us (nice touch). It had bacon, pasta, scallions, tomatoes, and bleu cheese crumbles in it. I got mine with bleu cheese dressing - a very good choice, goes very well with the salad. The steak was also a very good choice. Cooked just the way we asked. Delish. We got it with a sweet potato as a side. These were the biggest sweet potatoes I have ever seen. It came with a seasoned butter to mash in. OMG. Fabulous. The service was excellent. Our water glasses never got below half empty. The empty plates were cleared in a timely fashion. 5 star food. 5 star service. 5 star ambiance. This place is great.
(5)
Linda A.
We have been transplanted to the South for awhile now. Whenever we travel back up North it's important to get a real fish fry. This place was close to our hotel and met the criteria for our fresh fish craving. A little pricey for what you get, but it is Chicago, not Green Bay. Really good drinks, adequate but not friendly service...gets you 3 stars for A-OK from me.
(3)
Aaron P.
This place was packed on a Sunday night. Go figure, random North suburbs of Chicago where Midwesterners have nothing better to do but pack the few decent watering holes that have TVs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. There are about a dozen tables in this area separate from the main dining room. The whole thing was packed at about 8 PM. I guess they do good business. I was deceived by the fish and chips platter. I think I needed to get the appetizer version. Anyways, the fish and chips were pretty good. The crust on the fish was well done without being greasy. The ribs were also delicious. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce. The full order of ribs is just a massive amount of food. I got a key lime pie with my fat friend because we are fatties. Also, take note they have a decent beer selection.
(4)
Lisa G.
Surpringly delightful atmosphere and food. Reasonably priced and our waitress was entertaining and efficient. Great place to visit.
(5)
Kristina K.
Love this place! Definitely a family restaurant and the selection is fantastic! Love the fact that they are taking sustainable foods seriously at this establishment. More restaurants need to do the same!
(4)
William M.
Great BBQ dishes and surprisingly large delivery area. The dining room is also nice. Priced are a little high, but the food is delicious.
(4)
Olivia S.
This place is great. Every time I come back to Chicago I make my family take me here. I don't even need a menu at this point because I always get the Parmesan crusted filet. AMAZING! It might be my favorite dish of all time. I also love the baked potatoes. Overall, this place is a great place to have a wonderful dinner with family and friends. I always have a great time. Looking forward to coming back to Chicago next month and stopping in!
(5)
Dylan K.
Service here is always wonderful, food is always great and if you're feeling lazy they deliver. Their lobster bisque is my absolute favorite thing ever.
(5)
Gina T.
Amazing service and amazing food!! My friend and I sat at the bar for lunch and the bartender Steven took good care of us. And the manager Louis always came by to make sure everything was ok. I always feel taken care of when I go to Lwoods and the food is amazing! I either get the skirt steak with mashed potatoes and corn or the bbq planked salmon. But all of their food is seriously amazing.
(5)
Drake G.
Meet some old friends who work in the area last night for a going a way diner, and boy was I not disappointed.. The atmosphere is a little bit of an older crowd but don't let that sway you, the food is the real star of the show. We started with onion strings and cheese curds. That with our drinks and the bread would've been enough to fill up on, but out extremely courteous waiter brought us out a complimentary flat bread, just because. Excellent service here, can't state that enough. As good as you'll get at any high-end stake joint. We all decided to get a different entree and split everything three ways. We got a full slab of ribs, the brisket, and the Parmesan crusted filet. The ribs were my recommendation, and were excellent. I normally just get their chopped salad (which is also great, but was feeling adventurous, lol) The parmesan filet was melt in your mouth, and the brisket was tender, juicy, and also great. For sides we got the twice baked potato, creamed spinach, and Mac n cheese. They were all fabulous. So much so that before we even finished it we ordered a second helping of of the spinach and Mac n cheese... By the time the waiter came by for coffee and dessert, the food coma's had set it for all three of us, but had there been room I'm sure dessert would have been just as good. Fantastic experience and a good old fashion place in the neighborhood that you shouldn't overlook.
(5)
Erin W.
My husband, our three year old and I visited for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was packed. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server, Greg, was incredibly busy but NEVER missed a beat. He took his time to explain specials, answer questions and was very patient with our active little guy. Despite how busy he was, our food and drinks were promptly delivered to us. Food was excellent! I highly recommend for everyone, especially families. If you want incredible service, Ask for Greg.
(5)
Jim K.
Have been a frequent guest since they opened. Am lucky they are close to my home so I can enjoy all. Kids have had their picture on the wall for years as part of the kid gang! My go to place for out of town friends for a fabulous representation of Chicago's best. Kudos to Patrick and Danny and the entire staff. Back of the Woods is always fantastic, great way to enjoy LWoods even with their crazy amount of following.
Excellent food, staff, and ambiance. This is always one of our top choices for a great meal. Have enjoyed many special family and holiday gatherings here. We love the creamed spinach as a side dish and they have great salads. We enjoy the Parmesan crusted filet, the the various fish entrees, and of course the deserts.
(5)
Debbie I.
I upgraded this review because I received an apology for the way I was treated during a recent visit. Two staff members from L. Woods apologized to me personally which I appreciated very much. However, I did not get any feedback on what was done regarding this employee's treatment of me and the manager just kind of mumbled something like "you could come in for dinner and drinks" on us when I am in town (I recently moved out of the area). I'm thinking, what if I show up and they are like, we don't know anything about that or that manager isn't here anymore or something to that effect. I don't think that was an appropriate solution but it is what it is. I would never order food to go from there ever again but I would consider dining in when I am in town. The food was decent during this visit and everything was cooked right. No complaints on the food really. Although, it's never as good when you carry out as it is when you dine in but everyone was fairly happy with their food.
(3)
Cris G.
I've been coming to this place for a while. . Came here for pre mothers day dinner with the kids. . Calamari and the flat bread appetizers were really good. . My kids ordered steak and we're complaining that it was kind of dry .. waiter was nice enough to offer another choice of meal. . The key lime pie here is delicious. . We had a, good dinner and as, always service is great. .
(4)
Sarah M.
Went here for an anniversary dinner and would definitely recommend it to anyone craving a great steak. I have been driving past this place for years and have noticed that the sizeable parking lot is consistently packed. After trying to get in without reservations and not wanting to wait that long, we finally made a reservation and had a fantastic dinner. The filet was cooked perfectly to my order, and probably one of the best I've ever had. But, what really made the night was the apple-dessert. Oh wow. You have to order it early since it takes so long to bake, and our server told us that up front, so that's what we did. (It was definitely a share-able portion.) I personally always think it's a good sign when a dessert will take that long. :) The "old supper club" interior as they describe on their website was cozy and a nice place to have a fantastic dinner without having to feel like I needed to wear a LBD and heels. We loved it and will be back for sure.
(5)
Mike P.
BRING BACK THE BRISKET NACHOS! Love it here. Cozy vibe and great food. Server Jason provided exceptional service. Did I mention bring back the brisket nachos?
(4)
Theresa F.
Anytime I visit a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I expect it to be an experience. The only memorable experience about this place (aside from dining out with my fiance), was the prices we paid for their so-called "supper club"-style food! The decor really isn't really that amazing either. The food was great, but the prices didn't really match up to the quality and preparation of food I expected to receive at an LTY joint. We spent nearly $100 here for two dishes, dessert, and two drinks (both of which were mediocre). Should have just gone to Wildfire if I knew it would amount to that much...
(3)
Val W.
I enjoyed my meal so much that I left in a food coma. Luckily, I wasn't driving because I passed out literally in the car on the way home. My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day. The place was crowed. We were sat at a table in the way way back. I liked the table because it was larger than normal for two people. I ordered salad, steak and baked potato. They bring out free bread and butter. I ate that and had the Planters punch cocktail while waiting. The side salad was very large, and nice and fresh. I cannot complain. The steak was good and the baked potato was normal. I was very full and satisfied. I had heard the key lime pie was to die for so I took a piece home. I ate it for breakfast the next morning. IT was delish! I hope to go back sometime soon.
(5)
Mitchell Y.
Came here for my dad's birthday and thought the theme was a little strange. I'm Illinois born and bred, but Wisconsin supper clubs are hardly some exotic concept, so I thought the whole idea was a little silly. That being said, we all enjoyed our visit. Our server was friendly and even brought us a complementary flatbread to welcome us "into the club." That was a very nice touch and it tasted good to boot. We all shared the onion strings, which were pretty standard. However, the french onion soup (sensing a theme here?) was excellent. It has a different taste than most- sweeter, but it works. Since we came on a Sunday, half of the table tried the weekly fried chicken special. They didn't see what all the fuss was about. I had the ribs and they were good, but not anything past that. However, the macaroni and cheese side is the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Period. I cannot recommend it enough. For dessert we were a little ambitious and ordered both the apple strudel and gooey chocolate cake. The strudel was hard as a rock. Seriously, we all had to use our knifes like saws just to get a bit. Fortunately, the cake made up for it. All in all I'm glad to have come here, but except the mac and cheese, there are better places to be found.
(3)
L K.
I brought my mom here for lunch last week. They were busy but we were served quickly. She had fish, large piece, loved it. I had a chopped salad, asked for different dressing than listed on menu, no problem. Salad was huge, crisp, nicely presented. Lots of leftovers my mom took home. Recommended.
(5)
Adnan A.
Been craving some bbq beef ribs for a while now and I can't believe I never knew this place existed less than 10 mins away from home. When the combo order of the chicken and beef ribs was placed in front of me, I had a hard time picking up my jaw after seeing the quantity. Wasn't an issue cleaning up the plate because it was so damn good.
(5)
Melissa R.
Gooey chocolate cake is where it's at! Order ahead of time because it takes 45 minutes to cook. The food is good, and the owner is super sweet and cares about allergies, or the customers!
(4)
Kirsten V.
I would give our waiter 5 stars, 4 for food and ambiance but no stars for the rude hostess. I worked for the original Lettuce restaurant, RJ Grunts, back in the '80's for seven years and I know that Lettuce prides itself on service. I walked in at 4:30 on the Saturday of Passover (the beginning of dinner service on what was surely to be a very busy weekend). I stood at the hostess stand while the hostess talked to another employee for several minutes without even glancing at me. Finally she starts looking at the computer screen, no greeting, no smile, and says, "Yes?" Look, I'm a nicely dressed middle aged woman, not a teenager in jeans with an attitude. I give her my name, tell her how many are in my party and what time. She NOT ONCE actually looks at me. She NOT ONCE smiles or welcomes me. She starts tapping at her screen, asks me my name two more times and how many and time two more times, all while NEVER LOOKING AT ME. Maybe you'll remember that I've already given you this info if you look at me. She starts shaking her head and mumbling, no, not here, then starts to tell me that I don't have a reservation at the same time I tell her the restaurant called me to confirm. Oh there it is, she basically says to herself (still, not once in a five minute exchange, did she look at me or smile or anything) then grabs four menus and tells a much younger hostess which table to take me to. As I turned to follow the other hostess, she calls after me, Enjoy your meal. Wow. Thanks.
(3)
Rita M.
Cannot believe I never reviewed this place! First time dining here was once upon a time when my husband and I were NEWLY boyfriend and girlfriend. Back in 2009! Since then, this has been THE PLACE to go to for birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. My ma and I always split a whole slab of bbq ribs and the hubby always either gets the prime rib (unfortunately only available one night a wk, it is either a fri or sat, I forget) or the skirt steak medium rare. Great laid back ambiance. Great decor. Good quality food. Make reservations! I love the promptness shown when the hostess seats us, as we are frequent diners (hoping they can see that when and how often I make reservations) One star deducted, because the server we had when dining this past Sunday at 19:30. VERY absent-minded and forgot our plates for the bread (we all sat staring at the bread for a good 10/15 mins AND reminding her about the plates twice), and for her bringing out my ma and hubby's drinks (pops) promptly but took me a good 5/10 mins to get my non alcoholic beverage. Thank goodness I had water. Will I be back? I have been coming back since 2009!!!!! :)
(4)
J T.
First time here. The ambiance was pretty cool, kind of like a gangster feel. At least that's what I thought. We had the cheese curds first, yummy! Very good. Moved on to the the baby back ribs....well, what can I say, they were awesome!! The meat fell off the bone! Yum! Then, I was told that the apple strudel was to die for and they were right!! Make sure you order it early. It takes 40-45 minutes to make and let me tell ya, it's worth the wait!! Will definitely be back to this place!! Great service, great food and great atmosphere!
(5)
Emma C.
Delicious burgers (both meat and veggie), delicious creamed spinach, delicious twice-baked potato, delicious french onion soup, delicious side salad, delicious apple strudel. Often crowded, so make a reservation if you plan to go after 5 p.m. It's a little on the pricey side, but excellent so it's worth it once in a while. Nice place for a celebration family dinner...you'll see a lot of this going on, as well as boisterous middle-aged Jewish women on a tear with their besties and the we've-been-going-out-a-while-and-we're-not-mushy-Âbut-I-still-like-you-so we'll-eat-a-nice-meal dates. Four stars instead of five because the management is terrific at solving problems, but the staff is touch-and-go; sometimes fantastic, other times negligent, and so there are problems to solve. More than that, they need to get any carpeting out of there. We go often, and twice there was a wafting of eau de pee in the air. I think they have an older clientele at lunch, and I'm not hatin' on the seniors and I've gone enough times in which that wasn't the case, but L. Woods could use a little redecorating/updating that might include an opportunity to de-must as one must.
(4)
Katarina X.
Massive. No really, these are not plates but platters... these are not portions but gargantuan, everest-like mounds of meat and butter and cheese. Definitely an abundant example of vast quantity. A wood-paneled, plush booth seating, midwest setting that would not be out of place for a scene in Mad Men and cocktails from that time as well. The booths were sizable for our party of five- really great for conversation and sharing of plates. I apologize yelp, no cocktails for me... horribly sick the day prior- the kind of exhausting, violent, can't keep water, ginger ale or my internal organs from being thrown-up sickness that leaves one weak for da#n near the weekend in entirety. No fault of the establishment- if anything, the kind server made sure there were options for my first solid meal. I couldn't go for anything spicy or cheesy and refrained from alcohol because... still a little shaky... the prime rib the size of the Sears Tower was not going to happen. Soup? Yes please. So if you are watching your waistline or naturally restrained- there are "light" options for dinner where you can get a lovely piece of fish, you will not be able to finish, big enough to feed two heartily... instead of their towering standard sized plates that (no joke) could easily feed a nuclear family of four. The fish I ordered was very pretty to look at, clean and simple. The side options are welcome too, gigantic, but you can get a baked potato or a baked sweet potato, buttered corn, creamed spinach, fries or mashed potatoes. I like having options. My friend ordered skirt steak and it was seriously, enough to feed four. Her lemonade (it looked refreshingly divine) and her side(!) of fries was passed between five at the table with leftovers. Our men hit the cocktails, and the wine and the beer... I had no idea you could go from beer to old fashioned to Malbec but they did and seemed quite happy with their mounds of rare beef and full slabs of ribs. We finished with what looked like a burrito the size of my leg, requiring 45 minutes to prepare. Really. This is a strudel- filled with melted butter, sliced apple, cinnamon, sugar and wrapped in pastry. A table of five or six is necessary for this indulgence, very indulgent. I may not need to eat for another two or three days.
(3)
Margaret A.
Excellent food and service by Linda. Very nice cozy environment. Kids menu a plus. Will be back soon.
(5)
Lisa C.
This place is very consistent. The best part is that they have something for everybody : chicken, fish, pizza, pork, BBQ. Try to get a reservation, this place is busy in the evenings.
(5)
Khris L.
I really had high hopes for this place. It's right by my house and they're connected to L. Woods, which is considered to be a finer dining type of place. I assumed that the food from the "back of the woods" would also be of higher quality, worthy of the price they charge. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I wanted. The food quality is a bit above average, but the flavor combinations are weird enough to be inedible. The beef and broccoli and sesame chicken should be renamed to ginger beef and ginger chicken. The flavor of ginger was so overpowering in those dishes that I couldn't taste anything else. The crab rangoons were extremely salty. I mean, salty is one thing, but extremely salty is another thing. They were so salty that I couldn't believe it. The pork fried rice was smokey as if they used tidbits of L. Woods BBQ pork scraps, which was decent, but there were only a couple pieces of BBQ pork in the fried rice..and they were tiny pieces. Nothing about the food was good, except for the quality of the beef in the beef and broccoli, which we couldn't taste because of the overpowering ginger flavor. The problem with the food is bad enough, but in addition to the portion size, it would be ridiculous for anyone to pay their prices. For $10+ per entree, you would expect enough food to fill you up or at least good enough food to keep you satisfied. What they do here is, they take one of those black plastic rectangular carry out containers and fill half of it with white rice and the other half with the entree. I'm using the word "fill" in a very generous way. All in all, there just isn't any worthy value here. The food is flavored in a weird way, and the portion sizes are small enough to be insulting of the price you pay. I would have given this place a 1 star, but I don't want them to go down. I hope that they will see the negative reviews and fix the problems so I could have some good local food to eat once in a while..
(2)
Steve G.
L Woods presents a very popular and crowded lunch venue which, on the basis of Monday's visit, manages crowds efficiently and seamlessly. The dining rooms are paneled in light wood, and covered with hundreds of photos, some recognizable. Service was friendly and professional, without a hint of being rushed or pressured by the full room. Our room was hardly quiet, but conversation wasn't difficult. I ordered the Chopped Salad (chicken, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, pasta elbows and mixed greens), substituting Caesar dressing for the standard honey vinaigrette. Frankly, I can't recall when I've enjoyed a salad more. My dining companions on this business lunch, each from the surrounding area, ordered salads as well. The Skirt Steak Salad also won raves. A very comfortable restaurant, with service and food each well above expectation . . . superb.
(4)
Florence B.
My daughter and I enjoyed a tasty dinner here today. I had the crusted cod, which sat on a lovely cream sauce w bit of tart flavor. Perfectly baked fish! So flavorful. Baked spuds for us with hers being a sweet potato. Yummy sour cream topping. Why was her cole slaw so small in a little cup? We shared hot fudge sundae for dessert. We both loved it. Can't wait to go back. Nice waiter, attentive to our needs. Great spot in my area!
(5)
Mike W.
Went to L. Woods for the first time last night after seeing it on Check Please! a month or so ago. My wife and I loved it. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The only service related issued I was less than happy about was that the waitress never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink which was almost empty when the entrees arrived. The food was outstanding. My wife got the baby back ribs. They were fall off the bone and she says they were delicious. I got the Schlitz battered haddock which was a special last night. It was quite possibly the best beer battered fish I have ever eaten. We started off with their cheese curds which were the second best I've ever had. The best were at Miller Park. Overall great experience. We will definitely be back.
For the past several years, my mother has gotten a large LEYE gift card, as the Christmas present from her class (2nd grade teacher). It happens that her birthday is also in December, and we use the gift card to try new LEYE restaurants and celebrate. This year we tried L. Woods. First of all, this building looks much smaller in person, and is much less grandiose than other LEYE establishments. The walls are covered in wood, pictures of patrons, nostalgic images, mounted fish, and folk art signs. It is very Lodge like in atmosphere, so it lives up to the name. It took forever to get a server to contact my table, they are professional and friendly, but a slightly late lunch should not be a two hour affair. The service is painfully slow. The food was quite tasty, I had the ribs with "devil sauce," good for a non-bbq focused place. My mother loved the mushroom barley soup and steak sandwich. I also don't appreciate paying $3 for iced tea, and the servers leaving it dry for 5-10 minutes at a time. The service seems to suffer due to some really needy patrons. I saw one server focused on an 8-top from hell exclusively. From the same table I saw: a woman send back the same salad three times, explain that an omelette was not just eggs (all day brunch menu), and, a man send back a "very well done (his quote, not mine) burger because it was too dry. I always hold LEYE to a high standard, because they know how to run restaurants and I love the Wildfire restaurants, the food here stands up well. The food holds the line, but service is below the "wildfire standard" and it might be an overly needy customer crowd.
(4)
Marcee W.
Got lucky on a recent Saturday night without reservations, which is nearly impossible to do. They had one open table and the place was packed, as usual. Started with Lettuce's standard chopped salad which is always reliably fresh and tasty. Ordered the onion strings to munch on and although they were good, I'd skip them next time to save room for the better stuff. Baby back's were tender and delicious and my friend was surprised with a birthday treat on the house. L. Woods never fails to please!
(5)
Bill L.
I tried to give this place another chance....walked I. Looking for my guest Who,was seared inAdvance while I had to. Are an important phone call, And was told by this extremely rude, hostile named NICOLE who,had already Turned my stomach with her nasty attitude upon checking I. To see where Ahe seared my guest, stating that I seat many people, I can't tell you Where the guest is........This place smells like a "bad nursing home." I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS PLACE WAS LAST RENOVATED AND WHEN THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR HIGH CARB SOFT FOOD MENU......... ANYTHING HEALTHY BESIDES FRIED FOOD AND GREASY RINS AND CHICKEN....IS THIS REALLY A LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU REST.?
(1)
Paul G.
Fantastic experience and food. love the French onion soup iand the Apple strudel is to die for. Service is top notch. all great!!
(5)
JW W.
Ordered ribs and ckn combo with baked p.The ckn was good nice and moist.The ribs where from last night and very dry!! I thought at 3 pm in the afternoon you would get fresh ribs not old dried out spoiled ribs!! 1 hr after eating i was sick!! And it continued all night long!! Oh and the baked p was as dry as they come maybe from last night too! And if i could i would give 0 stars!! We go there all the time for dine in and never got sick.Its seems to me like the family that owns it doesnt care about quality food anymore!! DO NOT ORDER TAKEOUT!!! And its the next morning now and im still sick!!! Thanks a lot l woods!! And they just lost a good customer of 30+ years!! I wont go back now if they are serving old food!! Never use to be like this
(1)
Mister M.
Went on Sunday night --Fried Chicken night! Place was packed. Very noisy but still enjoyable. Comfortable but not relaxing. Gin and Citrus Old Fashioned was delicious Fried Chicken was really good -nice and crisp outside, moist and flavorful inside. Beef Ribs were great-Perfectly cooked with a nice char outside while remaining tender and moist. Although they were huge, i wouldn't say they were Flinstonian. Still a huge portion. Great french fries, I would have like a larger portion but it was sufficient. What they lacked in service they made up for in accommodation. They struggled a bit to keep up with the large crowd, but there was no undo waiting and you never really felt like anything was a problem. Whatever we wanted or needed we got. Desserts were also good. Killer Key Lime Pie, very similar to Joe's.
(5)
Michelle C.
Came here for my boyfriends sister's birthday on a Thursday night for dinner. WAS IT CROWDED! I didn't think that it would be that crowded especially at 730pm on a Thursday night. I came here for V-Day last year and the food was good then and is still good now. This time I tried their baby back ribs.. deliciousness as always. Waiter was very fast and could answer all questions that we had at our table about different types of entrees. Only downfall was the crowdedness. I felt like the person behind me was too close for comfort and every time I got up (to go to bathroom or bar) I had to walk around tables in a zig zag to avoid hitting someone.. lol Food was good though, GET THE MASHED POTATOES!
(4)
skip l.
Two of the three previous reviews in this Yelp appearance of L.Woods are in fact for the Big Bowl menu, which is now available for carryout from the "back of the woods" counter at the rear of the restaurant. This review is not about the Big Bowl. Most people i know are mystified why a highly regarded traditional restaurant serving ribs, steaks, chicken etc. would have a Chinese carryout menu -- especially as other good Chinese carryout is available in the area. We've never considered trying it. This review is to address Kay's 3/17/14 two star review of the L. Woods restaurant itself -- Kay and a friend apparently made one visit and had two dishes they didn't like. That review should not stand unanswered. First, over many years, we've never had a bad meal at L. Woods, so the description of the reviewer ("burned and fatty brisket" and "dry and tough" fish is at minimum very surprising -- though tastes in brisket can vary. But more surprising is that the reviewers apparently did not complain. Part of what we love about L.Woods is the excellent service. Both dishes could easily have been turned back to the kitchen with no problem and replacements provided. L. Woods prides itself on service, and has never failed to deliver, even on minor complaints. As for small portions -- again, that has not been our experience. And the ambiance -- the place is decorated to look like an old fishing lodge; kinda fun. But L. Woods has charm beyond the decor. For at least 25 years they have had Sima on their staff -- a wonderful older lady who now serves mostly as a greeter, but years ago was a cook. She would come around to the tables with samples of something she had made. Now she just serves her personal charm. Among our L. Woods menu favorites: the flatbread appetizers, the tomato bisque soup, the amazing chopped salad, the ribs, the salmon, the molten chocolate cake. The one problem is the popularity of the place: we always go early so we don't have to wait for a table. If L. Woods was really a below par restaurant, it would not enjoy such crowds. Give 'em another chance, Kay!
(4)
Mack M.
We've been here a few times now and the atmosphere is always comforting and calm. Dinner time is a little crowded but the restaurants layout accommodates the crowd. I had a great filet 2/3 occasions. The second time the steak was far overcooked; they boast superior customer service by replacing the steak, apologizing, and immediately comping the entree. Needless to say they have earned a loyal customer and I will be back with my large party.
(4)
T D.
They have the best beef ribs in town. I went there last night and was amazed how good the ribs were. In addition the mashed potatoes are awesome. The only reason I'm not putting 5 stars is because it's pretty pricey. The service is good and the place is laid out nice. They also have speciality drinks which I like. Coming back for sure.
(4)
Marcela R.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. The service is good too. The only thing is that every time we go there they have a bunch of walkers parked by the entrance which makes you feel like you are having lunch at a retirement home.... So if you care just about the food, give it a try.
(4)
Jim B.
Good potato skin nachos, and I had the basil flatbread with a salad, good value. Frank the bartender was awesome, good sangria and decent beer list. The only thing every time the woman's bathroom door opens the first 5 seats at the bar smell like old bathroom sanitizer from the gush of wind. Kinda nasty when your eating.
(4)
Charles S.
Been here a few times and always has been solid. Came right when they opened before the blue hair rush. Today for lunch I had the fried Perch with fries & coleslaw. D-lish! The fish was light and not overly breaded or too fried. The fries were crisp and tasty. Even the tartar sauce was solid. I wish I could come more often, but I live too far away.
(4)
David F.
This is one of our regular favorites. Food is always excellent and service is top notch. Parking can be a bit tricky, but it is worth the wait. Make reservations, or you will wait a long time. Beer on tap selection is great too. Highly Recommend
(5)
Chris H.
Very good all around, the food and service were both really great. Flat breads are amazing, flaky and melt in your mouth. Saturday prime rib special was excellent, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Definitely be making it back here again!
(4)
Doug R.
I've been going here since it was called, 'Bones,' and the food has always been great. Whether I've gotten the planked salmon or the steak or roast, they've always been great.
(5)
Jai R.
Great Family oriented place. Great for ribs ! The BBQ sauce they serve is warm and the complimentary onion roll in the beginning is the perfect teaser to get your appetite going. A must try place !
(5)
Emily N.
We made a reservation for 9 but the place was so crowded that we weren't able to be seated on time. A couple we were with had a baby so due to us not getting seated on time, they had to leave. The manager felt so bad that he covered all of our appetizers, first round of drinks and cut our bill in half. This was extremely generous and we were super impressed with the service! Great place!
(4)
Christine S.
I love L'Woods. The food is delish. The staff is nice and quick. However, they HAVE to get it together...there's some serious sanitation issues going on here. Within the past month, I've dined here twice... you're gonna wonder why I'd come back after the first incident and frankly, I'm beginning to wonder myself. 1. My boyfriend and I came here because I told him the food is to die for (and that could almost be literal after what happened). We were eating my most favorite thing on the menu, an L'Woods Chopped Salad and we notice something on the bottom of the plate. There's a screw (no, I'm not kidding) in our salad. A SCREW. A mothertrucking screw is in our salad. I can't make this up. After we brought it to our waiters attention, the manager took his sweet ass time (roughly 15 minutes) coming over (that didn't bother me at first...but then I eventually got upset realizing that one of us could have gotten hurt by this damn screw and he took his time seeing if we were okay). The manager was super apologetic and comped our meal which was very appreciated...but seriously, a screw in our salad! 2. We go back to for some delish food because I really do love L'Woods...no screw this time...victory is ours, so we thought. My guy is drinking his iced tea...with a long blonde hair in it. He's not a blonde. He doesn't have long hair. Our server, a long blonde haired woman is the only culprit here. So yeah, I've got an issue with the sanitation at the restaurant right now. Get it together L'Woods....get it together! You're lucky we're the ones who ended up with the screw in our salads and not someone who would take a bite with it in there, just for the sake of a lawsuit.
(1)
nicole m.
This review is for the new BIG BOWL addition to Lwoods. Very Disappointing. I am a fan of Big Bowl, but not at this location..never mind the 2.5 hour wait for delivery. The food was NOT good. The BBQ Pork fried rice had LWoods BBQ pork scraps in it..not Chinese BBQ Pork..these 2 flavors do not mix.. it was made even more unappetizing by the over cooked and mushy rice. The Orange Chicken was a flavorless 1/2 portion for $10.00. This is supposed to be Chinese food, but it was really really bland. This whole thing feels like a 1/2 ass-d rescue attempt to revitalize L Woods biz by infusing the BIG BOWL name..Better Fix It Fast!
(1)
Annette U.
I had a major burger craving-so we decided to try L. Woods which is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which are always pretty good.We decided to order off their take out menu, however by the time we got home our food was cold-maybe they could get different insulated containers? Anyway-that was more our fault than theirs, I popped everything on a baking dish in the oven and the fries crisped up and the burger reheated nicely. My burger was enormous-it didn't even fit on the bun! I was able to get two meals out of it. I would really like to try their meals in house next time. Again, the gentleman at the take out service was also very friendly and helpful.
(4)
Jacquelyn E.
3 stars for excellent staff/service, great atmosphere, and amazing drink specials. The food...well that's where the problem lies. Let's start off by saying the food was lack luster and somewhat overpriced. My family of four dined at L Woods for my husbands birthday. My husband just loves BBB ribs so I searched in yelp for a good bbq rib place near Evanston. We saw that L Woods was featured on check please and everyone gave the restaurant rave reviews so L Woods it was!! We ordered the cheese curds for starters and my husband had the full slab baby back ribs, I had the fish & chips, my daughters had the pulled pork & the prime burger. The cheese curds were awesome, hot & crispy with a nice ranch dipping sauce. The food was just nothing special. My husbands ribs were quite cold and my girls food was just food. No wow factor at all. Now my food is where this place really lost points. My fish & chips was a $17.95 cruel joke of a meal. It resembled something that could have passed as a appetizer. It was basically little fish strips, and when I say little I mean no thicker or longer than pinky with most pieces being smaller than that. So basically little crunchy fried thin fish strips on top of slightly over cooked homemade chips and a thimble of coleslaw. The $5 old fashions were amazing and the customer service was outstanding but I go out to eat for the food experience and it just wasn't there. I hear the steaks are there good but I'm not willing to drop $30 per person to find out. Skip this place but if you want good drinks and a great atmosphere I guess give L Woods a shot just do yourself a favor and do not get the fish and chips.
(2)
Evelyn L.
This place was full of customers!! I was expecting delicious food, the ribs were mediocre at best, twice baked potatoes were terrible and so were the French fries!!! How can you screw up French fries??!! They were cold and soggy!! Coleslaw was no better than the stuff you can buy at Jewel's and the calamari was just okay! I wish I could say I enjoyed it, maybe I was expecting too much.....
(1)
Chrisy B.
On my first visit: I took my Mother for our annual holiday dinner. It was Friday night for 5:15 reservations. We were seated immediately in the way back room (with the fireplace). It was a very quiet area which was nice so we could talk. The room filled up with couples and families with small children. The other rooms seemed to be filled with larger (and louder) groups of people. I enjoyed our location. I had a skirt steak which was to die for. Mom had the fish/chips Friday special - delicious. For dessert we had the apple strudel which was fabulous. Our server was amazing and very personable. I would definitely recommend going, but maybe not at a really busy time if you care to hear your company.
(5)
F J.
I have ate at Lwoods for many years going back to when it was Bones.Frank the bartender is a classic. Today we had a great meal,I order their buffalo wings almost every time we go and are the best i ever had. Today i tried a new item the BLT deviled eggs (very good)..the problem is i was charged $6.95 for TWO eggs with a sprinkle of BLT on them and a about 2-3 oz peppercorn/mayo sauce. I am fine with a profit but wow not even organic eggs. Woods you should add least one more egg to the plate. I will turn i just will not order the BLT eggs.
(4)
Lulu R.
DATE NIGHT! My boyfriend and I have been on a very strict diet and we were long overdue for date/cheat on diet meal night. Once we started seeing the scales in our favor, we had to celebrate! We got there sans reservations because apparently they dont take them until 7. anyway, we got there around 6:15 P.M. this place was bustling. No seating immediately but we decided to wait, It felt very warm and happy. I knew we had made the right decision to come here. We only waited 15-20 minutes and were seated. Knowing the type of people my boyfriend and I are, we peeped the menu beforehand online. The waiter brought us an onion roll and butter for starters. (This is when I was completely won over!) We ordered the chicken and ribs combo, Fried Calamari, and skirt steak dinner. This meal was so delicious that it deserves a breakdown! BREAKDOWN: 1. Chicken and ribs combo: You know how some places throw some bbq sauce on some random chicken and a slab of ribs? Not this place! HANDS DOWN best bbq roasted chicken I have ever had. It was juicy and not over cooked. The Devil bbq sauce was a great touch too. The Ribs were also nothing short of the chicken. Equally as delicious and meaty. 2. fried Calamari- Hard to go wrong with this and served with extra lemons to squeeze over the top. Delicious! 3. Skirt Steak- cooked perfectly Medium Rare! I mean perfectly. The skirt steak was the highlight of our night! Totally tender and seasoned to perfection. Yep, PERFECTION. As the side we got the sweet potato, ask for extra pecan brown sugar butter. As my side I got the creamy spinach, which I wasn't impressed with at all. Its OK though, because I just had some of the sweet potato. The walls of this place is decorated with that lodge-y feel and with picture adorning the walls of regulars (I am guessing). I saw a lot of families and happy people. service was outstanding and parking is plentiful. Good business! I plan to return again for more delicious eats!
(4)
Mat M.
L. Woods is a really good restaurant, and really busy too. If you're looking for a Sunday Supper type of place with a home-style family atmosphere then look no further. It's party of Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group, but it's off the beaten path compared to many of their other restaurants. I've been here a fair number of times and typically the service is really good. Last night was the exception, the server was slow, and some of the items we wanted had already been 86'd for the night. They advertise their fried chicken dinner for Sunday's but somehow were already sold out by 7PM, which was really sad. If you have a high demand for your specials, then you should probably plan accordingly instead of telling customers that you run out each week. The food is always good, and last night was no exception. I'll be back - but hope our service is back to normal next time- getting drinks and menu items timely is of utmost importance!
(4)
Allison L.
L Woods is a nostalgic part of growing up in the city and reminds me of eating here with both my grandparents, friends and dates. The food is good, not everything is exceptional. The wait can be long. The service is hit or miss, but we have had way more hits than misses. We love the wings, great beef ribs and awesome skirt steak. Save room for dessert and the bar is one of the best parts of waiting a long time for table.
(3)
Jillian R.
I was expecting the food to be good, but L. Woods blew me away! My boyfriend had a $50 gift card, so we decided to splurge. I had the baked French onion soup, chopped salad, and sirloin steak sandwich. Everything I tasted was incredibly delicious. The French onion soup was hands down the best I have ever had (and I get French onion soup almost everywhere I go.) The chopped salad tasted exactly like Portillo's chopped salad, but the dressing was a bit lighter than the creamy dressing Portillo's has, making L. Woods version better. Finally....the sirloin. Oh my was it incredible. Melt in your mouth, lean steak with crispy onion strings, lettuce, and tomato, served alongside hand cut fries. Incredible! I'm salivating just remembering it. You MUST give L. Woods a try! You will not be disappointed. Quakit
(5)
Angelina S.
Great family restaurant. We celebrated Father's Day here with 3 generations of my family and had a great experience. The service was impeccable, even on a busy day such as that. And the food was tasty; we have been ordering carry out from L. Woods for years and finally had an opportunity to dine in. The koozi for my beer was a nice touch as well. Thank you L. Woods.
(4)
Jaime G.
Dude. L. Woods in Skokie rocks. Try any of the BBQ offerings with a craft beer and it's delish! Great option for lunch. The BBQ is very good but the old standbys like burgers are big and juicy as well. Other shout outs include the spicy Bloody Mary, flatbreads, and walleye chips. Flatbreads are good but are really really thin and flakey. We also missed this great looking apple strudel that apparently takes 45 minutes to come out - bet that's good too. Also, get here early cause this place fills up fast esp on the weekends. A must try in the area and worth an extra drive if you're in the city and looking for a great, kid friendly option for lunch or dinner.
(4)
AJ M.
Finally got a chance to come here, I have always thought that this was a sports bar but was surprised to see a comfy homy family log diner. I tried the beef devil ribs which was supposed to be spicy compared to reg ribs (but is not spicy at all) but still good. It comes with a decent sized side I recommend creamed spinach. Everything was great! I just wish they had a more extensive beer menu. Overall the food is good wholesome home style food in a very comforting log environment great or winter nights! Will deffinetly coming back to try more!
(5)
Yanyao N.
Having an early Sunday dinner here is basically like eating inside a retirement home slash pine lodge. The food is huge portions of LEYE's take on Wisconsinesque cuisine. Think cheese curds, walleye, shandies made in-house with Schlitz. Lovely servers and the last time I was in here, I had this ridiculously delicious side dish special of roasted local carrots with nuts and feta cheese. If it didn't remind me so much of Twin Peaks with a bunch of old people, I would probably come back more often. Hopefully next year I'll get around to trying their Friday Suppers.
(3)
Jim M.
Good food, good service, in spite of a crowded feeling in the dining room. They really pack them in.
(4)
Justin B.
I've noticed that a lot of people like this place. It is always crowded and getting a table is difficult. Let me first say that I am from Wisconsin and I wanted to see how Chicago does a supper club. We went for our anniversary. When we were seated, we waited almost 10 minutes until a server greeted us. My wife ordered a dry martini. No olive with a spear! Come on, that's a trademark of a martini! My wife did say it was pretty good though. I had the "Wisconsin" old fashioned. Learn how to make a Brandy Old-fashioned, not quite the same, but close. My wife didn't have a place setting (silverware and napkin). The food: not really worth the price. Over-priced. I've had better home cooking for less. I ordered the Chopped Sirloin 14oz and it was so salty and greasy. My wife had the walleye. Same, a pile of salty grease. I saw that they pride themselves on food cooked with love like home cooking. In all of the supper clubs in Wisconsin I have been to, I have not had such salty, greasy food at such a high price! I usually salt and pepper my food like any good Wisconsin boy, but I wanted to take salt out!! I saw the Check Please episode featuring this place. Those people have no idea what a supper club is. Blind leading the blind if others came here based on that recommendation. Hey! Where is the Salad Bar! That is a staple supper club feature. Sometimes, you can just get salad bar as your dinner! Lettuce Entertain you has a reputation and I have to say that if you are developing formulas to make chains of quality, do more research and get it right! I had better food at Outback Steakhouse, and that' not saying much! Go to Wisconsin for the real experience. Don't go to this place and call it good for the idea rip-off. Not original, and not done well.
(2)
Carla G.
I have come to L.Woods several times- overall I think it is A-OK! I have sat in the bar area and in the main restaurant. You should expect an afternoon rush, and an older crowd that comes in for an early dinner. Here is a list of what I have tried: 12 hour brisket nachos (my favorite!!), the BBQ chicken flat bread, french onion soup, walleye chips, Thursday pot roast special, walleye sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, grilled salmon, key lime pie, goldbrick sundae... I give a thumbs up to it all! Everything has great flavor! The service has been consistent at L.Woods. However, I feel I should mention my last visit because the server did not greet us with bread and took awhile to take our order. The restaurant was not busy so I was not sure what the hold up was (& I already came with an appetite). She also tried selling the dinner dessert menu during the lunch hour, what?! I found that peculiar because I have dined here before and the portions for dinner dessert are obviously larger ( and obviously cost more). Was she trying to pull one over on me and tack on a few more dollars to the bill? Who knows... I will still come back here because I love the selection of BBQ & the lodge feel.
(3)
Mike A.
We have been here twice and both times ordered the "family style" dinner. The concept is great, as it allows for everyone to get a decent portion of apps, salad, sides and main entrees. First time was for Mother's day and it was great. The food, the service: excellent! Fast forward to this past weekend, when we came in for my in-laws birthdays (they're 2 days apart). We ordered the same family style setup, but the server( who has been there for 8 months, we asked) had no idea how it worked. First she said that was for catering, we replied "No", look at the back of your menu: its there in black and white. The rest of the time she just seemed confused, befuddled and determined that we where doing something not "kosher". In addition to the family style, we had 4 diners (1 kid and 3 teens) that did not order this $31 option family option (inc $2 for desert). We had a kids meal, a salad, wings, bbq chicken dinner and soup added. Yet this waitress was convinced that somehow we where skimping somewhere. Yes, there were a few calamari and few slices of razor thin flat bread that the kids put on their plates, because the bus boy was taking away the tray anyway. So what, with drinks we are dropping almost $400 here! Was it better to throw it away in the garbage? Did we over order and cover the table with unfinished food? NO! The mgr added $20 to our tab as a fee for sharing! WTF !!! No one said anything, they just tacked it on. I called him over and he said that we were sharing apps. Really? We got one extra flatbread and order of calamari to what they originally presented to a table of 6 adult diners, which by the way show up on tiny plates and you want to charge me? F@@k you! We eat @ LEY joints quite a bit during the year, ranging from Shaw's to Wow Bao and plenty of visits to Wildfire and Big Bowl in between. The service we received here was the worst we have ever experienced at a LEY restaurant! Again we drop about $2k a year on LEY, not counting the gift cards that my mom sends our way for special occasions. The only thing that keeps this above 1 star, is that our first visit was very good and the ribs are good. We know they could do better, but that server did not deserve her auto gratuity of 18%.
(2)
S. H.
do not order mixed drinks. drinks are very weak, and for a higher end, not inexpensive restaurant, i expect better. also am disappointed in the bartenders. we have eaten at the bar when the old guy was there and also blonde female with eastern european accent and if they could have ignored us 100% they would have. It was unbelievable. 30 minutes to take a drink order, 15 minutes to take the food order, then never inquiring if everything was ok, need anything else? Not once were we asked that. And sitting, eating at a bar, it took me waiving continually in their faces to get another drink! looked right at me and my friend and looked away, went to the other end of the bar. left very low tip. normally am a min. 20% tipper, and each time with these two, left 10%. expect better from Lettuce Entertain You group. Food is good, no competition in the area, and agree with Joe R. that the front area/bar set up is horrible, over crowded, cant move.
(3)
Reda K.
I really like this. First time and it won't be the last time. The glasses on the table looked dirty but I guess they have been used for so long they have marks on them. I would say make a reservation. I will be returning.
(5)
Douglas W.
Miriam and I took my aunt and uncle out for dinner Sunday night. I had never been and the menu looked like a lot of fun. I ordered the parmesan crusted cod, baked potato and a side of broccoli. The cod came out on a huge plate. It was unidentifiable as a piece of fish. It looked like an island in the pacific. I figured there was probably fish under there somewhere. There was more breading than fish and it was swimming in a very rich and delicious lemon butter sauce. I really liked the flavors but wished the piece of fish had been nicer and the toppings more judicious. I ended up scraping quite a bit away toward the end. Good potato and slightly undercooked broccoli. The stems of the broccoli were hard to get through. I don't like them overcooked but this was a bit short. The place was packed as is the norm from what I understand. It's really loud. The service was great. I would go back and try something else maybe but I have a feeling that they're so busy that you couldn't get the care and attention to detail with your food on any occasion. It is a great concept and a cool place. I will have to think about returning.
(3)
Pam D.
It has been a while since we last ate here, but we met up with a group of old friends for dinner and had a very nice time. Although the food does not make me crazy with love, it is usually a solid tasty meal. I had the special BBQ trio, which consisted of 3 BBQ sandwiches (small) accompanied by fried onion strings and slaw. It was all good and filling. Christopher had a burger, which was also good and certainly substantial. The table shared an apple strudel, which was good and certainly huge. I think it cost $11, but fed 6 people. I would have preferred it baked a bit longer, but all in all, it was a good choice. Service as always was friendly and attentive, and for a Tuesday night, the place was packed!!!! I'm glad we had reservations.
(4)
Carl S.
Fantastic North woods atmosphere with Four Star takes on standards like, Walleye Pike Sandwiches. We always share a small Caesar Salad to start. The Bar looks like a Wisconsin Tavern from the 1950's was made over with a 2013 sports bar. 5 Flat Screens with every sporting event displayed for your entertainment. The "Oceans 12 Room", is where they filmed a scene in the movie with the same name is one of the main dining rooms with big booths and tables. All of the food is Great and so is the service. You may have to wait for a table during peak hours so call ahead.
(5)
Steve F.
Just fine for a semi-upscale (moderately priced) chain-style restaurant. Good basket of warm bread served when you are seated; food is fine; service is good. Booths are large: Can easily seat 6 adults, and cozily seat 8. Walls are cluttered with photos, including one of my cousins (they did a deal where if you ate there 10 times you'd get your picture posted). The sign on the wall that says something like "We serve only USDA inspected beef" makes the meat sound a little dodgy: What restaurant serves meat that *isn't* USDA-approved? I sure don't want to eat *there*. However, if this is your style of restaurant, you'll have no complaints.
(3)
Douglas M.
Went here for our 22nd Wedding Anniversary for the first time because of a L.E.Y. gift card, and I live 15 minutes away. So many wasted years going to far less quality restaurants much further away. Since it was a special occasion we went top shelf of the menu. I ordered the King Cut Prime Rib and it was prepared exactly as ordered, my wife and daughter ordered the Parm Crusted Filet, and my son ordered the Baby Back Ribs with the Devil sauce. We started with the Cheese curds, flat bread pizza, and the Walleye chips, everything was outstanding. Our server, sorry I forgot his name, was exceptional. He knew the menu backward and forward as a great server should, made sure we were always attended to. We just found our new Family Restaurant. Cant wait to go back and try the lesser $$ of the menu.
This restaurant is part of Lettuce Entertainment Group. With that said, the menu shares some similarities with Wildfire and other Lettuce Entertainment Group Restaurants. Overall I love the family feels and ambiance of the restaurant decor. I feel the price is equal the service and food. Even though they were busy but they get our table and food in good time.
This is a solid 4 star restaurant. The food is good, portions are huge, and it is your basic Lettuce Entertainment fare. The specials are actually decently prized, and the wine and Moscow Mule I had were pretty good as well. I will say though that the patrons are all about 80 years old, so it clears out pretty nicely after 9:15PM!
(4)
Tricia D.
What happened? I'm still dumbfounded. What didn't change was the smell of good grub wafting through the parking lot and how impressively crowded it was on a Thurs. night. What did change was that the quality of food seemed to go downhill since my last visit. The cheddar cheeseburger was served with something like Merkt's cheese spread heated on to it, which was weird and not good. K's chicken looked kind of greasy, and he said it was bland; plus, the broccoli was supposed to be steamed with butter, but that side came out like raw tree stalks. When our waitress took it back to the kitchen, it was still raw, with some shiny, not-butter-like stuff on it. Service kind of slowed down throughout the meal, and we were left with wet napkins (literally) to wipe our hands off. Never seen that before. Said wet naps were what the busboy used to clean the table too. That was one bizarre, disappointing return to one of my former suburban favorites. :o(
(2)
Mara B.
Excellent food. Skirt steak, chopped salad, tomato soup and more. I'm only giving it 4 stars because it's absurdly loud.
(4)
John T.
My wife and I went here today for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! I had the BEST skirt steak I ever had. It's very hard to find a place with good skirt steak.....but LWoods has one that I will definitely be back for. My wife had the ribs and really liked them. Our waitress Paulina was very nice, did a great job, and was always smiling and helpful. The onion rings (they call them onion 'strings')- were also the best we ever had. Can't wait till we can go there again............terrific food!!!!!
(5)
john k.
You can't go wrong coming to LWoods for a meal....I've had 50+ and can honestly say no regrets Fresh fish, salads, burgers and Prime Rib lead the parade. Closely followed by flat breads and BBQ. Of course having my favorite beer on tap...Stiegl doesn't hurt.
(4)
Kat M.
One word: AMAZEBALLS!!!! Wait.?! Can I say that on here?? Of course I can cuz its true!! Now I can only speak for the food since I did carry out. But it was so good that I can't wait to go there again. I am not a brisket kind of girl but it was so good that I am definitely gonna get it again for myself and that bread is just dreamy! L Woods you have a new best friend!!
(5)
Terese C.
Great neighborhood restaurant. Beware, the wait can be long, so have a seat at the bar & enjoy a cocktail. The food is great, and the service is quick once you are seated. This was our third time eating here. I had their Friday fish fry which I would get again.
(4)
Jay H.
This place is hit or miss on the service and food. It was the bomb at one time. Seems as lately there's an issues with either the service or food. Today it was a problem with a gift card for 25.00 that was no longer valid to use. If they are so hard up to snatch 25.00 from a customer anlong with the food n service issues then they prolly won't be here much longer.
(1)
Jack P.
Give me any place with the terms "Pine'" "Lodge," Roadhouse," or "Northwoods," and I am pretty much a sucker for it. L. Woods is no exception in its unknowing replication of my favorite boyhood spot, when I was just a wee little Yelper. It was called the Northwoods Supper Club. Our family went out for a fancy-schmancy dinner once a year there, usually at Easter, dad and the boys in our little suits and mom in her hat. A guy named nicknamed "Frenchy" (he was actually our neighbor, a chainsaw repairman) donned a beret and soothed us with tunes from the organ. They had a salad bar! Well, enough nostalgia and narrative, lest I raise the hackles of those real reviewers at The Reader and such. We came for lunch. First time for that. In the past, I've been here many times, for dinner with a friend or a group of friends, celebrating birthdays, new jobs, engagements, and a couple firings, too. My first thougth is that L. Woods is a great special occasion place for a number of reasons. Easy to get to, with lots of parking. A great bar to hang out while waiting for your party. Always has a nice party or festive buzz. Always crowded, and was so on a Tuesday at lunch. The crowd is mixed and tends to draw in more of a long-in-the-tooth North Shore types. The walls plastered with black and white 8 x 10's of customers and friends and visiting celebs like Jeff Garlin, Tom Skilling, and Steve Dahl, to name a few. Shades of The Pump Room or Gibson's. The last time I was here with a group, we shared a memorable starter portion of flatbreads and their famous chopped salad. You don't have to order much of either for it to go a long way. Otherwise, always a good go to place for comfort food such as meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, a perfectly grilled salmon filet or filet mignon. The ribs are great, if a little on the sweet side. But we all shared my recommendations, had wine, and came out of there for around $50 per/person. Service here has always been that hands-on, assertively friendly and swift variety I've come to expect with a Lettuce Entertain You operation. I've never had a complaint there. On our recent lunch for two, we had a burger and a BBQ brisket sandwich respectively. Fries and a shared key lime pie, too. Good quality, moderateley-sized servings. They sat us in one of those, as my friend Bonnie puts it, two-bedroom circular booths. There are places you could get that same fare for less in an even more casual environment, but we were taking advantage of a gift card, so it was a good place to hang for a few hours, and catch up with an old friend. Other famous (but not unique) bites here are the chocloate lava cake and the strudel dessert, either one a fun last course tradition if you become a regular. L. Woods: just a great Northwoods Supper Club and nothing more. It knows what it is and does that well. Bring mom and dad when they come to town. Have a celebration here, even if it's because you got fired. Five stars, LEYE, if you add a salad bar, and hire Frenchy at the organ.
(4)
Shawn K.
L woods is definitely worth a try, particularly if you live on the north side. I've always had great meals there, from the appetizer to dessert. We usually start with the walleye chips or the chop salad. The full order of the chop salad is huge and would be enough, for an appetizer, to feed 3 adults, or a family or a maybe four people who aren't huge eaters. The chop salad is significantly more expensive than the walleye chips, 13$ salad and 7$ for the chips. Even still, the chop salad is worth a try. If you like walleye, the walleye chips are very good. If you don't particularly like walleye, then you may not be so impressed. The ribs are one of their signature dishes. I prefer the beef ribs to the pork. They are huge and pretty manageable. Probably not so manageable that I would order them on a first date, I would wait til the second. The meat comes off the none exactly how it should. You have to pull and cut a little bit. But, the meat isn't supposed to fall right off the bone if they are cooked right. I rarely like beef more than pork but for some reason, after trying them both, i prefer the beef. The ribs are hue, unfortunately the beef ribs only come as a full rack, unlike the pork which you can order a half rack. I never finish the full beef rack, but they taste just as good the next day. My girlfriend loves the parmesan crusted cod. It comes lightly crusted, (see pictures) in a lemony butter type sauce. Its pretty rich but really tastes light, fresh and a little citrus-ie from its accompaniments. For sides, the garlic mash potatoes are superb. Check out more of my reviews at ShawnKemp.yelp.com
(4)
Natasha R.
L. Woods Tap is very similar to Wildfire, but with cheaper prices. It's also smaller and has a very cozy interior, making it a perfect place to go to during the cold winter months. I bring up Wildfire because I love that restaurant and it's my go to place when options are limited or if I can't think of anything else. L. Woods has just as good of food and the service is on par as well. I've had it bookmarked for awhile, but recently had the chance to try it out with a couple of co-workers and I've been back two more times since then. Each time the food is consistent, fresh, and it's always seems to be busy, especially during lunch. The French Onion Soup is one of the best I've ever had - it was oozing with cheesy goodness! They have a great flatbread lunch combo where you can pair one of their flatbreads with either a cup of soup, salad, or a bowl of the French Onion. For $10.99 it's not a bad deal at all and the fresh mushroom flatbread is absolutely delicious. I remember the size being very intimidating but it's so thin that it almost feels as if you are eating mushrooms with air. I've also tried their chopped salad - it's good, but not as good as the one from Wildfire. And last time I tried the Chef Special - Coconut Shrimp.. it's definitely an item off the menu that I would recommend. In my opinion, eating at a LEYE Restaurant almost always guarantees a good, if not great experience. With that said, I will definitely be back and I highly suggest to check it out if you are in the Lincolnwood/Skokie area in the near future... with a reservation.
(4)
Halisa V.
If you are in the mood for some awesome beef ribs go here! L.Woods does not disappoint. Their portions are really big so make sure to come with an appetite. The interior is quite nice. The restaurant overall has a cozy feel to it. Also the place always seems to be packed, which conveys they must know what they are doing (& of course the food is good)!
(5)
Trisha B.
Came here tonight for my birthday dinner and another chicken dinner. I thought it was good the first time, the second time was fabulous. Not sure if it could have been better than the first. The pieces were huge and all I had was the wing and drumstick and half of my mashed potato and it was enough. The only thing was it was a bit cold in there. They probably hadn't turned the air off yet. There were a lot of people that had jackets on. But no reflection on the food. As Guy Fieri says.."Winner, winner chicken dinner!!" My 5 year old niece had the chicken tenders and loves it so much she wants to go back 100 more times to be in the kids club!! We'll be back again!
(4)
Tobin h.
The service and teamwork is constantly on magnificent display at this taste of backwoods in the heart of Lincolnwood. I saw several customers, shall we say--on the difficult side (very high maintenance) each time I've been there and each time the team of servers and managers take care of the guest with a smile to the customer's delight. The food is good and ambiance has a few too many "famous" pictures for my liking but if that's the biggest ding, L.Woods is doing just fine! It is in my dining rotation when I am in Lincolnwood and recommend it for those that are anywhere near Lincoln and Touhy.
(3)
Jimmy W.
So I've been here like 4-5 times but always sat at the bar ordering burgers of some sort. Service was always ok since there was a bartender there to keep tabs on how you're doing. It's been a while since I've been here and today was a disappointment in all departments especially service... Ordered Peppercorn wings, juicy with good flavor, could have been cooked a bit longer for the skin to firm up a bit, ok fine. Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Very thick batter that just slides off the chicken. So you take a bite of chicken, then a bite of batter so you get both in the same "bite". Flavor is fine but overall a fried chicken failure IMO. Maybe the baby back ribs are better... I got the "DryRub" which didn't seem to have any rub on them at all, pretty flavorless. I did get a 2oz cup of BBQ sauce on the side which is good for 1/4 of the slab... For $28 I'll pass. The worst part of the whole 60 minutes of time spent there was the crap service. After placing the initial order the only time we saw the waiter again was when he brought out the food. No drink refills, no asking how things were, zero, zilch, nada! (Wait, he refilled my water, but not my iced tea or ask if I wanted another drink from the bar, I'm usually good for 3-4) Even when he brought the food he never asked us anything?! He basically said here ya go and walked away! The guy who bagged our leftovers was more helpful! There were 3 other servers standing around talking but they seemed to have no problem taking care of their tables...? Maybe our waiter was the bartender & chef as well, maybe he had to valet some cars, oh wait they don't have valet service. Who know what he was doing, but whatever it was he wasn't taking care of his table! I HATE POOR SERVICE !!!!! And they were NOT busy at all...
(2)
Maria A.
Came here the other day with my boyfriend and another. I was excited because the Wednesday night special is breaded pork tenderloin with fresh corn off the cob, mashed potatoes, apple sauce. It's my absolute favorite dish! My dinner mates had the roasted chicken, the BBQ beef bones, and the burger. Everyone seemed happy with their choices. Michael, our server, was super nice until the end when his "peppiness" abruptly ended but it might have been shared fault since we had been engaging in a witty banter over my Moscow Mule being served in a mason jar instead of a copper mug like the last time I had it. That was really my only disappointment with the meal. Michael tried to make it up to me by offering to buy me a dessert. When we didn't see anything we liked and decided to go to Oberweiss instead, it would have been nice if he had taken our moscow mules off instread but I didn't raise the question. Still one of my go-to restaurants in the city. I typically try to go on Wednesdays for the special but Sunday's special (fried chicken) is also good too. I think the only dish I wasn't too thrilled here was the prime rib special on Saturday.
(4)
scott B.
First of all, we always get outstanding service here. Consistently. Bravo to the service team. Great ribs and BBQ. Skip the fires and go for the chips if you are leaning that way. Cole slaw needs a bit of pepper to help it out. Don't forget the apple strudel.
(4)
Tamir G.
Was not expecting much but was not expecting to be disappointed either. The flat bread bbq chicken was good. Salmon plank bbq was nothing exciting. Ribs were dry. Flank steak was over cooked. Service was very attentive so I gave them the extra star.
(3)
Felice C.
L. Woods is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary here. Making a reservation is a definite must! The place was packed when we went. We had reservations, arrived and realized I left my wallet at home. They allowed my boyfriend to wait at the table while I went to get my wallet--but they didn't let us change the reservation time because they were completely booked. My boyfriend ordered the barbecue chicken & rib combo. And I was feeling fish, so the waitress recommended the almond crusted walleye. My boyfriend really enjoyed his barbecue meal. However, I really hated the almond crusted walleye. It was so bland, and the fish had no flavor. I barely ate a fourth of it. Service was decent, but the food wasn't good enough to have me back.
(3)
Karen C.
I'd been wanting to try L. Woods for a while & we finally trekked our way out of the city to check it out. We made a reservation on a Saturday, and good Lord am I glad we did! This place was packed. We were easily the youngest people there on a Saturday night, but sometimes that makes me feel good, what can i say? I had the salmon, it was really, really delicious... cooked perfectly & the potatoes it came with were ridiculous. The man had a steak & he said it was great. Any time I get a chance to use some of my LEYE scratchoffs & earn some points, I'm a happy camper... I've yet to be disappointed with any LEYE experience!
(4)
Valerie W.
2 excellent meals at L. Woods so far! I am surprised I forgot to leave a review last time. Oh well... here's our most recent visit. I jokingly asked my boyfriend to bring me to L. Woods for an impromptu date because I had a taste for steak but didn't want to break the bank. He grimaced a little, but it was all an act as we pulled into the parking lot at about 8pm on Wednesday evening. We opted to sit at the bar as it as just the two of us, something we're starting to do more and more. He has a thing for deviled eggs lately, so he immediately ordered the BLT deviled eggs upon seeing them on the menu. I'm a little picky about deviled eggs, its a texture thing - but these were good! They came with a peppercorn mayo, which acted as a nice dressing for the shredded lettuce, tomato, and bacon that were left behind on the plate. From there, we decided to each have a salad and split a steak. I had the classic iceberg wedge, which was loaded with bacon, grape tomatoes, red onions, and blue cheese dressing. Iceberg is not usually my favorite, except in wedge salads and on homemade tacos. This wedge was great - I asked for a TON of cracked black pepper and our bartender was happy to oblige. We shared the 14 oz char-broiled New York Strip steak -medium rare, with a double baked potato. It definitely came out more rare (borderline blue) than medium rare, but that didn't scare us away, and I was hesitant to send it back after I'd cut it in half already, for fear it would come back overdone. I'll eat an under-done steak any day of an overdone one. Bartenders did a great job of keeping our drinks and water refilled, and made nice, but not overbearing conversation. L. Woods is at the top of my Lettuce Entertain You list.
(4)
Hannah H.
About a 2-2.5: My friend and I came to check out L. Woods, as we'd heard that they were featured on 'Oceans Twelve' :P The place itself is literally a lodge, with a deep woodsy, rustic interior with leather booths. The menu featured lunch, dinner, dessert, carry-out, and even GF options. I had heard about their famous burgers, so I tried the L. Woods Old-Fashioned Burger - this contained a signature beef blend with onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, and house sauce, with a side of fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, and a pickle. The burger itself wasn't as juicy as I expected it to be and quite dried out - it was also more on the bland side, even with the house sauce. T___T The fries were okay, and the cole slaw was more on the sweeter end. Service was a bit MIA, and it was slightly too warm in there. I may come back to try out their ribs and their old-fashioned drinks. Plenty of parking in their private lot. +dried-out burgers T___T +MIA service +private lot
(3)
Hinna S.
I have been here twice and the food is consistently great. They have the best veggie burger I have had in Chicago! Not to mention that the wine selection is incredible, one of the wines tasted like an apple pie that melted in my mouth! The mashed potatoes are also a great side and they taste delicious!
(5)
Ivana B.
The apple strudel is to die for! Comfort food at its best!
(5)
Francis F.
We visited this place one Sunday ago for lunch...Enjoyed the atmosphere and service! Food was ok too but nothing really exceptional with this place that I couldn't find elsewhere for a little cheaper. I tried the apple strudel and bacon cheddar burger with side of mashed potatoes. Oh they give fresh and warm complimentary bread while you wait for orders!
(3)
The Coffin B.
My favorite restaurant. Staff is great. Manager is great. Food always perfect. Cocktails always on point. If i could I would eat here everyday. Keep up the great job everyone.
(5)
Hunda S.
Good steak nice place havent been here in awhile but my husband and i enjoyed it last
(4)
Sarah C.
Attended a get together for my mom here and was pleasantly surprised by not only the service but the food. My BBQ chicken was delish and I didn't hear a single complaint at the table either. The only thing I didn't love was my banana cream pie. Not only does it come with nuts on it but I found it to be a little bland. My sister had some issues with a reservation we booked months in advance after the event planner made a mistake; but the manager made it right.
(4)
Jacqueline B.
First time here & OMG I'm about 10 Ibs heavier!! To start off we had brisket nachos which were good. Dad had the NY steak, French fries & mash potatoes ..which were all good. Mom had the half chicken and ribs = good. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger (although they forgot to put bacon on it) and double baked potato..all great. EVERTHING WAS GOOD!
(4)
Jessica C.
I actually enjoy the kitschy "cabin" atmosphere - in fact, it might be the best thing they have going. It's cute and cozy and a bit of a throwback. The food is, well, ok. It's like going to a Friday's, just a bit less "heated out of a package sent by corporate." Don't get me wrong, it's acceptable, but just not anything particularly special. The fish and chips are a little oily and bland, the chopped salad is good, but not really any different than one offered by Corner Bakery, the onion bread is warm and good in a diner sort of way. I did go one night because for some reason I was desperately craving a brownie sundae, and they didn't fail me - although I suspect it was brownie mix and I know it was not homemade ice cream. Again, that's not a crime and it's perfectly ok, it's just something that technically I can reproduce at home. As others have mentioned, it is often busy so be prepared for a wait, even though you wouldn't suspect it.
(3)
Dev S.
I had an excellent meal and experience here for dinner. I went to dinner on a Wednesday summer night where the place and the parking lot was packed. We were seated right away and the wait staff was great. The menu is high class american and bbq fare. Being from Texas and being a somewhat BBQ snob I wanted to try the pork ribs. I got a half rack pork ribs, slaw and baked potato. The food came in good time and piping hot. The ribs were smoked and had a good rub on them. They were very tender and meaty. The baked potato was good and so was the slaw. My experience at L. Woods was great and I would come again. The only negative thing I would say is the restaurant was very cold. Other then that I am a fan and will be going back.
(4)
Theresa B.
This used to be one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions. Last night was a big disappointment. Food was okay, but nothing special and all our food was just warm when delivered. Waitress was good, but way too busy to give the service that we expected. We never got bread brought to our table and our entrees were delivered when we were only half way through our appetizer. When I told the runner that we were still eating our appetizer, he just shrugged and continued to put our food on the table. Waitress did apologize and sent out person from kitchen and they did remove the appetizer from our bill, but the rushed service really ruined the dining experience. I don't think we will be back in the near future.
(3)
Osama S.
Local family restaurant. Wonderful people. Great food and wonderful place for families to have a meal to gather big parking lot and country still sitting.
(5)
R S.
I have been a lettuce customer for over 20 years... Yet never been to L Woods. Went here for dinner the other night. They did not disappoint. Everything was wonderful. Had a great meal. The prices were reasonable. Te service was great.
(4)
David C.
Well, if you'd like to sit under a cold air vent, complain repeatedly and have the staff refuse to let you switch tables - then this is the place for you! Seriously, we LOVE the food here but I'm stunned at how poorly we were treated - right up to the manager. Particularly surprising for a Lettuce restaurant!
(1)
Elaine M.
We come here several times a year for dinner, but today was my first time for lunch. While the menu items and specials are the same, the prices (and likely the portions) are a bit smaller. Also, we did not have to wait for our table, nor did we feel rushed to leave after eating. This is a huge plus when dining with 4 kids! Our server was super helpful and very patient with our large group. The noise level at lunch was a lot quieter than at dinner, too. The fried calamari appetizer was excellent - piping hot and crispy. The fried chicken (pork?) salad special was delicious, as was the BBQ beef brisket and the boneless ribs. The littles enjoyed their buttered noodles kids meal with fries / potato chips and apple sauce. Sadly, we were all too full for our favorites: mac and cheese and gooey chocolate cake. We'll back again soon.
(4)
Courtney L.
Think the scene from The Great Outdoors when John Candy thinks he is finished eating the "96 ouncer" and there is "nothing left on the plate but fat and gristle"...well, that was the makeup of my entire full slab of ribs. My BF and his mom also ordered ribs and they were exactly the same: fatty, chewy and tough. The three of us also ordered twice-baked potatoes, and when our meals arrived, one was missing, "because they were out." It was a real bummer of a time as far as the food goes. I don't think I'll be back.
(1)
Joann V.
Good place to go to when you just wanna chill and watch a game. Not as loud as bars can get. More of a restaurant setting. Everything I've had food wise was great. But then again I do know how to order ;)
(3)
Erica D.
L Woods is our favorite neighborhood spot. We go as a family and my husband and I go for date night. Not fancy but the food is always so good. I drink a gallon of their tomato soup and their fish fry on Fridays are more like a party with friends. You always see people from the neighborhood and the service is always friendly.
(4)
Rebecca M.
My family and I had a great time. We ordered the baby back ribs, a bacon cheese burger, and a chopped salad. All of the food was AMAZING!!! The sides were also amazing. We got thought the fries and mashed potato's delicious. You should definitely come here!
(5)
Michelle G.
This place is the quintessential supper club. The paneled walls are covered with old black & white photos, stuffed fish and mounted antlers. We started with a dirty martini and a gin & basil gimlet. You must order a proper cocktail at a supper club. And yes they do have blue cheese olives. Perfectly dressed chopped salad and quite the ample portion. Dry rub baby back ribs and cedar planked bbq salmon are lip licking good. It's packed 7days a week so be sure to make a reservation. Even if you have to wait it's well worth it.
(4)
Krystel H.
Always great. I have been going here for a long time. Never disappointed Favorite item on the menu is the parm crusted skirt steak. And they have great salads The salads are huge! Great family restaurant. Definitely will continue to go to this restaurant.
(5)
Jimmy P.
For me this is one of the best local places in Lincolnwood for extremely delicious food and great service as well as a quality bar. Also, for the flavorful tasty food, it is relatively inexpensive. Nothing says family restaurant like L.Woods. The few negatives are: It is always busy, which in hindsight is good, but it is difficult to get a table without reservations, or sometimes with a reservation, it is hard to predict the time you will be seated because they are always slammed. So make sure you reserve your table or it could put a damper on any later plans. Also, the food is great, because it is loaded with the stuff doctors tell you to avoid. So the very thing that makes it so great, also plays a tug of war with the bad side. That is just me though, and will not always apply as a negative for everyone else. So if you are guilt free on fatty foods, and love reserving tables before going out, I'de probably go ahead and give it 5 stars for a review.
(4)
Jen Q.
We come 3-4 times a year with family, a party of 15-25. We've always been accommodated. The food is wonderful. The service is exceptional.
(5)
Jennifer G.
L Woods came through when I had to find a dinner spot for a party of 13. The ambiance worked well for the group and the menu had choices for just about any taste. Everyone raved about their meal. Almond crusted walleye, pork tenderloin, and the chopped salad earned particular raves. The meals aren't elaborate, they are comfort food done very well.
(5)
Stephen M.
I had done an earlier review and was completely unhappy. To their credit the restaurant contacted me to make amends. We returned with friends who are quite particular. Unlike our last visit which was the end of a Saturday evening, this visit was during prime time on a Sunday. Each of our entrees were as requested and good. Our server kept focused and delivered on each of our somewhat fussy requests. High marks for her. So, 'yay, I'm a fan'. I'm a fan of a responsive restaurant. They made amends, asking for another chance, believing they were better than our last experience.
(4)
Patricia M.
The service was very rushed. My "fried fish" was totally over cooked. Very disappointing and over-priced.
(1)
Russ H.
When you are looking for a great meal in an out-of-the-way place, L Woods never disappoints. The ribs and salmon are fantastic. I highly recommend. Fun place to take the entire family.
(5)
Joseph K.
Ok I have made up my mind I can not give 4 star for those bbq beef ribs this place definitely deserves a 5 star hands down and not just the bbq beef ribs but also the customer service and the whole entire menu is best food I can ever have thank you Lwoods
(5)
Alex U.
Great place for a family outing. Everyone will walk away full and happy. My son had the 12oz skirt steak, two thumbs up. Along with the key lime pie. My wife and I had the meatloaf and walleye sandwich respectively, delicious!
(4)
Lauren A.
Great place to go and relax and have some comfort food and a few beers / cocktails. We came in for the first time last weekend without a reservation and ended up sitting at a high top in the bar area. I couldn't believe it was that crowded at 5 p.m. on a Saturday! Will be making a reservation next time for sure. The server brought us a loaf of the onion bread with butter right away which was delicious. I started with a house sald which was the most enormous house salad I have ever had. Really generous plate with tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, and super tasty homemade croutons. The house dressing was also really good. For my entree, I had the BBQ half chicken with a double baked potato. The chicken was very moist, but I did think they covered it with too much sauce. I actually couldn't believe they gave me a side of BBQ sauce as well. The thing was already covered with it! I am one of those people, though, who doesn't really like sauce on meat. It drives me crazy when there is too much of it. So that may be a taste thing. The chicken itself was really good, though. The double baked potato was perfect - creamy and full of flavor. We really wanted to put in an order of the baked chocolate cake but were just way too full to do it. Next time.... As far as beers, they do have a pretty good selection of local-ish craft beers on tap. The best thing is that they have Left Hand Milk Stout on tap which is one of my top 3 favorite beers ever... and very unusual to have on tap at a random place in Chicago. So, that was awesome. I can't wait to come back to this place. It is a great place to bring family or friends and spend a couple of hours having drinks and a leisurely dinner. Just be prepared to roll yourself out of here.
(4)
Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: B- Service: B Solid, nothing flashy, across the board. Never had a bad meal, but sadly never a great meal. I recommend eating at the bar, good selection of beers on tap. The interior could use some updating, but on the whole the supper club feel is well represented. Service is good, no complaints. The food is pretty standard.
(3)
James G.
Unable to provide quality service or food. Portions and quality are inconsistent; front of house staff and management rely on lying to customers thinking they don't know better; reservations are accepted but fall by the wayside regularly (why make a reservation if you have to wait an hour to sit down?); to go orders taking an hour longer than the pick up time are inaccurate. Dried out, fatty, brisket - meant to serve 10 people - if you give each person 2oz of meat, maybe.... We've grown expect much more from a Lettuce Entertain you establishment, ever since this location was revamped from Bones barbecue it has been in a slow downhill slide. We will absolutely never come back or order carry out again. You should avoid this place if you have any respect for your time or your money because it's obvious they do not.
(1)
.Kìt À.
This place is known for the ribs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. They do a very good business. The tomato bisque soup is a must have. We ordered ribs and burgers. Both were divine. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce on the ribs. The full order of ribs is a very very massive amount of food. Key lime pie and brownie sundae are both delicious. Staff is considerate and friendly. The photos that we saw hanging on nearly every wall added history and charm. Just remember that anytime you want yummy food, tasty drinks, ribs or burgers or chicken with desserts that your sweet tooth will appreciate; then definitely drive over to Lincolnwood Illinois and stop into L Woods Tap and Pine Lodge for their delightful, delectable, dinners.
(5)
Rahul G.
This is a go to for my wife and her family and I. Easy and really yummy. Simple food, but done right. I love going on Sunday and getting the fried chicken, huge portion and so so good. The cobb salad is also giant and perfectly made. One of those places where everything is good. The ribs are excellent as well. Can get crazy crazy busy but it's worth the wait. Go for an earlier dinner and you'll be fine.
(5)
Mark G.
I chose to come here for my birthday dinner, so that speaks to how much I enjoy their food. As if coping with the stigma that comes with turning 30 wasn't enough, I realized I chose a place that attracts more old people than the entire state of Florida. I'm surprised I didn't leave L. Woods driving a mid 90's Buick LaCrossee. That didn't deter me because the ribs here are fire. I'm not even a crazy ribs person. I'm one of those people more inclined to order a burger instead. But one visit here, I was sold. I actually feel kind of bad for people who don't get to share their food with another person, because deciding between the beef ribs or dry rub baby back ribs would be strenuous. Both are really good but I would suggest the beef ribs since they're not attainable at most places. This is definitely one of those places you choose when somebody owes you dinner and you don't have to pay.
(4)
Joe R.
The service is generally pretty great here as well as the delicious food. I do however feel there is often TOO many people inside where you can't walk by the bar area, you're being bumped into by people, and there are even more people standing in walkways because they don't fit at the table. I dont like to be boxed in or surrounded by people or have their butts in my face while I am seated at a table. This is not so much of an issue if you avoid the bar area entirely. The food has been great every single time ive come in here. Get the brisket nachos, effing delicious. Sometimes they get a little stingy with the brisket, but it's by far their top appetizer IMHO.
(4)
Evelina L.
So....this place really does get 4 start only because of the most divine strudel in the whole wide world! I would say skip the rest of the meal and just order the strudel! Ok ok, since it does take 30 minutes to bake it TO ORDER, you can probably grab a quick bite to eat of something else first. Maybe. I like that they always have a fresh assortment of iced tea, lemonades and even home made soda. Portions are HUGE, but things are somewhat on the healthier side, if you don't count the quantity. During lunch, the average age is always 75 and it gets very crowded, but service never skips a beat. Try L. Strudel next time you are in the neighborhood. I mean L. Woods. :)
(4)
Still W.
Great food! Ive always liked it here
(5)
Ray D.
Awesome Cheese Curds. Probably the best in Illinois. Best BEEF RIBS in Chicagoland so far. Beef ribs are a rarity in the Midwest. And they did me proud. Ambiance has a warm Wisconsin Supper Club feel. Look forward to going back with beef rib BBQ fans.
(5)
Steve O.
We had an enjoyable dinner. Always great food. Always great service. Always a wait, but always worth the wait.
(5)
Jimmy J.
This is one of those old school type of places where you can sense who is a regular & who isnt. We were told 10 minutes for a table,but had to wait 25. It seemed like REGS were given priority but i can't be sure. Nonethless, we had a very good meal here. Friendly and effecient service by Flavio. Chopped Salad starter was solid, smaller portion @ $10 was enough for 2. Flatbread is authentic in the sense that its super thin and crispy as should be. I liked our bbq chicken flatbread although felt it odd that it and all flatbreads has pesto sauce. We sampled their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and they were dynamite. Much better than all these hyped up bbq places that do not serve the meat hot. Meat was charred on quality brioche bun and sides of Slaw and baked potato were quality. Prices were $11 which compared to the marketplace, is very good. The Salted Caramel bread pudding was delicious, and large enough for 4 to share, and was only $5.99. My last couple experiences at LEYE concepts have been piss poor (DiPescara) to mediocre (RPM Italian). L Woods delivered whatr LEYE joints generally do: Good food, dependable service, comfortable settings, at reasonable price points. We will return. I saw FULL SLAB on way out that will bring me back FO SHO.
(4)
Jose T.
L. Woods has become my family's favorite Chicago area supper club. Great food, great drinks & the perfect atmosphere. It's got an 'old school' supper club vibe that we love with everything else to match.
(5)
lee m.
Great old fashions . Fantastic portions paired with an old school dinning experience. Absolutely love this place. The service was on point. Strait forward menu, no chicken liver mousse and snobbery. Surf and turf was cooked to perfection. Great place for multi-generations to get together. I will be back.
(4)
Howard L.
We came back for dine-in Sunday night dinner, and we are back to the 5 star quality we've been used to at LL Woods over the years. We used the comp'd gift certificates sent to us for our last sub-standard take-out dinner, and had their fried chicken dinner ($17.99) and a half slab of dry rubbed baby back ribs (also $17.99). It was all simply delicious with a pint of a new red ale from the Peoria area (Tighthead Scarlet Fire Red Ale at 5.6% ABV). The buttery fried chicken was succulent on the inside and the best serving we have had to date of this Sunday night classic. Will surely be back again and may try another night for another of their renowned daily specials.
(5)
M. T.
Lots of hype, big on atmosphere like a Wisconsin lodge. Food was very good, but not great. Had the pulled pork, it was just as good as Weber Grill.
(3)
meredith d.
I love this place - the clubby atmosphere, friendly service and excellent food. Just had lunch there, and my friend and I had to wait for our entrees. We weren't complaining - we were chatting and drinking coffee - but when the food arrived, the manager came to our table to tell us that it was all on the house! Because we'd had to wait so long! I can't even tell you how long it was - maybe 30 to 45 minutes, if that. So we were comped a $50 meal! On a previous occasion, after picking up a dinner from them, we discovered that my husband's potato was missing, and they sent us two gift certificates to make up for it. So they have excellent customer service as well as delicious food. Favorites? The crusted walleye, the fried chicken (Sundays only for that one, I believe), the walleye nuggets appetizer and the meatloaf. Good decaf coffee, too (which is rare). Did I say I love this place?
(5)
Natalie B.
Downright awful. Why oh why do people come here? The average age is easily 80, maybe the older folk just don't know better? First off, it feels dirty and tables are crammed together so tightly that people can't walk through. I had to get up at least three times to let other patrons walk by ( for reference, I'm pretty thin and was pushed close in). We were at a 6 top that had an extra chair crammed in and was made up of two uneven tables that didn't match up which = spills!! So the food. Yuck! My ceaser salad was a bag of romaine lettuce with a package of store croutons thrown on and shelf stable Parmesan. The chicken, which was forgotten until I asked a bunch of times resembled what they serve at McDonalds. My childrens food was equally unappetizing and my daughter threw up after consuming it. She isn't sick-was food poisoning. The other two didn't eat at all, and my kids eat everything and a lot. Will I come again? Heck no and I suggest you don't either.
(1)
Dave C.
Great service and good comfort food. Wisconsin style supper club. The place was packed on a Friday night, which probably means things are good here. We stuck with the favorites, baby back ribs, Friday night fish fry & chocolate molten cake. It was all pretty tasty, good atmosphere, comfortable. Oh, and the Wisconsin Old Fashion was refreshing.
(4)
Kathleen C.
Oh no! Can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot as I've been here a zillion times. However, admittedly, I haven't been there in a while until this past week. It was just as I remembered! I always get basically the same thing, though I have tried many other items and I have never been disappointed. Food is always fresh and flavorful and not overly seasoned. The chopped salad - try it without dressing and then get a bunch of dressings on the side. Service is always friendly and even when the place is bustling, they know what to do! I've never had any issues with service and typically, even when there is a wait, they keep things moving pretty well. Atmosphere is somewhat lodge-y, though I suppose that goes with the supper club vibe. Very comfortable and cozy and a nice spot to have a great meal with great service and great food. Food - 5 Value - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Bathrooms - 4 Service - 5
(5)
Stephanie S.
Hubs' family is full of longtime Wisconsinites who romanticize the supper club atmosphere. So naturally we had to check out this place and see how it stacks up. We made reservations for a Tuesday night. The place was pretty crowded (had to park on a side street because the lot was full). Even with a reservation, we had to wait 15 minutes for a table. Given the way they called names, I'm not sure it mattered if we had made a reservation or not, which was pretty annoying. We were at the table for 5 or 10 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. In general it seemed our waiter, while friendly, was flustered and harried. The food was good, and portions were large. We split the small chopped salad (one of the better ones I've had with a good amount of bacon and bleu cheese). Hubs had skirt steak (ginormous), I had whitefish (nice crust, well-balanced butter sauce). No complaints on the food. Tasty and would gladly eat there again. Plus, brandy old fashioned FTW. Yes, the clientele is octogenarian. It's a little crowded and can be loud, so probably not the place for a romantic date. Hubs said the decor was "fake" (obviously, since it's part of a restaurant group and not an actual mom-and-pop supper club). Overall, I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to come here, and I'd enjoy my meal. But it's kinda far from my house and not good enough to justify the drive.
(4)
Mark F.
Amazing service, amazing food. We have been there a couple of times for a date night and with friends and have never left disappointed. The meats are great, the sides are amazing. If they have the meatloaf special, I highly recommend it. It's extremely family friendly and you can tell that the staff is really close. You would never think you are at a chain type of restaurant. It feels homie and comfortable. The bar tenders are always a riot and the servers are so personable that we found ourselves making conversation with them. We will definitely make this one of our go-to spots.
(5)
Andrew D.
One of our family favorites! The cheese curds and the brisket nachos are great starters. Both the pork ribs and the beef ribs are fantastic. I highly recommend going on Sunday for the fried chicken special. And be sure to save room for made to order gooey chocolate cake or apple strudel. They also have few signature cocktails that are delicious. Would be five stars but the service can be a little slow.
(4)
David R.
I'm a big fan of this restaurant; without meaning to, I've developed a habit of targeting it for casual special occasions. The first time was two nights before my wedding, the day that my family arrived in town and we needed a dinner option to please a large, disparate group. That night, I enjoyed some very solid calamari and a macadamia-encrusted tilapia special which was one of the best fish dishes that I can remember; my brother declared their pulled pork sandwich the best he's ever had. The second time was on St Patrick's Day in 2012, when the TimeOut magazine advertised a promotion where L Woods was giving away a corned beef dinner to any patron to show a passport with a stamp from the Republic of Ireland. When I showed up on the actual holiday, they told me that the deal was only for the preceding weekend. When I expressed my disappointment, the management agreed to honor the promotion after all. Hooray for customer service! And the corned beef and cabbage was not too shabby either. Recently I celebrated my second wedding anniversary there, because my wife loves this place too. We both have excellent taste. Except that she expressed no interest in my delicious barbecue ribs! Well, noone's perfect, but I love her anyway. Consistently good food, a fun casual setting, and cheerful service will keep us coming back on special occasions and maybe sometimes for no reason at all.
(4)
Patrick D.
Absolutely THE best pulled pork sandwich I've had in Chicago. Well cooked smokey moist meat. Mmmmm, mmmmm good! Great BBQ sauce on the side. You control how much goes on the sandwich. This place just keeps on doing it, and doing it very well. Do NOT be intimidated at having to order their "Famous Apple Strudel" when you order your meal. It takes 45 minutes to prepare so no ordering it after dinner.. It is wonderful, and big enough for 2 or 3. Also, probably the best floor staff of any place like this, friendly, efficient,, knowledgeable about everything on the menu,
(4)
Peter O.
Last Easter 2014, Paulina, that evening's overworked waitress from my above review graciously, kindly, expeditiously did double duty serving us while assisting us with a large family to-go order of what was (of course) delicious food while we ate and drank at leisure in the bar. Paulina has been my/our server and occasionally my bartender on many occasions since. I can not praise enough her warm, companionable decency and efficiency. This must be made clear. She's turned out to be a marvel, at the pinnacle of what is, with very few exceptions, one of the best restaurant staffs in Chicagoland. I hope to permanently have learned some necessary lessons here. ~Peter O.
(4)
L M.
Person with me enjoyed the brisket sandwich with cheese potatoes and coleslaw (has horseradish in it). I had a lighter dinner and enjoyed a slice of grasshopper pie for dessert. Place was packed on a Tuesday night. Service was excellent with a good sense of humor. Highly recommended.
(5)
Melissa A.
The tomatoe soup is to die for, definitely get a cup at least! One of my favorite restaurants, lots of vegetarian options (not so much vegan). The veggie burger is home made and the best I've ever had, loved by non vegos as well
(5)
Mark C.
We found this place because we wanted to use up a Lettuce Entertain You gift card and we could not be happier with our selection. The setting is like a lodge up in Wisconsin or Michigan... and a great reasonably priced menu. We were greeted by "Momma", who was waiting for us based on our reservation. An older lady that we at first thought was a customer or someone's Grandmother that wandered away from her table. But she was fun and friendly... so kudos on the nice start. For starters, the Fried Calamari was very good, although more than we needed and had to force ourselves to stop so we had room for dinner. The server was knowledgable about the selections and recommended the BBQ Ribs, which I enjoyed and partner had the BBQ chicken. Quite wonderful! The martini's at $11 a pop were good although first one was slightly warmer than the 2nd one... still a good deal at a good price. We will definitely return!
(4)
Dennis D.
One of my favorite restaurants. BBQ chicken and ribs are delicious. Brisket sandwich tender and flavorful. Highlight are daily specials. Saturday is great portion of Prime Rib and Sunday the fried chicken. Both really good Match that with the good service and a spectacular bar and you have a great dining experience that reminds you of the best old time supper clubs with modern spot on food. Enjoy this place. One of Lettuce Entertain You's more unique food establishments. Really crowded weekend nights.
(5)
Mariel I.
Went here for dinner and everything was great. We oredered the crusted whitefish and the ribs both were delicious especially their mashed potatoes. Definitely will come back.
(5)
Brenda P.
My bf and I have been here twice, staff is always friendly, we never wait long. Let's get to the best part. The food is so good!! Ribs are so soft and tender. Their french fried chicken is to die for. NY strip steak tasty!! We did have chicken and wild rice soup which was also great, definitely one of our favorites!!
(5)
Heather U.
My family and I stopped in for a late night dinner. We arrived a half hour before closing. Not only were we greeted right away but also got a table. Usually most restaurants are in a hurry as they are getting ready to close. But Greg, our server treated us the same as if we were their first customers in the door. He made sure we had enough to drink and if we needed anything else to let him know. Always a great place to eat anytime of the day!
(5)
B S.
This just isn't that good. I love all the lettuce entertain you options except this one. We were really disappointed. I just don't think the quality of food is up to par with other lettuce entertain you spots.
(1)
Jennifer Y.
I ate at L. Woods on Friday 1.30.15 for the first time and I did not enjoy my entree. I will not be returning. -The first time we tried to go there on a Friday night for dinner (without a reservation) we were told the wait time was TWO HOURS for a party of two. So we left and made a reservation for the 30th. HOSTESS = GOOD -We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and still waited about 25 minutes. The hostess looked stressed out and apologized that we had to wait. She said many tables were taking a long time to finish their meals. We understood and told her it was alright. She seemed very genuine. I felt bad that she was stressed out because all of the tables seemed backed up. -Another customer was upset that we got called up before him. He said he was waiting for over an hour. The hostess explained that we had a reservation and he didn't. ENVIRONMENT = CROWDED -The place was PACKED with people! That's good, right? -The tables are very close together. -The decor looks old. They have an endless amount of framed pictures covering the walls. FOOD= I think it depends what you order... -They brought out onion bread with butter for the table. It was warm and delicious. -We ordered the L. Woods Chopped Salad to share and it tasted great. The portion was great for us two. Tip: If you don't like blue cheese, this is not for you. -I ordered the Chopped Sirloin Steak with a baked sweet potato. The sweet potato was baked well and they put the butter on the side. It tasted great. The steak WAS TERRIBLE. It looked like ground meat that they made into a burger. GROUND MEAT IS NOT A STEAK. I was so upset. I was too embarrassed to send it back so I just didn't eat it. -My boyfriend ordered the New York Strip. It was cooked to his preference and it tasted great. I had a bite :) I wish I ordered the New York Strip instead. SERVICE= FAIR -The server noticed I didn't eat my entree and he kindly removed it from the bill. -The server was alright, but nothing special. -He took our order, brought out the food and that was it. He never checked on us to see if we liked the food. He didn't notice I hadn't touched my entree until he was giving us the check. -The bus boys were on top of everything though. They promptly refilled our water glasses. -Jennifer Edit: I looked into what a chopped sirloin steak is supposed to be .... I guess it is supposed to be ground like a burger. I was wrong. Either way, I didn't enjoy it.
(2)
CheesecakeChick I.
Let's hear it for the Mother's Day price gouge most restaurants do. Like Valentines Day, they know you will pay the price. Food was excellently prepared, what there was of it. Mom has the halibut special, which for 26 dollars should have more than a kind of small portion of fish with 5 asparagus spears. what no potato or rice on the plate? no soup or salad to start? no, that is all ala carte I had the almond crusted walleye. it was delicious. the double baked potato was extra. I had two strawberry lemon vodka manhattans, which were tasty but weak. they brought us a sample of the barbecue chicken flat bread, which was tasty, but the onion bread loaf on the table was cold, and the butter was hard. Expensive, but we enjoyed the food we ate! Enjoyed the Wisconsin Supper Club atmosphere.
(3)
Nicole P.
We went tonight and he Michael as a server.. He is impossible not to like! He is the nicest guy and works so hard. L. Woods has the best calamari ever! It's always cooked to perfection.
(5)
Bike R.
I've dined regularly with family and friends at L.Woods Tap for nearly 3 years....over 25 times. Great atmosphere, food, service and cocktails. BUT, a month or two ago something changed. Different uniforms on the staff, headsets and a cheaper pour on cocktails - particularly, martinis. Our waitress apologized. Said, "We're not happy about it," when asked why our martinis were well below the brim, unlike many other visits. No harm or foul on our waitress. She was great. So charge me more for a good martini, who cares. But serving up a lame martini with a lame excuse makes one feel cheated, Mr. restaurant manager. Not a good sign. What's next? So a BIG 'no can do' for our group from here on out. Calo (5343 N Clark) has the best martinis around....a large place with a great vibe, tasty ribs, nice selection of pizza and other decent Italian fare as well.
(1)
B D.
Four of us drove in from the N.W. burbs last week, wanted to try the famous Friday night fish fry. I ordered it, didn't care that it was $22 cause it was to be "spectacular." It tasted good but for $22 it should have been all you can eat, two small perch and a bed of fries. Maybe , maybe an $8 value. I believe the "Capone" martini was a one finger pour of Templeton Rye this would not make Big Al proud and where is all the knotty pine (buried under old B&W pictures)?? We will now go elsewhere for the fish fry when the mood hits. As the "Sharks" say " I'm out "!
(2)
Lorelei C.
Today was my first visit to L Woods.. My friend Dawn had told me this was a great place to eat.. and then my son Nick came in from Aurora today and asked me where I wanted to have dinner.. So..The exterior of L.Woods looks like a log cabin.. A great rustic look.. And once you enter the restaurant itself it's like you are stepping back in time, like a supper club from the 50's/60's.. Quite Classic..A bit Elegant.. It's pretty dark throughout the restaurant, any lighting is quite dim.. I guess some might like that romantic touch but.. my eyes were struggling to read/see the menu.. My son Nick who is 27 thought this was a nice restaurant.. But.. felt it's appeal would be to us older folk..(Meaning Me)! And.. yes.. most of the crowd were older than 27! Anyway.. we ordered off the dinner menu since we came in too late for the lunch menu.. And Nick said the menu did not have much variety.. What I saw/found on the menu were comfort food options.. Steaks, Chicken, Fish, Burgers etc.. I thought the menu covered enough food options.. Our server did bring a loaf of warm, onion bread for us.. But.. I had Haddock Fillets dipped in a Schlitz Beer Batter.. Nick had some chicken entree and baked Mac and Cheese.. And then for dessert I had a really good cream puff.. So..I thought L.Woods was a nice experience.. Service for the most part was on point and attentive.. Menu prices seemed for the most part to be comparable to other restaurants.. Actually..some may consider L.Woods pricing to be a little steep.. So be prepared.. If you like good food,and nice ambiance, I would suggest that you pay L. Woods a visit.. A really lovely place..:)
(4)
Ed K.
Hands done best Ribs in Chicago! I have been eating in this place for years and I have never been disappointed by anything I have tasted on the menu. A must try for BBQ Lovers!
(5)
Yvonne O.
I lived in Forest Glen for a few years and knew about this place but never made it in. I wanted to come for dinner, but since they didn't take reservations, we opted for lunch. I was shocked to see so many people there right at noon, but it is the burbs....we started with beef barley soup for me (yum) and potato skin nachos for my husband. They were not my thing, but he liked them other than the green onion on top. For the meal, I went with the three sliders (pulled pork, brisket, and chicken) which also had a ton of onion rings on each (not a fan and it wasn't noted). Husband had the chicken and rob combo, which was huge. We also had the blueberry buckle for dessert which was just okay. Total was about $80 before tip. The tubs were delicious, and the brisket was also a star. We just can't stand the sheer amount of onion on EVERYTHING. I was also surprised at no shrimp (other than cocktail) on the menu. Service started out excellent and faded a bit once the room started to get packed as we waited for the check for quite a while.
(3)
Palula C.
This is the right place to go after a night of being at Oakton and having your deranged anatomy teacher (who once expounded on the plot of the movie Over the Top to explain the Pronator Teres muscle) terrorize you with accounts of his wife's menopause, then give you a 150-question "quiz"...In other words, it's great if you're in the area. I've been to an actual Wisconsin supper club a few times (the Gun Club in Beloit, RIP), and I think their "homage" to that style is pretty solid. L Woods has some tasty beers! I discovered Wild Onion Hopslayer here...also their mac & cheese and creamed spinach are really the way to go with bar food. A couple times I got their brisket nachos, and it was just too many competing flavors for me. I would go here all the time if I were older, as a 20-something who should be on the prowl with people my own age, I would prefer to avoid the older men who ask whether you like Bob Seger...
(4)
Parker L.
If you want to have a consistently great dining experience, where the food is always prepared perfectly, the service is attentive, and you leave satisfied... L Woods is the place. I've tried almost everything on their menu over the years - their steaks are great. Salads are huge and fresh.But the best is the hamburgers. They are is just so good. (they also deliver on grub hub btw) Cons - On weekends, this place is packed. But you can usually get a table in the bar area.
(5)
Rebekah H.
This is a great spot whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Although, it is a good idea to get a reservation for dinner unless you are going to be there before 6pm. We love the flatbread/salad combos, both the mushroom and tomato flatbreads are equally delicious and I just love the chopped salad. The flatbread is so crispy and delicate but packs a flavor punch! We have also tried the Beef ribs which were very good and various other items on the menu and have been happy with all of them. For a nice small dessert, try the Goldbrick Sundae, so tasty and will not leave you stuffed!
(4)
Emily C.
We really wanted to like this place. A group of us (originally from WI) went for Friday fish fry recently to get a taste of home - L. Woods describes itself as a WI supper club. We knew it probably wouldn't be as good as home, but it wasn't really close. We loved the idea of the old fashioneds, but they were only ok. The fish fry wasn't unlimited (strike) and they didn't have potato pancakes (strike). What kind of WI fish fry is this?! Another friend ordered the flatbread and it was seriously served on something thinner than a cracker. She was still hungry afterwards (strike). We really wanted to have a go to fish fry place,. The food was fine and I didn't come up with three strikes, but I think we'll keep looking 66/365
(2)
Mark M.
called in at 4.00 to pickup dinner that included the infamous apple strudel, and i was told that it takes 45 minutes to bake, so i told the lady i was picking up at 5.30 when i arrived at 5.45 i was told the apple strudel was still cooking and it would be a minute or two more, there were 4 people behind me that got their food and 10 minutes later I was told again that it would be another minute or two, I heard the pickup manager calling a customer asking them when they would be picking up their order because it was ready 30 minutes ago, I laughed cause I was now waiting 30 minutes beyond my pickup time. when i was told a 3rd time it would be a minute or two more i told the pickup person I called an hour and half before the pickup time and it was now 30 minutes beyond the pick up time, and I had been waiting 165 minutes and had to go, so please cancel my order and credit my credit card. He had no problem doing that so i left, very disappointed and as you would guess hungry and angry. I would suggest you think twice about ever ordering for pick up from here unless you like hanging out for lengthy times in the small closet they use for pickups.
(1)
Ronni G.
Barbecue anything. I like devil sauce. Decent beer selection, classic mixed drinks. Don't miss the chopped salad-it's a meal in itself. Order the gooey chocolate cake when you order your dinner, and save room for dessert. And don't even think of coming here most nights without a reservation.
(5)
Zorin D.
I went to L. Woods to try the beef ribs which made it on to Time Out Chicago's "100 Best Things We've Tasted" list. The ribs were very good, but the Calamari was the best I've ever had in my life. If you're a calamari fan you have to try it here.
(5)
Jennifer Q.
Special shout out to server Jose A. who did a great job on my husband's birthday! The food is always good here -anything we have ordered has always been super tasty. Good food plus great service is what makes this local gem really stand out!
(4)
Mike L.
This place sure looks like a corner bar from the outside. Not knowing much about Lincolnwood my homie took me here. Upon walking into the fine establishment we were promptly greeted and seated. On a Monday night this place was packed. I knew it to be a good sign. Althought they squeeze in as many tables as they can seating was fine. A booth is the way to go if possible. This places oozes Old Skool 50's restaurant. Back then you would get soup and salad with your meal. Not here, but no matter the food is excellent. Both beef and pork ribs were outstanding. Tender, meaty, and moist......the only way to eat em. Huge portions and good service rounded out our experience. Their banana cream pie was pretty awesome not overly sweet or banana laden made it a pretty perfect ending. The name left me asking, where's Jake?
(4)
John S.
Everything was cooked to perfection! Loved that the waitress asked us about dessert when she took our dinner order since she politely reminded us they r prepared fresh and some of them take 45 minutes to bake so it would b ready when we were done eating, So we ordered an apple strudel and it was OUTSTANDING! It was easily large enough for four people!!!! It was one of the best desserts we've had at a restaurant. They also had a nice selection of desserts which did not require preordering which is great if u r not sure u want dessert. The mushroom flatbread was crisp, light and delicious! The ribs were tender and yummy! Prime rib was wonderful....can't say enough positive things about this special place!
(5)
Borat S.
There were a few things I didn't like. First off the wait was terribly long. I tried to call in my name because we had a 30 min drive ahead of us before we could get there. I wasn't very happy when he did finally get a table because it took longer than they had quoted, but once I tried the ribs I thought the wait was well worth it. The beef ribs were very good! I'm glad I waited. The molten chocolate cake was okay. If you like hot chocolate pudding you would like it.
(4)
Diana R.
You can't go bad with a place that serves French onion soup and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and I was right! L. Woods is a log cabin restaurant full of thousands of framed photos all along the walls. This place is HUGE but still retains a cozy feeling. Made reservations and came here at 6pm on a Saturday, I'm glad I made reservations, this place was packed and the wait exceeded an hour. We got seated near the bar in a cozy table that was pretty private (where's that Usher song when you need it). The pulled pork sandwich was amazing!! They really made that meat moist and the bbq sauce was right on. I also had the key lime pie for dessert and it was the best I've ever had, I even saved some for the next day and it still tasted fresh!
(5)
Laura P.
Good food, good service, awesome prices! I had the pulled pork sandwich and would recommend that. Also save room for dessert!
(4)
C B.
I agree, what an awful restaurant to go to to celebrate your daughter choosing which college she's going to in the fall. We were told the wait was an hour, but after 30 minutes the place had thinned out a lot but we were still waiting to get a table. So we decided to sit at a table in the bar. Waited forever for a waiter. So now we are really hungry and everything we wanted to order off the menu was gone. They ran out! How do you have fried chicken as a Sunday special and then u run out of it. The other people in our group thought the portion sizes were small and over priced. Bring Bones BACK!! Don't go here! We should have gone to Wildfire or Maggiano's.
(1)
Nick L.
Dry, dry and dry. 6 meals and that was the overwhelming consensus. It reminds me of a Wildfire setup and menu which is no bad thing. That's about where the similarities end. It's close by to the in-laws place so it was somewhere close we could have a nice dinner. There's a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated and have no complaints there. There's also warm bread at the start but after an episode of 20/20 I eyed it skeptically. We didn't order any apps and went straight for the entrees. I was in the mood for fish and chips, wife got a full rack of pork ribs. A steak, some walleye, chicken and beef ribs were also ordered and I got to try a bit of everything. My own choice was disappointing. The fish pieces were small (typical for the US) but the coating was too crumbly. Almost like something from the freezer in a grocery store. The full rack of pork ribs was large but the meat did not fall off the bone, not super fresh I guess, and was dry. The sauce was good but it could not hide the inadequacies of the ribs. The nut crusted walleye was pretty bland and was poor and I would not advise on that. Continuing on the dry theme, the chicken was dry, not the yummy moist and juicy chicken that is so easy to eat. The steak was overpriced for the size of the portion, can't comment on quality or taste because it was ordered medium well although it looked like well done to me. The beef ribs were the tastiest and I would get that if I was to ever come again. The sides were also pretty good, hard to go wrong with a well executed jacket potato with all the trimmings. This place also charges Wildfire like prices which was painful to my wallet especially as it wasn't the greatest meal I've had. i.e. For a lot less, you can get much better.
(2)
Amy S.
MMMMMM comfort food...L. woods is the definition of comfort food from staff, to atmosphere, to food. Came here with a big group for dinner and our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the dinner. I also loved the total lodge atmosphere, they really did transform the whole place. We got a variety of things off the menu and everyone seemed to be happy with their choice. I got a bloody mary and their barbecue turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn. Unfortunately for my stomach I ate the entire plate because it was so delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and had good simple flavors. My bloody mary had a really good spicy pickle in it and a smoky flavor which wasn't my favorite but was still good. Something tells me this is one of those places where you could order anything off the menu and you wouldn't be disappointed.
(5)
Ed S.
If you're in the mood to be transported to a Wisconsin lake with out the drive then this is your spot. Had a great meal there last night. Every table in the place had either the fried chicken or the ribs. Many had both, including us. Service was fantastic and welcoming. Traditional super club fare and good beer list. Huge place with wood paneling. Very busy.
(5)
Ken H.
Took my wife here for her birthday and brought the two kids. Overall a good experience but perhaps my hopes and expectations were too high. We frequent Wisconsin supper clubs often and while the menu, decor and beverages were obviously themed and influenced by Wisconsin/Michigan back-road establishments, I expected more from the Lettuce Entertain You brand. I tried two of their Old Fashioned cocktails, the Wisconsin and the Kentucky. Both were good but not great. You would think a Wisconsin themed restaurant would "nail" Wisconsin's state cocktail. They were off. I have had much better. I had the parmesan cod and my wife the BBQ salmon. Both were very tasty. The kids had the pounded chicken and a cheese burger, also very good. The four of us split the brownie with ice cream. This was underwhelming. With so many outstanding brownie recipes out there you would think they would make something special. It was not. Our bill totaled $130, so its pricey for a supper club but its suburban Chicago location makes this understandable. Prior to visiting I really had thought my review would be 5 stars, so I was disappointed in that but overall an OK experience.
(3)
Jackie K.
We frequent L Woods quite a bit! The parmesian encusted filet is to die for! The atmosphere is great, the people are friendly and helpful. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait. Even if you have reservations, the wait time to get a table is tremendous. This place is crowded no matter when you seem to go. We started a habit of ordering for pick-up to avoid the wait, only to have to wait 30 to 40 minutes at the pick-up counter after they give you a pick-up time. Go to L Woods when you have the time.
(4)
Nancy L.
Feels like an old school supper club but with some modern twists - take a deeper look and you'll realize it's a bit Disney like in the sense it's almost too well put together around that theme. That's probably because it's owned by Lettuce Entertain You. The bar is decorated just like some old taverns I remember in rural towns so it feels really down home. Dining in the circular booth tables feels cozy and private . The food is straightforward forward American cuisine - well prepared. After coming here I realized that all the Lettuce Entertain you restaurants have pretty much the same chopped salad with blue cheese, bacon, little pasta, tomatoes and mustard vinegarette - which I really like so I'm not really complaining. I loved that they offered a baked sweet potato with a brown sugar pecan butter which was really yummy and a nice change of pace from a regular baked potato. It's a great place for a big group - broad menu that is multi generational friendly. They also have a family style menu for about $29 a person that includes starters, salad, main course, sides and dessert. The servers are well trained and attentive. When we said it was our first time there they brought us a half flatbread order to try. We'll be back when we are in the mood for american rural nostalgia and a predictable experience.
(3)
E B.
Armed with $75 in "Lettuce Entertain You" gift cards, no reservation on a late Sunday afternoon, and a slight sense of adventure, I decided to check out this place after attending a matinee musical in the Loop. We arrived at 5:30pm and the place was packed and buzzing!!! I'm a lover of all things nostalgia and found the decor to be interesting and homey, like I was in a real life episode of the 80's TV show, "Newhart." From the pictures on the wall to the lodge feel, I had plenty of atmosphere to soak up while waiting for about 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, wait staff brought a nice warm loaf of onion bread to our table with butter and water. Our waitress asked if we were first timers, greeted us with a "well, welcome..." and proceeded to explain the specials and how all the menu items are freshly prepared. She quickly brought us our cocktails, mine was a cranberry-clementine sangria with pureed fruit on the bottom. A nice blend of tart and sweet and booze. A manager dropped by our table to welcome us for being first time guests and brought a complimentary barbecue chicken and pesto flatbread for us to snack on while we enjoyed a small chopped salad that was large enough for two to share. The evening would be full of small gestures such as this, the accumulation of which, make for a great and memorable dining experience. My "deconstructed" chicken pot pie arrived to my table piping hot. The sauce was creamy and rich but not salty (which I can appreciate). The flaky crust sat atop a stew with plenty of chopped chicken pieces and veggies. My friend had the fried chicken special with mashed potatoes and cole slaw and loved it! The portions were large enough to enjoy some leftovers for lunch the following day. Dessert was an egg-nog custard cream pie with a layer of fudge, vanilla whipped cream and a gingersnap crust. Large enough to share, but you probably wouldn't want to do so. L. Woods is great comfort food, big on taste and approachable. You wouldn't come here expecting a meal carved in to work of art you're reluctant to take a fork to but you won't be at all disappointed about that fact either.
(4)
Anto S.
Food is delicious, the steak is to die for, service is fast and professional. Overall a great experience but it is a bit on the expensive side.
(4)
AnnaMaria V.
For casual dining this was top notch. All the food was really good. The steaks were cooked perfectly. The ribs lived up to their reputation. The service was really good. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I was with a group of five and we were seated at a big booth in the back. That was cool because we really felt like we were by ourselves, even though the restaurant was packed. Not one person at our table had any complaints & everyone agreed that we would return.
(4)
Rachel L.
Pretty good place. Our waitress was so incredibly nice and helpful. I had the brisket sandwich, which was amazing. Also, their fries are addictive. My only complaints: -It's dark in there. Like any moment you think you'll look over an see an illegal poker game just like in the movies type of dark. -There are only two salads on the menu. Don't bring your pet rabbit. They won't like it the lack of greenery on the plates.
(4)
Amanda C.
We were heading for greek food and spotted L Woods. DETOUR!!!! My aunt recommended it about a year ago and I'm upset I waited so long to try it. This place is amazing! My husband and I came in for dinner tonight (Friday) around 5:30pm. We were a little worried that there would be a long wait since the parking lot was full. It was the complete opposite. We were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant is huge. It's oldsy style, very cute and warm inside. The place is HUGE. We were brought out a nice soft onion bread and butter. Sat down and looked over the menu. Our waitress, Joann, came over and offered us drinks. We didn't order any and she returned after giving us a few minutes to look over the menu. Joann was very welcoming and very thoroughly explained the specials and any items we had questions about. I was torn between the filet mignon and skirt steak. What I really loved about Joann is that she kinda hinted the choices for us. Sometimes people need a little push for deciding. To start my hubby and I shared a cole slaw. Amazingly delicious cole slaw. I ordered the skirt steak which she said was marinated in soy, pineapple and other spices. Side of sweet potato and sweet corn. Steak was cooked to perfection and spot on flavor wise. HUGE PORTION. The sweet potato was cooked perfectly also and it was served with the most delicious maple & walnut butter. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm. I can't believe I ate everything, this is a dish for two ladies to split. Per our wonderful waitress the hubby ordered the parmesan crusted cod. Uh, yum. I had a few bites. Absolutely delicious. Flavor was amazing. Mashed potatoes were also very rich and yummy. He was very pleased (and boy is he a picky one). I don't even know how we dared ordering dessert after all that food... but we did. We had the 7 layer cake which came with a freshly made whipped cream. The cream complimented the cake really well. Hubby had a cup of coffee and he said it was great... he's a picky guy with coffee also. Joann did not hover too much but came to check on us at the right times. Her over all presence made the experience that much better. Our waters were always full. The whole dinner cost $65 ($80 with tip). You might say it was a bit pricy but you know what?! For the quality of food and service, it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Andy S.
Food was good. Good atmosphere. Good beer. Didn't entirely blow me away but I would return.
(4)
Penny L.
Absolutely fantastic! The ribs are big and meaty, the mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious. Can't say enough good things about this place. It's a lettuce entertain you restaurant which is also nice. It's not in the city so it has a parking lot (score for no parallel parking!), the staff is very accommodating and the food is fresh and wonderful. It's a bit high in price but it's so worth it. Go! You won't regret it!
(5)
Chris O.
Great Friday Fish Fry place! A true Wisconsin restaurant except for the prices and the fact that they don't do all you can eat fish. The restaurant really does have that Wisconsin feeling right when you walk in the door. The old fashion is made spot on also.
(4)
Suze C.
I have always enjoyed Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, and wanted to try something else LEY offered because of great experiences, esp. at Maggiano's and Wildfire. On a Thursday night, we arrived 12 minutes late due to traffic (five of those minutes in their parking lot). The hostess chastised me for not calling to let them know. I thought she was joking, but no! The waiter was efficient and knowledgeable. My salmon portion was cooked exactly as requested but was nearly inedible because of a high sodium seasoning (I didn't see mention of this on the menu). A skimpy veggie side - a baked potato, was not cooked through. I had two classic cocktails, which did not have the expected flavor and almost no alcohol. Never had a meal so disappointing at this price point. Husband ate ribs and was disappointed as well, and he isn't very picky!
(2)
Sharee M.
We going to have a good time! Today my office had our annual Christmas party at L. Woods. I have been hearing about this great place and their food for months, so I was ready for a great time with great food! First up was the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread and Mushroom Flatbread.I loved the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread! Great favor, crispy, yummy! Our table had three servings of this! Next was the L. Woods Chopped Salad and L. Woods Orchard Salad. I (and the table) preferred the L. Woods Chopped Salad, as its mix of salad, noodles, cheese and other toppings was divine! We all had seconds on this salad. For entrees, BBQ Baby Back Ribs were served....how yummy were they! On point for being flavorful, moist, tender! Next was the Parmesan Crusted Whitefish, which was great overall. Side dished were non other than the Mashed Potatoes. Let's stop for a minute and talk about these potatoes. Just the most yummy side item I have ever tasted. Our table had about 10 dishes on this alone....they were just too good. I do know what is in them, but DO NOT skip out on the mashed potatoes here; it's just not wise on your part. ...Moving on. I did not care for the desserts being served today. Gooey Chocolate Cake did not have much of favor to me and I stop eating it after one bit. I do not like Key Lime. However, L. Wood redeemed it's self with a sugar cookie they give to us at the end of dinner, which was great! Our office had a great time in the back room. The place was busy overall, but you could not tell in our area. The service was great and prompt. Our food was great and hot. Our glasses were always filled timely. We had a great time and I could not see myself not stopping by L.Woods again (esp for mashed potatoes!
(5)
Michael H.
Great baby back ribs! Old fashioned drinks. Wisconsin memories. Half priced wine bottles on Thursday nights. Dark north woods decor with hundreds of photos. Really liked this place. Borders on 5 stars, but service kind of slow and missing a gourmet touch that would put it over the top. I would definitely return for those melt in the mouth tender ribs, no knife needed. BBQ sauce also delicious. If you grew up in Wisconsin (like I did), this place will bring a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye.
(4)
Nancy W.
I've loved this restaurant forever. I mostly have ribs when I come here. Today we finally tried their German apple strudel & it was AMAZING. I don't think they make anything that isn't excellent
(5)
Nats A.
L woods has always been a staple in Lincolnwood (used to be called Bones before), mostly because they are part of the Lettuce entertain you club. Every Christmas we always get the LEUC gift card from relatives, and every year we go to the exact same place (even though there are more restaurants that participate in this) : L Woods. Every time we go there we ALWAYS and i mean its mandatory that we order the CHOP SALAD. The chop salad is phenomenal. Probably the best one I have had in a long time (right next to portillo's chop salad). When we order we always get the larger size which feeds four people comfortably as an appetizer. I can eat a huge one all to myself and call it a meal, but I am forced to share. :( Like I have said previous, we have been coming here for a long time, and honestly I can't find one thing to argue about. I have had anything from the queen cut steak on the menu to the pulled pork sandwich. Everything was delicious. However, it get's extremely busy on the weekends so make sure you make a reservation. Also some of the tables in the restaurant are closely joined with the next table. In some parts of the restaurant it makes you feel like your breathing down someones neck.
(4)
Corey D.
I don't think I can count the number of times I have been to L Woods. My history there dates back to when the place was called Bones and some awesome changes occurred when it switched over. This 5 star review isn't based on a recent trip (which was a actually a little dicey), but rather on years of awesome experiences in a laid back and comfortable setting. Cesar salad, fried onion strings, skirt steak with vegetable of the day and either the ooey gooey chocolate cake or the apple strudel - that's the way I've been ordering since day one. For me L Woods (like most Lettuce concepts) is a place where you can get an awesome meal, time and time again because there is a level of consistency a la chain restaurants but with down home, locally grown concepts that offer more warmth and charm than a chain. Service is always stellar, the atmosphere there is killer if you dig the leather booth, wood cabin sort of feel and the fact that I see the same staff there year to year speaks to how the place is run. Sure the menu hasn't gone through much change since the place opened, but when you like what you like why stray? Know Before You Go: Recently dessert can be hit or miss, chocolate hasn't been gooey and strudel has soft/bland outside. Both the chocolate and the apple take 45 minutes to bake, so order when you sit down.
(5)
Moni K.
Decided to come here for Easter Sunday with my family. The special menu was weak. Here is what I ordered: Calamari - Very good tomato bisque - excellent wedge salad- literally a cut wedge of salad head with bacon bits on top, Not even shredded or cut into smaller pieces. Just a wedge of salad head - lazy!!! Chicken ciabatta very bland, tasteless and the chicken was dry glass of house wine well priced $5 My husband had the chicken. sausage platter, pork This was the best of all the food but full of fat and grease thus not a very healthy option. My dad had green beans and grilled trout. Just OK This again brings me back to my chicken ciabatta--- how can you make this an Easter Special and serve it so dry. It it obvious they do not taste their own food.
(3)
Elina S.
L Woods is a restaurant located right next to where my grandpa lives so we decided to try something different and take him out for dinner. When we got in around 5pm on a Sunday night it was pretty empty but with in a few hours, the place got pretty busy so we figured it must be good. From the pictures, it had that Wildfire like feel but in reality it was much more casual than a Wildfire. The wooden walls, some leather booths, dim lighting, it was a very relaxed environment which would be perfect for a winter snow day! But I have to say, it is really dark inside, too dark for my grandpa to see so keep that in mind when bringing your elders. Now onto the important stuff, the food. The onion bread that they give you was just not good, ours felt a little stale like it was warmed up from the night before so I was not a big fan of it. They gave us a complimentary flat bread since it was our first time but I also did not enjoy it. It was way too thin and flakey and the pieces of meat on it were just blah so I'm happy I never ordered it. Than we got their creamed spinach, which is their specialty and it was pretty good, not a large portion but tasty nonetheless. For our entree we ordered their baby back ribs and they're not cheap for a full slab for $26 but we gobbled them right up. My hubby swears they are the best he ever had, but I thought they were just good and I would get them again. Okay, so this is where I kinda got annoyed. Before when we placed our order I said we will have the ribs and then get some kind of dessert and our server didn't say anything. When we were done with the ribs, I told her I would like to order their apple strudel and she said "Oh, it takes 45 minutes to bake so you will have to wait that long." Kind of a bummer, and I wish she told us earlier since I mentioned that we would get dessert and since we don't work there how would we know that it takes that long. After about a half hour wait, it arrived hot and steamy. It was delicious, full of apples, great cinnamon flavor, definitely worth waiting for. So my overall thoughts on L Woods is that it is just okay, nothing wowed me but there are definitely some tasty options on the menu, and our server did do a good job throughout the meal minus her forgetting to let us know about the apple strudel, so I may be back just to get that strudel and those ribs for carryout!
(3)
Lauren G.
Delicious food and great service! Don't expect to just walk in on a weekend, though--it gets packed! Jason E was our server and he was wonderfully attentive and knew the menu well enough to make great suggestions. The gluten free menu had enough options to keep me happy. They have gf buns and don't list their sides on the gf menu but there are gf sides available.
(5)
Will B.
Great ribs, steak, and mashed potatoes!
(5)
Jimmy M.
Food, service, manager and parking are awesome. Consistently a great time out with my family. Highly recommended.
(5)
Raul B.
Wow talk about an old school family restaurant, this is pretty much it. L Woods totally reminds me of the family style restaurants my parents used to take me too when I was a kid. I went on a sunday so of course I had to get the their special fried chicken dinner. It's basically a half a chicken with a side of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. The chicken was excellent with a thick coating and was definitely to much for me to finish. The mashed potatoes were also very good. I was looking around to see what other people were ordering and it seems a lot of people were getting the ribs so maybe next time I"ll try that. The service was great and fast even though they were very busy. The decor was very old school with that 50s pine lodge feel. I will have to go back again and try out their other menu items which all seemed delicious.
(4)
Luckia A.
I ordered delivery, it's a lazy day for me. I Ordered from this place because I wanted a good beef brisket sandwich. Let me tell you, it was amazing! Now on the ordering experience. Right off the bat, the told me that delivery could take up to 70 mins, it only took 45 so that a super plus. I have good allergies and the took the time to look everything up, a MAYJOR, plus in my book! They made a note for my specifications and I'm super grateful, anytime I can't avoid taking Benadryl like they are tic tacs is great for me! On to the food. Not what I was expecting, but still really good. The beef brisket was cut into pieces, which I usually don't like, but it was amazing! The brisket was smothered in this BBQ sauce that was smokey and sweet and the portion was huge. I only ate half of it! The Coleslaw had a great taste and texture. The french fries where delicious even though they were soggy, which normally I wouldn't touch, but again I ordered delivery so it was acceptable and DELICIOUS! Finally! DESSERT! The apple strudel was AAAMAZZINGGGGGGG!!!!! I cannot wait to take my bf to this place!!! Also, decently priced and great portions!!!!! TRY IT!!!
(5)
Lawrence C.
Outstanding is all I have to say. Never been here and went with our neighbors for the Fish Fry. Walleye appetizer was to die for, fish fry was also to die for and the half rack of ribs I had was outstanding. We will certainly be back.
(4)
Frankie R.
I was disappointed in my baby back ribs. They brought them out and they were a a little over-cooked. I was surprised that they would even serve it like that, but (1) figured the cooks knew what they were doing and (2) I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had. I also ordred mac & cheese for my daughters and neither one of them liked it, so I had my wife taste it and she said it tasted bitter. In all, I thought the place could've been better.
(2)
William V.
I enjoyed this place and will definitely return. The barbecue and fresh fish selection are very good, and the the service is great. I also like the casual, friendly atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable, too.
(4)
Dave O.
Not enough restaurants like this. Literally. When we arrived there were people everywhere waiting for a table. In the foyer, bar, parking lot. Usually a sign of good food and that held true in this case. Dutifully put our name in and hung out in the bar. Dim lighting, wood paneling, old-school feel, and Schlitz was on tap, but they also had a decent selection of micro-brews. Cold beer in hand, the wait wasn't terrible and our group got to eyeball what people were eating. The ribs and fried chicken seemed popular and once seated that is exactly what our table got, along with one parmesean-crusted filet. Nothing green or vegetable-like hit our table all night, though they did offer a tableside chopped salad. That fried chicken was better than good. Juicy but not greasy, even the big chicken breast was perfectly cooked. I'd go back for that dish. I regret not trying the ribs but everyone said they were excellent. Looks like they don't really need my recommendation but for what it's worth: 4 stars!
(4)
Melanie S.
L Woods has always been a reliable, consistent restaurant. My family has been coming here since it was "Bones", back in the 70s. The atmosphere is a "faux" Wisconsin supper club, with wood paneling and fish plastered on the wall. Not a big fan of the decor, but I can live with it. As others have mentioned, this place is full of older people - my mom, who's no spring chicken herself, commented that she'd never seen so many walkers per square foot in her life, with the exception of a nursing home or a bingo game. The food is decent and there's enough of a variety that everyone in your party will find something - there's salads, barbecue items, fish, burgers, sandwiches, you name it. This is why it's such a destination for group dining. There are always large parties here. In fact, the last time I was here, the entire table next to us got ribs and when the server went to check on them, they all smiled with their orange faces and meat in their teeth. It was kinda gross, come to think of it. Watching people eat ribs will convince even the strongest of doubters that we evolved from primates. The service is always pleasant and might I add, PATIENT. With an older clientele, it's a given that service has to be adjusted accordingly, and the servers at L Woods always go above and beyond. Bottom line: L Woods serves up standard, American fare, with reasonable prices, ample portions, and good service. It's always consistently consistent. Sometimes that's all you're looking for in a restaurant, and this place is just that.
(4)
Frank T.
-Would've got 5 stars but the Chinese food is disappointing and I feel really unnecessary -The tradition menu is outstanding we order it at least twice a week. -Flat breads A+ -Burgers A+ -Ribs A+ -BBQ Chicken A+ - Carry out staff is great except for one
(4)
Diablo L.
Love the ribs here,very tender, also the creamed spinach is very good and went very well with my ribs..
I know this is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which might make you think chain and less authentic but they nailed it. This is all that is wonderful and cliche of a 60's supper club including the well poured martinis and the jalapeno bacon cheese and Ritz crackers they passed around in the bar area while waiting for a table. I could have eaten a whole tray of those. My steak was perfect, the sides were fantastic. The noise level was perfect and the service was on point. Their wine list included plenty of decent varietals that were both tasty and well priced ie you aren't paying $75 for a bottle of Boones Farm. My only complaint (I wasn't alone in this) was the main dining room was really chilly for a Saturday night in December. Like they had the AC going cool, not like they just had the thermostat low. I wrapped up in my scarf and toughed it out and skipped desert in lieu of my fireplace at home. But there were plenty of other ladies who asked to move due to the chill in the air. Not sure if that's apart of the supper club theme that they are going for. But minus that I'd go again any day I'm craving a steak and martini. I'll just be sure to bring my mittens.
(4)
ben w.
I had dinner here last night, wonderful food. This place reminded me of places I would go 30 years ago with my parents, dark, easy going and modestly decorated. Unlike those places the food here is up to modern day standards for sure. Chopped salad was a great way to start. I got the half chicken half slab dinner, it was excellent, but my father in law got the beef ribs and they looked amazing. I have had beef ribs before, good but kind of greasy. Not these, they were cooked just right. Great food, great portions and kid friendly. Hit it!
(5)
Debbie S.
I grew up in Wisconsin and was always a fan of the up north Supper Clubs that I used to frequent as a child. L Woods reminds me of those places -- just with better food. If you plan on eating here at any reasonable dinner hour (i.e. between 7-9), you should make a reservation. Now that we have a little one at home, we tend to go at 5 or 5:30 -- and yet, I continue to make reservations. L. Woods has a large menu. Every time I look at it though, I laugh, because on the "Lighter Fare", a hamburger and fries is listed. Now I love to eat with the best of them...but I would never consider a hamburger lighter fare. Anyway...the burgers are good, the flatbreads are good, the salads are good...but I always save room for the special warm chocolate cake that you have to order when you order your dinner because it takes about 40 minutes to make. The cake oozes out chocolate (and you get a whole cake -- this is definitely a dessert for the table) and it comes with a large side of homemade whipped cream. We always end up taking most of it home...and it's still really good the next day. L. Woods is a great option if you have a bigger group or a group where everyone has different tastes --because there is something on the menu for everyone. Children are welcomed here (which can make it a bit loud sometimes) but it's a nice option for a large family meal that is reasonably priced. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Risto D.
The only negative thing I can say about this place is the cold butter that they bring with the warm bread roll as soon as they sat you down. a room temperature butter would be a much better option.
(4)
Johanna C.
This place gets very busy most nights, so I recommend getting a reservation. I came here with a group of six, and even though we had a reservation, we still waited for 5-10 minutes. Once we were seated though, we had a great time! It is a very large restaurant, with a great atmosphere and friendly and helpful service. Will definitely be back here! The food: Pulled Pork Sandwich- I ordered this and really loved it. I have had many pulled pork sandwhich and this was juicy and held up to some of the best that I've had. Baked Mac and Cheese- Shared this with my sister, and clearly it was one of their specialties. Would definitely order it again whenever I return. Ribs- My husband ordered these and I tried some. They were very tasty and my husband gave them his stamp of approval.
(4)
Joe K.
Great great ribs. Great vibe. My dad and I really enjoyed our dinner.
(4)
Jim E.
Can't recommend this place enough!! The ribs, steak, and prime rib are the best. Don't forget to order an apple burrito when you order. ( apple strudel )
(5)
Carol L.
Looked like a bar from the outside but the foods are awesome. I LOVED their beef ribs, the best I had so far. Everything is good there, make sure you order the apple strudel for dessert, each one is freshly baked. I haven't had anything that have been disppointing... I wish it's a little closer to where I live and this restaurant is highly recommended if you're in the Lincolnwood area.
(5)
Jinx T.
An Easy Place To Be L. Woods is an excellent restaurant. The design is a throwback to another era - and this enhances the experience - giving the place a whimsical cool. Food is standard American fare - chopped salad - steaks - burgers - ribs - pot roast - fried chicken - fish - mashed potatoes - green vegetables. You get the idea. I've eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. The fish is always excellent - the almond crusted walleye has become a favorite, along with the cod. Desserts are portioned large - best to share. You'll find things like a gold brick sundae, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and fruit crumbles with ice cream. One thing the restaurant suffers from in is a rather average and limited wine list. However the wines are decent enough and priced well. Service is great too. Eat here! You will not be disappointed and want to return again soon. Highly Recommended!
(4)
Luke S.
I went here for the first time since I was 17 and I now wonder why it took me 10 years to come back here! This place is phenomenal and it's country style cooking. They have all of the comfort food that your heart desires. My family and I came here for our Easter feast and we ordered family style. We went with the chopped salad, fried chicken, dry seasoned ribs, and a steak. They were all cooked to perfection and popping with flavor. As sad as it is I think my favorite was the fried chicken. Every bite was oozing with flavor. I felt like I was on an episode of man vs. food. Do the Melman's ever do it wrong?
(5)
Sonia S.
Very good food. I had the half slab of beef ribs and the half chicken, the day before Christmas. I heard that L. Woods had great gluten-free rolls and my busboy went out of his was to get them for me. The ribs were outstanding; meaty, tender, and with a delicious bbq sauce that was both sweet and tangy. Now, unfortunately I am going to report on what I didn't like. I ordered roasted carrots and although they were good, they were served cold. I could not believe it! The chicken could have been cooked for a longer period of time. Also, my waitress forgot to bring me my coke and after she did, when my meal was halfway eaten, she did not offer me a free refill. I've been to other Lettuce Entertain You establishments and each one did offer me a free refill of pop. I will definitely return because I love all the LEYE restaurants.
(4)
Mariam K.
I LOVE L Woods! I'm not much of a meat eater, well I love burgers... but that's usually where I draw the line, I went there a couple of days ago for the first time and fell in love with it! We went in without making reservations on a Friday night.. so of course, there was a 45 minute wait (we only ended up having to wait about 20 minutes).. I was starving but decided to stick around anyway... and I'm glad I did! We got served bread while we were waiting on our food, which was amazing, I love places that give you something to snack on while you're waiting for your food! We ordered beef brisket nachos... which were the best tasting nachos I've ever had! For my main course I ordered beef ribs... I was a bit hesitant because it seemed a bit too messy for me but I read so much about the ribs that I was dying to try them. Let me just tell you.. the were the best ribs EVER... I wasn't even worried about how messy and dirty my fingers were! LOVED LOVED LOVED the taste, seasoning, and texture of it! Unfortunately I ate too much and couldn't order any dessert... but I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)
Allison C.
We went here for my mom's birthday dinner. It's an old-school, northwoods-style joint with wood paneling, fish and antlers on the wall, and maroon booths, very kitsch. The portions are HUGE! I had mahogany chicken, which was juicy and nicely spiced. My dad had beef ribs, which looked like a meal fit for Barney Rubble. My husband, brother, and granny had buttermilk battered fried chicken. It was very good, not with quite the same seasonings that we enjoy at our favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, but still very good. For dessert, they brought out a WHOLE apple strudel and a WHOLE chocolate volcano cake. The volcano cake is a chocolate orgasm in your mouth. The melty warm chocolate bursts in your mouth. The strudel was nice and flaky. Excellent liquor and beer selection. It's not far from the city, we would come back.
(5)
Mne M.
I love loveeee this place service is always very good and attentive nice and clean. They have the best Ribs when I eat light I usually get the tomatoe bisque soup which is soooo good and the Chicken Cesar salad with that I always order the small salad because the large is really big and could feed like 3 people. They also have really good wings. Yummmm I can't wait to go there again!!!
(5)
Nancy H.
Whoa. How come I hadn't heard about this place? Our party of 4 made reservations here on a Sunday night, and we were taken promptly. This place was a madhouse of happy families and cheerful waiters. I was told this is typical and is the reason why you need to make reservations. The second thing you ought to know is that portions are LARGE, and the menu is very meat-oriented. We shared the chopped salad, some type of flatbread, and I couldn't even finish half of my main entree after that. Two people can share a meal because all entrees comes with fries or a giant baked potato that is huge enough to share also. The ribs are fantastic. Full slabs are $23. The beef ribs are like oh-my-god. Have you ever seen beef ribs?? 1 rib was almost the size of my forearm. I had a burger ($10), and I couldn't even finish half of it because I was too happy enjoying the fries and over sized baked potato. Everything was cooked perfectly. We ended our meal with 1 giant slice of delicious chocolate cake, and I was ready to be rolled out of there. Seriously, don't come here if you're on a diet. Takeaways: 1) Make reservations 2) Portions are large 3) Wear fat pants
(4)
Melissa K.
What a great place! Very friendly service and really great food. Rids were the best I have had since Memphis! Just that the parking lot sucks! Don't let that stop you from having a really great meal!
(5)
Mike G.
Ordered delivery from here today. First I got a phone call telling me their menu was not up to date on GrubHub so they'd have to charge me more. Then when the food got here it was not the right order on 2 of the items and everything was cold and had been misshandled so it was messy inside the containers. All this after a $5.00 Delivery charge + Tip The flat bread was very disappointing. It is THIN THIN THIN. As in fall apart when you pick it up. All the cheese on our slid to about two pieces and left the rest a dry pesto covered mess. The second flat bread was mushroom instead of oven-dried tomato. So we didn't both eating it. Before ordering we called to confirm the Soup of the Day and were told it was harvest cheddar. When the order arrived it was some kind of vegetable soup. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was extremely wet and split open from transit. The Roasted Mahogany chicken did not come on chibata bread as advertised but on a toasted and soggied bun. Finally. The friest I got with my sandwich were awesome. Not enough to make up for all the other horrible things. But good none the less. Will NEVER order from or dine out here again.
(1)
Carol K.
Driving in a blustery winter snowstorm, I once again came across L Woods (this place must call out to me in January as I have never been here in any of the Summer months) Well on this snowy, Friday night- this place was hopping! Not a spot in the lot to park in (there is plenty of free parking on the street) and a line out the door for a table. Good thing we were fine eating and drinking at the bar. Service was good and the food was even better. I had a a dinner salad and then split the burger and a baked potato with my friend. The burger came topped with grilled onions, tomato, lettuce and some kind of "special sauce" that was quite tasty. Given it's location, L Woods is never going to be a frequent destination for me. It's almost like driving to Wisconsin (and the ambiance reminds me of the supper clubs up there) But judging by all the people there on this snowy night- they have quite the following . . . .even without me!
(4)
Rob W.
I give a place 4 or 5 stars if I definitely plan or want to go back. This place - I would, but I'm not going to make a big effort. It's OK - I just don't understand why people think the food is sooooooo great. It was very average to me. We were seated fairly promptly and within a reasonable time of our reservation - which was good given that my mom was with us and can't stand and wait too long anymore. The waiter asked us if it was our first time there, and after we told him it was, he brought us a complementary flatbread appetizer, nice touch! The service was very good and attentive - kudos on that. I ordered the pot roast (which was the evening's special) and it was fair at best. Other than the carrots that came with it, there wasn't much to rant or rave about. The portionwas small - average and the presentation was very lackluster. I also ordered the mac and cheese as it looked like it might be good -0 but it was nothing special at all. In fact, I had to send it back to get it heated up - part of it was actually cold. The rest of my family was OK with their orders - my brother ordered ribs and he said they were ok - but not as good as another place where he's had them that doesn't specialize in BBQ to the extent that L. Woods does. The waiter also brougfht out a small dish of ice cream with toppings to me for my birthday - another nice touch.Based on the service / friendliness of the place, I'd like to give it 4 stars - but the food just won't let me. Just too mediocre. I'm glad I tried L. Woods to see what the bustle was about - just wish I left there knowing why there is one.
(3)
Fred F.
excellent meatloaf and generally well prepared food at reasonable prices. usually very busy so don't expect to breeze in and out but certainly worth the short wait.
(4)
Rhonda G.
Have you ever been to a small town and they only have one "nice" restaurant in the entire town? On a Friday night you can literally find the whole town at that one place with the family in tow. This place definitely had that feel about it. The dining room was big and casual and seemingly family friendly. Rustic, if you Will. Is this your first time here? yes Well here's one of our signature flat-bread appetizers as a welcome to L. Woods. Why, thank you. It was a BBQ chicken pesto. In my mind those flavors don't mesh well but they made it work. A lovely "recession special" came in the form of a $10 bottle of wine supposedly hand picked by Alpana Singh (from Check Please and a well known Sommelier) I was pretty full after the flat bread and basket of bread they brought out but how tacky would it be to just eat the free stuff and leave? So I ordered an awesome turkey burger. How awesome? Well it ranks in my top 5 ! I got a bake potato side and it came out with little sides of all the fixins'. I also had the opportunity to try my bf's mashed potatoes...melt in your mouth fantastic and totally unhealthy! I'm digging the to-go bag for half finished bottles of wine. No more chugging the remains and leaving drunk...unless that is your goal of course. We got a slice of key lime pie to enjoy at home later and it was just OK. A bit overkill on the lime flavor but the crust was tasty.
(5)
Edward W.
Very popular and always crowded. Great decor! Upscale northwoods supper club experience. It's a fun dining experience. Service is always good and the food is consistently very good. I like the ribs here. I get them well done. Desserts good also.
(4)
t. o.
What a wonderful experience. My wife chose L Woods for our 5th wedding anniversary; we've driven by it many times, and it seemed to do great business. It looked like it would have a unique, old school vibe, and considering the 5th is the "wood anniversary"... The inside was even better than out - antler chandeliers, etc (place looks extra authentic in Hipstamatic photos on your iPhone.) She'd mentioned in a note that accompanied our reservation request that it was our anniversary, and why we'd chosen them. Explaining our short wait, they said they'd reserved a huge corner booth for us, that could have sat 8 on this incredibly busy Friday night; considering the decor, we felt like Frank and Ava circa 1962 or something, with a great view of the main dining room. Our waiter, Damian, was awesome, funny, and attentive. The manager, Terry, came by a number of times to congratulate us and check on how we were liking everything. Who does this anymore? Cocktails were great - knock you on your ass Manhattans, and great specialty Old Fashions. We started with the chop salad, which was fresh and well prepared. The small is great for two or three. Wife especially chose L Woods for the fried lake perch (her childhood fave, and increasingly rare), which came with house-made fries, and obviously freshly prepared tartar sauce. Great batter, and cooked to perfection. I love whitefish, which I was unfamiliar with until moving to Chicago a few years ago. This was the best I've had - even better than Shaw's, which I've found has about the best old-school fish and sea food in town. Great cream sauce - not too heavy. I had to get the creamed spinach, a favorite from my childhood that NO ONE seems to know how to make decently anymore. It was, like everything else, cooked to perfection. Not overdone - still fresh seeming, and delicious. Of course we had to try the apple strudel - not only was it delicious, but they also brought out a piece of their banana cream pie with a candle, both of them comped to us. Are you kidding me? Both were great, especially slathered in the extra caramel sauce provided. Of course we tipped in kind, and are guaranteed to return, with friends. Prices are on the high end of moderate, but worth it to have what promises to be predictably delicious food. We simply had a fantastic meal, and memorable special occasion.
(5)
Jessica N.
Can I say wow! the food is great! Especially the BBQ. Great service as well! And the last time we were given a complimentary appetizer. I do have to say that the wait can be quite long though. If you're in a time crunch or really hungry..this isn't the place. The first time I waited about 40 minutes. We were so close to leaving but we stuck it out since I had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card that I had to use. The second time wasnt too bad but still about a 15 minute wait. Overall I give this place a 4. Not too shabby for what's in that area!
(4)
Monica H.
Busy place! Always a good place for meat lovers (Sat prime rib, beef ribs), and my spicy, crusted tilapia was a nice treat. You can't leave a Lettuce restaurant hungry with the portion sizes, but if the vege of the day is Brussel sprouts with pear and caramelized onion do save room. Best to go with a group to share sides and desserts.
(3)
Michael H.
Really cool old "Supper Club" just on the outskirts of the City!! Basically an old Inn that was taken over by Lettuce many years ago... Inside, It's Dark/ Wood Paneling/Northwoods Trinkets/ And many photos on the walls! Place is HUGE with at least 4 dining rooms as well as a large bar, also ALWAYS Busy. The food is very good with the "Walleye Bites" Appetizer a MUST TRY ITEM!! The rest of the menu is Steak and Fish heavy with the "Parmesan Crusted Skirt Steak" a standout. The staff is what really makes this place/ The bartenders are simply amazing! One of them has even been there 45 years... Also the Managers/Owners are always on hand to make sure things are Run RIGHT!! GTFJD
(4)
Matt P.
Skirt steak is to die for. Parmesan and Peppercorn crusted
(5)
matt w.
Went for lunch at 130pm on a Saturday. It was pretty busy but we got a table right away. 18 minutes later we still had not see our waitress. We considered just leaving or going up to the bar to drink and dine when i smiled at a waitress in hopes she would be ours.. she wasn't, but she obliged and took our drink order anyway. Finally our waitress appeared and dove right in with some cockney, sorry excuse for banter type server BS.. we had some questions on the menu and she pretended to know what she was talking about but it was obvious she didn't.. we needed a minute to decipher ( which was a mistake on our part.. ). 5-10 mins later and still no sign of the server, we pleaded with the blond server to take our food order.. again she obliged but you could tell she wasn't stoked about picking up the slack for someone else. Anyway, I hate bad service, i just really hate it... and sitting there finished with a lackluster meal and empty drinks for 10 minutes during lunch is just unacceptable. We literally spent just under 2 hours there just for lunch ( 1 drink for me and 2 for my friend.. 2 hours! ). So - Service is 2 stars only because of the nice blond server that saved our asses The reason they get a little boost in total stardom is due to the food and drinks being decent. The nachos with beef roast on them are not great, its like diced up beef roast ( not like nice big shaved off chunks like you would expect ) The beef ribs were good but my buddy is really not picky.. I had the chicken pot pie, it was a 3/5. not great but not bad. overall L. Woods barely squeaks by with 3 stars.
(3)
Jacob J.
White linen tablecloth, proper heavy flatware for cutting into meat, smoky old rich man like interior. I came for the meat, ribs that is. On the expensive side but better than average. Not something I'd go out of my way for often, but it appeals to many. L Woods has been around for a long time, before them was "Bones" and I loved the food of that time. A couple that is here for dinner and drinks could easily expect a bill of around sixty to seventy dollars. It's an understatement to say that they are always busy, best to call ahead.
(4)
Dan D.
This place is a hand's down favorite of mine for a long time. Basically anything you order off the menu is bound to be tasty, filling, and amazing. Of course, there are some exceptions - aka, ones that are OUT OF THIS WORLD fantastic that you have to try once before dying (or leaving the restaurant lol).... and here is that list. 1. Tomato Bisque soup - this tasty little guy is the cheaper items on the whole menu ($3.25 cup / $4.25 bowl). But I'd gladly pay $10 because it is that good. Unlike the cafeteria style you had back in school (tastes like spaghettio's), L. Wood's has a sweet zing that is very creamy. The tomatoes really come out in the soup. Quite frankly, it's heaven in a soup. 2. Chopped Salad - signature item. ($9.99 small / $13.99 large for 4 people). Loaded with blue cheese, noodles, light and dark lettuce, carrots, plus just the right amount of their house dressing. The best salad dressing this side of the Mississippi! 3. BBQ ribs ($25.99 full slab) - these literally fall off the bone. Yup, that tender. Put away that knife and fork, because you won't be needing them here. 4. Veggie Burger - very good, very nice for a veggie burger. Handmade here, not prepackaged, reheated frozen ones... so definitely a big plus! And it is tasty as heck for the days you don't want meat, and for the non-meat eaters in our lives. And LASTLY, 5. Gooey Chocolate Cake ($10.99) - you order this at the start of your meal because it takes 45 minutes to bake. Each one is baked to order too! It comes to your table with a nice crispy outer shell, topped with whipped cream. But as you cut into it with a fork, the gooey cake is revealed. Chocolate to the extreme. A fat kid's paradise on a plate (I know because of experience). Cheers!
(4)
Megan G.
I've driven past L Woods for years and never given it much thought. It's tucked away in a strange little corner of Lincolnwood between a pool and a bank. When a friend suggested it for recent girl's dinner (close to her house, on the way home from work for me) I figured it was a better alternative that our other suburban mall choices. When I pulled into the L Woods parking lot at 6 on a Wednesday I was shocked - it was completely packed. If I can offer one piece of L Woods advice it's this: make reservations. No matter when you're going, even if you think you don't need them - make reservations. Fortunately my friend had done so on a whim - otherwise they were running at waits for 45 minutes to an hour for tables of 2. The inside of L Woods is probably nostalgic for any kid whose family forced them to take summer vacations in the Wisconsin wilderness. Lots of stuffed fish on the paneled walls (including a Northern Pike I identified as being identical to the one in my grandparents' living room). The place had a pleasant buzz, but it wasn't so loud I couldn't hear my friend. I opted for the veggie burger and a cup of corn chowder to start. The chowder was quite good, but the veggie burger was merely okay. It largely lacked flavor (and yes, veggie burgers CAN have flavor) and was extremely mushy - it fell completely apart and had to be eaten with a fork. My friend had a coupon that made our final bill incredibly reasonable but overall I wasn't that impressed. I think next time we'll meet at Cheesecake Factory.
(3)
Rachel H.
Holy Crap. This place should be called " Thisiswhyyourefat.com Restaurant". Maybe they got a little out of hand with the log cabin lodge look and thought Paul Bunyan was comin' to supper? I do not know, but it took me three days to eat my dinner. Why on earth? Anyway, I shall regale you with my tall (fat) tale. I showed up here with some LEYE gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket, and hunger burning a hole in my belly. I started out with a Jack and Cherry Coke which is actually on the menu (!) and the french onion soup. Now, I could have been done after the soup, quite honestly. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach, but I plowed onward and ordered the fried chicken special. Meanwhile, having heard it was our first time, the manager stopped by with a complimentary BBQ chicken flatbread to enhance the experience. Oh, it did. When my chicken came, I gasped. It was a pile of chicken so huge, and full of pieces so huge, I was a little terrified. Then I saw the baked potato. It was the size of Mr Potatohead. Why did they have to kill him? Why????? I made it through some of the potato (RIP) and one chicken thigh. The rest had to come home with me. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, I laughed in her face. I'll be back to try more huge entrees which will very economically feed me for several days. Also, there's "wood" in the name which is obviously my newest theme.
(4)
Jonathan C.
I don't know how I didn't review this restaurant before. My dad has been taking me to this joint back when it was called Bones. And he was going there back when it had a different name. Its been quite a while since I went there, but its always exactly what you'd expect. Good old man supper club style food, and way way way too much of it. Last time I went there, I split the beef ribs with my wife while my dad had a brisket sandwich and his HS buddy had some bbq beef sandwich. On a side note, I always like whiskey... but when I turned 21 in college and came back home, there was a time when my parents took me here. Being 21 and at this joint, I needed a stiff drink. I decided to go for a Rusty Nail and discovered the amazing mixed drink of whiskey and whiskey on the rocks.
(4)
Natalie S.
My husband and I agreed that we need to dine out in the burbs more often because of the big ass, free parking lots. They are fantastic. However... our dining experience was just about... meh. The highlights: The chopped salad. Delicious. I wish there was some egg in there but, oh well. Creamed spinach was yum. Mac and cheese was super cheesy and tasty. The cons: It's supposed to be a steakhouse... so I ordered beef. I got the peppered sirloin tips, rare. I suspect it came out of the kitchen rare but became medium after sitting under a heat lamp for 10 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I hate, hate, hate sending food back to the kitchen but my husband and I are on a budget and try not to eat out often. I don't want to waste $24 on steak I didn't even enjoy. So I sent it back. I got a piping hot, rare steak back. My husband and our friend both very much enjoyed their meals. But then again, they're good eaters. I had someone ask me when I talked about L. Woods, "how can you complain and only give it 3 stars because you ordered something and eventually got a delicious meal?". Because I just don't think I should ever have to send food back to get it the way I ordered it.
(3)
Amy G.
We've been there three times and the other two times the food was great, but last night I had the sirloin and it was HORRIBLE. I mean, pretty much inedible. It was all chopped up and almost like a meatloaf consistency - that wouldn't even have been terrible except it was also burnt. Badly. But it seems like that's just the way it's cooked because a woman at the table next to us got it as well and my husband overheard her saying hers was terrible too. According to reviews on here the skirt steak is good and just a few dollars more. Go with that instead. Or the ribs. Or the cod. Really, anything but that awful sirloin.
(3)
Caroline A.
Their cocktails and wines are awful. You have been warned. However the food... fantastic. Get the Sesame Crusted Tilapia and Pork Ribs. I am also a big fan of their Calamari. Confession: I had some of their fries. I'm still feeling guilty about that one, but it was worth it!
(4)
Brit M.
I started with a wow (thanks to how accommodating they were last minute on Mother's day) and ended with a "foot down never coming back again" - unless I am REAL hungry and in Lincolnwood. Everything was hit or miss. We sat down, it was a little drafty (we mentioned it) and we had an extremely pushy server (Raulberto). I've worked in the restaurant biz, so I know how hectic Mother's day can be... but our time here was terrible. We ordered the apple salad (delicious) as a starter. Now on to the complaints. Our server starting clearing plates, while we were still eating... which is a big no no in my book. It's actually my number one restaurant peev. For one its rude, because it rushes the other people and its not appetite appeasing. Also we were asked about desert while placing our appetizer order. 45 minutes for a lava cake? Seems a little crazy, and it comes off REAL pushy. I don't think about desert until desert time! Secondly, servers should be seen and not heard unless they are at your table asking you your order. Our server was so loud, we could hear him talking to other tables and barking orders to bus boys. After we stopped him from cleaning off our table, we finally placed our food order. I understand he must do this every single day, but he was speaking so fast and seemed impatient with our questions - we were getting confused on what we were ordering. Keep in mind - I am 25 and was getting confused... its not like I am elderly! When our food came, things were missing and I am pretty sure the whitefish and walleye were the same thing. I ordered wine, and it came after my meal, our creamed spinach didn't come until after our meal, and they also forgot our potatoes. I ordered the fried chicken special, and it wasn't fried thoroughly. After telling the server my chicken was doughy and not fried, he tried telling me it was just the way it was supposed to be. Really? Nothing like biting into raw egg and goopy flour. It was horrible. The dinner was overall upsetting. They ended up taking off the creamed spinach, but wow it was just a bad experience. Nothing like upsetting the mother on Mother's day! I feel bad, because we could of went any where, but Barry's mom really wanted to go there, only to have a horrible time! I will thank Patrick for seating us immediately... and the bathrooms were really clean.
(2)
Lisanne F.
I'd read about their famous buttermilk chicken served on Sundays, so when someone gave me a $25 gift card, we excitedly made our reservation for 1 p.m. L. Woods sure doesn't look like much from the outside and because it's so cavernous inside, it really doesn't feel cozy, it feels stuffed with people. (Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop is way more cozy and decorated.) We sat in a booth (nicer than the tables) and were taken care of quickly by our friendly waiter. We ordered the chicken (delicious) and the Walleye Pike Sandwich, the waiter gave me a choice of potato with the sandwich and I opted for the garlic mashed potatoes, which were really good. Here's our complaints: The French Fried Chicken is $16.99 (bring a doggie bag, you can't -- or shouldn't-- eat it all). It comes with a biscuit, a teensy tiny container of slaw and potatoes, of which hubby chose the house-made chips. The chips arrived on MY plate with my sandwich, where the pickle had soaked into them. The chicken has so much coating on it, it takes up the whole plate. The biscuit was perched precariously on top (I wonder if any ever fall off on the way out of the kitchen?). The chips should have come in their own basket. For my sandwich, I had to lift up the bun to see the fish, which was a very small, round piece. For $10, the bun should've been better quality (I only ate the bottom half), the fish portion a lot larger, and ditto for the slaw. There was an interesting sauce on the sandwich but it didn't really go with the additional tartar offered. So, service is fine, atmosphere so-so, but prices are a lot to swallow. We were happy we didn't spend our own money eating here.
(2)
Ann B.
I was very hopeful for a new place to get Chinese food in Lincolnwood - however this was the worst Chinese food I have ever had. The BBQ Pork Fried Rice was awful, the Beef and Broccoli had broccoli that was yellow ! I expected fresh from L Woods but this was not. If you are looking for good cream cheese rangoons go to Panda Express because their rangoons are better and cheaper. We also had an order of their egg rolls which were long, thin and tasteless. I was told it would be 1 1/2 hour for pick up and when I complained they said ok 1 hour. This is the last time I will order from Big Bowl at L. Woods.
(1)
Ari L.
Solid performer Letttuce Enterain You resty modeled after an old Elk's/hunting lodge. Lots of wood paneling and black & white pictures of patrons inside. I had the BBQ chicken crinkle cut french fries, which weren't bad but nothing to write home about. Service left something to be desired. If you're looking for a decent middle-of-the-road place what's not too pricey and won't offend anyone, this isn't a bad choice.
(3)
George A.
Go here. Old woodsy feel, pricey but you walk out more than happy. Leave now.
(4)
ZZ K.
Hungry and in the neighborhood. I remembered my mom telling me that this place was good, so we decided to stop on in and give them a try. Plus, the BF is a huge fan of BBQ, so I thought 2 birds with one stone! We walked in and I immediatley saw a lot of older people...always a good sign if you ask me!! Where there are old people, there is good food, good prices and large portions....usually. Hostesses were super friendly and the elderly lady that sat us, has been working there for about 20 years...obviously she likes her job. We sat on the right side of the restaurant near the bar area and the place was hopping on a Wednesday night. Impressive. A busboy immediately filled our water glasses and brought over some onion bread with butter, which was nice and worked well to tie us over. After looking at the menu, the BF ordered a French Onion soup and for dinner he had the BBQ brisket sandwich. I had the BBQ pulled chicken on cornbread, with beans and side salad. Our waitress was nice and since it was our first time we got some flat bread with goat cheese (the magic word for me), pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes. That was actually the best thing we had!! The food came out fast, so we appreciate that as well. The french onion soup was good. Lots of gooey cheese, onions, soft mushy bread and sweet oniony broth. The brisket was ehhhh, and I was not impressed. The pulled chicken on corn bread was good, but the portion was ok...I would even say on the smaller side for the price (not much chicken and more onion straws than anything. We ordered the strawberry sangria, which was a $6 special. The glass was small and contained mostly ice. Not to mention, they put in a decorative leaf of some sort which was wilted and a small not pretty looking strawberry....kind of a sad touch really. We opted for the strawberry shortcake for dessert, which was nice. They made the biscuits, lemon poppy seed, and I liked that slight change in flavor. Nice fluffy cream and strawberries...we cleaned the plate fairly quickly. So, I would give this place a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5, and we may or may not be back. I was hoping for a lot better, but maybe the items we ordered were not the best choices....who knows.
(3)
Dean H.
GREAT place for a business casual lunch. Not a place where you are going to negotiate a contract, but a very good restaurant with excellent food and most often wonderful service. Have never had a bad meal at L Woods.
(4)
Tracy F.
The food here is great. The atmosphere is definitely like a lodge. It's well worth the trip for great BBQ. All the food was great - ribs, fried chicken, brisket nachos. And a complimentary flatbread for new customers. Our server was great. My only complaint is our busser. He tried twice to take food while we were still eating, then he bussed the entire table clean while my step dad was still eating his food. It seemed very rushed and borderline rude.
(4)
Joy Z.
This place, like most Lettuce Us Entertain You restaurants, is top notch. It has a similar vibe to a old school supper club. The food is delicious. I especially love the ribs and pounded chicken. The 1/2 price bottles of wine($12) on Tuesday and Thursdays is a steal.
(4)
Peter R.
My work held a retirement luncheon here not too long ago. There was about 28-30 of us, and we rented out Lynn's Back Room for our private party. We had a preset family style menu, and I must say the selections were very nice. First of all the staff here was very attentive and friendly. I don't even remember having to ask for a refill...not once. We started off with some flatbread which was quite good. I had some sweet sausage, and dried tomato flatbread, and French Onion soup. The two main entrees that I tried were the baby back ribs and the chicken a la sima. The ribs were fall of the bone fantastic! I wanted to just devour the ribs and start licking my fingers, but this was a "work" function so I practiced some etiquette. The chicken a la sima, which is their version of chicken picatta was drenched in lemon butter and capers. It was so tender and delicious that I wanted to cry, but again I had to remind myself that this was a "work" function. We ordered the apple strudel in advance since we were told it would take 30-45 minutes to prepare. The apples and cinnamon in the strudel was a sweet heavenly collaboration of delight. We were all pretty stuffed after that, but there was plenty of leftovers since the portions were gargantuan. We all stuck around for a little bit, and tried not to get induced into a food coma. This was a nice cozy spot to grab some delicious grub, and I loved the whole Supper Club environment. I will have to venture here on my own and dine in the main room, but from my experience I think I already have a man crush on this place.
(4)
Michelle A.
I'm sure this place is an institution for locals. The costumers in general look like they've been going there forever, and every time I've passed the parking lot, it's been packed. However, our experience was blah, at best. The drink I had felt so out of place and the novelty glass made it embarrassing to sip out of. I was just looking for a good, summertime drink... not one that reminded me of some cheap cruise line. The pre-dinner bread was great, though. I'll give them that. For Friday night, the menu was super limited. I ended up getting a skirt steak sandwich. For $13 bucks, it was all bread and lettuce. The steak, which I requested medium well, was barley cooked. But it didn't matter. I couldn't taste it anyways. The fries were great, but what I expected from a place like this. The ambiance was noisy, full of kids and older couples. Yet, a lot of younger people dressed up like they were at a club. I didn't get it. For the price of the bland food, limited menu, and the noise... I wont be coming back.
(2)
Penny L.
Establishment interior appearance, old. Friendly staff. Glad we made reservations. I thought I was told Delerium Nocturnal was in bottle so I ordered DN. Received Delerium Tremens in a dirty glass. Foam next to nothing. Wish I could have poured my own bottle. Taste more bitters. Ran out of fried chicken. Caesar salad wilted, small pieces, overdressed, served on hot plates. Ribs tender with decent sauce. For the locals. Iteligentsia coffee strong, had to use cream. Would go back to try the fried chicken and another shot at a properly poured beer.
(3)
Scott S.
Nothing to complain about and nothing too insanely good either, IMO. Overall I was pretty happy with the meal though, it's a TON of food, and I always say the more the merrier. ha. My uncles took home plenty of leftovers...
(4)
Jay H.
Once you accept the concept of a casual, traditional American restaurant, you can appreciate the fine execution of the concept. Other than an understaffed bar, which led to a drinkless 10 minute wait for our reserved table (imagine that), everything went smoothly. The appetizer of sausage flatbrerad is reason alone to come here -- super-thin, flaky crust, delicious, and great value. The sides of creamed spinach and mac and cheese were outstanding -- and we were allowed to sub them in for our entree sides for a slight upcharge. Entrees of ribs and lake perch were solid. The sandwiches probably were a better value, but we had a Lettuce gift card to play with. Our sever Chris was extremely helpful. He asked if this was our first visit, and as it was, comped our app under corporate policy. Nice touch. Another good corporate decision was a $10 bottle wine special, selected by Alpana Singh of Check Please fame. At that price, I'll take 2, please. All in all, a very well run place with solid food and nice people. The place starts clearing out at 8:00pm, so come on the late side and miss most of the suburban family crowd.
(4)
Britni W.
This is easily one of my favorite date spots, visiting guests spot, rainy day.... pretty much anytime I can find a reason to go this is my first stop. I've yet to eat anything from here that wasn't at very least above par. The mashed potatoes are to *die* for and must be tried. The apple strudel is well worth the 45 minute wait and can easily feed four people so if it's just the two of you than I suggest you are prepared to take some home.
(5)
Gerry T.
I havent been here since the late 90's but it was my wife's first time coming here. Great service, plenty of good bread and nice seating. As a former angler I appreciated the stuffed large mouth and tiger muskie on the wall. As for the food, we really liked the flat bread with sliced apples. My cheeseburger and her pike sandwich were very good as well. I thought the cole slaw was just right, not too tart nor sweet. The calamari was fresh and crisp, probably the best calamari I've ever had.
(4)
Cassandra F.
I was really hoping not to be disappointed at my dining experience at L. Woods. I made an online reservation, which was easy and made seating easy on a Friday. We were sat in a large table for my group, which felt a little in the middle of the traffic zone. The food was average supper club fare. Nothing to write home about. Fish was ordered as well as some of other staples like prime rib. Disappointed the traditional relish tray was not brought out. After our unenthusiatic dinner, the icing on the cake was the overall environment that felt lacking, which was followed up my the owner brushing past us and almost running us over with his car instead of asking us how we enjoyed his establishment. It was our first experience at this restaurant and I have eaten at his other establishments. It was a sour note. I would say that if you are in the area then you can give it a shot, but it's not going to remain on my top destination lists.
(2)
Beth R.
Everyone has a reason to like L. Woods. And by "everyone" I really do mean human beings from all walks of life: senior people, business people, big-boned people, celebrity people, people who hunt, and me. I can hypothesize about what the rest like, but I will speak only for myself. First and foremost, they make one of the best veggie burgers in the world. The menu has many tempting options for lunch or dinner (flatbreads, salmon, etc.), but I usually crawl back, on my hands and knees, to that veggie burger. It's big, it's homemade, has a good ratio of veg to grain, and it has a tomato pesto spread that makes my mouth happier than any Twizzler could. The desserts cover all your classic dessert bases: chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, ice cream and brownie sundaes. They're heavy and rich and if you've wondered until this point why there's dark wood paneling and dim lighting, you will know when you're finished. No one wants to make eye contact with anyone else until the evidence of gluttony is removed. Also, take note. The portions are, eh, how you say, generous. If done correctly, you can make two meals from one, and still leave feeling satisfied. If done incorrectly, you will feel uncomfortable with yourself and will swear to never touch that pre-meal onion bread again. But you know yourself and you wouldn't be able to leave it alone if you were restrained like Hannibal Lecter. The only thing food-wise that doesn't mesh for me is the fries. They seem like Ore-Ida crinkle-cuts, which is noticeable in a place where everything else seems homemade. The service is professional and the servers wear white dress shirts, black bottoms and sometimes French braids. It's simple, gracious and courteous; in a word: adult. In fact, the whole atmosphere is grown-up but unpretentious. No one's going to L. Woods so they can impress their co-workers on Monday. But, no one's going to L. Woods in an Ed Hardy t-shirt either. L. Woods manages to be a pretty great place for a wide range of people. What, like it's hard?
(4)
Em P.
Fantastic food.. fantastic service. (Billy the server is just awesome)! We started off with the pesto/mushroom flatbread. It was so light but had so much flavor. For our entrees, I had the half slab of ribs and he had the chicken/rib combo. The meat literally fell off the bone. I figured the food would be good cause Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants always have quality but this place was different then the rest. Its supper club vibe was warm and inviting and i can definitely see us going back to this place very very soon.
(5)
Sonia B.
L. Woods, where have you been all my life? Thank you for just being plain good. Good service, good quality, good food, and good atmosphere. I hadn't heard of Wisconsin Supper Clubs before coming here, and I have to admit, it is quite the concept! I had the Fried Chicken Dinner special-5 crispy, golden-brown, pieces of heaven. Oh, and did I mention it came with 2 sides? It was enough food to last me a week, but hey, I'm not complaining! L. Woods is on the pricier side, but a solid place to come for a nice dinner out without any fluff!
(4)
Irene C.
Visited L Woods this past Sunday night and the place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation. For the food, we started with the Fresh Mushroom Flatbread and the Cheese Curds. Loved the flatbread, crust was thin and über crispy. The cheese curds were also very good, but I've had better in the past. These definitely did get out the craving. For entree, I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Cod, which is served with a lemon-butter sauce that made the dish amazing. With the sauce, 5 stars, without, 3-4. Sauce gave it that special something. My husband had the ribs and chicken, which were dry rubbed, no sauce. I tried the chicken and it was some of the best flavored chicken I have had. Skin was full of spices and the chicken itself was so moist. Would highly recommend. I didn't try the ribs, but my husband said they were a little chewier, not fall of the bone. For dessert, we did the classic Apple Strudel. Enough to feed a family of 10. The thing is huge! Very crispy outside with lots of apple filling. The only thing I would do differently is maybe made the crust a little thicker to balance the amount of filling. Other than that, it was fantastic and hit the spot. Service, perfect! Will definitely be back here soon!
(4)
Nevin H.
Love the food and have been going for almost 10 years, unfortunately their prices are going up pretty quickly. $10 drinks, $25 entree's, I'm in the process of looking for another neighborhood "spot". I have a family of 4 and they are now really too expensive to take my family to. They do a very good business with older people and when the other people go away they're not gonna have much of a younger crowd because of their greedy pricing. As a $$$ its a 5 star and as a $$ It's a 2 star
(2)
Eric V.
I remember when this place was still called Bones, and can't recall eating here since then either. In the middle of the Lenten season, I caught wind of a special Friday night Wisconsin supper club menu and thought it might be time to pop my head in once more. To start, allow me to quote the wise Jerry Seinfeld... "See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them." 25 minutes after our reservation time (without even being told there would be a wait, mind you) we were finally seated. Is 25 minutes an inordinate amount of time at the end of the day? Likely not. Still, it's all about the principle. We started off on the wrong foot, but our meal got progressively better from there. A $5 Wisconsin Old Fashioned helped take the edge off, and some warm onion loaves and butter got us back on track. Our order of lightly breaded Fried Cheese Curds hit the table and, let's be honest, how can you not like deep fried cheese? Well I suppose there are the lactose intolerant but I digress. By the time our two plates of Schlitz Beer Battered Fried Haddock hit the table we were pretty content. The plate came with a side of potato pancakes that were too dense and heavy, but I was more than happy to focus my efforts on the generous portion of fresh, tasty haddock. The decor is log cabin chic and most of the clientele are extremely life experienced (that is, old). It is Lincolnwood after all so that kind of comes with the territory. What could have ended up as another reason not to dine here for another decade was ultimately salvaged by our pleasant server and some solid eats. It might not be too soon before my next dinner here, but perhaps not too long either.
(4)
Melissa F.
L Woods pretty much has everything going for it. Let's start with the atmosphere! L Woods feels like a classy old-school Wisconsin hunting lodge, I guess minus the taxidermy, which I hardly missed. The cozy - but oversized - corner booths deserve special mention...just what we needed! Sadly, the waiter started off on the wrong foot with us. I know many people like being told they look young, so maybe I'm just weird, but he kept going on and on about it - not just how I didn't look old enough to drink, but then how I looked younger, and then how I looked as young as his 9-year-old daughter. Gee thanks mister! And then I apparently look "different" from the scant 1.5 years it's been since I got my new license; out of many people who have looked at my license for age verification, only one other person ever has said this. Finally the heavens opened up somehow and I was allowed to enjoy some pinot noir! It was delicious. I saw that they were advertising marked-up versions of Whole Foods house brand wine, e.g. the pinot grigio, so caveat emptor, Yelperzzz. The tomato bisque is definitely creamy, but it's of course delicious and deserves to be a signature item. My dad loved his vegetable soup. When more people arrived, we got a mushroom flatbread, which was wonderfully crispy (almost too thin of a crust)...and we were pleasantly surprised by pesto. Jackpot! I got the chopped salad sans bleu cheese. It was amazing - and humungous, probably the largest salad I've ever seen (Rockit being a close second). I could not finish it, but I loved what I ate. If I had to nitpick, I'd put in some more ingredients to make it more exciting, like some avocado! But it was still an incredible salad, and at a steaks-and-ribs place like this, it's great to see that salad is not an afterthought! By the end of the meal, I was stuffed, especially since I had a bite of someone else's amazingly creamy mashed potatoes, no doubt enhanced by the crust that the oven supplied. And the waiter was fine and was probably just trying to be friendly and/or funny, but I think it's nice to ease up on the guess-your-age form of small talk.
(4)
Patrick O.
A big fan. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because you have to wait a while for your order. I put that down to the fact they are always crowed and the food is excellent. Other than that small inconvenience, one of the finest and we have no Problem driving past many good restaurants to get to " the L Woods"
(4)
bill s.
Great spin on the old Wisconsin supper club! Food great and commensurate with the LEY chain. I have been a few times, and the only complaint I would have is that service feels rushed. But, then again, I have only gone on a weekend when tables are a premium. Definitely a place we will add to our "standards" list of good places to go....
(4)
Nina M.
The mac 'n cheese has been described as orgasmic, by my friend to the manager. Quite embarassing at the moment but a good laugh now. It is probably the best thing on the menu and the best mac 'n cheese in Chicago, the United States and the world. I also like the steak sandwich. I have ordered off the kids menu and was warned that I could never do that again. I would appreciate some chicken tenders for adults then. The inside is woodsy and lodgey. Warm feeling. Lot of pictures lining the walls. There are a lot of old people and regulars there. It is always pretty busy which is a good sign and I believe they filmed Oceans 11 or 13 there.
(5)
Kevin Y.
My family and I have been eating here occasionally since it used to be called "Bones" back in the 90s. Didn't dine in on my most recent occasion, but ordered some of the baby back ribs for takeout. These are probably some of the best sauced ribs I've had. Fall off the bone tender, but not so much that it makes it difficult to eat. The ribs came with coleslaw and I ordered mashed potatoes as a side. Both were very good. If you have room for dessert the apple strudel is very delicious, but takes a while to prepare. Remember to order it at the beginning of the meal when you order the rest of your food. I don't come here regularly, but I've found the food to be good and consistent over the years and will continue to eat here.
(4)
Kerri G.
Restaurant that tries to resemble the Northern Woods of WI. Food was good, a tad on the expensive side. Got a free flat bread for our first visit. Bathrooms sorely need updating. It's a little run down, but atmosphere and staff are wonderful!
(4)
Diana P.
This place is great-reminds me of WildFire with a twist. The flatbreads are a MUST and go very fast so order a few if you're with a group of more than 2. We went with a party of 6 and the waitstaff was fantastic, knew a lot about the food and gave suggestions that worked. Large portions, even for the sandwiches on the dinner menu. Desserts that take 45 minutes (Apple Strudel and Chocolate cake) are WORTH IT and feed 6+ each. Fun atmosphere reminds me of a log cabin. I'll be back!
(4)
Rita P.
Can I just start off by saying, lovely service. Nothing like a polite waiter that can communicate well and doesn't act like you are anything but a guest. That being said, it's a big place with photos all over the walls. It definitely has that cabin feel, and a cozy neighborhood feel. It's casual, but the service acts a par above as mentioned prior. I like to think of it as a meat and potatoes place. The ribs are really good, and everything comes in a generous portion. They are happy to bring extra plates and napkins, make side dish substitutions, and don't fuss you for sharing. There are always customers here, enough that the restaurant never feels deserted even at odd times. They have all the classic American dishes. Also, look out for coupons and deals, there are quite a few floating around in local ads and the like. That takes down the price so that it feels extra reasonable.
(4)
Nisa D.
Great food and service, i love their tomato bisque soup is to die for :). I recommend a reservation for friday nights and weekends it can be a little crowded.
(5)
Nicholas H.
This is by far the best restaurant in Lincolnwood. The tomato bisque soup is probably the best soup I have ever had including anything that is homemade. The mac and cheese is out of this world. I will come in on a Saturday afternoon and just order tomato bisque and mac&cheese. It's that good!
(5)
Russ C.
Great French onion soup. Their almond crusted walleye is excellent and one of my go to entrees. Waiters are always knowledgeable and are very attentive. Terrific menu and have never had a bad meal or service.
(5)
Jason J.
We had friends in town and they suggested L Woods, mostly because of the half off wine on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we gave it a try. We sat at the bar waiting for our table and we're seated fairly quickly, but the first two beers on their list of tap choices they didn't carry anymore. I get it but change the sign on the wall. Our waitress was nice, but a bit slow and it was not overly crowded. We tried the special appetizer of bbq brisket nachos. It was good but small for 10 bucks, and there was very little brisket in it and the pieces were tiny. It's known for barbeque so I got the ribs and chicken, and my wife got the parmesan crusted cod. Mine was good, and the portion was big. The twice baked potato was the real star. My wife said the fish was okay, but tried the filet and said it was much better. For a lettuce entertain you place the food was good, and the prices were reasonable. If we were in the area and had a taste for bbq or a steak, we would go back to L Woods.
(3)
Christina B.
Wonderful food, amazing service and an atmosphere from a bye-gone era. This place is all about nostalgia, family and good food. Everything is amazing on the menu. Everyone has a smiling face when you walk in. They begin the meal with a loaf of onion bread and keep it coming as long as you can eat it! Everything is good on the menu...literally everything. The apple strudel is delicious and **Note: it takes 45 minutes to cook so order it with your drinks at the start of your meal** We sat near the hostess stand and I have to say, everyone in the establishment loves "mama" who stands there like she has for what I can imagine has been decades passed. Every who passes her gives her a little hug; from waitresses, hostesses and even the busboys. Everyone cares about her and you really get a sense it's a caring, friendly and loving place. It comes across that way in the food. I can see how it's a place that withstands time and generations continue to come there; I know I will! PS--it's a "lettuce entertain you" restaurant so bring your cards...you can rack up some serious points there!
(5)
Matt C.
Great experience! Would go back in a second... Our server Jesus was great as well!! Every item was Cooked to perfection...
(5)
Kelly M.
How have I not reviewed this place yet?! They have a menu that is big enough to please everyone in your group, but not so big it overwhelms you. The service is great and they have fun seasonal drinks. I've yet to check out their outdoor seating area in the summer. I've heard it's very nice.
(4)
Barbara I.
At last, I agree with the majority of yelp reviewers...L Woods was a great experience. On site parking *yeah!), good food and good service. My friend and i split the chop salad (small size) - it was delicious! i had the prime rib and my friend had the ribs...the prime rib was very good - cooked to perfection and my friend reported the ribs were also very good. WE split the chocolate cake and were stuffed and nearly in food heaven when we were done. The apple martini was close to perfection. This is a good restaurant to bring your parents...old style feeling. I definitely will go back.
(4)
Brooklyn Barry B.
devil style beef ribs..need i say more.
(5)
Tracy B.
Whatever you decide to eat, you must order the flatbread, I repeat: you MUST order the flatbread. Can you tell I really liked the flatbread? Super-thin, delicate and crispy - and substantial. I was quite surprised at how large the order was. Ahhh, yummy goodness. I've been here a couple times now and have had mostly simple dishes: Chicken sandwiches and salads. It's always been tasty. This past time was no exception, I had the skirt steak salad. It always impresses me when a restaurant can make a good skirt steak. L Woods got it right; a steak that can very easily turn out overcooked and tough was tender and juicy. What is not to like about this place? It is literally a Pine Lodge. Rustic and comfortable and just dark enough not to be considered too dark or too bright. I try to get there as often as possible and now that I read the the mac 'n cheese is orgasmic, I must go back sooner rather than later.
(4)
Adam B.
L. Woods has some of the best burgers in the Chicago region. For dinner, no one beats their Prime Rib special. And don't leave without dessert!
(5)
Valerie G.
I passed by this place so many times and thought it was an bar or lodge for older folks. Finally, stopped in on a Friday night and there was a two hour wait! Didn't stay but went back the following weekend with reservations and realized why you need to call in advance: the food is really good! I didn't know this but it's a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant and on your first trip there, they give you a free flat beard. I say it's my first time, every time. I like getting free stuff and I'm cheap! Try their barbecue plank salmon. It's on a bed of mashed potatoes and it's amazing. They have great soups, salads and overall well made American foods. The dishes are pretty on par with their sister restaurant Mity Nice Grill. Ordered their lava cake for dessert once...it was a 10 inch cake for two people. So delicious but wayyy to big! They also have wine specials with $10 house bottles of red or white...can't beat that! My only qualm is that every time we go, we are the clear minority- not just in race but age. Lots of elderly white people. Don't get me wrong...everyone is always very nice but it is kind of strange that the only people who look like me are the bus boys.
(4)
Tim H.
This place is always packed whenever I come. It is best to make a reservation unless you are ok with a one hour wait. Service is good...as good as it can be for a casual restaurant given how busy the place always is. The Baby Back Ribs are awesome. My favorite side is their gigantic double bake potato. (The potato is so large that it makes me worry whether it is chemically safe to eat...they get injected with steroids or something?) My dining party 4 was stuffed when it came time for dessert ordering. We asked the waitress whether any of the desserts would change our lives. She recommended the chocolate cake. Although all my dining companions liked the cake, I was the only one willing to say it was the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Moist, chocolaty, and not too sweet. Don't forget to try the chocolate cake, it might change your life!
(4)
Amanda G.
This is a total old-school, Midwestern place. Lots of beef, huge portions, etc. We shared a flat bread, that was really good. It didn't really fit with the rest of the menu, but it was tasty. I had salmon, and had asked for it rare. The server didn't seem to find this unusual. When it came out cooked through, my friend told me to send it back. I did, and the manager came out to ask me if I really wanted it rare.He went on to tell me that he had NEVER had anyone ask for salmon rare. WTF??? My friend and her husband work in the restaurant industry and said this was weird, and rare salmon is served in Chicago, he was just strange.. Whatever....It came out rare, and was good. We shared the apple strudel for dessert, and it was soooo good. Probably the best part of the meal. Prices were reasonable, and service was good, (except for the odd-ball mgr.)
(3)
h c.
Eh... sorry L. Woods... I really wanted to like you, but unfortunately, you blew it.. twice! First time i went i got the "Prime" Bone-In Ribeye.. "grilled to perfection", yeah right... i ordered it RARE and it came WELL DONE. Of course, that's not hard to screw up since the steak was seriously about 1/4 inch thick... and it was $33 too! so, not worth it.... to their credit, after the waiter asked me how the steak was, i gave him a face, like, are you serious???? they didnt charge me for it. Well, the night actually started off with the waiter messing up the flight of beer that i had ordered, but he did make it up by leaving me the 'extra' beer that was not the correct one. tonight, i went for the 2nd time and only because i wanted to give it another chance cause i really wanted to like this place. Aside from the baby back ribs, which my girlfriend likes to order, and i have to admit, it's very good and worth the price... i had heard that they had a really good skirt steak there.... so, i decided to try it tonight. Well, not sure what the rave is about, it wasnt that good. Again, i ordered it RARE and it came out relatively close, medium to medium well. And, again it's not hard to mess up cause it's so damn thin. I thought the portion was pretty small for a skirt steak.. usually those are pretty big plates, but not here. Overall, the steak was just ok, chewy and not that flavorful, seemed very oily. Now, i tell you, if you want a GREAT skirt steak, you gotta go to Las Tablas (that's going to be my next review!) Also, both times i went we had ordered the fried calamari and both times i was disappointed. I guess it was fine because it was fried and anything fried is good, right??? maybe? i dont know.. i really couldnt find the calamari in the fried dough here. I honestly think there was about 30% calamari and the rest was oily, greasy, batter. This time the portion was pretty small as well, i dont think it was that small the last time... recession i guess. What else? there was just so many things i didnt like about the food at this place, sorry. place was fine, nice decor and atmostphere, crowded all the time too... it's the food that was small, oily, and not worth it... I dont know, maybe it's me, but i just dont get this place and aside from the ribs, it's just not worth it.... and how can they screw up my RARE steak twice???
(2)
Kent B.
L. Woods is located on Lincoln Avenue and Kostner in Lincolnwood. There is a large private parking lot for off-street parking. The decor is Wisconsin Supper Club with hundreds of framed black and white photos of their patrons hanging on the walls. You'll also find stuffed fish on the walls and deer antler chandeliers. Hey der. I've eaten at L. Woods on several occasions. My experiences have been mixed. On my most recent visit, I had a chopped salad and a BBQ brisket sandwich. The chopped salad was excellent and fresh. I had their mustard vinaigrette dressing (salty), but they offer several other dressings. The sliced BBQ brisket sandwich was tasty, but overloaded with barbecue sauce. The menu indicated the brisket was smoked for 12-hours, but I couldn't taste the meat through the sauce. Also, while tender, it didn't seem 12-hour tender. My sandwich came with thin, waffle potato chips, which were greasy and cole slaw. On other visits, I've eaten fish, which has either been excellent or below average. I've also eaten their beef ribs and found them to be good and meaty. Our waiter was attentive, polite and friendly. As before, I'll probably be back, but not for awhile.
(4)
Jaz P.
So popular with the northern suburb locals. I got there at 6:10pm on Wednesday night last week and had my pick of covetable parking spots in the roomy lot. The rest of my family arrived in their separate cars 10 minutes later and they all had to park on the street. The same thing happened to me too once when I tried to go to L Woods to watch a Sunday football game. Inside, the restaurant has a nice, warm, Midwestern lodgey feel and the several rooms are filled with regulars who look like they even go weekly. I've only been a handful of times but my small family has regularly scored and we get this nice corner banquet that fits all 6 of us. Yes, I know we're small Asian people! The ribs are solid and ample in portion- I had 5 and distributed the other 7 to the rest of the table, including our youngest 3-yr old carnivore, my niece. Funnily, nobody else in my family ordered ribs but they were all equally stoked with their dishes. The breaded veal is about the same size as my full slab of ribs. The chopped salad lives up to its reputation, and a meal could be made of it. You might want to order sauce on the side cause there's alot. One issue with the menu is that the Ribeye which has been a long favorite of my brothers' and various others, including out of town friends, has recently been removed from the menu. He looked almost crestfallen at the news- it was just that good! I decided I'm going to help him write in to L Woods to ask for it to get back on the menu. To cap off our delicious meal, we ordered the special chocolate cake. But put your order in early!
(5)
Herman B.
Great food!! I too like many others went here when it was Bones, and had the ribs then. Now I went here recently and had the BBQ cedar planked Salmon, with Potatoes and Corn, very yummy. My wife had the Burger, which she said was very good we split a side of Creamed Spinach also very good, others in our party had the ribs and also the brisket and Walleye, and all said good...seems one cant go wrong, portion size is generous, and ambiance is comfortable, but somewhat dark (if you don't like that ask to be seated closer to the front of the Restaurant).
(5)
Tracey M.
I will admit upfront I have a bit of a bias towards L Woods. Primarily because "back in the day" (otherwise known as my childhood) the space was another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant called Bone which my family frequented weekly and then periodically in high school. So, from the start walking into this space brought brings back many happy memories. I have a difficult time knowing exactly what to begin with - the food, the food or the atmosphere. Since I already stated why I looked forward to visiting L Woods (well, aside from those I was dining with) I will talk about the atmosphere. The only thing I would have changed about the atmosphere was the dim lighting. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it didn't make taking pictures during dinner easy. Aside from that, I enjoyed the atmosphere. It was cozy and inviting. The service was very good. Our waiter was so attentive that when he saw how engrossed we all were in conversation with one another he opted to give us some more time rather than interrupting us to find out what we wanted to eat. I thought was extremely courteous and thoughtful of him to do. Lastly, the food . . . Two words: Beef Ribs. One of the reasons my family frequented Bones back in the day was for their beef ribs and as far as I am aware, L Woods is the only restaurant in the greater Chicagoland area that serves beef ribs. Since the only form of pork I really eat is bacon ribs is a very special meal for me. I can't tell you the number of times I've looked for these at other places - with out success. The best part is that they are out of this world good! I mean really good. A lot bigger than I remember having as a child, but I wouldn't expect everything to be exactly the same. BTW - have I mentioned how phenomenal the beef ribs taste? They're even excellent reheated as well. Overall, L Woods did not disappoint and I'm glad that I finally got the chance to dine there. I will, without question, be back again.
(5)
Daniel T.
Great atmosphere, very fine food, good service. A little disappointed that our 7:00 reservation meant 7:30 seating, but the crowd must mean it is good. Not much room to wait at the bar, but the food was great. Friday is Wisconsin night so you'll have several fish options, breaded pork tenderloin, cheese curds, and $2 Schlitz on the menu. There is lot to like here.
(4)
Megan F.
My husband and I came here last night for dinner. We were greeted by a spunky older woman who seated us with a smile and a sense of humor. The service was fantastic. In fact, my husband ordered the filet, and the head waiter returned to our table about 15 minutes later to let us know it would be another 10 minutes because they had overcooked the meat and it hadn't met their standard for service. Of course, we were just fine with that, and very much appreciated the level of service. Specifically, I have to highlight dessert. The Nutter Butter Banana Cream Pie is heaven. Fresh ingredients, wonderful flavor; a perfect indulgence! Finally, as we were finishing up dessert, our waiter returned with our bill, informing us that the appetizer and dessert were "on the house". We were blown away by the gesture, and would have happily paid for both. However, this brought our dining experience to a perfect 5 stars. L. Wood's is a place for good food and superb service in warm, comfy setting.
(5)
Sandi S.
Ah, good ol' L. Woods, a Lincolnwood staple fashioned after a giant log cabin adorned with all the woodsy decor you might expect to find in such a space, save for the numerous framed pictures of famous celebrities/locals and repeat customers who seem more like an extension of family. I've always thought of L. Woods as a steakhouse, but they also do bbq and I think that tonight I preferred it to the steaks. So it was a balmy, summer Saturday night during tough economic times and the place was jammed. We had no reservation and were told it'd be about thirty minutes. We had never sat at the bar before and were all too happy to pass the time there. The bartender greeted us warmly and quickly. For one dirty vodka martini and one cherry martini, it was $20.13 - in Lincolnwood! But hey, it was date night, and the bartender hooked me up with two bleu cheese-stuffed olives while he fixed our drinks, so I was all good. Within only five minutes, our beeper went off and so we hurriedly paid the bill and ascended to the hostess podium where "Mama" showed us to our table. She was an older woman who wasn't entirely certain she knew where table 101 was, but she got us there. She must be part of the legacy of L. Woods. Her nametag actually said "Mama" on it and she knew many diners. The restaurant is split into four different dining areas. The few times we've been before, we've always sat in the front, but tonight, we were in the more dimly lit back area - the one with the pinewood paneling, not the room w/ faux log walls. We ordered two soups as appetizers - one French onion au gratin and one tortilla soup. The French onion was absolutely fab - not too salty, perfectly sweet, and cheese not so rubbery you need a knife and fork to get through it. The tortilla soup was almost a corn chowder, but with a spicy, limey kick. To me, it was lukewarm, but my husband doesn't care for scalding hot soups like I do, so it suited him just fine. We debated about ordering a flatbread, but skipped it only to be surprised with a mushroom flatbread compliments of the house! They thought it was our first time there, but we quickly corrected them that it had been over a year since the last visit to which the manager replied, "Close enough!" and placed it on the table. "Welcome back," he added. The flatbread was leavened lavash topped with pesto and 24-hour marinated mushrooms in herbs and olive oil, and then oven baked. Holy crap, it was delicious! Very thin. Very light. I'm so glad we got to try it. We passed on salads, though we know they're outstanding. We each got steak - me the filet mignon med rare, and hubby the queen cut prime rib med rare w/ horseradish sauce. As if that wasn't plenty, we also got a full slab of ribs! (Oink!) My steak was cooked perfectly, but hubby's a little overdone, and both were bland. It was very disappointing. We've ordered steaks there everytime, but this time they really fell flat. Aside from no flavor, they were a little tough too, or not as "cuts like butter" as they should've been. I was about to lose all hope on dinner, but then I tried the ribs. (Clouds part. Angels sing.) Y-U-M! Okay, we're back on track now. In addition to the entrees, we got a couple of sides - baked mac n' cheese and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach was rich and decadent and I slopped it all over my baked potato. The mac n' cheese was moist and cheesy and very homemade feeling, though they used a longer tube noodle which was a bit of a surprise when I plunged my fork in and pulled it out. While we tend to over-order, we're good about wrapping a lot of it to go. Despite wrapping mass quantities of everything we ordered I still didn't have room for dessert, so I took it to go as well - a simple chocolate layer cake. In fact, to do this review properly, I think I must have a bite right now ... O. M.G!!! Now, THAT was a chocolate layer cake! It came with a side of chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream speckled with vanilla bean! Okay, so wrapping up here, my cherry martini was very sweet so I ordered a digestif with a little carbonation to it - Miller Lite. The hubby got his after dinner usual, a J&B neat. The atmosphere was pleasant, upscale (for a log cabin), and the wait staff attentive and friendly. The experience over all was very positive. I'm hoping that the subpar steaks were one-offs. Although we sat amid a sea of blue hairs, there were some young families, and a few other couples out on their own "date night." I would definitely go back and even recommend it to a friend. Stick with the salads, the bbq fare, those rich sides, and THAT CAKE! You won't go wrong. For THREE entrees, two soups, two sides, one dessert, four beers, and one J&B, the bill was roughly $136 before tip.
(4)
Christine M.
A client is just down the street from L. Woods, so we always end up here for lunch. I have always had a good experience. The chopped salad almost puts Portillo's to shame. They have an amazing seasonal soup in the fall/winter (can't recall the name), but just the smell of it made a second person order.... then a third.... then the fourth at the table :) Cozy atmosphere. Service has always been reliable, except for my last visit. I happened to stop in on the weekend with my husband while we were in the area. Service started out wonderful, but we really had to flag our server down in order to get the check and out of there. That was a little annoying. Aside from that, still a great meal. I had my salad and he had the shrimp po'boy - which I even loved. Next time I'll have to try the apple strudel!
(4)
Bob B.
Perhaps the best ribs ever. Juicy, perfect mix of sweet and spicy, falling of the bone tender. Great service. Nice beer selection.
(5)
arlene d.
The food was very good did not like the service. The hostess not very friendly threw menus on table when seated us . The waiter did not like either rushed to take our order not attentive at all. Food was good had the crusted white fish with green beans lunch portion very good size for price would have liked it to come with a starch but oh well. Little on noisy side
(3)
Scott S.
The place was packed on a Wednesday night to my surprise. The food was tasty and the prices were reasonable.
(4)
pete d.
An over an hour wait for a table. Drinks at the bar at downtown prices. An over hour wait for our entree. On a Tuesday night The waiter seemed to be nice by giving us extra bread. Kitchen seemed to be overwhelmed Had ribs had better. It was a corporate version of a Northern Wisconsin restaurant.
(1)
Jeff G.
i'd have to give this a 3.75. have only been one time, seems like a place with a lot of regulars. chopped salad was very good. we got two entrees: the baby back rib/chicken plate. ribs were about the best i have ever had, loved them! chicken was pretty bland, barely any sauce at all, however the brisket sandwich was DRIPPING with bbq sauce. i like sauce but probably the first time in my life i have ever though something had too much. they should have put some of that sauce on the chicken, service was shotty, probably cause we were sitting at the island bar without a server. went sat night ~730 with no reservations and it was jam packed. i thought the price of a draft 312 was high at $7.50, though i guess it was probably 22 or 24 oz.
(4)
aggie c.
Always nice to enjoy the pleasure of having an unique place such as L woods. Framed pictures of actual customers from the moment you walk in till the very end. Oceans 11 had a scene filmed inside and it's called the oceans 11 room. Pretty neat. Nice presentation good service. Overall food is decent. Sandwich bread is a little too hard, but the mashed potatoes are to die for. Definately will be back soon!
(4)
Zach J.
Beef ribs. They're not always easy to find, and when you do find them, they're not always guaranteed to be fantastic. Well, that's not the case at L Woods, a cozy, log-cabin looking, North Woods-themed restaurant in Lincolnwood. Not only do they serve beef ribs, but I would go so far as to say they serve the best beef ribs in the greater Chicagoland area, or at least I have yet to have better. Their "devil-style" beef ribs are monsterously huge, and have a nice spicy kick to them. It's difficult for me to order anything other than that now, although they also have a fine selection of steaks & chops as well. They've got 2-3 seperate, large dining rooms, so you never feel to cramped. And when you walk in, they do have a full bar area that is usually a bit more lively than the seperate dining areas. If you have to wait for a table, it's a good atmosphere to cozy up to the bar and watch the game, etc. Another added bonus for L Woods is the atmosphere. The place has character, with hundreds of framed pictures of their old customers from the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The place has charm, and a welcoming, down-to-earth, unpretentious vibe about it. That's probably because it's in Lincolnwood, but whatever the case, I personally find it very refreshing. So I've gotta give this place a 5-star rating, mainly for the beef ribs, but overall the total package at L Woods = *****
(5)
Y V.
Interesting lodge atmosphere. Definitely the kind of place to take your parents out to dinner. We tried the onion strings appetizer. It's a big portion - prepare to share it with 3 other people. Thin, crispy, salty goodness. It's also a great side for any of the main courses. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly. Keep in mind that the side dishes are a la carte. Their old-fashioned burger was not what I expected, but tasty nonetheless. The patty was thin and had seared, caramelized crusts on both sides. The "special sauce" was similar to a Thousand Island dressing. I'll be back to try their fried chicken and other specials.
(4)
E G.
I made an online reservation and while enroute to dinner traffic was horrible. I called to say I would be a little late and I was informed that it would not be a problem. When I walked in there was wall to wall customers waiting to be seated. I walked up and gave my name and was immediately seated. Now that's customer service! Never disappointed whenever I come here! Eat the beef ribs they are the best!
(4)
Donna L.
ALWAYS a good time at our L. Woods... from the host to the wine to the food... everything lives up to perfection... the atmosphere is so homey, the waiters are so friendly.. and the BEEF RIBS are alllllways available and deeeeelicious! And don't forget the dessert... which takes 40 minutes to make! Chocolate cake! Apple strudel! It's hard to find a place that excels in every part of the night... the host/manager is of the friendliest.. the waiter has suggestions and recommendations... the wine pairings are heavenly, the our chopped salad was FANTASTIC... even the bread is special and delicious. Then comes the best part- the beef ribs are succulent and tasty... can't go wrong with the BBQ sauce. And after another glass of wine... the best part... dessert!
(5)
Ella B.
I would give this place a zero if I could. I've been taken here as a guest multiple times and this place is nothing special. At my last visit I was so disgusted I thought the health inspector should have paid them a visit... The evening started off with food caked on to my silverware. Now I'm not talking about a little smudge or a tiny piece of food... There was disgustingly a BIG chunk of food CAKED on my fork AND knife. I absolutely hate being the person to bother the wait staff to change my silverware but in this situation it had to be done. The waiter wasn't rude, but had a slight attitude when I asked him to change my silverware. To my surprise when he brought me a new "clean" set it also had food stuck on the silverware! (now I just asked you to replace my dirty silverware... don't you think it would be wise to double check and make sure the replacement was cleaned?) Where are your standards in giving people dirty silverware?! The WORST part was when I ate my left overs at home the next day to find a FINGER NAIL IN MY MOUTH hidden in the middle of my mashed potatoes. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had, I vomited the second I realized someone's fingernail was in my food and now inside my mouth. How does that happen?! EWW I still cringe thinking of it. Not only did I have trouble with my meal, but another guest at our table found a hair in her macaroni and cheese... I made a complaint to the manager to suggest they watch the sanitary precautions because I was so unbelievably disgusted. The manager just said they would "look into it" and I never heard from them again. It seemed like they just brushed it off and were not concerned at all. WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER. I will avoid coming to this restaurant ever again.
(1)
Miles B.
I find the place utterly charming. Lodge-style restaurant makes you feel like you're up in the north woods of Wisconsin. Food quality was a little better than you get up north (i had the Saturday Prime Rib special) . Lots of families & blue hairs here so my wife and I probably stood out a little but who cares. It's fun for someone who works in the loop and is usually choosing between big chain convenience dining (chilis, Fridays, etc) and places trying to be ultra-hip with stainless steel tables and 12 dollar martinis. Sometimes, I want to get out of the city routine without having to drive 2 hours. This is a good place for that.
(4)
Sarah B.
I feel so conflicted about L Woods. I've dined there probably a couple dozen times in my life and really enjoy the food. But too many times I've gone there and the service has been sub-par. My favorite food is the chopped salad, bar none. The apple strudel is incredible but make sure you order it during the appetizers as it takes 45 minutes to make. The flat breads are not only tasty, but very healthy as well. And the onion bread: get the onion bread! As for the service, I've had some great servers in the past and then some really inattentive, forgetful ones. Last night I was having dinner with a big group of people and the waiter took a long time getting us our drinks and came back to check on us very infrequently. We had ordered the apple strudel during our main course, and an hour later it still wasn't there. He told us it will be out in one minute, and fifteen minutes later we were still waiting. There's been other experiences when the service was mediocre or poor, to the point where sometimes it overshadowed how good the food is.
(3)
Taylor M.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new place to celebrate me buying a new car that day and him closing on a house the next. First, I have to let you know that I did not arrive here until a little after 9 pm and the restaurant closes at 10 pm. When we arrived the waiter informed us they were all out of the daily special of breaded pork (which I was hoping to try since it got amazing reviews on here!) as well as the fried calamari. At first I was a little disappointed but then I thought this is a good thing for two reasons. 1. It says that the restaurant is popular enough to run out of food and 2. that they only buy a limited amount of food so it is always fresh. So I set my sights on the Irish Salmon with apple butter but then they were out of this as well. So I settled on the Parmesan crusted cod with lemon butter sauce which was good. It is a nice light fish that just flakes apart. The food quality was good... but I still felt hungry afterwords (granted I had not had time to eat all day!). My boyfriend started with the corned beef and cabbage soup which was a little salty (which I like) and had a great taste! For his meal he tried the Devil Style Beef Ribs... which were great but did not really live up to the "devil" spiciness we were hoping for! Our waiter was fantastic and all the employees were extremely friendly. Our dishes were cleared immediately and my water never got below halfway full. However, be prepared to spend more than $30 per person after tax and tip for just two entrees. I felt it was worth the price because of the freshness and quality of the food and wait staff. The ambiance is also beautiful wood trim and decorations. I will definitely be back... and next time I am trying a drink!
(4)
Ian M.
Even though this may be one of the most stray LEY locations in the city, I'm happy L. Woods is part of the diverse family and that's a short drive from my home. This is one of those places where everyone dines to celebrate, whether it's a birthday or just a weekend family dinner. Don't be intimidated by the crowdedness. The key is to plan ahead properly whether it be online or via phone. Your table will likely not be ready at the time of your reservation, but you shouldn't expect to spend less than an hour dining here anyway. The Bell's brewery beer on tap is a plus and the small TVs playing the game(s) is a subtle but nonintrusive touch to the one dining room. When it comes to food, the ribs are always filling, but save room for creamed spinach and mashed potatoes to share. Careful, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach! Speaking of saving room, the meal won't be complete if you indulge in either the apple strudel or chocolate cake. Don't forget to order it with your dinner order so that it's nice and hot from the oven after you finish your meal.
(5)
Dave G.
Family dinner last night. Had 7pm reservations, seated somewhat later. So far, so good. We were 5 so we got a nice booth. Service and food - good. Why 3 stars then? Stay tuned.... Part, okay most of this my own fault, but I ordered the perch dinner w/o looking at the menu. I should have. Why? Because the darn dinner cost $22.99!! For a Friday perch dinner !?!? Yep. IMO, that would be a good price for 2 dinners, but one? Come on. Again, my fault for not looking at the menu. Never again. Go there? Sure, but don't do what I did.
(3)
Halleh C.
I came here for lunch the other day after having passed it on the way in and out of the city so many times. I always noticed the parking lot was full and was intrigued by its popularity. Even during lunch, this place was pretty packed. I got the french onion soup and chicken salad sandwich combo and YUM!! The soup was absolutely delicious, with a thick layer of bubbling cheese on the top. The sandwich was also pretty good. Standard chicken salad, but tasty. I only ate half of my huge sandwich and saved the other half for dinner. Not bad for 9.99! The service was excellent. I always feel bad for the female servers who have to wear a mens work uniform in places like these. Since when is the male wardrobe the default? I think that Women can look nice and professional without wearing tuxedo pants, mens button downs and a TIE. Men's clothes just don't look good on women. Back to the point... This place made me wish I was retired! (In a good way). I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Joshua N.
Hi. I'm Elle Woods and this is Bruiser Woods. We're both Gemini vegetarians. Moving on... This restaurant has nothing to do with Legally Blonde as others have mentioned. What it does have to do with is a really amazing pulled pork flatbread appetizer with pesto, caramelized onions, and ranch dressing. Also, a top notch, panko breaded, fried pork loin on wednesday nights served with homemade applesauce, corn, and mashed potatoes and gravy. There is a gargantuan side of mac and cheese that you'll have to demonstrate some real self control to stop eating, but I recommend ordering anyway. This is fat people food, there is no question about it, and I was in hog heaven. Can't wait to go back and try some more of their nightly specials. The only disappointment for me was not having my photo taken during the meal - it seems like there is a picture of just about everyone who has ever dined there on the wall somewhere.
(4)
Jen T.
This gets 3.5 stars, if half stars were an option. I've been to L.Woods numerous times. It's a good place to go with family or a large group looking for a chill meal. Their fried chicken on Sundays is really, really good. The only thing that would make it better is if they served it with waffles.... mmmmmmm. One can dream! I really like the kitschy, lodge-type atmosphere. The service is always good and it's relieving to not worry about parking. The reason I didn't give this place 4 stars is because other than my massive craving for their fried chicken, the food is just okay. I've tried most of the menu and while everything is cooked fine, nothing stands out. It's consistently predictable and frankly, a bit boring.
(3)
Dan H.
The barbeque-planked salmon is one of my favorite dishes of any restaurant in the area. I highly recommend it. The chopped salad is good, and I would recommend that over the Caesar here. They also make a decent steak, but I usually stick with the salmon. The service has always been very good, especially considering how busy it can get on the weekend.
(5)
Tony R.
My Wife took me to L. Woods for my Birthday, and I was blown away. The Sweet Sausage Flatbread was good, but the main courses wehad were phenomenal. Nothing fancy, but Ribs that rival Twin Anchors, and the best Prime Rib I have ever tasted. Only disappointment was no Spotted Cow on tap. I guess you can't get it outside of Wisconsin so I will give them a pass. They also have Shaw's Crabhouse's Key Lime Pie. Amazing.
(5)
S K.
I love this place. Have been going for years. The food deserves four stars and is the best part of the dining experience here. Either they aren't hiring quality wait staff or they aren't taking the time to train them like they used to. The new assistant manager or hostess - I am not sure which she really is - seems clueless. She barely acknowledges you. What happened to a smile and a greeting when someone walks in. She just stares and waits for your request for a table. Strange. Every single time she sends us to the least desirable table...I guess someone has to take it. We go here at least three times a month - most of the time more. I shouldn't have to tell them every time that I prefer a better table. Wait staff always seems hurried at each table and then you see them huddled up together in a corner. Too bad really - this place used to have the best servers who recognized their return diners and accommodated them with professional service. This isn't TGIF. We usually spend anywhere from $80 to $180 a visit. Now for the good - steaks are tender and cooked perfect every time! The new menu has the old favorites and some delicious new items. Maybe we will just start dining at the bar and skip the hostess/assistant manager and mediocre wait staff all together. I can't stay away from the ribs or steaks!
(2)
Karen M.
Always amazing! On our most recent visit, we were a group of 6 celebrating Mother's Day. The place was packed, but we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Our server was very attentive. The meal was outstanding. I've seen the complaints about the prices. You get what you pay for. The food is of the highest quality. I'd rather pay a bit more for a meal I know will be delicious - as well as excellent service. And you can't beat the "Up North" atmosphere. My recommendations - the almond crusted walleye; the Sat special prime rib; the Friday night Schlitz beer batter haddock. They also have fantastic fried chicken and ribs. Are you hungry? Well - get yourself over to L. Woods!
(5)
Amie C.
I live everything about this place! The friendly people working (and a couple of cuties, too!), the ambience, the food, oh my! Heavenly chopped salad, sans blue cheese for me please! Great tomato bisque couples nicely with the complementary bread and butter. Fantastic fries and the chili looked pretty darn amazing too. My mouth watered as I walked by other tables and gazed in jealousy at the other dishes. Cannot wait to come back and try more options! Oh and they have fun bottles of pop, sprechers, I believe.
(5)
Michael L.
I received a generous Lettuce Entertain You gift card, and looked online for advice. L Woods came up and I immediately thought of Legally Blonde. The menu looked great, and 1/2 price bottles of wine Tue/Thurs didn't hurt. I went last night and had a nice dinner. We arrived around 8:15pm for dinner and the place was packed and loud. The cozy up-north Michigan cabin ambiance was comforting. I ordered the wedge salad to start and the NY strip for dinner. The salad wedge was crisp and cold, topped with bleu cheese dressing, onions and bacon. YUM. My steak was cooked perfectly rare and huge. We also ordered the Malbec, which was $27, but half off. It was a nice blend, not too sweet or dry. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, but know what tastes good. Overall it was a pleasant experience, and I would certainly return. The place emptied out by 9:00 and was much quieter than when we arrived. Also, one of the managers came over right after we ordered and brought over a flat bread appetizer, since we had never been there before. Nice touch.
(4)
Pam S.
L Woods rarely fails to please. Food is always good. Almond crusted walleye gives you a huge portion of tender fish with a great crispy crust. Skirt steak is always perfectly broiled although disappointed with the crispy onions I asked for as they were not crispy. Service is always good and their chopped salad is worth the extra price. They have recently added some Oriental meals to their takeout but have not tried them. Often crowded, loud but always good food.
(4)
Mary W.
After a Mother's Day nightmare here before, we decided to wait and go the following week to dine at L Woods. Best idea I've had in a while, it was busy, but you could move without being on top of one another. This leads to my biggest issue with L Woods. There were numerous empty tables, so what do they do? They seat us between two large groups, one of which was celebrating the birthday of one VERY annoying and LOUD child. Between screeches we asked to move tables and they moved us. Common sense would not have seated us there in the first place. Even though they were not that crowded, service was very, very slow. Don't go here if you have anywhere you need to be after dining. The meal was okay, we had Ribs, Steaks and the Fried Chicken special. For the price of meals at L Woods, they should do a better job of creating more salad choices as well as veg options that are not fat and calorie loaded. They also need to up the desert choices and sell smaller portions. The Strudel was not worth the money or wait. It will be a long time before I return.
(3)
Evan E.
Working in sales, I take a lot of customers out to lunch and dinner. I have never once had a bad meal or bad service at L. Woods. There are a heck of a lot of choices in Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood that are GREAT. I would venture to say that 75% or more of my many customers in the area choose Woods. The food is always great and there is something for everyone.. Vegetarian? They make their own Veggie Burger and its great.. Looking for something light? They have it, get a flat bread or salad. Or even better, the flatbread salad combo (if your not looking to go light). Their French Onion Soup is top notch! There is a bar tender there that works lunch practically every day. He has been working there since it was bones. Tell Frank your name once, he will remember you and your drink. I love L Woods. You will too!
(5)
Agnes P.
A perfect location for a cold Chicago winters night. I went to L Woods last night (Wednesday) and it was amazing. They were crowded, which I was surprised with being that it was midweek. However, they managed to get us seated promptly as well as served us our meals in a short amount of time. The waitstaff was friendly & extremely professional. No busboys trying to push you to the side - rather they move out of your way & allow you to pass. Manners are difficult to come by these days - their staff is trained well. I ordered the breaded pork tenderloin and it was amazing. The entire dish from the pork, to the mashed potatoes, to the corn tasted as if it had come straight from a grandmother's kitchen. Ahhh- and the side of apple sauce tasted house made as well. My date had a cheese burger which looked delicious. I will be back again - the food served there wasn't typical, tasted as if it was made from scratch & was surprisingly fresh.
(5)
Maria H.
My husband and I went here lastnight with my parents. We all are big fans of the woodsy Wisconsin atmosphere and this place was perfect. Big portions. Good service. We got there pretty early, around 5 and sat down right away. I had the ribs, which were fall of the bone with delicious sauce. We also shared a large chop salad and was perfect amount for 4. I was too full to eat my fries and tried husband's garlic mashed potatoes which were really amazing! Overall, a fun atmosphere. It was pretty crowded when we left at 7. And this was a Sunday :)
(5)
Anthony C.
L Woods is a restaurant that is in our rotation - a place we go to on a regular basis, usually during the week. And every time everything is right on the money, from waitstaff, to beer selection, to food. The atmosphere is wonderful - cozy, perfect lighting, and your choice of areas to sit in from the bar area to a big cozy booth on the other side. The food is always spot on. The portions are generous and the quality is top-notch. Some of our favorites are the chop salad (my favorite anywhere), the dry-rub baby back ribs, the mohagany chicken, and the breaded pork tenderloin (a special on Wednesday night). This place is busy every day, all the time, so I would always recommend getting a reservation. Go and enjoy some of the best comfort food that the city has to offer.
(4)
Eric L.
The waiter brings my friends' "Brontosaurus Ribs," my "onion strings" and my beer all at the same time. At this moment I am at a dark mood. I understand that the ribs were entered before my onion strings, in fact I don't mind if the rings comes to the table after the ribs, but since less than 5 minutes passed before me entering an order, the fact that an appetizer could be brought to my table meant that it was already prepared ahead of time. This is a restaurant sin! In order to satiate my unholy demands of all things gluttonous, do not bring me food sitting under a heat lamp; this is especially true for fried foods. As if I was some culinary neophyte, my friend explained to me that since beef ribs are so large (compared to pork I guess), he called them "brontosaurus." I picked at the onion rings. They were cold. As members of my party complained about their significant others, my friend asks for more bbq sauce. I noted, good idea, I need something hot for these onion rings from Cocytus. As I was about to join in the request for additional sauce the waiter sprinted off. It took me 10 minutes to get bbq sauce for my rings - and guess what - the sauce was frigid too.
(1)
Ginny L.
My family has been going here for years, back to when it was still Bones, but oh, we love it as much as ever. Most people I go with get the steaks or ribs, which are great, but in preparation for dessert I usually go with the salad/flatbread combo. The chopped salad is GIGANTIC even when it's the side version, and the flatbread... well, it could take up half my desk. I get the feeling that even though it's crispy, delicious, and not so filling, it's absolutely terrible for me... but the salad balances that out, right? The real reason I come to L Woods is what comes next. The molten chocolate cake needs to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, and even if we're only a group of 2, we order the large size since we know we'll want leftovers. It's one of my favorite desserts on the planet, and my family's new favorite way of eating it is leftover after sitting in the freezer overnight. I still prefer it warm and gooey, but frozen is great too.
(5)
Tom A.
Wayyyyyy back in the day, this place was called Bones and I'd travel down Touhy for their tasty treats-- mostly the fancy-schmancy bread and bagel basket (I learned to love bagels dipped in BBQ sauce here!) and of course, the Bones Burger. The decor then consisted of hand-painted caricatures of Chicago celebs and landmarks, and the place had a old-tomey supperclub kind of vibe. The menu has changed a bit since then, and the North Lodge atmosphere is certainly different, but overall the restaurant is still a treat. With cozy lighting and wood paneling/mounted fish and animals on the wall, the lodge ambiance is spot-on. L. Woods has a separate bar area set off from the main dining room, and the menu features a great selection of cocktails and beer (including beer flights with local brews). Their bread is still tasty and their barbecued chicken is great, but my heart still belongs to the Bones Burger-- but WAIT! Though it isn't on the menu, if you order a "Flagship Burger" they should provide you with a reasonable facsimile of their legendary Bones Burger, complete with onion strings and creamy bleu cheese dressing. Amazing! Another plus about L. Woods is that it stays true to it's supper club origins, and offers a Supper Club dinner service for parties of 6 or more. Your group can choose two appetizers, two salads, two main courses (including BBQ chicken, ribs, fish, or filet mignon for a little extra), two sides, and two desserts. Be sure to try the gooey chocolate cake (though make sure you order it when you arrive as it takes a bit to bake). Very homey atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great food!
(4)
Lea L.
Great lettuce entertain you restaurant...feels like you are dining in a old lodge. Food is excellent with lots of choices. Apple strudel is the bomb-- a most order to end any meal.
(4)
Chatzy F.
We absolutely love this place ! We love everything never had a bad experience ever.
(5)
Mark J.
What I like about this place is that the prices and consistency are great. This is a down scale version of Wildfire, similar menu but only 2/3 the price. You cant go wrong with the steaks, chops, and chicken here. I have on numerous occassions had the parmesan crusted filet and its has been superb. The prime rib could be better....the horseradish sauce was cut with too much and not flavorful at all. Make reservations at this spot as its crazy busy every night.
(4)
Billy M.
I guess I will start with the good... They had a decent beer selection with local 5 Rabbits on the menu...good work. The Key Lime Pie was very good. The Walleye Chips were solid, but when you only get 5 for a table of four, its somewhat disappointing. The bad: Our waitress asked if we wanted to order the apple streudal or chocolate gooey cake (both take 45 minutes) we said no thanks, and at the end of our entrees, we were given the check...no problem Diana, we didnt want any of the OTHER 4 desserts that we said we want...thanks. The Sunday Special: Fried Chicken (AKA over battered bland chicken special) Wow, for this to be a special would make you think that it was decent or possibly good. Not the case...way too over battered. They take the chicken out of the frier and let it cool on a baking pan instead of a rack to let the grease drip away and stop the cooking process...pretty amateurish that the wings and legs were so over fried and bad, that you couldnt even eat the outside of the piece...you had to tear everything off. The chicken was actually decent once you found it...but man, not something I would order from this place again. Service was absolutely horrendous...I understand that it was Mother's Day, but my mom saw this place in the paper, and she chose it, we went there for the Sunday Special and the waitress said that they were out of chicken, then went into the kitchen to ask, then came out and said that they had some left...probably something to mention at the beginning... Overall, not good...beer was fine, pie was solid, but the meal and the service just ruined it.
(1)
jaclyn r.
Everything here is so good!
(5)
Paul A.
I LOVE L. Woods and go there often, though this past visit was disappointing due to the service. Our server tried to hard-sell us on a Lettuce Entertain You Club membership saying we begin with a Lettuce$10 credit He did not explain that there would be a $25 service charge on the check We joined anyway, but did not appreciate the misrepresentation. I go to L. Woods, Wildfire, Shaws and other Lettuce restaurants and have never encountered this before. Food as always was terrific!
(3)
Sarah L.
I had no idea this was a Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. We came here Saturday night with a reservation thankfully. Showed up around 7:00 and we barely got a parking spot! We were celebrating my mother in law's birthday and we wanted to take her to a nice restaurant near our house. We didn't have any appetizers because we saw the portion sizes. They are HUGE! I wanted to try the flat breads though, maybe next time. I had the Parmesan crusted cod with mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed my dinner! The servings are way too big and you can easily split a meal with someone. The fish and chips are a rip off. You get like 4 little pieces of fried cod and thin waffle chips. It's definitely overpriced at $18. Their burgers are fantastic and the BBQ half chicken is delicious too! This place is jumping on the weekends. I highly recommend making a reservation. The restaurant reminds me of dining at a supper club in northern Wisconsin. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Audrey C.
Two words: Chopped Salad. The BF and I are addicted, so addicted in fact, we often order half trays of it for pick up. If you do anything at L. Woods, eat that salad. Beyond that, this is a warm, cozy place with great ambiance. We have never had a bad time or bad service, and I hope I'm not jinxing that! Steaks are reasonably priced and yummy, the desserts are great, and overall, it's an awesome time. Just make sure you make reservations!
(5)
Jacob K.
I was very surprised at the quality of the food as I have eaten here before with disappointment but last night was quite an experience. The place was full even at 9 PM, the service was dead on and the food was delicious- much more than I have ever witnessed from a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. The flat bread with dried tomatoes and basil was light, crisp and flavorful. I head the turkey burgers were good, the BBQ brisket sandwich was very good as were the double baked potatoes and fries. However, the best item was the BBQ ribs with devil sauce. There were 6 huge beef ribs that were tender and flavorful- possibly the best beef ribs I have had. They also had some great beer on tap and by the bottle. The chocolate layer cake was also quite good but after being stuffed (I ate my fries and 1/2 of the ribs) it was not as appetizing as it normally would be. The wait staff was wonderful and attentive coming with a bowl for the bones, moist paper towels and a good sense of humor.
(4)
Marion B.
Yum yum yum yum yum. Seriously. We stopped on our way back from Woodfield, only because we were thinking "Elle Woods," like from Legally Blonde. We eventually figured it out, and while that was happening, we were delighted by our surroundings. It was like some kind of old supper club...elderly ladies dressed to the nines, all cooing over my friend's new baby. We didn't have a reservation, but even on a Saturday we were sat in about an hour (Remember, we had no idea this place ever existed.) Reasonably priced, positively comforting food. Yum. Oh, and get the mac & cheese as an appetizer. That's what we did, and it was the right decision. We'll be back, with a rezzie. Oh my. One of our best spur of the moment decisions ever. Oh, but, fellow patrons, women are allowed to breastfeed. Quit staring. She was totally covered up.
(5)
Kristina K.
Delicious, dependable lunch spot! I've eaten in and taken out and L. Woods provides a dependable lunch no matter what. Their lunch containers have become more earth-friendly (yay!), but their take out silverware has remained the same (boo!). The pulled pork sand which is good. The burgers are delicious and juicy. The soups and chili are bowl-licking good. I know the soups are not made from scratch in house, but the Lettuce Entertain You soups are pretty good. The flat bread/pizza is a shareable portion. The macaroni and cheese is oily. L. Woods prepares the macaroni and cheese with bacon grease (which is usually yummy), but I would recommend sharing this with a friend. Some people swear by L. Woods' ribs, but I haven't had the chance to try them. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't good. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat, even to the older folks (which they have a lot of) that have a quieter-almost-on-it's-last-leg heartbeat.
(4)
Kryste N.
Went for dinner last night with my mom, we went after work and got there about 6:15 - the geriatric crowd was in full attendance, and you know why? The food is great, like home cookin great! I had the skirt steak, mom had the pork tenderloin Wednesday special, and we both loved our food. My parents have a place in the north woods of WI, and my mom commented that L. Woods was like a North Woods supper club on steroids. The only complaint was that her Mojito was just ok, but to make up for it, the key lime pie we shared was about the best I've ever had, and I have eaten Key Lime pie from the FL Keys to CA, and everywhere in between and this one was a slice of heaven! I live in Edgebrook, and I'm sorry I forget this place is there cause it's really, really good.
(4)
Landi D.
We love this place and eat here more often than we probably should! Though it's great for families (and the elderly), my husband and I find ourselves at L. Woods on many a Friday night, for the good, solid food and the "recession special" wine ($10 bottle of white or red, Alpana Singh's choice, I believe). I'd been in a rut for several months with the L. Woods burger, which is awesome and one of my faves in the "city": thin-ish patty, with shredded lettuce, onion and tomato, plus "special sauce" - and I sheepishly admit that I add American cheese (what?!?). But on a recent Friday night, in a moment of carnivorous wavering, I tried the veggie burger (with the server's encouragement) - and it was sooo good! Now, I'm definitely no expert in the veggie-burger world, but I've been craving this one since I first ate it. It's house-made with grains and veggies and topped with lettuce, tomato and a sun-dried tomato spread (not listed in the description but this actually "makes" the burger). And yes, I added the yellow cheese! The texture is a little soft and messy to eat, but I didn't care. My husband always gets the chopped sirloin steak, which he loves. We also usually get either a Caesar (great, garlicky dressing), or the wedge salad (with sweet and smoky bacon). The caramelized onion loaf they bring is soft and way too easy to eat before the drinks even arrive. Desserts never disappoint. We've had the apple strudel and the chocolate cake, but to be honest, it's the pies that are our favorites, particularly whatever they have for the special. We've had sweet potato, pumpkin-pecan, chocolate mousse, etc., and they are always good (when we eat them at home because we're too full to eat it at the restaurant!).
(5)
Lindsey B.
I really love L. Woods. I've been here quite often and I always try something different. Everything is excellent but I think my favorite is the pot roast. It's like being home again! They bring you these huge portions and everything is so yummy. Their mashed potatoes are like heaven. The staff is always quite friendly, but the place does get pretty busy so either make a reservation or expect a wait almost any night of the week. Their bar is a great place to kill some time while you wait though too. Don't forget dessert!
(5)
Deborah E.
I dare say there is nothing we have NOT had on the menu. We love L Woods because some times, damn it, ya just want good old fashioned American cuisine. We eat out a lot - and it is usually some ethnic type of food, usually Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican or Chinese. But when we want a good steak or pot roast or roast turkey or Lake Perch or fried chicken, we head to L Woods. It is so reliable. I think the only time I sent anything back - which I RARELY do - is when I got my fish n chips and there was like 3 tiny litle pieces of fish - for $17.99. This happened to my brother-in-law, too, so send it back and say "What gives??" My personal faves: the onion strings, the tomato soup (AMAZING!), the Chopped Salad - truly, one of my fave salads on the planet - and the Sunday special, the Fried Chicken dinner. My mom comes to Chgo a few times per year from MI and she always wants to go to L Woods for the Sunday-only Fried Chicken. According to my mom, a fried chicken dinner ain't worth shit unless it is FOUR big pieces and has a scrumptious batter - affirmative for both at L Woods along with potato or veggie and a good biscuit with honey. Last year, when I took my mom for the chicken, they were OUT! My mother was so sad but one of the managers whipped out a card and wrote on it "One Free Entree" for my mom for her next visit. She was delighted! KUDOS TO YOU for your customer service, L Woods!
(5)
Dave S.
Just by driving by this place, I would never ever think twice about stopping in here to eat. The exterior is really unmemorable except for all of the cars in the lot on a week night. As we stepped in, I thought that the lodge type feel was a little cheesy and a bit over the top but it did remind me of all of those Wisconsin type Supper Clubs that I used to go to when travelling up north. Our server was very helpful, friendly and knowledge about the menu. Since we were firs timers there he brought us out a complimentary flatbread which was pretty darn tasty. We started out with the calamari. We typically know that fried calamari is going to be a solid appetizer choice and once again, it was here also. I ordered a full slab of ribs and it was not the best BBQ that I have ever had but it was pretty damn good and plenty damn plentiful! For dessert we split the apple strudel which was outstanding: crisp and delicious!
(4)
Anthony M.
This is one of the oldest LEU resturants, but it has not always been called L. Woods. Lets just say if you are looking for some good ol American food that reminds you of the midwest, come to L. Woods! Words can not begin to describe how great the food is and the selection they have! While the menu is big, it really has stayed the same since it first opened. Still, you can usually find one or two dishes that are really good. They are known for their Pounded Chicken, Apple Tart, Tomato Bisque, and Chocolate Cake! Also, they have a very bustling take out business so if you are in the area and want to take it home, they do a very good job with that too! If you want that backwoods feel again from the old Supper Clubs of NY and WI, come to L. Woods.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
We've been driving by this place for a year now and always notice how the parking lot is packed, even on a random week night. Continually it has been put in the back pocket for a time when we can't figure out where to eat and finally we reached in and brought it out to try. Great overall experience! From the moment we walked in: the decor was comfy, the hostesses were friendly and our server was attentive. We were given the complimentary BBQ Chicken flatbread since this was our first time and unfortunately this was my least favorite part of the whole meal. It may have been a little over done, but I really thought it was not good and who complains about free food!? Appetizer: Parmesan Shrimp. Good, but very rich. I had the Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails and for a pepper/steak lover I could not have been more pleased. Steak was cooked to my liking and came with a choice of potato - I went with the baked, it was huge. We also ordered a side of Mac and Cheese and it did not disappoint. Crunchy parmesan was on top and it was hard to stop eating! Our daughter was invited to join the kids club, which means every time we go in she get a hole punched out on a card and after 10 punches gets her picture on the wall! Although I think going there 10 times will take us a VERY long time, it is still a fun concept and we got $5 off of our check for doing it. All in all it seems that L. Woods does a really good job of making and keeping regulars. Next time I am in the mood for comfort I will happily return!
(4)
Steve K.
Went there last night. Food was very good, service was great and th e price was reasonable. We will go back!
(5)
Erin S.
Woohoo! I'm thrilled at this find! Calamari that's NOT overcooked + rootbeer in frosty mugs + free roast beef/pesto flat bread appetizer for being 1st timers = AWESOME! Buffalo chicken salad was nice & spicy, just the way I like things! Pork tenderloin special came with THE most crisp corn, scrumptious mashed 'spuds & homemade applesauce. (Excellent portions, no pretentious pricing & super friendly/courteous staff!) Can't wait to try it again!
(5)
Eric M.
Lots of old people; I came here with a bachelor party and the age wasn't much of a problem in fact it was kind of funny, but if you want the super ritzy atmosphere this place isn't it. Some of the drinks were slow coming, one or two were made wrong so - points there. Get the ribs, everyone who got them was pleased, while the rare steak didn't come out rare at all.
(3)
TS W.
Took my friend there for his birthday yesterday. First the server Justin was awesome! They asked if we were a first time customer once we said yes a manager stopped by to welcome us and gave us an appetizer on the house which was a lavosh, with cheese and asparagus on top (yummy!) I had their Parmesan Crusted Fillet it was great! My friend had their BBQ salmon which was a large portion and very yummy! For desert we had a huge chocolate gooey cake had to take most of it home! Love their tap beer selections! Will be going there again! Thanks L Woods! Highy recommend reservations and going early!
(4)
Chuck k.
My wife and I went here for dinner with our friends who live in Chicago. I liked it better than she did, so here's my review. As you can glean from other review, L-woods is a rustic looking steak house. Our server was very nice and attentive, the food was at a reasonable price. We shared a flatbread, which the table enjoyed. I started with the French Onion Soup Au Gratin, which was very good and went down well on a cold evening. For my main course, the Prime Bone-in Rib eye. It was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful and juicy. For my side I had a baked potato, which was the average baked potato. But our friend split a twice baked potato and creamed spinach with me. My cholesterol went up 40 points that evening but it was worth it. I could have eaten a whole order of each by myself! For dessert the very nice Famous Apple Strudel. The pastry was nice and crisp, the apples a little tart. The caramel sauce on the side went great with it. The manager was a little odd, he'd never heard of rare salmon. But other than that, and the server goofing up the flatbread order, it was a very good meal.
(4)
Rlvb V.
This place is like your grandparent's cabin by the lake, and it makes you want to book your next vacation to Door County WI. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the service is friendly, and the food is solidly good. Just don't go there for a 'later' dinner as it all but shuts down by 9pm, unless of course you like being the only ones there. Highly recommend!
(5)
Eric M.
Great Wisconsin ambiance. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had. Definitely recommend for a fun and casual dinner with a group of friends.
(5)
J T.
Normally the carryout BBQ Baby Back Ribs at L Woods are our favorites to order. On 11/8, I ordered five full Prairie Grove Farms BBQ Baby Back Ribs -full slab at $ 25.99 which isn't cheap. Ordering online at their site is a breeze. Each order comes with a cole slaw, bread and extra sauce. This night a couple of the slabs had pieces which were a bit burnt, crispy. Hope it's not a trend to be.
(3)
Brian D.
Besides the great meal i always have, they have a gluten free menu for my girlfriend! HUGE! Great staff and bartenders too. They'll make a Brandy Alexander for dessert! Ribs are great, fish is always great, and the specials and any chicken meals are great too. Lets not forget the sides, my fav is the creamed spinach. If you havent been get your buns in there, you wont be sorry!
(5)
Demetrio P.
Two words...Beef Ribs...hmmmm! This place is a no frills, old school ambiance, with good food. My last visit, I had the BBQ Beef Ribs which were excellent, tasty, no too sweet or tart, BBQ sauce was on the mark, and the ribs itself were huge! It came with about 6 beef ribs which I could only eat three! I will definitely go back and try their baby back ribs and other selections. In summary, good food, good service, okay prices.
(4)
Anthony M.
This place was packed. Fishing decor awesome. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. I'll be back.
(4)
Kathleen C.
I was not expecting anything special. I thought I was going to an old person's Bennigans. However, L Woods is AMAZING! I was definitely right about the old people that swarmed the place but this place is great and I can't wait to go back. We had free bread and butter given to us when we sat down. The bread was warm and great tasting (unlike stale bread most places give). And we said it was our first time there so they gave us free flatbread. I thought it was ok but the BF loved it--even the mushrooms! We ordered calimari which was great. Really good breading and just the right amount of frying. Too bad I was getting full at this point... I just wanted a salad and although they are famous for their chopped chicken salad, i just wanted something plain. I ordered the house salad which was anything but plain! It was HUGE and had lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and croutons. The BF had low expectations. However, he ordered skirt steak which was marinated overnight in pineapple juice. He LOVED it. Every few bites he would say "This is so good." And the mashed potatoes were fabulous. I think there was a whole stick of butter in the dish that he received which is probably awful for your health but so good for your tummy! We ended our meal with a peanut butter/chocolate chip milkshake that they split into two kids cups with lids and straws. FANTASTIC! And for all that food with tip, it was only $60 with leftovers! Can't wait to go back! Especially since I was so jealous of the food on tables around us.
(4)
Pete D.
Make reservations fans! Great service and good food. Chopped salad is great and the flat bread is to die for. It is a little crowded and dark as far as ambiance goes but surprisingly it wasn't too loud. We had a larger group and Greg was our server, if you want someone who is professional and efficient ask for him!
(4)
kaya s.
Some of the best baby backs I've ever had. Good cesar too, a bit garlicky, but I'm Italian so I don't mind at all. I've been here at least a dozen times and never left unhappy. The wines are affordable and they always have good seasonal beers. The skirt steak has great flavor although it can be a little stringy but that's the nature of the cut. I recommend any of the flat-breads for an appetizer. Also order the apple strudel, and remember it takes about 45 minutes so make sure your server knows. You won't regret it, if you can't finish its just fine the next day. Warm it up in the oven, trust me. Service is usually pretty good to great. The ambiance is nice and has a homey kinda feel. Not your run of the mill leye restaurant as they seem to have become, this is more of a neighborhood establishment and is kid friendly as well. Great food for every course and good drink, good for lunch and/or dinner.
(5)
Scott H.
One of my favorite Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Why? Because it doesn't seem like a "chain"-type place at all even though the menu's visual similarity to that of Wildfire is evident. A great place to take visiting family for a great supper club-type meal or simply just a weeknight burger and draft in the tap room. This place evokes far-away lakeside spots in Northern Wisconsin or Northern Michigan and hits all the right notes for me. Their burger is one of the best I've had and the ribs (while not likely traditional barbecue) certainly hit the spot. Better make reservations as they're busy every night, but the tap room is very accommodating if you're into a slightly more casual, but still very comfy atmosphere.
(4)
Jim R.
We had not been to the restaurant in a while. Was listening to Steve Dahls podcast and heard about it again. We went on a Tuesday night, which happened to be 1/2 off on bottles of wine. The list was not extensive, but enough to get a good bottle. We really enjoyed the meal. Good portions and reasonably priced.
(4)
Tammy Q.
Love me, L. Woods! I've had cravings for ribs from L. Woods on numerous occasions. I think they have the best ribs in the city and northside. Their ribs are the perfect blend of tangy and sweetness! The baked potato is the size of my face with globs of yummy sour cream and butter! If you tell them it's your first time, you'll get a sample of their flatbread. Plenty of dessert selections. This place is always packed so be sure to arrive early and with an empty stomach. Definitely dine in if you want the ribs. I did carry out one time and the ribs were not that great!
(5)
Tracy F.
The steak sandwhich was delicious, ABSOLUTELY, the best I had ever had. The fries that accompanied them were salty and dry but I completely forgave L Woods because of the perfection that was the steak sandwhich. Served on lightly toasted onion bread with tomato and lettuce, the steak sandwhich was tender, juicy, with a hint of that char taste from meat cooked over a flame. I would highly recommend it. My boyfriend got the barbequed chicken with garlic mashed and he didn't even offer a bite! Next time, I will try some of the steaks and sides items. I am sure they will be good.
(5)
Jennifer G.
Be aware this place is 70% senior citizens, so if you don't want to dine with Uncle Junior and grandma, this will not be the place for you. That aside, very standard food for a supper club type place. Good ribs, good steak, huge potatoes, etc. Be sure to tell them it is your first time - they pull out a deelish flat bread for first timers - nothing says a good meal like a free appetizer
(3)
Rex C.
Good food, service and a great dining atmosphere. It's a fun dining experience. I like the ribs, mahogany chicken, daily specials, and their soups/chili are always good.
(5)
Colleen B.
L. Woods is everything you expect from a steakhouse. Very much enjoyed the bbq planked salmon. Recently returned for my father's birthday; everything from the mashed potatoes to the brontosaurus-sized beef ribs were enjoyed by all. Also, I was surprised by the decent selection of local microbrews on tap. A delicious and gut-busting meal with great service.
(4)
Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and every time its a pleasure. I mostly have been there for lunch/early supper.. I have had salmon, burgers, clubs and everything in between... its all FANTASTIC. Service is an A+ This place is definitely pricey, but well worth it. Luckily I get gift cards often and that is how i justify the trip.
(4)
Christy S.
My husband and I had Lettuce Entertain You gift cards that were about to expire and we decided to go somewhere we had never been. L Woods was the place. I wasn't expecting much, but man was I wrong! The service was incredible! We ordered drinks and got them what felt like seconds after we ordered them. My water glass was never empty. And there was always someone around in case the tables needed anything. Then there was the food. I ordered the cheeseburger with Merkts cheese, medium rare. When I order medium rare, I usually end up with more of a medium, and I like my meat red, so I am usually disappointed. This burger was just the perfect amount of rare for my tastes, and it was delicious! My husband ordered the steak sandwich, also medium rare, which is difficult to master on such a thin piece of meat, however, L Woods got it perfect. They serve the sandwich with a horseradish sauce that was a perfect compliment to the steak and was not too overwhelming. The fries were fries, but perfectly cooked. We ordered a side of mac n cheese because it is one of my many my weaknesses and it was amazing...so good that we ordered another side to take home with our leftovers! We will be returning to L Woods again soon!
(5)
Catherine M.
This place cracks me up. For some reason my (non-geriatric) parents have steaked their claim in L Woods as a favorite date-night destination. That has since transended into family dinners out which are the only circumstances that I've been here for. I would say on average my husband and I (who are both in our 30s) are significantly younger (by decades) then everyone else here. Oh, and don't even THINK about stopping by between the early bird (5p.m.) dinner time- the wait is longer than the line for Le Passage on a Saturday night. The food and ambiance are fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing that has been outwardly bad. One thing I always get here is the Sprechers orange cream soda (on tap) in a frosted mug! DELISH. My mom and husband love their ribs and I guess they do them right at L Woods (I'm not such a fan in general). I usually opt for their flat breads or salads (their spinich salad is MASSIVE but tasty). All in all- it's dark. It's cozy. The food is good. The age of the average dinner is about 40 years older than me.
(3)
ardath b.
Can you say YUM! Love this place for ribs and their side choices! Back woodsy atmosphere, amazing meat choices and the seasoning beats all. I loved it so much, I celebrated my 50th birthday there, and everyone one of my friends raved about the food (except the vegetarians of course). They do have veggie choices too. Top of my list! Fantastic dessert choices too.
(5)
eStephanie M.
Every time I see the name of this restaurant it makes me laugh because my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant 3 times in 2 weekends. The waiter noticed us the second time and said, "Oh you're back for more!" We sure were! I would be more specific about what we ate, but the last time we went was a few months ago so I don't remember. All I know is that it was all good! I think it's time for another visit.
(4)
chris e.
ok, im writing this after a few trips to Lwoods -and last night will be my last- In all fairness i cant give them 1 star, because *ah, the food*, which is after all what the biggest deal is at a restaurant, but there are enough negatives built up over our visits there to make me say 'never again' .. Straw that broke the camel's back? - last night - because Saturdays are notoriously busy,i called and made reservations in the afternoon for 8pm. We got there 15 minutes early and were standing next to the Maitre' D's podium waiting to be seated. Along comes this guy who goes up to the podium and hes flirting and schmoozing the Maitre'D. i hear her say to him "i have an 8'oclock" he says 'ok' and goes and stands across from us with his girlfriend.. 20 mins later , guess who gets seated first? Not us! This is seriously not ok .. not only did we call earlier to make reservations first, but there were other people who walked in, like this guy, without a reservation and they were told it was going to be an hour wait. We gave the Maitre D our little pager thingy (sadly to never go off for us =P) i told her why we were leaving -her only comment was to ask me for my last name so she could take us off the books- and we left. Definately commenting to management today in an email ..not something i usually do, but yanno if the wait is normally 1+ hr, that Maitre D had better be on the ball and also know the meaning of customer service. The food is awesome -if u can ever get seated - out of the 6 or so times we have been there, we have only had 'order problems' (items forgotten or not as we ordered) twice...Good average? i suppose considering the amount of traffic they see - altho it didnt make us happy at the time - especially on the one occasion when we decided not to brave the wait times because there were no reservations available and did a 'take out' instead. We live a bit aways and not going back for the horseradish sauce ala Prime Rib. (Hmmm wish i had known that i could just have had my fiance go up to the Maitre D and flirt with her a bit and we could have been seated in front of everyone else..we would have eaten in that night) Another warning - take out portions are nowhere near the size of eat in but still the same price. Other things to consider - they do have a parking lot, where u can normally get a space (expect to have to wrangle or wait on really high volume nights like holidays) .. The pricing is definately on the high side and the dinner structure is set that u have to order the side orders if u want more than bare basics- but those are huuuuge and normally delicious ..Wait service has ranged for us from great - our first visit - ok and worth the 15% tip (most times) to poor - only once. ill miss the apple strudel -which is one of their saving graces- but not enough to make me want to deal with the treatment at the price it costs
(2)
Joe S.
I wish I lived closer to this place. I went here randomly for lunch with a buddy the other day. What a cool place. It has a wonderful Lodge/cabin feel to it. We ate in the restaurant part and there are all these wonderful pictures and everything is wood. I was really blown away by the onion bread and my Chicken Club sandwich. Damn, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I wish it was close for a few reasons, the food and service obviously, but it had a really cool looking bar area. I could see myself bellying up to the bar and making it my local establishment. I was very surprised to hear it was a Lettuce Entertain you place as they seem more like chains...anyway, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)
Regina K.
Holy Moly, this place is delicious. My bf and I furniture shopped all day in the burbs, and we were ravenous by the time we got to L Woods. There was a wait, but we had a few tasty beers. We were comped a flatbread appetized. We had soup, the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich, and a positively delcious desert of Lava cake. I would absolutely recommend. We had a ton of leftovers, and the bill was about $60, with 2 beers and tips.
(5)
Jennifer L.
If you didn't know this was a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, you probably wouldn't figure it out from the decor. It reminds me of...I don't know what, exactly. An old lodge? Ponderosa (remember those)? Your corner bar? Whatever. The food is excellent. I had the pounded chicken which came with a delightful lemon cream sauce that, when it oozed its way over to the mashed potatoes on my plate, created a heavenly pairing. My parents had the turkey special, which came with cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole. Service was quick and friendly. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Matt K.
Ordered online. The food was excellent and packaged well so everything arrived fresh. It was a bit pricey @ $25 for an appetizer & entree including delivery fees but I'll order from them again
(4)
Roisin H.
The food here is REALLY yummy. I had the parmesan crusted filet (8 oz) which was delicious! My husband got the ribeye steak. I also had a martini (ok two martinis) which was really the best i've had since one I had at Keefer's (another of my fave restaurants--but much more expensive). The reason I gave only 4 stars that the server was rushed and you really had to flag her down if you wanted anything. It seemed like that was just de rigeur, though, as opposed to it just being a busy night. Oh, we also got the apple strudel (10.99- but they actually give you a WHOLE apple strudel!) which comes with a buttery caramel sauce--so delish!) The waitress let us know when we ordered our entrees it takes 40 minutes to cook. I ordered it when we were about halfway through dinner and she looks at me and goes..."You know it takes 40 minutes...?" I'm like, "Is that okay?" Sheesh!
(4)
Allison S.
I went on a date here a couple days ago. Since it was my first time her the waitress (who was extremely nice!) brought us a comped flat bread - it was the bbq chicken one, very delicous! Then I got the bbq planked salmon with corn and mashed potatoes, it was very good but heavy so I ended up bring half of it home. For dessert we got the Gooey Chocolate Cake. It was so rich, I wanted to eat more of it but I was starting to feel my tooth hurt! The overall vibe was a lot of older people, we were the only young people really in there that weren't with our parents. I would go back with the family, but not on another date.
(4)
Logan S.
Went back December 15th. All I can say about my first review is "ditto". And the new desserts are wonderful!!
(5)
Tony C.
Great food and not expensive great for lunch and dinner. Worth going to.
(5)
Ryan R.
Amazing Experience. Our neighbor gave us a $50 Lettuce Entertain U card and we had been sitting on it for far to long. I guess we were trying to figure out a "date" night without our 3 year old. Well that never came to be so we had to find the right "family" restaurant. L. Woods was fantastic. I called first for a reservation and the accommodated to meet our needs. When we showed up early they sat us, no questions asked, no attitude. With a smile. Our server Jean was so great. We informed her that is was our first time and she practically rolled out the red carpet. She was very knowledgeable and helped us understand what L Woods was all about. The food was great. Authentic American. It reminded me of some of the home cooking I came to love back in Michigan. My wife and I split a Caesar salad, and we enjoyed some of their great flat bread. My son had the Kids Chicken Strips and My wife and I had the Special Shepard's Pie. We also enjoyed a beer as well. To top of the visit the manager Joe came to our table and thanked us for coming. Where else do you get that in the city? He then treated us to a giant slice of Chocolate cake...awesome! If you get a chance check out L. Woods. It is like stepping out of the city without the commute.
(5)
Jonny M.
I was wavering between A-Ok and Yay! I'm a fan in all honesty. This is clearly the local hangout. It's been years since I've stopped by as I moved to LA - however I was meeting up with friends and it seemed the ideal place for a group of 6. I'll sum as follows...its Rich Melman Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can be sure you're getting nothing but the finest in food and service. The portions were quite large (also evident by the average size of people dining there!) and the taste was good - not great. I had the parm crusted whitefish and a double baked potato. The fish was served tepid and somewhat flavorful and the double baked was outstanding. We started with an order of flatbread which was large and full of flavor. I love the decor as it reminded me of being in the Wisconsin North Woods.
The perfect, hearty dining experience before we had Bad Movie Night with some friends of ours. These friends had raved about L Woods, so we all went Saturday night (make a reservation!). I liked the atmosphere right away - log cabin, wood-paneled walls, cozy. And although I noticed people in dressier garb - celebrating some event, I guess - there were plenty like us in more casual jeans, t-shirts. The menu is built around comfort food - BBQ ribs, chicken, steaks, fish. The giant mound of onion strings was a good starter. My half BBQ chicken was moist (even the next day, reheated) and the BBQ sauce is mighty tasty. My husband liked his BBQ planked salmon, which was surrounded by corn and mashed potatoes. Please note portions are huge! Our server was great - she competently answered my questions about several entrees, and kept our glasses filled. When she asked if anyone was here for the first time, I said yes - and prepared for some tired spiel. But no - instead, she subsequently brought us a gratis plate of BBQ chicken/pesto flatbread as a "welcome." High marks for a free appetizer - and it was delicious to boot! Kids are welcome here. (They have a "Kids Club" - after a child's 10th visit, they take their pic and put it up on the wall of fame). Although we didn't request it, we were seated in the back room, which - with 2 toddlers - gave us a little more space. My friend and I got the chocolate peanut butter shake, in to-go cups. After that, we were officially stuffed (all the better, to watch Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man on the couch). I'm looking forward to trying the ribs on my next visit.
(4)
Suze R.
I wasn't that impressed with L Woods. We went on a Saturday night, even though we made a reservation 5 days in advance we got a lousy table, crammed right up against another table. Just letting you know, you will be dining with 90% senior citizens. I felt like I was in a retirement home, except for the noise. These old folks have quite an attitude too. Iv'e never been to Lincolnwood, not very friendly. Food was average, wait staff was poor considering the cost of the meal. We ordered a large caesar salad, the waitress portioned it out at the table, spilling some on the table, and just left it there and walked away! All righty then! My husband had the prime rib, it was ok. The beef ribs are huge, actually too large for the plate, which makes it very hard to eat. Overall I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Dennis S.
Vastly over rated, this second rate restaurant has prices that will put you in the poor house. Portions while fresh are small. Nothing to write home about. Avoid this pricey Americana nostalgia restaurant.
(3)
Connie W.
Comfortable atmosphere, excellent service, and good food.
(4)
Ann Y.
My hubby and I tried L Woods for the first time yesterday and I have to say it was really good. We told the waitress it was our first time there since I wanted some recommendations, and the next thing I knew the manager brought over some BBQ chicken flatbread which was amazing and so good. It was so think and crispy with homeade pesto and the BBQ sauce was real sweet. They really offset each other well. For dinner we both had the RIbs and they were really meaty and good. I couldn't even finish my half slab. I also ordered the french onion soup which was one of the best I had in a long time. They have an extensive wine and beer list. The only thing I didn't like was the service. While the waitress got us our free appetizer she wasn't anywhere around. I had to ask for silverware and had to ask other people for our bill.I will be back, and hopefully the service will improve.
(4)
Michelle W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the northwoods feel and the food is amazing. I've been here several times, but still can't get past the pounded chicken - it is amazingly delicious! People I've gone with have also ordered ribs and steaks and such and I have never heard any complaints about the food being less than wonderful.
(5)
Carolynne M.
My hands are literally shaking as I write this. Let me preface this by saying that for a long time I had wanted to try L Woods but for one reason or another never got the chance. Seemed like a nice, laid back joint with a nicely varied menu. Now my opinion is forever scarred due to my boss who I will nickname "Goddamn Salad Lover" (GSL) GSL is OBSESSED with the chopped salad at L Woods. SO obsessed, that for every birthday, event, or Slap-On-The-Back-Nice-Job lunch, we are treated to THE SALAD. Nothing else. Salad only. The salad isnt bad, really. Its just a bunch of pasta, lettuce, onions, bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese mixed together. Or so I told myself up until the 7th time I had it. We are now up to something like the 364th time. GSL attacks it, however, with a fervor usually reserved for starving dogs or PMS-afflicted girls near a chocolate shop. My throat is closing simply thinking about the next time this frickin salad is going to make its next appearance. Oh and dont even think that not eating the salad is an option. You wanna be a team player, you best be loading up your plate and smile as you do it!!! I'm sorry L Woods. I hear you have some other real nice stuff on your menu, like desserts and mac & cheese and fish and stuff. Please discontinue the salad so I might be able to try these other things someday! Help a girl out, huh?
(3)
Clark K.
Chopped salad, chopped salad, chopped salad. It's that good. You should probably refer to me as Mr. GSL (see Carolynne's review below) as well because it is a damn good salad! We always order it as an appetizer at L Woods. However, I do not recommend skipping on the other great entrees. L Woods calls itself a "supper club" and it has a hunting cabin feel. You feel like you are at a ski resort perhaps. I enjoy the ambiance, but not half as much as I enjoy their fried chicken. Oh man, it is crispy, fatty , and delicious. I would say just like momma used to make it, but L. Woods' is probably better. Make sure you order the mashed potatoes because they are ultra creamy. L. Woods is a great place to start/end the night after a movie at the nearby Crown theater. Highly recommended.
(5)
Steven M.
You simply can't go wrong with the BBQ at this Lettuce Entertain You establishment. This restaurant has a great drink menu including a cherry martini, the Midwest mojito (num num) and a great beer flight for 7 bucks. The apple stick salad, Manhattan (red) clam chowder and french onion soup are pretty fantastic. Veggie burgers and flat-breads are all excellent for vegetarians and all. Beef and baby back ribs are tender and spicy, and the mahogany roast chicken and BBQ planked salmon are among my favorite entrees. Pounded Chicken a la Sima is ungodly large and big enough for 3 people if they have salads first! Oven baked desserts must be ordered at the time of your entree order although we rarely have these because, well we're calorie-counting Nazis! I think it's important to say this does not feel like a corporate chain restaurant at all. It's oh so good!
(4)
Amy S.
Yet another LEYE gift certificate to use, with an expiration of 4/15/09. So, the hubster and I ventured out of the city and to L Woods for dinner. We live right off 94, and the restaurant is very close to the Touhy exit, so given the ease in getitng there, and the quality of the food/service, I'm sure we'll be back. The place was PACKED- glad we had a reservation (we were able to get one for 7:15 on a Friday three days in advance). The number of people did not impact the quality of service. We were greeeted immediately and received wonderful service through our meal. Chopped Salad= LICK THE BOWL. Husband got Cheddar Crusted Whitefish and loved it, citing a jalapeno kick in the crust not mention on the menu but well received. I had the BBQ Trio- 3 tiny BBQ sandwiches: pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken. I ate two there, and then one for leftovers the next day, and all were fantastic. The downer.......the couple who was insanely drunk and swearing/arguing at the table next to us, got up to leave twice, verged on physical violence. No, I'm not kidding. Finally, they left. The upper...... the manager came over once the crazies went home for another drink and fightfest- he apologized profusely and offered us a free dessert. Well done, manager man. Well done. The Key Lime Pie was excellent, too.
(4)
Sarah V.
My husband and I came here this past Friday night for my birthday. We had made a reservation for 6:30, arrived just before that time and were seated right away! The restaurant has a nice vibe... It's kind of reminiscent of an old-school, lakeside supper club. Very cozy... low lighting... rustic decor. Good stuff. Our waitress, who was very friendly, introduced herself, asked if we'd dined with them before (we had not) and let us know what the specials were for the night. A few minutes later, after we'd gotten our drinks, Patrick (I'm assuming he was a manager) came to our table to deliver a complimentary flatbread order. He said he was told it was our first time dining with them and just wanted to thank us for coming out! How cool is that?? Plus the flatbread, which was a BBQ chicken with pesto sauce was phenomenal! Sooooo tasty! I ordered the french onion soup to start and my husband had a wedge salad to start and both were very good! Our meals came fairly quicky, which was great. I had the BBQ chicken and my husband had the Friday night special, which was the fried perch. Both were excellent! Also, I HIGHLY recommend the garlic mashed potatoes as a side... to die for! All in all, it was a great meal with excellent service. What more can you ask for?
(5)
jean h.
Went on a Saturday night and was told the wait would be about an hour. Got seated in probably 30 minutes. The place is very lively with people as young as toddlers to seniors in their 90's. Got seated in what seemed like an extra room in the corner. I was freezing - I'm NEVER cold. I needed to wear my winter coat the entire time. Our waitress was very good and our meal was served in a timley manner. Onion strings were good as well as the pulled pork. The mac and cheese - meh. My husband had the filet and it was really good.Nice but we were really COLD.
(3)
Carol J.
A quaint and bustling outpost of the LEYE chain, but definitely a character all is own. It reminds me of the supper club in Northern Wisconsin where I spent my summers (albiet against MY will) as a child. And I've probably been here just as many times. Food is solid with outstanding bbq ribs and chicken. Gorgeous and bountiful salads and mind boggling potatoes. I've had most of the apps on the menu and really enjoyed the crab cakes both as an app an as an entree. Service is standard Lettuce which in my opinion is pretty polished, professional and proficient. Never a problem there except when the servers get slammed during the very busy lunch rush. Big plus is the free parking. And the flatbread. And the retro ish cocktails. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. The only thing missing are the bass fisherman drinking Old Style at the bar.
(4)
Gail Z.
Disappointing after all the years of much better food. Had a reservation and were seated promptly to the table. Water glass at the table was filthy. Wait staff all seem preoccupied with other worldly thoughts than their jobs--very impersonal. Ordered beers which were poured at our table by our waitress who needs to take a lesson in how to do it correctly. Ordered their usually good onion strings and those have been changed and are now served in a paper lined cone shaped serving piece and were not strings and had no onion flavor--salty and not the same as in the past. They do always get a big crowd, but I now hesitate to return as things are going downhill. So sorry this is happening to a restaurant you could always count on in the past. Too bad.
(2)
Kristina O.
I went to L Woods on my birthday last year and have been meaning to come back ever since. The food here is really great. The onion bread you start off with is nice and fresh, my chicken was fabulous, and the sides we had were VERY good (especially the garlic mashed potatoes). I'm not a fan of the whole "log cabin" feel, but I also really hate the idea of being in "the great outdoors." I'm pretty convinced only white people enjoy that kinda thing.
(4)
Wik G.
I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there. I bring kids there and they were all treated super nice. It's definitely a good family place with good food.
(5)
Sue K.
Definitely has that supper club feel. Never tried it, but heard the apple strudel is good. Lettuce Entertain Yourrific.
(5)
Tim L.
Amazing service. Great food and atmosphere. Feels like a place my family would've gone to growing up.
(4)
Feisty E.
Good food, good value. Can be called romantic, if you're into roaring 20s Chicago dinner club... very dim, dark wood/lots of red. Not bad. Very comfy booths - but they have to realize they need to clean tables AND seats, esp. after people with bunch of kids eat (unfortunately, some people can't resist taking a 2 yo for dinner at 9am on Sat night). I almost sat on leftover sauce last time... They did apologize and clean up promptly after we pointed out the sauce however. No big deal, they were busy, and we were hungry. White shorts did escape a brown splotch, so it's all good ;) We've been there a total of 15 times or so over the years; some things are always consistently great. Chopped salad, whitefish and prime rib are our favorites. Last time especially, the prime rib was delish. They also get the doneness correctly every time. Another favorite is the chocolate molten/mousse cake - YUM. Place order ahead, takes 0.5 or so. It's just as good as Roy's, and more bang for your buck. The single portion is no longer available, but do not fear - you can refrigerate this cake, give it a nuke at home and enjoy it next day or two. Service is very consistent, helpful but not intrusive. Like it a lot. My only gripe is the drinks... good lord, it would be funny if wasn't so sad. Glad someone mentioned it before. Let me be very specific; do NOT order mixed drinks there, truly atrocious. Stick with your Guinness or neat liquor. Long ago, before drink quality was better than dismal (new bartender?), they had an OK Door County martini. Last 2 times I ordered, it was cherry juice (grenadine, really... gross) without a hint of vodka or actual sour cherries that supposed to come with it. This drink is their special.. wtf?? excuse my French. I used to bartend while in school, and I did share with the waitress that it is truly the worst flavored martini ever... in turn, she confided in me that the said cherry martinis are PREMADE and kept in a large pitcher. What moron pre-makes martinis, folks? We were comped for it, but I didn't *want* a free one... a wanted a good one, and was unable to get it, not even on second try. But again, the food is good (sin major butter overuse, but hey.... as an occasional treat, it probably won't kill you). Fire the bartender(s), fix the drink menu and you have a descent mid-level place for a casual meat-and-potato delight.
(3)
Melissa M.
Went here on Saturday night for an early Mother's Day celebration. Will not go back. A couple of us ordered the Saturday special (prime rib) and it was probably the most sub par prime rib I have ever had. It was tasteless. I asked the waiter to bring some au jus hoping that I can drown the tasteless prime rib with some juice, but the au jus was just as tasteless. But I guess I should have figured that out when the prime rib was tasteless. Tasteless prime rib, tasteless au jus. I almost asked for A-1 sauce which is blasphemous for prime rib. My mother in law ordered the special (halibut) and said it was not good. BBQ ribs were just okay. The only thing that was good was the chocolate layer cake. Waiter was not very friendly and service was super slow. How can this be a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant?
(1)
Adam S.
Had dinner with 7 the other night and was crammed in to a corner booth so tight I felt like I needed to lift my plate off the table and create my own little space so as not to knock elbows with the people on either side of me. Besides that crammed feel, the place was pretty good. Their specialty is definitely the BBQ although I thought the BBQ beef brisket sandwich was pretty skimpy, i.e. lots of bun, not a lot of cuts of beef - but what do you expect for only paying $9.95! Definite kudos on the setting; this place used to be the indy restaurant Bones which had been around for years and years. LEY bought it a few years ago and fortunately kept the old vibe and have seemingly retained the mix of clientele: north city, lincolnwood/skokie young people mixed with cranky people. :) All in all a good place for comfort food but it's also incredibly loud so if you're thinking comfort food AND chilling out, this may not be the best place.
(3)
Minnie L.
I really really really like L Woods. I've been there a few times - with a big party, a couples night and just with my daughter. Every time the service was pretty good! The only thing that took a little while were the drinks but then again the waiter doesn't have control over how fast the bartender makes them. Ok but let get to the amazing food. My favorite is the Devil Style Beef Ribs. They are so tasty and the portions are hugh! I also loved the mac and cheese which is good for adults and kids. My next trip I will try the Prime Rib which is only served on Saturdays. I was told it is sooooooooo yummy! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Annaliza F.
y am I giving them 5 stars??? -bread, chopped salad, & calamari (mmm-hmmm) -queen cut prime rib (oooohhh yeeeaaahhh) -apple strudel & gooey chocolate cake (drrroooolll....) -I literally live down the street from this place (walking distance =) need I say more????.... *cricket cricket
(5)
Theresa K.
Ah, L Woods. Love the Lodge-style decor, dim lighting, and framed photographs. So cute. Reminds me of a place where a film scene might be filmed. The service is always great. Drinks are great. I like that you can order all the wine by the glass, half glass, or bottle. And their cocktails are just as good. I love the tomato bisque, fresh bread served at the table and the veggie burger. Did I mention that the veggie burgers are home made!? There's something for everyone at L. Woods. Meat lovers will love the steak salad and ribs, vegetarians will love the flat bread pizza, veggie burgers, and soups, and dessert lovers will die for their key lime pie! Great for a date or with the whole family. And with a pretty convenient location, (right off of the I-94) it's a definite must!
(5)
Annie S.
Umm apple streusel= heaven! fast and wonderful delivery. They even let you get the apple streusel prepped-not cooked, so you have the fun and wonderful smell in your house while you cook it per their directions after you ear. love it!
(4)
LINDA M.
great food . had take out . easy convieniant and food packaged very well for travel. would definately use them again
(4)
Rocky B.
Definitely a woodsy feel to this restaurant. Not my favorite LEYE restaurant but it's pretty decent. Service is friendly and attentive. As far as the food...there have been times that I have been there and everything from the starter to the dessert was just spot on and other times where...they weren't. Pretty good prime rib and mmm, very tasty desserts. They have a parking lot which is great. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on coming for dinner as they can get pretty crowded. But they have a nice bar area so if you do happen to just stop on my by you can always hang out and get some drinks first.
(3)
Kate R.
It was a toss up between 2 and 3 stars...I find it kind of annoying that I have so much left-overs...could have split my entree with at least one other person and been stuffed. I had the parmesan crusted whitefish which for $17.00 should have had some flavor. It came with choice of side, I chose the sweet potato...and it is enough to feed a small village. Honestly where do they even get these things? With cocktails, app (large chop salad is tasty) dinner, 2 desserts for 4 people we dropped $210. with tip. I just don't think the food or the service is worth the price.
(3)
Pamela U.
For the pure fact that L. Woods serves organic, hormone free meat, raised on local farms, my husband and I are huge fans. It's hard to find restaurants that actually care where their ingredients come from, but L. Woods is the exception. It's cozy and we have never had a server that wasn't super friendly. They often bring over free samples of different chef specialties without us even asking. My husband loves their short ribs, and I enjoy the barbeque chicken. Salads and desserts are also pretty tasty. Only negative would be the decor is a little creepy with lots of taxidermy, and the crowd isn't exactly the liveliest bunch if you know what I mean.
(4)
Emily M.
Oh my gosh its so good. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I've been there several times and everything is delicious. I haven't but I keep meaning to order their plank something salmon (yeah I'm helpful idk what the name is), but I've tried it when other people have ordered it and its incredible. Their mashed potatoes are especially good also. The service has always been great and be prepared to wait for seating because this place gets really busy (for a reason!).
(5)
Brad F.
I love coming here and getting the ribs, they were absolutely fantastic!!! Also, I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night. The service is always generally good. I always love coming to a lettuce entertain you restaurant they always are fantastic. The music was a little loud in the bar when I was there, but overall good experience, looking forward to my next visit. I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night
(5)
Mandy P.
My husband and I went here for the first time on Christmas Eve this year and we were truly pleased. The service was decent, the atmosphere was wonderfully cozy, and the food was GOOD. We were crazy with our ordering that night, so I'm a little embarrassed to list all the stuff we tried when we were there, but at least I can truly say I've had a sampling of much of their menu before giving an opinion on it. First we had the tomato basil bisque. It was a perfect warm thing to begin our meal on a cold winter night. The soup was tasty and the croutons were unusually good. Then we shared the chopped salad. I have seen in the reviews below that some people are gaga over the salad. I thought it was good, but not amazing. Perhaps this is because I didn't eat the bacon in it (I'm vegetarian), but my husband did and he really liked it. Even so, it's nice to be able to get a salad somewhere that has enough tasty stuff in it that when you take the meat out you aren't just left with freaking iceberg lettuce!!! There were a couple of other salads that we considered that I think would have met that criterion. For our entrees, my husband had the turkey special, which he reports was excellent, and I had the veggie burger. The veggie burger did not rock my world, but it was definitely good enough. However, the garlic mashed potatoes? To DIE for! I kid you not. I think there was more butter than anything else in those babies! Soooo good. Our additional food (the thing that really put us over the top)? Mac and cheese -- baked. Yeah. It was excellent. Amazingly, it actually tasted like cheese, rather than whatever weird stuff it often tastes like -- cream and flour, maybe? -- all those other times when I've had baked mac and cheese and was completely disappointed. I would definitely go back just to have that stuff again. Then, as if that wasn't enough, my husband (who is very thin, by the way -- damn his metabolism!) had bread pudding to top it off! I couldn't believe he could fit anything else in! I tasted the pudding, though, and while I'm not normally a fan of that stuff, this bread pudding was yummmy! It wasn't too squishy and it had a lot of flavor. While he ate, I had some of the coffee and it too was excellent -- serious flavor, not that watered down crap you get at so many places. We will be back! Oh, and to add just one more wonderful bit of info to this? Their meat is all hormone and antibiotic free (the birds are free range) and not frozen! How cool is that? And the take home bags are made with at least 50% recycled paper, but the other half, which comes from new trees, is made up for by planting three trees for every one that is cut down to make the bags! It's an old school dinner place with a conscience! Amazing! N.B.: Our wait for the table was about 15 minutes, which didn't seem too bad. If we were going back on a busier night, I would definitely make reservations (which I was told is possible) because every time I've driven by this place it has looked packed.
(4)
Mike O.
As a person who goes to Northern Wisconsin/Upper Michigan every summer, L Woods comes closest to duplicating the same kinds of heart-warming (artery clogging?) foods served in the northernost reaches of the Dairy State. Where else in Chicago can you get fried walleye. Even coleslaw, often to sweet or too creamy or just too cabbagey at other places tastes just right. Picking what to have is hard, especially when you see what others are ordering and it all looks so good too! Can't miss with mac-and-cheese even! This place has a woodsy feel to it with wood-paneled walls and pictures of seemingly regular folks dining, hung all over the walls. It gets busy around lunchtime, so get there by 11:30 for quickest service.
(4)
Russ P.
This review has many firsts for me. I have never posted a review on a restaurant, but felt my recent experience at L Woods needed one. The review may seem over the top on how bad this restaurant is, but I truly did not want anyone else having the same experience that we had. I eat out a lot. A least five+ times a week and am a gold preferred Lettuce Entertain You Member. We love all of their restaurants, since the food is consistently good with some excellent dishes. The service is almost always excellent at all of their locations. We heard from some of our friends that L Woods food is good and drove up from Old Town to give it a try. This can not be further from the case at L Woods. I can't even begin to list all of the issue this place has. This review is really a warning not to go there. 1st off the prices.....wow! No it's fine dinner prices, but this is gastro pub food that is priced way too high. They had a fish and chips special for $23. It includes a few pieces of fish and some chips. The Gage, downtown, has some of the best fish and chips and only charges $18. The Gage is kind of pricey, but for what you get, it's worth it. The original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, R.J. Grunts, charges a couple of bucks less for a burger that is much larger and taste like a real burger. Over all L Woods prices are 25% higher than better restaurants. I ordered an Old Fashion Hamburger. It seriously was one of the worst meals I have ever had. I stopped eating the fries after a few and stated that I think they are McDonald's fries. Except McDonalds have more flavor and less grease. The burger was even worst. I ordered mine medium. It comes out as a thin grilled/charred piece. I gave it a try and was disgusting. I put salt on it, which I never put extra salt on my food. Half of the burger was well done and half was rare. I had to laugh. It tasted like a poor attempt at a Burger King Whopper. I think they took someone's lunch from the kitchen and threw it on the plate. The service was poor. Not as bad as the food, but really bad. Our waitress never would come by the table. After an hour of waiting for our food we had to ask the manager what's going on. Our food showed up just after that, with no apologies or explanation. My hamburger did not have a pickle or any ketch up, like the other plates we received. We asked for ketchup, mustard and water. We never saw the guy again. The entire time our water glass sat on the edge of the table empty. We final got a couple filled after asking a few times. Final another bus boy got us our condiments. We asked for the check, as soon as we saw the waitress, and handed her our Lettuce Entertainment Gold Card. We used reward points for dinner, so dinner was free, but still not worth it. I don't think I would eat at this place again even if you paid me. It took our waitress so long to come back with the check that we got our kids ready and stood by the table to leave. After she saw us stand next to the table, she finally came back with our rewards card. All told, from the time we sat down to leaving the table took over an hour and a half. Seriously, this is the worst dinning experience I can remember having in the past five + years. This review does not even mention the delay in seating, when we had reservations or the lack of cleanliness. To summarize; if you want overpriced, greasy, poor quality food and crappy service, this is the place for you. Anyplace is better than this. I have to give LEY huge kudos. The manager, Terry, called in reference to an email I sent to the LEY within an hour. They offered us cerificates to go back and give them a second chance. We'll see how it goes.
(1)
Melissa K.
My family came here the other night for my step dad's birthday. The food we had was fantastic. The service we had lacked in comparison. The odd thing was, my brother knew our waiter and the service was still extremely slow. Maybe it was just that night, who knows. Everyone in my family loved their meals. I had the BBQ'd salmon, which was outstanding. It came on this wood plank surrounded by potatoes and corn. The Caesar salad I had I was able to share with my mom and my aunt and still had some left over. My mom's steak was cooked perfectly and my uncle's chicken looked amazing, he didn't seem to have a piece left when the meal was over. We got their two desserts that take 45 minutes to cook, also not a piece left. I'll definitely go back and hopefully I'll be able to give it 5 stars if we have better service. The food is worth going back for.
(4)
Rebecca T.
We go to L Woods twice a month, and it is always a nice experience. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the food is consistently good. We like the chopped salad to start and then we like their ribs a lot. We bring our little ones, and they eat hamburgers.
(4)
Cindy D.
Went here tonight for dinner with some girlfriends. I read the Yelp reviews before hand so we ordered chopped salad, calamari, and dry rub ribs and just shared everything. I'm not sure why the chopped salad is so good, it's not phenomenal by any means. I can make it at home!! I mean, it was good, but not up to par to everyone's review. The calamari was ordinary. The ribs were delish, tender, and plentiful. The mashed potatoes that came with the meat was very, very tasty!!! Also, we pre-ordered our dessert and got the apple strudel. It was huge!!!! It was delicious, fruity, and yummy. I would just go back to get this studel again. Def. don't miss!!!! Order during your entree because it take 45 minutes to bake. Overall, good dinner, but just share everything! The portions are big and actually they encourage you to share. With all this food, the total bill was $69 (including tip), so $23 pp.
(4)
Jasper N.
comfort food, done right! fried chicken, baby back ribs, pan fried tilapia, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, etc... if you're looking for a rib-sticking meal, check-out this little gem. it's a hike from the city, but worth the drive if you have a car. the service isn't most swift, but still good. enjoy!
(4)
Jared C.
The four of us (my wife, our kids - 9 and 6 - and I) ate lunch here on Mother's Day. I didn't get around to calling for a reservation until 9:30 on Mother's Day morning, but they were still able to fit us in with a reservation at 1:15. Far more importantly, when we arrived at 1:15 on the dot, they seated us immediately. In my book, that earns them 2-3 stars on the total score up front. The service was friendly and prompt. My wife and I both had the prime rib special; I thought mine was very good, but she did not enjoy hers as much. I think the difference was that we had ordered different temperatures -- I had asked for medium-rare, she for medium -- but looking at her plate at the end of the meal, it seemed as though hers was only cooked to medium-rare as well. If we'd thought of it sooner, we could have sent it back to be cooked a little more. We've been here a few times before, and always had a great experience. Service, ambience, and attitude: 4.5-5 stars. Food: 3-3.5 stars. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)
Joanne E.
Just got back home about an hour ago after my very first visit to L Woods. I still have happy tummy. Very happy tummy. My tummy feels like it's going to be a very happy tummy until at least lunch time tomorrow. Doesn't mean I'll skip breakfast, though. You can bet I made sure to mention as soon as our waiter came over that it was our very first time there and as the reviews I checked out on yelp* last night promised, we got a complimentary flatbread appetizer for being "first timers." That put a smile on my DH's face. And, I have to admit, it was an interesting-sounding combination (bbq chicken and pesto sauce?), but it works. I had the Turkey Burger based on someone's comment in a review that it was one of the best she'd ever had. My reaction when I saw it was, "ewww, I don't like onions in my burgers" as I could see some small green things when I cut the burger in half. However, I thought I would give it a whirl. My response when I tasted it - yummm, it IS a good turkey burger. I don't know what the green things were, but the burger was meaty, moist, and subtly flavored. So yeah, the best turkey burger I ever had. They buttered the bun, which is bad, but it tasted so good I couldn't stop eating it bun and all. My bad. My DH ordered the bbq chicken half with baked potato. I shared my broccoli with him and he shared his baked potato. Plenty of starch and greens for both of us. And after I wolfed down my burger he also shared some of his chicken. I would like to say we had leftovers to take home, but I can't. We ate everything. Thanks to the helpful hints on the reviews we ordered the apple strudel well in advance. When it came my DH was shocked at how large it was. I will admit, I thought the review that described it as a burrito, only longer, might have been a slight exaggeration. It was not. I did not, however, expect the side bowl of whipped cream and little jug of caramel sauce. What delicious accompaniments. The coffee I ordered with dessert came in a lovely L Woods ceramic mug, along with my own personal carafe of extra coffee. I always like that. And I am happy to report that we did NOT eat all the strudel, we did take over half of it home with us. All in all, as the reviews promised, a delicious meal. Why only four stars? Well, in looking at my posts I can see that I'm a little heavy on the fives so I have decided to be more discerning. If there is even one thing that throws off the experience, I will give it four stars. In this case, it was seating us RIGHT BESIDE, nay, RIGHT ON TOP OF, a large and loud group. I swear, I could have tilted my head slightly to the left and joined their conversation as I was only six inches away from two people at that table. My DH at my own table was further away and harder to hear over the cackling going on a mere six inches away from my left ear. Now, if the restaurant had been crowded when we got there it would have been fine. But it was practically empty (based on reviews we arrived for an early dinner at 4:30 - good strategy for going in with no reservation). Why sit us right on top of another group??? So, four stars for that. Will we be back? Most definitely.
(4)
Ellen P.
Yet another Grand Slam from Lettuce Entertain You, the key point being, you don't realize it's a Lettuce Entertain You til you read the fine print! Absolutely love this place. Knotty pine atmosphere is well done, great choice for families, business lunches, etc. Tried the flatbread pizza at the bar as an appetizer, the chopped salad is excellent, and the Parmesean Crusted Filet is to die for. Had no issues with either the wine choices or the cocktails - all met my expectations for this type of restaurant. It is busy on weekends, reservations recommended, and the parking lot fills up fast!
(5)
Robyn M.
I brought my 2 yr old. They actually have a kid's menu and chocolate milk so he was in heaven. I had the bbq ribs and they were pretty good. My parents had the prime rib which they said was a bit cool and chewy but had really good flavor. We ordered the apple dessert which was so huge we had to take it home. The french onion soup was crazy good. I grew up in Wisconsin so I dig the supper club vibe. Being a Lettuce restaurant this place was definitely classier than a typical Wisco supper club but not too fancy that you feel stupid wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Solid food. Check it out.
(4)
Brandon W.
Stopped into L. Woods last night to celebrate my birthday, as well as my niece's birthday too. When we arrived (we had a reservation), we were seated right away - the place had a good amount of people, but wasn't crowded. As we sat and waited for the rest of our party arrive, the place slowly started to fill up, on a Wednesday night, none the less! Anyways, while we waited we ordered drinks, and they brought out the warm delicious bread to us. I love their bread! It is warm, and slightly oniony and the creamy butter that they serve with it very delicious as well! The place wasn't extremely busy, but it still took our server awhile before he got back to our table to bring our drinks, then take our order, etc. However we placed our orders - got our food and everything tasted great! First we got an appetizer, we ordered my mothers favorite appetizer, which so happens to be the shoestring onion strings! WOW! They are crunchy, and not overly greasy, and great by themselves, or with a bit of ketchup - give them a try. Then our meals came. I ordered the Black Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails that are sitting in a shallow pool of their own of their homemade steak sauce! Along with that, I ordered their mashed potatoes. The flavor comes out on so many levels. A hint of garlic, a hint of butter, not overly salty and little bits of potato still present. Great stuff. The burgers that my mother, sister and brother-in-law ordered looked excellent and the fish that my father ordered looked really appetizing too - and I am not really into fish that much - (I like it, but have to be in the mood for it).. I love the bar in this place too, it does have that old lodge feel. It's nice to pull up to the bar on a busy night while you wait for your table to open up. Hang out, have a drink - then enjoy a great meal!
(4)
Gabriel A.
This is a classic Rib house with some great extras. They include the wings with a pretty unique batter, to the ever delicious gooey chocolate cake. Lots of nostagia on the wall and a well trained staff are what keep me coming back. Oh did I mention the still carry Schlitz!
(4)
Chris B.
The 3 dollar beer option was an insult to everyone involved in the process of ordering it, pouring it, carrying it, delivering it, receiving it, contemplating it and drinking it. Food was great. Service was great, but I didn't appreciate an extra spoon request and a re-request to involve blaming an unknown party, followed by, "I don't know why I bother to even tip them out at all." It was all in good fun, a great meal, but please remember, the waiter has to fall on the sword, no matter how great the incompetence below.
(3)
L T.
We met some friends here the evening after Christmas, and I was kind of like "no more food!" But off we went with kids in tow... I'd been curious about this place for a while. It's like this Northwoods lodge sitting in the middle of a suburban parking lot. Kinda odd, yes? So it was packed at 5:30 for dinner - lots of oldies and families with young kids. Loud enough so that you don't have to really worry about how loud your kids are. And it's a huge wandering place - the layout reminds me of Wildfire, another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Chopped salad: yum Almond-encrusted walleye: yum, though I preferred the cod that my husband ordered. Kids were happy with the basic grilled cheese and mac n cheese. Key. lime. pie. for dessert. I'm not totally sure, but I might have hunched protectively around it so that no one else could take a stab at it. Very similar to Wildfire's. Thick graham cracker crust. Yum. We'll be back. Good to find another place near us that isn't a diner :)
(4)
Nancy K.
I highly recommend this place! Not only is the atmosphere cute with its woodsy-themed decor but the food is fabulous too! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Patti P.
Wait staff is helpful and attentive. The menu is diverse and full of healthy savory choices. I will be back. Patti P.
(4)
Kristen W.
Lovely place, great ambience, very old-school. Unfortunately at this time I can't give it higher than 3 stars, only because I tried one appetizer and had one beer, so I can't comment on the food. The service was fantastic, and the place was hoppin'. I'll be sure to go back.
(3)
Juliette F.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I was kind of expecting a run-of-the-mill Lettuce Entertein You experience, but I was totally wrong. The skirt steak was grilled to perfection, and my french onion soup was outstanding. They give you a treat if it's your first time there, which is a pesto BBQ flatbread... awesome! I can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu! The interior is great. It just feels like it's been an established restaurant for a very long time. Everyone is friendly, and you get the vibe that most of the diners are long-time, repeat customers. Two thumbs up for my first time at L Woods!!
(5)
Dana E.
Bottom line, my girlfriend ordered the half chicken, and it was pink, and bloody when it arrived. They promptly took it away after I asked them if it was supposed to be that way and began cooking another half chicken when all we really wanted was to be refunded for that meal. The manager came out in the meantime, and although apologetic, told us that there was a fine line between moist and undercooked. I thought to myself, "well, that undercooked option could leave a lot of people sick". In addition to the newly made half chicken (which we were afraid to eat), we received a free sundae for waiting, and then a piece of cheesecake after dinner. I guess that's okay, but again, all we really wanted was to be comped. I paid $20 for a small cod piece and green beans. It was good, but I was expecting something more. Overall, it was decent. Meh.
(2)
Manda H.
I really want to know how you get your photo taken and put on the wall??? I have been coming for a few years now and I don't think I have ever had a bad experience. I love the ribs, steaks and salads. The apple strudel is amazing although I cam kind of sad you can't order a smaller version anymore. Good thing though, I get to take more home for seconds! Booths are so comfortable and I really like that they have takeout. It is cool that they filmed one of the Oceans 12 parts in the dining room.
(5)
Gina K.
Unfortunately if you are gluten free do not expect to eat here. Was out with a friend who loves this place and she had called ahead to ask about gluten free options. The person on the phone said they had a small gluten free menu. When we arrived the person seating us actually thought we were kidding when we said gluten free as if it wasn't something people really did? Granted there was probably some language barrier and age difference so I am sure it is not something that was heard of until recently. However, it was VERY uncomfortable to be laughed at. When the server came we asked again about a gluten free menu. He shrugged and said oh yea we can make some of the stuff gluten free. Uh yea. Not good enough. We left. I am sure that all you non gluten free people out there have had great food but there needs to be a better understanding of gluten free needs, simply saying you can probably do it really doesn't work when the consequences are that you will make someone very sick.
(1)
Jeff M.
right by the house-u can't beat that
(5)
Louis C.
Enjoyable, casual place. Dark, calm, but always busy. Tasty food. Whitefish with lemon sauce, baby back ribs, chopped salad, spinach salad, martinis, streudel. Wife always gets some kind of fish that's not crusted and has enjoyed it every time. Servers always unrushed, what a plus. If you want a delicious no-fail meal, this is your place. Try to reserve a booth and you'll be pleased. Bar gets crowded.
(4)
Vickie S.
Even though I have lived on the Northside for my entire life I have only been here twice. Both times were really good. I saw other people mentioned the abundance of the AARP crowd but since I am pretty unobservant I missed out on that. I did not miss out on the chopped salad which I am not addicted to as well as the parmesan crusted shrimp. Man o man they are good. Since that is all I have had there I'm not sure about the entrees but I would for sure go back for those two items.
(4)
Kimberly K.
I LOVE L. Woods. The chopped salad is wonderful, the ribs are great, the onion strings are DELICIOUS, the onion bread is great! Go there. Yum.
(4)
Jay B.
L. Woods Pine Lodge has a cozy, old school men's club atmosphere accented by a high beamed ceiling, rich, pine wood walls, and oxblood leather booths. Try to snag one on the very cool corner booths. Jason was our server; great guy he offered us offered us complimentary flat bread since it was our 1st time to restaurant. Service staff was very knowledgeable of the daily specials and answered any questions we had. I started with a Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen ( Nice beer selection from the bar), and my partner went with the Diet Coke with a lemon route. The flatbread arrived along with the drinks and everything was to our liking. Devin Ordered a Ribs and Chicken BBQ combo with Fries and I ordered the Bacon Blu Cheeseburger with Garlic Mashed. About 20 min later the yummiest food had arrived. I was blown away by my burger, 1st off it was cooked exactly how I wanted (which lately in Chicago has been hard). The bacon was crisp and the blu cheese was melting and had a slight crust from being up under the broiler for a few minutes before being brought out. And well garlic mashed potatoes, yeah awesome. My Partner enjoyed his selections, but thought the chicken was good, but nothing special. Ribs were very tasty. We ended the dinner with a wonderful Key Lime pie slice and some Lavazza coffee. Comfort food in a cozy place
(4)
Kevin S.
This place has some really good ribs. The string fried onions appetizer were great, as was the brownie desert with ice cream. If you go here for dinner, make a reservation because it gets really busy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
mollye p.
So my mom works for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants so I tend to be a little bias when it comes to their restaurants because I always get free food. BUT L Woods if flipping AMAZING!!! So they're like a tavern style cooking: meats, fish, burgers, etc. But it's all gourmet style. I love their ribs, steaks, salmon, well...pretty much anything! If you eat at the restaurant (you can also order it in and pick it up...I dunno if they do delivery) but they've got some good drinks on tap. I don't drink alcohol but they've got cream soda and orange cream soda on tap...It's the best cream soda in the world! They have AMAZING salads and DESERTS!!!! It's expensive but you honestly can't go wrong with any of their food. It's a great atmosphere also. I totally recommend it to EVERYONE!
(5)
Ashley D.
This food is so good. I like the Chopped Salad...but I crave their Tortilla Soup. Also my awesome waiter Stasch (who I always ask for)has the cooks put carrots on my salad (and I don't even have to ask) - I love great service.
(5)
Lindsay M.
we made reservation and still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. The daily special wasn't being served because it wasn't up to quality but they didn't offer a replacement. The waiter forgot part of someone's order and said he'd bring it but never did. No one told us there weren't free refills on the rootbeer. And during dinner, no one came to check on us to see if anything else was needed.
(2)
amy j.
We set out for Smoque but the line was out the door and around the corner so my husband suggested we try L. Woods. I was disappointed until I stepped inside. The charming, northwoods lodge look made me feel like I was "up north" at a Friday night supper club. Charming! We got there at the perfect time and were seated right away. Our server was courteous and friendly enough, but she was too busy to get too involved. We ordered the goat cheese and asparagus flatbread, baby back ribs, and the pulled chicken special. Everything was served hot, at a good pace and very tasty. The flatbread may have just been my favorite part of the meal, but then I think about those ribs... awesome. Just the right amount of sauce (I don't like them swimming in it) and just meaty enough to have something to really sink your teeth into. My husband's pulled chicken on corn bread was a really great combination of flavors and textures. The tangy bbq chicken on top of a slab of sweet cornbread was just right. Now I must not forget to tell you about dessert. I had the chocolate cupcake because I was already way too full but I just wanted a little something sweet. Oh my, sweet it was. I thought it was whipped cream on top but I think it was really white chocolate mousse with little bits of white chocolate in it. Delicious. My husband had the Key Lime Pie, nice big piece and very tasty. The only thing I could possibly report as negative was the temperature of the pie, it was just a little too cold. About a degree or two from being frozen. I just think the flavor is more developed when allowed to come up to room temp or at least a little closer. There was a "situation" that we should have taken care of after the table next to us was seated. One (or both) of the women had so much perfume on that it was on the verge of spoiling my appetite, we should have asked to be moved while there were still open tables. So take that as a little reminder folks, please don't wear so much smelly stuff to a restaurant. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood again.
(4)
Zack M.
Great family place, though make a reservation as it is busy!!!! Best fried chicken that I have ever tasted, available on Sundays; Delicious beef, baby back or dry rub ribs; fantastic mac and cheese. I think its still "Lettuce Entertain You", but dont let the low quality of food at wildfire put you off. This is hearty American goodness!
(5)
Patty B.
Love the food here - LOVE IT! But I have to agree with some other reviewers and say that the service is really hit or miss. Sometimes awesome, sometimes horrible. The food is consistantly good (I've had more than half the menu and have always been happy), just the service isn't. Ambiance isn't all that great either, but if you don't care about that or order carry out its no biggie. Lunch during the week is usually busy, as is Saturday night. So if you aren't into crowds (especially those of an older generation) stay out at those times.
(3)
Kristina F.
If i were to drive up to this place on my own I would be plenty skeptical. The outside of it appeared to be designed by a partnership between Playskool toys and IHOP. It's a cheesy looking wood cabin style exterior that looks like a kids restaurant. I was not alone however, and i trust the taste of the people I was with, so in we went. The inside instantly reminded me of Chumley's in NY, a prohibition era pub that's got a wooden interior with old book covers plastered all over the walls. L Woods had a wooden interior, deer antler chandeliers, black and white photos plastered all over the walls and red leather booths. The parking lot was full when we pulled up so it was no surprise to have an hour wait. We ordered some (very greasy but good) fried onion and drank some gigantic beers at the bar. It took a long time to get the fried onion so they gave it to us on the house. Our bartenders and waitress were friendly. We ordered the apple strudel dessert ahead of the meal since it takes a while to cook. You might say this was a mistake because the portions are gigantic, and we were almost sickenly full by the time we left. I would say it was a mistake if the apple strudel wasn't abbbsoollluuutteelllly deeelllliiiciiouuss. Did I mention the mashed potatoes? They were delicous delicious delicious as well. I realize now that I should have forgone writing an actual review and just written "delicious delicious delicious," but too late for that. I'll elaborate: There was no ketchup on the table when my burger was served. I like a lot of ketchup on my burger and i like to put extra ketchup on my plate and dip the burger into it. I took a bite anyway and it was so moist, ketchup would have been a mistake and masked the flavor. None of the burgers I've had in ny in the last few months compare to this one. mmmmm.... I got sweet potato instead of french fries. It was gigantic. About the size of my head. Not very flavorful and I personally didn't like the brown sugar butter it was served with, but it was good with some salt. The mashed potatoes though... good god. Definitely lots of butter in there. Excellent. Very excellent. And lumpy enough but not too lumpy. Yum. There would be no fights over how mashed potatoes should be prepared for Thanksgiving if mom made them like this. And then there was the strudel. A warning: unless you are a giant of some sort or decide to commit suicide via dessert, you cannot finish this on your own. It looks like a burrito only it's three times the length of your average burrito. Warm thinly sliced apples (I prefer thinly sliced apples in apple desserts over chunky ones. yay!) contained in a flaky buttery crust. I liked it without the buttery caramel sauce, though everyone else loved it. And there were enough leftovers for everyone to have a second slice three days later when we were finally hungry again. Summary: Delicous delicious delicious!
(5)
Dana M.
I went to L. Woods for the second time and there's a reason for that! The best ribs that's a 3 minute drive from my house. Today, being Father's Day, I expected the wait to be a little bit longer even with reservations but 15 minutes wasn't too bad. Our waiter came up to our table right away and our food didn't take too long. Their onion roll is very soft, sweet, and delicious with the whipped butter! The last time I was here, I had half a chicken and ribs so of course I took it home and ended up eating it for my next 3 meals. It was that big! I ordered the beef rib tips with BBQ sauce today and again, the portions were huge! The ribs are very tender and delicious. I replaced the regular sides of either fries, mashed, or baked potato with sweet potato and that thing was seriously as big as my head. The maple walnut butter makes it even better. Looks like I have food for the next few days because of the huge portions. Next time I want to try the cherry martini!
(5)
Mary K W.
If we didn't have $150 in gift certs (thanks to The Don, our realtor) for Lettuce Entertain you restaurants, we likely wouldn't have set foot in here. I've never been attracted to the kitschy, fake vibe (you're in Northern Minnesota!! you're in Tuscany!!) of many of the Lettuce places. However, we wanted to try the ribs, and they have an extensive kids' menu, so off we went on Sat. nite. The place was packed - parking lot, waiting area, restaurant. According to other reviews, it's like this most of the time, even during the week. They had our reservation, and we were seated fairly quickly. The kids got buffalo wings and DH and I shared a ($9!!) chopped salad. Both were good, but nothing different you'd get anywhere else. I got a slab of ribs, and the waiter brought out their dry rub ribs, instead of the regular ones. I didn't feel like waiting for another order so, I just kept them, and they were ok, but you can certainly do better at any number of places in Chicago, and for about 5 bucks less a slab. DH got the prime rib, which again, was just ok, maybe a little on the tough side, and not cooked very well - he ordered it med rare, and it was very red and bloody - which seemed more rare to me. Two kids got cheeseburgers, which were enormous, and good they said; the youngest got chicken fingers, which looked to be pretty standard chicken fingers. We had a lot of leftovers to take home, and I specifically asked for bbq sauce to take home, and got none. Also, no horseradish sauce for the leftover prime rib. Oh, well. Suffice to say, we won't be back anytime soon, and why would we? There are nearly a dozen restaurants within walking distance of my house - which makes me feel a bit of pity for folks in the burbs who only have this place and maybe 5 others as their local options, all of which require a drive to get there.
(2)
Barbara M.
No matter when I go to L Woods, I always have a wonderful meal. I wasn't looking to dig into a huge steak or chops last night around 8:30 pm, so my friends and I just had the chili, which was on the daily special menu and the FABULOUS Chopped Salad. It's so good that I crave it all the time and can't wait to back if just for that. Once you taste it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. We ordered the large salad and it filled the three of us perfectly, or so I thought. My two friends kept eyeing the desserts being devoured at the near by table and couldn't resist, so they split the hot fudge brownie sundae topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It looked so yummy and scrumptious that I had to BEG them for a taste. WOW is all I can say.......One bite of this and you'll be in chocolate brownie heaven!!!
(5)
Lynn C.
Try the chocolate lava cake, if you have any room left from the meat and potatoes (mostly) dishes. Attentive and friendly service, even when busy (which it always seems to be). The parking lot is usually packed and so are the dining rooms.
(4)
Gillian R.
I'm not seeing what the hype is behind this joint. Maybe it's my fault for ordering fish (which was ick!) at a bbq restaurant? Lesson learned for next time... The service was mediocre at best. I think I heard somewhere it used to be a free-standing and was then bought by a chain? Quality ALWAYS drops when something is bought by a chain. Bonus points for: killer mashed potatoes and free parking.
(3)
Jessica C.
Couldn't help but think of Legally Blonde when my friend picked this spot. Was a bit leery of the log-cabin action as we pulled up, but since dinner was on her, I wasn't complaining. Service started a bit slow, then livened--our server turned out to be very attentive. Was a bit thrown off by the dark, lodge atmosphere, but I did appreciate the diverse crowd. I eventually found myself feeling very comfortable here. The chopped salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. I don't know what's so special about it, since it's really made up of ordinary ingredients, but L Woods knows how to do it just right. Have to add here that the gooey chocolate cake is a must. DO NOT miss it.
(4)
Michelle F.
I just went here for lunch with my boss and had a fabulous Southwest Chicken salad. Black beans and corn mixed in, with perfect chicken and ranch on the side. MMMMMMMmmm...Crowded for lunch, but nice atmosphere. Makes you feel like you're in a "happening" place. I'm going to take my husband here soon!
(5)
Joe S.
Good food,slightly above average. Ribs good but not the best around. SW Chix Salad is different, tasty. Chicken cooked well. Tasty Cream Soda....refreshing. Looks like an upper Wisconsin supper club lodge. Chili is pretty good. Good choice for the area.
(3)
Julia B.
This is right by my work and has great food! It's the place that was in Ocean's 12. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. There are pictures on the wall of a lot of people that have had dinner there. The food is very good. I had a flatbread and salad combo and loved it! The prices are normal too!
(4)
Laura T.
When we first walked into L.Woods, there were blue-hairs everywhere and it made us wonder what we were in store for (need to preface this by saying that we have kids,and everyone knows there are only two types of people who eat before 6 and that's seniors and people with children. Guess what? This is a classic case of elders knows best, a place where everything is truly fabulous. The salads are generous but nothing is as large as the beef ribs - they're huge and delicious. The meat - whether it's the prime rib, pork chop or burger - is served exactly as it should - medium rare and medium, respectively. We always order a chopped salad, calamari and when we're in a big group, the flatbreads, too. We don't think there is a place friendlier and nicer to kids. If you are plagued with a child who wants "plain pasta with butter" 24/7, the kitchen will accommodate you without a blink of the eye. This means the service is fabulous as well. Over the last few years, we've tried just about everything on the menu and we can honestly say we've always been pleased. We used to bemoan the wait until we figured out that you can call and put your name on the waiting list, show up 30 minutes later and presto, your table is ready. And there is always take-out.
(5)
Gil N.
I visited L. Woods based on Yelper reviews and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The decor, the service and mmm....*wipes away drool* the food. Wow. I was there for lunch so it wasn't very busy, that being said they still had quite a few tables taken. Save room for dessert. Trust me.
(5)
Alan R.
A fairly typical Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. The food is good, if not spectacular. The service was excellent until it got busy. The waiter was attentive and explained everything very well until the crowds started coming in. After that, he seemed overwhelmed. The dry rub ribs were excellent and the chicken good but not great. The salad we got as our appetizer was OK. The Sweet potato that came with my meal was like 2.5 times the size of a normal one. Take out from L-Woods might be a better option than dining in.
(3)
B. L.
This place certainly is popular , which can also mean crowded at times. The food has a little flavor of New Orleans thrown in the mix. Alot of rib/chicken places do. This location used to be another famous rib house called Bones. I think some of the same customers now visit here. Don't let the rustic exterior fool you, it can be a good place to meet clients for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Nicholle H.
I like to eat at this restaurant because it has a great atmosphere. The decor is lovely, giving it an old time feel. There is a touch of class in the restaurant which features American cuisine. The menu is abundant, the bar is stocked, and the food is good. The only complaint that I do have is that at times the service can be slow. Overall a great restaurant and moderately priced.
(4)
Shayna H.
This is my favorite restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My boyfriend loves the ribs and would recommend them to everyone. I have had sandwiches and steaks here and everything was excellent. I love the mashed potatoes and the pre-dinner bread. I would recommend anyone try this place at least once!
(5)
Mark G.
Worst experience ever! Watch out for the waitress with contagious flu! So I was meeting my friend for lunch at 1 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009. We determined that L Woods was a good place to meet since I was Downtown and she was in the Northern Suburbs. I had been to L Woods a number of years ago, but not recently. When we showed up we were seated toward the back of the restaurant, which was quite full at 1 pm when we arrived. We both looked at the menu and after about 5 minutes a waitress came over to take our order. The waitress that came over was obviously sick with the flu. She had no voice and looked ill. She apologized for her condition. I am not sure why any restaurant would allow or want a sick waitress serving patrons. I should have got up and left at that point, but instead we dealt with it. Both my friend and I asked questions about the menu. I was interested in the Monday special of turkey and stuffing--I asked what came with it other than turkey and stuffing. The waitress said nothing (turns out it also comes with carrots). My friend told the waitress she was a vegetarian. The waitress recommended the vegi burger, which my friend ordered. (This is not a particularly vegitarian friendly restaurant--few menu items and animal heads hug all around the restaurant.) We also ordered the macaroni appetizer and the lemonade flight. Our waitress then disappeared--we did not see her for 30 minutes. We noticed that it looked like all the other tables were getting fresh bread--we got nothing and had no one to ask for it. Finally, the waitress shows up with the food. She has our macaroni appetizer and food at the same time. She then puts in front of me a patty melt and gives my friend the "so called vegi burger". I say, excuse me, I ordered the turkey special. She looks confused and says she will get me the turkey. I also tell her that I would have expected the appetizer to come up before the entrees. She rudely says that the macaroni was a side. I ask her to please bring a menu over. She brings a menu over and I show her that it is an appetizer. She says nothing--not even an apology. My friend bites into her vegi burger and discovers it is actually a turkey burger. I can tell you that vegetarians are not happy when they eat meat. She became very sick and upset. We wait for our waitress to come back. 10 minutes later she appears. She has my turkey and also a vegi burger. She says she realized that she brought the wrong burger out. You would have thought she would have immediately come and taken the food back from my friend. My turkey dinner was generally good--it did take 40 minutes to get. My friend was so sick from eating turkey that she could not eat her vegi burger. (The frozen style fries with the vegi burger tasted like they had been sitting out for hours.) She ended up asking to get the vegi burger to go. Now you would expect that a waitress might be apologetic for this screw up--we get no apology or sorry. No discount, nothing. L Woods has some real service issues. We paid the bill and left. We will never go back. I really hope the management takes some corrective action. This all happened at lunch on Monday, October 12, 2009. Be careful at this place. And if your waitress is sick--ask for another waitress. Both my friend and I feel the flu coming on.
(1)
S M.
As soon as you walk in for dinner at L Woods, it's amazing. The lights are dimmed and the hostesses are so nice. We went on a Sunday night and we were immediately seated. The server, I think her name was Joanna, was incredible! She gave great recommendations and answered all of my questions with a smile. Not even five minutes after we ordered she brought us out an appetizer on the house since it was our first time there. The appetizer was so good, it was a flatbread almost like phyllo, with cheese and philly steak on top with some herbs, sliced like a little pizza. Delicious! I was undecided between chicken and the cod. Our server recommended the cod and boy did she steer me in the right direction! The cod was so delicious, with a parmesan crust and lemon juice, garlic aioli, it was to die for. My iced tea was never empty, the service was so attentive! For dessert we got a blueberry peach cobbler-type pie with vanilla ice cream on top, seriously one of the best desserts I've had in a while. Go to L Woods, you won't regret it!
(5)
Kristen H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. I've been coming here since it was called Bones. I can't remember what Bones was like except that I liked it, but I LOOOOOVE this place. I went here last night with my mother for a September 11th toast to all those that lost their lives that day. I made a reservation on opentable.com so it was great to not have to wait, although I don't think the wait was that long last night. I was upset that I wasn't there for pot roast night (Thurs.) because it's my favorite. I swear it's probably the best ever. So I looked over the menu for something else. I had it narrowed down to the skirt steak, bbq brisket, or meatloaf (the special on Tues.). I couldn't decide so I asked the waiter. He was so nice. He told me the skirt steak was his fave. I aksed him if the steak would be tough like some I've received at other places. He said no way because it's marinated in pineapple juice to tenderize it along with chili flakes and something else. He was definitely right. It was as large as a full slab of ribs and you could cut it with a butter knife. YUMMMMM!!!!! Of course I had it with the mashed potatoes because they're just as yummy. We ordered the chopped salad and tomato flatbread pizza for appetizers. The chopped salad (+ranch, - blue cheese) was the best like always. The flatbread seemed a little overdone, but still good. We also had some drinks which were also great and reasonably priced. My mom ordered some chicken dinner she loves. Our bill was ~$80. This place gets five stars for their service and five stars for their food. I don't know why I haven't been there in so long, I must be crazy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They have a kid's club, I think it's called the clean plate club. Your child gets a punchcard and once they've been there x amount of times, they get their picture taken and put in a frame on the wall. Look out for my son Kieran's pic next time you're there.
(5)
Agile R.
I love this place, It is a little over priced but the pork ribs are great and the steak fillet mignon is fantastic. Everyone has got to try their garlic mash potatoes. I don't go here often because it is a bit pricey but I always feel satisfied after a meal. The staff their are also very friendly, eager to make you feel welcome. They have a pretty nice bar also. If your ever in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out. I guarantee you'll crawl out of there from eating so much because the food was just to tasty to stop.
(5)
Joedel G.
First of all the parking is not a problem, you can find a spot easily even though we went on Sunday. This place is rustic and on the wall you can find a lot of sports memorabilia photos. Customers are mostly on their 60's, although I've seen some family with kids, I believe a lot of locals too. It was our friends birthday party so we started with calamari and flat bread ( fresh unleavened bread that is grilled crisp with Oven-dried Tomatoes and fresh basil ) Don't forget to order the chopped salad which I think the best salad I've ever had. I had a piece of whitefish with lemon butter sauce, it was very moist and not fishy at all. Then the filet Mignon, and oh my God it was the most succulent piece of red meat I've ever had. Imagine Baked Macaroni & Cheese on the side, and again the best BM&C I've ever had. What else can I say ?, we finished our dinner with their famous Apple Strudel, baked to order though and allow 45 minutes. Excellent dinner with nice people around. Highly recommended and I would come back soon.
(5)
John F.
I feel I must disagree with the other reivewers. Each time I have eaten there it has been mediocre at best, and like all Lettuce Entertain You places it is overpriced so people using their discount cards and rewards get a fair price and everyone else pays higher. I would not recommend it.
(2)
Maximus T.
Great place to eat wonderful food and excellent service. I reccomend going on a weekday because i have gone twice and have waited 20 minutes for a table. Hey if its this jampacked its gotta be good
(5)
Maggie D.
Our most recent visit was probably our 10th dinner at L Woods. It was, as it always is, awesome. The massive sweet potato side with brown sugar butter is my favorite. The martinis are potent, the fish is fresh, and the steaks are tender. Once or twice the service has been little slow, but I suspect they were short staffed as it's usually great.
(4)
Lola L.
atmosphere is laid back...ribs and bbq chicken and spinach salad are dynamic. i had no idea it was lettuce entertain you restaurant...felt so homey
(5)
Simone G.
I've been coming to this place for quite some time. L' Woods reminds you of an old wisconsin lodge. I love it here. If you ask they will serve your drinks in pint glasses (double whiskey coke please). I've had some of the most delicious scallops here (it was a one time special), and the parmesan crusted beef filet is to die for. On top of it all the french onion soup is nothing less than perfect. It can cost a bit, but its not overly expensive. I would say its perfect for an evening somwhere between a lazy night out and that night that you really want to do it up. I would recommend that everyone at least try this restaurant once... love it or leave it, but try it once.
(5)
John T.
One of our favorite places to eat.This place has the best service in all of Chicago. From the second you walk in the door, you are treated as if you have been coming there for years, even if it is your first time! Make sure to make a trip here, especially in the winter. It is great "comfort food."
If your grandparents come to town and you want to take them out for dinner but know they would just be confused by anything even vaguely "ethnic", this place would be perfect. It's got a really nice "small town" vibe and good food with a menu of what most would consider to be "american standards"---lots of sandwiches and steaks and stuff like that. Not normally my type of restuarant, but this place is *special*.
(4)
Patrick F.
They call themselves a "Tap & Pine Lodge" - and that's exactly right. I walked in and felt like I had gone back home. Despite the size and business, it still had a cozy vibe to it. The staff recognized patrons who seemed to be repeat visitors and treated them like returning family. The food did not disappoint. My tenderloin was perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes and chili were fantastic.
(4)
Liliana S.
I love the decor and the ambience. Ive only eaten here once because it is so far out of the way from me, but I love the chicken and rib combo with double baked potato. YUM. The portions are huge and the prices are mediocre.
(4)
Kristin A.
This place has a nice feel to it. Like a cozy log cabin. I've been there serveral times and had great service. Except for this last time. AWFUL. Took us two hours to eat lunch and no apologies. Flat bread is amazing and everything else on the menu is decent.
(4)
Matt H.
Good food, doesn't blow my mind away but I like the Big Fish sandwich. Flatbread is decent but a little overpriced. Go with sandwiches.
(3)
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Address :7110 N Lincoln Ave
Lincolnwood, IL, 60712
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Val W.
I enjoyed my meal so much that I left in a food coma. Luckily, I wasn't driving because I passed out literally in the car on the way home. My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day. The place was crowed. We were sat at a table in the way way back. I liked the table because it was larger than normal for two people. I ordered salad, steak and baked potato. They bring out free bread and butter. I ate that and had the Planters punch cocktail while waiting. The side salad was very large, and nice and fresh. I cannot complain. The steak was good and the baked potato was normal. I was very full and satisfied. I had heard the key lime pie was to die for so I took a piece home. I ate it for breakfast the next morning. IT was delish! I hope to go back sometime soon.
(5)Mitchell Y.
Came here for my dad's birthday and thought the theme was a little strange. I'm Illinois born and bred, but Wisconsin supper clubs are hardly some exotic concept, so I thought the whole idea was a little silly. That being said, we all enjoyed our visit. Our server was friendly and even brought us a complementary flatbread to welcome us "into the club." That was a very nice touch and it tasted good to boot. We all shared the onion strings, which were pretty standard. However, the french onion soup (sensing a theme here?) was excellent. It has a different taste than most- sweeter, but it works. Since we came on a Sunday, half of the table tried the weekly fried chicken special. They didn't see what all the fuss was about. I had the ribs and they were good, but not anything past that. However, the macaroni and cheese side is the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Period. I cannot recommend it enough. For dessert we were a little ambitious and ordered both the apple strudel and gooey chocolate cake. The strudel was hard as a rock. Seriously, we all had to use our knifes like saws just to get a bit. Fortunately, the cake made up for it. All in all I'm glad to have come here, but except the mac and cheese, there are better places to be found.
(3)L K.
I brought my mom here for lunch last week. They were busy but we were served quickly. She had fish, large piece, loved it. I had a chopped salad, asked for different dressing than listed on menu, no problem. Salad was huge, crisp, nicely presented. Lots of leftovers my mom took home. Recommended.
(5)Adnan A.
Been craving some bbq beef ribs for a while now and I can't believe I never knew this place existed less than 10 mins away from home. When the combo order of the chicken and beef ribs was placed in front of me, I had a hard time picking up my jaw after seeing the quantity. Wasn't an issue cleaning up the plate because it was so damn good.
(5)Melissa R.
Gooey chocolate cake is where it's at! Order ahead of time because it takes 45 minutes to cook. The food is good, and the owner is super sweet and cares about allergies, or the customers!
(4)Kirsten V.
I would give our waiter 5 stars, 4 for food and ambiance but no stars for the rude hostess. I worked for the original Lettuce restaurant, RJ Grunts, back in the '80's for seven years and I know that Lettuce prides itself on service. I walked in at 4:30 on the Saturday of Passover (the beginning of dinner service on what was surely to be a very busy weekend). I stood at the hostess stand while the hostess talked to another employee for several minutes without even glancing at me. Finally she starts looking at the computer screen, no greeting, no smile, and says, "Yes?" Look, I'm a nicely dressed middle aged woman, not a teenager in jeans with an attitude. I give her my name, tell her how many are in my party and what time. She NOT ONCE actually looks at me. She NOT ONCE smiles or welcomes me. She starts tapping at her screen, asks me my name two more times and how many and time two more times, all while NEVER LOOKING AT ME. Maybe you'll remember that I've already given you this info if you look at me. She starts shaking her head and mumbling, no, not here, then starts to tell me that I don't have a reservation at the same time I tell her the restaurant called me to confirm. Oh there it is, she basically says to herself (still, not once in a five minute exchange, did she look at me or smile or anything) then grabs four menus and tells a much younger hostess which table to take me to. As I turned to follow the other hostess, she calls after me, Enjoy your meal. Wow. Thanks.
(3)Rita M.
Cannot believe I never reviewed this place! First time dining here was once upon a time when my husband and I were NEWLY boyfriend and girlfriend. Back in 2009! Since then, this has been THE PLACE to go to for birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. My ma and I always split a whole slab of bbq ribs and the hubby always either gets the prime rib (unfortunately only available one night a wk, it is either a fri or sat, I forget) or the skirt steak medium rare. Great laid back ambiance. Great decor. Good quality food. Make reservations! I love the promptness shown when the hostess seats us, as we are frequent diners (hoping they can see that when and how often I make reservations) One star deducted, because the server we had when dining this past Sunday at 19:30. VERY absent-minded and forgot our plates for the bread (we all sat staring at the bread for a good 10/15 mins AND reminding her about the plates twice), and for her bringing out my ma and hubby's drinks (pops) promptly but took me a good 5/10 mins to get my non alcoholic beverage. Thank goodness I had water. Will I be back? I have been coming back since 2009!!!!! :)
(4)J T.
First time here. The ambiance was pretty cool, kind of like a gangster feel. At least that's what I thought. We had the cheese curds first, yummy! Very good. Moved on to the the baby back ribs....well, what can I say, they were awesome!! The meat fell off the bone! Yum! Then, I was told that the apple strudel was to die for and they were right!! Make sure you order it early. It takes 40-45 minutes to make and let me tell ya, it's worth the wait!! Will definitely be back to this place!! Great service, great food and great atmosphere!
(5)Emma C.
Delicious burgers (both meat and veggie), delicious creamed spinach, delicious twice-baked potato, delicious french onion soup, delicious side salad, delicious apple strudel. Often crowded, so make a reservation if you plan to go after 5 p.m. It's a little on the pricey side, but excellent so it's worth it once in a while. Nice place for a celebration family dinner...you'll see a lot of this going on, as well as boisterous middle-aged Jewish women on a tear with their besties and the we've-been-going-out-a-while-and-we're-not-mushy-Âbut-I-still-like-you-so we'll-eat-a-nice-meal dates. Four stars instead of five because the management is terrific at solving problems, but the staff is touch-and-go; sometimes fantastic, other times negligent, and so there are problems to solve. More than that, they need to get any carpeting out of there. We go often, and twice there was a wafting of eau de pee in the air. I think they have an older clientele at lunch, and I'm not hatin' on the seniors and I've gone enough times in which that wasn't the case, but L. Woods could use a little redecorating/updating that might include an opportunity to de-must as one must.
(4)Katarina X.
Massive. No really, these are not plates but platters... these are not portions but gargantuan, everest-like mounds of meat and butter and cheese. Definitely an abundant example of vast quantity. A wood-paneled, plush booth seating, midwest setting that would not be out of place for a scene in Mad Men and cocktails from that time as well. The booths were sizable for our party of five- really great for conversation and sharing of plates. I apologize yelp, no cocktails for me... horribly sick the day prior- the kind of exhausting, violent, can't keep water, ginger ale or my internal organs from being thrown-up sickness that leaves one weak for da#n near the weekend in entirety. No fault of the establishment- if anything, the kind server made sure there were options for my first solid meal. I couldn't go for anything spicy or cheesy and refrained from alcohol because... still a little shaky... the prime rib the size of the Sears Tower was not going to happen. Soup? Yes please. So if you are watching your waistline or naturally restrained- there are "light" options for dinner where you can get a lovely piece of fish, you will not be able to finish, big enough to feed two heartily... instead of their towering standard sized plates that (no joke) could easily feed a nuclear family of four. The fish I ordered was very pretty to look at, clean and simple. The side options are welcome too, gigantic, but you can get a baked potato or a baked sweet potato, buttered corn, creamed spinach, fries or mashed potatoes. I like having options. My friend ordered skirt steak and it was seriously, enough to feed four. Her lemonade (it looked refreshingly divine) and her side(!) of fries was passed between five at the table with leftovers. Our men hit the cocktails, and the wine and the beer... I had no idea you could go from beer to old fashioned to Malbec but they did and seemed quite happy with their mounds of rare beef and full slabs of ribs. We finished with what looked like a burrito the size of my leg, requiring 45 minutes to prepare. Really. This is a strudel- filled with melted butter, sliced apple, cinnamon, sugar and wrapped in pastry. A table of five or six is necessary for this indulgence, very indulgent. I may not need to eat for another two or three days.
(3)Margaret A.
Excellent food and service by Linda. Very nice cozy environment. Kids menu a plus. Will be back soon.
(5)Lisa C.
This place is very consistent. The best part is that they have something for everybody : chicken, fish, pizza, pork, BBQ. Try to get a reservation, this place is busy in the evenings.
(5)Nick L.
Dry, dry and dry. 6 meals and that was the overwhelming consensus. It reminds me of a Wildfire setup and menu which is no bad thing. That's about where the similarities end. It's close by to the in-laws place so it was somewhere close we could have a nice dinner. There's a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated and have no complaints there. There's also warm bread at the start but after an episode of 20/20 I eyed it skeptically. We didn't order any apps and went straight for the entrees. I was in the mood for fish and chips, wife got a full rack of pork ribs. A steak, some walleye, chicken and beef ribs were also ordered and I got to try a bit of everything. My own choice was disappointing. The fish pieces were small (typical for the US) but the coating was too crumbly. Almost like something from the freezer in a grocery store. The full rack of pork ribs was large but the meat did not fall off the bone, not super fresh I guess, and was dry. The sauce was good but it could not hide the inadequacies of the ribs. The nut crusted walleye was pretty bland and was poor and I would not advise on that. Continuing on the dry theme, the chicken was dry, not the yummy moist and juicy chicken that is so easy to eat. The steak was overpriced for the size of the portion, can't comment on quality or taste because it was ordered medium well although it looked like well done to me. The beef ribs were the tastiest and I would get that if I was to ever come again. The sides were also pretty good, hard to go wrong with a well executed jacket potato with all the trimmings. This place also charges Wildfire like prices which was painful to my wallet especially as it wasn't the greatest meal I've had. i.e. For a lot less, you can get much better.
(2)Amy S.
MMMMMM comfort food...L. woods is the definition of comfort food from staff, to atmosphere, to food. Came here with a big group for dinner and our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the dinner. I also loved the total lodge atmosphere, they really did transform the whole place. We got a variety of things off the menu and everyone seemed to be happy with their choice. I got a bloody mary and their barbecue turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn. Unfortunately for my stomach I ate the entire plate because it was so delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and had good simple flavors. My bloody mary had a really good spicy pickle in it and a smoky flavor which wasn't my favorite but was still good. Something tells me this is one of those places where you could order anything off the menu and you wouldn't be disappointed.
(5)Ed S.
If you're in the mood to be transported to a Wisconsin lake with out the drive then this is your spot. Had a great meal there last night. Every table in the place had either the fried chicken or the ribs. Many had both, including us. Service was fantastic and welcoming. Traditional super club fare and good beer list. Huge place with wood paneling. Very busy.
(5)Ken H.
Took my wife here for her birthday and brought the two kids. Overall a good experience but perhaps my hopes and expectations were too high. We frequent Wisconsin supper clubs often and while the menu, decor and beverages were obviously themed and influenced by Wisconsin/Michigan back-road establishments, I expected more from the Lettuce Entertain You brand. I tried two of their Old Fashioned cocktails, the Wisconsin and the Kentucky. Both were good but not great. You would think a Wisconsin themed restaurant would "nail" Wisconsin's state cocktail. They were off. I have had much better. I had the parmesan cod and my wife the BBQ salmon. Both were very tasty. The kids had the pounded chicken and a cheese burger, also very good. The four of us split the brownie with ice cream. This was underwhelming. With so many outstanding brownie recipes out there you would think they would make something special. It was not. Our bill totaled $130, so its pricey for a supper club but its suburban Chicago location makes this understandable. Prior to visiting I really had thought my review would be 5 stars, so I was disappointed in that but overall an OK experience.
(3)Jackie K.
We frequent L Woods quite a bit! The parmesian encusted filet is to die for! The atmosphere is great, the people are friendly and helpful. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait. Even if you have reservations, the wait time to get a table is tremendous. This place is crowded no matter when you seem to go. We started a habit of ordering for pick-up to avoid the wait, only to have to wait 30 to 40 minutes at the pick-up counter after they give you a pick-up time. Go to L Woods when you have the time.
(4)Nancy L.
Feels like an old school supper club but with some modern twists - take a deeper look and you'll realize it's a bit Disney like in the sense it's almost too well put together around that theme. That's probably because it's owned by Lettuce Entertain You. The bar is decorated just like some old taverns I remember in rural towns so it feels really down home. Dining in the circular booth tables feels cozy and private . The food is straightforward forward American cuisine - well prepared. After coming here I realized that all the Lettuce Entertain you restaurants have pretty much the same chopped salad with blue cheese, bacon, little pasta, tomatoes and mustard vinegarette - which I really like so I'm not really complaining. I loved that they offered a baked sweet potato with a brown sugar pecan butter which was really yummy and a nice change of pace from a regular baked potato. It's a great place for a big group - broad menu that is multi generational friendly. They also have a family style menu for about $29 a person that includes starters, salad, main course, sides and dessert. The servers are well trained and attentive. When we said it was our first time there they brought us a half flatbread order to try. We'll be back when we are in the mood for american rural nostalgia and a predictable experience.
(3)E B.
Armed with $75 in "Lettuce Entertain You" gift cards, no reservation on a late Sunday afternoon, and a slight sense of adventure, I decided to check out this place after attending a matinee musical in the Loop. We arrived at 5:30pm and the place was packed and buzzing!!! I'm a lover of all things nostalgia and found the decor to be interesting and homey, like I was in a real life episode of the 80's TV show, "Newhart." From the pictures on the wall to the lodge feel, I had plenty of atmosphere to soak up while waiting for about 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, wait staff brought a nice warm loaf of onion bread to our table with butter and water. Our waitress asked if we were first timers, greeted us with a "well, welcome..." and proceeded to explain the specials and how all the menu items are freshly prepared. She quickly brought us our cocktails, mine was a cranberry-clementine sangria with pureed fruit on the bottom. A nice blend of tart and sweet and booze. A manager dropped by our table to welcome us for being first time guests and brought a complimentary barbecue chicken and pesto flatbread for us to snack on while we enjoyed a small chopped salad that was large enough for two to share. The evening would be full of small gestures such as this, the accumulation of which, make for a great and memorable dining experience. My "deconstructed" chicken pot pie arrived to my table piping hot. The sauce was creamy and rich but not salty (which I can appreciate). The flaky crust sat atop a stew with plenty of chopped chicken pieces and veggies. My friend had the fried chicken special with mashed potatoes and cole slaw and loved it! The portions were large enough to enjoy some leftovers for lunch the following day. Dessert was an egg-nog custard cream pie with a layer of fudge, vanilla whipped cream and a gingersnap crust. Large enough to share, but you probably wouldn't want to do so. L. Woods is great comfort food, big on taste and approachable. You wouldn't come here expecting a meal carved in to work of art you're reluctant to take a fork to but you won't be at all disappointed about that fact either.
(4)M. T.
Lots of hype, big on atmosphere like a Wisconsin lodge. Food was very good, but not great. Had the pulled pork, it was just as good as Weber Grill.
(3)meredith d.
I love this place - the clubby atmosphere, friendly service and excellent food. Just had lunch there, and my friend and I had to wait for our entrees. We weren't complaining - we were chatting and drinking coffee - but when the food arrived, the manager came to our table to tell us that it was all on the house! Because we'd had to wait so long! I can't even tell you how long it was - maybe 30 to 45 minutes, if that. So we were comped a $50 meal! On a previous occasion, after picking up a dinner from them, we discovered that my husband's potato was missing, and they sent us two gift certificates to make up for it. So they have excellent customer service as well as delicious food. Favorites? The crusted walleye, the fried chicken (Sundays only for that one, I believe), the walleye nuggets appetizer and the meatloaf. Good decaf coffee, too (which is rare). Did I say I love this place?
(5)Natalie B.
Downright awful. Why oh why do people come here? The average age is easily 80, maybe the older folk just don't know better? First off, it feels dirty and tables are crammed together so tightly that people can't walk through. I had to get up at least three times to let other patrons walk by ( for reference, I'm pretty thin and was pushed close in). We were at a 6 top that had an extra chair crammed in and was made up of two uneven tables that didn't match up which = spills!! So the food. Yuck! My ceaser salad was a bag of romaine lettuce with a package of store croutons thrown on and shelf stable Parmesan. The chicken, which was forgotten until I asked a bunch of times resembled what they serve at McDonalds. My childrens food was equally unappetizing and my daughter threw up after consuming it. She isn't sick-was food poisoning. The other two didn't eat at all, and my kids eat everything and a lot. Will I come again? Heck no and I suggest you don't either.
(1)Dave C.
Great service and good comfort food. Wisconsin style supper club. The place was packed on a Friday night, which probably means things are good here. We stuck with the favorites, baby back ribs, Friday night fish fry & chocolate molten cake. It was all pretty tasty, good atmosphere, comfortable. Oh, and the Wisconsin Old Fashion was refreshing.
(4)Kathleen C.
Oh no! Can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot as I've been here a zillion times. However, admittedly, I haven't been there in a while until this past week. It was just as I remembered! I always get basically the same thing, though I have tried many other items and I have never been disappointed. Food is always fresh and flavorful and not overly seasoned. The chopped salad - try it without dressing and then get a bunch of dressings on the side. Service is always friendly and even when the place is bustling, they know what to do! I've never had any issues with service and typically, even when there is a wait, they keep things moving pretty well. Atmosphere is somewhat lodge-y, though I suppose that goes with the supper club vibe. Very comfortable and cozy and a nice spot to have a great meal with great service and great food. Food - 5 Value - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Bathrooms - 4 Service - 5
(5)Stephanie S.
Hubs' family is full of longtime Wisconsinites who romanticize the supper club atmosphere. So naturally we had to check out this place and see how it stacks up. We made reservations for a Tuesday night. The place was pretty crowded (had to park on a side street because the lot was full). Even with a reservation, we had to wait 15 minutes for a table. Given the way they called names, I'm not sure it mattered if we had made a reservation or not, which was pretty annoying. We were at the table for 5 or 10 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. In general it seemed our waiter, while friendly, was flustered and harried. The food was good, and portions were large. We split the small chopped salad (one of the better ones I've had with a good amount of bacon and bleu cheese). Hubs had skirt steak (ginormous), I had whitefish (nice crust, well-balanced butter sauce). No complaints on the food. Tasty and would gladly eat there again. Plus, brandy old fashioned FTW. Yes, the clientele is octogenarian. It's a little crowded and can be loud, so probably not the place for a romantic date. Hubs said the decor was "fake" (obviously, since it's part of a restaurant group and not an actual mom-and-pop supper club). Overall, I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to come here, and I'd enjoy my meal. But it's kinda far from my house and not good enough to justify the drive.
(4)Mark F.
Amazing service, amazing food. We have been there a couple of times for a date night and with friends and have never left disappointed. The meats are great, the sides are amazing. If they have the meatloaf special, I highly recommend it. It's extremely family friendly and you can tell that the staff is really close. You would never think you are at a chain type of restaurant. It feels homie and comfortable. The bar tenders are always a riot and the servers are so personable that we found ourselves making conversation with them. We will definitely make this one of our go-to spots.
(5)Andrew D.
One of our family favorites! The cheese curds and the brisket nachos are great starters. Both the pork ribs and the beef ribs are fantastic. I highly recommend going on Sunday for the fried chicken special. And be sure to save room for made to order gooey chocolate cake or apple strudel. They also have few signature cocktails that are delicious. Would be five stars but the service can be a little slow.
(4)R S.
I have been a lettuce customer for over 20 years... Yet never been to L Woods. Went here for dinner the other night. They did not disappoint. Everything was wonderful. Had a great meal. The prices were reasonable. Te service was great.
(4)David C.
Well, if you'd like to sit under a cold air vent, complain repeatedly and have the staff refuse to let you switch tables - then this is the place for you! Seriously, we LOVE the food here but I'm stunned at how poorly we were treated - right up to the manager. Particularly surprising for a Lettuce restaurant!
(1)Hunda S.
Good steak nice place havent been here in awhile but my husband and i enjoyed it last
(4)Sarah C.
Attended a get together for my mom here and was pleasantly surprised by not only the service but the food. My BBQ chicken was delish and I didn't hear a single complaint at the table either. The only thing I didn't love was my banana cream pie. Not only does it come with nuts on it but I found it to be a little bland. My sister had some issues with a reservation we booked months in advance after the event planner made a mistake; but the manager made it right.
(4)Jacqueline B.
First time here & OMG I'm about 10 Ibs heavier!! To start off we had brisket nachos which were good. Dad had the NY steak, French fries & mash potatoes ..which were all good. Mom had the half chicken and ribs = good. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger (although they forgot to put bacon on it) and double baked potato..all great. EVERTHING WAS GOOD!
(4)David R.
I'm a big fan of this restaurant; without meaning to, I've developed a habit of targeting it for casual special occasions. The first time was two nights before my wedding, the day that my family arrived in town and we needed a dinner option to please a large, disparate group. That night, I enjoyed some very solid calamari and a macadamia-encrusted tilapia special which was one of the best fish dishes that I can remember; my brother declared their pulled pork sandwich the best he's ever had. The second time was on St Patrick's Day in 2012, when the TimeOut magazine advertised a promotion where L Woods was giving away a corned beef dinner to any patron to show a passport with a stamp from the Republic of Ireland. When I showed up on the actual holiday, they told me that the deal was only for the preceding weekend. When I expressed my disappointment, the management agreed to honor the promotion after all. Hooray for customer service! And the corned beef and cabbage was not too shabby either. Recently I celebrated my second wedding anniversary there, because my wife loves this place too. We both have excellent taste. Except that she expressed no interest in my delicious barbecue ribs! Well, noone's perfect, but I love her anyway. Consistently good food, a fun casual setting, and cheerful service will keep us coming back on special occasions and maybe sometimes for no reason at all.
(4)Patrick D.
Absolutely THE best pulled pork sandwich I've had in Chicago. Well cooked smokey moist meat. Mmmmm, mmmmm good! Great BBQ sauce on the side. You control how much goes on the sandwich. This place just keeps on doing it, and doing it very well. Do NOT be intimidated at having to order their "Famous Apple Strudel" when you order your meal. It takes 45 minutes to prepare so no ordering it after dinner.. It is wonderful, and big enough for 2 or 3. Also, probably the best floor staff of any place like this, friendly, efficient,, knowledgeable about everything on the menu,
(4)Peter O.
Last Easter 2014, Paulina, that evening's overworked waitress from my above review graciously, kindly, expeditiously did double duty serving us while assisting us with a large family to-go order of what was (of course) delicious food while we ate and drank at leisure in the bar. Paulina has been my/our server and occasionally my bartender on many occasions since. I can not praise enough her warm, companionable decency and efficiency. This must be made clear. She's turned out to be a marvel, at the pinnacle of what is, with very few exceptions, one of the best restaurant staffs in Chicagoland. I hope to permanently have learned some necessary lessons here. ~Peter O.
(4)Mark C.
We found this place because we wanted to use up a Lettuce Entertain You gift card and we could not be happier with our selection. The setting is like a lodge up in Wisconsin or Michigan... and a great reasonably priced menu. We were greeted by "Momma", who was waiting for us based on our reservation. An older lady that we at first thought was a customer or someone's Grandmother that wandered away from her table. But she was fun and friendly... so kudos on the nice start. For starters, the Fried Calamari was very good, although more than we needed and had to force ourselves to stop so we had room for dinner. The server was knowledgable about the selections and recommended the BBQ Ribs, which I enjoyed and partner had the BBQ chicken. Quite wonderful! The martini's at $11 a pop were good although first one was slightly warmer than the 2nd one... still a good deal at a good price. We will definitely return!
(4)Dennis D.
One of my favorite restaurants. BBQ chicken and ribs are delicious. Brisket sandwich tender and flavorful. Highlight are daily specials. Saturday is great portion of Prime Rib and Sunday the fried chicken. Both really good Match that with the good service and a spectacular bar and you have a great dining experience that reminds you of the best old time supper clubs with modern spot on food. Enjoy this place. One of Lettuce Entertain You's more unique food establishments. Really crowded weekend nights.
(5)Mariel I.
Went here for dinner and everything was great. We oredered the crusted whitefish and the ribs both were delicious especially their mashed potatoes. Definitely will come back.
(5)Brenda P.
My bf and I have been here twice, staff is always friendly, we never wait long. Let's get to the best part. The food is so good!! Ribs are so soft and tender. Their french fried chicken is to die for. NY strip steak tasty!! We did have chicken and wild rice soup which was also great, definitely one of our favorites!!
(5)William M.
Great BBQ dishes and surprisingly large delivery area. The dining room is also nice. Priced are a little high, but the food is delicious.
(4)Olivia S.
This place is great. Every time I come back to Chicago I make my family take me here. I don't even need a menu at this point because I always get the Parmesan crusted filet. AMAZING! It might be my favorite dish of all time. I also love the baked potatoes. Overall, this place is a great place to have a wonderful dinner with family and friends. I always have a great time. Looking forward to coming back to Chicago next month and stopping in!
(5)Dylan K.
Service here is always wonderful, food is always great and if you're feeling lazy they deliver. Their lobster bisque is my absolute favorite thing ever.
(5)Gina T.
Amazing service and amazing food!! My friend and I sat at the bar for lunch and the bartender Steven took good care of us. And the manager Louis always came by to make sure everything was ok. I always feel taken care of when I go to Lwoods and the food is amazing! I either get the skirt steak with mashed potatoes and corn or the bbq planked salmon. But all of their food is seriously amazing.
(5)Drake G.
Meet some old friends who work in the area last night for a going a way diner, and boy was I not disappointed.. The atmosphere is a little bit of an older crowd but don't let that sway you, the food is the real star of the show. We started with onion strings and cheese curds. That with our drinks and the bread would've been enough to fill up on, but out extremely courteous waiter brought us out a complimentary flat bread, just because. Excellent service here, can't state that enough. As good as you'll get at any high-end stake joint. We all decided to get a different entree and split everything three ways. We got a full slab of ribs, the brisket, and the Parmesan crusted filet. The ribs were my recommendation, and were excellent. I normally just get their chopped salad (which is also great, but was feeling adventurous, lol) The parmesan filet was melt in your mouth, and the brisket was tender, juicy, and also great. For sides we got the twice baked potato, creamed spinach, and Mac n cheese. They were all fabulous. So much so that before we even finished it we ordered a second helping of of the spinach and Mac n cheese... By the time the waiter came by for coffee and dessert, the food coma's had set it for all three of us, but had there been room I'm sure dessert would have been just as good. Fantastic experience and a good old fashion place in the neighborhood that you shouldn't overlook.
(5)Erin W.
My husband, our three year old and I visited for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was packed. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server, Greg, was incredibly busy but NEVER missed a beat. He took his time to explain specials, answer questions and was very patient with our active little guy. Despite how busy he was, our food and drinks were promptly delivered to us. Food was excellent! I highly recommend for everyone, especially families. If you want incredible service, Ask for Greg.
(5)Jim K.
Have been a frequent guest since they opened. Am lucky they are close to my home so I can enjoy all. Kids have had their picture on the wall for years as part of the kid gang! My go to place for out of town friends for a fabulous representation of Chicago's best. Kudos to Patrick and Danny and the entire staff. Back of the Woods is always fantastic, great way to enjoy LWoods even with their crazy amount of following.
(5)Jacie K.
Thank you Jose A. for reminding my fiancé and I what great food and even better service are all about! There is a reason L Woods is one of the long standing Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Our server Jose A., truly captivated us and made us feel at home. As first time dinners he shared a little history of the restaurant and even treated us to a complimentary flat bread appetizer! Thank you again Jose A. for making our night exceptional!
(5)Marilyn N.
Excellent food, staff, and ambiance. This is always one of our top choices for a great meal. Have enjoyed many special family and holiday gatherings here. We love the creamed spinach as a side dish and they have great salads. We enjoy the Parmesan crusted filet, the the various fish entrees, and of course the deserts.
(5)L M.
Person with me enjoyed the brisket sandwich with cheese potatoes and coleslaw (has horseradish in it). I had a lighter dinner and enjoyed a slice of grasshopper pie for dessert. Place was packed on a Tuesday night. Service was excellent with a good sense of humor. Highly recommended.
(5)Melissa A.
The tomatoe soup is to die for, definitely get a cup at least! One of my favorite restaurants, lots of vegetarian options (not so much vegan). The veggie burger is home made and the best I've ever had, loved by non vegos as well
(5)Debbie I.
I upgraded this review because I received an apology for the way I was treated during a recent visit. Two staff members from L. Woods apologized to me personally which I appreciated very much. However, I did not get any feedback on what was done regarding this employee's treatment of me and the manager just kind of mumbled something like "you could come in for dinner and drinks" on us when I am in town (I recently moved out of the area). I'm thinking, what if I show up and they are like, we don't know anything about that or that manager isn't here anymore or something to that effect. I don't think that was an appropriate solution but it is what it is. I would never order food to go from there ever again but I would consider dining in when I am in town. The food was decent during this visit and everything was cooked right. No complaints on the food really. Although, it's never as good when you carry out as it is when you dine in but everyone was fairly happy with their food.
(3)Cris G.
I've been coming to this place for a while. . Came here for pre mothers day dinner with the kids. . Calamari and the flat bread appetizers were really good. . My kids ordered steak and we're complaining that it was kind of dry .. waiter was nice enough to offer another choice of meal. . The key lime pie here is delicious. . We had a, good dinner and as, always service is great. .
(4)Sarah M.
Went here for an anniversary dinner and would definitely recommend it to anyone craving a great steak. I have been driving past this place for years and have noticed that the sizeable parking lot is consistently packed. After trying to get in without reservations and not wanting to wait that long, we finally made a reservation and had a fantastic dinner. The filet was cooked perfectly to my order, and probably one of the best I've ever had. But, what really made the night was the apple-dessert. Oh wow. You have to order it early since it takes so long to bake, and our server told us that up front, so that's what we did. (It was definitely a share-able portion.) I personally always think it's a good sign when a dessert will take that long. :) The "old supper club" interior as they describe on their website was cozy and a nice place to have a fantastic dinner without having to feel like I needed to wear a LBD and heels. We loved it and will be back for sure.
(5)Mike P.
BRING BACK THE BRISKET NACHOS! Love it here. Cozy vibe and great food. Server Jason provided exceptional service. Did I mention bring back the brisket nachos?
(4)Theresa F.
Anytime I visit a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I expect it to be an experience. The only memorable experience about this place (aside from dining out with my fiance), was the prices we paid for their so-called "supper club"-style food! The decor really isn't really that amazing either. The food was great, but the prices didn't really match up to the quality and preparation of food I expected to receive at an LTY joint. We spent nearly $100 here for two dishes, dessert, and two drinks (both of which were mediocre). Should have just gone to Wildfire if I knew it would amount to that much...
(3)Heather U.
My family and I stopped in for a late night dinner. We arrived a half hour before closing. Not only were we greeted right away but also got a table. Usually most restaurants are in a hurry as they are getting ready to close. But Greg, our server treated us the same as if we were their first customers in the door. He made sure we had enough to drink and if we needed anything else to let him know. Always a great place to eat anytime of the day!
(5)B S.
This just isn't that good. I love all the lettuce entertain you options except this one. We were really disappointed. I just don't think the quality of food is up to par with other lettuce entertain you spots.
(1)Cassandra F.
I was really hoping not to be disappointed at my dining experience at L. Woods. I made an online reservation, which was easy and made seating easy on a Friday. We were sat in a large table for my group, which felt a little in the middle of the traffic zone. The food was average supper club fare. Nothing to write home about. Fish was ordered as well as some of other staples like prime rib. Disappointed the traditional relish tray was not brought out. After our unenthusiatic dinner, the icing on the cake was the overall environment that felt lacking, which was followed up my the owner brushing past us and almost running us over with his car instead of asking us how we enjoyed his establishment. It was our first experience at this restaurant and I have eaten at his other establishments. It was a sour note. I would say that if you are in the area then you can give it a shot, but it's not going to remain on my top destination lists.
(2)Beth R.
Everyone has a reason to like L. Woods. And by "everyone" I really do mean human beings from all walks of life: senior people, business people, big-boned people, celebrity people, people who hunt, and me. I can hypothesize about what the rest like, but I will speak only for myself. First and foremost, they make one of the best veggie burgers in the world. The menu has many tempting options for lunch or dinner (flatbreads, salmon, etc.), but I usually crawl back, on my hands and knees, to that veggie burger. It's big, it's homemade, has a good ratio of veg to grain, and it has a tomato pesto spread that makes my mouth happier than any Twizzler could. The desserts cover all your classic dessert bases: chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, ice cream and brownie sundaes. They're heavy and rich and if you've wondered until this point why there's dark wood paneling and dim lighting, you will know when you're finished. No one wants to make eye contact with anyone else until the evidence of gluttony is removed. Also, take note. The portions are, eh, how you say, generous. If done correctly, you can make two meals from one, and still leave feeling satisfied. If done incorrectly, you will feel uncomfortable with yourself and will swear to never touch that pre-meal onion bread again. But you know yourself and you wouldn't be able to leave it alone if you were restrained like Hannibal Lecter. The only thing food-wise that doesn't mesh for me is the fries. They seem like Ore-Ida crinkle-cuts, which is noticeable in a place where everything else seems homemade. The service is professional and the servers wear white dress shirts, black bottoms and sometimes French braids. It's simple, gracious and courteous; in a word: adult. In fact, the whole atmosphere is grown-up but unpretentious. No one's going to L. Woods so they can impress their co-workers on Monday. But, no one's going to L. Woods in an Ed Hardy t-shirt either. L. Woods manages to be a pretty great place for a wide range of people. What, like it's hard?
(4)Em P.
Fantastic food.. fantastic service. (Billy the server is just awesome)! We started off with the pesto/mushroom flatbread. It was so light but had so much flavor. For our entrees, I had the half slab of ribs and he had the chicken/rib combo. The meat literally fell off the bone. I figured the food would be good cause Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants always have quality but this place was different then the rest. Its supper club vibe was warm and inviting and i can definitely see us going back to this place very very soon.
(5)Sonia B.
L. Woods, where have you been all my life? Thank you for just being plain good. Good service, good quality, good food, and good atmosphere. I hadn't heard of Wisconsin Supper Clubs before coming here, and I have to admit, it is quite the concept! I had the Fried Chicken Dinner special-5 crispy, golden-brown, pieces of heaven. Oh, and did I mention it came with 2 sides? It was enough food to last me a week, but hey, I'm not complaining! L. Woods is on the pricier side, but a solid place to come for a nice dinner out without any fluff!
(4)Irene C.
Visited L Woods this past Sunday night and the place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation. For the food, we started with the Fresh Mushroom Flatbread and the Cheese Curds. Loved the flatbread, crust was thin and über crispy. The cheese curds were also very good, but I've had better in the past. These definitely did get out the craving. For entree, I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Cod, which is served with a lemon-butter sauce that made the dish amazing. With the sauce, 5 stars, without, 3-4. Sauce gave it that special something. My husband had the ribs and chicken, which were dry rubbed, no sauce. I tried the chicken and it was some of the best flavored chicken I have had. Skin was full of spices and the chicken itself was so moist. Would highly recommend. I didn't try the ribs, but my husband said they were a little chewier, not fall of the bone. For dessert, we did the classic Apple Strudel. Enough to feed a family of 10. The thing is huge! Very crispy outside with lots of apple filling. The only thing I would do differently is maybe made the crust a little thicker to balance the amount of filling. Other than that, it was fantastic and hit the spot. Service, perfect! Will definitely be back here soon!
(4)Nevin H.
Love the food and have been going for almost 10 years, unfortunately their prices are going up pretty quickly. $10 drinks, $25 entree's, I'm in the process of looking for another neighborhood "spot". I have a family of 4 and they are now really too expensive to take my family to. They do a very good business with older people and when the other people go away they're not gonna have much of a younger crowd because of their greedy pricing. As a $$$ its a 5 star and as a $$ It's a 2 star
(2)Eric V.
I remember when this place was still called Bones, and can't recall eating here since then either. In the middle of the Lenten season, I caught wind of a special Friday night Wisconsin supper club menu and thought it might be time to pop my head in once more. To start, allow me to quote the wise Jerry Seinfeld... "See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them." 25 minutes after our reservation time (without even being told there would be a wait, mind you) we were finally seated. Is 25 minutes an inordinate amount of time at the end of the day? Likely not. Still, it's all about the principle. We started off on the wrong foot, but our meal got progressively better from there. A $5 Wisconsin Old Fashioned helped take the edge off, and some warm onion loaves and butter got us back on track. Our order of lightly breaded Fried Cheese Curds hit the table and, let's be honest, how can you not like deep fried cheese? Well I suppose there are the lactose intolerant but I digress. By the time our two plates of Schlitz Beer Battered Fried Haddock hit the table we were pretty content. The plate came with a side of potato pancakes that were too dense and heavy, but I was more than happy to focus my efforts on the generous portion of fresh, tasty haddock. The decor is log cabin chic and most of the clientele are extremely life experienced (that is, old). It is Lincolnwood after all so that kind of comes with the territory. What could have ended up as another reason not to dine here for another decade was ultimately salvaged by our pleasant server and some solid eats. It might not be too soon before my next dinner here, but perhaps not too long either.
(4)Melissa F.
L Woods pretty much has everything going for it. Let's start with the atmosphere! L Woods feels like a classy old-school Wisconsin hunting lodge, I guess minus the taxidermy, which I hardly missed. The cozy - but oversized - corner booths deserve special mention...just what we needed! Sadly, the waiter started off on the wrong foot with us. I know many people like being told they look young, so maybe I'm just weird, but he kept going on and on about it - not just how I didn't look old enough to drink, but then how I looked younger, and then how I looked as young as his 9-year-old daughter. Gee thanks mister! And then I apparently look "different" from the scant 1.5 years it's been since I got my new license; out of many people who have looked at my license for age verification, only one other person ever has said this. Finally the heavens opened up somehow and I was allowed to enjoy some pinot noir! It was delicious. I saw that they were advertising marked-up versions of Whole Foods house brand wine, e.g. the pinot grigio, so caveat emptor, Yelperzzz. The tomato bisque is definitely creamy, but it's of course delicious and deserves to be a signature item. My dad loved his vegetable soup. When more people arrived, we got a mushroom flatbread, which was wonderfully crispy (almost too thin of a crust)...and we were pleasantly surprised by pesto. Jackpot! I got the chopped salad sans bleu cheese. It was amazing - and humungous, probably the largest salad I've ever seen (Rockit being a close second). I could not finish it, but I loved what I ate. If I had to nitpick, I'd put in some more ingredients to make it more exciting, like some avocado! But it was still an incredible salad, and at a steaks-and-ribs place like this, it's great to see that salad is not an afterthought! By the end of the meal, I was stuffed, especially since I had a bite of someone else's amazingly creamy mashed potatoes, no doubt enhanced by the crust that the oven supplied. And the waiter was fine and was probably just trying to be friendly and/or funny, but I think it's nice to ease up on the guess-your-age form of small talk.
(4)Patrick O.
A big fan. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because you have to wait a while for your order. I put that down to the fact they are always crowed and the food is excellent. Other than that small inconvenience, one of the finest and we have no Problem driving past many good restaurants to get to " the L Woods"
(4)Amy G.
We've been there three times and the other two times the food was great, but last night I had the sirloin and it was HORRIBLE. I mean, pretty much inedible. It was all chopped up and almost like a meatloaf consistency - that wouldn't even have been terrible except it was also burnt. Badly. But it seems like that's just the way it's cooked because a woman at the table next to us got it as well and my husband overheard her saying hers was terrible too. According to reviews on here the skirt steak is good and just a few dollars more. Go with that instead. Or the ribs. Or the cod. Really, anything but that awful sirloin.
(3)Caroline A.
Their cocktails and wines are awful. You have been warned. However the food... fantastic. Get the Sesame Crusted Tilapia and Pork Ribs. I am also a big fan of their Calamari. Confession: I had some of their fries. I'm still feeling guilty about that one, but it was worth it!
(4)Dave O.
Not enough restaurants like this. Literally. When we arrived there were people everywhere waiting for a table. In the foyer, bar, parking lot. Usually a sign of good food and that held true in this case. Dutifully put our name in and hung out in the bar. Dim lighting, wood paneling, old-school feel, and Schlitz was on tap, but they also had a decent selection of micro-brews. Cold beer in hand, the wait wasn't terrible and our group got to eyeball what people were eating. The ribs and fried chicken seemed popular and once seated that is exactly what our table got, along with one parmesean-crusted filet. Nothing green or vegetable-like hit our table all night, though they did offer a tableside chopped salad. That fried chicken was better than good. Juicy but not greasy, even the big chicken breast was perfectly cooked. I'd go back for that dish. I regret not trying the ribs but everyone said they were excellent. Looks like they don't really need my recommendation but for what it's worth: 4 stars!
(4)Melanie S.
L Woods has always been a reliable, consistent restaurant. My family has been coming here since it was "Bones", back in the 70s. The atmosphere is a "faux" Wisconsin supper club, with wood paneling and fish plastered on the wall. Not a big fan of the decor, but I can live with it. As others have mentioned, this place is full of older people - my mom, who's no spring chicken herself, commented that she'd never seen so many walkers per square foot in her life, with the exception of a nursing home or a bingo game. The food is decent and there's enough of a variety that everyone in your party will find something - there's salads, barbecue items, fish, burgers, sandwiches, you name it. This is why it's such a destination for group dining. There are always large parties here. In fact, the last time I was here, the entire table next to us got ribs and when the server went to check on them, they all smiled with their orange faces and meat in their teeth. It was kinda gross, come to think of it. Watching people eat ribs will convince even the strongest of doubters that we evolved from primates. The service is always pleasant and might I add, PATIENT. With an older clientele, it's a given that service has to be adjusted accordingly, and the servers at L Woods always go above and beyond. Bottom line: L Woods serves up standard, American fare, with reasonable prices, ample portions, and good service. It's always consistently consistent. Sometimes that's all you're looking for in a restaurant, and this place is just that.
(4)Frank T.
-Would've got 5 stars but the Chinese food is disappointing and I feel really unnecessary -The tradition menu is outstanding we order it at least twice a week. -Flat breads A+ -Burgers A+ -Ribs A+ -BBQ Chicken A+ - Carry out staff is great except for one
(4)Diablo L.
Love the ribs here,very tender, also the creamed spinach is very good and went very well with my ribs..
(3)Ronald K.
One of the best places to dine in all of Chicago. The baby back ribs are soooo tasty, try em once and you will be going back to L Woods over and over again.. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy. A delicious chopped steak, incredible flavor, moist juicy and tender. No one makes it better, hmm that can be said for the ribs as well....The waitress and waiter staff are top notch, simply great. Nice décor and bar as well.
(5)Nicole S.
I know this is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which might make you think chain and less authentic but they nailed it. This is all that is wonderful and cliche of a 60's supper club including the well poured martinis and the jalapeno bacon cheese and Ritz crackers they passed around in the bar area while waiting for a table. I could have eaten a whole tray of those. My steak was perfect, the sides were fantastic. The noise level was perfect and the service was on point. Their wine list included plenty of decent varietals that were both tasty and well priced ie you aren't paying $75 for a bottle of Boones Farm. My only complaint (I wasn't alone in this) was the main dining room was really chilly for a Saturday night in December. Like they had the AC going cool, not like they just had the thermostat low. I wrapped up in my scarf and toughed it out and skipped desert in lieu of my fireplace at home. But there were plenty of other ladies who asked to move due to the chill in the air. Not sure if that's apart of the supper club theme that they are going for. But minus that I'd go again any day I'm craving a steak and martini. I'll just be sure to bring my mittens.
(4)ben w.
I had dinner here last night, wonderful food. This place reminded me of places I would go 30 years ago with my parents, dark, easy going and modestly decorated. Unlike those places the food here is up to modern day standards for sure. Chopped salad was a great way to start. I got the half chicken half slab dinner, it was excellent, but my father in law got the beef ribs and they looked amazing. I have had beef ribs before, good but kind of greasy. Not these, they were cooked just right. Great food, great portions and kid friendly. Hit it!
(5)Debbie S.
I grew up in Wisconsin and was always a fan of the up north Supper Clubs that I used to frequent as a child. L Woods reminds me of those places -- just with better food. If you plan on eating here at any reasonable dinner hour (i.e. between 7-9), you should make a reservation. Now that we have a little one at home, we tend to go at 5 or 5:30 -- and yet, I continue to make reservations. L. Woods has a large menu. Every time I look at it though, I laugh, because on the "Lighter Fare", a hamburger and fries is listed. Now I love to eat with the best of them...but I would never consider a hamburger lighter fare. Anyway...the burgers are good, the flatbreads are good, the salads are good...but I always save room for the special warm chocolate cake that you have to order when you order your dinner because it takes about 40 minutes to make. The cake oozes out chocolate (and you get a whole cake -- this is definitely a dessert for the table) and it comes with a large side of homemade whipped cream. We always end up taking most of it home...and it's still really good the next day. L. Woods is a great option if you have a bigger group or a group where everyone has different tastes --because there is something on the menu for everyone. Children are welcomed here (which can make it a bit loud sometimes) but it's a nice option for a large family meal that is reasonably priced. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Risto D.
The only negative thing I can say about this place is the cold butter that they bring with the warm bread roll as soon as they sat you down. a room temperature butter would be a much better option.
(4)Johanna C.
This place gets very busy most nights, so I recommend getting a reservation. I came here with a group of six, and even though we had a reservation, we still waited for 5-10 minutes. Once we were seated though, we had a great time! It is a very large restaurant, with a great atmosphere and friendly and helpful service. Will definitely be back here! The food: Pulled Pork Sandwich- I ordered this and really loved it. I have had many pulled pork sandwhich and this was juicy and held up to some of the best that I've had. Baked Mac and Cheese- Shared this with my sister, and clearly it was one of their specialties. Would definitely order it again whenever I return. Ribs- My husband ordered these and I tried some. They were very tasty and my husband gave them his stamp of approval.
(4)Joe K.
Great great ribs. Great vibe. My dad and I really enjoyed our dinner.
(4)Jim E.
Can't recommend this place enough!! The ribs, steak, and prime rib are the best. Don't forget to order an apple burrito when you order. ( apple strudel )
(5)Carol L.
Looked like a bar from the outside but the foods are awesome. I LOVED their beef ribs, the best I had so far. Everything is good there, make sure you order the apple strudel for dessert, each one is freshly baked. I haven't had anything that have been disppointing... I wish it's a little closer to where I live and this restaurant is highly recommended if you're in the Lincolnwood area.
(5)Jinx T.
An Easy Place To Be L. Woods is an excellent restaurant. The design is a throwback to another era - and this enhances the experience - giving the place a whimsical cool. Food is standard American fare - chopped salad - steaks - burgers - ribs - pot roast - fried chicken - fish - mashed potatoes - green vegetables. You get the idea. I've eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. The fish is always excellent - the almond crusted walleye has become a favorite, along with the cod. Desserts are portioned large - best to share. You'll find things like a gold brick sundae, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and fruit crumbles with ice cream. One thing the restaurant suffers from in is a rather average and limited wine list. However the wines are decent enough and priced well. Service is great too. Eat here! You will not be disappointed and want to return again soon. Highly Recommended!
(4)Luke S.
I went here for the first time since I was 17 and I now wonder why it took me 10 years to come back here! This place is phenomenal and it's country style cooking. They have all of the comfort food that your heart desires. My family and I came here for our Easter feast and we ordered family style. We went with the chopped salad, fried chicken, dry seasoned ribs, and a steak. They were all cooked to perfection and popping with flavor. As sad as it is I think my favorite was the fried chicken. Every bite was oozing with flavor. I felt like I was on an episode of man vs. food. Do the Melman's ever do it wrong?
(5)Sonia S.
Very good food. I had the half slab of beef ribs and the half chicken, the day before Christmas. I heard that L. Woods had great gluten-free rolls and my busboy went out of his was to get them for me. The ribs were outstanding; meaty, tender, and with a delicious bbq sauce that was both sweet and tangy. Now, unfortunately I am going to report on what I didn't like. I ordered roasted carrots and although they were good, they were served cold. I could not believe it! The chicken could have been cooked for a longer period of time. Also, my waitress forgot to bring me my coke and after she did, when my meal was halfway eaten, she did not offer me a free refill. I've been to other Lettuce Entertain You establishments and each one did offer me a free refill of pop. I will definitely return because I love all the LEYE restaurants.
(4)Mariam K.
I LOVE L Woods! I'm not much of a meat eater, well I love burgers... but that's usually where I draw the line, I went there a couple of days ago for the first time and fell in love with it! We went in without making reservations on a Friday night.. so of course, there was a 45 minute wait (we only ended up having to wait about 20 minutes).. I was starving but decided to stick around anyway... and I'm glad I did! We got served bread while we were waiting on our food, which was amazing, I love places that give you something to snack on while you're waiting for your food! We ordered beef brisket nachos... which were the best tasting nachos I've ever had! For my main course I ordered beef ribs... I was a bit hesitant because it seemed a bit too messy for me but I read so much about the ribs that I was dying to try them. Let me just tell you.. the were the best ribs EVER... I wasn't even worried about how messy and dirty my fingers were! LOVED LOVED LOVED the taste, seasoning, and texture of it! Unfortunately I ate too much and couldn't order any dessert... but I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)Allison C.
We went here for my mom's birthday dinner. It's an old-school, northwoods-style joint with wood paneling, fish and antlers on the wall, and maroon booths, very kitsch. The portions are HUGE! I had mahogany chicken, which was juicy and nicely spiced. My dad had beef ribs, which looked like a meal fit for Barney Rubble. My husband, brother, and granny had buttermilk battered fried chicken. It was very good, not with quite the same seasonings that we enjoy at our favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, but still very good. For dessert, they brought out a WHOLE apple strudel and a WHOLE chocolate volcano cake. The volcano cake is a chocolate orgasm in your mouth. The melty warm chocolate bursts in your mouth. The strudel was nice and flaky. Excellent liquor and beer selection. It's not far from the city, we would come back.
(5)Mne M.
I love loveeee this place service is always very good and attentive nice and clean. They have the best Ribs when I eat light I usually get the tomatoe bisque soup which is soooo good and the Chicken Cesar salad with that I always order the small salad because the large is really big and could feed like 3 people. They also have really good wings. Yummmm I can't wait to go there again!!!
(5)Nancy H.
Whoa. How come I hadn't heard about this place? Our party of 4 made reservations here on a Sunday night, and we were taken promptly. This place was a madhouse of happy families and cheerful waiters. I was told this is typical and is the reason why you need to make reservations. The second thing you ought to know is that portions are LARGE, and the menu is very meat-oriented. We shared the chopped salad, some type of flatbread, and I couldn't even finish half of my main entree after that. Two people can share a meal because all entrees comes with fries or a giant baked potato that is huge enough to share also. The ribs are fantastic. Full slabs are $23. The beef ribs are like oh-my-god. Have you ever seen beef ribs?? 1 rib was almost the size of my forearm. I had a burger ($10), and I couldn't even finish half of it because I was too happy enjoying the fries and over sized baked potato. Everything was cooked perfectly. We ended our meal with 1 giant slice of delicious chocolate cake, and I was ready to be rolled out of there. Seriously, don't come here if you're on a diet. Takeaways: 1) Make reservations 2) Portions are large 3) Wear fat pants
(4)Melissa K.
What a great place! Very friendly service and really great food. Rids were the best I have had since Memphis! Just that the parking lot sucks! Don't let that stop you from having a really great meal!
(5)Mike G.
Ordered delivery from here today. First I got a phone call telling me their menu was not up to date on GrubHub so they'd have to charge me more. Then when the food got here it was not the right order on 2 of the items and everything was cold and had been misshandled so it was messy inside the containers. All this after a $5.00 Delivery charge + Tip The flat bread was very disappointing. It is THIN THIN THIN. As in fall apart when you pick it up. All the cheese on our slid to about two pieces and left the rest a dry pesto covered mess. The second flat bread was mushroom instead of oven-dried tomato. So we didn't both eating it. Before ordering we called to confirm the Soup of the Day and were told it was harvest cheddar. When the order arrived it was some kind of vegetable soup. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was extremely wet and split open from transit. The Roasted Mahogany chicken did not come on chibata bread as advertised but on a toasted and soggied bun. Finally. The friest I got with my sandwich were awesome. Not enough to make up for all the other horrible things. But good none the less. Will NEVER order from or dine out here again.
(1)Carol K.
Driving in a blustery winter snowstorm, I once again came across L Woods (this place must call out to me in January as I have never been here in any of the Summer months) Well on this snowy, Friday night- this place was hopping! Not a spot in the lot to park in (there is plenty of free parking on the street) and a line out the door for a table. Good thing we were fine eating and drinking at the bar. Service was good and the food was even better. I had a a dinner salad and then split the burger and a baked potato with my friend. The burger came topped with grilled onions, tomato, lettuce and some kind of "special sauce" that was quite tasty. Given it's location, L Woods is never going to be a frequent destination for me. It's almost like driving to Wisconsin (and the ambiance reminds me of the supper clubs up there) But judging by all the people there on this snowy night- they have quite the following . . . .even without me!
(4)Rob W.
I give a place 4 or 5 stars if I definitely plan or want to go back. This place - I would, but I'm not going to make a big effort. It's OK - I just don't understand why people think the food is sooooooo great. It was very average to me. We were seated fairly promptly and within a reasonable time of our reservation - which was good given that my mom was with us and can't stand and wait too long anymore. The waiter asked us if it was our first time there, and after we told him it was, he brought us a complementary flatbread appetizer, nice touch! The service was very good and attentive - kudos on that. I ordered the pot roast (which was the evening's special) and it was fair at best. Other than the carrots that came with it, there wasn't much to rant or rave about. The portionwas small - average and the presentation was very lackluster. I also ordered the mac and cheese as it looked like it might be good -0 but it was nothing special at all. In fact, I had to send it back to get it heated up - part of it was actually cold. The rest of my family was OK with their orders - my brother ordered ribs and he said they were ok - but not as good as another place where he's had them that doesn't specialize in BBQ to the extent that L. Woods does. The waiter also brougfht out a small dish of ice cream with toppings to me for my birthday - another nice touch.Based on the service / friendliness of the place, I'd like to give it 4 stars - but the food just won't let me. Just too mediocre. I'm glad I tried L. Woods to see what the bustle was about - just wish I left there knowing why there is one.
(3)Fred F.
excellent meatloaf and generally well prepared food at reasonable prices. usually very busy so don't expect to breeze in and out but certainly worth the short wait.
(4)Rhonda G.
Have you ever been to a small town and they only have one "nice" restaurant in the entire town? On a Friday night you can literally find the whole town at that one place with the family in tow. This place definitely had that feel about it. The dining room was big and casual and seemingly family friendly. Rustic, if you Will. Is this your first time here? yes Well here's one of our signature flat-bread appetizers as a welcome to L. Woods. Why, thank you. It was a BBQ chicken pesto. In my mind those flavors don't mesh well but they made it work. A lovely "recession special" came in the form of a $10 bottle of wine supposedly hand picked by Alpana Singh (from Check Please and a well known Sommelier) I was pretty full after the flat bread and basket of bread they brought out but how tacky would it be to just eat the free stuff and leave? So I ordered an awesome turkey burger. How awesome? Well it ranks in my top 5 ! I got a bake potato side and it came out with little sides of all the fixins'. I also had the opportunity to try my bf's mashed potatoes...melt in your mouth fantastic and totally unhealthy! I'm digging the to-go bag for half finished bottles of wine. No more chugging the remains and leaving drunk...unless that is your goal of course. We got a slice of key lime pie to enjoy at home later and it was just OK. A bit overkill on the lime flavor but the crust was tasty.
(5)Edward W.
Very popular and always crowded. Great decor! Upscale northwoods supper club experience. It's a fun dining experience. Service is always good and the food is consistently very good. I like the ribs here. I get them well done. Desserts good also.
(4)t. o.
What a wonderful experience. My wife chose L Woods for our 5th wedding anniversary; we've driven by it many times, and it seemed to do great business. It looked like it would have a unique, old school vibe, and considering the 5th is the "wood anniversary"... The inside was even better than out - antler chandeliers, etc (place looks extra authentic in Hipstamatic photos on your iPhone.) She'd mentioned in a note that accompanied our reservation request that it was our anniversary, and why we'd chosen them. Explaining our short wait, they said they'd reserved a huge corner booth for us, that could have sat 8 on this incredibly busy Friday night; considering the decor, we felt like Frank and Ava circa 1962 or something, with a great view of the main dining room. Our waiter, Damian, was awesome, funny, and attentive. The manager, Terry, came by a number of times to congratulate us and check on how we were liking everything. Who does this anymore? Cocktails were great - knock you on your ass Manhattans, and great specialty Old Fashions. We started with the chop salad, which was fresh and well prepared. The small is great for two or three. Wife especially chose L Woods for the fried lake perch (her childhood fave, and increasingly rare), which came with house-made fries, and obviously freshly prepared tartar sauce. Great batter, and cooked to perfection. I love whitefish, which I was unfamiliar with until moving to Chicago a few years ago. This was the best I've had - even better than Shaw's, which I've found has about the best old-school fish and sea food in town. Great cream sauce - not too heavy. I had to get the creamed spinach, a favorite from my childhood that NO ONE seems to know how to make decently anymore. It was, like everything else, cooked to perfection. Not overdone - still fresh seeming, and delicious. Of course we had to try the apple strudel - not only was it delicious, but they also brought out a piece of their banana cream pie with a candle, both of them comped to us. Are you kidding me? Both were great, especially slathered in the extra caramel sauce provided. Of course we tipped in kind, and are guaranteed to return, with friends. Prices are on the high end of moderate, but worth it to have what promises to be predictably delicious food. We simply had a fantastic meal, and memorable special occasion.
(5)Jessica N.
Can I say wow! the food is great! Especially the BBQ. Great service as well! And the last time we were given a complimentary appetizer. I do have to say that the wait can be quite long though. If you're in a time crunch or really hungry..this isn't the place. The first time I waited about 40 minutes. We were so close to leaving but we stuck it out since I had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card that I had to use. The second time wasnt too bad but still about a 15 minute wait. Overall I give this place a 4. Not too shabby for what's in that area!
(4)Monica H.
Busy place! Always a good place for meat lovers (Sat prime rib, beef ribs), and my spicy, crusted tilapia was a nice treat. You can't leave a Lettuce restaurant hungry with the portion sizes, but if the vege of the day is Brussel sprouts with pear and caramelized onion do save room. Best to go with a group to share sides and desserts.
(3)Michael H.
Really cool old "Supper Club" just on the outskirts of the City!! Basically an old Inn that was taken over by Lettuce many years ago... Inside, It's Dark/ Wood Paneling/Northwoods Trinkets/ And many photos on the walls! Place is HUGE with at least 4 dining rooms as well as a large bar, also ALWAYS Busy. The food is very good with the "Walleye Bites" Appetizer a MUST TRY ITEM!! The rest of the menu is Steak and Fish heavy with the "Parmesan Crusted Skirt Steak" a standout. The staff is what really makes this place/ The bartenders are simply amazing! One of them has even been there 45 years... Also the Managers/Owners are always on hand to make sure things are Run RIGHT!! GTFJD
(4)Matt P.
Skirt steak is to die for. Parmesan and Peppercorn crusted
(5)matt w.
Went for lunch at 130pm on a Saturday. It was pretty busy but we got a table right away. 18 minutes later we still had not see our waitress. We considered just leaving or going up to the bar to drink and dine when i smiled at a waitress in hopes she would be ours.. she wasn't, but she obliged and took our drink order anyway. Finally our waitress appeared and dove right in with some cockney, sorry excuse for banter type server BS.. we had some questions on the menu and she pretended to know what she was talking about but it was obvious she didn't.. we needed a minute to decipher ( which was a mistake on our part.. ). 5-10 mins later and still no sign of the server, we pleaded with the blond server to take our food order.. again she obliged but you could tell she wasn't stoked about picking up the slack for someone else. Anyway, I hate bad service, i just really hate it... and sitting there finished with a lackluster meal and empty drinks for 10 minutes during lunch is just unacceptable. We literally spent just under 2 hours there just for lunch ( 1 drink for me and 2 for my friend.. 2 hours! ). So - Service is 2 stars only because of the nice blond server that saved our asses The reason they get a little boost in total stardom is due to the food and drinks being decent. The nachos with beef roast on them are not great, its like diced up beef roast ( not like nice big shaved off chunks like you would expect ) The beef ribs were good but my buddy is really not picky.. I had the chicken pot pie, it was a 3/5. not great but not bad. overall L. Woods barely squeaks by with 3 stars.
(3)Jacob J.
White linen tablecloth, proper heavy flatware for cutting into meat, smoky old rich man like interior. I came for the meat, ribs that is. On the expensive side but better than average. Not something I'd go out of my way for often, but it appeals to many. L Woods has been around for a long time, before them was "Bones" and I loved the food of that time. A couple that is here for dinner and drinks could easily expect a bill of around sixty to seventy dollars. It's an understatement to say that they are always busy, best to call ahead.
(4)Dan D.
This place is a hand's down favorite of mine for a long time. Basically anything you order off the menu is bound to be tasty, filling, and amazing. Of course, there are some exceptions - aka, ones that are OUT OF THIS WORLD fantastic that you have to try once before dying (or leaving the restaurant lol).... and here is that list. 1. Tomato Bisque soup - this tasty little guy is the cheaper items on the whole menu ($3.25 cup / $4.25 bowl). But I'd gladly pay $10 because it is that good. Unlike the cafeteria style you had back in school (tastes like spaghettio's), L. Wood's has a sweet zing that is very creamy. The tomatoes really come out in the soup. Quite frankly, it's heaven in a soup. 2. Chopped Salad - signature item. ($9.99 small / $13.99 large for 4 people). Loaded with blue cheese, noodles, light and dark lettuce, carrots, plus just the right amount of their house dressing. The best salad dressing this side of the Mississippi! 3. BBQ ribs ($25.99 full slab) - these literally fall off the bone. Yup, that tender. Put away that knife and fork, because you won't be needing them here. 4. Veggie Burger - very good, very nice for a veggie burger. Handmade here, not prepackaged, reheated frozen ones... so definitely a big plus! And it is tasty as heck for the days you don't want meat, and for the non-meat eaters in our lives. And LASTLY, 5. Gooey Chocolate Cake ($10.99) - you order this at the start of your meal because it takes 45 minutes to bake. Each one is baked to order too! It comes to your table with a nice crispy outer shell, topped with whipped cream. But as you cut into it with a fork, the gooey cake is revealed. Chocolate to the extreme. A fat kid's paradise on a plate (I know because of experience). Cheers!
(4)Megan G.
I've driven past L Woods for years and never given it much thought. It's tucked away in a strange little corner of Lincolnwood between a pool and a bank. When a friend suggested it for recent girl's dinner (close to her house, on the way home from work for me) I figured it was a better alternative that our other suburban mall choices. When I pulled into the L Woods parking lot at 6 on a Wednesday I was shocked - it was completely packed. If I can offer one piece of L Woods advice it's this: make reservations. No matter when you're going, even if you think you don't need them - make reservations. Fortunately my friend had done so on a whim - otherwise they were running at waits for 45 minutes to an hour for tables of 2. The inside of L Woods is probably nostalgic for any kid whose family forced them to take summer vacations in the Wisconsin wilderness. Lots of stuffed fish on the paneled walls (including a Northern Pike I identified as being identical to the one in my grandparents' living room). The place had a pleasant buzz, but it wasn't so loud I couldn't hear my friend. I opted for the veggie burger and a cup of corn chowder to start. The chowder was quite good, but the veggie burger was merely okay. It largely lacked flavor (and yes, veggie burgers CAN have flavor) and was extremely mushy - it fell completely apart and had to be eaten with a fork. My friend had a coupon that made our final bill incredibly reasonable but overall I wasn't that impressed. I think next time we'll meet at Cheesecake Factory.
(3)Rachel H.
Holy Crap. This place should be called " Thisiswhyyourefat.com Restaurant". Maybe they got a little out of hand with the log cabin lodge look and thought Paul Bunyan was comin' to supper? I do not know, but it took me three days to eat my dinner. Why on earth? Anyway, I shall regale you with my tall (fat) tale. I showed up here with some LEYE gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket, and hunger burning a hole in my belly. I started out with a Jack and Cherry Coke which is actually on the menu (!) and the french onion soup. Now, I could have been done after the soup, quite honestly. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach, but I plowed onward and ordered the fried chicken special. Meanwhile, having heard it was our first time, the manager stopped by with a complimentary BBQ chicken flatbread to enhance the experience. Oh, it did. When my chicken came, I gasped. It was a pile of chicken so huge, and full of pieces so huge, I was a little terrified. Then I saw the baked potato. It was the size of Mr Potatohead. Why did they have to kill him? Why????? I made it through some of the potato (RIP) and one chicken thigh. The rest had to come home with me. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, I laughed in her face. I'll be back to try more huge entrees which will very economically feed me for several days. Also, there's "wood" in the name which is obviously my newest theme.
(4)Jonathan C.
I don't know how I didn't review this restaurant before. My dad has been taking me to this joint back when it was called Bones. And he was going there back when it had a different name. Its been quite a while since I went there, but its always exactly what you'd expect. Good old man supper club style food, and way way way too much of it. Last time I went there, I split the beef ribs with my wife while my dad had a brisket sandwich and his HS buddy had some bbq beef sandwich. On a side note, I always like whiskey... but when I turned 21 in college and came back home, there was a time when my parents took me here. Being 21 and at this joint, I needed a stiff drink. I decided to go for a Rusty Nail and discovered the amazing mixed drink of whiskey and whiskey on the rocks.
(4)Natalie S.
My husband and I agreed that we need to dine out in the burbs more often because of the big ass, free parking lots. They are fantastic. However... our dining experience was just about... meh. The highlights: The chopped salad. Delicious. I wish there was some egg in there but, oh well. Creamed spinach was yum. Mac and cheese was super cheesy and tasty. The cons: It's supposed to be a steakhouse... so I ordered beef. I got the peppered sirloin tips, rare. I suspect it came out of the kitchen rare but became medium after sitting under a heat lamp for 10 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I hate, hate, hate sending food back to the kitchen but my husband and I are on a budget and try not to eat out often. I don't want to waste $24 on steak I didn't even enjoy. So I sent it back. I got a piping hot, rare steak back. My husband and our friend both very much enjoyed their meals. But then again, they're good eaters. I had someone ask me when I talked about L. Woods, "how can you complain and only give it 3 stars because you ordered something and eventually got a delicious meal?". Because I just don't think I should ever have to send food back to get it the way I ordered it.
(3)Erica D.
L Woods is our favorite neighborhood spot. We go as a family and my husband and I go for date night. Not fancy but the food is always so good. I drink a gallon of their tomato soup and their fish fry on Fridays are more like a party with friends. You always see people from the neighborhood and the service is always friendly.
(4)Trisha B.
Came here tonight for my birthday dinner and another chicken dinner. I thought it was good the first time, the second time was fabulous. Not sure if it could have been better than the first. The pieces were huge and all I had was the wing and drumstick and half of my mashed potato and it was enough. The only thing was it was a bit cold in there. They probably hadn't turned the air off yet. There were a lot of people that had jackets on. But no reflection on the food. As Guy Fieri says.."Winner, winner chicken dinner!!" My 5 year old niece had the chicken tenders and loves it so much she wants to go back 100 more times to be in the kids club!! We'll be back again!
(4)Jimmy W.
So I've been here like 4-5 times but always sat at the bar ordering burgers of some sort. Service was always ok since there was a bartender there to keep tabs on how you're doing. It's been a while since I've been here and today was a disappointment in all departments especially service... Ordered Peppercorn wings, juicy with good flavor, could have been cooked a bit longer for the skin to firm up a bit, ok fine. Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Very thick batter that just slides off the chicken. So you take a bite of chicken, then a bite of batter so you get both in the same "bite". Flavor is fine but overall a fried chicken failure IMO. Maybe the baby back ribs are better... I got the "DryRub" which didn't seem to have any rub on them at all, pretty flavorless. I did get a 2oz cup of BBQ sauce on the side which is good for 1/4 of the slab... For $28 I'll pass. The worst part of the whole 60 minutes of time spent there was the crap service. After placing the initial order the only time we saw the waiter again was when he brought out the food. No drink refills, no asking how things were, zero, zilch, nada! (Wait, he refilled my water, but not my iced tea or ask if I wanted another drink from the bar, I'm usually good for 3-4) Even when he brought the food he never asked us anything?! He basically said here ya go and walked away! The guy who bagged our leftovers was more helpful! There were 3 other servers standing around talking but they seemed to have no problem taking care of their tables...? Maybe our waiter was the bartender & chef as well, maybe he had to valet some cars, oh wait they don't have valet service. Who know what he was doing, but whatever it was he wasn't taking care of his table! I HATE POOR SERVICE !!!!! And they were NOT busy at all...
(2)Maria A.
Came here the other day with my boyfriend and another. I was excited because the Wednesday night special is breaded pork tenderloin with fresh corn off the cob, mashed potatoes, apple sauce. It's my absolute favorite dish! My dinner mates had the roasted chicken, the BBQ beef bones, and the burger. Everyone seemed happy with their choices. Michael, our server, was super nice until the end when his "peppiness" abruptly ended but it might have been shared fault since we had been engaging in a witty banter over my Moscow Mule being served in a mason jar instead of a copper mug like the last time I had it. That was really my only disappointment with the meal. Michael tried to make it up to me by offering to buy me a dessert. When we didn't see anything we liked and decided to go to Oberweiss instead, it would have been nice if he had taken our moscow mules off instread but I didn't raise the question. Still one of my go-to restaurants in the city. I typically try to go on Wednesdays for the special but Sunday's special (fried chicken) is also good too. I think the only dish I wasn't too thrilled here was the prime rib special on Saturday.
(4)Felice C.
L. Woods is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary here. Making a reservation is a definite must! The place was packed when we went. We had reservations, arrived and realized I left my wallet at home. They allowed my boyfriend to wait at the table while I went to get my wallet--but they didn't let us change the reservation time because they were completely booked. My boyfriend ordered the barbecue chicken & rib combo. And I was feeling fish, so the waitress recommended the almond crusted walleye. My boyfriend really enjoyed his barbecue meal. However, I really hated the almond crusted walleye. It was so bland, and the fish had no flavor. I barely ate a fourth of it. Service was decent, but the food wasn't good enough to have me back.
(3)Karen C.
I'd been wanting to try L. Woods for a while & we finally trekked our way out of the city to check it out. We made a reservation on a Saturday, and good Lord am I glad we did! This place was packed. We were easily the youngest people there on a Saturday night, but sometimes that makes me feel good, what can i say? I had the salmon, it was really, really delicious... cooked perfectly & the potatoes it came with were ridiculous. The man had a steak & he said it was great. Any time I get a chance to use some of my LEYE scratchoffs & earn some points, I'm a happy camper... I've yet to be disappointed with any LEYE experience!
(4)Valerie W.
2 excellent meals at L. Woods so far! I am surprised I forgot to leave a review last time. Oh well... here's our most recent visit. I jokingly asked my boyfriend to bring me to L. Woods for an impromptu date because I had a taste for steak but didn't want to break the bank. He grimaced a little, but it was all an act as we pulled into the parking lot at about 8pm on Wednesday evening. We opted to sit at the bar as it as just the two of us, something we're starting to do more and more. He has a thing for deviled eggs lately, so he immediately ordered the BLT deviled eggs upon seeing them on the menu. I'm a little picky about deviled eggs, its a texture thing - but these were good! They came with a peppercorn mayo, which acted as a nice dressing for the shredded lettuce, tomato, and bacon that were left behind on the plate. From there, we decided to each have a salad and split a steak. I had the classic iceberg wedge, which was loaded with bacon, grape tomatoes, red onions, and blue cheese dressing. Iceberg is not usually my favorite, except in wedge salads and on homemade tacos. This wedge was great - I asked for a TON of cracked black pepper and our bartender was happy to oblige. We shared the 14 oz char-broiled New York Strip steak -medium rare, with a double baked potato. It definitely came out more rare (borderline blue) than medium rare, but that didn't scare us away, and I was hesitant to send it back after I'd cut it in half already, for fear it would come back overdone. I'll eat an under-done steak any day of an overdone one. Bartenders did a great job of keeping our drinks and water refilled, and made nice, but not overbearing conversation. L. Woods is at the top of my Lettuce Entertain You list.
(4)Hannah H.
About a 2-2.5: My friend and I came to check out L. Woods, as we'd heard that they were featured on 'Oceans Twelve' :P The place itself is literally a lodge, with a deep woodsy, rustic interior with leather booths. The menu featured lunch, dinner, dessert, carry-out, and even GF options. I had heard about their famous burgers, so I tried the L. Woods Old-Fashioned Burger - this contained a signature beef blend with onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, and house sauce, with a side of fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, and a pickle. The burger itself wasn't as juicy as I expected it to be and quite dried out - it was also more on the bland side, even with the house sauce. T___T The fries were okay, and the cole slaw was more on the sweeter end. Service was a bit MIA, and it was slightly too warm in there. I may come back to try out their ribs and their old-fashioned drinks. Plenty of parking in their private lot. +dried-out burgers T___T +MIA service +private lot
(3)Hinna S.
I have been here twice and the food is consistently great. They have the best veggie burger I have had in Chicago! Not to mention that the wine selection is incredible, one of the wines tasted like an apple pie that melted in my mouth! The mashed potatoes are also a great side and they taste delicious!
(5)Ivana B.
The apple strudel is to die for! Comfort food at its best!
(5)Francis F.
We visited this place one Sunday ago for lunch...Enjoyed the atmosphere and service! Food was ok too but nothing really exceptional with this place that I couldn't find elsewhere for a little cheaper. I tried the apple strudel and bacon cheddar burger with side of mashed potatoes. Oh they give fresh and warm complimentary bread while you wait for orders!
(3)The Coffin B.
My favorite restaurant. Staff is great. Manager is great. Food always perfect. Cocktails always on point. If i could I would eat here everyday. Keep up the great job everyone.
(5)Tobin h.
The service and teamwork is constantly on magnificent display at this taste of backwoods in the heart of Lincolnwood. I saw several customers, shall we say--on the difficult side (very high maintenance) each time I've been there and each time the team of servers and managers take care of the guest with a smile to the customer's delight. The food is good and ambiance has a few too many "famous" pictures for my liking but if that's the biggest ding, L.Woods is doing just fine! It is in my dining rotation when I am in Lincolnwood and recommend it for those that are anywhere near Lincoln and Touhy.
(3)Natasha R.
L. Woods Tap is very similar to Wildfire, but with cheaper prices. It's also smaller and has a very cozy interior, making it a perfect place to go to during the cold winter months. I bring up Wildfire because I love that restaurant and it's my go to place when options are limited or if I can't think of anything else. L. Woods has just as good of food and the service is on par as well. I've had it bookmarked for awhile, but recently had the chance to try it out with a couple of co-workers and I've been back two more times since then. Each time the food is consistent, fresh, and it's always seems to be busy, especially during lunch. The French Onion Soup is one of the best I've ever had - it was oozing with cheesy goodness! They have a great flatbread lunch combo where you can pair one of their flatbreads with either a cup of soup, salad, or a bowl of the French Onion. For $10.99 it's not a bad deal at all and the fresh mushroom flatbread is absolutely delicious. I remember the size being very intimidating but it's so thin that it almost feels as if you are eating mushrooms with air. I've also tried their chopped salad - it's good, but not as good as the one from Wildfire. And last time I tried the Chef Special - Coconut Shrimp.. it's definitely an item off the menu that I would recommend. In my opinion, eating at a LEYE Restaurant almost always guarantees a good, if not great experience. With that said, I will definitely be back and I highly suggest to check it out if you are in the Lincolnwood/Skokie area in the near future... with a reservation.
(4)Halisa V.
If you are in the mood for some awesome beef ribs go here! L.Woods does not disappoint. Their portions are really big so make sure to come with an appetite. The interior is quite nice. The restaurant overall has a cozy feel to it. Also the place always seems to be packed, which conveys they must know what they are doing (& of course the food is good)!
(5)Jessica C.
I actually enjoy the kitschy "cabin" atmosphere - in fact, it might be the best thing they have going. It's cute and cozy and a bit of a throwback. The food is, well, ok. It's like going to a Friday's, just a bit less "heated out of a package sent by corporate." Don't get me wrong, it's acceptable, but just not anything particularly special. The fish and chips are a little oily and bland, the chopped salad is good, but not really any different than one offered by Corner Bakery, the onion bread is warm and good in a diner sort of way. I did go one night because for some reason I was desperately craving a brownie sundae, and they didn't fail me - although I suspect it was brownie mix and I know it was not homemade ice cream. Again, that's not a crime and it's perfectly ok, it's just something that technically I can reproduce at home. As others have mentioned, it is often busy so be prepared for a wait, even though you wouldn't suspect it.
(3)Tricia D.
What happened? I'm still dumbfounded. What didn't change was the smell of good grub wafting through the parking lot and how impressively crowded it was on a Thurs. night. What did change was that the quality of food seemed to go downhill since my last visit. The cheddar cheeseburger was served with something like Merkt's cheese spread heated on to it, which was weird and not good. K's chicken looked kind of greasy, and he said it was bland; plus, the broccoli was supposed to be steamed with butter, but that side came out like raw tree stalks. When our waitress took it back to the kitchen, it was still raw, with some shiny, not-butter-like stuff on it. Service kind of slowed down throughout the meal, and we were left with wet napkins (literally) to wipe our hands off. Never seen that before. Said wet naps were what the busboy used to clean the table too. That was one bizarre, disappointing return to one of my former suburban favorites. :o(
(2)Mara B.
Excellent food. Skirt steak, chopped salad, tomato soup and more. I'm only giving it 4 stars because it's absurdly loud.
(4)John T.
My wife and I went here today for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! I had the BEST skirt steak I ever had. It's very hard to find a place with good skirt steak.....but LWoods has one that I will definitely be back for. My wife had the ribs and really liked them. Our waitress Paulina was very nice, did a great job, and was always smiling and helpful. The onion rings (they call them onion 'strings')- were also the best we ever had. Can't wait till we can go there again............terrific food!!!!!
(5)john k.
You can't go wrong coming to LWoods for a meal....I've had 50+ and can honestly say no regrets Fresh fish, salads, burgers and Prime Rib lead the parade. Closely followed by flat breads and BBQ. Of course having my favorite beer on tap...Stiegl doesn't hurt.
(4)Kat M.
One word: AMAZEBALLS!!!! Wait.?! Can I say that on here?? Of course I can cuz its true!! Now I can only speak for the food since I did carry out. But it was so good that I can't wait to go there again. I am not a brisket kind of girl but it was so good that I am definitely gonna get it again for myself and that bread is just dreamy! L Woods you have a new best friend!!
(5)Terese C.
Great neighborhood restaurant. Beware, the wait can be long, so have a seat at the bar & enjoy a cocktail. The food is great, and the service is quick once you are seated. This was our third time eating here. I had their Friday fish fry which I would get again.
(4)Jay H.
This place is hit or miss on the service and food. It was the bomb at one time. Seems as lately there's an issues with either the service or food. Today it was a problem with a gift card for 25.00 that was no longer valid to use. If they are so hard up to snatch 25.00 from a customer anlong with the food n service issues then they prolly won't be here much longer.
(1)Jack P.
Give me any place with the terms "Pine'" "Lodge," Roadhouse," or "Northwoods," and I am pretty much a sucker for it. L. Woods is no exception in its unknowing replication of my favorite boyhood spot, when I was just a wee little Yelper. It was called the Northwoods Supper Club. Our family went out for a fancy-schmancy dinner once a year there, usually at Easter, dad and the boys in our little suits and mom in her hat. A guy named nicknamed "Frenchy" (he was actually our neighbor, a chainsaw repairman) donned a beret and soothed us with tunes from the organ. They had a salad bar! Well, enough nostalgia and narrative, lest I raise the hackles of those real reviewers at The Reader and such. We came for lunch. First time for that. In the past, I've been here many times, for dinner with a friend or a group of friends, celebrating birthdays, new jobs, engagements, and a couple firings, too. My first thougth is that L. Woods is a great special occasion place for a number of reasons. Easy to get to, with lots of parking. A great bar to hang out while waiting for your party. Always has a nice party or festive buzz. Always crowded, and was so on a Tuesday at lunch. The crowd is mixed and tends to draw in more of a long-in-the-tooth North Shore types. The walls plastered with black and white 8 x 10's of customers and friends and visiting celebs like Jeff Garlin, Tom Skilling, and Steve Dahl, to name a few. Shades of The Pump Room or Gibson's. The last time I was here with a group, we shared a memorable starter portion of flatbreads and their famous chopped salad. You don't have to order much of either for it to go a long way. Otherwise, always a good go to place for comfort food such as meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, a perfectly grilled salmon filet or filet mignon. The ribs are great, if a little on the sweet side. But we all shared my recommendations, had wine, and came out of there for around $50 per/person. Service here has always been that hands-on, assertively friendly and swift variety I've come to expect with a Lettuce Entertain You operation. I've never had a complaint there. On our recent lunch for two, we had a burger and a BBQ brisket sandwich respectively. Fries and a shared key lime pie, too. Good quality, moderateley-sized servings. They sat us in one of those, as my friend Bonnie puts it, two-bedroom circular booths. There are places you could get that same fare for less in an even more casual environment, but we were taking advantage of a gift card, so it was a good place to hang for a few hours, and catch up with an old friend. Other famous (but not unique) bites here are the chocloate lava cake and the strudel dessert, either one a fun last course tradition if you become a regular. L. Woods: just a great Northwoods Supper Club and nothing more. It knows what it is and does that well. Bring mom and dad when they come to town. Have a celebration here, even if it's because you got fired. Five stars, LEYE, if you add a salad bar, and hire Frenchy at the organ.
(4)Pamela U.
For the pure fact that L. Woods serves organic, hormone free meat, raised on local farms, my husband and I are huge fans. It's hard to find restaurants that actually care where their ingredients come from, but L. Woods is the exception. It's cozy and we have never had a server that wasn't super friendly. They often bring over free samples of different chef specialties without us even asking. My husband loves their short ribs, and I enjoy the barbeque chicken. Salads and desserts are also pretty tasty. Only negative would be the decor is a little creepy with lots of taxidermy, and the crowd isn't exactly the liveliest bunch if you know what I mean.
(4)Shawn K.
L woods is definitely worth a try, particularly if you live on the north side. I've always had great meals there, from the appetizer to dessert. We usually start with the walleye chips or the chop salad. The full order of the chop salad is huge and would be enough, for an appetizer, to feed 3 adults, or a family or a maybe four people who aren't huge eaters. The chop salad is significantly more expensive than the walleye chips, 13$ salad and 7$ for the chips. Even still, the chop salad is worth a try. If you like walleye, the walleye chips are very good. If you don't particularly like walleye, then you may not be so impressed. The ribs are one of their signature dishes. I prefer the beef ribs to the pork. They are huge and pretty manageable. Probably not so manageable that I would order them on a first date, I would wait til the second. The meat comes off the none exactly how it should. You have to pull and cut a little bit. But, the meat isn't supposed to fall right off the bone if they are cooked right. I rarely like beef more than pork but for some reason, after trying them both, i prefer the beef. The ribs are hue, unfortunately the beef ribs only come as a full rack, unlike the pork which you can order a half rack. I never finish the full beef rack, but they taste just as good the next day. My girlfriend loves the parmesan crusted cod. It comes lightly crusted, (see pictures) in a lemony butter type sauce. Its pretty rich but really tastes light, fresh and a little citrus-ie from its accompaniments. For sides, the garlic mash potatoes are superb. Check out more of my reviews at ShawnKemp.yelp.com
(4)Bike R.
I've dined regularly with family and friends at L.Woods Tap for nearly 3 years....over 25 times. Great atmosphere, food, service and cocktails. BUT, a month or two ago something changed. Different uniforms on the staff, headsets and a cheaper pour on cocktails - particularly, martinis. Our waitress apologized. Said, "We're not happy about it," when asked why our martinis were well below the brim, unlike many other visits. No harm or foul on our waitress. She was great. So charge me more for a good martini, who cares. But serving up a lame martini with a lame excuse makes one feel cheated, Mr. restaurant manager. Not a good sign. What's next? So a BIG 'no can do' for our group from here on out. Calo (5343 N Clark) has the best martinis around....a large place with a great vibe, tasty ribs, nice selection of pizza and other decent Italian fare as well.
(1)Jennifer L.
If you didn't know this was a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, you probably wouldn't figure it out from the decor. It reminds me of...I don't know what, exactly. An old lodge? Ponderosa (remember those)? Your corner bar? Whatever. The food is excellent. I had the pounded chicken which came with a delightful lemon cream sauce that, when it oozed its way over to the mashed potatoes on my plate, created a heavenly pairing. My parents had the turkey special, which came with cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole. Service was quick and friendly. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)Matt K.
Ordered online. The food was excellent and packaged well so everything arrived fresh. It was a bit pricey @ $25 for an appetizer & entree including delivery fees but I'll order from them again
(4)Lorelei C.
Today was my first visit to L Woods.. My friend Dawn had told me this was a great place to eat.. and then my son Nick came in from Aurora today and asked me where I wanted to have dinner.. So..The exterior of L.Woods looks like a log cabin.. A great rustic look.. And once you enter the restaurant itself it's like you are stepping back in time, like a supper club from the 50's/60's.. Quite Classic..A bit Elegant.. It's pretty dark throughout the restaurant, any lighting is quite dim.. I guess some might like that romantic touch but.. my eyes were struggling to read/see the menu.. My son Nick who is 27 thought this was a nice restaurant.. But.. felt it's appeal would be to us older folk..(Meaning Me)! And.. yes.. most of the crowd were older than 27! Anyway.. we ordered off the dinner menu since we came in too late for the lunch menu.. And Nick said the menu did not have much variety.. What I saw/found on the menu were comfort food options.. Steaks, Chicken, Fish, Burgers etc.. I thought the menu covered enough food options.. Our server did bring a loaf of warm, onion bread for us.. But.. I had Haddock Fillets dipped in a Schlitz Beer Batter.. Nick had some chicken entree and baked Mac and Cheese.. And then for dessert I had a really good cream puff.. So..I thought L.Woods was a nice experience.. Service for the most part was on point and attentive.. Menu prices seemed for the most part to be comparable to other restaurants.. Actually..some may consider L.Woods pricing to be a little steep.. So be prepared.. If you like good food,and nice ambiance, I would suggest that you pay L. Woods a visit.. A really lovely place..:)
(4)Ed K.
Hands done best Ribs in Chicago! I have been eating in this place for years and I have never been disappointed by anything I have tasted on the menu. A must try for BBQ Lovers!
(5)Yvonne O.
I lived in Forest Glen for a few years and knew about this place but never made it in. I wanted to come for dinner, but since they didn't take reservations, we opted for lunch. I was shocked to see so many people there right at noon, but it is the burbs....we started with beef barley soup for me (yum) and potato skin nachos for my husband. They were not my thing, but he liked them other than the green onion on top. For the meal, I went with the three sliders (pulled pork, brisket, and chicken) which also had a ton of onion rings on each (not a fan and it wasn't noted). Husband had the chicken and rob combo, which was huge. We also had the blueberry buckle for dessert which was just okay. Total was about $80 before tip. The tubs were delicious, and the brisket was also a star. We just can't stand the sheer amount of onion on EVERYTHING. I was also surprised at no shrimp (other than cocktail) on the menu. Service started out excellent and faded a bit once the room started to get packed as we waited for the check for quite a while.
(3)Palula C.
This is the right place to go after a night of being at Oakton and having your deranged anatomy teacher (who once expounded on the plot of the movie Over the Top to explain the Pronator Teres muscle) terrorize you with accounts of his wife's menopause, then give you a 150-question "quiz"...In other words, it's great if you're in the area. I've been to an actual Wisconsin supper club a few times (the Gun Club in Beloit, RIP), and I think their "homage" to that style is pretty solid. L Woods has some tasty beers! I discovered Wild Onion Hopslayer here...also their mac & cheese and creamed spinach are really the way to go with bar food. A couple times I got their brisket nachos, and it was just too many competing flavors for me. I would go here all the time if I were older, as a 20-something who should be on the prowl with people my own age, I would prefer to avoid the older men who ask whether you like Bob Seger...
(4)Parker L.
If you want to have a consistently great dining experience, where the food is always prepared perfectly, the service is attentive, and you leave satisfied... L Woods is the place. I've tried almost everything on their menu over the years - their steaks are great. Salads are huge and fresh.But the best is the hamburgers. They are is just so good. (they also deliver on grub hub btw) Cons - On weekends, this place is packed. But you can usually get a table in the bar area.
(5)Rebekah H.
This is a great spot whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Although, it is a good idea to get a reservation for dinner unless you are going to be there before 6pm. We love the flatbread/salad combos, both the mushroom and tomato flatbreads are equally delicious and I just love the chopped salad. The flatbread is so crispy and delicate but packs a flavor punch! We have also tried the Beef ribs which were very good and various other items on the menu and have been happy with all of them. For a nice small dessert, try the Goldbrick Sundae, so tasty and will not leave you stuffed!
(4)Emily C.
We really wanted to like this place. A group of us (originally from WI) went for Friday fish fry recently to get a taste of home - L. Woods describes itself as a WI supper club. We knew it probably wouldn't be as good as home, but it wasn't really close. We loved the idea of the old fashioneds, but they were only ok. The fish fry wasn't unlimited (strike) and they didn't have potato pancakes (strike). What kind of WI fish fry is this?! Another friend ordered the flatbread and it was seriously served on something thinner than a cracker. She was still hungry afterwards (strike). We really wanted to have a go to fish fry place,. The food was fine and I didn't come up with three strikes, but I think we'll keep looking 66/365
(2)Mark M.
called in at 4.00 to pickup dinner that included the infamous apple strudel, and i was told that it takes 45 minutes to bake, so i told the lady i was picking up at 5.30 when i arrived at 5.45 i was told the apple strudel was still cooking and it would be a minute or two more, there were 4 people behind me that got their food and 10 minutes later I was told again that it would be another minute or two, I heard the pickup manager calling a customer asking them when they would be picking up their order because it was ready 30 minutes ago, I laughed cause I was now waiting 30 minutes beyond my pickup time. when i was told a 3rd time it would be a minute or two more i told the pickup person I called an hour and half before the pickup time and it was now 30 minutes beyond the pick up time, and I had been waiting 165 minutes and had to go, so please cancel my order and credit my credit card. He had no problem doing that so i left, very disappointed and as you would guess hungry and angry. I would suggest you think twice about ever ordering for pick up from here unless you like hanging out for lengthy times in the small closet they use for pickups.
(1)Ronni G.
Barbecue anything. I like devil sauce. Decent beer selection, classic mixed drinks. Don't miss the chopped salad-it's a meal in itself. Order the gooey chocolate cake when you order your dinner, and save room for dessert. And don't even think of coming here most nights without a reservation.
(5)Zorin D.
I went to L. Woods to try the beef ribs which made it on to Time Out Chicago's "100 Best Things We've Tasted" list. The ribs were very good, but the Calamari was the best I've ever had in my life. If you're a calamari fan you have to try it here.
(5)Jennifer Q.
Special shout out to server Jose A. who did a great job on my husband's birthday! The food is always good here -anything we have ordered has always been super tasty. Good food plus great service is what makes this local gem really stand out!
(4)Mike L.
This place sure looks like a corner bar from the outside. Not knowing much about Lincolnwood my homie took me here. Upon walking into the fine establishment we were promptly greeted and seated. On a Monday night this place was packed. I knew it to be a good sign. Althought they squeeze in as many tables as they can seating was fine. A booth is the way to go if possible. This places oozes Old Skool 50's restaurant. Back then you would get soup and salad with your meal. Not here, but no matter the food is excellent. Both beef and pork ribs were outstanding. Tender, meaty, and moist......the only way to eat em. Huge portions and good service rounded out our experience. Their banana cream pie was pretty awesome not overly sweet or banana laden made it a pretty perfect ending. The name left me asking, where's Jake?
(4)John S.
Everything was cooked to perfection! Loved that the waitress asked us about dessert when she took our dinner order since she politely reminded us they r prepared fresh and some of them take 45 minutes to bake so it would b ready when we were done eating, So we ordered an apple strudel and it was OUTSTANDING! It was easily large enough for four people!!!! It was one of the best desserts we've had at a restaurant. They also had a nice selection of desserts which did not require preordering which is great if u r not sure u want dessert. The mushroom flatbread was crisp, light and delicious! The ribs were tender and yummy! Prime rib was wonderful....can't say enough positive things about this special place!
(5)Borat S.
There were a few things I didn't like. First off the wait was terribly long. I tried to call in my name because we had a 30 min drive ahead of us before we could get there. I wasn't very happy when he did finally get a table because it took longer than they had quoted, but once I tried the ribs I thought the wait was well worth it. The beef ribs were very good! I'm glad I waited. The molten chocolate cake was okay. If you like hot chocolate pudding you would like it.
(4)Diana R.
You can't go bad with a place that serves French onion soup and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and I was right! L. Woods is a log cabin restaurant full of thousands of framed photos all along the walls. This place is HUGE but still retains a cozy feeling. Made reservations and came here at 6pm on a Saturday, I'm glad I made reservations, this place was packed and the wait exceeded an hour. We got seated near the bar in a cozy table that was pretty private (where's that Usher song when you need it). The pulled pork sandwich was amazing!! They really made that meat moist and the bbq sauce was right on. I also had the key lime pie for dessert and it was the best I've ever had, I even saved some for the next day and it still tasted fresh!
(5)Joe S.
I wish I lived closer to this place. I went here randomly for lunch with a buddy the other day. What a cool place. It has a wonderful Lodge/cabin feel to it. We ate in the restaurant part and there are all these wonderful pictures and everything is wood. I was really blown away by the onion bread and my Chicken Club sandwich. Damn, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I wish it was close for a few reasons, the food and service obviously, but it had a really cool looking bar area. I could see myself bellying up to the bar and making it my local establishment. I was very surprised to hear it was a Lettuce Entertain you place as they seem more like chains...anyway, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)Brad F.
I love coming here and getting the ribs, they were absolutely fantastic!!! Also, I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night. The service is always generally good. I always love coming to a lettuce entertain you restaurant they always are fantastic. The music was a little loud in the bar when I was there, but overall good experience, looking forward to my next visit. I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night
(5)Catherine M.
This place cracks me up. For some reason my (non-geriatric) parents have steaked their claim in L Woods as a favorite date-night destination. That has since transended into family dinners out which are the only circumstances that I've been here for. I would say on average my husband and I (who are both in our 30s) are significantly younger (by decades) then everyone else here. Oh, and don't even THINK about stopping by between the early bird (5p.m.) dinner time- the wait is longer than the line for Le Passage on a Saturday night. The food and ambiance are fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing that has been outwardly bad. One thing I always get here is the Sprechers orange cream soda (on tap) in a frosted mug! DELISH. My mom and husband love their ribs and I guess they do them right at L Woods (I'm not such a fan in general). I usually opt for their flat breads or salads (their spinich salad is MASSIVE but tasty). All in all- it's dark. It's cozy. The food is good. The age of the average dinner is about 40 years older than me.
(3)ardath b.
Can you say YUM! Love this place for ribs and their side choices! Back woodsy atmosphere, amazing meat choices and the seasoning beats all. I loved it so much, I celebrated my 50th birthday there, and everyone one of my friends raved about the food (except the vegetarians of course). They do have veggie choices too. Top of my list! Fantastic dessert choices too.
(5)eStephanie M.
Every time I see the name of this restaurant it makes me laugh because my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant 3 times in 2 weekends. The waiter noticed us the second time and said, "Oh you're back for more!" We sure were! I would be more specific about what we ate, but the last time we went was a few months ago so I don't remember. All I know is that it was all good! I think it's time for another visit.
(4)Colleen B.
L. Woods is everything you expect from a steakhouse. Very much enjoyed the bbq planked salmon. Recently returned for my father's birthday; everything from the mashed potatoes to the brontosaurus-sized beef ribs were enjoyed by all. Also, I was surprised by the decent selection of local microbrews on tap. A delicious and gut-busting meal with great service.
(4)Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and every time its a pleasure. I mostly have been there for lunch/early supper.. I have had salmon, burgers, clubs and everything in between... its all FANTASTIC. Service is an A+ This place is definitely pricey, but well worth it. Luckily I get gift cards often and that is how i justify the trip.
(4)Regina K.
Holy Moly, this place is delicious. My bf and I furniture shopped all day in the burbs, and we were ravenous by the time we got to L Woods. There was a wait, but we had a few tasty beers. We were comped a flatbread appetized. We had soup, the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich, and a positively delcious desert of Lava cake. I would absolutely recommend. We had a ton of leftovers, and the bill was about $60, with 2 beers and tips.
(5)Roisin H.
The food here is REALLY yummy. I had the parmesan crusted filet (8 oz) which was delicious! My husband got the ribeye steak. I also had a martini (ok two martinis) which was really the best i've had since one I had at Keefer's (another of my fave restaurants--but much more expensive). The reason I gave only 4 stars that the server was rushed and you really had to flag her down if you wanted anything. It seemed like that was just de rigeur, though, as opposed to it just being a busy night. Oh, we also got the apple strudel (10.99- but they actually give you a WHOLE apple strudel!) which comes with a buttery caramel sauce--so delish!) The waitress let us know when we ordered our entrees it takes 40 minutes to cook. I ordered it when we were about halfway through dinner and she looks at me and goes..."You know it takes 40 minutes...?" I'm like, "Is that okay?" Sheesh!
(4)Ryan R.
Amazing Experience. Our neighbor gave us a $50 Lettuce Entertain U card and we had been sitting on it for far to long. I guess we were trying to figure out a "date" night without our 3 year old. Well that never came to be so we had to find the right "family" restaurant. L. Woods was fantastic. I called first for a reservation and the accommodated to meet our needs. When we showed up early they sat us, no questions asked, no attitude. With a smile. Our server Jean was so great. We informed her that is was our first time and she practically rolled out the red carpet. She was very knowledgeable and helped us understand what L Woods was all about. The food was great. Authentic American. It reminded me of some of the home cooking I came to love back in Michigan. My wife and I split a Caesar salad, and we enjoyed some of their great flat bread. My son had the Kids Chicken Strips and My wife and I had the Special Shepard's Pie. We also enjoyed a beer as well. To top of the visit the manager Joe came to our table and thanked us for coming. Where else do you get that in the city? He then treated us to a giant slice of Chocolate cake...awesome! If you get a chance check out L. Woods. It is like stepping out of the city without the commute.
(5)Jonny M.
I was wavering between A-Ok and Yay! I'm a fan in all honesty. This is clearly the local hangout. It's been years since I've stopped by as I moved to LA - however I was meeting up with friends and it seemed the ideal place for a group of 6. I'll sum as follows...its Rich Melman Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can be sure you're getting nothing but the finest in food and service. The portions were quite large (also evident by the average size of people dining there!) and the taste was good - not great. I had the parm crusted whitefish and a double baked potato. The fish was served tepid and somewhat flavorful and the double baked was outstanding. We started with an order of flatbread which was large and full of flavor. I love the decor as it reminded me of being in the Wisconsin North Woods.
(4)David S.
Most people on Yelp rave about their fried chicken special on Sundays. Not me. I really want to love L. Woods Tap, and generally think that Lettuce Entertain You does restaurants better than any other corporate chain out there. BUT, this afternoon's experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth... the taste of lukewarm chicken fat. I started with the french onion soup as an appetizer. You know, the soup that comes to your table too hot to eat because they take hot soup, put in a crockery bowl, top it with cheese and then brown the cheese under the broiler so that everything about it is hot. Not this one. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it was far from hot. Just warm enough for me to eat it Then they bring the fried chicken and a baked potato that looks damp... a baked potato, if you bake it in an oven, should have a crisp outer skin with STEAMING potato on the inside. Nope, not even warm enough to melt the friggin' butter. Then the pièce de résistance... as in the thing that should make you resist the urge to eat here... the fried chicken was tepid at best. That was it, I told the waitress and she graciously took my food back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later, the food came back and the chicken was crispy and hot, but the fresh potato was no warmer than the first one. Points to the manager for coming over to the table to apologize but his apology was about as lukewarm as the food. For $50 with tax & tip for a burger and an order of fried chicken, some soup and a dinner salad, you can do WAY better elsewhere.
(2)Kathy R.
The perfect, hearty dining experience before we had Bad Movie Night with some friends of ours. These friends had raved about L Woods, so we all went Saturday night (make a reservation!). I liked the atmosphere right away - log cabin, wood-paneled walls, cozy. And although I noticed people in dressier garb - celebrating some event, I guess - there were plenty like us in more casual jeans, t-shirts. The menu is built around comfort food - BBQ ribs, chicken, steaks, fish. The giant mound of onion strings was a good starter. My half BBQ chicken was moist (even the next day, reheated) and the BBQ sauce is mighty tasty. My husband liked his BBQ planked salmon, which was surrounded by corn and mashed potatoes. Please note portions are huge! Our server was great - she competently answered my questions about several entrees, and kept our glasses filled. When she asked if anyone was here for the first time, I said yes - and prepared for some tired spiel. But no - instead, she subsequently brought us a gratis plate of BBQ chicken/pesto flatbread as a "welcome." High marks for a free appetizer - and it was delicious to boot! Kids are welcome here. (They have a "Kids Club" - after a child's 10th visit, they take their pic and put it up on the wall of fame). Although we didn't request it, we were seated in the back room, which - with 2 toddlers - gave us a little more space. My friend and I got the chocolate peanut butter shake, in to-go cups. After that, we were officially stuffed (all the better, to watch Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man on the couch). I'm looking forward to trying the ribs on my next visit.
(4)Suze R.
I wasn't that impressed with L Woods. We went on a Saturday night, even though we made a reservation 5 days in advance we got a lousy table, crammed right up against another table. Just letting you know, you will be dining with 90% senior citizens. I felt like I was in a retirement home, except for the noise. These old folks have quite an attitude too. Iv'e never been to Lincolnwood, not very friendly. Food was average, wait staff was poor considering the cost of the meal. We ordered a large caesar salad, the waitress portioned it out at the table, spilling some on the table, and just left it there and walked away! All righty then! My husband had the prime rib, it was ok. The beef ribs are huge, actually too large for the plate, which makes it very hard to eat. Overall I wouldn't go back.
(2)Dennis S.
Vastly over rated, this second rate restaurant has prices that will put you in the poor house. Portions while fresh are small. Nothing to write home about. Avoid this pricey Americana nostalgia restaurant.
(3)Ann Y.
My hubby and I tried L Woods for the first time yesterday and I have to say it was really good. We told the waitress it was our first time there since I wanted some recommendations, and the next thing I knew the manager brought over some BBQ chicken flatbread which was amazing and so good. It was so think and crispy with homeade pesto and the BBQ sauce was real sweet. They really offset each other well. For dinner we both had the RIbs and they were really meaty and good. I couldn't even finish my half slab. I also ordered the french onion soup which was one of the best I had in a long time. They have an extensive wine and beer list. The only thing I didn't like was the service. While the waitress got us our free appetizer she wasn't anywhere around. I had to ask for silverware and had to ask other people for our bill.I will be back, and hopefully the service will improve.
(4)Michelle W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the northwoods feel and the food is amazing. I've been here several times, but still can't get past the pounded chicken - it is amazingly delicious! People I've gone with have also ordered ribs and steaks and such and I have never heard any complaints about the food being less than wonderful.
(5)Emily M.
Oh my gosh its so good. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I've been there several times and everything is delicious. I haven't but I keep meaning to order their plank something salmon (yeah I'm helpful idk what the name is), but I've tried it when other people have ordered it and its incredible. Their mashed potatoes are especially good also. The service has always been great and be prepared to wait for seating because this place gets really busy (for a reason!).
(5)Carolynne M.
My hands are literally shaking as I write this. Let me preface this by saying that for a long time I had wanted to try L Woods but for one reason or another never got the chance. Seemed like a nice, laid back joint with a nicely varied menu. Now my opinion is forever scarred due to my boss who I will nickname "Goddamn Salad Lover" (GSL) GSL is OBSESSED with the chopped salad at L Woods. SO obsessed, that for every birthday, event, or Slap-On-The-Back-Nice-Job lunch, we are treated to THE SALAD. Nothing else. Salad only. The salad isnt bad, really. Its just a bunch of pasta, lettuce, onions, bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese mixed together. Or so I told myself up until the 7th time I had it. We are now up to something like the 364th time. GSL attacks it, however, with a fervor usually reserved for starving dogs or PMS-afflicted girls near a chocolate shop. My throat is closing simply thinking about the next time this frickin salad is going to make its next appearance. Oh and dont even think that not eating the salad is an option. You wanna be a team player, you best be loading up your plate and smile as you do it!!! I'm sorry L Woods. I hear you have some other real nice stuff on your menu, like desserts and mac & cheese and fish and stuff. Please discontinue the salad so I might be able to try these other things someday! Help a girl out, huh?
(3)Clark K.
Chopped salad, chopped salad, chopped salad. It's that good. You should probably refer to me as Mr. GSL (see Carolynne's review below) as well because it is a damn good salad! We always order it as an appetizer at L Woods. However, I do not recommend skipping on the other great entrees. L Woods calls itself a "supper club" and it has a hunting cabin feel. You feel like you are at a ski resort perhaps. I enjoy the ambiance, but not half as much as I enjoy their fried chicken. Oh man, it is crispy, fatty , and delicious. I would say just like momma used to make it, but L. Woods' is probably better. Make sure you order the mashed potatoes because they are ultra creamy. L. Woods is a great place to start/end the night after a movie at the nearby Crown theater. Highly recommended.
(5)Connie W.
Comfortable atmosphere, excellent service, and good food.
(4)Patty B.
Love the food here - LOVE IT! But I have to agree with some other reviewers and say that the service is really hit or miss. Sometimes awesome, sometimes horrible. The food is consistantly good (I've had more than half the menu and have always been happy), just the service isn't. Ambiance isn't all that great either, but if you don't care about that or order carry out its no biggie. Lunch during the week is usually busy, as is Saturday night. So if you aren't into crowds (especially those of an older generation) stay out at those times.
(3)Kristina F.
If i were to drive up to this place on my own I would be plenty skeptical. The outside of it appeared to be designed by a partnership between Playskool toys and IHOP. It's a cheesy looking wood cabin style exterior that looks like a kids restaurant. I was not alone however, and i trust the taste of the people I was with, so in we went. The inside instantly reminded me of Chumley's in NY, a prohibition era pub that's got a wooden interior with old book covers plastered all over the walls. L Woods had a wooden interior, deer antler chandeliers, black and white photos plastered all over the walls and red leather booths. The parking lot was full when we pulled up so it was no surprise to have an hour wait. We ordered some (very greasy but good) fried onion and drank some gigantic beers at the bar. It took a long time to get the fried onion so they gave it to us on the house. Our bartenders and waitress were friendly. We ordered the apple strudel dessert ahead of the meal since it takes a while to cook. You might say this was a mistake because the portions are gigantic, and we were almost sickenly full by the time we left. I would say it was a mistake if the apple strudel wasn't abbbsoollluuutteelllly deeelllliiiciiouuss. Did I mention the mashed potatoes? They were delicous delicious delicious as well. I realize now that I should have forgone writing an actual review and just written "delicious delicious delicious," but too late for that. I'll elaborate: There was no ketchup on the table when my burger was served. I like a lot of ketchup on my burger and i like to put extra ketchup on my plate and dip the burger into it. I took a bite anyway and it was so moist, ketchup would have been a mistake and masked the flavor. None of the burgers I've had in ny in the last few months compare to this one. mmmmm.... I got sweet potato instead of french fries. It was gigantic. About the size of my head. Not very flavorful and I personally didn't like the brown sugar butter it was served with, but it was good with some salt. The mashed potatoes though... good god. Definitely lots of butter in there. Excellent. Very excellent. And lumpy enough but not too lumpy. Yum. There would be no fights over how mashed potatoes should be prepared for Thanksgiving if mom made them like this. And then there was the strudel. A warning: unless you are a giant of some sort or decide to commit suicide via dessert, you cannot finish this on your own. It looks like a burrito only it's three times the length of your average burrito. Warm thinly sliced apples (I prefer thinly sliced apples in apple desserts over chunky ones. yay!) contained in a flaky buttery crust. I liked it without the buttery caramel sauce, though everyone else loved it. And there were enough leftovers for everyone to have a second slice three days later when we were finally hungry again. Summary: Delicous delicious delicious!
(5)Robyn M.
I brought my 2 yr old. They actually have a kid's menu and chocolate milk so he was in heaven. I had the bbq ribs and they were pretty good. My parents had the prime rib which they said was a bit cool and chewy but had really good flavor. We ordered the apple dessert which was so huge we had to take it home. The french onion soup was crazy good. I grew up in Wisconsin so I dig the supper club vibe. Being a Lettuce restaurant this place was definitely classier than a typical Wisco supper club but not too fancy that you feel stupid wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Solid food. Check it out.
(4)Dana M.
I went to L. Woods for the second time and there's a reason for that! The best ribs that's a 3 minute drive from my house. Today, being Father's Day, I expected the wait to be a little bit longer even with reservations but 15 minutes wasn't too bad. Our waiter came up to our table right away and our food didn't take too long. Their onion roll is very soft, sweet, and delicious with the whipped butter! The last time I was here, I had half a chicken and ribs so of course I took it home and ended up eating it for my next 3 meals. It was that big! I ordered the beef rib tips with BBQ sauce today and again, the portions were huge! The ribs are very tender and delicious. I replaced the regular sides of either fries, mashed, or baked potato with sweet potato and that thing was seriously as big as my head. The maple walnut butter makes it even better. Looks like I have food for the next few days because of the huge portions. Next time I want to try the cherry martini!
(5)Mary K W.
If we didn't have $150 in gift certs (thanks to The Don, our realtor) for Lettuce Entertain you restaurants, we likely wouldn't have set foot in here. I've never been attracted to the kitschy, fake vibe (you're in Northern Minnesota!! you're in Tuscany!!) of many of the Lettuce places. However, we wanted to try the ribs, and they have an extensive kids' menu, so off we went on Sat. nite. The place was packed - parking lot, waiting area, restaurant. According to other reviews, it's like this most of the time, even during the week. They had our reservation, and we were seated fairly quickly. The kids got buffalo wings and DH and I shared a ($9!!) chopped salad. Both were good, but nothing different you'd get anywhere else. I got a slab of ribs, and the waiter brought out their dry rub ribs, instead of the regular ones. I didn't feel like waiting for another order so, I just kept them, and they were ok, but you can certainly do better at any number of places in Chicago, and for about 5 bucks less a slab. DH got the prime rib, which again, was just ok, maybe a little on the tough side, and not cooked very well - he ordered it med rare, and it was very red and bloody - which seemed more rare to me. Two kids got cheeseburgers, which were enormous, and good they said; the youngest got chicken fingers, which looked to be pretty standard chicken fingers. We had a lot of leftovers to take home, and I specifically asked for bbq sauce to take home, and got none. Also, no horseradish sauce for the leftover prime rib. Oh, well. Suffice to say, we won't be back anytime soon, and why would we? There are nearly a dozen restaurants within walking distance of my house - which makes me feel a bit of pity for folks in the burbs who only have this place and maybe 5 others as their local options, all of which require a drive to get there.
(2)Minnie L.
I really really really like L Woods. I've been there a few times - with a big party, a couples night and just with my daughter. Every time the service was pretty good! The only thing that took a little while were the drinks but then again the waiter doesn't have control over how fast the bartender makes them. Ok but let get to the amazing food. My favorite is the Devil Style Beef Ribs. They are so tasty and the portions are hugh! I also loved the mac and cheese which is good for adults and kids. My next trip I will try the Prime Rib which is only served on Saturdays. I was told it is sooooooooo yummy! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Barbara M.
No matter when I go to L Woods, I always have a wonderful meal. I wasn't looking to dig into a huge steak or chops last night around 8:30 pm, so my friends and I just had the chili, which was on the daily special menu and the FABULOUS Chopped Salad. It's so good that I crave it all the time and can't wait to back if just for that. Once you taste it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. We ordered the large salad and it filled the three of us perfectly, or so I thought. My two friends kept eyeing the desserts being devoured at the near by table and couldn't resist, so they split the hot fudge brownie sundae topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It looked so yummy and scrumptious that I had to BEG them for a taste. WOW is all I can say.......One bite of this and you'll be in chocolate brownie heaven!!!
(5)Lynn C.
Try the chocolate lava cake, if you have any room left from the meat and potatoes (mostly) dishes. Attentive and friendly service, even when busy (which it always seems to be). The parking lot is usually packed and so are the dining rooms.
(4)Gillian R.
I'm not seeing what the hype is behind this joint. Maybe it's my fault for ordering fish (which was ick!) at a bbq restaurant? Lesson learned for next time... The service was mediocre at best. I think I heard somewhere it used to be a free-standing and was then bought by a chain? Quality ALWAYS drops when something is bought by a chain. Bonus points for: killer mashed potatoes and free parking.
(3)Jessica C.
Couldn't help but think of Legally Blonde when my friend picked this spot. Was a bit leery of the log-cabin action as we pulled up, but since dinner was on her, I wasn't complaining. Service started a bit slow, then livened--our server turned out to be very attentive. Was a bit thrown off by the dark, lodge atmosphere, but I did appreciate the diverse crowd. I eventually found myself feeling very comfortable here. The chopped salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. I don't know what's so special about it, since it's really made up of ordinary ingredients, but L Woods knows how to do it just right. Have to add here that the gooey chocolate cake is a must. DO NOT miss it.
(4)Annaliza F.
y am I giving them 5 stars??? -bread, chopped salad, & calamari (mmm-hmmm) -queen cut prime rib (oooohhh yeeeaaahhh) -apple strudel & gooey chocolate cake (drrroooolll....) -I literally live down the street from this place (walking distance =) need I say more????.... *cricket cricket
(5)Kate R.
It was a toss up between 2 and 3 stars...I find it kind of annoying that I have so much left-overs...could have split my entree with at least one other person and been stuffed. I had the parmesan crusted whitefish which for $17.00 should have had some flavor. It came with choice of side, I chose the sweet potato...and it is enough to feed a small village. Honestly where do they even get these things? With cocktails, app (large chop salad is tasty) dinner, 2 desserts for 4 people we dropped $210. with tip. I just don't think the food or the service is worth the price.
(3)Laura T.
When we first walked into L.Woods, there were blue-hairs everywhere and it made us wonder what we were in store for (need to preface this by saying that we have kids,and everyone knows there are only two types of people who eat before 6 and that's seniors and people with children. Guess what? This is a classic case of elders knows best, a place where everything is truly fabulous. The salads are generous but nothing is as large as the beef ribs - they're huge and delicious. The meat - whether it's the prime rib, pork chop or burger - is served exactly as it should - medium rare and medium, respectively. We always order a chopped salad, calamari and when we're in a big group, the flatbreads, too. We don't think there is a place friendlier and nicer to kids. If you are plagued with a child who wants "plain pasta with butter" 24/7, the kitchen will accommodate you without a blink of the eye. This means the service is fabulous as well. Over the last few years, we've tried just about everything on the menu and we can honestly say we've always been pleased. We used to bemoan the wait until we figured out that you can call and put your name on the waiting list, show up 30 minutes later and presto, your table is ready. And there is always take-out.
(5)Gil N.
I visited L. Woods based on Yelper reviews and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The decor, the service and mmm....*wipes away drool* the food. Wow. I was there for lunch so it wasn't very busy, that being said they still had quite a few tables taken. Save room for dessert. Trust me.
(5)Melissa M.
Went here on Saturday night for an early Mother's Day celebration. Will not go back. A couple of us ordered the Saturday special (prime rib) and it was probably the most sub par prime rib I have ever had. It was tasteless. I asked the waiter to bring some au jus hoping that I can drown the tasteless prime rib with some juice, but the au jus was just as tasteless. But I guess I should have figured that out when the prime rib was tasteless. Tasteless prime rib, tasteless au jus. I almost asked for A-1 sauce which is blasphemous for prime rib. My mother in law ordered the special (halibut) and said it was not good. BBQ ribs were just okay. The only thing that was good was the chocolate layer cake. Waiter was not very friendly and service was super slow. How can this be a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant?
(1)Adam S.
Had dinner with 7 the other night and was crammed in to a corner booth so tight I felt like I needed to lift my plate off the table and create my own little space so as not to knock elbows with the people on either side of me. Besides that crammed feel, the place was pretty good. Their specialty is definitely the BBQ although I thought the BBQ beef brisket sandwich was pretty skimpy, i.e. lots of bun, not a lot of cuts of beef - but what do you expect for only paying $9.95! Definite kudos on the setting; this place used to be the indy restaurant Bones which had been around for years and years. LEY bought it a few years ago and fortunately kept the old vibe and have seemingly retained the mix of clientele: north city, lincolnwood/skokie young people mixed with cranky people. :) All in all a good place for comfort food but it's also incredibly loud so if you're thinking comfort food AND chilling out, this may not be the best place.
(3)Theresa K.
Ah, L Woods. Love the Lodge-style decor, dim lighting, and framed photographs. So cute. Reminds me of a place where a film scene might be filmed. The service is always great. Drinks are great. I like that you can order all the wine by the glass, half glass, or bottle. And their cocktails are just as good. I love the tomato bisque, fresh bread served at the table and the veggie burger. Did I mention that the veggie burgers are home made!? There's something for everyone at L. Woods. Meat lovers will love the steak salad and ribs, vegetarians will love the flat bread pizza, veggie burgers, and soups, and dessert lovers will die for their key lime pie! Great for a date or with the whole family. And with a pretty convenient location, (right off of the I-94) it's a definite must!
(5)Annie S.
Umm apple streusel= heaven! fast and wonderful delivery. They even let you get the apple streusel prepped-not cooked, so you have the fun and wonderful smell in your house while you cook it per their directions after you ear. love it!
(4)Kristina O.
I went to L Woods on my birthday last year and have been meaning to come back ever since. The food here is really great. The onion bread you start off with is nice and fresh, my chicken was fabulous, and the sides we had were VERY good (especially the garlic mashed potatoes). I'm not a fan of the whole "log cabin" feel, but I also really hate the idea of being in "the great outdoors." I'm pretty convinced only white people enjoy that kinda thing.
(4)Wik G.
I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there. I bring kids there and they were all treated super nice. It's definitely a good family place with good food.
(5)Sue K.
Definitely has that supper club feel. Never tried it, but heard the apple strudel is good. Lettuce Entertain Yourrific.
(5)Tim L.
Amazing service. Great food and atmosphere. Feels like a place my family would've gone to growing up.
(4)LINDA M.
great food . had take out . easy convieniant and food packaged very well for travel. would definately use them again
(4)Rocky B.
Definitely a woodsy feel to this restaurant. Not my favorite LEYE restaurant but it's pretty decent. Service is friendly and attentive. As far as the food...there have been times that I have been there and everything from the starter to the dessert was just spot on and other times where...they weren't. Pretty good prime rib and mmm, very tasty desserts. They have a parking lot which is great. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on coming for dinner as they can get pretty crowded. But they have a nice bar area so if you do happen to just stop on my by you can always hang out and get some drinks first.
(3)Mandy P.
My husband and I went here for the first time on Christmas Eve this year and we were truly pleased. The service was decent, the atmosphere was wonderfully cozy, and the food was GOOD. We were crazy with our ordering that night, so I'm a little embarrassed to list all the stuff we tried when we were there, but at least I can truly say I've had a sampling of much of their menu before giving an opinion on it. First we had the tomato basil bisque. It was a perfect warm thing to begin our meal on a cold winter night. The soup was tasty and the croutons were unusually good. Then we shared the chopped salad. I have seen in the reviews below that some people are gaga over the salad. I thought it was good, but not amazing. Perhaps this is because I didn't eat the bacon in it (I'm vegetarian), but my husband did and he really liked it. Even so, it's nice to be able to get a salad somewhere that has enough tasty stuff in it that when you take the meat out you aren't just left with freaking iceberg lettuce!!! There were a couple of other salads that we considered that I think would have met that criterion. For our entrees, my husband had the turkey special, which he reports was excellent, and I had the veggie burger. The veggie burger did not rock my world, but it was definitely good enough. However, the garlic mashed potatoes? To DIE for! I kid you not. I think there was more butter than anything else in those babies! Soooo good. Our additional food (the thing that really put us over the top)? Mac and cheese -- baked. Yeah. It was excellent. Amazingly, it actually tasted like cheese, rather than whatever weird stuff it often tastes like -- cream and flour, maybe? -- all those other times when I've had baked mac and cheese and was completely disappointed. I would definitely go back just to have that stuff again. Then, as if that wasn't enough, my husband (who is very thin, by the way -- damn his metabolism!) had bread pudding to top it off! I couldn't believe he could fit anything else in! I tasted the pudding, though, and while I'm not normally a fan of that stuff, this bread pudding was yummmy! It wasn't too squishy and it had a lot of flavor. While he ate, I had some of the coffee and it too was excellent -- serious flavor, not that watered down crap you get at so many places. We will be back! Oh, and to add just one more wonderful bit of info to this? Their meat is all hormone and antibiotic free (the birds are free range) and not frozen! How cool is that? And the take home bags are made with at least 50% recycled paper, but the other half, which comes from new trees, is made up for by planting three trees for every one that is cut down to make the bags! It's an old school dinner place with a conscience! Amazing! N.B.: Our wait for the table was about 15 minutes, which didn't seem too bad. If we were going back on a busier night, I would definitely make reservations (which I was told is possible) because every time I've driven by this place it has looked packed.
(4)Mike O.
As a person who goes to Northern Wisconsin/Upper Michigan every summer, L Woods comes closest to duplicating the same kinds of heart-warming (artery clogging?) foods served in the northernost reaches of the Dairy State. Where else in Chicago can you get fried walleye. Even coleslaw, often to sweet or too creamy or just too cabbagey at other places tastes just right. Picking what to have is hard, especially when you see what others are ordering and it all looks so good too! Can't miss with mac-and-cheese even! This place has a woodsy feel to it with wood-paneled walls and pictures of seemingly regular folks dining, hung all over the walls. It gets busy around lunchtime, so get there by 11:30 for quickest service.
(4)Russ P.
This review has many firsts for me. I have never posted a review on a restaurant, but felt my recent experience at L Woods needed one. The review may seem over the top on how bad this restaurant is, but I truly did not want anyone else having the same experience that we had. I eat out a lot. A least five+ times a week and am a gold preferred Lettuce Entertain You Member. We love all of their restaurants, since the food is consistently good with some excellent dishes. The service is almost always excellent at all of their locations. We heard from some of our friends that L Woods food is good and drove up from Old Town to give it a try. This can not be further from the case at L Woods. I can't even begin to list all of the issue this place has. This review is really a warning not to go there. 1st off the prices.....wow! No it's fine dinner prices, but this is gastro pub food that is priced way too high. They had a fish and chips special for $23. It includes a few pieces of fish and some chips. The Gage, downtown, has some of the best fish and chips and only charges $18. The Gage is kind of pricey, but for what you get, it's worth it. The original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, R.J. Grunts, charges a couple of bucks less for a burger that is much larger and taste like a real burger. Over all L Woods prices are 25% higher than better restaurants. I ordered an Old Fashion Hamburger. It seriously was one of the worst meals I have ever had. I stopped eating the fries after a few and stated that I think they are McDonald's fries. Except McDonalds have more flavor and less grease. The burger was even worst. I ordered mine medium. It comes out as a thin grilled/charred piece. I gave it a try and was disgusting. I put salt on it, which I never put extra salt on my food. Half of the burger was well done and half was rare. I had to laugh. It tasted like a poor attempt at a Burger King Whopper. I think they took someone's lunch from the kitchen and threw it on the plate. The service was poor. Not as bad as the food, but really bad. Our waitress never would come by the table. After an hour of waiting for our food we had to ask the manager what's going on. Our food showed up just after that, with no apologies or explanation. My hamburger did not have a pickle or any ketch up, like the other plates we received. We asked for ketchup, mustard and water. We never saw the guy again. The entire time our water glass sat on the edge of the table empty. We final got a couple filled after asking a few times. Final another bus boy got us our condiments. We asked for the check, as soon as we saw the waitress, and handed her our Lettuce Entertainment Gold Card. We used reward points for dinner, so dinner was free, but still not worth it. I don't think I would eat at this place again even if you paid me. It took our waitress so long to come back with the check that we got our kids ready and stood by the table to leave. After she saw us stand next to the table, she finally came back with our rewards card. All told, from the time we sat down to leaving the table took over an hour and a half. Seriously, this is the worst dinning experience I can remember having in the past five + years. This review does not even mention the delay in seating, when we had reservations or the lack of cleanliness. To summarize; if you want overpriced, greasy, poor quality food and crappy service, this is the place for you. Anyplace is better than this. I have to give LEY huge kudos. The manager, Terry, called in reference to an email I sent to the LEY within an hour. They offered us cerificates to go back and give them a second chance. We'll see how it goes.
(1)Melissa K.
My family came here the other night for my step dad's birthday. The food we had was fantastic. The service we had lacked in comparison. The odd thing was, my brother knew our waiter and the service was still extremely slow. Maybe it was just that night, who knows. Everyone in my family loved their meals. I had the BBQ'd salmon, which was outstanding. It came on this wood plank surrounded by potatoes and corn. The Caesar salad I had I was able to share with my mom and my aunt and still had some left over. My mom's steak was cooked perfectly and my uncle's chicken looked amazing, he didn't seem to have a piece left when the meal was over. We got their two desserts that take 45 minutes to cook, also not a piece left. I'll definitely go back and hopefully I'll be able to give it 5 stars if we have better service. The food is worth going back for.
(4)Rebecca T.
We go to L Woods twice a month, and it is always a nice experience. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the food is consistently good. We like the chopped salad to start and then we like their ribs a lot. We bring our little ones, and they eat hamburgers.
(4)Cindy D.
Went here tonight for dinner with some girlfriends. I read the Yelp reviews before hand so we ordered chopped salad, calamari, and dry rub ribs and just shared everything. I'm not sure why the chopped salad is so good, it's not phenomenal by any means. I can make it at home!! I mean, it was good, but not up to par to everyone's review. The calamari was ordinary. The ribs were delish, tender, and plentiful. The mashed potatoes that came with the meat was very, very tasty!!! Also, we pre-ordered our dessert and got the apple strudel. It was huge!!!! It was delicious, fruity, and yummy. I would just go back to get this studel again. Def. don't miss!!!! Order during your entree because it take 45 minutes to bake. Overall, good dinner, but just share everything! The portions are big and actually they encourage you to share. With all this food, the total bill was $69 (including tip), so $23 pp.
(4)Jasper N.
comfort food, done right! fried chicken, baby back ribs, pan fried tilapia, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, etc... if you're looking for a rib-sticking meal, check-out this little gem. it's a hike from the city, but worth the drive if you have a car. the service isn't most swift, but still good. enjoy!
(4)Jared C.
The four of us (my wife, our kids - 9 and 6 - and I) ate lunch here on Mother's Day. I didn't get around to calling for a reservation until 9:30 on Mother's Day morning, but they were still able to fit us in with a reservation at 1:15. Far more importantly, when we arrived at 1:15 on the dot, they seated us immediately. In my book, that earns them 2-3 stars on the total score up front. The service was friendly and prompt. My wife and I both had the prime rib special; I thought mine was very good, but she did not enjoy hers as much. I think the difference was that we had ordered different temperatures -- I had asked for medium-rare, she for medium -- but looking at her plate at the end of the meal, it seemed as though hers was only cooked to medium-rare as well. If we'd thought of it sooner, we could have sent it back to be cooked a little more. We've been here a few times before, and always had a great experience. Service, ambience, and attitude: 4.5-5 stars. Food: 3-3.5 stars. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)Anto S.
Food is delicious, the steak is to die for, service is fast and professional. Overall a great experience but it is a bit on the expensive side.
(4)AnnaMaria V.
For casual dining this was top notch. All the food was really good. The steaks were cooked perfectly. The ribs lived up to their reputation. The service was really good. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I was with a group of five and we were seated at a big booth in the back. That was cool because we really felt like we were by ourselves, even though the restaurant was packed. Not one person at our table had any complaints & everyone agreed that we would return.
(4)Laura P.
Good food, good service, awesome prices! I had the pulled pork sandwich and would recommend that. Also save room for dessert!
(4)Amanda C.
We were heading for greek food and spotted L Woods. DETOUR!!!! My aunt recommended it about a year ago and I'm upset I waited so long to try it. This place is amazing! My husband and I came in for dinner tonight (Friday) around 5:30pm. We were a little worried that there would be a long wait since the parking lot was full. It was the complete opposite. We were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant is huge. It's oldsy style, very cute and warm inside. The place is HUGE. We were brought out a nice soft onion bread and butter. Sat down and looked over the menu. Our waitress, Joann, came over and offered us drinks. We didn't order any and she returned after giving us a few minutes to look over the menu. Joann was very welcoming and very thoroughly explained the specials and any items we had questions about. I was torn between the filet mignon and skirt steak. What I really loved about Joann is that she kinda hinted the choices for us. Sometimes people need a little push for deciding. To start my hubby and I shared a cole slaw. Amazingly delicious cole slaw. I ordered the skirt steak which she said was marinated in soy, pineapple and other spices. Side of sweet potato and sweet corn. Steak was cooked to perfection and spot on flavor wise. HUGE PORTION. The sweet potato was cooked perfectly also and it was served with the most delicious maple & walnut butter. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm. I can't believe I ate everything, this is a dish for two ladies to split. Per our wonderful waitress the hubby ordered the parmesan crusted cod. Uh, yum. I had a few bites. Absolutely delicious. Flavor was amazing. Mashed potatoes were also very rich and yummy. He was very pleased (and boy is he a picky one). I don't even know how we dared ordering dessert after all that food... but we did. We had the 7 layer cake which came with a freshly made whipped cream. The cream complimented the cake really well. Hubby had a cup of coffee and he said it was great... he's a picky guy with coffee also. Joann did not hover too much but came to check on us at the right times. Her over all presence made the experience that much better. Our waters were always full. The whole dinner cost $65 ($80 with tip). You might say it was a bit pricy but you know what?! For the quality of food and service, it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)Andy S.
Food was good. Good atmosphere. Good beer. Didn't entirely blow me away but I would return.
(4)Penny L.
Absolutely fantastic! The ribs are big and meaty, the mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious. Can't say enough good things about this place. It's a lettuce entertain you restaurant which is also nice. It's not in the city so it has a parking lot (score for no parallel parking!), the staff is very accommodating and the food is fresh and wonderful. It's a bit high in price but it's so worth it. Go! You won't regret it!
(5)Chris O.
Great Friday Fish Fry place! A true Wisconsin restaurant except for the prices and the fact that they don't do all you can eat fish. The restaurant really does have that Wisconsin feeling right when you walk in the door. The old fashion is made spot on also.
(4)Suze C.
I have always enjoyed Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, and wanted to try something else LEY offered because of great experiences, esp. at Maggiano's and Wildfire. On a Thursday night, we arrived 12 minutes late due to traffic (five of those minutes in their parking lot). The hostess chastised me for not calling to let them know. I thought she was joking, but no! The waiter was efficient and knowledgeable. My salmon portion was cooked exactly as requested but was nearly inedible because of a high sodium seasoning (I didn't see mention of this on the menu). A skimpy veggie side - a baked potato, was not cooked through. I had two classic cocktails, which did not have the expected flavor and almost no alcohol. Never had a meal so disappointing at this price point. Husband ate ribs and was disappointed as well, and he isn't very picky!
(2)Sharee M.
We going to have a good time! Today my office had our annual Christmas party at L. Woods. I have been hearing about this great place and their food for months, so I was ready for a great time with great food! First up was the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread and Mushroom Flatbread.I loved the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread! Great favor, crispy, yummy! Our table had three servings of this! Next was the L. Woods Chopped Salad and L. Woods Orchard Salad. I (and the table) preferred the L. Woods Chopped Salad, as its mix of salad, noodles, cheese and other toppings was divine! We all had seconds on this salad. For entrees, BBQ Baby Back Ribs were served....how yummy were they! On point for being flavorful, moist, tender! Next was the Parmesan Crusted Whitefish, which was great overall. Side dished were non other than the Mashed Potatoes. Let's stop for a minute and talk about these potatoes. Just the most yummy side item I have ever tasted. Our table had about 10 dishes on this alone....they were just too good. I do know what is in them, but DO NOT skip out on the mashed potatoes here; it's just not wise on your part. ...Moving on. I did not care for the desserts being served today. Gooey Chocolate Cake did not have much of favor to me and I stop eating it after one bit. I do not like Key Lime. However, L. Wood redeemed it's self with a sugar cookie they give to us at the end of dinner, which was great! Our office had a great time in the back room. The place was busy overall, but you could not tell in our area. The service was great and prompt. Our food was great and hot. Our glasses were always filled timely. We had a great time and I could not see myself not stopping by L.Woods again (esp for mashed potatoes!
(5)Michael H.
Great baby back ribs! Old fashioned drinks. Wisconsin memories. Half priced wine bottles on Thursday nights. Dark north woods decor with hundreds of photos. Really liked this place. Borders on 5 stars, but service kind of slow and missing a gourmet touch that would put it over the top. I would definitely return for those melt in the mouth tender ribs, no knife needed. BBQ sauce also delicious. If you grew up in Wisconsin (like I did), this place will bring a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye.
(4)Nancy W.
I've loved this restaurant forever. I mostly have ribs when I come here. Today we finally tried their German apple strudel & it was AMAZING. I don't think they make anything that isn't excellent
(5)C B.
I agree, what an awful restaurant to go to to celebrate your daughter choosing which college she's going to in the fall. We were told the wait was an hour, but after 30 minutes the place had thinned out a lot but we were still waiting to get a table. So we decided to sit at a table in the bar. Waited forever for a waiter. So now we are really hungry and everything we wanted to order off the menu was gone. They ran out! How do you have fried chicken as a Sunday special and then u run out of it. The other people in our group thought the portion sizes were small and over priced. Bring Bones BACK!! Don't go here! We should have gone to Wildfire or Maggiano's.
(1)Nats A.
L woods has always been a staple in Lincolnwood (used to be called Bones before), mostly because they are part of the Lettuce entertain you club. Every Christmas we always get the LEUC gift card from relatives, and every year we go to the exact same place (even though there are more restaurants that participate in this) : L Woods. Every time we go there we ALWAYS and i mean its mandatory that we order the CHOP SALAD. The chop salad is phenomenal. Probably the best one I have had in a long time (right next to portillo's chop salad). When we order we always get the larger size which feeds four people comfortably as an appetizer. I can eat a huge one all to myself and call it a meal, but I am forced to share. :( Like I have said previous, we have been coming here for a long time, and honestly I can't find one thing to argue about. I have had anything from the queen cut steak on the menu to the pulled pork sandwich. Everything was delicious. However, it get's extremely busy on the weekends so make sure you make a reservation. Also some of the tables in the restaurant are closely joined with the next table. In some parts of the restaurant it makes you feel like your breathing down someones neck.
(4)Corey D.
I don't think I can count the number of times I have been to L Woods. My history there dates back to when the place was called Bones and some awesome changes occurred when it switched over. This 5 star review isn't based on a recent trip (which was a actually a little dicey), but rather on years of awesome experiences in a laid back and comfortable setting. Cesar salad, fried onion strings, skirt steak with vegetable of the day and either the ooey gooey chocolate cake or the apple strudel - that's the way I've been ordering since day one. For me L Woods (like most Lettuce concepts) is a place where you can get an awesome meal, time and time again because there is a level of consistency a la chain restaurants but with down home, locally grown concepts that offer more warmth and charm than a chain. Service is always stellar, the atmosphere there is killer if you dig the leather booth, wood cabin sort of feel and the fact that I see the same staff there year to year speaks to how the place is run. Sure the menu hasn't gone through much change since the place opened, but when you like what you like why stray? Know Before You Go: Recently dessert can be hit or miss, chocolate hasn't been gooey and strudel has soft/bland outside. Both the chocolate and the apple take 45 minutes to bake, so order when you sit down.
(5)Moni K.
Decided to come here for Easter Sunday with my family. The special menu was weak. Here is what I ordered: Calamari - Very good tomato bisque - excellent wedge salad- literally a cut wedge of salad head with bacon bits on top, Not even shredded or cut into smaller pieces. Just a wedge of salad head - lazy!!! Chicken ciabatta very bland, tasteless and the chicken was dry glass of house wine well priced $5 My husband had the chicken. sausage platter, pork This was the best of all the food but full of fat and grease thus not a very healthy option. My dad had green beans and grilled trout. Just OK This again brings me back to my chicken ciabatta--- how can you make this an Easter Special and serve it so dry. It it obvious they do not taste their own food.
(3)B D.
Four of us drove in from the N.W. burbs last week, wanted to try the famous Friday night fish fry. I ordered it, didn't care that it was $22 cause it was to be "spectacular." It tasted good but for $22 it should have been all you can eat, two small perch and a bed of fries. Maybe , maybe an $8 value. I believe the "Capone" martini was a one finger pour of Templeton Rye this would not make Big Al proud and where is all the knotty pine (buried under old B&W pictures)?? We will now go elsewhere for the fish fry when the mood hits. As the "Sharks" say " I'm out "!
(2)Gerry T.
I havent been here since the late 90's but it was my wife's first time coming here. Great service, plenty of good bread and nice seating. As a former angler I appreciated the stuffed large mouth and tiger muskie on the wall. As for the food, we really liked the flat bread with sliced apples. My cheeseburger and her pike sandwich were very good as well. I thought the cole slaw was just right, not too tart nor sweet. The calamari was fresh and crisp, probably the best calamari I've ever had.
(4)Zach J.
Beef ribs. They're not always easy to find, and when you do find them, they're not always guaranteed to be fantastic. Well, that's not the case at L Woods, a cozy, log-cabin looking, North Woods-themed restaurant in Lincolnwood. Not only do they serve beef ribs, but I would go so far as to say they serve the best beef ribs in the greater Chicagoland area, or at least I have yet to have better. Their "devil-style" beef ribs are monsterously huge, and have a nice spicy kick to them. It's difficult for me to order anything other than that now, although they also have a fine selection of steaks & chops as well. They've got 2-3 seperate, large dining rooms, so you never feel to cramped. And when you walk in, they do have a full bar area that is usually a bit more lively than the seperate dining areas. If you have to wait for a table, it's a good atmosphere to cozy up to the bar and watch the game, etc. Another added bonus for L Woods is the atmosphere. The place has character, with hundreds of framed pictures of their old customers from the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The place has charm, and a welcoming, down-to-earth, unpretentious vibe about it. That's probably because it's in Lincolnwood, but whatever the case, I personally find it very refreshing. So I've gotta give this place a 5-star rating, mainly for the beef ribs, but overall the total package at L Woods = *****
(5)Y V.
Interesting lodge atmosphere. Definitely the kind of place to take your parents out to dinner. We tried the onion strings appetizer. It's a big portion - prepare to share it with 3 other people. Thin, crispy, salty goodness. It's also a great side for any of the main courses. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly. Keep in mind that the side dishes are a la carte. Their old-fashioned burger was not what I expected, but tasty nonetheless. The patty was thin and had seared, caramelized crusts on both sides. The "special sauce" was similar to a Thousand Island dressing. I'll be back to try their fried chicken and other specials.
(4)E G.
I made an online reservation and while enroute to dinner traffic was horrible. I called to say I would be a little late and I was informed that it would not be a problem. When I walked in there was wall to wall customers waiting to be seated. I walked up and gave my name and was immediately seated. Now that's customer service! Never disappointed whenever I come here! Eat the beef ribs they are the best!
(4)Donna L.
ALWAYS a good time at our L. Woods... from the host to the wine to the food... everything lives up to perfection... the atmosphere is so homey, the waiters are so friendly.. and the BEEF RIBS are alllllways available and deeeeelicious! And don't forget the dessert... which takes 40 minutes to make! Chocolate cake! Apple strudel! It's hard to find a place that excels in every part of the night... the host/manager is of the friendliest.. the waiter has suggestions and recommendations... the wine pairings are heavenly, the our chopped salad was FANTASTIC... even the bread is special and delicious. Then comes the best part- the beef ribs are succulent and tasty... can't go wrong with the BBQ sauce. And after another glass of wine... the best part... dessert!
(5)Ella B.
I would give this place a zero if I could. I've been taken here as a guest multiple times and this place is nothing special. At my last visit I was so disgusted I thought the health inspector should have paid them a visit... The evening started off with food caked on to my silverware. Now I'm not talking about a little smudge or a tiny piece of food... There was disgustingly a BIG chunk of food CAKED on my fork AND knife. I absolutely hate being the person to bother the wait staff to change my silverware but in this situation it had to be done. The waiter wasn't rude, but had a slight attitude when I asked him to change my silverware. To my surprise when he brought me a new "clean" set it also had food stuck on the silverware! (now I just asked you to replace my dirty silverware... don't you think it would be wise to double check and make sure the replacement was cleaned?) Where are your standards in giving people dirty silverware?! The WORST part was when I ate my left overs at home the next day to find a FINGER NAIL IN MY MOUTH hidden in the middle of my mashed potatoes. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had, I vomited the second I realized someone's fingernail was in my food and now inside my mouth. How does that happen?! EWW I still cringe thinking of it. Not only did I have trouble with my meal, but another guest at our table found a hair in her macaroni and cheese... I made a complaint to the manager to suggest they watch the sanitary precautions because I was so unbelievably disgusted. The manager just said they would "look into it" and I never heard from them again. It seemed like they just brushed it off and were not concerned at all. WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER. I will avoid coming to this restaurant ever again.
(1)Miles B.
I find the place utterly charming. Lodge-style restaurant makes you feel like you're up in the north woods of Wisconsin. Food quality was a little better than you get up north (i had the Saturday Prime Rib special) . Lots of families & blue hairs here so my wife and I probably stood out a little but who cares. It's fun for someone who works in the loop and is usually choosing between big chain convenience dining (chilis, Fridays, etc) and places trying to be ultra-hip with stainless steel tables and 12 dollar martinis. Sometimes, I want to get out of the city routine without having to drive 2 hours. This is a good place for that.
(4)Sarah B.
I feel so conflicted about L Woods. I've dined there probably a couple dozen times in my life and really enjoy the food. But too many times I've gone there and the service has been sub-par. My favorite food is the chopped salad, bar none. The apple strudel is incredible but make sure you order it during the appetizers as it takes 45 minutes to make. The flat breads are not only tasty, but very healthy as well. And the onion bread: get the onion bread! As for the service, I've had some great servers in the past and then some really inattentive, forgetful ones. Last night I was having dinner with a big group of people and the waiter took a long time getting us our drinks and came back to check on us very infrequently. We had ordered the apple strudel during our main course, and an hour later it still wasn't there. He told us it will be out in one minute, and fifteen minutes later we were still waiting. There's been other experiences when the service was mediocre or poor, to the point where sometimes it overshadowed how good the food is.
(3)Nicholas H.
This is by far the best restaurant in Lincolnwood. The tomato bisque soup is probably the best soup I have ever had including anything that is homemade. The mac and cheese is out of this world. I will come in on a Saturday afternoon and just order tomato bisque and mac&cheese. It's that good!
(5)Russ C.
Great French onion soup. Their almond crusted walleye is excellent and one of my go to entrees. Waiters are always knowledgeable and are very attentive. Terrific menu and have never had a bad meal or service.
(5)Ari L.
Solid performer Letttuce Enterain You resty modeled after an old Elk's/hunting lodge. Lots of wood paneling and black & white pictures of patrons inside. I had the BBQ chicken crinkle cut french fries, which weren't bad but nothing to write home about. Service left something to be desired. If you're looking for a decent middle-of-the-road place what's not too pricey and won't offend anyone, this isn't a bad choice.
(3)George A.
Go here. Old woodsy feel, pricey but you walk out more than happy. Leave now.
(4)Taylor M.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new place to celebrate me buying a new car that day and him closing on a house the next. First, I have to let you know that I did not arrive here until a little after 9 pm and the restaurant closes at 10 pm. When we arrived the waiter informed us they were all out of the daily special of breaded pork (which I was hoping to try since it got amazing reviews on here!) as well as the fried calamari. At first I was a little disappointed but then I thought this is a good thing for two reasons. 1. It says that the restaurant is popular enough to run out of food and 2. that they only buy a limited amount of food so it is always fresh. So I set my sights on the Irish Salmon with apple butter but then they were out of this as well. So I settled on the Parmesan crusted cod with lemon butter sauce which was good. It is a nice light fish that just flakes apart. The food quality was good... but I still felt hungry afterwords (granted I had not had time to eat all day!). My boyfriend started with the corned beef and cabbage soup which was a little salty (which I like) and had a great taste! For his meal he tried the Devil Style Beef Ribs... which were great but did not really live up to the "devil" spiciness we were hoping for! Our waiter was fantastic and all the employees were extremely friendly. Our dishes were cleared immediately and my water never got below halfway full. However, be prepared to spend more than $30 per person after tax and tip for just two entrees. I felt it was worth the price because of the freshness and quality of the food and wait staff. The ambiance is also beautiful wood trim and decorations. I will definitely be back... and next time I am trying a drink!
(4)Ian M.
Even though this may be one of the most stray LEY locations in the city, I'm happy L. Woods is part of the diverse family and that's a short drive from my home. This is one of those places where everyone dines to celebrate, whether it's a birthday or just a weekend family dinner. Don't be intimidated by the crowdedness. The key is to plan ahead properly whether it be online or via phone. Your table will likely not be ready at the time of your reservation, but you shouldn't expect to spend less than an hour dining here anyway. The Bell's brewery beer on tap is a plus and the small TVs playing the game(s) is a subtle but nonintrusive touch to the one dining room. When it comes to food, the ribs are always filling, but save room for creamed spinach and mashed potatoes to share. Careful, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach! Speaking of saving room, the meal won't be complete if you indulge in either the apple strudel or chocolate cake. Don't forget to order it with your dinner order so that it's nice and hot from the oven after you finish your meal.
(5)Halleh C.
I came here for lunch the other day after having passed it on the way in and out of the city so many times. I always noticed the parking lot was full and was intrigued by its popularity. Even during lunch, this place was pretty packed. I got the french onion soup and chicken salad sandwich combo and YUM!! The soup was absolutely delicious, with a thick layer of bubbling cheese on the top. The sandwich was also pretty good. Standard chicken salad, but tasty. I only ate half of my huge sandwich and saved the other half for dinner. Not bad for 9.99! The service was excellent. I always feel bad for the female servers who have to wear a mens work uniform in places like these. Since when is the male wardrobe the default? I think that Women can look nice and professional without wearing tuxedo pants, mens button downs and a TIE. Men's clothes just don't look good on women. Back to the point... This place made me wish I was retired! (In a good way). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Joshua N.
Hi. I'm Elle Woods and this is Bruiser Woods. We're both Gemini vegetarians. Moving on... This restaurant has nothing to do with Legally Blonde as others have mentioned. What it does have to do with is a really amazing pulled pork flatbread appetizer with pesto, caramelized onions, and ranch dressing. Also, a top notch, panko breaded, fried pork loin on wednesday nights served with homemade applesauce, corn, and mashed potatoes and gravy. There is a gargantuan side of mac and cheese that you'll have to demonstrate some real self control to stop eating, but I recommend ordering anyway. This is fat people food, there is no question about it, and I was in hog heaven. Can't wait to go back and try some more of their nightly specials. The only disappointment for me was not having my photo taken during the meal - it seems like there is a picture of just about everyone who has ever dined there on the wall somewhere.
(4)Jen T.
This gets 3.5 stars, if half stars were an option. I've been to L.Woods numerous times. It's a good place to go with family or a large group looking for a chill meal. Their fried chicken on Sundays is really, really good. The only thing that would make it better is if they served it with waffles.... mmmmmmm. One can dream! I really like the kitschy, lodge-type atmosphere. The service is always good and it's relieving to not worry about parking. The reason I didn't give this place 4 stars is because other than my massive craving for their fried chicken, the food is just okay. I've tried most of the menu and while everything is cooked fine, nothing stands out. It's consistently predictable and frankly, a bit boring.
(3)Dan H.
The barbeque-planked salmon is one of my favorite dishes of any restaurant in the area. I highly recommend it. The chopped salad is good, and I would recommend that over the Caesar here. They also make a decent steak, but I usually stick with the salmon. The service has always been very good, especially considering how busy it can get on the weekend.
(5)Dave G.
Family dinner last night. Had 7pm reservations, seated somewhat later. So far, so good. We were 5 so we got a nice booth. Service and food - good. Why 3 stars then? Stay tuned.... Part, okay most of this my own fault, but I ordered the perch dinner w/o looking at the menu. I should have. Why? Because the darn dinner cost $22.99!! For a Friday perch dinner !?!? Yep. IMO, that would be a good price for 2 dinners, but one? Come on. Again, my fault for not looking at the menu. Never again. Go there? Sure, but don't do what I did.
(3)Tony R.
My Wife took me to L. Woods for my Birthday, and I was blown away. The Sweet Sausage Flatbread was good, but the main courses wehad were phenomenal. Nothing fancy, but Ribs that rival Twin Anchors, and the best Prime Rib I have ever tasted. Only disappointment was no Spotted Cow on tap. I guess you can't get it outside of Wisconsin so I will give them a pass. They also have Shaw's Crabhouse's Key Lime Pie. Amazing.
(5)S K.
I love this place. Have been going for years. The food deserves four stars and is the best part of the dining experience here. Either they aren't hiring quality wait staff or they aren't taking the time to train them like they used to. The new assistant manager or hostess - I am not sure which she really is - seems clueless. She barely acknowledges you. What happened to a smile and a greeting when someone walks in. She just stares and waits for your request for a table. Strange. Every single time she sends us to the least desirable table...I guess someone has to take it. We go here at least three times a month - most of the time more. I shouldn't have to tell them every time that I prefer a better table. Wait staff always seems hurried at each table and then you see them huddled up together in a corner. Too bad really - this place used to have the best servers who recognized their return diners and accommodated them with professional service. This isn't TGIF. We usually spend anywhere from $80 to $180 a visit. Now for the good - steaks are tender and cooked perfect every time! The new menu has the old favorites and some delicious new items. Maybe we will just start dining at the bar and skip the hostess/assistant manager and mediocre wait staff all together. I can't stay away from the ribs or steaks!
(2)Karen M.
Always amazing! On our most recent visit, we were a group of 6 celebrating Mother's Day. The place was packed, but we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Our server was very attentive. The meal was outstanding. I've seen the complaints about the prices. You get what you pay for. The food is of the highest quality. I'd rather pay a bit more for a meal I know will be delicious - as well as excellent service. And you can't beat the "Up North" atmosphere. My recommendations - the almond crusted walleye; the Sat special prime rib; the Friday night Schlitz beer batter haddock. They also have fantastic fried chicken and ribs. Are you hungry? Well - get yourself over to L. Woods!
(5)Michael L.
I received a generous Lettuce Entertain You gift card, and looked online for advice. L Woods came up and I immediately thought of Legally Blonde. The menu looked great, and 1/2 price bottles of wine Tue/Thurs didn't hurt. I went last night and had a nice dinner. We arrived around 8:15pm for dinner and the place was packed and loud. The cozy up-north Michigan cabin ambiance was comforting. I ordered the wedge salad to start and the NY strip for dinner. The salad wedge was crisp and cold, topped with bleu cheese dressing, onions and bacon. YUM. My steak was cooked perfectly rare and huge. We also ordered the Malbec, which was $27, but half off. It was a nice blend, not too sweet or dry. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, but know what tastes good. Overall it was a pleasant experience, and I would certainly return. The place emptied out by 9:00 and was much quieter than when we arrived. Also, one of the managers came over right after we ordered and brought over a flat bread appetizer, since we had never been there before. Nice touch.
(4)Pam S.
L Woods rarely fails to please. Food is always good. Almond crusted walleye gives you a huge portion of tender fish with a great crispy crust. Skirt steak is always perfectly broiled although disappointed with the crispy onions I asked for as they were not crispy. Service is always good and their chopped salad is worth the extra price. They have recently added some Oriental meals to their takeout but have not tried them. Often crowded, loud but always good food.
(4)Mary W.
After a Mother's Day nightmare here before, we decided to wait and go the following week to dine at L Woods. Best idea I've had in a while, it was busy, but you could move without being on top of one another. This leads to my biggest issue with L Woods. There were numerous empty tables, so what do they do? They seat us between two large groups, one of which was celebrating the birthday of one VERY annoying and LOUD child. Between screeches we asked to move tables and they moved us. Common sense would not have seated us there in the first place. Even though they were not that crowded, service was very, very slow. Don't go here if you have anywhere you need to be after dining. The meal was okay, we had Ribs, Steaks and the Fried Chicken special. For the price of meals at L Woods, they should do a better job of creating more salad choices as well as veg options that are not fat and calorie loaded. They also need to up the desert choices and sell smaller portions. The Strudel was not worth the money or wait. It will be a long time before I return.
(3)Evan E.
Working in sales, I take a lot of customers out to lunch and dinner. I have never once had a bad meal or bad service at L. Woods. There are a heck of a lot of choices in Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood that are GREAT. I would venture to say that 75% or more of my many customers in the area choose Woods. The food is always great and there is something for everyone.. Vegetarian? They make their own Veggie Burger and its great.. Looking for something light? They have it, get a flat bread or salad. Or even better, the flatbread salad combo (if your not looking to go light). Their French Onion Soup is top notch! There is a bar tender there that works lunch practically every day. He has been working there since it was bones. Tell Frank your name once, he will remember you and your drink. I love L Woods. You will too!
(5)Sandi S.
Ah, good ol' L. Woods, a Lincolnwood staple fashioned after a giant log cabin adorned with all the woodsy decor you might expect to find in such a space, save for the numerous framed pictures of famous celebrities/locals and repeat customers who seem more like an extension of family. I've always thought of L. Woods as a steakhouse, but they also do bbq and I think that tonight I preferred it to the steaks. So it was a balmy, summer Saturday night during tough economic times and the place was jammed. We had no reservation and were told it'd be about thirty minutes. We had never sat at the bar before and were all too happy to pass the time there. The bartender greeted us warmly and quickly. For one dirty vodka martini and one cherry martini, it was $20.13 - in Lincolnwood! But hey, it was date night, and the bartender hooked me up with two bleu cheese-stuffed olives while he fixed our drinks, so I was all good. Within only five minutes, our beeper went off and so we hurriedly paid the bill and ascended to the hostess podium where "Mama" showed us to our table. She was an older woman who wasn't entirely certain she knew where table 101 was, but she got us there. She must be part of the legacy of L. Woods. Her nametag actually said "Mama" on it and she knew many diners. The restaurant is split into four different dining areas. The few times we've been before, we've always sat in the front, but tonight, we were in the more dimly lit back area - the one with the pinewood paneling, not the room w/ faux log walls. We ordered two soups as appetizers - one French onion au gratin and one tortilla soup. The French onion was absolutely fab - not too salty, perfectly sweet, and cheese not so rubbery you need a knife and fork to get through it. The tortilla soup was almost a corn chowder, but with a spicy, limey kick. To me, it was lukewarm, but my husband doesn't care for scalding hot soups like I do, so it suited him just fine. We debated about ordering a flatbread, but skipped it only to be surprised with a mushroom flatbread compliments of the house! They thought it was our first time there, but we quickly corrected them that it had been over a year since the last visit to which the manager replied, "Close enough!" and placed it on the table. "Welcome back," he added. The flatbread was leavened lavash topped with pesto and 24-hour marinated mushrooms in herbs and olive oil, and then oven baked. Holy crap, it was delicious! Very thin. Very light. I'm so glad we got to try it. We passed on salads, though we know they're outstanding. We each got steak - me the filet mignon med rare, and hubby the queen cut prime rib med rare w/ horseradish sauce. As if that wasn't plenty, we also got a full slab of ribs! (Oink!) My steak was cooked perfectly, but hubby's a little overdone, and both were bland. It was very disappointing. We've ordered steaks there everytime, but this time they really fell flat. Aside from no flavor, they were a little tough too, or not as "cuts like butter" as they should've been. I was about to lose all hope on dinner, but then I tried the ribs. (Clouds part. Angels sing.) Y-U-M! Okay, we're back on track now. In addition to the entrees, we got a couple of sides - baked mac n' cheese and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach was rich and decadent and I slopped it all over my baked potato. The mac n' cheese was moist and cheesy and very homemade feeling, though they used a longer tube noodle which was a bit of a surprise when I plunged my fork in and pulled it out. While we tend to over-order, we're good about wrapping a lot of it to go. Despite wrapping mass quantities of everything we ordered I still didn't have room for dessert, so I took it to go as well - a simple chocolate layer cake. In fact, to do this review properly, I think I must have a bite right now ... O. M.G!!! Now, THAT was a chocolate layer cake! It came with a side of chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream speckled with vanilla bean! Okay, so wrapping up here, my cherry martini was very sweet so I ordered a digestif with a little carbonation to it - Miller Lite. The hubby got his after dinner usual, a J&B neat. The atmosphere was pleasant, upscale (for a log cabin), and the wait staff attentive and friendly. The experience over all was very positive. I'm hoping that the subpar steaks were one-offs. Although we sat amid a sea of blue hairs, there were some young families, and a few other couples out on their own "date night." I would definitely go back and even recommend it to a friend. Stick with the salads, the bbq fare, those rich sides, and THAT CAKE! You won't go wrong. For THREE entrees, two soups, two sides, one dessert, four beers, and one J&B, the bill was roughly $136 before tip.
(4)Agnes P.
A perfect location for a cold Chicago winters night. I went to L Woods last night (Wednesday) and it was amazing. They were crowded, which I was surprised with being that it was midweek. However, they managed to get us seated promptly as well as served us our meals in a short amount of time. The waitstaff was friendly & extremely professional. No busboys trying to push you to the side - rather they move out of your way & allow you to pass. Manners are difficult to come by these days - their staff is trained well. I ordered the breaded pork tenderloin and it was amazing. The entire dish from the pork, to the mashed potatoes, to the corn tasted as if it had come straight from a grandmother's kitchen. Ahhh- and the side of apple sauce tasted house made as well. My date had a cheese burger which looked delicious. I will be back again - the food served there wasn't typical, tasted as if it was made from scratch & was surprisingly fresh.
(5)Maria H.
My husband and I went here lastnight with my parents. We all are big fans of the woodsy Wisconsin atmosphere and this place was perfect. Big portions. Good service. We got there pretty early, around 5 and sat down right away. I had the ribs, which were fall of the bone with delicious sauce. We also shared a large chop salad and was perfect amount for 4. I was too full to eat my fries and tried husband's garlic mashed potatoes which were really amazing! Overall, a fun atmosphere. It was pretty crowded when we left at 7. And this was a Sunday :)
(5)Anthony C.
L Woods is a restaurant that is in our rotation - a place we go to on a regular basis, usually during the week. And every time everything is right on the money, from waitstaff, to beer selection, to food. The atmosphere is wonderful - cozy, perfect lighting, and your choice of areas to sit in from the bar area to a big cozy booth on the other side. The food is always spot on. The portions are generous and the quality is top-notch. Some of our favorites are the chop salad (my favorite anywhere), the dry-rub baby back ribs, the mohagany chicken, and the breaded pork tenderloin (a special on Wednesday night). This place is busy every day, all the time, so I would always recommend getting a reservation. Go and enjoy some of the best comfort food that the city has to offer.
(4)Eric L.
The waiter brings my friends' "Brontosaurus Ribs," my "onion strings" and my beer all at the same time. At this moment I am at a dark mood. I understand that the ribs were entered before my onion strings, in fact I don't mind if the rings comes to the table after the ribs, but since less than 5 minutes passed before me entering an order, the fact that an appetizer could be brought to my table meant that it was already prepared ahead of time. This is a restaurant sin! In order to satiate my unholy demands of all things gluttonous, do not bring me food sitting under a heat lamp; this is especially true for fried foods. As if I was some culinary neophyte, my friend explained to me that since beef ribs are so large (compared to pork I guess), he called them "brontosaurus." I picked at the onion rings. They were cold. As members of my party complained about their significant others, my friend asks for more bbq sauce. I noted, good idea, I need something hot for these onion rings from Cocytus. As I was about to join in the request for additional sauce the waiter sprinted off. It took me 10 minutes to get bbq sauce for my rings - and guess what - the sauce was frigid too.
(1)Amie C.
I live everything about this place! The friendly people working (and a couple of cuties, too!), the ambience, the food, oh my! Heavenly chopped salad, sans blue cheese for me please! Great tomato bisque couples nicely with the complementary bread and butter. Fantastic fries and the chili looked pretty darn amazing too. My mouth watered as I walked by other tables and gazed in jealousy at the other dishes. Cannot wait to come back and try more options! Oh and they have fun bottles of pop, sprechers, I believe.
(5)Ginny L.
My family has been going here for years, back to when it was still Bones, but oh, we love it as much as ever. Most people I go with get the steaks or ribs, which are great, but in preparation for dessert I usually go with the salad/flatbread combo. The chopped salad is GIGANTIC even when it's the side version, and the flatbread... well, it could take up half my desk. I get the feeling that even though it's crispy, delicious, and not so filling, it's absolutely terrible for me... but the salad balances that out, right? The real reason I come to L Woods is what comes next. The molten chocolate cake needs to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, and even if we're only a group of 2, we order the large size since we know we'll want leftovers. It's one of my favorite desserts on the planet, and my family's new favorite way of eating it is leftover after sitting in the freezer overnight. I still prefer it warm and gooey, but frozen is great too.
(5)Logan S.
Went back December 15th. All I can say about my first review is "ditto". And the new desserts are wonderful!!
(5)Tony C.
Great food and not expensive great for lunch and dinner. Worth going to.
(5)Tom A.
Wayyyyyy back in the day, this place was called Bones and I'd travel down Touhy for their tasty treats-- mostly the fancy-schmancy bread and bagel basket (I learned to love bagels dipped in BBQ sauce here!) and of course, the Bones Burger. The decor then consisted of hand-painted caricatures of Chicago celebs and landmarks, and the place had a old-tomey supperclub kind of vibe. The menu has changed a bit since then, and the North Lodge atmosphere is certainly different, but overall the restaurant is still a treat. With cozy lighting and wood paneling/mounted fish and animals on the wall, the lodge ambiance is spot-on. L. Woods has a separate bar area set off from the main dining room, and the menu features a great selection of cocktails and beer (including beer flights with local brews). Their bread is still tasty and their barbecued chicken is great, but my heart still belongs to the Bones Burger-- but WAIT! Though it isn't on the menu, if you order a "Flagship Burger" they should provide you with a reasonable facsimile of their legendary Bones Burger, complete with onion strings and creamy bleu cheese dressing. Amazing! Another plus about L. Woods is that it stays true to it's supper club origins, and offers a Supper Club dinner service for parties of 6 or more. Your group can choose two appetizers, two salads, two main courses (including BBQ chicken, ribs, fish, or filet mignon for a little extra), two sides, and two desserts. Be sure to try the gooey chocolate cake (though make sure you order it when you arrive as it takes a bit to bake). Very homey atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great food!
(4)Lea L.
Great lettuce entertain you restaurant...feels like you are dining in a old lodge. Food is excellent with lots of choices. Apple strudel is the bomb-- a most order to end any meal.
(4)Chatzy F.
We absolutely love this place ! We love everything never had a bad experience ever.
(5)Mark J.
What I like about this place is that the prices and consistency are great. This is a down scale version of Wildfire, similar menu but only 2/3 the price. You cant go wrong with the steaks, chops, and chicken here. I have on numerous occassions had the parmesan crusted filet and its has been superb. The prime rib could be better....the horseradish sauce was cut with too much and not flavorful at all. Make reservations at this spot as its crazy busy every night.
(4)Audrey C.
Two words: Chopped Salad. The BF and I are addicted, so addicted in fact, we often order half trays of it for pick up. If you do anything at L. Woods, eat that salad. Beyond that, this is a warm, cozy place with great ambiance. We have never had a bad time or bad service, and I hope I'm not jinxing that! Steaks are reasonably priced and yummy, the desserts are great, and overall, it's an awesome time. Just make sure you make reservations!
(5)Billy M.
I guess I will start with the good... They had a decent beer selection with local 5 Rabbits on the menu...good work. The Key Lime Pie was very good. The Walleye Chips were solid, but when you only get 5 for a table of four, its somewhat disappointing. The bad: Our waitress asked if we wanted to order the apple streudal or chocolate gooey cake (both take 45 minutes) we said no thanks, and at the end of our entrees, we were given the check...no problem Diana, we didnt want any of the OTHER 4 desserts that we said we want...thanks. The Sunday Special: Fried Chicken (AKA over battered bland chicken special) Wow, for this to be a special would make you think that it was decent or possibly good. Not the case...way too over battered. They take the chicken out of the frier and let it cool on a baking pan instead of a rack to let the grease drip away and stop the cooking process...pretty amateurish that the wings and legs were so over fried and bad, that you couldnt even eat the outside of the piece...you had to tear everything off. The chicken was actually decent once you found it...but man, not something I would order from this place again. Service was absolutely horrendous...I understand that it was Mother's Day, but my mom saw this place in the paper, and she chose it, we went there for the Sunday Special and the waitress said that they were out of chicken, then went into the kitchen to ask, then came out and said that they had some left...probably something to mention at the beginning... Overall, not good...beer was fine, pie was solid, but the meal and the service just ruined it.
(1)jaclyn r.
Everything here is so good!
(5)Paul A.
I LOVE L. Woods and go there often, though this past visit was disappointing due to the service. Our server tried to hard-sell us on a Lettuce Entertain You Club membership saying we begin with a Lettuce$10 credit He did not explain that there would be a $25 service charge on the check We joined anyway, but did not appreciate the misrepresentation. I go to L. Woods, Wildfire, Shaws and other Lettuce restaurants and have never encountered this before. Food as always was terrific!
(3)Sarah L.
I had no idea this was a Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. We came here Saturday night with a reservation thankfully. Showed up around 7:00 and we barely got a parking spot! We were celebrating my mother in law's birthday and we wanted to take her to a nice restaurant near our house. We didn't have any appetizers because we saw the portion sizes. They are HUGE! I wanted to try the flat breads though, maybe next time. I had the Parmesan crusted cod with mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed my dinner! The servings are way too big and you can easily split a meal with someone. The fish and chips are a rip off. You get like 4 little pieces of fried cod and thin waffle chips. It's definitely overpriced at $18. Their burgers are fantastic and the BBQ half chicken is delicious too! This place is jumping on the weekends. I highly recommend making a reservation. The restaurant reminds me of dining at a supper club in northern Wisconsin. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jacob K.
I was very surprised at the quality of the food as I have eaten here before with disappointment but last night was quite an experience. The place was full even at 9 PM, the service was dead on and the food was delicious- much more than I have ever witnessed from a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. The flat bread with dried tomatoes and basil was light, crisp and flavorful. I head the turkey burgers were good, the BBQ brisket sandwich was very good as were the double baked potatoes and fries. However, the best item was the BBQ ribs with devil sauce. There were 6 huge beef ribs that were tender and flavorful- possibly the best beef ribs I have had. They also had some great beer on tap and by the bottle. The chocolate layer cake was also quite good but after being stuffed (I ate my fries and 1/2 of the ribs) it was not as appetizing as it normally would be. The wait staff was wonderful and attentive coming with a bowl for the bones, moist paper towels and a good sense of humor.
(4)Marion B.
Yum yum yum yum yum. Seriously. We stopped on our way back from Woodfield, only because we were thinking "Elle Woods," like from Legally Blonde. We eventually figured it out, and while that was happening, we were delighted by our surroundings. It was like some kind of old supper club...elderly ladies dressed to the nines, all cooing over my friend's new baby. We didn't have a reservation, but even on a Saturday we were sat in about an hour (Remember, we had no idea this place ever existed.) Reasonably priced, positively comforting food. Yum. Oh, and get the mac & cheese as an appetizer. That's what we did, and it was the right decision. We'll be back, with a rezzie. Oh my. One of our best spur of the moment decisions ever. Oh, but, fellow patrons, women are allowed to breastfeed. Quit staring. She was totally covered up.
(5)Kristina K.
Delicious, dependable lunch spot! I've eaten in and taken out and L. Woods provides a dependable lunch no matter what. Their lunch containers have become more earth-friendly (yay!), but their take out silverware has remained the same (boo!). The pulled pork sand which is good. The burgers are delicious and juicy. The soups and chili are bowl-licking good. I know the soups are not made from scratch in house, but the Lettuce Entertain You soups are pretty good. The flat bread/pizza is a shareable portion. The macaroni and cheese is oily. L. Woods prepares the macaroni and cheese with bacon grease (which is usually yummy), but I would recommend sharing this with a friend. Some people swear by L. Woods' ribs, but I haven't had the chance to try them. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't good. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat, even to the older folks (which they have a lot of) that have a quieter-almost-on-it's-last-leg heartbeat.
(4)Allison S.
I went on a date here a couple days ago. Since it was my first time her the waitress (who was extremely nice!) brought us a comped flat bread - it was the bbq chicken one, very delicous! Then I got the bbq planked salmon with corn and mashed potatoes, it was very good but heavy so I ended up bring half of it home. For dessert we got the Gooey Chocolate Cake. It was so rich, I wanted to eat more of it but I was starting to feel my tooth hurt! The overall vibe was a lot of older people, we were the only young people really in there that weren't with our parents. I would go back with the family, but not on another date.
(4)Steven M.
You simply can't go wrong with the BBQ at this Lettuce Entertain You establishment. This restaurant has a great drink menu including a cherry martini, the Midwest mojito (num num) and a great beer flight for 7 bucks. The apple stick salad, Manhattan (red) clam chowder and french onion soup are pretty fantastic. Veggie burgers and flat-breads are all excellent for vegetarians and all. Beef and baby back ribs are tender and spicy, and the mahogany roast chicken and BBQ planked salmon are among my favorite entrees. Pounded Chicken a la Sima is ungodly large and big enough for 3 people if they have salads first! Oven baked desserts must be ordered at the time of your entree order although we rarely have these because, well we're calorie-counting Nazis! I think it's important to say this does not feel like a corporate chain restaurant at all. It's oh so good!
(4)Amy S.
Yet another LEYE gift certificate to use, with an expiration of 4/15/09. So, the hubster and I ventured out of the city and to L Woods for dinner. We live right off 94, and the restaurant is very close to the Touhy exit, so given the ease in getitng there, and the quality of the food/service, I'm sure we'll be back. The place was PACKED- glad we had a reservation (we were able to get one for 7:15 on a Friday three days in advance). The number of people did not impact the quality of service. We were greeeted immediately and received wonderful service through our meal. Chopped Salad= LICK THE BOWL. Husband got Cheddar Crusted Whitefish and loved it, citing a jalapeno kick in the crust not mention on the menu but well received. I had the BBQ Trio- 3 tiny BBQ sandwiches: pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken. I ate two there, and then one for leftovers the next day, and all were fantastic. The downer.......the couple who was insanely drunk and swearing/arguing at the table next to us, got up to leave twice, verged on physical violence. No, I'm not kidding. Finally, they left. The upper...... the manager came over once the crazies went home for another drink and fightfest- he apologized profusely and offered us a free dessert. Well done, manager man. Well done. The Key Lime Pie was excellent, too.
(4)Sarah V.
My husband and I came here this past Friday night for my birthday. We had made a reservation for 6:30, arrived just before that time and were seated right away! The restaurant has a nice vibe... It's kind of reminiscent of an old-school, lakeside supper club. Very cozy... low lighting... rustic decor. Good stuff. Our waitress, who was very friendly, introduced herself, asked if we'd dined with them before (we had not) and let us know what the specials were for the night. A few minutes later, after we'd gotten our drinks, Patrick (I'm assuming he was a manager) came to our table to deliver a complimentary flatbread order. He said he was told it was our first time dining with them and just wanted to thank us for coming out! How cool is that?? Plus the flatbread, which was a BBQ chicken with pesto sauce was phenomenal! Sooooo tasty! I ordered the french onion soup to start and my husband had a wedge salad to start and both were very good! Our meals came fairly quicky, which was great. I had the BBQ chicken and my husband had the Friday night special, which was the fried perch. Both were excellent! Also, I HIGHLY recommend the garlic mashed potatoes as a side... to die for! All in all, it was a great meal with excellent service. What more can you ask for?
(5)jean h.
Went on a Saturday night and was told the wait would be about an hour. Got seated in probably 30 minutes. The place is very lively with people as young as toddlers to seniors in their 90's. Got seated in what seemed like an extra room in the corner. I was freezing - I'm NEVER cold. I needed to wear my winter coat the entire time. Our waitress was very good and our meal was served in a timley manner. Onion strings were good as well as the pulled pork. The mac and cheese - meh. My husband had the filet and it was really good.Nice but we were really COLD.
(3)Carol J.
A quaint and bustling outpost of the LEYE chain, but definitely a character all is own. It reminds me of the supper club in Northern Wisconsin where I spent my summers (albiet against MY will) as a child. And I've probably been here just as many times. Food is solid with outstanding bbq ribs and chicken. Gorgeous and bountiful salads and mind boggling potatoes. I've had most of the apps on the menu and really enjoyed the crab cakes both as an app an as an entree. Service is standard Lettuce which in my opinion is pretty polished, professional and proficient. Never a problem there except when the servers get slammed during the very busy lunch rush. Big plus is the free parking. And the flatbread. And the retro ish cocktails. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. The only thing missing are the bass fisherman drinking Old Style at the bar.
(4)Gail Z.
Disappointing after all the years of much better food. Had a reservation and were seated promptly to the table. Water glass at the table was filthy. Wait staff all seem preoccupied with other worldly thoughts than their jobs--very impersonal. Ordered beers which were poured at our table by our waitress who needs to take a lesson in how to do it correctly. Ordered their usually good onion strings and those have been changed and are now served in a paper lined cone shaped serving piece and were not strings and had no onion flavor--salty and not the same as in the past. They do always get a big crowd, but I now hesitate to return as things are going downhill. So sorry this is happening to a restaurant you could always count on in the past. Too bad.
(2)Demetrio P.
Two words...Beef Ribs...hmmmm! This place is a no frills, old school ambiance, with good food. My last visit, I had the BBQ Beef Ribs which were excellent, tasty, no too sweet or tart, BBQ sauce was on the mark, and the ribs itself were huge! It came with about 6 beef ribs which I could only eat three! I will definitely go back and try their baby back ribs and other selections. In summary, good food, good service, okay prices.
(4)Anthony M.
This place was packed. Fishing decor awesome. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. I'll be back.
(4)Feisty E.
Good food, good value. Can be called romantic, if you're into roaring 20s Chicago dinner club... very dim, dark wood/lots of red. Not bad. Very comfy booths - but they have to realize they need to clean tables AND seats, esp. after people with bunch of kids eat (unfortunately, some people can't resist taking a 2 yo for dinner at 9am on Sat night). I almost sat on leftover sauce last time... They did apologize and clean up promptly after we pointed out the sauce however. No big deal, they were busy, and we were hungry. White shorts did escape a brown splotch, so it's all good ;) We've been there a total of 15 times or so over the years; some things are always consistently great. Chopped salad, whitefish and prime rib are our favorites. Last time especially, the prime rib was delish. They also get the doneness correctly every time. Another favorite is the chocolate molten/mousse cake - YUM. Place order ahead, takes 0.5 or so. It's just as good as Roy's, and more bang for your buck. The single portion is no longer available, but do not fear - you can refrigerate this cake, give it a nuke at home and enjoy it next day or two. Service is very consistent, helpful but not intrusive. Like it a lot. My only gripe is the drinks... good lord, it would be funny if wasn't so sad. Glad someone mentioned it before. Let me be very specific; do NOT order mixed drinks there, truly atrocious. Stick with your Guinness or neat liquor. Long ago, before drink quality was better than dismal (new bartender?), they had an OK Door County martini. Last 2 times I ordered, it was cherry juice (grenadine, really... gross) without a hint of vodka or actual sour cherries that supposed to come with it. This drink is their special.. wtf?? excuse my French. I used to bartend while in school, and I did share with the waitress that it is truly the worst flavored martini ever... in turn, she confided in me that the said cherry martinis are PREMADE and kept in a large pitcher. What moron pre-makes martinis, folks? We were comped for it, but I didn't *want* a free one... a wanted a good one, and was unable to get it, not even on second try. But again, the food is good (sin major butter overuse, but hey.... as an occasional treat, it probably won't kill you). Fire the bartender(s), fix the drink menu and you have a descent mid-level place for a casual meat-and-potato delight.
(3)Kryste N.
Went for dinner last night with my mom, we went after work and got there about 6:15 - the geriatric crowd was in full attendance, and you know why? The food is great, like home cookin great! I had the skirt steak, mom had the pork tenderloin Wednesday special, and we both loved our food. My parents have a place in the north woods of WI, and my mom commented that L. Woods was like a North Woods supper club on steroids. The only complaint was that her Mojito was just ok, but to make up for it, the key lime pie we shared was about the best I've ever had, and I have eaten Key Lime pie from the FL Keys to CA, and everywhere in between and this one was a slice of heaven! I live in Edgebrook, and I'm sorry I forget this place is there cause it's really, really good.
(4)Landi D.
We love this place and eat here more often than we probably should! Though it's great for families (and the elderly), my husband and I find ourselves at L. Woods on many a Friday night, for the good, solid food and the "recession special" wine ($10 bottle of white or red, Alpana Singh's choice, I believe). I'd been in a rut for several months with the L. Woods burger, which is awesome and one of my faves in the "city": thin-ish patty, with shredded lettuce, onion and tomato, plus "special sauce" - and I sheepishly admit that I add American cheese (what?!?). But on a recent Friday night, in a moment of carnivorous wavering, I tried the veggie burger (with the server's encouragement) - and it was sooo good! Now, I'm definitely no expert in the veggie-burger world, but I've been craving this one since I first ate it. It's house-made with grains and veggies and topped with lettuce, tomato and a sun-dried tomato spread (not listed in the description but this actually "makes" the burger). And yes, I added the yellow cheese! The texture is a little soft and messy to eat, but I didn't care. My husband always gets the chopped sirloin steak, which he loves. We also usually get either a Caesar (great, garlicky dressing), or the wedge salad (with sweet and smoky bacon). The caramelized onion loaf they bring is soft and way too easy to eat before the drinks even arrive. Desserts never disappoint. We've had the apple strudel and the chocolate cake, but to be honest, it's the pies that are our favorites, particularly whatever they have for the special. We've had sweet potato, pumpkin-pecan, chocolate mousse, etc., and they are always good (when we eat them at home because we're too full to eat it at the restaurant!).
(5)Deborah E.
I dare say there is nothing we have NOT had on the menu. We love L Woods because some times, damn it, ya just want good old fashioned American cuisine. We eat out a lot - and it is usually some ethnic type of food, usually Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican or Chinese. But when we want a good steak or pot roast or roast turkey or Lake Perch or fried chicken, we head to L Woods. It is so reliable. I think the only time I sent anything back - which I RARELY do - is when I got my fish n chips and there was like 3 tiny litle pieces of fish - for $17.99. This happened to my brother-in-law, too, so send it back and say "What gives??" My personal faves: the onion strings, the tomato soup (AMAZING!), the Chopped Salad - truly, one of my fave salads on the planet - and the Sunday special, the Fried Chicken dinner. My mom comes to Chgo a few times per year from MI and she always wants to go to L Woods for the Sunday-only Fried Chicken. According to my mom, a fried chicken dinner ain't worth shit unless it is FOUR big pieces and has a scrumptious batter - affirmative for both at L Woods along with potato or veggie and a good biscuit with honey. Last year, when I took my mom for the chicken, they were OUT! My mother was so sad but one of the managers whipped out a card and wrote on it "One Free Entree" for my mom for her next visit. She was delighted! KUDOS TO YOU for your customer service, L Woods!
(5)Dave S.
Just by driving by this place, I would never ever think twice about stopping in here to eat. The exterior is really unmemorable except for all of the cars in the lot on a week night. As we stepped in, I thought that the lodge type feel was a little cheesy and a bit over the top but it did remind me of all of those Wisconsin type Supper Clubs that I used to go to when travelling up north. Our server was very helpful, friendly and knowledge about the menu. Since we were firs timers there he brought us out a complimentary flatbread which was pretty darn tasty. We started out with the calamari. We typically know that fried calamari is going to be a solid appetizer choice and once again, it was here also. I ordered a full slab of ribs and it was not the best BBQ that I have ever had but it was pretty damn good and plenty damn plentiful! For dessert we split the apple strudel which was outstanding: crisp and delicious!
(4)Anthony M.
This is one of the oldest LEU resturants, but it has not always been called L. Woods. Lets just say if you are looking for some good ol American food that reminds you of the midwest, come to L. Woods! Words can not begin to describe how great the food is and the selection they have! While the menu is big, it really has stayed the same since it first opened. Still, you can usually find one or two dishes that are really good. They are known for their Pounded Chicken, Apple Tart, Tomato Bisque, and Chocolate Cake! Also, they have a very bustling take out business so if you are in the area and want to take it home, they do a very good job with that too! If you want that backwoods feel again from the old Supper Clubs of NY and WI, come to L. Woods.
(5)Lindsey B.
I really love L. Woods. I've been here quite often and I always try something different. Everything is excellent but I think my favorite is the pot roast. It's like being home again! They bring you these huge portions and everything is so yummy. Their mashed potatoes are like heaven. The staff is always quite friendly, but the place does get pretty busy so either make a reservation or expect a wait almost any night of the week. Their bar is a great place to kill some time while you wait though too. Don't forget dessert!
(5)Jim R.
We had not been to the restaurant in a while. Was listening to Steve Dahls podcast and heard about it again. We went on a Tuesday night, which happened to be 1/2 off on bottles of wine. The list was not extensive, but enough to get a good bottle. We really enjoyed the meal. Good portions and reasonably priced.
(4)Tammy Q.
Love me, L. Woods! I've had cravings for ribs from L. Woods on numerous occasions. I think they have the best ribs in the city and northside. Their ribs are the perfect blend of tangy and sweetness! The baked potato is the size of my face with globs of yummy sour cream and butter! If you tell them it's your first time, you'll get a sample of their flatbread. Plenty of dessert selections. This place is always packed so be sure to arrive early and with an empty stomach. Definitely dine in if you want the ribs. I did carry out one time and the ribs were not that great!
(5)Elizabeth H.
We've been driving by this place for a year now and always notice how the parking lot is packed, even on a random week night. Continually it has been put in the back pocket for a time when we can't figure out where to eat and finally we reached in and brought it out to try. Great overall experience! From the moment we walked in: the decor was comfy, the hostesses were friendly and our server was attentive. We were given the complimentary BBQ Chicken flatbread since this was our first time and unfortunately this was my least favorite part of the whole meal. It may have been a little over done, but I really thought it was not good and who complains about free food!? Appetizer: Parmesan Shrimp. Good, but very rich. I had the Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails and for a pepper/steak lover I could not have been more pleased. Steak was cooked to my liking and came with a choice of potato - I went with the baked, it was huge. We also ordered a side of Mac and Cheese and it did not disappoint. Crunchy parmesan was on top and it was hard to stop eating! Our daughter was invited to join the kids club, which means every time we go in she get a hole punched out on a card and after 10 punches gets her picture on the wall! Although I think going there 10 times will take us a VERY long time, it is still a fun concept and we got $5 off of our check for doing it. All in all it seems that L. Woods does a really good job of making and keeping regulars. Next time I am in the mood for comfort I will happily return!
(4)Steve K.
Went there last night. Food was very good, service was great and th e price was reasonable. We will go back!
(5)Erin S.
Woohoo! I'm thrilled at this find! Calamari that's NOT overcooked + rootbeer in frosty mugs + free roast beef/pesto flat bread appetizer for being 1st timers = AWESOME! Buffalo chicken salad was nice & spicy, just the way I like things! Pork tenderloin special came with THE most crisp corn, scrumptious mashed 'spuds & homemade applesauce. (Excellent portions, no pretentious pricing & super friendly/courteous staff!) Can't wait to try it again!
(5)Eric M.
Lots of old people; I came here with a bachelor party and the age wasn't much of a problem in fact it was kind of funny, but if you want the super ritzy atmosphere this place isn't it. Some of the drinks were slow coming, one or two were made wrong so - points there. Get the ribs, everyone who got them was pleased, while the rare steak didn't come out rare at all.
(3)Tracy F.
The steak sandwhich was delicious, ABSOLUTELY, the best I had ever had. The fries that accompanied them were salty and dry but I completely forgave L Woods because of the perfection that was the steak sandwhich. Served on lightly toasted onion bread with tomato and lettuce, the steak sandwhich was tender, juicy, with a hint of that char taste from meat cooked over a flame. I would highly recommend it. My boyfriend got the barbequed chicken with garlic mashed and he didn't even offer a bite! Next time, I will try some of the steaks and sides items. I am sure they will be good.
(5)Chuck k.
My wife and I went here for dinner with our friends who live in Chicago. I liked it better than she did, so here's my review. As you can glean from other review, L-woods is a rustic looking steak house. Our server was very nice and attentive, the food was at a reasonable price. We shared a flatbread, which the table enjoyed. I started with the French Onion Soup Au Gratin, which was very good and went down well on a cold evening. For my main course, the Prime Bone-in Rib eye. It was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful and juicy. For my side I had a baked potato, which was the average baked potato. But our friend split a twice baked potato and creamed spinach with me. My cholesterol went up 40 points that evening but it was worth it. I could have eaten a whole order of each by myself! For dessert the very nice Famous Apple Strudel. The pastry was nice and crisp, the apples a little tart. The caramel sauce on the side went great with it. The manager was a little odd, he'd never heard of rare salmon. But other than that, and the server goofing up the flatbread order, it was a very good meal.
(4)Rlvb V.
This place is like your grandparent's cabin by the lake, and it makes you want to book your next vacation to Door County WI. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the service is friendly, and the food is solidly good. Just don't go there for a 'later' dinner as it all but shuts down by 9pm, unless of course you like being the only ones there. Highly recommend!
(5)Eric M.
Great Wisconsin ambiance. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had. Definitely recommend for a fun and casual dinner with a group of friends.
(5)J T.
Normally the carryout BBQ Baby Back Ribs at L Woods are our favorites to order. On 11/8, I ordered five full Prairie Grove Farms BBQ Baby Back Ribs -full slab at $ 25.99 which isn't cheap. Ordering online at their site is a breeze. Each order comes with a cole slaw, bread and extra sauce. This night a couple of the slabs had pieces which were a bit burnt, crispy. Hope it's not a trend to be.
(3)Brian D.
Besides the great meal i always have, they have a gluten free menu for my girlfriend! HUGE! Great staff and bartenders too. They'll make a Brandy Alexander for dessert! Ribs are great, fish is always great, and the specials and any chicken meals are great too. Lets not forget the sides, my fav is the creamed spinach. If you havent been get your buns in there, you wont be sorry!
(5)TS W.
Took my friend there for his birthday yesterday. First the server Justin was awesome! They asked if we were a first time customer once we said yes a manager stopped by to welcome us and gave us an appetizer on the house which was a lavosh, with cheese and asparagus on top (yummy!) I had their Parmesan Crusted Fillet it was great! My friend had their BBQ salmon which was a large portion and very yummy! For desert we had a huge chocolate gooey cake had to take most of it home! Love their tap beer selections! Will be going there again! Thanks L Woods! Highy recommend reservations and going early!
(4)Kathleen C.
I was not expecting anything special. I thought I was going to an old person's Bennigans. However, L Woods is AMAZING! I was definitely right about the old people that swarmed the place but this place is great and I can't wait to go back. We had free bread and butter given to us when we sat down. The bread was warm and great tasting (unlike stale bread most places give). And we said it was our first time there so they gave us free flatbread. I thought it was ok but the BF loved it--even the mushrooms! We ordered calimari which was great. Really good breading and just the right amount of frying. Too bad I was getting full at this point... I just wanted a salad and although they are famous for their chopped chicken salad, i just wanted something plain. I ordered the house salad which was anything but plain! It was HUGE and had lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and croutons. The BF had low expectations. However, he ordered skirt steak which was marinated overnight in pineapple juice. He LOVED it. Every few bites he would say "This is so good." And the mashed potatoes were fabulous. I think there was a whole stick of butter in the dish that he received which is probably awful for your health but so good for your tummy! We ended our meal with a peanut butter/chocolate chip milkshake that they split into two kids cups with lids and straws. FANTASTIC! And for all that food with tip, it was only $60 with leftovers! Can't wait to go back! Especially since I was so jealous of the food on tables around us.
(4)Pete D.
Make reservations fans! Great service and good food. Chopped salad is great and the flat bread is to die for. It is a little crowded and dark as far as ambiance goes but surprisingly it wasn't too loud. We had a larger group and Greg was our server, if you want someone who is professional and efficient ask for him!
(4)kaya s.
Some of the best baby backs I've ever had. Good cesar too, a bit garlicky, but I'm Italian so I don't mind at all. I've been here at least a dozen times and never left unhappy. The wines are affordable and they always have good seasonal beers. The skirt steak has great flavor although it can be a little stringy but that's the nature of the cut. I recommend any of the flat-breads for an appetizer. Also order the apple strudel, and remember it takes about 45 minutes so make sure your server knows. You won't regret it, if you can't finish its just fine the next day. Warm it up in the oven, trust me. Service is usually pretty good to great. The ambiance is nice and has a homey kinda feel. Not your run of the mill leye restaurant as they seem to have become, this is more of a neighborhood establishment and is kid friendly as well. Great food for every course and good drink, good for lunch and/or dinner.
(5)Scott H.
One of my favorite Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Why? Because it doesn't seem like a "chain"-type place at all even though the menu's visual similarity to that of Wildfire is evident. A great place to take visiting family for a great supper club-type meal or simply just a weeknight burger and draft in the tap room. This place evokes far-away lakeside spots in Northern Wisconsin or Northern Michigan and hits all the right notes for me. Their burger is one of the best I've had and the ribs (while not likely traditional barbecue) certainly hit the spot. Better make reservations as they're busy every night, but the tap room is very accommodating if you're into a slightly more casual, but still very comfy atmosphere.
(4)Jennifer G.
Be aware this place is 70% senior citizens, so if you don't want to dine with Uncle Junior and grandma, this will not be the place for you. That aside, very standard food for a supper club type place. Good ribs, good steak, huge potatoes, etc. Be sure to tell them it is your first time - they pull out a deelish flat bread for first timers - nothing says a good meal like a free appetizer
(3)Rex C.
Good food, service and a great dining atmosphere. It's a fun dining experience. I like the ribs, mahogany chicken, daily specials, and their soups/chili are always good.
(5)Christy S.
My husband and I had Lettuce Entertain You gift cards that were about to expire and we decided to go somewhere we had never been. L Woods was the place. I wasn't expecting much, but man was I wrong! The service was incredible! We ordered drinks and got them what felt like seconds after we ordered them. My water glass was never empty. And there was always someone around in case the tables needed anything. Then there was the food. I ordered the cheeseburger with Merkts cheese, medium rare. When I order medium rare, I usually end up with more of a medium, and I like my meat red, so I am usually disappointed. This burger was just the perfect amount of rare for my tastes, and it was delicious! My husband ordered the steak sandwich, also medium rare, which is difficult to master on such a thin piece of meat, however, L Woods got it perfect. They serve the sandwich with a horseradish sauce that was a perfect compliment to the steak and was not too overwhelming. The fries were fries, but perfectly cooked. We ordered a side of mac n cheese because it is one of my many my weaknesses and it was amazing...so good that we ordered another side to take home with our leftovers! We will be returning to L Woods again soon!
(5)Juliette F.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I was kind of expecting a run-of-the-mill Lettuce Entertein You experience, but I was totally wrong. The skirt steak was grilled to perfection, and my french onion soup was outstanding. They give you a treat if it's your first time there, which is a pesto BBQ flatbread... awesome! I can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu! The interior is great. It just feels like it's been an established restaurant for a very long time. Everyone is friendly, and you get the vibe that most of the diners are long-time, repeat customers. Two thumbs up for my first time at L Woods!!
(5)Dana E.
Bottom line, my girlfriend ordered the half chicken, and it was pink, and bloody when it arrived. They promptly took it away after I asked them if it was supposed to be that way and began cooking another half chicken when all we really wanted was to be refunded for that meal. The manager came out in the meantime, and although apologetic, told us that there was a fine line between moist and undercooked. I thought to myself, "well, that undercooked option could leave a lot of people sick". In addition to the newly made half chicken (which we were afraid to eat), we received a free sundae for waiting, and then a piece of cheesecake after dinner. I guess that's okay, but again, all we really wanted was to be comped. I paid $20 for a small cod piece and green beans. It was good, but I was expecting something more. Overall, it was decent. Meh.
(2)chris e.
ok, im writing this after a few trips to Lwoods -and last night will be my last- In all fairness i cant give them 1 star, because *ah, the food*, which is after all what the biggest deal is at a restaurant, but there are enough negatives built up over our visits there to make me say 'never again' .. Straw that broke the camel's back? - last night - because Saturdays are notoriously busy,i called and made reservations in the afternoon for 8pm. We got there 15 minutes early and were standing next to the Maitre' D's podium waiting to be seated. Along comes this guy who goes up to the podium and hes flirting and schmoozing the Maitre'D. i hear her say to him "i have an 8'oclock" he says 'ok' and goes and stands across from us with his girlfriend.. 20 mins later , guess who gets seated first? Not us! This is seriously not ok .. not only did we call earlier to make reservations first, but there were other people who walked in, like this guy, without a reservation and they were told it was going to be an hour wait. We gave the Maitre D our little pager thingy (sadly to never go off for us =P) i told her why we were leaving -her only comment was to ask me for my last name so she could take us off the books- and we left. Definately commenting to management today in an email ..not something i usually do, but yanno if the wait is normally 1+ hr, that Maitre D had better be on the ball and also know the meaning of customer service. The food is awesome -if u can ever get seated - out of the 6 or so times we have been there, we have only had 'order problems' (items forgotten or not as we ordered) twice...Good average? i suppose considering the amount of traffic they see - altho it didnt make us happy at the time - especially on the one occasion when we decided not to brave the wait times because there were no reservations available and did a 'take out' instead. We live a bit aways and not going back for the horseradish sauce ala Prime Rib. (Hmmm wish i had known that i could just have had my fiance go up to the Maitre D and flirt with her a bit and we could have been seated in front of everyone else..we would have eaten in that night) Another warning - take out portions are nowhere near the size of eat in but still the same price. Other things to consider - they do have a parking lot, where u can normally get a space (expect to have to wrangle or wait on really high volume nights like holidays) .. The pricing is definately on the high side and the dinner structure is set that u have to order the side orders if u want more than bare basics- but those are huuuuge and normally delicious ..Wait service has ranged for us from great - our first visit - ok and worth the 15% tip (most times) to poor - only once. ill miss the apple strudel -which is one of their saving graces- but not enough to make me want to deal with the treatment at the price it costs
(2)Kristen W.
Lovely place, great ambience, very old-school. Unfortunately at this time I can't give it higher than 3 stars, only because I tried one appetizer and had one beer, so I can't comment on the food. The service was fantastic, and the place was hoppin'. I'll be sure to go back.
(3)Chris B.
The 3 dollar beer option was an insult to everyone involved in the process of ordering it, pouring it, carrying it, delivering it, receiving it, contemplating it and drinking it. Food was great. Service was great, but I didn't appreciate an extra spoon request and a re-request to involve blaming an unknown party, followed by, "I don't know why I bother to even tip them out at all." It was all in good fun, a great meal, but please remember, the waiter has to fall on the sword, no matter how great the incompetence below.
(3)Manda H.
I really want to know how you get your photo taken and put on the wall??? I have been coming for a few years now and I don't think I have ever had a bad experience. I love the ribs, steaks and salads. The apple strudel is amazing although I cam kind of sad you can't order a smaller version anymore. Good thing though, I get to take more home for seconds! Booths are so comfortable and I really like that they have takeout. It is cool that they filmed one of the Oceans 12 parts in the dining room.
(5)Gina K.
Unfortunately if you are gluten free do not expect to eat here. Was out with a friend who loves this place and she had called ahead to ask about gluten free options. The person on the phone said they had a small gluten free menu. When we arrived the person seating us actually thought we were kidding when we said gluten free as if it wasn't something people really did? Granted there was probably some language barrier and age difference so I am sure it is not something that was heard of until recently. However, it was VERY uncomfortable to be laughed at. When the server came we asked again about a gluten free menu. He shrugged and said oh yea we can make some of the stuff gluten free. Uh yea. Not good enough. We left. I am sure that all you non gluten free people out there have had great food but there needs to be a better understanding of gluten free needs, simply saying you can probably do it really doesn't work when the consequences are that you will make someone very sick.
(1)Jeff M.
right by the house-u can't beat that
(5)Louis C.
Enjoyable, casual place. Dark, calm, but always busy. Tasty food. Whitefish with lemon sauce, baby back ribs, chopped salad, spinach salad, martinis, streudel. Wife always gets some kind of fish that's not crusted and has enjoyed it every time. Servers always unrushed, what a plus. If you want a delicious no-fail meal, this is your place. Try to reserve a booth and you'll be pleased. Bar gets crowded.
(4)Vickie S.
Even though I have lived on the Northside for my entire life I have only been here twice. Both times were really good. I saw other people mentioned the abundance of the AARP crowd but since I am pretty unobservant I missed out on that. I did not miss out on the chopped salad which I am not addicted to as well as the parmesan crusted shrimp. Man o man they are good. Since that is all I have had there I'm not sure about the entrees but I would for sure go back for those two items.
(4)Kimberly K.
I LOVE L. Woods. The chopped salad is wonderful, the ribs are great, the onion strings are DELICIOUS, the onion bread is great! Go there. Yum.
(4)Jay B.
L. Woods Pine Lodge has a cozy, old school men's club atmosphere accented by a high beamed ceiling, rich, pine wood walls, and oxblood leather booths. Try to snag one on the very cool corner booths. Jason was our server; great guy he offered us offered us complimentary flat bread since it was our 1st time to restaurant. Service staff was very knowledgeable of the daily specials and answered any questions we had. I started with a Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen ( Nice beer selection from the bar), and my partner went with the Diet Coke with a lemon route. The flatbread arrived along with the drinks and everything was to our liking. Devin Ordered a Ribs and Chicken BBQ combo with Fries and I ordered the Bacon Blu Cheeseburger with Garlic Mashed. About 20 min later the yummiest food had arrived. I was blown away by my burger, 1st off it was cooked exactly how I wanted (which lately in Chicago has been hard). The bacon was crisp and the blu cheese was melting and had a slight crust from being up under the broiler for a few minutes before being brought out. And well garlic mashed potatoes, yeah awesome. My Partner enjoyed his selections, but thought the chicken was good, but nothing special. Ribs were very tasty. We ended the dinner with a wonderful Key Lime pie slice and some Lavazza coffee. Comfort food in a cozy place
(4)Kevin S.
This place has some really good ribs. The string fried onions appetizer were great, as was the brownie desert with ice cream. If you go here for dinner, make a reservation because it gets really busy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)mollye p.
So my mom works for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants so I tend to be a little bias when it comes to their restaurants because I always get free food. BUT L Woods if flipping AMAZING!!! So they're like a tavern style cooking: meats, fish, burgers, etc. But it's all gourmet style. I love their ribs, steaks, salmon, well...pretty much anything! If you eat at the restaurant (you can also order it in and pick it up...I dunno if they do delivery) but they've got some good drinks on tap. I don't drink alcohol but they've got cream soda and orange cream soda on tap...It's the best cream soda in the world! They have AMAZING salads and DESERTS!!!! It's expensive but you honestly can't go wrong with any of their food. It's a great atmosphere also. I totally recommend it to EVERYONE!
(5)Ashley D.
This food is so good. I like the Chopped Salad...but I crave their Tortilla Soup. Also my awesome waiter Stasch (who I always ask for)has the cooks put carrots on my salad (and I don't even have to ask) - I love great service.
(5)Lindsay M.
we made reservation and still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. The daily special wasn't being served because it wasn't up to quality but they didn't offer a replacement. The waiter forgot part of someone's order and said he'd bring it but never did. No one told us there weren't free refills on the rootbeer. And during dinner, no one came to check on us to see if anything else was needed.
(2)amy j.
We set out for Smoque but the line was out the door and around the corner so my husband suggested we try L. Woods. I was disappointed until I stepped inside. The charming, northwoods lodge look made me feel like I was "up north" at a Friday night supper club. Charming! We got there at the perfect time and were seated right away. Our server was courteous and friendly enough, but she was too busy to get too involved. We ordered the goat cheese and asparagus flatbread, baby back ribs, and the pulled chicken special. Everything was served hot, at a good pace and very tasty. The flatbread may have just been my favorite part of the meal, but then I think about those ribs... awesome. Just the right amount of sauce (I don't like them swimming in it) and just meaty enough to have something to really sink your teeth into. My husband's pulled chicken on corn bread was a really great combination of flavors and textures. The tangy bbq chicken on top of a slab of sweet cornbread was just right. Now I must not forget to tell you about dessert. I had the chocolate cupcake because I was already way too full but I just wanted a little something sweet. Oh my, sweet it was. I thought it was whipped cream on top but I think it was really white chocolate mousse with little bits of white chocolate in it. Delicious. My husband had the Key Lime Pie, nice big piece and very tasty. The only thing I could possibly report as negative was the temperature of the pie, it was just a little too cold. About a degree or two from being frozen. I just think the flavor is more developed when allowed to come up to room temp or at least a little closer. There was a "situation" that we should have taken care of after the table next to us was seated. One (or both) of the women had so much perfume on that it was on the verge of spoiling my appetite, we should have asked to be moved while there were still open tables. So take that as a little reminder folks, please don't wear so much smelly stuff to a restaurant. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood again.
(4)Zack M.
Great family place, though make a reservation as it is busy!!!! Best fried chicken that I have ever tasted, available on Sundays; Delicious beef, baby back or dry rub ribs; fantastic mac and cheese. I think its still "Lettuce Entertain You", but dont let the low quality of food at wildfire put you off. This is hearty American goodness!
(5)Alan R.
A fairly typical Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. The food is good, if not spectacular. The service was excellent until it got busy. The waiter was attentive and explained everything very well until the crowds started coming in. After that, he seemed overwhelmed. The dry rub ribs were excellent and the chicken good but not great. The salad we got as our appetizer was OK. The Sweet potato that came with my meal was like 2.5 times the size of a normal one. Take out from L-Woods might be a better option than dining in.
(3)Mark G.
Worst experience ever! Watch out for the waitress with contagious flu! So I was meeting my friend for lunch at 1 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009. We determined that L Woods was a good place to meet since I was Downtown and she was in the Northern Suburbs. I had been to L Woods a number of years ago, but not recently. When we showed up we were seated toward the back of the restaurant, which was quite full at 1 pm when we arrived. We both looked at the menu and after about 5 minutes a waitress came over to take our order. The waitress that came over was obviously sick with the flu. She had no voice and looked ill. She apologized for her condition. I am not sure why any restaurant would allow or want a sick waitress serving patrons. I should have got up and left at that point, but instead we dealt with it. Both my friend and I asked questions about the menu. I was interested in the Monday special of turkey and stuffing--I asked what came with it other than turkey and stuffing. The waitress said nothing (turns out it also comes with carrots). My friend told the waitress she was a vegetarian. The waitress recommended the vegi burger, which my friend ordered. (This is not a particularly vegitarian friendly restaurant--few menu items and animal heads hug all around the restaurant.) We also ordered the macaroni appetizer and the lemonade flight. Our waitress then disappeared--we did not see her for 30 minutes. We noticed that it looked like all the other tables were getting fresh bread--we got nothing and had no one to ask for it. Finally, the waitress shows up with the food. She has our macaroni appetizer and food at the same time. She then puts in front of me a patty melt and gives my friend the "so called vegi burger". I say, excuse me, I ordered the turkey special. She looks confused and says she will get me the turkey. I also tell her that I would have expected the appetizer to come up before the entrees. She rudely says that the macaroni was a side. I ask her to please bring a menu over. She brings a menu over and I show her that it is an appetizer. She says nothing--not even an apology. My friend bites into her vegi burger and discovers it is actually a turkey burger. I can tell you that vegetarians are not happy when they eat meat. She became very sick and upset. We wait for our waitress to come back. 10 minutes later she appears. She has my turkey and also a vegi burger. She says she realized that she brought the wrong burger out. You would have thought she would have immediately come and taken the food back from my friend. My turkey dinner was generally good--it did take 40 minutes to get. My friend was so sick from eating turkey that she could not eat her vegi burger. (The frozen style fries with the vegi burger tasted like they had been sitting out for hours.) She ended up asking to get the vegi burger to go. Now you would expect that a waitress might be apologetic for this screw up--we get no apology or sorry. No discount, nothing. L Woods has some real service issues. We paid the bill and left. We will never go back. I really hope the management takes some corrective action. This all happened at lunch on Monday, October 12, 2009. Be careful at this place. And if your waitress is sick--ask for another waitress. Both my friend and I feel the flu coming on.
(1)S M.
As soon as you walk in for dinner at L Woods, it's amazing. The lights are dimmed and the hostesses are so nice. We went on a Sunday night and we were immediately seated. The server, I think her name was Joanna, was incredible! She gave great recommendations and answered all of my questions with a smile. Not even five minutes after we ordered she brought us out an appetizer on the house since it was our first time there. The appetizer was so good, it was a flatbread almost like phyllo, with cheese and philly steak on top with some herbs, sliced like a little pizza. Delicious! I was undecided between chicken and the cod. Our server recommended the cod and boy did she steer me in the right direction! The cod was so delicious, with a parmesan crust and lemon juice, garlic aioli, it was to die for. My iced tea was never empty, the service was so attentive! For dessert we got a blueberry peach cobbler-type pie with vanilla ice cream on top, seriously one of the best desserts I've had in a while. Go to L Woods, you won't regret it!
(5)Kristen H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. I've been coming here since it was called Bones. I can't remember what Bones was like except that I liked it, but I LOOOOOVE this place. I went here last night with my mother for a September 11th toast to all those that lost their lives that day. I made a reservation on opentable.com so it was great to not have to wait, although I don't think the wait was that long last night. I was upset that I wasn't there for pot roast night (Thurs.) because it's my favorite. I swear it's probably the best ever. So I looked over the menu for something else. I had it narrowed down to the skirt steak, bbq brisket, or meatloaf (the special on Tues.). I couldn't decide so I asked the waiter. He was so nice. He told me the skirt steak was his fave. I aksed him if the steak would be tough like some I've received at other places. He said no way because it's marinated in pineapple juice to tenderize it along with chili flakes and something else. He was definitely right. It was as large as a full slab of ribs and you could cut it with a butter knife. YUMMMMM!!!!! Of course I had it with the mashed potatoes because they're just as yummy. We ordered the chopped salad and tomato flatbread pizza for appetizers. The chopped salad (+ranch, - blue cheese) was the best like always. The flatbread seemed a little overdone, but still good. We also had some drinks which were also great and reasonably priced. My mom ordered some chicken dinner she loves. Our bill was ~$80. This place gets five stars for their service and five stars for their food. I don't know why I haven't been there in so long, I must be crazy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They have a kid's club, I think it's called the clean plate club. Your child gets a punchcard and once they've been there x amount of times, they get their picture taken and put in a frame on the wall. Look out for my son Kieran's pic next time you're there.
(5)Agile R.
I love this place, It is a little over priced but the pork ribs are great and the steak fillet mignon is fantastic. Everyone has got to try their garlic mash potatoes. I don't go here often because it is a bit pricey but I always feel satisfied after a meal. The staff their are also very friendly, eager to make you feel welcome. They have a pretty nice bar also. If your ever in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out. I guarantee you'll crawl out of there from eating so much because the food was just to tasty to stop.
(5)B. L.
This place certainly is popular , which can also mean crowded at times. The food has a little flavor of New Orleans thrown in the mix. Alot of rib/chicken places do. This location used to be another famous rib house called Bones. I think some of the same customers now visit here. Don't let the rustic exterior fool you, it can be a good place to meet clients for lunch or dinner.
(4)Joedel G.
First of all the parking is not a problem, you can find a spot easily even though we went on Sunday. This place is rustic and on the wall you can find a lot of sports memorabilia photos. Customers are mostly on their 60's, although I've seen some family with kids, I believe a lot of locals too. It was our friends birthday party so we started with calamari and flat bread ( fresh unleavened bread that is grilled crisp with Oven-dried Tomatoes and fresh basil ) Don't forget to order the chopped salad which I think the best salad I've ever had. I had a piece of whitefish with lemon butter sauce, it was very moist and not fishy at all. Then the filet Mignon, and oh my God it was the most succulent piece of red meat I've ever had. Imagine Baked Macaroni & Cheese on the side, and again the best BM&C I've ever had. What else can I say ?, we finished our dinner with their famous Apple Strudel, baked to order though and allow 45 minutes. Excellent dinner with nice people around. Highly recommended and I would come back soon.
(5)John F.
I feel I must disagree with the other reivewers. Each time I have eaten there it has been mediocre at best, and like all Lettuce Entertain You places it is overpriced so people using their discount cards and rewards get a fair price and everyone else pays higher. I would not recommend it.
(2)Maximus T.
Great place to eat wonderful food and excellent service. I reccomend going on a weekday because i have gone twice and have waited 20 minutes for a table. Hey if its this jampacked its gotta be good
(5)Maggie D.
Our most recent visit was probably our 10th dinner at L Woods. It was, as it always is, awesome. The massive sweet potato side with brown sugar butter is my favorite. The martinis are potent, the fish is fresh, and the steaks are tender. Once or twice the service has been little slow, but I suspect they were short staffed as it's usually great.
(4)Lola L.
atmosphere is laid back...ribs and bbq chicken and spinach salad are dynamic. i had no idea it was lettuce entertain you restaurant...felt so homey
(5)Simone G.
I've been coming to this place for quite some time. L' Woods reminds you of an old wisconsin lodge. I love it here. If you ask they will serve your drinks in pint glasses (double whiskey coke please). I've had some of the most delicious scallops here (it was a one time special), and the parmesan crusted beef filet is to die for. On top of it all the french onion soup is nothing less than perfect. It can cost a bit, but its not overly expensive. I would say its perfect for an evening somwhere between a lazy night out and that night that you really want to do it up. I would recommend that everyone at least try this restaurant once... love it or leave it, but try it once.
(5)John T.
One of our favorite places to eat.This place has the best service in all of Chicago. From the second you walk in the door, you are treated as if you have been coming there for years, even if it is your first time! Make sure to make a trip here, especially in the winter. It is great "comfort food."
(4)Daisyville C.
I came here for lunch on a Saturday for the first time after reading all the great reviews. Yes, there are a lot of blue haired people, and my hubby and I brought a couple ourselves ;) my in-laws. Service was great and very attentive. I think we had about 3 different people attending to our party of 4. Our order was taken in a timely fashion, our food arrived shortly after, and as soon as a dish was empty, they swooped in to clean up. We all started out with french onion soups...probably one of the best in Chicago...really tasty and cheese is so gooey and yummy. My father-in-law and I both had the full slab classic BBQ baby back ribs, my hubby had the skirt steak salad (he's on a diet, wink, wink...but ate half of my ribs) and my mother-in-law had the special of the day which was fried chicken with a purée of creamed corn and Yukon gold mashed potato (I had a taste of the chicken and mashed potato and wished I had ordered it for myself!). We thoroughly enjoyed our meals, however, I can't say these were the best baby back ribs I ever had. My ribs were a bit dry at the ends and only the middle was tender and you really needed to dip into the extra BBQ sauce they give you for extra flavor. I'm comparing these ribs with the Gale Street Inn ribs and I prefer Gale's cuz they are more tasty and ribs have more meat. All in all it was a good experience and I'll probably come back again.
(4)Mike H.
If your grandparents come to town and you want to take them out for dinner but know they would just be confused by anything even vaguely "ethnic", this place would be perfect. It's got a really nice "small town" vibe and good food with a menu of what most would consider to be "american standards"---lots of sandwiches and steaks and stuff like that. Not normally my type of restuarant, but this place is *special*.
(4)Patrick F.
They call themselves a "Tap & Pine Lodge" - and that's exactly right. I walked in and felt like I had gone back home. Despite the size and business, it still had a cozy vibe to it. The staff recognized patrons who seemed to be repeat visitors and treated them like returning family. The food did not disappoint. My tenderloin was perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes and chili were fantastic.
(4)Liliana S.
I love the decor and the ambience. Ive only eaten here once because it is so far out of the way from me, but I love the chicken and rib combo with double baked potato. YUM. The portions are huge and the prices are mediocre.
(4)Kristin A.
This place has a nice feel to it. Like a cozy log cabin. I've been there serveral times and had great service. Except for this last time. AWFUL. Took us two hours to eat lunch and no apologies. Flat bread is amazing and everything else on the menu is decent.
(4)Matt H.
Good food, doesn't blow my mind away but I like the Big Fish sandwich. Flatbread is decent but a little overpriced. Go with sandwiches.
(3)Nicholle H.
I like to eat at this restaurant because it has a great atmosphere. The decor is lovely, giving it an old time feel. There is a touch of class in the restaurant which features American cuisine. The menu is abundant, the bar is stocked, and the food is good. The only complaint that I do have is that at times the service can be slow. Overall a great restaurant and moderately priced.
(4)Shayna H.
This is my favorite restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My boyfriend loves the ribs and would recommend them to everyone. I have had sandwiches and steaks here and everything was excellent. I love the mashed potatoes and the pre-dinner bread. I would recommend anyone try this place at least once!
(5)Michelle F.
I just went here for lunch with my boss and had a fabulous Southwest Chicken salad. Black beans and corn mixed in, with perfect chicken and ranch on the side. MMMMMMMmmm...Crowded for lunch, but nice atmosphere. Makes you feel like you're in a "happening" place. I'm going to take my husband here soon!
(5)Joe S.
Good food,slightly above average. Ribs good but not the best around. SW Chix Salad is different, tasty. Chicken cooked well. Tasty Cream Soda....refreshing. Looks like an upper Wisconsin supper club lodge. Chili is pretty good. Good choice for the area.
(3)Julia B.
This is right by my work and has great food! It's the place that was in Ocean's 12. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. There are pictures on the wall of a lot of people that have had dinner there. The food is very good. I had a flatbread and salad combo and loved it! The prices are normal too!
(4)Khris L.
I really had high hopes for this place. It's right by my house and they're connected to L. Woods, which is considered to be a finer dining type of place. I assumed that the food from the "back of the woods" would also be of higher quality, worthy of the price they charge. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I wanted. The food quality is a bit above average, but the flavor combinations are weird enough to be inedible. The beef and broccoli and sesame chicken should be renamed to ginger beef and ginger chicken. The flavor of ginger was so overpowering in those dishes that I couldn't taste anything else. The crab rangoons were extremely salty. I mean, salty is one thing, but extremely salty is another thing. They were so salty that I couldn't believe it. The pork fried rice was smokey as if they used tidbits of L. Woods BBQ pork scraps, which was decent, but there were only a couple pieces of BBQ pork in the fried rice..and they were tiny pieces. Nothing about the food was good, except for the quality of the beef in the beef and broccoli, which we couldn't taste because of the overpowering ginger flavor. The problem with the food is bad enough, but in addition to the portion size, it would be ridiculous for anyone to pay their prices. For $10+ per entree, you would expect enough food to fill you up or at least good enough food to keep you satisfied. What they do here is, they take one of those black plastic rectangular carry out containers and fill half of it with white rice and the other half with the entree. I'm using the word "fill" in a very generous way. All in all, there just isn't any worthy value here. The food is flavored in a weird way, and the portion sizes are small enough to be insulting of the price you pay. I would have given this place a 1 star, but I don't want them to go down. I hope that they will see the negative reviews and fix the problems so I could have some good local food to eat once in a while..
(2)Steve G.
L Woods presents a very popular and crowded lunch venue which, on the basis of Monday's visit, manages crowds efficiently and seamlessly. The dining rooms are paneled in light wood, and covered with hundreds of photos, some recognizable. Service was friendly and professional, without a hint of being rushed or pressured by the full room. Our room was hardly quiet, but conversation wasn't difficult. I ordered the Chopped Salad (chicken, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, pasta elbows and mixed greens), substituting Caesar dressing for the standard honey vinaigrette. Frankly, I can't recall when I've enjoyed a salad more. My dining companions on this business lunch, each from the surrounding area, ordered salads as well. The Skirt Steak Salad also won raves. A very comfortable restaurant, with service and food each well above expectation . . . superb.
(4)Florence B.
My daughter and I enjoyed a tasty dinner here today. I had the crusted cod, which sat on a lovely cream sauce w bit of tart flavor. Perfectly baked fish! So flavorful. Baked spuds for us with hers being a sweet potato. Yummy sour cream topping. Why was her cole slaw so small in a little cup? We shared hot fudge sundae for dessert. We both loved it. Can't wait to go back. Nice waiter, attentive to our needs. Great spot in my area!
(5)Mike W.
Went to L. Woods for the first time last night after seeing it on Check Please! a month or so ago. My wife and I loved it. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The only service related issued I was less than happy about was that the waitress never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink which was almost empty when the entrees arrived. The food was outstanding. My wife got the baby back ribs. They were fall off the bone and she says they were delicious. I got the Schlitz battered haddock which was a special last night. It was quite possibly the best beer battered fish I have ever eaten. We started off with their cheese curds which were the second best I've ever had. The best were at Miller Park. Overall great experience. We will definitely be back.
(4)Tim B.
love the low light and décor.large parking lot.started with a warm greeting and a warm loaf of soft everything type bread.sat is prime rib night and I had the king cut med rare with creamed spinach,wife had the queen cut medium rare with twice baked potato.great spinach,not to wet or dry with great seasoning.twice baked was good with a nice crust.steak was awesome cooked perfectly,served hot with good seasoning.very good service overall.Lwoods is not giving anything away.meal without drinks and generous tip was $80.00.but there are other delicious and less expensive options.you really have to visit this dinner club,there are few left.only thing missing from days past was the relish tray.alot of young people in there eating burgers and flatbreads.try the onion soup.had it on a past visit and was excellent.
(4)Chris L.
For the past several years, my mother has gotten a large LEYE gift card, as the Christmas present from her class (2nd grade teacher). It happens that her birthday is also in December, and we use the gift card to try new LEYE restaurants and celebrate. This year we tried L. Woods. First of all, this building looks much smaller in person, and is much less grandiose than other LEYE establishments. The walls are covered in wood, pictures of patrons, nostalgic images, mounted fish, and folk art signs. It is very Lodge like in atmosphere, so it lives up to the name. It took forever to get a server to contact my table, they are professional and friendly, but a slightly late lunch should not be a two hour affair. The service is painfully slow. The food was quite tasty, I had the ribs with "devil sauce," good for a non-bbq focused place. My mother loved the mushroom barley soup and steak sandwich. I also don't appreciate paying $3 for iced tea, and the servers leaving it dry for 5-10 minutes at a time. The service seems to suffer due to some really needy patrons. I saw one server focused on an 8-top from hell exclusively. From the same table I saw: a woman send back the same salad three times, explain that an omelette was not just eggs (all day brunch menu), and, a man send back a "very well done (his quote, not mine) burger because it was too dry. I always hold LEYE to a high standard, because they know how to run restaurants and I love the Wildfire restaurants, the food here stands up well. The food holds the line, but service is below the "wildfire standard" and it might be an overly needy customer crowd.
(4)Marcee W.
Got lucky on a recent Saturday night without reservations, which is nearly impossible to do. They had one open table and the place was packed, as usual. Started with Lettuce's standard chopped salad which is always reliably fresh and tasty. Ordered the onion strings to munch on and although they were good, I'd skip them next time to save room for the better stuff. Baby back's were tender and delicious and my friend was surprised with a birthday treat on the house. L. Woods never fails to please!
(5)Bill L.
I tried to give this place another chance....walked I. Looking for my guest Who,was seared inAdvance while I had to. Are an important phone call, And was told by this extremely rude, hostile named NICOLE who,had already Turned my stomach with her nasty attitude upon checking I. To see where Ahe seared my guest, stating that I seat many people, I can't tell you Where the guest is........This place smells like a "bad nursing home." I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS PLACE WAS LAST RENOVATED AND WHEN THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR HIGH CARB SOFT FOOD MENU......... ANYTHING HEALTHY BESIDES FRIED FOOD AND GREASY RINS AND CHICKEN....IS THIS REALLY A LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU REST.?
(1)Paul G.
Fantastic experience and food. love the French onion soup iand the Apple strudel is to die for. Service is top notch. all great!!
(5)JW W.
Ordered ribs and ckn combo with baked p.The ckn was good nice and moist.The ribs where from last night and very dry!! I thought at 3 pm in the afternoon you would get fresh ribs not old dried out spoiled ribs!! 1 hr after eating i was sick!! And it continued all night long!! Oh and the baked p was as dry as they come maybe from last night too! And if i could i would give 0 stars!! We go there all the time for dine in and never got sick.Its seems to me like the family that owns it doesnt care about quality food anymore!! DO NOT ORDER TAKEOUT!!! And its the next morning now and im still sick!!! Thanks a lot l woods!! And they just lost a good customer of 30+ years!! I wont go back now if they are serving old food!! Never use to be like this
(1)Mister M.
Went on Sunday night --Fried Chicken night! Place was packed. Very noisy but still enjoyable. Comfortable but not relaxing. Gin and Citrus Old Fashioned was delicious Fried Chicken was really good -nice and crisp outside, moist and flavorful inside. Beef Ribs were great-Perfectly cooked with a nice char outside while remaining tender and moist. Although they were huge, i wouldn't say they were Flinstonian. Still a huge portion. Great french fries, I would have like a larger portion but it was sufficient. What they lacked in service they made up for in accommodation. They struggled a bit to keep up with the large crowd, but there was no undo waiting and you never really felt like anything was a problem. Whatever we wanted or needed we got. Desserts were also good. Killer Key Lime Pie, very similar to Joe's.
(5)Michelle C.
Came here for my boyfriends sister's birthday on a Thursday night for dinner. WAS IT CROWDED! I didn't think that it would be that crowded especially at 730pm on a Thursday night. I came here for V-Day last year and the food was good then and is still good now. This time I tried their baby back ribs.. deliciousness as always. Waiter was very fast and could answer all questions that we had at our table about different types of entrees. Only downfall was the crowdedness. I felt like the person behind me was too close for comfort and every time I got up (to go to bathroom or bar) I had to walk around tables in a zig zag to avoid hitting someone.. lol Food was good though, GET THE MASHED POTATOES!
(4)skip l.
Two of the three previous reviews in this Yelp appearance of L.Woods are in fact for the Big Bowl menu, which is now available for carryout from the "back of the woods" counter at the rear of the restaurant. This review is not about the Big Bowl. Most people i know are mystified why a highly regarded traditional restaurant serving ribs, steaks, chicken etc. would have a Chinese carryout menu -- especially as other good Chinese carryout is available in the area. We've never considered trying it. This review is to address Kay's 3/17/14 two star review of the L. Woods restaurant itself -- Kay and a friend apparently made one visit and had two dishes they didn't like. That review should not stand unanswered. First, over many years, we've never had a bad meal at L. Woods, so the description of the reviewer ("burned and fatty brisket" and "dry and tough" fish is at minimum very surprising -- though tastes in brisket can vary. But more surprising is that the reviewers apparently did not complain. Part of what we love about L.Woods is the excellent service. Both dishes could easily have been turned back to the kitchen with no problem and replacements provided. L. Woods prides itself on service, and has never failed to deliver, even on minor complaints. As for small portions -- again, that has not been our experience. And the ambiance -- the place is decorated to look like an old fishing lodge; kinda fun. But L. Woods has charm beyond the decor. For at least 25 years they have had Sima on their staff -- a wonderful older lady who now serves mostly as a greeter, but years ago was a cook. She would come around to the tables with samples of something she had made. Now she just serves her personal charm. Among our L. Woods menu favorites: the flatbread appetizers, the tomato bisque soup, the amazing chopped salad, the ribs, the salmon, the molten chocolate cake. The one problem is the popularity of the place: we always go early so we don't have to wait for a table. If L. Woods was really a below par restaurant, it would not enjoy such crowds. Give 'em another chance, Kay!
(4)Mack M.
We've been here a few times now and the atmosphere is always comforting and calm. Dinner time is a little crowded but the restaurants layout accommodates the crowd. I had a great filet 2/3 occasions. The second time the steak was far overcooked; they boast superior customer service by replacing the steak, apologizing, and immediately comping the entree. Needless to say they have earned a loyal customer and I will be back with my large party.
(4)T D.
They have the best beef ribs in town. I went there last night and was amazed how good the ribs were. In addition the mashed potatoes are awesome. The only reason I'm not putting 5 stars is because it's pretty pricey. The service is good and the place is laid out nice. They also have speciality drinks which I like. Coming back for sure.
(4)Marcela R.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. The service is good too. The only thing is that every time we go there they have a bunch of walkers parked by the entrance which makes you feel like you are having lunch at a retirement home.... So if you care just about the food, give it a try.
(4)Jim B.
Good potato skin nachos, and I had the basil flatbread with a salad, good value. Frank the bartender was awesome, good sangria and decent beer list. The only thing every time the woman's bathroom door opens the first 5 seats at the bar smell like old bathroom sanitizer from the gush of wind. Kinda nasty when your eating.
(4)Charles S.
Been here a few times and always has been solid. Came right when they opened before the blue hair rush. Today for lunch I had the fried Perch with fries & coleslaw. D-lish! The fish was light and not overly breaded or too fried. The fries were crisp and tasty. Even the tartar sauce was solid. I wish I could come more often, but I live too far away.
(4)David F.
This is one of our regular favorites. Food is always excellent and service is top notch. Parking can be a bit tricky, but it is worth the wait. Make reservations, or you will wait a long time. Beer on tap selection is great too. Highly Recommend
(5)Chris H.
Very good all around, the food and service were both really great. Flat breads are amazing, flaky and melt in your mouth. Saturday prime rib special was excellent, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Definitely be making it back here again!
(4)Doug R.
I've been going here since it was called, 'Bones,' and the food has always been great. Whether I've gotten the planked salmon or the steak or roast, they've always been great.
(5)Jai R.
Great Family oriented place. Great for ribs ! The BBQ sauce they serve is warm and the complimentary onion roll in the beginning is the perfect teaser to get your appetite going. A must try place !
(5)Emily N.
We made a reservation for 9 but the place was so crowded that we weren't able to be seated on time. A couple we were with had a baby so due to us not getting seated on time, they had to leave. The manager felt so bad that he covered all of our appetizers, first round of drinks and cut our bill in half. This was extremely generous and we were super impressed with the service! Great place!
(4)Christine S.
I love L'Woods. The food is delish. The staff is nice and quick. However, they HAVE to get it together...there's some serious sanitation issues going on here. Within the past month, I've dined here twice... you're gonna wonder why I'd come back after the first incident and frankly, I'm beginning to wonder myself. 1. My boyfriend and I came here because I told him the food is to die for (and that could almost be literal after what happened). We were eating my most favorite thing on the menu, an L'Woods Chopped Salad and we notice something on the bottom of the plate. There's a screw (no, I'm not kidding) in our salad. A SCREW. A mothertrucking screw is in our salad. I can't make this up. After we brought it to our waiters attention, the manager took his sweet ass time (roughly 15 minutes) coming over (that didn't bother me at first...but then I eventually got upset realizing that one of us could have gotten hurt by this damn screw and he took his time seeing if we were okay). The manager was super apologetic and comped our meal which was very appreciated...but seriously, a screw in our salad! 2. We go back to for some delish food because I really do love L'Woods...no screw this time...victory is ours, so we thought. My guy is drinking his iced tea...with a long blonde hair in it. He's not a blonde. He doesn't have long hair. Our server, a long blonde haired woman is the only culprit here. So yeah, I've got an issue with the sanitation at the restaurant right now. Get it together L'Woods....get it together! You're lucky we're the ones who ended up with the screw in our salads and not someone who would take a bite with it in there, just for the sake of a lawsuit.
(1)nicole m.
This review is for the new BIG BOWL addition to Lwoods. Very Disappointing. I am a fan of Big Bowl, but not at this location..never mind the 2.5 hour wait for delivery. The food was NOT good. The BBQ Pork fried rice had LWoods BBQ pork scraps in it..not Chinese BBQ Pork..these 2 flavors do not mix.. it was made even more unappetizing by the over cooked and mushy rice. The Orange Chicken was a flavorless 1/2 portion for $10.00. This is supposed to be Chinese food, but it was really really bland. This whole thing feels like a 1/2 ass-d rescue attempt to revitalize L Woods biz by infusing the BIG BOWL name..Better Fix It Fast!
(1)Rachel L.
Pretty good place. Our waitress was so incredibly nice and helpful. I had the brisket sandwich, which was amazing. Also, their fries are addictive. My only complaints: -It's dark in there. Like any moment you think you'll look over an see an illegal poker game just like in the movies type of dark. -There are only two salads on the menu. Don't bring your pet rabbit. They won't like it the lack of greenery on the plates.
(4)Joanne K.
This is a solid 4 star restaurant. The food is good, portions are huge, and it is your basic Lettuce Entertainment fare. The specials are actually decently prized, and the wine and Moscow Mule I had were pretty good as well. I will say though that the patrons are all about 80 years old, so it clears out pretty nicely after 9:15PM!
(4)Jacquelyn E.
3 stars for excellent staff/service, great atmosphere, and amazing drink specials. The food...well that's where the problem lies. Let's start off by saying the food was lack luster and somewhat overpriced. My family of four dined at L Woods for my husbands birthday. My husband just loves BBB ribs so I searched in yelp for a good bbq rib place near Evanston. We saw that L Woods was featured on check please and everyone gave the restaurant rave reviews so L Woods it was!! We ordered the cheese curds for starters and my husband had the full slab baby back ribs, I had the fish & chips, my daughters had the pulled pork & the prime burger. The cheese curds were awesome, hot & crispy with a nice ranch dipping sauce. The food was just nothing special. My husbands ribs were quite cold and my girls food was just food. No wow factor at all. Now my food is where this place really lost points. My fish & chips was a $17.95 cruel joke of a meal. It resembled something that could have passed as a appetizer. It was basically little fish strips, and when I say little I mean no thicker or longer than pinky with most pieces being smaller than that. So basically little crunchy fried thin fish strips on top of slightly over cooked homemade chips and a thimble of coleslaw. The $5 old fashions were amazing and the customer service was outstanding but I go out to eat for the food experience and it just wasn't there. I hear the steaks are there good but I'm not willing to drop $30 per person to find out. Skip this place but if you want good drinks and a great atmosphere I guess give L Woods a shot just do yourself a favor and do not get the fish and chips.
(2)Evelyn L.
This place was full of customers!! I was expecting delicious food, the ribs were mediocre at best, twice baked potatoes were terrible and so were the French fries!!! How can you screw up French fries??!! They were cold and soggy!! Coleslaw was no better than the stuff you can buy at Jewel's and the calamari was just okay! I wish I could say I enjoyed it, maybe I was expecting too much.....
(1)Chrisy B.
On my first visit: I took my Mother for our annual holiday dinner. It was Friday night for 5:15 reservations. We were seated immediately in the way back room (with the fireplace). It was a very quiet area which was nice so we could talk. The room filled up with couples and families with small children. The other rooms seemed to be filled with larger (and louder) groups of people. I enjoyed our location. I had a skirt steak which was to die for. Mom had the fish/chips Friday special - delicious. For dessert we had the apple strudel which was fabulous. Our server was amazing and very personable. I would definitely recommend going, but maybe not at a really busy time if you care to hear your company.
(5)F J.
I have ate at Lwoods for many years going back to when it was Bones.Frank the bartender is a classic. Today we had a great meal,I order their buffalo wings almost every time we go and are the best i ever had. Today i tried a new item the BLT deviled eggs (very good)..the problem is i was charged $6.95 for TWO eggs with a sprinkle of BLT on them and a about 2-3 oz peppercorn/mayo sauce. I am fine with a profit but wow not even organic eggs. Woods you should add least one more egg to the plate. I will turn i just will not order the BLT eggs.
(4)Lulu R.
DATE NIGHT! My boyfriend and I have been on a very strict diet and we were long overdue for date/cheat on diet meal night. Once we started seeing the scales in our favor, we had to celebrate! We got there sans reservations because apparently they dont take them until 7. anyway, we got there around 6:15 P.M. this place was bustling. No seating immediately but we decided to wait, It felt very warm and happy. I knew we had made the right decision to come here. We only waited 15-20 minutes and were seated. Knowing the type of people my boyfriend and I are, we peeped the menu beforehand online. The waiter brought us an onion roll and butter for starters. (This is when I was completely won over!) We ordered the chicken and ribs combo, Fried Calamari, and skirt steak dinner. This meal was so delicious that it deserves a breakdown! BREAKDOWN: 1. Chicken and ribs combo: You know how some places throw some bbq sauce on some random chicken and a slab of ribs? Not this place! HANDS DOWN best bbq roasted chicken I have ever had. It was juicy and not over cooked. The Devil bbq sauce was a great touch too. The Ribs were also nothing short of the chicken. Equally as delicious and meaty. 2. fried Calamari- Hard to go wrong with this and served with extra lemons to squeeze over the top. Delicious! 3. Skirt Steak- cooked perfectly Medium Rare! I mean perfectly. The skirt steak was the highlight of our night! Totally tender and seasoned to perfection. Yep, PERFECTION. As the side we got the sweet potato, ask for extra pecan brown sugar butter. As my side I got the creamy spinach, which I wasn't impressed with at all. Its OK though, because I just had some of the sweet potato. The walls of this place is decorated with that lodge-y feel and with picture adorning the walls of regulars (I am guessing). I saw a lot of families and happy people. service was outstanding and parking is plentiful. Good business! I plan to return again for more delicious eats!
(4)Mat M.
L. Woods is a really good restaurant, and really busy too. If you're looking for a Sunday Supper type of place with a home-style family atmosphere then look no further. It's party of Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group, but it's off the beaten path compared to many of their other restaurants. I've been here a fair number of times and typically the service is really good. Last night was the exception, the server was slow, and some of the items we wanted had already been 86'd for the night. They advertise their fried chicken dinner for Sunday's but somehow were already sold out by 7PM, which was really sad. If you have a high demand for your specials, then you should probably plan accordingly instead of telling customers that you run out each week. The food is always good, and last night was no exception. I'll be back - but hope our service is back to normal next time- getting drinks and menu items timely is of utmost importance!
(4)Allison L.
L Woods is a nostalgic part of growing up in the city and reminds me of eating here with both my grandparents, friends and dates. The food is good, not everything is exceptional. The wait can be long. The service is hit or miss, but we have had way more hits than misses. We love the wings, great beef ribs and awesome skirt steak. Save room for dessert and the bar is one of the best parts of waiting a long time for table.
(3)Jillian R.
I was expecting the food to be good, but L. Woods blew me away! My boyfriend had a $50 gift card, so we decided to splurge. I had the baked French onion soup, chopped salad, and sirloin steak sandwich. Everything I tasted was incredibly delicious. The French onion soup was hands down the best I have ever had (and I get French onion soup almost everywhere I go.) The chopped salad tasted exactly like Portillo's chopped salad, but the dressing was a bit lighter than the creamy dressing Portillo's has, making L. Woods version better. Finally....the sirloin. Oh my was it incredible. Melt in your mouth, lean steak with crispy onion strings, lettuce, and tomato, served alongside hand cut fries. Incredible! I'm salivating just remembering it. You MUST give L. Woods a try! You will not be disappointed. Quakit
(5)Angelina S.
Great family restaurant. We celebrated Father's Day here with 3 generations of my family and had a great experience. The service was impeccable, even on a busy day such as that. And the food was tasty; we have been ordering carry out from L. Woods for years and finally had an opportunity to dine in. The koozi for my beer was a nice touch as well. Thank you L. Woods.
(4)Jaime G.
Dude. L. Woods in Skokie rocks. Try any of the BBQ offerings with a craft beer and it's delish! Great option for lunch. The BBQ is very good but the old standbys like burgers are big and juicy as well. Other shout outs include the spicy Bloody Mary, flatbreads, and walleye chips. Flatbreads are good but are really really thin and flakey. We also missed this great looking apple strudel that apparently takes 45 minutes to come out - bet that's good too. Also, get here early cause this place fills up fast esp on the weekends. A must try in the area and worth an extra drive if you're in the city and looking for a great, kid friendly option for lunch or dinner.
(4)AJ M.
Finally got a chance to come here, I have always thought that this was a sports bar but was surprised to see a comfy homy family log diner. I tried the beef devil ribs which was supposed to be spicy compared to reg ribs (but is not spicy at all) but still good. It comes with a decent sized side I recommend creamed spinach. Everything was great! I just wish they had a more extensive beer menu. Overall the food is good wholesome home style food in a very comforting log environment great or winter nights! Will deffinetly coming back to try more!
(5)Yanyao N.
Having an early Sunday dinner here is basically like eating inside a retirement home slash pine lodge. The food is huge portions of LEYE's take on Wisconsinesque cuisine. Think cheese curds, walleye, shandies made in-house with Schlitz. Lovely servers and the last time I was in here, I had this ridiculously delicious side dish special of roasted local carrots with nuts and feta cheese. If it didn't remind me so much of Twin Peaks with a bunch of old people, I would probably come back more often. Hopefully next year I'll get around to trying their Friday Suppers.
(3)Jim M.
Good food, good service, in spite of a crowded feeling in the dining room. They really pack them in.
(4)Justin B.
I've noticed that a lot of people like this place. It is always crowded and getting a table is difficult. Let me first say that I am from Wisconsin and I wanted to see how Chicago does a supper club. We went for our anniversary. When we were seated, we waited almost 10 minutes until a server greeted us. My wife ordered a dry martini. No olive with a spear! Come on, that's a trademark of a martini! My wife did say it was pretty good though. I had the "Wisconsin" old fashioned. Learn how to make a Brandy Old-fashioned, not quite the same, but close. My wife didn't have a place setting (silverware and napkin). The food: not really worth the price. Over-priced. I've had better home cooking for less. I ordered the Chopped Sirloin 14oz and it was so salty and greasy. My wife had the walleye. Same, a pile of salty grease. I saw that they pride themselves on food cooked with love like home cooking. In all of the supper clubs in Wisconsin I have been to, I have not had such salty, greasy food at such a high price! I usually salt and pepper my food like any good Wisconsin boy, but I wanted to take salt out!! I saw the Check Please episode featuring this place. Those people have no idea what a supper club is. Blind leading the blind if others came here based on that recommendation. Hey! Where is the Salad Bar! That is a staple supper club feature. Sometimes, you can just get salad bar as your dinner! Lettuce Entertain you has a reputation and I have to say that if you are developing formulas to make chains of quality, do more research and get it right! I had better food at Outback Steakhouse, and that' not saying much! Go to Wisconsin for the real experience. Don't go to this place and call it good for the idea rip-off. Not original, and not done well.
(2)Carla G.
I have come to L.Woods several times- overall I think it is A-OK! I have sat in the bar area and in the main restaurant. You should expect an afternoon rush, and an older crowd that comes in for an early dinner. Here is a list of what I have tried: 12 hour brisket nachos (my favorite!!), the BBQ chicken flat bread, french onion soup, walleye chips, Thursday pot roast special, walleye sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, grilled salmon, key lime pie, goldbrick sundae... I give a thumbs up to it all! Everything has great flavor! The service has been consistent at L.Woods. However, I feel I should mention my last visit because the server did not greet us with bread and took awhile to take our order. The restaurant was not busy so I was not sure what the hold up was (& I already came with an appetite). She also tried selling the dinner dessert menu during the lunch hour, what?! I found that peculiar because I have dined here before and the portions for dinner dessert are obviously larger ( and obviously cost more). Was she trying to pull one over on me and tack on a few more dollars to the bill? Who knows... I will still come back here because I love the selection of BBQ & the lodge feel.
(3)Mike A.
We have been here twice and both times ordered the "family style" dinner. The concept is great, as it allows for everyone to get a decent portion of apps, salad, sides and main entrees. First time was for Mother's day and it was great. The food, the service: excellent! Fast forward to this past weekend, when we came in for my in-laws birthdays (they're 2 days apart). We ordered the same family style setup, but the server( who has been there for 8 months, we asked) had no idea how it worked. First she said that was for catering, we replied "No", look at the back of your menu: its there in black and white. The rest of the time she just seemed confused, befuddled and determined that we where doing something not "kosher". In addition to the family style, we had 4 diners (1 kid and 3 teens) that did not order this $31 option family option (inc $2 for desert). We had a kids meal, a salad, wings, bbq chicken dinner and soup added. Yet this waitress was convinced that somehow we where skimping somewhere. Yes, there were a few calamari and few slices of razor thin flat bread that the kids put on their plates, because the bus boy was taking away the tray anyway. So what, with drinks we are dropping almost $400 here! Was it better to throw it away in the garbage? Did we over order and cover the table with unfinished food? NO! The mgr added $20 to our tab as a fee for sharing! WTF !!! No one said anything, they just tacked it on. I called him over and he said that we were sharing apps. Really? We got one extra flatbread and order of calamari to what they originally presented to a table of 6 adult diners, which by the way show up on tiny plates and you want to charge me? F@@k you! We eat @ LEY joints quite a bit during the year, ranging from Shaw's to Wow Bao and plenty of visits to Wildfire and Big Bowl in between. The service we received here was the worst we have ever experienced at a LEY restaurant! Again we drop about $2k a year on LEY, not counting the gift cards that my mom sends our way for special occasions. The only thing that keeps this above 1 star, is that our first visit was very good and the ribs are good. We know they could do better, but that server did not deserve her auto gratuity of 18%.
(2)S. H.
do not order mixed drinks. drinks are very weak, and for a higher end, not inexpensive restaurant, i expect better. also am disappointed in the bartenders. we have eaten at the bar when the old guy was there and also blonde female with eastern european accent and if they could have ignored us 100% they would have. It was unbelievable. 30 minutes to take a drink order, 15 minutes to take the food order, then never inquiring if everything was ok, need anything else? Not once were we asked that. And sitting, eating at a bar, it took me waiving continually in their faces to get another drink! looked right at me and my friend and looked away, went to the other end of the bar. left very low tip. normally am a min. 20% tipper, and each time with these two, left 10%. expect better from Lettuce Entertain You group. Food is good, no competition in the area, and agree with Joe R. that the front area/bar set up is horrible, over crowded, cant move.
(3)Reda K.
I really like this. First time and it won't be the last time. The glasses on the table looked dirty but I guess they have been used for so long they have marks on them. I would say make a reservation. I will be returning.
(5)Douglas W.
Miriam and I took my aunt and uncle out for dinner Sunday night. I had never been and the menu looked like a lot of fun. I ordered the parmesan crusted cod, baked potato and a side of broccoli. The cod came out on a huge plate. It was unidentifiable as a piece of fish. It looked like an island in the pacific. I figured there was probably fish under there somewhere. There was more breading than fish and it was swimming in a very rich and delicious lemon butter sauce. I really liked the flavors but wished the piece of fish had been nicer and the toppings more judicious. I ended up scraping quite a bit away toward the end. Good potato and slightly undercooked broccoli. The stems of the broccoli were hard to get through. I don't like them overcooked but this was a bit short. The place was packed as is the norm from what I understand. It's really loud. The service was great. I would go back and try something else maybe but I have a feeling that they're so busy that you couldn't get the care and attention to detail with your food on any occasion. It is a great concept and a cool place. I will have to think about returning.
(3)Pam D.
It has been a while since we last ate here, but we met up with a group of old friends for dinner and had a very nice time. Although the food does not make me crazy with love, it is usually a solid tasty meal. I had the special BBQ trio, which consisted of 3 BBQ sandwiches (small) accompanied by fried onion strings and slaw. It was all good and filling. Christopher had a burger, which was also good and certainly substantial. The table shared an apple strudel, which was good and certainly huge. I think it cost $11, but fed 6 people. I would have preferred it baked a bit longer, but all in all, it was a good choice. Service as always was friendly and attentive, and for a Tuesday night, the place was packed!!!! I'm glad we had reservations.
(4)Carl S.
Fantastic North woods atmosphere with Four Star takes on standards like, Walleye Pike Sandwiches. We always share a small Caesar Salad to start. The Bar looks like a Wisconsin Tavern from the 1950's was made over with a 2013 sports bar. 5 Flat Screens with every sporting event displayed for your entertainment. The "Oceans 12 Room", is where they filmed a scene in the movie with the same name is one of the main dining rooms with big booths and tables. All of the food is Great and so is the service. You may have to wait for a table during peak hours so call ahead.
(5)Steve F.
Just fine for a semi-upscale (moderately priced) chain-style restaurant. Good basket of warm bread served when you are seated; food is fine; service is good. Booths are large: Can easily seat 6 adults, and cozily seat 8. Walls are cluttered with photos, including one of my cousins (they did a deal where if you ate there 10 times you'd get your picture posted). The sign on the wall that says something like "We serve only USDA inspected beef" makes the meat sound a little dodgy: What restaurant serves meat that *isn't* USDA-approved? I sure don't want to eat *there*. However, if this is your style of restaurant, you'll have no complaints.
(3)Douglas M.
Went here for our 22nd Wedding Anniversary for the first time because of a L.E.Y. gift card, and I live 15 minutes away. So many wasted years going to far less quality restaurants much further away. Since it was a special occasion we went top shelf of the menu. I ordered the King Cut Prime Rib and it was prepared exactly as ordered, my wife and daughter ordered the Parm Crusted Filet, and my son ordered the Baby Back Ribs with the Devil sauce. We started with the Cheese curds, flat bread pizza, and the Walleye chips, everything was outstanding. Our server, sorry I forgot his name, was exceptional. He knew the menu backward and forward as a great server should, made sure we were always attended to. We just found our new Family Restaurant. Cant wait to go back and try the lesser $$ of the menu.
(5)Ken N.
EXPERIENCE - SERVICE - VALUE: 5 STARS EACH Parking: Valet, self-park & street First Impressions: Warm, busy, traditional, family-style, clean, efficient, comfortable. Reception: Warm, professional, unflappable Dining Room/Seating: I didn't observe any table/booth near an obtrusive, disturbing, or messy station/location. Waiter (Jason): Neat, friendly, relaxed, experienced and professional. Jason recited the specials accurately with interest, always checked on us, but never hovered. Beverage/Bar: We ordered a special, The Wisconsin Old Fashion and a beer. I suspect, LW can do traditional drinks quite well. We asked Jason to select a Malbec. Menu: Find links for their menu. Bussers/Serving Assts.: Professional, quiet, attentive, neat and efficient table service. Manager: Extraordinary, inexplicable, and impeccable attention. Kitchen: The expediter appeared unsolicited to explain the delay in preparing 2 dishes and added everything would be guaranteed to our satisfaction. Appetizers: Our waiter brought the complimentary Fried (Panko breaded) Calamari. It was as fresh and well prepared as anything I've tasted at any fry shack or restaurant. LW's also served a delicious fresh bread loaf with house butter. Food: Savory, not haute, traditional, attentively prepared, plentiful, satisfying and fairly priced. Desserts: Other desserts may be delicious, but never pass on the Strudel - order it with your meal. Cost: 3 entreés, 3 sides (Wedge Salad, Baked Potato, and a Chili bowl), 2 cocktails, a draft beer, dessert, coffee, wine, and tax totaled was $156.09 not including the complimentary appetizer, or tip. Personal Note: Anyone who reads this much might want to know if I'm pulling any punches. It's simple, I've taken my time to be appreciative of a simply wonderful experience at LW's. Narrative Visit: Fri., Jan. 16, '15 (Arrived 5:55 p.m., Seated 7:30 p.m.) Dining time: c. 3 hours, (We wanted it that way.) Party of 4 - Dinner with friends, a couple. Mgr.: (I'm so sorry, I forgot her name) Server: Jason E., Table: 68 LW is a very popular traditional Mid-west American restaurant. We have eaten there once before. On this visit, we were meeting friends, it would be their first visit to LW. The plan was to catch up somewhere satisfying and comfortable hopefully in a booth. We wanted to be very relaxed for dinner with conversation. Upon arrival, the hostess and host were sincere and warm. The young man, impeccably dressed, gave me a warm greeting and terrific smile. He said, "Welcome. Do you have a reservation?" My answer, "Sorry, no." He host informed me it would be about an hour. I looked around and saw every seat taken and a swollen waiting room. The wait was understandable. I said, with a big smile and some charm, "We'd like a booth." Our host charmed back, "Everyone wants a booth." I said, we'll be patient, see what happens. I added that I knew it was up to 'Luck,' and LW's to do it's best. He said he'd try, in the correct sense; He would always do his best. 65 minutes later, my pager and I approached our host and said, "Please note, I did not approach at the 30, 45, or 60 minute mark. It is time to ask for an update." "Sir, we may be able to seat you in a few minutes, we're closing and clearing a table," was his response. I said, "Oh, great. For a booth?" He said, "Possibly." I said, "We'll be patient." In 18 minutes, our pager awoke. "Your table is ready. Our manager will lead you." With hope I said, "A booth?" "Yes." The manager led us like celebrities to the main dining room. She waited for us to be seated comfortably, smiled genuinely, and apologized for the delay. Table 68 is a fabulous, sumptuous red leather booth centered on the wall in a great room. Jason asked about drinks. JW's has a short list of self-styled cocktail specials. My wife opted for the Wisconsin Old Fashioned which substitutes brandy for the bourbon. I asked about modern, creamed whiskey or rum selections - LW had none. Another guest asked for a Blue Moon draft, and I split a bottle of wine with the last guest. Jason returned, served the drinks, discussed the specials and took our orders. He had just left our table when he reappeared with a complimentary flat bread, wonderfully toasted with olives, herbs and an oil. Jason went away, a steward delivered the Malbec, uncorked it and set it to rest. Time passed, then the expediter appeared to explain that the perch was holding up the service. He promised to make everything to our satisfaction. This attention points out LW's mission; Do everything possible to make the evening pleasant and satisfactory. Out came excellent coffee and the strudel -a must- with another announcement. It, too, was complimentary because of the entreés delay. Too good. LW's take responsibility for everything. LW had 500+ covers that night. We felt special. I don't doubt that many others were satisfied. Go to LW's. My money is on LW and their evident skill and commitment to every guest.
(5)Vince L.
This restaurant is part of Lettuce Entertainment Group. With that said, the menu shares some similarities with Wildfire and other Lettuce Entertainment Group Restaurants. Overall I love the family feels and ambiance of the restaurant decor. I feel the price is equal the service and food. Even though they were busy but they get our table and food in good time.
(5)Kay J.
Overpriced, with mediocre food. The BBQ brisket sandwich had chunks of burned and fatty brisket, with TONS of gloppy overly sweet BBQ sauce (way too much). In fact, there was more sauce than meat. In spite of the fact that my waitress told me their fish was fresh, my fish really did not taste fresh... it was dry and tough, and in addition, it was quite a small portion. The menu is written in a way that most people would assume, as I did, that you get a potato dish of your choice plus your choice of a veggie, but in fact, at L Woods you are entitled to only one side with your dinner... everything else is upcharged, yet they don't inform you of this if you select two things to have with your entrée. Most restaurants give you two things with your main dish, OR they write their menus HONESTLY and tell you to just "choose one of the following". In addition to the above, our service was quite slow, and we had to wait nearly 1/2 hour in spite of the fact that we had a reservation. Perhaps I should have given LWoods one star instead of two.
(2)Annette U.
I had a major burger craving-so we decided to try L. Woods which is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which are always pretty good.We decided to order off their take out menu, however by the time we got home our food was cold-maybe they could get different insulated containers? Anyway-that was more our fault than theirs, I popped everything on a baking dish in the oven and the fries crisped up and the burger reheated nicely. My burger was enormous-it didn't even fit on the bun! I was able to get two meals out of it. I would really like to try their meals in house next time. Again, the gentleman at the take out service was also very friendly and helpful.
(4)Elina S.
L Woods is a restaurant located right next to where my grandpa lives so we decided to try something different and take him out for dinner. When we got in around 5pm on a Sunday night it was pretty empty but with in a few hours, the place got pretty busy so we figured it must be good. From the pictures, it had that Wildfire like feel but in reality it was much more casual than a Wildfire. The wooden walls, some leather booths, dim lighting, it was a very relaxed environment which would be perfect for a winter snow day! But I have to say, it is really dark inside, too dark for my grandpa to see so keep that in mind when bringing your elders. Now onto the important stuff, the food. The onion bread that they give you was just not good, ours felt a little stale like it was warmed up from the night before so I was not a big fan of it. They gave us a complimentary flat bread since it was our first time but I also did not enjoy it. It was way too thin and flakey and the pieces of meat on it were just blah so I'm happy I never ordered it. Than we got their creamed spinach, which is their specialty and it was pretty good, not a large portion but tasty nonetheless. For our entree we ordered their baby back ribs and they're not cheap for a full slab for $26 but we gobbled them right up. My hubby swears they are the best he ever had, but I thought they were just good and I would get them again. Okay, so this is where I kinda got annoyed. Before when we placed our order I said we will have the ribs and then get some kind of dessert and our server didn't say anything. When we were done with the ribs, I told her I would like to order their apple strudel and she said "Oh, it takes 45 minutes to bake so you will have to wait that long." Kind of a bummer, and I wish she told us earlier since I mentioned that we would get dessert and since we don't work there how would we know that it takes that long. After about a half hour wait, it arrived hot and steamy. It was delicious, full of apples, great cinnamon flavor, definitely worth waiting for. So my overall thoughts on L Woods is that it is just okay, nothing wowed me but there are definitely some tasty options on the menu, and our server did do a good job throughout the meal minus her forgetting to let us know about the apple strudel, so I may be back just to get that strudel and those ribs for carryout!
(3)Lauren G.
Delicious food and great service! Don't expect to just walk in on a weekend, though--it gets packed! Jason E was our server and he was wonderfully attentive and knew the menu well enough to make great suggestions. The gluten free menu had enough options to keep me happy. They have gf buns and don't list their sides on the gf menu but there are gf sides available.
(5)Will B.
Great ribs, steak, and mashed potatoes!
(5)Jimmy M.
Food, service, manager and parking are awesome. Consistently a great time out with my family. Highly recommended.
(5)Raul B.
Wow talk about an old school family restaurant, this is pretty much it. L Woods totally reminds me of the family style restaurants my parents used to take me too when I was a kid. I went on a sunday so of course I had to get the their special fried chicken dinner. It's basically a half a chicken with a side of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. The chicken was excellent with a thick coating and was definitely to much for me to finish. The mashed potatoes were also very good. I was looking around to see what other people were ordering and it seems a lot of people were getting the ribs so maybe next time I"ll try that. The service was great and fast even though they were very busy. The decor was very old school with that 50s pine lodge feel. I will have to go back again and try out their other menu items which all seemed delicious.
(4)Luckia A.
I ordered delivery, it's a lazy day for me. I Ordered from this place because I wanted a good beef brisket sandwich. Let me tell you, it was amazing! Now on the ordering experience. Right off the bat, the told me that delivery could take up to 70 mins, it only took 45 so that a super plus. I have good allergies and the took the time to look everything up, a MAYJOR, plus in my book! They made a note for my specifications and I'm super grateful, anytime I can't avoid taking Benadryl like they are tic tacs is great for me! On to the food. Not what I was expecting, but still really good. The beef brisket was cut into pieces, which I usually don't like, but it was amazing! The brisket was smothered in this BBQ sauce that was smokey and sweet and the portion was huge. I only ate half of it! The Coleslaw had a great taste and texture. The french fries where delicious even though they were soggy, which normally I wouldn't touch, but again I ordered delivery so it was acceptable and DELICIOUS! Finally! DESSERT! The apple strudel was AAAMAZZINGGGGGGG!!!!! I cannot wait to take my bf to this place!!! Also, decently priced and great portions!!!!! TRY IT!!!
(5)Lawrence C.
Outstanding is all I have to say. Never been here and went with our neighbors for the Fish Fry. Walleye appetizer was to die for, fish fry was also to die for and the half rack of ribs I had was outstanding. We will certainly be back.
(4)Frankie R.
I was disappointed in my baby back ribs. They brought them out and they were a a little over-cooked. I was surprised that they would even serve it like that, but (1) figured the cooks knew what they were doing and (2) I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had. I also ordred mac & cheese for my daughters and neither one of them liked it, so I had my wife taste it and she said it tasted bitter. In all, I thought the place could've been better.
(2)William V.
I enjoyed this place and will definitely return. The barbecue and fresh fish selection are very good, and the the service is great. I also like the casual, friendly atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable, too.
(4)Joanne E.
Just got back home about an hour ago after my very first visit to L Woods. I still have happy tummy. Very happy tummy. My tummy feels like it's going to be a very happy tummy until at least lunch time tomorrow. Doesn't mean I'll skip breakfast, though. You can bet I made sure to mention as soon as our waiter came over that it was our very first time there and as the reviews I checked out on yelp* last night promised, we got a complimentary flatbread appetizer for being "first timers." That put a smile on my DH's face. And, I have to admit, it was an interesting-sounding combination (bbq chicken and pesto sauce?), but it works. I had the Turkey Burger based on someone's comment in a review that it was one of the best she'd ever had. My reaction when I saw it was, "ewww, I don't like onions in my burgers" as I could see some small green things when I cut the burger in half. However, I thought I would give it a whirl. My response when I tasted it - yummm, it IS a good turkey burger. I don't know what the green things were, but the burger was meaty, moist, and subtly flavored. So yeah, the best turkey burger I ever had. They buttered the bun, which is bad, but it tasted so good I couldn't stop eating it bun and all. My bad. My DH ordered the bbq chicken half with baked potato. I shared my broccoli with him and he shared his baked potato. Plenty of starch and greens for both of us. And after I wolfed down my burger he also shared some of his chicken. I would like to say we had leftovers to take home, but I can't. We ate everything. Thanks to the helpful hints on the reviews we ordered the apple strudel well in advance. When it came my DH was shocked at how large it was. I will admit, I thought the review that described it as a burrito, only longer, might have been a slight exaggeration. It was not. I did not, however, expect the side bowl of whipped cream and little jug of caramel sauce. What delicious accompaniments. The coffee I ordered with dessert came in a lovely L Woods ceramic mug, along with my own personal carafe of extra coffee. I always like that. And I am happy to report that we did NOT eat all the strudel, we did take over half of it home with us. All in all, as the reviews promised, a delicious meal. Why only four stars? Well, in looking at my posts I can see that I'm a little heavy on the fives so I have decided to be more discerning. If there is even one thing that throws off the experience, I will give it four stars. In this case, it was seating us RIGHT BESIDE, nay, RIGHT ON TOP OF, a large and loud group. I swear, I could have tilted my head slightly to the left and joined their conversation as I was only six inches away from two people at that table. My DH at my own table was further away and harder to hear over the cackling going on a mere six inches away from my left ear. Now, if the restaurant had been crowded when we got there it would have been fine. But it was practically empty (based on reviews we arrived for an early dinner at 4:30 - good strategy for going in with no reservation). Why sit us right on top of another group??? So, four stars for that. Will we be back? Most definitely.
(4)Ellen P.
Yet another Grand Slam from Lettuce Entertain You, the key point being, you don't realize it's a Lettuce Entertain You til you read the fine print! Absolutely love this place. Knotty pine atmosphere is well done, great choice for families, business lunches, etc. Tried the flatbread pizza at the bar as an appetizer, the chopped salad is excellent, and the Parmesean Crusted Filet is to die for. Had no issues with either the wine choices or the cocktails - all met my expectations for this type of restaurant. It is busy on weekends, reservations recommended, and the parking lot fills up fast!
(5)Brandon W.
Stopped into L. Woods last night to celebrate my birthday, as well as my niece's birthday too. When we arrived (we had a reservation), we were seated right away - the place had a good amount of people, but wasn't crowded. As we sat and waited for the rest of our party arrive, the place slowly started to fill up, on a Wednesday night, none the less! Anyways, while we waited we ordered drinks, and they brought out the warm delicious bread to us. I love their bread! It is warm, and slightly oniony and the creamy butter that they serve with it very delicious as well! The place wasn't extremely busy, but it still took our server awhile before he got back to our table to bring our drinks, then take our order, etc. However we placed our orders - got our food and everything tasted great! First we got an appetizer, we ordered my mothers favorite appetizer, which so happens to be the shoestring onion strings! WOW! They are crunchy, and not overly greasy, and great by themselves, or with a bit of ketchup - give them a try. Then our meals came. I ordered the Black Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails that are sitting in a shallow pool of their own of their homemade steak sauce! Along with that, I ordered their mashed potatoes. The flavor comes out on so many levels. A hint of garlic, a hint of butter, not overly salty and little bits of potato still present. Great stuff. The burgers that my mother, sister and brother-in-law ordered looked excellent and the fish that my father ordered looked really appetizing too - and I am not really into fish that much - (I like it, but have to be in the mood for it).. I love the bar in this place too, it does have that old lodge feel. It's nice to pull up to the bar on a busy night while you wait for your table to open up. Hang out, have a drink - then enjoy a great meal!
(4)Gabriel A.
This is a classic Rib house with some great extras. They include the wings with a pretty unique batter, to the ever delicious gooey chocolate cake. Lots of nostagia on the wall and a well trained staff are what keep me coming back. Oh did I mention the still carry Schlitz!
(4)L T.
We met some friends here the evening after Christmas, and I was kind of like "no more food!" But off we went with kids in tow... I'd been curious about this place for a while. It's like this Northwoods lodge sitting in the middle of a suburban parking lot. Kinda odd, yes? So it was packed at 5:30 for dinner - lots of oldies and families with young kids. Loud enough so that you don't have to really worry about how loud your kids are. And it's a huge wandering place - the layout reminds me of Wildfire, another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Chopped salad: yum Almond-encrusted walleye: yum, though I preferred the cod that my husband ordered. Kids were happy with the basic grilled cheese and mac n cheese. Key. lime. pie. for dessert. I'm not totally sure, but I might have hunched protectively around it so that no one else could take a stab at it. Very similar to Wildfire's. Thick graham cracker crust. Yum. We'll be back. Good to find another place near us that isn't a diner :)
(4)Nancy K.
I highly recommend this place! Not only is the atmosphere cute with its woodsy-themed decor but the food is fabulous too! I will definitely be back!
(5)Patti P.
Wait staff is helpful and attentive. The menu is diverse and full of healthy savory choices. I will be back. Patti P.
(4)Dev S.
I had an excellent meal and experience here for dinner. I went to dinner on a Wednesday summer night where the place and the parking lot was packed. We were seated right away and the wait staff was great. The menu is high class american and bbq fare. Being from Texas and being a somewhat BBQ snob I wanted to try the pork ribs. I got a half rack pork ribs, slaw and baked potato. The food came in good time and piping hot. The ribs were smoked and had a good rub on them. They were very tender and meaty. The baked potato was good and so was the slaw. My experience at L. Woods was great and I would come again. The only negative thing I would say is the restaurant was very cold. Other then that I am a fan and will be going back.
(4)Theresa B.
This used to be one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions. Last night was a big disappointment. Food was okay, but nothing special and all our food was just warm when delivered. Waitress was good, but way too busy to give the service that we expected. We never got bread brought to our table and our entrees were delivered when we were only half way through our appetizer. When I told the runner that we were still eating our appetizer, he just shrugged and continued to put our food on the table. Waitress did apologize and sent out person from kitchen and they did remove the appetizer from our bill, but the rushed service really ruined the dining experience. I don't think we will be back in the near future.
(3)Osama S.
Local family restaurant. Wonderful people. Great food and wonderful place for families to have a meal to gather big parking lot and country still sitting.
(5)Elaine M.
We come here several times a year for dinner, but today was my first time for lunch. While the menu items and specials are the same, the prices (and likely the portions) are a bit smaller. Also, we did not have to wait for our table, nor did we feel rushed to leave after eating. This is a huge plus when dining with 4 kids! Our server was super helpful and very patient with our large group. The noise level at lunch was a lot quieter than at dinner, too. The fried calamari appetizer was excellent - piping hot and crispy. The fried chicken (pork?) salad special was delicious, as was the BBQ beef brisket and the boneless ribs. The littles enjoyed their buttered noodles kids meal with fries / potato chips and apple sauce. Sadly, we were all too full for our favorites: mac and cheese and gooey chocolate cake. We'll back again soon.
(4)Courtney L.
Think the scene from The Great Outdoors when John Candy thinks he is finished eating the "96 ouncer" and there is "nothing left on the plate but fat and gristle"...well, that was the makeup of my entire full slab of ribs. My BF and his mom also ordered ribs and they were exactly the same: fatty, chewy and tough. The three of us also ordered twice-baked potatoes, and when our meals arrived, one was missing, "because they were out." It was a real bummer of a time as far as the food goes. I don't think I'll be back.
(1)Joann V.
Good place to go to when you just wanna chill and watch a game. Not as loud as bars can get. More of a restaurant setting. Everything I've had food wise was great. But then again I do know how to order ;)
(3)Jennifer Y.
I ate at L. Woods on Friday 1.30.15 for the first time and I did not enjoy my entree. I will not be returning. -The first time we tried to go there on a Friday night for dinner (without a reservation) we were told the wait time was TWO HOURS for a party of two. So we left and made a reservation for the 30th. HOSTESS = GOOD -We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and still waited about 25 minutes. The hostess looked stressed out and apologized that we had to wait. She said many tables were taking a long time to finish their meals. We understood and told her it was alright. She seemed very genuine. I felt bad that she was stressed out because all of the tables seemed backed up. -Another customer was upset that we got called up before him. He said he was waiting for over an hour. The hostess explained that we had a reservation and he didn't. ENVIRONMENT = CROWDED -The place was PACKED with people! That's good, right? -The tables are very close together. -The decor looks old. They have an endless amount of framed pictures covering the walls. FOOD= I think it depends what you order... -They brought out onion bread with butter for the table. It was warm and delicious. -We ordered the L. Woods Chopped Salad to share and it tasted great. The portion was great for us two. Tip: If you don't like blue cheese, this is not for you. -I ordered the Chopped Sirloin Steak with a baked sweet potato. The sweet potato was baked well and they put the butter on the side. It tasted great. The steak WAS TERRIBLE. It looked like ground meat that they made into a burger. GROUND MEAT IS NOT A STEAK. I was so upset. I was too embarrassed to send it back so I just didn't eat it. -My boyfriend ordered the New York Strip. It was cooked to his preference and it tasted great. I had a bite :) I wish I ordered the New York Strip instead. SERVICE= FAIR -The server noticed I didn't eat my entree and he kindly removed it from the bill. -The server was alright, but nothing special. -He took our order, brought out the food and that was it. He never checked on us to see if we liked the food. He didn't notice I hadn't touched my entree until he was giving us the check. -The bus boys were on top of everything though. They promptly refilled our water glasses. -Jennifer Edit: I looked into what a chopped sirloin steak is supposed to be .... I guess it is supposed to be ground like a burger. I was wrong. Either way, I didn't enjoy it.
(2)CheesecakeChick I.
Let's hear it for the Mother's Day price gouge most restaurants do. Like Valentines Day, they know you will pay the price. Food was excellently prepared, what there was of it. Mom has the halibut special, which for 26 dollars should have more than a kind of small portion of fish with 5 asparagus spears. what no potato or rice on the plate? no soup or salad to start? no, that is all ala carte I had the almond crusted walleye. it was delicious. the double baked potato was extra. I had two strawberry lemon vodka manhattans, which were tasty but weak. they brought us a sample of the barbecue chicken flat bread, which was tasty, but the onion bread loaf on the table was cold, and the butter was hard. Expensive, but we enjoyed the food we ate! Enjoyed the Wisconsin Supper Club atmosphere.
(3)Nicole P.
We went tonight and he Michael as a server.. He is impossible not to like! He is the nicest guy and works so hard. L. Woods has the best calamari ever! It's always cooked to perfection.
(5)Katherine D.
Stay away from the calamari. Took the family out for dinner on a week night. Ordered the calamari for an appetizer. They were deep fried, but possibly the greasiest I have ever had. Some of the pieces were undercooked, and one was downright slimy. As soon as I ate the slimy piece, I knew I was going to be ill. When seafood breaks down to the point it has no integrity, it is spoiled. Should have spit it out. Instead, I barely made it home before I became violently ill. Our server was attentive and noticed that I had not touched my dinner and the calamari was not eaten. Even though we did not ask, she immediately got the manager. The manager apologized and took the calamari off our bill and asked if she could get us something else. I appreciated their gesture, but will not be going back. The rest of the family liked the food, but nothing special.
(1)Jiyoun B.
Steaks were perfectly cooked to order. If you order it medium rare, it came out medium rare. Their creamed spinach were made fresh, I can tell because it was bright green, not "dead" green. My fish was moist and flavorful. I can't believe I just passed by it without stepping inside for the last 25 years.
(5)Stan C.
We came here at 7:30 on the Thursday night before the Friday of the 4th of July holiday weekend. The bad news was that there were about 15 people already in the waiting area ahead of us for a table. The good news was we had a reservation. About 5 minutes later, we were being shown to our table. I just LOVE a restaurant that honors their reservations. Within 2 minutes, our server, Dameon, was at our table taking our drink orders and answering questions about the menu. They gave us bread that would best be described as an oversized onion roll to share for the table. Quite good. Dameon told us the ribs are the most popular item on the menu. But I figured if I am visiting the Mid-West, I have to order beef. My wife and I opted to split the chopped salad and the 14 ounce NY Strip Steak. The chopped salad was huge. Our server split it at the table for us (nice touch). It had bacon, pasta, scallions, tomatoes, and bleu cheese crumbles in it. I got mine with bleu cheese dressing - a very good choice, goes very well with the salad. The steak was also a very good choice. Cooked just the way we asked. Delish. We got it with a sweet potato as a side. These were the biggest sweet potatoes I have ever seen. It came with a seasoned butter to mash in. OMG. Fabulous. The service was excellent. Our water glasses never got below half empty. The empty plates were cleared in a timely fashion. 5 star food. 5 star service. 5 star ambiance. This place is great.
(5)Linda A.
We have been transplanted to the South for awhile now. Whenever we travel back up North it's important to get a real fish fry. This place was close to our hotel and met the criteria for our fresh fish craving. A little pricey for what you get, but it is Chicago, not Green Bay. Really good drinks, adequate but not friendly service...gets you 3 stars for A-OK from me.
(3)Aaron P.
This place was packed on a Sunday night. Go figure, random North suburbs of Chicago where Midwesterners have nothing better to do but pack the few decent watering holes that have TVs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. There are about a dozen tables in this area separate from the main dining room. The whole thing was packed at about 8 PM. I guess they do good business. I was deceived by the fish and chips platter. I think I needed to get the appetizer version. Anyways, the fish and chips were pretty good. The crust on the fish was well done without being greasy. The ribs were also delicious. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce. The full order of ribs is just a massive amount of food. I got a key lime pie with my fat friend because we are fatties. Also, take note they have a decent beer selection.
(4)Lisa G.
Surpringly delightful atmosphere and food. Reasonably priced and our waitress was entertaining and efficient. Great place to visit.
(5)Kristina K.
Love this place! Definitely a family restaurant and the selection is fantastic! Love the fact that they are taking sustainable foods seriously at this establishment. More restaurants need to do the same!
(4)Rebecca M.
My family and I had a great time. We ordered the baby back ribs, a bacon cheese burger, and a chopped salad. All of the food was AMAZING!!! The sides were also amazing. We got thought the fries and mashed potato's delicious. You should definitely come here!
(5)Michelle G.
This place is the quintessential supper club. The paneled walls are covered with old black & white photos, stuffed fish and mounted antlers. We started with a dirty martini and a gin & basil gimlet. You must order a proper cocktail at a supper club. And yes they do have blue cheese olives. Perfectly dressed chopped salad and quite the ample portion. Dry rub baby back ribs and cedar planked bbq salmon are lip licking good. It's packed 7days a week so be sure to make a reservation. Even if you have to wait it's well worth it.
(4)Krystel H.
Always great. I have been going here for a long time. Never disappointed Favorite item on the menu is the parm crusted skirt steak. And they have great salads The salads are huge! Great family restaurant. Definitely will continue to go to this restaurant.
(5)scott B.
First of all, we always get outstanding service here. Consistently. Bravo to the service team. Great ribs and BBQ. Skip the fires and go for the chips if you are leaning that way. Cole slaw needs a bit of pepper to help it out. Don't forget the apple strudel.
(4)Tamir G.
Was not expecting much but was not expecting to be disappointed either. The flat bread bbq chicken was good. Salmon plank bbq was nothing exciting. Ribs were dry. Flank steak was over cooked. Service was very attentive so I gave them the extra star.
(3)Jimmy P.
For me this is one of the best local places in Lincolnwood for extremely delicious food and great service as well as a quality bar. Also, for the flavorful tasty food, it is relatively inexpensive. Nothing says family restaurant like L.Woods. The few negatives are: It is always busy, which in hindsight is good, but it is difficult to get a table without reservations, or sometimes with a reservation, it is hard to predict the time you will be seated because they are always slammed. So make sure you reserve your table or it could put a damper on any later plans. Also, the food is great, because it is loaded with the stuff doctors tell you to avoid. So the very thing that makes it so great, also plays a tug of war with the bad side. That is just me though, and will not always apply as a negative for everyone else. So if you are guilt free on fatty foods, and love reserving tables before going out, I'de probably go ahead and give it 5 stars for a review.
(4)Jen Q.
We come 3-4 times a year with family, a party of 15-25. We've always been accommodated. The food is wonderful. The service is exceptional.
(5)Jennifer G.
L Woods came through when I had to find a dinner spot for a party of 13. The ambiance worked well for the group and the menu had choices for just about any taste. Everyone raved about their meal. Almond crusted walleye, pork tenderloin, and the chopped salad earned particular raves. The meals aren't elaborate, they are comfort food done very well.
(5)Stephen M.
I had done an earlier review and was completely unhappy. To their credit the restaurant contacted me to make amends. We returned with friends who are quite particular. Unlike our last visit which was the end of a Saturday evening, this visit was during prime time on a Sunday. Each of our entrees were as requested and good. Our server kept focused and delivered on each of our somewhat fussy requests. High marks for her. So, 'yay, I'm a fan'. I'm a fan of a responsive restaurant. They made amends, asking for another chance, believing they were better than our last experience.
(4)Patricia M.
The service was very rushed. My "fried fish" was totally over cooked. Very disappointing and over-priced.
(1)Russ H.
When you are looking for a great meal in an out-of-the-way place, L Woods never disappoints. The ribs and salmon are fantastic. I highly recommend. Fun place to take the entire family.
(5)Joseph K.
Ok I have made up my mind I can not give 4 star for those bbq beef ribs this place definitely deserves a 5 star hands down and not just the bbq beef ribs but also the customer service and the whole entire menu is best food I can ever have thank you Lwoods
(5)Alex U.
Great place for a family outing. Everyone will walk away full and happy. My son had the 12oz skirt steak, two thumbs up. Along with the key lime pie. My wife and I had the meatloaf and walleye sandwich respectively, delicious!
(4)Lauren A.
Great place to go and relax and have some comfort food and a few beers / cocktails. We came in for the first time last weekend without a reservation and ended up sitting at a high top in the bar area. I couldn't believe it was that crowded at 5 p.m. on a Saturday! Will be making a reservation next time for sure. The server brought us a loaf of the onion bread with butter right away which was delicious. I started with a house sald which was the most enormous house salad I have ever had. Really generous plate with tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, and super tasty homemade croutons. The house dressing was also really good. For my entree, I had the BBQ half chicken with a double baked potato. The chicken was very moist, but I did think they covered it with too much sauce. I actually couldn't believe they gave me a side of BBQ sauce as well. The thing was already covered with it! I am one of those people, though, who doesn't really like sauce on meat. It drives me crazy when there is too much of it. So that may be a taste thing. The chicken itself was really good, though. The double baked potato was perfect - creamy and full of flavor. We really wanted to put in an order of the baked chocolate cake but were just way too full to do it. Next time.... As far as beers, they do have a pretty good selection of local-ish craft beers on tap. The best thing is that they have Left Hand Milk Stout on tap which is one of my top 3 favorite beers ever... and very unusual to have on tap at a random place in Chicago. So, that was awesome. I can't wait to come back to this place. It is a great place to bring family or friends and spend a couple of hours having drinks and a leisurely dinner. Just be prepared to roll yourself out of here.
(4)Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: B- Service: B Solid, nothing flashy, across the board. Never had a bad meal, but sadly never a great meal. I recommend eating at the bar, good selection of beers on tap. The interior could use some updating, but on the whole the supper club feel is well represented. Service is good, no complaints. The food is pretty standard.
(3)James G.
Unable to provide quality service or food. Portions and quality are inconsistent; front of house staff and management rely on lying to customers thinking they don't know better; reservations are accepted but fall by the wayside regularly (why make a reservation if you have to wait an hour to sit down?); to go orders taking an hour longer than the pick up time are inaccurate. Dried out, fatty, brisket - meant to serve 10 people - if you give each person 2oz of meat, maybe.... We've grown expect much more from a Lettuce Entertain you establishment, ever since this location was revamped from Bones barbecue it has been in a slow downhill slide. We will absolutely never come back or order carry out again. You should avoid this place if you have any respect for your time or your money because it's obvious they do not.
(1).Kìt À.
This place is known for the ribs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. They do a very good business. The tomato bisque soup is a must have. We ordered ribs and burgers. Both were divine. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce on the ribs. The full order of ribs is a very very massive amount of food. Key lime pie and brownie sundae are both delicious. Staff is considerate and friendly. The photos that we saw hanging on nearly every wall added history and charm. Just remember that anytime you want yummy food, tasty drinks, ribs or burgers or chicken with desserts that your sweet tooth will appreciate; then definitely drive over to Lincolnwood Illinois and stop into L Woods Tap and Pine Lodge for their delightful, delectable, dinners.
(5)Rahul G.
This is a go to for my wife and her family and I. Easy and really yummy. Simple food, but done right. I love going on Sunday and getting the fried chicken, huge portion and so so good. The cobb salad is also giant and perfectly made. One of those places where everything is good. The ribs are excellent as well. Can get crazy crazy busy but it's worth the wait. Go for an earlier dinner and you'll be fine.
(5)Mark G.
I chose to come here for my birthday dinner, so that speaks to how much I enjoy their food. As if coping with the stigma that comes with turning 30 wasn't enough, I realized I chose a place that attracts more old people than the entire state of Florida. I'm surprised I didn't leave L. Woods driving a mid 90's Buick LaCrossee. That didn't deter me because the ribs here are fire. I'm not even a crazy ribs person. I'm one of those people more inclined to order a burger instead. But one visit here, I was sold. I actually feel kind of bad for people who don't get to share their food with another person, because deciding between the beef ribs or dry rub baby back ribs would be strenuous. Both are really good but I would suggest the beef ribs since they're not attainable at most places. This is definitely one of those places you choose when somebody owes you dinner and you don't have to pay.
(4)Joe R.
The service is generally pretty great here as well as the delicious food. I do however feel there is often TOO many people inside where you can't walk by the bar area, you're being bumped into by people, and there are even more people standing in walkways because they don't fit at the table. I dont like to be boxed in or surrounded by people or have their butts in my face while I am seated at a table. This is not so much of an issue if you avoid the bar area entirely. The food has been great every single time ive come in here. Get the brisket nachos, effing delicious. Sometimes they get a little stingy with the brisket, but it's by far their top appetizer IMHO.
(4)Evelina L.
So....this place really does get 4 start only because of the most divine strudel in the whole wide world! I would say skip the rest of the meal and just order the strudel! Ok ok, since it does take 30 minutes to bake it TO ORDER, you can probably grab a quick bite to eat of something else first. Maybe. I like that they always have a fresh assortment of iced tea, lemonades and even home made soda. Portions are HUGE, but things are somewhat on the healthier side, if you don't count the quantity. During lunch, the average age is always 75 and it gets very crowded, but service never skips a beat. Try L. Strudel next time you are in the neighborhood. I mean L. Woods. :)
(4)Still W.
Great food! Ive always liked it here
(5)Ray D.
Awesome Cheese Curds. Probably the best in Illinois. Best BEEF RIBS in Chicagoland so far. Beef ribs are a rarity in the Midwest. And they did me proud. Ambiance has a warm Wisconsin Supper Club feel. Look forward to going back with beef rib BBQ fans.
(5)Steve O.
We had an enjoyable dinner. Always great food. Always great service. Always a wait, but always worth the wait.
(5)Jimmy J.
This is one of those old school type of places where you can sense who is a regular & who isnt. We were told 10 minutes for a table,but had to wait 25. It seemed like REGS were given priority but i can't be sure. Nonethless, we had a very good meal here. Friendly and effecient service by Flavio. Chopped Salad starter was solid, smaller portion @ $10 was enough for 2. Flatbread is authentic in the sense that its super thin and crispy as should be. I liked our bbq chicken flatbread although felt it odd that it and all flatbreads has pesto sauce. We sampled their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and they were dynamite. Much better than all these hyped up bbq places that do not serve the meat hot. Meat was charred on quality brioche bun and sides of Slaw and baked potato were quality. Prices were $11 which compared to the marketplace, is very good. The Salted Caramel bread pudding was delicious, and large enough for 4 to share, and was only $5.99. My last couple experiences at LEYE concepts have been piss poor (DiPescara) to mediocre (RPM Italian). L Woods delivered whatr LEYE joints generally do: Good food, dependable service, comfortable settings, at reasonable price points. We will return. I saw FULL SLAB on way out that will bring me back FO SHO.
(4)Jose T.
L. Woods has become my family's favorite Chicago area supper club. Great food, great drinks & the perfect atmosphere. It's got an 'old school' supper club vibe that we love with everything else to match.
(5)lee m.
Great old fashions . Fantastic portions paired with an old school dinning experience. Absolutely love this place. The service was on point. Strait forward menu, no chicken liver mousse and snobbery. Surf and turf was cooked to perfection. Great place for multi-generations to get together. I will be back.
(4)Howard L.
We came back for dine-in Sunday night dinner, and we are back to the 5 star quality we've been used to at LL Woods over the years. We used the comp'd gift certificates sent to us for our last sub-standard take-out dinner, and had their fried chicken dinner ($17.99) and a half slab of dry rubbed baby back ribs (also $17.99). It was all simply delicious with a pint of a new red ale from the Peoria area (Tighthead Scarlet Fire Red Ale at 5.6% ABV). The buttery fried chicken was succulent on the inside and the best serving we have had to date of this Sunday night classic. Will surely be back again and may try another night for another of their renowned daily specials.
(5)Brit M.
I started with a wow (thanks to how accommodating they were last minute on Mother's day) and ended with a "foot down never coming back again" - unless I am REAL hungry and in Lincolnwood. Everything was hit or miss. We sat down, it was a little drafty (we mentioned it) and we had an extremely pushy server (Raulberto). I've worked in the restaurant biz, so I know how hectic Mother's day can be... but our time here was terrible. We ordered the apple salad (delicious) as a starter. Now on to the complaints. Our server starting clearing plates, while we were still eating... which is a big no no in my book. It's actually my number one restaurant peev. For one its rude, because it rushes the other people and its not appetite appeasing. Also we were asked about desert while placing our appetizer order. 45 minutes for a lava cake? Seems a little crazy, and it comes off REAL pushy. I don't think about desert until desert time! Secondly, servers should be seen and not heard unless they are at your table asking you your order. Our server was so loud, we could hear him talking to other tables and barking orders to bus boys. After we stopped him from cleaning off our table, we finally placed our food order. I understand he must do this every single day, but he was speaking so fast and seemed impatient with our questions - we were getting confused on what we were ordering. Keep in mind - I am 25 and was getting confused... its not like I am elderly! When our food came, things were missing and I am pretty sure the whitefish and walleye were the same thing. I ordered wine, and it came after my meal, our creamed spinach didn't come until after our meal, and they also forgot our potatoes. I ordered the fried chicken special, and it wasn't fried thoroughly. After telling the server my chicken was doughy and not fried, he tried telling me it was just the way it was supposed to be. Really? Nothing like biting into raw egg and goopy flour. It was horrible. The dinner was overall upsetting. They ended up taking off the creamed spinach, but wow it was just a bad experience. Nothing like upsetting the mother on Mother's day! I feel bad, because we could of went any where, but Barry's mom really wanted to go there, only to have a horrible time! I will thank Patrick for seating us immediately... and the bathrooms were really clean.
(2)Joy Z.
This place, like most Lettuce Us Entertain You restaurants, is top notch. It has a similar vibe to a old school supper club. The food is delicious. I especially love the ribs and pounded chicken. The 1/2 price bottles of wine($12) on Tuesday and Thursdays is a steal.
(4)Penny L.
Establishment interior appearance, old. Friendly staff. Glad we made reservations. I thought I was told Delerium Nocturnal was in bottle so I ordered DN. Received Delerium Tremens in a dirty glass. Foam next to nothing. Wish I could have poured my own bottle. Taste more bitters. Ran out of fried chicken. Caesar salad wilted, small pieces, overdressed, served on hot plates. Ribs tender with decent sauce. For the locals. Iteligentsia coffee strong, had to use cream. Would go back to try the fried chicken and another shot at a properly poured beer.
(3)Scott S.
Nothing to complain about and nothing too insanely good either, IMO. Overall I was pretty happy with the meal though, it's a TON of food, and I always say the more the merrier. ha. My uncles took home plenty of leftovers...
(4)Lisanne F.
I'd read about their famous buttermilk chicken served on Sundays, so when someone gave me a $25 gift card, we excitedly made our reservation for 1 p.m. L. Woods sure doesn't look like much from the outside and because it's so cavernous inside, it really doesn't feel cozy, it feels stuffed with people. (Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop is way more cozy and decorated.) We sat in a booth (nicer than the tables) and were taken care of quickly by our friendly waiter. We ordered the chicken (delicious) and the Walleye Pike Sandwich, the waiter gave me a choice of potato with the sandwich and I opted for the garlic mashed potatoes, which were really good. Here's our complaints: The French Fried Chicken is $16.99 (bring a doggie bag, you can't -- or shouldn't-- eat it all). It comes with a biscuit, a teensy tiny container of slaw and potatoes, of which hubby chose the house-made chips. The chips arrived on MY plate with my sandwich, where the pickle had soaked into them. The chicken has so much coating on it, it takes up the whole plate. The biscuit was perched precariously on top (I wonder if any ever fall off on the way out of the kitchen?). The chips should have come in their own basket. For my sandwich, I had to lift up the bun to see the fish, which was a very small, round piece. For $10, the bun should've been better quality (I only ate the bottom half), the fish portion a lot larger, and ditto for the slaw. There was an interesting sauce on the sandwich but it didn't really go with the additional tartar offered. So, service is fine, atmosphere so-so, but prices are a lot to swallow. We were happy we didn't spend our own money eating here.
(2)Ann B.
I was very hopeful for a new place to get Chinese food in Lincolnwood - however this was the worst Chinese food I have ever had. The BBQ Pork Fried Rice was awful, the Beef and Broccoli had broccoli that was yellow ! I expected fresh from L Woods but this was not. If you are looking for good cream cheese rangoons go to Panda Express because their rangoons are better and cheaper. We also had an order of their egg rolls which were long, thin and tasteless. I was told it would be 1 1/2 hour for pick up and when I complained they said ok 1 hour. This is the last time I will order from Big Bowl at L. Woods.
(1)bill s.
Great spin on the old Wisconsin supper club! Food great and commensurate with the LEY chain. I have been a few times, and the only complaint I would have is that service feels rushed. But, then again, I have only gone on a weekend when tables are a premium. Definitely a place we will add to our "standards" list of good places to go....
(4)Nina M.
The mac 'n cheese has been described as orgasmic, by my friend to the manager. Quite embarassing at the moment but a good laugh now. It is probably the best thing on the menu and the best mac 'n cheese in Chicago, the United States and the world. I also like the steak sandwich. I have ordered off the kids menu and was warned that I could never do that again. I would appreciate some chicken tenders for adults then. The inside is woodsy and lodgey. Warm feeling. Lot of pictures lining the walls. There are a lot of old people and regulars there. It is always pretty busy which is a good sign and I believe they filmed Oceans 11 or 13 there.
(5)ZZ K.
Hungry and in the neighborhood. I remembered my mom telling me that this place was good, so we decided to stop on in and give them a try. Plus, the BF is a huge fan of BBQ, so I thought 2 birds with one stone! We walked in and I immediatley saw a lot of older people...always a good sign if you ask me!! Where there are old people, there is good food, good prices and large portions....usually. Hostesses were super friendly and the elderly lady that sat us, has been working there for about 20 years...obviously she likes her job. We sat on the right side of the restaurant near the bar area and the place was hopping on a Wednesday night. Impressive. A busboy immediately filled our water glasses and brought over some onion bread with butter, which was nice and worked well to tie us over. After looking at the menu, the BF ordered a French Onion soup and for dinner he had the BBQ brisket sandwich. I had the BBQ pulled chicken on cornbread, with beans and side salad. Our waitress was nice and since it was our first time we got some flat bread with goat cheese (the magic word for me), pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes. That was actually the best thing we had!! The food came out fast, so we appreciate that as well. The french onion soup was good. Lots of gooey cheese, onions, soft mushy bread and sweet oniony broth. The brisket was ehhhh, and I was not impressed. The pulled chicken on corn bread was good, but the portion was ok...I would even say on the smaller side for the price (not much chicken and more onion straws than anything. We ordered the strawberry sangria, which was a $6 special. The glass was small and contained mostly ice. Not to mention, they put in a decorative leaf of some sort which was wilted and a small not pretty looking strawberry....kind of a sad touch really. We opted for the strawberry shortcake for dessert, which was nice. They made the biscuits, lemon poppy seed, and I liked that slight change in flavor. Nice fluffy cream and strawberries...we cleaned the plate fairly quickly. So, I would give this place a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5, and we may or may not be back. I was hoping for a lot better, but maybe the items we ordered were not the best choices....who knows.
(3)Kelly M.
How have I not reviewed this place yet?! They have a menu that is big enough to please everyone in your group, but not so big it overwhelms you. The service is great and they have fun seasonal drinks. I've yet to check out their outdoor seating area in the summer. I've heard it's very nice.
(4)Barbara I.
At last, I agree with the majority of yelp reviewers...L Woods was a great experience. On site parking *yeah!), good food and good service. My friend and i split the chop salad (small size) - it was delicious! i had the prime rib and my friend had the ribs...the prime rib was very good - cooked to perfection and my friend reported the ribs were also very good. WE split the chocolate cake and were stuffed and nearly in food heaven when we were done. The apple martini was close to perfection. This is a good restaurant to bring your parents...old style feeling. I definitely will go back.
(4)Brooklyn Barry B.
devil style beef ribs..need i say more.
(5)Peter R.
My work held a retirement luncheon here not too long ago. There was about 28-30 of us, and we rented out Lynn's Back Room for our private party. We had a preset family style menu, and I must say the selections were very nice. First of all the staff here was very attentive and friendly. I don't even remember having to ask for a refill...not once. We started off with some flatbread which was quite good. I had some sweet sausage, and dried tomato flatbread, and French Onion soup. The two main entrees that I tried were the baby back ribs and the chicken a la sima. The ribs were fall of the bone fantastic! I wanted to just devour the ribs and start licking my fingers, but this was a "work" function so I practiced some etiquette. The chicken a la sima, which is their version of chicken picatta was drenched in lemon butter and capers. It was so tender and delicious that I wanted to cry, but again I had to remind myself that this was a "work" function. We ordered the apple strudel in advance since we were told it would take 30-45 minutes to prepare. The apples and cinnamon in the strudel was a sweet heavenly collaboration of delight. We were all pretty stuffed after that, but there was plenty of leftovers since the portions were gargantuan. We all stuck around for a little bit, and tried not to get induced into a food coma. This was a nice cozy spot to grab some delicious grub, and I loved the whole Supper Club environment. I will have to venture here on my own and dine in the main room, but from my experience I think I already have a man crush on this place.
(4)Michelle A.
I'm sure this place is an institution for locals. The costumers in general look like they've been going there forever, and every time I've passed the parking lot, it's been packed. However, our experience was blah, at best. The drink I had felt so out of place and the novelty glass made it embarrassing to sip out of. I was just looking for a good, summertime drink... not one that reminded me of some cheap cruise line. The pre-dinner bread was great, though. I'll give them that. For Friday night, the menu was super limited. I ended up getting a skirt steak sandwich. For $13 bucks, it was all bread and lettuce. The steak, which I requested medium well, was barley cooked. But it didn't matter. I couldn't taste it anyways. The fries were great, but what I expected from a place like this. The ambiance was noisy, full of kids and older couples. Yet, a lot of younger people dressed up like they were at a club. I didn't get it. For the price of the bland food, limited menu, and the noise... I wont be coming back.
(2)Dean H.
GREAT place for a business casual lunch. Not a place where you are going to negotiate a contract, but a very good restaurant with excellent food and most often wonderful service. Have never had a bad meal at L Woods.
(4)Tracy F.
The food here is great. The atmosphere is definitely like a lodge. It's well worth the trip for great BBQ. All the food was great - ribs, fried chicken, brisket nachos. And a complimentary flatbread for new customers. Our server was great. My only complaint is our busser. He tried twice to take food while we were still eating, then he bussed the entire table clean while my step dad was still eating his food. It seemed very rushed and borderline rude.
(4)Jay H.
Once you accept the concept of a casual, traditional American restaurant, you can appreciate the fine execution of the concept. Other than an understaffed bar, which led to a drinkless 10 minute wait for our reserved table (imagine that), everything went smoothly. The appetizer of sausage flatbrerad is reason alone to come here -- super-thin, flaky crust, delicious, and great value. The sides of creamed spinach and mac and cheese were outstanding -- and we were allowed to sub them in for our entree sides for a slight upcharge. Entrees of ribs and lake perch were solid. The sandwiches probably were a better value, but we had a Lettuce gift card to play with. Our sever Chris was extremely helpful. He asked if this was our first visit, and as it was, comped our app under corporate policy. Nice touch. Another good corporate decision was a $10 bottle wine special, selected by Alpana Singh of Check Please fame. At that price, I'll take 2, please. All in all, a very well run place with solid food and nice people. The place starts clearing out at 8:00pm, so come on the late side and miss most of the suburban family crowd.
(4)Britni W.
This is easily one of my favorite date spots, visiting guests spot, rainy day.... pretty much anytime I can find a reason to go this is my first stop. I've yet to eat anything from here that wasn't at very least above par. The mashed potatoes are to *die* for and must be tried. The apple strudel is well worth the 45 minute wait and can easily feed four people so if it's just the two of you than I suggest you are prepared to take some home.
(5)Kevin Y.
My family and I have been eating here occasionally since it used to be called "Bones" back in the 90s. Didn't dine in on my most recent occasion, but ordered some of the baby back ribs for takeout. These are probably some of the best sauced ribs I've had. Fall off the bone tender, but not so much that it makes it difficult to eat. The ribs came with coleslaw and I ordered mashed potatoes as a side. Both were very good. If you have room for dessert the apple strudel is very delicious, but takes a while to prepare. Remember to order it at the beginning of the meal when you order the rest of your food. I don't come here regularly, but I've found the food to be good and consistent over the years and will continue to eat here.
(4)Kerri G.
Restaurant that tries to resemble the Northern Woods of WI. Food was good, a tad on the expensive side. Got a free flat bread for our first visit. Bathrooms sorely need updating. It's a little run down, but atmosphere and staff are wonderful!
(4)Diana P.
This place is great-reminds me of WildFire with a twist. The flatbreads are a MUST and go very fast so order a few if you're with a group of more than 2. We went with a party of 6 and the waitstaff was fantastic, knew a lot about the food and gave suggestions that worked. Large portions, even for the sandwiches on the dinner menu. Desserts that take 45 minutes (Apple Strudel and Chocolate cake) are WORTH IT and feed 6+ each. Fun atmosphere reminds me of a log cabin. I'll be back!
(4)Rita P.
Can I just start off by saying, lovely service. Nothing like a polite waiter that can communicate well and doesn't act like you are anything but a guest. That being said, it's a big place with photos all over the walls. It definitely has that cabin feel, and a cozy neighborhood feel. It's casual, but the service acts a par above as mentioned prior. I like to think of it as a meat and potatoes place. The ribs are really good, and everything comes in a generous portion. They are happy to bring extra plates and napkins, make side dish substitutions, and don't fuss you for sharing. There are always customers here, enough that the restaurant never feels deserted even at odd times. They have all the classic American dishes. Also, look out for coupons and deals, there are quite a few floating around in local ads and the like. That takes down the price so that it feels extra reasonable.
(4)Nisa D.
Great food and service, i love their tomato bisque soup is to die for :). I recommend a reservation for friday nights and weekends it can be a little crowded.
(5)Jason J.
We had friends in town and they suggested L Woods, mostly because of the half off wine on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we gave it a try. We sat at the bar waiting for our table and we're seated fairly quickly, but the first two beers on their list of tap choices they didn't carry anymore. I get it but change the sign on the wall. Our waitress was nice, but a bit slow and it was not overly crowded. We tried the special appetizer of bbq brisket nachos. It was good but small for 10 bucks, and there was very little brisket in it and the pieces were tiny. It's known for barbeque so I got the ribs and chicken, and my wife got the parmesan crusted cod. Mine was good, and the portion was big. The twice baked potato was the real star. My wife said the fish was okay, but tried the filet and said it was much better. For a lettuce entertain you place the food was good, and the prices were reasonable. If we were in the area and had a taste for bbq or a steak, we would go back to L Woods.
(3)Christina B.
Wonderful food, amazing service and an atmosphere from a bye-gone era. This place is all about nostalgia, family and good food. Everything is amazing on the menu. Everyone has a smiling face when you walk in. They begin the meal with a loaf of onion bread and keep it coming as long as you can eat it! Everything is good on the menu...literally everything. The apple strudel is delicious and **Note: it takes 45 minutes to cook so order it with your drinks at the start of your meal** We sat near the hostess stand and I have to say, everyone in the establishment loves "mama" who stands there like she has for what I can imagine has been decades passed. Every who passes her gives her a little hug; from waitresses, hostesses and even the busboys. Everyone cares about her and you really get a sense it's a caring, friendly and loving place. It comes across that way in the food. I can see how it's a place that withstands time and generations continue to come there; I know I will! PS--it's a "lettuce entertain you" restaurant so bring your cards...you can rack up some serious points there!
(5)Matt C.
Great experience! Would go back in a second... Our server Jesus was great as well!! Every item was Cooked to perfection...
(5)Tracy B.
Whatever you decide to eat, you must order the flatbread, I repeat: you MUST order the flatbread. Can you tell I really liked the flatbread? Super-thin, delicate and crispy - and substantial. I was quite surprised at how large the order was. Ahhh, yummy goodness. I've been here a couple times now and have had mostly simple dishes: Chicken sandwiches and salads. It's always been tasty. This past time was no exception, I had the skirt steak salad. It always impresses me when a restaurant can make a good skirt steak. L Woods got it right; a steak that can very easily turn out overcooked and tough was tender and juicy. What is not to like about this place? It is literally a Pine Lodge. Rustic and comfortable and just dark enough not to be considered too dark or too bright. I try to get there as often as possible and now that I read the the mac 'n cheese is orgasmic, I must go back sooner rather than later.
(4)Adam B.
L. Woods has some of the best burgers in the Chicago region. For dinner, no one beats their Prime Rib special. And don't leave without dessert!
(5)Valerie G.
I passed by this place so many times and thought it was an bar or lodge for older folks. Finally, stopped in on a Friday night and there was a two hour wait! Didn't stay but went back the following weekend with reservations and realized why you need to call in advance: the food is really good! I didn't know this but it's a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant and on your first trip there, they give you a free flat beard. I say it's my first time, every time. I like getting free stuff and I'm cheap! Try their barbecue plank salmon. It's on a bed of mashed potatoes and it's amazing. They have great soups, salads and overall well made American foods. The dishes are pretty on par with their sister restaurant Mity Nice Grill. Ordered their lava cake for dessert once...it was a 10 inch cake for two people. So delicious but wayyy to big! They also have wine specials with $10 house bottles of red or white...can't beat that! My only qualm is that every time we go, we are the clear minority- not just in race but age. Lots of elderly white people. Don't get me wrong...everyone is always very nice but it is kind of strange that the only people who look like me are the bus boys.
(4)Tim H.
This place is always packed whenever I come. It is best to make a reservation unless you are ok with a one hour wait. Service is good...as good as it can be for a casual restaurant given how busy the place always is. The Baby Back Ribs are awesome. My favorite side is their gigantic double bake potato. (The potato is so large that it makes me worry whether it is chemically safe to eat...they get injected with steroids or something?) My dining party 4 was stuffed when it came time for dessert ordering. We asked the waitress whether any of the desserts would change our lives. She recommended the chocolate cake. Although all my dining companions liked the cake, I was the only one willing to say it was the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Moist, chocolaty, and not too sweet. Don't forget to try the chocolate cake, it might change your life!
(4)Amanda G.
This is a total old-school, Midwestern place. Lots of beef, huge portions, etc. We shared a flat bread, that was really good. It didn't really fit with the rest of the menu, but it was tasty. I had salmon, and had asked for it rare. The server didn't seem to find this unusual. When it came out cooked through, my friend told me to send it back. I did, and the manager came out to ask me if I really wanted it rare.He went on to tell me that he had NEVER had anyone ask for salmon rare. WTF??? My friend and her husband work in the restaurant industry and said this was weird, and rare salmon is served in Chicago, he was just strange.. Whatever....It came out rare, and was good. We shared the apple strudel for dessert, and it was soooo good. Probably the best part of the meal. Prices were reasonable, and service was good, (except for the odd-ball mgr.)
(3)h c.
Eh... sorry L. Woods... I really wanted to like you, but unfortunately, you blew it.. twice! First time i went i got the "Prime" Bone-In Ribeye.. "grilled to perfection", yeah right... i ordered it RARE and it came WELL DONE. Of course, that's not hard to screw up since the steak was seriously about 1/4 inch thick... and it was $33 too! so, not worth it.... to their credit, after the waiter asked me how the steak was, i gave him a face, like, are you serious???? they didnt charge me for it. Well, the night actually started off with the waiter messing up the flight of beer that i had ordered, but he did make it up by leaving me the 'extra' beer that was not the correct one. tonight, i went for the 2nd time and only because i wanted to give it another chance cause i really wanted to like this place. Aside from the baby back ribs, which my girlfriend likes to order, and i have to admit, it's very good and worth the price... i had heard that they had a really good skirt steak there.... so, i decided to try it tonight. Well, not sure what the rave is about, it wasnt that good. Again, i ordered it RARE and it came out relatively close, medium to medium well. And, again it's not hard to mess up cause it's so damn thin. I thought the portion was pretty small for a skirt steak.. usually those are pretty big plates, but not here. Overall, the steak was just ok, chewy and not that flavorful, seemed very oily. Now, i tell you, if you want a GREAT skirt steak, you gotta go to Las Tablas (that's going to be my next review!) Also, both times i went we had ordered the fried calamari and both times i was disappointed. I guess it was fine because it was fried and anything fried is good, right??? maybe? i dont know.. i really couldnt find the calamari in the fried dough here. I honestly think there was about 30% calamari and the rest was oily, greasy, batter. This time the portion was pretty small as well, i dont think it was that small the last time... recession i guess. What else? there was just so many things i didnt like about the food at this place, sorry. place was fine, nice decor and atmostphere, crowded all the time too... it's the food that was small, oily, and not worth it... I dont know, maybe it's me, but i just dont get this place and aside from the ribs, it's just not worth it.... and how can they screw up my RARE steak twice???
(2)Kent B.
L. Woods is located on Lincoln Avenue and Kostner in Lincolnwood. There is a large private parking lot for off-street parking. The decor is Wisconsin Supper Club with hundreds of framed black and white photos of their patrons hanging on the walls. You'll also find stuffed fish on the walls and deer antler chandeliers. Hey der. I've eaten at L. Woods on several occasions. My experiences have been mixed. On my most recent visit, I had a chopped salad and a BBQ brisket sandwich. The chopped salad was excellent and fresh. I had their mustard vinaigrette dressing (salty), but they offer several other dressings. The sliced BBQ brisket sandwich was tasty, but overloaded with barbecue sauce. The menu indicated the brisket was smoked for 12-hours, but I couldn't taste the meat through the sauce. Also, while tender, it didn't seem 12-hour tender. My sandwich came with thin, waffle potato chips, which were greasy and cole slaw. On other visits, I've eaten fish, which has either been excellent or below average. I've also eaten their beef ribs and found them to be good and meaty. Our waiter was attentive, polite and friendly. As before, I'll probably be back, but not for awhile.
(4)Jaz P.
So popular with the northern suburb locals. I got there at 6:10pm on Wednesday night last week and had my pick of covetable parking spots in the roomy lot. The rest of my family arrived in their separate cars 10 minutes later and they all had to park on the street. The same thing happened to me too once when I tried to go to L Woods to watch a Sunday football game. Inside, the restaurant has a nice, warm, Midwestern lodgey feel and the several rooms are filled with regulars who look like they even go weekly. I've only been a handful of times but my small family has regularly scored and we get this nice corner banquet that fits all 6 of us. Yes, I know we're small Asian people! The ribs are solid and ample in portion- I had 5 and distributed the other 7 to the rest of the table, including our youngest 3-yr old carnivore, my niece. Funnily, nobody else in my family ordered ribs but they were all equally stoked with their dishes. The breaded veal is about the same size as my full slab of ribs. The chopped salad lives up to its reputation, and a meal could be made of it. You might want to order sauce on the side cause there's alot. One issue with the menu is that the Ribeye which has been a long favorite of my brothers' and various others, including out of town friends, has recently been removed from the menu. He looked almost crestfallen at the news- it was just that good! I decided I'm going to help him write in to L Woods to ask for it to get back on the menu. To cap off our delicious meal, we ordered the special chocolate cake. But put your order in early!
(5)Herman B.
Great food!! I too like many others went here when it was Bones, and had the ribs then. Now I went here recently and had the BBQ cedar planked Salmon, with Potatoes and Corn, very yummy. My wife had the Burger, which she said was very good we split a side of Creamed Spinach also very good, others in our party had the ribs and also the brisket and Walleye, and all said good...seems one cant go wrong, portion size is generous, and ambiance is comfortable, but somewhat dark (if you don't like that ask to be seated closer to the front of the Restaurant).
(5)Tracey M.
I will admit upfront I have a bit of a bias towards L Woods. Primarily because "back in the day" (otherwise known as my childhood) the space was another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant called Bone which my family frequented weekly and then periodically in high school. So, from the start walking into this space brought brings back many happy memories. I have a difficult time knowing exactly what to begin with - the food, the food or the atmosphere. Since I already stated why I looked forward to visiting L Woods (well, aside from those I was dining with) I will talk about the atmosphere. The only thing I would have changed about the atmosphere was the dim lighting. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it didn't make taking pictures during dinner easy. Aside from that, I enjoyed the atmosphere. It was cozy and inviting. The service was very good. Our waiter was so attentive that when he saw how engrossed we all were in conversation with one another he opted to give us some more time rather than interrupting us to find out what we wanted to eat. I thought was extremely courteous and thoughtful of him to do. Lastly, the food . . . Two words: Beef Ribs. One of the reasons my family frequented Bones back in the day was for their beef ribs and as far as I am aware, L Woods is the only restaurant in the greater Chicagoland area that serves beef ribs. Since the only form of pork I really eat is bacon ribs is a very special meal for me. I can't tell you the number of times I've looked for these at other places - with out success. The best part is that they are out of this world good! I mean really good. A lot bigger than I remember having as a child, but I wouldn't expect everything to be exactly the same. BTW - have I mentioned how phenomenal the beef ribs taste? They're even excellent reheated as well. Overall, L Woods did not disappoint and I'm glad that I finally got the chance to dine there. I will, without question, be back again.
(5)Daniel T.
Great atmosphere, very fine food, good service. A little disappointed that our 7:00 reservation meant 7:30 seating, but the crowd must mean it is good. Not much room to wait at the bar, but the food was great. Friday is Wisconsin night so you'll have several fish options, breaded pork tenderloin, cheese curds, and $2 Schlitz on the menu. There is lot to like here.
(4)Megan F.
My husband and I came here last night for dinner. We were greeted by a spunky older woman who seated us with a smile and a sense of humor. The service was fantastic. In fact, my husband ordered the filet, and the head waiter returned to our table about 15 minutes later to let us know it would be another 10 minutes because they had overcooked the meat and it hadn't met their standard for service. Of course, we were just fine with that, and very much appreciated the level of service. Specifically, I have to highlight dessert. The Nutter Butter Banana Cream Pie is heaven. Fresh ingredients, wonderful flavor; a perfect indulgence! Finally, as we were finishing up dessert, our waiter returned with our bill, informing us that the appetizer and dessert were "on the house". We were blown away by the gesture, and would have happily paid for both. However, this brought our dining experience to a perfect 5 stars. L. Wood's is a place for good food and superb service in warm, comfy setting.
(5)Christine M.
A client is just down the street from L. Woods, so we always end up here for lunch. I have always had a good experience. The chopped salad almost puts Portillo's to shame. They have an amazing seasonal soup in the fall/winter (can't recall the name), but just the smell of it made a second person order.... then a third.... then the fourth at the table :) Cozy atmosphere. Service has always been reliable, except for my last visit. I happened to stop in on the weekend with my husband while we were in the area. Service started out wonderful, but we really had to flag our server down in order to get the check and out of there. That was a little annoying. Aside from that, still a great meal. I had my salad and he had the shrimp po'boy - which I even loved. Next time I'll have to try the apple strudel!
(4)Bob B.
Perhaps the best ribs ever. Juicy, perfect mix of sweet and spicy, falling of the bone tender. Great service. Nice beer selection.
(5)arlene d.
The food was very good did not like the service. The hostess not very friendly threw menus on table when seated us . The waiter did not like either rushed to take our order not attentive at all. Food was good had the crusted white fish with green beans lunch portion very good size for price would have liked it to come with a starch but oh well. Little on noisy side
(3)Scott S.
The place was packed on a Wednesday night to my surprise. The food was tasty and the prices were reasonable.
(4)pete d.
An over an hour wait for a table. Drinks at the bar at downtown prices. An over hour wait for our entree. On a Tuesday night The waiter seemed to be nice by giving us extra bread. Kitchen seemed to be overwhelmed Had ribs had better. It was a corporate version of a Northern Wisconsin restaurant.
(1)Jeff G.
i'd have to give this a 3.75. have only been one time, seems like a place with a lot of regulars. chopped salad was very good. we got two entrees: the baby back rib/chicken plate. ribs were about the best i have ever had, loved them! chicken was pretty bland, barely any sauce at all, however the brisket sandwich was DRIPPING with bbq sauce. i like sauce but probably the first time in my life i have ever though something had too much. they should have put some of that sauce on the chicken, service was shotty, probably cause we were sitting at the island bar without a server. went sat night ~730 with no reservations and it was jam packed. i thought the price of a draft 312 was high at $7.50, though i guess it was probably 22 or 24 oz.
(4)aggie c.
Always nice to enjoy the pleasure of having an unique place such as L woods. Framed pictures of actual customers from the moment you walk in till the very end. Oceans 11 had a scene filmed inside and it's called the oceans 11 room. Pretty neat. Nice presentation good service. Overall food is decent. Sandwich bread is a little too hard, but the mashed potatoes are to die for. Definately will be back soon!
(4)Katherine D.
Stay away from the calamari. Took the family out for dinner on a week night. Ordered the calamari for an appetizer. They were deep fried, but possibly the greasiest I have ever had. Some of the pieces were undercooked, and one was downright slimy. As soon as I ate the slimy piece, I knew I was going to be ill. When seafood breaks down to the point it has no integrity, it is spoiled. Should have spit it out. Instead, I barely made it home before I became violently ill. Our server was attentive and noticed that I had not touched my dinner and the calamari was not eaten. Even though we did not ask, she immediately got the manager. The manager apologized and took the calamari off our bill and asked if she could get us something else. I appreciated their gesture, but will not be going back. The rest of the family liked the food, but nothing special.
(1)Jiyoun B.
Steaks were perfectly cooked to order. If you order it medium rare, it came out medium rare. Their creamed spinach were made fresh, I can tell because it was bright green, not "dead" green. My fish was moist and flavorful. I can't believe I just passed by it without stepping inside for the last 25 years.
(5)Stan C.
We came here at 7:30 on the Thursday night before the Friday of the 4th of July holiday weekend. The bad news was that there were about 15 people already in the waiting area ahead of us for a table. The good news was we had a reservation. About 5 minutes later, we were being shown to our table. I just LOVE a restaurant that honors their reservations. Within 2 minutes, our server, Dameon, was at our table taking our drink orders and answering questions about the menu. They gave us bread that would best be described as an oversized onion roll to share for the table. Quite good. Dameon told us the ribs are the most popular item on the menu. But I figured if I am visiting the Mid-West, I have to order beef. My wife and I opted to split the chopped salad and the 14 ounce NY Strip Steak. The chopped salad was huge. Our server split it at the table for us (nice touch). It had bacon, pasta, scallions, tomatoes, and bleu cheese crumbles in it. I got mine with bleu cheese dressing - a very good choice, goes very well with the salad. The steak was also a very good choice. Cooked just the way we asked. Delish. We got it with a sweet potato as a side. These were the biggest sweet potatoes I have ever seen. It came with a seasoned butter to mash in. OMG. Fabulous. The service was excellent. Our water glasses never got below half empty. The empty plates were cleared in a timely fashion. 5 star food. 5 star service. 5 star ambiance. This place is great.
(5)Linda A.
We have been transplanted to the South for awhile now. Whenever we travel back up North it's important to get a real fish fry. This place was close to our hotel and met the criteria for our fresh fish craving. A little pricey for what you get, but it is Chicago, not Green Bay. Really good drinks, adequate but not friendly service...gets you 3 stars for A-OK from me.
(3)Aaron P.
This place was packed on a Sunday night. Go figure, random North suburbs of Chicago where Midwesterners have nothing better to do but pack the few decent watering holes that have TVs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. There are about a dozen tables in this area separate from the main dining room. The whole thing was packed at about 8 PM. I guess they do good business. I was deceived by the fish and chips platter. I think I needed to get the appetizer version. Anyways, the fish and chips were pretty good. The crust on the fish was well done without being greasy. The ribs were also delicious. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce. The full order of ribs is just a massive amount of food. I got a key lime pie with my fat friend because we are fatties. Also, take note they have a decent beer selection.
(4)Lisa G.
Surpringly delightful atmosphere and food. Reasonably priced and our waitress was entertaining and efficient. Great place to visit.
(5)Kristina K.
Love this place! Definitely a family restaurant and the selection is fantastic! Love the fact that they are taking sustainable foods seriously at this establishment. More restaurants need to do the same!
(4)William M.
Great BBQ dishes and surprisingly large delivery area. The dining room is also nice. Priced are a little high, but the food is delicious.
(4)Olivia S.
This place is great. Every time I come back to Chicago I make my family take me here. I don't even need a menu at this point because I always get the Parmesan crusted filet. AMAZING! It might be my favorite dish of all time. I also love the baked potatoes. Overall, this place is a great place to have a wonderful dinner with family and friends. I always have a great time. Looking forward to coming back to Chicago next month and stopping in!
(5)Dylan K.
Service here is always wonderful, food is always great and if you're feeling lazy they deliver. Their lobster bisque is my absolute favorite thing ever.
(5)Gina T.
Amazing service and amazing food!! My friend and I sat at the bar for lunch and the bartender Steven took good care of us. And the manager Louis always came by to make sure everything was ok. I always feel taken care of when I go to Lwoods and the food is amazing! I either get the skirt steak with mashed potatoes and corn or the bbq planked salmon. But all of their food is seriously amazing.
(5)Drake G.
Meet some old friends who work in the area last night for a going a way diner, and boy was I not disappointed.. The atmosphere is a little bit of an older crowd but don't let that sway you, the food is the real star of the show. We started with onion strings and cheese curds. That with our drinks and the bread would've been enough to fill up on, but out extremely courteous waiter brought us out a complimentary flat bread, just because. Excellent service here, can't state that enough. As good as you'll get at any high-end stake joint. We all decided to get a different entree and split everything three ways. We got a full slab of ribs, the brisket, and the Parmesan crusted filet. The ribs were my recommendation, and were excellent. I normally just get their chopped salad (which is also great, but was feeling adventurous, lol) The parmesan filet was melt in your mouth, and the brisket was tender, juicy, and also great. For sides we got the twice baked potato, creamed spinach, and Mac n cheese. They were all fabulous. So much so that before we even finished it we ordered a second helping of of the spinach and Mac n cheese... By the time the waiter came by for coffee and dessert, the food coma's had set it for all three of us, but had there been room I'm sure dessert would have been just as good. Fantastic experience and a good old fashion place in the neighborhood that you shouldn't overlook.
(5)Erin W.
My husband, our three year old and I visited for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was packed. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server, Greg, was incredibly busy but NEVER missed a beat. He took his time to explain specials, answer questions and was very patient with our active little guy. Despite how busy he was, our food and drinks were promptly delivered to us. Food was excellent! I highly recommend for everyone, especially families. If you want incredible service, Ask for Greg.
(5)Jim K.
Have been a frequent guest since they opened. Am lucky they are close to my home so I can enjoy all. Kids have had their picture on the wall for years as part of the kid gang! My go to place for out of town friends for a fabulous representation of Chicago's best. Kudos to Patrick and Danny and the entire staff. Back of the Woods is always fantastic, great way to enjoy LWoods even with their crazy amount of following.
(5)Jacie K.
Thank you Jose A. for reminding my fiancé and I what great food and even better service are all about! There is a reason L Woods is one of the long standing Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Our server Jose A., truly captivated us and made us feel at home. As first time dinners he shared a little history of the restaurant and even treated us to a complimentary flat bread appetizer! Thank you again Jose A. for making our night exceptional!
(5)Marilyn N.
Excellent food, staff, and ambiance. This is always one of our top choices for a great meal. Have enjoyed many special family and holiday gatherings here. We love the creamed spinach as a side dish and they have great salads. We enjoy the Parmesan crusted filet, the the various fish entrees, and of course the deserts.
(5)Debbie I.
I upgraded this review because I received an apology for the way I was treated during a recent visit. Two staff members from L. Woods apologized to me personally which I appreciated very much. However, I did not get any feedback on what was done regarding this employee's treatment of me and the manager just kind of mumbled something like "you could come in for dinner and drinks" on us when I am in town (I recently moved out of the area). I'm thinking, what if I show up and they are like, we don't know anything about that or that manager isn't here anymore or something to that effect. I don't think that was an appropriate solution but it is what it is. I would never order food to go from there ever again but I would consider dining in when I am in town. The food was decent during this visit and everything was cooked right. No complaints on the food really. Although, it's never as good when you carry out as it is when you dine in but everyone was fairly happy with their food.
(3)Cris G.
I've been coming to this place for a while. . Came here for pre mothers day dinner with the kids. . Calamari and the flat bread appetizers were really good. . My kids ordered steak and we're complaining that it was kind of dry .. waiter was nice enough to offer another choice of meal. . The key lime pie here is delicious. . We had a, good dinner and as, always service is great. .
(4)Sarah M.
Went here for an anniversary dinner and would definitely recommend it to anyone craving a great steak. I have been driving past this place for years and have noticed that the sizeable parking lot is consistently packed. After trying to get in without reservations and not wanting to wait that long, we finally made a reservation and had a fantastic dinner. The filet was cooked perfectly to my order, and probably one of the best I've ever had. But, what really made the night was the apple-dessert. Oh wow. You have to order it early since it takes so long to bake, and our server told us that up front, so that's what we did. (It was definitely a share-able portion.) I personally always think it's a good sign when a dessert will take that long. :) The "old supper club" interior as they describe on their website was cozy and a nice place to have a fantastic dinner without having to feel like I needed to wear a LBD and heels. We loved it and will be back for sure.
(5)Mike P.
BRING BACK THE BRISKET NACHOS! Love it here. Cozy vibe and great food. Server Jason provided exceptional service. Did I mention bring back the brisket nachos?
(4)Theresa F.
Anytime I visit a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I expect it to be an experience. The only memorable experience about this place (aside from dining out with my fiance), was the prices we paid for their so-called "supper club"-style food! The decor really isn't really that amazing either. The food was great, but the prices didn't really match up to the quality and preparation of food I expected to receive at an LTY joint. We spent nearly $100 here for two dishes, dessert, and two drinks (both of which were mediocre). Should have just gone to Wildfire if I knew it would amount to that much...
(3)Val W.
I enjoyed my meal so much that I left in a food coma. Luckily, I wasn't driving because I passed out literally in the car on the way home. My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day. The place was crowed. We were sat at a table in the way way back. I liked the table because it was larger than normal for two people. I ordered salad, steak and baked potato. They bring out free bread and butter. I ate that and had the Planters punch cocktail while waiting. The side salad was very large, and nice and fresh. I cannot complain. The steak was good and the baked potato was normal. I was very full and satisfied. I had heard the key lime pie was to die for so I took a piece home. I ate it for breakfast the next morning. IT was delish! I hope to go back sometime soon.
(5)Mitchell Y.
Came here for my dad's birthday and thought the theme was a little strange. I'm Illinois born and bred, but Wisconsin supper clubs are hardly some exotic concept, so I thought the whole idea was a little silly. That being said, we all enjoyed our visit. Our server was friendly and even brought us a complementary flatbread to welcome us "into the club." That was a very nice touch and it tasted good to boot. We all shared the onion strings, which were pretty standard. However, the french onion soup (sensing a theme here?) was excellent. It has a different taste than most- sweeter, but it works. Since we came on a Sunday, half of the table tried the weekly fried chicken special. They didn't see what all the fuss was about. I had the ribs and they were good, but not anything past that. However, the macaroni and cheese side is the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Period. I cannot recommend it enough. For dessert we were a little ambitious and ordered both the apple strudel and gooey chocolate cake. The strudel was hard as a rock. Seriously, we all had to use our knifes like saws just to get a bit. Fortunately, the cake made up for it. All in all I'm glad to have come here, but except the mac and cheese, there are better places to be found.
(3)L K.
I brought my mom here for lunch last week. They were busy but we were served quickly. She had fish, large piece, loved it. I had a chopped salad, asked for different dressing than listed on menu, no problem. Salad was huge, crisp, nicely presented. Lots of leftovers my mom took home. Recommended.
(5)Adnan A.
Been craving some bbq beef ribs for a while now and I can't believe I never knew this place existed less than 10 mins away from home. When the combo order of the chicken and beef ribs was placed in front of me, I had a hard time picking up my jaw after seeing the quantity. Wasn't an issue cleaning up the plate because it was so damn good.
(5)Melissa R.
Gooey chocolate cake is where it's at! Order ahead of time because it takes 45 minutes to cook. The food is good, and the owner is super sweet and cares about allergies, or the customers!
(4)Kirsten V.
I would give our waiter 5 stars, 4 for food and ambiance but no stars for the rude hostess. I worked for the original Lettuce restaurant, RJ Grunts, back in the '80's for seven years and I know that Lettuce prides itself on service. I walked in at 4:30 on the Saturday of Passover (the beginning of dinner service on what was surely to be a very busy weekend). I stood at the hostess stand while the hostess talked to another employee for several minutes without even glancing at me. Finally she starts looking at the computer screen, no greeting, no smile, and says, "Yes?" Look, I'm a nicely dressed middle aged woman, not a teenager in jeans with an attitude. I give her my name, tell her how many are in my party and what time. She NOT ONCE actually looks at me. She NOT ONCE smiles or welcomes me. She starts tapping at her screen, asks me my name two more times and how many and time two more times, all while NEVER LOOKING AT ME. Maybe you'll remember that I've already given you this info if you look at me. She starts shaking her head and mumbling, no, not here, then starts to tell me that I don't have a reservation at the same time I tell her the restaurant called me to confirm. Oh there it is, she basically says to herself (still, not once in a five minute exchange, did she look at me or smile or anything) then grabs four menus and tells a much younger hostess which table to take me to. As I turned to follow the other hostess, she calls after me, Enjoy your meal. Wow. Thanks.
(3)Rita M.
Cannot believe I never reviewed this place! First time dining here was once upon a time when my husband and I were NEWLY boyfriend and girlfriend. Back in 2009! Since then, this has been THE PLACE to go to for birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. My ma and I always split a whole slab of bbq ribs and the hubby always either gets the prime rib (unfortunately only available one night a wk, it is either a fri or sat, I forget) or the skirt steak medium rare. Great laid back ambiance. Great decor. Good quality food. Make reservations! I love the promptness shown when the hostess seats us, as we are frequent diners (hoping they can see that when and how often I make reservations) One star deducted, because the server we had when dining this past Sunday at 19:30. VERY absent-minded and forgot our plates for the bread (we all sat staring at the bread for a good 10/15 mins AND reminding her about the plates twice), and for her bringing out my ma and hubby's drinks (pops) promptly but took me a good 5/10 mins to get my non alcoholic beverage. Thank goodness I had water. Will I be back? I have been coming back since 2009!!!!! :)
(4)J T.
First time here. The ambiance was pretty cool, kind of like a gangster feel. At least that's what I thought. We had the cheese curds first, yummy! Very good. Moved on to the the baby back ribs....well, what can I say, they were awesome!! The meat fell off the bone! Yum! Then, I was told that the apple strudel was to die for and they were right!! Make sure you order it early. It takes 40-45 minutes to make and let me tell ya, it's worth the wait!! Will definitely be back to this place!! Great service, great food and great atmosphere!
(5)Emma C.
Delicious burgers (both meat and veggie), delicious creamed spinach, delicious twice-baked potato, delicious french onion soup, delicious side salad, delicious apple strudel. Often crowded, so make a reservation if you plan to go after 5 p.m. It's a little on the pricey side, but excellent so it's worth it once in a while. Nice place for a celebration family dinner...you'll see a lot of this going on, as well as boisterous middle-aged Jewish women on a tear with their besties and the we've-been-going-out-a-while-and-we're-not-mushy-Âbut-I-still-like-you-so we'll-eat-a-nice-meal dates. Four stars instead of five because the management is terrific at solving problems, but the staff is touch-and-go; sometimes fantastic, other times negligent, and so there are problems to solve. More than that, they need to get any carpeting out of there. We go often, and twice there was a wafting of eau de pee in the air. I think they have an older clientele at lunch, and I'm not hatin' on the seniors and I've gone enough times in which that wasn't the case, but L. Woods could use a little redecorating/updating that might include an opportunity to de-must as one must.
(4)Katarina X.
Massive. No really, these are not plates but platters... these are not portions but gargantuan, everest-like mounds of meat and butter and cheese. Definitely an abundant example of vast quantity. A wood-paneled, plush booth seating, midwest setting that would not be out of place for a scene in Mad Men and cocktails from that time as well. The booths were sizable for our party of five- really great for conversation and sharing of plates. I apologize yelp, no cocktails for me... horribly sick the day prior- the kind of exhausting, violent, can't keep water, ginger ale or my internal organs from being thrown-up sickness that leaves one weak for da#n near the weekend in entirety. No fault of the establishment- if anything, the kind server made sure there were options for my first solid meal. I couldn't go for anything spicy or cheesy and refrained from alcohol because... still a little shaky... the prime rib the size of the Sears Tower was not going to happen. Soup? Yes please. So if you are watching your waistline or naturally restrained- there are "light" options for dinner where you can get a lovely piece of fish, you will not be able to finish, big enough to feed two heartily... instead of their towering standard sized plates that (no joke) could easily feed a nuclear family of four. The fish I ordered was very pretty to look at, clean and simple. The side options are welcome too, gigantic, but you can get a baked potato or a baked sweet potato, buttered corn, creamed spinach, fries or mashed potatoes. I like having options. My friend ordered skirt steak and it was seriously, enough to feed four. Her lemonade (it looked refreshingly divine) and her side(!) of fries was passed between five at the table with leftovers. Our men hit the cocktails, and the wine and the beer... I had no idea you could go from beer to old fashioned to Malbec but they did and seemed quite happy with their mounds of rare beef and full slabs of ribs. We finished with what looked like a burrito the size of my leg, requiring 45 minutes to prepare. Really. This is a strudel- filled with melted butter, sliced apple, cinnamon, sugar and wrapped in pastry. A table of five or six is necessary for this indulgence, very indulgent. I may not need to eat for another two or three days.
(3)Margaret A.
Excellent food and service by Linda. Very nice cozy environment. Kids menu a plus. Will be back soon.
(5)Lisa C.
This place is very consistent. The best part is that they have something for everybody : chicken, fish, pizza, pork, BBQ. Try to get a reservation, this place is busy in the evenings.
(5)Khris L.
I really had high hopes for this place. It's right by my house and they're connected to L. Woods, which is considered to be a finer dining type of place. I assumed that the food from the "back of the woods" would also be of higher quality, worthy of the price they charge. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I wanted. The food quality is a bit above average, but the flavor combinations are weird enough to be inedible. The beef and broccoli and sesame chicken should be renamed to ginger beef and ginger chicken. The flavor of ginger was so overpowering in those dishes that I couldn't taste anything else. The crab rangoons were extremely salty. I mean, salty is one thing, but extremely salty is another thing. They were so salty that I couldn't believe it. The pork fried rice was smokey as if they used tidbits of L. Woods BBQ pork scraps, which was decent, but there were only a couple pieces of BBQ pork in the fried rice..and they were tiny pieces. Nothing about the food was good, except for the quality of the beef in the beef and broccoli, which we couldn't taste because of the overpowering ginger flavor. The problem with the food is bad enough, but in addition to the portion size, it would be ridiculous for anyone to pay their prices. For $10+ per entree, you would expect enough food to fill you up or at least good enough food to keep you satisfied. What they do here is, they take one of those black plastic rectangular carry out containers and fill half of it with white rice and the other half with the entree. I'm using the word "fill" in a very generous way. All in all, there just isn't any worthy value here. The food is flavored in a weird way, and the portion sizes are small enough to be insulting of the price you pay. I would have given this place a 1 star, but I don't want them to go down. I hope that they will see the negative reviews and fix the problems so I could have some good local food to eat once in a while..
(2)Steve G.
L Woods presents a very popular and crowded lunch venue which, on the basis of Monday's visit, manages crowds efficiently and seamlessly. The dining rooms are paneled in light wood, and covered with hundreds of photos, some recognizable. Service was friendly and professional, without a hint of being rushed or pressured by the full room. Our room was hardly quiet, but conversation wasn't difficult. I ordered the Chopped Salad (chicken, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, pasta elbows and mixed greens), substituting Caesar dressing for the standard honey vinaigrette. Frankly, I can't recall when I've enjoyed a salad more. My dining companions on this business lunch, each from the surrounding area, ordered salads as well. The Skirt Steak Salad also won raves. A very comfortable restaurant, with service and food each well above expectation . . . superb.
(4)Florence B.
My daughter and I enjoyed a tasty dinner here today. I had the crusted cod, which sat on a lovely cream sauce w bit of tart flavor. Perfectly baked fish! So flavorful. Baked spuds for us with hers being a sweet potato. Yummy sour cream topping. Why was her cole slaw so small in a little cup? We shared hot fudge sundae for dessert. We both loved it. Can't wait to go back. Nice waiter, attentive to our needs. Great spot in my area!
(5)Mike W.
Went to L. Woods for the first time last night after seeing it on Check Please! a month or so ago. My wife and I loved it. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The only service related issued I was less than happy about was that the waitress never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink which was almost empty when the entrees arrived. The food was outstanding. My wife got the baby back ribs. They were fall off the bone and she says they were delicious. I got the Schlitz battered haddock which was a special last night. It was quite possibly the best beer battered fish I have ever eaten. We started off with their cheese curds which were the second best I've ever had. The best were at Miller Park. Overall great experience. We will definitely be back.
(4)Tim B.
love the low light and décor.large parking lot.started with a warm greeting and a warm loaf of soft everything type bread.sat is prime rib night and I had the king cut med rare with creamed spinach,wife had the queen cut medium rare with twice baked potato.great spinach,not to wet or dry with great seasoning.twice baked was good with a nice crust.steak was awesome cooked perfectly,served hot with good seasoning.very good service overall.Lwoods is not giving anything away.meal without drinks and generous tip was $80.00.but there are other delicious and less expensive options.you really have to visit this dinner club,there are few left.only thing missing from days past was the relish tray.alot of young people in there eating burgers and flatbreads.try the onion soup.had it on a past visit and was excellent.
(4)Chris L.
For the past several years, my mother has gotten a large LEYE gift card, as the Christmas present from her class (2nd grade teacher). It happens that her birthday is also in December, and we use the gift card to try new LEYE restaurants and celebrate. This year we tried L. Woods. First of all, this building looks much smaller in person, and is much less grandiose than other LEYE establishments. The walls are covered in wood, pictures of patrons, nostalgic images, mounted fish, and folk art signs. It is very Lodge like in atmosphere, so it lives up to the name. It took forever to get a server to contact my table, they are professional and friendly, but a slightly late lunch should not be a two hour affair. The service is painfully slow. The food was quite tasty, I had the ribs with "devil sauce," good for a non-bbq focused place. My mother loved the mushroom barley soup and steak sandwich. I also don't appreciate paying $3 for iced tea, and the servers leaving it dry for 5-10 minutes at a time. The service seems to suffer due to some really needy patrons. I saw one server focused on an 8-top from hell exclusively. From the same table I saw: a woman send back the same salad three times, explain that an omelette was not just eggs (all day brunch menu), and, a man send back a "very well done (his quote, not mine) burger because it was too dry. I always hold LEYE to a high standard, because they know how to run restaurants and I love the Wildfire restaurants, the food here stands up well. The food holds the line, but service is below the "wildfire standard" and it might be an overly needy customer crowd.
(4)Marcee W.
Got lucky on a recent Saturday night without reservations, which is nearly impossible to do. They had one open table and the place was packed, as usual. Started with Lettuce's standard chopped salad which is always reliably fresh and tasty. Ordered the onion strings to munch on and although they were good, I'd skip them next time to save room for the better stuff. Baby back's were tender and delicious and my friend was surprised with a birthday treat on the house. L. Woods never fails to please!
(5)Bill L.
I tried to give this place another chance....walked I. Looking for my guest Who,was seared inAdvance while I had to. Are an important phone call, And was told by this extremely rude, hostile named NICOLE who,had already Turned my stomach with her nasty attitude upon checking I. To see where Ahe seared my guest, stating that I seat many people, I can't tell you Where the guest is........This place smells like a "bad nursing home." I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS PLACE WAS LAST RENOVATED AND WHEN THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR HIGH CARB SOFT FOOD MENU......... ANYTHING HEALTHY BESIDES FRIED FOOD AND GREASY RINS AND CHICKEN....IS THIS REALLY A LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU REST.?
(1)Paul G.
Fantastic experience and food. love the French onion soup iand the Apple strudel is to die for. Service is top notch. all great!!
(5)JW W.
Ordered ribs and ckn combo with baked p.The ckn was good nice and moist.The ribs where from last night and very dry!! I thought at 3 pm in the afternoon you would get fresh ribs not old dried out spoiled ribs!! 1 hr after eating i was sick!! And it continued all night long!! Oh and the baked p was as dry as they come maybe from last night too! And if i could i would give 0 stars!! We go there all the time for dine in and never got sick.Its seems to me like the family that owns it doesnt care about quality food anymore!! DO NOT ORDER TAKEOUT!!! And its the next morning now and im still sick!!! Thanks a lot l woods!! And they just lost a good customer of 30+ years!! I wont go back now if they are serving old food!! Never use to be like this
(1)Mister M.
Went on Sunday night --Fried Chicken night! Place was packed. Very noisy but still enjoyable. Comfortable but not relaxing. Gin and Citrus Old Fashioned was delicious Fried Chicken was really good -nice and crisp outside, moist and flavorful inside. Beef Ribs were great-Perfectly cooked with a nice char outside while remaining tender and moist. Although they were huge, i wouldn't say they were Flinstonian. Still a huge portion. Great french fries, I would have like a larger portion but it was sufficient. What they lacked in service they made up for in accommodation. They struggled a bit to keep up with the large crowd, but there was no undo waiting and you never really felt like anything was a problem. Whatever we wanted or needed we got. Desserts were also good. Killer Key Lime Pie, very similar to Joe's.
(5)Michelle C.
Came here for my boyfriends sister's birthday on a Thursday night for dinner. WAS IT CROWDED! I didn't think that it would be that crowded especially at 730pm on a Thursday night. I came here for V-Day last year and the food was good then and is still good now. This time I tried their baby back ribs.. deliciousness as always. Waiter was very fast and could answer all questions that we had at our table about different types of entrees. Only downfall was the crowdedness. I felt like the person behind me was too close for comfort and every time I got up (to go to bathroom or bar) I had to walk around tables in a zig zag to avoid hitting someone.. lol Food was good though, GET THE MASHED POTATOES!
(4)skip l.
Two of the three previous reviews in this Yelp appearance of L.Woods are in fact for the Big Bowl menu, which is now available for carryout from the "back of the woods" counter at the rear of the restaurant. This review is not about the Big Bowl. Most people i know are mystified why a highly regarded traditional restaurant serving ribs, steaks, chicken etc. would have a Chinese carryout menu -- especially as other good Chinese carryout is available in the area. We've never considered trying it. This review is to address Kay's 3/17/14 two star review of the L. Woods restaurant itself -- Kay and a friend apparently made one visit and had two dishes they didn't like. That review should not stand unanswered. First, over many years, we've never had a bad meal at L. Woods, so the description of the reviewer ("burned and fatty brisket" and "dry and tough" fish is at minimum very surprising -- though tastes in brisket can vary. But more surprising is that the reviewers apparently did not complain. Part of what we love about L.Woods is the excellent service. Both dishes could easily have been turned back to the kitchen with no problem and replacements provided. L. Woods prides itself on service, and has never failed to deliver, even on minor complaints. As for small portions -- again, that has not been our experience. And the ambiance -- the place is decorated to look like an old fishing lodge; kinda fun. But L. Woods has charm beyond the decor. For at least 25 years they have had Sima on their staff -- a wonderful older lady who now serves mostly as a greeter, but years ago was a cook. She would come around to the tables with samples of something she had made. Now she just serves her personal charm. Among our L. Woods menu favorites: the flatbread appetizers, the tomato bisque soup, the amazing chopped salad, the ribs, the salmon, the molten chocolate cake. The one problem is the popularity of the place: we always go early so we don't have to wait for a table. If L. Woods was really a below par restaurant, it would not enjoy such crowds. Give 'em another chance, Kay!
(4)Mack M.
We've been here a few times now and the atmosphere is always comforting and calm. Dinner time is a little crowded but the restaurants layout accommodates the crowd. I had a great filet 2/3 occasions. The second time the steak was far overcooked; they boast superior customer service by replacing the steak, apologizing, and immediately comping the entree. Needless to say they have earned a loyal customer and I will be back with my large party.
(4)T D.
They have the best beef ribs in town. I went there last night and was amazed how good the ribs were. In addition the mashed potatoes are awesome. The only reason I'm not putting 5 stars is because it's pretty pricey. The service is good and the place is laid out nice. They also have speciality drinks which I like. Coming back for sure.
(4)Marcela R.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. The service is good too. The only thing is that every time we go there they have a bunch of walkers parked by the entrance which makes you feel like you are having lunch at a retirement home.... So if you care just about the food, give it a try.
(4)Jim B.
Good potato skin nachos, and I had the basil flatbread with a salad, good value. Frank the bartender was awesome, good sangria and decent beer list. The only thing every time the woman's bathroom door opens the first 5 seats at the bar smell like old bathroom sanitizer from the gush of wind. Kinda nasty when your eating.
(4)Charles S.
Been here a few times and always has been solid. Came right when they opened before the blue hair rush. Today for lunch I had the fried Perch with fries & coleslaw. D-lish! The fish was light and not overly breaded or too fried. The fries were crisp and tasty. Even the tartar sauce was solid. I wish I could come more often, but I live too far away.
(4)David F.
This is one of our regular favorites. Food is always excellent and service is top notch. Parking can be a bit tricky, but it is worth the wait. Make reservations, or you will wait a long time. Beer on tap selection is great too. Highly Recommend
(5)Chris H.
Very good all around, the food and service were both really great. Flat breads are amazing, flaky and melt in your mouth. Saturday prime rib special was excellent, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Definitely be making it back here again!
(4)Doug R.
I've been going here since it was called, 'Bones,' and the food has always been great. Whether I've gotten the planked salmon or the steak or roast, they've always been great.
(5)Jai R.
Great Family oriented place. Great for ribs ! The BBQ sauce they serve is warm and the complimentary onion roll in the beginning is the perfect teaser to get your appetite going. A must try place !
(5)Emily N.
We made a reservation for 9 but the place was so crowded that we weren't able to be seated on time. A couple we were with had a baby so due to us not getting seated on time, they had to leave. The manager felt so bad that he covered all of our appetizers, first round of drinks and cut our bill in half. This was extremely generous and we were super impressed with the service! Great place!
(4)Christine S.
I love L'Woods. The food is delish. The staff is nice and quick. However, they HAVE to get it together...there's some serious sanitation issues going on here. Within the past month, I've dined here twice... you're gonna wonder why I'd come back after the first incident and frankly, I'm beginning to wonder myself. 1. My boyfriend and I came here because I told him the food is to die for (and that could almost be literal after what happened). We were eating my most favorite thing on the menu, an L'Woods Chopped Salad and we notice something on the bottom of the plate. There's a screw (no, I'm not kidding) in our salad. A SCREW. A mothertrucking screw is in our salad. I can't make this up. After we brought it to our waiters attention, the manager took his sweet ass time (roughly 15 minutes) coming over (that didn't bother me at first...but then I eventually got upset realizing that one of us could have gotten hurt by this damn screw and he took his time seeing if we were okay). The manager was super apologetic and comped our meal which was very appreciated...but seriously, a screw in our salad! 2. We go back to for some delish food because I really do love L'Woods...no screw this time...victory is ours, so we thought. My guy is drinking his iced tea...with a long blonde hair in it. He's not a blonde. He doesn't have long hair. Our server, a long blonde haired woman is the only culprit here. So yeah, I've got an issue with the sanitation at the restaurant right now. Get it together L'Woods....get it together! You're lucky we're the ones who ended up with the screw in our salads and not someone who would take a bite with it in there, just for the sake of a lawsuit.
(1)nicole m.
This review is for the new BIG BOWL addition to Lwoods. Very Disappointing. I am a fan of Big Bowl, but not at this location..never mind the 2.5 hour wait for delivery. The food was NOT good. The BBQ Pork fried rice had LWoods BBQ pork scraps in it..not Chinese BBQ Pork..these 2 flavors do not mix.. it was made even more unappetizing by the over cooked and mushy rice. The Orange Chicken was a flavorless 1/2 portion for $10.00. This is supposed to be Chinese food, but it was really really bland. This whole thing feels like a 1/2 ass-d rescue attempt to revitalize L Woods biz by infusing the BIG BOWL name..Better Fix It Fast!
(1)Annette U.
I had a major burger craving-so we decided to try L. Woods which is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which are always pretty good.We decided to order off their take out menu, however by the time we got home our food was cold-maybe they could get different insulated containers? Anyway-that was more our fault than theirs, I popped everything on a baking dish in the oven and the fries crisped up and the burger reheated nicely. My burger was enormous-it didn't even fit on the bun! I was able to get two meals out of it. I would really like to try their meals in house next time. Again, the gentleman at the take out service was also very friendly and helpful.
(4)Jacquelyn E.
3 stars for excellent staff/service, great atmosphere, and amazing drink specials. The food...well that's where the problem lies. Let's start off by saying the food was lack luster and somewhat overpriced. My family of four dined at L Woods for my husbands birthday. My husband just loves BBB ribs so I searched in yelp for a good bbq rib place near Evanston. We saw that L Woods was featured on check please and everyone gave the restaurant rave reviews so L Woods it was!! We ordered the cheese curds for starters and my husband had the full slab baby back ribs, I had the fish & chips, my daughters had the pulled pork & the prime burger. The cheese curds were awesome, hot & crispy with a nice ranch dipping sauce. The food was just nothing special. My husbands ribs were quite cold and my girls food was just food. No wow factor at all. Now my food is where this place really lost points. My fish & chips was a $17.95 cruel joke of a meal. It resembled something that could have passed as a appetizer. It was basically little fish strips, and when I say little I mean no thicker or longer than pinky with most pieces being smaller than that. So basically little crunchy fried thin fish strips on top of slightly over cooked homemade chips and a thimble of coleslaw. The $5 old fashions were amazing and the customer service was outstanding but I go out to eat for the food experience and it just wasn't there. I hear the steaks are there good but I'm not willing to drop $30 per person to find out. Skip this place but if you want good drinks and a great atmosphere I guess give L Woods a shot just do yourself a favor and do not get the fish and chips.
(2)Evelyn L.
This place was full of customers!! I was expecting delicious food, the ribs were mediocre at best, twice baked potatoes were terrible and so were the French fries!!! How can you screw up French fries??!! They were cold and soggy!! Coleslaw was no better than the stuff you can buy at Jewel's and the calamari was just okay! I wish I could say I enjoyed it, maybe I was expecting too much.....
(1)Chrisy B.
On my first visit: I took my Mother for our annual holiday dinner. It was Friday night for 5:15 reservations. We were seated immediately in the way back room (with the fireplace). It was a very quiet area which was nice so we could talk. The room filled up with couples and families with small children. The other rooms seemed to be filled with larger (and louder) groups of people. I enjoyed our location. I had a skirt steak which was to die for. Mom had the fish/chips Friday special - delicious. For dessert we had the apple strudel which was fabulous. Our server was amazing and very personable. I would definitely recommend going, but maybe not at a really busy time if you care to hear your company.
(5)F J.
I have ate at Lwoods for many years going back to when it was Bones.Frank the bartender is a classic. Today we had a great meal,I order their buffalo wings almost every time we go and are the best i ever had. Today i tried a new item the BLT deviled eggs (very good)..the problem is i was charged $6.95 for TWO eggs with a sprinkle of BLT on them and a about 2-3 oz peppercorn/mayo sauce. I am fine with a profit but wow not even organic eggs. Woods you should add least one more egg to the plate. I will turn i just will not order the BLT eggs.
(4)Lulu R.
DATE NIGHT! My boyfriend and I have been on a very strict diet and we were long overdue for date/cheat on diet meal night. Once we started seeing the scales in our favor, we had to celebrate! We got there sans reservations because apparently they dont take them until 7. anyway, we got there around 6:15 P.M. this place was bustling. No seating immediately but we decided to wait, It felt very warm and happy. I knew we had made the right decision to come here. We only waited 15-20 minutes and were seated. Knowing the type of people my boyfriend and I are, we peeped the menu beforehand online. The waiter brought us an onion roll and butter for starters. (This is when I was completely won over!) We ordered the chicken and ribs combo, Fried Calamari, and skirt steak dinner. This meal was so delicious that it deserves a breakdown! BREAKDOWN: 1. Chicken and ribs combo: You know how some places throw some bbq sauce on some random chicken and a slab of ribs? Not this place! HANDS DOWN best bbq roasted chicken I have ever had. It was juicy and not over cooked. The Devil bbq sauce was a great touch too. The Ribs were also nothing short of the chicken. Equally as delicious and meaty. 2. fried Calamari- Hard to go wrong with this and served with extra lemons to squeeze over the top. Delicious! 3. Skirt Steak- cooked perfectly Medium Rare! I mean perfectly. The skirt steak was the highlight of our night! Totally tender and seasoned to perfection. Yep, PERFECTION. As the side we got the sweet potato, ask for extra pecan brown sugar butter. As my side I got the creamy spinach, which I wasn't impressed with at all. Its OK though, because I just had some of the sweet potato. The walls of this place is decorated with that lodge-y feel and with picture adorning the walls of regulars (I am guessing). I saw a lot of families and happy people. service was outstanding and parking is plentiful. Good business! I plan to return again for more delicious eats!
(4)Mat M.
L. Woods is a really good restaurant, and really busy too. If you're looking for a Sunday Supper type of place with a home-style family atmosphere then look no further. It's party of Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group, but it's off the beaten path compared to many of their other restaurants. I've been here a fair number of times and typically the service is really good. Last night was the exception, the server was slow, and some of the items we wanted had already been 86'd for the night. They advertise their fried chicken dinner for Sunday's but somehow were already sold out by 7PM, which was really sad. If you have a high demand for your specials, then you should probably plan accordingly instead of telling customers that you run out each week. The food is always good, and last night was no exception. I'll be back - but hope our service is back to normal next time- getting drinks and menu items timely is of utmost importance!
(4)Allison L.
L Woods is a nostalgic part of growing up in the city and reminds me of eating here with both my grandparents, friends and dates. The food is good, not everything is exceptional. The wait can be long. The service is hit or miss, but we have had way more hits than misses. We love the wings, great beef ribs and awesome skirt steak. Save room for dessert and the bar is one of the best parts of waiting a long time for table.
(3)Jillian R.
I was expecting the food to be good, but L. Woods blew me away! My boyfriend had a $50 gift card, so we decided to splurge. I had the baked French onion soup, chopped salad, and sirloin steak sandwich. Everything I tasted was incredibly delicious. The French onion soup was hands down the best I have ever had (and I get French onion soup almost everywhere I go.) The chopped salad tasted exactly like Portillo's chopped salad, but the dressing was a bit lighter than the creamy dressing Portillo's has, making L. Woods version better. Finally....the sirloin. Oh my was it incredible. Melt in your mouth, lean steak with crispy onion strings, lettuce, and tomato, served alongside hand cut fries. Incredible! I'm salivating just remembering it. You MUST give L. Woods a try! You will not be disappointed. Quakit
(5)Angelina S.
Great family restaurant. We celebrated Father's Day here with 3 generations of my family and had a great experience. The service was impeccable, even on a busy day such as that. And the food was tasty; we have been ordering carry out from L. Woods for years and finally had an opportunity to dine in. The koozi for my beer was a nice touch as well. Thank you L. Woods.
(4)Jaime G.
Dude. L. Woods in Skokie rocks. Try any of the BBQ offerings with a craft beer and it's delish! Great option for lunch. The BBQ is very good but the old standbys like burgers are big and juicy as well. Other shout outs include the spicy Bloody Mary, flatbreads, and walleye chips. Flatbreads are good but are really really thin and flakey. We also missed this great looking apple strudel that apparently takes 45 minutes to come out - bet that's good too. Also, get here early cause this place fills up fast esp on the weekends. A must try in the area and worth an extra drive if you're in the city and looking for a great, kid friendly option for lunch or dinner.
(4)AJ M.
Finally got a chance to come here, I have always thought that this was a sports bar but was surprised to see a comfy homy family log diner. I tried the beef devil ribs which was supposed to be spicy compared to reg ribs (but is not spicy at all) but still good. It comes with a decent sized side I recommend creamed spinach. Everything was great! I just wish they had a more extensive beer menu. Overall the food is good wholesome home style food in a very comforting log environment great or winter nights! Will deffinetly coming back to try more!
(5)Yanyao N.
Having an early Sunday dinner here is basically like eating inside a retirement home slash pine lodge. The food is huge portions of LEYE's take on Wisconsinesque cuisine. Think cheese curds, walleye, shandies made in-house with Schlitz. Lovely servers and the last time I was in here, I had this ridiculously delicious side dish special of roasted local carrots with nuts and feta cheese. If it didn't remind me so much of Twin Peaks with a bunch of old people, I would probably come back more often. Hopefully next year I'll get around to trying their Friday Suppers.
(3)Jim M.
Good food, good service, in spite of a crowded feeling in the dining room. They really pack them in.
(4)Justin B.
I've noticed that a lot of people like this place. It is always crowded and getting a table is difficult. Let me first say that I am from Wisconsin and I wanted to see how Chicago does a supper club. We went for our anniversary. When we were seated, we waited almost 10 minutes until a server greeted us. My wife ordered a dry martini. No olive with a spear! Come on, that's a trademark of a martini! My wife did say it was pretty good though. I had the "Wisconsin" old fashioned. Learn how to make a Brandy Old-fashioned, not quite the same, but close. My wife didn't have a place setting (silverware and napkin). The food: not really worth the price. Over-priced. I've had better home cooking for less. I ordered the Chopped Sirloin 14oz and it was so salty and greasy. My wife had the walleye. Same, a pile of salty grease. I saw that they pride themselves on food cooked with love like home cooking. In all of the supper clubs in Wisconsin I have been to, I have not had such salty, greasy food at such a high price! I usually salt and pepper my food like any good Wisconsin boy, but I wanted to take salt out!! I saw the Check Please episode featuring this place. Those people have no idea what a supper club is. Blind leading the blind if others came here based on that recommendation. Hey! Where is the Salad Bar! That is a staple supper club feature. Sometimes, you can just get salad bar as your dinner! Lettuce Entertain you has a reputation and I have to say that if you are developing formulas to make chains of quality, do more research and get it right! I had better food at Outback Steakhouse, and that' not saying much! Go to Wisconsin for the real experience. Don't go to this place and call it good for the idea rip-off. Not original, and not done well.
(2)Carla G.
I have come to L.Woods several times- overall I think it is A-OK! I have sat in the bar area and in the main restaurant. You should expect an afternoon rush, and an older crowd that comes in for an early dinner. Here is a list of what I have tried: 12 hour brisket nachos (my favorite!!), the BBQ chicken flat bread, french onion soup, walleye chips, Thursday pot roast special, walleye sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, grilled salmon, key lime pie, goldbrick sundae... I give a thumbs up to it all! Everything has great flavor! The service has been consistent at L.Woods. However, I feel I should mention my last visit because the server did not greet us with bread and took awhile to take our order. The restaurant was not busy so I was not sure what the hold up was (& I already came with an appetite). She also tried selling the dinner dessert menu during the lunch hour, what?! I found that peculiar because I have dined here before and the portions for dinner dessert are obviously larger ( and obviously cost more). Was she trying to pull one over on me and tack on a few more dollars to the bill? Who knows... I will still come back here because I love the selection of BBQ & the lodge feel.
(3)Mike A.
We have been here twice and both times ordered the "family style" dinner. The concept is great, as it allows for everyone to get a decent portion of apps, salad, sides and main entrees. First time was for Mother's day and it was great. The food, the service: excellent! Fast forward to this past weekend, when we came in for my in-laws birthdays (they're 2 days apart). We ordered the same family style setup, but the server( who has been there for 8 months, we asked) had no idea how it worked. First she said that was for catering, we replied "No", look at the back of your menu: its there in black and white. The rest of the time she just seemed confused, befuddled and determined that we where doing something not "kosher". In addition to the family style, we had 4 diners (1 kid and 3 teens) that did not order this $31 option family option (inc $2 for desert). We had a kids meal, a salad, wings, bbq chicken dinner and soup added. Yet this waitress was convinced that somehow we where skimping somewhere. Yes, there were a few calamari and few slices of razor thin flat bread that the kids put on their plates, because the bus boy was taking away the tray anyway. So what, with drinks we are dropping almost $400 here! Was it better to throw it away in the garbage? Did we over order and cover the table with unfinished food? NO! The mgr added $20 to our tab as a fee for sharing! WTF !!! No one said anything, they just tacked it on. I called him over and he said that we were sharing apps. Really? We got one extra flatbread and order of calamari to what they originally presented to a table of 6 adult diners, which by the way show up on tiny plates and you want to charge me? F@@k you! We eat @ LEY joints quite a bit during the year, ranging from Shaw's to Wow Bao and plenty of visits to Wildfire and Big Bowl in between. The service we received here was the worst we have ever experienced at a LEY restaurant! Again we drop about $2k a year on LEY, not counting the gift cards that my mom sends our way for special occasions. The only thing that keeps this above 1 star, is that our first visit was very good and the ribs are good. We know they could do better, but that server did not deserve her auto gratuity of 18%.
(2)S. H.
do not order mixed drinks. drinks are very weak, and for a higher end, not inexpensive restaurant, i expect better. also am disappointed in the bartenders. we have eaten at the bar when the old guy was there and also blonde female with eastern european accent and if they could have ignored us 100% they would have. It was unbelievable. 30 minutes to take a drink order, 15 minutes to take the food order, then never inquiring if everything was ok, need anything else? Not once were we asked that. And sitting, eating at a bar, it took me waiving continually in their faces to get another drink! looked right at me and my friend and looked away, went to the other end of the bar. left very low tip. normally am a min. 20% tipper, and each time with these two, left 10%. expect better from Lettuce Entertain You group. Food is good, no competition in the area, and agree with Joe R. that the front area/bar set up is horrible, over crowded, cant move.
(3)Reda K.
I really like this. First time and it won't be the last time. The glasses on the table looked dirty but I guess they have been used for so long they have marks on them. I would say make a reservation. I will be returning.
(5)Douglas W.
Miriam and I took my aunt and uncle out for dinner Sunday night. I had never been and the menu looked like a lot of fun. I ordered the parmesan crusted cod, baked potato and a side of broccoli. The cod came out on a huge plate. It was unidentifiable as a piece of fish. It looked like an island in the pacific. I figured there was probably fish under there somewhere. There was more breading than fish and it was swimming in a very rich and delicious lemon butter sauce. I really liked the flavors but wished the piece of fish had been nicer and the toppings more judicious. I ended up scraping quite a bit away toward the end. Good potato and slightly undercooked broccoli. The stems of the broccoli were hard to get through. I don't like them overcooked but this was a bit short. The place was packed as is the norm from what I understand. It's really loud. The service was great. I would go back and try something else maybe but I have a feeling that they're so busy that you couldn't get the care and attention to detail with your food on any occasion. It is a great concept and a cool place. I will have to think about returning.
(3)Pam D.
It has been a while since we last ate here, but we met up with a group of old friends for dinner and had a very nice time. Although the food does not make me crazy with love, it is usually a solid tasty meal. I had the special BBQ trio, which consisted of 3 BBQ sandwiches (small) accompanied by fried onion strings and slaw. It was all good and filling. Christopher had a burger, which was also good and certainly substantial. The table shared an apple strudel, which was good and certainly huge. I think it cost $11, but fed 6 people. I would have preferred it baked a bit longer, but all in all, it was a good choice. Service as always was friendly and attentive, and for a Tuesday night, the place was packed!!!! I'm glad we had reservations.
(4)Carl S.
Fantastic North woods atmosphere with Four Star takes on standards like, Walleye Pike Sandwiches. We always share a small Caesar Salad to start. The Bar looks like a Wisconsin Tavern from the 1950's was made over with a 2013 sports bar. 5 Flat Screens with every sporting event displayed for your entertainment. The "Oceans 12 Room", is where they filmed a scene in the movie with the same name is one of the main dining rooms with big booths and tables. All of the food is Great and so is the service. You may have to wait for a table during peak hours so call ahead.
(5)Steve F.
Just fine for a semi-upscale (moderately priced) chain-style restaurant. Good basket of warm bread served when you are seated; food is fine; service is good. Booths are large: Can easily seat 6 adults, and cozily seat 8. Walls are cluttered with photos, including one of my cousins (they did a deal where if you ate there 10 times you'd get your picture posted). The sign on the wall that says something like "We serve only USDA inspected beef" makes the meat sound a little dodgy: What restaurant serves meat that *isn't* USDA-approved? I sure don't want to eat *there*. However, if this is your style of restaurant, you'll have no complaints.
(3)Douglas M.
Went here for our 22nd Wedding Anniversary for the first time because of a L.E.Y. gift card, and I live 15 minutes away. So many wasted years going to far less quality restaurants much further away. Since it was a special occasion we went top shelf of the menu. I ordered the King Cut Prime Rib and it was prepared exactly as ordered, my wife and daughter ordered the Parm Crusted Filet, and my son ordered the Baby Back Ribs with the Devil sauce. We started with the Cheese curds, flat bread pizza, and the Walleye chips, everything was outstanding. Our server, sorry I forgot his name, was exceptional. He knew the menu backward and forward as a great server should, made sure we were always attended to. We just found our new Family Restaurant. Cant wait to go back and try the lesser $$ of the menu.
(5)Ken N.
EXPERIENCE - SERVICE - VALUE: 5 STARS EACH Parking: Valet, self-park & street First Impressions: Warm, busy, traditional, family-style, clean, efficient, comfortable. Reception: Warm, professional, unflappable Dining Room/Seating: I didn't observe any table/booth near an obtrusive, disturbing, or messy station/location. Waiter (Jason): Neat, friendly, relaxed, experienced and professional. Jason recited the specials accurately with interest, always checked on us, but never hovered. Beverage/Bar: We ordered a special, The Wisconsin Old Fashion and a beer. I suspect, LW can do traditional drinks quite well. We asked Jason to select a Malbec. Menu: Find links for their menu. Bussers/Serving Assts.: Professional, quiet, attentive, neat and efficient table service. Manager: Extraordinary, inexplicable, and impeccable attention. Kitchen: The expediter appeared unsolicited to explain the delay in preparing 2 dishes and added everything would be guaranteed to our satisfaction. Appetizers: Our waiter brought the complimentary Fried (Panko breaded) Calamari. It was as fresh and well prepared as anything I've tasted at any fry shack or restaurant. LW's also served a delicious fresh bread loaf with house butter. Food: Savory, not haute, traditional, attentively prepared, plentiful, satisfying and fairly priced. Desserts: Other desserts may be delicious, but never pass on the Strudel - order it with your meal. Cost: 3 entreés, 3 sides (Wedge Salad, Baked Potato, and a Chili bowl), 2 cocktails, a draft beer, dessert, coffee, wine, and tax totaled was $156.09 not including the complimentary appetizer, or tip. Personal Note: Anyone who reads this much might want to know if I'm pulling any punches. It's simple, I've taken my time to be appreciative of a simply wonderful experience at LW's. Narrative Visit: Fri., Jan. 16, '15 (Arrived 5:55 p.m., Seated 7:30 p.m.) Dining time: c. 3 hours, (We wanted it that way.) Party of 4 - Dinner with friends, a couple. Mgr.: (I'm so sorry, I forgot her name) Server: Jason E., Table: 68 LW is a very popular traditional Mid-west American restaurant. We have eaten there once before. On this visit, we were meeting friends, it would be their first visit to LW. The plan was to catch up somewhere satisfying and comfortable hopefully in a booth. We wanted to be very relaxed for dinner with conversation. Upon arrival, the hostess and host were sincere and warm. The young man, impeccably dressed, gave me a warm greeting and terrific smile. He said, "Welcome. Do you have a reservation?" My answer, "Sorry, no." He host informed me it would be about an hour. I looked around and saw every seat taken and a swollen waiting room. The wait was understandable. I said, with a big smile and some charm, "We'd like a booth." Our host charmed back, "Everyone wants a booth." I said, we'll be patient, see what happens. I added that I knew it was up to 'Luck,' and LW's to do it's best. He said he'd try, in the correct sense; He would always do his best. 65 minutes later, my pager and I approached our host and said, "Please note, I did not approach at the 30, 45, or 60 minute mark. It is time to ask for an update." "Sir, we may be able to seat you in a few minutes, we're closing and clearing a table," was his response. I said, "Oh, great. For a booth?" He said, "Possibly." I said, "We'll be patient." In 18 minutes, our pager awoke. "Your table is ready. Our manager will lead you." With hope I said, "A booth?" "Yes." The manager led us like celebrities to the main dining room. She waited for us to be seated comfortably, smiled genuinely, and apologized for the delay. Table 68 is a fabulous, sumptuous red leather booth centered on the wall in a great room. Jason asked about drinks. JW's has a short list of self-styled cocktail specials. My wife opted for the Wisconsin Old Fashioned which substitutes brandy for the bourbon. I asked about modern, creamed whiskey or rum selections - LW had none. Another guest asked for a Blue Moon draft, and I split a bottle of wine with the last guest. Jason returned, served the drinks, discussed the specials and took our orders. He had just left our table when he reappeared with a complimentary flat bread, wonderfully toasted with olives, herbs and an oil. Jason went away, a steward delivered the Malbec, uncorked it and set it to rest. Time passed, then the expediter appeared to explain that the perch was holding up the service. He promised to make everything to our satisfaction. This attention points out LW's mission; Do everything possible to make the evening pleasant and satisfactory. Out came excellent coffee and the strudel -a must- with another announcement. It, too, was complimentary because of the entreés delay. Too good. LW's take responsibility for everything. LW had 500+ covers that night. We felt special. I don't doubt that many others were satisfied. Go to LW's. My money is on LW and their evident skill and commitment to every guest.
(5)Vince L.
This restaurant is part of Lettuce Entertainment Group. With that said, the menu shares some similarities with Wildfire and other Lettuce Entertainment Group Restaurants. Overall I love the family feels and ambiance of the restaurant decor. I feel the price is equal the service and food. Even though they were busy but they get our table and food in good time.
(5)Kay J.
Overpriced, with mediocre food. The BBQ brisket sandwich had chunks of burned and fatty brisket, with TONS of gloppy overly sweet BBQ sauce (way too much). In fact, there was more sauce than meat. In spite of the fact that my waitress told me their fish was fresh, my fish really did not taste fresh... it was dry and tough, and in addition, it was quite a small portion. The menu is written in a way that most people would assume, as I did, that you get a potato dish of your choice plus your choice of a veggie, but in fact, at L Woods you are entitled to only one side with your dinner... everything else is upcharged, yet they don't inform you of this if you select two things to have with your entrée. Most restaurants give you two things with your main dish, OR they write their menus HONESTLY and tell you to just "choose one of the following". In addition to the above, our service was quite slow, and we had to wait nearly 1/2 hour in spite of the fact that we had a reservation. Perhaps I should have given LWoods one star instead of two.
(2)Joanne K.
This is a solid 4 star restaurant. The food is good, portions are huge, and it is your basic Lettuce Entertainment fare. The specials are actually decently prized, and the wine and Moscow Mule I had were pretty good as well. I will say though that the patrons are all about 80 years old, so it clears out pretty nicely after 9:15PM!
(4)Tricia D.
What happened? I'm still dumbfounded. What didn't change was the smell of good grub wafting through the parking lot and how impressively crowded it was on a Thurs. night. What did change was that the quality of food seemed to go downhill since my last visit. The cheddar cheeseburger was served with something like Merkt's cheese spread heated on to it, which was weird and not good. K's chicken looked kind of greasy, and he said it was bland; plus, the broccoli was supposed to be steamed with butter, but that side came out like raw tree stalks. When our waitress took it back to the kitchen, it was still raw, with some shiny, not-butter-like stuff on it. Service kind of slowed down throughout the meal, and we were left with wet napkins (literally) to wipe our hands off. Never seen that before. Said wet naps were what the busboy used to clean the table too. That was one bizarre, disappointing return to one of my former suburban favorites. :o(
(2)Mara B.
Excellent food. Skirt steak, chopped salad, tomato soup and more. I'm only giving it 4 stars because it's absurdly loud.
(4)John T.
My wife and I went here today for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised! I had the BEST skirt steak I ever had. It's very hard to find a place with good skirt steak.....but LWoods has one that I will definitely be back for. My wife had the ribs and really liked them. Our waitress Paulina was very nice, did a great job, and was always smiling and helpful. The onion rings (they call them onion 'strings')- were also the best we ever had. Can't wait till we can go there again............terrific food!!!!!
(5)john k.
You can't go wrong coming to LWoods for a meal....I've had 50+ and can honestly say no regrets Fresh fish, salads, burgers and Prime Rib lead the parade. Closely followed by flat breads and BBQ. Of course having my favorite beer on tap...Stiegl doesn't hurt.
(4)Kat M.
One word: AMAZEBALLS!!!! Wait.?! Can I say that on here?? Of course I can cuz its true!! Now I can only speak for the food since I did carry out. But it was so good that I can't wait to go there again. I am not a brisket kind of girl but it was so good that I am definitely gonna get it again for myself and that bread is just dreamy! L Woods you have a new best friend!!
(5)Terese C.
Great neighborhood restaurant. Beware, the wait can be long, so have a seat at the bar & enjoy a cocktail. The food is great, and the service is quick once you are seated. This was our third time eating here. I had their Friday fish fry which I would get again.
(4)Jay H.
This place is hit or miss on the service and food. It was the bomb at one time. Seems as lately there's an issues with either the service or food. Today it was a problem with a gift card for 25.00 that was no longer valid to use. If they are so hard up to snatch 25.00 from a customer anlong with the food n service issues then they prolly won't be here much longer.
(1)Jack P.
Give me any place with the terms "Pine'" "Lodge," Roadhouse," or "Northwoods," and I am pretty much a sucker for it. L. Woods is no exception in its unknowing replication of my favorite boyhood spot, when I was just a wee little Yelper. It was called the Northwoods Supper Club. Our family went out for a fancy-schmancy dinner once a year there, usually at Easter, dad and the boys in our little suits and mom in her hat. A guy named nicknamed "Frenchy" (he was actually our neighbor, a chainsaw repairman) donned a beret and soothed us with tunes from the organ. They had a salad bar! Well, enough nostalgia and narrative, lest I raise the hackles of those real reviewers at The Reader and such. We came for lunch. First time for that. In the past, I've been here many times, for dinner with a friend or a group of friends, celebrating birthdays, new jobs, engagements, and a couple firings, too. My first thougth is that L. Woods is a great special occasion place for a number of reasons. Easy to get to, with lots of parking. A great bar to hang out while waiting for your party. Always has a nice party or festive buzz. Always crowded, and was so on a Tuesday at lunch. The crowd is mixed and tends to draw in more of a long-in-the-tooth North Shore types. The walls plastered with black and white 8 x 10's of customers and friends and visiting celebs like Jeff Garlin, Tom Skilling, and Steve Dahl, to name a few. Shades of The Pump Room or Gibson's. The last time I was here with a group, we shared a memorable starter portion of flatbreads and their famous chopped salad. You don't have to order much of either for it to go a long way. Otherwise, always a good go to place for comfort food such as meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, a perfectly grilled salmon filet or filet mignon. The ribs are great, if a little on the sweet side. But we all shared my recommendations, had wine, and came out of there for around $50 per/person. Service here has always been that hands-on, assertively friendly and swift variety I've come to expect with a Lettuce Entertain You operation. I've never had a complaint there. On our recent lunch for two, we had a burger and a BBQ brisket sandwich respectively. Fries and a shared key lime pie, too. Good quality, moderateley-sized servings. They sat us in one of those, as my friend Bonnie puts it, two-bedroom circular booths. There are places you could get that same fare for less in an even more casual environment, but we were taking advantage of a gift card, so it was a good place to hang for a few hours, and catch up with an old friend. Other famous (but not unique) bites here are the chocloate lava cake and the strudel dessert, either one a fun last course tradition if you become a regular. L. Woods: just a great Northwoods Supper Club and nothing more. It knows what it is and does that well. Bring mom and dad when they come to town. Have a celebration here, even if it's because you got fired. Five stars, LEYE, if you add a salad bar, and hire Frenchy at the organ.
(4)Shawn K.
L woods is definitely worth a try, particularly if you live on the north side. I've always had great meals there, from the appetizer to dessert. We usually start with the walleye chips or the chop salad. The full order of the chop salad is huge and would be enough, for an appetizer, to feed 3 adults, or a family or a maybe four people who aren't huge eaters. The chop salad is significantly more expensive than the walleye chips, 13$ salad and 7$ for the chips. Even still, the chop salad is worth a try. If you like walleye, the walleye chips are very good. If you don't particularly like walleye, then you may not be so impressed. The ribs are one of their signature dishes. I prefer the beef ribs to the pork. They are huge and pretty manageable. Probably not so manageable that I would order them on a first date, I would wait til the second. The meat comes off the none exactly how it should. You have to pull and cut a little bit. But, the meat isn't supposed to fall right off the bone if they are cooked right. I rarely like beef more than pork but for some reason, after trying them both, i prefer the beef. The ribs are hue, unfortunately the beef ribs only come as a full rack, unlike the pork which you can order a half rack. I never finish the full beef rack, but they taste just as good the next day. My girlfriend loves the parmesan crusted cod. It comes lightly crusted, (see pictures) in a lemony butter type sauce. Its pretty rich but really tastes light, fresh and a little citrus-ie from its accompaniments. For sides, the garlic mash potatoes are superb. Check out more of my reviews at ShawnKemp.yelp.com
(4)Natasha R.
L. Woods Tap is very similar to Wildfire, but with cheaper prices. It's also smaller and has a very cozy interior, making it a perfect place to go to during the cold winter months. I bring up Wildfire because I love that restaurant and it's my go to place when options are limited or if I can't think of anything else. L. Woods has just as good of food and the service is on par as well. I've had it bookmarked for awhile, but recently had the chance to try it out with a couple of co-workers and I've been back two more times since then. Each time the food is consistent, fresh, and it's always seems to be busy, especially during lunch. The French Onion Soup is one of the best I've ever had - it was oozing with cheesy goodness! They have a great flatbread lunch combo where you can pair one of their flatbreads with either a cup of soup, salad, or a bowl of the French Onion. For $10.99 it's not a bad deal at all and the fresh mushroom flatbread is absolutely delicious. I remember the size being very intimidating but it's so thin that it almost feels as if you are eating mushrooms with air. I've also tried their chopped salad - it's good, but not as good as the one from Wildfire. And last time I tried the Chef Special - Coconut Shrimp.. it's definitely an item off the menu that I would recommend. In my opinion, eating at a LEYE Restaurant almost always guarantees a good, if not great experience. With that said, I will definitely be back and I highly suggest to check it out if you are in the Lincolnwood/Skokie area in the near future... with a reservation.
(4)Halisa V.
If you are in the mood for some awesome beef ribs go here! L.Woods does not disappoint. Their portions are really big so make sure to come with an appetite. The interior is quite nice. The restaurant overall has a cozy feel to it. Also the place always seems to be packed, which conveys they must know what they are doing (& of course the food is good)!
(5)Trisha B.
Came here tonight for my birthday dinner and another chicken dinner. I thought it was good the first time, the second time was fabulous. Not sure if it could have been better than the first. The pieces were huge and all I had was the wing and drumstick and half of my mashed potato and it was enough. The only thing was it was a bit cold in there. They probably hadn't turned the air off yet. There were a lot of people that had jackets on. But no reflection on the food. As Guy Fieri says.."Winner, winner chicken dinner!!" My 5 year old niece had the chicken tenders and loves it so much she wants to go back 100 more times to be in the kids club!! We'll be back again!
(4)Tobin h.
The service and teamwork is constantly on magnificent display at this taste of backwoods in the heart of Lincolnwood. I saw several customers, shall we say--on the difficult side (very high maintenance) each time I've been there and each time the team of servers and managers take care of the guest with a smile to the customer's delight. The food is good and ambiance has a few too many "famous" pictures for my liking but if that's the biggest ding, L.Woods is doing just fine! It is in my dining rotation when I am in Lincolnwood and recommend it for those that are anywhere near Lincoln and Touhy.
(3)Jimmy W.
So I've been here like 4-5 times but always sat at the bar ordering burgers of some sort. Service was always ok since there was a bartender there to keep tabs on how you're doing. It's been a while since I've been here and today was a disappointment in all departments especially service... Ordered Peppercorn wings, juicy with good flavor, could have been cooked a bit longer for the skin to firm up a bit, ok fine. Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Very thick batter that just slides off the chicken. So you take a bite of chicken, then a bite of batter so you get both in the same "bite". Flavor is fine but overall a fried chicken failure IMO. Maybe the baby back ribs are better... I got the "DryRub" which didn't seem to have any rub on them at all, pretty flavorless. I did get a 2oz cup of BBQ sauce on the side which is good for 1/4 of the slab... For $28 I'll pass. The worst part of the whole 60 minutes of time spent there was the crap service. After placing the initial order the only time we saw the waiter again was when he brought out the food. No drink refills, no asking how things were, zero, zilch, nada! (Wait, he refilled my water, but not my iced tea or ask if I wanted another drink from the bar, I'm usually good for 3-4) Even when he brought the food he never asked us anything?! He basically said here ya go and walked away! The guy who bagged our leftovers was more helpful! There were 3 other servers standing around talking but they seemed to have no problem taking care of their tables...? Maybe our waiter was the bartender & chef as well, maybe he had to valet some cars, oh wait they don't have valet service. Who know what he was doing, but whatever it was he wasn't taking care of his table! I HATE POOR SERVICE !!!!! And they were NOT busy at all...
(2)Maria A.
Came here the other day with my boyfriend and another. I was excited because the Wednesday night special is breaded pork tenderloin with fresh corn off the cob, mashed potatoes, apple sauce. It's my absolute favorite dish! My dinner mates had the roasted chicken, the BBQ beef bones, and the burger. Everyone seemed happy with their choices. Michael, our server, was super nice until the end when his "peppiness" abruptly ended but it might have been shared fault since we had been engaging in a witty banter over my Moscow Mule being served in a mason jar instead of a copper mug like the last time I had it. That was really my only disappointment with the meal. Michael tried to make it up to me by offering to buy me a dessert. When we didn't see anything we liked and decided to go to Oberweiss instead, it would have been nice if he had taken our moscow mules off instread but I didn't raise the question. Still one of my go-to restaurants in the city. I typically try to go on Wednesdays for the special but Sunday's special (fried chicken) is also good too. I think the only dish I wasn't too thrilled here was the prime rib special on Saturday.
(4)scott B.
First of all, we always get outstanding service here. Consistently. Bravo to the service team. Great ribs and BBQ. Skip the fires and go for the chips if you are leaning that way. Cole slaw needs a bit of pepper to help it out. Don't forget the apple strudel.
(4)Tamir G.
Was not expecting much but was not expecting to be disappointed either. The flat bread bbq chicken was good. Salmon plank bbq was nothing exciting. Ribs were dry. Flank steak was over cooked. Service was very attentive so I gave them the extra star.
(3)Felice C.
L. Woods is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary here. Making a reservation is a definite must! The place was packed when we went. We had reservations, arrived and realized I left my wallet at home. They allowed my boyfriend to wait at the table while I went to get my wallet--but they didn't let us change the reservation time because they were completely booked. My boyfriend ordered the barbecue chicken & rib combo. And I was feeling fish, so the waitress recommended the almond crusted walleye. My boyfriend really enjoyed his barbecue meal. However, I really hated the almond crusted walleye. It was so bland, and the fish had no flavor. I barely ate a fourth of it. Service was decent, but the food wasn't good enough to have me back.
(3)Karen C.
I'd been wanting to try L. Woods for a while & we finally trekked our way out of the city to check it out. We made a reservation on a Saturday, and good Lord am I glad we did! This place was packed. We were easily the youngest people there on a Saturday night, but sometimes that makes me feel good, what can i say? I had the salmon, it was really, really delicious... cooked perfectly & the potatoes it came with were ridiculous. The man had a steak & he said it was great. Any time I get a chance to use some of my LEYE scratchoffs & earn some points, I'm a happy camper... I've yet to be disappointed with any LEYE experience!
(4)Valerie W.
2 excellent meals at L. Woods so far! I am surprised I forgot to leave a review last time. Oh well... here's our most recent visit. I jokingly asked my boyfriend to bring me to L. Woods for an impromptu date because I had a taste for steak but didn't want to break the bank. He grimaced a little, but it was all an act as we pulled into the parking lot at about 8pm on Wednesday evening. We opted to sit at the bar as it as just the two of us, something we're starting to do more and more. He has a thing for deviled eggs lately, so he immediately ordered the BLT deviled eggs upon seeing them on the menu. I'm a little picky about deviled eggs, its a texture thing - but these were good! They came with a peppercorn mayo, which acted as a nice dressing for the shredded lettuce, tomato, and bacon that were left behind on the plate. From there, we decided to each have a salad and split a steak. I had the classic iceberg wedge, which was loaded with bacon, grape tomatoes, red onions, and blue cheese dressing. Iceberg is not usually my favorite, except in wedge salads and on homemade tacos. This wedge was great - I asked for a TON of cracked black pepper and our bartender was happy to oblige. We shared the 14 oz char-broiled New York Strip steak -medium rare, with a double baked potato. It definitely came out more rare (borderline blue) than medium rare, but that didn't scare us away, and I was hesitant to send it back after I'd cut it in half already, for fear it would come back overdone. I'll eat an under-done steak any day of an overdone one. Bartenders did a great job of keeping our drinks and water refilled, and made nice, but not overbearing conversation. L. Woods is at the top of my Lettuce Entertain You list.
(4)Hannah H.
About a 2-2.5: My friend and I came to check out L. Woods, as we'd heard that they were featured on 'Oceans Twelve' :P The place itself is literally a lodge, with a deep woodsy, rustic interior with leather booths. The menu featured lunch, dinner, dessert, carry-out, and even GF options. I had heard about their famous burgers, so I tried the L. Woods Old-Fashioned Burger - this contained a signature beef blend with onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, and house sauce, with a side of fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, and a pickle. The burger itself wasn't as juicy as I expected it to be and quite dried out - it was also more on the bland side, even with the house sauce. T___T The fries were okay, and the cole slaw was more on the sweeter end. Service was a bit MIA, and it was slightly too warm in there. I may come back to try out their ribs and their old-fashioned drinks. Plenty of parking in their private lot. +dried-out burgers T___T +MIA service +private lot
(3)Hinna S.
I have been here twice and the food is consistently great. They have the best veggie burger I have had in Chicago! Not to mention that the wine selection is incredible, one of the wines tasted like an apple pie that melted in my mouth! The mashed potatoes are also a great side and they taste delicious!
(5)Ivana B.
The apple strudel is to die for! Comfort food at its best!
(5)Francis F.
We visited this place one Sunday ago for lunch...Enjoyed the atmosphere and service! Food was ok too but nothing really exceptional with this place that I couldn't find elsewhere for a little cheaper. I tried the apple strudel and bacon cheddar burger with side of mashed potatoes. Oh they give fresh and warm complimentary bread while you wait for orders!
(3)The Coffin B.
My favorite restaurant. Staff is great. Manager is great. Food always perfect. Cocktails always on point. If i could I would eat here everyday. Keep up the great job everyone.
(5)Hunda S.
Good steak nice place havent been here in awhile but my husband and i enjoyed it last
(4)Sarah C.
Attended a get together for my mom here and was pleasantly surprised by not only the service but the food. My BBQ chicken was delish and I didn't hear a single complaint at the table either. The only thing I didn't love was my banana cream pie. Not only does it come with nuts on it but I found it to be a little bland. My sister had some issues with a reservation we booked months in advance after the event planner made a mistake; but the manager made it right.
(4)Jacqueline B.
First time here & OMG I'm about 10 Ibs heavier!! To start off we had brisket nachos which were good. Dad had the NY steak, French fries & mash potatoes ..which were all good. Mom had the half chicken and ribs = good. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger (although they forgot to put bacon on it) and double baked potato..all great. EVERTHING WAS GOOD!
(4)Jessica C.
I actually enjoy the kitschy "cabin" atmosphere - in fact, it might be the best thing they have going. It's cute and cozy and a bit of a throwback. The food is, well, ok. It's like going to a Friday's, just a bit less "heated out of a package sent by corporate." Don't get me wrong, it's acceptable, but just not anything particularly special. The fish and chips are a little oily and bland, the chopped salad is good, but not really any different than one offered by Corner Bakery, the onion bread is warm and good in a diner sort of way. I did go one night because for some reason I was desperately craving a brownie sundae, and they didn't fail me - although I suspect it was brownie mix and I know it was not homemade ice cream. Again, that's not a crime and it's perfectly ok, it's just something that technically I can reproduce at home. As others have mentioned, it is often busy so be prepared for a wait, even though you wouldn't suspect it.
(3)Dev S.
I had an excellent meal and experience here for dinner. I went to dinner on a Wednesday summer night where the place and the parking lot was packed. We were seated right away and the wait staff was great. The menu is high class american and bbq fare. Being from Texas and being a somewhat BBQ snob I wanted to try the pork ribs. I got a half rack pork ribs, slaw and baked potato. The food came in good time and piping hot. The ribs were smoked and had a good rub on them. They were very tender and meaty. The baked potato was good and so was the slaw. My experience at L. Woods was great and I would come again. The only negative thing I would say is the restaurant was very cold. Other then that I am a fan and will be going back.
(4)Theresa B.
This used to be one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions. Last night was a big disappointment. Food was okay, but nothing special and all our food was just warm when delivered. Waitress was good, but way too busy to give the service that we expected. We never got bread brought to our table and our entrees were delivered when we were only half way through our appetizer. When I told the runner that we were still eating our appetizer, he just shrugged and continued to put our food on the table. Waitress did apologize and sent out person from kitchen and they did remove the appetizer from our bill, but the rushed service really ruined the dining experience. I don't think we will be back in the near future.
(3)Osama S.
Local family restaurant. Wonderful people. Great food and wonderful place for families to have a meal to gather big parking lot and country still sitting.
(5)R S.
I have been a lettuce customer for over 20 years... Yet never been to L Woods. Went here for dinner the other night. They did not disappoint. Everything was wonderful. Had a great meal. The prices were reasonable. Te service was great.
(4)David C.
Well, if you'd like to sit under a cold air vent, complain repeatedly and have the staff refuse to let you switch tables - then this is the place for you! Seriously, we LOVE the food here but I'm stunned at how poorly we were treated - right up to the manager. Particularly surprising for a Lettuce restaurant!
(1)Elaine M.
We come here several times a year for dinner, but today was my first time for lunch. While the menu items and specials are the same, the prices (and likely the portions) are a bit smaller. Also, we did not have to wait for our table, nor did we feel rushed to leave after eating. This is a huge plus when dining with 4 kids! Our server was super helpful and very patient with our large group. The noise level at lunch was a lot quieter than at dinner, too. The fried calamari appetizer was excellent - piping hot and crispy. The fried chicken (pork?) salad special was delicious, as was the BBQ beef brisket and the boneless ribs. The littles enjoyed their buttered noodles kids meal with fries / potato chips and apple sauce. Sadly, we were all too full for our favorites: mac and cheese and gooey chocolate cake. We'll back again soon.
(4)Courtney L.
Think the scene from The Great Outdoors when John Candy thinks he is finished eating the "96 ouncer" and there is "nothing left on the plate but fat and gristle"...well, that was the makeup of my entire full slab of ribs. My BF and his mom also ordered ribs and they were exactly the same: fatty, chewy and tough. The three of us also ordered twice-baked potatoes, and when our meals arrived, one was missing, "because they were out." It was a real bummer of a time as far as the food goes. I don't think I'll be back.
(1)Joann V.
Good place to go to when you just wanna chill and watch a game. Not as loud as bars can get. More of a restaurant setting. Everything I've had food wise was great. But then again I do know how to order ;)
(3)Erica D.
L Woods is our favorite neighborhood spot. We go as a family and my husband and I go for date night. Not fancy but the food is always so good. I drink a gallon of their tomato soup and their fish fry on Fridays are more like a party with friends. You always see people from the neighborhood and the service is always friendly.
(4)Rebecca M.
My family and I had a great time. We ordered the baby back ribs, a bacon cheese burger, and a chopped salad. All of the food was AMAZING!!! The sides were also amazing. We got thought the fries and mashed potato's delicious. You should definitely come here!
(5)Michelle G.
This place is the quintessential supper club. The paneled walls are covered with old black & white photos, stuffed fish and mounted antlers. We started with a dirty martini and a gin & basil gimlet. You must order a proper cocktail at a supper club. And yes they do have blue cheese olives. Perfectly dressed chopped salad and quite the ample portion. Dry rub baby back ribs and cedar planked bbq salmon are lip licking good. It's packed 7days a week so be sure to make a reservation. Even if you have to wait it's well worth it.
(4)Krystel H.
Always great. I have been going here for a long time. Never disappointed Favorite item on the menu is the parm crusted skirt steak. And they have great salads The salads are huge! Great family restaurant. Definitely will continue to go to this restaurant.
(5)Jimmy P.
For me this is one of the best local places in Lincolnwood for extremely delicious food and great service as well as a quality bar. Also, for the flavorful tasty food, it is relatively inexpensive. Nothing says family restaurant like L.Woods. The few negatives are: It is always busy, which in hindsight is good, but it is difficult to get a table without reservations, or sometimes with a reservation, it is hard to predict the time you will be seated because they are always slammed. So make sure you reserve your table or it could put a damper on any later plans. Also, the food is great, because it is loaded with the stuff doctors tell you to avoid. So the very thing that makes it so great, also plays a tug of war with the bad side. That is just me though, and will not always apply as a negative for everyone else. So if you are guilt free on fatty foods, and love reserving tables before going out, I'de probably go ahead and give it 5 stars for a review.
(4)Jen Q.
We come 3-4 times a year with family, a party of 15-25. We've always been accommodated. The food is wonderful. The service is exceptional.
(5)Jennifer G.
L Woods came through when I had to find a dinner spot for a party of 13. The ambiance worked well for the group and the menu had choices for just about any taste. Everyone raved about their meal. Almond crusted walleye, pork tenderloin, and the chopped salad earned particular raves. The meals aren't elaborate, they are comfort food done very well.
(5)Stephen M.
I had done an earlier review and was completely unhappy. To their credit the restaurant contacted me to make amends. We returned with friends who are quite particular. Unlike our last visit which was the end of a Saturday evening, this visit was during prime time on a Sunday. Each of our entrees were as requested and good. Our server kept focused and delivered on each of our somewhat fussy requests. High marks for her. So, 'yay, I'm a fan'. I'm a fan of a responsive restaurant. They made amends, asking for another chance, believing they were better than our last experience.
(4)Patricia M.
The service was very rushed. My "fried fish" was totally over cooked. Very disappointing and over-priced.
(1)Russ H.
When you are looking for a great meal in an out-of-the-way place, L Woods never disappoints. The ribs and salmon are fantastic. I highly recommend. Fun place to take the entire family.
(5)Joseph K.
Ok I have made up my mind I can not give 4 star for those bbq beef ribs this place definitely deserves a 5 star hands down and not just the bbq beef ribs but also the customer service and the whole entire menu is best food I can ever have thank you Lwoods
(5)Alex U.
Great place for a family outing. Everyone will walk away full and happy. My son had the 12oz skirt steak, two thumbs up. Along with the key lime pie. My wife and I had the meatloaf and walleye sandwich respectively, delicious!
(4)Lauren A.
Great place to go and relax and have some comfort food and a few beers / cocktails. We came in for the first time last weekend without a reservation and ended up sitting at a high top in the bar area. I couldn't believe it was that crowded at 5 p.m. on a Saturday! Will be making a reservation next time for sure. The server brought us a loaf of the onion bread with butter right away which was delicious. I started with a house sald which was the most enormous house salad I have ever had. Really generous plate with tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, and super tasty homemade croutons. The house dressing was also really good. For my entree, I had the BBQ half chicken with a double baked potato. The chicken was very moist, but I did think they covered it with too much sauce. I actually couldn't believe they gave me a side of BBQ sauce as well. The thing was already covered with it! I am one of those people, though, who doesn't really like sauce on meat. It drives me crazy when there is too much of it. So that may be a taste thing. The chicken itself was really good, though. The double baked potato was perfect - creamy and full of flavor. We really wanted to put in an order of the baked chocolate cake but were just way too full to do it. Next time.... As far as beers, they do have a pretty good selection of local-ish craft beers on tap. The best thing is that they have Left Hand Milk Stout on tap which is one of my top 3 favorite beers ever... and very unusual to have on tap at a random place in Chicago. So, that was awesome. I can't wait to come back to this place. It is a great place to bring family or friends and spend a couple of hours having drinks and a leisurely dinner. Just be prepared to roll yourself out of here.
(4)Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: B- Service: B Solid, nothing flashy, across the board. Never had a bad meal, but sadly never a great meal. I recommend eating at the bar, good selection of beers on tap. The interior could use some updating, but on the whole the supper club feel is well represented. Service is good, no complaints. The food is pretty standard.
(3)James G.
Unable to provide quality service or food. Portions and quality are inconsistent; front of house staff and management rely on lying to customers thinking they don't know better; reservations are accepted but fall by the wayside regularly (why make a reservation if you have to wait an hour to sit down?); to go orders taking an hour longer than the pick up time are inaccurate. Dried out, fatty, brisket - meant to serve 10 people - if you give each person 2oz of meat, maybe.... We've grown expect much more from a Lettuce Entertain you establishment, ever since this location was revamped from Bones barbecue it has been in a slow downhill slide. We will absolutely never come back or order carry out again. You should avoid this place if you have any respect for your time or your money because it's obvious they do not.
(1).Kìt À.
This place is known for the ribs. There is a large bar area with many TVs for watching games. They do a very good business. The tomato bisque soup is a must have. We ordered ribs and burgers. Both were divine. I liked the tangy barbecue sauce on the ribs. The full order of ribs is a very very massive amount of food. Key lime pie and brownie sundae are both delicious. Staff is considerate and friendly. The photos that we saw hanging on nearly every wall added history and charm. Just remember that anytime you want yummy food, tasty drinks, ribs or burgers or chicken with desserts that your sweet tooth will appreciate; then definitely drive over to Lincolnwood Illinois and stop into L Woods Tap and Pine Lodge for their delightful, delectable, dinners.
(5)Rahul G.
This is a go to for my wife and her family and I. Easy and really yummy. Simple food, but done right. I love going on Sunday and getting the fried chicken, huge portion and so so good. The cobb salad is also giant and perfectly made. One of those places where everything is good. The ribs are excellent as well. Can get crazy crazy busy but it's worth the wait. Go for an earlier dinner and you'll be fine.
(5)Mark G.
I chose to come here for my birthday dinner, so that speaks to how much I enjoy their food. As if coping with the stigma that comes with turning 30 wasn't enough, I realized I chose a place that attracts more old people than the entire state of Florida. I'm surprised I didn't leave L. Woods driving a mid 90's Buick LaCrossee. That didn't deter me because the ribs here are fire. I'm not even a crazy ribs person. I'm one of those people more inclined to order a burger instead. But one visit here, I was sold. I actually feel kind of bad for people who don't get to share their food with another person, because deciding between the beef ribs or dry rub baby back ribs would be strenuous. Both are really good but I would suggest the beef ribs since they're not attainable at most places. This is definitely one of those places you choose when somebody owes you dinner and you don't have to pay.
(4)Joe R.
The service is generally pretty great here as well as the delicious food. I do however feel there is often TOO many people inside where you can't walk by the bar area, you're being bumped into by people, and there are even more people standing in walkways because they don't fit at the table. I dont like to be boxed in or surrounded by people or have their butts in my face while I am seated at a table. This is not so much of an issue if you avoid the bar area entirely. The food has been great every single time ive come in here. Get the brisket nachos, effing delicious. Sometimes they get a little stingy with the brisket, but it's by far their top appetizer IMHO.
(4)Evelina L.
So....this place really does get 4 start only because of the most divine strudel in the whole wide world! I would say skip the rest of the meal and just order the strudel! Ok ok, since it does take 30 minutes to bake it TO ORDER, you can probably grab a quick bite to eat of something else first. Maybe. I like that they always have a fresh assortment of iced tea, lemonades and even home made soda. Portions are HUGE, but things are somewhat on the healthier side, if you don't count the quantity. During lunch, the average age is always 75 and it gets very crowded, but service never skips a beat. Try L. Strudel next time you are in the neighborhood. I mean L. Woods. :)
(4)Still W.
Great food! Ive always liked it here
(5)Ray D.
Awesome Cheese Curds. Probably the best in Illinois. Best BEEF RIBS in Chicagoland so far. Beef ribs are a rarity in the Midwest. And they did me proud. Ambiance has a warm Wisconsin Supper Club feel. Look forward to going back with beef rib BBQ fans.
(5)Steve O.
We had an enjoyable dinner. Always great food. Always great service. Always a wait, but always worth the wait.
(5)Jimmy J.
This is one of those old school type of places where you can sense who is a regular & who isnt. We were told 10 minutes for a table,but had to wait 25. It seemed like REGS were given priority but i can't be sure. Nonethless, we had a very good meal here. Friendly and effecient service by Flavio. Chopped Salad starter was solid, smaller portion @ $10 was enough for 2. Flatbread is authentic in the sense that its super thin and crispy as should be. I liked our bbq chicken flatbread although felt it odd that it and all flatbreads has pesto sauce. We sampled their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and they were dynamite. Much better than all these hyped up bbq places that do not serve the meat hot. Meat was charred on quality brioche bun and sides of Slaw and baked potato were quality. Prices were $11 which compared to the marketplace, is very good. The Salted Caramel bread pudding was delicious, and large enough for 4 to share, and was only $5.99. My last couple experiences at LEYE concepts have been piss poor (DiPescara) to mediocre (RPM Italian). L Woods delivered whatr LEYE joints generally do: Good food, dependable service, comfortable settings, at reasonable price points. We will return. I saw FULL SLAB on way out that will bring me back FO SHO.
(4)Jose T.
L. Woods has become my family's favorite Chicago area supper club. Great food, great drinks & the perfect atmosphere. It's got an 'old school' supper club vibe that we love with everything else to match.
(5)lee m.
Great old fashions . Fantastic portions paired with an old school dinning experience. Absolutely love this place. The service was on point. Strait forward menu, no chicken liver mousse and snobbery. Surf and turf was cooked to perfection. Great place for multi-generations to get together. I will be back.
(4)Howard L.
We came back for dine-in Sunday night dinner, and we are back to the 5 star quality we've been used to at LL Woods over the years. We used the comp'd gift certificates sent to us for our last sub-standard take-out dinner, and had their fried chicken dinner ($17.99) and a half slab of dry rubbed baby back ribs (also $17.99). It was all simply delicious with a pint of a new red ale from the Peoria area (Tighthead Scarlet Fire Red Ale at 5.6% ABV). The buttery fried chicken was succulent on the inside and the best serving we have had to date of this Sunday night classic. Will surely be back again and may try another night for another of their renowned daily specials.
(5)M. T.
Lots of hype, big on atmosphere like a Wisconsin lodge. Food was very good, but not great. Had the pulled pork, it was just as good as Weber Grill.
(3)meredith d.
I love this place - the clubby atmosphere, friendly service and excellent food. Just had lunch there, and my friend and I had to wait for our entrees. We weren't complaining - we were chatting and drinking coffee - but when the food arrived, the manager came to our table to tell us that it was all on the house! Because we'd had to wait so long! I can't even tell you how long it was - maybe 30 to 45 minutes, if that. So we were comped a $50 meal! On a previous occasion, after picking up a dinner from them, we discovered that my husband's potato was missing, and they sent us two gift certificates to make up for it. So they have excellent customer service as well as delicious food. Favorites? The crusted walleye, the fried chicken (Sundays only for that one, I believe), the walleye nuggets appetizer and the meatloaf. Good decaf coffee, too (which is rare). Did I say I love this place?
(5)Natalie B.
Downright awful. Why oh why do people come here? The average age is easily 80, maybe the older folk just don't know better? First off, it feels dirty and tables are crammed together so tightly that people can't walk through. I had to get up at least three times to let other patrons walk by ( for reference, I'm pretty thin and was pushed close in). We were at a 6 top that had an extra chair crammed in and was made up of two uneven tables that didn't match up which = spills!! So the food. Yuck! My ceaser salad was a bag of romaine lettuce with a package of store croutons thrown on and shelf stable Parmesan. The chicken, which was forgotten until I asked a bunch of times resembled what they serve at McDonalds. My childrens food was equally unappetizing and my daughter threw up after consuming it. She isn't sick-was food poisoning. The other two didn't eat at all, and my kids eat everything and a lot. Will I come again? Heck no and I suggest you don't either.
(1)Dave C.
Great service and good comfort food. Wisconsin style supper club. The place was packed on a Friday night, which probably means things are good here. We stuck with the favorites, baby back ribs, Friday night fish fry & chocolate molten cake. It was all pretty tasty, good atmosphere, comfortable. Oh, and the Wisconsin Old Fashion was refreshing.
(4)Kathleen C.
Oh no! Can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot as I've been here a zillion times. However, admittedly, I haven't been there in a while until this past week. It was just as I remembered! I always get basically the same thing, though I have tried many other items and I have never been disappointed. Food is always fresh and flavorful and not overly seasoned. The chopped salad - try it without dressing and then get a bunch of dressings on the side. Service is always friendly and even when the place is bustling, they know what to do! I've never had any issues with service and typically, even when there is a wait, they keep things moving pretty well. Atmosphere is somewhat lodge-y, though I suppose that goes with the supper club vibe. Very comfortable and cozy and a nice spot to have a great meal with great service and great food. Food - 5 Value - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Bathrooms - 4 Service - 5
(5)Stephanie S.
Hubs' family is full of longtime Wisconsinites who romanticize the supper club atmosphere. So naturally we had to check out this place and see how it stacks up. We made reservations for a Tuesday night. The place was pretty crowded (had to park on a side street because the lot was full). Even with a reservation, we had to wait 15 minutes for a table. Given the way they called names, I'm not sure it mattered if we had made a reservation or not, which was pretty annoying. We were at the table for 5 or 10 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. In general it seemed our waiter, while friendly, was flustered and harried. The food was good, and portions were large. We split the small chopped salad (one of the better ones I've had with a good amount of bacon and bleu cheese). Hubs had skirt steak (ginormous), I had whitefish (nice crust, well-balanced butter sauce). No complaints on the food. Tasty and would gladly eat there again. Plus, brandy old fashioned FTW. Yes, the clientele is octogenarian. It's a little crowded and can be loud, so probably not the place for a romantic date. Hubs said the decor was "fake" (obviously, since it's part of a restaurant group and not an actual mom-and-pop supper club). Overall, I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to come here, and I'd enjoy my meal. But it's kinda far from my house and not good enough to justify the drive.
(4)Mark F.
Amazing service, amazing food. We have been there a couple of times for a date night and with friends and have never left disappointed. The meats are great, the sides are amazing. If they have the meatloaf special, I highly recommend it. It's extremely family friendly and you can tell that the staff is really close. You would never think you are at a chain type of restaurant. It feels homie and comfortable. The bar tenders are always a riot and the servers are so personable that we found ourselves making conversation with them. We will definitely make this one of our go-to spots.
(5)Andrew D.
One of our family favorites! The cheese curds and the brisket nachos are great starters. Both the pork ribs and the beef ribs are fantastic. I highly recommend going on Sunday for the fried chicken special. And be sure to save room for made to order gooey chocolate cake or apple strudel. They also have few signature cocktails that are delicious. Would be five stars but the service can be a little slow.
(4)David R.
I'm a big fan of this restaurant; without meaning to, I've developed a habit of targeting it for casual special occasions. The first time was two nights before my wedding, the day that my family arrived in town and we needed a dinner option to please a large, disparate group. That night, I enjoyed some very solid calamari and a macadamia-encrusted tilapia special which was one of the best fish dishes that I can remember; my brother declared their pulled pork sandwich the best he's ever had. The second time was on St Patrick's Day in 2012, when the TimeOut magazine advertised a promotion where L Woods was giving away a corned beef dinner to any patron to show a passport with a stamp from the Republic of Ireland. When I showed up on the actual holiday, they told me that the deal was only for the preceding weekend. When I expressed my disappointment, the management agreed to honor the promotion after all. Hooray for customer service! And the corned beef and cabbage was not too shabby either. Recently I celebrated my second wedding anniversary there, because my wife loves this place too. We both have excellent taste. Except that she expressed no interest in my delicious barbecue ribs! Well, noone's perfect, but I love her anyway. Consistently good food, a fun casual setting, and cheerful service will keep us coming back on special occasions and maybe sometimes for no reason at all.
(4)Patrick D.
Absolutely THE best pulled pork sandwich I've had in Chicago. Well cooked smokey moist meat. Mmmmm, mmmmm good! Great BBQ sauce on the side. You control how much goes on the sandwich. This place just keeps on doing it, and doing it very well. Do NOT be intimidated at having to order their "Famous Apple Strudel" when you order your meal. It takes 45 minutes to prepare so no ordering it after dinner.. It is wonderful, and big enough for 2 or 3. Also, probably the best floor staff of any place like this, friendly, efficient,, knowledgeable about everything on the menu,
(4)Peter O.
Last Easter 2014, Paulina, that evening's overworked waitress from my above review graciously, kindly, expeditiously did double duty serving us while assisting us with a large family to-go order of what was (of course) delicious food while we ate and drank at leisure in the bar. Paulina has been my/our server and occasionally my bartender on many occasions since. I can not praise enough her warm, companionable decency and efficiency. This must be made clear. She's turned out to be a marvel, at the pinnacle of what is, with very few exceptions, one of the best restaurant staffs in Chicagoland. I hope to permanently have learned some necessary lessons here. ~Peter O.
(4)L M.
Person with me enjoyed the brisket sandwich with cheese potatoes and coleslaw (has horseradish in it). I had a lighter dinner and enjoyed a slice of grasshopper pie for dessert. Place was packed on a Tuesday night. Service was excellent with a good sense of humor. Highly recommended.
(5)Melissa A.
The tomatoe soup is to die for, definitely get a cup at least! One of my favorite restaurants, lots of vegetarian options (not so much vegan). The veggie burger is home made and the best I've ever had, loved by non vegos as well
(5)Mark C.
We found this place because we wanted to use up a Lettuce Entertain You gift card and we could not be happier with our selection. The setting is like a lodge up in Wisconsin or Michigan... and a great reasonably priced menu. We were greeted by "Momma", who was waiting for us based on our reservation. An older lady that we at first thought was a customer or someone's Grandmother that wandered away from her table. But she was fun and friendly... so kudos on the nice start. For starters, the Fried Calamari was very good, although more than we needed and had to force ourselves to stop so we had room for dinner. The server was knowledgable about the selections and recommended the BBQ Ribs, which I enjoyed and partner had the BBQ chicken. Quite wonderful! The martini's at $11 a pop were good although first one was slightly warmer than the 2nd one... still a good deal at a good price. We will definitely return!
(4)Dennis D.
One of my favorite restaurants. BBQ chicken and ribs are delicious. Brisket sandwich tender and flavorful. Highlight are daily specials. Saturday is great portion of Prime Rib and Sunday the fried chicken. Both really good Match that with the good service and a spectacular bar and you have a great dining experience that reminds you of the best old time supper clubs with modern spot on food. Enjoy this place. One of Lettuce Entertain You's more unique food establishments. Really crowded weekend nights.
(5)Mariel I.
Went here for dinner and everything was great. We oredered the crusted whitefish and the ribs both were delicious especially their mashed potatoes. Definitely will come back.
(5)Brenda P.
My bf and I have been here twice, staff is always friendly, we never wait long. Let's get to the best part. The food is so good!! Ribs are so soft and tender. Their french fried chicken is to die for. NY strip steak tasty!! We did have chicken and wild rice soup which was also great, definitely one of our favorites!!
(5)Heather U.
My family and I stopped in for a late night dinner. We arrived a half hour before closing. Not only were we greeted right away but also got a table. Usually most restaurants are in a hurry as they are getting ready to close. But Greg, our server treated us the same as if we were their first customers in the door. He made sure we had enough to drink and if we needed anything else to let him know. Always a great place to eat anytime of the day!
(5)B S.
This just isn't that good. I love all the lettuce entertain you options except this one. We were really disappointed. I just don't think the quality of food is up to par with other lettuce entertain you spots.
(1)Jennifer Y.
I ate at L. Woods on Friday 1.30.15 for the first time and I did not enjoy my entree. I will not be returning. -The first time we tried to go there on a Friday night for dinner (without a reservation) we were told the wait time was TWO HOURS for a party of two. So we left and made a reservation for the 30th. HOSTESS = GOOD -We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and still waited about 25 minutes. The hostess looked stressed out and apologized that we had to wait. She said many tables were taking a long time to finish their meals. We understood and told her it was alright. She seemed very genuine. I felt bad that she was stressed out because all of the tables seemed backed up. -Another customer was upset that we got called up before him. He said he was waiting for over an hour. The hostess explained that we had a reservation and he didn't. ENVIRONMENT = CROWDED -The place was PACKED with people! That's good, right? -The tables are very close together. -The decor looks old. They have an endless amount of framed pictures covering the walls. FOOD= I think it depends what you order... -They brought out onion bread with butter for the table. It was warm and delicious. -We ordered the L. Woods Chopped Salad to share and it tasted great. The portion was great for us two. Tip: If you don't like blue cheese, this is not for you. -I ordered the Chopped Sirloin Steak with a baked sweet potato. The sweet potato was baked well and they put the butter on the side. It tasted great. The steak WAS TERRIBLE. It looked like ground meat that they made into a burger. GROUND MEAT IS NOT A STEAK. I was so upset. I was too embarrassed to send it back so I just didn't eat it. -My boyfriend ordered the New York Strip. It was cooked to his preference and it tasted great. I had a bite :) I wish I ordered the New York Strip instead. SERVICE= FAIR -The server noticed I didn't eat my entree and he kindly removed it from the bill. -The server was alright, but nothing special. -He took our order, brought out the food and that was it. He never checked on us to see if we liked the food. He didn't notice I hadn't touched my entree until he was giving us the check. -The bus boys were on top of everything though. They promptly refilled our water glasses. -Jennifer Edit: I looked into what a chopped sirloin steak is supposed to be .... I guess it is supposed to be ground like a burger. I was wrong. Either way, I didn't enjoy it.
(2)CheesecakeChick I.
Let's hear it for the Mother's Day price gouge most restaurants do. Like Valentines Day, they know you will pay the price. Food was excellently prepared, what there was of it. Mom has the halibut special, which for 26 dollars should have more than a kind of small portion of fish with 5 asparagus spears. what no potato or rice on the plate? no soup or salad to start? no, that is all ala carte I had the almond crusted walleye. it was delicious. the double baked potato was extra. I had two strawberry lemon vodka manhattans, which were tasty but weak. they brought us a sample of the barbecue chicken flat bread, which was tasty, but the onion bread loaf on the table was cold, and the butter was hard. Expensive, but we enjoyed the food we ate! Enjoyed the Wisconsin Supper Club atmosphere.
(3)Nicole P.
We went tonight and he Michael as a server.. He is impossible not to like! He is the nicest guy and works so hard. L. Woods has the best calamari ever! It's always cooked to perfection.
(5)Bike R.
I've dined regularly with family and friends at L.Woods Tap for nearly 3 years....over 25 times. Great atmosphere, food, service and cocktails. BUT, a month or two ago something changed. Different uniforms on the staff, headsets and a cheaper pour on cocktails - particularly, martinis. Our waitress apologized. Said, "We're not happy about it," when asked why our martinis were well below the brim, unlike many other visits. No harm or foul on our waitress. She was great. So charge me more for a good martini, who cares. But serving up a lame martini with a lame excuse makes one feel cheated, Mr. restaurant manager. Not a good sign. What's next? So a BIG 'no can do' for our group from here on out. Calo (5343 N Clark) has the best martinis around....a large place with a great vibe, tasty ribs, nice selection of pizza and other decent Italian fare as well.
(1)B D.
Four of us drove in from the N.W. burbs last week, wanted to try the famous Friday night fish fry. I ordered it, didn't care that it was $22 cause it was to be "spectacular." It tasted good but for $22 it should have been all you can eat, two small perch and a bed of fries. Maybe , maybe an $8 value. I believe the "Capone" martini was a one finger pour of Templeton Rye this would not make Big Al proud and where is all the knotty pine (buried under old B&W pictures)?? We will now go elsewhere for the fish fry when the mood hits. As the "Sharks" say " I'm out "!
(2)Lorelei C.
Today was my first visit to L Woods.. My friend Dawn had told me this was a great place to eat.. and then my son Nick came in from Aurora today and asked me where I wanted to have dinner.. So..The exterior of L.Woods looks like a log cabin.. A great rustic look.. And once you enter the restaurant itself it's like you are stepping back in time, like a supper club from the 50's/60's.. Quite Classic..A bit Elegant.. It's pretty dark throughout the restaurant, any lighting is quite dim.. I guess some might like that romantic touch but.. my eyes were struggling to read/see the menu.. My son Nick who is 27 thought this was a nice restaurant.. But.. felt it's appeal would be to us older folk..(Meaning Me)! And.. yes.. most of the crowd were older than 27! Anyway.. we ordered off the dinner menu since we came in too late for the lunch menu.. And Nick said the menu did not have much variety.. What I saw/found on the menu were comfort food options.. Steaks, Chicken, Fish, Burgers etc.. I thought the menu covered enough food options.. Our server did bring a loaf of warm, onion bread for us.. But.. I had Haddock Fillets dipped in a Schlitz Beer Batter.. Nick had some chicken entree and baked Mac and Cheese.. And then for dessert I had a really good cream puff.. So..I thought L.Woods was a nice experience.. Service for the most part was on point and attentive.. Menu prices seemed for the most part to be comparable to other restaurants.. Actually..some may consider L.Woods pricing to be a little steep.. So be prepared.. If you like good food,and nice ambiance, I would suggest that you pay L. Woods a visit.. A really lovely place..:)
(4)Ed K.
Hands done best Ribs in Chicago! I have been eating in this place for years and I have never been disappointed by anything I have tasted on the menu. A must try for BBQ Lovers!
(5)Yvonne O.
I lived in Forest Glen for a few years and knew about this place but never made it in. I wanted to come for dinner, but since they didn't take reservations, we opted for lunch. I was shocked to see so many people there right at noon, but it is the burbs....we started with beef barley soup for me (yum) and potato skin nachos for my husband. They were not my thing, but he liked them other than the green onion on top. For the meal, I went with the three sliders (pulled pork, brisket, and chicken) which also had a ton of onion rings on each (not a fan and it wasn't noted). Husband had the chicken and rob combo, which was huge. We also had the blueberry buckle for dessert which was just okay. Total was about $80 before tip. The tubs were delicious, and the brisket was also a star. We just can't stand the sheer amount of onion on EVERYTHING. I was also surprised at no shrimp (other than cocktail) on the menu. Service started out excellent and faded a bit once the room started to get packed as we waited for the check for quite a while.
(3)Palula C.
This is the right place to go after a night of being at Oakton and having your deranged anatomy teacher (who once expounded on the plot of the movie Over the Top to explain the Pronator Teres muscle) terrorize you with accounts of his wife's menopause, then give you a 150-question "quiz"...In other words, it's great if you're in the area. I've been to an actual Wisconsin supper club a few times (the Gun Club in Beloit, RIP), and I think their "homage" to that style is pretty solid. L Woods has some tasty beers! I discovered Wild Onion Hopslayer here...also their mac & cheese and creamed spinach are really the way to go with bar food. A couple times I got their brisket nachos, and it was just too many competing flavors for me. I would go here all the time if I were older, as a 20-something who should be on the prowl with people my own age, I would prefer to avoid the older men who ask whether you like Bob Seger...
(4)Parker L.
If you want to have a consistently great dining experience, where the food is always prepared perfectly, the service is attentive, and you leave satisfied... L Woods is the place. I've tried almost everything on their menu over the years - their steaks are great. Salads are huge and fresh.But the best is the hamburgers. They are is just so good. (they also deliver on grub hub btw) Cons - On weekends, this place is packed. But you can usually get a table in the bar area.
(5)Rebekah H.
This is a great spot whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Although, it is a good idea to get a reservation for dinner unless you are going to be there before 6pm. We love the flatbread/salad combos, both the mushroom and tomato flatbreads are equally delicious and I just love the chopped salad. The flatbread is so crispy and delicate but packs a flavor punch! We have also tried the Beef ribs which were very good and various other items on the menu and have been happy with all of them. For a nice small dessert, try the Goldbrick Sundae, so tasty and will not leave you stuffed!
(4)Emily C.
We really wanted to like this place. A group of us (originally from WI) went for Friday fish fry recently to get a taste of home - L. Woods describes itself as a WI supper club. We knew it probably wouldn't be as good as home, but it wasn't really close. We loved the idea of the old fashioneds, but they were only ok. The fish fry wasn't unlimited (strike) and they didn't have potato pancakes (strike). What kind of WI fish fry is this?! Another friend ordered the flatbread and it was seriously served on something thinner than a cracker. She was still hungry afterwards (strike). We really wanted to have a go to fish fry place,. The food was fine and I didn't come up with three strikes, but I think we'll keep looking 66/365
(2)Mark M.
called in at 4.00 to pickup dinner that included the infamous apple strudel, and i was told that it takes 45 minutes to bake, so i told the lady i was picking up at 5.30 when i arrived at 5.45 i was told the apple strudel was still cooking and it would be a minute or two more, there were 4 people behind me that got their food and 10 minutes later I was told again that it would be another minute or two, I heard the pickup manager calling a customer asking them when they would be picking up their order because it was ready 30 minutes ago, I laughed cause I was now waiting 30 minutes beyond my pickup time. when i was told a 3rd time it would be a minute or two more i told the pickup person I called an hour and half before the pickup time and it was now 30 minutes beyond the pick up time, and I had been waiting 165 minutes and had to go, so please cancel my order and credit my credit card. He had no problem doing that so i left, very disappointed and as you would guess hungry and angry. I would suggest you think twice about ever ordering for pick up from here unless you like hanging out for lengthy times in the small closet they use for pickups.
(1)Ronni G.
Barbecue anything. I like devil sauce. Decent beer selection, classic mixed drinks. Don't miss the chopped salad-it's a meal in itself. Order the gooey chocolate cake when you order your dinner, and save room for dessert. And don't even think of coming here most nights without a reservation.
(5)Zorin D.
I went to L. Woods to try the beef ribs which made it on to Time Out Chicago's "100 Best Things We've Tasted" list. The ribs were very good, but the Calamari was the best I've ever had in my life. If you're a calamari fan you have to try it here.
(5)Jennifer Q.
Special shout out to server Jose A. who did a great job on my husband's birthday! The food is always good here -anything we have ordered has always been super tasty. Good food plus great service is what makes this local gem really stand out!
(4)Mike L.
This place sure looks like a corner bar from the outside. Not knowing much about Lincolnwood my homie took me here. Upon walking into the fine establishment we were promptly greeted and seated. On a Monday night this place was packed. I knew it to be a good sign. Althought they squeeze in as many tables as they can seating was fine. A booth is the way to go if possible. This places oozes Old Skool 50's restaurant. Back then you would get soup and salad with your meal. Not here, but no matter the food is excellent. Both beef and pork ribs were outstanding. Tender, meaty, and moist......the only way to eat em. Huge portions and good service rounded out our experience. Their banana cream pie was pretty awesome not overly sweet or banana laden made it a pretty perfect ending. The name left me asking, where's Jake?
(4)John S.
Everything was cooked to perfection! Loved that the waitress asked us about dessert when she took our dinner order since she politely reminded us they r prepared fresh and some of them take 45 minutes to bake so it would b ready when we were done eating, So we ordered an apple strudel and it was OUTSTANDING! It was easily large enough for four people!!!! It was one of the best desserts we've had at a restaurant. They also had a nice selection of desserts which did not require preordering which is great if u r not sure u want dessert. The mushroom flatbread was crisp, light and delicious! The ribs were tender and yummy! Prime rib was wonderful....can't say enough positive things about this special place!
(5)Borat S.
There were a few things I didn't like. First off the wait was terribly long. I tried to call in my name because we had a 30 min drive ahead of us before we could get there. I wasn't very happy when he did finally get a table because it took longer than they had quoted, but once I tried the ribs I thought the wait was well worth it. The beef ribs were very good! I'm glad I waited. The molten chocolate cake was okay. If you like hot chocolate pudding you would like it.
(4)Diana R.
You can't go bad with a place that serves French onion soup and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and I was right! L. Woods is a log cabin restaurant full of thousands of framed photos all along the walls. This place is HUGE but still retains a cozy feeling. Made reservations and came here at 6pm on a Saturday, I'm glad I made reservations, this place was packed and the wait exceeded an hour. We got seated near the bar in a cozy table that was pretty private (where's that Usher song when you need it). The pulled pork sandwich was amazing!! They really made that meat moist and the bbq sauce was right on. I also had the key lime pie for dessert and it was the best I've ever had, I even saved some for the next day and it still tasted fresh!
(5)Laura P.
Good food, good service, awesome prices! I had the pulled pork sandwich and would recommend that. Also save room for dessert!
(4)C B.
I agree, what an awful restaurant to go to to celebrate your daughter choosing which college she's going to in the fall. We were told the wait was an hour, but after 30 minutes the place had thinned out a lot but we were still waiting to get a table. So we decided to sit at a table in the bar. Waited forever for a waiter. So now we are really hungry and everything we wanted to order off the menu was gone. They ran out! How do you have fried chicken as a Sunday special and then u run out of it. The other people in our group thought the portion sizes were small and over priced. Bring Bones BACK!! Don't go here! We should have gone to Wildfire or Maggiano's.
(1)Nick L.
Dry, dry and dry. 6 meals and that was the overwhelming consensus. It reminds me of a Wildfire setup and menu which is no bad thing. That's about where the similarities end. It's close by to the in-laws place so it was somewhere close we could have a nice dinner. There's a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated and have no complaints there. There's also warm bread at the start but after an episode of 20/20 I eyed it skeptically. We didn't order any apps and went straight for the entrees. I was in the mood for fish and chips, wife got a full rack of pork ribs. A steak, some walleye, chicken and beef ribs were also ordered and I got to try a bit of everything. My own choice was disappointing. The fish pieces were small (typical for the US) but the coating was too crumbly. Almost like something from the freezer in a grocery store. The full rack of pork ribs was large but the meat did not fall off the bone, not super fresh I guess, and was dry. The sauce was good but it could not hide the inadequacies of the ribs. The nut crusted walleye was pretty bland and was poor and I would not advise on that. Continuing on the dry theme, the chicken was dry, not the yummy moist and juicy chicken that is so easy to eat. The steak was overpriced for the size of the portion, can't comment on quality or taste because it was ordered medium well although it looked like well done to me. The beef ribs were the tastiest and I would get that if I was to ever come again. The sides were also pretty good, hard to go wrong with a well executed jacket potato with all the trimmings. This place also charges Wildfire like prices which was painful to my wallet especially as it wasn't the greatest meal I've had. i.e. For a lot less, you can get much better.
(2)Amy S.
MMMMMM comfort food...L. woods is the definition of comfort food from staff, to atmosphere, to food. Came here with a big group for dinner and our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the dinner. I also loved the total lodge atmosphere, they really did transform the whole place. We got a variety of things off the menu and everyone seemed to be happy with their choice. I got a bloody mary and their barbecue turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn. Unfortunately for my stomach I ate the entire plate because it was so delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and had good simple flavors. My bloody mary had a really good spicy pickle in it and a smoky flavor which wasn't my favorite but was still good. Something tells me this is one of those places where you could order anything off the menu and you wouldn't be disappointed.
(5)Ed S.
If you're in the mood to be transported to a Wisconsin lake with out the drive then this is your spot. Had a great meal there last night. Every table in the place had either the fried chicken or the ribs. Many had both, including us. Service was fantastic and welcoming. Traditional super club fare and good beer list. Huge place with wood paneling. Very busy.
(5)Ken H.
Took my wife here for her birthday and brought the two kids. Overall a good experience but perhaps my hopes and expectations were too high. We frequent Wisconsin supper clubs often and while the menu, decor and beverages were obviously themed and influenced by Wisconsin/Michigan back-road establishments, I expected more from the Lettuce Entertain You brand. I tried two of their Old Fashioned cocktails, the Wisconsin and the Kentucky. Both were good but not great. You would think a Wisconsin themed restaurant would "nail" Wisconsin's state cocktail. They were off. I have had much better. I had the parmesan cod and my wife the BBQ salmon. Both were very tasty. The kids had the pounded chicken and a cheese burger, also very good. The four of us split the brownie with ice cream. This was underwhelming. With so many outstanding brownie recipes out there you would think they would make something special. It was not. Our bill totaled $130, so its pricey for a supper club but its suburban Chicago location makes this understandable. Prior to visiting I really had thought my review would be 5 stars, so I was disappointed in that but overall an OK experience.
(3)Jackie K.
We frequent L Woods quite a bit! The parmesian encusted filet is to die for! The atmosphere is great, the people are friendly and helpful. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait. Even if you have reservations, the wait time to get a table is tremendous. This place is crowded no matter when you seem to go. We started a habit of ordering for pick-up to avoid the wait, only to have to wait 30 to 40 minutes at the pick-up counter after they give you a pick-up time. Go to L Woods when you have the time.
(4)Nancy L.
Feels like an old school supper club but with some modern twists - take a deeper look and you'll realize it's a bit Disney like in the sense it's almost too well put together around that theme. That's probably because it's owned by Lettuce Entertain You. The bar is decorated just like some old taverns I remember in rural towns so it feels really down home. Dining in the circular booth tables feels cozy and private . The food is straightforward forward American cuisine - well prepared. After coming here I realized that all the Lettuce Entertain you restaurants have pretty much the same chopped salad with blue cheese, bacon, little pasta, tomatoes and mustard vinegarette - which I really like so I'm not really complaining. I loved that they offered a baked sweet potato with a brown sugar pecan butter which was really yummy and a nice change of pace from a regular baked potato. It's a great place for a big group - broad menu that is multi generational friendly. They also have a family style menu for about $29 a person that includes starters, salad, main course, sides and dessert. The servers are well trained and attentive. When we said it was our first time there they brought us a half flatbread order to try. We'll be back when we are in the mood for american rural nostalgia and a predictable experience.
(3)E B.
Armed with $75 in "Lettuce Entertain You" gift cards, no reservation on a late Sunday afternoon, and a slight sense of adventure, I decided to check out this place after attending a matinee musical in the Loop. We arrived at 5:30pm and the place was packed and buzzing!!! I'm a lover of all things nostalgia and found the decor to be interesting and homey, like I was in a real life episode of the 80's TV show, "Newhart." From the pictures on the wall to the lodge feel, I had plenty of atmosphere to soak up while waiting for about 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, wait staff brought a nice warm loaf of onion bread to our table with butter and water. Our waitress asked if we were first timers, greeted us with a "well, welcome..." and proceeded to explain the specials and how all the menu items are freshly prepared. She quickly brought us our cocktails, mine was a cranberry-clementine sangria with pureed fruit on the bottom. A nice blend of tart and sweet and booze. A manager dropped by our table to welcome us for being first time guests and brought a complimentary barbecue chicken and pesto flatbread for us to snack on while we enjoyed a small chopped salad that was large enough for two to share. The evening would be full of small gestures such as this, the accumulation of which, make for a great and memorable dining experience. My "deconstructed" chicken pot pie arrived to my table piping hot. The sauce was creamy and rich but not salty (which I can appreciate). The flaky crust sat atop a stew with plenty of chopped chicken pieces and veggies. My friend had the fried chicken special with mashed potatoes and cole slaw and loved it! The portions were large enough to enjoy some leftovers for lunch the following day. Dessert was an egg-nog custard cream pie with a layer of fudge, vanilla whipped cream and a gingersnap crust. Large enough to share, but you probably wouldn't want to do so. L. Woods is great comfort food, big on taste and approachable. You wouldn't come here expecting a meal carved in to work of art you're reluctant to take a fork to but you won't be at all disappointed about that fact either.
(4)Anto S.
Food is delicious, the steak is to die for, service is fast and professional. Overall a great experience but it is a bit on the expensive side.
(4)AnnaMaria V.
For casual dining this was top notch. All the food was really good. The steaks were cooked perfectly. The ribs lived up to their reputation. The service was really good. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I was with a group of five and we were seated at a big booth in the back. That was cool because we really felt like we were by ourselves, even though the restaurant was packed. Not one person at our table had any complaints & everyone agreed that we would return.
(4)Rachel L.
Pretty good place. Our waitress was so incredibly nice and helpful. I had the brisket sandwich, which was amazing. Also, their fries are addictive. My only complaints: -It's dark in there. Like any moment you think you'll look over an see an illegal poker game just like in the movies type of dark. -There are only two salads on the menu. Don't bring your pet rabbit. They won't like it the lack of greenery on the plates.
(4)Amanda C.
We were heading for greek food and spotted L Woods. DETOUR!!!! My aunt recommended it about a year ago and I'm upset I waited so long to try it. This place is amazing! My husband and I came in for dinner tonight (Friday) around 5:30pm. We were a little worried that there would be a long wait since the parking lot was full. It was the complete opposite. We were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant is huge. It's oldsy style, very cute and warm inside. The place is HUGE. We were brought out a nice soft onion bread and butter. Sat down and looked over the menu. Our waitress, Joann, came over and offered us drinks. We didn't order any and she returned after giving us a few minutes to look over the menu. Joann was very welcoming and very thoroughly explained the specials and any items we had questions about. I was torn between the filet mignon and skirt steak. What I really loved about Joann is that she kinda hinted the choices for us. Sometimes people need a little push for deciding. To start my hubby and I shared a cole slaw. Amazingly delicious cole slaw. I ordered the skirt steak which she said was marinated in soy, pineapple and other spices. Side of sweet potato and sweet corn. Steak was cooked to perfection and spot on flavor wise. HUGE PORTION. The sweet potato was cooked perfectly also and it was served with the most delicious maple & walnut butter. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm. I can't believe I ate everything, this is a dish for two ladies to split. Per our wonderful waitress the hubby ordered the parmesan crusted cod. Uh, yum. I had a few bites. Absolutely delicious. Flavor was amazing. Mashed potatoes were also very rich and yummy. He was very pleased (and boy is he a picky one). I don't even know how we dared ordering dessert after all that food... but we did. We had the 7 layer cake which came with a freshly made whipped cream. The cream complimented the cake really well. Hubby had a cup of coffee and he said it was great... he's a picky guy with coffee also. Joann did not hover too much but came to check on us at the right times. Her over all presence made the experience that much better. Our waters were always full. The whole dinner cost $65 ($80 with tip). You might say it was a bit pricy but you know what?! For the quality of food and service, it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)Andy S.
Food was good. Good atmosphere. Good beer. Didn't entirely blow me away but I would return.
(4)Penny L.
Absolutely fantastic! The ribs are big and meaty, the mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious. Can't say enough good things about this place. It's a lettuce entertain you restaurant which is also nice. It's not in the city so it has a parking lot (score for no parallel parking!), the staff is very accommodating and the food is fresh and wonderful. It's a bit high in price but it's so worth it. Go! You won't regret it!
(5)Chris O.
Great Friday Fish Fry place! A true Wisconsin restaurant except for the prices and the fact that they don't do all you can eat fish. The restaurant really does have that Wisconsin feeling right when you walk in the door. The old fashion is made spot on also.
(4)Suze C.
I have always enjoyed Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, and wanted to try something else LEY offered because of great experiences, esp. at Maggiano's and Wildfire. On a Thursday night, we arrived 12 minutes late due to traffic (five of those minutes in their parking lot). The hostess chastised me for not calling to let them know. I thought she was joking, but no! The waiter was efficient and knowledgeable. My salmon portion was cooked exactly as requested but was nearly inedible because of a high sodium seasoning (I didn't see mention of this on the menu). A skimpy veggie side - a baked potato, was not cooked through. I had two classic cocktails, which did not have the expected flavor and almost no alcohol. Never had a meal so disappointing at this price point. Husband ate ribs and was disappointed as well, and he isn't very picky!
(2)Sharee M.
We going to have a good time! Today my office had our annual Christmas party at L. Woods. I have been hearing about this great place and their food for months, so I was ready for a great time with great food! First up was the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread and Mushroom Flatbread.I loved the Oven Dried Tomato Flatbread! Great favor, crispy, yummy! Our table had three servings of this! Next was the L. Woods Chopped Salad and L. Woods Orchard Salad. I (and the table) preferred the L. Woods Chopped Salad, as its mix of salad, noodles, cheese and other toppings was divine! We all had seconds on this salad. For entrees, BBQ Baby Back Ribs were served....how yummy were they! On point for being flavorful, moist, tender! Next was the Parmesan Crusted Whitefish, which was great overall. Side dished were non other than the Mashed Potatoes. Let's stop for a minute and talk about these potatoes. Just the most yummy side item I have ever tasted. Our table had about 10 dishes on this alone....they were just too good. I do know what is in them, but DO NOT skip out on the mashed potatoes here; it's just not wise on your part. ...Moving on. I did not care for the desserts being served today. Gooey Chocolate Cake did not have much of favor to me and I stop eating it after one bit. I do not like Key Lime. However, L. Wood redeemed it's self with a sugar cookie they give to us at the end of dinner, which was great! Our office had a great time in the back room. The place was busy overall, but you could not tell in our area. The service was great and prompt. Our food was great and hot. Our glasses were always filled timely. We had a great time and I could not see myself not stopping by L.Woods again (esp for mashed potatoes!
(5)Michael H.
Great baby back ribs! Old fashioned drinks. Wisconsin memories. Half priced wine bottles on Thursday nights. Dark north woods decor with hundreds of photos. Really liked this place. Borders on 5 stars, but service kind of slow and missing a gourmet touch that would put it over the top. I would definitely return for those melt in the mouth tender ribs, no knife needed. BBQ sauce also delicious. If you grew up in Wisconsin (like I did), this place will bring a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye.
(4)Nancy W.
I've loved this restaurant forever. I mostly have ribs when I come here. Today we finally tried their German apple strudel & it was AMAZING. I don't think they make anything that isn't excellent
(5)Nats A.
L woods has always been a staple in Lincolnwood (used to be called Bones before), mostly because they are part of the Lettuce entertain you club. Every Christmas we always get the LEUC gift card from relatives, and every year we go to the exact same place (even though there are more restaurants that participate in this) : L Woods. Every time we go there we ALWAYS and i mean its mandatory that we order the CHOP SALAD. The chop salad is phenomenal. Probably the best one I have had in a long time (right next to portillo's chop salad). When we order we always get the larger size which feeds four people comfortably as an appetizer. I can eat a huge one all to myself and call it a meal, but I am forced to share. :( Like I have said previous, we have been coming here for a long time, and honestly I can't find one thing to argue about. I have had anything from the queen cut steak on the menu to the pulled pork sandwich. Everything was delicious. However, it get's extremely busy on the weekends so make sure you make a reservation. Also some of the tables in the restaurant are closely joined with the next table. In some parts of the restaurant it makes you feel like your breathing down someones neck.
(4)Corey D.
I don't think I can count the number of times I have been to L Woods. My history there dates back to when the place was called Bones and some awesome changes occurred when it switched over. This 5 star review isn't based on a recent trip (which was a actually a little dicey), but rather on years of awesome experiences in a laid back and comfortable setting. Cesar salad, fried onion strings, skirt steak with vegetable of the day and either the ooey gooey chocolate cake or the apple strudel - that's the way I've been ordering since day one. For me L Woods (like most Lettuce concepts) is a place where you can get an awesome meal, time and time again because there is a level of consistency a la chain restaurants but with down home, locally grown concepts that offer more warmth and charm than a chain. Service is always stellar, the atmosphere there is killer if you dig the leather booth, wood cabin sort of feel and the fact that I see the same staff there year to year speaks to how the place is run. Sure the menu hasn't gone through much change since the place opened, but when you like what you like why stray? Know Before You Go: Recently dessert can be hit or miss, chocolate hasn't been gooey and strudel has soft/bland outside. Both the chocolate and the apple take 45 minutes to bake, so order when you sit down.
(5)Moni K.
Decided to come here for Easter Sunday with my family. The special menu was weak. Here is what I ordered: Calamari - Very good tomato bisque - excellent wedge salad- literally a cut wedge of salad head with bacon bits on top, Not even shredded or cut into smaller pieces. Just a wedge of salad head - lazy!!! Chicken ciabatta very bland, tasteless and the chicken was dry glass of house wine well priced $5 My husband had the chicken. sausage platter, pork This was the best of all the food but full of fat and grease thus not a very healthy option. My dad had green beans and grilled trout. Just OK This again brings me back to my chicken ciabatta--- how can you make this an Easter Special and serve it so dry. It it obvious they do not taste their own food.
(3)Elina S.
L Woods is a restaurant located right next to where my grandpa lives so we decided to try something different and take him out for dinner. When we got in around 5pm on a Sunday night it was pretty empty but with in a few hours, the place got pretty busy so we figured it must be good. From the pictures, it had that Wildfire like feel but in reality it was much more casual than a Wildfire. The wooden walls, some leather booths, dim lighting, it was a very relaxed environment which would be perfect for a winter snow day! But I have to say, it is really dark inside, too dark for my grandpa to see so keep that in mind when bringing your elders. Now onto the important stuff, the food. The onion bread that they give you was just not good, ours felt a little stale like it was warmed up from the night before so I was not a big fan of it. They gave us a complimentary flat bread since it was our first time but I also did not enjoy it. It was way too thin and flakey and the pieces of meat on it were just blah so I'm happy I never ordered it. Than we got their creamed spinach, which is their specialty and it was pretty good, not a large portion but tasty nonetheless. For our entree we ordered their baby back ribs and they're not cheap for a full slab for $26 but we gobbled them right up. My hubby swears they are the best he ever had, but I thought they were just good and I would get them again. Okay, so this is where I kinda got annoyed. Before when we placed our order I said we will have the ribs and then get some kind of dessert and our server didn't say anything. When we were done with the ribs, I told her I would like to order their apple strudel and she said "Oh, it takes 45 minutes to bake so you will have to wait that long." Kind of a bummer, and I wish she told us earlier since I mentioned that we would get dessert and since we don't work there how would we know that it takes that long. After about a half hour wait, it arrived hot and steamy. It was delicious, full of apples, great cinnamon flavor, definitely worth waiting for. So my overall thoughts on L Woods is that it is just okay, nothing wowed me but there are definitely some tasty options on the menu, and our server did do a good job throughout the meal minus her forgetting to let us know about the apple strudel, so I may be back just to get that strudel and those ribs for carryout!
(3)Lauren G.
Delicious food and great service! Don't expect to just walk in on a weekend, though--it gets packed! Jason E was our server and he was wonderfully attentive and knew the menu well enough to make great suggestions. The gluten free menu had enough options to keep me happy. They have gf buns and don't list their sides on the gf menu but there are gf sides available.
(5)Will B.
Great ribs, steak, and mashed potatoes!
(5)Jimmy M.
Food, service, manager and parking are awesome. Consistently a great time out with my family. Highly recommended.
(5)Raul B.
Wow talk about an old school family restaurant, this is pretty much it. L Woods totally reminds me of the family style restaurants my parents used to take me too when I was a kid. I went on a sunday so of course I had to get the their special fried chicken dinner. It's basically a half a chicken with a side of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. The chicken was excellent with a thick coating and was definitely to much for me to finish. The mashed potatoes were also very good. I was looking around to see what other people were ordering and it seems a lot of people were getting the ribs so maybe next time I"ll try that. The service was great and fast even though they were very busy. The decor was very old school with that 50s pine lodge feel. I will have to go back again and try out their other menu items which all seemed delicious.
(4)Luckia A.
I ordered delivery, it's a lazy day for me. I Ordered from this place because I wanted a good beef brisket sandwich. Let me tell you, it was amazing! Now on the ordering experience. Right off the bat, the told me that delivery could take up to 70 mins, it only took 45 so that a super plus. I have good allergies and the took the time to look everything up, a MAYJOR, plus in my book! They made a note for my specifications and I'm super grateful, anytime I can't avoid taking Benadryl like they are tic tacs is great for me! On to the food. Not what I was expecting, but still really good. The beef brisket was cut into pieces, which I usually don't like, but it was amazing! The brisket was smothered in this BBQ sauce that was smokey and sweet and the portion was huge. I only ate half of it! The Coleslaw had a great taste and texture. The french fries where delicious even though they were soggy, which normally I wouldn't touch, but again I ordered delivery so it was acceptable and DELICIOUS! Finally! DESSERT! The apple strudel was AAAMAZZINGGGGGGG!!!!! I cannot wait to take my bf to this place!!! Also, decently priced and great portions!!!!! TRY IT!!!
(5)Lawrence C.
Outstanding is all I have to say. Never been here and went with our neighbors for the Fish Fry. Walleye appetizer was to die for, fish fry was also to die for and the half rack of ribs I had was outstanding. We will certainly be back.
(4)Frankie R.
I was disappointed in my baby back ribs. They brought them out and they were a a little over-cooked. I was surprised that they would even serve it like that, but (1) figured the cooks knew what they were doing and (2) I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had. I also ordred mac & cheese for my daughters and neither one of them liked it, so I had my wife taste it and she said it tasted bitter. In all, I thought the place could've been better.
(2)William V.
I enjoyed this place and will definitely return. The barbecue and fresh fish selection are very good, and the the service is great. I also like the casual, friendly atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable, too.
(4)Dave O.
Not enough restaurants like this. Literally. When we arrived there were people everywhere waiting for a table. In the foyer, bar, parking lot. Usually a sign of good food and that held true in this case. Dutifully put our name in and hung out in the bar. Dim lighting, wood paneling, old-school feel, and Schlitz was on tap, but they also had a decent selection of micro-brews. Cold beer in hand, the wait wasn't terrible and our group got to eyeball what people were eating. The ribs and fried chicken seemed popular and once seated that is exactly what our table got, along with one parmesean-crusted filet. Nothing green or vegetable-like hit our table all night, though they did offer a tableside chopped salad. That fried chicken was better than good. Juicy but not greasy, even the big chicken breast was perfectly cooked. I'd go back for that dish. I regret not trying the ribs but everyone said they were excellent. Looks like they don't really need my recommendation but for what it's worth: 4 stars!
(4)Melanie S.
L Woods has always been a reliable, consistent restaurant. My family has been coming here since it was "Bones", back in the 70s. The atmosphere is a "faux" Wisconsin supper club, with wood paneling and fish plastered on the wall. Not a big fan of the decor, but I can live with it. As others have mentioned, this place is full of older people - my mom, who's no spring chicken herself, commented that she'd never seen so many walkers per square foot in her life, with the exception of a nursing home or a bingo game. The food is decent and there's enough of a variety that everyone in your party will find something - there's salads, barbecue items, fish, burgers, sandwiches, you name it. This is why it's such a destination for group dining. There are always large parties here. In fact, the last time I was here, the entire table next to us got ribs and when the server went to check on them, they all smiled with their orange faces and meat in their teeth. It was kinda gross, come to think of it. Watching people eat ribs will convince even the strongest of doubters that we evolved from primates. The service is always pleasant and might I add, PATIENT. With an older clientele, it's a given that service has to be adjusted accordingly, and the servers at L Woods always go above and beyond. Bottom line: L Woods serves up standard, American fare, with reasonable prices, ample portions, and good service. It's always consistently consistent. Sometimes that's all you're looking for in a restaurant, and this place is just that.
(4)Frank T.
-Would've got 5 stars but the Chinese food is disappointing and I feel really unnecessary -The tradition menu is outstanding we order it at least twice a week. -Flat breads A+ -Burgers A+ -Ribs A+ -BBQ Chicken A+ - Carry out staff is great except for one
(4)Diablo L.
Love the ribs here,very tender, also the creamed spinach is very good and went very well with my ribs..
(3)Ronald K.
One of the best places to dine in all of Chicago. The baby back ribs are soooo tasty, try em once and you will be going back to L Woods over and over again.. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy. A delicious chopped steak, incredible flavor, moist juicy and tender. No one makes it better, hmm that can be said for the ribs as well....The waitress and waiter staff are top notch, simply great. Nice décor and bar as well.
(5)Nicole S.
I know this is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant which might make you think chain and less authentic but they nailed it. This is all that is wonderful and cliche of a 60's supper club including the well poured martinis and the jalapeno bacon cheese and Ritz crackers they passed around in the bar area while waiting for a table. I could have eaten a whole tray of those. My steak was perfect, the sides were fantastic. The noise level was perfect and the service was on point. Their wine list included plenty of decent varietals that were both tasty and well priced ie you aren't paying $75 for a bottle of Boones Farm. My only complaint (I wasn't alone in this) was the main dining room was really chilly for a Saturday night in December. Like they had the AC going cool, not like they just had the thermostat low. I wrapped up in my scarf and toughed it out and skipped desert in lieu of my fireplace at home. But there were plenty of other ladies who asked to move due to the chill in the air. Not sure if that's apart of the supper club theme that they are going for. But minus that I'd go again any day I'm craving a steak and martini. I'll just be sure to bring my mittens.
(4)ben w.
I had dinner here last night, wonderful food. This place reminded me of places I would go 30 years ago with my parents, dark, easy going and modestly decorated. Unlike those places the food here is up to modern day standards for sure. Chopped salad was a great way to start. I got the half chicken half slab dinner, it was excellent, but my father in law got the beef ribs and they looked amazing. I have had beef ribs before, good but kind of greasy. Not these, they were cooked just right. Great food, great portions and kid friendly. Hit it!
(5)Debbie S.
I grew up in Wisconsin and was always a fan of the up north Supper Clubs that I used to frequent as a child. L Woods reminds me of those places -- just with better food. If you plan on eating here at any reasonable dinner hour (i.e. between 7-9), you should make a reservation. Now that we have a little one at home, we tend to go at 5 or 5:30 -- and yet, I continue to make reservations. L. Woods has a large menu. Every time I look at it though, I laugh, because on the "Lighter Fare", a hamburger and fries is listed. Now I love to eat with the best of them...but I would never consider a hamburger lighter fare. Anyway...the burgers are good, the flatbreads are good, the salads are good...but I always save room for the special warm chocolate cake that you have to order when you order your dinner because it takes about 40 minutes to make. The cake oozes out chocolate (and you get a whole cake -- this is definitely a dessert for the table) and it comes with a large side of homemade whipped cream. We always end up taking most of it home...and it's still really good the next day. L. Woods is a great option if you have a bigger group or a group where everyone has different tastes --because there is something on the menu for everyone. Children are welcomed here (which can make it a bit loud sometimes) but it's a nice option for a large family meal that is reasonably priced. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Risto D.
The only negative thing I can say about this place is the cold butter that they bring with the warm bread roll as soon as they sat you down. a room temperature butter would be a much better option.
(4)Johanna C.
This place gets very busy most nights, so I recommend getting a reservation. I came here with a group of six, and even though we had a reservation, we still waited for 5-10 minutes. Once we were seated though, we had a great time! It is a very large restaurant, with a great atmosphere and friendly and helpful service. Will definitely be back here! The food: Pulled Pork Sandwich- I ordered this and really loved it. I have had many pulled pork sandwhich and this was juicy and held up to some of the best that I've had. Baked Mac and Cheese- Shared this with my sister, and clearly it was one of their specialties. Would definitely order it again whenever I return. Ribs- My husband ordered these and I tried some. They were very tasty and my husband gave them his stamp of approval.
(4)Joe K.
Great great ribs. Great vibe. My dad and I really enjoyed our dinner.
(4)Jim E.
Can't recommend this place enough!! The ribs, steak, and prime rib are the best. Don't forget to order an apple burrito when you order. ( apple strudel )
(5)Carol L.
Looked like a bar from the outside but the foods are awesome. I LOVED their beef ribs, the best I had so far. Everything is good there, make sure you order the apple strudel for dessert, each one is freshly baked. I haven't had anything that have been disppointing... I wish it's a little closer to where I live and this restaurant is highly recommended if you're in the Lincolnwood area.
(5)Jinx T.
An Easy Place To Be L. Woods is an excellent restaurant. The design is a throwback to another era - and this enhances the experience - giving the place a whimsical cool. Food is standard American fare - chopped salad - steaks - burgers - ribs - pot roast - fried chicken - fish - mashed potatoes - green vegetables. You get the idea. I've eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. The fish is always excellent - the almond crusted walleye has become a favorite, along with the cod. Desserts are portioned large - best to share. You'll find things like a gold brick sundae, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and fruit crumbles with ice cream. One thing the restaurant suffers from in is a rather average and limited wine list. However the wines are decent enough and priced well. Service is great too. Eat here! You will not be disappointed and want to return again soon. Highly Recommended!
(4)Luke S.
I went here for the first time since I was 17 and I now wonder why it took me 10 years to come back here! This place is phenomenal and it's country style cooking. They have all of the comfort food that your heart desires. My family and I came here for our Easter feast and we ordered family style. We went with the chopped salad, fried chicken, dry seasoned ribs, and a steak. They were all cooked to perfection and popping with flavor. As sad as it is I think my favorite was the fried chicken. Every bite was oozing with flavor. I felt like I was on an episode of man vs. food. Do the Melman's ever do it wrong?
(5)Sonia S.
Very good food. I had the half slab of beef ribs and the half chicken, the day before Christmas. I heard that L. Woods had great gluten-free rolls and my busboy went out of his was to get them for me. The ribs were outstanding; meaty, tender, and with a delicious bbq sauce that was both sweet and tangy. Now, unfortunately I am going to report on what I didn't like. I ordered roasted carrots and although they were good, they were served cold. I could not believe it! The chicken could have been cooked for a longer period of time. Also, my waitress forgot to bring me my coke and after she did, when my meal was halfway eaten, she did not offer me a free refill. I've been to other Lettuce Entertain You establishments and each one did offer me a free refill of pop. I will definitely return because I love all the LEYE restaurants.
(4)Mariam K.
I LOVE L Woods! I'm not much of a meat eater, well I love burgers... but that's usually where I draw the line, I went there a couple of days ago for the first time and fell in love with it! We went in without making reservations on a Friday night.. so of course, there was a 45 minute wait (we only ended up having to wait about 20 minutes).. I was starving but decided to stick around anyway... and I'm glad I did! We got served bread while we were waiting on our food, which was amazing, I love places that give you something to snack on while you're waiting for your food! We ordered beef brisket nachos... which were the best tasting nachos I've ever had! For my main course I ordered beef ribs... I was a bit hesitant because it seemed a bit too messy for me but I read so much about the ribs that I was dying to try them. Let me just tell you.. the were the best ribs EVER... I wasn't even worried about how messy and dirty my fingers were! LOVED LOVED LOVED the taste, seasoning, and texture of it! Unfortunately I ate too much and couldn't order any dessert... but I'll definitely be back soon!
(5)Allison C.
We went here for my mom's birthday dinner. It's an old-school, northwoods-style joint with wood paneling, fish and antlers on the wall, and maroon booths, very kitsch. The portions are HUGE! I had mahogany chicken, which was juicy and nicely spiced. My dad had beef ribs, which looked like a meal fit for Barney Rubble. My husband, brother, and granny had buttermilk battered fried chicken. It was very good, not with quite the same seasonings that we enjoy at our favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, but still very good. For dessert, they brought out a WHOLE apple strudel and a WHOLE chocolate volcano cake. The volcano cake is a chocolate orgasm in your mouth. The melty warm chocolate bursts in your mouth. The strudel was nice and flaky. Excellent liquor and beer selection. It's not far from the city, we would come back.
(5)Mne M.
I love loveeee this place service is always very good and attentive nice and clean. They have the best Ribs when I eat light I usually get the tomatoe bisque soup which is soooo good and the Chicken Cesar salad with that I always order the small salad because the large is really big and could feed like 3 people. They also have really good wings. Yummmm I can't wait to go there again!!!
(5)Nancy H.
Whoa. How come I hadn't heard about this place? Our party of 4 made reservations here on a Sunday night, and we were taken promptly. This place was a madhouse of happy families and cheerful waiters. I was told this is typical and is the reason why you need to make reservations. The second thing you ought to know is that portions are LARGE, and the menu is very meat-oriented. We shared the chopped salad, some type of flatbread, and I couldn't even finish half of my main entree after that. Two people can share a meal because all entrees comes with fries or a giant baked potato that is huge enough to share also. The ribs are fantastic. Full slabs are $23. The beef ribs are like oh-my-god. Have you ever seen beef ribs?? 1 rib was almost the size of my forearm. I had a burger ($10), and I couldn't even finish half of it because I was too happy enjoying the fries and over sized baked potato. Everything was cooked perfectly. We ended our meal with 1 giant slice of delicious chocolate cake, and I was ready to be rolled out of there. Seriously, don't come here if you're on a diet. Takeaways: 1) Make reservations 2) Portions are large 3) Wear fat pants
(4)Melissa K.
What a great place! Very friendly service and really great food. Rids were the best I have had since Memphis! Just that the parking lot sucks! Don't let that stop you from having a really great meal!
(5)Mike G.
Ordered delivery from here today. First I got a phone call telling me their menu was not up to date on GrubHub so they'd have to charge me more. Then when the food got here it was not the right order on 2 of the items and everything was cold and had been misshandled so it was messy inside the containers. All this after a $5.00 Delivery charge + Tip The flat bread was very disappointing. It is THIN THIN THIN. As in fall apart when you pick it up. All the cheese on our slid to about two pieces and left the rest a dry pesto covered mess. The second flat bread was mushroom instead of oven-dried tomato. So we didn't both eating it. Before ordering we called to confirm the Soup of the Day and were told it was harvest cheddar. When the order arrived it was some kind of vegetable soup. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was extremely wet and split open from transit. The Roasted Mahogany chicken did not come on chibata bread as advertised but on a toasted and soggied bun. Finally. The friest I got with my sandwich were awesome. Not enough to make up for all the other horrible things. But good none the less. Will NEVER order from or dine out here again.
(1)Carol K.
Driving in a blustery winter snowstorm, I once again came across L Woods (this place must call out to me in January as I have never been here in any of the Summer months) Well on this snowy, Friday night- this place was hopping! Not a spot in the lot to park in (there is plenty of free parking on the street) and a line out the door for a table. Good thing we were fine eating and drinking at the bar. Service was good and the food was even better. I had a a dinner salad and then split the burger and a baked potato with my friend. The burger came topped with grilled onions, tomato, lettuce and some kind of "special sauce" that was quite tasty. Given it's location, L Woods is never going to be a frequent destination for me. It's almost like driving to Wisconsin (and the ambiance reminds me of the supper clubs up there) But judging by all the people there on this snowy night- they have quite the following . . . .even without me!
(4)Rob W.
I give a place 4 or 5 stars if I definitely plan or want to go back. This place - I would, but I'm not going to make a big effort. It's OK - I just don't understand why people think the food is sooooooo great. It was very average to me. We were seated fairly promptly and within a reasonable time of our reservation - which was good given that my mom was with us and can't stand and wait too long anymore. The waiter asked us if it was our first time there, and after we told him it was, he brought us a complementary flatbread appetizer, nice touch! The service was very good and attentive - kudos on that. I ordered the pot roast (which was the evening's special) and it was fair at best. Other than the carrots that came with it, there wasn't much to rant or rave about. The portionwas small - average and the presentation was very lackluster. I also ordered the mac and cheese as it looked like it might be good -0 but it was nothing special at all. In fact, I had to send it back to get it heated up - part of it was actually cold. The rest of my family was OK with their orders - my brother ordered ribs and he said they were ok - but not as good as another place where he's had them that doesn't specialize in BBQ to the extent that L. Woods does. The waiter also brougfht out a small dish of ice cream with toppings to me for my birthday - another nice touch.Based on the service / friendliness of the place, I'd like to give it 4 stars - but the food just won't let me. Just too mediocre. I'm glad I tried L. Woods to see what the bustle was about - just wish I left there knowing why there is one.
(3)Fred F.
excellent meatloaf and generally well prepared food at reasonable prices. usually very busy so don't expect to breeze in and out but certainly worth the short wait.
(4)Rhonda G.
Have you ever been to a small town and they only have one "nice" restaurant in the entire town? On a Friday night you can literally find the whole town at that one place with the family in tow. This place definitely had that feel about it. The dining room was big and casual and seemingly family friendly. Rustic, if you Will. Is this your first time here? yes Well here's one of our signature flat-bread appetizers as a welcome to L. Woods. Why, thank you. It was a BBQ chicken pesto. In my mind those flavors don't mesh well but they made it work. A lovely "recession special" came in the form of a $10 bottle of wine supposedly hand picked by Alpana Singh (from Check Please and a well known Sommelier) I was pretty full after the flat bread and basket of bread they brought out but how tacky would it be to just eat the free stuff and leave? So I ordered an awesome turkey burger. How awesome? Well it ranks in my top 5 ! I got a bake potato side and it came out with little sides of all the fixins'. I also had the opportunity to try my bf's mashed potatoes...melt in your mouth fantastic and totally unhealthy! I'm digging the to-go bag for half finished bottles of wine. No more chugging the remains and leaving drunk...unless that is your goal of course. We got a slice of key lime pie to enjoy at home later and it was just OK. A bit overkill on the lime flavor but the crust was tasty.
(5)Edward W.
Very popular and always crowded. Great decor! Upscale northwoods supper club experience. It's a fun dining experience. Service is always good and the food is consistently very good. I like the ribs here. I get them well done. Desserts good also.
(4)t. o.
What a wonderful experience. My wife chose L Woods for our 5th wedding anniversary; we've driven by it many times, and it seemed to do great business. It looked like it would have a unique, old school vibe, and considering the 5th is the "wood anniversary"... The inside was even better than out - antler chandeliers, etc (place looks extra authentic in Hipstamatic photos on your iPhone.) She'd mentioned in a note that accompanied our reservation request that it was our anniversary, and why we'd chosen them. Explaining our short wait, they said they'd reserved a huge corner booth for us, that could have sat 8 on this incredibly busy Friday night; considering the decor, we felt like Frank and Ava circa 1962 or something, with a great view of the main dining room. Our waiter, Damian, was awesome, funny, and attentive. The manager, Terry, came by a number of times to congratulate us and check on how we were liking everything. Who does this anymore? Cocktails were great - knock you on your ass Manhattans, and great specialty Old Fashions. We started with the chop salad, which was fresh and well prepared. The small is great for two or three. Wife especially chose L Woods for the fried lake perch (her childhood fave, and increasingly rare), which came with house-made fries, and obviously freshly prepared tartar sauce. Great batter, and cooked to perfection. I love whitefish, which I was unfamiliar with until moving to Chicago a few years ago. This was the best I've had - even better than Shaw's, which I've found has about the best old-school fish and sea food in town. Great cream sauce - not too heavy. I had to get the creamed spinach, a favorite from my childhood that NO ONE seems to know how to make decently anymore. It was, like everything else, cooked to perfection. Not overdone - still fresh seeming, and delicious. Of course we had to try the apple strudel - not only was it delicious, but they also brought out a piece of their banana cream pie with a candle, both of them comped to us. Are you kidding me? Both were great, especially slathered in the extra caramel sauce provided. Of course we tipped in kind, and are guaranteed to return, with friends. Prices are on the high end of moderate, but worth it to have what promises to be predictably delicious food. We simply had a fantastic meal, and memorable special occasion.
(5)Jessica N.
Can I say wow! the food is great! Especially the BBQ. Great service as well! And the last time we were given a complimentary appetizer. I do have to say that the wait can be quite long though. If you're in a time crunch or really hungry..this isn't the place. The first time I waited about 40 minutes. We were so close to leaving but we stuck it out since I had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card that I had to use. The second time wasnt too bad but still about a 15 minute wait. Overall I give this place a 4. Not too shabby for what's in that area!
(4)Monica H.
Busy place! Always a good place for meat lovers (Sat prime rib, beef ribs), and my spicy, crusted tilapia was a nice treat. You can't leave a Lettuce restaurant hungry with the portion sizes, but if the vege of the day is Brussel sprouts with pear and caramelized onion do save room. Best to go with a group to share sides and desserts.
(3)Michael H.
Really cool old "Supper Club" just on the outskirts of the City!! Basically an old Inn that was taken over by Lettuce many years ago... Inside, It's Dark/ Wood Paneling/Northwoods Trinkets/ And many photos on the walls! Place is HUGE with at least 4 dining rooms as well as a large bar, also ALWAYS Busy. The food is very good with the "Walleye Bites" Appetizer a MUST TRY ITEM!! The rest of the menu is Steak and Fish heavy with the "Parmesan Crusted Skirt Steak" a standout. The staff is what really makes this place/ The bartenders are simply amazing! One of them has even been there 45 years... Also the Managers/Owners are always on hand to make sure things are Run RIGHT!! GTFJD
(4)Matt P.
Skirt steak is to die for. Parmesan and Peppercorn crusted
(5)matt w.
Went for lunch at 130pm on a Saturday. It was pretty busy but we got a table right away. 18 minutes later we still had not see our waitress. We considered just leaving or going up to the bar to drink and dine when i smiled at a waitress in hopes she would be ours.. she wasn't, but she obliged and took our drink order anyway. Finally our waitress appeared and dove right in with some cockney, sorry excuse for banter type server BS.. we had some questions on the menu and she pretended to know what she was talking about but it was obvious she didn't.. we needed a minute to decipher ( which was a mistake on our part.. ). 5-10 mins later and still no sign of the server, we pleaded with the blond server to take our food order.. again she obliged but you could tell she wasn't stoked about picking up the slack for someone else. Anyway, I hate bad service, i just really hate it... and sitting there finished with a lackluster meal and empty drinks for 10 minutes during lunch is just unacceptable. We literally spent just under 2 hours there just for lunch ( 1 drink for me and 2 for my friend.. 2 hours! ). So - Service is 2 stars only because of the nice blond server that saved our asses The reason they get a little boost in total stardom is due to the food and drinks being decent. The nachos with beef roast on them are not great, its like diced up beef roast ( not like nice big shaved off chunks like you would expect ) The beef ribs were good but my buddy is really not picky.. I had the chicken pot pie, it was a 3/5. not great but not bad. overall L. Woods barely squeaks by with 3 stars.
(3)Jacob J.
White linen tablecloth, proper heavy flatware for cutting into meat, smoky old rich man like interior. I came for the meat, ribs that is. On the expensive side but better than average. Not something I'd go out of my way for often, but it appeals to many. L Woods has been around for a long time, before them was "Bones" and I loved the food of that time. A couple that is here for dinner and drinks could easily expect a bill of around sixty to seventy dollars. It's an understatement to say that they are always busy, best to call ahead.
(4)Dan D.
This place is a hand's down favorite of mine for a long time. Basically anything you order off the menu is bound to be tasty, filling, and amazing. Of course, there are some exceptions - aka, ones that are OUT OF THIS WORLD fantastic that you have to try once before dying (or leaving the restaurant lol).... and here is that list. 1. Tomato Bisque soup - this tasty little guy is the cheaper items on the whole menu ($3.25 cup / $4.25 bowl). But I'd gladly pay $10 because it is that good. Unlike the cafeteria style you had back in school (tastes like spaghettio's), L. Wood's has a sweet zing that is very creamy. The tomatoes really come out in the soup. Quite frankly, it's heaven in a soup. 2. Chopped Salad - signature item. ($9.99 small / $13.99 large for 4 people). Loaded with blue cheese, noodles, light and dark lettuce, carrots, plus just the right amount of their house dressing. The best salad dressing this side of the Mississippi! 3. BBQ ribs ($25.99 full slab) - these literally fall off the bone. Yup, that tender. Put away that knife and fork, because you won't be needing them here. 4. Veggie Burger - very good, very nice for a veggie burger. Handmade here, not prepackaged, reheated frozen ones... so definitely a big plus! And it is tasty as heck for the days you don't want meat, and for the non-meat eaters in our lives. And LASTLY, 5. Gooey Chocolate Cake ($10.99) - you order this at the start of your meal because it takes 45 minutes to bake. Each one is baked to order too! It comes to your table with a nice crispy outer shell, topped with whipped cream. But as you cut into it with a fork, the gooey cake is revealed. Chocolate to the extreme. A fat kid's paradise on a plate (I know because of experience). Cheers!
(4)Megan G.
I've driven past L Woods for years and never given it much thought. It's tucked away in a strange little corner of Lincolnwood between a pool and a bank. When a friend suggested it for recent girl's dinner (close to her house, on the way home from work for me) I figured it was a better alternative that our other suburban mall choices. When I pulled into the L Woods parking lot at 6 on a Wednesday I was shocked - it was completely packed. If I can offer one piece of L Woods advice it's this: make reservations. No matter when you're going, even if you think you don't need them - make reservations. Fortunately my friend had done so on a whim - otherwise they were running at waits for 45 minutes to an hour for tables of 2. The inside of L Woods is probably nostalgic for any kid whose family forced them to take summer vacations in the Wisconsin wilderness. Lots of stuffed fish on the paneled walls (including a Northern Pike I identified as being identical to the one in my grandparents' living room). The place had a pleasant buzz, but it wasn't so loud I couldn't hear my friend. I opted for the veggie burger and a cup of corn chowder to start. The chowder was quite good, but the veggie burger was merely okay. It largely lacked flavor (and yes, veggie burgers CAN have flavor) and was extremely mushy - it fell completely apart and had to be eaten with a fork. My friend had a coupon that made our final bill incredibly reasonable but overall I wasn't that impressed. I think next time we'll meet at Cheesecake Factory.
(3)Rachel H.
Holy Crap. This place should be called " Thisiswhyyourefat.com Restaurant". Maybe they got a little out of hand with the log cabin lodge look and thought Paul Bunyan was comin' to supper? I do not know, but it took me three days to eat my dinner. Why on earth? Anyway, I shall regale you with my tall (fat) tale. I showed up here with some LEYE gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket, and hunger burning a hole in my belly. I started out with a Jack and Cherry Coke which is actually on the menu (!) and the french onion soup. Now, I could have been done after the soup, quite honestly. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach, but I plowed onward and ordered the fried chicken special. Meanwhile, having heard it was our first time, the manager stopped by with a complimentary BBQ chicken flatbread to enhance the experience. Oh, it did. When my chicken came, I gasped. It was a pile of chicken so huge, and full of pieces so huge, I was a little terrified. Then I saw the baked potato. It was the size of Mr Potatohead. Why did they have to kill him? Why????? I made it through some of the potato (RIP) and one chicken thigh. The rest had to come home with me. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, I laughed in her face. I'll be back to try more huge entrees which will very economically feed me for several days. Also, there's "wood" in the name which is obviously my newest theme.
(4)Jonathan C.
I don't know how I didn't review this restaurant before. My dad has been taking me to this joint back when it was called Bones. And he was going there back when it had a different name. Its been quite a while since I went there, but its always exactly what you'd expect. Good old man supper club style food, and way way way too much of it. Last time I went there, I split the beef ribs with my wife while my dad had a brisket sandwich and his HS buddy had some bbq beef sandwich. On a side note, I always like whiskey... but when I turned 21 in college and came back home, there was a time when my parents took me here. Being 21 and at this joint, I needed a stiff drink. I decided to go for a Rusty Nail and discovered the amazing mixed drink of whiskey and whiskey on the rocks.
(4)Natalie S.
My husband and I agreed that we need to dine out in the burbs more often because of the big ass, free parking lots. They are fantastic. However... our dining experience was just about... meh. The highlights: The chopped salad. Delicious. I wish there was some egg in there but, oh well. Creamed spinach was yum. Mac and cheese was super cheesy and tasty. The cons: It's supposed to be a steakhouse... so I ordered beef. I got the peppered sirloin tips, rare. I suspect it came out of the kitchen rare but became medium after sitting under a heat lamp for 10 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I hate, hate, hate sending food back to the kitchen but my husband and I are on a budget and try not to eat out often. I don't want to waste $24 on steak I didn't even enjoy. So I sent it back. I got a piping hot, rare steak back. My husband and our friend both very much enjoyed their meals. But then again, they're good eaters. I had someone ask me when I talked about L. Woods, "how can you complain and only give it 3 stars because you ordered something and eventually got a delicious meal?". Because I just don't think I should ever have to send food back to get it the way I ordered it.
(3)Amy G.
We've been there three times and the other two times the food was great, but last night I had the sirloin and it was HORRIBLE. I mean, pretty much inedible. It was all chopped up and almost like a meatloaf consistency - that wouldn't even have been terrible except it was also burnt. Badly. But it seems like that's just the way it's cooked because a woman at the table next to us got it as well and my husband overheard her saying hers was terrible too. According to reviews on here the skirt steak is good and just a few dollars more. Go with that instead. Or the ribs. Or the cod. Really, anything but that awful sirloin.
(3)Caroline A.
Their cocktails and wines are awful. You have been warned. However the food... fantastic. Get the Sesame Crusted Tilapia and Pork Ribs. I am also a big fan of their Calamari. Confession: I had some of their fries. I'm still feeling guilty about that one, but it was worth it!
(4)Brit M.
I started with a wow (thanks to how accommodating they were last minute on Mother's day) and ended with a "foot down never coming back again" - unless I am REAL hungry and in Lincolnwood. Everything was hit or miss. We sat down, it was a little drafty (we mentioned it) and we had an extremely pushy server (Raulberto). I've worked in the restaurant biz, so I know how hectic Mother's day can be... but our time here was terrible. We ordered the apple salad (delicious) as a starter. Now on to the complaints. Our server starting clearing plates, while we were still eating... which is a big no no in my book. It's actually my number one restaurant peev. For one its rude, because it rushes the other people and its not appetite appeasing. Also we were asked about desert while placing our appetizer order. 45 minutes for a lava cake? Seems a little crazy, and it comes off REAL pushy. I don't think about desert until desert time! Secondly, servers should be seen and not heard unless they are at your table asking you your order. Our server was so loud, we could hear him talking to other tables and barking orders to bus boys. After we stopped him from cleaning off our table, we finally placed our food order. I understand he must do this every single day, but he was speaking so fast and seemed impatient with our questions - we were getting confused on what we were ordering. Keep in mind - I am 25 and was getting confused... its not like I am elderly! When our food came, things were missing and I am pretty sure the whitefish and walleye were the same thing. I ordered wine, and it came after my meal, our creamed spinach didn't come until after our meal, and they also forgot our potatoes. I ordered the fried chicken special, and it wasn't fried thoroughly. After telling the server my chicken was doughy and not fried, he tried telling me it was just the way it was supposed to be. Really? Nothing like biting into raw egg and goopy flour. It was horrible. The dinner was overall upsetting. They ended up taking off the creamed spinach, but wow it was just a bad experience. Nothing like upsetting the mother on Mother's day! I feel bad, because we could of went any where, but Barry's mom really wanted to go there, only to have a horrible time! I will thank Patrick for seating us immediately... and the bathrooms were really clean.
(2)Lisanne F.
I'd read about their famous buttermilk chicken served on Sundays, so when someone gave me a $25 gift card, we excitedly made our reservation for 1 p.m. L. Woods sure doesn't look like much from the outside and because it's so cavernous inside, it really doesn't feel cozy, it feels stuffed with people. (Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop is way more cozy and decorated.) We sat in a booth (nicer than the tables) and were taken care of quickly by our friendly waiter. We ordered the chicken (delicious) and the Walleye Pike Sandwich, the waiter gave me a choice of potato with the sandwich and I opted for the garlic mashed potatoes, which were really good. Here's our complaints: The French Fried Chicken is $16.99 (bring a doggie bag, you can't -- or shouldn't-- eat it all). It comes with a biscuit, a teensy tiny container of slaw and potatoes, of which hubby chose the house-made chips. The chips arrived on MY plate with my sandwich, where the pickle had soaked into them. The chicken has so much coating on it, it takes up the whole plate. The biscuit was perched precariously on top (I wonder if any ever fall off on the way out of the kitchen?). The chips should have come in their own basket. For my sandwich, I had to lift up the bun to see the fish, which was a very small, round piece. For $10, the bun should've been better quality (I only ate the bottom half), the fish portion a lot larger, and ditto for the slaw. There was an interesting sauce on the sandwich but it didn't really go with the additional tartar offered. So, service is fine, atmosphere so-so, but prices are a lot to swallow. We were happy we didn't spend our own money eating here.
(2)Ann B.
I was very hopeful for a new place to get Chinese food in Lincolnwood - however this was the worst Chinese food I have ever had. The BBQ Pork Fried Rice was awful, the Beef and Broccoli had broccoli that was yellow ! I expected fresh from L Woods but this was not. If you are looking for good cream cheese rangoons go to Panda Express because their rangoons are better and cheaper. We also had an order of their egg rolls which were long, thin and tasteless. I was told it would be 1 1/2 hour for pick up and when I complained they said ok 1 hour. This is the last time I will order from Big Bowl at L. Woods.
(1)Ari L.
Solid performer Letttuce Enterain You resty modeled after an old Elk's/hunting lodge. Lots of wood paneling and black & white pictures of patrons inside. I had the BBQ chicken crinkle cut french fries, which weren't bad but nothing to write home about. Service left something to be desired. If you're looking for a decent middle-of-the-road place what's not too pricey and won't offend anyone, this isn't a bad choice.
(3)George A.
Go here. Old woodsy feel, pricey but you walk out more than happy. Leave now.
(4)ZZ K.
Hungry and in the neighborhood. I remembered my mom telling me that this place was good, so we decided to stop on in and give them a try. Plus, the BF is a huge fan of BBQ, so I thought 2 birds with one stone! We walked in and I immediatley saw a lot of older people...always a good sign if you ask me!! Where there are old people, there is good food, good prices and large portions....usually. Hostesses were super friendly and the elderly lady that sat us, has been working there for about 20 years...obviously she likes her job. We sat on the right side of the restaurant near the bar area and the place was hopping on a Wednesday night. Impressive. A busboy immediately filled our water glasses and brought over some onion bread with butter, which was nice and worked well to tie us over. After looking at the menu, the BF ordered a French Onion soup and for dinner he had the BBQ brisket sandwich. I had the BBQ pulled chicken on cornbread, with beans and side salad. Our waitress was nice and since it was our first time we got some flat bread with goat cheese (the magic word for me), pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes. That was actually the best thing we had!! The food came out fast, so we appreciate that as well. The french onion soup was good. Lots of gooey cheese, onions, soft mushy bread and sweet oniony broth. The brisket was ehhhh, and I was not impressed. The pulled chicken on corn bread was good, but the portion was ok...I would even say on the smaller side for the price (not much chicken and more onion straws than anything. We ordered the strawberry sangria, which was a $6 special. The glass was small and contained mostly ice. Not to mention, they put in a decorative leaf of some sort which was wilted and a small not pretty looking strawberry....kind of a sad touch really. We opted for the strawberry shortcake for dessert, which was nice. They made the biscuits, lemon poppy seed, and I liked that slight change in flavor. Nice fluffy cream and strawberries...we cleaned the plate fairly quickly. So, I would give this place a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5, and we may or may not be back. I was hoping for a lot better, but maybe the items we ordered were not the best choices....who knows.
(3)Dean H.
GREAT place for a business casual lunch. Not a place where you are going to negotiate a contract, but a very good restaurant with excellent food and most often wonderful service. Have never had a bad meal at L Woods.
(4)Tracy F.
The food here is great. The atmosphere is definitely like a lodge. It's well worth the trip for great BBQ. All the food was great - ribs, fried chicken, brisket nachos. And a complimentary flatbread for new customers. Our server was great. My only complaint is our busser. He tried twice to take food while we were still eating, then he bussed the entire table clean while my step dad was still eating his food. It seemed very rushed and borderline rude.
(4)Joy Z.
This place, like most Lettuce Us Entertain You restaurants, is top notch. It has a similar vibe to a old school supper club. The food is delicious. I especially love the ribs and pounded chicken. The 1/2 price bottles of wine($12) on Tuesday and Thursdays is a steal.
(4)Peter R.
My work held a retirement luncheon here not too long ago. There was about 28-30 of us, and we rented out Lynn's Back Room for our private party. We had a preset family style menu, and I must say the selections were very nice. First of all the staff here was very attentive and friendly. I don't even remember having to ask for a refill...not once. We started off with some flatbread which was quite good. I had some sweet sausage, and dried tomato flatbread, and French Onion soup. The two main entrees that I tried were the baby back ribs and the chicken a la sima. The ribs were fall of the bone fantastic! I wanted to just devour the ribs and start licking my fingers, but this was a "work" function so I practiced some etiquette. The chicken a la sima, which is their version of chicken picatta was drenched in lemon butter and capers. It was so tender and delicious that I wanted to cry, but again I had to remind myself that this was a "work" function. We ordered the apple strudel in advance since we were told it would take 30-45 minutes to prepare. The apples and cinnamon in the strudel was a sweet heavenly collaboration of delight. We were all pretty stuffed after that, but there was plenty of leftovers since the portions were gargantuan. We all stuck around for a little bit, and tried not to get induced into a food coma. This was a nice cozy spot to grab some delicious grub, and I loved the whole Supper Club environment. I will have to venture here on my own and dine in the main room, but from my experience I think I already have a man crush on this place.
(4)Michelle A.
I'm sure this place is an institution for locals. The costumers in general look like they've been going there forever, and every time I've passed the parking lot, it's been packed. However, our experience was blah, at best. The drink I had felt so out of place and the novelty glass made it embarrassing to sip out of. I was just looking for a good, summertime drink... not one that reminded me of some cheap cruise line. The pre-dinner bread was great, though. I'll give them that. For Friday night, the menu was super limited. I ended up getting a skirt steak sandwich. For $13 bucks, it was all bread and lettuce. The steak, which I requested medium well, was barley cooked. But it didn't matter. I couldn't taste it anyways. The fries were great, but what I expected from a place like this. The ambiance was noisy, full of kids and older couples. Yet, a lot of younger people dressed up like they were at a club. I didn't get it. For the price of the bland food, limited menu, and the noise... I wont be coming back.
(2)Penny L.
Establishment interior appearance, old. Friendly staff. Glad we made reservations. I thought I was told Delerium Nocturnal was in bottle so I ordered DN. Received Delerium Tremens in a dirty glass. Foam next to nothing. Wish I could have poured my own bottle. Taste more bitters. Ran out of fried chicken. Caesar salad wilted, small pieces, overdressed, served on hot plates. Ribs tender with decent sauce. For the locals. Iteligentsia coffee strong, had to use cream. Would go back to try the fried chicken and another shot at a properly poured beer.
(3)Scott S.
Nothing to complain about and nothing too insanely good either, IMO. Overall I was pretty happy with the meal though, it's a TON of food, and I always say the more the merrier. ha. My uncles took home plenty of leftovers...
(4)Jay H.
Once you accept the concept of a casual, traditional American restaurant, you can appreciate the fine execution of the concept. Other than an understaffed bar, which led to a drinkless 10 minute wait for our reserved table (imagine that), everything went smoothly. The appetizer of sausage flatbrerad is reason alone to come here -- super-thin, flaky crust, delicious, and great value. The sides of creamed spinach and mac and cheese were outstanding -- and we were allowed to sub them in for our entree sides for a slight upcharge. Entrees of ribs and lake perch were solid. The sandwiches probably were a better value, but we had a Lettuce gift card to play with. Our sever Chris was extremely helpful. He asked if this was our first visit, and as it was, comped our app under corporate policy. Nice touch. Another good corporate decision was a $10 bottle wine special, selected by Alpana Singh of Check Please fame. At that price, I'll take 2, please. All in all, a very well run place with solid food and nice people. The place starts clearing out at 8:00pm, so come on the late side and miss most of the suburban family crowd.
(4)Britni W.
This is easily one of my favorite date spots, visiting guests spot, rainy day.... pretty much anytime I can find a reason to go this is my first stop. I've yet to eat anything from here that wasn't at very least above par. The mashed potatoes are to *die* for and must be tried. The apple strudel is well worth the 45 minute wait and can easily feed four people so if it's just the two of you than I suggest you are prepared to take some home.
(5)Gerry T.
I havent been here since the late 90's but it was my wife's first time coming here. Great service, plenty of good bread and nice seating. As a former angler I appreciated the stuffed large mouth and tiger muskie on the wall. As for the food, we really liked the flat bread with sliced apples. My cheeseburger and her pike sandwich were very good as well. I thought the cole slaw was just right, not too tart nor sweet. The calamari was fresh and crisp, probably the best calamari I've ever had.
(4)Cassandra F.
I was really hoping not to be disappointed at my dining experience at L. Woods. I made an online reservation, which was easy and made seating easy on a Friday. We were sat in a large table for my group, which felt a little in the middle of the traffic zone. The food was average supper club fare. Nothing to write home about. Fish was ordered as well as some of other staples like prime rib. Disappointed the traditional relish tray was not brought out. After our unenthusiatic dinner, the icing on the cake was the overall environment that felt lacking, which was followed up my the owner brushing past us and almost running us over with his car instead of asking us how we enjoyed his establishment. It was our first experience at this restaurant and I have eaten at his other establishments. It was a sour note. I would say that if you are in the area then you can give it a shot, but it's not going to remain on my top destination lists.
(2)Beth R.
Everyone has a reason to like L. Woods. And by "everyone" I really do mean human beings from all walks of life: senior people, business people, big-boned people, celebrity people, people who hunt, and me. I can hypothesize about what the rest like, but I will speak only for myself. First and foremost, they make one of the best veggie burgers in the world. The menu has many tempting options for lunch or dinner (flatbreads, salmon, etc.), but I usually crawl back, on my hands and knees, to that veggie burger. It's big, it's homemade, has a good ratio of veg to grain, and it has a tomato pesto spread that makes my mouth happier than any Twizzler could. The desserts cover all your classic dessert bases: chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, ice cream and brownie sundaes. They're heavy and rich and if you've wondered until this point why there's dark wood paneling and dim lighting, you will know when you're finished. No one wants to make eye contact with anyone else until the evidence of gluttony is removed. Also, take note. The portions are, eh, how you say, generous. If done correctly, you can make two meals from one, and still leave feeling satisfied. If done incorrectly, you will feel uncomfortable with yourself and will swear to never touch that pre-meal onion bread again. But you know yourself and you wouldn't be able to leave it alone if you were restrained like Hannibal Lecter. The only thing food-wise that doesn't mesh for me is the fries. They seem like Ore-Ida crinkle-cuts, which is noticeable in a place where everything else seems homemade. The service is professional and the servers wear white dress shirts, black bottoms and sometimes French braids. It's simple, gracious and courteous; in a word: adult. In fact, the whole atmosphere is grown-up but unpretentious. No one's going to L. Woods so they can impress their co-workers on Monday. But, no one's going to L. Woods in an Ed Hardy t-shirt either. L. Woods manages to be a pretty great place for a wide range of people. What, like it's hard?
(4)Em P.
Fantastic food.. fantastic service. (Billy the server is just awesome)! We started off with the pesto/mushroom flatbread. It was so light but had so much flavor. For our entrees, I had the half slab of ribs and he had the chicken/rib combo. The meat literally fell off the bone. I figured the food would be good cause Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants always have quality but this place was different then the rest. Its supper club vibe was warm and inviting and i can definitely see us going back to this place very very soon.
(5)Sonia B.
L. Woods, where have you been all my life? Thank you for just being plain good. Good service, good quality, good food, and good atmosphere. I hadn't heard of Wisconsin Supper Clubs before coming here, and I have to admit, it is quite the concept! I had the Fried Chicken Dinner special-5 crispy, golden-brown, pieces of heaven. Oh, and did I mention it came with 2 sides? It was enough food to last me a week, but hey, I'm not complaining! L. Woods is on the pricier side, but a solid place to come for a nice dinner out without any fluff!
(4)Irene C.
Visited L Woods this past Sunday night and the place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation. For the food, we started with the Fresh Mushroom Flatbread and the Cheese Curds. Loved the flatbread, crust was thin and über crispy. The cheese curds were also very good, but I've had better in the past. These definitely did get out the craving. For entree, I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Cod, which is served with a lemon-butter sauce that made the dish amazing. With the sauce, 5 stars, without, 3-4. Sauce gave it that special something. My husband had the ribs and chicken, which were dry rubbed, no sauce. I tried the chicken and it was some of the best flavored chicken I have had. Skin was full of spices and the chicken itself was so moist. Would highly recommend. I didn't try the ribs, but my husband said they were a little chewier, not fall of the bone. For dessert, we did the classic Apple Strudel. Enough to feed a family of 10. The thing is huge! Very crispy outside with lots of apple filling. The only thing I would do differently is maybe made the crust a little thicker to balance the amount of filling. Other than that, it was fantastic and hit the spot. Service, perfect! Will definitely be back here soon!
(4)Nevin H.
Love the food and have been going for almost 10 years, unfortunately their prices are going up pretty quickly. $10 drinks, $25 entree's, I'm in the process of looking for another neighborhood "spot". I have a family of 4 and they are now really too expensive to take my family to. They do a very good business with older people and when the other people go away they're not gonna have much of a younger crowd because of their greedy pricing. As a $$$ its a 5 star and as a $$ It's a 2 star
(2)Eric V.
I remember when this place was still called Bones, and can't recall eating here since then either. In the middle of the Lenten season, I caught wind of a special Friday night Wisconsin supper club menu and thought it might be time to pop my head in once more. To start, allow me to quote the wise Jerry Seinfeld... "See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them." 25 minutes after our reservation time (without even being told there would be a wait, mind you) we were finally seated. Is 25 minutes an inordinate amount of time at the end of the day? Likely not. Still, it's all about the principle. We started off on the wrong foot, but our meal got progressively better from there. A $5 Wisconsin Old Fashioned helped take the edge off, and some warm onion loaves and butter got us back on track. Our order of lightly breaded Fried Cheese Curds hit the table and, let's be honest, how can you not like deep fried cheese? Well I suppose there are the lactose intolerant but I digress. By the time our two plates of Schlitz Beer Battered Fried Haddock hit the table we were pretty content. The plate came with a side of potato pancakes that were too dense and heavy, but I was more than happy to focus my efforts on the generous portion of fresh, tasty haddock. The decor is log cabin chic and most of the clientele are extremely life experienced (that is, old). It is Lincolnwood after all so that kind of comes with the territory. What could have ended up as another reason not to dine here for another decade was ultimately salvaged by our pleasant server and some solid eats. It might not be too soon before my next dinner here, but perhaps not too long either.
(4)Melissa F.
L Woods pretty much has everything going for it. Let's start with the atmosphere! L Woods feels like a classy old-school Wisconsin hunting lodge, I guess minus the taxidermy, which I hardly missed. The cozy - but oversized - corner booths deserve special mention...just what we needed! Sadly, the waiter started off on the wrong foot with us. I know many people like being told they look young, so maybe I'm just weird, but he kept going on and on about it - not just how I didn't look old enough to drink, but then how I looked younger, and then how I looked as young as his 9-year-old daughter. Gee thanks mister! And then I apparently look "different" from the scant 1.5 years it's been since I got my new license; out of many people who have looked at my license for age verification, only one other person ever has said this. Finally the heavens opened up somehow and I was allowed to enjoy some pinot noir! It was delicious. I saw that they were advertising marked-up versions of Whole Foods house brand wine, e.g. the pinot grigio, so caveat emptor, Yelperzzz. The tomato bisque is definitely creamy, but it's of course delicious and deserves to be a signature item. My dad loved his vegetable soup. When more people arrived, we got a mushroom flatbread, which was wonderfully crispy (almost too thin of a crust)...and we were pleasantly surprised by pesto. Jackpot! I got the chopped salad sans bleu cheese. It was amazing - and humungous, probably the largest salad I've ever seen (Rockit being a close second). I could not finish it, but I loved what I ate. If I had to nitpick, I'd put in some more ingredients to make it more exciting, like some avocado! But it was still an incredible salad, and at a steaks-and-ribs place like this, it's great to see that salad is not an afterthought! By the end of the meal, I was stuffed, especially since I had a bite of someone else's amazingly creamy mashed potatoes, no doubt enhanced by the crust that the oven supplied. And the waiter was fine and was probably just trying to be friendly and/or funny, but I think it's nice to ease up on the guess-your-age form of small talk.
(4)Patrick O.
A big fan. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because you have to wait a while for your order. I put that down to the fact they are always crowed and the food is excellent. Other than that small inconvenience, one of the finest and we have no Problem driving past many good restaurants to get to " the L Woods"
(4)bill s.
Great spin on the old Wisconsin supper club! Food great and commensurate with the LEY chain. I have been a few times, and the only complaint I would have is that service feels rushed. But, then again, I have only gone on a weekend when tables are a premium. Definitely a place we will add to our "standards" list of good places to go....
(4)Nina M.
The mac 'n cheese has been described as orgasmic, by my friend to the manager. Quite embarassing at the moment but a good laugh now. It is probably the best thing on the menu and the best mac 'n cheese in Chicago, the United States and the world. I also like the steak sandwich. I have ordered off the kids menu and was warned that I could never do that again. I would appreciate some chicken tenders for adults then. The inside is woodsy and lodgey. Warm feeling. Lot of pictures lining the walls. There are a lot of old people and regulars there. It is always pretty busy which is a good sign and I believe they filmed Oceans 11 or 13 there.
(5)Kevin Y.
My family and I have been eating here occasionally since it used to be called "Bones" back in the 90s. Didn't dine in on my most recent occasion, but ordered some of the baby back ribs for takeout. These are probably some of the best sauced ribs I've had. Fall off the bone tender, but not so much that it makes it difficult to eat. The ribs came with coleslaw and I ordered mashed potatoes as a side. Both were very good. If you have room for dessert the apple strudel is very delicious, but takes a while to prepare. Remember to order it at the beginning of the meal when you order the rest of your food. I don't come here regularly, but I've found the food to be good and consistent over the years and will continue to eat here.
(4)Kerri G.
Restaurant that tries to resemble the Northern Woods of WI. Food was good, a tad on the expensive side. Got a free flat bread for our first visit. Bathrooms sorely need updating. It's a little run down, but atmosphere and staff are wonderful!
(4)Diana P.
This place is great-reminds me of WildFire with a twist. The flatbreads are a MUST and go very fast so order a few if you're with a group of more than 2. We went with a party of 6 and the waitstaff was fantastic, knew a lot about the food and gave suggestions that worked. Large portions, even for the sandwiches on the dinner menu. Desserts that take 45 minutes (Apple Strudel and Chocolate cake) are WORTH IT and feed 6+ each. Fun atmosphere reminds me of a log cabin. I'll be back!
(4)Rita P.
Can I just start off by saying, lovely service. Nothing like a polite waiter that can communicate well and doesn't act like you are anything but a guest. That being said, it's a big place with photos all over the walls. It definitely has that cabin feel, and a cozy neighborhood feel. It's casual, but the service acts a par above as mentioned prior. I like to think of it as a meat and potatoes place. The ribs are really good, and everything comes in a generous portion. They are happy to bring extra plates and napkins, make side dish substitutions, and don't fuss you for sharing. There are always customers here, enough that the restaurant never feels deserted even at odd times. They have all the classic American dishes. Also, look out for coupons and deals, there are quite a few floating around in local ads and the like. That takes down the price so that it feels extra reasonable.
(4)Nisa D.
Great food and service, i love their tomato bisque soup is to die for :). I recommend a reservation for friday nights and weekends it can be a little crowded.
(5)Nicholas H.
This is by far the best restaurant in Lincolnwood. The tomato bisque soup is probably the best soup I have ever had including anything that is homemade. The mac and cheese is out of this world. I will come in on a Saturday afternoon and just order tomato bisque and mac&cheese. It's that good!
(5)Russ C.
Great French onion soup. Their almond crusted walleye is excellent and one of my go to entrees. Waiters are always knowledgeable and are very attentive. Terrific menu and have never had a bad meal or service.
(5)Jason J.
We had friends in town and they suggested L Woods, mostly because of the half off wine on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we gave it a try. We sat at the bar waiting for our table and we're seated fairly quickly, but the first two beers on their list of tap choices they didn't carry anymore. I get it but change the sign on the wall. Our waitress was nice, but a bit slow and it was not overly crowded. We tried the special appetizer of bbq brisket nachos. It was good but small for 10 bucks, and there was very little brisket in it and the pieces were tiny. It's known for barbeque so I got the ribs and chicken, and my wife got the parmesan crusted cod. Mine was good, and the portion was big. The twice baked potato was the real star. My wife said the fish was okay, but tried the filet and said it was much better. For a lettuce entertain you place the food was good, and the prices were reasonable. If we were in the area and had a taste for bbq or a steak, we would go back to L Woods.
(3)Christina B.
Wonderful food, amazing service and an atmosphere from a bye-gone era. This place is all about nostalgia, family and good food. Everything is amazing on the menu. Everyone has a smiling face when you walk in. They begin the meal with a loaf of onion bread and keep it coming as long as you can eat it! Everything is good on the menu...literally everything. The apple strudel is delicious and **Note: it takes 45 minutes to cook so order it with your drinks at the start of your meal** We sat near the hostess stand and I have to say, everyone in the establishment loves "mama" who stands there like she has for what I can imagine has been decades passed. Every who passes her gives her a little hug; from waitresses, hostesses and even the busboys. Everyone cares about her and you really get a sense it's a caring, friendly and loving place. It comes across that way in the food. I can see how it's a place that withstands time and generations continue to come there; I know I will! PS--it's a "lettuce entertain you" restaurant so bring your cards...you can rack up some serious points there!
(5)Matt C.
Great experience! Would go back in a second... Our server Jesus was great as well!! Every item was Cooked to perfection...
(5)Kelly M.
How have I not reviewed this place yet?! They have a menu that is big enough to please everyone in your group, but not so big it overwhelms you. The service is great and they have fun seasonal drinks. I've yet to check out their outdoor seating area in the summer. I've heard it's very nice.
(4)Barbara I.
At last, I agree with the majority of yelp reviewers...L Woods was a great experience. On site parking *yeah!), good food and good service. My friend and i split the chop salad (small size) - it was delicious! i had the prime rib and my friend had the ribs...the prime rib was very good - cooked to perfection and my friend reported the ribs were also very good. WE split the chocolate cake and were stuffed and nearly in food heaven when we were done. The apple martini was close to perfection. This is a good restaurant to bring your parents...old style feeling. I definitely will go back.
(4)Brooklyn Barry B.
devil style beef ribs..need i say more.
(5)Tracy B.
Whatever you decide to eat, you must order the flatbread, I repeat: you MUST order the flatbread. Can you tell I really liked the flatbread? Super-thin, delicate and crispy - and substantial. I was quite surprised at how large the order was. Ahhh, yummy goodness. I've been here a couple times now and have had mostly simple dishes: Chicken sandwiches and salads. It's always been tasty. This past time was no exception, I had the skirt steak salad. It always impresses me when a restaurant can make a good skirt steak. L Woods got it right; a steak that can very easily turn out overcooked and tough was tender and juicy. What is not to like about this place? It is literally a Pine Lodge. Rustic and comfortable and just dark enough not to be considered too dark or too bright. I try to get there as often as possible and now that I read the the mac 'n cheese is orgasmic, I must go back sooner rather than later.
(4)Adam B.
L. Woods has some of the best burgers in the Chicago region. For dinner, no one beats their Prime Rib special. And don't leave without dessert!
(5)Valerie G.
I passed by this place so many times and thought it was an bar or lodge for older folks. Finally, stopped in on a Friday night and there was a two hour wait! Didn't stay but went back the following weekend with reservations and realized why you need to call in advance: the food is really good! I didn't know this but it's a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant and on your first trip there, they give you a free flat beard. I say it's my first time, every time. I like getting free stuff and I'm cheap! Try their barbecue plank salmon. It's on a bed of mashed potatoes and it's amazing. They have great soups, salads and overall well made American foods. The dishes are pretty on par with their sister restaurant Mity Nice Grill. Ordered their lava cake for dessert once...it was a 10 inch cake for two people. So delicious but wayyy to big! They also have wine specials with $10 house bottles of red or white...can't beat that! My only qualm is that every time we go, we are the clear minority- not just in race but age. Lots of elderly white people. Don't get me wrong...everyone is always very nice but it is kind of strange that the only people who look like me are the bus boys.
(4)Tim H.
This place is always packed whenever I come. It is best to make a reservation unless you are ok with a one hour wait. Service is good...as good as it can be for a casual restaurant given how busy the place always is. The Baby Back Ribs are awesome. My favorite side is their gigantic double bake potato. (The potato is so large that it makes me worry whether it is chemically safe to eat...they get injected with steroids or something?) My dining party 4 was stuffed when it came time for dessert ordering. We asked the waitress whether any of the desserts would change our lives. She recommended the chocolate cake. Although all my dining companions liked the cake, I was the only one willing to say it was the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Moist, chocolaty, and not too sweet. Don't forget to try the chocolate cake, it might change your life!
(4)Amanda G.
This is a total old-school, Midwestern place. Lots of beef, huge portions, etc. We shared a flat bread, that was really good. It didn't really fit with the rest of the menu, but it was tasty. I had salmon, and had asked for it rare. The server didn't seem to find this unusual. When it came out cooked through, my friend told me to send it back. I did, and the manager came out to ask me if I really wanted it rare.He went on to tell me that he had NEVER had anyone ask for salmon rare. WTF??? My friend and her husband work in the restaurant industry and said this was weird, and rare salmon is served in Chicago, he was just strange.. Whatever....It came out rare, and was good. We shared the apple strudel for dessert, and it was soooo good. Probably the best part of the meal. Prices were reasonable, and service was good, (except for the odd-ball mgr.)
(3)h c.
Eh... sorry L. Woods... I really wanted to like you, but unfortunately, you blew it.. twice! First time i went i got the "Prime" Bone-In Ribeye.. "grilled to perfection", yeah right... i ordered it RARE and it came WELL DONE. Of course, that's not hard to screw up since the steak was seriously about 1/4 inch thick... and it was $33 too! so, not worth it.... to their credit, after the waiter asked me how the steak was, i gave him a face, like, are you serious???? they didnt charge me for it. Well, the night actually started off with the waiter messing up the flight of beer that i had ordered, but he did make it up by leaving me the 'extra' beer that was not the correct one. tonight, i went for the 2nd time and only because i wanted to give it another chance cause i really wanted to like this place. Aside from the baby back ribs, which my girlfriend likes to order, and i have to admit, it's very good and worth the price... i had heard that they had a really good skirt steak there.... so, i decided to try it tonight. Well, not sure what the rave is about, it wasnt that good. Again, i ordered it RARE and it came out relatively close, medium to medium well. And, again it's not hard to mess up cause it's so damn thin. I thought the portion was pretty small for a skirt steak.. usually those are pretty big plates, but not here. Overall, the steak was just ok, chewy and not that flavorful, seemed very oily. Now, i tell you, if you want a GREAT skirt steak, you gotta go to Las Tablas (that's going to be my next review!) Also, both times i went we had ordered the fried calamari and both times i was disappointed. I guess it was fine because it was fried and anything fried is good, right??? maybe? i dont know.. i really couldnt find the calamari in the fried dough here. I honestly think there was about 30% calamari and the rest was oily, greasy, batter. This time the portion was pretty small as well, i dont think it was that small the last time... recession i guess. What else? there was just so many things i didnt like about the food at this place, sorry. place was fine, nice decor and atmostphere, crowded all the time too... it's the food that was small, oily, and not worth it... I dont know, maybe it's me, but i just dont get this place and aside from the ribs, it's just not worth it.... and how can they screw up my RARE steak twice???
(2)Kent B.
L. Woods is located on Lincoln Avenue and Kostner in Lincolnwood. There is a large private parking lot for off-street parking. The decor is Wisconsin Supper Club with hundreds of framed black and white photos of their patrons hanging on the walls. You'll also find stuffed fish on the walls and deer antler chandeliers. Hey der. I've eaten at L. Woods on several occasions. My experiences have been mixed. On my most recent visit, I had a chopped salad and a BBQ brisket sandwich. The chopped salad was excellent and fresh. I had their mustard vinaigrette dressing (salty), but they offer several other dressings. The sliced BBQ brisket sandwich was tasty, but overloaded with barbecue sauce. The menu indicated the brisket was smoked for 12-hours, but I couldn't taste the meat through the sauce. Also, while tender, it didn't seem 12-hour tender. My sandwich came with thin, waffle potato chips, which were greasy and cole slaw. On other visits, I've eaten fish, which has either been excellent or below average. I've also eaten their beef ribs and found them to be good and meaty. Our waiter was attentive, polite and friendly. As before, I'll probably be back, but not for awhile.
(4)Jaz P.
So popular with the northern suburb locals. I got there at 6:10pm on Wednesday night last week and had my pick of covetable parking spots in the roomy lot. The rest of my family arrived in their separate cars 10 minutes later and they all had to park on the street. The same thing happened to me too once when I tried to go to L Woods to watch a Sunday football game. Inside, the restaurant has a nice, warm, Midwestern lodgey feel and the several rooms are filled with regulars who look like they even go weekly. I've only been a handful of times but my small family has regularly scored and we get this nice corner banquet that fits all 6 of us. Yes, I know we're small Asian people! The ribs are solid and ample in portion- I had 5 and distributed the other 7 to the rest of the table, including our youngest 3-yr old carnivore, my niece. Funnily, nobody else in my family ordered ribs but they were all equally stoked with their dishes. The breaded veal is about the same size as my full slab of ribs. The chopped salad lives up to its reputation, and a meal could be made of it. You might want to order sauce on the side cause there's alot. One issue with the menu is that the Ribeye which has been a long favorite of my brothers' and various others, including out of town friends, has recently been removed from the menu. He looked almost crestfallen at the news- it was just that good! I decided I'm going to help him write in to L Woods to ask for it to get back on the menu. To cap off our delicious meal, we ordered the special chocolate cake. But put your order in early!
(5)Herman B.
Great food!! I too like many others went here when it was Bones, and had the ribs then. Now I went here recently and had the BBQ cedar planked Salmon, with Potatoes and Corn, very yummy. My wife had the Burger, which she said was very good we split a side of Creamed Spinach also very good, others in our party had the ribs and also the brisket and Walleye, and all said good...seems one cant go wrong, portion size is generous, and ambiance is comfortable, but somewhat dark (if you don't like that ask to be seated closer to the front of the Restaurant).
(5)Tracey M.
I will admit upfront I have a bit of a bias towards L Woods. Primarily because "back in the day" (otherwise known as my childhood) the space was another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant called Bone which my family frequented weekly and then periodically in high school. So, from the start walking into this space brought brings back many happy memories. I have a difficult time knowing exactly what to begin with - the food, the food or the atmosphere. Since I already stated why I looked forward to visiting L Woods (well, aside from those I was dining with) I will talk about the atmosphere. The only thing I would have changed about the atmosphere was the dim lighting. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it didn't make taking pictures during dinner easy. Aside from that, I enjoyed the atmosphere. It was cozy and inviting. The service was very good. Our waiter was so attentive that when he saw how engrossed we all were in conversation with one another he opted to give us some more time rather than interrupting us to find out what we wanted to eat. I thought was extremely courteous and thoughtful of him to do. Lastly, the food . . . Two words: Beef Ribs. One of the reasons my family frequented Bones back in the day was for their beef ribs and as far as I am aware, L Woods is the only restaurant in the greater Chicagoland area that serves beef ribs. Since the only form of pork I really eat is bacon ribs is a very special meal for me. I can't tell you the number of times I've looked for these at other places - with out success. The best part is that they are out of this world good! I mean really good. A lot bigger than I remember having as a child, but I wouldn't expect everything to be exactly the same. BTW - have I mentioned how phenomenal the beef ribs taste? They're even excellent reheated as well. Overall, L Woods did not disappoint and I'm glad that I finally got the chance to dine there. I will, without question, be back again.
(5)Daniel T.
Great atmosphere, very fine food, good service. A little disappointed that our 7:00 reservation meant 7:30 seating, but the crowd must mean it is good. Not much room to wait at the bar, but the food was great. Friday is Wisconsin night so you'll have several fish options, breaded pork tenderloin, cheese curds, and $2 Schlitz on the menu. There is lot to like here.
(4)Megan F.
My husband and I came here last night for dinner. We were greeted by a spunky older woman who seated us with a smile and a sense of humor. The service was fantastic. In fact, my husband ordered the filet, and the head waiter returned to our table about 15 minutes later to let us know it would be another 10 minutes because they had overcooked the meat and it hadn't met their standard for service. Of course, we were just fine with that, and very much appreciated the level of service. Specifically, I have to highlight dessert. The Nutter Butter Banana Cream Pie is heaven. Fresh ingredients, wonderful flavor; a perfect indulgence! Finally, as we were finishing up dessert, our waiter returned with our bill, informing us that the appetizer and dessert were "on the house". We were blown away by the gesture, and would have happily paid for both. However, this brought our dining experience to a perfect 5 stars. L. Wood's is a place for good food and superb service in warm, comfy setting.
(5)Sandi S.
Ah, good ol' L. Woods, a Lincolnwood staple fashioned after a giant log cabin adorned with all the woodsy decor you might expect to find in such a space, save for the numerous framed pictures of famous celebrities/locals and repeat customers who seem more like an extension of family. I've always thought of L. Woods as a steakhouse, but they also do bbq and I think that tonight I preferred it to the steaks. So it was a balmy, summer Saturday night during tough economic times and the place was jammed. We had no reservation and were told it'd be about thirty minutes. We had never sat at the bar before and were all too happy to pass the time there. The bartender greeted us warmly and quickly. For one dirty vodka martini and one cherry martini, it was $20.13 - in Lincolnwood! But hey, it was date night, and the bartender hooked me up with two bleu cheese-stuffed olives while he fixed our drinks, so I was all good. Within only five minutes, our beeper went off and so we hurriedly paid the bill and ascended to the hostess podium where "Mama" showed us to our table. She was an older woman who wasn't entirely certain she knew where table 101 was, but she got us there. She must be part of the legacy of L. Woods. Her nametag actually said "Mama" on it and she knew many diners. The restaurant is split into four different dining areas. The few times we've been before, we've always sat in the front, but tonight, we were in the more dimly lit back area - the one with the pinewood paneling, not the room w/ faux log walls. We ordered two soups as appetizers - one French onion au gratin and one tortilla soup. The French onion was absolutely fab - not too salty, perfectly sweet, and cheese not so rubbery you need a knife and fork to get through it. The tortilla soup was almost a corn chowder, but with a spicy, limey kick. To me, it was lukewarm, but my husband doesn't care for scalding hot soups like I do, so it suited him just fine. We debated about ordering a flatbread, but skipped it only to be surprised with a mushroom flatbread compliments of the house! They thought it was our first time there, but we quickly corrected them that it had been over a year since the last visit to which the manager replied, "Close enough!" and placed it on the table. "Welcome back," he added. The flatbread was leavened lavash topped with pesto and 24-hour marinated mushrooms in herbs and olive oil, and then oven baked. Holy crap, it was delicious! Very thin. Very light. I'm so glad we got to try it. We passed on salads, though we know they're outstanding. We each got steak - me the filet mignon med rare, and hubby the queen cut prime rib med rare w/ horseradish sauce. As if that wasn't plenty, we also got a full slab of ribs! (Oink!) My steak was cooked perfectly, but hubby's a little overdone, and both were bland. It was very disappointing. We've ordered steaks there everytime, but this time they really fell flat. Aside from no flavor, they were a little tough too, or not as "cuts like butter" as they should've been. I was about to lose all hope on dinner, but then I tried the ribs. (Clouds part. Angels sing.) Y-U-M! Okay, we're back on track now. In addition to the entrees, we got a couple of sides - baked mac n' cheese and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach was rich and decadent and I slopped it all over my baked potato. The mac n' cheese was moist and cheesy and very homemade feeling, though they used a longer tube noodle which was a bit of a surprise when I plunged my fork in and pulled it out. While we tend to over-order, we're good about wrapping a lot of it to go. Despite wrapping mass quantities of everything we ordered I still didn't have room for dessert, so I took it to go as well - a simple chocolate layer cake. In fact, to do this review properly, I think I must have a bite right now ... O. M.G!!! Now, THAT was a chocolate layer cake! It came with a side of chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream speckled with vanilla bean! Okay, so wrapping up here, my cherry martini was very sweet so I ordered a digestif with a little carbonation to it - Miller Lite. The hubby got his after dinner usual, a J&B neat. The atmosphere was pleasant, upscale (for a log cabin), and the wait staff attentive and friendly. The experience over all was very positive. I'm hoping that the subpar steaks were one-offs. Although we sat amid a sea of blue hairs, there were some young families, and a few other couples out on their own "date night." I would definitely go back and even recommend it to a friend. Stick with the salads, the bbq fare, those rich sides, and THAT CAKE! You won't go wrong. For THREE entrees, two soups, two sides, one dessert, four beers, and one J&B, the bill was roughly $136 before tip.
(4)Christine M.
A client is just down the street from L. Woods, so we always end up here for lunch. I have always had a good experience. The chopped salad almost puts Portillo's to shame. They have an amazing seasonal soup in the fall/winter (can't recall the name), but just the smell of it made a second person order.... then a third.... then the fourth at the table :) Cozy atmosphere. Service has always been reliable, except for my last visit. I happened to stop in on the weekend with my husband while we were in the area. Service started out wonderful, but we really had to flag our server down in order to get the check and out of there. That was a little annoying. Aside from that, still a great meal. I had my salad and he had the shrimp po'boy - which I even loved. Next time I'll have to try the apple strudel!
(4)Bob B.
Perhaps the best ribs ever. Juicy, perfect mix of sweet and spicy, falling of the bone tender. Great service. Nice beer selection.
(5)arlene d.
The food was very good did not like the service. The hostess not very friendly threw menus on table when seated us . The waiter did not like either rushed to take our order not attentive at all. Food was good had the crusted white fish with green beans lunch portion very good size for price would have liked it to come with a starch but oh well. Little on noisy side
(3)Scott S.
The place was packed on a Wednesday night to my surprise. The food was tasty and the prices were reasonable.
(4)pete d.
An over an hour wait for a table. Drinks at the bar at downtown prices. An over hour wait for our entree. On a Tuesday night The waiter seemed to be nice by giving us extra bread. Kitchen seemed to be overwhelmed Had ribs had better. It was a corporate version of a Northern Wisconsin restaurant.
(1)Jeff G.
i'd have to give this a 3.75. have only been one time, seems like a place with a lot of regulars. chopped salad was very good. we got two entrees: the baby back rib/chicken plate. ribs were about the best i have ever had, loved them! chicken was pretty bland, barely any sauce at all, however the brisket sandwich was DRIPPING with bbq sauce. i like sauce but probably the first time in my life i have ever though something had too much. they should have put some of that sauce on the chicken, service was shotty, probably cause we were sitting at the island bar without a server. went sat night ~730 with no reservations and it was jam packed. i thought the price of a draft 312 was high at $7.50, though i guess it was probably 22 or 24 oz.
(4)aggie c.
Always nice to enjoy the pleasure of having an unique place such as L woods. Framed pictures of actual customers from the moment you walk in till the very end. Oceans 11 had a scene filmed inside and it's called the oceans 11 room. Pretty neat. Nice presentation good service. Overall food is decent. Sandwich bread is a little too hard, but the mashed potatoes are to die for. Definately will be back soon!
(4)Zach J.
Beef ribs. They're not always easy to find, and when you do find them, they're not always guaranteed to be fantastic. Well, that's not the case at L Woods, a cozy, log-cabin looking, North Woods-themed restaurant in Lincolnwood. Not only do they serve beef ribs, but I would go so far as to say they serve the best beef ribs in the greater Chicagoland area, or at least I have yet to have better. Their "devil-style" beef ribs are monsterously huge, and have a nice spicy kick to them. It's difficult for me to order anything other than that now, although they also have a fine selection of steaks & chops as well. They've got 2-3 seperate, large dining rooms, so you never feel to cramped. And when you walk in, they do have a full bar area that is usually a bit more lively than the seperate dining areas. If you have to wait for a table, it's a good atmosphere to cozy up to the bar and watch the game, etc. Another added bonus for L Woods is the atmosphere. The place has character, with hundreds of framed pictures of their old customers from the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The place has charm, and a welcoming, down-to-earth, unpretentious vibe about it. That's probably because it's in Lincolnwood, but whatever the case, I personally find it very refreshing. So I've gotta give this place a 5-star rating, mainly for the beef ribs, but overall the total package at L Woods = *****
(5)Y V.
Interesting lodge atmosphere. Definitely the kind of place to take your parents out to dinner. We tried the onion strings appetizer. It's a big portion - prepare to share it with 3 other people. Thin, crispy, salty goodness. It's also a great side for any of the main courses. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly. Keep in mind that the side dishes are a la carte. Their old-fashioned burger was not what I expected, but tasty nonetheless. The patty was thin and had seared, caramelized crusts on both sides. The "special sauce" was similar to a Thousand Island dressing. I'll be back to try their fried chicken and other specials.
(4)E G.
I made an online reservation and while enroute to dinner traffic was horrible. I called to say I would be a little late and I was informed that it would not be a problem. When I walked in there was wall to wall customers waiting to be seated. I walked up and gave my name and was immediately seated. Now that's customer service! Never disappointed whenever I come here! Eat the beef ribs they are the best!
(4)Donna L.
ALWAYS a good time at our L. Woods... from the host to the wine to the food... everything lives up to perfection... the atmosphere is so homey, the waiters are so friendly.. and the BEEF RIBS are alllllways available and deeeeelicious! And don't forget the dessert... which takes 40 minutes to make! Chocolate cake! Apple strudel! It's hard to find a place that excels in every part of the night... the host/manager is of the friendliest.. the waiter has suggestions and recommendations... the wine pairings are heavenly, the our chopped salad was FANTASTIC... even the bread is special and delicious. Then comes the best part- the beef ribs are succulent and tasty... can't go wrong with the BBQ sauce. And after another glass of wine... the best part... dessert!
(5)Ella B.
I would give this place a zero if I could. I've been taken here as a guest multiple times and this place is nothing special. At my last visit I was so disgusted I thought the health inspector should have paid them a visit... The evening started off with food caked on to my silverware. Now I'm not talking about a little smudge or a tiny piece of food... There was disgustingly a BIG chunk of food CAKED on my fork AND knife. I absolutely hate being the person to bother the wait staff to change my silverware but in this situation it had to be done. The waiter wasn't rude, but had a slight attitude when I asked him to change my silverware. To my surprise when he brought me a new "clean" set it also had food stuck on the silverware! (now I just asked you to replace my dirty silverware... don't you think it would be wise to double check and make sure the replacement was cleaned?) Where are your standards in giving people dirty silverware?! The WORST part was when I ate my left overs at home the next day to find a FINGER NAIL IN MY MOUTH hidden in the middle of my mashed potatoes. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had, I vomited the second I realized someone's fingernail was in my food and now inside my mouth. How does that happen?! EWW I still cringe thinking of it. Not only did I have trouble with my meal, but another guest at our table found a hair in her macaroni and cheese... I made a complaint to the manager to suggest they watch the sanitary precautions because I was so unbelievably disgusted. The manager just said they would "look into it" and I never heard from them again. It seemed like they just brushed it off and were not concerned at all. WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER. I will avoid coming to this restaurant ever again.
(1)Miles B.
I find the place utterly charming. Lodge-style restaurant makes you feel like you're up in the north woods of Wisconsin. Food quality was a little better than you get up north (i had the Saturday Prime Rib special) . Lots of families & blue hairs here so my wife and I probably stood out a little but who cares. It's fun for someone who works in the loop and is usually choosing between big chain convenience dining (chilis, Fridays, etc) and places trying to be ultra-hip with stainless steel tables and 12 dollar martinis. Sometimes, I want to get out of the city routine without having to drive 2 hours. This is a good place for that.
(4)Sarah B.
I feel so conflicted about L Woods. I've dined there probably a couple dozen times in my life and really enjoy the food. But too many times I've gone there and the service has been sub-par. My favorite food is the chopped salad, bar none. The apple strudel is incredible but make sure you order it during the appetizers as it takes 45 minutes to make. The flat breads are not only tasty, but very healthy as well. And the onion bread: get the onion bread! As for the service, I've had some great servers in the past and then some really inattentive, forgetful ones. Last night I was having dinner with a big group of people and the waiter took a long time getting us our drinks and came back to check on us very infrequently. We had ordered the apple strudel during our main course, and an hour later it still wasn't there. He told us it will be out in one minute, and fifteen minutes later we were still waiting. There's been other experiences when the service was mediocre or poor, to the point where sometimes it overshadowed how good the food is.
(3)Taylor M.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new place to celebrate me buying a new car that day and him closing on a house the next. First, I have to let you know that I did not arrive here until a little after 9 pm and the restaurant closes at 10 pm. When we arrived the waiter informed us they were all out of the daily special of breaded pork (which I was hoping to try since it got amazing reviews on here!) as well as the fried calamari. At first I was a little disappointed but then I thought this is a good thing for two reasons. 1. It says that the restaurant is popular enough to run out of food and 2. that they only buy a limited amount of food so it is always fresh. So I set my sights on the Irish Salmon with apple butter but then they were out of this as well. So I settled on the Parmesan crusted cod with lemon butter sauce which was good. It is a nice light fish that just flakes apart. The food quality was good... but I still felt hungry afterwords (granted I had not had time to eat all day!). My boyfriend started with the corned beef and cabbage soup which was a little salty (which I like) and had a great taste! For his meal he tried the Devil Style Beef Ribs... which were great but did not really live up to the "devil" spiciness we were hoping for! Our waiter was fantastic and all the employees were extremely friendly. Our dishes were cleared immediately and my water never got below halfway full. However, be prepared to spend more than $30 per person after tax and tip for just two entrees. I felt it was worth the price because of the freshness and quality of the food and wait staff. The ambiance is also beautiful wood trim and decorations. I will definitely be back... and next time I am trying a drink!
(4)Ian M.
Even though this may be one of the most stray LEY locations in the city, I'm happy L. Woods is part of the diverse family and that's a short drive from my home. This is one of those places where everyone dines to celebrate, whether it's a birthday or just a weekend family dinner. Don't be intimidated by the crowdedness. The key is to plan ahead properly whether it be online or via phone. Your table will likely not be ready at the time of your reservation, but you shouldn't expect to spend less than an hour dining here anyway. The Bell's brewery beer on tap is a plus and the small TVs playing the game(s) is a subtle but nonintrusive touch to the one dining room. When it comes to food, the ribs are always filling, but save room for creamed spinach and mashed potatoes to share. Careful, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach! Speaking of saving room, the meal won't be complete if you indulge in either the apple strudel or chocolate cake. Don't forget to order it with your dinner order so that it's nice and hot from the oven after you finish your meal.
(5)Dave G.
Family dinner last night. Had 7pm reservations, seated somewhat later. So far, so good. We were 5 so we got a nice booth. Service and food - good. Why 3 stars then? Stay tuned.... Part, okay most of this my own fault, but I ordered the perch dinner w/o looking at the menu. I should have. Why? Because the darn dinner cost $22.99!! For a Friday perch dinner !?!? Yep. IMO, that would be a good price for 2 dinners, but one? Come on. Again, my fault for not looking at the menu. Never again. Go there? Sure, but don't do what I did.
(3)Halleh C.
I came here for lunch the other day after having passed it on the way in and out of the city so many times. I always noticed the parking lot was full and was intrigued by its popularity. Even during lunch, this place was pretty packed. I got the french onion soup and chicken salad sandwich combo and YUM!! The soup was absolutely delicious, with a thick layer of bubbling cheese on the top. The sandwich was also pretty good. Standard chicken salad, but tasty. I only ate half of my huge sandwich and saved the other half for dinner. Not bad for 9.99! The service was excellent. I always feel bad for the female servers who have to wear a mens work uniform in places like these. Since when is the male wardrobe the default? I think that Women can look nice and professional without wearing tuxedo pants, mens button downs and a TIE. Men's clothes just don't look good on women. Back to the point... This place made me wish I was retired! (In a good way). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Joshua N.
Hi. I'm Elle Woods and this is Bruiser Woods. We're both Gemini vegetarians. Moving on... This restaurant has nothing to do with Legally Blonde as others have mentioned. What it does have to do with is a really amazing pulled pork flatbread appetizer with pesto, caramelized onions, and ranch dressing. Also, a top notch, panko breaded, fried pork loin on wednesday nights served with homemade applesauce, corn, and mashed potatoes and gravy. There is a gargantuan side of mac and cheese that you'll have to demonstrate some real self control to stop eating, but I recommend ordering anyway. This is fat people food, there is no question about it, and I was in hog heaven. Can't wait to go back and try some more of their nightly specials. The only disappointment for me was not having my photo taken during the meal - it seems like there is a picture of just about everyone who has ever dined there on the wall somewhere.
(4)Jen T.
This gets 3.5 stars, if half stars were an option. I've been to L.Woods numerous times. It's a good place to go with family or a large group looking for a chill meal. Their fried chicken on Sundays is really, really good. The only thing that would make it better is if they served it with waffles.... mmmmmmm. One can dream! I really like the kitschy, lodge-type atmosphere. The service is always good and it's relieving to not worry about parking. The reason I didn't give this place 4 stars is because other than my massive craving for their fried chicken, the food is just okay. I've tried most of the menu and while everything is cooked fine, nothing stands out. It's consistently predictable and frankly, a bit boring.
(3)Dan H.
The barbeque-planked salmon is one of my favorite dishes of any restaurant in the area. I highly recommend it. The chopped salad is good, and I would recommend that over the Caesar here. They also make a decent steak, but I usually stick with the salmon. The service has always been very good, especially considering how busy it can get on the weekend.
(5)Tony R.
My Wife took me to L. Woods for my Birthday, and I was blown away. The Sweet Sausage Flatbread was good, but the main courses wehad were phenomenal. Nothing fancy, but Ribs that rival Twin Anchors, and the best Prime Rib I have ever tasted. Only disappointment was no Spotted Cow on tap. I guess you can't get it outside of Wisconsin so I will give them a pass. They also have Shaw's Crabhouse's Key Lime Pie. Amazing.
(5)S K.
I love this place. Have been going for years. The food deserves four stars and is the best part of the dining experience here. Either they aren't hiring quality wait staff or they aren't taking the time to train them like they used to. The new assistant manager or hostess - I am not sure which she really is - seems clueless. She barely acknowledges you. What happened to a smile and a greeting when someone walks in. She just stares and waits for your request for a table. Strange. Every single time she sends us to the least desirable table...I guess someone has to take it. We go here at least three times a month - most of the time more. I shouldn't have to tell them every time that I prefer a better table. Wait staff always seems hurried at each table and then you see them huddled up together in a corner. Too bad really - this place used to have the best servers who recognized their return diners and accommodated them with professional service. This isn't TGIF. We usually spend anywhere from $80 to $180 a visit. Now for the good - steaks are tender and cooked perfect every time! The new menu has the old favorites and some delicious new items. Maybe we will just start dining at the bar and skip the hostess/assistant manager and mediocre wait staff all together. I can't stay away from the ribs or steaks!
(2)Karen M.
Always amazing! On our most recent visit, we were a group of 6 celebrating Mother's Day. The place was packed, but we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Our server was very attentive. The meal was outstanding. I've seen the complaints about the prices. You get what you pay for. The food is of the highest quality. I'd rather pay a bit more for a meal I know will be delicious - as well as excellent service. And you can't beat the "Up North" atmosphere. My recommendations - the almond crusted walleye; the Sat special prime rib; the Friday night Schlitz beer batter haddock. They also have fantastic fried chicken and ribs. Are you hungry? Well - get yourself over to L. Woods!
(5)Amie C.
I live everything about this place! The friendly people working (and a couple of cuties, too!), the ambience, the food, oh my! Heavenly chopped salad, sans blue cheese for me please! Great tomato bisque couples nicely with the complementary bread and butter. Fantastic fries and the chili looked pretty darn amazing too. My mouth watered as I walked by other tables and gazed in jealousy at the other dishes. Cannot wait to come back and try more options! Oh and they have fun bottles of pop, sprechers, I believe.
(5)Michael L.
I received a generous Lettuce Entertain You gift card, and looked online for advice. L Woods came up and I immediately thought of Legally Blonde. The menu looked great, and 1/2 price bottles of wine Tue/Thurs didn't hurt. I went last night and had a nice dinner. We arrived around 8:15pm for dinner and the place was packed and loud. The cozy up-north Michigan cabin ambiance was comforting. I ordered the wedge salad to start and the NY strip for dinner. The salad wedge was crisp and cold, topped with bleu cheese dressing, onions and bacon. YUM. My steak was cooked perfectly rare and huge. We also ordered the Malbec, which was $27, but half off. It was a nice blend, not too sweet or dry. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, but know what tastes good. Overall it was a pleasant experience, and I would certainly return. The place emptied out by 9:00 and was much quieter than when we arrived. Also, one of the managers came over right after we ordered and brought over a flat bread appetizer, since we had never been there before. Nice touch.
(4)Pam S.
L Woods rarely fails to please. Food is always good. Almond crusted walleye gives you a huge portion of tender fish with a great crispy crust. Skirt steak is always perfectly broiled although disappointed with the crispy onions I asked for as they were not crispy. Service is always good and their chopped salad is worth the extra price. They have recently added some Oriental meals to their takeout but have not tried them. Often crowded, loud but always good food.
(4)Mary W.
After a Mother's Day nightmare here before, we decided to wait and go the following week to dine at L Woods. Best idea I've had in a while, it was busy, but you could move without being on top of one another. This leads to my biggest issue with L Woods. There were numerous empty tables, so what do they do? They seat us between two large groups, one of which was celebrating the birthday of one VERY annoying and LOUD child. Between screeches we asked to move tables and they moved us. Common sense would not have seated us there in the first place. Even though they were not that crowded, service was very, very slow. Don't go here if you have anywhere you need to be after dining. The meal was okay, we had Ribs, Steaks and the Fried Chicken special. For the price of meals at L Woods, they should do a better job of creating more salad choices as well as veg options that are not fat and calorie loaded. They also need to up the desert choices and sell smaller portions. The Strudel was not worth the money or wait. It will be a long time before I return.
(3)Evan E.
Working in sales, I take a lot of customers out to lunch and dinner. I have never once had a bad meal or bad service at L. Woods. There are a heck of a lot of choices in Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood that are GREAT. I would venture to say that 75% or more of my many customers in the area choose Woods. The food is always great and there is something for everyone.. Vegetarian? They make their own Veggie Burger and its great.. Looking for something light? They have it, get a flat bread or salad. Or even better, the flatbread salad combo (if your not looking to go light). Their French Onion Soup is top notch! There is a bar tender there that works lunch practically every day. He has been working there since it was bones. Tell Frank your name once, he will remember you and your drink. I love L Woods. You will too!
(5)Agnes P.
A perfect location for a cold Chicago winters night. I went to L Woods last night (Wednesday) and it was amazing. They were crowded, which I was surprised with being that it was midweek. However, they managed to get us seated promptly as well as served us our meals in a short amount of time. The waitstaff was friendly & extremely professional. No busboys trying to push you to the side - rather they move out of your way & allow you to pass. Manners are difficult to come by these days - their staff is trained well. I ordered the breaded pork tenderloin and it was amazing. The entire dish from the pork, to the mashed potatoes, to the corn tasted as if it had come straight from a grandmother's kitchen. Ahhh- and the side of apple sauce tasted house made as well. My date had a cheese burger which looked delicious. I will be back again - the food served there wasn't typical, tasted as if it was made from scratch & was surprisingly fresh.
(5)Maria H.
My husband and I went here lastnight with my parents. We all are big fans of the woodsy Wisconsin atmosphere and this place was perfect. Big portions. Good service. We got there pretty early, around 5 and sat down right away. I had the ribs, which were fall of the bone with delicious sauce. We also shared a large chop salad and was perfect amount for 4. I was too full to eat my fries and tried husband's garlic mashed potatoes which were really amazing! Overall, a fun atmosphere. It was pretty crowded when we left at 7. And this was a Sunday :)
(5)Anthony C.
L Woods is a restaurant that is in our rotation - a place we go to on a regular basis, usually during the week. And every time everything is right on the money, from waitstaff, to beer selection, to food. The atmosphere is wonderful - cozy, perfect lighting, and your choice of areas to sit in from the bar area to a big cozy booth on the other side. The food is always spot on. The portions are generous and the quality is top-notch. Some of our favorites are the chop salad (my favorite anywhere), the dry-rub baby back ribs, the mohagany chicken, and the breaded pork tenderloin (a special on Wednesday night). This place is busy every day, all the time, so I would always recommend getting a reservation. Go and enjoy some of the best comfort food that the city has to offer.
(4)Eric L.
The waiter brings my friends' "Brontosaurus Ribs," my "onion strings" and my beer all at the same time. At this moment I am at a dark mood. I understand that the ribs were entered before my onion strings, in fact I don't mind if the rings comes to the table after the ribs, but since less than 5 minutes passed before me entering an order, the fact that an appetizer could be brought to my table meant that it was already prepared ahead of time. This is a restaurant sin! In order to satiate my unholy demands of all things gluttonous, do not bring me food sitting under a heat lamp; this is especially true for fried foods. As if I was some culinary neophyte, my friend explained to me that since beef ribs are so large (compared to pork I guess), he called them "brontosaurus." I picked at the onion rings. They were cold. As members of my party complained about their significant others, my friend asks for more bbq sauce. I noted, good idea, I need something hot for these onion rings from Cocytus. As I was about to join in the request for additional sauce the waiter sprinted off. It took me 10 minutes to get bbq sauce for my rings - and guess what - the sauce was frigid too.
(1)Ginny L.
My family has been going here for years, back to when it was still Bones, but oh, we love it as much as ever. Most people I go with get the steaks or ribs, which are great, but in preparation for dessert I usually go with the salad/flatbread combo. The chopped salad is GIGANTIC even when it's the side version, and the flatbread... well, it could take up half my desk. I get the feeling that even though it's crispy, delicious, and not so filling, it's absolutely terrible for me... but the salad balances that out, right? The real reason I come to L Woods is what comes next. The molten chocolate cake needs to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, and even if we're only a group of 2, we order the large size since we know we'll want leftovers. It's one of my favorite desserts on the planet, and my family's new favorite way of eating it is leftover after sitting in the freezer overnight. I still prefer it warm and gooey, but frozen is great too.
(5)Tom A.
Wayyyyyy back in the day, this place was called Bones and I'd travel down Touhy for their tasty treats-- mostly the fancy-schmancy bread and bagel basket (I learned to love bagels dipped in BBQ sauce here!) and of course, the Bones Burger. The decor then consisted of hand-painted caricatures of Chicago celebs and landmarks, and the place had a old-tomey supperclub kind of vibe. The menu has changed a bit since then, and the North Lodge atmosphere is certainly different, but overall the restaurant is still a treat. With cozy lighting and wood paneling/mounted fish and animals on the wall, the lodge ambiance is spot-on. L. Woods has a separate bar area set off from the main dining room, and the menu features a great selection of cocktails and beer (including beer flights with local brews). Their bread is still tasty and their barbecued chicken is great, but my heart still belongs to the Bones Burger-- but WAIT! Though it isn't on the menu, if you order a "Flagship Burger" they should provide you with a reasonable facsimile of their legendary Bones Burger, complete with onion strings and creamy bleu cheese dressing. Amazing! Another plus about L. Woods is that it stays true to it's supper club origins, and offers a Supper Club dinner service for parties of 6 or more. Your group can choose two appetizers, two salads, two main courses (including BBQ chicken, ribs, fish, or filet mignon for a little extra), two sides, and two desserts. Be sure to try the gooey chocolate cake (though make sure you order it when you arrive as it takes a bit to bake). Very homey atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great food!
(4)Lea L.
Great lettuce entertain you restaurant...feels like you are dining in a old lodge. Food is excellent with lots of choices. Apple strudel is the bomb-- a most order to end any meal.
(4)Chatzy F.
We absolutely love this place ! We love everything never had a bad experience ever.
(5)Mark J.
What I like about this place is that the prices and consistency are great. This is a down scale version of Wildfire, similar menu but only 2/3 the price. You cant go wrong with the steaks, chops, and chicken here. I have on numerous occassions had the parmesan crusted filet and its has been superb. The prime rib could be better....the horseradish sauce was cut with too much and not flavorful at all. Make reservations at this spot as its crazy busy every night.
(4)Billy M.
I guess I will start with the good... They had a decent beer selection with local 5 Rabbits on the menu...good work. The Key Lime Pie was very good. The Walleye Chips were solid, but when you only get 5 for a table of four, its somewhat disappointing. The bad: Our waitress asked if we wanted to order the apple streudal or chocolate gooey cake (both take 45 minutes) we said no thanks, and at the end of our entrees, we were given the check...no problem Diana, we didnt want any of the OTHER 4 desserts that we said we want...thanks. The Sunday Special: Fried Chicken (AKA over battered bland chicken special) Wow, for this to be a special would make you think that it was decent or possibly good. Not the case...way too over battered. They take the chicken out of the frier and let it cool on a baking pan instead of a rack to let the grease drip away and stop the cooking process...pretty amateurish that the wings and legs were so over fried and bad, that you couldnt even eat the outside of the piece...you had to tear everything off. The chicken was actually decent once you found it...but man, not something I would order from this place again. Service was absolutely horrendous...I understand that it was Mother's Day, but my mom saw this place in the paper, and she chose it, we went there for the Sunday Special and the waitress said that they were out of chicken, then went into the kitchen to ask, then came out and said that they had some left...probably something to mention at the beginning... Overall, not good...beer was fine, pie was solid, but the meal and the service just ruined it.
(1)jaclyn r.
Everything here is so good!
(5)Paul A.
I LOVE L. Woods and go there often, though this past visit was disappointing due to the service. Our server tried to hard-sell us on a Lettuce Entertain You Club membership saying we begin with a Lettuce$10 credit He did not explain that there would be a $25 service charge on the check We joined anyway, but did not appreciate the misrepresentation. I go to L. Woods, Wildfire, Shaws and other Lettuce restaurants and have never encountered this before. Food as always was terrific!
(3)Sarah L.
I had no idea this was a Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. We came here Saturday night with a reservation thankfully. Showed up around 7:00 and we barely got a parking spot! We were celebrating my mother in law's birthday and we wanted to take her to a nice restaurant near our house. We didn't have any appetizers because we saw the portion sizes. They are HUGE! I wanted to try the flat breads though, maybe next time. I had the Parmesan crusted cod with mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed my dinner! The servings are way too big and you can easily split a meal with someone. The fish and chips are a rip off. You get like 4 little pieces of fried cod and thin waffle chips. It's definitely overpriced at $18. Their burgers are fantastic and the BBQ half chicken is delicious too! This place is jumping on the weekends. I highly recommend making a reservation. The restaurant reminds me of dining at a supper club in northern Wisconsin. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Audrey C.
Two words: Chopped Salad. The BF and I are addicted, so addicted in fact, we often order half trays of it for pick up. If you do anything at L. Woods, eat that salad. Beyond that, this is a warm, cozy place with great ambiance. We have never had a bad time or bad service, and I hope I'm not jinxing that! Steaks are reasonably priced and yummy, the desserts are great, and overall, it's an awesome time. Just make sure you make reservations!
(5)Jacob K.
I was very surprised at the quality of the food as I have eaten here before with disappointment but last night was quite an experience. The place was full even at 9 PM, the service was dead on and the food was delicious- much more than I have ever witnessed from a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. The flat bread with dried tomatoes and basil was light, crisp and flavorful. I head the turkey burgers were good, the BBQ brisket sandwich was very good as were the double baked potatoes and fries. However, the best item was the BBQ ribs with devil sauce. There were 6 huge beef ribs that were tender and flavorful- possibly the best beef ribs I have had. They also had some great beer on tap and by the bottle. The chocolate layer cake was also quite good but after being stuffed (I ate my fries and 1/2 of the ribs) it was not as appetizing as it normally would be. The wait staff was wonderful and attentive coming with a bowl for the bones, moist paper towels and a good sense of humor.
(4)Marion B.
Yum yum yum yum yum. Seriously. We stopped on our way back from Woodfield, only because we were thinking "Elle Woods," like from Legally Blonde. We eventually figured it out, and while that was happening, we were delighted by our surroundings. It was like some kind of old supper club...elderly ladies dressed to the nines, all cooing over my friend's new baby. We didn't have a reservation, but even on a Saturday we were sat in about an hour (Remember, we had no idea this place ever existed.) Reasonably priced, positively comforting food. Yum. Oh, and get the mac & cheese as an appetizer. That's what we did, and it was the right decision. We'll be back, with a rezzie. Oh my. One of our best spur of the moment decisions ever. Oh, but, fellow patrons, women are allowed to breastfeed. Quit staring. She was totally covered up.
(5)Kristina K.
Delicious, dependable lunch spot! I've eaten in and taken out and L. Woods provides a dependable lunch no matter what. Their lunch containers have become more earth-friendly (yay!), but their take out silverware has remained the same (boo!). The pulled pork sand which is good. The burgers are delicious and juicy. The soups and chili are bowl-licking good. I know the soups are not made from scratch in house, but the Lettuce Entertain You soups are pretty good. The flat bread/pizza is a shareable portion. The macaroni and cheese is oily. L. Woods prepares the macaroni and cheese with bacon grease (which is usually yummy), but I would recommend sharing this with a friend. Some people swear by L. Woods' ribs, but I haven't had the chance to try them. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't good. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat, even to the older folks (which they have a lot of) that have a quieter-almost-on-it's-last-leg heartbeat.
(4)Kryste N.
Went for dinner last night with my mom, we went after work and got there about 6:15 - the geriatric crowd was in full attendance, and you know why? The food is great, like home cookin great! I had the skirt steak, mom had the pork tenderloin Wednesday special, and we both loved our food. My parents have a place in the north woods of WI, and my mom commented that L. Woods was like a North Woods supper club on steroids. The only complaint was that her Mojito was just ok, but to make up for it, the key lime pie we shared was about the best I've ever had, and I have eaten Key Lime pie from the FL Keys to CA, and everywhere in between and this one was a slice of heaven! I live in Edgebrook, and I'm sorry I forget this place is there cause it's really, really good.
(4)Landi D.
We love this place and eat here more often than we probably should! Though it's great for families (and the elderly), my husband and I find ourselves at L. Woods on many a Friday night, for the good, solid food and the "recession special" wine ($10 bottle of white or red, Alpana Singh's choice, I believe). I'd been in a rut for several months with the L. Woods burger, which is awesome and one of my faves in the "city": thin-ish patty, with shredded lettuce, onion and tomato, plus "special sauce" - and I sheepishly admit that I add American cheese (what?!?). But on a recent Friday night, in a moment of carnivorous wavering, I tried the veggie burger (with the server's encouragement) - and it was sooo good! Now, I'm definitely no expert in the veggie-burger world, but I've been craving this one since I first ate it. It's house-made with grains and veggies and topped with lettuce, tomato and a sun-dried tomato spread (not listed in the description but this actually "makes" the burger). And yes, I added the yellow cheese! The texture is a little soft and messy to eat, but I didn't care. My husband always gets the chopped sirloin steak, which he loves. We also usually get either a Caesar (great, garlicky dressing), or the wedge salad (with sweet and smoky bacon). The caramelized onion loaf they bring is soft and way too easy to eat before the drinks even arrive. Desserts never disappoint. We've had the apple strudel and the chocolate cake, but to be honest, it's the pies that are our favorites, particularly whatever they have for the special. We've had sweet potato, pumpkin-pecan, chocolate mousse, etc., and they are always good (when we eat them at home because we're too full to eat it at the restaurant!).
(5)Lindsey B.
I really love L. Woods. I've been here quite often and I always try something different. Everything is excellent but I think my favorite is the pot roast. It's like being home again! They bring you these huge portions and everything is so yummy. Their mashed potatoes are like heaven. The staff is always quite friendly, but the place does get pretty busy so either make a reservation or expect a wait almost any night of the week. Their bar is a great place to kill some time while you wait though too. Don't forget dessert!
(5)Deborah E.
I dare say there is nothing we have NOT had on the menu. We love L Woods because some times, damn it, ya just want good old fashioned American cuisine. We eat out a lot - and it is usually some ethnic type of food, usually Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican or Chinese. But when we want a good steak or pot roast or roast turkey or Lake Perch or fried chicken, we head to L Woods. It is so reliable. I think the only time I sent anything back - which I RARELY do - is when I got my fish n chips and there was like 3 tiny litle pieces of fish - for $17.99. This happened to my brother-in-law, too, so send it back and say "What gives??" My personal faves: the onion strings, the tomato soup (AMAZING!), the Chopped Salad - truly, one of my fave salads on the planet - and the Sunday special, the Fried Chicken dinner. My mom comes to Chgo a few times per year from MI and she always wants to go to L Woods for the Sunday-only Fried Chicken. According to my mom, a fried chicken dinner ain't worth shit unless it is FOUR big pieces and has a scrumptious batter - affirmative for both at L Woods along with potato or veggie and a good biscuit with honey. Last year, when I took my mom for the chicken, they were OUT! My mother was so sad but one of the managers whipped out a card and wrote on it "One Free Entree" for my mom for her next visit. She was delighted! KUDOS TO YOU for your customer service, L Woods!
(5)Dave S.
Just by driving by this place, I would never ever think twice about stopping in here to eat. The exterior is really unmemorable except for all of the cars in the lot on a week night. As we stepped in, I thought that the lodge type feel was a little cheesy and a bit over the top but it did remind me of all of those Wisconsin type Supper Clubs that I used to go to when travelling up north. Our server was very helpful, friendly and knowledge about the menu. Since we were firs timers there he brought us out a complimentary flatbread which was pretty darn tasty. We started out with the calamari. We typically know that fried calamari is going to be a solid appetizer choice and once again, it was here also. I ordered a full slab of ribs and it was not the best BBQ that I have ever had but it was pretty damn good and plenty damn plentiful! For dessert we split the apple strudel which was outstanding: crisp and delicious!
(4)Anthony M.
This is one of the oldest LEU resturants, but it has not always been called L. Woods. Lets just say if you are looking for some good ol American food that reminds you of the midwest, come to L. Woods! Words can not begin to describe how great the food is and the selection they have! While the menu is big, it really has stayed the same since it first opened. Still, you can usually find one or two dishes that are really good. They are known for their Pounded Chicken, Apple Tart, Tomato Bisque, and Chocolate Cake! Also, they have a very bustling take out business so if you are in the area and want to take it home, they do a very good job with that too! If you want that backwoods feel again from the old Supper Clubs of NY and WI, come to L. Woods.
(5)Elizabeth H.
We've been driving by this place for a year now and always notice how the parking lot is packed, even on a random week night. Continually it has been put in the back pocket for a time when we can't figure out where to eat and finally we reached in and brought it out to try. Great overall experience! From the moment we walked in: the decor was comfy, the hostesses were friendly and our server was attentive. We were given the complimentary BBQ Chicken flatbread since this was our first time and unfortunately this was my least favorite part of the whole meal. It may have been a little over done, but I really thought it was not good and who complains about free food!? Appetizer: Parmesan Shrimp. Good, but very rich. I had the Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails and for a pepper/steak lover I could not have been more pleased. Steak was cooked to my liking and came with a choice of potato - I went with the baked, it was huge. We also ordered a side of Mac and Cheese and it did not disappoint. Crunchy parmesan was on top and it was hard to stop eating! Our daughter was invited to join the kids club, which means every time we go in she get a hole punched out on a card and after 10 punches gets her picture on the wall! Although I think going there 10 times will take us a VERY long time, it is still a fun concept and we got $5 off of our check for doing it. All in all it seems that L. Woods does a really good job of making and keeping regulars. Next time I am in the mood for comfort I will happily return!
(4)Steve K.
Went there last night. Food was very good, service was great and th e price was reasonable. We will go back!
(5)Erin S.
Woohoo! I'm thrilled at this find! Calamari that's NOT overcooked + rootbeer in frosty mugs + free roast beef/pesto flat bread appetizer for being 1st timers = AWESOME! Buffalo chicken salad was nice & spicy, just the way I like things! Pork tenderloin special came with THE most crisp corn, scrumptious mashed 'spuds & homemade applesauce. (Excellent portions, no pretentious pricing & super friendly/courteous staff!) Can't wait to try it again!
(5)Eric M.
Lots of old people; I came here with a bachelor party and the age wasn't much of a problem in fact it was kind of funny, but if you want the super ritzy atmosphere this place isn't it. Some of the drinks were slow coming, one or two were made wrong so - points there. Get the ribs, everyone who got them was pleased, while the rare steak didn't come out rare at all.
(3)TS W.
Took my friend there for his birthday yesterday. First the server Justin was awesome! They asked if we were a first time customer once we said yes a manager stopped by to welcome us and gave us an appetizer on the house which was a lavosh, with cheese and asparagus on top (yummy!) I had their Parmesan Crusted Fillet it was great! My friend had their BBQ salmon which was a large portion and very yummy! For desert we had a huge chocolate gooey cake had to take most of it home! Love their tap beer selections! Will be going there again! Thanks L Woods! Highy recommend reservations and going early!
(4)Chuck k.
My wife and I went here for dinner with our friends who live in Chicago. I liked it better than she did, so here's my review. As you can glean from other review, L-woods is a rustic looking steak house. Our server was very nice and attentive, the food was at a reasonable price. We shared a flatbread, which the table enjoyed. I started with the French Onion Soup Au Gratin, which was very good and went down well on a cold evening. For my main course, the Prime Bone-in Rib eye. It was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful and juicy. For my side I had a baked potato, which was the average baked potato. But our friend split a twice baked potato and creamed spinach with me. My cholesterol went up 40 points that evening but it was worth it. I could have eaten a whole order of each by myself! For dessert the very nice Famous Apple Strudel. The pastry was nice and crisp, the apples a little tart. The caramel sauce on the side went great with it. The manager was a little odd, he'd never heard of rare salmon. But other than that, and the server goofing up the flatbread order, it was a very good meal.
(4)Rlvb V.
This place is like your grandparent's cabin by the lake, and it makes you want to book your next vacation to Door County WI. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the service is friendly, and the food is solidly good. Just don't go there for a 'later' dinner as it all but shuts down by 9pm, unless of course you like being the only ones there. Highly recommend!
(5)Eric M.
Great Wisconsin ambiance. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had. Definitely recommend for a fun and casual dinner with a group of friends.
(5)J T.
Normally the carryout BBQ Baby Back Ribs at L Woods are our favorites to order. On 11/8, I ordered five full Prairie Grove Farms BBQ Baby Back Ribs -full slab at $ 25.99 which isn't cheap. Ordering online at their site is a breeze. Each order comes with a cole slaw, bread and extra sauce. This night a couple of the slabs had pieces which were a bit burnt, crispy. Hope it's not a trend to be.
(3)Brian D.
Besides the great meal i always have, they have a gluten free menu for my girlfriend! HUGE! Great staff and bartenders too. They'll make a Brandy Alexander for dessert! Ribs are great, fish is always great, and the specials and any chicken meals are great too. Lets not forget the sides, my fav is the creamed spinach. If you havent been get your buns in there, you wont be sorry!
(5)Demetrio P.
Two words...Beef Ribs...hmmmm! This place is a no frills, old school ambiance, with good food. My last visit, I had the BBQ Beef Ribs which were excellent, tasty, no too sweet or tart, BBQ sauce was on the mark, and the ribs itself were huge! It came with about 6 beef ribs which I could only eat three! I will definitely go back and try their baby back ribs and other selections. In summary, good food, good service, okay prices.
(4)Anthony M.
This place was packed. Fishing decor awesome. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. I'll be back.
(4)Kathleen C.
I was not expecting anything special. I thought I was going to an old person's Bennigans. However, L Woods is AMAZING! I was definitely right about the old people that swarmed the place but this place is great and I can't wait to go back. We had free bread and butter given to us when we sat down. The bread was warm and great tasting (unlike stale bread most places give). And we said it was our first time there so they gave us free flatbread. I thought it was ok but the BF loved it--even the mushrooms! We ordered calimari which was great. Really good breading and just the right amount of frying. Too bad I was getting full at this point... I just wanted a salad and although they are famous for their chopped chicken salad, i just wanted something plain. I ordered the house salad which was anything but plain! It was HUGE and had lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and croutons. The BF had low expectations. However, he ordered skirt steak which was marinated overnight in pineapple juice. He LOVED it. Every few bites he would say "This is so good." And the mashed potatoes were fabulous. I think there was a whole stick of butter in the dish that he received which is probably awful for your health but so good for your tummy! We ended our meal with a peanut butter/chocolate chip milkshake that they split into two kids cups with lids and straws. FANTASTIC! And for all that food with tip, it was only $60 with leftovers! Can't wait to go back! Especially since I was so jealous of the food on tables around us.
(4)Pete D.
Make reservations fans! Great service and good food. Chopped salad is great and the flat bread is to die for. It is a little crowded and dark as far as ambiance goes but surprisingly it wasn't too loud. We had a larger group and Greg was our server, if you want someone who is professional and efficient ask for him!
(4)kaya s.
Some of the best baby backs I've ever had. Good cesar too, a bit garlicky, but I'm Italian so I don't mind at all. I've been here at least a dozen times and never left unhappy. The wines are affordable and they always have good seasonal beers. The skirt steak has great flavor although it can be a little stringy but that's the nature of the cut. I recommend any of the flat-breads for an appetizer. Also order the apple strudel, and remember it takes about 45 minutes so make sure your server knows. You won't regret it, if you can't finish its just fine the next day. Warm it up in the oven, trust me. Service is usually pretty good to great. The ambiance is nice and has a homey kinda feel. Not your run of the mill leye restaurant as they seem to have become, this is more of a neighborhood establishment and is kid friendly as well. Great food for every course and good drink, good for lunch and/or dinner.
(5)Scott H.
One of my favorite Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Why? Because it doesn't seem like a "chain"-type place at all even though the menu's visual similarity to that of Wildfire is evident. A great place to take visiting family for a great supper club-type meal or simply just a weeknight burger and draft in the tap room. This place evokes far-away lakeside spots in Northern Wisconsin or Northern Michigan and hits all the right notes for me. Their burger is one of the best I've had and the ribs (while not likely traditional barbecue) certainly hit the spot. Better make reservations as they're busy every night, but the tap room is very accommodating if you're into a slightly more casual, but still very comfy atmosphere.
(4)Jim R.
We had not been to the restaurant in a while. Was listening to Steve Dahls podcast and heard about it again. We went on a Tuesday night, which happened to be 1/2 off on bottles of wine. The list was not extensive, but enough to get a good bottle. We really enjoyed the meal. Good portions and reasonably priced.
(4)Tammy Q.
Love me, L. Woods! I've had cravings for ribs from L. Woods on numerous occasions. I think they have the best ribs in the city and northside. Their ribs are the perfect blend of tangy and sweetness! The baked potato is the size of my face with globs of yummy sour cream and butter! If you tell them it's your first time, you'll get a sample of their flatbread. Plenty of dessert selections. This place is always packed so be sure to arrive early and with an empty stomach. Definitely dine in if you want the ribs. I did carry out one time and the ribs were not that great!
(5)Tracy F.
The steak sandwhich was delicious, ABSOLUTELY, the best I had ever had. The fries that accompanied them were salty and dry but I completely forgave L Woods because of the perfection that was the steak sandwhich. Served on lightly toasted onion bread with tomato and lettuce, the steak sandwhich was tender, juicy, with a hint of that char taste from meat cooked over a flame. I would highly recommend it. My boyfriend got the barbequed chicken with garlic mashed and he didn't even offer a bite! Next time, I will try some of the steaks and sides items. I am sure they will be good.
(5)Jennifer G.
Be aware this place is 70% senior citizens, so if you don't want to dine with Uncle Junior and grandma, this will not be the place for you. That aside, very standard food for a supper club type place. Good ribs, good steak, huge potatoes, etc. Be sure to tell them it is your first time - they pull out a deelish flat bread for first timers - nothing says a good meal like a free appetizer
(3)Rex C.
Good food, service and a great dining atmosphere. It's a fun dining experience. I like the ribs, mahogany chicken, daily specials, and their soups/chili are always good.
(5)Colleen B.
L. Woods is everything you expect from a steakhouse. Very much enjoyed the bbq planked salmon. Recently returned for my father's birthday; everything from the mashed potatoes to the brontosaurus-sized beef ribs were enjoyed by all. Also, I was surprised by the decent selection of local microbrews on tap. A delicious and gut-busting meal with great service.
(4)Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and every time its a pleasure. I mostly have been there for lunch/early supper.. I have had salmon, burgers, clubs and everything in between... its all FANTASTIC. Service is an A+ This place is definitely pricey, but well worth it. Luckily I get gift cards often and that is how i justify the trip.
(4)Christy S.
My husband and I had Lettuce Entertain You gift cards that were about to expire and we decided to go somewhere we had never been. L Woods was the place. I wasn't expecting much, but man was I wrong! The service was incredible! We ordered drinks and got them what felt like seconds after we ordered them. My water glass was never empty. And there was always someone around in case the tables needed anything. Then there was the food. I ordered the cheeseburger with Merkts cheese, medium rare. When I order medium rare, I usually end up with more of a medium, and I like my meat red, so I am usually disappointed. This burger was just the perfect amount of rare for my tastes, and it was delicious! My husband ordered the steak sandwich, also medium rare, which is difficult to master on such a thin piece of meat, however, L Woods got it perfect. They serve the sandwich with a horseradish sauce that was a perfect compliment to the steak and was not too overwhelming. The fries were fries, but perfectly cooked. We ordered a side of mac n cheese because it is one of my many my weaknesses and it was amazing...so good that we ordered another side to take home with our leftovers! We will be returning to L Woods again soon!
(5)Catherine M.
This place cracks me up. For some reason my (non-geriatric) parents have steaked their claim in L Woods as a favorite date-night destination. That has since transended into family dinners out which are the only circumstances that I've been here for. I would say on average my husband and I (who are both in our 30s) are significantly younger (by decades) then everyone else here. Oh, and don't even THINK about stopping by between the early bird (5p.m.) dinner time- the wait is longer than the line for Le Passage on a Saturday night. The food and ambiance are fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing that has been outwardly bad. One thing I always get here is the Sprechers orange cream soda (on tap) in a frosted mug! DELISH. My mom and husband love their ribs and I guess they do them right at L Woods (I'm not such a fan in general). I usually opt for their flat breads or salads (their spinich salad is MASSIVE but tasty). All in all- it's dark. It's cozy. The food is good. The age of the average dinner is about 40 years older than me.
(3)ardath b.
Can you say YUM! Love this place for ribs and their side choices! Back woodsy atmosphere, amazing meat choices and the seasoning beats all. I loved it so much, I celebrated my 50th birthday there, and everyone one of my friends raved about the food (except the vegetarians of course). They do have veggie choices too. Top of my list! Fantastic dessert choices too.
(5)eStephanie M.
Every time I see the name of this restaurant it makes me laugh because my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant 3 times in 2 weekends. The waiter noticed us the second time and said, "Oh you're back for more!" We sure were! I would be more specific about what we ate, but the last time we went was a few months ago so I don't remember. All I know is that it was all good! I think it's time for another visit.
(4)chris e.
ok, im writing this after a few trips to Lwoods -and last night will be my last- In all fairness i cant give them 1 star, because *ah, the food*, which is after all what the biggest deal is at a restaurant, but there are enough negatives built up over our visits there to make me say 'never again' .. Straw that broke the camel's back? - last night - because Saturdays are notoriously busy,i called and made reservations in the afternoon for 8pm. We got there 15 minutes early and were standing next to the Maitre' D's podium waiting to be seated. Along comes this guy who goes up to the podium and hes flirting and schmoozing the Maitre'D. i hear her say to him "i have an 8'oclock" he says 'ok' and goes and stands across from us with his girlfriend.. 20 mins later , guess who gets seated first? Not us! This is seriously not ok .. not only did we call earlier to make reservations first, but there were other people who walked in, like this guy, without a reservation and they were told it was going to be an hour wait. We gave the Maitre D our little pager thingy (sadly to never go off for us =P) i told her why we were leaving -her only comment was to ask me for my last name so she could take us off the books- and we left. Definately commenting to management today in an email ..not something i usually do, but yanno if the wait is normally 1+ hr, that Maitre D had better be on the ball and also know the meaning of customer service. The food is awesome -if u can ever get seated - out of the 6 or so times we have been there, we have only had 'order problems' (items forgotten or not as we ordered) twice...Good average? i suppose considering the amount of traffic they see - altho it didnt make us happy at the time - especially on the one occasion when we decided not to brave the wait times because there were no reservations available and did a 'take out' instead. We live a bit aways and not going back for the horseradish sauce ala Prime Rib. (Hmmm wish i had known that i could just have had my fiance go up to the Maitre D and flirt with her a bit and we could have been seated in front of everyone else..we would have eaten in that night) Another warning - take out portions are nowhere near the size of eat in but still the same price. Other things to consider - they do have a parking lot, where u can normally get a space (expect to have to wrangle or wait on really high volume nights like holidays) .. The pricing is definately on the high side and the dinner structure is set that u have to order the side orders if u want more than bare basics- but those are huuuuge and normally delicious ..Wait service has ranged for us from great - our first visit - ok and worth the 15% tip (most times) to poor - only once. ill miss the apple strudel -which is one of their saving graces- but not enough to make me want to deal with the treatment at the price it costs
(2)Joe S.
I wish I lived closer to this place. I went here randomly for lunch with a buddy the other day. What a cool place. It has a wonderful Lodge/cabin feel to it. We ate in the restaurant part and there are all these wonderful pictures and everything is wood. I was really blown away by the onion bread and my Chicken Club sandwich. Damn, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I wish it was close for a few reasons, the food and service obviously, but it had a really cool looking bar area. I could see myself bellying up to the bar and making it my local establishment. I was very surprised to hear it was a Lettuce Entertain you place as they seem more like chains...anyway, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)Regina K.
Holy Moly, this place is delicious. My bf and I furniture shopped all day in the burbs, and we were ravenous by the time we got to L Woods. There was a wait, but we had a few tasty beers. We were comped a flatbread appetized. We had soup, the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich, and a positively delcious desert of Lava cake. I would absolutely recommend. We had a ton of leftovers, and the bill was about $60, with 2 beers and tips.
(5)Jennifer L.
If you didn't know this was a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, you probably wouldn't figure it out from the decor. It reminds me of...I don't know what, exactly. An old lodge? Ponderosa (remember those)? Your corner bar? Whatever. The food is excellent. I had the pounded chicken which came with a delightful lemon cream sauce that, when it oozed its way over to the mashed potatoes on my plate, created a heavenly pairing. My parents had the turkey special, which came with cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole. Service was quick and friendly. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)Matt K.
Ordered online. The food was excellent and packaged well so everything arrived fresh. It was a bit pricey @ $25 for an appetizer & entree including delivery fees but I'll order from them again
(4)Roisin H.
The food here is REALLY yummy. I had the parmesan crusted filet (8 oz) which was delicious! My husband got the ribeye steak. I also had a martini (ok two martinis) which was really the best i've had since one I had at Keefer's (another of my fave restaurants--but much more expensive). The reason I gave only 4 stars that the server was rushed and you really had to flag her down if you wanted anything. It seemed like that was just de rigeur, though, as opposed to it just being a busy night. Oh, we also got the apple strudel (10.99- but they actually give you a WHOLE apple strudel!) which comes with a buttery caramel sauce--so delish!) The waitress let us know when we ordered our entrees it takes 40 minutes to cook. I ordered it when we were about halfway through dinner and she looks at me and goes..."You know it takes 40 minutes...?" I'm like, "Is that okay?" Sheesh!
(4)Allison S.
I went on a date here a couple days ago. Since it was my first time her the waitress (who was extremely nice!) brought us a comped flat bread - it was the bbq chicken one, very delicous! Then I got the bbq planked salmon with corn and mashed potatoes, it was very good but heavy so I ended up bring half of it home. For dessert we got the Gooey Chocolate Cake. It was so rich, I wanted to eat more of it but I was starting to feel my tooth hurt! The overall vibe was a lot of older people, we were the only young people really in there that weren't with our parents. I would go back with the family, but not on another date.
(4)Logan S.
Went back December 15th. All I can say about my first review is "ditto". And the new desserts are wonderful!!
(5)Tony C.
Great food and not expensive great for lunch and dinner. Worth going to.
(5)Ryan R.
Amazing Experience. Our neighbor gave us a $50 Lettuce Entertain U card and we had been sitting on it for far to long. I guess we were trying to figure out a "date" night without our 3 year old. Well that never came to be so we had to find the right "family" restaurant. L. Woods was fantastic. I called first for a reservation and the accommodated to meet our needs. When we showed up early they sat us, no questions asked, no attitude. With a smile. Our server Jean was so great. We informed her that is was our first time and she practically rolled out the red carpet. She was very knowledgeable and helped us understand what L Woods was all about. The food was great. Authentic American. It reminded me of some of the home cooking I came to love back in Michigan. My wife and I split a Caesar salad, and we enjoyed some of their great flat bread. My son had the Kids Chicken Strips and My wife and I had the Special Shepard's Pie. We also enjoyed a beer as well. To top of the visit the manager Joe came to our table and thanked us for coming. Where else do you get that in the city? He then treated us to a giant slice of Chocolate cake...awesome! If you get a chance check out L. Woods. It is like stepping out of the city without the commute.
(5)Jonny M.
I was wavering between A-Ok and Yay! I'm a fan in all honesty. This is clearly the local hangout. It's been years since I've stopped by as I moved to LA - however I was meeting up with friends and it seemed the ideal place for a group of 6. I'll sum as follows...its Rich Melman Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can be sure you're getting nothing but the finest in food and service. The portions were quite large (also evident by the average size of people dining there!) and the taste was good - not great. I had the parm crusted whitefish and a double baked potato. The fish was served tepid and somewhat flavorful and the double baked was outstanding. We started with an order of flatbread which was large and full of flavor. I love the decor as it reminded me of being in the Wisconsin North Woods.
(4)David S.
Most people on Yelp rave about their fried chicken special on Sundays. Not me. I really want to love L. Woods Tap, and generally think that Lettuce Entertain You does restaurants better than any other corporate chain out there. BUT, this afternoon's experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth... the taste of lukewarm chicken fat. I started with the french onion soup as an appetizer. You know, the soup that comes to your table too hot to eat because they take hot soup, put in a crockery bowl, top it with cheese and then brown the cheese under the broiler so that everything about it is hot. Not this one. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it was far from hot. Just warm enough for me to eat it Then they bring the fried chicken and a baked potato that looks damp... a baked potato, if you bake it in an oven, should have a crisp outer skin with STEAMING potato on the inside. Nope, not even warm enough to melt the friggin' butter. Then the pièce de résistance... as in the thing that should make you resist the urge to eat here... the fried chicken was tepid at best. That was it, I told the waitress and she graciously took my food back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later, the food came back and the chicken was crispy and hot, but the fresh potato was no warmer than the first one. Points to the manager for coming over to the table to apologize but his apology was about as lukewarm as the food. For $50 with tax & tip for a burger and an order of fried chicken, some soup and a dinner salad, you can do WAY better elsewhere.
(2)Kathy R.
The perfect, hearty dining experience before we had Bad Movie Night with some friends of ours. These friends had raved about L Woods, so we all went Saturday night (make a reservation!). I liked the atmosphere right away - log cabin, wood-paneled walls, cozy. And although I noticed people in dressier garb - celebrating some event, I guess - there were plenty like us in more casual jeans, t-shirts. The menu is built around comfort food - BBQ ribs, chicken, steaks, fish. The giant mound of onion strings was a good starter. My half BBQ chicken was moist (even the next day, reheated) and the BBQ sauce is mighty tasty. My husband liked his BBQ planked salmon, which was surrounded by corn and mashed potatoes. Please note portions are huge! Our server was great - she competently answered my questions about several entrees, and kept our glasses filled. When she asked if anyone was here for the first time, I said yes - and prepared for some tired spiel. But no - instead, she subsequently brought us a gratis plate of BBQ chicken/pesto flatbread as a "welcome." High marks for a free appetizer - and it was delicious to boot! Kids are welcome here. (They have a "Kids Club" - after a child's 10th visit, they take their pic and put it up on the wall of fame). Although we didn't request it, we were seated in the back room, which - with 2 toddlers - gave us a little more space. My friend and I got the chocolate peanut butter shake, in to-go cups. After that, we were officially stuffed (all the better, to watch Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man on the couch). I'm looking forward to trying the ribs on my next visit.
(4)Suze R.
I wasn't that impressed with L Woods. We went on a Saturday night, even though we made a reservation 5 days in advance we got a lousy table, crammed right up against another table. Just letting you know, you will be dining with 90% senior citizens. I felt like I was in a retirement home, except for the noise. These old folks have quite an attitude too. Iv'e never been to Lincolnwood, not very friendly. Food was average, wait staff was poor considering the cost of the meal. We ordered a large caesar salad, the waitress portioned it out at the table, spilling some on the table, and just left it there and walked away! All righty then! My husband had the prime rib, it was ok. The beef ribs are huge, actually too large for the plate, which makes it very hard to eat. Overall I wouldn't go back.
(2)Dennis S.
Vastly over rated, this second rate restaurant has prices that will put you in the poor house. Portions while fresh are small. Nothing to write home about. Avoid this pricey Americana nostalgia restaurant.
(3)Connie W.
Comfortable atmosphere, excellent service, and good food.
(4)Ann Y.
My hubby and I tried L Woods for the first time yesterday and I have to say it was really good. We told the waitress it was our first time there since I wanted some recommendations, and the next thing I knew the manager brought over some BBQ chicken flatbread which was amazing and so good. It was so think and crispy with homeade pesto and the BBQ sauce was real sweet. They really offset each other well. For dinner we both had the RIbs and they were really meaty and good. I couldn't even finish my half slab. I also ordered the french onion soup which was one of the best I had in a long time. They have an extensive wine and beer list. The only thing I didn't like was the service. While the waitress got us our free appetizer she wasn't anywhere around. I had to ask for silverware and had to ask other people for our bill.I will be back, and hopefully the service will improve.
(4)Michelle W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the northwoods feel and the food is amazing. I've been here several times, but still can't get past the pounded chicken - it is amazingly delicious! People I've gone with have also ordered ribs and steaks and such and I have never heard any complaints about the food being less than wonderful.
(5)Carolynne M.
My hands are literally shaking as I write this. Let me preface this by saying that for a long time I had wanted to try L Woods but for one reason or another never got the chance. Seemed like a nice, laid back joint with a nicely varied menu. Now my opinion is forever scarred due to my boss who I will nickname "Goddamn Salad Lover" (GSL) GSL is OBSESSED with the chopped salad at L Woods. SO obsessed, that for every birthday, event, or Slap-On-The-Back-Nice-Job lunch, we are treated to THE SALAD. Nothing else. Salad only. The salad isnt bad, really. Its just a bunch of pasta, lettuce, onions, bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese mixed together. Or so I told myself up until the 7th time I had it. We are now up to something like the 364th time. GSL attacks it, however, with a fervor usually reserved for starving dogs or PMS-afflicted girls near a chocolate shop. My throat is closing simply thinking about the next time this frickin salad is going to make its next appearance. Oh and dont even think that not eating the salad is an option. You wanna be a team player, you best be loading up your plate and smile as you do it!!! I'm sorry L Woods. I hear you have some other real nice stuff on your menu, like desserts and mac & cheese and fish and stuff. Please discontinue the salad so I might be able to try these other things someday! Help a girl out, huh?
(3)Clark K.
Chopped salad, chopped salad, chopped salad. It's that good. You should probably refer to me as Mr. GSL (see Carolynne's review below) as well because it is a damn good salad! We always order it as an appetizer at L Woods. However, I do not recommend skipping on the other great entrees. L Woods calls itself a "supper club" and it has a hunting cabin feel. You feel like you are at a ski resort perhaps. I enjoy the ambiance, but not half as much as I enjoy their fried chicken. Oh man, it is crispy, fatty , and delicious. I would say just like momma used to make it, but L. Woods' is probably better. Make sure you order the mashed potatoes because they are ultra creamy. L. Woods is a great place to start/end the night after a movie at the nearby Crown theater. Highly recommended.
(5)Steven M.
You simply can't go wrong with the BBQ at this Lettuce Entertain You establishment. This restaurant has a great drink menu including a cherry martini, the Midwest mojito (num num) and a great beer flight for 7 bucks. The apple stick salad, Manhattan (red) clam chowder and french onion soup are pretty fantastic. Veggie burgers and flat-breads are all excellent for vegetarians and all. Beef and baby back ribs are tender and spicy, and the mahogany roast chicken and BBQ planked salmon are among my favorite entrees. Pounded Chicken a la Sima is ungodly large and big enough for 3 people if they have salads first! Oven baked desserts must be ordered at the time of your entree order although we rarely have these because, well we're calorie-counting Nazis! I think it's important to say this does not feel like a corporate chain restaurant at all. It's oh so good!
(4)Amy S.
Yet another LEYE gift certificate to use, with an expiration of 4/15/09. So, the hubster and I ventured out of the city and to L Woods for dinner. We live right off 94, and the restaurant is very close to the Touhy exit, so given the ease in getitng there, and the quality of the food/service, I'm sure we'll be back. The place was PACKED- glad we had a reservation (we were able to get one for 7:15 on a Friday three days in advance). The number of people did not impact the quality of service. We were greeeted immediately and received wonderful service through our meal. Chopped Salad= LICK THE BOWL. Husband got Cheddar Crusted Whitefish and loved it, citing a jalapeno kick in the crust not mention on the menu but well received. I had the BBQ Trio- 3 tiny BBQ sandwiches: pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken. I ate two there, and then one for leftovers the next day, and all were fantastic. The downer.......the couple who was insanely drunk and swearing/arguing at the table next to us, got up to leave twice, verged on physical violence. No, I'm not kidding. Finally, they left. The upper...... the manager came over once the crazies went home for another drink and fightfest- he apologized profusely and offered us a free dessert. Well done, manager man. Well done. The Key Lime Pie was excellent, too.
(4)Sarah V.
My husband and I came here this past Friday night for my birthday. We had made a reservation for 6:30, arrived just before that time and were seated right away! The restaurant has a nice vibe... It's kind of reminiscent of an old-school, lakeside supper club. Very cozy... low lighting... rustic decor. Good stuff. Our waitress, who was very friendly, introduced herself, asked if we'd dined with them before (we had not) and let us know what the specials were for the night. A few minutes later, after we'd gotten our drinks, Patrick (I'm assuming he was a manager) came to our table to deliver a complimentary flatbread order. He said he was told it was our first time dining with them and just wanted to thank us for coming out! How cool is that?? Plus the flatbread, which was a BBQ chicken with pesto sauce was phenomenal! Sooooo tasty! I ordered the french onion soup to start and my husband had a wedge salad to start and both were very good! Our meals came fairly quicky, which was great. I had the BBQ chicken and my husband had the Friday night special, which was the fried perch. Both were excellent! Also, I HIGHLY recommend the garlic mashed potatoes as a side... to die for! All in all, it was a great meal with excellent service. What more can you ask for?
(5)jean h.
Went on a Saturday night and was told the wait would be about an hour. Got seated in probably 30 minutes. The place is very lively with people as young as toddlers to seniors in their 90's. Got seated in what seemed like an extra room in the corner. I was freezing - I'm NEVER cold. I needed to wear my winter coat the entire time. Our waitress was very good and our meal was served in a timley manner. Onion strings were good as well as the pulled pork. The mac and cheese - meh. My husband had the filet and it was really good.Nice but we were really COLD.
(3)Carol J.
A quaint and bustling outpost of the LEYE chain, but definitely a character all is own. It reminds me of the supper club in Northern Wisconsin where I spent my summers (albiet against MY will) as a child. And I've probably been here just as many times. Food is solid with outstanding bbq ribs and chicken. Gorgeous and bountiful salads and mind boggling potatoes. I've had most of the apps on the menu and really enjoyed the crab cakes both as an app an as an entree. Service is standard Lettuce which in my opinion is pretty polished, professional and proficient. Never a problem there except when the servers get slammed during the very busy lunch rush. Big plus is the free parking. And the flatbread. And the retro ish cocktails. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. The only thing missing are the bass fisherman drinking Old Style at the bar.
(4)Gail Z.
Disappointing after all the years of much better food. Had a reservation and were seated promptly to the table. Water glass at the table was filthy. Wait staff all seem preoccupied with other worldly thoughts than their jobs--very impersonal. Ordered beers which were poured at our table by our waitress who needs to take a lesson in how to do it correctly. Ordered their usually good onion strings and those have been changed and are now served in a paper lined cone shaped serving piece and were not strings and had no onion flavor--salty and not the same as in the past. They do always get a big crowd, but I now hesitate to return as things are going downhill. So sorry this is happening to a restaurant you could always count on in the past. Too bad.
(2)Kristina O.
I went to L Woods on my birthday last year and have been meaning to come back ever since. The food here is really great. The onion bread you start off with is nice and fresh, my chicken was fabulous, and the sides we had were VERY good (especially the garlic mashed potatoes). I'm not a fan of the whole "log cabin" feel, but I also really hate the idea of being in "the great outdoors." I'm pretty convinced only white people enjoy that kinda thing.
(4)Wik G.
I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there. I bring kids there and they were all treated super nice. It's definitely a good family place with good food.
(5)Sue K.
Definitely has that supper club feel. Never tried it, but heard the apple strudel is good. Lettuce Entertain Yourrific.
(5)Tim L.
Amazing service. Great food and atmosphere. Feels like a place my family would've gone to growing up.
(4)Feisty E.
Good food, good value. Can be called romantic, if you're into roaring 20s Chicago dinner club... very dim, dark wood/lots of red. Not bad. Very comfy booths - but they have to realize they need to clean tables AND seats, esp. after people with bunch of kids eat (unfortunately, some people can't resist taking a 2 yo for dinner at 9am on Sat night). I almost sat on leftover sauce last time... They did apologize and clean up promptly after we pointed out the sauce however. No big deal, they were busy, and we were hungry. White shorts did escape a brown splotch, so it's all good ;) We've been there a total of 15 times or so over the years; some things are always consistently great. Chopped salad, whitefish and prime rib are our favorites. Last time especially, the prime rib was delish. They also get the doneness correctly every time. Another favorite is the chocolate molten/mousse cake - YUM. Place order ahead, takes 0.5 or so. It's just as good as Roy's, and more bang for your buck. The single portion is no longer available, but do not fear - you can refrigerate this cake, give it a nuke at home and enjoy it next day or two. Service is very consistent, helpful but not intrusive. Like it a lot. My only gripe is the drinks... good lord, it would be funny if wasn't so sad. Glad someone mentioned it before. Let me be very specific; do NOT order mixed drinks there, truly atrocious. Stick with your Guinness or neat liquor. Long ago, before drink quality was better than dismal (new bartender?), they had an OK Door County martini. Last 2 times I ordered, it was cherry juice (grenadine, really... gross) without a hint of vodka or actual sour cherries that supposed to come with it. This drink is their special.. wtf?? excuse my French. I used to bartend while in school, and I did share with the waitress that it is truly the worst flavored martini ever... in turn, she confided in me that the said cherry martinis are PREMADE and kept in a large pitcher. What moron pre-makes martinis, folks? We were comped for it, but I didn't *want* a free one... a wanted a good one, and was unable to get it, not even on second try. But again, the food is good (sin major butter overuse, but hey.... as an occasional treat, it probably won't kill you). Fire the bartender(s), fix the drink menu and you have a descent mid-level place for a casual meat-and-potato delight.
(3)Melissa M.
Went here on Saturday night for an early Mother's Day celebration. Will not go back. A couple of us ordered the Saturday special (prime rib) and it was probably the most sub par prime rib I have ever had. It was tasteless. I asked the waiter to bring some au jus hoping that I can drown the tasteless prime rib with some juice, but the au jus was just as tasteless. But I guess I should have figured that out when the prime rib was tasteless. Tasteless prime rib, tasteless au jus. I almost asked for A-1 sauce which is blasphemous for prime rib. My mother in law ordered the special (halibut) and said it was not good. BBQ ribs were just okay. The only thing that was good was the chocolate layer cake. Waiter was not very friendly and service was super slow. How can this be a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant?
(1)Adam S.
Had dinner with 7 the other night and was crammed in to a corner booth so tight I felt like I needed to lift my plate off the table and create my own little space so as not to knock elbows with the people on either side of me. Besides that crammed feel, the place was pretty good. Their specialty is definitely the BBQ although I thought the BBQ beef brisket sandwich was pretty skimpy, i.e. lots of bun, not a lot of cuts of beef - but what do you expect for only paying $9.95! Definite kudos on the setting; this place used to be the indy restaurant Bones which had been around for years and years. LEY bought it a few years ago and fortunately kept the old vibe and have seemingly retained the mix of clientele: north city, lincolnwood/skokie young people mixed with cranky people. :) All in all a good place for comfort food but it's also incredibly loud so if you're thinking comfort food AND chilling out, this may not be the best place.
(3)Minnie L.
I really really really like L Woods. I've been there a few times - with a big party, a couples night and just with my daughter. Every time the service was pretty good! The only thing that took a little while were the drinks but then again the waiter doesn't have control over how fast the bartender makes them. Ok but let get to the amazing food. My favorite is the Devil Style Beef Ribs. They are so tasty and the portions are hugh! I also loved the mac and cheese which is good for adults and kids. My next trip I will try the Prime Rib which is only served on Saturdays. I was told it is sooooooooo yummy! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Annaliza F.
y am I giving them 5 stars??? -bread, chopped salad, & calamari (mmm-hmmm) -queen cut prime rib (oooohhh yeeeaaahhh) -apple strudel & gooey chocolate cake (drrroooolll....) -I literally live down the street from this place (walking distance =) need I say more????.... *cricket cricket
(5)Theresa K.
Ah, L Woods. Love the Lodge-style decor, dim lighting, and framed photographs. So cute. Reminds me of a place where a film scene might be filmed. The service is always great. Drinks are great. I like that you can order all the wine by the glass, half glass, or bottle. And their cocktails are just as good. I love the tomato bisque, fresh bread served at the table and the veggie burger. Did I mention that the veggie burgers are home made!? There's something for everyone at L. Woods. Meat lovers will love the steak salad and ribs, vegetarians will love the flat bread pizza, veggie burgers, and soups, and dessert lovers will die for their key lime pie! Great for a date or with the whole family. And with a pretty convenient location, (right off of the I-94) it's a definite must!
(5)Annie S.
Umm apple streusel= heaven! fast and wonderful delivery. They even let you get the apple streusel prepped-not cooked, so you have the fun and wonderful smell in your house while you cook it per their directions after you ear. love it!
(4)LINDA M.
great food . had take out . easy convieniant and food packaged very well for travel. would definately use them again
(4)Rocky B.
Definitely a woodsy feel to this restaurant. Not my favorite LEYE restaurant but it's pretty decent. Service is friendly and attentive. As far as the food...there have been times that I have been there and everything from the starter to the dessert was just spot on and other times where...they weren't. Pretty good prime rib and mmm, very tasty desserts. They have a parking lot which is great. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on coming for dinner as they can get pretty crowded. But they have a nice bar area so if you do happen to just stop on my by you can always hang out and get some drinks first.
(3)Kate R.
It was a toss up between 2 and 3 stars...I find it kind of annoying that I have so much left-overs...could have split my entree with at least one other person and been stuffed. I had the parmesan crusted whitefish which for $17.00 should have had some flavor. It came with choice of side, I chose the sweet potato...and it is enough to feed a small village. Honestly where do they even get these things? With cocktails, app (large chop salad is tasty) dinner, 2 desserts for 4 people we dropped $210. with tip. I just don't think the food or the service is worth the price.
(3)Pamela U.
For the pure fact that L. Woods serves organic, hormone free meat, raised on local farms, my husband and I are huge fans. It's hard to find restaurants that actually care where their ingredients come from, but L. Woods is the exception. It's cozy and we have never had a server that wasn't super friendly. They often bring over free samples of different chef specialties without us even asking. My husband loves their short ribs, and I enjoy the barbeque chicken. Salads and desserts are also pretty tasty. Only negative would be the decor is a little creepy with lots of taxidermy, and the crowd isn't exactly the liveliest bunch if you know what I mean.
(4)Emily M.
Oh my gosh its so good. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I've been there several times and everything is delicious. I haven't but I keep meaning to order their plank something salmon (yeah I'm helpful idk what the name is), but I've tried it when other people have ordered it and its incredible. Their mashed potatoes are especially good also. The service has always been great and be prepared to wait for seating because this place gets really busy (for a reason!).
(5)Brad F.
I love coming here and getting the ribs, they were absolutely fantastic!!! Also, I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night. The service is always generally good. I always love coming to a lettuce entertain you restaurant they always are fantastic. The music was a little loud in the bar when I was there, but overall good experience, looking forward to my next visit. I had a side of mashed potatoes and cheesecake with caramel last night
(5)Mandy P.
My husband and I went here for the first time on Christmas Eve this year and we were truly pleased. The service was decent, the atmosphere was wonderfully cozy, and the food was GOOD. We were crazy with our ordering that night, so I'm a little embarrassed to list all the stuff we tried when we were there, but at least I can truly say I've had a sampling of much of their menu before giving an opinion on it. First we had the tomato basil bisque. It was a perfect warm thing to begin our meal on a cold winter night. The soup was tasty and the croutons were unusually good. Then we shared the chopped salad. I have seen in the reviews below that some people are gaga over the salad. I thought it was good, but not amazing. Perhaps this is because I didn't eat the bacon in it (I'm vegetarian), but my husband did and he really liked it. Even so, it's nice to be able to get a salad somewhere that has enough tasty stuff in it that when you take the meat out you aren't just left with freaking iceberg lettuce!!! There were a couple of other salads that we considered that I think would have met that criterion. For our entrees, my husband had the turkey special, which he reports was excellent, and I had the veggie burger. The veggie burger did not rock my world, but it was definitely good enough. However, the garlic mashed potatoes? To DIE for! I kid you not. I think there was more butter than anything else in those babies! Soooo good. Our additional food (the thing that really put us over the top)? Mac and cheese -- baked. Yeah. It was excellent. Amazingly, it actually tasted like cheese, rather than whatever weird stuff it often tastes like -- cream and flour, maybe? -- all those other times when I've had baked mac and cheese and was completely disappointed. I would definitely go back just to have that stuff again. Then, as if that wasn't enough, my husband (who is very thin, by the way -- damn his metabolism!) had bread pudding to top it off! I couldn't believe he could fit anything else in! I tasted the pudding, though, and while I'm not normally a fan of that stuff, this bread pudding was yummmy! It wasn't too squishy and it had a lot of flavor. While he ate, I had some of the coffee and it too was excellent -- serious flavor, not that watered down crap you get at so many places. We will be back! Oh, and to add just one more wonderful bit of info to this? Their meat is all hormone and antibiotic free (the birds are free range) and not frozen! How cool is that? And the take home bags are made with at least 50% recycled paper, but the other half, which comes from new trees, is made up for by planting three trees for every one that is cut down to make the bags! It's an old school dinner place with a conscience! Amazing! N.B.: Our wait for the table was about 15 minutes, which didn't seem too bad. If we were going back on a busier night, I would definitely make reservations (which I was told is possible) because every time I've driven by this place it has looked packed.
(4)Mike O.
As a person who goes to Northern Wisconsin/Upper Michigan every summer, L Woods comes closest to duplicating the same kinds of heart-warming (artery clogging?) foods served in the northernost reaches of the Dairy State. Where else in Chicago can you get fried walleye. Even coleslaw, often to sweet or too creamy or just too cabbagey at other places tastes just right. Picking what to have is hard, especially when you see what others are ordering and it all looks so good too! Can't miss with mac-and-cheese even! This place has a woodsy feel to it with wood-paneled walls and pictures of seemingly regular folks dining, hung all over the walls. It gets busy around lunchtime, so get there by 11:30 for quickest service.
(4)Russ P.
This review has many firsts for me. I have never posted a review on a restaurant, but felt my recent experience at L Woods needed one. The review may seem over the top on how bad this restaurant is, but I truly did not want anyone else having the same experience that we had. I eat out a lot. A least five+ times a week and am a gold preferred Lettuce Entertain You Member. We love all of their restaurants, since the food is consistently good with some excellent dishes. The service is almost always excellent at all of their locations. We heard from some of our friends that L Woods food is good and drove up from Old Town to give it a try. This can not be further from the case at L Woods. I can't even begin to list all of the issue this place has. This review is really a warning not to go there. 1st off the prices.....wow! No it's fine dinner prices, but this is gastro pub food that is priced way too high. They had a fish and chips special for $23. It includes a few pieces of fish and some chips. The Gage, downtown, has some of the best fish and chips and only charges $18. The Gage is kind of pricey, but for what you get, it's worth it. The original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, R.J. Grunts, charges a couple of bucks less for a burger that is much larger and taste like a real burger. Over all L Woods prices are 25% higher than better restaurants. I ordered an Old Fashion Hamburger. It seriously was one of the worst meals I have ever had. I stopped eating the fries after a few and stated that I think they are McDonald's fries. Except McDonalds have more flavor and less grease. The burger was even worst. I ordered mine medium. It comes out as a thin grilled/charred piece. I gave it a try and was disgusting. I put salt on it, which I never put extra salt on my food. Half of the burger was well done and half was rare. I had to laugh. It tasted like a poor attempt at a Burger King Whopper. I think they took someone's lunch from the kitchen and threw it on the plate. The service was poor. Not as bad as the food, but really bad. Our waitress never would come by the table. After an hour of waiting for our food we had to ask the manager what's going on. Our food showed up just after that, with no apologies or explanation. My hamburger did not have a pickle or any ketch up, like the other plates we received. We asked for ketchup, mustard and water. We never saw the guy again. The entire time our water glass sat on the edge of the table empty. We final got a couple filled after asking a few times. Final another bus boy got us our condiments. We asked for the check, as soon as we saw the waitress, and handed her our Lettuce Entertainment Gold Card. We used reward points for dinner, so dinner was free, but still not worth it. I don't think I would eat at this place again even if you paid me. It took our waitress so long to come back with the check that we got our kids ready and stood by the table to leave. After she saw us stand next to the table, she finally came back with our rewards card. All told, from the time we sat down to leaving the table took over an hour and a half. Seriously, this is the worst dinning experience I can remember having in the past five + years. This review does not even mention the delay in seating, when we had reservations or the lack of cleanliness. To summarize; if you want overpriced, greasy, poor quality food and crappy service, this is the place for you. Anyplace is better than this. I have to give LEY huge kudos. The manager, Terry, called in reference to an email I sent to the LEY within an hour. They offered us cerificates to go back and give them a second chance. We'll see how it goes.
(1)Melissa K.
My family came here the other night for my step dad's birthday. The food we had was fantastic. The service we had lacked in comparison. The odd thing was, my brother knew our waiter and the service was still extremely slow. Maybe it was just that night, who knows. Everyone in my family loved their meals. I had the BBQ'd salmon, which was outstanding. It came on this wood plank surrounded by potatoes and corn. The Caesar salad I had I was able to share with my mom and my aunt and still had some left over. My mom's steak was cooked perfectly and my uncle's chicken looked amazing, he didn't seem to have a piece left when the meal was over. We got their two desserts that take 45 minutes to cook, also not a piece left. I'll definitely go back and hopefully I'll be able to give it 5 stars if we have better service. The food is worth going back for.
(4)Rebecca T.
We go to L Woods twice a month, and it is always a nice experience. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful, and the food is consistently good. We like the chopped salad to start and then we like their ribs a lot. We bring our little ones, and they eat hamburgers.
(4)Cindy D.
Went here tonight for dinner with some girlfriends. I read the Yelp reviews before hand so we ordered chopped salad, calamari, and dry rub ribs and just shared everything. I'm not sure why the chopped salad is so good, it's not phenomenal by any means. I can make it at home!! I mean, it was good, but not up to par to everyone's review. The calamari was ordinary. The ribs were delish, tender, and plentiful. The mashed potatoes that came with the meat was very, very tasty!!! Also, we pre-ordered our dessert and got the apple strudel. It was huge!!!! It was delicious, fruity, and yummy. I would just go back to get this studel again. Def. don't miss!!!! Order during your entree because it take 45 minutes to bake. Overall, good dinner, but just share everything! The portions are big and actually they encourage you to share. With all this food, the total bill was $69 (including tip), so $23 pp.
(4)Jasper N.
comfort food, done right! fried chicken, baby back ribs, pan fried tilapia, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, etc... if you're looking for a rib-sticking meal, check-out this little gem. it's a hike from the city, but worth the drive if you have a car. the service isn't most swift, but still good. enjoy!
(4)Jared C.
The four of us (my wife, our kids - 9 and 6 - and I) ate lunch here on Mother's Day. I didn't get around to calling for a reservation until 9:30 on Mother's Day morning, but they were still able to fit us in with a reservation at 1:15. Far more importantly, when we arrived at 1:15 on the dot, they seated us immediately. In my book, that earns them 2-3 stars on the total score up front. The service was friendly and prompt. My wife and I both had the prime rib special; I thought mine was very good, but she did not enjoy hers as much. I think the difference was that we had ordered different temperatures -- I had asked for medium-rare, she for medium -- but looking at her plate at the end of the meal, it seemed as though hers was only cooked to medium-rare as well. If we'd thought of it sooner, we could have sent it back to be cooked a little more. We've been here a few times before, and always had a great experience. Service, ambience, and attitude: 4.5-5 stars. Food: 3-3.5 stars. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)Joanne E.
Just got back home about an hour ago after my very first visit to L Woods. I still have happy tummy. Very happy tummy. My tummy feels like it's going to be a very happy tummy until at least lunch time tomorrow. Doesn't mean I'll skip breakfast, though. You can bet I made sure to mention as soon as our waiter came over that it was our very first time there and as the reviews I checked out on yelp* last night promised, we got a complimentary flatbread appetizer for being "first timers." That put a smile on my DH's face. And, I have to admit, it was an interesting-sounding combination (bbq chicken and pesto sauce?), but it works. I had the Turkey Burger based on someone's comment in a review that it was one of the best she'd ever had. My reaction when I saw it was, "ewww, I don't like onions in my burgers" as I could see some small green things when I cut the burger in half. However, I thought I would give it a whirl. My response when I tasted it - yummm, it IS a good turkey burger. I don't know what the green things were, but the burger was meaty, moist, and subtly flavored. So yeah, the best turkey burger I ever had. They buttered the bun, which is bad, but it tasted so good I couldn't stop eating it bun and all. My bad. My DH ordered the bbq chicken half with baked potato. I shared my broccoli with him and he shared his baked potato. Plenty of starch and greens for both of us. And after I wolfed down my burger he also shared some of his chicken. I would like to say we had leftovers to take home, but I can't. We ate everything. Thanks to the helpful hints on the reviews we ordered the apple strudel well in advance. When it came my DH was shocked at how large it was. I will admit, I thought the review that described it as a burrito, only longer, might have been a slight exaggeration. It was not. I did not, however, expect the side bowl of whipped cream and little jug of caramel sauce. What delicious accompaniments. The coffee I ordered with dessert came in a lovely L Woods ceramic mug, along with my own personal carafe of extra coffee. I always like that. And I am happy to report that we did NOT eat all the strudel, we did take over half of it home with us. All in all, as the reviews promised, a delicious meal. Why only four stars? Well, in looking at my posts I can see that I'm a little heavy on the fives so I have decided to be more discerning. If there is even one thing that throws off the experience, I will give it four stars. In this case, it was seating us RIGHT BESIDE, nay, RIGHT ON TOP OF, a large and loud group. I swear, I could have tilted my head slightly to the left and joined their conversation as I was only six inches away from two people at that table. My DH at my own table was further away and harder to hear over the cackling going on a mere six inches away from my left ear. Now, if the restaurant had been crowded when we got there it would have been fine. But it was practically empty (based on reviews we arrived for an early dinner at 4:30 - good strategy for going in with no reservation). Why sit us right on top of another group??? So, four stars for that. Will we be back? Most definitely.
(4)Ellen P.
Yet another Grand Slam from Lettuce Entertain You, the key point being, you don't realize it's a Lettuce Entertain You til you read the fine print! Absolutely love this place. Knotty pine atmosphere is well done, great choice for families, business lunches, etc. Tried the flatbread pizza at the bar as an appetizer, the chopped salad is excellent, and the Parmesean Crusted Filet is to die for. Had no issues with either the wine choices or the cocktails - all met my expectations for this type of restaurant. It is busy on weekends, reservations recommended, and the parking lot fills up fast!
(5)Robyn M.
I brought my 2 yr old. They actually have a kid's menu and chocolate milk so he was in heaven. I had the bbq ribs and they were pretty good. My parents had the prime rib which they said was a bit cool and chewy but had really good flavor. We ordered the apple dessert which was so huge we had to take it home. The french onion soup was crazy good. I grew up in Wisconsin so I dig the supper club vibe. Being a Lettuce restaurant this place was definitely classier than a typical Wisco supper club but not too fancy that you feel stupid wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Solid food. Check it out.
(4)Brandon W.
Stopped into L. Woods last night to celebrate my birthday, as well as my niece's birthday too. When we arrived (we had a reservation), we were seated right away - the place had a good amount of people, but wasn't crowded. As we sat and waited for the rest of our party arrive, the place slowly started to fill up, on a Wednesday night, none the less! Anyways, while we waited we ordered drinks, and they brought out the warm delicious bread to us. I love their bread! It is warm, and slightly oniony and the creamy butter that they serve with it very delicious as well! The place wasn't extremely busy, but it still took our server awhile before he got back to our table to bring our drinks, then take our order, etc. However we placed our orders - got our food and everything tasted great! First we got an appetizer, we ordered my mothers favorite appetizer, which so happens to be the shoestring onion strings! WOW! They are crunchy, and not overly greasy, and great by themselves, or with a bit of ketchup - give them a try. Then our meals came. I ordered the Black Peppercorn Tenderloin Tails that are sitting in a shallow pool of their own of their homemade steak sauce! Along with that, I ordered their mashed potatoes. The flavor comes out on so many levels. A hint of garlic, a hint of butter, not overly salty and little bits of potato still present. Great stuff. The burgers that my mother, sister and brother-in-law ordered looked excellent and the fish that my father ordered looked really appetizing too - and I am not really into fish that much - (I like it, but have to be in the mood for it).. I love the bar in this place too, it does have that old lodge feel. It's nice to pull up to the bar on a busy night while you wait for your table to open up. Hang out, have a drink - then enjoy a great meal!
(4)Gabriel A.
This is a classic Rib house with some great extras. They include the wings with a pretty unique batter, to the ever delicious gooey chocolate cake. Lots of nostagia on the wall and a well trained staff are what keep me coming back. Oh did I mention the still carry Schlitz!
(4)Chris B.
The 3 dollar beer option was an insult to everyone involved in the process of ordering it, pouring it, carrying it, delivering it, receiving it, contemplating it and drinking it. Food was great. Service was great, but I didn't appreciate an extra spoon request and a re-request to involve blaming an unknown party, followed by, "I don't know why I bother to even tip them out at all." It was all in good fun, a great meal, but please remember, the waiter has to fall on the sword, no matter how great the incompetence below.
(3)L T.
We met some friends here the evening after Christmas, and I was kind of like "no more food!" But off we went with kids in tow... I'd been curious about this place for a while. It's like this Northwoods lodge sitting in the middle of a suburban parking lot. Kinda odd, yes? So it was packed at 5:30 for dinner - lots of oldies and families with young kids. Loud enough so that you don't have to really worry about how loud your kids are. And it's a huge wandering place - the layout reminds me of Wildfire, another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Chopped salad: yum Almond-encrusted walleye: yum, though I preferred the cod that my husband ordered. Kids were happy with the basic grilled cheese and mac n cheese. Key. lime. pie. for dessert. I'm not totally sure, but I might have hunched protectively around it so that no one else could take a stab at it. Very similar to Wildfire's. Thick graham cracker crust. Yum. We'll be back. Good to find another place near us that isn't a diner :)
(4)Nancy K.
I highly recommend this place! Not only is the atmosphere cute with its woodsy-themed decor but the food is fabulous too! I will definitely be back!
(5)Patti P.
Wait staff is helpful and attentive. The menu is diverse and full of healthy savory choices. I will be back. Patti P.
(4)Kristen W.
Lovely place, great ambience, very old-school. Unfortunately at this time I can't give it higher than 3 stars, only because I tried one appetizer and had one beer, so I can't comment on the food. The service was fantastic, and the place was hoppin'. I'll be sure to go back.
(3)Juliette F.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I was kind of expecting a run-of-the-mill Lettuce Entertein You experience, but I was totally wrong. The skirt steak was grilled to perfection, and my french onion soup was outstanding. They give you a treat if it's your first time there, which is a pesto BBQ flatbread... awesome! I can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu! The interior is great. It just feels like it's been an established restaurant for a very long time. Everyone is friendly, and you get the vibe that most of the diners are long-time, repeat customers. Two thumbs up for my first time at L Woods!!
(5)Dana E.
Bottom line, my girlfriend ordered the half chicken, and it was pink, and bloody when it arrived. They promptly took it away after I asked them if it was supposed to be that way and began cooking another half chicken when all we really wanted was to be refunded for that meal. The manager came out in the meantime, and although apologetic, told us that there was a fine line between moist and undercooked. I thought to myself, "well, that undercooked option could leave a lot of people sick". In addition to the newly made half chicken (which we were afraid to eat), we received a free sundae for waiting, and then a piece of cheesecake after dinner. I guess that's okay, but again, all we really wanted was to be comped. I paid $20 for a small cod piece and green beans. It was good, but I was expecting something more. Overall, it was decent. Meh.
(2)Manda H.
I really want to know how you get your photo taken and put on the wall??? I have been coming for a few years now and I don't think I have ever had a bad experience. I love the ribs, steaks and salads. The apple strudel is amazing although I cam kind of sad you can't order a smaller version anymore. Good thing though, I get to take more home for seconds! Booths are so comfortable and I really like that they have takeout. It is cool that they filmed one of the Oceans 12 parts in the dining room.
(5)Gina K.
Unfortunately if you are gluten free do not expect to eat here. Was out with a friend who loves this place and she had called ahead to ask about gluten free options. The person on the phone said they had a small gluten free menu. When we arrived the person seating us actually thought we were kidding when we said gluten free as if it wasn't something people really did? Granted there was probably some language barrier and age difference so I am sure it is not something that was heard of until recently. However, it was VERY uncomfortable to be laughed at. When the server came we asked again about a gluten free menu. He shrugged and said oh yea we can make some of the stuff gluten free. Uh yea. Not good enough. We left. I am sure that all you non gluten free people out there have had great food but there needs to be a better understanding of gluten free needs, simply saying you can probably do it really doesn't work when the consequences are that you will make someone very sick.
(1)Jeff M.
right by the house-u can't beat that
(5)Louis C.
Enjoyable, casual place. Dark, calm, but always busy. Tasty food. Whitefish with lemon sauce, baby back ribs, chopped salad, spinach salad, martinis, streudel. Wife always gets some kind of fish that's not crusted and has enjoyed it every time. Servers always unrushed, what a plus. If you want a delicious no-fail meal, this is your place. Try to reserve a booth and you'll be pleased. Bar gets crowded.
(4)Vickie S.
Even though I have lived on the Northside for my entire life I have only been here twice. Both times were really good. I saw other people mentioned the abundance of the AARP crowd but since I am pretty unobservant I missed out on that. I did not miss out on the chopped salad which I am not addicted to as well as the parmesan crusted shrimp. Man o man they are good. Since that is all I have had there I'm not sure about the entrees but I would for sure go back for those two items.
(4)Kimberly K.
I LOVE L. Woods. The chopped salad is wonderful, the ribs are great, the onion strings are DELICIOUS, the onion bread is great! Go there. Yum.
(4)Jay B.
L. Woods Pine Lodge has a cozy, old school men's club atmosphere accented by a high beamed ceiling, rich, pine wood walls, and oxblood leather booths. Try to snag one on the very cool corner booths. Jason was our server; great guy he offered us offered us complimentary flat bread since it was our 1st time to restaurant. Service staff was very knowledgeable of the daily specials and answered any questions we had. I started with a Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen ( Nice beer selection from the bar), and my partner went with the Diet Coke with a lemon route. The flatbread arrived along with the drinks and everything was to our liking. Devin Ordered a Ribs and Chicken BBQ combo with Fries and I ordered the Bacon Blu Cheeseburger with Garlic Mashed. About 20 min later the yummiest food had arrived. I was blown away by my burger, 1st off it was cooked exactly how I wanted (which lately in Chicago has been hard). The bacon was crisp and the blu cheese was melting and had a slight crust from being up under the broiler for a few minutes before being brought out. And well garlic mashed potatoes, yeah awesome. My Partner enjoyed his selections, but thought the chicken was good, but nothing special. Ribs were very tasty. We ended the dinner with a wonderful Key Lime pie slice and some Lavazza coffee. Comfort food in a cozy place
(4)Kevin S.
This place has some really good ribs. The string fried onions appetizer were great, as was the brownie desert with ice cream. If you go here for dinner, make a reservation because it gets really busy. I'll definitely be back.
(4)mollye p.
So my mom works for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants so I tend to be a little bias when it comes to their restaurants because I always get free food. BUT L Woods if flipping AMAZING!!! So they're like a tavern style cooking: meats, fish, burgers, etc. But it's all gourmet style. I love their ribs, steaks, salmon, well...pretty much anything! If you eat at the restaurant (you can also order it in and pick it up...I dunno if they do delivery) but they've got some good drinks on tap. I don't drink alcohol but they've got cream soda and orange cream soda on tap...It's the best cream soda in the world! They have AMAZING salads and DESERTS!!!! It's expensive but you honestly can't go wrong with any of their food. It's a great atmosphere also. I totally recommend it to EVERYONE!
(5)Ashley D.
This food is so good. I like the Chopped Salad...but I crave their Tortilla Soup. Also my awesome waiter Stasch (who I always ask for)has the cooks put carrots on my salad (and I don't even have to ask) - I love great service.
(5)Lindsay M.
we made reservation and still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. The daily special wasn't being served because it wasn't up to quality but they didn't offer a replacement. The waiter forgot part of someone's order and said he'd bring it but never did. No one told us there weren't free refills on the rootbeer. And during dinner, no one came to check on us to see if anything else was needed.
(2)amy j.
We set out for Smoque but the line was out the door and around the corner so my husband suggested we try L. Woods. I was disappointed until I stepped inside. The charming, northwoods lodge look made me feel like I was "up north" at a Friday night supper club. Charming! We got there at the perfect time and were seated right away. Our server was courteous and friendly enough, but she was too busy to get too involved. We ordered the goat cheese and asparagus flatbread, baby back ribs, and the pulled chicken special. Everything was served hot, at a good pace and very tasty. The flatbread may have just been my favorite part of the meal, but then I think about those ribs... awesome. Just the right amount of sauce (I don't like them swimming in it) and just meaty enough to have something to really sink your teeth into. My husband's pulled chicken on corn bread was a really great combination of flavors and textures. The tangy bbq chicken on top of a slab of sweet cornbread was just right. Now I must not forget to tell you about dessert. I had the chocolate cupcake because I was already way too full but I just wanted a little something sweet. Oh my, sweet it was. I thought it was whipped cream on top but I think it was really white chocolate mousse with little bits of white chocolate in it. Delicious. My husband had the Key Lime Pie, nice big piece and very tasty. The only thing I could possibly report as negative was the temperature of the pie, it was just a little too cold. About a degree or two from being frozen. I just think the flavor is more developed when allowed to come up to room temp or at least a little closer. There was a "situation" that we should have taken care of after the table next to us was seated. One (or both) of the women had so much perfume on that it was on the verge of spoiling my appetite, we should have asked to be moved while there were still open tables. So take that as a little reminder folks, please don't wear so much smelly stuff to a restaurant. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood again.
(4)Zack M.
Great family place, though make a reservation as it is busy!!!! Best fried chicken that I have ever tasted, available on Sundays; Delicious beef, baby back or dry rub ribs; fantastic mac and cheese. I think its still "Lettuce Entertain You", but dont let the low quality of food at wildfire put you off. This is hearty American goodness!
(5)Patty B.
Love the food here - LOVE IT! But I have to agree with some other reviewers and say that the service is really hit or miss. Sometimes awesome, sometimes horrible. The food is consistantly good (I've had more than half the menu and have always been happy), just the service isn't. Ambiance isn't all that great either, but if you don't care about that or order carry out its no biggie. Lunch during the week is usually busy, as is Saturday night. So if you aren't into crowds (especially those of an older generation) stay out at those times.
(3)Kristina F.
If i were to drive up to this place on my own I would be plenty skeptical. The outside of it appeared to be designed by a partnership between Playskool toys and IHOP. It's a cheesy looking wood cabin style exterior that looks like a kids restaurant. I was not alone however, and i trust the taste of the people I was with, so in we went. The inside instantly reminded me of Chumley's in NY, a prohibition era pub that's got a wooden interior with old book covers plastered all over the walls. L Woods had a wooden interior, deer antler chandeliers, black and white photos plastered all over the walls and red leather booths. The parking lot was full when we pulled up so it was no surprise to have an hour wait. We ordered some (very greasy but good) fried onion and drank some gigantic beers at the bar. It took a long time to get the fried onion so they gave it to us on the house. Our bartenders and waitress were friendly. We ordered the apple strudel dessert ahead of the meal since it takes a while to cook. You might say this was a mistake because the portions are gigantic, and we were almost sickenly full by the time we left. I would say it was a mistake if the apple strudel wasn't abbbsoollluuutteelllly deeelllliiiciiouuss. Did I mention the mashed potatoes? They were delicous delicious delicious as well. I realize now that I should have forgone writing an actual review and just written "delicious delicious delicious," but too late for that. I'll elaborate: There was no ketchup on the table when my burger was served. I like a lot of ketchup on my burger and i like to put extra ketchup on my plate and dip the burger into it. I took a bite anyway and it was so moist, ketchup would have been a mistake and masked the flavor. None of the burgers I've had in ny in the last few months compare to this one. mmmmm.... I got sweet potato instead of french fries. It was gigantic. About the size of my head. Not very flavorful and I personally didn't like the brown sugar butter it was served with, but it was good with some salt. The mashed potatoes though... good god. Definitely lots of butter in there. Excellent. Very excellent. And lumpy enough but not too lumpy. Yum. There would be no fights over how mashed potatoes should be prepared for Thanksgiving if mom made them like this. And then there was the strudel. A warning: unless you are a giant of some sort or decide to commit suicide via dessert, you cannot finish this on your own. It looks like a burrito only it's three times the length of your average burrito. Warm thinly sliced apples (I prefer thinly sliced apples in apple desserts over chunky ones. yay!) contained in a flaky buttery crust. I liked it without the buttery caramel sauce, though everyone else loved it. And there were enough leftovers for everyone to have a second slice three days later when we were finally hungry again. Summary: Delicous delicious delicious!
(5)Dana M.
I went to L. Woods for the second time and there's a reason for that! The best ribs that's a 3 minute drive from my house. Today, being Father's Day, I expected the wait to be a little bit longer even with reservations but 15 minutes wasn't too bad. Our waiter came up to our table right away and our food didn't take too long. Their onion roll is very soft, sweet, and delicious with the whipped butter! The last time I was here, I had half a chicken and ribs so of course I took it home and ended up eating it for my next 3 meals. It was that big! I ordered the beef rib tips with BBQ sauce today and again, the portions were huge! The ribs are very tender and delicious. I replaced the regular sides of either fries, mashed, or baked potato with sweet potato and that thing was seriously as big as my head. The maple walnut butter makes it even better. Looks like I have food for the next few days because of the huge portions. Next time I want to try the cherry martini!
(5)Mary K W.
If we didn't have $150 in gift certs (thanks to The Don, our realtor) for Lettuce Entertain you restaurants, we likely wouldn't have set foot in here. I've never been attracted to the kitschy, fake vibe (you're in Northern Minnesota!! you're in Tuscany!!) of many of the Lettuce places. However, we wanted to try the ribs, and they have an extensive kids' menu, so off we went on Sat. nite. The place was packed - parking lot, waiting area, restaurant. According to other reviews, it's like this most of the time, even during the week. They had our reservation, and we were seated fairly quickly. The kids got buffalo wings and DH and I shared a ($9!!) chopped salad. Both were good, but nothing different you'd get anywhere else. I got a slab of ribs, and the waiter brought out their dry rub ribs, instead of the regular ones. I didn't feel like waiting for another order so, I just kept them, and they were ok, but you can certainly do better at any number of places in Chicago, and for about 5 bucks less a slab. DH got the prime rib, which again, was just ok, maybe a little on the tough side, and not cooked very well - he ordered it med rare, and it was very red and bloody - which seemed more rare to me. Two kids got cheeseburgers, which were enormous, and good they said; the youngest got chicken fingers, which looked to be pretty standard chicken fingers. We had a lot of leftovers to take home, and I specifically asked for bbq sauce to take home, and got none. Also, no horseradish sauce for the leftover prime rib. Oh, well. Suffice to say, we won't be back anytime soon, and why would we? There are nearly a dozen restaurants within walking distance of my house - which makes me feel a bit of pity for folks in the burbs who only have this place and maybe 5 others as their local options, all of which require a drive to get there.
(2)Barbara M.
No matter when I go to L Woods, I always have a wonderful meal. I wasn't looking to dig into a huge steak or chops last night around 8:30 pm, so my friends and I just had the chili, which was on the daily special menu and the FABULOUS Chopped Salad. It's so good that I crave it all the time and can't wait to back if just for that. Once you taste it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. We ordered the large salad and it filled the three of us perfectly, or so I thought. My two friends kept eyeing the desserts being devoured at the near by table and couldn't resist, so they split the hot fudge brownie sundae topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It looked so yummy and scrumptious that I had to BEG them for a taste. WOW is all I can say.......One bite of this and you'll be in chocolate brownie heaven!!!
(5)Lynn C.
Try the chocolate lava cake, if you have any room left from the meat and potatoes (mostly) dishes. Attentive and friendly service, even when busy (which it always seems to be). The parking lot is usually packed and so are the dining rooms.
(4)Gillian R.
I'm not seeing what the hype is behind this joint. Maybe it's my fault for ordering fish (which was ick!) at a bbq restaurant? Lesson learned for next time... The service was mediocre at best. I think I heard somewhere it used to be a free-standing and was then bought by a chain? Quality ALWAYS drops when something is bought by a chain. Bonus points for: killer mashed potatoes and free parking.
(3)Jessica C.
Couldn't help but think of Legally Blonde when my friend picked this spot. Was a bit leery of the log-cabin action as we pulled up, but since dinner was on her, I wasn't complaining. Service started a bit slow, then livened--our server turned out to be very attentive. Was a bit thrown off by the dark, lodge atmosphere, but I did appreciate the diverse crowd. I eventually found myself feeling very comfortable here. The chopped salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. I don't know what's so special about it, since it's really made up of ordinary ingredients, but L Woods knows how to do it just right. Have to add here that the gooey chocolate cake is a must. DO NOT miss it.
(4)Michelle F.
I just went here for lunch with my boss and had a fabulous Southwest Chicken salad. Black beans and corn mixed in, with perfect chicken and ranch on the side. MMMMMMMmmm...Crowded for lunch, but nice atmosphere. Makes you feel like you're in a "happening" place. I'm going to take my husband here soon!
(5)Joe S.
Good food,slightly above average. Ribs good but not the best around. SW Chix Salad is different, tasty. Chicken cooked well. Tasty Cream Soda....refreshing. Looks like an upper Wisconsin supper club lodge. Chili is pretty good. Good choice for the area.
(3)Julia B.
This is right by my work and has great food! It's the place that was in Ocean's 12. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. There are pictures on the wall of a lot of people that have had dinner there. The food is very good. I had a flatbread and salad combo and loved it! The prices are normal too!
(4)Laura T.
When we first walked into L.Woods, there were blue-hairs everywhere and it made us wonder what we were in store for (need to preface this by saying that we have kids,and everyone knows there are only two types of people who eat before 6 and that's seniors and people with children. Guess what? This is a classic case of elders knows best, a place where everything is truly fabulous. The salads are generous but nothing is as large as the beef ribs - they're huge and delicious. The meat - whether it's the prime rib, pork chop or burger - is served exactly as it should - medium rare and medium, respectively. We always order a chopped salad, calamari and when we're in a big group, the flatbreads, too. We don't think there is a place friendlier and nicer to kids. If you are plagued with a child who wants "plain pasta with butter" 24/7, the kitchen will accommodate you without a blink of the eye. This means the service is fabulous as well. Over the last few years, we've tried just about everything on the menu and we can honestly say we've always been pleased. We used to bemoan the wait until we figured out that you can call and put your name on the waiting list, show up 30 minutes later and presto, your table is ready. And there is always take-out.
(5)Gil N.
I visited L. Woods based on Yelper reviews and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The decor, the service and mmm....*wipes away drool* the food. Wow. I was there for lunch so it wasn't very busy, that being said they still had quite a few tables taken. Save room for dessert. Trust me.
(5)Alan R.
A fairly typical Lettuce Entertain you restaurant. The food is good, if not spectacular. The service was excellent until it got busy. The waiter was attentive and explained everything very well until the crowds started coming in. After that, he seemed overwhelmed. The dry rub ribs were excellent and the chicken good but not great. The salad we got as our appetizer was OK. The Sweet potato that came with my meal was like 2.5 times the size of a normal one. Take out from L-Woods might be a better option than dining in.
(3)B. L.
This place certainly is popular , which can also mean crowded at times. The food has a little flavor of New Orleans thrown in the mix. Alot of rib/chicken places do. This location used to be another famous rib house called Bones. I think some of the same customers now visit here. Don't let the rustic exterior fool you, it can be a good place to meet clients for lunch or dinner.
(4)Nicholle H.
I like to eat at this restaurant because it has a great atmosphere. The decor is lovely, giving it an old time feel. There is a touch of class in the restaurant which features American cuisine. The menu is abundant, the bar is stocked, and the food is good. The only complaint that I do have is that at times the service can be slow. Overall a great restaurant and moderately priced.
(4)Shayna H.
This is my favorite restaurant in the Chicagoland area. My boyfriend loves the ribs and would recommend them to everyone. I have had sandwiches and steaks here and everything was excellent. I love the mashed potatoes and the pre-dinner bread. I would recommend anyone try this place at least once!
(5)Mark G.
Worst experience ever! Watch out for the waitress with contagious flu! So I was meeting my friend for lunch at 1 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009. We determined that L Woods was a good place to meet since I was Downtown and she was in the Northern Suburbs. I had been to L Woods a number of years ago, but not recently. When we showed up we were seated toward the back of the restaurant, which was quite full at 1 pm when we arrived. We both looked at the menu and after about 5 minutes a waitress came over to take our order. The waitress that came over was obviously sick with the flu. She had no voice and looked ill. She apologized for her condition. I am not sure why any restaurant would allow or want a sick waitress serving patrons. I should have got up and left at that point, but instead we dealt with it. Both my friend and I asked questions about the menu. I was interested in the Monday special of turkey and stuffing--I asked what came with it other than turkey and stuffing. The waitress said nothing (turns out it also comes with carrots). My friend told the waitress she was a vegetarian. The waitress recommended the vegi burger, which my friend ordered. (This is not a particularly vegitarian friendly restaurant--few menu items and animal heads hug all around the restaurant.) We also ordered the macaroni appetizer and the lemonade flight. Our waitress then disappeared--we did not see her for 30 minutes. We noticed that it looked like all the other tables were getting fresh bread--we got nothing and had no one to ask for it. Finally, the waitress shows up with the food. She has our macaroni appetizer and food at the same time. She then puts in front of me a patty melt and gives my friend the "so called vegi burger". I say, excuse me, I ordered the turkey special. She looks confused and says she will get me the turkey. I also tell her that I would have expected the appetizer to come up before the entrees. She rudely says that the macaroni was a side. I ask her to please bring a menu over. She brings a menu over and I show her that it is an appetizer. She says nothing--not even an apology. My friend bites into her vegi burger and discovers it is actually a turkey burger. I can tell you that vegetarians are not happy when they eat meat. She became very sick and upset. We wait for our waitress to come back. 10 minutes later she appears. She has my turkey and also a vegi burger. She says she realized that she brought the wrong burger out. You would have thought she would have immediately come and taken the food back from my friend. My turkey dinner was generally good--it did take 40 minutes to get. My friend was so sick from eating turkey that she could not eat her vegi burger. (The frozen style fries with the vegi burger tasted like they had been sitting out for hours.) She ended up asking to get the vegi burger to go. Now you would expect that a waitress might be apologetic for this screw up--we get no apology or sorry. No discount, nothing. L Woods has some real service issues. We paid the bill and left. We will never go back. I really hope the management takes some corrective action. This all happened at lunch on Monday, October 12, 2009. Be careful at this place. And if your waitress is sick--ask for another waitress. Both my friend and I feel the flu coming on.
(1)S M.
As soon as you walk in for dinner at L Woods, it's amazing. The lights are dimmed and the hostesses are so nice. We went on a Sunday night and we were immediately seated. The server, I think her name was Joanna, was incredible! She gave great recommendations and answered all of my questions with a smile. Not even five minutes after we ordered she brought us out an appetizer on the house since it was our first time there. The appetizer was so good, it was a flatbread almost like phyllo, with cheese and philly steak on top with some herbs, sliced like a little pizza. Delicious! I was undecided between chicken and the cod. Our server recommended the cod and boy did she steer me in the right direction! The cod was so delicious, with a parmesan crust and lemon juice, garlic aioli, it was to die for. My iced tea was never empty, the service was so attentive! For dessert we got a blueberry peach cobbler-type pie with vanilla ice cream on top, seriously one of the best desserts I've had in a while. Go to L Woods, you won't regret it!
(5)Kristen H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. I've been coming here since it was called Bones. I can't remember what Bones was like except that I liked it, but I LOOOOOVE this place. I went here last night with my mother for a September 11th toast to all those that lost their lives that day. I made a reservation on opentable.com so it was great to not have to wait, although I don't think the wait was that long last night. I was upset that I wasn't there for pot roast night (Thurs.) because it's my favorite. I swear it's probably the best ever. So I looked over the menu for something else. I had it narrowed down to the skirt steak, bbq brisket, or meatloaf (the special on Tues.). I couldn't decide so I asked the waiter. He was so nice. He told me the skirt steak was his fave. I aksed him if the steak would be tough like some I've received at other places. He said no way because it's marinated in pineapple juice to tenderize it along with chili flakes and something else. He was definitely right. It was as large as a full slab of ribs and you could cut it with a butter knife. YUMMMMM!!!!! Of course I had it with the mashed potatoes because they're just as yummy. We ordered the chopped salad and tomato flatbread pizza for appetizers. The chopped salad (+ranch, - blue cheese) was the best like always. The flatbread seemed a little overdone, but still good. We also had some drinks which were also great and reasonably priced. My mom ordered some chicken dinner she loves. Our bill was ~$80. This place gets five stars for their service and five stars for their food. I don't know why I haven't been there in so long, I must be crazy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They have a kid's club, I think it's called the clean plate club. Your child gets a punchcard and once they've been there x amount of times, they get their picture taken and put in a frame on the wall. Look out for my son Kieran's pic next time you're there.
(5)Agile R.
I love this place, It is a little over priced but the pork ribs are great and the steak fillet mignon is fantastic. Everyone has got to try their garlic mash potatoes. I don't go here often because it is a bit pricey but I always feel satisfied after a meal. The staff their are also very friendly, eager to make you feel welcome. They have a pretty nice bar also. If your ever in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out. I guarantee you'll crawl out of there from eating so much because the food was just to tasty to stop.
(5)Joedel G.
First of all the parking is not a problem, you can find a spot easily even though we went on Sunday. This place is rustic and on the wall you can find a lot of sports memorabilia photos. Customers are mostly on their 60's, although I've seen some family with kids, I believe a lot of locals too. It was our friends birthday party so we started with calamari and flat bread ( fresh unleavened bread that is grilled crisp with Oven-dried Tomatoes and fresh basil ) Don't forget to order the chopped salad which I think the best salad I've ever had. I had a piece of whitefish with lemon butter sauce, it was very moist and not fishy at all. Then the filet Mignon, and oh my God it was the most succulent piece of red meat I've ever had. Imagine Baked Macaroni & Cheese on the side, and again the best BM&C I've ever had. What else can I say ?, we finished our dinner with their famous Apple Strudel, baked to order though and allow 45 minutes. Excellent dinner with nice people around. Highly recommended and I would come back soon.
(5)John F.
I feel I must disagree with the other reivewers. Each time I have eaten there it has been mediocre at best, and like all Lettuce Entertain You places it is overpriced so people using their discount cards and rewards get a fair price and everyone else pays higher. I would not recommend it.
(2)Maximus T.
Great place to eat wonderful food and excellent service. I reccomend going on a weekday because i have gone twice and have waited 20 minutes for a table. Hey if its this jampacked its gotta be good
(5)Maggie D.
Our most recent visit was probably our 10th dinner at L Woods. It was, as it always is, awesome. The massive sweet potato side with brown sugar butter is my favorite. The martinis are potent, the fish is fresh, and the steaks are tender. Once or twice the service has been little slow, but I suspect they were short staffed as it's usually great.
(4)Lola L.
atmosphere is laid back...ribs and bbq chicken and spinach salad are dynamic. i had no idea it was lettuce entertain you restaurant...felt so homey
(5)Simone G.
I've been coming to this place for quite some time. L' Woods reminds you of an old wisconsin lodge. I love it here. If you ask they will serve your drinks in pint glasses (double whiskey coke please). I've had some of the most delicious scallops here (it was a one time special), and the parmesan crusted beef filet is to die for. On top of it all the french onion soup is nothing less than perfect. It can cost a bit, but its not overly expensive. I would say its perfect for an evening somwhere between a lazy night out and that night that you really want to do it up. I would recommend that everyone at least try this restaurant once... love it or leave it, but try it once.
(5)John T.
One of our favorite places to eat.This place has the best service in all of Chicago. From the second you walk in the door, you are treated as if you have been coming there for years, even if it is your first time! Make sure to make a trip here, especially in the winter. It is great "comfort food."
(4)Daisyville C.
I came here for lunch on a Saturday for the first time after reading all the great reviews. Yes, there are a lot of blue haired people, and my hubby and I brought a couple ourselves ;) my in-laws. Service was great and very attentive. I think we had about 3 different people attending to our party of 4. Our order was taken in a timely fashion, our food arrived shortly after, and as soon as a dish was empty, they swooped in to clean up. We all started out with french onion soups...probably one of the best in Chicago...really tasty and cheese is so gooey and yummy. My father-in-law and I both had the full slab classic BBQ baby back ribs, my hubby had the skirt steak salad (he's on a diet, wink, wink...but ate half of my ribs) and my mother-in-law had the special of the day which was fried chicken with a purée of creamed corn and Yukon gold mashed potato (I had a taste of the chicken and mashed potato and wished I had ordered it for myself!). We thoroughly enjoyed our meals, however, I can't say these were the best baby back ribs I ever had. My ribs were a bit dry at the ends and only the middle was tender and you really needed to dip into the extra BBQ sauce they give you for extra flavor. I'm comparing these ribs with the Gale Street Inn ribs and I prefer Gale's cuz they are more tasty and ribs have more meat. All in all it was a good experience and I'll probably come back again.
(4)Mike H.
If your grandparents come to town and you want to take them out for dinner but know they would just be confused by anything even vaguely "ethnic", this place would be perfect. It's got a really nice "small town" vibe and good food with a menu of what most would consider to be "american standards"---lots of sandwiches and steaks and stuff like that. Not normally my type of restuarant, but this place is *special*.
(4)Patrick F.
They call themselves a "Tap & Pine Lodge" - and that's exactly right. I walked in and felt like I had gone back home. Despite the size and business, it still had a cozy vibe to it. The staff recognized patrons who seemed to be repeat visitors and treated them like returning family. The food did not disappoint. My tenderloin was perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes and chili were fantastic.
(4)Liliana S.
I love the decor and the ambience. Ive only eaten here once because it is so far out of the way from me, but I love the chicken and rib combo with double baked potato. YUM. The portions are huge and the prices are mediocre.
(4)Kristin A.
This place has a nice feel to it. Like a cozy log cabin. I've been there serveral times and had great service. Except for this last time. AWFUL. Took us two hours to eat lunch and no apologies. Flat bread is amazing and everything else on the menu is decent.
(4)Matt H.
Good food, doesn't blow my mind away but I like the Big Fish sandwich. Flatbread is decent but a little overpriced. Go with sandwiches.
(3)