The 10 best restaurants in Highland Park
This list covers places to eat inside Highland Park, the Lake County suburb on the North Shore where Metra Union Pacific North trains stop downtown and in the Ravinia district. The ten picks are for residents choosing a weeknight table and for visitors spending a day in Highland Park. Eight of the ten picks are downtown or in Ravinia, and two sit on the west side of town. Highwood, a separate city just to the north, is not included.
The list favors independent Highland Park restaurants with long local followings, along with a few newer places that have drawn steady news coverage since opening. A char-grilled hot dog downtown costs $4.89, while a 14-ounce dry-aged New York strip at the downtown steakhouse runs $82.95. Dinner entrees at the full-service American spots mostly run $25 to $45.
How we chose
Every pick was open as of November 2026 and has an address inside Highland Park city limits, checked against the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder. Beyond that, a place needed a consistent record in readable local coverage, including The Record, the Daily Herald, Patch, CBS News Chicago and NBC 5 Chicago, plus a current listing in the city’s own dining directory. Longtime favorites make up most of the list, and the newer arrivals earned a spot through repeated news coverage since opening. National chains were left out. Entries appear alphabetically, ignoring “The,” and the order is not a ranking.
Hours and prices below come from each business and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.
Abigail’s American Bistro
Chef Michael Paulsen spent about three years looking for a space before opening Abigail’s American Bistro in April 2009 on the corner of St. Johns and Roger Williams avenues in Ravinia, Patch reported. The menu moves from shareable plates such as flash-fried Brussels sprouts ($16) to full entrees like pan-seared branzino ($42). Staff told Patch in 2013 that the burger was among the most popular dishes, and the cheeseburger is $20 now. Call for a table, since the restaurant books reservations by phone only and asks parties to keep visits to two hours.
Hours: Tue-Sat 5 to 9 p.m.; closed Sun-Mon.
Address: 493 Roger Williams Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Paulsen is a Culinary Institute of America graduate who ran country club kitchens before opening his own restaurant.
- Carryout pickups run 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday but end at 5:20 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- Each dessert is $12, including sticky toffee pudding cake and warm donut holes.
The Barn Steakhouse
Amy Morton, a Highland Park native whose father, Arnie Morton, founded a national steakhouse chain, held the grand opening of The Barn Steakhouse on 1st Street downtown on February 16, 2026. The City of Highland Park put up a $750,000 incentive to land the project, The Record reported. Steaks are Heritage Angus beef, from an 8-ounce filet mignon ($63.95) to a 14-ounce dry-aged New York strip ($82.95), and the sirloin burger is $24.95. Book ahead for weekends, because the main room seats about 80, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
Hours: Tue-Thu 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Fri 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Sat 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Sun 4:30 to 8 p.m.; closed Mon.
Address: 1900 1st St, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- The 25-seat 1898 speakeasy opens Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight; look for the red light at the rear of the courtyard alley.
- Reservations for 1898 open Mondays at 10 a.m. for the coming week.
- The Grand Central Caviar Sandwich is $28.95, and crab spaghetti ($34.95) is a Tuesday special.
Bluegrass
Crawfish etouffee ($27) and baby back ribs ($38 for a full slab, $27 for a half) anchor the Southern-leaning American menu at Bluegrass. Jim Lederer opened the restaurant on Old Deerfield Road in 2004, after two decades in Chicago-area restaurants, he told Voyage Chicago in 2017. Chocolate chip bread pudding comes as a $7 taster or an $11 portion for sharing. The west-side building has a private parking lot, so there is no need to hunt for a downtown space.
Hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner Tue-Thu 4:30 to 8 p.m., Fri-Sat 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.; closed Sun-Mon.
Address: 1636 Old Deerfield Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Saturday daytime is set aside for private parties, so Saturday visits are dinner only.
- Tuesday specials include a barbecue half chicken for $22.
- The wine and beer list sticks to American producers.
See the full directory listing
DeNucci’s
A $1.5 million city grant, announced in February 2024, helped bring DeNucci’s, a Lincoln Park Italian American restaurant, to 2nd Street downtown. The Highland Park location opened on November 18, 2024, The Record reported. The menu sticks to red-sauce standards like artichoke vesuvio, orecchiette pugliese and veal scallopini, along with 16-inch New York-style pizzas, and Mondays bring tavern-style pies. Read the check before paying: a 3.5% surcharge is added to every bill and can be removed on request.
Hours: Sun-Thu 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.; lunch Sat-Sun 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 1850 2nd St, Unit 110, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- The front patio is dog-friendly.
- The bar asks for a physical ID and does not accept the Illinois digital ID.
See the full directory listing
Indus Progressive Indian
Ajit and Sukhu Kalra, who opened an Indian grill in downtown Chicago in 2021, followed with Indus Progressive Indian on Central Avenue in June 2024, after the Daily Herald announced a June 5 opening. The menu pairs biryani and curries with crossover plates such as masala-rubbed smoked brisket and a pork belly vindaloo cured for seven days. Sukhu Kalra designed the room, with murals and handmade lamps inspired by ancient Indus Valley pottery. Vegan diners can order the smoked baingan bartha, an eggplant dish with tomatoes, onions and chili oil, per NBC 5 Chicago’s 2024 visit.
Hours: Check current hours before you go.
Address: 617 Central Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Okra chips dusted with dried mango powder are on the starter list, NBC 5 Chicago reported.
- The kitchen grinds a house blend of cumin, coriander, black pepper and cinnamon every couple of days.
- Wagyu steaks come with Indian spiced compound butter and chutneys, according to Northwestern Magazine.
La Casa De Isaac & Moishe
Brothers Isaac, Moishe, David and Israel Nava come from Huitzuco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, and La Casa De Isaac & Moishe on 1st Street cooks from their mother’s recipes. The family follows Jewish principles, so pork stays off the menu and the al pastor is made with beef, CBS News Chicago reported. Isaac’s Mother’s Favorite Enchiladas ($22.99 for four) come under green tomatillo sauce, and the King David Quesadilla ($16.99) is filled with lox, onions and cream cheese. Plan around the Sabbath, because the restaurant closes Saturdays and on Jewish holidays.
Hours: Check current hours before you go.
Address: 2014 1st St, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- The salmon goat cheese burrito ($24.99) comes with green rice, black beans and mango relish.
- Fiesta tacos, including duck and salmon mole versions, are $22.99 for three on a house spinach corn tortilla.
- Whole or filleted red snapper, al mojo de ajo or Veracruz style, is $34.99.
Max’s Deli
Corned beef sandwiches, matzo brei and lox platters are the core of the menu at Max’s Deli, a New York-style Jewish deli in a strip mall on Skokie Valley Road. Joey Morelli, who owns and runs the deli today, shared ownership with his brother Greg and their cousin Stacey Goldberg in 2014, when the Daily Herald reported the deli had been open more than 25 years. Better magazine singled out the Hoppel Poppel, a scramble of salami, potato, onion and green pepper. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive early on weekends.
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 191 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Better magazine reported in 2013 that Sunday brunch draws diners from Highland Park and Northbrook.
- The deli runs a separate shiva catering service with a dedicated toll-free phone line.
- Passover and High Holiday menus are posted on the deli’s website.
Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar
Founded as a hot dog stand in 1977, Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar still sells char dogs on 2nd Street downtown. A group of Highland Park natives bought the restaurant from the Hoffman family in 2012, according to the owners’ website. On the online ordering menu, the Char Dog is $4.89, and loaded fries with chili, onions, bacon and cheddar are $8.99. The salad bar is the other half of the name, and a build-your-own wrap ($8.99) comes with four toppings from it. Ask for the dog Chicago style to get the full set of toppings.
Hours: Check current hours before you go.
Address: 1879 2nd St, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Michael’s sells a house cheese sauce under the Michael’s Melting Cheese name.
- A Michael’s food truck works parties, and the catering team handles bar and bat mitzvahs.
- The restaurant’s website says Michael’s has always tried to be “good food fast, not just fast food.”
See the full directory listing
Norton’s Restaurant
Childhood friends Richard Holleb and Jeffrey Mages opened Norton’s Restaurant on Sheridan Road in 1999 and ran the bar and grill for 27 years. On July 7, 2026, they sold the restaurant to David Rosenstein, Simon Leibovich and Jeff Poulsom, The Record reported, and the new owners’ first changes were limited to new TVs and kitchen equipment. About 80% of customers are regulars, and much of the staff has worked there for two decades or more. Burgers lead a menu that also covers ribs, salads and pizzas; for a side, order the tater tots that Patch readers recommended.
Hours: Mon 4 to 10 p.m.; Tue-Thu 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Address: 1905 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Patch readers named the Norton’s burger the best in the Highland Park area in 2021.
- Patio seating and carryout are both options, according to Visit Lake County.
- Both founders were 73 and retiring when the sale went through, The Record reported.
See the full directory listing
Piero’s Pizza
Five crusts come out of the Ravinia kitchen at Piero’s Pizza on Roger Williams Avenue: extra thin, thin, pan, stuffed and spessa, a fluffy focaccia-style crust. Owner Frank Guagliardo grew up in his parents’ Chicago-area pizzerias and opened his own in the 1980s, using family recipe books for the sauces, according to the restaurant. WGN’s “Chicago’s Best” aired a segment on the sausage deep dish in 2015, when the shop was on Broadview Avenue, Patch reported. Delivery drivers are on staff and cover Glencoe, Deerfield, Highwood and Winnetka as well as Highland Park.
Hours: Tue-Thu 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sat 2 to 9:30 p.m.; Sun 2 to 8:30 p.m.; closed Mon.
Address: 647 Roger Williams Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
Why they made the list
- Pan and spessa pizzas start with a 7-inch individual size, and large pies in every style are 14 inches.
- Pasta comes in four shapes, including rigatoni and fettuccine, with five sauces to choose from.
- Catering covers events from birthday parties to weddings.
Also worth knowing
Ukrainian and Eastern European cooking fills the menu at Cafe Dacha, 675 Central Ave., named for the country cottages common in Ukraine. Varenyky dumplings with potato, cabbage or farmer cheese are $15, and the Ukrainian hot borscht is $10.
Chef Fernando Angelina, who grew up helping on his family’s farm in Oaxaca, Mexico, cooks a vegetable-focused seasonal American menu at Pixca, 455 Central Ave. The kitchen leans on wood grilling, pickling and natural fermentation, and weekend brunch runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See the full directory listing
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