I work in Willowbrook and am still discovering little places like this to have lunch. I had the special panini, which was ham, provolone, and tomatoes. Damn, this sandwich was good. I forgot how much I love ham in a deli sandwich, I try to order leaner meats, but I could not resist this time. My only complaint was that there was a kind of puddle under my sandwich, like when you have a pickle spear on the side. Except there was no pickle..where was this moisture coming from? I can only guess that it was from the tomatoes being pressed in the panini?? I dont know, but I dont like a soggy sandwich. Even still, it was pretty damn good. I almost had the tuna salad because that is my go-to deli staple, but Im glad I didnt. I'll try it next time. Great atmosphere, good food, nice staff. read more

This is that one place that I have put off reviewing because I am afraid that this place with explode with popularity someday and I won't be able to get a table. But, since I've been trying to give good reviews where they are deserved I have to. I believe in Yelp, and what it has done for business. Let me say I LOVE, this place!!!! I wish I lived closer, but am glad I get to go here from time to time. The great thing about this place is that's it's cafeteria style, so you don't really have to tip... although, there is one person that if he's there I always do, cause he really takes care of you. They have spoiled me on bruschetta. They have the best, and I rate everybody else's on theirs. I also think they have the best Fettuccine Alfredo too, which is something I don't order in many other places because it never satisfies me the way Bernard's does. There daily specials are always amazing and on display when you walk in. My only negative is the last time I went here they don't accept credit cards. So I always use either their ATM or the one in the bank next store and end up with paying the $3 charge for taking out money from someplace that isn't my bank. But even with the additional $3, it's still a great meal. read more

Enjoyed a turkey burger here the other evening. Love the casual atmosphere. Many choices and an excellent salad bar. I haven't been here in the summer, but I am told there is a nice outdoor eating area. read more

It's good. Not great. Not bad. It's a decent place to go to when you can't decide. They only accept cash and aren't cheap ($15 entres). read more

While visiting family we decided to stop for lunch at Bernard's. What a treasure! My wife had the sausage pizza which was amazing and a huge portion! I had the Bernard sandwich with imported prosciutto from Italy! OMG! It was the most incredible sandwich I have ever eaten. This place was very clean, service was friendly and attentive! It's no wonder it has been around for 28 plus years! Do yourself a favor and eat lunch or dinner at Bernards. You will not regret it! read more

Bernard's Cafe & Deli - Italian Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

Yeah, it's pretty tasty. I'm an outsider, not a loyal fan coming to this place. The salad bar is one of the best I've seen, but everything is covered in oil. So, although a delicious salad but, a deceptively unhealthy one at that too. The pickled beets are delicious, as are the cold pasta dishes. And the prices are pretty good too. read more

-One of the best meatball sandwiches in the western 'burbs -One of the best ravioilis in the Chicago Metropolitan area -Great fresh pastas -Excellent special salads (changes daily) -Very casual read more

Stopped for a quick lunch. Had never been here before. Great pizza! Crispy crust. Flavorful sauce. Delicious!!! My wife had the spinach ravioli that the girl at the order counter had recommended, and found it to be excellent. Great find! We will be back. read more

What a surprise! Owner dies and place goes downhill. On a quiet weekday afternoon, 2 other folks eating, I waited over 18 minutes to get an order of bruschetta brought to my table. Finally I asked what was the hold up. Was told they had trouble with heating it?!? In the meantime 2 male employees never once looked up from their phones. Food is tasty but place needs better management with an eye to customer service. This was not my first experience with poor customer service here. read more

Not a bad place for lunch -- I used to live right around the corner from Bernard's and would go there to grab a sandwich when I was working from home. A full range of deli sandwiches is available along with some panini selections. They also have pizza and some Italian dishes and desserts but I never got to sample those. Sandwiches came with chips and they were always great. Bernard's doesn't accept credit cards but there's an ATM right inside the front door. Nice option for a quiet lunch. read more

I love this place. The grilled fish of the day with grilled vegetables is always awesome... a little pricey... but super good... my go to place around here for fish. And... a little outdoor patio during the summer. read more

Purchase two loaves of bread a sandwich and a soup I was excited to try a new deli as I am a connoisseur of deli sandwiches needless to say I was extremely disappointed not only in the quality of the food but in the hospitality or lack there of in the staff. I purchased a soup and sandwich and the soup was extremely bland and tasted a little above water quality and the sandwich was two ends of the loaf and was extremely bland as well and dry. I purchased two loaves of bread to take home and was extremely disappointed in these as well very dry no taste at all. I will not be coming back to Bernard's Café and when I called to talk to the owner about my disappointment the owner was extremely rude and wanted to not hear any of my complaints she ended up hanging up on me. They are overpriced for what you receive and the quality is horrible I will never again go back. read more

I was totally disappointed by the meal. Ordered two Bernard's which are always great. This time the bread was stale, the prosciutto was either stale or of a cheaper quality and this for $9.25. I threw most of it out. I only hope this was a bad day. I'll go back again but strike one! read more

Food just okay, not a very good bargain, overpriced average food and the best part they have Fox News on the TV. You get gouged and forced to watch the media arm of the Rep. party all at the same time. read more

Always love my lunches at Bernard's. The food is freshly made reasonably priced and their homemade breads and pastas are such a treat. Never had a bad meal there. read more

No mask on owner, manager and a few customers. No sign that a mask is required. Not a big deal, but when the owner went to help himself to the salad bar on the side without a sneeze guard and no mask, I decided I would no longer be going there. read more

Much better service than last year. Great food! Good job guys I'm going here for dinner tonight actually lol.

We ordered 3 full orders of pasta. Lasagna, ravioli, and gnocchi. Doesn't come w/soupor salad. They are supposed to be known for there homemade pasta. I live right across the street from the restaurant. We asked for a 6:40 pick up time. I asked for bread and butter they said they could do that. It was cold. No butter. Pasta orders were so small we thought they gave us 1/2 orders. I called to check and the guy couldn't even find my reciept! I picked it up 10 minutes ago. Usually you go to a pasta place and your asking for a container for leftovers. This was a disappointing experience on so many levels. Least of which they didn't seem to care. read more

I started going to Bernards this year and had gone quite frequently. Recently I went in to get the pasta salad at the salad bar. I spent over $25 buying the cold pasta. It wasn't until I got home that I tried the cold pasta that I normally eat at the restaurant and found that it was absolutely horrible. I ended up throwing all of it out in the garbage because it was not edible. It might be a good policy for the person that's making it to have somebody else taste it to make sure it turned out correctly before putting it out to sell to the patrons. I realize they're probably trying to hire people and it may have been a new employee who had made it. Unfortunately, I was unable to use it and have not returned since that time. Someone obviously didn't take the recipe seriously and did not follow it and it was a shame to lose a good customer over this. I gave it 2 stars because in the past I had enjoyed the restaurant. It is kept very clean and I appreciate that. read more

Been coming here for years, but haven't in a while. The food has always been good and they've charged above-average prices, but things are getting out of hand. Tonight - cappelini with meat sauce and help-yourself bread - $12.50. Really? read more

Bernard's Cafe & Deli - Cappelini with meat sauce. $12.50. Free bread but meatballs extra. - Italian Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

Great place to get a sandwich at a casual cafe. Overall very comfortable and clean, great service and food. Next time I go I will try out their patio if it's nice out. read more

Really delicious food, they take your order up front and you sit down and they bring you your food. The daily specials are on display and everything is so good we usually mix up what we get each time we go in. There's some construction right now near the intersection, so avoid during rush hour or you'll be in traffic. Bernard's is also closed on Sunday's. read more

Carry out from here every now and again and have never had a bad meal. Usually get the mostaccioli with marinara, but their lasagna and sandwiches are all very good as well. The inside is always clean and service kind. Prices are a little steep, but nothing that hurts the wallet too bad, especially if you're just buying for one or two. read more

Bernard's Cafe & Deli - Italian Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

I've been going here for close to 20 years now. I usually come here for the pasta, most of which is good, but I have consistently been disappointed by their Ravioli. While it isn't bad, it does tend to be a bit bland (I can tell no difference between the spinach and cheese varieties other than their appearance). Their lasagna is also good, but be forewarned, the cheese they use is very VERY rich and probably won't sit well with everyone. Their marinara sauce is amazing and their meat balls are the best I have ever tasted! Their special pizzas usually are worth a go. I suggest ordering just a slice before ordering more as they sometimes can be too salty. Their personal-pan pizzas are alright but my personal favorite is the Boboli, try it if you like a simple cheese, tomato and pesto pizza. Their salad bar is quite good, just be careful how much you grab, it's $7 and change per pound. Their busboy Jose has been here since the beginning, and while some may interpret his mannerisms as being pushy I always found him to have the best intentions. For some reason this place is vehemently anti-credit card, so be sure to bring your cash or an ATM card as they now have an ATM right next to the till. read more

Friendly stuff and amazing food!! Tried the meatball and raviolis and all were delicious!

The fresh pastas are wonderful (and you can purchase by the pound to go). I am always seeking out good cheese ravioli, and this place has it! You get your choice of sauce on whatever pasta you choose, which I think is cool. They had a special tomato sauce with leeks and it was amazing! Also, the bread was tasty. I don't usually eat bread with my pasta, but i could not resist this after watching someone take it out of the oven and cut through its crunchy crust with a giant knife. The salad bar was good- no iceberg in sight. They have beer and wine, so that's another point in my book. The only thing I don't like about this place is that you have to order up at the counter. There are 2 different places where you have to pay if someone in your party gets the salad bar. kinda disjointed. The atmosphere is quiet and good for talking, but I wish they had wait service, especially for the price of their entrees. read more

The food from Bernard's is delicious. My review today is not about the food, but in response to some of the other reviewers' criticism: Bernard's now accepts all credit cards! read more

I've never had anything bad here...everything is delicious!!! I always bring my colleagues here when they are in town and everyone loves it! They've accommodated large parties during lunch with no problems. Anytime I'm in the mood for authentic Italian food I come here! read more

I have been eating here for over 20 years. Some people consider comfort food as burgers, fried chicken, etc. My comfort food is Bernard's. Nothing makes me feel better than the Capellini with half marinara and half alfredo sauces. The salad bar is amazing! My favorite is the pesto noodles with artichoke hearts and the green bean salad. The homemade everything is just delicious and hits the spot each and every time! They finally started accepting credit cards over a $10 purchase which is no problem since the average meal will run you about that. The staff is always friendly and makes you feel right at home. Definitely go check this place out when you're in the area. read more

We're here at least once a week- and never get tired of it. The food is always fresh, daily specials, excellent salad bar, and yummy desserts. Oh, and alcohol! What more could you want? Fresh bread in a variety of flavors always in the oven and delivered to your table. Nice staff and clean environment. A little pricey (don't be fooled by "deli" in the name) but worth it. read more

Food was somewhat standard deli fare....with a price! I ordered a tasty turkey sandwich with cheese (that's extra) and a soda. It was nearly $11. Huh? Don't get me wrong, it was fresh and tasty, but I have a hard time paying $11 for a standard turkey sandwich during lunch. Heck, I didn't even get chips! I doubt I will go back. There are other local choices with similar quality at a lower price. read more

Really loved that we stumbled upon this place. We stopped in for a quick Saturday lunch and were pleasantly surprised. The amazing smell of baked bread and sizzling sandwiches hit us first. You basically order at the front counter and the find a table. A server then takes care of you the rest of the meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant. You can even pick up to go. I was eyeing their veggie pizza. Looked perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Only downfall is they are closed on Sundays. But everyone has to have some time off! read more

We ordered from here for our anniversary dinner. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the veggie lasagna with Alfredo sauce and my husband had the spaghetti and a meatball. Beyond delicious. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because after leaving, we drove 15 minutes to our hotel and there were no forks in the bag. GRRRRRR. We had to put our food away, put our coats on and head to a gas station to find forks. It added an adventure to our anniversary evening but could've done without it. Despite that inconvenience, we enjoyed the food all the same. If we are ever in this area again, we will definitely return and if we're taking our food to go, we will be sure to double check the server that gives us our food to make sure their are forks in there. read more

We had a luncheon catered by Rita/Bernard's today for 85 women. It was a smashing success. The food was way above what you would expect at such an event. The stars on the menu were the chicken breast pinwheels stuffed with spinach and topped with a madeira wine sauce, the rice pilaf with mushrooms, and grilled veggies. We often have events catered by Rita, and are always pleased with the quality of the food as well as the service. Carol W Oak Brook IL read more

Eating at Benard's always puts a smile on my face. They have great specials, but my favorite thing to eat is their Sausage Loaf which is similar to a calzone. That is my kind of comfort food. Be advised - they do no take credit cards, they only accept cash and checks. read more

Whenever I am back home in the burbs, I make a point to visit this Deli. The salad bar is amazing with plenty of options all fresh and delicious. I usually fill a plate and make a meal from the salad bar alone. The also serve excellent pasta dishes - made from scratch daily. The chicken and other meat dishes are all delicious as well. Definitely a family favorite. read more

I'm a picky Italian eater & this one of the best places I 've been too. There are no waiters so what you would pay in tip , you get in quality. If the owners Joel & Rita are there get one of their specials they are usually game changers . one of the best Italian / American hidden gems around read more

The decor is typical mom and pop shop, clean. Salad bar is very impressive. All of the food is delicious and quite fresh. The only reason I give this review a 3 star is due to customer service. I dealt with one employee on the phone who was incredibly rude and ignorant. So much that I was tempted to call back and cancel my order. When I picked up my food, I told the manager about my experience. Her response was "Oh really? I will have a talk with him." No compensation, which was fine. But not even an apology. I could not believe the lack of empathy and how it really didn't seem to faze her. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be back. read more

Probably the best option in the area if you're looking for a hot meal at a non-corporate chain restaurant. The busboy Jose has been there forever, and used to be pushy and super rude about where he wanted you to sit... I wonder if the years have chilled him out. I haven't seen him lately but I haven't been in there very frequently, either. Ate there today and noticed that they had freshly-made pasta in their front fridge - had always known their pasta was tasty! They have a popular salad bar that I haven't tried, but looks like it has some good options. Tasty homemade soups and good bread make this a good lunch spot to try. read more

Just went here with a group of coworker pals, and will certainly be back. The food here is really good and tastes really fresh. I had the turkey burger with grilled onions,and it was amazing. I didn't feel like I was eating a light alternative to a regular hamburger. The fries are delicious and have kind of a crispy batter thing happening with them. My friends got a corned beef, reuben and turkey panini and they were all thrilled with their food. The only two small things preventing me from giving this place a full five star rating are: they don't take credit cards (and I never have cash on me) and the music was kind of all over the place (weird old timey one minute, bad 80s the next) and loud enough to be noticeable. read more