Stopped by here for lunch with some friends. I'd passed it on several occasions when in the area and had my eye on it because of the quaint location, right on the edge of a little village park type of spot. I wouldn't normally order a sandwich but a friend I was with had ordered the ham and cheese in the past and had really enjoyed it, so I decided to go with it. It really was delicious. I think I could have done with a little less tarragon in the mustard sauce but the bread was hearty and crusty and the sandwich had a good flavor, not your usual ham and cheese. One of the challenges with two of us who ordered this sandwich was it was a bit oily. One friend had the shrimp wrap and said it had good flavor but was waaaay too oily, the chili oil. It was dripping everywhere, very hard to eat. I wouldn't normally eat fries but they came with my sandwich and these were special, quite tasty. The waitress explained they were a special potato from California and prepared in a 5 step process - they were great! We ordered white chocolate gelato and you really could taste the white chocolate. Over all, it was a nice experience and I'd return if/when I was in the area again. The service was very professional and very friendly, with a nice atmosphere. We sat in the dining area near the fireplace - very nice. read more

Great meal and good solid service from Jeff made for a very enjoyable evening. We shared the pizza - a bit bland, surprising given the basil rapini and shallots; we also had the quinoa balls - surprisingly moist and flavorful with a crispy crust on each served on a bed of caramelized onions; the crispy pork belly with Caesar dressed kale was my favorite although they claimed the pork had North African spices and it pretty much tasted just of good pork; the grilled shrimp with cucumber and spicy Thai peanut sauce was very refreshing. The bacon and blue salad was light and flavorful and the cold cucumber coup was delicious. Best entrees were the sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce (too salty) and the most amazing potatoes - a 1/2 inch thick rectangle about 6 inches long of thinly sliced potatoes which were creamy inside and brown and crisp outside. The pork shoulder was meltingly tender with great pork flavor. The shrimp and grits had a spicy broth that you want to soak up with bread. The grits were creamy and light and the 7 nice size shrimp were grilled perfectly. The special whole roast baby chicken was roasted with crisp skin and moist, tender meat. The braised caramelized cabbage in broth served with it was very deeply flavored but a tad salty. For dessert the Majolica chocolate disc had an intense dark chocolate flavor. They claim it has no added fat or sugar but there is obvious sweetness and when asked they would not tell us what was used in the dessert. It is probably agave. The berry panna cotta was light with great berry notes albeit a tad gritty in texture. The cookies and cream was to die for with two fresh chocolate chip cookie slabs topped with a chantilly flavored cream. The tres leches cake was also very moist with good dairy notes and vanilla flavor. read more

Will never forget this place. We came here to break the fast after Yom Kippur was over. Besides the excitement of eating....anything...I've been looking forward to coming to Inovasi for a while. Unfortunately, I I overdid the fasting and felt nauseous when our food finally came out. As voracious as my eyes were, my stomach wasn't too thrilled about the prospect of digesting. 15 minutes, lots of water, and some bread later.... I was back in action!!! Here we go! Quinoa balls: sound more exciting than they taste Duck: PHENOMENAL. It may no longer be on the menu, but the confit and breast were cooked perfectly!! "Straight out of the sea": was a bit too salty and drier than I would have expected. Desserts: OMFG, must get both of them and eat them together: Oolong Tea Sorbet + Manjari Chocolate Disc. The Tea sorbet - can definitely taste the tea, hope you like oolong!! Basil is a cool compliment to the sorbet, but overall it left me wanting some chocolate, and that's where the second dessert comes into play. The amareno cherry in the chocolate is worth it alone. But this particular dessert is so much more than the sum of its parts, which individually may seem too bitter or dry or sweet or flat...but all together, it's a beautiful balance. Hooray for getting my appetite back! Oh and P.S. the service was VERY attentive and personal. read more

Inovasi - Wild mushroom appetizer - New American Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

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My husband and I enjoyed the tasting menu in the Dining Room last night, and both the food and the server (Michael) were outstanding. The food was imaginative and fabulously presented, and the service could not have been better. Looking forward to our next dining adventure at Inovasi. We highly recommend! read more

Last night was my 4th visit. I really like this place. The menu is broken down into 3 parts, vegetable, fish and meat. It is all small plates. I recommend going with a group and ordering lots of dishes 2 or 3 a piece and share. The flavors are wonderful. The food is very fresh. Like any establishment they are not perfect, a couple of our dishes last night did not meat the normal standard. The pasta dish was a bit salty and gunky. The pork shoulder which I normally love, was a bit dry. You notice I still gave it 4 stars. I hold Inovasi to higher standards than I do other restaurants. They have normally been excellent. The deserts are good, they stretch your palate and taste buds. Lots of savory flavors paired with a touch of sweet. Service is stellar, the servers are very attentive and great with recommendations. read more

I appreciate and give props to restaurants that are about what is fresh, in-season, and local. Therefore, I am an instant fan of this place, but I would really say this rating is more of a 3.5. The menu is interesting and innovative with ingredients. I agree with some others that the decor does not match the modernness of the food, but its not that bad. Our service was wonderful with the waitress being helpful with the suggestion. We started off with cocktails, I had the John's Summer Spritzer (ginger/limoncello/simple syrup/selter) which was light and refreshing, perfect after a hot day. For appetizers we got the flatbread, fried tomatoes, spring rolls, and calamari. The highlight was the calamari, which is actually a main, which was perfectly cooked, not overly breaded, and the sauce gave it the right amount of spice. All the other apps were very solid. So why not five stars ... sometimes having a unique and innovated twist on food just doesn't work (or at least not to every palates liking). I saw rabbit on the menu and I love rabbit (much to my boyfriend's dismay). However, what I was picturing in my head was not what appeared on the plate. The rabbit was more of a rabbit sausage and something was just missing, it did not do rabbit justice ... lay it on a bed of couscous type grain and I'm done. I think its a good restaurant and impressive given the small town. If you are adventurous go for the tasting menu ... read more

One of our go-to spots! FOOD: Creative, beautifully plated and delicious. My husband and I are adventurous foodies so we have loved every single dish we've had here. Last night we had the fish n' chips which were delicious. The menu changes frequently which keeps us coming back to try new things. SERVICE: Except for last night, we have always had friendly and knowledgeable service. What I love most is that the staff has tried everything on the menu and are always willing and able to share their favorites, both food & cocktails. They have steered me towards a few absolutely delicious dishes that I might not have chosen on my own. WEDNESDAY nights at the bar: Love the addition of the live music! That is what has brought us in more frequently. read more

If ever a restruant was aptly named , this is the ONE ! Food is inventive , original combinations, Fresh, and delicious - I particularly relish their smaller portions ; gives one's tastebuds a variety of creative choices ! Their new bar menu and weekly specials , just add to their array! Not to Be missed , but make reservations ! read more

All ingredients at this restaurant are the finest as the owner is extremely particular. We have the beet salad and corn chowder as appetizers and then the salmon and Argentine salad with shrimp on top for dinner. Everything was excellent. The other great thing about this restaurant is the service is beyond compare as all staff are trained extremely well. I returned to this restaurant often. read more

Farm-to-table concept realized here. They even have a garden up on the roof! The waitstaff is very knowledgeable not only of the day's menu but I actually asked about a specific type of Belgium Ale & if he had any recos as to what came closest to what they had available on their craft beer list, and I have to say he did offer me some very good choices. But let's get back to the food. Scrumptious. Delectable. Divine. Exquisite. Need I say more? Compliments to the chef! Bravo! This is definitely a place to impress a date. read more

This is only going to apply to a select crowd, but can I just say... The kids meals here actually taste really good. Home made pasta noodles cooked in real chicken stock. Yum! For everyone else, prompt and attentive service is a standard here. I've had the seafood stew, always perfectly flaky halibut and scallops, as well as a few other types adding to a really hearty fish soup. The broth is peanut Thai based and probably a little bit salty for most, but just plain old delicious to this savory food lover. read more

Can't believe this place isn't rated as 4 or higher, i don't claim to know much about Lake Bluff but I assume the neighborhood is ecstatic to have this type of fine dinning in their back yard. I live in Chicago and have driven out to Inovasi twice as it's a nice change of pace for date night (after seeing it on Check Please a while back). The food is fantastic. I had the Sirloin last night and it was the most tender non Filet that I can recall eating. The place was slammed when we came in so service was a little slow but at the end of the meal the waiter comped a sparkling water we ordered. Yes a small gesture in price sure, but smart customer service that i appreciated. read more

A great change-up for Lake Forest/Lake Bluff area. Brad C.: Why is it necessary to make assumptions about and insult fellow diners in your review? I read a similar review on Abigails in Highland Park that also insulted the clientele. This is not helpful information, so why add your racial/ethic biases? I happen to be a chef/former small food business owner who is interested in hearing about the food and service. Clients come in all shapes and sizes - get used to it - and grow up. Inovasi is doing one hell of a job!!! read more

Love Inovasi. Situated on a charming corner in downtown Lake Bluff, it's a beautiful spot to dine--inside or out (in the summer). Great atmosphere in the restaurant, bar or out front on the sidewalk. I have never been disappointed in the food here. From a fancy tasting menu my husband and I shared here on our anniversary 3 years ago, to mac n cheese for the kids, it's all good food, elevated to a higher level in subtle ways. Most recently I've met friends at Inovasi on Wednesday night for Ladies Night...half price glasses of wine and small plates. We had delicious Burrata platter, sushi and calamari. The staff has always been welcoming, very courteous, attentive and helpful. I highly recommend Inovasi for a causal weeknight out or a date night with that special someone. read more

100 all around! We ate dinner inside last night and haven't been to Innovasi in over a year (we live out of state). Food, menu selections, and service were exceptional. Our waiter, Juan G., was fantastic!! He truly made our dining experience enjoyable. Thank you to the entire team at Innovasi for a wonderful meal. read more

I've visited several times. The service is good and the food is inventive and delicious. I loved the fried green tomatoes appetizer. They have outside seating, a full bar area and restaurant seating. read more

I've never had a bad meal here. Their menu is ever changing and evolving but every time I'm sad to see something go they add something else that wows me. They have a great beer and wine selection and offer small sharing plates along with larger entree plates. I recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something different! read more

New review! After the owner contacted me on Yelp I went back to this restaurant to give it another try. (Actually went back four times) I think Inovasi's has made some wonderful improvements. The ambience is amazing, super fun vibe and wonderful energy from Mr. B and the new hostess. The food is incredible! The chef is clearly very talented. That is honestly the best thing about this place... the food is five stars!!! Beyond delicious!!! Unfortunately, the service (wait staff) was still not amazing. Sorry! I'm being ultra picky. Lots of little mistakes. Despite that I am still a big fan of Inovasi's and am really happy that such a wonderful restaurant is in our town. Great job Inovasi's!!! I'll be back:) read more

We've enjoyed Inovasi several times over the years, and it has even become one of our family's prime choices for a special birthday dinner, so you know that means that we like it. Nevertheless, I have to say that our most recent experience was the best yet. The menu is ever-changing, which is a great thing. There's now a wider choice of larger plates, plus a "Tasting" menu where the chef suprises the table with 4 courses of HIS choice. The Tasting menu was what we enjoyed on our most recent visit, and it was simply outstanding! The dishes ran the gamut, and all 4 of us loved almost every plate that was presented. Inovasi seems to truly be hitting its stride at this point. GO - you'll be happy you did read more

Here is my reply to the owner's reply to my review. It seems it hit a nerve. Why not considering his pathetic excuse for providing such horrible food quality. Instead of at least apologizing for the terrible food we got from their take out menu that cost us an arm and a leg, he goes on to insult his customer. Shame on you. With an owner like that no wonder the food was so bad. Thank god there are still great restaurant around that are owned by honest and respected people. read more

I've been to inovasi many many times. I've worked with many of the staff members when I was serving and waiting tables in a previous life. I had to finally write a review as my brother's and I rounded up the kin for my mother's b-day. To begin with, its always a joy to walk into the restaurant. The bar area has taken leaps and bounds since it first opened, and the decor for the rest of the place makes sense, it parallels the idea of the experience. Simple, honest, with touches of adventurousness. I love that the glass that once covered the window to the kitchen is now gone. I like the smells and sounds of the kitchen. It reminds me that there is worksmanship going into what I'm eating. As far as what stood out for me at this particular dinner it comes down to two things, the quinoa balls and the tres leches cake. Many times when you eat fried food it is overly greasy. Quinoa balls were perfect. Not to mention it definitely lightens your mother's 63 birthday dinner party when everyone makes puns about balls for ten minutes. As far as the cake was concerned, if you go to inovasi and don't get it, you are a masochist. I thought about about giving 4 stars on this review because Chef John wasn't there that night. This is not a knock on the food, because the cooks performed with military precision (he must have been at moderno, which by the way, go there. Now) but because I enjoy his explanation of the dish and what he was trying to do with it. But it had to be 5 stars because of Elkin. If you have not met Elkin, the manager, you are missing out. Supremely knowledgeable and capable, if you ever have any issue or question at inovasi, you will be in the right hands. Highest recommendations. But don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. read more

My wife planned a "date night" here on the recommendation of a coworker. We chose the Tasting Menu which was simply fantastic! Everything we had was delicious, the only thing that was less-than stellar was the sushi. Not that it was bad, but compared to everything else it was simply outshone. Dinner did take some time for all the courses to be served, so plan to sit and enjoy some conversation while you await the next round of dishes. Highly recommend Inovasi read more

Visited this restaurant a week ago, but have been a regular. Snarky service left something to be desired. The reality is we receive regular emails suggesting the proprietor Jon des Rosiers wants Inovasi to be a meaningful part of our Lake Bluff community but instead he runs it like his own fiefdom and it's his way or the highway. He is not interested in client feedback. He upcharged our table of 4 for meaningless items. Consider taking your business elsewhere. read more

Visited for the first time tonight . I loved the freshness of the dishes and attention to quality. They are really proud of their food. Juan was great and knowledgeable and helped us with our selection. I can't wait for the patio to be open. Great atmosphere, great food! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Inovasi. Lake County is so lucky to have such a unique and amazing restaurant. The food is outstanding! The menu always has new selections and dishes unlike anything I have ever had! Everything is fresh, from local farms, or grown in the rooftop garden! The crispy balsamic chicken is one of the best things I have ever ate! The bruschetta is heaven! The staff are efficient, kind and go above and beyond to make sure you have a nice meal. Inovasi will be always be a great place for date nights, family dinners, and even private events! Everyone that I have taken to Inovasi just raves about it and cant wait to go back! Thank you Inovasi and Mr. B for such a truly special place!! read more

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Mr.Massimo Serradimigni,class act gentleman,finest of style and tasting food-people are great,and for Our Veterans of the UnitedStatesofAmerica-you will get 25% off any Diner.... missionnairesdusaint-esprit.com read more

For the record, we only came for dessert and coffee. But the experience was 5 stars! The Columbian Chocolate dessert is a must-try. Make sure to ask the waiter for the story behind why the chocolate comes from Columbia. Can't wait to try Inovasi for dinner. read more

I have been to Inovasi a handful of times, and with each experience I have enjoyed wonderful service with local food that is prepared and cooked to intricate perfection. Friday, my friends and I had an evening out at Inovasi. The manager, Joe recommended a beautiful bottle of Moscotto which paired exquisitely with the Blue Crab Soup. Growing up in Maryland, after tasting this soup and the warm Crab Dip- I felt like I was home. Parallel to this feeling, Inovasi creates a very warm, inviting ambience that is great for a romantic date or casual dinner. Additionally, on two occasions, I have taken my three year old son to eat here- we ordered the kids spaghetti, it was a huge hit and very delicious. Our server Friday night, Brandis was very attentive and polite. She did a great job. As the meal progressed, we devoured the Brussels Sprout and the local Roasted Beet salads. We continued on with the Braised Short Rib and the Prime Filet Mignon. Chef Sean's specific attention to detail while plating and preparing ingredients for these dishes was nothing short of mouth watering perfection. Each ingredient on the plate compliments the others in a unique way and when you take a bite you dive into pure bliss. We were far to full for dessert, but in the past, the Carrot Cake sandwich is a must! I would definitely recommend dining at this restaurant. read more

We ate here a week ago; our meal was delicious! The grilled shrimp wrap was so good that I ate the entire thing! The wrap itself was as thin as a crepe. The filling was light and filling. My husband had the mahi mahi and loved it! We ordered the calamari appetizer as well; it was the best ever: crispy and light. I ordered a cocktail, as I can always have a glass of wine or beer at home. Yum! My drink was a combination of tequila blanco, watermelon juice, ginger and a bit of lime. Our server, Mario, is exceptional. He was so helpful to our friend who had difficulties pushing in his chair, so Mario lifted the chair and helped him to sit at the table. The servers all wore gloves and masks. Each table had its own bottle of sanitizer. I highly recommend eating here. read more

It was ok...I went there for a late lunch with friends and the best way to describe the service is very relaxed. If you have have afternoon meeting you might want to choose another option. My friends enjoyed their soup and salad but my Italian panini was so well done on one side that it was black. And the server didn't reappear until my friends were almost finished with their meals so I didn't send it back. Based on the reviews I read online, I was disappointed in what should have been a neighborhood gem. read more

Love love Inovasi! Menu has been revised since we first started dining there a couple of years ago and it's always excellent. There sushi is a relatively new offering and it's outstanding. They have a great happy hour pricing 7 days a week and it's a big savings on wine. Staff is consistent and very pleasant. read more

Great atmosphere, fireplace and mood lighting. Extremely clean and superb service. Menu was simple yet outstanding selections. They announce that they change their menu routinely, that will get us back to eat there again. I had a nice chicken dish with squash and pine nuts. Nice wine list as well. read more

Came for dinner on a Monday evening and loved it. The management was very accommodating and let us push a couple tables together in the back dining area without fuss. I'll certainly come back for the food. Everything the table had was at least above average if not spectacular. My favorites were the bread and butter (best value on the menu) and burrata plate. I had the burger and fries and would recommend it. read more

Inovasi brings a downtown culinary experience to the North Shore. The menu is exquisite. Every bite is an experience. The farm to table quality ingredients are showcased through unique combinations and artful presentation that can only be created by a passionate and inspired Chef. The atmosphere is stylish from the fireplace to the patio. Hospitality is top notch. A great neighborhood gathering place and also romantic for an evening out. read more

We sat down and were told by the waiter that we needed to order our drinks quickly because they were "swamped" despite the restaurant not being full. Drinks came...gin and tonic had olives and gin martini had a lime. Mistake was discovered quickly (by us) and waiter told us that he should have known that the that the bartender messed up and we should just switch drinks and condiments. No offer to replace drinks. We ordered wine which came eventually and was warm...when asked why the bottle of wine was so warm waiter said they had "no room" to chill wine. On to dinner. Two out of the four of us had decided on salmon. When we went to order the salmon our waiter informed us that were out of salmon in addition to another popular pork item on their very limited menu. Why didn't he know that 10 minutes ago before we ordered and tell us? We ordered trout which was salty, small and mushy. Really horrible at best. There weren't a lot of other options. Not sure why this place is still in business other than its in the quaint setting of Lake Bluff. The food and service would never survive anywhere else. We would never return. We read all of the negative reviews and after the first 10 minutes at Inovasi we knew why. read more

I have been to Inovasi several times. Each time i expect a better experience and each time I am deeply disappointed! The food is very mediocre if not poor. Way overpriced. Small portions. I used to say the burger was good but had one last night and it was horrible. The service is inattentive and poor. Hate to say it, but i am giving up. read more

Fantastic food, great wait staff. Either the bar or the tables in the restaurant are good places to enjoy the food. Haven't met a dish here i haven't liked. read more

We have had two very disappointing experiences at Inovasi and will not return. The first was last New Years Eve, which we chalked up to it being a holiday. We thought we would give it another try before going to see a show at the Genesee a week ago. We had early reservations at 5:00 PM and were seated in the dining room. We asked the hostess if we could have a window table. "No," she said. What? No other diners had arrived. We told her that we had reservations and wanted the window. Still she said no, telling us that this was the table we were assigned. As we had brought another couple, we chose not to press it and make a scene, but really it was ridiculous. We were in the restaurant an hour before others were given the window spots. The food was not good and overpriced. Two in our party had salmon and two had steak frites. The salmon was over cooked and dry. The steak was too salty and the fries were soggy. The salads and desserts were mediocre at best. Our waiter was pleasant enough but solicitous to the point of being intrusive. It is difficult to understand some of the high ratings others have given. Maybe we were just unlucky to dine on two off nights. read more

Continued regularly going and customer service got progressively worse. In July 2018 was the last time we were there. Waited over 20 min for someone to come to our table. Got the drinks incorrect, didn't bring out appetizer. Meal took another 45 minutes and incorrect. Manager who is typically spot on simply came over and said "looks like you're not happy" no apology, no discount, nothing. We didn't even get our correct meal and still had to pay. Haven't returned since and don't plan to. Most concerning is that we were there with our newborn and I was told by another guest that she was offended by my breastfeeding newborn. I was using a cover and absolutely nothing could be seen from my neck to my waist. I ended up having to breastfeed in the bathroom standing up. To which other women were horrified about and made it a point to come in and tell me about it. Some said they'd speak to the manager about it but of course this was never addressed. All the above in one visit. read more

Ehh. I have had some some pretty decent, and some bad experiences here. The only reason I continue to go back is because it is 2 blocks from my house, and it is an easy date night to get away for an hour or two with a neighbor babysitter. I've been going here for three years, and I actually think it has gotten worse over time. I think they try to be too many things in one restaurant. Is it fine dining or casual neighborhood bar with a giant TV? The food has gotten worse as of late, and there are even less options than there used to be (which is significant, because they have never had a big menu). The last time I was there, not one thing on the small plates menu sounded even remotely appetizing, and there were only 6 options to chose from. I've dined on both sides of the restaurant, and most of the experiences I've had in the dining room have been pretty good. The food has been fresh and well prepared, service pretty good. I'm not sure it was worth what we paid, but that's another story. The entree menu does not change much however, and with less than 10 options, that's a problem. Everything stays relatively the same, with only a slight variation in ingredients (sauces, etc) with the changing seasons. The bar area is where I have my biggest gripe. When we go to sit in the bar, we don't want to be spending $30 on entrees. We just want to have a few drinks, and have a simple meal. Which leaves us with the smalls plates options. There are maybe 6 small plates to chose from, and the last time, two of them were mussels or clams, which I hate, which left 4 options, not one sounding remotely appetizing. I ended up with a plain burger that had quality meat but was otherwise pretty flavorless. I also wanted to order the truffle fries, only to find out that they too, have been removed from the menu. I also ordered a glass of wine that I have gotten many times, and it had definitely gone bad. I'm not sure what direction they are going with this restaurant, but I'm looking forward to the place across the street opening. Invovasi needs to get control over their identity crisis with deciding what type of restaurant they want to be, and and the very least, offer a separate bar menu from the main dining room. read more