We tried out this spot yesterday night for dinner and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised! Food: Cheddar broccoli soup: 4/5 pretty good it wasn't served super hot temperature wise but it was really tasty with bread Broast chicken + fries: 5/5 the chicken was delicious the breading was a bit too salty for me but still great value Ice cream: 3/5 was fine The service was really good and they weren't busy so we were sat quickly and our server is very attentive to us. The restaurant had a lot of Betty boop stuff so it had very cute old school decor. read more

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Not busy on a Thursday Got seated and served right away Coffee was fresh , I had island delight. It was pretty good , nothing crazy , but that's what I'd expect out of a healthy breakfast. read more

Island Lake Cafe - Spinach , egg, mushroom , California Fruit Plate Island delight - Diners Near Me - Island Lake, Illinois

came in on a recommendation and got the gyro and fries, ate my fill and left with a gyro and fries because it's just that much food. would have been nice to know earlier so could have asked for an extra pita and made like it was two sandwiches with some assembly required. sandwich comes out rolled and wrapped up in a sleeve, open it up and find a pile of thin sliced meats, sliced tomato, and onion with tzatziki on the side. an excellent second to follow a cup of creamy broccoli soup... wasn't super impressed pulling up on a weathered little snack shack with an irregular parking lot but it's on the lakes in lake county so you just roll with it. because of poor planning I took up three spaces with my trailer in tow and ambled in to an amazing collection of the Boopster in almost all her glory; Betty Boop memorabilia and merch on display anywhere it could be put without disrupting business or looking tacky. so coooool. dining solo so I got a seat at the counter and requested coffee and iced water while I looked over the menu. ain't nothing like the menu at a Greek joint to turn lunch into dinner... about 100 items on six pages plus deserts and sides and beverages - I think we used to smoke at restaurants to have something to do while figuring the order LOL it took so long trying to decide between a Monte Cristo and the hot meatloaf sandwich that I went with the gyro instead and I think this is where I started... Man I Left Full read more

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Based off of latest experience: Service (no complaints). The broccoli soup & the burger (very low quality). Fries (low quantity). read more

Hidden gem! Service was great. Food was amazing. So glad to have found this cafe, and I will be returning to try more options on the menu.

The food here is very good! The only disappointment was the pork tenderloin. The chicken is superb as well as the riblets. Soup is topnotch. Service is also excellent. All in all is excellent! read more

Very good breakfast and the service is fast. Try the Betty Boop omelette. It is the one I always go with.

Everything was fine up until the dessert. I ordered pumpkin pie with ice cream. It's usually around 4.99. I had 2 charges one for the pie 3.99 and 3.49 for a few tiny scoops of ice cream. I can get a whole pumpkin pie for 5.99 at Woodmans. She was new and should have asked the other waitress. She showed me on the menu where ice cream as a dessert is 3.49 which is going to be a whole bowl not a couple mini scoops. Felt like I was ripped off. I've never left a 15 percent tip but I did so in this case. read more

Fun Betty Boop decor, fast and friendly wait staff and good food at good prices. Very traditional "comfort " style food. Breakfast all day and the menu is quite large. Definitely worth the stop. Would come back again. read more

Island Lake Cafe - Interior - Diners Near Me - Island Lake, Illinois

The Easter food was good a little slow service but the Easter bunny this year was not good! He didn't interact with my kids, he threw an Easter egg down on the table instead of handing to her. Definitely need to have someone way better do this role next year! read more

Excellent broasted chicken - juicy and tender. Crispy breading. Complete meal soup or salad and ice cream for dessert. Daily specials including AYCE broasted chicken, bbq ribs and Friday fish and shrimp fry read more

My breakfast was excellent! Eggs cooked to perfection, real bacon cooked crisp Loved the Betty Boop decor- cute place great food very nice service Recommend highly read more

The food was amazing, the service was fast and friendly! If you like Betty Boop this is a must go for you! So much fun Betty stuff to check out! read more

New to island lake. I enjoy the small town atmosphere. The kind staff are all nice. I want to return but just can't spend money here if the basics are not done properly. Unfortunately, to many things that need fixed... Syrup was presented in a kids colored plastic bottle. AND it was disgustingly dirty/sticky. My daughter wanted a breakfast sandwich, She added sausage. She got to slices of cheap white bread. A cooked egg, and 3 precooked disgusting sausage links..on her sandwich!! The menus - big heavy old dirty, hard to navigate. I spent more time reading the advertisements than looking for food. My wife's egg omelette seems to have been made with sliced American cheese... the kind the comes i. The individual wrapped packs. Employees were cleaning bless there hard work. however..... the water in the mop bucket smelled dirty and had air freshener to help the smell... ‍ Ps.... Ceiling air vents please clean them or replace. The air return filter is rusty and not clean. That's the air we breathe. read more

I loved the staff including: the owner, her grandson, and our server. The decor is all Betty Boop! Super cute! The food was good (typical breakfast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast), we added hashbriwns as an extra side. My boyfriend and I always split our breakfasts at a different place, and are full. The portions here were a bit smaller. Overall, it was good, and I would go back again. read more

WOW. What a mistake of a place. Pros: There's food and not alot of flies? Cons: They ran out of food during the all-you-can-eat Riblets. The waitress brought riblets with sauce on them even though we said we didn't want it. Also she offered us an alternative since they ran out and when I asked for something, She acted like I was the problem. Also I couldn't get something else either cause they kitchen closes like 30 minutes before the place does. And they only had one cook in the back. Would've been nice or appropriate if she had told us about the kitchen or lack of ribs when we were ordering but why treat customers with information like that? I hope you have a better experience but I will NEVER visit again. read more

The vibe here is definitely that of a diner and we liked that about it. Came for breakfast and we both had skillets which were delicious and you'll absolutely have leftovers! read more

Island Lake Cafe - Skillets - Diners Near Me - Island Lake, Illinois

Quirky decor but I love it! Food is always good and servers very friendly....id recommend for sure.

4/5 stars for me! the food was great and i absolutely loved the chicken and dumpling soup! I bought some last night and I ate the whole quart the next day. lol I highly recommend the dumpling soup on Mondays! it's a cute little diner and I'm grateful for them to be open for breakfast in the evenings (hard to find near me). the service wasn't the best and could have been better but was probably an off night or something. the Service took a bit long but the food arrived and it was delicious. staff did forget a few things and spilled syrup on the table while she was placing down our food. I'm not upset about that at all. maybe a bad night for her. but all in all will be coming again and calling ahead for some great soup! read more

This is one of our favorite local restaurants. The brosted chicken is a favorite. Never been disappointed with any thing we have ordered. This is family, casual restaurant. read more

remember years ago when every restaurant you went to was a mom and pop restaurant? Now almost every restaurant is a chain restaurant. Well I have found a great little cafe that brings you back to the good old days. Island Lake Cafe isn't your run of the mill restaurant . The food is so good Its not easy to find broasted chicken like the old days but they serve it here. Soup is outstanding. If you like Betty Boop you're in luck. They have a large collection of memorabilia. This cafe takes me back to some great memories. The service is great. Next time I go I will definitely try the breakfast. Island Lake Cafe 310 E State Rd Island Lake Il. read more

Great Place reminds me of the old days as a kid going to family dinner. Great place to hang with friends and enjoy comfort food!

What a cute place, I was astonished at the size of the menu, they have such a variety, and everyone was friendly with fast service. The soup was so good, bread was fresh, and it's so hard to find a hot turkey sandwich right from the breast, not lunchmeat, even served with cranberries! Yumm! And homade rice pudding and tapioca, too! Give it a try! And such a lovely collection of Betty Boop figures, this place is a little treasure, and I would hope we all would do what we can to support them. read more

Cute small local business. Good prices, good food, server was friendly and efficient. I will be back to try a few more things. Get some soup to go, especially the veggie beef soup. It was very good. read more

Excellent chicken their soup is the best I've been eating their soup for over 20 years waitresses are great they have a good humor you go there and you feel like you're at home read more

Meh. I live in the area and last visited 20+ years ago. Came in with my husband for breakfast- everything was amazing! Cute Betty Boop diner motif. Came in again a couple weeks later, the eggs were overcooked, the toast was stone cold and we never did get a coffee refill or the OJ I ordered. We'll give it one more try in the near future. read more

I looove your soups but wondering where's the potatoes (suppose to be) in your potato soup? imo it would be much tastier w/ ham as in your split pea soup or some bacon? also would enjoy your fish grilled not breaded... read more

Excellent spot in Island Lake for good food, I preferably have Breakfast with the Brotherhood at this spot. Coffee is never ending, Breakfast typically traditional Eggs sunny side up, hash browns bacon , toast. Need to try other items on there menu. Price point is great. Btw, Staff is welcoming and at there peak of performance. Child friendly and encouraged. Looking forward to my next visit. Cheers! read more

The island Lake Cafe isn't your average diner. Their menu has the same selection of a family restaurant. However, that's not the reason it's unique. From the floor to the ceiling, they have decorated their restaurant in Betty Boop memorabilia. The amount of merchandise they have accrued over the years is astonishing. I had the steak quesadillas. The cheddar was a turn off, but it's not a big deal. Most family-style restaurants do their quesadillas that way. Their rice pudding took me by surprise. Overall I give this place a 5 out of 5. The prices are right, the food is worth it, and the memorabilia makes this place stand out! --Will read more

I had never been to this restaurant and was getting home late from work I figured I would take an order out. Well, I may go back tomorrow night! I knew this place was gonna be great when I had your thousand island which was fabulous. I ordered the Athenian chicken and rice and it was delicious. It is right up there with some of the Best Greek restaurants. Not only was the food fabulous but the girl that brought my food to me could not have been nicer. This is a great place to go and I will definitely be back again. Plus, there was a Girl Scout in there selling cookies so that really made my night. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!! read more

Love the broasted chicken. I usually just get the chicken. You will have to wait 1/2 an hour for the chicken. Worth it. Keep it warm and enjoy! read more

If you're looking for a cheap family friendly dining experience, this is the best in the area! The food is good and the staff treats you like family. Great broasted chicken too! Ps.. Doubles as the largest Betty Boop museum I've ever seen! read more

I love island lake cafe! I have been going here since I was a little and it's always been one of my favorite places to go! Most of the staff is super nice and take amazing care of us! One of the bussers is sooooo friendly and is always super nice to me and my kids! The owner is always really nice to my kids too! The biscuits and gravy is my favorite thing to order! read more

Open faced turkey sandwich for lunch is a true winner. Iced tea with slice of lemon another winner. This place should be packed.

Good little local family restaurant, but they need to tidy up the outside a little, starting with the weeds.

This restaurant has been around for years and does not disappoint. Whether you order their Island Skillet for breakfast or a veal cutlet dinner, everything is cooked perfectly at very reasonable prices. Huge menu to choose from and you will be happy when you leave. read more

Great neighborhood restaurant. Good food, friendly waitresses. Sandy by far is the best & friendliest waitress here. If you go in for breakfast try the corn beef hash & eggs. It's AWESUM as well as the biscuits & gravy. read more

Island Lake Cafe - Best Corned Beef Hash & Eggs! - Diners Near Me - Island Lake, Illinois

It's a decent diner with nice staff. Lots of signs up advertising their "Braosted" chicken, which I did not try since I'd stopped in for breakfast. I got myself a pile of corned beef hash, potatos, eggs, and toast. the kids got silver dollar pancakes that were frisbee-sized. The portions were colossal. I'm going back for broasted chicken, whatever that is. read more

If you have not tried the broasted chicken and allowed the amazing waitresses to serve you, then you are missing a taste of true southern fried chicken. It is moist, crunchy and seasoned well. Definitely not overpowering with salt. I think it is lower in calories, than the true fried chicken I normally had in the past, cooked in oil. I have not tried any other proteins here because the breasted chicken is addictive. It comes with sides like slaw, broasted potatoes, bread etc. but I can never get to that because I cannot stop eating the flipping chicken. Awesome!!! read more

So ordered a big order due to the fact it's a restaurant in town and we are like only 3 mins away. Normally not an issue but lately I don't know. Order oriental chicken stir fry and got it to go due to COVID and it looked like they are serving it to a dog or something food put in the container with no care. Food very extra salty and sauce over power even order extra rice. When we called they said o well we have 1 cook and they just rushed. But seriously that isn't an excuse to not provide good food and service for the price that is currently at. Also it's a all day restaurant but when we ordered soup they said it's too early for soup which don't make sense. Honestly I understand covid but even at that to have someone pay the expensive price they quote their food they should give more care to all ordered they send out because people do eat it but I don't think at this point they care at all and make stupid excuses for their mistakes read more