Fantastic meal. Might just be the best meal we've had on the north shore in awhile. Our waiter, Virgil was outstanding only to match an incredible meal. Each dish fantastic- Branzino, Calamari, artichoke, margherita pizza, sausage pasta. read more

Wonderful Ambience, Service and Food My sister and I brought my 87 year old mom here and enjoyed a delightful dinner with superb friendly wait staff. The food was delicious, Salmon and steak are a little on the pricey side but excellent flavor. I am going back and try the pizza. It's a fun upbeat place to enjoy friends and family. read more

We've been dining here on and off for a couple years now and honestly the only reason is because there are no other Italian restaurants in the area. Well, after tonight we decided we won't be returning. $38 for 2 oz of "spare ribs" and some mashed potatoes literally smeared across the plate as a "side." Oh, and they're e so concerned about Omicron they'll be discriminating against non vaxxed patrons after Jan 3 (majority of black Cook County residents are unvaxxed). Guess they didn't worry so much when they sat us almost on top of the diners next to us. read more

We had a very nice dinner here. Food was very good, service was mixed. The food earned 5 stars to me. We had the frito miso and pizza to start, both were very good. I ordered a spinach ravioli which was excellent and had a marinara sauce with just the right amount of spice. Everyone else in our group ordered different pastas and all enjoyed what they picked. As a whole our group thought the food was comparable with what you will find in the city. This is so needed on the north shore! Now for the service. We were helped by at least 3 people all were polite and attentive. However, our primary waiter was really unimpressive. He was high school or maybe college age. He has a very hard time describing the specials and even had trouble taking and writing down and what we ordered. Either he's young and just trying to get used to the new job or something else was off. Either way that didn't ruin our meal, although his inexperience was very noticeable. read more

It was my first Mino's experience last night, and it won't be the last! The restaurant was fully booked when my mom and I walked in without a reservation on Friday night, but the host staff was very kind and found a small high top table in the corner of the bar for us. I was very impressed by the friendliness + great service of all of the staff. We even had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Eric and his wife who did all of the interior design, and they couldn't have been any nicer. The food was incredible (crudo + artichoke appetizer are a must order). We ordered the cacio e pepe which was incredible and you could tell the noodles were homemade. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of their dishes. Excellent spot in then North Shore! read more

We ordered two eggplant parm dinners at $19 each. Each entree was a single thin slice of eggplant with marinara sauce. If it had been an appetizer the portion would have been outrageous. As an entree it's 2x so. I've never posted a negative review before, but this outraged me. read more

Mino's is a great addition to the Northshore. I've eaten in three times and picked up at their carry out door many times, and each time the food has been very good. We've had several of the pizzas and prefer the salsiccia (Italian sausage, carmelized onion, asiago, sage). The tagliatelle alla Bolognese (slow cooked prosciutto, pancetta & beef, parmigiano reggiano) is delicious and the pasta is always al dente, the salads are fresh and tasty. Good wines, and cocktails, good desserts. I find the inside of Mino's a bit stuffy and loud, which is probably why I prefer the carry out door, which is efficient and on time. Generally an older crowd, tables a bit close together, service has been consistently good, portions are on the smaller size. read more

If I could give this restaurant 6 stars I would. This is a new restaurant in the downtown area that is greatly needed. We don't need that many antique stores... To start, the hostess was incredibly friendly and managed to squeeze us in without reservations on a Sunday night despite it being a packed house. The wait staff was also inviting and incredibly knowledgeable. Food was incredible, the bruschetta and their spreads were unique and tasty. Everyone's entrees were spectacular. The ravioli, chicken, and pasta special were all perfectly cooked. Portions were great (everyone left satisfied but not overly bloated). Dessert was also great. Last but not least, the co-owners both checked up on us sporadically making sure our dining experience was memorable. It was. We will be back. read more

Mino's is 2 minutes from our home and we had not tried it since it opened about 3 months ago...so glad we finally did. We'll definitely be going back. This was a car repair shop turned restaurant, which I did not care for the all black painted exterior that still looked like the car repair shop, but the interior has been transformed very nicely! Very cool lighting and bar area. Ample seating, but we ended up eating at the bar which we enjoyed. We had some nice California wine with an awesome Burrata and toasted Italian bread. We tried a Boscaiola pizza and a perrrrfect Pollo al Mattone ! They were delicious and beautifully presented. We took out a Tagliatelle alla Bolognese that our son loved. The pastas are homemade and looked delicious and per our fellow diners at the bar, were equally as perrrfect as our oven pizza and roasted chicken. Our lady bartender ignored us initially as she was in a deep conversation with another customer, but after a little nudge we were taken care of for the rest of the evening. Hope Mino's continues to be a great hangout, serving our beautiful NorthShore community with great Italian food ! P.S. No room for dessert, but our espressos were a beautiful ending to a great dining experience. read more

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My wife and I were just looking for an open restaurant at 8:00 on a Sunday night. As we were driving, we saw Mino's Italian restaurant and we could see people inside, so we went inside. We were pleasantly surprised. We shared the calamari, shrimp, zucchini tempura combo that came with a basic crushed tomato dipping sauce. It was great. Then we shared a tortellini dish (Tortelloni Alla Modenese) that included the most delicate pasta with Parmesan cheese slivers on top, and when served balsamic vinegar was drizzled on top. This was hands down the best pasta dish we had ever had. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody who happens to be near this area. read more

Mino's does everything right. And that is why we look forward to coming back. The food is great. The service is attentive but not cloying. The ambience is active and happening (most diners on date nights or in small groups). The conversation flows (is it the wine or are people just happy to have left the kids at home)?). The place was packed but seated us immediately at the time of our reservation. Now, the food. Decent selection of cocktails and wines by the glass. We loved the fried artichoke starter (a fairly new menu addition). I had the ravioli special (filled with cheeses and mixed in a Parmesan sauce that was very rich but tasty). My wife had a linguine dish with a spicy tomato sauce that was adequate but doesn't make the family favorites list. We shared affogato for dessert--a perfect complement to our meal. read more

Several local merchants in the Hubbard Woods/Winnetka area recommended Minos to me when I asked them if there were any good restaurants in that area. The last time I saw Minos it was a well regarded Volvo repair shop. The new owners have done an excellent job of transforming the good repair shop into an even better restaurant. I love a restaurant that offers an eclectic, cozy setting, an excellent wine list, nice background music, and even better food. Minos offers all of these. Not on their menu were some cordial patrons that we struck up a conversation with. We pledged to dine together again at Minos. I can't give Minos 5 stars because its a bit noisy, and hard to carry on a conversation. If the owners read this, I'm recommending they consider installing acoustical tile in the ceiling. Other than that, they've brought a great restaurant to the North Shore! Frederick C. read more

I had a delicious dinner outside on the patio the other night. The appetizers were so tasty along with our main courses. The staff also was very attentive. The outside patio is a real treat too. read more

My parents had been raving about this hot new Winnetka spot and they took me for the first time last night! We went at 6:15, which I thought was pretty early, but apparently that's the best way to do it here. Highlights: -Great cocktail list: I tried Il Li-mono which is made with housemade limoncello and was fantastic! -Fun atmosphere -Good service -Yummy authentic Italian food read more

This place goes so hard. No body NO BODY deserves this place. Fellas, you will never not have an answer to where to go for date night

This is why certain restaurants are FAVORITES! All the obvious things that Mino's spoils us with- Great Food, AMAZING, SAFE AMBIENCE (yep EVEN DURING COVID) great drinks etc.. and now, THE STAFF. Where else do different members of the staff check in to be sure you are COMFORTABLE, Enjoying your meal and have all expectations SURPASSED??? HERE at Mino's!! We all need a night out without the stress. MINOS IS THE MINI-VACATION we all need! read more

Excellent food, great service and fun atmosphere. Enjoyed the mushroom risotto last week

Love this place. It is been our go-to spit during covid for carry out and then as restrictions eased they have the perfect outdoor set up for dinner. The Pizza is our new favorite read more

Great place! Love the vibe - upscale but not snotty. We had the steak special which was amazing! My adult children both had the homemade pasta dishes which they both loved! I highly recommend the meatballs. Service was spot on too. I will definitely go back. It's on my favorite list. read more

5 stars for the food, and for our waitress. No stars for Gabey, who claimed she was a co-manager, and who must have skipped the service training. For the third time, our Resy reservation was not capable of being located by the waiting desk. This time we had clearly made the reservation (which Resy doesn't confirm, but texts some code meaning nothing), and I called two days before and was assured by whoever answered the phone, that yes, she had our reservation for 4 for 7:15 pm on Saturday night. Gabey couldn't find it and tried to chasten my. wife for yelling at her - my wife doesn't yell at anyone but me, and Gabey got ruder by the second, saying, though, that she would seat us in a "reasonable" amount of time. I asked what was reasonable, and she asked what I thought. I thought it was reasonable to honor a reservation which she clearly could have found. She didn't offer an inside table, but we went in and got our own right away, by a big open door that was even better than outside. So maybe Gabey unintentionally did us a favor. read more

I have eaten there once, before the pandemic, and ordered delivery twice. I do not recall what we ate at the restaurant but I vividly remember swearing that I would go back there at least once a month. We have ordered pizza for delivery twice. Both times, it has been better than any pizza I've ever had outside of Sicily, and maybe even as good as in Palermo. If you like the lively flavors of Italian cookery, Mino's may be the place for you. It is for me and the staff is wonderful. read more

We held a dinner party on a Saturday night for 11 people with a set four course menu. The restaurant was crowded and had a great vibe. The evening could not have been nicer. The food and wine were outstanding and the service was flawless. The servers were unobtrusive but always available. And the kitchen paced the dishes perfectly. We plan on returning, often. read more

Was there this past Wednesday and had a bad experience. Their male bar tender was extremely rude and vocal about his very liberal political views. The entire restaurant smelled like feet. At first I thought it was parmesan cheese but my friend said it was more of a dirty dish water smell. I really like the food here and like that the restaurant is always packed so I hope they can get rid of the smell and tell their bar tender to shut up. read more

FANTASTIC! We went to Mino's on a snowy December night and immediately felt like we'd stepped into a warm refuge of great food and good cheer, with soft light illuminating a crowd of happy people and bustling staff. They took our coats and seated us immediately (we had reservations) at a great table not too close to others and not too far. But spending a few minutes at the zinc-counter bar with a Negroni wouldn't have been a bad way to wait for a table, either. From the start, waitstaff, managers, and even owners stopped by to check on us. My pet peeve at many restaurants is an empty water glass; they didn't let any of ours get even half-empty at this place. That's service! We ordered the bruschetta (three great toppings!), fritto misto (lightly fried calamari, carrots, and other veggies), bolognese pasta, polenta with mushrooms (side), salciccia pizza (sausage, carmelized onions), and pear salad. The waiter, friendly and attentive throughout, helped us course it well, and everything came out at the perfect time. The food was fantastic. My last Italian meal this good was in Rome! Standouts included the fritto misto, polenta, and pear salad, but no complaints about any of it--sublime blend of flavors, with a light touch (such as lightly frying the calamari instead of encasing it in a massive battered crust, like many places do). Eric, one of the owners and a larger-than-life guy (in a good way) stopped by to check on us repeatedly, and even has us try the tortelloni with balsamic (excellent, of course) and sent out a free small ice cream for the kids. We left Mino's pleasantly stuffed, fortified against the cold, happy to be alive, knowing we'd be back again very soon. Don't miss out on this much-needed North Shore refuge from life's too many slings and arrows! read more

Unfortunate. We go to Mino's about twice a month. Generally good fare although very noisy. But this Saturday night. With friends. Three of us ordered the Papardelle alla Bolognese. All three plates were way over cooked. And the Papardelle were all glued together. One big over cooked lumps of pasta. Not going back. Will be going back to Campagnola, however, much better. read more

This was our second visit and it was even better than the first time when we just had apps. We stopped in Sunday after a show at the community center and had a very nice dinner. The food and service were great and it was topped off by a magician stopping by our table. It was great fun for all of us to watch, especially my son. He was top notch. read more

Excellent selection with great quality. Excellent service, not too much not too little. Great to have outdoor dining option

That crying you hear isn't me, it's my sad sad salad. The deal... we have been a number of times for carry out, for pizza, for full meals, even drinks. Vibe, especially for Winnetka is great. Food has always been good, not great. Drinks have been on point. Service has been above average. Why 3-stars? Price. Yes, I live in Winnetka and am fully prepared for a north shore mark up. But I have always felt for what we got (quality, and quantity) slightly above what it should be, it's too high. For a slightly above average pasta that yields a 2/3 portion I shouldn't be into it for $20. And worse, for a rabbit sized portion of endive at $12, I'm insulted. Pics attached (fully and empty container with weights), the salad had a tablespoon of raisin, cheese, and walnuts combined. So a pinch of greens for $12 is nuts. For same price I get twice the product at a similar establishment down in Wilmette! read more

Mino's - A pinch of foliage and not much more. 202grams. - Italian Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

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Do not order the salmon. Dry and bland. The mediteranian salad though good. Needs some other things in it..the dressing and the beets in it are great. For as nice as this place looks the chairs are not very comfortable. read more

We just had a wonderful dinner at Minos with friends. Great food, great service and a very welcoming management. The swordfish with eggplant ragout was fabulous, although I may not be describing it perfectly. Regardless, it was super. Everyone enjoyed their dinners, including Bibb salads followed by lamb chops and other entrees. We sat inside but there's a large outdoor dining space as well. We're eager to go back! read more

Great service and delicious food every time. This is not one of those hit or miss places, they always hit it out of the park!

This is the new trendy restaurant in Winnetka. We went there on a weeknight. The service was great and the owner came to say hi. Everyone was very nice to us. That's where the good stops. Our food arrived amazingly fast and I told my wife that you get those speeds only if things are pre cooked. Sadly, they were poorly cooked. On our table we had tagliatelle with bolognaise, spaghetti carbonara and pizza for a kid. When we tasted it, the pasta was hard. It needed a few more minutes of cooking. The bolognaise had little to no meat on it, almost no flavor, just a red juice on the pasta. Same with the carbonara: hard pasta, little flavor. Sort of juicy bland sauce. Lastly, the pizza crust was on the soggy side. For $17-$20 a plate I expected A LOT BETTER. The thin crust pizza at Domino's, just down the street, is way better. Francesca's also has WAY better pasta for a similar price. We are not returning, and this is sad, because many people have pointed out that Winnetka needs good restaurants and I agree. This is not it. read more

I cannot recommend this place enough! The food was absolutely delicious! Do yourself a favor and save room for the dessert. The bar is crowded for good reason. I would have given five stars but the condensation on the ventilation pipes dripped on us. read more

I give this place 3 stars. We ate here on a Saturday night and sat outside. It was near bedlam it was so busy and they sat 6 of us at a four top. My friend is 6'6" and basically had his legs jammed into his face. Service was just okay. We recognized it was going to be a long night if we waited too long to order so we ordered as quick as we could. The food was good but not great. All in all I would recommend Italian somewhere else that has a better all around experience. read more

If you're in the area and want homemade Italian food, this is definitely your place. They serve amazing homemade Italian as well as having great service. Mino's is definitely a place you should go to if you're in the area and craving italian food! Amazing! read more

First time coming to Mino's. Service was outstanding. Food was delicious. I ordered an Italian Sausage pizza to share. They might offer a smaller one which would be more appropriate as an appetizer. We took home what we didn't finish so, it's all good. My entree was the Cipollini fish stew. A lot of shell fish as well as others types of fish. Very tasty. But like all fish that comes from the ocean, the broth was a little salty. My husband ordered the potato soup that he enjoyed very much. For his entree he ordered the Seafood Risotto. He said it was scrumptious;) thank you Winnetka for some great new restaurants. read more

Finally, a new restaurant in Winnetka. Eight of us went last night and entered the very cool space excited to try it. It has a great bar area and the dining area is beautiful. We were seated quickly and ordered wine to start with some appetizers. The calamari and the bruschetta were very good. When the waiter poured the wine for everyone, he spilled drops on the table in a few spots and on someone's sleeve. He dried up the spots on the table only after being asked (it was dark red wine and we were afraid of getting our sleeves in it). All eight of us ordered pasta dishes. Some of us are good cooks, some of us will eat just about anything and say it was good. All of us were somewhat disappointed in our dishes. Either they lacked flavor or the pasta was overcooked. When we got the bill which ended up at about $400 with tip, we all decided that it wasn't worth $50/pp. We are hoping that with this review, they will step up their game. We would love to see them succeed since Winnetka needs some good restaurant choices. A couple of us joked that maybe we should go over there and show them how to make a good bolognese sauce. We thought we would give them one more chance but order only meat dishes next time. read more

This could be my new favorite Italian restaurant. Despite the opening issues mentioned in another review, at 3 weeks in the service was good and the food is GREAT. The fritto misto is done well and all portions are generous. The menu is my kind of Italian. Fun ambiance, friendly service and great food...welcome to the neighborhood! Can't wait for outside seating in summer! Warning: The table crackers are addictive! read more

Gotta say that their pizza is among the best anywhere. Had their charred pepperoni pizza and it was absolutely on point. Try it!

Had dinner here this week with my son - we shared the Burrata, Calamari, a sausage pasta dish, a pizza, and 2 desserts. Every dish was amazing. Service was stellar and timely- worked together as team. My son, who used to work as a waiter and has become particular agreed the service was top notch. Decor was also a 10. Loved it. read more