The vibe here is so great - dim lighting, small, romantic ambiance. Great for a date night or meal with friends. We started with the crab cakes. It came with two sauces - both were very complementary to the crab cakes. I had the Gorgonzola pasta as my main dish, which was creamy and rich in flavor. It has an intense Gorgonzola flavor, so not for those who are not super into that taste. The pasta was fresh and definitely homemade. Very tasty. My husband had the bolognese, which he loved. It was nice going to a restaurant without our kids for once - but it should be noted that this would not have fared well for children. Leave them at home when heading to this quiet adult friendly spot. read more

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Food has always been good and excellent service! It also now has a cut outdoor dining section as well with live music various nights of the week. read more

Great people, great wine selection! And open on Monday! We'll be back soon! Bartender and staff are always on point, especially with their wine list. read more

I decided to go here even with mixed reviews but I read the crab cakes and braised short ribs were very good which was accurate. The crab cakes were spicy but the short ribs were very tender. However the pricing was very expensive especially for the wine. The ambulance is average but the live music was a nice touch. If you're willing to travel further I would go to Montarra Grill in Algonquin for an overall much better experience at about the same price point. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - 1/2 of the braised short ribs - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Limited menu, but what they do, they do well. Enjoyed the live music, great fish and warm atmosphere. read more

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In town for business meetings and always looking for someplace local to try, I was intrigued by the reviews of this place. Great food. Great wine. Attentive & friendly service. I think this is a hidden gem. It's a storefront shop in a busy strip mall, tucked between a phone store and a take out joint. The rectangular room features about 18 tables plus a bar towards the back. Tables are nicely spaced, plus there's a small side room partitioned off by curtains. High ceilings are adorned with draped cloth to deaden the sound. It's effective because it's possible to have a conversation without shouting. On this night there was a singer/guitarist playing live. Again, at the right volume to be enjoyable. And he's good! As you would expect because this is a wine bar/restaurant there is an extensive wine list. Our server, Reuben, helped with wine selection and made some great recommendations for dinner. He even comped us a delicious glass of bubbles to cleanse the palate with the rich chocolate dessert. Thank you! We tried tuna tartare and crab cake appetizers. Tuna is served mounded, diced into small chunks, dressed in lemon juice and garnished with hearts of palm and kalamata olives. Tuna is super fresh, with the right mix of lemon to enhance but not overpower. Crab cakes are 4 silver dollar sized medallions. Served atop a dollop of dijonaise and drizzled with sriracha aioli. The cakes were sort of mealy, and too wet. These were OK, but disappointing. For entree, tried cheese-encrusted beef tenderloin. At Reuben's suggestion the chef used imported Bleu cheese instead of the menu-listed goat cheese. Wow! Beef served perfectly cooked, medium rare with a big shmear of tart and creamy Bleu cheese melted on top. It's served with grilled fingerling potatoes, wilted baby spinach and arugula and drizzled with a tangy/sweet balsamic reduction. Really good. Couldn't resist dessert and tried both of the menu choices. The flourless chocolate cake is decadent and rich. The carrot cake is my favorite, iced with cream cheese frosting and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and topped with berry compote. The cake is sweet and moist and scrumptious. Yaaaas! This spot would be great for a date night. Cool and relaxed atmosphere, delicious food and a great selection of wine plus a knowledgeable team to help you decide what to try. read more

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I stopped in here on a Wednesday with two girlfriends to take advantage of their complementary wine tasting and half price glasses and in-store bottles. It wasn't too busy, but it was busy enough to be relieved that I made a reservation. All three of us picked three different wine flights for $14-17 to enjoy with our meals: I did the Defining White Flight, and actually found a rosé I enjoyed (shocker), my other friend did the Splendid White flight, while the other ordered the California flight. I also ordered the Everything You Love in a Chopped Salad with no rice or cheese and added tofu. The other ladies enjoyed the hummus and flatbread. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of the salad, but was a little disappointed in the very few vegan, or easily made vegan options - those who have stated in their reviews that there are a lot of vegan options clearly aren't vegan. After dinner we headed to the bar for the wine tasting. The wines of choice were excellent and I will definitely be popping back in to purchase a bottle of the Martenelli. Fun fact: you get the "half off" price if you purchase the wines to go instead of enjoying in-restaurant on any night so stock up and save! I will be back to dine in another night - they have live music on Fridays and Saturdays ;). read more

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I would probably rate this place a 3.5 star. The parking is great as its a large center. It is a small place with dark lighting and the food is good. I ordered the priscuitto flatbreat and it was great. Even later that evening, when i ate my leftovers, it was still great. My only complaint (and why a half star was lost) was due to the service. It seemed really. slowwwwww. I understand that flatbreads generally take longer due to the baking time, but we were tucked in a corner, the place was relatively empty, but the service was super slow. The waitstaff was nice and polite, but again, just slow. I would return to give this place another chance, but based off my single visit while on travel for work, it is a 3.5. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Prosciutto flatbread - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Food was wonderful. Crab cakes out of this world. Flat bread delicious. No complaints on the food or service at all. Major issue which will stop me from returning. They charged me a 4% service charge for using my debit card. I know they pay a fee but that is the cost of doing business. On top of it all my research says they pay from 1.5-3% so they are making money on that? REALLY? Called to complain and his response was "its on the menu and it cost us over $40,000 last year" 2 issues with that: 1. They dont even give menu's you have to use your phone. 2. I am a customer paying your bills, your expenses are not my issue, nor does that make it right. Sorry business owner you blew a good thing. Great server. Great wine. Great food. All this to make 4% read more

Cute place. I came for a company dinner, so my experience may be much different from the norm. We reserved the entire restaurant for our group. It's pretty small, but I think the best / biggest feature is the bar. They have a good selection of wines and liquors. I didn't see a lot of beers, but they have Krombacher which happens to be my favorite beer and it's actually kind of hard to find. The fact that they had Krombacher I know they are concerned about having higher quality vs cheaper items. We are family style, so everything was brought out on big plates and everyone sort of shared. I remember having a little bit of everything from Salmon, chicken, and beef. They had a really nice charcuterie platter....very good. Everything was good so I recommend going and trying. read more

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Our company had a dinner for 30 at this restaurant. Nirvana and staff Danny, Amanda, Gregorio did not disappoint, from appetizers, wine tasting, ambience, quality of food selections and dessert. I highly recommend this restaurant, Nirvana. Extensive drink choices, meat entrees and vegetarian choices abound. read more

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Service ***** Food ***** Ambience **** Pasta, Chicken Tikka and Braised Ribs were all excellent. read more

As always the food was excellent. Gregorio was so kind helping my friend decide which dish would meet her dietary restrictions. His service was impeccable . read more

We had a fantastic first visit to Nirvana, I can't imagine that it could have been better or more relaxing. First of all, we were greeted warmly and shown to our seating. We were filled in about their Wednesday wine tasting and shown their extensive list of wines available by the bottle or glass. A small note about beverages- I would suggest that at some time in the future that they have the spirits listed on the back of the wine list. I, for one, do not know all of the craft brands that they offer by sight and it would be very helpful to have a listing by type- and perhaps a short description. Our server was happy to offer a sample of the spirit that I had asked about and I was very pleased with the cocktail that he made for me. We started off with a cheese course- we chose "The International" which came with 3 kinds of cheese​, bread, fruit, honey​, ​ and a delicious fruit compote. It was a great way to begin the evening and I'd highly suggest that you follow our example. Terri went for the mussels special which she enjoyed a great deal. I had a late lunch so I selected a small salad, which I thought was fresh and very pleasing. The Italian Vinegarette dressing was a very good complement to the salad ingredients. We wanted to have a look at their dessert menu- but couldn't imagine that we would have room for another​ bite. Every member of the staff that we had contact with was very professional, helpful and seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with us. I feel that good service is like gold- and can only enhance your dining experience. The staff at Nirvana have been trained well and did a great job of giving us a "welcomed and valued" feeling. I do not understand other reviewers comments about service- this is a fine dining establishment and quality meals take time to prepare. Another very sad sign of our food on the run culture that doesn't seem to know how to slow down and enjoy an evening of dining and relaxation? If you have the desire for a relaxing evening of high-quality food and beverage in a serene setting, Nirvana is our unqualified suggestion. I am confident that you will become a "regular" after your first experience. read more

Wow!! Hidden gem. The staff couldn't have been nicer and very accommodating. Wine recommendations were spot on and the food was delicious. This place can easily compete with some Michelin rated restaurants in the city. Well done, Nirvana. read more

I was visiting my family last week in Waukegan, and they took me to Nirvana which is one of their favorite spots. It definitely did not disappoint. We started by doing a wine tasting at the bar with a rep from a small boutique winery. From there, we sat at our table and were able to order from an extensive wine list. We had started with a couple of very tasty appetizers, the fondue and crab cakes. Then, I ordered the Gorgonzola-topped beef tenderloin which was absolutely fantastic. Everything from the service to wine and food selection made for a great experience. I definitely recommend it if you're in the are... ...oh yeah, and they had live music! read more

Came with a large work group and sat at two combined tables as we were close to 20. We arranged to do a prix fixe dinner to cut down on waiting time along with some preselected wines. The appetizers were quite good, consisting of crab cakes, charcuterie and ceviche. This was served with a nice white which everyone enjoyed. The entrees were duck breast, which was excellent, short rib, which I also tried and liked, along with a fish dish which I didn't but the consensus was it was very good. Sides were served family style and I particularly liked garlic mashed and sautéed spinach. We had two reds with this, one a lighter Sangiovese blend, and the other a full throttle California red that I was going to request, so that worked out well. I did not partake of the dessert but everyone reported it was good. Service was friendly and engaging. read more

First, the Service: Both Gregorio and Ruben are knowledgeable, experienced, and great craft waiters! Their interactions with patrons make the experience a delight. Now for the Culinary: The Chef renews the menu regularly so you can always experience something new. For instance I had the special Corned Beef Served as a seared steak, which was absolutely incredible! The rest of my party had a variety of dishes all to their liking. Lastly, the Wine: Nirvana has a very strong selection of wines for all palettes. High to mid-end across the spectrum. With both aforementioned Waiters being Sommeliers makes selection and pairing a breeze. All in all: Excellence in a craft package. read more

It is good option for a date night. Me and my friend really loved the food and they do have live music during weekends. But almost waited for too long to get our food. Definitely will come next time. Really loved the varieties of their wine collection. read more

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This place was great, until the new owner took over. He was pretty snooty to my wife, she mentioned something, about her seating, and he replied "it was a poor choice to bring your Child". We certainly didn't appreciate the sarcasm. We didn't reply, just didn't return. Not to mention the food is just ok. They mainly try to push the wine. read more

A delicious place to eat, relaxed and spacious seating as well. The menu has many Mediterranean and North Africa influences. I got the Moroccan chicken pot pie and it was light and very flavorful. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Nice cozy place! I had a great date night with my fiancé listening to live music, drinking red wine and enjoying a tasty meats and cheeses from a charcuterie board. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - a plate of pasta with shrimp - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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This is a hidden gem. Great menu and wine selection. Open during odd hours so easy to give it a try.

We ordered take our before, decided to come and dine in. Definitely not disappointed, even more amazing freshly prepared, great wine selection, live entry, super friendly staff.. Highly recommended read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Caramelized salmon and Goat cheese crusted beef tenderloin - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Had a wonderful date night in the patio here. We booked on open table and we were seated immediately when we arrived. We went on a Wednesday which is 50% off bottles of wine - we enjoyed a nice French Rose. Instead of ordering entrees (which all looked incredible), we shared some appetizers. The crab cakes were smaller in portion size, but were packed in flavor and meat. The margherita pizza seemed simple, but it was hands down the best margherita pizza I've ever had (outside of on a trip to Italy). The tuna tar tar was a good portion and was a pleasing flavor and texture. The platter of dips was okay, but some of the hummus was lacking flavor, so we probably wouldn't order again. For dessert we had their carrot cake - must try! We will certainly be back. read more

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I found my new go to restaurant! Adorable, beyond delicious with a unique selection of wine. We got the mushroom bruschetta and everything salad on Friday night and we've already decided to do a date night on Wednesday again because I can't stop thinking about that salad. Whatever you do make sure to try this place. I promise it will result in you returning. Also, we could tell that the owner is so passionate about the restaurant which shows in its perfection ! read more

This place is quaint and has great food and wine options. They also have live music, which is nice for the ambiance. I would have given a 5 but they are really pricey for what it is. I know wine can run a bit high, but the food is also crazy expensive. read more

We came back on a Tuesday night and wow, they had an awesome band and the food reminded us for why we gave this place five stars before. We asked for gluten free bread and what we were served is hands down the best tasting gluten free bread we've ever had. Bethany helped us select the appetizers and wine and as always, the best dinner experience with friends ever. Great food, great service and nice friends made for a joyful evening... read more

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There is nothing to like about this place. I came here on a Sunday afternoon for a friend's birthday. They were also having a wine tasting that afternoon so we thought it would be a perfect way to celebrate. I was there with 3 other girls and I don't know if we were giving off some horrible vibe but we were not treated very nicely by the manager or one of the wine pourers. Our waitress was incredibly sweet though and the only reason I'm giving this place 1 star (and not because it is a yelp minimum). I ordered their Pancetta Crepe Benedict off of their Sunday brunch menu which sounded so delicious but it was far from that. It was literally crispy pieces of pancetta rolled in two dense and tasteless crepes with bland poached eggs on top sitting on a layer of what I think was supposed to be some sort of sauce but reminded me of egg slime that had hardened on the plate. Everything on the plate was cold and just blah. Around 3pm, we noticed that the wine tasting area was dying down but there were still a few people that lingered and were actually starting to pour themselves samples. We decided to mozy on over to get a few more tastings and we were trying to joke around with the manager about pouring ourselves some wine as well and he was not having any of it. He replied in a very stern manner that we can't because he wants a hard cutoff time of 3pm. It was very odd to be treated like that especially because I would think with the atmosphere they were trying to create i.e. nirvana, they would be more laid-back and nice to their customers. We were also planning on buying a few bottles of the wine that they offered. Anyways that entire place left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not like anything about that place from the way we were treated when we walked in to the moment we left. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Pancetta crepe benedict - bland and blah - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Enjoyed our evening here. The bartender was also our waiter and he was very friendly. We tasted many wines and he was so helpful. We then moved to our table and ordered food, everyone enjoyed what they got. I got the Gorgonzola pasta and loved it. Overall, cute place, good service, good food, I will be back!! Oh by the way, huge wine selection!! read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Gorgonzola pasta - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Met up a friend for drinks. Typically IF in a wine bar I'm less adventurous and not wanting to ruin the table mood; I'll opt for a house special, type of martini. Today my friend would not allow me a martini, so she chose a white wine flight. Of course you can order wine by the glass or bottle, but they also offer a variety of wine flights for a specified price. Flights arrive in threes and for a price under twelve dollars. Nightly they have different specials going on (live music, cheese tastings, etc), so if you enjoy wine, call ahead or check their website. On this weeknight it was dead till about 7pm, I think that could be because people haven't discovered it yet. Wine connoisseurs or ladies wanting to escape the everyday bar scene would enjoy the artistic décor and relaxed atmosphere. Nirvana is located within a strip mall and they offer outside seating. Their outside seating is encompassed with live plants, wicker chairs and umbrellas. They do a decent job of trying to get you to forget that you are seated at a wine bar in the midst of strip mall central. Inside, dark wood cushioned seats, art work, wine bar and couch. The living room which is discussed on the website is composed of a short couch and maybe a table, all located within the same room. (If some kind of divider was used, it would help add to this "living room" concept they want.) Food menu would be best described as eclectic. Seafood, Mediterranean and paninis. Music was not memorable from that evening. Good times shared with good company, tasty wines and a sweet white wine buzz. Good for: a date or meeting up co-workers for light drinks, ladies night. read more

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Okay - splurge night out would be to Nirvana Wine & Grillerie! For anyone with food allergies, it's so hard to eat out - right? This is your place for fancy, elegant, wholesome upscale food including their desserts. We joined their wine club too and, wow, it's pretty darn amazing! Only in Europe have we tasted such amazing flavors in wine. Located in Vernon Hills, the food and wine at Nirvana Wine & Grillerie is worth every penny spent! read more

Really?! Saw reviews for so we were interested in stopping to dine and wine sometime. Found ourselves nearby later in eve so we stopped for a glass and to check out. Small bar full so sat at a table. Went up bar - bartender said sure take table I will get you a list. 5 mins. Later he is chatting up-at bar so i go up to get a list. Him "you in a hurry?" just a little - "WELL ITS ONLY BEEN 30 SEC" !!! Real nice - bye never to return. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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The menu offers something for everyone even though they keep it short... only the items they can get fresh. They also have an amazing wine list, but there are two things that make Nirvana truly special: the service, and how well they know their wines. I have tried all of the salads, a variety of cheeses, and the ribeye filet. Everything has been wonderful. I highly recommend Nirvana and plan to return often. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Artisan cheese plate and a reserve bottle of wine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

I have been going to this place for years and it is an absolute gem! The people, the food, the service, and the atmosphere are amazing. This place is ideal for quiet, romantic, friendly and intimate outings, or just a simple casual dinning experience. The all everything salad is AMAZING and has been consistently good for many years (caution - the take out portion is a lot less than the in dining portion). read more

Decided to try this place out after hearing about their wine and cheese collection. Here's my take on this place: FOOD + WINE -pretty good, the cheese tasted like most cheeses I've had -wine was good, not extraordinary, but good ATMOSPHERE - pleasant, general good vibes SERVICE - subpar. I now know what the other yelpers meant by the service not being very good. There was one waitress waiting on 9 tables and a guy helping out whenever. With that said, the service was pretty slow. That would be my main complaint. Otherwise, the waitress and man were not unfriendly. read more

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Duck prosciutto is a slice of heaven don't Miss this melts in your mouth just paper thin slices with the right amount of salt. read more

Nirvana Wine & Grillerie - Omg duck prosciutto - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Just another wonderful dinner at this terrific restaurant. Danny and staff so welcoming and professional. Tuna Tartare delicious and salmon entree moist and juicy. Can't wait to return. read more

We had a fantastic dinner last night. Everything was cooked perfectly and wonderful presentation. The specials were delicious. The wine was a perfect compliment to the food. Great for a special night out. Or have a drink and appetizer at the bar. read more

I tried this restaurant for the first time today. Our server was Gregorio (not sure if I spelled that correctly), but the service was attentive and great. Had the rack of lamb and it was cooked to perfection with great flavor. Would highly recommend and plan on dining there more. read more