I love Rita's. It's off the beaten track, it's delightfully quirky like a family roadhouse restaurant from the '50s, the food is great, and the service warmly friendly without being fakey. Plus, when my boyfriend got lost, the bartender/owner stayed on the phone with him and talked him right up to the door. Don't miss this gem. read more

The place is a gem I have tried a few things there and never had a bad thing. My favorite is the patty melt it has to be the best one I've ever had read more

3.5 stars It is a small restaurant that might have been a house before. I think they have solid fish and chips. Their fried dessert wasn't bad, either. read more

Went here with two friends. Service was really good, like the atmosphere. Had a burger as did my buddies. We all agreed that it was a good amount of food for the price. $4 for a pint of beer in this joint borderlines on ridiculous. Not bad at all, but unspectacular. read more

I have driven past this place many times but yesterday, I sought this place out as I was in the area. It was, in a word, fantastic. They had a 1/2 lb. bacon burger for the special with fries or potato salad. I opted for the potato salad. The burger was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and was one of the best that I have ever had. So juicy and full of flavor! The potato salad was a hit, as well as the cream of mushroom soup. Great service from a family run business. The interior was charming and cozy feeling. I'll be back this weekend for the fish fry. read more

Rita's is that small, home-town place you long for in this age of cookie-cutter restaurants. It is literally an old farmhouse, with the old living room converted into dining and the other half of the front of the house a bar. Lots of old decorations on the walls gives the place character. But, much more important, Rita and her sons are there and likely to be iether taking care of you or cooking your food and their caring shows. The clam chowder is rich and creamy. Rita said her son made it this morning. The honey dipped fried chicken (4 pc meal) is as crispy as it gets, yet plenty juicy inside, and more than I could eat. The perch fish fry was a bit on the skimpy side (but perch often is), but was quite flavorful. The tiny little plastic container of cole slaw was good but, well, tiny. read more

Rita's - Perch fish fry at Rita's - American Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

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A incredible small bar in an area of Chicagoland that appears still being rural. There is video per and small town feel to being in this establishment with its gravel parking and mobile home right up to the house bar. There is limited but homey seating and friendly service with the usual beer brands one would expect with a place like this. The video poker slots seemed rigged not even close to winning anythong read more

Awesome little place! Went for the first time for the fish fry and it didn't disappoint. Clam chowder was good and the homemade potato salad was exactly what I hoped for. It's a small place, but very comfortable and homey feeling. They went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Definitely a nice change from all the chain places that have taken over the area. Will definitely be going back to try out the fried chicken and burgers! read more

I fell in love with this hidden jem owner and son very friendly . Best fish fry in lake county read more

Rita's - American Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

The service and wait time are average, the food was ok, the prices for the amount of food are pretty high. Its more of a pricey bar than a restaurant. read more

This is an old school bar/restaurant specializing in burgers, sandwiches and fish. All you can eat fish on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are a big draw as well as great homemade soups. The average age of the patrons in this hole in the wall is upwards of 60 years. No matter, because they have the best perch I've had in a long time. This is like a step back to the Fifties. The service is great, too in this family owned and operated restaurant. Recommended! read more

Starts with Debbie the beer slinger (I believe) and keeps giving greatness from there. One of the best bars I've been to in Chicagoland. Great bar burger. Great service. Great value. Some fabulous belly-ups and just an awesome experience. I will got out of my way just to stop for a libation and fish fry or burger in this well created local hall of magnificence! read more

Upon entering Rita's, with a half finished can of Pepsi in my hand, I was told that I'd because Rita's doesn't serve Pepsi, I'd have to throw it away, or she'd charge me for it. Now the fact that I'd brought this drink from home, didn't seem to matter. I would have been happy to finish it prior to being seated, but this didn't seem to be an option. I understand the restaurant serves Coca Cola products, but I've never come across anything like this before. I take a Pepsi into Denny's all the time, and anytime I do it, I still order an alcoholic and often non alcoholic beverage from the establishment. I don't bring a Pepsi in an attempt to "sneak" in a free drink. So upon entering, my soda had to be thrown away. On top of that, my daughters chicken strips weren't cooked long enough and were pink on the inside. The glass her milk came in was also dirty. I've been to Rita's a few times over the years, but I will not be going back. It's like a hole in the wall establishment without any fun allure or theme worthy of the drawing in a crowd. They don't have a kids menu, and apparently think they have the right to confiscate any beverage they don't approve of upon entering. There's a ton of nice restaurants in the Northern Suburbs. So unless you're stuck in Rondout with no car, and have to walk to find a place to eat, I'd recommend trying just about any other restaurant in the area. read more

Do it! It's good. From the road, it looks like an old farm house, but it's a bar and restaurant. Tasty food and priced well.

So this is a lunch stop for us on the way south from Door County, WI. Excellent food, good beer, very attentive service, and Rita chatted with us for a bit. Great menu for kids. They didn't mind that we are Cards fans. Highly recommend!!! read more

Great service! Enjoyed the meal but found the dining room a bit cramped and too many tables jammed in. Also hated sitting on folding chairs. We arrived early but we're made to sit cramped at a table for two while two larger tables sat empty.... Yeah I get it but they were taken.., later by two people. Totally a family run place but really felt too much like sitting at the kids table at a distant relatives house for a holiday. read more

Place is awesome. Need more of this. Enough chainstraunts on the planet. Good food. Good atmosphere. Once again, need more places like this. read more

Couldn't tell you about the food. They were just so rude to me about 30 minutes ago I left. I will never go here again. And if the owner sees this you better do something about their behavior before you lose all your business. Good luck to you in your future endeavors. read more

We have been going here for years - It is a great little bar and restaurant and the fish fry is the best around. Make sure you get the potato salad too - it is some of the best I have ever had. The folks that run the place are awesome and very friendly. Do not judge the book by the cover as it is in an industrial area on 176. read more

I love this place especially their soups! I always go for lunch with a dear friend of mine and every single time we sit in our regular spot and every single time we are recognized and greeted and that's a great feeling! The food is great, the environment is great, family owned, and the prices are GREAT! read more

You won't be disappointed! I had the "honey dipped chicken" and it was scrumptious. Can't wait till Wednesday for the fish. Friendly place and pleasantly surprised from the outside to inside. read more

Great Friday fish fry. Very small dining room ( literally 7 tables) but they make up for it with great service and some good cooking.

I've been here couple of times, and it is slowly becoming our work go-to-place for lunch. It's really not a place that you find by mistake, because it's nowhere close to a strip mall or any major retail stores. It's a standalone restaurant, that looks like a house, with ample parking on the side and back. Once you enter, you have the bar on the right, and the restaurant on the left, both quite small. The restaurant probably has 8 to 10 small dining tables. I've only been here with a small group of 4 and we've yet to have any issues with not getting a table, or waiting. When it comes to service, there are very friendly, and attentive, with the family-owned feeling. Food came out quick and very well prepared. My order of their 1/2 lb burger with fries passed my quality and quantity requirements! They have daily specials to pick from as well. I have yet to find something to complain about. Prices are on par, if not less, when compared to similar restaurants in Lake Bluff. I highly recommend this place! read more

Great family owned business. Very friendly. A fun place to meet people.

My family came here on a Friday night for the fish fry on my parents' recommendation. Oh.my.gosh! It was wonderful! Rita and Debbie were our servers. My mom recommended the clam chowder, so I had to try it. Yum! It was the best I've had in quite a while. I had the perch for dinner with cole slaw and potato salad. The potato salad is second only to my mom's, and that's saying a lot! We had a great time, had lots of leftovers, and great service. I appreciate the tips of other Yelpers to make a reservation, and we did. read more

Love this place! Great food, great drinks and great people! Friday fish fry is excellent and the potato salad is amazing! Get there early on friday cause this place gets packed! read more

I happened on this place yesterday when we were driving around looking for a place to have lunch. I absolutely loved it, small and charming, its a perfect lunch spot. There is a bar with about 5 great beers on-tap on one side of a good sized room and the small restaurant is on the other side. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked great. It's mostly a sandwich place, but they had some dinner choices including perch on Wed., Thur. and Fri. I plan on going back in the near future. read more

The rueben was excellent!! Very cozy, very nice people. Good beer selection. Small local place.

I drove past for a year before I stopped in..I could kick myself. Top notch beer selection. Great food food, best fish fry around. Good date place. Never trendy or compromised, just really good. read more

we love going to Rita's. Sunday is the best to see Billy Bear the kind and understanding bartender and all of the true legends of the establishment. Bobby F makes all things good on his portable grill, Keith Mc keeps all the kibitzing lively. Rich and his dad keep the climate comfortable for all us insiders. Dennis comes down to join Ms. Liz , Froedrick and that little cutie Dougie. If you get to Rita's early enough you might find Daniel painting all things whimsical with Chucky and Jill making the best beans. Don't forget to look for Wiggy and the to Daves ( one can get your meat made and the other can help count ice cubes). Sunday- skip church go to the house of Rita. read more

One of our favorites, great service, super nice people with a real family feel. We love the homey atmosphere, and highly recommend the burgers, fried fish and fried chicken. Homemade soups and salads also keep us coming back again and again. read more

I am happy to warmly recommend Rita's. It is NOT a fancy restaurant; rather it is an inviting, friendly, neighborly tavern/restaurant with food that is far above typical bar food. Their Wed. and Fri. nite fish fries are especially good, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Great roadside lounge with a solid menu! if your into comfort food and interesting company give it a try with an open mind.

Best Lake Perch dinner I have had since I was a child many decades ago. The fillets were large and the breading was perfect. Coupled with the tartar sauce it was a heavenly meal. I can't possibly recommend it more for a Friday evening. read more

My wife and I went with friends on a Friday night. It was quite busy and therefore crowded as the place is quite small. We had drinks at the bar and my wife ordered a Cosmopolitan which she was very happy with. I had beer (Stella on tap!) but will try an Old Fashioned next time-this seems like the kind of place that would know how to make one. The food was great: Friday night fish fry with Lake Perch. The service was good as well with lots of hustling by the wait staff. There are two 1 star reviews on this sight and my thought is sometimes you get what you give. Who brings a drink into someone's establishment? That's trashy. We'll be back before too long... read more

Heard some good reviews of this place by locals, so really wanted to like it. Very tiny, Cheers-bar type place. Ordered a cheeseburger, which was completely bland. I asked the waitress what kind of seasoning they put in the burger, and she told me "nothing." It's not seasoned at all, with anything! Really! Very disappointed and will not return. read more

What a crap hole. Charged me $6 for a beer. This isnt Chicago stupid. When I walked in there wasnt even anyone at the bar anywere, I could have robbed the place blind. Then I was Asked "What do you want.". When I asked about a Blue moon beer, the bald pierced man said, "I dont drink that shit." I drank my beer and left quickly. I would rather have my nuts cut off then go back into this shit heap. read more

A quaint little bar with a few dining tables. The staff were friendly & the service was fast & friendly. We tried the Friday night fish fry combo dinner. It was horrible! We ordered the clam chowder when we should have ordered salad as the salad served to the next table looked better. The cod was in little bite-size pieces & were over cooked & tough. The perch was cut in small strips and although slightly better than the cod, not by much. We had the french fries & they were exactly like the ones you get at McDonald's...not what I expected for a dinner that cost over $15 per person. We were very disappointed, will not go back & certainly won't recommend the Friday fish fry to anyone! read more

Rita's was as good as promised! Go for the daily specials, the perch and clam chowder were amazing! I've driven by this place a hundred times and am so happy we finally tried it. The decor was a bit quirky, but don't let that deter you. It was warm and homey, like being at my grandparents' cabin. What a wonderful, relaxed meal! read more

Rita's feels like home. From the decor to the drinks to the menu, Rita's is comfort. The staff is friendly and helpful, the food is fresh and delicious and the atmosphere feels more like the Northwoods than the North Shore. If you're really hungry ask for the Trucker Bob (a patty melt with bacon). The cole slaw, potato salad and chicken tortilla soup are homemade and amazing. Salads are always fresh and crunchy especially when topped with Randy's croutons. The fish fry and burgers are the bomb diggety. read more