best cafe, great fresh food, amazing sandwiches, variety of pasta and salad mixes, and sweet pastries and desserts you haven't had in ages!

The Picnic Basket Catered our wedding at the Shores of Turtle Creek and our guests and ourselves LOVED the food. We as the couple also felt the experience trying the food and the communication with their staff was great. They were very flexible and let us come in again to try other foods to pick the perfect amount. We had a buffet style for our wedding and it was perfect! We're so happy we got to use The Picnic Basket for our wedding as we already enjoy their storefront in libertyville! Can't wait to use their services again for future milestones. read more

I love this Resturant cafe. I would go more often but I can't get here on working days . I love the egg salad and sides. There are so many choices salads pastas soups. You can get chips and a drink . It's counter service. Make your picks and then check out! It's a sunny cozy place to sit . read more

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The absolute best place in town. The owners are so sweet and the food is DELISH!! I recommend the california wrap!

A great, local lunch spot. Don't sleep on their catering either! The Picnic Basket has a deli feel - with a huge selection of sandwiches/wraps, deli sides (pasta salads, kale salad, fruit, etc.), soups, salads, and more. There is something for everyone. Across from the deli counter, they have ready made meals in their coolers which are nice to grab for a quick dinner. Their dessert selection is drool worthy and only getting better. With the recent addition of Holcomb hollow treats, there is something sweet here for everyone as well! I stopped in on a Monday just before lunch and was in and out pretty quickly. I got the Southwestern Vegetable soup and it was packed with rice, corn, beans, and vegetables. It was well seasoned with deep flavor - almost like a chili. read more

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Had lunch with a friend here. Their online menu indicated they have GF bread and offered GF salads. I told the staff I was celiac/GF and they asked if it was an allergy. For food purposes, I said yes. She immediately changed her gloves and put the bread on a new paper. She was very careful with toasting the bread but then added mayo using the same knife from the counter container. I asked if she could use a new knife and grab the condiments from the back. She tossed the bread and made it again. The other staff member was really helping and guiding her on what to do. Not sure if she was new but we got through it. They also have certified GF bakery items. I opted for a banana spice muffin. Also, a lot of their chips are certified GF. As long as you watch and the guide the staff preparing your sandwich, it should be pretty safe. read more

I stopped in here today after about 5 years it is still one of the best sandwich places around . Staff is terrific food is great . My go to is a Egg Salad . Clean and friendly sandwich shop . Love it read more

The Picnic Basket - Egg Salad sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

The only thing this place could do better is to have more open hours. The selection is really good and the salads are fresh and yummy.

First time experience here was fantastic. Ordered online, and the pick-up process was quick and easy. The wife and I both enjoyed our sandwiches, soup, and pasta sides. Didn't hang around inside for long, but the atmosphere felt warm and inviting. Will definitely be back soon to try the entire experience read more

It has been a very long time since visiting the Picnic Basket. I was first there when it was a single store front and run by two or three people. Now it is twice the size and a lot more business. It is so well run. Like a clock, with many parts and pieces, only many people all moving behind the counter. The food is so fresh as well as the breads and salads. I ordered the corned beef on a bialy, with tomatoes and red onions with brown mustard and mayo. I've never had it that way before, but it was delicious. I was even asked if I wanted it heated. My wife ordered the tuna fish salad. She ate it all, so I know she enjoyed it. If in Libertyville Illinois, you must go to the Picnic Basket. If this was helpful, look below, before you go and tap the thumbs up. read more

The food at the Picnic Basket is always top quality and prepared with great care. I love their gourmet salads and sandwiches. I have both picked up orders and dined in the restauramy. the staff are very friendly and efficient. Over the many years that I have been there, I have never been disappointed. Their business is truly a benefit to Libertyville. read more

Great place in the middle of Libertyville to eat in or get carryout salads and deli items. It has a pretty big menu. The Picnic Basket is a longtime favorite of locals to come to at lunch to get something healthy, or to get something for catering or whatever. Has many salads to choose from. You can also get sandwiches. A great option is to get a few salads in a combo. It's one way to sample a few. They have the 3 Salad Combo where you choose any of these. It's about $10 so it's a pretty good value for all of it. Last time in here I got some of these. Farro Salad is one of the best. It has chickpeas, garlic, and tomatoes. Pecan Spinach is good too. A simple one but has lots of crunch. It has apples, red onions, and tomatoes. Quechuan Quinoa is another favorite. It has black beans, corn, and peppers. This is pretty filling and spicy if you like that. Has lots of very tasty salads to choose from. If wanting to get something more for a main meal, they also have lots of sandwiches. This place is pretty great to go to for something healthier, and to get things for vegans and vegetarians. read more

The Picnic Basket - Farro Salad, Pecan Spinach Salad, And Quechuan Quinoa - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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I ordered for a company event through the website and added a pickup time three days in advance. It was ready when expected. The sandwich boxes were great and packed with quite a bit of food including a fruit cup, side salad and dessert. The quantity of meat on the sandwiches was more than we've had from chain competitors. The men all raved about the pasta salad and several comments were made about the broccoli salad. We are extremely happy with the ease of ordering and the end result! read more

Oh my gosh. If you are looking for a top tier salad, sandwich or soup for vegan or gluten free needs this is the place. Everything is clearly labeled and the staff knew - without asking - to switch gloves and clean off the toaster tray. Beyond the great precautions, my sandwich was soooo good. I got the house sandwich on gluten free bread with chicken and wild rice soup. Be warned, they get very busy but a few efficient and fast to get you in and out the door! Best sandwich shop in the area! read more

The Picnic Basket - Gluten free house special and gf chicken and rice soup - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

Good place to pick up sandwiches at reasonable prices in downtown Libertyville, and eat-in. After we stopped by the Farmer's Market on Thursday, we decided to have lunch at this deli-style restaurant. It is cafeteria style, where you get in a food serving line to order your sandwiches, soup, etc, and then pay for it. It's a well organized system, that can serve a lot of people at one time. We were a larger party, so got to order a lot of different sandwiches. All of them come with potato chips, and with soup (if part of a daily special). All the sandwiches were good: with plenty of deli sliced meats. I really liked the chili (hearty with two types of beans and ground beef...reminded me a lot of Wendy's chili which I really love). The sandwiches used non-descript, sliced breads and the meats seemed like what you would pick up at the grocery store. I personally ordered the muffeletta, and it was well constructed on a ciabatta bun. I wish it had more of the olive spread that gives the muffeletta its flavor. All the sandwiches were very neatly constructed, and put on newspaper like paper to mimic the big city deli experience. As the name says, this would be an absolute great place to pick up sandwiches for an outdoor picnic as the weather gets really good. read more

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Food is excellent. The Appetite Stimulus Plan sandwich is one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had.

Recently after shopping at a great thrift store not too far away my Husband & I decided to try The Picnic Basket. Gerry looked at their info on-line & pics so this looked very good! The food is amazing! a nice variety & you can actually see what it out behind the counter. You also can see the person creating your sandwich & more. We went there twice in a month & we live in Chicago. We had turkey with cranberry mustard etc. the first time. Fantastic! the meals come with a cup of soup & chips. You can add a salad too if you want to. The portions are big & we were full. The soups are homemade & delicious! Next time we stop in I would love to take home the Italian Wedding soup. It has some kind of small noodles or dumplings & mini meatballs! This is a small meal just the soup. Every item is very fresh. I did not try the desserts or cookies yet. You can purchase the soups & bread too. The place is big but can get crowded so go there early. there is parking on the side & in the back. Very friendly & pleasant service. Clean rest rooms too..no auto flushing which I despise. Just old school charm. Try The Picnic Basket you will love it & keep coming back. read more

food is consistently good - what you'd make at home, if you had the ingredients, time, and energy. Plus always friendly

Loved the halal options and the overall atmosphere, would recommend anyone! The chicken house special sandwich tasted great. Thank you.

Our first time at The Picnic Basket. The sandwiches are not as tasty as I thought they would be. I would grade them at a C. The ingredients not that flavorful and Sammies have too much mayo. I won't be returning. I recommend Honey Baked Ham and Jersey Mikes for better and fresher sandwiches. I really wanted this place to be special. Parking in front and back, so that was nice to have those options. Clean inside. read more

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We have always ordered sandwiches / wraps at the Picnic Basket for Ravinia and various family/ friend/ work events and everyone absolutely loved it. We recently thought we would try the crab salad wrap. We couldn't even finish it after one bite, just awful. We did not realize it was imitation crab. It doesn't say so in the description. I did send a comment to Picnic Basket with respect to our experience, but did not get any response which was truly a disappointment as we are a good customer. Not sure we'll be coming back. read more

I had my very first Reuben and now I'm converted. My parents got the Reuben and convinced me to try it as I am more of a turkey sandwich girl. Boy were they right. This Reuben was delicious. The perfect meat to bread ratio and the bread was soft and pillowy. The flavors just work. I rated this spot a 4 because I haven't tried their other sandwiches (at least not yet). But if your go to is a Reuben and even if it isn't this is one of the better sandwiches I've had. Not sure about the service to be honest because I haven't visited, but word on the street is it is pretty much a grab and go situation, but depending on the staff can be a solid or average sandwich. Overall, delish sandwich. Check it out, especially if you live in the neighborhood! read more

The Picnic Basket - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

We love this place. Everything is excellent from the soup to the salads to the sandwiches. Staff is very efficient and friendly. Very busy yet they get the customers through very efficiently. read more

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A company I used to work for used The Picnic Basket for some of our larger on-site events, which is where I was introduced to them. I liked the food, and when I helped plan the events, we intentionally ordered from them because we knew we could count on them. It's been a few years, but I needed to order in lunch today for myself, and hoped it would be as good as I remembered. It was! The Cranberry Carved Turkey Panini (which I'd been looking at for a while) was delicious. Not too much cranberry to be overpowering, just enough to be tasty. It worked very well with the turkey and lettuce in the sandwich. The Cream of Chicken Wild Rice soup was very good, too, with plenty of chicken. Both arrived still warm and tasty. I was not let down. I will definitely be ordering from them again! read more

Fantastic service from a knowledgeable counter staff about their fresh made salads, soups, entrees and sandwiches. We loved the Ruben we split with lean corned beef and the pasta salads we tried. One was quinoa with arugula and fig, the other was a play on pasta primavera with a light oil based sauce. You can even try a sample of the salad before ordering. The dining area is nicely spaced out and comfortable awith lots of windows looking out onto the park. read more

We had ordered several coconut bars for our Thanksgiving meal and greatly appreciated that they were freshly prepared, ready on time, and professionally packaged. They tasted excellent! Special thanks to Tariq. We have also had their sandwiches on several occasions and they all tasted great! We strongly recommend The Picnic Basket. read more

Historically I have enjoyed Picnic Basket but lately there are some serious issues with their order accuracy. If you order food for take out, you absolutely need to unwrap everything and make sure it's precise. I'm talking FULLY unwrap your sandwich, even if it says the correct type on the outside. FULLY Unwrap your soup and OPEN it because it's likely that they got it wrong. This is an evident issue for them because there are signs posted all over the checkout saying the consumer needs to check their order before leaving. Despite doing this, both of my most recent orders were remarkably incorrect (and given food that is entirely outside of my taste, creating an unpleasant and distasteful experience. To my misfortune both times have been on my lunch break with no time to return for a corrected order. This is a training opportunity for their staff and unfortunately I have no plans of returning to be disappointed once again. read more

Really happy with the care they take to eliminate gluten cross contamination! They changed gloves and used a different knife they wiped down with a paper towel! No reaction! Bread was a bit crumbly but that is very common with gluten free. Food was great! read more

I started eating here back in the 1990's when it was a really small place. I miss that. It's big and unfriendly and expensive. I have eaten there for the last time. read more

Went here for a quick bite. Staff was so accommodating. Dad had a tuna sandwich. I had a gf brownie.

I used to go to the Picnic Basket multiple times a week growing up and recently went back for a visit. The space has expanded with a lot more staff and a lot more space but the food is just as good as I remember. So happy to see a small local family owned business thrive! read more

Absolutely excellent. Worked with Ivan and he was fantastic. The food was delivered hot, in a warming oven and then set up a in beautiful buffet with chafing dishes and sterno. We ordered beef tenderloin, chicken piccata, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, creamy garlic Diablo pasta and a pear & feta wonderful salad!! Ivan even made polish sausage for us because my Mother in Law has it at every celebration. The guest raved about how delicious everything was. Would use them again in a heartbeat and highly recommend. Thanks Ivan and The Picnic Basket for making my mother in law's birthday party a big success! Seriously, A+++. read more

Wonderful food, wonderful service - always! Have had many of the soups, sandwiches, salads, and even a breajfast burrito. It is all fantastic. You cannot go wrong! read more

I haven't been here in at least 20 years and it's exactly what I remember. For $17 you get a large wrap, bag of chips, soda and a side salad. The salad options are a bit overwhelming, but there are great kale, quinoa and couscous options. The lines are long around lunch time so ordering ahead is encouraged. read more

The Picnic Basket - California wrap combo with kale apple salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

Excellent sandwiches for lunch - my go to spot for lunch cut in the area. Great quality food (huge menu) with prompt service.

Quick and easy ordering plus lots of different options. I got the california spinach wrap and it was so good! It was nice and quiet too and was able to do a bit of reading. read more

The Picnic Basket - California Wrap - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

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I have been a customer since they opened about 40 years ago?? I remember walking home from Central school and scrounging up enough money to buy a Scotcharoo with my best friend. This deli is such an important fixture in Libertyville and it's always evolving. I had two vegan salads today that were delicious. Last week I had a shrimp po boy that was also yummy. They never disappoint and the food and service is always excellent. Thank you for everything you do. We appreciate you! read more

Working today, I find myself STARVING and begin perusing through Yelp for some savory suggestions when I come across the name of which I would follow like the piped piper! The Picnic Basket!?!! When have anyone of you ever opened a picnic basket and said "ew". Uh, NOBODY! EVER!! So I carefully selected what my eyes began watering over without hesitation! Btw, I am stopping to take bites as I write this. So good! I'm savoring each mouthful. The bacon is perfectly rendered that it adds the right crunch and flavor to the well balanced sliced turkey. All that is missing is the chips n pickle! And a coke and a smile read more

The Picnic Basket - Turkey Bacon club - Sandwiches Near Me - Libertyville, Illinois

Quite the surprise! Everything about this restaurant was very very good. From the huge menu to the counter help assemble it my sandwich all were pleasantly helpful. I enjoyed the House Favorite with a nice French roll toasted with turkey and cheese on one side and roast beef and cheese on the other. It was toasted and I added lettuce and onions which made it very tasty. My pal had the sub which basically added turkey bacon to mine. He really enjoyed the potato salad and his sandwich too. Price was moderate and the restaurant had plenty of seating and lots of windows to enjoy the view with lunch. I will definitely return! read more

Way more Affordable and genuinely tastes better than Panera bread. Used to go here at least once a week when I lived in area and wanted some out to eat food that was relatively healthy read more