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Name: Philly G’s
Address: 1252 E US Hwy 45, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Telephone: (847) 634-1811
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 2.83

Philly G’s

1252 E US Hwy 45, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061

(847) 634-1811
Store is closed

Philly G’s Menu

Appetizers

Calamari

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Goat Cheese

Shrimp Dejonghe

Pasta Fritta
Salads

Strawberry Feta

Wedge Salad

Classic Caesar

Gilardi’s Own

Spinach Salad
Ala Carte Sides

Steamed Broccoli

Steamed Asparagus

Sautéed Spinach

Mushroom And Prosciutto Medley
Pasta

Spaghetti Or Mostaccioli

Angel Hair Tomato Basil

Pasta Olio

Bow Tie Asiago

Sausage Rotini

Meat Ravioli
Chicken

Chicken Florentine

Chicken Gilardi

Imperial Chicken

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Francese

Healthy Meal suggestions for Philly G’s

Appetizers

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goat Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Dejonghe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Fritta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Strawberry Feta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wedge Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gilardi’s Own [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ala Carte Sides

Steamed Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sautéed Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom And Prosciutto Medley [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Spaghetti Or Mostaccioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Angel Hair Tomato Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Olio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bow Tie Asiago [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Rotini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chicken

Chicken Florentine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Gilardi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Imperial Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Francese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Vernon Hills for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 555 E Townline Rd )

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels ( 118 Hawthorn Ctr Spc )

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 361 W Town Line Rd )

Auntie Anne’s ( 122 Hawthorn Ctr )

Cinnabon ( 610 Hawthorn Ctr )

Visit below restaurant in Vernon Hills for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 555 E Townline Rd )

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels ( 118 Hawthorn Ctr Spc )

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 361 W Town Line Rd )

Auntie Anne’s ( 122 Hawthorn Ctr )

Cinnabon ( 610 Hawthorn Ctr )

Write An Anonymous Review

David T.

Went there for a private party. The FOOD: The calamari, stuffed clams and stuffed mushrooms appetizers were all very good. The vinaigrette dressing for the salads was delicious. For the entree I had Shrimp Scampi, The shrimp were large sized and cooked correctly. I would liked to have had more shrimp since the plate had 3 shrimp; it was served on a bowl of pasta with the sauce. Chicken Vesuvio was also served and it was excellent. I had sampled some. Nice portion of chicken with a savory sauce. There was a New York Strip steak served as well. The steaks were served medium rare to medium. The steaks needed to be seasoned and were not hot when served at the table. One steak at our table was a bit more rare. Desserts were mediocre. There were mini cannoli (too sweet) and tiramisu which was decent. Not overly excited about the desserts The SERVICE: Service I am mixed on. There were 3 servers taking care of 80 people. The servers themselves were friendly and took care of us. But sometimes there was a delay in getting something refilled. I will attribute that to 3 servers for the number of guests. MY TAKE: Overall it was a pleasant experience. I would eat there again when up that way visiting family. I would not make a special trip to go there since I am an hour + away. I have seen deals in emails for discounts there. That is a nice incentive to eat there.
(3)
William H.

Philly G's you know just how to make a customer feel unwanted. From letting a smoker stand outside your entrance even though code calls for 15' to having a confused hostess. Come in for dinner on a Sunday night with my love bride and young son. Hostess seems a bit frazzled and asks if we have a reservation. Nope sorry but we are ok with sitting in the bar. Ok let me grab you some menus. Another person (manager?) comes over and overrides that call. Nope you can't even SIT IN THE BAR and eat?! What?! How? Well ok thanks for a big pile of "please leave our restaurant". Thanks for being so close Roti and providing fast delicious food. Disappointed Philly G's. Very very disappointed.
(1)
Nicole O.

Staff was rude, we wouldn't recommend. We don't get out very often, so when we do we would like good food and service. To be treated with an attitude when I am paying for your service is just unacceptable. We won't be back
(1)
Sarah L.

I absolutely love the food at their sister restaurant Tavern on 60 but I'm not crazy for the food here. It's very bland. The skirt steak isn't bad. Not my favorite but the service is at least good expect for the older, short haired, blonde lady, She was absolutely awful! She was annoyed we ordered another drink and I caught her yelling at the bus boys for no reason! Not to mention she poured herself two drinks! Why are you annoyed? No wonder they don't have any bus boys! She's awful!!
(2)
Stella S.

I have never experienced such terrible service as I have at Philly G's. I guess we should have checked the yelp reviews before stepping into this horrendous establishment. The service was shitty from the get go. The hostess seated us at the most inconvenient table near a passageway and the bathroom. We constantly had a noisy dining experience with people coming in and out using the bathroom, delivering food, etc. Kind of baffling to think that we were seated there when we saw empty tables all around us in more quieter rooms. Our waitress showed up to get our drink order, which was only one soft drink and a lemon mind you, and it literally took him 15 minutes to get. By the look of it, he didn't even need to pour the drink the bartender just handed him a bottle. Even after getting our drink, I had to constantly ask the waiter to get me a lemon. Anyway, we still had our hopes up for the food tasting okay. But after waiting over an hour for three measly entrees with our waiter going mysteriously mia, we still didn't see any sign of our meal. By this point we were getting pretty angry and about to walk out. When our food finally showed up the waiter serves the table that came a good 20 minutes after us before giving out our food. I mean come on. Anyway we got our food and it was clearly evident that our food was sitting under a heat lamp for a while. The Italian beef sandwich was lackluster and had dried up slices of beef. The pasta primavera was actually not seasoned at all and the pasta was dried up and sticking together. I was actually baffled that the kitchen could not even remember to season their food! Never in my life have I had a dish served to me that didn't have a hint of salt! We sent the pasta primavera back and it was returned mysteriously a hell of a lot smaller of a portion than when it had came out. The last dish we had was the clam pasta and the clams were even raw and clearly not fresh. We ended up not needing to finish the food to know we were done here. The waiter did not even bother to clean up our salad dishes while being so tentative and quick with the other tables. Maybe it was because we were the only Asian people there. The service here was terrible from the get go, the hostess didn't even greet us when we walked in. No one greeted us while we walked out. The wait staff are completely negligent to their tables and can be seen goofing around and talking to each other by the bar. Clearly everyone needs some semblance of training here. This place is a joke. Will never come again. And for the public's sake I hope this place closes down soon.
(1)
Deb G.

I've never had a bad meal here, but the service can be hit or miss. We came here last night for our son's graduation dinner. As always, the food was excellent, but the service was a smidge off. I didn't make a big deal about it because it truly wouldn't affect my decision on coming back again in the future. Of course we'll be back!! Keep up the good work, Phil!
(4)
E M.

My 4 star review is for the "bar menu" -- definitely NOT the regular dinner menu! However we had two Groupons so recently tried both, so this is actually 2 reviews. First, the formal italian side of the restaurant. Two stars. To begin, we had a reservation on a Sat night. We called earlier in the evening to make it and to ask how late they seated people for dinner, because we were meeting friends for drinks elsewhere and wanted to eat as late as possible. Both times we called, the teen hostess answered "Kitchen closes at 10." That seemed really early for a Saturday, but whatever. She for some reason refused to acknowledge they have a bar side menu, so that was really confusing. She also didn't *actually* answer the question as to how late they seat people, so we made the res for 9:30. As it turns out, we were running late, so I ended up calling at 9:30 to ask them if we could still come in at 9:55 and they said no problem. So in essence, the first girl who answered was wrong because if the kitchen closed at 10, they wouldn't seat at 9:55. She should know the difference between last seating and kitchen closing. Once we got there, a much older lady almost turned us away until we told her we had been assured not 15 minutes before that we would be served if we arrived before 10. Then this third woman comes by and seats us with no problem. 10 minutes after we sat, she seated someone else, although I noticed that when they asked her about the bar menu, she ignored them...what was it about the bar menu that was such a secret? Anyway, in a huge restaurant that had no one in it, she sat both 2-person parties next to each other and that was rather uncomfortable. In any case -- the building is cute and the porch was festive with a christmas tree but the atmosphere was a lot more stuffy than I expected and the service was as slow as molasses. The waitress seemed uninterested in us for the most part which really didn't match the formality of the surroundings. The menu was plain old standard boring. We ordered two caesars to start, and I had chicken saltimbocca. My husband had a shrimp marinara dish. They both came with minestrone soup. The chicken was above average but the pasta with meat sauce that came with it was overcooked and the sauce had almost no taste except for a glitchy beef flavor...it was like they forgot to add tomato. My husband really liked his dish, but it only came with 3 shrimp -- way too overpriced. The soups were massive and somehow again not tomato-ey enough; the minestrone tasted like a hearty beef soup. We only ordered the salads because again we had to spend $60 -- but the waitress neglected to tell us that the salads were ENORMOUS so we didn't need two (by the way, the bill added up to $70, so really if we had had one salad we would have been exactly on target for the Groupon.) Also, the salads were way drenched with dressing and very mustardy. Definitely ask for dressing on the side. Note -- I love huge salads (and huge soups) and I always ask for extra dressing, so you know they REALLY had a lot of dressing on them and they really were way too much to handle. It sounds weird, but the size of the portions were actually irritating; I'd rather they had been smaller and less expensive, because I'm not sure I want to eat chicken saltimbocca for three days running. Oddly enough, what I loved best about the meal was the bread and olive oil. There was something about their particular brand of bread and oil that had me eating the WHOLE loaf where usually I might eat just one piece! Now, to the bar side, which we ate at a couple of days later: The place seemed to be staffed by teens who were unsure of what was going on, but it didn't ruin our experience. The menu ranged from standard to out of the ordinary, but it was all good. We again had a $60 Groupon so ordered two appetizers before our meal -- buffalo wings and crab cakes. We are very picky about wings and I have to say these were amongst the best I've had; my husband agreed. They even came with *gasp* lots of blue cheese dressing!! That's very rare indeed :-) The crab cakes were also really wonderful -- tons of crab and cooked exactly right. The steak sandwich my husband had was stellar, and the lobster grilled cheese was really great too, although I have to say by the time I got around to it after those appetizers I was thinking it was a little too rich. Even the parmesan chips were awesome! These dishes plus two beers and one Shiraz was about $70. I liked the atmosphere of the bar, too, although beware the slow service...it took forever to get our apps (even though we were there a bit early so we were practically the only people in the entire restaurant) so we elected to order our sandwiches before we were actually brought any food. We will definitely be back for the bar menu, and hopefully will be able to catch some live music there in the near future!
(4)
Melissa C.

I have been there before for lunch but went there last week for a group lunch. I had the gnocchi which I believe I had there before a long time ago. This time it was not good. The gnocchi was so dense it was like cutting through meat. The sauce was excellent, but the gnocchi itself, tough. I will assume it was a bad day, because their food is usually fairly decent. I'll try again another time.
(3)
Dylan M.

This is one of those establishments I have dined at many times over the year each time with a gap of time between visits making me unsure what it was that didn't bring me right back. So this time I am writing a review to remind myself. First off the good. I really enjoy the building. What was once a house way back when was converted to what was once called Gillardis now Philly Gs. I find the space very charming with the wrap around porch, great little bar space and multiple little nooks or rooms in which to dine in. The people watching here is also a perk to me. They obviously have their regulars who come back over and over and make me smile. Now onto the parts which I forget which is why I don't end up coming back more often. The service in my experience is not good. The wait staff is untrained for the kind of fine dining restaurant they try to be. Uninformed on food/wine/etiquette etc. and in the case of last night fairly rude and apparently did not want to be there. The food is WAY over sauced so make sure to ask for light sauce unless u like your food swimming. The wine list could use an upgrade. Nothing interesting or inventive here. So all in all I think there are better options for food and service although with this said I am sure I will be back in another year or two to try it again. Never horrible... never great... Philly Gs.
(3)
Jason B.

This is a great find nice atmosphere and deliciouse food. The only reason i didnt give it 5 stars is due to the very tight quarters.
(4)
Matthew B.

Honestly, not impressed at all. Our waitress was nice and positive but she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I am sure this has to do with poor management. Food took forever but it was good for the most part but too expensive for what you get.
(2)
Melissa W.

Decided to give this place another shot since it was a good in between meeting spot for my grandma's birthday lunch. I stand by my previous review in that the food was just ok; again the salad was blah, bread was nothing to get excited about, and the food was under seasoned. Our server today (Angie??? I wish I paid better attention) was great, friendly and professional, she made me give them an extra star this time! Also, I enjoyed sitting on the enclosed porch as opposed to the dinning room area. I thought the prices at lunch were much more reasonable except for the $10.50 for carrot cake?!?! (which of course you don't know the price of until you get the bill) sorry, that's ridiculous!
(4)
Jeffrey S.

There was no one in the restaurant and they put us by the kitchen entrance. We were the only people born after World War II in the place. The food was below average and not worth the price. We will avoid and never go back.
(1)
Evie H.

Philly G's already gets a +1 for having a restaurant built inside a giant mansion-like building....which could theoretically be very creepy walking through if it wasn't filled with so many people and music. It's so interesting seeing each of the rooms as you're led to the table and I think the food here is pretty solid too. To start off, we got the Portobello Rockefeller which I thought tasted excellent. I just didn't expect to be paying close to $10 for one big mushroom - even though it was stuffed with spinach and cream sauce. Maybe two big mushrooms would be more adequate? We also got the Strawberry Feta salad which was very light and refreshing for a summer day. Loved the candied walnut toppings too. Our two main courses were the Eggplant Parmigiana and the Chicken Saltimbocca. The Eggplant Parm was overall very standard. It tasted like something you can order at most other Italian restaurants. The Chicken Saltimbocca was my favorite dish of the night. I loved the proscuitto, sage, and provolone on top of the chicken and the wine sauce glaze was made just right. Overall, lots of flavor to go along with the chicken (could've been a bit more moist by itself though). Each dinner entree comes with a soup or salad plus a complimentary side so it turns out to be very filling and worth the price. We chose soups and the potato pancake as our sides. Both were delicious and worthy of being chosen again!
(4)
Deanna R.

My guy took me here for my Birthday FINALLY! Lovely little old house, good wine( although I wish I had known the had bottles not just BTG). Excellent food, wonderful singer ( Victor). No doubt we will be back again and again. PS..sorry not your fault per se, but kids in the bar on weekends after 7...not great when you want an intimate night out and waiters bumping into chairs cutting through.
(5)
Renee D.

Have had decent food and service at Philly G's in the past but our last visit was disappointing. We were celebrating our parents 51st anniversary and the salads arrived wilted and brown. We had to send them back. It was a negative start to our dinner. Service was poor and food nothing special. Decided to do desert elsewhere. Not the special celebration we had hoped to offer
(2)
Robert Y.

What a shame! Philly G's is really a beautifully place with a very friendly staff but sadly the food wasn't very good, especially for the prices they charge. The grilled Calamari appetizer we started with didn't look very appetizing and it consisted of tiny pieces of squid that looked and tasted like it was previously frozen. It was very greasy and salty and certainly not reflective of the $13 charge. Our salad accompaniment was warm, welted and looked and tasted like ordinary supermarket bag salad. The single tiny tomato wedge had better days. My wife commented that the meat in her Veal Francese was rubbery, over breaded and was over sauced with a thick almost pudding like gravy that completely overpowered everything on the plate. The Chicken Cacciatore that I had was pretty good but had hardly any mushrooms or onions. The marinara sauce on my pasta side wasn't very flavorful. This was our first visit to Philly G's and I doubt we'll be back.
(2)
Jill K.

I wish I could give zero stars. I'm currently sitting In The restaurant while treating my dad to an early Father's Day dinner. I went to complain about a staff member kissing girls at a table then sitting on their laps.. Find out he's the owner!! This is not what I expected! Got the steak tips they were bone cold. Other appetizers took a freakin long time. Besides the girls table taking over all service our server was great with trying to accommodate "his" table. I wouldn't put this on our waiter but the owner himself. Shame on him never again! Always a nice atmosphere when I complain to staff about him and they say yeah... Sorry... Never again save your money!!! Thanks for ruining Father's Day jerk!
(1)
Dining Bunny G.

So the experience started off very much like some of the previous posts. We showed up early for our reservations and it was like amateur hour with several hostesses trying to get people seated. There were slot of dirty tables and not enough busboys to keep up. Add that to the loudness of the bar with a hawks game and people having to wait at the bar creating a bit of an unhappy side show. However, when we finally sat down, our server was very attentive. The chicken cacciatore was amazing and everything else served was great too. We will go back but not a Saturday night!!
(4)
Jeff D.

I have to tell you if you're looking for restaurant with good food and service take a pass on this place. Decided to have dinner with my daughters and their families to celebrate a birthday. Reservation was early at 5:15 for party of 9. Orders were placed at 5:45 Food came at 7:10. All was luke warm at best . Asked the waitress why it took so long we were met up with somewhat of an attitude and an eye roll. Thought she was having a seizure. Minestrone was cold tasted like ketchup and water. Grandsons burger came raw on the inside. Son in laws pork chop came the same way raw inside. Back to the kitchen for another half hour. All was a joke. To add insult to injury we called the owner the next day who said he would look into everything and get back to us by the next day. Never heard back. Bottom line COLD FOOD RAW FOOD POOR SERVICE AND A OWNER WHO DOESNT CARE " TAKE A PASS"
(1)
Anna B.

My boyfriend and I really wanted to like this place and after giving it a second try, it just didn't work out. They clearly are trying to get new business with the groupons they are offering but their service is just not impressive. Food is subpar and they don't even have a drink menu. Bar server scooped ice then threw the scooper back into the ice. Side of ecoli anyone?
(2)
Heidi H.

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Dined there last Thursday for the third time this summer. While the food was excellent we were a bit disappointed in service. It wasn't very busy and yet it took 30 minutes for our first course of shrimp scampi. Asked if we could please have soups and salads right away as we were hungry but then too much lag time for main course. If we weren't regulars probably wouldn't go back but if you experience what we did you should give it a second chance as the food won't disappoint.
(4)
Kevin N.

On this busy corner of Milwaukee and Half Day road, the multigenerational family institution of Philly G's sits. The original building seems is a house-come-restaurant, which over the years has been augmented and renovated to add multiple smaller dining rooms for a more congenial, intimate experience. The layout is a bit odd insofar as the main entrance isn't immediately apparent from the parking lot, and once you get in, you have to walk through some dining areas to reach the host desk which sits nearer the center of the buildings. The place smells of herbs and garlic, just like an authentic Italian place in Little Italy. The interior itself feels upscale and romantic with white table cloths and candles on all of the tables. This evening I went to enjoy some absolutely fantastic live blues in the bar starting at around 9PM. The bar menu was awesome and had an added bonus of half price for almost all of them from 9PM to close. Beer choices were standard, with the most exciting offering being Stella on draft. The views from the bar and the dining rooms are very nice at night with large window surrounds. This place is a winner.
(3)
Brandon C.

Pretty sweet going to a restaurant in an old house. Our table was waaayyyy back in some back room. Felt like a long walk past many tables. Wasn't mad. It was fun. Food was amazing. Service was great too. Would definitely go back again and again.
(4)
Andy D.

The Pros: Our waitress (Nicole?) was amazing. The Service was great! The decor and ambience is really fun. The Cons: The food is so tasteless it's shockingly boring and bad. At our table we ordered Gnocchi with Broccoli, Filet Mignon, and Veal Vesuvio. As a restaurant in Chicago, a city known for its italian food, we surprised how amateurish and flavorless the food was prepared. The Gnocchi just tasted like chinese food without the soy sauce. No salt, no garlic, just runny white soupy water all around it. Quite bad. The Filet was charred burnt on the outside, and was not a quality cut of meat. The Veal was chewy, and had almost no taste to the sauce. The vesuvio potatoes were basically just very very dry steak fries. Other than service and atmosphere which were great, the food was very dissapointing. We ended up having it packed up, brought it back home and had to recook everything in order to make it edible. And for the really high prices that they charge, we expected better.
(2)
MJ E.

The restaurant is really beautiful. I enjoyed the atmosphere very much. Unfortunately, we sat on the patio and our server neglected us horribly. Service took an insanely long time and one of 6 good orders was just not entered. So our loonnng wait become ridiculous. I could not tell you a single thing about the food because everything was overshadowed by the poor service.
(2)
Robin N.

I took my89 year old mother there for Mother's Day. 2015. It was just the two of us & we each only had one drink. The food was good we had one appetizer & each ordered an entree. With the tip for the two of us it came to just under $100. It happened to rain that evening so we decided to valet the car. When the car was returned to us after dinner the seats were so wet it soaked through our clothes. When I called to let the owner know this was how the car was returned to me his statement was "well it's raining outside". When I go to a restaurant & spend nearly $100 I do not expect to get into a soaking wet car that was parked by the valet, yet alone get such a poor response from the owner. The food is good but customer service is terrible.
(1)
Jackie F.

First time here tonight. I have driven by sooo many times, tonight we had a groupon. Got the flaming Asiago for an app. Super similar to saganaki, it was freaking delicious!!! Ordered chicken Parmesan & spaghetti & meatballs for entrees. Chicken parmesan was delicious & huge. One of the best I've had at a restaurant. Definitely didn't come off as a frozen entree like salutos in gurnee. I feel like I am somewhat of a meatball expert, growing up with little Italian grannys manufacturing them like crazy. My mom has carried on the meatball legacy. I try them, but meatballs are always a disappointment at restaurants. This place's meatballs were pretty good, above average. 5 stars for sure if you've never experienced an old Italian lady's cooking. Our server was pretty funny, I forgot his name. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Connor B.

Philly G's, wow this was a surprise! Since I have lived here, over 6 years now, I have driven past this place and never tried it. After trying it, I was glad I never did! Its definitely not worth the money. I have definitely experienced better overall, and thankfully I had a Groupon! Location & Ambiance: Great location, and ambiance! Its really cool to see a place like this, because its a restaurant build within an old house. This provides a unique quality to it, and unfortunately the food and service don't meet up to those expectations set by the location and ambiance. Drinks: Both of us got tea, and it tasted good. Not much to say here other than they have a good selection of drinks, and the tea was good overall. Food: The food was very blad, and quite expensive if you go for dinner! Fortunately we went for lunch knowing the dinner menu was much more expensive. Our Groupon cost $30 for a $60 voucher so we were able to order quite a lot of food: Calamari: It had way to much batter, and tasted like grease... definitely don't recommend it! Brochette: It was actually the best thing we got, but very bland tasting. Salads: We each ordered a salad, and it was your typical salad. Nothing special! Veal: We both ordered two different kinds of veal. The place was big, the serving was small, and the veal itself was flavorless. Service & Staff: The service was average at best and clearly frustrated when I brought up the facts that I had a Groupon! The waiter we had rolled her eyes and walked away to check the Groupon. This left me leaving a 10% tip, and I can say that was very generous of me to do! Overall, Philly G's is a sup par experience. The ambiance and location got my hopes up, but after dining with them one time I can definitely say I wont be going back! If you absolutely want to go look for the Goupon deal! Other than that I can say I don't recommend going!
(2)
N C.

This place could have been a 5 star review, unfortunately the service was definitely not the best. Our visit last night was almost perfect. The setting is beautiful, different and the food was delicious. Definitely worth coming back for. What is NOT worth coming back for is the bad attitude female server we had. She did not explain any specials, she kinda just "handed" (more like tossed since it didn't even land in his hands) the specials menu to my boyfriend. We heard her explained pretty detailed the menu to the couple next to us. Our salad took forever to come after our appetizer. She checked on us once. Finally she was so annoyed when we said we had a Groupon. I was coming back from the bathroom and I moved aside for her to go and she rolled her eyes and in an exasperated voice was like "go." Ugh she made the evening so blah.
(3)
Madi Sizer S.

Worst service ever.... arrived there and sat at a table with dirty dishes on it.. the waitress came by 15 minutes later and said she would get to us if she could... we left immediately... would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
N G.

I love this place! I've been here more than a dozen times and enjoy everything from the fresh baked bread to the amazing tiramisu. The pasta is always fresh & yummy, and it makes the kids very happy too. In addition the very homie, cozy atmosphere has becoming our favorite family dinner spot.
(5)
Harley R.

Wonderful food pleasant atmosphere in a wonderful place to sit and share and talk. It is a very homey atmosphere and I love to go there with family or friends.
(5)
Meredith K.

I have to update my review and add a star. I think if you stick with the classics then you'll have a wonderful meal here. This time I tried one of their specialties, the gnocchi with broccoli. Chewy, doughy, wonderfulness! And just a little cheese so you don't feel like you just killed your diet. They make their pastas so you know its gonna be fresh. Just remember to ask for your dressing on the side as they drowned ours with vinaigrette.
(4)
Jody B.

I haven't been here for aboutn10 years. I came for lunch with a large group. We sat in a lovely room and the service was great, especially considering we had about 40 people. The appetizers were quite good. We had mushrooms, garlic bread, and bruschetta. For my meal I had minestrone soup and a garlic chicken. Both were good. I would like to try it again for dinner with hubby sometime. The rooms and service are perfect for large groups. I'd like to see how it is for a nice quiet dinner.
(4)
John S.

I've eaten at Philly G's three times. The third time was NOT by choice. EVERY TIME I've eaten there, I STRONGLY believe the meal I was served was from lunch service. It was always "reheated", tasted stale and the pasta plates were crusted around the edges. The last time there, my daughter had a Groupon for which she paid half-price. It still wasn't worth it.
(1)
Katie S.

First off I want to begin by saying that I am a bartender/server and have never used Yelp to write a review of a restaurant because I believed that yelppers are their own breed and only use it to complain. However, I truly feel that my experience here on Fathers Day, nonetheless, needed to seen/heard. My grandmother took my father and I here today for Fathers Day because she had said she visited a few years ago and that the food was fantastic. The first red flag for me was being seated at table with garbage underneath (used napkins, fries, lettuce etc.). If your servers are turning over tables and removing used linens, anybody can clearly tell that there is garbage underneath. Seems like laziness to me. My grandmother and I asked which white wines were available and our server proceeded to open his book where he keeps his notepad and cheat sheets and show us on a slip of paper which ones were offered. When we told him we couldnt see what was written, he offered to go grab a wine list! Duh! In his defense, he was acting like he was new and did not know much. He should still be in training and shadowing someone. My Father ordered the linguine with clams and my grandmother and I ordered the shrimp scampi. Terrible is an understatement. For $14, We each recieved an incredibly bland meal with only three shrimp. My shrimp was rubbery and tasted like it was freezer burned and not deveined! Gross! The meal just had no taste. I had about three bites and was done. My grandmother was not happy and it took alot for her to not come and find the manager or owner. Our server was not attentive and pretty much stopped coming to the table half way through the service. After 20 minutes, we asked the bartender for our check and the hostess brought it back. We had three different people assist us for a not so busy restaurant. Extremely disappointing experience for a fathers day meal. If the owners are reading this, you need to taste the food that you are giving to your customers and ask yourself if you are proud of the products you are producing. We will not be back.
(1)
Heather D.

Ate there twice in the last 2 weeks. My grandpa is a 90 year-old Italian. He says Philly G's is the best Italian food he's ever had. His favorite meal there, hands down, is Chicken Cacciatore. I've tried it, and it's excellent. You have to order the Chicken Cacciatorre ahead of time, like the second you walk through their door, because it takes 45 minutes to make. Our service last night was excellent. The restaurant was packed.
(5)
Jon B.

We never write reviews, but we were so upset with our visit here, we had to warn others. The service was so poor, we got up and left after my husband finished his drink, which we got by getting up and going to the bar. I never got a chance to order my drink because I asked to wait and order my drink when I ordered my food, but our waiter never came back to take our order. After about 25 minutes, we took it upon ourselves to leave because the bartender and two other employees were sitting and talking at the bar right in front of us the whole time. And to make matters worse, the restaurant was almost completely empty, and yet not a single person managed to check in on us.
(1)
Shelley K.

Bad karma for Philly G's. As a guest in town on a work trip, I stopped by Philly G's just past 9 on a Wednesday evening. It was still full of diners and folks in the bar, but when I walked in and asked for a table for 1, a gruff man stepped around the corner from the bar and asked what I wanted. I asked if the kitchen was still open...was told "no". When I inquired as to what else he could suggest that was close and yummy, he said " I don't know. I really have no idea" and walked away. I drove across the street to an amazing restaurant, Eddie Merlot's and spent nearly $40 on just myself for dinner. Selfish, rude behavior will cost you in many ways, oh Philly G's. Be a good neighbor and good things happen. Otherwise-if you are in the area, do yourself a favor and drive the extra 150 feet to Eddie Merlot's.
(1)
Susan S.

I have been to this place a few times, since its close to my home. Really nice inside in a old home made in to a charming eatery. They have wonderful drinks but if you ask for a doggy bag don't forget your metal detector because my doggy bag had a bottle tab inside my pasta. I called the manager and he said come in and he will buy me a drink . I was surprised that was how he would resolve that problem . Then he said well what do you want. Not to great of a place to go unless you're a Billy goat and want to eat bottle tabs
(1)
Dennis W.

Great place. Music every weekend. Terrific half-price bar menu before 6, after 9 and all day Sunday. Friendly patrons. Haven't tried Wednesday night trivia but want to. Can't wait for summer to check out the huge deck.
(5)
Robert G.

Wow! An inexpensive gourmet restaurant is my impression of Philly G's. My girl and I split an eggplant parmesan, and every bite was delicious. Now it's just a piece of eggplant, some mozzarella and parmesan on top, and some tomato sauce poured on. So I stopped to think about where the flavor was coming from and realized it was the freshly prepared marinara. Tomatoes can only be cooked once. Canned tomatoes are cooked when canned and then cooked again when prepared. This makes them acidic and why you get heartburn from so many restaurants. I think the poor reviews for this place are funny because they use a Groupon, complain about the prices that they'll only paying half of, and then proudly tell us how the stiffed the waitress. You stiffed the waitress when you used the Groupon, and then you wonder why they're miffed? And then you prove it to them that you're a jerk by tipping 10%. Was that 10% of the bill, or what the bill would have been without the Groupon?
(5)
Wendy F.

Wow... been here with great expectations for food and drink and thusly fulfilled (love you oleg! ). U1nfortunately this visit left us wondering... what drink does the bartender suggest with the hair in our salad and the burned marinara sauce!?!? Disappointing on so many levels.
(3)
Aneta A.

disgusting. Reheated previously frozen food. The appetizer combo is inedible. If you know anything about good restaurants you won't go here.
(1)
James S.

I have always wanted to try this restaurant living in Mundelein my whole life and disappointed isn't a strong enough word to describe our experience. Upon arriving, we were seated upstairs next to the bathroom when the room was almost empty. Constantly we got to watch people enter and exit the bathroom while we waited for our waiter. We sat and waited almost 10 minutes before Brian came and took our drink order. After only ordering water, Brian walked away right away talking about bread before we could even ask him to put in our appetizer order. 15 minutes later, Brian brought the bread and took our order. We ordered the Grilled Calamari for an appetizer and enjoyed the bread they brought to the table. Once our appetizer came, we enjoyed it! It was seasoned right, came out relatively quick and was very good. When we were ordering, our entrÃ©e came with soup or a salad and I specifically asked if there was a small side Caesar salad I could substitute for the house one and he said yes and then I come to find out he charged me for a full Caesar salad on top of my bow tie asiago entree! I didn't want a full Caesar salad. In hind sight, I believe we should have been offered the soup as the soup or salad that came with my entrÃ©e and now I have been charged for the full size Caeser salad ($7). Once the food came out, one bite into the meatballs we paid for ($4 add on) I noticed they were cold. We let them sit at the edge of the table waiting for our server Brian to come and ask how our meal was so we could explain that we would like them reheated, but Brian did not check on us. At the time, my wife noticed he had only one other table in the room and we didn't understand why he was not serving us. The dining room was about half full and the only other table he had was a table of 6 so obviously he spent his time with them with his tip in mind. The dish my wife ordered was cooked very well and delicious and my main dish was cooked well aside from the meatballs. Meanwhile, after about 15 minutes of waiting the hostess did come by to ask us how everything was. We expressed that the meatballs came out cold and she was baffled at what to do. Offered to warm them up, but by this time the thought was unappetizing, yet she did not offer to take them off the bill even after seeing we took one bite. Still, after all this, Brian did not return to our table. Yet, a busser/assistant came by to offer "to go" containers. If we could have given the tip to our busser we would have and should have, as he gave us more attentive service than our server. Brian finally showed up (probably after noticing that the plates were cleared) not to ask us how everything was but rather if I would like to purchase desert. I am normally not one to complain but this experience was awful. Not one of the employees seemed to care about our dining experience. I believe there is an even give and take between food and service, although they deserve this 1 star. We even tried to send feedback to their website through their contact us feature on the website and the message feature doesn't even work! I tried to send an email directly to the owner and haven't heard back. If I hear back from the email I will reevaluate this review but until then please do not waste you're time with this restaurant.
(1)
Alex G.

The only thing good about this place was that the exit was located near my table. Service and waitstaff were the worst. Seriously would've rather had dinner in a hospital cafeteria with ebola patients. Came with a group of 5 and asked the hostess for table in the patio area near the windows. She gave a disgusted look as if i just asked her to hold a turd in her hand. She said "hold on" and walked away for 5 minutes....it was 6pm and the place was almost empty so i didn't see what the problem was...not a great start. Once seated, our "awesome" waitress spilled a pitcher of ice water all over our table and myself. After barely mumbling an apology she disappeared for 10 mins to god knows where....maybe to high five the hostess for completing the ice bucket challenge on my now soaked nuts. When she finally decided to take our order i said "can i have the shrimp scampi?" and she replied "no.".....i looked up from my menu and she chuckled and asked if i wanted a soup or salad with that. wtf? Did she really just say no? I didn't come here for sass from some rude teenager who can't hold a pitcher or pronounce half the things on the menu....i came mainly cause my girlfriends parents were paying for dinner and were also my ride home, but that part's not important....the point is that it was rude and beyond unprofessional. Anyway, after the mickey mouse club finished her comedy routine she brought out some of the saddest excuses for italian food i'd ever seen. Everyone's dish was awful. Way too heavy handed with the sauces/dressings/cheeses. Everything was incredibly greasy and unremarkable. Mine was soaked in so much butter and oil they might as well have served it in a to-go cup with a straw so i could get a head start on finding an ER before my inevitable heart attack. This place is basically a fast food joint disguised with bloated restaurant prices. My girlfriends dad is a great guy so despite my soaked crotch and our sub-par food I'm sure he gave a generous tip....it wasn't deserved though. When we were leaving some kid pointed at my pants and said "that man pp'd himself." ...I won't be coming back. If you're gonna eat shitty italian food i'd recommend the much more fairly priced Olive Garden, cause at least they know they're shitty and have free breadsticks.
(1)
Maria B.

The only great thing about this place is the building itself. The location is nice too, but if you like older houses with wrap around porch and many small rooms with french doors - you will be pleased with this restaurant (at least first few minutes upon arrival). The menu is no different from any other old school Italian restaurant in Chicago area. No specials on Friday night? Strange. But the prices are way too high. Glass of wine $9? Veal entry $25? Calamari appetizer $13? And any of the listed tasted fresh or interesting. Not enough or too much seasoning... Veal was served with so much gravy (sauce? ) that it overwhelmed the meat and potatoes completely. The dessert (Chocolate cake) was very sweet and store quality, boring. Cappuccino was delicious though. No complaints about service. Everyone was pleasantly attentive. Overall, I am not happy about the food and prices. I could mention the "live" performance they had in the bar area, but whatever that was, other folks had fun , so let's just leave it there. With the property like this you can have something really special. For now it's rather average.
(2)
Phil P.

I am beyond disappointed and perhaps offended. My husband, son and I wanted to go out for a nice dinner and we had heard great reviews about Philly G's. We decided to go and unfortunately had not made reservations. I am not sure if this was the issue or not. But needless to say, we were asked if we had made reservation, we told them no and we were told to select where we would like to dine; on the patio or the bar area. We selected the patio as to enjoy the nice weather. There were approximately 4 tables occupied, us coming in made the fifth. One of the tables became vacant a couple minutes after we sat down. There were three waitresses that were working. Out of three waitresses and a water person, only the water server acknowledged us. About 10 minutes into us settling into our table another table of four sat down. At no point in time were we offered bread our asked to take our drink order. 15 minutes in we still hadn't been acknowledged but all other tables had been provided bread baskets and their hostesses had introduced themselves, taken their drink orders and offered the wine list. We waited for a bit longer thinking that perhaps, they were busy and did not notice us. By 30 minutes in, we we're not acknowledged, we had not received drinks (besides water), nor had they taken our drink order. All tables around us had drinks, bread, a wine list offered and their food orders placed. Even the table who came in a while after us. At this point we were disappointed and frustrated. To make things worse, we got up to leave. The hostesses passed us as we walked out. Still not acknowledging that we were leaving. Before we left my son, needed to use the bathroom facilities, staling our exit. Upon exiting, we still had not been asked if or why we had left. And if anyone knows the restaurant, you pass the bar, servers and hostesses on the way out, without being asked if we paid our bill, left or just to have a great night and thank us as patrons. To make the experience worse, as we left the only person to notice us or even ask why we left was the valet attendant. When we explained briefly what happened he apologized and said he would get our car. To be honest, I felt bad for this gentleman because upon us leaving he had 7 cars that needed to be parked and he was the only attendant. We had to wait for him to park those vehicles and then we were able to leave. For this place to be as expensive as it is, I think the service is severely lacking. I am not sure why we were ignored but I can say I will never go back.
(1)
Samantha W.

The flaming asiago appetizer was amazing! Totally worth the price and it comes with a show. Had the chicken saltimbocca... sauce was basically a brown gravy. Wasn't expecting that, but the portion sizes are huge! Couldn't even finish half of my entrÃ©e after the bread, soup/salad, and appetizer.
(4)
Kevin K.

Every time I've been here the food has been delicious. I would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Mary R.

Let me start off saying how amazing and sweet the staff is here! Plus the food just melts in your mouth (well, at least the stake I had did). I was staying in town and wanted a nice italian dinner....(I am a picky person when it comes to what I eat and how it's all prepared). I had a Felt Minion was cooked just the way I wanted it, the flavor was just right with a little chard taste to each bite. My boyfriend had the chicken Fettachini Alfredo that dish in itself was enough for two! The Alfredo sauce was a perfect consistency not to watery or to thick, amazing flavor.... And I am not one who likes this dish what so ever, but here I would not mind to have it again. For starters we indulged in a Jumbo shrimp cocktail. Finally my boyfriend ordered one of every dessert they had ( personally, i recommend the chocolate moose cake, carrot cake, the cheese cake and peanut butter "cheese" cake)..... The bar staff was was amazing and very knowledgeable about the epic wine selection and recommended a great wine! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to have an overall amazing, homy, experience... I recommend the next time your in the Linconahire/Vernon Hills area, to stops by and enjoy a glass of wine and some great cooking.
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I had witnessed the reviews both here and on Restaurant.com , but since I heard from someone they were good, I decided to give them a try myself. I wish I hadn't. 1) From first glance, it's a nice building. It looks like it has two floors, and "porch" seating that seemed closed in for the weather but maybe can be opened. Cute location. 2) Free valet. 3) Upon entry, it wasn't clear where to go; we walked in, turned right into a small "coat check" type room, then were directed to a desk in another stairway room on the left to be seated. Seeing the look of confusion on my face, the "hostesses" (one older woman and one teenage girl) did nothing to confirm we were at the right place. I simply said, "party of two" and they looked at each other so as to try and determine where to put us.... kind of odd. 4) This place is like half fine-dining Italian and half sports bar. In that stairway-type room, you turn right and see strobe lights, and you turn left and you see the "affluent" area. I guess we're going left. Even though we weren't in the "party rock" room, it was so loud in that entire place. So much for romance. 5) We were seated after a few minutes of the two debating on who would seat us, and the extra utensils (a table for four, party of two) were removed immediately, which is neither here nor there, but kind of random since it was so fast. That bus boy was on top of his game all night, by the way. 6) When our waitress arrived, she asked for our drinks right away (even though really we were ready to order since we waited a good 10 minutes for her to even get to us) - I mentioned to her immediately that we had a Restaurant.com dining certificate, per the terms and conditions, and she said okay and immediately walked away to the "hostess" area. I found this so weird, she didn't even say "okay, I'll be right back." The dialogue consisted of: "Hi, can I get you something to drink?" "Hello, we have a Restaurant.com dining certificate. Do you want this now or later?" "I'll take that later." "O..." [waitress walks away] ... Really?? 7) Finally comes back another three minutes later, who knows what they were talking about that was so important as to abruptly leave my table without warning. She takes our order, the other employees bring it back one by one. After 7 points, I think it's time to talk about the food. Food: My portobello mushroom appetizer was not hot. I tried to eat it quickly, because I didn't want it to get any colder. It seemed like it had been hot, but maybe they walked a mile with it first. My soup was also warm; I suppose I don't like to get burnt upon trying it, but I expected at least +/- 140 degrees and what I got was closer to 120. On average, we're about 97.8 degrees. A typical coffee is 160 degrees. You do the math. It was not hot. I ordered the Chicken Gillardi, which was nothing to boast about. It seemed like a piece of chicken sauteed with a bunch of vegetables, maybe some tomato sauce, and olive oil. Thanks for the peas, red peppers, and dry chicken breast. It wasn't worth finishing half, and I made hubby eat it for lunch the next day... eek. It was absolutely flavorless. The person with ordered the Chicken Cacciatore. I don't know how it was because I didn't ask, and they're not much of a complainer anyway. The worst part of my experience would have to be the lack of common sense exhibited my by waitress. The party next to us was completely obliterated. We're talking two 40-50 year old couples getting crunk on expensive wine. Cool, their prerogative. Not cool when it involves yelling across the table. Not cool when the waitress keeps coming back and said quote "you guys want more?!?!" with NO acknowledgement of their behavior as a nuisance to the rest of us in this room. Not cool when they actually began talking about my friend and I out loud in this room, criticizing us for being on our phones (we play words with friends against each other...) It's not for anyone to begin nitpicking and criticizing. And in such a loud nature? What a joke. The waitress didn't even care. She just kept feeding them more alcohol. Maybe there is no ethical component to the hospitality industry, but I frankly cannot understand how you can continuously pump alcohol into patrons knowing they will leave and drive like that. I mean, hello? They have already broken the seal and each one gets up to pee every 5 minutes. It's pretty clear they're all schwasted, and waitress was totally cool with that (more tip for her... someone potentially dead on the road from a DUI crash later... no worries).
(1)
Andy S.

Quality food. Unique setting as there are seats on indoor porches and then more typical very nice seating upstairs. There is also a nice bar to grab drinks while you are waiting. Valet service. A little on the pricier side (typical entrÃ©e is anywhere from $15-$25 though as little as $10/$11 and higher like $30-$40 I believe). Classy place, though. No doubt.
(4)
Barry B.

food was very good - portions were very good - the salad was good - the apps were very good . The pork chop special had great garlic and pepper mix with it - excellent. Price was good for everything we had .The service was good and our server did everything possible to meet our needs even though she was slammed with 2 larger tables . Impressed . Have had lunch here before but never dinner - good stuff. 1-3-14 update Have been back twice since last review it's always good but some of the items on the menu were inconsistent, did not care for their calamari seemed factory not fresh. Still very good meal overall and great service.
(4)
Luna M.

My first date (2-11-2003) was with "my now" husband at Gilardi's (former name of this institution). The porch area is romantic & I love the exterior design with the wrap around porch. However, some of the main banquet rooms are a little gaudy for me. I think there are better Italian restaurants near by. But this place still holds a special place in my heart.
(3)
Harry L.

This place has great atmosphere and real potential to be something great. But really under performs. Avoid coming here on any live music night.. because the music is really, really terrible. And the food really isn't that good. I've been here several times, and each time walked away disappointed in the quality of my meal. I truly hope this place finds a way to turn itself around, because with good food and less tacky entertainment, this place could be a real gem.
(2)
Elaine M.

The restaurant itself is cute. Made to feel like you are in an actual home. The wrap around porch is enclosed so you can sit on it even in the winter! We didn't explore the whole restaurant but it looks like it has many rooms that can be used for private parties. My and I came here on a January night for the dinner portion of a dinner and movie date. We were seated on the porch with the air conditioning and overhead fans blowing on us. Very odd for a cold January night. The busboy was great and provided us with a menu to cover the vent so we wouldn't be cold. It did the trick! Our waiter on the other hand, while friendly, was not so good. He stumbled through the specials, had no knowledge about the wine list and had some problem with the kitchen that I don't really understand. The next table over was another waiter's territory and he was great! Making small talk with his clientele, knowledge of the menu and capable service. We kept commenting all through the evening about the disparity between the two servers. Evidently we got the short end of the stick. The food was generally okay. We started with an order of bruschetta and an order of mussels (a special for the evening). I didn't actually care for either. The bruschetta was pilled high with tomatoes and onions but had too high of an acid content and not enough oil and salt. the toast on which the topping sat was completely flavorless. The husband enjoyed the mussels. He particularly liked the tomato sauce it came in. On the other hand I didn't like them much. The mussels themselves tasted mealy and the tomato sauce was only okay. Our mains, the hubby had the ravioli. I didn't taste it so I have no opinion. I can say that he didn't rave about it. I had the Chicken Gilardi - chicken on the bone sautÃ©ed in olive oil, white wine, garlic, and Italian seasonings served with roasted peppers, mushrooms, peas and vesuvio potatoes. This was by far the very best part of the meal! It was delicious, flavorful and well balanced. It can be ordered on or off the bone. Just be aware that it takes longer if you order it on the bone. I like it that way because it stays moister.
(3)
Mindy B.

The enclosed porch is nice but we were there on a chilly evening and it was very cold. The food was under seasoned and really not that good. We waited an extremely long time to have a drink order taken and our waitress seemed frazzled most of the time. With each order... appetizers, main meal and even the check, we waited for an unacceptable amount of time and our waitress was MIA. Finally had to ask a busboy to grab our check. Thumbs down! Won't be returning and would not recommend.
(2)
Robert H.

Saturday evening reservation honored on time. Seated on porch... Extremely noisy. Food was okay, did not stand out. What pulled this establishment down is the careless, indifferent, give me your order and move on wait staff. Also stop asking to box up food until all diners are fine rating.
(2)
Amanda D.

Great food!! Such a cute and romantic restaurant! My family and I love coming here. The owner Philly cares about his customers and it really shows the moment you walk into his restaurant! Upstairs that have a really nice large private room with booths and tables and it's own bar! Can't wait for my fiance and I to have our bridal shower there!
(5)
Peter D.

Coming into the building I specifically called out to my wife that I loved the atmosphere. Think of visiting a rich eccentric grandmother's house. I really dug the look and feel of the place. My server was presentable, well mannered and excited about his job. Unfortunately the food was a complete miss. We ordered the Portobello Rockefeller as an appetizer and the mushroom was completely burned tasting like charcoal. I had the potato soup which just tasted like warm cream with potato in it. For our entrees, I had the chicken cacciatore, which had a great sauce, but I'm not used to having dark meat in my chicken cacciatore... but that isn't something I'm holding them down for. Now the potatoes that were served with my cacciatore... those were horrible. How they let slightly cooked, unseasoned, cold potatoes out of the kitchen is beyond me. It got worse... My wife had the Shrimp Amalfi. It tasted literally like creamy Franks RedHot on fried shrimp over plain, dry pasta. I was dumbfounded at what the kitchen was letting out. We politely let the waiter know that our food was bad at each turn, not signaling any recompense necessary and just letting him know so as they could do something about it in the future. A second server/manager came by to ask us about it all and was kind enough to offer to let us keep our groupon and take a lot of the food off of the bill. It was very kind, but after so many pieces of the meal being so bad separately, we were not interested in trying Philly G's again. TLDR; We did not enjoy the food at all, but that service and atmosphere were good so it saved it from a 1 star.
(2)
Brent L.

The good food doesn't replace a scamming waitress. Went there to eat when it was half priced appetizers (after 9 o'clock) and the food was great. We had a big party and had a fairly large bill. When we looked at the bill, every appetizer was fully priced. No problem, she probably just forgot to put the half price deal in, or maybe we didn't read the special correctly. Nope, she flat out told us that she "doesn't feel the need to put the special in unless she's asked to." This is exactly what she told us word for word. We didn't have a response to that, we just sat there aghast. We eventually got the bill changed because we noticed it and said something, but to think, the waitresses here have been doing this for months.. Years.. And pocketing the extra money from it...This is my first yelp review, that's how stunned I was. Please check your receipts at the end of your meal
(1)
Jeff L.

I was really wanting to give a 5 star review but alas I can't. We ordered veal scaloppini and shrimp fettuccini Alfredo. The veal was very good but the shrimp were not properly cleaned and deveined. This is culinary school 101, and should have never happened in an established restaurant. We sent it back and re-ordered w/o the shrimp they comp'd that item as they should have. The server was fairly new and attentive but needed some seasoning. My wife is not to eager to return as she loves shrimp but not ones that are not properly cleaned. We need a little time to pass for another visit. The desserts were excellent.
(3)
John P.

Had a lobster cream cannoli for appetizer. It was perfect. Portions were quite large and the meal was fantastic. The server was very polite and knowledgeable and experience was quite enjoyable. Best Italian restaurant in the neighborhood.
(5)
Aimee M.

I had ordered from Philly G's catering when a friend and I were at the Beer Market and I really enjoyed the food. So my hopes were high when we came back to dine in house. The restaurant is in a restored house so things are a little haphazard when you first walk in. The hostess stand is past some tables and through coat check. Not kidding, you have to walk through coat check's closet room to get to the hostess stand. There's enclosed patio/porch seating and more seating up stairs. I didn't get to see any more of the first floor other than walking through, but it was decorated for the Holiday season and it was quite lovely. We had theater tickets so we were worried about being on time as it was a busy Saturday night. But we asked our waitress if she thought we'd have enough time for an appetizer as well as dinner and she said not to worry, she would take care of us. We started with the goat cheese appetizer. Served with toasted bread drizzled with olive oil. This is a pretty no-nonsense appetizer but the toasted bread made it even better. Rich with olive oil, I would have loved a basket of this along with the nice warm loaf they provided us upon seating. Next was the salad--regular green salad with the house vinaigrette. Again, just a no-nonsense salad--iceberg, cucumbers, tomatoes. But the vinaigrette was top notch, hint of sweetness to cut through the vinegar. Very fresh, very tasty. Main Course. I opted for Chicken Saltimbocca. Chicken breast baked with prosciutto, sage, and provolone; served with a demiglaze wine sauce. This was so very good. The portion was huge--I had a nice lunch of it the next day too! The chicken was tender and the whole dish was wonderfully prepared. It's also served with a side of pasta which I found was just OK--almost an afterthought. The chicken dish was the star of my dinner. My friend go the Chicken Parmigiana and it looked very good. Another huge portion. Her's enough for lunch AND dinner the next day. Service was super friendly from the beginning--making reservations, hostess and waitstaff. And just as she promised, everything came out to our table timely giving us plenty of time to get to our show.
(4)
Susan L.

If it were not for the food, this is the worst customer service I have received. The waiter took our order and did not ask if we want any soup (it came with dinner). The waiter took time to describe the soup they have to the table next to us. When I had asked for soup, he said oh yeah and I had to ask what is soup of the day. I cannot believe he did not even offer any explanation. I would likely not go back there anytime soon.
(1)
Rachel K.

Pretty good food here. We order take out here more then dining. Like their Gilardi Chicken on the bone entre.
(4)
Darren P.

Can't say enough great things about this joint. Have lived I'm a compile that shares the parking lot with them. Simply classy and fun!
(5)
Sportschick S.

Positives: My husband and I go to Philly g's several times a year, for dinner and entertainment in the lounge. We have never experienced a bad dinner and the service is normally better than average. However, at our last visit, we brought in a Groupon that got us $60 worth of food for under $40. A good deal. However, I don't understand why restaurants need to go for the "cheap", in lieu of making us happy and giving us a $4 credit to be used the next time we came in, ( we only spent $56 ) they allowed us to leave as unhappy customers. I don't care what kind of deal you have w/ Groupon, Mr. Philly G.........if it's not in the best interest of your customers, don't get it.........in my opinion it would be better if you didn't strike any deal w/ Groupon rather than having unhappy customers who leave bad reviews, both here and w/ Groupon. Was it worth the $4? Just think: If let's say 5 tables don't come to your restaurant because they read my review w/ Groupon and another 5 tables don't come because of the review I left on yelp........how was it to your advantage to save the $4?? My husband and I would have returned inside a month in order to take advantage of that $4 credit, but now who knows if and when we'll return?? A poor business decision by Philly G.........who we were told was called the night we were there..........
(3)
jim s.

i really wanted to like this place as it is so cute from the outside and when walking in.....but something is wrong....someone is missing...like the owner seated hurriedly by an uncaring hostess on a slow Sunday night in a quiet room all by ourselves...very quiet...we saw a speaker on the ceiling and asked if there was supposed to music for ambience...the server went and asked and came back and said it broke a long time ago... ....the shrimp cocktail was ok,,,but nothing special the salmon crusted with parmesan was without much flavor.....couldn't taste the parmesan really the chicken saltimboca was flavorless and had a brown gravy on it that reminded us of heinz gravy from a jar the wines were ok the bread in the basket had little flavor and even the olive oil seemed cheap and without character the carrot cake for dessert was meh the service was nothing special it was a very uncomfortable and unpleasant evening for about $100 but the place is cute seems to be resting on it's laurels let's face it, they are so clueless they haven't even claimed their yelp listing....out of touch, second generation ownership entitlement dad should come back and kick some ass
(1)
Michael G.

I have been going to Philly G's for many years ( previously Gilardi's) And I have had several business luncheon's there and dinners with friends, family and customers. But on may 9th, Friday night. I was there with friends and had dinner there and it was dreadful! I ordered a $36 Veal chop that was 70% fat, and another at the table said, they're roasted potatoes were still hard and under cooked. We mentioned it to the waitress and her answer was " oh that's too bad , I will inform the chef ". Upon leaving we also mentioned it to the woman who seated us upstairs, and she ignored our complaint. Then as we headed downstairs, we told the guy at the front desk. And he said, " next time you have a problem, just let me know ". That was not the response we expected or deserved. I wrote the managers/owners at their website e mail address, and explained to them what has transpired. Three weeks have gone by and still no word back from anyone. Sincerely, Mike G.
(1)
Rick F.

Celebrated my Godson's 1st birthday party, Baby Marco is amazing. The restaurant is in an old mansion victorian style house, very different! Italians really know how to throw a party 100 people for a 1st birthday, hilarious. Sort of like a mini wedding. LOL! The appetizers were homemade meatballs, buffalo mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and pizza bread, all very different type of apps but it worked and tasted great! I think hoovered down like 20 of the meatballs they were that good! The main course: Lemon Chicken, mixed veggies and two types of pasta, bow tie with a white cream sauce and red meat sauce all excellent and tasted just like momma's (but never tell momma this, you'll get slapped across the face) It was great to see all my immediate family and extended family! Love you all!
(3)
Amy A.

I've lived in VH my entire life and never made the quick trip to Philly Gs. My brother had been here when it was under different owners but same family. We tried it this past Tuesday night. Thanks to fellow Yelpers I knew to look for the coat room so i could go through it to find the hostess stand. We were seated by door, at first I wish they hadn't being a cold night and I'm not well insulated. Thou, I soon noticed that I never felt a chill during the whole meal. And i loved sitting on a porch in November to enjoy the fall leaves. (Don't worry, the porch is closed up by big beautiful glass) We had a new waitress which I sadly do not remember her name. She was beyond nice and always a step ahead of us. She let us split the calamari appetizer to be fried and half not fried. My brother and I wanted to try something different, but not give up our usual favorite. The portions here are normal times 2! Both halves were great and we couldn't pick which one we preferred. (The fried calamari was more of the battered type.) We both agreed that the cocktail sauce could have had more of a spicy punch. He got the linguini with white wine sauce and i got the special Saffron shrimp risotto. The new waitress spaced out our food so we could enjoy conversation and not over crowd that table. Major points there! We had Prosecco with the appetizer that was reasonably priced and a Malbec with dinner. My brother loved how his did not have too much heavy cream; it was the perfect consistency and taste. Philly Gs did not skimp on the Saffron. My huge bowl of risotto was beautifully golden and the aroma was heavenly. My brother was impressed by the gigantic shrimp too. Overall it was $100. We both agreed the 4 glasses of liquor, one appetizer and two entrees was worth the bill. I would highly recommend this place. Great for special nights out. But with a $60 Groupon bought for $30, it was great for a Tuesday night sibling catch-up. (We wore corporate work clothes like most, but saw a table with jeans and glitzy tops). My brother said this place is way better with the new owners. Again our waitress was wonderful. Very detailed and caring. I will be coming here next month with my co-workers with a 2nd Groupon BTW, my boss said the cocktails here are amazing.
(5)
J D.

I don't think I've ever given a restaurant so few stars and I am not a serial reviewer since I believe any place can have a bad night. Well, this was an abominable experience. Yes, okay, I do expect a better level of Italian fare when you put a lot of cloth on my table and lovely ambient light, but I'm not aghast if I get the same old Midwest version of an Italian dish, even if it isn't exactly cheap. Oh my. Well, I need to say that we did have a Groupon, (which can occasionally cool a waiter's ardor) however that was not presented to the waitperson until after we had to request a child's menu. The waitperson was pleasant, taking drink orders, etc. but even though we queried the waitress (waitperson is too long to type) as to what might be best for him from the menu, she NEVER offered a kid menu. He has a pretty great palate, but hey, he's 7. One of our party of six had the brain matter to ask about a children's menu, so after a collective head slap, we asked the waitgal if they had one. She said yes. And then asked if we wanted to see one. Hm. We get our drinks and order apps. A few moments later she asks if we'd like to order and we do. By the by, there is an almost empty dining room and a few people in the bar. Apps arrive after about 10 minutes, we take about 15 to 20 to nosh. The apps were cool in the middle and rather midwestern heavy, but c'est la vie. In the meantime a couple of tables have arrived, totaling about 4 to 6 more people. We wait. And wait. The 7 year old has decimated the bread basket. One of us looks at the other and asks if it hasn't been a long wait for the entrees. I say, heck yeah, it has, come to think of it. I believe we'd waited a half hour at that point. From when the apps arrived. Now the dining areas are beginning to fill up, but not jam packed by any stretch of the imagination. I manage to stop the waitgal and ask if at least the 7 year old's order might be ready. She looks frostily at me and says yes, it is. Oh. I actually said that. "Oh". She then asks if I'd like her to get it. I cannot make that up. I look at her, stunned, and say yes please. She did not go get it, went about her business in the dining hall and at the ticket stop, but brought out the whole table 5 or so minutes later, under silver warming tops. Huh? Well, the food was just that. Warm. But here is where it got wacky and not too pleasant. She or the kitchen forgot half of my entree. She apologized and dashed off. Oh, in the interim, our host (who is a gem of a diner, never complains) looked up and said "Excuse me but I think this is chicken, not veal." Yup. Chicken. Okay, stuff can happen. She dashes off with the chicken dish and we wait. Luckily we both had food to wait for, so we weren't lonely. She returned, apologizing again and put a dryish three slices of salmon on a bread plate next to me. Several minutes later a different young woman brought the host's veal dish. Three little slices of veal swimming in a tub of sauce and button mushrooms. Okay, it would have been more expensive at Spiaggia, but we weren't on Boul Mich. The manager chose to stop by a few moments later asking how everything was. We look at each other (all thinking he obviously doesn't have a pulse on the place) and I ask if that's the usual veal portion for that dish. He says, yes it is and that they are medallions. Hmmmm....medallions are one thing and slices are another. These were tiny little slices. Three. I thank him and he leaves. That's it, just yup and skedaddle. Mind you, no one said a single bad thing about the food to the waitress. Yes, we poopooed it amongst ourselves, but nary a word to the staff. However, after the various and sundry issues, she never asked if she could offer us a dessert or espresso or anything. She asked if we wanted to ORDER that but never offered to bring something in light of the mishaps. The host (as in person paying for our meal) dished out quite a bit despite the Groupon and left a nice tip, which I always do but in this case.....I don't think it was deserved, because I realized that I don't think she EVER told the manager she screwed up. Or he was high. Because as we left he actually asked how everything was and hoped we enjoyed ourselves. It was a bit like a Twilight Zone episode. Oh, and the entrees were cool in the middle as well. A lesson learned. No more Philly G's. As I told the host, imagine how angry you'd be if you HADN'T had a Groupon. In case you wondered the bill for 5 adults and one little guy was $180.00. Sorry this has become an epic worthy of Dostoyevsky, but I promised the host I'd write a concise review, since she isn't a Yelper. Beware the faux veal.......and I owe her a good meal.... I was just informed by another person in our party that the spinach that was supposed to be on her plate was missing and her piece of fish was about the size of a half dollar. All sauce, no sizzle. Sheesh, missing SPINACH? What next?
(1)
Carol Y.

It's really sad to see a place that used to be very good, go downhill, especially a place you used to go very often and now you realize just why you stopped going there to begin with. That is Philly G's to me. It used to be called Gilardi's and looked like a 2 story house with the second level used as an area for dancing. At some point the name changed, they expanded, and the dancing went away. Now I remember coming here with my parents when I was younger. I don't remember the dancing but I remember a very popular, crowded restraunt with excellent food. As I got older, the food is still good but could be better if it wad hot when you got it and the service leaves something to be desired. My latest trip here is really what upset me the most and is that ah ha moment that makes me see the reason why I stopped going here. My dad had picked this place for his birthday lunch and had a $25 off coupon so, remembering the good food, it seemed to be a no brainer. Well the problems started even before we ordered. My dad remembered the waitress as one we had on a previous visit who forgot our appetizers. The waitress asked my dad what he would like to drink. He tells her water with lemon. She says ok and walks away. Never acknowledged me or asked me what I wanted. A WTF look crosses our faces as we are stunned at what just happened. When she finally comes back with some lemon wedges, we give her the order. Stuffed mushrooms, veal parm, and chicken gilardi. The mushrooms came out nice and hot but I don't understand why we were given ice cold salad plates to eat them on. Well I guess It's one way to cool down the food if you are too impatient to wait. The chicken and veal came out and each was only luke warm and took a while to arrive. We got the feeling it was left out for a while before it was brought to us. The lack of heat for the food distracted from the fact that the food was actually pretty good. Portions were decent and the veal was very tender, which is good since the only steak knife brought out was for my dads chicken and I had to use my butter knife. My dad was more bothered by the cool food than I was and had difficulty enjoying it. Now, with tax and tip (which my dad still wonders why I left it) the total bill was 12 bucks. We gave the waitress the birthday certificate at the beginning of the meal and asked for my dads birthdate. (the coupon is good for two weeks after the date of his birthday) She never said happy belated birthday or even acknowledged it. She seemed more upset that we had a coupon. I am really sad and disappointed that my dad wasn't able to really enjoy our lunch together, especially since it was his birthday and the more he thinks about it, the more he wishes he would have said more but he felt that since we weren't paying much, he didn't want to make a fuss and even when we were asked how things were, it seemed like it was done out of obligation, not genuine concern for happy customers. At noon this place was dead while all the other places in the area had lines out the door and after today, I can see why. Competition is moving in and instead of trying to improve to keep people coming back, the service is going down and getting worse every time we come here. Competition that offers something different for right around the same price and served up a lot quicker and hotter. Now I know why Tom and Eddies is packed, and so is Real Urban BBQ and Philly G's is not. Cold food, slow service, and a staff that just doesn't seem to care makes wanting to come back a very difficult thing to do, even if you have $25 off.
(2)
Mick B.

I have only been to Philly G's once and that was just for cocktails- so this review is based on that. First of all- for some reason Mapquest and Google maps have difficulty locating Philly G's. It is in the SW corner of the intersection where Route 45 turns West and Milwaukee Ave continues north. I think the plaza behind it is "Village Commons". Maybe because it's on the border on Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire? The business sign sort of blends into the surroundings and isn't really distinct- IIRC it's a green oval with some plain white lettering. The interior of Philly G's is sparkling clean and inviting (after my initial writing of this review I checked with other people that were at Philly G's that night and they had the same impression that things were spotless). They have a coat room thoughtfully situated between the main dining area and the bar. In passing through the restaurant, I noticed a few small dining "rooms" with space to serve 8-12 people privately. The decor in these rooms was very cozy- as if you were dining in an elegant single-family home. The bar area was nice- and also appeared to be very clean. The space has somewhat of an airy feel to it with lots of glass and high ceilings. There are a couple of TV's that were tuned to sports but they were placed high on the walls and were less intrusive than you'd find in a "sports bar". As another reviewer noted- the background noise was somewhat on the "high" side even before the entertainment started. It was a mix of indistinct noises (as if you had 3 radios all tuned to different stations) which made conversation difficult. The night I visited, we were having a birthday celebration for a friend who had survived a very serious illness. We had called days ahead to warn the management to expect 30-40 people on a weeknight, but unfortunately the management did not bring on extra waitstaff or bartenders. The lack of waitstaff translated to glacial service and I am sure that the people that were waiting tables were frustrated. I guess this is just the way that the restaurant business is run these days and I should get used to it. I'd like to visit again some time and have a meal because people who had ordered appetizers to go with their drinks seemed to be enjoying what they ordered, and it was nicely presented. Although the majority is currently voting "Good for kids = Yes", I would caution that this is a primarily adult restaurant catering to people who would like a relaxing meal and night out.
(3)
Nicole B.

We arrived on a Saturday night at our reservation time and were seated right away - that's where the good ends. We were sat upstairs. Without menus. The waitress showed up 10 min later, stating she didn't know we were there, even though we saw her several times. Gave us menus. After bringing us drinks she disappeared for 15- 20 min, took our appetizer order and didn't stop by the table again until she was dropping it off (30 min) It was fried calamari, and cold as ice. We had to send it back to be warmed up. I had to ask for a drink refill after it was empty for over half an hour. When dinner came, we found a metal wire in my sons steak, that the staff could not explain. The food was good and the manager did come right out and took care of the steak and offered dessert- which was nice. But the service from our waitress was so unbelievably horrible, no amount of great food could fix it. Dessert came out long after we had finished our coffee. It was just a slow and aggravating evening. The rest of the staff seemed attentive to their tables. We got the shaft. All in all, good food, awful service. Dinner should not have taken almost 3 hours.
(1)
The B.

This is my first yelp post! I'm really glad it's such a positive one! I consider myself very fortunate that my mother chose Philly G's when she was looking for a place to host my bridal shower! It was amazing! I'm still receiving compliments on how beautiful everything was a week later! We were a party of 30 women which must not be an easy party for servers to tackle.... I don't think anyone's drink even hit the half full mark! That is how on top of things the staff was! The food was so tasty! All the ladies ended up sharing their choice of our four entree options among everyone at the table and each one was fantastic. If you haven't been to Philly's and tried the house dressing, go now! Seriously! What is in there?! I can't get over that salad dressing became THE topic for about an hour! Mmmmmm....have the eggplant Parmesan too! I LOVED IT! As I said, this party was given for me so I didn't work on the planning. That said, my Mom did and was just overwhelmed by how great everyone there was while helping her set up the event. Big thank you for making things easy for her!!!! If anyone is reading this review while looking for a place to host a party, book with Philly's now! If your experience is even half as awesome as mine, you will not be disappointed! Thank you Phil! It was a great day!
(5)
Delania R.

LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is delicious, they willingly customize your dish, and the prices are fair. For many years this family owned business has been a favorite for us. Philly's always there, talking to his customers and putting their happiness first. Personally I do not eat at chain restaurants, and I enjoy going to places where people love what they do! Philly G's is #1 on my list for special events and family parties! What an amazing party we recently had with 90 guest, a day that most will always remember! Philly sat down and customized the menu, and personally handled every fine detail. How fun it is to go out with friends for dinner, live entertainment and dancing at Philly G's in Lincolnshire. Thank you Philly G for putting your heart into your business and your customers too!
(5)
Amanda W.

My boyfriend and I went to Philly G's this past weekend after purchasing a groupon for $34 for $60 worth of food. Had always heard good things about this place and was excited to give it a try. The food was amazing. We got the goat cheese appetizer which was delicious. I had the asiago bow tie pasta, yum. He had the special- some kind of lasagna. They definitely do Italian food well :) The service was also fantastic. The owner or manager, couldn't tell who, came over to chat and see how our experience as. The atmosphere was nice, a great place for a date! Will definitely be back.
(5)
Meinhard G.

After a long time we went back there for drinks and a fast dinner before going to a theater. What a great place! This means the place has charm, great service, glasses and plates are top notch and of course food has to pass. In the bar we had the best service ever, I ask if they have olives with blue cheese - of course how many you want? I only drink martinis with blue cheese olive - so yes I had a great drink. Wine by the glass or bottle served in top glasses - a pleasure to drink from (it taste better and more expensive). And you can get wine by the glass for $6 and up! Dinner was Scallops and Asparagus - great, the Fish fry stay away from!
(4)
Kristina W.

I have gone to Philly G's a number of times and always had phenomenal food and satisfactory service but last night's time there has completely changed my mind. It was a friday, so I understand that it was probably a lot for this older waitress to handle, but I still do not hold this as an excuse to how she acted towards me and my friends. I wish I remembered her name, but I don't. She was overweight, middle-aged, and frantic if that gives any indication. Anyway, my friends were all going to go to Beer Market but it was so crowded that two of my friends got a table at Philly G's instead. Who knew what a mistake that would be...So we all were just planning on getting wine and some appetizers, nothing too demanding. Our drinks took over 10 min, which we all understood because of the crowds in the restaurant. My friend had already ordered bruschetta (which was delicious) and when our waitress came back to check on us, she asked for her check since she had to leave early. The waitress was at a loss for words for a few seconds. She responded with "Oh.. ... I didn't know you wanted separate checks." Which we understood so we're just aimlessly nodding our heads saying that it was no problem, she could put it on one check but she goes on and on and raises her voice at us, "We don't really do that here... What about for you three, are you going to split too? (scoffs) I can maybe do one but I definitely can't split it four ways. Our system is so old and I just can't do it. If you had told me earlier I guess I could have but it will be a long time before I can split your checks." After she left our table, we were all shocked. The way she spoke to us unsettled me and had my heart racing. It was humiliating since tables around us could hear her literally scold us. It ruined our entire meal because we continued to talk about our disbelief of her words/actions for at least another half hour. She was nicer towards the end of the meal after she realized we were all spending a hefty amount on drinks/food and once she realized she wanted to salvage whatever tips she could get of us. I should say that I think the reason she spoke that way to us without remorse is because we are all only 22 years old. She probably expected a small tip no matter what she did/said to us. So I threw her a curve ball, tipping her nearly 30%, and writing a passive aggressive note on my check reading "Chill out :p (and don't scold your tables)". Agism is real and completely unfair because all three of my friends and I work in the tip industry. One friend and I work in a restaurant, one friend works at starbucks, and my other friend cuts hair, so had she calmed down, we would have tipped her well without the scathing notes.
(1)
Kat G.

Was looking forward to date night with my hubby. He had been here before - rated this the second best steak ever. The service was slow, and the steak was undercooked and not seasoned. The waitress kept going MIA, so when we wanted to get a replacement salad due to the eyelash in the salad, we couldn't. Finally saw her again when she brought the steaks. After she took mine back to re-fire it - she again went MIA. My steak was brought back without the fork or steak knife which was taken away with it. Finally I asked another server for a fork and steak knife. She got a fork from another empty table - but said she could not bring me a steak knift because they were on the other side of the restaurant and she had things she had to attend to and she wasn't our server... REALLY? The time it took her to explain all this she could have either gotten one - or found our server to get on. Very disappointed, will not be going back.
(2)
Steven M.

My meal here was a huge disappointment. My GF sweetly took me here for my B-day. Brutally cold weekday evening, hardly anyone there, so you would think we at least had a chance for the kitchen to be on their game. Not so. We started with some "grilled calamari". It came out looking (and tasting) like it had been braised in water, not very much flavor. Worse, the cocktail sauce literally tasted like ketchup. Sigh. Blander than bland start, but hopefully they will shine with more Italian fare, right? Wrong. Server suggested a "house made salad" with a light vinaigrette. What came out literally looked like it came from one of those salad grab bags from Dominick's. Plus the dressing might as well have been italian out of a bottle. Ugh. Finally, to the entrees. My pasta dish (some kind of sausage pasta with a "homemade" red sauce) was uninteresting at best. My GF's dish similarly was very blah. Both went largely uneaten and we did not bring home the leftovers. Service was okay, but nothing great. Ambiance was so-so, nothing memorable about it, other than being pretty dated. Bill was over $150 which was deplorable and the primary reason for the rating. Would not recommend eating here. Not sure how they stay in business.
(1)
Michele E.

went thru Groupon for discount. was at Philly G's years ago and thought we would try again. server was very nice and good service, Ordered Italian food ( eggplant parmesan and veal parmesan, Way too much sauce on side of spegetti. Eggplant and veal were not tender.Had to cut both with a knife. We go Italian a lot and order the same thing at other restuarants and never have a problem. Had a problem with Groupon paper and young lady came up to table and was telling us the problem and was talking so loud that everyone turned around, Very unprofessional how this was handled. Should of called one of us to the side to discuss. I called Phil the owner the next day to explain and all he said to me is the person who was rude was his relative and he would talk to her. He kept putting me on hold and rushed the conversation. The woman who was loud refused to take the Groupon paper and made a scene. We were very embarrassed and paid with a credit card and she said we don't have anything to do with Groupon. Must take it up with them. Will not go back to Philly G;s, Much better Italian restuarants around area. Owner didn't care.
(1)
Rebecca K.

The service was very nice and accommodating but the food was very mediocre.
(2)
Matt S.

I've been going to Philly G's since it was called Gilardi's in 2000. Let me say that the I love the food there. I've tried afew things on the menu, but the Pork Chop Gilardi is a must try. Their specials are always great also. The building itself is actually an old, huge house and is a really neat space, especially the enclosed porch. And the wait staff is always very friendly. Great date place or for special events.
(5)
Jacko J.

Had relatives in from out of town on a Friday night. Made reservations for 16. Been coming here for 20 years, every so often. It used to be above avg but the last few years have been hit or miss. Waitress was very friendly. Food absolutely sucked. Nobody ate much of their food. Many of us ordered the seafood diavola. Should have been called seafood diarrhea, as I'm sure I'll be up all night on the toilet. The dish consisted of mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, and lobster over a bed of pasta. You could smell the dishes coming from 15 feet away and in the worst way possible. It smelled like a bait shop. Several of our guest looked at each other in disbelief. Sure enough 1/2 of my mussels were not fully opened, a sign that they were old prior to cooking. Ate a shrimp and it was overlooked, calamari was like leather, clams were dry and very fishy, only one chunk of lobster was discovered and was overcooked. Finally tried the mussels and it was a big mistake. Tasted like beer bonging a septic tank!!! Nobody should serve seafood in this condition. I and the rest of the people that ordered this ate only a few bites. In order to avoid a scene in front of my grandma that put this together we didn't say anything. The full plates with nobody wanting doggie bags spoke for themselves. Also note this dish was $35 each. I could have had fresher seafood at Long John Silvers. Never again Philly G. The G must stand for gastroenteritis.
(1)
Veteran T.

Great food but the worst dining experience ever! Hot and muggy. Prices are way steep enough that they can afford some AC!!!!
(2)
Stephanie J.

This was a great place to meet up with old friends before an event we went to. We met in the small bar area for appetizers and drinks. It was friendly enough for our youngest guest of 12 up to our most elderly guest at 75. The service was great, we has more than one server attend to our group. The food was nice and just what we needed. I was not a fan of the bruschetta, but everything else has a great flavor. My only complaint was that the music was a little loud which made it hard to visit with one another.
(4)
Marilyn R.

I went to Philly G's a few days ago for a birthday celebration with friends. The waiter we had was one of the rudest I've ever encountered. We had been at the table for almost 30 minutes without him showing his face. When we finally asked him to take our order, he muttered, "I'll get there". He had no suggestions for us, no smiles, nothing. He rarely came back to the table, brought out a birthday dessert with a solemn face and was overall nasty. The food was wonderful but the waiter really ruined the entire evening.
(2)
Richard B.

Years ago I frequented Gilardi's. This is the new name for Gilardi's after an 'in family' ownership change. Lunch was very good. The Asiago Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta was really good and remarkable for the $9 price. Warm bread arrives quickly and olive oil and cheese is right there on the table. Fresh cheese is grated on your entree if you wish. The only miss was that the soup was not as hot as we like. We were there early at lunch time which might explain that. Service was good and fast.
(4)
Neil N.

My friend's rehearsal dinner was at Philly G's. I'm reviewing more of the the general food and service as it was a private event. What I liked: -great appetizers, loved the bruschetta -most of the items were pasta dishes. Loved teh rotini and gnocchi with broccoli!!! -great house red and white wine; if I recall it was unlimited. The cannoli and tiramisu for dessert was fantastic -Service was amazing! Staff was very friendly and made the wedding parties feel at home. -Enjoyed the decor. Restaurant was converted from a mansion and you could tell by the walls. Upstairs room was nice, but also there was enuff space between tables. Why no fifth star: -to be honest, it would get 5 stars, but didn't have a chance to order from their menu as it was a set list for the event. If you're in Vernon Hills or Wheeling, I'd definitely come here. Next time, I'd probably like to try the steak entrees. But great staff and service!!!
(4)
Lex M.

Beautiful venue, great food, service was slow, we had to ask for bread twice before it came. Other than slow service, we had a great time and will probably go back b/c we really enjoyed the ambiance and the food.
(3)
Michelle F.

This place was really cool, nice atmosphere. The service was great, food was really good/fresh. No complaints here! I had the strawberry feta salad. They serve bread w/ olive oil/grated parmesan which goes great. My Dad had the calamari which also did not disappoint. Will def. be going back.
(4)
Suzanne C.

This place used to be great. Now the food is so-so. Service is definitely lacking. Noise volume is so loud you can't hold any kind of conversation. A big disappointment. Plus with a coupon, they add an automatic 20% tip. This really motives the server...
(3)
Sylvia L.

Philly's G's is in our neighborhood and we've passed it hundreds of times. I'm not sure if there was a change in ownership or some parts of the restaurant were redone. My husband and I have been there 4x in the last couple of months (thanks to some great friends) and have had drinks and dinner in the bar section. Everyone from the host/hostess to the waitress, bar tender and man clearing the tables is genuinely friendly and nice. The only reason we haven't reserved a table in the actual restaurant yet is because the bar area is so comfortable and beautiful. 3/4 of the bar consists of huge windows and last night; as we celebrated my birthday; I felt like I was in one of those snow globes. The food is amazing. We've eaten everything from the unbelievable bruschetta appetizers and calamari to several items on the entree list. I also love the fact that it's a family owned restaurant and Aunt Debbie takes reservations while Phil (the owner) accommodates the guests. They welcome you at the door as if you're long time friends and say goodbye in the same manner. If great food, fun and atmosphere is what you're looking for, Friday and Saturday night's at Philly G's is the place to go. And I'm only saying that because we haven't been there during the week. You'll love it!
(4)
Mike S.

Yesterday, I went to Philly G's for lunch with my family. A starved college student coming home for some real food, anything would taste good to me. After eating lunch, however, I found that this place wasn't just a quick fix for the lunch munchies. Philly G's is doing things right! From each tasty course to the next, I was honestly quite impressed. The pizza bread was good, and while I didn't try the calamari (not a fan of the texture), my family was raving about it. For my main course, I got the Parmesan Veal. It was delicious! The meat was nice and tender, and the meat sauce on top was very original. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it yet! In short, Philly G's is a great italian restaurant on the Vernon Hills/Lincolnshire border. The taste is really original, and the service was well above average. I should mention, however, that while I was there to order from the lunch menu, I heard that the dinner menu is a bit pricier (as is generally the case). It is well worth it though, so just remember to pack a little more cash before heading out.
(4)
Kim W.

After a second dinner here I still remain disappointed. The dining rooms are tasteful, the service is good, but the food is mediocre at best. Any pasta dish with prosciutto has a strange flavor. Don't know if it's poor quality prosciutto or it was cooked to death, but it gives a weird funkiness to the Chicken Saltimbocca and the Asiago Bow Tie pasta. Their base meat sauce is not very flavorful either, which is a big no-no for any Italian restaurant. To be fair, none of us had any of their steakhouse entrees. Maybe those are better. And, kind of a big pet peeve for such a big restaurant....ONE stall in the ladies' room. Constant line, as you'd imagine. All-in-all, wouldn't rush back and would try some of the other places nearby first.
(2)
Anna P.

We picked this restaurant for a small family dinner. 7 adults and 3 kids. First of all NOT kids friendly place. They were so unhappy to see that our kds got up to use the bathroom few times. The owner came up to tell us that he would appreciate if the kids stay at the table. The food was aweful, from fish to chicken to vial. No one was happy with their order. Even ceasar salad was BAD and we got three orders of Tiramisu and didn't finish one, it was nothing but white sponge cake. Someone said made a good point. Olive Garden is 100times better. Oh and did i say over priced.
(1)
Carrie J.

Though I only visited Philly G's a couple of time in 4 years, I love this place! This restaurant feels so cozy and the food is fabulous. My entire family is a fan of the Seafood Diavola. Wonderful dish that really piles on the seafood and the flavors of the unfortunate sea critters is heavenly in every bite. Don't dine alone. Grab a friend so you can sample what they order and vise versa!
(4)
suzy e.

I went for lunch on a Sunday. Our group of 3 all ordered veal parmesan. It was fantastic!! Fresh, warm bread was brought to the table. Their house shiraz was very good too. After the meal we shared an order of tiramisu. It was presented beautifully and tasted incredible! Great Lunch!
(5)
Philip P.

After passing this place so many times on our driving routes, my wife and I finally took the plunge for the dinner. Our waiter was a bit awkward and was never there when you needed him, but always came by when you didn't. My minestrone soup had no flavor (even after adding a generous portion of salt and pepper). When brought to the table, the soup had spilled out over the entire rim of the bowl (due to the waiter's cart and a poorly constructed ramp connecting to the room). Service gets the lowest marks possible. My steak siciliano was average, a decent cut of a meat although a bit too dry. Very lacking in flavor - the peppers felt added as an afterthought. My wife enjoyed her chicken cacciatore, though. And dessert was good (cannoli cake). Will probably never go back due to such poor service. The waiter took about 15 minutes (no exaggeration) to run my card. Also was a bit disappointed in the seafood offerings, almost every dish is shrimp yet the place sells itself as "steak and seafood".
(1)
Matt D.

I visited to Philly G's for lunch today with a group of 8 from our office. What a great find! The service was prompt and friendly and the food was delicious (believe me, I'm picky). I ordered the blackened tilapia. It was cooked just right and the green beans were perfect. Lunch prices are quite reasonable. I definitely recommend it.
(5)
James C.

Much better options in the restaurant-rich North Shore... 2 stars because when the food arrived, it was pretty tasty. Other than that, my group truly had a one-star dining experience. Our waitress was frequently short and rude. We had a simple request to break our check into three bills; and not only was our waitress unwilling to assist, she demanded we either put the bill on one card or figure it out ourselves exactly what each bill should be. The food was good when it came, but two of the 8 of us received food 20 minutes after the rest. We were forced to make a decision to politely wait until everyone had their food to start, or completely finish our food before they even had their entrees. The latter was chosen, and bus-staff was removing plates from our table before all food had arrived. The salad didn't taste fresh. I won't be returning. A completely disappointing experience.
(2)
Brian S.

Great experience from start to finish. There were 18 of us at my parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration at Philly G's. It was my 1st time organizing a dinner like this and I was having a difficult time with other area restaurants reserving a private room. Thankfully a friend of mine recommended Philly G's. The owner, Phil, made it a very easy and smooth experience. He was happy to accomodate us with whatever we needed. We had a very nice room. We had the hardest working man in the restaurant business named Ray providing the service for us. He was amazing!! For appetizers, we had pizza bread, garlic bread, calamari, and bruschetta. All was great. I especially loved the bruschetta and calamari. I really enjoyed the salad with house dressing. Between the 18 of us, we ordered many different things on the menu. Everyone raved. I had the chicken florentine, which I enjoyed very much. My parents had the eggplant parm, which they loved. I can't say enough about my entire experience with Philly G's. They did an outstanding job. Everyone we dealt with exceeded my very high expectations. They made my parents 50th wedding anniversary very memorable for us. We'll be visiting again!!
(5)
Isabelle L.

The set up is a big house transformed into a restaurant. The place is spacious so there is plenty of room between tables so this is nice. However the location of your table will partially determine how enjoyable or not your experience will be. The place is typically a mad house with a lot of staff running around so if your table is in one of the side rooms you are fine , however if located on a path let's say to the bar, the kitchen, or the restrooms, well, you are less lucky and you better be ready for the frequent and unpleasant foot traffic by your table. The staff: professional and really friendly. As you enter the place, it feels like you are being welcomed into a big Italian family. The food: first, stay away if you are on a diet. But if you are ready to enjoy some traditional Italian dishes in rather big americanized portions, then by all means dig in but with a word of caution: stick with the traditional Italian dishes and don't venture away too much. Indeed the dishes we enjoyed the most were the traditional ones that were well prepared: pasta fritta as appetizer, veal scalopine as an entree, canoli for dessert. My mistake was to order a non-traditional dish: blackened shrimps with whole wheat pasta and pesto, well, not that great. The shrimps were overcooked and really salty, the pesto was quite greasy and the pasta unusually al dente. Overall, a solid Italian place with friendly service and good solid Italian food as long as you stick to traditional Italian dishes.
(3)
Steve S.

Great location, food was fair at best, but the place just needs a good scrubbing...dust hanging from the ceiling, cobwebs in the corners, dusty window ledges....water stains on the ceiling..chair rail, moldings need some white paint touch-up they were all dinged and marred....the tile floor by the 'hostess station' looked like it has never been scrubbed or cleaned with a clean mop or soap...just made me wonder what the kitchen was really like....too many other good choices in the area. Server was very nice, but...I'll pass for now on. Not even close to 4 stars...sure you other reviewers went to the same place?
(2)
Tracy B.

My mom and I went for dinner on a Friday night with reservations. Our table was waiting and our waiter was wonderful, friendly, attentive, but not overly so. But oh what a tragic disappointment I found with my food. The salad was completely uninspired. We are eating in an Italian restaurant and they serve us iceberg lettuce with one slice each of cucumber and yellowish tomato. Mom had Walleye which was wonderful except for the bones she had to pick out. Her green beans were over seasoned and she didn't eat them. I had Veal Vesuvio with Vesuvio Potatoes. It was awful. The veal was over cooked grisly and tough. I had a hard time cutting it with the knife. The sauce was way over salted and the seasoning on the potatoes was so salty I couldn't eat them. We decided to share a Tirami su for dessert and I was again disappointed. I've had better tirami su from the grocery store bakery. Seriously, save your money or spend it somewhere else.
(2)
Jackie P.

Best chicken cacciatore I have ever had. I hadn't been here since it was Gilardi's, and I must say I was impressed. The decor was very classy and all tables were covered in white tablecloth. The lighting was dim and the old home feeling of the old place was gone. The service was impeccable. The food was outstanding.
(5)
s s.

Never have encountered such attitude anywhere. You'd think this was the French Laundry in Napa and not a mini chain in the suburbs. I might even go as far as to say the staff was racist. Greeted by a bratty young girl and her bratty cohort who had the attitude of of angsty high school cheerleaders. Not enough words even to describe the awful and downright rude reception. No, never again.
(1)
Ashley L.

Let me start by saying I have never written a review before but after my experience at this restaurant I felt compelled to do so. First of all, my fiance and I have been to Philly G's before and had "ok" experiences, nothing fabulous so we thought we would give them a try again tonight, what a disappointment. We sat in the bar area and were going to have a drink and dinner. When our server came I asked if there were any drinks on special, she replied "no, not tonight." Ok, fine. We began looking though the menu and spotted the drink specials for the night and proceeded to order from them without mentioning them to her. We ordered an appetizer, which was good (flaming cheese) and 2 entrees. My fiance's entree came with a salad and the salad took almost a half hour to come out after the appetizer. After getting the salad we waited about 20 minutes longer for our simple entrees of mostaccioli and a steak sandwhich to come out, only to notice they had brought spaghetti intead of mostaccioli. The waitress (who was completely unattentive) apologized and promised the corrected entree would be up in "1 minute." Sure enough, 1 minute later the mostaccioli was up. Why did our entrees take almost an hour to make in the first place then? After all of this we waited what seemed like forever to get our food boxed up and to get our check. Of course the check was wrong and had to be corrected. What's worse is we had a coupon from Restaurant.com and we ordered 1 beer, when she brought our check back after redeeming the coupon she told us she had to charge us more for the beer becuase we were using a coupon. WHAT?! I tried to get an explaination from her for this but all I got was her fumbling over her words and no clear explaination. Apparently a domestic bottled beer here is $6.50 which is outrageous in my opinion. Our "quick" bite to eat turned into an over 2 hour nightmare. Overall, this experience left a bad taste in our mouths. The service was awful to say the least, the food was mediocre and the prices are not worth what you get. We will NEVER be back and will not recommed this place to anyone, in fact I urge you to stay away!
(1)
Gabrielle S.

Philly G's is a fantastic place to eat! Their menu is so expansive and their specials never disappoint. One of my favorites is the Shrimp Amalfi! They just put a new addition on and redid the bar area. The owner has live entertainment most days of the week and offers appetizer specials in the bar from 4-6. They also have many different rooms to accomodate parties of all sizes. The service is outstanding and the atmosphere is romantic but fun. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area.
(5)

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Address : 1252 E US Hwy 45
Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Phone (847) 634-1811
Website https://www.phillygs.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Philly G’s

1252 E US Hwy 45, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061

Philly G’s Menu

Appetizers

Salads

Ala Carte Sides

Pasta

Chicken

Healthy Meal suggestions for Philly G’s

Appetizers

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Ala Carte Sides

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Chicken

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