InovasiWill be going back !Food was very creative and tasty. wonderful combinations of texture and flavor. Will definitely be going back--bonus is that Wisma--the carry-out/wine bar--is right across the street so I can get Inovasi's giardiniera and frozen pizza to take home. And the little downtown Lake bluff area that Inovasi and Wisma is located is very nice.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Thursday tacos. We goGreat Thursday tacos. We go often enough to enjoy this place to its fullest. Its a drive for us, but oh so worth it.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time visit and we wereFirst time visit and we were impressed. Different menu with a variety of meal choices including size of portion. Would return.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Upper Casual RestaurantThis restaurant is a great choice if you want to experience an upper class vibe that is still grounded in casual vibes. The servers are very kind and attentive, the wine list is great, and the food is prepared extremely well. My only complaint is that their soy sauce is a bit too bitter, but that's a personal gripe and shouldn't prevent business. Highly recommended!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFun to goInovasi is a fun place to go for dinner. Very unique menu choices that make it an adventure every time you go. It is fun to order several small items to enjoy around the table. It is very popular so you really need a reservation. Some people may be frustrated by the small portions, so it isn't the best for BIG eaters. Otherwise it is great.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFresh & deliciousGreat fresh, seasonal food. Delicious unique cocktails5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent place to dine!We enjoyed the evening. We tried most items on the menu and were pleased with every one of them. Great choice of wine too.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMI asked for and was givenI asked for and was given a very quiet table. The evening could not have been better. The food was excellent and the seating arrangement perfect.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and serviceFood and service were great we can't wait to go back.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMLocated in this quiet northernLocated in this quiet northern suburb, Inovasi is a neighborhood gem. As we walked in, the scene was hopping with happy patrons enjoying food, drink and conviviality. We were seated in a quieter room, fitting for us as we were first-timers to this casual American bistro. Our dinner was a compilation of small, medium and large plates, including a spinach/3 cheeses pizza, a grilled shrimp dish with Thai influence (loved it!), a Roman pasta dish with homemade noodles, cheese and pepper sauce, and finished off with the fish of the day, an Australian barramundi, the equivalent of halibut but less dense and more flavorful, prepared on top of a risotto. Dessert was a vanilla custard. All in all, well worth the trip and will be back for more!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible inovasiPhenominal food, great wine list, outstanding service and John des Rosiers......it does not get any better!!!!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a delight to shareThis continues to be my go-to spot on the North Shore. We always have consistently interesting and high quality food, great selection of wine (not the typical same options as most restaurants), and the service is always personable.
Thank you John and Staff!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMHostessHostess, Elken, is one of the reasons outside of the food that we love Inovasi. She always makes you feel special and welcome.
Food is consistently good, however, tacos were way too hot & we like spicey food. Chef got carried away on taco night.
Wine and beer selection is wonderful. Always a pleasant experience and love introducing friends to the restaurant. A gem
for downtown Lake Bluff.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial place for special occasionsReally good selection of wines and nice ambiance.
We went for the tasting menu, and we loved it. Many comments say the portions are small, but for us they were ideal. We were really full at the end.
Props to the chef on the duck, best dish of the night, really fantastic. The desert was superb as well.
Our total bill for 2 was $197 including tax and tips.
We'll definitely be back.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMJohn changing menu often isJohn changing menu often is very welcome. Wonderful medium and large plate choices and the fact wine can be brought in is perfect as I have a large cellar selection4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBurger Nite is a special TreatMy husband and I were both in the mood for a great burger and we found it here. Fortunately, we happened on burger nite and could have many variations of the classic burger... All excellent. The service was very good and the place was very busy for a Tuesday evening with everyone seemingly enjoying their meal.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a wonderful meal!Always a wonderful meal! Chicken, bacon and blue cheese salad was delicious, as was the smoked turkey sandwich. Spent the time catching up with an old classmate, and never felt rushed. Will absolutely go back!4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent night out. We choseExcellent night out. We chose the tasting menu and were not disappointed. Lovely food. I can Especially recommend the calfs tongue
And slowly braised pork. The only downfall was that we ordered three times a wine they didnt have anymore.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAll six of us had a very enjoyableAll six of us had a very enjoyable evening. There were menu items to meet everyone's tastes. The service was outstanding. We were never rushed and stayed longer than expected which made for a lovely evening with good friends.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMInovasi...a North Shore gem!Inovasi never disappoints. Chef John des Rosiers keeps the menu fresh with a changing array of delicious innovations using the finest ingredients. His staff is well trained, exceedingly helpful, and friendly without being overbearing as in some restaurants. Everyone works as a team to make the diner's experience top notch and memorable.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best and most innovativeOne of the best and most innovative horth of the city.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting MenuFrom the menu which included appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches we ordered salads. My companions loved the chopped shrimp and avocado salad. I ordered the organic quinoa with cranberries and roasted pecans. I liked the components of the salad but did not love the dijon vinaigrette dressing which detracted from the tastes of the other ingredients. We shared the Frozen custard with salted pretzel brittle and madras curry butterscotch and the truffles. The custard was OK but I never tasted curry. The brittle was good. There were 6 truffles 2 each: chocolate, rum raspberry, smoked bacon. Didn't love the bacon with chocolate. The chocolate truffle needed a chocolate filling.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AM