Best Restaurants that are Worth The Drive in Evanston

We used to be huge fans of Owen & Engine & can see now why this is becoming a local favorite.The place is beautifully lit and feels welcoming. Tuna tartare was very fresh as well as their specialty dish Ossobucco veal shank. Blood orange margaritas were definitely the hit of the evening. Christian & Lupe definitely made us feel part of their own family

Appetizers- Shrimp and the crab stuffed peppers were amazingly good! Also, branzino and short ribs were delicious as well. We didnt like the special drink, but besides that the food was great. Service was on point as well. The only thing we dont like about Libertad is you come away smelling like the you were in the kitchen, because in a way you are. Restaurant needs to find a way to keep the smoke from the kitchen out of the restaurant. Dinner was also very pricey. But we will definitely go back

I went with a group of friends for my birthday, and it was the best decision I could’ve made! Although we were all late due to downtown traffic, the restaurant was willing to wait for my entire party to arrive while we waited at the bar. The food portions were outstanding! Everyone said that their food was delicious! The restaurant is beautiful, and it was an energetic vibe, but not too noisy. Our waiter was excellent. He went above and beyond even taking a picture of us outside. Although it is pricey, I would definitely go again. 

Chris was a great waiter and the food was delicious. Great ambience.

Aboyer (previously Restaurant Michael) has been one of our favorite north shore spots to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. My husband and I have been following Chef Michael all around the Chicago area for decades now, and although the amazing food has been the key reason, we have always been impressed by his professionally trained staff, who are friendly, knowledgeable and pay attention to details. On this visit, we were celebrating my birthday (2 months late) since we cancelled the first reservation when Covid hit us, and the aftereffects stayed around far too long. The evening here was well worth the wait! After stopping at the bar for a quick hello to Sergio and a Champagne (for me) and a Chardonnay we settled in to the cozy banquette for dinner. We ordered our standard starter, the delectable Gougères, a mainstay that we hope never goes away. I switched to a rich Aviary Napa Cabernet for the rest of the dinner. We were delighted to have Sergio Junior as our server! He obviously enjoys his job and is a real ambassador for the restaurant. We took his recommendations for our entrees, and both were fantastic! I never order pork, and rarely make it at home, except for a roast. The Peppercorn Crusted Berkshire Pork Rib Chop with Cognac Mushroom Sauce was by far the best pork I have ever had. Happy Birthday to me. My husband’s decadently delicious Aboyer Burger was an unexpected item for him to order here, except for how much he loved it. Thank you from both of us, SJ!!! Last night was well worth waiting for. ♥️♥️