Mino’s — Restaurant in New Trier Township

Finally came here for a birthday dinner with my girlfriend after wanting to visit for the last year.

In short, the food was very good, but the service staff left a bit to be desired.

We were able to secure a reservation last minute on a Saturday though RESY, where we ticked the box for special occasion (birthday). Were greeted by a friendly hostess who immediately offered us a selection of tables. She also made mention of the special occasion on the reservation, and told us she would let our waiter know. Between us we ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio and a Manhattan. Both were very nice. For entrees we ordered the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese and Margheita pizza. Both very simply delicious. The pasta had a great balance of noodles, meat, and sauce in a perfect dinner portion size. The pizza was covered in fresh ingredients atop a delicious crust. Would absolutely recommend either to anyone. We were not going to order dessert, hoping/expecting a complimentary dessert being a birthday, but it never materialized, so we left full but a bit disappointed.

The waiter was the only letdown for our visit. He asked us what we would like to drink as we were sitting down, then did not return for some time after we asked him for a moment to decide. Once he did return we ordered the drinks and food, which arrived in fairly quick succession to be sure, after which he didn't check-in until he gave us the check. Again, my main disappointment was nothing from him regarding the birthday. I went in without getting my hopes up, as things such as special occasion tick-boxes seem pretty hit-or-miss with their results. However I was pleasantly surprised that the hostess made mention of it, and then all the more let down when nothing came of it. I suspect it was just a lack of communication between the staff, but an unfortunate ending to what had been a great experience and meal.

We will definitely come back for the great food, though we likely will wait until summer when we can take advantage of their large outdoor seating setup. The indoors is a bit crowded with acoustics that make it quite loud for an intimate Italian...

This has to be arguably the best Italian restaurant outside the city. I'll even take it up a notch and proclaim that this could give Eataly, RPM and Quartino a run for their money. The food was bar none superb.

We went on a random Tuesday evening a few weeks ago when the Autumn weather was cool, crisp and sensational. We sat outside next to the heat lamps and were perfectly cozy. Then the experience started...

We started with a handful of appetizers, namely the Cavoletti di Bruxelles (which was sautéed Brussel sprouts with pancetta) and the grilled octopus, Polpo. Both were excellent and I appreciated the freshness in the seafood.

Next we hit the main meal with a few entrees. The Pollo al Mattone was first on the list. I usually avoid chicken at a restaurant because....well it's chicken. But we took a gamble and the return on investment was fantastic. Very succulent chicken, tender and juicy. never had that before at an Italian restaurant. We then got the Branzino which outside of Positano was perhaps the best I ever had. Very well done, not over cooked and zero fishy smell. But the real kicker was the Cioppino. We stayed with the seafood and were rewarded beautifully. Fish and seafood stew may not be for everyone. But it had zest, tang and flavor--far more than any other place I've had. The Tiramsu wrapped up the experience and did not disappoint.

Overall, it was fantastic and loved the fact that we didn't have to head into the city which can be a pain especially coming from the North Shore. Minos hit the wow factor on all cylinders. The hospitality was first class and really treated us well. I will be going to this place...

Definitely a solid 4 star competitor on the North Shore. Very nice accomplishment in turning an old filing station into a nice Italian ristorante.

My party of four ordered a mix of appetizers for the table to include mussels, burrata, and a Caesar Salad. We each had a a bit of everything. Consensus pointed to a clear winner: The Mussels. The spicey garlic sauce was definitely a unique and delicious take on an old favorite. The Caesar was respectable, and the burrito missed the mark totally. Not as creamy and flavorful as I am accustomed to, plus there were sparse greens and two small parmesan crisps. Very underwhelming.

Three pasta entrees including the Tagliatelle, Fettuccine, and spinach lasagna, along with two orders of meatballs for the table. The lasagna was an exceptionally small overcooked (even charred) entrepreneur which took on the flavor of the cast iron ramekin. Very little flavor overall with the exception of the metallic taste that lingered long after the meal. The other two pasta entries were good portions and were enjoyed. The meatballs were small and swimming in a sweet marinara.

We finished the meal with decaf coffee and and assortment of deserts. The Gelato had a great consistency and flavor. The apple tart was the best out of the three...