EJ's Place

Amazing food and experience. Most wait staff have been there for 20+ years! Excellent portions and the food is tasty!! Garbage salad is delicious! Service was super attentive and never once waited on anyone. This place is a must! Valet parking only but very fast.

We love your place. We come for special occasions but can easily make it a regular place as well. Our fillet mignon was outstanding. So was the service and atmosphere. Thank you.

My family are customers of both EJ’s and Erie downtown. Both are always very good! Had dinner tonight at EJ’s Jules was our waiter. Everything was outstanding; service from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Of all of the meals between both places tonight’s was the best! I had linguine with seafood arabiata perfect amount of seasoning and the dish was piping hot.

The best steaks in the world. Great cottage fries and creamed spinach. House made key lime pie is awesome. Steaks: the Bone-In Rib-eye will knock you out (I always get 3-4 meals from it). The Skirt Steak is unbelievable. The Porterhouse ia amazing (when they have it). My wife always gets the Chilean Sea Bass and LOVES it. HUGE portions.

Like an old type supper club. Warm,dark atmosphere. Their service is OUTSTANDING!! Very pricey menu. I should have gone for the steaks, which looked mouthwatering, but I went for linguine with clams. Fairly tasteless. The drinks were good, and our waiter and busboys were SO attentive.

Sat out in the tent and enjoyed an amazing meal served by Andrew our waiter. Andrew was professional and friendly! The tent seats approximately 50 people with adequate spacing. We had Dover Soul and NY Strip Steak. Both the best we’ve had! The food came out piping hot and cooked the way we ordered it (the steak). Bathroom was spotless. Really enjoy EJ’s. Each time we have gone, we have never been disappointed. Highly recommend.

My husband and I are kicking ourselves for not checking out EJ’s Place sooner. EJ’s Place was on our list of restaurants to visit for a while and we finally decided to check it out and it was amazing from start to finish. We each ordered cocktails (the aviation for me and the paper plane for him), and they were delicious. We then ordered the petit filet, the skirt steak, creamed spinach, the bacon, and the French fried onions. Everything came out perfectly cooked, and was absolutely delicious. Our server, Cristian, was attentive, helpful, and friendly—giving us great recommendations without being pushy. We ordered the key lime pie (made in house) and spumoni ice cream (from Homers Ice Cream) for dessert. It’s rare to have an overwhelmingly positive restaurant experience from start to finish, but tonight was just that. We will definitely make it a habit to come to EJ’s Place when we want to treat ourselves, and already have plans to bring friends and family at the next opportunity. Thanks so much for a wonderful meal—we can’t wait to come back!

Here’s What you need to know: loved our first ever visit to EJ’s on a perfect August summer evening for some al fresco dining (terrific, elegant setup outside for COVID). AMAZING food and service. HUGE portions but everything made to order (even the salad dressing). Perfect! While it was only 2 adults for dinner, we ordered 3 entrees, 1 appetizer, and 2 desserts because everything on the menu sounded so appetizing. Starters: The grilled calamari: had the most delicious sauce. Finger licking good Bread basket: had 4 terrific options with pats of butter. That baguette. Yum House salad (comes with entree): I can’t say enough about how terrific that made to order dressing was… we ate every morsel on the plate. Lettuce and cherry tomatoes were chilled/fresh Minestrone soup: packed with herbaceous flavor and seasoned perfectly. Delish! Mains: Seafood Linguine: Huge portion and insanely flavorful tomato based sauce. Just wow! Bone in veal parmesan: best version of this dish I’ve had and it was incredibly well prepared. It’s a complex dish but done so right - perfectly cooked tender veal, amazing crispy breaded batter, and a delicious marinara sauce. Comes with a side of spaghetti and marinara sauce. We got it sliced for easy sharing. Filet mignon: huge portion. Cooked just right - medium rare. We got it sliced for easy sharing Potato sides: Baked potato with sour cream and chives. Classic and Delish Housemade chips: thick cut and perfectly fried Mash potatoes: garlicky and buttery Desserts: Key lime pie: our favorite dessert. Housemade. Just the right amount of sweet and tart. Amazingly crumbly delicious graham cracker crust. Cooling whipped cream on top. Tiramisu: housemade. Cinnamon on top We did a birthday celebration for me and it was a terrific one :) our two little ones came with us too and enjoyed the filet, chips, baguette, and spaghetti. Total bill was $300 without drinks.

My one opportunity to experience EJ's Place was as a guest at a rehearsal dinner. Drinks and hors d'ouevres were served first in the tented patio space. Service was friendly, well presented, and appeared seamless. Guests were invited to a semi-private room for dinner. Tbh, this was 3-4 years ago, so I don't recall the menu; just that it was really good and reminded me of a classic supper club. If money weren't a limiting factor, I could see this being a cozy, regular spot for date nights & family celebrations.

I came here for a group event and everything I tasted was phenomenal! The service was also amazing. The little pop bottles were very cute. My favorites were the fried calamari, steak, ravioli, and fried potatoes. You know it's good when even the broccoli and spinach are delicious. This is a good choice for a nicer meal option to celebrate a special occasion.

My favorite restaurant. The BEST steaks I have ever eaten. Great salad, great creamed spinach, great cottage fries, great key lime pie. Try the skirt steak or the sea bass. My favorite steak: the Bone-In Rib-eye. UNBELEIVABLE! Great service.

One of my favorite steak houses. I go here every year for my birthday dinner. Sausage and peppers is so good. I really enjoy the NY strip.

Back again to have steak and pie for my husband's birthday. The Italian sausage and peppers are a MUST try. We got it as an appetizer but there was so much we took it home and it was amazing the next day too! I got the Chilean sea bass with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave us a complimentary banana cream pie for my husband's birthday.

If you're looking for a solid meal, lovely atmosphere and a lot of food you can't go wrong with EJ's. I dined here this past weekend for the first time in a long time and wondered why I stayed away for so long. There's a lot on this menu that appeals to me (mostly fish entrees), but i was in a grilled calamari mood so got that appetizer and paired it with a smaller version of their garbage salad. The salad was awesome and wish I went with that as my entree. I always say it's hard for me to find a grilled calamari that i don't like, but this one was pretty close. While the calamari was cooked just right the sauce they put it on with extremely salty and I'm still thirsty after eating it 3 days later! Others on my table enjoyed cesar salad, fish entrees and homemade potato chips ( so good). Everyone seemed happy with their meals and agreed it was a lot of food. My drink of choice these days is a vodka gimlet and this one was made to perfection. My husband seemed pleased with his old fashioned as well. While it had been a few years since i stepped foot in EJs, I plan to come back again soon although will go with something different than the calamari next time.

Place is a little on the expensive side but the ambience is loud, busy, bustling steak house with a nice long bar. Steaks, fish, chops are all can't misses and same with the sides. The only reason I give them a 4 is because this place is very popular and not many of these types of places in the city and I think they take a little savage of that. The service is usually rushed and doesn't have that typical steak house service. Also think they have lushes process to the edge. However, in the end, you get a hot spot, with great food, great bar and a downtown- Ish feel.

My review is still basically TRUE but I felt bad. The owners seemed to really care. Service in itself is top notch. Food of high quality. Still believe the prices are astronomical. But.....

Been coming here for 20 years and it never disapppoints. The food, atmosphere, and service all make it our favorite steak place on the North Shore, and honestly there's no reason to go downtown as long as EJ's is here. Our steaks were redolent of beefy flavor and the fried calamari was delicious. Our waiter has been working here since 1998 and treated us great. Only things that could've been better were the cottage fries, which seemed a bit hard, and the bread basket, which was just OK. Otherwise, the salads and key lime pie were excellent.

We love EJ's! This is an old school steak house. The chicken and fish also rock but get a prime steak or the Dover Sole (when available). The service is stellar and despite some thinking it's expensive we disagree. You get a salad and a side with your entree. This isn't the norm at a Chicago steak house. Enjoy, I know you will!

We had the most incredible experience at EJ's! I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and we booked it for our anniversary. I clicked the "anniversary" box on open table, not really expecting anything, but everyone went above and beyond to treat us so well. The food, service, and ambiance were impeccable. Can't wait to return!

Old school, white tablecloth, italian steakhouse. Fully priced to be sure, but a GREAT meal in a GREAT setting with GREAT service. Suburban Gene & Georgetti's. Special occasions only...but worth it. PS -- terrific bar for cocktail hour, too. Old school!

EJ's is an outstanding Chicago style steakhouse with a wonderful Italian heritage. The service has been consistently wonderful. At first look, the menu items appear to be quite expensive. However, the portions are enormous and easily shareable. My favorites are: whitefish or salmon vesuvio style and the chicken or pork chop with peppers, and pasta dishes. Dinners include choice of salads and potatoes.

I am really picky about my steaks. I am, personally, THE best steak chef using Whole Foods NY strips and my white hot cast iron pan at home, but I digress. I ordered EJs medium rare(should have been 120 degrees). My steak came out medium well(more like 135 degrees). The flavor was a little forgettable - it tasted unseasoned - they could use a little salt(Celtic sea salt is my favorite for its briny taste and chunky texture) and pepper(fresh grounded Malabar pepper form Kerala India is what I use at home). So minus 1 star for the bland overcooked steak. Starters are fantastic! We ordered both the fried and the grilled calamari. Like picking your favorite child- its impossible to name a favorite, They both were outstanding, buy I lean toward the fried. House salad with Ranch was right down the middle good. The room is energetic and warm - kinda like your rich Uncle's Wisconsin favorite supper club. The service is outstanding! Our server, Julian has the swagger of a prize fighter and the quiet confidence of Ghandi - somehow having both traits at the same time. He got our order correct without using a device or pad of paper. He just listens well and remembers things. Timing was perfect as well. Price - this is where I take off another star. The martinis were $21.50 (so $25 with tip) The NY strip was $71, so all in we rang up at $532 for 4 people with tax, tip and cocktails. That is a pricy nite for this eater, but when you consider the location and the typical north shore clientele is dripping money- grandpa can afford it.

Went with a group of 9. One in electric wheelchair and they were very accommodating. More to come...

This joint is underrated. It deserves at least 4.5 stars. The portions are humongous. Seriously humongous. Love this place.

We've had many dinners at EJ's the food is always delicious and service is always superb

Everything in that place needs improvement. It is dirty, ( no visible improvement since they opened years ago) This place is the loudest restaurant that I have been to. The noise level prevented us from having a conversation. You had to shout to be heard.! The food was average and overpriced. I found a hair in my food while eating the veal chop and when I showed it to the waiter ( Boz) his reaction was " that is not hair , it is the cheese string". I held it up and he saw it closely he told me that he "will give us a free dessert" which we did not want. He handled it poorly and had an attitude. Also, the lettuce in the salad was brown , did not taste fresh and did not feel clean. If I could give it a zero star, I would have. I will not go back!

I've been here a bunch of times and intend to keep coming back. Ignore the bad reviews. This is a very good steakhouse. It is NOT overpriced, although it's also not cheap. $70ish bucks for a huge (and delicious) filet mignon that comes with salad and potato is a deal. That's what a filet goes for a la carte in most places. The service is well-paced and attentive. Some of the staff are very personable and others are simply professional, but they all do a good job. If you are like Mancow and think that this place is trying to copy a dive bar a few miles away just because they both have old-school decor, you're going to be confused and disappointed. If you have the brain cells to determine that a steakhouse and a bar are two completely different entities and understand that a meal for two here will work out to be around 200 bucks, you will enjoy yourself.

Old school classic steakhouse seems older than it even is straight from the '30s. Waiters in white tux jackets, superb steaks, prime rib, which you can never find anywhere. All washed down by a massive ice cold martini. Last of its kind.

I've only been to EJ's only once, and what a pleasant experience it was. I ordered the filet mignon - done perfectly! Service was quite pleasant and not intrusive. As for the ambiance...old charm, everyone wears black and whites, and well lit. By the way the bar service was over the top.

Just too expensive. I'm sad because I loved the ambiance and the porters were magnificent. My salad was skimpy and wet. ( they didn't spin after the rinse) Bread basket skimpy as well. (If you are cutting corners cut your price please) My filet was tasty cooked perfect. Sautéed mushrooms were under sautéed I took them home and re sautéed them they were perfect then. (Probably should have sent them back but wanted them with my steak) My Partner Pat ordered the Key Lime pie for dessert and the slice was so small, life dessert buffet on a cruise ship small. I understand times are tough and corners need to be cut, but cut your prices then. Thank you for letting me vent.

Rustic and clubby, E J's has been packing 'em in since 1997 when owner E. J. Lenzi brought the DNA of Chicago's legendary Italian steakhouse, Gene & Georgetti's, to Skokie. The main dining room and bar, little changed from their days as Great Godfrey Daniels, are starting to look timeworn. An elegant tent set up during the pandemic continues to bustle as an al fresco dining room. I could bleat about excessive menu prices ($6.00 to add anchovies to a salad? C'mon!), but everything that emerged from the kitchen tasted freshly prepared and portion sizes were somewhere between colossal and mind-boggling. Entrées include a generous house salad with a choice of house-made dressings and a choice of potato (bread plates were provided, but there was no bread service). I had the Linguini Seafood. OMG. Loaded with fresh shellfish, tender calamari and chunks of salmon, there was seafood in every bite. My Missus had the Chopped Steak [stuffed] with Peppers and Onions. Resembling a full-size regulation football, this mass must've weighed more than a pound. We bagged up more than half of our entrées to enjoy for another meal or two. Coffee from Alchemy of Wilmette provided the perfect finish. We expected service levels to be commensurate with the lofty River North prices. Alas, not so. Our server was polite but more perfunctory than attentive, and the pacing of our meal was uneven. Our salads arrived after an interminable wait but my Missus' salad was not what she ordered. This was corrected promptly, but our entrées arrived before we had consumed half of our salads. Our neighborhood diner, where the most expensive menu item is under $20, provides far better service.

Been here a handful of times over the years and the staff has always treated us like family. I also always feel confident eating being GF, because they know exactly what goes into their food. I LOVE their seafood in particular, a must try; always fresh and flavorful.

Here's What you need to know: loved our first ever visit to EJ's on a perfect August summer evening for some al fresco dining (terrific, elegant setup outside for COVID). AMAZING food and service. HUGE portions but everything made to order (even the salad dressing). Perfect! While it was only 2 adults for dinner, we ordered 3 entrees, 1 appetizer, and 2 desserts because everything on the menu sounded so appetizing. Starters: The grilled calamari: had the most delicious sauce. Finger licking good Bread basket: had 4 terrific options with pats of butter. That baguette. Yum House salad (comes with entree): I can't say enough about how terrific that made to order dressing was... we ate every morsel on the plate. Lettuce and cherry tomatoes were chilled/fresh Minestrone soup: packed with herbaceous flavor and seasoned perfectly. Delish! Mains: Seafood Linguine: Huge portion and insanely flavorful tomato based sauce. Just wow! Bone in veal parmesan: best version of this dish I've had and it was incredibly well prepared. It's a complex dish but done so right - perfectly cooked tender veal, amazing crispy breaded batter, and a delicious marinara sauce. Comes with a side of spaghetti and marinara sauce. We got it sliced for easy sharing. Filet mignon: huge portion. Cooked just right - medium rare. We got it sliced for easy sharing Potato sides: Baked potato with sour cream and chives. Classic and Delish Housemade chips: thick cut and perfectly fried Mash potatoes: garlicky and buttery Desserts: Key lime pie: our favorite dessert. Housemade. Just the right amount of sweet and tart. Amazingly crumbly delicious graham cracker crust. Cooling whipped cream on top. Tiramisu: housemade. Cinnamon on top We did a birthday celebration for me and it was a terrific one :) our two little ones came with us too and enjoyed the filet, chips, baguette, and spaghetti. Total bill was $300 without drinks.

A delightful meal. My daughter and I enjoyed a wonderful Napa Valley Cab, the fresh salad and delicious steaks. Perfectly medium rare and juicy. Johnny, our server was very attentive, had great suggestions for sides, and was patient and kind to my daughter who has a cognitive disability. We are perhaps not the typical clientele at this bustling north shore steak house, but we were warmly greeted, well treated and enjoyed our evening very much. Thank you "Johnny '98".

Supper club atmosphere. A steak place that isn't shy about their pricing. Food is typically very good and portions are large. Salads are cold and crisp. Try the veal parmigiana, you'll have another meal tomorrow. Excellent service

I visited EJS the other day expecting to sit with David the waiter, who, by far delivered the best service I ever received, He's no longer there . The service was good, of course not like David and the food is always spectacular

The noise was so loud that we got out of there as quickly as possible and will never go back. Too bad because the food was good.

The best food ever. The chicken parm is the best. And the valet is the best, like the valet named Andy and another guy named Kamil. You should go there on a wednesday because they are not that busy. The waiters are so so nice including the bartenders and the owner. I suggest to also try the chicken noodle soup on Sundays. There is also a cute little boy that is a door holder on Saturdays,his name is Max and he has curly hair P.S. Don't forget to give the valet a tip

Such a cool space - service is impeccable- even to just go for a martini love this place!!

I have been here twice now. Most recently I had dinner with family and we got a table in their side room for about 10 of us. The service is really good, but the vibe is pretty dated. For dinner, I ordered the chicken parmesan, and I am glad that I did! This chicken parmesan was massive! And not only was it massive but it tasted amazing too! The melted cheese and sauce was so good on the crispy chicken! Very good.

I went there with my wife and my mom for her 88th birthday. This was our first time going to EJ's Place and we had a reservation for 6:45 p.m. not sure why we sat down to our table at 7:30 after the host told us just a couple minutes but we thought that was very rude that we waited 45 minutes for a 6:45 reservation. The server told us he worked there for 30 years and he was making recommendations for us and we took a couple of them and they turned out to be horrible recommendations because this guy seems to not know much about the service industry and how to treat people if he had been in the business for 30 years. Our food took forever to get to our table, and then when the food came they brought us our salad appetizer and the entree all at the same time , that sure sounds like a veteran of 30 years that knows how to time food nicely ? We had made a special request when I made the reservations that we wanted to have a booth and that it was my mom's 88th birthday and that we would like to have a dessert with a candle come after dinner. That was ignored completely and the waiter seem to be dumbfounded when we were aggravated when all the food came at the same time. Not likely it will be going to the steakhouse anytime soon when there's so many other great options in and around the area !

I hadn't been here since it was Great Godfrey Daniels; in the mid 80's when we lived in Wilmette they had a burger in an oriental sauce with pepper Jack cheese and sautéed onions served in a pita pocket. So good. E J 's is nothing like that. The least expensive menu items are chicken dishes at $33, served with a nice salad or (on the night we went) a poor cream of broccoli soup. Steaks for two do not appeal to me, but one of the couples we were with enjoyed it. Very pricey though. The place has a loyal clientele judging by the crown on Wednesday night; given my experience it's puzzling.

I've lived right by this place for years and never walked in and I was so pleasantly surprised when I did it's such a vibe very cozy and busy. The food was delicious I especially liked the Caesar salad and the bartenders pour great drinks. The staff was all very friendly. They also have valet parking. I'm definitely going to be a regular here.

I live nearby and I'm always surprised that it can remain busy in here. It is known for its steaks and I believe it is related to the business down in the loop, Gene & Georgetti's. They both make great homemade potato chips. I've attended dinner events here in the past, but not recently and I believe it's their pricing. Last night I dined with my husband and the few times I've enjoyed their house salads. They make homemade dressings and the blue cheese was really good. My husband enjoyed his ranch and said it was homemade as well. The price of his skirt steak was $62 and it was cooked to his liking but I didn't know it was grilled with a Worcestershire sauce and I hate that taste. If we had known I would have asked for it plain because just a like salt is perfect. Now go down the block to Jameson's chop house and the steak is less than $30. Both restaurants offer the soup or salad and a side of starch so how can they charge $62. We both didn't have big appetites so I ordered the spaghetti with Chilean sea bass and it was okay. I am sure the regular Chilean sea bass dinner would have been better but double the price and I couldn't eat that much so didn't make it worth the cost. Dessert was shared and the banana crème pie was delicious and baked in house fresh. You could taste the freshness of the bananas, crust, and crème. Great coffee and fantastic and attentive service. So why the 3 star rating? Only the rich can afford to continually come here and when you look in the parking lot I saw mainly high end Mercedes and convertibles. We walked. Lol!

The decor is a little old school but it's kinda nice and nostalgic...the service was excellent and the food was OUTSTANDING! We typically don't like to go out for Steak since my hubs makes a killer one at home but this steak was incredible and melted like butter in my mouth. When the staff tells you the portions are sizeable and poss share- listen!!!

A friend and I enjoyed a girl's night dinner on a chilly rainy evening. There is a huge tented outdoor dining area but we opted for inside seating. It was not busy inside and we felt very comfortable. I want to start by saying EJ's is not afraid to charge it up. Prices are elevated but reflect large portions of quality cuisine. Each entree comes with a salad and a potato option. We had so much in our doggie bag, the server gave it it's own chair! We started with two appetizers of Shrimp Cocktail and Grilled Calamari. The shrimp were nice and fresh as expected. The calamari had a rich and interesting sauce. It was very good. The Chilean Sea Bass and Whitefish were super tasty. The sides of garlic mashed potatoes, home fries and peas & onions were spot on. We tried the Tiramisu and ice cream were a great way to finish off our meal. Our cocktails and wine were very nice. Our server was great. He was friendly, helpful and remained attentive our entire meal. He took great care of us. I loved the vintage, cottage, supper club vibe. It was warm and comfortable with a kitschy edge. You must check out the pay phone! I will definitely return the next time I'm in the area.

Incredibly overpriced for what it is. Steaks are just okay. Just go downtown to Bavettes or maple and ash or something if you're gonna spend the money. Nonetheless though. I do like this restaurant and I like the atmosphere. Owner is cool, martinis are great, lots of good stuff here. But the prices are criminal for being a little supper club off the highway in Skokie.

EJs is Gibson's of the North shore! The best staff the best food the best atmosphere. No other steakhouse comes close. The martinis are phenomenal as well. My wife drinks Vesper martinis and they keep a bottle of Lillet at the bar just for her. I can't speak more highly of this place. Try. It.

Cute, Cozy Italian restaurant in Skokie near Old Orchard Shopping Mall. The restaurant is comfy and well decorated for the holiday season. There were several enticing options on the menu, my girlfriend opted for the salmon as I ordered the seafood pasta. The seafood pasta was very good. The portion was large and there were plenty of chunks of fish, calamari, shrimp, etc. My girlfriend was very happy with the salmon. Our server, Johnny, recommended a glass of Cabernet that didn't disappoint. Overall, the experience did not disappoint and I look forward to returning.

Fantastic service! Ridiculously over priced food. I live in Chicago and when I say this is over priced.. believe me.

Food expensive which is ok if top quality. Unfortunately not the case for our dinner 12/17/23. an example is my wife ordered the chop steak well done. Literally came rare which was amazing given opposite of order. cottage fries were bland and soggy. only redeeming factor was very good dessert. For the money mediocre vs. other steak houses like Morton's, Gibson's, etc. we wont be back.

Sat at bar. Had a fun evening; but both my whitefish and husband's lobster were overcooked. They must have been sitting before they brought it to us. P

Chicken parm five stars. Vodka ravioli five stars. Service five stars. Drinks five stars. And Luca is fantastic. Hidden suburban gem!

When we sat down, we waited quite a while for a server to bring us a menu. He was not very friendly. I asked if the ranch dressing was homemade and he said yes. When I got it, it definitely was bottled ranch dressing. He said maybe they ran out. When the salmon came, it was over cooked. We waited to get another salmon cooked properly. It was good. The creamed spinach was not very good. It's actually much better at Boston Market. I asked for a special desert for my cousin, who is 101 years old. They charged us for the desert, but when I told the manager he did take the tiramisu off the bill. He was very nice. The tiramisu was actually the best part of the meal. It was delicious. The food is overpriced.

The food is reliable but simple it's basically an expensive diner. Don't look for craftsmanship like sauce making they have ketchup in A1 sauce on tap. Skip the wine it's not coughable although the cocktails are monster size just like the food portions. I recommend splitting dishes especially main dishes they come with a side of potatoes and a salad to start, it's a complete meal, it might seem expensive don't be fooled it's a bargain joint for people are in the know.

Always excellent The food is great and very consistent. Service is very good as well. One of our favorites.

I come here occasionally with friends. It's very pricey and we'd rather have steak at home. The king crab legs are market price, which today was $240.00. My wife split it with her friend, but please, just a rip off. The food and service here are excellent.