Poeta's Italian Food Mart

My wife and I love this little store and stop whenever we’re in Highwood. It’s a real to goodness butcher shop. Their meat and sausage are fantastic. Plus they’ve got a large frozen food section with ready to eat meals. Poeta’s also carries a lot of hard to find Italian specialties. And it’s locally owned as well, how cool is that!

Brilliant. Deli superb, frozen meals delicious, far healthier than take out, and staff friendly and helpful. We are lucky to have it close to home.

MARK was a great help and I received unbelievable customer service. He is a great representation for front of house for your business and I recommend you utilize his skills to the fullest! Never lose him!

Excellent subs made to order, great selection of imported Italian specialty foods, extensive selection of prepared foods in the freezer too. Great service, friendly and helpful guys. Highly recommended.

Great Italian food 👍🏻. I did a review for my YouTube channel "Mailman Nick"

I ordered a brick turkey for the 1st time this year and I’ll never get a turkey anywhere else ! The best , seasoned , add butter and cook and voila ! Awesomeness ! Along with everything else there !!

Quality meats. Italian sausage is always fresh with a good taste, whether mild or hot. Sauces, meatballs, exceptional. Not many family owned ethnic Italian places left. Good to know that one of the very best is still with us .

True Italian food and grocery items, friendly and helpful owners and employees, food is fresh and frozen and dry stock items as well!

They are the best butcher in Chicagoland. Everything they sell is top quality. My Wife calls in an order and they cut it to order and wrap it up. I drive over ( now from the city) and pick it up loaded in a cardboard box.

Great food! The best deli around- great sandwiches! There Italian sub is incredible! The dressing is a delight!

If I'm making anything authentic Italian, this is where I shop. The Poeta family has been here a long time and for a reason. They carry a lot of Italian specialty items that standard grocery stores don't. If you want fresh pasta or sauces or lasagnas or meatballs they have it! Aside from the huge selection of canned tomato sauces and every pasta shape you can think of, the deli is where it's at. Fresh meats and sausages that my family has been getting for years! Lately I've been making homemade pizzas and the only dough I use is here. If you strive to support local, please stop by and see this hidden gem.

Always special and exceptional!! Literally everything tastes amazing and we love adding additions to our holiday gatherings!!

Little Italian store with a butcher serving the local community Been shopping here for decades.

Tried the shrimp scampi yesterday. Fabulous flavor even if it was a little light on the shrimp (5 for 2 people). Highly recommend!

The pasta prosciutto is absolutely amazing! I had to refrain from eating the entire container in one sitting. My kids could not get enough of the meat lasagna. The Poeta family is extremely generous and fed my family when we were going through a hard time. I appreciate their generosity. :)

If you haven't been here to pick up the marinated brick chicken, then you honestly haven't lived yet. They have an Italian and BBQ style that is out of this world. Even my kids who are picky eaters absolutely love it. So many restaurant-quality meals (or better than restaurants) are fresh and in the freezer. Honestly, this is one of the top hidden gems of the North Shore. Do not pass this up.

Excellent brick chicken!!! Italian was great on the grill and bbq! I think bbq is more for the oven. Fresh and delicious.

Best customer service around!! You will feel like family when you're here. Owned by great people.

10 stars if I could! Wow! This is legit the best Italian market on the north shore. The pasta prosciutto is incredible (find it in the freezer section) I purchased 3 today. The pasta is made in house! The customer service was so friendly felt like a family vibe. They have everything from fresh veal cutlets to chicken parmigiana made in house, to homemade sauces to (get there early in the day) homemade Italian bread. I stocked up on there frozen meals. I'm gonna try the deboned chicken tonight with some tortellini and fresh gnocchi. The homemade sauces are delicious. I recommend the vodka and cream sauce.

You will not find better Steaks, Meats and Sausage on the Northshore that will come close to Poeta's!

Really....for me this is a hidden gem; but for locals to the immediate area...this spot is their go to for meats. A very helpful and friendly staff at the butcher counter...enthusiasm and pride. First time there I bought the seasoned hamburgers....I have to say..."best tasting meat I've ever had for a hambuger...beyond fresh....but so full of natural flavors...I had to buy more the 2nd time back. Brick chicken...Wow!!! A boneless entire chicken seasons and ready for the grill....I used it in my salad....great for a dinner for 6...or just a clean diet for a body builder...amazing fresh chicken...I will buy more. I asked if they knew of a place in Highwood...they laughed...said we make them...I grabbed an Italian sub and a Caprese sub....both were delicious. Have to mention...I did splurge on a Tiramisu...truly authentic...you can taste years of experience of a family recipe. It was wonderful finding this little gem....I bought enough food for the week...they have it all...without feeling like you are eating a week of Italian specialties...really a great selection of produce at this store Thank you all for such a great shopping and my delicious meals

Everything is excellent. Try the homemade lasagna, Italian beef, brick chicken, or whatever looks good behind the counter. Love the place!

This place is amazing! If you want great Italian meats, sauces, pastas and gourmet frozen dinners that will seriously blow your mind, you must try this old school market. The hot sausage, cream sauce, tortallaci, gnocchi and cream sauce are some of our favorites. Yes. Mentioned the cream sauce 2 times because it's crazy delicious!

The BEST!!!! Brick chicken and vesuvio potatoes are killer. Italian sandwiches made from scratch are the best thing north of Little Italy!

I'm from the far south suburbs. We had a huge Italian population in Chicago Heights, so I grew up eating the most delicious home made Italian food at all my friends' houses. I have been searching for good lasagna and meat sauce for ages, but generally found north sider Italian to be just not very good or flavorful. Finally stopped in this shop and picked up some frozen lasagna, some frozen meat sauce, guanciale from the deli, and some pasta fagioli soup. All were excellent!! Really delicious and brought me right home. I'll be stopping in regularly from now on. They have a big selection of other fresh and frozen foods, as well as dried pastas, canned Italian foods, etc

I never really spent much time up in the north suburbs but if you drive north on Sheridan Road you'll pass through some pretty toney, stuffy, well manicured mansion lined stretches of road through upscale towns. But if you go far enough on the beautiful drive you'll pull into Highwood Ill. a breath of fresh air and oasis up north. There are plenty of great cafes, restaurants, bars and assorted businesses to choose from in Highwood a gem of a town really. If you cross over to the 'other side of the the tracks' so to speak, Poeta's will kind of jump out at you. At first sight Poeta's looks like the old neighborhood spot set off away from the toney metigan suburbs sitting next to the railroad tracks. There's a good amount of parking on location and on the street here unlike in the city where your all but guaranteed a ticket where an 8 dollar sandwich can turn into a 64 dollar sandwich in a snap. Upon entering Poeta's smells as delicious as it is. It's super clean well stocked with all the old favs and real Italian products. Whom ever orders obviously does their homework and knows what people want. These folks are the real deal. Fresh produce line the coolers with just enough to sell and I imagine is restocked regularly. The girl arranging the produce cooler, Sarah, I believe she said her name was, I would see a few minutes later doing double duty behind the deli counter. Like any true family deli I think the guys behind the counter were all related. They talked with each other and patrons as they sliced, chopped and prepared fresh cold cuts and the like and they all smiled. A huge turn on is that they seemed to have an not what was needed in the deli case. Everything from the cutlets and meats to cheeses and cold cuts looked fresh as can get. It means they have been around a while and know their customers and don't like to waste. I am certain they have plenty of regulars. I asked if they had tripe and an older gentleman looked up and said "not right now but I can get it. You're the first guy asks for it in five years." We laughed. Just that he said that he can get it is cool. I opted for some homemade hot Italian sausage a loaf of bread and a can of anchovies which were by the way reasonably priced. Those lil sh*ts can get pricey. At the counter when I placed my items down the price/deli/counter girl Sarah asked if I have tried their fresh bread made specially for them by a local baker. Done! Sold! She led me to the fresh loaves back at the deli helped me pick a nice loaf out and went back and bagged my items for me. It was a few extra bucks but well worth it as I munch on a piece at this moment sitting on the lakefront. In my experience it's rare when someone up sells in a deli but it tells me she knows the products, that she cares and takes the time to show the customers and that's whether or not she's related this is a real deal family business. Not surprised these folks have been here a long time. Great products, great people, great town 45 minutes away. I'll be back to see you soon Poeta's!

The pizza, Italian beef egg rolls and lasagna are AMAZING!! Just returned from Italy and this is the closest to what we had there! Happy we found this wonderful gem!

We missed the Italian sub sandwiches made at Conte Di Savoia on Taylor Street in Chicago. We discovered the same delicious sandwich at Poeta's yesterday. Highly recommend.

The best made-to order deli sandwiches you'll ever have in my opinion. A family member worked here way back and both sides of the family have been coming here for at least a decade or two.

I love this Italian Market. Dominic and Luca are Master Butcher's and so caring about their product and service. Exceptional brick chicken, seasoned chicken, homemade sausage etc....

Could not be a better place on the North Shore to get the best meat from the best butchers!! They season whatever you need, if you want, and it's perfect!! Also..they're ready to go frozen pasta meals...feeds 4-6ppl...are INSANE! My kids beg for the pasta prosciutto & chocolate chip banana bread!! There's nothing bad here. Even their imports & dry pasta are great. This is our GO TO market! And you can call in your order for pick up!!

This food market is awesome, not only do they have authentic Italian goods for purchase, but you can also get fresh meats at the deli. If you're looking for a quick lunch too, they can make you a fresh Italian sub, which I'd highly recommend.

This place really has 5 stars. Great food, great people. My parents used to get the frozen food (meat loaf, soup, eggplant parm, lasagna) and send me back to college with a cooler full. Lucky I know. Had the turkey last week from there which was to die for. I can't find anything I don't like. Go Illini!

The BEST butcher and Italian grocery goods. Their prepared foods, fresh frozen pasta-especially the eggplant, chicken or veal parmesan and the lasagna and ravioli, veal and chicken dishes rival any local Italian restaurant. But its the brick chicken, Italian Style and the skirt steaks that I would only buy here, they couldn't be better anywhere else. Oh and deboned turkey at Thanksgiving !! Not sure if it's the fresh baked bread or the warm welcome from the owners that make going to Poeta's feel like coming home.

From the second I walked in the door, I felt like I was in the company of family. The owner was talking with a regular customer and everyone just seemed so happy to be there. My biggest mistake? Coming to this place hungry and with hungry kids waiting in the car. It's kind of unassuming from the outside, but walk inside and it might remind you of a local grocery in Italy - sure did remind me of my trip to Italy years ago. I immediately hit the jackpot frozen food aisle, where I wanted to buy a little bit of everything. Pizza dough ready to go, pizzas (not the Tombstone kind), frozen pasta, frozen meat, homemade soup like minestrone and chicken noodle, and frozen prepared meals ready to take home and pop into the oven. Kind of reminded me of looking into a giant freezer filled with precooked meals by mom. I will be back for that lasagna. My time was cut short, since I spent too much in the frozen foods and didn't make it to see everything, but I did check out the meat department and wow what a selection! Feeling bad about spending so much time poking around, I quickly picked up a frozen pizza for the kiddos and left proud and glad I stopped in. Poeta's I will be back when I have more time to shop. So, look out!

Poeta's is wonderful. Small, old fashioned grocery store with an excellent butcher shop. Homemade sausage (spicy or regular), Restarant quality steaks, cold cuts for fantastic deli sandwiches. A nice sized vegetable fridge, Fresh French bread, freezers full of homemade pasta dishes. I just can't remember all the great finds here. Big thumbs up.

Just discovered this place. Everything looked great. Wide variety of top quality food. Excellent freezer section and condiments.

Best pre-made pastas and sauces!! Real authentic Italian food that even beats dining out! Love this spot

Mmmm the best of everything including GF pasta from Italy by far the best I've ever tasted. Homemade pizzas, frozen meals to brag about. Bread behind the counter....enough! A good field trip if you live far!

Amazing ground beef, italian sausage, italian beef, pastina, scamorza cheese, fresh tomatoes, grapes... it's become my one stop shop for the week. I love everything at Poeta's! Oh, their homemade barbecue sauce is my favorite. There is always such friendly service, too!!

Been shopping here forever. Prepared food in the freezer is better than most Italian restaurants. No packaged meat like all other groceries. All cut and packaged to order. Prices reasonable. Especially go before holidays. They will have good variety of great holiday foods from Italy. I could go on much longer, but read all of the 5* reviews for details.

Poeta's is nirvana! Their prepared foods are fabulous! Being able to buy fresh frozen entrées is such an easy and wonderful thing! Lasagna, lamb stew, chicken lemon, chicken cacciatore, eggplant Parmesan, soups, the list goes on...There are fresh meats plus to die for Brick Chicken. Perfectly seasoned and prepare. I need to do is take it home and put it in the oven. There are cheeses and various produce items. On their well-stocked shelves are loads of specialty products one can only find in a great Italian Food Mart. The staff is soooo nice, helpful, friendly, knowledgeable. They cannot do enough for you! I wish I could give them more stars because Poeta's is a jewel!

This store is worth going into just to experience the way it smells. Mmmmmmm. I don't know what that is-- the fresh bread, the homemade sausage, the astonishing Italian beef being cooked or what-- just mmmmmmm. You know as soon as you walk in the door that this is the real deal. When we moved to the area, people raved about their meat. Meat. Not being of a generation that did anything other than supermarkets, I thought that was kind of odd, but when enough people tell you, "Their meat is the best," and "You have to try their Italian beef," and "Get their sausage-- they make their own," you eventually cave in to curiosity to find out how "meat" can be special. Yowza. If you ever want a great hostess gift for a close friend having a BIG party, bring her a couple of quart containers of their Italian beef and some fresh rolls for the morning after. You'll have a friend for life. This is a great store with a selection you're not going to find anywhere but a real Italian neighborhood. They make their own sausage, pastas, sauces, Italian beef, and on and on. The guys behind the counter are really nice as are the ladies who work the check out. It's definitely a family business. Small store packed to the gills with good stuff. Soooo glad I live near this store.

A week before X-mas, my mother in law asked me what i wanted. I told her, "some Gold Bond, some new rocks for my sauna, and T-Bone steaks.". Completely expecting just the rocks, and the G.B., i woke up that morning, to a cold sack of T-Bones, straight from Poeta's market. I can honestly tell you, that I almost shat myself, in excitement. Yesterday, i finished my final steak (I gave one to a neighbor, in place of a gentleman's snow shoveling agreement), and I feel like the luckiest fella on earth. What kind of mother in law gives you a satchel of steaks? Well, i can tell you, this lucky sailor's. Here's the thing...I've never had anything so amazing in my life. I live in Elmurst now, but everytime I head out to Highland Park, i have one thing on my mind...Poeta's meats, and a Russian Bathhouse.

It may not be "the dog days of summer" yet, but let's forget all the cliches. It's perfect weather not to sweat it out over the grill. This has become my weekly habit. Have'n a party or a few friends over for an impromptu shmoose? Let Dominique or Luca hook you up. All you have to be is the grill master. Which I am not; looking for one. Call these guys, they'll guide you; *Exactly the right amount of burgers, (seasoned already,) *Hot dogs, sausages, brats, et al. *Don't forget their home made coleslaw & dill potato salad. (Divine) *Brick chicken; pre-prepared for you. Simply toss it in the oven, then on the grill for the last minute. Out of this world! Poeta's will not disappoint. They'll make you feel welcome, and you'll be friends instantly. My kind of place. xo jac

This is my favorite place to purchase meat. The staff are all so polite and helpful. I drive about 25 miles just to stock up. Their seasoned chicken breasts are perfection.

Inexpensive neighborhood market, with a devoted but very local following. If you live within 20 minutes or so, worth the trip for inexpensive groceries, excellent and well priced meats, fantastic homemade sausages and fresh ricotta, and yummy housemade frozen classics in family style containers like eggplant parmesan, lasagna, meatballs in meatsauce, Italian beef and meatloaf, etc.

I love this small family-owned and locally-staffed market, that embodies a lot of what makes Highwood such a charming neighborhood. Poeta's has a pretty nice inventory of grocery goods, considering their modest size. You can get many staples for reasonable prices. The real stars of the show are their meats, pastas, and prepared foods. Their butcher counter isn't very big, but everything is top-quality. They have a wonderful assortment of pastas you can prepare, including many brands we can't find anywhere else. Best of all is the wall of freezers that's packed to capacity with all kind of delicious prepared foods and frozen ingredients. We absolutely love their garlic bread, their Italian beef is super-savory, they have a huge variety of frozen meats, and so much more.

Moved to Florida recently, just talked to my daughter about an upcoming trip back home. My bucket list. Poettas Johnny's Beef Gene and Jude's Lou Malnati's Steamboat BBQ I'll be packing some Poettas pasta prouscuitto to bring to Florida. I was happy to drive 40 miles from home for all the fantastic foods the have for sale.

Poeta's is a neighborhood gem that brings in quite a crowd from surrounding neighborhoods as well. I have been a customer for many years and love exploring the shop for interesting items imported from Italy. This year, we ordered one of their beautiful turkeys for Thanksgiving after hearing how wonderful they are from friends. My family thought it was the best turkey they've had in many years. We tried the de-boned and seasoned brick turkey breast that fed 6 people with plenty of leftovers. It wasn't cheap but certainly made it worthwhile because of how easy it was to prepare, cook and then clean up (ie no carcass). The butchers/owners are wonderful and very kind..... we are lucky to have Poeta's.

Ordered the deboned Turkey for Thanksgiving. Ended up being 9 lbs deboned and more than enough for 14 people with leftovers. Everyone loved it and said it was among the best turkeys they've had. Thank Poetas!

Little grocery store but great ribs and sausage. Pasta, bread all is good there. Highly recommend

My parents went here for years when I was growing up. Now that I have my own family - I shop here as well. The food is incredible. The steaks, the marinated chicken breasts, the sausage, the brick chicken, the burgers, the pasts salad,,, It is all the best. There is also nothing nicer than chatting with Dom, Luca or Victor who always make your day with a great smile, story or a joke. I love Poeta's.

Try their burgers before grilling season in Chicago is over. So good !!! Seasoned or plain, great quality & perfect size. Fresh as can be. Can't come close if you compare to a chain grocery. Delicious. Highly recommend !

This place is always been fabulous and always delivers the freshest and most exciting Italian ingredients! They really get to know you they're very easy to deal with to get food you want. true genuine butcher who really know their clientele! The meat cuts are always tender and the premade dishes are always excellent!

I first came to Poeta's for the amazing bread. I keep coming back for the sausage, sauces and service. Best Italian shop I've found in Chicagoland.

What a wonderful place! I was looking for a special pasta shape (Vesuvio), and found one pretty close (Gigli). They have a gorgeous selection of dried pastas to choose from! I was also impressed with the selection of canned tomatoes, as I was going to make Marcella Hazan's simple tomato sauce recipe for the first time and wanted top quality ingredients. I also picked up a couple of pieces of mild Italian sausage based on another reviewer's compliment, just to see how it compared to what I normally get at Whole Foods. I have to say that it just blows away any other sausage I've ever had! I look forward to going back again soon, as this was my first experience there. As for our pasta dish with Hazan's sauce? Yes, it is all people say it is. I kept the onion and served it on the side with the sausages. Simply incredible!