The Continental Restaurant & Banquets

unpretentious diner from the outside, and incredible food on the inside. A group of about 30 of us went for a post funeral service and the food was GREAT. Crunchy veggies, outside skirt steal, chicken, and raviolis…. Would highly recommend others rent out their banquet hall for small/medium sized events. best buffet style food ive had ton a long time. THEY DO NOT use cheap ingredients. 90% of all the skirt steak you’ll have at restaurants is inside and this place uses outside skirt.

First time here, and it was great! Fast and friendly service with good portions. Had the chopped steak and scrambled eggs, and they were both delicious. Nice seating by the windows. Overall, it was a fantastic breakfast at a reasonable price!

This is a family style restaurant with a WIDE variety on the menu -- I had a hard time narrowing down my choices but finally settled on the gyro. I had a lovely bread basket to munch on while I waited, but I didn't have to wait long -- my meal arrived quickly. The gyro was HUGE and very tasty. I also got fries, cole slaw, and opted for a side salad instead of soup. The salad was just a bit disappointing -- the lettuce wasn't the best and hadn't been drained well -- but the garlic dressing was excellent. My server was new and eager to please, very attentive. They are open until 10, which was lucky for me as I got there after 8. There were a number of large groups there, and it seems to be a very popular spot -- lots of regulars who were greeted by the staff. Prices were typical for the area. Overall, GREAT place -- was recommended by staff at hotel about 10 minutes away, over other closer places, so I thought it must be good -- and it was! Highly recommend.

Myself and 11 friends were at Continental to break the fast for Yom Kippur. The buffet was plentiful & was first quality, and that brisket was really delicious! Whenever an item seemed low more was brought out immediately. The attention to our two tables was superb. We have been to Continental many times for many meals great food great people!

This place is a bit hidden but the food was excellent and the service was fast and friendly. I was there at lunchtime and had the veggie soup and the Grecian chicken. The soup was outstanding; a generous serving. The chicken was tasty and moist…fries were good too. Will be back for sure!

Great diner. So many selections; some of us got breakfast, some got salads, one got dinner, and one got a sandwich. So much food we asked for boxes to take leftovers. The food was awesome. Highly recommended. This is not a usual diner with scaled back furnishings. This place is really nice.

We just held my mother’s 90th birthday party at the Continental. We had about 35 people there.and I was planning it from out of town, so I needed a banquet center I could rely on. Peter and his team were fantastic from start to finish. I can’t begin to describe how helpful they were. They assisted in making the menu perfect, in setting the room and the AV and just making us and our guests feel comfortable. The food was delicious, well presented, and plentiful, the service was professional, prompt, friendly and superb. We had a fantastic time and a lovely event. Many of our guests emphasized how much they enjoyed the dinner and it’s really thanks to the folks at the Continental. It’s a great place, great team and great food. I heartily recommend them for any event you may want to host.

The parking lot is usually packed due to being next door to Garden Fresh grocery store, so I had to park far away. The restaurant is older, but the service is friendly and quick. We were seated immediately after asking table or booth. It was noon, but we still ordered breakfast. The skillets here are a larger portion than the other places I've reviewed. The skillet was delicious but could've used more meat than potatoes and veggies...there is no meat lover skillet here. The coffee was bold and good quality.

It is always a pure delight to discover a "real" restaurant from the past! We went there for lunch to celebrate my 80th birthday, along with my brother and sister-in-law (they had recommended the place), and thoroughly enjoyed the good food, comfortable and inviting ambiance, and friendly, attentive service. Best of all, it is a conversation-friendly establishment, a rare occurrence these days. Their menu selection is an extensive variety of American, Greek, and Jewish dishes. Almost everything comes with a side and a large bowl of real home-made soup (matzo ball or cabbage are my favorites). The portions are robust! They remind me of the once-famous Ashkenaz deli in the city on Morris Ave. Try them, you won't be disappointed.

Always a good spot for our post-show tech crew outings in high school. It is a pretty decent location for some hang time with friends but I wouldn't say I was too impressed with the food. The place is clean enough , though the interior has been the same for a s long as I can remember. The menu is also very big, with a wide variety of choices for all 3 meals of the day. The salad I had was okay. It was supposed to be a Caesar salad, but it came with way more toppings that one normally would. The dressing was nice, though the vegetable were wet so it didn't stay on well. I also tried the mozzarella sticks as I always do. They really weren't much to go home about, and I didn't enjoy the marinara a whole lot. I would also like to add that the plate presentation was slightly lack luster and not super neat, though I know this isn't exactly "fine dining" . The grilled cheese sandwich was my main, and it was honestly just ok. Not close to the worst I've had but I feel the flavors could have been brought out a bit more. It may have been slightly overdone, but I'm not sure that was the issue. The fries that came with were good, but that's all I can say really. The presentation for the sandwich was better, but I do appreciate the pickle inclusion. I think I will always have a soft spot for Continental seeing I have many fond memories of theatre hangs, and even a Bar-Mitzvah once in their banquet space. I do hope this place is able to last, but also able to be upgraded on the inside. It's nice to have these kinds of places in the area, so I wish only the best.

I have been meaning to stop by The Continental Restaurant for a good while and have never been able to make it. Boy was I wrong in not visiting sooner. I went with my wife and mother and we all thought the food was great. We started with some bread which was very good and then we had some soup. My Matzah Ball soup had the biggest matzah ball that I think I have ever had. My wife's Sweet & Sour Cabbage had such a flavorful broth and was chock full of cabbage goodness. My mother really liked her lentil soup too. I think we were all pretty full from the bread and soup and then they served our actual entrees. We tried out the West Coast Burger, the Continental Club, and the Chicken Salad Sandwich. All were very good, but we had to take most of it home due to filling up on bread and soup. Our waiter took good care of us and I look forward to returning.

Continental is usually customer friendly. However, today, January 16,2026, we came last. Handicapped parking spaces were covered by ice. Lot owners failed to salt them. So handicapped space users were left at risk, It would have taken a few minutes to shake out a bag of salt or sand on them. But restaurant owners ignored its most vulnerable customers. It just blamed lot owners for not taking care of the parking spaces. Inside, the owner's son tried to put me at a table right in front of the cold front door. I had to ask to be moved. An employee wanted to remove an extra napkin and place setting after I asked for a different table, without asking if I needed them. While I was eating, a server came over and asked if I wanted a to-go box. I wasn't even half way through my meal and he was rushing the table. You get the picture. I hope owner Pete corrects this situation.

Stopped by for some afternoon chicken soup, very delicious, service was excellent. Great location with parking.

This restaurant is a classic of the Buffalo Grove area, Been here for ages. I've been visiting this place since the early 2000s The restaurant quality is good though they do run out of soup by evening rush, take note of this if you want soup best come earlier in the day. Green phosphate soda isn't available but they made a cool black cow and I had a good drink experience I hadn't done before so I'm perfectly happy. The hygiene audit is where things get messy. The women's bathroom is within acceptable limits but on the lower end of acceptable cleanliness. The men's room is outside of normal acceptable limits with damaged fixtures and aged units. Worth noting the women's room handicap stall someone was rude enough to leave a brown bomb in the toilet.. Come for the food, stay for the WiFi, don't use the toilets here. Seriously you'll regret it.

Continental will ALWAYS remain a staple in the area. It is easily one of the most comforting places in Buffalo Grove. Pete runs an incredible business where they always make you feel like family. I can easily go there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and know I will eat something delicious. The menu has great variety and you can't go wrong with anything. One of my favorite menu items are their soups! A bowl of their matzo-ball soup can cure anything always! Patti is one of the women who work up front and she has taken the time to talk to my husband and I and get to know us! It always makes us feel good to go! Some other menu highlights are their salads (pro-tip ask them to chop it for you), their broasted chicken, and their grilled chicken pita! Please go try Continental and continue to support such a wonderful place!

My family recently (December 21, 2025) held my father's Shiva here at the Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove. Because they have a relationship with the Shalom funeral home in Arlington Heights, the process was incredibly easy. The funeral home confirmed the day and time with the restaurant, and the rest was simple. We stopped in, made a few selections from the menu, and the staff took care of the rest. Peter (the owner) was wonderful and caring. We were very grateful for a quick decision and plan. The bartender (unfortunately, I didn't get his name) on the evening was kind, helpful, and patient. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely, respectful, and relaxing. Thank you all.

We've passed by here quite a few times and I'm not sure why we've never stopped. That finally changed over the weekend . We promptly sat down and had coffee within a couple minutes. Both of our omelettes were excellent as were the hash browns. Our waiter did an excellent job of keeping our coffees filled. Overall, we had a very satisfying visit. Highly recommend this restaraunt if you're in the area!

When you eats here you're guaranteed to know half the people in the restaurant. Pete is always so nice. #iraeats. #iraeats1

Poor food quality! My vegetables were burnt, and the chicken was fatty and disgusting. This was my third consecutive bad experience at this place, and I'm not likely to return ever again.

Continental has a large menu. The food is good, and the soups are excellent. Famous Matzah Balls and great split pea. Owner Pete is very personable and remembers patrons.

Pretty meh. Tuna "melt" was cold. Bagel was burnt. Corned Beef Hash was solid. Coffee was bad. Serv9ce was froendly. Check took a while to show up.

One of the best n most consistent restaurants in town. Pete and his talented team of professionals working there never disappoint! Ordering right now as a matter of fact.

Good food and service always excellent. Never fails to be a lovely experience with friendly staff and reasonable prices.

What a solidly great place this it. The have about a 10 page menu and everything is exceptional even the turkey club is amazingly perfect. My husband had thaw Athenian chicken and he ate every drop. This time I went for the matzoh ball soup which is the closets to my grandmothers that I've ever had. Next up I thought I'd eat light and got the cantaloupe stuffed with chicken salad, a hard boiled and lots of nice sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Excellent service as well. I e never been disappointed after having eaten here.

Had a great first night in town at this family run restaurant. Right there makes it 5 stars. W only had soups, but they were yummy. Great server...wish I could remember her name. Smiled the whole time. Manager was very nice. Would go. Again

Came here for lunch Wednesday with my girlfriend and her adult son, my first visit. It's like pulling teeth to get me to go to any eatery much more than $10 a full plate, let alone $20, let alone without both soup and salad. But two weeks ago she gave me her leftovers from a Chicken Oscar plate she took to her place. It was so much it took me 2 days to finish it. Essentially 3 servings for the price of one between the two of us. Still I wrestled with the idea of spending that much cash to eat out, Yet I could not ignore the vast portions. A week later after a doctor appt., I had to go see for myself. I was speechless. A sign posted near where we were seated said "Great Food Served Here". They weren't kidding. They could have substituted "Service" or "Portions" for "Food"; it would have applied. The waitress was off the charts as well as the food. My lady had blueberry crepes. Her son had tons of gyro meat to go with sweet potato fries. I had the BBQ beef brisket with perfectly fried crinkly fries and cabbage soup, a first for me. I managed to scarf down the gigantic portion of fries but could only eat like a fifth of the BBQ sandwich and half the soup, served in a large bowl (and superb in flavor, a bit like onion soup) - and not a cup. I had to take home both the sandwich and soup, something those who've known me over time know I seldom do. The root beer was a perfect fit to the meal. Over the decades I have most of the time dined at establishments on the southwest side of Chicago, southwest and west suburbs as I have lived that way much of my life. But since my lady lives up in Buffalo and I'm currently in Evanston, I've had ample opportunity in recent years to dine up north for various cuisines. This is one of the best, IMO, a Greek American restaurant with umpteen offerings, including a fair amount of Greek items, available for my food pleasure. The food easily cuts the mustard, pardon the pun. The atmosphere accommodating. The overall ambience with its pictures on the wall unassuming but nice. The waitress (dang, can't recall her name) was A+, just like the food and all else, worthy of my largest tip ever to any server. Owner Pete stopped by to briefly chat with us. You can't do better than this. Admittedly, you normally won't get me to fork over this kind of money, especially without some real dazzle. But this place exceeded all expectations. It won't be too long before we're here again. The pork souvlaki (AKA kebobs) got my attention for my next visit and for little more than Dengeos charges for theirs. Great times with a great lady and her son with great food and portions to boot. Wonderful experience. Highly recommended. 5 stars all the way

I wanted some nice hot soup without having to travel too far for it, Yelp led me to Continental Restaurant and I was not disappointed. Hubs and I came here for lunch. At a quick scan of the menu, there is something for everyone no matter what you're craving. I ordered the split pea soup (it's one of my favorites) and hubs ordered the Spinach Bowl Salad. My soup arrive hot and topped with fresh, garlicky croutons. It was the perfect combination for a chilly day. Our order came with a small plate of fresh bread and butter. The soup was perfect consistency for split pea, not so thick that you feel like you're eating chili and not so thin that isn't filling. It was not salty either! A win in my book! Hubs salad was plentiful with spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, fresh mushrooms, crispy bacon bits, and eggs. He topped it with a creamy garlic dressing making it taste very fancy! Everything on the salad was very fresh. I know it's just soup and salad, but I'll be back to try other dishes! I also learned to check their Facebook page for updates on their daily specials as well as their daily soups. Service was quick. Our server was friendly and kept our glasses filled. The dining crowd was an older crowd, but everyone seemed to be regulars there. The inside was clean and comfortable. I'll be back!

Went to the Continental for the first time. Wife and I split the lox platter and it was delicious. Some of the best lox I've ever had and it was big enough to take home for another day. Great service and good coffee too. We will be back soon.

I have been here a lot over the years. Good breakfasts, great burgers, and some good half chicken dishes (except for the fried chicken which is better elsewhere. One of the best things on the menu is the skirt steak. It is a huge portion. I normally clean my plate but for this I had to take half home. At $35 it is pricey, but I got two complete meals out of it.

This is a full range restaurant. It has a large menu with varied choices. We've had delicious sandwiches and breakfast entrees and were very happy with both. The staff is particularly friendly and courteous.

The service was great as always,Pete the owner sat us down as soon as we arrived.The waiter was terrific and the food was great as always.Highly recommend for any meal. Marc

Service horrible rude waiter the owners are great people but they have a bad staff odds are they just can't get good help the food is decent not fantastic but not garbage prices are extremely expensive for a neighborhood dinner can litterly go out to a fancy steakhouse for the same price and get great food and service it's clean enough though the restrooms are struggling it amazes me how there still open for business I'm not the only one who feels this way other customers feel the same way we talk outside waiting for our family's to leave

Service is ok. Ambiance typical, much better than IHOP. Food is a disaster. I ordered the stir fry chicken and it seems they just poured teriyaki sauce on it. It would've been ok if the teriyaki sauce tasted good but not like the usual teriyaki you expect. The rice was swimming in the salty sauce. My wife ordered chopped steak and when it arrived, it was like a burger steak -- ground beef made into a patty. It was a medium rare steak with onions on top and the "steak" tasted bland. Even the bread they served in the beginning tasted awful. How can you go wrong with bread? I don't have gourmet taste but wasn't expecting it to be this bad. The only good thing about it is my son liked the pancakes and eggs. Sigh! What a waste!

We used to live over here and this place was a favorite so we stopped by when we were in the neighborhood. The lady who seated us as been there since I can remember. My favorite thing on the menu (Pete's Nest) was not on the menu anymore but they said they make it on request so I ordered that and my hubby ordered hash and eggs. It took a while to get our food which we understood because there was only one server who was spread a bit thin. Unfortunately two bites in, I realized my food was barely warm. Tried to flag the waitress but was able to get the hostess' attention and she brought the plates back to the kitchen for us. To their credit, the next plate was completely remade (not just reheated) and served piping hot. My food was plentiful and delicious and my husband was unable to finish his either. Overall it was okay but I was definitely disappointed in the service. It was hard to get the server's attention even when she was near our table and we definitely didn't get the coffee refills we were hoping for. I'd give them another try because we have had many excellent meals here.

The service was amazing they gave us a lot of food. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was amazing

The lentil soup was very good. Very flavorful. Very hearty. Although my Monte Cristo sandwich was a bit disappointing. I remember the bread used was very sweet. Somehow it took away the flavors of my sandwich. The service was good, they were very attentive which is why I rated it higher.

We have loved Continental Restaurant for many years! Their soups are outstanding & so is the service...their portions are extremely generous so I always enjoy my leftovers the next day...

Fantastic breakfast spot. They also serve lunch and dinner. I love them because I can get breakfast any time of day with their all day breakfast items. Their pancakes are amazing and it always hits the spot after coming back from travelling. The chocolate chip pancakes are the best with layers of chocolate chips between each pancake. The french toast was surprisingly good with the fruit topping. I love how they are open every day of the week to give me more opportunities to get breakfast for dinner.

The food was okay, the service a little better. Some of the starters, had (too much) oil in them. The staff while nice, were from Europe, having a job, and still getting adjusted, and learning the menu. The ambiance was lacking, and stale. antiquated. With paintings and family photo's from the 1970's/80's, as well as the tables and booths. Most of the booths vinal had cracks and the seats had low spots when you sat in them. There seem to be some locals, that are regulars. They would do better, updating the place. Also, improving the food, or how it's made.

The Continental always serves large portions of good food at a reasonable price. My friend and I ate dinner there Sept. 14, when they were having a "Doggie Dine Out" event on the patio, and we were very excited to be able to take our dogs to a nearby restaurant! I started with matzo ball soup, which was included with my meal. The bowl was huge, as was the matzo ball! I also ordered the Chicken Oscar entree, which was yummy and enormous. I was impressed by the amount of chicken and crab it included, and because I finished the soup, I ended up bringing more than half of my dinner home. My dog was served a large container full of rice, a couple kinds of meat (ham and turkey?) and cheese. She was in HEAVEN. As a huge plus -- for this event, the dogs' meals were free! It was such a nice opportunity, and I'd definitely return with her if dogs are invited again.

Always the best food! Pete is awesome and always takes a minute to say hi and check to see if everything is okay.

Always consistently good, hearty food. Soups are good, salads are fresh and dinners are tasty!

I've been eating at this restaurant for over 20 years. It's a family restaurant, where the owner knows all his regular customers by name and the new ones he treats like he's known them for years as well. This restaurant has managed to stay in business while many of the others around it have closed. The food is well above your average family restaurant and the prices reflect that. This isn't fine dining as some like to compare it too. The staff works hard and many have worked there for 10-20 years. Customers come in and ask for specific servers due to the service and relationships built over the years. There are LOTS of customers who eat here daily or multiple times weekly!! The restaurant is always clean and has a beautiful banquet hall attached that has events going on almost daily. Many groups and organizations come in monthly and rent out the room. The soups, salads (create your own), pancakes, skirt steak, Athenian Chicken, wings and Chicken Mykonos (Wednesday night only) are some of my favorites.

If you get a seat at the spongebob table, consider yourself Continental Royalty. In all seriousness though, Continental has been my family's favorite place for Matzo Ball Soup ever since I was young. It's a quiet family restaurant with the typical deli fare: Sandwiches, huge burgers, hot turkey clubs and of course it all comes with bread service. This won't be the best meal you ever had, but for good conversation and a comfy cozy atmosphere, this is the place to beat.

I give this restaurant a 5. First most restaurants that serve a good BLT are closed at 3pm. Not this one. They were doing a brisk business when I left at 6pm. Take out orders were numerous. Food was good, homemade chicken soup was excellent, service was excellent, fast, and the people were friendly. It was also very clean. With a BLT sandwich, I got bread, a baked potato at no extra charge cole slaw. Whole bill was under $14.00. Have to try this place for breakfast. Gem in Buffalo Grove. Will come back. I don't give many 5s. They deserved it.

Food is good and proportions are large. The prices are a little high for the quality. Service was good and fast. Restaurant is clean and maintained .

Didn't know what we wanted so went to the Continental as they have a GIANT 10 page menu. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Started with a basket of 6-8 fresh rolls & bagels. Sandwiches included fries & soup. 3 egg omelets, broasted chicken & so much more. Easy to find for us tourists & plenty of seating & parking. Food was pretty good for the variety they have to prepare.

Attended a 40th anniversary party last weekend here. There was a separate room for the event. We had our own bartender and wait staff. All staff were very friendly and helpful. The room can hold more people than we're in attendance so it was very comfortable and easy to move around and visit with everyone. The food was served buffet style, the salmon and chicken piccata were my favorites. We had appetizers and salad, the main meal also included beef, mixed vegetables, Greek potatoes and fried fish. No one went home hungry. The owner Pete dropped in to check on us. I've been here before for events and the Continental doesn't disappoint.

Please is clean and spacious, Service quick, and the menu simple and manageable. Looks like they segment menu's for time of day, great to not be overwhelming.

Ordered carry-out from Continental tonight, using their drive-up service. The dinners were brought to us hot, well-packaged and right on time. I had moussaka, as Wednesday is Greek Special day. The portion was huge, much larger and as good or better than at any of the big-name restaurants in Greektown. With a cup of their outstanding cabbage soup, fresh rolls and butter I could barely finish half my meal. My wife chose the Athenian Style skirt steak sandwich with soup and oven roasted potatoes. The skirt steak was large, thick, well seasoned, tender, and cooked a perfect rare, as ordered. Some of the best food and one of the best value meal options available in the area. With a huge menu there's something for every taste.

Local joint that has tasty food and plenty of it. Nobody goes hungry at this place. The owner , Pete, is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He's friendly and personable and walks the floor to make it's all good and to say hello to long time customers and new ones. He's a very charitable person and supports all the local worthwhile initiatives. When a recent issue happened and a derelict stole flowers from the front of his porch area, the community rallied to bring new ones to replace the stolen ones. When the community cares like this, you can begin to understand what type of place this is to eat at. Wait, what about the food you say...? Well, they make the soups in house and they rival some of the old Jewish Deli's but with a Greek touch. Delicious and good sized. Try the all you can eat soup bowl and they'll have to roll you out. You can even switch the soups. Yum. I love the BBQ chicken gyros off the spit. Pork chops are big and come with two. You get a full meal with salad or soup, bread on table, vegetables, potatoes, etc. all the food is good but the omelette is one of the best in the business! Huge and fluffy. I prefer these omelettes to other more expensive ones from the "bro's" breakfast places. No images as I eat it all. There are always specials that include a dessert, soft drink, or a coffee or excellent ice tea. Good stuff Maynard!

Great service, people and food! Always consistent and a spot for any meal, breakfast lunch or dinner. Ownership is friendly and cares about their customers. Have come here for years since moving into the area and will continue to in the future!

Delicious food they are very accommodating and very friendly service. However, they forgot the bread while you wait for your food so my mom asked for it and we waited and waited, he took very long to come with the bread and my mom ate her soup and no bread. We also waited a long time for napkins. They only give you one napkin. She was not pleased at all. So a positive and a negative experience.

The days of being able to have a Skillet dinner for $10 are now a mere memory for this type of restaurant, as most Sandwiches and low end dinner items are now about $16 (Skillets are $12.50 now), but the quality and completeness of most dinner items make this a desirable destination nonetheless. We had the Athenian Chicken and the Chicken Oscar at dinner. The Greek Potatoes and sautéed Spinach sides with the Chicken were both winners, as were the entrees themselves. As usual, really desirable breads come with the included soup, which is a real bowl size. Service was friendly and very attentive on a Wednesday night. The only negative is the astounding $3.50 charged for soft drinks.

Pete has been a fixture in this community for over 25 years. A nice restaurant run by a nice man. When my in laws passed away a tray of food was delivered to our home during our time of mourning. Pete has contributed to charitable functions for years. Now when times are tough , we should go to the Continental and show our support . It's the right thing to do.

Friends took me to dinner at Continental - my first time there. What a wonderful evening. Continental is a typical restaurant owned and run by Greeks so I started with their wonderful egg-lemon soup. Similar to cream chicken soup with just a hint of lemon, not the overpowering taste of lemon from some other restaurants. My main course was the favorite breaded veal cutlets. Two large pieces of cutlet served with brown gravy and whipped potatoes. Served also with fresh vegetables. I have a hearty appetite and I was not able to finish all they served me. No problem, they quickly provided styrofoam containers so we could take the extra food home. Everything was top-notch. If you are looking for a huge menu with fantastic food at reasonable prices, give Continental a try - you won't be disappointed. PS - all soups, breads, etc are home made. I thought this type of restaurant no longer existed - but thankfully it does.

We met here for a family breakfast, it was a nice halfway point. The restaurant was extremely crowded and the hostess was very frantic. She was very nice to our kids, but a bit aggressive about where we could sit. It was a strange way to start our experience. Our server was very nice but the service was very slow and the food was average and highly priced. At the end of breakfast the hostess did give our kids a few goodies which was a nice touch. I am always willing to give a restaurant another chance and hope for a better experience next time.