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Little Ricky's
Category: Restaurants Barbeque Barbeque [Edit]
540 Lincoln Ave(between Elm St & Prospect Ave)
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 784-1444
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Little Ricky's
Review Highlights
"Get a side of sweet potato fries which alone are too good..."
(in 10 reviews)
"Reasonable priced for a North Shore restaurant."
(in 7 reviews)
"...tender that it just fell off the bone, no need for knives."
(in 3 reviews)
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Brian D.
Winnetka, IL
1/4/2012
I honestly dont understand some of the other reviews but heres mine. I'll start with the ribs, which are freakin great, always fall off the bone and have a great sauce too. Specials are always changing and great. Sandwiches, salads, entrees always different and good. Apps are all good too but the NACHOS are OMAZING. Get them with the pulled pork, YOUR WELCOME. The Rick is pricey but not compared to other options in the area! The fact is that there is no other casual place you can get a great meal, cocktail, and sit outside around there. Keep it up.
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Review from Liz S.
2/1/2012
Little Ricky's is a VERY lively restaurant that is enjoyed by families, singles, friends, and pretty much anyone else that you can imagine. It's a little oasis of excitement in an otherwise quiet village, and therefore it is busy all the time.
The ribs I had were pretty good, an the sweet potato fries were done perfectly.
The menu choices are pretty basic, but for that reason it easily caters to the varied clientele. Not a destination restaurant, but a good staple if you are in the area, with a full bar. -
Review from Hannah Y.
Winnetka, IL
1/22/2012
At little Ricky's their dessert is AWESOME!!!!! Plus I just LOVE their ribs!!!!!!!! Ohhhhh those are AMAZING!
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Review from Elliott D.
Winnetka, IL
8/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A North Shore staple. Great staff, especially Mark, Chris and Jeannie. (I miss Steph, though.). They're known for many things, but I gravitate toward the salads--Lucy and Suzy salads are bright, fresh and imaginative. Ambiance is a bit North Shore-ish (homogeneous) for my taste, but the folks who sit at the bar often defy classification.
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Review from Scott B.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2011
After a second visit on par with the first, I'm writing a review giving it the benefit of the doubt for possibly unreasonably high expectations. That is if you think that expecting decent food and decent service for higher-than-expected north shore prices is unreasonable.
Two meals: both were not bad, but not neither were anything special. At all. The second one, a steak sandwich came out cold. One highlight was the sweet mashed potatoes. They would have been even better if they were warm.
Service: After asking for a glass (twice) for the bottled beer a second time, I gave up. The bartender seemed too busy with talking to the waitress and adjusting the stereo to actually attend to either of the folks sitting at the bar area. I do, however, now know how they track their cash at the restaurant as the argument between the waitress and the bartender in front of the customers kept us all informed on the second visit.
Price: although this was the north shore, the prices were even higher than expected. If the food was outstanding, that would probably be OK. It is Winnetka after all. But it wasn't. And obviously neither was the service.
Overall, I'm giving Ricky's "Meh, I've experienced better" rather than the "Eeek! Methinks not" that it probably deserves. If I'm forced to try a third time, I'll update either way.
In the meantime, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. I will be. -
Review from JAMES M.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
Stopped by wed for a quick bite of lunch. Ordered a appt and a soda. 30 min later it still had not arrived. Being the only person dining, I would have thought lunch would be fast. The woman behind the bar just kept saying my order would be up shortly. What, before the dinner rush?? Poor choice of mine to go in. Went over to Caribou coffee and had a fast lunch and was good too. Rethink going here if you are looking for a nice place to dine
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Review from Paul L.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2010
The only thing good was the service and beer. The food (both times) was bland and overly dressed, which made our wallets cry.
Looks like there won't be a third visit for a charm. -
Review from Taylor G.
Denver, CO
4/18/2007
Every time I visit my sister we go to Little Ricky's and I just love it more and more every time! Even with the kids we get good service and great food. I love the atmosphere, including the funky statues and dark bar. The mac n' cheese isn't just for the kids folks... this is some seriously good stuff!! But really why you come here is the BBQ which is tangy and mouth wateringly good. Get a side of sweet potato fries which alone are too good to be true. (tip- dip them in ranch dressing... sounds gross... tastes the opposite of gross... really freakin good).
This is a great little place to hang out, get some great food and have a drink (lots to pick from). They don't rush you to get out or anything, so sit back, have a beer and catch up with some friends!! YUM!! -
Review from Jess S.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2006
I've tried a variety of menu items. The salads, sandwiches, burgers, sides - all delicious. My favorites: Aunt Susie's Salad and the Portobello Quesadilla. Reasonable priced for a North Shore restaurant.
I usually get my stuff to go. My dine-in experiences have always been poor but most Winnetka restaurants are the same way so I won't hold it against the place.
Check it out if your in the area - steps from the Winnetka Metra stop at the corner of Elm & Lincoln! -
Review from Joanne E.
Evanston, IL
7/5/2007
After spending a week in Athens, GA and eating barbeque at lunch every day my husband couldn't shake the hankering for good barbeque. We thought we'd give Little Ricky's a try.
Yes, it is a north shore restaurant, whatever that means (see Reviews under Little Ricky's Rib Joint), and yes, the menu is limited. However, they had pulled pork, which is what my husband was craving. He orded the pulled pork nachos, and they very nicely accomodated his request to have it sans cheese. It was a large enough portion for his meal, and he loved it. I had the barbeque chicken. While barbeque is not my favorite thing, I have to say the chicken was quite good. The sweet potato fries were okay - next time (and there will be a next time) I'm trying the mashed. The only thing we didn't like was the price; compared to GA, the prices seemed a little high for barbeque.
All in all, quite a surprising find - good barbeque in a north shore restaurant! Who'd have figured. -
Review from ingrid H.
IL
1/18/2007
Straightforward-looking menu - superb items. One of the best places for a dignified meal with a kid in the North Shore. Dark and cozy, muffled loud (good with kids), and local. Every dish has a special something. In the City, where you can have a favorite place for every tasty treat - som tum here, ribs there, latte here, hot dog there, you never have to bother sampling the menu. No such luxury north of Evanston, so you end up trying everything - even the chicken is done up just right.
It's a place to have a dignified drink too. Nice bar - good selection - bartenders are young and not too sophisticated. -
Review from K M.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2010
Here's another rib joint that was yummy!
We ordered carryout and got 1 full slab which came with 2 sides so we got a double order of mac and cheese. I wanted to get sweet potato fries but since we got carryout, I had a feeling the fry's would get soggy.
The ribs didn't have the smokiness of Smoque ribs but were still delicious. The meat was so tender that it just fell off the bone, no need for knives. They give you extra sauce which is always a plus.
Loved the cheese sauce in the mac and cheese but the noodles were kinda soft - but it didn't matter too much to me since I love mac and cheese. I would order theirs again. -
Review from Melissa F.
Providence, RI
2/5/2009
Yes, it's expensive. At first, that seems ridiculous. Expensive just for bar food? But it is more than bar food. It's high-quality.
Every item on the menu seems to be well thought out. Nothing is an afterthought. I am addicted to the Suzy salad - enough ingredients so it doesn't get too bland, with a spicy dressing. For a place that's pretty far away from the bayou, they do gumbo pretty well.
This place is like an upscale bar/grill, but without the stuffiness. It's nicer than an ordinary burger joint, but it's accessible and a friendly neighborhood place. I recommend it. -
Review from Dan C.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2009
I have been working in Winnetka for a few months now and have been to Little Ricky's twice.
The first time was for a salad to-go. It was a fine experience, just sitting at the bar until it was ready, paying and leaving. The salad itself was better than expected, with big shrimp and nice chunks of avocado, cheese and other goodies. The salad was underseasoned, which I am finding to almost always be the case with food from this place. Overall...a pretty good experience, 3-4 stars.
However, I just got back from Little Ricky's and after eating in with a friend, the experience was much worse.
We were seated promptly and ordered drinks. That is where the acceptable quality ends...I ordered the special "Kobe Burger" cooked medium, in quotations because you can not actually purchase real Kobe beef in the US, a place would definitely not grind it into a hamburger, and a place like Little Ricky's would never be able to afford it. However...I played along. I ordered the sweet potato fries as my side.
After close to 30 minutes of waiting, our food arrived. The the person delivering our food (different from our server for some reason) had no idea where the plates were supposed to go and we literally had to flag him over to our table after attempting to mis-deliver the food to a very confused pair of businessmen.
My friend's pulled pork looked very good and he seemed happy...I can not say the same for my meal.
My burger was cook to past-well done, with not a trace of pink to be found in the dull gray mass on the my plate. If you are going to ask me how I want my burger cooked, I expect it to at least somewhat resemble what I ordered. As a cook, you need to know that "kobe" or whatever nicer cut of beef you use will COOK FASTER that your average chuck and you need to compensate for that decrease in cook time.
Not only was the burger overcooked but it was also underseasoned...surprisingly bland even with the addition of blue cheese.
My sweet potato fries, while nice an crispy were....wait for it....underseasoned!
Diet Coke with overcooked and underseasoned bar food a good $20.00 lunch does not make.
With a final post-tip price tag of over $40.00 (FOR LUNCH), it can say with certainty that it was one of the more underwhelming restaurant experiences I have had in a while.
I don't plan on coming back anytime soon. -
Review from Emma M.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2008
Maybe I am biased of this place because I worked here for almost 4 years, but I really do think their food is some of the best in the North Shore. Compared to other local restaurants like Hackney's, CJ Arthurs, Homers, etc- Little Ricky's has a good menu with quality food.
It's a casual joint- don't expect over the top service nor is it a good place for a quiet, romantic dinner. It's a family restaurant with lots of kids, louder music and it can get quite busy.
All their food is made to order and they make all their own dressing for dips, salads, etc. The ribs, grilled salmon, tilapia, and even the burger are all fantastic. One thing to watch out for is how you like your meat cooked. If you like medium- ask for it medium rare. They tend to over cook meat.
Also, if you're looking for a fun/casual place to work- check it out! You can make really good money serving. :) -
Review from booyah s.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2009
TWO WORDS:
GRILLED CALAMARI
I haven't found anyone who knows how to make grilled calamari the real way. Way to go, Little Ricky's. -
Review from Sandra D.
Northfield, IL
10/22/2009
I'm basing this on takeout experiences -- we were not impressed. Just moved to the neighborhood, so we will certainly give them another try (and try to dine in) but the rubber chicken sandwich with tons of sage (and I mean tons) and "eh" bbq sandwich my husband had did not do much to impress.
I pass this place every night on the way home from the train station, and I know they are packed, so I am hoping our experience is the outlier...stay tuned... -
Review from Marie D.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2009
I like Little Ricky's but think it's expensive for what it is. I find that the salads and burgers are a good bet; sometimes the seafood entrees are awash in goopy sauces that overwhelm the fish. I wish they had a kids' menu; paying grown-up prices for mac 'n cheese seems unwarranted when they could half the portion and lower the price. I like the buzz here - lots of locals, lots of families, and always a packed bar. A good neighborhood joint.
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Review from Luke S.
6/29/2007 1 Check-in Here
Finally Winnetka has a nice dinner place. This place does it right, they don't have a very extensive menu, but everything is cooked to perfection. Their rib's are very good. The sweet potato fries are one of a kind and the Cobb Salad is the best I've had anywhere. Also if you like calamari they have three different dipping sauces which give it a very unique flavor. I have never had a bad meal here!
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Review from James B.
Glencoe, IL
8/30/2010
You can have a nice time at Ricky's -- I'd suggest trying Little Rickie's but keeping your expectations in check..
If you are there outside of family hours (day time lunch or late evening) it can be great place for a couple of friends to catch up--ask for a table w/comfy chairs in the back. There are some good items on the menu - ribs, calamari, burgers, some of the salads.
Rickie's can be really busy with parents and kids - families feel welcome and I'm sure its a big chunk of the business. Mom and dad can put away a few decent drinks, eat decent grown up good, and feel like they almost had a night out..
If your waiting to be seated and see a group of bar fly's teetering on their stools, turn around and walk right out - several times they've been loud enough to spoil an evening - I really wish they'd remove the TV.
Service has generally been professional and competent .
I'd be more of a regular @ Rickie's if I felt they put a little more effort into the menu (more variety, more changes) and the drinks ((how hard would it be to keep some really good wine or top shelf bourbons or Scotches around?) and the bar flys. -
Review from ALEXANDRA L.
Evanston, IL
2/16/2009
Good neighborhood bar. Order sauce on the side for the ribs. They are super tasty, but they overdo it with the sauce. Chicken strips are very nice: light breading, not greasy. Skip the mac & cheese as a side. Pulled pork also over-sauced. Appetizer sampler platter was good.
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Review from Matt P.
Tustin, CA
4/22/2010
Outstanding baby back ribs. Meat falls right off the bone. Sauce is tangy and not too sweet. Overall rating would be higher based on ribs alone.
However, two complaints. Sides were disappointing. Tried the regular fries and sweet potato fries (too crunchy), onion rings (small portion and much too greasy) and mac 'n cheese (very bland). Also, I ordered my food to go and was quoted 20 minutes. I arrived to pick up my dinner (on a Tuesday night) and it wound up being 45 minutes before my food was ready. Restaurant was rather unapologetic for a delay of over 100%.
Bottom line - Ribs outstanding (4 stars). Sides and service disappointing (2 stars). Net rating 3 stars. -
Review from Philip P.
Winnetka, IL
9/28/2010
Had a poor first experience (something in our food) but the manager came by personally and took care of us. Staff was friendly and BBQ was decent. Ordered a salad (Suzy something?) and it was excellent - went back a 2nd time for it and wasn't disappointed.
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Review from Blackie L.
Chicago, IL
8/19/2010
LR's is borderline ok. Which is a nice way of saying it isn't too good. It's got a nice casual bar vibe, and is comfortable inside and out. The menu looks good, and some of the bar food standards work... stick to things like wings and salads. The ribs are baked or boiled and fall off the bone in a bad way.... oversauced and boring. The mac and cheese was a disaster. Elbow noodles and velveeta. The greens are vegetarian, which kind of defeats the purpose. Not a terrible spot for a drink and a quick lunch or casual dinner, but for $20 you can do better.
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Review from Maria W.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2008
good laid back ambiance, decent beer selection and prices, a little pricier than I'm used to eating in similar places in the city, but good food and yummy onion rings
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Review from Charlie E.
Evanston, IL
4/14/2010
Service is a little hit or miss, but the food is decent. Great place to bring the family.
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Review from Eric H.
Evanston, IL
5/19/2010
Been to LR's a number of times and am always drawn to the Lucy's Shrimp Salad. Tasty, good sized grilled shrimp on salad fixings at a reasonable price. Ribs are decent as are the sweet potato fries.
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Review from jim a.
Winnetka, IL
4/13/2010
like this spot, i can walk there grab a cocktail and a slab of ribs or burger. the food travels well, and only once on a awhile are the ribs not delicious.
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Review from tim m.
Wilmette, IL
10/25/2008
Nice staff. Good lunch food. Love the sweet potato fries. Burgers are good as well as the pork sandwich.
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Review from Ryan F.
Winnetka, IL
3/11/2009
not my favorite but it is nice, bbk is very well mexicuted, takes a long time to order
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Review from Rockey F.
Winnetka, IL
Updated - 10/18/2009
Good food, healthy drinks. Mark is a great bartender. Get the sweet potato fries.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2009
Food's great, especially the fresh fish. Always order the sweet potato fries! Mark is the best… Read more »
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