Inovasi Inovasi

Inovasi Menu

28 E. Center Ave. (Scranton Ave.)
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Map
Atypical flavor combos and a friendly vibe give this neighborhood gem from a storied chef city appeal.
Openings: Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner Mon.-Sat.

Features

Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL


Inovasi Restaurant Review:


Unless you live on the North Shore, this gem of a joint is a haul to get to. Mind you, it’s worth the trek. Soothing blue walls, bright light filtering in through oversize windows and glass partitions make the dining room and adjacent bar feel neighborhood-cozy, a fact that extends to the menu, where kids’ items are intentionally not dumbed down. There’s much to love about the grownup stuff from chef John des Rosiers (ex-Bank Lane Bistro, Charlie Trotter’s), too. It often leans unique. And while not everything appears to work on paper --- lightly breaded calamari with a duo of lemon-coconut and ginger-soy reductions, for example --- it usually delivers on the plate. The menu is highly seasonal, experimental and very subject to change, but a dish we enjoyed (and think you will, too) is the grilled steak with homemade spicy ketchup and a Japanese omelet. Simpler things prove satisfying as well, as evidenced by the true tomato bisque, made with San Marzano tomatoes and finished with crunchy tortillas. Desserts are every bit as exciting, as in a Tuscan Amarena cherry cake with warm goat milk and almonds. The wine list has plenty of depth (and approachability); craft cocktails, which include homemade infusions and syrups, push the envelope even further.