Follia

4.7 (208)

$31 to $50

Italian

950 N Western Ave, Lake Forest, IL 60045-1742

Make a reservation

Follia

4.7

$31 to $50

Italian

Lake Forest

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 8, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 18 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Charming

Italian cuisine refined—blending tradition and innovation. Seasonal ingredients and handmade pastas combine with modern techniques, curated wines, and artful presentation for an elegant, authentic, and contemporary fine dining experience.

Follia means inspired madness—passion that defies convention. In our kitchen, it’s the courage to reimagine tradition with elegance, transforming each dish into a bold, refined expression of creativity, emotion, and culinary freedom.

Bruno Abate combined his passion for authentic Italian cuisine with a flair for modern design when he opened his first restaurant, Follia, in the Meatpacking District. He later launched Tocco in Winnetka and now brings the Follia name back with a new location in Lake Forest.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(847) 235-2028
Website
http://FolliaNorth.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
950 N Western Ave, Lake Forest, IL 60045-1742
Neighborhood
Lake Forest
Cross street
N Western Ave & E Woodland Rd
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Lake Forest Metra Station Westminster
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

ZUPPA$16.00
soup of the day
INDIVIA$16.00
endive, 15 year balsamic, shaved 24-month parmigiano
BOSCO$16.00
baby arugula, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, shaved 24-month parmigiano, lemon oil
FINOCCHI$18.00
fennel, orange segments, toasted almonds, shaved 24-month parmigiano, lemon oil
CAPRI$18.00
iceberg lettuce, arugula, romaine, endive, black olives, shallots, thyme, champagne vinaigrette, goat cheese, pecans
FOLLIA$18.00
romaine, cherry tomatoes, 24-month parmigiano, black garlic aioli
BURRATA$22.00
burrata, vine tomatoes, basil, evoo
PROSCIUTTO CRUDO$24.00
prosciutto di parma, olives, 24-month parmigiano
CAPESANTE$26.00
scallops, yeast cauliflower purée, clementine caper sauce, chives
FRITTURA$28.00
fried calamari & artichokes
TARTARE$30.00
tuna, crab meat, avocado, wasabi, spicy citrus, microgreens
PINSA$32.00
roman style flatbread, prosciutto di parma, burrata, arugula
GLUTEN FREE BREAD FOR TABLE$14.00

Pasta Fresca

PAPPARDELLE AL LIMONE$28.00
handmade pappardelle, lemon zest, 24-month parmigiano cream
PAPPARDELLE ALLA NORCINA$32.00
handmade pappardelle, italian sausage, black truffles, cream
TORTELLI AL POMODORO$28.00
handmade spinach ricotta tortelli, san marzano tomato sauce
TORTELLI AL TARTUFO$30.00
handmade spinach ricotta tortelli, black truffle cream sauce
GNOCCHI AL POMODORO$26.00
homemade potato gnocchi, san marzano tomato sauce, basil
GNOCCHI ALLA BOLOGNESE$28.00
homemade potato gnocchi, slow cooked beef bolognese
LASAGNA BOLOGNESE$30.00
handmade pasta, traditional beef ragu, bechamel

Pasta Di Grano Duro

TUMBARELLO$28.00
spaghetti, san marzano tomato sauce, basil, garlic
FUSILLONI$30.00
large fusilli, italian sausage, tomato sauce
TAGLIOLINI$30.00
tagliolini, prosciutto di parma, black truffles, 24-month parmigiano, rosemary butter
CARBONARA$30.00
spaghetti, italian pancetta, egg & 24-month parmigiano
CACIO PEPE$30.00
pici, 24-month parmigiano, black pepper
RISOTTO
risotto of the day

Secondi

Parmigiana di Melanzane$28.00
eggplant, smoked mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil pesto, 24-month parmigiano
Scaloppine di Pollo$34.00
chicken breast, lemon butter sauce, potato purée, spinach
Filetto di Maiale$38.00
pork tenderloin, bacon crust, sweet corn cream, spicy bok choy, cocoa powder, natural jus
Salmone$44.00
salmon, mustard cream sauce, spinach, shallots, sundried tomatoes, fresno chili couscous
Branzino$44.00
mediterranean sea bass fillet, green beans, roasted potatoes, thyme
Tonno$48.00
saku tuna, poppy seed crust, ginger nage, basil couscous, veal jus
Pacifico$64.00
chilean sea bass fillet, celeriac brandade, crustacean jus, microgreens
Tagliata$68.00
bone-in new york strip steak, rosemary oil, roasted potatoes, green beans

Dolci

Gelato$12.00
fior di latte, vanilla, Italian cookie, chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, strawberry, coconut
Sorbetto$12.00
mango, lemon, raspberry
Panna Cotta$14.00
flavor rotates weekly
Affogato$14.00
fior di latte gelato & espresso
Tiramisu$14.00
lady fingers, mascarpone, espresso, cocoa powder
Ananas$16.00
pineapple carpaccio, vanilla, anise, pink peppercorns, coconut gelato
Tortino$16.00
chocolate cake with a melted chocolate core, raspberry coulis, chocolate coulis, chocolate crumble, mango sorbet

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Follia.

4.7

(208)

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

North Suburbs
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Follia offers a "true dining experience" with "outstanding food" and "phenomenal service." Guests relish the authentic Italian cuisine, especially the butternut squash ravioli. The ambience is "perfect," highlighted by a chic decor and a welcoming atmosphere. Consistently praised for its "impeccable service," Follia is ideal for both everyday dining and special occasions.

208 Reviews

A
April
Chicago2 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The quality and the knowledge of the food being served is outstanding ! The serviced is well paced and creates a wonderful dining experience .
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K
Kim
San Francisco6 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Enjoyed our dinner very much at Follia! Appetizer Pinsa was delicious and all our entrees were very good too! Enjoyed some nice Brunello wine and a yummy dessert! Thought the price was as expected for a nice meal! Love that they’ve relaxed dress code too and can wear nicer jeans now! Highly recommend for a nice night out!
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C
Craig
Chicago8 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Huge, tasty and potent Black Manhattan. Fresh calamari; underwhelming capri salad verging on flavorless components. Perfectly prepared chilean sea bass accompanied by outrageously delicious potatoes but sitting in a barely room-temperature, over-fishy sauce. Rosemary oil did not play a big enough role in our pasta dish. Tangy raspberry sorbet; large amount of effort resulted in an average pineapple carpaccio dessert where we could not find the promised pink peppercorn punch. Service was great. All-in-all, above average experience for a pricy restaurant in a Lake Forest strip mall.
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G
Gregory Gold
Chicago9 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 31, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great experience all around. Pasta dishes were fresh and delicious, and loved the lamb chop special! Great service too! Will definitely be back. Highly recommended!
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C
Carol
Chicago6 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 27, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Follia truly embodies the beauty and culture of elegant dining. The food was outstanding, especially the freshly made butternut squash ravioli—straight from the kitchen with authentic quality you can taste. Beyond the exquisite meal and wonderful service, I deeply appreciate that the owner maintains a thoughtful dress code (discouraging baseball caps). This isn't just a place to hang out; it's a true dining experience.
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D
David Gold
Chicago8 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 17, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was delectable, as always, & our server Anthony is top-drawer being extremely knowledgeable in the food/wine offerings at the restaurant & having an approachable & very friendly demeanor.
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S
Soufiene Gold
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on October 15, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Amazing experience. Authentic Italian food. Phenomenal service.
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J
Jacquie
Chicago35 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 10, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I found this gem and wish I could get there more. Food is excellent. I have sat at the bar 3 times. Service is impeccable. I made a suggestion on a type.of beverage....and voila next time I came it was there. Now this is a place that really values its customers preferences. TY Follia for another great evening!!
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C
Carolyn Gold
Chicago7 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 9, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I have not had a meal this delicious in a long time! Everyone enjoyed their salad and meal, the service was fantastic, the ambience perfect and we felt the cost was truly reasonable! It was my second time there and I’ll be coming back again!
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J
Jeanie
Chicago13 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 8, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We recently celebrated my friend's birthday at Follia. Everything from the cocktails to the food was excellent. The bartender made an exceptional old fashioned. Our server was very attentive and made the birthday girl feel very special. We enjoyed a leisurely meal and were never rushed along. I highly recommend the chocolate lava dessert, although I would have preferred it with vanilla ice cream instead of mango sorbet.
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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(847) 235-2028
Website
http://FolliaNorth.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
950 N Western Ave, Lake Forest, IL 60045-1742
Neighborhood
Lake Forest
Cross street
N Western Ave & E Woodland Rd
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Lake Forest Metra Station Westminster
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

For a calmer, more relaxed meal, aim to sit on Follia’s courtyard patio, guests repeatedly praise the outdoor courtyard as a peaceful, lovely spot for dining.

Many guests report satisfying portions, pastas often leave diners happily full, and several reviews say you’ll leave very full after a meal at Follia.

Yes, Follia offers a pretty courtyard patio where guests often choose to dine al fresco and enjoy a peaceful outdoor setting.

Follia delivers an elegant, contemporary fine‑dining feel with thoughtfully designed interiors and a lovely courtyard, creating a warm, polished setting for special evenings.

Sunday is a popular choice, guests specifically praise Sunday visits, mentioning family dinners and pizza night as highlights.

Yes, Follia runs a popular pizza night that guests have attended (one recent visit noted it on a Sunday), with diners praising the pizza as a highlight.

Yes, Follia is frequently chosen for anniversaries and special evenings, with guests praising its elegant atmosphere, attentive service, and lovely courtyard for a romantic night out.

Yes, families dine at Follia; guests have celebrated occasions like high‑school graduations there and report enjoying dinners with children and family groups.

Business casual is the guideline, aim for a neat, put‑together look (think collared shirts, blouses, or smart dresses) rather than athletic or overly casual wear.

Yes, Follia has a full bar and an excellent wine list; guests mention martinis, Prosecco, spritzes, beer and well-crafted cocktails.

The Lasagna Bolognese is a recurring favorite, it appears on the menu and guests specifically praise the lasagna as excellent and piping hot.

Follia offers indoor dining and a comfortable bar area, plus a pretty outdoor courtyard patio where many guests choose to sit.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

Follia

4.7

$31 to $50

Italian

Lake Forest

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 8, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 18 times today

Follia

Make a reservation

Follia

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Antipasti

ZUPPA$16.00

INDIVIA$16.00

BOSCO$16.00

FINOCCHI$18.00

CAPRI$18.00

FOLLIA$18.00

BURRATA$22.00

PROSCIUTTO CRUDO$24.00

CAPESANTE$26.00

FRITTURA$28.00

TARTARE$30.00

PINSA$32.00

GLUTEN FREE BREAD FOR TABLE$14.00

Pasta Fresca

PAPPARDELLE AL LIMONE$28.00

PAPPARDELLE ALLA NORCINA$32.00

TORTELLI AL POMODORO$28.00

TORTELLI AL TARTUFO$30.00

GNOCCHI AL POMODORO$26.00

GNOCCHI ALLA BOLOGNESE$28.00

LASAGNA BOLOGNESE$30.00

Pasta Di Grano Duro

TUMBARELLO$28.00

FUSILLONI$30.00

TAGLIOLINI$30.00

CARBONARA$30.00

CACIO PEPE$30.00

RISOTTO

Secondi

Parmigiana di Melanzane$28.00

Scaloppine di Pollo$34.00

Filetto di Maiale$38.00

Salmone$44.00

Branzino$44.00

Tonno$48.00

Pacifico$64.00

Tagliata$68.00

Dolci

Gelato$12.00

Sorbetto$12.00

Panna Cotta$14.00

Affogato$14.00

Tiramisu$14.00

Ananas$16.00

Tortino$16.00

Loved For

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

FAQs

When is the best time to go to Follia?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

What is the best day to go to Follia?

Does this restaurant have any specials deals or experiences?

Is this a good pick for date night?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

What is the dress code for Follia?

Does this restaurant serve alcohol?

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What seating arrangements/rooms does this restaurant have?

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Follia

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