The Best Local Restaurants In Joliet Illinois

Fom classic American steakhouses to quirky twists on European cuisine, Joliet has a restaurant to suit every taste. We recommend 10 of the city’s best restaurants.

Al’s Steakhouse

One of the oldest high-end restaurants in Joliet, Al’s Steakhouse was established in 1964. Once a famed nightclub, with various bands playing to guests late into the night, the restaurant’s focus has shifted over the years to serving high-quality, memorable dishes in a luxurious, upscale environment. Plush red leather corner seats, crisp white tablecloths and warm ambient lighting add to the chic, inviting atmosphere, while antique gates from a Joliet landmark – the Joliet Citizens Brewery – affixed to the wall, pay homage to Al’s Steakhouse’s local heritage. The food is as enjoyable as the surroundings – char-grilled, Grecian-style steaks with double baked potatoes are a specialty, while the seafood is delivered fresh every day.

Barolo Ristorante

Old-Fashioned Pancake House

A cosy, friendly diner, the Old-Fashioned Pancake House is a one-stop venue for all your dining needs. Although they specialise in breakfasts, offering an enormous variety of eggs, skillets and fluffy pancakes soaked in syrup and served with fruit, their lunch and dinner options are as equally varied and impressive. From seafood to Italian, Asian to Greek, all types of palates and cuisines are catered for, with high quality and freshness maintained in all of the dishes. Portion sizes are incredibly generous and for those who still have some room left, the restaurant features a tempting dessert counter, with a number of homemade cakes and pies on display.

Syl’s Restaurant and Lounge

Bringing an abundance of old-school class and elegance to the Joliet dining scene, Syl’s Restaurant and Lounge has been a Joliet institution since 1946. Stepping inside, guests are met with an oriental-style carpet and sconces and elegant drapery fill the room with charm. Diners can either eat at tables covered with pressed white tablecloths, or at the chic wraparound bar. The dishes are equally elegant, while still remaining generously portioned and full of satisfying flavours – steaks and chops are carefully aged and barbequed or broiled to perfection and can be served alongside fresh scallops or lobster tails as a luxurious treat.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.