Wow! This place is out of sight fantastic! I've been here a few times now and am always impressed. Everything is home made. Home made pasta, soups, ravioli, cookies and desserts. Their home made pastas are incredible. Service is outstanding. They always have really good fresh greens in their salads. If the pumpkin ravioli is on the menu you HAVE to get it! One of the best constructed dishes I have ever had in my life. It's a cold light dish though FYI. I love that they always serve fresh breads with oil and pram to start the meal. Don't leave without a few cookies! They rock!
Review Source:Unbelievable atmosphere perfect way staff everyone's friendly the sausages Italian food is delicious the olive oil is breathtaking the sweet keep you coming back for more I think I might actually be in a sugar coma
If you have a chance take the opportunity to support this local business a family Operation creating unbelievable treats, sweets and delightful eats.
Tina's has good food, nice portion size (decent but not too big that you feel stuffed and yucky afterward) and a nice variety. I had the soup and half sandwich combo with eggplant parm, and it was lovely. The soup was good, too-- the day I was there (Feb 16, 2013), they had roasted red pepper along with their daily option of minestrone. I went with the red pepper and it was very nice.
My only complaint was the tiramisu--it comes in a little cup and has good flavor, but unfortunately, I found it to be mostly cheese filling and not so much ladyfinger. I got tired of the richness and didn't finish it (which is really, really weird for me).
I'd be happy to go back, though, especially for takeout. We were sitting far from the door but the wintery air chilled us every time someone entered are left regardless.
I've probably been here 5 times now and I've yet to be disappointed. Â Tina is doing good things here and I'm happy that I have customers nearby that need to be taken to lunch. Â 4 out of 5 times, I've gotten the cold pumpkin ravioli. Â I had to be talked into it the 1st time but now, Â it's a must. Â The one time I came and it wasn't on special a tear ran down my face. I forget what I had that time but it was also amazing. Â Everything is fabulous here! Â Minestrone! Pumpkin Soup! Â The cookies! Â Everything. Â If you're in the area, I highly recommend it.
Review Source:Here's the real deal: Â there is a dearth of even decent restaurants north of half day road (Highwood excepted). Â In fact, you can say there are no good restaurants north of 22 except..... Tina's Bake Shop. Â Fresh fresh fresh ingredients - did I say fresh? Â I have eaten here more than fifty times and have never had a bad meal. Her egg salad is so good it doesn't need bread. Â Her bread is to die for, her salads are....fresh, fresh, fresh. Â The place is clean as a whistle, the waitresses have worked there for years (Tina must be doing something right), and the pastries, though limited (although I suspect that has a lot to do with keeping quality up) are heaven in a delicate pastry. All in all, simply the best place for lunch I've ever been to, and I lived in Chicago's loop for twenty years. Â Ain't nothing like it. Â Try it once and you'll be back.
Review Source:I absolutely love this place! Â The staff is super friendly. Â Tina herself is a sweetheart and cooks all of the food herself in the morning so everything is always fresh. Â I have had tried almost everything on the menu and have loved it all. Â It's a little on the pricey side but totally worth it.
Review Source:A great place to eat in Gurnee, which is full of chain restaurants that are nothing special.
Absolutely delicious food - the eggplant parmesan is the best that I've ever had and their hot vegetable sandwich (I can't remember what it's called) was outstanding as well. Great pesto.
The service is always great. It's a cute little restaurant and every time I've been, I've seen Tina. I think it's always nice to see the owner talking to the customers.
Their cannolis and tiramisu is absolutely outstanding!!! I would recommend this place to everyone.
Tina's is a nice escape from all of the chain restaurants in the Gurnee/Waukegan/Park City area. I work down the street and every day it's a struggle to find something good for lunch. The menu here includes pastas, salads and sandwiches. So far I've only tried the special bucatini pasta with Italian sausage but I will definitely be back to sample more items.
Review Source:My favorite thing to do here is enjoy expresso with one of the delicious baked goods. Â Everything there tastes good and the ambience is nice. Â The lunch is a less delightful experience, because the times I have gone, the salad has been a) swimming in dressing and b) plated right next to the hot food and as a result wilted. Â If you can get it unwilted and properly dressed, the salad with pears is really good. Â I'm giving 4 stars in spite of the downsides because the food is so good.
Review Source:Stopped in here for lunch after a visit to nearby Kroll's farm. Â Pleasantly surprised with the food! Â I had a chicken sandwich with pesto that was out of this world, along with terrific minestrone soup. Â Homemade breads and potato chips were a hit. Â Desserts were fantastic. Â We were a group of 5 and I was concerned because many reviewers mentioned that this is a rather small spot, however we were seated quickly even though we arrived right in the middle of the lunch rush on a Saturday. Â Everything tasted very fresh and the service was friendly. Tina's is definitely worth a stop if you are nearby!
Review Source:I cannot explain why I have not submitted a review sooner, since we have been patrons for years. My only defense is that we probably do not fully regard Tina's as a business, but more like a favorite auntie's familiar kitchen, where she serves food that is similar to mom's, about as good, but in a different way good ... as it should be. Food is always top quality, prepared on premises from scratch, wholesome and fresh. As is the case concerning Tina, there is no pretension about it.
Since Tina's is a small establishment, a bakeshop cafe, with very limited seating, either plan to arrive at opening (Not 5 minutes after!) or between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, when you can be seated, order and eat at your leisure. You may also observe Tina peel garlic or chop something for the next day, as she simultaneously directs her staff and motions, with pairing knife in hand, them through their daily closing and cleaning routines (always with bleach) without missing a beat.
Whatever you select for your meal, leave room for cannoli or cookies to sweeten your departure.
As many have mentioned before me, and quite frankly one of the reasons I stopped in, this is the perfect hidden gem. An Italian ristorante, cafe tucked away with authentic decor; petite tables, pasta boxes, photographs of Tina and family, etc.
I indulged in: Organic greens salad with croutons, tomatoes, provolone cheese, and house dressing. (Of course we started with Tina's infamous fresh, homemade bread and grated Parmesan.)
Tip: Watch and get to know Tina, she loves food and her guests.
I had to meet some friends for lunch in Gurnee over the weekend, and we didn't want to go to a chain restaurant. Â Tina's Italian Bake Shop came up on our Yelp search, so we decided to check it out. Â The restaurant was really easy to find, the eating area was spacious, the service was friendly, the whole place just smelled good, and the sandwiches were excellent. Â I had the Panini di Manzo (or something to that effect), which was essentially Italian beef. Â The sandwich was huge - I only ate half of it for lunch when it was hot, and I had the other half later served cold. Â It was excellent both times around - the bread was fresh, they didn't skimp on the meat, and the seasoning was very good. Â The chips were blah. Â Also, my friends and I split two desserts - cannoli and tiramisu - which were pretty good. Â Overall, this place is a great alternative to the Gurnee Mills dining scene if you happen to find yourself in the Gurnee area.
Review Source:Yummmm. It seemed like there were only chains out here for lunch options, but thanks to Yelp, I found this delicious non-chain. It's sit down but not very large and I'm guessing you can get stuff to go and bakery items. You pay at the register on your way out.
It did not disappoint. I wish I could remember the name of the sandwich I ordered.. but it had salami and capicola and pesto? Very good. Attentive but not too attentive service, which was just right. I'll definitely come back here.
Gets 4 stars because it's a bit pricey, but it is all made fresh and very delicious. Tina is very friendly and is there all the time, you don't always see that from an owner. The wait staff is very nice and on top of things.
It is a small area so seating is limited, from 11:30-12:30 during the week, it's hard to get a table right away. There is some patio seating when the weather is nice, which is always very enjoyable.
I've never had a bad dish here. The bolognese sauce is amazing. I usually get the chicken salad sandwich. I am not a big chicken salad fan, but I do love Tina's.
My family and I recently ate at Tina's, and had a great experience!
The food is very fresh, with upscale ingredients - not only did what we have look and taste great, but every dish I saw looked wonderful! The soup, even though we got there near closing time, was still fresh and tasty! We will be back again and again. It's clear from our experience that the dishes are made with love and care, and that makes this place SPECIAL!
Some notes - the prices are high, but if you are looking for a treat, this is it... if you can afford to pay around $10 - $15 a plate, it's worth it. Another "drawback" is they are only open for lunch on the week days (past 3:00 CT they're closed). Lastly, they have a PATIO for outside dining - this seems to be a rarity in Gurnee... it's a lovely little outside area, reminds me of France!
Simply Good Food.
The food is fresh, delicious, seasonal, and simple. They make their own bread there daily and it shows. The bread is flaky, soft, buttery, and just a little bit spongy. And it complimented the olive oil and parmesan dip that they serve on the side. The flavors remind me of a great home cooked meal. It's like the house you never want to leave because you know you'll be fed well.
The staff was kind and attentive and I loved the charm of the place + the cookies at the counter were delicious. Good portions and reasonable pricing. Tina's is the way Italian food should taste.
Since growing up in an Italian family, I love homemade Italian food. When I walked into Tina's It felt like home. I knew it was good as soon as I smelled the spaghetti sauce. The food is excellent, which is why it is so packed. I highly recommend this place, and wish they were open for dinner.
Review Source:My favorite "find" for lunches at work and the price can't be beat.
First of all the atmosphere is so welcoming, it feels like you're eating in a long lost Italian grandmother's kitchen :)
It's very hard for me to break my rule of always trying something new b/c the chicken salad sandwhich/salad is SO GOOD. I absolutely love their summer salad (mixed greens...strawberries...mangoes) and fresh out of the oven focaccia.
The roasted pumpkin soup is also a great (and I think seasonal) choice.
Desserts are home made too - so no matter how full you are you must at least take one to-go (tiramisu....mascarpone brownie)
This quaint cafe is the perfect place to meet a friend for lunch or just dessert and coffee. Â In the morning, it is also a nice and quiet place to grab a cup of coffee and to do some work on your laptop. Â The staff is so friendly and welcoming, the homemade food is really delicious, and the atmosphere is comforting. Â The shelves are decorated with family photos, and the tablecloths are crocheted by Tina's mother, which gives the cafe a home-like feeling. Â They offer a homemade minestrone plus a soup special everyday. Â The minestrone is the best I've ever had. Â If I could get my hands on that recipe, I would make vats of it and eat it everyday.
I'm usually get the 1/2 sandwich and bowl of soup combo (because I cannot come here without getting Tina's minestrone). Â There is also a list of entree specials, which changes everyday as well. Â The regular menu offers tasty sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads, which are all made from scratch.... even the bread! Â It is obvious that Tina and her staff are passionate about food and friendly service.
They also cater!
Had lunch here on Friday and everything was delicious. It was hard not to fill up on the bread that they put on the table with the olive oil and cheese....awesome! I could have just eaten that. The salad I ordered had spinach, pears, walnuts, Gorgonzola with a vinaigrette dressing....awesome! I was kind of in a hurry because I had to get back to work, didn't have time for dessert- but it's def on my list for next time.
I wish the place was bigger! It was super busy....
Talk about a hidden gem, geez. Â Where have you been all my life, Tina? Â The companion's mom frequently brings home baked goods from Tina's and the occasional lasagna which is darn good, but what a great lunch spot, particularly if you're tired of the various chains in the area. Â
All the baked goods and breads are made in house. Â And everything is delicious. Â The 1/2 sandwich and soup combo includes any of the many sandwiches, including the delicious Italian sausage sandwich that I tried. Â The housemade minestrone was a perfect complement to it. Â
There are lots of veg options for my main squeeze, which puts this place high on the rotation for parental visits. Â
Service is super fast, super friendly, and when we went there were brownie samples at the register. Â BROWNIE SAMPLES.
One of my favorite little family owned italian bistro. Delicious grilled vegetable sandwich on fresh bread and salad with the best berry vinaigrette with mango and spring mix, yum! Very great service. They treat you well and I have been there several times and it's always excellent. Clean and neat. I've brought friends there and they always fall in love and want to return. It's one of those places you take friends visiting the area. it's amazing! And prices are very reasonable. It is a lunch place, so they close usually around 3-3:30. Just a heads up! Enjoy!!
Review Source:I had read the reviews for Tina's Italian Bake Shop and couldn't wait to try it myself. It did not disappoint! Everything tastes homemade and perfectly balanced.
My husband and I have been there a couple times now. We have tried the following:
Imbottito sandwich (my husband's new fav Italian cold cuts sandwich)
Chicken salad sandwich (tasty)
Meatball and sausage platter (yum)
Lasagna (fresh and filling, and surprisingly good red sauce)
Tiramisu (to die for)
Tiramisu cake (yum)
Everything we've had has been delicious, and seems like homemade. The complimentary sliced fresh mini loaf was soft and fresh and perfect for sopping up red sauce. The meatball was moist and packed with flavor, though a tad salty. We could really taste the bell pepper without it actually being in it. The Italian sausage was probably the best I've ever had. Its flavors were perfectly balanced without being spicy or salty. Flavorful and cooked perfectly! The tiramisu was surprising to me because it was in a cup and I am used to a cake-like presentation. Â This did have the soaked cake but the proportion of "custard" to cake was overwhelming in the best way. Custard is probably not the best way to describe it as it was very light and airy, but heavier than a mousse, and every spoonful packed with a tiramisu punch. I even think the ladyfingers were homemade, or at least tasted better than any I have had before. I will get this tiramisu every time I visit now.
They also had these seemingly homemade gourmet potato chips with Parmesan- delicious and crisp- and an awesomely subtle honey mustard salad dressing.
So, to wrap up, really good and balanced flavors, homemade and fresh, don't miss the tiramisu! :) Â It loses a few points for being limited (bakeshop wise)and a bit pricey, but the quality more than makes up for it.
Taste: 3
Value: 3
Service: 3
I came here for lunch with a friend. We both ordered one of the today's specials: chicken salad sandwich with mango salad ($10). The mango salad was okay, although it also had strawberries and cheese with the greens. The chicken salad sandwich was also so-so; the bread was slightly toasted and actually a bit oily, but it had tomatoes. The bread we were given after being seated was also very subpar. Overall, not too impressed.
Great Italian food in an unexpected strip mall setting with Six Flags in the background. Â The scent of this place is wonderful when you walk in ... a mix of fennel, anise, and basil. Â As others have noted, there is not a wide baked goods selection but what they have is good and fresh. Â You can see Tina dusting almond horns while you eat.
We came here for lunch and left happy. Â Tried a pasta special and a sandwich, both were delicious and tasted fresh. Â Portions are human-sized and human-priced ($7-10) for lunch. Â These are not chain restaurant-sized portions for gargantuan eaters.
If you dread the thought of eating corn dogs and funnel cakes at Six Flags, stop into Tina's to eat some real food beforehand.
Tina's Bake Shop is one of the best restaurants in Lake County. The food is always fresh, hot and awesome. the service is great too. You can tell that Tina takes pride in her food. My favorite is the Bandiera Italian sandwich. I also love the soup. Today's was cream of asparagus. The tiramisu is to die for. It's better than anything in Italy. It's Tina's mom's recipe and you can tell. The bread is so fresh and I love that there is cheese and olive oil on the table waiting for you. This is our Saturday lunch spot many days out of the year.
Review Source:I've heard a lot about this restaurant particularly in the past 2 weeks (all good), and had to try it out. You'd drive right past it if you didn't know it was there, but the goodness is right behind a tiny sign in the plaza on the southeast corner of Washington & 21 in Gurnee. It is family owned, and Tina herself works in the kitchen and behind the counter daily. It is only open for breakfast and lunch and is closed on Sundays, so plan your visit accordingly. The restaurant is small and cozy, kind of like you're having lunch in someone's kitchen. I loved it!
Ten feet from the front door you are greeted with the scent of fresh baked goods and Italian goodness. If you aren't hungry when you walk in, you will be by the time you sit down. The menu has plenty of variety - salads, soups, sandwiches, and Italian pasta favorites like spaghetti & meatballs and lasagna. And you won't miss the dessert collection on the way in - plenty of fresh baked cookies, pastries, and tiramisu, which all look amazing.
Fresh bread with olive oil and parmesan waits at the table for you, so I started with that (perfect mushy Italian bread!) and a cup of the amazing cream of asparagus soup. I chose a salad with grilled pears, gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, mixed greens, and a light vinegarette dressing as the main course. To finish things off I had a rolled cinnamon pasty around cream cheese filling and it was honestly one of the tastiest desserts I have ever had anywhere. All this with a Diet Coke and I left stuffed for only $16. Perfecto!
Tina's is the perfect place to meet for lunch! Â It always has a great daily menu, and a menu of favorites. Â The sandwiches are perfect, full of fresh ingredients and flavor and the soups are usually to die for. Â Make sure you save room for dessert, I love the Double Chocolate Marscapone Brownies!!!!!
Tina takes real pride in her business, she takes the time to stop by your table and make sure that you're enjoying yourself. Â A lot of the people who go there are regulars and it can get a bit crowded at lunch. Â Tina also offers Italian language classes there some evenings and recently started teaching baking classes as well.
Its pure perfection hidden in a strip mall.
What a cute little gem in a strip mall. When we went here to grab a bite at lunch time, this place was packed! We had to wait a few minutes for a table but it was well worth the wait. Everyone I was with had the same thing, chicken salad sandwich with summer fruit salad, Gorgonzola cheese and greens. We were here about a week ago and I was surprised to see summer fruit on still the menu. The fruit consisted of a berry mix.
My only complaint was the bread was a tad bit oily for me. The sandwich was very rich and the dressing was sweet and tangy. We also all shared a cannoli and that was very good too! There was ample amount of sweet ricotta cheese and pistachios! I can't wait to try more options on the menu. It's reasonably priced and you will find a great variety of Italian deli items.
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