Restaurants near Seward Forest Preserve

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodPizzeriaBarbecue

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for fine wines

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

27 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

A photo of The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge restaurant

1. The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge

4.2

Awesome(176)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Tapas / Small Plates • Rockford

Booked 4 times today

Experience panoramic views of historic downtown Rockford, Illinois, and the Rock River from 12 stories aloft. Featuring an inviting and modern atmosphere with an indoor lounge and seasonal two-tiered outdoor deck, The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge is the only one of its kind in Rockford. Serving hand-crafted signature cocktails, an extensive wine list, craft beers, and an expansive menu of shareable dishes inspired by cuisine around the world – The Top is the perfect spot for dinner or drinks.

A photo of Tower Kitchen & Bar restaurant

2. Tower Kitchen & Bar

4.2

Awesome(17)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Rockford

Booked 2 times today

Welcome to Tower Kitchen & Bar, where industrial-chic decor meets culinary excellence in downtown Rockford. Located on the park level of Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront, our restaurant offers stunning views of Davis Park and the serene Rock River, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.Indulge in our diverse menu featuring signature burgers, sandwiches, rustic made-from-scratch pizzas, shareables, and so much more. Pair your meal with a refreshing beverage from our full bar, boasting local craft beers, fine wines, and signature cocktails. Whether you're enjoying indoor seating or soaking in the scenery on our outdoor patio, Tower Kitchen & Bar invites you to savor the flavors of American cuisine amidst an inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of downtown Rockford.

3. Franchesco's

4.6

Exceptional(1428)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Rockford

Booked 13 times today

Beauty, Innovation, and culinary perfection, only begin to describe Franchesco’s Ristorante. A new generation of Salamone’s and a finely tuned management and wait-staff ensemble, promise to deliver on our customers’ demanding expectations. Our continued strive towards excellence, will only ensure our ability to grow our Franchesco’s Ristorante family.Please make all Benny's at Franchesco's reservations on this page.All special requests will be noted.

A photo of Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint restaurant

4. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint

4.7

Exceptional(2269)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Steak • Beloit

Booked 35 times today

With its rustic feel, hardwood floors and abundant photographs capturing historic Beloit, Merrill & Houston’s has branded itself to tell a great story, but, most importantly, its focus is on the classic steakhouse. The highest of quality steaks and seafood with down-to-earth and attentive service make you feel like you are at your best friend’s home.

5. Velvet Buffalo

4.8

Exceptional(877)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Beloit

Booked 6 times today

Modern in experience. Timeless in taste.Velvet Buffalo Modern Italian delivers fresh ingredients with a side of rustic charm. Our rotating seasonal menu features thoughtfully crafted dishes made from scratch that are inspired by the many regions of Italy–from house-made pasta and artisan-style bread to sustainably sourced seafood and our own spin on traditional desserts.

A photo of Red Lobster - Rockford restaurant

6. Red Lobster - Rockford

4.1

Excellent(6)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Rockford

Booked 1 time today

Elevate your day at Red Lobster, where fun meets fancy and every meal is a celebration. Whether you’re marking a special occasion or treating yourself or your crew, Red Lobster is the perfect place to enjoy all your seafood favorites. Dive into our signature shrimp, wild caught lobster and crab, and more. Plus, a variety of fish and popular non-seafood items like our Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo. Looking for a showstopper? Create Your Own Ultimate Feast or select a Live Maine Lobster straight from the tank. Or explore our Daily Deals with a different special available each weekday at a price you’ll love. Toast the day with Signature Cocktails including Lobster Punch and Main Deck Margarita Flights to make any moment feel festive. You won’t want to miss our newest menu items or special promotions like Lobsterfest and Crabfest. Reserve online today. Group Dining, To Go, or Catering options. For parties of 11+, please call.

A photo of Fresco at the Gardens restaurant

7. Fresco at the Gardens

4.6

Exceptional(661)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Rockford

At the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Fresco at the Gardens serves artisanal breakfast and lunch to match its beautiful surroundings. For breakfast, which can be enjoyed anytime Fresco at the Gardens is open, savory options like the biscuits and gravy made with challah rolls topped with organic pork sausage, chorizo and herbs and the whimsical green eggs and ham with homemade pesto sauce and local asiago cheese, are irresistible. Sweet breakfast choices include the healthy start waffles with Fresco granola and topped with vanilla Greek yogurt and berries and the rock candy French toast, rolled in cinnamon rock sugar, both of which are ideal with a fresh-pressed strawberry orange juice.Popular lunch entrees at Fresco at the Gardens include the Salmon Oscar, a crab stuffed salmon served over cauilflower quinoa rice with grilled asparagus and hollandaise sauce.

A photo of Famous Dave's - Rockford restaurant

8. Famous Dave's - Rockford

5.0

Exceptional(1)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Rockford

Booked 1 time today

Our authentic BBQ starts in a live-wood smoker stoked with genuine hickory logs. Our pitmasters hand-rub the meats with a custom blend of spices and cook for hours to extract the natural flavors. We source the highest quality meats and trim them up like we’re in a competition and hand-rub them with the freshest seasonings available to create mouthwatering experiences! In addition to our BBQ and grilled meats, our menu features a selection of salads, sandwiches, side items, and made-from-scratch desserts.

A photo of Stone Porch Alehouse restaurant

9. Stone Porch Alehouse

4.6

Exceptional(76)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Verona

Booked 7 times today

Stone Porch is named after it's huge stone wrap around porch but we don't let that vibe end there. Comfort food, refreshing cocktails to warm up the insides and a great team looking to make your visit memorable. Our head chef, Jacob Goldsberry, believes that from scratch is always best and that brings an authenticity to each dish that will remind you of home.

10. 1878 On The Lake

4.1

Excellent(508)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• American • Lake Geneva

Booked 7 times today

With panoramic waterfront views, an innovative menu inspired by our Midwestern roots, and an all-new interior design, we invite you to dine with us lakeside at 1878 on the Lake. Join us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and enjoy our all new menus, with a unique twist, as we pay homage to Lake Lawn Resort's long-standing history and celebrate what's to come.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
Wisconsin •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
It was our 18th wedding anniversary and we were greeted and congratulated by at least 3 different people. The Anniversary card and champagne toast was also a very heartwarming touch as well thank you! Our server was fantastic and very attentive to us throughout. Our food was delicious and we brought home enough for another meal. We couldn’t have had asked for a nicer evening.
More info
Merrill & Houston’s Steak JointPrice: Expensive• Steak• Beloit
•
4.7
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
The food was fine stake a bit over the cook. It was very loud in there but over all a fun time
More info
The Top Rooftop Bar & LoungePrice: Moderate• Tapas / Small Plates• Rockford
•
4.2
A
AnneVIP
Phoenix / Arizona •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Food is outstanding! Absolutely love this restaurant.
More info
Franchesco'sPrice: Moderate• Italian• Rockford
•
4.6
K
KarenVIP
New York City •15 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Love VB! Great service from alyssa and emma. Get the burrata, mussels, chicken piccata. Soooooo good!
More info
Velvet BuffaloPrice: Moderate• Italian• Beloit
•
4.8
TS
TomS
Nashville •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Feb 28, 2025
Took 40 min before waitress stopped at our table we did 2 trips to the bar for drinks on our own while we waited ( bar was great) for service. Waitress was very sorry and blamed it on hostess for not telling her we were seated. She did an outstanding job. We missed the beginning of the concert at the Coronado. Great hotel- just a bad night of service. Will go back
More info
Tower Kitchen & BarPrice: Moderate• American• Rockford
•
4.2

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