Best Pizza Place In Lake Forest Area: Readers Pick

LAKE FOREST, IL — The results are in from our survey of Lake Forest Patch readers for their choice of the best pizza place in town.

Dozens of readers submitted responses last week with their recommendations and go-to orders in our reader's poll, and a trio of established pizza joints in the Lake Forest area emerged as the clear favorites.

Number 1

With more than 36 percent of the vote, Buffo's, at 431 Sheridan Road in Highwood, was the clear top choice among Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch readers.

"Ingredients are always fresh and if highest quality. The pizza is always consistently excellent. A bonus is that the beer on tap is fresh, tasty and reasonably priced," one reader said. "I think of Buffo’s pizza as the 'prime rib of pizza.'"

For more than 40 years, the Highwood institution has grown from a hot dog stand in a location once occupied by founder Leonard Innocenzi's grandparents' grocery store, according to its website.

"The owner is so nice. Always comes around to talk to kids," another reader said. "Everyone knows him as 'Uncle Lenny.'"

"It’s a classic pizza not trying to be fancy. Top quality ingredients and a great family atmosphere," a reader said.

Favorite orders among respondents included the double decker, the Ollie special and the thin crust with sausage and vegetables.

Number 2

Ferentino's Pizzeria at 842 N. Western Avenue in Lake Forest was the second most popular pick in our survey, with support from more than 20 percent of respondents.

Ferentino's has been located in downtown Lake Forest for more than 30 years after moving from Highland Park, where it was founded in 1980.

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch readers praised its tradition, sauce and crust.

"Their sauce is fabulous & they're always made perfectly!"

Another reader remarked that "all crusts are great, sauce is best, generous toppings, never soggy."

Number 3

Donati's Pizza, 205 S. Waukegan Road in Lake Bluff, was the third most popular local pizza joint among Patch readers, with about than 15 percent of the vote in our our unscientific poll.

Founded in 2010, the Lake Bluff location opened in 2015. Reader's favored its Detroit-style pizza and thin crust specials.

"Fresh ingredients- creative combinations- options for crust style- options for healthy choices," one reader said.

As local eateries continue to find their way forward amid coronavirus, we're asking Patch readers to show love to their favorite local joints. Click on the links to the pizza places above to order or peruse menus.