In the Raw

The owners here are scumbags. I’m glad Marcus shut you down.

Yup… Closed.
Ironically enough, in response to my earlier comment /​and then «snippety» little reply from owner… Chipotle is still open and busy everyday! LOL.
To bad this place couldn’t make it work. From bad service, wackadoo owner, mediocre food, and crazy prices — its a shock this place didn’t last!!!

The hours are very flakey and not as listed. Best to call well in advance to make sure they are not closed when you want to visit.

Three of us came for lunch on Saturday. My «fetticini alfredo» and my friend’s quinoa bowl were really really delicious! In fact, since I haven’t eaten anything that felt or tasted like fetticini since I gave up gluten 18 months ago, I was in heaven! My other friend’s mushroom pizza had great toppings, but the gluten free crust was a little too sticky/​chewy/​something. The service was great, and the décor is comfortably casual. We’ll definitely be back.

Okay so this is the semi new place to join the streets of downtown HP taking over the old shee boutique. It’s been a while since I wanted to try it but I wanted to wait till the weather is warmer so I can sit at one of their outdoor chairs as they have a nice outdoor section for beautiful spring weather (however little that happens in Chicago). Anyway, the first time I stopped by I was on the run and wanted to get a menu to go, the girl up front wasn’t so nice and said «sorry, online only» Umm okay, nothing to take home to look at, no biggie. Than I went online, and although all the dishes seem to be there, there are no prices, which is kind of annoying if you want to plan your lunch. I heard it was pricey, I just had no idea how pricey the place was.
Anyway, I was walking by the other day and thought let’s just try a smoothie and sit outside since honestly, nothing really looked that appetizing to me from the menu. $ 15 pad Thai is a little too much for me, organic, vegan, gluten free or not. I mean this isn’t Sunda or some super fancy downtown joint. Oh well, I wasn’t going to be too judgmental just yet. We each ordered the liquid gold juice smoothies since she said that’s a popular item. For $ 9 yes $ 9 plus tax you get a green smoothie filled with kale, cucumber, celery, apple and lemon. I thought it was okay, I think it would have been a little sweeter with pineapple but it was drinkable. Would I get it again? Absolutely not. My other coworker got a salad and a smoothie and spent $ 26 and it was just okay. Plus the salad lacked some major dressing. We also had one of their desserts a while back to go, I think it was some kind of banana bread which tasted horribly. Maybe horrible is super healthy but than I’d rather not be so healthy.
In the raw gets points for being nice ordering the smoothies and they get a star for having outdoor seating and a cute, trendy like atmosphere on the inside. But as far as the food and the prices, it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever had, but definitely not enjoyable. Plus, I feel like some of the menu items were easy enough to make at home for a lot less money. In the raw did not impress me. Sorry. Will I send my vegan and gluten free friends over? I think so, as maybe they will have a better experience.

I admit it. I’m a procrastinator when it comes to writing Unilocal reviews but I felt like I had to review this place ASAP. The boyfriend and I came here yesterday hoping for a healthy dinner that would make us feel good. The meal was healthy (vegetarian, vegan and raw) but did not make us feel good… Why, you ask?
First off, the prices are ridiculous. We ordered lasagna, a flatbread and a vegetable juice and the total cost was over $ 40!!! To break it down for you, the «lasagna» consisted of various thinly sliced raw veggies stacked on a plate. It was tasty but definitely NOT worth $ 14+. It wasn’t even cooked! Second, we waited at least 30 minutes for our mushroom flatbread to come to our table. The waitress came by the table twice to let us know it was «on its way» and after 30 minutes were finally informed that the oven broke and that’s why it took so long. Really? If I had known how disgusting gluten-​free pizza crust is, I would have asked for a refund and saved myself $ 14 and 30 minutes. To be fair, I’m not sure if all gluten-​free pizza is gross or if it was just here. Finally, the pre-​bottled veggie juice was not tasty. My boyfriend always finishes his entire vegetable juice/​fruit juice/​smoothie when we go to to a health food store but he could barely finish half of the bottle here. Not a good sign.
Do your wallet a favor and steer clear of In The Raw. There are plenty of other restaurants in the Highland Park area.

I went with a group to celebrate a special birthday and we all absolutely LOVED In the Raw! The food was fresh, the presentation flawless, and the prices affordable. Since we were in a large group, we all took turns ordering and trying each others’ dishes — and agreed on a few favorites; the raw pizza and the highland park spicy roll were at the top of our list, and the cauliflower soup and mushroom dumplings were quite delicious too! After a fully satisfying meal, we decided to splurge and share seven of the daily dessert specials. All I can say is the chocolate frosted brownie and the mango cheesecake didn’t last long :) We are definitely fans, happy to recommend In The Raw, and come back with even more friends and family in the future.

Very tasty vegan and vegetarian fare, met the owner Beth who is an affable and charming lady. I had the sandwich and salad combo, it was very tasty, hearty and satisfying fare. My chica had the mushroom dumplings with carrot wonton wraps, really neatly presented, and super tasty.
I echo other reviewers comments that their prices are extremely reasonable given that this is freshly produced organic food. Many other area restaurants are charging as much or more for crap they buy from Sysco or poured out of a can. At In The Raw you can enjoy great, delicious food that is good for you at competitive prices, as far as north ‘burb dining goes.
I also tried the banana/​cinnamon tasty juice concoction my chica grabbed to go, and it was really yummy. Saw lots of folks coming in to get juices to go while I was there.
I would absolutely return to In The Raw, I want to come back and try the organic tequilas and rums!!!

Unilocal! As Good As It Gets…
This place is delicious, scrumptious, nutritious, and oh so yummy. If you have never tried a Raw Food Restaurant, this is the place to come.
Do not fear, every bite is going to be delicious, I promise.
They have so much to offer and everything looks amazing. So my friends and I decided to order a few things to share. First off, the Kale Salad, OMG DELISH! Avocado, Chili Lime Pepitas, Red Pepper, Tomatoes, and radish; Creamy Chipotle Dressing. YUM!
Mushroom Dumplings — Outstanding
Samosas — Okay for me, but my friends LOVED IT!
Tacos — Lets not forget these tasty bites, this dish was packed with so much flavor, that I’m ready to go now. Who wants to come with me?
Word of caution, if you decide to hike it up there on the weekend, they close at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday — Closed.

I have been to this place at least 4 times and love it every time I have been there. I have been there for Lunch and Dinner.
Let me start by saying this place is NOT expensive, not sure why people are saying that but they are crazy. Nothing on the menu is more than $ 15. The food is 100% organic, vegan & gluten free which is awesome! The food is fresh and highly recommend it. I wish there were more places like it in the suburbs.
I am the only one of my friends and family that eat vegan, gluten free but everyone I have taken, has loved it. I went with a group of 4 for dinner and everyone loved what they had. We had the pizza, tacos, a mango bowl, zucchini pasta & desserts. All great! The next 3 times I had the kale salad and that is because its good not to get. Also the kale chips on the side were awesome! People with me has had nachos, other bowls and salads and liked everything. The desserts were awesome as well.
Also the smoothies /​juices are great. Great ingredients = great food. I highly suggest this place!
Will be going back any time I’m in highland park. If I lived close by I would be there probably once a week.

Awesome! I owe it to Candice to remind me that this place was worth trying.
In coming here, I had one significant focus: eating healthy. Having good food out of the deal was definitely a plus. I thought it was a café, but it turns out to be a bit of a trendy restaurant. They serve you really fast, and service was fine overall. Oh and if you’re allergic to nuts, this is probably not the place to go, for the most part. I know they can cook to compensate for nut allergies but you would have to ask them for everything you order, most likely.
I started with the beet «ravioli», if you can even call it a ravioli. It was more like a beet-​made fruit roll-​up with macadamia nut cheese, basil pesto and balsamic dressing. They looked really unique, and were honestly quite good. Even my picture doesn’t show how they were so thin they were glowing red in the light. The flavor profile was unique and good, more along the lines of something I’d expect at a high class restaurant or somewhere like green zebra than a place that nearly brands itself a café. For a drink, we ordered the Vitality — Tomato, Carrot, Beet, Bell Pepper, Celery, Kale, Parsley, Lemon, Jalapeño. I couldn’t taste the Jalapeño, personally — but it was a decent juice. I think it’s more a question of if you like healthy juices, and not at all like the kind of things I would regard as horrible which would basically consist of most Jamba Juice drinks.
That was followed up with the Mexican Quinoa Bowl, while my partner in crime had the Eggplant Parmesan. The Mexican Quinoa Bowl was not as big as I had hoped (hey, I’m a big eater), but I would imagine it’d be fine for the average person. It was an awesome combination, though. It had pico de gallo, guacamole, quinoa and greens with a chipotle dressing. I wouldn’t say the dressing actually tasted chipotle but it was great, and mixed well with the other ingredients.
The partner in crime had the Eggplant «parmesan» with Almond Parmesan and Walnut breaded eggplant. I thought the eggplant was so hard it felt like something that had been in the microwave a little too long, but maybe that was just me. The sauce was good, and they also julienned some zucchini to go with it. I liked it, but the texture of the eggplant was again notable.
Lastly, some Tiramisu — which was only somewhat tasting like normal Tiramisu and basically having a very similar texture to a vegan key lime pie I have made with almond meal and walnuts. That’s not a bad thing, but it was definitely good.
Did I mention this place was pretty pricey? I will now. It is definitely pricey. However, it’s definitely unique, and of a better quality for seriously healthy food than most places north of Chicago, so I shall be coming again.

I haven’t actually been able to eat here yet.
A few weeks ago, my dude and I drove up here specifically to eat at In the Raw one evening. We walked in. Apparently there was some sort of class in session there. The woman leading it stared at us briefly and kept teaching. No, «hey, thanks for coming in, we’re having a class here tonight». Just a stare. It was awkward. We walked back out.
And I will say, the menu does look overpriced to me. Sure, it’s Highland Park. But you are serving vegan, and you didn’t open too long ago.

In The Raw is not a typical vegan restaurant. Once you try out the foods here, you will have a different view of vegan or raw food. They are so tasty and have sophisticated flavors. The restaurant uses all fresh, organic, and best quality ingredients.
I am very skeptical of how restaurants claimed their foods to be fresh and healthy. In The Raw is the only place yet I found uses 100% good-​for-​health ingredients. It will be pages long if I write about everything on their menu. I will just take the blended smoothies for an example. Unlike Jamba Juices or other drinks restaurants, In The Raw does not use any pre-​packaged juices, processed sugars, nor frozen fruits. Everything is made fresh at the time ordered. It’s all natural sweet from fruits.
With a busy lifestyle, I appreciate Beth Taussig and Matthew Kenney for giving life to In The Raw, which makes it possible for me to eat healthy at all times.

Possibly the best raw restaurant I’ve ever been to. How have I not heard of this place before?! Perfect good, great service, impressive atmosphere, and good location. Food was expertly crafted and very fast, especially for raw food. The Tacos were amazing with a raw tortilla and pumpkin Seed «beans,» loved the Vitality juice, and fell in live with the Malted chocolate tart with pink salt — possibly the best raw dessert I’ve ever had.
I was blown away by this place and will come back.

I really want to love this place! Aesthetically, it’s right up my alley, and being a vegetarian, there’s nothing like remembering what it was like being able to order anything off the menu!
Buuut… I had the ‘bean’ tacos on the waitress’s recommendation (she said they were her ‘favorite!’) and they were quite good. Mostly, though, I was still hungry afterward and for what they cost, that’s not so great.
More than having good vegetarian restaurants, it would be really great to have some restaurants that don’t reinforce stereotypes about vegetarians– like that our food tastes weird, or isn’t filling or nutritious, or that it’s only for people with a lot of money, and I worry a little bit that this place does just that.

WARNING: This review is intended for a mature audience.
Ya know that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha is dating that guy with the really «funky spunk»? Like, his seed is so bad she can barely keep it down? Well, one’s experience at In The Raw might lead to a *somewhat* relative experience, and for the good of your sexual relationship, be it current or future, it might be worth looking into this ‘phenomenon’.
Sooo, after a long day of seeing things, doing ish and just enjoying a Sunday dedicated to the overall celebration life, love and the pursuit of super awesome sh*t in the suburbs, I decided to stop by In The Raw to cap off our evening with light raw bites and some of those blended juice/​smoothie things that Frank N had waxed poetic about in review a month earlier. It hadn’t been too long since we’d eaten our late lunch so our stomachs weren’t on E or anything like that, but we had room for an adventurous app or split meal and a juice.
We walk up on gorgeous Sunday evening and see a large sidewalk patio and a beautifully décor’d rest inside. I look at my boo and give a brief apology as the place looks much nicer than we are dressed, as we’d literally been rolling around in the dirt all day at the nearby Botanic Gardens. We walk in are not only impressed with every aspect of our flawless surroundings, but relieved to see that casual dress is totes acceptable and encouraged. Get comfortable, you’re about to eat outside the box.
After reading some of the reviews, I was prepared to drop a mint on our mini-​meal as their online menu didn’t show what the actual $$ was… but don’t worry, future In The Raw eaters. I saved you the trouble of having to wonder what kind of investment you’re in for by uploading a few menu pics with prices.
Now, I’m no stranger to raw foods and I know that when it says «pizza» or «steak» or «gyro» or whatever, that is probably isn’t going to either look or taste like the descriptive food euphemism used, and that the portions are probably going to like something you’d feed a baby. That’s just how it is and that in part goes with easing into that lifestyle and accepting a new feeling when it comes to being full that doesn’t involve you stomach swelling and needing a nap afterwards. I decided I had to have the beet ravioli because I’m a beet addict, and I’d just brace myself for what $ 15 worth of this entrée would like. When it came, it wasn’t a huge portion, but it was more than I was expecting to see. Not a thrilling portion, but I knew what I was getting myself into and after being so complimentary of ITR’s flawless and chic surroundings, it’d be contradictory of me to be too harsh on the prices. I mean, all that fancy ish ain’t gonna pay for itself, and I think that’s something a lot of restaurant goers forget about when they look at prices. Sure it would’ve cost you less to eat at home, but you didn’t… and you also don’t have to clean up after yourself our stare at your messy crap all over the place while you eat.
Anyway, we scarfed that beet ravioli like a pack of ravenous bears (who are mostly vegetarian, btw) and were blown away. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica. They’ve got a win here. And even more of a win: When the bill came our beet ravioli came up as only $ 10 –TOTALLY reasonably and worth googling if there’s a special because I will SO be back. Any Unilocalers wanna join me?
As for the juice/​smoothie/​blendy business, the guy went with the blueberries and cream and I did the Maca mocha blend (under espresso blend bevs). My drink was the greatest drink I have ever tasted… even better than the sweet, sweet, nectar of the Gods (booze). Both rang in at $ 9 each, so not exactly for the faint of heart, but the drinks are served tall and really are a meal in themselves. My boo enjoyed his blueberries and cream drink… until he tried my maca mocha and it blew his out of the water. I’ve never been a fan of fruit and cream combos (except for the Quaker Oats oatmeal variety pack) so I knew it wasn’t going to be for me, but it wasn’t bad… just no maca mocha choca latte yaya, like I’d ordered.
Our two very filling beverage/​smoothies and one entrée came out to $ 28 and put a Cheshire Cat style smile on my face. So affordable and def justifiable as far the drive for me from Naperville, goes.
Eating here, from what I’ve heard, will enhance your sexual satisfaction by about infinity-​eth percent. A beejer to completion after In The Raw (maybe give it an hour or two) is pretty swell, or so I’ve heard. In fact, the ‘giver’ might not even mind giving more. It might even taste like your meal from in the raw, but not as strong. Like maybe the difference between the way an actual cucumber (hehe) would taste vs cucumber water. Sooo yeah. Thank you, come again might take on a whole other meaning.

Torn about the rating — the juices and the couple food items I have tried are good but I would agree that the prices seem rather high. I will settle on a 3.5 rating for In the Raw.
I have tried the Liquid Gold and the Beauty juices and both were excellent and filled me up. I like that they have fresh made juices in the cooler that I can just grab and go… and not have to wait when I’m in a hurry. They also have a pretty extensive list of blended smoothies that I will have to try one day.
For the food I had a pre-​made salad from the cooler which was quite good but seemed a little pricy at $ 13. I’m not sure what the dressing was but it was very good. I also tried the blueberry pastry and it was hard to believe it was raw. To me it can rival any pastry at starbucks.
I love how I feel when I’m eating raw but my wallet can’t take the high prices of the industry. I will be back for some juices and perhaps food but not as often as I would like.
In the Raw is in a great location in Highland Park with parking a breeze (I live in the city so must mention parking!). Note that they changed their hours and now open at 7am not the 6am listed on Unilocal

Some say the prices are too high. Others that they are a bargain for what you get. I guess I have to agree with both.
I literally wept after my first bite of the Malted Chocolate Tart. It was the Pink Himalayan Salt. One of my favorite taste contrasts.
The tacos rated with the best cooked versions I’ve ever eaten.
I only wish the prices would allow me to eat these extraordinarily delicious concoctions more often.

I think that I have found a new way to eat and treat my body…
I’ve never been one to choose to eat organically or even consider blended juices but now that I realize I am not an invincible kid, I think it’s time to watch out for the heart and mind.
I drove by during the construction of this place and was eager to see what it was all about. Today, I had the chance to stop in and see for myself what the hype was about.
The place is in a great location in HP and was extremely clean and fun inside. While I only had the chance for a quick stop, I picked up two of the juices to give them a whirl.
The first was the «Rejuvenate». OMG, this was the unexpected refreshing slap I needed. What a perfect blend on a hot day. The mint and ginger left such an awesome aftertaste! I believe that there was also pear juice but I’ll have to stop by and get another one just to be sure :)
The second one was the «Quench» and the color grabs you right away. Blended carrots, ginger, and Apple were a match made in Heaven!
There were so many choices and I cannot wait to try them all. The one thing that grabbed me that I have to sample was the Avocado wrapped sushi with pickled ginger.
I am a big fan already just from the drinks and the friendly staff and will be back — and often…

I’m no stranger to raw, gluten-​free, or vegan food, I even juice at home. I actively seek out raw food when I travel. I’ve been psyched about «In the Raw» since I saw the «coming soon» sign a few months ago. Today was their grand opening and I was happy we got a chance to try it before we fly home tomorrow.
Considering today was their grand opening, I feel like I should let some things slide, but we were there an hour and half after they started serving food and it was utter chaos. Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off (pardon the pun) and they were out of a majority of menu items. I suppose one could argue they didn’t realize they’d be such a hit, but someone should have made a Whole Foods run. Furthermore, customers had no indication where to go, what to do, if they should seat themselves, or if it’s even table service? Someone should have been standing at the door directing traffic. A crowd gathered at the bar and looked confused.
My second biggest complaint are the prices. For what seems like a casual restaurant, the food is way over priced. $ 14 for tira misu is insulting. I’m used to raw food being overpriced, but you do seem to get more bang for your buck at other places — at least, the meal usually comes with a salad. We also didn’t get water at our table and a small child later came by and asked us if we’d like some… after we’d already eaten. I felt like a guinnea-​pig and was shocked that a modest, two person meal cost $ 61.
Third (and this isn’t the restaurant’s fault)… To the lady who whipped out her boob at the table to feed her screeching child… get a room. And to her husband who stared at her boobie with his mouth open… I don’t even know what to say to you. Really? Like you haven’t seen it before?
I’m guessing they rushed the open to coincide with the HP Arts Fair which takes place right outside their door, but I might have recommended a few soft openings ahead of time. Here’s hoping it gets better with time and practice. I’ll be back in July. I’ll try again and update my review then.