The Publican

★★★★☆ 4 (3459) • $$$

"Surprised by how much I loved it here. Came for a team business dinner and enjoyed the experience. The inside of the restaurant features a large, open dining hall with high ceilings and tall chairs set up at large tables. I tried the Publican sandwiches for lunch earlier in the week and thought they were great.Charcuterie Plate - Decent charcuteries but not memorable or worth the price. (3/5)Publican Bread Plate - Perfectly baked and fresh made rye and sourdough. (5/5)Asparagus - A lighter vegetable option to balance out a meat-heavy meal. The avocado, sesame seeds, and tahini vinaigrette were nice components. (4/5)Barbecued Carrots - Perfectly cooked and flavorful carrots. The creamy herb dressing and pecans added a nice balance of savoriness and texture to the dish. A great vegetable option. (5/5)Porchetta - So so good. Perfectly cooked. The meat was delicious and tender. I will have dreams about this dish. (5/5)Sirloin - Delicious, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. No notes. (5/5)Ham Chop in Hay - Nice and comforting pork chop. Good but not as amazing or memorable as the other meat entrees I tried. (4/5)Chicken - The half chicken was cooked well but the plate was mostly filled with French fries. Felt that it was overpriced. (3/5)"

Beatrix - Streeterville

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1324) • $$

"I swear all the Beatrix locations are the same - mid food with spacy service. Some ingredients weren't listed in the menu (namely a VERY garlicky condiment) and my sandwich wasn't warm at all. Our server had to be asked several times for simple things.If you're at Northwestern, the food here is better than hospital - but not by much. Pass."

Eggy's Diner Chicago

★★★★☆ 4 (1019) • $$

"We found this gem in a little nook of Chicago! I wanted to be sure and wrote a review because it's not a restaurant that you'll walk by and pop in. Make this an intentional visit because the food is phenomenal, the decor is clever and the service is terrific. I do like efficient restaurant staffs that watch the entire restaurant to turn it over quickly. But have no fear, you won't feel rushed! The food is interesting and unique and DELICIOUS. Our family got an Eggy eggs Benedict with pulled pork over a waffle, Florentine crepes and an egg burrito. Each of us were impressed and we even shared a few bites with each other. We'll be back!!"

Stella's Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (870) • $$

"This place is old and worn, but gives you a real sense of nostalgia. A true Chicago diner. Filled with regulars dressed in well worn Bears attire talking sports and many young adults looking like they're nursing hangovers. lol I listened in on glassy eyed college kids talking about their Bumble hookups while I ate my breakfast. It seemed fitting. Lol The menu is very old school. Skillets, omelettes, hash browns etc.. You're not going to get trendy menu options, but that's not meant as a negative. I enjoy old diners sometimes. You can schlep in in your sweats and not feel the need to impress.I had a chorizo skillet. Didn't love the jarred jalapeños, but the chorizo wasn't overly greasy which was a win by itself. -I've had some really greasy ones in other diners. Service was good. Friendly. I'd never go out of my way to eat here, but if I lived in the neighborhood I might show up if I wanted a very casual sit-down breakfast. Grabbed a Butterfinger shake on my way out. It was the kind you can easily drink (eat?) with a straw. Not my favorite consistency for a shake, but since I ate it on the drive home, it was kinda perfect."

Nookies on Wells

★★★★☆ 4 (845) • $$

"Atmosphere: clean, bright, welcoming with a touch of modern!Service: quick, friendly and they have a dedicated person just to refill your coffee and water!Food: super gender portions, well prepared and tasty. The 3 egg omelet reads more like 6 eggs = consider sharing...!Wish they had a place like this in the Bay Area."

Pittsfield Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (850) • $$

"Came in for late breakfast or early lunch a few days ago. Got a coke and spicy bacon cheddar skillet. The food is good diner food. I think what makes it special is that it's a restaurant in a skyscraper. Sometimes on the news they interview people in diners. Think it would be neat if they interviewed customers in here and listened to their thoughts on topics of the day. The skillet has jalapenos in it so you get little kicks of spice but it's not overly spicy."

The Lucky Platter

★★★★☆ 3.6 (587) • $$

"Stopped by for lunch with a colleague on Friday and had a fantastic experience. Once we walked in, we were immediately greeted and seated. The restaurant was crowded, and everyone seemed excited about so many different items on the menu. I decided to try to "adulting" four cheese grilled cheese with tomato soup. It was the perfect combination on a snowy winter day. The creamy cheeses and tomato soup was like a lunch pizza without the pizza part! The soup was a bit cold but the flavors were so incredible! Once we received the check, we have to go over to the shop to pay. The staff were friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. The only hiccup is parking. The street parking is a bit of a hassle esp when it's cold, but the food and experience is totally worth it! :)"

West Town Bakery & Diner

★★★★☆ 3.6 (529) • $$

"I just went in for a lil sweet treat so I won't speak too much about the ambiance or in store service, but this location is very cute and is big, when I went it was pretty full but everyone seemed happy. If you get one thing from here make it the almond croissant!"

White Palace Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (628) • $$

"This has been my go to diner for years. I typically get a burger but this time around decided on a Rueben sandwich deluxe. Deluxe sandwich comes with fries and soup. All for under $20"

Diner Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (339) • $

"This modest diner is a sort of real-life version of the 1942 Edward Hopper painting, "Nighthawks." It's a living museum of urban America in the '30s and '40s. The narrow eatery with its 13-stool counter is unpretentious and immaculately clean, and the food is simple and relatively inexpensive. It's a treat to watch the action on the griddle and witness the sizzle and aroma of multiple items cooking at once. Theirs was an "open kitchen" long before that term was invented! Expectedly, the short-order menu featuring breakfast standards and familiar sandwiches is neither trendy nor diet-friendly. Steak n' eggs? Of course. Salad? Don't make me laugh. Nearly every item is loaded with carbs and/or fat. Moreover, the cook keeps squirting a yellowish liquid onto the grill to prevent food from sticking. Never mind, it's okay to indulge once in a while. The double cheeseburgers are yummylicious, and we absolutely must return to have breakfast here. The friendly banter among regulars makes this a good place to go if you're feeling lonely."

Cherry Pit Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (297) • $$

"This cute cafe/diner is perfect for an early morning breakfast. We arrived before 9 am on a Sunday, the ideal time because there were many open tables. There's a pretty extensive menu, and one of us went for the Lucy's Waffle special, a crispy Belgian waffle with Nutella, bananas, strawberries, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Another picked the buttermilk pancakes (2) and kept saying that it was cooked perfectly. Normally a light eater, they ate every bit of their pancakes. I ordered the Greek skillet with eggs, chicken gyros, onions, spinach, tomatoes and feta on top of fried potatoes. This was hearty and generously sized. The ambience is similar to a retro diner, with fifties tunes playing. The staff is very welcoming and friendly and our orders were up quickly. It's a little tight to navigate past the counter seating and once the place fills up it can get loud. We had a very enjoyable breakfast and my companions had a great time. They kept telling me how much they loved their breakfast. We'll come back again soon!"

Hollywood Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (489) • $$

"No frills but it's exactly what you expect it to be. Is the food outstanding? Definitely not. But it's good and it's cheap and they have a huge selection for literally anything you're in the mood for. The service is 10/10 and they have free refills. It's hard to find a good old school diner in Chicago but this is it!"

Griddle 24

★★★★☆ 3.7 (355) • $$

"Finally visited this iconic diner. It really did not disappoint. We were at a nearby bar and needed to get some dinner before heading home. Upon arrival, we were seated at a spacious booth. For food recommendations we were told by staff that the burger was good, the kebabs were good and also the pancake breakfast with bacon. We decided to roll with the recommendations and get an Acalpoco Burger and Kebabs. Both these came with soup. Food: I ordered the Kebabs which was chicken, rice, pita, greek salad, and sauce. I was impressed with this dish and even more surprised by the French Onion soup. While the soup looked cheesy (no punt intended), it was really good. The onion broth had a deep flavor. My husband devoured his burger so it must have been good. He also like his chicken noodle soup. Drinks: They serve beer, wine and cocktails at this establishment. I grabbed a Osyter Bay White wine and it was nice and cold. My husband got the IPA on tap. Overall a good experience. I believe our waitress name was Maria (Maria with the red hair). She was so friendly and informative. Glad we got to try this place. If in the area again, I would go here but I need to still try the White Palace diner also."

Golden Apple Grille & Breakfast House

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (414)

"Why to come here: - good breakfast food with big portions - fair prices- outdoor seating that allows dogs - pretty easy to get a table, especially if you go around dinner - easy street parking Most recently, I had the corned beef hash which was very good. It came with eggs and pancakes."

Pauline's

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (404)

"I love this place. It's warm and welcoming, and the service is excellent; someone is always available to pour you more coffee, etc. Pauline's looks like it's been there forever--not quite forever, but almost 30 years. I like the knick-knacks, collectibles, etc.I ordered Biscuits and Gravy; they are perfect and a nice portion. My friend ordered the Corned Beef Hash with breakfast potatoes and two eggs in any style. It's off the beaten path, so finding a parking spot should be fine."

Salonica

★★★★☆ 3.7 (339) • $

"Been coming here for many years I always enjoy the food... I have been wanting pancakes for 3 months and finally chose to come here! The only downside was the bacon was cold cold made for a weird aftertaste. Overall food and service was great!"

Tio Luis Tacos

★★★★☆ 3.7 (322) • $$

"DELICIOUS!!! I had their Carne en su jugo and it was deliciously Good and add some fresh tortillas. I was satisfied with my meal and service. I recommend Tio Luis"

Dover Straits

★★★★☆ 3.8 (279) • $$

"Classic old school seafood restaurant great hosts and super service to compliment great seafood"

George's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (263)

"I have ordered from George's twice now, once online pickup and once dining in. Both experiences have been amazing. As a local diner in the middle of Oak Park, this is a great establishment to get some good grub and not spend so much money. Went I went in person, I got the Turkey sandwich meal and some soup for literally $13.00 that's such a stain! I was full - not in terms of the flavors and all that jazz, don't really expect that. This is simple diner food. Not upscale. You add the seasonings yourself (which I don't mind). Would I return? Heck yes! I recommend locals and newbies to go and try it. The service is amazing, the prices are good and the location is bomb."

Lola's Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (216)

"Definitely a throwback type diner. Food was good. Service was efficient. I didn't see the special menu at the front and we weren't told about it at the table. I would have ordered something from there if I knew. Oh well."

Torteria San Lenchito

★★★★★ 4.8 (165) • $

"Best tortas in this area. So many to choose from! I always eat there when I'm near Lawrence"

Dollop Diner

★★★★☆ 3.7 (274) • $$

"Adorable place with fun breakfast and lunch items. Great atmosphere. The food was decent and good. They also serve alcohol for breakfast if you need. It's an overall good place for fun with friends. The best food item? Cheese curds were hot and chewy and fresh and lightly battered. You have to try them. They were amazing! The sincere breakfast for $11.99 was a bit disappointing (see picture) for the price for 2 eggs and toast and potatoes."

West River Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (202) • $

"This is a great old fashioned breakfast and lunch place. Been coming here for years and the worst thing I ever had was not bad. Usually I get the Managers Special or the American Skillet. They'll readily substitute cheddar for the American cheese for me. Yesterday I had the Montrose skillet (bacon, sausage, ham, and swiss cheese). It was insanely good. Mexican burrito was also great. It's always too much food. You'll either eat till you want to die, leave some on the plate and regret it later, or split a meal. Those are your options. Live with them.If you don't order the pancakes instead of toast, you're a fool.Wonderful service by the best waitresses and busboy in town. They should get bonus stars for the rooster decor."

Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (362)

"I have been coming to the Buffalo since I was a kid and hate to see it so empty as today. I know it's a week night but I didn't expect to be the only ones there at 6:45p. Anyway, my meal was delicious and honestly the fruit was outstanding considering it's January. Service was kind and attentive. I know I will be back I just hope patronage picks up because these kind of places are getting too far and few between. Who doesn't love a good breakfast for dinner!"

Uncle Bill's Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (147)

"The quintessential greasy spoon, the place that looks like it came straight out the 1950s. full of fun pictures of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe on the wall, staff that greets you when you walk in to "take a seat anywhere you like". It really feels like a place you can just slump into the booth and relax with a cup of coffee."

Al's Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (170) • $

"It's okay. The prices are insanely high for the quantity and quality of food. This is a diner. The kind you'd see in those 80's movies, so I'm not getting the $20+ breakfast from the whole vibe of the place. The variety of options on their menu is good. There's so much to choose from there will be something for everyone. The corn beef hash is very salty. I don't know that I would ever try it again. The rent in the area is high so I can see why their stuff is a bit overpriced for the quality. I think they can improve by not overcooking everything. I think most people in the area prefer things cooked where they are still soft and moist.Overall, I would order again but I would keep it simple some eggs and coffee. No, this isn't my idea of a go to breakfast place but it's not terrible."

Eppel's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (160)

"Hands down the best grits I've had in decades. DECADES! 10 out of 5 stars.Omelets were delicious too. 5 out of 5 stars.Friendliness of staff was not too bad. 4.5 out of 5 stars.Overall: 5 out of 5 stars"

Connie's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (199)

"Been living in Berwyn for 2.5 yrs now & finally came to visit this spot! My mum said they had decent breakfast so I went today after my 5K. I got 2 eggs with ham off the bone & chocolate chip pancakes on the side. My partner got eggs with bacon & sourdough toast. Our waitress Kim was very attentive & friendly. Juan was also quick to pick up our dishes after we finished up with them. I would totally come back at a different time to try other menu items."

Butterhills Family Restuarant

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (223) • $$

"A solid breakfast option if you're in the area. The food here is priced a bit lower than many of the surrounding breakfast/brunch restaurants in the area but the portion sizes are just as good. In fact, with the items I tried, I was a bit surprised at the amount of corn beef hash provided in the skillet and chocolate in the specialty pancakes. The flavor was pretty good, nothing special that stands out but done reasonably well and presented nicely.There's plenty of space in the dining room and lots of space outside as well, but it can get quite busy on the weekends. Service is quick and friendly and the decor isn't as trendy as the newest breakfast restaurants but nicer than what you'd expect from their lower prices. The menu also has a fairly complete and varied set of options so you don't have worry about trying everything they have to offer that quickly."

Lucky Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (184)

"My love and I stumbled upon Lucky Grill Restaurant one Saturday afternoon after some window shopping in the 'hood. This Lucky Grill is part of a strip mall on Milwaukee Avenue (there is a second location further northwest in the city). It was pretty busy with the brunch and lunch crowd, but we received pretty good service overall (other than not getting our water glasses refilled). As you can imagine with a diner such as this, there is a sprawling menu and admittedly it took me a few minutes to make my choice. I went with the British Breakfast, a dish with two eggs (scrambled), two pieces of sausage, hash browns, American cheese, and two mini waffles. I'm not sure what was the "British" part of this breakfast (hey - American cheese!), but it was a tasty and filling meal. My love ordered a cheeseburger which came with onion rings, a cup of cole slaw, pickle and tomato, and a bowl of soup. The bowl of cream of broccoli soup was very large, and so we each had leftovers from our respective meals to take home."

Nick's Hi-Ho Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (96)

"I'm reluctant to review as I like this place is off the beaten path and I don't want to wait in a line to enjoy it in the future. Let me just say this: Fresh ingredients + heart and soul = great food."

Bialy's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (146)

"This is a nice mom and Pop place. You can find a nice park on the street and the food was good and the portions are large. The only part that I did not like was that my food came out a little later than my friends were halfway through eating when I finally got my food I was severely hungry. this place can get crowded so I suggest you come early. Check your receipt before departure. Sometimes they get a little confused. Hope you enjoy."

Jefferson Park Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (72)

"Best polish in Chicago, full stop. Mike is the owner and he's a great guy and pretty much everything is super reasonably priced and very tasty. I'm actually kind of surprised that this place is not busy literally all the time. I would absolutely go here... It's a true diner experience, and he will not leave hungry or disappointed. The quality is top notch."

Starlight Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (60) • $

"Oh this place is a Hidden Gem first time here and the service and food was on point. Very reasonable Kimberly our waitress was so nice and made excellent suggestions for the food. We will be back. Atmosphere was family friendly."

Steak N Egger

★★★★☆ 3.8 (42)

"There isn't much that can be said about this place except that it's the closest thing I can get to Waffle House, in the north! Despite how people may feel, they are the perfect place for breakfast comfort food and they are super reasonable. I always get a big breakfast from them that includes a waffle (or pancakes), hash browns, eggs, toast, and grits...... and Orange juice in a cup that may or may not be the cleanest. It doesn't matter - I'll keep going back :-)"