Ed Debevic's

09/02/06

Great service & good food

by aimmer01 at Citysearch

I went with my kids (ages 12 & 5), nephew (12) and mom. My mom had told me about the place ahead of time. Even though we had to wait a little while for a table, it was worth it! Our waiter was dishing out his routine through the entire meal. We dished back, which only made him try harder. All of us were laughing so hard. The food was really good and the portion sizes were large. I will definitely make it a point to go back to Chicago just to visit Ed's. I just wish there was an Ed's closer to Flushing, MI where I live.

• Pros: Good food, great service
• Cons: No reservations, can wait awhile for table

07/26/06

Fun decor

by aodhan51 at Citysearch

The food is good, but but the snotty wait staff comments get old really fast. I took my daughters there who didn't know the "schtick." They were apalled until I told them the scoop. They did enjoy the food though.

• Pros: Good burgers
• Cons: Snotty comments from wait staff grows old quickly

05/18/06

One of a kind service

by shay_bapple at Citysearch

When I brought an out of town friend to Ed's I had to warn him ahead of time about the service, he is a hot head. But once he became used to the obnoxious servers, he laughed and opened up to the idea of having straws thrown at him by the waitress. The food is average, but what makes Ed's so great is the unique service. I felt kind of bad for the tourist who was mocked over the intercom for asking where the Sears Tower was, but hey, if they can't take a joke...well, you know. I can't stand up-tight traditional service, so thank you Ed's for bringing some good old fashioned sarcasm. At least I can laugh about it while eating my burger and fries, and great milk shakes too.

• Pros: one of a kind setting, retro styling
• Cons: average food

12/25/05

The Best Restaurant in the Whole Wide World

by emeraldflashlight at Citysearch

Did I say the best restaurant? I should have said the best establishment of any type at all, anywhere. The Sears Tower? Boring. Disney World? Lame. The Sistine Chapel? Pathetic. They are all nothing compared to the sheer magnificence that is Ed's. If you have never been to this incredible diner, I pity you, my friend. Drop whatever you are doing and go there, and feel the empty hole in your life become instantly filled with the glory and wonder that is the good food and fresh service of Ed Debevics! You will not regret it when you discover that your once empty soul is now complete! Phew, Im spentOh, and to those who dont like what sometimes termed the rude service, youre just boring old grumps with no sense of humor who obviously deserved everything you got from the living gods who comprise the Eds wait staff.

• Pros: splendor, glory, radiance
• Cons: none

08/22/05

Not up to par

by griz7674 at Citysearch

We are a famly of 4 with 2 kids ages 6 and 3. The restaurant itself if very friendly and inviting and I have to admit that I did chuckle a few times at the antics of the waitstaff.

The fries were very crunchy and while the flavor was ok it simply took you aback to hear an audible crunch with each bite. We are not talking about McDonalds crunchy but like eating a carrot. The burgers, while being very large, were very subpar when it came to flavor. I had the Rte 66 burger and was not impressed to say the least. My kids did not mind their meals but then again they would eat anything. Subpar food for $40!

• Pros: Ambience, Killer cherry soda
• Cons: PRICE!!!!, Lackluster food

06/14/05

Worst Restaurant in Chicago, or Anywhere

by violetjvg at Citysearch

This is the worst restaurant I have ever been to anywhere. I cannot understand it's popularity at all. I brought my visiting family not knowing about their "schtick" and it was a terrible experience. I find it appalling that any establishment can just decide their schtick will be to treat everyone horribly, and that's that. The waitress was screaming in my 80-year-old grandmother's ear, and when she asked her not to, the waitress just kept screaming at her. It was made more garish with simply terrible "musical numbers" performed by a waitstaff that seemed to be entirely comprised of [justifiably] failed actors. You would think after all this, the food could at least back them up -- American diner food is pretty hard to mess up -- but they managed to do that, too. The food was completely bland and unexceptional. Avoid this place and warn everyone you know.

• Cons: food, service, atmousphere

06/09/05

Sense of Humor Needed

by harvestpastor at Citysearch

I have been to Chicago 5 years in a row. Ed's is the only place I have been to all 5 years. Bring a sense of humor. And a few quick come backs.

Food is great if you want American diner food. Route 66 burger is great. Counter dance is great too.

Some waiters put it on a little to thick with the attitude. They could read their customers a little better when it comes to dishing it out. Some that I have noticed get worn out after a few minutes of it.

I will go to Ed's every time I'm in Chicago. My wife went in April and I told her NOT to go. She would not have tollerated much of what I have seen there.

• Pros: Food, Entertainment
• Cons: better judgement

06/03/05

My first (and second) time at Ed's:

by spoonsnforks at Citysearch

I've gone to Ed Debevics twice; the second time a made a point to stop there. My first trip to Ed's

• Pros: Good food, Ambience, Vallet Parking
• Cons: 50/50 service, Waitting, Overpriced

07/09/04

Eat at Ed's

by hotpink001 at Citysearch

The 50's theme is quaint. It's a knock off of the drive-in diner without the drive-in. Lots, of old rock-n-roll music playing. The wait staff are friendly wise cracking smarty-pants. The rudeness is intentional. You have to be in the mood for a dose of tounge-lashing from the fiesty wait-staff. I've tried quite a few menu selections. By, far I would say they've mastered the burger. It's really good. The burgers are made when you order them. You chose how it's prepared rare-well. You chose the toppings also. The cheese fries are a big hit too! There a alot of feel good choices from meatloaf to mac-n-cheese. I would say they are okay at best. The milkshakes are thick and rich. They get an A+ The green river & cherry soda are nice blasts from the past. Desserts are okay. Overall it is an enjoyable experience. Pretty crowded on weekends.

• Pros: Fun, Conviently Located
• Cons: , seating on weekends, no kids menu

04/05/04

Sassy, singing-and-dancing waiters serve up burgers, shakes and fries to an oldies soundtrack.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Come on in and take a seat at Ed's down-home diner, where bobby-soxers, nerds, greasers and cheerleaders sing, dance and take your order. Retro relics and witty signs ("No Shirt, No Shoes, No Pants, No Service") cover the walls. Bouncy tunes from the '50s, '60s and '70s blast from the DJ booth overlooking the restaurant.

The Food
There's no kids' menu here, but kid-friendly diner feasts like grilled cheese, macaroni and chicken tenders abound, along with comfort food classics like pot pies and meatloaf for older appetites. Bread pudding, pies and ice cream all make a great finish, but the World's Smallest Ice Cream Sundae is the most fun, featuring a tiny bit of ice cream, fudge and whipped cream served in a souvenir glass for just about a buck.

• Pros: fun, casual atmospheregreat for kidsgood, greasy food
• Cons: shtick can get old