11/09/07

My Kind Of Breakfast

by huskyduck

First off, don't be discouraged by the line outside, it moves fast! Also, part of the Lou Mitchell experience is getting the free donut holes and milk duds while you wait outside. If you are a single diner, mention this to the line monitor as more often than not you will be ushered to a counter seat immediately. Yes, this is just breakfast but it is an exceptional breakfast. Portions are large and served in the pan they were cooked in. Keep in mind that "2 eggs" really means 3 or in my case, 4 eggs, literally. Potatoes are sliced round style and contain fresh herbs and fill the entire 10 inch pan. I also counted 8 sausages in my pan as well. A must order, however, is the cinnamon roll. And don't forget to get the raisin toast.

• Pros: "2 eggs" really means 4 eggs; 8 sausages?; best cinnamon roll in recent memory
• Cons: Always a wait (but you do get free donut holes and milk duds)

01/02/09

Best Breakfast for families!

by CharBob

If you want the typical breakfast diner place to go to, then Lou Mitchell's is the place to go, nothing fancy shmansey, and the food a AWESOME!! It's not expansive, but the food is great quality! and allot of it!

If you want the Chicago breakfast experience and to feel history, then this a good place start in the morning! Especially if you have a family and on a limited budget.

My thoughts are, there was my self, my husband, our three year old and a 14 month old, my mother and my mothers fiancee, my kids aren't your quiet bunch but do behave relatively well, and we were visiting Chicago and needed a place to eat breakfast and on a budget, so after looking on here and other web sites there were all mixed reviews, but the good weighed out the bad, and thought why the hell not! lol!

I am so happy I followed my gut instinct on this one, the waitress we had was really friendly and after the my girls ate there breakfast, the waitress brought out some ice cream for my kids to have, which was so nice of her!

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID - GET CASH FROM THE ATM BEFORE YOU EAT!

If you are not really into the diner experience and more upscale restaurants then this may not be for you, but if you don't mind and just need somewhere to go eat, then this is for you!

Food is good, service was great, and all for a great price! I think for all of us we spent less then $45.00 for four adults and two kids.

PARKING - There is a parking lot around the corner of Lou Mitchell's, the guy discounted us because we were eating at Lou Mitchell's, and after we ate and walked to the lot he brought us our car.

• Pros: Great service, Great Food, Great Value, GREAT FOR FAMILIES!
• Cons: No real cons

10/30/08

0 Stars

by hyuk8436

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would! The service and food sucked. Go someplace else. Please!

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: Food, Service

10/06/08

Neighborhood feel in the big city!

by uncleakamai

My wife and I showed up on a Monday afternoon looking forward to some home cooking. We were presently surprised to be treated to free donut holes and milk duds while we waited for a table. We were seated within minutes and proceeded to order from a friendly host. I had the Denver omelette, and my wife had the breakfast sandwich with sausage and eggs inside. Our food arrived within ten minutes and received such good portions that I took pictures of our meal before and after to prove that we actually finished everything on the plate. I was a little surprised that their interpretation of "hash browns" was more like thinly fried potato chips. The omelette was definitely fluffy and I left stuffed. The crowd was a mix between urban traveler, business person, and the average Chicago native. Don't go here expecting a fancy dining room. This is a very efficient, breakfast environment with lots of history, friendly service, and good food.

• Pros: Great food, cheap eats, timely service
• Cons: Roomier tables would have been nice

08/12/08

Comfort and Familiar

by jaxma1

Even as out-of-towners, we were made to feel at home at Lou's. Very warm, inviting establishment - if you like this style of dining (which we do!). Very filling food - we ordered way too much - I swear they use eight eggs in one of their omeletes. Highly recommend the thin sliced potatoes with cheddar cheese and feta - share with the table!

• Pros: Huge portions, friendly service & good value
• Cons: tight quarters

07/20/08

Keep Away from This Place

by annie4

Bad food and even poorer service. Yeah, that sums it up!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Service

07/20/08

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER ENCOUNTERED! CASHIER SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.

by JohnR123

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! When our group entered into the restaurant, we were very excited about trying the food since we were from out of town. The donut holes and milk duds were a bonus, but then once we sat down, it took the waitress 15 minutes just to acknowledge us and put in our drink and food orders. Once our food came out, it was just disappointing greasy diner food. Nothing more. They boast about being around since 1923 because of their quality food, but I didn't see any of it. I ordered a simple greek omelet and was served with a big vat of grease. Also, we had all ordered wheat toast and got white instead. We thought we'd send our toast back, but the waitress NEVER came back to our table to see how everything was. We started asking ourselves, what's so great about this place anyway? Is it the bad service or greasy food??

After our meal was complete, things got worse..Much worse. We went up to the cashier not knowing that we could only pay cash, and the cashier's attitude can be described in one word: DISGUSTING. I can't stress counting out your money for the cashier before you hand it to her because SHE CAN'T ADD!! She should be fired immediately for her bad attitude and lack of customer service skills. Maybe she should go back to school and learn how to add and subtract because honestly, a first grader could do her job better than she could. My friend had overpaid for her meal and she refused to give her her change ($20) back! We were all astounded as to how this place could still be in business with people like her working there.

***We ended up not leaving a tip for the waitress because we were going to use our change from the cashier, the $20, to pay the waitress. We felt bad about it, but the cashier, in essence, ended up stealing from the waitress in the end because she and the manager refused to give us our change.***

Please go to Meli Cafe, Le Peep, or Wishbone, and SKIP LOU MITCHELLS ENTIRELY B/C IT WILL LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.

• Pros: Donut Holes, MilkDuds
• Cons: Food and God Awful SERVICE

07/15/08

Best Down-Home Breakfast in Chicago

by AbigailMae

This is one of my all time favorite Chicago spots. My grandfather took me here every morning before school at 6 am from kindergarden until my senior year of high school. The food is fast and always good. I am a huge fan of the french toast, it is not too overdone and fancied up like the new yuppie places down there. (although i technically am a yuppie i have a natural resentment to fancy breakfast places, maybe this review explains that!) The people are nice and regular, and i hope it is around for years to come!

05/28/08

MUCH HYPED, BUT JUST AVERAGE !!!

by daliyah1

Coming from california i've been to many a diner's and 50ish spots. This was just average for me. I stopped in on a wednesday morning, there was no wait time or lines. You can park across the street after 9AM. (read the posted limits) I would definitely recommend the coffee and fresh orange juice, the actual breakfast was just ok. Prices are pretty reasonable for city munching but if you want better food and a better experience drive out to arlington heights and grab breakfast at T.N.T SNACK SHOP 1706 W CAMPBELL STREET, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS 60005. ---A TRUE HIDDEN GEM

• Pros: COFFEE AND ORANGE JUICE

05/16/08

Not so great

by moose384

I am from Chicago, but I had never been to this location. Everything that I enjoy about diners was in place, the cheap coffee and free refills, good counter service and tons of other people sitting around and reading the paper. I ordered the bacon and egg sandwich and a side of hash browns, or american fries whatever they are called. The eggs on the sandwich were dry and the potatoes were some of the worst that I ever had. They were wet and undercooked and lacked any kind of flavor that is present in other breakfast potatoes that I have had. I have been to the other location in Lincoln Park, and that is a good place, their food is great, but this place needs to overhaul some of their menu items.

02/24/08

Since 1923 that says alot

by GatorMing

This is a great little breakfast place. Everyone's commented on the free donut holes you get in line which makes the wait a little more bearable. :)

I enjoyed the fact that the food was not too greasy, all to often little grease spoon type places tend to be just that, greasy. I got eggs and ham, the ham was excellent not too salty like at other establishments.

The coffee was great, many places have some nondescript watered down swill they pass for coffee. The coffee at Lou's was really robust and flavorful without tasting like burnt Starbucks coffee.

Recommendations: Bring cash, there's an ATM but it's just simpler if you plan ahead. Also smaller parties get seated faster since the place is relatively small.

• Pros: Donut holes, coffee
• Cons: Server never brought back my to-go cup of coffee.