On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Flown in fresh from Brooklyn, Junior's Cheesecake is simply the best. Make your holiday special.. Order a whole cake for only $47. Yummy!
Announced 3 days agoRoosevelt (Red, Orange & Greens)
Mon-Thu. 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Loading...
I think I am in love with a diner. Not just any diner but the Eleven City Diner on S. Wabash. This kitschy version of a typical NY deli/diner has been on my list to try forever! On a recent Saturday, I finally got my chance.
After having read all the reviews of long waits, etc, I was a bit apprehensive and even came up with a "Plan B" in case the wait was extensive. But on this Saturday, we pulled up, and as the valet took my car (valet parking during Brunch on Saturday and Sundays, also a pay lot right next door) there was no line. NO LINE! HOORAY!!
We were seated upstairs in a balcony area that more resembled a fifties night club with Naugahyde bucket chairs on wheels around brown tables. I liked that we were able to get a little out of the hustle and bustle yet we could watch the goings on through the mirrored reflections over the bar area.
I was having a "tequila morning" from the night before so a couple of Bloody Mary's set me straight. These were almost a snack in themselves with meat and cheese on toothpicks along with the expected olives and celery. Thank you Eleven City for making me a human again! My friend got to go down "memory lane" and ordered a Schlitz beer. When was the last time you had one of those???
The menu is a journey unto itself. They serve breakfast all day and yet have all of your deli/diner favorites. We settled on some "Comfort food" of cheese fries, chicken noodle soup, half a corned beef sandwich and surely the largest sandwich around called the Woody Allen which I think was pastrami and corned beef together. Both sandwiches came with my favorfite deli thing- a big garlicky dill pickle. Mmmmm. Other than my soup which needed a smidge more chicken (it was more like noodle soup sans the chicken) the food was great!
Service was good although there were a couple of pauses where we wondered if she had forgotten about us. Even the music in this place was good.
Now I just need to go back and try something else on their amazing menu. So many choices- so little time!
I recently moved to Chicago from New York and finding a good Jewish stlyle deli has been difficult. Eleven City Diner is a great old school deli with the added plus of a big diner menu.
I'm a sucker for good matzo ball soup and I have searched the neighborhood high and low -- this one (served in the style of one big matzo ball) does not disappoint. And the corned beef & pastrami hash scrambled eggs really hits the spot. I always have it with the freshly squeezed OJ.
Eleven City is a bustling place with a comfortable modern retro atmosphere, which makes me feel at home. I love the long diner counter and corner candy store. The guy who runs the place, Brad, and the waitstaff, are friendly with a touch of NY attitude, which is a big draw for a transplant like myself. Highly rated.
Eleven City Diner is a must stop, whenever I visit Chicago. It is always a good cure for what ever ails you.
This half deli, half diner seems family owned because the owner (Brad) is always near by to check in and say hello. I am amazed at how he always remembers me, even though I am only there a few times a year, at most. Very passionate about what he is doing and his customers. I even met his mom once. Nice touch ;)
You can taste the LUV that goes into the food. Fresh, HUGE portions that are oh so hot and yummy!! They offer breakfast all day, fantabulous bloody mary's, and a massive menu of all-american comfort food
The boyfriend, always orders the pastrami. It is piled high on a number of the menu items and is always enough for two. Their Challah is homemade and fresh. They use it to prepare the most heavenly french toast with fresh fruit that you will ever eat. The potato Latke's are light and crunchy, yes light and crunchy goodness like grandma used to make! It can be a bit crowded at times, but for me it's worth the wait.
The 40's diner/soda shoppe vibe is fun. I love the comfy booths and cherry phosphates. I have always found the staff to be friendly, attentive, and fast. Next time I'm in town visiting one of my all time favorite cities, I will be sure to hit one of my all-time favorite diners.
In a word: excellent. I really enjoyed this place from top to bottom. I like its location, I really like the decor, and I loved the food! Why only 4 stars? Well, it's a bit pricey and that's always been something I weigh heavily when rating places. It just got a bit too pricey. I loved everything I had, but unfortunately it's not somewhere I could afford to visit regularly. With that said, onward with the review!
I like Steve Dahl, so clearly I ordered "The Steve Dahl" which is a mouthwatering Pastrami on Rye, piled high. MMM mmm Mm! So now I can say that Steve Dahl has never steered me wrong when it comes to food. Heh. My date had the portobello something or other... who cares. Dumb women and their vegetarianism. Why would anyone waste their time ordering a veggie-anything when you're in a delicatessen and large piles of sliced meat are waiting for your consumption? /sigh
We also enjoyed a few beverages from their "in-house soda jerk" To my dismay their jerk was not, in fact, Steve Martin. Alas, the concoctions were still very, very tasty. We had a Boston Cooler and a Brooklyn Egg Cream. Wow, on both counts. I'm too young, but were I an 80 year old man, at that moment, I would have stop mid-meal to run outside and play stickball. That, or anything else youngsters use to do back in the day when wonderful places such as this were commonplace.
This is a definite must try. This place puts the deli in delicious! As for me? To quote MacArthur, "I shall return!"
I was thoroughly unimpressed with this place. The setup is similar to a Panera Bread or Cosi, and the prices are also similar. My scrambled eggs were hard to screw up, but everyone else seemed to have issues with their food. My sister got a dense, bready cinnamon roll that was hard as a rock. My mom ordered a waffle, which came out medium rare instead of fully cooked, with raw batter bursting out of the middle. Though they handled her complaint well and gave her a refund for the waffle, I'd much rather have a good waffle the first time than get my $8 back. On the plus side, everyone working there was really nice, but I definitely wouldn't come back.
Atmosphere is cozy here. The staff is nice. It is super crowded here on the weekends for breakfast and brunch.
I would recommend their Pastrami sandwiches. They are yummy here. The meat is tender and seasoned just right, not too salty like many place. What I would say to stay away from are their omelettes! They are super huge; huge meaning takes up the size of your plate but they are undercooked. Its super soggy and runny. Pretty gross if you ask me!
Overall I say this place ok, there are other diners in the city that are better.
This is the best breakfast diner I have ever been to. So delicious. My friend and I overheard a lady raving about this place while we were on the bus and both of us just looked at each other and knew we were thinking the same thing...we had to try it. Glad we did!
I had the Corned Beef & Pastrami Hash, scrambled eggs and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The hash was so good...crispy and soft bites of meat and potato all melded into each other. My friend's french toast made with fresh baked challah, strawberries, bananas, and toasted coconut was just....ohies...just yummy.
Expect a LONG wait during lunch hours, but it is totally worth it. The place is so warm and inviting and the menu and other print collateral were so well-designed and cleverly copywritten...sorry the designer in me is talking now. I hope to go back soon. :)
As I stood outside the closed doors at 9:00 o'clock on a windy, chilly Sunday Chicago morning, I thought, "This place better be good."
About 12 of us, sidewalk strangers, blew in our hands to keep warm, and several of us pulled our coats tigher around us while we waited impatiently for someone inside the eating establishment to unhook the locks. The doors finally swung open tardily at 9:05 (my only disappointment), and a smiling server greeted each party with a hello and menus.
Our wait staff lead us up the stairs to our table and handed us menus chock full of primarily breakfast and lunch-type items: eggs of all types, pancakes, French toast, waffles, corned beef & pastrami hash, lox and bagels, cereals, bakery items and so on (for breakfast which is served all day), and sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers, hot dogs, pasta, two kinds of fish and one offering of skirt steak and onions and cajun or grilled chicken breast (for lunch or dinner perhaps). Desserts, too, including sodas and fudge sundaes, pies and carrot and cheese cakes.
Although I'm a person who can eat dinner for breakfast, I settled on Coco's Eggs, a mix of 3 scrambled eggs, feta cheese, spinach, tomatoes and scallions. Woohoo. So delicious. They came with house potatoes, seasoned and fried to perfection and an English muffin (my choice over white, wheat or rye), butter and jam.
My tablemate ordered the Name Your Omelet with 3 eggs and her choice of cheese and veggies along with house potatoes and toast. I heard nary a bad word about her meal.
I cleaned my plate, and the meal tided me over until dinner. My tablemate reluctantly left only a tablespoonful of potatoes. She too filled herself.
Prices are a bit high for breakfast yet worth it, and our server was courteous and prompt and professional.
If ever I'm back in Chicago, Eleven City will be one of my first breakfast stops. It was well worth stand on the sidewalk that Fall morning in the Windy City.
After a horrible night's sleep at the Essex Inn during our first night in Chicago, my husband and I woke up barely able to function. The first thing we wanted was a good meal, and within walking distance of our hotel, so Eleven was chosen.
We got there around 1pm or so, and it was jam-packed. We had a 20-minute wait and we were both a little grumpy to begin with, so I hoped the food would be worth it! Our waitress was pretty awesome--friendly and speedy--and took our order quickly. She checked back on us several times and got me more hot water for my tea (for some reason lots of wait people seem to hate it when you order tea and tend to ignore you).
I had the grilled veggie sandwich, my husband had the Schwartzy sandwich, and we split an order of Wisconsin cheese fries. It did take a bit for our food to come out, but we got drinks right away (my husband's Brooklyn egg cream took quite a while but she brought him water in the mean time). My sandwich was piping hot... in fact, one of the grilled zucchini pieces fell on my leg while I was eating, and it nearly burned through my jeans when I didn't move fast enough to brush it off! It tasted great, though it was a mess to eat because everything kept slipping out when I'd lift it up to take a bite. It came with a mixed green salad, which was really good and very fresh, and I loved the crisp dill pickle (I hate the squishy deli pickles sandwiches usually come with). The fries were very good but not earth-shattering.
I thought everything was reasonably priced, and I got a huge amount of food and was barely able to finish my sandwich and salad after sharing the fries (thankfully, we were starving or I wouldn't have gotten that far).
We visited again, a few nights later, just for dessert. I had the carrot cake and a mint chocolate chip shake, and my husband had chocolate cake. The shake was really excellent--not sickly sweet/overly-sugary--but the cake was pretty average. My husband felt the same way about his. We both wanted to come back for breakfast but never made it back for the third time.
Overall, I really liked Eleven. They have good, fresh food, great service, and a really cool atmosphere. I do agree with the gentleman below who said it's really a deli, and not a diner, but I can see why they call it a diner for confusion's sake. The location was really convenient for us from the Essex Inn and the hours were very convenient too. I wish I'd had a chance to try more things!
Still one of the best out there.
The manfriend and I wandered in on a bustling Sunday afternoon, hoping to score a seat in under 45 minutes. Turns out, we hit it just right and there were two at the counter. It was ON.
Tom Waits for me, corned beef hash for him (which he said tasted like hot dogs - me not knowing much about corned beef asked if that was a good thing. He shrugged optimistically).
Chocolate shake, Green River, friendly server. The vibe in that joint is hoppin' and sunny (even if it's cloudy).
Oy vey this place is delicious. My date had a craving for waffles, so we headed down on a Saturday… Read more »
Eleven City Diner is truly the best deli/diner I've been to in Chicago. The place has all the right touches; from the old-school bar stools and counter to the candy store in the corner. The menu had all the classic sandwiches and sides. My friends and I headed there for lunch. I had the chicken soup first. It's was like a little old grandmother made it herself. I also had a patty melt that just melted in my mouth. It was huge. Topped it off with a killer slice of Carrot Cake. Everything was just right. Very impressed with the way this place was put together. The owner, Brad, introduced himself, made sure were we taken care of. He seemed to cared about our thoughts on the joint. The staff, from the hostess who sat us, to the waiter who served us, really made this a first rate deli experience. It was way better than we expected. Thanks. We'll be back again.
I didn't have any contact with the "no soup for you" crazy owner fella, so can't comment on that, but my experience here has been very niiiiice.
The waitresses were friendly and chatty (i sat at the bar), never rushed me at all, and filled my coffee mug three times with some very respectabe brew.
The potato latke was really awesome with crispy homemade latke, thick slices of tomato, a slathering of cream cheese, red onions, capers, and very fresh tasting smoked salmon. It's a really killer combination that trumps any bagel.
The retro diner feel is polished and very clean, with elements that reminded me of a train station. Choo Choo! I'll definitely be coming back here.
I recently frequented this diner when I was visiting Chicago. The egg cream is legitimate and brought me way back. I ordered two and drank em both before my food came. I ate the "Schwarty" twice, the first was simply out of this world, tender, juicy and flavorful. The second was good but not on the level of the first. I think they should offer this in an Italian variant with sharp provolone, which would really compliment the delicious beef.....The candy store within the diner is a nice touch....warning though, the halavah bars I intially got were a bit stale and the management cheerfully opened up a new box for me. In the end I purchased 6 of them, the almond coated ones....out of this world.
I recently went here for my birthday dinner with my fiance and family. (I own a condo in the South Loop and am always trying to find great places within walking distance.) Despite some of the negative reviews, every one of us enjoyed our meals.
I had matzo ball soup and half of a corned beef sandwich (which were both excellent - I don't really know the difference between this and NYC-quality, but I would definitely get them again). My fiance had the "Moshe Cristo" which was HUGE and he had it again for lunch the next day, he liked it so much. Everyone else was satisfied with their meals.
OH! And a special note: the pickles they serve aren't the whimpy, thin kind that I usually see at delis/diners. These were sizeable and super tasty.
For dessert, my dad had a Cherry Phosphate to remind him of his childhood and we split a piece of the giant 4-layer chocolate cake - all five of us had enough and we didn't even finish it!
If you're in the area, I would recommend it. It wasn't particularly crowded this Sunday at 5:30, but we tried going the week before and it was a 30-minute wait. They don't take reservations, so you might need to be prepared to wait a bit.
Stop on by! The atmosphere was diner-ish without being overwhelming and our waitress was incredibly polite and really responsive.
Can I give it zero stars?
How can anyone go to this place? The staff is awful. Slow and it was like it was their first day on the job. They had no idea what they were doing. Our server came back three times to ask about our order which only made the delay for sub-standard food even worse.
The food is completly overpriced and tasteless. How does a corned beef sandwich taste like cardboard?
Don't even get me started on the management. He asked us how things were so we told him and he basically told us to leave and never come back. Life is too short to deal with people and places like this.
I've been here several times and it is great each time I go! Probably, the best in the city! They make wonderful french toast and pancakes and the servers are super friendly! The diner itself is very welcoming, accessible, clean.
The red velvet cake is to die for! I ate one slice and took another home! The bar is divine, they are famous for their sangrias.
It had been a while since I had been at Eleven City and I have to say I really missed it. They have changed their matzah ball soup and it is almost as good as my mother's. Yes, it is that good. Full of flavor and I did not have to add salt or pepper-usually I do. The schappy-a grilled salami sandwich which is just so over the top decadent. It it 2 huge slices in between fresh challah. That's it. Nothing else needed. The decor is great, the service was great. I will be back again soon.
This place is great. Huge and great ambience. I went on a Saturday morning. Pals were running late, so I enjoyed a yummy cappuccino at the bar and enjoyed the decor.
I had the Mexican Scramble ($11), which was delicious - I ate every bite - and served with toast and potatoes, so a real opportunity to carb-load for the rest of the day.
I'm not in the habit of spending $15-20 on breakfast, so I don't know if I'd go here ALL the time, but it's tasty and a fun experience. I'll likely go back to try an adult beverage or two, which I just wasn't feeling up to at 9 a.m.
Challah! for their delish french toast with fruit.
Meh! For the so-so coffee.
Oy Vey! For the fact that, over several years of coming here, they have not mastered cooking a steak. It is never how you asked for it, when you send it back it comes out very well done, regardless of the original request.
If you do not order steak at this place you will likely enjoy it.
Love the distinctive south loop decor, large spaces, high ceilings.
Went here for a post Reeling hunger quick fix and I really wish I hadn't. My chicken sandwich and fries came out to $13.00, sans tip! That's not a diner price. Why so expensive you ask? Because the bums charge me $1.00 to switch from blue cheese to swiss cheese and $2.00 to add grilled onions. To top it off, there was nothing particularly exciting about this sandwich and the fries were mediocre. Don't get me wrong I have no problem dropping money at restaurants, but I hate it when my food is overpriced AND doesn't live up to any sort of standard one would deem to be good The staff wasn't friendly and no offense to my waiter, but his neither his attitude nor his hygiene was up to par.
This just in: Barefooted babies are the cause of all the world's ills.
Or something like that. The guy (host? owner?) who was going to seat us demanded (like actually demanded in a really not friendly way)to know if my baby, who was sitting in a stroller next to his flip flops at the time, would be putting on shoes for "dining" - before he would even seat us or give us menus:
Him: "He's got shoes, right?", gesturing toward my sweet little boo boo like he was a wee naked hillbilly or something.
Me: "What? I mean, yeah, but what?" , meaning - What?
Him: "Well you know - health code violations - I don't want any trouble."
Me, still pretty incredulous: "Whaaat?"
Bear in mind please, that this is also a place that has pickles listed on the menu as an appetizer and serves breakfast "All Day Long!", so I wasn't expecting this level of snobby formality. (I mean, yeah, the regular South Loopy type snobbery, maybe, but not the being-shitty-to-people-with-babies-kind-of-shitty)
So I never even got past the foyer, which is a real shame because they also have a Monte Cristo on the menu - my all-time favorite and kind of hard to find sandwich of all-time all times. But given the asshole-y vibe of the place, I'll just have to imagine that's what the food would have tasted like, too, you know, just to console myself.
PS - to the jerk in the glasses: I was only here to give Eleven City Diner a pity fuck anyway, because the place I really wanted to go to
was closed, so don't flatter yourself.
PPS - search within this restaurant's reviews for "owner" to get an idea of what a dining experience here is like- you're welcome...
Stopped into Eleven City Diner with my crew of South Side veterans and regulars, and the owner picked up conversation with our regulars right where they last left off. Since we were there for dinner it wasn't hard to get a table. The atmosphere and two-story ceiling is festive and jovial.
I ordered the Eleven City French Toast, challah with strawberries, bananas, and toasted coconut; and it did not disappoint! Too late for a Lavazza coffee, I ordered a Vernor's Ginger Ale and was in sugary heaven! Eleven City features Faygo, Vernor's, and Boston Coolers, which made our Michigan representative very happy.
Service was excellent. I'm still thinking of when I'll be back for that Matzo Ball Soup, and my friend Bubbie can't wait to go back and get herself a Reuben, Lox, or the Big Salad. I may order that just so I can say "I'll have the Big Salad"! a la Seinfeld. We got Bazooka Joe gum from Israel and had fun making up what the comics said, since they were written in Hebrew. This Diner goes to Eleven!
GIVE THEM FIVE STARS
This deli diner in the south loops hits the spot. Ate here twice. A great old school deli and diner menu. Big portions. French Dip was tender and juicy. French Toast was heavenly. I mean it blows Bongo Room away.
The atmosphere is really a throw back to classic diners. Lot of classic Jewish deli feel to it as well. Big booths. Great music. A nice bustle to it without being overwhelming. Just a cool feel all around.
The owner, Brad came by, made sure everything was alright both times we visited. Service was attentive. Love it. Five Stars. Way to to go.
A group of 4 of us went there first thing in the morning on Friday and Saturday of Nov 6th and 7th, in fact we were a little disappointed that it was only open at 9 am, but being on holidays not to big a deal. Anyways it was quiet and there was no wait.
We are from Canada, 4 hours north of Toronto, so this was a real unknown to me , however my boss had been there the year before and raved about it then. He is pretty picky when it comes to dining.
Anyways right from the start we were doted upon, are waitresses on both days were chatty but not annoying, took interest in us and asked questions about us. They both provided excellent service. Thank you.
Oh yeah , the food; It was amazing! I had the organic oatmeal with currants, fresh juice, the coffee was a little bitter. My coworkers had a variety of things from the yogurt with granola, also some kind of omelet with lots of fresh veggies.
Lastly, we got a kick out of the decorum. You really feel like your in a diner from the 50's, hence I was surprised to learn that it was in fact only about 4 years old. The mother of the owner gave up a few of their secrets. Very lovely lady.
Lastly, if I ever get the opportunity to come down to one of greatest cities in the U.S again, I am definitely coming back. Maybe I'll try lunch next time.
Food great.
Server decent.
Owner, out of control.
I'm Jewish, and trust me, have had bosses like this in the past.
Best thing he can do to increase business is take every day off.
Experience started out on a 08/23 about 10AM.
Purchased 3 cups of coffee, fiasco but ended up getting them in paper cups and waited outside for table, about 30 min, fine with good coffee.
While on some plastic chairs outside, Brad walks up to two flamboyant guys who were unlocking their bikes after being patrons of this establishment, and yells at them for parking bikes. "Can't you see the sign I paid good money for, NO BIKE PARKING?"
Great way to treat your customers...
Owners mom, was awesome, friendly.
Brad, was scattered, didn't walk us directly to the table, mind in a million places.
We were seated right next to kitchen, and Brad was standing right next to us barking orders to cooks, and telling off his servers continuously.
Food was great, pancakes with fruit rocked.
If I decided to return, I would call to make certain it was Brad's day off. Guys like Brad never take a day off, very sad. I understand cause all in my family are like this with their businesses, thinking THEY and only THEY can run things, and the world will collapse without their oversight.
Well, it was Sunday, and unfortunately for us, we had a craving for good deli sandwiches after watching an expose on Katz's in NYC and Manny's was closed. We remembered that there was another deli in the vicinity, so we decided to give ECD a run for their money. After a very disappointing experience, we now can say for sure that ECD can't hold a candle to Manny's when it comes to what you would expect from a good Jewish deli.
Unlike Manny's, the pastrami/brisket/corned beef aren't hot and fresh and juicy and out in the open for all to see -- at ECD, the cold slabs of meat live in a dark reach-in and mechanically sliced. Who knows when these hunks of meat were prepared... earlier in the day, the week? It's hard to tell. The flavor isn't bad, but there's no moisture and warmth to the sandwiches. Also, big minus for only throwing in Heinz mustard packets with take-out orders... how about a decent option that won't completely destroy the experience?
The latkes here are an abomination. They're completely unseasoned and lacking in onion flavor. They're huge, but the texture is closer to pan-fried mashed potatoes than the light, super-crispy, super-tasty, enormous clouds of potato heaven that you get at Manny's.
Worst of all, the prices at ECD are out of control. Sure, you'll pay a considerable sum to eat at Manny's, too, but the portions at Manny's are about 50% bigger and the quality is much much better.
The dining room is pleasant and the soda jerk/old-American diner concept is attractive, but there's just not much to this place beyond the packaging.
I had a great lunch meal here. I had the Schwartzy on the waitress's recommendation and was not dissapointed. My wife and I also split a plate of cheese covered fries. I topped it off with a Brooklyn egg cream which was also great.
While the sandwiches were great, I didn't think there was anything awsome about the fries (they were very good). My wife and I also tried the desert a few nights later and didn't find anything about the chocolate or carrot cakes to write home about. At some point I'd like to come back and try their breakfast foods.
The lines seem long for most of the day. We got there at 2pm on a Saturday and had to wait 30 minutes. On the other hand, we came back a few days later at 8pm for desert and were seated immediately.
Honestly, I come here just for the matzo ball soup. I love it and can't get enough. I wish that I lived closer. Now I have another reason to love Eleven City: Freshly made Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. It was dreamy. The servers are pretty cool too.
OMG!!! This diner tops them all. Let me start out by saying that I love going to diners. I enjoy the no nonsense approach of a diner. While most restaurants always focus on the dumb stuff, like the decor or what font the menu will be, I like that diners have more time to focus on the food.
Eleven City had everything I expected from a diner and even a few more extras.
I knew my roommates and I would have a great experience when our jolly waiter Christopher greeted us. As we looked over the menu, we wanted to order everything. Obviously we couldn't, so we started to strategize about what we would order. We went back and forth on the menu changing our minds several times. In our gluttonous stupor, we finally realized that we would just have to come back to order everything we wanted.
So, as far as the food goes - all I can say is that I have never ever had Matzo ball soup as good as this one. It was a huge serving, but I ate it all. The matzo ball was light and fluffy but still full. The broth was SO flavorful. Every spoonful just seemed to melt in my mouth. I'm still thinking about how good is was and can't wait to go back.
I also had Yenta's Latkes. These were also equally amazing. They were made exactly how I like them - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Most important, they weren't greasy at all - like they can be at other places. Topped off with the apple sauce and sour cream, I savored every bite.
My roommates had the Woody Allen and Rubin's Rueben. They really liked them too.
The topping to the meal was the Bloody Mary. If you come here, you must, must, must order one.
I also like that they serve breakfast all day, so the next time I'm there, that's what I'm going to order.
Other things that made this diner amazing was the music and the counter that ran the length of the restaurant. It completes the diner experience!
If you are looking for an authentic diner, Eleven City blends your favorite NYC diner with great Midwestern roots. Detroit based Faygo soda pop? Check! Detroit based Bosten Cooler made with real Vernor's ginger ale? Check! Great latkes & matzo ball soup? Check!
They even have some beer offerings for those wanting an adult beverage while others can enjoy a milkshake or phosphate from the soda fountain. The desserts are divine...as are the cheese fries with Wisconsin cheddar...and I havne't had an entree I didn't enjoy other than the open-faced turkey sandwich...but that was because I realized I'd confused it with the turkey melt which is what I wanted to order- my mistake. Even though it wasn't my favorite turkey sandwich of all time, the fresh roasted turkey was delicious as were the mashed potatoes & gravy.
I also give their bagels & lox plate a big thumbs up (the lox was fresh and well cut, the bagel was thick & toasty and the toppings were plentiful!) and my fiance and Dad have both enjoyed different omlettes & egg dishes. I need to go one morning with a sweet tooth and try the waffles.
This is not a diner, it is most definitely an east-coast style Jew Deli. I have however come to learn that many midwestern folk hear the word deli, and think of something that belongs in a supermarket, so I guess props to them for a name that doesn't detract these misinformed individuals from entering. Enough nitpicking about the name...
My most recent visit was following the AIDS walk, and me and my fellow "athletes" were hungry , tired, and in the neighborhood...enter 11 city diner.
Let me break it down for ya,
Service: 4 if not 5 stars, the staff here has always been attentive, friendly, and downright fun. They anticipate your need for a refill, appear quickly with anything extra you might need following the arrival your meal and are readily available for any additional things one may desire.
Food: 3-4 stars, the reuben is served open-faced, melty, and a combination of corned beef and pastrami which is my personal favorite way to indulge. Admittedly I have only been here a few times, and have had the same thing anytime so I cannot judge on anything else. I was however considering an omlette, and I have a feeling if I had gone with it I would not have had such kind words that I did for the reuben, as the one that was ordered at the table looked like it had been way overcooked, then left sitting under a heatlamp for some period of time...water in to wine, not at 11 city, more like eggs into rubber.
Price: ehhhh 3 stars, given the location I know there is going to be some inflation but c'mon 12 bucks for a sandwich, and I can't even substitute a latke for fries? It seems a little steep to me.
Bathroom: 3 stars....Cleanliness = 2 stars, have they ever heard of a mop? I would also tone down the harsh lighting if I was going to allow it to get to the state that I experienced it in...Why the extra star you might ask? Dyson Airblade!! I don't know why I love these things so much, but every time I turn to dry my hands and see one of these silver wonders awaiting me, a glint of joy tingles through my body and into my hands (though I secretly wonder what else these could be used to dry.)
And now ladies and gentleman the FAIL of my visit...
Table: 1 star! (actually since this is not my overall rating ZERO stars!) We were seated in an area that I am suspicious was not part of the original dining room, but due to the weekend crowds comes in as a pinch hitter. We were next to, no not next to basically IN the kitchen. As a group of 7, I had the joy of sitting on the corner so I got a triple delight. Not only was I sweating from being mere feet from the grills, but every minute or so I ducked as in my peripheral vision a huge tray filled with their not so small plates was hoisted over my head on to the shoulder of one of the waiters. Due to my seat location I had not only this pleasure, but I was literally sitting against the computer station that seemingly all of the waitstaff used to put in their orders, print checks, etc. Now I love being surrounded with people don't get me wrong, but an entire meal spent with servers literally standing over me, and at times arguing with one another, is not my idea of a relaxing dining experience. The cherry on top of the dismal table was the noise. I could barely hear the person sitting across from me, and any hopes of conversing with my dining mates not in my immediate vicinity was hopeless. If I return, and I probably will some time, along with my name and party size I will make it very clear that it is unacceptable to seat me or those I care about at this table, actually scratch that... It is unacceptable to seat ANYONE at this table, and if you must might I suggest you pick up their tab?
These things combined I decided on 3 stars overall, maybe I am feeling nice today, and admittedly I have sat in other places which were all just fine, but c'mon if you are gonna charge what you do, stop and think about the overall experience for your patrons, that is after all what keeps 'em coming back.
Awesome diner that (fingers crossed) will be right across from my new place. Traditional Jewish deli fare plus diner standbys like the Monte Cristo, steak sandwiches and phosphate sodas. I loved the Evil Chicken sandwich. Fries aren't anything to rave about, but they aren't bad by any measure. Desserts looked pretty killer. Can't wait to come back.
The reason for the four stars is the actual taste of the meal I enjoyed there yesterday. It was good--lox and eggs, potatoes and bagel. The eggs were fluffy and the lox a generous portion. I appreciated the choice between regular lox and nova, and I picked nova for my tastes. The potatoes were good and reheated well.
The bagel was just ok. I was asked if I wanted to substitute for toast and said, of course, sesame seed please. But it arrived with NO CREAM CHEESE. Not even any butter. In a place that's at least trying to approximate a Jewish deli, that's a big stumble. And since the person who delivered my food wasn't my server, my request for cream cheese was met with a blank look.
Also, the coffee was tepid. I'm sure it was warm at some point--but being served morning coffee at 5:30pm is not cool.
We were very excited to try out this place we have seen multiple times on local TV. To be honest, I was not disappointed. Great Sunday lunch. I had the brisket sandwich and cheese fries. The real vanilla coke was wonderful. The only down side was the wait. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.
I moved in the area and I plan on coming here quite often. I've gone twice so far.
I thought the turkey burger was pretty damn good. There was this mayo thing that made me want to lick my plate. The second time I got a burger with tuna steak that was less than stellar. Not as much flavor in the wasabi mayo-- I could barely taste the wasabi.
It's spacious, the decor is fun, and they have an extensive menu. I tasted their pancakes (they call them flapjacks or something) and they were more bready and dense than I like. The sausage tasted really strange and I can't describe it. I wouldn't eat it again.
Based on my two visits alone, I was going to give it 3 stars, but there's so much I haven't tried and the desserts look really awesome. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and I'll keep coming and trying.
Speaking of dessert, the second time I went, our waitress kept trying to talk us into dessert. No lady, I don't want my ass to grow another size today, maybe next time. Quit trying to shove chocolate cake in my face. It wasn't just her constant harping, but her tone was just smarmy like she was trying to sell me a used car.
i have tried to like this place. tried so hard, because i love the lox on latke. one dish, it is amazing, and i crave it.
but sadly, when i recently went in for my lox fix, after ordering it i was told there would not be latke (basically a potato pancake) for two hours. so, i finished up my mimosa and just got the check. bummer. seems ok, right? well apparently not. the manger made a huge scene about the fact i was leaving because they didn't have what i ordered. he proceeded to yell, "if you want to go eat around the corner where they have frozen latke, go ahead." and bunch of other crazy talk. that's how he was acting--crazy. i wasn't mad or anything i just said, "ok, i guess i will just have the check then." so not a big deal, turned into this guy really losing his professionalism.
and unfortunately, it was not the first time i saw this guy bring the crazy. i have witnessed him berate employees on two other occasions and it was very uncomfortable to watch and hear NEXT to your table. (i actually think this guy is totally going to snap one day.)
it's such a shame because the food is good. but there are lots of good places in chicago. when then the service is terrible and the boss is just an ass, it's hard to go back.
eleven city diner should take note on the very classy and cool way to handle a situation where the restaurant is in the wrong, not the person simply ordering: on a recent night out at miller's pub i ordered prime rib, but the server came back and told me there was no more. i was super sad. but the manger then approached the table, apologized for being out of the dish, bought us a round of drinks, and said he would see if he could at least get and end cut for me, which he did.
now THAT is how you handle not having the food that's on your menu, eleven city diner: give the customers free booze and a smile. works for me. ;-)
I am really glad I decided to eat a nice break feast today. Besides being the most important meal of the day, I just got paid and decided to read the paper and chill out on a rainy Thursday morning. On to my review..
Opened promptly at 8AM, was greeted by the manager and waitress kindly. There is a parking lot next door where you can park at for 2 hours for 6 bucks, because there is no street parking before 9am. Hmmm, legalize parking Chicago!!!!!
Sat at the counter, got some coffee and water. The coffee tasted like shit. We have better coffee at work. The waitress kindly told me they are known for their challah french toast, and also recommended to Mexi Scramble. I got the Mexi Scramble, and it was GOOD. Real good. Dry rye toast, not buttered.
Total bill with tip was 20 bucks, I expect better coffee and toast for 20 bucks, but would return on a monthly basis for a nice break feast once in a while. 3 stars.
A friend of mine lives in the South Loop and we both have an affinity for breakfast foods. When she mentioned that there was a fabulous Jewish diner near here apartment, I knew it was fate. So I made the pilgrimage all the way from Bucktown one Saturday evening. As I walked in I knew I had been transported to a place that was like heaven. After perusing the menu I decided to try Rubin's Reuben. It was not my original plan to get something from the dinner menu, but oh my how I do love Reubens. Oy! Let me tell you it was wonderful! We should be so grateful to have such a wonderful diner that serves up such delicious food. I was also lucky enough to have such wonderful friends that let me sample their food too. The waffles were so wonderful with the chocolate chips, oh the guilt!
It was a great experience all around. The menu was a further reminder and testament to the words of Sandy Cohen in Season 1 of "The O.C.", "Gentiles. I love your mother more than words, but not funny. Get yourself some funnier friends."
We stopped in today for lunch..arriving just before the lunch rush. Seated by the owner and waited on promptly. Rubin, the owner and namesake of the dish I ordered ("Rubin's Reuben"), is a great guy and showed his genuine appreciation for your business. We saw him not once but three times give complimentary samples from his awesome menu.
I look forward to my next visit for breakfast (which is served all day!)...
Eleven City Diner still remains one of my favorite diners in the city, and even though I'm no longer living down the street, I'll take advantage when I can. I had a great late Friday morning nosh with my friend a few weeks ago, and was glad to see that the vibe seems to be much friendlier and relaxed..and no yelling. No one wants to hear yelling before coffee and eggs, right? As usual, the food was delicious and the service outstanding.
My dad loved Eleven City Diner, and anytime I had the opportunity to take him I did. In his last year he had a fair amount of difficulty getting around, and when we dined out either I or my husband would stop at the front door to take him in and then park. Brad once noticed us, and, not only did he never make us wait to be seated (If it could be helped), he once told my husband we were welcome to park right in front so my dad didn't have to walk too far. I wanted to thank him the last time I was there in May, but he was busy, so I'm doing it now. Thank you, Brad, for being so kind and considerate to my dad. He loved your diner, and you made him feel comfortable, and that means the world to me.
I was torn between giving ECD 2 or 3 stars. The food? Phenomenal. Fresh, tasty, plentiful, creative.… Read more »
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: South Shore
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Burgers
My short list of great places in Chicago to stuff…
Places I like to visit with the family when they…
The idea is that if we eat well, we treat our…
Mom lives in Chicago now...So it's kinda home for…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Growing up, there were no fancy, frou-frou…
Want to start your weekend with a drink? Or NOT.…
Where I find the best omlette, pancakes, french…
