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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Logan SquareLogan Square (Blue)
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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"I want a beef", said my visiting friend. Not being a beef girl myself, I immediately remembered the little diner around the corner from my old apartment and thus, we set off on foot.
Open spots at the counter, rear ends plunked. He decided then that he'd rather have breakfast than a beef and when the very friendly counter help smiled and asked, we obliged. Three eggs (over easy), hash browns, bacon and a Coke: $6. Oh, and some wheat bread. For your heath, you know.
Do you want to eat or have a good time?
Johnny's is like walking back in time before chain restaurants made certain things seem all to common place: credit cards, friendly service, sapid food, clean interiors....
This place is not TGI Fridays, PF Changs, Mortons or even Applebee's, but that is why it is so freaking cool!
Typical diner fare, small menu, bar seating, floor to ceiling windows, bright florescent lights, wonderful stories to be overheard 247.
Johnny's Rocks!
"I think you need to pay me," she said in a gruff, chain smoker voice . I felt like a criminal for a short period of time until the old regulars assured her I left my tab on the counter where I was sitting. The accusations came after enetring this establishment for the first time but probably not the last.
I decided to stop at this joint as my stomach growled and I was tired of the other places nearby. As I walked though the doors I felt like I stepped back in time. Back to a time when the men who wore fedoras were clean-shaven and shined their shoes. The wraparound counter and bolted stools encompassed the diner-style kitchen aged by time. The crusty plastic menu boards were kissed by errant grease. The same grease that makes the burger patties moist and the fries crispy. The air was filled with the sounds of classic rock from a radio atop the counter.
I sat myself on the far side of the counter and studied the wall menu like a map to the Holy Grail. I set my eyes on a hot bowl of chili to counteract the chill of the crisp, fall air. I wanted to include typical diner fare not easily found elsewhere, the infamous patty melt. The chili was scraped out of a metal pan sitting on the counter. The cook looked back at me over her shoulder as she scraped the remnants from the bottom on the pan into the bowl that found itself in the microwave to be reheated for my dining pleasure. The eventual flavor of which that can be best described as a notch-above-Hormel-chili-from-the-can. The bread slices were laid to rest in a pool of hot butter on the crowded griddle. The same fate of my onions slices. The patty melt came together with melted slices of American cheese, sauteed onions, buttered bread and a juicy burger patty. The final product was everything I hoped for. For a cool $4.90 for only the sandwich, I questioned its worth. It was good but not that good.
the perfect price for a great breakfast! I missed egg sandwiches from when i lived in NY this diner had a great atmosphere and price. I will def go back for breakfast in my future travels to the windy city.
This is a Chicago breakfast joint. Quick - greasy - cheap. No B.S.
If you are looking for pretension and tiny servings of food at extraordinary prices, go around the corner to Lula's Cafe.
Let's just say I wouldn't go back unless I was drunk and needing help for my hangover...but they close at 9 PM. I guess that's what you should expect from a greasy spoon. The food was not bland, but not flavorful...it was just "cooked." 2 stars.
What disturbed me was that the chef was also the money handler. I would watch him handle the cash, rub his hand on a towel and then start handling the food again. A 1 sec rub on a towel that you use to wipe grease and sweat on is NOT the right way to clean your hands. One star.
i love johnny's....its a 2 min walk from my place and its perfect.
there's no surprises in the menu...and there's no bells and whistles for the setup or decoration...but the food is consistent, and does the job.
sat/sun morn? had a long night...perfect place to go.
the service can be a little iffy sometimes, but i feel like that sort of adds to the charm a little bit...ha
just wish they were open late night!
This is the quintessential midwest greasy diner and MY GOODNESS it's CHEAP!
A burger is $3.00 + $1.75 for fries. Two eggs and hash browns are $3.30
and you get what you pay for. The burger is small and kinda tough. It tastes like it was frozen so do the fries and the onion rings. Nothing is super fresh or spectacular, but it's good enough and does the trick.
Sunday at noon there's no wait - which is all I really need anyway.
It's two blocks from my place. Love it!
Johnny's is good if you are looking for something fast and greasy. The staff is curt and the food is about average. You get exactly what you would expect from this place if you viewed it from the outside.
If you go there when there is brunch at the nearby Lula cafe, it can tend to get crowded because of the overflow, otherwise it is easy to find a table or a spot at the counter.
This is a lil' hole in the wall diner, but has delicious, very quick and dirty (i.e. greasy fatty) breakfast! My boy and I were craving omelets, looked in the empty fridge and decided we needed to get breakfast elsewhere. I was too lazy that Sunday morning to actually go somewhere and wait 45 minutes for a table so we decided to give Johnny's Grill a try and ordered take out. The staff was super friendly, poured me a glass of water while I waited for my order. They cook everything right in your view at the grill behind the counter. We ended up with two huge omelets and tons of potatoes. And it was cheap!! $14 for two breakfasts! Best of all, it was quick - I was back on my couch having a lazy Sunday within 15 minutes!
(FYI they DO accept credit cards)
Shortly after I moved to the Square I was excited about going in and grabbing a good greasy spoon burger. Unfortunately, I was less than impressed. When my friend and I went we were left waiting for longer than should be expected at a small diner. After ordering the burgers we waited a lot longer again. With one cook there, it seemed like he was moving in slow motion rather than super-sonic. Most short order cooks are blazing because they have to get the food out. Nope....this guy must have been part turtle. The bun wasn't toasted enough and the burger was dry. Fries were't even good. Fries weren't even good. But the thing that made it really bad was no refills on soda.
Cheap is about the only good thing about it.
My old man was like, "I don't think we're dessert people." This is a falsehood. I, in fact, am a dessert person. I am not, however, an expensive dessert person (see: 3 Chips Ahoy, $0.99). So instead of paying $11 for a fancy but likely delicious concoction at Lula, I got some sweet stuff at Johnny's next door.
I love places like this. Yes, the Nighthawks reference is obvious and necessary, as I always like to pretend I'm the pretty yet solemn lady in the red dress but for serious, places like this are pure Americana and they make me feel fuzzy. Levi's. The Boss. War heroes. Apple pie. Union workers. I love it, in the completely non-Republican way you can (still?) love things Americana.
The coffee was cheap and it's as clean as you would imagine. But the man behind the counter gave me a piece of cake* for like $2. What else do you want?
*"Banana cake" translates to "nondescript white cake." Nary a trace of banana in the cake, the frosting, the styrofoam container, or the fork. It tasted like Twinkies. I still ate it.
About 6 years ago this place was temporarily closed for renovations. At the time I was working for this real estate developer who grew up in Logan Square. Like a lot of dudes in their 50s, my old boss was beginning to idealize every single aspect of his childhood.
One afternoon at lunch, the boss asked me, "How's my old neighborhood? How is Logan Square? Do you like living there?"
"Sure," I said. "It's all right. The only problem I have with it is that Johnny's Grill is closed."
(Back when I had this conversation, I had no idea that Johnny's would close for only a month or so. I figured the placed had shuttered for good)
Hearing that, my boss sunk into a deeply melancholic mood and told me a 20-minute story about how he and his brother used to buy "sacks of burgers" at Johnny's Grill and about how his brother died in his 30s and that the demise of Johnny's Grill was one more piece of his life slipping way (boo-hoo). Finally the boss wiped a lone tear from his cheek, thanked me for listening, and advised me to "call your loved ones every day!"
Feeling beyond awkward, I excused myself.
For the remaining time on that job, I never discussed Johnny's Grill or anything pertaining to Logan Square again, fearful that I might provoke another existential-depressive episode in my superior. In fact, I don't recall saying more than token greetings and farewells to my boss until I handed in my 2 weeks. The guy was nuts. A few days after his crybaby routine, he tried to introduce me to "a nice Russian girl."**
(**No such thing exists. Legally, at least).
REVIEW: Johnny's Grill has awesome greasy spoon fare. Eat there drunk or hung-over and you'll be happy.
Great greasy spoon, I just wish it was open late night!
Typical greasy spoon.
And delicious! I like the restaurant because the only seating is at counters; either at the counter near the grill or the one that lines the outside wall. We chose seats on the outside counter because then we could see outside and do some people watching. There is definitely a ton of activity at this corner on a Sunday morning.
I was not hungry enough for breakfast so I just ordered some French fries, but they were great. They were freshly fried just for me and the service was very quick. My friend had a Denver omelette and said, as far as omelettes go, it was very, very good. Not the best ever but definitely worth having a second time.
I'll definitely go back to try the breakfast when I'm hungrier. The omelettes and skillets looked delicious and judging by what my friend said, the regular breakfast items should be delicious as well (i.e. eggs, hash browns and sausage).
Also a great alternative to the wait at Lula Cafe. I know the food is not the same at all, but the wait there was 25 minutes and we just walked in to Johnny's, sat down and got our food.
Johnny, I love you for your no judgment weekend breakfast / lunch, even when we both know I could have put a little more effort into making myself look presentable. Let's be honest, if I went through the trouble to look decent, I would probably be at Dunlays or Lula's. You are close to my home. You are always generous with my side order of bacon. You have the perfect greasy food to sooth my tummy, or my mood. I am the biggest fan of your egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich and your patty melt. Thank you Johnny's.
Very cheap, very tasty. The opposite of fancy and I like it. Plus I think our waitress was the most attentive I've encountered lately (I guess she couldn't really ignore us, as we were sitting at the counter, but you know, she could've if she wanted).
I enjoyed watching the cook, too. Perfect hangover food. Or you pretend you have a hangover like I did, as an excuse. For both the order I placed and my hair, to be honest.
Plato once posited that humans create objects that attempt to mimic an idealized form. I.E., any chair we make strives to be the ideal "Chair". IKEA and decades upon decades of obnoxious philosophy grad students have smushed this concept, but I'll say this...
The closest we've ever come to creating the ideal "Greasy Spoon" sits at the corner of Kedzie and Logan.
Nice staff, super fast service. It's also, like, the TOTAL opposite of Lula's Cafe which is two doors down. Which is funny in it's own way.
Of course, Plato would tell you we're all imperfect, and so is Johnny's --- it's not open nearly late enough (which forces us all go to the overpriced "Golden Nuge" instead)
I'm sort of confused why it doesn't keep later hours. Even MORE confusing then, is the Art Institute using Johnny's for it's Ed Hopper nighhawks photo-illustration (http://leisureblogs.ch...), which is well-executed but contradictory.
In reality, the Nighthawks' (http://www.ibiblio.org...) cook would be asleep, the guy sitting alone would be ordering the "pennysaver" at Golden Nugget, and... let's face it... the other guy and the skanky redhead would be having awkward sex on a studio apartment futon at this point.
I lived in the Square for many years, and found myself nursing quite a few hangovers here when I didn't want to wait for the more pretentious place next door to eat. This place is disgusting. I kept thinking I'd find a cigarette butt or a hair in my food. The cooks would smoke in the restaurant which was disgusting when you are trying to eat your food.
So for a better dining experience, fork over the extra 35 cents and take out. The food itself is decent and does the job of getting rid of hangovers.
A perfect Greasy Spoon-type restaurant, Johnny's Grill on Logan Square offers all of the traditional breakfast food (which is the only time I actually come here)- pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast, hash browns, etc. All cooked to simple perfection, and offered at a low price. What else is there to say? The people working there are nice enough and the clientele is very varied, which is a nice contrast to the hip Lula Cafe (which I also love).
Overall, this is a good place to go to when you're looking for a place with no unnecessary extras and cheap food.
Nothin' special food-wise (although their pancakes are good) but I appreciate that it's close to home, almost never a wait, it's not packed (unlike Cozy Corner), it's super cheap (2 for breakfast ~$15 w/tip!) and you're in and out in half an hour (I'm not a drinks-and-benedicts brunch person). Lots of grandpas with their granddaughters, surprisingly low hipster quotient, and no obnoxious I-inflict-my-dogs-and-strollers-on-everyone types. Kinda charming lil hole-in-the-wall diner, and if that's all you expect, all the better.
Had the hot dog... not good. Had the burger... bad.
Overall, Johnnys was a letdown. I was expecting a wee bit more from a joint like Johnnys, but this place couldnt deliver the goods.
M. Pleasure
I drank too much last night. WAY too much but, hey, the Red Sox clobbered Cleveland, so I had a lot to celebrate....
That being said, I had a doozy of a hangover this morning. What to do? "Head to Johnny's Grill" my (oft ignored) voice of reason pleaded. With my wits dulled and my laziness conquered from last nights revelry, I chose to listen and now my hangover has been dealt a fierce enough blow that I think I can start drinking again in 2.5 hours when the next game starts - hooray!
Cheap, greasy, no frills, great for people watching (although it used to be people fighting on the Boulevard instead of Trixies with baby carriages - the fights were more fun), friendly staff, great hash browns and plenty o'Joe. They also have a great hot sauce that I -gasp- like better than Tabasco. Oddly enough, I love the fountain soda here more than just about any place in town, go figure.
Breakfast with multiple hangover fighting beverages for two today was $12.50. Try finding that kind of a deal anywhere else on the Square! Bonus points - not one single tool came in while we were there eating - yay!
Omelets, burgers and fries...a greasy spoon that keeps the neighborhood honest!
I loved the recent Art Institute ads that used Johnny's Grill as the Edward Hopper Nighthawks diner...brilliant!
The place only seats around 25 people all at seats are at the diner counter or the counters around the windows.
Ate here on Fourth of July for breakfast after a night of drinking pints and pours with Mike F. Lula Cafe was closed (still havent been) which led us to this no frills gem.
I ordered the mushroom omelet with spinach tomato and cheese and had it placed in front of me by the older lady referenced many times in previous reviews. She said to me "just liked you ordered it" as she slid it in front of me as if to say, "Enjoy your odd breakfast gringo!". Excellent in size and price served with a healthy portion of hash browns and toast. Well worth the ~$6. I liken the omelets to the Palatine Cafe and the Carol Stream Cafe (located in USPS mail processing facilities in the referenced cities).
The lady and the omelet made my holiday morning begin just the right way and I'm sure shorted my hangover by at least 2 hours.
After living across from Johnny's Grill three separate times, I believe I have eaten more meals here than anywhere else. After moving out of Chicago for a year, on my return my first meal was Johnny's. I can't really say it is my favorite restaurant but it certainly is my most frequented, and definitely will hold a place in my heart forever.
The food is what you would expect, listed out in plastic letters above the grill. Though I must say they have quite a selection, from breakfast to burgers, gyros to tuna melts. Nothing especially exciting for a Chicago diner, but certainly enough that you won't go bored quickly. There are absolutely some meals that I will stay away from, but have always loved their gyros and BLTs. A friend swore by their tuna melts, and their breakfasts are pretty amazing. Not to mention how amazingly perfect and crispy their fries are. The food is greasy, but that is easily out weighed by the many other aspects of the place.
The diner is placed on the corner of the Logan Square Blvd, amazing for people watching...in fact, that is half the reason I go. But you don't need to look very far to get entertainment, the regulars and short order cooks offer plenty. You will definitely notice guys who are there every day, for some meal or another.
My only real complaint about this place is it's weekend mornings. There is one hell of a breakfast rush, and one of the women that takes orders on the weekend is completely intolerable. If I see that she is working, I just simply not go in. I have waited nearly a half an hour for her to acknowledge me...and not due to the business of the place, but due to some underlying grudge she has against the younger crowd. The woman is a rock, so don't think you can sway her with puppy eyes or good tips.
So yes, cheap, fast, good food with plenty of human interaction to go around. A true staple of Logan Square in my mind. They unfortunately not open very late, though I have never really been able to nail down when they close...it seems to fluxuate in accordance with who is running the place on what day. I have seen them close at 7 PM, I have seen them close at 11 PM. You never really know.
With competition from the more upper scale eateries such as Lula and Dunlay's just around the corner, it is great that Johnny's is still going strong. If you stop in and Andy makes you some eggs over easy, tell him I said "Hi"....but for the love of god never ask the man if he likes riding on boats, you will be sorry you asked.
I was in logan square and wanted breakfast without spending a fortune. Lula's is delicious but it's hard to get out of there without spending $20/person. So we decided to try out Johnny's instead.
The best thing about Johnny's is that it is dirt freakin cheap. I think my pancakes were $3. And service was good with frequent coffee refills. Yes, the food is greasy diner food, which is what a person comes here for!
One weird thing that my friend and I noticed is that they seemed to be on a packaging wasting mission - EVERYTHING came individually packed even the syrup for my pancakes and the ketchup for her burger. Doesn't seem very cost efficient, maybe they got a closeout deal on individual condiments or something.
I can't even describe how excited I am when all the whities walk over to Lula Cafe and my hidden jewel has two free stools for me and my babe to sit at.
Let's see... BREAKFAST! But we usually split a cheese omelette and chocolate chip pancakes with some type of sandwich deluxed. I don't recall anything that I have been 'meh' about. It's a wonderful greasy spoon and I love to watch my food being made. No frills, no high prices, no chair seating.
Enjoy :)
Oh Johnny's, how I love thee. I thought about reviewing you after my last visit a couple months ago, and it would've been 3 stars. I like surly waitstaff, but the older lady who takes orders was downright rude. When I came this morning, I planned on getting my food to go and eating in the square, since it was A) very nice out, and B) the church crowd was getting out. Yet you were only half full and as a bonus, the grouchy old lady wasn't there. Things were looking good.
The nice, younger lady took my order and even said it was nice to see me again. I ordered my usual (ham and cheese omelet, wheat toast, and coffee). I hadn't even finished a story in the paper when she showed up with my food! And what sealed the deal is... they remembered I like orange marmalade with my toast. Yes, they hadn't seen me in two months and they brought me orange marmalade without having to ask for it.
Incidentally, I was eating there to make myself not-hungry before going to the Logan Square Farmers Market (see my review). I can only hope my next visit is as good as this one.
One of my best friends lives a couple of blocks away from here. When I come into town, this is a must-stop. As you walk up to the diner- what you see is what you get. The service has always been quick, and I've never gotten that feeling that they wanted me to leave before I was ready. The coffee kept coming. The price is right and it will keep you full until you eat a late lunch.
I can't wait for my next visit.
Sure, if I went to one of the trendier places nearby and got the same food, I would be appalled. But Johnny's is no more (or less) than what you'd expect, and that's the magic of it.
I go to Johnny's when I don't have the money or vintage Lacoste shirt for Lula's. It's a no-frills place for some hash browns and the best place in the neighborhood to people watch. Personally, I'd stick with the breakfast menu; no offense to their lunch options, but I just like greasy-spoons better before noon.
I'd been living around the corner from Johnny's for several months, but hadn't gone until last night.
It's a classic little diner that serves up good greasy food at the right price. I like places where you can see your food being made, so a seat at the counter offered a good view and interesting conversation. The regulars are friendly and like to make small talk. Navigating the menu as a vegetarian could be difficult, so I'd suggest the breakfast options. Oh, and no substitutions. It says so on the menu, so don't be picky.
I like pancakes any time of the day, so instead of schlepping to IHOP, I'll just head to Johnny's. It's closer and cheaper.
This place offers a nice view of Logan Square while you eat your food.
I had the cheeseburger, the sausage with eggs, and the pancakes to go. The food was alright, but nothing to write home about. Service was decent, although there seemed to be only one guy working there. It took ten minutes from the time I placed my order to the time I walked out the door with food in hand.
There's really nothing much more I can say.
You can't beat breakfast for $3.30!! 2 eggs (or 3, they usually throw in an extra for free), toast, and hash browns. I've never ordered anything else, but have never wanted anything else!! Great diner atmosphere with a lot of windows and sunlight.
Sausage and Egg on French Roll = Hangover Cure Supreme!! You can even have a cup of coffee at the counter while you wait to take it to go!
If you've woken up reeking of last night, and choosing which sunglasses to block the world with, is enough to cause a 10 minute blank stare - Johnny's is where you need to schlep to.
Take yesterday for example: the Memorial weekend stupor had wrapped me in a smoke thicker than the bbq and bottle rockets from the night before and the only way up was greasy food. Johnny's had me covered.
The gyro was no frills perfection: the diced tomatoes were a nice change from the usual warm tomato wedges you'll find, the sauce perfect, and the meat fried a little to make the edges crispy - a brilliant move in my book. The french fries at Johnny's Grill are also the perfect combo of crispy outside, soft inside, a near McD's recreation. A 10!
For all you who need a super cheap greasy spoon, UNenvironmentally sound soda, and a friendly face who doesn't want to chat, Johnny's is your Monday afternoon grill.
for a diner, this place is pretty good.
super clean and friendly service is what ya get. the menu is pretty typical, nothin crazy. but the food comes out fast and almost always hits the spot.
and the seating is excellent for people watching. i'd take this place over lula anyday.
When I get brunch in Logan Square I pass right by Dunlay's and Lula and go straight got Johnny's. They always give you 3 eggs, even though the menu says 2. The hash browns are very tasty- freshly sliced potatoes, perfectly browned. The sausage isn't bad either. The people who work there are friendly, entertaining, and efficient. And- you can walk out of there spending under $5...what's not to like?
yum.
Although I appreciate living in a neighborhood with plenty of healthy, fresh food options, having a classic diner on my corner makes life better.
The other day, I strolled over to Johnny's and got three eggs, hashbrowns, coffee and toast for $5. The crowd was colorful and cheery, including a screaming waitress and a doctor in scrubs eating a popsicle.
I enjoyed watching the cook whip up my eggs in a jiffy, and the smell of chorizo made me drool.
With such low prices, I'm amazed Johnny's can keep a storefront in such a prominent location.
Perfect for a Sunday morning and a great indulgence when you're just too lazy to make a quick breakfast. It's not the largest place on the block, but it's just right. Yeah, it's greasy. Yeah, it's noisy. But that's the entire charm of the place! And the folks are attentive -- you won't go without coffee. I love sitting at the stools and watch my food being made.
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Nightlife
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Category: American (New)
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