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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Bakeries
Neighborhood: Near West SideClinton (Blue)
Mon-Sat. 5:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Amazing Service. Amazing Coffee. Amazing Food. Simply Amazing.
Lou Mitchell's is always busy but is one of those places where you just want to sit down for hours. The Service is amazing, one of those places where the refill your coffee once it's half full. When you walk in they give you a homemade doughnut ball before they take you to your table. You sit down and they give you milk dudes while waiting to order. And a little bite size ice cream before you leave. ALL INCLUDED FOR FREE
Definitely a traditional diner. No Frills. The service is exactly what I look for when I go out to eat. They are super fast and check in just often enough. They don't sit there and try to have conversations or hover over you after you meal is complete waiting for you to leave your table. But they are still attentive at the same time.
The eggs have double yolk which is a super plus for me. I recommend the corned beef and hash (you have to order it off the menu). So delicous, comes with toast, hashbrowns, and eggs.
This place has been around for over 85 years for a reason!
ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE. This place only takes cash. So don't forget to have it on you when you come in.
Maybe I have low standards, but I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch at Lou's. The scrambled eggs fluffy, the potatoes hot and a little crispy, the raisin toast thick-cut and buttery. And my girlfriends French toast was fantastic as well. This is a really cool little place- styled like a old lunch counter, it's cool to look around and imagine what the room was like at different times over its 85 year run in downtown Chicago. We went early afternoon Sunday, and got seated at the counter immediately.
The short version: great breakfast, great space, great restaurant. I'll be returning.
This breakfast dinner and bakery takes you back a few years. I knew it was going to be good when we encountered a line. Shortly after joining the line, a cute "blue-haired" lady came out with a basket..."DONUT HOLES.....DONUT HOLES!" She smiled and hollered and handed them out to the line...awesome!
We were pulled to the front after about a 10 minute wait for a table for two. Seems larger groups ruled the day and we were the only party of two. We were seated in a cute little booth and the waitress went over the menu. I had the special mushroom omelet, which came with potato hash browns and Greek Toast (my new favorite thing in the whole world!)
The breakfast was awesome. Perfect eggs, great hash browns, fresh o.j. and that heavenly Greek bread.
Lou Mitchell's is THE PLACE for an old-school breakfast.
It's the perfect place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Since it's located directly around the corner from my job, I found myself going there consistently and falling to sleep at my desk afterwards. I guess it's a compliment to Lou Mitchells, but not such a good idea if I intend to keep my job. Anyway....their food is OFF THE CHAIN!!! It's a decent price to be located in the West Loop, and they always pile more than enough food on top of your plate. It's always crowded, but the service is great and the staff is nice.
The only downside to Lou Mitchell's was the wait in line, but a lady would help alleviate the stress of the wait by passing out donut holes - not to mention that I was visiting on a late Saturday morning, which makes the line a little more understandable. After we got into the restaurant the food and hospitality instantly made up for the wait. Although the establishment was packed from wall to wall, the service was still prompt and friendly. The coffee was excellent, and they were never far away to make sure you had a full cup. Their breakfast was hands down some of the better morning food I've had in a long time, especially the pancakes - fluffy and in bulk, with some of the best maple syrup, of which you can buy as a delicious memento. The food, the service, and the rich history behind Lou Mitchell's makes it a must stop for Chicago breakfast goers.
It's hard to screw up breakfast if you are even an OK cook. However, a great atmosphere and history certainly lend to a wonderful experience. That all said, Lou Mitchell's delivered an absolutely delicious start to the day.
Don't be turned away by the seemingly endless line -- it moves quickly! If you are not able to get a booth, you could end up at the counter or join a tight European-dining style seating (long tables) where conversations compete with one another above the constant din, and bursts of "Happy Birthdays", sung by the entire restaurant staff and patrons.
Food is reasonably priced and plentiful. Typical breakfast joints give you 2 measly links, Lou gives you 5! I was glad I didn't add any bacon or pancake to my order. I barely could finish my meal. I did, though. It would seem too wasteful to let those wonderful turkey links go to waste. Hash browns, handcut fries and made-on-the-premises wheat bread are amazingly fresh and delicious. None of us had a bad meal. The sugary donuts handed out at the waiting line was a great and much welcomed touch. Greasy but good. Just don't ruin your appetite by having too many.
I took my family here for breakfast and they loved it~
Even though it gets crowded, it's a family friendly atmosphere. The kids (and adults) love the free donut holes, milk duds, and soft serve. The pancakes and sausages are solid.
Fluffiest and lightest omlettes over...what in the world do they put in those things? Yes you can get your standard Denver or perhaps something with spinach and feta, but why not be a bit more daring? On my last visit I had an exotic egg creation with cheddar cheese and sweet apples on top. Ooh what a great combination and definitely worth a try.
Top that off with some strong coffee, a doughnut hole and your day is off to a great start.
Donut holes, Milk Duds and prunes - oh my! Lou Mitchell's is the first stop on the Mother Road (aka… Read more »
The last time I went to Lou Mitchells was about 15 years ago, and after a look at the yelps, I almost didnt go on this trip to chicago. I figured, oh well, they must have gone downhill.
I was so happy that I checked it out for myself. The food was fantastic-- the eggs and potatos served in the skillet were as good as ever, the bacon and sausage amazing but dont write Lou Mitchells off as a greasy spoon-- i ordered some of the fluffiest best eggwhites i've ever eaten, incredible whole grain toast (baked on the premises), great coffee (fair trade i think?) and most of their ingredients are fresh and homemade.
You also go to Lou Mitchells for the history and ambiance. The donut holes passed out when you walk in, the milk duds for the girls are a fun touch and keep you smiling if you have to wait for a table, and the beautiful old style front and signage play big time to my sentimental side.
Im so happy that Lou Mitchels is as good as it ever was.
A greasy spoon at its finest!!
They serve the best omelette you will ever have. Four eggs, if you're wondering. I like mine with spinach and feta cheese. What is your secret to making these so light and fluffy, Lou Mitchell? I want to know!
The potatoes they serve along side? HEAVEN. The coffee? DIVINE!
AND they have outdoor seating in the summer time.
AND if you are too lazy or not inclined to wait in line, just call ahead and pick up your order 10 minutes later. They have 15 minute parking right outside.
Love, love LOVE this place!
This is really more of a news update than a review update. I continue, of course, to frequent the place with great regularity and puffy egg/ Greek sausage/orange marmalade/thick toast anticipation.
Channel 5 news reported that Lou Mitchell's is franchising, and planning to go national, and preserving both its menu and its look/decor, which I've always described as very Dick Van Dyke show 1961-ish. Or Mid-century modern in the new style vernacular. I am so psyched and feel like a happy parent, having been a customer here since 1978. And it has always been on my Chicago musts-visit list for visitors and out-of-town friends.( Long before the concierge crowd put it on their list sometime in the 90's.)
Old Lou must be up there handing out celestial Milk Duds and kissing all the new girls arrivng at the Pearly Gates.
Let's see...opened in 1921, franchised in 2009. That's only 88 years! There's still hope (and time) for a Hot Doug's national franchise.
I am rather surprised at the time of this writing that there are only 102 reviews of this place. No… Read more »
Still four stars. They set the standard for "fluffy" omelets. Huge, fluffy, and terrific. Their waitstaff knows what they're doing and keep it moving, so your food arrives hot and you coffee gets refilled. That should be a priority at any restaurant serving breakfast, but often isn't.
Elbow to elbow sharing tables with all the tourists can get old. But the orange juice is still fresh, the thick fresh bread is still as good as it gets, and the menu still offers too many great breakfast choices. And if you don't see it on the menu - ask. They'll even make it your way.
This is as classic a Chicago restaurant as you can find that doesn't serve steaks.
EVERYONE has had…
Read more »
We arrived here completely by accident for lunch today, and we never even noticed the two strangely placed signs saying cash only until we were leaving. That's how obvious they were-we ended up having to get cash from the ATM.
Anyway, we got there and there was no hostess to be found. We were actually seated by the cashier, who told us to grab a few menus and pointed to a booth. Fine, not a huge deal. Our waitress came by and took our drink order within a few minutes of us sitting down. She came back within a timely manner, but that was it as far as things being fast go. We placed our order-my bf got silver dollar pancakes and I got 2 eggs sunny side up with white toast. After I placed my order, she asked if I wanted butter, and I said no (this will come into play later).
It took at least 20 minutes for our food to come. Our waitress came by 10 minutes after the order was placed and said she'd check on our food, but she didn't say anything to us after and it still took forever to show up.
Once it did, it was met with disappointment on my end. They gave me 4 of the smallest egg yolks I've ever seen (I ordered 2). Then I picked up the toast, and not only did it have butter, but it was literally DRENCHED in it. Not only was it super gross, but it would've made me incredibly sick to eat, so I left it alone. My boyfriend wanted me to ask for new toast, especially since she'd specifically asked if I wanted butter or not (and then repeated it to me when I said no), but as it turned out, the eggs didn't need toast because they were so overcooked. I literally had no trouble just picking up the yolk and eating it without much breakage (only one egg had any). They also supplied me with greasy scalloped potatoes that I wasn't expecting and didn't eat much of. I was so disappointed. I love breakfast, but that was one of the least satisfying breakfast's I've ever had.
My boyfriend was given 10 silver dollar pancakes (which, by the way, are much larger than a silver dollar) that were thin, full of holes, and pretty good actually. At least one of us enjoyed our meal.
Overall, it was an ok experience (but only because of the pancakes), but nothing to write home about, and we have no plans to go back. Something else we both noticed was that other than the cashier, all of the workers seemed to be over 40-many older ladies. We're both curious now if you have to be over 40 to be hired there. Literally the only younger person there was the cashier (not that 40 is old, but there was only 1 40 something in the whole place). Funny.
Another thing to point out that I am reading about on yelp is ice cream. Seems it's normally offered (and we saw plenty being given to customers in tiny plastic bowls) to people, only we never got any. What's up with that? Do you have to order something specific, or were they just being lazy today? Boo.
They give you. A prune. With breakfast.
A PRUNE.
WITH.
BREAKFAST.
Granted, it comes with an orange, and at the end of your meal, there's ice cream but I just don't understand.
Now, I love me some diners. And I love me some vintage looking eateries. And I love classic diner fare and old fashioned milkshake mixers and Lou Mitchell's fits the bill in those regards.
But WHY is there a line for this place that goes halfway down the block on a Sunday? Is there crack in the food that I'm not aware of? And what's with the 3-year old boxes of milk duds that'll break your teeth?
The line moves quickly and your waitress (for there are no waiters) will stare at you over her glasses while you decide what you want. I went with a malted waffle that tasted...pretty much exactly how you'd expect a waffle with malt powder in to taste. My roommate got an omelette that didn't blow her away. And her friend got biscuits and gravy - by far the wisest choice of the three of us.
Anyway, if you want diner style breakfast, I can recommend about 10 other places that are not overrun with people who have just gotten off the Metra and are confused as to whether they're looking at the Sears/Willis/Whatever Tower or the Hancock Building.
This place hit the spot! I had the greek omelette and the hashbrowns. It was very tasty. The feta cheese tasted so fresh. I loved that the tabasco sauce was already on the table:) The waitress was a sweetheart! her name was Dulce(Candy).. great service!!! Did not like the $2 fee I had to pay at the ATM because the place does not accept credit cards:(
From reading prior reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect from this place. However, I went Sunday morning for breakfast with 4 other people and had a very solid, pleasant experience.
When we arrived, we were a bit dismayed by the line that went out the door and around the block. But I do have to say that this was the fastest moving restaurant line I've ever stood in. I estimate a total of 20 minutes passed from the time we arrived to the time we were seated and placed our drink orders. This impressed me. Some people may complain about waiting in line for a diner but it's no different than showing up at Maggianos or another restaurant for dinner some evening and waiting 20 minutes for a table to open up. It was actually nicer because instead of a loud, crowded lobby, we were outside in the gorgeous Sunday weather .Also, the whole time we were in line, a server walked around giving people free donut holes. When a table opened up outside, we were only too happy to sit in the sun
Another positive note: our waitress was wonderful! Lou's was extremely busy, but she handled everything like a pro: she was cheerful, organized and quick, and managed to handle three tables worth of orders simultaneously without missing a step. We had our water right away, we received our coffee/tea just a couple minutes after sitting down and within 5 minutes she came by again to take our orders.
I like to think of myself as something of a diner connoisseur. I've eaten in diners of varying quality across the country. Lou Mitchell's is a good, solid diner where you can expect hearty, tasty food. It isn't haute cusine, so don't show up expecting to get an $80 steak dinner at a $10.99 American diner. But if you enjoy good quality diner food at a reasonable price, you'll have a good time here.
You start your meal out with a complimentary orange slice and prune, which I thought was a funny twist, but we all happily ate them. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, which was prepared perfectly. The biscuits were fluffy and warm, with a slightly firm crust, and the sausage gravy was a nice, thick consistency without being too oily or salty. It was just like homemade. After eating I was well satisfied, not over-full or sick feeling. I also had a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice that was also yummy. When we finished up, everyone got a small cup of vanilla ice cream.
The coffee here is really good! I had three cups. I believe they won some awards for it years ago, based on the signage I saw.
After we finished up, we wandered over to Maxwell Street Market and browsed all the stolen Hilti angle drills and finish nailers.
All in all, I would recommend Lou Mitchell's for breakfast (served all day). If you hate standing in line, go during an off-peak time.
Lou Mitchell's is the essential diner breakfast of Chicago. Its potatoes, toast, all-butter pastries, and pancakes are all of fine quality. But the real killer of Lou's are the eggs.
Californians like myself could be forgiven for thinking LA's Pantry is the pinnacle of all high-cholesterol breakfasts. Lou's omelets are legally _orange_ from their yolk content. Then they add a pound of bacon and cheese.
Lou's draws the crowds, and while polite, the service is not swiss-watch efficient. The lines outside can get long during breakfast peaks, so be prepared to enjoy your donut holes and milk duds. Inside, when someone uses up all the cream from the pitcher that four hungover coffee fiends have to share, it's sometimes ten to twenty minutes before a refill. Tempers may flare; take a deep breath and enjoy your eggs.
Great place for breakfast, diner style. Pancakes were good. Coffee was fine.
I like the feel of the place, especially so close to the office. Nice way to start the day - kind of a grinning place.
Oh, cash only.
Everything about this place is exactly how I would want it to be. It is a diner for the blue collar worker, not that you don't see ties and suit coats, but you can roll in in pj's and eat off a hangover and no one seems to mind. If you want to be reminded that there is a Chicago outside of tourists, 20-somethings, and commuters this is the place to go.
I am really a food purist and this is a great place to go when you crave a home cooked meal but don't want it laden with preservatives, dyes, "mystery seasonings". Did I mention free, yes FREEEEEE food? (milk duds, oranges, ice cream! srsly!)
Recommend: Anything is amazing but I go for the breakfast potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and fresh juice.
Friendly, fun authentic Chicago diner experience.
Normally I would never venture to the Loop on a Sunday morning to stand in a really long line - for anything, but we had a train to catch at Union Station, so Lou Mitchell's made sense. Plus, this would be the first time one of my kids had been there, so it was an extra treat.
The line really was out the door and to the corner by 9 am.
No worries. At Lou Mitchell's they pass the freshly made donut holes to those in line. We turned the donut gal into our messenger; told her we had a train to catch, and we were seated in less then three minutes - at the counter, which was fine by us. The food tastes the same, and we were served almost immediately.
Fresh orange and cranberry juice, bagel, omelet with toast and little tiny ice cream palette cleanser to finish.
"Dad, why did the waitress ask you if we wanted ice "CDEAM" and "GDEEK" toast?
"Because she's 'GDEEK,' that's why."
If you have a train to catch, Lou Mitchell's on Sunday morning is worth the "wait."
This is the only Mitchell's locale I trust. The rest of them range from unpredictable to awful. But… Read more »
This place is just average. I get the atmosphere though - old school feel. Seating next to the cooking areas was kind of cool.
I went on a Saturday afternoon - HUGE line that practically went out the door. Not worth the wait if you ask me. Free donut holes in a basket and milk duds when you walk in. I think our waitress had worked there for 30 years. She was nice and pleasant, she was a little... slow in the head though.
I got 2 eggs with turkey sausage, hash browns, and a cinnamon raisin toast. I thought they messed up my order and gave me 4 eggs because I found 4 yolks! Then I read somewhere they are famous for their "double yolk" eggs. That's kind of cool. Other than that, it was nothing special, your standard breakfast fare. Who can make breakfast bad? My friend had the french toast. She said it was good, but also nothing special.
When we got the bill we were surprised at the total, it was $25 for 2 of us! Go to IHOP and get what we got and it would have been $12! I can't imagine locals eating here unless they live in the loop and are craving breakfast. It seemed a lot of people in line were tourists that had seen it on that Top Chef Chicago episode.
OLD SCHOOL....
I don't mean Old-School in the terms of quaint, vintage, and historical...but perhaps just old?
Such a quirky restaurant! Quirkiness abounds as the women (women only!) receive halloween-size milk duds as you are seated at the table. While waiting for your breakfast, every person at the table will receive a little dish with an orange slice and a prune. Then, after breakfast, everyone receives a thimble of ice cream. RANDOM!
I gave this place 4 stars because people wait outside in the cold and the rain for this quirkiness, so perhaps I just missed something?
The menu is extensive, and the toast is phenomenal. I know it's difficult to mess up toast, but trust me, it's yummy! The omelets are incredible and the potatoes are not your normal breakfast potatoes.
Everyone needs to try Lou Mitchell's...for the experience as much as the food!
In all my years in New York, between New York City and New Jersey (diner capital of the world) I've eaten at some amazing breakfast establishments. Prepping for my weekend vacation in Chicago, skimming through my guidebooks and asking any Chicagoan I knew what they considered their favorite breakfast eatery, both sources converged at Lou Mitchell's.
There is a certain quality, a certain state of mind one seeks in a breakfast spot. Located on what seemed to me an otherwise quiet part of town, I arrived at Lou Mitchell's on a sunday morning, 9am to be precise. Already a line had formed out the door and the place was bustling with the weekend locals.
Fresh from their bakery arm, they serve up free donut holes to appease the waiting crowd. After a 15 minute wait, we were finally seated and greeted by a kind "veteran", a lady who seemed to have made of the very same plasma that Lou Mitchell's seems to be made of.
A full and extensive menu ranging from pancakes and waffles to fried eggs and ham. And to top it all off they serve their eggs right in a skillet it's cooked in! This honest uniqueness and "homey" feeling makes you feel welcome whether a local or a visitor.
My breakfast was amazing and followed up with free ice cream. My overall experience left me so wanting more, that i returned several times before my voyage back to New York.
As New Yorkers we may not always give it up, but when credit is due, it aught to be handed. Lou Mitchell's made my Chicago experience that much more "Chicago."
Sears tower, millenium park, navy pier, wrigley field! For all that its worth, Lou Mitchell's was the favorite part of the trip for my dad. Go figure.
I like their doughnut holes and the Milk Duds for the ladies trandition. I also like their oversized portions to make you feel stuffed. The steak and two eggs I got were hefty, and the steak itself was quite tender and juicy - no complaints. The coffee was filling and quite hot and fresh. The prune and the slice of orange was a refreshing way to clean out your palate before the grease begins. Service was great, can get quite jam-packed, and parking is available on the surrounding streets (watch out for the street cleaning signs on certain days!). While this place is stated to be overrated, at least their food is solid. Come on, they have homemade marmalade for your Greek toast!
Milk Duds before breakfast and only for the women? Complimentary donut holes to make the wait more bearable? A din and hustle that can only come from a busy diner? Yep- that's Lou Mitchell's!
Go early if you want to avoid the wait. We went at 9am on a Sunday morning and we were able to be seated (in a booth! Yay!) right away. But by the time we left a little later- people were waiting out in the cold for a table. Know that this is not a leisurely brunch experience- but more of a quick place to grab a bite and get on your way. Besides- it's so loud in the place that even basic conversation with your table mates is a challenge! But that's all part of it's quirky charm.
Our food was good- fluffy omelets, huge pancakes, great coffee and a jug of syrup so big it was hard to lift and pour! They make their own marmalade (order the Greek toast to slather it on) and my coffee cup was never empty. And if that wasn't enough food- they offer up free sample sized cups of soft serve when you are done with your meal.
Service was friendly and efficient, the pace was quick and we were in and out within an hour. Bring CASH as they don't take plastic and pay on your way out.
Now, if only I could have snuck a bag of those donut holes to go. . . . . . . .
3.5 stars for Lou's - because I can't quite give them the whole 4 stars as their food doesn't warrant it, but the old school atmosphere and legend here does.
Lou Mitchell's is one of those quintessential Chicago spots - full of tough talking waitresses, old school politicians, and hard nose reporters. Full of old fashioned breakfast goodness - if you like it heart attack style, of course!
I had an omelette, with apple and cheddar and mushrooms and it was prepared perfectly, except for the fact that I had misunderstood the apple prep. I assumed that the apples would be diced up fresh and mixed in throughout the omelette, but instead they came applesauce-style lathered on top. No biggie, I just shoveled them off the top. The potatoes are done potato chip style - fried up and crispy like a potato chip - quite tasty but greasy and not too healthy. But that's what Lou's is about - old fashioned breakfast, before we used to worry about things like lard and butter and carbs!
Plus stars for the history. 66. I just need a classic car, to park on Jackson (parking only on weekends).
The usual Chicago breakfast insanity with lines out the door, but it moved quickly and donut holes were distributed. I can't eat bread; why can't institutions hand out meatballs?
Parties of two are crammed Avec style on to a long table. Wish I was a group of 4, would've gotten a real table and more quickly. Outside tables looked gloriously unattainable.
Damn was this place loud and packed. A luggage depository was set up near the door to conserve space elsewhere.
My first egg. I kid you not, I've never been able to stomach more than a bite. I gave it a go with their super fluffy scrambled generous portions here. I really should have split a 2 egg skillet with my date. Tobasco, tons of salt and pepper and a successfully consumed an egg and kept it down. The sausage was way better than most places' Jimmy Dean style I've tried lately, a nice surprise. The hash browns were more like butter browned potato slices, which we liked better than the over fried standard. Overall, it was a good experience to have, but too loud and busy to be worth it more than once.
I just had breakfast at Lou Mitchell's for the first time today. I didn't have any expectations because I had never heard of the place or its reputation and had not looked it up on yelp.
So...my unbiased opinion is "gross."
First off, the waitress seemed to slam down my order when I didn't reach out for it as quickly as she would have liked me to.
I ordered the Organic seasonal fruit parfait (fruit, yogurt, granola). It comes in a tall sundae glass so it was presented well but too bad the blueberries had MOLD on them! I noticed the fuzzy gray mold right away and bent over to whisper to the waitress that there was mold on my blueberries and as soon as she heard what I told her she seemed very irritated....at ME! She said "MOLD?!!! Do you want something else?" I told her I would take the same thing but minus the blueberries (to avoid any more mold). She acted like this was a problem (even told me well that's gonna take a little bit) but she went back and told the kitchen to remake me another parfait minus the blueberries...
Get this! When she brought me the NEW fruit parfait she sets it down and says "here you go, one fruit parfait...those are raisins." Yes, in fact, there were raisins BUT there was still one lone blueberry right on top of my parfait and it still had MOLD on it! I swear, did the kitchen do this on purpose?? When I had eaten my way through to the middle of the parfait the yogurt suddenly looked discolored and slimy. Sorry...this is gross, I know. I lost my appetite not knowing why the yogurt looked so nasty. I didn't bother telling the waitress again that my parfait still had the moldy blueberry nor did I try to convince her I thought my yogurt was slimy...I think she would have bit my head off.
Oh yeah, the service was slow even though we got there with NO line at all on Father's Day....We didn't care because we were visiting relatives but otherwise it would have been a problem. Also, there were so many condiments (which I am sure should have been refrigerated) on the table when we arrived that there was not much room on the table for our glasses/plates/etc.
If you have a larger stroller do not think you'll get it into the door without folding it up AND there is such a lack of room in this place that they request you to leave the stroller in a designated place by the door (instead of setting it beside your table). Hmm...what else...Yeah the donut holes were soggy and cool even though the hostess had JUST brought out a "new" basket of donut holes. Finally, both my husband and I (despite not eating a ton of food) felt bloated and had upset stomachs after this "meal."
If I want fancy pancakes, I'll go to Bongo Room, but if I want anything else for breakfast, I'll go to Lou Mitchell's.
I went here yesterday for lunch. It took 20 minutes of sitting at my table before the waitress came to take our order. Mind you, it was not a rush period yet. Then it took another half hour of waiting before I asked to see the manager. The manager was very rude and told me that they were busy and it was not their problem. I told her that I am a working person who has an hour lunch. It is unacceptable for our waitress to be so unresponsive. I told the manager that we should get a discount on our meal for waiting so long, and she told us no. When I finally received my food, it was cold, but I ate it anyway because I was starving by then. The food was very generic -- what you'd expect of a typical diner. I would never wait in line for this crap!
1. Free Donuts
2. Free Milk duds for the ladies
3. AMAZING banana pancakes
4. I'm in heaven
5. They give you free ice cream at the end... bonus!
However, their coffee is absolutely terrible. I couldn't even drink it - and that's saying something!
I like Lou's. I like it. That's about it.
In fact, I think I may be punishing them a tad because their reputation is so... legendary. The food is good mind you. And if any other place had the guts to serve donut holes, well, that's worth a star right there.
But Lou's has the reputation that puts it on a whole other level - one of increase scrutiny. And to be honest, I don't think it lives up to its legendary status.
I think the omelets are too fluffy, I usually wind up getting bored with any egg dish from Lou's. The french toast is harmless, but I've had better. There's just something about Lou's that makes me want it to be better, but it doesn't quite get there.
There are other places I would rather go and not have to fight the crowd. Meli has become increasing popular, but the food is better than Lou's. To get away from the crowd, I recommend Twisted Spoke (you'll need a car) which will have a minimal wait (if any). Or if you want classic diner food, go to White Palace. Which reminds me, I need to write a review on White Palace...
Finally, I wish they took credit cards. It's 2009. But I guess when you have that much business on the weekends, who cares, right?
I had breakfast here for the first time this weekend...and I think I'll be back. Trying to pick a new breakfast spot for a Sunday morning, my boyfriend lured me here with two images...free donut holes while waiting in line, and free ice cream at the end of your meal. Sold.
We waited on what looked like a long line...and were met with a tray of baked goods. Apparently they were out of donut holes...which made me very sad, but the baked goods were still mighty tasty. We were lucky enough to be the only party of 2, so we ended up getting seated within 10 minutes at the counter. Good stuff!
I got the 1 egg, sausage, potatoes plate, and it was more than I could even finish. I don't know how they make that huge omelet looking thing with only 1 egg, but it was really good and very fluffy. I was thrilled at the end of the meal with the free ice cream- what a way to end a delicious breakfast. And the best part of it all was that it all ended up costing around $10...
Everyone needs their go-to diner and this is mine. There is plenty of character in this place--wait-staff will jokingly talk back to you, Milk Duds only for the women as you wait on your food and numerous seating options (booths, low-bar seats and one long table to be shared by multiple parties down the center of the diner). Definitely gives you that great hearty breakfast with little concern for fat-free, low calorie diets. Great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning.
Get there early on Sunday, when a nearby church lets out it gets packed. This place only takes cash and closes in the afternoon.
I love the breakfast here. The omellettes are fluffy and rich and the waitresses keep the coffee mug VERY full. :). The coffee is like truck-stop coffee, two cups are all you need before you're shaking all over the place. I'm a regular coffee drinker, but I find myself way too jittery after two cups. Definite must...haha.
The breakfast food here never disappoints either. The aforementioned omellettes are perfect, I highly recommend the cottage cheese or the Michigan apple, you can't go wrong with either. The Greek is also good. The turkey sausage can come a little overdone once in a while, but that's forgivable considering the volume of traffic that flows through here.
Overall, this place feels like it was created about 1938 and stayed that way. And that's the way I WANT it to stay. If you're in the Loop for breakfast, hoof it over to Lou Mitchell's, I honestly don't know where else to take anyone for good comfort food breakfast down here.
i saw this place on an episode of Top Chef, and i was so excited to go to it. i love that they give u doughnuts upon arrival and also a box of milk duds. u can tell this isnt there first time at the rodeo, the service was so efficient.
The food was alright, i had a standard breakfast plate, eggs toast and bacon, it did the trick but i dont know if i would go back.
One negative aspect was the owner was lecturing a waitress at the table beside us and it was pretty annoying, u have an office for a reason. also when one of her staff dropped something on the floor she yelled out, "Those costs $30, be more careful." she was definetely an HBIC.
great for breakfast. i ordered two eggs over easy but i got four! mutant eggs...
service could be better but it might just be because its so popular that lots of people are trying to get in all the time!
Dude. For reals? Y'all like this place?? Now I can't help but to question everything I stand for as a card carrying certified in-the-know Yelper.
The Lou Mitchell's you think you know is a whore to the heart attack. A slave to the stroke. Holding hands and making out in the park with peripheral artery disease.
I don't want to point fingers but this Lou guy is trying to kill you. Any place that shoves donut holes and Milk Duds down your throat before you've ever even seen a menu is a bit questionable. To be honest, at first I actually admired the novelty... sometimes you're just in the mood to pander to your sweet tooth. Hell, I pander it out like Heidi Fleiss to the sugar pimps shamelessly. Unfortunately everything on the Lou Mitchell's menu follows suit with the same uber-greasy, uber-fatty, uber-sweet mentality.
I hear ya, you just want to soak up a little of last nights booze, right? Throw some good 'ol grease in the belly? I'm not passing judgement... why do you think I came here?! But this was ridiculous... I urge you to look at the picture of my omelette in the picture index.... go ahead, I'll wait.
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Good. Did you see that? It's an egg white omelette people. Egg whites with onions, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes. You see those arrows pointing to that yellow pool?? That is the slick that formed under my eggs as I began to eat them. That shit was greasier than Rod Blagojevich!! I'm not sure what the deal was or how they prepare EGG WHITES - a supposedly healthy breakfast - but it was scary, disgusting and positively no cure for a hangover!!! Even my whole wheat toast was the 'Texas' version slathered in butter... apparently I ordered high cholesterol with a side of arrhythmia and just didn't realize it.
When I spied the post-meal gratis soft serve coming my way (are you kidding me with this?) was when I took the opportunity to make a run for it before Lou Mitchell's sucked me permanently into their vortex of lard.
Dirty place. Dirty peeps. Dirty food. Save dirty for the bedroom, not your breakfast.
Very cool place, so glad I finally found out about it! I went for lunch on a Saturday with no idea what to expect. Turns out it's an uber-quirky old school diner. You sit at long tables right up next to the people on either side of you. At one point they rang a bell and we all sang happy birthday to a fellow patron. Oh, and they hand out Milk Duds and doughnut holes at the door. Craziness.
I ordered a spinach omelet with feta cheese and it was scrumptious. I was also amused by the fact that they butter your toast for you before they bring it out. Just struck me as cute.
The location is pretty out-of-the-way, but if convenient, I'll definitely be back!
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