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Categories: Diners, American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2632 Gross Point Rd
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My fiance grew up not far from Sarkis and has been visiting this establishment for over 15 years. He will drag by butt out of bed on a Sunday and make me drive up here with him, even though they just opened an offshoot, "Sarks in the Park" two blocks from our home....
First of all, this isn't a "restaurant", it's a greasy spoon diner where you need to eat and get out. If you don't like that, don't come here.
Sarkis is the perfect place to cure a hangover. I always get a turkey loretta or a disaster- depending on how hungover I am- and some hash (or cheesy hash) browns, which are great. The coffee is delicious, it tastes like there is a hint of cinnamon in it- yum. I love the green pepper/tomato/onion combo that goes on the sandwiches, which I normally add a healthy squirt of hot sauce to.
I would give it 5 stars, but it is filled with local high school kids. I'm a teacher and seeing kids on my days off sometimes makes me feel ill.
Any review of this restaurant must be preceded by the following warning: This place is not your standard breakfast cafe, so it will not be reviewed as such. To begin, this joint is nothing short of a dive as another reviewer mentioned. Don't come here expecting clean and sparkling tables. Once you manage to park in the cramped parking lot, entering the restaurant and sitting down immediately is typically only possible late in the afternoon when the place isn't so busy. There is a diner-like counter with seats for about 10 as well as 4-5 small tables for no more than 4 people at once. The cafe is CASH ONLY but has an ATM in the "basement" if necessary. Service is quick but you won't really be waited on, so have your order ready and shout it out as soon as you can get to the front counter.
As for the food, what can I say...its phenomenal. Years of grease build up on the griddle have made the flavor of this place something that just can't be copied anywhere else. The staple of this cafe, a "Loretta", is a sandwich on French bread with your choice of bacon, ham, turkey, beef, Armenian sausage, or all of the above (depending on what you like) and topped with melted cheese and diced tomato/onion/green pepper. The beauty of Sarkis is that you can make just about any combination of the above ingredients on your Loretta if you so choose. The second staple of Sarkis is the hash browns. They often come still raw-ish but steaming hot, and the version covered with melted cheese is highly popular as well. I personally prefer the bacon and cheese omelette with cheesy hash browns (hot sauce of course!) and a can of Sunkist (cans only at this place!). Your typical breakfast fare is also offered on the menu but an omelette or Loretta is really the only way to go here.
A few other reviews of Sarkis have been less than positive. It is my belief that the reviewer didn't know what he/she was getting into when they came here. It needs to be understood that Sarkis is a grungy old diner that serves greasy comfort food with quick service and the bare essentials. This is one of those places where if you are lucky enough to get a seat during the busy times, its probably going to be up to you to clean it off. Sarkis Cafe has existed since the 1970s for a reason, and that reason is quick, simple service without any real restaurant-like bonus features. This formula seems to have worked as generation after generation has been patronizing this cafe. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the North Shore area.
BLECH. I have never understood the appeal of this place. It was gross back when I was in high school oh-so-many years ago. Aside from the food being icky, the owner was too - leered at all the young girls.
Anyway, I was recently conned into going back in. Trying to be flexible, I thought it couldn't possibly be as bad as I remembered. WRONG. The food was bad and the place is filthy, which I'd managed to forget. One plus, no creepy owner leering at underage girls on this visit.
Well, let me start by saying that this place is nothing short of a dive. That was my first impression of this place when first eating here when I was little. Indeed, Sarkis was and still is a dirty establishment that has been closed various times in the past due to health violations. But even then, I still loved the original Sarkis Tashijan and his friendliness, just as much as I did his greasy grub that apparently cures hangovers.
But Sarkis himself is mostly a thing of the past that most reviewers probably don't remember. Sarkis Cafe has been under a newer and less friendly management for several years now (you can even catch the current owner shouting expletives on busier days). But don't worry, the quality of the food (and lack of cleanliness) hasn't changed at all.
Sarkis has several common breakfast items on their menu, but the real draw here is the "loretta" sandwiches here. My personal favorite item though, is a disaster sandwich with hash browns (note: a "distaster" is really a sausage patty that honors Sarkis' Armenian heritage). The disaster itself has consistently been terrific, but the hash browns are occasionally cooked a bit unevenly.
If you plan on coming here on the weekends, be sure to get here early, as the place is usually packed full of hungover teenagers by 11:00 am or so.
I love this place, my kids love this place. It's the one place where I know I can get regular eggs and regular french toast without a sprig of rosemary and pomegranate in my eggs.
Breakfast places are so....ugh. This one, though is where I can get some eggs, some hash browns and some bacon with no trouble of the stupid frills most breakfast places have now.
The kids love it...yet I love being hung over and going there in the morning so it's a win-win. Health violations aside...just get them over medium.
I've been a patron of Sarkis for 25 years and while it is still a dive, it doesn't have that greasy charm of it's heyday when Santiago manned the grill and Sarkis ran the counter. The sandwiches are quite good, the original ham loretta and the disaster, both highly recommended. The current incarnation is still a destination. Whenever I'm in the area, I'll always consider stopping in, but the experience isn't the same, but I'll grab a sandwich from there for carryout anytime.
I've been going to "Sark's," as the young kids call it for years now. Other than ownership, it hasn't changed one bit from the days of yore. It's still a horribly crowded, cramped, small, loud, SRO, high school-kid infested joint. And even though Sarki himself doesn't own it anymore, he still comes in from time to time. This place gets very mixed reviews as far as food goes and in my humble opinion, I DO NOT think the food is all that great. It's decent and cheap but the main thing about it is the tradition. The same people have been going there for years and now their sons and daughters do. I go when I'm back in Evanston because it's good to see the place hasn't burnt down yet. It seemed like I blasted the place a new one but try it for yourself.
Great food anytime of the day. I could probably have breakfast, lunch, and dinner here without getting sick of the food.
I usually get the disaster w/ hash. A spiced ground beef patty between crusty bread with onions, tomatoes, and green pepper. They are always busy cooking up orders and always have a huge mound of hashbrowns warming on the grill.
Delicious food and a bargain.
Cheesy Hash, Sausage Disaster, Coke....one of the best meals you'll ever have. It's not gourmet, but it's good flavor at a good price.
Awesome food and fun atmosphere!
Be sure to take a look at the photos and see all the celebs who were there before you
I have pledged my allegiance to Sarkis as THE BREAKFAST SANDO SPOT since 1999 - even after a mysterious year-long shut down and multiple changes in management. This is a greasy spoon, no frills, order-eat-and get out type of place.
It's worth the drive from Bucktown to Skokie for a Bacon and Cheese loretta, cheesy hashbrowns, and orange sunkist, especially because the guy doesn't adjust for inflation for those of use who have been coming in for a decade....yikes (it's still $5).
I hear that my friend John is getting ready to open one up in LP - best news I've heard yet. Only one warning - stay away from the Disaster meat.........don't ask.
If you don't get a bacon loretta with everything, cheesy hash, and a sunkist, then you're doing it wrong.
I swear there's something in the french toast... some secret addictive ingredient...
And it's all about the cheesy hash, yum!
I used to get dragged here, but now it's a staple of every Chicago trip. Can't go home without going to Sarkis!
Awww Sarkis.....
I went yesterday, mostly to relive childhood memories. I haven't been back in probably 20 years. Seriously, not because I dislike the joint, but because I didn't live in IL anymore. But I'm back, and I had to go to Sarkis'. I was so sad to hear he has passed. My mom has an adorable picture somewhere of me when I was 5, with a big grin, next to Sarkis. I should dig it out. I love all the photos on the wall with Sarkis. He really appreciated his customers.
Anyhow, to the food....yummy, greasy, charming little diner. I had the disaster sandwich. It's a disaster to eat, but delicious, filling, and cheap. Oh mystery sausage, cheese, green pepper and onions with some hash browns...how you complete me.
Hmmm, found the atmosphere a little....umm...frat boyish? Like.....Dude....I drank so much last night and I'm so hung over. Let's all go to Sarkis'. The bf and I felt like we were getting dirty looks from trying to squeeze into a table in the corner. Everyone there orders from memory, like they go there every weekend. I needed a menu, since I haven't been in 20 YEARS. I felt like we got dirty looks for that too....so the service and atmosphere...not so friendly.
But, still made the trek here from the city because of fond childhood memories, and probably would come again, even just for nostalgia.
Completely underwhelmed. Too crowded and bland food. No idea why this place is so hyped.
Bacon Loretta, special cheesy hash, orange soda. Mmm.. grease. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water and feel like I need a nap. It's not the healthiest food, so don't go too often, but don't miss out on a stop here either. Their bacon is consistently excellent.
Ham Loretta. And two of them. That's all I need- and a warm coke.
Been going here for 20+ years and met Bill Murray here many moons ago.
This place is great and I go whenever I visit my folks in Wilmette.
But all this jive about a new Sarkis opening in Lincoln Park, concerns me.
How will the prices be affected?
Will the menu change dramatically? Let's hope not. . .
This is a major hang out for High School kids. Way overrated.. Boasts the best omelettes in the world. Yea right. Velvetta in omelettes doesn't do it for me. The place is a dump. However if you are taking a walk at nearby Lovelace Park on a Sunday morning and the wind is just right you can smell the aroma of bacon. Sweet.
Veggie Loretta! I went to Regina Dominican H.S. back in the day and (among other north shore schools) this place was our hangout! My friend and I were often late for school so we would stop at Sark's first. Sarkis is full of character -- from the tiny, tiny, crowded building to the colorful menu to Sarkis himself! This is definitely a place where you can feel at home even if you've never been there before. From the pictures all over the wall to the open phrenzy behind the counter, you really feel like you're in Sarkis' home or something.
The Loretta's are definitely a craving-waiting-to-happen if you've never had one. I can't figure out what it is b/c it's just vegetables, cheese and bread, but there's something about it that I absolutely love! Coffee, a veggie Loretta, and hash browns is the perfect breakfast!
Yeah good ol Sarki's was quite the perv in his day and quite an amusing fellow from a guy's point of view, but regardless there is nothing on earth like a Disaster sandwich , I'm craving one now
My god how I long for a disaster or even a Bacon Lorreta! We don't have any place comparable to this tasty joint in California. Back in the New Trier days, I would come here after partying like there's no tomorrow to recover from the horrendous hangover. RIP Sarkis. You guys still have what it takes to satisfy!
A great greasy spoon with the best hash browns and disaster sausage. I ordered two eggs scrambled, hash browns, and a side of grits.
I can't help myself when I see it on the menu, but the grits were the microwaved instant kind. Boo.
I was a bit hesitant about the disaster sausage, but when my friend ordered it, i snuck a bite. Delish! I love anything that is in patty form.
This place is quick, fun, and filled with teens, so go early on the weekends!
mmmmmm greasy food with extra grease. I don't know what it was about this hole in the wall, but it just draws you there.
In HS it was a place to grab food. Coming back from college on vacations, everyone went there to just have some greasy goodness.
I haven't been there for a while, probably should go back. I always got a Disaster Loretta (sausage, some veggies I think, cheese, maybe egg, and ???). I tried making it at home but not the same.
It used to be different. I remember in HS when you ordered something they'd include the hashbrowns and a coke just to round it up to $5 even if you didn't ask for it. You wouldn't complain because it was sooo good anyways.
Had a yummy hangover breakfast here today. It was really crowded, and tiny inside, but I enjoyed the diner-dive atmosphere. I had the spinach & feta omelet with a side of that crazy Armenian Disaster sausage, and though I was dying to try the cheesy hash browns, the waitron forgot to order it, so I had the regular ones that came with the dish. They were really good; not greasy and cooked just right. My only complaint was the saltiness of my omelet, but I couldn't tell if it was a heavy hand on the griddle or the feta.
I'm glad I got to experience this place, but I'm going to have to spend a lot of time at the gym when I get back to Austin.
Used to go here during high school. I only get the Ham Lorettas as the Disasters have gone down hill since the new ownership.. If you like greasy spoons, this place will make you love it more... Not sure when they last cleaned the griddle, but thats the secret to any good diner / greasy spoon. The cheese hash browns are also very good...
I'm not gonna lie--I never heard of this place before today. I was in Evanston and hungry, and the usual options bored me to the brink. I looked up "evanston diners" on yelp mobile and Sarkis has such great reviews I had to check it out. I was sort of taken aback by how small the interior was when I walked through the door; there must be a "sarkis double-take" common to all new folks.
I loved it though. I'm not even sure why. My omelet had plenty of bacon and cheese but the hash browns and coffee weren't anything special. It was definitely the setting that did it for me. No order pads, no menus, just yell out your order and it gets relaid to the short order cooks and a couple of minutes later there it is. Loud, cheek-by-jowl crowded, but so good. I will be back to check out the other stuff on the menu.
Big omelet, hashies, coffee = $8. I tipped $2.
The two of us visited for late lunch. We had the Disaster, Loretta and Special hash browns which were all highly recommended on Yelp. The service was quick and I really liked the coffee. The food was pretty good but there was a problem. We felt we ordered the same thing thrice instead of three different things. All of them had the tomato/green pepper garnishing and cheese. No complaints about the cheese, hash browns or the green peppers. The sausage was quite flavorful. Price wise this place is a steal. The atmosphere was quite cosy. We probably will visit again if we are in the vicinity.
This used to be the "cool" place to go in high school. I guess it still is.
It was shut down a few years ago for health violations and the owner is a creep, but the food is awesome.
A friend took me here when I was about 15 years old. It used to be a real dive. It was filthy, the tables were sticky, but the food was always great, a diner like the classic oldstyle new york diners but nothing on the menu but breakfast. Old man Sarki, he would come to your table and put his arm around you, "Hey Buddy, how you doin' buddy". An adorable older guy, he loved the customers. I guess he's not there anymore, but the place was closed down for a few months during the 1999-2000 era, and it re-opened much cleaner.
This place makes two things that you want to eat:
Bacon Loretta - a french bread roll halved, dusted with salt and pepper, bacon inside, and green/red pepper chopped sauteed, and squished inside.
Disaster - the same with no bacon, instead - a sausage patty.
They used to have chocolate donuts at the counter, really good donuts.
Definitely hit this place up.
Food is excellent. And cheap. I love the Loretta in all its glorius forms ... and cheesy hash browns on the side. Delish.
However, the atmosphere absolutely sucks on the weekend when the place is overrun with local high schoolers. But that hasn't stopped me from going when I'm in the area.
I can understand why some reviewers may not be "thrilled" by the menu but there's more than food here: it enjoys a cult following, Sarkis is a local legend and its definitely a North Shore institution. It's about the experience.
Picture this....it's Sunday morning and you slowly crawl out from under your hole from a night of partying. Your mouth is dry and your head is bounding. You're hungry, but you have no idea what you should put in your body...GREASE BABY!
This place is great for those after party munchies, but don't come here if you actually plan on finding something healthy. Go to some wussy vegan store (I love vegans, don't get me wrong).
If you want a heart attack at an early age...Welcome to Sarkis (that should be their slogan).
If you grew up on the North Shore, then you should already be familiar with Sarks. If you're new to the area, give it a try because it's a local institution.
Sark is no longer around, but the dude who runs it now does a nice job. Nostalgia aside, the food is the same and the service is a lot better under his management. You no longer have to worry about Santiago making up the price of your meal; instead, you actually get charged the prices listed on the menu. I know this sounds crazy, but you old-timers know what I'm saying.
The omelets are good, but get either the Loretta (preferably ham) or the disaster. Or man up and get the "combo." They're what Sarkis is famous for. That and the huge, unused space in back that we've long suspected was a massive meth lab.
so... note to self (and all others who dislike teenagers as much as i do): do not come here between the hours of noon and 1. apparently some area high school has open campus and sarkis is THE PLACE to go for lunch.
teenagers aside... GOD DAMN this joint is cheap (i understand why they come in droves). i had a turkey sammich (simple, but well executed). my sammy had turkey (and not the overly processed, wet lunch meat kind), provelone and a mix of grilled veggies (onions, bell peppers and tomatoes) on what tasted to be a homemade bun. add a side of hashbrowns and a cup of coffee for a total of $5! in case you thought that was a typo, it was actually $5... TOTAL!
oh, and did i mention that the coffee was freaking AWESOME (not the typical brown water of similar counter diners). there was a very subtle cinnamon flavor that was clearly not the product of a crappy pre-flavored coffee. possibly a cinnamon stick in with the grounds? who knows...
summary: super cheap yummy food + teenagers
(just go after 1 to avoid the teenager part of the equation).
God this place brings back some memories.....Back in my glory days of highschool football (hellow mr bundy) We would go to sarkis the day after a game and get two disasters, hashbrowns, and a coke...If Sarki knew you everything was $5... It didn't matter what you got - it was $5....
I don't even want to think about the grease, but talk about a great way to start a Sunday morning. I can't say I have any desire to go back.. Sarki and Santiago are gone - there are new owners and its probably still full of highschool kids but it definitly brings back some memories...
This is the perfect place to come after a night of heavy celebratory drinking, e.g. Homecoming, Prom, Graduation, or after any other night of heavy drinking. Girlfriend dumped you? Just get so hammered that you black-out your entire relationship, then head to Sarkis then next morning for a Loretta or two and some cheesy hash browns to kill the ensuing monumental hangover. I can't tell you the number of times, back in my heady days at New Trier, that a group of us would roll up to Sarkis the day after a big night and at least one of us would end up letting loose all over the side of the building abutting the parking lot... I would stay away from that area if I were you.
Some quick Sarkis lore/rumors:
Have you seen how far back the building goes? The dining area and kitchen take up the first 15-or-so feet, leaving the vast majority of the building for... what exactly? My friends and I used to speculate that it was either housing for illegal immigrants, a drug processing facility, or most likely a drug processing facility staffed by illegal immigrants. Your guess is as good as mine.
Also, my younger sister claims to have attended more than a few late-night boozefests at the restaurant. $15 gets you all you can eat and drink, or something to that effect. I can't verify this, but I can tell you that I've been offered a shot of whiskey by the owner on a few cold, slow late winter mornings.
I'm a big fan of breakfast, and there's only a few places that tickle my fancy. Sarkis is definitely one of them. I had the Disaster--pretty much a sausage loretta-- with egg and cheesy hash. Oh man, was this delicious. Sure, it may be greasy as heck, but the food is AWESOME.
Also had a bite of their Grilled cheese (it has bacon and eggs)... and WOW. Gotta try to make it at home.
The hot sauce is different, but tang will really add a bit of flavor to your delicious meal.
A must have whenever I visit Chi-town.
I haven't been here in a few years but it was such great food. It probably still is. I'm partial to the Ham Loretta but I don't think anything here would be bad.
If you go here during lunch time on the weekends, prepare to get cozy because it will be packed.
If you don't like greasy food, you might want to reconsider.
I have been going to this place since I was cutting class in high school and it has stayed pleasantly consistent. Sarkis is famous for their Loretta's and that is all I've ever had there. They are mainly a breakfast place, but the key is that their breakfast can be eaten at any time.
It's a unique sandwich- your choice of meat (bacon or ham, maybe sausage I don't know) with optional veggies, some delicious sauce and cheese. I think the secret sauce is mayo but oh well.
Comes with either cheesy hash or regular and it's just awesome. It's literally everything you want out of a meal.
Naturally, like most of my reviews, this place is perfect to go to when you're hungover. My life consists of scouting places that have good hangover food. Hey, whatever! At least I'm not laying in bed all day!
Go to this place immediately- it's cheap and you will not be disappointed. It's a small and isn't the cleanest spot in the world but it's glorious.
Yeah it's a dump but you go there once you'll always go back. It's that good. And Scott's "way white guy" pronunciation of Spanish is pretty funny. Reminds me of Hank Hill.
I never went to Sarkis when Sarkis himself was still around, but I still highly recommend the joint. The prices are amazingly low, and their has browns own.
Their sign reads "World's Best Omelets"..Check this place out and see if you agree.
Skokie, IL
Category: Restaurants
Evanston, IL
Category: French
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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Category: Delis
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