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The Depot American Diner
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants American (Traditional) Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
5840 W Roosevelt Rd(between 58th Ct & Monitor Ave)
Chicago, IL 60644
Neighborhood: Austin
(773) 261-8422
- Nearest Transit:
-
Austin-blue (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
203 reviews for The Depot American Diner
Review Highlights
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"were equally as great as the pot roast sandwich was." In 64 reviews -
"The donuts and mocha were yummy too." In 17 reviews -
"...soon and try the blue plate special which was meatloaf that..." In 17 reviews
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203 reviews in English
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Review from Carl S.
Updated - 1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Corned Beef Hash is amazing!! Service with a smile. The Doughnut Holes and Mocha Sauce are a Must!
This was our first time for Breakfast and were were very happy!1 Previous Review:
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9/30/2009
Amazing food, try the Pot Roast Sandwich. Make sure you save room for the Doughnut Holes.
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Review from Susan H.
Chicago, IL
4/22/2012
Saw this on "Check, Please" so I drove all the way out to the diner a few weeks ago, only to find it closed with a sign in the window that read "License Suspended".
I gather from recent reviews they've since re-opened, but errrr....ummm.....I think I hear my mother calling me! -
Review from Claudia D.
Chicago, IL
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The husband and I ate brunch/lunch here for the first time today. They, by happenstance, reopened today. The husband thoroughly enjoyed his open face turkey sandwich. Next time he wants it on rye instead of white bread with more cranberry sauce. He shared a taste of the accompanying dill pickle (which looked house-made). I loved it.
I ate the apple pancakes. 5 to an order, each encompassing a lightly grilled thin round slice of fresh apple. These are the best pancakes I've ever eaten, including my mother's!
I'm planning to return. Reasonable prices, good food, good service, clean simple decor. Street parking was easy to get at midday in Thursday.
They offer oatmeal as well for breakfast, and that's heart healthy! -
Review from Marianne C.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2012
first off, i love love love diners, drive-ins, and dives on the food network. when guy featured this place, one of my best friends and i just knew that we had to try it out.
this place is totally unassuming, a little hole in the wall really, with a few booths and counter seating. the moment you walk in, someone greets you with a smile, and you slide into your seat awaiting whatever it is they pump out of that tiny kitchen of theirs. you look over the sticky plastic covered menu, and you realize that you can't possibly eat everything on the menu in one sitting. not that the menu's ginourmous by any means, but everything on that menu looks gloriously mouthwatering. everything on there is some form of comfort food, whether it be pasta, doughnuts with a mocha sauce, or what i came for - the pot roast sandwich.
as i sipped my chocolate egg cream (who even makes those anymore??? that made this place even better... and trust me, it's hard to like it more than i already did), my friend and i waited patiently for what we figured was probably going to be our only meal for the day... and we were right.
amazing. the sandwich was so good and juicy. the egg cream rich and chocolatey -- took me everything i had to not order a second. i could have slept right there at the booth after that huge meal!
can't wait to go back and try the corned beef hash! -
Review from Vicki M.
Oak Park, IL
5/21/2012
The Depot was recommended by a friend, who told us of the popular hidden diner. We have been many times, with different sets of people, and haven't had a bad comment from anyone who has gone with us. The diner isn't very big but is definitely worth the wait. At least once you have to try their homemade donuts - also worth the wait as they are made to order. Must try place!
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Review from Greg C.
La Grange, IL
5/7/2012
Order the meatloaf sandwich.
Order the MEATLOAF SANDWICH.
ORDER. THE. MEATLOAF. SANDWICH.
Arrived at 5pm on a Saturday night and we were the only ones in the place. Definitely no rush to the service, but that was fine. It's a small, neighborhood diner with eclectic blues music playing. All booth seats appeared to have red duct tape on them (seat material was red, so it seemed to work) and menu has prices that look like train times.
My wife had the pot roast sandwich and it was excellent, but the meatloaf sandwich was truly outstanding. Quite frankly, it was the best meatloaf I've ever eaten and I'm not exactly a giant meatloaf guy (my friend had recently eaten there and said it was great).
This is a place that has unbelievable food -- period. We ordered a pot roast sandwich and meatloaf to go as we were eating the donuts so we could bring it home for the babysitters. Mocha sauce with whipped cream was so good I almost licked the container. Truly incredible food. We will undoubtedly be back. -
Review from Jeff K.
Evergreen Park, IL
5/3/2012
The place doesn't look like much from the outside but the inside is a hell of a lot better. It had a classice intimate diner feel. The place was clean and had good blues music playing in the background. It was dissapointing to see that nobody was in there but it was 3:00PM on a Thursday.
I had an Excellent pot roast sandwich. The gravy was delicious and was poured all over the chunks of pot roast and fries. The gravy was seriously the star and I was glad it was all over my fries. It was like deep fried mashed potatoes with gravy. I will definitely be back to try the fried chicken. Hope they see better business in the future. -
Review from Annette A.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2012
Drove by again, and license is still suspended. Location is still closed.
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Review from Lisa B.
Oak Park, IL
4/21/2012
All is well in the universe again! OK, perhaps that's not really true, but in my immediate universe (because I can walk there), the wonderful Depot Diner is open again!!!!
There was a lot of love and support (and many ear to ear grins) on the premises this morning -- what a neighborhood gem this place is!
A tip: get there if you haven't yet, and get back, if you have (and have the apple pancakes! They are out of this world!). -
Review from Pascal M.
2/6/2012
Perfect for those traveling to or from the Western suburbs since it's located almost right off 290.
They have a classic diner feel going on with a bunch of news papers up front, hallway setup, with a counter providing a about half a dozen stools. They have an English waitress, perhaps the owner, who provides straight to the point but unique and friendly service.
Many would expect the food to be simple and bland at this kind of place. The Depot breaks all standards by being creative and delivering superb breakfast fare. I went with their pot roast roast sandwich. As Macho Man Randy Savage often said,"OHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" I love that they smother the fries in their delicious gravy.
We took their Mocha Donuts home, but ate one while we were there. Order them first, they take a little while. These suckas will turn that frown upside down.
The Depot American Diner is a fun in-out breakfast spots that's located very conveniently for commuters. If you cant find something on their menu, have no fear. They have blue plate specials going on daily. -
Review from Carly K.
Woodridge, IL
4/6/2012
Drove all the way out there to find a large sign in the window that says "license suspended". I can only imagine why a license would get suspended.
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Review from Glenn N.
Glendale Heights, IL
11/20/2011
Terrible! One of the worst dining experience I have ever had, which is a shame, because the food was actually quite good. We waited about 20 minutes before the waitress took our drink order, and they were out of most of the soft drink selections on the menu. When we placed our order for entrees, they were out of Turkey for the open faced Turkey sandwich, their signature dish! Our food came in about 30 minutes, but the person in our party who ordered the egg salad sandwich got his plate about 10 minutes after everyone else. After all this frustration, we were really looking forward to having their famous donuts with mocha sauce. Guess what, they were out of that too. All told, we were in that place for 1 hour and 50 minutes. What a disappointment.
Good food. No clue how to run a restaurant. No pride. -
Review from CJ L.
Oakland, CA
10/30/2011
I was hoping for great experience at depot. I appreciated a relaxed atmosphere as much as anyone. The staff showed very little interest in any patrons as they arrived. No friendly greeting or acknowledgment of any kind. There evidently was no bus boy. Empty tables took more than 25 minutes to bus. (they only have five tables)
Our entrees arrived without silverware... Our waitress indicated that she would arrive shortly with silverware. When I approached her a few minutes later (while she was cashing out other guests) she reminded me that she said she said she would be right back with silverware. When she delivered a single fork for the six of us,she said the was having problems getting silverware from the dishwasher.
Overall, the food was pretty good. Unfortunately they were out of: sausage biscuits and gravy, burgers and mashed potatoes.
I typically love spots like this but we will not be back. -
Review from Emily B.
10/10/2011
Amazing!
Who knew comfort food would be so delicious! I had the open face turkey sandwich, my mom had the open face beef and my aunt got the pot roast sandwich. The gravy was perfect, the potatoes were lump free and the turkey was so moist. Way better than the leftover plates I make myself.
Don't worry, we also had dessert. The sweet potato pie and the donuts. A nice contrast and very tasty. I thought for sure that I would have had some chocolate sauce running down my chin but, luckily, I held it together.
You have to go!Listed in: Adventure Friday, Go West!, As seen on TV
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Review from Tamera B.
Naperville, IL
12/8/2011
We loved it!!! We decided to try this place after seeing it on Drive-ins, Diners, & Dives and our expectations were definitely met. This is a "straight-up" diner....no frills, but it is clean. We went on a Thursday afternoon so it wasn't too crowded, which made it an even better experience. Our waitress was very thoughtful and attentive.
Food: Open face turkey sandwich, country fried steak dinner, and donuts with chocolate sauce.
The food was the BEST diner food we've had..........EVER. The turkey was very tender and delicious. The mashed potatoes & gravy are real homemade goodness!!! The country fried steak was tender and tasted lovely! The donuts and chocolate sauce is one of the best desserts I've had in a LONG time. The chocolate sauce is DREAMY and they add whipped cream to the top which ends up mixing into the chocolate.....OMG. We'll revisiting The Depot many times! -
Review from Jimmy N.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
Ordered: pot roast sandwich and fried donuts with chocolate dipping sauce.
Service: adequate
I just didn't get it. Maybe my food appreciation had an off day. Maybe my palate isn't sensitive enough to appreciate this place? For whatever reason, I was unimpressed here. Yes, I know this place has been on TV and in various magazines. Yes, I know the pot roast sandwich is supposedly one of the top 100 or top whatever sandwiches in Chicago. And still I couldn't see what the big deal was; and mind you I was trying very hard to figure out what it was during the entire duration of my meal.
The pot roast sandwich was adequate. Nothing special about any part of the sandwich. Yes, the meat was moist and good, but I felt it was pretty bland. I think a lot of the flavor was dependent on the gravy- and lets be honest here, a lot of things covered in gravy are good. I thought it was solid but unspectacular, and not warrented to be the target of any foodie's food hunt. My theory is that there aren't too many places service pot roast in the city, so people are impressed by this place. But lets say if 10 more restaurants were to start serving this dish, would this place be as highly rated? I seriously think not.
While the pot roast was solid, the donuts were woefully unimpressive. I felt they took day old donuts and then just fried them (which obviously makes them better) and then served them with a chocolate dipping sauce to make you forget how dry they are. Good business plan, I admit. I love donuts and just thinking about these make me so sad- such a disgrace to donuts =(
For those people who complain about the wait or the service, I did not have any issues but the place is small inside and I can see how tables can be scarce during busy hours. -
Review from robert a.
Oak Park, IL
12/7/2011
This place is the great.
Real people serving real food - to just about everyone you can think of.
One of my favorite moments was a dinner service complete with white volvo driving families at one table, one "at the end of his rope" writer and two hookers at the bar - plus us and and a business man.
Stop going to the chains, support locals; enjoy the wonder and some awesome food. -
Review from Edward B.
2/1/2012
Went about two years ago....should have written a review but let it slip. Based on DDD, I figured this place was going to be amazing. It was good, but not amazing. I was hoping they'd have the meatloaf sandwich, but not the day I went. I had the pot roast sandwich. It was very good, but not blow-you-socks off good. Still, I'll be back, because I hear their fried chicken is killer, and I've had a hankering for some great fried chicken lately. Didn't try the donuts, which I realize was a mistake, but I was too full! To the people who are fearful of the neighborhood. Don't be. It's safe. I lived in south Oak Park and in Berwyn for years, and this area doesn't scare me. If you're concerned about it, just go during the day....and don't be such a wimp because you're so used to uptight north side Chicago or sanitized suburbia.
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Review from Freddy and Danie N.
Yucaipa, CA
9/20/2011 2 photos
If we lived here, we would come every week!
Quick, friendly service.
Probably the best regular coffee we have ever had, they get it custom roasted for their diner from costa rica.
We did both the pot roast sandwich and open faced turkey sandwich. Both we excellent. I'm not usually a cranberry or coleslaw person, but both were very tasty here.
We also ordered the Donut & mocha, which we liked more with every bite. Definitely smother the donut with the mocha sauce! -
Review from Brian C.
6/21/2011
The Depot opens at 6:00am, which meant that I had to get on the road by 5:30am in order to grab breakfast there before class. That's a tall order, since I'm not a morning person, so the payoff had to be real good to make it worth while.
It was worth it. Roosevelt Road is a ghost town at that early hour. The neighboring auto-shops were still shuttered and the only thing moving outside was the modern day tumbleweed: wind-tossed grocery-bags. Walking in, the restaurant has an air reminiscent of quiet scene in an Ed Hopper painting. The cook was the only employee on duty and he quickly and politely took our order, then served it up a mere few minutes later. He kept our coffee cups full too.
I had a Pot Roast Sandwich. Pot roast and fries at 6:00am? Yes, because it's delicious any time of day, and the cook, although a little surprised, was happy to honor the odd request. I had recently read in the Tribune that it's one of Chicago's 30 best sandwiches and it surpassed my expectations. The meat was perfectly done and well suited for gravy dipping. On the other side of the table, she had the corned beef and eggs with potatoes, which were also excellent. The corned beef was packed with flavor and the potatoes were cooked just right.
The Depot is well worth the trip, no matter where you live in Chicago. They've got excellent service, great prices, a laid-back atmosphere and amazing food.Listed in: Sandwich Safari
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Review from John A.
Chicago, IL
4/2/2012
Get the blue plate special.
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Review from Kathleen M.
Frankfort, IL
5/13/2011 3 photos
This is the perfect diner - you get fresh, homemade diner food in a friendly little restaurant. You will feel like you went back in time!
My sister had the pot roast sandwich which was probably the best of what we ordered but everything was great. I had the open face beef and my daughter had the open face turkey. We ordered Grape and Orange Crush in the bottles and had a great time.
Then came time for dessert and my sister and daughter were ambivalent. Luckily someone had sense and I ordered the donuts and a slice of the sweet potato pie. We all shared them and cried with joy at the sweet divine taste of heaven.
You can hit the trendy hot restaurants another time - come here for a trip down memory lane. No foam, no cardamon - just good old American food that will make you smile.Listed in: Adventure Fridays, Pie and we're not talking math…
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Review from sandie s.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011
Oh Depot Diner, I had such high hopes for you. I saw this place reviewed on some TV show or another and it sounded like a cute little diner with a 1940s-50s sort of charm. I finally went last fall with the guy I was dating at the time for lunch (I had high hopes for him too, alas). It was a bit crowded, but we were seated pretty quickly. We both ordered vanilla phosphates, which I was super excited about. It was disappointing and flat. Then I ordered the French dip and it was fine, but I've had better. It is a small space and the grill is out in the open, right behind the counter. Unfortunately, everything, including me when I left, smelled like old grease. Extra points off for several roach carcasses in the bathroom.
The menu is funny, I'll say that. It's designed like a train schedule and that was part of the charm that drew me in. The setting is as quaint, cute, and possibly even romantic as I had envisioned. Sadly, the food, smell, and dead bugs make it a place I would not return to. -
Review from Gail L.
Naperville, IL
5/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were in the neighborhood to pick some heirloom tomato plants. (There are two sellers about two miles apart who grow EXCELLENT plants - highly recommended.) One of the sellers recommended The Depot for lunch, so off we went.
First impression - they need a better filtration system. It's a good thing that smoking is banned indoors these days, otherwise you'd probably have a 95% probability of catching lung cancer.
Second Impression - everyone is nice, although busy. There was a small wait for a table, and they offered me a chair. Which was greatly appreciated, since I took a fall checking in on my own tomatoes, and am hobbling about on crutches.
(Have I mentioned I really love growing tomatoes? My own tomatoes are lagging a bit, so I bought backups. Plus, the two super nice tomato ladies have some cool varieties I didn't start.)
We did get a table, and quickly ordered. Their coffee is very very good, and they serve real cream, from a creamer. I had the open faced turkey sandwich, which was perfect. The turkey was roasted right there, and the gravy was exactly how it should be - pale yellow, smooth and not too salty. The bread was probably wonder bread, which is PERFECT - the last thing you want on an open faced turkey sandwich is fancy bread. It also came with mashed potatoes made from actual potatoes and cranberry sauce. The cranberry sauce was also freshly made, and had a lot of cinnamon in it.
My husband had the pot roast sandwich, which he loved so much he kept moaning as he ate it. My stepson had the chicken noodle soup, which he inhaled. He even ate some of the broth, instead of just the noodles and chicken.
Then, we had the donuts. OH MY GOD, they were so good. So good. They really didn't need the dipping sauce, but I'm not one to turn down chocolate. My husband also had the pecan pie - which he said was great. -
Review from Lindsey W.
Buffalo Grove, IL
1/27/2011
This place is FANTASTIC. Because of my work schedule, my boyfriend and I have only come to this location later in the evening, which is when it seems less crowded. We saw this place on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network, and decided we needed to try it.
The food is wonderful. Simple, homemade, and served abundantly. You may or may not appreciate the cutesy train schedule-style menu. It is called The Depot for a reason!
Every time we have gone, we've had the same waitress. I wish I knew her name, but she's great. Friendly, and hard-working. I've even seen the owner hard at work cooking.
I've only tried the open face turkey, open face beef, and pot roast sandwich in coming here - but I recommend all of the above. The donuts and mocha were yummy too. The donuts are not like fluffy yeast donuts you get at DD or Krispy Kreme. They are dense, lightly spiced, fried, and covered in sugar. Not good for you at all, but man do they taste good. The mocha sauce was warm, thick, and rich. I could eat the donuts with and without the sauce, actually.
The place is pretty small, so prepare to wait or sit at the counter if you come during a rush. It's definitely an experience though, and I look forward to coming back again and again. -
Review from Dennis J.
4/26/2011
Comfortable diner with excellent wait staff. The food is solid (burger was bland, the beef sandwich was excellent though, donuts were decent). If you're in the area and are hungry, it's a good value for the money though.
Next time I swing by I hope they haven't run out of the pot roast sandwich. I'm looking forward to trying it. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2011
This place is heaven on Earth! I had the blue plate special which was country fried chicken with mac n cheese, and veggies.
The food was fresh and served fast. Our waitress was pleasant. The lemonade was fresh squeezed, perfect (not too sweet or bitter or lemon water). *No free refills* The donut holes with mocha dipping sauce are delicious!
We went on a week day around 1:30 pm and the place was not crowded.
It has a cute ambiance, feels like you step back in time.
I am going back again! -
Review from Ted P.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Solid diner food, but nothing to go out of your way for, at least for dinner.
The burgers are decent, but they don't really stand out from the crowd in any clear way. The pot roast sandwich, which everyone seems to rave about, was okay. The meat was tender but the gravy was just too salty for our tastes, particularly when served on top of the fries which were themselves heavily salted.
Even the pie looked better than it tasted, sadly, because it looked fantastic. -
Review from Rhonda R.
Chicago, IL
10/12/2010
I love this place. Ok, some people on YELP don't seem to get it - the location of The Depot is an old bus terminal snack shop. Its located in a rough neighborhood next to a tire shop, an area where good restaurants are wanted, but rarely survive. A few years ago the Depot was set to close and the neighbors rallied to see it keep it open, thank god it did- and also tv food shows filming there helped it tremendously.
The decor was chosen to mimic the sparse all night diner in the painting "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper-(Art insitute of Chicago) The food is not exactly "diner food"- it has a little "umph" that makes it special.
The crowds seem to come and go according to re-runs of Diners and Dives and Check Please. That's why on some weekend you can hardly get in the place. They occasionally run out of things, no turkey- chicken, or whatever.. its usually due to these weird spurts of business. Also the seating is sparse- there is only one table area that can handle large groups of over 5 people. So it depends on when you go.. and how many people you are with, and if you're dead set on getting a booth instead of the counter.
The food is amazing, Great simple breakfasts! Always wonderful Blue Plate Specials for lunch and dinner//- Meatloaf, Country Fried Steaks, Pot Roast, Hamburgers. I cannot say I have ever had a bad meal here. The servers get swamped but all are nice people, I can't even think someone rude or unattentive would work here very long.. The owner/chef and his wife are often working the place and are lovely. Its a great asset to the area.
Just try to be prepared, have flexibility if its crowded, and enjoy the comfort food ! -
Review from Lupe d.
11/30/2010
This place has some really good comfort food. The staff is really friendly and make you feel at home. The portions are pretty big, that turkey dinner is HUGE just like Thanksgiving all year long! Pot roast sandwich was delish. But the stars by far were the fresh donuts and that dipping sauce...I gotta say they are the real reason I will keep going back to the Depot Diner and am willing to wait in those loooooong lines. Totally worth it!!
Restaurant is not that big, so be ready to feel a little uncomfortable while you are waiting to be seated - kind of like - "where do I look so I don't look like I'm looking at these people eat...." But please don't leave without trying those donuts....as a matter of fact, start with the donuts, this way you start with the best and leave with no regrets!Listed in: Cakes, Cupcakes & Pies OH MY!
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Review from Happy M.
Oak Park, IL
8/29/2011
The reason the place is always crowded is because the 6 people trying to service 8 tables are, well, idiots. Led by Anna the super airhead. Sure hon, dat come with toast, ask me 4 times and you may see it. 6 trips not bringing the correct food to a table will definitely slow the turnover down. When a business with 4+ stars and a crowd needs people to hold a fundraiser for them at a different restaurant to stay in business, you can get a clue that something is not working.
Namely, the management. The food is pretty good. The atmosphere is fine. The neighborhood is a dump. And the owners, well, I believe they are morons. Chicago is rich with great diners that can get you what you ordered and not make you settle for whatever the bring or leave behind.Comment from robert and annamarie n. of The Depot American Diner 8/31/2011
Thank you for patronizing the Depot. I have spoken with your… More » -
Review from Tommy M.
Cook, IL
10/21/2010
Pot Roast Sammich, Mac and Cheese, Home-made desserts, ferocious gravy fries, and great fresh salads -- What?!
Yep. A Diner that maKes the best Cobb salad I have ever had... Blue plate specials to die for that don't break the bank. Great home made food at reasonable prices. What more do you need? -
Review from Allan M.
Chicago, IL
12/3/2010
Finally got to eat here, and I greatly enjoyed my dinner here. Pot roast sandwich was excellent, and the onion strings on the sandwich are a nice touch. Fries were neither great nor bad, just the typical steak type fries that are thick and were just slightly above average.
I'm glad I took half of my sandwich to go, since the donut balls(they give you an order of 5!) were equally as great as the pot roast sandwich was. The sauce they give you is more like a chocolate sauce, than it is mocha-flavored(and the accompanying sauce couldn't have been any better). The place can get a very tad bit warm at times, but nothing major that taking a sweater off won't resolve. Nothing major here, been to other places that are far worse on their heating system and ventilation. (*cough* Gaztro-Wagon *cough*)
Can't wait to do an eventual return trip, hopefully for either a breakfast or Sunday brunch. -
Review from Jen F.
Oak Park, IL
11/27/2011
Amazing food. The donuts with mocha sauce are incredible every time. The prices on the menu are a little confusing with the time table gimmick thing. The waitstaff are always friendly and even though the location is a little intimidating, I'd go there all the time. The breakfast is delicious and good portions. Dinner is as good as home made... the good home made that you think about with fond memories. Coffee is amazing.
They said that they were opening another restaurant somewhere and I wish they would link the profile to this one. -
Review from John Y.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2010
An extraordinary little oasis diner in the middle of the west side ghetto that is sure to pump new life and inspiration into a neighborhood that has been long written off. For this fact alone, these urban pioneers deserve the highest of marks for their efforts in modern day urban renewal. Their efforts will surely inspire others within this community to take the needed risks in ownership to further bring to life west Roosevelt Road.
Aside from the above, this tastefully done 1940's retro decor little diner has great curb appeal. Well done!
The food is fresh and tastes homemade and not tired from sitting around.. Great chili! I loved the food and the atmosphere!
Great donuts!
Highly recommended! -
Review from Chaz A.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places where my review would just regurgitate what everyone else said.
But, there is no reason to give this place any less than 5 stars.
The food is phenomenal.
It's lightning fast.
It's cheap.
It's hot.
It's quirky.
I got a Thanksgiving Dinner for $7 in a minute and a half.
The guy working with was person yet softspoken.
The neighborhood is odd.
Glass Bottle Coke. -
Review from Randy N.
Gilbert, AZ
4/4/2011
It is exactly what it says it is... a diner where everything is made from scratch. Yahoo! Super friendly and efficient staff. If the waitress is busy when your meal is ready, the smiling cook delivers it hot and tasty. We had the pot roast sandwich and open face turkey; apparently those happen to be their best sellers. If not, they should have been -- they were both spectacularly good. All nostalgic sodas (Orange Crush) are in bottles, plus they have phosphates and egg cream.
I've read a couple reviews that said it wasn't fancy enough. Hey Biff and Muffy: it's a diner! And quite possibly the best one in Chicago. Oh, almost everything is under $10. -
Review from M H.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2011
This Depot maybe a diner but it definitely feels like Home. Comfort food done exceptionally well. I was looking forward to this outing I had set out for me and my girlfriend it wouldn't be us if we weren't on the go for grub :)
After sitting home on an insomniac night I caught a repeat of Check Please and decide this would be my next venture.
Before reaching our destination we walked a considerable amount maybe our body new the decadence that was in store. The diner is as subscribed looks like a flash from the past the counter, stools and booths it's like going back in time and not losing today's fashion. We were greeted by one of the owners and asked to take a seat where we wanted. She was very engaging and her accent is TOO ADORABLE...the one you wish you had that is charming and not off putting. I ordered the meatloaf sandwich I'm certain Bo would agree with my selection. My girlfriend had spaghetti and meatballs.
As we are waiting for our food to arrive I notice that there were regulars people who are always stopping by you know what they want before they get to the counter. Repeat business signs of a good restaurant. The food arrives and it doesn't disappoint my meat loaf was excellent and even the gravy. I got a nod from my girlfriend so I was assured I'd pick a winner. We sampled each other food both very good. At this point conversations at a minimum until you hear the exhale of I'm full...we all do it don't look around.
So upon the completion of the meal I knew I was forgetting something I just wasn't sure and then I looked at the menu. I spotted the donuts and mocha that everyone raves about so seeing how she's a chocoholic even before me...:) I knew this was a can't miss. They came and we were in pastry heaven along with the the mocha for dipping. After taking a bite she says you really do love me and I do along with this restaurant. -
Review from Mike P.
Glen Ellyn, IL
10/21/2010
Really good diner food. No it's not the ghetto but definitely an urban neighborhood. The food is very good. Much better than I expected. The Mexican Coke i.e. the kind that still uses can sugar is ice cold and a real treat for those of us old enough to remember before the corn syrup days.
The pot roast & open face turkey sandwiches were worth the trip from Oak Brook. The service could use some work. -
Review from Bob D.
Chicago, IL
6/15/2010
The perfect place for breakfast.
Unpretentious yet serious. Efficient and friendly service, great coffee and yes they make their own corned beef hash.
The menu is interesting, it is written like a train schedule. The decor is streamlined and tasteful.
Food wise, we all got standard breakfast fare, which in all honesty is harder to serve up than you would think. Hash browns crispy and tasty, corned beef moist, salty and flavorful. Decent sausage links, and great toast options, no wonder bread here. A whole grain that looks up to the task of dragging every last artery clogging fat molecule out of your colon.
During my meal I noticed a Guy Fieri thing on the wall, ( I don't watch his show, I don't keep tabs on where he has been) I was surprised. This place seems too classy, to honest. Guy strikes me as a gimmick come lately, I also expected to smell some lingering polo cologne or ode de douche left from his visit. Fortunately none of that. Just good simple food priced right. Even a dumb TV show host can't ruin that.
