BEST PANCAKES EVER! I work across the street from Al's grill and had one of their menu's and always pondered whether I should try their breakfast or not. So today I decided to try them and ordered the strawberry pancakes. The pancakes are heavenly!! Tastes like angel food cake but only so much better... I'm officially in love... wish I loved closer to Al's Grill. read more

Al's is a classic diner with a large menu. Their servers call you hon and sweetie and never let your coffee cup get too empty. My favorite is their tuna salad (so good), but their skillets and other breakfast options are delicious as well. Parking can be a pain on the street, but it's worth it. read more

My wife and I heard that this place was supposed to be really good so we decided to drive over and check it out. There was a sizable line which is always a good sign and they did a great job of moving it along. We may have waited 20mins... I ordered the Al's skillet, got the pancakes and I got a side of corned beef hash. My wife ordered the Huevos Rancheros. The Pancakes: light and fluffy and really Really good! The Al's Skillet - heaps of meats and cheese covered in some egg oh man, this one will fill you up. The skillet portions were spot on, they will fill you and add in the pancakes and your gunna need to loosen your belt. The Huevos Rancheros - My wife gave me a bite and I was absolutely blown away. The execution of this dish varies widely. I honesty didn't order this because I have had so many I just know what to expect....an imbalance of spice coupled with super greasy chorizo is generally the run of the mill Huevos Rancheros. THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY DO HERE. Keep in mind I only took one bite. One bite was all I needed. THIS Huevos Rancheros was perfection. The combination of spice and flavor from all the ingredients came though in one bite like I never expected. I can't eat another Huevos Rancheros anywhere else again without comparing it to the one served up at Al's, which really sucks for everyone else trying to serve one! If I had to come back and could order only one thing it would be the Huevos Rancheros. Simply for the fact that I have never had one in any breakfast restaurant that created and executed such a dish that brought all the flavors together in such a successful way. This dish is the one for me! The Corned Beef Hash - Let me start off by saying I love corned beef hash. I order it everywhere. What I'm used to seeing is a lot of greasy potatoes threat weighs very heavy in the gut once consumed. While I know this is the general effect of the dish it never stops me from ordering it. Al's Grill, again, does it right! It's not the greasy oily hash you've been served before. It actually feels light by comparison to the other corned beef hash you've met before and the taste is simply over the top. This as well is also my favorite corned beef hash. To sum it all up, Al's Grill is worth the drive if you're not native to the Oak Park area. If you are, you're very lucky to have this gem in your neighborhood! I will be back, I don't know when but after pondering the dishes I spoke of above, I am getting really really hungry! read more

Our go to breakfast spot. Food is consistently good. Staff is friendly. Owners are always working. Place is clean. These guys have been doing this for decades. My parents used to go their location across the street. Food isn't gourmet, just really solid breakfast food at a great price. read more

I had a yummy breakfast there today. Please don't be confused by the 3 stars. It's diner food-- so nothing gourmet worthy of 5 stars but it hit the spot for breakfast comfort food. I dined at Louies in Forest Park this week also and while it was good, it didn't hit the spot like Al's. I wish I could give 3.5 stars! I may change to 4 stars. If it's 4 stars above you will know I that I caved in! Als hash browns are superior than Louie's.... they aren't those prepackaged shredded things that everyone is using now! And I suggest asking for them cooked well so they are a little crispy... so good! The greek omelet with gyro meat was awesome! It was perfect for a 10:45 breakfast with lunch feel to it. Tasty gyro meat, good feta cheese and onions. I was feeling greedy and got a pancake on the side. Plus so many reviewers raved on the pancakes I was a bit curious. I have to say I took 2 bites and decided to spend my calories on the omelet and hash browns. The pancakes were a bit dry and just did nothing for me. Coffee was ok...Louie's may have them beat there. Overall good meal and I would definitely go back. ps - they DO take cards. Someone said they didn't... not true. read more

First Saturday in Chicago from Los Angeles, in a very rainy August summer day, Al's Grill was the first breakfast place that appeared before my eyes on the corner of my new apartment home. What funny but friendly staff I encountered that day. I loved the old school diner feeling and good diner coffee. I ordered the pancakes, nothing special. They were okay tasting, I guess for diner food, it just hit the spot. Overall, this place looked like it was loved by the community of Oak Park, friendly service and looked pretty well kept. CASH only ! read more

Al's Grill is that down-home diner you've been craving. It's buzzing with the kind of energy that makes you wanna say to your waitress, "Hell yeah, I'll take that extra side of pancakes!" Loved this place and the people in it. Fantastic food, good service and most importantly fast delivery. read more

Al's Grill - Al's is that down-home diner you've been cravin. It's buzzing with an energy that makes you want to stay for an extra cuppa joe. - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

This is a first class inexpensive diner/grill I travel a 100,000 miles a year Eat out constantly, every type of cusine, price point, etc This is in my top ten of value, service, selection, quality, etc Anyone who thinks otherwise, must have a black cloud hanging over there head Everytime I go, I see familiar faces in the crowd When a rest has repeat customers, you know you are in the right spot!!!!!!!! read more

We went here on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago for a little breakfast. I'm a lover of breakfast foods and needed a little egg, bacon, and toast in my world that morning. So, my husband and I walked the 2 blocks from our place to the restaurant. We walked in and clearly weren't the only ones with the idea to grab breakfast and were directed to stand in the end of a line. However, you have to expect this when going out for breakfast at 9:30 on a Saturday and surprisingly the line moved incredibly fast, and we were seated within 10 minutes. We were addressed right away by the waitress who was wonderful. I ordered a skillet with green pepper, onion, ham, and cheese. It was basic, but good, though the hash browns seemed a little undercooked. My husband had their pancakes with strawberries on top, which he said were definitely better than other local breakfast places in the area. In general, it was a quick, easy, basic, diner type restaurant that was an easy answer for a Saturday breakfast. While I know there are many "usuals" that might kill me for this, it was fine, but nothing too special in my book. read more

So... I think Al's set me on a track, early in life, to love diner food more than any other food in the universe. My family has been going to Al's since we moved down the street from it when I was three, so I guess twenty-four years now. Holy crud! I'm getting old. There are waitresses there who - at least the last time I was there - I remember from when I was a kid. They know my family, and every time my sisters come in from out of state, or every time we have a newcomer to the family, we go to Al's. It's a really wonderful atmosphere, always busy on the weekends, the food is great, the people are great, there's no better local diner to my mind. I don't know if it's just sentimentality that makes me love Al's, but hey, if they're that good at creating sentimental memories, that's worth it to me. The french toast is bomb, as are the hash browns. read more

Me and my wife come here often, it's usually on Sundays but recently it's been on Thursday. And honestly today will be the last time I come. The food is absolutely amazing however the waitresses I've been receiving have been ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. The tall older lady was my server and she was rushing us, in the middle of us trying to order she said I'm going to come back if you aren't ready and walked off like we weren't in the process of ordering she only brought the oatmeal (which was only thing my girl could say before being cut off) and not even how we asked it to be prepared. Rushed me through placing my order, then tried to take the menus and wasn't even going to ask my girl if she wanted something more than oatmeal, when I asked for caramelized bananas on my oatmeal the waitress huffed like it was a inconvenience and in a snobby way said I'll have to charge you for that you know that right. I'm a district manager over a cafe and I was absolutely appalled by today's customer service. They literally have one good waitress and she never seems to be there on Thursday. Shoot for Sunday !! read more

First time here with the family. Sooo good! Portions are big, food came out fast and the service was phenomenal!! Definitely will be back here. read more

I do miss the old diner across the street, since they've moved it's not the same. However, the food is still good and the service is quick and friendly. The family owned business still gives it a nice feel but as I said I miss the smaller diner atmosphere. You can catch all the oldies on the counter. You have to try their chicken soup, a must for the cold weather...not just a place for breakfast and burgers. Also very kid friendly. read more

I came to Al's Grill, when I was visiting Illinois from PA, and promises once I moved here to make it a regular!!!! Can we say BANGIN, delicious, yummy? This is my 2nd time here and the food is just as good. I brought my boyfriend as well. He likes the place just as much and probably more :) read more

Al's Grill - Al's Grill skillet is so very delicious :) - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Al's Grill is an Oak Park institution. I found myself in the vicinity recently and gave it a try. The food was so-so, but the staff was cordial and attentive. I don't often eat diner food anymore, though I have sample a couple of good ones in the past few years (the Depot in Chicago, the Fremont Diner in Sonoma, CA), but Al's does not measure up, foodwise. I ordered one of the diner's highlighted skillet dishes (hash browns, veggies, cheese topped with two eggs); the flavors were OK, the eggs were perfectly done, but the hash browns had been par-cooked and were not really brown at all. Coffee was fresh, but not flavorful. Like any long-standing local diner, it's fun to watch the regulars interact with the staff -- the mutual affection and respect is refreshing. The venue is pleasant, and I was well-treated. Maybe I'd go back if I was in the area and in a hurry for a bite to eat, but I wouldn't seek it out. My three-star rating got a boost from the quality of the service; the food was more like two Yelp stars. read more

A typical American diner. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. Probably a great place to read a paper while sitting at the counter in the morning, eating biscuits and eggs. I had a sandwich that was tasty, however the slice of "homemade" pie I had tasted old and freezerburned. If it was homemade, it was made a long time ago. read more

Such a classic diner feeling in here! The staff, decoration, and atmosphere are perfect for a cozy American breakfast/brunch/lunch. The staff are attentive and it's just so pleasant in there. It really feels down to earth and the food is amazing as well. I love that you can build your own omelette, and the French toast is amazing as well. read more

If I didn't need to pick at least one star, I wouldn't have. Just because something is a "classic diner" it doesn't mean that it has to be bad. This place was terrible and anyone who disagrees needs to have their tongues removed. Didn't finish anything on my plate because it was luke warm and disgusting. "Cheesy Hasbrowns" = crappy hashbrowns with a square of a generic Kraft single slice of American cheese that's barely melted. Awful. read more

It feels like going back to the family diners in Western Carolina where I grew up. A little bit of everything... kept simple. Nothing fancy and you won't walk away hungry! My only criticism is that the interior isn't updated or always obsessively cleaned... but it wouldn't feel like home if it was. read more

Als is definitely one of the best hangover breakfasts around, except that they close early, 2pm I think, so it's hard if the hangover makes you not move fast enough to get there before it closes. Also, it's cash only, which is also kind of a bummer and parking can be rough. But besides all those things, the service is friendly, fast, and the food is yummy and cheap. Your coffee will be refilled often, and your tummy will be satisfied. Typical American breakfast fare, and some lunch items that I've never tried. I usually stick with the veggie skillet and add bacon. read more

If you are looking for quick, relatively cheap, basic diner food, this is your place. We went for breakfast and the coffee was WEAK, like watery weak. Always wonder why very few places like this make a decent cup of Joe. I'm not knocking them for it, it's what's expected in a place like that :) Anyway, I'd rate this up with Mom's Place on Harlem, so if you like Al's, try Mom's. Well worth the price, not too greasy, and service is fast and friendly. Looking forward to going back for a late night grilled cheese and fries. They seem like the kind of place that makes a good fried sandwich and potatoes. For my money though, I'm primarily sticking with The Depot for diner fare, assuming we can get in these days with it's newfound fame. read more

Always good food. Always great for a quick meal, and get out. Everyone works together as a team. Great customer service. My go to thanks als grill read more

My husband and I came here to dine on a Saturday early afternoon for brunch. It was a bit crowded but we were seated 5 minutes after walking in. This is a casual diner, nothing like the brunch places you see around Oak Park/River Forest. Our waitress Nora was awesome! She was so friendly, smart, and helpful. We gave her a nice tip for her awesome-ness. My husband started with their chicken noodle soup. He ordered a large bowl, but Nora knew we were going to share so she brought us two smaller bowls (which is equivalent to a large bowl) so then we can each have our own share. We also ordered a large orange juice, and she brought out two cups with orange juice filled 75% to the top so we don't have to share the same cup. Pretty smart!!! For entree, I had Al's Skillet which was pretty good! I liked all the ingredients on there - it was a bit too much potatoes for me, but thats alright. My husband ordered the biscuits and gravy. He said it was very heavy..it would be good as a side dish but not a whole meal. He also ordered a side of turkey sausage and I had pancakes. Lots of food..we were very full at the end. We definitely would come back and hope to see Nora again! The menu is extensive so we will get to try out something else next time. read more

Als is a modern Greek American diner. They have a kitchen counter as well as many two person booths. The place is nice and clean and the Decor is good so 1 full for decor. They seemed slightly understaffed when I came, at 1:30 on a holiday Monday. So there may have been more of a crowd than they expected. The staff stemmed seasoned and professional, but overworked. They were doing the best the could so still a 1 for staff. The coffee was average to good. They did have the full sugar bowl out but only the prepackaged creamers. So .5 for coffee out of 1. Also leading to this was slow refills. I ordered the sepec al skillet which is a country skillet with gravy. The state that they have fresh made biscuits here, so I will have to come back for that. The gravy was good as well as the skillet overall the pancake was also large and good. I was a little thrown off by them only giving you one pancake as opposed to a short stack, but it was a big one. I did forget to say no mushrooms so that affected the flavor a bit. I would give them a 1.5 out of two points for food. I may update after trying the biscuits. read more

This is my favorite breakfast place in the Chicago area! The inside is just your average diner, but it is clearly family-owned. The waitresses are very friendly and fast. The food is delicious, the ham is like an Easter ham--definetly not what I expected from a little corner diner! The skillets are delicious too! Because the breakfasts are so great, I've never ventured over to the lunch menu. The only problem with Al's Grill is they are only open for breakfast & lunch! read more

Delicious breakfast/brunch option!! Looks can be deceiving and I wasn't expecting much from this little diner but holy cow was it amazing!! We waited in line for a table which was strange but seemed efficient! Only waited 5 minutes- if that. The service was awesome, our waitress was friendly and attentive. We never had empty water or coffee. Biscuits and gravy were to die for, Al's skillet, Benedict and sticky bun (on special) were all fantastic. Brother in law had the Reuben and it looked great also so we will have to go back for lunch! read more

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Quick and friendly service. Awesome place for skillets and any other breakfast food. Had the Eggs Benedict..delicious! Real hash browns and nice cuts of ham. Big portions, so come w an appetite read more

Al's Grill - Banana Waffle - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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For straight up diner food, there are very few in this league. Second generation running the place with the tenacity and commitment to quality and service as dad. It's all good, decent, honest American diner food. Traditional dishes intermingled with some fresh concepts. I've never been disappointed. As good as the GREAT New Jersey and New England legendary diners and in my experience that says it all. If you are looking for biscuits and gravy, it doesn't get any better in Cook County. Ham on the bone is spectacular as are all the breakfast and lunch items. I love a restaurant that knows what they do well and sticks to it. These guys are the best lunch spot in the area. The diversity of the clientele and welcoming atmosphere of the experienced staff even make this a place you may make a new acquaintance or two. Honest, wholesome American food at a fair price at a time in this country's development where the words honest, wholesome and fair are rare characteristics. Great job to everyone! Never change. Somethings should stay the same like quality. read more

French Toast was burnt and cold there was hair in my chicken breast and eggs dry apple juice watered down. They had bad customer service the whole time. Me and my man was disgusted by the food for real no stars. read more

Love this place, always wonderful service and food . the waffles are amazing as are the skillets. The friendliest people work here

I did a Yelp search for fluffy pancakes and Al's popped up plus it had a photo from Chicago's Best. We drove over on a Sunday morning around 10:30A; they were busy but we we're promptly greeted and ordered to-go. All the staff were wearing Chicago teams shirts and we were given ice water and seats at the counter while we waited. Our food was fresh, hot, and ready within 20 minutes. Light and fluffy pancakes, moist sausage with a crisp skin on the outside, crispy bacon and no grease in sight. The French toast evaporated in my mouth and even the eggs were light and fluffy. The skillet we ordered was enough for 2 meals and came with 1 pancake which was perfect. The restaurant is bright and clean with an inviting staff, ample seating, a small parking lot in the back, delicious and freshly prepared food for a reasonable price. Try the pancakes. read more

The Manager at this establishment has HORRIBLE customer service!!!! My order was prepared soooo sloppy. I wanted my order to be correct and instead of being accommodated there was arguing, rudeness and disrespect. Will NEVER give my money to an establishment that's trash!!!!!! read more

Love this classic diner. Huge menu. Fantastic staff. Good food. They can have really long wait times and there isn't much of a waiting area. Parking can also be a challenge if you go during busy times, but worth the struggle. read more

Unfortunately today's dining experience was not favorable. I have been a patron of AL's for years and I have come to love and appreciate the kind service of this establishment while supporting local businesses. My mother and I sat down today outside in the parking lot now converted to a nice outdoor seating section. We sat down and a server brought us water and menus were provided then we began to wait to be serviced. For 10 minutes we watched at two servers walked past us consistently without acknowledging us which was odd since we were seated directly in front of the door. It was only 10:30am and not very crowded. The man who was seated 2mins before us was provided his food quickly. Only when we were preparing to leave were we addressed by a server asking if we were going to move inside? I don't consider myself difficult or problematic but hopefully this happens to no one else who patronizes this lovely establishment. read more

Good food, good selection, good prices, lousy parking situation and lousy service

There are not many places that exist anymore that can simultaneously feel like you're getting a home cooked meal while feeling like you're home. Al's accomplishes both. Every time I've been there one of the owner's Tony and his family have welcomed me with familiarity and most importantly great food. The biscuits and gravy cannot be beat. Easily the best in Chicago. read more

Based on my burger experience with this place I can't say I'm super impressed. But they were open on a nasty snowy day so they get points for that. The breakfast menu looked pretty standard fare, and I'd probably be willing to go back for that. read more

Called in to place a order ahead of time showed and they didn't even take my order over the phone .i get there and they Had me waiting for 10 min just to ask me what I ordered .. anyways this place in Chaos they need a better staff , and a new ordering system they are so outdated.. I wouldn't come back. read more

Oh how I wish I could rate this place -5 stars after my experience today! My family and I have eaten at Al's for years now. Today (9/16/16) I stopped in for a quick lunch with a friend. I order the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich with fries. Once the flavorless sandwich came to the table our server mentioned that the fries would be out shortly. Here's where an already mediocre experience went to hell in a hand basket! The fries come out and they are cold. Not lukewarm COLD! They also looked pretty old as if they were sitting out for sometime before they even made it to our table. Once the server finally makes it back to the table I informed her that the fries were cold and I did not want them. She touches the fries and asked me what did I want her to do I said "Take them back and can I have some fresh fries that aren't cold please". A couple of minutes goes by while I continue to work on my flavorless steak sandwich, the server brings a plate of fries back to the table. Now, these fries were popping hot covered in grease, burnt and hard. The fries looked as if they were the same plate of fries that originally made it to my table just "recooked". At this point I am extremely frustrated and put off by the service I am receiving. I'm telling my friend about the fries and she's questioning the freshness of the fries as well. While we are discussing the order some guy with a blue shirt that says "Al's Grill" on it walks over and says "we don't recook our fries I'll take you in the back and show you that's not what we do." I tell him well to me these fries seem like they were recooked and they aren't fresh. "So what do you want to do send another order back?" he says to me. "I don't want these fries so yes, take them back!" I tell him. He then says "you haven't even said what's wrong with them." I state "They are burnt, hard overcooked and they don't appear fresh that's what's wrong with them" He then says "Thats how they are supposed to be." WHAT you have got to be kidding me right! I was completely floored by his tone and demeanor! This guy was loud, obnoxious and argumentative all over an order of fries. After he caused a scene he finally takes the crappy plate of fries! The server comes back to our table and she's extremely apologetic. She offers me something else instead of the fries I told her I didn't want anything else from this place besides the bill. I told her I would never return to this restaurant because of the service and treatment I received. She mentioned that the old rude, crass, ignorant guy that was at the table arguing with me about the fries was none other than the owner! Unreal! See apparently this guy has become too cocky and doesn't deem it necessary to treat people with respect! The server mentioned he was having a bad day. Well if that's the case stay home and take a sick day until you are able to deal with the public. There was no need for him to come to the table if he wasn't going to resolve the issue. The server took my meal off the bill we tipped her and left. My final thoughts...My family and friends will NOT spend another penny in that establishment ever again! I feel sorry for his employees they are working for a total jerk! This is in response to Tony addressing my review...after his response I know we've made the right decision by choosing to no longer patronize this place. Reading through the negative reviews here on Yelp never once have you taken responsibility for an issue a customer has presented or even offered a sensible resolution. Instead you counterattack the customer and question their reasoning for providing the establishment with a negative review. It couldn't possibly be because you all were deserving of the review that was written! Oh no! If the issue wasn't with the owner himself maybe it could have been resolved in the restaurant. Since the owner thinks it's ok to serve burnt food, argue and literally yell at his customers it's hopeless to think there could be a resolution. How many bad experiences should a customer have in your establishment before you all deem their negative review (experience) valid? It should only take one! Since according to you the experience I had that didn't warrant a review whether it be positive or negative should outweigh the treatment I received yesterday. You all really need to work on your customer service in person and on the web, if you plan to be in business for another 50 years. read more

Just went there for breakfast a few days ago.. the service was friendly and good was great! I would deffy go back!