#chicago #flyforfood #yelpfriends My last day in Chicago. My last meal in Chicago. My travel partners and I chose Eleven city diner for our breakfast/brunch/lunch before my leaving for the airport. I wanted some deli food which with all of my meals I did not have. No pastrami, no corn beef no nothing up until this meal. I ordered an open face, pastrami sandwich, and boy. What a meal it was. Homemade pastrami plated on rye bread and a bed of cheese and their special sauce. My travel partners had meals of their own, but what was cute and retro of this establishment was their soda jerk machines, their old-fashioned counters with swivel chairs, there, old-fashioned, neon lights and their booths in dark colored vinyl. How retro can that be? Service was spot on as soon as you were seated, outcomes the water, the menu, and a smiley face asking for your order. A special touch for me was they held my luggage in the back area so it's not to clutter the dining area while we had our meal. I will definitely go back here for a meal next time I'm visiting the great Windy City read more

See all

To close out our trip in Chicago, my group and I decided to dine at Eleven City Diner. I love the ambiance here; the service was good, and the food was tasty. The three of us came on a Monday morning. It wasn't too crowded, but we still had to wait. I could see this place getting packed on weekends or during extra busy events in Chicago. While we waited, we enjoyed looking at all the fun, old-school diner decor. It's fast-paced, lively, loud, and so fun! Inside, the seating is ample, with big booths and tables. The staff was all friendly and kind. I'm not too familiar with Jewish delicatessen food, but I do like salmon, so I got the Lox and Latke with Sour Cream. The lox and all additions were good. The latke was big, thick, and hearty. Everything paired well and was a nice portion. It was very filling, but I wish the latke had a bit more crispness and flavor. My friends got their breakfast and lunch items and seemed to enjoy them. It's great that they offer breakfast and lunch--a mix of classic and specialty items. I'd come again and order more things to try! If you're staying in Chicago and want a memorable breakfast meal, give Eleven City Diner a try! The food is good, and the service is great. Find them off Wabash Ave., close to public transportation. read more

See all

We stopped at Eleven City Diner before the Bears game on a Sunday, so it was definitely busy, but we were seated surprisingly fast! The inside is super fun and has so much character. It's a lively atmosphere and a great spot to start a game day. The food was the highlight. The French toast was AMAZING and unlike any French toast I've had before. Definitely something I would order again. The eggs were incredibly fluffy and light, and the bagel tasted genuinely fresh and authentic rather than like your typical breakfast bagel. There were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. The bathrooms were down for about an hour, although I really appreciated how helpful the staff was and how well they kept guests updated on the situation. They were also out of Aqua Panna water. The staff was a little intense at times, and with how busy the restaurant was, we did feel slightly rushed through our meal. Overall, still a really enjoyable experience with great food and such a fun atmosphere. I'd absolutely come back, especially for that French toast! I also saw a few things we want to try next time :) read more

See all

Eleven was so good we had to come back! We visited for both brunch and dinner during our trip and enjoyed both experiences. We loved the vibe especially the music! Both of our waiters were great, and the food was freshly prepared, flavorful, and the portions were generous. The kids loved the hot chocolate, and my husband loved the Bloody Marys so much he had one almost every day we were in Chicago! Great food, great music, great vibe and great service. Eleven was definitely one of our favorite stops while visiting the Chi! read more

See all

Stopped by Eleven City Diner with my wife and my mother yesterday. I haven't been to Eleven City in years so we were all excited about the visit. We've always had a great experience there. There was a 15 minute wait when we arrived, but were seated in less than five minutes. We had a nice booth near the front of the restaurant. From the last time I was there, the menu looks the same, except the prices have gone up. Everything has been going up in price everywhere. They also note that they add a three percent surcharge to cover the increasing costs, but you can let your server know if you don't want to pay the charge. We ordered a pickle tray, which is one dill cut into four slices and a sliced pickled tomato. The pickles were good except I wish they had full sour pickles on the tray, too. For our entrees, my wife and mother split the grilled cheese. The sandwich comes with soup and fries. Their fries are cooked in beef tallow so have that extra good taste. The sandwich is large so they didn't even sample the soup. I had the salami sandwich. It's served on sliced challah (yum). When ordering, they asked if I wanted it thick or thin, hot or cold. I asked for sliced thick and hot. When it arrived, there were two slices of salami on each side of the bread. It was about four inches in diameter and about two inches thick - enormous. It also came with their beef tallow fries. My meal was delicious but way too much to eat. We ended taking home the soup and my 1/2 sandwich. I love the ambiance - reminds me of the old Carnegie Deli in New York. Of the Jewish Delis still open in Chicago, Eleven City is my favorite. read more

See all

Eleven City, I was not familiar with your game! I don't even know how to describe what you'll find inside this diner - step inside and I promise you'll be transported to a new world lol. The bad a#@! breakfast sandwich was really good with the hash and those house potatoes were so damn crispy! The in-house root beer was amazing and I can't say a single bad word about those shakes. There's so much to do in this diner lol I have to come back! read more

Eleven City Diner - BAD A#@! BREAKFAST SANDWICH - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We had a few appointments in the area, and my partner wanted diner-style breakfast, so conveniently, we found Eleven City Diner. He ordered the Tom Waits 2am Breakfast 1987, and I got the 3 eggs any style. My favorite part was mooching off my boyfriend's plate and stealing bits of the pancakes that came with his meal -- they were so fluffy, airy, and big! The ambience is adorable and really makes you feel like you're in a classic diner. Also, service was fast! read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not sure why the reviews here are so "low". Our food and the service was great. Everyone enjoyed what they had and you get a lot of food. It was also prepared fresh. It's not like the bessttttt breakfast I've ever had but it was still really good. The menu has a town of options for breakfast and lunch read more

See all

This place has a lot of charm with that old school feel. They have seats by the counter and some old school decor. It's an open kitchen you can see them cooking. Portions are large so come hungry. We got the Bad Ass breakfast sandwich with the hash. It was a monster of a sandwich. It's so big it's hard to hold and eat. The eggs were soft and pillowy. The hash was dry and under seasoned. A little ketchup and black pepper helped. We also got the Tom waits 2 AM 2 eggs with sausage and fried house potatoes in beef talllow. Eggs cooked to perfection, sausage was average, the house potatoes was nice and crunchy. My son got the in house special made root beer and that was the highlight for him. The pancakes looked so fluffy but when you eat it it's so dense read more

See all

Late review. Came in yet again for a husband bday / Mother's Day lunch. My husband again got the club. I got the turkey melt. The melt was fabulous. They grill the bread perfectly. I had to eat with a knife and a fork. It also reheats well (in the oven). It's an extraordinarily busy place but they are kind and efficient. Once you are seated you don't feel rushed. I wish we can come more often. read more

See all

This is an old school classic - but modern - diner. So glad we went. Pancakes the size of your head! Coco's eggs were delicious. I felt healthy eating it and it's something you can't get back home. Challah toast for the win. Nicest server too. read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Used to come here for college when I had the rare dollar or ten to blow, and I'm so glad to say that it still tastes just as good. You gotta get the cheese sauce with your fries. Unless you're lactose intolerant there's no excuse, and even then I'd still say it'd be worth it. Try not to get eyes bigger than your stomach- as delicious as the food is, you end up feeling the food coma much sooner than other restaurants. read more

Eleven City Diner - Cheese Sauce cheeseburger - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Had the perfect quick bite for brunch on Thursday! Seated right away, decor is super cute/ diner vibes Service was very fast, pricing is Emma's expected for this area, $18 for a plain waffle and 2.99 for berries. Large portion, was easy to split. Definitely a great spot for breakfast/brunch! read more

See all

Interesting place. Reminds me of a traditional deli but has a modern vibe; it seemed a bit confused and like it was all over the place. Went here on a Saturday around noon, and the place was busy and incredibly loud. We probably had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table, and ended up sitting at one end of the bar. The staff was very friendly and helpful, so that that's a plus. As a vegan, the menu was very confusing. Even though there's a vegetarian/vegan section, it didn't look like they were very many vegan options at all. Also, other items on the menu in other sections could have been vegan, but I'm not sure. Again, the menu was confusing to read. I would really have appreciated if they could clearly mark what the vegan options are on their menu, or how to make something vegan. I ordered the chopped Elodie salad with a miso-ginger vinaigrette. Even though it was pricey, the portion size was substantial, the vegetables were perfectly chopped, and it tasted delicious! read more

See all

Can only speak to take out experience but this diner is legit! I got a club and it lasted two meals due to generous portion sizes and was so delicious. read more

My husband and I were traveling from Honolulu, came to Chicago for a trip and we walk around everywhere. We. Went to trader's joes and we got hungry. We saw this place and we decided to check it out. The place is nice and cozy. They have a nice ambiance and the people are very friendly. I had the French toast, I didn't know they give big portions, 3 slices of thick bread and you can choose the toppings, I choose banana and pecans. Well, I only eat one slice and I was full. My husband got the "Tim got up at 2:00 pm" special. That was a lot too. So if you are not that hungry, one order is good for 2 people. Every time we talk to other people, we always recommended this place.. read more

See all

My actual first time in Chicago trying out this classic diner was a real wonderful experience. Even the staff was friendly mannered in their working environment. Also the food was amazingly delicious. Would 100% recommend eating here again. read more

Eleven City Diner - Belgian waffles with berries whipped cream and a side of bacon. - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always amazing breakfasts! The French toast made from challah bread is the best! Came once again on Christmas morning and got sat right away. Thanks for being open! The inside is done up old school and plenty of counter seats if you're flying solo. read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Excellent service from Jessica! She is very attentive, friendly, and gave excellent recommendations. Really cool diner!! Fun decor, nice people, and good vibes all around. We came here on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and we had to wait about 15 minutes so it's a reasonable wait time. They accept reservations too so I'll do that next time. The food was okay. I wanted to love it more than I did. My Cobb salad was good but a bit bland. The turkey and bacon lacked flavor, and the cucumber pieces were really hard so it felt like a chore to eat by the end. The Rueben egg rolls were pretty good, but I've had better. I enjoyed their homemade thousand island dressing with it. They make all their food/meats in house, which is very impressive. They have a deli on site too and you can buy goodies to take home. The menu is huge! Breakfast is served all day. My boyfriend enjoyed his corned beef and pastrami hash bowl with challah toast. I will definitely come back and try other things. Their latkes look great and all their sandwiches. They also have vegetarian and vegan options. They have fun cocktails too. read more

See all

Classic delicious food. Friendly staff, huge portions. I love the decor and ambiance this place gives. Their take on the classic Monte croto was superb. read more

The food was excellent, and our waiter was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, what happened afterward completely overshadowed what should have been a great experience. It was a rainy day and there was a Bears game, so traffic was terrible. There were four people in our group, but one of my daughter's school friends initially thought she wouldn't make it because she was stuck in traffic while her father was driving her. The three of us went ahead, were seated, ordered, and received our food. She then called to say she would actually arrive sooner than expected. I went to the greeter simply to let them know that a young woman would be arriving and would sit with us while we finished our breakfast. I was told NO. No joiners. I explained that she wasn't coming to take over a table or create an entirely new party. She was simply going to sit with us while we finished eating. We had already spent well over $100 on breakfast. I was told she could come inside, but she would have to sit ALONE at the counter rather than sit with us at a 4 person booth. That was unbelievable to me. And before anyone assumes the restaurant was packed and they desperately needed every seat, it wasn't. There were open tables and open seats at the counter. Rather than have my daughter's friend sit by herself while the rest of us sat together, we immediately asked our wonderful waiter for to-go boxes, packed up the breakfast we were still eating, and left. We literally finished our meal in the car. That is an incredibly disappointing way to make paying customers feel. Your food was excellent. Our waiter was fantastic and deserves absolutely no criticism for what happened. But this policy, and the way it was handled was rude, unwelcoming, and completely unnecessary. It turned what should have been a wonderful breakfast into an experience uncomfortable enough that we will not return. One additional note: the music was so loud that we practically had to yell across the table to have a conversation. Great food and great waitstaff aren't enough when a policy leaves customers feeling like this. I sincerely hope management reconsiders this policy and how situations like ours are handled. At minimum, I would appreciate an apology and an explanation for why allowing one person to quietly join our table while we finished eating was considered unacceptable. read more

Wow, this place was packed on the Saturday I went! When we arrived, the friendly lady at the front said it would be about 45 minutes. So my friend and I put our name in, although they specifically mentioned they would announce our name over the speaker (we didn't have an option to put a phone number down). While we were waiting, my friend and I decided to grab a coffee. We headed back with what we thought was ample time, but apparently they called our name 10 minutes prior to our arrival. Luckily, they were able to take us to the bar right away! I ordered the Mexican scramble, which was unlike any breakfast item I've ever had! It was kind of like breakfast tacos, but a bit different. It was delicious and filling. I would definitely come and check this place out again sometime! read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A busser spilled a giant cup of ketchup on my girlfriend's pants, jacket and suede bag. The ketchup stained the back of her pants and ruined her bag. She left the restaurant to clean it and i told management who immediately became defensive and asked to the see the stain. If my family was white they would've believed me when i said her clothes were ruined. Instead they acted like I was scamming them, when all i wanted was an apology. I spent good money to take my family somewhere nice for breakfast and they ruined my girlfriend's bag and clothes and didn't apologize. Terrible service and management. If you're a person of color they will treat you like a second class citizen. read more

Eleven city has managed to perfect the small town Americana diner experience. I actually had flashbacks to getting out of my high school football games and going to eat steak burgers and shakes with my teammates. Had to get the classic diner order: root beer float and patty melt. Both were phenomenal, so I would absolutely recommend getting the same. The ambiance is very bright and lively with 80s rock n roll blasting. The staff were very friendly and the experience overall was well worth the 30 min wait. For a moment, everything felt right with the world again. read more

See all

Went for breakfast. Pancakes were huge- just needed some butter love! Everything is shareable. First time I had apple sauce on some hash - was fun and pretty good! Worth a try as a side/app. read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

First off, we loved the atmosphere of the place. Service was super attentive, old school music, diner style tables and booths give the place a homey, comfortable feel. The food portions for breakfast were extremely generous, which seemed to us to justify the slightly elevated prices. The only complaint was that the protein scramble was a touch watery, but all ingredients were fresh and well made. The cheese and bacon omelet was excellent as were the potatoes and toast. We added a single pancake to share - you don't need more than one! If you are on vacation in Chicago like we were, you will find this place to be a fantastic stop and will not mind the prices given the quality of the products and the care in preparation. read more

WOW 5/5 PLEASE DON'T MISS! We ordered the #44 which was stacked HIGH with thick, juicy pastrami and topped with crunchy fried onion strings and rich sour cream. I could cry - this sandwich changed my life and fed two people for $23.99 in downtown Chicago. The chocolate milkshake was rich and malty. We loved that it came with an "extra shake" container, truly worth the $12.50. Staff were quick for a Saturday afternoon and the ambiance was lively with the decor and neon lights. Truly a gem in the heart of a foodie city. read more

See all

We stumbled across this place and we were amazed! We had a stroller and they were a little tight on room, however they accommodated and had a space for it. Their food was amazing, we got the swayed mile high, patty melt and the Ruben and we were blown away how wonderful everything tasted, especially the fries! There refillable Shirley Temple was so refreshing. But the big show stopper was the chocolate cake! Man we will have dreams about it! Such an amazing place, we will come back next time we are in Chicago read more

See all

What a beautiful diner! I loved the decor and the ambiance of the diner. The employees were super friendly and attentive. The menu there is extensive and offers a great array of options to choose from. I enjoyed their Reuben and their matzah ball soup. The Reuben had a generous amount of pastrami and coleslaw, and the matzah ball was huge. Really good service and good food, try it out when you're in town! read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I came here for brunch on Sunday and we had a blast. The minute you walk inside this place, you can tell it's a diner kind of vibe. The interior design and choice of music comes together so well. I had the protein scrambler because I'm on a low carb diet. The egg whites were so fluffy that the picture can't even do its justice. I felt like I was on cloud nine every time I took a bite of the scrambler. This place gives such huge portions that I had to take the potatoes home. The price and portion ratio is so spot on. I decided to come here with my friends because I've seen lines out the door before on weekends and I was curious, what's so good about this place? I can see why people wait in line on the weekends because I will definitely be back. This was my first time here, but it will not be my last time. read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

You could not ask for friendlier and thoughtful service. From management to host to server to bus staff -- all great! I'll definitely be back. But, we'll want to try different food options. The Rueben lacked zip, the tomato soup was bland, and the fries were soggy. Nothing bad, just not up to the ticket price. read more

I never sit at the bar to get food but the place gets packed and the bar was the only thing available. Cool little diner-ish spot in the south loop. First time trying Ruben eggrolls and they were good paired with their Chicago hot girad chips. If I can grab a table next time I'll be back. read more

See all

Eleven City Diner is a solid simple restaurant. They take Jewish deli classics and execute them in respectable albeit slightly lacking ways. Mac and cheese: 3/5. Solid base. Super boring. There needed to be a curve whether that's a pop of red onion, crispy bits, or mustard to sustain interest in the dish. Lox and latke: 3.5/5. Right in the wheelhouse of this restaurant, but still not quite nailed. Rich cream cheese, good balance with red onions, scallions, and capers. But the latke itself was really thick, taking away some of the best crispy bits of a perfect latke. read more

This is one kitschy diner and we love it! There's definitely a cozy 50's diner vibe to this restaurant, just without the attitude of an Ed Debevic's. The servers we've had were all wonderful and knowledgeable. We've had the pastrami and corned beef sandwich and, warning, the serving sizes are insane, so sharing is highly recommended. The sandwich was amazing with just the right amount of fat in the meat, the right warmth, and incredible flavor. We also shared the beef tallow fries, which are not to be missed. The spicy ketchup, which is an extra charge is good but can be skipped. The next time we got breakfast and the corned beef has was nearly all meat and wonderfully greasy and filling. The roasted potatoes were so incredibly crispy and perfect! We've had their home brewed bottomless root beer and that is absolutely worth the money to order! read more

I went to this restaurant for vacation while I was in Chicago this past week. And let me tell you the food was AMAZING. All I had ordered was a burger and fries, but it taste tasted like those homemade fries were cooked to perfection. The service was also amazing. Even though it took a while for us to get a table, it's like they still handled it with precision and effort. read more

Root for the root beer! This is a great brunch or lunch spot if you're down in the museum area of Chicago. There can be a wait for a table, but opt to belly up to the counter for great service and a view of some of the crazy drinks they make behind the bar! There's lots of options for vegans and meat lovers on the menu, and a bevy of boozy drinks if it's 5 o'clock somewhere... read more

Eleven City Diner - The black and white! - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

OMG the food here is amazing! Everything so good, portions huge so be careful. I had the beef roast sandwich and it was amazing, also had three egg breakfast and it was more like 6 eggs. Read the negative reviews and I had completely opposite experience. Plus staff all so attentive and nice. read more

See all

Massive delicious meat slices over rye bread. It's a bit messy but that's to be expected. The service here is quick and professional, a bit loud because of the music. The place is worth the wait read more

Eleven City Diner - Rubin's Reuben - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We visited Chi over the summer and had to stop into our favorite diner -- we weren't disappointed! Always friendly service and the menu is super solid. I forgot how huge the portions are! We went for breakfast. Man they have delicious breakfast potatoes. That's probably my favorite thing with breakfast. I love a simple well-made egg and sausage. They have really tasty sausage! It is a bit loud. I had forgotten that. The music is great, but loud so it's a little echo-y and just the din of the diner is loud and not the best place to try to have a conversation. Def will come back the next time in Chicago!! read more

Lively diner with the exact type of experience you'd expect from a busy diner like this. Had to wait a little bit to get a seat on a Sunday morning, but once seated service was pretty quick. The diner itself feels very massive and has a crap ton of interesting decor. Food-wise they have a lot of your typical diner options and plenty of options for a nice sandwich with premium cuts of meat, and cheese, a lot of it. Pricing felt a bit more premium than your typical fast casual chain diner, slightly justified since the ingredients felt a bit more premium. The food is pretty decent overall and will hit the spot for your diner needs. read more

Eleven City Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all