Fred's Diner is the very definition of a hidden gem. It's the kind of cozy, no-frills, family‑run…read morespot you might call a "hole in the wall," but the food and hospitality make it absolutely unforgettable. We stopped in for a simple breakfast, and it turned out to be one of the best we've had in a long time. I ordered an omelette loaded with every vegetable they offered, and they were more than happy to customize it exactly the way I wanted--something you don't always get at small diners. My husband had their ham and eggs, and he said it was the best he's had in years. Even the buttered wheat toast was exceptional, which really says something about the care they put into every plate. The service was friendly and genuine, the atmosphere was charmingly old-school, and the food was outstanding. We will definitely be back any time we're in the area. Highly recommend Fred's Diner to anyone visiting Grayslake or passing through--you won't be disappointed!

I had no idea what to expect but hoped for an actual diner... it was! If you are looking for fancy…read morego elsewhere. If you want great food, great service and great prices, check out this awesome hidden gem I discovered with my kid today. I told him that was the definition of a diner and how I grew up.

Heard Nolan's has pretty good hamburgers and decent commercial space so we were asked to check the…read moreplace out. Ordered the burger, which was expensive, and a glass of "the house red". The burger was reasonable but the wine was atrocious and bordered on unpalatable. It was cold and oxidized having been opened sometime in the past and stuffed into a refrigerator somewhere. I commented about this to the server and got a shrug and a "Sorry." Add this to the slow service, and generally worn out look of the place, and we're not likely to go back nor schedule our shareholder meeting there. Nice view though!

The food was very good. I had the strip steak with a baked potato and asparagus. Everything was…read moreseasoned well and cooked to perfection. We will definitely be coming back - probably tonight! Update: we did return for another tasty meal...cannot say enough about the quality of the food. However, if you're looking for good service this is not the place for you. Hostess is also the waitstaff. With that said, dining room had just opened by 16 minutes or so and we were the only two people there. We waited a ridiculous amount of time for her to come from the bar area to greet us and have us sit anywhere of our choosing. She doesn't like to write things down but should - she forgot one of our soups out of two. One of the appetizers was sliders and she asked if we needed ketchup and we answered yes...she forgot until the appetizer was gone then came over with two bottles of ketchup! (Mind you there was only 3 sliders). She did apologize but really if you have trouble remembering please write it down. I guess I wouldn't have been upset had the dining room been more than just two people and she was laughing it up with the other staff members.

Been too long! They were really busy this Saturday morning. I don't deviate from my order here…read morebecause I cannot find this farm steak samwich outside of the area and theirs is the best! Great service and portions too The crowd here is largely Hispanic and I see a ton of chilaquiles being served in the morning

Came to Juan's chuck wagon for breakfast with a group of coworkers . They offer plenty of free…read moreparking. When you first walk in, there is a big room (as pictured). It wasn't being used. I think you can rent it out and have a party. The diner area also offered plenty of seating from booths, regular tables and bar seating . Our group of 5 sat at the bar area. They cook most of the food on a flat top right in front of us. It was amazing how fast and efficient. I ordered chilaquiles verdes o rojos with skit steak and rice and beans. I've only had chilaquiles one other time and it wasn't the that good. These were so good so much flavor and chips with still crunchy. Steak wasn't over cooked . Definitely would order again. The rice and beans taste like they were homemade. Service was great from our waitress to the food coming out pretty quick for the size of our party . Highly recommended.

Extra ordinary food. Just wonderful We had homemade soup,…read moreguacamole, and the pancakes all offset the steak... incredible find.

My family and I recently visited Lorenzo's for breakfast, and while there were some positives, the…read moreexperience left much to be desired. To start, parking was convenient--we found a spot right in front of the restaurant. However, the sidewalk leading to the entrance was dangerously icy, and both my mom and I almost slipped on the way in. Later, another customer even returned to warn the staff about someone else falling and suggested salting the side walk, which clearly needed attention. Inside, had big windows to bring in a lot of light and had lots of room for any size party, we were seated promptly, and our drink orders were taken quickly. Our waitress was new and learning the ropes, which we understood, but her inexperience showed throughout the meal. I ordered coffee and the steak chilaquiles, but unfortunately, the dish wasn't to my taste--the chilaquiles had a sour flavor, and the steak tasted reheated and tough. While service on the other hand, although we were the only customers in the restaurant for most of our meal, we only got checked on once near the beginning. It took two requests to get extra napkins, and we struggled to get boxes or our bill at the end. Eventually, we went to the front register to pay even if it meant leaving behind our leftovers and another server had to locate our waitress in the kitchen in order to ring us up. While I appreciate the prompt seating and patience with a new staff member, the overall experience between the safety concerns, disappointing food, and inconsistent service--just wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe I ordered the wrong dish or came at the wrong time, but unfortunately, I wouldn't be in a rush to return.

This place is an absolute gem and worth burning a little gas to get to. The food was outstanding…read moreand the staff somehow managed to be both wildly efficient and genuinely warm, like they actually enjoy being there. I ordered the half garbage plate with sausage and bacon. Pro tip: ask the difference between the half and the whole before you commit. The half comes with three eggs. The whole comes with five. Five. I chose wisely. Oh and don't forget the homemade bread smothered in butter! It's clearly a neighborhood staple. People were greeting each other by name, swapping stories across tables, and operating like they've been meeting there every Saturday since 1974. Thankfully, they extend that same friendliness to random out-of-towners who just wandered in hungry. The vibe is energetic and communal, the kind of place where conversations overlap and nobody seems to mind. It has a modern, eclectic feel, but there's also a subtle time-machine quality to it. Like you stepped into the 1960s, just with better coffee and fewer ashtrays. Perfect blend of nostalgic and now.

This place is super cute because it was an old train car made into a diner. There is so much eye…read morecandy around with funny signs. If you're a snobby person or someone with tons of food allergies don't come here. They are irrelevant in a very good way. I would stick to the basics here. My friend got the cheeseburger with fries and it was perfect. They have fresh meat, no frozen patties. I got the half order of biscuits and gravy with 2 eggs and it was perfect diner style food. The portions are huge so a half order was way more than enough. My friend had the roast beef omelette and I wouldn't recommend it because the beef was in chunks and was full of gristle. However, everything else was terrific. I didn't have the garbage plate because the portion was huge but it's on my list for next time. Maybe I'll split it with someone because you need to come hungry. Prices are very reasonable but it's cash only.

First off... the service, you are family the moment you walk through the door…read more Secondly, the food is great. I have never had anything that was not good, obviously have my favorites but everything is truly good. Third, the coffee, that's it, the coffee is great!! The ambience is quaint but a recent overhaul has the place looking amazing!

Food is 5 star. I highly recommended…read more Price is reasonable too. However the service is awful from Jackie. Not friendly or happy what she do. The only that I didn't like, NO soap in the bathroom. We didn't feel + vibes from her. NO smile, NO eye contact. And she keep on pouring from my behind my coffee w/out asking. But when it's time to pay it's different. Ambiance is good. It good be perfect is the server is pleasant & welcoming.

This restaurant was recommended by the lady who owned the air bnb we stayed at. It was very quick…read moreto get to from our air bnb. The establishment is very well kept and has a nice home feeling to it. All of the workers had fantastic attitudes and were very nice. I had the Chorizo skillet and it was fantastic. I really enjoyed the meal. I also ordered a cinnamon roll for our table to share and OMG, it was soooo good. Definitely try it. Very tasty and the seasoning was on point. It came with pancakes. I definitely suggest to give this establishment a try, you won't be disappointed.

Celiac Foodie; Cross…read moreContamination for Celiacs! I read reviews and found this restaurant offered gluten free items. Yes; Pancakes or Waffles, with hash brown/bowl of fruit. That's it. According to the waitress. Service was very quick. Quality is okay, crispy bacon and bland eggs. The restaurant is loud, overwhelming for mornings but the decor is Americana. Plenty of seating with booths or tables. **as a celiac I became Ill after consuming the food. **They do have a sign POSTED that states it's possible for cross contamination.** Overall, non- Celiacs enjoy, not recommended for allergies or celiacs! Happy Dining.

Went with a group of friends who were visiting in town and we all absolutely loved our food and…read moredrinks. The ambiance is great and super cute- love the vegas theme and it's well done! It was a busy weekend brunch time when we visited and service was good.

Food is good. My favorite is chicken cream rice soup…read more I love their coffee. Service is always good. I was disappointed i ordered sirloin steak it was hard & not much seasoning. Even the knife can't cut it. I didn't let them know about the situation so, I ending up just eating my toast & eggs for meal. Ambiance is good. Try to get there early they are busy in the morning & weekends.