Great cafe with a vintage diner vibe , located near Union Station, making it perfect for a quick pickup of pastries/treats before catching a train, which is exactly what I did. I stopped by in the morning around 8AM to get a slice of their pound cake as a quick breakfast. Their marble pound cake is so good, but unfortunately they were all sold out, so I could only get a slice of the all butter pound cake, which was still good regardless. The cake is moist, fluffy, and buttery without being heavy, too oily, or overly sweet. Next time I will dine in to try their breakfast/brunch offerings, which looked amazing and I'm sure are very popular due to the full house of customers that I saw when stopping by. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This breakfast place is a real experience. Just in case you aren't aware, they invented the American breakfast as we know it. You need to go for that reason alone. Second reason: the coffee. It's just plain black diner-style coffee, but it's amazing. Third reason: the Bennie's. Their eggs Benedict is perhaps the best I've ever had. Perfect hollandaise. Fourth: the Malt Belgian Waffles. Go. Just go. Now. P.S. - our waiter was really funny and fast. read more

Great spot for breakfast or lunch. My wife and I stopped in with my little one for some much needed pancakes and eggs and were promptly seated and greeted with warm smiles. Of course the food came out quick and plentiful. I local neighborhood poor guy came in causing issues and the manager handled it as quickly and appropriately as possible. They really were professional with situation and looked out for the safety of their customers. Even covered our tabs and were over apologetic about everything. We will be back! Left my wallet in the rush and they even got a hold of my job to get me back to grab it before they closed. Stand out group of folks! read more

Oh, wow! If you are close to Union Station or just want some good eats, this IS your breakfast stop! The service was impeccable. The establishment accommodates special dietary needs (I am GF-DF.). It is LOUD, and you may have to aggressively seat yourself. BUT, it is worth it! read more

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Historic diner with great food, unlimited coffee refills, and super friendly and fast service. Very reasonably priced as well. An instant favorite. read more

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I got bacon and their apple and cheese omelette to go this morning. It was phenomenal. The staff was wicked fast and amazing. Mmmmmmmm

While waiting for my next train at union station, Lou Mitchell's cane recommended. As I walked up to Lou's, the line was out the door yet moved along quickly. The manager promptly seated me at the counter where I was greeted by a veteran waitress whose service was so good I tipped her graciously. The food is served hot and in sizable portions. The chili was so delicious, especially on such a cold day, I asked for a second cup. The ambiance was ideal and welcoming, clearly this is where most any of the locals go for their lunch or breakfast. I left with a smile on my face and thanked the train attendant for recommending. If I lived or worked close by I'd no doubt frequent Lou Mitchell's enough to become a regular. read more

Looked up online where we can eat breakfast in down Chicago, Lou Mitchell's came up with good reviews. The facade reminds me of a diner from a movie. I'm a big fan of their melt away pancake. Imagine eating 3 pcs of this per order with unlimited spread of whipped butter and maple syrup. Coffee tasted like medium roast, unlimited refill. Ordered the smoked salmon plate with bagel and hash. Sprinkled a little bit of salt and was able to empty the plate shared with my hubby. The scrambled eggs was perfectly cooked country style. Paired with toasted white bread and hash, sounds like we are already full. Two of us, spent about $50 plus tip. Food was good. See a lot of happy faces enjoying breakfast with family and friends. Yes! We had a slice of orange and donut hole as starter ;-) read more

Banana pancakes were awesome. The chicken sausage was delicious. Eggs cooked perfectly. My wife and I love diners and this one was perfect. Service was excellent and the ambiance was old fashioned and we absolutely loved it. read more

We had bacon Belgium waffles, very good. Everything comes with a donut hole and orange slice. Very good service, downtown prices but not too bad. read more

A Chicago landmark and for good reason. It definitely has a New Jersey diner type vibe. It is small, busy, and dated, but that just adds to retro experience. I had what may be the best burger, best French fries, and best cup of coffee I have ever had. On top of that, the staff was genuinely nice, which made the experience even better. They are open for breakfast and lunch, and I am told it gets quite busy on weekends, but so worth the wait. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The portions were huge! This place is so cool. Felt like an old city diner. They sell pastries, their coffee bagged, t -shirts, and other things too! Love a good souvenir, lol. They have everything on table upon you being sat which was super convenient. Ketchup, hot sauce, cream, butters, jelly, etc. all on table. Great- I don't have to ask anyone or hunt down a server! I didn't try the coffee but it did smell delicious. I had a one egg with bacon served in a skillet with potatoes. It was good! The bacon was tasty not overly done, potatoes were good just needed some S&P, and the eggs were cooked perfect. I will definitely come back and try an omelet next time. They had booths or tables, even a bar top for singles. The wait staff was phenomenal! They were all genuinely happy to be there, helping other staff, smiling, it definitely gave a good vibe! You pay at the front - not the server. They take cash and cards. You can tip on the credit cards- just let them know ahead of time. You can purchase any other goodies while you are checking out. Huge menu with lots of selections! Kid friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not to be dramatic, but they gave me the most perfect eggs benedict that I've ever had. Large portions and attentive service even on a busy Sunday brunch rush. I've heard that they have good pastrami sandwiches as well, but we got the breakfast. Malt pancakes are delicious, I enjoyed the breakfast sausage, and the general speediness of service was great. I remember I've been to another location in the past and they both have been great. read more

Visited this spot for brunch during my 3 days travel here with my girlfriend. An acquaintance studied at UChicago and recommended this place. Love the ambience but we did alfresco dining and didn't get to experience dining in the old home style diner. Food was average but portions are huge and kept us full for a long time. read more

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Really good straight forward American breakfast. Went with 5 friends on a Sunday around 10am. Jam packed but they get folks in and out quickly. Hostess, waitstaff and bussers were all friendly and helpful. Place was clean and parking is simple on the weekends. Currently celebrating their 100th anniversary. read more

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Pretty darn good! I would that we highly recommend the egg sandwich!!!! Very hefty and fulfilling, the melt away pancakes BOMB, my partner got the thick grilled French toast which was also great! The service was amazing , was welcomed in and seated immediately with complementary sweet fry bread balls. They were very kind , we told them it was our first time there and they made many suggestions, they accidentally gave me sausage instead of bacon, thank goodness I caught it before eating, but they were super super nice about correcting it. I highly recommend this breakfast spot, it has a great environment to offer , amazing service , and some damn good food! read more

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Came here for brunch on a Sunday at noon with 2 of my friends. Got sat in around 10 minutes. I ordered the French toast special which had bananas, strawberries, coconut flakes, and powdered sugar. Solid French toast, generous portions, but nothing extraordinary. Servers were so attentive and kind. Come here for a down home, friendly diner experience. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Grilled Thick French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really enjoyed this time here. I sat at the counter and was seated right away. It was a little tight and there wasn't much of a scenery to look at, so ambiance was just above average. Florentine Eggs Benedict was very good and the hash brown potatoes are delish and crispy! The coffee was a bit overrated. Nothing special. It's nice that they give you an orange wedge and donut hole before you get your order. Service was nice; server was sweet, but very busy! Still managed a sub 10 min ticket time. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best old school diner in the city! The most friendly staff and great food. Been around for over 100 years! read more

Lou Mitchell's - Belgian Malted Pecan Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've always wanted to try the legendary Lou Mitchell's and finally had my chance . My fiancé and I took family visiting for the weekend - overall we were happy we stopped in! We arrived around 9 and we were seated right away. The restaurant has old school diner vibes and a ton of seating. We ordered and quickly received our meals. I ordered the corn beef hash that came with a hearty amount of eggs, potatoes and toast (the orange marmalade is delicious) . The food was good and everyone was left satisfied. The staff is friendly and quick to refill your coffees and clear the tables. Lou Mitchell's is worth the visit and a must when in downtown Chicago! read more

The egg sandwich was such a disappointment-you'll get a better, cheaper breakfast sandwich from Dunkin' a couple doors down. And, ordering to-go was no fun. Gruff, grumpy staff. Boring, expensive food. Really expected better from a place that seems so proud of its history and longevity. Should've been way better. read more

Lou Mitchell's is truly a Chicago institution, it's been there for decades and serves what I would describe as diner food - burgers, meatloaf, steak sandwiches, hearty breakfasts, etc. I do like the location, just west of Willis tower on Jackson, just west of the river - you can talk an nice walk after a heavy meal. They provide free milk duds before your meal and there's outdoor seating. I made a reservation the last time, for 7 people but they weren't ready. All is forgiven though because the lady was genuinely apologetic. I'll continue to come back for more, it's a great experience coming to this old school place. Heck, this place isn't just a Chicago institution, it's a slice of Americana. read more

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I was on vacation with a friend where we flew into Chicago pretty early. While waiting for my brother he suggested breakfast here. I loved the place, it was an old school style diner and deli. The staff were very attentive, especially about the coffee. They were always trying to top off our coffee. I ordered a delicious belgium waffle. I highly suggest this spot if you're visiting downtown! read more

When we read about this historical breakfast spot in Chicago and knew we had to check it out. The walk was about 15 minutes from our hotel, and we left fairly early so the air was brisk and traffic had not picked up yet. On the outside, the place looks kind of like a dive. On the inside, it also still kind of looks like a dive haha. It's really your typical nostalgic diner from the 1920s, so not a lot has changed in the bones of this place. Since we got there early and sat at the bar, we did not have a wait. I grabbed a Chicago trivia card off the wall before we headed to our seats. It took a minute to get our order in, and the waitress was a bit busy. The place was elbow to elbow, so I would assess it's safe to say they are not concerned about spreading anything. The house coffee is pretty good, if a little on the stronger side. I got an omelette with spinach, cheese, and ham and the spinach was done so well - maybe better than I've had in an omelette before. I do not know what the potato has done to Chicago, though, because I couldn't find good home fries or hash browns the whole time I was there. Those potato chips were a tragedy - some hard like chips, some soft and wobbly...no. My daughter got the French toast and ended up not liking the bread used. Make sure you evaluate the type of bread if you're a French toast person. The fruit was nice and fresh, and you got plenty (I think it's an additional charge). When we were leaving, a male came up to clean the table and asked if we needed a box. I told him we were from out of town and he made some comment about waste. I definitely do not usually waste food, but as I said my daughter didn't like it, and we weren't home near our farm where I could give it to the pigs. This low key kind of made me angry, but I just let it go. The walk back was nice again - we checked out union station. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Chicago Fact Card - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was delicious: Florentine Benedict and Silver Dollar Pancakes after an orange slice and a sweet cake doughnut hole to start. The restaurant seating is tight yet has a cozy feel. Our server was attentive and friendly. read more

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Classic historic diner with hearty plates and super friendly service. Interior is spacious, but it gets crowded quickly on the weekend! They give you a homemade donut hole (delicious!) and orange slice as soon as you're seated to eat while you peruse the menu. I will admit I came here dehydrated and hungover so it was great seeing all the decadent carbohydrate/egg/meat heavy menu items. I got the Greek sausage omelet which comes with toast (choice of white, wheat, or dark rye) and hash brown potatoes. The omelet was well cooked and the sausage was flavorful. Potatoes were good, especially the parts that got crispy. I did feel like adding Cholula hot sauce (provided at the table, along with Tabasco and ketchup) was very helpful for boosting the flavor of the omelet and potatoes, which were a bit bland/one note on their own but amazing with the hot sauce. Also, the day I came there was a man playing the bagpipes (in the spirit of st Patrick's day?) which was incredible I'll definitely be back at Lou Mitchell's when in need of a good hearty breakfast! Menu items I want to try: corned beef hash, pancakes, eggs Benedict... the list goes on read more

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Good local breakfast, been open for over 100 years. Great staff and good food. Very large plates so you definitely get the bang for your buck. Usually very busy and hard to get in but recommend trying it when you can. Ask for a donut hole and orange slice with your coffee. Their donuts and bread are freshly made daily. Not open on Mon/Tues. read more

When my husband and I arrived in Chicago, my friends were picking us up at the train station and offered to bring lunch from Lou Mitchell's. I looked at the menu and asked for their open faced tuna plain and my husband asked for the Club plain (plain = sandwich only). When we made it back to their place so that we could eat, I was so hungry that I ate my sandwich before I could take a picture of it! It was so good on their bread with a nice slice of melted cheese. The club looked really good with all the layers of toast, meat and cheese! My husband enjoyed his club sandwich and said it was simple and just want a club sandwich should be. Next time we are in town, I would like to go dine-in and order another meal and probably a slice of pie...but the sandwich I had was just what I needed. read more

This place had so much character and great people, but I must admit I was pretty disappointed with all the food. Pancakes were really just okay and seemed pricey overall. read more

I have ordered breakfast items from here for work events a few times have always enjoyed it. Now I finally got the chance to eat inside. We had such a warm welcome from Donna, a long time energetic waitress. She took us to our table where Chad, our server, had gotten our drinks and meal for us. I had the Greek Sausage Special omelette. It came with potatoes and toast. It was the perfect hearty meal. I was disappointed that we didn't get our orange and donut hole, but it's ok. I would still come back and recommend. It's such an iconic place to be here for 98 years! read more

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I've made quite a few visits to Lou Mitchell's because I live right around the corner. Lou Mitchell's is my go to place when I want comfort food. It's nothing fancy, but it hits the spot every time. As long as I avoid rush times on weekend, I can usually get seated and served quickly so I can make it back to school in time for my next class. Chad is a great server and is always efficient, friendly, and courteous. The food comes out quickly and is always made correctly. Their pancakes are great if you're in the mood for something sweet. For savory dishes, you can't go wrong with an order of eggs, bacon, and Greek toast! If you are dining in on the weekends, get there early and be prepared with patience. It's a popular spot for breakfast even on the weekdays because of its location near Union Station, but it is extra busy on weekends when everyone is out and about for breakfast. I'll certainly be back to Lou Mitchell's in the future! read more

I went to Chicago for a day trip on Mother's Day. I did my research and came across this amazing gem and decided to go for breakfast. I ordered the Vegetarian Omelette as a Hobo Skillet, which includes their hash brown potatoes. Their omelettes are soooooo fluffy! The portions were great. My daughter's Mitchell Mouse pancakes were soo cute. It was filling and she couldn't finish it. The restaurant was crowded and the atmosphere had tables and booths. The customer service was great even though everyone was busy. It's fast paced. An extra treat was that the hostess was celebrating her 95th birthday!!! That was such a beautiful addition to the experience. read more

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Very good food! Great ambiance! And really good service. This is an iconic restaurant, the very start of Route 66. It is regularly featured on tv shows and there is always a little wait on the weekends. read more

This place is great so I hate leaving it a bad review but I feel like I don't have much of a choice. I like to think I'm easy going about food and can find something to eat on any menu - except when they fail to mention that EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN PEANUT OIL - other than in small-ish script on the top right of their menu. I don't think a peanut allergy is that rare in this day and age and if you're a peanut forward institution you NEED to put up a big sign to avoid the drama of seating someone, getting their drinks, and then the back and forth of someone having to waste time asking, "Is there anything that would be safe to eat?" And yes, I know, refined peanut oil shouldn't cause allergic symptoms for the majority of people, but I'm the lucky few that does still experience symptoms. But more than that - a lot of people with an allergy aren't going to mess with the thing they're allergic to in any form, even if it only causes mild symptoms. So, yea, the food looked great and the people I was with said it was delicious. The ambiance was perfect. Prices were good. Service was great. read more

The food was delicious and the staff was wonderful even with a packed restaurant. We had a five and six year old with us and it turned out one order of pancakes was done before all the other food was ready. Since both kids ordered the same thing the waitress was wise enough to split the completed order between the boys so they could start eating and then brought out the second portion of their meals when our meals were ready. This was brilliant!!! The kids were super hungry and this avoided a hangry situation that could have happened with more waiting. The portions were huge and we all left with full bellies. read more

Classic American Diner Breakfast! A great place for brunch in the area. Anticipate a decent line if you come on a weekend. Came at 11AM on a Saturday and just beat the line (at least 25 people lined up after us!). Service: 5/5, very sweet and fast. Ambience: 4.5/5, classic diner but does get packed on the weekend. Food: 4/5, we ordered: 1) Meltaway Pancakes (4/5): Three huge pancakes that are fluffy and soft, but not mindblowing. 2) Greek Feta Cheese Omelette (4.5/5): Huge serving size. The eggs are amazingly fluffy and the feta is nice salty addition. Served with potatoes (that could use a lil more seasoning) and two slices of toast. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Top left: meltaway pancakes (4/5) Top right: greek feta cheese omelette (4.5/5) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So glad I got to try this spot out during my Chicago visit! Definitely come a little early because they pack out pretty quick. Portions were huge, the eggs were so fluffy, steak so juicy. Staff were wonderful even while balancing tons of of hungry customers. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Donut or orange slice. Which would you eat first? A short walk from #unionstationchicago, sits Lou Mitchell's restaurant. A longtime local restaurant that offers takeout and catering. Come hungry because the portions are plentiful and the food is delish. I was greeted with a smile, an orange wedge, and donut slice. I didn't know which to eat first. But as I not into the donut, I was surprised to find It was soft and fresh which made me happy with my choice. I ordered the Norwegian Salmon & Onion omelette. It was adorned with crispy potatoes. I usually don't eat potatoes for breakfast to save on calories & carbs, but at Lou Mitchell's I could not resist. Before my meal, I was offered fresh hot coffee first. Then a donut slice, and an orange wedge in the same bowl. I couldn't decide which to eat but closed my eyes and at the donut first. Which would you eat first? Let me know. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Salmon and onion omelette. Light and filling. Norwegian Smoked Salmon & Onion Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When you first enter, you get all the vibes of a old school diner. The place is also decked out in Chicago bears flags & gear. We were welcomed in right away and sat down pretty quickly on this Friday afternoon. Our waitress Virginia was lovely & very personable. I had the special of the day French toast--SUPER filling, fluffy, & delicious. My boyfriend enjoyed the waffle a lot but thought the chicken could have used a little more flavor (it was crispy though!) Overall, we really enjoyed this place's service & food. Will visit again when we come back to town! read more

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One of the historical places in Chicago to eat breakfast. If you are hungry, you should definitely come by here. The portions are huge and you will leave here stuffed. I ordered the two eggs and sausage. The eggs were cooked to my desire and comes with toast with butter. One thing that everyone gets is a slice of orange with a date? Ordered a pancake and it was fluffy and huge. I couldn't finish my meal and I normally have a big appetite. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Eggs and sausage with a pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois