This place was amazing. I was full for the entire rest of the day after this meal. Everything was so good that I kept eating long after I was full. All the skillets we got were so tasty. A great environment and the service was great despite being packed inside (coffee continually refilled which was awesome). Keep in mind you have to pay at the front and there's no splitting a check with friends so you'll have to add up your totals afterwards. read more

Sam & George's - The El Presidente - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good place for lunch/brunch. They have a patio. Service is nice. Carried out The Porky Pig and The Combo skillets. Food was hot, fresh and not overcooked. Nicely bagged with all condiments inside. Didn't take pics, demolished lol. Sooo good read more

My dad took me here in between shows at the Athenaeum Theatre. The place is a very, quant diner. We walked in around 5pm and there was no one else there, which was sad during this depressing time. But, the dessert case looked amazing! There was a chocolate cake with green flower design on top and there was chocolate dipped cannolis with pistachios that looked so yummy. Plus they looked perfect for St. Patrick's day! I also like the old pictures on the wall. Gabby, our waitress, was very nice and was very helpful. I had the beef and cheese melt that came with tator tots, Cole slaw, and a bowl of soup. The soup was some sort of chicken and rice soup that was very good. The sandwich had a lot of beef shavings and the bread had a good crunch. It was kind if like an Italian beef sandwich, but on white bread instead of the usual baguette. Everything tasted very good. To drink: I had the hot chocolate. Very rich and creamy. It was topped with whipped cream and green sprinkles. The sprinkles were a nice touch by Gabby for St. Patrick's day! My dad had the turkey rueben, which was huge! Lots of turkey and sauerkraut. The sandwich was served open faced. For sides, he had fries and the lentil soup. Overall, very good food and experience! read more

is your Sunday feeling scary .......... well then this is the place. Not giving this 4 stars b/c it's impeccable quality or unlike other diners but because this is everything you could ask for out of a neighborhood diner experience so it deserves an above average rating. both my friend and I got skillets & there were so many classic brekky options. we were seated immediately on a Sunday morning, service was fast, the feeling was cozy & this was the perfect beginning to my new years eve recovery. if what you're wanting is a tasty (slightly greasy) American breakfast, then COME HERE! read more

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What a great place. Lots of fresh food. Huge portions. Outstanding service. Skillet breakfasts and pancakes for pages and pages.

Stopped in here for a "first date" this afternoon. I was expecting pretty good things based on the reviews and I must report that 5 stars is the correct score for this wonderful, aged establishment. The menu is more than extensive. Probably the most items I've ever seen on a single menu. This usually worries me because of the old "jack of all trades" saying and also it makes me wonder how they keep so many items fresh and delicious? Well have no fear, they're up to the task! Even with all of these options, my date still wanted something else that they didn't list. The server was MORE than accommodating on this and designed a perfect combination meal just for her. Overall, he was an awesome server and very knowledgeable about the menu and the food. My Labamba Skillet was one of the best breakfast items I've had in a LONG time. Perfect combination of chorizo, eggs, and potatoes. It was absolutely delicious! With all of the options and places in Chicago, I am surprised when I find a place that stands out so far from the crowd. I will definitely be back! read more

Oh Sam and George's. You've been a fixture here for so long. A beacon of light which shines continuously , lighting the way for young and old , drunk and sober to enter it's safe threshold. Sorry if I'm getting carried away. You know what? Actually sorry, not sorry. I always hated when people utilize that expression, and here I am, putting it in this review. Now where were we, again? Oh yeah. S and G. So we ate brunch here after choogling around for a bit on a Saturday. They have these skillets, see? They start with the best hash browns known to mankind and put tons of stuff on top of them. We selected the Kevin Ls special. Great coogley moogley, it was good. This is getting to be too long, thus I will summarize. You really should just go here, ok? read more

Sam & George's - The Kevin L's special with poached - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the best breakfast place in Chicago - great food, great people. Have a skillet - they're amazing! My wife loves their soup - all homemade. read more

This has become one of my favorite place for breakfast !! The food here is amazing and the service is great. Even on a busy Saturday they do not disappoint. My favorite breakfast is the meat lover skillet. If you come on a week day you definitely get more meat. But I have no complaint at all even when I order it on a weekend. I've came here with 2-4 people and everyone has always loved the meal they got. My boyfriend got a Rueben sandwich which comes with a soup and side of fries. My friend got a chicken sandwich which also came with a soup and side of fries. Monday - Friday they have half off al drinks and beers. This place is a go to. I recommend everyone to try it! read more

Tasty food, great coffee and awesome service..very attentive and pleasant demeanor. Everything was as expected...very tasty! Had 3 refills of coffee...not my norm but it was good. Fist time here and will definitely come back! read more

Sam & George's - Spinach and feta omelet, side of avocado and sausage patties. Also mom had a breakfast skillet....! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never had a bad meal at S&G's...the skillets are to die for. I usually have leftovers due to generous portions. Plus, the menu has so many options, there's definitely something for everyone. Love the true diner feel. read more

Great Diner Service was every good and the food was really good I had Corned Beef Hash and eggs, cooked perfectly read more

They make you feel like family, cozy environment, good variety on the menu and I've yet to try a bad meal here. Me and my girlfriend love coming here on Sunday mornings. She loves the Greek diner feel read more

Great family owned place to eat. Family enjoyed breakfast of steak (no lie at least 12inch piece & tender)& eggs, French toast and classic 3 eggs & bacon. Carmilo was our waiter and was excellent very attentive and just so sweet thanks for the great service! read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast specials - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a family restaurant run by very caring people. The spirit in this establishment is warm and inviting. Customers are like family here. I feel fortunate to have coincidentally found this place when I was in the area after a canceled workout session with my trainer early in the morning. I had a veggie omelette and coffee. The coffee is so mellow and smooth, not bitter. I didn't need to dress it with cream or sugar, it was smooth and tasteful by itself. I hardly ever drink coffee black, but this one is something different. The owner offered to grind me some to take home. I can wake up to this coffee everyday. Beautiful place, beautiful spirited folks, great food! read more

Sam & George's - Delicious veggie omelette! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I feel sorry for folks who don't have a neighborhood eatery like S&G's. This is that local place where it doesn't take long for Fran & Maria & staff (largely extended family) to greet you by name and wave you over to your favorite booth. The food is all goodness and love -- and they make my mom her favorite eggs Florentine even though it's not strictly on the menu. We go practically every Sunday (9:30 to beat the church crowd!), and vastly prefer S&G's to any of the half dozen other choices in the neighborhood. read more

I live in Lincoln Park, almost in Old Town, and recently I asked my boyfriend on a Saturday if we could venture out of our bubble to a (somewhat) out-of-the-way spot for brunch. He found Sam and George's, and just from the photos I knew I'd love it. I'm super into the unique menu diner spots, and this one blew me out of the water! We drove the 10-15 minutes to Sam and George's from home and easily found paid street parking nearby on a Saturday afternoon. When we walked in, we were greeted by a man counting money at the cash register. I asked, "how are you?" and he said, "miserable," and that's when I knew I was in love with S&G's. We were told we could sit anywhere, since peak Saturday hours had passed, and our waitress told my boyfriend and I we were "so adorable, and so young," which I really got a kick out of (super sorry I don't remember her name, but she had glasses and was SO nice). Each of us ordered a drink. I went for a mimosa, and my boyfriend ordered a Bloody Mary. S&G's menu, like a lot of diner-style establishments, serves breakfast all day. That's great for me, because if it's a Saturday, brunch time is between the hours of 10a-4p as far as I'm concerned! I was hankering for something sweet, so the Belgian Waffle with Banana + powdered sugar + whipped cream sounded almost TOO up my alley. And when it arrived?! FORGET IT. I scarfed that baby down! Maybe it was the mimosa making me feel this way, but our waitress kept gassing my boyfriend and I up, telling us we were adorable together. I was absolutely soaking it up. It made for an adorable afternoon with fabulous food in a great neighborhood. Thank you S&G's for fabulous food, great staff, and a strong, tall mimosa. :) read more

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This is what a neighborhood restaurant should be. I was walking and wanted to get breakfast so I stopped in. Friendly service, no complaints about the eggs and bacon but when I went to pay, I realized I hadn't brought my wallet. No problem. They told me to come back when I had time. No hassle, no issue. Just friends! read more

Insanely friendly service, had one of the platters which was top notch. Waffle was average. Waitress/Hosts were extremely accommodating and great outdoor seating. Highly recommend for a casual brunch spot. read more

I ordered delivery (DoorDash) not long after they open in the morning. The food is sort of passable, but it is nothing to write home about. Side of "Crispy" bacon for $5.30 contained 4! pieces of bacon and were not very crispy. Wow. That's kind of insulting. In fact, the bacon tasted pretty off too. Two Egg Any Style ($9.40) which includes toast, did not come with any packages of butter or jelly. How cheap can they be? Hash browns are included as well and came with no ketchup. (Not that I really like it anyway.) Again, they must be really cheap or inept. Hash browns were also not cooked very well. No salt and pepper included for the eggs or hash browns. No napkins included either. I would think even McDonald's would include these things. This place's packaging is decent though. Would I order again? No. Do I suggest you order? Nope. And I am still hungry... What a waste this place was. read more

I know this joint has been in business for like 60 years but until recently I had never been. Got the chance to go sit at the breakfast bar like 3X before the Pandemic began and I'm glad I did! Huge Diner menu with literally like 20 different varieties of just skillets alone... the menu is like 6 pages and over 300 items. You have to try a skillet.. easily the best I've had anywhere.. trust me here! Service is great and the joint gets packed so I would just come early.. or after Church? Don't come inside wearing headphones or on the phone because they don't put up with any BS here & will ask you to hang up or NOT place an order// Great Old School Diner! read more

Let me preface this review with I love diners and always tried to see the best in them but this place fell so short. When you first arrive: Sam & George's gives the classic diner vibe with ample booths which is a plus. Sam & George's is extremely spacious with tons of seating in the front and in the back room. No matter how busy the restaurant is you will not have to wait too long to be seated. Service: The waitress we had was very pleasant but one waitress was extremely overbearing and made my friend and I feel uncomfortable. Food: I ordered the avocado skillet which is essentially hash browns, avocado, eggs, toast, and four cheeses.After receiving my food I noticed that they gave me a ton of avocado which is typically a great thing but 70% of the avocado they gave me was brown. I decided to remove the brown avocado and place it on a separate place and a waitress that was nearby started questioning me as to why I didn't eat it. She even tried to force brown avocado on my friend that I was with. She obviously wasn't doing it out of malice but she couldn't take the obvious hit that we wanted her to leave us alone. Aside from the brown avocado the entire meal was cold and lacked so much flavor. I was both disappointed and impressed with the food. I was disappointed because everything I order was so basic and left little room to mess it up. I was equally impressed because they found a way to mess up a basic skillet and make me dislike my first diner. Overall: I wouldn't recommend this place unless you are looking for cheap and mediocre food. Breakfast is the easiest meal to make but Sam & George's has a unique way of making it seem so much more complicated. read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Do they still reuse the rolls in the breadbasket? That really grossed me out. Hopefully they stopped doing that.

Cool place with friendly staff and an old school vibe that lasts until you get your bill and realize things just look old but they still cost what you'd pay for a downtown brunch. The menu is extensive and the staff is helpful enough when you need something - it does give you a nostalgic feeling seeing everyone shuffle around the place's interesting yet packed layout, and even if there's a line they get people seated quickly. But when I went about a month before everything broke out, the bill was nowhere near nostalgic and we realIzed we paid a lot for just okay breakfast basics that we could have gotten really anywhere. read more

If you're in the Windy City and you're looking for a local, family owned go-to breakfast diner in Lakeview, then you're in luck! Sam & George's is exactly what you're looking for! They've been around forever and it makes sense why, it's all around awesome! The staff is all super friendly, treating you like family, and the food is always on point. The place fills up pretty quickly on the weekends and these are just two of the reasons why you may have to wait a bit to get a table. When you walk in you'll immediately notice what I'm talking about. You can't miss it! You're pretty much smacked in the face with anything and everything you'd ever expect out of the word "diner." From the family portraits up on the wall to the dessert case filled with homemade pies and all the good smells coming from the kitchen, you can tell this is a special place. They offer an enormous menu but I'll be honest, I always stuck with the breakfast basics. Eggs, toast, and hash browns also known as the prefect cure to your hangover blues. My eggs always came out perfectly cooked (I like mine over medium) and my hash browns were always crispy and golden brown. Just how I like them. They are known for their amazing skillet meals but they are ENORMOUS! I've watched friends attempt to finish them and got nowhere close. Good luck if you give it a try! read more

Where have all the diners gone? Thankfully, I've always been able to count on S&G. Great breakfast and great specials. The service is fantastic. The employees are super friendly and I would call the ambience casual and comfortable. read more

Old school American diner - downtown. Love it. Big portions, unhealthy food, tons of melted cheese and bacon. Just like if you stopped at a diner in small Midwestern town. If you're hung over - you need to go here. Probably the best diner in the city. read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got a skillet it was very filling. The potatoes were so good fresh mushrooms! We drove about 25 minutes to come eat and it did not disappoint my friends got French toast with strawberries loved it and she did say her hash browns were burnt but told the waiter and she took care of it. Great service overall read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Long time patron who knows S&G cooks up some of the best skillets around. Having moved away a few years ago, I was lucky enough to be in the area recently, a big appetite and some spare time on my hands. Had the phenomenal gypsy skillet - came out fast and hot, per usual. Flipping through their menu for the first time in awhile and noticed they have chili. Went ahead and bought a quart of it. My lord - some of the best chili I've ever tasted. Met the owner too, what an awesome person. read more

Perfect night after spot. Really big portions, nice diner atmosphere with a huge menu, everyone can get something here!

Best breakfast in the city. HANDS DOWN. This place reminds me of home. You walk in and feel like you've been going there forever. The owners and managers are super nice to everyone that walks in and they go out of their way to walk around and greet every person that sits down. You feel like you're at a family joint that Uncle Ronnie started and you went all the time bc you get free meals as a kid. The food is just as good as the people. This place is the ultimate breakfast place on Saturday and Sunday. There is a line to get seated every time we go, which is always a good sign. The skillet menu is excellent and their biscuits and gravy are the best I've had in the city. Used to go all the time when I first moved to the city and just started heading back there again. Been about 3-4 times in the last couple months with my brother. The Greek Skillet is my go to. Will keep coming back as long as it's open! read more

I've been coming here for years and I hate to write this review but I guess I have to. Let me start by saying this place has always provided great fresh portions at a slightly higher price but was worth it. I stopped in today and ordered my old stand by, the Joe H special. I requested well done hash and crispy potatoes in my skillet. Let me mention the place was nearly empty which was very odd, this place has always been incredibly busy. The skillet missed the mark with soft potatoes and hash and not much hash, I could barely taste any meat. Let's face it, there is nothing cheaper than corned beef hash from a can so why skimp at these prices. Long and sad story short I paid $50 for two very average skillets and two coffees. Honestly at this price point the public expects so much more and the quality has gone down. I know why they were empty. Compare this menu and pricing to baconneggs on Lincoln Ave. down the street. The nineties are long gone and so is Sam and George's. read more

Sam & George's - Joe Hs Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite Sunday brunch spot! My boyfriend and I are regulars when it comes to popping in here on Sunday morning after a late night. I've never seen a restaurant with more skillets on the menu, which is my favorite! I get to try something new every time. That being said, this also it your typical diner style place, and so expect some greasy hash-browns and sliced cheddar cheese atop your skillet. It's exactly what I want in a breakfast place. read more

Love, love, love the food here! Best breakfast skillets, huge menu, and awesome staff. Never disappointed eating here.

Pricey!!! Lots of choices if you are a skillet person / fun names Otherwise "eh" Who charges extra for different types of toast! $25 for lox and bagel! Food was just okay; service was just okay too We don't need to come back read more

A friend and I came here before a show at the Athaneum Theater and we were pleasantly surprised with the food and the service. We were just kind of walking around looking for a place to eat and chose Sam & George's because it was a nice evening and they had a patio. The service was prompt as there were not a lot of people there and our server was really friendly. We were able to get a bucket of beer outside on the patio which was awesome since we knew the theater alcohol would be really expensive. My tuna melt was exactly as I would expect from a diner and it came with fries and a soup which were delish. They even had a breadbasket for the table! There aren't a lot of diners that do that anymore. My friend opted for the chicken fingers and said they were nice and crispy. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area again looking for a meal before a show. We didn't have to wait around super long to get the check since we had someplace to be and the patio was really enjoyable on a sunny, warm evening. read more

One of my top Breakfast options in Chicago. The skillets are very large and enough to have for breakfast the next day. Biscuits and Gravy are too good not to add in on the side. Sometimes a wait if you go when the church lets out next door but WORTH THE WAIT. read more

I was so surprised by this place! It is a classic Chicago diner on the corner of Southport. I got a skillet and it was so delicious - I highly recommended. We got seated right away and we had really great service (even though we brought Starbucks ) It was a great typical diner feel. Don't be discouraged from the front because the food was great! You also pay up front so you don't have to wait too long to pay like at usual places. read more

What a place! Reading through the menu is comparable to clearing through a small novel. We very much appreciated all the options. Homestyle vibe, attentive servers, delicious coffee. The chicken alphabet soup was very tasty. The rest of the food was decent and came out quickly. read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite breakfast spots on the weekend! The staff is very welcoming and very quick! A decent sized mom and pop shop! They have cozy booth seats when you first enter the restaurant and in the back is more tables for small groups or couples. I'm obsessed with their skillets! You honestly can't go wrong with anyone you choose. My top 3 would be "Joe h special, the panhandler, and el presidents." Joe h special- consist of corned beef, green peppers (I usually switch for broccoli), sautéed onions and tomatoes with mix of cheeses on top of hash browns with egg your way and your choice of toast or pancake for 12.95. You can't beat that?! It's very flavorful, and has nice crunch from the hash browns. You will be full from this, I usually have leftovers. The panhandler is a go to if you want steak, eggs, and sautéed onions! If you are feeling frisky and want some heat, go for the el presidente- this has ground beef, jalapeño, and sautéed onions with the usual blended cheeses, hash browns and choice of egg, plus toast/pancake! You definitely get your "bang for your buck" here! Plus they serve alcohol so your traditional mimosa or blood Mary if you are feeling that brunch atmosphere! read more