I have loved this place since I was a kid. and I am now 64. The tuna melt is the best in the world! The team there is always friendly and helpful and anyone that I take there always loves the food! read more

Food was good until I found a long gray hair in my hashbrowns...Gross. Next time, there won't be a next time.

Came for breakfast and was not disappointed. Portions are huge and prices are amazing. Service is quick and friendly. We had the hash which is good and lots of it. we asked for the potatoes to be crispy and they were. They are great potatoes. Lots of flavor. They have their own hot sauce which is quite good. We looked at their lunch and dinner items and want to come back to try those another time. You don't find these homey classic places like this anymore unfortunately. So support this place. Come early and often. read more

Just what I was hoping for. A true diner experience. Lovely and attentive staff. Super cheapo prices. In these troubled times, with fake authenticity on display from the White House on down, it's nice to find hardworking immigrants doing the Americana thing simply and honestly and 5x better than the natives. read more

This place is an old style breakfast/diner joint that has great food and seems to have a ton of regulars, which is a great sign for any business. ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 8/10 Nothing impressive here, open grill with bar seating and several booths scattered around. Seats maybe 20-30 people and has that classic diner look. The menu is simple and straightforward. SERVICE: 7/10 Service is fine, the food came out quickly. Please know that this place is cash only so plan accordingly. FOOD: 9/10 Corned Beef & Hash - 9/10 - Classic no thrills or frills, corned beef with hashed potatoes. It was really good, not overwhelmingly salty and something that would make a good Saturday morning brunch regular item. French Toast - 10/10 - Simply fantastic. Their french toast is the best that I have ever had from a food place anywhere. The perfect balance of toast to egg, they have it down pat. This is the best thing on the menu which was a pleasant surprise to me. Pancakes, Omelette, Eggs & Sausage - 7/10 - Average. All of the other standard breakfast flair is basic. Nothing to write home about here. VALUE: 8/10 Food is relatively cheap. But do note, cash only. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 9/10 TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: Yes, go and try it. OVERALL: 8/10 read more

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Evanston staple. Been coming here since I can remember. Always a good hearty meal. Nice neighborhood. Near Main st "L" station.

I love supporting small diners. Sher Main Grill HAD become one of my favs, especially since it's walking distance from my condo. But this past Tuesday I was terribly disappointed by the poor service and the inflated pricing. This was NOT my 1st time eating here and I highly recommended it to my friend. Not only was both our orders wrong. They changed us $56 for a breakfast for 2 people. I have never been to breakfast and paid $56. When my friend tried to talk to the waiter, name will not be included, he VERY quickly got defensive and made statements "You don't want to pay you leave". We both had questions as to the bill especially since I was there a week before ordered the same meal and it was half of what he changed us. Ugh I was so disappointed. He took forever to bring us water, take our orders which were wrong and now he changed us $56 bucks. No Thank You. Again I was terribly disappointed and will NEVER go back. read more

best breakfast in Evanston, the chocolate pancakes are MUST HAVE. The service was impeccable. the atmosphere is welcoming and great anytime of day. read more

What a beautiful dive! Don't change a thing. Tape on the counter stools, handwritten specials hanging on the wall and above average food. This is a great place for a diner breakfast or lunch. read more

Everything I have ordered here has been delicious! Particularly their Omelettes, Rueben Sandwich and Cheeseburgers! The service is great! The ambiance is good as well! read more

This restaurant preserves the traditional yet unique diner experience I gravitated toward decades ago. This diner experience also offers a microcosm of interaction and camaraderie as regulars come to know each other well over time. Here, the blending of good satisfying food and the meanings that develop around it culminate in a need to go back to this restaurant. Anyway, I love this place and highly recommend it to those seeking the truest meaning of comfort and edification. Jesse read more

My current roommate told me about this little gem around the corner from our apartment, and I'm glad she did. I have a soft spot for greasy spoon diners that serve me brunch. My college roommate does to, so she came up to Evanston and we had a brunch date last week here. For $3.95/person, we each had 2 full pieces of toast, one egg of our style choice, and hashbrowns (see photo). It doesn't get much better than that. It was just what I had been craving, and it was easier than going out and buying the ingredients myself. The ambiance is nothing to write home about, but that's to be expected in a diner, and it's what I wanted. A few booths, a counter where there were several people seated, and then my friend and I grabbed a two person table. The waiter was prompt with refilling our water, service was quick but not rushed, and the food was great. I really wish I had been able to get here earlier. I move out of my apartment next week and will be gone all summer and living somewhere else next year. I'm going to try to come back at least once before I go...maybe make my dad and brother come here before/after they help me move my stuff out of my apartment. And my roommate is right. Thus far, these are the best hashbrowns I've had in Evanston. read more

Sher Main Grill - $3.95 = two pieces of toast, hashbrowns, and an egg of your choice (mine is "over hard") - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

2 stars. Kinda unremarkable. Nothing stellar about this joint - AT ALL. Not 'greasy', though. Not as 'cheap' as other reviews might suggest, either. Kinda pricey, actually. Spent $11 for a sub-par omelet, sub-par, sub-cooked hash, a delicious english muffin, and a super-thin, runny, milkshake. I never once saw anyone wash their hands. But, I did see 'Emma', lady at the counter, pick up someones bread with her hands... right after she had taken payment from another customer. Yuck. Don't sit at the bar - you can see into the kitchen. It's worse than Waffle House - and they are open 24/7 - at least I can use that as an excuse. I'm sure other restaurants have greater health infractions, but these I witnessed with my own four eyes! The staff seemed personable enough. But, I don't think I'll go back. Cash only. read more

Sher Main Grill - Sher main omelet with English muffin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This is a hidden gem. It was fun to sit at the counter and have breakfast. I had pancakes and bacon. Both were really good. The short stack of pancakes was a good size and they were nice and fluffy. Bacon was crispy and the coffee was good. My friend had eggs and corned beef hash. And they let him sub pancakes for toast. There was one server working and she did a great job taking care of the whole restaurant. They are cash only so you have to plan for that. But I'll definitely be back. read more

Great food and service! Came in on our way through Evanston and glad we stopped for breakfast. Lovely lady behind the counter who made us feel right at home immediately. Don't miss this wonderful little diner! read more

A staple in my life for over 25 years, this hole-in-the-wall gem delivers exactly what it should: quick, delicious, reasonably priced, grilled food. Nothing has changed in all these years (not even the manager!). Why mess with perfect? read more

Sher Main Grill - Perfect patty melt. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This is a classic greasy spoon. Food is cheap and it comes out fast. No complaints.

If you're looking for a tasty, quick breakfast that is diner not a bougie restaurant - you gotta try this place. The service is fun & attentive...but if you don't wanna talk, that's okay too...they'll leave you alone. This older style breakfast stop is up my alley and my kid loved it too! read more

This is my absolute favorite Evanston breakfast spot. My favorite items to order: the Patty melt, the veggie omelette, and the pancake special with sausage. The service is extremely fast and friendly. If your order comes with toast, you can have pancakes instead of toast at no extra cost. Their pancakes are delicious! It's not super fancy, but it hits the spot and the price is extremely reasonable (like 6 to 8 dollars for a huge plate of food). If you want an authentic diner experience, this is your place. Get ready for old school booths, phosphates, old candy dispensers, and original counter stools. I come here almost every weekend. The one thing you have to remember is that it's cash only. read more

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This place has good breakfast food especially the eggs. The burgers taste good, delicious fries. Fast service. Cash only. read more

Sher Main Grill - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Superfast take out - great food at a reasonable price. When we walked in, everyone was masked, seats were socially distanced. Doing a really nice job with everything. read more

This place reminded me of diners from my childhood with prices to match. What a deal! We came here for breakfast. I had the sausage and eggs and my son had the western omelette, toast, hash browns coffee and a big glass of orange juice. Everything was good, service was fast and friendly and I was charmed. read more

I like this place a lot. As others have mentioned, it is definitely no-frills but the food is consistently good and the service is always friendly. The menu is also surprisingly extensive for a small diner. read more

Excellent rustic hole in the wall. Very unassuming and delicious egg omelette with real eggs and veggies. They actually crack an egg to make the o not pour it from a ready mix. I finally tried the grits and they were so smooth and soft like eating ice cream. I am still impressed read more

4 stars. Kinda remarkable. Nothing bad about this joint - AT ALL. Not 'greasy'. Fairly cheap. $6.25 for a great french toast combo. Emma is a fantastic waitress/lady at the counter. Great person! Plenty of seating at the bar. Don't even think about comparing this to waffle house, this is way better. I'm sure there are other brunch options in Evanston, but these I witnessed this brunch options with my own eight eyes! I'm not from this area so I don't know when I can go back. But, the staff is very personable and I will definitely try to go back when I can! Cash only. read more

The Decour is out of date but the food is wonderful. The service people are extremely friendly

Hole in the wall with a soul. This place kinda reminds me of all those random breakfast places stashed all over Chicago. But in reality, it's an eclectic mix of hispanic dishes and generic diner fare I've not encountered before. Where else can you go where a delicious patty melt on grilled rye costs less than a cheeseburger? And they serve that along with great-looking fajitas and steak quesadillas. That this also seems to be a haunt for a lot of locals, is a good feeling. I was new there, a fact that didn't seem to apply to anybody else already chowing down, or just chatting-up the waitresses. So go in, order a patty-melt deluxe, and enjoy this low-key, unassuming dive with a few friends. read more

Okay, I had 45 minutes to spare before going to Church so they wife and I decided to try this place based on it's good reviews. I have to say it's an awesome traditional greasy spoon with Mexican fare to boot. It appears the ownership and/or menu has added a few new items. My wife had the country style eggs with bacon and toast, she was very pleased. I had a breakfast burrito with chorizo and the waiter offered to kick up the heat and I said, Heck Yeah!! It was delicious, chorizo, eggs, jalapenos, and melted cheese...heaven! The kicker is we both had our fill with plenty of coffee for less the $15. read more

Sher Main Grill - Nice and clean - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I remember when I first moved to Evanston and my boyfriend and I drove past this hole-in-the-wall restaurant, I offered to go eat there and he told me that I wouldn't like it, "It's greasy diner food." Oh contraire! Although we didn't eat there that specific time, we eventually went there for breakfast one morning and now it's become our staple breakfast eatery. Two words: CHEAP and DELICIOUS! And not that greasy! The service is great too. Seems to be family run as the employees are always the same. I have only had breakfast, but their lunch menu looks good too. It's simple diner food, with some Mexican dishes, and a great breakfast selection. I usually get a feta/spinach/tomato omelet which comes with great hash browns and toast. I am very picky about my eggs and I gobble this omelet up! My boyfriend gets the corned beef hash, which also comes with hash browns and toast -- ten thumbs up too! Today they had homemade hot sauce which was excellent and tasted so fresh compared to mass produced bottled hot sauce. One minor annoyance: They don't have fruit. Sometimes I feel like being healthy and want fruit instead of hash browns... alas... no fruit. Tomato slices or cottage cheese only. Nonetheless, I love this place! Note: They only take cash! read more

You certainly don't come here for the decor or ambiance. Shar-Main Grill is the kind of place that time forgot. It is about as nondescript as it gets, both on the outside and the inside. What it does have is character. The place is filled with the most diverse crowd of regulars you could ever imagine and from all walks of life. The menu is very straightforward and expected for a diner/grill establishment with no surprises or things that make you go "Wow, that sounds interesting!" But what it does have is solid, quality food that actually tastes pretty damn good. The pancakes have a sweet vanilla flavor in them that make you want to keep going back for more. The French fries, while slightly soggy, have a very yummy flavor profile to them that also make you want more and more. The coffee is good and strong and the wait staff is very friendly. The bathrooms are a little gross and the place feels like it needs a cleaning and maybe a fresh coat of paint, but overall, it's a solid place to go for a down and dirty breakfast with no muss and no fuss. And sometimes, that's all you really want on a weekend morning. Grab a newspaper, get a coffee, order yourself some grub. enjoy in peace and quiet while your body slowly feels like its becoming human again. read more

This place feels like a real authentic diner. I only wish that it wasn't cash only! But I guess it adds another level of authentic diner feel. I really like their omelets and patty melt, and they even serve old school shakes. Everything is pretty cheap and you get a lot of food, but it's not your hipster kind of diner if that what you are looking for. It's much more of a Saturday morning breakfast/lunch place filled with regulars. Old pictures are scattered all over the walls, and the bar stools look ancient. I like this place, and recommend it, but wouldn't come if you are looking for a nice, fancy brunch place. It's your good old omelets and toast with hash browns. read more

This place is fairly legit. The prices are right on, and they only accept cash. It's in our regular breakfast rotation with Ted's Snack Shop and Golden Olympic. The homemade hot sauce people rave about isn't really very good IMO, but they have others like tapatio. The menu and the staff are very Mexican, which is awesome because I like spice in my food and the meals are hearty. Instead of toast, you can get a muffin or even tortillas, which is pretty cool -- on our visit today I took hashed browns and parts of my omelette and crammed them in tortillas with hot sauce. Instant breakfast tacos, hell yeah! We always order a short stack for our little baby and she loves the pancakes -- so do we -- they're delicious and fluffy. I'd like to try their lunch, but c'mon, any place that does breakfast this well shouldn't even bother with lunch. read more

Let's be clear: the pancakes are merely okay, the bacon is ultra-thin and turns to powder in your mouth, and the coffee is weak, more like coffee-flavored water; so why 4-stars? Because it's utterly charming, that's why. I've only been once, but I can tell nothing's changed for years. This place exists in another time: it was pretty full when I arrived, and I enjoyed people watching, but I only saw one person with a digital device out. If it's in your neighborhood, you could very well be a regular. If it's not, there's probably a better place near you. The short order cooks keep it moving at the griddle, which is visible, and kind of fun to watch. I had my food within a few minutes of ordering, and thought that was pretty fast, but while I was seated at the counter, someone called and put in their order on the way in: that's clearly a pro move. While the coffee was weak, they did keep it coming. Lots of families, but also lots of people eating alone. No music, no bs, just adequate food, served up fast, in a friendly and cozy environment environment. read more

Wow! Definitely a dying breed here, your regular good old greasy spoon. The food is cheap and tasty and the decor is definitely minimal. What a great spot to grab a bite before jumping on L. I think the look of the place might put people off, but I have never been disapointed. Great place for breakfast mostly, often you find the neighborhood cops dining here as well. Just remember to bring cash. read more

This joint is no frills, not fancy (go down the street to Lucky Platter for artsy) and inexpensive greasy food. Probably one of the best places to eat a hangover away without breaking the bank. Living less than a mile from here, this is my go-to-spot when I want some cheap ass breakfast food. What's there to complain about? It's an old joint! read more

Buckle up, you're about to land in a supreme time machine when coming into this joint. We're talking paneling on the walls, greasy seating and decor straight out of your Moms kitchen -- back in 1970! This is a neighborhood place that I've been wanting to try -- and they didn't disappoint. Score zero for decor, but those pancakes helped my belly in a time of need. Oh, and the staff is nice. read more

I ordered a grill cheese and split pea soup. The waitress was very pleasant and accommodating that certainly deserves one star and the other star is the grill cheese was decent, although pricey. Other than that my soup was served ice cold not even warm, absolutely no taste whatsoever. As soon as I tasted a spoonful of it I wanted to throw up! It was gross!! Of course, I returned the bowl of mess back to her because I refused to eat anymore of it. This restaurant is a very old diner, the seat in front of me was ripped badly, it seemed dingy and unkept inside. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place to anyone. read more

I've been enjoying the fare and ambiance at the Sher-Main Grill for over 25 years! When you walk in, it's as if you stepped back into a 1950s Diner. Food is excellent, served hot, to your liking and plenty of it! Wait staff is on top of everything, coffee refills with pleasant smiles. A hidden gem with many regular customers daily. Always an excellent meal for a great price. Come in for breakfast or lunch and you will be back! read more

Not a negative thing to say about this place. Stopped in while doing laundry across the street. Real food, good portions, great customer service. It has an old school diner feel and it's cash only so don't forget to stop by the ATM before you go! read more

We stopped here on a whim, because of the good reviews. They were all very well-deserved! We had omelettes, and they were delicious! Tasted great, and the ingredients were fresh. Service was very nice and prompt. We will be back!!!! read more