“The Chicago Diner is just how we remembered it. [My husband] and I used to come when you first opened, 25 years ago…we ate there with our two children on the patio, eating tofu hot dogs and sipping soda.
Last Saturday, we dropped in for lunch with our grown daughter and her boyfriend. We were pleasantly surprised at the liquor menu. We ordered a bottle of Vouvray. It was fantastic. I had the veg lasagna, something usually not found at restaurants we frequent here in Crystal Lake. My husband had the shepherd’s pie, my daughter had the harmony breakfast, and her boyfriend had a black bean burger. My daughter also ordered a peanut butter shake to die for. It was the most delicious shake she has ever had. All our entrees were fantasticly prepared and tasted super! We even ordered a dessert, black forest cheesecake.
Thank you for such great veggie food, keep up the restaurant, booths, hanging plants, and all.” - Mary P
“I decided to do carryout from The Chicago Diner for Thanksgiving. What a pleasant experience that was. Not only did I get a deliciously tasting dinner which included 2 servings of “turkey” with gravy but also 5 sides. They consisted of yams, stuffing, cranberry relish, green beans and red potatoes. What made this even more enjoyable was when I picked up my dinner, I was given a free Chicago Diner tote bag, a $10.00 gift card with extra coupons and a free copy of the Vegetarian Journal.
I am thankful that places like The Chicago Diner exist. When I became a vegetarian over 35 years ago, I was considered somewhat of a freak when I went to ordinary restaurants. Wait staff would look at me in shock for not wanting meat. Even family members were embarrassed when it came time for me to order. When The Chicago Diner opened, I was in heaven. Here was a place where I could order meals without having to worry about having a menu full of meat. I have never been disappointed with anything that they offered. The food surpasses Chicago’s most notable restaurants in terms of cuisine. It has by far the healthiest, best tasting food that I have ever eaten.
For anyone that is vegetarian/vegan, The Chicago Diner is your place to eat.” -mtp51053 happycow.net
“Chicago Diner came highly recommended by some vegetarian locals so I gladly took their recommendation to heart. The menu is over-the-top impressive and you’ll have a hard time narrowing down your choices as absolutely anything you can imagine having as a food craving is present on the menu in vegetarian format: shepherd’s pie, macaroni & cheese, chicken wings, burgers, etc.
The kitchen will make accommodations for dairy-free, egg-free diets if you ask. They also sell a Chicago Diner cookbook, which I’m assuming has recipes from the menu in its pages. All of the servers are stylin’, super cute and eager to recommend their favourite menu items. Great experience and I’d gladly return!” -Kat F
“I fell in love with this restaurant the first time I came here, in December. I have been back at least 5 times since then. Its hard to find a Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant, let alone one that is delicious. The food comes out fast, the staff is completely helpful and attentive. I’ve never waited long for a table either. Love Love this place!” -Beth B
“Heaven thy name is Chicago Diner. So much good vegan food here. Cute [expletive] ambiance. Great service from pretty attractive employees (I like me some eye candy). And affordable corking fee for 6-packs of beer. Ahhh, life is good.” - Brian G
“The atmosphere was welcoming and warm as always…the waitstaff is just so genuine and friendly, even when the place is jammed….I’ve been veg for 12 years now…when I first discovered the Diner the experience made me feel proud to be veggie.”-Tambra K
“The Best Place in the World!…I had the most terrific meal of my life. The staff was so genuinely nice and very attentive. The food was absolutely amazing. I can honestly say it made me euphoric. I was so energized after my meal that I walked the whole way back to my hotel (the Drake) in heels, no less. I am seriously contemplating coming back to Chicago, for the express purpose of eating at the The Chicago Diner again.” -Michelle S
“I thought it was weird that a non-vegetarian friend of mine insisted we go to this place for brunch but now i fully understand why. This place is a delicious vegan mecca with everything good. ” -Always Right C.
“I just wanted to tell you that my husband and I love Chicago Diner so much we actually got married there last Tuesday. It was so small and quiet I’m sure the waitstaff wasn’t even aware what was happening, but we ate breakfast and then tied the knot. The bride had green eggs and “ham” & the groom had the dagwood (which we both LOVE, by the way.) Anyway, thanks for being so tastey and so baby-friendly!”
-Natalie, Pictures are posted at http://www.dropshots.com/mooshmoosh
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
i was at the diner yesterday and had a terrific server! he was super friendly and attentive. when he accidentally spilled coffee on my hand, he apologized and offered my mom and i a free dessert. what a delicious surprise! thanks for being a great restaurant with fabulous food and lovely service.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
My selection for dinner one night was at a restaurant in Chicago named Chicago Diner. This diner is unlike any other regular old diner because of its unique menu. The menu goes along with the theme and atmosphere of the diner as a whole. This overall theme happens to be vegetarian with vegan options. Not only are the dishes themselves vegetarian, but even the condiments as well as drinks are. There is a wide array of entrees that include breakfast, appetizers, lunch, and dinner, along with desserts. They even offer vegan milkshakes! The ambience also fits accordingly by the diner’s display of animal friendly pictures as well as menus, napkins, and organic sugar packets made out of recycled paper.
Not only is the sugar organic but many of the other ingredients are as well. For my entrée I ordered the Chicken Filet Sandwich which includes a panko-breaded chickin (yes chickin) seitan patty on toasted sourdough, with lettuce, tomato, cumber, and onion. There is an option of either vegan ranch or chipotle sauce but I ordered it with vegan Thousand Island dressing instead. The sandwich comes with a side of your choice so I choose the sweet potato fries. I choose this sandwich and side because I have never tried either one but let me say I am glad I did. The portions are just right and the seasonings are not overbearing. The sandwich tasted just like real chicken with its texture and weight. The fries were delicious in the way that they tasted like regular French fries but were a little sweeter and not as greasy. The sweet potato fries gave a perfect contrast to the tangy chicken with the Thousand Island dressing. With everything you receive, the price of this sandwich is a reasonable $8.99. As a drink I just ordered water but did not leave out dessert. There are a variety of desserts to choose from including some that are made completely raw, meaning there is no cooking involved at all. For dessert I ordered a slice of their cocoa mousse cake which is a deep brown with a lighter brown mouse topping on top. This cake explodes with flavor in every bite and definitely did not disappoint. Ordering any of the deserts at this restaurant is a great way to end your delicious vegetarian or vegan meal.
Along with a great meal is great service. The waiters and waitresses are all very prompt and friendly when taking your order and will accommodate to any specific needs you may have. The restaurant gives off a friendly, welcoming aura due in part to the gracious staff and the rest due to the appetizing food that is served fresh and chemical free. The total value of the meal was reasonable for the amount of food received and is not overly priced at all. Overall this restaurant was a great experience as well as a fantastic meal. While eating at Chicago Diner you know you are eating all natural ingredients which are only beneficial to your body. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and already have. Chicago Diner is a place where you can have a great meal and feel welcome to stay as long as you like. This diner will definitely be receiving many visits from me in the future.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Dawn Ashby, Rescue and Public Liaison Director of Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. proudly recommends to all her vegan and vegetarian friends, “The Chicago Diner”
Our first visit was with a crew who flew in from Seattle and other parts of the world to coordinate the 2008 DDB Chain-Off. Then we kept returning with our family, 2 non-vegetarians, and 3 vegetarians. Everyone loves the Chicago Diner and even the non-vegetarians rave about it!
April 30th, 2009 at 11:35 am
To All at the Chicago Diner,
On Wedesday,April 29, 2009 my significant other and I had lunch at the diner
for the first time.
I had the Philli-Cheese Steak sandwich with Sweet Potatoe fries and a
Blue Sky orange cream soda.
My partner had a garden salad with balsamic dressing and a lemondade.
Our meals were fresh, very delicious and the presentation on the plates
were very appealing.
He raved about the balsamic dressing that is homemade by you as well as
the variety in the salad and the complete freshness of it all.
The lemondade is the best he ever had and the balsamic dressing was
beyond compare.
My philli-cheese sandwich was very tasty and the vegan mozarella on it
was creamy and delicious.
I loved the sweet potatoe fries and my blue sky orange cream soda was
refreshing and the creamy orange flavor was like a dessert.
Speaking of desserts I had the vegan black forest cheese cake.
I was in heaven with that dessert and did not want it to end.
The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and I love the retro decor.
The wait staff was curteous , friendly and very attentive to our needs.
This is a great diner and I will recommend it to my veggie and non
veggie friends alike.
There is something for everyone there.
Peace and Blessings
Marie-Ann Frenden
Hodgkins, Illinois
(near La Grange..a suburb of Chicago)
I will be back again without a doubt!!
PS….It was easy to find and the parking was easy as well.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Marie-Ann Frenden here again,
I forgot to mention that with my Vegan Black Forest Cheesecake I had
a large mug of hot flavorfull fair trade coffee with natural sugar
and soy milk.
The hot robust coffe is the perfect compliment to the Vegan Black Forest
Cheese cake.
How Decadent can we get!!
May 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Nearly a year ago when I was incarcerated up at RTC Great Lakes, I told a vegan shipmate about this place after learning AFI were among the patronage. She was sick of subsisting on corn and hashbrowns and I just like to eat, so we started making the pilgrimage up here on weekends–which with cab fare could be pretty steep, but it was worth it! (I’m sure we were the only diners in summer working whites.) I’m still fantasizing about the portobello caesar wrap and the peanut butter shakes. I’m not vegan yet myself but it would be the easiest thing in the world if I lived in the same ‘hood as the Diner. I just wanted to say thanks for the good times and the great eats!
June 15th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I really *love* this restaurant and am sad that it is in Chicago, far away from my home town of Seattle. Though Seattle has excellent vegetarian restaurants and I’ve eaten delicious veggie foods all over the world, I can say that Chicago Diner is one of the top veggie restaurants I’ve ever been to; even my meat-eating boyfriend has enjoyed eating here and has left feeling full and satisfied. Thanks for making such delicious food!!!
December 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I was visiting Chicago this last weekend from Springfield, IL and my family and I visited The Chicago Diner. I am vegan and have been for almost 2 years and this was my first experience visiting a vegan restaurant….it was AMAZING! Your food was amazing and the desserts were to die for. The food is how I eat as a vegan, I eat what I used to eat in my normal everyday life prevegan but subsitute any animal product with a relative vegan product. I loved that I could go somewhere and have a burger and fries. Your place was amazing and I have been craving it since I got home and trying to plan another trip there just for the food. Thank you so much! By the way the rest of my family is non-vegan and they all enjoyed their food and would like to go back as well.
April 17th, 2010 at 12:28 am
To keep it short and simple, the Chicago Diner is fantastic. There’s a grand amount of vegetarian meals to chose from, stellar service, a lovely atmosphere, and an employee who resembles the handsome Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack so remarkably that I stared at him any time I could see him to try and decipher any outward differences. I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s probably thinner and taller than Justin.
Can’t get better than that!
July 19th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I first heard of The Chicago Diner three years ago, and have wanted to visit ever since. I just made it to Chicago on a trip up from Cincinnati and was so impressed by the awesome food (reuben, milkshake, muffin), amazing (amazing!) service, and funky atmosphere that I will now make it a priority to drive 5+ hours to eat at The Diner every couple of months. Thank you guys so much for being as fantastic as you are!