Lou Mitchell's: User Reviews

Nice breakfast near the Loop
By elementary1234 from River North, February 17, 2009

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The service was this spot's highlight...from the complimentary doughnut holes while we waited an extra 5 minutes for a booth to the multiple servers filling our coffee cups. the breakfast was very good, but so are a lot of chicago restaurants'. LM's is definitely worth a try.

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Don't believe the hype
By ChicagoKid83 from West Suburbs, January 22, 2009

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I had eaten at Lou Mitchell's a while back and I have to say, it was a great meal with great service. But in the last month I have eaten there twice (believe me, the second time was not my choice) and it was just pitiful. First off, before you even go, know that they do not take credit cards. Apparently they love living in the stone age, and are very rude when you whip out your credit card too. We had a table of two both times, and both times our waitress literally was walking away during the middle of my order. I said "may I please have the club." She walks away. "Excuse me! Can I get it with fries." She walks away. "Excuse me! Can I have an iced tea please?" Needless to say when we got our food, the club was wrong, no fries, and she gave me a diet coke. The club was a glorified stack of bread with one piece of meat between each piece of bread. All in total for my sandwich, my girlfriend's omelette, and two wrong drinks (which of course we never got refilled since our waitress took off both times and literally never came back) was about $30. Both times I had to walk up to the front to ask for our bill after waiting for 15-20 minutes with a cleared table since apparently the busboys are the only people who work in this place. I will never go there again. And to the reviewer who said "it's a diner, you go for the fast-paced ambiance and greasy food," well, the place was empty, it was 1:30 in the afternoon, and for what I paid, we could have eaten at a much better diner. Skip it.

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Best breakfast in Chicago!
By hallbrp from Chicago , June 23, 2008

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I found this breakfast place through http://www.sneakysunday.com and it was the BEST recommendation i have ever received!

The food was worth the wait and the friendly down to earth service was refreshing. I suggest this place to anyone living in Chicago or tourists.

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busy Saturday morning worth the wait
By mk from Old Town Gold Coast, June 15, 2008

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Took some out-of-town guests because of the iconic Route 66 significance and name recognition. plus we were going to antique market in the neighborhood Take change for the meters for street parking. Waiting in line is fun because you can talk to the people who are both locals and out-of-towners. Doughnut holes are good but don't fill up on them. Three of us shared 1 order pancakes and 1 order omelette. The omelette was the best I have had in Chicago. I didn't have the coffee but my guests did and they said it was great. It is somewhat loud and some of the tables are communal Bathrooms are down a very tight staircase (keep this in mind if there are older people in your party) and limited so leave your table in advance because there is potential to have to wait in line here too. I would return with or without out-of town guests.

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Quirky, brisk, friendly service has descended to rude badgering
By dairyfarmer from south loop, January 12, 2008

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I've been going to Lou M's for fun and for business meals over 25 years..have loved its bustle and friendliness despite its strong emphasis on turning tables quickly, esp. on workdays. This morning, however, my friend and I were treated to unbelievably rude service. We were hustled to give our order (that's fine) but 10 minutes after we received our breakfast we started receiving the non-stop rush (at least 5 or 6 times over the following 20 minutes the waitress or the hostess came to our table to remind us that a check was on the table, and, in various visits thereafter turning it right side up for us, then taking our orange slices, then taking our water, then asking us to leave so that they could change the light fixture above the table. How we could have been badgered so much over a total time of 40 minutes is beyond me. There was no line waiting to be seated; we weren't being disruptive. Neither I nor my friend will ever go back and will tell everyone we know not to go there anymore. Something has gone very, very wrong there. Yuck.

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Average - Nothing too special, just diner food
By ChicagoFanBoy from Chicago, January 8, 2008

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Everything about this restaraunt was average. Nothing made it really stand out from any other typical diner. I got pancakes and hash browns - both were OK, but nothing spectacular. If you are in the neighborhood and are looking for some diner-style food, this place is fine. I would not recommend making going out of your way to go here.

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I just ate at this...
By Chef Poutso from Chicago, IL, September 1, 2007

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I just ate at this so called "Best" breakfast joint and I have one word for it, Pittiful. Everything from the food to the very rude server was pittiful. The host was as rude when I approached her asking where my food is after I ordered it 1 hour ago. Never will go back.

This place is completely overrated....
By west loop from Chicago, IL, August 5, 2007

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This place is completely overrated. The food is mediocre at best, the service is horrible and it is so loud in there you can't even carry on a conversation. I left breakfast with a headache - don't waste your time going there.

This place is a has-been...
By John from Chicago, IL, January 30, 2007

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This place is a has-been and they're running on fumes of yester-year's glory.

The food is awful, the staff rude and the place is dirty. Its a legend of years past but its gone downhill. If they keep up their current service they'll be out of business in a couple years.

Save your time and money and go somewhere else!

Lou Mitchell's is going down...
By Frequent Diner from Chicago, IL, October 30, 2006

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Lou Mitchell's is going down FAST. The food is still basically good, but the service is suffering, many of the long-time waitresses are gone, and the hostess has to go.... too bad. We used to love Lou's and went there at least four times a week. No more.