Looking for a good diner in the suburbs - I'm in Naperville (Chicago: landlords, live)

[rfr69]

Looking for a good diner in the suburbs. I'm in Naperville, don't mind a bit of a drive but just figured I'd say where I'm at as hte less I have to travel the better.

To give you an idea of what I'm looking for White Palace Grill on Canal & Roosevelt is one of my favorites.

Looking for a real diner that has a lot of scratch made food, not some greek restaurant or something that is sorta a diner.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[chet everett]

If you have something against Greek restaurant owners you are kinda limiting your options. There are probably a dozen or more places along Ogden with menus that are heavy on the "eggs any time" theme...

The first place that comes to mind with a non-Greek owner also does not have breakfast -- Chef's Corner: http://www.thechefscorner.com/Menu.html

The folks that started Egg Harbor look pretty WASPy to me, http://eggharborcafe.com/eggstras/about-us/, their Naperville location is nice.

Blueberry Hill's owners don't look too swarthy to me either: http://www.blueberrybreakfastcafe.com/directions.html

I think the Banos brothers are generally associated with a higher end establishment even though they are Greek, maybe that will give you the green light to head to Juicy-O http://www.juicyo.com/menus.html

Portillo's empire includes Honey Jam Cafe -- there is one in Batavia. He is Italian: http://www.portillos.com/assets/menu/HJMenu.pdf

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by chet everett

If you have something against Greek restaurant owners you are kinda limiting your options. There are probably a dozen or more places along Ogden with menus that are heavy on the "eggs any time" theme..

Your missing my point chet. I love the greek family restaurants have nothing against them but I'm looking for a true diner and not a greek breakfast/familyrestaurant.

I'm looking for a true diner. Seeing as how that type of place can be hard to find in the burbs I was anticipating having person after person suggesting some greek family breakfast restaurant and thats not what I'm looking for.

Looking for something somewhat similar to white palace grill but without the drive into the city.

[chet everett]

I guess I'm not following you. I have been to the White Palace on way to / from Soldier Field. It you want a tiny little place with a blue collar dive type feel you might want to head to Lyons:

47th St Grill - Lyons | Urbanspoon

Darcy Lynn Restaurant - Lyons | Urbanspoon

[Chummy Waters]

It's a non starter OP. You're favorite diner is in Chicago and you're trying to recreate that experience in the suburbs. It just doesn't exist. The burbs are dominated by sameness. If you're in the city I recommend Depot American, Mannys deli, Lou Mitchell's and Nookie's.

[chet everett]

Chumster needs to get out more. Each of the places I cited is locally owned, unique and overall too nice to dismiss.

Anybody that has been to those places would be hard pressed to say that Lou Mitchells or Nookies is not in the same pack.

Again, if you are looking for a hard scrapple scene the landlords in the 'burbs are not going to been keen on delivering that...

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I guess I'm not following you. I have been to the White Palace on way to / from Soldier Field. It you want a tiny little place with a blue collar dive type feel you might want to head to Lyons:

47th St Grill - Lyons | Urbanspoon

Darcy Lynn Restaurant - Lyons | Urbanspoon

Thanks for the suggestions Chet, both those sound good although I was surprised 47th st didnt have a single review I could find on the net, Darcy Lynn had a few.

I have nothing against greek restaurant owners the guy who owns white palace is greek and I actually like family restaurants but wanted a true diner and seenig as how there are not a whole lot in the suburbs just wanted to be clear I wanted a real diner and not a family breakfast spot.

Like the feel of a diner but also the pretty diverse menu of choices, mexican, italian, breakfast, etc and also like scratch made food not frozen hash browns, etc.

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by Chummy Waters

It's a non starter OP. You're favorite diner is in Chicago and you're trying to recreate that experience in the suburbs. It just doesn't exist. The burbs are dominated by sameness. If you're in the city I recommend Depot American, Mannys deli, Lou Mitchell's and Nookie's.

Obviously you can't recreate white palace in the burbs but I iamgine there has to be a diner closer than white palace.

I normally hit up white palace at least once or twice a month but figured it would be nice to find a nice little diner a little closer, no fun trying to drive into the city at 530 on a weeknite.

[ToriaT]

There is Egglectic Cafe in Wheaton on Hale. Its a breakfast lunch type of place (it closes at three pm). Its kind of dinerish but won't have the true grit style of the White Palace. It is housed in a building that had an old fashion diner and it was sold to someone else who established the current place. There is also the Seven Dwarfs on Roosevelt in Wheaton and The Verdict on County Farm. These are all independently owned non chain type restaurants. Hard to find a true grit type diner in the suburbs. Most are not open late at night or might have limited hours. Also Colonial Cafe in Naperville, maybe something on Ogden that might fit the bill.

[TempesT68]

Seven dwarfs in wheaton is a good one, also grandma sally's in naperville. That's about as good as it's going to get in that area.