Looks are deceiving. The old diner charm
of this Chicago staple leads you expecting a meal of fried
unhealthiness, but the Chicago Diner has been serving vegetarian fare since the
early ‘80s. Arriving on a wintry night, we were unsurprised that the
wait was over an hour. The tens of waiting diners were directed to wait in the heated tent at the back of the restaurant. Rewarded for our wait with tea and scone samples, it was hard to
complain as we perused the menu. While the options at the Chicago Diner are
healthy, they also satisfy fall under the category of comfort food with options ranging from potato skins to nachos to five alarm chili.
Once seated, an hour or so later, we decided to split the avocado tostados and
the gyro, recommended by the waiter. The avocado tostados combined healthy
ingredients to make a hearty meal that could fill any Midwestern diner. But the
standout of the meal was the gyro, a pita bread with sliced seitan with tzatziki sauce. This plain sounding
dish was unbelievably tasty. Previously not a believer in seitan, a wheat based
food referred to as an imitation meat, I was wary to try the dish. But the
seitan was delicious and I have since changed my opinion, now considering it a
food of its own rather than a mere substitute for another ingredient. The
tzatziki sauce was a lightly zesty compliment to this dish.
Although the meal was heartily
tasty, I would be just as happy to go to the Chicago Diner for the dessert
alone. Known for their vegan shakes in flavors from Choc Chip Cookie Dough to
Lucky Leprechaun Mint to Chocolate Peanut Butter, this is an indulgent treat
that can’t be passed. These vegan shakes do not use dairy products, but instead
use beet sugar, real fruit and other natural ingredients to create sweetness. The shakes are deliciously rich, satisfying even the most diehard sweet tooth. I ordered the Lucky
Leprechaun Mint and can say that it satisfied every expectation and more. The
other dessert selections looked worth a try, but you cannot leave the Chicago Diner
without trying one of their infamous shakes.
Chicago Diner: 3411 N. Halstead, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6696
http://www.veggiediner.com/wp/
Mon. –Thurs.: 11a.m. – 10 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. – 11p.m., Sat.
10 a.m. – 11p.m., Sun 10a.m. – 10 p.m.