Salt & Pepper Diner

This joint was great. Was is the operative. Closed. Classic diners in the city are hard to find.

This is a little out of my way but when I am tired of waiting 45 minutes and paying $ 15 for a weekend breakfast in wicker park I head here.
Omlettes are real good and the portions will definitely fill you up. I also enjoy the burgers and fries here.
The wait staff seems to have been there a while and all are friendly and fast.
Place to go if you want a sold meal for under $ 10.

Not many complaints. Then again, I’m easy to please during brunch.
The main reasons we go here:
1. to mix it up
2. it’s close by
3. you can get a side of mini pancakes with your meal
4. They have english muffins as a toast option
That being said, it’s like any diner, but it doesn’t seem too greasy which is nice. Just enough to comfort you, but not too much to leave you immobilized for the day. They also don’t poach their eggs, sadly, so I have to get them ‘sunny-​side’. Oh wellll, a girl can’t have it all.
Just like a diner, there is some counter seating, but it’s mostly booths and tables (but not very many!)
I always forget that they have breakfast sandwiches, so if you go, try them for me! They look awesome!

Awesome. I don’t want you to discover the awesomeness of Salt & Pepper, so don’t go… ha.
I live a few blocks away, and go here frequently for breakfast. I’ve been here once or twice for lunch, too. You really can’t beat it for eggs and hash browns — it’s absolutely delicious, the service is super fast and they actually remember my husband and I (I’d say we’re regulars, but we don’t go every week, so I’m impressed). It’s really ridiculously cheap if you just want eggs and potatoes for breakfast, and still a good price for egg dishes with bacon. I’ve had the pancakes, too, and they’re solid.
Basically, I adore this place for an easy brunch option. It looks busy sometimes because it’s pretty small, and because there’s not much space to stand if you’re waiting — you’re basically right in front of the door. I’ve no idea how the waitresses manage to keep track of who’s next, but they seem to (and people sort of acknowledge who came in first, too), and it’s a pretty fast turnover, so I don’t know that I’ve ever waited more than like 10 minutes. So — if there’s only a few people standing, you’ll get in soon!
I love the atmosphere, too — they definitely consider their customers — they play old school cartoons on weekend mornings on the tvs so the kids have something to watch and the adults can have a conversation in peace. And from the appropriate season — I was there around Halloween and they were Halloween cartoons. Nice touch.
High recommendation. Love this place. And get a chocolate shake, they’re great.

A nice, casual diner food experience. The food was good, the portions were standard, and the price was dirt cheap. Definitely would suggest trying them out on a nice afternoon. Plus, they always have the game on Sundays. Waitress was quite attentive too.
Only complaint? Your average menu split up of burgers, sandwiches, omlets, and other typical breakfast choices. Nothing to really draw your interested attention.

My family came down to DePaul to have lunch with me.
We decided on the Salt and Pepper Dinner. Between the four of us the bill came to 35 $ with out tip.
I had the ultimate burger. Which has a thin layer of sharp cheddar cheese that extends at least 3 inches past the burger bun. The burger was 7 $ which is a good price for the area. The burger was good, but the fries were a bit to greasy.
Our waitress was very nice. She was eating a lollipop (which I found odd). I order my burger with lettuce only. It came back with everything on it. I didn’t complain because I was hungry and like I said it was good.
Overall the Salt and Pepper Dinner was a good fit for lunch at a diner in the DePaul area.

Simple easy (and affordable) place to grab a breakfast/​brunch/​lunch. I’m a fan of the milkshake… although it used to come with a container of extra, I’ll be happy with just the glass if that’s what it’s come to.
Came around brunch-​hour on Friday and it was almost empty; but we had fast helpful service. Pay at the counter when you’re done.

So we wanted a sandwich and a quiet place to talk.
We found one — we found a great one.
The place was pretty quiet for lunch time so we were a little apprehensive — but rock-​star parking convinced us to try it.
Kind of kitschy — faux-​50s diner — plain — no airs — just simple an simple is good.
(There are two paintings on the wall that are striking — I would love to own them — they are a classic dinner in a very primitive style with muted colors.) .
Anyway — service was quick and friendly and on the money — even when this mook from another table yelled at her while she was talking to us. She politely discouraged him and encouraged us and we go the order together.
I got this sandwich which was meat and cheese and tomato and cucumber and all kinds of perfect. Got the tater tots on the side. My buddy — a little more calorie conscious than me — declined the carbs — the server substituted a bowl of soup at no extra charge.
It was a birthday lunch — so we were compelled to order desert.
I got a warmed pecan roll ala mode. She put in a candle they sang (not that embarrassing TGIF crap — just good old «Happy Birthday») and we were able to get our business done after and relax.
The music was all super hits of the 70s — my wheelhouse.
I can’t wait to get back there.

I love diners. I don’t get to eat at many but there’s something special about one done right. This one had it all: greasy diner food, cokes in bottles, the atmosphere, the foot traffic outside. I had a burger with TONS of cheese on it that had been cooked on the grill and then left attached to the little bit that was on the burger. I nice touch as I was in the mood for just that kind of food. My wife had another sandwich and she loved it too.
If you like diner food and are on N. Lincoln, check this one out!

I used to live in this part of town for two years and S&P was my go to place.
1) The best service: my waitresses (Brandy, Shannon, and Dominique) were always great to me. I didnt have money one time and they let me pay the next day when I got my paycheck. That got me to come back. Always kind and always refilling my coffee.
2) Good diner food. Just what you would expect.
3) Cheap Cheap Cheap. College kid eating there on the reg, extremely affordable.
One suggestion: if S&P were open late, like the one in Wrigleyville, I’d be there so much more because of my late night owl-​like tendencies.

If you’re looking for a clean, updated, urban /​modern diner, this is the place for you. The food is OK, it’s just basic breakfast food. The most creative item on their breakfast menu is banana nut french toast. I tried their breakfast burrito which consists of eggs, salsa, sour cream, avocado, and cheese wrapped in a white flour tortilla. There is nothing exciting or unusual about it. My husband got 2 eggs, toast, and hash browns. The eggs were cooked fine, the sausage seemed like cooked frozen patties, and the potatoes weren’t great.
The service wasn’t outstanding or memorable. We won’t be running back anytime soon, if ever.

We went on Easter Sunday with the kids and could not have had a better experience. Great value all around, the food was great and the staff was overly friendly and attentive! Some places having 2 little kids can be an adventure, here it was awesome! My daughter ate all her tater tots and found some Easter eggs too!
Will be back for sure!

My new neighborhood favorite!
My husband and I love visiting restaurants in our neighborhood and this didn’t disappoint.
Their cheezey cheezey burger is fantastic! As a lover of cheese, this takes the cake on cheese burgers. They pile a small like mound of shredded cheese on the griddle, let it melt and then that is what becomes the «cheeze» on the cheeseburger. Yum. Sadly, we have started a campaign to eat healthier so I won’t be having another one of these any time soon, but hopefully someone reading this will! Sweet potato fries are yummy too!
My husband likes to get the omlet’s for brunch so he’s making his way down the list and hasn’t been disaapointed yet. I’m more of a lunch-​brunch type gal so I got the Pile High Club last time and loved it. I got it with a small side salad which was really satisfying too. The Pile High Club was one of the better Club sandwiches I’ve had in a while. Good flavor and lots of turkey on it.
Overall, I recommend this as a good diner with great service. Your water and drinks will never be left empty for long. Don’t be discouraged by the line since it moves fast!

Looking for the most tongue tickling American Sloppy Joe that’s truly sloppy and makes you wished you’d had tucked your napkin under your collar? You’ve found it. I’ve already learnt the rule: the sloppier and dirtier the food, the better. Honestly? I mean it IS the best sloppy joe I have ever tasted in my life. You NEED to try it, then come back on Unilocal and let me know what you thought of it.
Super sized serving size. A very All-​American Dinner, perfect place for casual get together with friends, family or even dates.

I have to agree with many of the previous reviews. This place is pretty good. It’s got that 1950 era diner vibe to it, with chromed out countertops, stools and booths common to this time.
I wish there was a 1950s gas station around here. It just cost me 50 bucks to fill my tank.
Nostalgia goes a long way in this place and the aesthetics of this restaurant is a nice change of pace.
I ordered a pepper and egg and was pleasantly surprised. The portion was smaller than I was used to but it was better tasting and plenty enough to satisfy.
Salt and pepper and is pretty good eats. It’s like going back to the 50s without the prices. But water is still free, came in the glass and out of the faucet — how old-​school.

While walking down the street on a 95 degree Chicago day, I decided that nothing would hit the spot quite like a coffee milkshake.
Until yesterday I didn’t think there was such a thing as a bad milkshake. After all, how could drinking ice cream ever be bad? Unfortunately, the Salt & Pepper Diner’s milkshake does not bring all the boys to the yard… Ice, old coffee, and milk left in a blender for 10 minutes straight does NOT equate a tasty beverage.
In all fairness, it is possible that the food at this place is perfectly acceptable… just don’t order any milkshakes.

I love this place. Been here three times, always for breakfast, and it’s always been great.
First of all, the prices are FANTASTIC. You really get your dollars worth. The six dollar breakfast burrito with hash browns on the side is a perfect sized meal, and always comes fresh, and just spicy enough.
Everyone else at my table of four loved their food as well, and the one bite I had of the corned beef hash sent me to salt heaven.
The waitress REALLY knew her stuff. Quick, fast, accurate, friendly, and on TOP of the coffee. She alone was enough to convince me to give this place 5 stars. I’ve been lucky enough to have the same girl wait on me twice. She always got a 30% tip.
This place isn’t anything fancy, but even if they upped the price 20% I’d still think it was a good deal. I wish I still lived near here, but I’ll make the trip for a breakfast burrito soon, I’m sure.

$ 20 got us 3 vodka lemonades and a yummy bacon grilled cheese with tater tots.
Need I say more?

Great value, quick and professional.
Now Accepting Credit Cards! Yay!
What makes this place shine is the speed and friendliness of the servers. Brandy, Dede, Shannon and Bethenny rock it in there! I don’t know how they juggle so many tables with such skill so fast. It’s kid of amazing to watch.
The food is good and served fast. There is no fresh squeezed OJ, and the tomatoes are typically bad.
But the friendliness of the staff makes up for it.
The price is right to eat here three times a week.
I’ll be parked on a stool in there, see you in there soon.

yum yum yum. the salt and pepper diner is great!
ive only been here twice, despite living in the area for a year… and i think alot of that has to do with the size of the restaurant. boy is it teeny!
super nice staff, good diner-​y food. everyone was super happy with what they ate and the price was extremely reasonable. my personal recommendation is the french toast, though. delicious.
dont waste your time @ clarkes (yuck). s&p=great & greasy, fun & friendly.
just wish they stayed open later!