Onion Roll

The Onion Roll is one of our weekend go to’s. We love it! It has a great neighborhood feel. We enjoy the recently updated atmosphere and the service is always great. Best of all the food is what brings us back especially their lox and bagels.

My father-​in-​law, Harold, is 84 years old and suffers from Alzheimers. He recently moved back to the Chicago area and is staying at a wonderful Alzheimers facility in Oak Park. He has good days and bad days — on a good day he told us he really wanted to find a good deli that would have Lox and Bialys. It is always thrilling when there is something we can do that might make him happy when he is suffering so much daily.
So, it was 5 degrees out but we braved the chill and were thrilled to find a Jewish deli near his home, the Onion Roll. I carried out some Potato Latkes, Lox and half a dozen Bialys. Harold was thrilled. Finally something he was happy about. He asked to go to the deli in person and my husband and I had to say, no repeatedly because it was too cold we could just do carry-​out.
Finally, we get a temperature of 30 degrees and we go to visit him and he says to please take him to the deli I found for lunch. Harold has had a real loss of his mobility recently. He is really weak and unsteady but unstoppable — we are going to go out to the deli for lunch. It took us about 40 minutes to get to the car, it took him 10 minutes just to cross the side walk to get to the door of the Onion Roll, again, Harold will not be detered.
We arrive a few minutes after 3pm and there were still people sitting at the tables. The waitress said we could not be seated, the restaurant closes at 3, the deli is open until 4.
You have no idea how absolutely cruel it was to deny service to an elderly man like that. Just cruel. He really wanted the sandwich so we carried out Lox and he spent another 10 minutes getting in the car to sit and eat the Lox on his lap in the flipping car.
No one should be treated like that but certainly a man that survived being tortured by Nazis doesnt deserve to be denied service when he struggles to get a bagel and lox at a Jewish deli during their regular business hours.
We don’t have many good days left with Harold and last Saturday could have been one more memory that you took away and we are still not sure why.
We will not be going back to the Onion Roll. I hope and pray that our family will have another day to have a deli experience together.

This place is awesome. A real neighborhood place where people gather for GREAT food. Service is as great as the food. Lena is greatly missed since her passing, but her sister Lisa always give a friendly smile and great service every time someone comes in.
Amy G. Are you sure you were at the correct Onion Roll???

What a disappointment!
Cold uncooked potatoes; old/​cold bacon … At least the eggs were warm (not hot)
Could not let the waitress know as she had about 10 other tables … She basically disappeared after she dropped off our order… The busboy was great ., kept the coffee and water filled
Used to come here a lot years before … Probably stopped coming as food and service was mediocre at best
Too many other diners to go to … Will not be coming back …

Great corned beef and chicken liver sandwich, omelettes, and potato latkes. We took a quart of chicken matzo ball soup home to enjoy later and it was delicious. We enjoyed the no– frills, neighborhood vibe. The service was terrific. With a take out counter featuring bagels, corned beef, and even halvah, the Onion Roll is the real deal for authentic Jewish deli. Highly recommended.

Met up with a bunch of friends and kiddos for a lazy Sunday brunch — what a treat! My wife got the bagel and lox sandwich, which was stacked sky-​high with cream cheese, onion, tomato and freshest lox (I hear they import it from NY, Jewish capital of America). My kids shared a lox plate — which could have fed both of them AND another family. Same bagels, cream cheese and lox (just a lot more of it) — plus lettuce, cucumbers and olives. (The sandwich comes assembled, and the plate is a DIY affair — which is great if you like to customize) I had a dish that I remember from childhood, and have yet to find it in a restaurant — until now: fried matza with egg, smothered in grilled onions and fried bits of kosher salami. What can I say — yumm! Haven’t tried their lunch menu, that’s next on the list. If you want to try some great food, like your Jewish grandma could (or could not) make, check this place out.

My friend and I had a great time dining here. The food was delicious and most of all the staff was super professional and friendly. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND dining here. When you start your day here, you are sure to have a rewarding day.

I used to love this place, and I try hard to stick with local places — but they have a couple of people who work here who just ruin it. Just went for the last time — ordered bagels, and I should have known better while I watched the surly older woman scratch her head, then slather on multiple squirts of hand sanitizer when she saw me looking at her and grab the bagels. (at least she knew to use the sanitizer) There was so much hand sanitizer on the bagels that I threw them away. You cannot use gloves — or buy $ 1 tongs? In my last few visits, I seem to have problems if the older man, or this woman is at the counter — miscounted bagels (always under, never over! So count if you get more than 5 or 6!). Food dropped on the floor and then placed in your bag anyway. I can only stick with «buy local» so far. If it was not for them, I would give the OR a 4 or 5 — the bagels are good.

New management has made minor, but very nice changes to the place, including replacing seating and menus and expanding the offerings very slightly. We come here after church every Sunday since our twins were born and rely on the fast service to get something to eat before they start acting-​up! Fantastic French toast and where else can the husband get regular breakfast while I have a bowl of matzo ball soup?

We’ve been coming to this place for almost thirty years, and we love it. Lena and Lisa, two servers who have been here for a very long time, are terrific and go out of their way to make sure that everything is to your satisfaction. (In fact, were they ever to leave, we’re not sure we’d want to go back, despite the good food.)
The relatively new owners have added several items to the menu that we also like – waffles are very good – but we always seem to come back to the «usuals»: fresh, hand-​sliced lox on a good bagel or eggs or corned beef on rye. This is not a fancy place by any means, but it’s great.

This place is nasty, very unsanitary, couldn’t even order from what I saw, our waitress didn’t come of as if she was happy to be here,(she could have been having a bad day, we all do) either way, a smile goes a long way, she wasn’t unpleasant, but I couldn’t get past the dirty silverware I posted pictures of what was at the table as I sat down, unacceptable, utterly discusting, I would never recommend anyone this restaurant, I don’t care if it was on tv, I will find somewhere else to eat.

Best pastrami and corned beef reuben ever! Maureen (the blonde server) rocks! Very sweet lady that will go out of her way and make you laugh while doing it. Thank you Maureen for granting my weird sandwich request and catering to my short time frame for lunch. I cannot wait to come back and try more of their food and deli.

We walked in to order at the deli counter and customer service was terrible. We’re ordered 2 sandwiches including 1 melt and they were both served cold. The ‘melt’ didn’t have cheese and when we questioned this the woman who took our order said we needed to specify that we wanted cheese… on a melt. Took about 20 min for 2 sandwiches to be made. Sandwiches also ‘come with coleslaw’, which apparently you need to request as well (fyi the ‘side’ of coleslaw is about 1 tablespoon-​worth). Only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because the corned beef itself was delicious.

I ordered the spaceman size corned beef sandwich which actually looked like a toddler size. I was definitely still hungry after. The guy who took my order says the spaceman size was like a sandwich and a half. All lies. When the edges of the bread can touch without my smashing it down, nothing big about it at all. It was delicious but I wanted more More MORE!!!

Loved everything about our first visit to The Onion Roll! Our server was attentive, as was the gentleman busing our table. Frequent refills on our coffee and soda, kept us happy. I ordered a special that they were trying out: lox, cream cheese, and capers served over potato pancakes served with a beautiful salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette. It was absolutely perfect!!! I hope they keep it on the menu because I will be dreaming about it until the next time I have it. I ordered a toasted onion bagel to accompany it because why not? Everyone enjoyed their meals, looking forward to coming back since it’s an easy location for us to get to.

My favorite Oak Park restaurant for over 35 years! Food is always great and the friendly service makes me feel like family! Wonderful people and memories!

This is an Oak Park, IL Gem! I have been coming here for about a year and when I am going to be around the area I always plan to stop in.
Everything is made fresh. Today I had breakfast and everything looked and tasted great. I had nicely sliced Salmon and a delicious onion bagel. Vegetable cream cheese made in house very good.
If you want to start your day right come in and sit down and enjoy good homemade food in a warm apparently newly decorated and comfortable place. Leo and his staff will take care of you.

Soooooo, the Onion Roll is one of those Oak Park staples that has been around for a long time with little competition (Erik’s is a deli, but for a North East Coast guy like myself used to killer corned beef and delicious pastrami … Oak Park has been without much in the way of what I’ve been hankering for since leaving the North East.
Heard that changed ownership so thought I would give the corned beef (the staple of any solid deli) another shot … I am very clad I did.
The corned beef that used to be on the dry side was moist and flavorful; still sliced thinner than I would prefer, but at least packing the flavor one should expect from a deli.
I hear that there are many other improvements including homemade soups. If you have not been in a while, check it out, the new ownership deserves your patronage.

I live a few blocks from the Onion Roll, so I eat here frequently. My favorite day to visit is Tuesday, as I love the split pea soup with croutons. Yummmm! I am also a fan of the egg salad sandwich, any of the deli meat sandwiches, and the matzo ball soup (it will cure even the worst cold!). One of the best things is that the Onion Roll now has added a new machine for making lattes, so I don’t have to go far for my caffeine fix. With the new coffees, they have also added high end teas, and the selection is fabulous for those of us who need to get our zen on in the afternoon!
The staff is efficient and super, super friendly. It makes you feel good about eating locally when you are treated in such a friendly manner. Many of the staff members have been there for YEARS! That is refreshing to see and a treat.
The location is convenient at North and Woodbine, with easy parking in front and around the corner. It is a great choice if going to Wonder Works Children’s Museum (down the street) or if going to any activities at nearby Mann School or Field or Lindberg Parks. This is a great place to meet a friend, dine alone, or take the family! Enjoy!

Oak Park is known for good food. At the corner of North ave and woodbine is a fantastic deli. This place has definitely been around for over 50 years.
Let’s begin with the décor… exposed brick, wood walls and old cash register… just like you are back in the 1950’s. Love!
The food… excellent kosher style EVERYTHING! From corned beef and pastrami to home made matzo ball soup. Bagels are excellent and you have to try their «hand-​sliced-​lox». And top it off with a NY chocolate egg cream served with a pretzel rod! A must try!