Those of you fortunate enough to have passed through Talooca, Illinois, during the ‘50s and ‘60s probably remember Lill’s Homesick Diner on Highway 50. The Homesick knew how to feed you real beef burgers (no soybeans), homemade chili, fresh-baked bread, pies and plenty of good, hot coffee. And Lill knew how to treat people right- Eat and get out, that was her motto. The homesick is where I learned the short order business. And while I’m no Lill, I think I’ve made this place something she’d be proud of, So, as Lill always said “If you like what you’re eatin’, order more. If you don’t  there’s the Door.”

Ed Debevic’s, since 1984, has been Chicago’s only retro themed diner. Quirky servers in flashy costumes serve up great burgers, hot dogs, homemade chili, fries with gravy or cheese, huge salads, milkshakes, and  ice cream sundaes with a side order of sass! Don’t expect this diner to be a “Please” and “thankyou, sir” kind of place. The servers pride themselves on snarky remarks and even drop their trays to do choreographed dance numbers on the soda counters!

The menu is deep and cheap with 10 different hamburgers, five chili preparations, four types of hot dogs, a large sandwich selection, and “deluxe plates” such as meat loaf, pot roast, and chicken-fried steak. The place is crawling with kids. Unlike a real 1950s diner, however, Ed’s has a selection of cocktails and wines for their parents.