I go to this diner every week. It has great food for breakfast and lunch, plus a fun, family atmosphere.

More places should be like Fred's. Went for breakfast and was seated right away. The waitresses had a great sense of humor and greeted anyone who came through the door. This place feels like an old school dinner where everyone knows everyone and they are all friends. Was a great atmosphere. Food was made to order and came out quick! Def going to go back! read more

Love it here. The girls are awesome. They love to give you a hard time, but are very sweet. Cash only. The country fried steak is my favorite! Oh... and YES get onions on your potatoes! read more

This is THE perfect breakfast diner !! A bit loud, a bit crowded, super friendly wait staff, but best of all - good food. Food came fast and really can't wait to bring other people there. Reminded me of a favorite diner in historic downtown Truckee, NV. Glad I found this place !! read more

I have frequented this restaurant for probably 3 or so years now and i can safely say without reservation that they are the best restaurant in Grayslake. They are most notable for their very laid back atmosphere and regular visitors who frequent the restaurant in the morning. Joyce (The server in the morning) will trade banter with the guests at the tables and though it may look like shes berating them it really is all in good fun and helps lend an atmosphere of a home kitchen to the place. The food itself is spectacular, it might not be the hottest or most extravagant but their prices are reasonable and most importantly their food is CONSISTENT. Whenever i go i get the same thing and Joyce has learned our orders so I'll receive my orange juice as i sit down rather than actually having to order it. I always go with an omelet with a side of sausage and toast. Their food is rather greasy so if you have difficulty stomaching that then i suggest that you stay away from the potatoes, and eggs and such. Highly recommended is getting a side fruit with your order as it is always fresh and tastes quite good. If you are ever in need of an early morning meal and happen to be in or near Grayslake than i highly suggest that you visit Fred's read more

This place is SOOOO good! My coffee cup was filled before I even sat down. The service was fast, and the food was delicious. Definitely worth the drive to get there and worth going back! read more

Horribly slow service. The first waters we got there was stuff floating around in them. The coffee was absolutely disgusting. (Don't know if it was old or not) but usually I can handle any kind of coffee good or bad. The waitress never checked back on us asking it everything was okay... Didn't even ask if we needed anything else when she dropped the food off.. Some extra napkins and fresh coffee would've been nice. To too that off it took 30 minutes to cook our food an omelette and pancakes when she dropped it off she replied with "no excuse to why it took so long but here ya go". And then as we sat and waited for our bill all finished she was sitting there talking and when she finally noticed we were done she comes over and tells us she lost our bill but the total is blah blah blah. Absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. Not to mention they weren't even busy. read more

Their food is delicious! Great if you're looking for a yummy casual morning breakfast run.

The best in Grayslake. Waitstaff are fyn, cute and very accommodating. Not to mention great food and fun atmosphere

Fred's is AWESOME! Great All-American food. If you become a regular there, don't expect the sisters (3 sisters and their daughter are the servers there) to give you a menu anymore! Seat yourself, expect a few crazy cracks now and then from the ladies, and enjoy the experience! It's especially fun to take an out-of-towner there; be sure to let the ladies know and they always work in a few fun comments for the "guest". They open at the crack of dawn, close by early afternoon, and are closed on Sundays. Contrary to the misleading newspaper article that came out in early '09, Fred's is NOT closing. The business owners simply sold the business. It's still going as strong and friendly as ever! read more

Delicious food, friendly people, great spot for a quick bite! Highly recommend for anyone able to stop by!!

Great retro diner. Fun servers and very efficient. Food very good typical "diner". Small but cozy.

This gem has the perfect mix of great food and wonderfully crabby servers with a great sense of humor. So far, my favorite divey diner.

Don't let the small, very old-school diner fool you. The servers are funny and super prompt in taking your order. The cooks are just as fast, the portions are big, and the food is delicious!! I would highly recommend trying this restaurant. But would recommend coming early because seating is limited! read more

Well,when they say a diner,that's exactly what we got when we walked inside Fred's Diner. A small quaint place with a wall dedicated to our heroes in uniform and another with every college banner in the US on it. Cool. After we sat down,a sweetheart of a lady came over with menus and then immediately brought us our drinks. It was about 10 minutes after we ordered, our food came and all I can say is WOW!!!! Absolutely hands down the best breakfast I have ever eaten. I ordered corned beef hash with 2 eggs over easy ,hash browns with onions and an English muffin. Unbelievably delightful!! A simple breakfast made simply delightful. I tried a bite of my husband's pancakes. Awesome. The hash browns with onions rock!!! My husband and I will be back!!! read more

my favorite breakfast place ever!! the owners are hilarious and have known me ever since i was a baby! great food and never a long wait! super cheap and affordable! it may not be the nicest looking place in town but it by far has the best food! read more

If you're looking for a culinary adventure where new twists on old favorites are done, this is NOT the place for you. You won't find any deconstructed Eggs Benedict with duck bacon and poached quail eggs, or truffle biscuits cooked in beef tallow, or any of the other new twists that seem to be all the food world can talk about these days. What you will find is delicious, hearty classic diner dishes. You WILL find an atmosphere that is so homey you'll think you're at a family picnic instead of a restaurant. You WILL find a waitstaff that gives you great service while sassing you like you're favorite aunt or your older sister. You don't use words like "culinary", "umami", "fusion" or "innovative" when you're describing the cooking at Fred's Diner. You use those good old-fashioned phrases that actually count when all the food fads fade: "classic", "delicious", "hearty", "good". While there is a lunch menu I've barely looked at it as I'm all about the breakfast. And if you ask me, breakfast trumps everything else. A Fred's breakfast has all the classics, a selection of omelettes, steak and eggs, corned beef hash, pancakes (with the option for a tried and true toppings), french toast, breakfast sandwiches and all the best sides (eggs, sausage, bacon, etc). You can do any combination of it all if you like. My husband's go-to dish is the biscuits and gravy with a side of over-easy eggs. The biscuits are thick and buttery; sturdy enough to stand up to that thick and creamy gravy. This dish is hefty and awesome. I prefer Fred's sweeter side. Their pancakes are fluffy enough to trick you into eating the whole stack, but firm enough that they don't fall apart under the weight of syrup. The thick French toast is my favorite though. Six pieces of thick eggy bread, fried up nice and crispy (but still rich in the middle). Slather each slice with plenty of butter, drizzle it all with syrup, and then eat every bite with a piece of sausage. This is the stuff that real breakfasts are made of. It's the foundation for which all the fancy stuff (that will be out of style next year) was built on. This is basics done right. Give Fred's a try and I promise you'll be more than satisfied. Just be warned... Fred's is super old-school: CASH ONLY read more

A bit loud but the banter is hilarious and the food is awesome - try it you will like it

Just came in on a whim, truthfully after a long Wednesday night. Checked out yelp for nearby breakfast spots and it looked like this was my kinda joint! Easy to find location, plenty of parking and we arrived just in time to grab a 2 seater table by the bar. Staff and clientele were friendly-it seemed very hometown like. Virtually no wait for the lady to take our orders- she was attentive and SPEEDY! I wast sure what I wanted so she made sure to check on me every couple minutes- even though the place was filling up to the brim! She was very patient, and on top of that the food only took about 10 minutes or so to get out. I had the Spanish omelet and my significant other had the London broil with scrambled eggs. Each meal came with buttered, toasted bread and hash browns. We loved every bite of it! I haven't had toasted buttered slices of bread in so long that it tasted like HEAVEN! Plus it made a difference to us to have chosen such a wonderful spot because we are on holiday; while we are working during the year we rarely f ever eat breakfast (or lunch! Ugh). Fortunately we found our new breakfast go-to spot. Many thanks to the owners & staff- the meal was delicious! The atmosphere was friendly! Will definitely recommend to others &most certainly come back again! read more

Fred's is great if you love a typical farm community type of breakfast. The old ladies running the place are pure gold. Opens at 4:30am for breakfast (and it gets filled up fast). Just breakfast & lunch. Too bad the old girls are selling the place. Food is great, the atmosphere is cozy. Hope it can stay open as long as possible. read more

This is the quintessential greesey spoon. If you love truck stops you'll love this restaurant.

Fantastic breakfast. Waitresses are full of sarcasm, don't take offense. It's part of the shtick. You may find a wait to get in, because it's that good. Cash only, no debit or credit cards. read more

Great shop with amazing food. I would recommend the hash browns. Great waitresses and have known them for years. Great place for family's and friends. read more

Great local diner for breakfast or lunch. My granddaughter and I usually eat a late morning breakfast there at least once a month. Great food that is very economical. Wait staff is on the spot and quick to give you a hard time with friendly banter. Is busy mist of the time do you might have to squeeze in but well worth it read more

Put on your sassy pants and head here immediately! Fred's is the best breakfast around. My favorite is sitting at the counter and watching the guys cook - man they're good! The food is excellent, great taste and always cooked just right. The coffee's great too. Their bacon crispy is always fresh off the grill and not microwaved, it's perfection! I also love their well done hashbrowns. We love the hectic atmosphere and sassy gals that work there. They pick on you and give you a hard time but always in good fun. It's one of our favorite parts about coming here. Be prepared to wait if you come on a Saturday as the line's typically out the door. They only have a few tables but it goes pretty quick. This little dive is a hidden gem and is an awesome experience with great food and fun. Cash only. read more

It's a "nothing special, no BS, but great food" kind of place. Don't expect anything fancy, but expect to love what you get. Cash only.

Excellent western omelet smooth cup of coffee not over cooked or harsh. Kitchy decor the regulars are on a first name basis with the waitress. Will definitely come again. read more

Great, fun place to have breakfast. Food is solid, waitresses are sassy yet attentive, And atmosphere is just fun. Wish it wasn't cash only but there's an ATM across the street. read more

This is such a cool little joint! The food is a true diner-lovers delight. Everything is made quick, hot, and delicious. The sassy sisters that run the place only add to the great ambiance. read more

The best breakfast place around. Nothing fancy, just good old' eggs and hashed browns in good portion for reasonable prices. The wait staff is very attentive and will top off your coffee every other sip. I don't know anything about their lunch, but the breakfast is top notch. read more

What you see is what you get at Fred's. It is family run, and kind of divey, and the food is basically "old time diner". No trendy stuff here. Basic eggs, omelets, sandwiches, etc. A bit low on the veggies (as you would expect from a place like this). It is well known and visited by the locals, and you can quickly tell who is a regular and who is not based on the camraderie between customers and staff. A great show along with your eggs! read more

Great atmosphere, terrific food, and great prices. Ideal breakfast place but good lunch too.

The best food for breakfast or lunch with even better service from the waitresses. Try it, you'll like it!

Breakfast at its best. Nothing fancy. Just good. Waitresses like to tease so don't take it seriously. Ask for the home made Salsa with your eggs. read more

Wow - what a fun and friendly place. Great food and very reasonable. The three sisters are a blast - they treat you like family. Great experience - we will be back! read more

Recently ate here for the first time. Oh boy, what I have been missing! Great, joking atmosphere, excellent food and quick (ish!) service. Packed and plenty of repeat customers. We will be going back, for sure!! Yummy! read more

Come on, Guy Fieri, get Fred's on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives." It's not a drive-in, but the other two nouns fit. They have the best scrambled eggs I've had in my life. It's that little tad of secret yellow liquid they mix in with the eggs (margarine? butter? lard? who cares!! ) and they flip the eggs in the air. Gravy is good (biscuits are canned I think but fine), pancakes and waffles are good, waitresses are sassy but lovable... Breakfast is the best meal here, but lunch is great, too. It's the quintessential American diner. No credit cards, bring cash. read more

LOVED the bisquits and gravy. Glad I tried this place. I will be back.

Thank you yelpers for helping me find this gem. My girlfriend and I had an outstanding breakfast for under 15 dollars, can't beat it. Favorite part about this place was the staff, this place has personality. The staff were having a great time, and you could tell they enjoyed being there. Excellent diner, can't wait to go again. read more

Always have the best breakfast here. Just love all the waitresses. Been coming for years and it is always great!!