The Modern Grill is one of a vanishing breed of traditional diners, and it's definitely worth a visit for both historical reasons and the fantastic food. The first thing you'll notice is the movie-set-like interior with the classic diner stools (there's also comfortable table seating). The interior dates to the 1940s, when the Grill was established. The most "recent" owners have had it since 1988. But the history goes back even further, and outside the door you'll find tile with the initials of the Irish immigrant who built the building in 1912 and ran a pub in this space. But what about the food? In short, it's terrific. The menu is classic diner, with a full range of breakfast and lunch offerings, and a different soup every day. And the prices are impressively reasonable considering the prime location in Lakewood East. There's no better way to judge a diner than by its burger, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better one. It's served on a grilled fresh roll with all the fixings I like: lettuce, tomato, onion (raw or grilled), pickles (I had them substitute mine for sweet relish), mustard, and mayo. Add cheese and a pile of crispy bacon and you're in heaven. What's heaven without a side of halos.. er, I mean onion rings. These were super crispy, beer-battered, and served in a big pile. I wanted to leave some, but I didn't. Chris, the owner, is incredibly friendly, and makes sure everything is perfect. This place is a real gem. read more

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Great place for a quick meal. Prices are right, portions were good, and staff was friendly. Would definitely recommend trying.

Great cheeseburgers. Fun friendly staff. Cute little corner place with lots of charactor. Can't wait to go back!!

The food here is crazy good. I have never been disappointed. Everything is made to order and comes hot off the grill.

The parking isn't great, but the food is good, the service is good and friendly staff.

It was a really nice homely place the staff was super nice and the food was really good and it wasn't expensive at all every other restaurant in the area is like $30 for meal but here I got a burger and fry's and a pop for $15 we'll come back soon read more

Reading a few of the previous reviews I feel as if I was at a different place. All the negativity that oozed from some of those reviews I just did not see or experience. We had a fantastic bite to eat here and some great chit chat from the people in here working. Such a great experience. Not being from the area made it hard to find places to eat so most times we used the handy Yelp app or just walked into establishments. The latter was our reason for finding this place. It didn't hurt that we finally decided that we were hungry while standing on the corner in front of this place. Walking in you really feel as if you are in a diner. The way this place is setup is a bit weird, but it works. After looking over the menu overhead for a bit we both decided it would be a light bite to eat and then we would be on our way. I ordered a BLT and my friend had wanted a tuna salad sandwich. This place must be a busy place as they had just sold the last tuna to the lady that was there before us. My friend, a little bummed, was able to be persuaded by the ladies here that the chicken salad sandwich was just as good. He can confirm that it was as he devoured it. My BLT was amazing as well. Bacon cooked fresh and the lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. I must say I was a little perplexed as to why there were pickle slices on the plate with this, but I wasn't going to hate because I ate those pickles too. The bacon was so crispy that I wanted more of it. During our visit we had a chance to speak to the ladies in here. They were funny and caring. We had inquired about the hours. On Yelp the hours are not correct. They informed us that Friday and Saturday they are open later hours. Perfect for us. Thank you ladies for an excellent bite to eat and the great conversation. read more

This place is nothing fancy but if you want a meal your way it is the place to come to. Don't let the "Chicago Greasy Spoon" appearance discourage you. I have begun my day with Harry and Chris for more then 10 yrs. I have a meal plan that I need to follow and they both work with me to have a delicious breakfast within my boundaries. They listened to my desire to have "Country Scrambled" eggs and now they make them better then me. I can read my paper, sip my coffee and have a great beginning of my day in a family run business that deserves support. read more

FIVE STARS IF YOU LOVE A BASIC DINER!!! Ok food hipsters, this isn't the place for you. Head somewhere else or across the street. For those of us who were raised going to a place where they fry eggs in butter, know how to make crunchy hashbrowns and watered down coffee that you can drink 10 cups of - this is the place for you. Fried Egg sandwich is good to go. Order it on white bread with bacon, lettuce and tomato for a blast from the greasy past. read more

I am the queen of these little short order joints. No, really. My fastidious ways go out the window as I wallow in the grease and grime inherent in these little outposts. I just use a lot of napkins. This place, though . . . I can't use napkins to wipe down the sweaty, dirty workers. After I asked the guy to wipe down the counter, his soapy fingers dripped into my water. Then, those fingers went in the glass he gave me for my lemonade. No thanks, just give me a straw, I'll drink it out of the can. The guys behind the counter were more interested in arguing than waiting on us. I guess you have to be drunk to eat here? The $3.85 egg, cheese and ham sandwich was good, but not good enough to endure my shuddering from the really, really dirty surroundings. read more

Simple diner in the area. Modern grill is an old school corner eatery that you count on a good full meal. You will not find the latest and most in trend foods here, but you will find the classics done well. I had a eggs, sausage, hash browns and they we're great. The plate was big and hot. Cup of coffee and toast on the side for a total of $11.50. I'll be coming by here again on Saturday mornings. read more

The food is good, the portions are good but the staff , they could do better like clean up the place. The girls that work there are always on their cell phones while I have a empty cup of water and an empty cup of coffee. The floor are NASTY as hell as you can tell in the photos. I'm sorry looks like month old dust and dirt. The floors were dark. One of the girls that work there DON'T cover her hair with a net or a hat. Get off phone and stop texting and take care of your customers. read more

Modern Grill - This was the floor by the cashier. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is one of my favorite places in Lakeview. Now beware: it's kind of scary! There's something about the cooks and the servers that keeps you wandering down what kind of paths their lives went. I find it entertaining. It is perfect, greasy comfort food that they serve. Starting from nice, well soaked in egg french toasts (my personal favorite!) through patty melt on rye, the food is very tasty, but it is greasy. The prices are very decent too. Free WiFi available. Just cutting off one star because it's not perfectly clean, sometimes the tables can be delicately sticky... read more

Modern Grill - french toast - don't let the colors mislead you, it's very tasty - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm surprised on how cheap the prices are for such a prime location on Halsted & Belmont. This diner is great for an easy place to eat, with their menu being typical diner foods and pretty limited as well. The boyfriend got some pancakes and I got their modern grill special burger! Which included onion rings (which was what sold me) and bacon. All that in a burger for ~$6.95? Pretty awesome if you ask me. They get a bonus for having a lottery ticket vending machine.. fueling my up and coming addiction for them scratchers.. read more

Modern Grill - $6.95 burger special with onion rings, bacon, and bbq sauce! great deal - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered a veggie omelette from Modern Grill for lunch one day on my work break. The omelette itself was decent, and came with two slices of wheat toast and some hash browns. I've had better breakfast elsewhere but Modern Grill is pretty convenient. I did place my order online and was supposed to have a soda included which they forgot to provide. However, the quality of the food is definitely worth the price. If you're looking for an enjoyable breakfast atmosphere, this isn't the place for you. The interior leaves a little to be desired. read more

ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!! THERE IS A HUGE PENIS ON YOUR FOREHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok now that we have that out of the way. I have found the perfect hang over breakfast. I am going to call it the Hurt Special. Gyro omelet cooked to perfection with a side of hash browns drenched in hot sauce. Two pieces of toast also included. Just don't try and kiss anyone for at least 6 to 8 hours. Actually you should probably lock yourself in a room somewhere and just stay away from anything breathing. Priced at under 6 dollars this certainly is the complete hangover helper (not bad for your wallet either). Don't be scared of the New Modern Grill, for it is good. Since you do have a penis on your forehead, try and keep your balls out of the food. read more

This honestly might have been the worst meal I've ever had in my life. It was greasy, and well, canned mushrooms can't make any experience that great. I will not be going back. It appeared that this place was a homeless hangout. Lovely. read more

I've been here twice and both times I've had decent service. When you go to this place you kind of already know what your gonna get just judging by the decor. There are however a few issues I have with this place. The potatoes suck, the price is decent, but at the end of the day there are better diners/grills in Lakeview. I have only had breakfast here and the stars are for the food, because they are OK but it doesn't impress me. You're mainly paying for the convenience of someone making something for you that you can make at home, and I'm fine with that. Can Chicago get a fucking Waffle House please! read more

Well, let's see... they deep fried my Chicago style hot dog and put ketchup on it*, the whole place smelled like a clean rest area off the skyway, and as soon as I walked in, some of the regulars laughed at me and asked me if I was "one of those queer boys" because of my long hair. Still, I highly recommend this place to those who think rude service means good because of Chicago style traditions (which makes no sense, but to each his own) and you have a deep interest on a near-sexual level for clogged arteries (ditto). It does what it does well, and that's the "buy your processed fleshbrick and get out because you're the scum of the earth" schtick, which pleases some people. That's its specialty, and some people think that's real food (double ditto). *(As a side note, I love ketchup on hot dogs. Now, before you send me to the food heresy gulag out in Kankakee to hammer sheet metal, I will say that IT'S A FLIPPIN' HOT DOG, I EAT WHAT I WANT ON IT. However, if I ask for a Chicago style hot dog, as in this case, and without question they put ketchup on it in the place of mustard, as in this case, they have only a vague idea of what a Chicago dog is. QED) read more

Great portion and great price. Too bad their opening hours suck. I bet they could earn tons more if they open at night, considering the location. Complete hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. Yet too bad they ONLY do omelets - I requested to get my eggs scrambled but they basically said I could take it apart myself when I get it.... is scrambled eggs too insulting for the chef??? OMG All I can say is the prices are great for what you get n its perfect for hangovers. Still love it!! read more

I try to make it for lunch at least once a week ... I really like the big portions when I order breakfast ... I'm always good for the rest of the day. The staff is friendly so don't be afraid to joke around. Its not busy at all around 11am but start to get busier closer to 12pm. I had a craving for chocolate milk one day (not on their menu last time I checked) but they had no problem making it for me. Bring a friend or a newspaper and relax. Oh, and they now accept debit cards! read more

This is a classic case of the people leaving negative reviews just being completely oblivious that not every place in the world is going to be tailored to their personal taste. If you're looking for a solid neighborhood diner and a cheap meal, this is a good spot. Staff is beyond friendly on both of the occasions I've been in (different people working too). Don't go here expecting culinary innovation or hipster cred, what you see is exactly what you get and it's suited us just fine. read more

Nice, simple place to get a burger. Yes, its super greasy but its really great!! Great, quick service and almost no wait times. read more

Modern Grill - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here from out of town looking for an unpretentious, good breakfast place in the area. We were happy to find a good old fashioned diner that was no frills, but good breakfast basics. Modern Grill was everything we were looking for. The food was hot and prepared fresh, one minute after we ordered it, which was all I'm looking for in a true diner. Everything was fresh and delicious and my whole family enjoyed their meals. If you're looking for a good breakfast spot for some bacon and eggs, this is your spot. If you want fancy and expensive avocado toast you won't find it here, but you will find a lovely waitress with unlimited coffee and really what more do you need? read more

I just tried The New Modern Grill for the first time yesterday after passing by for the last 5 years. The only thing I can say is that I should've tried it 5 years prior. I ended up trying the Ham egg and cheese sandwich on toasted rye, and the Ribeye sandwich, and both were phenomenal...so much so that I just reordered them 30 minutes ago! I've only ordered for pick up both times, so I can't comment on the dine in experience, but the staff was warm, welcoming, and had the personality of an old school diner crew. I've read the negative reviews on this place before giving them a shot and I'd like to address a few things. 1.I've worked in multiple restaurants and cuisines in the last 5 years, and all of them marry their ketchups. It's not gross at all. 2. If you don't like dining around homeless people (who have just as much right to be there as you ) then dine in the daytime, and you'll bypass them. Or take your order to go. 3. while yes the decor is a little dated, it brings with it a certain charm, and I hope they stick with an old school style that is nice and modern. 4. You should know going in that this place is a greasy spoon. Don't act surprised when it's exactly that. (Look at the menu, the price point, and the service style, and layout of the diner and you should know it's not a juice bar. It's vintage Americana.) Keep doing what you're doing guys, and don't let these pompous asses bring you down! read more

Ok, totally NOT what was expected. When we left the Briar Theatre after the show, the kids were complaining that they were hungry. We don't know the neighborhood so we just popped into the Modern Grille. Not sure what to get, but the staff was really nice and happy to help. We ended up with gyro, an order of cheese sticks and grilled cheese. My son told me the sticks were the best he's had and the grilled cheese was cooked perfectly. Gyro was delicious and We also got sides of crispy fries that were yummy. So happy we stopped here on a whim! read more

This location has such potential. Right on the corner of belmont and halsted. Fantastic old "grill" sign on the building. In the right hands, this place would have a line around the block. It just seems like the ownership doesn't care. I actually saw them marrying ketchup bottles (pouring one into another) right there in front of everyone. I'm pretty sure that is a food safety violation and, even if it isn't, it is really disgusting. Nothing is clean. Shelves are put up hap-hazard. The food is super greasy and after watching the ketchup incident I seriously had a hard time believing anything was safe. This place is just waiting for either a new owner or for the current owner to hire a restaurant professional to clean it up. New Modern Grill could be a gold mine and a local treasure if a little money and effort were invested in its sanitation, quality, and decor. Update in response to owner: I have spoken to many people in the food service industry including owners, managers, and servers. The owners and the managers of course say we don't marry ketchup bottles while the servers tell me they do but hide it. The reason is that there is no way to tell how old the product is. Ketchup should be used until the end and if the bottle is to be reused it must be sanitized before refilling. Upon refill, the date of the product should be noted somewhere. Married ketchup bottles have a higher likelihood of fermenting and becoming "ketchup wine". Marrying ketchup bottles is definitely a health code violation in many localities, I'm just not sure if Chicago is one. Regardless, it is not a good practice from a food safety standpoint. read more

I have been coming here every week for awhile now and I will say they are a great diner in a central location. Would highly recommend!

It was late and cold and I needed greasy comfort food. I walked in to the New Modern Grill and was met with open arms and the assurance that whatever I ordered, they would make sure it was delicious. They didn't lie. The food was fantastic and I nearly wept over my Reuben. Thank you, New Modern Grill. read more

I lived on this place when i used to work in the area. Fast service, nice diner atmosphere, good greasy diner food (helllllo fried cheese cubes!) and the prices are GREAT. really cheap. great for people watching They are only open in the day, though. If they had reasonable hours they would be one of my favorite diners in chicago. read more

This place is great when you want to be unhealthy! There's nothing really new or modern about it , its got a pretty plain atmosphere but its super cheap and they've got great BLTs and fries! read more

Modern Grill - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's nothing pretentious about this place, which makes ideal for breakfasts when you just want to roll out of bed and eat. After attempting to go to Yoshi's for brunch at 10AM only to find they don't open til 11AM, we headed up the street and got our breakfast needs taken care of. Basic foods prepared in typical diner-style... mmm, greasy, gooey cheese omelet. Service was friendly, and even friendlier with the regulars, and food was served up quickly. Cash only, although there are tons of ATMs nearby. read more

If your a germ-a-phobe dont go here. Its a plain diner with nothing special, but some bomb pizza puffs. ha I lived in the builing next to the grill and ate here hung-over very often...the lady who works there (I believe the owner) is the worlds biggest sweetheart ever! She knew I didnt have internet and told me to come in anytime I wanted even if I didnt eat. It is also one of the only places in all of lakeview with a payphone! read more

The place is decent. What you see is what you get. Decent prices. It is nice to see an old time type of place still around. I hope it stays around past my lifetime. As for the jagbag yokel complaining they don't have sweet tea-this ain't the South sonny boy. See ya! read more

Being new to the hood, I decided I needed to find a new go-to Sunday breakfast spot, and since the grill is 3 steps from my front door, it seemed a reasonable place to start the search...I just didn't realize I would be ending the search as well. They have huge portions of typical comfort food super cheap prices, and a friendly wait staff to boot. It was obviously chock-a-block full of regulars - all the guys behind the counter knew everyone's names. They quickly cleared off a table for us as soon as one became available. Also, even though the sign said "pay before you eat," the cashier told us not to worry about it - it was nice to not be rushed and be able to just enjoy a lazy Sunday morning. Finally - the food. I ordered a mushroom and cheese omelet, and the boy ordered pancakes with bacon and hashbrowns. It was a ridiculous amount of food - he had been moaning and groaning about not having anything to eat before he passed out at 3AM, and still he did not manage to finish everything. My omelet was amazing - stuffed FULL of HUGE mushrooms and cheese - there is definitely no skimping on the ingredients like a lot of diners in Chicago. Also, it came with a very generous portion of hashbrowns and even toast - I heart carbs. I only took 1 star off because the service is sort of brisk - I think they need to warm up to you before they're going to treat you like a regular, and we didn't seem to be their usual 10AM clientele, being the only overdressed 20-somethings in there. Anyway - if you're in the neighborhood, it's totally worth stopping in to experience a true "diner" experience on the north side. read more

Eggs over easy , hash browns, sausage links, rye toast - all toasted to perfection, excellent quality - better then Stella's dinner. Entertaining view of the city , sit at the counter near the window do some people watching, buy some lottery tickets. The morning cook has hard exterior but very nice and an expert on the grill. read more

If you're looking for cheap food that tastes great and will leave you lethargic from all the grease, New Modern Grill is the cat's meow! I went in there for a week straight, and now whenever I stop in, they greet me with a smile and a "where you been, stranger!" Awesome. I brought my tarot cards in and was playing around with them when the staff engaged me in fun conversation and had me do their readings. I like when people take a personal interest in me- New Modern Grill is definitely customer- friendly. Too bad they're not open later, because going on a dinner break at 7:30 warrants some nice, fried zucchini sticks to keep me going :). read more

It is like an old restaurant in a small country town near a highway. My grandpa had such a gas station and my grandma ran the diner part. I love places like this. The fare is simple. The seating is comfortable. It is not too expensive. The people on both sides of the counter are real old school folks. The coffee just tastes like coffee. The chicken soup was pretty good with a good amount pf chicken. I bought $5 in scratch off tickets and won $4. That pretty well expresses how well I like this place. read more

Nice ambiance . All cash! We have been coming here for a couple of years now when we are in town. Always yummy. I opt for the corn beef hash every time . Always exceptional. Love this place. read more

Modern Grill - Corned beef hash - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is, without question, one of my favorite spots in the city. I'll occasionally stop in just to say, "Hello" to the wonderful people even if I don't have time for a meal. It's a rare thing to find a small town diner in the big city, but the New Modern Grill manages to pull it off really well. The food is made fresh, the people are incredibly kind to everyone who walks in the door and you can eventually order your usual because they'll take the time to know you. If I have time for breakfast, I'm having grabbing it at Modern Grill. read more