I can't believe how many people prefer Golden Apple across the street. S&G is still a greasy spoon, but its food is good even when you're sober. Your waitress will probably remember you if you have her more than once, it is always crowded on weekends but you never have to wait long, and despite the turnaround you never feel rushed. I've moved out of the neighborhood, but find myself coming back here for a skillet on Sunday mornings. read more

What a nice Chicago Diner! Full of locals, and die hard Chicagoans, you won't find too many snobs or pretentious fools in this place. This place is full of repeat customers who live in the area, and it will probably remind you of a place your grandfather would take you, and I mean that in a good way... Though not completely unique, their food is good, and very reasonably priced. If breakfast skillets is your thing, they have a ton of options, and each one has a funny or unique name, a "Dudley Do-right" anyone? Overall, the staff is always great, and attentive... The coffee is pretty basic but not terrible, so don't let that discourage you. read more

Favorite breakfast diner in the area. Their chorizo breakfast burrito is one of the best I've ever eaten. Definitely top 3 in Chicago. Highly recommend the skillets too. You will always get a good meal from this place. Family owned business that actually cares about customers. read more

So the skillets are good and filling and great for a Saturday or Sunday morning. The service is good and you get seated pretty quickly. BUT the fruit plate is what I come here for. For $10.95, you get huge pieces of fruit, including whole pieces like plums and pears, and it varies by the season. You also get some toast and a tiny portion of cottage cheese (this could be bigger) So I would try to share a skillet (for the grease) and the fantastic huge fruit plate (for the healthy aspect, especially after a night out, get some antioxidants) Also the owner is the nicest guy around and knows everyone in the neighborhood. Everytime I pass him on the street, he always says hello. read more

I come here every Christmas (not Christmas day) with my father while I'm visiting from California. My father is something of a friend of the co-owner (the Greek guy behind the counter, whose name is John). This is something of a (Greek) family-run place, but they're total Chicagoans. Parking isn't great, but it isn't impossible. The staff is great. The prices are good. The last few times I've been there they've had a cook who overcooks the eggs, which is minus one star even though I really like the place. Omelettes aren't supposed to be brown. Our waitress completely agreed with me and offered to take it back, but I declined (is he going to get it right the 5,000,001st time?) That said, she didn't make me pay. I've heard that their french fries are very good (I have secret knowledge that they buy them from a vendor, but it seems they do know how to cook them well). I noticed someone saying they liked to go to Golden Apple when drunk, but to S&G when sober. Golden Apple completely sucks compared to this place. The food is way worse and the atmosphere is way, way worse. Also, I have at least once been offered brandy while having breakfast at S&G (so as not to get anyone in trouble, I will admit that the aforementioned occurrence may have actually been a dream). read more

So, I had the Greek Nachos and as expected, they were delicious. I also had a standard eggs, bacy, hashbys breakfast this time and it was more delicious that a place you'd usually go even though it's just 2 eggs and the like. The food is amazing, but this place has their crap together in every way. They really know how to run a breakfast/lunch/diner-type restaurant. They are lightening fast, always friendly and welcoming and the place is clean. During this last visit, I saw two separate employees cleaning (around the breakfast counter and food pick-up window) which made me feel good about the all around cleanliness of the place. But, the point is, the staff is hard working and they seem to operate on a "time to lean? time to clean." policy. I love this place. Best breakfast in the city all things considered. Kudos to the staff and owner(s)! read more

There's a reason this place has been around for Such a long time. Family owned, fast no nonsense service, and exceptional diner fare. Brunch is the best here, and seating at the bar is entertaining watching the 80s TV which is so refreshing that they have not replaced. This place is like being in a John Hughes movie. Chicago at its best. Places like this are rare these days and I hope they never close. +plus up tip. If you have a hangover, order a cup of chicken soup. You will be temporarily fixed up until your skillet arrives! read more

This is a consistent "go to" when it comes to breakfast. Outdoor seating in the summer is awesome. Food is delicious. But the best part is the service provided by the staff. The employees and owners treat you like family or close friend. read more

Simply put, my wife and I go here EVERY weekend because we want to support the owners of this place. John, the owner, who is there everyday is probably the nicest guy and takes so much pride in his work and truly touches every piece of the business (we saw him on Monday sweeping the sidewalk) that this place is a must for us. FAST service...GREAT prices, and VERY GOOD diner food. It's quick, good food and you will want to support this place after having eaten here. By the way, I usually get breakfast, but the Turkey Club is awesome...and it's carved turkey not deli sliced turkey. Solid! read more

Great service, friendly staff. Food was only so-so. If I lived in the neighborhood I'd come back, but wouldn't make a special trip. read more

Sam & George's - The back room inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Awesome! I got one of their signature skillets and loved it. It's tough to chose because there's over 30 skillets which all sound amazing. Their menu is so long with so many items you're bound to find something you'll love. The inside has an old diner vibe which is A nice change of pace compared to other chicago restaurants. It's also very cheap! Each skillet is big with eggs and toast and only $12. I'd definitely recommend trying this place! read more

Sam & George's - Combo skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sat outside in the sunshine eating breakfast - what more could you want. An entire page of skillets to choose from and good sized portions. A very family friendly place to grab breakfast. read more

I love skillets and this is a great place for just that. The food is great the service is great and the place is adorable. Love! read more

Sam & George's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I were visiting other friends over the weekend and wanted to try a new brunch place. I was expecting it to be super packed because it was a Saturday morning, but we were seated pretty quickly! The restaurant has a friendly, cozy aura. Our waitress checked in on us a couple of times while we were waiting for the last person to join us. When we ordered the food, it came out pretty quickly - and it was a LOT. I ordered the hash with corned beef with over easy eggs and toast. It was extremely tasty and a sufficient amount of food. I didn't finish it because it was so much, but it gave me plenty of energy for the rest of the day. Just a tip: they prefer it if you can leave tip in cash (they still accept cards though). read more

Sam & George's - Corned beef hash w/ eggs over easy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First off, the fact that this was our second choice to have an early breakfast (both CC) looking for a restaurant that's open as early as 6 am, should have been of a good sign coz it was located on the side of the church so parking was not a problem, but boy was I wrong ... By the time we set foot inside, I didn't already like the ambience- maybe the decór or lack of it/ mismatched chairs YET we still decided to give it a go coz of the reviews here. BuT, this will be the first time I will be skeptic of other Yelp reviewers for this particular reataurant now coz it did not turn out good for us- in short, we we're not happy eating there ! We were on our way to the seats when the wait staff hurriedly asked if we wanted coffee and I told her politely I'd like to be seated to see the menu first BUT she said "well, it's just either coffee or hot chocolate so what is it?" I stopped and I paused and turned around to look at her and told her "I'd like to be settled down first then see the menu and let u know what we like..She looked at us like I said something strange but showed us the seats anyway and gave us time to skim through their list... I'm like, girl, where's your customer service and rolled my eyes to C but bit my tongue, gave this a chance and went on to continue to review... I was thinking, I've been to alot of reataurants and known waitresses/ waiters always friendly, polite and with a good customer service however this lady exuded annoyance by the minute and C whispered "maybe they don't have enough sleep because they have to start as early as 5 am, and she looks tired"... I said ok, I'll wait ... Finally decided on ordering ordering- waffles, hash browns, eggs and pork chop. After 5 minutes of sampling the food, we're not coming back because: 1. Fruits on top of waffles were frozen and one strawberry looked rotten coz it was blackened on one side, the other strawberries looked they have been thawed for days hence the sorta melted effect (pointed that out to her(after tasting a small portion of the waffle). Blueberries were hard. Pushed the whole plate as far away from me and told her the problem. She argued that I should have told her I wanted fresh fruits.. NOW REALLY?! I have to tell you to give me fresh fruits?! She argued again that Aline Waffles were served either with fresh or frozen fruits. I told her " but as a new customer ( which you did not even bother to introduce yourself and asked us if it's our first time there or not) I didn't know that so you should have informed me giving me that option nevertheless I'll pay for it" She said "no nevermind " and looked me condescendingly and added " what about the pork chop?" 2. Pork chop at first looked to us was still raw as in very white on the inside and C tasted a minuscule portion turned to me and stated " it's not well cooked"..I'm like even if I did not taste it, I could really tell it was still half cooked on the inside. Wait staff (same lady) said "well u asked me to cook it again so there it is" .. I'm like " yeah but it's half cooked- look at the inside, you just burned the outside portion but still half cooked on the inside. I swear, an instant image of Ramsey swearing at the cook yelling " you call this a cooked pork, f---!! just swam in my head and the wait staff started to raise her voice and argued again" if it is raw it would have been still red" by this time I could tell she was very defensive and argumentative and somewhat rude and started to hurriedly pack the more-than-half uneaten food and told us that they've been on business for 60 years.. I'm like "yeah, i'm a paying customer and I came to your restaurant to be satisfied with what you sell- which is food but I'm not happy " and I politely told her please be more open to feedbacks and she said " well don't give me any tip anymore i'll just take out the waffle from your bill" .. Well, of course because i only touched it to taste it but did not eat it all because it was not that good. So we still thanked her and hurriedly left and went home - soon after, literally 10 minutes after, we found ourselves sitting in the bathroom to empty our tummies.. I almost forget, the hot chocolate were lukewarm too because it turned cold right away. Hash browns did not have a taste.. Needless to say, I would have preffered the iHOP than this. Thanks but definetly NOT coming back! Just a tip- try eating breakfast @ Wildberry Cafe and I swear one will get an awesome experience from awesome customer service and AWESOME food, now Wildberry is definitely a place one can keep on going back over and over again, hence any type of week they're always jumpacked .. read more

I love the breakfast skillets at S&G's. Loaded with ingredients and super tasty! Service is good even when they're slammed which is normal especially on the weekends. You don't notice once you're seated because they're attentive and just watching staff interact with regulars makes the place feel welcoming and homey. read more

S&G, the best dinning experience in the city and it's your basic Greek diner. The food, it's average, but the service and the way they make you feel is unbelievable. You will feel like family here, and if you come back a couple of times John, the owner, will remember you on a first name basis. Hands down, best place to eat and if you like specialized skillets they have a ton of them. read more

My group came from St. Louis and specifically wanted to eat at S&G's restaurant because of the name. Sam is the name of my 6 year old cousin who recently lost his grandpa George. He misses him a lot so we thought this would be a great place to take him. We walked in and asked if they sold t-shirts in kids sizes and they went above and beyond to find one. While we were eating they threw Sam his shirt. And there was no charge despite offering. You just don't see that much these days. Great people... Now onto the food...it was AMAZING. The toast and english muffins are addictive. Their omelet was the perfect balance of cheese, meat and egg. The mickey mouse pancake face is a hit with the kids. This is one of those hidden gems that make the drive to Chicago worthwhile. Thanks again to the owners...like I said...they need more business owners like them! Much love from St. Louis! read more

There isn't a single bad thing to say about S&G's. The owner guy is always up front chatting with everyone. My friend thinks he's too friendly- but my friend is also a grouch. The reason you go to S&Gs is for the skillets. Many hangovers have been cured by their skillets. There are 20 of them- go for the popeye or the porky pig (ham, bacon and sasuage). I love that any waitress will refill your coffee when walking by- in so many places the waitresses don't work together. If there is a wait at S&G's, don't head across the street to the Golden Apple. I have no issues with the apple, but the reason that S&G's has a wait is because its better. read more

Solid joint for skillet lovers. They offer many varieties. Super friendly staff and a great Greek owner who reminds me of the Coney Island owners back in Detroit. Can get pretty crowded during the burnching hours but if you're an early bird, you shouldn't have any issues. I'll say it's a half a step up in price from a lot of other breakfast joints, but nothing bad. You won't pay $12 for French Toast like the Bongo Room. If I lived in the 'hood, this would be my regular spot. Sadly, I save it for special occasions. read more

This joint would have gotten 5 stars if it wasn't for some rough/tough mustachioed man working the register. The way he talked to his female employees was demeaning. But their skillets are f--king great, y'all. So it gets four stars. Work on your attitude, mister. read more

One of the first things that I noticed when I came in and sat down at this place is that their menu says, "Open 7 days, 5am-11pm." That's funny. My boyfriend and I have been trying to come here for awhile now, and it always seems closed. 7pm on a Thursday? 3pm on a Sunday? We'd walk by and it literally appeared closed. Maybe it really wasn't. But the lights appeared to be off, and there was certainly no one in there. I felt like the menu was lying to me. But, nonetheless, S&Gs is very much alive and open for breakfast times on the weekend. The wait staff is incredibly friendly. We didn't even wait a long time for our food, but the waitress came by, noticed my bf's milk was gone and profusely apologized that we had waited so long that he had finished his milk. She insisted on getting him another milk. "It's on me, I'll pay for it. I'm so sorry." The food was solidly good and Greek. Better than the Golden Apple across the street, but nothing to write home about. Still, it fills the greasy spoon diner hole that sometimes palpitates in my heart. Also, while we were there, I saw a salad come out that had tall stalks of Romain emerging like tall rabbit ears. And I peeped tater tots at another table. Those are two things that I might be compelled to try when I go back. read more

We made roughly a 2 mile hike to get here (yay for being a tourist), and it was so, so worth it. The service was quick and friendly and the food (two casseroles, one a Hobo Banquet and the other the Athenian with wheat toast) was perfect... Good mix of ingredients and nicely sized portions. They really aren't doing anything out of this world here, but the things they are doing are exactly right. read more

S&G's is everything a diner should be. Crowded and bustling, yes, but the service is quick, the coffee hot and for breakfast on a Saturday morning I haven't found better eggs. This isn't a she-she brunch restaurant, it's a no-bones diner, and that's why I like it. The pancakes were not so good, but the skillet I ordered was top notch. read more

Have walked past many a time but went in for the first time on Sunday. I was not disappointed, great little food place. Very old school American feel to it, at least in my mind, which is a good thing. I can see this becoming a bit of a regular as a regular weekend brunch locale (watch out Wishbone) And the staff and owner were super friendly in a character-ish type of way Ditto on why people queue for the Golden Apple, I mean that place did save a friends life after a day long drink session but a cozy place for brunch it doesn't really strike me as being. read more

This place has been around since 1951 and you can tell why. It looks kinda dingy when you walk in, pretty much like it's still stuck in the 50's and I'm pretty sure some of the regulars have been coming since then opened too. However, the workers are really nice and the food was great. Breakfast is the way to go. They have an impressive selection of 'Egg Casseroles' which is just a fancy way to say skillets. I got the Godfather... Sautéed Onions, Sliced Italian Sausage, Mozzarella Cheese, and Topped off with Two Eggs any style for $9.75. Considering I was almost too hungover to keep my eyes open, this was the perfect hangover helper. Greasy and delicious. All the burgers come with a large plate of fries and soup. I ate the giant bowl of chicken and wild rice soup. It was delicious and you could tell it was prepared fresh. Basically, this place is the perfect hangover spot and I hope it sticks around for another 50 years. I can't wait to come here when I'm old and tell stories how I puked in the bathroom when I was 25 years old. read more

YUM YUM YUM. This is my go-to breakfast spot. S&Gs knows how to handle a crowd on weekends and though it is always hoppin', I never have to wait for a table, which is awesome considering the 30+ waits breakfast places in this area typically have. The food is no fuss too, hearty breakfasts without the inflated prices and unnecessary fru fru offered by many other brunch spots. The skillets are amazing -- and certainly converted this former hashbrown/eggs hater. Great food, excellent service, all at a reasonable price. It really can't be beat. read more

Sam & George's is great! Very typical diner but with outstanding breakfast (I haven't tried lunch). We came in on a Sunday afternoon and sat at the bar. Every table inside and outside was full but the line seemed to moving at a good pace! I was so impressed with the entire staff, between servers, bussers, cooks, and management - everything seemed to be aligned. Sitting at the bar we had the opportunity to see their team work right in front of us! Everyone is super friendly. We got a plain waffle, half order of biscuits and gravy, and the Athenian skillet to share. Both came with a side of fruit (cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries). The skillets here are AMAZING! We will definitely be back. Everything we had was very good and large portions. Exactly what you want when you come to diner and better skillets and biscuits and gravy than I've had at upscale brunch spots. There were chunks of gyros in the skillet opposed to thin sliced and it made a huge difference! Really delicious. read more

Good ole S&G's! Me and my girlfriend have been here a number of times and the food never disappoints. The skillets are delicious, but don't ask me about anything else...'cause all we get are skillets lol. But more than the food there are two other things I like, 1. the staff is great and it has a very "welcome home"/ small hometown/ "everybody knows your name" kinda feel; and 2. I like the fact that the female servers range in age and it doesn't fit into that false "we need young and hot" ideology, that some businesses think they need. It's about a local feel, with great service. Thumbs up! read more

Sam & George's - The Eggie and Veggie Skillet... - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love the place. Just love an old fashioned Chicago Diner where you can get a hamburger and fries. Sometimes simple is best. read more

Hands down, one of the best, most consistent spots for breakfast in Chicago. Great staff, and excellent service. I have no idea why/how anyone can choose the god-awful Golden Apple over S&G. It astounds us when we see the people lined up over there on the weekends. Who are these people? Do they have taste buds? My lone complaint about S&G is that they close far too early in the evening to take advantage of their dinner menu. read more

When I first moved to the area, I asked a friend to recommend a good place for breakfast and this was it. It is now my go to place for breakfast--in fact I have only gone to one other place to meet a friend--because I can't justify not going to such an awesome place that is so close to my house. This is not a fancy brunch place or a place with over-thought menu items, but is a great place to get a good solid breakfast or lunch (if you sleep in). My favorite is the breakfast casseroles--hashbrowns, cheese, meat/veggies, and eggs your way on top. I have also had a sandwich here for lunch, which was also delicious. Most sandwiches come with soup and fries. Even at peak times, the wait is never long--if you even have to wait. The staff is fast. Also, always, always order orange juice, no matter what time of day it is. It is fresh squeezed and there are at least 4-5 oranges per glass--amazing. read more

I'm a sucker for diners, and this place is really fabulous. Their food is great and their portions are huge, but what really makes them stand out it is there amazing and friendly service. Every server we have ever had here has been incredible. read more

Not only was the service here amazing - quick food delivery, very kind staff - the food was also delicious! 5 stars all around read more

Sam & George's - It looked too good. I had to take a bite of this delicious skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Some of the best customer service I've ever received. The food was awesome and the staff was above and beyond friendly. Would 100% recommend. Will be back. read more

Though my standards for what qualifies as a great breakfast diner are pretty reasonable, there are only a handful of places in and around Lincoln Park that can pull it off. Sam & Georges is definitely one of them, and I'll be going back. I was greeted as (almost before) I walked in the front door by the friendly proprietor; both the booth and table were clean; I got a pitcher of water when I sat down; they had not just one, but two non-Tabasco hot sauces (Cholula and Louisiana); I never saw the bottom of my coffee cup; the server was quick and friendly, but not obtrusive; the food came out quick and hot but had obviously been prepared well; the atmosphere was pleasant and I could hear the person across the table from me. On top of all this, the prices were right in the sweet spot ($7-$9 for a skillet) and our server brought us a couple strawberries just to be nice. My brother and I both got skillets (Porky Pig and Spartan) and they were fantastic. read more

Best skillet selection I've ever seen, one is good for 2 meals. The service is even better. Sam and George's is a national treasure for lakeview. read more

Love, love, love. The food was crazy delicious, and the portions are insane (in the best way). The chicken wagon wheel (chicken noodle soup) was the best chicken noodle soup I've ever had (!!). Friendly family business. Niko took care of us today and he was the best!!! read more

Not sure why this place has such good reviews. We came on a Sunday for brunch. Got seated right away which was nice. I ordered a skillet and my wife ordered an omelette. Both were sub par with the quality of food we expect to eat in the area and in Chicago. read more

Absolutely no complaints! BYOB, outdoor searing, superb food, parking not an issue, prices are pretty good and great customer service. I was in a group of 3, and we all were satisfied. Exceeded expectations!! A+++ read more