Hit 'n Miss. Good pricing and portion. Excellent service. Easily gets crowded. SWEDISH PANCAKES ($7.99) -- soft crepe batter with hardened bottom. I chose this to compare to my fave, and hardly listed on the menu. I like the price, but a no no. Maybe that extra whipped butter makes a difference. HOMEMADE BREAKFAST PATTIES ($3.49) -- nah, it was surprisingly too sweet for my taste even though I like sweets. COFFEE ($2.49) -- bottomless from Coffee & Tea Exchange. Decent. Brewing method may have impact on taste. VENUE -- a SMALL space that easily gets crowded on a weekday. Patience required on a weekend. Good spacing in between tables. Comfortable. SERVICE -- impeccable. Bottomless coffee. Satisfaction guaranteed. Quick cleanup. read more

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Wow - what a great experience - this place was the location for our first Evanston yelp group brunch! It was definitely a great location, we had our table all set up before we got there and everyone showed up! A great group of people and great food. Huge thanks to Kake S for setting this up and it was also the location for the infamous Ellen M/Dee W first meet-up. Five of us started off with their mojita (yes, that's not a spelling error - it really ends with an 'a') which was refreshing for the warm weather and not as sweet as a typical mojito - yum! Spice S's chicken salad looked delicious and was really portioned on the large side. I stuck to the Cajun scramble which was really good and even had a little bit of a spicy kick to it. Service was pretty friendly and definitely allowed us sufficient time to talk and get to know each other better. Something that I really loved here is the decor - it's very interesting - the tiny wads of tin foil on the ceiling reminded me of biting off gummy bears' heads and throwing them on the ceiling as a kid (shhh..some things must be left 20 years in the past). There was some great artwork on the walls, too. Overall a great location - huge portions, fresh and tasty food that is good and not too heavy, friendly service - we'll be back again! EDIT: Pictures of food and group uploaded! read more

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The first time I came to Lucky Platter, the waiter was so rude I walked out and, honestly, wrote a scathing Yelp review. You gotta love an owner who cares enough to reach out to you immediately, have a phone call to discuss the problem . . . and fire the offensive waiter the very next day because the owner can't tolerate the waiter's rude behavior one more minute. So it is with great pleasure that I can write this second review with nothing but high praise about the experience, the food, and of course, the service at Lucky Platter. Yelp reviews seem Brunch-heavy but please do not overlook Lucky Platter as a great dinner destination as well, which is what we had. Among the four of us, we ordered the Carribean Pumpkin Soup (so delicious my husband wanted it again for dessert!) and the Green Tomatoes as an appetizer, Roasted Vegetable Tagine (signature dish), Tandoori Salmon, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, BBQ Chicken Sandwich, and Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Layer Cake for dessert. Though we probably wouldn't order the Green Tomatoes again, we were all happy we tried it. All entrees were extremely well-prepared and very flavorful. Our waiter happily and patiently answered each of our many questions with a quick smile and knowledge of every dish. Just a note: when I asked about the Tandoori Salmon, he said that some Tandoori aficionados have complained it's not "authentic" enough (verified on Yelp by reviewers). That nuance was lost on me - it was absolutely delicious and a "Get Again". Big thanks to Derek for your consummate professionalism and for taking the pride in your restaurant. It shows! read more

The Lucky Platter - Tandoori Salmon with apricot chutney over bokchoy and mashed sweet potatoes on the side - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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First time at Lucky Platter. I was meeting some friends for breakfast. I got there a little early but they got me a cup of their delicious coffee very quickly. I had two cups before my friends arrived. I had the fried green tomatoes Benedict. It was so good. I will be back. It is my new breakfast place. The service was excellent. read more

I went here to grab some food and dessert to go. The woman I ordered from at the bar was great. The food however was very mediocre. The pizza wasn't good. Not sure how to describe it, but the sauce tasted funny and the crust was bland. For dessert (please note I didn't eat all of this on my own :) ) I had: Chocolate cake - not a fan of dark chocolate so wasn't really feeling this. Too bitter. Apple pie - just okay. Could of used more sugar - caramel or something to liven it up. Key Lime Pie - my favorite out of all of them. Crust was yummy! I probably won't be back anytime soon, but never say never :) read more

The Lucky Platter - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I want to love Lucky Platter. I really do. But their service is lacking. My order got messed up and I got regular fries instead of sweet potato fries (Honestly not a huge deal, but I was still disappointed. I didn't change it due to time) and my friend didn't get the sausage she ordered. The waiter was very nonchalant and didn't really seen to care too much that he forgot. I didn't expect him to grovel at our feet, but an "Oh I'm so sorry that happened! They will be right up." Would have been nice. Instead it was a very curt, "I'll go put in an order." Granted it was busy, but as a server myself I understand that it is possible to be nice and helpful, while also having a lot of tables. The food was really good. I got their California burger, with a veggie patty instead. I've also been here and gotten the Tofu scramble, which was also really delicious. You don't get a lot of food with the scramble so you are full, but not stuffed. Overall I'd come back here if I had to due to a time crunch or convenience. If I didn't though I'd stick to Walker Bros for brunch. read more

We've enjoyed eating at LP for years. It has been one of our regular go-to restaurants in Evanston. However the owner's recent snarly email to customers, "Proof of Vaccination to order eggs benedict on delicious cornbread," questioning the City of Evanston's requirement to have proof of vaccination for eating at local restaurants will keep us away for a while. While they say they will abide by the new requirement they seem to question the science-informed decisions of doctors, epidemiologists, and City of Evanston officials looking out for our health. Apparently the skill of cooking up egg dishes gives you insights suggesting that children don't need to be vaccinated and those who had COVID a year ago are immune from getting or transmitting new variants. Stick to what you know and don't insult customers with misguided home-spun health statements. read more

Before covid this was a nice neighborhood option. Their prices are out of control especially for what they offer. My wife & I had 2 salads which were just OK. The bill $60. Too bad, we won't be back. read more

Awesome!!!! Great food & service Highly recommended My kids loved what they got As did I. read more

The Lucky Platter - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Finally had a chance to come back for brunch, and it was as delicious as expected! I ordered the "classic" eggs Benedict -- two poached eggs with hollandaise, served atop honey baked ham and toasted cornbread. That's right, instead of a typical English muffin biscuit, the Lucky Platter serves their eggs Benedict with their house-made cornbread. Different, but YUM! We also tried the apricot cheese flaky that everyone raves about. It was rich and sweet and served warm and was the perfect ending to our meal. Be prepared for a wait, though. We showed up at 10:30 on a Sunday and the wait was 25 minutes for the two of us. (We opted to sit at the bar.) read more

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Can't believe I've lived in Evanston for four years and have just found this place. The omlette and apricot flaky were absolutely scrumptious. The food was decently portioned, just enough. I loved the interior--it has a really fun and cozy vibe. Be prepared however to wait in line for brunch on the weekends! My friend waited for about 15 or so minutes to be seated. We got there around 10:30. It was pretty busy and crowded. Wish we could've gotten a table further away from the door. read more

The Lucky Platter - Omlette#1 and apricot flaky - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Look up, at the ceiling, there are balls.... of Tin Foil. To protect us, against the Aliens... or add some quirk to this American Cafe/Diner/Restaurant. You'll also find way TOO many paintings of WAY too ugly people and their portraits, but they are interesting to stare at. Apparently this place is well known for their bread, but i failed to get anything exciting with my omelet, and went for the toast. The raisin scone was pretty good and the pancakes were delicioso! We ended up sitting at a table in waiter's "no man land" and thus it took a while for our clumsy waiter to take our order. Great company, good food, interesting ambiance... makes for an all around good morning. Plus, if you let me walk away with a handful of Jolly Ranchers, you've got a happy lady on your hands read more

My friend has been coming here for 15 years and she finally brought me. It was fantastic! Tuna melt served on corn bread. We got tomato bisque with it. The rice and beans aren't a side you see many places, and somehow even this was delicious! The chicken pot pie had an excellent crust, the insides filled with shredded chicken, and served with gravy on the side to drizzle all over. The bloody mary was excellent as well. Everything was so good and the staff is fantastic! read more

The Lucky Platter - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Lucky Platter looks like the creative little sister of your standard Big Boy or the like. Just a basic room full of booths, but the decor consists of paint-by-numbers, welded found object sculptures, and wads of tinfoil glued with maniacal precision to the drab acoustic ceiling tiles. Likewise, the menu takes the basic diner staples and does a big sidestep. Sure you've got iced tea, but there's also iced hibiscus tea (which is really good, though had some real pucker power). Bacon isn't just bacon but comes with a cinnamon glaze. (Hear that? It's me saying "omnomnomnomnom...") Fries are bumped up to sweet potato fries. Etc. Though we were there for lunch, we came in above the 2 pm cutoff so I could still order breakfast. Thus, I ordered the cinnamon glazed bacon (see "omnomnomnom" above), the roasted red potatoes (which were rather indifferent) and the Cheese Flakey (a pastry filled with soft sweetened cheese and apricot jam, served warm. Really delicious). My friend got the Texas burger and enjoyed it (though we wondered why one would put cucumbers on a burger...). Staff was chill and service was smooth. All in all, an enjoyable meal. Evanston's lucky to have this place; I'll remember it for future visits :) read more

Lucky platter has a wonderful, neighborhood-y vibe. As I walked in for an early lunch on a weekday, it felt like we were walking in on a bunch of regulars who hung out there for long breakfasts at their usual tables at the same time every week. But this isn't a typical diner with average food. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how tasty my tuna melt sandwich was! I appreciated that it came on a thin slice of cornbread rather than, say, between 2 thick slices of rye. The latter would've been too filling. My partner had a burger which he said was tasty too. I also had the tomato bisque, which was flavorful but I felt was too salty for me; I had to drink some water after having some soup. Lucky platter seems to favor quality over quantity, so you won't be getting a whole load of greasy potatoes and eggs on a giant plate. You'll get something a little more refined and certainly tastier than you might expect. read more

Great home-made comfort food. Wonderful menu. Safe pick up. Appreciate their presence in the neighborhood . We love their pizza, fish & chips, and crabcakes. (Also - that review complaining about them being out of fish and chips - who complains about a restaurant being out of something during a pandemic? So dumb.) read more

Convenient place to have brunch. I like the interior design because it's cute and original. I ordered the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast today and it tasted good! I love the raisin all over my toast! One of my friend who did not really like Cinnamon said the smell was too strong, but I felt it okay. I had a relax time over there. read more

The Lucky Platter - Cinnamon Raisin French Toast - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place is too cute! Came in this fine Saturday morning around 845, greeted by very friendly staff and seated right away. The restaurant is beautiful, from the ceiling to the paintings to the unique tables. I ordered a Bloody Mary, it was ok I've definitely had better. I also ordered the Cajun scramble. It wasn't what I expected, nothing actually Cajun about it. I thought it would be spicier and have way more flavor. I felt everything was under seasoned. I also got the cheese apricot flakey and it was amazing, I really recommend that. Overall a good experience, food was served quickly and the portion size was just right. 5 stars for service/atmosphere, 3 stars for food. I'll be back for breakfast to try something else. read more

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This place had me at its metallic menagerie of a marquee mounted above the entrance. My interest was officially piqued. Upon actually entering, however, I have to say the exterior is a bit misleading. The interior has an almost country bumpkin, diner feel to it. The whole establishment is an eclectic infusion of industrial, folky hippie-dippy-ness... that's about the best way I can put it. I still find myself wondering what the heck is on their ceiling tiles! It's certainly unique, I'll give them props for that. I've been here on two separate occasions: on my first go around, I was here for the late lunch/dinner hour and the second time was during breakfast. The only reason I give it 3 instead of 4 stars is the quality of the food seemed to vary based on the time of day. The lunch/dinner hour was also rather slow when we dined here (around 5pm) so we had the benefit of getting special attention from our server. He was super attentive, helpful, made great recommendations and even gave us an extra side dish on the house. Great personal touch that made our dining experience memorable. I think he may have been one of the owners, judging by the way he took care of us. I ordered the tandoori chicken sandwich and it was purely delectable, with its ingenious combination of feta cheese and their flavorful tomato and apricot chutney. Breakfast, on the other hand, was a little bit of a letdown. Granted, it was MUCH busier, they were bursting at the seams trying to seat guests as quickly as they could. I'm not sure if they were trying to sling the food as fast as possible, but there was definitely a noticeable difference. I don't want to use the word "bland", but it's the first word that comes to mind, unfortunately. I had the Classic Eggs Benedict, which was just okay. Which is too bad, because our server from our first visit here RAVED about the breakfast menu. Their coffee was also less than fresh. Maybe their pancakes or french toast would have been a better pick. All in all, I won't write the place off. It's got its own appeal and I could see it as having its regulars and loyal customers, especially those of whom live in the immediate area. Side Note: Their sweet potato fries are amazingly addictive, and the homemade cornbread they serve instead of warm rolls/bread was a nice touch, somethin' different -- but when I noticed they even incorporated it into the Eggs Benedict, I think maybe they'd gone a touch overboard. read more

The Lucky Platter - "The Benedict" (Classic) - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This is my favorite brunch spot in Evanston! The staff are awesome and the food never takes too long. They over a great variety of items from pancakes to burgers. Any time someone visits me from out of town I bring them here. read more

Went to Lucky Platter for brunch, loved our waitress. She gave us cornbread for the table with butter which was still really warm and tasted mildly sweet which was good. Got the Mexican omelette that comes with beans and side of breakfast potatoes and choice of apricot flakey. Also got the raisin brioche French toast with strawberries. It was okay but not a place I would go back to. I thought the potatoes were just really dry as well as the French toast. The omelette was good/okay and it had chorizo and avocado in it which I liked. The beans were on the side but I didn't really enjoy that. I did like the decor and atmosphere of the place. The lighting fixtures are made from strainers/colanders which was different. I wouldn't go again but I did hear that their chicken and waffles for dinner is really good. I might go back for dinner but not brunch again. read more

I'd come here again, if I were ever this far north of Chicago, and yet this far south of Evanston. I totally heart the spirit of the place -- the decor, the attitude of the waitstaff, the informality of seasonal changes to the menu. I heart all of that. I even heart some of the menu items, though ultimately I think the menu options were a bit sparse, and reliant on pretty interchangeable ingredients -- does every salad need the option of grilled chicken and/or portobellos? Don't some salad taste better without these add-ons? Should the consumer have all control over add-ons? Don't you, as a restauraneur want some input into how your finished items taste? But really, my food was just fine. And that's about all. Leaps and bounds above what a normal diner would serve -- healthier, veg-friendly, and with nice traditional hippy alternatives, like hibiscus tea, etc. But still, a bit predictable. read more

Atmosphere: Pretty large venue, original decorating but somewhat uninviting- 2 stars Service: Ok. Not as attentive as I'd hope considering the place was empty. 2 stars Food: Carribean Pumpkin Soup- 3 stars Small Tandoori Chicken Salad- 4 stars Side of Breaksticks- 3 stars Conclusion: The food was fresh and tasty but something about the atmosphere felt uninviting. Prices were decent but I'd only go back if a friend wanted too. 2 stizzars! read more

Had a great breakfast here while visiting Evanston this past weekend. Highlights for us were the "Make your own" scramble, the very fresh bread for toast, and of course the legendary apricot cheese flakey (you really have to try it to understand). Service was tip-top and we even lucked out and got a window table to be able to watch the characters on Main street going by. I feel that this is certainly one of the more enjoyable breakfast restaurants in Northern Illinois. Almost everything on the menu has a little twist to it, and sadly some people just can't handle this uniqueness (at least not for breakfast anyway). On the Lucky Platter website they describe their menu as "funkalicious post-Hippy eclectic world cuisine" and that sums it up about right. The only negative that I can think of is that parking can be somewhat of a challenge in and around this area on the weekends. If you are prepared to walk a block or two it's all good. read more

I found The Lucky Platter to be well more than okay, but not great. We got a Tandoori Chicken Sandwich and the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict. The crab cakes on the Benedict were tasty, the eggs were poached perfectly, the cornbread used in stead of an english muffin I thought was a cool twist, but I didn't think the portion of the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict was nearly large enough. It came only with the eggs benedict and no sides like hash browns or anything. The Tandoori Chicken Sandwich was quite good indeed, but I didn't think the portion for that was quite large enough either. One thing I did love about this place was the decor. It's kitschy and fun. There are paintings and weird photos and strange chandoliers. I dug it a lot. The service was good too. I'll probably be back, but I won't go when I'm quite so hungry. read more

The Lucky Platter - Inside The Lucky Platter - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Lucky Platter is definitely a local institution! Sure, it's not perfect, but given the quality of the food and the prices plus the fun decor, it's a great place, an absolute must! In addition to eating here regularly, I also buy takeout often, especially during the winter months (the Beef Stroganoff from the Winter menu is very yummy). For breakfast, it's either the Huevos Rancheros or the Blintzes. Yum! For lunch or dinner, you have to try the Fried Green Tomatoes. Both their soups and salads are very good. The large potion of the latter is truly large, only get it as the entree. Also, their pick-your-toppings pizzas are excellent So what's not perfect? They're not so good about honoring requests such as getting water that's not cold. They may be slow to respond to other requests, too. But everything else makes up for these aspects of the service. Remember to look up when you're there, it'll make you smile. read more

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Lucky Platter, what happened? Me and my family have been going to this restaurant for years when we're in Evanston. We were always happy with the food and the service. Not so today. Me and my mom ordered the small Tandoori Chicken Salad - our go-to dish. The salad is smaller than it used to be (smaller plates but same price - $10), some of my mom's chicken had fat still on it, there was hardly any chutney on the salad, and the croutons were soggy rubber-like. My aunt ordered a small avocado salad and she said it was good, except for the same "complaint" about the new size of the salad and the soggy croutons. Our waitress never came back to check on us during our meal. She only showed up at the end to clear our plates. We told her about the soggy croutons and she did bring it to the attention of the cooks. Another big negative today was the noise level. We get that the restaurant was packed - it always is. So we expected it to be loud since it's such a small place. However, we were seated in back right next to the server's station. Between the servers slamming dishes and dropping things back there and the loud buzz of the restaurant itself, we had to yell at each other across the table just to have a conversation. Sad to say, we'll be looking for a new favorite place for lunch in Evanston from now on. read more

Pros: -Solid diner food. My Texan husband enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich and my crab cake benedict was definitely tasty. The crab cake component was surprisingly good and the benedict was yummy. -They have improved the ceilings from the tin foil decorations noted by some yelp customers Cons -The cook of their poached eggs was inconsistent from plate to plate. -service was very slow -$6.50 for an average-sizes mimosa with barely any booze on it. The food is good, but not the stuff of which legends are made. If I lived down the street I would probably come fairly frequently. Service is too slow, which would be fine if drinks weren't so expensive (so we could justify having more than one during the long wait for food). read more

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Poor service. Small portions and higher than avg prices. Our food came cold and the eggs on the Benedict were hard yolks. Hollandaise sauce was sour. Won't go there again. Suggest avoiding it. read more

I am soooo glad they are still open. We went to watch the sunrise and then found this delightful breakfast, I had to write a review. Everything was delicious....down to the crunch of the toast!! YUM!! Please support local restaurants!! read more

Probably more of a 3.5. I attended this restaurant a couple of evenings back with my family and lab colleagues for an informal lab get-together. They were accommodating with our large party (7 adults + 1 toddler) and the service was good throughout the night. There were actually a couple of small hiccups with the service, but the waitress corrected things quickly and with a great attitude. As a former waitress myself, I understand these things can happen with a large party on a busy evening pretty easily and it's how you handle and correct problems that is ultimately most important. Great job there. This restaurant serves homestyle diner dishes with a bit of flair. I had the whitefish with roasted veggies, my daughter had the kid's cheese pizza and a side of beet salad, and my husband had the tandoori chicken salad and cup of Caribbean pumpkin soup. They also serve the table with cornbread. The cornbread was pretty good (it is sweet with a cake-like density that my LO definitely enjoyed). I was not overwhelmed by my own dish. The fish could have used more flavor for my palate, and the veggies wouldn't have suffered from it, either. I will say, the fish was cooked very well. It is always disappointing to get overcooked seafood/fish, and they did get this right. I tried my husband's soup and was a bit disappointed. You really get hit with a banana flavor up front and the pumpkin seems to fade into the background. I had imagined a more savory flavor with perhaps some warm/sweet notes in supporting roles. My daughter loved her pizza (no surprise), and my husband enjoyed his salad. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals. The decor is fun, kind of a kitschy self-aware mid-century vibe that vaguely reminded me of a more sophisticated Peewee's Playhouse. I would give it another shot. No NU or military discounts. read more

Good place. Good service and food. It easily gets crowded. I highly recommend the mushroom quesadilla! It's delicious!! Been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a decent array of options. read more

Just as good as it was 19 years ago when my husband and I went on our first date. We got the same thing - a blue cheese/onion/mushroom scramble. Even the fried potatoes were full of flavor. We will be back again! read more

Went on the recommendation of a friend . Was not terribly impressed . Went for lunch at 1:00 pm ... had to wait 20 min for a table ... when we were seated the banquette seats were wet from being wiped down. Looked over the menu and the lunch specials thot it was a bit pricey ... opted to try the chicken pot pie. Terrible . The crust on the pie was soggy and mushy . Heat me up in a microwave ... when the pot pie arrived I was not impressed with the soggy ball of dough . I tore into it hoping it was soggy because of the gravy inside ... not the case. While it was jammed packed with shredded breast meat there was no gravy per se inside there were some bits of mushrooms but no gravy . I ordered as a side the Thai Braised Kale ... I don't know what flavors in this dish were to represent Thai flavorings ... no spice , no spices or heat . I hold that I can get better prepared food in my own kitchen and will not return to this place . My dinner mates got the classic burger ( looked dry ) took one half home I know he doesn't have any pets so I hope he threw it out. The other got a breakfast that looked well..meh... he ordered eggs and the apricot "flaky" which also was soggy and not flaky. What's A mother to do ? Well in my book not return to this place . read more

I went there with a friend on Wednesday morning for some breakfast. We were seated, and we waited for over twenty minutes to be asked if we wanted something to drink before our mea. After waiting another 10 minutes for coffee and juice; I ordered bacon and eggs for myself and a bowl fruit with granola for my friend. There was another twenty minute wait for food without a hospitality check or a coffee refill. The service was disappointing to say the least for the cost of the meals. It was over thirty dollars before the rip. read more

i used to frequent this spot as i was new to evanston. the food is mediocre & hit or miss!! recently i ordered pickup & they didn't take the order right BUT kept insisting that i take what had been prepared! not having that, i asked for a credit but was told they'd make the right thing for me at a later date, not having that i again asked for a credit, 6 Days Later No Credit! called again & they started arguing w/ me!! NOT A REPUTABLE PLACE STAY AWAY read more

Imagine yourself in an alternate dimension that is very similar but not -quite- like our own. You walk into a small town diner. Everything familiar is there-the cozy, homelike feeling, the affable staff of interesting humans, the tempting air of eggs, coffee, toast, griddled meats. It all seems right. But on the edges of your perception, there in the margins of reality, it's all just a bit different. Oil paintings of barefooted Dutch maidens and forgotten tiara-crowned royalty hang over the comfortable cracked-leather booths and banquettes. The dropped lighting is shaded with repurposed metal pasta collanders that throw odd spots of light across the room as they spin lazily in the breeze of the fans. The server brings you something called an Apricot Cheese Flakey, and suddenly you have transcended the bounds of common, workaday breakfast, entering a realm that simultaneously scares and excites you. The Lucky Platter is a beautiful thing. Situated beneath a lovely brick Evanston hotel-turned-apartment building, neighbored by a tiny eclectic cocktail lounge and an Irish sweater boutique, it's everything you want out of a comfortable, friendly neighborhood diner. The service is quick, polite and helpful. The prices are beyond decent. But where the Platter stands apart is in the quality of its product. The food here is really damned good. Some of it is simple, some is complex, and you will get exactly what you order either way. The execution is just wonderful. Great flavors, fresh ingredients, everything cooked to the perfect temperature. The coffee is great. They have good beer and wine. A lot of places fancier than the Lucky Platter can pull off one meal a day that's awesome and disappoint on the rest. But the Platter does breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it's all just pure, enjoyable, hearty, lovely food. Many props to the staff, back and front of house. Much love to the location, in the quieter but much lovelier and (dare I say) modestly hipper burgeoning neighborhood on Evanston's south side, near the blurry border of Rogers Park. The Lucky Platter is absolutely a gem, and one that we can all hope will shine for many years to come. read more

So, I'm all sorts of in breakfast lust with this place... After many diverted attempts to eat here, I finally made it! And yes, I am yelping live. That's how I roll, omelette-filled, caffeine-driven and keyboard out. I'm for real. The exact blend of quirk and cute that I desire in a breakfast place. Funky decor, unique vibe, random sculptures and art, tucked away location. Steps from the Main Street Purple Line stop...easy metered parking, all sweet and sensible in Evanston. My No. 1 omelette was nothing short of perfection. Goat cheese, avocado, artichoke hearts. mmmmm, coupled with an apricot cheese flakey (who needs whole wheat toast? NOT I)...simply an amazing Thursday morning kickoff. So here, I sit...all content like in my breakfast endorphin rush, and the world is righted by eggs once again. And coffee, and this HUGE fish ornament fashioned out of coffe cans and old vintage paintings, and well-decorated tables that do not match....and...and... And I just like it. Norah Jones adds to the euphoria, I might add... read more

Unprofessional, unfriendly, unaccommodating They refused to cook my food without butter, even after I said it was not just a preference but an allergy. I was told that it was impossible for them to cook eggs without using butter on the grill. When we asked a second waiter to confirm that this was true, the waiter was yelled at from the kitchen, loud enough for us to hear it "No! It's impossible!" Ridiculous. Our waiter was one of the most sullen people I've ever encountered. I've heard he's famous for this. As for the food, I ended up having sausage and potatoes. The sausage was truly amazing. The potatoes were boring, flavorless and tough. read more

What else do I need to say? There is a so-so selection of vegetarian options available here. They are a "post-Hippy" restaurant after all. The food is average and the portions are on the smaller side. The menu is little varied, but I find the vegetarian options pretty boring. Mushroom Quesadillas, Grilled Portabella Sandwich, Huevos Rancheros (the Blind Faith Cafe version is much better), Avocado Salad... YAWN! Kudos for having Tofu Scramble on the menu though. The prices for certain items like side dishes are inexpensive at only $2.50, but the majority of dishes are slightly overpriced. Like Justin G. states, it's Evanston. The service is a hit or miss, usually a miss. I'm a bitchy Yelper who takes off one star for every 15 minutes my water glass is left empty. read more