Courtway Restaurant

Solid but probably over-romanticized.

Based primarily on Yelp reviews, I hunted this place down to check it out. It's not really THAT hard to find - anyone who's been on this part of Lasalle can see that there are restaurants down this little alley (Burrito Beach, Roly Poly and a Chinese place), so if you know it's there you just keep going down the alley until you see the Courtway sign, and there it is.

The appearance of the place is definitely frozen in time, with the very low lunch counter etc., but (and maybe I went on the wrong day) I didn't see any 80 year-old waitresses or overly-friendly cashiers, and I wasn't called "sugar" or "hon" even once. The ownership and staff seem to be first- or second-generation new Americans that are typically seen in many diners.

Food was good - it was a cold blustery day so I got the turkey and gravy. It came over white bread, which was awesome, and it was really yummy and hit the spot. But with tax I think it was over $10. That's definitely not diner prices, in this decade or any other. And with places like Bacci close by that also serve a version of comfort food, I doubt I'll be back to Courtway with any regularity.

This is old school. And good luck finding it without looking, hard.

I'm all about the new and exciting, the latest and greatest, but once in a while you come upon a place that hasn't changed for so long that it becomes just that.  The wildly decorated dine-in/take-outs, with loud flavors, and loud atmospheres have become so mainstream that they're really no longer unique or interesting. Taking a 30,000ft view of the Chipotle's, Roti's, NafNaf's, and Protien Bar's of the world, they all start to run together.  Sometimes a place that's pretty much stayed true to its character for the last 40+ years suddenly surprises you with its downright old-fashioned goodness.

Courtway did that for me.  I can't recall if I've ever had hot roast turkey over triangle cut white bread doused in gravy with mashed potatoes. Ever.  And, broken down individually it was obviously nothing new. There were no surprises.  But, it was down-home, well done, rich and heavy goodness that I was surprisingly drawn to.  The real mashed potatoes, hearty gravy and thick sliced roast turkey all played their part to leave me extremely satisfied.  

This joint couldn't have an image or a taste that's further from the Mediterranean-craze sweeping through Chicago. But that's the point too, and why I love it.

(Order the house dinner rolls to start, 2 for $0.75. They're absolutely the best.)

Simple, inexpensive diner in the Loop with all the classics.  Cool old lunch counter and relaxed vibe.  A great place for a low-key sitdown breakfast or lunch.  The space definitely hasn't changed much in 40 yrs...the people are nice and make you feel at home.  Tucked in the plaza of 29 S. LaSalle Office Building, near the Roly Poly.