Absolutely disgusting. The food is edible only if you fancy a couple days lost to vomiting & stomach cramps. The smell of cigarette smoke wafting from the kitchen is disturbing. The waitress was a broad. Everything was filthy. I'm not just talking greasy spoon type dirty, I'm talking bar bathroom level dirty. STEER CLEAR.
Review Source:Here is why they were closed:
<a href="/redir?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.cityofchicago.org%2FHealth-Human-Services%2FFood-Inspections%2F4ijn-s7e5%2F37605&s=6ab99ce5fc858975921c7e4d1db2d96c7c1254816109e29ed9031264bee70428" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://data.cityofchica…</a>
06/09/2010
Inspection Type
Complaint
Results
Fail
Violations
2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE Comments: All food establishments that display, prepare, or store potentially hazardous food shall have adequate refrigerated food storage facilities.FOUND WALK IN COOLER AT 44.5 AND DISPLAY COOLER 43.5F-44.4F 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE Comments: All cold food shall be stored at a temperature of 40F or less. FOUND EGGS AT 47.6F 2 DOZ IN WALK IN COOLER,STEAKS 3LS 45.5F,HAMBER PATTY 1LBS 44.7F,MILK 40 SM CONTAINERS,REAL BUTTER STATED ON CONTAINER NEED TO BE REFIRGERATED,WHOLE HAM COOKED 5LB ALL TEMP INTERNAL 45.F TO 47.6F COST 226,54 HAD DENATURAL. 29. PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATION(S) CORRECTED 7-42-090 Comments: A separate and distinct offense shall be deemed to have been committed for each Minor violation that is not corrected upon re-inspection by the health authority. INSPECTION CONDUCTED ON 11-25-09 REPORT NUMBER 163896 VIOLATION NUMBER #32 NO SPLASH GAURD AT EXPOSED HAND BOWEL NEXT TO FRONT COUNTER TOP NEXT TO 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED Comments: All food not stored in the original container shall be stored in properly labeled containers. ALL FOOD CONTAINER IN WALK IN UNITS AND REACH IN AND REFRIGERATION UNITS NEEDS LABLES AND DATES. 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED Comments: All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. CUTTING BOARDS IN FRONT AREA NEED TO BE REPLACE OPEN SEAM AND STAINED MOP SINK IN REAR STORAGE AREA. GASKETS IN REACH IN COOLER IN FRONT AREA ARE NOT BEING MAINTAIN. REMOVE RUSTY SHELFS IN WALK IN COOLER 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS Comments: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. SHELF IN COOLER DRY STORAGE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ALL EQUIPMENT STEAM TABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT,SODA MACHINE 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED Comments: The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. FLOORS ALL THRU THE ESTABLISMENT NEEDS CLEANING STORAGE AREA AND PREP AREA FRONT AND BACK,WALK IN COOLER,BATHROOMS UNDER HEAVY EQUIPMENT 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED Comments: All rooms in which food or drink is prepared, or in which utensils are washed, shall be lighted so that a minimum of 50-foot candles of light is available on all work surfaces. LIGHT SHIELD ALL NEED SHIELD AND WITH END CAPS. 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED Comments: Cleaning equipment shall be properly stored away from food, utensils, equipment, and clean linens. ICE MACHINE NEED DETAIL CLEANING
This place was shut down because I called the health department after being diagnosed with food poisoning. Â What is comical is when I walk by now they laugh at me, when honestly the joke is on them. They were shut down. Â Here is my experience.
Fairly early Saturday morning, wanted some greasy breakfast food after moving all day the day before. Â We were exhausted. Â I went there with my partner and I ordered cheese cake to start. Yes, cheese cake for breakfast! Â I ordered two eggs over medium, toast, bacon. My dining partner ordered two eggs over medium, hash browns, and bacon. Â The only food we shared was she had a bite of my cheesecake. Â When she went for a second bite, she flipped it back to avoid the crust as she doesn't like graham cracker. Â When she did the entire bottom of it was GREEN. Â She pulled the waitress over and told her and she responded with "Oh well guess I can't sell anything in that case today." Â No apology. NOTHING. Â I almost got sick over the mold I had just consumed. Â Our regular food came and we ate it. Â About 30 minutes later I got SICK. very sick. Â I was vomiting for hours. Â Then my partner joined me in the vomit dance. Â I was sick for 9 days. Â I missed 3 days of work over this experience. Â I called the health board to let them know. Maybe it was bad eggs? Maybe the mold? The bacon? Â I can't even express how sick we both were. Â I ended up at the Dr. and he said it was food poisoning. Â The health board came out and shut them down. Now from what I've seen and learned in Chicago, a restaurant has to be pretty bad to be shut down.
The burrito and fries are an awesome deal and its delicious here. Patty is the friendliest person and the cook is awesome too! you can't beat the deals they have here! perfect for late night munchies if you live near by. I used to go here after partying late into the night on weekends.
Review Source:I really wanted to be able to give this place a better rating. I used to go here a lot more before I started going to Merle's, Tre Kroner, West River Cafe, and a few others. The place has potential and, in Albany Park, I think we're suckers for what could be. This could be our cute little neighborhood diner, but it's a bit grittier than most would like for a dining establishment. The interior could also use a bit of updating. Â The worn interior looks more dirty and old than charming and vintage. The food can get a bit greasy but, for the most part, it's a good as any neighborhood diner food. Keep in mind, I've mostly eaten the basic breakfast food, club sandwich, and gyros. What I've been having trouble getting over is the cigarette smoke smell that often comes from the kitchen (I think they smoke behind the small building and leave the door open) and that one time that I was brought a water glass with a thick lipstick stain on it. Debbie insisted she had washed it herself and looked surprised. I was grossed out, but tried to keep my composure in front of Debbie as not to get her angry (if you know Debbie, you'll understand). I haven't been back since. I'm still waiting for the gag reflex to stop kicking in whenever I think about the lipstick. Although now I'm curious to know why they were shut down. Two stars for having ok food, being open 24 hours, and location.
Review Source:This place is close to where I do laundry so I've eaten here a couple times. Â The first time I went in for a grilled cheese and fries...it was cheap and decent. Â I feel I got what I paid for. Â On my second visit I tried breakfast...it was better. Â I will go back for breakfast to try their biscuits and gravy.
Review Source:Good Lord. I created a Yelp account just now with the sole purpose of warning the people of the greater Albany Park area to never, ever, ever, ever, ever eat here! Let me break down my recent visit here for you,
1. Walk in, sit down, look at a menu and then I asked where the bathroom was. Â I was then told it was only for paying customers (as I sat with menu in hand) and after convincing the trashy relic of a 'waitress' that I would indeed be dining in and even paying for my meal! I was then directed to the back of the 'restaurant' where I essentially had to walk into the kitchen to get to the bathroom door. Then, in the middle of my leak, I was walked in on by the cook! Hard to imagine as I was the only patron there!
2. I then returned to the bar and took a big swig of the water glass left for me there and realized that it tasted like a combination of ass and metal. Then I ordered a steak burrito and chili. Here's where it really gets good. She dishes out this brownish substance, which I am not kidding, really actually looked like liquidy poop. I took all of my courage to take a bite and this 'chili' didn't even taste like chili at all, it tasted like super, salty, spoiled beans. So after I pushed that aside and tried not to look at it for a while by burrito arrived. Complete with spoiled sour cream, steak that tasted/ felt like it was flash fried and what tasted like Aldi brand rip off Kraft cheese. The side of beans and rice looked like it was as old as the diner itself.
3. After choking down this unbelievably unappetizing and unsanitary food/ drink I then ran into yet another problem. When the bill arrived, my cracked out waitress told me that they don't have a f--cking credit card machine and then told me to go walk, in the snow, to an atm several blocks away and get cash and then come back. I fought every urge in my body to not just walk to my car and take off but my time spent working as a server myself guided me to the atm and then back to the Crack House. Â
I feel like my stomach and my wallet where raped. Don't ever eat here unless you are either to drunk to walk (or discern the difference between cooked and uncooked meat), on crack cocaine or are some sort of barn animal
I went here out of desperation for some breakfast, and was reminded why i shouldn't of stepped inside in the firstplace when the 50 year old South Side trash lady waitress said "huddlehouse grill? they should call this place "half-way house grill" as she complained to the manager. I was sorry to over hear that.
i'll never forget it.
I don't know how my review got UFO'd for Huddle House, but I sure as hell did not get an email about it. One of Chicago's classic diners, you will find 1970's wood paneling that is faded out and video poker in the backroom. On any given night, you will find heavy Chicago northwest side accents flying through and giant cakes sitting out in the front. The unmistakable orange chairs will draw you in.
At first glance, Huddle House looks like its best days may be behind it, but don't let its rundown appearance fool you. Food here is served on the chepap and is generally generously loaded up. I hate that their skillets lack meat, so I will load them up with an extra order of bacon and an extra order of sausage. Their burgers are mediocre, but the Philly cheese steak is a slight degree better. I have not tried their fried chicken or Mexican food, but you can bet that you'll find one of two Hispanic cooks anytime any day of the week.
Watch out Saturday night: trash from North Side College rolls through here, glazed eyed and talking their hipster nonsense.
When the original owner sold this place about 10 years ago, it has never been the same. The traditional southern style breakfast with signature biscuits and gravy with every morning dish is gone. The quality of the food went Third World as well as the eye sore paper menus on the walls . The coffee tastes like they used the water from the North Branch. If I'm not mistaken they have a poker machine in the back that keeps this place open 24 hours. If you want a late hour diner experience go to Diner Grill at 1635 W. Irving Park Rd..
Review Source:Stumbled here this past Friday because I was at a friend's house party and I desperately needed some food to soak up my binge drinking. Me and another friend walked around the neighborhood searching for something to devour. We walked in and were greeted by a very kind waitress, who seemed to be the the only one there (it was past 1AM). They had a pretty nice menu. I ordered a chicken burrito with fries, which only cost $6. Either I was really drunk or that was one of the best burritos I ever had!
They are open 24 hours and can whip up just about anything, the waitress told me. They don't take credit cards (Im glad my friend had some cash)
Whenever I am in Albany Park late at night, this will be my go-to spot!
Boy, the Huddle House Grill has been in this location forever. Â There's a permanent sign for "Waitress Wanted" on the window (it's probably been there since the place opened!). Â It's definitely a dive, serving up greasy diner food 24 hours a day. Â I've been here a few times, usually for breakfast. Â Conveniently, the Huddle House is located across the street from the Kimball Brown Line stop. Â I want to go here one last time before they tear it down (new condos are sprouting up right next door).
Review Source:This is the holy grail of old school diners. I've been past this place hundreds of times, because it's right across the street from the Kimball Brown Line stop (end of the line!), and at the intersection of Kimball and Lawrence, which is a transfer for me if I'm coming home from school when the Foster bus isn't running. But it's innocuous enough that I never thought to stop in.
Here's a tour of the Huddle House. 3 tables with 6 swivel chairs attached to each. Another dozen (?) seats at the counter. A pay phone next to which is posted a handwritten sign, warning you that "This phone is not (underlined) for making (underlined twice) calls. Limit 5 minutes." This is perhaps a warning to kids and drug dealers. While I was eating, one youth came in and used the phone three times. Less than 5 minutes each time. Next to the phone *and* the cash register is posted the notice, "No Change without purchase." Don't fuck with the Huddle House.
If this puts you off to the Huddle House, you had best stay away. If you don't like chatting with the waitress (Carla), this is probably not the place for you. She will tell you to get the ham -- "off the bone" -- with your breakfast. She is giving you good advice. However, if you want the 222 special -- two eggs, two wheatcakes, and 2 pieces of bacon or sausage -- with ham instead, you are out of luck. Even if you are willing to pay more. Alfredo, who runs the grill, is a "no substitutions" kind of guy. But he runs the flattop like a master, turning out orders in record time. And you can get a side of ham for 2 bucks if you want. The wheatcakes are excellent -- light, fluffy, and surprisingly fragrant. If Carla's pouring a bunch of to-go coffee's -- not unusual, since much of the daytime clientele consists of workers from the CTA and Streets & San -- expect your coffee in styrofoam. If not, it's coming in plastic, which is not  really a step up.
If I lived in this neighborhood, I would be at the Huddle House all the time. But I'm an old school diner kind of guy. Unless you share my fetish, this is not destination dining. But I may start taking the Lawrence bus home more often, just so I can stop in.
By the way, the other sign posted at the register informs you that this is a "Cash Only" place. But since there are a dozen ATMs within spitting distance, that shouldn't be a problem.
Three nights ago, I had a meal at Huddle House that was so terrible I had to join Yelp just to warn people away from eating there. Â The fries were burnt, the meat was questionable, and the soda was flat. Â With tax, my meal came to about $8, which was roughly $7 more than it was worth. Â To top it off, twenty minutes later I started having massive stomach pains that ended with... Â Well, you're a smart guy. Â You figure it out. Â Bottom line: Â Don't eat at Huddle House. Â Ever. Â That was the worst meal I've ever had at a restaurant.
Review Source:Nothing fancy, just real food and real people. Â They have been around a long time, and they seem to know most people by name at this classic little diner. Â It's the kind of place that serves down to earth comfort food for a low price, where you will hear folks sharing stories about their lives. Â No pretense here. Â It's kind of like sharing a meal with old pals. Â They are right across from the Ravenswood Brown line and they're open 24 hours.
Review Source:
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