Peggy Sue's Diner

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  Another one off the beaten path (well at least for a Chicagoan like me).  I go to Peggy Sue's Diner when driving to my girlfriend's cottage in Michigan and everything about it makes it the perfect midway stop.  Our first stop was on one such trip and we were blown away by our luck.  It's a classic diner, nothing else, but they do things right.  I had the biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak and my girlfriend ordered an omelet and everything was superb.  Nothing fancy, just done right.  Even the coffee was great, and drinking crappy coffee is basically something I consider a sunk cost whenever eating at a diner I've never heard of.
  
  Perhaps I'm giving Peggy Sue's Diner credit for the general attitude of Chesterton's residents, but either way the courtesy we received was a bit startling.  I don't exactly seek out conversations with strangers, but we had three very enjoyable ones in that first visit, and this doesn't even include our interactions with the waitress and Peggy Sue herself who came out to our table for a quick chat.
  
  The diner just received a makeover, and though I'll miss the small-town folksy charm, the renovations it received make the place look amazing.  But, honestly, I'd go back even if the food was served in a lean-to if I got the same food and atmosphere.

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  Posted on 03.02.13 Seth F.

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  Stopped by Peggy Sue's on our way to Michigan to check out wedding venues. Boy Yelp! certainly steered us in the right direction. Parking was easy, but we walked in and the place was packed! Sure it was a Saturday - but it felt like a cozy little diner that you'd find tucked away in the big city. We waited less than 5-10 minutes for our table and we were greeted by the friendliest service I can remember in quite some time. The waitress suggested the biscuits & gravy....but I went for a skillet and I wish someplace in the city had one nearly as good.
  
  My fiancé had the biscuits & gravy - let's just say he can't wait till I plan the next trip to Michigan to look at wedding venues.
  
  Quick recap:
  Coffee was great - strong and fresh
  Bacon was crispy - not overcooked, just the way I like it
  Hash browns - my personal favorite! YUM! Might drive back to Chesterton just for these hash browns
  Price - can't be beat!
  
  All in all - if you're in the area Peggy Sue's is a MUST. One of the friendly patrons nearby mentioned they recently remodeled and I found the diner to have perfect charm, service, and food.

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  Posted on 02.12.13 Nicole B.

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  This place serves coffee so strong it will get up, walk down the counter and bring you an orange juice chaser.
  The waitresses are sweeter than honey, but tinged with just a smidgen of sass.
  That short order kid must have eight arms, because my eggs (over easy) were sitting in front of me perfectly cooked before I finished asking for them.
  The biscuits are insane. Completely. Certifiably. Coo-coo for coco puffs crazy.
  
  and the toast is pretty good too.

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  Posted on 02.05.13 Paul M.

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  Ya know the movie Groundhog Day? The small town that they're in?  Yupp, that's where I thought I was when we drove through after a crazy night of outlet shopping.  
  
  This main street in Chesterton is sooo cute.  There's even a gazebo in the middle of the park, decorated with Christmas bows already!  Super precious.  
  
  Anyway, this diner is perfect.  The breakfast menu is extensive and CHEAP.  Biscuits and gravy were only 2.75 and one egg was 75 cents.  You'll NEVER see that anywhere in the Chi.  The coffee was also one of the best cups I've ever had.  Attribute it to my lack of sleep, but it was delicious.  My friends also broke down and got some hot chocolate...I think the heaping mound of whipped cream was really what won them over.  
  
  I also enjoyed all the different state license plates on the walls.  My most favorite one, though, was one from Illinois that said, "Men Lie."  Ahhh, truth.  
  
  Great pit stop on the way home!

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  Posted on 11.30.10 Melanie V.

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  What is the definition of a diner? For me, a diner should have good, cheap food; be unpretentious and casual; a menu that includes a variety of basic, down-home and (in this case) Midwestern items; and maybe, just maybe, have waitresses with big bleached hair that call patrons "honey" or "sugar." At Peggy Sue's Diner, you'll get three out of four. At least, I did.
  
  I last ate at Peggy Sue's a couple years ago and liked it. Today, The Ancient One and I stopped by for lunch.
  
  Peggy Sue's, as  befits a diner, is open only for breakfast and lunch. It is located just off the square in Chesterton, with plenty of free parking all around.
  
  The booths along the south wall have signs that say "non smoking." I admit I do not know - can you still smoke at restaurants in Indiana? Apparently the answer is yes, although I did not see anyone light up. We moved to the non-smoking side.
  
  The menu is strictly breakfast items (eggs, omelets, pancakes, skillet meals) and lunch (sandwiches, soup, and a couple specials). Although we came in at lunchtime, and I was jonesing for a BLT or egg salad, I ordered the Chesteron Omelet. This was a 3-egg omelette with cheese, peppers, onions, and sausage. I substituted bacon for the sausage. it comes with hash browns and toast, but I skipped the toast.
  
  The Ancient One chose two eggs sunny side up with corned beef hash. Now I will admit that hash is not something that has ever tickled my fancy. However, The Ancient One really loves it, so when I saw it on the menu, I knew that she would get it.
  
  We got coffee as soon as we sat down. It was good basic coffee. If you are so urbanized that you must have organic or fair trade, my friends, you must go to Red Cup down the block. This is a diner, and an Indiana diner on top of that. In most parts of Indiana, fair trade means that both parties signed off on the deal without firearms being involved.
  
  We really enjoyed our food. There was barely a crumb left behind. The total bill for two breakfast entrees and two coffees was $16.21. I consider that a good deal - and no, firearms were not involved.
  
  The diner is decorated with a lot of automobile memorabilia. There are many pictures and illustrations of classic cars. There are also a lot of old license plates from all over the country, most of them vanity plates. Most of the plates are amusing.
  
  All in all, a good deal for breakfast or lunch. Not brunch, friends - this is a small town in Indiana. Brunch is for yuppies, snobs, and transplanted Chicagoans.
  
  I will definitely visit this place again. Who knows - next time I may order both the BLT and the egg salad, eat half of each, and take the other halves home.
  
  Writing about this is making me hungry all over again. Sadly, it is late evening, and I am sitting in a Chicago apartment, dreaming of NW Indiana. Chesterton is okay, and Peggy Sue's is better. Go, eat there, and don't be a pain in the ass. No one cares that you're from Chicago.

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  Posted on 10.12.10 Roseann M.

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  Great country cooking, where the only two "vegetables"  accompanying your MEAT are both STARCHES (potatoes, bread).
  
  Man, is THIS a long way to get breakfast.  Well SURE it is, if you're going on the Apple-Palooza tour!  Our group starts off here for a BIG hearty breakfast for those not of hardened arteries.  This is right off of 94, exit 39, eastbound.  Take the road into town and find the square and there you are.
  
  SPECIALTY - Country gravy - two words that send chills down cardiologists AND big guys spines alike.  It starts with pork sausage meat, fried until cooked.  Leaving the grease, you may add MORE grease to it (the liquid), and then add flour.  Salt and pepper would be the only spices (although I think it could stand a bit of sage or a pinch of sugar or soy sauce for you foodies).  
  
  This goes on top of:
  - Biscuits
  - Country fried steak
  - Every skillet dish
  - Toast
  - Unsheltered children and pets
  
  They make a vat of it in the back so BIG, due to its popularity, they might as well run a hose to get it out to the front.  
  
  Over biscuits and eggs, oh MAN.  This is a once a year treat for us city folk, and a staple for those who have to carry the cows home.  
  
  Omelets are fresh, bacon crisp, sausage is pattied or linked.
  
  Skillets are also good, with two eggs and your choice of anything in them.
  
  Waffles, pancakes are light and fluffy.
  
  Everything is pretty gosh darn good, and you can't go wrong.  You can, however, order TOO MUCH, so just PACE yourself.  
  
  CAVEATS - Multigrain pancakes - Eh.  
  
  Everything about the food and flavor is big, except the price.  Come on down and enjoy a little piece of Indiana heaven.   Say hi to Gayle who as worked there for 30 some years.
  
  Open 5AM to 3PM, 7 days a week.

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  Posted on 10.06.08 Frankie J.

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