This Week's Counter: Big Al's Diner

We've known about Big Al's forever, but only figured out recently it had a counter.  Located on Larchmere near Shaker Square, this place has been around a long time and has a loyal following.  After visiting on a Saturday morning, we can see why.

Big Al's is fairly old and pretty small - maybe a dozen tables and a small counter with only 4 seats.  It was about 3/4 full when we got there and fortunately there were 2 counter seats open. After we sat down, the remaining tables steadily filled up.

One of the standout features is a great breakfast menu -- very extensive with many different types and combinations of egg dishes, pancakes and waffles, omelettes, breakfast meats, etc. Cam chose a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a bagel and home fries, while Ted picked eggs, bacon, home fries and coffee.  All the food was excellent -- hot and tasty.  Coffee was also great, served in a heavy ceramic mug.

All around, this was a great counter -- maybe not the biggest and most comfortable, but the combo of the great menu, good food, friendly service and perfect diner atmosphere made this one of our favorites.  Highly recommend!

Cam says: "Average service with a not so comfortable counter. However, food quality and temperature were on point. I'll give it 8 frying pans."

Ted says: "Excellent in almost all ways -- food, service and atmosphere. Definitely a winner. 8 pans."

 

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This Week's Counter: Jack Flaps

We've known about Jack Flaps, Lorain Ave on the near West side, for awhile.  It wasn't a high priority since it's a higher-end breakfast place, without the typical range of choices you get at a more classic diner. But we needed to check it off the list, so we dropped in midday on a Saturday.  

The place was jammed -- people waiting outside, even though it was pretty cold. We asked the  host if we could grab a couple seats at the counter, but also unlike a typical diner they treat those seats like a regular table -- if it opens up and you are next on the list, you get them.  So we put our name on the waiting list, figuring we'd end up at a table. Coincidentally, when we got to the top of the list, some seats at the counter freed up, so we were set!

The menu is oriented to the young, hipster crowd  -- no bacon and eggs here.  Choices include candied jalapeno pancakes, root vegetable mash, and Vietnamese-style sausage -- that should give you a sense of what it's like.  So we stuck to the only basics available  -- plain pancakes and syrup.  Simple, but very good.  Coffee was also very good, and far better than the usual places we go.

Kind of doubt we'll go back, just not really our kind of place and not enough choice of things we like.  But glad we tried it, and for sure if you're looking for something a bit different for breakfast, give it a try.

Cam says: "Decent atmosphere with OK food quality and a comfortable counter. I'll give it 7 frying pans."

Ted says: "Very different from our usual places, and a bit outside what I like for a breakfast experience. Good quality though, especially the coffee  Worth 6 pans.."

This Week's Counter: YT Shaker Square

After a short break for the winter holidays and some family vacation time, we're back with another counter!  On Saturday we rode the RTA Green Line Rapid Transit down to Shaker Square to visit another Yours Truly location.  

This one is probably the largest in the YT chain, and has a nice large counter.  We were pretty early in the morning, so the place was not crowded and we had our pick of seats.  The friendly servers greeted us right away and brought drinks.

Despite it being around 9AM, Cam had chicken fingers and cottage fries -- finished it all, and felt it was excellent.. Ted had the "Sunrise" (more or less his usual breakfast -- although Cam ate the bacon) -- also excellent, especially because the hash browns were actually cooked well-done as ordered.

Service was excellent all throughout -- constant coffee refills, always checking on how we liked everything, just super friendly.  This is a hallmark of YT and why it's such a nice place to eat -- you feel like you're really being taken care of.

Cam says: "Great chicken as always.  Also great service and a comfortable, large counter.  I give this one 4 frying pans."

                                                       

Ted says: "A great breakfast -- YT quality. The friendly service and well-done potatoes were the stand-outs.  A very strong 4 frying pans."

                                                     

This Week's Counter: Michael's Diner (Shaker Square)

We went down to Shaker Square this weekend, and stopped in at Michael's Diner.  Michael's is located in the RTA Rapid Transit station on the Square.  It's a fairly small place, narrow and long, with big windows looking out on the tracks, so you can see the trains go by.  This place is your classic old-school, greasy spoon type of diner.  No frills, typical diner menu -- lots of frying going on!  And a few shady characters coming in and out, not surprising for that part of town.  Seems like it's owned by a Russian family -- hostess, waitresses, manager and cooks all were Russian, and you could tell it was a family operation.  When sitting at the counter, the cook is working just a few feet away and you can see everything.  Despite being busy, there were plenty of seats at the counter. We could spread out and read the paper and watch the place run. Staff was very friendly, and service was attentive. Cam got chicken and fries since it was noon -- huge plate, maybe the biggest we've seen -- and thought it was great. Ted had his usual breakfast -- they make some good coffee here. All around, the food was excellent.  We liked this place -- we'll be back!

Cam says: "Liked the old-time diner atmosphere.  Best chicken I've ever had!  Very comfortable counter. Have to give this one a perfect 5 frying pans!"

Ted says: "A very fun, real diner experience.  Pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the service -- excellent value for the money ($15 for the two of us).  Hard to find any faults -- I also have to go with 5 frying pans."