This Week's Counter: Chicago Deli

We'd been to Chicago Deli in Solon a couple times before with extended family.  And each time, we left a bit disappointed.  Neither food quality nor service was all that good.  We've had it on our list, since we knew it had a small counter.  But always made it a low priority. However, not feeling like driving too far on a Saturday at lunch, we decided to give it a try.

The counter here is tiny -- just four seats.  Luckily, 2 were open when we arrived.  The counter waitress offered us a choice of breakfast or lunch menus -- we took both since we weren't sure.  Both were pretty extensive, but we went with breakfast.  Cam got a bagel breakfast sandwich with bacon, plus fries, and Ted had a veggie omelet, potatoes and side of cottage cheese.  Coffee was really good, in a nice heavy mug too.

Wait staff was really friendly and very attentive, and our food arrived very fast.  Everything was hot, fresh and very good.  Potatoes crisp as requested - -they got it right where lots of places don't.  The breakfast bagel had so much egg and bacon scramble that it was tough for Cam to eat.  Only thing a little bit off was the omelet was just a bit overcooked.  All around very good though, and much better than we expected.

   

Cam says: "Great service and food. Average counter and overall exerpeince.  I'll give it 7 frying pans."

Ted says: "Really surprising -- did not expect it to be this good based on past experience.  Excellent service and really good food.  Worth a solid 8 frying pans."

s C

This Week's Counter: Jim's Open Kitchen, Solon

Today we went to Jim's in Solon. We never knew this place even existed until some friends mentioned it.  Located in the center of town, this is a really small place -- maybe 25 seats total, and more at the counter than tables.  In fact, it's so small you have to go through part of the kitchen to get to the restrooms - hence the name "open kitchen" we guess!  It was very busy, and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a couple spots at the counter to open up.  Looks and feels like an old-school diner -- interior straight out of the 1960's. Service was friendly and attentive.  Since we were fairly early, Cam had a chocolate chip waffle and bacon, while Ted had eggs, toast, hash browns (some of the best we've had) and coffee.  Food quality was mostly good, although not outstanding -- eggs a bit overcooked and the toast a little heavy on the butter, for example. Cam loved the waffle though. Overall, we liked it and will be back.  

 

Cam says: "Nice atmosphere and amazing waffles! I give this counter 4 frying pans."

Ted says: "Certainly one of the friendliest counters we've visited. Good, but not great, on food quality. Overall well worth a trip. 4 frying pans from me too."