Lou Mitchell’s 6 LaShuk Street Food 7 DOMA

Situated near U.S. Route 66, the historic Lou Mitchell’s diner has been a favorite of both locals and travelers looking for a cozy, family-friendly stop on their journeys. Although famously known for their milk duds and fresh donut holes, what has driven this business since 1923 has been family. Lou Mitchell’s has been passed down through three generations of the Mitchell family—from founder William Mitchell to his son Lou Mitchell to his niece Katherine Thanas—with each owner preserving the familial spirit and essence of Lou’s that has existed for almost a century.

Walking in, customers transport back to the 1920s. The original beige-upholstery booths, faded neon signs, and wafting smell of fresh baked donut holes greet visitors upon entrance, creating a sense of nostalgia. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and inviting, as the family-friendly feel permeates through the bustling diner. Chicago Cubs signs decorate the wood paneled walls as do vintage Lou Mitchell’s t-shirts and black-and-white family photos.

Visiting in the early morning rush hours, we decided to order an array of classic diner breakfast foods. Despite the busy time, the food service was prompt and the staff were very attentive and friendly, bringing us complementary warm, crisp donut holes and orange slices when seated. The vegetable omelet arrived in a steaming skillet with potatoes mixed in. The portion was considerably larger than your average omelet size—definitely calling for leftovers—but it had a fluffy consistency and a fresh veggie crunch of broccoli, mushrooms, onions and spinach. The mushrooms, spinach, and We also ordered a triple-stack of banana pancakes. Though they could have used a bit more banana, these pillowy pancakes perfectly melded savory and sweet with the overripe bananas complimenting well with Lou Mithchell’s homemade syrup. Our food order finished with the eggs benedict and the traditional “two eggs your way” breakfast, which included some tender, rich bacon and thinly-sliced potato home fries. We found the potatoes to be a bit dry, but both dishes’ eggs had perfect yoke runnyness with a silky texture.

Ultimately, Lou Mitchell’s was a delightful dining experience. While the menu is fairly simplistic, if you’re looking for a hearty breakfast that reminds you of your family’s lazy Sunday morning home cooking, Lou’s diner is the place to visit. What makes Lou’s stand apart is the cozy, nostalgic ambiance that causes the restaurant to feel like a blast into the past. The family dedication to preserving Lou’s historic environment while maintaining its high culinary standards is evident and has instilled a greater appreciation in me to visit more family-owned restaurants, as they truly are the heart and soul of the Chicago food scene.

REVIEW

>> NEIGHBORHOOD WEST LOOP

LOU MITCHELL’S

>> PRICES $$

>> DISHES TO TRY OMELET SKILLET, EGGS BENEDICT, DONUT HOLES

LASHUK STREET FOODREVIEW

BY LUCAS LIN

PHOTOS BY RAE TNG

Located in the bustling financial district of Chicago’s Loop, LaShuk Street Food is hidden away in a corner of the Revival Food Hall, a hip and modern food court boasting a wide variety of global cuisines. Their clean and classic Middle Eastern plates fit right in with the diverse cast of offerings in the food hall, with hungry office workers likely being their target demographic. While walking around the hall, we were greeted by a warm but industrial atmosphere, with high ceilings, robust lighting and exposed pipes and wires. LaShuk was situated in the middle of the hall, so there wasn’t much natural light, but it still had a cozy feeling to it. As we went at 2pm, there were far fewer customers than there surely are at peak hours, but LaShuk was still getting steady business. As expected of a busy restaurant, the service was quick and friendly, with no hiccups during ordering and a wait time of only 5 minutes, which I consider stellar for freshly cooked food. Their menu is simple and down to earth, consisting of hummus bowls, rice platters, and a couple of eggplant dishes. We went with the falafel hummus bowl and the charred eggplant, with pita bread on the side (included with hummus bowls). The hummus bowl was topped with tahini and whole chickpeas, and decorated with a generous helping of zhug and paprika. The falafel were nestled in the hummus bowl, contrasting with the bright colors surrounding it. The pita that came with the hummus were thick and pillowy, still warm from the oven and baked to perfection, light and fluffy with just the right amount of char. Combined with the hummus and falafel, this made for a very complete dish: The hummus was buttery smooth, tangy, and spicy, which paired excellently with the cloud-like pita. Besides the balanced seasoning of the hummus, the texture stood out as something special, making it feel substantial without being too heavy, likely the result of a long processing time. The falafel provided a nice earthy accent to the dish, with a nice crisp on the outside and the inside being muffin. As for the charred eggplant, the eggplant was split open and filled with tahini and herbs, and came with another side of hummus. Consistency wise, the eggplant was cooked to the point where it was caramelized and melt-in-your-mouth, and didn’t retain a particularly strong eggplant flavor. The cool tahini provided a nice temperature contrast, and it overall made for a solid dish. Considering LaShuk Street Food’s low price point and convenience, it can be a great quick lunch option if you happen to be in the area.

>> NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCIAL DISTRICT >> PRICES $

>> DISHES TO TRY HUMMUS BOWL (FALAFEL) CHARRED EGGPLANT

Located between the vibrant Old Town neighborhood and River West, DOMA is an ideal restaurant for a brunch with friends and family, or an intimate meal with one other person. Both the interior and exterior design of the restaurant breathes simplicity and warmth. After enjoying my meal in the quiet environment, I found it very hard to get up and leave because of the immense comfort I felt in the space. It makes sense as to why the restaurant is called Doma: the Croatian word for home.

To start the meal, I had the six minute egg. This dish contains a medium-boiled egg that has a jammy consistency. The yolk was a vibrant orange, incredibly delectable. The highlight of this dish was the definitely nutty bread — all made in-house. The edges were nicely crisp, and the interior was warm and soft in addition to the tangy, earthy flavor profile. A bite of the bread with butter and a dash of the egg yolk is the perfect way to prime your tastebuds for the rest of the meal.

For my main dish, I had The Cevapi, which truly was an explosion of savory goodness. Visually speaking, the beef sausages in this dish steal the show. When it came to the taste, however, I found that it was the balance of the three main ingredients that made the dish special. The roasted vegetables, the salted clotted cream, and the sausages all come together perfectly on a piece of homemade flatbread. The beef sausage contained a medley of spices with light notes, which balanced out the richness of the meat. Moreover, the clotted cream added to the savory notes of the dish while also adding a nice coolness. Finally, the vegetables added some key differences in texture, which helped to create a complete dish. For all of these reasons and more, I found this dish to be a welcomed change from the standard burger or breakfast sandwich that I order at any other cafe in Chicago.

Doma has all of the dishes and diversity of flavor that you want in your favorite lunch spot, but rambunctious crowds and unpleasant noises are nonexistent at this cafe, creating a wonderful dining experience. I will be returning to Doma for the Cevapi, the sixminute egg, the relaxing vibes, and to try more items on the menu like the butternut squash soup or the grain bowl. Whether members of your group are looking for standard dishes like avocado toast and a turkey sandwich, or are interested in a more adventurous meal that includes the amazing Cevapi, Doma is the place to go.

>> NEIGHBORHOOD OLD TOWN

>> PRICES $$