Ed Debevic's

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640 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654

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(312) 664-1707
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Ed Debevic's - Chicago, IL
Ed Debevic's - Chicago, IL
Ed Debevic's - Chicago, IL
Reviews
( 12 )
( 19 )
( 11 )
( 3 )
( 16 )

Best

My class and I are visiting chicago on a school trip, and we liked the experience of eating here very much. The waitor named ""Swan"", a.k.a Tractor, is the coolest. We all miss...

Worst

The food is OK, nothing great though. The staff was very rude but reading from other reviews, it seems like that's on purpose - why would the do that? I'll never understand.. ??

Don't Go. Expensive, poor poor quality and horrible service. The theme is dead! 3/17/2007

Expensive and poooooor quality. It's not mocking fun anymore, its just rude and dirty. The bathrooms were filthy and the staff were out of control. Neve again. You've been warned.\r \r Each time the waiter came to our table we prayed he wouldn't talk too much and leave quickly. Cons: Low quality. Dirty. Poor service. Expensive. We were sad when we left that we spent the money there. The business has got to be dying. more
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Horrible everything. You have to have a low self-esteem to like it. 3/17/2007

Ed Debevics was the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The food was terrible and the service was worse. The old mock hurry up and eat thing has degenerated into dirty and rude. The employees are trying to run it into the ground under the whole ""rude"" concept. \r \r 3 adults and a child was $48. Expensive and terrible food. Don't tip, don't go and don't be sad if you have a bad experience. You were warned.\r \r Ed Debevics is riding on their name momentum but its pretty much done. Chicago has great restaurants... Ed Debevics is no longer one of them. Cons: Horrible everything. You need a low self-esteem and low standards to like it. more
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Fun for kids but that's about it. 3/14/2007

I took my daughter and boyfriend here here at their request. Both were first timers and I was not able to steer them away. The waitress was predictably sassy, but our appetizer came way AFTER the main course. I had the meatloaf, it had the beginnings of a skin on the gravy...\r If I ever go back, and that is a huge question, I'll stick with a burger. I think the kids learned their lesson. Pros: Valet parking is reasonable Cons: Service and food, isn't that enough? more
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Fun times with the Kids 3/14/2007

Hands down--if you have little ones you've got to bring them to Ed's. It's such a fun place to have a good time with the whole family. I've only been there 3 times and everytime has been rather entertaining. My little brothers couldn't stop talking about the place. If you can't take a joke, then this place isn't for you...otherwise sit back and enjoy the wait staff (with such manners!) and get back at them at your own risk. Where else can you get good food, great music, and wait about five minutes for a refill because your server is too busy shaking his groove thing on the bar? Only at Ed Debevic's!! Pros: Music, Fun Atmoshpere, Staff Cons: crowds more
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HOSPITAL FOOD 2/12/2007

This place is AWFUL! The food is good if you like what they serve in the school cafeteria or COUNTY jail. C'mon people I have had better onion rings at Burger King! The meals are large,the stuff they serve is 'CHEAP'. How can a place with no kids menu be ""KID FRIENDLY""? $5.50 for a hot dog is a little steep. The VERY POOR service is written off as ""ambiance"",amazing. We have been here more times than I care to admit (we travel with team sports and the 'new' people insist on going here) and I cannot believe how bad it is! Its the same story after every visit-""I can't believe I just spent $50.00 for that slop!"" Save your money! Step inside,look around then RUN, RUN FAST and FAR AWAY. Pros: GOOD MUSIC Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE more
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Great Food & Location 9/25/2006

The food is fantastic, my only gripe is there's a certain waitress there who insisted on pushing her Political Beliefs on the tables she had, especially ours. Finally we got irratated & called the manager. Otherwise it's a fun place when they stict to actually having fun there, the bantering can get a little excessive too. Pros: Good location/Fun Cons: The bantering/screaming from the servers can get aggravating very quickly more
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Great service & good food 9/1/2006

I went with my kids (ages 12 & 5), nephew (12) and mom. My mom had told me about the place ahead of time. Even though we had to wait a little while for a table, it was worth it! Our waiter was dishing out his routine through the entire meal. We dished back, which only made him try harder. All of us were laughing so hard. The food was really good and the portion sizes were large. I will definitely make it a point to go back to Chicago just to visit Ed's. I just wish there was an Ed's closer to Flushing, MI where I live. Pros: Good food, great service Cons: No reservations, can wait awhile for table more
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Fun decor 7/25/2006

The food is good, but but the snotty wait staff comments get old really fast. I took my daughters there who didn't know the ""schtick."" They were apalled until I told them the scoop. They did enjoy the food though. Pros: Good burgers Cons: Snotty comments from wait staff grows old quickly more
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One of a kind service 5/18/2006

When I brought an out of town friend to Ed's I had to warn him ahead of time about the service, he is a hot head. But once he became used to the obnoxious servers, he laughed and opened up to the idea of having straws thrown at him by the waitress. The food is average, but what makes Ed's so great is the unique service. I felt kind of bad for the tourist who was mocked over the intercom for asking where the Sears Tower was, but hey, if they can't take a joke...well, you know. I can't stand up-tight traditional service, so thank you Ed's for bringing some good old fashioned sarcasm. At least I can laugh about it while eating my burger and fries, and great milk shakes too. Pros: one of a kind setting, retro styling Cons: average food more
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The Best Restaurant in the Whole Wide World 12/25/2005

Did I say the best restaurant? I should have said the best establishment of any type at all, anywhere. The Sears Tower? Boring. Disney World? Lame. The Sistine Chapel? Pathetic. They are all nothing compared to the sheer magnificence that is Ed's. If you have never been to this incredible diner, I pity you, my friend. Drop whatever you are doing and go there, and feel the empty hole in your life become instantly filled with the glory and wonder that is the good food and fresh service of Ed Debevics! You will not regret it when you discover that your once empty soul is now complete! Phew, Im spentOh, and to those who dont like what sometimes termed the rude service, youre just boring old grumps with no sense of humor who obviously deserved everything you got from the living gods who comprise the Eds wait staff. Pros: splendor, glory, radiance more
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Not up to par 8/22/2005

We are a famly of 4 with 2 kids ages 6 and 3. The restaurant itself if very friendly and inviting and I have to admit that I did chuckle a few times at the antics of the waitstaff. The fries were very crunchy and while the flavor was ok it simply took you aback to hear an audible crunch with each bite. We are not talking about McDonalds crunchy but like eating a carrot. The burgers, while being very large, were very subpar when it came to flavor. I had the Rte 66 burger and was not impressed to say the least. My kids did not mind their meals but then again they would eat anything. Subpar food for $40! Pros: Ambience, Killer cherry soda Cons: PRICE!!!!, Lackluster food more
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Worst Restaurant in Chicago, or Anywhere 6/13/2005

This is the worst restaurant I have ever been to anywhere. I cannot understand it's popularity at all. I brought my visiting family not knowing about their ""schtick"" and it was a terrible experience. I find it appalling that any establishment can just decide their schtick will be to treat everyone horribly, and that's that. The waitress was screaming in my 80-year-old grandmother's ear, and when she asked her not to, the waitress just kept screaming at her. It was made more garish with simply terrible ""musical numbers"" performed by a waitstaff that seemed to be entirely comprised of [justifiably] failed actors. You would think after all this, the food could at least back them up -- American diner food is pretty hard to mess up -- but they managed to do that, too. The food was completely bland and unexceptional. Avoid this place and warn everyone you know. Cons: food, service, atmousphere more
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Sense of Humor Needed 6/8/2005

I have been to Chicago 5 years in a row. Ed's is the only place I have been to all 5 years. Bring a sense of humor. And a few quick come backs. Food is great if you want American diner food. Route 66 burger is great. Counter dance is great too. Some waiters put it on a little to thick with the attitude. They could read their customers a little better when it comes to dishing it out. Some that I have noticed get worn out after a few minutes of it. I will go to Ed's every time I'm in Chicago. My wife went in April and I told her NOT to go. She would not have tollerated much of what I have seen there. Pros: Food, Entertainment Cons: better judgement more
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My first (and second) time at Ed's: 6/2/2005

I've gone to Ed Debevics twice; the second time a made a point to stop there. My first trip to Ed's Pros: Good food, Ambience, Vallet Parking Cons: 50/50 service, Waitting, Overpriced more
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Eat at Ed's 7/8/2004

The 50's theme is quaint. It's a knock off of the drive-in diner without the drive-in. Lots, of old rock-n-roll music playing. The wait staff are friendly wise cracking smarty-pants. The rudeness is intentional. You have to be in the mood for a dose of tounge-lashing from the fiesty wait-staff. I've tried quite a few menu selections. By, far I would say they've mastered the burger. It's really good. The burgers are made when you order them. You chose how it's prepared rare-well. You chose the toppings also. The cheese fries are a big hit too! There a alot of feel good choices from meatloaf to mac-n-cheese. I would say they are okay at best. The milkshakes are thick and rich. They get an A+ The green river & cherry soda are nice blasts from the past. Desserts are okay. Overall it is an enjoyable experience. Pretty crowded on weekends. Pros: Fun, Conviently Located Cons: , seating on weekends, no kids menu more
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retro 12/11/2003

an honest 50 style with waitstaff and menu to match. A beautiful flashback Pros: refreshing, good food Cons: parking, crowded more
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Still good, but not the same 11/17/2003

This was my third visit to an Eds, having been to this one previously as well as the defunct Milwaukee location. The food, especially items from the ice cream fountain, is always good (and was good this time, too), but the sassy service was what made Eds unique. Sassy is the key here, and is not equivalent to poorthe service itself has never been short of outstanding, but its always been accompanied with a good helping of attitude. That attitude was indeed toned-down in my most recent visit (something I didnt know until afterwards, reading this sites editorial review), and the overall experience, while good, was not as enjoyable as the others were. Without the attitude, Eds is just another good-for-groups-and-kids nostalgia-themed restaurant. BORING. Ask for the sass if you want it, like I do. Then, as Ed says, EAT AND GET OUT! Pros: ice cream fountain, service Cons: long waits more
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For those of you who think otherwise... 11/4/2003

I was reading the review and one stuck out to me. It was a person complaining about the attitudes of the employees, when the ""bad"" attitude is one of the things that make's Ed's so popular. When I was there, the food was awesome and I had a blast with the ""moody"" waitress...If you can't handle it, don't go. Especially if you're a Chicago native...YOU KNOW BETTER!! I came all the way from Grand Blanc, MI just to eat there...and i wold do it again in a hearbeat. Pros: Fun, Food, Service Cons: it's not in Michigan more
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Great Time 6/25/2003

I found Ed's to be a great restaurant. The food was terrific, not to mention our waiter played his part really well. He made fun of us considering me and one of my friends have the same first name. One of the girls in our group it was her first time to Chicago, so he gave her hassle about being a country girl. Her hair was in pig tails...The entire experience was entertaining. Pros: Good food, great service, entertaining Cons: bad parking more
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Ed's 4/18/2003

It has been years since I've been to this River North establishment, but I'll never forget it. As I recall, they have good burgers, cheese fries and hot dogs, but my favorite always was the chili. Their chili will definitely clear out your sinuses. Another thing I liked about Ed's was that they made flavored Cokes the old fashioned way, which is the best. If I remember correctly though, go there early on a weeknight. It is much less busy Pros: location, flavored Cokes, great chili Cons: a tad overpriced, noisy, crowded on weekends more
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Menu for Ed Debevic's


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Come on in and take a seat at Ed's down-home diner, where bobby-soxers, nerds, greasers and cheerleaders sing, dance and take your order. Retro relics and witty signs ("No...

  • 4/5/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Thursday 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Friday 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Discover, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central
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