Lou Mitchell's

Long before a sea of skyscrapers enveloped it, Lou Mitchell’s was the quintessential road trip-ready diner. Between its hearty all-American breakfast platters—including six-egg (!) omelets fluffier than meringue, stuffed with the likes of ham, smoked salmon, and even apples and cottage cheese—and the fact that the restaurant is located at the beginning of Route 66, this was the type of diner you’d come to fuel up and ensure you won’t be hungry for about a week. Nowadays, amidst the urban hustle and bustle, folks are still fueling up for other reasons. Namely, an undying obsession with silver dollar pancakes, eggs Benedict, thick wedges of French toast, and the self-proclaimed “World’s Finest Coffee,” all doled out by lovably surly servers. After opening in 1923 and with nearly a century under its belt, the restaurant still clamors with delighted customers, and it still gives out free donut holes to all guests (plus free Milk Duds to women and children).
How to book: Dine-in is available on a first come, first served basis, and customers can place pickup orders through ChowNow.