Pop Culture Cuisine

Hi…I’m Katie and I’m an indecisive eater.  I know…an odd thing to admit, but I figure this information might help people understand how we actually choose a certain restaurant to review for PCC.  Well, most often we have a list in mind when we travel, and time and location will usually dictate our choice of restaurant at that moment.  However, if we are put in a spot where we have choices, be prepared for much anxiety mixed with hunger onset…often making the task all the more difficult.  It isn’t that I’m picky, I just have a really hard time verbalizing what it is I really want most of the time; and now that I am 13 weeks pregnant (SURPRISE! ), let’s just say the decisions aren’t coming any easier.  Rather, I seem to struggle more. 

So lucky for me, I have a husband who most of the time patiently tries to help me figure out what I want, which I’m sure most of you would find the whole scenario pretty comical I’m sure.  Most weekend mornings in our marriage start out like this, and trips with multiple lazy mornings are no exception…

Me: “I’m Hungry!”

Adam: “Me too, what are you hungry for?”

Me: “I don’t know…Food…”

Adam: “Ok, well let me know when you make a decision.”

Now this response from him isn’t meant to be mean, rather he just wants me to tell him what it is I am hungry for.  However, I will lay there for a moment, hoping that Adam will just suggest something first so I don’t have to make the decision.  Most people (or women) would be eternally grateful to have a husband that would let them pick the restaurant 99% of the time just so they would be happy.  I am not that woman.  I, on the other hand, freeze up!  His response and subsequent silence frustrates me…, I pout, and we go round and round until we finally agree on a place or what we are going to eat, usually an hour or so later than when we first said we were hungry.  You would think after 2+ years of marriage, I would know this and rather than ask, I would just say what I wanted and move on.  But as I said, I am in-decisive, and when given the ultimate option…I choke. 

I tell you all of this not just to blabber on and add a little comic relief (especially for you other married couples who I know do the same thing ), but rather to give a little background to today’s story, because this Saturday morning in Chicago was just like that.

It was the morning after our friends Jenn and Bob’s wedding and we were both enjoying sleeping in a little.  But without fail, my stomach started gnawing away and I knew I was going to need something to eat soon.  So I started to nudge Adam and get him moving, knowing the task that lie ahead with my uttering of those fateful weekend morning words…”I’m Hungry…”

I will spare you the details, but with us both being hungry, him waiting for me to tell him what I wanted, and us going through the infinite possible PCC worthy spots we could try in the Chicago-land area, let’s just say it took us a little while to get moving.  I was particularly hungry that morning so I knew something like a big sandwich would fit the bill, so we started doing a bit of research and stumbled upon just the place.

The Depot American Diner is certainly one of a kind and well worth the trip to the west side for their truly delicious home cooked meals.  They don’t try to be fancy, nor should they.  After all, this place used to be a speak easy and hide out for the notorious Al Capone.  Well, Chicagoans need not speak easy about this place any longer, cause now it the Depot’s food that is doing the talking, and it is saying good things; and I knew that when we saw a clip on Food Network’s “Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives” or their club sandwich that this is where we would be headed…

That turkey dinner just looked mouthwatering, and knowing that same home style turkey was coming on that club, I knew I was in for a real treat. 

It didn’t take us long to pull up and park ourselves at the counter, which we were happy to do seeing as the Depot is a small place and there were no other seats available in the main dining area.  Nonetheless, food was the priority, so we began to peruse their menu.  Everything looked delicious and I truly love a diner that focuses on what they are good at and doesn’t cloud the menu with pages and pages of stuff just because it’s expected.

After watching that clip earlier in the morning, we both already know what we wanted to order.  I had the club, while Adam chose a bowl of chicken noodle soup to start and the Pot Roast Sandwich; and to top it off, we ordered a batch of their famous donut holes for after our meal. 

The service was prompt, because before long I had a monstrosity of yumminess set down in front of me.  We both giggled a little when we saw our sandwiches, because I was trying to figure out just how I was going to take my first bite…

I mean come on…right?  Let’s just say, neither of us were talking for awhile, we were both too immersed in our food; and for you regular readers of PCC, you know I’ve mentioned before my constant battle over tomatoes, but I decided to leave them on and see what I thought, considering that’s the way the cook intended.  You might be happy to know they totally added an extra level of flavor to this sandwich that was awesome!  Their sweetness really played well against all of the other rich flavors of the buttered bread, mayo, and heavy meat. 

At another seat at the counter, Adam was in heaven with that gravy rich pot roast.  I’m pretty sure that “mmm” and “oh my gosh,” were all I heard out of him for awhile.

Then…when we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves and boxed up the rest, we were presented with a lovely dish of holes.

I have to say for that as good as they look…they fell a little flat in the taste department.  The donuts themselves just really lacked any kind of flavor and although the dipping sauce that came with them was good, I would hardly say it was the best thing I had ever tried.  Still, even though these were our last note, we still left singing the praises of The Depot and would willingly go back anytime!

SIGNATURE DISH:  Although they have some pretty standard home cooked staples, it would seem their open face sandwiches are what’s put them over the top when it comes to notoriety.  Chicago is a city where diners abound and you would be hard pressed not to find one on just about every corner, if not more.  That being said, there are very few that are putting out the level of food The Depot is; and with dishes that have so much love and flavor, it is not wonder that patrons are coming in droves to the west side to eat here.

TASTE:  I don’t typically order club sandwiches.  In fact, I think I have maybe only ordered 2 in my lifetime.  I typically have never found them to be that exciting…too much bread.  But this one stopped me short.  Something about the fact that it included their home style hot and fresh turkey, along with the other usual accoutrements that I could not pass up.  Adam and I were both wowed at just how good and upscale these dishes were coming from a tiny little west side diner kitchen.  I think it is safe to say that it is their attention to flavor and detail that is bringing their customers in droves.

AMBIANCE:  Although busy and buzzing that Sunday morning, it was not packed to the point of not being able to enjoy yourself, like some other PCC places we’ve been.  You could still easily move throughout and it just felt as if you were one of the gang their to enjoy your Sunday meal.  Sitting at the bar was a fun perspective and great to see the wait staff and owners interacting so lovingly with their customers.  And for being a diner, it did in no way have that old dingy or dirty feel, but rather was clean, nicely decorated, and classic.

SERVICE:  Sitting at the bar we were very well taken care of and in a prompt fashion.  Also, it seemed that everyone in the booths were being taken care of very well.  Everyone we encountered was super friendly and willing to chat, which I always enjoy.

PRICE:  Being in Chicago, I didn’t think their prices were outrageous or unexpected by any means.  Many times places in the city with a lot of notoriety will up their prices because they can, but each of our sandwiches were $8.01 (you gotta love the quirkiness of the penny ).  You could easily pay for less food at Panera, so I thought it was well worth it.

Overall, we had a fabulous time at The Depot, and even though it may have taken us a little bit to research to ultimately wind up here, it turns out we made the right decision….a decision that led us to a great find and a place I hope to visit again someday.  So I am happy to give The Depot American Diner 4 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’