By conservative estimate, as we traveled down Roosevelt Road about 30 people jumped out in front of our car (for reasons we never could discern) and we passed at least one red light district XXX-video store. The Depot American Diner, located in this slightly sketchy west-southwest corner of Chicago where the city meets Oak Park and Cicero, is a skinny little spot with just one window facing the street and a small sign advertising “made-to-order donuts” and the “Blue Plate Special.” We made the trek to this humble hash house on the recommendation of several of the lady’s co-workers and left the place pleased by the out-of-the way, yet still homey and comforting experience.
The Depot, despite it’s less-than-lauded neighborhood, is a highly recommended and Zagat’s rated joint that was featured in Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on The Food Network. It delivers that classic diner feel by way of a stainless steel counter and spinning bar stools with a few booths along the other wall. Though there’s a full kitchen behind closed doors, the space behind the counter has an “exposed” look with enough deep frying and cooking going on to keep that greasy-spoon vibe and they serve old fashioned bottled sodas and a few soda-fountain style drinks. When we dined, there was another couple like us and a few folks who fit that stereotyped look of “a regular” to a tee.
