Opinions, please - Mac's Restaurant, Park Ridge, IL

I've searched the archives on this and don't see a discussion thread on Mac's Restaurant in Park Ridge.

As someone who has frequented it for over 30 years through various ownership changes, I'd like to get some of your opinions on the place.

Solid breakfast and lunch diner food at reasonable prices:

Mac's Restaurant
812 Higgins Rd.
Park Ridge 60068-5718
847-696-2950

If you're someone who's patronized it over 30 years, I think we want your opinion.

Mike,

You're correct.

Breakfast and lunch items are solid and well-prepared.

Daily lunch specials are good and sometimes out-of-the-ordinary. They range from meatloaf to "chop suey".

Ham off the bone is a good choice for either a breakfast side or as part of their Monte Cristo sandwich.

I'm asking for other opinions since I go here out of habit and would like to know if others find the food worthwhile.

Thanks.

I've been there only one time, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the ham (off the bone) and cheese omelette.... excellent. The old school, dinerish feel is a nice bonus as well. I'll return anytime.

I've now been to Mac's for both breakfast and lunch and it is now my favorite diner within a "reasonable" drive from my home. Will report more later.

-ramon

20 some years ago when I worked out at O'Hare I would stop at Mac's for breakfast. The cheese omelette with ham and hashbrowns was always stellar. Glad to hear Mac's is still going strong.

I grew up in Park Ridge, and remember Mac's as the place to go for breakfast when blowing off your early classes at Maine South High School. It has always been the quintessential diner, with a long counter and about 5 boothes. Mostly I remember that the time between order and service was remarkably short. It seemed as though the short order cook, Pete, could put your food in front of you before you could close the menu and stick it back in the holder. (Is there a name for those diner menu holders in the counter behind the napkin dispenser?) Pete just had a way of cooking eggs more quickly than possible elsewhere.

I recently have gone back and Pete is gone. Gladly the omlette - done in typical American Diner style - is just as good as before. Large, slightly browned, and piping hot with a side of decent hash browns and toast. The waitresses have changed as well, but in keeping the old tradition, mine was the first person under 40 to call me "sweetie" in some time.

I think this will be on my short list of places to frequent after finishing the move back to Park Ridge. I also think I will be considered a regular after a few visits.

Is that the place right next to the 7-11? I drive by there everyday, twice a day. I'll have to stop in soon.

Mac's lunch specials are also quite good, like meatloaf, etc. It's an excellent diner for breakfast or lunch.

One warning about Sundays though. Not only is the place packed but there are no specials, no soups, and they don't bother to turn on the fryer.

-ramon

Is that the place right next to the 7-11? I drive by there everyday, twice a day. I'll have to stop in soon.

It is just east of the gas station on Higgins and Cumberland. . . I think it is a 711 now.

MelT wrote:I grew up in Park Ridge, and remember Mac's as the place to go for breakfast when blowing off your early classes at Maine South High School.

My GF took me there yesterday for breakfast before dropping her at O'Hare for a flight out (to Cincy where she called me from a 5-way chili diner later in the day). She also grew up in PR and told me how it's been around forever and she used to ditch early classes at Main South as well to come have breakfast!

The atmosphere is great, quintessential American diner with 70's upholstery and framed prints of how the neighborhood looked in the old days. It opened in 1962 if I can remember correctly. Service was cheerful and food came quickly - well, it is a short-order diner, right? She always gets the same thing: 2 eggs OE with hash-browns extra-crisp and dry toast and a side of ham-off-the-bone (reminds me of the Blues Brothers diner scene). It was first time for me, so I tried the signature: Mac's Classic Skillet. Big pile of hashbrowns with diced ham, onions, peppers, topped with American cheese slices and 2 eggs, served with toast. Yum. (sorry but forgot to snap a pic).

Definitely a local hang-out with people of all ages coming and going but always full. Best thing is it is right off the Kennedy on the Cumberland exit so very easy to get to. Much better than airport food, right?