Des Plaines' Choo-Choo may be derailed

I went past the Choo-Choo Restaurant today and saw a big sign reading "Save the Choo-Choo" on the side.

Des Plaines is looking at using eminent domain to buy the property.



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http://www.SavetheChooChoo.com

Choo Choo Restaurant
http://www.thechoochoo.com
600 Lee St.
Des Plaines
(847) 391-9815

We were there on Tuesday for my son's 5th birthday (we've been there on his b-day 3 years straight) the best thing about the Choo Choo are the tomatoes! garden fresh!!





Hope they don't get shutdown

I haven't been to this restaurant since I was probably not much older than mhill's son, but I still remember the excitement of getting my food delivered by train. I may have to drag my family out there to reminisce, which I really should do regardless of whether the restaurant is closed/moved or not.

I did a quick search and didn't see a post on this site yet. Please forgive if I missed it.

The Choo Choo Diner in Des Plaines is in danger of being closed by the local government. It's a great little place - very unique, local, been open since 1951. We went tonight for dinner and asked if we could do anything. They have a petition of sorts right here: [url]www.savethechoochoo.com[/url]

Here is the website for the restaurant itself: http://www.thechoochoo.com/

And a link to a story about the potential closing: http://www.theamericanroadside.com/content/view/825/2/

Just thought everyone here might want to know.

what a shame. apparently des plaines needs a 'cheeseburger in paradise' so much that they used TIF funds to put it in, but the historic choo-choo, they want to seize and raze.

not very smart.

elakin wrote:not very smart.

Ah yes, the motto of the DP city government.

Went to the Choo Choo Diner today with my (now) 6 year-old. Jean had plenty of farmer's market tomatoes for the burgers!!


not sure what's going on with the DP village gov.

I had always been meaning to check this place out, but have been waiting until my son was old enough to appreciate it. Him having turned two last week, and seeing this thread, I thought it was time to go.

First off, the burgers are really great. 1950's style Shoops type patties with high quality buns and toppings. I also had a chocolate milkshake which was served not in a glass, but in the metal mixing cup, and it was fantastic. French fries were food service generic crinkle fries, but it didn't really matter, because after my double cheeseburger and shake, I was pretty damn full.

My wife and son loved it as well. My son loved the atmosphere, oldies songs blasting on the speakers, the model train running round and round the counter, and the staff blowing the train whistle located behind the counter from time to time. Every time the train would run past us and back into the kitchen, my sound would wave and say "goodbye choo choo!"

We all had burgers, so I cannot comment about anything else first hand. The table next to us had the chili which they were raving about. The staff was really nice, and the place was clean. Everyone in there had children, but I wouldn't feel uncomfortable going there without kids and taking one of the tables away from the train circuit.

If this place is really in danger of closing, I urge you to check it out. The burger was really really good for its type, which in itself has become a rarity in the 21st century.

Cheers!

There was about a 30 min. wait at the restaurant for lunch since there was not much seating and it was a school holiday. The waiting area is basically the aisle of the restaurant's seating area. The kids loved the restaurant and want to go back. Since the bathrooms were small, I could not take my two kids to the bathroom at the same time.

My cheeseburger was tasty. I would probably go back, but would try to go when it is less crowded.

At the restaurant, you can fill out Birthday Club cards. The restaurant sends the card back to you near your child's birthday so that you can come in for a free meal for the birthday boy/girl. When I was at the restaurant, I saw a couple of kids get cupcakes (with a candle) delivered to them on the train. They play a special Birthday song when the Birthday cupcake is being delivered.

Is it still open as of this date, 11/29/2009???

Looks like this is the latest status:

http://journal-topics.com/dp/09/dp091120.2.html

The future is still hazy.

One good result of the rotten economy.

Drove by there today and did noticed that the SavetheChooChoo.com sign was takn down

My two sons had the day off school, and I had the day off work, so we adventured into Des Plaines for our first visit to the Choo Choo. I had no idea that there were moves to raze the place. It feels like an island in the midst of cookie cutter chains and parking garages. I didn't see any sign up about impending doom and the place was hopping as soon as it opened at 10:30 am. We got there early to get a good seat...

They had hot dogs and fries, I had a burger and onion rings. We split a nice, thick strawberry milkshake. It's a family run operation - Mom was running the show with her two daughters waiting on customers. A nice bunch of folks, for sure. The food was fine - the hamburger and milkshakes were the standouts. But no one comes for the food, specifically, I imagine. It's got a freaking train that brings the food, and that's way cool. We had a great time and we can't wait to go back.

ChgoMike wrote:But no one comes for the food, specifically, I imagine. It's got a freaking train that brings the food, and that's way cool. We had a great time and we can't wait to go back.

No doubt that Choo Choo is a toddler's dream restaurant, but I actually do go for the food. They serve a very, very good version of the smashed, crispy-edge style burger. Add this to the fact that it is a one-off, wonderfully friendly, family run local business, and you can keep your Shake Shacks and your Edzo'ses. My kid and I both prefer the Choo Choo by a mile.

Also, your food comes out of the kitchen on a freakin' train.



--Rich

I posted this essay on Roadfood.com nine years ago, almost to the day. The second to last paragraph has all the food stuff, the rest is more reminiscence and background:

Back to The Choo-Choo after 20 years

Last Sunday my older daughter corralled me into a grocery shopping trip in search of exotic ingredients for her "Big Fat Greek Dinner" that she is throwing this coming weekend. After completing our mission we had time on our hands and, because I don't see a lot of her since she moved out, we decided to get something to eat. As we headed out of the parking lot Lucy said, "Ooh there's The Choo-Choo. I haven't been there since I was five years old. Canwegocanwegocanwego?" Like I say, I don't see that much of her these days so how could I say no?

There may be more of these around the country, I don't know. There were several of them in and around the Chicago area starting in the 40s and 50s, sticking around probably into the 80s. These days there are only a few left, one for sure down in the far south suburbs and maybe one other one bedsides ours in Des Plaines. The interesting thing about the Des Plaines store is that it is not far from the first Ray Kroc McDonald's. According to the legend printed on the back of their menu, Ray payed them a visit and explained that his new venture would not provide too much competition as they had indoor seating and he did not.

The gimmick here is that families with kids would sit at a long counter and their food would be delivered to them via flat cars on a Lionel train that ran in a circle around the perimeter of the counter and through the kitchen. The place is set up like a classic diner with the counter running the length of the store with a row of booths along the front windows. Booth occupants were forced to suffer with normal waitress service. We sat at the counter (of course) and ordered up a couple of burgers. My memory was that The Choo-Choo's food was pretty ordinary, otherwise why would it take me 20 years to make a return trip.

When the food arrived on the "4:15 out of Peoria", I was pleasantly surprised to find my memory was slipping. The burgers were cooked ala Steak and Shake/Culver's/Winstead's(for all you Kansas City fans), a lump of ground beef slapped on the griddle and then mashed down and expanded as it cooked. With nice ragged edges and a substantial thickness, this burger was fresher, bigger, and tastier than any of those places. It had a good top quality beef flavor, served with the usual toppings and a generous order of well prepared fries. At $5.50 it was a pretty good buy.

What with my trip to The Berghoff later in the week, this has been a nice time to reconnect with family and relive memories. If you're ever in Des Plaines, The Choo-Choo gets a big thumbs up from Buddy.

I may have been back once since then. I still see plenty of customers in there during peak hours, so they must be doing okay.

And I see my daughter (aka abe_froeman) fairly regularly these days.

Buddy

HI RAB,

Clearly Choo Choo has upgraded their food. I took my nieces in the early 90's, who loved the circuses. Food did not excite the people who brought them, but we knew it pleased the kids.

My best friend growing up was a Choo Choo regular. Her Mom later admitted it was the kid's reaction to the train delivered food that brought them there.

It sounds like in a few years when I have little ones to bring, I will hope the food impresses then as it does for you now.

Regards,

I went to a place like this in Kansas City once. Then I did some research on where I went so long ago and I found a small chain, and they have to close down a location when the train breaks down.

Just curious, as Kansas City is home away from home for the Roadhouse clan, what was the name of this place and where was it located? We've never heard of it.

Buddy

Fritz's Railroad Restaurant
"Dine on the Fritz's Line!"
Shawnee KS
Kansas City KS
Kansas City MO
http://www.fritzskc.com/

Thanks! Looks like the 18th Street location in KCK is the closest to what you would call an "Original Location". Maybe we'll try to check them out when we visit over the holidays.

Buddy