Ohio House Restaurant (pictures)

The company I work for changed office locations last week. It was a big move, into a nice new office tower in River North. Though I’m familiar with the new neighborhood, other than stopping on occasion at the large McDonalds at LaSalle/Clark and Grand/Ohio – I’d not had the need to locate places to eat lunch on a regular basis.

The first week’s exploration didn’t reveal much of interest. Though, Lou Malnati’s is a short walk from the office and I did enjoy a lunch of spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were some of the best I’ve had in a restaurant, and the marinara sauce was nicely seasoned – and on the pucker scale I’d give it a 10.

This second week of exploration led me to the door of the Ohio House Restaurant. Like countless others, I’ve probably walked past this restaurant a hundred times in my life without ever opening the door and sitting down. Monday was different, and it’ll probably take a crow bar to pry me out of the place in the future.

Ohio House Restaurant



From the moment I sat down in this, the – World’s Largest Little Restaurant – I felt at home, felt like I was in some of the small towns I’ve work in or visited over the years. There’s nothing pretentious about the place. It’s one of those places where most of the customers are probably regulars. The woman who runs the place could be your mother, grandmother and though the décor screams diner the feel is like you’re in someone’s home kitchen – that woman’s kitchen . . . having lunch.

That first lunch was a patty melt sandwich. The burger patty wasn’t anything special, but the grilled onions caught my attention. The sandwiches – the deluxe sandwiches – are accompanied by a cup of one of two daily homemade soups, and my choice was an Italian vegetable which was the high-point of the meal. Ice tea is my drink of choice at lunch and when the woman server answered my question about home-brewed or machine dispensed . . . that she made her own . . . I had another reason to like the place. The sandwiches come with fries, but I didn’t want fries – and when I asked about a substitution the gal gave me a wide-range of choices, including vegetables . . . and the green beans worked well with the rest of the meal.

Pepper and Egg Sandwich



Beef Barley Soup



Tuesday, I had a taste for a pepper and egg sandwich – which appears on the menu. When the woman told me the sandwich is served on toast I feigned disbelief, “What, no French or Italian bread?” “No, just toast,” she replied. “Okay,” I said . . . “Forget the sandwich, I’ll have something else.” “No,” she came back at me. “We’ll make it your way, but I’ll have to add an egg to it and it’ll cost you a Dollar more.” I liked the honesty and willingness to give me what I want, instead of a “It’s our way, or the highway.” attitude. The sandwich was accompanied by a bowl of beef barley soup – with good and tender beef chunks – a helping of vegetables and I didn’t have to ask for an iced tea . . . it was brought to the table as if I was a customer who’d been patronizing the place for years.

Baked Breaded Pork Chops with Potato Pancakes



Dumpling Soup with Chicken



Wednesday I was back, once again. I can’t remember eating at a place, any place, three days consecutively. But when I was leaving after lunch Tuesday the grillman stopped at my booth and said Wednesday was baked pork chop day . . . and the women added, “Potato pancakes, too.” Well, that’s all they had to say. They set the hook, very well. The pork chops were about ¼" thick. The breading wasn’t anything special – the flavor didn’t stand out – but the meat was moist and the breading complimentary; minimally seasoned. When I asked the woman what she used to bread the pork chops she replied, “The regular stuff.” The potato pancakes struck me as being more of a patty of fried mashed potatoe’s. I’m spoilt, though – because I live in a building full of Jewish Mothers who pamper me with homemade latke’s. My soup choice was dumpling, with chicken. It was a hearty soup, with nice chunks of chicken meat.

This is a very small restaurant. There are 3 or 4 booths that’ll accommodate 4 persons each, and maybe a couple of booths for two people. 7 or 8 stools are at the counter. The regulars in attendance help to make this a warm and fuzzy place . . . the woman knows many of the personal stories, knows of family members, problems, etc. A sprinkling of nearby business owners have been there during my visits. I ran into two people I've known for 25+ years eating there this week: one is a Dentist, the other a Real Estate Broker . . . each told me they’ve been patronizing the restaurant for years. The food is bargain-priced for the neighborhood - any of the Downtown neighborhoods.

I know the blush will eventually wear off this new rose of mine, but I expect I’ll be having lunch at the Ohio House Restaurant more often than anyplace else in the months ahead. Lucky me.

Ohio House Restaurant
600 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312.751.2038
Hours: 5:30 a.m. until closing (typically, I understand, approx. 5:30 p.m.)

I used to work in River North and love Ohio House! Their Friday Fish Frys was my standard lunch. 2 pieces of perfectly fried fish with your choice potato (mine was hash browns). Their breakfast is pretty good too. Deuces Wild used to be $3, but I'm sure it has gone up by now. Chocolate chip pancakes were light and fluffy... Thanks for bringing back the memories!

PS The Ohio House motel was supposed to be torn down years ago, but the deal fell through. I remember being very happy when I heard that news!

After taking a day "off," I was back at the Ohio House Restaurant today - for "Fish Friday." One of the specials every Friday is freshly breaded and fried catfish or whitefish. My choice: the whitefish (click on the photo to see an enlarged view).

Batered and Fried Whitefish, Mac and Cheese



The fish (two large filets) was moist and the breading "neutral." The suprise for me was the cheesy mac and cheese which appears on the fish platters . . . I could have eaten an entire platter-full of it.

The "special" includes a beverage of your choice. The price: $7.00, including tax.

I still haven't been served anything I haven't completely enjoyed eating at Ohio House Restaurant. I was there yesterday for lunch and, after an absence in my diet of more than a decade, I had liver and onions . . . accompanied by chicken noodle soup. I cleaned the plate. The grilled onions stayed with me nicely the entire afternoon . . . as a pleasant reminder of the meal.

Today saw the every-other-Wednesday special offering of short ribs (alternated on Wednesdays with baked pork chops). I eat short ribs so infrequently I can't make a good comparison between what I've eaten before and what I ate today. The meal did, however, remind me of times my grandmother would serve us short ribs - a fond memory (an almost 'melt in your mouth' texture/consistency). On the same plate as the meat was a generous serving of kernel corn and cole slaw. The cole slaw was a trade in place of mashed potato's with gravy. Of the two soups offered I chose the navy bean . . . and was glad I did. Diced ham and celery mingled with the beans. I like the way the manager/owner/cook seasons her soups . . . just salty enough. The price tag for the meal (pre-tax, tip): $6.50.

Navy Bean Soup



Short Ribs

I work in River North as well and, like you, had a stretch where I was going to Ohio House fairly frequently this past winter. Your pictures are reminding me that I haven't been in a while! I need to change that soon.

In another couple of weeks we need you to tell us how much weight you have gained by eating these types of lunches every day

That mac and cheese looks awesome! I used to work in that neighborhood (Clark and the river) and totally miss it. Frankie Z's was always fun (next to Frontera) as well as a good sandwich from Bake for Me, in the same building as Singha Thai (Clark just north of the river). I miss that neighborhood

pamiela wrote:In another couple of weeks we need you to tell us how much weight you have gained by eating these types of lunches every day

Yes, that's crossed my mind. Though, since moving into our new offices I find that I'm no longer patronizing the vending machine for cookies a couple of times a day. I don't typically have dinner at night, so lunch is my big meal of the day. I'll hop aboard a scale in the near future, though . . . but maybe I'll keep my eyes closed!

Today's special at the restaurant was spaghetti and meatballs. That's usually too heavy of a lunch for me, so I took a pass. I chose, in place of the daily special, a patty melt sandwich - which was as good as the last one I had there. The soups today were cream of potato and chicken noodle. I opted for the chicken noodle, though the noodles were a bit mushy . . . at 1:15 p.m.

Chicken Noodle Soup



Patty Melt Sandwich



I'm anxiously awaiting Rick Bayless' new sandwich restaurant, next to Frontera on Clark St. I checked the restaurant's blog yesterday and saw a note from 4/10 that renovation of the space was moving forward. There are a few other places in the neighborhood I'll probably start trying next week.

The old Ireland's (or was it John Lattner's?) /Jordan's/Lalo's space on LaSalle St. is about to reopen . . . workmen have been busily preparing the space - and I think the name will be LaSalle Power, or LaSalle Powerhouse. I've been in that building many times over the course of the past 25 years and never knew, until I read a historical plaque today, that it was a streetcar power station dating back to the late 1800's.

LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse (c. 1887)

Wow, I've either worked or lived walking distance from Ohio House since 1973 and have never been in the place. Guess that'll have to change.

I also work a few blocks from Ohio House and eat there semi-regularly for lunch. They're definitely one of my favorite lunch spots. The food is good and they're CHEAP, especially for the quality. One cautionary note though: Their breakfast options (served all day) are good and on par with their lunch options as a whole, but their pancake syrup is pretty bad. It tastes pretty much like straight Karo syrup. As a whole though, they're definitely a good lunch option if you work in the area.

I used to work near there and often visited and enjoyed OHR. I love the vibe of the whole place, and I've even put a few budget-conscious business associates in the hotel. Not fancy, but clean and a bargain at less than$100.00. I often wonder why the property wasn't sold and developed long ago. Seems to me they're sitting on a goldmine. Since you are in the neighborhood, there a little bar called the Shamrock, just across the street from the Mart that serves a decent burger. Mixed clientele from biz types to city workers. Big Cubs joint. And if you want something a little nicer, Cyrano's on Wells offers a daily prix fix 3 course lunch for about $12. Thats something I miss.

TYV wrote:Not fancy, but clean and a bargain at less than$100.00.

LOL... My bad... I just realized that you were referring to the rooms... Obviously I have food on my mind all the time!

There were plans to tear down Ohio House a few years ago. Some big hotel chain (Sheraton? Marriott?) was going to tear the place down over one summer. But the deal fell through...

I often want breakfast late. Do you know if they serve it all day?

I am a vegetarian and those short ribs remind me of the one's I enjoyed as a child that my father would make. It was a treat. I stopped eating meat in the early 90's and my father died last fall. Still the memories are with me and I would certainly suggest my meat loving friends try those short ribs.

pairs4life wrote:I often want breakfast late. Do you know if they serve it all day?

I've witnessed breakfast being served at 2 p.m. and it's my understanding is that it's available for purchase day-long.

Yesterday was fried fish special day, but I had a taste for a ham and swiss cheese club sandwich, which was accompanied by cream of chicken rice soup. The ham was 'off the bone' (without having been cut from the bone) and the swiss was without holes (my favorite, with the holes that is). The mac and cheese accompanying the sandwich wasn't very good; I sensed the house was out of the baked mac and cheese and whipped-up some last-minute substitute (not baked). The restaurant closes at approx. 5 p.m. daily and by 1 p.m. (the time I typically arrive) the pickings are sometimes 'slim.'

Ham & Swiss Club Sandwich

My first visit today to Ohio House. I love these old luncheon counters. Very friendly, personable waitress -- the type who calls you "honey." I love that you get a cup of soup with your "deluxe." Today's offerings were cream of broccoli and chicken dumpling. Nobody offers cream of broccoli anymore; it's always broccoli cheese (thank you TGI Friday's).

I even love that it's carpeted, which only adds to its quaintness, for some reason.

BLT (camera phone pic)

Two ships passing in the night, so to speak: I had lunch at the restaurant today, also . . . about 1:15 p.m. The day's special was the baked pork chops with potato pancakes, and a side (on the plate) of green beans. I opted, also, for the cream of broccoli, which I hadn't had in years . . . and I thought it was very good, a pleasantly distinctive taste not lost in the "cream."

The woman waiting the counter and tables is, I'm presuming, the owner; I've overheard her speaking with other people and mentioning she's been there 25-years. I'm not one to often ask lots of questions, preferring instead to listen - but I'll try to remember to work into a future conversation the question about who owns the restaurant. She cooks/prepares the daily specials herself, though. I asked her how many orders of pork chops she bakes and she said 20, sometimes a few less. "I don't want any leftovers," she added. When I arrived this afternoon she came to the booth immediately to tell me that if I wanted pork chops I better order quickly, because she had only one left.

I asked for a substitute for the potato pancakes because I wanted to cut-back on the starch and also because I didn't recall being too impressed with the pancakes I had a couple of weeks ago. I must of hit a nerve with her when asking for something else to accompany the pork chops because she, in a perplexed/concerned tone of voice, explained that the potato pancakes were homemade, not commercially produced by someone else, and that they were good - and she'd vouch for them.

Thinking I'd hurt her feelings, I told the woman to bring the potato pancakes . . . and I was glad I did. They were mouth-watering, light, nicely seasoned . . . and a welcome surprise compared to the earlier rendition I tried (this 'Wednesday Special' is offered every other week – next Wednesday it’s short ribs). The pork chops were peppery and better seasoned for my taste today, also, and when I asked her what she did differently (as compared to two weeks ago) she shrugged her shoulders and smiled, paused, then explained, "Sometimes I get carried away with the pepper!" She had an ear-to-ear grin on her face . . . and it's moments such as that which contribute to making my visits so enjoyable.

I stopped by Ohio House Restaurant today to try one of the daily specials I'd yet to sample: breaded veal cutlet. When I ordered I was informed the cutlet was served as a sandwich. I wasn't in the mood for a sandwich, but wanted to try the cutlet . . . so the owner told me she'd fix me a breaded veal cutlet plate - sans mashed potato's and gravy . . . substituting instead corn and a small serving of cole slaw. One of the soups of the day was minestrone.



After tasing the minestrone soup I was sorry I didn't try the cream of chicken rice, also on the menu. Though the soup had a nice, seasoned flavor the vegetables were soggy. Maybe the minestrone was left-over from another day. The cutlet, however, exceeded my expectation. After I placed the order the owner breaded and deep fried the cutlet . . . no out-of-the-box pre-prepared cutlet. She breaded it twice before bringing me the platter. The serving was large, larger than I'd expect to be served if I'd ordered the sandwich and maybe there was a slight up-charge for the larger portion, though, if there was . . . it couldn't have been more than .50 cents. The breading tasted very similar, probably the same as what she uses on the fish - her 'generic' recipe. The meat was moist and the cutlet not greasy-tasting . . . but I did taste her extra shakes of pepper on the meat (which I like). There was a lot of corn, but I like corn. The cole slaw is standard-issue commercial out-of-the-carton type.

I don't stop here for gourmet or unique meals. I continue to enjoy the place because I think it offers good value, service and reasonably good quality for the price-point. I'm not visiting daily, though - just several times during the week! Next up? Wednesday . . . and the short-ribs special (if I get there before it's sold out!).

I stopped by for lunch last week solely because of this topic and I can't believe I hadn't been before. The service was great, the food satisfying and the prices were fitting. I'd give it a 9 out of 10 because they don't accept credit...but that happens.

About the meal...I had the fried egg sandwich with fries, cole slaw and a cup of cream of broccoli. The sandwich was a tad small using only a single egg but reminded me of the breakfasts my Dad would make when I was a kid. The fries were generic and the soup was solid although I'm not sure if it was made in house. If it was props to them, if not I'm not one to complain.

I'd recommend OHR to anyone in the area.

This used to be my default weekend breakfast place, if the Breakfast Club and Nookies were too crowded. I never even thought about it as a lunch option and now feel foolish for excluding it. They had fantastic Hash Browns and I always looked up to the skinny guy that used to run the grill; I always imagined his name was Cookie. Definitely no frills dining, but the price was always right. Perhaps a lunch run is in order...

Now you can build your own HO-scale model of the Ohio House Motel, including the coffee shop:

pdf here from BuildYourOwnChicago.

They also have free models of the Aon Center (1:4000)i, N-Scale L-Train and Tracks (very cool), the Sun-Times Building (1:1500) and the Wirt Dexter Building (1:500).

Their non-free models are $1.50 each, not much more than the cost of running heavy stock through your color inkjet, I may just order some!

I worked nearby for many years, and Ohio House was one of my go-to cheap spots for lunch. It's a nice greasy spoon to have close by.

With the exception of an occasional cup of soup, however, I always stuck to the breakfast offerings. They do indeed serve breakfast all day.

Those short ribs look pretty good, and make me wish I'd branched out beyond eggs and hash browns every so often.

I had lunch here on Tuesday & had the vela cutlet special. I concur with Bill - it was excellent! Mine was perched atop slices of white bread (with the crusts cut off) and served with mashed potatoes and gravy that covered everything. The cutlet is very crisp and maintains good crispness even with the gravy.

It's Small world. I was at the restaurant on Tuesday - and had the veal cutlet special, also. It's one of the weekly specials I enjoy the most. I don't like the sandwich w/ mashed potatoes and gravy version so I ask to have it prepared/presented with the cutlet on a plate with a side of vegetables (canned green beans this week).

I stopped for lunch at Ohio House Restaurant today about 1 p.m. – just before the skies opened and the rain fell for the rest of the afternoon.

Chicken Soup with Shells – Lots of Chicken, Too



One of the specials today was the breaded veal cutlet sandwich, which I and others have previously commented on I have the cook hold the bread, and serve only the breaded cutlet. The only difference in today’s presentation as compared to prior visits was the inclusion of a generous helping of cottage cheese (as a substitute for the fries, which I asked to have deleted). The corn was a substitute, also – it was a twofer day, today!

Breaded Veal Cutlet, Corn and Cottage Cheese



The clear standout during the meal, though, was the chocked-full-of-chicken chicken soup with shells . . . one of the best servings of soup I’ve had at the restaurant.

Meatloaf was another of the Tuesday specials, and an offering I’ve yet to try. Maybe I’ll order it ‘down the road.” Probably after I try the Smokey Link and Egg sandwich which is an everyday inclusion on the menu.

Pictured below is the Ohio House Restaurant’s rendition of a Monte Cristo Sandwich, a photo I took last week. I enjoy this particular presentation of the sandwich.



The soup of the day this day was Navy Bean, a favorite of mine.

It's been about 4-months since I first walked through the door of the Ohio House Restaurant and I have lunch there two to three times each week . . . and the blush is still on the rose. Here's another picture of a recent menu choice - the grilled ham with cheese sandwich.

Grilled Ham with Cheese

I continue to find the food at the restaurant solid, classic diner-fare, and enjoyable. I've become somewhat lazy at lunch-time - drawn, if by a magnet, to the restaurant continually. Ohio House Restaurant is, for me, comfortable, welcoming and represents an oasis from the office at that hour and presents a good value. Here are some recent menu offerings which I have enjoyed:

Beef Tips and Gravy



Home-Made Meatloaf



Rib-Eye Steak Sandwich



I didn't have my camera with me at lunchtime Monday, and missed taking a picture of a great egg-salad sandwich which was offered as a special.

Another good lunch at the Ohio House Restaurant today - a patty melt on wheat with mushrooms (the grilled onions were there, too!), with a cup of home-made minestrone to start it off.

Bill, I just wanted to thank you for posting all of these great pictures. This restaurant is perpetually on my list - woe to those of us who don't work downtown.

I like the place a lot, more for the mid-century design and the mind-blowing concept that a low-rise, low-rent motel in the most original, purest sense of that word exists, remains, endures in the neighborhood. Bill, your postcards of homey, quotidian meals mostly look quite good. The Ohio House clearly follows the logic of similar places in small-town Iowa, Indiana and Ohio: soup has to be made from scratch, vegetables come from a can. This is where the office workers from Mad Menwould eat when visiting Chicago. I love it.

JeffB wrote:This is where the office workers from Mad Men would eat when visiting Chicago. I love it.

Office workers, maybe; but as you yourself pointed out, Don Draper would much more likely have been found at Riccardo's

P.S. I've been hoping to find an opportunity to visit the Ohio House Restaurant ever since this series of pictures started to appear.

Riccardo's (R.I.P)