Cozy Corner, Oak Park--mighty fine Greek Omelet

I've been walking by this restaurant early every morning for years--to the point where one of the regulars and I once recognized each other at the airport--but I'd never eaten there. But yesterday I had a 7:30 dentist appointment and no car, so it seemed to make sense to cut my walk short at the Oak Park mall (no longer malled, of course) and read the paper over breakfast until time for my appointment. The Cozy Corner it was.

This is exactly the corner coffee shop it looks like. Stools along the counter, turquoise upholstered booths, a waitress (who indeed called me "Hon") sitting at the end of the counter smoking a cigarette. I found a section where no one seemed to be smoking, discovered I was wrong, and found another seat where the air was clearer, though I didn't see any tables (in Oak Park!) affirmatively identified as non-smoking.

The Greek omelet called out to me. I responded. I also ordered the Greek toast and asked for the hash browns extra crispy.

The toast was the mediocre thick piece of white bread you get so often these days. The hashbrowns were very crisp, and quite edible once I added a lot of salt, pepper, catsup, and hot sauce, but obviously prefab. The omelet, however, was perfect. Fresh spinach, really good feta that had just started to melt, and some chunks of tomato. The eggs were done just enough to be no longer runny, but not at all dry or rubbery. The proportions were just right. Excellent, excellent omelet.

They also serve lunch and dinner. Betsy says she used to go to dinner there with a friend and her family and always had a Francheezie--something I'd heard of but always avoided. Seeing the description ""Francheezie - A jumbo kosher hot dog wrapped with bacon and stuffed with cheese" doesn't make me more tempted, especially since I gather it comes pre-assembled and is then deep fat fried.

But I'd definitely return for breakfast.

Thanks for the report!



You, me and Hat (or whoever) should have our own athon one of these days of competing Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park coffee shops, greasy spoons, grills and such (Al's, Louie the Octopus, Georges, Maple Tree, etc.)

The last two times we've been to Georges, it was really, really awful. On the other hand, I've had a double cheese twice in the last week from River Forest Grill for lunch, and it has been exceptionally good. I've been meaning to do a report.

Rob

Ann Fisher wrote:A jumbo kosher hot dog wrapped with bacon and stuffed with cheese" .... deep fat fried.

I especially like the kosher reference, it's information one can use.

Vital Information wrote:You, me and Hat (or whoever) should have our own athon one of these days of competing Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park coffee shops, greasy spoons, grills and such (Al's, Louie the Octopus, Georges, Maple Tree, etc.)

VI,

See, I'm not sure Al's any longer qualifies for the title "greasy spoon." The atmosphere is now more like Denny's than the old, grease-steam stained corner joint it used to be. No Betty Boop signs, no exposed washbasin in back...it just ain't the same.

Now, Louie's, that's more like it.

Hammond

I think Cozy Corner has the best breakfast. I think you can ask for rye toast that is pretty good there. They do eggs very well, as you said and I love the option of gyro meat vs bacon, sausage etc. of course its not Nickey's, but I love gyro meat, eggs and rye toast.
I go to Al's when I am feeling lazy, its so close. Coffee really sucks and is pricey - Starbucks prices. Food is ok -OK soups, sandwiches. and the new atmosphere is a bit plastic.
Louie - great atmsophere, decent pre-fab burger and fries, pretty good chocolate shake, a bit too sweet for my liking - Parky's makes much better fries and chocolate shakes, but Louies is still good.
Maple Tree - pretty good, but cozy corner is across the street, so why bother? Have had crepes there - pretty good, but not too big a portion. OK coffee.
River forest grill is on the list...
Anyone been to Grandma's on North, by River Forest Grill?
LO

David Hammond wrote:

Vital Information wrote:You, me and Hat (or whoever) should have our own athon one of these days of competing Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park coffee shops, greasy spoons, grills and such (Al's, Louie the Octopus, Georges, Maple Tree, etc.)

VI,

See, I'm not sure Al's any longer qualifies for the title "greasy spoon." The atmosphere is now more like Denny's than the old, grease-steam stained corner joint it used to be. No Betty Boop signs, no exposed washbasin in back...it just ain't the same.

Now, Louie's, that's more like it.

Hammond

Well, I agree that amongst George's, Maple Tree, Cozy Corner, Louie's, Al's, even Thyme and Honey (etc.), there is a range, but there is a lot more ultimately that I think these places have in common, even if the decor varies.

So, you in for Near Western Suburban Coffeeshop slash grill athon?

Rob

Vital Information wrote:Well, I agree that amongst George's, Maple Tree, Cozy Corner, Louie's, Al's, even Thyme and Honey (etc.), there is a range, but there is a lot more ultimately that I think these places have in common, even if the decor varies.

So, you in for Near Western Suburban Coffeeshop slash grill athon?

Rob

VI,

Could be fun. I think, though, that we might focus on just two or three items (e.g., patty melt, milkshake, fries -- or even coffee) and do a horizontal study of how different places treat these standard items. Or we could to a follow-up study on Monte Cristo sandwiches at these places (a research project initiated in 2002 )

Hammond

David Hammond wrote:
VI,

Could be fun. I think, though, that we might focus on just two or three items (e.g., patty melt, milkshake, fries -- or even coffee) and do a horizontal study of how different places treat these standard items. Or we could to a follow-up study on Monte Cristo sandwiches at these places (a research project initiated in 2002 )

Hammond

YES!

- Coffee
- Pattymelt
- Omelette
- Fries
- Hashbrowns
- Shake
- Daily special

Vital Information wrote:You, me and Hat (or whoever) should have our own athon one of these days of competing Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park coffee shops, greasy spoons, grills and such.
Rob

Sounds like fun. I agree that Al's is now a Denny's and why bother.

I like the idea of focusing on "typical" diner/coffee shop food. Patty melt and hash browns seem right. Would be good to add a few more items. Ham-on-the-bone? Reuben? Some kind of pie (if made on-premises)?

Hammond

I always benchmark my favorite coffee shops by how well they do the "infamous" open-faced hot beef sandwich... That might be something good to use for comparisons.

marusin wrote:I always benchmark my favorite coffee shops by how well they do the "infamous" open-faced hot beef sandwich... That might be something good to use for comparisons.

Marusin,

I like that. The open-faced beeves are something you wouldn't find in many places other than coffee shop/diners. That's the kind of thing we're looking for.

Hammond

Having grown up working in the downtown version of the genre... this would be the typical meal for two:

Person 1:
Salisbury steak (or if it's Friday, perch and macaroni)
Salad, creamy garlic dressing, piece of feta on the side
Coffee
Rice pudding

Person 2:
A Monte Cristo if they look busy, a BLT club if they don't
Soup, preferably something like a split pea or a beef barley
Hash browns extra crispy
Coffee
Apple pie a la mode

Bonus points if the water glasses are the greenish-gold 6 oz size.

Just a couple of menu items I think deserve consideration in a study of this type:

Soups (classic coffee shop varieties, e.g. split pea, lentil, mushroom barley, cheddar broccoli)

Signature burger if they do one (e.g. "greek", or bacon cheese, etc.)

Chef's or "Julianne" salad (freshness, generosity of portion, homeade dressings?)

Greek salad (decent dressing? Anchovies come standard?)

Open face hot turkey w/ celery dressing

Meatloaf

Old fashioned diner pasta w/ meat sauce (usually mostaccioli)

mrbarolo wrote: Meatloaf

Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about.

Hammond

threadkiller wrote:Having grown up working in the downtown version of the genre...

Oh, I want to know all. You mean places like Petra's and the Marquette Inn? I'm fascinated by them. They all seem to have the same--very extensive--menu, albeit with some puzzling variations. (Why would it be, for example, that a place that has a Greek salad and a spinach salad on its menu can't do a spinach and feta omelet?) But I'm more fascinated by the similarities. Someone once suggested there was a giant kitchen under city hall sending out the same food to all of them. Are they related or just using the same suppliers? Are they still all Greek-owned? What are the other popular menu items? What are the things that have been on the menu for years but no one ever orders (like maybe that diet plate with the cottage cheese and the canned peach half)? More, more!

Here's something that I've found only in Midwest diners (altho I haven't looked too hard elsewhere), and it could be added to breakfast items since it's often listed as a special. It's usually called "Country-style breakfast" or "Eggs country-style." It consists of a hash of potatoes, peppers, onions, ham (or whatever else strikes the cook's imagination) covered with melted cheese and topped with a pair of eggs (usually up or over-easy). Anyway, it often turns out to be one of the best items on the menu--certainly one of the most satisfying--and I'm curious if this is considered a "regional" specialty.

jbw wrote:Here's something that I've found only in Midwest diners (altho I haven't looked too hard elsewhere), and it could be added to breakfast items since it's often listed as a special. It's usually called "Country-style breakfast" or "Eggs country-style." It consists of a hash of potatoes, peppers, onions, ham (or whatever else strikes the cook's imagination) covered with melted cheese and topped with a pair of eggs (usually up or over-easy). Anyway, it often turns out to be one of the best items on the menu--certainly one of the most satisfying--and I'm curious if this is considered a "regional" specialty.

I have seen these type of items, often times called "skillets" almost everywhere I've been.

LO wrote:I think Cozy Corner has the best breakfast. I think you can ask for rye toast that is pretty good there. They do eggs very well, as you said and I love the option of gyro meat vs bacon, sausage etc. of course its not Nickey's, but I love gyro meat, eggs and rye toast.
I go to Al's when I am feeling lazy, its so close. Coffee really sucks and is pricey - Starbucks prices. Food is ok -OK soups, sandwiches. and the new atmosphere is a bit plastic.
Louie - great atmsophere, decent pre-fab burger and fries, pretty good chocolate shake, a bit too sweet for my liking - Parky's makes much better fries and chocolate shakes, but Louies is still good.
Maple Tree - pretty good, but cozy corner is across the street, so why bother? Have had crepes there - pretty good, but not too big a portion. OK coffee.
River forest grill is on the list...
Anyone been to Grandma's on North, by River Forest Grill?
LO

Avoid Grandma's like the plague. I'd rather go to Dennys. Biscuits and gravy were very poor, even for around here, the other breakfast was cold. Al's is ok. We liked Thyme and Honey on the weekend, but a weekday breakfast was not as good - cold french toast, smaller menu. George's was ok, but nothing special. Sally's Pancake house, farther up on Harlem, I thought was ok, but farther than the other ok places.

The others we haven't been to yet.

Yikes - sounds awful. Thanks for the heads up.
A bit off topic, but my favorite breakfast actually is an almond croissant from the Whole Foods in River Forest with a homemade latte using Cellini espresso...I am not sure where whole foods gets those croissants, but I think they are wonderful.
LO

LO wrote:Yikes - sounds awful. Thanks for the heads up.
A bit off topic, but my favorite breakfast actually is an almond croissant from the Whole Foods in River Forest with a homemade latte using Cellini espresso...I am not sure where whole foods gets those croissants, but I think they are wonderful.
LO

I thought WF baked their own stuff.

Not sure... I will ask. but they didn't have them last sunday. I asked if they had any and a woman in the bakery said "that is strange, we usually have them". I should have asked if they baked them there...

My Bride and I had an early morning (5 am!) obligation and when we do I always promise her a nice breakfast.

This restaurant has been updated since the last post in this thread but the concept is the same.

Cozy Corner Breakfast Boutique

Ooh La La!

Still stools at the counter and booths dominate the restaurant. What is with them substituting the word Tóst for the word Toast for the sandwiches? Not Greek.

After perusing the menu I decided upon the...
Deep fried hash browns (nicely crunchy!), grilled onions, bacon, brown gravy, and topped with eggs.

It was getting a little dry by the time I made it passed the top layers so I requested an extra bowl of gravy on the side.

I was surprised at the deep frying of the hash browns! Almost like tiny shoestring potatoes. Standard diner brown gravy which I could see substituting a country gravy.

Pretty standard and popular rendition that many local places have mastered.

Not too crowded, several families that preferred not to cook on this morning after Christmas. A Grandpa with the grandkids.

I did notice a few of my favorite items missing from the menu. My beloved Hot Beef Sandwich with mashed potatoes and I seem to remember they had a Francheesey on my last visit and that is missing as well. Not much uniqueness.

I could substitute the “Frenchman’s Dip” (standard french dip) to fulfill my need for beef.

Solid breakfast and sandwich shop. The coffee seemed weaker than in my teenage days.