Dept. of Second Chances: Eleven City Diner

As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, and who would dare try to refute him, there are no second acts in American lives; but every new day is a new act in a restaurant's life, and so I'd like to initiate a series devoted to giving places that have been written off a new chance.

Before Coalfire, before Smoque, perhaps the original LTHForum Swarm victim was Eleven City Diner. The idea of a new deli in Chicago excited enough attention that within days many people had tried, and had many things to report. Such as, the host was gruff, they were out of stuff, it was expensive, it was inconsistent, one morning the power didn't come on... suddenly this is sounding a lot like Coalfire's first week, no?

Now it's a year later. And I happen to spot Eleven City after a meeting in the South Loop. I go in and I immediately like the space (in its post-apocalyptic meets retro way, it's soooo big city), the Israeli Bazooka gum boxes in the window, stuff like that. I look for a small table, there are none, the hostess offers me the bar, I go ennh, partly I don't want to have to chitchat with the bartender because I plan on making some notes after my meeting, partly it's too dark there for my notemaking purposes. So the owner (I presume) overrules the hostess and is happy to offer me a table for four, even at lunchtime. Can-do customer attitude that's completely different from anything reported before.

I quickly spotted a reuben and ordered that. The waitress, who shall we say was definitely the type for this place, recommends a pastrami-corned beef combo on it instead of just corned beef. Reuben arrives open-faced, too much cheese, not my favorite style though very reminiscent of many served in now-gone diners and places like the Belden Deli. I'm not wild about it as a reuben, I admit. But I deconstruct it and try the corned beef and pastrami separately and like both, especially the latter. Less salty, brisket-bacony, than Manny's, but kind of in a similar style. Fries and pickle are all right. Not the best deli meal I ever had, maybe only a notch above Ada's, but the pastrami in particular is good enough to raise my curiosity about other things, and start me thinking about other opportunities to explore the menu. Final price, even in this hot new high-rent district, is a buck or two below my last meal at Manny's, so it's by no means outrageous.

In short: this place deserves a second chance, a year rather than a month or less into its life. Check it out and report back.

Eleven City Diner
1112 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60605
312-212-1112

Report from an earlier detractor: By lowering my expectations considerably, focusing on the "diner" in its name rather than the "deli" in its promotions, and keeping it simple, I've reversed my direction from "No way, Jose," to an occasional visit. In short, the atmosphere as described above is pleasant and comfortable, the service dust seemes to have settled, the owner has turned down the volume a notch, and after a couple of nicely flipped fresh omelets, I now consider it a respectable alternative in the neighborhood for a reasonably priced cook's day off.

As one of the many who griped about the owner (mostly for his verbal abuse of the people working for him), I'm glad to see Eleven City getting a second chance. I never had a problem with the food, and I think it's a gorgeous space. But the last time I was in there, that guy was berating his staff--loudly--again, and I swore I'd never go back. That might be his schtick, but it's off-putting. But for the sake of a second second chance, I'll try it again.

As I posted in the main Eleven City Diner thread, the patty melt was extremely good, the rest of the food I felt was sub par at that time. If you're going to give ECD a second chance, ordering a patty melt might be a safe choice.

Went back to Eleven City Diner today with my camera to see how I felt about the pastrami mano a mano. I couldn't tell if the pastrami sandwich, unlike the reuben, came with fries or not, so I ordered a precautionary chicken soup with matzoh basketball:



Louis Prima might be overjoyed, I was just okay on this. It's very authentic, that is, it authentically brings back the slightly bland, very commercialized soups of now-gone coffeeshops like Peter's on Fullerton. More salt, more real chicken flavor/less chicken soup base would have been better.



I liked the pastrami quite a bit, though. Pretty salty and very peppery, in fact ten minutes later, walking to my car, I still tasted a fresh pepper burn. I wish they had a brown mustard and not the sweetish, harsh Hebrew National, of course, I didn't ask so who knows, maybe they do. It's hard to reference Eleven City without bringing up Manny's just a few blocks away, but even so, I kind of like the whole shtick here, it's a pretty decent place. Give it a second chance.

I like this spot as well. Not always perfect in execution, it's heart seems to be in the right place. I agree with Stevez about the patty melt, but often go for the "Woody Allen" triple decker ( I'll usually remove the center slice as I find the bread/meat ratio too high otherwise). The crispy onion strings are outstanding and the milkshakes are among the best in the city.

Pickles are a weak point, and I don't care for the open face Reuben either. It bothers me that you can't get kishke or tongue ( The owner feels this would be "too hard core" but at least he knows what I'm talking about.). Still,a relative haven in a city where the concept of "deli" food is typically so ethnically cleansed as to be unrecognizable underneath a mountain of turkey breast, cranberry-wheat germ bagels, egg white omlettes , and pre cooked meats with happy pigfaces on thier labels.

Pickles are a weak point, and I don't care for the open face Reuben either. It bothers me that you can't get kishke or tongue ( The owner feels this would be "too hard core" but at least he knows what I'm talking about.). Still,a relative haven in a city where the concept of "deli" food is typically so ethnically cleansed

But that's the problem, isn't it? Perhaps I'm too old-school, but to me those last two items aren't "too hard-core" but rather "core" (or "coeur" as in "heart") items of any respectable (or, perhaps nowadays, iconic) deli.

In any case, when I'm told that a restaurant's strengths are patty-melts, milkshakes, onion strings, and (my personal rec) omelettes, I don't automatically think, "Yeah, deli!"

I recently moved to south loop and now live just two blocks away from ECD. I made my first (and only) visit about two months ago. The ENTIRE hour I was there, the owner loudly and continuously berated his staff within 10 feet of my table. Qualifies as “worst restaurant experience ever” for me. I figured it was a bad day and isolated incident until I read this thread. I wouldn’t care if this is the best deli within 50 miles – I will never return after what I sat through for that hour. He obviously sensed my disgust because he smiled at me and offered me a free piece of cheesecake “because the staff was having a bad day.” My general rule is to almost always give a place a second chance. But there are always exceptions to the general rule, and ECD fits into the exception for me.

jbw wrote:In any case, when I'm told that a restaurant's strengths are patty-melts, milkshakes, onion strings, and (my personal rec) omelettes, I don't automatically think, "Yeah, deli!"

Sometimes reading between the lines is a valuable skill on LTH. I'll add that the potato pancakes are a shonda as well.

I had to look up "shonda." Turns out it has its own website!

inter4alia wrote: The ENTIRE hour I was there, the owner loudly and continuously berated his staff within 10 feet of my table. Qualifies as “worst restaurant experience ever” for me. I figured it was a bad day and isolated incident until I read this thread. I wouldn’t care if this is the best deli within 50 miles – I will never return after what I sat through for that hour. He obviously sensed my disgust because he smiled at me and offered me a free piece of cheesecake “because the staff was having a bad day.”

Having been to ECD at least a half dozen times I can tell you that it wasn't an isolated incident. I've witnessed the owner/proprietor berating his staff on numerous occasions. My general impression is that he doesn't hire well qualified staff in the first place, and that training consists of him following behind them telling them how stupid and unqualified they are for the job.

The food is often good at ECD (for example I agree that the above mentioned patty melt is pretty fantastic), but for me the atmosphere is so tainted by the owner's attitude and conduct that I find eating there to be a pretty abysmal experience. I want to be able to relax and enjoy my meal when I actually get the opportunity, not walk out the door of the restaurant afterward all stressed and tense. But unfortunately that is exactly how I feel after a meal at ECD, and that is the direct result of how the owner runs the joint.

So unless the husband or a very good friend is just dying to go there, I feel no need to give Eleven City another chance any time soon.

Is it possible that the ECD's owner is putting on an act of sorts? Jerry's Deli, a fixture on Grand, just east of Michigan, until the late eighties IIRC. had an owner that constantly yelled and shouted at the help AND the customers. It was usually fun, especially with new customers. And if a customer would give it back to Jerry in kind, it was an added bonus. And the food was pretty good. If the ECD's owner is putting on a show, he obviously needs to polish his act. If not an act, then this guy needs a new line of work.

I really don't mean to dogpile this guy, and I'm not condoning the employee's reaction/response, but this incident illustrates the criticism of this place. From the Chicago Journal's Police Blotter (always a good source of entertainment) from 6/7/07:

Corned beef
According to police reports, on May 30 at 11:45 a.m., the owner of Eleven City Diner, located at 1112 S. Wabash, became involved in an argument with one of his employees, Brandon Bayles, 28, of 1357 W. Ancona. As the altercation became heated, the owner fired Bayles. According to the report, Bayles continued to yell and shout in the restaurant, creating a disturbance, placing employees and patrons in fear for their safety. As Bayles was being escorted out, he allegedly lunged at the owner and made a motion as if he intended to strike him, and then stated he was going to cut him with a knife. The owner then waved down police, and Bayles was placed into custody. The owner signed complaints against him. Bayles was charged with assault.

crrush wrote: the Chicago Journal's Police Blotter (always a good source of entertainment)

Thanks crrush, the CJ blotter is now on my Favorites list -- I love this stuff.

I notice it is compiled by our friend Michael Nagrant.

David Hammond wrote:I notice it is compiled by our friend Michael Nagrant.

I've been reading it since I moved to Chicago, and never made the connection. The headlines are generally brilliant, topped only by the stupidity of many of the crimes--at least one good candidate for the Darwin Awards every week.

Somehow this thread escaped me...anyways, indeed, while I rarely veer off the food writing path these days, I love doing the blotter, and writing the headlines is a strangely cathartic experience. You should see some of the stupid, albiet sad stuff that doesn't make it in....

I've given Eleven City a second chance at least two or three times, and it continues to underwhelm. I had my heart set on the Patty Melt as described/documented by stevez, but reconsidered when I saw the "Moshe Cristo" on the menu. I'm a sucker for a good Monte Cristo, but this one was too sweet by half. I don't know if it's the challah bread they use, but man.

There was, in its (tepid) defense, a hell of a lot of meat on the thing, but it was pretty bland. I thought to myself, "Man, I wish the Depot would do something like this." When you're eating Depot turkey, you know it's turkey. Their club sandwich kicks the ass of this thing any day of the week. Oh, and they charge you $9.50 for the damn thing, and then have the balls - or should I say chutzpah - to tack on another $2.15 if you want fries. They're not included. I knew I was going to get dinged on that one when the waitress asked, but I wanted fries. They were blah, frozen, mediocre.

Despite my lack of a patty melt, I managed to convince my wife to get it. I don't know if it's an off day, if there's a lunch vs. dinner difference, or what. But this particular melt was boooo-ring. Service was literally the taking of the order, and the dropping of the check. One visit, nary a "how is everything" to be seen. She could have tacked on a chocolate shake to the order if she came back - her loss.

I do very much like the room, I'm intrigued by the hot toddys and other warmed alcoholic drinks, and if nothing else, they have Cel-Ray. I also always keep an ear open for the oft-reported verbal abuse from the owner. Never hear it, though. I'm sure I'll be there again sometime - the wife works on the same block - but I'll probably be wishing I was having a late breakfast at Yolk.

I gave 11 City Diner another chance again today for lunch. I wouldnt call it a second chance, more like a 12th chance. 11 City isnt my favorite deli in the world but it blows Ada's out of the water and when you work in the Loop that means something. I feel like 11 City has been unfairly compared to Manny's beacause of their fairly close proximity to one another. For the record I really really enjoy Manny's corned beef and pastrami and find the chopped liver to be one of the most underrated items on the menu. I also love the enite Manny's experience and consider it one of my go to lunch spots when i am craving Manny's rock solid offerings. To me, 11 City is an entirely different kind of experience then Mannys. Manny's is no frills Jewish Soul Food, 11 City reminds me of a classic New York Deli, like 2nd Ave, Barney Greengrass or the Stage, a kitschy place where one finds sandwiches named after jews of note, breakfast served all day and milkshakes on the menu.

For today's lunch I had a bowl of the good but not great Matzoh ball soup and split the terrific patty melt and great rueben sandwich with my dining companion. As it was my buddy's first trip to 11 city brad, the owner, treated us to a sampler platter of meats prior to our soup course. The trio of corned beef, pastrami and brisket reinforced my memory concerning all three varieties of beef with the house smoked brisket being the high point. While I enjoy both the Corned and Pastramied beef, I had forgotten just how very good the brisket is at 11 City as it is not a go to for me in a deli environment. I have to absolutely suggest to those of you who love a jewish style brisket or a brisket sandwich to make your way back to 11 City Diner. On my next visit I will be ordering the Schwartzy!!

I've never seen a thread with so many comments about how the owner treats his staff. It certainly sounds like it creates a very negative ambiance. It's clear that he is losing business because of this problem; it's hard to believe no one has ever mentioned it to him or that he hasn't figured it out himself. I don't work downtown but I'm almost tempted to go there just to check out this madman.

I've never seen a thread with so many comments about how the owner treats his staff. It certainly sounds like it creates a very negative ambiance.

Cogito- trust me- ya wanna see abuse?
Go to Pattys in Skokie on any given Sunday Morning!
Wanna feel /partakke in a negative VIBE so strong- I refuse to return to what had been a "regular" Sunday morning destination- for the gf & I.

But Brad's negative karma predates this place (Eleven City)....once- after reading his bio/being informed from seeing a Podcast he was in-
I queried the boys at Max's Deli, in Highland Park (a great Deli, IMHO)-
about their ex-employee Brad....

OY-VEY! did I get an earful.....
not wanting to get into a libelous situation- lets just say- he was <b>never</b> crowned Employee-of-The-Month there...

Cogito wrote:I've never seen a thread with so many comments about how the owner treats his staff.

I have seen the comments on this and other threads and can only comment on my personal experience. I prefer to judge a person or place on my own experience and am willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt until I am proven wrong. I have never witnessed Brad mistreat any of his employees. In my personal experience as a patron i can say that he treats his customers like KINGS. On my last visit he ran to the Hilton to get me a cab when he saw me waiting for what he felt was too long out front, he regularly sends over sample platters and picks up and/or sends over other gratis items. I dont doubt that other people have had a bad experience with him or heard of others who have had a bad experiece. In my dozen or so trips to 11 City I have always interacted with Brad, I have always been treated better then well and have never seen anything other kindness in his actions.

I agree iblock - he comes off a dbag sometimes to his employees, but he treated me, my wife and son with nothing but over-the-top kindness. So I think his heart is in the right place.

I had a great fried salami sandwich. Although, that's a hard one to mess up.

ab wrote:I agree iblock - he comes off a dbag sometimes to his employees, but he treated me, my wife and son with nothing but over-the-top kindness. So I think his heart is in the right place.

i think it is unfair to Brad/11 City Diner to continue to regurgitate anecdotal evidence about what a "madman" he is or "how poorly he treats his employees." These comments seem to have a life of their own and every time they are rehashed the myth continues to build, IMHO, unfairly.

Brad Rubin seems, to me a customer, to be an energetic and caring owner who is personally invested in giving each customer a top quality dining experience. I suppose if he was managing a Subway his personality would not be noteworthy. However, in this case so much of his business is his personality. The comments which continue to slay him recount events that happened two years ago when the place first opened and when I am sure he was terrified that his business would suffer if things didnt go perfectly which I bet can be scary when you have sunk everything, money time and energy, into your restaurant.

I think it is time to give the guy a break and judge the place on what is happeneing now. If our opinions about a restaurant were based only on experiences we had years past then my favorite restaurant in the world would be McDonalds (For the Record I still love a McRib!)

Just my opinion but I think ff you have recent experience with Brad sucking as a person then I think that is fine to post here if it relates to his restaurant, however, if you are just going to repeat what has already been said you are simply piling on and I think that is really unfair considering those experiences have already been noted and discussed exstensively and dont really add much to the current conversation.

Something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear. :

Cogito wrote:Something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear. :

If you are suggesting I am a shill nothing can be further from the truth.

No, I don't think you are a shill. I just find the extreme disparity of the reported experiences to be very problematic.

Cogito wrote: I just find the extreme disparity of the reported experiences to be very problematic.

What do you mean by this comment? It appears to me that you have some "problem" with my opinion of the restaurant and its owner. This thread is titled Dept. of Second Chances. I have offered my opinion on 11 City keeping the theme of this thread in mind. What is your opinion exactly? Have you been to 11 City Diner? Do you have an experience to recount which contradicts what I have reported as my first hand observations? Are you suspicious of my opinion because it is gasp inconsistent with the experience of other posters from 2 years ago? Maybe you have a particular point of view which makes you an expert when it comes to offering opinions about other people opinions. Maybe I misunderstood your snarkily cryptic comment and witty repartee.

I am sorry you are suspicious and find my comments "problematic." I assure you they are genuine.

Ding

There's the bell, back to neutral corners, back to food talk please.

Sorry if you misunderstood my cryptic comments. Let's drop it, OK?

I gave the place another chance for breakfast the other day, and brought my two two-year-old boys. The service was quick and attentive, which is important when wrangling two-year-olds. The boys split a waffle, which was a bit too sweet and heavy for my taste. I had the corned beef hash which was tasty, and topped with two sunny-side-ups cooked as ordered.

Brad was in attendance and his stress induced tension seemed to be gone. I have always thought the place a bit overpriced, and it still is. I love the feel of the decor, and am happy to have a place like this in the neigborhood.

I tend toward more savory breakfasts and the wife prefers sweet choices. So when thinking of South Loop places for breakfast, the wife is always looking at Yolk and Bongo Room, but I would prefer 11 City. She usually wins.

The patty melt and rueben have never disapointed me there.