R.J. Grunts Reviews

Right after a day at the zoo, there's a dive that should be a crowd-pleaser for all. They have a salad bar with a lot of good, fresh options and a full bar with craft beer, wine, and cocktails. The salad bar is $16.50 for all you can eat; $7.75 with an entree and $9.75 with an appetizer. We started off with a pitch of beer and I ordered the Yowza Burger ($15), a peppercorn burger, with spicy ketchup, pepperjack cheese, smoked bacon, lettuce, and tomato, served with fries. It was a solid burger, cooked well, with good flavors, but nothing to write home about... just a review. My date ordered the Buffalo Wrap ($14), similar to their crispy buffalo sandwich, minus the sandwich and add a colossal tortilla. She normally comments on the food, but this time... nothing. Which leads me to believe it was just OK. The kids ordered the Works Burger ($14), a patty with cheese lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles, served with chips. And they enjoyed it. Overall, this is an OK place for decent pub food. Right after the zoo, it's very convenient and in walking distance.

We really enjoyed the food today. The teens had the chicken strips and I had the southwest chicken wrap. The portions are large so we didn't get appetizers. Nice location. We waited about 30 minutes for our table. I would come back again and recommend this place.

Always a treat to stop by R.J. Grunts! You have to try the salad bar whether you do so with a meal or ALL BY ITSELF. I am an "all by itself" fan. Make it part of a Lincoln Park Zoo excursion. Their freshly made smoothies are fantastic.

Enjoyed our visit. Food was very good and the atmosphere was fun. Sam, our waitress, was friendly and helpful. We got there just as we opened and within 30 minutes the place was packed.

This is not a cheap lunch place...but service and food were both great...it was a very busy lunch time...thankfully, our friends made a reservation...we all enjoyed our food and the portions are big. Fun place!

I'm kinda surprised by this LEYE restaurant. It is due for a MAJOR renovation. I honestly felt like I have been treated better at Applebees. I will start by saying that we had reservations and wanted to go here because of the LEYE point promotion scratch off cards. I was enticed by their salad bar and I heard the wait can sometimes be long. We arrived about 5 minutes early and the hostess informed us they were just setting our table and it will only me another minute. 20 minutes later they finally sat us. We kicked off our dinner by ordering some wings. The wings took 30 minutes to come out. In the meantime, we watched several people navigate the salad bar. There is definitely an issue with the height of the sneeze guard as almost everyone ducked their head under it to reach food further back...OK, we are now NOT going to get salad. The wings were really great, buffalo sauce was not too hot and had a nice honey taste to them. They were meaty and we were happy. Our burger came out right as we finished the wings. I personally always get annoyed when you have to pay extra to "upgrade" to fries as if the cost of fries are really that much greater than chips...just build it into the cost, don't nickle and dime me for upgrades. The burger was good, it was indeed perfectly cooked. However, it is served in a weird basket. The tables are tiny and these big baskets are totally a miss. 1st the plate under the paper doesn't fit in the basket, it shifts around so if you cut your burger in half, your plate is going to slide along with it. 2nd, my basket was on top of my husband's basket. 3rd, it is hard to put ketchup on the side to dip my fries into because they start to drip into the rest of my food. 4th, this place crammed every last inch into a table. If they removed a table there would be a decent amount of room to move around. 5th: you could definitely tell you had someone seating people that had no idea what they were doing. There was a beautiful elderly women who was dining with her family and needed assistance to walk. Instead of figuring out how you could sit her somewhere that is easily accessible for her to get easily in an out, they jam her back in the corner. It didn't seem to phase her but I think they could have done better. OK, one last thing. Let's talk ketchup. When are people going to start realizing Heinz is not the answer. I can always define a burger place when they either make their own or they use a quality brand. I know these are little things but they really add up and make the difference between average and great. I know there was a lot of what seemed to be negative here but, it really is just an average burger place. I just expect more from LEYE.

Great burgers (including veggie burgers!) and burger of the month is usually awesome. Salad bar like none other, one of my favorite things to get. I've heard the milkshakes are fantastic. The fries are delicious, too! If you do the salad bar, make sure you get some of the chocolate chip cookie dough-like stuff, and the jello. Yum!

I went here for lunch with my son. We both ordered burgers and fries. The people working were fairly friendly. The burgers were pretty decent.

Restaurant is super close to the Lincoln Park Zoo which makes for a good break. The ambience is very cool and the laid back, good menu choices. I was there on a weekday so it wasn't crowded!

Great place that we loved 15 years ago and found just as excellent now. Good burgers and sandwiches and entrees, and a spectacular salad bar. Pleasant casual atmosphere.

Made the reservation same day and arrived on time. We were greeted with a welcome and seated in less than 5 min. Our server was a delight and was very informative. Our food was delicious and timely. Comfortable atmosphere and music selection.

Love going to RJ Grunts with a lively neighborhood feeling. The music playing waiting at the bar for your cozy table. They have a most excellent salad and soup bar. The assortment of the menu has plenty to choose from and worth the short wait. Service is usually very good every time we go to RJ Grunts. Love the experience!

We hurriedly grabbed food here before boarding a flight not really knowing what we would be getting and the chicken sandwich I received was wonderful! It’s like a drip beef sandwich but with chicken. Very flavorful! I wasn’t expecting that since I was in a hurry and just looking for a chicken item quickly. Because of that I was a little surprised with a soggy bun but that’s typical with a drip beef sandwich. I only wish I had grabbed more napkins or a knife to cut it in half. It is huge so I could only eat half. Nice surprise and something different for airport food. Will definitely visit the one in Chicago the next time we visit the city. My daughter ordered wings and thought they were ok.

One of the first of its kind in Chicago,high quaiity casual dinning . R.J.Grunts has maintained its high quality of causal dinning in an entertaining but pleasant atmosphere - You can enjoy the food yourand your conversation with your friend(s) in informal atmosphere EK

Ate here after visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo-it's about a block from the main entrance. Service was friendly, fast and accurate. I had a bacon cheeseburger and my daughter had a Santa Fe wrap-both were very good. They come with cottage chips which are their homemade chips-also very good-or you can upgrade to fries. Would definitely eat here again when in the area.

We had appointments in the area and needed a fast but different place to eat. We found Grunts. Food delicious, so many items to choose from. The salad bar looked great, although we didn't order it. Very pleased with our meal and service.

Had a great lunch here after visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo. Burger - delicious, perfect; sweet potato fries - also delicious. A wonderful, delicious meal!

We were late getting here, about 14:30, but there was still a queue. After a short wait we were seated though. The burgers and sides were all amazing. I'm a huge fan of Byron in the UK, but it becomes very clear that this is the place they have shamelessly copied. Well good on both outfits.Byron does a great job, but this place takes it a step further - everything was a bit bigger and bit better. I don't know how big a chain it is, as I saw one at the airport on the way out, but it was nonetheless really worth going out of the way too. Being right by Lincoln park it doesn't need to be too far out of the way though.

The one charming feature i enjoyed was pictures of what looked like former waitresses hung all over the walls. Food was absolutely nothing to write home about and pretty tricky to navigate with a plate between extremely tightly packed tables if you are even slightly bigger than a toddler.

We made a reservation at 6pm for 5 for my fathers birthday. I realize it is nearly downtown Chicago but it was VERY crowded. The people were spilling outside waiting for our table. We only waited 5 minutes but it only got worse. There is no walking space between the tables and it was so loud that we couldn’t hear each other talking. The bathrooms have not been updated since the restaurant opened and there is only 1 stool per bathroom and no where to wait in the bathroom nor the very tiny hallway that leads to the bathroom. The pros were that our waiter was fantastic. Even under all the stress of a very crowded restaurant he never lost his cool. He was very attentive and very friendly. Our table was waiting for us without delay and the burgers and French onion soup were very good. Sadly the cons outweighed the pros and we probably will not be back.

I grew up near Chicago, but haven't been to many of the cool places everyone else knows about. My BF and I happened to trip over Grunts accidentally and stopped in for a drink and dinner. Really like the look of the place...very Chicago. We arrived half an hour before the kitchen closed, but service was surprisingly slow anyway. I would have expected they'd be quicker, trying to get done with our order. The grilled cheese deluxe was pretty good, and the BF enjoyed his burger... but when his drink spilled after last call, I was surprised the bartender didn't replace it. All in all, the place didn't thrill me to bits, but I am glad I finally saw the place.

Been coming here for years. Tonights visit was simply not all that great. Tap beer I received was flat (sent back). French fries were mushy (sent back). Turkey Club, bacon was burnt (black). I was unable to eat the bacon. Salad bar was still awesome. Possibly my last visit (sad) :( "Yes sir senator" Lettuce Entertain You has slipped.

Very fun atmosphere and close to Lincoln Park zoo! The burgers were fantastic and huge and the salad bar was a plus.

Had several friends tell us how great this restaurant is but can’t quite ageee. Our group was seated right next to the kitchen so lots of people walking by. Two of us got the salad bar and found it to be picked over and low on several items. We were there later in the evening so 16.50 was a lot for what we got. The soup was only about 1/4 full and just warm not hot. The guys got wraps and said they liked them.

My husband and I were in the area going to another restaurant without reservations. We were turned away, which I am so glad we were. My husband said, let's go to R.J. Grunts. We saw the restaurant as we were driving away from the other place. I said, O.K.. It had been years since we had been there with our family. We were not disappointed. We order a burger and tuna melts, just the kind of comfort food needed on a holiday evening that was single digit temperature. I also added the salad bar. Perfect, I thought to myself. This is how a salad bar should be and only $7.50 to add on to the tuna melt. Service was friendly and good. Music was nostalgic and fun. WE left very happy and had another good memory to add to our R.J. Grunts experiences. Did I mention I was there as a teen ager?

Loved the 70's vibe of this restaurant. Stopped in for a quick lunch and enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was great! I enjoyed a bowl of onion soup and a burger with my wife. Fun place.

Amazing place to eat, we had such a warm welcome. As Brit's we loved it, great food, great value for price. Loved the decor and AC, especially on a hot day after the zoo! The food was amazing, very tasty food and friendly and helpful server's. Would definitely recommend and come again.

We were there on a Thursday night at 6pm, and were told that there was a 40 minute wait, but many tables were open. We ended up waiting less than half of that time, but then were seated in a corner table where the lighting was so bad we almost had to use our phone flashlights to read. The waitress was exceptional, and our meal was served quickly. We enjoyed our entrees, and the food cost was what we expected.

Grew up with trips to Lincoln Park Zoo. Hadn’t been to Lincoln Park in decades. RJs has groovy vibes & some of the hottest food I have had out of a kitchen in a long time. Loved sitting at a window, listening to 70’s music, and watching people walk their dogs. Just a few block walk to the FREE zoo. Menu has something for everyone.

This was the original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, and it’s small but one of the best. The Salad Bar is fantastic, the service is wonderful (especially Dori, who has been there for years), and the 70’s-era music will make you want to get up and dance. We’re happy to be regulars here. It’s always crowded, so try to go during the week or during off hours.

The service was slow, and the food was less than satisfactory. This was our most expensive and least satisfying meal during our ten-day stay in Chicago. The adult main courses consisted of fast food quality burger and fajitas, while the kids’ menu of chicken nuggets and chips was served on prison food or school dinner trays with complimentary animal crackers. Service was polite and friendly but slow. Overall expensive and disappointing for what it was.

It was our first evening in Chicago. I can't remember where I heard about R.J. Grunts, but it was in my trip notes, so we popped over for dinner after visiting Lincoln Park and were seated immediately. The atmosphere is fun, with great music playing, and a very friendly and efficient wait staff. My husband had the pot roast special and I had the salad bar. We shared a milk shake. The pot roast with carrots was excellent, even though the mashed potatoes were a little thin and watery. The salad bar had a nice selection and pretty much everything looked and tasted fresh. The milk shake was not the best I've ever had, but it was very good. Our son had chicken tenders and fries - nothing special, but he liked them. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal here and if we ever visit Chicago again, we'll try to stop back in!

As a lifelong Chicagoan I've heard about RJ Grunts forever but had never been. We went today for an early dinner and got to see what all the fuss has been about all this time. Great service - I mean really great service and attention on everything. Really good food - buffalo chicken sandwich and even a gluten free menu. We really enjoyed it and I would strongly recommend it.

The food was just ok but the decor was cool and the menu artwork was very fun. The restrooms are for people who don't eat here much--very small and cramped. The salad bar had lots of great, fresh, tasty choices. The soups were pitiful. After trying the Mediterranean Lentil I knew to avoid the broccoli cheese soup, and I was glad I had not chosen the chili [the recipe hasn't changed since 1979]. The burger was incredible and very satisfying. The cottage fries were inconsistent texture-wise and temperature-wise. The servers were mostly on top of things. It was our best option at the time but I wouldn't prioritize this place.

I was very surprised by this little gold mine. This was my first time going, so I always like to keep an open mind. I knew something good had to be going on inside, because the line outside told me so. The salad and soup bar wasery good. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this place lived up to the hype! The customer service is top-notch. Everyone greets you with a smile and willingness to ensure that your dining experience is and will be a positively memorable time! I highly R.J. Grunts!

We had a charming casual dinner at the iconic RJ Grunts in Chicago. The food was delicious, the menu very varied and the prices were moderate. The décor is somewhat old fashioned and hasn't changed much in the last 40 years. RJ Grunts is iconic because it is the 1st Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that opened in around 1972. The wait staff were charming and professional. The location is excellent on Lincoln Park West

My kids love this place. The burgers are good (although not spectacular and seem a bit smaller than the advertised half pound); the salad bar while not huge has a nice selection and is fresh with good ingredients. Prices are reasonable. And access from Lincoln Park and Zoo is very convenient. I've been multiple times and service is at times excellent and other times dreadfully slow. It is a staple though when we're in the area. The facility could definitely use a rehab but good nevertheless.

Love the salad bar at RJ Grunts! It’s still the best in the city. Also love the entrees and the hand cut potato chips. Service is always great. Our server today, Kayla, was no exception.

We arrived at the Chicago Midway Airport and wanted a quick breakfast sandwich. We passed many fast food spots and the prices were a LOT more than we'd anticipated ($19 and $20 for a biscuit with chicken, etc). We passed RJ Grunts and the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich was $15.35 plus tax - and there was no line. I put in my order and they actually cooked the whole thing to order (so it took a few minutes). I was very happily surprised with the sandwich -- it was nice thick, large slices of bread toasted on the grill and filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, cheese and bacon, AND crispy hash browns. It was a feast - AND a real bargain for that airport. Delicious! Highly recommended!

Wow! I hadn't been to RJ Grunts in several years, yet it feels like I never left. Everything great about it (location, service/quality of food) all remain fully in place. We were a party of 5, part of the lunch crowd and were quickly seated in a great table. Within minutes, we had water for each guest & our orders were placed. Literally, minutes later, our food arrived, as-ordered & the fun continued. We will definitely be back!

We hadn't been to RJ Grunts for years, and this trip was a huge disappointment. Service was incredibly slow for lunch. Chicken wraps were filled with overcooked, rubbery chicken, and the burgers were tough with very few toppings - the blue cheese was nearly invisible. The house-made chips were wonderful, though, and made up a bit for the unsatisfactory sandwiches. We would have sent the food back, but we had waited 40 minutes and didn't want to wait any longer. The vibe of the place remains fun, the music is a throwback to the 80s, and the staff was pleasant.

Had a great lunch here before we went to the zoo across the street. We had a turkey club and the chicken fingers meal they both were great. Also had their mimosas and that was done well as well. No complaints. Service was good. I wanted to do the salad bar but soup and salad for 15.95 was a little pricey. Otherwise great place.

Like many other reviews, we ate here starting in the 70’s also but haven’t been there for at least twenty years....and it’ll be another twenty before I go back! Looks the same, feels the same but everything was very average... my pulled pork was not good, fatty, small portion on Texas toast smothered in sauce to makeup for the lack of smoky flavor. The patty melts were pretty good and enjoyed. The salad bar has lost its luster..... and some ingredients aren’t old school. Service was slow, bar was slower and I dislike being called Hon - it’s not Ed Debevics. Nice area to meet friends and walk around but I won’t be returning.

My wife and ate dinner hear as part of our anniversary weekend in Chicago. The burgers were fantastic! We were very tempted by the salad bar as it looked absolutely delicious when we walked by, but figured we were there for the burgers and to stick with that. The decor was pretty "stuck in the 70's" in a way...tons of portrait photos and a few paintings (like the large banana). Atmosphere was quant as the 2-top table was literally a table just big enough to squeeze two people at. Music was a good, not too loud as it allowed for my wife and I to actually have a conversation (unlike DMK a few miles away). Back to the burgers.... I ordered the Better Bacon Cheddar, medium well. It was cooked perfectly with just the slightest pink in the middle. Bacon was crispy and cheese was gooey. I "upgraded" for the french fries instead and they were way over done...way to crispy....hard to chew, and enough of them to eat dinner all by itself. I would not recommend getting the fries upgrade, especially since they charge an extra $1 for it. My wife ordered the Works Burger, medium well. It was cooked more like medium-rare to medium. It was still a great tasting burger though. The toppings on both burgers were decent. The tomatoes where a little "pink" and not the best quality. Otherwise, pretty good. In the end, I would recommend RJ Grunts to someone looking for a more laid back, enjoyable atmosphere that provides a pretty darn good burger along the way.

Met good friends and had a good meal and fun visit. We each had something different and all enjoyed. They let us park our car just outside even before their parking staff arrived.

My husband and I have been coming here since we first met. We love it here, the food, the atmosphere, the music. They serve the best burgers in town and cannot pass up their temperature soup, which basically, you pay the price of the soup for whatever the temperature is outside that day! Their salad bar is out of this world delicious with all the fixings you can think of. We'll always keep coming back here whenever we are in the city. Prices are reasonable - $11.99-$14.99 for burgers, serves wraps, chili and milkshakes. They serve dinner after 4 p.m. and have specials each day.

My Aunt from California was in town to visit our family. We had just got done walking around Lincoln Park and wanted to stop somewhere to eat lunch. My wife spotted RJ Grunts and we decided to eat there. The food was good. What impressed me about the restaurant was their salad bar. I have never seen such an extensive choice of items for a salad bar. Enjoyed it.

We were looking for just normal food and some salad to balance it out glutton week in Chicago. Honestly it was one of the best meals we had. It wasn’t fancy. Just good food. Salad bad was good. Soup was on the salad bar and that was amazing! Burgers good. Prime rib sandwich was good. Chili was yummy. No fancy weird twists. Just classic good food. And I do mean good.

.J.s is a good place to eat. Food was hot and servings were large. If you are looking for a salad bar, this is a place to go. The items were fresh and a large variety. Along with the salad bar, two soups were available. Order a appetizer of onion rings that were just ok. Nothing that made them stand out. Although, I would recommend this place as a local mid priced place to eat and quick service, there were a couple of things that a person should know. First there is no parking, except what is on the street. Be able to parallel park and drive around for a little bit to find a spot. Secondly, the restaurant maximizes the floor space and tables are very close together. Make sure you bring a cell phone or flashlight with you, because it is very dark and you may need it to read the menu. Even with the minor items that I mentioned, this is a great place to eat if you are looking for something that is not a chain store.

The 70s are alive at R.J. Grunts! Rumor has it they invented the salad bar but due to Covid it's become a design your own salad option. Brass, ferns, vintage photos, and 70s music playing help continue this time capsule. Portions are pretty big, but nobody needs that many homemade chips. The menu is varied though kitschy and hard to read.

I love RJ Grunts! Great ambience and love their food! My mom has been taking me since I was little because she went here when she was little! Now I take my friends and family their now! The cycle repeats itself! 1st salad bar ever I believe and it is the best one I have ever had! The burgers, sandwiches, wings, fries, and soup are always excellent! This is the original Lettuce Entertain You restaurant! I love the pictures of the past waitresses on the walls!

The food was just awesome. We planned on stopping at a different restaurant, but they were closed. Found this one around the corner and decided to give it a try. This little gem features the first salad bar in Chicago, which was pretty cool. We had asked our waitress about a historical and haunted location that was supposed to be around the corner and her face lit up. We had a great meal and a great conversation. Will definitely put this on our "go back" list for the next time we are in the area.

My son & I were visiting relation in Chicago and he suggest we go here for lunch. We are so glad we did! The Food was great and the service was friendly and fast!

What a fun menu and fantastic salad bar. With a Lettuce Entertain You history, R.J. Grunts is worth a visit. I seldom get past the salad bar, one of the first in Chicago, but have had their fabulous sandwiches too. Getting soul in the winter for the cost of the number of degrees outdoors is always a treat.

Just went here for lunch after hitting the Historical Museum and Lincoln Park. Simple but very good food. I had the salad bar and Chili which was as usual very good. Don't forget the tip that the salad bar is $15 but if you have an appetizer it's the cost of the appetizer and $9. It's like getting the appetizer for $.50 - $2. So having a salad bar (all you can eat) and say chili or chicken wings is a great deal (hard to find in that area). Also go early and avoid the weekends when it really gets crowded. Usually there is some wait.

We stopped for lunch around 1:15 and there was an hour wait. We were texted right on time when our table was ready. Salad bar was amazing, we each went back for more after our first plate. The burgers were well seasoned and juicy, the service was excellent. Worth the wait and would return.

Brilliant burgers and salad bar is amazing. The milk shakes are also terrific and huge. Everything is giant portions so go hungry! Great soup and salad bar which you can visit as many times as you want. Brill place just across from Lincoln Park zoo so very handy and it wasn't busy or needing a reservation or having to wait.

Stopped in on a Monday after a Bears loss for a medicinal pick me up. Off-season so not crowded at all. Decent selection of food & drinks. Worth coming back to in summer when neighborhood rocks. Easy access to Lincoln Park Zoo.

We ate at this restaurant quite by accident when the place that we were headed to turned out not to be open. The atmosphere was a little loud but the food and service was good. Would definitely go again for a good pub hamburger!

My husband and I stopped in here after work last week and I was really surprised with how good the food was! We had a drink (cosmo and manhattan) with dinner and they were PERFECT! I had a wrap and my husband had a French dip sandwich with sweet potato fries and they were both fantastic. I would definitely stop here again after work. Great food and great service!

Had brunch with my daughter and a friend. Our server was Dory, she was excellent. The food was great, and loved the atmosphere.

Great huge about 40 item salad bar, good burgers. Cozy bar area. Across the street from Lincoln Park.

Went to the branch in O hare airport. Everything was cooked fresh and it was reasonably priced. Not bad .

We went herebbq for dinner. We didn't make reservations but they sat us down right away. The food was expensive and did not taste very good. The milkshakes were extremely runny and we're kind of warm by time we got them. Our waitress didn't come back to our table very often either. I would not come back here.

The two best elements of our recent dinner at R. J. Grunts in Lincoln Park were the soup and the dessert. On a cold day, the restaurant serves "temperature" soup. The cost of a cup of soup (when purchased with an entree) is equivalent to the outside temperature that day. Our cup of minestrone/lentil soup cost us $0.45. Our sandwiches that evening were average. I had the grilled cheese. Although the cheese was flavorful, it was served on standard white bread -- no choice of breads, no offer of a tomato slice. The sandwiches come with a side of cottage fries. We did not want potatoes, and our only other option was broccoli, which was served cold. R. J. Grunts' original reputation was based on its abundant salad bar, which still exists. Ordered alone the charge is $14.95. The price is discounted if the salad bar is ordered with other food. For dessert, we shared a half size order of a hot chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. The half size was sufficient for two of us to share. The cookie and ice cream were good. The chocolate sauce disappointingly was not hot fudge.

We have been here before a couple years ago and it was ok. We decided to give it another try. However, we were not impressed. The food was on the pricey side for how small the portions are. They are supposed to be known for their burgers but mine was bland and tasteless. Our waitress only came back twice to check on us. So between the service and food we will not be returning. You can sign up on their website to get a $10 off coupon to be used on certain days after 4PM. I would also recommend making reservations.

This used to be my favorite restaurant a long time ago. Not much has changed for sure! Except maybe my palate. We had to wait and the place is tiny with a little to no waiting area, and it was cold. We sat outside on the bench because there wasn't anywhere to go. The wait was sooner than anticipated, and we were seated in a tight corner. Loved the old 70's decor-nothing had changed! The food was okay. Knowing it was the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I wanted it to be awesome. It wasn't bad, it was good, but not awesome. I has grander visions for the salad bar, which looked really sad when I passed it so I skipped it. Then again, it's been 20 years since I've eaten there! We ordered Malts for dessert and they were amazing. That was the best part of the meal! Mmmm. Overall it was fun to go back! Close to the zoo. Be back in 20 more!

I do believe the last time I was here was in the late 70’s. It’s pretty much the same. Salad bar didn’t look as big or as appetizing so skipped that. Burgers were tasty and sweet potato fries were good too. It was super crowded (Zoo lights a couple blocks away and a relatively warm night). Lots of loud families with lots and lots of little kids. The entrance is super small and I got knocked into multiple times by people coming and going. It wasn’t an inconvenience how many times I was banged into a wall or the hostess desk, it was more like a real space issue problem. For that reason alone I probably won’t go back. We had reservations and let them know we were heading to a concert and needed to be done and out and they were very good about that. Server was friendly and because the food was good it got 4 instead of 3.

I got the salad bar and their signature chile. The salad bar was amazing and I should have just stuck with that because the chile was overcooked and salty.

Very quaint restaurant, my first time there but has been around a long time. The salad bar is varied (I am told they are the restaurant that introduced the glass covered salad bar) and the food is American Fare. It can get crowded at times so I recommend making a reservation or wait time can extend close to 1 hr. This is how popular the place is and a little bit eclectic. I like it and will be back the next time I am in town.

I remember being blown away by the idea of a salad bar back when they first opened in the 70s. We used to sit there for hours,eating, and drinking coffee all afternoon.Not as exciting to eat that way these days,but everyone except me enjoyed the salad bar today. I had the delicious veggie burger with sweet potato fries. Satisfied.

This is one of those places you just happen upon and are so glad you did. We are serious sightseers and foodies. We had all the famous spots slotted for dinners. RJ Grunts was a quick lunch. It turned out to be one of the best burgers we have ever eaten. Great atmosphere, excellent service. Even better food.

We were in Chicago visiting our son and went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We took a lunch break and walked out the zoo to RJ Grunts. We were extremely satisfied with our lunch. Great atmosphere and food/service was excellent. I got the grilled cheese with bacon which was great and I heard great reports on the turkey club, california wrap and sante fe wrap as well. Highly recommend a stop here.

I've been going to Grunt's for years and I always enjoy going there but at times it's just not worth the trouble. IT can get very crowded with tourists and the stroller crowd on weekend and a wait can be well over an hour. It's not cheap by any means but the food is good and I like the salad bar (they claim to be the first salad bar). It's a nice place to go for lunch if you are in Lincoln Park during the week or if you are going or coming from the zoo.

When R.J. Grunt's opened on June 10, 1971 at 2056 North Lincoln Park West in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, across the street from Lincoln Park Zoo, few people this side of founder Rich Melman probably envisioned the beginning of a restaurant empire. Since then, Melman's Lettuce Entertain You empire has stretched from coast to coast. In the meantime, R.J. Grunt's hasn't lost a beat. It continues to "cater to the neurotic compensation of eating." The longtime eatery known for its massive salad bar plus comfort food classic and a nostalgic vibe still exudes the funky, devil-may-care lifestyle of the 1970s with its style, decor, music and menu. The world's first salad bar, it features more than 50 ingredients daily. R.J. Grunt's also prides itself on what it describes as "the best burgers in town," giant hand-dipped malts and milk shakes, craft beers and an all-you-can-eat weekend brunch. Many patrons can't get past the salad and soup bar. It's a meal in itself--and a healthy one, too. But you might opt for a hickory bacon cheeseburger or BBQ pork or fish and chips or a Gruntburger with fried onions and bleu cheese or Cajun chicken or chicken breast marinated in BBQ sauce or even a dinner special--country chicken, BBQ baby back ribs, pot roast or fish tacos. Wash it all down with a milk shake or one of several draft suds, including Guinness, Blue Moon, Goose Island, Stella Artois and 3 Floyds Gumballhead. By the way, the weekend brunch is a real hoot with waffles, eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes, bagels and cream cheese, bread pudding French toast, yogurt, granola and, of course, the salad bar. After 46 years, R.J. Grunt's salad bar continues to set the standard for everybody else.

From soup to burgers and a salad bar supreme !!! Music played takes you back in time. Casual atmosphere. Great service. Right across from the Lincoln Park Zoo..

Full, fresh delicious salad bar with add-ons like Greek salad, bean salad, cottage cheese, chopped liver, 2 soups. Large varied menu including specialty hamburgers, full dinners. Salad bar can be added to other menu items for lower price. Full bar, drinks are pricey.

The attitudes of the people serving customers is as poor as I've seen in any fast-food restaurant. They act as if they are doing the customers a favor--rather than the customers helping insure they have jobs. Watching the cook prepare my burger gave me little faith in either how well it would taste or how well it would meet the way I had ordered it. As it turned out, it was "decent"--though not great. I never return to service business that make me feel as if I'm a burden.

This is a fairly famous place in the Lincoln Park area. I'n fact, this restaurant is on President Obama's list of places he likes. Frankly, I found this place to be overrated. We ordered two of the more popular choices, burger and salad bar. Unfortunately, neither selection was so good I would return. Additionally, I found this place to be over priced for lunch.

apparently the time to arrive with no problems getting seated (i'm looking at some of the comments in the sidebar as i write this) is 6 pm on a monday--my niece, her boyfriend, and i arrived at that time and were seated right away. we admired but did not order from the salad bar--i got a patty melt, and the other two ordered a chicken sandwich and a wrap of some kind. we also had an order of fried pickle chips which were delicious. my patty melt was perfect but i should have sprung for the extra dollar for fries--the menu said cottage fries were the default but they're really not cottage fries, they're potato chips and rather bland potato chips at that. the fries looked better. the food was a nicely sized portion--plenty without being overwhelming. service was good, the room looks like it's looked for the however many years it's been there which is fine. it's the perfect place to take your relatives who like burgers and fries and milkshakes, maybe after a trip to the lincoln park zoo.

Laid back and casual restaurant. Veeeery busy so took a little while to be seat. Once I was at the front of the line there was no problem getting me a table- I was on my own.Chicken wings are fab as is the chilli. Enjoyed it. Big feed!

Stopped here after wanting to try something different. Cool place. Cozy. Right across from Lincoln park zoo so the area was nice. Food was good. Server was nice. Prices good as well.

To sum it up: salad bar was great, burgers were sub par, the fries were cold but the service was great. Bonus: some pretty good beers on tap- Founders Hopslam to be specific, which was a great find. Overall this place wasn't too bad considering what we paid.

Very small restaurant but super fun! 80s music playing, great salad bar and burgers! Definitely make a reservation!

I first came here when it opened about 40 years ago. It was famous for having one of the first salad bars in any restaurant. The dark wood decor remains the same and as I waled inside it felt just like it did when it first opened. Nice to know you can still go home again.

We found this place because it was within walking distance from the Lincoln Park Zoo. The burgers were delicious. Try the Yowza Burger and you won't be disappointed! It's spicy, but not burning your mouth spicy. I was intrigued by the "big kid's shakes" for 21 and up and took the servers recommendation on the coffee flavored one with Baileys. It was refreshing and went well with the burger. For anyone with small kids, you have to park the stroller outside and the hostess with lock it up. There were quite a few strollers out front. Also, side note, this place is huge, why do they only have 1 bathroom stall?

Id heard people mention this as a place to get great burgers, so decided to go here for lunch. Amazing selection and the staff very accommodating

Generous milk shake, delicious tuna melt. Soups and salad bar also offered a nice variety and fresh selections. The special turkey dinner sandwich was a hit with my daughter (it included turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce). The only thing I would say is that the cranberry sauce was obviously from a can. It's so easy to make fresh, they should try it! Our server was wonderful.

The superb staff and kitchen knows how to make a great meal experience. While there are many fine burger places in Chicago, RJ Grunts has been at its corner location for almost five decades serving definitive hamburgers with home made chips from day one, and the salad bar was invented here, too. It's a small place that gets crowded but that is all part of the charm of RJ Grunts.

My husband and I had dinner here last night. My husband had never been and it had been about thirty years since I had eaten here. We just relocated to Chicago from New York and are still finding our "go-to" restaurants. Such a fun place. It never seems to get old. RJ Grunts is the first "Lettuce Entertain You" restaurant from 1971, and was a trend setter in its day. Now, it's just cozy and comfy, with good food and a fine salad bar. My husband had the chicken fingers and the salad bar and I had a Patty Melt and the salad bar. The food was terrific. Do get the homemade potato chips, which come with most sandwiches. They are really good and better than fries, although my husband had the fries and said they were excellent. The salad bar has nice ingredients, good dressings, fruit for dessert. All the staff that we came in contact with were polite and seemed happy to be working there. The music is just great - no grating, contemporary synthesized music here. We saw couples on dates, families with kids, people there to celebrate a birthday. Such a fun place. We'll be back - before another thirty years goes by!

This very first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant is still excellent. Although the venue is small, the food and service are excellent. And this is the best salad bar in the City - chock full of veggies, fruit, condiments, salads, and temperature soup (the cost is whatever the temperature is outside). The music is fabulous - makes you want to get up & dance. The only downsides: only one bathroom for each gender, and the wait is often long (sign of a good restaurant, however). Sign up for Lettuce Entertain You points for opportunities to have meals on them.

I'd recommend making a reservation just to make sure you don't have to wait for a table. The restaurant is very small. Once seated the service was prompt. The burgers have a good grilled flavor to them. The salad bar offers quite a few items. Prices are reasonable. Finding a parking space in the area can be difficult so allow enough time to find a spot.

Had the Santa Fe wrap. It had to be the best wrap I have ever had. If you're ever in Lincoln Park give this place a try. They also have great burgers and an all-you-can-eat salad bar.

R.J> Grunts is a casual dining restaurant with excellent milkshakes. Not only can you choose many flavors, but you can also create your own combination of flavors without restrictions. However, the food is very mediocre.

Popped in here for a quick lunch and it was good. Huge salad bar and all you can eat for fourteen dollars. Interesting decor and efficient staff too.

Our group of five adults and toddler had a terrific experience at RJ Grunts. Our server was friendly, attentive, and did us a huge favor by snagging a dinner roll for our hungry toddler while we looked over the menu. We shared a starter of their rightfully-famous onion rings, which were crispy in the outside and sweet and silky inside. We ordered an assortment of entrees: burger, carnitas, chicken tenders, tuna trio, turkey club, and a kid's portion of grilled cheese. We all opted for fries or sweet potato fries instead of the chips. Everything was delicious. A fun and relaxed meal in a fun and relaxed place.

Classic 70's burger joint! From the milkshakes right down to the music! Glad we stopped in here to eat before we went over to the Zoo! Lauren, our waitress, was attentive and knowledgeable when we asked questions! The food was delish!

my favorite place in the entire world. been going to grunts for 21 years and have never left dissatisfied! get the patty melt with cottage fries.

The worst was having the person who suggested the restaurant feel badly having recommending this flagship restaurant. The scaled down menu took away higher cost items… avocados are expensive, so no more guacamole, no gluten free menu or listing of gluten free options on regular menu, no dedicated fryer (after 40 years) so that celiacs could have fries in a burger joint, but heck, for 2 dollars you can get two slices of gluten free bread! After receiving federal funds the Lettuce Entertainment Group for its 100+ restaurants you’d think Richard Melman would want to give back, support people’s taking their business to his establishments, so why pinch the pennies, unless you truly don’t care about your patrons? I’d suggest going around the corner to Clark Street and grabbing a meal at Riccardo’s Trattoria.

Dropped in for lunch with my daughter. I had extra spicy chicken wings. Food arrived and there was a lot of it, wings were hot as described and I enjoyed them. This place serves simple food at a sensible price for the area. Worth a visit if coming out of the zoo. Overall has a good selection of comfort foods, you won’t go away hungry.

Today was my first time to RJ Grunts. It’s a cute little restaurant across from Lincoln Park Zoo. I was starving as I hadn’t eaten at it was 3pm. The waitress informed me they were known for their burgers. So, I thought why not even though I was really tempted to choose the delicious looking salad bar. Well, I should have gone with the salad bar. The burger was very greasy and had no flavor. I would have rather had a Five Guys! I upgraded to the sweet potato fries which were also disappointing. They were stringy and flavorless. 😏 The service from all staff was great. I would try again for salad bar or another sandwich but definitely not a burger. They’re not worth the price or calories!

We walked here after seeing the Chicago Zoo lights. Really busy and lots of atmosphere, we ended up eating at the bar. Great bartender, really chatty and friendly and extremely efficient. Casual dining. Cheap eats. Great selection of beers and drinks! A great stop off when you need to warm up after visiting the zoo.

I don't understand why a person would eat here. I do know it isn't the food that brings them in. I've never had anything here that jumps out except the prices although they do give you a hearty portion of average food. The hamburgers need an upgrade, new bread, something. My guess is they haven't changed much since they opened but when the rest of the world is operating on Word and you still have a telegraph that's just bad business. The bread is now in the garbage. The meat portion is negotiating with my stomach about what the hell happened. Let me explain. Mine was undercooked but i ate it cause i wasn't in the mood to challenge what a medium burger should look like...hint not all red. RJ's redefines all you can eat as you can't eat much after a while. I hate that i don't like it because it is the only place around the zoo but my tummy hurts.

Great location near Lincoln park zoo - went for lunch. Very busy and tight seating!! Awesome milkshakes!! A dessert in themselves Great burgers - plenty of food and delicious. Excellent value for money. Service was quick and friendly. Salad bar looked amazing (and all you can eat).

My first impression...Wow is this place small. Tables right on top of each other. Just a very tight fit. However, greeted very nicely - we had a 25 minute wait and sent us a text then table was ready. Booths are small. Service was pretty good - had to ask for refills which I just hate. That should be automatic. We did have the salad bar - it was good but not so incredible as I have heard about. And when we went on a Saturday...they had breakfast food out to call it a brunch. Again, not so impressive. Food was good - I guess I was just expecting more because it was a lettuce entertain you restaurant.

R.J. Grunts was opened on June 10, 1971, the first restaurant in Rich Melman's hugely successful Lettuce Entertain You empire. Located at 2056 North Lincoln Park West in Lincoln Park, a short walk from Lincoln Park Zoo, this longtime eatery is known for its massive, all-you-can-eat salad bar plus comfort food classics and a nostalgic vibe. R.J. Grunts still exudes the funky, devil-may-care lifestyle of the 1970s in its style, decor, music and menu. Start with the signature salad bar with more than 50 ingredients daily. It's a meal in itself. The burgers are as good as it gets, particularly the Patty Melt, which consists of sauteed onions and American cheese on rye bread, or the Grunt Burger with fried onions and blue cheese. The chili once was voted Chicago's best. How about the giant malts and milk shakes that come in a rainbow of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, banana, Oreo cookie, coconut, raspberry, creamy caramel and real peanut butter? My wife loves the fish and chips with Icelandic cod. A grilled cheese sandwich never tasted so good with two slices of Swiss and two slices of cheddar. From soups to puddings, from fresh squeezed juices to craft beer, from BBQ pork sandwich to barbecued baby back ribs, R.J. Grunts offers something for everybody. And they've been doing it for almost 50 years.

I visited this place at O'Hare in the international terminal. Bad choice. The service was awful, the staff listless. It took too long to get my food. The burger was OK but the fries weren't very good. Very disappointed.

Mid afternoon on a Monday, very nice service and good food. Shakes (chocolate and banana) were excellent. Burgers very good, but not amazing. A bit pricey as well, so next time we'll probably try something different (just because there are so many places)

Cold overcooked dry burgers and fries. Indifferent, incompetent service. What a disappointment. This was the worst meal we’ve had in Chicago in a very long time. It’s inexcusable too- restaurant was virtually empty- food was not fresh either. Both my wife and I now have mild stomach aches. Avoid this restaurant- overpriced and totally garbage food.

Delicious. No matter what you order. Salad bar is wonderful. Buffalo chicken strips are amazing. derhad lunch today with my husband and brother sans we werer all happy campers.treatyourself the next time you happen to be in the neighborhood; you'll be glad you did.

The food is pretty standard bar/restaurant food and their salad bar is really good. But, this is our last visit.!they couldn’t seat us in time for our reservation (again) and when you have little kids you plan ahead like that so you can stay on schedule. But waiting another 10-15 in a crowded tiny place where the kids have nowhere to hang (and go stir crazy) isn’t so great. Then it took 15 minutes before anyone came to our table to order food - the place was packed and they were definitely understaffed (on a Saturday, c’mon). Food for the kids, which was a couple of easy basic dishes (got one order wrong but or well) took 20 and ours another 10 mins. So if spending nearly 30 mins waiting around w little kids is not your thing (which means we were there 50 mins before our kids had any food), then don’t eat here.

Are you cold and want a cup of soup with your meal. Today it was 17 degrees and my soup cost me 17 cents! When it is below zero, the soup is 1 cent! They offer two delicious soups a day, so order your burger or sandwich and have a very cheap cup of soup with it! This is the first of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants that's been open since the 70's.

We ate here because I wanted a good salad and it gave me options to make my own. My husband ate a burger and it had a good real grill taste. The place is small but efficient and we were seated quickly and the service was good. The salad bar was very fresh and had a lot of veggie offerings. I ended up adding the salad to a chicken sandwich. The Cajun chicken seasoning was great. My husband loved the sweet potato fries but the regular were good too. They are thin cut though FYI. The location is close to the zoo so it's a good place to grab a sandwich bite after or before the zoo. I heard good things about their milkshakes but we didn't want to be too full walking around the zoo. Def a great place to grab a bite. The decor inside also gives you lots to look at while you eat. I would describe is as quirky.

One of us had first visited the restaurant in 1971 and found that it had changed little since that time. We ordered a Turkey Burger and a Mr. Chicken sandwich with house chips and a cup of Mushroom Barley soup. A custom Chocolate Raspberry malt and a glass of water with a slice of lemon completed our meal. The service was friendly and food delivered quickly. We were pleased with the quality of our meals and the portions were more than ample. Though we didn’t partake of the impressive salad bar it was very closely monitored by the staff, fresh, with a wide variety of ingredients! It was a busy place with an eclectic decor that didn’t appear to have changed since first opening. We will try not to wait so long for our next visit.

My husband and I both agreed that our sandwiches (Mr. Chicken and the Patty Melt) here were the best sandwiches we’ve had in a LONG time. And the house chips are outstanding. Only giving it a 4 star because our service was slow, but this is amazing for good sandwiches!

The Burger I have ordered was quite pricy and was bot cooked freshly but precooked in advance. When i got it, it was burned. Fries were cold and greasy. Staff was extremly rude. If there woukd be a zero star experience, this would be surely one.

Great food and service. Hippie atmosphere. Fun and cozy! Good service and home style cooking.Wonderful and friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere. I'd go there for their onion soup alone, which is the best.

This is the very first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, and it has withstood the test of time. The salad bar is the best ever, the service is excellent always (our favorite is Dori, who has worked there forever), the menu has lots of choices, and prices are reasonable. Only downsides - the restaurant is small, so there’s often a wait. And the bathrooms are one seaters.

Just needed some simple food after a day of air travel. Nice place. Not too loud and not too crowded. Food is good. I had the tuna melt and my wife had a burger. Reasonable prices.

Family friendly for sure! Three words: “Valet Stroller Parking”. Our tiny toddler loved being seated beneath a spinning disco ball (and when he got antsy, we loved telling him to look up, keeping him fascinated and quiet). This restaurant is located near the Lincoln Park Zoo and a zoo-themed playground. It’s also near a bus route. The menu is a bit confusing, as there are multiple jokey illustrations, so it takes a bit to go through all of the selections. The salad bar is a bit pricey - $15.95 – but I saw several people ordering it. The menu is full of burgers, wraps, wings, sandwiches, apps, soups, and dinner specials. The burger I had was exactly as advertised (and cooked exactly as ordered), and the fries were excellent (you could easily split an order).

The vast and varied menu allows for good choices for all 4 of use on this visit. Our two grand-kids chose to skip the kids menu and went straight to the burger selections. Both wanted a cheese burger but one wanted regular fries and the the other cottage fries. The cottage fries were the best, like home made potato chips. My wife chose the California wrap with sweet potato fried and could not finish either. I got left overs the next day. My original thought was to order a burger but when I spotted the Nachos Nivana that closed the deal. It was a large pile of chips, chili beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guac and sour cream and something I hadn't had in a long time. It was delicious. I love the throw back way of serving the shakes by giving you a glassful and the large metal shake container; best chocolate malt I've had in a while.

Stopped for lunch on a Sunday with my brother and his girlfriend while we had a few hours to kill. Superb service, atmosphere, and food. Can't wait to go back.

My husband and I went to R.J. Grunts on a Saturday in March and were not disappointed. We had to wait about 10 minutes which we were okay with, and since we were notified by text message, we could go outside and take in the sights of Lincoln Park. While we waited, we read some of the recent reviews, including some negative ones that addressed the crowded nature of the restaurant. Our visit was also crowded, and I suppose my only complaint would be that there was no waiting area (though we didn't mind waiting outside). Rather than being put off by the crowds, I took it to be a good sign--that the food was worth it! We were squeezed into a table but none of us were hit by anyone despite being on an aisle, which have had happen at other restaurants. Our server was busy but still attentive, and our food arrived quickly. We didn't partake in the salad bar, mostly because my husband doesn't like salad and I'm too picky to really appreciate it. However, we were delighted to discover that you can order a cup of soup for the price of the temperature of the day as long as you're not pairing it with the salad bar--a great bargain! We both had chicken tortilla soup which was chock full of chicken and veggies and just the right amount of heat. My husband had a burger which he said was excellent and was actually cooked appropriately. I had the BBQ pork sandwich, and while the pork wasn't exceptional, the bun on which it was served was unique and delicious. We both had the cottage "fries" (chips) which were homemade and tasty--some were a little soft, which I think will ultimately happen, but most were crispy. We were not disappointed in the least but if you can't handle crowded places, then you shouldn't come here.

My husband and I came here and sat at the bar to grab a couple drinks. The bartender was very friendly. When my husband orders vodka on the rocks they upcharge for the "rocks" aka ice... We both thought that was a bit much, but didnt say anything. My husband ordered a cup of soup, the bartender put an empty bowl and spoon in front of us until the soup came. About 45 minutes later we decided to cancel the chicken noodle soup order since it still didnt come. No apology or anything, just said okay. When he pulled up our order on the computer he had never even rung it in. Was just kind of disappointed in that service since it was not busy at all.

RJ Grunts at the airport has a small but interesting menu. The person in front of me asked for a VeggieBurger and I overheard the person at the counter saying that they did not have that option. The prospective customer moved on. I asked for a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich & the lady at the counter said that it was not available & the tone was fairly rude. We chose Chicken fingers and it took 10 mins for RJGrunts to fill the order. The chicken finger came with fries and was yummmmm... If the lady at the counter knew how to deal with customers, I would have voted a 100% for this eatery

we were in a bit of a rush and the wait staff told us what order that would come right up. my husband a wrap, think it was santa fe - said was very tasty with avocado and nicely prepared chicken, the sweet potato fries were worth getting. I had the vegi chili and it was delicious. lots of menu items to pick from. ah, and we shared a chocolate milkshake which was good, could have been a bit thicker/richer.

This is a tradition my wife and I visit frequently. She was one of the original waitresses and when we first met w had the Tuna Terrific now called the tuna trio. Best Tuna melt in Chicago. Always have with salad bar and best milkshakes in Chicago. My favorite is Peanut butter and banana. Got to finish meal with their hot cookie with ice cream.

We stopped here on our bicycle tour. While we only had a glass of beer, it was a fun bar. Looked like a good place to eat!

This restaurant is a favorite go to restaurant of ours. The salad bar is outstanding. The food is great (fun and extensive menu), and the prices are reasonable. The service is excellent (Dori is the Best!), and the atmosphere is enjoyable. R J Grunts opened in 1971, and they play 1970s music that makes you want to get up and dance. Because the restaurant is small - it's the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant opened by the Melman family - there is a wait during peak hours. It's worth the wait.

Went there for dinner with a friend and loved it. We're were at a small table near the kitchen which was a small negative but it worked well for dinner with friends who hadn't seen each other in quite a few years. I'd been traveling all day and hadn't had time for a decent meal and this just hit the spot. I had their classic burger with the sweet potato fries. They give you A LOT of fries and I ate almost all of them. Reasonable walking distance from my hotel. Definitely a winner.

This spot near Lincoln Park Zoo is a little gem. Casual atmosphere, fun staff and basic GOOD Bar food..but better. They are known for their burgers and they do it well! I had their hot wings and they are some of the best Ive had! Come for the casual dining with HIGe big delicious Burgers and fries. Good menu options and good salads if thats your thing

Overall, R.J. Grunts is a great restaurant with a cool vibe. They play the classic music and have cool decor. We were able to snatch a reservation last minute for 8:30pm on a Saturday night. Two of us ordered the salad bar and one ordered the veggie burger with sweet potato fries; had the chips/salsa/guac as an appetizer. Everything was delicious, although we wished we would have gotten a bigger serving of guacamole for the amount of chips we received. The salad bar was just okay, it was very depleted, and the servers were not refilling it very well..........Could have been because it was late. Also, it was hard to hear one another because the music was very loud. Overall, I would still come back because the food is very good and we love the unique vibe of this restaurant!

RJ Grunts, the originator of the first salad bar, has made it even better with the digital salad bar, where you can choose your ingredients! The atmosphere is a pleasant throwback to the 70's!

This is the first of the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurants in Chicago and, although small, I’m glad it’s still here. The food is always fabulous, as is the service. (Thank you, Dori!). Grunts has the best salad bar in town. And the desserts are scrumptious.

I had lunch at RJ Grunts and it was delicious. They have a small but awesome salad bar. You had your pick of greens, toppings, salads and fruit. Included with the purchase of the all you can eat salad bar was the soup. The chicken noodle soup was simple and great. Reminded me of my grandmothers. I had the hickory BBQ burger and it was perfect. The meat was cooked well, the sauce was tangy and the bacon was thick. One of the best parts was the homemade chips.

We stopped in after a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo. They were quick to seat our group of nine and the wait staff was attentive. The food was good, though a little pricey for my taste. Very large menu with something for everyone.

I've been going to RJ Grunts at least 4 times a year fro a VERY long time...it's biggest draw, the old fashioned salad bar. A true blast from the past, in a restaurant that markets itself self as such. On my recent visit, many standards that kept the old fashioned feel going were no longer on the salad bar. Apparently replaced by "healthier choices". I get it, i suppose, but if i wanted quinoa salad and wheat berries, I'd go to the salad bar at whole foods. The replacement items were dry, old and tasted like the inside of the walk-in. Healthy replacements in a restaurant that serves a pound of fries with each sandwich seems oxymoronic to begin with, but if you are GOING to put them out, have someone that cares about quality control standing by, because clearly not everyone does.

You have got to try this place. It was recommended by my Sailors and it was great. The price was great as well.

The place is small, but has lots of character. Wood everywhere, a traditional (extensive) salad bar (with soups and great add on items - namely the sweetened chocolate chip cream cheese). The shaved roast beef sandwich with au jus is a buy - it is served on garlic bread! All reasonably priced. Great atmosphere with standard 70's music playing constantly and 70's photos adorning the wall space.

From hostesses to servers to cooks, these are career people who know how to take care of you. We tried to make a reservation via the ap, but found only times later than we preferred. Having never dined there before we didn't realize how popular it is with locals and how tiny this gem of a restaurant is. We arrived from the zoo hot and tired with four adults and three children just before 5 pm. For our party size they could not accommodate us for quite some time, but when we offered to break into two smaller tables the hostess said we wouldn't be near each other which we said was not a bother to us at all. We were quickly seated and supplied with lots of ice water and a delightful waitress. She asked if we had dined there and explained the menu and the salad bar and the kid options. My husband ordered a burger, my son the kids salad bar and my daughter the kids hot dog meal. I opted for grilled cheese and an add-on salad bar. It was awesome! The adult entrees came with awesome fresh made chips (a lot of them) and the kids' hotdog fries and animal crackers. I was so impressed by the wait staff and overheard our server telling the next table how long some of them have worked there. These people know how to take care of people and anticipated many of our needs and cleared dishes and provided refills swiftly and unobtrusively. This is the first "Lettuce Entertain You" restaurant and a perfect example of how to welcome customers and serve up awesome food. We will be back!

Caught on a busy Chicago evening, and was very popular with family friendly fair. Service was very good and good amount of choices for picky eaters.

We were a party of 7 and there was a very long wait. The wonderful hostess did everything she could to shorten the wait and we were seated within 15 minutes. Service was incredibly fast and food was great.. Only complaint was that it was freezing inside :)

I’m sitting here at the Chicago’s Ohare airport. Just finished ordering from Rj grunts. Got the wrong food and then was treated like it was my fault. Very rude and had to wait even longer while they threw my food in trash and tried again.

It has the largest lettuce salad bar, but there burgers are really good and big. They do have children's meals for $6.95, which includes a drink.

We come here after a trip to the zoo or while riding the lakefront trail. Great salad bar and fun environment.

Their claim to fame is the first salad bar and it was huge and tasty (baby greens were soggy tho). The whole place had a laid back 70's vibe which we loved. My kids said the milk shakes were delish. We sat at a table that looked onto the park which is beautiful and we got to watch all the coming and going. We really enjoyed ourselves - but don't expect to be wowed by the food. It's just average.

This restaurant is a favorite for Mother's Day! With both a salad bar and a breakfast bar, along with a regular menu to order off of, everyone can find something to eat. The restaurant is slightly cramped (little room between tables), but do not let this deter you! R.J. Grunts is wonderful and unique, unlike any other dining location I've ever been to. Go on an empty stomach!

My friends and I ate here for lunch after a walk through the Lincoln Park Zoo. We were told there would be a 20-25 minute wait, and the hostess was right on the dot! I was very impressed. The atmosphere in the restaurant was neat with pictures all over the walls. I ordered a burger, and it was the best burger I've found in Chicago so far. It had some sort of sauce on it that was amazing. I wish I had ordered the fries instead of the chips. The service was excellent despite a packed house, and our water container was never empty. Highly recommended!

We walked here in the middle of our zoo visit -- we were told there would be a 20 minute wait when we called, but they were able to seat us right away. Fun menu, good variety. Two of us enjoyed the "choose your own ingredients" salad. The potato skins were a bit odd -- very good but came deconstructed (with a little pot of sour cream and bacon), and there wasn't any cheese on them. Best fried pickles I've ever had.

I lived in Chicago for some time, and R.J. Grunts has definitely been one of my favorite place to go to! Hamburgers are awesome and the shakes are delicious. I did bring some friends from Italy to try the restaurant and they loved it!

Stopped in after visiting the Zoo and was seated quickly as restaurant was not crowded. Waitress took our order and said the homemade chips were really good. So I ordered a burger with chips and my wife had grill cheese and chips. Its hard to screw up a simple order like that but they did. Order came up in 2 minutes. Must have the food par cooked. My burger was just OK but the chips were cold and soggy and uneatable. My wifes cheese sandwich was cold as well as soggy cold chips. No crunch. Just mush. We called over waitress to tell her of our disappointment in the food and she just nervously giggled and asked if we wanted anything else??? We should have asked for the manager but he was busy with his computer in a separate booth. The food is not cheap. Even the vibe in the restaurant was not as upbeat as it used to be. I did leave a message with the restaurant but have heard nothing which is again disappointing.

This is not fine dining so know that when you decide. This has a very small serving area and the music can be kind of loud. If you get through that, the food is delicious. They have a great grilled cheese and their salad bar is fantastic. They usually have a couple of great soups also. If you like chocolate malts, they KNOW how to make a Great one.

We had a lovely dinner at RJ Grunts. The food was delicious and the prices were moderate. They still have their famous salad bar. The drinks were also reasonably priced. This is the iconic first restaurant of Lettuce Entertain You. We hadn't been there for 47 years and it hadn't changed all that much. We loved it. The décor is old fashioned. The restaurant was full. The location is excellent on Lincoln Park West

Took the family to the zoo and for lunch we stopped at RJ Grunts. Located 1 block west of the zoo. First let me tell you it is very small and they pack you in. Booths offer no extra room. Even the toilet room was very small. It also could have been cleaned better. Noon it was already messy. Everyone ordered burgers by myself. I went with the buffalo chicken sandwich. Even though it tasted good the chicken was very small. Was plenty hungry when I was done and disappointed. Very close to the same price as my kids 1/2 burger. Just felt for the cost either provide a decent size breast or reduce the price. If there is a next time I will go burger.

I walked in at 10:20pm on 5-11-19. After waiting at the podium, a girl comes over and i ask to be seated. She arrogantly announces, "Actually... (dramatic pause)... we are closing in five minutes." She refused to seat me. I asked for the manager. Incredibly, this girl - Trish? 2Though it sounded like she now meekly said Trash - was in charge. I expressed my dissatisfaction and added that I have been a patron since they opened decades ago. She didn't care. With people in charge like this, I am finished with this place.

We visited RJ Grunts, I had not been there in years. I used to go often when I lived in that area but since moving have not gone. But it was like going home, great salad bar. Wonderful menu choices. Basic American menu. The music was great.

We spent the day at the amazing Lincoln Park Zoo and were famished after walking around all day. So when Yelp popped up RJ Grunts we said, why not? Well most of us ordered some version of their burger and we were all very quiet while eating it. Partly because we were so hungry but also because it was so damn good. I will be back to RJ's during my next visit to the Windy City!

The Family had a great lunch together on a Monday after going to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The menu had a full range of American cuisine - burgers and sandwiches and pasta and everyone found something they loved. Great meal prep, great waitstaff. Would definitely recommend to other families.

Grunt's has been a staple in Chicago since the early 70's. It's a family restaurant with oldies playing in the background. It's a popular place and difficult to get into during certain times of the day and night. RSVPS are accepted and a good idea if you want to be guaranteed a table. The food is consistently good. It's not fancy, but the burgers and other sandwiches are tasty with a great salad bar. It's a totally casual atmosphere in a great neighborhood and a good place for lunch or dinner. It has reasonable prices and a full bar. Thumbs up!

Been going here for years. Never had a bad meal. Nothing special from a foody standpoint, just good neighborhood food. The salad-bar can be a little sparse at times, but I don't go there for that. The French Onion soup is always great and the burgers are excellent. The photos of all the past servers is pretty cool. Interesting to see the hair styles from the late 70's and early 80's.

We were here decades ago and found it to be a great place. Recently we went back but some of the shine has tarnished. We were seated right away and the place was hopping. We placed our orders and took in the atmosphere as we waited. My husbands food came quick. Mine seemed to take forever and it was just a simple wrap. At least it was good. The place hasn't changed much and it shows. It could use a through cleaning top to bottom. The wall around the salad bar was splattered with salad dressing I would guess and was quite unappealing. The ceiling is very dusty as well. Some places are best left in the past and I'm afraid this falls there. Makes me sad.

Had a burger and fries. Beside the fact that cost over $18, there was no taste to anything. A bit of seasoning would have gone a long way.

After a morning visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, my husband and I were looking for a place to grab lunch and spied "burgers" on the outside of R J Grunts. That sounded very good to us so we crossed the street and met two uniformed policemen on their way out of the restaurant with smiles on their faces. My husband and I joked with each other that any place where cops eat must be good. Well, in the case of R J Grunts, our meal wasn't good--it was great! Best hamburgers we've had in years (like, since the '70s?), and cottage fries that were like thick cut potato chips--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. The ambiance and decor is funky '70s, and the music is enjoyable classic '70s. Extensive menu, including hand-dipped malts & shakes. Would go back every day of the week if I could! Service was prompt and efficient.

Thankfully we made a reservation for lunch, as it was busy and had a wait even in March. The menu is varied, so there is something for everyone. We all enjoyed burgers and patty melts , grilled to gooey, toasty perfection with a side of sweet potato fries. Not a healthy lunch but it was yummy.

Lived in Old Town for 4 years and would go here at least once a week. It's not the best food and certainly not gourmet or even close. It doesn't matter, I love the atmosphere and neighborhood feel to the place. I love every type of cuisine, but I'm a sucker for a buffalo chicken sandwich and they have the best one that I've ever tried. I've since moved out of the Chicago area and whenever I go back, I still have to get this sandwich. Service is good, they came to recognize my wife and I after a while, due to our specific orders (house fries with guac and salsa, being one). Decent rotating beer, too.