Sustainably Delicious: The Chicago Diner Shares Their Story

Vegetarian, sustainable, eco-friendly – The Chicago Diner: Logan Square is green all-around while serving up deliciously vegetarian meals. Kat Barry has lots to share with you, Loganites, about the wonderful new diner in Logan Square.


April 2, 1983. In a city known for meat packing & hog butchering, a brave pair of optimistic vegetarians opened a ground breaking meat free eatery called The Chicago Diner. Since then, co-owners Mickey Hornick & Jo Kaucher, have built a reputation for wowing customers with unique and innovative dishes, changing minds about “The Way a Diner Should Be”. Eventually, they settled on the charming slogan “Meat Free Since ‘83”.

Despite its diminutive size, only seating 50 patrons, this tiny Diner has managed grand feats: garnishing Michelin Guide recommendations, Zagat ratings, ‘Best of’ recognition & reader’s choice accolades ‘til the cows come home, pun intended, from the likes of VegNews Magazine, The Chicago Reader, Vegetarian Times & WGN’s showcase: Chicago’s Best.

In November of 2012, having grown into a bustling destination spot, The Chicago Diner: Meat Free Since ’83, opened a second location in the Logan Square neighborhood at 2333 N. Milwaukee.

The Chicago Diner: Logan Square offers the same menu as Halsted Street, inventively recreating meatless American classic comfort foods like The Radical Reuben™, Buffalo Wingz, Mac & Cheeze, Burgers and Country Fried Steak as well as dairy free/trans fat free desserts & shakes from the in house bakery. The bar serves tap & bottled locally crafted beers and a dozen fancy cocktails featuring organic, small batch liquors.

The new spot takes sustainability to a new level: housed in a US Green Building Council LEED Gold certified facility, incorporating repurposed materials & fixtures throughout, as well as employing other Earth conscious initiatives like eco-friendly disposables; FSC & Rainforest Alliance certified menu paper; container & waste oil recycling; high efficiency appliances, lighting & HVAC systems.

Old meets new in the Chicago Diner: Logan Square, with classic but re-imagined meat free foods paired with reclaimed/vintage & eclectic furnishings in a modern efficient space. An eye opening experience all around in a hip & exciting neighborhood. No matter which meat free Chicago Diner one chooses, Lakeview or Logan, there’s a comforting feast in store.

Thanks so much!
- Kat Barry

The Chicago Diner
3411 N. Halsted
Cell: 412-735-2852
www.veggiediner.com

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