Clarke's
930 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL
kinda late (midnight)
Hop off the Red Line at Belmont, walk a block or so east past the tattoo parlors, adult goods emporiums and vintage clothing stores, and you'll find a cozy haven of old-fashioned diner food: Clarke's.
The jokey menu, decorated with amusing '50s photography of smiling couples and stern-looking men in hats, offers a great variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items at fair prices. From turkeyburgers to scrambled-egg skillets, Clarke's provides fresh, tasty, filling fare with friendly service. And their spacious booths are perfect for dining out with a whole bunch of your friends.
Their pancakes, especially the monstrous baked-apple version, are darn tasty. Shrewd buyers who fear no carbohydrate can also order an omelet and get both thick, golden french fries and a short stack of pancakes included, a veritable feast for somewhere around 7 bucks.
Clarke's also has an Evanston location, off Orrington next to the Burger King and across from the Northwestern University campus. An institution among NU students, they're open till midnight during the week, and as late as 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
