Lindy’s and Gertie’s
3685 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL, 60609
Lindy’s and Gertie’s Menu
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Address :
3685 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL, 60609 - Phone (773) 927-7807
- Website https://www.lindystheoriginal.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Alexander C.
One of my favorites right here! Either if im going on a low key date with the lady or out for a few beers with the guys, this place is always on point. Regular Diner food with great chilli. Im usually going with the Cheeseburger Dream Meal (comes with a cup of chilli) and it has never been bad. Throw down a strawberry shake at the end and you got yourself a fantastic meal. Or belly up at the bar and have a couple Budweisers and hang out for a while. Love this place.
(5)Justin B.
I can't speak to the full menu at this place, but if you show up and order a milkshake and a hot round of french fries, you will be living the dream, friends. Incredibly tasty business, with one of the best chocolate shakes I've had in Chicago (super thick, lots of ice cream, big, the value prop was just right). The fries were fresh cut and served in a big to-go bag...if I had to stretch, I would complain that there were not enough ketchup packets in my bag. Otherwise, amazing and the service was fast, but I was a takeout order, so I can't speak to some of the complaints I'm seeing here about the table service.
(5)Miguel P.
This place is just a cool as it was when I first came here. Before Yelp. The servers are always nice - surprisingly so, as a matter of fact. You need more cheese? More crackers? You got it. If I had a complaint, it would be that the decor hasn't changed since I first came here. Before Yelp. But I go here for the food, not the decor, so who cares? But the fact that you can simultaneously get beer AND ice cream ... Makes this place freaking amazing.
(4)Cesar M.
Feel so bad writing this review but it is what it is. Came here with some friends and waitress was so rude. I had the cheeseburger, cup of chili, fries and a side or rudeness. The chili was ok, fries so forgettable, burger was bad, I've had better burgers with the clown and the royal, but my side of rudeness was on point. Waitress comes and puts the check on the table, we had to ask if we could have some icecream, the icecream was good BTW, banana split with strawberries and pineapple, and they added a lil something I can't quite put my finger on it, it was strong, sour and weird, o yea it was rudeness. not again
(1)Muneca E.
This place is awesome, I grew up coming to Lindys for ice cream with my parents. The one thing that disappoints me is this waitress who is super rude. Besides her the food is great, definitely try the Chocolate ice cream!! Chocolate cows are life lol (root beer and chocolate ice cream)
(5)Katie G.
Best vanilla ice cream! I've been here several times for the ice cream. You can take a carton to go. Never ate the food here. Definitely worth coming here for smooth, creamy delicious yummy ice cream!!
(5)Al G.
Sad not what it used to be. Time for the new owner to open his eyes once the construction out front is done.
(2)Steve M.
I have been going to this location for over thirty years. Yikes I can't believe it has been that long but it has. I don't think the decor has changed in thirty years but that's a whole different post. It used to be packed solid at lunchtime but now there was just me and three other tables. I always get the same combination which is a cheeseburger and a cup of chili Mac and no matter what time of the day or what time of the year the quality is always the same. You can't beat the chili Mac. The fries were actually better than previous times but that may just because they cooked them a little longer just like I like them. There is a parking lot and free parking on the park side of the street.
(4)Stathis D.
all this place is good for is the chili which is!nt made there and the beer. I sat and ate there, all the food was cold from the pic up window all the way to the counter
(2)Edward W.
One of my usual lunch options when I'm in court at 26th and California. Decent service and the food is always consistently good. Chili and a dog for me.
(4)Mz C.
Zero stars if I could. Revamping of the bar area and new ownership had not helped this placed at all. Tables were half full and short on staff. On e we were seated, it took 10 minutes to get water, 15 minutes to get out order and when it finally came my ice cream had a roach in it. My kids were upset when I told them we had to leave. Waitress was no where to be found! I walked out, put kids in the car w/spouse and asked for the owner. Waitress thought I skipped out on the check...she never even came back to give me one. The owner was apologetic, but I will never go back, nor can recommended it to anyone. It's a shame, because I use to love it as a kid.
(1)Elizabeth T.
Well, it's been a minute since hubs and I have stopped in here--almost 2 years. Came in on a recent Sunday afternoon to catch the end of the Bears game, grab some lunch and a beer without having to drive to the south loop. We were hoping the new owners would have managed to turn this place around. What a mistake. We won't be back. There was a cockroach scampering around on the wall across from our table and another climbing all over the booth across from us. Midday. Broad daylight. Luckily the waitress was pretty nice about it (though seemed a little less than shocked) and didn't charge us for the food. You couldn't pay me to eat here again. It's a shame. What I wouldn't give for a nice, clean sports bar and grill to get some wings or a burger and watch the game without having to hop on the highway. . . . a girl can dream.
(1)Chris T.
I want to love this place, I really do. But the big guy in the fedora definitely makes it difficult. He's always had something crappy to say to me when I leave. Either the tip I leave (for the teenage waitresses mind you--not him) isn't big enough (20%) or if I tell the cashier to keep the change, he's gotta yell out something smart-assed like, "if you're handing out change, I know a guy by the freeway blah blah blah". The past 3 times I've been in there he's made a point to smart off AS I'M WALKING OUT and never to my face. No no--I get it. You don't want my money. That's fine. Your food gives me heartburn and the tables are always sticky and covered in crumbs, anyway.
(1)NARDO Q.
Second time.. I came once at 1040.. the next time at 1020.. both times an older lady told "sorry we close".. I ask if I can take something to go and they say no.. wtf.. why say you close at 11 if it's a lie.. I used to love this place but screw them now
(1)Jacob G.
The food at Lindy's and Gertie's used to be good, but it's declined quite a bit over the last few years or so. I used to love their chili and ice cream, but neither things are as good as they once were.
(2)Norman L.
Nasty and run down. Chilly was excessively greasy. Fingerprints on plates. Not like this years ago. Better to go to the Harlem location.
(1)Char Y.
The chili was really good, and so was the banana shake. However, the eggplant sandwich completely failed! it was greasy and too cheesy.
(3)Eric P.
When it comes to chili there is only one restaurant in town that is worth the drive. Lindy's Chili on Archer is hands down the best chili in Chicago. Lindy's has a meat and a meatless chili. Chili extras are also available, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, crackers, diced onions. Also, available at Lindy's are chili cheese fries and chili cheese dogs. If you choose to eat in, you will enjoy a no-frills experience. And by no frills I mean no frills. Not even hot water in the bathroom sinks. There is also a tiny bar often patronized by south siders who are constantly yelling at whatever game is on the tube. On our last trip to Lindy's we got a root beer float that was so good, because it was made with Gertie's ice cream. If you're craving chili, head to Lindy's.
(5)Nicole D.
I have never been to a place of such ignorance! We ordered food to go/for pick up for my work. I picked up the food over $20 worth including a quart of chili..... I realized he had put no extra cups and NO SPOONS OR NAPKINS in the bag.... I went back in to ask for utensils to eat our food with, where I was told (by who I believe is the owner) ' WE DON'T GIVE AWAY THINGS FOR FREE HERE" Ok I can MAYBE see if he didn't want to give me extra cups for us to pour the chili into, but Spoons?!?!?! I am ordering from a business! we could come back and order everyday if we wanted to!! Are you kidding me??? I'm not some stranger off the street. I am a customer, who just bought your food!!! You don't give people a plastic spoon to eat your food with?? Napkins aside! (which he still doesn't give you!) How could you not give us plastic spoons??? IT GETS BETTER... He wanted to charge me $0.05 per spoon!!! Are you that hard up for money that you need to charge your customers .05 cents per spoon and a couple extra cups and napkins?!?! Overall the food has a general bad taste in your mouth when you know that you paid an ignorant person when there are so many other great business owners busting their butts everyday to stay open and they would never treat a customer like that. In my opinion I don't know how this place stays open aside from the fact it has name recognition and a couple locations. unfortunately for them bad word of mouth travels much faster, and I will never recommend this place and make it a point to share my terrible experience.
(1)Diana G.
Came here tonight with my guy. Waitress was wiping down the tables and chairs and the place a stench to it. Place looked a bit dirty. Ordered a Miller Lite on tap and he got Modelo. He ordered the cheeseburger special and I just got a burger with fries. Both of us were not impressed with our meal. Burger had no taste to it and it was dripping with oil. The fries were hard. Had to drench it with ketchup to eat it.
(2)A.J. M.
I love the chilli here!! You can get a 5-way like they do at Skyline! The food us great, the ambiance is not so great!! It looks really dirty and out dated inside, but like I Saud the food makes up for the looks!!
(4)Rachel H.
Dear Lindy's, I love you so much. I love you and I don't want to tell anyone about you, but I just can't help it. I get this way with boys and apparently favorite secret holes in the wall. Chili is amazing and you can get it in a cup, bowl, or crock. Beans? No Beans? No problem. Add some cheese, onions, or sour cream. The onion is super strong and meets my onion breath needs. This chili is good. I forgot to mention you can buy it in a bucket for party needs or a 55 gallon drum (for around $2,300) if you're planning to start a militia in Wyoming or something. You can add chili to any of their sandwiches, both on the sandwiches or as a side, in order to create a dream meal. Just stick with the chili though, it blows the other goods out of the water. By sticking with straight up chili goodness, you can save room for the ice cream. I suggest the Sweet Sixteen Sundae. The description says "never been kissed" but the whipped cream and toppings on that monster made me feel more than a little bit dirty. Chili, ice cream, and waitstaff straight out of the cast of Gummo. I need this like I need brick of solid gold thrown straight through the windshield of my car.
(5)Marco C.
I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I kind of happened to pop in this place all of a sudden and it was one of the best places I have had chili at, it may not be the best as far as appearance is concerned, but they make up for it with the chili. The service was good, I like the fact I was able to pick between Turkey and Beef Chili, and it was very filling for the price. I seen a few negative remarks on here, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I found it to be a great place to happen to stop in for a meeting. The server was a Latina, she was very courteous, and she was very sweet, great experience, not 5 stars, but it was well worth the visit. I didn't try the ice cream, I guess I will save that for next time :)
(4)Tia J.
Yummm.... they now have my favorite beer New Holland's Dragon's Milk... Always a cool spot to chill and have a beer. Their pecan ice cream recipe is awesome!
(5)Maram K.
I know the locals love this place but I just don't understand why. I've had the chili and it reminds me of the chili we had in CPS grades K-12, which didn't kill us but was nothing to write home about. Take that chili and add more water and that's Lindy's. What's funny is a friend brought over a to-go bucket of Lindy's chili which was actually pretty decent. So I wonder if they get lazy at the actual restaurant. Service was okay. The ice cream sundaes are outright gross in my opinion. My ice cream had fragments of ice in it and had an uneven consistency. Maybe freezer-frost issues? I don't know. The whipped cream was the grocery store can, so it can't really be reviewed, can it? I mean, a lot of ice cream shops make their own whipped cream because it isn't too difficult. And the hot fudge was not hot and it was just chocolate syrup. Maybe hershey's? No matter what it was, the sundae contained the ingredients of basic crap I can find in the grocery store. Gertie's has no right to call it their own if nothing in it is homemade and all they are doing is assembling it for me, poorly at that. I'll stick to making my own chili at home and Margie's for a real sundae.
(2)K R.
mmmm , this place is ok. I gave it 3 stars because the staff was friendly and restaurant is family friendly. i ordered a burger and my fiance ordered spaghetti and chilli, which turned out to be a bad idea. we also ordered nachos with chili, which i expected it to be better than it was. the chilli was more watery and mushed out. it just wasnt that great. i feel like they have good food here, i just need to figure out what it is. the icecream sundae was ok, maybe the shakes are better. i definately want to go back to give it another try.
(3)Martin P.
We stopped in early in the week late one night. I had one of the dream meals which included a cup of chili, an all beef dog, fries and a drink. All were good...not great, but good. The prices were very inexpensive. The beer that day was 2 bucks! The chili which was highly touted was decent, but nothing more than that IMHO. The service was good, the place was reasonably clean, and as I said the food was decent. I would return if I am in the area. If you want a satisfying, inexpensive meal, with good service this is a good bet. Ice cream was good too!
(3)Yesenia G.
This place is great! I had my order to go, so I can't really say how the staff is, however the lady that helped me at register was kind. I ordered a BLT turkey breast sandwich, (you should know I dislike bacon veryyy much) so why I did this, im not sure. Well im extremely glad I did because I ate the whole thing with no complaints! Delicious sauce, ingredients were fresh, and they even have wheat bread choice! Ill be back again to dine-in this time!
(4)Yesy D.
Their brownie sundae is not on the menu but it is to die for!! Their turkey chilli is amazing!
(4)Lindsey H.
This was the most disappointing meal I have had in years. I had been looking forward to going to this restaurant for a long time. I was near one this past Saturday and sat down with some friends. We ordered Chili fries, Chili Mac, and 2 "soon to be famous" Italian Beefs, one "cheesy" located at the very top of the menu. When ordering the waitress asked if the beef was the one with marinara sauce. After I said, No, beefs do not have marinara sauce. She said she must have been confused with the meatball sandwich. Strange, but fine. She came back a few minutes later and asked what kind of cheese I wanted on my beef though it says on the menu "cheddar cheese sauce". I asked for cheddar. We received our Chili fries which were really good. However, the tv was tuned into the Kardashians, and they were visiting someplace that had John Wayne Gacy's brain and it was disgusting. We asked her to please change the channel, which she did after a few minutes. The waitress brought out our food, a "cheesy Italian beef" with guess what? Marinara sauce all over it. The Italian beef was gray and boiled. I thought about just taking it, but I just couldn't do it. We sent it back. She then came back with another beef that had American cheese slices melted on it. I asked, "is this Cheddar" and she said, "Hmm, I think it is." I tried to eat some of it but my deeply rooted love for Chicago Italian beef was dying inside. Meanwhile, Lindy's little ant friends were crawling across my Boyfriends Chili Mac plate. This was the last straw. We sent both of our boiled, absolutely bland, and one plastic cheese covered beefs back to the waitress. She apologized and said she would give us a full refund, but we said that we would pay for the chili (regardless of ants it was tasty) and the drinks and fries. She offered us some ice cream, which we accepted, and was delicious. However, one thing the waitress told us while apologizing, I believe that all yelpers should take to heart- "You know what? I only order the chili and the ice cream here, I never, NEVER order anything else..." Wish I'd known that before I ordered.
(1)Antonio B.
Really good chili. Probably perfect cure for a hangover. Clearly a local favorite. Be sure to drop in if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
(3)Joseph G.
Banana milkshakes!! Solid low key diner. I've never tried anything else besides the milkshake. This is based on the frozen tasty beverage i indulged in a few days ago...which was outta sight!!
(4)Darren F.
saw this on Chicago's best and since I'm local, i just have to give this place a try! i came here with my 2 cousins one night to see what's this place is about.. service was OK.. not the greatest but yet not the worst. After we sat down we notice 2 little annoying flying insects flying around us so we had to kill it and no we are dirty people if that's what you guys are thinking haha.. anyways, we ordered 3 chili , hamburger , gyro , and a polish.... the chili was a little salty and definitely not one of the best chili I've had.. the gyro was horrible, very less meat, the pita was oily, and the sauce was sooooo watery its unbelievable... the burger and the polish i saw my cousins eating just looks like a typical school served lunch, they said it was just alright and nothing special about it... only good thing about the meal was the fries, but that's about it... i will not be coming back here again..
(1)iddells E.
I always go to their food booth when they're at the Taste of Chicago, but this time I decided to go to the actual location. We were sooo hungry and had a taste for chili. Everything on their menu sounded so good. After deciding between the Chili Cavatappi (pasta with chili) and the Chili Extravaganza (tamales with chili and nachos), I decided to go with the latter. They serve the Extravaganza with Tom Tom Tamales. The tamales were far from authentic and had some kind of unidentifiable filling in them....not sure if they were beans or ground meat, but whatever it was, I thought it was pretty good. The chili was delicious! The ice cream creations are gigantic! Other customers ordered ice cream and I was amazed. I just had a root beer float, which I loved. I will definitely return if I'm around the area....I'm already thinking about getting the chili cheese nachos!
(4)Stephen S.
I went to the other location on Archer last night. My girlfriend and I both love chili so when we were looking for a place to eat while we waited for her roommate to arrive at the summit amtrak station we both agreed on trying a place claiming to have chicago's favorite chili since 1924! It did not disappoint one bit. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer well before we put in our main order. I wouldnt say were mad when our chili and then Jackis salad arrived before them, we were just really excited for those onion rings we had been thinking about since the begining of our three hour drive from Indiana. The chili was great, the italian dressing on the salad was great, the onion rings were great, and my burger was your standard 1/4 lb. burger. I was in the mood for a big thick burger, but this one with cheddar cheese hit the spot with its heaping, lettuce, tomato, onion, and slightly unusual pickles (way better than the ones McDonalds uses). The only thing that could have made this any better would have been to cap it off with one of Gerties amazing ice cream treats, but after being on vacation all weekend and certainly eating like it, we had to resist. Til next time Lindy and Gerties.
(5)Laura K.
This is a staple of the southside. In my opinion, it represents the neighborhood, southwest locale, and memories of my childhood. Yeah, its old and a little run down inside, but its full of personality and never lets you down. I do miss the original Gertie's on Kedzie...I still remember walking in from the summer heat to a cool breeze and the smell of ice cream! I have no complaints about this place! There's always a place to sit, food is served quickly and hot, waitresses are attentive but not naggy, and the ice cream is the best you'll ever have. I'm happy they have turkey chili on the menu, and I've had their fish sandwich many times. Oh, and the onion rings are just about the best you'll get from anywhere. The prices have gotten a little high over the years, but what can you do? Back to the ice cream - its the exact same stuff you would get at the original location on Kedzie. And everything is customizable - you can substitute chocolate ice cream for vanilla, combine toppings, etc. My usual is a hot fudge marshmallow sundae without the nuts. It will make you bust a gut, but you only live once!
(5)Christine H.
All I had here was a milkshake because I wanted to try "the best milkshake in Chicago" before I go vegan. So yeah, it is the best milkshake in Chicago ;-). So thick and rich, I actually saved half of it and put in the freezer for an ice creamy treat the next day. A little pricey for a shake and it takes awhile to make, but it's worth the wait. If only they had veggie chilli!
(4)Christine P.
Ice cream and chili - 2 great tastes that taste great together! For a meal, silly! If you're not sure what you want to eat, but you're in something that resembles a bad mood, chili and ice cream will make that bad mood disappear quickly. The service is like the decor - no nonsense. The results are great a fantastic price. I don't know who Lindy or Gertie were, but I'm sure glad they opened up a chili and ice cream parlor!
(4)Mimi P.
My favorite Lindys and Gerties location, and the teenage waitress Kelly is the best! They offer alot of comfort Chicago food but also have a "Dream Lite" section on the menu for the health conscious. lol Beer specials are always fantastic especially when served on a mug for the price, and the ice cream melts in your mouth- literally. Although they have seasonal flavors like the Pumpkin during fall, the vanilla chocolate and strawberry are terrific.
(5)Jeffrey H.
I love this place. Not only is the service nice. The food is excellent. I find it very hard to find chili w/o beans anywhere. This is the place to get it. Though I find it odd it costs more to have no beans versus w/ beans. Meh, no matter. Plus, the chocolate/peanut butter shake is delicious. I bought the chili pasta and it's delicious. Looks like they do a lot of catering so you can by different size containers of chili if you want.
(4)Andy M.
This is a nice looking small chili bar. I enjoyed the chili and Polish dog. It is a charming little bar and eatery and I look forward to seeing the other places it has in the Chicago area. The fries are pretty average anc could use an improvment.
(3)Dave G.
Haven't been there in years, but noticed the addition of Gertie's. They used to be on 59th and Kedzie by the Colony and I remember their "tummy buster". One of those if you can eat it all (by yourself - no help) you don't have to pay for it. Never did that one, but did others. Fond memories. Now on to Lindy's. Went to De La Salle HS and passed the place every day on the bus. It was good back then and I assume based on the reviews I've read here, it still is.
(4)Jemillex B.
chili best!
(5)Sarah S.
This place has been around for ages, but I have never been to this location.. the original closed and I haven't been since. I can not speak for the chili, but the ice cream is REALLY yummy. Its thick and dense and with whatever toppings you desire. I had the cherry sundae with vanilla ice cream and lots of whipped cream and my friend had the turtle sundae which was also very good. Service was good and place is basic.. nothing fancy for sure. I will try the chili next time..it looked good, but I didn't think it would be a good mix and I would be paying for it later.
(4)Linda C.
Oh I wanted to like this place so much but I was sadly disappointed. I went here today with some friends for lunch. We order mac and cheese, some chili, fries, a burger, a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich. First off the mac and cheese was horrible. It was watery as the noodles were probably soaked in water and not drained properly when it was added to the melted cheese. The sandwiches and burger were meh. My friends complained that the cheese on their sandwiches were too salty. The fries were disgusting. They were tasteless and drenched in oil. My order of fries looked rather old compared to my friend's but both were equally bland and greasy so I guess I shouldn't be jealous. Now I don't understand what makes their chili famous. Can someone please tell me? The best chili I had was at some ski resort in Wisconsin. It probably came from a can too! So for desert we ended up ordering some ice cream. I shared a hot fudge sundae with a friend. We ordered it to go and the lady put the sundae in a pop cup. It was messy and rather annoying as the hot fudge was separate. The ice cream was pretty good. My friend order a scoop of chocolate ice cream which tasted kinda funky.
(2)maurice s.
Lindy's hasn't changed in years. Half dive bar, half dive restaurant. Fantastic chili, any way you like it. Adequate sandwiches. Gertie's ice cream. Filberts pop in glass bottles. Good service. Low prices. Great location--on Archer right next to McKinley Park.
(5)Brad F.
This place was excellent, i came here for a milkshake after dinner one night, and it was the best milkshake ive ever had it was out of this world. I decided i needed another dessert, so I got chili and it was amazing as well. I wish i had a party big enough to buy the 55 gallon drum of it!
(5)Gene K.
Love this place. I used to go to the location at 59th/Kedzie All the time as a kid. And now I live right by this one! The Chili's great and meaty. I always get a Green River with my food. And the Ice Cream's to die for. Battleship 4 LYFE!
(5)Michelle M.
Sometimes in the winter, when we get our one or two yearly snows, I dream about Lindy's Chili. It's that good. I visit for work at a plant near here, and we ALWAYS have lunch at Lindy's, even if we're only there for one day. We've even had multiple lunches there in the same week. Here are some of the things I love: the chili, the fact that you can buy chili by the drum, the tamales, the RC cola with cherry, the REAL caramel in the shake, the strawberry shake, the full glass of whipped cream that comes with your giant milkshake order, the way the waitress seems to love you and be annoyed with you all the time, the way they treat you like family, and many other things.
(5)Mandi S.
LOVE THE CHILI!! the Shakes are great to. Honestly you can't go wrong with the food!
(5)Timothy M.
This place doesn't disappoint. Damn good chili! This place has been a South Side institution for years, all the way back to 1901 when it was on 55th & California. They decided to combine two great things and put them under one roof. Lindy's and Gertie's was born! Check out the local celebs on the wall who've been here, including Mayor Daley and Harry Caray. Get yourself a $1.50 beer in a frosty mug, order up some of that famous chili, then treat yourself to a ice cream sundae. Everyone in the place is respectful and quiet, even though it's a family restaurant. It's also very diverse: white, black, Hispanic, everyone's just here for the chili.
(5)Brigitte K.
I'm conflicted about Lindey's Chili...is it 3 stars, is it 5 stars??? I've been to the McKinley Park Lindy's twice now and in the same week. I think that speaks to a higher star count. I walked in and immediately noticed that it was grungy, had some crackers and napkins on the floors under a couple of tables, etc. I worried, why would friends suggest we meet here for dinner??? Then everything became clear when the really nice waitress came over and announced the 95 cent beers and the $3.00 pitchers. I immediately forgot the muss I had initially noticed and enjoyed the classic Lindy's chili deal. The chili mac was super classic - for a couple bucks you get the chili of grade school nostalgia with the really fine grind of beef and elbow macaroni, you've got your cold beer for under a buck, you can also order a child's size Sundae...and your bill will be $9.00 total. Nice service, good place to meet up with friends - especially if you are on a budget, and the eggnog ice cream was a real treat. That's how I ended back there three days later, introducing another friend to inexpensive eats and cheap beers.
(4)Adam K.
Changed their menu a bit since the last time, still good tho.
(4)Michelle H.
This place has a pretty mean bowl of chili. Of course this is what they are well known for. I personally like it with some sour cream, cheese, and onions. They also serve hot dogs and burgers, which are only fairly decent. Stay away from the french fries, unless you like mushy, raw potatoes. But the most redeeming quality of this restaurant, is while you are waiting for your order, indulge yourself with a Corona in a frosty mug while sitting at the bar. (For some reason, it tastes better in a frosty mug- don't ask me why.)
(3)ELLIE M.
Well when you walk into Lindy's let me tell you they're not the cleanest place around. And the wait staff is kinda hillbilly (Oh who am I kidding they are hillbilly) but that's besides the point. But none the less they take care of you. But the chili oh the chili it is fabulous and if you do it right you definitely get it with the shredded cheese. They also have good burgers and fries now for desert I always get the strawberry soda it's your with) They have a great lil appetizer platter and it's super cheap so if you a lil low on funds and are craving some chili and ice cream stop in the McKinley neighborhood.
(3)Jess S.
Mmm that was some good chili. I had an RC (yes! RC!) and my beau had a Lite ($1.50 draft). We sat and ate and watched Miracle on 34th Street. There were lots of well-behaved families - meaning there wasn't an annoying whiny kid in the joint. Our waitress was really sweet, too. We saved the ice cream for our next visit.
(4)Frank G.
Love Lindy's. 95cent Miller High Life draft, 3.00 pitchers, chili, and ice cream. Good service( especially the woman behind the bar, and the teenage waitress with the glasses). My old lady and I fequent here quite often(she has an ice cream treat while I get loaded). romantic So here it is 5 highlife drafts,1 order chili cheese fries less than$6.50
(5)Aaron L.
The Chili Here is too soupy, its like a sauce for a coney dog. This is nowhere near the best chili in Chicago, it is edible though there is not much flavor or texture whatsoever. If you have a hankering for chili then keep looking past lindy's.
(2)Loretta T.
Best chilli in Brighton Park! Lindy's is a classic... will always love this place!
(5)jose M.
i love this place going there for years, that's why it's hard for me to do this. The service was among the worst i have ever received. The waitress was very rude. She asked me if I wanted peppers on my dog I simply asked for no radish, then she goes on telling me that's not what she asked. " I don't care about the radding, I'm asking if you want peppers." Then she still bring me radish. that's not the wost part of it. I didn't even get my appetizer till 20 minutes after my family got our dogs. I wanted to leave and forget about the wings. I used to be a server, so I know the importance of a tip, that's why, in case she wondering why she didn't get one, I didn't see it happening. To the management. Get some more help.
(1)Jennifer W.
Great little neighborhood place, especially if you're in the mood for chili or a HUGH ice cream sundae. They have a full bar, but don't ask for anything fancy, their idea of a rum and pineapple was to put pineapple sundae topping in a glass of rum. Yikes!
(4)Joseph F.
Not the cleanest restaurants in the city, but they do have some damn good chili. Lindy's is reasonable for lunch, the specials are almost too much food. They have great beer specials here as well. You can tell this place is proud of its history in Chicago and continues to serve up good eats since it started many many years ago.
(3)Laura J.
Lindy's has been at this location for what seems forever. It used to be a great place, but unfortunately the quality of the food has gone way down. The chili is still excellent, but the sandwiches and burgers are overcooked and dry, and overpriced for the quality. The ice cream (from the Gertie's side --- both restaurants were combined) also isn't as good as I remember it to be. It's a shame. Both places were south side institutions when I grew up ages ago on the southwest side. Everyone I've taken there in the past few years has been disappointed, and they've had to twist my arm to get me to go there.
(2)Jose R.
The hamburger & fries are good. That's all I order when I go. The service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! Once I waitress ask if she can go on a smoke break while serving us. RUDE. & once I walk in with my brother & we were about to sit down on a table & a waitress said we weren't able to because closing time is 45mins away. I was cool with that so I order to take out. While waiting for my order a WHITE couple walked in & sat on a table & I just look at the waitress & shook my head & left.
(1)Steven M.
had to bump my review back up to 4 stars based on my last few visits. The service was really improved. They also have a frequent diner punch card, fyi. try a marshmallow shake!
(4)James T.
I have been coming to this location for about 30 + years. I have seen many changes over the years. This is always my place to go when heading back from the sox game. Unfortunately , as a suburbanite, I don't get here nearly as often as I like. A true Chicago legend!
(4)Martha Z.
If you are planning on coming here for a meal I highly suggest that you hide the bathroom scale for when you get back home. God, what is wrong with me?! I come in for a cup of chili and walk out with a belly full of onion rings, patty melts, turtle fudge sundaes, and yah some pretty hearty chili. I don't even know why I am admitting to my gluttony for the entire internet to read. I was bad, but the food was good. Maybe not so much the patty melt, that was just ok. Maybe next time I will opt that out. Also I do need to mention that the onion rings were exquisite. You can bite into them without fear of the whole ring sliding out and slapping you in the face. How do they do that? Is David Copperfield working some magic in the kitchen? Service was ok considering we were in a chili shanty. The girl got all huffy because we wanted to order a dessert after she closed our tab without even asking. Plus there is a charge for all the toppings (cheese, onion and sour cream) so keep that in mind when ordering. Or just bring your own??????
(4)Bill M.
This is the original location of Lindy's Chili, and it is not far from an Orange Line stop. I ate a filling combo of chili and tamales. Somehow I followed that with a "child" sundae, which tasted good thanks to the warm cup of chocolate syrup. It was a pleasant "comfort food" meal.
(4)Alexander H.
Only been here once, but I already fell in love. A bar/ice cream place/chili pot. What a combination, and only in chicago. The milkshakes are the real deal, better than most, as good as you'll get almost anywhere in the damn city. The chili is plus-plus, especially on the chili dog. And the beer specials: 50 cent Miller! This place is special. Sure, it's a total southside dive frequented by cops and working class drunks, but where else are you gonna find a place like it? Not nearly north anywhere. That's for sure. I recommend it to any hipster who's not yet attatched to the places that have been 'reformed' by the ugly spectre of gentrification. Milkshakes, chili dogs and cheap beer. Only in chicago, and we should be thankful
(4)Alexander C.
One of my favorites right here! Either if im going on a low key date with the lady or out for a few beers with the guys, this place is always on point. Regular Diner food with great chilli. Im usually going with the Cheeseburger Dream Meal (comes with a cup of chilli) and it has never been bad. Throw down a strawberry shake at the end and you got yourself a fantastic meal. Or belly up at the bar and have a couple Budweisers and hang out for a while. Love this place.
(5)Stathis D.
all this place is good for is the chili which is!nt made there and the beer. I sat and ate there, all the food was cold from the pic up window all the way to the counter
(2)Edward W.
One of my usual lunch options when I'm in court at 26th and California. Decent service and the food is always consistently good. Chili and a dog for me.
(4)Char Y.
The chili was really good, and so was the banana shake. However, the eggplant sandwich completely failed! it was greasy and too cheesy.
(3)Elizabeth T.
Well, it's been a minute since hubs and I have stopped in here--almost 2 years. Came in on a recent Sunday afternoon to catch the end of the Bears game, grab some lunch and a beer without having to drive to the south loop. We were hoping the new owners would have managed to turn this place around. What a mistake. We won't be back. There was a cockroach scampering around on the wall across from our table and another climbing all over the booth across from us. Midday. Broad daylight. Luckily the waitress was pretty nice about it (though seemed a little less than shocked) and didn't charge us for the food. You couldn't pay me to eat here again. It's a shame. What I wouldn't give for a nice, clean sports bar and grill to get some wings or a burger and watch the game without having to hop on the highway. . . . a girl can dream.
(1)Chris T.
I want to love this place, I really do. But the big guy in the fedora definitely makes it difficult. He's always had something crappy to say to me when I leave. Either the tip I leave (for the teenage waitresses mind you--not him) isn't big enough (20%) or if I tell the cashier to keep the change, he's gotta yell out something smart-assed like, "if you're handing out change, I know a guy by the freeway blah blah blah". The past 3 times I've been in there he's made a point to smart off AS I'M WALKING OUT and never to my face. No no--I get it. You don't want my money. That's fine. Your food gives me heartburn and the tables are always sticky and covered in crumbs, anyway.
(1)NARDO Q.
Second time.. I came once at 1040.. the next time at 1020.. both times an older lady told "sorry we close".. I ask if I can take something to go and they say no.. wtf.. why say you close at 11 if it's a lie.. I used to love this place but screw them now
(1)Jacob G.
The food at Lindy's and Gertie's used to be good, but it's declined quite a bit over the last few years or so. I used to love their chili and ice cream, but neither things are as good as they once were.
(2)Norman L.
Nasty and run down. Chilly was excessively greasy. Fingerprints on plates. Not like this years ago. Better to go to the Harlem location.
(1)Mz C.
Zero stars if I could. Revamping of the bar area and new ownership had not helped this placed at all. Tables were half full and short on staff. On e we were seated, it took 10 minutes to get water, 15 minutes to get out order and when it finally came my ice cream had a roach in it. My kids were upset when I told them we had to leave. Waitress was no where to be found! I walked out, put kids in the car w/spouse and asked for the owner. Waitress thought I skipped out on the check...she never even came back to give me one. The owner was apologetic, but I will never go back, nor can recommended it to anyone. It's a shame, because I use to love it as a kid.
(1)Nicole D.
I have never been to a place of such ignorance! We ordered food to go/for pick up for my work. I picked up the food over $20 worth including a quart of chili..... I realized he had put no extra cups and NO SPOONS OR NAPKINS in the bag.... I went back in to ask for utensils to eat our food with, where I was told (by who I believe is the owner) ' WE DON'T GIVE AWAY THINGS FOR FREE HERE" Ok I can MAYBE see if he didn't want to give me extra cups for us to pour the chili into, but Spoons?!?!?! I am ordering from a business! we could come back and order everyday if we wanted to!! Are you kidding me??? I'm not some stranger off the street. I am a customer, who just bought your food!!! You don't give people a plastic spoon to eat your food with?? Napkins aside! (which he still doesn't give you!) How could you not give us plastic spoons??? IT GETS BETTER... He wanted to charge me $0.05 per spoon!!! Are you that hard up for money that you need to charge your customers .05 cents per spoon and a couple extra cups and napkins?!?! Overall the food has a general bad taste in your mouth when you know that you paid an ignorant person when there are so many other great business owners busting their butts everyday to stay open and they would never treat a customer like that. In my opinion I don't know how this place stays open aside from the fact it has name recognition and a couple locations. unfortunately for them bad word of mouth travels much faster, and I will never recommend this place and make it a point to share my terrible experience.
(1)Diana G.
Came here tonight with my guy. Waitress was wiping down the tables and chairs and the place a stench to it. Place looked a bit dirty. Ordered a Miller Lite on tap and he got Modelo. He ordered the cheeseburger special and I just got a burger with fries. Both of us were not impressed with our meal. Burger had no taste to it and it was dripping with oil. The fries were hard. Had to drench it with ketchup to eat it.
(2)A.J. M.
I love the chilli here!! You can get a 5-way like they do at Skyline! The food us great, the ambiance is not so great!! It looks really dirty and out dated inside, but like I Saud the food makes up for the looks!!
(4)Jose R.
The hamburger & fries are good. That's all I order when I go. The service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! Once I waitress ask if she can go on a smoke break while serving us. RUDE. & once I walk in with my brother & we were about to sit down on a table & a waitress said we weren't able to because closing time is 45mins away. I was cool with that so I order to take out. While waiting for my order a WHITE couple walked in & sat on a table & I just look at the waitress & shook my head & left.
(1)Steven M.
had to bump my review back up to 4 stars based on my last few visits. The service was really improved. They also have a frequent diner punch card, fyi. try a marshmallow shake!
(4)James T.
I have been coming to this location for about 30 + years. I have seen many changes over the years. This is always my place to go when heading back from the sox game. Unfortunately , as a suburbanite, I don't get here nearly as often as I like. A true Chicago legend!
(4)Martha Z.
If you are planning on coming here for a meal I highly suggest that you hide the bathroom scale for when you get back home. God, what is wrong with me?! I come in for a cup of chili and walk out with a belly full of onion rings, patty melts, turtle fudge sundaes, and yah some pretty hearty chili. I don't even know why I am admitting to my gluttony for the entire internet to read. I was bad, but the food was good. Maybe not so much the patty melt, that was just ok. Maybe next time I will opt that out. Also I do need to mention that the onion rings were exquisite. You can bite into them without fear of the whole ring sliding out and slapping you in the face. How do they do that? Is David Copperfield working some magic in the kitchen? Service was ok considering we were in a chili shanty. The girl got all huffy because we wanted to order a dessert after she closed our tab without even asking. Plus there is a charge for all the toppings (cheese, onion and sour cream) so keep that in mind when ordering. Or just bring your own??????
(4)Bill M.
This is the original location of Lindy's Chili, and it is not far from an Orange Line stop. I ate a filling combo of chili and tamales. Somehow I followed that with a "child" sundae, which tasted good thanks to the warm cup of chocolate syrup. It was a pleasant "comfort food" meal.
(4)Rachel H.
Dear Lindy's, I love you so much. I love you and I don't want to tell anyone about you, but I just can't help it. I get this way with boys and apparently favorite secret holes in the wall. Chili is amazing and you can get it in a cup, bowl, or crock. Beans? No Beans? No problem. Add some cheese, onions, or sour cream. The onion is super strong and meets my onion breath needs. This chili is good. I forgot to mention you can buy it in a bucket for party needs or a 55 gallon drum (for around $2,300) if you're planning to start a militia in Wyoming or something. You can add chili to any of their sandwiches, both on the sandwiches or as a side, in order to create a dream meal. Just stick with the chili though, it blows the other goods out of the water. By sticking with straight up chili goodness, you can save room for the ice cream. I suggest the Sweet Sixteen Sundae. The description says "never been kissed" but the whipped cream and toppings on that monster made me feel more than a little bit dirty. Chili, ice cream, and waitstaff straight out of the cast of Gummo. I need this like I need brick of solid gold thrown straight through the windshield of my car.
(5)Justin B.
I can't speak to the full menu at this place, but if you show up and order a milkshake and a hot round of french fries, you will be living the dream, friends. Incredibly tasty business, with one of the best chocolate shakes I've had in Chicago (super thick, lots of ice cream, big, the value prop was just right). The fries were fresh cut and served in a big to-go bag...if I had to stretch, I would complain that there were not enough ketchup packets in my bag. Otherwise, amazing and the service was fast, but I was a takeout order, so I can't speak to some of the complaints I'm seeing here about the table service.
(5)Miguel P.
This place is just a cool as it was when I first came here. Before Yelp. The servers are always nice - surprisingly so, as a matter of fact. You need more cheese? More crackers? You got it. If I had a complaint, it would be that the decor hasn't changed since I first came here. Before Yelp. But I go here for the food, not the decor, so who cares? But the fact that you can simultaneously get beer AND ice cream ... Makes this place freaking amazing.
(4)Cesar M.
Feel so bad writing this review but it is what it is. Came here with some friends and waitress was so rude. I had the cheeseburger, cup of chili, fries and a side or rudeness. The chili was ok, fries so forgettable, burger was bad, I've had better burgers with the clown and the royal, but my side of rudeness was on point. Waitress comes and puts the check on the table, we had to ask if we could have some icecream, the icecream was good BTW, banana split with strawberries and pineapple, and they added a lil something I can't quite put my finger on it, it was strong, sour and weird, o yea it was rudeness. not again
(1)Muneca E.
This place is awesome, I grew up coming to Lindys for ice cream with my parents. The one thing that disappoints me is this waitress who is super rude. Besides her the food is great, definitely try the Chocolate ice cream!! Chocolate cows are life lol (root beer and chocolate ice cream)
(5)Katie G.
Best vanilla ice cream! I've been here several times for the ice cream. You can take a carton to go. Never ate the food here. Definitely worth coming here for smooth, creamy delicious yummy ice cream!!
(5)Al G.
Sad not what it used to be. Time for the new owner to open his eyes once the construction out front is done.
(2)Steve M.
I have been going to this location for over thirty years. Yikes I can't believe it has been that long but it has. I don't think the decor has changed in thirty years but that's a whole different post. It used to be packed solid at lunchtime but now there was just me and three other tables. I always get the same combination which is a cheeseburger and a cup of chili Mac and no matter what time of the day or what time of the year the quality is always the same. You can't beat the chili Mac. The fries were actually better than previous times but that may just because they cooked them a little longer just like I like them. There is a parking lot and free parking on the park side of the street.
(4)Brad F.
This place was excellent, i came here for a milkshake after dinner one night, and it was the best milkshake ive ever had it was out of this world. I decided i needed another dessert, so I got chili and it was amazing as well. I wish i had a party big enough to buy the 55 gallon drum of it!
(5)Gene K.
Love this place. I used to go to the location at 59th/Kedzie All the time as a kid. And now I live right by this one! The Chili's great and meaty. I always get a Green River with my food. And the Ice Cream's to die for. Battleship 4 LYFE!
(5)Michelle M.
Sometimes in the winter, when we get our one or two yearly snows, I dream about Lindy's Chili. It's that good. I visit for work at a plant near here, and we ALWAYS have lunch at Lindy's, even if we're only there for one day. We've even had multiple lunches there in the same week. Here are some of the things I love: the chili, the fact that you can buy chili by the drum, the tamales, the RC cola with cherry, the REAL caramel in the shake, the strawberry shake, the full glass of whipped cream that comes with your giant milkshake order, the way the waitress seems to love you and be annoyed with you all the time, the way they treat you like family, and many other things.
(5)Mandi S.
LOVE THE CHILI!! the Shakes are great to. Honestly you can't go wrong with the food!
(5)Timothy M.
This place doesn't disappoint. Damn good chili! This place has been a South Side institution for years, all the way back to 1901 when it was on 55th & California. They decided to combine two great things and put them under one roof. Lindy's and Gertie's was born! Check out the local celebs on the wall who've been here, including Mayor Daley and Harry Caray. Get yourself a $1.50 beer in a frosty mug, order up some of that famous chili, then treat yourself to a ice cream sundae. Everyone in the place is respectful and quiet, even though it's a family restaurant. It's also very diverse: white, black, Hispanic, everyone's just here for the chili.
(5)Brigitte K.
I'm conflicted about Lindey's Chili...is it 3 stars, is it 5 stars??? I've been to the McKinley Park Lindy's twice now and in the same week. I think that speaks to a higher star count. I walked in and immediately noticed that it was grungy, had some crackers and napkins on the floors under a couple of tables, etc. I worried, why would friends suggest we meet here for dinner??? Then everything became clear when the really nice waitress came over and announced the 95 cent beers and the $3.00 pitchers. I immediately forgot the muss I had initially noticed and enjoyed the classic Lindy's chili deal. The chili mac was super classic - for a couple bucks you get the chili of grade school nostalgia with the really fine grind of beef and elbow macaroni, you've got your cold beer for under a buck, you can also order a child's size Sundae...and your bill will be $9.00 total. Nice service, good place to meet up with friends - especially if you are on a budget, and the eggnog ice cream was a real treat. That's how I ended back there three days later, introducing another friend to inexpensive eats and cheap beers.
(4)Alexander H.
Only been here once, but I already fell in love. A bar/ice cream place/chili pot. What a combination, and only in chicago. The milkshakes are the real deal, better than most, as good as you'll get almost anywhere in the damn city. The chili is plus-plus, especially on the chili dog. And the beer specials: 50 cent Miller! This place is special. Sure, it's a total southside dive frequented by cops and working class drunks, but where else are you gonna find a place like it? Not nearly north anywhere. That's for sure. I recommend it to any hipster who's not yet attatched to the places that have been 'reformed' by the ugly spectre of gentrification. Milkshakes, chili dogs and cheap beer. Only in chicago, and we should be thankful
(4)Jess S.
Mmm that was some good chili. I had an RC (yes! RC!) and my beau had a Lite ($1.50 draft). We sat and ate and watched Miracle on 34th Street. There were lots of well-behaved families - meaning there wasn't an annoying whiny kid in the joint. Our waitress was really sweet, too. We saved the ice cream for our next visit.
(4)Frank G.
Love Lindy's. 95cent Miller High Life draft, 3.00 pitchers, chili, and ice cream. Good service( especially the woman behind the bar, and the teenage waitress with the glasses). My old lady and I fequent here quite often(she has an ice cream treat while I get loaded). romantic So here it is 5 highlife drafts,1 order chili cheese fries less than$6.50
(5)Aaron L.
The Chili Here is too soupy, its like a sauce for a coney dog. This is nowhere near the best chili in Chicago, it is edible though there is not much flavor or texture whatsoever. If you have a hankering for chili then keep looking past lindy's.
(2)Loretta T.
Best chilli in Brighton Park! Lindy's is a classic... will always love this place!
(5)jose M.
i love this place going there for years, that's why it's hard for me to do this. The service was among the worst i have ever received. The waitress was very rude. She asked me if I wanted peppers on my dog I simply asked for no radish, then she goes on telling me that's not what she asked. " I don't care about the radding, I'm asking if you want peppers." Then she still bring me radish. that's not the wost part of it. I didn't even get my appetizer till 20 minutes after my family got our dogs. I wanted to leave and forget about the wings. I used to be a server, so I know the importance of a tip, that's why, in case she wondering why she didn't get one, I didn't see it happening. To the management. Get some more help.
(1)Jennifer W.
Great little neighborhood place, especially if you're in the mood for chili or a HUGH ice cream sundae. They have a full bar, but don't ask for anything fancy, their idea of a rum and pineapple was to put pineapple sundae topping in a glass of rum. Yikes!
(4)Joseph F.
Not the cleanest restaurants in the city, but they do have some damn good chili. Lindy's is reasonable for lunch, the specials are almost too much food. They have great beer specials here as well. You can tell this place is proud of its history in Chicago and continues to serve up good eats since it started many many years ago.
(3)Laura J.
Lindy's has been at this location for what seems forever. It used to be a great place, but unfortunately the quality of the food has gone way down. The chili is still excellent, but the sandwiches and burgers are overcooked and dry, and overpriced for the quality. The ice cream (from the Gertie's side --- both restaurants were combined) also isn't as good as I remember it to be. It's a shame. Both places were south side institutions when I grew up ages ago on the southwest side. Everyone I've taken there in the past few years has been disappointed, and they've had to twist my arm to get me to go there.
(2)Maram K.
I know the locals love this place but I just don't understand why. I've had the chili and it reminds me of the chili we had in CPS grades K-12, which didn't kill us but was nothing to write home about. Take that chili and add more water and that's Lindy's. What's funny is a friend brought over a to-go bucket of Lindy's chili which was actually pretty decent. So I wonder if they get lazy at the actual restaurant. Service was okay. The ice cream sundaes are outright gross in my opinion. My ice cream had fragments of ice in it and had an uneven consistency. Maybe freezer-frost issues? I don't know. The whipped cream was the grocery store can, so it can't really be reviewed, can it? I mean, a lot of ice cream shops make their own whipped cream because it isn't too difficult. And the hot fudge was not hot and it was just chocolate syrup. Maybe hershey's? No matter what it was, the sundae contained the ingredients of basic crap I can find in the grocery store. Gertie's has no right to call it their own if nothing in it is homemade and all they are doing is assembling it for me, poorly at that. I'll stick to making my own chili at home and Margie's for a real sundae.
(2)K R.
mmmm , this place is ok. I gave it 3 stars because the staff was friendly and restaurant is family friendly. i ordered a burger and my fiance ordered spaghetti and chilli, which turned out to be a bad idea. we also ordered nachos with chili, which i expected it to be better than it was. the chilli was more watery and mushed out. it just wasnt that great. i feel like they have good food here, i just need to figure out what it is. the icecream sundae was ok, maybe the shakes are better. i definately want to go back to give it another try.
(3)Martin P.
We stopped in early in the week late one night. I had one of the dream meals which included a cup of chili, an all beef dog, fries and a drink. All were good...not great, but good. The prices were very inexpensive. The beer that day was 2 bucks! The chili which was highly touted was decent, but nothing more than that IMHO. The service was good, the place was reasonably clean, and as I said the food was decent. I would return if I am in the area. If you want a satisfying, inexpensive meal, with good service this is a good bet. Ice cream was good too!
(3)Yesenia G.
This place is great! I had my order to go, so I can't really say how the staff is, however the lady that helped me at register was kind. I ordered a BLT turkey breast sandwich, (you should know I dislike bacon veryyy much) so why I did this, im not sure. Well im extremely glad I did because I ate the whole thing with no complaints! Delicious sauce, ingredients were fresh, and they even have wheat bread choice! Ill be back again to dine-in this time!
(4)Lindsey H.
This was the most disappointing meal I have had in years. I had been looking forward to going to this restaurant for a long time. I was near one this past Saturday and sat down with some friends. We ordered Chili fries, Chili Mac, and 2 "soon to be famous" Italian Beefs, one "cheesy" located at the very top of the menu. When ordering the waitress asked if the beef was the one with marinara sauce. After I said, No, beefs do not have marinara sauce. She said she must have been confused with the meatball sandwich. Strange, but fine. She came back a few minutes later and asked what kind of cheese I wanted on my beef though it says on the menu "cheddar cheese sauce". I asked for cheddar. We received our Chili fries which were really good. However, the tv was tuned into the Kardashians, and they were visiting someplace that had John Wayne Gacy's brain and it was disgusting. We asked her to please change the channel, which she did after a few minutes. The waitress brought out our food, a "cheesy Italian beef" with guess what? Marinara sauce all over it. The Italian beef was gray and boiled. I thought about just taking it, but I just couldn't do it. We sent it back. She then came back with another beef that had American cheese slices melted on it. I asked, "is this Cheddar" and she said, "Hmm, I think it is." I tried to eat some of it but my deeply rooted love for Chicago Italian beef was dying inside. Meanwhile, Lindy's little ant friends were crawling across my Boyfriends Chili Mac plate. This was the last straw. We sent both of our boiled, absolutely bland, and one plastic cheese covered beefs back to the waitress. She apologized and said she would give us a full refund, but we said that we would pay for the chili (regardless of ants it was tasty) and the drinks and fries. She offered us some ice cream, which we accepted, and was delicious. However, one thing the waitress told us while apologizing, I believe that all yelpers should take to heart- "You know what? I only order the chili and the ice cream here, I never, NEVER order anything else..." Wish I'd known that before I ordered.
(1)Antonio B.
Really good chili. Probably perfect cure for a hangover. Clearly a local favorite. Be sure to drop in if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
(3)Joseph G.
Banana milkshakes!! Solid low key diner. I've never tried anything else besides the milkshake. This is based on the frozen tasty beverage i indulged in a few days ago...which was outta sight!!
(4)Darren F.
saw this on Chicago's best and since I'm local, i just have to give this place a try! i came here with my 2 cousins one night to see what's this place is about.. service was OK.. not the greatest but yet not the worst. After we sat down we notice 2 little annoying flying insects flying around us so we had to kill it and no we are dirty people if that's what you guys are thinking haha.. anyways, we ordered 3 chili , hamburger , gyro , and a polish.... the chili was a little salty and definitely not one of the best chili I've had.. the gyro was horrible, very less meat, the pita was oily, and the sauce was sooooo watery its unbelievable... the burger and the polish i saw my cousins eating just looks like a typical school served lunch, they said it was just alright and nothing special about it... only good thing about the meal was the fries, but that's about it... i will not be coming back here again..
(1)Eric P.
When it comes to chili there is only one restaurant in town that is worth the drive. Lindy's Chili on Archer is hands down the best chili in Chicago. Lindy's has a meat and a meatless chili. Chili extras are also available, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, crackers, diced onions. Also, available at Lindy's are chili cheese fries and chili cheese dogs. If you choose to eat in, you will enjoy a no-frills experience. And by no frills I mean no frills. Not even hot water in the bathroom sinks. There is also a tiny bar often patronized by south siders who are constantly yelling at whatever game is on the tube. On our last trip to Lindy's we got a root beer float that was so good, because it was made with Gertie's ice cream. If you're craving chili, head to Lindy's.
(5)iddells E.
I always go to their food booth when they're at the Taste of Chicago, but this time I decided to go to the actual location. We were sooo hungry and had a taste for chili. Everything on their menu sounded so good. After deciding between the Chili Cavatappi (pasta with chili) and the Chili Extravaganza (tamales with chili and nachos), I decided to go with the latter. They serve the Extravaganza with Tom Tom Tamales. The tamales were far from authentic and had some kind of unidentifiable filling in them....not sure if they were beans or ground meat, but whatever it was, I thought it was pretty good. The chili was delicious! The ice cream creations are gigantic! Other customers ordered ice cream and I was amazed. I just had a root beer float, which I loved. I will definitely return if I'm around the area....I'm already thinking about getting the chili cheese nachos!
(4)Stephen S.
I went to the other location on Archer last night. My girlfriend and I both love chili so when we were looking for a place to eat while we waited for her roommate to arrive at the summit amtrak station we both agreed on trying a place claiming to have chicago's favorite chili since 1924! It did not disappoint one bit. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer well before we put in our main order. I wouldnt say were mad when our chili and then Jackis salad arrived before them, we were just really excited for those onion rings we had been thinking about since the begining of our three hour drive from Indiana. The chili was great, the italian dressing on the salad was great, the onion rings were great, and my burger was your standard 1/4 lb. burger. I was in the mood for a big thick burger, but this one with cheddar cheese hit the spot with its heaping, lettuce, tomato, onion, and slightly unusual pickles (way better than the ones McDonalds uses). The only thing that could have made this any better would have been to cap it off with one of Gerties amazing ice cream treats, but after being on vacation all weekend and certainly eating like it, we had to resist. Til next time Lindy and Gerties.
(5)Dave G.
Haven't been there in years, but noticed the addition of Gertie's. They used to be on 59th and Kedzie by the Colony and I remember their "tummy buster". One of those if you can eat it all (by yourself - no help) you don't have to pay for it. Never did that one, but did others. Fond memories. Now on to Lindy's. Went to De La Salle HS and passed the place every day on the bus. It was good back then and I assume based on the reviews I've read here, it still is.
(4)Jemillex B.
chili best!
(5)Laura K.
This is a staple of the southside. In my opinion, it represents the neighborhood, southwest locale, and memories of my childhood. Yeah, its old and a little run down inside, but its full of personality and never lets you down. I do miss the original Gertie's on Kedzie...I still remember walking in from the summer heat to a cool breeze and the smell of ice cream! I have no complaints about this place! There's always a place to sit, food is served quickly and hot, waitresses are attentive but not naggy, and the ice cream is the best you'll ever have. I'm happy they have turkey chili on the menu, and I've had their fish sandwich many times. Oh, and the onion rings are just about the best you'll get from anywhere. The prices have gotten a little high over the years, but what can you do? Back to the ice cream - its the exact same stuff you would get at the original location on Kedzie. And everything is customizable - you can substitute chocolate ice cream for vanilla, combine toppings, etc. My usual is a hot fudge marshmallow sundae without the nuts. It will make you bust a gut, but you only live once!
(5)Christine H.
All I had here was a milkshake because I wanted to try "the best milkshake in Chicago" before I go vegan. So yeah, it is the best milkshake in Chicago ;-). So thick and rich, I actually saved half of it and put in the freezer for an ice creamy treat the next day. A little pricey for a shake and it takes awhile to make, but it's worth the wait. If only they had veggie chilli!
(4)Christine P.
Ice cream and chili - 2 great tastes that taste great together! For a meal, silly! If you're not sure what you want to eat, but you're in something that resembles a bad mood, chili and ice cream will make that bad mood disappear quickly. The service is like the decor - no nonsense. The results are great a fantastic price. I don't know who Lindy or Gertie were, but I'm sure glad they opened up a chili and ice cream parlor!
(4)Mimi P.
My favorite Lindys and Gerties location, and the teenage waitress Kelly is the best! They offer alot of comfort Chicago food but also have a "Dream Lite" section on the menu for the health conscious. lol Beer specials are always fantastic especially when served on a mug for the price, and the ice cream melts in your mouth- literally. Although they have seasonal flavors like the Pumpkin during fall, the vanilla chocolate and strawberry are terrific.
(5)Marco C.
I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I kind of happened to pop in this place all of a sudden and it was one of the best places I have had chili at, it may not be the best as far as appearance is concerned, but they make up for it with the chili. The service was good, I like the fact I was able to pick between Turkey and Beef Chili, and it was very filling for the price. I seen a few negative remarks on here, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I found it to be a great place to happen to stop in for a meeting. The server was a Latina, she was very courteous, and she was very sweet, great experience, not 5 stars, but it was well worth the visit. I didn't try the ice cream, I guess I will save that for next time :)
(4)Tia J.
Yummm.... they now have my favorite beer New Holland's Dragon's Milk... Always a cool spot to chill and have a beer. Their pecan ice cream recipe is awesome!
(5)Yesy D.
Their brownie sundae is not on the menu but it is to die for!! Their turkey chilli is amazing!
(4)Jeffrey H.
I love this place. Not only is the service nice. The food is excellent. I find it very hard to find chili w/o beans anywhere. This is the place to get it. Though I find it odd it costs more to have no beans versus w/ beans. Meh, no matter. Plus, the chocolate/peanut butter shake is delicious. I bought the chili pasta and it's delicious. Looks like they do a lot of catering so you can by different size containers of chili if you want.
(4)Andy M.
This is a nice looking small chili bar. I enjoyed the chili and Polish dog. It is a charming little bar and eatery and I look forward to seeing the other places it has in the Chicago area. The fries are pretty average anc could use an improvment.
(3)Sarah S.
This place has been around for ages, but I have never been to this location.. the original closed and I haven't been since. I can not speak for the chili, but the ice cream is REALLY yummy. Its thick and dense and with whatever toppings you desire. I had the cherry sundae with vanilla ice cream and lots of whipped cream and my friend had the turtle sundae which was also very good. Service was good and place is basic.. nothing fancy for sure. I will try the chili next time..it looked good, but I didn't think it would be a good mix and I would be paying for it later.
(4)Linda C.
Oh I wanted to like this place so much but I was sadly disappointed. I went here today with some friends for lunch. We order mac and cheese, some chili, fries, a burger, a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich. First off the mac and cheese was horrible. It was watery as the noodles were probably soaked in water and not drained properly when it was added to the melted cheese. The sandwiches and burger were meh. My friends complained that the cheese on their sandwiches were too salty. The fries were disgusting. They were tasteless and drenched in oil. My order of fries looked rather old compared to my friend's but both were equally bland and greasy so I guess I shouldn't be jealous. Now I don't understand what makes their chili famous. Can someone please tell me? The best chili I had was at some ski resort in Wisconsin. It probably came from a can too! So for desert we ended up ordering some ice cream. I shared a hot fudge sundae with a friend. We ordered it to go and the lady put the sundae in a pop cup. It was messy and rather annoying as the hot fudge was separate. The ice cream was pretty good. My friend order a scoop of chocolate ice cream which tasted kinda funky.
(2)maurice s.
Lindy's hasn't changed in years. Half dive bar, half dive restaurant. Fantastic chili, any way you like it. Adequate sandwiches. Gertie's ice cream. Filberts pop in glass bottles. Good service. Low prices. Great location--on Archer right next to McKinley Park.
(5)Michelle H.
This place has a pretty mean bowl of chili. Of course this is what they are well known for. I personally like it with some sour cream, cheese, and onions. They also serve hot dogs and burgers, which are only fairly decent. Stay away from the french fries, unless you like mushy, raw potatoes. But the most redeeming quality of this restaurant, is while you are waiting for your order, indulge yourself with a Corona in a frosty mug while sitting at the bar. (For some reason, it tastes better in a frosty mug- don't ask me why.)
(3)ELLIE M.
Well when you walk into Lindy's let me tell you they're not the cleanest place around. And the wait staff is kinda hillbilly (Oh who am I kidding they are hillbilly) but that's besides the point. But none the less they take care of you. But the chili oh the chili it is fabulous and if you do it right you definitely get it with the shredded cheese. They also have good burgers and fries now for desert I always get the strawberry soda it's your with) They have a great lil appetizer platter and it's super cheap so if you a lil low on funds and are craving some chili and ice cream stop in the McKinley neighborhood.
(3)Michelle H.
This place has a pretty mean bowl of chili. Of course this is what they are well known for. I personally like it with some sour cream, cheese, and onions. They also serve hot dogs and burgers, which are only fairly decent. Stay away from the french fries, unless you like mushy, raw potatoes. But the most redeeming quality of this restaurant, is while you are waiting for your order, indulge yourself with a Corona in a frosty mug while sitting at the bar. (For some reason, it tastes better in a frosty mug- don't ask me why.)
(3)ELLIE M.
Well when you walk into Lindy's let me tell you they're not the cleanest place around. And the wait staff is kinda hillbilly (Oh who am I kidding they are hillbilly) but that's besides the point. But none the less they take care of you. But the chili oh the chili it is fabulous and if you do it right you definitely get it with the shredded cheese. They also have good burgers and fries now for desert I always get the strawberry soda it's your with) They have a great lil appetizer platter and it's super cheap so if you a lil low on funds and are craving some chili and ice cream stop in the McKinley neighborhood.
(3)Jess S.
Mmm that was some good chili. I had an RC (yes! RC!) and my beau had a Lite ($1.50 draft). We sat and ate and watched Miracle on 34th Street. There were lots of well-behaved families - meaning there wasn't an annoying whiny kid in the joint. Our waitress was really sweet, too. We saved the ice cream for our next visit.
(4)Frank G.
Love Lindy's. 95cent Miller High Life draft, 3.00 pitchers, chili, and ice cream. Good service( especially the woman behind the bar, and the teenage waitress with the glasses). My old lady and I fequent here quite often(she has an ice cream treat while I get loaded). romantic So here it is 5 highlife drafts,1 order chili cheese fries less than$6.50
(5)jose M.
i love this place going there for years, that's why it's hard for me to do this. The service was among the worst i have ever received. The waitress was very rude. She asked me if I wanted peppers on my dog I simply asked for no radish, then she goes on telling me that's not what she asked. " I don't care about the radding, I'm asking if you want peppers." Then she still bring me radish. that's not the wost part of it. I didn't even get my appetizer till 20 minutes after my family got our dogs. I wanted to leave and forget about the wings. I used to be a server, so I know the importance of a tip, that's why, in case she wondering why she didn't get one, I didn't see it happening. To the management. Get some more help.
(1)Jennifer W.
Great little neighborhood place, especially if you're in the mood for chili or a HUGH ice cream sundae. They have a full bar, but don't ask for anything fancy, their idea of a rum and pineapple was to put pineapple sundae topping in a glass of rum. Yikes!
(4)Joseph F.
Not the cleanest restaurants in the city, but they do have some damn good chili. Lindy's is reasonable for lunch, the specials are almost too much food. They have great beer specials here as well. You can tell this place is proud of its history in Chicago and continues to serve up good eats since it started many many years ago.
(3)Laura J.
Lindy's has been at this location for what seems forever. It used to be a great place, but unfortunately the quality of the food has gone way down. The chili is still excellent, but the sandwiches and burgers are overcooked and dry, and overpriced for the quality. The ice cream (from the Gertie's side --- both restaurants were combined) also isn't as good as I remember it to be. It's a shame. Both places were south side institutions when I grew up ages ago on the southwest side. Everyone I've taken there in the past few years has been disappointed, and they've had to twist my arm to get me to go there.
(2)Alexander H.
Only been here once, but I already fell in love. A bar/ice cream place/chili pot. What a combination, and only in chicago. The milkshakes are the real deal, better than most, as good as you'll get almost anywhere in the damn city. The chili is plus-plus, especially on the chili dog. And the beer specials: 50 cent Miller! This place is special. Sure, it's a total southside dive frequented by cops and working class drunks, but where else are you gonna find a place like it? Not nearly north anywhere. That's for sure. I recommend it to any hipster who's not yet attatched to the places that have been 'reformed' by the ugly spectre of gentrification. Milkshakes, chili dogs and cheap beer. Only in chicago, and we should be thankful
(4)Alexander C.
One of my favorites right here! Either if im going on a low key date with the lady or out for a few beers with the guys, this place is always on point. Regular Diner food with great chilli. Im usually going with the Cheeseburger Dream Meal (comes with a cup of chilli) and it has never been bad. Throw down a strawberry shake at the end and you got yourself a fantastic meal. Or belly up at the bar and have a couple Budweisers and hang out for a while. Love this place.
(5)Justin B.
I can't speak to the full menu at this place, but if you show up and order a milkshake and a hot round of french fries, you will be living the dream, friends. Incredibly tasty business, with one of the best chocolate shakes I've had in Chicago (super thick, lots of ice cream, big, the value prop was just right). The fries were fresh cut and served in a big to-go bag...if I had to stretch, I would complain that there were not enough ketchup packets in my bag. Otherwise, amazing and the service was fast, but I was a takeout order, so I can't speak to some of the complaints I'm seeing here about the table service.
(5)Miguel P.
This place is just a cool as it was when I first came here. Before Yelp. The servers are always nice - surprisingly so, as a matter of fact. You need more cheese? More crackers? You got it. If I had a complaint, it would be that the decor hasn't changed since I first came here. Before Yelp. But I go here for the food, not the decor, so who cares? But the fact that you can simultaneously get beer AND ice cream ... Makes this place freaking amazing.
(4)Cesar M.
Feel so bad writing this review but it is what it is. Came here with some friends and waitress was so rude. I had the cheeseburger, cup of chili, fries and a side or rudeness. The chili was ok, fries so forgettable, burger was bad, I've had better burgers with the clown and the royal, but my side of rudeness was on point. Waitress comes and puts the check on the table, we had to ask if we could have some icecream, the icecream was good BTW, banana split with strawberries and pineapple, and they added a lil something I can't quite put my finger on it, it was strong, sour and weird, o yea it was rudeness. not again
(1)Muneca E.
This place is awesome, I grew up coming to Lindys for ice cream with my parents. The one thing that disappoints me is this waitress who is super rude. Besides her the food is great, definitely try the Chocolate ice cream!! Chocolate cows are life lol (root beer and chocolate ice cream)
(5)Katie G.
Best vanilla ice cream! I've been here several times for the ice cream. You can take a carton to go. Never ate the food here. Definitely worth coming here for smooth, creamy delicious yummy ice cream!!
(5)Al G.
Sad not what it used to be. Time for the new owner to open his eyes once the construction out front is done.
(2)Steve M.
I have been going to this location for over thirty years. Yikes I can't believe it has been that long but it has. I don't think the decor has changed in thirty years but that's a whole different post. It used to be packed solid at lunchtime but now there was just me and three other tables. I always get the same combination which is a cheeseburger and a cup of chili Mac and no matter what time of the day or what time of the year the quality is always the same. You can't beat the chili Mac. The fries were actually better than previous times but that may just because they cooked them a little longer just like I like them. There is a parking lot and free parking on the park side of the street.
(4)Stathis D.
all this place is good for is the chili which is!nt made there and the beer. I sat and ate there, all the food was cold from the pic up window all the way to the counter
(2)Edward W.
One of my usual lunch options when I'm in court at 26th and California. Decent service and the food is always consistently good. Chili and a dog for me.
(4)Elizabeth T.
Well, it's been a minute since hubs and I have stopped in here--almost 2 years. Came in on a recent Sunday afternoon to catch the end of the Bears game, grab some lunch and a beer without having to drive to the south loop. We were hoping the new owners would have managed to turn this place around. What a mistake. We won't be back. There was a cockroach scampering around on the wall across from our table and another climbing all over the booth across from us. Midday. Broad daylight. Luckily the waitress was pretty nice about it (though seemed a little less than shocked) and didn't charge us for the food. You couldn't pay me to eat here again. It's a shame. What I wouldn't give for a nice, clean sports bar and grill to get some wings or a burger and watch the game without having to hop on the highway. . . . a girl can dream.
(1)Chris T.
I want to love this place, I really do. But the big guy in the fedora definitely makes it difficult. He's always had something crappy to say to me when I leave. Either the tip I leave (for the teenage waitresses mind you--not him) isn't big enough (20%) or if I tell the cashier to keep the change, he's gotta yell out something smart-assed like, "if you're handing out change, I know a guy by the freeway blah blah blah". The past 3 times I've been in there he's made a point to smart off AS I'M WALKING OUT and never to my face. No no--I get it. You don't want my money. That's fine. Your food gives me heartburn and the tables are always sticky and covered in crumbs, anyway.
(1)NARDO Q.
Second time.. I came once at 1040.. the next time at 1020.. both times an older lady told "sorry we close".. I ask if I can take something to go and they say no.. wtf.. why say you close at 11 if it's a lie.. I used to love this place but screw them now
(1)Jacob G.
The food at Lindy's and Gertie's used to be good, but it's declined quite a bit over the last few years or so. I used to love their chili and ice cream, but neither things are as good as they once were.
(2)Norman L.
Nasty and run down. Chilly was excessively greasy. Fingerprints on plates. Not like this years ago. Better to go to the Harlem location.
(1)Nicole D.
I have never been to a place of such ignorance! We ordered food to go/for pick up for my work. I picked up the food over $20 worth including a quart of chili..... I realized he had put no extra cups and NO SPOONS OR NAPKINS in the bag.... I went back in to ask for utensils to eat our food with, where I was told (by who I believe is the owner) ' WE DON'T GIVE AWAY THINGS FOR FREE HERE" Ok I can MAYBE see if he didn't want to give me extra cups for us to pour the chili into, but Spoons?!?!?! I am ordering from a business! we could come back and order everyday if we wanted to!! Are you kidding me??? I'm not some stranger off the street. I am a customer, who just bought your food!!! You don't give people a plastic spoon to eat your food with?? Napkins aside! (which he still doesn't give you!) How could you not give us plastic spoons??? IT GETS BETTER... He wanted to charge me $0.05 per spoon!!! Are you that hard up for money that you need to charge your customers .05 cents per spoon and a couple extra cups and napkins?!?! Overall the food has a general bad taste in your mouth when you know that you paid an ignorant person when there are so many other great business owners busting their butts everyday to stay open and they would never treat a customer like that. In my opinion I don't know how this place stays open aside from the fact it has name recognition and a couple locations. unfortunately for them bad word of mouth travels much faster, and I will never recommend this place and make it a point to share my terrible experience.
(1)Diana G.
Came here tonight with my guy. Waitress was wiping down the tables and chairs and the place a stench to it. Place looked a bit dirty. Ordered a Miller Lite on tap and he got Modelo. He ordered the cheeseburger special and I just got a burger with fries. Both of us were not impressed with our meal. Burger had no taste to it and it was dripping with oil. The fries were hard. Had to drench it with ketchup to eat it.
(2)A.J. M.
I love the chilli here!! You can get a 5-way like they do at Skyline! The food us great, the ambiance is not so great!! It looks really dirty and out dated inside, but like I Saud the food makes up for the looks!!
(4)Jose R.
The hamburger & fries are good. That's all I order when I go. The service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! Once I waitress ask if she can go on a smoke break while serving us. RUDE. & once I walk in with my brother & we were about to sit down on a table & a waitress said we weren't able to because closing time is 45mins away. I was cool with that so I order to take out. While waiting for my order a WHITE couple walked in & sat on a table & I just look at the waitress & shook my head & left.
(1)Steven M.
had to bump my review back up to 4 stars based on my last few visits. The service was really improved. They also have a frequent diner punch card, fyi. try a marshmallow shake!
(4)James T.
I have been coming to this location for about 30 + years. I have seen many changes over the years. This is always my place to go when heading back from the sox game. Unfortunately , as a suburbanite, I don't get here nearly as often as I like. A true Chicago legend!
(4)Mz C.
Zero stars if I could. Revamping of the bar area and new ownership had not helped this placed at all. Tables were half full and short on staff. On e we were seated, it took 10 minutes to get water, 15 minutes to get out order and when it finally came my ice cream had a roach in it. My kids were upset when I told them we had to leave. Waitress was no where to be found! I walked out, put kids in the car w/spouse and asked for the owner. Waitress thought I skipped out on the check...she never even came back to give me one. The owner was apologetic, but I will never go back, nor can recommended it to anyone. It's a shame, because I use to love it as a kid.
(1)Martha Z.
If you are planning on coming here for a meal I highly suggest that you hide the bathroom scale for when you get back home. God, what is wrong with me?! I come in for a cup of chili and walk out with a belly full of onion rings, patty melts, turtle fudge sundaes, and yah some pretty hearty chili. I don't even know why I am admitting to my gluttony for the entire internet to read. I was bad, but the food was good. Maybe not so much the patty melt, that was just ok. Maybe next time I will opt that out. Also I do need to mention that the onion rings were exquisite. You can bite into them without fear of the whole ring sliding out and slapping you in the face. How do they do that? Is David Copperfield working some magic in the kitchen? Service was ok considering we were in a chili shanty. The girl got all huffy because we wanted to order a dessert after she closed our tab without even asking. Plus there is a charge for all the toppings (cheese, onion and sour cream) so keep that in mind when ordering. Or just bring your own??????
(4)Bill M.
This is the original location of Lindy's Chili, and it is not far from an Orange Line stop. I ate a filling combo of chili and tamales. Somehow I followed that with a "child" sundae, which tasted good thanks to the warm cup of chocolate syrup. It was a pleasant "comfort food" meal.
(4)Rachel H.
Dear Lindy's, I love you so much. I love you and I don't want to tell anyone about you, but I just can't help it. I get this way with boys and apparently favorite secret holes in the wall. Chili is amazing and you can get it in a cup, bowl, or crock. Beans? No Beans? No problem. Add some cheese, onions, or sour cream. The onion is super strong and meets my onion breath needs. This chili is good. I forgot to mention you can buy it in a bucket for party needs or a 55 gallon drum (for around $2,300) if you're planning to start a militia in Wyoming or something. You can add chili to any of their sandwiches, both on the sandwiches or as a side, in order to create a dream meal. Just stick with the chili though, it blows the other goods out of the water. By sticking with straight up chili goodness, you can save room for the ice cream. I suggest the Sweet Sixteen Sundae. The description says "never been kissed" but the whipped cream and toppings on that monster made me feel more than a little bit dirty. Chili, ice cream, and waitstaff straight out of the cast of Gummo. I need this like I need brick of solid gold thrown straight through the windshield of my car.
(5)Marco C.
I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I kind of happened to pop in this place all of a sudden and it was one of the best places I have had chili at, it may not be the best as far as appearance is concerned, but they make up for it with the chili. The service was good, I like the fact I was able to pick between Turkey and Beef Chili, and it was very filling for the price. I seen a few negative remarks on here, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I found it to be a great place to happen to stop in for a meeting. The server was a Latina, she was very courteous, and she was very sweet, great experience, not 5 stars, but it was well worth the visit. I didn't try the ice cream, I guess I will save that for next time :)
(4)Tia J.
Yummm.... they now have my favorite beer New Holland's Dragon's Milk... Always a cool spot to chill and have a beer. Their pecan ice cream recipe is awesome!
(5)Maram K.
I know the locals love this place but I just don't understand why. I've had the chili and it reminds me of the chili we had in CPS grades K-12, which didn't kill us but was nothing to write home about. Take that chili and add more water and that's Lindy's. What's funny is a friend brought over a to-go bucket of Lindy's chili which was actually pretty decent. So I wonder if they get lazy at the actual restaurant. Service was okay. The ice cream sundaes are outright gross in my opinion. My ice cream had fragments of ice in it and had an uneven consistency. Maybe freezer-frost issues? I don't know. The whipped cream was the grocery store can, so it can't really be reviewed, can it? I mean, a lot of ice cream shops make their own whipped cream because it isn't too difficult. And the hot fudge was not hot and it was just chocolate syrup. Maybe hershey's? No matter what it was, the sundae contained the ingredients of basic crap I can find in the grocery store. Gertie's has no right to call it their own if nothing in it is homemade and all they are doing is assembling it for me, poorly at that. I'll stick to making my own chili at home and Margie's for a real sundae.
(2)K R.
mmmm , this place is ok. I gave it 3 stars because the staff was friendly and restaurant is family friendly. i ordered a burger and my fiance ordered spaghetti and chilli, which turned out to be a bad idea. we also ordered nachos with chili, which i expected it to be better than it was. the chilli was more watery and mushed out. it just wasnt that great. i feel like they have good food here, i just need to figure out what it is. the icecream sundae was ok, maybe the shakes are better. i definately want to go back to give it another try.
(3)Martin P.
We stopped in early in the week late one night. I had one of the dream meals which included a cup of chili, an all beef dog, fries and a drink. All were good...not great, but good. The prices were very inexpensive. The beer that day was 2 bucks! The chili which was highly touted was decent, but nothing more than that IMHO. The service was good, the place was reasonably clean, and as I said the food was decent. I would return if I am in the area. If you want a satisfying, inexpensive meal, with good service this is a good bet. Ice cream was good too!
(3)Yesenia G.
This place is great! I had my order to go, so I can't really say how the staff is, however the lady that helped me at register was kind. I ordered a BLT turkey breast sandwich, (you should know I dislike bacon veryyy much) so why I did this, im not sure. Well im extremely glad I did because I ate the whole thing with no complaints! Delicious sauce, ingredients were fresh, and they even have wheat bread choice! Ill be back again to dine-in this time!
(4)Yesy D.
Their brownie sundae is not on the menu but it is to die for!! Their turkey chilli is amazing!
(4)Lindsey H.
This was the most disappointing meal I have had in years. I had been looking forward to going to this restaurant for a long time. I was near one this past Saturday and sat down with some friends. We ordered Chili fries, Chili Mac, and 2 "soon to be famous" Italian Beefs, one "cheesy" located at the very top of the menu. When ordering the waitress asked if the beef was the one with marinara sauce. After I said, No, beefs do not have marinara sauce. She said she must have been confused with the meatball sandwich. Strange, but fine. She came back a few minutes later and asked what kind of cheese I wanted on my beef though it says on the menu "cheddar cheese sauce". I asked for cheddar. We received our Chili fries which were really good. However, the tv was tuned into the Kardashians, and they were visiting someplace that had John Wayne Gacy's brain and it was disgusting. We asked her to please change the channel, which she did after a few minutes. The waitress brought out our food, a "cheesy Italian beef" with guess what? Marinara sauce all over it. The Italian beef was gray and boiled. I thought about just taking it, but I just couldn't do it. We sent it back. She then came back with another beef that had American cheese slices melted on it. I asked, "is this Cheddar" and she said, "Hmm, I think it is." I tried to eat some of it but my deeply rooted love for Chicago Italian beef was dying inside. Meanwhile, Lindy's little ant friends were crawling across my Boyfriends Chili Mac plate. This was the last straw. We sent both of our boiled, absolutely bland, and one plastic cheese covered beefs back to the waitress. She apologized and said she would give us a full refund, but we said that we would pay for the chili (regardless of ants it was tasty) and the drinks and fries. She offered us some ice cream, which we accepted, and was delicious. However, one thing the waitress told us while apologizing, I believe that all yelpers should take to heart- "You know what? I only order the chili and the ice cream here, I never, NEVER order anything else..." Wish I'd known that before I ordered.
(1)Antonio B.
Really good chili. Probably perfect cure for a hangover. Clearly a local favorite. Be sure to drop in if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
(3)Joseph G.
Banana milkshakes!! Solid low key diner. I've never tried anything else besides the milkshake. This is based on the frozen tasty beverage i indulged in a few days ago...which was outta sight!!
(4)Darren F.
saw this on Chicago's best and since I'm local, i just have to give this place a try! i came here with my 2 cousins one night to see what's this place is about.. service was OK.. not the greatest but yet not the worst. After we sat down we notice 2 little annoying flying insects flying around us so we had to kill it and no we are dirty people if that's what you guys are thinking haha.. anyways, we ordered 3 chili , hamburger , gyro , and a polish.... the chili was a little salty and definitely not one of the best chili I've had.. the gyro was horrible, very less meat, the pita was oily, and the sauce was sooooo watery its unbelievable... the burger and the polish i saw my cousins eating just looks like a typical school served lunch, they said it was just alright and nothing special about it... only good thing about the meal was the fries, but that's about it... i will not be coming back here again..
(1)Char Y.
The chili was really good, and so was the banana shake. However, the eggplant sandwich completely failed! it was greasy and too cheesy.
(3)Eric P.
When it comes to chili there is only one restaurant in town that is worth the drive. Lindy's Chili on Archer is hands down the best chili in Chicago. Lindy's has a meat and a meatless chili. Chili extras are also available, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, crackers, diced onions. Also, available at Lindy's are chili cheese fries and chili cheese dogs. If you choose to eat in, you will enjoy a no-frills experience. And by no frills I mean no frills. Not even hot water in the bathroom sinks. There is also a tiny bar often patronized by south siders who are constantly yelling at whatever game is on the tube. On our last trip to Lindy's we got a root beer float that was so good, because it was made with Gertie's ice cream. If you're craving chili, head to Lindy's.
(5)iddells E.
I always go to their food booth when they're at the Taste of Chicago, but this time I decided to go to the actual location. We were sooo hungry and had a taste for chili. Everything on their menu sounded so good. After deciding between the Chili Cavatappi (pasta with chili) and the Chili Extravaganza (tamales with chili and nachos), I decided to go with the latter. They serve the Extravaganza with Tom Tom Tamales. The tamales were far from authentic and had some kind of unidentifiable filling in them....not sure if they were beans or ground meat, but whatever it was, I thought it was pretty good. The chili was delicious! The ice cream creations are gigantic! Other customers ordered ice cream and I was amazed. I just had a root beer float, which I loved. I will definitely return if I'm around the area....I'm already thinking about getting the chili cheese nachos!
(4)Mimi P.
My favorite Lindys and Gerties location, and the teenage waitress Kelly is the best! They offer alot of comfort Chicago food but also have a "Dream Lite" section on the menu for the health conscious. lol Beer specials are always fantastic especially when served on a mug for the price, and the ice cream melts in your mouth- literally. Although they have seasonal flavors like the Pumpkin during fall, the vanilla chocolate and strawberry are terrific.
(5)Jeffrey H.
I love this place. Not only is the service nice. The food is excellent. I find it very hard to find chili w/o beans anywhere. This is the place to get it. Though I find it odd it costs more to have no beans versus w/ beans. Meh, no matter. Plus, the chocolate/peanut butter shake is delicious. I bought the chili pasta and it's delicious. Looks like they do a lot of catering so you can by different size containers of chili if you want.
(4)Andy M.
This is a nice looking small chili bar. I enjoyed the chili and Polish dog. It is a charming little bar and eatery and I look forward to seeing the other places it has in the Chicago area. The fries are pretty average anc could use an improvment.
(3)Stephen S.
I went to the other location on Archer last night. My girlfriend and I both love chili so when we were looking for a place to eat while we waited for her roommate to arrive at the summit amtrak station we both agreed on trying a place claiming to have chicago's favorite chili since 1924! It did not disappoint one bit. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer well before we put in our main order. I wouldnt say were mad when our chili and then Jackis salad arrived before them, we were just really excited for those onion rings we had been thinking about since the begining of our three hour drive from Indiana. The chili was great, the italian dressing on the salad was great, the onion rings were great, and my burger was your standard 1/4 lb. burger. I was in the mood for a big thick burger, but this one with cheddar cheese hit the spot with its heaping, lettuce, tomato, onion, and slightly unusual pickles (way better than the ones McDonalds uses). The only thing that could have made this any better would have been to cap it off with one of Gerties amazing ice cream treats, but after being on vacation all weekend and certainly eating like it, we had to resist. Til next time Lindy and Gerties.
(5)Laura K.
This is a staple of the southside. In my opinion, it represents the neighborhood, southwest locale, and memories of my childhood. Yeah, its old and a little run down inside, but its full of personality and never lets you down. I do miss the original Gertie's on Kedzie...I still remember walking in from the summer heat to a cool breeze and the smell of ice cream! I have no complaints about this place! There's always a place to sit, food is served quickly and hot, waitresses are attentive but not naggy, and the ice cream is the best you'll ever have. I'm happy they have turkey chili on the menu, and I've had their fish sandwich many times. Oh, and the onion rings are just about the best you'll get from anywhere. The prices have gotten a little high over the years, but what can you do? Back to the ice cream - its the exact same stuff you would get at the original location on Kedzie. And everything is customizable - you can substitute chocolate ice cream for vanilla, combine toppings, etc. My usual is a hot fudge marshmallow sundae without the nuts. It will make you bust a gut, but you only live once!
(5)Christine H.
All I had here was a milkshake because I wanted to try "the best milkshake in Chicago" before I go vegan. So yeah, it is the best milkshake in Chicago ;-). So thick and rich, I actually saved half of it and put in the freezer for an ice creamy treat the next day. A little pricey for a shake and it takes awhile to make, but it's worth the wait. If only they had veggie chilli!
(4)Christine P.
Ice cream and chili - 2 great tastes that taste great together! For a meal, silly! If you're not sure what you want to eat, but you're in something that resembles a bad mood, chili and ice cream will make that bad mood disappear quickly. The service is like the decor - no nonsense. The results are great a fantastic price. I don't know who Lindy or Gertie were, but I'm sure glad they opened up a chili and ice cream parlor!
(4)Dave G.
Haven't been there in years, but noticed the addition of Gertie's. They used to be on 59th and Kedzie by the Colony and I remember their "tummy buster". One of those if you can eat it all (by yourself - no help) you don't have to pay for it. Never did that one, but did others. Fond memories. Now on to Lindy's. Went to De La Salle HS and passed the place every day on the bus. It was good back then and I assume based on the reviews I've read here, it still is.
(4)Jemillex B.
chili best!
(5)Sarah S.
This place has been around for ages, but I have never been to this location.. the original closed and I haven't been since. I can not speak for the chili, but the ice cream is REALLY yummy. Its thick and dense and with whatever toppings you desire. I had the cherry sundae with vanilla ice cream and lots of whipped cream and my friend had the turtle sundae which was also very good. Service was good and place is basic.. nothing fancy for sure. I will try the chili next time..it looked good, but I didn't think it would be a good mix and I would be paying for it later.
(4)Linda C.
Oh I wanted to like this place so much but I was sadly disappointed. I went here today with some friends for lunch. We order mac and cheese, some chili, fries, a burger, a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich. First off the mac and cheese was horrible. It was watery as the noodles were probably soaked in water and not drained properly when it was added to the melted cheese. The sandwiches and burger were meh. My friends complained that the cheese on their sandwiches were too salty. The fries were disgusting. They were tasteless and drenched in oil. My order of fries looked rather old compared to my friend's but both were equally bland and greasy so I guess I shouldn't be jealous. Now I don't understand what makes their chili famous. Can someone please tell me? The best chili I had was at some ski resort in Wisconsin. It probably came from a can too! So for desert we ended up ordering some ice cream. I shared a hot fudge sundae with a friend. We ordered it to go and the lady put the sundae in a pop cup. It was messy and rather annoying as the hot fudge was separate. The ice cream was pretty good. My friend order a scoop of chocolate ice cream which tasted kinda funky.
(2)maurice s.
Lindy's hasn't changed in years. Half dive bar, half dive restaurant. Fantastic chili, any way you like it. Adequate sandwiches. Gertie's ice cream. Filberts pop in glass bottles. Good service. Low prices. Great location--on Archer right next to McKinley Park.
(5)Brad F.
This place was excellent, i came here for a milkshake after dinner one night, and it was the best milkshake ive ever had it was out of this world. I decided i needed another dessert, so I got chili and it was amazing as well. I wish i had a party big enough to buy the 55 gallon drum of it!
(5)Gene K.
Love this place. I used to go to the location at 59th/Kedzie All the time as a kid. And now I live right by this one! The Chili's great and meaty. I always get a Green River with my food. And the Ice Cream's to die for. Battleship 4 LYFE!
(5)Michelle M.
Sometimes in the winter, when we get our one or two yearly snows, I dream about Lindy's Chili. It's that good. I visit for work at a plant near here, and we ALWAYS have lunch at Lindy's, even if we're only there for one day. We've even had multiple lunches there in the same week. Here are some of the things I love: the chili, the fact that you can buy chili by the drum, the tamales, the RC cola with cherry, the REAL caramel in the shake, the strawberry shake, the full glass of whipped cream that comes with your giant milkshake order, the way the waitress seems to love you and be annoyed with you all the time, the way they treat you like family, and many other things.
(5)Mandi S.
LOVE THE CHILI!! the Shakes are great to. Honestly you can't go wrong with the food!
(5)Timothy M.
This place doesn't disappoint. Damn good chili! This place has been a South Side institution for years, all the way back to 1901 when it was on 55th & California. They decided to combine two great things and put them under one roof. Lindy's and Gertie's was born! Check out the local celebs on the wall who've been here, including Mayor Daley and Harry Caray. Get yourself a $1.50 beer in a frosty mug, order up some of that famous chili, then treat yourself to a ice cream sundae. Everyone in the place is respectful and quiet, even though it's a family restaurant. It's also very diverse: white, black, Hispanic, everyone's just here for the chili.
(5)Aaron L.
The Chili Here is too soupy, its like a sauce for a coney dog. This is nowhere near the best chili in Chicago, it is edible though there is not much flavor or texture whatsoever. If you have a hankering for chili then keep looking past lindy's.
(2)Loretta T.
Best chilli in Brighton Park! Lindy's is a classic... will always love this place!
(5)Brigitte K.
I'm conflicted about Lindey's Chili...is it 3 stars, is it 5 stars??? I've been to the McKinley Park Lindy's twice now and in the same week. I think that speaks to a higher star count. I walked in and immediately noticed that it was grungy, had some crackers and napkins on the floors under a couple of tables, etc. I worried, why would friends suggest we meet here for dinner??? Then everything became clear when the really nice waitress came over and announced the 95 cent beers and the $3.00 pitchers. I immediately forgot the muss I had initially noticed and enjoyed the classic Lindy's chili deal. The chili mac was super classic - for a couple bucks you get the chili of grade school nostalgia with the really fine grind of beef and elbow macaroni, you've got your cold beer for under a buck, you can also order a child's size Sundae...and your bill will be $9.00 total. Nice service, good place to meet up with friends - especially if you are on a budget, and the eggnog ice cream was a real treat. That's how I ended back there three days later, introducing another friend to inexpensive eats and cheap beers.
(4)Adam K.
Changed their menu a bit since the last time, still good tho.
(4)