Lou Mitchell’s: “The First Stop on the Mother Road”

A hearty breakfast, a friendly wait staff, and a hundred years of history are what earns Lou Mitchell’s its title as 66’s first stop. Oh and did we mention the donut holes?

Since 1923 Lou Mitchell’s has been serving breakfast and lunch to everyone and anyone in the Chicago area. It’s location at 565 W. Jackson Boulevard is conveniently located near Union Station and the start of the Mother Road making it popular with commuters and travelers alike. Lou Mitchell’s is famous for their complimentary baskets of fresh donut holes which they serve to each customer at the start of their meal.

They also carry on tradition by giving boxes of Milk Duds to the women and children, just as their founder, William Mitchell, did in the 1920’s.

Lou Mitchell’s gained popularity during the Great Depression, which may sound ironic, but makes sense when you consider its location and the influx of men coming into Union Station looking for jobs at the time. Since then, they’ve been “serving the worlds finest coffee” to everybody from Presidents, celebrities, athletes, and travelers alike.

In 2006 Lou Mitchell’s earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Despite the restaurant celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Lou Mitchell’s has maintained tradition by serving most of its original menu items, keeping the historic interior, and continuing a devotion to high quality food and service.