Chicagoist: Airplane Food Once Cool

BWChicago

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:08:41 -0600

I don't think it's fair to call the food at the Choo Choo awful; it's regular diner food, well-prepared. The Yelp reviews on it generally say how surprised they are at the quality.

Thunderbelly

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:22:44 -0600

frp, I am pretty sure Cicero and Monroe is Chicago, not River forest. Not sure though

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:14:58 -0600

It reminds me of that Simpsons episode where the family goes to eat at a similar restaurant called "Up, Up, and Buffet!"

frp

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:01:51 -0600

@yok....: If you can get to the Metra station, you can get to the Choo Choo -- it's like a block away from the Des Plaines Metra Station. And, yes, the food is awful, although my 4 YO nephew LOVES this place. One saving grace -- the milkshakes are pretty darn tasty, and made in an old-fashoned way, from whole milk and ice cream. I believe they may even have malteds, too. And, if you go for your birthday, don't forget your cupcake and train whistle!

peteypants

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:50:18 -0600

the simpons did an episode where they goes to an airplane shaped restuarant called "up,up,and buffet"

YoknapatawphaTourismBoard

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:48:54 -0600

Oh my lord, yes I am and it's still there... I thought it was close to the city, but I was seven years old or so, so "the city" was probably anything farther than Grandma's. While I have no way of getting there, I might just have to go for my birthday this year.

frp

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:33:55 -0600

@yok....: Are you referring to the Choo-Choo Restaurant in Des Plaines? They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, and other kid-fare (probably cooked on "flameless electric cooking equipment"). If it's your birthday, you can order the cup cake with the annoying train whistle that doubles as a dog training whistle.

YoknapatawphaTourismBoard

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:27:48 -0600

I'd also like to point out just how lame it would be if your parents brought you here... and you had to sit in the car for the 'Drive-In' part.

YoknapatawphaTourismBoard

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:23:10 -0600

It reminds me (in a macroscale kind of way) of a restaurant somewhere in the near west suburbs that we went to when I was much shorter than I am now. A model train would come around with your food on it and stop at your table. I think the place probably had terrible food or just annoyed my mom. We only went there a few times, iirc.

The Meteorologist

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:06:33 -0600

Have you ever been to the Silver Palm? It's that railroad car restaurant right off the Blue Line at Chicago, stuck to the Matchbox. The first picture kind of reminds me of having eaten in there one time.

frp

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:45:07 -0600

Wow, that is so cool. And, to think, there's a Happy Fish and Chicken at that intersection in River Forest now. "Flameless electric cooking equipment" First thing that popped into my head when I read that was Mr. Mom making grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron.