Birthday Dinner 1: The Chicago Diner

On Wednesday night my dear friend Brittany took me for an-evening-before-birthday dinner to The Chicago Diner - the veg restaurant in Boystown where I've been dying to go for ages! It was very spontaneous and wonderful...and delicious! (These photos were taken on our Blackberries, sorry for the bad quality!)

We each started off with a Zevia, the new stevia-sweetened pop. I used to be a bit of a Diet Pepsi junky and rarely drink soda now, but when I saw this on the menu I really wanted to try it. It was good, but had an aftertaste of, um...pepper? I don't think I would buy cases of this to bring home, but maybe a few for a treat once in awhile. I don't know. If you've tried it before let me know what you think.


After doing some extensive "research," the Reuben sandwich was the second most recommended item on the menu. Obviously I had to try it. I had never been a reuben fan in pre-vegan days, but this was still so delicious. Sliced seitan, lettuce, tomato, saurkraut, soy cheese, rye toast. With a side of vegan mac and cheese, obviously. And it was great! The best vegan mac I've had in a restaurant (but not as good as the one I make at home...)


Brittany got the vegan Shawarma sandwich, which looked nothing like what I thought shawarmas were supposed to look like but was (I'm sure) 10000% more delicious. I think I liked hers even more than mine! Seitan and cauliflower, lettuce, tomato, chipotle sauce with a side of sauteed pesto veggies. It was fantastic!


This was the vegan Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. I've found that a lot of vegan cream cheese desserts taste like soy mozzarella with sugar. Not the case here. It was delicious, creamy, rich, and flavorful. The best veg cheesecake I've had so far. And look at those chocolate chips and thick chocolate topping! Are you dying?!


Ok, this WAS the most recommended thing on the menu and I WOULD SLAM MY HEAD IN MY NEW CAR DOOR TO HAVE THIS AGAIN. The Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Milk Shake. Omg. I don't know what kind of soy ice cream witchcraft they pulled here, but if you're thinking about coming to Chicago, this is the reason to do it. Brit and I split each the shake and the cake (they divided the shake up for us, hence the small glass), but if I weren't pretending to be healthy I would have ordered another one for myself for the road.


Before we left, Brittany had to suck the rest of her shake so I could lick the peanut butter drizzle out of the glass. Not true, but don't think it didn't cross my mind.

We got a super easy parking spot on the street right outside, our server was a total doll who comped the shake for my birthday, and the food came out faster than...fast food? No really, the sandwiches were out in mere minutes. After my first amazing experience at The Chicago Diner, I am definitely going back as soon as humanly possible. And you can bet your butt that I will be getting my own shake this time.