Sometimes restaurants are about more than just eating. Sometimes they are about family and community and caring, which has a funny way of seeping into the food. The Choo Choo Grill certainly fits that description.

At the counter of the Choo Choo Grill recently, patrons passed around a newspaper clipping. It was the obituary of a regular of this Northeast Side institution. The cook and owner Kathy Spencer told those sitting in the tiny red restaurant at the corner of Plainfield Avenue and Leonard Street that she had stopped by the funeral home after her shift for the visitation.

Choo Choo Grill is that kind of place. It is like having breakfast or lunch with a group of friends. I’m no Choo Choo Grill regular, but I’ve been there a dozen times over the years and I’ve always felt welcome at the diner that has stood next to the train tracks for more than 60 years.

The place is tiny with a handful of stools lined up along the L-shaped bar that separates the dining area from the kitchen. There are just two booths (and signs on them say that you have to have a party of two or more to sit there).

Still, the Choo Choo Grill manages to rustle up some of the best diner grub in the area from that little kitchen. And it is cooked by Kathy right before your eyes. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping into a time capsule. There is a rotary dial telephone on the wall that rings when take-out orders are called in. An old malt machine churns out amazing frozen drinks like the diner’s Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Vanilla Strawberry old fashioned malts ($3.99 and worth every penny).

Children love the place because of its railroad-themed décor and the amazing pancakes. Adults love it for the camaraderie the comes as a side with every dish served. Everyone loves it for the food.

I’ve eaten at the Choo Choo Grill for breakfast and lunch and the restaurant does both meals right. At breakfast, I usually go with the Rail Kill Sandwich ($4.89) with its egg, cheese and sausage. It is a greasy, delicious mess of a sandwich and I love it. I was tempted during a recent visit to try the Conductor’s Omelette ($5.89) with perfectly cooked potatoes, cheese, onion, ham and a side of rye bread. It was cooked by Kathy on the well-seasoned flat top grill right in front of me and it was perfection.

For lunch, the Choo Choo Grill is best known for its burgers. You have to be a major carnivore to try the massive one pound Legend Burger ($7.69). I’ve never had the guts to order it. They also have excellent half-pound deluxe burgers and mushroom, bacon Swiss for $4.99 each.

Don’t come to the Choo Choo Grill expecting gourmet. The food is about as unpretentious as it gets. Also, try to hit the restaurant on off hours as it can get packed in the little place during breakfast and lunch rush. That being said, I’d encourage everyone to give the Choo Choo Grill a try. If you are looking for diner food at a reasonable price, it doesn’t get much better than the Choo Choo Grill.

And who knows? You might make a few new friends along the way.

Choo Choo Grill (Rating: ★★★ )
Where: 1209 Plainfield Ave. NE
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Ambiance: Old school diner
How much will it cost you: everything is between $4 and $8
Credit cards: All major
Alcohol: No
Smoke-free: Yes
Reservations: No
Wireless Internet: No
Contact: (616) 774-8652