Diner Grill’s Eight-Decade Legacy Continues With Today’s Reopening

The home of the “Slinger” is back. More than 30 months after the Diner Grill was ravaged by a Christmas Eve fire — after which ownership vowed to reopen in two months — the iconic 24-hour diner on Irving Park Road that’s open 364 days out of the year finally reopened to the public this morning. And that public couldn’t contain its excitement to step back into the iconic space for greasy diner fare and its legendary “Slinger.”

Although much of the divey diner underwent a massive reconstruction, including a completely-rebuilt interior with new red stools and new signage, it looks and feels like the same spot that had been open since 1939. The fire destroyed the back room of the space, among other damage, and the city asked for other infrastructure improvements to bring it up to code. The last stretch of delays were due to waits for city inspections.

The menu is the same as it was for decades before the fire. Take a look at it here, as it features the familiar egg dishes, pancakes, French toast, omelets, sandwiches, and skillets. And yes, the “Slinger” — the diner’s signature mess of two burger patties, two sunny side-up eggs, cheese, hash browns, onions, chili and served with a side of toast that has been so popular with industry customers, late-night revelers, and the rest of its clientele — is still available. The “Dick Burger” remains an off-menu request.

558 days after it closed, the Diner Grill is back. Have a couple “Slingers” and celebrate, Chicago.