Restaurant Review: Lincoln Park’s R.J. Grunt’s Revisited…the 70’s are alive and well!
“Open on Earth June 10, 1971”
It’s hard to believe that Lincoln Park’s R.J. Grunt’s is 55 years old in 2026. I grew up with the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) flagship restaurant’s funky, wood-paneled, devil-may-care vibe and 70’s décor after a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo or the Chicago History Museum, both of which are nearby.
For a kid, the eclectic menu, designed as if it were hand-scribbled by a ten year old, their oversized portions, peerless, giant Gruntburgers, homemade potato chips and giant milk shakes were all I needed for a perfect afternoon.
Farewell, my salad bar, hello reimagination!
Founded by Chicagoans Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in 1971, the owner’s claim to fame was that it invented the salad bar. Who are we to argue? Who could forget the rows of fresh, crispy vegetables, delicious fruits, and “exotic” selections like chickpeas and patè? Not to mention their homemade croutons!
However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, they reimagined the Salad Bar as a pick-your-own and came up with, as the menu says, “873,065, 282, 167, 813, 104 possible combinations.” Today, you can ask your server how to make it happen for you. There’s no salad makings on the menu, so if you want a salad, ASK! You can choose up to eight items for your salad.
Revisiting R.J. Grunt’s
My friend Kathy and I visited R.J. Grunt’s after Pride Parade this year. Both of us have fond memories through the decades. On Sunday, mid-afternoon, the place was packed with families, but we were able to snag a table in the middle of the action. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended!
The menu is huge, ranging from R.J.’S Famous Chili, a traditional pork and beef chili, served with raw white onions, cheddar cheese and oyster crackers, which was honored as Chicago’s Best Chili in 1979, to their Baby Back Ribs, which are grilled pork ribs with BBQ sauce, and served with french fries and a side of coleslaw. Now, they also have their own lager, 71 Haze, R.J Grunt’s own branded lager, brewed locally at Spiteful Brewing on Chicago’s Northside.
On that Sunday, our bodies were craving COMFORT FOOD. I went with their Tuna Melt…homemade tuna salad topped with tomato and a slice of melted cheddar cheese, served on Challah bread with pickles. You have your choice of cottage fries or or homemade chips. The challah bread is fresh and delicious and the sandwich portions remain huge. The tuna salad itself was creamy without being overbearing; however, it lacked seasoning. If I’d thought to put the pickles on the tuna salad, they would probably have some effect, but my brain was fried from the 90+ degree temperatures. Instead, I covered it in salt and pepper and mixed thoroughly. It became MY tuna salad!
A word about their Homemade Chips. They reminded me of that quote from Forrest Gump…”you never know what you’re gonna get!” While Kathy and I both enjoyed them, we both noted they were wildly inconsistent…crispy and seasoned on some, mushy on others. Slices ranged from very thin to somewhat thick, curled like a store-bought potato chip to large pieces. Greasy to nongreasy. Salted and unsalted. That doesn’t mean they tasted or looked bad. They were simply…inconsistent.
Kathy had their Fish and Chips…three pieces of beer-battered fried Icelandic cod, served over a bed of cottage fries with sides of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. She really enjoyed the three fish tenders, which she pronounced “really good,” noting also the goodness of the crunchy, somewhat sweet crust on the fish.
For dessert, we opted for something new to us, Cookie in a Bowl. Served in half or full portions, it’s your choice of a giant chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven, topped with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Or a giant Snickerdoodle cookie topped with vanilla ice cream and gooey caramel sauce. Mine was perfect: the chocolate chip cookie was at the melty stage and blended with the ice cream and hot fudge for this chocolate lover’s delight. However, Kathy’s Snickerdoodle came hard and turned into a rock-like consistency long before the ice cream melted. She couldn’t eat it. While I’d highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie, you’ve been forewarned!
R.J. Grunt’s is located at 2056 N. Lincoln Park West. They are open Sunday- Wednesday from 10:30am- 8:30pm, Thursday and Friday from 11am- 10pm, and Saturday from 10:30am-10pm. For reservations, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
