My first experience with Ed's was when I was a kid at the restaurant in Chicago. I'll never forget the sass-talking waitresses, the smart-aleck signs and the yummy food.
I was thrilled when an Eds was put in so close by. Now that I have my own kids I like to bring them there to have the same kinds of experiences. I would say the Lombard restaurant is a bit tamer in terms of the lip service you may receive from the servers. They do a "stage" show fairly routinely where all the servers stop what they're doing and go out and dance and sing (my kids love this). Everyone gets free hats to wear, kids get crayons to color with and it's a fun looking retro place. The food is probalby fair in many people's minds but I would say it is great in my opinion. They're loaded fries are to die for. Order it along with a cherry coke (real) and you're in for gastrointestinal heaven (and gas, lol). Top it all off with the world's tiniest hot fudge sundae (another of my kids' favorites). The server will even let you keep the glass.
Not the healthiest food in the world, but a great place to experience now and then.
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