A trip to Nookies Too will have you wondering why you ever allowed your standards for diner food to dip below that of any other kind of restaurant. Yes, the joint looks just like your typical diner, with chintzy decorations and menus in those practical-yet-tattered plastic casings. But take a moment to open those menus, and you'll find that a world of unparalleled diner food awaits you.

With just enough options to satisfy everyone (but not so many that you'll feel overwhelmed), Nookies Too successfully offers up both traditional and novel fixin's. Pick from nearly a dozen omelets, the most experimental of which is North of the Border, with Canadian bacon, apples and cheddar cheese. If you're not in the mood for breakfast, dinner-size salads, pasta, burgers, wraps, pitas and melts are there for your dining pleasure.

Nookies Too never closes on Fridays and Saturdays, which, combined with its location just south of the Lincoln-Halsted-Fullerton bar scene, makes it a haven for late-night diners and their antics. While an order of cottage fries would probably satisfy any post-bar hunger pangs, the Hangover Helper, hash browns topped with chili, poached eggs, cheddar and sour cream, might just be worth the few extra bucks. Nookies Too is the baby brother to Old Town's Nookies and the older sibling to Lakeview's Nookies Tree, and you can expect nearly identical experiences at all three locations.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Laura Brown