The Choo Choo — Restaurant in Maine Township

Nothing special about the burger just unbelievable,,,I am an older black gentleman man …that can look out of place most of the time,,,I ordered a burger and a fry,,first burger in maybe 4 years once I thought about it for here ….within one minute the young lady gave me the check,she seemed nervous…and then I noticed an older gentlemen totally bothered by the lack of disregard and poor hospitality and the fact that I ordered my food to be eaten there,,,it was by far the best quality of meat that I had eaten in about 4 years lol……..The guy was the owner , I had an serious reality check during that experience and I saw the hurt in his eyes more than it hurt me to be treated like that because of who you are majority of the times it hurts !no doubt , but when I see the owner of that establishment do and feel the way he felt I was ok…. Second visit I don’t think I’ve ever felt more uncomfortable in any place that I’ve ever been. I repeated to the lady at the counter with the red shirt on the chew burger five times I even pointed to the choo burger she continued to look at me like I was speaking Portuguese the entire ..time. when my order came out, it was a cheeseburger. I immediately told her that I said the choo burger she turned around and looked at her coworker like here we go again type look, and then she said you ordered the cheeseburger at that point I couldn’t believe that she was standing in my face telling me what I ordered. I told her five times again I wanted to chew burger, and then the other girl came over to take over the conversation while the original girl stood there as if she has never in her entire life seen a black person, the first time I was uncomfortable, but the owner was so polite. I overlooked it this time while I was eating my burger the entire time every time I look up, this woman was staring at me the entire time and not once come over to complete my order had to come over and complete my order not at all not one single bit, matter, fact, I don’t talk much when I go restaurants I order my food I eat and I leave. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more uncomfortable in any establishment as the other young lady was talking and the lady in the red shirt continue to look at me as if she sees a ghost. I finally asked her. Do you speak English and that wasn’t to be offensive not one single bit but it seems like not at any point was she even understanding what I was saying I do talk fast, but I specifically talk slower when I order my food or when I go to Public establishments and I’ll say this again she never once came to complete my order. The other girl came over to ask me if I needed anything else. The other girl came over to close my order out and the other girl came over to explain to me about the situation the lady and the red shirt. All she did for the rest of the duration of my time was standing there, watching me Eat when I wasn’t looking at her .. I literally almost felt her...

Awful experience! Our two year old loves trains so we decided to take him here as treat while we were in town visiting family. Unfortunately, since I am nursing our newest addition and can’t eat dairy or gluten. Knowing that they probably wouldn’t have anything I could eat, we picked up something on the way that I’d be able to eat so that I could eat with my hubby and two year old. Once we ordered, an older white-haired woman who seemed like the owner approached our table and told me I wouldn’t be able to eat my food that was sitting on the table in a box. I felt I welcomed by her, but I said ok, I won’t eat it here.

She walked away. A few minutes later she came back with a bag and said I could put my food in there so other customers wouldn’t see it. What?! It’s in a box, completely closed and not visible. What’s the big deal? As a former owner of several businesses, I would NEVER approach a customer in that way as it’s way more important to me to relate to others in ways that have them feel welcomed and respected even if it means bending any policies.

The manger/owner at the Choo Choo Could have just left it alone when I told her I wouldn’t eat my food there. OR better yet, she could have expressed some care and curiosity by asking me why I brought my food- and based on my feedback she could have gotten some golden nuggets of information that may have resulted in her adding some gluten free, dairy free or overall healthier options to the menu which may actually have led to an increase in her business and not the potential decrease I imagine she was focused on by me bringing my own food.

And to top it all off...

When we got back to our car (which was parked in their lot) I ate my food. Afterwards my hubby went to throw out a cup and my to go box in their dumpster and the same lady ran outside their back door screaming at us saying the dumpster was locked and not to use it. I find so much wrong with this. First off, she was clearly watching us even after we left the restaurant which felt creepy and disrespectful. Second, you’re going to yell at us for throwing out a cup and an empty to go box in your dumpster AFTER we just patroned your restaurant?! So wrong and so offensive.

As for the food- low quality, mediocre food at best. The concept is great, but the menu could definitely use a revamp! Including adding (at least a few) gluten free options, antibiotic free meats as well as some healthier overall options. Heck, even some sweet potato fries would have been great!

Suffice it to say, we will NOT be going back to the Choo Choo ever again. Next time we’ll go to the train restaurant in forest park instead which is much more...

The Choo Choo is thankfully not a chain. Its operators do a heartfelt job of making and keeping all customers happy with a combination of great service and fine to great cooking.

As to its service, there are times where Saturday demand overwhelms. Waiting chairs were recently added to make getting a seat much more comfortable and ultimately not turn away diners. That consideration is greatly appreciated. And, for diners, a Saturday seating hack: visiting between major mealtimes – say, at 2 pm – really helps getting a seat by the serving train.

The Choo Choo’s food is at the very least fine and, if the newly improved waiting arrangements are any indication, will continue to improve. With apologies for making them, comparisons to prior years note the following:

(1) The new-recipe chili is much heavier on beans but not as salty. A former recipe offered instead of beef mounds of ground turkey, which is naturally sweeter and allows salt and seasonings to shine without having to add served-on-the-side onions. (2) The fries are also light on salt and, for today’s visit at least, a bit dry. (3) Also dry are the cupcakes, meaning our visit is just at an unlucky one and/or there must be a way to store cupcakes to retain their moistness. Those poor cupcakes aren’t as heavily frosted as before, either, but there’s a silver lining to that, infra.

The amount of salt, seasonings, oil and frosting appears to be toned down to follow dietary trends which, frankly, should be disregarded when visiting a diner serving dishes on toy trains. Nevertheless, to successfully appease all, salt and pepper are at table to season to taste. And those cupcakes come with plastic toy train whistles which actually work. They rarely did so in years past and I apologize for tooting mine profusely during our visit; I was just so thrilled that my train whistle actually whistled!

A very important and positive note about The Choo Choo’s food is that its burgers are very good, and particularly so its double cheeseburger. It’s large enough to split with a dining partner and its American cheese pairs very well with that mild chili for alternating flavors and textures.

In sum, a labor of love is a sometimes quiet, sometimes roaring joy to witness. The Choo Choo...