Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket

The fried chicken was really good. The best part was the chicken skin but the meat itself had great quality too. 8.3/10

We stopped at several Chicago area DDD joints on a family trip, and this one was probably my favorite (though all were good). The fried chicken is really good, but the thing that knocked my socks off were the wings. Staff was very friendly and we had a nice time there. The food does take a while - but they do let you know that when you order the fried chicken. We will be back...my son wants to go back to Chicago just for this place!

The chicken was very good and so was the chicken soup was good too. The salad bar was no big deal and the place has not change in 20 years . I would go back

Excellent chicken...well prepared and presented.  Be forewarned you will have to wait 30 minutes, everything is made to order.  The biskets (served beforehand) are very good.  The salad bar has all the necessitiies but isn't anything special, however the soup (ckicken dumpling) was excellent.  The mashed potatoes and gravy were top-notch.  Atmosphere and service were above average.  What's not to like?

Went for the lunch buffet. The chicken breast was the moistest and tastiest I've ever had deep-fried. The breading doesn't have a lot of flavor, but the meat more than makes up for it. My wife raved about the bean salad and the Italian beef. Next time we're going to check out the White Fence Farm (another Route 66 legend) to compare, but this is going to be tough to top.

This is one of the 2 places I'd been to before DDD, albeit about 20 years ago. The fired chicken is just OK; granted it was very moist but the thin corn meal coating was a disappointment.  The fried mac'n'cheese was a gritty, flavorless mess. The Popeye's remark is rather harsh, however, there are better fried chicken joints in Chicago's western suburbs. Instead, DDD should have visited the fried chicken/Route 66 icon further down Joliet Road in Romeoville- White Fence Farm. On the plus side, our waitress was friendly, attentive and efficient. However, if I don't make it back to Dell Rhea's for another 20 years I won't be too disappointed. In close, the complaints about the long wait are unfair. I saw one or two signs alerting customers that the chicken takes 30 minutes to prepare, and I seem to recall that stated in their menu, and the waitress cautioned us about the cooking time when we ordered, and the owner commented on the long cooking process during the DDD episode. 

mac n cheese was horrible ad very grainy!!!!   Terrible food....  Expected more from you guys at DDD???..... 

This place really sucks!!!! If there would be a place not to go again it would definitely be this this crummy place....  I hope the owner is reading this and corrects his staff and fixes the food...  Poor food and hospitality even worse.   If you don't like your job as a waitress don't work there!!! LOL

We live a couple miles from this place, are big DDD fans so naturally we've been here. If you like good fried chicken you will not find it here. I recommend Popeye's at 75th and Cass, much better chicken.

Visiting the area and went to try the food.   Tried to order the Chicken Basket and split with my husband, but were told if we wanted to split it there would be an additional $4.00 charge.   No extra food, just $4.00 more.    We decided to add the Mac and Cheese and at least get something for our $4.00 (plus $5.00 more - the mac and cheese is $9.95).   After waiting over 35 minutes to get our food, we were terribly disappointed.   The cheese in the "mac and cheese" was grainy.   I think the cheese broke down from all the heat.   The chicken was hot and juicy, but mediocre at best.   Fries not seasoned and coleslaw......well really didn't enough to even comment on the taste.   Wouldn't recommend.

My husband and I went there and decided to split a chicken basket (quite large).  Was informed by the waitress that if we split it, she would have to charge us an additional $4.00.   No more food, just $4.00 more.    Would have gotten up and left, but it was a Triple D restaurant (which they certainly are taking $$$$ advantage of).   We ultimately ordered the mac and cheese also (might as well get something if you're going to be charged $4.00 for nothing).   It wasn't any good.   The cheese had a grainy feel to is as though it had broken down from being heated so long.    The chicken was so so at best.   Won't go back.   Wouldn't recommend.

Saw the episode and headed over here are a few thoughts. We arrived at 11:30 for lunch which was nice to see a buffet and a clean one. We sat til 1150 before we even acknowleded by a server in a half empty place. We ordered 2 buffets for adults and just fries for our daughters lunch and a side of mac and cheese. Well My wife and I ate at the buffet and we were completely done and daughters fries were still not up at 1:45, so we had canceled the order and had to stop at mcdonalds so she could hae some lunch. Waitress came by 4 times and kept saying few more minutes and blamed the kitchen staff and then at the end said time must have gotten away from her. As we were leaving another custoer approached us and stated that she was rude and short with them as well and messed up there bill. Food was average chicken and beef, cookies were pretty good but overall a terrible expierence, we went to try the one thing that they seem to specialize in and never got it. Its never good when you eat somewhere and have to stop somewhere else on the wy home to eat again. Pro's: Buffet for lunch nice selection and price Good Atmosphere Con's Terrible Service Slow Rude

Food was good, but nothing really special.  Thought they were over priced.

the mashed potatoes and gravy are GOOD!!!!!!  the chicken was good.  the catfish was good.  it was all good!!!  if they get the sweet tea perfected you would think you were in the south.  go for the buffet tues - fri.

The Mac & Cheese is to die for!!  A meal all in itself :)

1/1/10 - had the chicken and the mac'n cheese.  Both very good. But the biscuits were excellent!

I used to get taken here as a kid by my Grandfather - it was a real treat for us back in the 50's early 60's. Went back again last week . . . NOT Money - NOT even change !

This place certainly would never have aired on DDD if food were the only priority. It definitely is a diner (sort of) and it is a landmark. But, the food leaves extremly little to be desired. Nothing the three of us ate was good, including the greasy chicken (now I know why Guy was surprised he fried the chicken in such a low heated oi), dry pot pie, cold canned green beans, or disgusting mashed potatoes. Oh, the rolls were okay, a bit greasy, but okay.   I have visited other DDDs and enjoyed them. I have learned if Guy doesn't say this is money, or describe the food with some other very enthusiastic adjectives while he is eating - I don't go.