Even in the middle of February, Rogers Park greasy spoon Parkside Gyros still proudly has "Happy Holidays!" written in jolly letters on the windows. This isn't a typo, nor is the restaurant lax on updating decor. It's because the deep-fried goodness of Parkside Gyros makes every day feel like a holiday. OK, awful joke. But seriously, for high-calorie intake fun, this is Rogers Park's best offering, cooking up dogs, burgers, burritos, BBQ and mouth-watering gyros for pretty darn low prices.

Selection and fryers are king and queen at Parkside Gyros. A great go-to is the restaurant's signature meal, the gyros dinner ($5.75), which comes with a completely random selection of salad, garlic or pita bread and fries or Spanish rice. Hamburgers couldn't be much cheaper, a myriad of fresh-off-the-grill options for as little as $2 (and at most $4 for a half-pound of chop steak). Fajitas, shrimp and Polish sausage – what isn't here? There are even enough side dishes to feed a carnival – jalapeno poppers, chili cheese fries, spicy chicken wing zings, a cup of rice, and mushrooms (fried, of course). And as if you didn't ingest enough saturated fat, how about wash it down with a delicious chocolate shake?

You won't be surprised to learn that Rogers Park's home for deep-fried fun is also a bit of a dump, but in an endearing, lovable sort of way. The restaurant's ceiling fan appears to be on the precipice of crashing to the floor. Posters appear to be from the early '80s, including one wondrously cheesy onion ring promotion that says, "home, home on the ring." Red booths match ketchup bottles, and for 25 cents, children can leave with a couple of killer tattoos.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert