D.A.'s Deli And Dining Coming To Oak Forest

OAK FOREST, IL — The former Mila's Family Kitchen location — which closed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic — will soon be home to D.A.'s Deli and Dining.

The building — located at 5201 167th St., Oak Forest — has sat vacant for about a year, and the city recently approved a special use permit for a drive-thru on the site. The developers plan to fully renovate the property, adding landscaping, fencing and other modifications.

D.A.’s Deli & Dining is a family friendly restaurant that specializes in corned beef and is "home of the one pounder" corned beef sandwich. The brand is a Chicago start-up that was created in 1996 by Darryl Abernathy. Since then, the business has popped up in various locations in the Chicagoland area.

The owner and his business partner, Ollie Williams, have been working together on the brand for three years.

Abernathy told the city council that he has had a love for corned beef since he was a child, joking that he always associated corned beef with his birthday — Mar. 16 — without realizing it's the day before St. Patrick's Day.

"Corned beef is in my blood," Abernathy said. "We sold our first sandwich Sept. 26, 1996, at 2926 W. Columbus Ave."

The restaurant has an already established location in Calumet City — 1781 River Oaks Drive. Another location was also formerly located in Orland Park — 7260 W 159th St. — but the business' website states it is closed until further notice.

When the business opens, hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Although indoor seating will be offered, the business projects that about 85 percent of business will come from its drive-thru.

The restaurant offers catering, delivery, take-out and dine-in. The city council unanimously approved the special use permit at its May 25 meeting.

Learn more about the business coming to town and check out the menu, here.