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Lawrence (Red)
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"More coffee, buddy?"
If you live in Uptown and you go out for breakfast somewhere else, you are a sucker and, likely, a malcontent.
The breakfasts are very good. Excellent if you consider how cheap the food is. I generally get the combo breakfast, but I have never seen anyone disappointed with their choice.
Lunch and dinner options seem less reliable, but if you do not feel like breakfast food, I will stand by the tuna salad sandwiches.
Conveniently located next to the Riviera Theatre in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, this place is known for cheap, and hearty breakfast food -- namely, pancakes.
We heard about this place from a friend, who's a self-proclaimed pancake connoisseur. She said "we have to go there" and "this place has the best pancakes in the city." We were sold (doesn't take much, does it?).
Who knows when this place was established, but from the looks of the vintage exterior sign and the interior decor, you can tell it's been a major player in the greasy spoon circuit since well before we were born. It's nice to see that a place like this has survived gentrification (and yes, we're talking about the Starbucks and Borders right down the street) . The red, glittery vinyl booths scream classic doo-wop, and made me want to order a milkshake and bust out my pocket comb, but it was 9:30 in the morning so I checked out the breakfast menu instead.
Lois is a sucker for pancakes that look like a dessert...chocolate chips, fruit goo, whipped cream, sprinkles -- they're all fair game before noon. After some serious deliberation, she passed up the chocolate chip variety and went for the cinnamon then added a side of sausage links for a nice dose of salt and grease. When the plate first came out, she was a little apprehensive. While the menu had said the pancakes came covered in whipped cream, she didn't really expect them to be, you know, entirely covered in whipped cream. But they were. Then the magic happened. The whipped cream melted perfectly on the hot pancakes and mixed with the cinnamon powder that was sprinkled directly on the fluffy pancakes. No need for butter or syrup here. The bonus? The pancakes and sausage were just the right amount of food and Lois, while full, didn't fall into a nasty food coma afterward. The only complaint here was the slow coffee service -- we had to snag a waitress to get a second cup. A point made famous by Steve Buscemi in Reservoir Dogs. They should know this.
Clark, on the other hand, is a fan of the traditional breakfast plates. Meat, eggs, bread, more meat... He tested this establishment's classics by ordering the 2-2-2-2; two eggs, two golden fluffy pancakes, two slices of bacon, and 2 sausage links(for less/more, they have 1-1-1-1, and 3-3-3-3). There was nothing disappointing about the quality of food . Sausages were fried, browned and moist; bacon was crispy and fresh; pancakes so fluffy and yummy, they melted in the syrup, then reformed in my mouth, just enough for me to chew them; and eggs scrambled to perfection. And like Lois, Clark wasn't a sluggish, full, mess upon exiting -- he was satisfied to the point of comfort.
Truthfully this was one classic breakfast done by pros who know how to keep customers coming back for more. Sometimes we wonder if there is a school dedicated directly to producing chefs who plan to cook breakfast food for the rest of their live, because if there was we think we would go to the culinary school every morning to be guinea pigs.
We would come back here, anytime. No questions asked. For you breakfast suckers out there reading, we highly recommend this place.
$17 = one of the best breakfasts we've had in awhile. We'll be back. Often.
I have nothing bad to say about this place. Very inexpensive, great location, great service, and decent food.
Don't let the exterior and the interior fool you. It may be a bit outdated but a good location for a bite to eat.
Usually the breakfast is all that I get (usually on a Saturday morning). From what I have had, all good. I would recommend trying it once.
My father is now a convert. On his most recent visit, he stopped in by himself for pancakes. Being a recent retiree, he's a breakfast junkie, going to our hometown diner almost daily. I took him in about a month back and he approved of the friendly service, solid, no-frills breakfast and overall blue collar appeal. The joint exceeds at being what it is and epitomizes Uptown like few joints can.
When you're not in the mood for Magnolia's brunch, i.e. still drunk and in last night's clothes… Read more »
Gotta love this place... standard dive breakfast joint, ridiculously cheap prices, decent food, good service.
I live really close, so when it's my day off and I'm feeling like eggs and bacon, this is the place to go. It may not be the best quality breakfast in the city, but it is not bad either, and the prices are really, really low. I generally get the combo breakfast- 4 bacon, 2 eggs, hashbrowns, and toast, for 6 bucks. Can't beat that!
I will say, the coffee is pretty bad, but at least they keep your cup full. The service is always good, the servers are really nice, and the food comes out fast. Golden House gets the job done!
This place is just OK. It is not one of my favorite places to go to for breakfast. The food was OK for the type of diner this is. I ordered a cheese omelet and hash browns. The omelet was nothing different or special, the hash browns were under cooked. With all the different restaurants to pick here in Chicago for a Sunday morning breakfast, there are more tastier places to go to. But I do give this place three stars for having friendly service and the food was average. Maybe I should try the pancakes next time, they do seem to have a huge selection of pancakes and waffles to pick from.
I'm giving the Golden House Restaurant five stars because it's a three-star place. Stay with me here. It's a diner with broken down seats, leggy houseplants in the windows, and ancient wood paneling. Tarantino would probably use it as a set if he knew it existed, you know what I'm saying?
The food is solid diner food -- nothing fancy, no updated twists or fusion concepts. Just sausage, eggs, and pancakes, y'all. Your choice of toast. Grated hash browns. Little plastic things of jelly. Thin, hot coffee that gets refilled constantly. There is also an extensive lunch menu with exactly what you'd expect on it -- club sandwiches and pork chops (probably -- not for sure on that).
It is the very embodiment of everything a three-star diner should be -- reliable comfort breakfast food at pretty darn low prices. I will back up all the other reviews here that say it's great for a hangover, because there's no pretentious brunch scene or obnoxious music. Just you, your plate of bacon and french toast, and your half-remembered regrets from last night.
First of all, the family that owns this place is great - they are always very friendly and courteous. The owner literally chased me down in the street to give me my sunglasses back once. They are really great people! I think we should support them as much as we can. I'd rather have a small, independently owned divey diner like this than an IHOP or something.
The atmosphere is very divey, like other people have mentioned - the sparkling red vinyl booths, the wood panelling on the walls. The food is decent for a diner, but very good considering the price. This place is dirt cheap. I have been there with a friend on several occassions and our total bill has never been over $18 total.
All in all, I'd recommend this place for a quick bite to eat with a friend that's not too pretentious. If you are looking for something fancier, it's probably better to go somewhere like Magnolia Cafe.
This place was great! I was not sure about having breakfast here based on the outside facade, but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. It's clean, serves good food quickly, the servers are friendly and attentive, and it's cheap as all. I enjoyed it and will definitely go again!
For the price you can't beat this place. The menu is overwhelming, but you can't go wrong with any of the breakfast choices. I will definitely go back.
I had the biscuits and gravy. They weren't spectacular, but did the deed and I enjoyed them. My wife had the 2-2-2-2. The pancakes were great! The eggs, sausage, etc. were as you would expect.
The service was quick and helpful. My water was constantly being refilled even with a packed restaurant. Only con is they don't accept credit cards.
My friend and I ate for $14. The coffee was WAY above average, the pancakes were above average, everything else... well, $14! I thought the service was great as well, so final verdict is that the place is a better deal than two-for-one Thai hookers. If there was a Golden House in the West Loop, I think I'd move in.
I love that there are still diners like this in the city, darn few left but this one hits the spot. Since Uptown Snack Shop closed a couple years ago, this has become my regular go-to for grease and caffeine in the neighborhood.
The food is heavy, filling and probably not so great for your health, but the price is right. And it helps the staff there are really friendly! Last time I went here I had a mushroom and cheese omelet, the cheese was American, but I guess it was exactly what I needed - they give you a choice of hash browns, toast or pancakes, even with the Mexican breakfast specials.
one of my fav restaurants in uptown is a family bussines for 18 years, i been there for breakfast this morning it was ok like always classic french toast, good coffee,good service ,old fashion decor but i enjoy we be back soon thanks mr hugo and family.
Decent food for breakfast at affordable prices. suprise yourself and try the Mexican dishes .The soup I had was nothing worth talking about actually it stunk. Maybe it was just a bad day. Inexpensive and a big surprise from such a place. Yeah the Red sparkle seats that only Elvis could love are way outdated, a bit dingy, but we are talking about a diner here people . Looks like a trip back to the past in a time machine. A bit dark inside.
Whenever I wake up on a Saturday and have a book to read, Golden House becomes my home for the morning.
The guy who always waits on me calls me "buddy," which I find oddly attractive. The food comes out hot, fresh, and fast. I do agree that the coffee is just dark water. But, nothing beats a few cups of it while sitting in the glittered booths reading a book. As for the book reading? They don't care if I'm there for two hours reading and relaxing.
The prices for food are unbeatable! Give this place at least one visit when you swing through Uptown.
This is a great place in my hood for multiple reasons. And uptown has its style and class just like every other hood in town, so this place can be for everyone so long as you have realistic expectations.
This is a diner in all aspects. Unlimited coffee, simple yet extensive menu with food that is dirty cheap price wise. So cheap in fact you could probably eat breakfast here everyday (living in the neighborhood would help with testing such a theory of course) and pay only $5 or $10 per week. But that isn't good for the waist line now is it?!?!?!?! But as a brunch option this would be alcohol free and no BYOB.
An entire glass front makes for a bright space. Parking is a real pain, so you may be looking a bit before finding one......but the Red Line (Lawrenence Stop) is just a half a block away.
Classy booths, great old school decor gives it a truly vintage feeling.
This is a cash only establishment....which is still weird to me coming from the South as EVERYONE has credit/debit card capability down there? Oh well, still, just mosey on up here and try it out!
Ahhhhh, the wonderful, the magnificent, the incredible Golden House.
Lets start with the drawbacks, it's cash only and the coffee isn't very strong.
But the food, the food. It's cheap, it's consistent, it's fast and it's good.
I love this place!
I really love this place. I'll admit that I'm easy to please, but seriously, I love Golden House. I go to Golden House probably once or twice a month.
What's so great about it? Well, let's start with the red vinyl booths. I mean they're just out of this world. And the menu is giant and breakfast is about half of it. I've had quite a few of the items and I've enjoyed everything I've had. The French Toast is my favorite. Service is fast and polite. Another great thing is that the coffee keeps coming. It's not like some places where your'e lucky to get two cups. I also love the low key vibe at Golden House. There's no pretentiousness going on here.
Golden House is a great place to go on a weekend moring when you have a hangover. I promise you your hangover will have improved and you will feel ready to take on the world! Or at least go back home and take a great nap.
Best breakfast joint in Uptown! We love it!
I saw a bad review about the coffee and about the soda..WTF? There is a Starbucks right across the street if you want great coffee, and soda??? Come on for real the size was to small??? Ever been to Europe? Why do you think we have a weight problem here in America?
Here is what Golden House has going for it: excellent throw-back to the 1970s greasy spoon decor; extremely low prices; and quick and helpful service. It's a fun place to hang out with friends or family on a Saturday morning as the traffic on Broadway whirs past. I have eaten here many times and will continue to do so.
With a couple minor improvements they could really go from average to something great. The food is nothing special, made with cheaper ingredients and it it shows. It would be nice to get a real glass of orange juice or even simply some better-tasting coffee. A little flourish here and there could really make this place a destination.
I've been wanting to try this place for years, and now I'm hooked thanks to their breakfast combos. But let me warn you, like many other locations in Uptown, this place is not for everyone.
There was a time before corporate franchises and foo-foo latte shops when the local diner took care of all your needs. Coffee of questionable quality and consistency, check. Unhealthy amounts of grease served with eggs, sausage, syrup, and CONTAINERS of REAL SUGAR for previously mentioned coffee- check. Decently priced entrees that entice you to spend money on something you can probably get cheaper/better elsewhere- check. And finally, three words- Red Vinyl Seating. Although I know of some Micky-D's that still have their '70's vintage vinyl seating, you probably won't have it with wood accented walls, mirrors, and an interior that really does feel like you've stepped back in time.
It is a comfortable, inviting feeling, where even though you sit quite close to the neighboring booth with no partitions, you and your companions can have a decent conversation without engaging in a shouting competition.
The menu consists of your general diner fare. The back page has all your breakfast combination specials. You will sit there for several minutes trying to decipher all possible combinations, but if you want a good starter, try the 2-2-2 pancake-egg-bacon special. The french toast is moist, without over-doing it. The pancakes are on the thick side, two are enough for me.The omelettes are decently sized and aren't too moist or too dry. They go well with ketchup and hot sauce. If given a choice, avoid the hashbrowns, as they are dry and tasteless. As for the coffee? Yes it's weak, but I'm here for the food. There are TWO Starbucks within 5 minutes of this place if you really need your coffee.
One of these days I will try something other than breakfast. With the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, I fear this place may be replaced with a foo-foo cafe. Until that time, a toast to the weak coffee.
Pros: Vintage diner interior, mind boggling combination of breakfast options, decently sized menu. Red Vinyl Seats.
Cons: Cash only, limited hours, tight seating.
To sum it up: I wish there were more places like this. Makes me want to open up a diner to preserve the atmosphere- if I do, I promise to serve better coffee.
Great service, fast even on a Sunday morning. Super cheep... a large Breakfast with coffee/juice can be served for less than $12 for two people!!!??! Family restaurant with a range of clients but I have never seen anybody unhappy about this place!
I hate to be the voice of dissent, but I am not a fan. And I am a fan of the greasy spoon in general. But this place takes it a little too far for my taste. The diners I like may be small and unpretentious, but they're doing their best. There's a sense of family pride, or history, or something that lifts them above the common morass. The Golden House has gorgeous red vinyl booths that seem to promise something special, but it never comes. I find it a kind of depressing hangout, and Uptown can be depressing enough without a diner adding to my mood.
Good eats on the cheap is a bargain in any part of the city. Chicago's Uptown neighborhood as Golden House Restaurant & Pancake House. I've only tried the breakfast menu thus far, but the omlettes, eggs, bacon, and sausage were all terrific. But the coffeee.
Was it coffee? Hardly. It was black water. We asked for stronger coffee but were told this was it. We asked for a refund on the coffee and they complied. Paying the check, I talked to the cashier about the coffee. Apparently they hear about it a lot. They've made it before, but it was too strong so they went back. They're brewing Superior brand coffee so it's easy enough to get the water/grounds ratio just right. I guess they're using single serving packs with way too much water.
I'll try and convince them to use more coffee grounds, but I think it's a battle I cannot win. Perhaps, a legion of yelpers mixed in with some veteran baristas would convince them.
Golden House is the perfect Sat/Sun morning pick me up. Cash only.
It is what it is, which is a cheap, old fashioned diner. This aint Lincoln Park, it is Uptown. The decor looks like they did it in 1972 and liked the look so it never changed.
The food was OK. Not great, not horrible. It is cheap. It filled me up. Breakfast for two of us was like $15 with a 20% tip. So, if you want cheap breakfast food without any flash, this is a fine place. If you want better food and a nicer surroundings, go to The Bagel in Lakeview..
..It is what it is... Oh yea, they have parking behind the restaurant off the alley too.. that is a plus!
This place is one of the comfiest places in the neighborhood. When eating there, it feels like you're truly in the neighborhood - everyone from yuppies to cops to homeless people are eating there, and all enjoying its low prices and warm atmosphere.
They raised their prices about 6 months ago, but are still among the cheapest breakfasts in town - you can easily walk out of there with a breakfast that costs less than $5.
Cash only, by the way!
On first glance, you'll think this place is a dump. Siddown and have a meal and you will change your mind. Sure there's lots of tuberculosis coughing around from the denizens of the nearby transient hotel. Sure the place looks like it hasn't been renovated since 1965. So did the Hollywood a few years back. The food (breakfasts anyhow) are outstanding, and you get a ton of it for your buck. No BS, service is prompt, they are all about being on top of coffee refills. And lemme tell ya, they do bacon and corned beef hash right. I'm a lifer even though I moved out of Uptown awhile back. You won't find pretentious breakfast food here, ya want that there's lots of places to get it. This place is all business. Makes me think of Tom Waits' "Knigthawks at the Diner".
What's also great is that much (if not all) the staff are uptown locals and very friendly. It was weird living next door to one of the waitresses. She's gotta know that she's sitting on a gold mine with that house of hers.
You don't go here for the food. You go here for the atmosphere and experience on a weekend breakfast/brunch. It's kind of diner-y but that's its charm.
The staff is super nice and friendly. The food is merely so-so but good enough that you can trust them to do it right. The coffee is not so good but with enough half/half and sugar you'll soon forget that.
You go here to relax. You go here when you're hung over. You go here when you don't want to make breakfast for yourself. It's perfect for that kind of thing....
Great hangover / post-sleepover food.
There's nothing complicated here. Just good old fashioned diner food at a really reasonable price.
I can't think of much that has blown my mind here, but it's just all so damn solid. Eggs the way you want them, and exactly what you'd expect of bacon, pancakes, etc. The coffee is hot and fresh and intended for mass consumption rather savoring (a la intelligentsia or other fancy coffee brands). But man it hits the spot.
I seriously have never had an omelette or anything really off the beaten path because the basic breakfast packages are just so good and freakishly cheap.
Once at 9:30 am when I wasn't in a breakfast mood the guy there let me order split pea soup and a grilled cheese, and I have always appreciated that. The soup was great and I think it cost like $5 by the way.
The only downfall is that it's cash only, but as long as you plan ahead, no biggie (broadway bank is across the street anyway if you need an ATM).
SLURP AND BURP!
The place was packed on an early Sunday afternoon, so I had high hopes. However, it was a total disappointment.
Maybe I am getting too discerning in my old age. I asked my frugal daughters who are connisseurs of good, cheap eats to pick a place for Sunday brunch, and they chose this place. There is really nothing interesting about it except that it is cheap. The service totally sucked, the decor is that of a boring, dated diner, and my spinach and feta omelette was NAUSEATING. The spinach was either recycled from someone else's breakfast or it was right out of a can.
I suppose for those who relish the greasy spoon genre this would be awesome, but it wasn't for me.
It's about time I write a review of one of my frequent breakfast places. For a cheap breakfast or lunch eat here. Red vinyl booths or counter, friendly, fast service. The thing I like best is the many combos to choose from. Most are under $6.00 and combine anything you can think of. Today I had a waffle with 2 eggs and bacon for $5.40. The true diner coffee is always refilled timely. It's a classic diner in Uptown.
we used to go here a lot. food was decent...average, but had good prices...and...the best was it has great ice and bottomless soft drinks. WELL, they just changed this where you have to pay per drink. The medium is literally the size of a large shot glass. The large isn't even that large. I Will not be returning.
I love this place, I've eaten here for close to fifteen years and have never left unhappy with either the food or the service. Places like this (vaguely sketchy diners) are nearly extinct anymore, replaced by banks, more banks, and trendier (more expensive) restaurants - may this place stay in business forever.
I just ate here this morning. I've been here once before & it was good then & good now. It is a no-frills place, as others have said. It is no nonsense, decent food in an old diner. I was by myself, sat in a booth, read the paper & had a good breakfast of hash, eggs & hashbrowns & toast. I even had coffee, which I never drink. It is a microcosm of Uptown. Every race, gender, sexual orientation & class. I really like this place. I wouldn't ever consider anything but the standards here. Even the spinach & feta would be a stretch. Stick w/ eggs or pancakes & the like & you won't be disappointed.
I am a huge fan of the diner and Golden House fits the bill. For that "morning after" meal when you roll out of bed, put on a hat, and go, this is the place. The weekends are busy, but the wait is minimal. The service is typical for this type of place in terms of speed, but the family atmosphere and kind words from everyone are fabulous. Great breakfast food... nothing fancy, just good ol' bacon, eggs, pancakes, etc.
Great old school diner. Friendly. Good prices. Good food. Never too crowded or a long wait.
Down to earth, old fashioned style pancake house that specializes in breakfast items. If you are coming here, you have to get the pancakes or eggs. Good coffee. This place is a pancake house/Americana diner that never goes out of style.
Uptown's languor may be yielding to gentrification's frantic and fashionable pace, but a few beacons of a dimmer light shine from Golden House Restaurant & Pancake House: booths upholstered in glittered red plastic, looking much like a bowling ball; greying linoleum floors; a menu with a straight-faced weight watcher's section; not a single nod to any food-trends of the past quarter century; a counter set with napkin-dispensers and sugar canisters; cheap wood paneling; pre-starbucks diluted swill; negligent, inattentive waitresses, meant to be summoned to duty by a wag of your empty mug... Time stopped for Golden House somewhere circa 1986, and that's what gives it its decidedly pre 90's Urban Renewal feel. So try the eggs and hash, luxuriate in the motel-cum-bowling alley ambiance, and appreciate the one of few remaining true examples of classic Americana while you can - the honest-to-goodness diner.
It's a diner to be sure - the most homey place in Uptown too. The staff is friendly and the customers as diverse as the neighborhood. The food is diner food, prepared as it always has been. The pigs in a blanket are my favorite.
I'm pleased to see so many complimentary reviews of Golden House. In a world where pricey, mediocre chains are popping up faster than dandelions, I love that this restaurant is a family owned (and minority at that) neighborhoody place where real people hang out. Nothing to look at from the outside, even I passed on this initially, opting instead to dine at restaurants on the prettier side of Clark Street. Finally my cousin, the urban pioneer, convinced me to try Golden House. Since she grew up in the burbs, I could hardly ignore this recommendation, and am there almost every weekend. I agree the coffee could be stronger, but it's not horrible. And the breakfast is inexpensive and yummy; I've tried the French toast and pancake combos. My highest kudos for two things: one, the cooks understand "crisp" bacon -- not burnt, but crisp -- and got it on the first try. I've paid twice as much for breakfast and not been this happy. Second, the service. This is a very friendly staff, always smiling, glad to see you, on top of beverage refills, you name it. I'd classify the decor as "shabby chic" -- and always clean. We can only hope Golden House survives the gentrification of the surrounding area.
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Scandinavian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Coffee & Tea
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