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Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhoods: Edgewater, AndersonvilleMon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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(I wish they accepted plastic.)
Excellent & enormous pancakes w/ fresh fruit (not frozen) if you like! I had the "eggs Benedict" & it was great (though, a little misleading b/c it had a fried egg instead of poached) the flavor was wonderful & the price was right!
Definitely glad we found this lil spot!
See you soon!
Kitchy quaint with a tiny, yet peaceful patio!
I loved the South American omelet, with chorizo,…
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The place definitely has the neighborhood charm thing going for it. It's been around for a really long time & has fed this belly more than enough times. The food is very, very tasty....just nothing spectacular. Really safe menu items, but that's okay. I really don't think this restaurant is looking to win any Iron Chef awards.
The coffee & the awesome waitstaff make your stay enjoyable.
How many places serve 5 egg omelets? Just for that alone and the generous portions of delicious breakfast dishes, Pauline's has easily become one of my favorite brunch joints.
What's more...they have FRESHLY squeezed orange juice. I am a sucker for places that serve fresh OJ...with pulp...and served very chilled... They also have a smoothie selection made to order with fresh fruits and vegetables.
During the warmer months, you can even sit outside. The decor inside is very diner like, but very colorful and inviting. I also need to remind bringing a picture of myself to stick under the glass on the tables.
The waitress...VERY attentive. My friend ordered hot tea, and she came back every 10 minutes to check on her hot water.
I am very impressed indeed!
Ok.. so I wasn't going to do this, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Went there on Friday and the waitress was the worse ever. I've been to Pauline's at least 5 times and its never been this bad. The food is still ok, but the service is for the birds honey!!!! I'm pretty open minded and like to give places a chance to make it up... BUT not this time, I won't be going back.
Quaint spot with good food. Service isn't bad. I've had the Eggs Benedict (with crab), the… Read more »
Let me start off by saying I appreciate a good greasy spoon. I don't think I ask for too much in a breakfast place, just a good plate of eggs and some friendly service. Pauline's couldn't deliver either of those.
After driving by Pauline's a million times and saying "ooh, we should try that place," today we finally did. Even though it was crowded, we got a table right away. We were told to sit in the first table behind the counter. This proved to be an unfavorable seat when the hostess informed us with a look of discontent that "usually the kids stand on your chair to get to the candy bowl." Sorry to inconvenience you, but YOU sat us there!
Anyway, we were seated in Omega's station, which also proved to be unfavorable to us. She ignored us for awhile before finally taking our order. I ordered an omelet, orange papaya juice (which came a few minutes after my omelet), and a biscuit (which came about 15 minutes before the omelet), and my husband ordered the banana pancakes. The omelet was really bad, and the biscuit had clearly been stuck in the microwave before being served. The juice was okay, but it was too thick and pulpy (and I LOVE fresh squeezed juice filled with pulp). The banana pancakes were soggy and lukewarm. After our food was delivered, our server said she'd be right back with the syrup for the pancakes. She then disappeared and we didn't see her again until we asked for the check.
Since moving to Chicago 3 years ago, I can often be heard saying "you can't find a bad meal in Chicago." Kudos to you, Pauline's, for proving me wrong.
Brunch with really good friends is mostly about the fellowship with those you love, so I enjoyed my time this afternoon at Pauline's. I was also glad to finally try it out, having read about it's uniqueness and been told so much about it by friends. Glad I went and glad I spent time with friends. However, I have no idea how anyone could ever give this Denny's with kitsch anything more than 3 stars. I give it a 2 because, frankly, I've been to so many better brunch spots that Pauline's makes for a poor comparison. I could have just as easily given it a 3 for "effort".
Decor: cute, very old school. Waiter table assigments taped to tables or wall, old plastic colorful plates, and cheesy tablecloths like grandma used to have. I tried not to look at the kitchen or too closely at the dishes or tablecloths. Old can sometimes mean years of baked in germs and dirt. Yuk!
Service: friendly and efficient. Maui was charming and accomodating. The friendly owner really cares about the place and kept checking on us. Evil woman at entrance was ignorable.
Food: average would be best I could give this place for taste. But because my food was also lukewarm I have to say below average. Denny's after a night of drinking comes to mind. Except I was not drinking so food was just disappointing. As for the drinking, again, I think brunch is not brunch without mimosas. Call it lunch, or call it breakfast, but if you don't have a bloddy mary option on the menu, don't front!
Value: not bad. 20 bucks per person and we had all the store mix pancakes and bland eggs we wanted.
The only bad thing about Pauline's is that it's not closer to my house!!
Ok, sure, it's still within walking distance but who can possibly walk home after eating the generous portions served up in this neighborhood diner? Not me; that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Much like the omelettes stick to my ribs. Huge and fluffy and delicious! Corned beef in an omelette is the best thing since corned beef plain! French toast is AWESOME! I'm not usually a sweets person at breakfast but I had a hankering for French toast while there and ordered it as a side (yes, I said a side) to my omelette (can't pass'em up!) and I was in heaven!
The servers are good enough but nothing special. They get the job done and sometimes with a smile. You can definitely tell who are the regulars and who are the not-so-regulars (yeah, I'm the latter) by the interaction with the wait staff. Although they aren't rude or off putting, they definitely know where their bread and butter is and cater to them; as they should! They do work for tips after all.
There's outdoor seating in partial shade on those lovely Chicago Summer mornings when being inside is the last place you want to be. I have seen dogs tied up near outside tables occupied by their caretakers, so if that's your thing you might like to know. I personally don't think dogs (or any animal) should be allowed anywhere near food or beverage service areas. Restaurants or bars. They're dogs!!
I haven't had to wait more than about 15 minutes to eat here which is a definite plus to other places in the neighborhood that experience long wait times. This is probably because this is a diner that knows how to short order cook breakfast and get people moving. Don't lollygag or you might find some growling bellies scowling at you!
Pauline's is THE place for breakfast!
I have been going to Pauline's for years and love it. I usually get the veggie omelet with egg whites. It is huge and loaded with tons of fresh veggies. I've only had one bad meal here and that was years ago. I ordered oatmeal and I'm sure it was instant. That's ok, you're not supposed to go there for oatmeal but for their egg dishes. I also love how on holidays and special occasions they usually give you a free glass of champagne with your breakfast. Oh, and they only take cash.
Big ol' omlettes? I'm IN.
I think it's the best place for breakfast in Ravenswood. My favorite is the corned beef omlette. They do it perfectly... still hot with the cheese completely melted. I have tried the French toast as well as pancakes... everything is delicious.
Is it a little dingy? Sure... but I think it's pretty safe to say that you don't walk into a place like Pauline's expecting a fine dining experience. It's a neighborhood diner! It's seen better days but the food makes up for it.
I love the food at Pauline's, but the service seems to get worse every time I go. I keep getting lured back by the French Toast Etouffe, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth putting up with the headache induced by any number of service complaints.
In the last 3 times I've been I or someone I've been with has had... to beg for coffee to be refilled, the wrong entree delivered, the wrong check delivered, to beg for jelly, to wait 15+ minutes to order, to squeeze in a way over-crowded outdoor area, an order completely forgotten. That said, I'm normally not one to say that bad service can break a good restaurant. I may be willing to retract that thought when it comes to Pauline's.
I'm sad they seem to have fallen off the service wagon. The owner is usually buzzing around and very friendly. I want to eat their delicious food, and I want to give him my business.
Now if you're willing to ignore the pain-in-the-butt service... the French Toast Etouffe... cranberry apple french toast covered in strawberries with strawberry rhubarb dipping sauce. I've never been able to order anything else. but If you're not a sweet breakfast person, I've been assured their egg dishes are delish too.
An aside - There was a woman at the table next to us this morning that had her tiny dog on her lap and was letting it eat off the table. GROSS! Who has the crap sense to let their dog do that?
I'm giving this 5 stars, because it is as good as it gets for what it is: A local "homecookin" diner with a down-home breakfast / brunch. My favorite aspects are:
1) The gentleman who greets you at the front door, offering you his freshly squeezed orange papaya juice if there is a wait.
2) The freshly squeezed orange papaya juice.
3) The fact that all of their pancakes are made with whole grain batter.
4) The fact that their farm-fresh eggs make all of their omelets so delicious that I rarely have leftovers (or is that bad?).
5) Their selection of herbal teas, for when you just don't feel like having coffee.
6) The 1950s kitsch / decor.
So, you should definitely try this place out for brunch if you haven't already. If you stop by on a Sunday, I'll probably be there :)
The food is good, and the price isn't bad. But, the service is ok.
I think the menu is pretty good, and there are a good variety of choices. They have some unusual items that I think most people should be pleasantly surprised by,
But, I would never go here during brunch. The lines are just too long, and the place isn't exactly large. Go there and treat yourself to a really good meal, but not if you see lines during the wknd brunch.
Pauline's is always curiously disappointing, which is a shame, because it's one of the few places left that isn't on a main drag, but rather embedded in a quaint nook in West Andersonville. And, naturally, it has a friendly, charming vibe befitting the locale. The food, though, is appallingly average and not necessarily cheap. My latest breakfast was eggs over medium and corned-beef hash with a side of bacon. The eggs were fine, but the hash way too greasy and salty. The bacon was over cooked, the potatoes undercooked, the coffee thin. The whole experience reminded me of the last time I was at Pauline's when I had basically the exact same meal at the same quality.
Still, the average joe like me is more or less pre-programmed to like places like this and I'm sure I'll drag ass in there again at some point, but it really could be better.
Two caveats: I like their ice cream. I love their fresh-squeezed orange juice.
After driving by about two hundred times, we finally made a stop and went in. There was no line and we got right in. My first impression was one of concern. We got there a little after noon and the place looked like a train had literally ran through the restaurant (as opposed to the tracks directly to the west). I didn't want to tempt fate and check out the restrooms. Regardless of the apparent lack of concern for presentation, we sat down and opened the menu. What a great surprise! My menu had been soaking in oil and was completely disgusting!
Side note: Dear restaurant owners: If you present your patrons with filthy menus, what message do you think you are sending? It really doesn't take much time to check the menu daily, replacing what gets soiled/dirty and wiping away food/grease stains.
Anyway, after waiting about 20 minutes for service we ordered. I ordered the biscuits and gravy; in my opinion there is no greater measure of an establishments ability to serve breakfast than the biscuits and gravy. It forces the place to demonstrate that they can a) create a delicious gravy b) bake a delicious biscuit. Fail on both account. Personally, if I go out to eat the last thing you better serve me is a biscuit that is out of a CAN!!! They served the kind that are flaky and are really just thin slices of biscuit on top of one another so they come off layer by layer. As for the gravy, I don't like thin runny gravy. My fork should be able to stand up in the gravy, not fall in and get lost. It wasn't seasoned very well - it could have used a lot more pepper and salt. The sausage was OK, but nothing amazing. Making matters worse, the eggs that I ordered as a side were slapped right smack dab in the middle of the BNG. Uhm, would have preferred to have those on the side, but whatever.
The omelette was OK.. It was obviously thrown together very, very fast, and you could tell by the haphazard way it was thrown on the platter. I love fast service but I'd gladly wait another minute or two so you could not make a sloppy mess out of things. The omelette had decent flavor but the mushrooms were thick cut and not cooked. The spinach was still raw and made things a little runny in the middle. The cheese was used very sparingly. The potato side that was served was overcooked, far too browned (it was just shy of burnt) and had a bit too much green and red pepper.
The fresh squeezed orange juice was as good as fresh squeezed can get - obviously they grind the orange rind down as far as possible because there was a pronounced rind flavor. Thick, pulpy OJ, but let's be honest, it doesn't take much to get OJ right.
In the end we left full but unsatisfied. To say the service was rough around the edges would be an understatement. The cashier barely looked up while taking the money and checking out.
We will probably not go back. There are a lot of much better breakfast places that serve better food with service that outshines that which is at Pauline's.
Hello Pauline? It's me Heather.
Weight Watchers or no Weight Watchers, I CANNOT depreive myself of Sunday Morning Breakfast. It's like a weekly holiday. I would walk across Hell's half acre for biscuits and gravy. Split wine, walk on water.... you name it, I'd do it. Gimme the fluffy biscuits and savory gravy.
Pauline's is the cutest little neighborhood diner, providing some of the most stellar breakfast I've had in this city to date.... and I've been here for a solid 400 Sunday's, so, that's a LOT of desayuno.
The portions are borderline offensive, and I mean that in a good way. You could EASILY feed 2 people with 1 breakfast entree. The menu will tell you they make "5 egg omlettes". This is a lie. It's like a dozen, and STUFFED with veggies and meats and cheeses galore. All breakfast's come with "Pauline's famous potatoes" and a side of toast. Pauline's potatoes are not that famous in my book. Standard red skins cut into chunks, and put on a griddle with peppers and onions. I prefer my hashies to be of the frozen, more glutenous variety, i.e. cooked in a vat of grease and salt, and served to me piping hot and crispy. These just don't make the cut, but the other food is totally worth accepting her sub par potatoes.
I've only seen their lunch entrees, but never sampled. I can't NOT get the biscuits n' gravy when I'm there. The lunch stuff looks equally appealing. Pretty sure I threatened a waitress's life for the Patty Melt she had on her tray, but don't worry, I haven't been black listed.
Pauline's is worth the drive if you don't live near Andersonville. There is plenty of easy street parking, service is always outstanding and FAST, food is ALWAYS delicious, and I always roll out smiling. I mean roll is its most literal sense.
Please do not count on your pants fitting you after a visit to Pauline's.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Pauline's before. I've been there quite a few times since I work right down the street. I work with adults that have developmental disabilities and mental illness. Unfortunately, the clients we serve do not get the opportunity to go out to eat very often and when they do, most likely the staff will take them to a fast food joint. In my classroom we had been working on learning and practicing table manners. My clients were doing so well that I decided they should be treated to a tasty meal, in a relaxed setting where they could sit down and enjoy themselves. Today was the birthday of one of the clients in my classroom, so we thought today was the perfect day to walk down to Pauline's for lunch.
It was pretty busy and we were told that they were short on servers, but they service was still great. I can tell you from experience that the individuals I work with are not always treated as they should be. This was definitely not the case at Pauline's. Our waiter was very patient with them as they ordered (as it took more time than most parties of 5). He did a great job explaining that they only had lentil soup today when one of my clients said they wanted tomato, and again when that same client said they wanted cream of mushroom. When the waiter found out that we were also celebrating a bday, he brought a bowl of ice cream out to the bday girl with enough for everyone at the table to have some. He started singing "Happy Birthday" and the entire section of the restaurant sang along. I cannot say enough about the great service and kindness that we all received.
Just like every time I've been there, the food was great. I think it was a great experience for the individuals I went with and I would recommend this place for anyone that is in the area that wants a tasty, filling meal.
You know that children's song with the lyrics: "over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go"? well, traveling to pauline's is a bit like heading to grandmother's house...if your grandmother owned a cute neighborhood diner :)
this restaurant is along one of my running routes. with it's vivid red outside walls, picket fence and flowers, you can't miss it. and the adorable signs along ravenswood that let you know you're getting close are a nice touch too. i used to run past the diner and fantasize about their "famous apple and blueberry pancakes" promoted on one wall. (running always makes me hungry for pancakes!) so, one day, my best friend and i agreed to check it out.
the owner is the sweetest man. he greets you with a big smile on his face, so you don't mind learning there's a bit of a wait. and then he offers you complimentary fresh squeezed orange juice to boot. yum yum!
the walls are painted in reds, yellows and greens, a nice complement to the red vinyl booths. the menu aims to please with a plethora of tantalizing breakfast and lunch options.
my friend and i were seated, ordered coffee (fresh and hot), then perused the menu carefully. so many options! and specials too! we both ordered omelets (you can't plan for pancakes. pancakes tell you when to eat them.). they were HUGE!! we couldn't finish them. not even close. plus, they came with toast on the side. our server kept the coffee coming. and though there were people waiting, there was never any pressure to turn the table over. nice.
i've been back more than once, and the restaurant never disappoints. oh, and i've finally tried those famous pancakes - delicious! if you're ever in the neighborhood, head for the red cottage on the corner of balmoral and ravenswood. you won't be sorry.
Wow, the hash was tas-tee! Me like-ee!
We walked right in on a Sunday at 11:30 with no wait for a table for two. When we left an hour later, there were 3-4 parties waiting. This is an old school, no frills kinda breakfast place.
The has was good and so were the plate sized pancakes. Not too sweet, crispy around the edges and not soggy in the middle. Three HUGE pancakes for $6.75 with a generous amount of whipped cream and fruit. Pitchers of syrup are on the table, so you won't look like a piggy if you need more than just the little pitcher that so many places give you.
A great little neighborhood breakfast joint. I can see many a hangover being relieved here.
Mean, surly, snarky
Sub average food and service
Hate yourself? Eat here!
I wanted to give Pauline's another chance before I made a quick decision so I tried it again for breakfast yesterday.
I really like the place, when you walk in it looks like you're going on a picnic. The tables have plastic table cloths covered with glass for cleanliness and brightly painted walls with lots of vintage art and pictures. I really like the feel inside when you first walk in.
But then you sit down.
We got to our table, the waitress (an older woman) came over before we were even sitting down. I was struggling with my coat and couldn't even move my chair back to sit down cuz it's jammed in between the table and the wooden post behind it. So I tried to squeeze in as she's asking me about coffee. I don't drink coffee so she offered fresh-squeezed orange juice. So I ordered a glass. Just after I ordered it I remembered they had fresh papaya juice. She was already on her way back with the pulpy mess so I didn't order it. But I wondered why she wouldn't offer the Papaya juice to me too since that's a little more rare? EVERY breakfast place has orange juice. Come on.
Anyhow, she impatiently asks if we're ready to order. We JUST sat down so we said no. She came back about 1 minute later and said, "Ok what do you want to eat?" So we both order quickly as she grabs the menus and walks off without even really acknowledging that we ordered anything.
She came back with the food, slammed it down in front of us, and threw napkins on the table half on top of our plates of food. Then we had to switch cuz she put the wrong food in front of the wrong person. No sooner do we take our first bite but she's back with the check. GEEZ! In a hurry to get rid of us or what?!
Rude. Rude. Rude.
As we're eating and almost ready to get the hell out of there, the owner comes walking down yelling at the bus boy to clean a table. I would've quit right there if I were him. My dad has never even yelled at me that way.
Ick.
"THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL
WITH A GOLDEN CURL
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FOREHEAD.
AND WHEN SHE WAS GOOD,
SHE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD,
BUT WHEN SHE WAS BAD, SHE WAS HORRID"
Pauline's suffers from severe bi-polar disorder. One moment, she pets you and calls you pretty while the next moment, she whips the hat pin out of her hair and pokes you in the eye.
Pauline's also suffers from a severe lack of systematic order. The stationless servers sprint about like harried, headless chickens. The food is ready in baffling order -- here come the eggs and later comes the soggy, microwaved bacon and cold toast. Pushy bus boys snatch at your plate as you lift the last bite of food to your lips. The crazy owner coos at a cute baby only to turn around and scream "get the f*ck out" to a patient customer with a legitmate complaint (I actually witnessed this). Are the poor servers often rather surly? Yes, but I'm sure you'd be too if you're being screamed at by your boss as your customers fidget hungrily as you sprint across the restaurant to to freshen the coffee of one of your ramdonly assigned tables. It seems like a handbasket on a roller coaster ride to hell.
The place itself has charming potential. It's old and eclectic, kooky and kitschy albeit dulled by a patina of grease.
The food? It's ok. Sometimes it's pretty great, other times it's pretty rotten. Pricey for what is it? Definitely! I must say that they always have really awesome soup -- hot, hearty and fililng. Other menu items are hit or miss.
I think Pauline's is in need of a long "time out". Some time to reflect, re-organize and prioritize would do the old girl a world of good. Let's hope she considers this.
In the meantime, Pauline's remains packed on the weekends despite her "Mommie Dearest"-esque demeanor. During the week she practices better behavior, but the good does not cancel out the evil. The joint must be the number one stop in the Weekend Brunch Masochists' Guide.
Pauline's really must consider her potential. Otherwise, perhaps grand-ma-ma should reach into the family savings and pack her off to boarding school. As there is high probabilty that you will have a (far) less than stellar experience, I suggest you skip Pauline's until she manages to behave herself properly.
I've been here a dozen or so times but not in years. So we schelped up here on Sunday for brunch. Couldn't snag a table outside so we were crammed into a booth that was bolted to the wall and had to crawl into my seat. Then didn't get waited on for 15 minutes which is quite a long tine to wait with a 2yo. Finally ordered. Food was good. I had a huge veggie omelete. Potatoes were great. Pancakes were pretty good. But service just sucked. WHen I went to pay, the wife was gathering our things and they started busing our table and sent the next party over to the table. We hadn't even packed up our stuff yet. Rude. And the owner running around with the Oxy tank was kind of annoying with the way he bosses his staff around. Good food, reasonsable prices, crappy service, and oddly decorated.
I went to Pauline's this morning for a business meeting since M. Henry is closed on Mondays. I had the 3 eggs any style with potatoes and rye toast. Everything was really fresh and great tasting. The coffee was good too. All at a very reasonable price. I'll be back.
We have lived near here for 10 years and now live even closer. Unfortunately it just doesn't mix with either of us because of certain things that happened during the few times we went there.
I will give them this though, they are crowded on the weekends which is deterrent #1. I would consider it even with the crowds if the food was any good but it is nothing special that you couldn't get any where else.
We have had bad service, medium service and down right no service.
One of the many thing things that happened that turned us off...my partner orders a hamburger, it comes out with cheese, he identifies this and with a big huff they take it back. The return with the cheese scraped off...well he could have done that himself. All of this with the attitude that it was our fault.
One of many reasons we don't go which is a shame because it is close.
A very nice place to have a relaxing brunch - very family friendly. A really well kept secret tucked away by the metra tracks in ravenswood. Service is slow, but very friendly.
the food can be curious. the south american omlette is out of this world if you like chorizo. The fruit plate was large, but ended up tasting rank. The "fluffy" biscuits were flat and looks like they were made from Pillsbury instant mix.
The verdict. If you want to sit quickly, relax, and have an omlette, come here. Look at what your neighbors are eating before you order.
When you're looking for fresh, traditional "American" (whatever the heck its definition is now-a-days), Pauline's has it. For those who are not sure what they have a taste for, even better.
I discovered this somewhat remotely located, yet bright eye-piercing RED diner while on the Metra train heading north to Kenosha. The name Pauline's excited me because I thought the southern belle cook Paula Dean opened up a local joint outside of Georgia. This ended up not being true, but I still wasn't disappointed because I didn't suffer from a heart attack afterward.
Walk in, and you're overwhelmed by the red, yellow, green and white color paint choice. The adorable owner is quick to greet you with a smile and insists to get a booth cleared for you since "our customers like the booths best." This must be true since he has posted a sign by each booth asking anyone on weekends to have only 2 or 3 coffee refills so others can take their booth. I think that all places need this at times. The booths are fun with a scrap of receipt paper with your waitress' name, a rack with various recent magazines and collages on the table and wall of their favorite patrons. Locals seem to become returners quickly.
Thinking of my Turkey Burger with guacamole, mayo, ketchup, a bed of lettuce, and tomato slices PLUS their perfectly fried golden crunchy Cavendish Fries makes me lose my train of thought (no pun intended). As the menu depicts, these are "Canadian potatoes grown by Irish men and batter coated in Burlington Mass. (got it?)"--I didn't 'get it' but I'm it refers to Burlington, Massachusetts?!?!) They're also cooked in non-hydrogenated canola oil. French Fry Perfection!!
My boyfriend had the Country Time omelet (corned beef hash with cheddar cheese) which I want to go back myself for. Even though it had to be made with 3+ eggs, I wasn't aggressive enough to steal more than one fork-full from him before he had time to masticate it just enough to pass it on to his ravenous stomach.
Be sure to check the hanging chalkboard at the entrance with the daily special. You may not want to miss out!
Although they have an ATM attached to the restaurant's exterior wall, they accept CASH ONLY (just to save you the stupid ATM fee ;) ). They're also only open breakfast/brunch/early lunch hours. (7 am to 3 pm every day of the year!)
I've eaten at Pauline's twice. Both times I felt like I was being hurried up and pushed out. The staff kept running up and down the aisle next to me, brushing past and bumping me. Then they started furiously sweeping up the floor and piling the chairs on the tables even before I got my food. I timed my visit so that I could eat from 2 to 3 p.m., as it closed at 3 p.m. The decor is an absolutely hideous red and green, and the oil table cloths are equally as ugly. The food was very average, calorie-laden fare and over-priced for the neighborhood and quality of food. Nothing on the menu was for a person interested in healthy eating. I agree with the other interviewer on Yelp who doesn't understand how this place stays in business.
On the plus side, Pauline's is located on a very nostalgic corner on Ravenswood Street across from the Metra train line. Plenty of trees abound forming a very pleasant outdoor seating area. The outdoor tables have umbrellas for shade. However, I can find a lot better places (with much better food) to eat in Anderson for the same prices that this place charges!
P.S. They don't take credit cards, but they have an ATM on the outside of the building.
Sunny and warm.
This restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat on a balmy early summer weekend morning. I love eating outside, sipping coffee and watching the neighborhood slowly hum around me.
The pancakes are huge. We usually get an omlette to share (the best whole wheat toast around) and a stack of pancakes. More than enough food for two.
The only negative about this place is they only take cash... but fortunately they have an ATM right outside.
It's hard to give Pauline's three stars, because the servers are friendly and it used to be a favorite for us, but the quality of the food on days when the place is packed (Saturdays and Sundays) suffers. Also, when it's packed, expect to be jostled by other guests, servers, and bussers for the duration of your meal. And the bathroom is in the back of the kitchen, which means you go through the kitchen to get there... and it's not very clean. The whole place could use a major facelift, but I know they like to keep it "diner-kitsch", so I doubt that'll happen.
Here's my best and worst experiences; you decide.
Best experience: On Christmas Day last year, my dad took my brother, my fiance and I to breakfast at Pauline's because they were one of the only neighborhood places open on Christmas. It was great! We were one of the only tables, everyone loved our meal, our server was really sweet. I have fond memories of that meal.
Worst experience: At like 2:45 on a Saturday, we took some friends to Pauline's for a late afternoon snack. The staff did not want us there. They were closing at 3:00, they were cleaning up, they weren't paying attention to us. We all wanted chocolate milkshakes, which are on the menu. They said they couldn't do it, because they were "out of chocolate."
Now really. Any place that "runs out of chocolate" (I personally think they just didn't want to make them) on a Saturday when people will be in for belgian waffles on Sunday morning can't call itself a diner. I'm from New Jersey, so I am picky about diners, but I think running out of chocolate sauce or ice cream or whatever on a weekend is on par with running out of eggs or french fries.
Been to this establishment many times over the years & I have to say it is a wonderful place to go for Sunday brunch. Now, if you do go on a Sunday you SHOULD expect to wait to be seated as it is a VERY popular place to eat in the neighborhood (also try & get there before the church crowd--they tend to move in massive herds :-) If you do get stuck waiting the staff are super & give you free fresh squeezed orange juice (YUM!) and really you never wait more then 15 mins.
The food is just what you would expect from a diner like place--although more tasty & the atmosphere is warm & inviting. A little on the quirky side with the decor--but that makes it fun. Parking can definitely be a pain & sometimes the servers can be testy. Overall though the portions are very generous & the food is good!
Paulines has huge breakfasts at decent prices. during the week this restaurant is not as packed as the elbow to elbow on the weekend. The fresh squeezed orange juice is amazing and just yum.
This place has HUGE portions and a small amount of room. Yes this place gets hectic and crazy on the… Read more »
First off, I like the fact that it's just down the street from my apartment and that we can walk to it no matter what the weather (although we were slipping and sliding on the ice the whole walk over). It's your typical breakfast type place with generous portions and AMAZING orange/papaya juice. If you go, and especially if you have a hangover, order this juice. It's fresh squeezed (although i have no idea how you squeeze a papaya) and yummy. Your body will thank you.
This place is usually jammed on the weekends however peacefully quiet during the week. The owner (or who I'm assuming is the owner) has always been friendly and accommodating but I agree that the wait staff is more interested in getting the job done than being super friendly.
The food is good. I've only had breakfast here. Nothing remarkable.
All in all, it's a cute little local place I like to take our out-of-town guests for a little local flavor.
I used to love coming to this place like ten years ago before it 'caught on'. I still ADORE their food (breakfast, anyway), their omelettes are ridiculously large, pancakes quite good, potatoes fantastic. But, still, I always leave this place in a shitty mood, and invariably about two hours later. The service is consistently awful, really. It always takes forever to get your food, and if at the first try they forget something (quite frequent), you may or may not see your server, or the rest of your meal, for another half hour. Great food, probably not worth the irritation unless you're a saint, have lots of time to waste or not that hungry.
Still wonderful. How did I not mention before how good the coffee is at Pauline's? Love it!
I like to feel comfy for breakfast when I'm still waking up and need to just be myself. Pauline's… Read more »
The world needs more breakfast places like this. Completeley unpretentious and laid back, while given the quality of food and in Chicago, you might expect a different mood.
Try it, you won't be disappointed.
Barely squeezes by with 3 stars, if only for the fact that I always can manage to find an interesting magazine or 2 to read out of their surprisingly decent amount of 'zines, and that the only thing that really stands out of their otherwise mediocre food is their strawberry french toast. And of course, the interior decor also aids in my reluctant 3 stars, as I'd probably give them 2.5, if only I could!
Sad to say this place just makes me miss Augie's greatly. And cash only....
I have heard tons of good reviews about this place but just didn't think it was special. In fact, I didn't even think it was average.
Went there early on a Sunday morning. About half of the tables were full and we were seated immediately. Although none of the other 2 person tables were used, we were placed near the entrance to the back room and it was annoying.
The menu was large but I figured that I would go with a breakfast staple: an omelette. I actually felt jipped that the eggs were totally unfluffy and seemed to be an egg burrito instead of a mixture of egg and veggies. The menu said they used a bunch of eggs but it seemed like 1 or 2. Maybe I had a rookie chef! I did like the potatoes though!
Maybe I will give it another try cause everyone keeps saying it is so good.
Shhh, I cheated on my diet at Pauline's. Having heard such good things about this place I decided to check it out since it is pretty close to my house, and I was quite hungry. It was a Saturday so it was pretty packed to capacity and service really wasn't great, but it was not terrible either. We were seated pretty quickly. Breakfast is served all day so I went with the South American Omelette. It was so good. Salsa,jalapenos,cheddar cheese, and chorizo(I seriously cheated here considering I don't normally eat pork/beef etc) mixed in with five eggs. Five eggs! I justify the meal by knowing it had veggies in the salsa and the delicious potatoes on the side.
My bf ordered the Mexican omelette and was rather pleased also.
I agree with other reviewers that the service was less than satisfactory. However, the food was quite delicious. It made up for the poor service. My main complaint was the that "5 egg omelet" was definitely made of 3 eggs or less. I ordered the spinach, feta, and tomato omelet with a side of potatoes and wheat toast. I enjoyed all of it, including the free coffee refills!
I plan on returning soon, maybe for a good hangover meal
I have eaten a Pauline's for years and keep going back because it is good! The food is consistently fresh, tasty, and plentiful. The waitstaff is always friendly, competent, and on point. What can I say that has not already beeen said. I'll keep coming back.
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Neighborhood: Edgewater
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Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Pizza
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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Category: Local Flavor
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