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Pauline's
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1754 W Balmoral Ave(between Paulina St & Ravenswood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640
Neighborhoods: Andersonville, Edgewater
(773) 561-8573
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
194 reviews for Pauline's
Review Highlights
"I love their fresh-squeezed orange juice."
(in 12 reviews)
"running always makes me hungry for pancakes."
(in 51 reviews)
"I love their french toast with the powder sugar."
(in 19 reviews)
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194 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff G.
1/15/2012
this is more of a 3.5, i think the current rating of 3 is underrated, so i rounded up.
lots of homemade stuff here - whipped cream and all that, nice fresh squeezed juices
omelet was pretty decent with fresh (not smoked) salmon and asparagus -
Review from Leanne A.
12/13/2011
While I thoroughly enjoyed my cranberry bread pudding pancakes, my mom's biscuits and gravy was made with Pillsbury grands.
My mom insisted they were, she has this whole theory about how she can detect a pillsbury flavor from thin air.
anyway....if you put BISCUITS and GRAVY on your menu, you MAKE the freaking biscuits, right? It's like, the whole point...the homemade biscuit. duuuhhhh.
I like the homey atmosphere here. Reminds me of an off-the-highway michigan diner. And the location by the train out in the middle of a residential area is unique. You don't feel like you're in the city. But the service is slow and apathetic.Listed in: Cozy cozy nooks, The Standard Brunch List
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Review from Hayley H.
Chicago, IL
10/31/2011
While the restaurant is clean, homey, very country kitchen feeling, the food is mediocre. Just lame, actually.
i should have known that the salmon benedict was a bad choice in a small restaurant like this. I was very stupid to think it would be fresh...not frozen. Though, am I naive to think that if you put it on your menu, it should be superb?
Also, the hollandaise sauce was more like watery cream sauce. No tang, no buttery salty-ness. almost an afterthought. And can we send out a memo that says, "Please toast the english muffins under the benedict?" come on........soggy muffin is gross under fishy smelling salmon.
The man got the Lumberjack breakfast plate. Lots of eggs, their signature potatoes, and a strip steak. The potatoes are good, but not really much to write home about, and the steak was ridiculously over-seasoned and cheap quality.
The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious, but thats about the only positive in this breakfast.
Oh, and btw, only cash???? What is this 1977? -
Review from Maria C.
12/29/2011
My experience at Pauline's: down-home, red walled and cheery diner restaurant with little wait on a Saturday. Even with my gluten-free girlfriend with a trillion and two diet restrictions in tow, our server remained unfazed and got her the gf tomatoes and eggs. I had an omelet with potatoes, drank it down with my fresh-squeezed orange-papaya juice, and was totally happy. Said gluten-free gf and I talked for days over our breakfast (okay, more like 2 hours) and were checked on not infrequently and not too much - just right. Plenty of parking right outside - perhaps due to the holiday weekend, but still a plus! Didn't empty our wallets for the delicious food, although cash is king here. I'll be back!
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Review from Katy H.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2012 1 photo
A friend and I came in here about a month ago and we loved it!
My friend had the french toast and I had the pancake trifecta. The pancakes were delicious and way too much for me to finish! My friend and I both loved the french toast and when I come back, and I'LL BE BACK, I'm definitely ordering the french toast!
Our service was quite pleasant, though she didn't point out the specials, which we couldn't see from our seats, which was disappointing as I would have changed my order.
Also, important to note, CASH ONLY! -
Review from Karen F.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2011
Back in the day this little diner was called DJ's Depot, then it changed owners a couple time until it became Paulines - sadly Miss Pauline has passed as has her husband in the last couple months - that being said I grant this diner a bit of latitude and will continue to have breakfast here when I can due to not only the quality of the food and yes fantastic to mediocre service because you know what - no one is 100% all the time. This diner has been a part of the neighborhood for well over 20 years and will go thru changes but - pancakes - OMG amazing, eggs benedict fatastic - REAL ham on the bone!!
Inexpensive - fresh squeezed OJ and whipped cream to die for - coffee refills without asking and the outdoor patio that let's you bring your dog - Come on neighborhood freindly what more could you ask for! -
Review from Pavithra M.
Chicago, IL
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
But I will clarify, it is the neighborhood feel and the proximity to our place that makes this place a favorite. The french toast is very good and I love the freshly squeezed OJ, but the rest of the breakfast menu is average. What takes the menu to the next level is their burgers. When I am in the mood for a big, juicy burger, this is the place to go. The inside is a little cramped, but they have always accommodated my two little ones and the wait staff is very friendly and welcoming to them. I am glad I live close by.
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Review from Dara O.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great service!
I usually meet my grandpa here right when they open at 7 am on weekends, and they're fully prepared with the fresh juice and serving. Never had a bad experience here. -
Review from Clemente L.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
My friend and I had breakfast on the weekend at Paulines. The food was extremely disappointing. My veggie omelet was tasteless; my friend had a steak and eggs. His meat was full of tendons and fat--it was a truly terrible cut of meat. The only thing on the breakfast that was somewhat good was the fresh squeezed orange juice and the waitress service. When the bill arrived after our half eaten meals--as they were so bad--we were truly outraged: $40 dollars plus a tip of $6--almost $50 dollars for eating a truly mediocre meal of breakfast!!!!!!!!
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Review from Kristin M.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2011
I really want to like Pauline's because it's right around the corner from my house. However, the two experiences I've had just turned me off.
The service is AWFUL. The wait staff is rude and basically ignore you unless you flag them down. The food come out as it's ready, which meant waiting 20 minutes between my friend's dish and mine. I gazed longingly at his plate while I sat there with a grumbling stomach and nothing to put in it. For 20 minutes. The food is typical breakfast fare (their potatoes are yummy), but I just can't suffer through bad service for average food.
The outdoor patio is really nice, and it opens really early which is great when I have out of town visitors who need to get to the airport. There are just so many better choices in the neighborhood, though, (Ann Sather, M. Henry, Big Jones, etc.) that I can't suffer through Pauline's. -
Review from Bob D.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2011
If this place wasn't so darn far North I would be here every weekend.
Eggs, guaranteed 5 days old? Hell yes, I love some runny ass eggs washing over my breakfast and the fresher the better.
Peach pancakes? This is an easy thing to screw up and they didn't, fresh ripe peaches and a perfect pancake.
In house made corned beef hash? Hell yeah! I hate that canned crap so don't even bother putting it on a menu.
Biscuits and gravy! Too bad for the haters they don't have that pasty floury crap that is so prevalent, they only have the silky kind with fresh Italian sausage in it.
The potatoes were cooked perfectly and the coffee was great.
Any time I can sneak around the kitchen while searching for the bathroom is a plus. -
Review from Marie C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/11/2012
Came here again yesterday morning. I've been bringing all my friends here and they"re all falling in love with this place just like me. I had Gloria again as my server. She knows exactly what I want all the time. LOVE LOVE LOVE their fresh orange mango juice. Deeelish! And I ran into my friend Joel there lol... always a good time :)
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/9/2011
Came here again yesterday for lunch. Awesome as always. And I think they fixed the seat I complained… Read more »
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Review from Patrick B.
Chicago, IL
9/30/2011
Something has changed here. I have lived conveniently around the corner from Pauline's for over 8 years. Love that it was so close, and the food was great. It was always a big favorite among visiting out-of-towners.
However, the food during the last few visits has been disappointing, and I'm not planning to return unless I hear of any changes. Eggs were a little under done. Sausage...you know if you were to put a sausage link in the microwave, and the middle is barely cooked and the ends have the hell cooked out of them...all hard and overcooked? That's what my sausage was like. Not sure if they were microwaved or not. If so, I'm perfectly happy waiting a little longer to have it grilled. Toast...had a greasy/grill taste, as if it were cooked on the grill and not in a toaster. Maybe that's why the sausage was microwaved, cuz the toast was hogging up the whole grill. Their famous potatoes...potatoes were fine, but the peppers had a wicked chemical taste. So I picked those out. It's like every item in my breakfast had an issue with it. So sad because it's so close and used to be so good. -
Review from Anna B.
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been going here for years and every time I go it gets a little bit better! They've been slowly upgrading for the past few years without losing quality in the food they serve and I have to say I am very grateful.
Where do I start? The coffee is always great, the atmosphere is adorable and welcoming, the service is very personal, and the food is just scrumptious. They have heavy home-spun options (biscuits and gravy that would make my Arkansas farm girl grandma jealous) and healthier options (greek yogurt and fruit, etc). I took four of my friends here and they are ALL itching to go back.
And can I stop for a second to mention the potatoes? My God, they are delicious. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, tons of lovely veggies (and possibly apple?) mixed in. So delightful.
My one caveat is that it's cash only, so think ahead. I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for a table, even on the weekends, so it's a great alternative to a lot of those crazy Andersonville haunts that take hours to find a table. Have fun and enjoy the neighborhood! -
Review from Natalie S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 4/22/2011 4 Check-ins Here
It's over, Pauline's. We're THROUGH.
I don't know why I keep going back. For real. Is it the bad food? Is it the awful service? Either way, today was my last day. I took a big handful of giant Lifesavers out of the candy basket for the LAST TIME.
Our friend Damon N. is bad news. Every time we take him to a former favorite breakfast place, we have an AWFUL experience. Note to everyone: don't eat breakfast with Damon N.
I deviated from my norm and went with the biscuits and gravy. It was, by far, the WORST biscuits and gravy I have ever, ever had. EVER. It should have been on the menu as "biscuits and gravy soup". It was all watery and god awful. AWFUL.
The service was laughable. Literally. We had to beg for coffee refills. We had to beg for more water. Damon N. asked for his eggs on the side and they came sprinkled on top of the biscuits and gravy. He also ordered raisin toast that never appeared with his breakfast. After 5 minutes of waiting, he reminded the waiter who went to go get it, only to return saying "we're out of raisin toast... my bad". My Dude was cracking up saying this was like a sitcom.
Hilarious.
Sorry, Pauline's. You've gone down the shitter and I don't want to waste any more money, even if you do have giant pineapple Lifesavers waiting for me for dessert.Listed in: Best Breakfast Joints
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/13/2010
Sorry, Pauline's. You've been downgraded.
The Dude and I met up with some friends today for… Read more »
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Review from Cory C.
Evanston, IL
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't get enough of this place on a Sunday morning. The service is typically with a smile and it's the perfect starting point for a day of junking (shopping for crap I don't need in junk shops) in Andersonville.
My partner recommends the Egg and Pancake special with extra whipped cream. It's homemade and turns the pancakes into a little chunk of heaven in every bite.
I tend towards one of their many omelets. The tomato and goat cheese is fantastic as is the old favorite. I tend to move away from the cheese unless it's specialized as I just don't jive with Velvetta slices melted on what is otherwise a heart-healthy set of options.
Finally, the juice is always fresh, the staff is always excited to see you there, the wait time is typically 10 minutes or less on busy days and the atmosphere is the kind of small-town diner that makes you forget you're in the 3rd largest city for a breakfast at a time. -
Review from Melissa S.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2011
My experience here was pretty mediocre. The food was fine. As far as diner breakfast food goes, this was higher on the quality spectrum than many places, but still not amazing. The fresh squeezed orange juice was really tasty, just like any fresh squeezed OJ always is, but the price made me feel like I should savor every tiny sip.
The real kicker here was the bad service. Our waitress must have been having a bad day because she basically ignored us. Everyone at my table was sitting with empty coffee and water cups for several minutes, it got to the point where our topic of conversation was how thirsty we were. Finally a different server came by to refill our cups. I eventually could have had yet another cup, but we didn't see our server again until she came to drop the check. It was kind of sad to sit and watch everyone around us get better service. -
Review from Susanne F.
Chicago, IL
We've always had good food here. From the infamous five-egg omelettes to their more-than-generous salads. One thing of note, if your food has onions in it, I would suggest asking "easy on the onions." Sometimes there can be a BIT too many.
Service can be a bit slow, especially if it's busy, but that hasn't deterred me from wanting to come here for brunch.
Also of note, they are a cash-only restaurant; they do not accept credit cards. -
Review from Chip S.
Chicago, IL
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really like Pauline's. The food is good, the breakfast potatos are awesome and the service is typically very good.
If the weather is agreeable, you can't beat eating breakfast on the patio--even if the tables are a little close together.
The decor lends to the charm of the experience. Give it a try if you are looking for a laid back place to have breakfast on the weekend. -
Review from Erica A.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2011
This place is such a little hidden gem. There never much of a wait and the food is great (and so is the service)! The omlets are hearty and the hashbrowns are very tasty - it's definately diner food, so keep that in mind, but you will leave happy and full. The pancakes are pretty good as well - I like to split a short stack with my husband and we'll both get omlets for our main meal. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the coffee. Love going on the weekends with my hubby!
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Review from Devon F.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2011
The foods is pretty good. The service was not good what so ever. Our server took 15 mins just to take our order and it took another 30 mins to eat. Not fun when other tables came in after you and are already eating and you have a screaming toddler because they are starving. We will not be returning to Pauline's
FYI they do not accept credit cards. -
Review from Sid P.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2011
Friendly service if less than perfect. Excellent, hearty, quality food served hot if not especially quickly. Pauline's has room for improvement, but honestly, it's not trying to be the #1 restaurant in the world. What it is, is a neighborhood restaurant.
Their food is honest and delicious. The portions are very generous. I mean, this place has a 5-egg omelette. Five. Few people I know can finish it with the accompanying Pauline's Potatoes and toast. Lots of really tasty items on the menu, and most are the old stand-bys with a bit more care than you'll see at the regular diner around town.
The owners mind the store. The place has a sense of community. And it feels good to support a local business that goes out of its way to show you it wants you to be happy. Often they serve complimentary, fresh squeezed juice. "Just because". This is the way they work it.
Recommended, especially when it's not super busy. And even on a Saturday or Sunday breakfast-brunch time, the wait isn't painful and the service isn't much different than when they're mostly empty. This is not a high stress environment. It's more like, well, home. -
Review from Mike P.
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
My wonderful wife gave me a Saturday off from parenting a couple of weeks ago. After my chiro appointment at Ravenswood Wellness, I took a stroll up the block (2 blocks actually) and got a nice table for one in a packed house.
I think the packedness of said house may have taken away slightly from the service. The place was a zoo, but a pleasant, happy, kid friendly, zoo. Coffee was very good. I chose the South American omelet with chorizo and jalapeno. Since it was the first time ordering this, I was a little put off to see the jalapenos were raw and used as garnish atop the omelet. I prefer my peppers cooked and will ask them to do so, next time I order this.
Overall, I found it to be a good breakfast, certainly not unique to the area, but also not without its own charm. The omelets are 5 eggs a piece so they're serious business, but I left full and content, looking forward to coming back with the wife and kid. -
Review from Erin '.
Uptown, Chicago, IL
9/25/2011
I've posted reviews about Pauline's on other sites too because I love it THAT much. Everything is fantastic and fresh. The waitstaff is perfect. It feels like having breakfast at grandma's house. Super cozy place, delicious food and great prices.
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Review from Aurore L.
9/18/2010
Cool, windy morning.
Breakfast with friends. One of them all up and preppy, the one badly hangover.
Patio seating.
It's noisy. Very much so. They are doing some sort of construction/renovation next door and it's deafening. Not exactly the cozt ambiance I was expecting but oh well....the wind knocks off the vase on the next table.
The menu is big, and I decide to go half and half. Scrambled eggs and pancakes with strawberries. Coffee too, of course.
I was also in the mood for bacon, but after checking the price and almost choking on it ($4.95!!) I went meatless.
Le sad.
Food arrives, and it's quite disappointing. Dry, boring, 5 pieces of strawberry on the plate.....it is depressing-looking. The pancakes were some of the worst I had, like, ever. I almost want to cry.
This Friday doesn't start well; but I am chit-chatting with friends, spying on the biggest dog of the neighborhood and making fun of the waiter in my head.
Not so bad after all.
But I could totally do that AND eat good food somewhere else.
A no-return.Listed in: Punchy, crunchy brunch
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Review from Tracey M.
12/30/2010
I left wanting more. Good thing I left with leftovers. :)
In all seriousness, I'm confused how anyone can have a problem with this Pauline's. It has so much to love that and couldn't find anything wrong. (And trust, me if someone were to find something bad about a place, it would be me.)
So let's hit the checklist:
Good Food:
Check! Actually, I would have to say great food. My pancakes were fantastic and my bacon was crisped to perfection. I mean it. This is the first time I've had a breakfast place get it just right.
Service:
Check! My order was correct, all condiments were provided as needed and my drink was refreshed without even having to ask. Also, everyone a Pauline's is super friendly. A definite plus!
Atmosphere:
Check! I love hole-in-the-wall diners so Pauline's is the perfect size as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure if I had dined here on a weekend day I would be telling you the line was miles down the road. However, now that I've have dined here, should I come back and incur a long wait I would have no problem. It's THAT worth it.
Hours of Operation:
Open 365 days a year. How fabulous is that?
Overall, I was extremely pleased with Pauline's and look forward to my next visit. -
Review from Damian C.
3/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place screams "neighborhood brunch spot". Not for my neighborhood, though, but those in Edgewater/Rogers Park. We ended up hear Sunday to try something different from the usual Clarke's/Melrose/The Grove combination we hit up on the weekends.
And my honest thought is that it's just OK. The menu has your standards: omelettes, pancakes, sandwiches (for those of us who don't eat breakfast food), and a random spaghetti and a stir fry dish. The French Bread pudding looked divine and the Pauline's potatoes (roasted red potatoes with peppers, onions, and apples) were absolutely delicious, but the rest of my meal was just... OK.
Apparently their fresh squeezed orange juice is phenomenal, so I suppose I missed out.
The weirdest part of the breakfast was the fact that the waitresses seemed unable to pour water or coffee from the carafes without spilling it everywhere. Whether there was a hole or a leak in the carafes, or they were just super excited to pour it out quickly and care less about a mess, we probably had a quarter cup of coffee on our table and a glass of water on the floor by the time we were done. Slippage!!
The prices are super cheap and, while they claim to serve "huge portions", I was easily able to eat everything on my plate. It's a drive for me to go so unless I find the need to be in the area I probably won't be back. I do, however, catch on to the appeal for many of Pauline's fans and can completely understand why people go. -
Review from rebecca g.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2011
I'm done with this place. Have given them several tries and the food is mediocre, service is weird, and they seem to have raised their prices-- so it's not even worth the cheap greasy spoon angle anymore.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting "gourmet", but I never really enjoy the flavor of what I'm eating here or feel compelled to finish it. I've tried the turkey burger and a couple omelettes, all of which were bland.
This past time was the last straw. First, my Greek Omelette with Feta and spinach was really dry, and the olives garnishing it were generic canned black olives. I could've done a better job at home, for half the price. Our side of bacon was also grossly undercooked, nearly raw. Finally, after asking if we wanted toast, bagel, or texas toast (neglecting to mention a surcharge for texas toast), our waitress charged us for it and was unapologetic when I explained we would never have ordered it had we known...or had she not specifically listed it as being included. (I realize it's not a huge amount, but it surely wasn't WORTH a surcharge, and her attitude was the most disturbing thing.) What a disappointment! -
Review from Sahal S.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2011
Very nice server!! have to admit!!
but, dirty, food is below average, and they do not accept credit cards!! thanks for the inconvenience...
never again
I ordered the mexican omlet, really not good!! -
Review from R L R.
Skokie, IL
12/16/2010
With a self-proclaimed title as having "The Awesomest Andersonville Brunch in the Universe", you better deliver. It doesn't matter about the location, the ambience or even the service; to me, the proof is in the pudding. I LOVE eating breakfast foods, so if you can't get fundamentals such as bacon, potatoes and eggs over-medium done right, you shouldn't be in business.
Although the ingredients are definitely fresh, the food was definitely mediocre. The potatoes were so painfully boring i think I may had fallen asleep taking bites out of it. Ann Sather's has a similar potato dish done right. And what the crunk is up with the lumberjack portions? I think most people would prefer quality over quantity.
The prices are ridiculously inflated. With my 3 eggs, potatoes, toast, bacon, hotcakes (which, actually, were very good) and OJ, my bill came out to $20.25! I have never spent that much on just myself for breakfast (excluding brunch) before only to have food I should had cooked myself. With a budget like that, I could had even fed 2-3 people that would've tasted better.
I vaguely remember eating inside the very first time, with my companion and I wondering about the mental well-being of our server. This time, however, I placed an order to go (on a Thursday) and was helped by a very nice lady over the phone and in person. She was the only saving grace for this last experience.
Save your money and hit up Ann Sather (not Svea, they suck even harder). That's the only place out of the 3 that accept debit and credit cards. -
Review from Amy S.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2011
I've been to Pauline's a couple of times, for brunch and lunch. It's a cute, homey family-feel diner with a lot of comfort food, with checkered tablecloths.
The food is a little greasy and heavy for me. I'm a health-conscious vegetarian, so when food seems too greasy I'm disappointed.
A huge plus: it's not at all pretentious. -
Review from David R.
6/15/2010
There are only two words for this place: BUSH. LEAGUE. Actually I could make it three words, but my mother might be reading.
The entire experience was a train wreck. All I can do is make a list.
1. We were not greeted, even after I moved directly into the sight line of the "hostess" and made eye contact. I had to arch my eyebrows and hold up two fingers.
2. With half of the tables open, we were not given a choice of indoor/outdoor or booth/table but instead guided directly to the nightmare table:
a. Wet
b. Cramped (chair backs touching those of the diners behind us)
c. Slanted alarmingly sideways (one of my plates actually slid)
3. One of the sets of silverware was undone from the napkin wrapper--not dirty and used, just undone and lying askew on the table.
4. The waitress was incompetent. She didn't wipe off the table, if she even noticed that it was wet; she mumbled and spoke in half-sentences; she attempted to excuse her numerous gaffes with, "Sorry, I'm [eyeroll and fluttery head-level hand gesture]"; and worst of all, she didn't bring me any syrup with my french toast.
5. My girlfriend ordered tea, which came with a giant mug and a tiny pitcher of hot water less than half the size. That is just plain stupid.
6. The food came out like this: my english muffin...[five minutes]...my half-order of french toast...[three minutes]...my omelette...[two minutes]...my girlfriend's pancakes. The english muffin was soggy and cold, the french toast piping hot, the omelette moderately hot, and the pancakes warm. So, not only is the waitress incompetent, so is the kitchen staff.
7. The food sucked. The blueberry pancakes were decent, the french toast barely average, the potatoes less than boring, and the omelette bland and greasy. And that english muffin was the worst I've ever eaten--not only was it cold and soggy, but it had a very strange, unpleasant taste as well. Rancid butter? Bleach? Iguana sweat? Something like that.
8. To top it all off, the "hostess" who failed to greet us after I made eye contact, failed to farewell us in the same situation. No "Thanks, please come again" or "Have a good afternoon"? Well, if you're happy to see my back, Pauline's, I'm even happier to show it to you.
Sometimes when a restaurant screws up a lot, depending on the type of place, I might be inclined to think, "Man, that was terrible, but at least their heart is in the right place." Not this time. At no point during the entire ordeal did I ever get the faintest impression that anyone at Pauline's gives a flying fuck about their customers. -
Review from Beth D.
Chicago, IL
6/14/2010
A plate of hot, nearly-perfect blueberry pancakes can go a long way towards canceling out an otherwise mediocre experience. But not quite all the way.
I'd been driving past Pauline's for months and finally the planets aligned and I went in for breakfast. Upon entering, the planets realigned to form an evil clown face, or at least a frowny emoticon.
We entered; the hostess(?) seated our party of two in the second room. Outdoor seating was also available but maybe she judged that we were too pale for the June sun; at any rate, she didn't give us the option. She pointed to a two-top along the wall with roughly .4" clearance between the tables in front and back of it. Mmm, cozy!
The table itself had been lovingly anointed with water in a haphazard pattern, but not dried. If I had been carrying my protractor, I could have measured the exact tilt of the table, but instead we simply know that it's at the angle where plates slide. The silverware on my side had been unwrapped, presumably for the napkin because they were unused.
Our waitress approached and introduced herself, but turned abruptly as if to grab something for wiping down the table. She returned but did nothing to the table, if she even noticed. We requested a couple napkins to take care of it ourselves.
She asked if we wanted coffee; I requested hot tea. I usually do this as a knee-jerk reaction to the coffee question, without looking at the menu. Usually it doesn't come back to bite me in the wallet, but this time it was $2.95 for two tea bags (one reg, one decaf) and some hot water. The water was presented in a 10oz. creamer for a mug that was about double the size. Even worse, the menu only lists tea to go, which is $1.50.
The food itself was actually decent: aforementioned blueberry pancakes (which were pretty great), good french toast & side of strawberries, and the omelet that was supposed to be easy on the cheese was. Our waitress had, thankfully, asked whether I wanted all the toppings on my pancakes, which I did not. However, she assumed this was the case for the French toast, but you know what happens when you assume....In this case, it means someone doesn't get any syrup.
We paid our bill in cash, in keeping with the retro vibe. Although I wasn't even sure whether we paid our server or the hostess, we ended up leaving it on the table because our server simply didn't come back. This made me nervous but at that point I wasn't going to lose sleep over it.
I think Pauline's assumes that people have no other options for breakfast. There's really no other explanation for the general sloppiness of our experience. -
Review from Rick W.
Chicago, IL
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
They don't take credit cards!!! Really in today's world?? Long wait, longer wait for coffee and service. Won't be back.
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Review from Marc w.
11/11/2010
I went for breakfast early on a Thur morning and there was almost no one in the restaurant which is completely different from the weekend when it is packed to the gills.
Eventhough two people saw me standing at the entrance, obviously waiting to be seated, I had to ask if I could just seat myself.
After that the service was perfectly good. The waitress was friendly. I had the omelette special (spinach/tomato/feta) which was good and not too too dry. The potatoes that came with it were fine but I really prefer my potatoes crispy.
The coffee was aweful. Truely aweful. It was only drinkable while eating for which the coffee served as a palette cleanser more than anything with a good taste unto itself.
I was going to order some bacon but a side of it was $3.95. I could buy two pounds of bacon at a supermarket for that much. Ridiculous! -
Review from Kennen M.
Chicago, IL
8/15/2011
Walked into a breakfast joint with an old-fashioned country eatery feel and walked out not at all impressed. We were seated very quickly by a very nice older gentleman. It took maybe a bit over 10 minutes to get acknowledged by any server. We ordered the food and seemed like forever before we got it. I was confused by the lack of service as there are many servers that work there but none of them really seem to be "serving." They were disorganized, poorly trained and all over the place but not at our table, pouring us more coffee. Our server apologized for some personal problem she was having which felt real strange. The food was just ok, the omelet was watery and I don't like omelet water running into my other food on the plate. Next time I am sticking to a greasy spoon where the food is always cheap, consistent and the career waitresses are always on top of things.
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Review from Minna A.
This place is so cute, what one would imagine when thinking of their favorite local breakfast joint. The service was great, and the food came out quickly.
mmm... Orange papaya beet juice... I love that they have unique and healthy juice/vegetable combination drinks and smoothies. YuM!! -
Review from Hanna A.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2010
Kinda surprised at the 3-star rating. I thought I'd be preaching to the choir on this page.
Why 4 stars? Probably because I tend to like my breakfast either very early or mid-morning. Which is why I have yet to wait for a table. If I had to wait very long, I probably would mash it down to 3.5 stars.
It's such a cute, small neighborhood diner. As one-half of a childless couple, when I normally find children an annoyance at some restaurants, (Sorry parents, but think back to when you were single...) at Pauline's, they're quite endearing. It's like walking into a relatives house for brunch. No frills. And with that understood, I like this place a lot.
The food is not phenomenal, but good for weekend mornings when I don't feel like getting up early and cooking omelettes, pancakes, etc. This place definitely hits the spot. They're not looking for that bizarre flavor pairing that will knock your socks off. They just serve good food. I don't find their prices much more than a Denny's or IHOP. And rather than getting that fresh out of the can flavor, Pauline's flavors are fresh.
This morning I met my family there for brunch (party of 7), and I'm assuming because of the holiday, they were a lot busier than usual. I loved that our waitress took the time to explain this to us, and instead of serving all our food together, offered to serve it to us as it was ready. In preparation for this, we ordered a stack of pancakes and biscuits and gravy to tie us over for the wait. She didn't bat an eyelash when we asked for small plates so we could all share in the entrees as they arrived. It was a long meal-- I think it took almost an hour and a half. But due to our server's insight and recommendations, it turned what could've been a disastrous visit into a memorable one.
I highly recommend the Crabmeat Eggs Benedict. It wasn't served with crabcake, but crab chunk meat, which offered just as much saltiness as ham. Delicious. My brother-in-law had the South American omelette which wasn't greasy, even with all that lovely chorizo packed inside. French Toast was surprisingly toasty, which lended a great texture to what can be an easily soggy dish. The pancakes are buttery and fluffy. (Seeing them on the griddle on our way out on our 1st visit solidified our 2nd visit.) I ordered the asparagus and goat cheese omelette. While still good, I think I might try something else next time. I did bring leftovers home for tomorrow's breakfast. (portions are that big)
If you want a home-cooked meal w/o cooking at home, and have that "homey" feeling of it, Pauline's is the place for you. -
Review from sydney b.
Evanston, IL
6/13/2011
We stopped in around 2:30 on a Sunday when there were many open tables. We were with our toddler and looking for a quick snack before he got too cranky. After sitting there 10 minutes and unable to get anyone's attention, we got up and left. None of the FOUR waitresses gathered around in a corner (so that's where they were!) bothered to run over to stop us. They just watched us walk away.
So don't be fooled into thinking that the service is slow because they're busy. The service is simply bad. We won't be back. -
Review from Nick B.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2010
Sunday morning breakfast usually stresses me out trying to figure out where to go. I took a stroll down Ravenswood over the summer and made a mental note to check out Pauline's on a chilly, autumn morning. Today was that day! I went with my mom and I knew she'd like it because the diner style decor reminded me of Door County. We arrived at 9AM and I stunned by how crowded it was! They must be doing something right.
We were seated right away which was nice because I was starving. Our waitress took our orders quickly. I started with the freshly squeezed orange juice. I've been sick so I could just a shot of Vitamin C. I went with the special of the day which was scrambled eggs, French toast, and potatoes. Not bad! Pretty straightforward food. I can't say I was blown away or disappointed, but it was fairly basic. I'd probably go back just because the service is friendly and the atmosphere is very homey. It's nice to find a place like Pauline's over the barrage of trendy brunch spots in the city.
