Pauline's Reviews

Generous portions of tasty food at a great price. My 2 yr old grandson loved the potatoes that came with breakfast. The place was small but felt very comfortable with a neighborhood feel. Please try this place out if you are able. Only thing I found different was the cheesecake waffle was just that a piece of cheesecake placed between two 1/2 waffles--odd

Rainy cold Sunday in the city - every breakfast place was jammed but Pauline's. Thank goodness ! Short wait, eclectic atmosphere, big amounts of food. Quick service. Some items were wrong or missing but they were corrected right away. The pancakes are awesome!

Was recommended by a local friend as a good place for breakfast when visiting Chicago, and it lived up to it. Off the beaten path, down a cute tree lined street, and very homey. Huge portions, very friendly servers, and the fanciest presentation of cereal I've ever seen. :)

We had breakfast at Pauline's on a recent visit to the Andersonville neighborhood in Chicago. The menu is huge with lots of choices. The omelette is made with 5 eggs and the "short stack" of pancakes is still a huge serving. Service is quick and friendly. The atmosphere in Pauline's is cheerful and it is fun to look around at all of the kitschy trinkets.

Cozy, comfortable and friendly. Delicious pancakes! We also loved the Bread Pudding French Toast. Yum!

We ate in the outdoor seating area here. The atmosphere was perfect for conversation and the food was as good as can be. I ordered eggs over-easy and they were done to perfection, not too hard and not too soft. I didn't think I'd be able to eat the pancakes too, but they were light and tasty with whipped cream and strawberries - irresistable. I plan to go back.

Brunch on weekends is also great at this Andersonville breakfast favorite. Our CHICAGO gang celebrated​ our Bike the Drive (Lake Shore Drive) ride with giant omelettes (Smoke house), tasty pancakes (jumbo) French toast (ciniminon flavor), and lumber jack size bacon and diet conscious turkey sausage. All tasty, plentiful and served with polite attention. The bottomless coffee cup is wonderful. Did I say the 1960's electic decor in priceless and good fun. Breakfast and lunch only.

I went to Pauline's in Balmoral with my husband, my two daughters (a 5 year-old and 19-month-old), and our neighbor on Palm Sunday. After waiting for approximately 30 minutes, the owner dediced to seat a table of ten young people who had just arrived. After asking the waitress why the table of ten was going to be seated right away, as opposed to us who were waiting for a much longer time, the owner (who was listening to my conversation with the waiter) said that if I was not happy I could leave. He then proceeded to yell at me (in front of my young daughters) saying that Pauline's was his place and "to go out." My family and I left, of course, since I will never spend any money there to support a psycho. Horrible experience at Pauline's in Balmora Ave. on Palm Sunday. I will urge people never to support that business and an owner who is so rude. Sandra

Restaurant in its own right, simple but excellent food. Very good service, reasonable cost, very nice place. XXL omelettes that satisfied my voracious appetite

We went with friends who invited us. It was our first time. Two of us ordered the omelets, which were huge. Mine, the Old Fashion was good but not wonderful. I have had better. In my opinion, it needed a little more seasoning of some kind. It came w potatoes and wheat bread. It was huge. I ended up bringing half of it home. My husband had the Reuben sandwich and he enjoyed it. It came w soup and fruit. Our other friend had eggs Benedict and he liked them as well. Two of us had coffee and our friends had the orange juice. Service was friendly and good. The restaurant is kind of quirky, different, kind of cute.

Went into Chicago and a friend suggested Paulines. We drove over and had lunch. We sit outside because it was a great day. Very sunny and warm. We each had a different meal and was more that pleased. I had a pulled pork sandwich and my friend had a hamburger and another had an omlette. Dream our waitress was very exceptional. Plan to return soon

We went to eat at Pauline's for the first time this morning for Sunday brunch. Overall, it was a good experience. The place was packed and there wasn't much room to move around. The food was outstanding. I had a Denver Omlet and it was outstanding. I also had a side order of strawberry pancakes and they were extremely tasty. My partner had the Lumberjack breakfast which is another name for steak & eggs and he said it was outstanding. Generally, I would say the food is among the b est you can find for breakfast. the service was acceptable and it all depends on who your server is. I would classify the service as typical of a diner. The staff was good at checking to make sure the coffee level didn't go down. While I never did get my toast with the omlet, I don't think I could have eaten it with a side of pancakes - and I am not too sure if the server didn't misunderstand me and just bring the pancakes instead of the toast. I found the server to be polite and attentive, but not extraordinary. The place was very crowded - it was a beautiful day and they had folks sitting outside eating at the tables on the sidewalk and while there was no line when we arrived, by the time we left, there were people waiting. All things considered, I think we will return for future visits - we enjoyed it and found it to be a pleasant experience. We had a car and could drive here, but for visitors, unless you have a car, it may be difficult to find without some advance planning. It is off the beaten path, but clearly worth seeking out if you are visiting in the Andersonville neighborhood or just interested in finding a new brunch spot in the city.

Nice place for breakfast with generous portions of good breakfast fare. The coffee is also very good. Weather permitting it has a nice outdoor seating area on Balmoral.

How can Pauline’s be anything but five stars. Come on…it’s a classic restaurant, with a great breakfast, on a leafy quiet street, in Andersonville! I just don’t understand some of these reviews. “The toast that I ordered wasn’t as evenly buttered as it could have been on the side facing me as I looked at my plate in the morning dew…” OK here you go… you want a great breakfast…super omelets and big fat pancakes, toast and jam and an endless cup of coffee, sitting outside in the cool breeze on a Chicago street corner under a shade tree with zero cars buzzing around? Then go to Paulines! Service is great - I don’t care what any of these bonehead reviews say. Food might be a bit pricey compared to Bugtussle, Tennessee - BUT ITS CHICAGO! What do you expect? And Ron’s spirit roams the premises. Is there another place to eat Breakfast on the Northside? If so, I don’t need to know.

When I looked at the menu, there were a number of breakfast dishes I was dubious of...e.g. Eggs Benedict A la Pauline -(Ham with a Vanilla Crème hollandaise sauce), I thought maybe quirky might be their signature. So I ordered the special, which was a "carmelized peach pancake folded over" with two eggs and sausage. The eggs and sausage were ok/non-descript, but the pancake tasted weird and basically broke apart (dry) - the ingredients just did not work together. Service was great, decor is definitely kitschy....I might go back and try one of their omelettes (FIVE EGGS!?!).

Exactly the kind of local place you want to visit. Great menu, service and location. You’ll return often.

Great neighborhood restaurant for breakfast and lunch. They make five egg omelets. We shared the Old World Omelet, which had a combo of ham, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, red peppers and cheddar. Absolutely yummy. And they have the best home fries . Their small fruit plate is also big enough to share.

Was really tasty! Great potatoes too. Service was decent, they were pretty busy. Close to our home but had never been. Will be back!

Great restaurant for Sunday brunch!!!! The food was excellent and we loved the service. It seemed to be a very kid friendly, family oriented restaurant. The waitress was personable but also very efficient. Caramel apple pancakes were delicious and Paulines skillet breakfast was yummy too.

Traditional homey feel and terrific food. Service is fast and friendly and every item I have tried has been very good. The biscuits and gravy are a must!

French toast was THE best! Hint of cinnamon. Not too sweet. Melted in your mouth! Service was very good. Restaurant was clean. Table was a bit small for 3 people.

To me the best food is food that is perfectly prepared. It does not have to be fancy expensive ingredients if the preparation is right. This morning I ordered pancakes. They presented me with three enormous and perfectly cooked pancakes. And that is not an easy thing to do. In fact I seldom see it. Usually the cakes are under cooked and soggy inside. Sometimes they are overcooked and dried out. These were perfect. The bacon was peppery and perfectly cooked. The coffee was hot and fresh, not made hours ago and burned. My companions raved about their eggs. One of them had a fruit plate. the fruit was fresh and attractively presented. I am only sad that we can only visit there occasionally because we do not live in Chicago.

I've been here on two separate trips. Although the pancakes spread out over the plate they are thin. If you order a side of bacon beware, as there are only three small slices. The kids meals are small (as per their bellies) but you wouldn't expect that with the price. Someone ordered the turkey club on rye an it looked decent. The waiters appear to be very busy even when there isn't a large crowd, but the heavier work falls on the staff assisting... bus boys, etc.

This place is very popular! They are known for their pumpkin pancakes and their bread pudding which is delicious! (recipe made by Pauline who started the restaurant in 1945). We enjoyed our food tremendously and if we ever went back, we will definitely make a stop here. Our waitress was very kind - her name was Olga and she was from Greece. Great experience!

Friends took me to Pauline's for Sunday brunch. I definitely enjoyed the place. The décor is kitschy, but didn't bother me. Service was friendly and helpful. I had the eggs and pancakes, which was plenty of food, but we also shared bacon. The regular portions for omelets and such are huge (5 eggs), which seems excessive to me. So I was glad my meal was just 3 eggs and 2 pancakes. Food was good. They have a nice patio to sit in if the weather cooperates. Overall, enjoyed Pauline's.

Had a breakfast there the day after Christmas. Service was solid, food a step above usual diner fair and the prices were good. Decor there is very kitschy, which makes it fun.

Pauline's at 1754 W Balmoral Ave, on Chicago's North Side is a wonderful place for breakfast. They have a variety of fresh juices. The omelettes are huge and there is a wide assortment and they are well prepared. The pancakes are well made. The outdoor eating area is perfect for a warm Chicago day. Thumbs up.

I almost hate writing about Pauline's because the place is small, it's very near where I live and I'm afraid it will get more crowded as it is discovered by people from other parts of town. But that seems selfish. Where to start? With the food of course. Everything we have tried has been terrific. A big hit in our family is the cheddar bacon pancakes, which have been listed as a special for a long time, so we're thinking they will go on the menu the next time they print new menus. Because we hadn't tasted other cheddar bacon pancakes, we can't compare them. But they are certainly unique and the sweet and savory combo works. Plus, as with any pancakes on the menu that we've ordered, you get a side of strawberries and some of the most amazing whipped cream ever. (The closest we've come to them is the cheddar and bacon potato pancakes at Ann Sathers, but the negative is they don't have much of the sweet taste, only the savory one. However, Ann Sathers of course has the best cinnamon rolls in the universe so at the end of the day, who really cares if the entrée isn't the best?) I often get a cheddar and spinach omelet. It's not on the menu but since the ingredients are both listed in other combos, I figured I'd give it a shot, and it worked. Why I like this omelet more than some others is it's fluffy. That's kind of how I think an omelet should be. It comes with your choice of toast and a side of Pauline's potatoes, which have not just onions but also peppers for a little bit of a kick. My husband tried the bread pudding French toast. I'm not a bread pudding lover so I didn't take a bite but he said it was hard to imagine that together these two things -- bread pudding and French toast -- could be even better together than they would be separately, But they were! And he too got a side of strawberries and the fabulous whipped cream (as if he needed anything else sweet to eat). I will say, however, that while Pauline's isn't expensive, it's not the cheap eats I expected. I figured a hole in the wall on the corner of a largely residential area would be a bargain -- maybe I was thinking something like $15 for two, that kind of bargain. Well, it's not that kind of bargain, but it is still less expensive than what I'd call a moderate restaurant. Oh, and look for the guy outside with his bird. 'Nuf said about him.

Despite being in a metal and glass sort of "strip-mall" as they called it, once you step in, you feel like you walked into your old aunt's house and you're ready to be filled to the gills with good food. While my choice today wasn't great or what i expected, it was still good and filling. I had the country breakfast and it was biscuits and gravy but with an Italian sausage gravy that made it sweet; and I wasn't expecting this. Still, the plate was huge with four half biscuits and a ton of gravy.

Just a good a old fashion breakfast place in a great neighborhood. The service was great and the breakfast was yummy! Don't think you can go bad with anything you order.

Pauline's has become one of my favorite restaurants for a casual lunch with high-quality food. The servers were friendly and accommodating, and the menu has a nice variety. I chose the "Trifecta" which is three homemade pancakes: banana, strawberry and blueberry. My pancakes were wonderfully fresh. The stack is topped off with fresh strawberries. Whipped cream is real, not the airy stuff from an aerosol can. All throughout the restaurant are whimsical reminders of the past, such as troll dolls. The outdoor seating was tempting, but the shady tables were taken, and we chose to eat inside. Although we sat at a table right next to the kitchen, it wasn't bothersome at all. A high wall separated us from the activity in the kitchen, and my friend and I were able to talk at a normal tone. We were happy to find free street parking steps away from the entrance. The restaurant is located in a residential area, with a pleasant garden softening the presence of the Metra railroad tracks. I was impressed that the restaurant pays tribute to Pauline, the owner, who has passed away. A refreshing oasis in the city!

My mother-in-law wanted to take us to her favorite breakfast place while we were visiting her on our recent Chicago trip. She brought us to Pauline's, an unassuming corner breakfast place. We really liked the food- we even were able to order something "customized" for my daughter who wanted something not exactly listed on the menu. That was nice. I had the Pauline's Benedict- which was a standard benny with vanilla hollandaise. It was great! My family all enjoyed the breakfast choices we made. The server was fine- not too warm or spiffy, but he kept the coffee coming! The prices are great for Chicago, and the atmosphere is nice, although some of the décor feels old. You can actually park nearby with ease, which can be a luxury. The bathrooms are weird- you feel like you are walking into the kitchen or behind a freezer. Weird and a bit off-putting. All in all, a solid choice for the area. I'd probably be a regular if we lived here.

Very cozy, home like place with great service. The breakfast are fantastic. I had an omlete made perfectly. Coffee is equally good.

I've been to Pauline's twice in the last month. I love the place. My friend called it "cute." It is very lovely, especially the outdoor eating. And the food is delicious, well prepared. I would love to have breakfast here every morning.

We stopped in very close to lunch closing time and were treated graciously by the staff. Our lunch was good and the ham and bean soup that came with our sandwiches was very good. The service was attentive and the prices were very modest. Pauline's is a good value. The breakfast menu looked terrific too and we'll have to give that a try on a future trip to Chicago. The decor is very distinctive. Bring your kids to take them to the kind of restaurant you or your parents might have gone to decades ago. It's special. There is outdoor seating too and it's on a not so busy street so the noise level outside isn't as bad as you'd find on Clark Street. The downside is the people watching is less fun. Only thing I'd change is the soft drinks. There is a reason why Coke and Pepsi products dominate....they taste good. RC and Diet Rite just don't cut it.

The best service and food. Great family style place. The best breakfast I have ever had.

My husband and I have had a number of great brunches at both locations of Pauline's. The menu is more diner than chichi. The food is well prepared the the portions generous.

Great food. Awesome service and staff . We were treated like family . Can’t wait to go back again .

GREAT diner style breakfast with delicious hashbrowns.

My favorite sundried tomatoe and goat cheese omelette, especially after Saturday morning runs. Classic among the runners during the summer running season. You can show up in your sweaty running cloths no problem. They also allow dogs in the outside seating area.

open 365 days a year in a little cul de sac near andersonville

Love how this place is hidden in a little neighborhood. Very homey and eclectic. Nice atmosphere. Moderately priced. I had the Eggs Benedict, and it was good - not the absolute best I've had, but Eggs Benedict can be touchy if the hollandaise isn't good, and no complaints on theirs. The banana bread French toast was amazing. I asked if they could serve a side of banana bread (like a side of toast) and was told no. The server said he could give me 3 slices plain (at the $9 French Toast price), but that seemed like a lot, to pay and to eat. If you're ordering pancakes, ask for extra syrup. My husband said there was not enough served with his pancakes. And note that the chocolate milk was milk with chocolate syrup mixed in.

Been to this wonderful neighborhood restaurant several times when we have visited Chicago and always have enjoyed breakfast here. They were glad to fulfill my request to add walnuts to my multi-grain pancakes, wish I had thought to ask them to add blueberries too…next time! My husband never orders biscuits and gravy but he did at Pauline’s when he found out they make their own gravy and biscuits! He thoroughly enjoyed it. The food is really good and you won’t go away hungry!

I have been to Pauline's several times and enjoyed each visit. The last visit was not as good as the previous visits as the pull pork omelette was just so-so and the service was somewhat lacking. In previous visits, the steak and eggs are great as as the lumberjack breakfast. Added bonus is that do have apple butter jelly.

This was the only place in the area that was open at 7am on Sunday. It turned out to be a great place. Very friendly and attentive staff. I had whole grain pancakes that were delicious and piping hot. My friend had oatmeal also hot and generous portions.

That pretty much sums up our experience at Pauline's. The food was good, nice portions, I had the asparagus and goat cheese omelet, while my husband had a hamburger on rye. Their Le Toast Francais (French Toast!) was good too. Our server was very friendly which made the experience nice. Can't say anything bad about the place except it's not fancy at all...it's an aged diner. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a filling breakfast/brunch.

We have been going to Paulines for breakfast for years and it used to be good enough that we would drive there from Wilmette to have breakfast. However since the previous owner died and it was taken over by a new owner it has gone way downhill. We were there this morning andd had to ask 3 times after 10-15 minutes if someone could take our order. Then it took forever to get my omelet and my wife was just having a salad. Their omelets used to be big and delicious. Today I ordered an egg white vegetable omelet and they charge an additional 1.95$ for egg whites and there was barely enough egg whites to hold the vegetable in the omelet. I should have sent it back but at that point I was too hungry and did't feel like waiting for another one. I told the owner on the way out about our experience and my disappointment and all she did was take the orange juice off the bill. She shouldn't have charged us at all in my opinion but it didn't matter because I won't be returning!!

Not recommended. Service was extremely slow, even though there were a couple empty tables. The space was tight. I was seated under the menu bin, and the waitress proceeded to drop a menu on my head. The food is nothing special, though the portion are decent - BUT BEWARE, they only accept cash. No signs on the door or menu, nor any mention by the waitress. "Conveniently" they have their own ATM machine (with a $2.50 surcharge) in the front of the restaurant. Not a bad scam: If 100 customers a day are surprised by the cash only policy and use the ATM, then a tidy $250 is pocketed on a daily basis. I would not recommend this place... there are many better choices in the neighborhood.

We've enjoyed breakfast here for several years, but our recent Sunday morning visit with out-of-towners shows Pauline's has spiffed up its menu and improved service. French toast made with banana bread was superb, eggs benedict with special hollandaise sauce was too good to share, five-egg omelet was typically filling, and of course perfect pancakes with berries or whatever on top. Crispy bacon, cold milk rounded out the excellent meal. Friendly service, which on previous visits could be distracted, was attentive throughout, and the coffee, which previously we found too weak, was flavorful and robust. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday and had a table immediately. By 10:30 indoor and outdoor seating was full.

Biscuits and gravy are hit and miss in Chicago, but Pauline's is a hit. Tucked away on the corner of Ravenswood and Balmoral since 1996, although that corner has a long history of cafes, Pauline's is a neighborhood favorite. Consistency is the key here, and the menu does not disappoint. As mentioned, the biscuits and gravy are the best this side of the Ohio River, however the 5-egg omelettes and pancakes are some of the best you'll find. With fruit in the batter, the pancakes are served standard with fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. French toast, breakfast specials and Eggs Benedict round out the all day breakfast menu. The lunch menu featured char grilled burgers, additional sandwich creations, and lunch specials. Not to missed is the Pauline's Potatoes and the Cavendish french fries, great with any meal. Quaint diner setting, featuring tables, booths, and outdoor seating in the summer.

Other than some of the booth seating being lumpie...the place is cute,service great,food fantastic.Their french toast is great,fried potatoes are great.All egg dishes are 3 eggs. We are big on Sunday brunch(around noon).One of our favorite places.

Breakfasted at Pauline's on Balmoral today and while we had no wait (yay!) for an outside table we did incur a stall with getting drinks and our order in. That said, the food is always delicious and plentiful. Would rather have the staff check in more to refill coffee and see if we need anything else but decided it was a delightful day and the food made up for the service.

Been before and will come back again. Breakfast food is plentiful and nicely cooked. A large variety of bread options. Great fresh fruit salad too. Their breakfast potatoes are distinctive, including a variety of vegetables. Nice to see a neighborhood place thriving; and for good reason. Stop by Pauline's when you're hungry; you won't be disappointed.

I have been coming to Chicago for the yearly candy show for over 20yrs. And have been to this place for only 5 of them, n since the first time here, I have never missed it. Just about everyday I am in town I make sure I eat here, the best food, large portions, quality is always the best. The eggs Benedict, omelettes, French toast, fresh o.j. It's not your average food. The place is a cute little corner spot away from the hubbub and glitz, the patio is cute and rustic, the inside is like an old home, trolls and rubber chickens everywhere as well as other cute figurines. Sometimes a local man eats here with his 2 parrots.

Although small (so expect a wait), this restaurant serves up a great breakfast. It's a neighborhood staple, and I like it better than their Fullerton location because it's rather intimate. Service is always very good.

I loved this place. IT is very friendly and great service.

We are always in the market for a small, personable restaurant, but food quality counts as well. The biscuits and gravy: Soft bread that soaked up what little gravy there was, and two or three small bits of sausage - but uninspired taste. I routinely forgive poor biscuits and gray in the North - will I ever learn? But my friends got "extra large five-egg omelettes" - perhaps they were extra-large quail eggs; never have I seen such small, flat omelettes. The water glasses spent more time empty than full, one friend's "crispy" bacon was charred, and they were less-than-gracious about one' s friend food allergies to the point that she asked if they would prefer us to leave? The aftermath: Please don't ask me how the food was unless you are prepared for an honest answer, and intend to do something about it besides offering your condolences. Had to request a correction to the bill, and received no receipt. Chicago is a large town with many small restaurants; we'll find something better.