Danny's Deli Ex Chef Paula Opening her own Paula's Cafe

If you are a fan of Danny's Deli in Melrose Park, Paula the ex chef is opening her own place in Franklin Park.

It is Paula's Café at Grand and Martens Corner. Many of the same items that were on Dannys menu are served here also.

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But my favorite, the fried meatball sandwich wil be on the menu.



9400 W Grand Av
Franklin Park, Illinois
(847) 916-2989
11:30am - 9:00pm.

@Jane Franklin: Thanks, Jane. I'll have to swing by Paula's new place. I was at Danny's a few weeks ago, and it wasn't quite the same without Paula's smiling face and genuinely warm personality.

I have gone a second time to Paula's and I am disappointed. This restaurant is a lot smaller than Dannys.. you would think less work and less mistakes I guess.

I went back and had the fried meatball sandwich. First of all, I did not order cheese but got cheese.. It was a little crowded and it would have taken longer to flag the server so I just dealt with it. The sandwich was not the same.

My friends also have gone back and we all agreed it is not the same as Dannys. We suspect her partner Craig is now cooking because the food is not the same food we remember Paula cooking at Dannys.

Also the bread was sort of hard and difficult to chew. Maybe they are still working out the problems. Sort of disappointed.

Oh well.!

Stopped by here last week and really enjoyed tasting a few of the offerings . . .


Paula's Cafe - 9400 W. Grand Ave, Franklin Park



Sausage Burger | homemade potato chips
Pretty much what you see is what you get. Nice sandwich but I wish I'd ordered it with the extras shown on the sandwich below.



Fried Meatball Sandwich | provolone, sweet and hot peppers added, homemade potato chips
Really tasty in a trashy sort of way. Btw, the house-made potato chips, served with both sandwiches, were excellent.



Pork Neck Bones (Wednesdays and Saturdays only)
As much as I enjoyed the sandwiches, these tender succulent pork neck bones were the absolute star of the show. It makes sense since they're the signature item at Danny's and Paula is their former chef, though maybe she's not cooking here any longer? In any case, the meat was falling off the bone and the sauce was delicious but not overwrought. Please note, they're only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

It's pretty far out of my orbit but I thought the food at Paula's was really tasty and I'd definitely stop in again if I were in the area. It certainly didn't hurt that service was incredibly friendly and helpful. A really enjoyable spot.

=R=

Paula's Café is fantastic! I use to go to Danny's, but these days I like Paula's own place a lot more. She's pretty much there all the time, and her staff is very nice and very attentive. I absolutely love her Chicken Vesuvio. The version Paula makes at her own place is different than the one served at Danny's. The version Paula makes at her new place has far less breading. It's very lightly breaded, and it comes with traditional vesuvio potatoes, which are much more tasty compared to the vesuvio mashed potatoes that they still serve at Danny's.

Similarly, the Fried Meatball Sandwich is still one of a kind, and out of this world. Same goes for Neck Bone Dinner which, as previously stated, is only available on Wednesday and Saturday. On Tuesdays, they have this "Two Fer" deal which consists of any two dinners for only $22.00. It's a great deal, and don't forget to get her homemade ricotta cheese cake- it's still some of the best cheese cake I've ever had. Good stuff all the way around.

Basically, anything with red sauce at Paula's is outstanding. It's kind of like your old friend's Italian mother that use to be home when you'd get home from school. She'd been cooking ALL DAY, and she wouldn't ever let you leave your friend's house on an empty stomach. Instead, you got treated to all her Italian favorites before you went home to your own house for dinner. That's Paula's Café.

Good Eating As Always,

deepdish

Just want to clarify, but Paula's and Danny's are one in the same, she and her husband Carl owned Danny's. True story, she's my friends aunt.

@Food Diva: The "new" Danny's is now fully owned and operated by Vito and Linda Scavo. Vito is the former Melrose Park Chief of Police. I'm pretty sure Paula and Carl have moved on completely with the opening of Paula's Café. I'm not sure what transpired, but I don't think they have any ownership in Danny's anymore. And that's nothing against Danny's, either. It should be interesting to see how this all plays out over the coming years since their respective menus are still very similar, with some slight differences in the presentation (i.e. the chicken vesuvio is definitely different at both locations today).

@jane franklin: Come back to Paula's, Jane- come back!!!

deepdish wrote:@Food Diva: The "new" Danny's is now fully owned and operated by Vito and Linda Scavo. Vito is the former Melrose Park Chief of Police. I'm pretty sure Paula and Carl have moved on completely with the opening of Paula's Café. I'm not sure what transpired, but I don't think they have any ownership in Danny's anymore. And that's nothing against Danny's, either. It should be interesting to see how this all plays out over the coming years since their respective menus are still very similar, with some slight differences in the presentation (i.e. the chicken vesuvio is definitely different at both locations today).

@jane franklin: Come back to Paula's, Jane- come back!!!

Hi - sorry, I didn't write what I really wanted to say. I meant that the old Danny's and the new Paula's are the same. Sorry for the confusing post.

Paula's is a bit of a drive for me. I preferred it when Carl & Paula ran Cuzzin's at River and Oakton. That being said, food is the same; that is, terrific old school Italian-American food with generous portions. This past week, I returned after a brief absence to enjoy one of my favorites there, the meatball sub, served with their excellent housemade chips:

Paula's Cafe closed also. I think Paula has a cafe at the Al Piemonte Dealership in Melrose Park.

Vito's on North Ave - www.vitosolditalian.com - is essentially Danny's re-born.

I'll add that Paula's Cafe had a stand at Taste of Melrose, forgot what they specifically were selling.

Two asides, it's interesting to me, being of this part of Chicagoland, that Vito's made the move from Melrose to Elmwood. How much of a rivalry as such exists between the two suburbs with historically heavy Italian-American populations?

And as to Taste of Melrose, the clear winner this year was a stand that was making fresh, what they were calling focaccia, but was more like a pizza dough, baked in a portable wood oven and then split and stuffed with provolone, tomatoes and arugula.

I'll add that Paula's Cafe had a stand at Taste of Melrose, forgot what they specifically were selling.

They had pepper and egg sandwiches this year. They do have a post inside of the Al Piemonte Ford dealership located at 25th and North. I also believe they still do some catering.

And as to Taste of Melrose, the clear winner this year was a stand that was making fresh, what they were calling focaccia, but was more like a pizza dough, baked in a portable wood oven and then split and stuffed with provolone, tomatoes and arugula.

Elio Pizza on Fire
Address: 445 W Lake St, Addison, IL 60101
Hours:
Open ⋅ Closes 10PM
Phone: (630) 628-0088
https://eliopizzaonfire.com

Vital Information wrote:Vito's on North Ave - http://www.vitosolditalian.com - is essentially Danny's re-born.

... at a much higher level.

Danny’s had a cafe feel with a sandwich menu to match. Vito’s is a $23 a plate fine dining.

We used to make the trek to Danny’s a couple of times a year and Vito’s, I think twice since they have been open.

I enjoyed the family/neighborhood feel of Danny’s too.

Too bad I missed Paula’s. I think I would of enjoyed a fried meatball for old times sake.