This morning we enjoyed a pre-playing-Santa-for-charity breakfast. Wonderful. I had the ham hash, which delivered precisely what I expected. My husband had eggs, sausage, and biscuits with gravy, and left a remarkably clean plate. After sopping up the last bit of delicious, he said, "We can never do that again," which is husband-speak for "I really, really loved that." Even the biscuits passed his Southern-man test.

Stopped at Patty's with a friend at about 1:30. The diner is open until 2:30 p.m. (except for a 1 p.m. closing on Sunday) and we were the only customers until we left at 2:30 p.m.

1/3 lb. Cheeseburger (medium-well) and Fries



I was in a burger mood and the prior excellent reports about Patty's fresh bread roll and house burgers quickly caught my interest. My earlier, first trip was devoted to ham hash, though. I ordered a slightly pink burger with cheese and the trimmings. Tasting the first bite I knew these are different burgers. Great flavor, char and a roll that's good tasting and which supports the 1/3 lb. burger. I'm still trying to figure-out just how much I liked the fries - they were good, better than most I've eaten elsewhere.

Ham and Eggs, and “Old” Potatoes



My companion is hooked on the ham and eggs at Patty's. Principally the ham. She was with me for my first visit and I doubt she'll ever order anything else there.

LTH,

Had the pleasure of Steve Z and freshly back in town Josephine's company for breakfast this morning at Patty's, and a terrific breakfast it was.

Share half order of biscuits and gravy, old potatoes, scrambled with potato/onion combo for Steve and Josephine's favorite, ham hash. Me, I'm one of those pesky customers who always has to have something different, I conjured up a Patty's Diner version of Eggs Benedict. Open face griddled house made bun layered with ham off the bone, basted eggs topped with a dollop of country gravy. Delicious!

Patty's Diner Benedict



Dotted with Tapatio



Old Potatoes in background



Steve Z, Josephine



We also had the pleasure of running into Kman and bride Delcine having breakfast. Always a treat to run into fellow LTHers.

Delcine, Kman



Enjoy,
Gary

It was good to run into other LTH'rs at Patty's on such a bitterly cold Sunday. It was especially nice to see Josephine as, having initiated this thread, she is the one that first brought Patty's Diner to my (our) attention. I had my usual Sunday pre-football-watching repast of Ham Hash with eggs and the whole thing smothered in gravy and my better half had her usual of "the Special" - eggs, potatoes, blueberry pancakes and that delicious ham, hand cut off the bone.

Thanks for the steer, Josephine!

I just got back from Patty's having tried something other than the usual, ham, eggs, potatoes etc. I went with the cheeseburger and it was delicious. The homemade bread pretty much sealed the deal for me. It reminds me of a butterburger from Culver's. The fry's were also quite tasty. But make sure you get there early, they ran out of burgers shortly after my order!

G Wiv wrote: Me, I'm one of those pesky customers who always has to have something different, I conjured up a Patty's Diner version of Eggs Benedict. Open face griddled house made bun layered with ham off the bone, basted eggs topped with a dollop of country gravy. Delicious!

Gary, my friend, that is obscene... even for you!

We hadn't visited Patty's in a while. So today was our day.

Husband and I both had the Ham Hash. He, of course, added the gravy for an over the top experience.

Sat right behind the grill to watch Patty cook...which for me is always a treat. Such efficiency.

Great breakfast. Great time.

jsv wrote:We hadn't visited Patty's in a while. So today was our day.

Husband and I both had the Ham Hash. He, of course, added the gravy for an over the top experience.

Sat right behind the grill to watch Patty cook...which for me is always a treat. Such efficiency.

Great breakfast. Great time.

I get there most sundays, I was there today myself. great food.

LTH,

Great lunch at Patty's earlier in the week, chock full of chicken Chicken Rice soup and Turkey Club. I assumed the turkey would be off-the-bird, but turned out deli turkey, good quality deli turkey, but deli turkey none the less. Not a deal breaker for me, I have admitted in the past to liking sliced deli turkey, occasionally order a turkey with giardiniera at Bari, but one of my dining companions was not quite so forgiving.

Turkey BLT on house-made bun w/Old Potatoes



Gary style Patty Melt, house-made bun fried egg grilled onion cheese, looked delicious as always.

Patty Melt G Wiv style w/Old Potatoes



Enjoy,
Gary

Turns out I just missed GWiv and Stevez at Patty's! Burger as great as ever!

G Wiv wrote:LTH,
foggy photo

you got the Cybill Shepherd/Moonlighting filter on that new camera of yours.

Greasy ham stained finger on the lens?

LTH,

In the spirit of Burt's Pizza I brought my own habanero to Patty's. Was in the mood for spicy and crisp ham hash with old potatoes seemed the perfect vehicle.

Patty with my BYOH



Not only did Patty graciously accommodate my request, turns out she is a chili head herself and planed on using the surplus, I brought two habeneros, for salsa. Steve Z brought El Yucateco habanero which he kindly left at Patty's for patron use.


El Yucateco, fresh habanero



Ham Hash, Old Potatoes w/fresh diced habanero



Patty's Diner, go early, go often.

Enjoy,
Gary

Glad that things were jumpin' at some point this weekend at Patty's. I was in early this morning, and while a few people trickled in after me, I was hoping things would perk up. Guess they did.

Omelet and potatoes were cooked perfectly. I've learned that Patty has a heavier hand with salt and pepper than I would like, and I adjust my order accordingly. Now I just have to remember to specify any cheese other than American on my omelet. But the quality ham helped make up for that.

I really think the chances of drawing in new customers would improve with a modest expenditure on signage upgrade.

Stopped by Patty's today for lunch, craving a "Gary Burger". Mrs. Kman and I are both big fans and since I had the day off and some time I made the way up to Skokie and got there around 12:45. They were fairly well slammed with a very full counter but I was able to squeeze into an empty seat on the far north end.

Listening to Patty while I waited they'd apparently had a bustling business all day, probably the combination of folks getting in their "last meals" and those that have some holiday time off. Despite the rush, though, Patty still found time to say hello to folks and still has that amazing memory about what her customers usually order. Really amazing.

It being lunch I strayed from my usual ham hash, old potatoes, eggs over medium with gravy over everything and ordered a Gary Burger, medium rare with everything & old potatoes. Splashed some hot sauce on the potatoes and dug in to those for a bit while I gave the burger a minute to cool. I love the crispy/crunchy texture of the old potatoes and the savory flavors cooked into them. The burger is a big mess to eat but well worth the effort - just think of frying chicken or fish and keep one hand wet (the burger hand) and one hand dry (the fork and beverage hand) and you are good to go. The only way I could imagine this being better is if it had some roasted green chiles on it but it's still great as is.

I will greatly miss Patty's when it closes - the food, the nature of the operation (it's quite a show on a busy day), and especially Patty and her staff.

I just had a hectic, but enjoyable breakfast at Patty's. I had whit is likely to be my last corned beef hash and eggs breakfast and it was perfect (as usual). I had the good fortune to run into Ronnie_Suburban and Julie, which made for an extra nice visit. I'm hoping to get back one more time before next Friday.

As an update, Patty's will be closed tomorrow (Christmas), but open on Sunday. I'm guessing Sunday will be extra slammed. Plan accordingly.

It was great running into Steve today at what was, very likely, my last meal at this incarnation of Patty's . . .


Beverages



Ham still life



Patty at work



Patty in motion



Steve's Corned Beef Hash



Ham Hash with Old Potatoes



Garbage Omelet with Old Potatoes



Buttered Rye Toast



Coming to an end . . .



Farewell

I'm really going to miss this Patty's. There was no finer place to get my grub on. I'm truly appreciative to Josephine and LTHForum for bringing it to my attention; one of the greatest gifts I've ever received from reading this forum.

=R=

This thread reminds me of all of the wonderful photos that have been posted over the years of Patty's and the food within. Perhaps someone with more photographic skills than I could take these photographs and create a scrapbook or a photo CD, and present it to Patty (and one to Susie, too) as an LTH keepsake and thank you.

ronnie_suburban wrote:
Coming to an end . . .

Seems to me that even Kermit is looking a bit wistful here.... Hope he will be happy in his new home, wherever that ends up being.

ronnie_suburban wrote:I'm really going to miss this Patty's. There was no finer place to get my grub on. I'm truly appreciative to Josephine and LTHForum for bringing it to my attention; one of the greatest gifts I've ever received from reading this forum.

Ditto, Ronnie, ditto. When I think of all the years I drove by this place, never guessing at the treasures within. I really have to get there next week for one more Patty's ham hash.... or garbage omelet.... no, ham hash. Garbage omelet? Guess I need to get there at least twice next week!

We went last weekend for lunch and had burgers (cheeseburger for Mr. X and a Gary burger for me.) Back today in the snow with a friend. We split an of biscuits and gravy for the table. I had garbage potatoes, eggs over easy with homemade bread as my toast. Mr. X had the chili cheese omelet with old potatoes and our friend did the garbage omelet with old potatoes. The complimentary mimosas or bloody Mary's were a nice touch. (The pickled asparagus in the bloody Mary's was fantastic!) Business was non-stop while we were there. Patty's is a special place and will be missed. From the great food to the staff that remembers your preferences, it's a gem. I too am grateful for having learned of it on LTH.

i just had my last meal at pattys today. the joint was jumping, happily. we shared ham hash, biscuits and gravy. as usual, something wasn't as ordered( the corned beef hash order turned into garbage potatoes with cheese on top), but i've never minded when this happens. and i went home with a cheeseburger and old potatoes for dinner. i've only been going there for a few years, but many people who left before us today had been going for close to 20 years and they all announced they'd be back tomorrow for their last meal. justjoan

justjoan wrote:. . . i've only been going there for a few years, but many people who left before us today had been going for close to 20 years and they all announced they'd be back tomorrow for their last meal. justjoan

I'm beginning to feel a little guilty about wanting to go tomorrow morning for the last meal at Patty's. This is why: justjoan is undoubtedly correct. Many of the patrons at the counter yesterday morning were people who have been going there for breakfast or lunch for 20 years. Have you ever noticed that Patty knows most of her customers by name? I would hate to displace any one of these people tomorrow. And yet. . .

Josephine wrote:I would hate to displace any one of these people tomorrow. And yet. . .

You are one of those people. You should go. Patty would be very glad to see you.

stevez wrote:

Josephine wrote:I would hate to displace any one of these people tomorrow. And yet. . .

You are one of those people. You should go. Patty would be very glad to see you.

oh yeah, josephine, many lth'ers wouldn't even know about patty's without your original post. and patty knows that. i'm sure she'll be delighted to see you. and did anyone mention there are complimentary mimosas and bloody mary's these last days???

justjoan wrote:and did anyone mention there are complimentary mimosas and bloody mary's these last days???

Yes, a couple of posts up, but it bears repeating. Not only are the mimosas and bloody mary's complimentary, my bloody mary told me I had shiny hair, but Patty's sister Suzy made the assortment of pickled veg to go with the b mary's.

Patty's Diner Bloody Mary, pickled veg made by Suzy



Note to Josephine, Patty's always asks about you, considers you one of her favorite customers and would be pleased as fortified punch to see you.

darn, i saw the pictures but don't remember anyone mentioning the drinks were on the house. since i was driving i turned down a drink. if i'd paid attention to the part about the picked vegetables, i might have asked for a complimentary mushroom, or asparagus stalk! joan

justjoan wrote:darn, i saw the pictures but don't remember anyone mentioning the drinks were on the house. since i was driving i turned down a drink. if i'd paid attention to the part about the picked vegetables, i might have asked for a complimentary mushroom, or asparagus stalk! joan

That's exactly what I did. The pickles were excellent across the board, with just a slight bit of heat at the end. Suzie did a great job making these. The mushrooms were a particular favorite.

I couldn't resist one last visit to Patty's on closing day. I arrived around 10:30 and Josephine was pulling into the parking lot at the same time. We had a slight wait for a couple of seats to clear at the counter, but within 5 minutes or so, we were seated directly in front of the grill. I was glad to be able to see Patty do her grill ballet one last time. She is a true artist.

I didn't plan on taking any pictures today and didn't bring my camera, but the spirit moved me while I was there, so I shot a few pics with my shitty cell-o-phone camera.

A Grillfull of Breakfast


The Last Cheeseburger


Ham Hash With Old Potatoes


Home Made Toast


A Customer Leads the Entire Restaurant in a Round of "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow"


Dressed for the Occasion (Including a DIY White Tablecloth & Candlesticks)


We'll Miss You Patty!

G Wiv wrote:Talking about Sparky's

Mhays wrote:I want to go back for the breakfast, because it seems to me that they might do better at that.

Mhays,

I had late breakfast today at Sparky's, crisp hash browns*, over easy eggs, sausage and an English muffin. Not necessarily a candidate for Best in Chicago, but nicely executed by Gus the grill man and served with a wink, smile, and song for that matter, by a friendly raven hair grandmother type who the regulars seem to adore.

Sparky's is not going to replace Patty's or Moon's Sandwich Shop as my diners of choice, but an overall nice experience.

Enjoy,
Gary

Sparky's Snack Stop
3624 Oakton St
Skokie, IL 60076
847-673-1002

* I asked for the hash browns crisp

Sad to report that Sparky's closed a few months ago. The building is for sale.

Dave148 wrote:Sad to report that Sparky's closed a few months ago. The building is for sale.

Pickings are starting to get slim in the old school greasy spoon category.

The Greenwood Restaurant
910 Greenwood, Glenview

As old school as they get.

Cash only, closes at 2.

I miss Patty.