Pat's Place [Pictures]

LTH,

Wednesday at Burt's we were discussing, wonder of all wonders, food and restaurants. Steve, Cathy2 and I mentioned Patty's Diner which Burt said he likes for an inexpensive breakfast and lunch. At one point Burt mentioned booths, which puzzled me as Patty's Diner has no booths. Turns out Burt was talking about Pat's Place on Oakton in downtown Skokie, Steve, Cathy and I Patty's Diner on Main in Skokie.

Pat's Place


Pat's was exactly as Burt described, clean as a whistle, spotless in fact, friendly, our waitress, who turned out to be Pat the owner, asked our names and if it was our first time at Pat's. When we paid at the front register she thanked us by name and looked forward to our return. Couple of other nice touches, phosphates and malts on hand, though we did not try them, and a loyal, if somewhat older, friendly clientele.

Steve had a couple of eggs, pancakes instead of toast/hasbrowns, bacon and coffee for the reasonable price of $4.05.


I had a tuna melt, closed face at that (maybe Pat is from Wisconsin. ), though it was really more of tuna on toast than melt and we split a francheezie.

Tuna Melt


Francheezie


I'd like to say our lunch was a glorious example of the diner breed, but in reality it was fine, nicely done, but somewhat neutral tasting, by which I mean flavor geared toward it's slightly older clientele. The francheezie might have been the exception except for the utterly ordinary ingredients used, oscar meyer(ish) hot dog, bulk pack bacon, American cheese and a straight from the 10-pack bun.

Far as usage goes, if your mildly persnickety Aunt from Wichita is in town, Pat's for perfectly executed lightly toasted tuna melt fits the bill, Jim Bob from Dallas, the one who loves crispy, fatty, smoked brisket bits, craves big flavor and is not afraid of a little salt and fat, Patty's for 'Old' Potatoes and a med-rare burger w/fried and raw onions.

Best thing, aside from the almost perfect small town diner atmosphere, the pickles. Bright flavored crunchy kosher style new pickles, I almost got an order to go.

Enjoy,
Gary

Pat's Place
5025 Oakton St
Skokie, IL 60077
847-679-9466

Patty’s Diner
3358 Main St. (just West of McCormick)
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 675-4274
Open Sunday

Whoa, talk about the days of my youth...

Pat's Place is the former Pan-Inn Restaurant from the 1950's-1960's, when downtown Skokie was an actual shopping destination, with stores such as Mr. Eddie's, Dick Longtin's Sports Huddle, Dennis, and Ben Franklin's. Old Orchard was just getting going.

My mom used to take me in there and we'd sit at the counter, having a patty melt and great syrupy fountain Cokes, while waiting for the '97' Bus.

Nice but bland, with an emphasis on bland was my take away from Pat's Place. It almost tasted as if the food was cooked without any salt, pepper or even butter/oil (for both my eggs over easy and Gary's "tuna melt"). Not my cup of tea which is too bad, because the owner and waitress are as friendly and welcoming as can be and the prices are very low.

Go to Pat's (Oakton) one or two more times and you'll become a regular. Pat remembers everyone, even their order. The food is fine (not great, just friendly) diner food. But the atmosphere is small town friendly. Pat will ask about your family (and remember them). It's just a nice, comfortable and outragously cheap place.

Hi- I was just in Pat's Place today for the first time. The chicken noodle soup I had was good, but it was too salty. That is all I had there, but the two people that accompanied me there were regulars there, and everybody there knew them. My two dining companions both had more to eat. One ordered a bowl of soup, and three eggs and an order of pancakes. The other person ordered two eggs toast and some hash browns. They both enjoyed their meal. One of my dining companions is diabetic, and Pat remembered to bring her some sugar free jam for her toast, even though she had not been there in a while.

While I was there though, I found out that Pat's Place has lost their lease, and they are moving out of their current location on Oakton in downtown Skokie the end of this month. Pat said that she is looking at other locations, but does not have any definite locations in mind yet. She said that she might be willing to move out of Skokie.

Pats Place is primarily a breakfast place, and they close at 3:00pm.

Hope this helps, Nancy