1st visit down to Pullman (Metra Electric to 115th) in years. The landmark of the yellow awnings have blown away for now. Waitress said they'll be back. 115th between Metra station (just west) & the McDonalds (just east). $9 total for coffee, phillie melt plate w/fries, soup. Good diner food in a funky neighborhood.
Review Source:Within the category of "dive diner" this place rates the full five stars.
The skillets are my favorite, except maybe for the great friendly staff who always recognize a repeat visitor. Â Service is efficient and they seem to never make a mistake. Â
You can sit on a rickety barstool and read the paper with your meal, or you can find a booth in the corner.
It's cash-only, but you won't need much. Â As another reviewer said, it's in Pullman, on 115th - look for the yellow awning.
Only one more word: Grits.
Welcome to America. Â We're experiencing a quality diner shortage, and places like Cal-Harbor are the remedy. Â Cal Harbor's attached to a cocktail lounge, which closes before midnight. Â This may not seem like much until you stop to consider the clientele such a combination is likely to attract: older regulars. Â Sort of refreshing at a time when the average hot spot's shelf life is about 17 days.
You can't do much wrong with a BLT or a grilled cheese sandwich ($3-$4), though I wasn't necessarily interested in giving the cream of broccoli soup a whirl. Â If, however, you'd like soup, french fries and a sandwich, you'll be out no more than $8. Â
Standards of decorum are pretty loosely enforced. Â One man came in and ordered two roast beef sandwiches in separate bags to go. Â When asked if he wanted mayonnaise, he responded, "you ain't gotta do anything but load' em up. Â Load 'em up!" Â He seemed pretty pleased with this formulation, and repeated the command no fewer than four times. Â In the booth next to ours, a man had fallen asleep at a 45 degree angle, though the staff appeared unconcerned.
Thank goodness for Cal-Harbor. Â I once visited a diner and paid $8 for a bowl of yogurt and granola. Â Cal-Harbor isn't that kind of diner.
"What would you like, hon?" the pleasant waitress greeted me. Â I ordered the Cal-Harbor skillet. Â Some time to kill, I marveled at all the fake wood- tables, diner bar, side wall paneling.
"Pablo, que pasa?"
"Pablo- what's the steak come with, as a side?" (everybody seems to know Pablo, the cook, by name).
I noticed tremendous diversity, people of all shapes and sizes and ethnicities and ages. Â A senior couple leisurely sipped coffee and spoke softly at the table next to me, drowned out by a rowdy double-date across the room.
"This is not a democracy," a man sitting alone lectures his daughter over a  cell phone.  "You do what you're told."
I got my skillet after some time. Â It was exceptional- scrambled eggs, blackened potatoes and sausage, peppers and onions, everything well done and tasty.
"More coffee, hon?"
This little place on the south side of Chicago's Pullman historic district is a find -- an unpretentious neighborhood spot with waitresses who know the menu by heart and call you "Hon." Â If you like comfort food they've got open face meat sandwiches with gravy, meatloaf, breaded cutlets, sandwiches, pasta, and enormous omelets served all day -- and grits! Â It's reasonably priced too - my omelet, hash browns and iced tea were $7.50.
I noticed liquor is served after 7 a.m. on weekdays so if you're looking for an early start after a late night out, this will do.
Cal-Harbor serves an interesting mix of white, brown and black customers. Â Take a walk to work off that enormous meal you just consumed and enjoy the terrific 19th century Pullman row-house architecture, tree-lined streets and pretty front gardens to the north.
Cal Harbor's isn't actually on the Calumet Harbor, but it's still got some praiseworthy industrial views. Â The four stars are principally for the omelet that I had, which was greasy, but/and really delicious. Â The service is attentive, friendly, and coarse, which made for plenty of entertainment during my solo meal. Â And the 5:30AM opening time is great, since it means I can get my hot chocolate and griddle-fare right before bedtime. Â The prices are low, but actually a step above what I expected for this far south--the omelet & bowl of grits was $6.50.
Lastly, Yelp is calling it in Riverdale, but it's really in Pullman--easy walking distance from the historic attractions, if you're visiting.
when i used to live 2 blocks north of this place, i would wake up at 2 in the afternoon if i didn't have to work that day and place my call for a greek skillet or an omelet with corned beef hash.
in 10 minutes i'd be walking back with a bag full of warm breakfast food goodness.
this place is one of the best breakfast spots i've ever eaten at and it looks like a hole in the wall. the prices are reasonable and it's just like your typical diner (old men talking over coffee. waitresses screaming, the woman at the end of the counter, smoking over a cup of coffee, the little tv showing the news or whatever talk show was on at the time)
it's a wonderful little spot.
i remember the day i sat and watched my friend eat like 13 pancakes in a row.
whenever i go to visit my family in that area, i stop by there and pick up a petes omelet. you can live off of that thing for a week i swear.
This place is a complete dive--but that's why I like it. Â And it's the only place to eat at (besides McDonald's) located in Historic Pullman.
They have strange hours (breakfast and lunch only, no longer serving dinner, but the bar is open until 10pm or something). Â
The food is OK. Â Some things are really good, others just OK. Â Its greasy diner food. Â The people are entertaining to watch. Â Any given morning you can go here and find the same waitresses screaming orders at each other..
Now that the Pullman Pub has closed, they're the only drinking game in town... they apparently serve "bar food" type things at night too.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,608 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,970 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,309 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,906 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,985 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
