Restaurant Review: Patty Mac’s Cafe

I’m not a gal who likes surprises. I like to know what I’m getting into. It’s this need to know that made me very happy and especially comfortable on a recent visit to . This Lancaster Avenue eatery doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t, but pleasantly surprises with a kind of quirky charm that is rarely found.

A peek into Patty Macs and one might rightfully assume that it’s just a place to grab breakfast or lunch. It seems plain and simple. The interior is spacious, the staff is friendly and the food is affordably priced.

But upon visiting, you’d quickly come to realize that it’s the little things like the kitschy mug collection and the funny slogans and artwork displayed on the walls that proves there’s more to this Berwyn café then meets the eye.

The menu offerings cover everything a quaint little neighborhood diner would and then some including breakfast, lunch, gluten free options and even single serve French press coffee.

On a recent visit, my friend and I met for a late breakfast / early lunch. I sat tipping my coffee from a mug decorated with an illustration of a woman who just blew up her bathroom scale. My friend and I decided on the lunch route, mostly. My friend ordered a cup of the Seafood Bisque and a Crab Cake Sandwich Special. I ordered Ms. D’s Tuna on wheat toast with lettuce and tomato, and a side of Bill’s spicy potatoes with onion.

The Seafood Soup arrived, cleanly plated with a side of crackers and unlike other bisques I’ve recently had it was fantastic. It was a smooth tomato flavored consistency with flecks of seafood throughout.

The Crab Cake sandwich was very nice as well. The colossal lump crab meat was mixed with flecks of red pepper with little or no filler, seared, served atop a sesame seed bun and plated with a side of tartar sauce and coleslaw.

It’s easier than you’d think to serve a bad tuna sandwich. But Mrs D's Tuna is delicious. It was cold and fresh, mixed with bits of pickle and celery, served on lightly toasted wheat bread with a side of pickles and a bag of chips.

My Spicy Potatoes were just as good as I had hoped, browned and mixed with caramelized onions, sprinkled in salt and cayenne pepper. Sure it was a breakfast item, but what better accompaniment to a tuna sandwich than a slightly salty, slightly spicy plate of potatoes.

I was offered more coffee when I needed and checked in on here and there. And while we chatted and ate for over an hour and a half, there was no rush to move us along. Patty Mac's is one of those charming little places that you're afraid to tell anyone about, because next time you might not be able to get a table. But at this place, they make you feel like there will always be room. Kudos to Patty Mac's Cafe for a lunch well done.

Name of Restaurant: Patty Mac’s Café
Location: 814 Lancaster Ave. Berwyn, PA 19312
Phone Number: 610-644-8275 
Basic menu pricing: $10 and under.
Do they take credit cards? Yes.
Additional Information: Breakfast and Lunch ONLY. No Dinner.
Hours: 
Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 2:30 pm
Sat-Sun 6:30 am - 1:30 pm