Pearson’s

Went here 3 months ago and I’m finally finishing my review.
We went here with my man’s parents because they really enjoy it. Huge menu with lots to choose from. It seems the restaurant has a strong elderly clientele. It was pretty mellow for Saturday afternoon lunch. Mostly families with grandparents and young kids. Read: You don’t go here because it’s hip, cool, or the new hot spot. As other reviewers said, it seems to have a 70s vibe with all kinds of crazy patterns on the chairs, carpet, curtains, etc. I thought it was fun & interesting!
I had the Swedish meatball w/​mashed potatoes & gravy. The side of squash was excellent. I just love butternut squash and it’s a different side dish– they had a lot of variety. The wild rice soup was so creamy and good. All of the portions were huge and we all didn’t finish our meals– consider that you will get leftovers if the prices seem a bit high.
Head over to Pearson’s when you need some comfort food and are too lazy to cook!

If I were 90 years old AND had no taste buds, this place would be fantastic. But, I’m not and even if I were, I think I’d still know tasteless food. I ordered the walleye – one of my all time favorite foods – and it was completely over cooked. It might has well have been fish jerky. I couldn’t even finish it, which is sad because it cost $ 19. My husband had the Denver omlette sandwich, which was just average. We left hungry and sad that we didn’t just go to Arezzo as I originally planned.

It’s one of those places that I’ve driven by since, well, forever and never ventured inside. Not really sure why I never went, maybe because I always knew what was on the other side (the stream of white-​haired Edina ladies and gents flowing in gave that away.) But today was the day, I guess I was looking for something a little more, well, retro for lunch so I pulled in and parked between a Cadillac and Lincoln; the sign outside read «Two fireplaces!» Not much has changed at Pearson’s since it opened its doors in 1973 — from the coffee shop in the front to the Oak Room and the Oak Room West, it has deliciously been frozen in time. The lunch booths we sat in were great, my friend had the Chicken Salad to good reviews (kind of a tough one to judge) and I had the Chicken Crispy Sandwich which was marked «Favorite» on the menu (I asked our waitress for a recommendation between the daily special and this sandwich, she told me she ‘couldn’t really help me since she didn’t know my personal preferences’ — yeah, thanks.) All in all it was good time at the Pearson and I would go back, sometime.

Tasty comfort food in a non-​threatening place. Sometimes I don’t have the energy to attempt to be hip, and Pearson’s is perfect for those times. A little pricey for the simple dishes that are served, but worth it:)

Walk in the door and onto a Quentin Tarantino set. Pearson’s is perfect, pristine, maintained 70s. Match that with friendly staff (Judy is a true archetype) and a great, blue-​plate breakfast; leave your hipsterism in Uptown and head here for an honest pot of coffee, a stack of classic pancakes with a sweet orange wedge, and a side of ham.
ALERT: Pearson’s may not be long for this world, so go soon. In a stroke of brilliance Edina may permit its razing to make way for another Walgreens. Just what we need.

The weekly Unilocal got me thinking about this place. Its the home cooking spot for 50^th and France. Everything is pricey around here. It saved a Key’s from moving in. I always want meatloaf or meatballs when I’m here. Anything with gravy. I’ve had the strawberry pie. You can’t get that everywhere. Some of the best pie in the TC. You have to see it to believe how great the food is. It’s worth the trip no matter where you’re coming from. It’s worth being a regular 7 days a week if you’re lucky enough to live here.

Should chicken hot dish cost $ 20 and come with no side dishes?
I think not.

this place is GENIUS. because i grew up in rival and superior st. louis park, i avoided most edina stuff mostly cause i thought it was waspy and blonde and new. but was i WRONG. pearsons has more personality and quality than any restuaurant ive seen in my own burb.
it reminds me a bit of nyes, at least from when i was there ten years ago. not at all the clientele or services, as pearsons is mostly full of old people taking their dentures out to chow down, but just the feeling that you are in an old place that rocked in its day and still today. neither the décor nor staff have changed much in the last 50 years. or the menu maybe but who cares. the prices have been a little updated while it offers minnesota comfort food, a phrase i didnt even know existed.
i stuck with the sunday breakfast, which was exactly what i expected, and the waitress rightfully convinced my mother to get teh ham. the waitress probably was there from day one, knows her crap and had that perfect balance of not being too nosy or up our asses but attentive enough. and a little sassy.
the décor is amazing– when you walk in, to your right above the bar you have a weird yellow tile that you would want in your bathroom and to the left the ceiling is covered in a bad 70s couch cover pattern while the main room has the mismatched old casino carpet and chandeliers. genius. genius. even if the rest of the food isnt fabulous, the place is

I can’t believe this place isn’t reviewed! When I lived in MN, this place was quite a welcome color to the dreariness of Minnesota winters. You have to like the whole nagahyde, wood panel, 70’s show/​timewarp thing, which I obviously do (if you read my other reviews). Huge portions, *hot dish* (aka ‘casserole’ to non-​Minnesotans) and monster desserts.
They have this massive and really good Pearson’s ‘special’ salad with like everything but the kitchen sink in it, which I recommend. It has peas in it, and the dressing might actually be thousand island fortified with mayo!
Prices are pretty stupid for what you get, but if you’re stuck in the frozen north wanting comfort food, this is it. Also, you’ll be knee-​deep in the seniors, and some people can’t get over needing places they eat to be ‘hip,’ so if that’s you, this place won’t make you happy.