Restaurant Review: Paul's Pelmeni

Name: Paul's Pel'meni

Location: 414 W. Gilman Street, Madison, WI 53703

Ambiance: Casual

Cost: $

Best Dish: Potato pel'meni with the works

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This is going to be a pretty short review, because there's not much to review. Paul's is an iconic Madison location that moved from their longtime spot near HopCat to out by the Hub. Their food is delicious, straightforward and they fill a unique niche. Not many cities the size of Madison have a pel'meni place, and I'm grateful that we have one. They're perfect for takeout, and as a result, a solid option for quarantine food.

Paul's Pel'meni is refreshingly minimalist. It offers three options: potato pel'meni, beef pel'meni, and a mix of potato and beef pel'meni (little Russian dumplings). You can get them as a half order or full, and with or without the works (which consists of melted butter, sweet chili sauce, minced cilantro and a dusting of yellow curry on top, and sour cream) for no extra cost -- although I highly, highly recommend going with the works since the dumplings taste quite bland otherwise. The potato inside is creamy, perfectly complimented by a cool mix of sour cream and the mild heat from the chili sauce. A soda is an extra dollar, and an extra sour cream is $0.50. For just $6.50, the full order is a satisfying meal.

There's literally no possible way to go wrong.