Local Woman Takes Love for Potatoes to the Next Level

In September 2010, Marian Stallings decided to open up a restaurant solely based on her favorite food: potatoes.

By December, Stallings had found a location to house Potayto Potahto in her native Evergreen Park. "If I opened up anywhere, it would be my town,” she said. Experienced in managing retail stores, this is her first venture into the restaurant business.

“I am a carb-o-holic and love potatoes,” Stallings said. “I have always known different ways to make potatoes. You go to a restaurant and get potato salad and it’s a side dish. Here, it’s the main dish.”

Open since Feb. 20, the restaurant’s menu features a large variety of potatoes made into everything from six types of standard french fries, eight selections of gourmet fries, potato swirls, soup, salads fresh homemade chips, pierogies and monthly specials such as shepherd's pie, among many other offerings.

“This was something I was wanting to do,” Stallings said, adding that the uncertain economy didn’t have her nervous. “If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, I tried.”

Staffed by Stallings and a crew of seven, the cuisine-specific spot has so far been a success in Evergreen Park, Stallings said.

“It’s been very positive, very positive,” she said. “Everyone loves the menu. We get a lot of referrals. Everything is made fresh. I don’t have any frozen food. I mash the potatoes and cut them by hand.”

Potayto Potahto has also proven to be a popular stop for the gluten-free crowd, who can even pick up sandwiches made with potato bread, which Stallings has been known to slap on her creations at a customer’s request.

The restaurant is basically a carryout establishment, with five tables for patrons to “sit and eat and relax” at, Stallings said. So far, she has seen all types of people come into Potayto Potahto since the grand opening.

“We have the lunch crowd, and they don’t want pizza or burgers, and they don’t have to get the burger or pizza,” she said. “We get the kids after school with our dollar menu, we have chips for a dollar. We have the older crowds and moms who get au gratin potatoes, scalloped potatoes to add as a side for dinner. They don’t have to make it for dinner.”

The restaurant offers the dollar menu for students between 3 and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Stalling said.

The Potayto Potahto staff wants to involve its client base in the menu, to the point where they encourage video submissions demonstrating potato dishes.

“Potayto Potatoh TV is on YouTube,” Stallings said. “You can go on there and look at potato videos and recipes and a lot of different potato stuff.”

Those who submit a video to Stallings at mstallings@potaytopotahto.com are eligible to be featured on the YouTube channel, and their dish will be displayed, honored and featured at the restaurant for a week, she said.

Involving patrons in the business is an important aspect to making it a success, but one of the most important factors is determination, she said.

“If you’re determined and resourceful and have a plan together, by all means, don’t hesitate,” Stallings said. “Don’t jump out there without a plan. Once you have your plan, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it. Get a solid plan and go for it.”

Potayto Potahto is located at 2849 W. 95th St. For more information, stop by for some spuds or call (708) 576-8493.