Carlos Subscribe for free today! (Contemporary French) From day one, Carlos Nieto's patented silver bow tie has said it all: Check your ideas about formal French dining at the door. top: 0 !important; But, despite its young age, there are plenty of bars and restaurants around Chicago that are as old as the city itself. It started on Franklin Street in 1991,and between the crispy pizzas and the rosemary-perfumed porchetta, there was nothing not to like. Spiaggia This is a nice shot of La Crosse from Grandad Bluff in 1972. The level of hospitality provided at this place rivals none, and anyone whos been there can attest! Moran & Galvin's Restaurant Lounge / Harrison St. Hillside, IL. background-color: transparent !important; Until 1995, the only way to experience chef Jean Joho's food was by digging deep into your wallet to dine at Everest. And children of the '70s will remember that time well. The first 1,100 people to weigh in get a free four-pack of pizza . The history of Chicagos restaurant scene and the characters who have populated it help tell the story of the city itself. That includedconstructing long-lasting, local haunts that would remain open for over a century, and then some, so even modern Chicagoans canfeel the history in the air when they frequent these places. 1933-present // Gold Coast And for more chains that didn't stand the test of time, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1980s That Will Make You Feel So Nostalgic. Downtown was a bit quieter and the density of buildings on the Near North Side, especially around River North, was far lower. Gibsons Steakhouse Kow Kow Restaurant /6755 N. Cicero Ave. Lincolnwood, IL. Never doubt Henry's eye for talent. (1963-198?) 1985-present // Lincoln Park Oprah Winfrey, left, was known to stop by tables at The Eccentric, the restaurant she opened with Rich Melman. Doug Sohn is Hot Doug's, and while the bratwurst is perfect and the creative links (like a hot sauce chicken sausage) are great, Doug is the best part. text-align: left !important; This pub was originally Zagorskis Tavern, owned by an intersex woman Walter Lottie Zagorski, who often dressed in drag. (He famously banned cellphones from the dining room in 1991.) } 1898-present // Loop Best part? The party came to an abrupt end in 2002 when the restaurant closed its bright yellow doors for good. Open in Google Maps. display: none !important; 5. But many food lovers also know the heartbreak that comes with your favorite restaurant closing for good. Everest And (of course) it operated for a while as a speakeasy. 1966-2005 // Gold Coast 5. Before its demise, Burger Chef was sold to the company that owns Hardee's, where the Big Shef has been available for limited runs in past years. What follows is a list of 40 restaurants that epitomize Chicagos impact on the culinary universe. Amidst the steak and potatoes of 1963, its pt, bouillabaisse, Wiener schnitzel, and Viennese tortes stood out as exotic. I loved everything about the River North place; the cool plaster hands used as curtain tiebacks, the naughty graffiti and artworks in the powder rooms and, of course, the dapper, unflappable presence of owner Gordon Sinclair, himself, who kept his restaurant sophisticated and vibrant for 23 years. 1976-1999 // River North Facebook/Gene & Georgetti Chicago. Today, only the original Happy Chef location still stands. Read: where pork became the hippest food on the planet. 40. (deli food) Where cops, aldermen, yuppies, old-timers, and multi- cultis have always stood shoulder to shoulder for massive potato pancakes and pastrami sandwiches. Tragically, chef Terczak died two years later from a rare liver disease. Serving the people of Chicago since the end of the Gangster Era, this Irish saloon is a North Side gem ready to quench your thirst for the Glascott special: Stoli O vodka, cranberry juice, and Red Bull. 4802 N. Broadway St., Uptown. In addition to a variety of hot dogs, Pup 'N' Taco's menu boasted tacos, tostadas, and pastrami sandwiches. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. (Viennese) In the heart of the theatre district, the steadfastly Old World Henricis was known for fine coffee, delectable pastries, and its advertising slogan: No Orchestral Din. (French) Well, maybe faux French, but the flower-bedecked courtyard was incredibly popular with the Ladies Who Lunch long before the phrase was coined. Dennis Terczak (brother of John) was the original chef at Avanzare (a Streeterville restaurant that almost made this list), and Terczak took that spirit with him to Lincoln Park, where Sole Mio (which he opened with Jennifer Newbury) became a quintessential neighborhood restaurant, chock-full of regulars who enjoyed hefty portions, approachable prices and some of the best Italian cooking in the city. I raved about the eclectic, but utterly professional, gem in Wilmette, a very pretty space done in aqua and salmon hues and dishes like Jarvis' wild turkey breast stuffed with truffle mousse. The domed, dark Crescent Room, home to many a bachelorette and birthday party, featured low tables, pillow seating and multicolored Moroccan lamps hanging from the ceiling. Experience a sliver of Chicago history at the oldest bars and restaurants in the city. .. respond @windflowerfarmalpaca @ Gmail.com, Egg Harbor WI, (former home ofBarbara Cady, our dining companion in those days:):). Images of the storybook, featuring a little boy of color, served as decorations in the store. / co-owned by Steve Dahl. (German) The stately original across from the Germania Club fell to urban renewal, and when RSI closed for good, we lost the citys best German pancakes. 1982-present // Lake View Savarin was the 1998 restaurant chef Hogan did open, a gorgeous space with walls treated to resemble green leather, ornate chandeliers and linen-draped tables. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Hat Dance / 325 W. Huron St. Chicago, IL. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! It had all the musts a secret entrance, an antique wooden bar that still stands to this today, and gin a-brewin in a bathtub upstairs. But for '70s kids, they might be a nostalgic part of your childhood memories. 26. Need ideas? Mantuano was forced out in late 1999 by his money partners, and the space went through a few name changes before closing for good in 2009. I included some big names, but also quite a few lesser-known restaurants that appealed to me personally. Shangri-La Aside from one location in Nebraska that closed in 2017, all other Lum's had closed by 1983. Wing Yee 1989-present // Gold Coast The Iconic Chicago Restaurants Map exists in a couple different formats. Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Joel Grey, Bonnie Hunt, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Max, the Maharishi and Steve Stone and Bobby Douglass are just a few of the famous guests in the 70s. 1979-present // River North 11. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. But for refined Mediterranean, the best place to go these days is Taxim. The chain eventually lost steam in the '80s, with the last spot closing in 1996. (American barbecue) Ribs moved into a swanky dining room in Skokie, everyone wore plastic bibs, and licking your fingers in public became not only acceptablebut fashionable. 4. And the restaurants, with their giant happy chef greeting customers outside, grew through the Midwest to more than 60 locations. Elis Place for Steak 25. These restaurants don't exist today (or if they do, they exist in a very reduced form). Alexanders Steak House But, oh, that country bird chicken sandwich (fried chicken topped with Gouda, pimento mayo and shaved onion). led to Earwax angrily closing its doors in 2011.What's taken its place: Heartland Caf, minus the good vibes.Hot Doug'sWhat it was: Doug Sohn is closing his revered hot dog temple on October 3, but we're mourning the end of our interactions with Doug as much as the sausages themselves. Le Perroquet Trio (by then renamed Trio Atelier) closed in 2006 after more than 12 years in business. So yeah, theyve seen it all. Sorry. 10 Downing St. / Route 31 West Dundee, IL. The Come Back Inn / 1913 W. Lake St. Melrose Park, IL. Trotter's incredible legacy has stretched all across the city, as alumni of his kitchen have opened some of the best restaurants in Chicago. (The restaurant's namesake is the English actor who played the butler in the Shirley Temple films.). It was such a hit, in fact, that Gilbert opened another location in Lincoln Park in 2009. 1946-1987 // Evanston I'd take extra time every visit to read through the wine list, written by Joel Findlay and peppered with informative and sometimes humorous commentary. 1974 - A Chicago food writer . From Chicago Film Society Wednesday, a Sunrise you cant afford to miss, Rick Armstrongs Aurora, Elgin, Naperville boys basketball rankings and player of the week for Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, Little progress in R. Kelly cases as defense requests more information on Cook County charges, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Pump Room (1979-2004), Tast-e Hast-e Dog / Milwaukee 5446 N. Ave. Chicago, IL.(1946-???? Although younger generations may know of Howard Johnson's thanks to Mad Men, '70s kids will remember actually visiting the orange-roofed restaurant chain. Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips / No longer in the Chicagoland area (founded 1969), Mr. K's Restaurant / 5415 N Harlem Ave. Norwood Park, IL. I was going to go all inside-baseball and say the restaurant I really missed was Mistral, the John Hogan project that never quite got off the ground. In the 1940s and 1950s, and even into the 1960s, tiki bars popped up all over the United States, including in Chicago, as people . (Contemporary French) From day one, Carlos Nietos patented silver bow tie has said it all: Check your ideas about formal French dining at the door. Although it was never as big as McDonald's or Burger King, Red Barn is estimated to have 400 restaurants in 22 states at its peak. November 20, 2014 1960s, 1970s, Chicago, life & culture, street. (Continental) Cognoscenti flocked to Louis Szathmrys quirky storefrontno menu and mismatched everything for beef Wellington and an inexplicable BYO policy. Shockingly, the restaurant continued to grow and there were more than 1,000 spots by 1979. 34. Check out these old photos to see what Chicagos restaurants looked like in the 1950s. 1973-1991 // Gold Coast Ye Olde Leather Bottle Pub / 7353 W. Grand Ave. Elmwood Park, IL. Housed in a restored bank building, the split-level dining room offered soaring ceilings and bright-white walls, and the bar, located in an open loft, let imbibers watch the goings-on below. Rex's Cork And Fork / 1317 E. Main St. St. Charles, IL. The Red Star Inn / 1528 N. Clark Chicago, IL. Fannys Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below! Bridal gowns in the 1960s mostly featured high-waisted empire silhouettes and up-styles were definitely in. visibility: hidden !important; Theres something about Italian food that it just seems to taste better if its made with generations of family tradition behind it. (Contemporary American) The bon vivant Gordon A. Sinclair brought sophistication to a seedy stretch of North Clark Street, and River North was born. 1947-1972 // Loop The Eccentric, a Rich Melman creation with you-know-who as its most visible partner, opened in 1989 with Michael Kornick as chef (succeeded by Jody Denton) and had a very respectable six-year run in River North. 7. Whats taken its place: Since Pecking Order closed in July, Subidos food has been popping up at farmers markets and other food events. (Held our wedding ceremony here), Chateau Louise / Route 31 West Dundee, IL. Gordon Sporting a digital jukebox that might have replaced a vintage one from back in the day, you can dance all night long without judgment at a place like this. Ditka's City Lights / 223 W. Otario Chicago, IL. 1.4k Views. 16. This photo from 1970 was of the general store (no longer standing) in Star Valley. And then shuttered both. Gordon Ramsay operates 21 restaurants in the U.S. These restaurants were doing something novel at the time, or they hold some kind of nostalgia for us. Yoshis Caf In 1941, Gene Michelotti and Alfredo Federighi opened the first steakhouse in Chicago called Gene & Georgetti. After graduating from the U of I with a Bachelors in English, Courtney hit the ground running. When Marriott acquired the company in 1979 and shut down all the company-owned spots, the franchise ones closed not long after. I narrowed my list to 15 restaurants, which wasn't easy. And so will your furry friend, for that matter, since its a dog-friendly bar. 17. The rathskeller was known for its horse-betting, gambling, stripping, and other vices during the 30s, which eventually got Lottie arrested in 1966 when the city started to crack down on criminal activity. 1973-2007 // Wheeling box-shadow: none !important; We're far too young to have firsthand experience, but we still dream of sitting on the chrome stools in the pink neon glow every time we watch Risky Business, when Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay enjoy a bite after some slo-mo CTA shagging.What's taken its place: Still seeking a gastrointestinal lube job at 4am with a side of nostalgia? 8. Hot Doug's / 3324N. California, Chicago, IL, Jonathan Livingston Seafood / (1975-1985), Sabrina / 660 N. Orleans, Chicago IL. 37. (Contemporary) In 1987, a young whippersnapper named Charlie Trotter turned an old brownstone into a temple of modern dining. Federighi was nicknamed "Georgetti" after the famous Italian cyclist. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Market Plaza Mall Rolling Meadows, IL. (My Parents wedding reception was held here), Skip's Fiesta Drive-In / Melrose Park, IL. (Thai) Before Arun Sampanthavivat opened this jewel box, we had never tasted elegant Thai food. border: none !important; The idea was quickly copied by national chains. Luckily, in most cases there are alternatives that fill the void these restaurants left butsighnever completely.RECOMMENDED: Chicago businesses we missBanquet on a BunWhat it was: The hungry, horny and high pouring out of Faces, the discotheque with a membership card, could stumble across Rush Street and scarf down greasy burgers at this diner. And its still known for getting pretty rowdy now. After the first location opened in 1956, there were 102 locations by the early '80s. Urbis Orbis served as a social center where the artists and musicians moving in to the area could linger all day over a cappuccino (unlike at the neighborhood's old-school, low-rent diners) and put on performances at night. First opened in 1907, the Green Mill became a speakeasy during Prohibition. (photo courtesy of, 6755 N. Cicero Ave. Lincolnwood, IL. She was best known for her Heavenly Hots (thin pancakes served with a compote of peaches, raspberries and blueberries), but we also loved the vanilla bean waffles. Stouffer's Top of the Rock, Prudential Building, Chicago. 2003-present // West Loop That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. (French) This bastion of haute owes its successfour stars for 19 straight yearsto Jean Joho, the anti-trend chef who shows no signs of letting up. Today, it has a modern speakeasy downstairs called The Drifter, where you can experience what it may have been like to come here in the 20s. You'll undoubtedly think of many places I've overlooked. Owner Dick Portillo changed the stand's name to Portillo's in 1967 and ditched the trailer for a storefront.What's taken its place: While there's still a location in Villa Park, Portillo's has grown into a 50-location Midwest chain that reportedly sold for $1 billion to a private equity firm in July.EarwaxWhat it was: Before Wicker Park became Lincoln Park West, it was an edgy, angry enclave for irate hipsters wearing clunky boots and clunkier glasses. Lockwood Castle / 5400 W. Devon Ave.Chicago IL. Chef David Jarvis had me at pecan-breaded oysters, a crunchy, sweet and earthy dish that curled my toes in 1990. Too bad; Gordon was the very first restaurant I reviewed for the Tribune (even though it was 13 years old by then), and I went back multiple times in the following 10 years, thanks to the restaurant's frequent chef turnover (most of whom left to open their own restaurants). 1. (Contemporary) This treasure has delighted for three decades simply because Yoshi Katsumuras gentle fusion continues to sparkle and his wife, Nobuko, continues to charm. Chicago is now a world-renowned restaurant city, but eateries come and go sometimes, very quickly. By the mid-'70s, the chain was spread throughout the East Coast and attempting to open in the Midwest. It took Jarvis nearly a year to reopen, this time in larger digs in nearby Northfield (the opening wine list included "fire-sale reds," which had water-damaged labels), but Melange finally was back, along with those oysters. Your favorite restaurant closing for good in Chicago called Gene & amp ; Georgetti & quot ; the... The Rock, Prudential Building, Chicago, life & amp ; Georgetti especially around River North Facebook/Gene & ;... In 1991. ) 1,100 people to weigh in get a free four-pack of pizza 1979-2004 ) Tast-e. Of La Crosse from Grandad Bluff in 1972 also know the heartbreak that with. 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