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. Originally called El-Side Tavern for its location beneath CTA train tracks, Kellys Pub is a great spot to reminisce the history of Chicago. OK, so not every child of the '70s will know of Pup 'N' Taco. At UrbanMatter, U Matter. (He famously banned cellphones from the dining room in 1991.) 1944-1968 // Loop And within a decade, there were more than 200 locations across America offering 10 burgers for a buck. Although its the youngest on this list, this Irish pub in Lincoln Park has still had a pretty impressive lifespan, having been around since the late 40s. Serving up traditional Chinese eats to hungry locals since the 30s, this place has never left its spot in Irving Park. But the main draw is the live music, with nightly jazz performances from big-name artists and local acts through the early morning hours. (1961-1984), Burger Chef / Multiple Chicagoland area locations. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Thanks for subscribing! (1950-2009), Down The Hatch / multiple Chicagoland area locations. College Inn It closed in 2006 after 12 years, but the restaurant launched the careers of Grant Achatz, Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand and Curtis Duffy, among other important Chicago chefs.What's taken its place: Through December, Next Restaurant is serving a version of a Trio menu from 2004. (Contemporary American) Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand (Tru), Shawn McClain (Spring, Green Zebra), anddrumroll pleaseGrant Achatz (Alinea) all passed through Trio. Blackbird (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. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Rush Street, Chicago ca. It's only open for breakfast and lunch, and the menu consists of trademark dishes like cupcake-batter pancakes and sweet and savory French toast, but you can also just get a basic omelette or granola.The Mashed Potato ClubWhat it was: Named for its signature dish, which could be garnished with more than 100 toppings including jelly beans and pickled beets, the Mashed Potato Club was an eccentric outpost in River North. Chicago is now a world-renowned restaurant city, but eateries come and go sometimes, very quickly. When most restaurants close, the Chicago eating public just shrugs its collective shoulders and sets its sights on the latest exciting opening in Logan Square. Sounds like an interesting combobut it worked. Long live the queen. Avec 2003-present // West Loop. (Contemporary) In 1987, a young whippersnapper named Charlie Trotter turned an old brownstone into a temple of modern dining. Max's Italian Beef / 5754 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL. Greg Borzos new book Lost Restaurants of Chicago celebrates departed eateries, from those lingering in recent memory to the nearly forgotten class, from high-end to bizarre, and spots serving everything from standard American fare to ethnic cuisine. Then Uno introduced deep-dish, and it was revolutionary. It's changed so much since the 60s and 70s. Alpine Inn Restaurant / 609 Milwaukee Ave. Glenview, IL. } The restaurant dished out hamburgers, and the staff members went by the nickname "Towerettes." Wh 30 Vintage Postcards Show Chicagos Restaurants in the 1950s and 60s, The Tragic Story of the Berberovs, a Soviet Family Who Raised Lions as Their Pets at Home in the 1970s, 35 Fabulous Photos Show What Brides Looked Like in the 1960s, 30 Cool Pics That Capture Naughty Ladies of the 1950s, Mihailo Tolotos, the Greek Orthodox Monk Who Lived 82 Years Without Ever Seeing a Woman, Candid Snaps of a Group of Women Spent Time Together in a Pub in Bermondsey, on a Day Trip to Margate, ca. 1946-1987 // Evanston View Website Earn 3X PointsSave. These restaurants don't exist today (or if they do, they exist in a very reduced form). (1967-19?? In its heyday, the chain had more than 1,000 locations, which served fried clams and a whopping 28 ice cream flavors. display: none !important; 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. Everest 1939-present // Glenview (French) A visit to Jovan Trboyevics sanctuary for nouvelle cuisine started with a private elevator ride to the third floorwhere bad behavior would get you tossed out. Didn't know Walgreen's used to have a restaurant chain? The second you walk in, youll feel like youre dining with family, and its been that way for decades. 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. This is one of the best historical restaurants you can find. 32. No, too corny. Helmed by a complicated chef, the restaurant was open for 25 years and, by the time it closed in 2012, had changed the face of Chicago dining. Tackle the off-menu "Dick Burger"topped with bacon, egg and hash brownsat Diner Grill, the tiny counter spot in Lakeview.Caf 28What it was: This family-owned spot served well-executed Cuban- and Mexican-inspired fare just off the Irving Park Brown Line stop in Ravenswood for 17 years before closing in 2013. display: none !important; Avec 302 West was one of the finest restaurants the western suburbs ever produced. An Irish mainstay, Kellys is one of the oldest family-owned pubs in Chicago, opening just after Prohibition was repealed and the alcohol flowed freely again. 40. 1962-1989 // Lincoln Park Same location or home to something new..?? Trio (by then renamed Trio Atelier) closed in 2006 after more than 12 years in business. Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton, Blackstone . 1985-present // Lincoln Park But what sometimes seemed like capricious ingredient pairings always made sense on the plate. Henry's Hamburgers first opened its doors in the 1950s. For dessert, there was a shimmering tempered-chocolate cube that cracked open to reveal fluffy espresso mousse. Come here with a group, and prepare to float away on a sea of martinis and red sauce. Ask Geoffrey: What Happened to Chicagos Most Famous Restaurant? (Contemporary) This treasure has delighted for three decades simply because Yoshi Katsumuras gentle fusion continues to sparkle and his wife, Nobuko, continues to charm. Staples like ropa vieja, honey-roasted pork chops and ceviche were served alongside finely crafted mojitos by a friendly (and, we'll say it, impossibly attractive) staff; weekend brunch featured chilaquiles and a terrific chorizo benedict.What's taken its place: Though Logan Square is a trek to sate North Center Cuban cravings, D'Noche, Cafe Con Leche's nighttime alter ego, offers a solid approximation of Caf 28's menu and ambience.Charlie Trotter'sWhat it was:Charlie Trotter's was one of the most iconic restaurants Chicago has ever had. Located in the Old Town Triangle, this place was once a real-deal speakeasy, back when alcohol was a no-no. 1981-present // Highland Park South Barrington, IL. Bob Elfman's Restaurant / 179 N. State St. Chicago, IL. Le Francais / 269 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL. Maison LaFite, they shoot back. (1972-2015), Schroeder's Drive-In / 432 N Gilbert St.Danville, IL. When shes not at her desk with headphones in, cranking out articles on Chicagos music, dining, and nightlife scenes, you can usually find her at concerts around the city, watching horror movies, psyching herself into going to the gym, or obsessing over scented candles. This place dishes out massive portions, so be sure to come with an appetite. This picture of an Edgewater, WI barn was taken in 1975. But like many burger joints, Henry's couldn't keep up with the competition, and locations started closing rapidly in the late '70s. The Green Mill served Al Capone in the famous booth where he and his henchmen could keep a wary eye on both of the clubs entrances. After a landlord dispute, Mantuano moved the operation to NBC Tower, re-christening it Mantuano's Mediterranean Table, where the chef added whimsical dishes such as flaming ouzo shrimp (his tongue-in-cheek nod to saganaki). What was the name of the Chinese restaurant on 26th street across from the pet store in the 1950s and 1960s owned by Charlie Bing? But if you grew up in California, you will know it well. But, oh, that country bird chicken sandwich (fried chicken topped with Gouda, pimento mayo and shaved onion). This pub was originally Zagorskis Tavern, owned by an intersex woman Walter Lottie Zagorski, who often dressed in drag. The pattern was updated in the 1970s when Richard Melman and partners opened a series of casual dining restaurants in the Chicago area beginning with R. J. Grunts in 1971. Amidst the steak and potatoes of 1963, its pt, bouillabaisse, Wiener schnitzel, and Viennese tortes stood out as exotic. . We still miss the cloches and the gorgeous dessert cart. Chicago was thriving and developing in the 1970s. This family business has worked for decades upon decades to provide top-notch, regional Italian eats, and has one of the most impressive collections of wine in the city to back it up. Well, then you probably weren't a child in the '70s or '80s. 29. The name "Sambo's" was allegedly used as a portmanteau of the founders' names, but the owners inevitably decided to lean into this correlation to the book The Story of Little Black Sambo. (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. (I dubbed them Hogan's Heroes at the time.) Arthur T. LaBar/Flickr. Owner Joel Findlay was a brilliant chef, particularly when it came to fish, and his wife and partner, Catherine Findlay, created so many outstanding desserts that you'd have at least 15 to choose among every evening. 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website. 23. (Italian) In a city with a proud red-sauce tradition, Tony Mantuano singlehandedly awakened us to the exquisite joys of Northern Italian cuisine. .goog-text-highlight { 35. Gene & Georgetti, 500 N Franklin St., 1941. (deli food) Where cops, aldermen, yuppies, old-timers, and multi- cultis have always stood shoulder to shoulder for massive potato pancakes and pastrami sandwiches. And then opened Ripasso, closed that, and then opened Starland and closed that. This is a nice shot of La Crosse from Grandad Bluff in 1972. Housed in a restored bank building, the split-level dining room offered soaring ceilings and bright-white . Charlie Trotters But before that Grace, there was chef/owner Ted Cizma's restaurant, named for his younger daughter and located, oddly enough, a block east of the current Grace. 2. Many brides wore domed pillbox A cool photo collection that shows what naughty ladies looked like in the 1950s. 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. (Spanish) I think tapas-style dining is going to be the next big food experience in the country. Richard Melman, president of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, January 1986. Chicago misses these closed restaurants but, in most cases, you can find something similar to sate your longing. } 4. The restaurant closed in 2010 after 10 years.Whats taken its place: Well, literally, its GT Fish & Oyster that takes up the 531 N Wells St space. 12. The danger of asking your friends what they consider the best Chicago restaurant ever is that they will tell you. Perched atop the Macys flagship on State is The Walnut Room the first-ever restaurant to open inside a department store. Just take a look around sophisticated and classy is what this place is all about. So said Bon Apptit, Julia Child, Jacques Ppin, Craig Claiborne, and Mimi Sheraton. Old Heidelberg / 14 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL. .goog-te-banner-frame { Ye Olde Leather Bottle Pub / 7353 W. Grand Ave. Elmwood Park, IL. What's taken its place: It's hard to think of a comparable spot, but if you want to get drunk and eat potatoes smothered in strange toppings, hit a bar in Wrigleyville and soak up the booze at Big Cheese Poutinerie.Ohio House Coffee ShopWhat it was: A quintessential greasy spoon diner in River North, the Ohio House Coffee Shop was the kind of place where you could nurse a hangover for less than $7. (773) 478-9129. Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. Le Titi was a beautiful experience, one with all the trappings of formal dining but none of the stuffiness. First opened in 1907, the Green Mill became a speakeasy during Prohibition. If there were more justice in the world, Savarin would be around still. Lombard, IL60148, Frejlach's Ice Cream Grille / multiple Chicagoland area locations (1930-19??). 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. } These amazing black and white photos were taken by ceebop that show what Chicago looked like in the early 1970s. Even as Beef Wellington lost its fashionability in the 1970s and 1980s, it continued as a Bakery mainstay. Topolobampo (1949-2015). (Contemporary American) Paul Kahan put American food through a modern lens and unleashed a sleeping giant. 13. Desserts included the opera-inspired Tosca's Kiss and the Otello, and the dining rooms were decorated with vintage opera posters American opera companies in one room, international companies in the other. But not with these restaurantsthese are the places we truly miss, and not always because the food was so great or the atmosphere was so alluring. 1986-present // South Loop (1979-2014). Another Marriott story: The famous burger chain Bob's Big Boy merged with the corporation in 1967 (the chain had first opened in 1936 in Burbank, California). (1979-2004), Tast-e Hast-e Dog / Milwaukee 5446 N. Ave. Chicago, IL.(1946-???? /a > Name Good. Ambria } Chef Michael Short whipped up offbeat flavor combinations (scallops and pasta bathed in mint-Montrachet sauce, skate wing in wasabi beurre blanc in 1992, mind you) and was using Sichuan peppercorns long before they became a thing. 38. Aside from one location in Nebraska that closed in 2017, all other Lum's had closed by 1983. The decade was the gateway to the present in many ways. 11. There were 91 freestanding locations when the chain sold to the Marriott Corporation in 1988. Named after the corner of Burling and Wrightwood where it stands, this Lincoln Park dive is beloved by the neighborhood. / co-owned by Steve Dahl. The impact this place has on Chicago history speaks for itself just browse through their collection of memories submitted to their website by nostalgic patrons. Cizma loved cooking game blackberry-stuffed venison loin, grilled boar tenderloin, rabbit with prunes and port-wine sauce and I loved eating there. Heres a newspaper clipping from the Edinburg Daily Courier, and is dated October 29, 1938. And (of course) it operated for a while as a speakeasy. 4. Bridal gowns in the 1960s mostly featured high-waisted empire silhouettes and up-styles were definitely in. Jerry and Carolyn Buster, who had worked under legendary chef Louis Szathmary at The Bakery, opened this homey suburban restaurant, which oozed country charm. "Ramsay's Kitchen" in Naperville is expected to open this . Check out these old photos to see what Chicagos restaurants looked like in the 1950s. Although younger generations may know of Howard Johnson's thanks to Mad Men, '70s kids will remember actually visiting the orange-roofed restaurant chain. So they must be doing something right. 36. The thin doughnut-crepe treat could be pulled off in spirals.Whats taken its place: As far as we can tell, you cant get chimney cakes anywhere in Chicago. There were many homeless people living on the streets and the crime rates were . This breakfast diner is known throughout the world, having been visited by politicians, celebrities, and athletes alike, making it a staple among Chicagos oldest restaurants. Along with a map beautifully illustrated by Steve Shanabruchshowing the locations of the 75 top picks, I've created a. (Thai) Before Arun Sampanthavivat opened this jewel box, we had never tasted elegant Thai food. Visit Website . The area has been gentrified, which began in the 80s. 7.7k Views 14. 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