Pie-Pan Drive-In / 5950 N. Cicero Ave. Chicago, IL. But the main draw is the live music, with nightly jazz performances from big-name artists and local acts through the early morning hours. Although the oldest-standing Bob's Big Boy is still running in Burbank and various other locations are still open, the chain has never bounced back from its peak in the '70s. 1965-late 1980s // Lincoln Park Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below! No, too corny. Theres something about Italian food that it just seems to taste better if its made with generations of family tradition behind it. Another neighborhood bar serving cheap drinks, this Noble Square establishment may have operated as a speakeasy at some point too, but the details are a bit blurry. 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website. } 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. Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips / No longer in the Chicagoland area (founded 1969), Mr. K's Restaurant / 5415 N Harlem Ave. Norwood Park, IL. 1933-present // Gold Coast Allegretti's / 10 Chicagoland area locations (1946-1996), The Shoe / 3240 Kirchoff Rd. I skipped the obvious choices (Ambria, Charlie Trotter's, Le Francais), recent closings (mk, Tru) and places that I never got to experience personally (The Bakery, Barney's Market Club, Henrici's, Mister Kelly's). Housed in a restored bank building, the split-level dining room offered soaring ceilings and bright-white . 4. 8. Chicago sleaze 1965. Craving even more throwback content? (Continental) Cognoscenti flocked to Louis Szathmrys quirky storefrontno menu and mismatched everything for beef Wellington and an inexplicable BYO policy. VIP's opened in 1968 in Oregon and had grown to 15 restaurants by 1971. 1943-present // River North (1979-2004), Tast-e Hast-e Dog / Milwaukee 5446 N. Ave. Chicago, IL.(1946-???? )What's taken its place: Though the crowd is less singer-songwriter, more graphic designer, Filter has a lock on the all-day camping set in the Wicker Park of today. Serving up traditional Chinese eats to hungry locals since the 30s, this place has never left its spot in Irving Park. 28. 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. 1981-present // Highland Park This pub was originally Zagorskis Tavern, owned by an intersex woman Walter Lottie Zagorski, who often dressed in drag. Chicago, IL. 3. But in 1981, all the locations changed their name to Druther's, which was more inclusive of the fried chicken and self-serve salad bar that was also on the menu. 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. border: none !important; Henry's existed successfully throughout the early-'70s, until Bresler's went through corporate changes and Henry's Hamburgers slowly became a casualty of the company's refusal to update with. (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. 1987-present What started as a small hot dog stand in Florida blossomed into a company with 400 franchises in the United States, including Hawaii. On Diversey Pkwy and Halsted St. there used to be all kinds of small family-owned businesses. Some get accolades for being game changers, some for grandeur, and even a few for kitsch, but all for memorable dining. There were bakeries, butcher shops, greasy-spoon diners, liquor stores, old-fashioned barber shops, and tiny drugstores that had only two or three aisles. (1959-1980), Ponderosa / Multiple Chicagoland area locations, Sammy Skobel's Hot Dogs Plus/ Mt. 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. Le Francais / 269 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. co-owned by Garry Meier, Prince Castle / Multiple Chicagoland area locations (1928-196? 34. Jerry and Carolyn Buster, who had worked under legendary chef Louis Szathmary at The Bakery, opened this homey suburban restaurant, which oozed country charm. Mister Donut / Multiple Chicagoland area locations (1956-1990), Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour/ No longer in the Chicagoland area (founded 1963), Marc's Big Boy / No longer in the Chicagoland area, Poppin' Fresh Pies/ Mutiple Chicagoland area locations (1969-1983), Petricca's Restaurant & Banquet Hall / Chicago IL. (1949-2015). As many others on this list, its been run by the same family for three generations. It was a riot, and if you were lucky, you'd catch a glimpse of Winfrey herself; 1989-Me was enthralled. Cause ladies like a cold one, too (thanks, sister). But as protests over the name grew, some changed names; by 1981, the company had filed for bankruptcy. (steaks) The rolling-cart show of massive cuts of plastic-wrapped prime beef raised the bar on excessive steak consumption from maybe to mandatory. Discreetly located underneath the Canterbury Courts apartments, this is the place to go when you want to sing the night away. Roger W/Flickr. Launched in January 2016 by longtime Chicago chef Patrick Crane (currently at the Hidden Shamrock gastropub in Lincoln Park), the site is a place where chefs and others reminisce about departed restaurants. Ask Geoffrey: What Happened to Chicagos Most Famous Restaurant? Casual dining at its finest, VIP's was a well-known chain in the Pacific Northwest. visibility: hidden !important; In its heyday, the chain had more than 1,000 locations, which served fried clams and a whopping 28 ice cream flavors. Roger W/Flickr. 27. Alinea Not like Fronteras, we hadnt. Potato Head toys, while taking in nightly entertainment like drag shows and cabarets. We gathered them from experience, of course, but also from Chicagos voluminous files, avid conversations, and old guidebooks. circa 1930-1978 // South Shore Gene & Georgetti (500 N Franklin Street) Facebook/Gene & Georgetti Chicago. The danger of asking your friends what they consider the best Chicago restaurant ever is that they will tell you. RELATED:8 Legendary Steakhouses That Have Closed. Read: where pork became the hippest food on the planet. Swiss Chalet, Bismarck Hotel, Chicago. 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. Unlike more rebellious establishments, they kept things kosher during Prohibition by stepping up their food game and offering non-alcoholic beer, until of course, they became the very first place to obtain a liquor license after the ban was lifted. The restaurant is located in River North and has a reputation for excellence. Chicago misses these closed restaurants but, in most cases, you can find something similar to sate your longing. All-day breakfast is one way to make people happy, and that's what Minnesota chain Happy Chef aimed to do. 1950s, Joan Crawfords Tips for a Great Party: Everyone Welcome, Except Hippies With Unwashed Feet, Before Google Maps, There Was a Navigation Hotline You Could Call for Directions, 1963, Antonio's Steak House at 1528 N. Wells Street, Chicago, Bamboo Inn Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge at 11 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, Camellia House Restaurant, Drake Hotel, Chicago, Club El Bianco at 2747 West 63rd Street, Chicago, Elizabethan Room, Congress Hotel and Annex, Chicago, Fireplace Inn at 1448 N. Wells Street, Chicago, Glass Hat Restaurant, Congress Hotel, Chicago, Henrici's Restaurant at 67 West Randolph, Chicago, Honolulu Harry's Waikiki at 204 Wilson Avenue, Chicago, Jacques French Restaurant at 900 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Kon-Tiki Ports Restaurant, Sheraton-Chicago Hotel at 501 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Kon-Tiki Ports Restaurant, Sheraton-Chicago Hotel at 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Kon-Tiki Ports Restaurant, Sheraton-Chicago Hotel at 605 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Kungsholm Scandinavian Restaurant at 100 E. Ontario Street, Chicago, Martinique Restaurant and Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago, Myrtlewood Bar, Indian Room, Blackhawk Restaurant, Chicago, Porterhouse Room, College Inn, Sherman Hotel, Chicago, Sayat Nova Armenian Restaurant at 6465 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Shangri-La Restaurant at 222 N. State Street, Chicago, Southwest Inn at 4501 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago. Tags: Design Controls - Google AMP, Dining & Drinking, Dining News, I remember going to Tamborine a favorite years ago where Id go with friends does it still exist.?. You'll undoubtedly think of many places I've overlooked. Yoshis Caf Patrons could order martinis and Jell-o shots at a bar decorated with tinsel, nude murals and Mr. Still operated by the original Glascott family four generations later, this bar boasts having hooked up thousands of singles over the years, only to see their inevitable move to the suburbs.. 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. 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. (Contemporary American) Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand (Tru), Shawn McClain (Spring, Green Zebra), anddrumroll pleaseGrant Achatz (Alinea) all passed through Trio. Located in The Drake Hotel, a Chicago landmark, this place is the definition of old-time-y elegance. Fritzels (Contemporary American) Its star has faded, but memories of damned good food and Booth Onewhere Bogie and Bacall celebrated their weddingstill make our hearts race. .prisna-gwt-align-left { To mark Day of the Dead (All Souls Day, if you prefer) on Thursday, Phil Vettel shares his 15 most-missed restaurants in Chicago and suburbs. But, despite its young age, there are plenty of bars and restaurants around Chicago that are as old as the city itself. View Website Earn 3X PointsSave. Jimmys Place Lottie was a total BA, turning her neighborhood grocery store into a liquor store with a basement speakeasyor rathskellerthat was ruled by Chicagos gangsters and corrupt politicians. As a toast to this magazines 40th anniversary, we name the 40 best Chicago restaurants of all time. Thanks for subscribing! 302 West was one of the finest restaurants the western suburbs ever produced. 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. 10. Owned by the same family for three generations, it began as a totally innocent (ahem)soda shop during the tail-end of the nations dry years. } Pizzeria Uno The opening chef in 1978 was the late Yoshi Katsumura (who would go on to open Yoshi's Cafe in Wrigleyville), followed by Kevin Shikami (a Food & Wine best new chef in 1991). "Ramsay's Kitchen" in Naperville is expected to open this . Open in Google Maps. There were about 170 restaurants in the U.S. at that timebut 10 years later, all of those were bought out by Dairy Queen. 200 N LaSalle St Ste 1540 Chicago, IL 60601 Trio Despite the controversy, though, there's still one Sambo's Restaurant location left in Santa Barbara. Now, its your classic (and totally legit) neighborhood joint serving good drinks and tavern eats. From Grant Achatz's Alinea and Next to Real Kitchen, a take-out restaurant, you can still taste the influence Trotter left on the Chicago dining scene.Chimney Cake IslandWhat it was: This small Edgewater shop, which closed in June 2013, specialized in its namesake chimney cakes, a delicious Transylvanian pastry thats rolled onto a wooden pin and baked. The late Jimmy Rohr, veteran restaurateur and opera devotee, ran this refined, sophisticated restaurant in Avondale. 1966-2005 // Gold Coast College Inn 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. NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is planning to open another of his namesake restaurants in downtown Naperville. 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. ), Golden Bear Family Restaurant / Multiple Chicagoland arealocations (19??-1984). 22. Then, at Topo, he made creative Mexican fare a white-tablecloth experience. Sorry. 1985-present // Albany Park Chicago has made countless contributions to global food culture, from the obvious (deep dish pizza) to the less-so (chicken a la king). Italian Village Photo Credit: Italian Village Est. Dj vu! It took our breath away then, and it still does. We still dream about the pasta neri. 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. The Bakery By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Heres a newspaper clipping from the Edinburg Daily Courier, and is dated October 29, 1938. Come here with a group, and prepare to float away on a sea of martinis and red sauce. (Franco-Asian) Jimmy Rohr greeted guests at the door, kept the lights low, and played strictly opera music, which made for the most civilized dinner in town. But for '70s kids, they might be a nostalgic part of your childhood memories. 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. (steaks, Italian) If the walls of this 1870 edifice could talk, they would spill decades of political deals cut over perfectly char-crusted aged prime steaks. 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. 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. 25. Tragically, chef Terczak died two years later from a rare liver disease. Same location or home to something new..?? Hot Doug's / 3324N. California, Chicago, IL, Jonathan Livingston Seafood / (1975-1985), Sabrina / 660 N. Orleans, Chicago IL. Subscribe for free today! (Mediterranean) The trendoids embraced the small plates and communal seating and never looked back. They were probably funny but rebellious. Whats taken its place: Since Pecking Order closed in July, Subidos food has been popping up at farmers markets and other food events. Red Star Inn Try another? Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, 1970. Light on the tongue pizzas, terrific pasta dishes and clever desserts helped Sole Mio to a very nice, nine-year run that ended in 1997. (19??-2009). Founded in 1926, White Tower was long thought to be an imitator of White Castle, which was founded five years earlier. 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. (1963-198?) In the 1940s and 1950s, and even into the 1960s, tiki bars popped up all over the United States, including in Chicago, as people . Jakes has free popcorn, waiting to cure your munchies at a moments notice. .goog-tooltip:hover { (American) The Spinning Bowl salad: A waiter would lay out 21 ingredients and narrate the drama as he gently tossed and spun them. 26. What it was: Trio, owned by Henry Adaniya (who now operates a gourmet hot dog restaurant in Honolulu), was a much-lauded fine-dining restaurant in Evanston. RELATED:10 Old-Fashioned Sodas You Forgot You Loved. 1942-present // South Loop ("86" is restaurant shorthand for a dish no longer available that night.) Even as Beef Wellington lost its fashionability in the 1970s and 1980s, it continued as a Bakery mainstay. Star Top Cafe wasn't for everybody, but I loved the joint. Elis Place for Steak Savarin showed Hogan's mastery of French technique; the menu interspersed bistro classics with sturgeon-wrapped crab mousse and a knockout composition of sea urchin and crabmeat in lobster sauce with a sabayon gratin. Tiritilli's / 151 E. North Ave. Northlake, IL. 1974 - A Chicago food writer . 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. Le Franais And then opened Ripasso, closed that, and then opened Starland and closed that. Bill Ammons, also the pastry chef, patrolled the Lincoln Park dining room with a ready wit, delivered in a gentle drawl. (1950-2009), Down The Hatch / multiple Chicagoland area locations. ", 25 Beloved Restaurants That Are Gone for Good, the restaurant announced in June that it's changing its name. And children of the '70s will remember that time well. "I always had a passion for photography, and I went by Uptown every day, twice a day, actually on my way to and from work. The name was a contraction of "tutto a posto," roughly meaning "all is as it should be" (we might translate it to "it's all good" today), and the Mediterranean restaurant with the Italian name was the brainchild of Tony Mantuano, who created it in between his two terms running Spiaggia (where he's running things today). When Frank Sinatra is one of your regulars, you know youve made history. (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. For dessert, there was a shimmering tempered-chocolate cube that cracked open to reveal fluffy espresso mousse. Today, it hasn't lost any of its vintage charm you can even sit in Capone's favorite booth. Also obvious, perhaps, but impossible to ignore. They only served alcohol to men (ouch), that is, until 1969 when Gloria Steinem protested for womens rights. When Tramonto and Gale left, the top toque passed to Shawn McClain (who went on to create Green Zebra and Spring, along with several Las Vegas restaurants), and after that tour of duty, Adaniya reached out to the French Laundry and brought a young chef named Grant Achatz to Chicago. (1967-19?? 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? (seafood) Unapologetically trapped in time today, the grande dame of the Drake Hotel was ahead of its timeflying in fresh fishyears before the daily catch was de rigueur. So if you're "hungry for a Henry's," that's where you should go. Bressler's Ice Cream was a popular ice cream chain in Chicago in the '30s and '40s, so it seemed only natural that a fast-food chain would come as an extension. When Joel Findlay died, much too soon, in 2004, Catherine Findlay kept the staff together and operated the restaurant for nearly two more years before selling it, ending a 19-year run. Serving up fried chicken, fish, and chips, Arthur Treacher's peaked with more than 800 stores in the late '70s. Then Uno introduced deep-dish, and it was revolutionary. Calumet City's contribution to the fine-dining scene was a formidable one. Some of the restaurants Borzo highlights had some pretty remarkable ways of attracting customers. Dinners would begin with warm, crusty bread, accompanied by a spreadable blend of olives, sun-dried tomatoes and capers. Mannys Coffee Shop &Deli We already have this email. The intimate lounge wouldnt be slinging the delicious cocktails they are today without becoming the second place in the city to obtain a liquor license after Prohibition. This photo from 1970 was of the general store (no longer standing) in Star Valley. } 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. The Red Star Inn / 1528 N. Clark Chicago, IL. 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. We've rounded up a list of nostalgic restaurants that have either gone out of business completely or have greatly reduced their operations. 302 West was one of the finest restaurants the western suburbs ever produced. Trotter's incredible legacy has stretched all across the city, as alumni of his kitchen have opened some of the best restaurants in Chicago. Ambria 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). Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. This piano bar in the Gold Coast proudly totes thethird oldest liquor license in the city. In 1989, as the restaurant was about to close, Szathmary said that although current food writers made fun of it, "they all raved about it once, and I know 50 percent of our sales after 26 years is still beef Wellington." 1976-1999 // River North . 5. Schaller's Pump, opened some 130 years ago in the city's Bridgeport neighborhood, took top honors in the ranking. 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? 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.