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The following year it was enlarged to seat 300. Trio (by then renamed Trio Atelier) closed in 2006 after more than 12 years in business. 40. And on and on. By 1930, at age 71, her occupation was listed as tea room proprietor, but no longer in the 1940 census. 1970s chicago restaurants. When I first moved to Chicago in 1993, our city had just become famous for its music scene. Bumbling through the cafeteria line Celebrity restaurants: Evelyn Nesbits tea room The artist dines out Reubens: celebrities and sandwiches Good eaters: students From tap room to tea room Whats in a name? Pre-1980 MOTEL SCENE Oak Brook - Near Chicago Illinois IL AE0993. (Before McDonalds) Road trip restaurant-ing Menu vs. bill of fare Odd restaurant buildings: Big Tree Inn The three-martini lunch Restaurant-ing in Metropolis Image gallery: dinner on board The case of the mysterious chili parlor Taste of a decade: 1970s restaurants Picky eaters: Helen and Warren Hot chocolate at Barrs Name trouble: Sambos Eat and get gas The fifteen minutes of Rabelais Image gallery: shacks, huts, and shanties What would a nickel buy? Those dishes were Barbecued Chicken, Duck, and Squab; Chicken Salad; Club Sandwiches; Sea Foods; and Chili Con Carne (at two restaurants). In 1944, during World War II, lines formed at the door. (German) Natty waiters have handled hot corned beef sandwiches, Wienerschnitzel, and house-made root beer with pride and aplomb for 112 years. What was the name of the restaurant located at 6930 south shore on the main floor in the 1970s. Chicago Tribune. Too obvious? Though long gone, the restaurant is still . The building was to be the new headquarters of the Pullman Palace Car Company which manufactured sleeping and dining cars used by major railways. Mannys Coffee Shop &Deli He published a column titled Use Psychology on Your Customers in a trade magazine in 1965 in which he urged restaurant managers to be honest about the food they served. For two years in the 1970s readers polled by Chicago Magazine voted The Bakery as one of both the citys 10 favorite and 10 least favorite restaurants. I'm working on a book about the Rush Street area from the 1800's to the 1980's and the characters, movers & shakers, nightclubs, restaurants, and music that made it happen. 1977-1992 // Skokie Louis Szathmarys restaurant, The Bakery, opened in Chicago at a time when restaurant going in that city was not a very exciting proposition. Among the first eating places to serve entrees from Armours Continental Cuisine and American Fare lines were Holiday Inn motels and the Seagram Tower at Niagara Falls. 33. 1973-1991 // Gold Coast 1989-present // Gold Coast 1935-1983 // Gold Coast Check out these old photos to see what Chicago's restaurants looked like in the 1950s. Chef and owner Pierre Pollin (who bought the restaurant from original owner Christian Zeiger) was a masterful chef, aided in no small measure by maitre d' and sommelier Marcel Flori. Its clever design may have been due to owner Bob Winters background in advertising. Still, in 1977 Cornell University named it one of the countrys six great restaurants, and, despite its loudly banging front door, too-brisk service, lack of decor, and awkward layout, its loyal patrons stuck by it and it remained profitable to the end. 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. 11. Chicago's 12 Oldest Bars Have Stories To Tell Chicago's 10 Oldest Restaurants Thrive by Staying (Mostly) the Same Chicago's 10 Oldest Hot Dog Stands Have Stayed Inside Families For Decades. Patrons could order martinis and Jell-o shots at a bar decorated with tinsel, nude murals and Mr. He conceded that because he knew many of his guests were suspicious of frozen foods, he did not apologize when he took them on a tour of his storage areas. Frontera Grill You'll undoubtedly think of many places I've overlooked. In April of 1931 she ran three brief newspaper advertisements in the classified section saying, Home cooked dinner, 50c; hours 10 to 4. Nov. 18, 1969. For dessert, there was a shimmering tempered-chocolate cube that cracked open to reveal fluffy espresso mousse. (1989-2018) Chicago's Blarney Stone / 3424 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL. In Spring 1923, the University Tea Room (The Most Beautiful Spot in Chicago) advertised the following menu: 65c Special Table de Hote Dinner 65c It started on Franklin Street in 1991,and between the crispy pizzas and the rosemary-perfumed porchetta, there was nothing not to like. While some Northern Blacks slowly accepted soul food, others were more resistant. 1981-present // Highland Park Located next to the Ohio House Motel, the 27-seat diner was known for its "Deuces Wild" special, consisting of two pancakes, two eggs, two strips of bacon and two sausages. Red Star Inn 1938-present // Gold Coast Early vegetarian restaurants Famous in its day: Blancos Blue plate specials Basic fare: club sandwiches Gossip feeds restaurants Image gallery: business cards Restaurant row At the sign of the . The mid-1970s saw the first signs of gentrification in nearby neighborhoods due to the downtown office revival. (steaks) The rolling-cart show of massive cuts of plastic-wrapped prime beef raised the bar on excessive steak consumption from maybe to mandatory. Whenever I dined here, I always felt cooler than I really was. I miss the Wilmette original more than the Northfield sequel, but mostly, I miss Jarvis' food. Their epicenter was Earwax, a vegetarian caf with sometimes-decent art on the walls and perturbed art-school students behind the counter. (Far Eastern) This over-the-top tiki bar and restaurant out-tikid the competition with its Polynesian fare and exotic cocktails so potent, management set a two-zombie-drink limit. 2 All-American Burger Kai L./Yelp (Progressive American) Still wet behind the ears, Alinea, the culinary juggernaut of the brilliant and visionary Grant Achatz, turned Chicago into an international foodie destination and a launching pad for the next generation of groundbreaking chefs. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Dinners would begin with warm, crusty bread, accompanied by a spreadable blend of olives, sun-dried tomatoes and capers. Most soul food histories note that some prominent Black leaders have rejected soul food, pointing to Eldridge Cleaver of the Black Panthers and Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. A Chicago institution since 1941, Gene & Georgetti is beloved for their traditional Italian dishes (like chicken vesuvio, eggplant parmesan, and homemade lasagna on the weekends) and, of course, their huge and flavorful steaks. The party came to an abrupt end in 2002 when the restaurant closed its bright yellow doors for good. Snowflake Potatoes 1970s chicago restaurants Actualidad. Fanny's 1946-1987 // Evanston. At the same time, he observed that whites visiting Harlem enjoyed spare ribs with red beans, concluding, there are no fundamental points of difference between eating habits of Harlemites and those of the lighter-skinned folk downtown.. French Dressing Within a few years he would run a restaurant of renown on the buildings top floor. (Mexican) Did Rick Bayless think we had never eaten tacos or enchiladas before? Fannys 12 1924 Orange Garden - North Center. For 23 years running, all hail the chef. For a few brief years, strip malls and chain restaurants gave way to cocaine and disco balls The Suburban Chicago Coke Bars of the 1980s Anna Rupprecht By Aaron Goldfarb @aarongoldfarb When we think of the suburbs, we often think of strip malls, drive-throughs, chain restaurants and big box stores. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. In Blacks Blue Book for 1923-1924 which listed Chicagos prominent African-American citizens, along with recommended businesses there were only four restaurants that advertised what kinds of dishes they served. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune ). Phil's 50: Chicago's top restaurants rated, reviewed, mapped , 25 Chicago restaurants earn Michelin stars in 2017 , Craving: Italian -- a month of Chicago's best pastas, antipasti, pizza, secondi and more . Restaurant-ing al fresco A chefs life: Charles Ranhfer The (partial) triumph of the doggie bag Early chains: John R. Thompson Anatomy of a restaurateur: Mary Alletta Crump Laddition: on discrimination Between courses: dining with reds Banqueting at $herrys* Who invented lobster Newberg? 1985-present // Albany Park Vintage menus from some of Chicago's dearly departed restaurants, including The Eccdentric, Gordon and The Cottage, help tell the tale of what made them so great. By any name, soul food was not often found in restaurants outside the South until African-Americans began migrating northward before, during, and after World Wars I and II. 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. 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. 27 febrero, 2023 . 1942-present // South Loop Thanks for subscribing! Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. Chicago has contributed countless dishes to global food culture, from the obvious (deep dish pizza) to the less obvious (chicken a la king). 14. 1946-1987 // Evanston Hackneys on Harms Hieronymus died in1932 but he and his restaurant were remembered by Chicagoans for decades. 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. As the massively solid Pullman Building was under construction on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1884, a young Adolph Hieronymus was traveling to Chicago from his native Germany. Some of Chicagos Bronzeville residents who held themselves superior to migrants expressed criticism of newcomers food customs, such as eating chitterlings. A journalist writing in the New York Amsterdam News in 1931 claimed that Harlemites rejected the Fried Chicken, Pork Chop, Hog Maw and Chitterlings Theories that assumed all Blacks liked rural Southern food. 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. With Carolyn running the kitchen and Jerry as affable host, a delightful experience was all but assured. Trotter's incredible legacy has stretched all across the city, as alumni of his kitchen have opened some of the best restaurants in Chicago. (steaks) This indie steak house nodded to its Jewish deli rootschopped liver, herringattracted celebs like Johnny Carson, and spawned a cheesecake empire. If there were more justice in the world, Savarin would be around still. The first thing I discovered was that it is available as a reproduction. French cuisine, sometimes with Japanese accents, was the menu's stock in trade, opera music played discreetly overhead and, due to Rohr's severe allergies, Jimmy's Place was the first Chicago restaurant with an outright ban on smoking (along with perfumes and scents; Rohr often said the overly cologned male customers were most problematic). Swingin at Maxwells Plum Happy holidays, eat well Department store restaurants: Marshall Fields Anatomy of a restaurateur: Don Dickerman Taste of a decade: 1860s restaurants The saga of Alices restaurants The brotherhood of the beefsteak dungeon Famous in its day: Maillards Lets do brunch or not? What became known as edible soul food, such as chitterlings, pigs feet, greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and cobbler (to name just a few), had been popular in the South long before the words soul food were applied. Feel free to disagreeall my friends didand register your complaints in the comments below. The menu itself was straight-up American; the go-to entree was prime rib, and the signature side was "Oprah's potatoes," which were mashed and jazzed up with horseradish. Its possible that Trebor is a play on the owners name Robert. The spectrum of eating places found in New Yorks Harlem, Chicagos Black Belt, and Black urban neighborhoods across the North ranged from down-home, all-night eateries serving factory shift workers to elegant tea rooms lodged in old mansions that hosted patrons with more money and leisure. Head Lettuce and Tomatoes Le Titi de Paris chef/owner Pierre Pollin, center, stands with maitre d' Marcel Flori, left, and captain Claude Marcel, in 2002 as the restaurant was entering its 30th year. 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. (He famously banned cellphones from the dining room in 1991.) 21. By 1975 the number of entree choices for the then-$12 five-course dinner had extended to ten, with Beef Wellington and Roast Duckling with Cherry Glaze [pictured] among the most popular. These fly photos of Chicago street style in the 1980s are a parade of yes The Windy City never looked so good East Oak Street and North Michigan Avenue, June 1988. These are the closed Chicago restaurants, bars, nightclubs and more that we pine for the most, and the spots that have taken their place Tuesday September 9 2014 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email . In 1945 another reporter from the Amsterdam News set out to find chitterlings in Harlem restaurants. (Continental) Cognoscenti flocked to Louis Szathmrys quirky storefrontno menu and mismatched everything for beef Wellington and an inexplicable BYO policy. But Hungarian bakery Vesekys in Berwyn at least makes sweets from that part of the country.The Dog HouseWhat it was: Occupying a 6-by-12-foot trailer that was purchased for $1,100, the Dog House opened in 1963 on North Ave in Villa Park, serving a simple menu of hot dogs, french fries and tamales. Gladys Holcombs Home Cooking 1962-1989 // Lincoln Park She now writes a breakfast column for the Chicago Tribune, and while it's delightful, it's no replacement for the best breakfast spot in town.What's taken its place: A notable new breakfast place hasn't opened since the closing of Ina's, so we'll pick an old standby: Southport Grocery. It went out of business in 2016. 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. Chicago misses these closed restaurants but, in most cases, you can find something similar to sate your longing. Report as inappropriate. Reservations became hard to get. Expand. 1868-1962 // Loop The restaurant advertised heavily during the Lenten season. Its difficult to find menus from restaurants of the migration periods, but when their advertisements mentioned specialties, they were often similar to dishes in white restaurants. Revolving restaurants II: the Merry-Go-Round Basic fare: shrimp We never close Tablecloths checkered past Famous in its day: Tip Top Inn Find of the day: J.B.G.s French restaurant Dont play with the candles Interview: whos cooking? Pizzeria Uno 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. (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. It was such a hit, in fact, that Gilbert opened another location in Lincoln Park in 2009. A little more than a year after it opened it was given a distinguished dining award by Holiday magazine. 23. Then Uno introduced deep-dish, and it was revolutionary. The menu shown here caught my eye as I was browsing the internet. The Cave, in Old Town, opened shortly after The Bakery. Carlos 10. America's first hamburger served on a bun is said to have debuted in the Windy City in 1917 at a small restaurant called Drexel's Pure Food. Each had its own decorating scheme. Salad We still dream about the pasta neri. 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. There were also numerous restaurants owned and patronized by Blacks in the North that did not serve soul food, or at least didnt specialize in it. In 1930 she lived with her mother and worked as a hand letterer for a card company. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. It took our breath away then, and it still does. Novel at the time for having a techno-spinning DJ in the dining room, Okno was also known for its space-age design and its second-floor bathrooms featuring translucent glass doors that left little mystery of what was happening inside. 2158 reviews. (steaks) At the epicenter of Rush Street action, this always-packed prime meat scene follows the ultimate Chicago steak-house paradigm to a T. 19. We gathered them from experience, of course, but also from Chicagos voluminous files, avid conversations, and old guidebooks. 1965-late 1980s // Lincoln Park June Peas in Cases Charlie Trotters (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. Pie in the skies revolving restaurants Way out coffeehouses Taste of a decade: 1890s restaurants Sweet treats and teddy bears Its not all glamor, is it Mr. Krinkle? But, oh, that country bird chicken sandwich (fried chicken topped with Gouda, pimento mayo and shaved onion). At 1942 West Irving Park Avenue in North Center, Orange Garden is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Chicago. 39. Critic John Hess, in 1974, questioned the high regard that Holiday magazine bestowed on The Bakery and declared its Beef Wellington the quintessence of the pretentious gourmet plague. Patrons sent letters to Chicago newspapers saying the Roast Duckling was as tough as an auto tire, and charging that the restaurants acclaim was based on mass hysteria whipped up by Chef Louis himself. (Contemporary) This treasure has delighted for three decades simply because Yoshi Katsumuras gentle fusion continues to sparkle and his wife, Nobuko, continues to charm. 1970s chicago restaurants. 1984-present // Gold Coast He arrived in the US in 1951, working as a chef in several institutional settings in the Northeast before moving to Chicago in 1960 to join Armour & Co. in product development. During the Columbian Exhibition in 1893 Adolph Hieronymus left his job as chef at the Palmer House and took over the Pullman building restaurant, renaming it the Tip Top Inn. In the 1980s, Pompei was one of the first restaurants to explore the "fast casual" dining trend, serving piping hot food to diners' tables quickly. Also obvious, perhaps, but impossible to ignore. Merci, Jean Banchet. In 1920 she was still running the delicatessen, i.e., grocery. 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). And then opened Ripasso, closed that, and then opened Starland and closed that. 1947-1972 // Loop Wop salad? Topolobampo 1944-1968 // Loop Spiaggia Mortons The Steakhouse Those photographsnow 40 years oldare being shared in a new book, " Uptown: Portrait of a Chicago Neighborhood in the Mid-1970s ." Rehak shares his experiences documenting a diverse Chicago neighborhood with us. What to eat. 1. Following on Garys research I learned that Ellas three children were stage actors in the early century. Deerfield, IL. 12. Inserra worked his way up at Gino`s and bought the restaurant in 1979. Fred Harvey revisited Street food: tamales Famous in its day: Blums Women chefs before the 1970s Speed eating Top posts in 2020 Holiday greetings from 11th Heaven Dining with Us Mortals Your favorite restaurant? -- Trash, garbage, and waste Americas literary chef The smrgsbord saga Meals along the way Dinner in Miami, Dec. 25, 1936 An early restaurateurs rise & fall Runaway menu prices Thanks so much! Cafe Bonaparte Sheraton, Blackstone . 7. Avec (The building is now a Cheetah Gym. With its intriguing concept of cocoa-inspired cuisine (and not just for dessert), The Chocolate Sanctuary is one of the most famous restaurants in Chicago. 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. Across the country, legendary soul food restaurants are disappearing at an alarming pace, he writes, attributing it to health concerns and reduced business prospects due to the scattering of African-American communities and the popularity of fast food. Chicagoans were sharply divided into lovers and haters. 1946-circa 2003 // Bronzeville Whats taken its place: When were craving perfectly al dente pasta, we head to Due Lire in Lincoln Square.Tizi MelloulWhat it was: Sumptuously designed in a hip Moroccan style, this Mediterranean restaurant in River North was a date-night go-to. 3/31/2017. After 53 years in business, the Ohio House closed in 2013 when it lost its lease.What's taken its place: A second Leghorn Chicken location will open in the former Ohio House digs later this year, but those searching for affordable diner fare will find it at the Cozy Corner Diner and Pancake House in Logan Square.OknoWhat it was: One of restaurateur Terry Alexanders first restaurants (see also: Tizi Melloul, The Violet Hour, The Publican, Nico Osteria), Okno opened in Wicker Park in 1997 where Standard Bar & Grill is now. He found only one restaurant serving them (Rosalies and Frances Clam House and Restaurant). (pizza) In the beginning, there was Chicago-style thin-crust pizza, and it was good. and casinos in the 1980s. (French) In its heyday, the best French restaurant in America. 1978-present // Gold Coast Jacques Good eaters: Andy Warhol Birth of the theme restaurant Restaurant-ing with royalty Righting civil wrongs in restaurants Theme restaurants: barns Men only Taste of a decade: restaurants, 1900-1910 Celebrating restaurant cuisine Decor: glass ceilings Between courses: dont sniff the food In the kitchen with Mme Early: black women in restaurants Burger bloat On the menu for 2010 Christmas feasting Todays specials: books on restaurants With haute cuisine for all: Longchamps Restaurant-ing on Thanksgiving High-volume restaurants: Smith & McNells Anatomy of a restaurateur: Dario Toffenetti Between courses: rate this menu You want cheese with that? 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). 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. Mob restaurants As the restaurant world turned, July 17 Dining in summer Dining by gaslight Anatomy of a restaurateur: Charles Sarris Womens restaurants Restaurant history day Charge it! In 1970 he opened Bowl & Roll, another family-wide venture drawing in not only the Kobatas but also the mothers of both Louis and Sada, plus Louis brother and sister-in-law. A Chester PA restaurant specialized in oysters in 1910. The menu could date any time from the opening of the restaurant in 1936 into the 1940s. Not like Fronteras, we hadnt. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. 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. It was a handy location for a 1943 dinner of the literary members of the Boswell club, admirers of Doctor Samuel Johnson. Fox, Liza Minelli and Cary Grant," according to the. . 1989-present // River North In 1912 her daughter Maude Le Page created quite a stir and became a minor celebrity when she stood up in the balcony of a Chicago theater and loudly proclaimed that she would sell herself to a man for $1,000 so that she could escape working in a deli (!) Carsons EXTRA 20% OFF 3+ ITEMS See all eligible items and terms. . Lang wrote, I would very much like to preserve the level of cooking and the niveau [peak] of gastronomy that we practice at the Four Seasons. To this Chef Louis replied that he was simply trying to be provocative. With a few exceptions, I dont think the views of critics such as Cleaver are seen as valid now. 1986-present // South Loop 2. Alinea 22. )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. Never doubt Henry's eye for talent. Vintage menus from some of Chicago's dearly departed restaurants, including The Eccdentric, Gordon and The Cottage, help tell the tale of what made them so great. (Cantonese) No one has yet equaled its egg rolls, sweet and sour pork, chicken sub gum chow mein, and pan-fried noodles. With no meat on the menu, the restaurant would have had the advantage of escaping wartime food restrictions and shortages. Strawberry Shortcake, 25c 37. It was hypnotic. In their honor the restaurant posted one of Johnsons quotations over their table in which he criticized French menus, requesting thy knaves to bring me a dish of hogs pudding, a slice or two from the upper cut of a well roasted sirloin, and two apple dumplings., It was a popular restaurant, said to be especially well liked by male patrons. (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. The Pump Room Whats taken its place: Since Pecking Order closed in July, Subidos food has been popping up at farmers markets and other food events. 34. Although he sometimes used frozen foods, he said he always revealed that on his menus. There were eight-course tasting menus with dishes like roasted Muscovy duck with bitter melon and duck consomm, but no matter what was on the menu, dining at Trotter's was an experience.What's taken its place: These 14 restaurants. Restaurant history quiz (In)famous in its day: the Nixons chain The checkered life of a chef Catering to the rich and famous Famous in its day: London Chop House Who invented Caesar salad? (French) Well, maybe faux French, but the flower-bedecked courtyard was incredibly popular with the Ladies Who Lunch long before the phrase was coined. The Black Cat was unusual at the time for having a staff of Black waitresses who served in restaurants far less often than Black men. (Continental) Home of the three-hour lunch for columnists, models, and moguls: Irv Kupcinet described Fritzels as Chicagos version of Toots Shors. Subscribe for free today! 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. Ella M. Roberts was a hard-working, seasoned businesswoman who had owned her own grocery store as far back as 1910. Winfield, IL. Ice Cream, 10c. An upstairs salon displayed chef portraits of Jean Joho, Jean Banchet, Paul Bocuse, Roland Licccioni, and other friends and mentors. 35. . 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website. The food was spicy, the music loud (vinyl only, played on a console stereo), the tablecloths reptilian. Despite its storefront location in a run-down neighborhood and no decor to speak of the 25-seat neighborhood restaurant became an instant success. No wonder it felt like an affront when MTV turned the building into the first Chicago Real World house in 2001, even though Urbis had closed three years earlier; it was a sign of the next wave of gentrification coming with condos.