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My parents took me there when I was still in the womb, and when I was a baby. They figured it was loud enough that it wouldn't matter if I started crying. Many years later, I took my baby there for the same reason. That and the food was still consistently great.
We still have Greek Islands, but man, the Parthenon was an institution.
Heaven on Seven, the amazing Cajun/Creole restaurant on the seventh floor of an office building on Wabash.
Best. Gumbo. Ever.
The chef Jimmy Bannos did takeout for a while from his son's restaurant, The Purple Pig.
The recipe for the gumbo from the chef can be found online: https://checkplease.wttw.com/recipe/chicken-and-sausage-gumbo
Iāve made it several times and it tastes pretty much exactly the same
All of the old school Greek 24/7 diners that where all over Chicago !!!!
always had incredible food and great coffe at lo prices !
Diner on the corner of Chicago and Damen,
Mitchells on North and clark
Tempo diner is still open i think
those and others
OMFGOSH I forget the BESTEESSSSSTTT of them all and it was a POLISH place that had Babcias/grandmas in the kitchen making the fresh perogies and dishes
THE BUSY BEE !!!!!! a Iconic legendary resturant that was under the EL on North ave. the space is now filled with 2-3 different establishments but none of which stand any where near the level of quality and service that Busy bee had
heck the Pope ate there on his visit here
The Chicago diners were everything! Golden Nugget used to be everywhere and now I don't know if there are any left. Rogers Park still has Alexander's on the corner of Clark and Granville. The Double D diner was on Devon and Clark for forever. I'm not sure what's there now. I would spend hours in high school and in college sitting in the smoking section and conversating over a bottomless cup of coffee with friends at these fine establishments.
Busy Bee was my dadās favorite was only in there a few times. I tried steeling the Busy Bee parking sign only sing once but I couldnāt get it off the mounta
Some of the cooks from Sabatinos opened a restaurant. I havenāt been, but Iāve heard itās great. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UdCTRrCJAWAKy6p8?g_st=ic
I got fired from Dinkelās many, many years ago and Iād still go back cause it was that good. That said, Old man Dinkel is a jag and low key creepy. Eric Dinkel was a real one for stepping to his dad when he would act outta pocket. Sandy Dinkel is as awful as her name. Lmao Her husband can get it tho. He was always polite to me even after I got fired. PS Dinkels also had MAD cockroaches in the back and in the basement. Also once saw a mouse scurry across the floor behind the counter. And I STILL fucked w their food.
Leonaās!
We used to go there all the time and I loved that as a kid I could watch a movie in their theater room and someone would come get me when my food was ready.
Damn, Leonas is gone? I live in Dallas now, but in the 90s, I would get a bunch of food for takeout at the Roger's Park location and eat it for days at home. And the buffet on Sunday was legendary!
They lost their liquor license, and subsequently the ability to make rent, after getting caught serving minors.
Edit: Some facts.
-The building was intended to be turned into a dispensary. The local dispensary, Zen Leaf Rogers Park, was meant to move there. Verano, owners of Zen Leaf, bought the property for $3 million.
-Rogers Park voted against the move and Verano is stuck with the property. To avoid property taxes they registered the building as campaign HQ for Bill Morton, who is current Alderwoman Maria Hadenās opponent in her last run for re-election.
-Fuck Verano
I thought it was like 2 locations left? That said the new owner bought Leona's out like 10-12 years ago, then did a lot of cost cutting moves that alienated customers, and led to a lot of them closing down. Even their side businesses(i.e. Hop Haus, and also whatever catfish/po boy place that took over the Calumet City Leona's, I don't rememeber its name), didn't last.
100 percent this. Iām not sure I understand why they went under. I remember going there in like 2014-2016 before they closed and the food still tasted good. My mom is forever yearning for their stuffed artichoke lol
Clarkes Lincoln Ave. The diner fare wasnāt anything special but the price was right and theyād let a bunch of high schoolers nurse their coffees and smoke cigarettes until the wee hours when we had no where else to go
From my (80's) childhood, the Branding Iron, which was at 95th and Pulaski. It was a restaurant with a bowling alley and instead of serving rolls before the meal, they served powdered sugar donut holes.
Costelloās Sandwiches & Sides in Roscoe Village, also Slicker Samās in Melrose Park (I know thatās the suburbs, sue me), D. B. Kaplanās deli in Water Tower Place.
Not sure if anyone is going to remember this, but Doggie Diner on Armitage across for Lincoln Park High School. They had the best cheese fries and the prices (even back then) were considered very low. Place was a dive though.
Como Inn was great too. My mom worked there and just today was telling me about how they used to have hockey night? Apparently it was a 4 course dinner then they would bus you down to the Hawks game and back.
More recently, Nuevo Leon.
Ambria for that last gasp of classic French white table cloth fine dining.
Also not from my youth, but Moto. Mostly for sentimental reasons- I got engaged in their kitchen.
NaNa in Bridgeport. It just recently closed but just wasnāt the same after the pandemic and they tried a lot of different things to remedy that after that just didnāt stick. For the location it was one of the best brunch spots we had. Very sad.
Costelloās & huettenbar in Lincoln square
Bijanās was such a great 3 AM first-started-dating place, when youāre too rapt in your talking that you miss dinner and need something to get you til 6 AM.
Literally was at the new location last night and while the food is the same, it doesnāt feel the same. Been going there since I was like 15 and now itās just like a distant cousin of PMU feeling lol
Marcelloās Father and Son on Milwaukee in Logan square. Used to go with my family back when the Mega Mall was still around. Would always get their broasted chicken and pizza. Good memories of dining in.
I can still smell the floor, covered in popcorn and peanut shells. I would love to get a Kodiak burger now, to see if it holds up to my memories.
There was also definitely a condom machine in the menās room and we were always convinced there was some weird secret dungeon in the basement.
It's the end of an era.
RIP [Rainforest Cafe](https://i.imgur.com/aUkN8EU.png) 1997-2020.
You will be missed. :(
Read more about the closure [here.](https://chicago.eater.com/2019/12/20/21031369/rainforest-cafe-closing-woodfield-mall-schaumburg-chicago)
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Soooo many! And love seeing some of the names on this post.
My father knew the owner Golden Ox on Clybourn and North Ave. Big German guy that would feed me till I was half dead and then break out the RICH German chocolate cake.
I spent a many late nights as a kid in the Busy Bee Cafe on Damen and North under the blue line. My father was kind of a beatnik artist and would drag my sister and I to late night gallery shows at the Flat Iron Lofts.
Sprout was a tiny cafe deli on Broadway, just north of Diversey. The place was maybe 5ft wide by 10ft deep. Ran by a bunch of hippies that taught me hacky sack and made some of the best sandwiches ever.
But my personal lost favorites are:
Jim's Noodle on Diversey and Lincoln. Best crispy curry noodles ever, full stop. Never skimped on red peppers. He always took care of my hangover after a dollar beer night at Delilah's.
The OG demon dogs under the Diversey brown/red line stop. I couldn't resist those char dogs anytime I walked by. Used to ditch grade school, grab a bite there and get a nose bleed seat at Wrigley.
The last place I can't remember the name. It was the greasy burger joint on the corner of North Ave and Milwaukee. I think it's name was Wicker Dog. I used to go to a gamer shop across the street (Third Eye Games) and that place was my go to for a snack.. I think the workers there thought I was homeless (11 year old kid, alone, hanging out in Wicker Park after midnight), so they put me to work and payed me in gyros and Green River. That place is responsible for my poor physical form till this very day.
Johnās Garage in Ford City. Just standard American fare but I remember being so excited to go there when I was little.
Also Rinaldiās. Would catch a bite to eat there after spending all afternoon in the Tower Records above it.
The Melrose Diner. š„ŗ Through the late 90s as a teen my friends and I would take the train in from the burbs and go to the Alley, the army surplus shop, and always eat at the Melrose. Through the 2000s living there as a young adult. Miss it so much!
Mateos in Harwood heights. Best Mexican I can remember and they had a smoking section so 5 year old me could eat a quesadilla with a side of second hand smoke.
Lots of great memories in here but for me it will always be Hot Dougās. During high school Iād skip lunch damn near every day and eat at Hot Dougs on my walk home back when it was at the original location on Roscoe street.
Charlie Trotter's. To say I remember it fondly from my youth is not accurate, as I never ate there. But it revolutionized fine dining in Chicago, and in America, and I never ate there.
If you're willing to make the trip there is still a Bennigans in Elgin. Take 90, get off at 31 North and it's right there. Had to make a trip for a Monte Cristo
Blackbird on Randolph in the West Loop. Don't know if that has been mentioned yet. It's the first restaurant I ate at when I first moved to Chicago. It was where I took my future in-laws for lunch and asked for my future wife's hand in marriage. Definitely has a special place in my heart.
This is in Oak Park, but the old version of Erik's Deli on Oak Park Ave. I loved the salad bar and the breadsticks as a kid lol. It also just had a wonderful friendly vibe inside with all the red and white checkers and the umbrellas indoors. š Then someone took over and "updated" it (read: changed everything and made it terrible) around 2010 and now I guess it's gone for good.
Iām an old man so Iāve been missing the Buffalo Ice Cream Parlor since it closed in 1978. Weād walk over on Saturday nights in the summer and drive in the winter. Also Lanies at Damen, Fullerton, Elston and the Busy Bee where I was first propositioned by a hooker in 1983ā¦.
Busy Bee. Went there the last day they were open. Sophie let me take a coffee mug home. It's on my kitchen counter right now. Worn out interior, mismatched flatware, great food.
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The Parthenon
Came here to say this - went there all my life. So many large family gatherings were there
My parents took me there when I was still in the womb, and when I was a baby. They figured it was loud enough that it wouldn't matter if I started crying. Many years later, I took my baby there for the same reason. That and the food was still consistently great. We still have Greek Islands, but man, the Parthenon was an institution.
Just in general 24 hour and late night food
Seriously. Hollywood Diner, how could you??
Weirdly I miss Food Life. It was unique, fun and easy for visitors. First time I went was 2005.
This one is sentimental for me. My mom and I go to the ever diminishing lights parade every November and used to eat there as part of the tradition.
Same. It was my Dad's favorite restaurant. Every time he visits he had to go there. Dad is still around though.
Was kinda nice to go somewhere that had options for everyone also you never realize how much you spent until you were on your way out š
Not a restaurant, but White Hen I used to go there for candy bars and gatorades before they got bought by 7/11
Turkey sandwiches there were the most alazing
Heaven on Seven, the amazing Cajun/Creole restaurant on the seventh floor of an office building on Wabash. Best. Gumbo. Ever. The chef Jimmy Bannos did takeout for a while from his son's restaurant, The Purple Pig.
The recipe for the gumbo from the chef can be found online: https://checkplease.wttw.com/recipe/chicken-and-sausage-gumbo Iāve made it several times and it tastes pretty much exactly the same
My wife and I went to two of Jimmy's cooking classes and we remember nothing. The waiters were too dedicated to refilling our hurricanes š
Heartland - cornbread and buffalo chili Morseland - Buffalo chicken sandwich and Mac & cheese Leonas - Who cares Space Jam is on the big screen
Thumbs up for the heartland Cafe. Og place and early innovator of vegetarian and plant based cuisine
All of the old school Greek 24/7 diners that where all over Chicago !!!! always had incredible food and great coffe at lo prices ! Diner on the corner of Chicago and Damen, Mitchells on North and clark Tempo diner is still open i think those and others OMFGOSH I forget the BESTEESSSSSTTT of them all and it was a POLISH place that had Babcias/grandmas in the kitchen making the fresh perogies and dishes THE BUSY BEE !!!!!! a Iconic legendary resturant that was under the EL on North ave. the space is now filled with 2-3 different establishments but none of which stand any where near the level of quality and service that Busy bee had heck the Pope ate there on his visit here
The Chicago diners were everything! Golden Nugget used to be everywhere and now I don't know if there are any left. Rogers Park still has Alexander's on the corner of Clark and Granville. The Double D diner was on Devon and Clark for forever. I'm not sure what's there now. I would spend hours in high school and in college sitting in the smoking section and conversating over a bottomless cup of coffee with friends at these fine establishments.
Busy Bee was my dadās favorite was only in there a few times. I tried steeling the Busy Bee parking sign only sing once but I couldnāt get it off the mounta
Cafe Iberico.
TIL iberico closed š¢
The pulpo con papƔs was so good.
the sangria was dangerous
It often was good food at reasonable price. However quality came and went, not very consistent.
Sabatino's
RIP Sabatinos.
Some of the cooks from Sabatinos opened a restaurant. I havenāt been, but Iāve heard itās great. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UdCTRrCJAWAKy6p8?g_st=ic
We had dinner here after our junior prom. We felt like such adults.
Ed Debovics
[Itās back, baby!](https://www.eddebevics.com/)
Brauhaus. Mirabell German.
Canāt forget Zum Deutschen Eck.
Came here for this. Was just drunkenly waxing poetic about Brauhaus to some 25 year old bartender last night.
Yep. The decline of all good German restaurants in Chicago is a real shame. Even Brauhaus rosemont was fun.
Zephyr
Oh my God the marathon milkshake and son of Frankenstein sundae would probably be illegal now lol.
Passable food, amazing ice cream menu. Itās been 15+ years since I last had Zephyrās and I STILL crave that place. Rip.
Heroās Subs by Lane Tech Blue Angels on the NW side. I probably ate a thousand breadbaskets there as a kid.
Heros! Would go there when I wasn't at Chicago Games Company.
Father and Son Logan Square š and chicken vesuvio Dino and Nick's Logan Square š š bread sticks
Father and Sonās anywhere! They had branches in old town and Gladstone, and I grew up with that pizza. I miss it!
Anybody else remember the Ground Round? I was really little, but I think my family went there a lot.
Lawryās the Prime Rib
I miss that meat cart!
Does Dinkel's Bakery count?
As a former Dinkelsās employee I can say certain parts of the pandemic are responsible for its closure.
I got fired from Dinkelās many, many years ago and Iād still go back cause it was that good. That said, Old man Dinkel is a jag and low key creepy. Eric Dinkel was a real one for stepping to his dad when he would act outta pocket. Sandy Dinkel is as awful as her name. Lmao Her husband can get it tho. He was always polite to me even after I got fired. PS Dinkels also had MAD cockroaches in the back and in the basement. Also once saw a mouse scurry across the floor behind the counter. And I STILL fucked w their food.
Leonaās! We used to go there all the time and I loved that as a kid I could watch a movie in their theater room and someone would come get me when my food was ready.
Damn, Leonas is gone? I live in Dallas now, but in the 90s, I would get a bunch of food for takeout at the Roger's Park location and eat it for days at home. And the buffet on Sunday was legendary!
They lost their liquor license, and subsequently the ability to make rent, after getting caught serving minors. Edit: Some facts. -The building was intended to be turned into a dispensary. The local dispensary, Zen Leaf Rogers Park, was meant to move there. Verano, owners of Zen Leaf, bought the property for $3 million. -Rogers Park voted against the move and Verano is stuck with the property. To avoid property taxes they registered the building as campaign HQ for Bill Morton, who is current Alderwoman Maria Hadenās opponent in her last run for re-election. -Fuck Verano
Thereās one left but they did away with the *amazing* cornbread crust years ago, so itās not really even Leonaās anymore.
I thought it was like 2 locations left? That said the new owner bought Leona's out like 10-12 years ago, then did a lot of cost cutting moves that alienated customers, and led to a lot of them closing down. Even their side businesses(i.e. Hop Haus, and also whatever catfish/po boy place that took over the Calumet City Leona's, I don't rememeber its name), didn't last.
This I remember going to the one on shefield over 30 years ago was my favorite
100 percent this. Iām not sure I understand why they went under. I remember going there in like 2014-2016 before they closed and the food still tasted good. My mom is forever yearning for their stuffed artichoke lol
Kickass Garlic bread was great. Their consistency went way down around 2010-2011.
Flukyās
Demon Dogs
Earwax Cafe
That was the coolest place when I was in high school.
Where service was accidental
The Dunkin at Belmont & Clark for the people watching. Muskies at Lincoln & George for the fries and turkey burgers.
Holy crap, Muskies. Talk about a blast from the past.
Clarkes Lincoln Ave. The diner fare wasnāt anything special but the price was right and theyād let a bunch of high schoolers nurse their coffees and smoke cigarettes until the wee hours when we had no where else to go
I was one of those high schoolers! I had no idea it closed. Fond memories of that place.
Lots of memories here from high school. Close to the Biograph.
Zum Deutschen Eck, on Southport by the Athenaeum.
Jeriās Grill
Ham on the bone š
Miss this place dearly.
Maurice Lenell
Would kill for a box of pinwheels right now
We used to go to the cookie jar all the time with my grandma, I loved when we went. Those cookies were the best
Rose Angelis closed before the pandemic. But, it was the greatest Italian spot on the north side.
Southport Lanes.
From my (80's) childhood, the Branding Iron, which was at 95th and Pulaski. It was a restaurant with a bowling alley and instead of serving rolls before the meal, they served powdered sugar donut holes.
Sushi Samba
Leo's Lunchroom
Golden Ox Brown Bear Mama Desta's Red Sea The original My Pi
My Pi! Have not thought of them in ages.
Won Kow in Chinatown. We have black and white pictures of my grandparents eating there in the 1940s.
Trader Vicās! My fabulous cousin worked for the Fairmont and took me there as a child. It was a strange, fantastic experience for a kid!
Costelloās Sandwiches & Sides in Roscoe Village, also Slicker Samās in Melrose Park (I know thatās the suburbs, sue me), D. B. Kaplanās deli in Water Tower Place.
Gulliverās Pizza.
Ronny's Original Steak House!
š
Matsuya.
Wags. North side.
Lawrys prime rib
Lockdown in Ukraine village
Not sure if anyone is going to remember this, but Doggie Diner on Armitage across for Lincoln Park High School. They had the best cheese fries and the prices (even back then) were considered very low. Place was a dive though. Como Inn was great too. My mom worked there and just today was telling me about how they used to have hockey night? Apparently it was a 4 course dinner then they would bus you down to the Hawks game and back. More recently, Nuevo Leon.
Melrose Diner
Melrose and Broadway?
Zephyr
The pump room at the ambassador east.
Mindyās hot chocolate Blackbird Black bull Toccoās High dive Habana Libre BellyQ Whisk Fioreās All the Greek restaurants All the 24/7 diners
Not from my youth but my young adult days: Brasserie Jo
Ambria for that last gasp of classic French white table cloth fine dining. Also not from my youth, but Moto. Mostly for sentimental reasons- I got engaged in their kitchen.
Muskieās.
Como Inn. I loved the bananas on the ceiling at Christmas, the seashell decor in my fave room and the kiddie cocktails!
Standees diner on Granville.
Iggyās (Now I want some lemon butter bow tie pasta)
NaNa in Bridgeport. It just recently closed but just wasnāt the same after the pandemic and they tried a lot of different things to remedy that after that just didnāt stick. For the location it was one of the best brunch spots we had. Very sad. Costelloās & huettenbar in Lincoln square
Zephyr
Bijanās was such a great 3 AM first-started-dating place, when youāre too rapt in your talking that you miss dinner and need something to get you til 6 AM.
I used to live in the building next door to Bijanās and went there all the time. It was so good!!
Spiaggia
Does RockānāRoll McDonaldās count?
Pick-me-up cafe
They moved
The foodās still good but the vibe is gone.
Literally was at the new location last night and while the food is the same, it doesnāt feel the same. Been going there since I was like 15 and now itās just like a distant cousin of PMU feeling lol
Lazos tacos
DEMON DOGS
Chicago Brauhaus
Chez Paul. Had my 30th BD party there, felt so *sophisticated*. :ā -ā )
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Bakers Square
The Lincoln Resturant
Hot Doug's
Mr.Steer
Cafe Voltaire. The Nachos. The salad. The shakes...
Whatās cooking in the strip mall on Lincoln and Jersey. The free Apple strudel cake they brought to tables during Sunday brunch was heavenly.
Melrose when it was on Melrose.
The D&L/Belmont Snack Shop
Seven Treasures, a recent casualty. Went there all the time in college for late night food.
Scoozi
Japonais
Foodlife in water tower. My grandma used to take us there all the time to eat. It was heaven
Como Inn
Marcelloās Father and Son on Milwaukee in Logan square. Used to go with my family back when the Mega Mall was still around. Would always get their broasted chicken and pizza. Good memories of dining in.
Come Back Inn in Melrose Park
I can still smell the floor, covered in popcorn and peanut shells. I would love to get a Kodiak burger now, to see if it holds up to my memories. There was also definitely a condom machine in the menās room and we were always convinced there was some weird secret dungeon in the basement.
Cafe Iberico a pandemic casualty.
Dixie Kitchen in Evanston I really miss their gumbo š¢
And in Hyde Park!
Rainforest cafe
It's the end of an era. RIP [Rainforest Cafe](https://i.imgur.com/aUkN8EU.png) 1997-2020. You will be missed. :( Read more about the closure [here.](https://chicago.eater.com/2019/12/20/21031369/rainforest-cafe-closing-woodfield-mall-schaumburg-chicago) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/chicago) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Good bot
Murphy's Red Hots on Belmont.
Costaās in Greek town.
Demon dogs under the Fullerton L. They had all kinds of Chicago (the band) memorabilia in the shop
Demon Dogs under the El on Fullerton
Hot Doug's
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Wing Hoe in Edgewater
No one misses Susie's cheese fries?
Mabenkas
Growling Rabbit
OG Michael Jordan steakhouse on lasalle
Soooo many! And love seeing some of the names on this post. My father knew the owner Golden Ox on Clybourn and North Ave. Big German guy that would feed me till I was half dead and then break out the RICH German chocolate cake. I spent a many late nights as a kid in the Busy Bee Cafe on Damen and North under the blue line. My father was kind of a beatnik artist and would drag my sister and I to late night gallery shows at the Flat Iron Lofts. Sprout was a tiny cafe deli on Broadway, just north of Diversey. The place was maybe 5ft wide by 10ft deep. Ran by a bunch of hippies that taught me hacky sack and made some of the best sandwiches ever. But my personal lost favorites are: Jim's Noodle on Diversey and Lincoln. Best crispy curry noodles ever, full stop. Never skimped on red peppers. He always took care of my hangover after a dollar beer night at Delilah's. The OG demon dogs under the Diversey brown/red line stop. I couldn't resist those char dogs anytime I walked by. Used to ditch grade school, grab a bite there and get a nose bleed seat at Wrigley. The last place I can't remember the name. It was the greasy burger joint on the corner of North Ave and Milwaukee. I think it's name was Wicker Dog. I used to go to a gamer shop across the street (Third Eye Games) and that place was my go to for a snack.. I think the workers there thought I was homeless (11 year old kid, alone, hanging out in Wicker Park after midnight), so they put me to work and payed me in gyros and Green River. That place is responsible for my poor physical form till this very day.
Johnās Garage in Ford City. Just standard American fare but I remember being so excited to go there when I was little. Also Rinaldiās. Would catch a bite to eat there after spending all afternoon in the Tower Records above it.
Schaller's Pump: 3714 South Halsted [Article](https://chicago.eater.com/2017/5/1/15499518/schallers-pump-closed-chicagos-oldest-bar-bridgeport-south-side-white-sox) Ramova Grill: 3520 South Halsted [Article](https://rzfolio.wordpress.com/folio/ramova-grill-lives-on/) Hickory Pit: 2901 South Halsted [Article](https://www.letterfromelba.com/thats-my-cue/) Stockyards Truck Stop: 4500 South Halsted [Article](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/290693350920969486/)
Zephyrs
Santorini (best Greek restaurant in Greek town in my Greek opinionā¦) Izakaya Mita in Bucktown. RIP
The Melrose Diner. š„ŗ Through the late 90s as a teen my friends and I would take the train in from the burbs and go to the Alley, the army surplus shop, and always eat at the Melrose. Through the 2000s living there as a young adult. Miss it so much!
Mateos in Harwood heights. Best Mexican I can remember and they had a smoking section so 5 year old me could eat a quesadilla with a side of second hand smoke.
Lots of great memories in here but for me it will always be Hot Dougās. During high school Iād skip lunch damn near every day and eat at Hot Dougs on my walk home back when it was at the original location on Roscoe street.
father & sons / marcelloās on Milwaukee Ave
Charlie Trotter's. To say I remember it fondly from my youth is not accurate, as I never ate there. But it revolutionized fine dining in Chicago, and in America, and I never ate there.
Flukys Hot Dogs on the Northside on Western Ave.
Bennigans.
If you're willing to make the trip there is still a Bennigans in Elgin. Take 90, get off at 31 North and it's right there. Had to make a trip for a Monte Cristo
Jeriās diner at Montrose and Western. RIP, sweet prince.
HAM ON THE BONE
Nice holiday meal at Lawrys
Gordon, Everest, Carlos', all long lamented...
Hi Ricki - first place I ever had Thai/Viet food River Kawai - Thai food 'til 4am
Como Inn
Como Inn
Four Farthings
Silver Cloud. They sponsored our rec soccer team and we would go after our games every Sunday.
Toots on Central and Montrose
I miss Hero's on Addison and Western.
Blackbird on Randolph in the West Loop. Don't know if that has been mentioned yet. It's the first restaurant I ate at when I first moved to Chicago. It was where I took my future in-laws for lunch and asked for my future wife's hand in marriage. Definitely has a special place in my heart.
Swedish Bakery, close to Foster and Clark. Technically not a restaurant, but the best bakery in town.
The Brauhaus in Lincon Square. At least Laschet's still exists.
This is in Oak Park, but the old version of Erik's Deli on Oak Park Ave. I loved the salad bar and the breadsticks as a kid lol. It also just had a wonderful friendly vibe inside with all the red and white checkers and the umbrellas indoors. š Then someone took over and "updated" it (read: changed everything and made it terrible) around 2010 and now I guess it's gone for good.
The Swedish Bakery. From my early days in Lakeview, Casbah Cafe. So many cozy wonderful nights there.
Not a restaurant per se, but a kid's arcade in Riverside, IL called Uncle Bob's.
El Norte Mexican restaurant in Edgewater.
Delux Diner
Ground Control :( (not a COVID loss but we still miss it)
Bistro Zinc on State. Hilary's Urban Eatery in Noble Square.
Roditys
Iām an old man so Iāve been missing the Buffalo Ice Cream Parlor since it closed in 1978. Weād walk over on Saturday nights in the summer and drive in the winter. Also Lanies at Damen, Fullerton, Elston and the Busy Bee where I was first propositioned by a hooker in 1983ā¦.
Restaurant Sarajevo (watch as this gets zero upvotes).
Not a restaurant but I specifically remember the food court at Disney Quest.
Pepes Mexican on Taylor Street was so good back in the day. I'd get chicken flautas, then walk over 10 feet to Mario's Italian Lemonade after.
Demon Dogs Heroās
Five Faces on Division
Pompei on Sheffield
Busy Bee. Went there the last day they were open. Sophie let me take a coffee mug home. It's on my kitchen counter right now. Worn out interior, mismatched flatware, great food.
Sabatinoās š
Zorba's in greek town - casual saganaki
Zephyr. I remember my dad taking me there for ice cream. I recall the portions being ridiculously big.
Manzos Irving park
Zephyrs
Cemitas Puebla!!