All The Old Familiar Places (RIP)

mrbarolo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 30, 2004 3:29 pm

hattyn wrote:

Leslie's , was that in the basement of the Rotary Center?I think that was from the owner of Cafe Provencal.Verdi and Puccini Cafe which was replaced by Old(e) Orleans.The owner of OO had worked at F(r)annys.

Yes, Leslie's was in the basement of Rotary Center and was the 2nd venture of Leslie Reis of Provencal.

I don't even know what Verdi/Puccini Cafe is/was. What/where was it?

Andy's Better Brother · **Posted:** Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:19 pm

Lerner's
Miller's
Friedman's Deli
The Ivanhoe
The Homestead

ekreider · **Posted:** Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:15 pm

Was zaphod's memory the really funky original Brewery on the east side of Broadway or the later glossier one on the west side? George Badonsky was a partner and mover behind both The Brewery and Tango. His early partner in The Brewery was Jerry Orbach, who moved to California to pursue an acting career with considerable success.

midas · **Joined:** Wed Jun 02, 2004 6:41 am **Posts:** 502

OK, gotta add one more. A really classy place (not). Dewey's on Clark St. just north of Devon. It would be an insult to greasy spoons to call this place a greasy spoon. It was no more than a counter and maybe 6 or 8 stools. But they had great burgers and great chilli there.

I grew up in Rogers Park and I went there many times with my father. After my parents split up my father got remarried and moved to the Belmont and Broadway area but I continued to live in Rogers Park.

When I got married in 1972 it was at a little church on Devon just east of Ravenswood. My father, not having been to Dewey's for many years just couldn't resist going there. So about an hour before I was supposed to be married the two of us, in our fanciest duds walked over to Dewey's and grabbed a burger and a bowl of chilli.

It sure beat the food we had at our reception, which brings up one more north side place that I assume is no longer around. It was on Clark just north of Foster called Villa Sweeden. It was the first and only time I had ever been there but it was very popular for many years.

fastfoodsnob · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:33 am

Yeah, Yesterday's in Evanston. I hear than Lou Malnatti's finally has an outpost in the old spot, but I miss the place. With all the TVs blaring in the booths, Yesterday's could be a noisy place for dinner, but there was a sloppy jalapeno-topped burger that I loved. Just wish I could remember what it was called. Here's a link to the new place:

http://www.loumalnatis.com/locations/suburbs_evanston.html

--The Snob

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

Andy's Better Brother wrote:

Lerner's
Miller's
Friedman's Deli
The Ivanhoe
The Homestead

Lerner's (on Jersey just South of Bryn Mawr) was the hot dog of my youth. Great greasy fries, too. The closest thing to the Lerner's genre of dog in existance today is Gene & Judes.

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

bob kopczynski wrote:

I have to ditto the user that posted on hagans, which is still there. i grew up on them.
But who remembers Ray's Red Hots ? the little stand just east of the hagans/c. davis metroplex that probably would have been right up there with G&J's and the other Chicago dog frontrunners . I remember being able to go to Portage park pool to swim, then stop at Ray's for hot dogs after and then of course a frozen custard cone at the place on the corner. You get 5 extra points if you can remember the orignal name of the place. found at the bottom of this message. This was back in the day when the whole days activity cost less than 2 bucks and you walked everywhee without turning up as an Amber Alert.

Ok, how about one of harlem avenues finest, known as ODMF to us in the delinquent crowd. Our Dogs Make Friends. If i remember correctly, chips no fries but a great dog. It was a trailer and is know a parking lot. not far from franksville which was very good local chain in the 60's. I remember them having a picture menu board with 2 dozen different dogs on it. As kids we would want foot longs, thinking we where eating a whole lot and not realzing the guy was using like 10/lb footlongs.

I also miss Bravermans for corned beef but this was before i drove and iw as never sure where it was.

Also, the folks used to take us to a cafeteria style place which was in our old hood around division and milwaukee, i think the name was initials like E&F's or something. it was my first of many lifelong experiences with became known to me as grilled cheese

This discussion has become one of my favorites to read and i want to thank all who are contributing.

bob

(Cal's Drive In )

Recently, Cathy2, Erik M and I made a trip to the Buffalo Ice Cream Parlor in Buffalo Grove (report & pictures to follow soon). The subject of Cal's came up in the context of them offering a mustard shake on their extensive menu of flavors.

G Wiv · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:58 am

Andy's Better Brother wrote:

Lerner's
Miller's
Friedman's Deli
The Ivanhoe
The Homestead

Andy'sBetterBrother,

Of your list I've only been to The Homestead, one of your NotSoBetterBrother's favorite places. I had the pleasure of accompanying him to The Homestead a few times for his annual B-Day celebration, he was most unhappy when they closed.

A couple of good things did come from the Homestead's closing 8-9 years ago, we, and by we I mean Ellen, Andy (RevrendAndy) and I found Chuck's BBQ, and I was started on the road to cooking my own low & slow BBQ.

Looking forward to LTH, the restaurant, next time you are in town.

Enjoy,
Gary

Vital Information · **Joined:** Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:42 pm **Posts:** 2970

G Wiv wrote:

Andy's Better Brother wrote:

Lerner's
Miller's
Friedman's Deli
The Ivanhoe
The Homestead

Andy'sBetterBrother,

Of your list I've only been to The Homestead, one of your NotSoBetterBrother's favorite places. I had the pleasure of accompanying him to The Homestead a few times for his annual B-Day celebration, he was most unhappy when they closed.

A couple of good things did come from the Homestead's closing 8-9 years ago, we, and by we I mean Ellen, Andy (RevrendAndy) and I found Chuck's BBQ, and I was started on the road to cooking my own low & slow BBQ.

Looking forward to LTH, the restaurant, next time you are in town.

Enjoy,
Gary

Which Homestead are you talking about? The one that closed (about a year ago) that bums me, was nearby me in Melrose Park, on North Avenue.

G Wiv · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:13 am

Vital Information wrote:

Which Homestead are you talking about? The one that closed (about a year ago) that bums me, was nearby me in Melrose Park, on North Avenue.

Rob,

That was a different Homestead, I know because both Andy and I inquired when the Southside Homestead closed 8-9 years ago. There may have been some slight family connection, but the ribs and sauce were quite different at the Southside and Melrose Park Homestead.

Enjoy,
Gary

eatchicago · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:05 pm

In the mid-80s, in a strip mall on the SE corner of Pratt & California, there was a hot dog joint named "Freedy's", run by a guy named.....well.....Freedy (short for Friedman, I think).

Freedy put together a decent hot dog, burger, beef, etc. and made his own hand-cut fries. He lived in the shadow of Fluky's, just a few blocks away, but my friends and I were regulars there, and Freedy knew us all by name.

One day, without warning, Freedy was gone and a nice Korean couple were behind the counter. None of the food was the same and Freedy's closed in a few short months.

I reminisce about afternoons at Freedy's quite often, scarfing down a hot dog and fries and running home for (my second) dinner.

Anyone else remember this place?

bryan · **Posted:** Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:42 pm

Wow. That just made me remember The Magic Pan. Although it was a chain, it was my first crepes experience. Loved their potage St. Germaine and (blush) the fried cheese crepe with a sweet mustard sauce.

Also have thought fondly of Kon Tiki Ports near Chicago and Michigan (?). We used to get hammered on Mai-Tais there. Also enjoyed a good chuckle over the "poo-poo" platter.

hattyn · **Joined:** Fri Jul 09, 2004 12:28 am **Posts:** 477

What were the establishments in the spot that is now Juliana's?In the '70s I believe a Russian restaurant and more recently I think an Italian place.Thank you.Also across the street on the NE corner one block East of Lincoln,Jimmy Wong's?

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

hattyn wrote:

What were the establishments in the spot that is now Juliana's?In the '70s I believe a Russian restaurant and more recently I think an Italian place.Thank you.Also across the street on the NE corner one block East of Lincoln,Jimmy Wong's?

It used to be an Italian place called Seven Hills when I was a kid. The only thing I remember about it was that they brought out a multi-tiered cookie server at the end of the meal with fresh fruit and cookies on it. As a kid, it was quite impressive, "You mean we get to eat all this stuff for FREE?"

Cathy2 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:41 am

Quote:

In the '70s I believe a Russian restaurant and more recently I think an Italian place.Thank you.Also across the street on the NE corner one block East of Lincoln,Jimmy Wong's?

It was Jimmy Wong's in the 1970's like around Lincoln and Peterson. They even had an experimental theater upstairs for a while. I know this because I went to a play there hoping to 'bump into someone' I wanted to meet.

In the 1980's, it was a Russian dinner club called 'Moscow Nights,' which I visited several times. It really was like going to Moscow and going home to my bed ... the best of both worlds.

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

Cathy2 wrote:

Quote:

In the '70s I believe a Russian restaurant and more recently I think an Italian place.Thank you.Also across the street on the NE corner one block East of Lincoln,Jimmy Wong's?

It was Jimmy Wong's in the 1970's like around Lincoln and Peterson. They even had an experimental theater upstairs for a while. I know this because I went to a play there hoping to 'bump into someone' I wanted to meet.

In the 1980's, it was a Russian dinner club called 'Moscow Nights,' which I visited several times. It really was like going to Moscow and going home to my bed ... the best of both worlds.

Cathy,

I think the place you are remembering is actually across the street from Juliana on the North side of Peterson where Lincoln crosses it. Juliana is on the South side of Peterson, slightly East of that intersection. I went to a Bar Mitzvah party at Moscow Nights for a cousin of mine who had just emigrated with his parents from Russia. I think I drank nearly a whole bottle of Stoli by myself that night. That was a long time ago and I think I can still feel the effects. :lol:

Cathy2 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:07 pm

Steve Z wrote:

I think the place you are remembering is actually across the street from Juliana on the North side of Peterson where Lincoln crosses it. Juliana is on the South side of Peterson, slightly East of that intersection.

On my way to Argyle Street today, I did pass this intersection and couldn't find it. It may well be I began looking for it too late. I know it was on the north side of the street and it was Jimmy Wong then Moscow Nights. It was the references to JW and MN in that area, though I didn't quite place Juliannas.

"Only one bottle of vodka?" In the circle I hung out with in Moscow, that was simply a good beginning.

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

Cathy2 wrote:

Steve Z wrote:

I think the place you are remembering is actually across the street from Juliana on the North side of Peterson where Lincoln crosses it. Juliana is on the South side of Peterson, slightly East of that intersection.

On my way to Argyle Street today, I did pass this intersection and couldn't find it. It may well be I began looking for it too late. I know it was on the north side of the street and it was Jimmy Wong then Moscow Nights. It was the references to JW and MN in that area, though I didn't quite place Juliannas.

"Only one bottle of vodka?" In the circle I hung out with in Moscow, that was simply a good beginning.

I think it's some type of medical facility now. It's right on the corner. There is a stop light and a side street just before you get to Lincoln (going West). Juliana's is on the other side of the street and a little further East.

P.S. A nearly full bottle is pretty good for a guy who doesn't normally dirnk.

hattyn · **Joined:** Fri Jul 09, 2004 12:28 am **Posts:** 477

Does anyone remember Eat Zyggyz?I am pretty sure that is how they spelled it.In the space that used to be Hoos , where we picked up Wacky Packages,and the space is now Lupita's.And there used to also be a Lupita's on Howard between Ridge and Asbury.

midas · **Joined:** Wed Jun 02, 2004 6:41 am **Posts:** 502

I do remember a fairly good sized diner on the NE corner of Belmont and Clark that I always got a kick out of. They advertised on the window something like 4 eggs, sausage or ham, potatos and toast for like $3. But if you ordered the same thing with only 2 eggs it was like $4.50. And of course, they'd never tell you that.

But it was a good breakfast, as long as you didn't mind not finishing your eggs.

hattyn · **Joined:** Fri Jul 09, 2004 12:28 am **Posts:** 477

She's baaack!We were at El Sol today and remembered its various incarnations as Hagatha Hogmeyer amd La Bamba.Plus way back when it was Area Code 312 and they had phones in the booths.

George R · **Posted:** Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:41 pm

Is this the El Sol at Dempster and Austin in Morton Grove?

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

bryan wrote:

Also have thought fondly of Kon Tiki Ports near Chicago and Michigan (?). We used to get hammered on Mai-Tais there. Also enjoyed a good chuckle over the "poo-poo" platter.

You can still achieve the psuedo Polynesian experience at Trader Vic's in the basement of the Palmer House. Poo Poo (or is it Pu Pu) platter and all.

P.S. it was Grand & Michigan in, what is now, the Intercontinental Hotel

stevez · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2004 9:19 am **Posts:** 8413

hattyn wrote:

She's baaack!We were at El Sol today and remembered its various incarnations as Hagatha Hogmeyer amd La Bamba.Plus way back when it was Area Code 312 and they had phones in the booths.

That location was also briefly The Buffalo when they moved out of the place on Irving & Pulaski.

Penpoint · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:47 pm

A few of my favorites from the past:

Metropolis (the original on North)
Mallory's (on Wells)
Mrs. Dutton's Ontra Cafeteria (in the Loop on Wabash)
Edison Dick restaurants--Cafe de Paris, La Tour, Lafite, etc.
Soup's On
Jimmy's Place

Anyone old enough to remember these?

Jazzfood · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:44 pm

is little bucharest still around?

Jazzfood · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:49 pm

fanny's

monestero's

paul's umbrella

poolgogi and pusan house

Cathy2 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:54 pm

Hi,

Little Bucharest closed, then folded into Continental Cafe. Their street signage even refers to Little Bucharest. Here is an old thread.

Continental Cafe
3661 N Elston
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 604-8500

Jazzfood · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:04 pm

to bad. before i left town, it was a local of mine. way to much good food for to little $. the stuffed pork chop was 6 inches thick. the dessert tortes were enormous. overlapping the plates with a few candybars worth of chocolate layered w/buttercreme and hazelnuts.

fastfoodsnob · **Posted:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:04 pm

jazzfood wrote:

monestero's

You aren't referring to Monastero's on Devon (near Pulaski/Crawford), are you? There's been another thread about the food earlier (see the link below), but I just attended my second wedding reception there in four years, and I think I enjoyed the chicken a bit more than the last time I went. Regardless, you definitely go for the company. Of course, you may be referring to a different restaurant, so I'll just leave it at that.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... monasteros

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