Anyone remember the SHOWBOAT SARI-S?

As I recall, it actually had TWO separate lives as a floating restaurant in Chicago. The 1st was pretty much in the late 60s, and after a few years it disappeared until it was brought back (was it the exact same boat?) in 1984 or so. I recall it received a terrible review from at least one of the newspapers the second go-round.
I was only on it once in the fall of 1985 on a weekend nite and there were just a few stragglers wandering around; the kitchen was probably closed because all I think we had were drinks. Lifted a menu as a souvenir, tho. The boat disappeared for good a short time later.
Any one else actually EAT on it? Just how was the food?
Would love to hear your comments and opinions!
(I think it was docked on the river where the Ontario street exit fed onto the Kennedy North prior to reconstruction.)

According to this Chicago Reader article, it was last seen wrecked on the shore of Goose Island. The article's 14 years old, and a lot of stuff's been built on Goose Island since then, so I think it's a safe bet that what was left of Sari-S II is long gone by now.

Hi,

I'm glad this query allowed this article to be unearthed. Fascinating story on those who collect debris from the rivers.

Thanks!

Regards,

A floating "barge" restaurant!
What a magnificent Dining Concept.
I can still remember the rickity "launch" they had at the southern end of ERIE Street, kinda where the Park is now.....
Foodwise- I had some less than memorable "Chicago" style ribs (meaning more like Bassetti's/Carsons than Honey 1) and cocktails- but what a place to
take a date- the lovely view of the skyline- the gentle lapping of the current against the ship-a VERY Urban type of date!

I can't believe that Chicago's not seen more attempts at using the River to moor a floating restaurant!
Last I saw of the "ship" as it were was it listing alongside the Montgomery Wards Loft Building-
North of The Chicago Avenue Bridge- and South of The Halsted Street Bridge.
Anyone know what "law" specifically prevents this from occurring elsewhere?

I remember the SARI S. I was the bookkeeper for both, the trucking co and the restaurant. I loved the restaurant, and ate lunch there every day. They had excellent food at that time (middle 60's). There were many celebrity parties. It was, indeed, a showboat..paddle-wheel and all.
Joseph Salon owned both businesses, and was a very unscrupulous man. I could tell many stories about him. I worked for several Chicago restaurants

Hi everyone,

My grandfather, Joseph Salon, was the owner of the Showboat Sari S (my mom is Sari). If anyone has any memorabilia that you would either 1) be willing to sell or 2) give to me to put with my collection of artifacts, bc that would be awesome. I never knew my grandfather, ironically, he was put in a nursing home the day before I was born, so viewing the things from the boat allows me to get to know him.

Thanks,
Jacob

Stumbled upon this thread while looking up some info on the ship.

I drove past it sometime in the early 2000s and always wondered about it (I wasn't around when it was floating). At that time I think it was sunk to the bottom or close to it. I forgot about it until I recently ended up in the same area and noticed that all traces of it are gone except for some wreck marker buoys. It seems like more information about it has surfaced on the web in the past few years because I remember not finding much on it in the past. You can see it on Google Earth up to 2004, but after that it's no longer visible. Apparently the US Army Engineers dynamited it.

One would think that it's gone, but it's actually not. Apparently the hull's still a major obstruction to navigation hence the wreck buoys. I found an article saying that the complete decimation of the ship would happen in the "future." After reading that article about all the filthy trash in the bottom of the river I'd hate to be the guy to have that job!

Here's the satellite view from 2004.

Sari II satellite

jacobc11 wrote:Hi everyone,

My grandfather, Joseph Salon, was the owner of the Showboat Sari S (my mom is Sari). If anyone has any memorabilia that you would either 1) be willing to sell or 2) give to me to put with my collection of artifacts, bc that would be awesome. I never knew my grandfather, ironically, he was put in a nursing home the day before I was born, so viewing the things from the boat allows me to get to know him.

Thanks,
Jacob

gotta say thanks for reviving this thread,

never had heard of the Showboat Sari. Made for an interesting hour or so reading some various articles about it.

liked this one about ribs in 1985:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985 ... -executive