As a child growing up on the mean streets of Elmhurst, a visit to Yankee Doodle Dandy was always quite a treat. If was just a burger joint but it was near my house.

I think they had another in the Riverside/Brookfield area that was open in the late 80s.

(Of course Hamburger Heaven in Elmhurst is still open. And it is one of those things you have to grow up on to appreciate.)

I haven't been able to find Beef Wellington since Chef Louie closed down. Anybody know of a decent source?

Anybody remember a great dog and frie place called Golda's in Maywood at 9th and Roosevelt? The best homemade fries I ever ate!!

Cogito wrote:I haven't been able to find Beef Wellington since Chef Louie closed down. Anybody know of a decent source?

Pete Miller's (locations in Evanston, Wheeling, and Schaumburg)

nsxtasy wrote:

Cogito wrote:I haven't been able to find Beef Wellington since Chef Louie closed down. Anybody know of a decent source?

Pete Miller's (locations in Evanston, Wheeling, and Schaumburg)

Thanks! I notice the prices are missing from his online menu. What's the going rate these days?

Cogito wrote:Thanks! I notice the prices are missing from his online menu. What's the going rate these days?

I have a carry-out menu that's probably a couple of years old at this point. It shows the price of Beef Wellington as $26.99.

Can't remember the name......this Ramadan fasting thing has me a little aloof, but I spent much of my high school years at Lincoln Park eating at a hot dog joint under the Fullerton red line stop - something like a buck fifty for a hot dog and a two big handfuls of nearly-perfect fresh cut fries.

I think the owner had some connection to the band Chicago - their crap memorabilia/gold records were all over the place (pardon me any Chicago fans out there!).

Kicking myself for not being able to remember the name of the place......

Somebody step in!

Demon Dogs R.I.P.

The Coronet at Austin Blvd. and Lake Street in the mid 50's. We could walk there and it was neat that our neighbors in Oak Park owned it.

This may make some cringe but does anyone remember the chain of what I vaguely recall being called Sweden House Smorgasbord Restaurants? I know there was one in Glen Ellyn and Naperville. The one in Naperville was right on the corner of Washington and Ogden. They had what was supposed to be "authentic Swedish food". I moved to Illinois as a young kid and we used to go here once in a blue moon. I actually remember the strange cheese spread that they had with crackers. For some reason it was my all time favorite cheese back then. I think it had horseradish in it. These places are long gone but every now and then when I pass the corner in Naperville I still recall this place and long for some of that cheese spread!

Hey Red, I vaguely remember that place. Do you remember the Earl of Sandwich on Ogden? They had great subs, etc.

WOW! Yeah, I do remember them. I haven't thought about Earl forever. They had the best subs! AH the good ol' days!

Cocorico, Hyde Park

AngrySarah wrote:As a child growing up on the mean streets of Elmhurst, a visit to Yankee Doodle Dandy was always quite a treat. If was just a burger joint but it was near my house.

I think they had another in the Riverside/Brookfield area that was open in the late 80s.

(Of course Hamburger Heaven in Elmhurst is still open. And it is one of those things you have to grow up on to appreciate.)

There was one in Franklin Park too, on Rose (25th) by the railroad track. As young teens we would ride our bikes down Grand Ave just to go there.

As a child of the seventies I fondly recall the Ground Round in Lincolnwood. I really liked the cheeseburgers partially due to the toothpick hoisted American flag in it. What kid doesn't like peanut shells thrown on the floor?

I also liked the Red Star Inn on Irving. They had, what I thought,was an excellent oxtail soup. I still think about it. I was young, though and for all I know it was a dump.

anyone remember Le Mikado on Goethe St.? i had one of the most memorable meals of my life there (for a variety of reasons).

A blast from the past, the return of The Claim Company. From Chicago Magazine:

Staking Another Claim

The folks behind The Claim Company, a beloved American spot from the eighties and nineties, have signed a lease on the 225-seat former Palm space in Northbrook Court (2171 Northbrook Court, Northbrook; 847-291-9111) and plan to bring back The Claim Company in mid-September. Michael Holleb, a partner, says they hope to recapture the glory of the old CC in Northbrook Court. “It had a desert scene and neon,” says Holleb. “And a rail car. People didn’t like sitting in it because it was claustrophobic, but it’s what people remember. We’re trying to bring in some of those aspects but that was a very unique space.” Foodwise, it’ll be similar to what you remember, including the Motherlode, a legendary charbroiled burger, and a 70-item salad bar larger than the original.

not a top spot but

henrys's hamburgers
by lake and central and another by lane tech

a places kind of like white castle im sure i remember 15 cent burgers
that was yesterday and yesterday is gone

Vittori's Beef at Taylor and May. They also had outlets in Downers Grove on Ogden and in Oak Lawn on Cicero at 109th. I went to high school in the Taylor street area and would go to Vittori's at least twice a week and more when Marios would be open for the season. I never stepped foot in Al's unitl Vittori's closed.

baby ray wrote:henrys's hamburgers
by lake and central and another by lane tech

a places kind of like white castle im sure i remember 15 cent burgers
that was yesterday and yesterday is gone

No, yesterday's not gone.

My nostalgia spots are both ice cream parlors, the late Buffalo on Irving Park near Pulaski and Lockwood Castle. Don't think I'd call them hotspots by today's standards but for the early 70's they were both a treat.

For those nostalgic for the Magic Pan, LEYE bought the name and concept and is keeping it on the back burner, although they do have a food court location in Northbrook Court.

It was my "sophisticated" date spot in high school.

Dill Pickle It was a great place. The first really good deli place I knew of.

Vittoris That was the place I liked to go back when i was at UIC. Great sandwich and cheap.

Felices Round Table My dad would take us there when Mom was out of town. First place I ever had a steak not cooked well done. Began a love affair with good meat after that. The cauldron of soup is something I will always remember.

There was a sandwich place just south of the dock on the lower level across from the Tribune that was a regular stop when I used to drive a delivery truck downtown. Had really good food. Its name escapes me.

baby ray wrote:not a top spot but

henrys's hamburgers
by lake and central and another by lane tech

a places kind of like white castle im sure i remember 15 cent burgers
that was yesterday and yesterday is gone

The Henry's by Lane Tech was directly across Western from Riverview's main entrance. And yes, almost everything on the menu was 15 cents. Back then they were bigger than McDonalds.

Dr. Jazz - 20's style ice cream parlor on montrose near ashland
La Milenesa - Italian sandwhich shop 32nd and may
Biasetti's - old school steak house Irving park and ashland
Metro club - best austrian ever- lincoln near greenview.

Boy do I miss those.

When I was much younger my friends and I used to go to a great little place on Armitage (I think) called "Buster Crab". Back then I thought it was great!

Gone but not forgotten....
Sally's BBQ Western near Devon
Miller's Steak House 7000 N, Western
Black Angus Steak House 7150 N Western
Puff Fluff Donuts 6801 N. Western

shotzy wrote:A blast from the past, the return of The Claim Company. From Chicago Magazine:

Staking Another Claim

The folks behind The Claim Company, a beloved American spot from the eighties and nineties, have signed a lease on the 225-seat former Palm space in Northbrook Court (2171 Northbrook Court, Northbrook; 847-291-9111) and plan to bring back The Claim Company in mid-September. Michael Holleb, a partner, says they hope to recapture the glory of the old CC in Northbrook Court. “It had a desert scene and neon,” says Holleb. “And a rail car. People didn’t like sitting in it because it was claustrophobic, but it’s what people remember. We’re trying to bring in some of those aspects but that was a very unique space.” Foodwise, it’ll be similar to what you remember, including the Motherlode, a legendary charbroiled burger, and a 70-item salad bar larger than the original.

I checked to find these are the same guys who ran 41 North, which closed last year. They also had a Claim Company style hamburger on their menu, though no salad bar. I heard 41 North's owners were managers of the Claim Company with 41's menu largely derived from CC.

Regards,

La Choza on Paulina

The Gold Coin

Ashkenez on Morse

Dave's Hamburgers in Franklin Park

The Pickle Barrel

Ichiban in "New Town"

Let us not forget The Buffalo and also Kirie's in River Grove

Artie wrote:Gone but not forgotten....
Sally's BBQ Western near Devon
Miller's Steak House 7000 N, Western
Black Angus Steak House 7150 N Western
Puff Fluff Donuts 6801 N. Western

I remember all these except the last one, What timeframe would that have been?

Sally's is an interesting remembrance. I loved it as a kid and a teenager. But I wonder now, with all the great real BBQ options available, if I'd still find it appealing. Still, I'd love to find a place with the same ribs and sauce to try it now.

We loved loved loved Fritz That's It in Evanston, it was THE first choice for birthdays and other celebrations. Early LEYE I think.