The Look

Ok, what was that Hanna Barbera cartoon with the dog and the purple horse (it included but was more than the running skit about el kabong). The dog would go crazy and float when given a treat...well that's me when Orange Garden comes up. And it makes me want to have another thread on places that may not serve good food (and in Orange Garden's case, does not even serve edible food), but are sublime for their architecture.

Here's a few:

diner grill - irving park and southport
classic hopper style counter, brightly lit aganinst the dark sky

gene and jude's hot dog stand - river road near grand, River Grove
all glass version of the chicago hot dog stand

orange garden chop suey - irving park and damen
art deco classic inside as well as facade

superdawg - milwaukee and devon
a bit of southern california on the far north side

the standup bar at the beghoff
perhaps what the bar in heaven looks like?

the walnut room at marshall fields - state and washington
worth the wait and the mediocre food

club lago - with guido and the executive - orleans near chicago

RIP
jim's grill - maxwell street
the hollywood - lincoln and lawrence
dewey's grill - north clark street
everything at the old bismark hotel (like a leftover film set for the re-make of maltese falcon)

El Jalisciense, and Boston's BBQ (less so now after the old sign came down), West Grand. Very spaghetti western as noted here prior.

George Diamond's Steakhouse. Still there, for now. Would someone please rehab this place and return it to its former glory (whenever that was).

I would submit the recently LTH-invaded Gulliver's. I always considered 90% of their menu inedible, 8% mediocre, and 2% good. But, good lord, that decor. It's like the Lyric Opera's prop and art department threw up on a pizza joint.

Best,
Michael / EC

Vital Information wrote:Ok, what was that Hanna Barbera cartoon with the dog and the purple horse (it included but was more than the running skit about el kabong). The dog would go crazy and float when given a treat...well that's me when Orange Garden comes up. And it makes me want to have another thread on places that may not serve good food (and in Orange Garden's case, does not even serve edible food), but are sublime for their architecture.

Are you thinking of Quickdraw McGraw, and Augie Doggie? Check here.

Gene and Georgetti's. The atmosphere and "joint-ness" are like a sauce for the mediocre food. Totally Chicago, I love taking out-of-towners there who are looking for an experience.

nr706 wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Ok, what was that Hanna Barbera cartoon with the dog and the purple horse (it included but was more than the running skit about el kabong). The dog would go crazy and float when given a treat...well that's me when Orange Garden comes up. And it makes me want to have another thread on places that may not serve good food (and in Orange Garden's case, does not even serve edible food), but are sublime for their architecture.

Are you thinking of Quickdraw McGraw, and Augie Doggie? Check here.

Thanks!

Vital Information wrote:diner grill - irving park and southport
classic hopper style counter, brightly lit aganinst the dark sky

Actually, Diner Grill is on Irving & Ashland, not Southport.

Classic greasy spoon - open 24X7, 365 since the '30s, except for one week a few years back when the city shut them down for paying off on the video poker machine.

Vital Information wrote:Ok, what was that Hanna Barbera cartoon with the dog and the purple horse (it included but was more than the running skit about el kabong). The dog would go crazy and float when given a treat...

The dog is snuffles, for a bit of animation, go here (scroll down a bit): http://www.wingnuttoons.com/QuickDraw.html

ChiNOLA wrote:

Vital Information wrote:diner grill - irving park and southport
classic hopper style counter, brightly lit aganinst the dark sky

Actually, Diner Grill is on Irving & Ashland, not Southport.

Classic greasy spoon - open 24X7, 365 since the '30s, except for one week a few years back when the city shut them down for paying off on the video poker machine.

Well if one really wants to get to the nub of it it's on Irving and Marshfield, just west of Ashland.

Good food and interesting, friendly company and service. I'll occasionally have the Slinger but usually it's ham and eggs (over medium), hash browns with onions extra crispy, and black coffee. I bring my own hot sauce as the supplied varieties are mostly vinegar with salt and red dye, at least by the taste.

Great list, Vital Information. While I agree with most of your picks as to the quality of the food, or lack thereof, I wholeheartedly agree with your characterization of all of them as "sublime for their architecture."

Would it spoil them, do you think, if they served good food too?

I'll add to the list Merichka's in Joliet...home of garlic butterine.

Merichka's Vintage Sign

cowdery wrote:Great list, Vital Information. While I agree with most of your picks as to the quality of the food, or lack thereof, I wholeheartedly agree with your characterization of all of them as "sublime for their architecture."

Would it spoil them, do you think, if they served good food too?

The only place on my list that is downright bad is Orange Garden (another place I can think of that has great look but lousy food is Don's Humberger). I confess that for me, the sublime architecture makes the food taste all the better. And I probably like food at places like the Club Lago or Merichka's better than others because of the look.

Great look but lousy food: Harlo Grill, North Ave + 24th, Melrose Park.

Kman wrote:Well if one really wants to get to the nub of it it's on Irving and Marshfield, just west of Ashland.

Good food and interesting, friendly company and service. I'll occasionally have the Slinger but usually it's ham and eggs (over medium), hash browns with onions extra crispy, and black coffee. I bring my own hot sauce as the supplied varieties are mostly vinegar with salt and red dye, at least by the taste.

You're right, of course, Diner Grill is actually one block West of Ashland on Irving Park.

My staple there is a double cheeseburger w/ a fried egg on top, hash browns, chocolate shake.

The Slinger is usually a bit much for me (there's a reason the sign says "Slinger - don't ask, just order"). For those that haven't tried it, a Slinger is served on an oval platter on a bed of hash browns: two cheeseburger patties, each with a fried egg on top, and the whole thing smothered in chili (if you're a real glutton for punishment, extra chili is available on request).

ChiNOLA wrote: The Slinger is usually a bit much for me (there's a reason the sign says "Slinger - don't ask, just order"). For those that haven't tried it, a Slinger is served on an oval platter on a bed of hash browns: two cheeseburger patties, each with a fried egg on top, and the whole thing smothered in chili (if you're a real glutton for punishment, extra chili is available on request).

Ah, the Slinger. I didn't know they served it over there. I thought the Slinger was indigenous to my hometown of St. Louis. O.T.Hodge's, a chili parlor there that has largely, if not completely, gone away, was a late night haunt for my father sixty years ago and myself within the last ten years. After a night of drinking and cavorting, we'd often end up there about 3:00 a.m. and inevitably be drawn to a Slinger like flies to, well, fly paper. The more adventurous would order the Super Slinger which would include a tamale on top.

I must check out the Diner. Never been, though I've lived nearby.

Vital Information wrote:And I probably like food at places like the Club Lago...

The mention of Club Lago brought to mind today Club Lucky. I find the food forgettable but I love the retro-supper-club feel of the place.

Club Lucky
1824 W. Wabansia Ave.
773-227-2300

Best,
Michael / EC

eatchicago wrote:The mention of Club Lago brought to mind today Club Lucky. I find the food forgettable but I love the retro-supper-club feel of the place.

Club Lucky
1824 W. Wabansia Ave.
773-227-2300

Best,
Michael / EC

Yes, but it's faux retro. Club Lucky isn't all that old. I agree, however, about the food.

stevez wrote:Yes, but it's faux retro. Club Lucky isn't all that old. I agree, however, about the food.

I was careful to show no appreciation to their retro-authenticity. It's definitely faux, but I think they pull of the look pretty well.

eatchicago wrote:

stevez wrote:Yes, but it's faux retro. Club Lucky isn't all that old. I agree, however, about the food.

I was careful to show no appreciation to their retro-authenticity. It's definitely faux, but I think they pull of the look pretty well.

Sure, so if that is the criteria we are talking aobut, you can add almost every LEYE restaurant under the sun (except for TRU and Ambria).

stevez wrote:

eatchicago wrote:

stevez wrote:Yes, but it's faux retro. Club Lucky isn't all that old. I agree, however, about the food.

I was careful to show no appreciation to their retro-authenticity. It's definitely faux, but I think they pull of the look pretty well.

Sure, so if that is the criteria we are talking aobut, you can add almost every LEYE restaurant under the sun (except for TRU and Ambria).

A couple LEYE places "work" for me, but most don't. They are like Vegas (actually worse than Vegas) in the way that they are hyper-real, cartoonish real, the way a caricturist exagerates certain features. Of the LEYE places, I do like the look at the original Mon Ami, Mighty Nice Grill, and especially, and one that approaches the sublime, Brasserie Jo (which appropriately enough has very average food).

In the ways of quirks, I really love the complete plasticity of MGM at Disney World. Because it is based on a movie fantasy Hollywood, *that* does work for me. MGM in Florida is right up there with Orange Garden for euphora inducing (for me).

Rob

Wow, the Slinger has a pedigree down I55. Who knew. Thanks Mike.

Diner on Irving/Dinner on Marshfield Grill is very old, prompting the question: Who was first?

ChgoMike wrote:Ah, the Slinger. I didn't know they served it over there. I thought the Slinger was indigenous to my hometown of St. Louis. O.T.Hodge's, a chili parlor there that has largely, if not completely, gone away, was a late night haunt for my father sixty years ago and myself within the last ten years. After a night of drinking and cavorting, we'd often end up there about 3:00 a.m. and inevitably be drawn to a Slinger like flies to, well, fly paper. The more adventurous would order the Super Slinger which would include a tamale on top.

Must admit I've never seen a Slinger consumed at Diner Grill before 2 a.m., always when the place is mobbed with drunks late night. Go figure.

I asked the counter man once when they sold the most Slingers, and he told me "We sell an awful lot of them on Saturday nights - guys go out drinkin' all night, then come in here, order a Slinger, then head home and go to church Sunday morning....... That's why they call Church seats 'Pews'! " (note the pause for comedic effect before referring to the inevitable gastro-intestinal side effects of consuming a Slinger).

Good thing he's got a day job......

ChgoMike wrote: The more adventurous would order the Super Slinger which would include a tamale on top.

Hmmmm, I wonder if I bring my own tamale . . .

stevez wrote:

eatchicago wrote:

stevez wrote:Yes, but it's faux retro. Club Lucky isn't all that old. I agree, however, about the food.

I was careful to show no appreciation to their retro-authenticity. It's definitely faux, but I think they pull of the look pretty well.

Sure, so if that is the criteria we are talking aobut, you can add almost every LEYE restaurant under the sun (except for TRU and Ambria).

If the criteria for this thread is having "the look" which is also authentic and old, then I respectfully withdraw my submission.

If the criteria is for a place that just looks darn good outside or in, I'm standing by my guns that Club Lucky looks great, while there are a great many of LEYE places that just look silly. All fauxs aren't created equal, ask any costume jewelry dealer.

Vital Information defined the criteria as: "the places that may not serve good food (and in Orange Garden's case, does not even serve edible food), but are sublime for their architecture."

Sublimnity (probably not a word) is the standard, not authenticity.

Kman wrote:I bring my own hot sauce [to Diner Grill] as the supplied varieties are mostly vinegar with salt and red dye, at least by the taste.

Have you tried their homemade giardiniera (available on request)? It varies from batch to batch but can be quite good. The perfect way to top a Slinger.

ChgoMike wrote:Ah, the Slinger. I didn't know they served it over there. I thought the Slinger was indigenous to my hometown of St. Louis. O.T.Hodge's, a chili parlor there that has largely, if not completely, gone away, was a late night haunt for my father sixty years ago and myself within the last ten years.

Diner Grill is one of the few Chicago establishments to serve the Slinger. I believe you are correct that it originated in St Louis, possibly at O T Hodge Chile Parlor which opened in 1904. Hodge's is still in business as their website attests.

Diner Grill is a great place but while we're talking of classic Chicago diners, let's not forget Ramova Grill (3510 S Halsted) which hasn't changed much since it opened in the 1920s.

Brasserie Jo (which appropriately enough has very average food).

I thought that for years but the last time I went I liked it a lot better. Maybe I was just glad to be out of the house at night and doing grownup things, but it was firing on all its Citroen cylinders that night.

That said, I think The Look has to be authentically to the period, not just a modern imitation, however clever. Here's a related question-- where's the best concentration of period stuff? Can anyone beat Irving from Diner Grill to Laschet's, and including Resi's, Orange Garden, and throw in Timber Lanes and that old barbershop while you're at it?