D B Kaplans in Water Tower Place.Astonishing selection of sandwiches.I am not sure if they were really that good or if it is nostalgia.

D. B. Kaplan's was the successor to Hemingway's Movable Feast, which was at the intersection of Clark Wells and Lincoln; I may be wrong, but I think it was the first of the Levy restaurants.

Hemingway's Moveable Feast! Yes! Great sandwiches! I had forgotten the name! Thanks! When I lived in Roscoe Village, there was a Planet Cafe on Damen near Roscoe that used to advertise breakfast in pajamas. I had a spaghetti dinner there one evening and it was bland. Ugh! The girlfriend of someone I knew catered their desserts. On Roscoe, there was a German deli that sold sausages and sauerkraut. There was also a Spanish market (Cardenas?). And, an Irish bar, Kelly's ? All gone. How about this--does anyone remember the Bowl and Roll in Old Town? They only sold soups and they only served 3, vichysoisse, chicken noodle and I can't remember the third. The interior was designed to look like a cave and you sat on little stools.

How about this--does anyone remember the Bowl and Roll in Old Town? They only sold soups and they only served 3, vichysoisse, chicken noodle and I can't remember the third.

The Bowl and Roll was Louis Szathmary's budget restaurant, a very good little place. At least at one time, their three soups were chicken noodle (with either a half or quarter chicken), kidney bean (served with Hungarian sausage or ham hock), and goulash. Chef Szathmary is best remembered for The Bakery, an important Chicago restaurant he started in 1962.

Thanks! I could not remember Chef Szathmary's name, only the name of his restaurant. I thought the Bowl and Roll was started by his Japanese wife? Their chicken soup was the yummiest chicken soup I think I've ever had. Do you remember the name of the restaurant that use to be at the end of Piper's Alley?

I thought the Bowl and Roll was started by his Japanese wife?

I remember that Sada Szathmary was involved, and she may well have been the main force behind it. Chef Louis died in 1996 but Sada is very much alive.

Do you remember the name of the restaurant that used to be at the end of Piper's Alley?

That Steak Joynt? It was in Henry Piper's original bakery (1882) from at least the early 1960s through the '90s.

Chef Louis died in 1996 but Sada is very much alive.

Sada is a regular at Culinary Historian meetings. ReneG frequents as well, so perhaps at the next meeting we can inquire with her directly on this question.

Sada certainly worked with her husband, though I thought it was more front of the house. She did have her own successful business running a hair salon, which I understand was a tony place.

Regards,

Thank you so much, everyone! This has been very interesting! The history of Piper's Alley! I thought That Steak Joynt was next door? I remember it being across the street from Kamehachi but I'm not sure if that was the original location or not. I remember a restaurant at the rear of Piper's Alley that had really good hamburgers but I couldn't tell you if it was That Steak Joynt or A Restaurant Called Desire. This was back in the '60s. Thanks for mentioning the CH connection. I used to attend the mtgs at the CHS but it's been awhile.

I remember a restaurant at the rear of Piper's Alley that had really good hamburgers

Let me toss out a couple more names. According to a list of Old Town businesses from 1964 (seems to be complete, or close), the only other restaurants in that immediate area were Penelope's Premises and The Bratskellar. Penelope's Premises was in a coach house at the end of the alley. Does that sound familiar?

As I remember it, A Restaurant Named Desire started after an early re-modeling of Piper's Alley. There was a reasonably good Indian restaurant in there, too. But A Restaurant Named Desire was the second location for another restaurant (can't recall the name) that was at LaSalle & Division. Then came the bad re-modeling of Piper's Alley - by the reknowned architect Stanley Tigerman. I knew an architect who worked on it in his office - she said it was one of Tigerman's most embarrassing projects.

Speaking of Wells Street, does anyone remember "The Pickle Barrell", south of North ave. on the east side of the street? We used to go there alot when we were kids and I still remember the balloon guy. Can't say I remember much about the food though.

winebabe wrote:Speaking of Wells Street, does anyone remember "The Pickle Barrell", south of North ave. on the east side of the street? We used to go there alot when we were kids and I still remember the balloon guy. Can't say I remember much about the food though.

It was nothing special food wise. Mostly basic burgers, etc. The thing that made the Pickel Barrel cool was the mini pickel barrels on every table with some pretty good kosher dills...oh and the free peanuts whose shells you could toss on the floor. There was also a second location in the shopping center at Western & Howard. That location eventually became the Belden Deli North and now is a Blockbuster or some such.

SteveZ wrote:Pickel Barrel cool was the mini pickel barrels on every table with some pretty good kosher dills...oh and the free peanuts whose shells you could toss on the floor.

There was a Pickle Barrel in Northbrook near Charlie Beinlich's. The building was torn down just this year and replaced by a 5th/3rd Bank.

When we first moved to Highland Park, we were a young family with two members under 5. Not too many family friendly places, though Pickle Barrel was certainly one.

While you wax poetic on the pickles and peanuts, we enjoyed the popcorn. My Dad loves popcorn, which may have been a driving force for going there so regularly.

Regards,

winebabe wrote:Speaking of Wells Street, does anyone remember "The Pickle Barrell", south of North ave. on the east side of the street? We used to go there alot when we were kids and I still remember the balloon guy. Can't say I remember much about the food though.

Don't forget Chances R. which was right down the street. A decent burger, but the highlight for my brothers and I was all the peanuts you could eat, and the fact they encouraged you to throw the shells on the floor.

There was also a Chances R in Harper Court in Hyde Park -- again, the peanuts -- shells on the floor -- were big attractions, and, unless my memory fails me, an occasional jazz group.

If you preferred popcorn you went around the corner to Smedley's where you could also get pitchers of red wine and good steak sandwiches (i.e., a real steak -- boneless rib, I think -- on a bun).

All this talk of the old days of Old Town and Wells Street brings to mind a wonderful little place called Soups On. Back in the 1960s, it was in the block that now houses Salpicon. My memory holds a clear, very cold day and warming up with a big bowl of soup. I think one had a choice of three soups each day--and with bread and butter that's all they served.

winebabe wrote:Speaking of Wells Street, does anyone remember "The Pickle Barrel", south of North ave. on the east side of the street? We used to go there alot when we were kids and I still remember the balloon guy. Can't say I remember much about the food though.

Interesting that what was The Pickle Barrel (casual to the extreme) is now the semi-upscale O'Briens.

nr706 wrote:
Interesting that what was The Pickle Barrel (casual to the extreme) is now the semi-upscale O'Briens.

I seem to remember PB being on the other side of the street than O'Briens. I could be wrong, though. There's lot's of stuff about the 60's I dont remember at all.

Yes, I am sure it was on the east side of the street. The building had a courtyard of some sort also.

I first moved into Old Town in 1975, and I'm pretty sure I remember a peanut-shells-on-the-floor place where O'Brien's is now (although given the era, I'll admit that my memories might be a bit phamacologically challenged). There was also a decent Indian restaurant in a brownstone a few steps above the street on the east side of Wells, and (off topic) what is now Zanie's was then Club Amour (not that I was ever inside ...)

My admittedly hazy memory:

Chances R was on the east side of Wells in the first block south of North Avenue. Another very similar place (hamburgers, peanut shells on the floor) opened on the west side of Wells about where O'Briens is; it was named something like Across the Street or some clever '60s name that paid reference to Chances R. I think this is right, but I may have these two places confused with each other.

The Pickle Barrel was about a block south of that on the east side of the street: I don't remember peanut shells on the floor at PB as someone else mentioned.

To long list of departed chowish venues, add two great ice cream venues on N. Clark Street:

Soup & Scoop.. RIP around 2001 and now Ice Dreams, RIP 2004.

Unfortunately Ice Dreams had the lousy location next to the AIDS clinic, and when Coldstone came in on Diversey they were history. Clearly superior in tase to Coldstone IMO, and gelato on a par with New York's best.

Here are some addresses and comments about Wells Street in the 1960s, according to a 1964 guide book.

Speaking of Wells Street, does anyone remember "The Pickle Barrell", south of North ave. on the east side of the street?

The Pickle Barrel was at 1423 N Wells.

Don't forget Chances R. which was right down the street.

At 1533 N Wells. There was also 'Chances R Across the Street' at 1528.

All this talk of the old days of Old Town and Wells Street brings to mind a wonderful little place called Soups On. Back in the 1960s, it was in the block that now houses Salpicon. My memory holds a clear, very cold day and warming up with a big bowl of soup. I think one had a choice of three soups each day--and with bread and butter that's all they served.

Soup's On was at 1246 N Wells, just south of the current Salpicon. This location later housed Bowl and Roll. At Soup's On in 1964, soup, bread & butter, and beverage set you back $1.

Interesting that what was The Pickle Barrel (casual to the extreme) is now the semi-upscale O'Briens.

I seem to remember PB being on the other side of the street than O'Briens

Yes, I am sure it was on the east side of the street.

O'Brien's is at 1528 N Wells, where Chances R Across the Street used to be. The Pickle Barrel was at 1423 (at least in 1964).

Chances R was on the east side of Wells in the first block south of North Avenue. Another very similar place (hamburgers, peanut shells on the floor) opened on the west side of Wells about where O'Briens is; it was named something like Across the Street or some clever '60s name that paid reference to Chances R.

Chances R (1533) and Chances R Across the Street (1528, exactly where O'Brien's is) were under the same ownership. There was yet another place, 2nd Chance (1644 N Wells), that I assume was taking advantage of the popularity of Chances R.

Apple wrote:I could not remember Chef Szathmary's name, only the name of his restaurant. I thought the Bowl and Roll was started by his Japanese wife?

Before I left for Culinary Historians, I meant to look up this thread to remind myself of this queston. I did meet Sada, though not remembering the details I vaguely inquired if she was involved in another restaurant besides The Bakery. She advised her Mother and sister owned The Grove on Wells, if that is what I meant.

I realize this doesn't answer the question, though it does offer some new information.

Thank you, Cathy, for asking Sada. I was unable to make the CH mtg but look forward to attending more often next year. The Old Town reminiscing (and excellent research) has been very delightful to read!

Hi,

I just got back from Highwood, 'Two Guys from Italy' has just closed. In the windows we're advised to look forward to the 'Curry Hut.' Don't worry, I will check it out once it opens. Meanwhile maybe they will dream up a better name.

Does anyone remember the name of this place? It was on the east side of Sheridan, north of Loyola, a few steps below street level, maybe 10 - 15 years ago, had a cigar bar attached, but the most identifying characteristic - it was fondue-like, but instead of a pot of hot oil, you cooked your food on a hot stone with a polished surface. Anyone remember it?

....was it called "Distant Mirror Cafe," or something much like it? I can see the sign on the building in my mind's eye. but I'm just not sure that the correct name...

Fanny's in Evanston -- the food wasn't that great, but it always seemed like such a cool place to be (ah, youth!).

Fritzels -- an icon. I have some of their original recipes for steak Diane, Chicken Visuvio, etc.

And I'll go along with Dr. Jazz and Fritz, That's It! in Evanston as well.

Barney's Market club for sure. The original west Randolph St. destination restaurant. "Yes, sir, Senator." The best lobster in Chicago.

And Armondos. Anyone else remember Armondos? on Huron, I think.

How could I have forgotten Fannie's? Yes, that truly is a sad loss. I can't agree with the statement that the food wasn't very good, though. Fannie's spaghetti sauce was the stuff of legends (and deservidly so). I remember going there for fried chicken and bottomless spaghetti for nearly every birhday or special occasion in my family till the day they closed. They had other stuff on the menu (steaks, veal and such), but S & FC was the way to go.

There actually was a rebirth of sorts for Fannie's in Union Pier, MI. While I was speeding down I-94 on my way to visit the in-laws, out of the corner of my eye I saw a small round sign stuck into the ground with the indelibly etched-in-my-mind Fannie's logo. I actually took a 5 mile detour to circle back and have a better look at the sign. It turns out that someone bought the rights to her sauce recepie and had opened Fannie's Restaurant in the Gordon Beach Inn. It didn't have the same vibe (it was kind of a northwoodsy log cabin type decor), but the spaghetti and fried chicken were spot on. They had a more extensive menu than the original, but even though the manager always implored me to try one of their new creations, I always stuck with S & FC. He just didn't understand why I was there. Eventually, the place changed to a concept more in line with the decor and Fannie's was gone yet again.

BTW, you can buy frozen Fannie's Spaghetti Sauce at Sunset Foods and sometimes even Jewel or Dominick's.