Your List of Chicago Restaurant Institutions?

My colleagues and I are planning a new series of dinner outings. We are going to visit "Chicago Institutions."

We've been having fun debating which places qualify. So far, some suggestions have included: Superdawg, Twin Anchors, the Pump Room, Cape Cod Room, Susie's Drive-In, Pizzeria Uno and Original Rainbow Cone.

I am curious what spots make your "top 5" or "top 10" list of local restaurant institutions?

Whatever you do, avoid the Cape Cod room. I went there last December and it was dingy, overpriced, and had average food at best.

Not sure about the Pump Room either, it has the history from the 50s, but I believe its flipped management quite a few times over the years and not always for the better. Not sure who is running it these days.

One place that did exceed expectations was Harry Carey's where I had a good Chicken Vesuvio, which is about as Chicago as you can get.

You might also consider La Scarola for Italian - or a trip to Taylor St.

Mr Beef on Orleans.

Charlie Trotter.

Have a drink at the bar at the 95th.

Pizza: Uno's
Beef: Al's on Taylor
Hot Dog: Superdawg, Hot Dougs, Wiener Circle (depending on who it is)
Breakfast: Lou Mitchell's, Walker Bros (Wilmette)

BBQ: I would do Smoque, not Twin Anchors, but that's me.

Some classics I always like to hit up for quick snacks: Pita Inn (skokie), La Pasadita, Nuevo Leon (pilsen)

Gene & Georgetti?

The beginning of the LEY empire: R J Grunts?

And if the Cape Cod and Pump Rooms don't have great food, you can always drop in for a cocktail.....

My vote - Manny's

Sounds like a very enjoyable undertaking!

Definitely Uno's--the originator of deep dish pizza, whether you think theirs is the best rendition still or not.
Nuevo Leon in Pilsen--been there over 40 years and still packing 'em in.
Manny's--a wonderful survivor and great corned beef and pastrami.
Gene & Georgetti--Chicago steakhouse, although there may be others to add.
RJ Grunts does belong on the list as Melman's first: go to the salad bar!

I'm sure that someone here is more knowledgeable about Chinatown restaurant institutions--if only my beloved Hong Min were still on Cermak, I'd send your group there; but I don't know if the Palos Hills location can count as a "Chicago institution"!

I'm sorry to hear the Cape Cod Room ain't what it used to be. It was the height of dining elegance when I was a teenager and went there on special occasions. I haven't been in a number of years, but I remember it fondly as a lovely room and source of very rich seafood (I fell in love with Shrimp DeJonghe there). It does seem to belong on a Chicago restaurant institution list, though.

Have fun with your project!

EvA

It seems like you're going for "oldschool Chicago heritage" rather than the best cuisine that the city has to offer. So I'd imagine Italian Village and the reconstituted "17/West at the Berghoff" or whatever they're calling it nowadays would work on your list. The Walnut Room would also fit your bill, and at least a drink at the Coq d'Or & Green Mill.

...and a couple ringing endorsements for the Pump Room posted here by JiLS.

Definitely Superdawg...and maybe the Russian Tea Room?

I remember going to both as a little girl and the're both still around.

If we're doing institutions/traditions/places that have been around forever and have come to symbolize Chicago to me:

Maxwell Street Express and Jim's Original on Union for Polish & pork chop sandwiches
Beef at Al's followed by Italian lemonade from Mario's across the street, on Taylor (this is Chicago summer for me)
Lem's
Billy Goat Tavern, on Hubbard and lower Michigan.
Shrimp from Troha's, 4151 W. 26th. (It's been there for 88 years, so I hope it qualifies as an institution.)
Borinquen, birthplace of the jibarito


Hmm...looks like I'm very short at real sit-down restaurants. Well, I guess you can tell my eating habits. I would also add places like Gibson's, Gale Street Inn, Twin Anchor, Pump Room, etc., to the list. Not necessarily my favorite places by a longshot, but definitely Chicago institutions.

Shaggywillis wrote:Definitely Superdawg...and maybe the Russian Tea Room?

I remember going to both as a little girl and the're both still around.

Do you mean Russian Tea Time, which was opened in 1993, and if so, do I have to worry about a visit from Chris Hansen for replying to you?

Binko wrote:If we're doing institutions/traditions/places that have been around forever and have come to symbolize Chicago to me:

Yes, we are definitely looking for "institutions/traditions/places that have been around forever and have come to symbolize Chicago." Great definition - thanks!

I'm loving these ideas so far. Any other thoughts on such places?

Also, a question: the Cape Cod Room was reopened in April 2008, after closing for two months to revamp its dining room and menu. Has anyone been there since this renovation?

One of our longstanding Taylor Street institutions has been given a special award from the James Beard Society, Tufanos Vernon Park Tap. I think the Awards are this weekend in New York. Pork chops with peppers and potatoes soaked in garlic oil and chicken piccante are IMHO the best in town.

{reprinted from JBS website}

Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap
1073 Vernon Park Place, Chicago, IL
Owner: Joseph DiBuono

One of the few remnants of Chicago’s Little Italy, Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened as a bar in the early 1930s. The small table in the bar’s kitchen has since expanded to include two dining rooms that are regularly packed with businessmen, police officers, families, and pre-game sports fans. The restaurant’s chalkboard menu offers diners Italian-American classics like lemon chicken, eggplant Parmesan, and fettuccini Alfredo at prices that make just about everyone a regular.



Babaluch

Army & Lou's and Myron & Phil'sare two sides of the same coin. Both are fine institutions and local treasures.

Army & Lou's
422 E 75th St
Chicago, IL 60619-2202
773-483-3100

Myron & Phil's
3900 W. Devon Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60659-1006
847-677-6663

Unfortunately, many places that come to mind for me are either defunct, or places that I wouldn't necessarily make a special trip to, regardless of their standing. There is also the question as to what beyond mere longevity makes and "institution." Conversely, a place that just has some indefinable something can become an institution relatively quickly. A lot of things that qualify as institutions for my, are purely institutions in my personal Chicago life more than in the life of the city. Leaving out the ones that have already been listed, these qualify for me (though not necessarily because I think they're wonderful, as should be obvious):
Everest
Spiaggia
Ann Sather's
Melrose
Golden Nugget
Mia Francesca (youngish but quickly a staple part of the dining scene where it appeared)
Athenian Room
A&T
Moody's
Rosded
Frontera
Yoshi's
Miller's Pub
Vivere
Heaven on Seven (orig.)
Trader Vic's
Gibson's
Lawry's Prime Rib
Trattoria Roma
Carson's
Cafe Bernard
Geja's
La Creperie
Blackbird
Greektown (collectively)
Bruna's
Home Run Inn

A couple of others still to be mentioned:

White Palace Grill

and (most assuredly):

Harold's Chicken Shack (which has even earned its placein Wikipedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold's_Chicken_Shack

Do you mean Russian Tea Time, which was opened in 1993, and if so, do I have to worry about a visit from Chris Hansen for replying to you?

You know it. Ha ha

Okay, I thought I was a lot younger going there.....didn't realize it opened in 93.

While I agree that most listed here are truly institutions, let me quote Mae West when asked about the institution of marriage. "I'm just not ready to be institutionalized."

Here are some of the city's oldest restaurants:

Schaller's Pump, opened 1881.
Daley's, opened 1892.
Margie's, opened 1921.
The Green Door, opened 1921.
Lindy's, opened 1924.

Schaller's and Margie's are still operated by the original families. The others have changed hands one or more times but are still in the original locations.


Trader Vic's, mentioned upthread, has been closed for a couple of years.

Moody's Pub on Broadway.

Here are some of the city's oldest restaurants:

Schaller's Pump, opened 1881.
Daley's, opened 1892.
Margie's, opened 1921.
The Green Door, opened 1921.
Lindy's, opened 1924.

The Green Door serves food? What sort?

sundevilpeg wrote:The Green Door serves food? What sort?

Burgers and other sandwiches, mostly. Nothing too surprising. I enjoy the blackened burger, but I wouldn't send anyone out of their way for it. It's better than Hop Haus when my conservative-eating colleagues want to go out to lunch in west River North, where the options are really fairly slim.

The resurfacing of the thread on Dave's Italian Kitchen, est. 1972, reminds me that it is certainly a local institution.

Binko wrote:Beef at Al's followed by Italian lemonade from Mario's across the street, on Taylor (this is Chicago summer for me)

Me too.

We are starting with Superdawg next week. Have gotten lots of great ideas from these responses.

Of course, let me know if you think of more "institutions." Will always be interested.

Thanks!

Maybe it's not a Chicago institution, but certainly a North 'burbs institution. Growing up in Glenview, I'd have to add Hackney's to the list, especially for the onion loaf and the burgers on dark rye. The original. on Harms has great atmosphere inside, plus a large shaded patio outside. And, for bikers, it's just ablock off the North Branch Trail.

Hackney's
1241 Harms Rd,
Glenview
(847) 742-5577

SDG wrote:We are starting with Superdawg next week. Have gotten lots of great ideas from these responses.

I hope you will post about your experiences here.

For me, Gene and Georgetti's~ My Mom is that customer who gave Joe the recipe for Chicken alla Joe. I don't think I've ever had better service. Vince and Joe were legends.......

Manny's is another one. I wanted to have my Bat Mitzvah there...haha, the parents were'nt too enthused with that idea!

"And if the Cape Cod and Pump Rooms don't have great food, you can always drop in for a cocktail....."


I visited the Pump Room in December, and their cocktails were wretched.

At the time, the bartenders told me that they were about to close for a complete remodeling (they got rid of all of the hundreds of 8x10 photos of celebs that had visited the place over the years), so my take is that anything that made the place worth visiting in the past (either sense of history or quality libations) has now evaporated.

LAZ wrote:Trader Vic's, mentioned upthread, has been closed for a couple of years.

...and are scheduled to reopen, reportedly on State and Rush, later this year.

The story is that the Palmer House was no longer interested in hosting Trader Vic's, but that Vic's corporate offices (they have a few dozen restaurants world wide) wanted to stay in Chicago. New investors have been working on the reopening since before the original shut its doors (December 31, 2005).