wineaux wrote:3) Pepe's in Lombard (on the sw corner of Main & Parkside) across from the old DuPage Theatre. It was like no other Pepe's. Small, family-owned.... last I heard, they owned a Pepe's or other Mexican restaurant in Aurora or North Aurora somewhere. If anyone happens to remember them and know where they're at, please post!!

There is a Pepe's in Aurora on Rte. 31 (Lake Street) just north of Illinois Avenue. It's been there 20+ years or so.

Marco wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

Marco wrote:The Seminary by Lincoln/fullerton was already mentioned, but there was another 24 hour diner just east on Fullerton. I can still remember its pink neon sign. Seemed sketchier inside but quite colorful.

Was that Peter's Broasted Chicken?

Yeah, that was it, Peter's. I don't recall any broasted there, though...

My memory is that the sign of the place that hung out over the sidewalk said "Peter's Broasted Chicken." But I'm thinking, since you don't recall them serving it, and I never went in (as far as I can recall now), that it could be something they served when they first opened (in 1946 or whatever--just making that up), but stopped having on the menu sometime after that.

Or else I dreamed the sign one night.

Snowball wrote:Does anyone remember a restaurant on the southeast corner of Lawrence and Pulaski that had a train running around the permeter of the restaurant? The Corner Hut perhaps?

Snowball

There used to be a place like that called "The Whistle Stop" but I think it was around Lawrence & Kedzie near the Terminal Theater. I can't recall if the train ran around a counter or the perimeter.

Thanks. I don't recall "The Whistle Stop". I do remember, with much fondness, the nearby "Cooper&Cooper", commonly called Cooper's. I was little then and enjoyed many a Bismark.
Lawrence Avenue was a rich cultural experience then.

Snowball

I posted a reply under "41 North Closing" topic stating that I remember when "The Timbers" restaurant was (back in the 60's) a breakfast place called "Country Pantry". Since I'm not as old as my screen name (47) this is at the fringe of my childhood 'useless recollections' category of my grey matter. Anyone out there who knows or remembers this (and other haunts) from more than 30+ years ago?

oldsoul wrote:I posted a reply under "41 North Closing" topic stating that I remember when "The Timbers" restaurant was (back in the 60's) a breakfast place called "Country Pantry". Since I'm not as old as my screen name (47) this is at the fringe of my childhood 'useless recollections' category of my grey matter. Anyone out there who knows or remembers this (and other haunts) from more than 30+ years ago?

Google is your best friend.

On another forum, we have been discussing old (closed) restaurants in the Cincinnati area and you would be surprised how much information has been contributed, including menus from the 1950s.

There's also a similar thread related to the OP's query floating around on this site, but I can't find it.

All the Old Familiar Places (RIP)

Does anyone remember a little hole-in-the-wall pizza place in Evanston on the South side of Main St, just west of Hinman ? It would have been there in the early 80's. I used to go and pick up a pie there and it was really good pie. I can't remember if it was callled "Pizza Oven" or "Pizza Kitchen", but it was a nice little neighborhood pizza joint.

MikeW665 wrote:Does anyone remember a little hole-in-the-wall pizza place in Evanston on the South side of Main St, just west of Hinman ? It would have been there in the early 80's. I used to go and pick up a pie there and it was really good pie. I can't remember if it was callled "Pizza Oven" or "Pizza Kitchen", but it was a nice little neighborhood pizza joint.

Sorry, but while I spent the first four years of the eighties there, I never got 'za from south of Davis: Michelini's (all three gone, sp?), Sgt. Pepper (gone), Dave's (moved), Giordano's (gone from that location), Edwardo's (gone from that location), Carmen's (moved), and the occasional slice from Gigio's* (still there).

*Memorable for the day I inhaled while bringing a slice covered with red pepper flakes toward my face, resulting in instant nasal irrigation

MikeW665 wrote:Does anyone remember a little hole-in-the-wall pizza place in Evanston on the South side of Main St, just west of Hinman ? It would have been there in the early 80's. I used to go and pick up a pie there and it was really good pie. I can't remember if it was callled "Pizza Oven" or "Pizza Kitchen", but it was a nice little neighborhood pizza joint.

Actually, it was called Larosa's.... at 504 Main St. I don't know if that particular spelling was to distinguish it from La Rosa's on Golf, but I remember it well. It really was the tiniest place. The full name may have been Larosa's Pizza Oven.

tarte tatin wrote:Actually, it was called Larosa's.... at 504 Main St. I don't know if that particular spelling was to distinguish it from La Rosa's on Golf, but I remember it well. It really was the tiniest place. The full name may have been Larosa's Pizza Oven.

And then the owner added the storefront next door, to cook food from his native Afghanistan, which eventually turned into Kabul House (new Dempster location has been "coming soon" for almost two years now).

I figured someone on here would know the place. I used to love the smell of the place when I walked in. I'd like to find a place like that up here in the far north suburbs, but there doesn't seem to be the "history" up here like Evanston has.

Does anyone remember Jake's Ribs (not pizza) in Northbrook? It was where Ira's was (and Wolfy's is) in the strip mall just south of Dundee on Sanders. It's been gone since the mid 70's.

I remember their ribs being outstanding (but I was very young and hadn't tasted real smoke), with a lot of tang to the sauce.

JoelF wrote:Does anyone remember Jake's Ribs (not pizza) in Northbrook? It was where Ira's was (and Wolfy's is) in the strip mall just south of Dundee on Sanders. It's been gone since the mid 70's.

I remember their ribs being outstanding (but I was very young and hadn't tasted real smoke), with a lot of tang to the sauce.

I don't remember anything there before Ira's actually . . . but how about The Boondocks, south on Sanders next door to the Prime Minister (near Milwaukee). I fondly remember their ribs, peanuts (shells on the floor), air hockey table and I think the first big screen tv I ever noticed.

I really miss the Tropical Hut restaurant on Stony Island. It was a favorite of our family to celebrate birthdays. I had my first taste of Duck l'orange there when I was about 10 years old. Another favorite for our family was a place called Alexander's very far east on 79th? I think.

Anne

windycityaj wrote:I really miss the Tropical Hut restaurant on Stony Island. It was a favorite of our family to celebrate birthdays. I had my first taste of Duck l'orange there when I was about 10 years old. Another favorite for our family was a place called Alexander's very far east on 79th? I think.

Anne

You are correct about Alexander's. IMO - fantastic cream garlic dressing.

MikeW665 wrote:Does anyone remember a little hole-in-the-wall pizza place in Evanston on the South side of Main St, just west of Hinman ? It would have been there in the early 80's. I used to go and pick up a pie there and it was really good pie. I can't remember if it was callled "Pizza Oven" or "Pizza Kitchen", but it was a nice little neighborhood pizza joint.

Larosa's was there into the late 80s. In 1986 we moved in just a block away and regularly enjoyed their pizza. I think it was still there when we moved away in early 91, and the Afghan place came in a little later.

Kman wrote:

jbw wrote:From the German Side (yes, Chicago used to be a great town for German restaurants:
Red Star Inn
Zum Deutschen Eck
and is Heidelberger Fass still there? I haven't been up that way in ages.

Sadly the Heidelberger Fass is no more. It was a nice restaurant run by very nice people that (as I understand it) wanted to retire and didn't have any family members that wanted to continue it. I loved taking my mother-in-law there and aiding and abetting her in cheating on her diet.

Another German option I miss is The Carmen.

I'm so sad to hear that the Heidelberger Fass is gone. It was such a great place to get *real* German grub!

For German resaturants, the Schwaben Stube on North Lincoln was my favorite (3500?). I can still hear the elderly hostess singing edelweiss with the pianist.

BTW, anyone remember the pizza place on Central across from Evanston hospital? mid to late 70's, now a hospital parking lot? Gino's east style pizza.

shadowdr wrote:For German resaturants, the Schwaben Stube on North Lincoln was my favorite (3500?). I can still hear the elderly hostess singing edelweiss with the pianist.

BTW, anyone remember the pizza place on Central across from Evanston hospital? mid to late 70's, now a hospital parking lot? Gino's east style pizza.

Infernos?

Diane wrote:

shadowdr wrote:For German resaturants, the Schwaben Stube on North Lincoln was my favorite (3500?). I can still hear the elderly hostess singing edelweiss with the pianist.

BTW, anyone remember the pizza place on Central across from Evanston hospital? mid to late 70's, now a hospital parking lot? Gino's east style pizza.

Infernos?

The Inferno was owned by none other than Burt from Burt's Pizza

Infernos. that's it. thanks

stevez wrote:

Diane wrote:

shadowdr wrote:For German resaturants, the Schwaben Stube on North Lincoln was my favorite (3500?). I can still hear the elderly hostess singing edelweiss with the pianist.

BTW, anyone remember the pizza place on Central across from Evanston hospital? mid to late 70's, now a hospital parking lot? Gino's east style pizza.

Infernos?

The Inferno was owned by none other than Burt from Burt's Pizza

Cool to know! We loved their pizza. It made for a nice inexpensive date with good food when my husband (then boyfriend) was a student at NU and I was at NIU.

Both Tropical Hut and Alexander's were favorites in our family, as well. Tropical Hut is now a Leona's. I haven't driven down 79th Street in years and have no idea what happened to Alexander's. It was one of those places my parents would take us to celebrate a special event.

Suzy

Does anyone remember Red Star Inn at Irving Park and Avondale? My only memory is they had a fire place in the middle,
At least that how remember. I was about 6 - 7 at the time and lived in the area.

BR wrote:

JoelF wrote:Does anyone remember Jake's Ribs (not pizza) in Northbrook? It was where Ira's was (and Wolfy's is) in the strip mall just south of Dundee on Sanders. It's been gone since the mid 70's.

I remember their ribs being outstanding (but I was very young and hadn't tasted real smoke), with a lot of tang to the sauce.

I don't remember anything there before Ira's actually . . . but how about The Boondocks, south on Sanders next door to the Prime Minister (near Milwaukee). I fondly remember their ribs, peanuts (shells on the floor), air hockey table and I think the first big screen tv I ever noticed.

Ira's was there when we moved to Northbrook in '74. Never realized something was prior.

Cannot say I ever really missed Boondocks; Prime Minister, on the other hand, I still miss. I have a real soft spot for places like that, and they are a real dying breed of restaurant--Steve's in Elmhurst was close, and that's gone too.

And ribs, man I loved when Babyback showed up on the calendar. I'm not sure if the ribs were that good, but it was one of those whole is greater than the parts kinda meals, especially as I always split my tummy space between ribs and broasted chicken, and they had that odd tasting yet delicious cole slaw.

I hate this thread

The conflagration at Costa's reminded me of something. Across the street from Coasta's there was another greek restaurant which maybe thirty years ago mysteriously blew up one night. Nothing was ever solved, and the rubble seemed to sit there undisturbed for many months. Eventually the site was cleared and the building that houses the Giordano's there was built. Anyone remember anything about that place?

The Velvet Room on Archer road in Summit.Dont remember how the food was but they had one of those old video bowling games where you slid a metal puck over some wires that represented pins.Remember that being one of my grandpas favorite spots.Got blown up in some murder/insurance deal.
Jimmys Gyros on harlem:Best gyro out there and have never had a better one since.When my sister was in college and she was in the neighborhood,she would take me for a "midnight gyro run".
Marcianos Pizza,79th and Roberts Road:Was around a few years then turned into an Aurelios.Best pizza ever!!!!!!!!Wonder if it was the start of Aurelios????
Jack in the Box:Archer and Naragansett.Right across the street from Garfield Ridge Bank.Didnt do it all the time,but mom did the banking,drive across the street and get some Jack in the Box.It was a win/win situation.

The two Greek restaurants with entertainment including belly dancers were Hellas and Grecian Gardens. One was where Costa's was more recently while the other one was across the street. I do not remember which one was on which corner. In any case there was a big gas explosion in the wee hours that really flattened the place. An owner just happened to be in the alley.

Neither closing was a great gastronomic loss.