mosaic lady wrote:Does anyone else remember The Loophole on Lake or Randolph, between Wabash and Rush? It was part of the Don Roth company and sold soup,salads,sandwiches, also you could get a combination. The beef goulash was good, and it was there that I had gazpacho for the first time.

The Loop Hole was on Randolph between Wabash and Garland Court, just a bit east of where Intelligentsia is now. It used to be the back entrance of Don Roth's Blackhawk around the corner on Wabash. I particularly remember the goulash soup (served in crockery bowls with plastic wrap pulled over the top) and scrod sandwiches.

mosaic lady wrote:Mexican: There used to be a great place on the southeast corner of milwaukee & Division-cant remember the name.

Could you be thinking of Aranda's/Casa Aranda?

Yes, that's it. There was always some rumor about them serving horsemeat.

I used to eat at the Loophole frequently when I was working at Leo B. Much better food than it needed to be for a quick-service joint.

My grandfather (Edward J. Puschak) was the owner of Melody Lane Drive-In Restaurant (87th & Loomis - Chicago). Even though it was "before my time", with all the stories I've heard of it....it feels like I was there in person. He (grandfather)did move to Matterhorn Restaurant (Palos Park, IL - agian "before my time" with his partner Emmett Dice. It was great that my uncle carried on the tradition of Melody Lane with his restaurant Pooch's in Palos Heights, IL with all my grandpa's recipes for his ice cream that soooo many remember.

It brings back so many memories.....RIP grandpa!

kimmik wrote:My grandfather (Edward J. Puschak) was the owner of Melody Lane Drive-In Restaurant (87th & Loomis - Chicago). Even though it was "before my time", with all the stories I've heard of it....it feels like I was there in person. He (grandfather)did move to Matterhorn Restaurant (Palos Park, IL - agian "before my time" with his partner Emmett Dice. It was great that my uncle carried on the tradition of Melody Lane with his restaurant Pooch's in Palos Heights, IL with all my grandpa's recipes for his ice cream that soooo many remember.

It brings back so many memories.....RIP grandpa!

Hi,

Does Pooch's still exist? Is it still under your uncle or transferred to someone else? Does your Grandfather's traditions still carry on?

Regards,

Unfortunately no. It closed about mid to late 90's. I still get cravings for the Paul Bunyun Burger.

Mini Max, a combo operation mini-mercado and restaurant.
The eatery was towards the back of the store just to the side of the butcher/meat dept.
Located in the 700 block of west Armitage across from Lincoln Park HS.
In business late 70's to early 80s?
It was responsible for my first exposure to queso fundido with chorizo at approx age 6.
Life has never been the same and the queso never so tasty as it was at Mini Max.

Not sure why, but today, I was suddenly struck by nostalgia for a place I loved back in my youth -- say the late '60s or early '70s -- The Butcher's Block in Evanston. It was my first encounter with a real BBQ joint/smokehouse. They had a good range of BBQ, but the smoked, Texas-style beef brisket was the only thing that mattered to me. Man, I loved that place. But I think it was just a little too far ahead of its time, and Evanston wasn't ready for serious Q, because it only lasted a few years. I have been glad to see smoked meat return to the area, but in my imagination, I don't know that anything will ever match The Butcher's Block -- or at least the stunning revelation that you could make meat taste like that..

Where in Evanston was that? For some reason I don't remember it.

midas wrote:Where in Evanston was that? For some reason I don't remember it.

It was on Central, a few blocks west of Greenbay Rd.

Does anybody remember the Sky-Hi Drive-In which was located at 102 S. Cicero Ave at Monroe St. It had the DC plane on top that you can dine in. My dad use to take us there back in 1965 I was 6 yrs old. I don't remember much about the food but the plane I'll never forget.

JJTTVM wrote:Does anybody remember the Sky-Hi Drive-In which was located at 102 S. Cicero Ave at Monroe St. It had the DC plane on top that you can dine in. My dad use to take us there back in 1965 I was 6 yrs old. I don't remember much about the food but the plane I'll never forget.

As a kid growing up at Madison & Central, I remember driving by many times, but never eating there. If memory serves the plane was sitting facing Cicero ave. Not sure what type of plane it was, but always wondered how the heck they got it there! I also remember driving by one day, and it was gone.

Does anyone remember one of the original Chicago pizza joints called DelCampos.Located at 22st and Whipple it was a regular cop hang out and served an awesome sausage pizza in the late 50's.Also ,a early competitor to Home Run Inn was a little pizza joint on 26st at about Christiana called Leno's Pizza.

i remeber delcampo well, my dads business was on ogden and kedzie for 80 years and that was our pizza hole, my dad always ate where the cops ate in that neighboorhood too, our other frequent stops where mannys,lou mitchell, lou lous dogs, a sandwich counter at the western ave potato and onion exchange, and 5 am breakfast was always at mt sinai hospital cafeteria,i also remember near delcampo a truly mexican restaurant that you walked to the basement of a building to eat and was great, i was a white kid from skokie and when thirsty for a pop would walk 2 blocks to 16th and sawyer gas station for a bottle of pop, i dont think today that would be smart

Clean Fill wrote:Mini Max, a combo operation mini-mercado and restaurant.
The eatery was towards the back of the store just to the side of the butcher/meat dept.
Located in the 700 block of west Armitage across from Lincoln Park HS.
In business late 70's to early 80s?
It was responsible for my first exposure to queso fundido with chorizo at approx age 6.
Life has never been the same and the queso never so tasty as it was at Mini Max.

I missed this the last time around so I'm replying to an 8-month old post:

It was on Webster just West of Sheffield. The store was "Mini-Max" and the restaurant in the back was "Tacos n' Things." You could grab a cold beer from the store's cooler on your way to get seated at a table in back. The queso fundido was pretty great.

jerryg wrote:Does anyone remember one of the original Chicago pizza joints called DelCampos.Located at 22st and Whipple it was a regular cop hang out and served an awesome sausage pizza in the late 50's.

Del Campo Pizzeria is still around. The original location was on the north side of Cermak opposite the T intersection of Whipple. Over 40 years ago it moved a couple blocks west to the corner of Cermak & Troy where it is today. I haven't tried it.



Del Campo Pizzeria
3125 W Cermak Rd
Chicago
773-522-2000

Mock chicken legs from Manny Pearl's, 35th and 57th in Cicero. The bartenders would save me the bottle caps for my "collection' in the early '60's!

I do remember Manny Pearl's My old neighbor in Vegas use to be a regular at the bar there and was friends with Manny and his wife. He liked it so much, he was waked there after Manny's became a funeral home. They even used the room where the bar was!
That was typical 50 and 60's dining food!

Here are some restaurants I remember from my youth. Some have already been mention but deserve a repeat. They are...

(Salvi's) Caravel Inn = My introduction into deep-dish/pan pizza. Still one of the best I've ever had. Didn't know about the Salvi's part until I read it here.

Tonelli's.

The Indian Trail.

The Pickle Barrel = There's one now located in southwestern Colorado...but I'm not sure if it's any relation , or PBINO.

Chances R.

Little Red Hen.

Big Al's = I was at work one day and I noticed a fire outside the window and I jokingly said "I wonder if that's Big Al's" and it was.

Andy's = Had the BEST milkshakes (I don't recall if they had malts, or not or if I got them). It either came with the metal container with the leftovers that wouldn't fit the glass or you just drank/spooned out of the container. Idrw.

Barnaby's.

Someone mentioned Wimpy's which I thought were only in Britain and Australia. I went to a Wimpy's in Brisbane, Australia back in the spring (here) fall (there) of April or May, 1986.

And a Howard Johnson's with sparkly-twirlers.

This is all my hazy memory can recall for now.

FoodLover1 wrote:Big Al's = I was at work one day and I noticed a fire outside the window and I jokingly said "I wonder if that's Big Al's" and it was.

Big Al's arcade cabinets were the destination for the entirety of my allowance for at least three years running. Paid Saturday morning, broke by noon.

Money well spent.

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Big Al's = I was at work one day and I noticed a fire outside the window and I jokingly said "I wonder if that's Big Al's" and it was.

Big Al's arcade cabinets were the destination for the entirety of my allowance for at least three years running. Paid Saturday morning, broke by noon.

Money well spent.

Hi there! I don't remember the cabinets so in order to make sure you're referring to the same Big Al's please tell me what town it was located in? And what brand of salt did they offer? I think they also cooked their burgers with this salt sprinkled on.

FoodLover1 wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Big Al's = I was at work one day and I noticed a fire outside the window and I jokingly said "I wonder if that's Big Al's" and it was.

Big Al's arcade cabinets were the destination for the entirety of my allowance for at least three years running. Paid Saturday morning, broke by noon.

Money well spent.

Hi there! I don't remember the cabinets so in order to make sure you're referring to the same Big Al's please tell me what town it was located in? And what brand of salt did they offer? I think they also cooked their burgers with this salt sprinkled on.

'Fraid I don't recall the brand of salt. Most of my money went towards the games

NW corner of downtown Glencoe, right next to Baskin-Robbins. Posters of W.C. Fields quotes and Murphy's Law(s). Sad day when I heard it burned.

Super Mario Brothers and Solar Warrior during my era, BTW

Dmnkly wrote:Big Al's arcade cabinets were the destination for the entirety of my allowance for at least three years running. Paid Saturday morning, broke by noon.

Money well spent.

FoodLover1 wrote:Hi there! I don't remember the cabinets so in order to make sure you're referring to the same Big Al's please tell me what town it was located in? And what brand of salt did they offer? I think they also cooked their burgers with this salt sprinkled on.

Dmnkly wrote:'Fraid I don't recall the brand of salt. Most of my money went towards the games

NW corner of downtown Glencoe, right next to Baskin-Robbins. Posters of W.C. Fields quotes and Murphy's Law(s). Sad day when I heard it burned.

Super Mario Brothers and Solar Warrior during my era, BTW

You are correct, it is the one in Glencoe! Btw, the salt was Lawry's Seasoned Salt. Nowadays it can be bought at the grocery-store, don't know if it was available for that back then or not. Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

FoodLover1 wrote:Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

Fred Savage was on my little league team. On the day he joined the team, he was more than a little perturbed that I didn't know who he was. In his defense, he was ten.

Oooookay, fun though it's been, we've probably taken this thread far enough askew

Big Al's... great place. RIP.

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

Fred Savage was on my little league team. On the day he joined the team, he was more than a little perturbed that I didn't know who he was. In his defense, he was ten.

Oooookay, fun though it's been, we've probably taken this thread far enough askew

Big Al's... great place. RIP.

Cripes! I grew up in Glencoe and absolutely loved Big Al's. It was the quintessential hot dog joint. Their hand-cut, skin-on fries were amazing and those deep-fried polishes were incredible.

RIP, indeed.

=R=

FoodLover1 wrote:Andy's = Had the BEST milkshakes (I don't recall if they had malts, or not or if I got them). It either came with the metal container with the leftovers that wouldn't fit the glass or you just drank/spooned out of the container. Idrw.

Try Edzo's, in Evanston. The same exact description applies. The BEST milkshakes. If you've been longing for a great milkshake and haven't had one in years, theirs will rock your world.

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

Fred Savage was on my little league team. On the day he joined the team, he was more than a little perturbed that I didn't know who he was. In his defense, he was ten.

Oooookay, fun though it's been, we've probably taken this thread far enough askew

Big Al's... great place. RIP.

Interesting. I played on a little league team with Fred as well. It must have been my first or second year of Mustang (9 or 10 years old) since he moved to LA for good around 5th grade. We may have been on the same team. Small world. Back to the topic at hand, the promise of a post-game meal victory meal at Big Al's and ice cream at Baskin Robbins is probably what drove most of my youth baseball success.

As a Kosher-keeping Jewish kid in the 70's I was envious of my friends who had the local burger joint experience. Our make-do was Reb's on California near Pratt. It was awful in a great way that only 12 year old boys can appreciate and gave us a [Kosher] taste of how the other half [99% ??] lives. Great thin griddled burgers and fries. I'm sure I'd probably turn my nose up on it today, but it was great as a kid. Ken's on Dempster is probably the only comparable thing that Kosher kids have these days and their burgers are pretty darn great, but nowhere near the awful/wonderful Reb's experience.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

Fred Savage was on my little league team. On the day he joined the team, he was more than a little perturbed that I didn't know who he was. In his defense, he was ten.

Oooookay, fun though it's been, we've probably taken this thread far enough askew

Big Al's... great place. RIP.

Cripes! I grew up in Glencoe and absolutely loved Big Al's. It was the quintessential hot dog joint. Their hand-cut, skin-on fries were amazing and those deep-fried polishes were incredible.

RIP, indeed.

=R=

Yes! Their fries are among the best I've ever had. They served them in those paper-bags used for school lunches. Now do you RUIN your fries like most by putting ketchup of some other sauce on them, or not and only put salt & pepper or nothing on them? Ketchup should only be used on burgers, hot dogs (sorry Clint, but you're wrong...I HATE mustard and/or mayo with a PASSION!), or the other types of sausages (brats, Polish, Italian). Steak is the one red-meat that one should not use ketchup on, nor on prime rib. Barb-B-Que ribs, baby-back ribs (or any other type of ribs, if there are others) shouldn't use ketchup, but obviously Bar-B-Que sauce.

hoya97 wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:

FoodLover1 wrote:Fred Savage who grew-up in Glencoe came-in and signed autographs one day during the height of his popularity in 'The Wonder Years'.

Fred Savage was on my little league team. On the day he joined the team, he was more than a little perturbed that I didn't know who he was. In his defense, he was ten.

Oooookay, fun though it's been, we've probably taken this thread far enough askew

Big Al's... great place. RIP.

Interesting. I played on a little league team with Fred as well. It must have been my first or second year of Mustang (9 or 10 years old) since he moved to LA for good around 5th grade. We may have been on the same team. Small world. Back to the topic at hand, the promise of a post-game meal victory meal at Big Al's and ice cream at Baskin Robbins is probably what drove most of my youth baseball success.

Yes, I loved going to BR's after BA's.