cheffjeff wrote:This post irks me for a couple reasons. 1) "Outfit watching" is not a tourist attraction. 2) It's a highly unglamorous, very real thing that still negatively effects many, many families in this city.

Thans Jeff for pointing this out - and no disrespect meant towards OP or their friends, but the inevitable stereotyping associated with this restaurant search also bothers me . . . Checking people out from afar and wondering whether they fit the bill. This issue came up in a roundabout way in the last few years I believe in both Elmwood Park and Chicago when a certain television show wanted to film episodes in the area. And if I recall correctly, G&G's said no way, appropriately so in my opinion.

PopcornMegaphone wrote:Not my favorite restaurant, but Gene and Georgetti has a reputation as a Mob hangout (No idea if they still do). Afterwards I'd take them to the Green Mill for drinks and music.

Not sure about under the current mayor, but wasn't Gene and Georgetti a hangout for many bigwigs in previous administrations? Pretty much the same thing, no?

If the idea is entertaining out of town guests with a mobster theme, take them to this place.

Your best bet may be to find a Streets & Sanitation outpost and then pick a diner or bar that's nearby.

Kidding aside, 20+ years ago my then-boyfriend used to swear that the mob hung out at Cannella's at the Lincoln/Wells juncture. I have no idea if that was true then, and now that both Cannella's locations are gone, it doesn't really matter.

My Mom served a six-month stint on a grand jury in New Jersey several years ago. A lot of the work they did focused on a huge money laundering case. (I'm not sure, but think it was this one.) One of the things she found most astonishing was the range of places where laundering was alleged to have occurred--it was far from just the places where tough guys seemed to hang out. (We'd be driving around and she'd randomly be pointing out all of the nearby money laundering sites.) So if the question is, "Does The Outfit eat here?" then the answer is probably "Yes."

Danny's Cafe
1419 N 15th Ave
between Division St & Haddon St
Melrose Park, IL 60160

Restaurants in the area of Grand & Ogden

Just tell your friends that the secret code to finding 'outfit' hangouts is a place with a sign that has a neon martini glass

And to think when my relatives from Europe come to town all they ever want to see is the Sears Tower (they couldn't care less about Willis). I like the Outfit tour idea better. Sure, it's hokey and stereotypical but there is definitely much more fun in visiting places like the Green Mill than standing in line to stand on a rooftop and stare down and paying an outrageous amount to do so.

No one mentioned Al's in Cicero which also has the similar old school vibe.

Al's Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria
6050 W Cermak Rd,
Cicero, IL 60804
Phone:(708) 656-1060

Yeah, this thread is pretty awful.

The diner on North Ave., just to the west of the expressway. You can get a meeting in the back parking lot and, maybe, become a mayor.

KajmacJohnson wrote:And to think when my relatives from Europe come to town all they ever want to see is the Sears Tower (they couldn't care less about Willis). I like the Outfit tour idea better. Sure, it's hokey and stereotypical but there is definitely much more fun in visiting places like the Green Mill than standing in line to stand on a rooftop and stare down and paying an outrageous amount to do so.

Oh, boo! I prefer having drinks at the Hancock, but that Sears/Willis Tower transparent box thing is pretty freaking cool, if you ask me. Hell, I've paid to go up there, by myself, no tourists in tow and thought it was worth it.

Erie Cafe based on some interesting stories my co-workers have told about past visits.

536 W Erie St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 266-2300

I hate to see the city's negative reputation from events almost a hundred years ago, continue to be perpetuated.

Geez Louise, if everybody's so offended with the thread, then END it, mods--unless, a la Seinfeld, every conversation has to end naturally, of its own volition. Will we be hearing from Dominic DiFrisco (past president of the Italian-American Association of Chicago) next?!

As I stated upthread, out-of-towners (and out-of country-ers), when they hear the word 'Chicago', say 'rat-a-tat-tat', and pantomime a shotgun, or say 'Michael Jordan'. Not much in between.

Personally, I think it's kind of cool that we still have such a rich tradition of old-school Italian joints, when SO many mid-sized Eastern cities--Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester come to mind--are experiencing an attrition of that kind of restaurant.

I honestly can't tell if the people who are "outraged" at this thread are actually being serious or not

nsxtasy wrote:I hate to see the city's negative reputation from events almost a hundred years ago, continue to be perpetuated.

The Mob is part of America's cultural heritage and lore. Forgive me, but I honestly don't see what the big deal is.

I am outraged that anyone would say "rat-a-tat-tat" and pantomime a shotgun. That is like saying "Michael Jordan" and pantomiming a slap shot, instead of pantomiming a jump shot or flailing at a curve ball. Crazy out-of-towners.

I think some people are outraged because they feel that seeking out these tourist "attractions" plays into a very negative stereotype of Italian-American restaurants and businesses, and Italian-Americans themselves. As a point of comparison - what if I started asking people in New York where I could take my relatives from Abu Dhabi to see real life Jewish bankers eating and wheeling and dealing in lower Manhattan. A disgusting idea to be certain, but how far off is it from what is being discussed here? (And I'm usually one who loves to play with/make fun of racist stereotypes of all persuasions). I'm not taking a position here, I'm just explaining why some people might be upset.

The mob used to go to Tom's Steakhouse in Melrose Park. I believe it still exists. I doubt if any mobsters will be there because as others say its mostly been shut down. In recent years they went to the Loon Cafe in River Grove but I believe that is out of business.

I think there always will be a certain fascination with the mob, which has been glamorized by Hollywood, etc., and the Chicago Outfit certainly has been part of the folklore of the City of Chicago and some of the surrounding suburbs. So, I am surprised that anyone really would take great offense to this thread. As an Italian-American, I do not.

That said, I think that the OP would be better off taking the out-of-towners somewhere like Sabatino's (that "looks" the part) than seeking out a restaurant where current members of the Chicago Outfit (to the extent that it still exists) congregate. If the OP insists on doing the latter, I think that Danny's probably would be a good place to start (seeing that The Loon and Cuzzin's/Cugino's in Des Plaines are closed).

if they want to see real gangsters, you should just drive them around Englewood and ask if they want you to leave them on the corner and come back to pick them up later. When they say no, go get delicious food instead. Problem solved!

Suiname wrote:if they want to see real gangsters, you should just drive them around Englewood and ask if they want you to leave them on the corner and come back to pick them up later. When they say no, go get delicious food instead. Problem solved!

Yeah, I say take 'em to Shark's Fish & Chicken at 61st and Western.

I too am a offended by the original question and I'm disappointed in the responses. Totally inappropriate for this forum.

champs2005 wrote:I too am a offended by the original question and I'm disappointed in the responses. Totally inappropriate for this forum.

Care to enlighten us as to why you are so offended and why this topic would be inappropriate for this forum?

Muttster wrote:

champs2005 wrote:I too am a offended by the original question and I'm disappointed in the responses. Totally inappropriate for this forum.

Care to enlighten us as to why you are so offended and why this topic would be inappropriate for this forum?

Can you please enlighten us on why you didn't read the above posts, including mine, which clearly expresses why someone might be offended by the OP's request and instead chose to attack the above poster?

I volunteer to Godwin this thread if and when the Mods decide it's needed.

I also would be thrilled if my out of town guests were able to narrow down the amazing list things to do in Chicago to any sort of theme they find interesting personally. Our city has a really interesting and unique history and I don't find it surprising that people want to explore the notorious side through their restaurant choices.

Habibi wrote:

Muttster wrote:

champs2005 wrote:I too am a offended by the original question and I'm disappointed in the responses. Totally inappropriate for this forum.

Care to enlighten us as to why you are so offended and why this topic would be inappropriate for this forum?

Can you please enlighten us on why you didn't read the above posts, including mine, which clearly expresses why someone might be offended by the OP's request and instead chose to attack the above poster?

Actually I have read the posts and I had no intent of attacking anyone. My issue is with the concept of being offended and what I see as its over usage. What I have been seeing more and more is that instead of disagreeing with an idea, concept, historical practice and the like, we are now personally offended by. Trust me, I have seen and experienced my share of stereotypes and while I perceive those who draw sweeping generalizations as misguided at best, it doesn't reach my level of offensiveness. We obviously are different in that respect. My concern is that when someone levies the "o" word in a discussion, it ends the conversation for everyone and limits responses from those who have a different opinion from the offended one.

Cinnamon Girl wrote:I also would be thrilled if my out of town guests were able to narrow down the amazing list things to do in Chicago to any sort of theme they find interesting personally. Our city has a really interesting and unique history and I don't find it surprising that people want to explore the notorious side through their restaurant choices.

Muttster wrote:

champs2005 wrote:I too am a offended by the original question and I'm disappointed in the responses. Totally inappropriate for this forum.

Care to enlighten us as to why you are so offended and why this topic would be inappropriate for this forum?

Here's the original request:

hoppy2468 wrote:I have friends that will soon be visiting from Europe. . . .
They want to eat somewhere where there might be mobsters present. . . .

Here's the problem with how I see this search playing out: tourist visits a restaurant where s/he hopes to see mobsters. Based upon the recommendations above, this restaurant is likely to be an Italian restaurant. How will the tourists know who's a mobster? Well, they'll look around the restaurant and quietly mention to one another: "he looks like a mobster," "she looks like a mobster's wife." If there are no ethnic stereotypes associated with this request and the recommendations, why have so many of the responses suggested Italian restaurants? It's one thing to visit a restaurant because you know Al Capone or another famous gangster dined there. It's another thing to walk into a restaurant you believe is frequented by Italian-Americans and more likely to have mobster activity than your average Chicago American eatery. I assume those who have offered recommendations did not consider exactly how this plays out and were just trying to be helpful, but I think the specific quest is objectionable -- and not because I'm trying to ignore or erase Chicago's history, but because of the inevitable stereotyping involved.

It's not like there is any decent culinary chat to make up for the boring ethnic stereotyping. This is a city-data level discussion.

AlekH wrote:It's not like there is any decent culinary chat to make up for the boring ethnic stereotyping. This is a city-data level discussion.

Not sure this is worth the effort, but in the spirit of the OP, maybe this is what the visiting out of towners from Europe think they're looking for:
http://www.tommygunsgarage.com/

This portrayal's a cliche, and 80 years out of date, but it might give them the classic 'feel' they think they're looking for, with minimal personal risk. Plus it's near the Loop. If I were Italian, I'd be offended by it, but YMMV if you have a degree of tolerance (and/or suspend rational thought).

If they want more authentic Chicago of that era, there's also the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. They sometimes play City Winery for Sunday brunch and around the area.