Since we're back at it, how about Gordon on Clark St.? The Bowl and Basket at Field's on State Street - mmm, cheesy chowder. Actually, all those restaurants on the seventh floor were great. King Arthur's Pub on South Wells had an amazing London Broil sandwich - rare with a slice of raw onion and great brown mustard.

I think Gordon was one of the first places that made you check your cell phone at the front.

In an earlier post you mentioned Tango. I had my rehearsal dinner there back in 1986. We originally were to have it at Bastille on Superior, but they were closing. My wife (fiancee at the time) and I had THE final meal served at Bastille. We were regulars so we stayed late and they locked the doors behind us. Georges on Kinzie was also part of that group.

Anyone remember Hamburger Hamlet just off of Rush Street?

Nice story. And, if I remember correctly, "Georges" was George Badonsky and his first place was The Brewery on Broadway and he later bought the very upscale Maxim (not the dumpy Greek restaurant in the Loop). :) The Brewery was probably the very first "cool" place I ever went to and Alferno's was about a block away and they became two of my favorites. I still miss Alferno's - it was deep dish pizza (might have been my first experience with it), but a little bit different than Malnati's, Uno, etc.

Boston Blackies on Grand :( 29 Sept 2010

Moti Mahal
1031 W Belmont

In another universe, before there were any Indian restaurants in the 'burbs and few good ones in the city, this unpretentious place served some of the best Indian food this side of London. Before dish TV, internet, and other Indian businesses/organizations that opened later, it also provided a welcome touch of home to a generation of Indians in Chicagoland. Carless students were drawn by the superb $5 lunch buffet one block from an El stop. :) The room adjoining to the restaurant functioned as a mini-bazaar selling gifts, clothes, music, a few magazines, grocery items, and snacks.

As Devon Avenue came into its own, Moti Mahal opened a branch there as well (at the location now occupied by "Punjabi Dhaba"). However, by general consensus the Belmont location remained special and better.

Eventually it suffered the fate common to many immigrant endeavors: the new generation, educated and spoiled by the profits of this business, was not interested in helping run it.

Even now, among the informed connoisseurs, an allusion that the chef at some Indian restaurant had once worked/trained at Moti Mahal in his youth would amount to a strong recommendation. (For a few years, newer restaurants used to mention such affiliations in their ads in the community newspapers.)

[BTW, the name Moti Mahal ("Pearl Palace") is generic and apparently not protected enough. There are many establishments with this name around the world, having no relation with one another, including a grand old one in Delhi that has declined but continues to survive.]

The Fluky's at Walmart in Niles are actually the same people that were once on Western Avenue. The new establishment on western avenue is full of rude people who don't know how to cook

I remember that place with great fondness. It was probably the first Indian restaurant introduced to me when we moved here in 1994.

What was the name of the British restaurant at Field's on State, I remember it from when I was very young but never got to go there.

Before my time methinks. I started going to Field's in the late '70s. The fancy restaurant was (and still is) the Walnut Room. There was an English Room that I recall but it wasn't really British as far as I remember, other than having some very good fish and chips. This blog that I found by Googling suggests that there was a Wedgwood Room and a Tea Room - neither of which I never heard of.

http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Anyone remember eating or partying at "Old Chicago?"

Somewhere there is a picture of me, Spring Break 1977, sitting on one of the lions.

The indoor amusement park?

One out of two aiin't bad!! ;) Yes, Marge's HAS reopened, and NO it is not owned by her kids. None of them wanted to keep the license upon her death and so her son (who had been managing the place) let it go by the wayside.
That's the reason for the long delay in reopening.

Who else remembers the Bar RR on Randolph?? I think I still have a menu for ChiliMac with cheese. :) :D


Dave

BarRR: I saw Joel Daly (famous Chicago newscaster) and the Sundowners there in my college days. It was downstairs near the Daley (famous Chicago mayor:p) Center if I recall properly?

Middle of the block between LaSalle and Wells on the north side of Washington. Later Cardozo's Pub. The first time I went there, I was just off the bus from Rockford. It was the hottest chili I had ever had.

You recall correctly!! It was on Randolph, north side of the street between Clark and Dearborn.

Dave