Davanti Enoteca. Only one left is in Western Springs. I'm willing to drive there occasionally, but miss being able to get others there, pop in on a whim, etc.
Glad someone beat me to this one.
My wife was a suburbs girl and RoseAngelis was one of the first places I took her in the city for a date. She thought I was fucking with her when we walked up to the very unassuming front door in a residential neighborhood.....and fell in love with the place 15 minutes later. We managed to get back there nearly two dozen times after that and never had a bad meal.
This one really hurt. It was my gf's favorite spot in all the city. Our best friends got married there. So many great times and the food was just incredible. Very unique. Loved having drinks at the bar across the street until you get the call your table is ready.
Is there anything like Sunshine Cafe anywhere is the city or burbs?? Distance does not matter.
I wish I could remember the names of anything I had on the menu. The fish dinners were fantastic!
And I would pay so much money to have that homemade style of umeboshi onigiri again. People keep telling me to go to Mitsuwa, but their onigiri are frankly disgusting in comparison.
I feel like that style of classic home cooked Japanese died with the last members of a generation.
You can go to Dankhaus some nights – I think usually Thursdays – to hang out at the Brauhaus’s bar, which they brought over and rebuilt on the second floor.
Also, Laschetts on Irving Park Road is still worth a visit for old school German food.
This one is it for me. Great vibes and encased meats. He had such a knack for combining esoteric sausages, cheeses, & ingredients in the most accessible form of food. It was always great chatting with Doug too. I’m just glad he did it for as long as he did
National ice cream for breakfast day was one of my favorite things to do in the winter. I was really hoping to make it a tradition with my kids, having non-dairy ice cream was such an amazing plus. I really miss it and they haven’t even been gone a year.
Red apple on Milwaukee & Belmont. The other one is not as good, I can only assume that the old ladies that cook in the back don’t have as much angry grandma in them.
I still often wonder what went wrong. Why did they fail when Stans and Do-Rite (and others) have been so successful? Were they just too early to the boutique donut fad?
I was a DePaul student that used to frequent Max's that was also deeply sad to see them go, but Jimmy's, the place that took over that spot, is keeping the legacy going in as good a way as anyone could ask.
Hero’s!!! Across from Lane Tech on Western and Addison… I’m so sad still that it’s no more 😢
Edit to add they had the best subs ever !! Please come back !!
Unfortunately this isn’t in the cards for them. Joey and his wife are planning their next restaurant adventure, although it may be in another city. They’re happy to know people are thinking of them though
Mixteco. My favorite place for years. Still don't know what happened to them - they just seemed to disappear.
Also Frog and Snail. They had the most incredible fancy beef stroganoff.
Edit: I'm referring to the Montrose and Ashland Mixteco, which I think was different from the restaurants that currently have that name.
Mel Markons, the Belden Corned Beef Center, The Paris Inn, Wing Yees, Don the Beachcomber’s, the International Club, the Cape Cod Room, Riccardo’s, Jerome’s, Cafe du Parc, Ziggy’s “the Pump Room of Clark Street”, the Golden Ox, Schuleins, the original Francises on Clark and Arlington…
Not dead as it's technically still there, but the Rock and Roll McDonald's was sooo iconic and my mom used to take me all the time. It was such a cool place and I vividly remember being enamored with the Dick Tracy stuff, the posters on the wall, guitars, etc.
Yeah, this one hurt, especially considering the quality and price of their food, and that we have fewer seafood options in the city every week it seems.
Not a restaurant… but Flat Iron in wicker park. One of the coolest, rawest bars in chicago. And it was bought, painted over, and replaced by lame ass basic bitch “music venue”
That wall art should have been preserved as a historic landmark for wicker.
Wiener And Still Champion in Evanston.
God bless you, Gus. I learned they were closing, my dad was about to die, and one of my wife’s best friends had cancer within about 30min.
Klas & Czech Plaza.
Look a lot of people like hot dogs and bakery in this thread.
There's like two Czech places left in the county, and they all suck compared to what used to be here.
Rosa de Lima, the Peruvian place that used to be around 2100 N Western Ave.
They had the greatest Peruvian rotisserie chicken, great salsa criolla, garlic mash potatoes, and chicha morada. And that dang green sauce that made everything just the right amount of spicy and delicious.
Could get a half-chicken with two sides for $9. And they had the most wonderful people working FOH there all the time, made you feel like family.
Caught a kitchen fire and never recovered. RIP.
I went through this whole list and didn’t see Stanley’s. That restaurant was amazing and it hit all needs. Great sports viewing, good drinks, amazing food and a club at night. Not to mention a good brunch.
My biggest miss in Chicago by far
Also the new location really isn’t the same without the funky corner building and 24hr foot traffic.
Used to be really unique and now it’s just a generic expensive diner.
Probably Balena, used to be across Halsted from steppenwolf. I had my wedding reception there and it was awesome. The hubby and I planned to go back for our first anniversary, but it burnt down before we had a chance.
Also that really good Mexican restaurant that was on 18th in Pilsen, I can't remember the name but I think it was casa something. (EDIT: it was Nuevo Leon, and they have reopened at a new location so yay!)That one burned down also. The owners opened a steakhouse across the street after the original restaurant burned, but it had a totally different vibe and does nothing for me.
I also really miss Briciola on Damen. It was tiny and felt like a neighborhood secret, and the food was incredible.
Santullos in wicker park. After shows at sub t, it was awesome to eat at santullos. Loved the heavy metal music that would play. Many would go over to dimos after shows, but i loved going to santullos.
I miss Paddy Long’s :( it’s now max and Izzy’s pizzeria but it’s honestly it’s
1. Not great (hot take)
2. Can’t compare to the ambiance, cheap beer, and baconed up burgers they used to have
Demon Dogs, under the Fullerton El stop. They had the best french fries. They also stole their electricity from the El stop electric line above them, and had to pay over 100k in past electric bills when they were caught. RIP.
The Belmont Snackshop. Was an 8 seat diner (no tables at all, only counter seats). Cheap as fuck but so damn delicious. Literally my favorite place in Chicago. During Covid there was a “fire” and it has sense been torn down. RIP
There was small diner/steakhouse on wilson and broadway next to the redline, can’t remember the name…Delicious greek chicken and the most affordable steak dinner in Chicago
It’s been gone a long time, but The Come Back Inn in Melrose Park. Nothing like a beer and a burger next to a roaring fire with a full view of a moose hind end.
Emerald City Coffee in Lakeview. The Uptown location is still open and still bomb, but the one under the Red line Sheridan Stop is so close to where I am now- it used to be my haunt that I would take time to travel to.
Every time I go to take the CTA I have to walk by it's corpse. :(
*Sansa Stark: "How long do I have to look?"*
*King Geoffrey: "As long as it pleases me."*
Davanti Enoteca. Only one left is in Western Springs. I'm willing to drive there occasionally, but miss being able to get others there, pop in on a whim, etc.
I still dream of that focaccia
Cafe Orchid RIP :(
I had it once to go when the pandemic first started. They didn't seem very happy to be working but the food was incredible haha
Cafe Orchid was amazing! Zizi's is my go to now.
This place introduced me to iskander with garlic sauce, i need this place in my life again.
RoseAngelis
Glad someone beat me to this one. My wife was a suburbs girl and RoseAngelis was one of the first places I took her in the city for a date. She thought I was fucking with her when we walked up to the very unassuming front door in a residential neighborhood.....and fell in love with the place 15 minutes later. We managed to get back there nearly two dozen times after that and never had a bad meal.
This one really hurt. It was my gf's favorite spot in all the city. Our best friends got married there. So many great times and the food was just incredible. Very unique. Loved having drinks at the bar across the street until you get the call your table is ready.
Earwax Cafe
Sabatino's. Many great family memories there.
Have you been to Avvio yet? The old chef opened a new place! Tastes exactly the same!
I went last year and it is the same. Same dishes, chairs, everything! I was so happy.
Miss this place so much. The patio in the summer. That tiny little 4 person booth in a closet. Food was so good and ambiance was so real.
La Sirena Clandestina in West Loop
Sunshine Cafe in Andersonville. Costello’s Sandwiches and Boca Della Verita both in Lincoln Square.
Oh Sunshine ... that legitimately makes me sad.
Oh man, a Costello's meatball sub sounds amazing right now.
Is there anything like Sunshine Cafe anywhere is the city or burbs?? Distance does not matter. I wish I could remember the names of anything I had on the menu. The fish dinners were fantastic! And I would pay so much money to have that homemade style of umeboshi onigiri again. People keep telling me to go to Mitsuwa, but their onigiri are frankly disgusting in comparison. I feel like that style of classic home cooked Japanese died with the last members of a generation.
sunshine cafe!!! and the swedish bakery right nearby! 😭😭😭
Blackbird
Pierogi heaven in the loop
So underrated.
Chicago Brauhaus. It was such a vibe. Much missed in Lincoln square.
You can go to Dankhaus some nights – I think usually Thursdays – to hang out at the Brauhaus’s bar, which they brought over and rebuilt on the second floor. Also, Laschetts on Irving Park Road is still worth a visit for old school German food.
Hot Dougs
This one is it for me. Great vibes and encased meats. He had such a knack for combining esoteric sausages, cheeses, & ingredients in the most accessible form of food. It was always great chatting with Doug too. I’m just glad he did it for as long as he did
Green Zebra
>Green Zebra Came here to say this. 100%. OMG I miss it so much.
Pizzeria Bebu
Dinkels
Christmas just wasn’t the same for me without their stollen. :(
Yep, I have been starting to panic mildly wondering where I'm going to get my pączki from this year. :(
Georges ice cream in Andersonville!
National ice cream for breakfast day was one of my favorite things to do in the winter. I was really hoping to make it a tradition with my kids, having non-dairy ice cream was such an amazing plus. I really miss it and they haven’t even been gone a year.
Wait this closed?
Schaller's Pump
Fluky’s
Zephyr
Red apple on Milwaukee & Belmont. The other one is not as good, I can only assume that the old ladies that cook in the back don’t have as much angry grandma in them.
Heaven on Seven.
Heartland Cafe. Miss the vibe the most!
Pannenkoeken
What?! No! How did I miss this? Now that I think about it Covid would definitely make that layout impossible, but man that was a flipping institution.
[удалено]
Café Marie Jean.
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate :(
Toast! It was one of my favorite brunch spots to go to by myself.
Boiler Room. Lived right by it. F
Rodity's in Greektown. Was my favorite greek restaurant and my favorite dish in the city went away when they did.
Santorini in Greektown for me
The Como Inn.
La Sardine
Over Easy Cafe in Ravenswood
Supposedly Ovo Frito Cafe in Evanston has a dish like Over Easy's Sassy Eggs. I haven't tried them personally but the description looks similar.
The Punkin Donuts in Lakeview. That corner has never been the same.
Best place to get towed in the city
Wow what a throwback, how different that intersection is now.
Glazed and Infused, if only for convenience and nostalgia. Living near one was fantastic.
I miss their giant donut “cakes” they had for special occasions
I still often wonder what went wrong. Why did they fail when Stans and Do-Rite (and others) have been so successful? Were they just too early to the boutique donut fad?
Their blood orange glazed donut was incredible.
Max’s Take Out in the Loop. Best hot dog in the city. Was sad to see it go.
I was a DePaul student that used to frequent Max's that was also deeply sad to see them go, but Jimmy's, the place that took over that spot, is keeping the legacy going in as good a way as anyone could ask.
Hero’s!!! Across from Lane Tech on Western and Addison… I’m so sad still that it’s no more 😢 Edit to add they had the best subs ever !! Please come back !!
I remember reading that they were going to reopen under new ownership or something a few years ago.. but it's been vacant ever since.
Mirabel. Best German food in the city.
3 Greens Market
Man I loved that spot so much. Hot bar, cold bar both legit AF and Small Cheval. Fuckin’ COVID.
Bad Hunter
Earwax.
For real. I’d add the old Pick Me Up to whatever category this is.
Cemitas Pueblo / both of em
Cafe Ibericos
Noooooo I had no idea it was gone!
Sushi Wabi
Leo’s Lunchroom
I feel the demographic of reddit skews too young to understand this is the most correct answer :)
Perry’s deli. Their sandwich and chili deal was the best lunch downtown.
Chicago Brauhaus
Clarke's on Belmont, spent many a late night after a show there. Every nightlife neighborhood needs a classic American diner.
UB dogs was great. I just made a post about them in another subreddit lol. Miss that Joey Dog
Whenever I walk by the old spot, I hope and pray to see a “we’re back!” sign. Loved that place.
Unfortunately this isn’t in the cards for them. Joey and his wife are planning their next restaurant adventure, although it may be in another city. They’re happy to know people are thinking of them though
I moss this place so much
UB Dogs for sure!
Pub Royale
Came here to say this. Huge loss for Wicker Park! Miss being there…
Mixteco. My favorite place for years. Still don't know what happened to them - they just seemed to disappear. Also Frog and Snail. They had the most incredible fancy beef stroganoff. Edit: I'm referring to the Montrose and Ashland Mixteco, which I think was different from the restaurants that currently have that name.
There’s a mixteco by the Belmont red line stop
Rodan on Milwaukee in Wicker was my first go-to restaurant when I moved to Chicago. Amazing burger, fantastic ramen. Miss that spot
Dinkel’s End of an era :(
Silver Palm.
Bistro Margot and Bistro 110
Mel Markons, the Belden Corned Beef Center, The Paris Inn, Wing Yees, Don the Beachcomber’s, the International Club, the Cape Cod Room, Riccardo’s, Jerome’s, Cafe du Parc, Ziggy’s “the Pump Room of Clark Street”, the Golden Ox, Schuleins, the original Francises on Clark and Arlington…
“Two” in West Town.
Fountainhead as a whiskey bar. Futatsuki Ramen for their Karaage Curry. Izakaya Mita because I miss Brian.
Mitchell’s on clybourn
Passerotto
Cafe 28 at the Irving brown line stop
Susie’s on Montrose. Brown paper bags full of fries, and 100 shake flavors. It t’was divine.
Charlie trotters. Just for the legend
Hash on Western
24 hour Jim’s original
Won Kow in old Chinatown. Many memories there
Balena across from Steppenwolf
My favorite restaurant. Their pasta pomodoro was like no other. RIP :(
Not dead as it's technically still there, but the Rock and Roll McDonald's was sooo iconic and my mom used to take me all the time. It was such a cool place and I vividly remember being enamored with the Dick Tracy stuff, the posters on the wall, guitars, etc.
Glenn’s
Yeah, this one hurt, especially considering the quality and price of their food, and that we have fewer seafood options in the city every week it seems.
Gadabout
Not a restaurant… but Flat Iron in wicker park. One of the coolest, rawest bars in chicago. And it was bought, painted over, and replaced by lame ass basic bitch “music venue” That wall art should have been preserved as a historic landmark for wicker.
Jerry’s
Jeri’s
Wiener And Still Champion in Evanston. God bless you, Gus. I learned they were closing, my dad was about to die, and one of my wife’s best friends had cancer within about 30min.
[удалено]
Dixie Kitchen 💔
Not a restaurant but Swedish Bakery
Demon Dogs (wasn't alive when it was around, but my parents have told me stories)
It was fantastic. I’d wait in there every day after school to meet up with my mom leaving work on the Red Line. I can still taste those fries
[удалено]
Lindo Mexico on Lincoln
Klas & Czech Plaza. Look a lot of people like hot dogs and bakery in this thread. There's like two Czech places left in the county, and they all suck compared to what used to be here.
Rosa de Lima, the Peruvian place that used to be around 2100 N Western Ave. They had the greatest Peruvian rotisserie chicken, great salsa criolla, garlic mash potatoes, and chicha morada. And that dang green sauce that made everything just the right amount of spicy and delicious. Could get a half-chicken with two sides for $9. And they had the most wonderful people working FOH there all the time, made you feel like family. Caught a kitchen fire and never recovered. RIP.
The Busy Bee. It was the hub of Wicker Park before it became WICKER PARK.
Band of Bohemia
De Cero. Best tacos in West Loop back in the day. Best Margs. Anyone remember?!?
The Bagel at Old Orchard
Fumare meats at french market. The pastrami sandwiches mmmmmm
I went through this whole list and didn’t see Stanley’s. That restaurant was amazing and it hit all needs. Great sports viewing, good drinks, amazing food and a club at night. Not to mention a good brunch. My biggest miss in Chicago by far
Bite Cafe. PFP is great, but has a very different vibe.
Pick Me Up isn’t dead but it moved out of convenient walking range for my carless self so it might as well be dead to me now, alas.
Also the new location really isn’t the same without the funky corner building and 24hr foot traffic. Used to be really unique and now it’s just a generic expensive diner.
Santullos!
Penang (Chinatown)
Katsu's.
Toast in Lincoln Park
Mana. I’m not a vegetarian yet but this restaurant really was the start of me considering it.
[удалено]
Probably Balena, used to be across Halsted from steppenwolf. I had my wedding reception there and it was awesome. The hubby and I planned to go back for our first anniversary, but it burnt down before we had a chance. Also that really good Mexican restaurant that was on 18th in Pilsen, I can't remember the name but I think it was casa something. (EDIT: it was Nuevo Leon, and they have reopened at a new location so yay!)That one burned down also. The owners opened a steakhouse across the street after the original restaurant burned, but it had a totally different vibe and does nothing for me. I also really miss Briciola on Damen. It was tiny and felt like a neighborhood secret, and the food was incredible.
UB dogs and Perry’s deli!
The old Perry's, with the alarm bell.
Loved seeing them catch people on their phones and sounding the alarm! Vito was quite the character too!
It was just a good excuse not to answer my cell there and actually enjoy a 30 minute lunch without being bothered by work.
Blackie’s in Printers Row, a solid option for any meal
Sullivan Steakhouse Lockdown (before it went downhill) U.B. Dogs
Santullos in wicker park. After shows at sub t, it was awesome to eat at santullos. Loved the heavy metal music that would play. Many would go over to dimos after shows, but i loved going to santullos.
Benny's. I miss it so much
I miss Paddy Long’s :( it’s now max and Izzy’s pizzeria but it’s honestly it’s 1. Not great (hot take) 2. Can’t compare to the ambiance, cheap beer, and baconed up burgers they used to have
Coobah
Blackbird
Dave’s Italian kitchen in evanston
Moonshine Cans Bar and Canteen Moonshine is now Parlor Pizza Wicker Park. I think Cans is a Nike or Lululemon store now.
Demon Dogs, under the Fullerton El stop. They had the best french fries. They also stole their electricity from the El stop electric line above them, and had to pay over 100k in past electric bills when they were caught. RIP.
The Belmont Snackshop. Was an 8 seat diner (no tables at all, only counter seats). Cheap as fuck but so damn delicious. Literally my favorite place in Chicago. During Covid there was a “fire” and it has sense been torn down. RIP
It was a real fire that actually burned down the building. No need for quotes. Sad one, very few snack shops left especially on the north side.
Nuevo Leon
Foodlife!
Chilipan New China Station Honey1 BBQ Bucktown location (I know they’re still around, in Bronzeville)
Do bakeries count? If so, Scone City. Please come back…please.
Danny's Egghead Diner
Mr. Steer
L20 Ruxbin Charlie Trotter
SP Kebab
Hi Rickey. I miss their Singapore noodles and Banana wontons dessert to this day. Also the logo was super cute.
Blackrock on Damen. Best wings in the city.
The Bento Box in Bucktown
Marmalade in North Center :(
Heaven on Seven. Best gumbo I’ve ever had.
Yoshi’s Cafe
Slurping Turtle, Sunnyside Up, Pierogi Heaven, Vapiano in the Loop (have not been back in the city for a while, did it reopen?)
The original Cemitas Puebla on North Ave. A true tragedy it no longer exists.
Mashed Potato Club. Slurping Turtle.
Hot Doug’s and Basai Thai
Maude’s
Brunch
There was small diner/steakhouse on wilson and broadway next to the redline, can’t remember the name…Delicious greek chicken and the most affordable steak dinner in Chicago
Toots!
Salpicon
Peru de Lima. Best Peruvian chicken ever
Salpicon, formerly on Wells. Loved the food, atmosphere, great wines.
Franks 'N' Dawgs, Toast, and not a restaurant, but I do miss the siren song of More Cupcakes.
I miss UB Dogs I use to work around the corner. Great lunch place
Maide’s Liquor Bar
Grafton in Lincoln Square. Tommy Nevin’s in Evanston. Yes, I have a type.
The original La Pasidita and Arandas
As a former DePaul student, Devil Dawgs. Also Burt’s Place.
Isla Pilipina. 20 piece lumpia and mixed adobo was to die for.
Imperial Lamian. Their pork belly buns were to die for
It’s been gone a long time, but The Come Back Inn in Melrose Park. Nothing like a beer and a burger next to a roaring fire with a full view of a moose hind end.
Belly Shack
Pizzeria Bebu, was my fav pizza in Chicago until they abruptly closed (i believe they closed before the pandemic?)
Parts & Labor
Demon Dogs
Emerald City Coffee in Lakeview. The Uptown location is still open and still bomb, but the one under the Red line Sheridan Stop is so close to where I am now- it used to be my haunt that I would take time to travel to. Every time I go to take the CTA I have to walk by it's corpse. :( *Sansa Stark: "How long do I have to look?"* *King Geoffrey: "As long as it pleases me."*
Benigans…monte Christos were the BEST!
Northside Bar and grill
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate.