This book explores Chicago classic restaurants from pre-1900 until the present, including such classics as Henrici’s, Fritzels, Shangri-La, The Bakery, Le Perroquet, The Berghoff, Eli’s The Place for Steak, The Pump Room, The Cape Cod Room, and The Walnut Room among many others. Then, post-1970, Richard Melman and Lawrence Levy introduced a new type of fun restaurant atmosphere in Chicago restaurants that ranged from RJ Grunts, DB Kaplan, and Fritz That’s It to Lawrence of Oregano and Jonathon Livingston Seafood. After that there were the more upscale, traditional classic restaurants that included Ambria and Le Francais, which preceded Everest, Tru, Gordon, Trio and Spiaggia. Chicago has traveled a long road to achieve its well-deserved status as a world-class restaurant city which include Charlie Trotter’s, Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, Scott Harris’ Francesca restaurants, Boka, Perennial, Girl and the Goat, Blackbird, Avec, and Grant Achatz’ Alinea and Next. The reader will enjoy reading the 200+ pages of stories and interviews, and viewing over 250 black and white and color photographs about the chefs, restaurants and menus that describe the past 130+ years of dining across Chicago, city and suburbs.
