Chicago’s Classic Restaurants: Past, Present, and Future

Chicago’s Classic Restaurants: Past, Present, and Future

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With Neal Samors and Eric Bronksy as our guides, we will explore Chicago’s classic restaurants from pre-1900 to the present, including classics like Henrici’s, Fritzel’s, Shangri-La, The Bakery, Le Perroquet, The Berghoff, The Pump Room, The Cape Cod Room, The Walnut Room, and Gordon among many others. After 1970, Richard Melman and Lawrence Levy introduced a new type of fun restaurant atmosphere in Chicago restaurants that ranged from R.J. Grunts, D.B. Kaplan, and Fritz That’s It! to Lawrence of Oregano and Jonathan Livingston Seafood. Then there were the more upscale, traditional classic restaurants that included Ambria and Le Francais which preceded Everest, Tru, Trio, and Spiaggia. Chicago has traveled a long road to achieve its status with world-class restaurants that include Charlie Trotter’s, Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, Scott Harris’ Francesca restaurants and Davanti Enoteca, Boka, Perennial, Girl and the Goat, Blackbird, Avec, Hugo’s Frog Bar, and Grant Achatz’ Alinea and Next.

Neal Samors is a lifelong resident of Chicago who grew up on the city’s Far North Side and developed a passion for the history, neighborhoods, and people of Chicago and its surrounding areas. His books reflect a continued commitment to tell the many stories about his hometown from its inception to the present.

Eric Bronsky, also a native Chicagoan, is a freelance writer, historian, photographer, and transit enthusiast. He has coauthored two award-winning books with Dr. Samors.

This program is hosted by the Chicago Foodways Roundtable. To reserve, please call 847-432-8255, then leave your name, telephone number, and how many people in your party. You may also email this information to  chicago.foodways.roundtable@gmail.com .