Dining in Chicago

[Dark Saint Alaick]

Standing on the site of the former King Joy Lo chop suey restaurant, an old landmark of the Rialto, the Triangle is as much a showplace as any of the theatres that surround it -- and as entertaining and diverting. Observe the striking black marble facade, done in modernistic style and rising two stories high like an inverted U, and the ever-changing play of colored lights across its sweep. It is one of the most outstanding buildings on Randolph Street.
But go inside. See the crowded counters and tables; observe dignified judges, city officials, and theatrical people mingling with stenographers and office boys and family groups; see the dashing white-capped carver slicing a huge appetizing-looking roast beef high up on a dais at the front of the restaurant; the big colorful signs, dictated by Mr. Toffenetti himself, that make your mouth water; the girls making strawberry shortcake right before you in the window; the snappy and intelligent waitresses in their smart white frocks; the cooks making salads and dressings before the gaze of all; and Mr. Toffenetti himself moving about, picking up a plate here, helping a waitress there, and welcoming his many friends. All is lively, clean, wholesome, colorful, in-theopen, and American -- yes, clatter of dishes and all -- about the Triangle.
The big day during the Triangle year is the annual opening in the spring of the Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake Jubilee -- an event that has become as important in the life of the Loop as the annual Autumn Exhibition of Fashion in Marshall Field's windows.
Indeed, the Triangle, which started as a little restaurant at the triangular corner (this is the origin of its name) of Broadway, Sheridan Road, and Montrose Avenue, in the uptown district, over fifteen years ago, has become as much an institution in Chicago as is Marshall Field & Company. Therefore, you should not miss it. It is especially interesting to visitors from foreign countries. It is open all night and the prices are scandalously reasonable.
Another of the chain of Triangle restaurants is located at 6 South Clark Street.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

RANDOLPH GERMAN RESTAURANT

234 West Randolph Street Max Koppel, proprietor of this quiet, unobtrusive old establishment at the west end of the bright light sector, is a restaurateur with an impressive background. His first employment in this country was in Delmonico's in
New York City, one of the greatest restaurants in America. Then, when Henry M. Kinsley, a noted Chicago caterer, and his son-in-law, Gustav Baumann, opened the Holland House in Manhattan in 1891, Max Koppel went over to that establishment. It was in the Holland House, which became almost as famous as Delmonico's, that Max learned the art of catering. A few years later, Max came to Chicago and joined the Kinsley restaurant here. Its five stories all devoted to catering purposes, Kinsley's was the greatest of all Chicago restaurants. At the time it closed. Max Koppel was manager of its dining rooms.
With a background like this. Max ought to be expected to serve good food. He does. His German dishes are comparable to those served in any of the other worthwhile Teutonic eating houses of the town. Especially notable, however, is Max's hasenpfeflfer, which, of course, can only be served between Thanksgiving and January 31. His beef a la mode, his smoked ribs of pork, and his potato pancakes are also worthy of mention. The Randolph is a clean, quiet place and has an atmosphere of the old days about it. It is open only for luncheon and dinner.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

BAMBOO INN
78 West Randolph Street

Chop suey and chicken chow mein have replaced the Martini cocktails and champagne that graced the tables of this basement dining room when William ("Smiley") Corbett conducted his famous Cabaret here many years ago. Today, the Bamboo Inn, located in the hectic center of showland, is popular with young girls and their boy friends, as well as visiting farmers and others from the tank towns of the midland. It is a quiet, innocent Chinese restaurant where the chop suey is good and where you may dance to the strains of Steve Leonardo's orchestra. No cover charge and open until late.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

CHILDS
55 West Washington Street

In recent months, this representative of the great chain of restaurants has been getting considerable of a "play" from the show people, nighthawks, and bons vivants of the downtown district. Tired of the poor quality of foods served in the gaudier night clubs, these gay persons have been dropping into this open-all-night place to eat food that is food before going home. Often you will see silk top hats and ermine wraps, or a theatrical star or two, among the diners. The food served here, of course, is wholesome and skillfully prepared.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

ANNES' RESTAURANT
620 Rush Street

Another eating parlor distantly removed from Randolph Street, but part and parcel of the town's theatrical life. Many stage stars who live in the Hotel McCormick just over the river, in which this restaurant is located, dine here in the wee small hours. During the day and early evening, this unit in George J. Annes' Chicago chain of lunch rooms is quiet and of no particular importance. But after two in the morning it takes on life. Actors, chorines, vaudevillians, race track men, fisticuff artists, and an occasional newspaperman or two, are usually present. At one table you might see Tony Canzoneri, the fighter, entertaining a couple of friends; eight chorus girls from Earl Carroll's show might be at another; Bernardine Hayes, voted "the greatest girl radio star," comes in often; Jock Malone, once one of the country's foremost fighters, sits in a corner working on cross-word puzzles. And they are all served by Angelo, probably the most travelled waiter in town, who speaks five languages.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

DE LAZON'S
127 North Dearborn Street

Few of the many Rialtoites who dine in this interesting restaurant across the street from the Cort Theatre know that it is on the first floor of the only leaning skyscraper in the world. Observing it from across the street, the American Bond & Mortgage Company building (built by the late Governor John P. Altgeld, easily reveals the incline in its upward thrust. But don't be alarmed. It has been standing this way for over a generation. De Lazon's serves good food, the waitresses are bright and cheerful, and the cakes, pies, and pastries made in its own ovens are highly satisfying. It is open from 7 A. M. to 10 P. M. And don't forget to look over the unique and clever carvings in wood, the work of Tud Kempf, which adorn the walls. Kempf, although known popularly as "The King of the Whittlers," is a serious artist and his creations in wood are highly regarded by the local art critics. These samples may help you to digest your food. There are also many autographed photographs of theatrical stars on the walls.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

GIMBEL'S
30 West Randolph Street

This large and popular basement dining room occupies an interesting location. Above it rises the Masonic

Temple building, headquarters of Masonry in Chicago; next door is the Oriental Theatre, largest of Chicago's cinema palaces; and, lastly, here was the site of the Iroquois Theatre fire in 1903. As for the restaurant itself, it is new and luxurious, the menu is large and inclines toward German and Jewish cooking, the waitresses are lively, the sticks of bread are good, and there are four special Gimbel salads that would brighten the eye of any epicure. Patrons are invited to observe the kitchen, made of Monel metal. The walls of Gimbel's are wainscoted with American walnut, ornamental plaster, and intricately designed gold work. Open from 7 A. M. to midnight.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

THOMPSON'S
27 West Randolph Street

Here is the surprise of your life. Used to eating your ham and eggs (country style) on one-arm chairs and amid the clatter of much crockery in any Thompson lunch room, you are totally unprepared for the scene of splendor and spaciousness and up-to-dateness that confronts you as you enter, for the first time, this newest of the Thompson restaurants. The "one-arm" chairs are gone. Considerably lessened, too, is the crazy symphony of dishes. All is changed. Nothing of the oldtime Thompson atmosphere is here, with the exception of the service counter and the help-yourself system.
Instead, a unique and artisticaSy designed eating place rises before you. The one-arm chairs are replaced by highly-carved and polished oak tables and chairs; the walls are of panelled oak; large colorful murals, rising from floor to ceiling and lit by hidden lights in prosceniums, depicting scenes in early American history, dominate the east wall; snappy girls in white frocks have replaced the men at the service counter; and a long soda fountain stands at the front. The interesting part about it all, however, is that the Thompson prices have not changed in order to pay for this new elegance. Neither has the fopd deteriorated in quality. We know of no better place to eat during "lean days' than this Rialto establishment -- and its sumptuousness is soothing to your pride.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

TERRACE GARDEN Madison
at Clark Street

Here is one of the best known dine-and-dance restaurants in Chicago. Popular both before and after the theatre. Although not on Randolph Street, the Terrace Garden is but two blocks southward. It is located in the basement of the Morrison Hotel, where the famed old Boston Oyster House once had quarters. You eat at tables placed on circular terraces and the dance floor, orchestra, and floor show are below you. Luncheon, dinner, and after-theatre supper are served here and the menu is both table d'hote and a la carte. They feature daily specials, which are appetizing, such as beef a la mode with potato pancackes. New England boiled dinner, fried spring chicken roadhouse style, boiled brisket of beef with horse radish sauce, baked finnan haddie a la Moir, and individual chicken pot pie. If you like to dance between courses, or if you like to be in a gay convivial atmosphere, with music, young people, and colorful surroundings, the Terrace Garden is the place to go.

[Dark Saint Alaick]

ORIENTAL GARDENS
23 West Randolph Street

Newest of the Loop's chow meineries is the Oriental Gardens, located on the second floor over Thompson's latest restaurant and across the street from the Oriental Theatre. Here, all is Chinese and sufficiently exotic for the kind of people who go to the Randolph Street movie palaces -- and there are plenty in Chicago. Henri Gendron and his orchestra provide music for dancing and the establishment is open until 1 A. M. A few American dishes are served here and such popular Chinese dishes as chop suey and chow mein. Maitre d'botel: Chin Wai '