Your post and this topic reminded me of a restaurant I went to some years ago that was along railroad tracks (the south shore line which ends in South Bend). It was the kind of place, even in the early 1990’s where you’d expect Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin to suddenly show up. Vintage photos show many people dressed up over the years and the lake perch was incredible. Phil Schmidts of Whiting IN has been closed for 20 years or more now.
Actually it was along the amtrak and other tracks near Lake Michigan, not the south shore.
Dang. I love those kinds of places, and feel a peculiar sadness at their demise, same as the death of a tree I have come to know.
They had a place in my state, the “El Morocco” which was widely known and had that vibe for attracting celebrities, with all the black and white autographed images of them all over the walls, pretty famous ones, too. Definitely had the vibes of the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. That era.
Another one in Boston I had the pleasure to take my wife to for one of our anniversaries was at the Cafe Budapest. It was run by two famous elderly sisters who had tattoos and had survived Auschwitz. The atmosphere was very European, red wall, Hungarian food. During the evening, the two elderly sisters, dressed to the nines and wearing jewelry, would make the rounds. When I was there, they stopped at every table and chatted with the diners. I found it to be very charming, though quite expensive.
Yeah. I miss those places.