Gold's (restaurant)

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 66-67.

Note: The Newberry Library holds the personal papers of author John Drury.

GOLD'S

"The Rector's of the Ghetto"

Somebody called Gold's restaurant, in the Jewish quarter on the southwest side, the "Rector's of the Ghetto." We think no better sobriquet could have been applied to Gold's, since it is truly to the Ghetto what Rector's was to Broadway. Here, you will find the wealth and the beauty and the brains of Chicago's large Jewish quarter, gathered before Mr. Gold's inviting board; and you will also find many lovers of highly-seasoned foods from other parts of town. Celebrities come here too — Irving Berlin, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson and Georgie Jessel, whenever they are in town. Ben Hecht, the novelist, made this place a rendezvous when he was a Chicago newspaperman. Kosher cooking, of course, prevails at Gold's. And when you have kosher cooking you have clean cooking, for the word kosher means "clean." But kosher, with its limited orthodox significance, is not emphasized at Gold's, for their menu is as American as any to be found downtown and all of their foods are clean and wholesome and expertly prepared.

Chicken appears to be the main theme in the symphony of a Jewish menu. At Gold's, the chopped chicken livers, served with a touch of "schmaltz" (goose grease), are excellent as an appetizer; the noodle soup is a rich concoction; the chicken "blinzes" with green peas are deserving of high praise; the gefulte fish is the last word; and the Russian tea and cookies are just the thing for dessert.

Gold's is not a Ghetto restaurant in the strict sense of the word (the Maxwell Street Ghetto is two blocks south), but is a clean, modern, dining parlor, tastefully decorated; and the Pompeiian Room upstairs, where weddings and banquets are held, is comparable to any similar room in a Loop hotel.

We recommend Gold's if you like highly seasoned foods, shot through with plenty of garlic, and served in a gay metropolitan atmosphere. For Gold's is situated at Halsted Street and Roosevelt Road, the crossroads of the Jewish quarter.

Gold's, Jewish-American

81 West Roosevelt Road

Open all day and all night

Table d'hote dinner, $1,25 and $1.35. Also a la carte

Maitre d'hotel: S. Gold