Paul's (restaurant)

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 83-85.

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

PAUL'S

After the Ball is Over

When the performance is over and the theatre signs on Randolph Street go out, and you're in the mood for an after-theatre supper; when you're tired of the regular dining places along the Rialto; when the night clubs and the food they serve have no lure; when you're fed up on the Loop and its taxicabs and policemen and lights; when the night session of the convention or meeting has come to an end at last, thank goodness; or when the ball is over, you go to Paul's.

For Paul's is the ideal place to take care of the wants of the inner man during the midnight hours. Located in an old mansion on Michigan Boulevard, a mile or so south of the Loop, Paul's has been for years a popular gathering-place of the town's bons vivants and gourmets after the theatre. Notables of the stage, the sport world and of political life are seen here often. The last time Tito Schipa, the opera singer, ate here he brought along his friend, Renato Gardini, the great Italian wrestler. Primo Camera, the fighter, has eaten here, too. And there are plenty of others, both of local and national fame.

Not a little of the attractiveness of this place is to be found in the chef, Frank Simonetti, who used to be cook aboard one of Sir Thomas Lipton's yachts. Frank's skill in the cooking of those highly edible specialties of the house — Risotto Milanaise au Saffron, either with truffles or mushrooms; Scallopine a la Monte Vesuvius; whole chicken en casserole or broiled jumbo squab with jelly — explains why people like to come here. Too, another drawing card is Signor Paul Bergamini, the proprietor, who is a host par excellence. He has been a restaurateur in Chicago for many years, and has hundreds of friends all over town.

Although this is strictly a place for food, Paul's also features what it calls the Club Galant, a small room set aside for music and dancing and an occasional floor show. There is no extra cover charge in the Club Galant and you may amuse yourself in this charmingly decorated room from 9 P. M. until closing. The menu is sufficiently large to be interesting, displaying a dozen Italian specialties, and the waiters are trained in the best Continental traditions. Mr. Bergamini's wife is a native of Switzerland, and sometimes you may get Swiss viands if you know what you want and the management is in the mood. Paul's is a thoroughly worth-while place.

Paul's Italian-American

1715 South Michigan Boulevard

Open from luncheon until the first peek of dawn

Special table d'hote dinner, $1.50. Also a la carte

Maitre d'hotel: Paul Bergamini