The Greek Cafe

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, p. 120.

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

THE GREEK CAFE, 216 North Dearborn Street

Where Greeks meet Greeks. Although this place, situated for over thirty years on North Dearborn Street in the immediate vicinity of the night life district, is the dining place of wealthy and prominent Greeks of Chicago who have offices in the Loop — importers, businessmen, editors, fraternal lodge officials, commission merchants and ice cream manufacturers — yet it has always been popular among diners-out of other races. They come
here for the exotic appeal of certain of the items on the Greek Cafe menu, such as the distinctive broiled lamb chops, baklava, and Turkish coffee.

And what lamb chops! If you really want lamb chops in their most delicious form, prepared by chefs from the Balkans where lamb, by force of necessity, is the prevailing gustatory weakness, go to the Greek Cafe. But it might be well to prepare the way by sipping of that other specialty here — Greek chicken soup with vermicelli. And for dessert order baklava, a most toothsome Balkan sweetmeat, made of pastry bound together with crushed nuts and honey and palatable spices. And then there is Turkish coffee — black, thick, and tasting truly coffeeish. Also, if you want to be an Athenian all the way, taste some of the genuine white Greek cheese served here. A landmark of Chicago, retaining the same interior as when it first opened at the turn of the century, the Greek Cafe has a leisurely and friendly atmosphere. There is a $1.00 table d'hote dinner.

Maitre d'hotel: Peter Anagnost