Hutcheson's Chili Parlor

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 124-125.

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

HUTCHESON'S CHILI PARLOR, 83 West Lake Street

Although a plain ordinary American lunch room — white-tiled, sanitary, with a counter and marble-topped tables, and loud with the clatter of dishes and the conversation of taxi drivers and such — Hutcheson's Chili Parlor is convenient to the theatre sector, the Mexican dishes are appetizing, and in recent months it has been receiving a "play" from the boys and girls of the theatre. Almost any time after midnight you will find a gay group of chorines and their boy friends at one of the tables, partaking of that popular Hutcheson specialty, Chili Mac, which is chili and spaghetti, covered with powdered cheese. Or you might find some of them deep in bowls of fiery chili con carne, and others indulging in hot tamales with chili sauce. Of course, these dishes are not gotten up with the perfection and skill of those prepared in the cafes of the Mexican quarter, but they are first-rate substitutes.