El Harem (restaurant)

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 151-152.

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

EL HAREM, 165 North Michigan Avenue

An Arabian Night on Michigan Avenue. All is dark and mysterious and sensuous and Turkish in El Harem — including the menu. By a simple twist of the wrist and the addition of a few "hubble-bubble" pipes and ornate hanging Turkish lamps, Pietro Mosgofian, formerly impresario of the Cafe Old Stamboul in Tower Town, was able to transform the heavily ornamented Russian interior, recently occupied by the Petrushka Club, into a place having all the exotic atmosphere of a Sultan's harem. Turkish dishes are served here, including baklava and Turkish coffee, and, after the meal, you may smoke highly-scented Turkish cigarettes or struggle with the narghile, (or hooka, or "hubble-bubble" pipe, or Oriental water-bottle pipe — which ever you want to call it). In case none of these attract you, there is Clarence Jones and his orchestra to provide music while you dance. El Harem is open for luncheon, tea dance, dinner, after-the-theatre, and late supper. The waiters are Turkish, wear fezzes, and are very meek. This place is highly interesting if you want to spend the evening and your money in an exotic foreign atmosphere. Dinner is $2.00.

Maitre d' hotel: Pietro Mosgofian