The Dutchroom (restaurant)

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 208-209.

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

THE DUTCHROOM, Hotel Bismarck, Randolph and Wells Streets

One of the liveliest literary gangs in town meets here each Saturday at noon. Composed of writers, poets, newspapermen, advertising men, professors, lawyers, bibliophiles, and conversationalists. No women allowed. The gang occupies a "round table" in the farthest corner of the room; everything is informal and spontaneous; the wits of the table cross verbal swords; the laughter is explosive; and everybody has a good time.

No better room could be found for conviviality than the Dutchroom of the Bismarck Hotel, located at the west end of the Rialto. It is a low, beamed dining room with a fireplace, having the atmosphere of an old German tavern and the foods served here are the same as those served in the main dining room of the Bismarck.

Here, then, come the literati — Kurt M. Stein, the popular German- American dialect poet; Richard "Riq" Atwater, columnist of The Chicagoan; Dr. Walter Blair, of the English department at the University of Chicago; Fred Lowenthal, the attorney, bibliophile, and wit; Dr. David Boder, the Lewis Institute psychologist; Francis Coughlin, the magazine writer and epicure; Vincent Starrett, the essayist and novelist; Joe Ator, of the Chicago American; Walter Auburn, who writes under the name of **Gimmick" in various columns; Finney Briggs, the continuity writer; Franklin Meine, the book auctioneer and authority on American humor; Phillip Morris, the conversationalist; V. L. Sherman, of the Lewis Institute; and Douglas MacMurtrie, who made The Golden Book.

In other words, the Dutchroom is a sort of Algonquin of Chicago. Aside from this, however, you will like the food and atmosphere here and the prices are standard.