Maulella Restaurant

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 115-116.

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

MAULELLA RESTAURANT, 786 West Taylor Street

Although a mile or two away from the Randolph Street bright light area, being located across the river among the tenements of "Little Italy," the Maulella Restaurant gets into this chapter because it is a favorite spaghetti restaurant of many persons whose names loom large in the radio and amusement world — musicians, radio announcers and stars, continuity writers, and orchestra leaders.

Mike Maulella, the proprietor, who is himself one of the leading violinists of the town, and Mrs. Teresa Maulella, his sister-in-law, who can cook spaghetti, chicken dishes, and ravioli with as much skill as her relative can handle the bow, are the ones responsible for the name and fame of this little "one flight up" eating parlor in the crowded Italian quarter. Everything is clean and orderly here, the food is of good quality and cooked under sanitary conditions, everybody knows everybody else, and the establishment is open all night.

For these reasons, the musical and radio people come here — Quin A. Ryan, director of station WGN, and his wife, Roberta Nangle of the Chicago Tribune staff; Joe Gallicchio, conductor of the Chicago Daily News Concert Orchestra; Husk O'Hare, the popular orchestra leader; Mary Hunter, announcer over Station WGN; Pat Gallicchio, announcer over Station WMAQ; Art Benson, another well-known orchestra leader; Franz Pfau, the pianist; Ennio Bolognini, the cellist, and lots of others. You will find the Maulella Restaurant a delightful and informal place, particularly at midnight. A taxicab will bring you there in a jiffy.

Maitre d'hotel: Mike Maulella