Whimsical Walk in Wicker Park

Week 5 — Downtown is for People (Fortune Classic, 1958)

Jacobs asks, “Why is a good steak house usually in an old building?” Why indeed? Based on your reading of Jacobs’s article, why is a good steak house usually in an old building? Are there any good Chicago steak houses in old buildings?

In many cases, especially in Chicago, a good steakhouse is located in an old building. This may be for two reasons; old restaurants usually indicate a family owned operation. So, figuratively, a steak usually “tastes better” when you’re helping out a small business. Literally, old buildings (steakhouses) are far more “intimate” than a corporate enterprise: “It is these kinds of enterprises for which old buildings are so congenial” (Jacobs). There are many fantastic (and old) steakhouses located in the city. Personally, I don’t enjoy steak as much as most people, however, I know for a fact how popular Gibson’s is. I also found a list containing five “old-school” steakhouse on Zagat.Com. This list includes, of course, Gibson’s, Gene & Georgetti, and Lawry’s.