The Story
Austrian immigrant Philip Henrici opened a small coffee and pastry shop near Madison and Wells in 1868, drawing on his family's Vienna restaurant tradition. That shop burned in the Great Chicago Fire, but Henrici rebuilt, eventually settling in the heart of the theater district on Randolph Street.
For nearly a century, Henrici's was indisputably a Chicago institution. Its slogan was 'No Orchestral Din' - a promise of refined quiet in a white-tablecloth setting. The restaurant served mid-priced American fare like prime rib and lobster, with freshly baked pastries for dessert. Coffee came with a pitcher of whipped cream on the side.
Al Jolson, Danny Thomas, and Henny Youngman stopped by. Mayor Richard J. Daley had power breakfasts there almost every morning. Theodore Dreiser referenced Henrici's in his novels. In 1962, after nearly 100 years, the legendary restaurant was torn down to make way for the Civic Center (later renamed Daley Center). A few suburban Henrici's lingered until the 1980s.
🍽 Signature Dishes
Served in elegant white-tablecloth setting
Viennese tradition carried forward for a century
Signature presentation
💡 Did You Know?
- The original shop survived the Great Chicago Fire and was rebuilt
- Theodore Dreiser referenced Henrici's in 'An American Tragedy'
- The building was demolished to build the Civic Center (now Daley Center)
- In 1914, waitresses staged a famous strike demanding $8 for 6 days instead of $7 for 7
👤 Notable People
🏙 What's There Now
Demolished 1962; site became the Civic Center (now Richard J. Daley Center)
Original Address: 67 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60602