

NOTE: The rumor of Elliott's Pine Log being a speakeasy, as stated on numerous websites online is false. Prohibition began in 1920 and ended on December 5, 1933. Elliott's Pine Log Restaurant and Lounge opened in 1939, six years after the end of prohibition. As rumor has it the speakeasy was really the "Morton House Restaurant" 8509 Railroad Avenue, Morton Grove, Illinois, destroyed by fire on January 2, 1954."
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Chris Elliott |
It was hard to believe you were in Skokie as it felt more like you were in a Wisconsin country inn or a Swiss Alps Chalet.

Adjacent to it was the "Keyhole Bar" with a sunken cocktail lounge with a raised wood-burning hearth. On Friday and Saturday nights, there was a piano player who would play your requests.

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Elliott's Pine Log Restaurant had the best-roasted duck, which I personally ordered every time I ate there. |

As it turns out, the total loss was $250,000. Chris Elliott told the Skokie News, " I don't know who released the earlier estimates of damages, 'around $100,000,' but I know that whoever it was never had the pleasure of eating in my restaurant." Fireman Jerome Burke and Robert Kutz receive awards for saving two firemen at the Elliot’s Pine Log Restaurant fire in 1956.

Mr. Anthony 'Tony' Gargano, the restaurant's manager, was a patient of my father, an Optometrist (O.D.). Tony always found the time to sit with us for a minute.
As the neighborhood changed in the 1980s, business dropped off, and the Pine Log was closed. There was a public auction held of all the restaurant's equipment, fixtures, antiques, collectibles, seating, etc., in Chicago on June 25, 1988.
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Classified Ad, Chicago Tribune, June 19, 1988 |
Construction of two mid-rise condominium buildings on the Pine Log's property began in August of 1988. The Park Lincoln, as it was named, has 70 units.

Both Alex Elliott and Greg Elliott were Chefs at Elliott's Pine Log.
ALEX ELLIOTT
After the Pine Log closed in 1988, Alex Elliott, Chris Elliott's son, did some restaurant consulting, turned down a lot of offers to partner in restaurants, and continued to raise Black Angus cattle at the family home/farm in tiny Ringwood, Illinois, near Wonder Lake, until moving closer to Chicago.
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Elliott's Seafood Grille & Chop House, 6690 North Northwest Highway, Chicago |
But the restaurant business is like a narcotic and he decided to get back into that precarious racket, opening "Elliott's Seafood Grille & Chop House," 6690 North Northwest Highway, in the heart of Chicago's Edison Park neighborhood, in 2001. "I did not do this to become a millionaire," Alex says. "I wanted the place no more than 15 minutes from where I live, and only wanted to do dinners. I wanted an upscale neighborhood place where I could enjoy the customers." That is what he created, a charming spot; sophisticated and laid back. The bar business is steady and lively. The dinner crowd is a nice mix of ages and occasions.
GREG ELLIOTT
A message from Chris Elliott-Bagley: "Hi Neil. Yes, Greg Elliott is my first cousin."
In 1991, Greg Elliott reopened Lake Side Inn as Elliott’s Grand Hotel in Wauconda. He says that when he bought the hotel, the building was “slipping into the lake.” Highland Park architect Mark Knauer was hired to recreate the interior, which involved taking everything out except the bar and making the building structurally sound. He hasn’t had that restaurant for years.
In 1996 he and his wife opened a Consignment Shop in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood and later a second shop in Lincoln Park.
WAS THE PINE LOG A SPEAKEASY?
The rumor of Elliott's Pine Log being a speakeasy, as stated on numerous websites online, is false. Prohibition began in 1920 and ended on December 5, 1933. Elliott's Pine Log opened in 1939, six years after the end of prohibition.
The "Morton House" Restaurant (est.1869) at 8509 Railroad Avenue in Morton Grove, Illinois, was reported to be a speakeasy during prohibition. Click the link to find out. This building was destroyed by fire in 1954." The Morton House was rebuilt.
Another speakeasy rumor circulated about the Charcoal Oven Restaurant at 4400 Golf Road in Skokie. It couldn't have been a speakeasy because it opened in 1948, 15 years after prohibition ended.
Copyright © 2017 Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
I loved the Pine Log so much that I recreated my favorite logo of Elliott's Pine Log Restaurant and Lounge. This is my 15oz mug. It's high-quality and heavy, and the printing doesn't wash off or fade, even after 5 years of dishwasher sterilization with high-heat drying. Many mug styles and colors to choose from and other items.
A NOTE ABOUT ANTI-SEMITISM
Regarding the rumors of the Elliot brothers being anti-Semitic, nothing is further from the truth. About 80% of Pine Log's business, IN JEWISH SKOKIE, was, you guessed it, Jewish. I'm Jewish. My folks were Jewish, and they knew the Elliotts for a very long time. As a family, we ate at the Pine Log once or twice a month and for some special occasions for a good 20 years. They couldn't do enough to make our meal special, and I personally saw the wait staff treat others the same 5-STAR way. The Elliotts are a class act.
So, Jack Silverman writes this comment in a Skokie, Illinois, Facebook group when I posted this article in that group:
A COMMENT POSTED TO SILVERMAN: "If his aunt was asked to leave it may be because of the way she was dressed. Elliott's had a dress code back then. She could have had too much to drink and was asked to leave because she was intoxicated. Perhaps she was embarrassed that she got asked to leave and played 'the Jew card.' But I can assure you that her getting booted, if true, had nothing to do with being Jewish!!!" Chris Elliott-Bagley, November 16, 2020.
I have very fond memories of eating at Elliott's Pine Log Restaurant with my parents. Thank you for having this information online.
ReplyDeleteyes, thank you for posting. I had a heck of a time remembering the name. My wedding rehearsal dinner was here way back in 1976.
ReplyDeleteI have been there several times and always enjoyed my meal. My wife's girlfriend was also a bartender there.
ReplyDeleteChris Elliot was a generous man who donated his delicious food to charities. He donated Christmas dinner to Angel Guardian Orphanage for many years.
ReplyDeleteThe best Roast Duck ever.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to Elliot's Pine Log in the mid 80s with my parents and it was always a treat when we did. I truly enjoyed their Burgers, I mean I was in Grammar School at the time, but my Mom ordered Orange Roughy one time and I was hooked! I surely do miss that place but glad I got to enjoy it before it closed.
ReplyDeleteI too remember going to Elliot's Pine Log Inn many times over my years in the neighborhood. After my mother passed away, I had several holiday meals with my brother there and it always gave us a wonderful homey feel for our holiday dinner. I remember it fondly but now I wish I had tried the duck!!
ReplyDelete8th grade graduation celebration from Rogers School in 1970 was celebrated at Elliot's Pine Log as well as several other family celebrations.
ReplyDeleteOh how well we remember Elliots...we had reunions there...we lived so close we could walk over...it was the Best and most beautiful restaurant we ever knew...it was our favorite. We bought 5 of the big wagon wheel light fixtures and many of the small brass table lamps that were on ever table...plus some beautiful sconce lamps. So many fond memories. As I write this I can see and enjoy all the items we bought from the auction...wagons wheels in great room and dining room..sconce lamps in dining room,ah yes I could go on, we live in northern Wisconsin so all the treasures we bought fit right in! Thank You Elliots
ReplyDeleteBill N Joanie
I used to live 2 blocks from Elliot's. When they closed and sold the property,there were stories that after the Father, Chris passed away, his children were not interested in continuing the business. They had the best Prime Rib and the best atmosphere which made you thing that you were in a forest.
ReplyDeleteSo many fond memories and yummy meals of my growing up years and Elliott's. So sorry it is gone now, and I really cannot think of another restaurant that could take its place; it truly was 'one of a kind' and so glad it was a part of my life.
ReplyDeleteGreat article! It brought back a lot of memories. I remember going there for my 8th grade graduation with my family in the late 60's.
ReplyDeleteWe had our wedding reception here at Elliot's in June 1986. There were many reasons to have it here, including our favorite meal which was prime rib. Almost 35 years later our healthy marriage continues. We have yet to find prime rib as good as Elliot's. We will always remember our wedding day at Elliot's.
ReplyDeleteMy family and I ate at the Pine Log several years on Christmas Eve, it was always such a treat. My Father would want to drive out to the restaurant a few weeks ahead of time to make the reservation in person rather than on the phone. Great times with family.
ReplyDeleteI too have very fond memories of dining with my family at Elliott’s Pine Log. I enjoyed the elegant, rustic atmosphere. You felt really special going there for dinner. I think the last time we went there was in the early 70’s, I don’t know why we never went after that.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents lived in Skokie in the Sixties and Seventies which allowed us to enjoy many family dinners at Elliott's Pine Log. Always wonderful service and delicious food. The owners were always warm and friendly and I know my family looked forward to seeing them each time we dined there. As a side note, as an adult I moved to Wauconda, IL in 1985. My parents had stopped at my new home for a lunch visit and so decided to try the family restaurant in downtown Wauconda, Elliott's Grand Hotel. It never crossed our minds that it was possible the two restaurants were tied to each other. We were probably seated at our table around 10 minutes before we heard someone say, "Mr. and Mrs. Michaels?". It was Greg Elliot, the son of the owner of the Pine Log. What a wonderful surprise. The family joined us for lunch and we stayed for over three hours reminiscing. Sadly the the Grand Hotel has been closed for many years but for a short time we able to again enjoy all the charm and delicious recipes we once had at the Pine Log.
ReplyDeleteI added the story of Alex and Greg Elliott to this article.
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