Hackney's Spotlight
(From the October-December, 2001 Newsletter)
This month we feature Hackney’s on Lake, the flagship store of the Hackney’s restaurant chain. Hackney’s is expanding again, this time placing a restaurant on Printers Row on South Dearborn in Chicago. While small in comparison to it’s five brothers, it will, nonetheless, have an important impact in the South Loop area (after all, who hasn’t heard of Hackney’s?).
It’s been a mid-week anchor of mine for 22½ years now. While not the optimum setup for music, it does feature seats within spitball distance, and gives a distinct advantage in talking to customers off the microphone. Billed as a family restaurant, it draws many from all walks of life with its reputation as a gourmet hamburger and onion loaf delight. But that’s not all, folks. Eddie Hebson, who will soon join brother Jim at the Chicago location, went to chef school at Kendall College in Evanston, and has added many culinary delights to the menu. Of course, the catering has been greatly enhanced, as have private parties and special events. (For instance, this was the only place I’ve ever seen strawberry shortcake prepared like my grandmother used to do – i.e., real shortcake, not the spongy cake that so many restaurants pass off as short cake). With this expanded menu, one can not help but see new customers, even though most of the regulars come for the standard fare. Whatever their pleasure, it helps the attendance at the bar where I hold fort every Wednesday. Over the last 26 years I have played many venues, but I doubt I have ever learned more than I have in this room. This has been a a very rewarding yet challenging endeavor.
One of the great features of playing at Hackney’s is the hours. While the restaurant is open 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. during the week (later on weekends), my time of duty is 7:30 – 11:00 p.m., so one can still come in, eat, have a pop, stay for a few songs, and still be home and in bed at a decent hour. It can’t be much easier than that. There’s no excuse not to stop in some Wednesday with our friendly group; who knows you might like it well enough to come back for another visit.
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