From Eater Chicago: “Long before River North was the bustling neighborhood it is today, it was an area bereft of attractions. That was until the lively Gordon Sinclair came around and opened his eponymous contemporary American restaurant in 1976. It proceeded to transform Clark Street into a destination worth visiting and also led the way in establishing trends such as cell phone bans and discouraging no-shows through the collection of credit card information. Signature dishes included artichoke fritters with béarnaise sauce and flourless chocolate cake while famous alumni include Michael Kornick, who served a stint as executive chef. The restaurant closed in 1999.”

According to Judi Radice’s book, “Menu Design”, the designer David Bartels believed menus “should be provocative and help start conversations among patrons. This menu art, for Gordon in Chicago, uses a primitive style of illustration and mysterious elements to break the conversational ice.”

The interior menu is from Gordon’s 21^st anniversary dinner in 1997.

Courtesy Private Collection.