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hplandmark.com dining out
the highland park landmark | September 28, 2017 | 21
Community, tradition front and center at The Left Bank
Martin Carlino
Contributing Editor
In the restaurant industry,
change is often inevitable.
But, for more than
50 years, Lake Forest’s
The Left Bank has stood
the test of time.
Since 1966, The Left
Bank has been dishing out
its classic — all-American,
feel-good comfort food —
for the same price.
After taking ownership
of the restaurant in October
2015, longtime Lake
Bluff resident Randy
Earls knew that preserving
the storied history of
The Left Bank for residents
just like himself was
a top priority.
“I’ve been eating here
since 1970,” Earls said.
“My goal is to keep it open
and keep making a chili
cheese dog that I ate when
I was 7 years old. ... This
is a little niche hole in the
wall that is cool for what it
is. That’s what we want to
keep it.”
Classic Americana decor
hangs on the walls that
are painted with the same
vibrant, green coloring.
The original menu board
still hangs in the upperleft-hand
corner of the restaurant.
One of the restaurant’s
most intricate spots, a back
room tucked behind the
small kitchen area, is one
of the only spaces that has
experienced minor change.
“You use to have to get
invited to go in the back
room,” Earls said.
The room remains
largely unchanged, as the
same quirky memorabilia,
instruments and countless
pictures still fill the space,
which is now open to everyone.
Earls enjoys the weekly
encounters with other
longtime residents and
customers who grew up
cherishing The Left Bank
just like he did.
“For me, it’s one of the
neatest parts,” Earls said.
“The community is what
made this place and that’s
what will keep it going.”
Earls has continued to
build on that cherished
relationship by keeping
the restaurant active in the
community.
22nd Century Media
staff visited The Left Bank
to try some of the classic
recipes that have kept residents
coming back since
the 1960s, as well as a
couple of newer additions
to the menu.
We dove right in, starting
with The Left Bank’s
signature menu item: the
Not-So-Sloppy Joe.
To prepare the fan-favorite
dish, a fresh, specially
crisped and steamed kaiser
roll is cut open and generously
filled with a secret,
50-year-old chili recipe,
which was passed down to
Earls when he took over.
Onions, a flavorful cheese
sauce and two pickles typically
complete the meal
for diners. For $5.99, the
hearty serving is plenty to
please nearly any diner’s
appetite.
Next up was the chili
cheese dog ($3.99), another
dish utilizing the signature
Not-So-Sloppy Joe.
Earls shared that the
chili cheese dog is a hit
whenever he takes the hot
dog cart to community
events.
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The Left Bank
659 N. Bank Lane, Lake
Forest
(847) 234-4770
Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-
5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
If you’re looking for a
more traditional, Chicagostyle
dog, The Left Bank
still has you covered.
One of the newer items
on the menu, the Vienna
beef hot dog ($3.29), is
loaded with all the classics
of any Chicago dog. Mustard,
relish, tomatoes, sport
peppers and two sliced
pickles topped with The
Left Bank’s take on a Chicago-style
hot dog. True
to Chicago tradition, it is
served with chips, not fries,
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The Not-So-Sloppy Joe ($5.99), which is topped with
a flavorful cheese sauce, cascades out of its specially
crisped and steamed kaiser roll. The recipe is more
than 50 years old and is one of many features that still
remain from The Left Bank’s previous owners. Erin
Redmond/22nd Century Media
and a soft drink ($6.50).
The Left Bank’s Italian
beef ($5.69), another Chicago
classic, rounded out
our tastings.
The Left Banks also offers
kraut dogs ($3.99),
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847.393.4770
Polish sausages ($4.69)
and chicken and tuna salad
sandwiches ($5.99).
The restaurant is currently
running under extend
hours due to the start
of the school year.
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