Lincoln Square's Legacy

From the moment you exit the Western brown line station, fragrant, mouth-watering, aromas fill the air. Tom Lee's Chinese Kitchen on Western attacks first. Your stomach will growl at its sinfully delicious scent of deep-fried treats with a just hint of garlic. As you continue down Leland, past the giant German village mural, the rich perfume of grilled steaks and bratwurst emanate from the German Chicago Brauhaus on Lincoln. By the time you've reached Lawrence Ave., you'll be floating on a complex cloud of spicy Mexican burritos from Garcia's and exotic Mediterranean seared lamb from Barbra Yianni's Grecian Taverna. Those who originally settled Chicago's Lincoln Square would be proud that their legacy lives on in these aromas.

Today Lincoln Square is unofficially known as "Germantown," housing the largest concentration of Germans in Chicago, but that wasn't always the case. In the early 1800's settlers moved to the area to seek refuge from the pollution and crime of the city. The clean air brought German, Polish, Italian, Swedish and Greek immigrants to the area and soon, small businesses began popping up. More and more families moved in when the "L" was extended to Western, and it became a booming amalgamation of shops, banks, restaurants, theatres and homes.