Oct 21, 2021 - Food and Drink

Richard Steele's Best Day Ever in Chicago

Monica Eng

Man at table. — Radio legend Richard Steele joined Axios for lunch at Hyde Park's Ascione Bistro to tell us about his best day ever. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios

Richard Steele is a Chicago radio legend who, in the 1990s, shuttled between mornings at WGCI-AM and afternoons at WBEZ to share his knowledge of Chicago music and public affairs. This led Robert Feder to call him the "cab jock."

Steele, 79, also hosted the Barber Shop Show at WBEZ before it ended in 2017.

Axios recently sat down with Steele for lunch in Hyde Park to talk about what his "best day ever in Chicago" would look like.

Breakfast: The Original Pancake House in Hyde Park for their famous bacon waffle.

After breakfast: The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park "to watch all the kids having fun."

Afternoon: "Catch the outrageous Halloweeen decorations at the house near us on South Shore Drive between 73rd and 74th. It's amazing!!"

Lunch: The char-Polish sausage at Wiener Circle in Lincoln Park.

"They also have some of the best French fries in town."

Evening: "I love seeing foreign and independent films at the Landmark Century Theater."

Dinner: Ascione Bistro in Hyde Park for fish of the day.

"I came here last month with my wife, Jera, for our 49th anniversary," he says, noting their secret to a long marriage is loving AND liking each other. "So life is good."

Late fun: Jazz Showcase, where Steele saw Dee Alexander last summer.

"After not having live jazz in your face for all those months, it was incredible."

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Richard Steele's Best Day Ever in Chicago

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