The Drake’s Famed Cape Cod Room Will Close After 8 Decades

After more then 80 years of business inside the iconic The Drake Hotel, management is closing The Cape Cod Room, one of Chicago's oldest restaurants. New Year’s Eve will mark the restaurant’s final night of service, according to The Tribune. The restaurant is a casualty of extensive renovations that will last three years and transform the Drake’s Arcade level.

The fine-dining restaurant, known for seafood inside the luxury hotel, has seen a plenty of celebrities and history over 83 years. The Trib pointed out that Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio carved their initials into the restaurant’s bar shortly after getting hitched in 1954. The restaurant stood as a time capsule with few changes made since opening.

The Trib reports that the Cape Cod will resurrect some of its retired classic dishes for the final stretch, including Dec. 6, the restaurant’s birthday. Expect classic items such as fresh-shucked oysters, Bookbinder soup and shrimp de Jonghe. As Chicagoans start making their New Year’s Eve plans, the Cape Cod’s final night should be a hot commodity.