Ann Sather Restaurant

Lore & Background

Ann Sather opened the eponymous restaurant in 1945. When she retired in 1981, she sold it to Tom Tunney, a 24-year-old graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Tunney expanded the menu to include what is described as 'the most famous breakfast in town.' The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and is famous for its cinnamon rolls, which Jeff Mauro called 'insane.' They are also known for their potato sausage and Swedish pancakes.

In 2019, Tunney made a deal with Tim Glascott for the Belmont Avenue location under a sale/lease back arrangement lasting at least ten years. In 2021, the restaurant was fined $2,000 (equivalent to $2,376 in 2025) for violating indoor dining restrictions due to COVID. The restaurant appeared on the television show The Best Thing I Ever Ate in the episode 'Wake-up Call,' where Ted Allen discussed the cinnamon roll.

Reader's Guide

Ann Sather's Restaurant holds significance as a long-standing Chicago establishment serving Swedish cuisine since 1945. Its transition from founder Ann Sather to Tom Tunney in 1981 marked a new era, with Tunney credited for expanding the menu and building the restaurant's reputation for breakfast. The restaurant's cinnamon rolls have garnered particular attention, being highlighted by food personalities Jeff Mauro and Ted Allen. The restaurant's locations in Lakeview, Edgewater, and formerly Andersonville reflect its presence in Chicago's North Side neighborhoods. The 2019 sale/lease back arrangement with Tim Glascott for the Belmont Avenue location indicates ongoing business evolution. The 2021 fine for COVID-19 indoor dining violations places the restaurant within the context of pandemic-era regulations. Its inclusion in the list of Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in the United States further underscores its culinary recognition.

Did You Know?

• Ann Sather opened the restaurant in 1945.
• Tom Tunney bought the restaurant in 1981 at age 24 after graduating from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
• The restaurant was fined $2,000 in 2021 for violating indoor dining restrictions due to COVID.
• The restaurant appeared on The Best Thing I Ever Ate episode 'Wake-up Call' featuring Ted Allen discussing the cinnamon roll.