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Mack’s Golden Pheasant is the oldest continuously family owned restaurant in DuPage County. Its history begins sometime in the late 1930’s or early 40’s when Frank and Mae Mack purchased a small one room tavern on the sleepy corner of west North Avenue and route 83 in Elmhurst,Illinois.

In 1948 the couple decided to expand the small tavern into a large full service restaurant and lounge. They choose to build a unique building that was reminiscent of the Czech-Austrian chalet of their youth complete with deep low hanging eaves and elaborate Germanic woodwork.

The Golden Pheasant’s most unique feature and name come from Frank Mack’s hobby as an avid exotic bird collector. The large windows in the Dining room look out upon his menagerie of exotic foul including the illustrious Golden Pheasant. This amazing menagerie also featured Mae’s passion as a gardener and a surprisingly talented garden planner. Unfortunately the original building burned to the ground in 1962 leaving only the North balcony intact (this balcony has become a Golden Pheasant symbol of survival).

 

Yet frank and his now adult sons Donald and Eugene decided to build again. The result is what we know today a slightly larger version of the original chalet building. The GoldenPheasant has survived an unusual amount of disasters including the great flood of 1987,which sank half of Elmhurst underwater, and another small fire thatclaimed the West entrance way.

 

Today Frank and Mae Mack’s grandchild Steve, his wife Debra and their two children Luke and Jessica operate the Golden Pheasant. The Golden Pheasant still carries the memories of the original owners in the stuffed foul and game in the dining room (created by the famed field museum taxidermist Julius Friesser) and the mature Garden out back with it’s 200 year old Oak trees.

Mack’s Golden Pheasant is a very original restaurant. Many favor the lodge like atmosphere, and the food of course, which is particularly good. Come visit us and enjoy are history and unique ambiance.

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