When will Deerfield realize that not having a substantive jobs plan bill of DC affects all of us?

Good luck George and Vicky. Thanks for feeding us well for all those years!

This is terrible news. George's has been a nice restaurant and I hate to see them close. Deerfield is a tough town for a restaurant and for retail. Support local business! Best and luck to George, Vickie and their employees.

I'm sorry to see another Deerfield business go - especially a great place like George's. RB - you make an important point about supporting local business. I am certainly guilty of taking a lot of my discretionary dollars to neighboring towns. With so many good dining and shopping options right here in Deerfield, it shouldn't be too difficult to reform my habits.

Loved George's!!! Often the only guy there with no gray hair.

DEERFIELD leaders ... what are you going to do!?!?!? Time to get on the stick. How many more empty storefronts do you need before you wake up? This area and this town is in DESPERATE need of some - shall we generously say - attention to developing business. (A "vision" is a more appropriate word, but let's start small.)

Meanwhile, Glenview, with one thriving business area, is planning a workshop to revisit downtown development. You may want to check them out at http://triblocal.com/glenview/2012/02/23/march-6-workshop-to-revisit-downtown-redevelopment/.

What is Deerfield doing? (Cue the crickets.)

This will be a HUGE issue for me over the next several elections. I hope it is for others also. I can't believe there seems to be no discussion ... no plan ... no action. Very disappointing.

Been to all the What's Cooking restaurants through the years! Sad for George and Vicky! Good luck to all who worked and served! Deerifeld does need a proactive plan. This is ridiculous! Empty spaces demonstrate empty thoughts! How could Deerfield let "Wonder" even open up the doors without appropriate funding? SteinMart? What's up with all of this?

How come Deerfield has all the bad luck?

It's not bad luck. Neighboring communities do seem to support family type restaurants. Deerfield has been a rough town for restaurants, but after 13 years you would expect a restaurant to weather a downturn of reasonable length. I suspect that since George's owned the property, this may be a corner acquisition by a national chain and less about their not being able to take the economy any longer. I certainly could be wrong, but I bet CVS or similar will be building there. Hopefully, George and Vickie can retire in comfort.

Thank you for all your good wishes. It is a difficult time for us, our family, our employees, our friends, and customers. We have been fortunate to share our lives with so many for so long. We go back close to 35 years with most. It is difficult to say farewell.
I see though that some are trying to figure out what we did or did not do. It is easy for outsiders to speculate on what has happened to our business. How could anyone possibly know what we should have done? I will say that we have been in the restaurant business close to 40 years. We are not newcomers to the business world. Our closing is in direct correlation to the downturn in the economy. I am not sure if the link below will open. It is a political cartoon that sums up about how we feel.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorial-Cartoons/2011/11/01/Kirk-The-recession.html

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again!
~Author Unknown

We have celebrated so many Wonderful Holidays and Celebrations at
George and Vicky's * Delicious and * Very Resonably priced restaurant !
We have enjoyed and will sorely miss our weekly family gathering there as well!
We will miss them greatly!
There is absolutely no other place in this area or anywhere that feels like family!
"Georges What's Cooking?" has been a second home to us!
We have treated all our new neighbors to a meal there to say "Welcome"!
Thank You for the Memories!
We will never Forget You and Your Beautiful Family!
Evkaristo'
The Andrikos Family !
Andy, Blaze, Alexi, Adam,& Melissa

It is despicable that anyone is commenting on "who's to blame" for George's closing. Instead of figuring out who to blame, why don't you start thinking about George and Vicky. For so many years, they treated their patrons like family...always coming over to your booth or table to see how you were doing. My family has so many memories, gathering and eating at George's, whether we were celebrating or just meeting for Sunday brunch. George and Vicky, we will miss your smiling faces and conversations...and of course your food! We hope that we will cross paths once again. For the rest of you, blaming government entities and the economy...get your head out of your (sand box) and start having some sympathy for a family that just lost their business and home.

Sad to hear "RONNIE THE LIMO DRIVER" comment on George and Vicky's bad business... I personally worked for George and Vicky for years over 30 years ago. They are the HARDEST WORKING, MOST ETHICAL, GENEROUS AND HONEST PEOPLE I KNOW. All I can say is if Ronnie is a limo driver in fact, instead of being a real estate tycoon, or a restaurant owner, perhaps he should try and run a business in this economy. You don't stay in business for 40 years because you dont know how to run a business. Also, many of the local deli customers are elderly. Why not consider how KIND George and Vicky were to all of their customers? Why not say THANKS to them for giving people a place to go in today's world that is family owned and operated where people were treated with kindness. How about considering that? I personally want to thank them for all they have done for so many, employees and customers alike. Truth is, the taxes are outrageous and now there will be none collected. Brilliant, huh????

I've worked for George and Vicky since almost day one (started six months after they opened) they are the most wonderful people to work for. We all are heart broken and will miss our "family" at Georges, Sunday is gonna be a hard day. Goodbyes are never easy. Thanks George and Vicky for EVERYTHING! My Sunday's will ever be the same.

George's was a place I would visit since I moved to Northbrook in 2000. I can honestly say that I have probably had 15 meals a month there for the last 4 1/2 years. Vicky and George are two of the nicest and hardest working people I have met in my life; and the staff always treated me well. I will miss my breakfasts there and the chit chat with Vicky and staff. I wish everyone brighter days.

When my parents were alive I'd meet them for breakfast every Sunday at George's in Lincoln Village--their location before Deerfield. George still remembers how my mom liked her coffee and different things my mom and dad used to say.

My sister and I were so sad to hear this. We have so many wonderful memories and I know I always felt like I didn't get to Deerfield often enough from Highland Park.

George and Vicky, I hope you're able to remember the good times and that you have good times ahead of you. You have provided so much for so many.

Thank you.

George's news leaves and empty place in my stomach as well as my heart. We ate, schmoozed and healed with their soups. My beloved grandmother, who catered in the kosher marketplace for over 40 years, reeled at how Greeks did jewish food better than jews, George's answered proudly, GOLDIE'S recipes.
Our kid's believe that this is the place you went to eat lunch after High Holiday services or to celebrate any other special family gathering. Georges warmth at greeting our daughter as Kukla still yields her infant smiles upon her college aged face.
Lincoln Village or Deerfield, Mushroom soup needing just a touch of A1 is imprinted along with the waitresses who never aged & always smiled. A job well done for all of these years, take a rest, enjoy your Kids, G-d bless for having fed my
belly and spirit. See you next-time.....

I worked with the staff of George's What's Cooking for 3 years and spent a number of days eating at the counter with George and Vicki. My family celebrated Mother's Day there. I cannot believe this family establishment will no longer exist. Being in the food and restaurant industry I can tell you that no one cared more about the patrons, staff and food they provided than Vicki, George and Michael. I am saddened to learn this news and wish I could make a trip home to have another mid-morning breakfast at the counter with my friends. My best to you all!

We would always have Sunday lunch at George's, after tennis, and were always treated as old friends by the waitresses, greeted by Vicki, and had consistently great meals. We are devastated. Dick and Joanne Hoffman

We are so very sad to see George's What's Cooking closing. The staff, our favorite waitress, Katie, and everyone will be missed. Our daughter, Carly, has loved the matzoh ball soup, George,and the entire staff, since she was a toddler. We wish you all the very best of health and happiness. You have been so wonderful to our family, we hope the same for yours. The Wilenskys

I worked for George and Vicky /7 wonderful years/. There are the most nicest people I ever worked. I am devastated. Ari.

Whenever I visited What's Cooking, George had a big smile and warm greeting for me. Whether I went in with friends, siblings, parents or co workers, everyone always liked George's What's Cooking. In fact, my dear friend worked for him as a hostess/night manager when she was in college and she loved working for George. Not too many folks can say that about their bosses, let alone a restaurant owner. The fact that waitresses worked there for years, bussers didn't leave and I could always count on the same kind folks to take care of us meant a lot.

I will miss the chicken soup with kreplach, terrific kugel and weekend babka. I will miss the Turkey Island Melt and excellent tuna salad. But, most of all, I will miss George. Who will call me "koukla" now?

Thank you George, for all your years of taking care of my friends and family; for your terrific food and excellent service. And, thank you for being you, a warm, caring man who loved his customers. Best of success to you, Vicki and the kids in whatever your next venture may be.

What a loss to our family, and to our community. George and Vicky, we hope you know how much you were appreciated, and how much you will be missed.
Marilyn and David Samson

Between the Lincoln Village restaurant and the one in Deerfield, I have frequented What's Cooking? for over 30 years. I'm so sad to see them go out of business and hate to hear of such a sad story happening to such nice people. Best of luck to George and Vicky in the future. You will be missed!

Fran Duke

Whenever family visited from out of town, there was never a question about where to go!!! We have laughed, cried, argued, & loved our friends & family while enjoying the wonderful food!! George was so kind when I couldn't walk, assisting me to the nearest table, storing my walker, & making certain I was comfortable. He always treats people with respect, eager to please everyone. Our family is saddened by this turn of events for Vicky & George, but we pray God will give you both the strength to see this through. We will miss you both, & the wonderful family atmosphere you both created along with your staff!!
Deanna, Morry, Melissa, & Jason Sable

Vicky and George,
We will surely miss our Saturday mornings breakfasts with Vicky's smiling and friendly face perking us up before heading off to photograph another wedding. Wishing you
The best and looking forward to when we meet again.
Thank you for everything,

Your Saturday Morning Penguins

Nice people. Lousy food.

I could talk about how delicious the food was at both Whats Cooking restaurants, but that's not the point I am trying to make. The point is more about what was printed on George's menu. He considered his customers much more than that and showed it in every way. George is the nicest, kindest, and most cordial person that anyone could know. I remember going to Whats Cooking, in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center next to the Fannie Mae, with my family over 40 years ago when I was only a few years old. My parents are now gone and my siblings live in Miami, but I still cherish the memories that we had because of George and his kindness. One Easter my mother did not have any eggs to color. As it was a family tradition, she was very sad. As soon as George found out, he came out of the kitchen with a big brown bag filled with dozens of eggs. This is the way George is. As I sit here a day before Mothers Day, I remember all of the good memories from the past.

. I remember my mother's best friend Pina who passed away recently, she worked for George for 30 years. I remember the parties in the little room in the basement. I remember when George came to my uncle's funeral. I remember the lightly scrambled egg sandwiches that my mom insisted I get her only from Whats Cooking. George, thanks for a lifetime of memories and I hope and pray that you and your family could have some of the same happiness that you bestowed upon so many other people's families. I wish you and your family nothing but success in any project that you partake in the future. If I should hear that you have opened a new restaurant, I promise that I will come more often, even if I do have to travel 30 miles to and fro to get there!
"Big Dave"

So sad to hear this. I have so many great memories at What's Cooking! It was always the first place I went when returning to the North Shore, sometimes straight from the airport. The food was delicious, but the real reason we went so often was the amazing people who worked there. George was always so friendly and kind to us, and when you went there you just felt right at home. Good luck to George and family--and if you open a new restaurant, I'll be first in line! Thank you for years of great food and memories

My name is Jose I work for George and Vicky since they open the restaurant. Also my two sons and my wife work for george and Vicky for a really long period we are really sad that they closed the restaurant. Its really sad to know that Georges what's cooking is gone but it was a really big and honorable pleasure to work with them and be part of the team.