Lake Forest Restaurant Guide

The South Gate Cafe building dates back to 1901 when the northern third of the structure was built to house the first city fire department. It consisted mainly of three large bays that were used for horse drawn fire wagons. In the mid-1920's the city more than doubled the building to accommodate its police station and new fire engines. When the City built a new public safety facility in 1968, the building went into semi-retirement for nearly 12 years.

Then in 1980, the building was purchased from the City by Larry Ross and a small group who rehabilitated it as the South Gate Cafe. The name is derived from the street along its north border, which was Howard Van Doren Shaw's planned entrance or gateway to Market Square.

Seventeen years later, the South Gate Group put a final addition on the east side of the building that houses the Bank Lane Bistro and Bank Lane Bakery. The Bistro is a small, casual Contemporary-American restaurant with a wood burning oven, located on the second floor. The Bakery is on the main floor, bakes its own breads daily, and is open for self-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Great care has been taken each step of the way to compliment the architectural integrity and beauty of the original structure and to enhance it with extensive landscaping and an outdoor patio.

The building has been certified as a National Historic Landmark.