The building, known for its green roof, red bricks, second floor ballroom, and lagoon-side setting, has been called "an outstanding example of the Prairie School of architecture" and "perhaps the finest expression of Perkins' design philosophy".

[5] A nine-member committee was chosen on October 10, 1967 by Chicago Park Board Vice-President Daniel Shannon to look into restoring the structure as a restaurant-ballroom and adding an outdoor dance pavilion.

[2] Café Brauer was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986,[1] and it received Chicago Landmark status on February 5, 2003.

[8] The building is located on the site of the South Pond Refectory, a wood-frame boathouse and restaurant designed by William Le Baron Jenney which was open from 1882 until 1908.

[2] Café Brauer is sometimes called the South Pond Refectory, the primary name for the site used in its National Register nomination.