# Favorite Restaurants Now Gone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529 "2016-06-04T23:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/41 "2016-06-05T22:48:19Z")
In Chicago back in the late '90s-early 2000s, there was a grilled chicken place at the corner of Wabash and Monroe called Taza. Dozens of chickens grilling at any time, having been basted in a citrusy marinade, baskets of warm pita bread for the grabbing, mashed red potatoes that were super-creamy even though the skins were included. I used to work around the corner, and the place was invariably mobbed at lunch-time. But when I was back in the area after changing jobs in 2002-03, it was closed. šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/42 "2016-06-05T22:51:13Z")
Some of the Chicago restaurants that I miss the most are: Zum Deutschen Eck - big German place in Lakeview Demon Dogs - hot dog joint under the el tracks at Fullerton Como Inn - big old-school Italian restaurant and wedding hall Scoozi - yuppie Italian place in Lincoln Park Come Back Inn - homey ski-lodge feeling joint in Melrose Park ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/43 "2016-06-05T23:58:05Z")
Wraps. They were a restaurant in Houston located near my sisterā€™s. They served these great overstuffed tortilla wrapped sandwiches which they would make to order right in front of you. I had always assumed they were part of a chain (they had that feel). But when the ā€œlocal oneā€ closed I checked and found out it been the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/44 "2016-06-06T01:23:01Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Some of the Chicago restaurants that I miss the most are: > > Zum Deutschen Eck - big German place in Lakeview > Demon Dogs - hot dog joint under the el tracks at Fullerton > Como Inn - big old-school Italian restaurant and wedding hall > Scoozi - yuppie Italian place in Lincoln Park > Come Back Inn - homey ski-lodge feeling joint in Melrose Park Oh, I remember Demon Dogs. I had a couple of franks there before one of the early Chicago Dopefests, because I knew I would need them to soak up the booze. That was where I first met **Gaudere, Unclebeer, and Jophiel.** I drove past Como Inn dozens of times, but never dined there. I was in the Rosebud Restaurant on Taylor Street a couple of weeks ago, thoughā€¦best red sauce Southern Italian Iā€™ve had in ages. All those places in Brooklyn are closing down. Where am I supposed to get a good _mozzarella en carozza_ or veal Parmesan? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/45 "2016-06-06T01:46:54Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Indianapolis, Indiana, and I miss Farrellā€™s and the Sizzler. And an Oriental place whose name escapes me that had vegetable tempura that I loved and went out of business some 15 years ago. I think Muncie Indiana still has a sizzler. I miss Noble Romans. They have take out places, but that isnā€™t the same and the selection isnā€™t as good. Plus the one sit down Noble Romans left on the west side of town doesnā€™t make very good food. I also miss Ryanā€™s, which was an american buffet. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/46 "2016-06-06T01:47:08Z")
When I lived in Pittsburgh, there was a family-owned restaurant called Fatigattiā€™s (sp?), or ā€œThe White Frontā€, not far from Bridgeville. Great food, including a wonderful spaghetti with a garlicky, tangy meat sauce, the likes of which Iā€™ll never taste again. Good seafood too. They closed in the 90ā€™s, when the kids didnā€™t want to take over the business(as I understand it). One of my all-time fav places. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/47 "2016-06-06T01:52:35Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > There was a Henryā€™s in Ottumwa, Iowa, that was there from at least the late 60s (as far back as I can remember) until around 1980 or so. \ Radar, you shouldnā€™t be eating that stuff at your ageā€“what would Col. Blake say? > [@Anamorphic](#): > > That would have been slightly before my time, so I donā€™t remember it. A few others I do recall from my childhood in the suburban Baltimore area: > > ā€¢ Lumā€™s. Apparently also a large chain (according to their Wiki page, at one point, the company bought Caesars Palace in Vegas). > ā€¢ White Coffee Pot, Jr. (also a chain, but confined to the Maryland area) > ā€¢ York Steak House (ALSO a chain - I guess thatā€™s all we went to growing up). According to wiki, there is actually still one left (in Ohio), so I guess they arenā€™t technically gone. How about **[Ginoā€™s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino%27s_Hamburgers)** and **Amecheā€™s** ā€“founded by Colts players before the bastards slunk off to Indiana. Remember their slogan: ā€œEverybody goes to Ginoā€™s, 'cause every other place is closed.ā€? šŸ˜ƒ > [@dbygawdcapn](#): > > Hausners in Baltimore. The building is still there taunting me. That was the last reason I had for ever returning to the Jewel of the Patapsco River Drainage Basin. Is **White Castle** still around? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/48 "2016-06-06T02:03:25Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > The one I used to go to back in high school on Rockside Road is still there! I was there just last month! And how many of us remember the Automats in NYC? I used to go there every day for lunch. Most days I got the baked beans, but on payday I got the pricier chicken pot pie. Everything they had was the best, especially the lemon meringue pie. And the best coffee ever! My favorite Automat was on 5th Avenue, off 34th or 42nd. It was downstairs, and everything was art deco, all black trimmed with chrome. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/49 "2016-06-06T02:08:41Z")
Iā€™m happy to see Burger Chef mentioned above! That was always a special treat. I miss Londonā€™s Dairy Bar. Not a full-menu restaurant, but more like what older people would call a soda fountain, except it was a big store. My favorite was always shakes because they were made with real ice cream and blended right there. Theyā€™d fill you glass, and give you the blender cup with the remaining shake that you could share or add to your glass. And of course the window to the bottling plant was right inside the store. I think watching those processes destined me to be a manufacturing engineer! Iā€™m not sure what happened to them; the dairy company itself was bought in the mid-90ā€™s, and Iā€™m pretty sure the new bridge span is on top of their former plant location. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/50 "2016-06-06T04:04:58Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Is **White Castle** still around? It is, around here. And you can get their burgers (frozen) in supermarkets. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/51 "2016-06-06T05:32:47Z")
> [@dbygawdcapn](#): > > Hausners in Baltimore. The building is still there taunting me. Went there years ago on a family trip. Amazing ā€œOld Worldā€ setting & a huge menu. Which made me _really_ want to return, although I realized I probably wouldnā€™tā€¦ In Houston, Leoā€™s was my familyā€™s favorite Old Time Tex Mex. Todayā€™s Tex-Mex & Mex-Mex places are better in many ways. But Iā€™d still love another Meatless Plate from Leoā€™s. And I love my neighborhood artisanal Tiki bar. But I wish our local Don the Beachcomberā€™s was still around. Fake rainstorm, Pu Pu Platters & allā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/52 "2016-06-06T13:49:55Z")
From Nebraska: Venice Inn and Piccoloā€™s have both closed. This has put an end to the 70 year Canigliaā€™s Restaurant dynasty. These people gave me my first job. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/53 "2016-06-06T15:11:33Z")
Around the turn of the century, (2000) there was a little breakfast and lunch place in a small town near me. ā€œThe Main Street Cafeā€. It was fantastic. Rumor was that that the owner was a professional chef slumming because of legal trouble, and I believe it. His wife was the waitress, short-tempered and sarcastic. I saw her throw more than one party out of the place for asking stupid questions, but if she liked you she was wonderful. They baked their own bread. They made their own sausage. They changed the specials constantly. The Irish breakfast with homemade soda bread and fried tomatoes. The Southern breakfast with ham steak, fresh biscuits, and homemade grits. The New York, Lox, bagel and a Knish. Endless varieties of pancakes and French toast and Waffles. It was heaven. Too good to last. Buddy and Patty, If youā€™re out there, I miss you, come back! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/54 "2016-06-06T15:17:10Z")
Time for me to reminisce about [Bill Knappā€™s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Knapp%27s) of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio again. [Their Menu](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d2/53/2b/d2532b7e6b72cdbc7c0b153a7922c17c.jpg) \<\\> ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/55 "2016-06-06T16:12:46Z")
Burger Chef (and Jeff) for sure. Miss that place. H Salt Fish and Chips After all these years, still havenā€™t found a place nearly as good. Chi Chiā€™s Yeah, I know it wasnā€™t authentic Mexican but I liked it. Bill Knappā€™s Always felt young there, as we would generally in the minority in being under 80. Decent food at a decent price. Last is for Muskegon MI only, but the Doo Drop Inn had great food. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/56 "2016-06-06T16:13:35Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Last is for Muskegon MI only, but the Doo Drop Inn had great food. Crappy name, though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/57 "2016-06-06T16:15:42Z")
All in Cleveland: Piccolo Mundo was a nice Italian-style bistro in the Warehouse District. Good pasta. Frank & Paulyā€™s was another good Italian restaurant just off Public Square. Giant portions. Fatfish Blue was a Cajun/Creole restaurant at Prospect and Ontario. I still miss the etouffe. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/58 "2016-06-06T16:54:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Last is for Muskegon MI only, but the Doo Drop Inn had great food. I think every third town in Wisconsin has a bar (or maybe supper club) which carries a variation of that name. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/59 "2016-06-06T17:03:32Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Come Back Inn - homey ski-lodge feeling joint in Melrose Park My wife and I loved the Come Back Inn; we were heartbroken when they closed. Not too far away from there was [Nielsenā€™s](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-12/news/9501120243_1_illinois-restaurant-association-sold-nose-dive) in Elmwood Park. I only ate there a few times (it was a more upscale place), but itā€™s where my then-girlfriend and I went for dinner on the night that I proposed to her, so it held a special place in our hearts, and we were saddened when it closed a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529/60 "2016-06-06T17:12:01Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Chi Chiā€™s Yeah, I know it wasnā€™t authentic Mexican but I liked it. The Chicken Soft Taco Diablo was a thing of beauty. I have not had one since we moved away from Colorado Springs in '87 but they were my absolute favorite restaurant food when I was in Jr. High. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-now-gone/756529.md?page=4)