# Is there a name for this kind of restaurant decor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069 "2014-02-24T05:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/21 "2014-02-24T19:43:18Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think Ruby Tuesday’s has gotten away from this look over the past couple of years. I think they’ve all gotten the memo by now. TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesdays have all been remodeled while Bennigans has gone out of business. I haven’t been to a Chilis in years so I don’t know about them. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/22 "2014-02-24T19:45:52Z")
Mac: But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun. Thorny: Yeah, his shenanigans are cruel and tragic. Foster: Which wouldn’t make them shenanigans, at all, really. Mac: Evil shenanigans! O’Hagen: I swear to God, I’ll pistol whip the next guy that says ‘shenanigans!’ Mac: Hey Farva, what’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks? Farva: You mean Shenanigans? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/23 "2014-02-24T19:51:53Z")
It’s “Random Crap Nailed to the Walls” Style. Now I have an urge to go to Applebee’s for dinner. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/24 "2014-02-24T20:09:13Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > [Casual Dining](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casual_dining_restaurant_chains) > > Although those specifically fall under American/Bar & Grill You are correct! The identifying features of Casual Dining chains: - Usually only open for lunch and dinner (though there are a few exceptions, particularly for Sunday brunch) - Table service, with waiters - Nearly always have a full bar (except in areas in which local laws don’t allow it) - Offer appetizers, entrees, desserts - Typically “moderately priced” (in the US, this usually means entrees in the $10-$20 range) - This includes the “Bar & Grill” segment, as well as some steakhouses, ethnic, and specialty chains (such as Outback, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc.) They’re distinguished from “family restaurants” (such as IHOP and Denny’s), which often have breakfast as a big part of the menu, rarely offer alcohol, and typically are a little lower-priced. And, on the other side of Casual Dining is “Fine Dining” or “White Tablecloth” (mostly distinguished from casual dining by the level of service and the price). ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/25 "2014-02-24T20:35:00Z")
Years ago we referred to Bennigans as a fern bar due to all of the fake hanging plants everywhere. I haven’t been in one for twenty years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/26 "2014-02-24T20:36:31Z")
It wasn’t just you; “fern bar” was a common term a few decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/27 "2014-02-24T20:50:27Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Years ago we referred to Bennigans as a fern bar due to all of the fake hanging plants everywhere. I haven’t been in one for twenty years or so. Bennigans has contracted phenomenally. They’re gone from the Northeast and from everywhere west of Texas (except for one in California). Check out their map: > **[Locations - Bennigans](https://bennigans.com/locations/)** > > Find your closest Bennigan's restaurant and view new locations that are opening soon! Actually, aside from two in NJ and two in Virginia, they’re gone from the whole East Coast as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/28 "2014-02-24T20:51:38Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I think they’ve all gotten the memo by now. TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesdays have all been remodeled while **Bennigans has gone out of business.** I haven’t been to a Chilis in years so I don’t know about them. Not according to [them](http://bennigans.com/bennigans-concludes-another-year-strong-growth-enters-2014-85-new-restaurants-pipeline/). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/29 "2014-02-24T20:52:45Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > I’ve no idea what such stated decor looks like, not being American; but I was told by one that there are vast warehouses where the discerning incipient restauranteur can go to stock up on ready-made fake antiques for his venture. “restaurateur” “Face Stuffers”. Hee Hee. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/30 "2014-02-24T21:11:39Z")
I’m going to coin a new word: “Fauxlksy”. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/31 "2014-02-25T01:00:24Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Not according to [them](http://bennigans.com/bennigans-concludes-another-year-strong-growth-enters-2014-85-new-restaurants-pipeline/). Looks like they’re re-branding. This time sans kitsch decor. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/32 "2014-02-25T01:06:40Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Dr. Hibbert: “Alright, where would you kids like to eat tonight?” > > Kid1: “The Spaghetti Laboratory!” > Kid2: “Face Stuffers!” > Kid3: “Professor P.J. Cornucopia’s Fantastic Foodmagorium and Great American Steakery!” You can’t forget the Texas Cheesecake Depository. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/33 "2014-02-25T08:08:20Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > “restaurateur” > > “Face Stuffers”. Hee Hee. For some reason Firefox ( US ) spell-checker gave me _restauranteur_. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/34 "2014-02-25T17:12:41Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I think they’ve all gotten the memo by now. TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesdays have all been remodeled while Bennigans has gone out of business. Maybe, but beware: We have a rapidly growing hot dog chain in the Chicago area, Portillo’s, that takes this look _even further_ than the national chains. If they go national, no one will be safe from old gas pumps, non-working pay phones, comic book cut-outs, cigarette ads, posters for long-dead politicians, and bowling photo spreads from Life magazine. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/35 "2014-02-25T17:24:34Z")
The Ninety Nine casual dining restaurant chain is growing in New England. They make it a point to have pictures of local history sites and local high school sports teams on the walls: [http://www.99restaurants.com/](http://www.99restaurants.com/) > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Mac: But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun. > Thorny: Yeah, his shenanigans are cruel and tragic. > Foster: Which wouldn’t make them shenanigans, at all, really. > Mac: Evil shenanigans! > O’Hagen: I swear to God, I’ll pistol whip the next guy that says ‘shenanigans!’ > Mac: Hey Farva, what’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks? > Farva: You mean Shenanigans? :: laughs; holds out sidearm :: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/36 "2014-02-25T17:25:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And, on the other side of Casual Dining is “Fine Dining” or “White Tablecloth” (mostly distinguished from casual dining by the level of service and the price). And by **not** being a franchise-chain? Is there such thing as a white-tablecloth franchise-chain? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/37 "2014-02-25T17:43:48Z")
Yes, there are white-tablecloth chain restaurants. Darden Restaurants, for one, owns Red Lobster. But they also own Capital Grille. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/38 "2014-02-25T17:46:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > Flair? Only if your costume is pinned to the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/39 "2014-02-25T18:06:49Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Maybe, but beware: We have a rapidly growing hot dog chain in the Chicago area, Portillo’s, that takes this look _even further_ than the national chains. If they go national, no one will be safe from old gas pumps, non-working pay phones, comic book cut-outs, cigarette ads, posters for long-dead politicians, and bowling photo spreads from Life magazine. Portillo’s at least makes the effort of [keeping a theme](http://www.portillos.com/portillos/look/theme1.asp) to each location. Which beats a framed photo of the Pointer Sisters next to some rusty ice tongs next to a vintage baseball jersey. Last TGI Fridays I was in had toned it down to mainly vintage photos, posters and other flat art and gotten away from the “warehouse explosion” look. Probably cheaper and people are just as likely to look at/talk about an _Invasion of the Body Snatchers_ poster as they are a tin ray gun. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069/40 "2014-02-25T18:38:56Z")
By any chance, has anyone other than me, been to Bubba’s Sulky Lounge in Portland, Maine? I think Bubba originated the whole idea and everywhere else is just imitating it. [http://bubbassulkylounge.com/barbershop.html](http://bubbassulkylounge.com/barbershop.html) Bubba’s has been there for about 50 years. Hit the lunch box section on the website for more of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-restaurant-decor/682069.md?page=3)