# Restaurants of the Past **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756 "2015-08-24T19:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/61 "2015-08-25T15:00:42Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Does anyone recall the restaurants at Howard Johnsons’ in the 70’s? > > I vividly remember those from my childhood. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Howard Johnson’s restaurants? Plenty of people remember them. In the 1950s-1960s they had a “lock” on a lot of the rest stops on turnpikes and the like. I grew up eating at them on trips. Nowadays McDonalds and other fast food places have taken over. > > They also had plenty of places off the interstates, serving their 28 flavors of ice cream, and many with nearby motor lodges. They started closing them in the 90s. Today there are two restaurants left – Lake George NY (Which, I think, is only open seasonally) and Bangor, Maine. > > If you look on the internet there are tribute sites to the place. A couple of years ago a book on the chain was published. > [@salinqmind](#): > > I remember fried clams and Indian pudding at Howard Johnsons, and 28 ice cream flavors. Good times! Now its burgers burgers burgers and fries fries fries. > [@kopek](#): > > HoJo’s clamburgers; one of nature’s perfect foods. 😉 Howard Johnson’s Restaurants aren’t around anymore? I remember those from the 1960s. We even stayed in them occasionally. EDIT: We stayed in the hotel part, that is. Not the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/62 "2015-08-25T15:24:19Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I think I must be from the same city as the OP, since I also remember Scottie’s. I likewise remember the Golden Bear. When I was a kid, we used to go there for breakfast every Sunday morning after church. How I loved the Golden Bear! I almost got into a fist fight with a kid from school when he said that their food stunk. 🙂 > > It wasn’t really a restaurant, as such, but there was a little place right behind our house called the Crescent Dairy. It was really more of a convenience store, but they did have a counter that served sandwiches and fountain drinks. You could get cherry cokes there. Not the canned “Cherry Coke” they have now, but actual soda fountain cokes with cherry syrup mixed in. Because it was in a little strip mall right behind the house, it was one of the few places I was allowed to walk to without parental supervision. My friends and I would go there all the time when we wanted a coke, which cost 15 cents if I remember right. I’m pretty sure you may be right… I can’t be sure but Crescent Dairy seems to ring a bell. Was the Golden Bear at the Markland Mall? If so I no longer live there… but close and I went to the high school that doesn’t exist by that name any more. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/63 "2015-08-25T15:35:40Z")
Once of my first clear memories as a kid was eating at **Burger Chef**. I remember loving that place as a really little kid in the late '70’s/early '80’s. From the Wiki, they all got sold to Hardee’s. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/64 "2015-08-25T15:36:35Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’m pretty sure you may be right… I can’t be sure but Crescent Dairy seems to ring a bell. > > Was the Golden Bear at the Markland Mall? > > If so I no longer live there… but close and I went to the high school that doesn’t exist by that name any more. Haworth High School, right? I was in the graduating class the first year that the two high schools were combined, and the Haworth name removed. So I went to my first three years of high school downtown, but spent my senior year in the Haworth building out south. No reason to be cagey about it, especially since I see that you mentioned it in an earlier post. We’re talking about Kokomo, Indiana, yes? The Markland Mall is still there. The Golden Bear is not. ☹ I don’t live there anymore, either. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/65 "2015-08-25T15:41:49Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Once of my first clear memories as a kid was eating at **Burger Chef**. I remember loving that place as a really little kid in the late '70’s/early '80’s. From the Wiki, they all got sold to Hardee’s. Oh yeah, Burger Chef. I think there’s an old thread on them here somewhere. We used t go every week. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/66 "2015-08-25T15:42:47Z")
I see \*\*Farell’s \*\*and **Shakey’s** , my most cherished childhood restaurant memories, have already been mentioned so, does anyone remember **Victoria Station** steak houses? The facade was made up of old train cars and the inside was British themed. It was, at least to us kids, a “nice” restaurant and the place to go for special occasions like prom or graduation. How about **Sizzlers** , also a steak house, though more family style than upscale. They were wildly popular and their commercials ran constantly, with the special usually being their “signature sirloin steak” and all you can eat shrimp. Maybe it’s all wrapped up in the nostalgia aspect, but I cannot think of a restaurant today that really brings me any particular joy. ☹ Sure, there are places that serve decent food, but it doesn’t seem like anywhere put anything special into the dining _experience_. I \*want \*a train shaped restaurant, _dammit_. I want live, corny music and sirens and people running around the joint with a giant bowl of ice cream on a stretcher. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/67 "2015-08-25T15:45:37Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Once of my first clear memories as a kid was eating at **Burger Chef**. I remember loving that place as a really little kid in the late '70’s/early '80’s. From the Wiki, they all got sold to Hardee’s. All but two of the local Hardee’s became Burger Kings here about fifteen years ago ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/68 "2015-08-25T16:01:38Z")
I’m completely sad to learn that Bill Knapp’s is no more. That was my family’s place to go to celebrate life’s various events. All A’s on the report card? Dinner at Bill Knapp’s! We were such frequent customers the employees knew us by name. My favorite thing at Bill’s was their hot apple pie with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. That cinnamon ice cream was just delicious and I’ve never seen it anywhere else, so it must have been a proprietary recipe. Also sad to hear that Laughner’s in the Indy area is gone. In college we often went to Indy for the weekend and always stopped at a Laughner’s. I, too, remember the Golden Bear restaurants from growing up in the region (metro Chicago area). As a little one, I loved the ‘live’ bear family that would stand outside the restaurant and wave at passing cars. I really thought the costumed people were real live bears. I also remember Burger Chef, Farrell’s, and the Ho Jo’s restaurants. Is the Dog and Suds chain still around? They were similar to A & W in menu and were also drive-up restaurants. There was one close to our lake place and I can remember stopping there on our way back to the city on Sunday evening, sitting in the back seat of the hot car, gritty and sandy and usually a little sun-burned, sharing my hot dog and fries with our dog. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/69 "2015-08-25T16:03:30Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Haworth High School, right? I was in the graduating class the first year that the two high schools were combined, and the Haworth name removed. So I went to my first three years of high school downtown, but spent my senior year in the Haworth building out south. > > No reason to be cagey about it, especially since I see that you mentioned it in an earlier post. We’re talking about Kokomo, Indiana, yes? The Markland Mall is still there. The Golden Bear is not. ☹ > > I don’t live there anymore, either. Yup… that’s the place. Graduated from Haworth in '79. I now live in the snobby suburb just north of Indy… well one of them anyway (we’re the poor family there 🙂 ). To end the hijack… there was also the Sweet Shop (aside to **MrAtoz** : the strip mall close to Maple Crest) that had the best cheeseburgers. We used to go to the bank nearby for Mom to get grocery money (again the young Doper’s are scratching their heads about now) and we would drop into the Sweet Shop for burgers and Ice Cream. Another favorite was the Pizza King nearby. Cut into squares and used Provolone with the Mozzarella. Fortunately there is still one of the few close to my house so I can still reminisce from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/70 "2015-08-25T16:22:49Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I see \*\*Farell’s \*\*and **Shakey’s** , my most cherished childhood restaurant memories, have already been mentioned so, does anyone remember **Victoria Station** steak houses? The facade was made up of old train cars and the inside was British themed. It was, at least to us kids, a “nice” restaurant and the place to go for special occasions like prom or graduation. I do… mentioned it briefly in post 10. The mention of Laughner’s reminded me… the same family also had a place that only people from the Indy area may remember… Loon Lake Lodge. They had an old plane on the roof… a huge tank with bass and such inside, and animatronic bears, raccoons, owls, etc. The menus were on small oars. No childhood nostalgia on this one for me, but I’m sure it will be for my kids since it was one of their favorite places. I just checked Google Maps, and it looks like it is still a restaurant (Twin Peaks) but the plane on the roof is gone. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/71 "2015-08-25T16:27:00Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Once of my first clear memories as a kid was eating at **Burger Chef**. I remember loving that place as a really little kid in the late '70’s/early '80’s. From the Wiki, they all got sold to Hardee’s. Winky’s made _me_ happy to be hungry. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/72 "2015-08-25T16:29:51Z")
Alfie’s Fish n Chips in Houston 1970s before LJS took over. Served in newspaper. At least it looked like newspaper. Pancho’s Mexican Buffet, 1970/80s Houston and other places. Used to taste great! Now, it’s just fair, sometimes below par. Not a lot of them around anymore, either. But, man, those 1970s Sunday after worship meals were worth following all the church goers to that Pasadena shopping center. I think the entire lot is now a Fiesta Food Mart. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/73 "2015-08-25T16:31:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Winky’s made _me_ happy to be hungry. Isn’t Winky’s the name of the diner in the movie _Mulholland Drive_? You know the scene I mean. . .:eek: That would not make me happy or hungry. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/74 "2015-08-25T16:34:03Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Also, **Shakey’s Pizza**. Not only was it the go-to pizza place when I was a kid, but I literally owe my existence to them. My parents met at the first Shakey’s in Sacramento. According to Wikipedia, there are still a few locations in the U.S., but they’re quite successful in the Philippines. Yeah, I used to like Shakey’s Pizza…also Pizza Inn. I haven’t seen either chain in years. But then most of the chains that do still exist aren’t what they used to be either, sadly. The chain I miss most wasn’t a real sit down restaurant, just a fast food place, but I really miss Roy Roger’s. They had really tasty roast beef sandwiches, better (IMHO) than Arby’s, and I loved their spicy sauce and seasoned fries. Seems that most of the fast food places today aren’t what they used to be, though. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/75 "2015-08-25T16:38:37Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Isn’t Winky’s the name of the diner in the movie _Mulholland Drive_? You know the scene I mean. . .:eek: That would not make me happy or hungry. Nope, that was _Winkie’s_. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/76 "2015-08-25T16:40:30Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > I, too, remember the Golden Bear restaurants from growing up in the region (metro Chicago area). As a little one, I loved the ‘live’ bear family that would stand outside the restaurant and wave at passing cars. I really thought the costumed people were real live bears. From their napkin: Golden bear, golden bear! A honey of a place (of a place) Where food is fun! Golden bear! [sub]Lordy, I am pathetic. I remember that, but can’t remember the standard valproic acid starting dose for a 170 pound adult with epilepsy.[/sub] ETA: We serve _fun_ at Shakey’s! Also pizza! (sotto voce) ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/77 "2015-08-25T16:46:37Z")
There are several Shakey’s in southern California. And I saw one in Tokyo 🙂 I also remember Ground Round. We rarely went out to eat as a family so it is a precious memory for me, particularly getting a Shirley Temple and thinking I was so adult. I’m sure the food was nothing special but I remember it fondly. Also Ponderosa, which was like Sizzler but… worse… ---
**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:** [August 25, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/78 "2015-08-25T17:02:06Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I see \*\*Farell’s \*\*and **Shakey’s** , my most cherished childhood restaurant memories, have already been mentioned so, does anyone remember **Victoria Station** steak houses? The facade was made up of old train cars and the inside was British themed. It was, at least to us kids, a “nice” restaurant and the place to go for special occasions like prom or graduation. > > How about **Sizzlers** , also a steak house, though more family style than upscale. They were wildly popular and their commercials ran constantly, with the special usually being their “signature sirloin steak” and all you can eat shrimp. > > . Most of the Victoria’s Stations are gone, but there’s still one in Salem, MA, on the waterfont: [http://www.victoriastationsalem.com/Home.aspx](http://www.victoriastationsalem.com/Home.aspx) It doesn’t still look like a bunch of railroad cars stuck together, though (IIRC). I remember Sizzlers. Used to be two near me in SLC. And I encountered Shakey’s Pizza near there, too. If you’re loking for bygone fast food, there’s Carrol’s burgers. I only recall ever seeing three of them. They closed in the US in the 1970s, but continued overseas. Surprisingly, they’re not dead – they are now the largest franchisee of Burger King in the world: > **[Carrols Restaurant Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrols_Restaurant_Group)** > > Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. is an American franchisee company and is the largest Burger King franchisee in the world; Carrols owns and operates over 1,000+ Burger Kings, and 55 Popeyes restaurants. The company has operated Burger Kings since 1976 in locations across 23 U.S. states. > The company has its roots in the Carrols hamburger restaurant chain which operated in parts of the U.S. beginning circa 1960. The domestic locations were converted to Burger King restaurants beginning in 1975, thou... ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/79 "2015-08-25T17:05:16Z")
Speaking of restaurants of the past, something nutritious [**at Simpson’s**](http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-07-14-sipsonsx1q00.jpg) would not be out of place. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756/80 "2015-08-25T17:11:42Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > To end the hijack… there was also the Sweet Shop (aside to **MrAtoz** : the strip mall close to Maple Crest) that had the best cheeseburgers. We used to go to the bank nearby for Mom to get grocery money (again the young Doper’s are scratching their heads about now) and we would drop into the Sweet Shop for burgers and Ice Cream. > > Another favorite was the Pizza King nearby. Cut into squares and used Provolone with the Mozzarella. Fortunately there is still one of the few close to my house so I can still reminisce from time to time. I remember the Sweet Shop too! _Loved_ their patty melts! So far as I know, Pizza King is still going strong. There are several around where I live now, though I never eat there anymore. I ate at Loon Lake Lodge one time in my life–believe it or not, I took a young lady there with the intention of impressing her! Didn’t work. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-of-the-past/728756.md?page=5)