# Turn off restaurant names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350 "2018-06-19T01:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/121 "2018-06-20T19:33:21Z")
My favorite place to eat is Las Vegas is Battista’s Hole-In-The-Wall. Excellent food, but if you’ve never heard of it, the name doesn’t do it any favors. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/122 "2018-06-20T19:36:20Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ll bet that you complain about the roadside signs, “Food and Gas”, too. 🙂 My pet peeve is **EAT**. Like, what the hell else are we going to do in a restaurant? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/123 "2018-06-20T19:47:19Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > My favorite place to eat is Las Vegas is Battista’s Hole-In-The-Wall. Excellent food, but if you’ve never heard of it, the name doesn’t do it any favors. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/124 "2018-06-20T19:54:27Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ll bet that you complain about the roadside signs, “Food and Gas”, too. 🙂 The classic is “Eat Here and Get Gas!” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/125 "2018-06-20T22:52:30Z")
There used to be a John Holmes Meat Market in Des Moines, named after the owner. One of my HS classmates took a picture of the sign and sent it to Hustler magazine, and was sued as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/126 "2018-06-20T23:10:34Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > There used to be a John Holmes Meat Market in Des Moines, named after the owner. One of my HS classmates took a picture of the sign and sent it to Hustler magazine, and was sued as a result. What was he sued for, and do you know the result? If you hang a sign outside your business, I’m not seeing how you can sue someone for taking a picture of it, but then what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/127 "2018-06-21T00:03:53Z")
There used to be a place in New London Connecticut called “The Hygienic Restaurant.” I never ate there. If they have to tell people it’s hygienic, it probably isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/128 "2018-06-21T01:13:58Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > What was he sued for, and do you know the result? If you hang a sign outside your business, I’m not seeing how you can sue someone for taking a picture of it, but then what do I know? Yeah, none of that makes sense. I mean, sure, anyone can sue, but I don’t see what possibly merit there would be to the suit. ---
**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 21, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/129 "2018-06-21T02:21:24Z")
Park Slope, Brooklyn, once had the Economy Diner. And we still have the Purity Diner. I suppose we should have one dedicated to each of the Seven Virtues. So we could feel all holier-than-thou and shit when we were getting a cheeseburger. OTOH, I would be delighted to grab a bowl of soup with saltines at the Gluttony Diner, the Lust Diner, or the Avarice Diner. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/130 "2018-06-21T02:33:19Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > What was he sued for, and do you know the result? If you hang a sign outside your business, I’m not seeing how you can sue someone for taking a picture of it, but then what do I know? > **[Butcher embarassed by Hustler 'ad' - UPI Archives](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/18/Butcher-embarassed-by-Hustler-ad/5112369633600/)** > > The owner of the John Holmes Meat Market says he never advertises anywhere but in the St. Theresa Catholic Church bulletin.... You have to subscribe to be able to actually read this. The picture at the top of the page is indeed my classmate. > **[The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/131743092/)** > > Get this The Des Moines Register page for free from Saturday, September 19, 1981 16C DES MOINES REGISTER Sat, Sept 19, 1981 REGISTER PHOTO BY RICK HICKMAN Solidarity Day rally could.... Edition of The Des Moines Register 13.8% was a bargain loan rate at the time, too. IIRC, all Mr. Holmes wanted was an apology. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/131 "2018-06-21T02:35:22Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > My favorite place to eat is Las Vegas is Battista’s Hole-In-The-Wall. Excellent food, but if you’ve never heard of it, the name doesn’t do it any favors. (Slight hijack) My friend and I met the owner Battista Locatelli in Zion National Park. We met on the shuttle bus and hiked Angel’s Landing with him\*. What A character! \*It was such a remarkable encounter, I wrote a [blog post](http://theshoutinggrasshopper.blogspot.com/2013/05/people-you-might-meet-on-angels-landing.html) about it. (end hijack) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/132 "2018-06-21T03:56:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > [Butcher embarassed by Hustler 'ad' - UPI Archives](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/18/Butcher-embarassed-by-Hustler-ad/5112369633600/) > > You have to subscribe to be able to actually read this. The picture at the top of the page is indeed my classmate. > > [The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa - Newspapers.com™](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/131743092/) > > 13.8% was a bargain loan rate at the time, too. > > IIRC, all Mr. Holmes wanted was an apology. OK, but none of that actually says he was actually sued or how the suit turned out. It’s a guy embarrassed and threatening to sue. I can’t see a legal leg he would have to stand on in an actual suit, unless Hustler did create some sort of ad that would hurt his reputation’s business and, even then, I don’t see why your friend would be involved in the suit if Hustler did something with the photo to impugn the butcher’s business or reputation. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/133 "2018-06-21T04:20:30Z")
In Honolulu, we have a place called the Itchy Butt. Desribed as a “no-nonsense take-out joint dishing up teriyaki chicken bowls, fries and other fast-food Asian grub.” Popular but we’ve not tried it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/134 "2018-06-21T08:08:26Z")
There also used to be a place near me called “Best Tacos Period” with period spelled out. The sheer arrogance of that title was tempered by the fact it lasted 6 months and closed. ---
**Author:** ![sabernode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@sabernode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sabernode)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/135 "2018-06-21T08:34:25Z")
According to my Aunt, one of the ugliest that she encountered is “Best Ugly” restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa. The last she heard about it is they have stopped its operation. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/136 "2018-06-21T09:45:07Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > When I told my daughter about the story (and the classic cartoon based on it) a couple of years ago, she frowned and said “They don’t have tigers in Africa, do they?” I replied “Yeah, I wondered about that myself…” [A tiger? In Africa?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdk2C25Z14) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/137 "2018-06-21T09:53:13Z")
I have two to add: Vietnamese fare: **What the Phu** A hot dog joint: **The Dog House** mmm ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/138 "2018-06-21T11:12:13Z")
A Japanese restaurant near to where I work is having a refit and will apparently be changing it’s name to ‘ **Slurp at the Kirk** ’. It backs onto a historic churchyard and church, hence the use of ‘Kirk’. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2018, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/139 "2018-06-21T11:19:14Z")
I once purchased a take-out pizza and on the box it said _ **You’ve Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best!** _ Well, you can imagine the eagerness I felt racing home to eat this superlative pie. Now, don’t get me wrong, the pizza was good, but I’d had better sauce. But, whatever governing body had named this pizza “the best” was the final arbiter, so I was satisfied. Last week I bought a pizza from a new place. On the box it said _ **You’ve Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best!** _ I assume there will be a big lawsuit coming up. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350/140 "2018-06-21T11:34:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I once purchased a take-out pizza and on the box it said _ **You’ve Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best!** _ Well, you can imagine the eagerness I felt racing home to eat this superlative pie. > > Now, don’t get me wrong, the pizza was good, but I’d had better sauce. But, whatever governing body had named this pizza “the best” was the final arbiter, so I was satisfied. > > Last week I bought a pizza from a new place. On the box it said _ **You’ve Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best!** _ I assume there will be a big lawsuit coming up. You ever have Larry and Carrols? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-off-restaurant-names/816350.md?page=8)