# Your favorite retro/forgotten/by-gone foods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 4, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611 "2024-01-04T21:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/201 "2025-10-03T17:40:28Z")
Fried egg sandwich with Frenchs mustard. They were commonly found at drug store lunch counters. Patty melt, made with buttered bread, and American cheese. Another drug store lunch counter item. I tried Sonic’s patty melt. It’s not as good. I’m not sure why but the lunch counters were always good. You could see your food cooking on the hob. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/202 "2025-10-03T17:41:03Z")
Years ago I would have said Surge or Ecto Cooler, but they came back and I tried them as an adult. Yech. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/203 "2025-10-03T17:45:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My Beloved, raised back east by wild kosher delis, says that she can easily tell one from the other-braunschweiger is spicier Sure, but it’s going to vary widely by brand. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/204 "2025-10-04T04:15:21Z")
Coleslaw on a turkey sandwich, on rye bread, is a Grilled Rachael, a regional thing AFAIK. It may also have a slice of Swiss cheese on it. My old hospital had the very best ones in the cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/205 "2025-10-04T08:36:59Z")
I’m pretty sure **Chicken Tetrazzini** and **Chicken Cacciatore** peaked somewhere between 1965 and your mother’s last Tupperware party. My mom made both when I was a kid, but I could _never_ remember which was which. So every time she said, _“We’re having Chicken Cacciatore tonight!”_ I’d get all excited… until I saw some retched stewed tomato monstrosity on my plate (I hated tomatoes as a kid). The disappointment was real. It was like opening a Christmas present and finding socks instead of the GI-Joe you asked for. My mom got the recipe for golabkis—Polish stuffed cabbage rolls—(which we pronounced “glump-kees”) from an old lady she roomed with in the hospital for some procedure. Apparently golabkis were popular mid-century, but faded by the ‘80s. I loved the name, but hated the dish—and mom made it often. Was it evil of me wishing that old lady coded _before_ she gave my mom that recipe? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/206 "2025-10-04T19:32:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Patty melt, made with buttered bread, and American cheese Culvers and Freddies both have them although they are rye bread and Swiss. That’s the only way I have had them and they are both excellent. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/207 "2025-10-04T20:01:14Z")
Our neighborhood pub serves an excellent Patty Melt, a Tuna Melt, and a Reuben with sauerkraut and custom Russian-esque dressing, on a hearty rye bread. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/208 "2025-10-05T16:38:39Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > > > One retro food I didn’t realized I missed until it was on a menu in a restaurant: pot roast on cheap-ass white bread covered in brown gravy. > > And you can get a pot roast sandwich at Culver’s I believe @Saint_Cad is referring to what is typically known as a hot roast beef sandwich. > **[Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches](https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-hot-roast-beef-sandwiches/)** > > Hot roast beef sandwiches made in the crockpot with tender shredded beef and rich gravy are the perfect easy and comforting dinner. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/209 "2025-10-05T18:58:28Z")
I like pot roast sandwiches too. I can’t remember how long its been since I saw it on a menu. I cook pot roast at home and use leftovers for sandwiches. French bread soaks up the juice and makes good sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/210 "2025-10-05T20:34:07Z")
Hot roast beef sandwiches on cheap white bread covered in gravy are amaaaaazing. The classier version is the French Dip. I recall recently reading about some American chain (in Texas?) specializing in this, using high end gravy, and apparently doing very well. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/211 "2025-10-05T20:42:55Z")
Maybe this? But the cafeteria version on cheapest white bread is very good too. > **[I Tried the French Dip Sandwich at 4 Popular Chains & the Best Was Pure...](https://www.eatthis.com/french-dip-sandwich-taste-test/)** > > The French dip is a classic American sandwich. We dipped into popular chains Arby's, BJ's, Applebee's, and Outback to find the best one. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/212 "2025-10-05T22:18:21Z")
I thought the French Dip sandwich–ala **Philippe’s** in LA–was roast beef sandwich dipped in au jus, not gravy? ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/213 "2025-10-05T22:19:46Z")
and roast beef sandwich covered in gravy sound like an open-face sandwich ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/214 "2025-10-05T22:45:49Z")
The cheap and cheerful cafeteria version was two pieces of white Wonder bread, out of the package, with thick roast beef slices or shreds between, and generous amounts of a thick brown cheapish gravy liberally covering everything. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/215 "2025-10-05T22:46:46Z")
no mashed potatoes? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/216 "2025-10-05T22:47:48Z")
Probably. The nice thing about mashed potatoes is even in crappy places, you can turn it into a gourmet food by adding enough butter (eight or more of those little tubs). ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/217 "2025-10-05T23:12:07Z")
_Anything_ on two slices of bread, drowned in gravy and flanked by mashed potatoes and a token pile of peas (for color, not consumption), tastes fantastic. Turkey? Yessir! Roast beef? You betcha! Mice? Only if it’s the blue-plate special. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611/218 "2025-10-05T23:29:34Z")
Although reading the first link made me hungry, the second link was what I was talking about, which is equally good open or closed. > **[20 Celebrated Roast Beef Sandwiches Across The US - Tasting Table](https://www.tastingtable.com/1466693/best-roast-beef-sandwiches-united-states/)** > > There's nothing like a great roast beef sandwich. These are some of the best versions of it, and they span the country from New York to Los Angeles. > **[Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches & Gravy Recipe - Chef's Resource Recipes](https://www.chefsresource.com/recipes/hot-roast-beef-sandwiches-gravy-recipe/)** > > Discover how to make a delicious Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches & Gravy Recipe . This easy-to-follow recipe will guide you through every step, from preparing the ingredients to serving the dish. Get the full Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches & Gravy... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-retro-forgotten-by-gone-foods/995611.md?page=10)