The Magic Pan, a popular creperie chain in the US and Canada from the 1970s to the 1990s, was owned by Quaker Oats and Bay Bottlers. It reopened in 2005 as a fast-food stand by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, using recreations of the original recipes and a different crepe-making system. The Magic Pan, located at 3221 Fillmore, is not a goulash place but serves versions of the palacsinta, a kind of blintz or crepe. The chain started in San Francisco and expanded to St. Louis in 1974.
In 2005, the Magic Pan name was reintroduced by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises as a fast-food crepe stand in Northbrook, Illinois. This resurrected version of Magic Pan does not serve crepes, but it does offer a variety of crepe-stand options. The last Magic Pan locations closed in the mid-’90s, and a revival attempt in the ’00s brought the Magic Pan name back to a smattering of shopping malls and airports in crepe-stand form. However, those locations are all closed now.
The Magic Pan is a small American chain of fast-food and take-away creperies using the recipes of a now-closed chain of full-service restaurants that were once popular in North America. The last Magic Pan restaurant in McLean, Virginia, closed in 1995, with the loss of proprietary recipes for the chain. The last Magic Pan restaurant in Louis closed at Plaza Frontenac in 1995, and the space remained empty until Canyon Cafe opened for business in 1995.
📹 Le Magic Pan
A introduction to a wonderful restaurant in Hilo, Hawaii.
Who owns Magic Kitchen?
Magic Kitchen, founded by CEO Greg Miller, aims to provide quality, healthy, and restaurant-quality meals for busy families and seniors. The company, based in Northern California, offers an a la carte menu and has a distribution center in Kansas City, MO. The goal is to bring families together for family dinnertime and provide seniors with good meals and nutrition. The website is now live and shipping meals nationally from the Oakland, CA distribution center.
Does Pan Am still exist?
Pan American Airways, founded in 1927, was the nation’s sole international airline before World War II. Despite its monopoly, Pan Am continued to shape the future of commercial flight, pioneering new technologies like the jet airplane. Founded in 1927, Pan American opened regular commercial service throughout Latin America using flying boats and land planes. Juan T. Trippe, founder, introduced the first regularly scheduled transpacific service in 1935 with the Martin M-130 China Clipper.
In 1939, Pan American opened regular transatlantic service with the Boeing 314 flying boat. Its overseas monopoly lasted until World War II and its domestic restriction until 1978. In 1939, Pan American Airways made its inaugural transatlantic passenger flight, marking William John Eck’s eight-year wait for the journey.
Is Pan Am still trading?
Pan Am, a symbol of air travel’s golden age, is scheduled to resume operations with a 12-day commemorative voyage for 50 guests. The 12-day itinerary will take passengers from New York City to Europe, with scheduled stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Foynes in Ireland. The airline’s reputation for attentive service, gourmet meals, and spacious seating will endure even after its closure in 1991.
Do Twa still exist?
TWA, a US airline, was reorganized under Transworld Corp. in 1979 but was sold to the public in 1984 to protect itself from a hostile takeover. In 1985, American investor Carl C. Icahn acquired the airline. In 1986, TWA acquired Ozark Air Lines, Inc., a carrier based in the south-central US. Despite filing for bankruptcy in 1992, TWA continued to operate at a loss and announced in 2001 that American Airlines would acquire its assets. In December 2001, TWA ceased to exist as a separate airline.
Did Pan Am go out of business?
Despite the acquisition of National Airlines in 1980, Pan American continued to experience financial difficulties. In 1986, Pan American sold its Asian and South Pacific routes to United Airlines. In 1991, it sold its transatlantic, continental European, Middle Eastern, and Asian routes to Delta Air Lines. Despite efforts to maintain its viability, Pan American ceased operations in January 1991 and ceased trading in December of the same year.
Does Magic Johnson own restaurants?
Magic Johnson Enterprises, formerly known as Magic Johnson Theatres and 24-Hour Fitness, has invested in various businesses, including the Los Angeles Lakers, movie theaters, and restaurants. In 1995, it took an equity stake in a 12-screen multiplex movie theater in Baldwin Hills, now owned by Cinemark. In 1998, the company partnered with Starbucks to acquire around 125 stores, and in 2010, it sold 105 of these stores in a $100 million deal.
Who owns Magic Pan?
Magic Pan, a popular fast-food crepe stand, was acquired by Quaker Oats Company in 1970 and became its primary restaurant chain. In 1982, it was sold to Bay Bottlers. In 2005, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises re-introduced the name as a fast-food crepe stand in Northbrook, Illinois, using recreations of the original recipes. The revived chain opened a second location in the Mall of America near Minneapolis and operates in U. S. airports like Denver and Washington National.
The menu includes dishes like chicken divan, “chicken elegante”, crepe suzette, burgundy beef, country beef, crêpes filled with spinach and mushroom soufflé, strawberries and sour cream, Chantilly cream, coffee chocolate sauce ice cream, and “cherry royale”.
Are there any Magic Pan restaurants left in the United States?
The Magic Pan, a fast-casual chain, was acquired by Quaker Oats Co. in 1969 and expanded across the US, reaching over 100 locations. However, sales declined due to changing tastes and Americans seeking heartier meals. New owners tried to adapt the menu, but the last Magic Pan locations closed in the mid-’90s. A revival attempt in the ’00s brought the Magic Pan name back to shopping malls and airports in crepe-stand form, but those are all closed now.
In the ’90s, country music legend Kenny Rogers partnered with former Kentucky Fried Chicken CEO and former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown Jr. to open his own Magic Pan restaurant in Coral Springs, Florida. The fast-casual chain centered on rotisserie chicken and quickly grew to over 350 locations worldwide. However, it folded due to competition from KFC, Boston Market, and Cluckers. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing was made in 1998.
The last U. S. location closed in 2011, but Kenny Rogers Roasters is thriving in Malaysia and the Philippines. Kenny Rogers died in March 2020.
Why did Magic Pan go out of business?
The Magic Pan, a pioneering sit-down restaurant in shopping malls, expanded to over 100 units in the 1970s. However, competition from other sit-downs and escalating mall rents led to the closure of the last St. Louis Magic Pan in 1992 at Plaza Frontenac. The space remained empty until 1995 when Canyon Cafe opened for business. The Magic Pan faced challenges in keeping up with escalating mall rents and attracting customers.
Who owns Magic Foods restaurant Group?
The Magic Foods Restaurant Group, under the direction of proprietors Scott Ouellette and Andy Juhasz, is dedicated to providing patrons with exemplary dining experiences in New Hampshire. This is achieved through the introduction of novel menu items, the organization of distinctive events, and the establishment of collaborative relationships with local communities.
Will Pan Am ever come back?
In 2025, Pan Am will resume operations, offering a comprehensive, multi-destination travel experience for a select group of passengers. The itinerary will encompass some of the airline’s original transatlantic routes.
📹 20 Fancy Restaurants From The 1970s, That No Longer Exist!
20 Fancy Restaurants From The 1970s, That No Longer Exist! Join us on a culinary journey through time with our video, “20 Fancy …
They didn’t do The Ground Round justice in this article. They didn’t mention the TVs everywhere showing cartoons like Woody Woodpecker and Heckle and Jeckle, the constant supply of peanuts that they encouraged the patrons to throw the shells onto the floor. The floor was always covered in peanut shells and sawdust. It was one of my favorites as a kid because it was always filled with kids going crazy and living their best lives! It was pure PANDEMONIUM in there!❤❤❤
7:40 When I was in college in the early 1970s we used to go to Steak and Ale on a regular basis. It was a fantastic place to have a hearty steak, baked potato, vegetables, and an ice-cold mug of beer. Dining didn’t get much better than that. In fact, in 1974 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the University of Miami chapter of the American Chemical Society, chemistry club at a Steak and Ale, where we reserved a private room.
Bonanza was a place where my dad would take us, I have fond memories of that place! Howard Johnsons had the best clam strips on the planet! Everytime we went there, I would get the clam strip dinner with fries, slaw, and those rolls with butter was life! Chi Chi’s was another place we would frequent they had great drinks! This takes me way back! Thanks for this article!
Did anyone notice who is sitting in the forward booth at the Brown Derby? George Burns and Gracie Allen. The golden years of Hollywood. I used to love the fried clams at Howard Johnson. This brought back so many memories. Victoria’s Station at Universal City Walk was also a favorite place on weekends. There food was excellent. The good old days. “Le sigh”. If memory serves me correctly there was a Velvet Turtle in Fullerton near Cal State Fullerton and next to it was the Velvet Hog where my friends and I would go to dance on weekends. Loved having dinner there. OK enough ……I am feeling 1000 years old after perusal this.
The crazy thing about the 70s was when you ordered a steak it actually tasted good back then….I dunno what they are doing now but the only time I have a good steak is when I grill it at home…believe it or not Golden Corral was a nice place to eat back in the 70s…then somewhere in the 80s it became a buffet and went downhill.
Our Bonanza was operational up until about 6 years ago. It was sooo popular and managed so well. The only reason it closed was because the owner wanted to retire and couldn’t sell the franchise. He was a good man who supported all the schools and sports teams in our town. We miss it very much. Anyone remember the ‘Clock’ restaurant?
My first job was at Rax. They had great sandwiches and baked potatoes. Chi-Chi’s was my first introduction to chips and salsa; used to eat there quite frequently. There was also a chain of restaurants called Red Bull Inn. The atmosphere was dark and heavy, perfect for a cozy dinner but I believe they’re all closed now. Who would have thought that a article about long gone restaurants could evoke such fond memories. Thank you!
I have fond memories of Bonanza – not in my hometown, but in Singapore. I was in the Navy and there was a Bonanza in one of the malls there. When we went on deployment, Singapore was usually the last stop before we headed into the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. My buddies and I would always go to Bonanza on our last day there and feast on the salad bar because after that, fresh vegetables were going to be hard to come by.
Being from Midwest (Central IL)the ones I remember and was frequent to be in as a child are Ponderosa, Bonanza, and Howard Johnson’s. Others I frequent that are not listed are Old Country Buffet, Mavericks, Ryan’s and Shakies. Best word that described these restaurants is affordable. Whole family meals 6 of us for $30. Now days $30 can barely do one and a half people.
My hometown had both a Bonanza and a Ponderosa. Bonanza closed eons ago, Ponderosa kind of held on a decade longer. We also had a Brown Derby which then became a Ground Round, then closed a few year later. Others that came and went around here were iHop, Kenny Kings, Roy Rogers, Po Folks, & Red Barn.
I soo miss Ponderosa!! I’m from and still live in Kokomo, Indiana. I’m 45 and my parents took my sis and I there all the time when we were growing up in the 80’s! I LOVED that place!! It shut down here a really long time ago, but there’s one in Vincennes, Indiana still and another in Coldwater, Michigan, both about 2 and a half ours away from Kokomo. I’m absolutely planning a trip to Coldwater (it’s technically closer) in the near future JUST to eat there again!! Lol Fun fact: the original Ponderosa location is now an Indian cuisine restaurant. 😊
Sambos was a good restaurant. They had the story of Little Black Sambo on pictures along the ceiling. He was depicted as a heroic clever kid beating the tiger! I loved it, not knowing anything about the original stories. My mom bought a book with the stories in it later. 😮🤔🙄. Still loved the restaurant, though… 💋💖💋💖🖖🌵👵🐺🖖
4:16- See that couple in the lower left-hand corner booth? That’s Gracie Allen (1895?-1964) and her husband George Burns (1896-1996) who turned their stage act of a zany woman and her straight man boyfriend/husband into radio, movie and television gold! If I’d been alive and in Hollywood back then, I’d have hung out at the Brown Derby JUST to see them while I quietly but happily ate a good meal in the same room!
How about Burger Chef and Jeff? They also merged with Hardee’s Loved Bonanza, you walked through the line and could watch the steaks on the grill. Ponderosa had the awesome dessert buffet. HoJo was cool, but no comparison to Stuckey’s. Ground Round had great burgers. They held out in Greenwood, IN for quite a while. It was fun throwing peanut shells on the floor. I liked Rax but they couldn’t compete with Arby’s. My mom took me to Sambo’s on the way to grade school sometimes. They were like a nicer Denny’s
Hey we still have a Rax😀😀😀😀my SO and I used to go there after bowling when we were in High School (date night location). Best part is fifty years later we can still bowl at the same bowling alley and go across the street and eat there. Their chocolate shakes are still the bomb, especially teamed with the loaded baked potato.
Everyone is saying most of these places werent “fancy” but u have to understand bck in the 70s,80s most families still had Family VALUES and ate at home togther and did the Mon-Fri daily grind work, school and kids thing so going out to eat after church on Sundays or on a weeked or for a special occasion,especially at these places,WAS considered “fancy” and a treat! Shoot,Im an 80s and 90$ kid and going to Mickey Ds more than twice a MONTH was considered HEAVEN lol It all goes back to the way society/families were back then,it was totally diff and if I could go back I def would!😢
Oh my God, The Red Coach! I grew up in Miami in the 50s and 60s. That place was across the street from Jordan Marsh, the wonderful, classy department store at the end of the causeway on which we lived. It was the closest good restaurant to our home and we ate there monthly. Wonderful memories of the old clubby interior design, the bread and the steaks. When it went away, we lost a family favorite. SO much better than the other places in this article, the food was miles ahead of Beefsteak Charlies, Chi-Chi’s, Ponderosa, Bonanza, Steak and Ale, and all those places that didn’t exist in Florida. As the singer would croon, “Thanks for the memory.”
Miss HoJo used to eat there wherever there was one. My family and I used to go to Beefsteak Charlie’s frequently – we stocked up on their shrimp and salad bar. There was a location in Queens, NY in Forest Hills Gardens across from the old tennis stadium and one in Manhattan I used to go to near Lincoln Center around 72nd Street and Amsterdam I think. I also remember Steak and Brew in the Queens Center Mall before the mall was redone.
So, we were all down at this Bonanza Steakhouse in Bangor, Maine, on Union Street, just enjoying a quiet dinner celebrating my grandparents’ anniversary, right? The place was buzzing as usual, all cozy and filled with locals. Then, outta nowhere, this wicked drama kicks off just a couple tables over. Felt straight outta a soap opera, no kidding. There’s this young waitress, see? She storms up to this table with what looks like the perfect family. She’s all teary and goes, “You’re my father!” pointing straight at the dad. The guy looks like he’s been hit by a truck, face all pale, and the whole joint goes quiet as the grave. To be honest, my memory’s a bit muddled on all the specifics, but man, it was wild. The waitress is there pouring her heart out, saying her mom told her about him right before she passed and she just had to come see him. This dude, supposedly her dad, just freezes. Doesn’t say a peep. Meanwhile, his wife starts crying something fierce, all, “How could you, huh?” and his kids look like they wish they could just melt away. Granny squeezed my hand, whispering, “Oh dear,” under her breath as we watched the whole scene. It was intense. The manager came hustlin’ over, trying to calm things down, but that room was thick with tension you could cut with a knife. Now, whenever we drive past that Bonanza, now Union Laundromat, I can’t help but remember that night. Everything might not be crystal clear, but that showdown? It’s stuck in my mind, clear as day. Absolute chaos, right there in the middle of dinner.
I didn’t consider Bonanza or Ponderosa to be fancy. I quite liked Steak and Ale. My mother and I went to the Temple Terrace location for Thanksgiving once, very pleasant. There was a Brown Derby in Tallahassee and my aunt, her friends and I had a good time there. Do they still have The Melting Pot? There was one in Carrolwood that was nice. I liked there design of having individual, divided booths for all parties. Made it more intimate. Now, here in Tampa, the gold standard is Bern’s Streak House. You have to see it to believe it! But it was never a chain. Sometimes, your one off is your best choice.:)
I’m a Canadian from Halifax,NS, and most of these restaurants are unknown to me(I’m 62). We did have a Ponderosa here,maybe two. Remember it as a cafeteria style operation(only went once or twice,once with my Dad in the early 2000s). We MAY have had a Bonanza as well. Howard Johnson took over a local hotel in one of our suburbs but its restaurant didn’t seem much different from the one the previous owners ran(it failed anyway). In grade nine I went on a school trip to Boston and we ate at a Ground Round. My memory of this is quite hazy now. I did see an ad for IHOP on a bus and someone told me Denny’s are coming here soon. Things are looking up. lol
In my Heart, there was Nothing like The GINO’S Giant, at Gino’s on Adams Ave in Philly. My Dad saying, if you eat this whole Giant, there’s no going back to Cheeseburgers, when I was 8!! And I did it, and the large fries, and a chocolate milkshake. The manager even sobered me up one night, after a night out on the town. He fed me till I thought I was going to pop, and then about 6am he gave me my keys, so I could drive home safe. I went back the next day to pay for the food, and he said No Charge, but don’t let that happen again.
From Western NY State, I remember and miss Carroll’s, Your Host, Dairy Queen, Perkins, Red Barn, Roy Rogers, Arthur Treachers’s and H.Salt Fish n Chips, Long John Silver’s, and Tastee-Freeze ice cream stands. This latter chain built its own unique little buildings, and most of them still exist re-purposed as a variety of businesses. They are easily spotted. Most towns around here had one.
I miss Ponderosa, Bonanza, Sizzler, all those steakhouses. Miss the 70s prices too. Even today’s chains like Texas Roadhouse and the (failing) Outback Steakhouse are way overpriced and underwhelming quality. To say nothing of the “finer” steakhouses like St. Elmo or Ruth’s Chris…which are great but you need to take out a loan to eat there. I was in Indianapolis for the total solar eclipse and was so tempted to go to St. Elmo. Then I looked at their menu prices. Sorry, spent enough getting there!
There were so many steak restaurants that the market was just saturated with them. It was only a matter of time before they started to take each other out. Steak & Ale, Bonanza, Ponderosa, Sizzler, Bennigan’s, Darryl’s, Quincy’s, and others I can’t recall off the top of my head. In my hometown area, we even had a Mexican-Irish restaurant; Carlos Murphy’s. It was one of the more interesting early fusion concepts.
To this list, I could add TGIF’s, Daddy’s Money and D’lites (over America). When I decided to go back to grad school in the mid ’70s, I took a PT job as a waiter at Steak and Ale in the Atlanta area. The main reason for choosing this place was the ambience and sheer fun working with others who wanted much the same experience. This included lawyers, teachers and professionals in other fields. . people you’d never suspect. The men wore “knickers” with white blousy shirts much like pirates. People always knew where you were working if you were seen in public in those knickers, black stockings and that pirate’s shirt. A bit embarrassing. Women wore long flowing skirts with ruffled blouses. The menus were presented to diners on gigantic meat cleavers while the wine list was on a huge carafe bottle. All of the interiors had that old English motif. Because you could move around the chain, picking up additional shifts or covering for waiters who needed time off was easy. I met a lot of interesting patrons and plenty of young women who often ended up as dates. The chain of course went through downsizing. Only four units remained in the Atlanta area until they too closed. It was sad driving by the closed buildings until they were razed. I still harbor fond memories of time spent in those restaurants.
All those steakhouses helped keep the economy in America. Fresh vegetables kept farmers afloat. The way the word, “relax,” is used to describe a restaurant triggered something in me as an American. They didn’t encourage vacations from the hard hectic workforce. They encouraged weekly consumerism to relax and get back to work.
Bonanza is still around. Not many left, my grandfather owned some and sold it to Ponderosa. My dad managed two in Massachusetts, Worcester and Danvers until going bankrupt in 1983. Should add that one reason the banquet room would be closed is it was reserved for people associated with the mob. After my grandfather sold his Bonanza’s he moved on to building brokering express drive throughs of combo chains, like the KFC and Pizza Hut (?) Taco Bell and etc.
I went to beefsteak Charlie’s with my junior class in NYC. We were on a theater trip. We saw the newly discovered Arthur Miller play, Broken Glass. This was 1995. We also jumped and waved at Rudy Giuliani who was giving a press conference outside our theater, talking about the Tony awards that night.
THE THUMBNAIL.. BONANZA!! Aww.. I used to go with Nana & Papa, after Nana got done shopping, in the mall, or at ShopRite. It was right next door.. I actually have really great memories there.. OHH & all that ice cream, cake, DESSERT,, I mean, who didn’t hit THAT thing up, at least twice 😂💜💜. Love you Nana & Papa & I miss you dearly
Bonanza, Ponderosa, Friendly’s, IHOP, Bill Knapps, Red Lobster, Bob Evans, Steak & Ale, Howard Johnson’s, Red Barn, Cracker Barrell, Arthur Treacher’s, Denny’s, Perkins Pancake House, Waffle House, Long John Silver’s, Skyline Chili … sigh… those were my childhood… And despite Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrik, Howard Johnson’s never made it into space… PS: Before anyone starts typing, I think some of those are still around, but I’ve lived in Germany for decades, and we don’t have any of them here.
I am so glad that Victoria Station is in this. I worked for the owners who purchased this company back in the 80’s and managed the Darien Connecticut unit as well as one in Massachusetts. Lowell Farkas was a minor owner at that time and i worked with him directly. The Darien CT branch had a great run and a killer sports bar back then. Lines out the door. Fun Times !!!! Connecticut store did close in late 1991, I am one of the last Victoria Station Employees. To Funny, I started in a Rax Roast Beef Restaurant. I guess I have a bad track record……
From WC, there was a Sambo’s in Sanford FL! At that time I delivered Orlando newspapers in bulk by truck, and so after the last bundle was off I would stop at Sambo’s for coffee and something to eat! This was probably at about 2 or 3 in the am and it was great! This was in the last of the 1970’s! I moved to TN in 1979 so I wondered what happened to Sambo’s?!
Back then for the many down to earth baby boomer parents modest and middle class average family some of these restaurants were considered (Fancy ) ❤ We farmed and we were always thrilled to go to some of these places. People were thankful to enjoy such places as going out to eat was much more a rare occurrence.
I worked at YORK STEAK HOUSE in the early 80’s whim in high school. They had the best beef tips and sautéed onions. I still wish I could make them like that. All their ingredients for steaks and roasted chicken were packaged in portions for the cooks without ingredients on them. Can’t get the secret recipes out of that company! Lol. Loved working there with people from school. Fun
It wasn’t “fancy”, but when my brother and I were very young kids, (mid ‘70’s) we used to go eat at a restaurant called “The Minuteman”. The sign for the restaurant had a big gray minuteman standing with his musket. We mainly liked it because the sign slowly turned and we thought it was the coolest thing EVER!
Ponderosa was one of my fave places, they had a location about 30-40 mins away, but when covid struck, the location closed down and was torn down last yr. The Ground Round here, had bottomless peanuts and u could toss the shells on the floor. Chi’Chi’s was the best Chimichangas, an the fried ice cream or the strawberry dipping sauce with the churro’s, oh those were the days, with what happened in 2003 the location closed!~
Every Now and Then My Father took the whole family to Bonanza’s as a Treat for dinner back in the mid to late 70’s and I can recall my father saying that if you leave this restaurant Hungry it’s you own fault ! I look back on it now and he was Right ! I miss Him and my Mom as well as this Restaurant 😢
Ther was a Sizzling just down the road from my girlfriends apartment in downtown Raleigh N.C. in the 80’s where a guy with not much money could take the prettiest girl in town out for a great meal. 40 years later I’ve still got that pretty girl but the restaurant is long gone but we still have the memories. 3:46
Gino’s was the popular fast food place in the Philadelphia area in the 1960s and 1970s. The start of their downfall came in the 1976 when they introduced the ‘Heroburger,”a square patty like the patty that Wendy’s used. It opened up the door for more McDonald’s and Burger King, and the Gino’s segment relates the rest.
And older friend of mine said the Sambo’s in his town had paintings on the wall showing the Little Black Sambo story. We also had the Little Black Sambo book and in the version I read as a kid, Sambo was an Indian kid. Also, I believe Sambo’s, the restaurants that hung on, got rebranded to Jolly Roger.
Surprised places like Ponderosa-Bonanza-Sizzler-Ryan’s have not fared better. They provide a decent meal at a reasonable value. You get a decent steak and access to a full buffet, salad and desert bar at a price cheaper than Outback or places like that. We had a Ponderosa where I live and they had a nice fresh salad bar and very good chicken wings and good sides. It was a good meal for the price.
I remember the Victoria Station in Walnut Creek California – used to take dates their – In fact I had my Junior Prom dinner there. Loved the place – bummed its not there anymore. And Trader Vics was awesome! Tiki Bar drinks! The Velvet Turtle in San Rafael was excellent – parents used to take me there after church. Had to laugh when your brought up Sambo’s – Great Pancakes! and milkshakes ! The one place I thought you would have on here is Lions – They were all over the bay area for years and were my parents goto place to take the family out for an affordable meal in the 70’s, and I used to stop at the one in San Mateo area off of the El Camino when taking a break from cruising the El Camino on Saturday nights in the 80’s
I remember most of these restaurants. Being from S.E. Missouri not a lot of the big timers. However, there was a small cozy burger joint in Sikeston that was called Kirby’s. Last I heard you can still order up their world famous burgers and fries..chased with cold Coke. Sikeston also had a Sambos (@ minor switch) in late 70’s.
Burger Chef: right down my street. They were one of the first ones to have Kids Meals with a chocolate cream sandwich cookie. I also remember the Mexican restaurant Zantigo! We had a local buffet here in Cincinnati oH, David’s Buffet. It was my favorite place! We also had 2 “blue hair” restaurants around here that older clientele would frequent: The Wishing Well, and Shuellers Wigwam.
Yea growing up we had Steak Corral which was another Sizzler type. Friday nights dad could take us all out without breaking the bank. You could load up at the salad bar while they cooked your charbroiled steak. Then we kids loved the make your own sundae bar with all the toppers. Those were the days….and memories.
I always wanted go eat at My Lord’s House of Beef. The waitresses wore cocktail uniforms that looked like peasant blouses off the shoulder, miniskirts with layers of petticoats/tulle and black stockings. Very Hollywood or Las Vegas! There was the Jolly Roger, which was a beef restaurant, and they had a similar uniform. Mostly middle-aged business men went there to drink their Scotch. Heard this from a waitress.