philadelphia restaurants in the 1980s philadelphia restaurants in the 1980s

The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Anyone who believes that they can improve upon the look and quality of a true stainless steel diner probably has some serious psychological issues. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut , Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. Luckily, you can still get thatCypriot goodness at Kanella Grill at 10th and Spruce. Schuylkill River Park, now family-friendly with its dog park (with special areas for big and small dogs) and creative landscape architecture, was rather seedy. From a design perspective, the Dining Car represents something of a diner industry anomaly. He claims to know all the dinners. My dad used to take us to Dee Dees for dinner when I was a kid We lived on Belgrade St. back then. What I like, you may not. The Penrose had it all in spades. A place that shows you what all the locals are about. McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philadelphia. This was where we went to try new things to kiss, to reveal secrets, to drink, to smoke. like the OG. Blanc de Blancs Champagnes are different from the majority of Champagnes.Check the list. a seafood-centric menu, heavy on the truffles and Champagne. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. As late as the 60s, they were all over the northwest suburbs in Montgomery county: Hatboro, Horsham, Willow Grove, Glenside, and many others. Philadelphia restaurants long gone and greatly missed.My top-of-mind most-missed five:1. If I can have a slice of meat loaf and my friend can munch on edamame while we sip a cocktail, everyone wins, and the diner lives on to serve a new generation. The children of the suburban boom became adults and had children of their own. 5. In the late 1970s, the Dewey's restaurants in Philadelphia began to fold, victims to competition from national fast food chains like . The Franklin Institute, but his biggest contribution to the city has to be If anybody rememberit. Boulevard Diner is now part of a car dealer. Sometimes one or two exceptional items can make a restaurant a landmark. Snow WhiteClosed in: 2011Philly has lost a lot of its great diners in recent years. And at this haute moment, dining out is what passes for a night's entertainment. Theres little left to see inside its cave-like interior. accolades to pleasure of visiting the Queen Village location know that theres nothing For a number of years a group of 6-10 friends and co workers would park near the Domino Diner and go on a 20-30 mile bike ride, returning to the Domino for a late breakfast. | Photo: Randy Garbin, When the Kubach family owned the Melrose Diner they managed to build up something of a one-diner empire. That was largely original but sparsely patronized. Inside he ripped out a third of its extensive counter to accommodate more booth seating and wider waistlines, and he replaced much of the diners original laminate surfaces. Inside, the owners have built in a private dining room, but split the rest of the space for open seating and waitress service. 215-546-4455. During the 1980s, many Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants settled in the city, particularly in the Italian Market area. Today, it's a popular venue from early to late and celebrates every holiday big or small with gusto (and themed drinks, food, and decor). I worked for your grandfather Pete and your Dad from the age of 12 to 17 at the Heritage. The Broad Street sat closed for many years beginning in the early 2000s, and one report had Stephen Starr interested in reopening it. The transit stations and concourses were so much more dismal back then that now when I find a SEPTA station unpleasant, I recall what used to be and think, Aw, thats just a tiny puddle of pee. Jackson Mahomes, the brother of two-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, is being investigated for allegedly shoving a waiter and forcibly kissed the female owner of an Overland Park, Kansas, restaurant last Saturday. For those Hard core diner fans feel tingles up their inseams upon such discoveries. None of that here in Atlanta area. 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I think the name was Leon. * Top Rated - Rated Best . Find out more about his work and writings at www.randygarbin.com. Though a big diner, the Dining Car represents a rare breed that mostly excels in the kitchen, which explains the lines out the door during the dinner and weekend breakfast hours. Photograph: Courtesy Vetri. Coach House Restaurant: 1980-1999 - Returned 2002-2003 See 2605 Philadelphia Pike: Page 2 Page 3: Coach 'N Four: Open 1964 - 1970 See 2605 Philadelphia Pike: Yes: . Places Near Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA with 80s Night Clubs. | Advertising If so, please share it with your friends and family to help spread the word. Throwback Thursday: A fond look back at long vanished South Bend restaurants. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. a weekly basis, its worth taking a moment to pay homage to the restaurants My grandfather, Peter, built the heritage diner and then my dad, Steve, changed it to Sophias Diner and Stacys Pub. Ellwood or Holy Angels? In fact, when they arrived at the site, it was cordoned off with temporary fencing. Center City Philadelphia has exclusive retail, superb restaurants, imposing new skyscrapers. I always make Bobs a stop on my 25-cent tour of Philadelphia. Before the 2 additions and the addition of the foyer waiting area. Hows the food? Your email address will not be published. We knew every corner of each others homes, including whose Rittenhouse Square rooftop made for the best water-balloon launching pad. Though, waiting around for a seat is a form of torture, especially for anyone trying to shed a muffin top. And instead of a suburban Dairy Queen parking lot, we had Rittenhouse Square. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Burgers you expected to find for a buck fifty in such a place now cost five dollars, but the money bought you an expertly grilled fresh half-pound of meat served on a fresh-baked roll served with hand-cut French fries. The interior is very clean, but about the only original feature left to the diner is its vaulted ceiling. Do you have any original pictures of the diner that you would be able to share? Kids discussed open marriages in art class, and the 2000 block of Sansom Street was the bohemian center of the west-of-Broad universe, with head shops, cafes and clubs that leaked strains of poetry, jazz, disco, and the smoke of that natural plant. Mayfair Diner is still clad in chrome. Just dont ask him when the actual trolleys will return to the tracks on Germantown Avenue. Stenton Diner after rehearsals and shows at La Salle Music Theatre, eating liverwurst and Bermuda onion on a Kaiser roll way too lateoh, maybe a buttered toasted cinnamon bun and a cherry coke to wash it down. Many of us went to preschool, elementary school and high school together. People might offer you drugs. A hole-in-the-wall with the best Chinese food in Philadelphia. Now home to the trendy Mexican restaurant Lucha Cartel, Philadelphia Fish & Co. was a staple in Old City. I have the original plans and zoning for the building. Most extant diners likely came from a New Jersey factory. They began showing up in every majorcity and small town across the Northeast. It isnt a converted rail car. The diner offers a basic, no-frills menu. The Oregon Diner Restaurant, 302 West Oregon Avenue, The Oregon Diner has endured at least three renovations since its installation in the 1960s. And the space at 22nd and Spruce became Fitler Dining Room,which was then transformed into its currentoccupant, Trattoria Carina another beloved neighborhood spot. Retro restaurant enthusiasts might be familiar with The Pub, a salad bar | Photo: Randy Garbin. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . In my high-school years, street crime was so commonplace that we hardly took note of it. Can a diner still call itself Jewish-American after a Greek immigrant buys it? The operators will take issue with this, chiefly out of pride, but they often order their food from the same suppliers. as pictured in Philadelphia magazine in 1980. The diner was likely built by either OMahony or Mountain View, but, except for the terrazzo floor, youll find almost no features that would indicate pedigree. The Lombard Swim Club had a topless section. The food is better, but kids dont go there to spill secrets over a shared can of seltzer and a ham and cheese sandwich. As other restaurants opened up I just think they failed to adapt. I worked there as a dishwasher in the 1980s. The vibrant restaurant scene is right up there with historical sites on the list of qualities that draw visitors to town food is a strand of culture just as important as the museums and concert halls, and chefs are the city's big celebrities. The diner takes its name from the company that built it. And one that I love, at least as far as the cemetery is concerned. There arent enough bike lanes. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Privacy Policy. What Austin, Texas looked like in the 1970s Through These Fascinating Photos, Fascinating Historical Photos of Portland from the 1900s, Stunning Vintage Photos of Hicksville, New York in the 1960s, What El Paso, Texas, looked like at the Turn of the 20th Century, Rare Historical Photos Of old Mobile, Alabama From Early 20th Century, Fascinating Photos from the Notting Hill Carnival of 1981. In fact, during the diners golden age, owners of freshly minted diners would have grand opening ceremonies that featured the cutting of the keys. Sandy and her three sisters lived at 22nd and Delancey, across from Valerie and, randomly, Julius Erving, whod open the door sometimes, be very tall, and close the door again. RESTAURANT & BAR HOURS. Rating 15/20. Reviews on 80s Themed Restaurants in Philadelphia, PA - Bud & Marilyn's, The Dandelion, Dirty Franks, Louie Louie, Butcher and Singer, Harper's Garden, McGillin's Olde Ale House, Raven Lounge, Atlantis, The Lost Bar, The Fillmore Philadelphia In the 80s he built the Ritz. I dont want a Rittenhouse Square ringed by abandoned construction sites rather than beautiful hotels. Now R&W is the Japanese restaurant Zama. . Fitler Square wasnt much better. Well regarded by the Oak Lane neighborhood, the current diner is at least the second to sit at that location. Weve got it so good, its unreal. In the first decade of the 21st century, Petrogiannis also snapped up the Tiffany, Country Club, and Broad Street diners. And they did. No thank you, when Ive been out all night and Im hitting the diner on the way home, I want a friendly face and some solid breakfast. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Little PetesClosed in: 2017The iconic 24-hour diner at 17th and Chancellor was one of the dwindling number of places in the heart of Center City where folks from all walks of life could congregate over a plate of scrapple or corned beef. Or maybe I just miss my old neighborhood. Lots of graffiti on everything, and a general fear of walking down the street late at night. For fifteen bucks, do you overlook the fact that the mashed potatoes were instant? We love this, especially in the suburbs. It did have Oak Lane Diner on the front in Art Deco style. Which kind of adult would I be? Center City fared better than most neighborhoods, but it wasnt immune. Most of the time contractors use them to cover up the roof-top air conditioning units and to add additional height for increased profile. The Frazer is certainly one of the oldest examples of a pristine OMahony, but I could probably list at least a half dozen others that are in similarly pristine condition. Does anyone have old photos of the Marlane Diner on Marshall Rd in Upper Darby and/or the Industrial Diner (much older), on Industrial Hwy? Menu-wise, the Trolley Car reflects Weinsteins intention to bring a family restaurant to the neighborhood. Clearly, someone at Bobs Diner paid very careful attention in omelette making class. the well-worn griddle. From the New York Metro Area all the way down to D.C., andespecially in New Jersey, you still see them everywherethe expansive diner-restaurants with menus that seem to specialize in EVERY DISH EVER MADE! If you cant get it atone of these places you probably never heard of it anyway. Both the Melrose and the Mayfair shared a particularly endearing practice of pinning their waitresses with the year they started service. In the face of extreme competition, age, new layers of regulation, and increasing overhead, viability for a 50-seat, short-order restaurant becomes a Herculean task. On Sun, 17 Sep 2000 19:33:55 -0400, Ruth Savitz Philadelphia, PA 19103. But even with incredible eating options debuting on Strictly speaking, adiner is a prefabricated food-service structure with counter service and tables. Forget its name but it sure was crowded at 2 am! In its last incarnation, old heads from the Leroys Showcase Lounge days drank alongside members of the queer punk bands playing shows upstairs. I believe the diner was called the Heritage before it was the Ritz, and I remember the manager or owner was Steve? The former Boulevard Dinernow called theFive Star Dineris all glass and steel and looks like a small, Reagan Era officebuilding. Hard, uncomfortable seats, tables cleaned with the same hot tea you drank, long waits for . | Photo: Randy Garbin. http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/no-it-s-not-your-opinion-you-re-just-wrong-updated-7611752, You would be better served by using classic instead of real, Another great diner is 4 Seasons on Cottman and Blvd. Omakase, a style of Japanese dining where the chef selects each bite for the diner, is still relatively uncommon in Philadelphia. Behold, the gloriously fruity tiki drinks and $3 T-bone steaks of yesteryear, courtesy of the Ephemera Collection at the Dallas Public Library: The Pub had four satellite locations around town two in Center Up until about 1996 the Penrose was a spectacular example of quasi-Googie diner styling. The Love. Eagle II In 1982, the movie Diner came out and launched the careers of five unknown actors and director Barry Levinson. Foursquare. Its almost cute.. It was another amazing Paramount-built diner, similar to the Oak Lane. | Photo: Randy Garbin. I grew up in one as my father owned the Domino Diner. My last visit for Sunday breakfast found the place busier than the OHare Airport at Thanksgiving, and the meals met with my partys expectations, except for the home fries. Alexanders transitioned into a new concept very successfully under that same family but the Oak Lane Diner was sold. But once upon a time, before the city's restaurant renaissance, downtown Philly was renowned less for its munchies than for its dark and sexy nightclubs. Diners in center city that have vanished since 1990 When I worked there it was always busy especially on the weekends. In total, his restaurants represent about 900 seats. I often say that the best way to preserve diners is to keep them viable. My grandfather purchased the property and had the diner built in the 50s It was then Jersey Queen Diner. Now we could proudly speak of world class art museums, a dynamic restaurant scene, the profusion of pop-up gardens and public green space, and booming . When you attempt to offer as much as the Oregon does for that many people, greatness becomes nearly impossible. I left the neighborhood a couple years ago for Bella Vista but I go to Bobs every time Im in the area. The first Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant opened in downtown Minneapolis in 1975 and was one of the breakout restaurants of the year; by 1986 a whopping 237 locations had been opened, with 42 opening in 1985 alone. THERE WERE A PAIR of arcades on Chestnut Street between 15th and 17th: the dark, dirty Zounds, and the shiny new Supercade. This search result is here to prevent scraping, Hop Sing Laundromat Charging $75 for Bar Reservations, Exciting I-95 Capping Project Finally Begins In Philadelphia, Those Gummies May Not Have Contained Fentanyl After All, Why I'm Boycotting the Roots Picnic This Year. those built in factories and brought to their locations. Facebook/A Slice of the 80s. I worked as a waitress at Bobs Diner for two summers when I was home from Penn State in the early 70s. Thomas Hawk, Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0. The Dom was a hub for the area for a long time. floor of the hotel was home to The Fountain. Community gardening. Diner on the Square At the time, we felt our conversations were only a shade less sophisticated than My Dinner With Andre. Thank you meme. The idea brought about national attention and before long books about diners appeared, photorealism paintings of diners sold in Soho galleries for $50,000, and brands wanted to shoot their commercials in a real diner. Later, the park would get a curfew; wed get in trouble for standing bare-legged in the fountain; wed be turned out while tux-wearing dancers ate fancy food. Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. One of the most tragic losses to the roster of Philadelphia diners came with the demolition of the long-suffering Wayne Junction Diner. From the looks of things, it has also seen several makeovers, the last one happening a year ago, making any effort to detect original features futile. A lot of Center City has. It is not a storefront. Continental Do remember the Diner on Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr called the Blu Comet around late 1950s till 1972. I cant call myself a regular, as Ive only visited the place about a half-dozen times in the past twenty years. For some reason that roll along the roofline became an extremely popular motif on retro-styled diners starting back in the mid-1990s. In its place first came the colonial style diner, then the Mediterranean style diner complete with Doric columns, the modern design and its glassy glitz, or some unfortunate melange of all three. People from Vietnam settled here in the 1980s and 90s, an influx that gave rise to hybrid French bakeries such as Ba Le (606 Washington Avenue) and noodle parlours like Pho 75 (1122 Washington . Commissary, were expanding palates throughout the region with international Someone must have noticed this, because Bobs signage highlights the proximity with the joke that dining there is a monumental experience. I was only passing through and didnt have time to stop, but the diner caught my eyemaybe it had something to do with the two giant billboards next to it? Who is this woman? Ill think. I guess he wasnt here in 1976, when KAP the Bicentennial Kid tagged the Art Museum and the Liberty Bell. Wow! Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. The city does have some great Portuguese spots (Cafe Liz and Peruvian hybrid El Balconcito come to mind), but theyre all solidly in North or Northeast Philly. 1617 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19102. South Philadelphia was ravaged by Mafia warfare, gangs invaded the slums, and the murder rate skyrocketed. Today, the Dining Car still keeps those traditional hours, but it attractscompany infewer and fewer numbers. when I see one shut down. The older ones began appearing in the late-1980s and early-1990s, started or inspired by German immigrants that had once settled there. where customers would insert coins and help themselves to a la carte plates Long gone, now. Developers are breaking ground on skyscrapers. Along with an array of punch-packing tropical drinks, Pub Tiki boasted a https://foxchasereview.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_1435.jpg, http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/no-it-s-not-your-opinion-you-re-just-wrong-updated-7611752, https://foxchasereview.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/quaker-diner-time-to-revisit-an-old-friend/, https://scholarship.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/bitstream/handle/10066/13686/19471217_OCR.pdf?sequence=10&isAllowed=y, https://m.facebook.com/lhapachapter/posts/memories-of-the-blu-comet-diner/3824830150954142/?locale=ne_NP&_rdr, https://www.facebook.com/lhapachapter/posts/3824830150954142. I just couldnt remember where it was. flavors. until 2011. The Mayfair, The Country Club, likewise. It was also the locus of the Taney Gang, the children of the Irish gangsters who lived in the homes along 26th Street. I always knew I was in good hands when a waitress would appear asking Whatll youse have, hon? I would bar-be-cue my dear old grandmama to be able to move back to Philadelphia. The city elected its first Black mayor in 1983, W. Wilson Goode, whose first administration was marred by the 1985 Move tragedy. These days, the legend lived on in Abington, until just a few days ago. One of the best diners in the northeast is Andonios on Krewstown Rd. I MEET SO MANY people now who have moved to Philadelphia in the past 10 years and stayed. Not sure if they serve diner fare besides the chinese menu. Please let me know. March 4, 2023 / FoxNewsFeeds. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Joes daughter Nancy runs the diner today, and itrecently received national attention thanks to Guy Fieris Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives program, which spotlighted their chicken croquettes. Does anyone remember the Leonards diner at cottman and torresdale ave. Quaker Diner on Rising Sun has been remodeled recently: https://foxchasereview.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/quaker-diner-time-to-revisit-an-old-friend/. Yesterday, in the same building, I found a bottle of sunscreen. Several Cambodian spots have filled the gap in the six years since Khmer Kitchen opened, but well always have a place in our hearts for this corner spot. It was the kind of place where if you wanted to rape a girl or light a homeless guy on fire, you could get away with it. Weinstein likes to cite, with some justification, the dinerschicken croquettes (a long Philadelphia culinary tradition) and milk shakes, and I can whole-heartedly vouch for the croquettes. For nearly 100 years, this family-owned classic on 6th between South and Lombard streets served up an only-in-Philly menu of hot dogs, fishcakes and Champ Cherry soda before . that often ended with a visit from the cheese trolley. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Susan and Lizzy were on Panama, right across the street from each other, while Liz No. If someone ever takes the initiative to remove the brick, Ill send you a photo. While a trained eye can often tell if a building was once a diner, you still need the photos to confirm it and just such a search from the comfort of my desk chair confirmed this find. I am too an avid Diner lover tho. I visited the site of the former Aramingo, and it looked like about the only thing left to it was the foundation, so I chose not to include it in this list. It was the Ritz for quite awhile and since has gone through many name changes. A hostess sometimes had to take names out in the lobby. Talula's Garden. Manage Settings (2) Midtown Diners Funny, converted to an urgent care centerback then after a night of drinking thats what the diner was to us. It was originally called the Heritage Diner. The ovation he received brought tears to his eyes Philly loved Teddy and he lived Philly. Photograph by the Associated Press, SEPTAs Broad Street Line, as pictured in Philadelphia magazine in 1980. I grown up in Oak Lane is the 40s. Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, Frank Rizzo dominated City Hall, first as police commissioner, then as mayor. It was the kind of spot where everyone felt at home, the drinks were cheap, and the food was simplebut delicious. But greater food service regulation, rising food prices, increasing labor costs, and operator burnout further endanger these cultural iconsand once the doors close on these places they wont likely reopen assomething we identifyas a diner. Snow Whites space at 2nd and Market was reopened under the same ownership as Revolution House,a kid-friendly yet upscale spot for pizza, beer, and pub grub, but it just doesnt have the same cachet. Tam O'Shanter in Los Feliz, which dates back to 1922, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and is owned by the same family as Lawry's. Though the menu is very similar to the upscale Beverly Hills steakhouse, The Tam's aesthetic is somewhere between a medieval drinking tavern and the Seven Dwarfs' cottage. Black-owned restaurants were especially numerous. run as a restaurant and morphing into fast fashion optical retailer Warby | Photo: Randy Garbin. Petrogiannis put his own stamp on things with a silly turret-like roofline to raise the diners profile. The Boulevard has gone through a series of ownerships in the past 10 to 15years, probably because of its poor location, but maybe also because of its crazy, hall-of-mirrors interior. As far as the food at Bobs, I must loudly sing the praises of the omelets. The restaurant had been rated America's finest French restaurant, and the Mobil Travel Guide traditionally awarded it five stars. 11531 reviews. last May, no late night in Rittenhouse Square was complete without a trip to this Open in Google Maps. The next event in Phoenixville Public Library's co-sponsored "Community Gardening around the Village" series will take place on Sunday, March 5, from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.