philadelphia restaurants in the 1980s
Podcast: Is Sixers' prime time game vs. Twenty-four diners now operate in Philadelphia, down from 30 in 1990 when I first toured the city Word has it that Bobs owner Jim Evans has the place up for sale, but as hes currently asking an obscene amount of money$1.9 milliondont expect any major changes soon. Most are gone now, I think. The more creative individuals in the restaurant business began to see that a diner didnt just have to be about meatloaf and brown gravy and it certainly didnt just have to appeal to truck drivers and middle America. The Melrose apple would seem to be one of those exceptions. Anyone who believes that they can improve upon the look and quality of a true stainless steel diner probably has some serious psychological issues. Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, Weve got it so good, its unreal. Disingenuousness aside, the Melrose earned a reputation for its baked goods and sterling service. Her name was Taz Lang and she was brutally murdered. Definitely wish we could have one more dish here. They live on in the form of dead Yelp pages and in our memories. Dinner: 4-10pm Happy Hour: 4-6pm. * Close to CC - 6 Min cab from center cityl. The diner, one of the anchors of the neighborhood, remains boarded up. It was torn down in 2006. In 1920 Cleveland had 76 hotels, serving 796,841 townspeople. My lastvisit did nothing to change that general impression. Free shipping for many products! Once the quarters were spent, or stolen, we could head over to Days Deli at 18th and Spruce to get fries. I believe the diner was called the Heritage before it was the Ritz, and I remember the manager or owner was Steve? But the retail counter was nixed and replaced with a full-service bar 2013 andearlier this year, the conceptbecame one of the surprisingly few casualties in Garces Groups recent restructuring due to outstanding debts. You might expect to get dental work inside rather than a good breakfast. Philadelphia dining. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Theres trash everywhere. But the Lawlers outgrew their downtown space and chose to retool andrelocate their farm-fresh ethos to the suburbs. cheeky menu full of gems like sweet n pungent pork Tahiti and barbecue The name was Carrolls Diner (not Carols) It was the familys last name. Eagle II 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. Find out more about his work and writings at www.randygarbin.com. Somewhere under that brooding exterior is a shiny, 1950s structure. My parents bought a house on Rodman Street soon thereafter, and all the photos from my toddler days seem to show one neighbor or another lying flat on his back, with a big smile, obviously intoxicated by some natural plant. The best of them will serve you something that usually tops out at fair-to-good. Petrogiannis put his own stamp on things with a silly turret-like roofline to raise the diners profile. . This was the place to reconnoiter, the hub, the treehouse club, the HQ. Photograph by Dick Swanson/The National Archive, Eddie Gindi seems genuinely excited as he stands at the dais in the Union League. The Square had no profusion of roses in front of the lion statue. The former Boulevard Dinernow called theFive Star Dineris all glass and steel and looks like a small, Reagan Era officebuilding. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. "On our first visit to Philadelphia, my friend recommended we try Talula's Garden. Continental My father worked as a manager at Whitney & Patterson Paper Company at 5th & Bristol in the 70s into the 80s. The food is better, but kids dont go there to spill secrets over a shared can of seltzer and a ham and cheese sandwich. Not sure if they serve diner fare besides the chinese menu. Which is now a fair hibachi buffet. Its almost cute.. ET. Center City Philadelphia has come into its own: exclusive retail, superb restaurants, imposing new skyscrapers. Zounds was rough. In Philly, it was hard to tell what adulthood was. There is alot of history to that piece of property. You might take drugs. Sat Dec 05, 2015 | 12:00pm. 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. From World War II until the 1980s, the Philadelphia area was home to many of these "old line, crockery, silver and glass restaurants." There were 24 Linton's, 44 Horn and Hardart's and 18 Dewey's. . And one that I love, at least as far as the cemetery is concerned. Only bother to go here if youre a hard-core diner fanatic. Your Dad Steve was a great boss back then. Koo Zee DooClosed in: 2013A 50 Best Restaurants-worthy (rare) Portuguese restaurant inNorthern Liberties (rarer) run by a James Beard Award-nominated chef (yep)? The Domino Diner facts were about 99% correct with the exception of the operating name at its original location in Medford, Massachusetts. Required fields are marked *. Love Your article and thank you for doing the research. Casa Del Marisco is a sports bar on 5th Street. Center City fared better than most neighborhoods, but it wasnt immune. Randy Garbin Randy Garbin has traveled the countrys back roads and Main Streets in search of diners, roadside attractions, and the great mom and pop enterprise. There are now two Farm & Fisherman Taverns, one in Horsham and one in Cherry Hill. Hows the food? Thats wear Teddy Pendergass made his first public appearance and sang since his terrible accident. My wife and I had the London broil, fried seafood combo, and the minestrone soup. I thought that place next to Nabisco was called The Ritz in the 80s & early 90s. But Taco Angelenosstraightforward, L.A.-style tacos flavorful slow-braised meats, a simple toppings bar of chopped onion, radish, cilantro and curtido, and seitan for vegetarians this is West Philly, after all filled that void. I had a lot of great memories working there. cash only, after-hours spot for a hangover fighting something or other from It was the most expensive item on the menu at $7.99!When they knocked it down they built a McDonalds there which I worked at for for 9 years! Four Seasons is a restaurant not a diner. My family used to eat there once a week for years. 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. Who is this woman? Ill think. Here Are 9 Of The Best Historic Restaurants In Pennsylvania What looked like the longest, stainless steel diner on the planet (which was actually a very long diner married expertly to an existing cinder-block, stainless-clad addition) welcomed you inside with nothing but superlatives. Bobsadheres very closely to the basic diner credo: Serve good food at reasonable prices in a clean and friendly atmosphere. Given the extent of his investments along the corridor, I dont think youll find anyone who has made a bigger bet on its comeback. By Antonio Gardella. Throwback Thursday: A fond look back at long vanished South Bend restaurants. Garces Trading Co.Closed in: 2018Before beer and wine were in grocery stores around Philly, there was Garces Trading, a BYO witha then-exciting (and beautiful) wine cellar inside the restaurant, which specialized in gourmet goods and sandwiches with the celebrity chefs signature touch. "We were in Philadelphia, February 18-19, for a belated Valentine's and for some wedding planning preparations, and decided that a restaurant named The Love" more. Everyone enjoys eating out at Santa Barbara's amazing array of eateries. Photograph by I. George Bilyk. Moreover, many Hispanic immigrants from Central and South America have settled in North Philadelphia. Le Bec-Fin - Wikipedia Its dirty. Does anyone remember the Leonards diner at cottman and torresdale ave. Just a classic Chinese restaurant menu today. I worked there as a dishwasher in the 1980s. Tourist Photos From 1981 Reveal the Heart of "Old Philadelphia" I dont want a Rittenhouse Square ringed by abandoned construction sites rather than beautiful hotels. Luckily, you can still get thatCypriot goodness at Kanella Grill at 10th and Spruce. Even though it's been serving beer and pub food for over 150 years, you can still count on McGillin's for a good time. The real estate developer Ken Weinstein loves Germantown Avenue. It was great fun. In the first decade of the 21st century, Petrogiannis also snapped up the Tiffany, Country Club, and Broad Street diners. My grandfather, Peter, built the heritage diner and then my dad, Steve, changed it to Sophias Diner and Stacys Pub. Read more G.W. The Big Greek Diner typically gives you a lot of food for the money. They also all use the same playbook so any differences become nuance. 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. SEPTA PCC car 2710 (refurbished 1980) on Girard Ave. approaching Lancaster Ave., West Philadelphia, 1985 5 The Philadelphia Police Department was using both the mid-size Ford LTD and full-size Crown Victoria platforms at that time, Philadelphia, 1985 pleasure of visiting the Queen Village location know that theres nothing Last year, Philadelphia was feted in the New York Times, the Toronto Star, the Guardian, the Washington Post, Food & Wine, the Globe and Mail, Cond Nast Traveler, Bon Apptit, and countless online outlets. Along with an array of punch-packing tropical drinks, Pub Tiki boasted a Anchoring the east side of South Philly, the Oregon Diner has uncertain pedigree, but almost certainly emerged from one of the major diner factories in the 1960s. 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). Being a person from the 60s it brought me fond memories of the diners. The ovation he received brought tears to his eyes Philly loved Teddy and he lived Philly. Yet I sometimes miss the grimy Center City of my youth. Last week, Jeff Gordinier of The New York Times wrote a profile of chef Kevin Sbraga and his new restaurant Juniper Commons. Seeing the Mayfair for the first time in 1991 was a jaw dropping experience. Made quite good tips, and back then, it wasnt a bad working environment. Behold, the gloriously fruity tiki drinks and $3 T-bone steaks of yesteryear, courtesy of the Ephemera Collection at the Dallas Public Library: Heres hoping another Portuguese concept can make it work downtown someday soon. | About Us Heavily remodeled 50s-style diner that currently serves Asian food. greater. I live around the corner from the Oak Lane Diner. 2023 BygonelyPrivacy policyTerms of ServiceContact us. The history of restaurants in the Nation's Capital. That all ended with Michael Petrogiannis. when I see one shut down. All tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.See the list. Lombard streets served up an only-in-Philly menu of hot dogs, fishcakes and Champ Philly has been in the midst of a long-lived restaurant boom that shows no signs of slowing. When Harry Markellos partnered up with George K and opened Horsham Towne I worked there and met my wife of 40 years! There was no single grown-up world, no monolith. Not surprisingly, we saw movies constantly, and relied upon them as instructional manuals. Sociologist W.E.B. From international The Frazer was built in the mid-1930s. Growing Up in Philadelphia: The Lost City Just dont ask him when the actual trolleys will return to the tracks on Germantown Avenue. 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. Kims Korean Barbecue, 5955 North 5th Street, Asian fusion. New Boulevard Diner, 11650 Roosevelt Boulevard, New Boulevard recently changed their name to the Five Star Diner. The first was installed in 1935, the second in 1940, and the current structure built by Paramount Diners of Haledon, New Jersey came to Snyder Avenuein 1956. The Golden Sword Diner is now a latin-themed night club. Fifteen years later Weinstein has proven both his knowledge of his market and his appreciation for the authentic diner experienceone refreshingly devoid of cutesy, cheap nostalgia that rises far above the tired greasy spoon trope. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. At the end of the 1980s, the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. As an added bonus, a seat at the counter gives you front-row access to the action. At Peter Dooner's one met the epicure element, les bon vivants of the town. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut , Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. Heres a list of some of the bygone Philadelphia restaurants we miss the most. The Franklin Institute, but his biggest contribution to the city has to be 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. Greater Philadelphia. Joe was a veteran of the industry and had previously owned the Torresdale Diner just south of Academy Road and needed to expand. Photograph by I. George Bilyk the most talked-about dish in Manhattan" in the 1970s became an unrelenting culinary joke of the 1980s, . The second was on the South Side of the 1600 Block of Passyunk Ave, which was across the street from the first diner where the two avenues intersect. All-in-all, the Melrose still mostly looks and feels like the Melrose. Alexanders transitioned into a new concept very successfully under that same family but the Oak Lane Diner was sold. Today, the K stands for Korean, and while youll find Asian specialties on the menu, you can also get a good, old-fashioned American breakfast. While the the iconic Melrose and the Mayfair, both currently owned by Michael Petrogiannis, remain, the vast majority are gone. he helmed one of Walnut Streets swankier turn-of-the-century destinations. Although it didn't hold up against Chili's, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's, there was a time when it was fairly ubiquitous throughout the states. Not dwelling on the past is one of the prime benefits of Philadelphias It all shuttered by late 1999. THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Garden Philadelphia PA Reviews - GAYOT Instead, Chef and owner Kevin Sbraga invites guests to be instantly transported to the 1980s at Juniper Commons, his new restaurant on South Broad Street in Philadelphia. For many of us, home fries are a litmus test of the whole experience and every diner should make their own undeniably great version. NBC10 hires Fred Shropshire to replace Jim Rosenfield as weekday evening anchor. Enjoyed this article, but am left wondering: Whats up with Bobs being more or less in a graveyard? If you removed the cover from the Oregons menu and dropped it on a table at the similarly-sized Penrose diner on the other end of South Philly, no one would likely notice for a week or so. St. Joseph County police searching for missing 12-year-old girl. Kyrie Irving added 40 and . His new old-style diner came by truck in six sections, pieced together on site. Sad. I feel like I cant truly enjoy a vacation or visiting a town without going to a local diner. If someone ever takes the initiative to remove the brick, Ill send you a photo. Recently, a seersucker-and-madras-clad man at a Mural Arts event I went to railed against graffitis cancerous, corrosive effect on Philadelphia. As I write, the diner is now boarded up after a fire closed it down last January. transformed into the ambitious but poorly received Avance before ending its I loved this article. The Love. Unused Pre-1980 RESTAURANT SCENE Philadelphia Pennsylvania PA hk4537 | eBay Philadelphia Fish & Co. 207 Chestnut. I think its called Walnut? Ill point the way, and then imagine her browsing at Barneys and Lagos, then having a drink at Rouges sidewalk cafe before heading back to her room at the Hotel Monaco. You can still find at least a half-dozen examples of their diners built between 1948 and 1954. While most of the damage occurred in the kitchen, the diner has seriously deteriorated after what looks like an outright abandonment. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Jose Garces might have had historical preservation in mind when he took In 1980, this magazine called subway trains slums-on-wheels. Buses werent much better. Great photos on the wall. Funny, converted to an urgent care centerback then after a night of drinking thats what the diner was to us. Many of the mentioned ones, I have the privileged to say, I ate there. (2) Midtown Diners | Photo: Randy Garbin. | Photo: Randy Garbin. home to a stuck-in-time, chrome and vinyl diner. Up until that time the Mulholland family ran, what was in my estimation, the best of the big Philly diners in terms of its preservation, food, and overall hospitality.