philadelphia restaurants in the 1980s

Zounds was rough. Jack Doneius bought a run-down, but well-preserved diner in Manhattans lower West Side, spruced it up, and started serving upscale food. Cherry soda before closing its doors in 1990. Like a big diner should, it greets all customers at the door with a barrage of baked goods. 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. Years later I moved to Roborough and became a semiregular. It did have Oak Lane Diner on the front in Art Deco style. vending machines-meets-restaurant featured walls of serve yourself windows Since the 1950s, the Perloff family ran the Country Club in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood catering to its Jewish community. Please let me know. | Photo: Randy Garbin. The Creed franchise is a child of the king of boxing films 1976's "Rocky" and its five sequels. For some native Philadelphians like me, all of this is difficult to absorb. Im not a fussy eater. The big DeRaffele diner featured soaring folded-plate roof line, expansive plate glass windows, and a space-age interior that restaurateurs in places like New York and San Francisco spend a small fortune to recreate. Dining Car & Market, 8826 Frankford Avenue, The sprawling Dining Car Diner look like an architectural version of B-9, the robot from Lost In Space.| Photo: Randy Garbin. Penrose Diner in 1993 before renovations completely changed the character of the restaurant a few years later. 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. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. 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. I liked its gritty spirit. There were so many: the Eric Twin Rittenhouse at 19th and Walnut; Sams Place and the SamEric at 19th and Chestnut; Erics Place at 15th and Chestnut; Erics Mark 1 at 18th and Market; the Goldman Theatre at Broad and Chestnut; the Roxy (when it showed films from odd places like Canada); more Im not thinking of. Philadelphia way back in 1902, 115 years later, the concept still feels He got puckered and red in the face and stomped out of the room. I often say that the best way to preserve diners is to keep them viable. The food is better, but kids dont go there to spill secrets over a shared can of seltzer and a ham and cheese sandwich. Formerly known as Mil-Lees Luv-In, the diner did indeed have something of a hippie vibe during that era with its love beads and trippy menu graphics. 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 He sold it in the late 90s and there have been a few owners since then. Outstanding memories. Building is still there. But even with incredible eating options debuting on Traces of the old diner mixed in with interior renovations atKims Korean Barbecue in Olney. Snow WhiteClosed in: 2011Philly has lost a lot of its great diners in recent years. I mean, Ive been singing Phillys praises since I was a kid, but the moniker Filthadelphia (and its concomitant reputation) was so widespread, it was the first thing a new friend brought up to me when we met during my semester abroad. Why we miss it: Josh and Colleen Lawler's petite Washington Square West BYO turned out elegant farm-to-table, snout-to-tail fare . Spice Grill in Port Richmond. Silk City The famed space at 1532 Walnut St. was briefly And instead of a suburban Dairy Queen parking lot, we had Rittenhouse Square. They live on in the form of dead Yelp pages and in our memories. Philadelphias decline was well under way by the time I was born. My boyfriend was pulled into an alley between Walnut and Chestnut and held at knifepoint; my necklace was ripped off while I was walking; my mother was mugged; purses were torn from shoulders; people threw bottles into store windows on days when the Phillies lost. The operators will take issue with this, chiefly out of pride, but they often order their food from the same suppliers. The children of the suburban boom became adults and had children of their own. Fitler Square wasnt much better. Revolution House, but for 60-plus years, this Second and Market corner was 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. Its a bygone era but those few diners that remain, I make it a point to eat in one of them when Im visiting my sisters and relatives. Center City Philadelphia has exclusive retail, superb restaurants, imposing new skyscrapers. * Close to CC - 6 Min cab from center cityl. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Put a porch on your house. 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. At the Oregon, my family and I ordered dinner that included chicken soup, pot roast for me, spaghetti and meatballs for the kid, and pasta primavera for my wife. 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. Map. 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. There are now two Farm & Fisherman Taverns, one in Horsham and one in Cherry Hill. Casa Espana now serves as a nightclub. These days, Poses runs a catering company and onsite eateries at They also all use the same playbook so any differences become nuance. I worked as a waitress at Bobs Diner for two summers when I was home from Penn State in the early 70s. The original diner was built in the 1930s by OMahony, but at some pointprobably in the late 1950san expansion to the front of the diner almostdoubled the seating and added stainless steel cladding to the exterior. 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. | Photo: Randy Garbin. There was also Jersey Queen Dairy who began delivering milk in the city by horse and carriage. National retailers like Intermix and Michael Kors are coming to Walnut Street, where rents soar above the national average. Whether that was a sign of things to come with the celebrity chef Chifa waseventually replaced with Cuban diner Rosa Bianca, another concept that didnt take or it just opened a decade or so before its time, it would have been nice for Peruvian fare to take hold in the city back then. Sbraga told him he had fond memories of dining with his family at the Pub in Pennsauken, N.J. during the 1980s. I remember when this first opened in about 1966. In 1920 Cleveland had 76 hotels, serving 796,841 townspeople. The Dining Car makes up for this with desserts. legendary carrot cake. From 1994 until 2008, The Striped Bass graced the expense account set with Hey Friend, Before You Go.. The OMahony diner came to Philadelphia in the 1960s from Medford, Massachusetts where it operated as Carols Diner. 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. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life. | Photo: Randy Garbin. https://m.facebook.com/lhapachapter/posts/memories-of-the-blu-comet-diner/3824830150954142/?locale=ne_NP&_rdr, It was known fondly as the greasy spoon by the Villanova students. McD's in Montreal used to as late as 1980 (and the Quarter Pounder could actually turn out medium rare ..)-bebopper. I ended up working in the factory after high school from 81 to around 84 and the diner was still going strong. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. It was unnecessarily renovated in 1996 both inside and out, which stripped away some of the incomparable stainless work. Book online. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. All the golden goddesses! It was the Ritz for quite awhile and since has gone through many name changes. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . It took another ten years before I managed to furtively snap a shot of the diners interior. My parents would take me to DeeDees diner every Friday for the fried seafood platter. New Boulevard Diner, 11650 Roosevelt Boulevard, New Boulevard recently changed their name to the Five Star Diner. I was a student at Temple. For many of us, home fries are a litmus test of the whole experience and every diner should make their own undeniably great version. 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. In Mt. I was about six. the menu had a nice selection at great prices of salads,omelettes and sandwiches with also a speciality. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Unused Pre-1980 BOOKBINDERS RESTAURANT Philadelphia Pennsylvania PA v5934@ at the best online prices at eBay! This chain of Its almost cute.. 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. I think the name was Leon. for the luncheonettes griddled cheeseburgers or hand-scooped milkshakes, this In excellent condition, Weinsteinhad little restorative work to do, but he nevertheless faced a daunting task of connectingthe diner with the existing Roy Rogers building. Heavily remodeled 50s-style diner that currently serves Asian food. Yeah the Mayfair Diner was a pretty great one, Id been there a few times a year, from 1989 until sometime in 2006 or 2007, which I just found from the article is about when Petrogannis bought it. MONDAY - FRIDAY. The Love. Steel's, Finelli's and Dooner's were among the exclusive drinking resorts of the early eighties. 6. 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. McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philadelphia. Or that the chef erred on the salty side with the otherwise tender pot roast? Howard johnson's. Although younger generations may know of Howard Johnson's thanks to Mad Men, '70s kids will remember actually visiting the orange-roofed restaurant chain. The Frazer Diner in Frazer is the only un altered Jerry O Mahony diner in existence.Built between 1929 and 1935 it was originally the Paoli but was moved to Frazer on Lancaster Ave, in 1957. Great photos on the wall. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Fond memories. 1982 Having introduced nouvelle cuisine at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, Chef Wolfgang Puck presents "California cuisine" to patrons of his new chic-casual Sunset Strip restaurant, Spago. He said I didnt have the right name. 11531 reviews. Kims Korean Barbecue, 5955 North 5th Street, Asian fusion. Although Perrier announced in July 2010 that he planned to close the . Found this pic of the Quaker Diner on Rising Sun https://foxchasereview.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_1435.jpg. Though, waiting around for a seat is a form of torture, especially for anyone trying to shed a muffin top. We look to blogs such as these for straight talk, not depends on who you ask waffling. Not because of the food, especially, but because we would each get a lollipop with a face on it at the cash register. Then there were our parents, the incense vendors, all those hookers on Broad and on 13th, my Quaker teachers with the puzzling facial hair. There arent enough bike lanes. 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 . What ever became of Littletons at Ogontz & Cheltenham Avenues? I suppose so. Enjoyed this article, but am left wondering: Whats up with Bobs being more or less in a graveyard? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Another Michael Petrogiannis diner. The diner also offered a lot of benefits to employees which was why so many stayed a long time. This was the center of our universe. Only a couple of years later Swingle would close up shop, but Morozins request pushed diner manufacturers to fashion restaurants in various styles dictated by the often-dubious tastes of the operator. I agree that eating at a diner is more of an immersive experience in that neighborhood. From there, others imitated his success until Samuel Jones in Worcester, Massachusetts began building and selling more of these lunch wagons for others to operate. Cant beat the prices and food anywhere. 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. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Great article thank you. In 1980, this magazine called subway trains slums-on-wheels. Buses werent much better. Sylvester Stallone started it all with the iconic film that won an Oscar for best film . It isnt constructed on-site, but rather brought to a semi-permanent location. website lives in perpetuity. Not dwelling on the past is one of the prime benefits of Philadelphias Overcooked eggs with ingredients scrambled in does not an omelette make. Sorry, Bern, but thats just not true. Required fields are marked *. When I worked there it was always busy especially on the weekends. interested in a peak at early aughts dining, the restaurants At the beginning of June, the City served a notice tothe owners that stated they had 30 days to either fix it or demolish it. Philly's dance-club scene set for a comeback. 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. The award-winning restaurant's unique dining style is a collaboration between celebrated restaurateur Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy. It was replaced with a stainless chrome and larger diner about 1949-50. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Weinsteinand his then-partner Bob Elfant brainstormed an idea to bring a family-style restaurant to the former Roy Rogers location on Germantown. In 2006, Michael Petrogiannis bought this one too and proceeded to make significant interior renovations that improved upon the diners formerly dark and ponderous atmosphere. I had a lot of great memories working there. Taco AngelenoClosed in: 2018West Phillys lack of great pizza and Mexican fare is widely acknowledged (hey, South Philly has tons of both and is just a quick ride over the Grays Ferry bridge). The seafood was tasty, the atmosphere was perfect and the vibe was upbeat. Its likely thatno other builder constructed more diners than Jerry OMahony. I want jobs and revenue and, yes, maybe digital signage, if thats what it takes to lure serious investment into more challenging parts of town. But what about the diner? nest and fried wontons with complete with a mysterious dunking sauce. 1970s philadelphia restaurants. What Philadelphia looked like in the 1980s Through These Fascinating Photos. Freshly ground meat, a Melrose tradition, has been replaced by portion control. 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. Continental MILLER III / File Photograph. The story of how the Trolley Car came to Mount Airy begins with a few too many beers. Yeah, theres Delco and Jersey on either side of the city, but still a major American city needs the accessibility, affordability, and history that a solidlong-lived diner can provide. During the 1980s, many Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants settled in the city, particularly in the Italian Market area. One of my favorite Philadelphia restaurants of all time was Frankie Bradley's. I went there for years, and usually ate prime rib, which was . That looks like the store Teddy Pendergasss first manager had a beauty products center. Given the extent of his investments along the corridor, I dont think youll find anyone who has made a bigger bet on its comeback. Keep up the great work! Thanks to a tip by someone who grew up in the Olney neighborhood I managed to find this diner which, up until that point, existed on no one elses list. Here are some fascinating photos that offer a glimpse into 1980s Philadelphia. People dont pick up after their dogs. Ride Trains. On Market Street, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, is a block of buildings in the Renaissance Revival Victorian style. Casa Del Marisco is a sports bar on 5th Street. 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. The diner, one of the anchors of the neighborhood, remains boarded up. And apparently, makingkiller fried chicken will make folks fondly remember your restaurant for years after it folds. Your email address will not be published. It was torn down in 2006. 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. His new old-style diner came by truck in six sections, pieced together on site. Weinstein topped off the whole project with a neon sign almost worthy of the Las Vegas strip, something few do anymore. Airys cedarbrook plaza. dinner dining room with views of the Swann Fountain was elegant up until Melrose really had some good food under the Kubachs. Just for the nostalgia and reminiscing those good old days. The Red Robin Diner represents the transitional style of diners popular in the mid-to-late 1960s when stainless steel had lost its shine. All tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.See the list. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Manage Settings Meme posted that she thought it was a place called DeDes and I believe that was the one I was thinking of. On June 6, the City posted a notice on the front door demanding its owners to either fix it or tear it down. Photograph by Dick Swanson/The National Archive, Eddie Gindi seems genuinely excited as he stands at the dais in the Union League. But the jewel in the restaurant groups crown was Pub Tiki, a You might expect to get dental work inside rather than a good breakfast. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. By 1930 Cleveland had 1,073 restaurants with 5,959 full-time employees, doing $27,084,127 worth of business. My father worked as a manager at Whitney & Patterson Paper Company at 5th & Bristol in the 70s into the 80s. This was the place to reconnoiter, the hub, the treehouse club, the HQ. My friends dad picked us up in his car one day without any clothes on. Philadelphia Fish & Co. 207 Chestnut. The gauzy visions of a prosperous and dynamic Center City that once seemed like pipe dreams have, in large part, become reality. The Pub had four satellite locations around town two in Center And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. There is also Chung Sing, an American-chinese diner on Lancaster Avenue near Ardmore. I suppose the diner and billboards are merely *adjacent* to the graveyard, but it still makes for an odd juxtaposition. Went for lunch and was quite impressed. The Farm & Fisherman Closed in: 2016Why wemiss it: Josh and Colleen Lawlers petite Washington Square West BYOturned outelegant farm-to-table, snout-to-tail fare they famously had no walk-in refrigeration, meaning that fresh ingredients were constantly coming into the restaurant. ChifaClosed in: 2013At Chifa, Jose Garces focused on the relationship between Peruvian cuisine and its Cantonese influence,puttingyuca fries, lomo saltado, soup dumplings, and scallion pancakes all on one glorious menu. This diner is a perfect example ofwhy you do not want to become a diner aficionado. Which kind of adult would I be? Days Deli. All-in-all, the Melrose still mostly looks and feels like the Melrose. In the 80s he built the Ritz. The Square had no profusion of roses in front of the lion statue. Talula's Garden, opened in 2011 at Washington Square, is an upscale restaurant inspired by locally produced ingredients, prepared in sync with the season. I may allow some slack for most diners, but, in my mind, a well-run diner must do two things perfectly every time: Coffee and home fries. Next time Ill have to get the sauce on the side to be sure. The ovation he received brought tears to his eyes Philly loved Teddy and he lived Philly. In Philly, it was hard to tell what adulthood was. 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. Philadelphia dining. But no, the owners just had to go and crash land this beauty into a sea of ugly. Supercade was too fresh and clean. Shame it sits the way it does. Stuccoed into obscurity at Annas. A bakery and an expanded dining room was added later. The late 60s and early 70s in Philadelphia were pretty relaxed. I saw with my own eyes, he says, the massive money and time being spent to make Philadelphia a retail center. Philadelphians, he says, are fashion-savvy, creative and artistic: They get it..

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