October 1980 -Frank Rios, 22, examines the corpse of an alligator found shot in the 4600 block of Simsbrook in south Houston. Sep 29, 1996. I remember the color yellow, there where generally in parking lots, ONLY drive threw and CHECKERS!!! The Credit Union on Edgebrook was a Taco Bueno. Review. Crazy Frog Saloon. The sidewalks are always busy, but during the lunch hour they fill up with downtown workers. Hundreds of people in a variety of water craft jammed Buffalo Bayou, braving water snakes and other perils of the bayou, for the Reeking Regatta. Longtime Houston Chronicle food editor Ann Criswell says, Ye Olde College Inn was the first restaurant in the United States to serve baked potatoes with all the toppings. - Foodservice IP, https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithBrittCollage?ref=hdr_shop_menu. For the second year in a row, the Oilers lost the American Football Conference championship game to the Steelers but still received an enthusiastic welcome from their fans. Meet the Astros prospect tearing up Spring Training, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, To get these special tacos, drive out to the Houston Ship Channel, Report: Houston ranked No. Who doesn't remember the sweet treats at Rumpelheimer's in Westbury Square? Copies are also available at the Bellaire Coffee Shop and McHugh Tea Room on Bissonnet. One early employee there, Alfred Julius Kahn, was a young immigrant from Germany. Snapping turtle soup, Cajun fried frog legs, and the tableside flambed bananas foster are just a few of the classic, Louisiana-influenced dishes on the menu. Vice President George and wife Barbara Bush wave at crowd. Learn how your comment data is processed. Christies has flourished for decades and calls itself the oldest family-run restaurant in Houston, still owned and operated by the Christie family at 6029 Westheimer. While Ive only just started reminiscing on Houston restaurants past and present (I havent even touched on my favorite subject hamburgers), our journey must end for now. One of Houstons first vegetarian restaurants, Hobbit Cafe is still serving up fresh veggie-friendly eats almost 50 years later. Maxim's was named the "Restaurant of the Century" by Texas Monthly in the magazine's 1999 "Best of the Century" issue. I think its a Mary Lee, but the more I think about it, the more I think might be something different. Norman Mailers Gospel According to the Son. More or less like a Luby's. ate there once, never again. Gone were the days when people indulged in a nice restaurant dinner only when traveling or celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Fashion. Some of the visiting rival Mets were arrested there. The marchers said that those who flee the communist regime live in fear of being sent back. March 1980 - Aerial view of Houston International Festival, looking east from high atop the Chronicle garage showing Preston closed to traffic as the festival spills over from Market Square. Originally it was solely a barbecue pit, but the restaurant expanded its menu to include a wide variety of southern comfort food. This long-standing Montrose staple offers 20 burger varieties from an old fashioned hamburger to the Frito pie burg, made extra savory with house-made chili and crunchy Fritos. September 13, 2004 in Historic Houston. May 1980 - Outbound traffic on Southwest Freeway (59 South) approaching Newcastle exit. Oil bust 1982-1986 2. Entdecke 1980er Jahre Onkel Tai's Hunan Yuan Restaurant Men South Post Oak Road Houston Texas in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! I would order either a filet mignon or fried shrimp. The city's young people stayed busy with singles nights and petition drives, and Houston traffic seems like it was almost as bad as it is. Your link has been automatically embedded. It was a very fun place to work, I worked at both San Antonio locations 78-79 and the Houston in 1980. 2. November 1980 - Vice President George and wife Barbara Bush wave at crowd. Paralleling the growth of the food elite were chefs who became famous as they gave interviews, dashed off cookbooks, and demonstrated cooking techniques on the dais and the small screen. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Northwest Freeway Houston Texas China Villa Restaurant Matchbook at the best online prices at eBay! Tea Cup dining restaurant ware Green/White For Sale Vintage 1980\'s Houston Foods Co. The new 71-story, glass-sheathed Allied Bank Plaza will soon dominate the downtown Houston's western skyline. 1987 With new laws holding restaurants responsible for customers who cause drunk driving injuries, rising numbers of liability lawsuits against restaurants, and ballooning insurance premiums, American Express promises protection to restaurants that accept its charge card. Man that place was hoppin! The pictured minibus, used for transporting handicapped students from the Ellen B. Over the years, Ive had a lot of traffic coming to read my article called A Look Back at Gilleys 1980.. Yeah that good. There was a Del Taco on Edgebrook. Lots of line dancing in an atmosphere of mostly Carpenter tunes ranging from the romantic to the morose. I left a comment on your blog, or tried. Music has been relieved of duty with pay, pending an investigation of why he struck one of the accused kidnappers after the suspect was arrested and handcuffed. It doesn't matter what your party or lounge lizard scene . Many of the old-school eateries that paved the way for Houstons current restaurant scene are still open today, and serving up some of the best dishes in the city. Numbers Night Club. The Big Easy. (8509 Teichman Road, 409-740-0771. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. George's Restaurant Houston Second Verse Bar. I know it was in a mall, just can't remember which one). Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Maxim's Glitter force Smile Precure Toy Set Chest Charm Decor de call Set Pretty Cure. Popular during the 70s and early 80s, the sandwich consisted of taco meat, shredded lettuce, mild "border sauce" and diced onions. Here are 10 Restaurant Chains From The '80s Which Are Now CLOSED: 10. In Milwaukee, taverns continue to do brisk business serving deep fried fish on Friday nights. It was his fourth and final session on the work of art, looking at the skyline from Sam Houston State Park. With red, blue and green color-themed rooms, Christie's was known for its remoulade sauce on French-fried shrimp. The 1990s were. The National Weather Service forecast a 60 percent chance of rain, and cooler temperatures in Houston for today. I've always thought of it as a poor man's jack in the Box. Restaurant groups proliferated, ranging from those that owned a dozen or fewer restaurants in one city to groups controlling hundreds of franchises throughout a region. You had to know where it was. I think it was on Westheimer or Richmond, out west. Pizza at 25 cents or perhaps falafel at 50 cents, were "reasonable" investments in a blind date. hopefully they'll open more raising cane's here, had it in new orleans and those are some good, fast tenders. Coral Gables (later Dallas)- ecorse rd./ taylor. Not only did the Cathay House serve the best Chinese pork ribs in town, but it also had an awesome Astrodome rendering displayed on the wall, complete with twinkling lights. Pasted as rich text. 19 verified bookings. See our, By submitting your email, you agree to our, 16 Classic Restaurants Every Houstonian Should Visit at Least Once, Sign up for the While other Houston cafeterias have come and gone, Cleburne stands strong, offering beloved cafe plates like meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, blackened catfish, and turkey with dressing available year-round. Im confused about the wording of your question and also what restaurant you are referring to. Nothing brings people together like food and conversation, so as I stroll down this culinary memory lane, I invite you to join me in the nostalgia by remembering some Houston restaurants of yesterday. Who doesnt remember Alfreds both the delicatessen and the man? Meghan Overdeep. The average price of a two-bedroom rental in 1980 was about $475 and by 1990 it had climbed to about $975, according to data from San Francisco's Rent Board. Several awards were given, Texas. The Mandola family name is a household one when it comes to Houston dining, in part thanks to the consistently fresh and tasty eats at Ragin Cajun, which has stood at its original location for almost 50 years under the direction of Luke Mandola Sr. and his son Dominic. The workmen took care of their unscheduled clean-up job and went on their way. Additional photographs and information about the book can be found at www.bellairebook.com. 116 W Crosstimbers Rd, Houston, TX 77018 (713) 695-8112 Visit Website Barbecue Inn/Facebook Also featured in: 18 Houston Restaurants Serving Up the Finest Fried Chicken Brenner's Steakhouse. Some of the baseball Astros drank there. on Bellaire -- don't think they lasted too long. Renu's, a Thai restaurant on Westheimer near Commonwealth. Does anyone remember? The next thing was that the waiters and waitresses practically sang us a litany of all the dishes on the menu, something that we were not used to at all. Related Items: SMURFS - VINTAGE 1980's SCHLEICH PEYO . A funeral wreath on the door of the Bopp Health Food Store in downtown Tucson on Jan. 21, 1981. (it was in Florida Orlando area). The house was moved because of a crumbling foundation. By Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor in Almeda Mall. Artists and musicians could afford to . BFE Rock Club. A crowd of more than 55,000 filled the Dome with cheers and choruses of the Oiler Fight Song. Ill add to the list as they come to mind. Camille Bermann's Maxim's of Houston later relocated to Greenway Plaza on Richmond. September 1980-Heritage house moved in Houston, Texas. Just north of 610 South was Looks Sirloin Inn, owned by Sonny Look. (I lived in Fondren Southwest) I used to go to Mr. Gatti's by Braes Bayou (I think).. What I remember of Mr. Gatti's is that they had a big screen and they'd show "The little Rascals" and old newsreels. It was possibly the most influential restaurant in Houston's culinary history. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I only got to go there once or twice, but it was a treat to see (and hear) the seemingly 100-ft long organ in there. I was on another site and someone started a blog on old 70's and 80's bars and lounges around the Detroit area it was pretty cool. Was "Checkers" ever in Houston? No Houston restaurant memory would be complete without mentioning the history of local delicatessens. Bumbling through the cafeterialine Celebrity restaurants: Evelyn Nesbits tearoom The artist dinesout Reubens: celebrities andsandwiches Good eaters: students From tap room to tearoom Whats in a name? Nearly every one I've ever seen has been boarded up. My uncle, Leon Levinthal Jr., had several favorite places for steaks, including the original Brenners Steakhouse on Katy Road and Bud Bigelows way out west location on Westheimer. From old-fashioned burgers and seafood-stuffed po-boys to killer Tex-Mex and Beyonce-approved fried chicken, heres where to find the citys best classic eats. $26.25. Martini Bar and Cigar. Independent restaurateurs, too, found it increasingly attractive to operate more than one restaurant. Draloc, Inc. Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. Their tamales were delicious, but smelly. Alongside dishes like The Gandolf, a cheesy mushroom and avocado sandwich, Hobbit now boasts an impressive menu of burgers, including the Fires of Mount Doom, topped with chorizo, hatch chile queso, sliced serrano and cilantro. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. . Checkers was definitely down in League City years ago. There was a Del Taco on Edgebrook. 403 Winkler Dr. - Houston TX (built early 1980s; demolished 2017; also 888 Chinese Restaurant) This restaurant is a second generation Pizza Hut building - the first was built in the late 1960s and was . I've always been a faithful Shipleys man, so I never ate there, but it always looked appetizing as a kid. Disadvantaged locals ate for free and left, like a community service. A family stands in front of the grocery store they proudly own. January 1980:Some celebrated the coming of 1980 with food and drink while others prayed that it would be a year of peace and serenity. Thank you for making Chowhound a vibrant and passionate community of food trailblazers for 25 years. (Photo: www.bellairebook.com). This was a go-to restaurant for Sunday lunch after church and for special occasions., Another of Criswells favorites was Heberts Ritz in what is now known as Midtown. Open in Google Maps Foursquare 3606 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005 (713) 667-2386 Visit Website Also featured in: 17 Excellent Dining Options For Christmas Eve and Day in Houston 16 Classic. Display as a link instead, The lease on the new location, which was just off Washington Avenue, expired in 2001. Old maps of Houston on Old Maps Online. Hermann Park, Houston, Texas. newsletter, 12 Houston Speakeasies to Spice Up Your Night. Their advertising was enough to get my family to go once & once only. From what I hear Hardee's sounds gross. Munchies an artsy ice-house on Bissonett near Rice with string quartet music and mimes. Forty years ago,Saddam Hussein had just become president of Iraq, all four Beatles were still alive, Donald Trump was married to Ivana and the Tennessee Titans didn't exist by name. Ugh. Only local dining scholars will recognize the names of some of Houston's first eating establishments: Round Tent Saloon, Mansion House, T.J. Prindle's Exchange Restaurant, Perkin's Corner,. Fred Harvey revisited Street food: tamales Famous in its day:Blums Women chefs before the1970s Speed eating Top posts in2020 Holiday greetings from 11thHeaven Dining with UsMortals Your favorite restaurant? April 1980- A group of Houston residents marched outside City Hall Saturday in an appeal for support and protection of Cambodian refugees who have fled to Thailand. This iconic seafood buffet was located on South Main Street just south of 610 South Loop. Lots of random kissing. See Best of Boston 1980 winners in the Restaurants & Food category, as selected by Boston magazine. At 9200 South Main Street was Gaidos Seafood, the same establishment that continues to grace Galveston Island. Change). Mob restaurants As the restaurant world turned, July17 Dining in summer Dining by gaslight Anatomy of a restaurateur: CharlesSarris Womens restaurants Restaurant history day Charge it! We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. (4) 6.6. When he opened the restaurant on Shepherd Drive in 1942, he decorated the walls with photos of Villa and relics from the Mexican Revolution. Cajun restaurant, and the first restaurant that became a "favorite" after I moved here. It's a credit union now. Find Chinese comfort plates like fried chicken wings and shrimp dumplings, plus beef Cantonese chow mein made with fresh, house-made noodles. The current building, nautically painted white with blue trim, is easy to spot, and the lighthouse on top guides diners to plates of fresh seafood, including the famous fish sandwich, an original menu item since 1917. Those guys were always tuned in to the trendier places in town. March 1980- Iranian Demonstration in Downtown Houston. Howard Johnson's (Closed in 2017) See more '80s Nostalgia By 1975, the Howard Johnson Company had more than 1,000 restaurants and more than 500 motor lodges in 42 states and Canada. Ate there a few times as a kid too. Bryan's 797. Though conditions were improving, women also faced continuing discrimination in restaurant work. Any places you recall and want to share, send to -> wpmfla at gmail. last time i saw one was in beaumont remember Two Pesos? What ever happened to Krystal Burger expanding? A catalog of restaurants >50 years old either still open or now closed. Clear editor. I think its latest incarnation was a fajita place. Onto the auction block go pewter plates, crocks, jugs, and replica muskets, along with a Nacho Cheese Dispenser. The Molina family has been running Molinas Cantina for three generations, and the warmth of family can still be felt when dining there today. hardee's is ok, but i don't mind not having it here. I believe that was the name of the place on Fuqua at Sabo. 1840s. Pizza Hut No. A glimpse through the rare images below will remind you that as with everything in the city, the scene is constantly changing. Had a great Chicken Tchopitoulas and the best cornbread muffins I've ever had in a restaurant. Levinthal recalls The Green Parrot. Nelsons favorite dining memory is from Elliotts Steakhouse in the Medical Center. (though some I cant remember their names). While researching this story, I spoke with many long-timers who shared their favorite dining memories, including Buzz-neighborhood residents Nancy Levinthal, a local volunteer and philanthropist, and Leisa Holland Nelson, local author and business owner. can't remember the name seems like it started with a W. We have Weinerschitzel in Bryan/College Station, I ate there the day before yesterday. Bell Beefer. (LogOut/ The driver and passengers in the van were not injured. (Leakey, 1971) Wikimedia Commons. Their pizzas were perfect, and I remember our favorite waitress, Kay. Marfreless in River Oaks, an unmarked and eclectic bar for couples. They closed the Gatti's near A&M many years ago, then they opened a big one in Bryan, about 13 years later they closed that one and opened a new one in College Station. I can remember walking up to the counter with my father as he introduced me to his favorite flavor of ice cream, pistachio. Traffic Accidents - Houston, Texas. Put simply, Pittsburgh is the best place in the world to call home. We visit San Francisco regularly and the food served at restaurants there is usually superb. Mac Gregor House Restaurant, 5100 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas. Century Development Corp, will build the new project. For an investment of less than $10,000, the duo would become the founding fathers of Houston and what began as a struggling trading post would in time become the fourth largest city in the nation and a capital of industry. A) Sonny Bono B) Jimi Hendrix C) Frank Zappa 4. Night Clubs Bars Restaurants. Eventually, the suburbs evolved into a popular destination for dining experiences, with the citys development to the west. December 1980: Aldine buses collideHarris County, Texas, Deputy Sheriff W.J. In 1897 the house was saved from demolition and moved from its original site by Mrs. e. Richardson Cherry. The Alfie's on Fondren between SW Frwy & Bellaire lasted the longest to my knowledge. and help keep the future of the Houston Press, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Filed under cafeterias, chain restaurants, elite restaurants, ethnic restaurants, food, menus, patrons, racism, women, Tagged as 1980s restaurants, California cuisine, celebrity chefs, chain restaurants, foodies, Northern Italian cusisine, Shoney's lawsuit, Pingback: Can the 1980s Restaurants Be the Key to Growth in the 2020s? And I just remembered, Neil's Ice Cream in the 80s. I know it was already listed above, but Pipe Organ Pizza was one of my all-time faves as a kid. There was also a supreme version available . You could not even move around Alfreds during Passover, as the lines were out the door due to everyone stocking up for their Seder needs. Published on January 4, 2022. With red, blue and green color-themed rooms, Christies was known for its remoulade sauce on French-fried shrimp. 1989 The largest ever bias lawsuit involving a restaurant chain is filed against the 1,500-unit Shoneys and its head Ray Danner. January 1980: Dressed in a three-piece suit, Johnny L. Turlington, a chairman of Clerical Workers in Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union, Houston, Local 4227, pickets the Crown Central Petroleum Corp. refinery at 111 Red Bluff.