Where middle class families may have eaten out at before TGIFs, Applebees, etc

[k1xv]

i was born in the late 1940s in Kearny NJ, which at the time had many first generation immigrants from Scotland. There were many Scottish style fish and chips restaurants. The last one closed about four years ago.

Anyway, as a kid in the 1950s, I remember a fish and chips dinner at one of these places cost 50 cents. But if you wanted bread and butter, it was 10 cents extra. There were few side dishes. A coffee was a dime, and some kind of desert was no more than 25 cents. Ketchup was available, but not in a ketchup bottle. It was in a refillable bottle with a lid with a hole so small, maybe a 12 gauge wire would fit through it. To really get any ketchup out, you had to unscrew the lid. Vinegar was also available for the french fries.

I remember going with my parents, we each got a dinner, and the total bill with the tip was around $2.00

 

[Kira]

The last one closed about four years ago.

Then that had to be the one we went to (lived in Wood-Ridge at the time). All I can say is, good riddance.
They were in an odd ethnic niche. A restaurant featuring a starchy, vegetable free cuisine.
The old guard moved up and out a long time ago.

 

[k1xv]

Then that had to be the one we went to (lived in Wood-Ridge at the time). All I can say is, good riddance.
They were in an odd ethnic niche. A restaurant featuring a starchy, vegetable free cuisine.

The Argyle, on Kearny Avenue

https://www.northjersey.com/story/l...-fish-chips-restaurant-has-closed/2804025001/

 

[y_p_w]

I'm hoping for a Chi-Chi's Mexican comeback.

In the 1990s/early 2000s, when my wife & I were in CT, I remember my favorite entree - the Buffalo Chicken Fajitas. It was so good, with the crusted chicken sliced-up just right, drizzled with sour cream (iirc), on top of the sizzling peppers & onions.

That was brought up.

Thread 'Chi-Chi's Restaurants coming back'

Dec 4, 2024

I think it was mentioned before here in a discussion on defunct restaurants.

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/chi-chis-mexican-restaurants-return/​

​

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...for-comeback-after-two-decades-302321339.html​

​

https://www.restaurantbusinessonlin...ts-set-return-after-disappearing-20-years-ago​

Twenty years after bankruptcy and a foodborne illness outbreak forced it to close its doors for good, full-service Mexican chain Chi-Chi’s is preparing...​

• y_p_w
• Replies: 44
• Forum: Foods/Cooking/Beverages

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[Torrid]

I'm hoping for a Chi-Chi's Mexican comeback.

In the 1990s/early 2000s, when my wife & I were in CT, I remember my favorite entree - the Buffalo Chicken Fajitas. It was so good, with the crusted chicken sliced-up just right, drizzled with sour cream (iirc), on top of the sizzling peppers & onions.

I miss Chi-Chis. That was a family favorite. It was usually only once a month, but 8-10 people each time.

 

[Kira]

Glad you bounced back.
It was the Thistle, on Valley Brook Ave. in Lyndhurst, and it hasn't closed.
I called a pal in Hasbrouck Heights and was told the daughters took the reigns from the retired parents and upped the quality and pared down the menu. That is always good to hear.
We had gone before the pandemmo.
I checked online and their hours were scaled back a bit too.
I was informed it's pretty good.
I will go for a chips-free fish dish.

That is good news...New Jersey's abundant BYOBs make dining more fun and affordable.

 

[rijndael]

Took one of my middle kids to a local diner (it's not uppity or anything), it was for breakfast after church. There were 3 of us eating. Nothing special, just some french toast, pancakes, and a belgium waffle. The bill was $52 before a tip.

 

[Randy_R]

I live in a good DuPage County suburb and there's more locally-owned one-location restaurants within a few miles of me than I can even remember, many of which have been there for decades. I just might pick up pizza from one of them tonight.

I lived in one of those good DuPage County suburbs for 25 years. I grew up in a Cook County suburb just over the county line. I had 5 different pizza places in my rotation, none of them franchises. I used to go to an excellent, IMHO, Italian restaurant in Cook County that’s still there. Nothing fancy, just great food. That was one of my pizza places. We had Italian beef and hot dog stands, not Portillo’s. Not knocking Portillo’s. Back then he had maybe couple, two, three places at the most and he was a couple suburbs away. When I could finally afford steak, we went to a steak house, not Ponderosa or Sizzler. We sure that was steak? Local family restaurants, great for 2AM breakfasts and lunch. Not much BBQ but we had Russell’s.

 

[y_p_w]

Some of the deals that casual dining restaurants have now are pretty good. Chili's with 3 for Me and other places with assorted specials. And not just limited to happy hours. I was a little bit disappointed when I actually went to a local Applebee's hoping maybe to order the special while I watched a game and was told they didn't have it. It's a national special, but I later looked around and didn't see it available anywhere in my area. As much as I wouldn't recommend at steak at Applebee's, their burgers are actually quite good. I ended up ordering nachos, but I would have rather had a burger and fries with a drink. Especially when the fries and drink have free refills.

https://www.applebees.com/en/specials/meal-deal

I started looking around again, and it looks like the locations in my area actually do have this special at the $9.99 starting price. Maybe they took longer to add it. One has the special, but at higher prices starting at $14.99. That's at Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. I'm kind of surprised because that's a touristy location where all the prices are typically higher without any kind of specials.

 

[Wolfshead]

The Late Great Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus, Ma. Gone since 2013.

 

[Hermann]

Took one of my middle kids to a local diner (it's not uppity or anything), it was for breakfast after church. There were 3 of us eating. Nothing special, just some french toast, pancakes, and a belgium waffle. The bill was $52 before a tip.

Yesterday Karen and I went to the Corner Cafe in Independence. MO. Karen ordered a side of Cream Gravy to put on her Omelet. $4.50 was the charge on the bill, the charge went down to $1.99 after Karen was a Karen. I used Google to locate the restaurant, so I'll get a review opportunity. Revenge is a dish best served cold, like the gravy was. After the credit our bill for 2 was $31 + a $5 tip.

 

[nthach]

Around here, Sizzler ruled. And it’s making a somewhat renaissance now. But, we also went to buffets but a lot of Asian places being the in the minority - those places were all in Oakland.

 

[y_p_w]

Around here, Sizzler ruled. And it’s making a somewhat renaissance now. But, we also went to buffets but a lot of Asian places being the in the minority - those places were all in Oakland.

When I was a kid, my parents occasionally took me to Sizzler, but more often a small chain in our area called Happy Steak. It started like a cafeteria, but steaks, burgers, etc. were ordered at the cashier at the end of the line. They also had coupons. We would wait for coupon mailers and get coupons for steaks or a pizza place.

 

[Allaned]

Luckily where we live there are many family owned restaurants and the chains just do no do well. The chains fail as they get pushed out by the fact that people have better choices than Applebees, etc.

 

[4WD]

Well, it’s Friday - so will do a local mom & pop fish/shrimp buffet for dinner - it’s still barely under $20 bucks - but was not long ago it was just $12+over priced drink …
On top of food costs - people load plates there like they have not eaten in a week

 

[JHZR2]

i was born in the late 1940s in Kearny NJ, which at the time had many first generation immigrants from Scotland. There were many Scottish style fish and chips restaurants. The last one closed about four years ago.

Anyway, as a kid in the 1950s, I remember a fish and chips dinner at one of these places cost 50 cents. But if you wanted bread and butter, it was 10 cents extra. There were few side dishes. A coffee was a dime, and some kind of desert was no more than 25 cents. Ketchup was available, but not in a ketchup bottle. It was in a refillable bottle with a lid with a hole so small, maybe a 12 gauge wire would fit through it. To really get any ketchup out, you had to unscrew the lid. Vinegar was also available for the french fries.

I remember going with my parents, we each got a dinner, and the total bill with the tip was around $2.00

The Argyke was my favorite. Since my grandparents were of Scottish heritage and I grew up in the area, I loved going there.

You would smell like fried fish for days.

Sad that they’re all gone. So is Lees Hawaiian islander. Remember that place?

Rutts Hut is still there. So that’s good!


In this thread I saw a lot about Ponderosa. Loved that place as a kid. I’m an 80s baby.

 

[k1xv]

The Argyke was my favorite. Since my grandparents were of Scottish heritage and I grew up in the area, I loved going there.

You would smell like fried fish for days.

Sad that they’re all gone. So is Lees Hawaiian islander. Remember that place?

Rutts Hut is still there. So that’s good!


In this thread I saw a lot about Ponderosa. Loved that place as a kid. I’m an 80s baby.

I liked the Argyle too, The owner used to come out wearing a kilt. The place that was 50 cents when I was a kid was Thompsons, which was on Kearny Ave near Harrison. And Rutts Hut, I lived in Bloomfield in my teens not far from Rutt's Hut. A lot of the old places around Styertown are now closed. I used to bowl at Rizzuto Berra bowling alleys, had Awful Awfuls at Bonds. I think all that is still there on Rt 3 is the Tick Tock Diner.

I have not been back there in years. The last place I lived in New Jersey was in Jefferson Township, near Picatinny Arsenal. Thankful I am not there suffering the Rt 80 cave in mess. Commuting was bad enough 25 years ago.

I was born in Kearny, at West Hudson hospital. I say I was born overlooking the Pulaski Skyway. Back when I was born, the air in Kearny was very smelly. To the west was a linoleum factory. To the south was a slaughter house. To the north was a plant at processed urea from animal urine. To the east was the garbage dumps and Koppers Coke. All were the sources of unique odors. It was said you could tell which way the wind was blowing by what the air smelled like in Kearny.

 

[Randy_R]

I live in a good DuPage County suburb and there's more locally-owned one-location restaurants within a few miles of me than I can even remember, many of which have been there for decades. I just might pick up pizza from one of them tonight.

Ever cross over into Cook County to Q’s in Hillside? It’s still there and it’s still good. Is there a bad DuPage suburb or are you in one of the “better” ones?

 

[UncleDave]

The whole dollar tip, a very big deal back in the day.