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boscorama 03-17-2014, 08:17 PM Now I'm wondering if it was called the A&A Cafe.
Good Eats: Went there once, liked it. There was also one on I-35 in the Denton TX area. I stopped there in 1996.
That name seems to ring a bell or maybe it was called britton cafe.
boscorama 03-17-2014, 08:19 PM Bob's Queen Bee, NW 23/Western, a late-night delight LOL.
GaryOKC6 03-17-2014, 08:22 PM That was the A&A Café. I used to go there every Friday after work when I got paid and have a steak Betty was my favorite waitress.
GaryOKC6 03-17-2014, 08:24 PM I used to love to go to Sambo's on 33rd & Classen and have their pancakes.
Urbanized 03-17-2014, 08:30 PM The OG Abraham's Western Cafe. Not as enthusiastic about the current location. Loses some of the charm.
bluedogok 03-17-2014, 09:23 PM Okay . . . Here's one that I bet almost nobody remembers:
"Good Eats Café".
It was where "The Ranch" is now (over on Britton Rd.).
I only ate there a couple of times, but the food was superb, if basic, and priced right.
It was the place where my "cooking gene" was activated with my first taste of "Tequila Glazed Chicken".
(I know that TGC is, like, Cooking 101 but it was sure good and opened up my culinary horizons. =)
Now I'm wondering if it was called the A&A Cafe.
Good Eats: Went there once, liked it. There was also one on I-35 in the Denton TX area. I stopped there in 1996.
They have one left in Dallas (on Live Oak) and one in Houston, they were all over Dallas when I lived there in the early 90's. They used to have a real good chicken fry.
What was that greasyspoon in Britton, the AAA Cafe?
I think it was in the old 7-11 right by Casady, I think they later moved down Britton Rd.
Urbanized 03-17-2014, 09:47 PM I'm going to go ahead and add the original Pearl's and Bellini's to this list. R.I.P.; you both became the Melanie Griffiths of restaurants.
Prunepicker 03-17-2014, 10:25 PM I'm going to go ahead and add the original Pearl's and Bellini's to this list.
Pearl's was very good. I'm assuming you mean the one that was on NW 63rd.
Has Bellini's closed? I'm not aware of that happening. Did Bellini's exist in
another location? I played there a couple of months ago. The usual "richer
than we could ever hope to be" crowd was attending the gig and were
engaging with the band. It was quite fun.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. We left the gig sitting very pretty.
RadicalModerate 03-17-2014, 10:33 PM I met my wife, in person, for the first time at the Bellini's, in Edmond, that has since morphed into a Teds.
I still remember exactly what I ordered* and how great the entire experience was.
A few years later, we went to Bellini's, in The Waterford, for an anniversary or whatnot.
The food was okay, but all I really remember about THAT experience was wandering, distracted, Cassidy Waifs, dressed in black, attempting to serve as Hospitality Industry reps, without the personal touch. It sort of reminded me of a production by Andy Warhol.
*I had Tuna with Angel Hair Pasta (a.k.a. "Capellini")
They put cheese on the fish.
Can you imagine such a gaffe?
But it was all good on account of I was falling in Love. =)
(this would have been back around '98 or so . . .)
Tomorrow, I put together the "St. Pat's Day Once Removed" version of some tasty eats for the same SweetHeart.
Urbanized 03-17-2014, 11:47 PM Pearl's was very good. I'm assuming you mean the one that was on NW 63rd.
Has Bellini's closed? I'm not aware of that happening. Did Bellini's exist in
another location? I played there a couple of months ago. The usual "richer
than we could ever hope to be" crowd was attending the gig and were
engaging with the band. It was quite fun.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. We left the gig sitting very pretty.
I am indeed talking about Pearl's on NW 63rd
If you are thinking of the place by the same name that still exists inside the Waterford, I doubt you spent much time at Bellini's in the '90s, eating anyway.
As far as I am concerned both places exist today in name only. They were the once the incredibly hot girls-next-door and today they are surgically-enhanced and unrecognizable.
RadicalModerate 03-17-2014, 11:56 PM A Loose Salute* to Old Restaurants . . . Shel Silverstein . . . Bobby Bare . . . and St. Patrick =) :
mTEcA6oS0-g
*all rights reserved by Michael Nesmith Enterprizes (c. 1970 sumpin' 'r other)
There Are No "New" Thoughts
We Are All Simply Compilers
Of Those That Have Gone Before.
Urbanized 03-18-2014, 12:04 AM Sleepy Hollow.
Achilleslastand 03-18-2014, 12:12 AM Sleepy Hollow.
Cant believe no one has mentioned this yet.
Some of the best fried chicken in town in my opinion.
Didn't they reopen for a spell after the robbery but ultimately had to close the doors?
RadicalModerate 03-18-2014, 12:27 AM Sleepy Hollow.
In my opinion . . . it was mis-managed.
1) Some pogue from the "management staff" came out to bitch at me (when I was a callow youth of about 22) about loading a bulldozer onto a low-boy trailer from the natural berm facilitating the completion of my task in the most expeditious manner possible in connection with a road improvement project in the vicinity.
2) A friend of mine . . . a plumber of sorts . . . (really a sewer cleaning guy) . . . told me that the worst drains of all to clear were the grease traps in restaraunts and the worst of the restaurants was . . . Sleepy Hollow.
3) After all of that . . . I ate there: The Food was Overpriced to the point that even Mediocre would have been Insulted. =)
whatitis 03-18-2014, 09:53 AM I got sick on a shrimp cocktail at the Der Dutchman one time... have never had shrimp cocktail again.
Other restaurants I miss include Bonaparte's... there was one in Shepherd Mall and also one on 39th near Ann Arbor. Tony's Via Roma on NW Expressway just east of May. Triple's on 16th & Classen. Applewood's... oh, how I loved their apple fritters and their rolls.
They also made a fantastic steak and I loved the green on green salad. I really enjoyed everything about that restaurant. I went there at least once a week until it closed. I can't remember what it became but the word was they would still have the same fritters and rolls with a similar menu. I went twice and the fritters were oily and had no powdered sugar. They didn't have the rolls and the menu switched to more seafood based. I miss that place as much as any fat man should.
As far as I am concerned both places exist today in name only. They were the once the incredibly hot girls-next-door and today they are surgically-enhanced and unrecognizable.
I know the location leaves a lot to be desired, but I'm hoping the new Tommy's on Memorial will remind us why we all fell in love with Bellini's (and Tommy's) in the first place.
RadicalModerate 03-18-2014, 12:18 PM Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .
How about this one . . .
There used to be a little hole in the wall place at the corner of Reno and Sunnylane that served some of the best "Plate Lunches" ever.
And what about "Maggie's Kitchen" out there in Harrah?
Or "The Front Porch" in Nicoma Park?
ctchandler 03-18-2014, 12:20 PM Achilleslastand,
Even though I enjoyed the place, my worst dining experience happened there. Reservations for Mother's day for 1:00, and at 2:30 we had not been seated. I told the family (11 of them) that I would buy the take-away and we would celebrate at my house. It was unanimous and I never went back. I understand problems on holidays but it was an advance reservation that they didn't come close to honoring and didn't seem to care. I believe a chef named Houston was the last owner and it seems there were some legal problems that led to the closing, possibly even some shady activity by the owner.
C. T.
Cant believe no one has mentioned this yet.
Some of the best fried chicken in town in my opinion.
Didn't they reopen for a spell after the robbery but ultimately had to close the doors?
ctchandler 03-18-2014, 12:21 PM RM,
Yes and yes.
C. T.
Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .
Achilleslastand 03-18-2014, 03:28 PM Achilleslastand,
Even though I enjoyed the place, my worst dining experience happened there. Reservations for Mother's day for 1:00, and at 2:30 we had not been seated. I told the family (11 of them) that I would buy the take-away and we would celebrate at my house. It was unanimous and I never went back. I understand problems on holidays but it was an advance reservation that they didn't come close to honoring and didn't seem to care. I believe a chef named Houston was the last owner and it seems there were some legal problems that led to the closing, possibly even some shady activity by the owner.
C. T.
The times ive been there were all pre-robbery and the food as well as the service was pretty good. Did you happen to go during the last ownership?
Here is a pretty good article on the place...
Sleepy Hollow Restaurant, Oklahoma City, OK (http://www.eskimo.com/~sockeye/ok/sleepyhollowokc.html)
ctchandler 03-18-2014, 03:40 PM No, the last time (Mother's Day) was sometime between December, 1972 and August, 1975. I know because we went to our home on S. W. 92nd to eat the take-away and that's the timeframe that we lived there. They were still a good place, but I got burned pretty bad. I'm fairly forgiving and give a place a couple of chances. If they had only been apologetic, I understands foulups, but, as I mentioned previously, they didn't seem to care. I think they were happy that they didn't have to seat us.
C. T.
975
The times ive been there were all pre-robbery and the food as well as the service was pretty good. Did you happen to go during the last ownership?
Here is a pretty good article on the place...
Sleepy Hollow Restaurant, Oklahoma City, OK (http://www.eskimo.com/~sockeye/ok/sleepyhollowokc.html)
Prunepicker 03-18-2014, 05:52 PM ... If you are thinking of the place by the same name that still exists inside the
Waterford, I doubt you spent much time at Bellini's in the '90s, eating anyway.
I definitely spent time at Bellini's in the 90's.
RadicalModerate 03-18-2014, 06:13 PM No, the last time (Mother's Day) was sometime between December, 1972 and August, 1975. I know because we went to our home on S. W. 92nd to eat the take-away and that's the timeframe that we lived there. They were still a good place, but I got burned pretty bad. I'm fairly forgiving and give a place a couple of chances. If they had only been apologetic, I understands foulups, but, as I mentioned previously, they didn't seem to care. I think they were happy that they didn't have to seat us.
C. T.
975
I had a similar experience on a Mother's Day at the Bellini's in Edmond. Rather than getting mad (instead, sublimating my anger) I managed to get the manager alone in his shabby little office to clarify and align our paradigms of what constitutes good customer service and what does not. No threats of any sort were involved. Our entire meal was "comped" and I left a tip.
boscorama 03-18-2014, 08:51 PM Little Dee's, 27th/Classen, wasn't exactly a restaurant but they sold fine Chocolate Soldiers, dreamsicles, Dr Pepper, and beer.
Up the street on the east was a burger drive-in called Candy Cane, irrc.
bluedogok 03-18-2014, 10:40 PM Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .
How about this one . . .
There used to be a little hole in the wall place at the corner of Reno and Sunnylane that served some of the best "Plate Lunches" ever.
And what about "Maggie's Kitchen" out there in Harrah?
Or "The Front Porch" in Nicoma Park?
Tommy's was pretty good but my favorite in that spot was Interurban, had a lot of fun times there and the food was better than the last time I ate at Interurban (Mustang location).
Urbanized 03-18-2014, 11:00 PM I definitely spent time at Bellini's in the 90's.
And you think it today in any way resembles the place where you hung out in the nineties? Other than the patrons, I mean. Interior, ownership, menu, all COMPLETELY different. BINO. Bellini's In Name Only.
RadicalModerate 03-19-2014, 10:22 AM Tommy's was pretty good but my favorite in that spot was Interurban, had a lot of fun times there and the food was better than the last time I ate at Interurban (Mustang location).
Since I don't get downtown often I don't know if it's still around, but the Interurban, down there somewhere, was where I first experienced a "Cajun Chicken" Sandwich on one of the first Opening Nights on New Year's Eve. Both the sandwich and the restaurant were fabulous.
Urbanized 03-19-2014, 09:59 PM Not around in that location anymore. Replaced a couple of years ago by Coolgreens, though that is presently mothballed due to P180 street closure. IU is not 100% gone from downtown; Packards is an Interurban-related place.
ctchandler 03-20-2014, 06:59 PM I just remembered what I believe was the first Japanese restaurant in OKC (I might be wrong), Tokyo Gardens on 46th and Lincoln. I remember their shrimp tempura, it was excellent.
C. T.
ctchandler 03-21-2014, 02:54 PM 7082SoonerDave,
I found this on the DOK archives. I couldn't locate one called "Jack's" as was mentioned by a couple of our members.
C. T.
Restaurant I miss from my kidhood was the old Spaghetti House on S. Western, on the west side of the road around 50th or so (Give or take). Near the old YMCA.
I remember its quiet, dimly lit atmosphere, breadsticks at the table, checkered tablecloths, and just the best smell you could imagine. They'd bring a little carousel of sauces to your table, and each meal finished off with a small bowl of orange sherbet.
CarltonsKeeper 03-22-2014, 11:57 AM Been trying for 4 years to find someone who remembers and knows the history of Ellen's Grill located at S.W. 42nd & S. Penn. Typical Diner built in the late fifties and then added a room on to the south end. I think they only had the one location although I've heard differently. It looked just about like the old "Cherry's" diners !! CT, you should be able to find this history if anyone can...
SoonerDave 03-22-2014, 12:36 PM 7082SoonerDave,
I found this on the DOK archives. I couldn't locate one called "Jack's" as was mentioned by a couple of our members.
C. T.
Great find, CT! $1.79 AYCE dinner. Wow.
Remember a last trip to Sleepy Hollow, but its been many, many years ago. It was good, but not overwhelming, and nothing that ever compelled us to try going back.
Now one pace that was really good the one time I visited it was the Haunted Mansion (House?) Think it was discussed recently in a different thread. Wife and I went there many moons ago with another couple - back when we were just dating - and it was a really nice place.
ctchandler 03-22-2014, 01:29 PM CarltonsKeeper,
I am drawing a blank. I search with Ellens (with and without apostrophe) grill, cafe, and diner between 1952 and 1975 and the only hit I get is Lou Ellen's Cafe in (I think) the Mid-Del area. How long has J & I Hitch been there? If you talk to the owner, he might have an idea since he is on the North side of 41st and it appears that the South side is where Ellen's could have been.
C. T.
Been trying for 4 years to find someone who remembers and knows the history of Ellen's Grill located at S.W. 42nd & S. Penn. Typical Diner built in the late fifties and then added a room on to the south end. I think they only had the one location although I've heard differently. It looked just about like the old "Cherry's" diners !! CT, you should be able to find this history if anyone can...
ctchandler 03-22-2014, 01:35 PM SoonerDave,
The Haunted House is a very nice place. At one time, it was one of the finest in OKC along with Christopher's, Jacques, and Junior's. The last time I was there we did have a problem, but it was partly because my late mother was so slow and the steaks were ready too soon. Instead of starting over, they kept them warm while she finished her salad, and it was obvious. I didn't let one little problem change my attitude, if my wife was still here, I would definitely go there.
C. T.
Now one pace that was really good the one time I visited it was the Haunted Mansion (House?) Think it was discussed recently in a different thread. Wife and I went there many moons ago with another couple - back when we were just dating - and it was a really nice place.
Prunepicker 03-22-2014, 05:35 PM Little Dee's, 27th/Classen, wasn't exactly a restaurant but they sold fine
Chocolate Soldiers, dreamsicles, Dr Pepper, and beer.
Up the street on the east was a burger drive-in called Candy Cane, irrc.
And the Blue Goose was about a block north. I lived in that area in the early
70's. The Candy Cane was pretty good.
CarltonsKeeper 03-23-2014, 08:35 PM Ellens Grill was definitely there and it was just North of J&I Hitch which was previously a FINA service station. J&I bought the place sometime after 1963. (I knew the owner of the FINA station) It must have been owned under another name and just operated as Ellens? Thanks for the work CT....
ctchandler 03-26-2014, 04:13 PM Does anybody remember El Patio on S. W. 5th between Walker and Robinson? A nice little "mom and pop" Mexican cafe. It was Tex-Mex and it was one of the first places my wife and I went when we were dating. It was open in the mid 60's and closed sometime in the early 70's. Really good salsa, we even bought it by the quart to take back to Maryland.
C. T.
Jeepnokc 03-27-2014, 06:17 AM There were two places we used to hit for lunch on regular basis that I miss. Durangos Mexican Restaurant which used to be on SE corner of 10th and Walker where the physical therapy place is now. They had a fire in the building and never came back. The other is the Pagoda which was on NW 36th street on north side of street between Shartel and Robinson. Looked like it was an old hamburger takeout. Miriwa on NW 23rd was one of the best back in the late 80's but now is just a shell of what it used to be. Sign is still there but doesn't look open.. Also, Jim's fried chicken on S. Douglas in MWC and location on NE 23rd was excellent
RadicalModerate 03-27-2014, 06:55 AM From what I hear, Jim's Fried Chicken on NE 23rd is still in business under new management.
Edy's--just down the street--served real good Broasted Chicken.
A little further down the street--where Mr. Tee's BBQ is or used to be--was Dean's Drive-In. You could get 5 pretty darn good hamburgers for a dollar. They also had great chili dogs and Frito Pies. But I was just a kid, so my taste in food was fairly simple and it might not have been as good in reality as in my recollection.
If you wanted food a step up from any of that you had to go to MWC: Checker's (Chequer's?) or Pelican's.
I still like to go to Pelican's once in a while . . . Jim Doelzel, the owner, opened a branch of Pelican's on N. May where that sushi place is now. We only ate there once. It was nowhere near as good as the original location. They treated their rice pilaf side almost as an afterthought and that is NOT good eats.
boscorama 03-27-2014, 08:53 PM There were two places we used to hit for lunch on regular basis that I miss. Durangos Mexican Restaurant which used to be on SE corner of 10th and Walker where the physical therapy place is now. They had a fire in the building and never came back. The other is the Pagoda which was on NW 36th street on north side of street between Shartel and Robinson. Looked like it was an old hamburger takeout. Miriwa on NW 23rd was one of the best back in the late 80's but now is just a shell of what it used to be. Sign is still there but doesn't look open.. Also, Jim's fried chicken on S. Douglas in MWC and location on NE 23rd was excellent
Pagodo, which I don't remember, must have been on the site of McMahon's, indeed, a hamburger takeout. Or maybe ice cream. It was across Walker from the First Christian Church.
Jeepnokc 03-27-2014, 10:39 PM Pagodo, which I don't remember, must have been on the site of McMahon's, indeed, a hamburger takeout. Or maybe ice cream. It was across Walker from the First Christian Church.
I think so. Just west of the church. but still on north side of the street
Garin 03-27-2014, 11:24 PM Anyone remember timeout. Burgers ?
Achilleslastand 03-27-2014, 11:42 PM Did I hear someone mention McMahon's?
My God I miss places like that
Hand cut fries I believe.............
ctchandler 03-28-2014, 12:08 PM Garin,
Yes, but I don't remember where they were located. Wasn''t it "Timeout for Burgers"?
C. T.
Anyone remember timeout. Burgers ?
Jim Kyle 03-28-2014, 01:12 PM They had two locations. One was on NW Hiway but I can't remember exactly where (somewhere close to where Outback is located now, I think, and the building no longer stands); the other was at NW 122 and MacArthur at the south end of the strip mall that housed Jim's IGA and later Wall's. That one became a Mexican restaurant after Timeout folded, and burned not long afterward due to a grease fire.
CarltonsKeeper 03-28-2014, 03:26 PM There was a Timeout restaurant on 1-240 where Outback is now !! (Between Penn & May Ave. South)
bluedogok 03-28-2014, 11:34 PM Here's a story on the 40th anniversary of the Casa Bonita here in Denver area (Lakewood).
Denver Post - Casa Bonita celebrates 40 years of sopapillas and cliff diving (http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_25443806/casa-bonita-celebrates-40-years-sopapillas-and-cliff)
ctchandler 03-29-2014, 11:07 AM Jim,
Thanks, I ate at the one on 122nd and MacArthur but I don't remember the one on NW Expressway. Kind of odd because I worked just West of there and drove by it twice a day. By the way, the 122nd place was also Chip's Barbecue, later to become Kansas City Blues barbecue on Britton road.
C. T.
They had two locations. One was on NW Hiway but I can't remember exactly where (somewhere close to where Outback is located now, I think, and the building no longer stands); the other was at NW 122 and MacArthur at the south end of the strip mall that housed Jim's IGA and later Wall's. That one became a Mexican restaurant after Timeout folded, and burned not long afterward due to a grease fire.
Jim Kyle 03-29-2014, 11:23 AM The one I was remembering as NW Hiway might have been the one down on 240 instead. It's been a long time...
boscorama 03-29-2014, 08:53 PM Casa Bonita was on 39th Expressway, east of Portland, next door to Pratt's. Or so I think.
bluedogok 03-29-2014, 09:23 PM Casa Bonita was on 39th Expressway, east of Portland, next door to Pratt's. Or so I think.
The last thing that I know of in the space was an Asian buffet, the old Holiday Inn was across the street that ran to the east of the restaurant.
boscorama 03-29-2014, 10:41 PM I'm talking 70's till ?
Prunepicker 03-29-2014, 11:48 PM I'm talking 70's till ?
The 70's? That was centuries ago. Wasn't it like between 1969 and 1980?
I'm sure I was there. At least mom says... never mind.
bluedogok 03-30-2014, 01:11 PM I'm talking 70's till ?
According to Wikipedia the OKC Casa Bonita opened in 1968 and closed in 1993. The OKC location was the first.
boscorama 03-30-2014, 09:03 PM I had no idea when it closed. I went once, seems like around 1992-3, because a young friend worked there. The owner or manager was in some rape scandal or something. The place was pretty dead. Does that count?
Never mind.
Prunepicker 03-30-2014, 09:58 PM SoonerDave,
I found this on the DOK archives. I couldn't locate one called "Jack's" as was
mentioned by a couple of our members.
C. T.
I've been thinking about Jack's Steakhouse. Maybe it was really the Family
Spaghetti House. The name is very familiar and it's located exactly where
I thought I remembered Jack's to be. The restaurant wasn't in the strip
that Gerald's Donuts is located, but the next strip north. Just south of the
YMCA, where you couldn't stay because they didn't have rooms.
I found an obituary of the owner of Jack's Steakhouse
but the location of the restaurant wasn't mentioned.
This ad is from 12/9/69
http://archive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/1969/12/09/46/Img/Ad0461022.png
CarltonsKeeper 03-31-2014, 09:28 AM Jack's Steak House was between SW 58th & 59th on Penn just South of the strip center in a brick or stone building - West side of Penn....
BlackmoreRulz 03-31-2014, 08:58 PM I think I remember where the Spaghetti House was...the building directly north of the Taco Bell in the back.
If you look at this pic http://www.okctalk.com/images/1969/1969s59penn.jpg the first street at the top is 51st if my memory is correct.
Then when you go to the intersection of 59th and Penn, Jacks was the northern most space in the building on the northwest corner.
Prunepicker 03-31-2014, 09:22 PM Jack's Steak House was between SW 58th & 59th on Penn just South of the
strip center in a brick or stone building - West side of Penn....
That's exactly where I'm envisioning the location. However, there's nothing
in the Oklahoman archives that suggests it. There is an obituary that mentions
Jack's Steakhouse but not a location.
There is information about the Family Spaghetti House in that very location.
Prunepicker 03-31-2014, 09:26 PM ...This ad is from 12/9/69
http://archive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/1969/12/09/46/Img/Ad0461022.png
Jack's Steak House was between SW 58th & 59th on Penn just South of
the strip center in a brick or stone building - West side of Penn....
CK, I remember the sign. I can't find any evidence of it's existence.
Was it in the same strip as Gerald's Donuts? I've been munching on
some serious Gerald's Donuts.
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