I met Johnny Lee a couple of times back when Urban Cowboy came out, my father and him were drinkin' buddies at Gilley's then when Johnny opened his own club they would alternate. This family-owned restaurant originally began as a Chinese food products import store in the 60s but soon transformed into the restaurant Houstonians still frequent today. As are fans everywhere in Houston. Genora's White Kitchen-my grandfather(dad's father) worked here, and,a ccording to dad, he worked so much, that he's probably one of the waiters, hosts in the photo(painting)! Noted for the knight in armor perched upon a horse, greeting patrons in the parking lot, Looks Sirloin Inn sported a British Castle feel. river james murray . For dessert, I chose warm fudge pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Maxim's With a luxurious pink interior and ornate chandeliers, Maxims catered to a new River Oaks crowd, while hoping to maintain loyal customers from the downtown location. When he realized that this was Houston, where meat and potatoes were popular, steak offerings were quickly added to the menu, as were New Orleans Creole-inspired dishes including Creole Gumbo and a signature seafood dish, Red Snapper Excelsior, topped with artichokes, mushrooms and chili powder. It leaves us wondering if this threeway ever happened. By Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. The Strawberry Patch was one of the most popular restaurants serving traditional American food to hit Houston during the 1970s. After learning every aspect of the business, Alfred Kahn later opened his first location of Alfreds Delicatessen in 1948 at 2408 Rice Boulevard in Rice Village. When do you think the photo of Market Square was from? (The legal drinking age at that time was 18.) One night at La Bastille a bum-looking fellow came down to the club so I doubled the door fee to try to keep him out. Maxim's never modernized its dcor or menu, and it never found a younger audience. To leave a comment, please log in or create an account with The Buzz Magazines, Disqus, Facebook, Twitter or Google+. But the big shocker came when immediately after, the Texans picked Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. considered by many the best player in the entire 2023 class at No. 3 overall, the move is being largely heralded across sports media and the NFL landscape, particularly with those who've been critical of the Texans' front-office moves of late (no need to re-hash all that now). Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. Additional photographs and information about the book can be found at www.bellairebook.com. If anyone has a photo please add? Does anyone know anything about it or have any photos of the interior? I used to run the door at Club Bojangles and under it La Bastille. For more food news and features from Chron,sign up for The Feed newsletter here. Trout almandine was also served as a boneless filet in the oven. The Stella Link location was a gourmet food store in the front, with a counter and full-service restaurant in the back. The Pan American was a showcase for the local near Northside area. There were many other South Main Street/Medical Center area favorites, particularly Ye Olde College Inn across from what was then known as Rice Institute. 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. How can people be "laid back" with loud, live music playing? This Week in Houston Food Events: Sip Mint Juleps and Watch the Kentucky Derby, It Won't Kill You: Top 5 Hamburger Helper Flavors, Openings and Closings: Izakaya Will Make Way for Josephine's. This portable Cubii under-desk elliptical is $129 off today. Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee and the buzz in your inbox. But I fear they will all but be forgotten if these places close. For vintage nostalgia, his fondest memories are of the cafeteria-style, serving-line lunches he would have on Saturdays at the Felix Mexican Restaurant on Main Street. Baltergrew up in Paris, France, where she got an early taste for good food and wine. With red, blue and green color-themed rooms, Christies was known for its remoulade sauce on French-fried shrimp. Saint Arnold Brewing Company presents "12oz. I am defiantly going to get me a new scanner, I got some old Post papers from the late 60's with the ads. This iconic seafood buffet was located on South Main Street just south of 610 South Loop. Was the night club La Bastille located there in the 70s? Sorry for the quality. Otherwise it will always turn into a non-pedestrian suburban-type streetscape. They used to feature some really wild and popular punk bands, they pretty much rivaled "Consolidated Arts Warehouse" which was another cool place to hang out in the early 80's. "Houston's most visible restaurant served up its final meal of osso buco and ostentation," wrote Houston Chronicle feature writer Cheryl Laird in 1994. This was Dads favorite place for fried chicken. Owned and run by Vira Fredericks and her sister, this establishment was located in an old house a few blocks east of Almeda in the MacGregor/Riverside area. Known as Houston's celebrity grill maker, Dang has crafted pieces for local and national celebs, including Beyonc, Astros players like Lance McCullers, Jr. and Jeremy Pea. and help keep the future of the Houston Press, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published. 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. Readers who contacted us after the stories appeared shared favorite dining spots they have enjoyed (and in some cases, continue to enjoy) through the years. Mama Ninfa, and it was here that tacos al carbon fajita meat in warm flour tortillas with pico de gallo, guacamole and queso were put on the map. Some close within a year, while others close after several years of being the hottest and trendiest restaurant in town. I always ordered the extra thick rib eye steak for $11.95. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. I forgot how it looked, but last i remember was early 90's when i was 12-17. they nocked it down and is currently parking for Casa de Amigos clinic. We should go back., Local physician Stuart Weil says, My favorite place for fried chicken was Youngbloods on Main Street near Bill Williams. Explore 15 of Houstons oldest restaurants that have been serving up hot dishes to the city for more than 50 years. Thriving for another 20 years, Maxims closing for renovations in 2001 was permanent. Many were drawn to states with warm climates that felt similar to those of their homeland, and today, Houstons Vietnamese community is the largest in the country outside of California. Eventually, the suburbs evolved into a popular destination for dining experiences, with the citys development to the west. I also have many photos of The Stardust Ballroom on inside. You can find more fun in our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides. My favorite was a hard salami sandwich with Swiss cheese on rye, with a salami beef stick on the side along with the best half-sour pickles. Can you post some from PA and Stardust. I believe he lives up 59 in Porter. Please enter a valid email and try again. Men reportedly had "active lunches" with their mistresses in Tony's wine cellar. Comment below this story or email [emailprotected]. Adorned with a large crab on the front canopy, Gaidos was true Southern white-linen service waiters in white dinner jackets and white gloves, with napkins draped over their wrists. It had a fire some time after that and didn't reopen. I think the building may still be there, but I'm sure it was closed by the 80s. Ray gave Lisa Hartman her first singing opportunities. After a move to the corner of Weslayan and West Alabama, currently home to 2929 Weslayan Apartments, and a name change to State Grille by new owners (members of the Mandola family) in 2001, The Confederate House has, like so many others, quietly moved on. The fuzz gave everyone such a hard time. I proudly told him the story. The restaurant, located in an old house with a tree-shaded patio, has also become known for its extensive craft beer menu. In what is likely the very first mention of Tony's in the Houston Chronicle, Dining Out columnist Mary K. (whose full name was Mary Herolz and later Mary Kilburn) claimed on April 23, 1965, that this new restaurant has everything to offer "for those who appreciate the very best in food, decor and service." Long-suffering Texans fans literally jumped for joy when the team selected Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the No. CAW was next to where Chelsea Place is over on Montrose. 23 Texans jersey, tells CultureMap after the big day. My parents used to talk about a club on north main called the "P.A" or Pan American Nite Club. Buzz reader Randy Jennings wrote, I miss the Strawberry Patch on Westheimer where Pappas Steakhouse is now. We made no order at all!!!! Here, we reminiscence of lavish grounds with exotic plants, serene lake, and peacocks roaming the property. Ranging from eateries of the early 1900's to late 60's, here's where every Houstonian should dine and take in the city's culinary roots.A third part of our classic restaurant series featuring landmark institutions established in 1970 to the early 90's is coming. It takes years of dedication and loyal customers to stand the test of time, which is why we're paying tribute to Houston's longstanding restaurants where generations of families have insured their existence today. Laird showed up to what would have been Tony's last day of service. Luckily we still managed to get a table for two even though they had a full house. I remember their sign with a bear, and the words A-Bear to indicate pronunciation. It was where the Pier 1 is now on West Gray. Powered by Invision Community, So has the Museum of Houston come calling yet? Monterey House Restaurant - Historic Houston - HAIF - Houston's Pizzitolas has been firing up their brick barbecue pit for more than 80 years, and its the only one of its kind allowed inside the city limits. Trader Vics was located in the Shamrock Hotel. While the restaurant may be gone, a Leo's Tex-Mex feast is forever immortalized in the double-truck photograph that graces the inside cover of ZZ Top's 1973 Tres Hombres album. Few restaurants in Houston have been as talked-about over the decades as Tony's, a fine-dining institution that's now located in Greenway Plaza. It was a very fun place to work, I worked at both San Antonio locations 78-79 and the Houston in 1980. Way cool. Got to scan some more then will post! I am proud to say my family helped start one of Houstons early delis, which evolved into Schwartzbergs. still hurts when I think about it! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 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. The next year, visiting the restaurant for a friend's birthday, she dined on Tony's "famous stuffed mushrooms," this time providing us with a little more information: They are stuffed with crab meat and cheese. The cafeteria-style diner offers combo plates featuring oxtails, smothered pork chops, ham hocks, chitterlings, and pig feet; sides of mac and cheese, candied yams, and black eyed peas; and old fashioned tea cakes and banana pudding for dessert. She studied English Literature at Newcastle University in the U.K. and was the lifestyle editor of the student newspaper. She liked Kramer so much she took them all on the road with her as her backup group, but that was mainly to stay "close" to Kramer. So I'm really excited.. blancos and this really cool place in montrose but i can not remember the name. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allowed natural light to flank the interior. Shortly after the dinner, the story goes, the man's well dried up. Sometime around 1970, Liza Minnelli did some shows in Houston, and while she was in town she went to The Bojangles show one night. Does anyone know anything about it or have any photos of the interior? Tacos a Go Go/Facebook. Foursquare. With the stocky and loveable Alfred at the helm behind the front counter, one could buy authentic Kosher deli meats, fish and cheese, or order huge sandwiches too large to get your mouth around. On the same night, Vice President Spiro Agnew, Richard Nixon adviser and Texas governor John . The old Kroger's ( the former Henke and Pillot) was there until the early 80's and then Krogers built a new center across the street. Open in Google Maps. Haute cuisine from Tonys Restaurant is still enjoyed today in its Greenway Plaza location on Richmond Avenue at Timmons Lane, but Buzz reader Michael Chadwick remembers one fine-dining establishment that started downtown and eventually built the structure where Tonys currently stands. Candy canes adorned the counter, and wrought-iron tables held many birthday parties. The wild history of Tony's in Houston over the decades - Chron Top 9 Houston Restaurant Closings of the Decade