Favorite Defunct Restaurants

[IronTiger]

Given that the area restaurant guide came out relatively recently, I'd like to take this time to have discussions of old restaurants. Here are a few:

Tuscany's: The Gelato place closed down and is replaced by some sign of a karate guy kicking! What happened?

The abandoned steakhouse on Texas Ave.: You've always seen it...it's the one with the tepees and the vine-coated sign, between Kroger and Wal-Mart...but what is it?

Defunct Post Oak Mall Eateries: According to an insert when Post Oak Mall opened, Chick-fil-A and Corn Dog 7 opened as well as the following eateries: Funnel Cakery, Giovanni's, The Great Hot Dog Experience, Ken Martins Chicken Fried Steak (looks like that venture didn't go too well), Peanut Shack (it's actually a candy and nut shop that still seems to exist in forgotten places), Pepe's, Potatoes Etc., Salad Bartique (that is how it's spelled), Seafood Shoppe, and Sesame Hut.

Also, McDonald's, Orange Julius, and Subway had presence as well.

Swenson's was also in it, as well as the now-defunct location near Los Cucos. I believe it closed Dec. 2005 but I could be wrong. The ice cream there (as well as the clown ice creams) were awesome!

I wasn't sad to see Pancho's (where Los Cucos is now) go. Pancho's had these creepy sun masks all against the wall. They gave me nightmares!

T-Bone Jones was a sad loss, but you couldn't find it unless you were looking for it after they redid University.

Tom's BBQ I have a menu of, but I never ate there.

That's all I can think of for now...anyone know of these places/have restaurants they knew of too/etc. etc.?

[Scotch]

The steakhouse you are thinking of must have been Ft. Shiloh, which was actually on the site, and I think even used the building of the old Shiloh community center, a long lost community.

Ft. Shiloh was owned by Ken Martin, I just read on TexAgs that the sign came down a few days ago.

My favorite old places were 3-C's BBQ in Culpepper Plaza, their Texas Toast was awesome. Swenson's in CP was also great in the 80's.

I don't really remember those places listed for Post Oak Mall aside from Corn Dog 7, Chick-Fil-A, Swenson's and later Subway and McD's.

[keyser]

I haven't been here too long (since 2000), but a few places I remember were:

Garcia's (where Fuddruckers is now). This seemed to me to be a pretty popular place, I always liked it, and it had won several "Best in the Brazos" type awards. I'm surprised it went out of business, but there is a lot of competition in the Mexican food market.

Alicia's (where Crazy Cajun's is now). This was a unique kind of Mexican/Cajun place that we used to bring out-of-town guests to. This one closed when Alicia decided to retire/move, and was replaced by a Thai restaurant that moved there, then by Crazy Cajun's.

Imperial Chinese (I don't think anything has gone in there yet, though it's been closed for a while). I had some of the best Chinese food I've ever had outside of China there - yes, I'm serious. Of course, that was when I came here for my job interview and went with someone Chinese who ordered directly (not even off the menu). After raving about it to my wife, I took her there and had a not-very-good-at-all meal. I had the impression that they were fixing "Americanized" dishes geared toward buffets/mass preparation, while if they had stuck to more authentic dishes, they could have done really well.

And, though they weren't particularly outstanding places, there used to be two Thai places (Nipa Hot and Thai Taste) on the North side of University near A&M. I think high rent in Northgate drove out Nipa Hot, and the Thai Taste place had some of the slowest service ever, so I'm not surprised they're gone. I am surprised that there are no other Thai restaurants that took their place, though.

Two places I don't miss (but that I think others really liked) are T-Bone Jones and Tom's Barbecue. I tried each of those for the first and only time shortly before they went out of business, and in both cases, the food was pretty bad - maybe it had been better in earlier years.

[IronTiger]

I haven't been here too long (since 2000), but a few places I remember were:

Garcia's (where Fuddruckers is now). This seemed to me to be a pretty popular place, I always liked it, and it had won several "Best in the Brazos" type awards. I'm surprised it went out of business, but there is a lot of competition in the Mexican food market.

Alicia's (where Crazy Cajun's is now). This was a unique kind of Mexican/Cajun place that we used to bring out-of-town guests to. This one closed when Alicia decided to retire/move, and was replaced by a Thai restaurant that moved there, then by Crazy Cajun's.

Imperial Chinese (I don't think anything has gone in there yet, though it's been closed for a while). I had some of the best Chinese food I've ever had outside of China there - yes, I'm serious. Of course, that was when I came here for my job interview and went with someone Chinese who ordered directly (not even off the menu). After raving about it to my wife, I took her there and had a not-very-good-at-all meal. I had the impression that they were fixing "Americanized" dishes geared toward buffets/mass preparation, while if they had stuck to more authentic dishes, they could have done really well.

And, though they weren't particularly outstanding places, there used to be two Thai places (Nipa Hot and Thai Taste) on the North side of University near A&M. I think high rent in Northgate drove out Nipa Hot, and the Thai Taste place had some of the slowest service ever, so I'm not surprised they're gone. I am surprised that there are no other Thai restaurants that took their place, though.

Two places I don't miss (but that I think others really liked) are T-Bone Jones and Tom's Barbecue. I tried each of those for the first and only time shortly before they went out of business, and in both cases, the food was pretty bad - maybe it had been better in earlier years.

T-Bone Jones and Tom's BBQ were pretty notorious for serving bad meals before going defunct. However, both were great restaurants before things went downhill.

Also, Confucius Chinese Cuisine (where Walgreen's is now) was an ornate building and had some of the best egg rolls ever. I believe it was right near Imperial Chinese (which was near the pawn shop?). Also, when did the "Egg Roll House" on University close?

[ScottP]

There was a place on Bryan Pkwy. called Werman's where I had my first chicken fried steak. It's probably still the best I've ever had.

For some strange reason I also miss eating in the diner in Woolworth's downtown. My grandparents owned the furniture store across the street and we would sometimes go over there for a quick lunch.

[IronTiger]

Oh, and Luby's Cafeteria and Chelsea Street Pub & Grill were there. I don't have any pictures of Chealsea Street in Post Oak Mall but here is a picture of it in a mall in Memphis (mall is now demo'd)

[txshady]

Oh, and Luby's Cafeteria and Chelsea Street Pub & Grill were there. I don't have any pictures of Chealsea Street in Post Oak Mall but here is a picture of it in a mall in Memphis (mall is now demo'd)

Yeah, and once Luby's at Post Oak closed it turned into a Bishops Cafeteria for a short period of time, I think it was only there for a year or two. Anybody remember The Red Bandana on Highway 21 in Bryan? They had some pretty awesome chicken fried steak and smoked sausage.

Edited May 8, 2008 by txshady

[paradice]

I'll play - and show my age

What's now Carney's Pub used to be Youngbloods - best chicken fried steak in town. Best, biggest, wonderful! We're talking 1980 or so tho.

"Egg Roll House" has been gone forever - it was mexican in 1978-80, then Egg Roll till about 85??? It's sat vacant all these years.

What about Ken Martin's Steak House in it's original location on Texas Avenue.. with "the cave" in it. I think it's where FatBurger/Enterprise rent a car is now.

I don't remember Swensons in Post Oak at all just in Culpepper that I recall. But I do remember the tater place

And to date my time/experience in B/CS: Dairy Palace used to be just north on the west side of the intersection of Texas Ave & Hwy 30!

[IronTiger]

I'll play - and show my age

What's now Carney's Pub used to be Youngbloods - best chicken fried steak in town. Best, biggest, wonderful! We're talking 1980 or so tho.

"Egg Roll House" has been gone forever - it was mexican in 1978-80, then Egg Roll till about 85??? It's sat vacant all these years.

What about Ken Martin's Steak House in it's original location on Texas Avenue.. with "the cave" in it. I think it's where FatBurger/Enterprise rent a car is now.

I don't remember Swensons in Post Oak at all just in Culpepper that I recall. But I do remember the tater place

And to date my time/experience in B/CS: Dairy Palace used to be just north on the west side of the intersection of Texas Ave & Hwy 30!

Wouldn't that be where Jack in the Box is now?

[Bryan Guy]

Here's a real blast from the past. Anyone remember the "Tokyo Steakhouse"? The Coldwell Banker office just north of Texas & University was originally an upscale japanese steakhouse if you can imagine that. I remember a few dinners there as a small kid. Had the sliding paper doors and everything if I recall correctly.

Fajita Ritas! One of the hottest spots in town til probably the mid-90's or so when all of the franchise places started popping up. Now some random lil' mexican joint that can't be long for this world.

Casa Thomas...in the center at Rosemary & Texas. Used to have a line out the door every Sunday. Fountain in the center kids would throw pennies into. Had my fair share of Roy Rogers (cherry coke) and Shirley Temples (cherry sprite) there. Now a quilt shop or something.

Too young to remember Youngbloods but I've certainly heard about it.

The Prosperity Bank in Bryan at Texas & Villa Maria (formerly State Bank, First State, First Federal S&L, etc) was an upscale seafood restaurant at some point? Too young for that too but man, how random.

My parents had their rehearsal dinner at Ken Martin's on Texas in Bryan...in the cave room. I have a couple of brief memories of the place before they moved to 29th Street. My folks tell me it wasn't their first choice but there literally were very few options in B/CS in the mid '70's.

Oxford Street in Bryan was originally a Steak & Ale when that was one of the nicer chains in the south.

There used to be a private club called "Plaza Club" on the top floor of the now Wells Fargo Plaza at Briarcrest & Hwy 6. Closed in mid '90's or so. Served dinner, drinks, etc. Its amazing how many really nice things this town used to have that have faded into history.

The Texan!!! You have to have lived here for a while to know about the Texan. Its now the scuzzy cigarette shop at S College & Villa Maria. Was a 5 star restaurant for years owned by the Tapley family. Served mahi-mahi, conche, amazing steaks, ostrich, crab, etc, etc, etc. The place was always a hole but you went there for the food! Silver Lining Salad, Kubra Libra Salad, Ceasar like you've never seen before..man, oh man, that was a big night out on the town. Had several birthdays, senior prom, etc there. Closed in 2000 or so....almost immediately after Christopher's opened and their regulars bailed.

The nail shop at Texas & Southwest Pkwy was originally "Pelican's Wharf". Very nice seafood joint. Vacant for years then it was Pasghetti's....same owner as Fajita Ritas I think. Didn't last long. Then it was a cake & pie place owned by a family out of Round Top, now an asian nail shop....go figure.

Man, I could go on and on.

[IronTiger]

Oh! That "cake and pie" place was Royder's, or at least, Royder's was the last owner of the place before NailSpa.

Old Country Buffet, too, near Kroger was like a more-crappy version of Golden Corral.

[paradice]

Wouldn't that be where Jack in the Box is now?

Actually, it was further south than where JITB is - closer to JJ's. There's actually a creek that runs through the southwest side of the intersection, and the Dairy Palace drive thru was right next to it.

Pelican's Wharf was one of the more upscale spots to go late '70s for students.

Sparky's (not REALLY a restaurant, I admit) was at Eastgate (Walton and Texas Ave) before it became the cavalcade of eateries/bars alongside Acme Glass there.

Anyone remember the fish/aquarium shop Pisces just south of there on Texas? Old two story frame house converted for students to buy fish . . . ?

[WestUNative]

Here's a real blast from the past. Anyone remember the "Tokyo Steakhouse"? The Coldwell Banker office just north of Texas & University was originally an upscale japanese steakhouse if you can imagine that. I remember a few dinners there as a small kid. Had the sliding paper doors and everything if I recall correctly.

Fajita Ritas! One of the hottest spots in town til probably the mid-90's or so when all of the franchise places started popping up. Now some random lil' mexican joint that can't be long for this world.

Casa Thomas...in the center at Rosemary & Texas. Used to have a line out the door every Sunday. Fountain in the center kids would throw pennies into. Had my fair share of Roy Rogers (cherry coke) and Shirley Temples (cherry sprite) there. Now a quilt shop or something.

Too young to remember Youngbloods but I've certainly heard about it.

The Prosperity Bank in Bryan at Texas & Villa Maria (formerly State Bank, First State, First Federal S&L, etc) was an upscale seafood restaurant at some point? Too young for that too but man, how random.

My parents had their rehearsal dinner at Ken Martin's on Texas in Bryan...in the cave room. I have a couple of brief memories of the place before they moved to 29th Street. My folks tell me it wasn't their first choice but there literally were very few options in B/CS in the mid '70's.

Oxford Street in Bryan was originally a Steak & Ale when that was one of the nicer chains in the south.

There used to be a private club called "Plaza Club" on the top floor of the now Wells Fargo Plaza at Briarcrest & Hwy 6. Closed in mid '90's or so. Served dinner, drinks, etc. Its amazing how many really nice things this town used to have that have faded into history.

The Texan!!! You have to have lived here for a while to know about the Texan. Its now the scuzzy cigarette shop at S College & Villa Maria. Was a 5 star restaurant for years owned by the Tapley family. Served mahi-mahi, conche, amazing steaks, ostrich, crab, etc, etc, etc. The place was always a hole but you went there for the food! Silver Lining Salad, Kubra Libra Salad, Ceasar like you've never seen before..man, oh man, that was a big night out on the town. Had several birthdays, senior prom, etc there. Closed in 2000 or so....almost immediately after Christopher's opened and their regulars bailed.

The nail shop at Texas & Southwest Pkwy was originally "Pelican's Wharf". Very nice seafood joint. Vacant for years then it was Pasghetti's....same owner as Fajita Ritas I think. Didn't last long. Then it was a cake & pie place owned by a family out of Round Top, now an asian nail shop....go figure.

Man, I could go on and on.

Stop the presses, hold everything, we segued to Bryan/College Station here? We've been invaded by Aggies? Well, okay, but shame, shame, no one mentioned Rebel's? I mean, wow, I lived in a small rural area for a while and the nearest decent shopping was Bryan, so we'd always do the necessaries, then head for Rebel's for a grand steak dinner, even in middle of afternoon. Great stuff.

Equal time now for Longhorns. In Austin, a place named "The Mars Bar", which was actually a restaurant in an old house a bit removed from campus. Really good food, again great steak and some divine garlic mashed potatoes.

[IronTiger]

Equal time now for Longhorns. In Austin, a place named "The Mars Bar", which was actually a restaurant in an old house a bit removed from campus. Really good food, again great steak and some divine garlic mashed potatoes.

Excuse me, but this is the BCS thread with BCS restaurants.

I believe you wanted to go to here!

[DisTex]

A&W Rootbeer drive in Pretty close to where sonic is at Texas and University.

Buccaneers drive in down south college in Bryan.

Fish and chips blace across from the defunct Kroger\Holiday Inn\The Forum\HEB in Bryan.

Now a car dealership.

I think Buppys was a fish Place before it was Farmer's Market.

[IronTiger]

A&W Rootbeer drive in Pretty close to where sonic is at Texas and University.

Buccaneers drive in down south college in Bryan.

Fish and chips blace across from the defunct Kroger\Holiday Inn\The Forum\HEB in Bryan.

Now a car dealership.

I think Buppys was a fish Place before it was Farmer's Market.

I think that the area where Taco Casa is, at the corner of Wellborn and Rock Prairie, used to be Sonic. I'm pretty sure it was A&W before that. Am I right?

[slyk]

A&W Rootbeer drive in Pretty close to where sonic is at Texas and University.

Buccaneers drive in down south college in Bryan.

Fish and chips blace across from the defunct Kroger\Holiday Inn\The Forum\HEB in Bryan.

Now a car dealership.

I think Buppys was a fish Place before it was Farmer's Market.

Are you talking about the fish place that was next door to the old Ken Martins place had like a windmill on the front? It was called Zyder Zee

There was also another fish/chips place on the west side of Texas ave a little south of there called Alfie's

[slyk]

I think that the area where Taco Casa is, at the corner of Wellborn and Rock Prairie, used to be Sonic. I'm pretty sure it was A&W before that. Am I right?

Yes it was. However it was the current modern day A&W thats still around in other cities. The other poster was referring to the old original A&W drive in where they would bring your drinks out to your car on the trays that would hang off your car door window.

[dcwfromTexas]

There used to be a private club called "Plaza Club" on the top floor of the now Wells Fargo Plaza at Briarcrest & Hwy 6. Closed in mid '90's or so. Served dinner, drinks, etc. Its amazing how many really nice things this town used to have that have faded into history.

I worked at the Plaza Club (as a cook and also briefly as a waiter) from the summer of 1989 until sometime in 1993. It was a good operation, but probably too exclusive for B/CS. As a private club, only members could use it, but how to boost membership was always a big problem. The Plaza Club was part of the global ClubCorp chain, so it was connected to a much larger network. But, the parent company eventually cut it loose and it went under, maybe in early '94. We served great dinners, hosted excellent private parties and weddings, and also had a fine Sunday buffet, which I used to prepare almost entirely by myself. A lot of good people worked there while I was there - here's to them (where is Chef Mike now?) And here's to the Plaza Club.

[Mark F. Barnes]

Sam's Drive-In on Texas Ave, Best burger in town for many many years. Rest in Peace Sam Urso, you were a heck of a guy.

[dcwfromTexas]

In the late 1980s there was a very good restaurant at 701 University Drive E., facing the Hilton, called "Cafe d' Amerique". It was an independent venture, jointly owned by the manager and the chef, Kraig Thome, who did fantastic things with food. I washed dishes there in the evenings while in high school, and helped out with food prep. work. Alas, Cafe d' Amerique only survived a couple of years - it closed in early 1988. I showed up for work one day to find all the doors locked, drove to the chef's apartment and heard the news. I guess I should have seen it coming - they'd been paying the staff in cash from the register for a week or two leading up to the closure (not a good sign). Kraig soon hired on as executive chef of the Plaza Club in Bryan, and in the summer of '89 he went on to a bigger and better club in Fort Worth, and later to an even bigger one (the University Club) in Houston. But before Cafe d' Amerique another restaurant - Confederate House - had occupied that site for years. Throughout Cafe d' Amerique's short lifespan a glass case holding plates and other items from Confederate House stood silently in its dining room, reminding both staff and customers alike that all things must pass!

[rcj0618]

Here's a real blast from the past. Anyone remember the "Tokyo Steakhouse"? The Coldwell Banker office just north of Texas & University was originally an upscale japanese steakhouse if you can imagine that. I remember a few dinners there as a small kid. Had the sliding paper doors and everything if I recall correctly.

The Prosperity Bank in Bryan at Texas & Villa Maria (formerly State Bank, First State, First Federal S&L, etc) was an upscale seafood restaurant at some point? Too young for that too but man, how random.

The nail shop at Texas & Southwest Pkwy was originally "Pelican's Wharf". Very nice seafood joint. Vacant for years then it was Pasghetti's....same owner as Fajita Ritas I think. Didn't last long. Then it was a cake & pie place owned by a family out of Round Top, now an asian nail shop....go figure.

Man, I could go on and on.

Toyko Steakhouse/Coldwell Banker building was originally a bank. When it closed, that building became a bar called Last National Bank. Then Tokyo Steakhouse opened.

Prosperity Bank Building was Clayton's Restaurant.

There was also a Tastee Freeze next to the old A&W that was mentioned.

How about - Burger Chef across from the old Kroger in Bryan? And anyone remember when Kroger was originally at the Texas Ave. end of Manor East Mall (where Hastings is now)?

Oakridge Smokehouse on Texas across from campus? TJ McCord's? Mama's Pizza? Bullwinkle's? The 2-story Mr. Gattis in Bryan by the mall and in College Station where Schlotsky's is now.

We sometimes used to eat at the diner in JC Penney at Manor East Mall. There was a Taco Villa across from Manor East also. We had a Pizza Inn near Bryan High behind the Dairy Queen.

Edited October 8, 2008 by rcj0618

[rcj0618]

Post Oak Mall food court, 1984:

Pepe's, Ken Martin's, Orange Julius, The Great Hot Dog Experience!

Edited October 7, 2008 by rcj0618

[Original Timmy Chan's]

I miss the Hwy 21 Cafe in North Zulch. They had the best Chicken Fried Steak I've ever had.

That qualifies as Brazos Valley, right? I mean, it drains to the Navasota River, and that's tributary to the Brazos...

[Oops...just looked at a map and realized that that side of North Zulch actually drains to Bedias Creek, which is tributary to the Trinity River. Gotta go to the other side of the tracks to west North Zulch to get in the Navasota River watershed.]

I still miss that CFS. The next nearest CFS to my grandpa's place is Sodolak's in Bryan, and their CFS is just a step above cardboard.

[Mark F. Barnes]

Take a drive up here to Montgomery and go to Phil's Roadhouse, great great CFS and it's as big as a large platter will hold.

Also outside Plantersville the Relay Station use to be good grub, haven't been there in a year or so, but it still looks the same.

[IronTiger]

Post Oak Mall food court, 1984:

Pepe's, Ken Martin's, Orange Julius, The Great Hot Dog Experience!

Holy crap! Where did you find that? I'm pretty sure the Orange Julius is now the other entrance to American Eagle, but a look at my own picture vs. the current mall directory, the entrance to the restrooms changed. Let's see, the Orange Julius was basically gutted between American Eagle Outfitters and the restroom entrance, and Pepe's and Ken Martin's combined into the current Taste of the Tropics space. Or something like that if you went to the same space today, you would only Taste of the Tropics, American Eagle, and the restroom entrance.

Although I'm sad that such places no longer exist in the mall today and today's food court spaces totally suck...

...for today, you are my hero. Thank you.

[Scotch]

I only go to the mall about once every year or two, but last time I was there and went to the food court, the restroom entrance at Post Oak Mall was the same.

[rcj0618]

I only go to the mall about once every year or two, but last time I was there and went to the food court, the restroom entrance at Post Oak Mall was the same.

I very seldom go to the mall as well, but looking at that picture, isn't the restroom entrance to the right of the Orange Julius, and the old arcade on the other side?

I think Sonic is now where Orange Julius was. According to the map on the Post Oak Mall website, Taste of the Tropics is in the Ken Martin's spot, Roman Delight is where Pepe's was, and Manchu Wok is in the Hot Dog Experience location.

[Geozia]

Frank's Place on University Ave. My wife and I had our first date there in 1990.

J.T. McCords on Texas Ave. I used to live in the Apt's right behind there and would walk over for a beer from time to time.

There was a pool hall on Texas Aveneue just north of University.... Kind of next to Fajita Ritas. Can't remember the name.

I did eat at the Texan in about 1987. It was good, but what a dive! Hard to believe it was ever really 5 stars.

Used to eat lunch at Brazos Landing in Northgate. Also went there for some great live music at night.

Hey! What about the Flying Tomato Pizza??? That's long gone, isn't it?

[IronTiger]

Hey! What about the Flying Tomato Pizza??? That's long gone, isn't it?

WHOA! I just threw away a frisbee featuring the long gone restaurant! So that's how it came into our family's possession...

Edited November 9, 2008 by IronTiger

[IronTiger]

Also, does ANYBODY know the name of the Chinese place where 2nd Chance Resale is on Wellborn now?

[Scotch]

Frank's Place on University Ave. My wife and I had our first date there in 1990.

There was a pool hall on Texas Aveneue just north of University.... Kind of next to Fajita Ritas. Can't remember the name.

Frank's Place has been Fox & Hound for many years now, Yesterday's pool hall is still between Luby's and the old Fajita Rita's(been through a few name changes, still a Tex-Mex place).

Edited November 10, 2008 by Scotch

[IronTiger]

WHOA! I just threw away a frisbee featuring the long gone restaurant! So that's how it came into our family's possession...

I managed to save the Flying Tomato frisbee from a garage sale. I can take a picture...then put it on the HAIF Buy/Sell board.

[IronTiger]

I read that The Boat reopened with a new theme and new name. But it was something else before that.

[Scotch]

Shipwreck Grill is the new name for The Boat, the location opened as Captain's Seafood.

[IronTiger]

One of my colleagues mentioned a two-level buffet on Villa Maria, now defunct. Anyone know what that was?

[Scotch]

That was China Garden, in an old Mr. Gatti's. You entered on the ground level and then there was a larger sunken level. As a Mr. Gatti's, there was a projector TV at one end of the restaurant.

It closed then a few years later was torn down to make way for a gas station, which lasted a few years, that was torn down for the current Walgreens at Texas and Villa Maria.

 

(2015 edit: I believe the China Garden building may have lasted longer than I said. I believe only the Soundwaves buildings were demolished for the gas station, and then the China Garden building and the gas station torn down for the Walgreens.)

Edited November 2, 2015 by Scotch

[IronTiger]

Hmm...I must be confusing it with the nearby China Wok, which used to be a chicken place called Golden Chick.

[IronTiger]

I've heard on MyBCS that the Chinese place that occupied the place where the thrift store is (on Wellborn Road near Luther) was called Shirley Ping's. Does that sound right? I remember being in it a long time ago, but don't recall the name (it closed in the mid-1990s). An even-more-unconfirmed rumor is that the building shared occupancy with a *** bar (called Astropides) back in the 1970s/1980s.

(EDIT: Apparently the site doesn't like the common three-letter word for "homosexual", the one that starts with G)

Edited June 22, 2011 by IronTiger

[Scotch]

Odd that *** bar would be censored. I think I heard that there was indeed one there. Somewhere in that area was a place called Fish Richard's that seemed to be very popular as well.

Edited June 28, 2011 by Scotch

[Nate99]

The Deluxe Diner on University and Wellborn was a staple my freshman year. I ate there every Sunday night in the fall so I could watch the NFL game on ESPN. The nice Greek lady that ran the place would keep bringing me vanilla Cokes.

They had great breakfast too. Not sure when they closed up, but I know that they were open in '06 or '07. I don't think they had changed a thing the entire time.

[Simbha]

My wife and I had a favorite called, simply, Asian Restaurant. It was located at/near the intersection of Richmond and Weslayan. The owner was a man named Tom - very friendly and knowledgeable - and the food was always good. The cuisine appeared to be American-style Chinese with some other dishes thrown in. My wife, a vegetarian, loved the way he fried the tofu.

Alas, Asian Restaurant went away along with the strip center to make room for the Edwards that's there now.

[IronTiger]

The Deluxe Diner on University and Wellborn was a staple my freshman year. I ate there every Sunday night in the fall so I could watch the NFL game on ESPN. The nice Greek lady that ran the place would keep bringing me vanilla Cokes.

They had great breakfast too. Not sure when they closed up, but I know that they were open in '06 or '07. I don't think they had changed a thing the entire time.

...except the food went downhill. My sister's friend had one of the worse job experiences of her life there, as well.

Add Ken Martin's Steakhouse/Ken Martin's Safari Grill to that list.

[doodle]

We were retread students through the last half of the 70s, and several of the places mentioned bring back great memories.  The Texan definitely was a top tier restaurant but the digs were never the draw.  Fantastic menu with dishes from all over the world.  Great seafood and the Silver Lining Salad was unbeatable.  Pelican's Wharf was a delight with a good menu and great salads.  And there was a place east of town, maybe thirty miles or so, called the Hilltop Herb Farm.  They grew their own produce and had wonderful organic meals, not the bland sort of thing that we (I) normally associate with the term "organic". 

 

For a long time after we left, we'd make the occasional drive of several hundred miles to dine at the Texan.  What a loss to the region when it closed.

[My2ply]

Just found this thread. I think I'm older than most of the commenters on this thread, but... I remember The Texan, and I believe the nice restaurant on Texas near the mall at Villa Maria was the Captain's Table. We loved the Farmer's Market at Northgate. Could also get a reasonable CFS at the Claim Jumper in the strip center on Old College at University on the north end. Also, an IHOP and Mr. Gattis at that intersection by the stoplight. Two nice restaurants for special occasions were TJs at 707 Texas and Fish Richards on Welborn south of campus in an old house. Hamburgers at DSP-Dead Solid Perfect and Delux Burger also known as the Slut Hut. Moms in Bryan had home cooked food out of her house. Last National Bank was actually a restaurant not a bar. I was there in the 70s-80s before the Post Oak mall was built. 

[rhonda.dagostino]

The Texan, Casa Tomas, Last National Bank. 

[Heidi GK]

The Texan had the greatest food. I believe it was in an old DQ building.  I was a Freshman in ‘85 at A& M.  Worked at Steak and Ale which became Oxford St. which was better quality while my BF  worked at Fajita Rita’s and roomate at JJ Muggs which also changed names, I think to Rita’s.  I recently saw that Cenare was still there.  JT mcCords had closed while I was there.  Uncertain why as business seemed to be good.  Toms barbecue was popular.  Swensens and Bennigans were in culpepper plaza along with 3 C barbecue.  There was also Pops barbecue.  The Deluxe, Cow Hop, flying tomato, the Chicken were all there.  Cafe Excel (sp) had just opened close to univ dr and Wellborn and was popular.  Now in 2017 it’s a bigger restaurant and different food on Texas.  La Taqueria or La Taq as we referred to it was just a short distance down from cafe excel.  Kroger was my store on SW parkway before Hastings and now not sure what is there. There was also the chicken oil company in Bryan and Farmers Market.  Of course, DOUBLE DAVES is alive and well.  I wonder if The Hall and Graham’s dance halls are still in existence?  Used to go dancing with friends at The Edge, MC^2 (mc square), and The Roxy....big hair days.  Worked out at 24 hr gyms which closed; then went to Golds gym. My son is now at A & M.  Seems like a totally different town.  I graduated in 1990; so it’s been 27 years.  That’s just crazy!

[IronTiger]

5 hours ago, Heidi GK said:

The Texan had the greatest food. I believe it was in an old DQ building.  I was a Freshman in ‘85 at A& M.  Worked at Steak and Ale which became Oxford St. which was better quality while my BF  worked at Fajita Rita’s and roomate at JJ Muggs which also changed names, I think to Rita’s.  I recently saw that Cenare was still there.  JT mcCords had closed while I was there.  Uncertain why as business seemed to be good.  Toms barbecue was popular.  Swensens and Bennigans were in culpepper plaza along with 3 C barbecue.  There was also Pops barbecue.  The Deluxe, Cow Hop, flying tomato, the Chicken were all there.  Cafe Excel (sp) had just opened close to univ dr and Wellborn and was popular.  Now in 2017 it’s a bigger restaurant and different food on Texas.  La Taqueria or La Taq as we referred to it was just a short distance down from cafe excel.  Kroger was my store on SW parkway before Hastings and now not sure what is there. There was also the chicken oil company in Bryan and Farmers Market.  Of course, DOUBLE DAVES is alive and well.  I wonder if The Hall and Graham’s dance halls are still in existence?  Used to go dancing with friends at The Edge, MC^2 (mc square), and The Roxy....big hair days.  Worked out at 24 hr gyms which closed; then went to Golds gym. My son is now at A & M.  Seems like a totally different town.  I graduated in 1990; so it’s been 27 years.  That’s just crazy!

The Texan was a drive-in in the 1950s that the owners later converted to an upscale restaurant over time

Steak & Ale/Oxford Street closed in 2008 and ultimately became a seafood restaurant, which burned down in 2012 and was torn down very soon after.

JJ Muggs/Rita's became a Mexican restaurant by the 1990s and has been a Fuddruckers since around the mid-2000s.

Fajita Rita's closed around the early to mid 2000s and became a series of Mexican restaurants until 2012, when lightning struck an AC unit and burned down the building. Today there is a First Watch breakfast restaurant and Hungry Howie's.

Tom's Barbecue settled in the early 1990s at the intersection of Holleman and Texas Avenue. It closed around 2001 and was torn down for a strip center. The Bryan location is now J. Cody's.

Swensen's closed around the mid-2000s, I think it's Firehouse Subs now. Bennigan's is now an AT&T store.

3C Barbecue is now Napa Flats.

Pop's Barbecue later became a catering business but is now a tire shop after a major renovation.

The Deluxe is gone, having been substantially rebuilt for Chimy's Cerveceria several years back.

Cafe Eccell was torn down for an apartment building. Their current spot replaced Luby's.

La Taqueria eventually became La Bodega, which was torn down for a food truck park.

The SW Parkway Kroger was updated inside and out in 2001, but was still run down, and closed in 2016. It is to become a Tru Fit fitness center.

Chicken Oil is still there.

Graham's is still there. The Hall closed in 2011 and was torn down for a Walmart.

[Cat Baloo]

On 5/5/2008 at 7:41 PM, IronTiger said:

Given that the area restaurant guide came out relatively recently, I'd like to take this time to have discussions of old restaurants. Here are a few:

Tuscany's: The Gelato place closed down and is replaced by some sign of a karate guy kicking! What happened?

The abandoned steakhouse on Texas Ave.: You've always seen it...it's the one with the tepees and the vine-coated sign, between Kroger and Wal-Mart...but what is it?

Defunct Post Oak Mall Eateries: According to an insert when Post Oak Mall opened, Chick-fil-A and Corn Dog 7 opened as well as the following eateries: Funnel Cakery, Giovanni's, The Great Hot Dog Experience, Ken Martins Chicken Fried Steak (looks like that venture didn't go too well), Peanut Shack (it's actually a candy and nut shop that still seems to exist in forgotten places), Pepe's, Potatoes Etc., Salad Bartique (that is how it's spelled), Seafood Shoppe, and Sesame Hut.

Also, McDonald's, Orange Julius, and Subway had presence as well.

Swenson's was also in it, as well as the now-defunct location near Los Cucos. I believe it closed Dec. 2005 but I could be wrong. The ice cream there (as well as the clown ice creams) were awesome!

I wasn't sad to see Pancho's (where Los Cucos is now) go. Pancho's had these creepy sun masks all against the wall. They gave me nightmares!

T-Bone Jones was a sad loss, but you couldn't find it unless you were looking for it after they redid University.

Tom's BBQ I have a menu of, but I never ate there.

That's all I can think of for now...anyone know of these places/have restaurants they knew of too/etc. etc.?

 

[Cat Baloo]

You jogged my memory of long lost favorite haunts like The Great Caruso on Westheimer. Sadly it burned down. Great food, entertainment and fabulous old bar.  Casablanca was a Moroccan restaurant with food served on large brass platters.  A unique place not for everyone but it was a fun night out for my husband and I.  Also The Ratskeller, down in a basement of I think The Houston House...can't remember for sure.