sheeats Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Although I'm not a fan of Bennigan's and never was, this news is still sad -- especially for all the people they employed: http://houstonist.com/2008/07/29/bennigans_erin_go_broke.php http://www.nbc5i.com/news/17024807/detail.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080729/us_nm/bennigans_dc_1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Yeah, it was a reasonably good late night place with a group. Wide variety of average food, decent desserts, reasonably priced.Haven't been in years, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Not a huge surprise. Did they have anything unique to offer? From what I remember, I enjoyed my few meals there. Apple Bees is ten times worse IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Just to note my typo in the headline... It's 300 restaurants, not 800. D'oh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Just to note my typo in the headline... It's 300 restaurants, not 800. D'oh! Just go to your original posts and do a full edit of the topic and subtopic. I do it all the time, to much people chagrin! (I never thought I'd ever type that word, that's my first time!) BTW, Applebees, TGI Fridays, Chili's, Ruby Tuesdays, Bennigans, and even Outback in some sense, all the same food. Update, add Steak and Ale. . . if they even exist anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Yep, R.I.P. Steak & Ale, too. Thanks, y'all! I'm not normally this spazzy on message boards. Just trying to do a lot of things at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 and filing for chapter 7 protection:http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BEN...EMPLATE=DEFAULT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 According to Wikipedia, Bennigan's is considered a "fern bar". Fern bar is a slang term for an upscale or preppy (yuppie) bar or tavern usually decorated with ferns or other "fussy" plants, as well as such decor as fake Tiffany lamps. "Fussy" plants, really!?!, I use that word more when a toddler having a tantrum! You can't make this stuff up people, and if it is on Wikipedia, it's a fact. . .Jack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 You can't make this stuff up people, and if it is on Wikipedia, it a fact. . .Jack! Read HAIF Nominations thread. Plastic does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Wow! Was just at the Bennigan's on 1960/45 last Friday night! What?We could have emptied the kegs now they will go to waste. Rats!I had a feeling the end was near for them. The one at Gulfgate was shut down finally a few months ago. The clientele had hit the skids and so did the staff. Was a miracle it lasted this long.RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Oh Monte Cristo, I hardly knew yee....j/kI have not ate at a Bennegins in 20 years. Obviously I am not the only one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disastro Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Oh Monte Cristo, I hardly knew yee....j/kI have not ate at a Bennegins in 20 years. Obviously I am not the only one.It's been years since I've been to a Bennigans for good reason: The service sucked.I avoid Applebees for the same reason. That, and well...the food sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I just never found anything too appealing to go back anymore - used to go to the one on Kirby/59 for trivia/food/drinks occasionally, but yeah, the service and food was mediocre at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Company spokeswoman Leah Templeton said franchised locations should not be affected, and it could not be determined immediately which of the Houston-area's 11 Bennigan's and six Steak & Ale locations will remain open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 If any of those Bennigan's had actually answered their phones when I called today and said that, I'd be more inclined to believe that some of them were remaining open. Anyway, I'm more apt to trust the Wall Street Journal than the Chronicle: National restaurant chains Bennigan's and Steak & Ale have closed their doors and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, shuttering more than 300 locations and letting go of thousands of employees.It is one of the country's largest restaurant bankruptcies and eliminates two sit-down chains that have been part of the casual-dining landscape for decades. The chains will liquidate and aren't likely to re-open. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217347714...p_us_whats_news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 AP is reporting the same but you never know.According to a recorded message on the law firm's answering system, not all stores using the Bennigan's and Steak & Ale trade names have filed for bankruptcy and some franchise locations were not included in the filing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disastro Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Company spokeswoman Leah Templeton said franchised locations should not be affected, and it could not be determined immediately which of the Houston-area's 11 Bennigan's and six Steak & Ale locations will remain open.Probably the ones with decent service and providing edible quality food...you mean to tell me there are there actually 11 of those that meet that criteria? LOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Probably the ones with decent service and providing edible quality food...you mean to tell me there are there actually 11 of those that meet that criteria? LOL!!!LOL no i think there are 11 in the houston area is what they meant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disastro Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 If any of those Bennigan's had actually answered their phones when I called today and said that, I'd be more inclined to believe that some of them were remaining open. Anyway, I'm more apt to trust the Wall Street Journal than the Chronicle: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217347714...p_us_whats_news I'm rather suprised this story is even IN the Chronicle. I don't know how they'd work a left-wing slant into such a topic. I am sure if anyone could, they could find a way though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 We had a lunch bunch that went to Bennigan's once a month. It was okay, never really THAT into the food, but it was cheap. That is one of the things I noticed was that their burgers and fries were like what you'd pay at McDonald's for a burger and fries.I think they should have seriously considered raising their prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chamo Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Company spokeswoman Leah Templeton said franchised locations should not be affected, and it could not be determined immediately which of the Houston-area's 11 Bennigan's and six Steak & Ale locations will remain open.Ate once at the Galleria location and had enough Bennigan's for the rest of my life. I wonder if that one is a Franchised location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Ate once at the Galleria location and had enough Bennigan's for the rest of my life. I wonder if that one is a Franchised location.there may not be any here. i think i went in 2004 last with someone else who wanted to go and i caved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Weren't they "one heck of an Irish bar" or something like that? The one at the Park downtown used to have a deal where if you didn't get your meal in a certain number of minutes it was free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Weren't they "one heck of an Irish bar" or something like that? The one at the Park downtown used to have a deal where if you didn't get your meal in a certain number of minutes it was free. Diversity killed that. In an in International city like Houston that monkier simply sounds outdated. The one on Kirby/59 was sooooo nice when it was brand new circa 1987ish? Went there (only out of complete desperation) about a year ago, to slam down and few and never, ever wanted to go back. Better to drink under a bridge with the bums and pass the wine bottle around. That one needs the axe...like now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Diversity killed that. In an in International city like Houston that monkier simply sounds outdated.I think something else must have killed it, since the "heck of an Irish bar" "monkier" was used by Birraporettis, not Bennigans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I believe the location by Reliant Park is franchised. I've only been once (which is the only time I've been to Bennigans in the last 15 years). The staff were nice and courteous but the restaurant itself was starting to show its age, especially in the furniture and decor.The food was about what you'd expect at those type of places: very average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 The one on Kirby/59 was sooooo nice when it was brand new circa 1987ish?I actually thought that one have an incredibly nice parking lot. It had pavers and really mature trees.Not much else about the restaurant though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 We had a lunch bunch that went to Bennigan's once a month. It was okay, never really THAT into the food, but it was cheap. That is one of the things I noticed was that their burgers and fries were like what you'd pay at McDonald's for a burger and fries.I think they should have seriously considered raising their prices.The two or three times I've eaten at Bennigan's I had the opposite reaction. It was, "I'm paying $7.00 for this crap?!?"I would much rather spend $5 at Whataburger or $4 at a taqueria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 The two or three times I've eaten at Bennigan's I had the opposite reaction. It was, "I'm paying $7.00 for this crap?!?"I would much rather spend $5 at Whataburger or $4 at a taqueria.They are the typical $10 place, but it was in the same company as the rest of the casual restaurants.Just sad that we will have all these vacant buildings.Last thing Houston needed was more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Was just at the one in Katy on Friday night. Had the Angus Melt and 5 tall Dos Equis'. Not bad for $20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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